webnovel

Chapter 124: A Feast for the Mountain King's Return

One-Eye couldn't accept it. Twice now, he'd been humiliated by two mental patients. The trauma, both physical and psychological, was immense.

He'd expected to enjoy the show.

Naturally, he couldn't accept the current situation.

"You don't feel any discomfort?"

One-Eye pressed on. Even with the reality staring him in the face, he clung to a sliver of hope. He yearned for them to express even the slightest discomfort—a leg cramp, a sore arm, anything—just to offer him a shred of consolation.

Jin Shangwu twisted his neck and swung his arms. "Nope, feeling great. Actually, I have to say, he's really skilled. I admire you, One-Eye. You can recruit all sorts of talent. Which prestigious academy did they graduate from? I'm guessing it wasn't one of the top four."

Was Green Mountain Mental Hospital considered a prestigious academy?

The whole situation was so absurd, he didn't even want to talk about it.

It was a tale of woe.

One-Eye: "Haha!"

Do you think I care?

Back in the dorm…

Liu Ying left, feeling content. He had spent another night there, inexplicably losing consciousness. Although he woke up naked the next morning, the sight of another black hair sprouting on his head filled him with joy.

Happiness began with a single strand of hair.

Lin Fan and Old Zhang watched him leave, waving without saying much.

They exchanged glances, their eyes soft and squinted.

"Hehe!"

"Hehe!"

Their laughter was simple. Helping others was their greatest joy, and seeing Liu Ying leave happy warmed their hearts.

It was an indescribable kind of happiness.

Lin Fan said, "I haven't had a cola in a while."

Old Zhang drooped his head. "I'm craving a Sprite."

They looked at each other again.

Both longed for familiar comforts.

The demonic rooster watched them, clucking a few times as two eggs rolled out from beneath it.

Look… I laid eggs for you.

But it noticed the two humans seemed uninterested in the eggs, and a sense of crisis arose.

Things without value don't deserve to exist.

It had seen the two humans roast and eat the demonic pig king. The scene had been quite bloody, a wooden stick impaling the pig king's body. The sounds had made the rooster shudder.

And now…

If the humans showed no interest in its eggs, things could get terrifying.

It pretended to lift its claw and kicked the two eggs towards them.

Look, eggs!

Your favorite eggs are right in front of you. Are you indifferent?

The demonic rooster kept reminding itself: I'm the inside man, the demonic hero undercover among humans. My mission isn't complete yet. I absolutely cannot die here. I must show these humans my value.

It strutted back and forth in front of them, trying to attract their attention.

"Shall we go home?"

"Are we going to get Sprite?"

"You have Sprite, I'll have cola."

"Okay, okay."

Lin Fan stood up, put the two eggs in his pocket, tied a rope around the demonic rooster's neck, and led it outside.

The demonic rooster breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems I still have value.

The two men and a chicken left the special department without attracting any attention. They were too quiet, never initiating greetings, nor receiving any.

Just like before, they were a pair, now accompanied by a chicken.

An unusual group, bound by an unusual affection, except for the demonic rooster, who was just there to be an inside man.

They had no money.

They didn't know how to take the bus either.

When they reached the bridge over the river, Old Zhang squatted down, exhausted.

"Lin Fan, I'm so tired. I can't walk anymore."

He was like this, not fond of walking. Long walks tired him out. His physical condition wasn't good; he didn't have the stamina of a young person.

"Come on, I'll carry you."

Lin Fan crouched in front of Old Zhang and patted his back. Just like in the past, when Old Zhang couldn't walk, Lin Fan would carry him. Back then, they lived at Green Mountain Mental Hospital and rarely went out, so there weren't many roads to walk.

The demonic rooster was touched.

Such a moving friendship.

I, the demonic rooster, promise that in the future, I will bury you together, so your friendship will last forever.

The two men and a chicken walked along the side of the bridge. The river flowed beneath them, boat horns sounded, a warm and harmonious scene that moved anyone who saw it.

"Actually, I like being at home. I don't really like where we've been staying lately."

"If you like, we can go back."

"But there's someone waiting for our help. We can't leave until his hair grows back."

"Yes, helping others makes us happy. Let's wait until his hair grows back, then we'll go home."

"Okay."

Old Zhang and Lin Fan conversed.

Their way of talking was simple, and they didn't overthink things. For them, everything that was happening was pure joy.

If Liu Ying knew, he would be weeping with gratitude.

Thank you so much.

I never thought I'd meet such good people.

