Chapter Three: The Twisted Healer

In the prison cell, Liang Zhi selected some dry straw, piled it in the corner, and buried himself within. For the sake of investigation and evidence gathering, he had endured even harsher places in his previous life.

He was not overly pessimistic; after all, he was merely a fool. As long as he was given an opportunity to familiarize himself with this world, he was confident he could escape the cell. Now, this period of time could be used to rest. Having sunk into the sea, traversed worlds, and been arrested, he was exhausted and needed time to recover from fatigue.

Master Crow returned to the window, gazing at Liang Zhi with pity. “I’m sorry, I was wrong again.”

Liang Zhi opened his eyes. “How are you wrong this time?”

Master Crow shook his head. “You won’t survive three more days.”

“Why? What do you know?” Liang Zhi leapt out from the straw, but Master Crow had already flown away, leaving only a feather on the windowsill.

Liang Zhi, once optimistic, suddenly grew anxious. He racked his brains trying to escape the prison, but his body was too weak and the cell too sturdy. Half the night passed in vain efforts.

Early the next morning, a wan-looking Liang Zhi was dragged up by Old Lin, fitted with shackles, and led to the main hall of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Master Crow watched Liang Zhi’s retreating figure, a shadow flickering in his eyes.

“Go, experience despair. Rage to your heart’s content. See the truth of this world, and you’ll finally desire to fulfill your last wish!”

...

The Criminal Investigation Bureau functioned much like a county magistrate’s office in period dramas, its main task being the interrogation of various cases.

Above the hall, several steps led to a desk, behind which was a mural of the blazing sun. Above the mural, four characters proclaimed: “Uphold Justice in Judgments.”

The arrangement resembled an ancient courtroom, yet the ceiling boasted chandeliers, a telephone rested on the desk, and on the hall’s left side sat a suited clerk with his hand on a typewriter.

This strange blend of styles made Liang Zhi truly suspect he hadn’t crossed worlds at all, but was merely caught up in a theatrical troupe’s production.

A portly, pale man wearing an official’s hat emerged from a side room, his name displayed on the desk.

Chief Magistrate of Antai Town Criminal Investigation—Fan Dai.

Behind Fan Dai followed a stern-looking man in a white coat and mask.

“Bring him in!”

On either side of the hall, six soldiers in grey robes struck their intimidation rods, each rod sparking with electric fire at both ends.

“Kneel!” Old Lin kicked Liang Zhi’s knee, but Liang Zhi stubbornly refused to kneel.

“Don’t make things hard for him. If he doesn’t want to kneel, let him be,” Fan Dai said gently, prompting Old Lin to stop.

“What is your name and where are you from?” Fan Dai’s inquiry was mild, putting Liang Zhi at ease.

“Aba, aba…” He continued his act as a fool.

Others burst into laughter, but Fan Dai remained serious.

“Don’t blame us. It’s routine to interrogate strangers entering town at night. Here’s a confirmation form—sign it and you can leave.”

Liang Zhi relaxed completely, convinced nothing was amiss. But as he glanced at the form, he was struck as if plunged into an icy abyss.

This was no confirmation form, but a confession!

“Criminal Wu Zi Nan, accused of abducting twenty-seven women and children, apprehended by Antai Town Criminal Investigation Bureau on the thirtieth day of the third month…”

“What is this? I’m not Wu Zi Nan. I won’t sign this!” Liang Zhi snapped his head up, glaring at Fan Dai. If he kept playing dumb now, he’d truly be a fool.

He didn’t know the laws of this world, but it was clear—once he signed that confession, death would surely follow.

Fan Dai glared at Old Lin in annoyance; wasn’t this supposed to be a fool? Yet, whatever the truth, the proceedings had to continue.

He picked up a wanted notice and threw it in front of Liang Zhi.

The wanted poster bore the name Wu Zi Nan, the photograph depicted a long-faced man with a prominent mole on his left cheek, accused of abducting women and children, with a bounty of ten thousand coins.

Fan Dai demanded, “Are you denying that this is you?”

Liang Zhi picked up the poster and showed it to everyone in the hall. “Use your eyes. Look closely—am I the same person as him? Can’t you see?”

Yet not a single soul spoke up for Liang Zhi. Instead, they regarded him with the amusement reserved for a monkey.

Liang Zhi’s expression grew rigid; he understood now, these people were all in collusion.

Fan Dai struck the gavel. “We have received information that you, Wu Zi Nan, are a ‘Twisted Physician’ possessing the ability to alter your appearance.”

He turned to the masked man beside him. “Dr. Su, please restore his appearance.”

Dr. Su flexed his wrist and strode toward Liang Zhi, reaching for Liang Zhi’s face.

Liang Zhi had no idea what Dr. Su was capable of, but he sensed danger and quickly raised his arm to block the hand.

The next moment, Liang Zhi felt his arm go numb, as if something was stirring beneath the skin.

He hurriedly rolled up his sleeve, and to his horror, saw a numb face forming on his arm—complete with a large mole.

It was the visage of Wu Zi Nan.

“He’s the real Twisted Physician! He wants to turn me into Wu Zi Nan!”

Liang Zhi’s scalp tingled. He sprang up, attempting to flee the Criminal Investigation Hall, but the doorway was blocked by two soldiers wielding intimidation rods.

He could only circle the hall, evading Dr. Su’s pursuit.

The crowd within burst into cheerful song, finding Liang Zhi’s struggle endlessly entertaining.

The more they laughed, the more humiliated Liang Zhi felt.

Rage boiled within him.

“What gives you the right? How dare you degrade a person like this? Are you so brazen that you don’t bother to hide your actions? What about those words behind you—‘Uphold Justice in Judgments’?”

His words only made Fan Dai and the others laugh louder.

“Damn you all! You deserve to die!”

Faced with the Twisted Physician’s bizarre power and an almost certain death, Liang Zhi’s fear began to fade, replaced by a fury so intense it could not be contained.

He halted, fixing Dr. Su with a glare. “Especially you, Twisted Physician. How dare you treat me this way!”

What enraged Liang Zhi most was the leisurely pace of the Twisted Physician behind him, stalking him like a cat toying with a mouse.

This fury was inexplicable and impossible to suppress.

From Liang Zhi’s eyes, a burst of bright light shot forth from the connecting symbol, startling the Twisted Physician into stopping.

“Why did Dr. Su stop?”

“Is there something in that fool’s eyes?”

“Could it be an infectious disease?”

The other eight people in the hall remained relaxed, oblivious to the fact that events beyond their control were unfolding within.

Standing opposite Liang Zhi, Dr. Su was shocked.

“What is that symbol in his eyes? Why… my power refuses to distort his flesh!”

Liang Zhi shouted, “Master Crow!”

“I was just waiting for you to call!” came the reply.

Countless crows stormed into the hall from outside!