Mutated Tao

Qing Wanglai opened his eyes. He looked at the rising sun and waited for his seven o’clock alarm to ring.

He looked down and admired his mansion. The mansion was small, approximately three hundred square meters. It was simple and minimalistic, with white as its main color.

For someone accustomed to living alone, the house was enough. It felt comfortable, and he had no desire to push beyond his comfort zone.

Ring ring ring~ His alarm rang, marking the start of his day. He took a bath and got dressed.

He departed at exactly seven twenty in the morning. He drove for thirty minutes and bought breakfast along the way, reaching White Tower Prison at eight in the morning sharp.

Though not as chaotic as a typical hospital, working there was far from simple.

As Qing Wanglai prepared to eat breakfast after making tea, someone came into his office. It was a large man with a huge beard. “Doctor Yi, the VIP is here. Come take a look.”

“What?”

Qian Fu explained, “It’s that person who went viral a couple of days ago. We’re lucky he got assigned to us.”

Qing Wanglai remembered the news he read a couple of days ago. His interest was piqued. “Sure, let’s go see him.”

They made their way to the intensive care ward and saw Li Huowang.

“Doctor Qing, this is the medical record of patient number thirteen. Please have a read. He was transferred here from An Ding Hospital.”

Qing Wanglai accepted the file and read through it. “So this is him?”

Although news channels hadn’t disclosed Li Huowang’s real name, he had long since become famous among psychiatrists. They had been monitoring Li Huowang’s movements for a long time.

“Yes, that’s Li Huowang—the guy who went viral. The lunatic who swung a knife around to rescue his girlfriend.”

Qing Wanglai continued reading while occasionally glancing at Li Huowang through the one-way mirror. He saw the youth shouting in despair while being restrained by a straitjacket. Qing Wanglai carefully listened as Li Huowang rambled incoherently.

“No.” Qing Wanglai closed the medical records and said grimly, “He wasn’t there to save her. He was there to kill her. His condition is too severe.”

“What? How could that be? That’s his girlfriend! She’s such a pretty young lady too!” Qian Fu asked in confusion.

“I’m also trying to figure out his motive. How could he want to harm his own girlfriend? Why? What’s his reasoning?”

“We aren’t detectives. Couldn’t insanity be enough to explain it? Isn’t that motive enough?”

Qing Wanglai scoffed at Qian Fu. “Doctor Qian, your words would devalue our professionalism. Even mentally ill patients would need a motive to kill someone. They might believe their reasons are perfectly rational, even when others see them as madness.”

“Sigh,” Qian Fu stroked his beard. “Why do they always send the crazy demons to us?”

“Stop complaining and focus on a treatment plan,” Qing Wanglai sighed. “He’s been given the standard medications in the previous hospital, but they’ve had little effect.”

“And what do you suggest we do? To be honest, this place is technically a prison. As long as he’s locked up and can’t hurt anyone, that should be enough.”

Qing Wanglai side-eyed Qian Fu. “Well, everyone should have aspirations to chase in life. Do you want to stay here forever babysitting the patients?”

“Pssh. What are you planning, then? Treat him and publish your thesis so you can get a promotion?”

Qing Wanglai reached for the metal door at the side. “We should at least try, regardless of the outcome.”

Qian Fu hurried along. “Then you should be careful. I’ve heard that patient thirteen somehow drove his previous doctor insane too.”

Qing Wanglai decided against revealing himself to Li Huowang just yet. Instead, he eavesdropped on the patient while the other doctors entered to begin treatment.

The prison's upper management was very careful because Li Huowang was a famous troublemaker. They immediately checked on Li Huowang and ordered the doctors to devise a treatment plan.

Qing Wanglai quietly listened to the other doctors discussing a treatment plan.

Ultimately, they chose to use a simple yet safe treatment plan. They prioritized safety above all else.

Qing Wanglai could understand their intentions. Li Huowang was a high-risk patient—essentially a hot potato no one wanted to handle.

