Seraphina’s sharp gaze pierced through the air like a blade, her words cutting straight toward the heart of Wood Faulkner.
Wood Faulkner frowned slightly and asked, “What? You don’t believe me?”
“Hahaha!” The bald monk burst into laughter. Shaking his head with a helpless smile, he remarked, “Young lady, I gave you a chance earlier, but you didn’t take it. I thought you were going to bring someone impressive, but it turns out it’s just a young man. Is he even thirty yet? I doubt it.”
Wood Faulkner snorted coldly. “So what if he’s not thirty? Mr. Scott’s medical skills are the best I’ve ever seen. He can save people on the brink of death. Mr. Alfredson showed me kindness, and I gave my word to repay him, so I will. But you, you bald fraud, dare to charge a million dollars for treatment? How shameless can you be?”
Master Holloway sighed and turned to Derek Alfredson, the current head of the household. “Mr. Alfredson, there’s no use explaining further. This million dollars is merely a donation, nothing more. We monks don’t charge unnecessarily. Of course, if you don’t trust me, I can leave right now and let this young man treat your father. If he can cure him, that would be best.”
Derek Alfredson hesitated, caught in a moment of indecision. Before he could speak, his wife Seraphina interjected, “What are you waiting for? Of course, let Master Holloway do it! He’s a monk-how could he lie? If he says he can save him, then he can. A million dollars? Even ten million wouldn’t be too much if it means saving the old man!”
“As for them,” she added, pointing at Wood Faulkner and her companion, “give them a thousand dollars each and send them off!”
Orion nodded in agreement. “Exactly! Master Holloway wouldn’t lie. I trust him. Brother, if you don’t trust this guy, let’s just have Master Holloway do it!”
Derek glanced at Wood Faulkner before making a difficult decision. With a slight nod, he said, “I’m sorry, Miss Faulkner. I know you mean well for my father, but Master Holloway already seems to understand his condition. We trust him.”
“Of course,” he continued, “it’s not that we don’t believe in Mr. Scott, but Master Holloway seems to have a clearer understanding of my father’s illness. If you’d like, you can stay and watch.”
Wood Faulkner opened her mouth to protest, but Kayden stopped her. “Let it go, Wood. Let’s see what this Master Holloway can do to cure Mr. Alfredson’s Ravenwood Syndrome.”
“Ravenwood Syndrome?” Everyone in the room froze, stunned by the unfamiliar term.
“What’s Ravenwood Syndrome?” Seraphina exclaimed, her confusion turning into anger. “Master Holloway said it’s an evil spirit haunting him. All it takes is a ritual to drive the ghost away. You’re just making things up!”
“Hahaha!” Master Holloway laughed heartily. “Ravenwood Syndrome? I’ve been practicing medicine for sixty years and have never heard of such a condition! Young man, don’t embarrass yourself further. You’re only making a fool of yourself!”
“Possession by a ghost?” Kayden smirked, unimpressed. To him, the old monk was clearly a fraud, just here to scam money.
But since the Alfredson family believed in him, Kayden decided to let the monk fail spectacularly. Calmly, he said, “Fine. If the Master says he can cure him, let him proceed.”
Master Holloway folded his hands in prayer and murmured, “Saving a life is the greatest virtue. Young man, lying is never acceptable. Learn to be a decent person before you practice medicine.”
Kayden said nothing more, simply watching as the monk prepared for his ritual to banish the so-called ghost.
True to his word, Master Holloway began immediately. He retrieved a few scriptures, a wooden fish drum, and the prayer beads hanging from his neck. Wrapping the beads around the drum, he sat cross-legged at Zack Alfredson’s bedside.
Lighting four sticks of incense and burning some paper money, he began chanting.
The four sticks of incense caught Kayden’s attention. Traditionally, three sticks were offered to gods, but four were believed to summon spirits.
The Alfredson family watched anxiously, their hopes pinned on the monk’s success. Zack Alfredson was old but still highly respected. As the family patriarch, his survival was critical to the Alfredsons’ prosperity. Many of their business connections relied on his reputation, and his death would mean losing half of their fortune.
Wood Faulkner leaned toward Kayden and whispered, “Mr. Scott, do you really think he can save Mr. Alfredson?”
Kayden shook his head. “I hope he can.”
It was clear what he meant-he had no faith in the monk’s abilities.
An hour passed, and sweat began to bead on Master Holloway’s forehead. His expression shifted dramatically as he chanted. Suddenly, a soft voice echoed near his ear:
“Master Holloway…”
The voice was light and ethereal, distinctly feminine.
Master Holloway frowned and strained to listen, but before long, the voice came again.
“Master Holloway…”
This time, the voice sent chills down his spine, a cold sensation running from his neck to his chest.
Startled, he looked up and glanced around the room. “Who’s there?”
His sudden outburst startled everyone.
“What’s wrong, Master Holloway?” someone asked.
Before he could respond, he let out a bloodcurdling scream. To everyone’s horror, Master Holloway raised one hand and clutched his own throat. His face twisted in pain, his features contorted and grotesque. From his throat came a series of strangled, guttural sounds.
“Who? Who is it?” His voice shook with fear, his eyes darting around wildly.
Then, with a resounding slap, his hand released his throat and struck his own face, sending his large frame tumbling to the ground.
As he rolled on the floor, his hand once again latched onto his throat, as if it no longer belonged to him but was controlled by some unseen force.