Quickly, the Old Master made a decision and said: "I am willing to agree to your request." He impatiently asked, "Miss, in your view, what exactly is Huai Gui being parasitized by?"

Xu Xingguang’s fingers stopped tapping on her mask. She raised her head and stared deeply at the old man for a moment before she spoke: "Did your wife ever go to the place known as Corpse Mountain Blood Sea? More precisely, the burial pits."

At these words, the Xiahou Old Master’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, burial pits?" That must be a place where a large number of corpses are buried.

The Old Master thought carefully for a while, then hesitantly said: "More than twenty years ago, my wife was ordered to go to the chaotic battlefield to rescue warriors of Xia Country who had been captured. But when they arrived, the enemy had already beheaded all the hostages and directly thrown them into a sinkhole at the border between the two countries. The place was piled with bones and had limbs everywhere. Xia Country’s troops couldn’t bring their bodies back, so they had to settle for bringing back their identity tags."

"My wife personally entered the burial pit." After he finished, the Xiahou Old Master hurriedly asked Xu Xingguang: "But what does that have to do with Huai Gui’s illness?"

"The parasite inside the young master is called ’Corpse Centipede,’ which is an extremely destructive combat mutation creature."

Upon hearing this, the Old Master’s lips trembled incessantly, and he exclaimed in shock: "Combat mutation creature? What kind of thing is that?"

Xu Xingguang informed the Old Master: "From what I understand, this creature shouldn’t exist. It’s a genetic hybrid extracted from various aggressive beasts. It feeds on blood and rotten flesh, gestates in places filled with bones. Once successfully born, it needs to find a host, relying on the host’s life and flesh as nutrients."

"When fully grown, it signifies the young master’s demise. At that time, the ’Corpse Centipede’ will burst out, guided to return to its original laboratory, becoming a murder weapon in the researcher’s hands."

As she spoke here, Xu Xingguang’s gaze became increasingly grave as she said: "And the explosion of such a ’Corpse Centipede’ can instantly destroy Yujiang City."

Xu Xingguang was not exaggerating. In that lifetime as a Mecha Warrior, she had witnessed the explosion of a Corpse Centipede firsthand. After that explosion, a once bustling city was leveled in an instant, with joyful citizens losing vitality and turning into scattered debris.

Xu Xingguang hadn’t expected that such madmen would exist in this world, having researched such things.

At these words, Xiahou Old Master, who had lived for over seventy years and could generally remain unflustered in the face of events, was shocked into a cold sweat on his forehead.

His hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and he spoke with difficulty: "You mean to say my wife was unfortunate enough to have been parasitized by the Corpse Centipede during that mission, and the parasite has been lurking inside her, later transferring to Huai Gui’s body?"

Xu Xingguang nodded, "That’s correct."

"Can that thing be destroyed?"

Xu Xingguang said: "Kill the host of the Corpse Centipede and immerse it in iron molten at two thousand degrees to completely destroy it."

"Wha-what?" The Xiahou Old Master shivered with icy coldness all over, panic coloring his face, his voice trembling, "So Huai Gui is sure to die?"

Xu Xingguang lowered her eyes to the red tea in the cup, sinking into silence.

Seeing this, the Old Master understood the answer.

He intertwined his hands, his inner turmoil painful and intense.

To destroy the Corpse Centipede, he would have to destroy his beloved youngest son; how cruel this decision was.

Yet he couldn’t let personal desires lead to the successful emergence of such a terrifying weapon!

"The peace and prosperity Xia Country enjoys today is created through the efforts of countless generations, and also the concern in my wife’s heart. I believe, even if Huai Gui knows the truth, he wouldn’t want to become the mother body of a mutant weapon."

Struggling internally for a moment, the Old Master painfully made his decision.

He said to Xu Xingguang: "Miss, can I trouble you to accompany me to the Alliance Military Department to report this matter? If it’s proven that what you say is true, then I willingly hand Huai Gui over to the Alliance Military Department for handling."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingguang glanced at the Xiahou Old Master and noticed the pain and struggle in the old man’s eyes.

This was a man who loved his son dearly but also loved his country.

Gently lifting the lower part of her mask, she took a sip of tea, placed the teacup down, and sighed, "There’s another way to save the young master’s life, but it will require him to endure some suffering."

Upon learning another method to save Huai Gui’s life, the Xiahou Old Master’s eyes shone brightly. He eagerly said: "Suffering is fine, as long as he can live!"

"Miss, please tell me, what method can save my son?"

Xu Xingguang said: "Corpse Centipede is a mutant species with particularly dominant vitality; almost no medication can kill it. But in the ’Ancient Medicine Transmission,’ there is a herb called An Shen Wood that secretes resin capable of temporarily putting the Corpse Centipede to sleep."

Looking at the Xiahou Old Master, Xu Xingguang calmly said: "Use An Shen Wood resin to stun the Corpse Centipede, then cut open the host’s back skin to extract it."

After pausing for a moment, Xu Xingguang added: "During the surgery, the host must remain conscious." In other words, Xiahou Huai Gui cannot use anesthesia.

The Xiahou Old Master listened, his brows furrowing constantly, just imagining the scene made him feel nauseous and his stomach churn.

"Is this the only solution?" The Xiahou Old Master still held onto a sliver of hope.

Xu Xingguang coldly and unemotionally said: "Death or rebirth, it depends on the old gentleman’s choice."

The Xiahou Old Master pondered for quite a while before saying: "I need to consult with Huai Gui."

"I understand."

The Xiahou Old Master hurried to meet Xiahou Huai Gui, standing up to leave.

As he anxiously departed, Xu Xingguang said to his departing back: "I forgot to mention, one drop of An Shen Wood resin costs millions; this will require an additional payment."

"Also, please keep the whole matter confidential, Old Master."

The Xiahou Old Master nodded repeatedly, "I have the money, and I will definitely keep the secret. Rest assured, Miss."

The Xiahou Old Master hastily went to see his young son, conveying Xu Xingguang’s words without missing a beat. He asked Xiahou Huai Gui: "Huai Gui, what do you think?"

Xiahou Huai Gui, tormented by illness to the point of being unrecognizable, lay on the bed like a dry corpse, his chest barely rising, as if he could pass at any moment.

He was only 20 years old but had been tormented by the Corpse Centipede inside him for 12 years; he had truly had enough.

After a moment, Xiahou Huai Gui said: "Dad, if I don’t survive the surgery and die, please have them send me to the Alliance Military Department immediately for high-temperature incineration."

It seemed he had decided to undergo the operation.

The Xiahou Old Master heard Xiahou Huai Gui’s words, his heart aching immensely, but he also understood that his son could not become the mother body of this terrifying weapon."

"Alright, Dad will do as you say. I will go now to invite Miss Medicine Farmer Star to perform the surgery for you!"