Chapter 557
Tiffany sighed deeply. If it were poison, she might have known how to detoxify it. But this was different. She couldn’t wake someone up if she didn’t even know the cause of the illness.
“Don’t worry. Let me take a look,” Richard said.
He stepped forward and carefully examined the Azure Sea King After a long pause, Richard frowned and said, “This isn’t poison. It’s deep hypnosis.”
Tiffany froze for a moment, suddenly recalling how Thalia and Charlie Kelley had also fallen into a deep sleep after being hypnotized. Thalia and Charlie couldn’t even remember what had happened that day. Tiffant had studied hypnosis before. She wasn’t an expert, but knew enough to give it a shot.
Without hesitation, Tiffany grabbed a cloth bag and opened it, revealing rows of silver needles.
In some ways, hypnosis was like being poisoned. One affected the mind, the other the body. Either way, breaking the control meant finding a way to wake the person up.
Tiffany took a deep breath, selected a needle, and gently inserted it into the Azure Sea King’s head. One needle. Then another. A few minutes later, six needles were placed at key points along his meridians.
Pulling back, Tiffany gently patted the king’s shoulder. “Grandpa Grandpa? Wake up.”
The king’s eyelids twitched, and after a long pause, his eyes slowly opened. Though his gaze was foggy, he was awake, but barely.
Tiffany exhaled in relief. But just as she prepared to try a deeper hypnosis technique, the Azure Sea King coughed violently blood pouring from his mouth and nose.
“Grandpa!” Tiffany cried, panicked, as she tried to support the king. But his body slumped back, unconscious again. The ECG monitor beside him emitted a sharp beep before the line went flat.
Jeremy, who had been resting, ran in upon hearing the commotion. Moments later, a team of doctors rushed in and began emergency resuscitation.
Snapping out of her shock, Tiffany grabbed a pouch of spirit herbs and stuffed some into the Azure Sea King’s mouth. After several tense minutes, the ECG monitor flickered back to life, showing a weak but steady pulse.
Tiffany sighed in relief, then carefully put the silver needles away. She wouldn’t risk trying that again.
Richard wrapped his arms around Tiffany’s trembling frame, pulling her into a comforting hug. “It’s okay. It’s over now. Don’t blame yourself.”
“I almost killed my grandfather.” Tiffany choked, her voice thick with guilt. Her hands trembled, heart heavy with regret. The old man’s frail body wasn’t strong enough for such drastic measures.
Tiffany’s heart pounded. She’d never forgive herself if anything had gone wrong.
“It’s not your fault,” Richard said gently, patting her back. “We’ll figure out another way.”
“What else can we do?” Tiffany asked.
Richard said, “There’s a rare herb the Azure Sea Royal Family uses. It’s called the Blood Lotus.”
Tiffany’s eyes lit up. “I’ve read about it! It’s incredibly powerful. It can heal mental disruptions and even nourish the body.”
Richard nodded. “Exactly. But it only grows deep in the sea. Finding it will take some luck.”
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08:26 Wed, Nov 27.
Chapter 557
“When do we leave?” Tiffany asked without hesitation.
Richard smiled, hearing Tiffany include him in her plans. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Let’s go!”
Without wasting time. Tiffany gathered her things and said a quick goodbye to Jeremy. She didn’t involve June or anyone else, determined to keep the team small. Tiffany turned to Richard, her tone serious. “It’s just the two of us. Is that okay?”
“That’s perfect,” Richard replied.
+6
Although the decision was made at the last minute, money truly made things happen. Richard’s wealth and resources were beyond comprehension. With just one command, the yacht was ready within minutes, perfectly timed for their arrival at the beach.
Tiffany couldn’t hide her amazement at the efficiency and speed
“Let’s go.” Richard said, wrapping an arm around her waist as they stepped onto the yacht.
The yacht was a sleek and lightweight vessel, fast yet safe. Only the driver came along. No one else was informed.
Tiffany settled on the yacht’s second level, feeling the rush of the sea breeze as the boat shot forward like an arrow. Within moments, they had left the beach far behind. Judging by their speed, it would likely take until early morning to reach their destination.
Over an hour later, they were surrounded by endless water. The blue sky met the ocean in a perfect line under the sunlight. Occasionally, other boats passed by, but the coastline ahead formed a shallow curve, and no ships were visible there.
Tiffany glanced at the rolling waves, gripping the rope of her life jacket tightly. She couldn’t help but feel nervous. As someone who couldn’t swim, and who had once nearly drowned, venturing into such deep waters took a lot of courage.
Sensing her tension, Richard wrapped an arm around her. “Tired? You should rest for a while.”
She nodded, leaning against his shoulder. Exhausted, she quickly fell asleep.
In her dreams, Tiffany found herself floating in the deep sea, alone and helpless. She reached out for the elusive Blood Lotus, but just as her fingers brushed against it, a massive shark lunged at her, jaws wide open.
Tiffany woke with a start, gasping for air. The sky outside was pitch black, the only light coming from the yacht’s glowing deck. Turning her head, she saw Richard’s calm face and soft, concerned eyes.
“Nightmare?” Richard asked.
“Yes,” Tiffany admitted, sniffing. “I dreamed you pushed me off the yacht…”
Richard stared at her, dumbfounded. “What kind of monster am I in your dreams?”
“In the dream,
Ou didn’t just push me, you hugged another woman and laughed while I drowned!” Tiffany added.
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