Treatment begins.
Everyone stepped aside, making room for Leo and Mr. Carter.
Ethan and the others stood at a distance, observing the scene.
As Ethan scanned Mr. Carter's body, he instantly realized the severity of his condition. The man was on the brink of death.
The illness stemmed from a reverse flow of true energy. Leo's earlier treatments had merely been attempts to gather that scattered energy back into the core meridians. While this approach had some basis, his acupuncture technique was too outdated, requiring multiple rounds to show any real effect.
Still, this fit the cliché script of 'Urban Son-in-law Dragon King', where the protagonist suffers ridicule first, only to dazzle later in a dramatic reversal.
Leo stood over Mr. Carter. He pressed two fingers to the old man's wrist and closed his eyes.
"Leo... Leo... old man, I'm counting on you," Mr. Carter murmured weakly. Despite everything, he still believed in Leo, the man the previous Dragon King had entrusted to the Carter family for protection over the past six years.
Leo had already memorized every detail of Mr. Carter's condition.
He smiled confidently. "Don't worry, sir. I'll save you."
"Oh, I hope so," Rachel said coldly from the side. "If you fail, you'll regret it."
Leo took a deep breath. He felt bitterness rising. Rachel still didn't trust him.
But that was fine. Once he cured Mr. Carter, everything would change.
With newfound determination, Leo flicked his wrist—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Seven silver needles flew from his hand and embedded precisely into Mr. Carter's body.
Ava Carter narrowed her eyes.
This was one of Leo's past life techniques—Tai Chi Seven Needles. It worked by concentrating Qi to resolve deep-rooted ailments.
She remembered it clearly: in their past life, Leo had used this exact technique to save Mr. Carter.
But the others watching had no clue.
Rachel's eyes widened in horror. "Leo! What are you doing, you fool?!"
She lunged forward and yanked at Leo's arm. "Are you trying to kill my grandfather?!"
Linda also shrieked, panic in her voice. "This is rebellion! How dare the Carter family's son-in-law endanger the patriarch?!"
"Pull him off! Get that trash away!"
But Mrs. Carter raised her hand with a serious expression. "Wait."
"I can tell—Leo's entered a state of deep focus."
Even though Rachel was pulling at him, Leo remained still, entirely absorbed.
"Entering a state of focus?" Rachel whispered.
She had heard of such a thing. In their world, some practiced martial arts and spiritual techniques. It was said that with enough concentration, one could enter a heightened state.
And Leo—that so-called loser—had actually achieved it?
Linda glanced at Mrs. Carter with disbelief. "Could he really be healing your father?"
"I don't know," Mrs. Carter replied slowly. "But Leo has insisted many times that only he can help. Maybe… maybe we've been too quick to judge him."
Everyone fell silent.
Could they have misjudged Leo?
Meanwhile, Ethan's eyes remained fixed on Leo.
He smirked. "In the original plot, Leo would succeed here."
But then he turned to look at Ava.
Her expression was tense.
She clearly didn't want Leo to steal the spotlight.
In that case… Ethan would step in.
He sighed internally. Miss Ava, you really owe me big for this.
[Thirteen Needles of Taixuan]... Activated.
Ava glanced at Ethan, slightly alarmed.
Was he really going to intervene?
Not because she feared Leo succeeding—but because she was remembering something from the past.
In their previous life, during Mr. Carter's birthday party, Rachel had announced she was divorcing Leo. The six-year protection period had ended. Leo's Dragon King identity had been revealed.
It wasn't just the divorce—it was her role that triggered Leo's fury.
She had acted as a catalyst, driving a wedge deeper into his already spiraling life.
And now, with Mr. Carter possibly about to be healed again...
She clenched her fists.
As long as Leo can save Mr. Carter... then Ethan can still claim credit.
But she glared at Ethan.
Stop doing unnecessary things! her eyes seemed to scream.
Ethan chuckled to himself.
Oh? Is the lady blaming me for being slow now? he thought.
Still, the game was already in motion.
He leaned closer to Ava and whispered, "Time to enjoy the show, Miss."
She shivered at the tone.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Leo removed the needles. He was drenched in sweat. His energy nearly drained.
He slowly stood and looked around.
With a proud smile, he declared, "Mr. Carter is healed. He can be discharged today."
He turned to Rachel, reaching for her hand. "Do you believe me now?"
Rachel didn't pull away. She looked at her grandfather's resting figure.
Could it be? Had Leo really done it?
Linda rushed to the bedside. "Dad? Dad, are you alright?"
Everyone watched, holding their breath.
Seconds passed.
Mr. Carter didn't stir.
Rachel slowly pulled her hand back. "Leo… why hasn't he woken up yet?"
Leo smiled weakly. "He's just resting. Any moment now—"
COUGH!
SPLURT!
Blood sprayed from Mr. Carter's lips. His eyes bulged as he gasped in pain.
Everyone gasped in horror.
He pointed a trembling finger at Leo. "You… you wretch… you expelled all my Qi… do you want me dead?!"
"Leo… why would you…?"
The room exploded.
"Leo!! You bastard!"
"You traitorous dog!"
"If Mr. Carter dies, we'll bury you with him!"
Leo staggered back, his mind blank.
"No… No… My technique has never failed!"
He turned to Rachel. "Please, believe me—"
SLAP!
Rachel smacked him hard.
"You liar! How dare you deceive us again!" she cried.
Mrs. Carter collapsed. "I was wrong… we were all wrong… he really is worthless…"
"Grandmother!"
"Grandma!"
Rachel fell to her knees, sobbing.
She turned to Ava. "Please! Miss Ava! Let Ethan treat him!!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Everyone in the Carter family knelt, crying out together.
"Please save our patriarch, Miss Ava!"
Ava blinked and gave Ethan a helpless look. "Ethan… I'm counting on you."
Ethan sighed.
Why must I fix your messes, Leo?
"Understood, Miss."
Suddenly, something clicked in Ethan's mind.
[Villain Task System Activated]
Loyalty points: 10
Use points to heal Mr. Carter? YES/NO
Reward: 70% share of the Carter estate
Ethan blinked.
This… this system actually allowed him to complete villain-assigned tasks using loyalty points?
Done.
BOOM!
Ethan's body surged with energy, shocking everyone.
Even Ava was stunned.
"What the…?"
Leo muttered, "Impossible… don't trust him, Rachel. In this world—"
SLAP!
"Silence."
Ethan struck Leo to the floor with a single backhand.
He looked down coldly. "You call yourself Dragon King? Medical genius? What a joke."
"Thankfully, Miss Ava saw through your charade and brought me here."
The Carters turned to Ava with gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Ava!"
She smiled awkwardly. "Haha… sure…"
Ethan knelt beside Mr. Carter.
He pressed a palm to his chest.
"Awaken."
BOOM!
A massive wave of pure Qi exploded from Ethan's hand.
The windows rattled. Wind tore through the ward.
Everyone gawked.
"Such power!"
"Ethan really is a miracle doctor!"
"Leo never even made a breeze! What a fraud!"
Ava watched, silent.
Wait a second… that technique… he's just releasing Qi for dramatic effect, right? That's not actual healing…
She stared harder.
Then—
Mr. Carter sat up!
"I feel fifty years younger!" he shouted.
Everyone gasped.
Leo stood frozen, mouth open.
Ethan wiped fake sweat from his brow, stood with hands behind his back, and turned to Ava with a charming smile. "Thankfully, Miss."
Ava blinked.
Wait… that's not how this story was supposed to go…in
[Ethan also called as Xian tian ] Nickname!