Chapter 13
“Now’s not the time for jokes…”
Hera wasn’t in the mood to laugh.
She knew Nash had some medical skills, but her grandfather’s condition was different. He had been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. There was no technology in the world that could cure cancer at this stage.
Twenty minutes later, Hera’s car pulled into the parking lot of the city hospital.
Nash let out a quiet sigh of relief. The feeling was almost as exhilarating as when he’d helped a group of international mercenaries drive a tank five years ago.
As soon as they stepped out of the car, they spotted someone pacing anxiously by the entrance.
Hera rushed over. “Dad, Grandpa—he…”
Harrison’s eyes were red, his voice hoarse. “It’s not looking good. He probably won’t make it through the night.”
When Nash approached, Harrison glanced at him, his face drawn with concern. “The old man keeps calling your name, as if he has something to tell you.”
Nash had already heard this from Hera. He also suspected that Herman, his grandfather, was trying to reveal something important to him—perhaps about his origins.
They followed Harrison to the oncology ward.
Inside, Herman lay on the bed, an oxygen mask covering his face. The heart rate monitor beeped sporadically, its readings almost imperceptible, the unmistakable scent of death hanging in the air.
The once-vibrant man looked like he had aged twenty years overnight.
Nash furrowed his brows, uneasy. Something wasn’t right.
How could his condition deteriorate so quickly?
His sharp gaze flickered with a faint light as he analyzed the situation. He could see through the old man’s body, and what he saw made his stomach churn. The malignant tumor in Herman’s stomach had ruptured. His entire chest cavity was now filled with tumors—this wasn’t the same tumor as yesterday. Even if the cancer had spread, there was no way it could have progressed this far overnight.
Nash’s mind raced back to a mission from five years ago.
During that time, his master had sent him to Dallard to work with local mercenaries on a rescue operation. They had raided a biochemistry lab to free a fellow countryman who was being experimented on. That lab had developed a biochemical agent capable of accelerating cell growth.
Now, seeing the rapid spread of cancer in Herman’s body, Nash was certain someone had injected him with that same forbidden biochemical agent.
“Grandpa…” Hera’s voice cracked as she held her grandfather’s hand, her eyes red with unshed tears.
Harrison bent down, whispering into Herman’s ear. “Dad… Nash is here.”
At those words, Herman’s eyelids fluttered, and his lifeless eyes slowly opened. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Harrison pressed his ear to his father’s mouth, straining to hear, but there was only silence.
“Dad…”
Just then, Hubert entered the room, followed by a plump woman.
“Dad… how are you doing?” Hubert’s voice trembled as he approached the bed, tears flowing freely.
The woman beside him pretended to wipe away non-existent tears, sobbing theatrically. “Dad… you can’t die. This family can’t survive without you!”
With a sigh, Hubert added, “I can’t make out what Dad wants to say at all.”
“Dr. Tanner, please come in!”
At the door, a man in a white coat entered, flanked by an elderly man dressed in traditional clothing, carrying a wooden box in his hands.
“Dr. Tanner!” Lauren’s face lit up with hope.
Dr. Brian Tanner was a miracle worker. He was Jonford’s top physician and the vice president of the Jonford Traditional Medicine Association. Renowned for his extraordinary healing abilities, he was widely regarded as one of the best traditional medicine practitioners in the country.
Dr. Tanner was over seventy, with silver hair combed neatly back. His face was free of wrinkles, and his sharp eyes gleamed with a health that belied his age.
He looked at Lauren first, then at the patient, his expression one of surprise. “Were you two talking about the same patient?”
Lauren realized that Mr. Dean had also invited Dr. Tanner to treat her father-in-law.
Mr. Dean, too, seemed taken aback. “Did old Lewis’ daughter-in-law know Miracle Doctor Tanner?”
“Dr. Tanner, the situation is urgent. Please take a look at my father’s condition!” Lauren implored, her voice thick with emotion.
