Chapter 1304: A Grudge Settled the Same Day!

Although Qin Luo had heard of this disease, this was the first time he had encountered such a case. Therefore, he was exceptionally careful and focused while checking the pulse.

Practice makes perfect. Only by treating it with his own hands could he master the characteristics of "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis."

"Can you save me?" the Dragon King asked, looking at Qin Luo. There was no worry or fear in his tone; it sounded more like a simple chat between friends.

"No," Qin Luo shook his head.

Li’s brows knitted together, and the knife in her hand spun with a whistling sound; she almost couldn't hold back from rushing over to slaughter this bastard. Just a moment ago in the courtyard, she had told him to learn the art of the "white lie" and to be full of confidence regarding the treatment of this disease. Even if he didn't have confidence, he should have acted as if he were certain of a quick recovery. She hadn't expected this guy to blurt out the truth the moment he stepped inside. It was truly infuriating.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death—the cycle of nature. I know my own body. It’s just Li and the others making a fuss. How can human effort defy heaven?" the Dragon King said with an air of resignation.

"This has nothing to do with defying heaven. I say no for three reasons," Qin Luo said, looking at the Dragon King. "First, your own attitude of refusal and lack of faith in the treatment. Second, the timing is too late. The disease is in its terminal stage, and most of your muscles have severely atrophied. Third, this is my first time encountering such a case, and I have no successful experience in treating it."

"If you can't cure it, then you can't. Why so much nonsense? Let’s go, I’m taking you out," Li, now thoroughly disgusted with Qin Luo, said with a dark face. *Just wait, kid, see how I deal with you once we're outside.*

The Dragon King looked at Qin Luo and asked thoughtfully, "So, you mean there is still hope for treatment?"

"Yes. Provided you dare to let me proceed," Qin Luo nodded.

He could attempt treatment, but he did not have a one-hundred-percent guarantee. Moreover, his proposed method was unconventional, and whether it would succeed remained unknown. Therefore, he could only say there was hope.

The Dragon King burst into laughter, his thick beard shaking with the sound. Because of his illness, his legs and arms were immobile, and his facial expressions were limited. Yet, he still managed to laugh with a domineering, world-conquering arrogance.

"Why wouldn't I dare? I have never been afraid of anything in my life. Since you say so, why not let you try? What is your name?" the Dragon King asked.

Standing nearby, Li curled her lip. Her foster father rarely asked for others' names; when he did, it proved that he valued that person.

"Qin Luo," he replied.

"Very well, Qin Luo. From today on, you will be the one to treat me," the Dragon King said seriously. "In the past, I only believed I could bring miracles to my subordinates. Now, I want to be a bystander and witness someone else's miracle."

The Dragon King’s words were meant to encourage Qin Luo, telling him to proceed without any psychological burden.

"Don't worry. I won't let you down. It will only get better, not worse," Qin Luo said with a smile. *Anyway, your body is already in this state; even if I can't cure you, I can at least delay the progression. You have nothing to lose, right?*

"When do we start?" the Dragon King asked.

"Now."

Qin Luo turned to Li and said, "Go find me a box of silver needles."

"You—" Li almost threw her knife at him again. This man dared to order her around? But thinking of her foster father's condition, she suppressed her anger.

"Kid, you'd better be able to heal my foster father. Otherwise, you're finished," Li said viciously before turning to leave.

With only the Dragon King and Qin Luo left in the room, Qin Luo suddenly felt a trace of nervousness. Rationally speaking, he was a normal person, and the man was just a paralyzed old man; there was no reason to be afraid. Yet, the man possessed an sharp, almost tangible aura like a blade. When one accidentally caught his occasional domineering gaze, there was a sense of imminent danger. It felt like walking through a deep forest and suddenly being stalked by a tiger.

"Were you injured in the past?" Qin Luo asked.

Hearing this, the Dragon King laughed wildly. "A lifetime of battle, thousands of fights, big and small. How could I not be injured?"

*A lifetime of battle? Thousands of fights?* This was a peaceful era; where would there be battles? Qin Luo became even more curious about the old man's identity. What kind of legendary figure was this?

"May I see your wounds?" Qin Luo asked.

"Why not? Scars are a soldier's badge of honor. They are worth far more than those damn medals the government hands out. However, you'll have to do it yourself," the Dragon King said with a loud laugh.

Qin Luo nodded and lifted the hem of the Dragon King’s shirt. He couldn't help but gasp. The Dragon King’s body looked as if someone had laid a clean sheet of paper on a table and then hacked at it dozens or hundreds of times with a kitchen knife—the fact that he was still alive was truly astonishing.

"Surprised?" the Dragon King asked, seeing the shock on Qin Luo's face.

"A bit. In a time of peace, it's hard to imagine anyone being wounded like this," Qin Luo admitted.

