This recovery speed is fucking fast

Su Yang’s heart was also heavy at this moment.

He could see a trace of regret—or perhaps unwillingness—on Lu Huai’an’s face.

“I’m not afraid of death. What I fear is leaving my wife and daughter with no one to rely on after I’m gone!”

Lu Yun clutched Lu Huai’an’s hand, her tears falling like rain. “Dad… don’t say things like that. You’ll be fine.”

“Ah, alright, I won’t bring it up again.”

In the silence that followed, Su Yang quickly asked in his mind:

—System, how do I use that card?

[Have the patient close their eyes and lie down. Take out the card and place it in front of them. An option will appear asking whether to use it on this person—just select ‘Yes.’]

—That’s it? How long until it takes effect?

[They’ll recover within ten seconds.]

—Damn, that’s insane!!

Su Yang glanced at Lu Yun before turning back to Lu Huai’an.

He took a deep breath and repeated the excuse he’d prepared last night. It sounded far-fetched, but it was better than saying nothing.

“Uncle Lu, the thing is… well…” He scratched his head awkwardly.

“What is it, Xiao Su? Just say it.”

Lu Yun wiped away her tears, though the streaks still marked her face, making her look utterly heartbroken.

“Okay, here’s the thing. I actually studied under an old Chinese medicine practitioner since I was a kid. I never told anyone—not even Lu Yun. I was thinking… maybe I could take a look at your condition?”

Lu Huai’an showed no visible reaction. He managed a weak smile. “Haha, Xiao Su, even if I believed you studied medicine, my illness is incurable. Big hospitals can’t treat it—what difference would it make if you looked?”

Su Yang turned to Lu Yun, who looked completely baffled, then continued: “Uncle Lu, since I’m already here, why not let me check your pulse? I really did study this. I might not be able to cure you, but I could at least ease your discomfort.”

“Oh? You’re serious?” Lu Huai’an had lived decades longer than Su Yang—naturally, he was skeptical. But since the young man was his daughter’s classmate and seemed close to her, he humored him. “Alright, go ahead.”

Lu Yun stood up hesitantly. “Su… Su Yang, you really studied medicine?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t joke about something like this,” Su Yang said with complete seriousness.

Seeing his confidence, Lu Yun trusted him completely. If he could ease her father’s suffering, even just a little, it would be better than watching him writhe in agony every few hours.

Lu Huai’an, too, saw no deception in Su Yang’s expression. He sighed. “Fine, do what you want. I’m already a dead man walking—what’s there to lose?”

Su Yang nodded at Lu Yun. “Xiao Lu, I’ll need you to step out for a bit.”

“Huh? I shouldn’t stay?”

“No. Close the door behind you. Trust me.” His eyes locked onto hers, full of sincerity.

Lu Yun hesitated but finally nodded. “Okay.” She turned and left the room.

Once the door shut, Lu Huai’an chuckled weakly. “So, Xiao Su, how exactly are you going to ‘examine’ me?”

Su Yang stood. “Uncle Lu, first, let’s have you lie down.” He helped Lu Huai’an settle onto the bed.

Sitting beside him, Su Yang theatrically took Lu Huai’an’s wrist and rested it on his own knee, mimicking a pulse diagnosis. He frowned, nodded, and hummed thoughtfully—putting on such a convincing act that Lu Huai’an almost believed he was a trained practitioner.

Finally, Su Yang withdrew his hand. “Uncle Lu, now I need you to close your eyes and relax. I’ll apply pressure to a few acupoints.”

“Sure.” Lu Huai’an complied, shutting his eyes and clearing his mind.

Su Yang had once been obsessed with martial arts novels and even researched human acupressure points during college when he toyed with writing his own book. Now, he put that knowledge to use—standing up and pressing his fingers against key points on Lu Huai’an’s abdomen: Qihai, Shimen, Shenque, Shuifen.

After several minutes of this, Lu Huai’an actually felt some relief.

Su Yang sat back down. “Keep your eyes closed and stay relaxed.”

Lu Huai’an gave a faint nod.

Seeing the timing was right, Su Yang glanced at the door to ensure no one was watching. He even checked for security cameras—nothing. Confident they were alone, he called out in his mind:

—System, withdraw the “Cure-All” card.

[Card retrieved.]

The moment the system’s voice faded, a small black card—smaller than a credit card—materialized in his hand. It was little more than a slip of black paper.

Without hesitation, Su Yang held it about ten centimeters above Lu Huai’an’s body.

Instantly, a virtual dialog box appeared beside the card—visible only to him—displaying a line of text:

“Use Cure-All Card on Lu Huai’an?”

Below it were two options: Yes and No.

Su Yang mentally confirmed: Yes.

[Ding!]

A crisp chime echoed in his mind as the black card dissolved into a streak of golden light, vanishing into Lu Huai’an’s body.

[Usage successful.]

—That’s it?

“Mmm…! Ah—!” Lu Huai’an suddenly grimaced, his body tensing.

Su Yang bolted up. “Uncle Lu, what’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing… Just a sudden heat spreading through me. Feels like a current of warmth rushing inside.”

“Oh, that’s normal. It’s from the acupressure. It’ll pass soon.”

Five seconds later, Lu Huai’an’s pallid face flushed with color, his complexion revitalizing at an astonishing speed.

Su Yang stared, stunned. Holy shit, that was fast as hell.

Then, Lu Huai’an’s eyes snapped open—bright and alert, brimming with life.

“I feel…”

Su Yang gulped. “Feel what?”

“I… I think… I’m healed!!”

“Don’t move yet. Let me check your pulse again.” Su Yang pressed two fingers to Lu Huai’an’s wrist, feigning deep thought.

Lu Huai’an couldn’t contain himself. “Xiao Su, what’s the reading?”

“Uncle Lu, stay quiet for now.”

“Right, right.” Lu Huai’an now fully believed Su Yang wasn’t just a student of medicine—he might even be some hidden master.

After all, no one knew his own body better than him. In those ten seconds, the scorching energy had coursed through every inch of him before vanishing—leaving his mind and body in peak condition, as if decades younger.

The sudden change left him no choice but to believe Su Yang. Deep down, he even suspected that Su Yang had already cured his illness, though it seemed almost too incredible to be true.

For a fleeting moment, he wondered if this was just a final burst of energy before the end—but what kind of "final burst" could leave him feeling like this?

He even felt like he could do fifty push-ups in one go without breaking a sweat.

And when he’d mentioned earlier that he seemed to be better, Su Yang hadn’t denied it.

Now, watching Su Yang’s professional demeanor, Lu Huai'an’s heart began to race with excitement.

Su Yang’s earlier claim about merely easing his pain now struck Lu Huai'an as nothing more than a tactic to make him believe he’d actually studied medicine.

If Su Yang had outright declared he could cure late-stage cancer from the start, no sane person would’ve believed him. They’d probably have rolled their eyes and kicked him out.

...

Meanwhile, Su Yang continued taking his pulse, eyes slightly narrowed, playing the part of a reclusive master with surprising skill—he really did have a knack for acting.

Three seconds later, he withdrew his hand and turned to Lu Huai'an with a smile.

“Uncle Lu, what if I told you your illness is already cured? Would you believe me?”