Surprise! What a huge surprise!!
Chen Huai'an had originally thought that teaching Li Qingran the Green Lotus Sword Manual was still a faraway dream.
But just a few corrections from the old man gave him a glimpse of hope!
At the same time, Chen Huai'an confirmed one thing: the hacker team behind the camera must be monitoring his movements—or at the very least, there's an AI system constantly analyzing his posture—and only when his actions are precise does his cultivation progress increase.
This game is absurdly detailed to the extreme. Even the golden needles provided follow authentic, traditional Chinese acupuncture methods, so the foundational part of the Green Lotus Sword Manual must also be adapted from legitimate martial arts techniques. No doubt it demands precision in form.
"Master!" Chen Huai'an turned around and gave a deep bow, tears in his eyes. "Thank you, Master, for correcting my movements!"
Old Man Li was stunned, but a rush of pleasure surged straight to the top of his head.
Master?
Sometimes other elderly folks jokingly called him that, but it was always in jest.
As an old man, what he desired more than recognition from his peers was validation from the younger generation.
Just like how young people seek approval from elders—it's mutual.
No young person had ever called him "Master" before. This was a first.
Looking closely, this young man was quite handsome, though it was unclear why he had shaved his head, and his complexion didn't look healthy. Old Li himself knew a bit about medicine, but alas, a doctor cannot cure himself. His own conditions had been dragging on for years...
In any case, once he finished correcting the boy's form, he figured he'd help him check his pulse.
Such a good kid. He deserved to be healthy.
"Young man, I only helped you with your posture. No need to get so emotional," Old Li chuckled. "I'm not a real master. Just trained in some classical martial arts when I was young."
He continued to correct the other mistakes in Chen Huai'an's posture. "From what I can tell, your form mimics some traditional style. It's similar to Tai Chi, but it carries a sharpness and defiance that doesn't align with Tai Chi philosophy. Still, whatever martial art it is, the foundation always lies in the lower body. Before your upper movements are precise, your stance—your legs—must be steady."
As he spoke, he gave Chen Huai'an's trembling right leg a little nudge and frowned. "Tsk, kid… something's not right with this leg…"
He reached down and felt it—his hand touched a layer of plaster. He was instantly dumbfounded.
Wait… this kid's leg is in a cast, and he still came out to practice martial arts?
Then he felt another spot—his frown deepened. There was a lump on the leg.
"This… what the— Kid, let me check your pulse!"
Without waiting for a reply, he pressed his fingers to Chen Huai'an's wrist. But the more he felt, the darker his expression grew.
A death sentence! The entire pulse screamed just one word—death.
Beads of sweat formed on Old Li's forehead. He looked up at the young man with concern, hesitating over whether he should speak the truth—until he saw the calm expression on Chen Huai'an's face.
"Old sir, you're amazing. Not only are you great at martial arts, but you can read pulses too?" Chen Huai'an already knew the old man had sensed something.
There's a saying: If a traditional doctor frowns, fate is uncertain; if he sighs, the Reaper is calling.
Old Li was frowning and sighing—it matched his current condition perfectly. He was already on the Reaper's list, just waiting to be summoned.
"Old sir, I'm in the late stages of cancer. I don't have long left. I understand my own situation. All I can say is—you were spot on with the pulse reading."
"Late-stage cancer? And you still have the heart to laugh?" Old Li looked at his pale face with a wave of sorrow.
What a fine young man… Why did such a cruel disease have to cling to him?
"If it's already a done deal, then I might as well face it with peace." Chen Huai'an said easily, "In the time I have left, as long as I live happily and meaningfully, I'll have no regrets walking this world. Sure, my journey's shorter than most, but looking at it another way—college graduates today can't even find jobs. Everyone's struggling and burned out. I guess I've just 'laid flat' earlier than most."
Old Li opened his mouth to object.
But after searching for the words, he realized—this attitude was probably the best possible response to such a fate.
In Chen Huai'an's eyes, he saw freedom. And clarity.
Many old folks didn't even have such a mindset, yet this young man saw it all so clearly…
Was he just born mature?
Old Li's heart grew heavy.
No one is born this composed. Such clarity comes at the cost of hardship.
For someone in their early twenties to be this transparent and open… it could only mean he had already been through a lifetime of pain. So much so that the weight others couldn't bear had already become light as air for him.
"There's really no cure?"
