Chapter 596: A Perilous Decision

Upon the ground lay spilled medicinal broth and shattered porcelain, a scene of utter chaos.

Qin Yi Ning’s face was drained of color. The method of treatment had made her heart quiver. To use the bones from her second son to save the eldest—how could this be?

Shi Zi Ling was also stunned, gradually calming himself before asking, “Holy Physician, is there truly no other way?”

Zhang Zhong slowly shook his head. Though his medical skills were superb, and he understood the profound mysteries of glyph magic, none could heal Shi Hao’s grievous wounds.

“Doing such a thing… wouldn’t it gravely harm the second child?” Qin Yi Ning asked, her voice trembling.

Zhang Zhong remained silent. The only potential cure for Shi Hao might be the implantation of a Celestial Bone into his body.

“Divine Physician, truly, no other path at all?” Shi Zi Ling frowned. He naturally understood what Zhang Zhong meant—such a method implied a transplant.

Such a risk was immense, especially for the second son. It carried grave danger; any misstep could result in lifelong regret.

“This old one has exhausted his skills. My words were but a passing thought,” Zhang Zhong replied. He could not speak further, for the consequences were terrifying, affecting the futures of both youths.

“How could this happen? Why is this so cruel? Hao’er…” Tears streamed from Qin Yi Ning’s eyes, her heart breaking as she clutched her eldest son in his sickbed.

Shi Hao’s condition was dire—sometimes lucid, sometimes unconscious. His body bore the glyph-like traces of aged bronze, causing him unbearable pain and devouring his life force.

At the moment, his consciousness was cut off from the outside world, lost in unconsciousness.

“If Shi Hao’s original Celestial Bone within him remained intact, he might heal on his own. Alas, it has suffered grave damage,” Zhang Zhong said solemnly.

The greatest affliction within Shi Hao’s body was a glyph—an overwhelming, terrifying force fused deep into his flesh and bones, resistant to all attempts at removal.

Famous physicians like Zhang Zhong knew this well, and so did the couple, Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning. In this mortal world, no one could eradicate the cursed glyphs—those forbidden bone inscriptions.

“The bone within Shi Hao’s body is riddled with damage. Even if we pieced it together, it is already less than two-thirds of its former self, its power greatly diminished,” Zhang Zhong shook his head.

It was a simple fact—the bone inside Shi Hao lay shattered, and the glyphs it released could not dispel the curse.

In this lower world, with even deities gone, what power remained to oppose the curse of the Celestial Palace’s “Lord”?

Moreover, those glyphs had spread throughout Shi Hao’s every inch of flesh and bone. No one dared to tamper recklessly—once ignited, the consequence could be mutual destruction.

Perhaps only the Celestial Bone could be used—transplanted into Shi Hao’s body, merging into his being. Only then could the curse be subdued without self-destruction.

“This is too cruel…” Qin Yi Ning’s heart trembled. Excavating the bone of her second son to save Shi Hao—such a method posed risks for both children.

In that moment, she was overwhelmed with grief. Why had such a calamity befallen them?

Shi Zi Ling took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Holy Physician, tell me truthfully—what is the probability of success, and how great is the risk?”

“If the Celestial Bone is successfully transplanted into Shi Hao’s body, there is a sixty to seventy percent chance of recovery. He would regain his strength, and in the future, his talent would rival heaven and earth,” Zhang Zhong answered seriously.

“Only sixty to seventy percent certainty?” Shi Zi Ling furrowed his brows, his mind in turmoil.

“Such a percentage is already high,” Zhang Zhong Jing interjected. He could offer no definitive guidance, only the facts.

Qin Yi Ning closed her eyes, attempting to steady herself before asking, “Master Physician, what level of danger does this pose to the second child?”

Upon hearing the question, Zhang Zhong sighed. “If the bone was originally his, I could safely extract it without endangering his life.”

His senior apprentice had ties with the Immortal Grove. He had once been summoned to safeguard Qin Hao during the bone implantation process. From his senior, he learned that the bone came from the Upper Realm, and had only recently been implanted into Qin Hao—thus, the danger was real.

After careful contemplation, Zhang Zhong finally answered, “In this scenario, helping Shi Hao may indeed place Qin Hao in life-threatening danger.”

“Three chances in ten for death, seven chances in ten for survival.” That was his final conclusion.

The success rate, while relatively high, depended on Qin Hao’s age and his strong innate vitality, as well as his extraordinary talent, which made the procedure somewhat controllable.

Still, danger remained, causing Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning’s hearts to sink.

“Father, Mother—I refuse to be saved like this!” Shi Hao regained consciousness once more, hearing their conversation, his heart shaken. By his character, how could he allow himself to be rescued at such a cost?

It was unjust to Qin Hao. He would never allow it—not even under force. He would rather die.

Qin Yi Ning wept silently, holding onto his arm. After years apart, her eldest son had returned, only for this calamity to strike before their joy could last.

What should they do? How could she possibly save her eldest child? She was torn—her heart aching with uncertainty, as both sons were dear to her.

Not long afterward, Shi Hao lapsed into unconsciousness again. His condition was dire; despite consuming various treasure medicines and soaking in numerous spirit elixirs, his life hung by a thread.

Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning exchanged anxious glances, unable to make a final decision. They called in other physicians, seeking further opinions and counsel.

Their hearts remained uneasy. They sought to know the true probability of success—whether it could be increased, but all the experts reached the same general conclusions.

What should be done? They could not bear to watch Shi Hao perish. Having lost him once before, they now desperately wanted to cling to his life.

But doing so meant gambling with the fate of their second son. It was deeply unfair to Qin Hao. He would not only lose the power of the Celestial Bone but could also face death.

The physicians took their leave, unable to offer biased advice that might carry future consequences. The decision, however weighty, would fall upon them alone.

Qin Hao quietly entered the room, pushing the door open. “Father, Mother, I have made my decision. If you believe I can save my brother, I am ready.”

Hearing this, Qin Yi Ning immediately pulled him close, tears streaming from her eyes. “Mother will never allow you to be in danger. I will never let you be sacrificed!”

Shi Zi Ling sighed deeply. Over the years, their second son had always carried a lingering emotional burden—feeling that his birth was solely to save his never-before-seen older brother. Now, this situation had only confirmed that notion.

Thus, he too remained silent, unable to decide. Both sons were his flesh and blood—how could he choose one over the other?

At that moment, Shi Zi Ling was not the mighty Shi Clan leader but a simple father unwilling to see either of his children come to harm.

“Father, Mother, I will obey your decision. I am ready to help my brother at any time,” Qin Hao stated simply before turning and walking away.

Gazing at their unconscious eldest, then watching their second son leave, the couple felt their hearts twist with anguish. What path should they take? It was a torment.

“Using the Celestial Bone, there is a sixty to seventy percent chance of saving Hao’er, and our second son has a seventy percent chance of emerging unharmed,” Shi Zi Ling finally spoke.

“But there is still a thirty percent risk. We could lose our second child,” Qin Yi Ning whispered.

Why did fate offer such an agonizing decision? Their hearts trembled, unable to abandon either son. If they delayed too long, their eldest would only weaken further.

Yet, to save the eldest with the second son’s Celestial Bone—who could predict the pain it would bring to Qin Hao’s heart?

“Why are you so cruel, Heaven!” Shi Zi Ling roared.

Qin Yi Ning shed silent tears, gently caressing Shi Hao’s unconscious face. “Mother wishes only to save you, but not at the cost of harming your little brother.”

As the red sun dipped westward, the entire day passed without decision—a delay ill-suited to Shi Hao’s condition, as he weakened by the moment.

That night, Shi Hao awakened abruptly from a fitful sleep, his heart pounding as he suddenly opened his eyes. A woman stood before him, pointing a finger at his brow—intent on killing him!

How could this be? His heart trembled.

Though he accepted that his fate was sealed, he had no wish to die without knowing why. With a sharp cry, a jet of blood spurted from his mouth, striking the assailant.

Enduring intense pain, his chest radiated light. A crack echoed—his Supreme Ruler bone once again shed another fragment, unleashing divine might.

“Boom!”

A mighty force surged upward. The woman screamed, instantly aging into a wizened old woman, trapped and helpless under the dominion of the Supreme Ruler glyphs.

Shi Hao, his body drenched in blood, grabbed her and growled, “Why have you done this?”

“What happened?”

“Hao’er!”

A piercing whistling sound erupted as swift figures arrived. Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning, having only just left, were immediately alerted to the emergency.

“Boom!”

The woman’s forehead burst open, blood spraying. Somehow, she had taken her own life.

Shi Hao released her, smiling bitterly. “Though I may die, my instincts remain sharp. I have not dishonored the name of Xiao Shi.”

Suddenly, numerous figures flooded into the room, including Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning. Cries of alarm echoed.

“Isn’t this Qin Lan? A core heir of our Qin Clan, here to kindly deliver medicine, and you… you dare kill her?” an elder accused angrily.

Wiping blood from his lips, Shi Hao did not speak, lying quietly on the bed.

“My child, what happened?” Qin Yi Ning rushed forward, shielding Shi Hao from the accusations.

“What happened? He killed Qin Lan! How could he act with such brutality? Even if he bears us ill will, must he resort to such violence?” an old crone leaned on her azure wooden staff, her voice seething with hatred.

“Daring to offend our Qin Clan again and again—do you truly think we dare not act?” another voice spat coldly.

“Father, Mother, return me to the Shi Kingdom. Let me die with dignity and grace, rather than in secrecy and confusion,” Shi Hao said calmly.

Upon hearing his words, Shi Zi Ling and Qin Yi Ning’s expressions darkened.

“My son, are you angry at us?” Qin Yi Ning rose, eyes reddened, and turned to glare at the gathered Qin Clan members.

“All of you—get out!” Shi Zi Ling roared furiously, delivering a powerful kick to the woman’s corpse, sending her body flying through the window, shattering the frame, and exploding into the courtyard.

The couple understood instantly now—these people must have learned of the plan. Fearing the Celestial Bone would truly be implanted into Shi Hao, they had acted preemptively, attempting to assassinate him!