Chapter 426

Su Su Tuoni Stark: "@Li Huowang, I've thrown the stuff over, dummy version—sorry, I didn't mean you're dumb."

Li Huowang: "Received."

Su Su Tuoni Stark: "Commoner's Elixir. Damn it, will the Church's exorcism methods stop working on me after I drink this? Luckily I don't have DC's Constantine here."

Kleine: "Relax, even God drank it—just tasted awful."

Song Shuhang: "Is there an elixir to overcome acrophobia? Online waiting, urgent."

Lu Mingfei: "Uh… has anyone here talked to the great Mr. God lately? Any news of him? @Yi Leina, beautiful witch, tell me where the handsome Mr. God went."

Penglai Mountain Kaguya: "@Yi Leina"

Xing: "@Yi Leina"

Yi Leina: "Why don't you ask the magical conch? Why am I tied to that guy?! And isn't he over with Li Huowang?!"

The Gray Witch, who still had no interest in men whatsoever, found this "group bullying" incident utterly absurd.

After all, it was all that thick-browed, big-eyed guy's fault.

Yi Leina: "@Song Shuhang, come by when you're free—I'll give you some safe magical items."

Song Shuhang: "Young Lady Yi Leina, I'm just honest, not stupid."

Weigong Shilang: "If you ask why—it's because that's how it's set up in the movies."

Ge Xiaolun: "What movies? Brother, spill the tea."

Ye Fan: "After all, Kleine said it."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Indeed, I once believed in science too."

Shi Hao: "Don't get it."

Kleine: "Let me reiterate—it's just movie plot and a joke. Believing everything will only hurt you."

Zhongli: "Perhaps."

Han Li: "Comrade Zhou, please think thrice before speaking next time—that's my only request."

Kleine: "Enough. Fine for small things, but do you really think that movie could be real?"

Yi Leina: "Exactly! Absolutely impossible!"

Lu Mingfei: "Hahaha… Lord Azathoth, what are you talking about? Look at how the once handsome Mr. God has turned out now…"

Kleine: "If there's coincidence, it's purely coincidental."

Lu Mingfei: "F*** the Fool."

Lu Mingfei: "@Li Huowang, what are God and the Three Pure Ones doing over there? Can you reach them?"

Li Huowang: "Su Ge and Brother Meng returned to Great Dali Lei Yinsi. I'm handling their projections here in the modern world…"

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Come to think of it, I haven't seen the Great and Little Tyrants speak in ages—have they gotten addicted to being Buddhas?"

Kleine: "Enough nonsense, Huowang, contact those two and find out why they're not replying."

Li Huowang: "Not replying? Come to think of it, my messages to them never got replies either—I had to go to Great Lei Yinsi myself to find them. Wait, I'll go ask at Great Lei Yinsi."

The shade outside the floor-to-ceiling window swayed with the wind, rustling softly; the room's heating was on, the dim yellow light just right—not glaring. Two rows of bookshelves stood side by side against the wall, each book's spine embossed with gilded characters.

This was originally meant to be a study steeped in literary atmosphere, its elegant decor revealing its owner's literary cultivation and family tradition.

If not for the posters and merch of lesser Siming, Xia Na, Yi Leina, Asuna, Dongfang series, and countless other anime characters.

"My throat's almost gone," Su Tianfu said, returning the Bible to the shelf. "This city's number of severe psychiatric patients must be too high—thankfully, I'm one step ahead."

Zhao Shuangdian entered the room carrying a tray. The bedroom floor was hardwood, covered by a soft rug—her footsteps made no sound.

"Black tea's brewed. I'll buy more honey tomorrow—the last of it's gone."

She placed two classical teacups with hanging handles on the wooden table, then set down a sheep-fat white jade teapot. After pouring tea for Li Huowang, she took her leave.

After the door closed, Su Tianfu sighed: "Little Zhao is amazing—total talent, and pretty too. I recommended her to Zhending last time—he ran off faster than a rabbit."

Li Huowang: "."

