024. Miraculous Medical Arts

Lin Shan sat to the side, watching as Deng An’s wife wept uncontrollably, her heart shattered by grief.

Hua Xiong, sensing a golden opportunity to manipulate Liu Ying, seized the moment. "Liu Ying, is this really the case?" he asked.

Before Liu Ying could respond, Ruan Yan interrupted, "Of course it is! She thought she was so capable, insisting on taking this patient off my hands. Well, look at him now!"

Ruan Yan felt a surge of relief; she was glad she had transferred the patient. In truth, she knew full well that Deng An’s condition had deteriorated because of her own negligence—she hadn't properly monitored his vitals for the past two days.

Hua Xiong, never one to miss an opportunity, snapped, "So that’s how it is. Dr. Liu, this is a serious incident. Come to my office later and explain yourself!"

His eyes were filled with malice. Once in his office, he planned to use this incident—coupled with the matter of her professional promotion—to ensure Liu Ying had no choice but to submit to him. At the mere thought of her graceful figure, he felt a thrill of excitement.

Liu Ying was frantic, her mind in chaos. Tears streamed down her face, a mixture of grievance, anger, and helplessness overwhelming her. She felt completely desperate. Her professional ideals seemed laughable now; in a place like this, there was simply no room for her to realize her ambitions.

Just then, a hand was placed gently on her shoulder. Liu Ying turned to see Lin Shan. He wore a calm expression and gave her a slight, reassuring nod. For reasons she couldn't explain, Liu Ying suddenly felt a sense of peace, as if the heavy burdens weighing on her had been lifted.

Lin Shan turned to Deng An’s wife. "Ma'am, the handover hadn't been completed when Uncle Deng suffered this episode, had it?"

The elderly woman, who had been inconsolable, calmed slightly under Lin Wei’s comforting presence. Hearing Lin Shan’s question, she looked up at Ruan Yan and said, "That’s right. My old man collapsed after Dr. Ruan left. This has nothing to do with Dr. Liu."

Ruan Yan immediately protested, "Are you implying this is my fault?"

Lin Wei, watching from the side, could no longer stay silent. "If it’s not your fault, is it the patient’s? Tell me, how many times have you been to this room in the last three days? How many times have you checked on Uncle Deng? The only time you showed up was today, just to push new medication on him. A doctor like you has absolutely no medical ethics!"

Cornered, Ruan Yan panicked and looked to Hua Xiong for help. But Hua Xiong, unwilling to shoulder the burden, merely threw out a dismissive, "Keep a close watch on the patient," and walked away.

Ruan Yan didn't dare linger, either. Thinking about how to absolve herself if the truth came to light, she hurried out of the room.

The elderly woman looked at Liu Ying with pleading eyes, pinning all her hopes on her. Liu Ying couldn't bear to meet her gaze. She knew Deng An’s condition too well; at this stage, any intervention could only delay the inevitable. Even the best medicine would only buy a little more time.

Just then, Lin Shan sat down beside Deng An. "Auntie," he said, "I learned a set of massage techniques a while ago. It might not be a cure, but it should help Uncle Deng feel more comfortable. Why don't you let me try?"

Lin Jiabao chimed in, "That's right, Auntie. Lin Shan’s massage technique is really effective. After he worked on me, I felt much more energized."

The old woman gave a bitter smile and nodded, a "grasping at straws" look in her eyes. She turned to Liu Ying and said, "Dr. Liu, please just tell me the truth. I can accept anything."

Liu Ying felt a pang of pity, but she knew the family deserved the truth. She sighed softly. "Grandma, the truth is... Uncle Deng’s condition is not optimistic. Any further treatment we provide will only serve to prolong his time with us."

The old woman’s expression withered visibly; she nodded, unable to utter another word.

Meanwhile, Lin Shan had begun using a meditative technique from the *Evergreen Arts* to assist in the treatment. Liu Ying watched with curiosity, though she remained skeptical; she knew his condition too well and assumed this would provide nothing more than psychological comfort.

Lin Shan’s hands moved rhythmically, tapping gently against Deng An’s body. His expression was solemn and focused. Gradually, Liu Ying blinked in surprise—Deng An’s furrowed brow seemed to be smoothing out.

Ruan Yan returned just then, having just "serviced" Hua Xiong to ensure he would cover for her. Upon seeing Lin Shan tapping on the patient, she couldn't help but sneer, "Hey, are you trying to slap him awake?"

Lin Shan ignored her, fully immersed in the treatment. Finding herself ignored, Ruan Yan huffed, "I’m telling you, if he ends up in worse shape because of this, I’m not taking the blame."

The old woman ignored Ruan Yan as well, for she could clearly see the changes in her husband. Four pairs of eyes watched Lin Shan intently. As Lin Shan delivered one final, firm tap to Deng An’s chest, Deng An suddenly opened his eyes and let out a long, deep breath.

"Old man!" The woman burst into tears of joy and hugged him tight.

Deng An looked bewildered. He knew his own body better than anyone and had been certain he wouldn't survive this crisis; he couldn't fathom how he had been revived.

"How is this possible?" Ruan Yan stared at Lin Shan as if she had seen a ghost. What kind of medical skill was this? A few taps on a patient in a deep coma, and he was awake?

"It actually worked?" Liu Ying was stunned. The scene before her defied everything she had learned in ten years of medical school.

The old woman sobbed as she told her husband, "Old man, thank Lin Shan. He’s the one who woke you up."

The couple recognized Lin Shan. Deng An looked at him in surprise. "Lin Shan, I had no idea you knew medicine."

Liu Ying, unable to suppress her curiosity, asked, "Lin Shan, how did you do that?"

Lin Shan held up his hands and waved them dismissively. "An old master taught me these massage techniques. It’s a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine."

Lin Shan’s explanation was brief, and Liu Ying was too busy to press for details; she immediately called the nurses to run tests on Deng An.

An hour later, Liu Ying returned to the room with the reports. Deng An was still in high spirits, showering Lin Shan with gratitude—the old couple nearly knelt to thank him.

Liu Ying held the reports, looking at Lin Shan with a complex expression. "The reports show that Uncle Deng’s vitals have all improved. It’s incredible. How on earth did you do it?"

Lin Shan chuckled. "Well, that’s my little secret..."