Chapter 5

However, Cyrus paid no attention to Mr. Wright. Instead, he tapped on the ultrasound image, specifically on the baby's head, and addressed Rachel with a stern gaze, "Ms. Connell, let me warn you one last time, don't mistake the crooked path for the right one. It's best to recheck your records. If Innerzen Medical Center loses its reputation, your business will suffer, too." Rachel, being quick on the uptake, immediately understood Cyrus's implication. Her face turned pale in an instant. The woman's abnormal fetal position had already been reported to her. However, in this ultrasound image, there was no issue with the baby's position. She couldn't fathom how this could be diagnosed through a pulse examination. Even the most skilled veteran doctors in the medical center couldn't determine it. Was Cyrus accidentally right, or was he playing a sneaky game? The teahouse thrived on its reputation. If news of falsification got out, it meant that the 150 million Cyrus lost earlier wasn't due to his lack of skill or bad luck but because Rachel, in collaboration with others, cheated him out of it. Who would dare to visit this place in the future? For the sake of a mere fifty thousand, Rachel didn't want to take that risk. She picked up the ultrasound image and handed it to the nurse, saying, "Go ask Dr. Zimmer to check the system, see if there's a mistake so that this guy can acknowledge his defeat soon." The nurse, perplexed, couldn't believe this loser could turn the situation around. She had been looking forward to seeing Cyrus pathetically beg for mercy. However, she still followed the boss's orders. Benedict couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, "Rachel, what are you doing? I've already won!" "Why the rush? If you've genuinely won, there won't be any issues. But if not, let's just check the records and verify," Rachel retorted with a touch of impatience. She then picked up her phone and instructed Thomas Zimmer again, "Use the real image." Benedict felt something was off. Even the onlookers found it strange. It seemed like Rachel was unusually agitated today. Cyrus, on the other hand, calmly sipped his tea. He didn't want to tarnish Innerzen Medical Center's reputation at the moment because he intended to win more gambles here. Making these guys pay tenfold was no joke. In less than ten minutes, the nurse came back, sweating profusely. She stammered, "Dr. Zimmer says he's getting old; he made a mistake in checking the patient's name just now." Benedict hurriedly snatched the bag from her hands, quickly pulled out the ultrasound image, and took a look. This time, the gender diagnosis had changed to a girl. Still not accepting it, he took the glass in front of Cyrus, unfolded the note, and clearly saw "girl" written on it. There was no need to open the second cup. The victory was decided in one round. Benedict's face turned pale, and he slumped onto his chair. He couldn't accept the reality of losing to this waste. The once arrogant crowd fell into an eerie silence. Rachel, staring at the composed Cyrus, felt a burning discomfort on her face. It wasn't just because she had cheated but because Cyrus had seen through her deception. Only Cyrus remained calm. He got up confidently and pinched Rachel's chin in front of everyone, saying, "Hey beautiful, be a good girl and hand over the money. Are you giving it to me in cash or bank transfer?" Rachel tilted her head, unkindly saying, "Mr. Wright, accept the loss. Deduct the one hundred thousand he owes you and transfer four hundred thousand to him." This time, Benedict was truly dumbfounded. He didn't care about a mere few hundred thousand, but his pride was hurt. "You, young man, had good luck today, but it won't last. You won't be so fortunate next time," he grumbled, angrily transferring four hundred thousand dollars to Cyrus. Upon receiving the money, Cyrus left confidently, leaving behind a parting remark: "This is just the beginning. Feel free to challenge me again." Benedict, looking bewildered, asked Rachel, "How did he determine it just from pulse-checking?" "I have no idea. Don't ask me." ... In the pharmacy, Zoey's customers were furious. "If it weren't for your dad's sake, I wouldn't do business with such a small vendor like you. You can't even get your hands on goods worth tens of thousands." "Sorry, Uncle Lopez, I'm facing some difficulties now. I can't afford to restock," Zoey said apologetically. "You don't even have two or three thousand dollars worth. What kind of business are you running? I won't buy herbs from you