CHAPTER 6: The Flame That Refuses to Die
Though Hideo Takumi's words were spoken softly, to Hasashi Takumi, they struck like thunder roaring across a clear sky.
Hasashi's eyes widened. In an instant, a sharp, oppressive aura erupted from his body—rising like a blazing inferno that engulfed the entire room. The aura of a seasoned warrior who had once marched through countless battlefields, now stirring again after years of silence.
His hand shot forward, gripping Hideo's arm tightly—almost violently. His gaze burned with a spark that hadn't been seen in years.
"Hideo… you said you can heal me?!"
Hasashi Takumi—once a name feared across war-torn lands—was now confined to a wheelchair. His lower body was completely paralyzed. Despite years of cultivating mana, none of it mattered when every major meridian below his waist was blocked and damaged beyond repair.
If not for that… perhaps he would've transcended human limits long ago.
Hideo's arm began to bruise under Hasashi's crushing grip, bones creaking. But the boy didn't flinch. He didn't scream. Instead, he smiled—calmly.
"I can't promise success… but I'll try."
Hasashi blinked, then quickly released him. Hideo's arm was already turning blue, but the boy didn't take a step back.
"You're not in pain? Why don't you cry out?"
"Of course I'm in pain," Hideo replied casually, like he was talking about the weather. "But if crying could fix anything, I would've done it a long time ago. Unfortunately… this world doesn't work that way."
Hasashi stared at his nephew—and saw something unfamiliar. Composure. Maturity. A quiet, steely strength.
He burst into laughter—loud and full.
"Hah! Now I believe it. You're not the same spoiled brat anymore."
He exhaled, his expression softening as he sat back down.
"Alright. Tell me what to do."
"For now, Uncle just needs to follow a strict therapy routine," Hideo said. "Morning, noon, and night, your body must be massaged by someone trained in martial arts. They must follow your meridian paths precisely. No improvising. And every night, soak in hot herbal baths for an hour."
His tone grew more serious.
"Once your body is ready, we'll begin the healing process. Deal?"
Hasashi nodded slowly. The fire in his eyes no longer flared with rage—but glowed like an ember of hope.
"Alright. I'll trust you this time. Even if it fails… I won't regret it."
But deep down, he thought:
Even if this is just a false hope… I'll take it. It's better to chase an illusion than drown in despair.
After a long silence, Hideo asked,
"Over the years... I assume you've been examined by countless Acolytes and Alchemists?"
He gently pressed against Hasashi's lower abdomen—
[Passive Skill: Memory – Activated]
Analyzing meridian pathways…
Result: All major meridians below the waist are blocked. Trace amounts of slow-acting neural poison detected.
Technique compatibility: 43%.
"Of course," Hasashi answered. "The Temple of Verdant Leaves, Imperial Court Alchemists, even a Grand Healer from Dromundar. They all said the same thing. My body's been hit by a complex meridian sealing technique… mixed with a subtle, nearly undetectable poison."
"Even my brother—Jun Takumi—tried everything. Again and again. But the seal never broke."
"They say only a high-level life force technique could reverse this... something close to impossible."
He looked up at the ceiling, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Whoever did this… didn't want me dead. They wanted me broken. To rot slowly. To give up."
Hideo clenched his fist.
"Are they... enemies of our family?"
Hasashi didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Hideo, eyes narrowing.
"Where did you learn this healing method?"
Hideo shrugged, grinning.
"I stumbled across it while studying some ancient techniques. Honestly, though... I've always thought about your condition. If there's even the slightest chance, shouldn't we try? Besides… we're family."
His grin widened.
"And if you recover, you can become my bodyguard. I can slack off while a legendary warrior handles everything. Sounds like a win-win."
Hasashi snorted. "Cheeky brat."
But his eyes betrayed his fondness. He looked at his nephew not as a child… but as someone who might one day become a giant.
"Hideo. Whether this works or not... I owe you. This is no small kindness."
"Just wait. Once you're walking again, I'm running away from all the meetings and training. Leave it all to the great Hasashi Takumi."
Of course, Hideo's mana foundation was still too weak to perform a full recovery. The technique he found came from the ancient scrolls of his previous world—an intricate blend of spiritual acupuncture and breath techniques from the Far East.
Right now, he couldn't heal.
But he could slow the decay.
And in a world full of uncertainty… sometimes a single small step is enough to spark a miracle.
Hasashi watched his nephew for a long moment, then closed his eyes.
What a shame… if only you had started younger. If only…
The Takumi family might've produced another monster.