Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)

"Is that what you're worried about?" Matthew looked at the frail woman, mentally cursing himself for drinking. Normally, he'd have immediately picked up on her unease, but the alcohol had dulled his senses. Channeling his spiritual power, Matthew expelled the lingering alcohol from his body, forcing out droplets of liquid that reeked of liquor.

"Ma'am, rest assured. If Cole follows me, I'll make sure he's well-fed. At least three meals a day," Matthew said with a reassuring smile.

The woman froze for a moment, her eyes wide with disbelief. She looked up at Matthew, tears welling in her eyes, and immediately moved to kneel before him.

"Ma'am, there's no need for that!" Matthew quickly caught her, stopping her from kneeling.

"We have no way to repay your kindness. Cole, kneel and thank your benefactor," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Without hesitation, Cole dropped to his knees. After three hard knocks to the ground, his forehead was smeared with blood, but his gaze remained firm.

He wanted to take his mother away from this place. He was tired of seeing new wounds on her hands every time she worked.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Ma'am, if you don't stand up, I'll be leaving right now," Matthew said, his voice light but firm as the frail woman continued trying to kneel.

"And you," he added, turning to Cole, "you don't need to go banging your head like that. Doesn't it hurt?" Matthew shook his head in mild frustration. Cole's forehead was already bleeding, and the boy hadn't even thought to wipe it.

"Alright, alright, I won't kneel. Please don't leave," the woman hurried to her feet, worried Matthew would actually go. She wanted to offer him something but realized there was nothing in the house to properly serve a guest. In desperation, she fished a few crumpled bills from her pocket and handed them to Cole.

"Cole, quickly, go buy some cured meat. Don't keep your teacher waiting."

Cole took the family's entire savings and dashed out of the house without hesitation.

Matthew watched him go, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. He sighed but didn't stop them. If he refused their gesture entirely, they would likely feel it was all too unreal, unable to find a sense of security in his promise.

"Teacher, please have a seat," the frail woman said, using the title without hesitation.

Matthew didn't object to her calling him "teacher Originally, he had only thought Gole had some potential

and that he could guide him. But et

now, Matthew had changed his mind taking on a disciple didn't

seem like such a bad idea after all.

"Mom, I got the meat!" Cole called as he rushed back into the house, holding a small piece of cured meat, which he handed to his mother.

"Kneel before your teacher," she instructed, holding the meat solemnly in her hands.

Without a moment's pause, Cole knelt down again before Matthew, who sat on a small stool.

"Ma'am, this isn't necessary-" Matthew started to protest.

"Teacher, just consider it a small comfort for this mother's heart. Please," she pleaded.

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Matthew saw the determination in her eyes. Finally, he sighed and turned his serious gaze toward Cole, who was still kneeling. He knew what the boy was aiming for. Matthew wasn't opposed to taking Cole as a disciple, but he wasn't fond of these old, rigid rituals. They were important, but they made the boy suffer.

With a loud thud, Cole knocked his head against the ground again. His already bleeding forehead split open further, and blood trickled down his face.

"Bow to your teacher," his mother's voice urged.

"Sir, please accept this," Cole said, holding up the small piece of cured meat with his head bowed.

Matthew took the meat from him, looking at the boy with a soft expression. "Cole, from today onward, you are my disciple," he said firmly.

Cole's face lit up despite the pain. "Your disciple greets you, Sir!"