While Qian Fu munched on his leftover breakfast, he remarked, “He’s highly resistant to treatment. It’s probably because he’s been subjected to so many attempts before. I’m fairly certain that he’s even built up resistance to some medications.”

“Hmm… Indeed. It’s very tricky.”

Qing Wanglai nodded. After some thought, he said, “I think we have a chance. Still, I’ll need to analyze all our footage of him first.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I need to find a fake doctor to masquerade as his main doctor. The fake doctor will try fake methods to treat Li Huowang while we pretend to be the characters from Li Huowang’s hallucinations. We will secretly administer the treatment plan when Li Huowang’s guard is at its lowest. We can’t do this with the other patients, but we might have a shot here. Li Huowang’s hallucinations are not only coherent but also very complete.”

Qian Fu frowned. “Us? Why me again? You want me to act like a patient again?”

Qing Wanglai patted Qian Fu’s blue-and-white striped hospital gown. “What do you mean act? You are a patient! Look at how well you fit in your hospital gown. Don’t worry. I will shoulder all responsibilities if anything happens.”

“Fine, as long as you take the blame. I will also round up other actors for you.”

Qian Fu then took out his phone to make several phone calls.

“But… won’t this make his condition worse?”

Qing Wanglai waved off the concern. “Don’t worry. It won’t.”

“Let’s talk to the chief warden first.”

“Alright.”

The two headed to the chief warden’s office, finding the door already ajar. Inside, the balding chief was in conversation with someone else.

“Chief, I need to discuss something with you.”

Qing Wanglai explained his treatment plan to the chief.

The chief took out a cigarette and lit it up. “Alright. Go ahead and try.”

Qing Wanglai passed a piece of paper and a pen to him. “Could you sign here?”

However, the Chief did not sign it. “I’m an open person. You can use whatever treatment plan you have, but I won’t sign it. If it works, all the glory will be yours. As your superior, I’ll never take credit for your efforts.”

Qing Wanglai knew what the Chief meant. That meant Qing Wanglai’s treatment plan would be secret and administered without approval. The prison would have nothing to do with it.

Qing Wanglai chuckled and walked out with Qian Fu. He wasn’t like the others.

Qian Fu asked, “Qing Wanglai, I can act as a patient, but who will be his doctor? I doubt that the others would follow your plan.”

“We don’t have doctors, but we have patients.”

Qing Wanglai pushed his glasses and looked at Yi Donglai. Yi Donglai was earnestly trying to treat another patient.

“Hoh. You smart rascal. A patient acting as the doctor while the real doctors stay in the background.”

“How can we treat patients if we don’t explore the unknown a little?”

Qing Wanglai approached Yi Donglai and said courteously, “Doctor Yi, we have a new patient admitted into our hospital. Please assist me in curing that patient.”

Yi Donglai leaned back, propping up his legs cockily. “Didn’t you already have an assistant?”

Qian Fu grumbled. “What assistant? We went to the same university, so we’re closer than the others.”

Yi Donglai scoffed. “You know the other doctors too. Why me?”

“Just say yes or no.”

“Fine, I will agree to treat Li Huowang. I must, if I have to say so.”

“Good, then let me explain to you. Li Huowang isn’t always stuck in his hallucinations because they occur in stages. Our treatment plan is as follows…”

Everything was ready. Yi Donglai put on a white robe and entered Li Huowang’s room.

As Li Huowang woke up, Yi Donglai greeted him with a smile. “Hello, Li Huowang. Nice to meet you. I’m your doctor, Yi Donglai.”

Qian Fu raised his thumb at Qing Wanglai. “Look at that bastard acting like a doctor.”

“Shh. Be serious. Record everything Li Huowang says about his hallucinations. We’ll need it later.”

“You can record it yourself. I’m just gonna make one up. Why should his perspective matter more than mine? I’m a patient, remember?”

Qing Wanglai nodded. “That’s fine too. That way, you won’t reveal too much when you communicate with him later on.”

Qian Fu paused. “Wait, when should I show up?”

“Shh. Just follow Yi Donglai’s rhythm for now. We will determine the time ourselves.”

The two of them continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.

