Strongest Maniac: Born in an Asylum

Kyle tried to withdraw his hand, only to find it firmly grasped by the two patients. They showed no sign of letting go.

He was taken aback. What's going on? he wondered.

But this was no issue. He had come prepared to interact with the patients, ready for any unexpected occurrence.

Leo and Walter, on the other hand, were ecstatic. It had been a long time since someone had voluntarily greeted them, let alone offered a handshake. There was no way for them to repay this kindness.

All they could do was offer their widest, most friendly smiles.

Seeing them smile, Kyle smiled back. He was starting to think that patients in an asylum weren't as frightening as he'd imagined; they were almost endearing.

But that feeling quickly soured.

He soon realized there was something unsettling about their smiles. They held an intensity that made his skin crawl, a look that was both unnerving and a little frightening.

He slowly lowered his gaze.

Your smiles are making me uncomfortable, but my intention to be friendly won't change.

He tried again to pull his hand free. It was still difficult, but he didn't give up. Finally, his persistence paid off—or perhaps Leo and Walter simply felt it was time—and they released his hand.

Director Hess stood nearby, observing the scene.

He nodded in satisfaction.

It wasn't that the students were particularly exceptional.

It was that the patients were being cooperative, not scaring away these bright-eyed young people.

Oh?

He noticed a brave young man actively engaging with the two patients from Ward 666. Such courage was indeed impressive.

"Who is that young man?" Director Hess asked, pointing into the distance.

An agent from the Special Department replied, "That's Kyle, a promising young man. A graduate from the Mountain Sect."

Director Hess committed the name to memory.

"So, what are you two doing?" Kyle asked.

"I don't know," Leo said, shaking his head.

"I don't know either," Walter added, shaking his head in perfect sync.

Their movements were identical, their answers blunt.

Kyle was momentarily stunned. This was his first time truly conversing with asylum patients. He had assumed it would be straightforward, but he was quickly learning that communication wasn't so simple.

Then he noticed something else.

The way the orderlies were looking at him seemed... odd.

It was a look of pity.

That can't be right, he thought. It must be my imagination. I've never met them before, why would they look at me like that?

"I want to show you a great treasure. Do you want to see it?" Walter whispered.

Kyle feigned excitement. "Yes!"

Walter glanced furtively at the nearby orderlies, then turned his back to them. He pulled out a case of acupuncture needles from inside his shirt. "This is my great treasure. I know acupuncture. If you're feeling unwell anywhere, I can give you a few pokes. Since you're willing to be our friend, we'll help you."

Leo chimed in, "He's right. His acupuncture is really amazing."

"Want to give it a try?"

Hearing the two patients' offer, Kyle could only manage a strained smile. He was indeed trying to communicate with them, but that didn't mean he had lost his mind. He wouldn't let a normal person stick him with needles, let alone two patients from an asylum.

"No, thank you. I feel perfectly fine."

He offered a polite, unwavering smile. Talking was fine, but anything else was off the table.

"Alright then."

Leo and Walter looked disappointed. They had wanted to help their new friend, but if he wasn't feeling unwell, there was nothing they could do.

Kyle noticed Walter staring intently into the distance. He followed his gaze but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Why do you keep looking over there? What is it?" Kyle asked.

Walter said, "The high-voltage box. I want to use it to help my friend cultivate, but those bad guys won't let us touch it. They're so mean."

A high-voltage box?

Kyle blinked, momentarily confused, but then he understood. These were patients in an asylum; having peculiar ideas was normal. Still, he felt a duty to warn them.

"You can't touch that. It's very dangerous. When your hand touches it, it will shake and hurt... ow, ow..."

Kyle pretended to shiver, then blew on his fingertips as if they were in great pain. He figured that communicating with them was like coaxing children. But wait... the way the two patients were looking at him now was a bit strange.

"Walter," Leo whispered to his friend as they took a step back, "do you think he has a problem... up here?"

"I think so," Walter replied.

"He's so pitiful. So young and he's already got problems."

"We should be extra nice to him."

