Chapter Seven: I Quit the Medical Profession!

"I'll take responsibility!" Xu Lang said sternly, "I'm a doctor; I know exactly how to treat the patient."
"If you don't trust me, I can leave right now!"
As he spoke, he stood and made to leave.
An Hailong hurried to placate him, shooting a glare at Lan An and saying solemnly, "Lanlan, can you stop being so willful?"
"Miracle Doctor Xu was hired by my father at great expense. Now Grandfather's life hangs in the balance, and only Miracle Doctor Xu can cure him!"
"If you rely on that fraud, Grandfather will be dead and buried before you know it."
"For all we know, he might have already run off!"
Lan An's face darkened, her voice cold. "Stop using your father to pressure me. I believe in Mr. Ye. If he says he can cure my grandfather, then he will—"
"Enough, Miss An, just listen to some advice," another of the white-coated doctors interrupted before she could finish.
"That kid’s been tinkering for half an hour, and there’s been no improvement at all."
"Miracle Doctor Xu is a renowned expert, famous throughout the province—only he can save Old Master An!"
"Your stubbornness is only making things worse."
As they spoke, An Hailong signaled to several servants with his eyes.
They stepped forward to block Lan An’s path.
He then joined Xu Lang, and together, with a few quick motions, they removed all the bamboo needles from the old man’s body.
"Superstitious nonsense—expecting a few lousy bamboo sticks to cure Old Master An is sheer folly!" Xu Lang muttered as he began his diagnosis.
Everyone’s nerves slowly eased.
They lacked the necessary medical skill, but with Xu Lang in charge, surely all would be well.
Glancing at Lan An’s indignant expression, many felt a measure of disdain.
No one denied her talents in business, but how could her judgment be so poor?
To treat an obvious swindler as a treasure—was she just a pretty face?
Beep. Beep.
Half an hour later, the previously unresponsive monitor suddenly gave a signal.
But it was not a sign of recovery—on the contrary, it indicated the patient’s condition was deteriorating!
The shallow red on the machine had deepened into a warning crimson.
"Grandfather!"
Lan An cried out in alarm, pushing through the crowd to stare at the rapidly dropping numbers. She shouted, "What have you done to my grandfather?"
"Don’t panic—healing someone isn’t so simple," Xu Lang replied calmly, though the others looked anxious.
He immediately began emergency procedures. Ten minutes later, having exhausted all methods, there was still no improvement. The wavering line on the monitor gradually straightened.
Anyone with basic knowledge understood—a straight line meant the end of life.
"How could this happen?"
Xu Lang’s composure cracked. He looked helplessly at An Hailong. "Young Master An, Old Master An… it seems he’s gone…"
"What?"
An Hailong was stunned.
Lan An rushed forward, grabbing Xu Lang by the collar and roaring, "You old bastard, did you dare kill my grandfather?"
"No, no, it’s not—it’s not my fault," Xu Lang protested desperately, eager to distance himself from blame.

At that moment, a voice sounded from outside the door—it was Ye Wushang. "Who told you to remove the bamboo needles?"
Entering swiftly, his face stormy as he took in the needles scattered across the floor, Ye Wushang strode forward.
Lan An, filled with remorse and shame, was about to explain when Xu Lang abruptly turned on Ye Wushang. "It was him, it must be him!"
"In the past, Old Master An always woke within half an hour when I treated him."
"But now it’s been over an hour—he’s not only unconscious, but his condition is far worse."
"During my examination, I found massive internal bleeding—his organs were punctured by those bamboo needles!"
"It’s all his fault! He’s the one trying to kill Old Master An, it has nothing to do with me!"
Just moments before, Xu Lang had been racking his brain for a way to extricate himself.
The newcomer provided a perfect scapegoat.
"So you’re the so-called Miracle Doctor Xu—spraying mist and turning off the lights?" Ye Wushang looked him up and down.
"That’s me. What of it?"
Ye Wushang curled his lip. "You look so dignified, but who would have thought your mind is so malicious."
"You little brat, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself!"
Xu Lang’s face darkened, about to scold him, but Lan An suddenly interjected, "Mr. Ye, saving my grandfather is the priority. Please, look at him quickly!"
