The Return of The Forsaken Son-in law

Chapter 2

Marco burst through the glass doors of Wilson Pharmacy, carrying Rosa's limp form in his arms. The opulent interior, with its marble floors and crystal chandeliers, stood in stark contrast to his rain-soaked appearance. Behind the mahogany counter, a young assistant named Peter looked up with disgust.

"What the hell?" Peter wrinkled his nose. "This isn't a morgue, you filthy beggar. Take that corpse to a hospital before it starts stinking up our establishment."

"She's not dead!" Marco's voice cracked with desperation. "I need silver needles—medical grade acupuncture needles. Please!"

Peter laughed mockingly. "Silver needles? For that rotting piece of meat? Are you insane? Look at her, you delusional cockroach—she's already got one foot in the grave!"

"I can save her. I just need—"

"Save her?" Peter's voice dripped with contempt. "You look like a drowned rat who crawled out of a sewer. What could a worthless maggot like you possibly know about medicine?"

Marco's grip tightened on his mother. "Please, just sell me the needles. I have money—"

"Money?" Peter examined Marco's soaked clothes and disheveled appearance. "What money could a pathetic worm like you have? Probably stolen from some trash can."

At that moment, an elderly man in an expensive white coat emerged from the back office. Dr. Vincent Castellano, the pharmacy's chief medical consultant, commanded respect wherever he went. His sharp eyes immediately assessed the situation.

"What's all this commotion about?" Vincent's authoritative voice filled the room.

Peter straightened up immediately. "Dr. Castellano, this homeless vagrant brought in a dead body. I was just telling him to leave before he contaminates our facility."

Vincent approached Marco and Rosa, his experienced eyes examining her condition. He checked her pulse, lifted her eyelids, and pressed his ear to her chest.

"This woman is dead," Vincent declared matter-of-factly. "She's been gone for at least ten minutes. Young man, you need to accept reality and give her a proper burial."

"No!" Marco's voice echoed through the pharmacy. "She's not dead! I can bring her back! I just need silver needles!"

Peter burst into hysterical laughter. "Did you hear that, Dr. Castellano? This delusional insect thinks he can resurrect the dead! Maybe we should call the psychiatric ward!"

Vincent studied Marco's face carefully. "Son, I've been practicing medicine for forty years. This woman is beyond saving. Accept it and move on."

"I'm telling you, I can save her!" Marco's eyes blazed with determination. "The Divine Acupuncture Skill—I can use it to bring her back!"

"Divine Acupuncture Skill?" Vincent's eyebrows raised. "That's a legendary technique that's been lost for centuries. No one has practiced it for over 300 years."

Peter snorted with derision. "He's completely lost his mind! Next he'll claim he can walk on water! Should I call security to throw this lunatic out with the rest of the garbage?"

Vincent held up his hand, his curiosity piqued. "Tell me, young man—where did you learn about this technique?"

"It was passed down through my family," Marco said, his voice steady despite his desperation. "I know it sounds impossible, but I can prove it. Just give me a chance."

"This is ridiculous!" Peter interjected. "Dr. Castellano, you can't seriously be considering—"

"Silence!" Vincent's voice boomed. He studied Marco intently. "The confidence in your eyes... it's either madness or truth. Very well. I'll give you one chance, but if you fail, you leave immediately."

Vincent led them to a private treatment room, his personal set of silver needles gleaming in a velvet-lined case. "These are worth more than most people make in a year. If you're lying, you'll regret it."

Marco gently placed Rosa on the examination table. His hands moved with surprising steadiness as he selected the first needle.

"Wait," Vincent said, positioning himself at Rosa's pressure points. "If you're really going to attempt this, I'll assist by maintaining her energy pathways."

Marco nodded, then began the most intricate acupuncture procedure Vincent had ever witnessed. His movements were fluid, precise, almost supernatural in their accuracy. Each needle found its mark with millimeter precision.

"Impossible..." Vincent whispered as he watched. "This technique... it's beyond anything I've ever seen."

One by one, Marco placed needle after needle. Twenty, forty, sixty, eighty... The ancient knowledge flowed through him like water, guiding each placement with mystical precision.

"One hundred and eight," Marco announced as he placed the final needle.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then Rosa's chest rose with a sudden, sharp intake of breath. Her eyes fluttered open, focusing on Marco's face.

"Marco? Where... where are we?"

Vincent stumbled backward, his face pale with shock. "This is impossible! She was clinically dead! How did you—what kind of technique was that?"

"The Divine Acupuncture Skill," Marco said quietly, exhaustion evident in his voice. "It's been passed down through my family for generations."

"But that technique is legendary! It was supposedly lost when the last master died centuries ago!" Vincent's hands trembled as he checked Rosa's vital signs. "Her pulse is strong, her breathing is normal... this is a miracle!"

"Dr. Castellano!" Peter's voice interrupted from outside the room. "The manager wants to know what's taking so long! Should we dispose of the body?"

Vincent's expression hardened immediately. "Get in here, you incompetent fool!"

Peter entered with the pharmacy manager, Mr. Thompson, both expecting to see a corpse. Instead, they found Rosa sitting up, color returning to her cheeks.

"What the hell?" Thompson's jaw dropped. "She was dead! I saw her myself!"

"Severely injured, not dead," Vincent lied smoothly. "Sometimes inexperienced eyes can be deceived."

Peter's face flushed with embarrassment. "But sir, I was certain—"

"You were wrong!" Vincent's voice carried the weight of absolute authority. "This young man is a skilled practitioner who saved his mother's life. Show some respect!"

Thompson backed down immediately. "Of course, Dr. Castellano. My apologies."

After they left, Vincent turned to Marco with profound respect. "I've never witnessed anything like this. You've performed a miracle with techniques I thought were myths."

"Please," Marco said, helping Rosa to her feet. "You can't tell anyone about this. There are people who would use this knowledge for evil purposes."

Vincent nodded solemnly. "You have my word. Your secret is safe with me."