Chapter 142: Divine Miracle Stuns the Crowd

The young man attempted to flex his wrists and ankles, then stood up and twisted his body. As he began to walk slowly, his expression brightened with every movement, until finally, his entire face was flooded with sheer ecstasy.

Elder Lu and his entourage exchanged bewildered glances. The elder and his five disciples were struck with disbelief; they had examined the young man previously and were well aware of the severity of his muscle atrophy. His legs, in particular, were barely thicker than an average person’s arms. Elder Lu’s optimistic prognosis of ten days meant only that the atrophy would cease, followed by a very long, arduous process of medication, diet, and exercise to gradually restore normal muscle function.

By Elder Lu’s most optimistic estimate, it should have taken at least three months for the young man to stand and live like a normal person. Yet, Hong Chen had accomplished this in less than ten minutes. Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, Elder Lu would never have believed it possible.

The young female doctor’s mouth hung open in an "O" shape, her expression of shock frozen on her face.

Director Gao’s eyes lit up. He gestured to two assistants in white coats, who immediately grabbed their instruments and stepped forward to examine the young man. Meanwhile, Hong Chen had already shifted his attention to the middle-aged man.

After observing the man’s complexion and taking his pulse, Hong Chen rolled up the man’s sleeve to reveal white patches and dense clusters of tiny red spots on his arm. He then inserted silver needles into various acupuncture points. With the final needle placed, Hong Chen held the man’s arm vertically downward. Guided by two of the needles, blood began to ooze out and flow slowly down the arm.

As the blood droplets hit the floor like blooming plum blossoms, the red spots on the man’s arm gradually faded, and the white scars shrank at a rate visible to the naked eye.

In less than five minutes, after about a hundred cubic centimeters of blood had been drained, the white scars and red spots on the man’s arm vanished completely, leaving the skin looking perfectly normal.

Hong Chen then inserted one more needle to stop the bleeding, withdrew all the needles, and patted the man on the shoulder. "Done."

The middle-aged man, ignoring all decorum, rolled up his other sleeve, pulled up his pant legs, and lifted his shirt. Every red spot was gone, and the white scars had disappeared.

The man was overwhelmed with joy, his eyes turning red. This skin condition had plagued him for years. He hadn't shared a bed with his wife in ages, and he had to keep his tableware, washbasins, bathtubs, and laundry completely separate from the rest of his family. That life had been a torturous ordeal.

"Divine Doctor Hong, you have saved me, and you have saved my family! I bow to you on behalf of my entire household!" The man prepared to kneel, but Hong Chen caught him and turned to Director Gao. "Perform a re-examination for him."

Director Gao quickly agreed, and two more assistants stepped forward to conduct the check-up.

Having successfully treated two patients on the spot, the crowd of sick onlookers began to stir, their gazes toward Hong Chen growing fervent. While they didn't all suffer from terminal illnesses, many had chronic conditions that ordinary doctors could only manage, not cure, requiring lifelong medication to prevent recurrence. With the medical prowess Hong Chen had displayed, surely he could provide immediate, perhaps even permanent, relief?

For those suffering from long-term illness, this temptation was absolutely irresistible.

The atmosphere at Baojian Hall had shifted from gloom to excitement, with cheers erupting constantly. In contrast, Elder Lu and his group stood in stifled silence. The dozen or so disciples and grand-disciples, who had been the most vocal in trying to ruin Hong Chen’s reputation, now stood with stiff, pale faces, their skin burning with shame.

"Hmph, what’s so great about it? It’s all thanks to the foundation laid by Grandmaster; he’s just standing on the shoulders of a giant," the young female doctor muttered through gritted teeth.

"Lou Li, I chose the wrong student in you," Elder Lu said, his brow arching as he glanced at her before turning his gaze toward the middle-aged female doctor among his disciples, his tone cold and indifferent.

The young doctor realized instantly that the "student" referred to her, and her face turned deathly pale. "Grandmaster, I..."

