The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 2013

Jackie froze. "That's impossible. I've been full of energy these past few days. Besides—"

Before he could finish speaking, his body began to wither at an alarming speed. Within seconds, his hair had turned silver, with wrinkles carved deep into his face. His skin was ashen, his lips darkened to purple, and his breath so shallow they were barely there.

Gladys panicked, and her voice trembled. "W-What's happening?"

Wynter's gaze deepened. "His life essence is gone. A person will grow old rapidly when that happens."

"Does that mean the others… There are others who took that so-called health supplement from the old man," Gladys said, clearly still reeling.

Wynter looked toward Gladys. "Did you take it?"

Gladys shook her head frantically. "No, I kept the supplement in a box."

Jackie, now an old man in appearance, spoke with a voice that had aged, too. "Wha… What's happening to me?"

Wynter stepped forward, skillfully taking his pulse.

"Don't move," she said in a low voice, quickly pulling out her acupuncture needle kit. "Wolf, sterilize them."

Wolf immediately took the needles and swiftly disinfected them.

In the next moment, silver needles glinted between Wynter's fingers. She steadied her breath and narrowed her eyes with fierce concentration.

Pulling back Jackie's collar, she drove the needles into acupoints like DV14 and GB20 with pinpoint accuracy. The moment they pierced his skin, Jackie shuddered violently, a faint groan slipping from his throat.

"Hold on, or you won't get another chance," Wynter whispered, her fingers gently manipulating the needles.

A faint warmth flowed into Jackie's body through the silver threads. This needle technique could temporarily replenish the life essence he had lost.

As the needles vibrated, color slowly returned to Jackie's ashen face. His breathing steadied, his white hair gradually darkened back to black, and the wrinkles on his skin faded away.

Wynter's focus never wavered as she worked, fine sweat beading across her forehead. This technique demanded a great toll on her own vitality.

20 minutes later, Jackie had completely returned to his youthful self, and his eyes slowly fluttered open. Only then did Wynter let out a quiet breath, carefully withdrawing the needles.

"Th… Thank you," Jackie said weakly, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Wynter's tone was calm and even. "This isn't the time for gratitude. How many people in town have taken that so-called health supplement?"

"Plenty of the elderly have…" Gladys said with a frown.

Jackie's face fell. "My father… he took it, too."

Ignoring his weakened body, he rushed into the house. Wynter quickly followed behind.

Inside, an old man lay motionless on the bed. His breathing had already ceased.

"Dad, wake up! What's wrong?" Jackie's desperate cry tore through the air.

But no matter how much he called out, there was no response.

"Save my dad… I beg you, please save my dad!" Jackie pleaded desperately, collapsing to his knees and slamming his head against the floor before Wynter.

Wynter said nothing initially. She walked forward, placed her hand on the old man's wrist, then let go almost immediately.

"He's already gone. There's no bringing him back," she said quietly.

She then turned to look at Gladys. "Take me to the others who took the supplement. We can't waste any more time."

"Y-Yes, of course," Gladys stammered, hurrying to lead the way.

As Wynter reached the doorway, she paused and turned to Jackie. "Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Over the next few days, eat food that replenishes your strength. Otherwise, you'll follow in your father's footsteps."

"My dad is gone… I don't have a reason to live anymore," Jackie muttered, dazed and hollow.

Wynter's gaze was sharp as blades. "I didn't bring you back just so you could die again."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Your father wouldn't want you to follow him, either. Of course, the choice is yours. I won't force you. In the end, you need to make your own decisions in life."

After speaking, Wynter left the place with Dalton and Wolf.

Soon, Gladys stopped in front of a house and looked at Wynter. "There's also an old man in this family who took the health supplement."

As soon as she finished, she pushed the door open. On the bed lay an old man, looking no different from the one they had just seen—his breathing had already ceased, too.

Wynter's gaze remained calm. "The elderly who took the supplement are most likely already dead. Take me to your home. I want to see what this health supplement looks like."

Gladys nodded firmly and led Wynter through the winding streets back to her home. From her bedside, she took out a box and pulled the supplements from it.

"This is the one," she said.

Wynter picked up one of the pills, its surface black as ink. As she brought it to her nose, a faint fishy stench rose, smelling nothing like real medicine.