Leo and Walter forced awkward smiles, as if apologizing for their earlier fearful reaction. We didn't mean to be scared, but the way you were just acting was genuinely terrifying.

Kyle's expression froze. The two patients thought he was the one with a problem?

He was at a loss.

What on earth am I doing?

But then he replayed his own actions in his head and had to admit, he had looked a bit unhinged.

In the distance.

A glint appeared in Director Hess's eyes. "That young student seems to have some issues."

"What do you mean?" the agent from the Special Department asked.

Director Hess didn't elaborate. He had been watching the student closely. The young man was certainly talented, but his recent actions—shaking uncontrollably and blowing on his fingers—were genuinely alarming. Even the residents of his own Green Mountain Asylum had backed away in fear. What more needed to be said?

Lately, he had been working on a new research topic.

It was a secret project, not to be published.

The Commonalities Between Normal People and the Mentally Ill.

Kyle realized his act had caused a misunderstanding.

Sigh.

Well, they're patients. I should just be understanding.

True to their word, Leo and Walter were very friendly. They didn't distance themselves from him because they thought he had a mental problem. Instead, they patiently explained the wonders of the high-voltage box.

They described the sensation of touching it with vivid detail, as if it were completely real.

Kyle just nodded along, not believing a single word. You keep talking, and I'll keep listening. I wouldn't be a good sport if I interrupted your tall tale.

"Wow, that's amazing."

"Whoa, so cool."

He clapped his hands. Every time Leo described how thrilling it was, Kyle would applaud and praise him.

Leo and Walter were delighted. They felt this new friend was truly wonderful. Aside from his mental issues, he was a great guy.

"You've talked so much about cultivation," Kyle said. "I haven't told you yet, but actually, I'm a cultivator too."

Leo and Walter looked at him in surprise.

Kyle smiled. With a flick of his wrist, a yellow talisman appeared in his hand. He gave it a little shake, and the talisman spontaneously burst into flames.

"Whoa!"

Leo and Walter's mouths fell open in astonishment.

They had never seen anything so magical.

Kyle wasn't one to show off, but at this moment, he felt a surge of pride. "I've recently been training a new Daoist technique, the Indestructible Diamond Body. I've just started, but let me show you."

"Okay!"

"I can't wait!"

Leo and Walter watched Kyle with eager anticipation.

They saw Kyle form a Mountain Sect hand seal, muttering something under his breath before stomping his foot. The whole display was strange and captivating, and the two patients couldn't look away.

Kyle lifted his shirt and patted his own body. "What sound do you hear?"

"Clang, clang!"

"Clang, clang!"

Leo and Walter answered in unison.

Kyle laughed. "Not just 'clang,' it's the sound of metal. In this state, ordinary swords and knives can't cut me. Walter, you try. Punch me."

Walter shook his head. "You're my friend. I can't hit you."

"It's fine. Just be careful you don't hurt your hand."

Kyle wanted to show off his skills. He had seen the other students demonstrating their abilities to the patients, earning waves of cheers, and he wanted in on the action.

He had just learned this technique, so it was the perfect time to test it out.

So far, the results were promising.

Walter made a fist and threw a punch at Kyle's abdomen. The impact made Walter wince, shaking his hand. "Ow, ow! My hand hurts! You're so hard!"

"Haha, see? Now you believe me, right?" Kyle said with a laugh. He then turned to Leo. "You give it a try."

"Me?" Leo pointed at himself, as if he couldn't believe he was being invited to try too.

"Of course," Kyle said with a grin. "Look how much fun everyone else is having."

It was true. Not far away, another student had a patient sitting on his back while he did push-ups at an incredible speed, as if the patient weighed nothing at all, drawing cheers from the other patients.

Leo clenched his fist. "Are you sure it won't hurt you?"

Kyle replied confidently, "I'll be fine. Go ahead. But be careful, my body is as hard as steel right now. Don't blame me if you hurt your hand."

"Here I come!"

He patted his stomach, brimming with confidence, practically vibrating with eagerness. If he had known this method was so effective at capturing the patients' attention, he would have done it from the start instead of wasting so much time talking.