Chapter 60 - Level ? - The Middle Kingdom (2/2)
”But...!”
”No 'but's. Leave.”
”Grandpa!”
”Leave!”
”But...”
”Xu Bai,” elder hit the table in anger, ”I said leave!” finally screamed the old man, ”And on the way back think about your attitude young man.”
But the boy already left, slamming the door shut on his way.
After making sure the boy has left, he quickly opened the drawer of his table and took out the phone and started typing.
After sending the message, he started waiting for Yang Chao.
Soon, the head physician came in and knocked on the door.
”Come in and sit down here. We need to talk.”
”Elder Xu, I saw your message? What happened?”
”It is about the cursed patient. Why didn't you notify me?”
”You mean Xu Bai's patient? Well, I myself wasn't sure if he was cursed or not. But we did all the tests possible to be done in his condition, but we couldn't find anything. The only thing we could observe was the breakdown of his body, but we couldn't find the reason for such a radical cellular death. It is as if cells just stop working and die off quickly after. Moreover, it happens across his whole body, except for his brain. So, it can't be prions, because then the brain will be the first target. Other than prions, I don't know of anything that can resist all medication and bypass the body's natural defenses so easily, other than...”
”Magic.” finished the old man for him, ”Hmm... Who is the patient?”
”This was another issue. He is a famous businessman, who is supported by the government, but other than... 'them' nobody uses curses. Which made me have some doubts about this case. I wanted to talk with you after I find out all the details.”
”Smart choice. Indeed, neither Sword nor Body fanatics like to use curses. I already contacted the Bureau, so a person from 'their' organization should be coming to personally check the patient.”
”That's great, but I doubt the patient will live for more than 5 days.”
”Well, that's not up to us. We are just simple doctors and fighting magic is not covered by our education.”
”Indeed.”
Silence followed their conversation. But after a few minutes, Chief Yang was first to speak:
”By the way, I saw your grandchild on my way here...”, after which he meaningfully looked at the elder in front of him, ”Even if you want to keep him in the dark to protect, sooner or later, he would need to hear the truth about the world. You can't hide something like this from him. Not with your work at least.”
”You worry about your hospital and let me worry about my grandchild.”
”Well, even if you say it like this, I am still his teacher and I worry about his wellbeing.”
The old man wanted to reply, but after thinking about it, he only sighed.
*Sigh*
”You are right. I will tell him... Soon. But for now, I will just let him be a happy youngster for a bit longer.”
”Your choice, but don't prolong it too much old Xu.”
”Hmph, your generation! Zero respect for elders!”
But chief Yang only laughed merrily and quickly escaped the room.
***
In the meantime, inside the patient's ward.
Young Xie Lan was sitting near her sick father holding his hand and thinking over their last conversation. She didn't say how much she loved him. It was such a silly conversation. But now that conversation may be the last one they had.
However, she couldn't cry. She needs to be strong, as the only heir of their family. Moreover, now more than ever she needed to be a pillar that can support her mother through probably the worst time of her life.
”Lan'er, go home.” suddenly her mother said, ”Have a little bit of sleep, I will stay with your father.”
”No, mom, I...”
”Listen to your mother. I can see how tired you are, both morally and physically. Have some rest. Lin An take her home and make sure she reaches it safely.”
”Mom...” Xie Lan looked into the tearful red eyes of her mother, full of love for her only child, but also sorrow for her dying husband.
”Rest, dear. Rest while you still can.”
The daughter didn't want to argue with her mother, so she complied and went home.
And indeed Xie Lan was truly tired. Studying in University, working on the side, news of her father's sickness and then waiting in the hospital. The girl was exhausted, so as soon as her head touched back of a car seat, she fell asleep.
But, in her sleep, she saw something very strange.