As Zhang Yang entered, both Wu Youdao and the nurse stood up. "Since you left, his condition has remained like this. Based on our prior estimation, he wouldn't last an hour, yet now he's remarkably stable!"

Wu Youdao whispered to Zhang Yang, his unfinished sentence carrying a clear implication. Zhang Yang’s treatment had proven effective, at least in that he had prolonged the patient's life; the patient was not currently deteriorating, nor had cardiac arrest occurred. Previously, the patient's heart had stopped momentarily, only restarting after electrical resuscitation. That the patient had held on this long in the same state fully attested to Zhang Yang's effective treatment.

"Elder Wu, could you and the nurse step out for a moment, please!"

Zhang Yang nodded. He had stabilized the condition, but that didn't mean he had cured the patient. In truth, the patient was still in a critical period; his body remained in terrible shape, and without external intervention, death was almost certain. This external force was not Zhang Yang's internal Neijin; his Neijin could no longer achieve this level of effect, as internal energy was not omnipotent. Only a spiritual medicine, one imbued with spiritual energy, could achieve such a feat of bringing someone back from the brink of death.

"Very well. Take care of yourself!"

Wu Youdao glanced at Zhang Yang, spoke softly, and then ushered the nurse out of the Intensive Care Unit. Since Zhang Yang needed to treat the patient alone and didn't want them present, they had no choice but to comply.

After closing the windows, Zhang Yang returned to the patient’s bedside. He sighed, pulling out the box containing the Immortal Fruit Pills (Xianguo Dan) from his canvas bag. He originally had twenty-two pills, had used five, and now had seventeen remaining—and he was about to use another one. Without the Three-Colored Fruit (Sanse Guo), such spiritual medicine was finite. But he couldn't refrain from using it; the Xianguo Dan was his only way to save this person now. Though it meant one less spiritual medicine, at least the pill would serve its purpose. Trading one spiritual medicine for a vibrant life was a worthwhile transaction.

As soon as the spiritual medicine was exposed, the ICU instantly filled with its fragrant aroma. Flash and Shadow (Shandian and Wuying), who had been playfully wrestling on Mi Xue, both stiffened instantly, then rushed to the door of the ICU, chirping and squeaking. Unfortunately, the door was locked, and the gap at the bottom was too low; even Shadow couldn't squeeze through. Mi Xue hurried over, confused by the little ones' behavior, but knowing she couldn't let them disturb Zhang Yang.

Inside the room, Zhang Yang closed the medicine box and carefully placed the Xianguo Dan into the patient's mouth. The patient’s mouth moved unnaturally to chew and swallow the pill. This was an instinctive bodily reaction, not a conscious act—the instinct for survival compelled him to swallow the medicine. Once the pill was down, Zhang Yang closed the box again, and the medicinal fragrance instantly vanished. The scent had been fleeting, noticed only by the two spirit beasts, Flash and Shadow; everyone else sensed nothing at all.

The two little ones returned to Mi Xue, though they seemed listless. They had recognized that this was Zhang Yang’s finest spiritual medicine, the one that offered them the greatest benefit. Alas, Zhang Yang was absent, so they had no chance to beg for any.

After administering the Xianguo Dan, Zhang Yang re-applied all the silver needles, using his Neijin to help the patient absorb the residual energy and restore his internal organs. This patient was gravely ill and without preparation; Zhang Yang had to reapply the needles nearly every twenty minutes to replenish his Neijin. After only a few rounds, white vapor began to rise from Zhang Yang’s head. Thankfully, this patient wasn't like Wu Yan, requiring ten consecutive needlings. After four applications, the medicine's efficacy peaked, and the patient’s body began to recover slowly.

Only when he witnessed the swelling dissipate and the skin gradually return to normal did Zhang Yang let out a long breath. With an eighty percent certainty, he had succeeded. The Xianguo Dan had not disappointed; it truly possessed the power to revive the near-dead. The patient’s allergic reaction was completely gone, and his heart, kidneys, and other organs were slowly coming back online. Full recovery would take time and subsequent treatment, but his life had been fundamentally saved.

Tidying his tools, Zhang Yang shook his head and slowly left the ICU. The moment he emerged, every eye in the hallway turned toward him, including those of Xu Wu, the Chief of Internal Medicine, and Zhu Zhixiang, the Hospital Director.

"Zhang Yang, how is it?"

Wu Youdao was the first to approach, asking with concern.

"I have not failed in my duty. The patient is stable, though ongoing observation and treatment are still required!"

Zhang Yang nodded slightly, a trace of fatigue returning to his face. Hearing the patient was stable, Xu Wu and Tang Xiaojuan visibly relaxed. Tang Xiaojuan, the surgeon, bore the primary responsibility if the patient had died. Even if the patient perished, she wouldn't face criminal charges, but a surgical complication would remain a stain, significantly impacting her future promotions and prospects. They exchanged a glance and walked into the ICU. Zhang Yang didn't stop them this time; subsequent care was their domain, and he would not interfere further.

"And you, are you alright?"

