“What? The breath stopped?” Elder Wan, being hard of hearing due to his age, misunderstood what was said.

The nearby traditional Chinese medicine doctor added, “Ah, so it’s just the breath stopping? I thought it was the ‘running piglet qi’ that stopped. Scared me half to death.”

The others shook their heads in disapproval.

Director Yuan Hai sighed deeply.

“Stop joking around!” Master Han Dai exclaimed urgently. “It really is the ‘running piglet qi’ that’s stopped! It’s not acting up anymore!”

“What?!” This time, everyone confirmed they hadn’t misheard.

Elder Wan asked again, “The ‘running piglet qi’ stopped? But the patient’s breathing didn’t stop, right?”

“Breathing? What breathing? The patient’s still alive!” Master Han Dai snapped irritably.

“Oh…” Elder Wan found himself at a loss for words.

Everyone else was dumbfounded.

After all this time, not only had the patient not died, but the ‘running piglet qi’ had stopped? Could this mean… the situation had improved?

They all stared at one another in astonishment. What on earth was happening?

Director Yuan Hai, looking around in a panic, asked, “Where’s Doctor Gao Yuan?”

Everyone immediately began searching the room.

“Yes, where’s Doctor Gao Yuan?”

From amidst the Hao family members, Hao Meiling pushed her way out and shouted anxiously, “Doctor Gao! Doctor Gao!”

“I’m here,” Gao Yuan’s voice came from outside the room.

“Please, come quickly and see my father. He’s awake!” Hao Meiling grew even more frantic.

“I’m on my way.” Gao Yuan stepped in from the shadows. The dim lighting in the main hall gradually illuminated his figure.

At that moment, Gao Yuan seemed to absorb all the surrounding light. No, in that moment, he was the light.

Everyone was mesmerized.

Gao Yuan walked steadily, each step resonating like a drumbeat in their hearts.

At this moment, his expression was solemn and resolute.

Even the doctors outside the room instinctively moved aside, creating a clear path for Gao Yuan.

He walked through the crowd and headed straight for the patient’s room.

Inside, the room was packed with people. Even Master Han Dai and Hao Meiling had to squeeze their way out to make space.

But now, as Gao Yuan approached, everyone scrambled to press themselves against the walls, leaving the center path entirely for him.

Gao Yuan strode forward, stopping directly at the patient’s side.

“Dr. Gao… please, look…” Hao Meiling’s eldest brother stammered.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Gao Yuan knelt by the patient’s bedside to examine him. The patient had regained consciousness but remained groggy, barely able to respond to simple questions. Gao Yuan touched the patient’s limbs and found them warming up. Then, he felt the patient’s pulse at the wrist and at the foot.

“How is it?” Hao Meiling asked nervously.

The other traditional Chinese medicine doctors outside tried desperately to squeeze in to get a look, but the Hao family blocked their way. Everyone was on edge, unwilling to yield even an inch.

Gao Yuan withdrew his hand and asked, “Did he take the medicine from tonight?”

“Not yet,” Hao Meiling replied.

“Administer it immediately,” Gao Yuan instructed.

“I’ll go get it!” This time, Hao Meiling’s eldest brother hurried off to fetch the medicine.

Hao Meiling looked anxiously at Gao Yuan. “Will… will my father survive?”

Gao Yuan replied calmly, “If he makes it past midnight, when Yang qi rises, he’ll survive.”

Hao Meiling quickly glanced at her watch.

“The medicine’s here!” her eldest brother called loudly from the door.

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Night deepened.

Not just the Hao family members but even the other traditional Chinese medicine doctors outside refused to leave. Though they usually went to bed early, now they were fighting off yawns. No one dared leave, or even yawn too loudly, for fear of missing a critical moment.

Director Zhu was running back and forth, torn between nervousness and excitement. Deep down, he sensed he might be witnessing a miracle.

Gao Yuan sat at the patient’s bedside like a mountain, calm and composed, his eyes closed but exuding an intimidating aura.

Everyone else held their breath in tension.

Outside the hospital, Wang Hanzhang and Dean Li sat on the steps, smoking. While everyone else was on edge, they seemed the most relaxed. Unconsciously, they had adopted Li Shengli’s bad habit of treating Gao Yuan as omnipotent.

Wang Hanzhang glanced at the patient’s room window, then stubbed out his cigarette on the ground. “Doctor Gao is sitting by the patient’s bedside again.”

Dean Li picked up the stub to check if it was completely smoked before tossing it aside. He replied, “Probably scaring King Yama again.”

Wang Hanzhang chuckled.

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“Doctor Gao, it’s almost midnight,” Hao Meiling suddenly blurted out in alarm.

Only then did Gao Yuan open his eyes.

Inside the room, the Hao family members held their breath.

Gao Yuan looked at the patient and once again began a diagnostic examination.

Hao Meiling kept glancing back and forth between her watch and her father, her anxiety palpable.

Outside, Master Han Dai was trying to force his way in.

The other traditional Chinese medicine doctors were just as anxious.

“It’s midnight! Midnight!” The hospital clock struck twelve with deep, resonant chimes.

“Let me in!” Master Han Dai wriggled like a worm, trying to push through.

Elder Wan, maintaining his dignity, refrained from squeezing but craned his neck to catch a glimpse of the patient’s condition.

Director Yuan Hai, parched from tension, looked around for Wang Hanzhang and Dean Li. Seeing neither, he silently cursed their calm demeanor, wondering how they could be so composed at a time like this.

Inside the room…

“My father’s alive! My father’s alive! Doctor Gao!” Hao Meiling was on the verge of tears, her voice trembling with emotion.

The hearts of the Hao family members were lodged in their throats.

Gao Yuan released the patient’s wrist and called softly, “Elder Hao, Elder Hao.”

“Mm…” Elder Hao responded faintly.

Gao Yuan asked, “Do you still feel discomfort in your chest?”

“Mm… mm…” Elder Hao shook his head weakly.

Gao Yuan nodded. “The heart palpitations should have stopped.”

“What?!” Director Zhu rushed over with his stethoscope, listening carefully. Then, he exclaimed in amazement, “The fibrillation has stopped! The fibrillation has stopped!”

Finally, Gao Yuan smiled. Facing the expectant gazes of the Hao family, he turned to the eldest son and said, “Turn the food and supplies you prepared for the funeral into a thank-you feast. You can’t let your guests go home empty-handed.”

“You mean… you mean…” Hao’s eldest son was so overjoyed he could barely speak.

Gao Yuan nodded with a faint smile. “You’ve got so many strong men here—how could King Yama dare to take your father away?”

“Ha ha ha…” The room erupted in cheers.

The traditional Chinese medicine doctors outside were startled by the laughter.

“He’s… alive?” one of them murmured in disbelief.

Elder Wan’s face was a mix of astonishment and admiration. “In over fifty years of practicing medicine, this is the first time I’ve witnessed a miracle. Gao Yuan is truly a divine doctor!”

Hearing the laughter inside, Master Han Dai grew even more desperate, wriggling forward with renewed urgency.

Director Yuan Hai quickly snapped out of his daze and rushed forward to grab Master Han Dai, pulling him back.

Master Han Dai had almost made it halfway through the door but was yanked out of the room. He turned, ready to curse, only to see it was Director Yuan Hai.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

Gripping Master Han Dai’s hand tightly, Yuan Hai said earnestly, “Doctor Han, you must invite Dr. Wu Wenquan. I’ll accompany you personally to make the request!”

“I…” Master Han Dai was utterly exasperated.