Zhou Wan Nong had always had a poor relationship with her uncle and aunt's family. If she hadn't encountered Long Xiao Lin's emergency admission while on duty, she wouldn't have bothered to look at Lin Mei Qiao, let alone indulge her. Without hesitation, she retorted:
"Ms. Lin, even if you want to slander me with a guilty conscience, you should at least consider the occasion! If it weren't for me, Director Lin, and a group of doctors and nurses working tirelessly, your son would have been long gone!"
She paused, then added in an even more irrefutable tone:
"Also, I've already called for a doctor with even more exceptional medical skills to assist in the rescue. By my calculations, they should be here soon. If you don't want to be the one to send your son off to the afterlife, then get out immediately..."
"Pfft—"
Before Zhou Wan Nong could finish speaking, Lin Mei Qiao couldn't hold back her laughter and sprayed it out. She looked up and down at Lin Hui Chun, who was frantically trying to maintain Long Xiao Lin's vital signs, with utter contempt. She said sarcastically:
"Zhou Wan Nong, do you even think before you lie? In front of Director Lin, which local doctor in Ju Xian City dares to claim their medical skills are more exceptional? Since even Director Lin admits he's incapable of treating my son, then all of you, get out of the way and watch how the divine physician Nangong performs his miracle cure!"
As her words fell, a group of over a dozen bodyguards immediately pushed aside the doctors and nurses, led by Lin Hui Chun and Zhou Wan Nong, in a show of force. The woman who had been arrogant and domineering moments before now rushed to Nangong Yi beside her with a fawning smile:
"Divine Physician Nangong, thank you for your hard work."
"The reclusive divine physician of Yan Bei, Nangong Yi?"
Lin Hui Chun, who had been puffing his chest out and turning red in the face, wanting nothing more than to storm off, immediately lost his temper upon seeing Nangong Yi, who was dressed in a Tang suit.
In terms of age, Nangong Yi was at least ten years his senior. Both had white hair and beards, and appeared frail, yet Nangong Yi looked even more vigorous than him.
In terms of reputation, Nangong Yi's name echoed throughout the domestic and international medical community, especially in the Yan Bei region where he was a household name. Lin Hui Chun's name, however, was barely known outside of Ju Xian City. Truly, one was in heaven and the other on earth.
Zhou Wan Nong was not surprised by the sudden appearance of Nangong Yi, whose whereabouts were usually elusive. After all, Nangong Yi had treated her maternal grandfather a few days prior. Thus, she couldn't help but kindly remind him:
"Divine Physician Nangong, my cousin was likely injured by a martial arts expert with hidden internal energy. His limbs and bones are shattered, his internal organs are severely damaged, and he even has a fatal concussion and cerebral hemorrhage. A slight misstep could lead to sudden death. Please do not push yourself. If it's truly impossible, we can wait for our hospital's Dr. Chen to arrive before making further plans."
Nangong Yi, always self-assured, disregarded the fact that Zhou Wan Nong was Long Ao Tian's granddaughter and boasted indignantly:
"Hmph! Who are you trying to scare? I've been practicing medicine for decades and have encountered countless cases of severe injuries from martial arts hidden energy. I have extensive experience and don't need you to worry unnecessarily!"
He had originally intended to wait for Lin Mei Qiao to beg a little longer before making his move, but Zhou Wan Nong's words made him eager to showcase his medical skills. As he spoke, he calmly walked to the rescue bed and personally examined Long Xiao Lin's injuries.
Soon, his confidence was replaced by horror, and large beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
He had naively assumed that even if Long Xiao Lin's injuries were severe, they wouldn't be beyond saving. After all, Long Xiao Lin was Long Ao Tian's grandson. Who would dare to inflict such serious harm?
Lin Mei Qiao had also always believed that Long Xiao Lin's injuries were not that severe. She was convinced that the Central Hospital's failure to save him since noon was intentional on Zhou Wan Nong's part, aiming to indirectly kill her son. Thus, she instilled her malicious suspicions into Nangong Yi.
Seeing Nangong Yi engrossed in examining Long Xiao Lin without performing any rescue, and even breaking out in a sweat, Lin Mei Qiao couldn't help but urge him cautiously:
"Divine Physician Nangong, I beg you, please quickly awaken my son. I'm waiting to ask who injured him like this!"
"You..."
Nangong Yi thought about how he had repeatedly stumbled with Long Ao Tian and his grandson, Long Xiao Lin, and wished he could curse Lin Mei Qiao out!
What do you mean Zhou Wan Nong wishes your son would die sooner? If it weren't for her tirelessly maintaining your son's vital signs, your son would have died hundreds of times over, damn it!
But despite his anger, Nangong Yi knew that the urgent priority was to find an excuse to leave. If he lingered any longer and Long Xiao Lin died in front of him, his reputation as a reclusive divine physician would be ruined.
Suppressing the urge to lash out at Lin Mei Qiao, he suddenly bent over, clutching his chest, and feigned extreme pain, crying out:
"Oh dear! Mrs. Ye, this is truly unfortunate. My old ailment has suddenly flared up. My heart is hurting terribly. You'll have to find someone else for your son's condition!"
As he spoke, he no longer cared about the gossip he would face from those present and made to slip away shamefully.
However, upon remembering that Long Xiao Lin's grandfather was Long Ao Tian, he dared not leave entirely. After some thought, he decided to pretend to be concerned and reminded her:
"By the way, Mrs. Ye, there is a Super Doctor King named Chen Xiao in Ju Xian City. Although he is young, his medical skills far surpass mine. Coincidentally, Old Master Ye also knows him. Perhaps you could ask him to try?"
"Super Doctor King Chen Xiao?"
Lin Mei Qiao's mind went blank. She racked her brain but couldn't recall any divine physician or master healer in Ju Xian City whom she had never heard of.
Zhou Wan Nong smiled without speaking, as she knew better than anyone that Nangong Yi had suffered a loss at Chen Xiao's hands before.
Lin Hui Chun's eyes lit up, and he proudly interjected:
"Divine Physician Nangong also knows Dr. Chen? To be honest, he is the doctor on duty in the outpatient department of our Central Hospital's emergency room. And the person Deputy Director Zhou called for help is him. By my calculations, he should be here soon!"
"Really?"
Nangong Yi exclaimed in shock.
A few days ago, when he was invited to treat Long Ao Tian, he had personally witnessed Chen Xiao's miraculous medical skills that had cured Long Ao Tian in mere moments. He had been so astonished that he was about to kneel and beg to become Chen Xiao's disciple, only to be driven away by military knives and bullets.
Since then, he had been lingering in Ju Xian City, hoping to find Chen Xiao and become his disciple.
However, due to the covert interference of the border troops in the northern region, he had been unable to gather any information about Chen Xiao, let alone find him.
Now, to learn unintentionally that Chen Xiao was about to arrive, he became incredibly excited and eagerly pleaded with Lin Hui Chun:
"Director Lin, could I trouble you to put in a good word for me with Dr. Chen later? To be honest, I wish to become his disciple and learn acupuncture."
As if by coincidence, Chen Xiao arrived at that moment. He hadn't even had time to change out of his casual attire, which made him look like a vibrant college student.
"Dr. Chen? Is... is that really you?"
Nangong Yi became even more agitated. Without thinking, and disregarding his image, he knelt down and pleaded incoherently:
"Dr. Chen, please... please accept this student as your disciple. If... if I cannot become your disciple, this student... this student will remain kneeling here forever!"