Chapter 24: Rejection

“What are you yelling for? If it’s fine, then it’s fine—why shout so loud? Are you hoping to get bitten by a dog?” Old Wang scolded the doctor as soon as he saw him raise his voice.

“My apologies, I got a bit carried away. Let me check on Mr. Chen’s condition.” Vice President Sun quickly apologized, then approached to examine Mr. Chen.

“Wait. Don’t touch him. Mr. Chen just woke up; he can’t be disturbed by you all right now.” Chu Feng, just coming out of the restroom, blocked the doctors, refusing to let them near.

“What’s the meaning of this? We need to check his condition. If something goes wrong, will you take responsibility?”

Having been stopped by Chu Feng yet again, Vice President Sun’s patience wore thin. He’d already been provoked by Chu Feng several times today and could restrain himself no longer.

“Mr. Chen’s health is perfectly sound—you needn’t worry, Vice President Sun. I know you want to pull him in for more tests, but his body can’t withstand any more exposure to those machines. Not even a celestial sage could save him then.”

Chu Feng’s tone was calm yet brimming with quiet confidence. He had used the life force on his watch to treat Mr. Chen and was not about to let that precious gift go to waste.

Mr. Chen’s health was fragile, and his immune system weak. If he were dragged through a battery of tests, all of Chu Feng’s efforts would have been in vain.

“Dr. Sun, take everyone and leave for now—Mr. Chen should be fine.” At this moment, Liu Shuiqing stepped forward, sensing it was not the time for a dispute between Dr. Sun and Chu Feng.

Hearing Liu Shuiqing’s words, Vice President Sun led the group of doctors away, not forgetting to shoot a venomous glare at Chu Feng before he left.

“Young man, who taught you traditional medicine? I’ve never seen anyone needle as you do.” Liu Shuiqing approached Chu Feng, eager to learn more about him.

“I’m self-taught. As for my needling technique, it comes naturally with time.” Chu Feng’s reply gave Liu no face at all.

But Liu Shuiqing was not offended; in fact, he believed Chu Feng spoke the truth.

“I’ve heard you’re working at a hospital in Shanghai. Have you considered coming here instead?” Liu Shuiqing had already begun to try and recruit him—being a traditional medicine practitioner himself, he hoped to bring Chu Feng into the fold.

“Sorry, but I have no such intention. Besides, your hospital is too large for someone of my meager experience.” Chu Feng refused without hesitation.

Hospitals like the Air Force Hospital catered only to high-ranking officials and the elite. Chu Feng would have no opportunity to use his watch to gather life force here—that, above all, was why he declined.

“You could stay and help revive traditional medicine. I myself am a practitioner. Just now, I saw your unique needlework. I’d like you to head our department of traditional medicine,” Liu Shuiqing persisted, offering Chu Feng a directorship if he agreed to stay.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Director, but once Mr. Chen is stable, I’ll be heading back. As for traditional medicine, you’d best look elsewhere.” Chu Feng again refused, this time with unwavering resolve, unmoved by any of the conditions offered.

Alas, such a promising talent, yet unwilling to remain—what a pity. If he did, surely traditional medicine would flourish in his hands.

Liu Shuiqing sighed inwardly. He meant well for Chu Feng, though he did not understand the environment Chu Feng truly sought.

“Director, Secretary Li’s son has been in a car accident and is in critical condition. Secretary Li requests you personally operate on his child.” At that moment, a doctor hurried in and relayed the message to Liu Shuiqing.

“I understand. Go ahead, I’ll be there shortly.” Liu Shuiqing dismissed the doctor.

“Old Jin, there’s an emergency patient—I'll go first and come back to check on Mr. Chen later.” He nodded to Old Jin, then departed.

“Mr. Chen has just regained consciousness and is still weak. Let him rest—no one should disturb him for now,” Chu Feng told Old Jin and Old Wang.

Though Mr. Chen was awake, his state was poor. Hidden ailments still lingered within him, so Chu Feng needed another method to extract the two shrapnel fragments from his body.

After saying this, Chu Feng returned to Mr. Chen’s bedside. While Old Jin and Old Wang weren’t looking, he brought his watch close to Mr. Chen’s waist. The dial spun wildly, circling five times before coming to a stop.

Chu Feng had just extended Mr. Chen’s life a little further, improving his condition to facilitate further treatment.

Meanwhile, on the sixth floor of the Air Force Hospital, outside an operating theater, the corridor was crowded: doctors in white coats, and two elegantly dressed middle-aged individuals.

“Old Li, you must ask Director Liu to save our son. He’s our only child—if anything happens to him, how will I go on?” A richly dressed lady clung to the man beside her, distraught.

The middle-aged man, around fifty, wore a suit. Simply standing there, he exuded an air of authority.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already asked someone to fetch Director Liu. He’ll help us,” the man soothed his wife repeatedly.

He was Li Zeming, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee in the capital, and beside him his wife, Du Juan. While in a meeting earlier, Li Zeming received a call: his son Li Kun had been hit by a car and was now being treated at the Air Force Hospital.

Li Zeming dropped everything, had his secretary drive him to the hospital, and upon arrival, was handed a critical condition notice by the doctors.

His son, Li Kun, was just eighteen—struck by a reckless driver on his way to school that morning. He was thrown more than five meters.

Fortunately, Li Kun’s reflexes prevented a direct blow to his head, or he would have died on the spot.

“Secretary Li, my apologies, I was just seeing another patient.” After leaving Mr. Chen’s room, Liu Shuiqing was already briefed about Li Kun’s case.

Li Kun had suffered three broken ribs, one of which was only a centimeter from his heart. His chest cavity was bleeding, and the internal medicine team was fighting to save him.

“Director Liu, you must save my son! Anything you ask, as long as you save him!” Du Juan, seeing Liu Shuiqing arrive, fell to her knees, begging for her child’s life.

Liu Shuiqing hurried to help her up. He couldn’t, in good conscience, promise he could bring Li Kun back from the brink.