Zhang Yang’s words indeed drew the attention of the middle-aged doctor. For such a long time since the incident, only one manager had come from the restaurant, and soon after arriving, he disappeared, becoming unreachable afterward.
Although this was a matter between the patients and the restaurant, not largely concerning the hospital, many patients were unconscious and hadn't paid a single penny.
Saving lives was the hospital's duty, but they wouldn't work for free. Now that the main responsible party had been found, it was best to have him put down some money first, ensuring the hospital wouldn't work in vain.
“You are the owner of the restaurant! Do you know how serious this situation is?”
The middle-aged doctor immediately adopted an officious tone, questioning Mi Zhicheng, ignoring Zhang Yang and the young doctor.
Mi Zhicheng shot Zhang Yang a look filled with resentment, inwardly cursing. Despite his continuous opposition to Zhang Yang getting involved with Mi Xue, Zhang Yang was still her uncle. He hadn't expected Zhang Yang to be so venomous as to sell him out instantly.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yang paid him no mind at that moment; he was still focused on the young doctor.
“Who are you?” the young doctor asked Zhang Yang, slightly surprised.
“Never mind who I am. How many patients are there in total? Are they all in this condition?”
Zhang Yang replied casually, a pill materializing in his hand, which he slipped into the patient's mouth, using his inner energy to push it down, as the patient’s throat was damaged and swallowing was impossible.
This was his newly formulated Detoxification Pill. This high-efficiency pill could effectively alleviate the patient’s poisoning, but it was ineffective against the severe burning in this patient’s throat, which still required surgical intervention.
“He can’t ingest…”
The young doctor managed to call out just as Zhang Yang completed the action. He had intended to say the patient couldn't eat anything, but now he could only drop it; the substance was already swallowed.
“There are thirteen patients in total this time; one was already dead upon arrival. The remaining twelve are all critical, in a dangerous phase. However, not many have throat burns like this patient; he’s the only one!”
The young doctor hesitated, but eventually answered as Zhang Yang had inquired. Even he didn't know why he was answering this way, cooperating with someone he didn't know, who was even younger than himself.
“Twelve? All poisoned by the same substance?”
Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed slightly. One person was already dead, and twelve others were deeply poisoned. This accident was undoubtedly a major disaster.
“Yes. Seven are currently undergoing gastric lavage. Three slightly less severe ones are being resuscitated and will likely also need gastric lavage. Another one, similar to this patient, is severe and requires surgery. However, that one has severe lung infection, which I am helpless with. But I can perform the throat surgery; I am confident I can save this man!”
The young doctor spoke rapidly, not knowing why he was divulging all this to this stranger.
Hearing about a patient with a severe lung infection, Zhang Yang’s brow twitched involuntarily. Lung infections are extremely dangerous, especially those resulting from deep poisoning; they carry immediate life threats.
“You can perform throat surgery?”
Zhang Yang turned back to the patient on the stretcher and asked the young doctor in a low voice.
“Yes. I performed them during my internship in Huhai, and I’ve done three tracheotomies here. I have extensive, flawless experience!”
The young doctor immediately nodded. Other surgeries were beyond him, but he had performed this type of incision surgery, including tracheotomies, many times.
Zhang Yang glanced at the patient again, then nodded once.
The poison in the patient was suppressed by Zhang Yang’s pill, temporarily stabilizing the immediate danger, but the throat burn could not wait; the patient was still struggling to breathe.
If this were the only critical patient, Zhang Yang could perform the surgery himself and save him smoothly. Unfortunately, there was another patient with a more severe lung infection, which, if untreated promptly, would be far more perilous than the throat injury.
There was no time to lose; time was life. Zhang Yang disregarded that this was Lieshan People's Hospital and decided to overstep his bounds just this once.
“You come here. Give these three pills to the patients who haven't had gastric lavage yet; have them take them first. Then, take me to the patient with the lung infection!”
Zhang Yang pointed at the two nurses. Both nurses froze, instinctively glancing at the young doctor.
The young doctor gritted his teeth and instinctively said, “Listen to him! Obey everything he says!”
Even he felt he was going mad, unsure why he trusted Zhang Yang so completely. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He also desperately wanted the patient treated quickly. “This patient needs immediate surgery. His operation is yours. Don't feel any pressure. Act when you need to act. If the patient suffers an unexpected turn, that would be the true regret. Be true to your conscience!”
Zhang Yang instructed the young doctor before leaving with the nurse. The young doctor watched Zhang Yang go, a sudden trace of resolution in his eyes.
The patient was in grave danger and could die at any moment without treatment. He was a doctor, responsible for the patient, not the hospital administration.
This young man, whom he trusted despite meeting him for the first time, had given him immense courage. He decided to prioritize saving the patient, no matter what, securing the life first.
