He then led me into a starlit ward. The room was quite peculiar; upon entering, I thought I had found myself in the mysterious Milky Way.
Floating meteorites were everywhere, and all nine stars were clearly visible. The quiet surroundings were incredibly soothing. Honestly, receiving treatment in such a place would likely yield excellent results.
I lay down on an iron-frame bed, my head resting on a soft pillow. I had never undergone this kind of treatment before.
Many people in the countryside still mistakenly believe that seeing a psychologist means one has a mental illness. This is a vulgar and ignorant misconception. Nowadays, due to work pressure, life pressure, and various other stressors, many urban dwellers experience psychological issues. In such times, psychologists have emerged, opening up a vast market in China.
It's said that even the least expensive psychologists charge up to 500 yuan per hour.
He Qing, I heard, charges 3,000, but I got it for free.
As I was undergoing treatment, He Qing approached me, massaging my shoulders. He then twirled a flowing sand ornament a few times. I had wanted to ask him several times why the flowing sand seemed a bit strange, but he would just smile and not answer.
"Brother, are you relaxed now? You're no longer in the psychiatric hospital, nor is this your busy provincial government office. You're resting here without a care in the world, all your worries swept away at this moment."
I nodded slightly, completely relaxing and entering a state of selflessness.
The next second, I heard a strange rustling sound. He Qing spoke to me in an extremely gentle tone: "You unintentionally entered a psychiatric hospital. This is within the territory of Anxi Town. In the past, a terrible death occurred here. Although there was no water nearby, the deceased appeared to have drowned. You found it particularly bizarre and never uncovered the truth. This matter has weighed heavily on your mind, significantly impacting your life. It was also for this reason that the Nightmare Saint could take advantage of you!"
"Now you need to pull yourself together, extend your hand, and push open the door of the psychiatric hospital. You will see the truth of everything!"
The scene before my eyes indeed shifted to the psychiatric hospital. I felt as if I had truly returned there, walking down the silent corridor. I ascended the stairs, reaching the top floor, only to realize I was back in this place.
The Nightmare Saint was sitting on the ground, as if waiting for me. However, this time, he was bound hand and foot and thrown on the floor.
He Qing's confident face appeared before me. He stepped on the Nightmare Saint and said, "Brother, I've captured him for you!"
"Good!" I approached the Nightmare Saint from behind and handcuffed him.
Perhaps it was psychological, but when I opened my eyes again, I felt as if the nightmare had receded.
He Qing joyfully raised his hands in an embracing gesture and said, "Brother, congratulations! You've banished the demon from your heart!"
"Thank you, He Qing. You truly are an outstanding psychologist. I accept your invitation to be a consultant!"
I hugged him tightly.
The two brothers held each other close.
Later, I heard that the Nightmare Saint, for reasons unknown, gouged out his own eyes. His actions were eerily similar to the old woman at the psychiatric hospital. We later learned that the old woman wasn't the director but the director's sister. She had gone mad after her sister's death. No one knew how she got to the psychiatric hospital that day or why she did those things.
Her last known whereabouts were at Guangming City Psychiatric Hospital, where she was admitted. Despite lacking eyes, she seemed much more at ease, free of worries, and lived out her remaining years peacefully.
Wang Feichen was sentenced to death according to the law.
But strangely, on the night of his execution, several prison guards had the same nightmare. The Nightmare Saint's body, supposedly dead from the lethal injection, came back to life, entered their office, and violently choked them, its tentacles piercing their bodies.
These individuals had likely been inadvertently implanted with triggers by the Nightmare Saint. Later, if not for He Qing's help, they would have continued to have such nightmares, even though Wang Feichen was already dead.
However, just when I thought the case was over and I had returned to the courtyard house to rest, a strange scream came from the adjacent room.
"Don't come near me! Please! I'm not He Xin! I'm not He Xin!"
I was immediately startled awake, opened my door, and went to the next room, pushing open He Xin's door.
At that moment, I saw her standing on the bed with her eyes closed, gesticulating wildly as if pushing something away, as if someone were attacking her.
Her face bore the innocent, adorable smile she used to have, but her movements were utterly beyond my imagination. She kept grabbing her own neck with her hands, then making an upward pulling motion. Veins bulged on her neck, and her expression was one of extreme agony. Yet, even in this state, she smiled radiantly, as if she were in an incredibly blissful dream.
I went to her feet and quickly realized what was happening. Had she been pulled into a nightmare again?
But hadn't this case already concluded? I didn't have time to deal with this now. At that moment, I really wanted to pick up He Xin and go find He Qing.
I figured he was probably the only one in the world who could help me. But the moment I touched He Xin's legs, she fiercely kicked out: "Get lost! My father and I are… ahh, so comfortable, daddy, hurry up, so comfortable!"
What the hell!
What was going on?!
I was right in front of her! What did this even mean?!
I went to the bed and slapped her, but He Xin seemed oblivious, continuing to moan and groan as if engaged in an intimate act in her dream.
Was this truly her inner desire?
My heart suddenly jolted. I slapped her face again!
*Slap!*
With a crisp sound, He Xin's face swelled. Yet, she remained entranced, indulging in her dream.
Then she started pulling at her clothes, "Daddy, hurry, I'm so hot all over! Come in! Come in!"
I immediately grabbed her, and without a second thought, carried her outside the courtyard house. Then I threw her into my car, forcefully started the engine, and stomped on the accelerator.
I was truly worried that if I had been any slower, she might have been forever lost in her dream.
A Buick stopped in front of He Qing's psychology clinic. I had already informed him of the situation via voice message. Upon hearing of her condition, He Qing once again turned away his other guests for the day.