Chapter 23: He Is Beyond the Reach of Medicine, and You Are His Only Salvation

Qiao Yiran looked up, startled, and then hurriedly shook her head. "Brother Min, thank you, but you can't help me. You probably don't know how much debt I owe. Even my mother's medical expenses were paid by Wei Xifeng. I could leave Wei Xifeng; I could refuse to listen to him, but what about my mother? I cannot be that selfish. I can't do it."

"I will pay for your mother's medical bills, and I will pay off your debts. I have managed to save some money from my work over the years," Min Baixuan said, looking at Qiao Yiran with determination.

Qiao Yiran's eyes widened. She was so moved she couldn't speak, but a moment later, she shook her head again. "You've already helped me so much; I don't even know how to repay you. How could I possibly take your money?"

Min Baixuan replied, "It is my own choice."

Qiao Yiran continued to shake her head. "No, I already owe Wei Xifeng so much money; how could I have the nerve to owe you as well? The money I owe isn't just for my mother's medical expenses; it is far more than you can imagine."

"No matter how much you owe, we can face it together. I don't want to see you in so much pain and exhaustion. Yiran, let me take care of you. Let me be your pillar of support." Min Baixuan touched her face with pity, his confession filled with deep affection.

Qiao Yiran's heart raced, caught between the fear of being seen and a flicker of genuine emotion for the sincere Min Baixuan.

"I'm sorry, Brother Min, I cannot accept you. You are a wonderful person, truly, but you don't know Wei Xifeng. He is a maniac, a devil who is capable of anything. He really wanted to destroy your hands just now. I don't want you to be targeted by him because of me; I would feel guilty for the rest of my life if that happened."

Min Baixuan's slender fingers twitched, and for some reason, his knuckles began to ache. He indeed did not know Wei Xifeng well enough, but he was acutely aware of Wei Xifeng’s overwhelming power. If he were to oppose Wei Xifeng, it would be digging his own grave, courting certain death. A deep sense of apprehension flickered in Min Baixuan's eyes.

...

Before coming, Jiang Liwu had already briefly explained Wei Xifeng’s condition to the doctor over the phone. After arriving, the doctor examined him for only a few minutes before requesting a private conversation. After instructing Wei Xifeng to listen to the doctor, Jiang Liwu stepped out.

About half an hour later, the sound of objects being violently smashed against the floor erupted from the room. The doctor then rushed out in a panic. "Ms. Jiang!"

Jiang Liwu’s brow furrowed, and she steadied the doctor, who had nearly tripped. "What happened?"

The doctor pointed into the room, unable to get the words out, so Jiang Liwu hurriedly let go of him and ran inside.

The room was in shambles. Wei Xifeng was firmly secured to a recliner with his limbs restrained. His eyes were bloodshot, his teeth bared in a snarl, and he emitted guttural whimpers and roars like a trapped beast. He struggled violently, the force of his movements making the metal locks rattle. There was no doubt about it—Wei Xifeng was having an episode.

"Xiaofeng," Jiang Liwu quickly approached him. Seeing how the doctor had restrained him, she frowned, her gaze sharp and piercing as she turned toward the doctor. "What did you do?"

With just one look, Jiang Liwu knew that there was something suspicious about this episode.

The doctor quickly explained, "Ms. Jiang, you previously told me about Mr. Wei’s abnormal, beast-like behavior during his episodes. With Mr. Wei’s prior consent, I restrained him to conduct a hypnotic induction test to trigger the condition. Once he fell into the episode, I couldn't calm him down, so I thought of you." The doctor pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Jiang Liwu ordered, "Release him."

The doctor did not dare to go near him and pointed to a concealed button on the chair. "Just press that button." After speaking, he retreated to a safe distance, swallowing nervously.

Jiang Liwu pressed the button without hesitation. The moment he was freed, Wei Xifeng roared and lunged, snapping his teeth toward Jiang Liwu’s neck. The doctor was so frightened he reached for the security alarm, but he soon saw Wei Xifeng suddenly freeze. His sharp canine teeth were less than a centimeter from Jiang Liwu’s skin.

Jiang Liwu remained calm and composed. She stroked Wei Xifeng’s back, soothing him. "It’s okay."

Wei Xifeng’s bloodshot eyes rolled, the red in the whites visibly fading as his reason slowly returned. His wide-open mouth closed, and he rested his forehead against Jiang Liwu’s shoulder. "Teacher, I will never hurt you."

Jiang Liwu’s lips curved into a smile. "Yes, I know. Our Xiaofeng is very good."

Seeing the crisis averted, the doctor exhaled in relief. "Ms. Jiang, I need to speak with you alone."

Jiang Liwu nodded. "All right."

This time, it was Wei Xifeng’s turn to wait outside. The door had a design with a glass window and a shutter; by lowering the shutter, one could see part of the interior through the transparent glass. Wei Xifeng waited outside, gazing in, and Jiang Liwu gave him a small smile.

"Mr. Wei’s condition is beyond the reach of medicine," the doctor said bluntly.

Jiang Liwu’s heart sank at these words.

The doctor continued, "But you are the exception, Ms. Jiang. I see a turning point in you."

"You must be an essential and irreplaceable part of Mr. Wei’s life. He relies on you and trusts you enough to open his heart completely; that is why you can easily awaken his reason and soothe his condition."

"Every time you calm his episode, his condition shows a degree of improvement. Over time, perhaps one day, he may be completely cured."

Jiang Liwu listened intently as the doctor continued, "As for Mr. Wei’s beast-like behavior during his episodes, it stems from long-term exposure to violence or witnessing violence during his childhood. Because he was too weak at the time, it left deep trauma. Deep down, a desire to become strong grew within him."

"He began to subconsciously suggest to himself that he was a powerful beast, possessing the strength of a beast, so that others could no longer hurt him."

Jiang Liwu bit her back teeth, her jaw tightening as her breathing shuddered. So that was why.

Jiang Liwu thought of everything she had seen when she traveled back twenty years. Wei’s father was a violent, maniacal man with a hair-trigger temper. He showed no mercy to Wei’s mother, who wanted to escape him, and even developed a sick obsession with her bruised and battered appearance. Even when she submitted to him, he would habitually lash out.

Wei’s mother, suffering immensely and unable to resist her husband, eventually became a second version of him, physically abusing the young Wei Xifeng. She was convinced that Wei Xifeng was born a monster, a devil who would grow up to be just like his father, so she wanted to destroy him while he was still small.

Jiang Liwu closed her eyes. She had always sympathized with Wei’s mother’s plight; she didn't think the mother was entirely at fault, but she certainly wasn't innocent either.

"Ms. Jiang, Mr. Wei suffers from severe schizophrenia. I believe that when he has an episode, his personality splits into various powerful, bloodthirsty, and aggressive beasts—for example: a tiger, a lion, a leopard, a boa constrictor, a wolf, or a bear..."