Chapter 450: Child

Chapter 450: Child

How does one prove that they are sane within the confines of a psychiatric hospital?

Should he try to act like a normal person in front of the doctors? What if something urgent were to arise from the other world during the observation period?

Or perhaps manifest objects directly in front of others, proving that the alternate reality was truly real? But if he were to do such a thing, he would likely never again enjoy freedom.

This question was unsolvable for Li Huowang. He now treated both worlds as genuine, and anyone who saw him would surely remark that he had a severe mental illness.

After much contemplation, Li Huowang concluded that given his current situation here, whatever he said or did would be of no avail.

Since there was nothing to be done in this world, he could only attack the root of the other.

To escape this state of constant restriction, he could only wait until his cultivation techniques reached maturity and then use them to regain his freedom.

It was the simplest and most convenient method—far superior to engaging in intellectual battles with the hospital doctors.

Thus, Li Huowang threw himself even more fervently into cultivating his martial arts.

These cultivation techniques not only concerned whether he could save Zhuge Yuan but also his freedom in the real world—a double benefit indeed.

Having learned from past experiences, Li Huowang naturally wouldn’t practice such dangerous techniques in Niu Xin Village. Instead, he had found an excellent spot deep within the towering Niu Xin Mountain behind the village.

Here, regardless of how the stones and trees twisted and turned, Li Huowang felt no regret at all.

In this dark and secluded place unknown to anyone, Li Huowang didn’t just cultivate; he also engaged in matters too improper to share with his fellow disciples.

A sharp tearing sound rang out, followed by Li Huowang's scream echoing through the cave as Li Sui slowly poured a bowl full of mercury over him using three tentacles.

"Dao is the source of heaven and earth, the root of all qi. Through countless eons of cultivation, I have attained divine powers. Beyond the Three Realms, Dao alone is supreme. My body radiates golden light, shielding me."

As Li Huowang chanted the incantation, he watched the straw-filled human skin before him emit white smoke and gradually shrink until it became the size of a palm—another small skin figure.

This was already the second time, clearly much better than the first.

Ignoring Zhuge Yuan’s expression of nearly popping eyes out, Li Huowang grasped his own skin and instantly felt much more at ease. With this artifact, even if he were decapitated, he could still survive.

More importantly, this magical item could be replicated. As long as time permitted, he could continuously obtain these heart-soul artifacts, ensuring he need never again live in fear when facing formidable opponents.

Li Huowang cut a wound in his abdomen with a small knife, inserting the skin figure between two fingers.

Once Li Huowang had healed all his injuries with the Fire Robe True Scripture, Li Sui beside him asked curiously, "Father, what is this? Can you teach me too? I want one too."

Li Huowang shook his head. "You can't use it. You're not a heart-soul cultivator. Your skin has no value."

Saying that, Li Huowang put on his red Daoist robe, picked up his weapons, and walked toward the cave entrance.

"Father, I want to help you," Li Sui persisted without giving up, but Li Huowang didn't appreciate it.

He didn’t believe that a black tiger spirit could really assist him. “You stay quietly in the village from now on. Don’t wander around. Do you hear me? Outside are bad people. If they catch you, they’ll turn you into pills and eat you.”

"You’re lying! I’ve been outside. It’s more fun than the village. In the village, everyone fears me—they even fear the steamed buns. I still think it's more fun to cultivate with you, Father. Can’t I return to your belly again?"

"No."

"Why?"

"If you stay longer, the body will become yours."

Seeing Li Sui’s eager eyes, Li Huowang pondered for a moment before finally taking a book from his pocket.

"If you're bored, practice this to pass the time. Ask me about any words you don’t understand." What he pulled out was the talisman manual given to him by the blind man Chen.

Although the image of a thick black tentacle chanting spells while drawing talismans seemed rather bizarre,

if he actually succeeded in mastering it, Li Sui might indeed become a valuable ally.

"You must remember, there are many restrictions with talismans."

With blood-stained flesh, Li Huowang patiently instructed while leading Li Sui along the rugged mountain path toward the village where smoke rose from chimneys.

"Father, why do they fear me? If I take off my clothes and show them my true form, won’t they stop being afraid?"

"No, absolutely not."

"Why not? What if I’m kind to them, give them silver and food?"

"Where did you learn that nonsense? Never reveal your true appearance to them. You’re not like them—you’re not human."

Hearing all these questions from Li Sui, Li Huowang suddenly regretted his decision.

Raising him wasn’t any easier than raising a child who was hated by dogs and men alike. He hadn’t had so many problems before.

"I don’t have time. I need someone to teach him properly. Li Sui lacks basic understanding of many things."

As they walked, they reached the edge of rice fields where Li Huowang’s adopted children and some fellow disciples were working hard in the fields.

"Senior Brother Li! You came down from the mountain?" Young Yang Xiaohai, mud-covered feet dragging a cow, ran excitedly over.

"Weren’t you supposed to manage everyone’s meals? Why are you working in the fields? Who told you to work so hard?"

"No one told me—I came myself! Senior Brother Li, look, from here to there, it's two mu of land—all mine! All mine!"

"White Sister said that everything grown on this land belongs to me! Two mu of land! How much grain can it produce? Once harvest comes, I'll never go hungry again!"

Excitedly speaking, Yang Xiaohai suddenly felt something odd on his calf. He touched it and pulled out a leech as thick as his forearm, carelessly tossing it aside.

The leech smelled the blood on Li Huowang and instinctively crawled toward his feet.

Li Huowang frowned immediately. He wasn’t afraid of most insects or creatures, but he couldn’t stand these.

Thinking of hundreds of leeches wrapping their slimy, cold bodies around his entire body, biting open his flesh with sharp mouths and burrowing half their bodies inside—

Seeing Li Huowang standing still without speaking, Yang Xiaohai asked in surprise, "Senior Brother Li, what’s wrong? Have you never seen a cow with a rotten scrotum? Then you must rarely go into the fields, right?"

(End of Chapter)