Chapter 6 Jade Needle

“Captain Draven, you’re far too formal for my liking,” Ethan said. “Rise. We’re not on a battlefield, and I’m no king.” He pointed to a nearby chair. “Sit. Let’s talk like men.”

Kane followed him. As Ethan turned, his body suddenly wavered. His knees buckled.

Kane moved fast and caught him before he could fall. “Sir! Are you alright?”

Ethan waved his hand weakly but leaned on Kane for support. “It’s nothing. Everyone has their time, Kane. Mine is coming soon. This old body carried me through too many wars. Even I can’t cheat death forever.”

Kane helped him to the chair. “That’s exactly why I’m here. I heard about your illness. I came to cure you.”

The room went dead silent.

Ethan stared at him, then burst into booming laughter. “Cure me? You?” He leaned back, still chuckling. “You’ve got massive balls, Captain. But be serious. The best doctors and technology in the world couldn’t stop what’s killing me. And you — a man who just walked out of Ravenlock Prison — think you can succeed where they failed?”

Kane slowly dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I spent five years in that hell sharpening a skill most call impossible. Ancient techniques passed down through generations. My guru, Master Chen, taught me. It’s not in any hospital or lab. But it works. I’m not here to give false hope. Let me prove it.”

Ethan stopped laughing. His eyes narrowed. “Master Chen, you say?”

He leaned forward, studying Kane carefully. “You intrigue me, Draven. I’ll give you that. But intrigue doesn’t heal the dying.”

Kane didn’t respond with words. He grabbed Ethan’s hand firmly and rolled up his sleeve before the older man could protest.

The arm was gaunt — skin stretched tight over bones that looked ready to snap. The illness had eaten him alive.

“Step away from him!” one guard barked. Guns cocked loudly. Six weapons aimed straight at Kane’s head.

“Don’t move another inch!” another shouted, finger hovering on the trigger. “Who the hell do you think you are, touching him like that?”

Ethan raised a trembling hand. “Stand down.”

The guards didn’t lower their weapons.

Kane ignored them completely, eyes locked on Ethan. “Sir, look at your arm. Look what this poison is doing to you. Let me help before it’s too late.”

Ethan studied him in silence for a long moment, then sighed and leaned back, looking frail. “You’ve got the balls of a madman, Draven. Standing here with my men ready to blow your head off, still claiming you can save a dying devil like me.”

Kane met his gaze steadily. “Not claiming. I will do it. Let me try.”

Ethan’s voice turned sharp. “Lower your guns. Now!”

The guards hesitated, glancing at each other.

“I said do it!” Ethan yelled.

They finally lowered their weapons, though their hands stayed close to their holsters.

Ethan exhaled slowly. “If any of you had ever heard the name Kane Draven, you wouldn’t have dared raise those guns. Even armed to the teeth, you’re no match for him. Guns or no guns, Kane Draven is not a man to be tampered with.”

The guards finally lowered their weapons. The giant muscle-bound man who had escorted Kane inside stepped forward and loomed over him.

“I don’t care who the hell Kane Draven is,”Titan growled. “You try anything funny, and I’ll rip your head clean off your shoulders.”

Ethan laughed. “Oh, Titan. You’re as stubborn as ever. Let me save you some trouble.” He looked at his bodyguard. “You’re my most loyal fighter, but don’t fool yourself. Even if Kane was blindfolded and tied to a chair, you still wouldn’t be a match for him.”

Titan clenched his jaw, clearly embarrassed, but stayed silent.

“I’ve seen what Kane Draven can do,” Ethan continued. “He isn’t just a soldier. He’s a weapon honed to perfection. Keep your temper in check, Titan.”

Titan snorted and stepped back. “If you say so, boss. But I’m watching him.”

Ethan smirked and turned to Kane. “Forgive Titan. He’s loyal to a fault and stubborn as hell. But you and I both know real loyalty is rare these days.”

Kane nodded and glanced at Titan for a second. The giant looked like the type who would follow through on his threats without blinking.

Ethan rolled up his sleeve again, revealing the bony, discolored arm. “You’re really serious about this? You actually believe you can fix me, Draven?”

Kane stayed focused. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. Your condition is advanced, but it’s not hopeless. Master Chen taught me techniques that have healed worse.”

Ethan laughed again. “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that. But I’ll warn you — many have tried before. All of them failed. You wouldn’t be the first to—”

“I’m not like the others,” Kane cut in, locking eyes with him. “Trust me. Just this once.”

Ethan’s expression softened. He nodded slowly. “Do what you have to do.”

The room fell silent. Every guard watched Kane’s every move. Titan stood in the corner with arms crossed, looking ready to snap at the slightest mistake.

Kane took a deep breath and pressed his fingers lightly along Ethan’s wrist, checking the pulse points. The flow was weak and uneven. The old man’s chi was badly blocked.

He opened his satchel and pulled out a thin, polished jade needle.

Titan stepped forward immediately. “What the hell is that?”

“A tool,” Kane replied without looking up. “If I wanted to kill him, Titan, he’d already be dead. Now step back and let me work.”

Ethan raised a hand, stopping Titan from moving closer. “Let him be. I trust him.”

Kane placed the jade needle precisely on a key point along Ethan’s forearm — one of the twelve meridian pathways. He inserted it quickly but gently. Ethan winced but held still.

Kane closed his eyes and manipulated the needle using the Qi Xing technique — Seven Stars. He felt the stagnant energy starting to shift inside Ethan.

He added more needles along the arm, chest, and neck, then pulled out a small vial of herbal powder he had prepared in Ravenlock Prison. He mixed it with warm water and handed it over. “Drink this. It will cleanse your system and strengthen your organs.”

Ethan drank it without hesitation. “I’ll admit, this is different. But I don’t feel much yet.”

“You won’t right away,” Kane replied. “Healing takes time. But you’re already speaking without coughing. That’s a good sign.”

After removing the needles, color slowly returned to Ethan’s face. His skin looked less pale. The guards murmured in shock. Titan remained stone-faced in the corner.

Ethan leaned back, breathing steadier. “I’ll be damned.” He flexed his hand in disbelief. “I can actually feel the difference.”

“This is only the beginning,” Kane said. “Your body is responding well, but we need consistent treatments. Trust me, and I’ll help you reclaim your full strength.”

Ethan smiled faintly. “Ryder— Kane Draven, you might just be the miracle I stopped believing in.”

From the corner, Titan muttered, “We’ll see.”

As Kane moved to withdraw the final needle from Ethan’s chest, the old man suddenly gasped and clutched his heart. His body convulsed violently and slumped back in the chair.

The guards rushed forward. Titan grabbed Kane by the collar and slammed him against the wall. “What the hell did you do to him?!” he roared.

“Let me go!” Kane barked, ripping free. “I need to check him now!”

Ethan wasn’t breathing normally. His eyes were shut, lips turning blue, pulse dangerously weak. This wasn’t from the treatment — something else was wrong.

Titan shoved Kane aside and shouted, “Call the doctor! Now!”

“You’ll lose him if you wait!” Kane pushed forward. “Let me work or he dies!”

Titan’s massive fist hovered near Kane’s face. “If he dies because of you, I’ll tear you apart piece by piece.”