Chapter 437: A Fool's Gambit and a Villain's Prize
"Lu Ran, it's me, Long Hao. We met before on the Ancient Street."
Long Hao pushed the door open with a grin. His expression brightened when he saw Lu Ran, and his eyes lit up even more when he saw Lu Qiong, the frail beauty beside Lu Ran.
He had guessed correctly. This ethereal girl, whose delicate features mirrored Lu Ran's but were softened by a fragile grace, had to be his sister. The legendary future Immortal Doctor's only weakness and greatest treasure.
'Hehehe, Lu Ran, you're the brother-in-law I've chosen!' Long Hao's lips twisted into a smug, crooked smirk, an expression he'd practiced in the mirror, hoping it made him look like a cunning protagonist from a novel. In his mind, the plan was flawless. He had to secure a bond with Lu Ran, and fast. This wasn't just about latching onto the coattails of a future medical sovereign for a handsome return on his investment. No, this was a dual-pronged assault on destiny itself. He could secure his future wealth and potentially win the heart of this goddess-like beauty, making her his wife.
His gaze lingered on Lu Qiong, a raw, possessive hunger flickering in his eyes. Su Hongmian, the unattainable campus queen from his past and present lives, was a blazing sun of a woman—so radiant that looking at her for too long felt like it could burn a man's retinas. Even after the public humiliation of her rejection, her image was seared into his memory.
But this girl… Lu Qiong was different. If Su Hongmian was the sun, Lu Qiong was the moon reflected in a tranquil lake—serene, breathtaking, and exuding a poetic melancholy that tugged at the soul. She was like a character straight out of a classical painting, the Crimson Pearl Immortal Herb descended to the mortal realm, a Lin Daiyu whose every breath seemed a fragile miracle. Her beauty wasn't just physical; it was an aura of vulnerability that made a man's basest instincts roar to life, screaming at him to protect, possess, and conquer.
Sensing the predatory nature of Long Hao's stare, Lu Ran instinctively shifted his body, partially shielding his sister from view. The sterile, antiseptic air of the hospital ward suddenly felt heavy, charged with an unwelcome tension.
"Let's talk in the corridor," Lu Ran said, his voice low and flat, betraying none of his inner turmoil. "Don't disturb my grandfather."
"Of course, of course." Long Hao's grin didn't falter, but his eyes darted past Lu Ran's shoulder for one last look. He saw the frail figure of an old man lying on the stark white hospital bed, sleeping under the thin blanket, his breathing shallow but steady. A pawn in the grander scheme.
With a final, reassuring glance at his sister, Lu Ran led the way out of the room, the heavy door closing with a soft click.
The hospital corridor was a long, sterile tunnel bathed in the cold, unforgiving glare of fluorescent lights. The white linoleum floor reflected the light with a dull sheen, smelling faintly of bleach. Distant sounds—the rhythmic beep of a heart monitor, the soft squeak of a nurse's shoes, a muffled cough from another room—formed a somber, monotonous symphony.
Lu Ran stopped and turned, his brow furrowed into a deep crease. The patience he had shown inside the ward had vanished, replaced by a guarded suspicion. He crossed his arms, his posture defensive. "What are you here for?"
Long Hao cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his slightly-too-large, cheap polyester shirt. He decided a serious, sincere approach was best. He met Lu Ran's gaze, trying to project an aura of a wise benefactor.
"Before, on the Ancient Street, I wanted to help you, but I understand your hesitation. You were wary of a pie falling from the sky. So, how about this?" He leaned in conspiratorially. "I'll lend you the money for your grandfather's surgery. We can even do it with interest, same rates as the bank. We'll sign a proper contract, everything above board. How does that sound?"
Hearing this, Lu Ran's expression turned utterly bizarre. What was it about today? Why was he suddenly attracting such strange, persistent people? First, there was this man, Long Hao, who had practically stalked him from the Magic City Antique Street all the way to this hospital, desperate to shove money into his hands.
And then… there was Shen Anyu.
The comparison was almost laughable. Long Hao was a persistent fly, buzzing with flimsy schemes and transparent motives. Shen Anyu was a celestial dragon descending from the nine heavens. The Blood Curse Contract he'd produced wasn't just extraordinary; it was an artifact of divine and demonic power, something that had shattered Lu Ran's understanding of the world. The memory of his own blood swirling into intricate, glowing runes on the parchment sent a chill down his spine.
'What is so special about me?' Lu Ran wondered, a flicker of confusion cutting through his weary resolve. Why were these people so fixated on him? Was it some hidden talent he didn't know he possessed?
Or… was it his sister? The thought soured his mood instantly. The way Long Hao had stared at Lu Qiong made his protective instincts flare.
But even as these thoughts raced through his mind, he knew they were moot. He had no room for regret, no other path to choose. He let out a soft, imperceptible sigh. The moment his blood had sealed the contract, his destiny was no longer his own. It was bound to Shen Anyu, shackled by a power so absolute that the price of betrayal was a fate far more terrifying than mere death.
Given that reality, what was the point of entertaining this street-side prophet?
Besides, a strange sense of gratitude had taken root in his heart. Lu Ran was a man who remembered kindness. When he was at his most desperate, when his world was collapsing under the weight of medical bills and his family's impending doom, Shen Anyu had extended a hand. Whatever his ultimate intentions were, whatever price he would eventually extract, the fact remained: he had saved them.
He remembered Shen Anyu's calm, detached instructions just an hour ago. A world-class medical team had already been assembled for his grandfather's late-stage colon cancer. A transfer to a private, state-of-the-art facility was scheduled for the morning. Even Lu Qiong's chronic illness was being addressed, with specialists being flown in specifically for her. Shen Anyu had solved problems that felt like insurmountable mountains with a casual wave of his hand.
His thoughts were a tangled mess of fear, awe, and reluctant appreciation. He looked at Long Hao, whose eager, expectant face now seemed pathetic.
"What is your purpose?" Lu Ran asked, his tone devoid of curiosity. It was a question asked out of formality, not genuine interest.
Long Hao was, of course, not about to reveal that he was a reincarnator who knew Lu Ran was destined to become the renowned Immortal Doctor, a figure whose name would shake the foundations of both the medical and martial worlds. His eyes darted from side to side, his mind scrambling for a plausible lie. A moment later, a self-satisfied smile returned to his face.
"I know a bit about physiognomy—fortune-telling," he declared, puffing out his chest. "I took one look at you and I could see it. Your glabella is bright, and a stream of purple qi is flowing from the east. It's a clear sign! You are destined to become an extraordinary figure, a titan among men. I simply want to invest in you ahead of time, to… to cling to your leg, so to speak."
He warmed to his topic, gesturing grandly. "Think of it like Lu Buwei investing in the captive prince, Ying Yiren! If the investment pays off, the profits are astronomical. If it fails, well, the initial loss is negligible."
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]