While Li Huowang was hallucinating, the three of them exchanged notes and started to analyze Li Huowang’s psyche.

It didn’t go well initially. Li Huowang rejected everything vehemently, but after some new developments, Li Huowang started to believe Yi Donglai.

There was some trouble during their treatment plan, but in just a few months, they saw progress. One day, Li Huowang stood atop the slide, pulling a dice from the top of a lamp. Everyone cheered.

Qing Wanglai smiled as Qian Fu nudged him. “Hey, your treatment plan is working.”

“Now, we need to start stage two. It’s your turn now. You will become the projection of the one buried beneath Qing Qiu, the Siming of Death.”

“Do you really need to say it out loud? That’s so childish.” Qian Fu rolled his eyes. “Nevermind, I will go and get changed now.”

Qian Fu left, heading toward the intensive care wards. “Chen Hongyu and the others should show up soon if it’s my turn to act. Make sure to contact them first.”

“I’ve already contacted them.”

The treatment plan had been going smoothly, but something changed halfway through.

Qing Wanglai stormed into the chief warden’s office, anger evident on his face. “What’s going on? Why is he being transferred? He hasn’t recovered yet!”

Everything was going well, but the higher-ups decided to transfer Li Huowang.

“Wasn’t he cured yet? I thought he could already differentiate between the real and fake worlds. We should send him away now. What if something happens while he’s in our custody?”

“But that’s just a fabricated scene! Our goal is to fully cure Li Huowang, not trap him in it! His family would never agree to it.”

“Sigh…” The chief warden lit another cigarette and said, “Doctor Qing, you should know that I’m not the boss here. The one controlling this place is Xie Qiuquan. Don’t forget that while we are a hospital, we are also a prison.”

Qing Wanglai clenched his fists tightly. “Li Huowang is still a high-risk patient. He has killed before! What if he kills again after the transfer?”

The chief warden reclined in his chair, which creaked under his weight. “Then it won’t be our problem. The director and I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since Li Huowang got here. Doctor Qing, Doctor Qing, I know you’re ambitious and capable, but I’m fifty-two. I’ll be retiring in a few years, so please don’t trouble me further.”

Qing Wanglai furiously stormed out of the office and slammed the door shut. Yi Donglai and Qian Fu quickly followed him. “So what’s going on?”

“There’s no chance. He’s determined to transfer Li Huowang,” Qing Wanglai replied.

“What should we do, then?”

“What else? If Li Huowang is being transferred, we’ll follow him,” Qing Wanglai said decisively.

Yi Donglai was confused. “But I still have work here. How can I go out and treat Li Huowang?”

Qing Wanglai smiled when he heard Yi Donglai. “Don’t worry. You can continue your work. It’s my turn to step in now.”

Sitting in the canteen, Qing Wanglai positioned himself carefully. Hearing footsteps approach, he turned toward the source of the sound.

Setting his food aside, he approached Li Huowang. “Long time no see. How are you doing?”

Although Qing Wanglai had been observing Li Huowang for months and was his main doctor, to Li Huowang, this was their first meeting.

“Hello, Qing Wanglai. I am Li Huowang.”

The second stage of the treatment plan started.

With Qing Wanglai’s involvement, things returned to normal. Qing Wanglai gradually took control of the situation. The treatment progressed smoothly, and he even managed to sneak medicine into Li Huowang’s food from time to time.

In fact, Qing Wanglai could even persuade Li Huowang to take the medicine on his own by earning his trust. It was much easier than forcing the medicine down Li Huowang’s throat.

This was a vast improvement—previously, it had taken more than four men to restrain Li Huowang and force the medicine down his throat.

Li Huowang’s condition improved, and everything seemed to be going well—until something unexpected happened.

“What’s going on? What is happening?”

Everyone stared at the bloody eyeball before them, their faces pale. As a doctor, Qing Wanglai knew all too well what it meant for a patient to dig out their own eye.

Chen Hongyu muttered, “Whose fault is this? Should we draw lots?”

