Dr. Hoffman stared at the sealed container. "This is it? This is the herb?""Yes."She picked it up carefully, examining it through the clear material. The pale white root inside, almost translucent. "I have never seen anything like this.""You need to prepare Lily for treatment immediately.""Mr. Cross, you can barely stand. You need rest""After the treatment."Dr. Hoffman looked at him for a long moment. Saw the determination in his eyes. The absolute refusal to compromise."Fine," she said. "Give me twenty minutes to prepare the room."Ethan nodded and walked to Lily's room.She was still in the coma. Machines monitoring her vitals. IV lines running into her arms. Her face was pale. Peaceful. Like she was just sleeping.But the monitors told a different story. Organ function declining slowly. Brain activity decreasing.She was dying.Ethan sat in the chair beside her bed and closed his eyes. He needed to center himself. Channel what little qi he had left. This treatment would be e

Dr. Hoffman signed the discharge papers and handed them to Ethan."She is fully healed," Dr. Hoffman said. "I still do not understand how, but her vision is perfect. Better than most people who have never had vision problems."Ethan took the papers. "Thank you for everything.""Mr. Cross." Dr. Hoffman stopped him before he could leave. "What you did for your sister... what you accomplished with those herbs and that treatment... I have practiced medicine for twenty years and I have never seen anything like it.""Ancient techniques. Passed down through generations.""Will you teach me?"Ethan looked at her. "Maybe someday."He walked back to Lily's room. She was already dressed in the clean clothes Claire had brought yesterday. Simple jeans and a soft blue sweater. Her hair was brushed. Her face was bright with excitement."Ready?" Ethan asked."So ready." Lily stood and grabbed the small bag containing her few belongings. "I have been staring at these walls for a week. I want to see ev

The next morning, Ethan woke before sunrise. He went to the gym and spent an hour preparing. Moving equipment. Setting up the training mats. Planning which techniques to teach Lily first. She was completely untrained. No martial arts background. And she had only regained her sight a few days ago. He would need to start with the absolute basics. At seven AM, Lily entered the gym wearing the workout clothes Sophia had bought for her. Simple gray pants and a fitted black shirt. "Ready?" Ethan asked. "Nervous. But ready." "Good. Nervousness means you are taking this seriously." He started with breathing exercises. Taught her how to center herself. How to calm her mind before physical exertion. Then he moved to stances. Showed her how to stand with proper balance. How to distribute her weight. How to move without losing stability. Lily watched carefully and tried to copy his movements. She was clumsy at first. Her body did not respond the way she wanted. But she kept trying. "Wid