Chapter 44 I Want Your Hand

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 I Want Your HandFu Bing stood her ground and nodded slightly. "Please enlighten me, Elder Lu." Lu Ji was very dissatisfied with Fu Bing’s arrogance. It was just a stroke of blind luck, her managing to save several Su Family members in a row. If it weren’t for Fu Bing bursting onto the scene, *he* would have been the Su Family’s benefactor. How could this amateur, who didn’t even understand the basics of healing, get to show off now? Under everyone’s gaze, Lu Ji, feigning profound skill, pressed a few of Liang Liyuan’s acupoints and then shouted, "Awaken!" The crowd was shocked. They could treat illnesses like this? Lu Ji stood up, awaiting the crowd’s praise. One second, two seconds, three seconds passed... Instead of the expected applause, whispers rippled through the onlookers. "Why do I feel like Liang Liyuan’s condition has worsened?" "You’re not mistaken. He’s already convulsing and incontinent." Lu Ji looked down. Liang Liyuan’s face had turned a deathly, purplish-red. Su Junxian signaled for Li Rui and his medical team to approach. Lu Ji blocked their path to Liang Liyuan. "Dr. Li’s medical skills are well-known to all. As for Miss Fu’s skills, we’ve only heard tales; none of us have witnessed them. Why not let Miss Fu try?" Li Rui frowned. "A life is at stake. We must save him first; we can discuss this later." Li Rui primarily practiced Western medicine, but he also held great respect for traditional Chinese medicine. However, he detested practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine who merely muddied the waters. Western and traditional Chinese medicine were meant to be complementary, each drawing on its unique strengths. Western medicine, with its clear standards and data, could be disseminated more effectively. Yet, it often fell short when dealing with complex and unusual illnesses, where traditional Chinese medicine excelled. Traditional Chinese medicine relied on intuition, insight, and the individual practitioner’s skill. Take Fu Bing’s treatment of the three Su Family members, for example. Her calm and composed demeanor made it look deceptively simple. But to swiftly extract effective methods from the vast and intricate body of traditional Chinese medical knowledge and apply them correctly—that was a talent one couldn’t simply learn. Though he had never met Fu Bing, he already admired her greatly. Lu Ji simply wanted to drag Fu Bing down with him. Lu Zhan sneered, "Afraid your reputation is unearned and you’ll become a laughingstock, is that it?" All eyes turned to Fu Bing, awaiting her counter. Fu Bing said, "If I cure him, Elder Lu, you must promise me one thing." "Name it!" Lu Ji snapped. "That you will never again use your deceitful tricks on anyone." Lu Zhan erupted. "Are you calling my master a fraud? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! Countless people here have been healed by my master, yet you dare accuse him with a mere flick of your tongue! You must have a death wish!" Fu Bing retorted calmly, "The true level of your and your master’s medical skills is plain for all to see." Lu Ji pressed, "And if you fail to cure Liang Liyuan?" "Then I will never treat another patient again." "That’s not enough!" A cruel smile spread across Lu Ji’s face. "If you can’t cure him, I want your right hand!" Without her hand, how could she act? How could she save people? Fu Bing’s brow twitched. Could this man be responsible for breaking Uncle He’s hand? "In that case," Fu Bing said, her voice firm, "my terms must change as well. If I cure him, I want *your* right hand." Without a moment’s hesitation, Lu Ji replied, "Deal!" Lu Zhan began worriedly, "Master—" But Lu Ji was supremely confident, eagerly anticipating Fu Bing’s humiliation. He had sealed several of Liang Liyuan’s vital acupoints. With Fu Bing’s rudimentary skills, she’d never be able to unblock them. Fu Bing knelt beside Liang Liyuan. She carefully adjusted his head and neck to ensure his airway was open, then used a handkerchief from Wu Shi to wipe the foam from his mouth. Next, she reached into his mouth and removed an obstruction. Only then did she wipe her hands and take his pulse. This initial series of careful actions alone impressed the onlookers. Everyone was, after all, mortal and susceptible to illness. If they had to choose between Lu Ji and Fu