Chapter 1596 – Capturing Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Part Ten)
Lü Zheng found an excuse to send An Huan away, his face plainly displaying his disdain and disgust for Hua Yuan, his every gesture radiating vigilance.
Ever since he learned of Hua Yuan’s madness, Lü Zheng had privately rummaged through numerous medical texts and folklore, utilizing his judgment and observations of Hua Yuan. He concluded that not only was Hua Yuan insane, but he was also quite dangerous, a man not to be approached carelessly.
Lü Zheng had once brandished his sword, intent on holding Hua Yuan accountable, but that fellow insisted he was Lan Ting’s Liu Xi.
Initially, Lü Zheng found it amusing, but after a period of meticulous observation, he felt a chill run down his spine.
When people were afflicted with illness, they would at most become a little loopy, babbling nonsense about who they were, like someone possessed by spirits.
However, Hua Yuan’s madness seemed far worse than any condition Lü Zheng had ever encountered. He showed no random babbling or childish antics; instead, he spoke sharply and clearly. Lü Zheng daringly probed further and discovered that Hua Yuan would impersonate different identities each time he went mad—such as Hua Yuan’s brother, his wife, the wife’s lover, Ge Lin, and Liu Xi… Some names Lü Zheng had never even heard of, appearing at various times.
At first, Lü Zheng thought it was a case of possession, but when Hua Yuan claimed he was “Liu Xi,” Lü Zheng realized that the man had completely lost his mind. He appeared coherent and rational, yet he was utterly deranged, sincerely imagining himself to be someone else.
This reality made Lü Zheng even less able to comprehend his lord’s decision.
Why would he place such trust in a madman with lossof mind, allowing this lunatic to teach the Young Master?
While the Young Master was in fact the child adopted from the side branch of An Huan’s family, not his biological son, An Huan, having been a noble in exile, had no chance of having an heir due to his injuries. Without surprises, this adopted Young Master was soon to become the successor, and An Huan ought to treat him with respect.
Lü Zheng’s thoughts were tangled and conflicted, unable to grasp the crux of the issue.
Before he could untangle these mysteries, he stumbled upon something even more horrifying, akin to spotting a ghost in broad daylight.
One day, he received a rescue letter from Hua Yuan.
No mistake, it was indeed a distress message from Hua Yuan, the paper scented with rouge, the handwriting gentle and flowery, clearly penned by a lady. What baffled Lü Zheng was the signature—it was written by Hua Yuan’s sister-in-law, every word drenched in tears.
Driven by curiosity, Lü Zheng discreetly met Hua Yuan, who moved with an exaggerated feminine grace.
“This letter is from you? Why do you seek rescue?”
Hua Yuan dabbed at his eyes with his sleeve, his demeanor akin to an elegant lady, his posture delicate, leaving Lü Zheng feeling quite unsettled. Lowering his voice to a slight squeak, he even performed a proper lady’s bow.
From the moment Hua Yuan spoke, Lü Zheng sensed trouble.
“I am Wei, married to Hua Yuan for several years, bearing him children. Though I’ve had no accomplishments, I share in the hardships. Who could have predicted that during the southern barbarians’ siege, Hua Yuan would turn on me and our children! I am so wronged!”
As Hua Yuan spoke, tears began to flow, and Lü Zheng observed his actions—he was a pitiful noblewoman suffering unjustly.
Lü Zheng had researched Hua Yuan; he knew that Hua Yuan’s wife was named Wei, and they had two children.
However, it was said that Hua Yuan’s wife had a fickle nature, often inviting lovers into their bed during Hua Yuan’s bouts of madness.
Thus, the actual father of the two children remained a question mark.
Lü Zheng finally understood—Hua Yuan was at it again, imagining himself as the wife he had personally killed!
“Why have you sought me? You mentioned someone wants to kill you—what’s going on with that?”
Having been sufficiently frightened, Lü Zheng’s heart was unusually sturdy, his ability to accept the bizarre had multiplied several times.
The personality claiming to be Hua Yuan’s true wife wept, her face filled with terror, trembling as she uttered, “That person is Liu Xi!”
Lü Zheng: “…”
“Lü Junshi, you must save me! I’ve seen him; he stood behind me with a knife…”
Lü Zheng involuntarily shuddered, pulling his hand back in disgust. When Hua Yuan gripped him, Lü Zheng felt the cold, sticky sweat pooling in his palms, a sensation so repulsive his arm hairs stood on end.
“Madam Wei, please, it’s broad daylight—don’t frighten me like this.”
There was no one behind Hua Yuan, just emptiness—certainly no “Liu Xi” brandishing a knife.
Was this the standard behavior of someone afflicted by madness?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Hua Yuan’s body convulsed suddenly, letting out a piercing cry reminiscent of a dying gasp, startling Lü Zheng. He instinctively raised his hand to soothe his chest, and sitting across from him, Hua Yuan transformed back into the familiar icy and sharp persona.
“Hua Yuan, don’t you think it’s time to see a physician about your mind?”
Lü Zheng genuinely suggested, but Hua Yuan, in this clear-headed state, snorted softly before striding away.
Two days later, Lü Zheng received another rescue letter from Hua Yuan, this time signed by a name he recognized but wasn’t familiar with.
One of Hua Yuan’s wife’s lovers, presumably the father of the two children.
“Madness is madness, but did he really need to imagine himself as the cuckolded husband?”
Lü Zheng scratched his head anxiously, sighing but ultimately decided to keep the appointment.
Once again, he found Hua Yuan sobbing and kneeling at his feet, clinging to his legs, tears and mucus smeared across his face.
“Why have you sought me? Do you think ‘Liu Xi’ is coming to kill you too?”
Lü Zheng felt exasperated, convinced that increased interactions with Hua Yuan could lead him down the same path to madness.
The personality claiming to be Hua Yuan’s wife’s lover trembled, filled with dread, “Yes, how did you know? Please, save me! I don’t want to die! If you rescue me, I’ll have my servants pay you a thousand taels of silver—no, ten thousand!”
Lü Zheng watched Hua Yuan’s pitiable state, internally unfazed, even finding it amusing.
Hua Yuan continued to laments, “That… that Liu Xi, that madman has already killed several people…”
Lü Zheng’s heart skipped a beat as he probed, “Who has he killed?”
The other party trembled, recounting four or five victims, the most recent being Hua Yuan’s wife.
“How did ‘Liu Xi’ kill them?” Lü Zheng inquired curiously.
The other shivered, “I saw it with my own eyes, that madman killed them and literally ate—ate—”
Before he could finish, a high-pitched, piercing scream escaped his lips, eyes bulging like a startled fish.
Lü Zheng felt the hairs on his body stand on end.
After a moment, he noticed Hua Yuan sluggishly getting back up from the ground, returning to his familiar icy demeanor.
“Wait!!” Lü Zheng shouted, “I know you’re mad, but… what’s this about ‘Liu Xi’ killing people?”
Hua Yuan replied calmly, “Just as you’ve heard, that person called ‘Liu Xi’ is indeed on a killing spree.”