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Su Tianfu smiled warmly. "I'm not a demon—why sit so far away? Come here, I'll sign it for you."

Though he'd long sensed Su Tianfu was strange, only now, after witnessing his speech tonight, did Li Huowang truly feel the terrifying power of his influence.

Just one speech, thirty minutes—every person present except Li Huowang became Su Tianfu's fanatic believers, as if witnessing the Savior's descent, scattered individuals fused into a solid steel plate.

"What are you collecting so many Xin Su for?!" Li Huowang stared at Su Tianfu, bluntly.

Su Tianfu, however, looked suspicious. "What's Xin Su? Oh… I think I saw that term in your medical file. Yi Donglai mentioned it to me."

Li Huowang did not accept Su Tianfu's words. He spoke again:

"Stop pretending ignorance, Su Tianfu. You control two Confused Siming, hoard so many Xin Su, and brainwash them—what exactly are you planning?"

Su Tianfu's power exceeded his imagination—perhaps from his true form, or perhaps for some other reason.

His speech's content made Li Huowang uneasy: another feudal world, eternal peace, a perfect world. If someone else said it, fine—but when the speaker was Su Tianfu, things became dire.

Should I kill him now?!

Better to ask Su Ge first—ideally let Su Ge's influence affect him again. Otherwise, I'm not even sure I can kill him.

Besides, Qing Wanglai clearly warned me: never trust the current Qing Wanglai.

"Confused Siming? Xin Su? Brainwashing?" Su Tianfu's expression twisted. He glanced at his signed mental health guarantee, his eye twitched, then silently slid the document backward:

"Under a lot of pressure lately? Or seeing your hallucinatory world again?"

Seeing the man refuse to admit anything, Li Huowang switched to a normal person's approach. Last time, when filing a police report tied to Su Tianfu and Meng Zhending, he'd been grilled with endless questions.

Li Huowang pulled out his phone and said:

"Officer Tan from this district's precinct told me—if you show dangerous behavior, call the police. You don't want me sending you in at this hour, do you? Illegally gathering a bunch of psychotics—what exactly are you planning? You know."

The projections of Su Lin and Meng Qi in this world possess complete pasts—they can be treated as real beings with independent histories.

Their actions are naturally bound by this reality's constraints—laws, social norms, and more. But as Li Huowang saw in that hidden room at the city hospital, the man secretly did something, imprisoning Yu Er in that place.

Corresponding to the world of Bai Yujing, that means Yu Ershen is controlled by Su Tianfu—last time, the Three Pure Ones led many Confused Siming to Su Tianfu and Meng Zhending's territory to rescue him.

No, it should be said that a pile of Confused Siming escaped from Su Tianfu and Meng Zhending's territories.

"Fuck, young man, no honor in combat!"

Su Tianfu handed Li Huowang the signed guarantee document and said:

"That was therapy, group therapy, do you understand?! Your city is even more fucking incredible than the place I studied abroad—do you know how many insane people there are?!"

"Ever since I came to your place, I've had only one weekend off every three weekends, and they keep sending me critical psychiatric patients from all over the country—do you think I want to work overtime?!!"

"If I don't conduct group therapy tonight to reset everything, I have to fly to Magu tomorrow to sign contracts—if I keep working overtime, all the money I make from my side job will be gone!"

Li Huowang laughed at Su Tianfu's explanation, but immediately realized this man wasn't Su Lin—the projection and the original were too similar, making him sometimes unable to tell them apart.

"Are you short on money? I heard you earn the industry's top salary." Li Huowang asked.

According to Su Lin and Meng Qi's analysis, it was very likely a residue left in this world when Li Huowang had previously gazed directly at Su Lin's true form, causing ongoing effects within Baiyu Jing.

At that time, many malevolent spirits and unfathomable terrifying creatures were reversed into angels, celestial beasts, and other normal beings—perhaps that force formed a Confused Siming within Baiyu Jing?

Just like Fusheng Tian.

Of course, this is only one possibility.

"Do you think money can be too much?" Su Tianfu clicked his tongue, pulled out his phone, opened an app, and tossed it onto the table toward Li Huowang. "Take a look."

