Chapter 48: The Monster Within

Wenchuan District, Taijiang Hospital.

After inquiring at the lobby reception, Fang Cheng carried an exquisite fruit basket and took the elevator to the third floor.

This hospital was a private institution with a small building area, standing only five stories high. However, the environment was elegant and quiet, with highly sophisticated decor. It lacked the clamor and chaos typical of large public hospitals. Along the way, the medical staff outnumbered the patients, and their attitudes were exceptionally friendly. If it weren't for the pervasive scent of disinfectant in the air, one might have mistaken it for a luxury hotel.

"Those staying here must all be wealthy, right?"

Fang Cheng scanned his surroundings while searching for Goro Majima's ward. Passing through corridors and around corners, he finally discovered a particularly secluded VIP private ward. At that moment, two burly men in black suits and sunglasses stood outside the door. They appeared to be bodyguards hired by Goro Majima.

Fang Cheng stepped forward and politely stated his identity and purpose, yet he was still blocked outside. The two bodyguards seemed indifferent, appearing unable to understand Chinese and refusing to go in to inform their employer. They merely raised their hands in a silent gesture forbidding entry.

Fang Cheng was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. He set down the fruit basket and turned to leave. He hadn't expected Goro Majima to put on a bigger show than a celebrity...

Just then, a sound from within caught his attention, followed by a woman's voice.

"Let him in."

Fang Cheng paused, considered it for a moment, and decided to stay.

Entering the ward, he saw a spacious suite. Not only was it fully equipped with various medical nursing facilities, but the decor also leaned toward a warm, homey style. Sunlight streamed through the large glass windows, leaving no trace of a depressing atmosphere.

Goro Majima lay on the hospital bed, wrapped from head to toe like a mummy. A thick ring of white plaster was particularly noticeable around his neck. A young woman in a floral print dress was attending to him by the bedside. She was Goro Majima's fiancée, named Choi Soo-young, a Chinese national. It was said she came from Sinlo Province; after yesterday's misunderstanding and exchange, Fang Cheng considered them to be acquainted.

"I'm sorry, I went too hard yesterday," Fang Cheng apologized after glancing at the ward environment. He picked up the fruit basket and placed it on a side table.

Choi Soo-young leaned down and whispered a few words into Goro Majima's ear. Although Goro Majima looked quite pitiful, his consciousness was very clear. He replied

"It's fine. I was the one who requested it."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance sideways at his fiancée, fearing she might blame him. It seemed that after he had intentionally sent her away yesterday to secretly spar with Fang Cheng, the situation had still been discovered.

Choi Soo-young did not say anything impolite; she behaved with grace and dignity. She invited Fang Cheng to sit down and then brought him a glass of water. Fang Cheng thanked her and accepted it with both hands.

During their small talk, he gained a general understanding of Goro Majima's current injuries. He had multiple fractures throughout his body and severe muscle tissue contusions. The most serious was the neck area, which had been stabilized with plaster. Fortunately, there were no internal injuries.

The attending physician happened to arrive for a post-operative check-up and diagnosis, stating that he would need to remain hospitalized for observation and treatment for at least a month. Goro Majima, however, felt quite good about himself; his mental state even appeared healthier and more cheerful than usual. He spoke with an air of indifference, as if he were used to it, even clamoring to go home immediately to recuperate. Only after Choi Soo-young scolded him a few times did he obediently shut his mouth.

It had to be said that this man's physique was indeed extraordinary. Or perhaps, it should be said, it had reached a "non-human" level...

The thought lingered in Fang Cheng's mind. Once the doctor left the ward, he spoke up

"Mr. Majima, may I ask a question?"

Fang Cheng paused, his gaze carrying a faint edge of sharpness as he stared at Goro Majima. "Which school of Karate do you practice? And why did your muscles expand and take on that strange appearance during combat?"

This question was the primary reason Fang Cheng had come to visit. Upon hearing this, the expressions of the engaged couple, Goro Majima and Choi Soo-young, both became unnatural, as if the topic touched upon a difficult secret.

Just as Fang Cheng felt disappointed, thinking he wouldn't get an answer, Goro Majima suddenly let out a soft sigh and gave a bitter smile.

"It is no wonder you are suspicious, Mr. Fang. The strangeness of this matter is likely not something that can be explained in a few words..."

He did not explain immediately. Instead, his eyes grew heavy, as if he were recalling some painful past. Although Choi Soo-young tried to dissuade him, he waved her off and began to slowly recount the whole story to Fang Cheng.

Goro Majima came from a very traditional samurai family in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. His grandfather had been one of the promoters of the All-Japan Karate Championships and possessed a legendary skill of knocking down bulls with a hand chop, earning him the reputation of a respected martial arts master. Influenced by his family environment, he had loved martial arts since childhood, diligently studying various techniques with the determination to become a combat athlete who poured his youthful passion onto the arena.

However, due to a weak physical foundation and low talent, he was only qualified to participate in some amateur competitions by the age of eighteen. Meanwhile, his cousins of the same generation had already successfully advanced to national competitions, becoming the "rising stars" mentioned by the media. Burdened by the halo his grandfather had bestowed upon him, Goro Majima's performance remained as mediocre as a failure despite his daily training from dawn till dusk.

He was forced to change his ideals and enrolled in a university literature department. It was during his university years, however, that he met his current girlfriend, Choi Soo-young, an international student from China. He thought he would live a plain life, marrying and having children.

Then one day, he happened to meet a man claiming to be a representative of a pharmaceutical company, saying the company was researching a new type of drug. This drug could stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete a mysterious hormone, continuously strengthening physical strength and eventually breaking through various human limits.

Although Goro Majima had some doubts and hesitations, he could not suppress the ambition in his heart. After witnessing some actual cases, he finally signed a non-disclosure agreement and risked participating in what was called a Phase III clinical trial.

As it turned out, the drug's effects exceeded Goro Majima's expectations. He returned to physical training and stepped back onto the competitive stage. His combat results improved rapidly; he successfully entered the national championships, knocking out various opponents. He even received an invitation to the world's top mixed martial arts competitions and was dubbed the "Tiger of Wakayama" by the Japanese media. For a time, fame, money, and praise poured in, leaving Goro Majima somewhat intoxicated.

But behind the glory, an unspeakable secret was often hidden. His body began to exhibit abnormalities. First, large patches of hair fell out, followed by frequent nosebleeds and sudden heart palpitations. The changes went far beyond that.

Most fatally, Goro Majima developed an incredibly strong dependency on that drug. He needed regular injections to suppress the inexplicable feelings of anxiety, anger, and hatred that arose. It was as if a terrifying monster was parasitizing his heart, constantly devouring the gentle, humble, and affectionate qualities he originally possessed. Whenever his state of mind wavered even slightly, that monster would grow restless.

Sometimes, unable to help himself, he would buy a jar of insects, slowly drowning them, and then crushing them one by one. If he did not vent this way, he feared he would turn his hands toward his own people. Goro Majima feared he would lose his sanity completely; he had tried to quit the drug, but it was impossible.

It continued like this, gradually accumulating. Until one day.

He finally could not hold back... and released the monster in his heart.

(End of Chapter)