"I make a wish—to be filled with nervous energy and heightened awareness!"
"Ding! Wish granted!"
Rayden Wolfe felt a sudden jolt course through his body. His senses became razor sharp. The soft breeze brushing against his skin sent tingles across his arms. Everything felt more intense—too intense.
Inside the hospital ward, Dr. Simon Zhao was preparing for another round of treatment.
From his medical kit, he pulled out an especially thick and long silver acupuncture needle. He held it over an alcohol burner, sterilizing it carefully with a flame.
"Junior Brother, bear with me," he said gently. "This will only hurt for a moment."
Caleb Chen, still swaddled in gauze and bandages, paled. "Senior Brother… that needle looks like it belongs in a blacksmith's shop! Can't you use something smaller?"
Dr. Zhao shrugged helplessly. "If I could, I would! Your skin's too hard. I broke every single needle I had last time. This one's the only shot we've got left."
Caleb hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay. Just be careful."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
With both men ready, Simon stepped forward, placing one hand on Caleb's chest to locate the acupuncture point.
He took a deep breath.
Then, with practiced precision, he thrust the silver needle down.
Thwack!
It pierced flesh like a hot knife through butter.
The needle slid in deep—seven, maybe eight centimeters. Almost straight through the chest.
Caleb's body convulsed.
His already-heightened nerves exploded with pain. The fiery sting of the needle rushed straight to his brain. He let out a scream so loud, it reverberated down the hospital corridor.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The scream rattled windowpanes. Nurses dropped their clipboards. Visitors froze in place.
Inside the ward, Simon panicked. "Junior Brother?! What happened? Are you okay?!"
He had never seen such a reaction. In all his years practicing acupuncture, no one had ever screamed like that.
Before he could move again, the door burst open.
Rayden Wolfe charged in alongside a squad of startled doctors and nurses.
The lead doctor shouted, "What are you doing?! Who gave you permission to treat a patient like this?!"
Simon flailed. "I-I'm treating him! I'm his senior brother—I'm trying to heal him!"
"Heal him?!" the doctor barked. "With a needle that long and thick?! You just stabbed him in the chest! The man screamed like he was being murdered! Are you trying to convince me this is medicine?!"
Simon broke into cold sweat. "No, no—it's a misunderstanding! I swear, I'm not trying to hurt him! I'm helping! Really!"
The doctor waved at a nurse. "Nurse Li! Call the police immediately! Get security to contain this man. He's dangerous."
"Yes, Dr. Liu!" The nurse rushed out.
Simon tried to bolt. "Please—this is all a misunderstanding!"
But Rayden stepped in, blocking his way. Calm, yet imposing.
"Dr. Zhao," he said quietly, "I suggest you don't move. Don't resist. If you do… I'll be forced to act in self-defense."
Simon looked around at the doctors and guards surrounding him, then sighed and dropped to a squat.
"Ugh…"
Within minutes, the police arrived, placing the terrified Simon Zhao under custody.
Rayden, ever helpful, gave a full statement to the investigating officers.
"Mr. Wolfe," the officer said after the interview, "thank you for your cooperation. That will be all for now. If we need anything else, we'll contact you."
Rayden beamed. "Of course! It's every citizen's duty to assist the police. Call me anytime—I'll cooperate fully."
The officer smiled. "We need more people like you."
"Police and citizens—working together like family!"
After the police left, Rayden returned to the ward to check on Caleb.
"How is my friend doing?" he asked with genuine concern.
The doctor glanced up from his clipboard, his expression serious. "The needle went in deep. About 8 centimeters. It nearly pierced the heart… but it missed. Barely. It lodged into a small gap beside the heart and only caused minor internal bleeding. He's stable now, but we'll keep him under observation for the next few days."
Rayden forced a solemn nod, though he couldn't help but feel a tiny flicker of disappointment. So close…
Still, he kept his tone sincere. "You're absolutely right, Doctor. He needs to stay in the hospital. Please do whatever's necessary. I don't care how much it costs—just make sure my brother gets the best care."
The doctor shook his head, baffled. "You're amazing… taking care of someone you barely know like this. Meanwhile, his so-called 'senior brother' tried to kill him! I still can't make sense of it."
Rayden sighed dramatically. "Some things are beyond understanding. Human nature is… complicated."
The doctor nodded grimly. "You're right. It can be very dark."
"Let's not dwell on the sadness," Rayden added. "He's safe now. That's what matters."
The doctor patted Rayden on the shoulder and left the room.
Rayden turned toward Caleb, who was lying weakly in bed, his face pale and his eyes filled with fury and humiliation.
Rayden approached slowly and looked down with solemn eyes.
"Brother," he said with gravity, "don't worry. I'll help you get justice. I swear, I'll make sure the man who tried to kill you pays for it!"
Caleb weakly lifted a hand. His voice was barely a whisper. "Let… let my Senior Brother go…"
Rayden's face froze. "What?"
Caleb repeated, "Let him go… he didn't mean to…"
Rayden's eyes narrowed. "Brother, even now, you still care about him? That man just tried to murder you! You treat him like family, and he shoves a needle into your heart! You call that brotherhood?!"
Caleb closed his eyes in exhaustion. He had no strength left to argue.
Rayden exhaled softly and straightened up.
"Rest now. Don't worry about anything. I'll be back to check on you again."
As he walked to the door, he cast one final glance at the defeated man lying in the hospital bed. A man crushed not just by pain, but by betrayal.
Then the door shut quietly behind him.
And Caleb closed his eyes in quiet despair.
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