Bing, they would much prefer a meticulous and respectful doctor like Fu Bing. Lu Ji inwardly scoffed. Only the unskilled resorted to such cheap tricks to curry favor. Fu Bing withdrew her hand and shot Lu Ji a sharp glance. To set a trap for me, he even sealed Liang Liyuan’s acupoints. If treatment wasn’t immediate, Liang Liyuan could die at any second. What a malicious man. Fu Bing produced a set of acupuncture needles and swiftly began inserting them into Liang Liyuan’s body. Lu Ji had been watching idly, anticipating Fu Bing’s failure. Suddenly, his pupils constricted as he stared intently at Fu Bing. This technique... it resembled his Junior Sister’s, yet it was slightly different. Fu Bing then took out a disposable needle-scalpel and made a swift incision on each of Liang Liyuan’s shoulders. When she withdrew the instrument, blood spurted from the small wounds. Liang Liyuan twitched a few times but still showed no sign of regaining consciousness. A smug look on his face, Lu Zhan jeered, "And here I thought you were actually skilled." Wu Shi shot him an icy glance. Lu Zhan instantly felt as if a ferocious beast had fixed its eyes on him, and a cold sweat broke out down his back. Su Junxian and Li Rui were on pins and needles for Fu Bing. Su Junxian frantically racked his brain, trying to figure out how to get Fu Bing out of this predicament. The Su Family’s reputation could take the hit; saving Fu Bing’s hand was paramount. Lu Ji watched as Fu Bing collected her last needle. Liang Liyuan still showed no sign of waking, and Lu Ji gloated inwardly. "President Su, be so kind as to bring the knife," Lu Ji called out. Then, feigning sympathy, he said to Fu Bing, "Such a pity, Miss Fu. So young, and about to lose your hand." Fu Bing offered a calm smile. "Bringing the knife is correct. However..." Her bright, dark eyes glinted. "...it’s for Elder Lu." The words had barely left her lips when Liang Shaozhen’s voice, choked with tears of joy, cried out, "Dad...!" Liang Liyuan stared blankly at his surroundings, still disoriented. Li Rui quickly examined him. Confirming he was stable, Li Rui immediately had him placed on a stretcher and taken inside to be cleaned up. Lu Ji stared at Fu Bing, utterly shocked. This... How could this be possible? Wu Shi produced a short knife and silently offered it to Lu Ji. Cold sweat dripped down Lu Ji’s face. He glared furiously at Wu Shi, refusing to take the knife. Fu Bing stated, "Elder Lu, a gentleman’s word is his bond. You were the one who proposed this wager. Proceed!" Lu Zhan interjected, "My master graciously gave you a chance to showcase your skills! Don’t be so ungrateful!" "I’d say your master was jealous I stole his spotlight and wanted to cripple my hand to ruin my future!" Fu Bing retorted, then turned her gaze to Su Junxian. "President Su, you witnessed everything. Shouldn’t Elder Lu concede and honor the terms of the bet?" Su Junxian had long harbored a dislike for Lu Ji. Previously, they had to practically beg him multiple times just to examine a patient, and his fees were exorbitant. They’d paid, but he often failed to appear. It had infuriated both him and his father to the point of smashing several antiques in frustration. Back then, they hadn’t dared to offend Lu Ji, fearing he might genuinely possess a cure for Su Junxian’s mother’s illness. But now, Lu Ji had brought this entirely upon himself. Su Junxian felt no need to spare Lu Ji any face. "Elder Lu," he said firmly, "you ought to set an example for the younger generation. Please, honor your word!" Lu Ji trembled with rage, trapped and unable to back down with dignity. He viciously kicked Lu Zhan, who stood beside him. "I’ve raised you for so many years! It’s time you repaid your debt to me!" Lu Zhan, stunned by this sudden turn, was left utterly dumbfounded. Fu Bing stated coolly, "The wager was with you, Elder Lu, not your disciple." "I am his master!" Lu Ji retorted. "What’s wrong with a disciple taking punishment in his master’s stead?" With that, Lu Ji snatched the knife from Wu Shi and swung it savagely at Lu Zhan’s hand. "AAAAARGH—!" Lu Zhan’s bloodcurdling scream tore through the quiet night. Instantly, Wu Shi covered Fu Bing’s eyes with his hand. In that fleeting moment, as his palm met her face, Fu Bing caught the faintest, familiar scent. It was so subtle and vanished so quickly that she had no time to identify it before it was gone.