Elder Lu said flatly, "Divine Doctor Hong’s top-three finish in the Medical Saint Competition was no empty fame. I was disappointed earlier when he refused the challenge, thinking he lacked the drive and courage of youth, which is why I didn't stop you from being disrespectful or making baseless accusations. But now, with the facts before your eyes, you still insist on lying? Is this the caliber of students I, Lu Meng, have raised?"

Though his tone was soft, his words carried immense weight.

The young doctor felt as if she had been struck, her body trembling and tears welling in her eyes. The middle-aged female doctor, feeling a pang of sympathy, sighed and whispered, "Xiao Jiao, go and apologize to Divine Doctor Hong later. Be sincere. If he forgives you, I will plead your case to the Grandmaster."

As she spoke, she glanced at Elder Lu, who remained silent. The middle-aged doctor breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could say more, a cry of astonishment rang out.

Hong Chen had finished treating the middle-aged woman. Where she had once been listless, she was now radiant, holding her head in her hands and laughing happily like a child who had just received a treat.

Elder Lu rose abruptly; he could no longer sit still. He could have treated the first two patients, though not with such immediate results, but this case was completely beyond his capabilities. Since it was a psychiatric condition, outward appearances did not guarantee a true cure. Driven by a powerful urge, he wanted to personally re-examine her to find the truth.

Elder Lu strode forward, followed by his disciples. When he requested to re-examine the patient, Director Gao hesitated, looking to Hong Chen. Only when Hong Chen nodded did he agree.

While Elder Lu was re-examining the woman, Hong Chen began treating the final patient. Elder Lu took four minutes for his check-up, and Hong Chen took only two minutes longer. After the final needle was withdrawn from the old man, he sat up as if rising from the dead, stood, patted his stomach, and began pacing back and forth, chuckling and muttering, "It’s gone, it’s all gone..."

Four severe cases, cured in less than half an hour—this miracle stunned everyone present.

Boom!

The scene erupted. Hong Chen glanced at the patients, who were eyeing him like wolves, his expression flickering. He shouted to Qi Gang, "I'm going to the restroom!" and bolted into the shop, his retreat hurried and ungraceful.

***

Fifty meters away from the first branch of Baojian Hall, inside a white sedan parked on the roadside, Elder Qi turned to the three people in the back seat and smiled with a hint of triumph. "Are you finally convinced?"

The three were Director Chen, whom Hong Chen had met twice before, and the head and deputy head of the Qing City First Hospital.

When Elder Qi had received the call from Qi Gang, he had contacted the hospital head directly, proposing to send four severe patients—one each from neurology, dermatology, internal medicine, and orthopedics—to Baojian Hall. The head had been hesitant, fearing the hospital would bear the responsibility if anything went wrong. Only after Elder Qi promised to take full responsibility, and with the support of Director Chen, had he reluctantly agreed.

Even then, they remained worried, so the head, the deputy head, and Director Chen had come along in case of an emergency.

It was clear now that their worries were entirely superfluous. Hong Chen’s medical skills were nothing short of miraculous; the Qing City First Hospital had no effective treatment plans for these patients, let alone the ability to cure them on the spot.

The hospital head pondered for a moment, his face turning solemn. "Old Qi, we’ve known each other for over a decade. Based on that friendship, I’m giving you an important task that you must fulfill. I know that a talent like Divine Doctor Hong is beyond our hospital's reach, but I hope he can at least hold an honorary position with us."

Elder Qi’s expression tightened, and he smiled bitterly. "That kid hates trouble more than anything..."

The head raised a hand. "He already told me that. It’s precisely because it’s difficult that I’m asking you, old friend. How about this? If he agrees, and if he successfully advances to the provincial qualifiers, I will personally introduce him to the head of the Provincial First Hospital. It would be a great help to both him and Baojian Hall."

Elder Qi’s eyes flickered. This time, he didn't refuse. After a moment of silence, he sighed, "Don't get your hopes up too high. I can only say I'll try my best."

Fifty meters away from the white sedan where Elder Qi and the others sat, a black Audi was parked on the opposite side of the road. Its windows were tinted, concealing the people inside.