"Peaceful era? To hell with a peaceful era," the Dragon King said with a dark expression. "On the surface, it's calm, but underneath, it's turbulent. Which day is without war? Which day is without death? Border wars, maritime conflicts, air battles—there are some things you just don't see."

The Dragon King looked at the scars on his body with a mixture of nostalgia and regret. "Those bastards hit hard. But I still kicked their heads in one by one. It’s a pity, I won’t have the chance to deal with them anymore."

"Maybe you will," Qin Luo said with a smile.

"Ha! Good. I'll take your word for it," the Dragon King laughed.

Li returned with the needle case and was surprised to see Qin Luo and her foster father chatting happily. *How could his personality change so much after a bout of illness? He used to only hit or curse his subordinates, never speaking a kind word, yet he’s so warm toward this kid.*

"Is this it?" Li asked, holding up the needle case.

"Yes, thank you," Qin Luo nodded. "Go and get me some disinfectant alcohol."

Li froze, then barked, "Kid, are you looking to die? Why didn't you say it all at once?"

"I forgot."

"You're doing this for revenge."

"You can think what you want," Qin Luo said. He hated women who played with knives, especially when they waved them near his neck. It made him feel very insecure.

"You—"

"Don't you want to cure your foster father's illness?" Qin Luo glanced at her.

Li’s face puffed up, her eyelashes fluttered, and she gave Qin Luo a sweet smile. "Sir, is there anything else you need? This young lady will take care of it all at once for you."

Seeing her attitude was sincere, Qin Luo said, "Bring a basin of warm water while you're at it."

"Yes, sir," Li said with a cold laugh. *This petty bastard. If I hadn't buttered him up, he probably would have made me run out a second time for the water.*

Soon, Li returned with alcohol-soaked cotton and a basin of warm water. Qin Luo disinfected the silver needles, rolled up the Dragon King’s sleeve, inserted a needle into the joint of his arm, and asked, "Do you feel anything?"

"No," the Dragon King said.

Qin Luo nodded, pulled out the needle, inserted it again in the same spot, and asked, "Any feeling this time?"

"No," the Dragon King replied.

Qin Luo remained expressionless. Li kept staring at his face, trying to guess if her foster father could be saved, but she couldn't tell anything. Qin Luo pulled the needle out again, disinfected it, pinched it between two fingers, aimed for another acupoint, and used the "Sky-Spin" technique to slowly drive the needle in.

"Do you feel anything?" Qin Luo asked.

The Dragon King carefully sensed for a moment and laughed, "My hand is already dead. You don't need to waste your effort."

"How about now?" Qin Luo twisted the needle again.

"Nothing—wait," the Dragon King cried out in surprise. "It feels a bit different. There’s a cold sensation. Very icy. Right where you inserted the needle."

Generally, in cases of muscle atrophy, nerve sensation becomes dull or disappears entirely. One should not be able to feel external force or pain.

"That proves the muscles are only in a state of suspended animation," Qin Luo nodded, smiling. "That adds ten percent to the chances of a successful treatment."

Qin Luo pulled the needle out again, this time inserting it into the knee of his lower leg. "Do you feel anything?"

"Yes. It’s a bit cold where the needle is," the Dragon King said.

"Twenty percent chance."

For the third needle, Qin Luo aimed for the *Dicha* acupoint on the Dragon King’s lower back. "Do you feel anything?"

This time, the Dragon King shook his head. Qin Luo twisted the needle, pushing it deeper into the flesh. "Any feeling?"

"No."

Qin Luo twisted the needle twice more until it was almost fully embedded in the Dragon King's body. "Any feeling?"

"Still nothing," the Dragon King said after a careful pause.

"Was this area injured before?" Qin Luo asked.

"Yes. It was wounded by the Eastern God of Death's blade," the Dragon King said, his face full of rage as he recalled the past. His eyes were like copper bells, his long hair flying. It was as if he had entered a combat state, like a hedgehog with all its quills raised. Murderous intent flashed in his eyes, turning them a bloodthirsty red.

"Foster father, don't get excited. Once you're healed, you can go take your revenge," Li said, grabbing his arm to comfort him. "Besides, you cut off one of his arms. Next time you meet, he certainly won't be your match."

The content of their conversation was bloody, yet Qin Luo didn't find it strange at all. In fact, it felt perfectly natural. *People like this should speak like this.*

"You've been poisoned," Qin Luo said. "His blade was coated with a slow-acting poison. It’s not obvious, and you can't see it on the surface, but if left ignored, it will slowly corrode the tissues and nerves around the wound. Nerve damage naturally leads to muscle atrophy."

"Damn it. Those Eastern monkeys are truly despicable," Li cursed. "Is there a way to repair it?"