It took a full basin of blood before Zhang Yang managed to lift the patient's arm, carefully tapping the tips of the needles at several acupoints once more.

Soon, the bleeding stopped, leaving behind only a long laceration that looked rather gruesome.

This sight made both Wu Youdao and the nurse tremble, fearing the patient might die not from the illness itself, but from excessive blood loss.

"Bandage him up first!"

Zhang Yang instructed the nurse beside him, then glanced back at the patient lying on the bed.

The patient’s heartbeat had recovered somewhat; all vital signs were rising, gradually climbing back above the critical threshold.

However, this did not mean the patient was out of danger. His allergic reaction persisted, and there was no significant improvement in his internal organs. If things continued this way, he would inevitably meet the final outcome.

That outcome was the worst possible kind.

For Zhang Yang, the patient had missed the optimal treatment window; the condition was now far too advanced. Such an ailment could not be cured by conventional means. Even the Zhang Yang of his previous life would have been helpless in this situation.

He had encountered similar scenarios before, forced to watch patients pass away, and it had been agonizing every time.

The nurse carefully dressed the wound, her face still etched with worry.

Wu Youdao’s brow was tightly furrowed. He sensed something was gravely wrong from Zhang Yang's serious expression. If Zhang Yang truly had no solution, then this patient had completely lost hope.

Zhang Yang was their last resort.

"Zhang Yang, if it’s really impossible, just let it go. Consider this a lesson!"

After a moment, Wu Youdao softly conceded. If the hospital had taken this seriously from the start and invited Zhang Yang sooner, perhaps the result would have been different.

"A lesson? Using a human life as a lesson?"

Zhang Yang let out a cold snort, his tone clearly conveying his dissatisfaction with the hospital.

In truth, Zhang Yang understood. Doctors possessed their own pride. If they immediately deferred on every issue, their authority would crumble completely; no one could accept that.

But because of this, a vibrant life was being carelessly lost because of… //Fastest text updates from FansLou

Of course, the hospital could argue that they never anticipated Zhang Yang would possess the means to help. But that excuse felt tenuous and unconvincing.

Now, more than one person knew just how remarkable Zhang Yang’s medical skills were. He had repeatedly proven his abilities at the Third Hospital. At the very least, he was no worse than those so-called experts from the Provincial Hospital, and Wu Youdao and Zhu Zhixiang both knew Zhang Yang held an equally high standard regarding respiratory diseases.

Su Shaohua was a living testament: his illness was a rare condition deemed incurable worldwide, yet Zhang Yang had already brought about significant improvement for him.

When out of options, even without absolute faith in Zhang Yang, they should have invited him to try, given his specific expertise. It was something the hospital was obligated to do.

Hearing Zhang Yang’s sharp tone, Wu Youdao could only shake his head with a wry smile.

From the patient’s perspective, the hospital’s actions were certainly wrong. But from the doctors’ standpoint, their behavior wasn't entirely incorrect; everyone yearned to prove themselves first.

Zhang Yang stood up, a sudden look of resolution crossing his face.

He walked over and lightly tapped every silver needle inserted into the patient’s body. After completing the action, he walked back, looking somewhat weary.

Zhang Yang had channeled his Neijin (Internal Energy) into the patient’s body. This energy would sustain the patient for two hours without complications, but it could only hold him for that long.

Now, there was only one way left to save him.

That method required the use of spirit medicine. Only the special efficacy of spirit medicine could bring someone back from the brink and help the patient overcome this crisis.

Zhang Yang currently possessed two types: the Thousand-Year Ginseng Pill and the Immortal Fruit Elixir.

He had used the Thousand-Year Ginseng Pill to save Wang Chen. Wang Chen’s condition was an external injury, and the pill's effects were sufficient; saving his life with one pill was well worth it.

For this current patient, the Thousand-Year Ginseng Pill would not suffice. His internal organs were severely damaged. The pill might sustain his life, but the hope of a full recovery was less than forty percent.

To cure him completely, only the Immortal Fruit Elixir offered a chance.

Even with the Immortal Fruit Elixir, the success rate was only seventy percent.

If Zhang Yang combined the seventy percent chance of the Elixir with his own intervention, he could increase it by another ten percent, reaching an eighty percent probability—meaning a very high chance of complete recovery.

"Elder Wu, I have a way to save him, but my method requires absolute secrecy. No one is allowed to be present while I treat him, including you!"

Zhang Yang turned back and said softly to Wu Youdao.

The effects of spirit medicine were far too tempting. Last time, when he used the Thousand-Year Ginseng to save Wang Chen, the people at Shanghai Hospital, even without seeing the medicine, had reacted strongly. Seeing it directly would only amplify that.

Zhang Yang held a very good impression of Wu Youdao, but he needed to protect himself. To prevent trouble, he insisted that everyone must stay away from the treatment area.

"As long as you can save the person, whatever you say goes!"

Wu Youdao immediately nodded in agreement. He was a doctor too and understood that saving the patient was the paramount concern now.

"Good. Elder Wu, please watch over him here. If anything happens, call me immediately. I need to step out for a moment."

Zhang Yang nodded. The Immortal Fruit Elixir was not on him. After using the last three, he hadn't retrieved more; he needed to go to the bank to retrieve the medicine first.

