Chapter 4

Christopher was in shock, hurriedly lifting Joseph’s eyelids, checking his pulse, and testing for breaths. Finally, he collapsed into a companion chair. It was true—Joseph was dead. Jessica couldn’t and wouldn’t accept it. “Master Christopher, you saved my grandfather, didn’t you?” she stammered. At a loss for words and quickly gathering his composure, Christopher, renowned as New York’s foremost mysterious healer, couldn’t let his reputation crumble. So, he pointed an accusatory finger at Daniel. “It is he! This country fool with his words has killed your grandfather.” “Master Christopher, that’s a foolish lie, isn’t it? Do you think Ma’am Jessica is naive enough to believe such nonsense?” “I am New York’s leading doctor. How could I lie?

When I say your words killed Mr. Joseph, I am not speaking without reason.” “Oh, and what’s your theory then?” “Mr. Joseph had indeed been brought back by me, only needing to rest peacefully on the bed before waking up. Just as he was about to awake, you cursed him to death, making his subconscious believe he had indeed died. So, you are to blame for Mr. Joseph’s death!” “Are you certain Mr. Joseph is truly dead?” “Pulse ceased, no breath, he is dead!”

“He is not dead; he’s alive.” Jessica’s eyes, clouded with despair, flickered with a glimmer of hope at Daniel’s assertion. “You claim my granddad isn’t dead?” Brittany couldn’t stand it any longer, and she launched into a fiery rebuke at Daniel: “You fool, shut your mouth! When the chairman was alive, you claimed he was dead. Now that he is dead, you say he’s alive? Do you think acting like a clown, deceiving people here, will show how unique you are or impress Ma’am Jessica?” Christopher, while not hoping for Joseph’s death, knew his own theory sounded a stretch. After another round of examination and use of various medical instruments, he and Michael drew the same conclusion: Joseph was dead. Daniel pulled from his plastic bag a rust-stained iron box, no bigger than a matchbox, containing seven dull needles—the Dragon Needles bequeathed to him by the old man. Seeing Daniel wield those lackluster needles as if ready to jab them into Joseph, Brittany was shocked! Recovering, she raised her voice to stop him, “What are you doing?” “I’m saving a life!” “Saving? Master Christopher couldn’t revive him even with The Kirin Needle. You think you can save lives with those needles, you picked up from the trash? They are dirty and grimy; how dare you use them on the chairman?” Andrew chimed in with a mocking sneer, “What’s he saving? He just became an assistant and wants to shine! Since Mr. Joseph is already dead, it doesn’t matter if he pokes around with needles. There’s no blame if it doesn’t work. And if he somehow revives Mr. Joseph, that would be a great feat!” “There are no ifs! Mr. Joseph is dead, and nobody can save him! If just anybody could poke him awake with random needles, what would be the need for doctors?” Christopher stated with supreme confidence. “Master Christopher is right,

Mr. Joseph is dead, and he can’t be saved. I’ve had doctors check his body with the hospital’s most advanced equipment. He’s not just without heartbeat or breath—every organ has ceased functioning—he’s completely dead,” Michael made his final verdict! Christopher and Michael’s pronouncements solidified Brittany’s belief that Daniel was creating a scene. She pointed at the door and bellowed at him, “Get out of here, now!” Of course, Daniel wouldn’t budge; he turned to Jessica and spoke earnestly, “Your grandfather has five more minutes! If I don’t administer the first needle within that time, he truly is dead. Not even gods can save him.”

“Master Christopher couldn’t save him, and you could?” Jessica was skeptical. “Absolutely!” “Absolute nonsense! He’s a bluffer, trying to earn brownie points by bragging here. Don’t you believe him, Ma’am Jessica, he’s trying to hurt the chairman!” Brittany passionately warned Jessica not to be foolish while pushing Daniel toward the door. Daniel stood firm, unaffected by Brittany’s shoving. He turned to Jessica, offering her one last chance to choose, “Ma’am Jessica, you gave me a one-year probation period. If I can’t save your grandfather, you can fire me on the spot!”