Chen Xiao's words offended all the doctors present. If looks could kill, they would have reduced Chen Xiao to ashes.
"Good, good, good!" Elder Ji was so enraged he puffed out his beard, uttering "good" three times. "Boy, I'll lend you my silver needles. If you can't save the person, you must apologize to all the medical staff here!"
Chen Xiao curled his lips, "And if I do save her, what then?"
Elder Ji was taken aback, as he had never considered that outcome. After a moment, he declared with conviction, "You may do as you please!"
Chen Xiao sneered, "I don't need all of you to apologize. I only need him..." Chen Xiao pointed his finger at Li Youde. "To kowtow three times!"
Li Youde immediately replied, "Sure, I promise. Not just three, but three hundred if you like!" It was an impossible scenario, so what harm was there in agreeing? He wouldn't lose anything and would even gain favor with Elder Ji. Li Youde saw no reason not to.
Chen Xiao said calmly, "Very well."
Taking the silver needles, Chen Xiao stood by his mother's bedside and fell into a daze. For a full ten seconds, Chen Xiao remained motionless, like an old monk in deep meditation.
Li Youde mocked him, "Boy, hurry up and act. Everyone is waiting. Don't tell me you don't know how to use them? Shall I teach you?"
Elder Ji shook his head gently, his hands behind his back. He had thought that since the young man could take a pulse and was so boastful, he might have some skill. He hadn't expected him to be so incompetent in the most basic aspects.
Just as everyone thought Chen Xiao was cornered, and murmurs of derision began to rise, Chen Xiao suddenly moved. His hands were swift and agile, the silver needles flying up and down like butterflies, as if performing a dazzling dance in the air. The crowd watched, mesmerized and dumbfounded.
At this moment, Li Youde seemed to have found a flaw and pointed at Chen Xiao, laughing heartily. "Hahahaha, I told you this kid doesn't know how to use silver needles! Look closely, even though his movements are flashy, the needles aren't actually piercing the skin."
Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be true, and they all joined in the laughter and mockery. Only Elder Ji did not laugh. His expression was solemn, and his eyes showed a trace of shock. If he wasn't mistaken, Chen Xiao was using the long-lost Seven Star Divine Needles. Although it appeared the needles weren't penetrating, it was merely because they were moving too fast for the naked eye to follow. Forty-nine silver needles, in groups of seven, were being inserted in rotation, repeatedly stimulating the patient's muscles.
However, Elder Ji soon shook his head, dismissing the thought. How old could this young man be? Such lost acupuncture techniques, he probably hadn't even heard of them, let alone mastered them.
A moment later, Chen Xiao withdrew the needles and let out a long sigh. Seeing that Liu Zhen had not moved and her complexion remained deathly pale, showing no signs of revival, Li Youde immediately sneered, "Kid, have you had enough fun? Your mother didn't get better. She couldn't afford treatment when she was alive, and now she's being tormented by you even in death. She was truly unlucky to have a son like you!"
"I won't allow you to speak about my son like that!" As soon as Li Youde finished speaking, Liu Zhen suddenly sat up from the hospital bed, glaring at him angrily. This terrified Li Youde, who cried out in fear, thinking she had come back from the dead.
Elder Ji stepped forward to check Liu Zhen's pulse, his face showing a look of shock. "Her pulse is stable, the deceased... has come back to life!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Elder Ji's words were more accurate than any instrument. If he said the patient was fine, then she was indeed fine. But it was too incredible. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, who would believe it was true? Li Youde, in particular, was utterly bewildered. How could someone who was clearly dead have come back to life? Furthermore, as Liu Zhen's complexion gradually regained its color, he found it even more unbelievable. Liu Zhen's illness had penetrated to the bone; even with surgery, she couldn't have recovered this quickly.
At this moment, Liu Zhen seemed to recall what had happened earlier. She looked at Chen Xiao and asked, "Son, what's going on? Mom remembers... Mom seemed to have died?"
Chen Xiao quickly reassured her, "Mom, don't overthink it. Look, you're fine now. Don't worry, with me here, you'll be alright."
Liu Zhen was skeptical, but the entire room was looking at her with strange expressions, which made her uncomfortable. "Son, since Mom is alright, let's go home."
Chen Xiao nodded. With him around, Liu Zhen indeed didn't need to stay in the hospital any longer. "Okay, Mom, let me handle a few more things, and then we'll go home."
Then, Chen Xiao fixed his gaze on Li Youde. "Now, it's time for you to fulfill your promise."
Li Youde's face changed drastically. He finally remembered his earlier words. "Not just three, but three hundred if you like!" But in reality, he couldn't even bring himself to kowtow once, let alone three times. Especially with so many colleagues watching, if he actually kowtowed to Chen Xiao today, how could he continue to work at the hospital?
Chen Xiao sneered, "What? Are you going back on your word?"
Li Youde was in a difficult position, caught between a rock and a hard place. He cast a pleading look at Elder Ji. However, Elder Ji glanced away, pretending not to see. The bet was made by Elder Ji, but the promise was made by you, Li Youde!
Just then, a group of people suddenly rushed into the emergency room, which was a timely rescue for him. A young woman was carried in. Following behind her, a short-haired woman shouted loudly, "Doctor, quickly, save her!"
The young woman should have been very beautiful. I say "should have been" because at that moment, her face was pale, her mouth twitched continuously, and she was foaming at the mouth. In such a state, even the most stunning beauty would be greatly diminished.
Upon seeing this person, everyone suddenly exclaimed in surprise. "Hey? Isn't that Li Ziqing?" "You're right, it's her! I've only seen her on my phone before, I never thought I'd see her in person today!" "Let me see too!"
Chen Xiao also recognized her as the nationally popular internet celebrity Li Ziqing. Li Ziqing had gained fame by shooting short videos, with tens of millions of fans, rivaling traffic stars. Even Chen Xiao, who didn't watch livestreams often, knew of her. However, it didn't seem like the time to be admiring celebrities...
As expected, seeing everyone's reaction, the short-haired woman became furious. Her almond eyes widened, and she berated them, "What are you doctors doing? It's this time, hurry up and save her!"
Everyone snapped back to reality. Li Youde eagerly stepped forward, "Let me examine the patient." This level of internet celebrity was someone they rarely got to see. Being able to treat her would be a golden opportunity to make a name for himself. Li Youde was determined to seize this chance. Moreover, it could help him get out of the kowtowing situation – a win-win!
Chen Xiao said nothing, as saving lives was the priority. However, if Li Youde thought he could easily get away with it, he was gravely mistaken. Li Youde flipped open Li Ziqing's eyelids and, without even looking up, asked the short-haired woman, "Judging by the patient's condition, it looks like poisoning?"
The short-haired woman's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly. "That's right, Sister Ziqing was bitten by a venomous snake while filming a video on the mountain!"
After a perfunctory examination, Li Youde said with feigned nonchalance, "It's nothing serious. A shot of antivenom will fix it. Don't worry."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but let out a roar. "Quack, you're playing with people's lives!"