Chapter 147

It seemed Gilmore already had a plan, and Denon didn't mind. Harlan said nothing more. The others in the room eagerly awaited Gilmore's demonstration of skill, especially after Denton's account. While expectations weren't high, they were curious to see his approach.

Gilmore produced a small metal box from his pocket—a box of needles he'd taken from Graham's ward after saving him in Vista Verde. He placed it on the table and opened it. Under the light, the needles glowed with a silvery luminescence.

He knelt before Denton, examining his left leg. His pupils constricted, activating his "God's Eye." Skin, flesh, and bone became transparent to his gaze, revealing the internal structure as if under a microscope. He quickly located the problem in Denton's knee: cracks in the kneecap, now healed but surrounded by shadows. Poison.

"Got it!" Gilmore declared. Deadly poison remained in Denton's previously broken kneecap. Even after treatment, the poison lingered, causing his annual pain and persistent limp. Gilmore surmised Denton was an internal force martial artist, given his survival with the poison, which he'd apparently suppressed using his internal energy.

Gilmore's plan was simple: insert needles into the kneecap and use his energy to draw out the poison. The pain would vanish immediately, and within two days, Denton could walk without a cane.

He selected a needle. With a swift, almost imperceptible movement, he inserted it, then replaced it in the box. The needle had inexplicably turned a dark shade. In the blink of an eye, Gilmore was finished. His movements were too fast to follow clearly.

The needle's sudden blackening astonished everyone. Christopher and his wife, along with Claire, had witnessed many dry needling treatments, but never had a needle turned black. This unprecedented event deepened their seriousness; they sensed a potential miracle. Even Denton's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't felt the needle's insertion.

Gilmore's technique seemed markedly different from other renowned doctors'. A glimmer of hope ignited in Denton's mind. Maybe he can really cure my leg, he thought.

Under everyone's astonished gaze, Gilmore continued, his speed reminiscent of Hippocrates. He rapidly inserted, withdrew, and replaced needles with dazzling precision. "What a performance!" someone exclaimed.

The treatment concluded. He stood, sighed softly, and addressed Denton: "Mr. Carter, I haven't failed you. I've healed your left leg."

The needles' blackness confirmed his success; the poison had been absorbed.

Denton looked disbelieving, from Gilmore to the needles.

"You said you healed my leg? I feel no pain?" he asked, stunned.

Gilmore nodded solemnly. "Yes. Your leg will no longer hurt. You'll walk normally without a cane."

While removing the poison would normally leave some recovery time for the bone, Gilmore had also used his energy to repair the kneecap's function, even mending the microscopic cracks.

Denton wasn't the only one shocked. The others thought they'd misheard. Decades of using a cane—now, he could discard it?

Denton cautiously rose, cane in hand. He took two steps, then discarded the cane. Claire and Christopher moved to support him, but Gilmore remained unconcerned.

Denton took tentative steps. He still limped slightly, but he was cane-free, astounding Christopher and Claire. After decades, he could walk normally. To Christopher and Claire, it was a miracle.

Denton continued walking, his limp disappearing. His crippled leg was fully recovered!

Denton, and everyone else, were stunned. They gazed at Gilmore as if he were a god, a modern-day Hippocrates.

(The final promotional sentence has been removed as it is irrelevant to the text cleanup.)