Chapter 2 Shade Parasite

• For eighteen years on Mount Dragonia, aside from occasionally meeting with the beautiful Seraphina, he had never laid eyes on another woman. Now that such a gorgeous woman was holding his hand, it instantly caused his heart to race and his cheeks to flush with embarrassment.
• Maxim, with good intentions, warned Bianca, “Ms. Weiss, be cautious. He may have ulterior motives and could have already investigated the Weiss family.”
• Bianca's expression turned sour, yet she clung to the faintest glimmer of hope. She pleaded, “Mr. Armstrong, we've managed to keep Grandpa's illness a secret at home, and only a few of us know about this trip. How could anyone else possibly find out?”
• As she spoke, a hint of despair suddenly flashed in her eyes. She scoffed at herself, “Besides, what's left in the Weiss family now that's worth coveting?”
• Maxim was left speechless.
• Skylar shook his head and said, “I didn't investigate the Weiss family. I can tell this by Ms. Weiss' face... and because of it.”
• Skylar pulled out a silver needle from his sleeve. Before Bianca could react, he had already plunged it deeply into her back.
• “Ah!”
• Bianca, caught off guard, couldn't help but cry out in shock.
• Maxim's face drastically changed. He was about to take action with two steps forward when Skylar flicked his hand backward, releasing a flash of silver light that struck Maxim's chest.
• “If you don't want Ms. Weiss to lose her life, don't make any reckless moves.”
• Maxim was in utter despair. A silver needle had pierced his heart's vital point, dispersing the energy he'd just harnessed. It raced chaotically through his meridians, leaving half his body numb and powerless.
• “What on earth have I stumbled upon!”
• As the silver needle pierced her body, Bianca experienced an intense chill. It was as though someone had stripped away her clothes and plunged her into an icy lake during winter.
• Subsequently, Skylar pulled out several silver needles and inserted them into a few crucial acupoints on Bianca's back.
• Bianca suddenly felt a surge of warmth rising in her lower abdomen.
• With each insertion of the silver needle, the surge of heat in her lower abdomen intensified, continuously shifting upward.
• As the final silver needle pierced her skin, the surge of warmth had already reached her chest. Bianca's face was flushed red. Her eyes were hazy and unfocused, and she was unable to suppress a moan that escaped her lips.
• Skylar was calm. When Bianca let out a moan, he forcefully slapped her back.
• The silver needles that had been inserted began to tremble. Then, they sprung out from Bianca's body, landing in Skylar's sleeve.
• Bianca felt the strong, broad palm of Skylar on her back. A surge of warmth welled up within her chest, and she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
• The blood that had splattered on the ground rapidly changed color and solidified into a dark brown clot.
• After taking some time to regulate his breathing, Maxim managed to regain control of the energy coursing through his body and restore his ability to move. Upon noticing Bianca coughing up blood, he hurriedly stepped forward to support and check on her.
• He glared at Skylar and demanded in a rage, “What have you done to Ms. Weiss, you punk?”
• Having spat out a mouthful of blood, Bianca didn't feel discomfort. On the contrary, she felt a sense of relief coursing through her entire body. The suffocating sensation that had plagued her for days had vanished without a trace.
• Bianca pacified Maxim, saying, “Mr. Armstrong, I'm fine. I think... this young man was trying to heal me.”
• “What? Heal you?” Maxim was taken aback. “Ms. Weiss, you've never been sick. You haven't been bewitched by this punk, have you?”
• With an indifferent expression, Skylar said, “If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have bothered with all this.”
• Maxim's expression turned serious as he finally understood what was implied.
• He's telling the truth. Judging by the remarkable exhibition of acupuncture skills he just showcased, he could end my life without me having a chance to fight back.
• And so, Maxim once again positioned himself protectively in front of Bianca, his senses heightened. Given the current instability within the Weiss family, he couldn't help but worry that someone with ulterior motives had sent Skylar to harm Bianca.
• For the sake of safety, Maxim asked seriously, “May I know your name, Sir, and where you studied? Where are you from? The Weiss family has never had a feud with you, right?”
• Skylar removed the silver needle from Maxim, releasing his control over him. He casually said, “I'm not with any clan. Just call me Skylar.”
• It wasn't that he didn't want to talk about his mentorship, but rather he didn't want to live under the protection of his masters.
• His acupuncture technique was something he learned from his third master, Caelan Greene.
• For decades, Caelan's reputation resonated throughout the expansive lands of Clusia.
• If he were to reveal it, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't face even more troubles in the future. It would be better to keep silent to maintain the peace.
• As Maxim was lost in his thoughts, Skylar bent over to pick at the clot of blood with a silver needle, revealing a black insect curled up within. The insect, skewered on the silver needle, was then placed in front of the two.
• A look of disgust and fear crossed Bianca's face when she saw the peculiar insect.
• The realization that this creature had once inhabited her body washed over her, causing a relentless wave of nausea.
• Maxim was shocked. “What is this?”
• “This is a Shade Parasite, specifically designed to inhabit women with a negative physique. Initially, the effects are minimal, perhaps just causing a lack of energy. As it progresses, symptoms such as excessive sleepiness may appear. When it fully matures, it consumes the host's internal organs and bursts out. It's an extremely malicious type of parasite,” Skylar explained patiently. “Once the parasite enters the body, it merges with the flesh and blood. Modern medicine simply can't detect it. If my guess is correct, Old Mr. Weiss must have been infected by this parasitic poison.”
• “Can my grandpa still be cured?” Bianca asked anxiously.
• “Don't worry. Parasitic witchcraft falls under the minor branches of medical practice. There's no parasite in this world that I can't handle.”
• What Bianca failed to see was a fleeting, savage intent to kill that flashed through Skylar's deep-set eyes. Parasite King, huh? Very well. Your life will serve as the signal to the world that the Lucero family's vengeance has begun.
• Already possessing the compassionate heart of a healer, Skylar became even more resolute in his decision to cure Bianca's grandfather of the parasitic poison after witnessing its effects.
• Perhaps this could lead me to a clue about that sneaky Parasite King!
• The trio quickly left Mount Dragonia, setting off by car toward Jeahron.
• Once he arrived in the city, Skylar gazed through the car window at the constant stream of vehicles on the road and the towering residential buildings lining the streets. Every sight felt incredibly new to him.
• He had been brought up to Mount Dragonia by several masters since he was young, so he was curious about everything in the city.
• Bianca, who was standing by, couldn't help but feel a bit smug upon seeing his demeanor. Although he's highly skilled in medicine, he seems rather inexperienced in worldly matters.
• The vehicle swiftly pulled up in front of the Weiss residence. Bianca stood outside the seemingly endless perimeter wall, pointing at the imposing main entrance of the Weiss residence. With a hint of pride, she said to Skylar, “This is just the courtyard. There's nothing particularly astonishing about a humble abode like this.”
• Surveying the intricately carved and painted gate of the Weiss residence and the two lifelike stone lions at the entrance, Skylar remarked earnestly, “It's quite a humble abode indeed.”
• Bianca was left flabbergasted. She had merely been modest, yet he had taken her words at face value. The Weiss residence was considered one of the most luxurious homes in Jeahron.
• The property was sprawling, and in a city where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, having such a large estate was a testament to immense wealth.
• Furthermore, to ensure optimal natural lighting, there were no buildings over ten stories high in the surrounding streets. In Jeahron, only the Weiss family had the resources and audacity to achieve this.
• Yet, Skylar had called it a humble abode.
• Just then, a piercing voice interrupted their conversation.
• “Bianca, where on earth did you find this audacious lad who dares to criticize the Weiss family so freely?”