Chapter 8: The Soul Resurrection Needle

“Miracle Doctor, please take me as your apprentice!” Jonathan bowed to Jared.

Jared, drained of energy, could only gape. Josephine looked bewildered. “Dr. Watson, what are you doing? My father hasn’t even woken up yet.” She didn't understand Jonathan's address to Jared as a "Miracle Doctor" while her father remained unconscious.

“Ms. Sullivan, you may not be aware, but this gentleman just applied the Soul Resurrection Needle, capable of reviving even a dead man. Mr. Sullivan will be fine!” Jonathan explained.

Josephine stared at Jared in disbelief. “He’s that good?” If Jonathan’s claim was true, Jared certainly deserved the title.

“I can’t believe you actually know the Soul Resurrection Needle!” Jonathan exclaimed in awe. The technique was an ancient, lost art of acupuncture. Jared, however, had only learned it from Draco.

“Miracle Doctor, I’m Dr. Jonathan Watson, deputy president of the Horington Association of Traditional Medicine. I’ve read about this technique in ancient texts and never expected to witness it. Please, accept me as your student.” Jonathan prostrated himself before Jared.

Jared was still reeling from Jonathan’s reaction when William coughed. He was awake.

“Dad!” Josephine rushed to his side, but Jared stopped her. “Ms. Sullivan, he shouldn’t move yet. Wait until I remove the needles.”

Holding Josephine’s hand, he felt its warmth and gentleness, a surprising jolt. Josephine felt the warmth too, blushing slightly. “This is all thanks to you,” she murmured.

Jared quickly released her hand, then, with a wave, drew the eighty-one needles into his palm as if by magnetic force. “It’s done,” he announced, returning the needles to Jonathan.

Josephine’s doubts vanished. Thanking Jared, she tearfully helped William sit up. “Dad, how do you feel?”

“I’m fine. Actually, I feel good.” William smiled weakly.

Noticing Jonathan still kneeling, he asked, “What’s going on?”

Josephine explained Jared’s use of the Soul Resurrection Needle, leaving William astounded. He’d already been impressed by Jared’s diagnostic skill, but the deputy president of the Traditional Medicine Association begging to be his student was beyond belief.

“Young man, you’ve saved me twice. From today, you are a benefactor of the Sullivan family. I will fulfill any reasonable request,” William declared.

“Mr. Sullivan, you’re too kind. I barely did anything. This is a blessing you deserve for your charity.” Jared then changed his tone. “While the Soul Resurrection Needle saved your life temporarily, without further treatment, you will die within three months.”

William, fearing death, dropped to his knees. “Please, sir, I’ll give you everything to save my life.” His fear had altered his address from “young man” to “sir.” As Horington’s richest man, he was incredibly wealthy.

“Mr. Sullivan, there’s no need. I’m obligated to help having met you. However, I require some rare herbs, and I hope you can obtain them for me.” Jared couldn't afford them himself; they were far beyond the reach of most people.

“Sir, whatever you need!” William nodded, turning to Josephine. “Josephine, prepare pen and paper.”

Jared felt awkward with William’s continued formality. “Mr. Sullivan, my name is Jared Chance. Please, call me Jared.”

“I can’t do that, Mr. Chance. You’re our savior, and the Sullivan family will never forget it.”

Jared, seeing William’s resolve, didn’t press. He wrote a long list of herbs and gave it to Josephine.

“Mr. Sullivan, most are for your treatment, but some are for my mother, who has lost her sight. I need these herbs to cure her,” Jared explained honestly. Hannah's blindness, caused by excessive crying, was treatable, but he lacked access to the necessary herbs. The Sullivans were better positioned to obtain them.

However, two items on the list concerned him: a spiritually imbued calligraphy brush (used by a famous scholar, or made from the fur of a spiritual animal) and a cinnabar rosary made from ancient wood. Combined, they could cure Hannah, but finding them relied on luck and knowledge. He wasn’t optimistic about the Sullivans locating them.

(Note: The final sentence about finding the items on the FindNovel website was removed as it was out of place and irrelevant to the text's content.)