Chapter 686: Qian Fu

Li Huowang wasn't going to accept that answer. The more the caregiver emphasized that Qian Fu's condition was too severe for visitors, the more suspicious Li Huowang became. He was determined to see Qian Fu today.

However, Li Huowang kept his emotions in check. He knew this was a psychiatric hospital, and any abnormal behavior would only be counterproductive.

Since they were all acquaintances, Wu Cheng stepped in to help, and Li Huowang was finally able to meet Qian Fu.

This relieved Li Huowang. It proved that "those people" hadn't infiltrated the hospital; otherwise, they would have done everything to prevent him from seeing Qian Fu.

As they were entering the hospital ward, Li Huowang told Yang Na to wait outside while he followed a caregiver inside.

Li Huowang soon entered the familiar intensive care room. When the brick-sized window on the door was slid open, he saw Qian Fu inside. Dressed in a straitjacket, he writhed like a maggot on the padded floor, muttering incoherently.

"Qian Fu!" Li Huowang was about to approach when the caregiver quickly grabbed his arm. "What are you doing? You just said you wanted a look. Why are you trying to talk to this madman?"

"Please make an exception," Li Huowang said, inventing an excuse. "His family has a message for him."

"No, no, that's against the rules! Why didn't you mention it earlier?"

"Rules aren't always so rigid," Li Huowang countered, "and this is a private hospital, not a public one." He extended his hand, slipping all the pocket money Sun Xiaoqin had given him recently into the caregiver's palm.

Li Huowang knew that while doctors earned well, these caregivers worked hard for modest wages.

The caregiver's reaction quickly confirmed Li Huowang's suspicion. "Ahem... fine, but be quick. This guy is seriously disturbed, and if he doesn't respond to you, that's not my problem."

Hearing this, Li Huowang immediately moved closer to the metal door and called out loudly, "Qian Fu! Qian Fu!"

At the sound of Li Huowang's voice, Qian Fu stirred. He writhed his body inside the straitjacket, inching towards the metal door.

It took him eight minutes for his sweaty face to press against the iron bars of the door's window.

Qian Fu looked utterly bizarre. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Li Huowang, cycling through excitement, terror, and utter breakdown. "You finally came for me! You finally came for me! I knew you'd see through their conspiracy!"

With that, Qian Fu burst into tears, a mixture of joy and deep resentment.

"Quiet down! Don't attract the doctors!" Li Huowang hissed, nervously glancing down the hallway.

Qian Fu vigorously sniffed, drawing the mucus from his nose into his mouth, then swallowing it. "I've waited too long for you. Do you know how they tormented me when you weren't here?"

"They tormented you? Have they infiltrated the hospital?" Li Huowang's expression grew tense.

Qian Fu lowered his voice, his eyes fixed warily on the caregiver who was keeping watch in the distance. "They've infiltrated, but not many. You must be careful!"

"Tell me, who are 'they'?" Li Huowang asked, getting straight to the point.

Qian Fu's eyes widened as he stared at Li Huowang, his face incredulous. "What?! You mean you still don't know who's against us?"

"You know?! Who are they??" The image of the woman with the umbrella and the people who kidnapped him flashed through Li Huowang's mind. He had racked his brain trying to understand their identity and their motive.

"Of course! Didn't I tell you? They're aliens from the Leo constellation!"

"Damn it!" If the heavy metal door hadn't been between them, Li Huowang would have punched him. He felt like Qian Fu was toying with him.

Calming himself, Li Huowang had to accept the reality that his "ally" was mentally ill. Even if Qian Fu held some secrets, his status as a psychiatric patient remained.

Fortunately, Li Huowang had considerable experience interacting with psychiatric patients and knew how to handle them. "So, where are the spaceships of these Leo aliens?" he asked Qian Fu again.

"Their ships haven't landed yet; they're still hidden in the stars, unable to descend for now! But some Leo aliens *have* come down! And some people, seeking their advanced technology, have knelt before them and betrayed us! They are traitors!"

Li Huowang had come to Qian Fu for information, but hearing his explanation made Li Huowang's heart sink.

Receiving half-truths from a mentally ill person, Li Huowang could only listen with skepticism.

After a moment of thoughtful silence, Li Huowang, his brow furrowed, hesitantly asked, "Where did you hear all this information?"

If he couldn't get precise information from Qian Fu, perhaps he could trace it back to its source.

"Where did I hear it?! Isn't it obvious, clear as day? I saw it with my own eyes! After everything that's happened, don't tell me you haven't seen it!" Qian Fu retorted, his eyes wide and fixed on Li Huowang.

Suddenly, Qian Fu's hand shot out from the window and gripped Li Huowang's collar tightly. "Li Huowang, you have to get me out! You must find a way to save me! Only you can save me!"

"Let go of me!" Li Huowang struggled to pull Qian Fu's hand away, but his grip was like iron, impossible to break.

"First, get me out, then we can team up with others to fight those Leo aliens! They are too powerful! Too powerful! If we fight alone, they'll defeat us one by one. They're afraid of us uniting, which is why they're trying to divide us!"

Qian Fu's words agitated Li Huowang. He felt as if he understood some meaning within the madness, yet also understood nothing at all. "You can fight them? What can a madman like you do against them? If you can tell me, I'll figure out a way to rescue you!"

"I'm crazy, but aren't you crazy too? Even if we're not close, we're on the same side, after all!"

Just then, the caregiver in the distance noticed the struggle and rushed over, visibly flustered. "Hey, hey! Let go! Let go of him right now!"

He pulled at Qian Fu's hand, finally helping Li Huowang break free. "What's wrong with you? Why were you grabbing him? Hurry up and leave before something happens! If there's trouble, I'll be in serious trouble!"

Li Huowang cast a hesitant glance at Qian Fu in the isolation room, then turned to leave. His mind was in a jumble, and he needed to sort out his thoughts.

Seeing Li Huowang's reaction, Qian Fu grew desperate. "Don't go! Save me! Save me!"

As Li Huowang approached the end of the corridor, Qian Fu pressed his entire face against the bars and shrieked hoarsely, "Ji... Ji Zai!! Get me out!!"

Li Huowang froze. He turned to face the isolation room in the distance. "Who did you say I am?"

"Ji Zai! You are Ji Zai!"