Chapter 9: Chapter 9 (Hidden Ailment)
"Mr. Sullen, just let me know what you need. As long as I can fulfill it, I will not refuse," Bill quickly declared.
At that moment, Stefanie queried, "Mr. Sullen, what do you need the calligraphy brush and cinnabar rosary for?"
After all, both items didn't look like they were required for medical treatment, and they were also widely available.
"Stefanie, Mr. Sullen has his reasons for writing them down. You shouldn't question him!" Bill admonished her with a glare.
"It's all right." Jacob smiled. "They are used for treatments, too. However, they aren't just any ordinary brush and rosary. They have to be imbued with spirituality for them to work."
"Imbued with spirituality?" Stefanie and Bill were dumbfounded, as they had no idea what Jacob meant.
When he saw how confused they were, Jacob explained, "Everything in this world will live and die, and all of them contain spirituality. Even items deemed inanimate by men can have spirituality as well. However, it can only form under very strict conditions.
"Let's take this chair I'm sitting on as an example. If I sit on it and meditate for decades, it would gradually be imbued with spirituality too."
Worried that both of them would not understand, he illustrated the concept in layman's terms.
"Oh, I get it!" Stefanie suddenly exclaimed. "Mr. Sullen, are you saying that it's the same as what is shown on TV? At one of the trees where the immortals reside, it will gain spirituality after some time and even turn into a human form!"
"Stefanie, stop your nonsense!" Bill was speechless at the way Stefanie described it. From his perspective, immortals didn't exist, especially not in the modern world.
"Ms. McMillan, you hit the nail on its head," Jacob replied with a grin. Previously, Jacob didn't believe in such things too. However, after spending the last three years with Bishop, he finally realized that there was still a lot out there that he didn't understand.
In fact, the secrets Bishop had passed on to him were the Focus Technique. As long as he continued to train in them, he might actually become an immortal.
Bill smiled awkwardly, as he didn't expect Stefanie to get it right. If anyone else talked to him about spirituality and immortals, he would have scoffed at them. However, since it was Jacob who brought it up, Bill's skepticism wavered immediately.
While Jacob and Bill continued their discussion, they didn't even give Jonathan, who was still kneeling on the ground, a look. Even though Jonathan was not particularly evil, he was unable to take on any real responsibility. Hence, Jacob didn't intend to accept him as his student. Moreover, he would not simply take in anyone without Bishop's permission.
After talking for more than ten minutes, Jacob finally knew how Bill injured himself. When he was young, Bill was hit by a palm strike by a business competitor. As there was no external wound, and the results of his checkups were clear, he didn't pay much attention to it.
As time went by, Bill began to feel that he was growing weaker to the extent of having difficulty breathing. As a result, he kept himself going all this while by consuming a lot of health supplements.
Not wanting to cause any concern to his family, Bill hid the news from them.
That was also why Stefanie was unaware of her father's hidden ailment.
After hearing the story, Jacob realized at once that the attacker was a martial artist who had managed to cultivate internal energy. From the looks of it he had wanted to kill Bill. Fortunately, Bill's immense wealth had allowed him to afford potent health supplements to keep himself alive all this while. If Bill had not encountered Jacob, he would have lost his life.
"Mr. Sullen, please accept me as your student!" Jonathan yelled again from the floor. By then, both his legs were so numb that he grimaced in pain.
Jacob gave Jonathan a look. "You should get up. I won't accept anyone as my student, but feel free to ask me any questions, and I will guide you accordingly."
Jacob was finally moved by Jonathan's sincerity after watching him prostrate for such a long time. Therefore, he agreed to provide guidance even though he refused to take in students.
Jonathan was naturally delighted with Jacob's response and thanked him profusely, "Thank you, Mr. Sullen! Thank you!"
As Jonathan gradually stood up, his legs hurt so much that he struggled to do so. Noticing Jonathan's condition, Jacob gently tapped on Jonathan's leg, causing the painful numbness to disappear. Naturally, the doctor was astonished.
"Mr. McMillan, my parents are still at home, so I have to return to them. Once you have collected the herbs, you can give me a call," Jacob informed as he gradually got to his feet.
Given that his mother was home alone, Jacob was worried about her.
"Mr. Sullen, do you mind telling me where you stay?" Bill asked.
"I'm staying at Happy Avenue. Why?" Jacob questioned curiously.
Oh, nothing really. I just have a house that's currently vacant, which I want to present to you as a gift. That place has a wonderful environment to recuperate in, and I hope it will be of use to you."
When he was done speaking, Bill took out a key from his pocket.
"Thank you, Mr. McMillan!"
Initially, Jacob wanted to decline, as he was not motivated by monetary gains when he first treated Bill.
However, when he thought about the dilapidated house his parents were staying in, he decided to accept it. Moreover, he needed time to make enough money to afford a new one.
However, Jacob was stunned to find out that the mansion was located at Mystic Bay when he received the key.