Fortunately, the bank wasn't far, and two hours was enough time.

When Zhang Yang emerged, Xu Wu and Tang Xiaojuan both wanted to question him about the situation, but Zhang Yang completely ignored them and left the hospital.

He didn't see Mi Xue as he left. While getting into a taxi, he called her and learned she had gone to Sister Zhou’s Noodle Shop to buy the chicken feet they both loved.

Mi Xue had done this specifically because she knew Zhang Yang would be too busy to eat otherwise, and this small gesture moved him somewhat.

Mi Xue thought he was done working and said she would be there shortly, asking him to wait for her.

Hanging up the phone, the suffocating feeling Zhang Yang had in the hospital lifted considerably. He immediately took a cab to the bank. A life was at stake; he could not delay. People were waiting for his spirit medicine to save them.

Spirit medicine was incredibly precious, and this patient had no connection to him. Frankly, Zhang Yang could easily have refused to treat him, abandoning the procedure.

After all, this medical mishap had nothing to do with him.

But as a doctor, someone who had been a doctor for two lifetimes, Zhang Yang could not allow himself to become so hard-hearted.

He now understood his great-grandfather better.

His great-grandfather had possessed spirit medicine back then, yet only a pitifully small amount had been passed down. It wasn't that he hadn't wanted to keep it; it was that in certain situations, he couldn't hold onto it.

Keeping the spirit medicine meant someone had to die.

A doctor who had the power to save someone but watched them perish before his eyes—any doctor with true medical ethics probably couldn't endure that.

His great-grandfather was like that, his grandfather was like that, and now, in his generation, it remained the same.

The Immortal Fruit Elixir was immensely valuable, but it was still just an inanimate object. If it could save a life, then it had fulfilled its most crucial purpose.

Zhang Yang was aware that there were countless critically ill patients nationwide, and he couldn't save them all, even with all the spirit medicine in the world.

He could ignore those he couldn't see, but he couldn't ignore the patient right before his eyes. If he had the power to save him and chose not to, he feared he would never forgive himself or be able to face himself afterward.

In half an hour, Zhang Yang reached the bank. After confirming he was unobserved, he retrieved three Immortal Fruit Elixirs and eight Thousand-Year Ginseng Pills from the safe deposit box.

Keeping more spirit medicine on hand was wise; it would prevent him from having regrets in a critical moment.

With the medicine secured, Zhang Yang rushed back to the hospital. The entire trip took only an hour.

When he returned, Mi Xue was already waiting for him. She held a lunchbox in one hand and held Lightning in the other.

"You eat first. I don't have time right now; wait until I finish, okay?"

Seeing Mi Xue, a softness entered Zhang Yang’s expression, and his mood improved significantly.

"I'll wait for you to finish, and we'll eat together. It's fine; Sister Zhou said this container keeps the food very warm!"

Mi Xue lifted the lunchbox she was holding and smiled sweetly. Zhang Yang nodded lightly and said nothing more, heading straight for the Intensive Care Unit.

"Zhang Yang, thank you for your hard work!"

There were even more people gathered at the doorway than when he left. Not only were Xu Wu and Tang Xiaojuan there, but Zhu Zhixiang had also rushed over.

He had breathed a huge sigh of relief after hearing from Wu Youdao that Zhang Yang had a solution. The patient had no powerful background; he was just an ordinary person, but having him die in the hospital would still cause complications and affect Zhu Zhixiang as well.

If he could be cured, that was best; it would save a lot of trouble.

"Director, please wait a moment. I need to attend to the urgent matter first!"

Zhang Yang’s tone toward Zhu Zhixiang was not as respectful as before. This time, a spirit medicine would be consumed, and ultimately, it was due to their delay in notifying him.

This essentially wasted one spirit medicine, so it was surprising Zhang Yang could maintain a civil tone.

"You go ahead, go ahead!"

Zhu Zhixiang nodded hurriedly. Zhang Yang paid him no further attention and entered the ICU.

In fact, Zhu Zhixiang was somewhat regretful now. He should have listened to Wu Youdao from the start instead of heeding the advice of others and calling Zhang Yang sooner.

These people feared being criticized for being surpassed by a mere intern, so they had collectively opposed Wu Youdao’s suggestion, causing Zhu Zhixiang to hesitate and not insist.

Inside the ICU, only Wu Youdao and the nurse remained. After Zhang Yang left, Wu Youdao hadn't allowed Xu Wu and the others to check the condition. Xu Wu had initially opposed inviting Zhang Yang, which ultimately led to the patient’s deterioration, causing Wu Youdao to harbor some resentment.

Simply put, Xu Wu and the others didn't want to be criticized for relying on an intern despite their advanced years and seniority.

Only after the Provincial Hospital experts failed to find a solution did they propose inviting Zhang Yang to take a look. This way, regardless of whether Zhang Yang succeeded, they wouldn't be the sole focus of scrutiny; at least the Provincial Hospital experts provided a shield.

People would first criticize the Provincial Hospital experts for being inferior to an intern from the Third Hospital, which would save their own faces somewhat.

To protect their pride, they delayed the patient’s treatment—a truly regrettable action. (To be continued) Book Network