Mastering the Sword Manual, sweeping across the globe

Clearly, she also recognized Zhang Qiliang.

"Sir, I'd like to ask you a few questions." Zhang Qiliang's voice was calm: "To be clear, this might be a bit offensive, but if you don't like it, I won't bother you any longer."

The old lady's speech was still fairly clear.

Regarding the first question: The old lady also did not do anything immoral.

The second question, concerning property, is a bit more complicated.

The old lady not only had more than five million yuan in savings, but also owned three properties.

As the old lady slowly recounted her story, the air in the ward subtly changed.

While the old lady was drinking water, her eldest son coughed lightly and said in a very gentle tone, "My mother's condition... has actually been improving. The doctor said her indicators are much more stable than last month."

"We're also considering whether we should go to the capital. The medical technology there is more advanced, and there are more specialists. If they can find a better treatment plan, perhaps—"

“Yes,” the second son, standing at the foot of the bed, chimed in, speaking faster than his brother, “Mom’s complexion has definitely improved these past two days; she can even eat half a bowl of porridge now. The doctor said before…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

The daughter-in-law stood to the side, holding a towel she had just taken out of the cupboard.

She didn't say anything, but glanced at her mother-in-law on the bed, then quickly glanced at Zhang Qiliang, before lowering her head to continue tidying up the things on the bedside table.

The movement was very light, but the fingers were a little tight.

“Mom’s condition is indeed improving,” the eldest son added. “It’s moving in a positive direction.”

Zhang Qiliang seemed not to hear these words.

His gaze remained fixed on the old woman's face.

The old lady didn't look at her son or her daughter-in-law.

Her eyes were fixed on Zhang Qiliang, and there was something very quiet in her cloudy eyes.

She nodded.

Zhang Qiliang raised his hand.

This time, everyone present, as well as the online viewers, saw clearly that something was being slowly and gradually removed from the old woman.

Wisps of black energy emanated from deep within the old woman's body, their grayish strands barely visible under the lamplight.

The fine threads coiled and swirled, gathering in Zhang Qiliang's palm like a ball of yarn being tightened round and round.

As the last bit of ink disappeared into her palm, the old woman's breathing suddenly calmed down.

It's very light.

But it's very stable.

The ward was quiet.

The eldest son opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

The second son stood at the foot of the bed, his gaze shifting back and forth between his mother and the doorway. The towel in his daughter-in-law's hand had somehow become a crumpled ball.

No one spoke again.

Zhang Qiliang straightened up, turned around, and walked out of the ward.

The footsteps faded into the distance in the corridor.

In the ward, the old lady's breathing was even and steady.

The box of pastries on the bedside table was still sealed, and the old lady in the family photo was still smiling.

The eldest son slowly sat back down in the chair and stared at the bed sheet for a long time.

“Mom has been able to eat these past two days…” he said.

The fourth room.

The fifth room.

The sixth room.

……

Before dawn, the phone at the Y City Government Office kept ringing.

The first call came from the express yamen (government office).

The deputy director on duty spoke in a hoarse voice, still clear from a sleepless night: “We have deployed three additional mobile squads around the Provincial Cancer Hospital, a mix of plainclothes and uniformed officers. Security inside the hospital is handled by the local branch, with personnel on duty 24 hours a day. In addition, we have increased the frequency of patrols on the main roads within a two-kilometer radius of the hospital to ensure that support can arrive within three minutes if needed.”

The director of the government office grunted on the other end of the phone, his pen still in his hand.

The second call was from the National Health Commission.

The section chief spoke quickly, as if reading a plan that had been revised several times: "We retrieved recent case files from all hospitals and palliative care departments in Y City overnight, and are organizing experts to review them one by one. We've also invited eleven chief physicians from the National Cancer Center, as well as experts from specialized hospitals in various provinces, who will arrive in Y City this morning to conduct independent evaluations of the treatment plans for these cases. The focus will be on two aspects—first, whether the existing treatment plan is optimal, and second, whether there is a possibility that conventional medical methods can cure the condition."

"When will the assessment results be available?" the director of the government office asked.

"The first round of expert consultations will yield preliminary opinions this afternoon." The department head paused, then added, "In addition, we have notified all hospitals that from now on, no department may interfere with the admission principles of the palliative care department."

The head of the government office wrote down this line, his pen lingering on the paper for a second.

