Chapter 864: Trigger

Chapter 864: The Catalyst

Li Huowang rode his motorcycle slowly along the roadway, with Yang Na seated behind him on the rear seat.

He deliberately freed one hand to firmly grasp Yang Na’s wrists, afraid she might fall off.

Yang Na clung tightly to Li Huowang, her long hair flowing in the breeze like silk. “Huowang, where are we going?”

“Home.”

“Home? Why go home? That was all fake—it was just projection. I am now the Eternal Mother, and I’m equal to you now as a Life Keeper. I am a god of this world.”

Hearing these words, Li Huowang’s heart gave a sudden jolt. In that moment, he finally understood the despair his mother must have felt when she knelt at the kindergarten gate.

“Nana, you’re sick. All of that was false. It was all an illusion.”

“What about you? Did everything you said also turn out to be an illusion?”

A sharp pain began to throb in Li Huowang’s head. He felt as though two enormous hands were tearing at his brain, trying to mash it into pulp.

He clenched his fists and struck his own temples several times, but in the end, he painfully nodded.

“Yes, right. I’m sick too—severe mental illness. During my illness, I saw many kinds of hallucinations.”

“But look at me—I’ve recovered. I won’t have any more illusions.”

“Really?” Yang Na, leaning her head against Li Huowang’s back, looked deeply bewildered.

But gradually, she began to cry, her tears soaking through his back.

“Don’t cry. Tell me what’s troubling you. Once you speak it out, your heart will feel lighter.”

“I’m sorry… it’s all because of me. If I hadn’t called the police, you wouldn’t have lost only one eye. Blame me all you want.”

“Huowang, you only have one eye left, and there’s a scar on your face. What if I die? Who will take care of you then? What will become of you?”

“It’s okay. This has nothing to do with you.”

Li Huowang continued to comfort her, but he knew no matter how much he tried, it would make no difference.

Her condition was so severe; she couldn’t be cured merely by talking. She needed medication.

As they spoke, Li Huowang had already driven the motorcycle into a residential complex. He stopped in front of the building entrance. He had visited Yang Na’s house many times before—he definitely wouldn’t forget.

When he saw the missing person poster pasted on the door, Li Huowang paused for a moment. Clearly, Yang Na had been gone for some time.

He helped the frail Yang Na down from the bike and embraced her as they walked toward the elevator. But Yang Na clearly wasn’t cooperating.

She grabbed the door with both hands and stubbornly asked, “Huowang, are you lying to me? Why did you say such different things before? Why does it feel like you’ve changed so much now? What’s really happening?”

“Be good. Don’t worry.” Just as Li Huowang reached to pull her hand away, a sudden flurry of footsteps came from behind.

Li Huowang’s scalp tingled. As he turned to see who it was, he froze in place.

In the next instant, he was sent flying backward by a punch, staggering backward while feeling his teeth loosen slightly.

Once he steadied himself, he saw the man holding Yang Na in his arms. But he wasn’t angry—because it was Yang Na’s father, Yang Wanli.

Li Huowang rubbed his face and lowered his hand, saying, “Uncle, hello.”

You bastard! So you’re the one who took her! What did you do to her?!” Yang Wanli shoved his daughter into his wife’s arms and rolled up his sleeves, charging forward.

“Wanli! Come back! This guy is dangerous! He’s killed dozens of people—he’s a lunatic!”

His wife’s words instantly calmed the bloodshot eyes of Yang Wanli. He quickly retreated, standing protectively in front of his wife and child.

With five parts fear and five parts pleading, he said to Li Huowang, “Li Huowang! What have we ever done to wrong you? Why are you hurting Nana like this?”

“Look at her! Look at her wrists!” Yang Wanli raised Yang Na’s pale, delicate arm, showing scars crisscrossing its inner side.

“I beg you! She’s suffered enough. Please let her go! Do you really want to push her to death before you’re satisfied?”

Li Huowang stood silently, bearing the words, and finally said nothing. He turned and walked away.

Just as he mounted the motorcycle, a pitiful voice rang out from behind. “Huowang!!”

Li Huowang’s heart trembled. He opened his mouth to say something, but could not utter a word. He understood. He truly understood. Yang Na suffered from external depression. To heal her, the catalyst must be removed—and he was the biggest one.

No matter what happened to him, anyone connected to him would suffer misfortune.

If nothing went wrong, today might be the last time he ever saw Yang Na.

If leaving could bring her back to normal, he was willing to let go.

“Uncle, if possible, take Nana to live somewhere else for a while,” Li Huowang said, then revved the engine and turned away.

Li Huowang’s motorcycle began to accelerate rapidly, reaching a dangerously high speed.

For some reason, he suddenly thought that dying in a car crash might not be such a terrible ending.

But things didn’t go as he wished. Even after arriving near Bai Ta Prison, there was no collision.

He tossed the nearly empty motorcycle to the roadside and walked toward Bai Ta Prison.

On the desolate street, a black sedan slowly pulled up from behind, matching Li Huowang’s pace.

The window rolled down, revealing Ba Nanxu holding a beer bottle. “Hey, Huozi, did you forget something? You’re still young—you shouldn’t be so forgetful.”

“Get lost! I’m busy!”

“Don’t play dumb. We went through hell to get you out—we don’t want you walking back in. Come on, Zhao Shuang wants to see you.”

“No way! Why do you have to find me? Can’t the world collapse without me?”

“You’re breaking all the rules now. We agreed before—we help you escape, and you leave Qingwang behind to join us.”

Li Huowang turned his head, his bloodshot eyes glaring at her. “I don’t care about the agreement! So what? Don’t like it? Come bite me if you dare!”

The brakes screeched. The two siblings got out, looking at Li Huowang with ill intent. “We’ve been waiting for that exact line. I’ve hated you for ages. We just never found a chance to kill you.”

Li Huowang quickly scanned them for weaknesses. “Can’t fight both at once. First deal with the woman, then the big guy.”

As the tension built, a crisp ringtone broke the heavy silence.

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