34: Chapter 34 Surgery Successful

The three bright red words "In Surgery" were seared into Lin Fan's retinas like a branding iron.

The air in the corridor carried the distinctive, cold scent of disinfectant.

Lin Fan sat on a cold plastic chair, his hands gripping his knees tightly.

Five hours.

Three hundred minutes in total.

Every second felt like flesh being sliced by a blunt knife.

Even when besieged by mutated beasts, or facing the pressure of the Wang family, he had never felt this much fear.

The person lying inside was his only bond in this world.

If anything happened to Xiaoya, what would be the point of earning all the money in the world or killing all the gods of the Myriad Races?

"Brother Fan, have some water."

A bottle of warm mineral water was handed to him.

Zhang Hao's chubby face was filled with worry; his usual playful grin had long since vanished. He plopped down next to Lin Fan, making the chair let out a miserable creak.

"Don't worry, this is the best hospital in Jianghai City with the best team of experts. With the way money is flowing like water, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take anyone right now."

The comfort was clumsy, but sincere.

Lin Fan took the water but didn't drink it, just holding it in his hands for warmth.

"Thanks, Fatty."

"Don't mention it."

From the end of the corridor came the sound of high heels clicking against the floor—crisp and hurried.

Two stunningly beautiful girls walked over quickly, instantly brightening the dim corridor.

Su Qingxue was still in her simple sportswear, her ponytail tied high, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead, clearly having rushed over right after finishing her training.

Beside her, Chu Yaoyao was carrying large bags of nutritional supplements, looking as if she were trying to empty out a supermarket.

"How is she?"

Su Qingxue walked up to Lin Fan. Though her voice remained cool, her speaking pace was noticeably faster than usual.

"Still inside."

Lin Fan looked up at these two wealthy young ladies who shouldn't have been here.

One was the cold school belle, the other the princess of the Chu family.

Yet now, they were waiting outside the operating room with an "F-Rank Trash" like him.

Was this the added value brought by the binding of money and interests?

No.

Lin Fan looked at the pure concern in Su Qingxue's eyes and dismissed that thought.

At least at this moment, they were friends.

"Oh, this is agonizing!"

Chu Yaoyao dumped the pile of gift boxes on the floor and leaned against the wall without any regard for her image. "Is this doctor any good? Do you want me to have my dad transfer experts from the provincial capital? It's only a thirty-minute helicopter ride."

This was the mindset of someone with the power of money.

Simple, crude, and effective.

"No need."

Lin Fan shook his head. "The current team is already the best."

The wait continued.

Time stretched infinitely long in the silence.

Lin Fan closed his eyes, memories of Xiaoya growing up replaying in his mind. The first time she called him brother, the first time she got sick, the way she would secretly put meat into his bowl to save money...

*Ding!*

A soft chime sounded like heavenly music.

The red light above the operating room went out, and the green light turned on.

As if mounted on a spring, Lin Fan bolted upright from his chair. The movement was so fast he even knocked over the water bottle in his hand.

The doors slowly opened.

The lead surgeon took off his mask, a smile he couldn't hide hanging on his weary face.

"Mr. Lin."

Before the doctor had fully stepped out, his voice reached Lin Fan's ears. "Congratulations."

Those two words carried immense weight.

Lin Fan felt the blood rush to his head in an instant; his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.

Zhang Hao was quick and caught him.

"The surgery was a complete success."

The doctor walked over, his tone carrying a hint of unbelievable wonder. "The perfection of the genetic restructuring exceeded our expectations. The effect of that imported Gene Repair Fluid was staggering. Not only did it repair the collapsed gene chains, it even..."

The doctor paused for dramatic effect.

"Even what?"

Chu Yaoyao was so anxious she looked like she wanted to grab the doctor's white coat.

"Even turned a misfortune into a blessing."

The doctor looked at Lin Fan, his eyes full of envy. "While monitoring the data, we discovered that a dormant Genetic Lock inside your sister has been opened. Based on the current fluctuations, she is very likely to awaken an A-rank, or even higher, talent."

An A-rank Talent!

The corridor fell silent instantly.

Zhang Hao's mouth hung open, Su Qingxue's beautiful eyes widened, and even Chu Yaoyao, who was used to grand scenes, was stunned.

In this world, what did an A-rank Talent represent?

It represented a prodigy; even geniuses like Su Qingxue and Chu Yaoyao only possessed A-rank Talents!

This wasn't just curing an illness; this was practically changing one's destiny against the heavens!

"Good... good..."

Lin Fan's lips trembled, and it took him a long time just to squeeze out that one word.

He didn't care about A-rank Talents or Grandmasters right now.

