Chapter 16 Unexpected Finding

As the city lights flickered on, Sherman and Ivana stood together on the sidewalk. Sherman was handsome, and Ivana had a poised, elegant air about her. To any passerby, they seemed like the perfect pair. Ivana pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looked at Sherman with soft eyes. Her voice was gentle as she spoke. "I don't think I know your name." "I am Sherman," he answered. Ivana's gaze brightened with recognition. "Thank you, Sherman. If you hadn't helped me, my life would have been completely ruined." "It's nothing," Sherman said with a reassuring smile. "To be honest, I had my own reasons for helping you." Ivana blinked, confused. "What do you mean?" Her mind flashed back to when Sherman had invited her to dinner. Could it be that he liked her? Maybe he had rescued her to win her over, to make her his girlfriend. She glanced at Sherman, feeling her face flush. What should I do? He just saved me ... but if he wants me to be his girlfriend, it feels awkward to say no. Sherman's good-looking, and he has a nice energy about him ... Before she could get too lost in her thoughts, Sherman spoke again. "Will you mind if I examine your body?" Ivana's face turned bright red. "Sherman ... we just met. I mean, I'm grateful you helped me, but this feels a bit much, don't you think?" Sherman was caught off guard for a moment but quickly realized she had misunderstood his intentions. "I didn't mean it like that," he said quickly. "When I checked your pulse earlier, I noticed something unusual. I just want to do a palm reading to understand more." He added with a reassuring tone, "As someone who studies medicine, I'm always curious about rare conditions." However, his real goal was to figure out where the Medicine King Bead might be. He had been close to Ivana earlier, but he hadn't sensed the bead. Given his unique training, he should have been able to detect it within a certain distance. Since he hadn't, he suspected the bead was inside Ivana herself, as only flesh and blood could block his sensing abilities. Relieved by Sherman's clarification, Ivana's mind was still uneasy. "Does that mean there's something wrong with me?" she asked, her voice anxious. Sherman nodded. "We're not sure yet, but let's go get a room, and I'll take a closer look." It was already 8 p.m., and he was confident the checkup wouldn't take long. Afterward, he could take a cab to the Zimmermans' place in time. Ivana's face flushed again. The idea of going to a hotel with a man felt awkward, but since Sherman had saved her and seemed genuinely concerned about her health, she reluctantly agreed. They went to the nearest hotel, where Sherman booked a room. Once inside, Ivana sat nervously on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, palms sweating from anxiety. Sherman, however, seemed calm. "Ivana, please lie down and try to relax." "Okay," she replied, stretching out on the bed, but she couldn't help feeling tense. Her long lashes fluttered as she tried to calm herself. "It might hurt a bit, but try to hang in there," Sherman warned. "Alright," Ivana whispered, her voice shaky. Sherman gently took her pale hand and began channeling his inner strength into her body. Usually, when inner strength enters another person's body, it can cause some discomfort, but Ivana didn't react at all. "Does it hurt?" Sherman asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "No, it's fine," Ivana replied softly. Sherman's worry grew as he began pressing on various points along her bones. Ivana had her eyes squeezed shut, trying to block out her nervousness. His hands, warm and firm, seemed to ignite a strange heat in her skin. Ivana's cheeks flushed bright red, like they had been exposed to intense heat. Sherman's expression became increasingly serious with each passing moment. When he finished checking her body, he looked at her with a deep frown. "Ivana, have you ever taken anything unusual, like a bead or something similar?" he asked. Ivana opened her eyes and thought for a moment. "Well, a few years ago, my dad found a green bead. I thought it was pretty, so I kept it with me." She paused, recalling the recent event. "But not long ago, it just disappeared. I'm not sure how, but I think someone must have taken it." Sherman nodded, but his mind was racing. The bead wasn't stolen—it had likely reacted with Ivana's body and been absorbed by her. If that was the case, things were much more complicated. Sherman retrieved a silver needle, sterilized it, and pricked her finger, letting a drop of blood fall. Her blood was unlike any normal blood—it was a deep red with a faint greenish hue, and it carried a fragrant, herbal scent. Sherman carefully touched the drop of blood to his lips. Though it was tiny, it had a subtle effect, slightly enhancing his inner strength. "So, it really fused with her ... " Sherman muttered, anxiety building in his chest. "This is worse than I thought." The Medicine King Bead was gone. Now, the only option was to treat Ivana as a source to be refined into a pill, but that was something he couldn't bring himself to do. And now, Ivana was in grave danger. She was a living source of incredible power. Any martial artist who consumed her blood would experience a tremendous boost in strength. Those near the end of their lives could extend them by decades. If Ivana's existence were exposed, she would be doomed. It wouldn't even be a quick death—she would be exploited endlessly, like an endless supply of valuable resources. Ivana saw the concern in Sherman's eyes and felt a chill in her chest. "What's wrong? Is there something really wrong with me?" Sherman snapped out of his thoughts, shaking his head. "No, your body seems fine, but forget everything you know about that bead. Never mention it to anyone. Not a word. "If you do, it could put your entire family at risk." Ivana was taken aback, shocked by the severity of Sherman's warning. Before she could ask anything further, Sherman gestured dismissively. "Some things are better left unsaid. Just remember—never speak of that bead again." Ivana nodded, sensing the seriousness in his voice. "Alright, I'll take you home now," Sherman said. Later that evening, he planned to confront the Zimmermans, but his thoughts raced, searching for a solution. He had to figure out how to extract the power of the Medicine King Bead without putting Ivana in harm's way.