Dr. Tanner approached the bedside, lifting the old man’s eyelids to examine his eyes. He then felt Herman’s pulse, his brow furrowing in concentration.
After a moment, his expression darkened.
As soon as Dr. Tanner frowned, the entire room seemed to hold its breath.
Nash stared at the doctor, a vague familiarity tugging at the edges of his memory. He felt like he’d seen this man before but couldn’t place him right away.
After all, since he was thirteen, Nash had been on the move, traveling far and wide for missions, encountering countless people along the way.
Dr. Tanner sighed heavily. “You should prepare for the funeral arrangements,” he said gravely.
The diagnosis was clear: terminal cancer.
“There’s nothing that can be done,” he added. “In today’s world, there’s only one person who could cure this—my grandmaster—but he is beyond reach.”
At his words, Hera’s sobs became uncontrollable. She threw herself into her mother’s arms, her pain raw and unabashed.
Hubert and his wife knelt beside the bed, their faces streaked with tears.
“All of you, leave now. I’ll treat his illness.”
Nash’s voice cut through the grief, calm and unwavering.
Everyone stopped, their gazes turning to him in shock.
What was he saying? Did he just claim he could cure this incurable disease, right in front of Miracle Doctor Tanner?
Wasn’t that a slap in Dr. Tanner’s face?
“Nash, do you even know who Dr. Tanner is?” Hubert sneered coldly.
Nash glanced at Hubert, a small smirk forming on his lips. “Does it matter who he is? I can still treat Mr. Lewis.”
He walked toward the bed with steady, measured steps. Without hesitation, he positioned himself right in front of Hubert, who had been kneeling on the floor.
Hubert’s face darkened with anger. He immediately stood up and barked, “You ignorant fool! You don’t even recognize Dr. Tanner? My father’s cancer cells have spread throughout his body! Even Dr. Tanner can’t do anything. What makes you think you can?”
Dr. Tanner gave Nash a quick, appraising glance. “Let him give it a try,” he said indifferently. “Maybe he’s some hidden master.”
Dr. Tanner didn’t mean to belittle Nash. It wasn’t that he was dismissing him, but given the state of the patient, he believed no one, not even his grandmaster, could do anything now. The cancer had spread throughout the body.
Mr. Dean frowned. “Who is this young man? Why have I never seen him before?”
“He… He’s my son-in-law, Nash,” Harrison stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Everyone turned their attention to Nash, clearly skeptical.
“Is he studying medicine?” Mr. Dean asked.
“I don’t know!” Harrison’s voice was tinged with uncertainty.
“Then this is nonsense,” Mr. Dean scoffed. “Young man, you’d better leave. You’re not welcome here.”
The room was tense. Mr. Dean had worked hard to bring Dr. Tanner here, and this young man was undermining him with his reckless words.
“I don’t feel like wasting time with you,” Nash said dismissively.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small cloth bag. As he carefully unwrapped it, the unmistakable gleam of needles caught the light.
Inside the bag were two rows of snake-shaped needles, varying in length.
When Dr. Tanner saw them, his pupils dilated in shock. He felt as though he’d been struck by lightning.
Snake-shaped needles. There were 24 of them.
His mind raced.
Could it be?
His hands trembled as he realized the truth: these were the legendary Divine Needles, his grandmaster’s technique.
“Such arrogance, looking down on everyone!” Mr. Dean fumed. “Linda, go call security and kick him out!”
A young nurse nearby started to move toward the door.
“Wait!” Dr. Tanner’s voice was urgent. He held up a trembling hand, stopping her in her tracks.
If this man truly had the Divine Needles, he might be the descendant of his grandmaster.
Dr. Tanner’s voice was shaky. “Let… Let him try.”
Mr. Dean was stunned. “Dr. Tanner, this…”
Dr. Tanner wiped sweat from his brow, his face pale with realization. “Let him try.”