Wu Youdao asked again, and Mi Xue also approached, looking at Zhang Yang with worry. Zhang Yang’s complexion was somewhat pale, showing clear exhaustion. Mi Xue knew Zhang Yang had overexerted himself again, as he always did when treating critically ill patients.

"I'm fine, just need to rest a bit!"

Zhang Yang shook his head and looked up at Director Zhu. Director Zhu's face was now wreathed in a smile. This was another case the Provincial Hospital couldn't handle but which they, the Third Hospital, had successfully managed. The Provincial Hospital had been reluctant to accept this patient, and now they had cured him themselves, especially during the most precarious moment. Word getting out would imply the Third Hospital had outperformed the Provincial Hospital. This was the second such instance, following the sudden cardiovascular and cerebral event, which explained his elation.

"Zhang Yang, you must be hungry. Let’s get something to eat!"

Mi Xue stood before him with a lunchbox, asking gently. It was past four in the afternoon; Zhang Yang had been called in around noon and had been busy ever since; he hadn't eaten lunch at all. Wu Youdao’s brow twitched involuntarily. Zhang Yang had been working tirelessly for the hospital, yet no one seemed concerned about his meals; he had to bring his own food to eat here—this left Wu Youdao feeling indignant.

"You must be hungry too. Let’s eat first!"

Zhang Yang smiled slightly. Mi Xue's presence warmed his heart; he knew she had been waiting for him and hadn't eaten either.

"I haven't eaten either. Can I bum a meal off you two?"

Wu Youdao walked over, smiling. He hadn't eaten either, having waited here for Zhang Yang since noon, and then staying to monitor the patient until Zhang Yang emerged, well past lunchtime. Furthermore, he hadn't had the appetite to eat then.

"Elder Wu, if you don't mind, certainly!"

Zhang Yang smiled, and Mi Xue beamed even wider. There was a nurses' station nearby, so the three of them headed over without ceremony to eat. Eating in the nurses' work area slightly bent hospital rules, but no one dared to speak up at this hour. Most of the nurses had witnessed Zhang Yang scolding even the Chief of Internal Medicine; they certainly wouldn't dare to offend him. As for Wu Youdao, everyone knew he was a hospital celebrity, an authority in Traditional Chinese Medicine; his eating there was completely acceptable.

Mi Xue had brought plenty of chicken feet, but they were short on rice. In the end, Zhang Yang ran out briefly to buy some flatbreads to tide them over. The sesame cakes were quite tasty, and paired with the delicious chicken feet, the three of them ate happily. Wu Youdao even asked Mi Xue where she got the chicken feet, vowing to try them again sometime.

"Zhang Yang, do you have something in mind?"

After eating, while Mi Xue was washing the containers, Wu Youdao suddenly asked.

Zhang Yang looked up in surprise and said softly, "Elder Wu, how did you know I have an idea?"

Wu Youdao laughed wryly, "Your temperament is quite similar to mine; you dislike the way many things are handled. If you didn't have an idea, you would have voiced your opinion when you came out. Since you didn't say anything, I guessed you’ve decided against speaking up and have made other arrangements!"

Zhang Yang replied, "Elder Wu is indeed an experienced man. I won't hide it from you, Elder Wu; I do have an idea!"

The hospital’s handling of the situation had deeply disappointed Zhang Yang. To put it mildly, it seemed some doctors were acting out of concern for their reputation; to put it bluntly, it reflected their distrust or outright rejection of him. Regardless of the reason, Zhang Yang felt a surge of resentment. He wasn't someone begging to stay at the Third Hospital; he had only remained because the hospital had agreed to his stringent conditions. He hadn't worked there long, and his schedule was irregular, but Zhang Yang dared to say he had been wholeheartedly dedicated, and the facts supported this. During his tenure, he had resolved numerous difficult problems for the Third Hospital. All his efforts had been met with distrust, leading them to call him only in emergencies, costing him a precious spiritual medicine. Anyone would lose interest in a place that only sought them out as a last resort. Zhang Yang had no desire to continue serving as a mere emergency firefighter, only remembered when all else failed.

He had this thought... //Book Fan Tower fastest text update

"I don't know how to say this, but you have a contract with the hospital—a three-year contract!"

Wu Youdao sighed heavily. Zhang Yang was the one he had first recognized and vigorously recruited. Even if he didn't join the TCM department, working within the same hospital was acceptable. He held high hopes for Zhang Yang, knowing the young man had immense future potential.

Zhang Yang smiled faintly, "I know. Breaking the contract means paying a penalty fee. I will return double the previous 200,000 sponsorship plus all the bonuses!"

Hearing this, Wu Youdao immediately understood: Zhang Yang’s mind was made up, and even his persuasion might not succeed.

Guaranteed completion for today, but monthly tickets are still in the single digits. Just one more ticket will break that threshold—Xiao Yu begs for one more vote of support, okay? I failed to update yesterday due to personal reasons, but my condition today is good. Xiao Yu will continue writing and add an extra chapter to apologize.