Chapter 55: Does He Have the Credentials to Teach Me?

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Does He Have the Credentials to Teach Me?

The one who spoke was none other than Chen Xiao. He walked over amid the astonished stares of the crowd.

"Isn’t that the insolent kid from before?"

"What kind of illness can he possibly cure?"

"Heh, what a show-off. It’ll be hilarious if he gets shaken down for money later..." The surrounding crowd chattered, eagerly anticipating a spectacle.

"Thank... thank you!" the girl said, her face filling with gratitude upon seeing Chen Xiao extend a helping hand.

She and her mother were visiting Yuncheng City on vacation. Unexpectedly, her mother’s angina had suddenly flared up. They had rushed to the nearest clinic, only to be blocked by this crowd at the entrance, delaying the urgent medical care she desperately needed.

Chen Xiao gave the patient a quick glance and immediately began to take the middle-aged woman’s pulse.

"Are you a doctor? You read a few medical books at a street stall and now you dare to treat people? Can you take responsibility if something goes wrong?" a sharp rebuke suddenly cut through the air as a young man in a long robe with a stern face walked over. He was about twenty-four or twenty-five and had an extraordinary presence.

"This is... Divine Doctor Li’s youngest and final disciple, the young Mr. Zhang Huaide!"

"He’s here too?"

Zhang Huaide was also well-known within the Chinese Medicine Community. He was considered the true inheritor of Li Zhengming’s legacy. He was exceptionally gifted in the art of Chinese medicine and had also received direct tutelage from Li Zhengming himself. His reputation in the Chinese Medicine Community had been soaring these past few years.

"Mr. Zhang is right! This guy was just complaining about Divine Doctor Li’s lecture blocking the path! One look and you can tell he’s not one of us in the Chinese Medicine Community. A complete layman, and he dares to treat someone!"

"He’s not trying to save her, he’s trying to kill her!"

Hearing this, Zhang Huaide’s expression turned even grimmer. "Step aside. I will examine her."

Chen Xiao couldn’t be bothered with him and took out his Silver Needles, preparing to begin the treatment.

Zhang Huaide pressed on aggressively, "Do you even have the skill? You can’t afford the responsibility if something goes wrong! More importantly... I can’t just stand by and watch you endanger a life just to show off!"

Chen Xiao’s tone grew cold. "And how would you know I’m just showing off?"

As a doctor, he was just trying to do his duty. Yet this man was not only acting high and mighty but was also maliciously questioning his intentions?

Zhang Huaide scoffed, "Isn’t it obvious?"

Chen Xiao responded coldly, "Li Zhengming is your master, right?"

"Is my master’s name something you can say so casually?" Zhang Huaide fumed.

"Get lost. Don’t be an eyesore."

With a light flick of his hand, Chen Xiao sent Zhang Huaide stumbling back into the crowd. The onlookers hurriedly helped the disheveled man to his feet. Then, in the resulting quiet, Chen Xiao began administering the needles.

"He’s actually doing it! I want to see what this arrogant kid is really capable of..."

"Capable of what? Youngsters these days just love to posture..."

The self-proclaimed members of the Chinese Medicine Community looked on with disdain, but they gradually began to notice that something was not right.

"Huh? Look at his technique with the needles. He seems quite skilled."

"The way he’s applying the needles... why does it look so much like that legendary lost acupuncture technique..."

As people from the Chinese Medicine Community, some of them had a discerning eye and realized that Chen Xiao was no simple character.

A few minutes later, the middle-aged woman slowly regained consciousness.

"Mom!" the girl exclaimed happily, quickly helping her mother sit up.

The middle-aged woman was still a bit dazed. "Didn’t I just faint? My heart doesn’t hurt anymore, and I can breathe easily. Am I... cured?"

"Mom, this handsome gentleman saved you!" the girl said quickly.

"Thank you so much, young man!" the middle-aged woman said gratefully.

"It’s good that you’re awake." Chen Xiao stood up and advised, "Remember not to drink anything cold for the next few days, and avoid cold showers that might shock your circulatory system. Focus on resting."

After speaking, he started walking inside.

"Wait!" Zhang Huaide suddenly stepped forward again. "What was that needle technique you just used? I couldn’t make sense of your methods! Who was your teacher?"

"Isn’t it perfectly normal that you wouldn’t understand?" Chen Xiao said dismissively.

Zhang Huaide’s face flushed with anger.

This guy... he’s unbelievably arrogant! Does he really think he’s something special?

Chen Xiao strode into the pharmacy. The other members of the Chinese Medicine Community quickly gathered around to console Zhang Huaide.

He put on a magnanimous air and waved his hand. "It’s fine. If he’s got the skills, let him show off. By the way, didn’t we invite several patients with difficult cases today for a live demonstration of Chinese medicine? We can invite him to join the discussion later. I’d like to see if his abilities actually match his arrogance!"

Inside Zhou Yuan Pharmacy, Chen Xiao handed over a list of the medicines he needed to buy and sat to one side, waiting quietly. Just then, Zhang Huaide and the other members of the Chinese Medicine Community swarmed in after him.

Zhang Huaide walked straight up to Chen Xiao, his tone dripping with pride. "I see you do have some medical skill. I’ll give you an opportunity today. Join the Preaching Conference! We can discuss the medical arts together. How about it?"

"No, thank you." Chen Xiao was speechless.

What was there to discuss with these half-baked practitioners, anyway?

"Are you sure? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" Seeing his refusal, Zhang Huaide grew agitated. "You’d better think this through! Whoever distinguishes themself at this Preaching Conference will get the chance to study under my master, Li Zhengming, for a time!"

Chen Xiao almost laughed out loud. "Is Li Zhengming even qualified to teach me?" To others, Li Zhengming’s medical skills were awe-inspiring, but to Chen Xiao, they were hardly presentable.

Hearing this, Zhang Huaide flew into a rage. "How dare you insult my master?"

"I’m merely stating a fact." Chen Xiao waved his hand impatiently. "Now, get out of my way. I’m just here to buy medicine, not to waste my time arguing with you!"

Zhang Huaide snapped, "You’ve insulted my master, so I’m challenging you to a duel of medical skill! If you lose, you must become my disciple and apologize for your insolence!"

"How childish." Chen Xiao’s patience had reached its limit. "Even Li Zhengming wouldn’t dare suggest I become his disciple. What makes a greenhorn like you think you’re worthy?"

"Such arrogance!"

"How dare he insult Senior Li like that!"

"Senior Li is a titan of our Chinese Medicine Community! How dare a punk like you speak so disrespectfully? Forget becoming Divine Doctor Li’s disciple, you aren’t even worthy of being his dog!"

The crowd erupted, vehemently bombarding Chen Xiao with criticism.

Zhang Huaide suppressed his fury and spoke, enunciating every word. "I’ll give you one chance today. If you can beat me in medical skill, I’ll let you leave this place. If you lose, you must perform the three genuflections and nine kowtows and apologize to my master!"

"Is there no end to this? Get lost!" Chen Xiao finally lost his temper.

"Today is the day of my Preaching Conference, and you are all making such a scene here! What is the meaning of this?"

Just then, a displeased, cold voice rang out as two elderly men walked into the pharmacy. One of them was none other than Li Zhengming, whom Chen Xiao had met once before.