"What is this?" Li Huowang saw a sea of green numbers.

Su Tianfu said: "A-share market."

Li Huowang: "."

That made sense.

"Don't change the subject—do you call that religious-style fanatic creation therapy?" Li Huowang slammed the table and demanded: "They want to build statues of you!"

Li Huowang had just confirmed something—that man was indeed Bei Feng; even Bei Feng of Zuowang Dao was shouting "Long live Su Tianfu!" there.

"Come on, faith is the best sedative for the lost. This group therapy model is a special method developed jointly by me and Meng Zhending."

Su Tianfu rolled his eyes, sneering at Li Huowang's words, lifted his black tea, took a sip, then continued:

"By linking all patients with cognitive and mental disorders through group psychology and collective honor, they feel they are no longer alone, but part of a group."

"I don't fix their beliefs—I let them find their own spiritual pillar, whether it's God, Yuan Huang, Hun Tian Di, the Buddha, a sage, or even a Cthulhu-like evil god, Grimm's fairy tales, or if all else fails, even a person—just find a powerful existence you truly believe in, so you can draw strong psychological support from it."

"I chose a moment when most of them were lucid, and used this speech format to establish a grand shared ideal and goal. You saw it—the results are excellent."

Su Tianfu roughly explained his behavioral patterns and logic to Li Huowang, clarifying the difference between brainwashing and group therapy.

"So… isn't this still brainwashing?" Li Huowang asked, wary.

Su Tianfu tapped the table and asked: "Have I brainwashed you?"

Li Huowang froze—yes, he had listened from start to finish without feeling anything strange.

"This method only works on the lost, those with regrets, those who feel hopeless about the future," Su Tianfu said:

"Li Huowang, you've recovered. You're normal now."

"Is that so?" Li Huowang felt something was off, yet nothing seemed wrong. "Then what does 'confusing the other world' mean?"

When Li Huowang mentioned this, Su Tianfu fell silent. He held his black tea, watching the mirror-like surface ripple gently until the waves shattered the reflection.

"Li Huowang, do you think those people are truly ill?"

"What do you mean?"

At these words, Li Huowang slipped his hand into his pocket, staying alert.

Su Tianfu smiled faintly, yet his eyes revealed a trace of helplessness, as if sorrow spilled from them. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the city's neon lights and the brightly lit office building directly opposite, and said:

"We're taught from childhood that the spiritual world mirrors the material world. From a materialist perspective, the origin of the world is matter; spirit is merely its projection and reflection."

"Everyone here tonight—including you—was not born with mental illness. Some developed it in their forties or fifties; others as young as eight or nine. Tell me, what did they endure to feel despair within their own worlds, to feel the coldness and warmth of human relations?"

"The most tragic part is, after their minds break, the coldness and warmth from their hallucinations reflect back into reality—spirit and matter's agency have completely inverted."

Hearing this, memories surged into Li Huowang's mind.

Ever since his consciousness crossed into another world, whenever his mind faltered, he lost control over his behavior in the modern world.

His parents borrowed vast sums of money for him, used countless connections, and endured countless sneers.

And in that other world—Qingfeng Temple, Zhengde Temple, Jiantian Si—every faction, every cultivator, held malice toward him—or rather, toward Xin Su.

Continuous warfare, recurring natural disasters, bandits and malevolent spirits never ceased—even the military turned into bandits, treating humans as meat and grain.

"The youngest patient here is nine. She says she was sold to a butcher's family as a bride, with the wedding in ten days—but the butcher has already begun abusing her."

"The oldest is fifty-three. He says he's been wandering, eating wild vegetables, tree bark, Guanyin soil… and human flesh. He says he drew a red slip—he'll be eaten by his son in the other world. Without yesterday's first therapy, he might have already been boiled today."

"Someone says they were a prostitute in a small-town brothel. Someone says they were locked in a basement and raised like livestock. Someone says they lived as a wild man in the mountains. Someone else says they met a celestial being who wanted to use them to forge a treasure."