Tilted under the light, the pill glimmered with a strange dark-red sheen. With a small knife, she scraped off a trace of powder and dropped it into water. At once, the liquid bled into a pale red.

Her eyes narrowed. It was exactly as she had suspected—this was the forbidden art of siphoning life essence, feeding on the vitality of others to extend one's own life. The victims would be left pale, their blood and oxygen drained, and those too weak would die on the spot.

Yet, Wynter sensed this wasn't the full picture. These pills were only part of something far more sinister.

"Ms. Edna, warn everyone who hasn't taken the supplement to stay away from it. As for anyone who has but is still alive, bring them here to me right away," Wynter instructed.

Gladys nodded quickly. "Alright, I'll go now!"

As she left, Wynter sat down on a chair, murmuring to herself, "I don't think it's that simple."

Dalton's voice was calm. "Nothing we've run into has been simple. Everything is linked together. It's just layers after layers."

"I don't think this pill itself is the key. If the goal is to strip someone's life essence, this pill alone isn't enough to do it," Wynter said as she lowered her gaze to the pill.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Wynter looked up to see a crowd bustling in.

"Ms. Edna told us to come here."

Wynter gave a slight nod. "Did all of you take the supplement?"

The ones who arrived were all young.

"That's right," one man at the front spoke up. "We heard that Jackie suddenly turned into a grey-haired old man."

"That's right. Form a line. I'll check each of your pulses," Wynter said calmly.

She placed her fingers on the first man's wrist and frowned. "Did you take the supplement?"

He nodded. "Yes, I had it two days ago. Am I changing, too?"

He quickly reached up to touch his face in fear.

"What have you done to the townspeople? What are those black pills?" Wynter's voice remained calm.

"You know too much." The man's voice dropped to a growl. Then, his black beads flared red.

Fortunately, Wynter was prepared. She had three silver needles pinched between her fingers. "You'll die if you move. It'd be best if you remain still."

She added coldly, "I know you've been draining the villagers' life essence. Aside from him, I can't think of anyone else capable of this."

Revulsion rippled through Wynter. "Do their lives mean nothing to you?"

"The fate of the weak is to nourish the strong. That's all to the story," he said flatly.

As soon as he moved to strike at Wynter, the silver needle between her fingers shot out, piercing straight into his wrist with pinpoint accuracy.

"Wolf, don't kill him," Wynter ordered, her voice deep with determination. She had no sympathy for those who treated human lives as fodder.

Wolf nodded. "Got it, Boss."

Then, he lunged forward. When he was close enough, he pushed off with the tip of his toe and kicked the man hard, sending him flying backward and rolling across the ground.

The man struggled to rise, his eyes wide in disbelief. "You… Why are you so strong?"

He'd ignored Isidore's order to retreat earlier. After all, he could be treated as the king here while collecting life essence for Isidore. He never imagined running into opponents who could thrash him so easily.

None of them spared him a reply. Wolf charged again, grabbing him by the leg and swinging him around several times before hurling him skyward. Moments later, he crashed down, groaning in agony.

The noise brought others rushing out of the hospital.

"Who are you people?" they shouted before spotting their comrade on the ground. Their eyes widened at the scene. "What happened to you?"

"Don't… Don't worry about me. Get out of here, now!" the man exclaimed with as much strength as he could muster.

The three newcomers exchanged panicked glances and bolted in different directions.

Wolf grinned as he ignored the fallen man before sprinting after the newcomers.

Meanwhile, Wynter didn't bother with those who had fled. Instead, she knelt beside the one on the ground. "Where is Isidore?"

Even while spitting out blood, his grin twisted menacingly. "I'll never tell you. Find him yourself if you really want to know where he is."

Wynter's gaze was sharp as a blade. "This trick is useless on me. The only reason you chose not to betray him is because the reward for betrayal isn't high enough."

Her voice crashed into his ears like a clap of thunder. "You have two choices now—life or death."

Pain wracked his body, yet he still managed a smile. "No one can ruin my lord's plan. I choose… death."

As soon as he finished speaking, black blood trickled from his lips. A moment later, he took his last breath.

Wynter frowned. "How did he train these people into such loyal soldiers?"

Dalton lowered his gaze. "He probably didn't train them. It's either by control or threats."

"Either way, it proves Isidore was here," Wynter said coolly.

Just then, Wolf returned, dragging two captives. "Boss, one got away."