As Cao Baming hobbled towards the infirmary, leaning on two people for support, everyone's worry intensified. He looked worse than he had during halftime, and with him being the captain and the hope of the Tang Nation team, they couldn't afford for anything to happen to him. It was only now that they truly understood the extent of his injuries and how much he had sacrificed for this victory.
Silently, Cao Baming used the time to inquire about his physical condition, prepared for an unsatisfactory response.
"Detected left ankle sprain, ligament tear, minor bone fracture, and vital signs indicating danger. Immediate medical attention required!"
"That serious?!"
Despite his preparation, the last sentence shocked Cao Baming.
"What is the estimated recovery time?"
"With system-accelerated recovery, the estimated time is three months and four days."
"!!!"
Cao Baming was stunned. Without acceleration, the recovery period was already similar. Now, without it, it could easily be two years! Quantifying time made the situation all too clear.
He needed a few moments to calm down and process the news. Meanwhile, his teammates, unaware of the details, waited anxiously for the doctor's diagnosis, their faces no longer reflecting the joy of victory. More than whether he could play in the finals, they were moved by Cao Baming's spirit and wished for his speedy recovery. If his condition was truly severe, they vowed to prevent him from playing further, finding his suffering heartbreaking.
They soon arrived at their destination: the infirmary, its entrance marked by a wooden door. Two team doctors emerged just as they reached the threshold. Noticing their situation, they quickly opened the door before any words were spoken.
"Quick, in here!"
Only a few people followed Cao Baming into the small room, while the rest remained outside, watching with concern. The room was too cramped to accommodate everyone without hindering the medical examination.
Cao Baming lay down on the bed, awaiting the preliminary diagnosis, already knowing the outcome but curious to see how much the doctors would discern. After a few minutes, the team doctor delivered the verdict.
"No, this is very serious. We need to take him to the hospital immediately. Surgery might be necessary."
The doctor's calm tone initially left everyone momentarily stunned, but they quickly grasped the severity of the situation.
"What! Surgery?"
"How bad is it?"
"Was it Casemiro? I'll go find him right now!"
"No, it was Carlos."
"Then never mind, let him off the hook..."
His teammates soon noticed that Cao Baming on the bed seemed unfazed by the diagnosis. While the team doctor arranged for transportation, Cao Baming was not idle. To better understand his own body and assist the doctors in choosing the right treatment, he decided to learn some relevant medical knowledge himself. He wasn't willing to entrust his fate entirely to others, even doctors. At this moment, his primary concern wasn't his future health, but his desire to start in the World Cup final. The thought of missing out on the Tang Nation's best chance to win the World Cup due to his absence would haunt him for life. Even if they managed to win the championship without him, being unable to witness it firsthand due to surgery was unacceptable. Of course, the latter scenario was highly improbable; unless the opposing team suffered an outbreak of infectious disease, rendering a dozen key players unable to play within three days, they stood no chance against France. The disparity in strength was as vast as the difference between heaven and hell.
The other team members soon arrived, and the news hit them like a bolt from the blue. They had been immersed in the joy of victory, only to be plunged into despair moments later, a darkness only those within the abyss could truly comprehend.
Cao Baming got into the vehicle, and the medical team chose the nearest municipal hospital. However, as they drove, Cao Baming, sitting in the back, overheard the conversation in the passenger seat and suddenly spoke up.
"No, don't go there."
Everyone in the ambulance looked at him in surprise. Cao Baming then uttered a name.
"Aetas Center Hospital. Go there."
His tone was so firm and confident that even the doctors began to reconsider.
"But why? That place is quite far, isn't it?"
The medical personnel and accompanying teammates quickly searched for the hospital, finding it to be of similar caliber to their intended destination. Their chosen hospital was the closest to the stadium and specialized in sports injuries, while the one Cao Baming mentioned was at least a two-hour drive away.
Cao Baming didn't want to over-explain, as the advanced medical knowledge would be beyond their comprehension.
"There's a doctor at that hospital who published three articles in Nature magazine three months ago, detailing a new recovery technique. I found it to be very relevant to my injury."
"Based on the speed of approval, it should be available for use now. This hospital would likely be among the first to utilize it."
Everyone was utterly bewildered. They truly didn't understand.
"Are you saying you have a clear understanding of your injury?"
"...Yes."
While the people in the car were still contemplating, the driver continued on the pre-determined route towards the hospital near the stadium. They were almost there.
After another half a minute, a decision was made; they would trust Cao Baming's judgment. Cao Baming even began to expound on the underlying medical principles, causing the team doctor to lower his head in contemplation. Despite not knowing how he acquired such knowledge, they were deeply impressed.
The driver changed course, recalibrated the navigation system's destination, and headed towards Aetas Center Hospital.