anymore. The quality was never good anyway," the customer said, leaving with a disdainful look at Cyrus. Zoey stood dumbfounded behind the counter, gripping the order form tightly, biting her lip to hold back her tears. She lost the deal, and even her last customer was gone now. She felt a pain in her heart that she couldn't describe with words. What about the rent? Mira's chemotherapy was imminent. What should she do? She took a deep breath and picked up her phone. Zoey contemplated for a while, and finally called her dad. "Dad..." "You still have the nerve to call? If you don't return the two hundred thousand dollars, you won't get a penny in the future." Her stepmother's voice rattled off insults on the other end of the line. Dad, being old and paralyzed, could only listen to everything her stepmother said. Cyrus silently watched outside the door, starting to feel sorry for Zoey. Even if she closed this deal, she'd only earn about three thousand dollars. It wasn't even enough for Mira's special medicine. Without hesitation, he transferred three hundred and ninety thousand dollars to Zoey. Looking at the account information on her phone, Zoey thought she misread the number. She looked at Cyrus who had just walked in with disbelief. Since Cyrus had lost the family fortune, she had never seen such a large sum. "Where did you get so much money?" She asked in confusion. "Don't worry about it. Order the goods first." "Did you gamble at the Innerzen Medical Center again?" Cyrus could only nod. Zoey let out a bitter laugh, saying, "Where did you get the capital? Did you use me as a bargaining chip?" Cyrus couldn't explain because the Cyrus of last night had indeed planned to sell his wife. That's why Rachel was willing to come back with him, to provoke Zoey and make her accept this cruel reality. This morning, that despicable Rachel had even explicitly told Zoey about this matter. "If I say I used my kidney as collateral, without having to sell you out, would you believe me?" Cyrus asked. "I don't believe you, but don't mess with my plans either. I'd rather die than satisfy your filthy behavior. I'll leave with Mira when the time comes. She has suffered too much in this world." Even her husband had never touched her. How could such a virtuous woman easily yield to another man? Otherwise, with her beauty, she would have been living well by now. Cyrus knew that the accumulated resentment of the past few years would be almost impossible to dispel in an instant. Fortunately, there was still plenty of time for him. He said, "I'm setting out on a journey. I might return late. Feel free to use the money. I'll earn more." After saying this, he hailed a ride, making his way directly towards Celestial Sanctuary. "On the slopes of Celestial Mountain lies Celestial Sanctuary, home to the revered medical sage. Known for the miraculous bone-regenerating technique and boundless compassion of the Eternal Heart." This folksong echoed among the villagers at the mountain's base. At that moment, thousands of mourners gathered at the foot of the hill, offering prayers. Their grief hung heavy in the air. The people gathered were from diverse backgrounds; some affluent and influential, others struggling, all indebted to the life-saving benevolence of the master and disciple. The explosion at Celestial Sanctuary the previous night had left it in ruins, taking away the world's great medical sage. A man stood on a rock, proclaiming with a resounding voice, "I am from the Connell family in Luminara. I solemnly pledge that if the perpetrator is found, they'll face severe consequences to repay the man who saved my daughter's life." Quietly ascending the mountain, Cyrus found the secret hideaway set up by his master. He retrieved a black sandalwood box labeled "Imperial Nine Needles". Inside, delicately wrapped in golden silk, rested nine needles of varying lengths and thicknesses. Also enclosed was a SIM card with crucial emergency contacts. Facing the direction of the monastery, he bowed three times and whispered, "Master, I narrowly escaped death. I promise to avenge our deaths. May you rest in peace." He swiftly descended the mountain, mindful of keeping his identity concealed until the right moment. Returning to the shop well past 3:00 am, he retrieved a blanket, preparing to catch some sleep on a wooden chair. As he began to doze off, his daughter's agonizing cries rang out from further in the house. "Mom, this pain is unbearable. It feels like ants are biting all over my body. Am I going to die? Will Dad come back?" Mira sobbed.