Chapter 68: A Sickly Lin Zhen
Chapter 68: A Sickly Lin Zhen (Please Keep Reading)
Another day passed, and mid-November arrived across the nation.
Tianhai City entered winter, with chilly winds beginning to bite.
For ordinary people, it meant adding an extra layer of clothing for warmth.
For physically fit students, the changing seasons made little difference.
At noon, outside Second High School, Lin Qi quickly signed for a package on his tablet before retrieving a brown delivery box from the courier. The box was small, and he hurried back to his martial arts training hall with it in his arms.
Inside was a black metal case—this time without a password lock. Pressing the button, the case popped open to reveal a hyper-realistic prosthetic arm. Its skin texture and flesh-colored surface looked eerily lifelike.
Examining it carefully, Lin Qi nodded in approval. "No wonder it cost me 300,000 yuan—this prosthetic is top-notch."
"Dad will love it."
As soon as the genius loan had arrived, he’d ordered it online. Prosthetic arms were never cheap, but his father Lin Zhen had bought only the simplest, cheapest model for 50,000 Xia Kingdom Currency. While it allowed basic movement, its breathability and comfort were poor. Overexertion could even lead to infection, hampering recovery.
But Lin Qi’s custom model was different. Pricier, yes—but far more comfortable. This was his gift for his father.
...
That evening, as soon as class ended, Lin Qi hopped on his bike. A metal box strapped to the back seat, he sped home through the cold evening air like a streak of lightning.
Rongshan Residential District, Building 4, Apartment 301.
"Click!"
He turned the key and stepped inside, the moment he entered sensing something was off.
In the living room, his parents and Uncle Fang Zhe were having dinner. The aroma of food and beer filled the air.
Lin Zhen grinned, "Xiaoqi’s back!"
His mother Fang Huiyi forced a tearful smile.
Uncle Fang Zhe returned the smile, though his mind raced in shock. Lin Qi had changed so drastically—taller, stronger, exuding an almost oppressive aura. As a third-circle martial artist himself, Fang Zhe felt genuine pressure from his nephew.
Sensing the tension, Lin Qi placed the metal case on the sofa and sat down.
"Dad, Uncle—why are you back so early? Weren’t you supposed to come home at the end of December for my finals?"
Three pairs of eyes exchanged glances.
Fang Zhen sighed first.
"Xiaoqi, no need hiding it from you anymore."
"Your father had an accident at Linhai Base. A few days ago, during our work…"
Fang Zhe recounted the incident.
Lin Qi’s brows furrowed as he listened. Looking at his father, he saw the exhaustion etched into Lin Zhen’s face—how much older he looked.
"Let me get this straight", Lin Qi said slowly. "You’re telling me Dad collapsed from overwork while cutting meat, and a massive disaster beast corpse crushed him, destroying his prosthetic arm?"
Fang Zhe nodded. "Exactly."
Fang Huiyi added bitterly, "Thankfully it was his left arm—the leg of that steel-armored rhino weighs over a ton. If it had been his right arm, he’d need another amputation."
Lin Zhen scratched his head with his right hand, sighing in shame. "I wanted to earn extra money by being a meat cutter, but instead I wrecked my prosthetic and spent 150,000 yuan on treatment. Even with partial reimbursement from our leader and your family card, it was still a fortune."
Lin Qi calculated mentally. Yes, meat cutting paid well—his father had earned 300,000 yuan in just two months. But the job had clearly taken a toll.
Fang Zhe continued, "The doctors said he’d been working himself to death. His body’s riddled with issues."
"They treated the infection and surface wounds on his right arm, but other problems remain—lower back strain from muscle damage, plantar fasciitis…"
"Bone issues like cervical spondylosis, shoulder tendinitis…"
A long list of ailments spilled out.
Lin Qi whistled inwardly. His father was practically a walking clinic. How had he endured all this?
"Good news", Fang Zhe added. "Modern tech and martial arts can treat most of these. He just needs rest."
Lin Qi nodded, then retrieved the new prosthetic arm from the case and handed it to his father.
"This is for you. Rest now—I’ve got millions saved up. We’ll get you healed completely."
Lin Zhen stared at his son, startled. Through video calls, he’d missed how Lin Qi had transformed—his face broader, inheriting his mother’s sharp features, his tall, muscular frame radiating explosive power.
Taking the prosthetic slowly, Lin Zhen tested it, his eyes widening.
"Breathable, comfortable, moves like a dream!" He laughed. "How much did this cost?"
"300,000 yuan."
Lin Zhen: "…"
...
Later, Fang Zhe departed. He’d brought Lin Zhen home and decided to quit meat-cutting. With Lin Qi’s debt repaid and his own savings, their family had enough for now.
In the living room, Fang Huiyi and Lin Zhen tidied up while talking.
"Xiaoqi’s really grown into his own", Lin Zhen mused.
"Did you know?" Fang Huiyi smirked. "He’s in the Top Ten Ranks now, nearly Top 100 in Tianhai City!"
Lin Zhen blinked.
"Is this still our son?"
"Of course! Our Xiaoqi was always extraordinary. And now we’ve got money—take it easy, no more killing yourself for work."
Lin Zhen nodded.
...
In his bedroom, Lin Qi stayed awake. Taking a stamina elixir, he began stance training.
His father’s face haunted his thoughts—how much more gray hair he’d gained. Years of resource scarcity had dropped Lin Zhen’s vital energy stat to Second Realm. Overwork had broken him down.
Lin Qi knew the pain. In his past life as a corporate drone, he’d suffered lower back strain, cervical issues, shoulder pain—all ailments his father now bore. How had his father endured this for years?
This was the Martial Arts Era, with advanced tech and healing elixirs. With money, Lin Zhen could recover fully.
But Lin Qi wasn’t satisfied.
He wanted his father whole—his left arm regrown.
He knew of an elixir—the Elixir of Regeneration. A Blue Planet treasure costing 50 million yuan per vial.
"I’m too broke. I must grow stronger, prove my innate talent."
Lin Qi’s eyes hardened like tempered steel.
(End of Chapter)
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