Chapter 3 The Poor Sister

• “How is this possible?” Anna's caregiver was especially shocked to see what had happened, for she had seen many doctors, who were requested or came on their own to treat Anna, fail to make any progress with the young lady.
• Hence, the caregiver found it hard to believe that Anna's brother managed to save her with just four silver needles. “She's awake! She's actually awake! I have got to say. This is nothing short of a miracle! No physicians at the hospital could do anything, but you did.”
• Surrounded by the noise, Anna looked around before fixing her eyes on her brother.
• “Winston,” called out Anna, who missed her brother dearly because it had been a while since she last saw him.
• The pitiful voice immediately caused Winston's eyes to turn red and well up again after the man had just dried his tears.
• “I'm sorry, Anna! I should've returned sooner.” When Winston reached out to gently stroke his sister's cheek, his face was already drenched in tears.
• The man had not cried since his parents passed away.
• Even though Winston went through countless life-and-death situations and was injured many times in the past four years, he never shed a tear.
• However, because of Anna, Winston's eyes welled up twice that day.
• There was nothing Winston would not do to spare his sister such misery.
• “There's no reason to be sad anymore, Mr. Coldrell. Your sister's finally awake!” stated Colton after breathing a sigh of relief upon witnessing the miraculous turn of events.
• The others' faces turned grim when they felt the sadness in the air.
• It was only natural that they were heartbroken to see such a scene.
• “Awake?” Winston responded by shaking his head and smiling bitterly. “We're not out of the woods yet. She still has residual poison in her.”
• “Do you mean...” Colton was stunned after listening to Winston, and just when he was about to ask for an explanation, he noticed Anna shutting her eyes and passing out once again.
• “What's going on?” Everyone widened their eyes in surprise when they saw what had happened.
• “That's normal. She's been unconscious for a long time, so it's natural that she can only stay awake for a short while. She'll gradually return to normal,” explained Winston calmly after sighing. “However, since Anna's stayed this way for too long, the poison has reached her bone marrow and nervous system. Even if she regains consciousness, she'll have the mind of a three-year-old.”
• “Then is there a solution for that?” inquired Colton in all seriousness.
• “There is, but it'll be extremely difficult,” replied Winston while shaking his head helplessly after taking a deep breath.
• None of the arduous missions he carried out over the past three years made him feel as powerless as he was then.
• “Mr. Coldrell, do you mind if I speak with you in private?” After looking left and right, Colton gestured for Winston to follow him outside.
• In response, Winston narrowed his eyes curiously at Colton, and only after glancing at his sister did he nod in agreement. Mr. Ginsel is a good man. If it weren't for him and his medicines, Anna wouldn't have been able to last this long. Anyhow, I owe this man a huge favor!
• Mr. Coldrell, I'd consider well-versed and proficient in medicine, but I have not the faintest idea what to do about the poison in your sister,” confessed Colton as he served Winston a cup of tea in his office.
• “Red Dust is no ordinary poison because it corrodes one's vitality. To get rid of it, we'll need materials of the rarest kind!” Winston sighed after receiving the tea. “That's why not everybody can recognize the poison, much less know how to treat it. And even if one does, getting the materials required is nearly impossible.”
• “Are they that rare?” asked Colton curiously.
• Winston shook his head helplessly once again in response. “We'd need Centennial Peacock Gallbladder, Millennium Polygonum Multiflorum, Ancient Stalactite, Emerald Chalcedony, and Celestial Stone!”
• “What?” Colton inhaled sharply when he heard Winston.
• Having read many medical books, the man knew about the materials Winston had mentioned. In this day and age, those materials are as rare as a comet and highly sought-after! People hoard them like treasures, and even if they were willing to sell, the prices would be ridiculous and definitely not what any ordinary person could afford to pay.
• “Is there no other way?”
• “No,” answered Winston firmly.
• “As you said, this is going to be extremely difficult. However, I do have some information on Emerald Chalcedony,” revealed Colton.
• “Really?” Winston immediately gazed intently at the elderly man when he heard that.
• “Don't get too excited, Mr. Coldrell. There's something I have to ask you about first. It's about how you just treated your sister. Was that the Quad Needle Technique?” inquired Colton with a smile.
• “You know of this technique?” Winston was surprised by the man's question.
• “I've read about it in a book. It was said to have been lost for centuries, so I never expected that I'd get the chance to witness it first-hand. What a lucky man I am!” Colton was relieved when he finally confirmed his suspicion.
• “I know of a person who possesses Emerald Chalcedony, but I'll need your Quad Needle Technique in order to get it, Mr. Coldrell. Do you know the Rydermans of Jadeborough?”
• Winston responded with a nod. “Of course! They're one of the three major families of Jadeborough. Just tell me what I have to do, Mr. Ginsel.”
• “This involves Old Mr. Ryderman...”
• It was only after listening to Colton did Winston know that Richard Ryderman had symptoms such as mental instability and losing consciousness a month ago. Besides that, nobody could figure out what was wrong with the elderly man.
• Richard's condition had even worsened so much that he was rendered unconscious most of the time.
• As the most famous physician in Jadeborough and a close friend of the Rydermans, Colton was as stressed out as he was powerless to do anything to help Richard.
• However, after witnessing the effectiveness of the Quad Needle Technique, Colton was suddenly filled with hope. “If you can cure Old Mr. Ryderman, not only will you get their Emerald Chalcedony, but the Rydermans will also owe you a huge favor. With their level of influence, I'm sure they'll be a big help in your search for the other materials.”
• “I see. Okay, I'll do it,” promised Winston with a nod after pondering for a brief moment. I'd do anything to save Anna. Besides, if it means I get to save another soul, I don't see why I shouldn't agree to the request.
• “Wonderful! We'll set up an appointment later.” Colton was thrilled when Winston agreed to help.
• After that, the two discussed Anna's condition and suitable medical treatments for her.
• According to Winston, there was no point in keeping Anna at the rehabilitation center any longer since discharging her would make it easier for him to look after her.
• Even though Colton would prefer they stayed a little longer, he knew that would be to his benefit and not theirs. Hence, he decided not to persuade them to do so.
• When Colton and Winston returned to the ward, the crowd had already dispersed.
• However, they noticed a young couple at the scene.
• The man, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, was lean and handsome, while the woman was a beauty with exquisite facial features and a curvy body.
• It turned out that the good-looking couple was none other than Hugh and Winnie.
• “W-Winston...” Winnie seemed nervous when she saw Winston walk in.
• “Why didn't you tell us that you were back? We could've picked you up.”
• Winston could not help but feel a sharp pain in his heart when he noticed how mature Winnie had become after being apart from her for four years. I've dreamed about her countless times over the years, but still, she ended up in someone else's arms.
• In response, Winston smiled bitterly after glancing at the two. “You wanted to pick me up? With him?”
• “Winston, it's not what you think. It's just—” Faced with Winston's mocking gaze, Winnie instinctively lowered her head, afraid to look into the man's eyes.
• “A misunderstanding?” Winston chuckled derisively before shifting his attention to his poor sister. “Do you even remember what you promised me when I was sent to prison?”