"Disregarding human life? Boy, do you know what you're saying? I've been practicing medicine for twenty years, and you think I can't even cure this minor ailment?"
Li Youde was already filled with anger. Snatching this patient was his way of saving face in front of everyone.
Chen Xiao said expressionlessly, "The patient's condition is far more complicated than you say."
Li Youde sneered.
"You just got lucky, a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. Do you really think you're better than me? Ridiculous!"
Seeing them bickering, the short-haired woman became impatient.
"What's going on with your hospital? Can you treat my sister or not? You're all colleagues, what are you fighting about!"
Li Youde curled his lips. "Miss, you've misunderstood. This kid isn't a doctor from our hospital. He's just a family member of the patient!"
"What? A family member?"
The short-haired woman's eyebrows shot up, and she snapped at Chen Xiao, "Why are you, a patient's family member, causing trouble here? If you delay the treatment, can you afford the responsibility?"
Chen Xiao paused, remaining silent.
He had meant to help. Since they didn't appreciate it, he might as well let her die.
At this moment, the nurse brought the antivenom. Li Youde administered the injection, and soon Li Ziqing regained consciousness, showing signs of improvement.
Li Youde said smugly, "See? What did I tell you? A shot of antivenom is all it takes for this kind of condition!"
The short-haired woman praised him gratefully, "Doctor, your medical skills are excellent. Once my sister recovers, I will definitely reward you handsomely!"
Li Youde waved his hands repeatedly, "No need. Saving lives and helping the injured is our duty as doctors..."
Although he said that, his thoughts were elsewhere.
A life-saving favor, even if she couldn't marry him, surely a meal together was in order...
Just the thought of having dinner with a big star like Li Ziqing was exhilarating!
While Li Youde was lost in his fantasies, the short-haired woman suddenly cried out.
"Huh? What's going on? Why is the wound still black?"
Li Ziqing's wound was a patch of dead black, and the blackness continued to spread. What was once the size of a mahjong tile had now expanded to the size of a bowl.
As the venom spread, Li Ziqing's condition worsened. Her eyes were vacant, and her breath was faint.
The short-haired woman anxiously said, "Doctor, quickly see what's happening! Didn't you say my sister was fine? Why is the poison still spreading?"
"Uh... this... I..."
Li Youde stammered, as he had no idea what was happening.
Logically, after a snakebite, timely administration of antivenom should lead to recovery... But if it didn't, he was helpless.
The short-haired woman panicked, shaking Li Youde's arm, "Didn't you say this was just a minor illness? Think of a solution!"
Li Youde frowned, spreading his hands, "I can't do anything..."
"You, you quack!"
The short-haired woman was so angry she was about to cry.
Just then, Chen Xiao's voice drifted over, "I told you long ago, the patient's condition is far more complicated than that!"
Hearing his voice, the short-haired woman's eyes lit up, as if she had found a lifeline.
"You must have a way to save my sister, right? Hurry, hurry and save her!"
Chen Xiao's eyes showed disgust.
"I'm sorry, I'm just a family member of the patient. I don't want to delay the treatment, and I can't afford that responsibility!"
The short-haired woman was stunned. She remembered how harshly she had spoken to Chen Xiao earlier.
However, she showed no remorse.
"Why are you so petty? I'll give you money. As long as you can cure my sister, I'll give you whatever you ask for!"
Chen Xiao sneered, "Take your money and prepare to spend it on your sister in the afterlife!"
"You..."
The short-haired woman gritted her teeth in anger.
Chen Xiao no longer wanted to deal with her. His hundreds of years in his dreams had greatly changed his temperament.
Those he didn't care about, even if they died before him, were of no concern to him.
He packed his things, ready to take his mother out of the hospital.
Just then, he felt a tug on his clothes.
Li Ziqing looked at him with unfocused eyes, her voice faint, "Please, save me..."
Chen Xiao's heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.
Li Ziqing's pitiable appearance was etched into his mind.
"Fine!"
Chen Xiao took out his silver needles. "Since we are fated, how can I stand by and watch?"
Hearing this, Li Ziqing closed her eyes with peace of mind.
At the same time, Chen Xiao inserted the silver needles one by one into the acupoints around Li Ziqing's wound.
Soon, a circle of silver needles covered the area around the wound, and the dead blackness stopped spreading.
Elder Ji watched Chen Xiao's needling intently, then exclaimed, "A five-five plum blossom formation! This is the Plum Blossom Needle technique! Could it be that Miss Li is possessed?"
Chen Xiao smiled at him faintly, "You have discerning eyes."
The short-haired woman was confused, "My sister was just bitten by a snake, at most poisoned. How could she be possessed?"
Elder Ji explained, "The Plum Blossom Needle, also known as the Evil Breaking Needle, is specifically used to expel evil spirits."
Li Youde was unconvinced, "Elder Ji, this kid is just putting on a show. Don't be fooled. What era are we in? Still practicing feudal superstition? We believe in science now!"
Elder Ji glared and snorted.
"Hmph, since ancient times, shamans and physicians have been intertwined. Sorcery is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. Not only Western practices are science!"
Li Youde fell silent, but his expression clearly showed his continued disbelief.
What happened next, however, shocked everyone present. Some of the fainter-hearted even scrambled under the hospital bed.
As Chen Xiao withdrew the silver needles, a thick black smoke suddenly billowed out, as if something had caught fire.
Within the black smoke, there were piercing cries like those of ghosts and howling spirits.
As the black smoke dissipated, the howling stopped.
Everyone was terrified, huddled together, unsure of what to do.
It wasn't until Chen Xiao spoke that they snapped back to reality.
"Take the patient to rest. When she wakes up naturally, she'll be fine."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately pushed Li Ziqing, bed and all, out. Chen Xiao's words were now like imperial decrees.
Chen Xiao's gaze then fell upon Li Youde.
Before Chen Xiao could speak, Li Youde fell to his knees with a thud.
The scene just now had thoroughly terrified him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me..."
Li Youde kowtowed his apologies. In a few seconds, he had bowed more than three times!
Chen Xiao shook his head and sighed softly, "You're not apologizing to me. You're apologizing to the word 'doctor'."
Li Youde continued to kowtow, and it was unclear if he had absorbed Chen Xiao's words.
Just then, Elder Ji stepped forward, cupped his hands, and after careful consideration, decided to address Chen Xiao as 'Master'.
"This... Master, I have a humble request."
Chen Xiao's eyes were calm. "Speak."
Without a word, Elder Ji knelt and bowed, "I wish to become your disciple!"
Chen Xiao frowned slightly and said softly.
"You wish to become my disciple? You are not worthy yet!"