Chapter 80: Beginning Treatment for Tony

“Listen to me, kid, finish college before you start playing your doctor games.” Tony left those words behind and turned away without another glance.

It wasn’t just stubborn pride. Tony’s earlier statement had been true—he knew his own body best. Even though the shrapnel from the Jericho missile was lodged in his bloodstream, thanks to the arc reactor, Tony was well aware that he wasn’t in immediate danger. So, with hardly a moment’s hesitation, he dismissed the young man’s claim that he was “dying” as utter nonsense.

Pepper wanted to say more, but remembering Tony’s notorious pride and stubbornness, she opened her mouth only to close it again without a sound, instead turning her gaze toward Zhong Shouxiu.

Her wide eyes seemed to say: Mr. Zhong, it’s up to you now.

Zhong Shouxiu had anticipated this. He was thoroughly familiar with Tony Stark’s foul temper during this period. To get through to him, he needed something explosive, something that would shake him to the core.

Thus, as Tony walked away, Zhong Shouxiu spoke in a calm, measured tone:

“When shrapnel from a Jericho missile enters the bloodstream, it travels through the body, following the flow of blood toward the heart—or it might lodge in the fragile brain tissue, or the thin lining of the lungs. Any of these outcomes can be fatal.”

“I’ve heard there’s a place where people with Jericho shrapnel in their bodies are called the walking dead—it means that while they’re still alive, death is never far behind.”

At these words, Tony paused in his tracks and looked back at Zhong Shouxiu, a hint of mockery on his face.

Was that all?

He’d expected Zhong Shouxiu to reveal some earth-shattering secret, but all he’d done was bring up the shrapnel—something Tony had already solved.

Tony was about to retort with another biting remark when he noticed Zhong Shouxiu opening his mouth again. Tony decided to stay silent and let this arrogant youth air out all his ignorant theories, so that afterward, he could deliver a lesson in respect that would never be forgotten.

“Tony Stark, do you really think that little electromagnet in your chest is enough to perfectly deal with the Jericho shrapnel? Do you think it alone can so easily preserve your life?”

The confident smile on Tony’s face froze instantly.

He could even tell that much?

Tony found it hard to believe.

The next words out of Zhong Shouxiu’s mouth made Tony’s eyes widen in shock.

“And how can you be so sure that the little magnet isn’t a weapon you built yourself—one that will eventually kill you?”

What did he mean by that?

Tony’s mind raced, trying to decipher the implication behind Zhong Shouxiu’s words. At this point, Tony was still unaware of the palladium poisoning that the arc reactor would eventually cause.

Finally… Tony came to a complete stop.

Bombarded by these revelations, he chose to place his trust, however tentatively, in the young man who smiled with such unwavering confidence.

Tony was a man who valued his life, and now, it was no longer just Tony Stark’s life on the line; there was also Yinsen, who had died for him in that cave.

But stopping in his tracks was the greatest concession Stark’s pride would allow—he would not bow his head to beg for treatment.

It was then that Pepper, his longtime assistant, revealed her caring side. She understood Tony’s prideful reluctance, so she stepped forward and pulled him gently, urging, “Tony, you must accept treatment!”

Given this graceful exit, Tony went along without protest. Yet, when he stood before Zhong Shouxiu, he still wore a slight pout.

Hmph—what an insufferable tsundere, Zhong Shouxiu grumbled inwardly.

“Mr. Zhong, do we need to return to your clinic?” Pepper, ever attentive, inquired.

“No need. Here is fine—the treatment will be quick,” Zhong Shouxiu replied with a shake of his head.

Since he’d already chosen to showcase himself as a healing superhuman, it was only natural to seize every opportunity to build his reputation. They were at a military airfield, surrounded by soldiers and Colonel Rhodes. It was the perfect moment to demonstrate his abilities to the military; if this performance succeeded, more orders from the armed forces would surely follow.

After all, which aging general didn’t suffer from some lingering ailment? And being a general in the U.S. military certainly came with ample income—ripe opportunities.

So he chose to treat Tony Stark right there, in public.

“Here?” Tony’s face was full of skepticism. He’d heard from Yinsen about the Jericho shrapnel—removing all the fragments safely was a challenge no doctor in the world had yet overcome.

It was a daunting medical problem.

And now, Zhong Shouxiu didn’t even have a scalpel, and wanted to operate in a windy, bacteria-ridden environment? To remove all the shrapnel, surely they’d need to open him up. Tony was more afraid of dying from infection than from the shrapnel itself.

“Yes, here. It’ll be over quickly,” Zhong Shouxiu reassured him, approaching.

Tony had felt a flicker of nervousness, but seeing that the man didn’t even have a knife, the tension drained away.

Was he some kind of charlatan, about to mumble some incantation and declare the treatment done? Tony’s thoughts began to wander.

Zhong Shouxiu came closer and gently placed his hand on Tony’s chest. A verdant green light shimmered from his palm.

All eyes were drawn to the sight.

Coulson, knowing this was Zhong Shouxiu’s superpower, was unfazed, but everyone else stared, wide-eyed.

It was unmistakably a display of extraordinary power.

In this era, there weren’t many superhumans or superheroes—the only famous one was Captain America, a product of human ingenuity.

Suddenly—

Tony, fixated on the green light at his chest, felt something inside him tremble.

With a soft pop, a sharp object shot from his body and landed in Zhong Shouxiu’s fingertips.

At the sight of that familiar, slender, silvery fragment, Tony instantly understood—Jericho shrapnel!

He hurriedly felt around his chest, left and right, relieved to find no wound.

Meeting Zhong Shouxiu’s gaze, Tony’s expression changed completely.

This man truly had ability.

Tony was utterly convinced by the display—removing shrapnel without even touching a scalpel was enough to win his respect.

The others looked on in confusion, unsure how the green light had yielded a thin metal shard in Zhong Shouxiu’s hand.

Then Zhong Shouxiu spoke, “One Jericho shrapnel fragment: a modest fee of one million dollars.”

Only then did everyone fully grasp what had happened—shocked beyond belief.

Was this really the shrapnel that had been inside Tony all along? Not a single wound? Removed so effortlessly?

As for the million-dollar fee, most were too astonished to notice—only Coulson reacted.

Considering that Zhong Shouxiu had only charged a hundred thousand for saving Agent May’s life, Coulson felt a warm gratitude in his heart.

Mr. Zhong truly was a good man.