The third call came from the disciplinary department.

The person giving the report spoke in a calm voice, each word spoken slowly, as if after careful consideration: "The disciplinary task force has been stationed in the palliative care departments of various hospitals to supervise the entire process. The task force does not interfere with medical decisions and is only responsible for one thing—ensuring that the patient's wishes are fully and truthfully implemented."

“All communication with patients and their families must be conducted with the presence of personnel from the disciplinary department. Every wish expressed by a patient must be recorded and signed off on the spot. The selection of medical plans, the calculation of costs, and the disposal of assets—every step must be documented.”

"In addition, the working group is also responsible for protecting the legitimate rights and interests of medical staff. Any undue interference from the outside world will be handled by the disciplinary department."

The director of the government office put down his pen and looked at the measures he had written down again.

It was already bright outside the window, and the announcements of the early morning bus could be heard in the distance, mixed with the white steam rising from the breakfast stalls downstairs as they lifted the steamers.

He picked up the phone and dialed the provincial department's number.

---

The provincial department's meeting began at 9:00 AM.

The number of attendees was significantly higher than usual—representatives from the Health Commission, Medical Insurance Bureau, Civil Affairs Department, Finance Department, Justice Department, banking and insurance regulatory authorities, as well as the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

The long table was packed with people, some of whom had traveled overnight from other places, their uniforms still bearing creases from their suitcases.

The meeting was chaired by a provincial-level official in charge of healthcare.

He opened the draft document that had been hastily prepared overnight and his gaze swept over everyone present.

"Let's get to the point." His voice wasn't loud, but he enunciated each word clearly. "The fees promised by the patients must be paid in full. Whether it's five million, fifty thousand, or even fifty cents, not a penny less, not a penny delayed."

He looked in the direction of the medical insurance bureau.

"You need to come up with solutions today for how to record cash, how to discount real estate, and how to assess potential resources."

The newly appointed director of the Medical Insurance Bureau, who had only been in office for four hours, opened the folder in front of him: "Our preliminary calculations show that among the seventeen patients currently in the hospice care department, the elderly lady with the highest committed amount has personal savings and real estate totaling approximately twelve million yuan. However, her situation is rather special—she owns three properties, two of which are in her own name, and one is marital property. Her husband has passed away, but according to inheritance law, half of this property should be inherited by her children. If we are to fully enforce the commitment of 'all property,' it involves the disposal of this remaining share."

As he spoke, the director of the medical insurance bureau paused, seemingly considering his words.

"Our suggestion is to first clarify the definition of 'all assets.' Does it refer to all assets under an individual's name? Or does it include the portion of marital property that belongs to her? If the patient has minor children, should that portion of the assets be retained? If the patient loses her ability to work after recovery, should basic living expenses be reserved?"

The meeting room fell silent for a few seconds.

The deputy provincial-level official looked in the direction of the Department of Justice.

The deputy director of the Department of Justice was clearly prepared as well: "We organized experts in the fields of civil law, administrative law, and social security law overnight to initially sort out several principles that need to be clarified."

"First, the 'all property' promised by the patient should be defined as property registered in the patient's personal name that can be freely disposed of according to law. The share of marital property belonging to the spouse or the portion of family property belonging to other family members is not within the scope of enforcement. This principle respects the patient's wishes while also protecting the legitimate rights and interests of other family members."

"Second, for family members who need support or care, such as minor children and disabled elderly, necessary living, education, and medical expenses should be reserved from the patient's assets. The standard for reservation should be based on the local minimum living allowance, and the specific amount should be determined through consultation between the family and the hospital, with the disciplinary department supervising its implementation."

"Third, if patients experience basic living difficulties due to treatment after recovery, they should be included in the social assistance system. The civil affairs department is responsible for assessment, identification, and follow-up assistance to ensure that patients can afford treatment and live well."

After listening, the deputy provincial-level official did not immediately express his opinion.

His gaze turned to the Department of Civil Affairs.

The director of the Civil Affairs Department quickly responded: "We have a mature support mechanism for the livelihood of patients after they recover. Those who meet the criteria can be included in the minimum living allowance program, and those who do not meet the criteria but are indeed in difficulty can be helped through temporary assistance, charitable assistance, and other channels."