He only knew that his sister had survived.

From now on, she could run, jump, and watch the lights of the city with him.

That was enough.

Nurses wheeled the hospital bed out.

The anesthesia hadn't worn off yet, so Xiaoya was still deep in sleep.

Her small face, which had been as pale as paper, now showed a hint of healthy color. Her weak but steady breathing was the most beautiful music in the world to Lin Fan's ears.

Lin Fan leaned in cautiously, reaching out his hand to touch her cheek, but he was afraid of waking her. His hand hung in mid-air, trembling slightly.

A hot drop of liquid hit the floor without warning.

Then a second drop, and a third.

Men do not shed tears easily.

It's only because the heartbreak hasn't reached its peak.

Over the past week, he had fought like a mad dog in the Wasteland Zone and schemed like a Shrewd Merchant in the night market. Facing ridicule, threats, and life-or-death situations, he hadn't even blinked.

But now, looking at this sleeping face, all his defenses completely crumbled.

It was worth it.

All the grievances, all the life-risking efforts, all the dirty methods.

At this moment, it was all worth it.

"Alright Brother Fan, stop crying."

Zhang Hao was wiping his own tears on the side, a snot bubble even popping out. "A grown man crying, you'll make people laugh if they see you. Xiaoya getting better is a happy occasion, you should be smiling!"

Su Qingxue silently handed over a tissue.

Chu Yaoyao turned her back and secretly wiped the corners of her eyes, muttering, "The smell of disinfectant in this hospital is too strong, it's making my eyes sting."

...

By the time Xiaoya was settled, it was already late at night.

The intensive care room was quiet, with only the humidifier puffing out white mist.

Lin Fan sat by the bed, watching the stable vital signs on the monitor. The heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled completely.

"You guys should head back first."

Lin Fan stood up and walked them to the door. "Today... thanks."

"Don't be so polite."

Zhang Hao patted his chest. "I'll come back tomorrow to bring Xiaoya breakfast. What does she want to eat? How about that century egg and pork congee from the old shop in the south of the city?"

"Sure."

"Then I'm off, I need to go back and get my beauty sleep." Chu Yaoyao waved her hand and left with a yawn.

Su Qingxue was the last to leave.

She looked at Lin Fan, looking like she wanted to say something.

"What is it?" Lin Fan asked.

"Wang Teng."

Su Qingxue uttered two words. "He used a B-rank Genetic Medicine. For the competition in three days, he's aiming to cripple you."

Lin Fan smiled.

That smile looked exceptionally cold under the hospital's sterile white lights.

"What a coincidence."

Lin Fan straightened his collar. The warmth he had shown his sister was gone from his dark eyes, replaced by a heart-pounding ferocity.

"I was also looking for an opportunity to completely cripple him."

Su Qingxue was stunned for a moment.

She had never seen Lin Fan like this.

Confident, arrogant, yet making one feel it was only natural.

"Be careful."

Su Qingxue said no more and turned to leave.

After seeing everyone off, Lin Fan walked out of the inpatient building alone.

The rain had stopped.

The night sky was washed exceptionally clean, dotted with stars.

Lin Fan stood on the steps and took a deep breath of the air mixed with the scent of damp earth.

The money was enough, and the illness was cured.

He even gained a sister with an A-rank Talent.

Logically, he should be satisfied and find a place to hide and live a stable life.

But he knew very well that this was only the beginning.

Holding the "Myriad Race Blind Box" treasure trove was like a three-year-old child carrying a gold bar through a busy downtown area.

The Wang family was just the first wave of hungry wolves.

Later there would be the Li family, the Zhao family, and even more terrifying behemoths.

And then there was that Black Snake Organization hiding in the shadows.

Without strength, all this beauty would be like a bubble, bursting at the slightest poke.

"System."

Lin Fan called out in his mind.

[Host: Lin Fan]

[Current Available Funds: 350,000 (after deducting prepaid fees)]

"Three hundred and fifty thousand... if I throw it all in, what level can I push my realm to?"

"S-Rank Talent Evolution Treasure... if used on [Vajra Skin]..."

Lin Fan looked up toward the brightly lit landmark in the distance—the Jianghai City Gymnasium.

That was the venue for the city-wide High School Martial Arts Competition in three days.

It was also the grave he had chosen to bury the label of "F-Rank Trash."

Wang Teng wanted to cripple him in front of everyone?

Perfect.

He also needed a stage.

A stage to let everyone know exactly what the name Lin Fan meant.

"F-rank?"

Lin Fan let out a cold laugh and stepped into the night.

His back was resolute, like an unsheathed blade.

"In three days."

"I will let you all know what true... despair is."