Chapter 444: Li Jiancheng

Snow-white walls, brightly lit energy-saving lamps, and light-green explosion-proof glass reinforced with iron grilles.

Li Huowang, wrapped in two layers of straitjackets, quietly and attentively observed everything around him.

The very monotonous environment, in Li Huowang's eyes at this moment, appeared so vibrant, as if the colors had suddenly become richer.

This was simply because everything was real, not an illusion.

Li Huowang learned from Hong Zhong's memories about Xinsu's extraordinarily powerful abilities. The primordial energy within him was nothing less than a part of the Heavenly Dao.

Just as Xinzhuo could tear apart heaven and earth, Xinsu's ability, if perfectly utilized, could likewise transform illusion into reality.

Once he grasped this, Li Huowang's confusion vanished completely. He no longer needed to discern between reality and illusion; anything he cared about, regardless of its original truth, could become real.

With a clang, the sound of the iron door made Li Huowang look towards the entrance.

First, two tall prison guards entered, holding security equipment and wearing bulletproof and stab-resistant vests. They stood on either side like guardian deities.

Between them, Sun Xiaoqin walked in, carrying a food container. She seemed quite displeased with their presence.

“Goodness, you young people... I told you nothing would happen with me here, but you still insisted on coming along. Not just one, but two! Are people in this prison so idle?”

In response, the prison guards were equally full of complaints. “Aunt Sun, please don’t make things difficult for us. This is a strict order from above. Even though we’re civil servants with secure jobs, our monthly salary is only a few thousand yuan. How much is a square meter of housing now? It's truly not worth risking our lives with your son for so little money.”

Sun Xiaoqin seemed about to complain further, but upon seeing Li Huowang look at her, she immediately walked over excitedly, carrying the food container. “Son? You’re awake! Come, eat. Today, I made your favorite winter melon and pork rib soup!”

Li Huowang examined her face, a face that was exceptionally familiar yet profoundly kind.

A plastic, short-handled spoon scooped half a spoonful of rice from the food container, then picked up a piece of pork rib and some winter melon, finally bringing it to Li Huowang’s mouth.

Li Huowang put this simple yet delicious food into his mouth and chewed gently.

He calmly enjoyed this rare delicacy, no longer needing to agonize over whether he was eating winter melon and pork ribs or rusty nails and rotten mud.

Looking at the corner of Sun Xiaoqin's eye, marked with crow's feet, Li Huowang softly said: “Mom, there's no need to be around me 24/7. You should rest sometimes too. I’ll get better and better.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Especially at a time like this, I can't possibly leave your side!”

Hearing this, Li Huowang stopped trying to persuade her, knowing it would be useless given her temperament.

The meal finished with a rare and unexpected calm, without any incident.

Just as the two prison guards at the door couldn't help but sigh in relief, they saw one of their colleagues enter the room with a man in his forties or fifties.

“It’s okay, this is the father of the patient in bed 13.”

All three prison guards simultaneously watched as the man, carrying a bag of small tangerines in a red mesh net, walked towards the patient's bed.

“Dad.” Li Huowang stared at this somewhat unfamiliar man. He had few periods of lucidity, and even fewer times when his father was by his side.

“Why are you here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?” Sun Xiaoqin chided her husband, pulling his wrist and heading towards the door.

Through the window reinforced with iron grilles, Li Huowang saw his parents huddle together, whispering something, their necks slightly bent, and occasionally glancing furtively in his direction.

Li Huowang watched their retreating figures with a complex expression. The clothes they had bought in the past now seemed a bit too big for them; they had both lost weight.

Five minutes later, Li Huowang saw his father re-enter the room, while his mother left, carrying the food container.

“Want an orange?” Two sugar tangerines were pulled out from the red mesh bag by a pair of rough hands.

Seeing Li Huowang shake his head, he peeled the orange and placed it on the bedside table.

“How have you been lately?”

“Not bad, the environment here is quite good.”

“How’s your illness?”

“It's getting better, I mean it.”

“Oh, that’s good then.”

They spoke sporadically, but gradually, neither said anything.

Their conversation died out, which seemed normal. Compared to his mother, who played the 'good cop' at home, his father, who played the 'bad cop,' rarely had heart-to-heart talks.

Li Huowang quietly observed him. The bloodshot eyes and faint dark circles underneath them indicated his lack of sleep.

His slightly yellowed collar and greasy cuffs showed that he hadn't changed his clothes in a while.

His thinning hair had much more gray than before, and his beard hadn't been shaved for days.

And this man was his father, Li Jiancheng.

Looking at his son, who was tightly restrained on the hospital bed, and the scar that stretched across his entire face, Li Jiancheng sighed deeply. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a shriveled, crumpled cigarette pack, took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a green transparent lighter.

He took a deep drag from the cigarette, then slowly exhaled. As if the smoke had stung his eyes, they appeared somewhat watery.

“Sir, I apologize, but smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the ward. Please cooperate.”

Hearing the prison guard's reminder from the doorway, Li Jiancheng quickly put out the cigarette. He looked around for an ashtray but found none, so he finally wrapped it in the peeled orange peel.

“Dad, didn’t you quit? Why are you smoking again?”

Li Jiancheng smiled and put the lighter back into his pocket. “I’m troubled, that’s all. It’s okay, these cigarettes are cheap, they don’t cost much.”

“I’m not talking about money, I’m talking about your health.”

After a long silence, Li Jiancheng sighed deeply again and said: “It’s my fault, Dad didn’t discover your condition earlier. I’ve looked it up online; mental illnesses are always better treated sooner. If we had found out earlier, maybe it wouldn't have—”

“Dad, this has nothing to do with you!” Li Huowang couldn't hold back and directly interrupted him.

“This is a matter of constitution. Since I am Xinsu, this is my destiny, unavoidable. You don't need to blame yourself. I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”

When he saw the corner of his father's mouth tremble slightly, Li Huowang knew he shouldn’t try to explain anything further.

His father simply didn't understand that other world. Telling him about Xinsu would only make him believe that Li Huowang's condition hadn’t improved.

“Huowang,” Li Jiancheng said, his voice filled with weariness and bitterness. “I know you can’t tell the difference. It’s okay, it doesn’t matter if you can’t tell, Dad doesn’t blame you.”

“If you like being there, then stay there. If it makes you feel comfortable, don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything here. Dad can still hold on.”

Hearing this, Li Huowang felt a pang in his heart, but said nothing more. He feared that the moment he spoke, tears would well up in his eyes.

The father and son continued to sit in silence until a prison guard came to escort people out. Li Jiancheng, weary but still holding strong, then stood up, stroked Li Huowang's head, and turned to leave the room.