Chapter 13 I Can Save Him

As Eric thought back to the final words of his mentor, he paused mid-step, his gaze hardening with determination. "I will save Silas's life!" Instead of walking away, Eric walked straight up to Jerry and spoke calmly, "Step aside." That phrase instantly made Jerry's face turn red with embarrassment. Just moments ago, he had just declared Silas's condition as critical in front of everyone, stating that not even a miracle could save him. And now, Alice had brought in some random young man and asked him to step aside in front of everyone? Jerry's reputation in Skaonia's medical community would suffer irreversible damage if he truly stepped aside. How could he ever hold his head high again? His voice turned cold at the thought and asked, "What are you trying to say? Are you questioning my ability? If I can't cure this illness, what makes you think you have such capability?" Eric raised his gaze toward Jerry. His gaze was cutting through, sharp and unyielding. This was Eric. The Shadow Ruler. When he set his sights on something, that thing would be his for the taking. "Why wouldn't I be able to cure him?" Eric scoffed disdainfully and said, "You can't explain the stars to someone who never looks up at the sky. "In my opinion, your vision in the medical field is narrow, yet you think highly of yourself. You're practically living in a bubble. As a doctor, it shames me to be in the same profession as you. "If you lack wisdom that bridges the past and present, a deep understanding of life, and a heart full of compassion, it's better to pursue simpler work. Without these qualities, becoming a doctor risks doing more harm than good. "Given your level of understanding, I suggest you go home and farm before you cause any more harm as a doctor." Eric's words hit hard and rang with force. Jerry's expression turned grim as he barely contained his anger. In the past, Jerry had gotten used to people reacting with awe at the mere mention of his name. Patients treated him as a living saint and godlike figure. This young man's calm and commanding presence was unsettling. Though Eric looked young, his demeanor was so composed that it felt like he was the one in charge. This only fanned the flames of Jerry's anger. "Do you think you can save him? With what? Mr. Silas's time is nearly up! Not even my mentor, Cade Ramos, the greatest figure in Skaonian medicine, could save him now. Do you think your skills surpass his? If anything happens to Mr. Silas under your care, can you handle the consequences?" Swoosh! The room's atmosphere became tense, as if the very air had thickened. Lara was standing nearby and tugged on Alice's sleeve. "Are you serious, Alice? Are you sure this is the guy Grandpa asked you to look for? Lara pointed first at Eric, then at herself. "He's about my age. Can he really do it?" "Don't judge him by appearances, Lara. Just because he's young doesn't mean he's incapable. If Grandpa wanted him, we have to trust that," Alice replied, though her voice held a note of hesitation. Though she had seen Eric perform needle therapy on David earlier, his condition was chronic. But Silas? He was on the brink of death. There was a widespread belief that holistic medicine required time, which they lacked. To be honest, Alice didn't feel confident when Lara unexpectedly asked her that question. The fact that even Alice lacked confidence only made Lara more anxious. She said, "Alice, you don't sound confident at all. If Mr. Goodwell can heal Grandpa, that's great. But if he fails, knowing how Uncle Russ and Uncle Nigel are, things won't end well for you." Despite not completing her sentence, Lara's meaning was unmistakable. Alice understood her sister's fears. If Jerry couldn't save Silas and he passed away, everyone would think that even a doctor with Jerry's skills couldn't save him. They would accept that Silas had simply died of old age. If Silas died during Eric's treatment, Alice would become the target of everyone's blame. Still, with Silas's life hanging by a thread, the only outcome was certain death if she didn't let Eric try. Alice had no other choice but to take a desperate gamble. Thinking this, Alice glanced at Eric. She recalled the scene of him treating his father earlier. She had seen determination in his eyes, a quiet pride, and an unshakable confidence in his medical skills. That kind of confidence wasn't something you could fake; it was a deep-seated belief that came from within. Somehow, Alice found herself believing that Eric could truly pull it off. Alice declared, "Even if there's only a one-in-a-thousand chance, I will give my all to see it through." Her gaze steeled, and she turned to Eric. She said in a low voice, "Mr. Goodwell, we're counting on you." Eric nodded briefly, then he turned to the others and said, "Everyone except three people needs to leave." Everyone gazed at each other as they received the instruction. "Out!" Jenson Hilton, Silas's eldest son, who had remained silent, suddenly gave a sharp order. With that command, the room quickly cleared, leaving only Alice, Lara, and Jenson by the bedside. Once everyone had left, the room seemed eerily quiet and much emptier. Eric calmly walked to the bedside. Meanwhile, he started to undo the black silk belt at his waist. From inside his robe, he produced a small rosewood box. Swoosh! With a quick flick, the box opened, revealing nine silver needles of varying lengths. Eric picked up one of the needles while the Hiltons watched. Whoosh! With precision, the needle flew through the air, landing perfectly in the center of Silas's head. For those skilled in needle therapy, the rule is simple: if there is deficiency, replenish; if there is excess, drain. Mastery of this art lies in knowing how to balance these forces. Eric's first needle entered the center of Silas's point, channeling his own vitality energy into Silas's energy center to strengthen his life force and keep it from dispersing. While the method sounded straightforward, in practice, it was an impossible task. As the apprentice of the Senan Sage and the inheritor of the Gilded Tome, Eric had complete confidence in his ability. Alice and Lara could only faintly see the soft golden glow surrounding the needle. Sensing the change, Silas struggled to open his eyes, as if recognizing that his life now rested in the hands of Eric. His gaze softened, as though finding peace in this final act. Woosh! With the first needle in place, Eric didn't stop. He swiftly followed up by launching the remaining eight needles with precision. His movements were smooth, with each one landing exactly where it needed to be, sealing all vital pressure points—eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Eric gathered his vitality energy and lightly tapping the needle in the center of Silas's head. Pff! A wave of vitality energy radiated outward, flowing through the needles and into Silas's body. The energy moved so quickly that none of the three observers could see what Eric had just done. Nine strands of vitality energy surged through Silas's body, coursing along his nine main meridians like rain falling on parched land, nourishing his organs that had been on the verge of collapse. "What kind of technique is this?" Even though this was the second time Alice had seen Eric work in one day, she couldn't help but feel her heart fluttered as she watched the scene. She might not have studied medicine, but Alice roughly knew how it works. Over the years, as her grandfather's health declined, Alice sought out many of Skaonia's top doctors, including several healers with decades of experience in needle therapy. But no matter how skilled they were in the art, none of them could match the effortless grace and fluidity with which Eric wielded his needles. And Eric wasn't even thirty years old yet—a youth with such talent—Alice had never seen anything like it in her life. Could her grandfather's words be true? Eric was the legendary shadow ruler? When Silas first mentioned this on the phone, Alice had thought he might be senile and grasping at straws in desperation. Now, for the first time, Alice found herself truly intrigued by Eric's identity, unable to stop herself from wanting to learn more about the man in front of her.