Chapter 93: Red

Li Huowang, sitting on the hospital bed, reflected on everything that had just happened. He never imagined that "The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month" was stranger than anything he had ever encountered before. It could fundamentally alter perception, silently replacing a person's identity.

Furthermore, it could transfer the identities of others onto that person. Earlier, when his own identity became that of an old man, he surmised that if he had truly believed he was dead at that moment, he probably would have died. Dying under such circumstances, he feared, might even prevent Danyangzi from being triggered. However, it couldn't have predicted that Li Huowang was insane; altering a madman's perception was not so easy. The hallucinations he had previously tried to avoid had now become the key to breaking free from its control. No matter how powerful "The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month" was, it could only modify one perception. However, as a "Xinsu," Li Huowang uniquely possessed two distinct perceptions.

Looking at the other patients sunbathing outside, Li Huowang didn't act immediately. Instead, he began to quietly calculate in his mind. "I can't just wait here. It's possible that after the hallucination subsides, 'The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month' might try to alter my perception again. I must act within this hallucination to influence the other side."

Fortunately, Li Huowang wasn't without other options. After the two previous incidents, he had learned that what happened within the hallucination also occurred in reality, and he had also gained some understanding of "The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month." Li Huowang firmly memorized the path he had just taken. He needed to go back, return to the Wu family compound, and warn the others that the Li Huowang there was an impostor!

From start to finish, "The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month" had only dared to operate covertly, never showing its face. This meant its direct combat ability was definitely weak. If its tricks proved ineffective, it might even be weaker than the small-footed woman from before, and Master You could easily deal with them.

After devising his strategy, Li Huowang was about to sit up when he realized both his hands were tied to the bed. But this couldn't restrain Li Huowang; he was already very familiar with everything in this hallucination. He turned his head towards the microphone by the bed and, pretending to be his old self, called out, "Which beautiful nurse is on duty today? Could you please untie me? I really need to use the restroom."

Soon after, a plump nurse excitedly rushed in and untied Li Huowang. "Oh my goodness! Little Li, you're finally awake?! Why was it so long this time? You scared me to death; I thought you'd never wake up again!"

"Wait a moment, I'll go inform Yang Na right away. Your little girlfriend will surely jump for joy when she hears you've recovered. You wouldn't believe how many times she's cried lately."

The nurse's words didn't stir a ripple in Li Huowang's calm heart. No matter how wonderful this place seemed, what was fake remained fake. Master Jingxin always said that the hearts of "Xinsu" were filled with confusion, but Li Huowang disagreed. He had recognized everything for what it was and would absolutely not mistake anything here for reality.

While the nurse turned and rushed out to inform the doctor, Li Huowang quickly rolled off the bed and began to escape, following the route in his mind. Li Huowang was already very familiar with this hospital. Soon he reached the hospital gate, expertly scaling the fence using all his limbs. Ignoring the shouts and whistles of the security guards behind him, he plunged headfirst towards the road.

"Hallucinations, these are all hallucinations!" Li Huowang had no time to deal with these hallucinations now. Bai Lingmiao and the others were still under the control of "The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month" and could be in danger at any moment.

Once on the road, Li Huowang's blue-and-white striped hospital gown immediately drew attention. Many people even raised their phones. "Hey, what's wrong with that person? Why are they out here barefoot? Aren't they cold?"

"Look, his clothes have the hospital's name on them. Oh my god, he's escaped from a mental hospital! Should we call the police?"

"Is this real or fake? Is he an influencer? Those guys will do anything to go viral."

"Fake, it's all fake! I've been fooled once by you, and I definitely won't be fooled a second time!" Li Huowang roared emphatically in his heart, biting his gums until they bled.

Weaving through the streets, Li Huowang arrived at the Wu family compound from his memory. In this hallucination, however, he found himself standing in the middle of a busy road. Although cars constantly whizzed around him, Li Huowang wasn't afraid in the slightest. He knew that all of this was fake, a hallucination; the cars couldn't possibly hit him.

Li Huowang shouted at the continuous stream of cars in front of him: "Bai Lingmiao! Quickly, pick up my bell! Ring it! Summon Master You! The Li Huowang next to you is a fake! Make Master You attack him!"

"Honk honk honk beep beep!" Unsurprisingly, the road became gridlocked, thanks to Li Huowang. All the car horns blared, yet Li Huowang smiled. It was clear that Bai Lingmiao had followed his instructions; these horn sounds were the result of the bell's ringing being distorted by the hallucination.

Just then, the owner of a red sports car poked his head out the window and arrogantly yelled, "Are you crazy?! Are you looking for a fight?! Get lost! Or I'll cripple you!" In his state of heightened excitement, Li Huowang swiftly turned his head and stared intently at the bright red sports car. He felt a gaze from the car pierce him. He walked over, baring his stark white teeth again, and, bending down, said to the red sports car, "Heh heh, so you're a physical entity within this hallucination, 'The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month'!! I found you!"

"The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month," which had never shown itself in Wu Village, had now appeared before Li Huowang in this form. This was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise. Li Huowang continued to shout at his unseen fellow disciples, "Everyone, look at me! Whatever is in front of me, attack it with all your might! This thing is 'The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month'!"

At that moment, the sports car owner also noticed the red lettering "An Ding Mental Hospital" on Li Huowang's left chest. He was instantly startled, losing all his previous arrogance. He scrambled back into his car, quickly rolled up the window, and tremblingly picked up his phone. "Hello! Is this 110? Come quickly! There's a crazy person who escaped at the big roundabout! Yes, the big roundabout by Walmart, hurry!"

Just as Li Huowang was about to kick the hood of the red sports car, he suddenly stopped. Under everyone's gaze, he suddenly turned his head towards a red electric scooter in the distance. The gaze from the sports car had shifted to it.

Not good! "The Eighteenth of the Twelfth Lunar Month" saw it was discovered and was preparing to escape!

"Trying to run? Not so easy! Everyone, quickly follow! That thing must be injured! It's getting smaller!!" Li Huowang took off, chasing the red electric scooter.