“Thank you, everyone. Please go back to your work; I'm fine now.”
After ten minutes, Yin Yang finally regained his ability to move. He forced himself up and waved the surrounding people away.
The fishermen only got up and left after seeing he was truly alright. Before they departed, they all insisted that he should call for them immediately if anything happened, as they lived nearby and were available at a moment's notice.
Yin Yang smiled and agreed, waving goodbye to them.
Once the fishermen were gone, only Canned Food and Lu Ming remained by his side.
Canned Food looked at Yin Yang with concern. Yin Yang smiled and patted its head.
“I'm fine. How about you? Are you close to a promotion?”
“Meow~”
Canned Food shook its head, indicating it wasn't there yet.
The promotion condition for the Killer pathway was simple: killing! Yin Yang didn't know the exact details, but apparently, Canned Food killing fish and rats counted toward it.
However, killing insects and the like didn't count. Yin Yang wasn't quite sure whether the criteria were based on the target having flesh and blood or something else.
Lu Ming looked at Yin Yang and Canned Food with a look of utter confusion.
“Brother, can you understand what it's saying?”
“It's more like it can understand me. Canned Food is very smart.”
Hearing this, Canned Food puffed out its chest proudly, wearing an expression that practically begged for more praise.
Lu Ming scratched his head, looking at the man and the cat beside him.
“But how come I can't understand it?”
“But you can understand me, can't you? You're very smart too.”
“......”
Lu Ming stared at Yin Yang blankly, wondering if that was actually a compliment.
It probably was, right?
Yin Yang adjusted his breathing and decided not to go out to sea for a while. As long as he stayed on land, the Sea God couldn't directly pull him into the mental world, which would be much safer.
“Xiao Ming, is your sister at work?”
“Work? No. My sister only came back recently and hasn't found a job yet. She spends most of her time at the hospital taking care of my dad.”
“Your father? What's wrong with him?”
Yin Yang hadn't seen Lu Ming's father the last time he visited the Lu household, but he hadn't thought much of it. Many families were single-parent households, and he felt it would have been impolite to ask.
Lu Ming's expression dimmed at the question.
“My dad is sick. He's been in the hospital for two years, and he hasn't gotten better.”
“What kind of illness?”
“The doctor said it's a blood disease. It's hard to cure. If we want to treat it properly, he needs an organ transplant.”
Lu Ming's voice grew lower and lower. Yin Yang stretched his body and said, “Take me to see him.”
Lu Ming was stunned for a moment, then it suddenly clicked—the person in front of him was an envoy of a god! Maybe he had a way?
A god could save him from a storm, so maybe a god could save his father too!
At that thought, he jumped up hurriedly.
“Brother, my dad is at our Huanggang Hospital. You're not feeling well, let me carry you.”
As he spoke, he bent over and turned his back, gesturing for Yin Yang to climb on.
Yin Yang chuckled. “I'm not that weak.”
“Meow~”
Yin Yang didn't climb on, but Canned Food suddenly leaped onto Lu Ming's back. Its claws hooked into his clothes, making him yelp in pain.
...
The two arrived at the hospital after a ten-minute walk. The nurses at the entrance already knew Lu Ming and didn't even try to stop them.
They navigated through the corridors to a hospital room. It was a bit cramped, but fortunately, it was a private room.
Inside, Lu Zhao was wiping her father's face. She looked surprised to see the two arrive.
“Xiao Ming, Wang Yang? Why are you here?”
Yin Yang's gaze fell directly on the man in the bed. He was about five-foot-seven, with deeply sunken cheeks and cloudy eyes. Yin Yang could see a clear aura of deathly resignation about him.
This man had a death wish; Yin Yang was certain of it.
He stepped forward, closed his eyes to perceive the situation for a moment, and then spoke.
“I heard from Xiao Ming that your father was ill, so I came to visit.”
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Lu's father turned his head. He glanced at Yin Yang, then at Lu Zhao.
“Are you our Xiao Zhao's boyfriend?”
Lu Zhao hurriedly waved her hands. “No, Dad. Wang Yang is a friend, but not my boyfriend.”
Lu's father seemed somewhat disappointed. He eventually turned his gaze to Lu Ming.
“Xiao Ming, look after Wang Yang. From now on, you'll have to be the one making the decisions for our family.”
Lu Ming's heart ached hearing those words.
However, Yin Yang spoke with firm conviction. “It's a bit early to be saying things like that. If you are willing to change your faith and remain devout, your illness can still be cured.”
The three people in the room fell silent.
After a few seconds, Lu's father said bitterly, “Mr. Wang, our family has no money left.”
He didn't believe Yin Yang at all; he thought the young man was a swindler!
His illness was practically terminal, and worse, it was a cruel disease that would slowly destroy his family. If he hadn't been holding out to see his two children get married, he would have ended his own life long ago.
That thought had taken deep root the moment he realized he was no longer the pillar of the family, but a burden.
In contrast, Lu Zhao and Lu Ming looked at Yin Yang with a mix of surprise and disbelief. They knew very well that the man before them would not lie.
Lu Zhao especially remembered her own experience. She had been in despair once, but she was saved after putting her faith in the True God.
She quickly turned to her father. “Dad, did you hear that? Your illness can be cured!”
Lu Ming was also agitated, his hands trembling with excitement.
Lu's father was dazed, and his gaze toward Yin Yang became wary. His children were young and inexperienced; it seemed they had been brainwashed by this young man!
But then again, to pay for his treatment, they had already sold the family boat. His son had to rent a boat from the Zhao family just to go to sea. What was left for anyone to swindle?
Yin Yang pulled up a chair and sat down. “You only need to be devout. Leave the rest to God.”
“Once you recover, I will give you a new job. It will be busy, but it will be enough to support your family.”
Hearing this, Lu's father propped himself up with his hands and struggled to sit straight. Lu Ming hurried to help him while Lu Zhao had already pressed her hands together in prayer.
“What do you want me to do?”
Lu's father's expression was still skeptical, but then he saw the young man tap several points on his chest. His children almost simultaneously followed suit with the same gesture.
Lu's father felt a surge of panic, remembering stories he had heard about cults.
“The opportunity only comes once,” Yin Yang said calmly.
Beside him, Lu Zhao and Lu Ming grew anxious. Tears streamed down Lu Zhao's face as she gripped her father's hand tightly.
“Dad, please, believe in the True God.”
Lu Ming did the same, even going so far as to tell the story of how the True God had used an orca to save him in the middle of the sea.
Hearing this, Lu's father knew he had no choice. Even if it was just to give his children some temporary peace of mind, he had to believe.
“Fine... What should I do?”
Yin Yang looked at Lu Zhao. “You haven't forgotten, have you?”
“Of course not.”
Lu Zhao began to chant softly.
“Dusk and dawn lead the wind of rebirth; mountains of corpses and seas of blood forge the altar.”
“We pray for the Lord of Communion to descend to the mortal realm, to sever all worldly sorrows and settle the dust of tribulations.”
...
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