Chapter 23 — The Most Despised Son Who Shocked the World

As an official successor, Vo Ky has access to the entire Tuong Family's treasure trove of precious elixirs - something he never dared to dream of before. The first thing he did after settling into his new position was to summon all of the family's best doctors to find a way to treat Ha Nhat Pham.

"The energy meridians in the boy's legs were seriously damaged, and his spine also suffered significant damage." The chief physician of Tuong Gia, after a thorough examination, came to a cautious conclusion. "With conventional medical techniques, the possibility of recovery is almost non-existent. But if you have Dragon Marrow Pill — an extremely rare spirit pill that has the ability to regenerate damaged meridians — there is still hope, even though the recovery process will be very long and painful."

Dragon Marrow is one of the Tuong Family's treasures, kept in the deepest treasure, only for the most serious cases. When Tuong Trong Khang heard the news, without hesitation he ordered the warehouse to be released and personally brought to Vo Ky as a way to atone for the years of neglect.

"This is the little I can do to make up for what your family has endured." He said, placing the jade box containing Dragon Marrow Pill into Vo Ky's hands.

Nhat Pham's treatment process lasted for many months, requiring extreme patience from both the boy and those around him. Long Dan Marrow helps gradually regenerate damaged meridians, but is accompanied by severe pain every time new blood circulates through the damaged meridians, forcing Nhat Pham to undergo countless acupuncture sessions and challenging energy.

The first weeks are the hardest. There were nights when Nhat Pham was in so much pain that he couldn't sleep and had to bite a piece of cloth to keep from crying, making his mother worry more. The head physician must constantly adjust the dosage and speed of energy delivery, because progressing too quickly can cause damage to the still weak meridians.

"I have never seen a child endure pain so resiliently." The head physician commented to Vo Ky after a particularly difficult treatment session. "The boy inherited his older brother's willpower, that's for sure."

"Are you in much pain?" Vo Ky asked during a treatment session, watching his younger brother wince and endure the pain as the doctor used the energy to clear the meridians.

"It hurts, but it's okay." Nhat Pham gritted his teeth and replied, his forehead covered in sweat. "Compared to what I've endured over the past ten years to protect my family, this little pain is nothing."

That innocent but sincere statement made Vo Ky's heart both warm and sad. He was always by his younger brother's side during every treatment session, holding his hand tightly every time the pain came, telling him stories about Ma Cot, about his three seniors, about the long journey he had silently gone through - secrets that now no longer need to be hidden.

Duong Tuyet Y also regularly visited, bringing rare medicinal supplements from Duong Gia to support the recovery process, and at the same time used his forte of Han Tam Kiem Quyet to help Nhat Pham practice gentle qigong exercises, stimulating blood circulation without putting too much pressure on the boy's still weak body.

"Sister Tuyet Y, can you teach me more about swordsmanship?" Nhat Pham asked during a visit, his eyes full of excitement. The boy considered Tuyet Y as a close sister, not shy like other distinguished guests who visited.

"Okay, but you have to wait until your leg is completely recovered." Tuyet Y replied, rubbing the boy's head affectionately. "Learning swordsmanship requires a solid physical foundation, it cannot be rushed."

After four months of persistent treatment, one morning, while practicing basic energy movements with the support of a physician, Nhat Pham suddenly felt a tingling sensation running from his waist down to his toes - a feeling whose shape he had not clearly remembered for nearly a year.

"Brother! I can feel my legs!" The boy screamed with excitement, tears rolling down his eyes from joy.

Vo Ky, standing nearby, quickly ran over, knelt down next to her, and held her little foot, which was trembling with emotion. "Slowly, don't rush, let the doctor check carefully."

The head physician examined carefully, his face gradually relaxing into a satisfied smile. "The meridians have begun to open again. At this rate, with just a few more months of persistent exercise and recovery, the boy will be able to walk normally and even have the opportunity to practice again at a basic level."

That news made the whole Vo Ky family burst into happiness. Ha Thu Nhan hugged her little son, tears streaming down her face, while Vo Ky stood next to him, for the first time in many years, letting a truly radiant smile bloom on his lips without needing to suppress or hide it.

When the three seniors heard the news, they also personally visited Nhat Pham at the medical clinic. Dry Bone Old Man, with extensive experience as a body master, recommends additional support with a few additional acupuncture points to speed up the recovery process of atrophied muscles after long periods of inactivity.

"Let the old man take a look." He said, his hand gently pressing on a few acupuncture points along Nhat Pham's leg, nodding with satisfaction. "The muscles are still weak but the meridians are clear. As long as you practice properly, in less than half a year the boy will be as healthy as before."

Vong Ky Dao Truong, when he saw Nhat Pham showing interest in the stories about cultivation that Vo Ky told, offered to accept the boy as a registered disciple, teaching him basic qigong lessons suitable for his weak constitution.

"I don't ask you to become a great master." Vong Ky Dao Truong spoke to Nhat Pham in a gentle voice. "I just want you to have enough health to live a full life, no longer having to depend on others."

Nhat Pham nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining with joy at this unexpected opportunity, something he had never dared to dream of since the day of the accident.

In the following weeks, Nhat Pham gradually took his first steps with the support of a wooden strut. Each step was still shaky and unsteady but full of determination. The whole family, along with the three seniors and Tuyet Y, were present at that first walking practice session at the Bach Ngoc Lan garden, which witnessed so many important moments in Vo Ky's journey.

"Come on, Nhat Pham!" Tuyet Y cheered, her eyes filled with sincere concern for the younger brother of the person she loved.

Nhat Pham, even though he was still trembling, still tried to walk step by step towards his brother who was waiting with open arms. When the boy finally walked over and fell into Vo Ky's arms, the whole garden rang with applause and tears of uncontrollable happiness.

"I promised to cure you, and I did." Vo Ky whispered, hugging his younger brother tightly, his voice choked with emotion.

"You know, I always keep my promises." Nhat Pham replied, a bright smile on his face that was still sweaty from his efforts.

Thu Nhan stood looking at that scene, holding her chest with emotion, unable to believe that the son who had been declared by the doctor would never be able to walk was now taking more and more steady steps on his own. She turned to look at Vo Ky, her eyes filled with gratitude that could not be expressed in words.

"It's all thanks to you." She said, her voice choked.

"It's thanks to my will, and thanks to the help of my three seniors and Tuyet Y." Vo Ky replied, not taking all the credit for himself. "I just did what a brother should do."

In the following months, Nhat Pham practiced diligently every day under the guidance of Vong Ky Dao Truong, gradually regaining his health and even some basic cultivation ability. The boy was no longer a weak child who could only read a book in the corner of the room, but began to show a perseverance and eagerness to learn that surprised all three seniors.

"This boy has more mental qualities than his brother when he was the same age." Dry Bone Old Man commented jokingly, causing Vo Ky to laugh—a rare, easy laugh that he had never allowed himself to have during the first seventeen years of his life.

At that moment, under the shade of the blooming Bach Ngoc Lan flowers, the whole Vo Ky family, along with those who had accompanied them throughout the difficult journey, enjoyed together the complete happiness that they had to exchange with so many tears and efforts to obtain.