A Matrilocal Husband's Counterattack

Chapter 37: Call Me Master

After the bet was settled, Ethan wasted no time and directly issued instructions to Emily Brooks:

"Go and bring me ten crickets, ten beetles, ten cicadas, ten dragonflies, and ten wasps."

Emily shuddered. "What do you need those for?"

Ethan frowned slightly. "Just do as I say if you want your grandfather cured. Or is that not what you want?"

"And once you have them, fry them all together for me. No chili, but sprinkle a little salt. Then seal them up and freeze them in the fridge."

He added a reminder, "Make sure to seal the aroma."

"Disgusting freak!"

Emily felt nauseous just hearing this. She shot Ethan a furious glare but still took the bodyguards with her to carry out the task.

An hour later, Emily returned, wearing a mask and holding a large plate of fried insects.

Golden and crispy, the aroma was surprisingly enticing despite having been frozen. Had she not known these were insects, she might have been tempted to try one.

Emily's breathing quickened. "You sick freak, here's what you asked for. What are you going to do with it?"

She had vomited three or four times preparing this dish, and if Ethan was just playing games, she swore she'd chop him up and fry him.

"Don't talk."

Ethan motioned for Emily and the others to stay silent. He also instructed the bodyguards to guard the surroundings to avoid any noise disturbing him.

Then, taking out two silver needles, he smiled at Andrew Brooks. "Mr. Brooks, open your mouth."

"Are you going to feed me bugs?"

Andrew was visibly uneasy looking at the plate of insects but complied and opened his mouth wide.

Ms. Scarlet and Dr. Sun watched the scene with great interest.

Although they didn't fully understand Ethan's methods, they trusted he wouldn't let them down.

"Swish! Swish!"

As soon as Andrew opened his mouth, Ethan quickly inserted the two needles into key facial acupuncture points, holding his mouth wide open.

Emily was alarmed. "What are you doing, you lunatic?"

"Silence!" Ethan scolded her firmly before pouring the fried insects into a transparent jar.

Next, he sealed the jar and placed it over Andrew's mouth.

Emily grew frantic, ready to shout, but Ethan's sharp gaze silenced her again.

The room fell utterly quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

Ms. Scarlet and Dr. Sun fixed their eyes on Andrew and the jar.

Five minutes passed, and nothing happened, causing Emily's face to darken with impatience.

Just as she was about to rebuke Ethan, Dr. Sun's eyes widened. "Something's crawling out!"

"What? Something's crawling out of his mouth?"

Ms. Scarlet leaned in for a closer look, and her eyes went wide in shock.

A small, pale creature about an inch long slowly wriggled its way out of Andrew's mouth.

Gasps filled the room.

Emily turned away and vomited.

She could hardly believe the bizarre and horrifying scene unfolding before her eyes.

Ethan waved for everyone to remain quiet.

The pale creature moved sluggishly, reluctant to leave the warm environment, but it couldn't resist the enticing aroma of the fried insects.

Finally, with a faint pop, it slipped into the jar and began voraciously devouring the fried insects.

The sight sent chills down everyone's spines.

A minute later, with no more creatures emerging, Ethan sealed the jar with a firm click.

"My God, it's a centipede! How did a centipede end up inside Mr. Brooks?"

"No wonder he couldn't drink hot water and could only eat cold food—it was to accommodate the centipede's needs!"

Murmurs filled the room as everyone stared at the jar in disbelief.

"Swish! Swish!"

Ethan removed the silver needles from Andrew's face and instructed someone to bring white wine so he could rinse his mouth.

Andrew rushed outside to vomit, supported by Emily as he returned, visibly shaken.

"That's the source of the poison." Ethan tapped the glass jar.

Emily's face flushed with embarrassment.

Ms. Scarlet asked gently, "How do you feel now, Mr. Brooks?"

Ethan handed Andrew a cup of warm water.

Andrew hesitated, his hands trembling as he took the glass. He had always experienced unbearable pain whenever consuming warm or hot food, so he instinctively feared the cup.

But finally, he steeled himself and drank it all in one go.

Moments passed. Instead of pain, he felt a comforting warmth in his stomach. The excruciating agony he had endured vanished completely.

Overwhelmed with joy, he exclaimed, "I'm cured! I'm really cured!"

Even Emily could see the transformation in Andrew's demeanor and energy.

"Ethan, what exactly happened?"

Dr. Sun's eyes shone with curiosity.

"It's simple," Ethan began. "Mr. Brooks loves cold foods..."

"Yes, I enjoy the original taste and texture," Andrew admitted. "Raw vegetables, beef, fish, seafood—I eat them all."

Ethan nodded. "At some point, you accidentally ingested centipede eggs. Normally, stomach acid would destroy them, but your cold food habits created a hospitable environment."

The centipede eventually hatched, thriving on Andrew's cold food diet.

Dr. Sun shuddered, his expression one of realization.

"So the centipede, a carnivorous creature that thrives in dark, damp environments, became active whenever he consumed hot food or water?"

"And every two weeks, it released toxins, which entered Mr. Brooks's system and gradually weakened his organs."

Dr. Sun continued, "Last night, the toxin levels reached their peak, causing Mr. Brooks to collapse due to his weakened state."

"Exactly," Ethan confirmed.

"Last night, I attempted to neutralize the toxins with acupuncture, but Miss Brooks interfered before I could expel the source."

Emily's face turned crimson with guilt.

Dr. Sun asked, "Why not use acupuncture to extract it today?"

"After last night's scare, the centipede would have been on high alert. Using needles again could have driven it to hide or attack, endangering Mr. Brooks further," Ethan explained.

"Food was the safer lure. And here it is."

Dr. Sun nodded in admiration. "Your methods are nothing short of extraordinary. I am truly impressed."

Emily hesitated before asking, "So my grandfather is completely fine now?"

"The toxin source has been removed, but his body needs recovery. He'll need a month of medication."

Ethan assured Andrew, "I'll write a prescription. Follow it carefully."

Andrew bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Ethan. Please, name your price."

Ethan smirked and clapped Emily on the shoulder.

"Call me Master."