Chapter Twenty-Nine: Conflict Arises
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Conflict Arises
Doctor Mo's face was expressionless, his eyes half-closed, as he firmly held Eli Mason's wrist.
All his attention was focused on sensing the strength of Eli's internal energy. He remained silent for a long time.
After a while, he let out a deep sigh, seemingly expelling all his frustration. His eyes suddenly opened wide, a sharp gleam flashing from his once murky eyes, making it hard to meet his gaze.
His face was grim. Clearly, he was not satisfied with Eli, but he still didn't scold him.
He coldly waved his hand, signaling Eli to follow him.
Eli obediently followed behind, though he was very curious about the mysterious person, he knew now was not the time to ask questions.
Once inside the house, Doctor Mo tiredly sat in a grand chair, his back pressed against the backrest, half sitting and half lying down. The sharp gleam in his eyes had vanished, replaced by his usual sickly appearance.
The mysterious figure followed closely behind, not leaving Doctor Mo's side. After Doctor Mo sat down, the figure stood straight behind the chair, motionless.
Eli knew Doctor Mo was in a foul mood and didn't want to provoke him. He imitated the mysterious figure, standing in the middle of the room, head lowered, wisely staying still and waiting for Doctor Mo to speak.
After a long time, there was still silence. Eli grew curious and couldn't help but try to sneak a glance at Doctor Mo.
"If you want to look, just look. Why sneak around?" Doctor Mo's cold voice cut through the silence just as Eli began to lift his head.
Eli froze, then obediently raised his head, glancing at Doctor Mo's face before quickly lowering his gaze again.
Eli's expression didn't change, but inside, he was in turmoil. Doctor Mo's face looked strangely sinister, with a faint black aura swirling on his already pallid complexion. This black aura seemed alive, extending countless tiny tendrils that writhed menacingly on his face. What disturbed Eli even more was Doctor Mo's uncharacteristically malicious expression, with a hint of mocking sneer.
Sensing something was amiss, Eli felt a growing unease. A faint sense of danger began to pervade the room.
He cautiously stepped back half a step, reaching into his sleeve to grip a small iron tube. This small act slightly eased his tension. Suddenly, Doctor Mo's mocking voice broke the silence.
"Do you think your little tricks can fool me?"
Doctor Mo moved, his posture shifting from half-lying to standing in an instant. With a ghostly movement, he appeared beside Eli, staring at him with a chilling smile.
Eli's face changed dramatically. He tried to raise his arm, but his body went numb, unable to move.
It was only then he noticed Doctor Mo's finger had touched a vital acupoint on his chest.
He was too fast; Eli hadn't sensed his movement at all.
"Doctor Mo, what are you doing? If I've done something wrong, please tell me. Why seal my acupoints?" Eli's voice trembled as he forced a smile.
Doctor Mo didn't respond, merely hammering his back a few times and coughing lightly, appearing weak and frail.
But having just witnessed Doctor Mo's swift actions, Eli knew better than to underestimate him. This feigned frailty only made Eli more wary.
"Doctor Mo, with your esteemed status, why bother with a disciple like me? Please unseal my acupoints. I'll accept any punishment," Eli pleaded, trying to appeal to Doctor Mo's reason.
Eli continued with several flattering and conciliatory statements.
But Doctor Mo ignored him, retrieving the iron tube from Eli's sleeve, and looked at him with a mocking gaze.
Seeing this, Eli's heart sank. Any hope of persuading Doctor Mo with words vanished.
Doctor Mo seemed determined not to give him any chance.
Eli gradually stopped talking, his face becoming serene, and he stared back at Doctor Mo with an emotionless gaze.
In that moment, everything in the room seemed to freeze, a tense silence enveloping the space like the calm before a storm.
"Good! Good! Good!" Doctor Mo suddenly exclaimed three times.
"You truly are worthy of my investment, remaining composed even now. I didn't waste my efforts on you," he praised Eli unexpectedly.
"What do you intend to do with me?" Eli asked, not responding to the praise but directly addressing the situation.
"What do I intend to do with you?" Doctor Mo repeated, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"It depends on your performance."
"What do you mean?" Eli frowned, sensing Doctor Mo's intentions but wanting clarity.
"I shouldn't need to spell it out. You're smart enough to grasp it," Doctor Mo said, his tone full of hidden meaning.
"I can guess part of it, but I don't understand the whole story, the reasons and consequences," Eli admitted frankly.
"Very good. It's best to be direct. Ask your questions, don't keep them bottled up," Doctor Mo replied with a sinister smile, the black aura on his face growing thicker, making him look even more terrifying.
"I know you've always been wary of me, never truly seeing me as your master. But that's fine, because I never truly saw you as my disciple either," Doctor Mo said with a cold laugh.
Eli's heart pounded. He had long sensed Doctor Mo's hidden agenda but hearing it openly stated was chilling. "So, what's next? What do you want from me?"
Doctor Mo's smile widened, but his eyes remained cold. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, just know that your future depends entirely on your usefulness to me."