"They didn't start out in hell. Some were royalty or nobility in the spiritual world—but because they acted with kindness, helped others, and exposed their secrets, they were hunted relentlessly."

This is Xin Su. Li Huowang was certain: most of these patients were Xin Su.

"We're taught from childhood to be kind, to act with goodwill. But when we grow up, we find reality is entirely different."

"If you're kind, you'll be taken advantage of. Someone will always think you're stupid, easy to manipulate, dig traps for you, treat you as entertainment. When you finally learn to protect yourself, society and family impose new burdens on you—never stopping, like an ox or horse, endlessly giving yourself up."

"These patients aren't madmen or evil people. Whether in the real world or the spiritual world, their only shared ideal is:"

"To live like a human being."

The music of square dancing drifted in from outside. Amid the rhythmic song, Su Tianfu's words carved out a world utterly alien to his demeanor—a dissonance emanating from him.

Li Huowang felt it deeply, but since he'd begun distrusting Su Tianfu, he no longer believed anything the man said. Suddenly, he snapped awake and demanded:

"Why are you telling me all this? I'm asking you—what do you intend to do to the other world?!"

Su Tianfu remained unruffled, turned to Li Huowang, and said:

"You are the only one among all my patients whose spiritual worldview is the most complete—humanity, history, organization—it's like a real world."

"In your case, I saw an organization called Zuowang Dao. I wrote it into my book. They have no good or evil, no grand righteousness or logic—they exist purely for the sake of playing."

"Beauty paper, beauty basin, meat of men, slave hierarchy, humans divided into nine classes, living day to day—in that world, Zuowang Dao lives more like humans than anyone else."

Li Huowang heard the other mention the Dao of Forgetting, and he gripped the hilt of a knife from another world, asking: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"From a spiritual perspective, I aim to destroy the world where that person lives worse than an animal, while the Dao of Forgetting allows one to live like a true human in the spiritual realm," Su Tianfu leaned against the window, his body overlapping with the office building directly opposite, only light and shadow radiating around him.

"From a practical standpoint, I will provide them with employment, education, and medical security, so they can return to normal life as soon as possible."

"I am a doctor; healing the sick and saving lives is my duty. If this world is ill," Su Tianfu paused, then said, "then I will save the world."

"If I cannot save it, then I will destroy it and build a new world."

Su Tianfu's words still echoed in his ears; after leaving the Gospel Church, Li Huowang glanced at the study still lit up, and a flicker of confusion arose within him.

Doesn't Su Tianfu realize the impact he has?

After all, it's only a projection—it makes sense.

"Huowang."

When Li Jiancheng spoke, white mist drifted from his mouth; he stood by the roadside, waving at Li Huowang.

"Over here."

Li Jiancheng held a plastic bag and a paper bowl; the taxi that sustained their livelihood was parked beneath the streetlamp.

"Dad, why are you here?" Li Huowang ran over to the slightly unfamiliar man.

His lucid time was scarce, and the moments he spent beside his father were even rarer; even after waking, Li Jiancheng left early and returned late. Li Huowang had school during the day, and aside from sharing one meal on their first night together, the father and son rarely met.

"Yang Na said you went to Dr. Su's house. After finishing one fare, I came by to pick you up," Li Jiancheng smiled, dark circles under his eyes faint but visible. "Let's go. I'll take you home."

Inside the car, Li Huowang found it unexpectedly warm—as if the engine had been kept running and the air conditioning never turned off.

"It's so cold today. I bought dumplings at the roadside stall. Did you eat?" Li Jiancheng fastened his seatbelt and asked casually.

Li Huowang nodded. "I ate."

"Then I'll have them for my late-night snack," Li Jiancheng released the handbrake, shifted gears, and headed toward home.

Li Huowang realized he'd said the wrong thing—those dumplings weren't bought for himself; his father had gone out worried he hadn't eaten dinner.

"Do you have enough money?"

"School doesn't cost much. I have enough."

"Don't keep running over to Dr. Su's when you're free. On weekends, when you're not studying or tutoring, take Yang Na out for a meal. Young people connecting with each other is more useful than any psychological therapy."

