Haotian brought Meihui to the basement of her home. It had never seemed so mysterious to her before.
He pushed open the wooden door and lit an oil lamp. In its dim yellow glow, the basement gradually came into view.
All kinds of equipment stood around them. Some looked like ancient ninjutsu tools, while others resembled modern scientific devices.
Meihui couldn't help feeling curious and nervous.
"This place is perfect for experiments," Haotian murmured to himself. His voice echoed through the basement, lending it an eerie air.
He turned to look at Meihui, the hint of a knowing smile on his lips. "An experiment that can make you stronger..."
Meihui felt uneasy, but her resolve did not waver.
She slowly walked over to the examination table and sat where he had indicated.
Haotian took out some tools and began preparing.
"Relax. I'll try to be as gentle as I can." Haotian's tone was calm and professional, but the curious gleam in his eyes made Meihui uneasy.
With practiced ease, Haotian strapped Meihui's arm to the table, then wiped her skin with disinfectant.
He picked up a slender needle and gently inserted it into Meihui's arm.
Meihui felt a slight sting, but she endured it without making a sound.
Blood slowly flowed into a small test tube. Haotian examined it closely, his expression growing serious.
He placed the tube under a microscope, adjusted the focus, and began studying it carefully.
Meihui sat quietly to one side, her gaze fixed on Haotian.
Her heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
She knew the results of this experiment would determine her future.
"Meihui, the cells in your body..." Haotian's voice was low and grave. His brow furrowed,
Meihui's heart pounded even harder, but she remained calm on the surface.
She parted her lips slightly and asked in a soft voice, "What is it?"
Haotian looked up and met Meihui's gaze. The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn't speak.
The atmosphere in the basement grew oppressive. Only the faint light of the oil lamp flickered, and everything seemed shrouded in mystery.
"It seems your body isn't simply seeking strength," Haotian finally said, his voice tinged with uncertainty and excitement.
Haotian lightly touched the microscope's lens. Reflected in it was a microscopic view of the cells inside Meihui, writhing like countless frenzied worms as they greedily devoured everything around them.
The cells multiplied at an astonishing rate, yet each one had an extraordinarily short lifespan, as if some force had driven them to their limits only to discard them moments later.
Even more unsettling, Haotian clearly saw signs of cancerous changes among these frenzied cells, like tiny tumors quietly growing inside Meihui's body.
"Meihui, your cells... they're in terrible shape." Haotian's voice carried a note of helplessness and concern. He slowly lowered the microscope and looked at Meihui with a complicated expression.
The dim yellow light cast shadows across his face, making his expression even harder to read.
Meihui's heart sank, as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
She tried to stay calm, but her trembling hands betrayed her unease.
She gritted her teeth and asked in a hoarse voice, "What... is going on?"
Haotian took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.
"Your cells are multiplying far faster than normal, but their lifespan is very short, and... signs of cancer have already appeared." He paused, his tone growing even heavier. "It's like a double-edged sword. Your body is being eroded even as your strength rapidly grows."
Meihui's face turned pale, but she still didn't back down. She clenched her fists, a look of unwillingness shining in her eyes.
"Then... what should I do?"
Haotian fell silent for a moment, seeming to consider something.
He walked over to Meihui and held out one hand, a soft glow faintly shining in his palm.
"I'll try stimulating your cells with my chakra."
A warm, powerful energy flowed into Meihui's body. Like a catalyst, it instantly activated the cancerous cells within her.
The scene under the microscope grew even more horrifying. The cells seemed to have gained some kind of power, multiplying even more frantically like countless bloodthirsty demons devouring everything around them.
Haotian abruptly withdrew his hand, his expression turning grim.
"Just as I thought. Your body reacts strongly to my chakra, greatly increasing the activity of the cancerous cells." He sighed,
Silence fell over the basement once again. The air seemed to solidify, pressing down on them until it was hard to breathe.
Meihui's breathing grew ragged, her chest rising and falling sharply as if she were struggling with a difficult decision.
Every word Haotian spoke was like a sharp blade, stabbing into her heart.
Strength or life—which should she choose?
After a moment, Meihui raised her head. She parted her lips as if to say something, but in the end swallowed the words back, simply gazing at Haotian in silence.
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