"Miss An, forgive my bluntness, but Old Master An is beyond saving."
"At this point, even a deity couldn’t help him…"
"Get out!"
Lan An shouted furiously, shoving Xu Lang away.
She was about to beg Ye Wushang, but he suddenly produced a pitch-black pill, handing it to her.
"Miss An, feed this to Old Master An first.
Originally, with the bamboo needles untouched, the medicine alone would have sufficed. Now, things are a bit more complicated—I’ll need to perform some manipulations as well."
He glanced at Xu Lang, his tone meaningful. "As for you, you’d best consider how to clean up your mess."
"Stop your cryptic talk! You’re the one who killed Old Master An!" Xu Lang’s heart raced with inexplicable anxiety.
He felt as though this young man could see through him.
But everything had been handled perfectly—there should be no loose ends.
As An Hailong said, this fellow was nothing but a charlatan!
"Cousin, what is this thing? It reeks—can it really cure Grandfather?" An Hailong couldn’t help protesting as Lan An prepared to administer the medicine.
"If he can’t cure him, can you?"
Lan An shot him a glare.
The pill was indeed unsightly and foul-smelling.
But Ye Wushang was their only hope—whatever happened, she had to try!
Gulp.
As the medicine was swallowed,
Ye Wushang approached Old Master An, beginning with the crown of his head and performing a series of manipulations.
He stimulated the meridians with acupressure, gathering vital energy and blood.
His hands moved to adjust the bones and sinews, setting everything right.
If his earlier acupuncture had been effortless and fluid, this time his massage was like a thunderstorm—Old Master An seemed a plaything in his hands.
Sometimes he twisted, sometimes he settled, a cycle repeated again and again.
Each movement drew a painful groan from the old man.
"Is this treatment or a circus act?"
Xu Lang sneered, "Acupuncture should use silver needles, but he uses bamboo.
Massage requires strength, technique, and coordination, but he kneads as if working dough.
This boy knows nothing of medicine—he’s just a charlatan!"
His words were instantly echoed by the other white coats.
"Exactly! And he dares call himself a practitioner of traditional medicine? He’s giving the field a bad name!"
"Traditional medicine isn’t much, but at least it’s a legitimate discipline—what is this, a monkey show?"
"If he keeps this up, Old Master An will be truly lost."
As Western doctors, they already harbored a bias against traditional medicine.
Ye Wushang’s bizarre performance only deepened their contempt.
Thud.
With the final manipulation complete,
Ye Wushang gently laid Old Master An back on the bed.
He broke the medicine bowl at the bedside with his bare hand, picked up a toothpick from the floor,
dabbed it with some concoction, and wiped it along the old man’s lips.
"It’s done, Miss An,"
Ye Wushang took a deep breath and instructed, "Please, have everyone remove their outer garments, and open the windows and curtains."
Lan An hesitated, about to question him, but seeing his unwavering expression, she decided to comply.
"What does undressing have to do with healing?"
Someone grumbled.
Lan An snapped, "If you don’t like it, get out! The An family doesn’t welcome you!"
"What are you all waiting for? Open the curtains and windows. Anyone who refuses can leave the An family for good!"
Though An Hailong held a higher position,
Lan An’s contributions far surpassed his.
If it came to an open conflict, her prestige in the family and the corporation would easily overpower his branch.
After following the instructions,
everyone present was disgruntled, convinced Ye Wushang was engaging in trickery.
Only Xu Lang’s face grew pale, an inexplicable dread creeping into his heart.
Who was this young man, really?
First those cryptic words, now the open windows and shedding of outer garments—
Had he really seen through it all?
"Boy, we’re here to save a life, not for you to play games. You think with all this nonsense, Old Master An will come back to life?"
Xu Lang’s voice was icy.
"He will, if that is our wish."
"But as for you… it may not be so certain."
Xu Lang’s expression changed; he snapped, "Stop spouting rubbish. I don’t believe you can save Old Master An."
"If he wakes up, I, Xu Lang, will leave the medical profession forever!"
Cough. Cough.
The words had barely left his mouth—
when Old Master An, who had been unconscious, suddenly coughed and stirred.
…