"Pretty much none," Chen Huai'an shook his head. "Even with insurance, it would only delay things. The cancer's in my bone marrow—it's past the point of no return. And I don't even have insurance. I've often wondered if burning money just to extend my life a little longer is really worth it. For now, I think enjoying each day is more important. Doing the things I always wanted to try… Not that I've completely given up treatment. If I can find joy and happen to afford treatment, I'll gladly live longer. Hahaha!"
He laughed with ease and lightness, but Old Li could hear the sorrow and helplessness behind it.
"Young man, I can't help you with your illness, but your mindset is key. I once heard of a late-stage cancer patient who practiced Tai Chi every day and kept a good attitude. Miraculously, the tumor shrank and eventually disappeared… If you can manage it, come here every morning. I'll help you correct your movements. The basics of classical martial arts are mostly interchangeable, so don't worry about going down a weird path."
Chen Huai'an had heard those kinds of stories too.
He knew the old man probably saw him as someone trying everything in desperation.
But he didn't bother correcting him—because he was genuinely interested in mastering the Green Lotus Sword Manual.
"Wouldn't that trouble you too much?"
"Not at all." Old Li waved it off with a smile. "Being around young people like you brings joy to my heart."
His diabetes had always been a dark cloud over his head—like a blade hanging above his neck, making him eat poorly and sleep restlessly.
But after chatting with Chen Huai'an, he felt that gloom lift entirely.
It was like the young man's energy had made him feel alive again.
…
In just one morning, Chen Huai'an pushed the first chapter of the Green Lotus Sword Manual to 80% completion. No matter how hard he tried after that, the progress wouldn't budge.
According to Old Li, his muscles were fatigued, his movements distorted. Continuing practice today would do more harm than good. So, Chen Huai'an had to return to the hotel to rest. Old Li had even invited him to lunch, but Chen Huai'an had a livestream to plan for the afternoon, so he politely declined.
"Still feels like something's not quite right…"
On the way back, Chen Huai'an rubbed his chin in thought.
Last night, practicing the first chapter of the Green Lotus Sword Manual for just thirty minutes had left him sore and weak.
But this morning, without even having breakfast, he lasted five or six hours. Even Old Li said that if he weren't sick, he'd be a martial arts prodigy.
At that thought, Chen Huai'an subconsciously rubbed the glass bead bracelet on his wrist—
Unaware that one of the beads had dimmed slightly.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "I get it now!"
He gripped the bracelet harder, a subtle grin on his lips.
"So that's it. I really am a genius!"
He had previously wondered whether his gene potential had been activated.
Now he was completely convinced.
There are things ordinary people can never master, but a genius learns with ease. Cancer had cut his life short—but it had also triggered a hidden potential.
Since that's the case…
Chen Huai'an opened his phone and looked at the Golden Needle Acupuncture upgrade chart.
Currently: Spring Needle, Level 1.
Next level: Pulse-Opening Needle, Level 2.
Requirement: 1,000 successful uses of Spring Needle.
He had only reached 3 uses so far. He didn't know how it calculated usage, but reaching 1,000 felt like it would take forever.
As a pay-to-win player and a terminally ill man from "Zu'an," time was the one thing he lacked most.
"998? Pocket change." Chen Huai'an looked at his bank balance with a twisted grin.
Money could always be earned again. But missing his golden window to activate potential? That would be a massive loss.
"Charge that sh*t!!"
As the 998 yuan vanished from his account, the Spring Needle technique on the screen lit up with golden light.
The light flowed down, illuminating the next technique as well—Pulse-Opening Needle.
[Your skill "Golden Needle Acupuncture" has advanced to Lv2. New technique unlocked: Pulse-Opening Needle.]
"Good, good, this—this is the power of microtransactions!"
Back in his hotel room, Chen Huai'an shut the doors and curtains, plopped onto the sofa, and stared at the screen, eyes sparkling.
[Begin technique training? Warning: Pulse-Opening Needle is extremely dangerous. Without sufficient proficiency, there is a high risk of permanent disability!]
"Yes!"
[Please select a needle target.]
Who should he pick? Definitely not Li Qingran. Should he get her to go catch a wild boar later?
Chen Huai'an froze.
His phone camera suddenly switched on.
Then flipped to selfie mode.
On screen—was himself.
[Target selected. Please begin the procedure.]
Chen Huai'an: "???"