"Mm."

"The principal told me your tuition is fully waived, and you've received a ten-thousand-yuan scholarship—as long as you stay at this school next semester and don't transfer to No. 3 High School. No. 3 High contacted your mother."

"Mom never told me. I just want to go to the same school as Yang Na."

The other's lips curled slightly upward—perhaps because Li Huowang's illness had improved, and his academic talent surpassed everyone's expectations, he felt the sweetness after bitterness.

"Whatever you want. You're grown now. Make your own decisions."

Li Jiancheng wanted to smoke, instinctively reaching into his pocket—but after glancing at Li Huowang, he suppressed the urge and pressed the accelerator, speeding down the empty street.

"If you need more money, tell me. Your father can still earn another ten or twenty years."

Beep—!

A shrill horn blared from the side; the father and son's gazes snapped toward it—a truck loaded with sand and gravel had tipped sideways and was sliding toward them.

On the rooftop of the office building, Qingwang lowered the telescope and hung up the phone. He watched the accident site: flames erupted, Li Huowang's head was drenched in blood, and before them stood a jade-green mechanical shield emitting blue energy.

Before Li Huowang, the truck driver's severed limbs still clutched a copy of the Bible.

"Brother Li, you've clearly reached out to the outside world."

"You're the root cause."

Great Liang, Lingshan.

"Su Lin! Su Ge!" Li Huowang arrived at Lei Yinsi. He restrained his rage, instead using his spiritual power to strike the formation before the temple gates.

Hum!

A bell rang, spreading serenity—but the more peaceful it became, the more uneasy Li Huowang felt.

"Brother Meng! Are you here?!"

"I'm going to smash your projection!"

The great gates of Lei Yinsi slowly opened. An elderly monk stepped out, glanced at Li Huowang, and said: "Amitabha. Brother Li, long time no see."

"Bai Yun, I'm looking for your Buddha!" Li Huowang shouted anxiously. "Where are they?!"

Bai Yun raised a hand to halt the disciplinary monks advancing, then looked at Li Huowang in confusion. "Didn't the Heavenly Buddha and the True-Defining World-Honored One travel with you to the world called Da Qi? My younger brother went with them too. They have not yet returned."

"You lie! They returned long ago!" Li Huowang barked. "Move aside. I'll find them myself!"

"Monks do not lie," Bai Yun clasped his hands and stepped aside. "Please."

Li Huowang held the highest rank in Lei Yinsi after the two World-Honored Ones. Bai Yun suspected he was the third Buddha—though still unawakened.

"Su Ge!"

"Brother Meng!"

Li Huowang turned over every corner: the Sutra Repository, the Front Hall, the Rear Hall, the Prajna Hall, the Vairocana Hall, the Tower of Time, even the monks' dormitories.

"Boss Hongzhong? So you've also taken refuge in the Buddha's path," Beifeng clasped his hands happily.

"Here you have the Heavenly Buddha; over there you have Dr. Su Tianfu. No need to care about truth or falsehood. Tomorrow I start work as a bartender at Da Dian Yinsi—come by for a drink, won't you?"

"Go away! I'm busy!" Li Huowang threw Beifeng out—he crashed into another monk still asleep.

"Who the hell?!" the monk grumbled.

Instantly, the monks in the meditation chamber woke from their dreams.

"Aren't you supposed to be in onboarding training?"

"Where am I? How did I get back here?"

"Forget it! Su Tianfu! Long live!!"

Someone shouted the slogan—and everyone stood up, arms raised above their heads, as if embracing the sun.

"Su Tianfu! Ten thousand years!!!"

"Heavenly Buddha Venerable! Ten thousand years!!! Zhen Ding Tathagata! Ten thousand years!!!"

Li Huowang froze in place, his limbs instantly turning cold; a familiar sensation spread through his heart, his breathing grew rapid as he stared at the faces he had seen not long ago in another world.

Great Lei Yinsi Heart-Su Gospel Church Su Tianfu. Heavenly Buddha Venerable.

