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Chapter 50: Chapter 48: The Monster in the Heart
Wenchuan District, Taijiang Hospital.
Fang Cheng, after consulting the reception desk, carried a beautifully arranged fruit basket and took the elevator to the third floor.
This hospital is a private institution, relatively small in size with only five floors.
Yet the environment is exceptionally elegant and tranquil, with very meticulous decor. 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
It lacks the noise and chaos typical of large public hospitals.
Walking through, he saw more medical staff than patients, all of whom were exceptionally friendly.
If not for the scent of disinfectant filling the air, one might mistakenly think they’ve entered a luxury hotel.
"Those who can afford to stay here must be wealthy, eh?"
Fang Cheng looked around as he searched for Shijima Gorou’s ward.
After passing through the hallway and around a corner, he finally found a particularly secluded VIP intensive care ward.
At that moment, two burly men in black suits and sunglasses stood outside the door.
They appeared to be guards hired by Shijima Gorou.
Fang Cheng then stepped forward, politely introduced himself and his reason for visiting.
Yet, he was still kept outside the door.
The two guards seemed very indifferent, seemingly not understanding the language of Xia Country, nor did they go in to inform their employer.
They simply raised their hands in a silent gesture that indicated entry was not allowed.
Fang Cheng paused slightly, then shook his head, set down the fruit basket, and turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, Shijima Gorou seemed more prestigious than a celebrity...
At that moment, there seemed to be movement inside, and a woman’s voice was heard.
"Let him in."
Fang Cheng stopped in his tracks, pondered for a moment, and then chose to stay.
Entering the room, he saw a spacious suite.
Not only equipped with various medical care facilities, but the decoration also leaned towards a warm, home-style ambiance.
Sunlight poured through the broad glass windows, eradicating any sense of oppression.
Shijima Gorou was lying on the hospital bed, his body wrapped up like a mummy.
Especially around his neck, there was a thick white plaster cast.
A young woman in a floral dress was attending by his bed.
She was Shijima Gorou’s fiancée, Cui Xiuying, a woman from Xia Country.
After a set of misunderstandings in their interaction yesterday, Fang Cheng had gotten to know her.
"I’m sorry, I was too harsh yesterday."
Fang Cheng glanced around the room and then apologized.
He picked up the fruit basket and placed it on a nearby table.
Cui Xiuying bent down, whispered a few words into Shijima Gorou’s ear.
Although Shijima Gorou looked miserable, his consciousness was very clear.
He then replied:
"It’s alright, it was my request."
During the conversation, he couldn’t help but glance at his fiancée standing beside him, fearing she might blame him.
It seemed that yesterday he intentionally sent her away and secretly compared martial arts with Fang Cheng, but she ended up finding out.
Cui Xiuying, however, did not say anything particularly harsh and maintained a dignified and proper demeanor.
She invited Fang Cheng to sit down and then brought him a cup of water.
Fang Cheng thanked her and received the cup with both hands.
During the small talk, he also roughly understood Shijima Gorou’s current medical condition.
Multiple fractures throughout his body, with severe muscle tissue damage.
The most serious was the neck area, which had been fixed with a plaster cast.
Fortunately, there were no internal injuries.
The attending doctor had just come to perform a post-surgery check-up and diagnosed that he needed to stay in the hospital for observation and treatment for at least a month.
However, Shijima Gorou felt pretty good about himself and even seemed more cheerful and spirited than usual.
Nonchalantly, as if it were normal to him, he even clamored to return home for recuperation immediately.
Cui Xiuying scolded him for a few words before he finally shut his mouth obediently.
It must be said, his physique was truly extraordinary compared to ordinary people.
Perhaps it should be said that it had reached a "non-human" level...
This thought lingered in Fang Cheng’s mind.
After the doctor left the ward, he immediately began to speak:
"Mr. Shijima, may I be so bold as to ask a question?"
Fang Cheng’s tone paused slightly, his gaze faintly showing a sharp edge as he stared at Shijima Gorou.
"Which school of karate did you study, and how do your muscles swell and transform into that strange form during combat?"
This question was precisely the main purpose of Fang Cheng’s visit.
Upon hearing this, both Shijima Gorou and Cui Xiuying, the couple-to-be, looked somewhat unnatural.
It seemed to touch on some unspeakable secrets.
Just when Fang Cheng was about to give up in disappointment, thinking that he wouldn’t get an answer.
Shijima Gorou suddenly sighed slightly with a bitter smile.
"It’s no wonder Mr. Fang is suspicious; this matter is so bizarre that it probably can’t be explained in just a few words..."
He didn’t immediately explain the reason but looked down, seemingly recalling some unbearable past events.
Although Cui Xiuying attempted to stop him, he still waved his hand and slowly began to recount everything to Fang Cheng.
Shijima Gorou was born into a very traditional samurai family from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan.
His grandfather was one of the promoters of the national karate competition in Japan and had a unique skill of knocking down bulls with hand blades, being recognized as a highly respected martial arts master.
Under the influence of his family, he loved martial arts from a young age and tirelessly studied various skills, determined to be a spirited contender in competitions.
However, due to a frail physique and low talent, he was only qualified to participate in some amateur competitions by the age of 18.
While his cousin had already successfully advanced to the national competition and was dubbed a ’star of hope’ by the media.
Bearing the honor his grandfather bestowed upon him, even training hard from dawn to dusk, Shijima Gorou’s performance was still poor.
He had to change his ambitions and entered university to study literature.
However, it was also during university that he met his current girlfriend, Cui Xiuying, a foreign student from Xia Country.
He thought he would just marry and have children, leading a humble life.
But one day, he came across a person claiming to be a representative of a pharmaceutical company, who said the company was researching a new type of drug.
This drug could stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete a mysterious hormone, continuously enhancing physical abilities and ultimately breaking through various human limits.
Although Shijima Gorou had some doubts and hesitations, he couldn’t suppress his ambition.
After seeing some actual cases, he eventually signed a confidentiality agreement and risked participating in what they called the third phase of the drug trial.
The effect of the drug proved to be beyond Shijima Gorou’s expectations.
He resumed physical training and stepped back into the competitive arena.
His performance soared, smoothly breaking into the national competition, knocking out opponents in various scenes.
Even receiving invitations from the world’s top mixed martial arts competitions, praised by the Japanese media as the "Tiger of Wakayama".
For a time, fame, money, and accolades surged towards him, intoxicating Shijima Gorou.
But behind the glory often lies dark, unspeakable secrets.
His body began showing abnormalities.
First, massive hair loss, followed by frequent nosebleeds and sudden heart palpitations.
And the changes went far beyond that.
Most fatally, Shijima Gorou developed an intense dependence on that drug.
He needed regular injections to suppress the inexplicable feelings of irritation, anger, and hatred.
It felt as if a terrifying monster was dwelling inside him.
Devouring his naturally gentle, humble, and compassionate qualities.
Whenever his mood was slightly off, that monster would become agitated.
Sometimes he couldn’t help it; he would buy a can of bugs, slowly drown them, and then crush them one by one.
If he didn’t vent in this way, he feared he would turn his hands on his own people.
Shijima Gorou was terrified of completely losing his rationality. He tried to quit the drug but was totally unable to.
So it continued gradually accumulating.
Until one day.
He could no longer hold back... and released the monster inside him.
