Chapter 23: I Will Keep You Here Until Dawn!
Time ticked by, second after second. The renowned physicians of Zhongdu present could not help but clench their fists in anxiety.
“It’s been so long… It seems hope is lost,” someone sighed with regret.
When Ye Tian had stormed in with such imposing confidence, these venerable scholars, steeped in medical texts for decades, had harbored a glimmer of hope for a miracle. But now, several minutes had passed, and the old master showed not the slightest sign of life. Their hopes were dashed completely.
“Let it be, let it be—let’s go. Young man, your technique is truly impressive. I saw it for myself.”
“Yes, it’s such a pity. But this is beyond saving. You can’t be blamed.”
The emergency room filled with sighs and murmurs, and the doctors began to turn away.
“Hush, it’s coming,” Ye Tian whispered.
Just as everyone was about to leave, a sudden sound broke their resignation.
“Beep… beep… beep…”
The heart monitor, which had been flat and silent, suddenly flickered to life!
“My heavens!” Zhu Hanchun, who had been holding his breath, burst out, voice cracking with astonishment that could not be contained.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Aside from Zhu Hanchun, the most prevalent sound in the emergency room was a series of drawn-out, incredulous exclamations.
Every renowned physician in Zhongdu felt their minds blank with disbelief.
This—this—how could it be possible?
Everyone thought the same: Impossible! The old master’s life had run its course; even if the legendary physician Hua Tuo had returned from the dead, he could not have been saved. What could possibly explain this?
“If the King of Hell orders your death at midnight, I’ll keep you alive until dawn.” Ye Tian looked at the steadily strengthening heartbeat and the rising and falling chest of the old man, satisfaction blooming on his face.
He cared little for how these old men made sense of it. His purpose was achieved—it was time to take his leave.
Saving Tang Zhenguo, Ye Tian acted without ulterior motive—not for power, nor for fame. Simply for the sake of goodness.
He was born and raised in Zhongdu, bound by a deep affection for this land and its people. Even though Zhongdu’s powerful families had brought ruin upon the Ye family, that grievance was not with the people. The citizens of Zhongdu should not suffer for others’ sins.
In truth, there had been a similar case before in Longguo:
An accomplished agricultural scientist, having returned from abroad, arrived in an unfamiliar city, hoping to dedicate his life’s work to advancing local agriculture. Yet, because of three idle youths obsessed with the internet, who robbed him with knives for a handful of online fees, the expert was killed by chance.
The news shook all of Longguo!
The murder of a specialist in broad daylight stirred a storm of public outrage. From that day on, the small city lost all hope of advanced technology and its economy stalled, sinking into lasting poverty.
If Zhongdu’s future were to stagnate because of the old master’s death, then that death should not be allowed. Perhaps it was fate that, in his final moments, Tang Zhenguo encountered Ye Tian.
He was not destined to die; nor were the people of Zhongdu fated to such misfortune.
…
“I’m going in to see for myself.”
Unable to resist any longer, Qian Wanbao rose and pushed open the door.
Without a word, he strode over and seized Ye Tian by the collar, unleashing a tirade:
“Ye Tian, you must have a death wish! Not only do you cause chaos in Zhongdu and kill at will, you even dare desecrate the old master’s remains in public! Get on your knees and surrender at once!”
Ye Tian looked utterly speechless.
Was this man out of his mind?
Qian Wanbao, seeing no reaction, was about to continue his rant when a sudden gust seemed to hit him from behind. Caught off guard, he was kicked clear across the room.
“Get lost, you fool! Are you blind?” roared Tang Long, the deputy, tears streaming down his face in overwhelming relief. He had kicked Qian Wanbao aside and, in front of everyone, fell to his knees before Ye Tian with a loud thud.
“Benefactor, please accept my bow!” he declared, kowtowing three times with resounding knocks that left everyone stunned.
What was happening?
It wasn’t just Qian Wanbao, who’d been sent flying, who was dumbfounded. The opening of the emergency room door revealed the scene to a crowd of dignitaries waiting outside.
“General Tang is actually kowtowing to Ye Tian?!”
Jaws dropped everywhere—some nearly dislocated.
“General Tang, what—” Qian Wanbao struggled to his feet, trying to speak, when a slap sent him reeling again, his mouth bloodied and teeth scattered.
Only then did he notice the heart monitor, which had previously shown a flat line, now pulsing rhythmically—and steadily.
What did this mean?
Ye Tian had actually brought the old master back to life!
Everyone was thrown into an even deeper shock, and a long, heavy silence followed.
Ye Tian had saved Tang Zhenguo.
The great general of the northern campaign, a national treasure—Old Master Tang!
Hiss!
The heads of the families who had once persecuted the Ye family could not help but draw in sharp breaths.
The old master had returned from death, and Ye Tian had become his savior. How terrifying. How disastrous.
With the old master’s power, so long as Ye Tian didn’t lose his mind and dance on the grave of a great leader, he would never have to worry again—no one could touch him!
He now had the strongest protector in all the land.
As for the noble families of Zhongdu, they no longer had any standing to challenge him. If they could merely protect themselves, that would be fortune enough.
Now, it felt as though every dignitary bore the weight of a thousand pounds upon their heads. Each one was filled with dread.
The most shaken of all were Sun Qishan, Wu Ba, and the battered Qian Wanbao.
Their three families had been directly involved in the plot to annihilate the Ye family.
It was over…
The three family heads felt a chill settle in their hearts, plunging into a bottomless panic.
Just moments ago, they were still hurling accusations at Ye Tian, clamoring to stop him from treating Tang Zhenguo. No doubt Tang Long had heard every word.
All of it—now perfect ammunition for Ye Tian in the future.
Sun Qishan, ever the slyest of the three, had already slipped away. He knew full well their families had lost all power. The best course was to regroup and prepare for the coming storm.
“No need to put on a show,” Ye Tian sneered, shaking his head. “If I truly hadn’t managed to save the old master, you would no doubt have found a way to kill me.”
Tang Long looked awkward at that. It was true—had Ye Tian failed, he would have had to die. To be accused of desecrating Tang Zhenguo’s remains, before the instigator was executed, the whole of Longguo would have erupted in outrage.
But as fate had it, Ye Tian succeeded.
From this day forward, Ye Tian would become the miracle physician whose name would resound throughout Longguo, reaping endless renown.