Chapter Seven: The Truly Great Physician

“How could this happen?” Sweat the size of beans rolled down Zhu Yaotang’s forehead; his expression grew increasingly frantic, and he wielded the laser scalpel with ever greater speed.

Ye Cheng immediately sensed disaster. If Zhu Yaotang continued like this, he might inflict irreparable harm on the old man’s body. Not even the gods could save him then!

“Enough! Zhu Yaotang, you can’t save him—stop this desperate struggle! Someone stop him, or the old man will die!” Ye Cheng shouted abruptly.

“Who dares to interfere? The old man is about to be cured, Ye Cheng, what nonsense are you spouting?” Xu Fengnian, oblivious to the urgency of the situation, scoffed.

“That’s right. I think you’re just afraid my brother-in-law will heal Grandpa and completely drive you out of the Luo family. So you want him to stop, so you can swoop in and take the credit,” Luo Yu chimed in.

“Ye Cheng, don’t interfere with my fiancé. He’s one of Summer’s premier doctors. Do you think he doesn’t know what he’s doing? You’re an outsider—mind your own business,” Luo Qiuyu sneered.

Though not yet married into the Zhu family, Luo Qiuyu and her kin had already thrown their lot in with Zhu Yaotang; their behavior was nauseating, utterly repulsive.

But Ye Cheng cared nothing for their opinions. He cared only for the old man’s life.

“Commander Qin! Please restrain Zhu Yaotang. We can renegotiate matters concerning Old Qin,” Ye Cheng murmured, unable to bear seeing such a good man perish on the operating table.

“Agreed!” Qin Siyuan replied joyfully, bowed in respect, then acted with lightning speed.

Zhu Yaotang was seized at once, struggling frantically. “Let me continue—let me continue! Where did I go wrong?”

His resistance lasted only until a resounding slap split the air.

Qin Siyuan struck him hard, voice full of fury: “Open your eyes and look! The old man’s vital signs are dangerously unstable. See what you’ve done! You dare to keep going? You call this saving a life? This is murder!”

“I…I don’t understand,” Zhu Yaotang’s right cheek burned red; he collapsed to the floor, as if released, utterly despondent.

“What’s there not to understand? You simply can’t cure him,” Ye Cheng said coldly, stepping forward. “I told you: only I can save him.”

“If I can’t save him, what makes you think you can? If you succeed, I’ll yield my reputation as a top physician to you—and Qiuyu as well!” Zhu Yaotang, enraged and reckless, shouted.

“As you wish,” Ye Cheng replied, not bothering to argue, and moved directly to the old man’s side. He drew out rows of slender silver needles, their tips glinting coldly beneath the surgical lights, striking terror in all who watched.

“He’s using acupuncture! He’s mad!” Zhu Yaotang burst into hysterical laughter, losing all composure. “Acupuncture isn’t a legitimate method for saving lives. That case you stumbled upon was only successful because the patient practiced martial arts—pure luck!”

“This is terrible, terrible! Quickly, call the guards to stop Ye Cheng! If even Young Master Zhu failed, how can Ye Cheng do anything but doom the old man?” Luo Qiuyu and her family still tried to block Ye Cheng.

Yet with Qin Siyuan guarding him, they had no chance.

As despair clouded Luo Qiuyu’s face and curses flew at Ye Cheng, they failed to realize that, in Qin Siyuan’s eyes, Ye Cheng was finally showing his true skill. Now the old man would surely be safe.

As for Zhu Yaotang, he was nothing but a doomed clown.