At the county hospital, Gao-Yuan stepped out of the car, striding quickly towards the entrance. Dr. Qiao Zheng awaited him at the door, greeting him with an outstretched hand.

“Dr. Gao, thank you for coming,” Qiao said earnestly.

Gao-Yuan shook his hand firmly. “It’s my duty.”

As they walked up the stairs, Qiao continued, “Dr. Miao Ran should have briefed you on the situation.”

Gao-Yuan nodded.

Qiao’s brows knit tightly. “The patient’s toes suffered frostbite and had to be amputated, but the wounds just won’t heal. His condition has deteriorated—now he’s suffering from angina and cerebral arteriosclerosis, even a myocardial infarction. The Provincial Hospital suggested a high amputation, but he refused. Now, he’s nearly beyond saving.”

Gao-Yuan listened attentively, aware of these details beforehand.

Qiao quietly cautioned, “His superiors don’t have much hope, so please assess carefully. You’re in a sensitive position now. Be cautious to avoid any accusations or undue attention.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Gao-Yuan replied with a nod.

As they arrived at the ward, Dr. Wang Hanzhang introduced him. “This is Dr. Gao Yuan."

The leader looked Gao-Yuan over, raising an eyebrow, surprised at his youth and with some reservations about his history.

“Hello, Sir!” Before Gao-Yuan could speak, Dr. Li Shengli stood at attention, giving a formal salute.

The leader returned it, smiling. “Were you once in the army?”

Dr. Li responded crisply, “Sir, I’m Li Shengli, enlisted in ’47, honourably discharged in ’50, now working as a doctor in Zhangzhuang Clinic!”

The leader smiled, “No need to be so formal.”

“Sir! Once a soldier, always a soldier!” Li Shengli replied, standing rigidly.

The leader gave an approving nod, then looked to Gao-Yuan. “Dr. Gao-Yuan, the patient is in your hands.”

“I will do my utmost,” Gao Yuan assured.

“Please,” the leader gestured towards the bed.

Approaching the patient Su Pingchuan, who lay almost unconscious, Gao-Yuan began his examination. The man’s face was deathly pale, his toes discoloured with a deep purple-blue hue. When Gao-Yuan touched them, they were icy. Despite being able to rouse him briefly, Su Pingchuan was too weak to respond, his expression full of exhaustion.

Examining the site of the amputated toes, Gao-Yuan noted the persistent, chilling cold. Below his knees, his legs felt like blocks of ice—a clear reason for the hospital’s prior recommendation for a higher amputation.

Suddenly, Su clutched his chest, groaning in pain.

“Another angina attack. Nitroglycerin,” Qiao said immediately, and Dr. Miao Ran hurriedly fetched it.

Qiao explained, “The patient’s chest pain has been constant, relying on nitroglycerin to keep it in check.”

At this, Gao-Yuan frowned deeply.

Seeing his troubled expression, both Yan Qiao and Li Runyu felt a small measure of relief.

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Moving on to take the patient’s pulse, Gao-Yuan found it faint and slow, and further examination yielded no reading in the lower pulses.

Straightening up, he knit his brows tightly. In his previous life, he knew Su Pingchuan had died from an invasion of cold into the blood, and though he’d planned meticulously this time, he hadn’t expected it to be so severe.

The leader enquired, “Dr. Gao-Yuan, what’s your assessment?”

“The root cause is cold sinking deep into the blood level,” Gao-Yuan explained. “Following the pattern of the Wei, Qi, Ying, and Blood stages, the illness has progressed to its most serious phase. Put simply, the patient is like a block of ice, frozen through.”

The leader glanced at Dr. Li Runyu, as this was just what she had diagnosed.

Li Runyu’s expression relaxed slightly, reassured she still held her place as the county’s top doctor.

The leader thought for a moment and asked, “Do you have a treatment plan?”

All eyes were on Gao-Yuan.

Dr. Wang Hanzhang implored, “Dr. Gao, Comrade Su Pingchuan is a war hero and a symbol of pride for our county. Do everything you can; don’t hold back.”

Hearing this, Qiao Zheng grew visibly anxious. He had just spoken with Gao-Yuan about the risks of being overly ambitious.

