Zhou Xuan hesitated before answering, "Brother Hong, I don't know how to say it, I just... well..."
“There’s nothing I can’t say in front of you, brother. Go ahead and tell me,” Wei Haihong said, patting Zhou Xuan on the shoulder reassuringly.
Zhou Xuan nodded. Once this was done, it couldn't be hidden. He could only ask Wei Haihong to cover for him. He said, "Brother Hong, let me tell you, I can cure the old man's illness!"
Wei Haihong was taken aback, his eyes widening immediately. After a moment of surprise, he asked, "What?"
Wei Haihong knew about the old man's illness. He had done everything he could. Although Zhou Xuan had made the old man feel a little better yesterday, he also understood that this late-stage stomach cancer was beyond the reach of surgery. The old man's life was nearing its end, and this had nothing to do with money. There was no one in the world who could cure him.
But Zhou Xuan's words astonished Wei Haihong! His new sworn brother did possess some unusual qualities, but to be able to cure such a terminal illness was beyond ordinary. He had always thought Zhou Xuan was simple and lucky, but after Zhou Xuan saved his life, he realized Zhou Xuan had real skills and was quite extraordinary. Now, it seemed his brother was more than just ordinary; he was a remarkable person, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"I mean, Zhou Xuan looked at Wei Haihong and then said firmly, 'I can completely cure the old man's illness.'"
Seeing the trust and determination in Zhou Xuan's eyes, Wei Haihong suddenly understood what he meant!
Zhou Xuan has some very special characteristics, and he doesn't want outsiders to know about them. But for him, and to cure the old man's illness, he is willing to risk exposing his secret to treat the old man.
Wei Haihong pondered for a moment, then took Zhou Xuan's hand and said, "Brother, I won't say anything else. Honestly, from now on you're my own brother. Grandpa is old and his life was supposed to end, but you gave him a few more years to live. You could say you've done more for Grandpa than I have for my own son. I won't stand on ceremony with you now. Your business is my business, and no one can touch you!"
Wei Haihong's words were clear: he would not force Zhou Xuan to reveal the secret, and he would keep it for him. As long as he had this idea, and with the old man's help, who could do anything to him?
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "Brother Hong, let's eat. After we eat, I'll treat the old man, and then we'll go shopping and see my boss. I bet he's panicking."
The dishes that Aunt Wang cooked were all quite vegetarian and light. She originally wanted the old man to eat some, but he couldn't eat anything at all. He could only drink one bowl of porridge and then couldn't eat anything else. Logically speaking, it's impossible for someone with late-stage stomach cancer to eat anything. Basically, the function of the stomach has completely disappeared, and the nutrients are all delivered through the blood vessels.
However, Zhou Xuan's icy aura was so bizarre that it was beyond human imagination. His physical functions after the stimulation were almost like those of an ordinary person, which was beyond anyone's comprehension.
But the old man could eat, and he wanted to eat. For months, his stomach, which had seemed to be non-existent, suddenly felt a little empty, and he wanted to fill it with something.
However, even if the old man wanted to eat, he couldn't eat much. He could only drink a little bit of nutritious porridge before he couldn't eat anymore.
Wei Haihong and his wife, Wei Xiaoqing and her sister, and Zhou Xuan—the five of them ate a little something. However, Wei Haihong didn't say anything during the meal, and although Mu Li was happy, he didn't reveal anything Zhou Xuan had said.
After dinner, Zhou Xuan drank a little tea and then returned to the living room, where the old man drank a little porridge. He was in good spirits and was watching the news on television.
Zhou Xuan walked over, and the old man patted the sofa next to him and smiled, "Little Zhou, sit down."
Zhou Xuan chuckled and said, "Grandpa, please don't sit down. I'd like to invite you to my room so I can take another look at you."
The old man said in surprise, "Still want to look? Hehe, alright then!"
Zhou Xuan helped the old man slowly up the stairs to his room on the second floor. Outside, Wei Haihong had already instructed Xiaoqing and her sister and his wife Xue Hua not to disturb them.
Inside the room, Zhou Xuan helped the old man lie down and then said, "Grandpa, I'd like to have a chat with you first, okay?"
The old man chuckled and said, "What's wrong with that? I've spent my whole life on the battlefield. There aren't many people I've ever really respected. And now, with all these young people..." He shook his head as he spoke.
"Young people these days are nothing like they used to be, but times have changed, and people's values have changed too. So this old man won't interfere too much. But, Xiao Zhou, you're a strange young man. I liked you the moment I saw you, and I thought you were a good person. It's really strange. It seems that the friendship between people of different ages isn't just a joke. Haha, this old man really likes you, young man. You're my third son, and I don't like anything about him, but I think making you my friend is the best thing he's ever done!"
"Hehe, Zhou Xuan seemed a little embarrassed. "Grandpa, I'm not as good as you make me out to be. What I want to ask you is, do you know about your illness? Do you know the severity of your condition?"
The old man smiled faintly, "Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death? I, this old man, have lived to be ninety. I've commanded thousands of troops, killed countless people, and as for right and wrong, merit and demerit, hehe, now, it's all just fleeting smoke, fleeting smoke. Everyone has to die. Birth is death, ten years old is death, ninety years old is still death. I, this old man, have lived ninety years, with a house full of children and grandchildren, and a prosperous country. What else is there to worry about? This old man's illness... it should have been treated long ago..."