He opened a document: "We have established an information sharing mechanism with the Provincial Cancer Hospital. The basic information, treatment progress, and financial status of every patient in the palliative care department will be synchronized to the civil affairs system. Once a patient enters the recovery period, our assessment team will visit them to ensure that relevant measures are in place before discharge."

The deputy provincial-level official nodded, then looked in the direction of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and the National Development and Reform Commission.

"How's the working group thing coming along?"

The deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) then spoke: "A preliminary plan has been developed. The working group is led by the NDRC and includes representatives from the National Healthcare Security Administration, the National Health Commission, the Department of Justice, the Department of Civil Affairs, the Department of Finance, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. It has four special working groups: the Policy Research Group is responsible for defining 'all property' and the detailed rules for its disposal; the Funding Guarantee Group is responsible for cost accounting, payment channels, and emergency fund allocation; the Medical Assessment Group is responsible for reviewing treatment plans and conducting post-treatment assessments; and the Social Assistance Group is responsible for ensuring the basic living needs of patients after their recovery."

"The working group's first task is to produce 'Guiding Opinions on the Definition of 'All Property'' within a week, clarifying which property can be disposed of, which must be retained, and which needs to be reserved. This document will be subject to legality review by the Provincial Department of Justice and filed with the Provincial Government before implementation."

A representative from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) added, "The disposal of assets such as real estate and equity requires the cooperation of SASAC and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC). We have preliminarily selected three experienced asset appraisal agencies and two law firms, which are ready to get involved at any time. If the patient's real estate needs to be liquidated, it can be traded through a government-designated platform to ensure that the process is open, transparent, and the price is fair."

"I want to emphasize four things again." The deputy provincial official's voice was even slower than before, as if he were speaking to everyone present, or perhaps to himself.

"First and foremost, the patient's wishes are paramount. Regardless of the method or procedure used, the final outcome must align with the patient's wishes. The disciplinary department's oversight throughout the process is not merely a formality; it is to ensure that every word the patient utters is truly implemented."

"Secondly, the definition of 'all property' must conform to moral values, especially basic moral values!"

"Third, the implementation must not be delayed or compromised. Post-implementation financial support and subsidies are one thing, and the patient's promised payment is another. Not a penny less is acceptable!"

"Fourth, everyone is well aware of the nature of this matter." His gaze swept across every face on both sides of the long table. "This is the first time the target has had substantive communication with us. What this means is self-evident."

“This opportunity absolutely cannot be wasted.” The deputy provincial official’s voice rang out: “Every link must be open. Every problem must be resolved before the patient is discharged. Every promise must be fulfilled without fail.”

He closed the folder in front of him.

Meeting adjourned.

Footsteps and hushed conversations echoed down the corridor.

Some people took out their phones and started making calls, while others lit a cigarette at the corner of the corridor and stared blankly out the window.

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

In the distance, the white building of the cancer hospital stood quietly in the morning light.

Several black official cars were parked downstairs, and several people in plainclothes were standing next to the cars, talking in hushed tones.

The window at the end of the corridor on the thirteenth floor was open, and the wind blew in from outside, causing the curtains to billow slightly.

The old lady was still asleep in the third ward.

Her breathing was steady, and her complexion under the oxygen mask was a little warmer than yesterday.

The pastries on the bedside table were still sealed, and she was smiling in the family photo.

There was an extra piece of paper next to it.

The handwriting on the paper was neat and tidy; it was the handwriting of the nurse on duty.

"Madam, your medical report shows that all the data have improved significantly."

"Please press the call button if needed."

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

The production date on the pastry packaging was three months ago.

There's only one day left until the expiration date.

108 Unpardonable Crimes

Chen Deshou felt that his life was probably really bad.

Sitting in the chair he had used for eleven years, looking out at the gray sky, Chen Deshou's mind was filled with this thought.

He was 53 years old, a prefect, and a fourth-rank official.

Decades ago, this position was the standard "prime ministerial candidate" reserve – after serving one term, one would be transferred to the province, work in the province for two years, and then go to Beijing. After three to five years in Beijing, one could finally get a foothold in the door.

That's how his ex-ex-ex-ex got there.

His ex-ex-girlfriend got there in the same way.

His predecessor almost made it.

It was his turn, and the "Moral Miser" arrived.

Yes, that's what people call it.

The official term is "target," or more precisely, "target individual."

Or, like during the last provincial video conference, when that gray-haired old leader slammed his fist on the table and roared: "That! bastard!"