This was all Su Lin's conspiracy—he sought to control the Dao of this world and bring all Confused Siming under his dominion.

Su Tianfu's and Heavenly Buddha Venerable Su Lin's faces gradually merged, indistinguishable from one another.

"Wrong!" Li Huowang roared, his Primordial Qi exploding violently: "Su Ge would never betray me! Fake! Fuck you all!!!"

Li Huowang felt the heavens cracking open; in a daze, he saw a bizarre Buddha gazing down upon him, its body layered with countless laws—contradictory yet perfectly harmonious—its lips curled in a smile as it reached out to seize him, overwhelming terror nearly swallowing him whole.

"Fuck your mother! Is this all you've got? You dare impersonate Su Ge? You're nothing but shit!"

Li Huowang wept with joy, raising the Spine Bone Sword in his hand to strike the opponent down.

Spine Bone Sword?!

"Brother Li! Wake up!" Zhuge Yuan's voice sounded beside him: "This is the Great Lei Yinsi!"

Li Huowang looked at the illusionary Zhuge Yuan, then at the Spine Bone Sword in his hand and the terrified monks—he paused.

"Didn't I return the sword? Brother Zhuge, am I really the only one who came back to Da Liang?"

"Feeling better! Feeling better!" the illusionary Zuowang Dao cried out excitedly:

"Red Middle's gone mad again, Wu-hu~~! When you came back from the Upper Pole Guankou, wasn't it just you? You said it yourself—you couldn't carry this sword and stay with the God of Light or the Three Pure Ones."

Li Huowang stared at the Spine Bone Sword forged from Zhuge Yuan's body, staggered two steps backward, and gazed at the posters on the courtyard wall—Heavenly Buddha Venerable and Zhen Ding Tathagata—with the slogan printed above: "The Mind Holds the Sacred Mountain; the Buddha Is Before Your Eyes."

"You entered Da Qi first. They found a way to follow—why do you think they came back too? You never even met them, hahaha! So funny, so funny!!"

Frustrated, Li Huowang manifested the illusionary Zuowang Dao and slashed off its head: "Where the hell did all of you go..."

"Who went where?! You're in jail!" Officer Tan slammed the table: "What were you thinking, storming into that Gospel Church with a knife?! Li Huowang! You still claim your psychosis is cured?!"

"Officer Tan, Xiao Li was just traumatized—they were hit by a truck!" Su Tianfu pulled on Officer Tan's sleeve, smoothing things over: "Forget it. We all forgive him. Let everyone go home today."

Li Jiancheng added: "Yes, Officer Tan. Blame the driver for driving while exhausted. Look, none of us are hurt—let's make a big thing small and a small thing vanish. The kid has school tomorrow."

Officer Tan glanced at Li Huowang wrapped in gauze and Li Jiancheng, his expression softening: "I'm worried he's relapsing—he was just getting better, and now this happens."

"It's fine, Officer Tan," Li Huowang shook his head. "I'm fine unless I'm hit by a major shock. I've stabilized."

Su Tianfu nodded: "I guarantee it with my professional credentials as a psychologist."

Bang!

"Guarantee?!" Officer Tan raised his voice:

"What the hell were you doing gathering a crowd in a church?! Did you file a prior application? How many times is this?! If we charged you for cult assembly, you'd already be in jail!"

"You shouldn't say that," Su Tianfu grinned, legs crossed: "I'm a firm materialist. I once discussed this with my foreign friend, Mr. Adam."

Officer Tan sighed deeply: "Fine. Sign here. Get out. I don't want you brainwashing me."

Outside the police station, Li Huowang remained dazed. Li Jiancheng looked heartbroken, the middle-aged man helplessly turning to Su Tianfu.

"It's fine. Just startled. A good night's sleep will fix it," Su Tianfu waved his hand. "When I studied abroad, I saw far stranger things. Xiao Li still needs to build up his resilience."

Li Huowang looked at Su Tianfu and asked: "Where did you study abroad?"

"Florida and Texas."

(End of Chapter)