Zhou Xuan wasn't surprised by the old man's open-mindedness; after all, the old man was no ordinary person. He paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "Grandpa, what if—what if I could cure your illness?"
Volume One: The First Budding Buds, Chapter Sixty-Six: Golden Blood
To be honest, when Zhou Xuanlu did that to him in the hospital, the old man felt that she was extraordinary, but no matter how extraordinary she was, there are still no gods in this world, right?
The old man was well aware of his illness. He was old and his physical functions were failing. In addition, he had late-stage stomach cancer. Surgery would be fatal at any time. However, the pain he was suffering from was unbearable. He just wanted to go as soon as possible and end it all.
Zhou Xuan's meaning was clearly that he could be cured. If someone else had said that, the old man would have naturally dismissed them as a quack. The military hospital where he was treated had the best medical equipment and doctors in the country. Many national leaders had recuperated there. How could the conclusion drawn from there be false?
But these words came from Zhou Xuan, which surprised the old man. He was certain of Zhou Xuan's abilities; in the hospital, the pain he had suffered during the late stages of his illness was indescribable. Yet, just yesterday, Zhou Xuan had held his hand and warmed his body. Then he could walk, move, and eat again—wasn't that miraculous? This was definitely not something a charlatan could do! Charlatans are afraid of being proven, but Zhou Xuan had genuinely alleviated his suffering. Even if he were to die, the old man would already be very grateful to Zhou Xuan. But now, Zhou Xuan had given him even greater hope!
Yes, everyone's like that; it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death. The old man isn't afraid of death; he's lived to his age. Besides, he's seen it all, what's there to be afraid of? It's just that suddenly being able to live a few more years—who wouldn't want that? Especially living without illness or pain. He wants to see Xiaoqing and Xiaoyu get married, wants to see Wei Jie give him a great-grandchild, wants to see the country become even stronger. These are all things he really wants, but is it really possible?
Seeing the old man's dazed expression, Zhou Xuan continued, "Grandpa, I thought about it all night and found a way to cure your illness. However, as you know, this disease is incurable in its late stages. So, after I cure you, please keep my secret. I only hope to live a peaceful and safe life from now on!"
When the old man regained consciousness, he looked at Zhou Xuan in front of him, sighed, and said with some dejection, "Can you really do it? Sigh, if you want to try, then try. But you don't need to worry about anything, I'll have Hai Hong arrange everything for you."
Zhou Xuan stopped talking, focused on regulating the ice energy, and then used it to surround the old man's stomach ailment area. After being stimulated by Zhou Xuan's ice energy, the old man's body recovered to be almost the same as that of an ordinary person, but he was still a little weak.
The old man's stomach was basically invaded by tuberculosis cells, but Zhou Xuan's all-out efforts yesterday forced the cancer cells to the center and clump together. Although they were dormant and motionless, Zhou Xuan could still feel the ferocity of the cancer cells.
When the ice energy touched the tuberculosis cells, the cancer cells stopped retreating and had nowhere to retreat. They were instantly aroused. But at that moment, Zhou Xuan concentrated and exerted his strength, transforming a tiny part of the cancer cells he came into contact with. The ferocity of the cancer cells immediately subsided, but this subsidence was not like the retreat that happened yesterday.
Yesterday was like cutting grass, severing a part of the tuberculosis cell's body, but the grass roots were still in the soil, and it would grow back after a while. But now it's different. Transforming a cell is like digging up a grass root, cutting off its root, and then you've completely lost one.
Zhou Xuan forced some of the transformed tuberculosis cells out of the stomach lining and absorbed some into his bloodstream. The number of tuberculosis cells that had been completely eradicated was immediately reduced by about one-twentieth, and then he withdrew the ice.
While doing this reduces some cancer cells, it is very damaging to the blood and energy, so it cannot reduce them too much. The stomach and the body's blood and energy must be restored to normal before the next round can be carried out. Moreover, if too much is converted, it will also cause metal poisoning, and the person will die like those two goldfish.
But Zhou Xuan was quite satisfied with this method, because it could completely cure the old man's illness, although it would take some time.
Zhou Xuan looked around the room but found nothing of value, so he quickly went to the top of the stairs and called out, "Xiao Qing, find a small knife or a needle and bring it up!"
After finishing his sentence, Zhou Xuan quickly returned to his room. He had to keep an eye on the old man; this wasn't a goldfish, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
Xiaoqing wasn't the only one rushing upstairs to her room; Wei Xiaoyu and Wei Haihong, the couple, also came up too.
Wei Xiaoqing didn't take a knife, but a rusty needle. The mention of a knife was truly frightening.
Zhou Xuan didn't explain. He took the needle from her hand, helped the old man sit up, and then used ice energy to force the gold molecules in the old man's blood to the little finger of his left hand. Then he used the needle to prick a hole in the fingertip.
Immediately, about ten drops of blood dripped onto the floor. Wei Xiaoqing and her sister, along with Wei Haihong and his wife, were all astonished to see that the blood was not red at all, but entirely golden!
Then Zhou Xuan placed his hand on the old man's back, forcing the blood clots in his stomach up to his throat. With a final pat, the old man coughed up a mouthful of blood.