Chapter 126: Bearing the Consequences

Before Physician Wang’s groundless accusations could even provoke Hong Chen, Physician Zhang had already lost his composure. Struggling internally, he suddenly reached out, intending to check the old man’s pulse.

Hong Chen countered with a swift backhand, swatting Physician Zhang’s hand away. "What is this? Are you unaware of the rules as well?"

"Divine Doctor Hong, I—please, don’t misunderstand, I..." Physician Zhang was drenched in cold sweat, his face contorted with anxiety. He shook his head repeatedly, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Once a patient is handed over to a doctor, it is a grave taboo for bystanders to intervene without permission, even if it is merely to check their condition. Physician Zhang’s actions were born of desperation; since he was the one who had essentially revived the patient, he would be held primarily responsible if anything went wrong.

"Do not be so reckless in the future. To be honest, I had no intention of intervening. This is not my patient, and I do not possess a heart of boundless compassion for all living things. But now that I have taken over, I will see it through to the end," Hong Chen said, not wishing to make things too difficult for him, yet offering a firm rebuke.

Physician Zhang nodded sincerely. "I will take this lesson to heart. Thank you, Divine Doctor Hong."

"Elder Zhang, he is merely trying to shirk his responsibility and find excuses for his own failures," Physician Wang chimed in, stirring the pot with a sneer.

"Shut your mouth! You are a mediocre doctor who has already been eliminated. What right do you have to point fingers at Divine Doctor Hong? Is it that the older you get, the more shameless you become, with your skin thickening in proportion to your age?" Physician Zhang’s expression darkened sharply. He spat the words at Physician Wang, his fists clenched and his eyes blazing, as if he would beat him to a pulp if he uttered another word.

Physician Wang’s face, which had just returned to its normal color, turned ashen once more, his body trembling slightly. The eldest judge, known as "Elder Zeng," finally lost his patience. "If you continue to clamor, you will be removed from the competition venue." He cast a look of deep dissatisfaction at Physician Wang.

With Elder Zeng having spoken, Physician Wang dared not vent his grievances further, merely huffing in frustration.

By now, Hong Chen had begun the treatment. The old man’s condition was remarkably similar to that of Elder Luo’s, though while Elder Luo suffered from multiple organ failure, the old man’s ailment was localized to his heart. Already weak, his heart meridian had been punctured by Physician Zhang’s needle, causing his vital energy to drain rapidly.

The two previous needles had managed to seal the flow, which was why Hong Chen had the leisure to trade barbs with Physician Wang. However, this was merely an emergency measure; to truly cure him would require a significant effort.

After inserting six or seven more needles, Hong Chen helped the old man into a sitting position and removed his shirt. Exposing his bare torso, he pressed one palm against the man’s back, guiding a faint, nearly invisible stream of energy through his palm and into the man’s body.

After three full minutes, Hong Chen slowly withdrew his hand and laid the old man back down. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. He pulled out the silver needles one by one and nodded at Physician Zhang.

Physician Zhang immediately nodded back. He stepped forward, grabbed the old man’s wrist, and took his pulse for half a minute before exhaling a long sigh of relief.

The old man’s heartbeat was steady and strong. Not only had his life been saved, but his myocarditis had also been essentially cured.

When Physician Zhang looked at Hong Chen again, his gratitude was beyond words, his eyes filled with awe. He bowed ninety degrees to Hong Chen.

This scene left the spectators stunned.

The three judges performed their own examinations, all nodding in approval. During the second check, the old man slowly opened his eyes. By the time the third judge finished, the old man climbed off the treatment table himself. Thinking it was Physician Zhang who had cured him, he thanked the doctor profusely. Physician Zhang waved his hands, pointing toward Hong Chen and explaining the truth without reservation.

"Divine Doctor, thank you! Please, accept my bow." The old man moved to kneel before Hong Chen, but Hong Chen stepped forward to catch him, shaking his head with a smile. "This is simply fate."