Back at Green Mountain Mental Hospital…

Director Hao was living the good life. He hadn't heard those familiar sounds in a while.

Sounds like bloodcurdling screams:

Director, something's happened! Come quickly!

Beep! Beep!

What was there to like about those sounds? Hearing them only meant trouble.

Now, things were good.

He could finally binge-watch his dramas in peace. That silly drama was so interesting; the costume designer was a genius.

He couldn't get enough of it.

He practiced his health-preserving boxing in his office. As one aged, exercise was crucial. After a set of movements, slightly sweating, he stood by the window, gazing into the distance. Looking far away was good for the eyes.

Suddenly…

He saw two familiar figures.

"Why are they back?"

Director Hao felt a tremor of fear. It wasn't that he didn't miss the two patients, but they had returned too soon. They had only left a few days ago. What was One-Eye up to?

Everything was signed in black and white.

He couldn't have broken down and sent them back, could he?

That was a breach of contract.

It was a legal liability.

Inwardly, he was panicking, but outwardly, he remained composed. They were back, and he couldn't just kick them out.

At the main gate…

Xiao Qi, seeing the two mental patients return, quickly put down his phone. Even if it was a crucial scene, he had to give it up. The return of the patients, who had been away for a while, signaled the return of darkness.

Great God of Light, where are you?

Lin Fan and Old Zhang waved to Xiao Qi. Long time no see, how are you?

A friendly gesture.

Although not a word was spoken.

But that was the general idea.

As a security guard at the mental hospital, Xiao Qi wasn't afraid of the patients, but he was terrified of these two. They were legends, mythical figures, champions of chaos who couldn't resist stirring things up.

One only had to ask around to learn how many innocent staff members had ended up hospitalized after interacting with them. It was a chilling thought.

But he envied these two mental patients.

They must have saved the galaxy in their past lives. Otherwise, with their status, how could they have befriended a wealthy man? And judging by the rich man's behavior, he seemed to care about them a great deal.

A scene flashed through his mind.

Director: This is the price of being a mental patient. Who wants to trade places with them?

Xiao Qi: I do!

That's how much he longed for it.

Influenced by the stories he read, Xiao Qi believed every protagonist needed a benefactor to rise to prominence. Now, the opportunity was right in front of him. He couldn't let it slip away.

If he couldn't connect with the rich man directly, he could connect with the people who could talk to the rich man.

"Long time no see. Where have you been?" Xiao Qi asked nervously.

He smiled, trying to appear friendly, hoping they would receive the signal.

Lin Fan said, "We were working."

Old Zhang said, "We were giving someone acupuncture."

Honestly…

Xiao Qi was confused. He didn't understand what they meant, but he maintained his smile, radiating friendliness, unsure how to continue the conversation.

He wasn't Director Hao, lacking his profound professional expertise.

He had never read books like:

The Complete Guide to Communicating with Mental Patients How to Befriend a Mental Patient

Xiao Qi lamented his vast reading experience, yet he hadn't read these books. How could he call himself a bookworm? Ashamed and unworthy, he decided to make time to read these books.

Only then could he live up to the title.

At that moment…

Director Hao approached with a smile. "Why are you all back?"

He acted warm and friendly. He knew the patients considered this place home, and he couldn't express surprise at their return, as that would raise suspicion.

As a mental hospital director…

His professional knowledge was unquestionable.

He could understand the minds of mental patients very well. Although problems sometimes arose, they were minor and insignificant.

"I want a cola."

"I want a Sprite."

"Hehe!"

Director Hao watched them, seeing how happily they chatted. He joined in their "hehe" laughter, building rapport. It often started with a simple expression.

Perhaps it seemed like an ordinary thing.

But for mental patients, laughing with them was a way to subtly connect, planting a seed in their minds.

This person is like us, a good friend.

Director Hao was a published author, although sales were low. He had written all this professional knowledge in his book, but unfortunately, it seemed few people had studied it carefully.

Sigh!

He had worked tirelessly to promote the cause of mental health, but the results were unsatisfactory, turning his hair white with worry.

He, Hao Ren, was a leader in this field.

Was he really that unmarketable?

How tragic! How lamentable! How heartbreaking!

Green Mountain Mental Hospital erupted. The two patients were back! After only a few days of peace, were they returning to the era of terror?

Look…

A group of mental patients gathered outside Ward 666.

Some stood on tiptoe.

Some laughed heartily.

Some slapped the walls.

In the eyes of the nurses, it was clearly a feast celebrating the return of the Mountain King.

They dared not approach.

They could only watch from afar.

Chapitre suivant