The Unruly Immortals

The snow-white walls, the illuminated energy-saving lights, and the shallow green explosion-proof glass with welded iron bars.

Li Huowang, wrapped in two layers of Binding Clothes, watched everything around him quietly and earnestly.

To Li Huowang at that moment, the monotonous surroundings seemed so vibrant, as if the colors were somehow elevated.

This was simply because everything was real, not false.

From Hong Zhong's memories, Li Huowang had learned of Xinsu's extraordinarily powerful ability, his Innate Qi, which was not something else but a part of the Heavenly Dao.

Just as Heart Turbidity could tear apart heaven and earth, Xinsu's ability could also "cultivate truth with falsehood" if perfectly utilized.

Once he understood this, all the confusion in Li Huowang's heart disappeared. He didn't need to distinguish between real and fake; anything he cared about, true or false, could become real.

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

First, two tall guards walked in from the outside, holding their batons, and wearing bulletproof stab-resistant vests, standing like door gods on each side.

Walking between them was Sun Xiaoqin, carrying a food box. She seemed quite displeased with the presence of the two men.

"You young people really, oh boy, I've said it already, with me here, there definitely won't be an issue, yet you still have to follow, one isn't enough, two come at once, are all of you in this prison so idle?"

The guards were equally full of complaints. "Auntie Sun, please don't make it difficult for us, this is a strict order from above. Even though we work within the system and have a guaranteed income, our monthly salary is only a few thousand. Do you know how much housing prices are per square meter now? It's truly not worth it to risk our lives for such a small amount of money with your son."

Sun Xiaoqin seemed to want to continue complaining, but when she saw Li Huowang looking at her, she immediately perked up and walked over with the food box. "Son? You're awake! Here, eat up, today I've made your favorite winter melon and pork rib soup!"

Li Huowang gazed at the face in front of him. A face exceptionally familiar, yet incredibly dear.

A plastic spoon with a short handle scooped up half a spoonful of rice from the food box, then picked up half a pork rib with some winter melon, and finally brought it to Li Huowang's mouth.

Li Huowang placed the simple yet delicious food in his mouth, chewing gently.

He calmly enjoyed the rare delicacy, no longer worrying about whether he was eating winter melon and pork ribs, or rusty nails and rotten mud.

Looking at Sun Xiaoqin's crow's feet, Li Huowang said softly, "Mom, there's no need to spend every second of the day around me. Take some rest; I'll be getting better and better."

"Nonsense, the more it comes to times like this, the more I can't leave your side!"

Hearing this, Li Huowang didn't try to persuade her further because he knew it was futile with her temperament.

The meal was finished in an unusual and rare peace, with not a single mishap occurring.

Just as the two guards by the door began to relax, one of them saw a colleague bring in a man in his forties or fifties into the ward.

"It's nothing, he is the father of the patient in bed number 13."

All three guards watched as the man, carrying a bag of small tangerines in a red net, walked toward the bed of the mad Wu.

"Dad." Li Huowang stared at the somewhat unfamiliar man; the times he was lucid were few, and even fewer were the times his father was by his side.

"Why are you here? You could have at least let me know before you came." Sun Xiaoqin scolded her husband, and pulling on his wrist, she walked him toward the door.

Through the window with welded iron bars, Li Huowang saw his parents huddled together, whispering something, occasionally stealing glances 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 large; they had both lost weight.

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

"Want an orange?" Two sugar oranges were taken out from the red net bag by a pair of rough hands.

Seeing Li Huowang shake his head, he peeled one and placed it on the bedside table next to him.

"How have you been lately?"

"Not bad, the environment here is pretty good."

"How's your illness?"

"Almost better, I mean it."

"Oh, that's good."

The two engaged in sporadic conversation, but gradually, both stopped talking.

Their conversation halted, which seemed normal, compared to the mother at home who played the "good cop," the "bad cop" father did not spend much time in heart-to-heart talks.

Li Huowang silently observed the other person, the bloodshot in his eyes and the faint dark circles underneath proved a lack of sleep.

The somewhat yellowed collar and greasy cuffs suggested that he hadn't changed his clothes in a while.

The balding hair had more white hairs than before and the beard had gone several days without shaving.

And this man was his father, Li Jiancheng.

Looking at his son bound tightly to the hospital bed and the scar that ran across his entire face, Li Jiancheng let out a deep sigh. He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a crumpled and wrinkled pack of cigarettes, took one out, placed it at the corner of his mouth, and lit it with a green transparent lighter.

He took a deep drag and then slowly exhaled, as if the smoke was getting to him, his eyes appeared a bit wet.

"Master, sorry, but no smoking anywhere in the prison block now. Please comply."

Hearing the reminder from the guard at the door, Li Jiancheng hurriedly snuffed out the cigarette, looked around, couldn't find an ashtray, and finally wrapped it up with the peeled orange skin.

"Dad, didn't you quit? Why did you start again?"

Li Jiancheng smiled, pocketing the lighter, "Just feeling upset, no worries, it's cheap cigarettes, doesn't cost much."

"I'm not talking about the money, it's your health."

After a while, Li Jiancheng sighed deeply once more and said, "It's my fault, I didn't notice earlier you had this condition. I looked it up online, mental illnesses are better treated early. If we had found out earlier, maybe you wouldn't have--"

"Dad, this has nothing to do with you!" Li Huowang truly couldn't hold back and interrupted him straight away.

"It's a physical issue, anyway. Since I am Xinsu, that's my fate, inescapable. You don't have to blame yourself. I'll handle it, rest assured."

When he saw the corners of his mouth start to tremble slightly, Li Huowang knew he shouldn't have explained anything to him.

He didn't understand that other world at all. Talking to him about Xinsu would only make him think the illness hadn't improved.

"Huowang." Li Jiancheng spoke with tiredness and bitterness in his voice. "I know you can't tell the difference, it's okay. If you can't, it's fine, dad doesn't blame you."

"If you like it better over there, then stay there. If it makes you feel better, don't worry, I've got everything covered here. Dad can still hold up."

Upon hearing these words, Li Huowang felt a pang in his heart but said nothing; he feared that the moment he opened his mouth, tears would start to flow from his eyes.

The father and son continued to sit in silence, until the guard came to call time, and Li Jiancheng, tired yet holding strong, finally stood up, patted Li Huowang's head, and left the hospital room.