Taking a steadying breath, Gao-Yuan gazed at the dying hero. His eyes grew resolute. “There’s a way. Since he’s frozen, we’ll need to ‘melt the ice.’”

The leader’s surprise was obvious. He had invited Gao-Yuan as a last-ditch effort, holding out little hope. Yet this young doctor was saying there was a way.

“Truly?” the leader asked again.

Gao-Yuan nodded firmly.

Dr. Li Shengli, standing nearby, lit up with joy; he knew Gao-Yuan wouldn’t be empty-handed.

The leader, suddenly hopeful, looked around at the others before turning to Li Runyu and Yan Qiao.

Li Runyu and Yan Qiao, both taken aback, couldn’t hide their disbelief.

Li Runyu frowned. “Are you serious? What medicine would you even use?”

“Extreme cold requires extreme heat,” Gao-Yuan answered decisively. “We’ll use Chuanwu and Fuzi—potent, warming herbs. Their ability to penetrate all twelve meridians will blast through the enemy cold, sweeping it away.”

The leader sensed a fierce resolve in his tone. “You mean to cure him?”

“What else did you call me for?” Gao-Yuan replied, puzzled.

Caught off guard, the leader hesitated. He hadn’t expected to save Su Pingchuan; he’d simply hoped to ease his suffering, extending his life if possible—a far cry from a complete cure.

The leader scrutinised Gao-Yuan, struck by his audacity.

Nearby, Li Shengli couldn’t help but interject, “Sir, you can trust him. Dr. Gao specialises in difficult cases; the more severe, the better. Even a single breath of life is enough for him to pull someone back.”

The leader frowned. “Where did you pick up such bragging habits?”

Li Shengli, flustered, stammered, “But it’s true, I swear!”

The leader waved dismissively, cutting him off.

Looking between Gao-Yuan and Dr. Wang Hanzhang, the leader raised an eyebrow. Dr. Wang nodded, affirming his faith in Gao Yuan's abilities.

After a moment of contemplation, the leader relented, “Very well, write up the prescription.”

Gao-Yuan took paper and pen, writing quickly.

Dr. Li Runyu and Yan Qiao peeked over his shoulder, gasping in shock at the first line.

“What’s wrong?” asked the leader.

“Two taels of Fuzi and one of Chuanwu?” Li Runyu sputtered.

Yan Qiao, equally stunned, chimed in, “Are you saving him or... ending him?”

The leader’s expression grew serious. “What’s the issue?”

Exchanging uncertain glances, Li Runyu reluctantly explained, “These herbs are toxic in large amounts. Normally, we use one qian or two at most. Dr. Gao has increased it tenfold.”

“To give you a picture,” Li Runyu continued, “our approach to melting ice is akin to warming him under the sun. Dr. Gao’s approach is to throw him into a raging fire.”

The leader’s face darkened slightly as he looked to Dr. Wang Hanzhang.

Dr. Wang appeared equally startled.

Meanwhile, Qiao Zheng covered his face, resigning himself; all his earlier cautions to Gao-Yuan had been in vain.

Finishing the prescription, Gao-Yuan handed it to Li Shengli. “Follow this precisely.”

Without hesitation, Li Shengli replied, “Right away!”

“Hold on,” the leader said, stopping him.

“Sir, ignore them,” Li Shengli said nonchalantly. “These two always spout a load of nonsense. Every time they eat their words.”

Drs. Li Runyu and Yan Qiao bristled at this, their reputation now hanging in the balance.

The leader frowned at them.

Li Runyu defended, “This prescription is incredibly dangerous. Even a strong, healthy person couldn’t withstand this toxicity, let alone Comrade Su in his current state. Dr. Gao, are you sure you’re not trying to harm him?”

The leader grew tense. “Will this prescription cause poisoning?”

Yan Qiao nodded solemnly. “From my fifty years of medical practice, I’d say certainly. With Comrade Su’s frail state, he might not last long under its effects.”

The leader looked sharply at Gao-Yuan, suspicion mounting.

Gao-Yuan, calm and unfazed, handed the prescription to Li Shengli and addressed the group confidently. “I’ll drink the first dose myself.”

Everyone stared, stunned.

Then Gao-Yuan turned to Li Shengli. “Get the medicine. Quickly!”

“Yes, sir!” Li Shengli responded with a vigorous salute.