“There’s no time to assign blame!” Qing Wanglai declared. “This is a necessary cost! We need to focus on treating him. As long as we succeed, everything can be explained. If we fail, I’ll shoulder all the consequences!”

He then looked at Zhao Shuangdian. “Call Li Huowang and figure out what’s going on with him.”

Zhao Shuangdian nodded. She placed the call, but when she hung up, her expression was one of confusion.

Qing Wanglai asked, “What did he say?”

Zhao Shuangdian answered with a confused look. “He said topology. That’s it.”

Qing Wanglai sighed in relief. “Good. The situation is still under control. Everyone, let’s move. We need to keep pushing forward to treat him.”

The treatment continued, with everyone proceeding cautiously toward the final stages of the plan. Qian Fu and the others, who had supposedly died, weren’t slacking off either. They were renting out houses and vehicles while preparing treatment sites as needed.

Finally, with everyone’s help, Li Huowang was once again admitted into the ward of White Tower Hospital.

Li Huowang struggled against his restraints as Qing Wanglai, with sweat dripping from his forehead, whispered repeatedly, “Li Huowang, wake up. Li Huowang, wake up. Everything you’ve experienced is a lie! Everything is fake!”

Li Huowang’s eyes suddenly fluttered open. Bright sunlight shone past the white curtains while a loud buzz deafened him.

“I feel… I feel… Something from both worlds superimposed…”

Li Huowang looked at his own skeletal hands as he muttered.

Yi Donglai sighed in relief when he heard Li Huowang.

“Good. This is normal. That meant my treatment worked. Remember to take your medicine on time. You will be cured in no time.”

The doors burst open as a group of doctors rushed in, clapping to celebrate Li Huowang’s recovery.

Qing Wanglai felt the heavy burden of the past few months lift from his shoulders. He took a deep breath, letting out a long sigh.

As the clapping died down, Qing Wanglai extended his arm and patted Li Huowang.

“Little Li, let’s go. I will prescribe you some medicine. You can finally transfer from the intensive care ward to a regular one. You’ll have more freedom now. Once you’re discharged, work hard and study to get into a good university.”

Li Huowang’s happiness also brought joy to Qing Wanglai. He could write several theses based on Li Huowang’s medical records and treatment plan alone.

“Doctor Qing, can you help me?”

“Is it your girlfriend?” Qing Wanglai had expected that.

“Yes. I want to see her.”

“You should call your mother first to let her know that you are cured. I’ll bring you to see her later.”

Qing Wanglai long knew that Li Huowang’s girlfriend was sick too. He doubted she could remain sane with a partner like Li Huowang.

But this was a minor issue for him. He had managed to cure Li Huowang. The other illnesses were nothing to him.

It took time, but Qing Wanglai managed to stabilize Yang Na’s condition with treatment and medication.

Now he sat in his brand new office. It was larger than his previous office. He sipped his tea as he admired the banner on the wall.

The God of Medicines Reincarnated with a burning compassion that matches a familial bond. Gifted by Li Huowang and Yang Na.

Pride swelled within him as he read the words. He had chosen the right path in life. He was wealthy, but no amount of money could buy the satisfaction he felt now. Indeed, everyone needed a passion to truly feel alive.

His phone suddenly rang. He opened the drawer and fished out his cellphone. “Hello? Auntie Sun? What’s wrong? Did Huowang relapse? No, I’m not from this prefecture. Yes, I was born in 1989 and have a house here… Its size? It’s not big. Aunty Sun, why are you asking me this?

“No, no, that’s alright. Thank you, but I don’t need any introductions, not anytime soon. I’m not interested in arranged marriage meetings… What? I know she’s a good woman. That’s not what I meant.”

After a lengthy conversation, Qing Wanglai finally convinced Sun Xiaoqin to drop the matter. Tossing his phone back into the drawer, he took another sip of tea, a smile tugging at his lips as he glanced at the red wedding invitation inside the drawer.

“Heh, she’s such an interesting auntie. Now that she doesn’t have to worry about her son’s marriage, she’s already trying to play matchmaker for others.”

-Epilogue, Qing Wanglai’s POV, End-

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