One hour later, at the Xia family estate.
Dressed in a white Tencel suit, wearing yellow-rimmed glasses, and exuding an extraordinary presence, Dr. Li strode into the grand hall.
Behind him followed more than a dozen experts from the Sanji Province Western Medicine Research Institute, carrying various high-tech medical devices.
Their arrival made all the doctors present from Binhai—whether trained in Western or traditional medicine—shrink back like quails.
Dr. Li’s full name was Li Kangguo.
Seven years ago, a massive epidemic had broken out in the south, infecting over 100 million people within just three weeks.
It was Li Kangguo, leading this very team of experts, who developed an effective vaccine in time.
Within a month, the crisis was resolved, saving over 100 million infected individuals.
In the field of medicine, at least within Sanji Province, his status was unmatched.
A delighted smile spread across Xia Ruoxuan’s face. With Dr. Li here, the chances of saving Grandpa would surely be higher. Then Xia Ruoxi would finally understand that Lin Fan was nothing special, and that inviting Dr. Li had been the greatest contribution.
“Dr. Li, you’ve finally arrived. My grandfather is over there.”
Dr. Li nodded politely, then cast an arrogant glance around the room. Everyone instinctively stepped aside.
Only Zhou Yun and Xia Ruoxi remained by the bedside.
Xia Ruoxi said anxiously, “Dr. Li, just now Mr. Lin Fan stabilized my grandfather’s condition. He said we must not move him for now, and we absolutely cannot remove the silver needles.”
Zhou Yun added, “I can testify that Mr. Lin Fan’s acupoint technique and acupuncture indeed improved the Xia family head’s condition rapidly. Please wait a moment and discuss it with Mr. Lin Fan when he returns.”
Dr. Li stared at Zhou Yun and let out a mocking laugh. “Zhou Yun? The so-called divine physician? I’ve heard of you.”
“Everyone knows that traditional medicine is useless. At best, it can only help regulate minor ailments like headaches or colds.”
“To treat serious diseases—especially malignant cancers and acute conditions—you need Western medicine to be effective.”
“The number of people I, Li Kangguo, have saved with my research is probably more than ten thousand of you ‘divine physicians’ could manage in eighteen lifetimes combined.”
After saying that, he scanned the room again. “If anyone disagrees, speak up.”
Zhou Yun was the pillar of Binhai’s medical field, and many of the doctors present were his students or disciples.
Those words were a slap in the face to every medical professional in Binhai.
Yet no one could match Dr. Li’s achievements. They could only swallow their anger in silence.
Zhou Yun’s face turned extremely grim. “Traditional medicine is a treasure of our nation. Just because I, Zhou Yun, may not be able to save acute patients with it does not mean others cannot achieve results equal to Western medicine.”
Dr. Li snorted coldly. “If you can’t, then admit you can’t. No need for nonsense.”
He then looked at Xia Ruoxi. “Second Miss, please step aside.”
Remembering Lin Fan’s instructions, Xia Ruoxi spread her arms wide. “Before Lin Fan returns, no one is allowed to touch my grandfather!”
Xia Ruoxuan walked up beside Dr. Li and said earnestly, “Little sister, it’s a good thing Lin Fan stabilized Grandpa’s condition.”
“But Dr. Li is the greatest Western medicine expert in Sanji Province. Now that he’s here, do we still need Lin Fan to trouble himself?”
“Let Dr. Li take a look at Grandpa.”
Dr. Li made a decisive call. “Set up the equipment. Prepare my latest special medicine.”
Seeing that she couldn’t stop them, Xia Ruoxi’s eyes reddened with urgency. “No! Sister! Grandpa’s condition has been improving—everyone saw it! Lin Fan said we must not move him, and we absolutely must not remove the needles, or something terrible will happen!”
Xia Ruoxuan’s expression darkened as she waved her hand dismissively. “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about letting your Lin Fan take the credit. Don’t you know what matters most?”
For the first time, Xia Ruoxi argued back sharply, her face flushed red. “Lin Fan has a ninety percent chance of saving Grandpa! Can Dr. Li guarantee he’ll take full responsibility if something goes wrong?!”
Hearing this challenge, Dr. Li responded firmly, “Yes! My latest special Western medicine has already passed clinical trials. One injection will show immediate results and ensure a four-year survival rate for the patient!”
With a gesture of his hand, the dozen experts behind him immediately began setting up equipment around the Xia family head.
At that moment, Lin Fan returned, carrying freshly prepared medicinal soup. He rushed in and shouted, “Do not remove the needles!”
“My treatment for the Xia family head is only one step away from completion. Once he drinks my medicinal soup, he will recover quickly within a short time.”
Xia Ruoxi trembled and said urgently, “Dr. Li! Let my grandfather drink the medicine first! We can observe the results before proceeding—it won’t be too late!”
But Xia Ruoxuan brushed her aside. “Little sister! You may be good at business, but in other matters, you should listen to me!”
Dr. Li stepped forward, took out a syringe of Western medicine, injected it directly, and then removed the silver needles from the Xia family head’s body.
“These few thin needles stuck in him, and you still think—”
Pfft…
Before he could finish speaking, the old man’s eyes suddenly widened as he spat a mouthful of blood straight onto Dr. Li’s face.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep…
The surrounding machines blared emergency alarms.
In the next second, blood began pouring from the old man’s mouth and nose.
Dr. Li hurriedly wiped the blood off his face and checked the old man’s pupils.
His entire body went numb, as if struck by lightning. “Dilated pupils! This is a sign of certain death! It must be Lin Fan’s needles that killed him!”
Smack!
Boom!
Xia Ruoxi was furious beyond control. She slapped him across the head, then kicked him to the ground with her white sneaker and began stomping on him.
“I told you not to remove the needles! I told you not to remove the needles! You’ll pay with your life!”
Xia Ruoxuan’s eyes turned bloodshot. Breaking from her usual demeanor, she grabbed Lin Fan and pleaded in tears, “Please! Save my grandfather! If you bring him back, I’ll give you anything!”
Regret consumed her. If her grandfather died like this under Dr. Li’s hands, she would become the greatest sinner of the Xia family—the most unfilial descendant.
Although the research institute experts had seen many critical situations, the current state of the Xia family head left no room for rescue. They descended into chaos, none daring to attempt any emergency measures.
In desperation, Zhou Yun and the Binhai doctors pushed them aside roughly.
“Mr. Lin Fan! Please think of a way!”
Dr. Li collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.
The Xia family wielded immense power. If they held him accountable, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough to pay for it.
At this point, he knew he had to make Lin Fan the scapegoat.
He struggled to his feet and shouted, “It was Lin Fan’s reckless acupuncture that caused this! He made me miss the chance to save the Xia family head. He’s committing murder!”
Xia Ruoxuan dragged Lin Fan to the bedside and drove her knee into Dr. Li’s abdomen. “Get lost!”
Lin Fan raised his hand calmly. “Stay calm. Let me think.”
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point.
Lin Fan placed his hand on the artery in the old man’s thigh, pondered for a moment, then let out a slow breath.
“Although there is no pulse at the wrist, the major artery still shows a pulse. That means there’s still a chance to save him.”
“The difficulty has now increased tenfold. Xia Ruoxuan, Xia Ruoxi, you are blood-related to him. Each of you draw 100 milliliters of fresh blood for me.”
“I will use Blood-Transforming Powder to draw out the toxins accumulated in his abdomen… and reverse his fate.”