Soon, Physician Duan arrived. His hair was streaked with white, and his presence exuded the aura of an experienced traditional Chinese medicine doctor, one that inspired great trust in many.
"Which idiot dares to compete with me in medical skills?" Physician Duan roared.
"Dad, it's this idiot!" Duan Wei pointed at Li Se and said angrily.
Duan Lu glanced at Li Se, then spoke with disdain, "Where did this brat crawl out from? He dares to compare medical skills with me? You think you're worthy?"
"Dad, this kid also claims he knows the art of observing qi, and can tell Elder Qian's problem at a glance. Isn't he talking nonsense?" Duan Wei sneered.
Duan Lu paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Observing qi, you say? Why don't you just fly to the heavens? 'Observing qi'? You really think you're a divine physician? It's undeniable that traditional Chinese medicine does have the art of observing qi, but it has been lost for ages. Even a divine physician like myself needs Western medical equipment for diagnosis. Kid, can't you even brag properly?"
"That's because your medical skills are poor. As a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, you still need medical equipment. Why don't you just learn Western medicine? You're truly disgracing Chinese medicine!" Li Se taunted.
"Oh, you dare to mock me now? This idiot actually dares to laugh at me, it's hilarious! Who gave him the courage? Liang Jingru, perhaps?" Duan Lu laughed contemptuously. Hailed as a divine physician, he was rarely mocked, especially by a mere brat. It was nothing short of a joke.
"Dad, people like this are simply ignorant of your incredible medical skills. Since he wants to challenge you, let's give him an opportunity to humiliate himself!" Duan Wei said with a smug grin.
"Divine Physician Duan, can you cure my illness?" Elder Qian looked at Duan Lu.
"A piece of cake!" Duan Lu sat down, no longer bothering to mock Li Se. He began to feel Elder Qian's pulse. Soon, he made his diagnosis, wrote a prescription, and told Elder Qian, "This prescription will guarantee your recovery."
"This prescription is the same as the one Dr. Duan wrote," Elder Qian said hesitantly.
"That's normal. If both of us diagnose it the same way, it means this prescription is effective for you. Feel free to use it," Duan Lu smiled. He didn't find it odd that his prescription was identical to his son's; on the contrary, he was pleased, as it indicated his son's medical skills were improving.
"Elder Qian, your condition is Yin deficiency with internal heat. This prescription is definitely effective," Duan Wei explained.
Elder Qian pondered for a moment, then nodded. Just as he was about to put the prescription away, Li Se's voice rang out, "I told you, this prescription is useless. You have heartburn, and this prescription is for clearing heat and detoxifying, which won't be very effective for you. If you trust me, I can give you acupuncture, and you'll recover immediately!"
"Really?" Elder Qian exclaimed, surprised. If he could be cured immediately, it would be wonderful.
"Are you kidding me?" Duan Lu found Li Se to be excessively boastful. "At your age, doing acupuncture? Do you even know the acupoints? Do you know what acupoints are? And you claim acupuncture. Who knows if you'll kill someone?"
"Elder Qian, you absolutely cannot believe him. How could someone so young possibly know acupuncture? Besides, my father has already said this prescription will guarantee a cure. Can both of our diagnoses be wrong?" Duan Wei hastily advised.
Elder Qian hesitated again. Li Se's age was undeniable, could he truly know acupuncture at such a young age? It seemed a little unbelievable. Moreover, Duan Wei and Duan Lu had written the same prescription, which suggested it might indeed be effective.
"Divine Physician Duan, is it? You don't believe in observing qi?" Li Se looked at Duan Lu and said calmly.
"It's not that I don't believe in observing qi, it's that I don't believe *you* know observing qi. So young, and already talking nonsense. Who do you think you are? 'Observing qi,' 'acupuncture,' and all that. Elder Qian's condition isn't serious. With my prescription, he'll recover. Why would he need acupuncture?"
Duan Lu snorted, "Besides, can acupuncture be done casually? If the acupuncture isn't proficient, it can lead to insufficient vital energy, or even death. Kid, if you keep causing trouble, believe it or not, I'll call the police and have you arrested!"
Tang An asked in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, do you really know acupuncture?"
Li Se smiled confidently. "Duan Lu, if I'm not mistaken, you've been suffering from frequent abdominal pain, haven't you?"
"You... how did you know?" Duan Lu blurted out. But his expression quickly changed. How could this kid know about his abdominal pain? Did he really know observing qi?
"As I said, I am a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, and what I employ is naturally the art of observing qi," Li Se stated calmly.
"See? That's skill!" Tang An added.
"Perhaps we should let this young friend give it a try," Elder Qian wavered, and this time he chose to believe Li Se.
"Elder Qian, five minutes is all it will take!" Li Se said with full confidence.
"Heh, don't think you're a divine physician just because you got lucky and guessed correctly. Acupuncture, you say? Fine, then go ahead and give Elder Qian acupuncture. I want to see how you make him recover in five minutes!" Duan Lu said dismissively.
"Elder Qian, press your sternum," Li Se instructed.
Elder Qian complied, and a pained expression appeared on his face. "It hurts!"
"After I give you acupuncture, it won't hurt anymore," Li Se smiled and took out his silver needles. He inserted them with great speed, primarily fearing that Duan Lu and Duan Wei would start spouting nonsense again, causing Elder Qian to waver, and requiring him to spend more time and effort explaining.
"Five minutes?" Duan Lu shook his head. "Alright, I'll be watching to see how you make Elder Qian recover in five minutes."
"Dad, according to him, Elder Qian's illness is heartburn. He wants to cure heartburn in five minutes? He's dreaming," Duan Wei chuckled.
The man in the suit nodded. He naturally had faith in the Duan father and son and didn't believe a twenty-year-old would know acupuncture; it was a complete joke.
Five minutes later, Li Se withdrew the needles and said to Elder Qian, "Elder Qian, press your sternum again."
Elder Qian nodded and tentatively pressed his chest. His expression then lit up with joy. "It doesn't hurt anymore!"
Furthermore, after the acupuncture treatment, Elder Qian felt incredibly relaxed. He was certain his condition had improved, a sensation he hadn't experienced before.
"How is this possible?" Duan Lu frowned slightly. "Elder Qian, let me take your pulse again. How could you be better in five minutes? There must be something fishy going on."
"Yes, there must be something fishy!" Duan Wei stared at Li Se with conviction. "My father will surely expose your deceitful trick!"
However, when Duan Lu took Elder Qian's pulse, his expression turned somewhat grim, because the Yin deficiency with internal heat he had diagnosed earlier had apparently already healed.