From the hospital’s perspective, his actions were wrong, even a violation of protocol.
Without patient consent or hospital approval, all responsibility would fall on him if something went wrong. He could simply ignore it; even if the patient died, it would have nothing to do with him.
But he couldn't live with himself if he did that.
A healer’s heart is like a parent’s. Watching a patient die before him when he had the ability to save them—that would never make a good doctor.
If he acted this way, he might leave the medical profession forever.
He no longer hesitated and immediately ordered preparations for surgery. Meanwhile, the director was already dragging Mi Zhicheng away to find hospital leadership to demand a deposit for these patients.
It seemed, in his eyes, the deposit was paramount.
Following the nurse, Zhang Yang soon arrived at an emergency room where only one nurse remained—no doctor in sight. Just seeing this, Zhang Yang understood the hospital had given up on this patient.
This patient’s condition was indeed dire: breath shallow, complexion waxy yellow, hovering on the brink of death.
“You, what are you doing?”
Seeing Zhang Yang enter, the remaining nurse called out unhappily. She was left watching a dying patient and naturally felt displeased.
“I am a doctor. I need to treat this patient immediately!”
Zhang Yang’s face darkened. The hospital’s irresponsibility also angered him, but this wasn't the time to pursue accountability; saving the person was the priority.
“You’re a doctor? I’ve never seen you…”
“Silence!”
Before the nurse could finish, Zhang Yang turned and glared at her. Struck by his gaze, the nurse choked back the rest of her words, watching Zhang Yang fearfully.
She felt utterly weak, unable to move. Zhang Yang was a master of the Fourth Layer; the frustration in his heart naturally radiated a sliver of imposing pressure, which was more than a minor nurse like her could resist.
Touching the patient's pulse points, Zhang Yang’s expression grew even more grim.
This patient had the deepest poisoning, compounded by a lung infection. The hospital had only given him emergency support and IV drips of antitoxin—an action tantamount to murder.
Even if resuscitation was difficult, the hospital should have exerted maximum effort. If the county hospital lacked the capacity, they should transfer him to the municipal hospital; if the municipal hospital couldn't handle it, then to the provincial one. Leaving him like this offered only one outcome.
Zhang Yang could guess why. These people wore simple clothes, and Mi Ji’s Porridge Stall wasn't a major eatery, just a small place selling stir-fries. Who eats at such a place but the common folk?
Ultimately, the hospital was worried about non-payment.
Hospitals now operate on self-funding. Treating deeply poisoned patients involves substantial expenses, so their concerns were understandable, but this approach was still unacceptable. A hospital should not be solely consumed by monetary concerns.
Taking out his acupuncture kit, Zhang Yang selected several silver needles and quickly inserted them into several critical points on the patient.
This patient was lucky. Had Zhang Yang not arrived, he likely wouldn't have lasted half an hour, perhaps not even seeing his family one last time.
With Zhang Yang here, his life was at least secured. If Zhang Yang was present, it wouldn't be easy for a patient to die here.
After inserting over twenty needles, Zhang Yang let out a slight breath. The patient would not die immediately, but saving him wouldn't be easy. Crucial treatment time had been wasted; the lung infection was already severe.
To put it bluntly, the entire lung was nearly rotten.
Zhang Yang didn't hesitate, pulling out a bottle from his canvas bag and pouring out a single, luminous green pill.
As the pill emerged, a rich, fragrant scent flooded the entire ward. This was a spiritual medicine Zhang Yang had recently synthesized using the divine herbs provided by the Long family—it was called the Regeneration Pill.
Regeneration Pill—its function was clear from the name. For healing and saving lives, its efficacy surpassed even the Immortal Fruit Pill.
When formulating the Regeneration Pills, Zhang Yang had added Millennium Jade Rhizome, doubling the yield and slightly enhancing the medicinal effect compared to standard Regeneration Pills.
With surgery alone, this patient could have survived, but not for long. His lungs were too damaged; conventional treatment would only postpone death by a few years, leading to an inevitable end.
Since Zhang Yang encountered him, he would save him completely. Even the best spiritual medicine is ultimately an inert object; it only realizes its full potential by saving lives.
The two young nurses felt a little dizzy as the fragrance quickly dissipated.
The pill was already sent into the patient’s mouth. This man’s life was now truly saved. He had turned misfortune into a blessing; after taking the spirit medicine, his body would be much healthier than before, making it hard even to catch a minor cold in the future.
“Take him to a regular ward. Let him rest well. Do not perform gastric lavage, and do not remove the needles; I will take them out later,” Zhang Yang said slowly.
The two nurses subconsciously nodded. Throughout the entire process, neither knew who Zhang Yang was, or even that he wasn't affiliated with their hospital.