The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection
29

Chapter 29 Chapter 29

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It was noon. Xena and Jordan were having lunch in a private room at one of Avesburgh's restaurants.

"I'm sorry, Xena. My mentor is focusing on researching new medical techniques, and it's been years since he's treated anyone. If not for that, I would've asked him to check on your grandfather," Jordan said.

Xena nodded. "I appreciate the sentiment, Dr. Fielding has already verified that Grandpa's been poisoned with the Phantom Poison. I don't mean anything else by inviting you for lunch. Anyway, I doubt your mentor would be able to do anything even if he were around." Phantom Poison? As one of the best traditional medicine practitioners of the younger generation, Jordan had definitely heard of it before.

"Phantom Poison? Xena, you might have to prepare yourself. Only the miracle doctor has ever managed to cure it, and that was for someone who'd been poisoned for a few days. Mr. Summers Senior has already been suffering from it for a whole year." He couldn't bring himself to say anything else after that.

However, Xena wasn't a simple woman. She wouldn't be so easily defeated. "I have faith that there will be a miracle."

After some hesitation, Jordan said, "It's too far-fetched to place your hopes in the miracle doctor-the chances of finding him are too low. It's also hard to get your hands on the Miracle Card. I do think that you can try your luck with something else, though." Xena indicated for him to continue.

• "My mentor told me that the miracle doctor's apprentice has returned to civilization not too long ago, and it seems this apprentice of his has learned everything he has to teach.

"In fact, he might have already surpassed the miracle doctor. If you can find him, I'm sure Mr. Summers Senior will be saved."

Xena sighed. "I doubt it's as easy as you make it sound."

"Well, yeah. Even my mentor has only just seen him. He has no idea what the guy's name is or how to reach him. Still, tracking him down will be much easier than finding the miracle doctor," Jordan said.

Xena sipped her water and asked him to keep an eye out for her. She didn't hold out much hope, though. The miracle doctor had been within her grasp, but she'd missed the opportunity to find him because of the Menacing

Four.

Felix had texted her and told her he no longer had the Miracle Card. That meant she'd lost her chance.

Just then, Belle entered the room. When Xena saw how conflicted the former looked, she waved a hand. "Speak freely. Joe isn't an outsider."

Jordan felt pleased to hear that. It had been two years since they'd last seen each other, but it was evident Xena still had some feelings for him. As long as he put his heart into pursuing her, it probably wouldn't take long for them to make things official. "Mr. Glover's son, Ted, had his arm broken by someone. Dr. Fielding has already checked on him but can't mend the break. He said whoever did it didn't hold back-Ted will be disabled from now on," Belle said.

She knew Perry was Xena's uncle but couldn't just say it aloud. Ted was considered Xena's cousin, so Belle would have to inform Xena of this, no matter what.

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Chapter 29

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"Got it. Don't bother about them." Xena figured that since Perry hadn't told her about it, that meant he could handle it himself. Besides, Ted was indeed obnoxious. Learning his lesson by losing his arm wasn't actually a bad thing.

At the same time, he would realize there would always be people more powerful than him out in the world. It would be too late if he were to only realize that after losing his life.

Around 3:00 pm, Felix and Wendy arrived at a place in Avesburgh.

"Mr. Zeller, the man I'm about to introduce you to, Thomas Camden, is renowned in Avesburgh for knowing everything about antiques. He's also very wealthy.

"If even he can't determine the authenticity of your antique and restore it to its former glory, we'll probably have to head to a bigger city," Wendy said.

"Okay." Felix had come to see Thomas because of the porcelain teapot. It didn't look like it was in good condition, which explained why Mike had failed to sell it after such a long time.

Of course, Felix wasn't doing this because he was afraid of being humiliated. He just felt that gifting such a shabby teapot to Warren was a sign of disrespect.

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Chapter 30