Hong Chen then turned his gaze to Physician Wang’s humiliated face. "Every doctor knows that a patient’s condition is a matter of personal privacy. A physician must keep such things confidential; this is the most basic professional ethics and a rule that must be followed. Yet you? Not only did you spread rumors wantonly, but you also embellished them with fabrications. Who do you think Elder Luo is to be slandered by you? Prepare yourself, for the Luo family will surely come to settle this account."

Physician Wang’s heart skipped a beat, and terror washed over his face. He had only intended to use the situation to ruin Hong Chen’s reputation and force him into a trap; he hadn't considered the consequences.

"I... I only heard it from others."

Hong Chen remained unmoved. "You need not explain to me. I will call Elder Luo and convey your exact words. You were the one who claimed Elder Luo had only one breath left, and you were the one who claimed the Luo family paid me ten million. I agreed with one thing you said earlier: the most basic quality of a medical practitioner is to take responsibility for their own mistakes. Likewise, as an adult, one must bear the consequences of their words and actions. I hope you find the courage to do so."

He sneered and added, "Given the status of the Luo family, they likely won’t settle this with you personally, but will demand an explanation from the Zhongbao Hall. After all, you represented them in this competition. I wonder if the Zhongbao Hall will protect you, or if you, an eliminated contestant, are even worth their protection."

With that, he turned and walked toward his room.

First, they brought in two special patients to sabotage the reputation of the Baojian Hall; then, in the last round, they tried to rip off his mask to disrupt his focus; and now, they resorted to character assassination and moral blackmail. Did they really think that with the Zhongbao Hall as their backing, they could scheme endlessly while others were forced to suffer in silence?

There is a limit to everything. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, and Hong Chen was no mere rabbit—he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a slumbering tiger, a dragon coiled in the abyss.

Physician Wang stood frozen, his face deathly pale, panic leaking from his eyes. If a powerful family like the Luos and a figure like Elder Luo decided to pursue this, he would be crushed. The Zhongbao Hall would never risk its reputation for a failure like him. The most likely outcome was that they would destroy everything he had—his reputation, his position, and perhaps even his family—to appease the Luo family.

"Elder Wang, perhaps you should go back and rest," said Di Xiu. As the other contestants, judges, and staff dispersed, Physician Wang remained standing like a wooden statue. Di Xiu hesitated before walking over to offer a quiet reminder.

Physician Wang jolted back to reality, his lips trembling. Di Xiu frowned. "I heard what was said. I will contact the person in charge of the Zhongbao Hall in Nanshi later. You should leave first."

Physician Wang nodded helplessly. Instead of returning to his room, he slunk away toward the contestant-only exit.

Following Physician Zhang’s elimination, the five who advanced to the second round were decided. After a fifteen-minute break, the second round began. In the first phase—the diagnosis of five patients—Hong Chen was the only one to achieve a 100% success rate. Di Xiu, Physician Ye, and Lei Minmin each correctly diagnosed four, while the last person only diagnosed three.

In the second phase, Hong Chen successfully treated one patient, as did Di Xiu and Physician Ye. Lei Minmin’s patient failed the review by the three judges—two red lights and one green—leading to her elimination. The final contestant, forced to choose from the remaining patients, received three red lights from the judges.

With this, the second stage of the Medical Saint Competition concluded. Hong Chen, Di Xiu, and Physician Ye qualified for the third round, where they would compete for the championship of Qing City in a week’s time.

As soon as the competition ended, Hong Chen did not linger. He entered the contestant-only passage and left the venue in a hurry, not even returning to the locker room.

Outside, he called Qi Gang, who was still trapped in the lobby by dozens of medical students. After offering a few words of comfort regarding Qi Gang's complaints, Hong Chen hung up and hailed a taxi. Just as he gave the driver his destination, his phone rang. The number looked somewhat familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. He answered, "Who is this?"

The response from the other end was a cold, mocking laugh from a woman. "Divine Doctor Hong, you are the most sought-after man in Qing City right now. With so many beauties crying and begging to throw themselves into your arms, it’s no wonder you’ve forgotten who I am."