Chapter 12: A Thoughtful Sister-in-Law

Shen Dingshan was overjoyed. “Who?” he demanded in a deep, forceful voice.

Meng Henian took a deep breath. “I don’t know his name. But yesterday, here at Jiangcheng Central Hospital, he formed needles from qi and brought back a patient suffering from cold poison, someone I had already declared beyond saving.”

“Needles formed from qi?” Shen Dingshan’s eyes narrowed. “You mean he’s skilled in both medicine and martial arts?”

Meng nodded emphatically. “More than that. His medical skill exceeds mine by more than ten times. If anyone in the world can save the old general, it must be him.”

Shen Dingshan’s chest rose and fell. It was his last hope. “Where is he? I’ll invite him myself.”

Meng shook his head with a rueful smile. “I only know that he’s acquainted with Dr. Su Wanqing from cardiology. She brought him here yesterday. Perhaps she can find him.”

“Su Wanqing?” Shen turned to hospital director Zhou Guoliang. “Bring her here immediately!” His voice rumbled like thunder.

Zhou shuddered and nodded. “Yes, General. I’ll go myself.”

…

In the cardiology doctors’ office, Su Wanqing had just finished her rounds and was preparing to rest when someone knocked urgently.

“Come in.”

Zhou Guoliang entered, followed by two senior hospital leaders of professor rank. Su Wanqing rose in surprise. “Director Zhou, what brings you here?”

He smiled warmly. “Wanqing, I hear you know a young man named Qin Tian?”

Before she could answer, Liu Dongsheng, who had followed the commotion, cut in. “Director Zhou, you’ve heard about that bastard too? I was just about to report him. Qin Tian is lawless, practicing medicine without permission. He’s completely deranged!”

Su Wanqing’s heart tightened, but before she could explain, Zhou’s face darkened. “Director Liu, don’t you have work to do?”

“Director Zhou, I…”

“Get out!”

Liu Dongsheng slunk away. Zhou turned back, forcing a smile. “Wanqing, can you contact Qin Tian and ask him to come to the hospital? It isn’t me who wants him. It’s General Shen.”

“General Shen?”

“Shen Dingshan, commander of Zhelin Province’s military forces.”

Her breath caught. His name carried weight throughout Zhelin Province and the Dragon Nation. She had also heard that the old general in the special-care ward, Shen Tiance, had little time left.

“I can try calling,” she said, frowning. “But I can’t promise Qin Tian will come.”

“Good. Call him now, quickly.”

She dialed Qin Yuanming, leading to Qin Tian’s earlier phone call.

…

Half an hour later, a row of experts, professors, and hospital directors whose photographs hung on the hospital’s honor wall stood at the entrance to Jiangcheng Hospital of Chinese Medicine. Passing patients and families stared.

“What’s happened? Even Director Zhou is waiting at the door.”

“You haven’t heard? Old General Shen is here. They say he might not make it.”

“So that’s why there are soldiers all over the inpatient building!”

“Quiet. See the men in black suits? They’re guards.”

“Who are they waiting for, with such a reception?”

A tall figure entered through the main gate. “Xiaotian!” Su Wanqing called.

She and Zhou led the hospital leaders forward in a rush. Qin Tian quietly circulated his qi, frowning and preparing himself. “Sister-in-law, what’s all this?”

“Allow me,” Zhou said, stepping forward. “Mr. Qin, I’m Zhou Guoliang, director of Central Hospital. I apologize for calling you here so abruptly. We have a patient who needs your help with a diagnosis.”

Qin Tian raised a brow. “This is a hospital full of experts and professors. You need an amateur like me to diagnose a patient?”

“We’re truly at a loss. Physician Meng thinks so highly of you; how could you be an amateur? No need to be modest.”

“I’m not being modest. I simply don’t want to help.”

Zhou’s smile froze. He lowered his voice. “The patient is Old General Shen. If you cure him, your future will be bright.”

“My future won’t be dark without him.”

Su Wanqing couldn’t suppress a smile. An idea flashed through Zhou’s mind. “Wanqing, I’ve seen how diligently you’ve worked all these years. From now on, you’re the director of cardiology!”

The hospital leaders, Su Wanqing included, stared in astonishment. Zhou was using her promotion to curry favor with Qin Tian.

Qin Tian thought: I don’t know how good this old man’s medicine is, but his motives certainly aren’t pure. Still, a clever man like that was hard not to like.

He said calmly, “I remember the department had a director who abused his position. What was his name… Liu Dongsheng?”

Zhou understood at once. “You’re mistaken. That man is no longer the director.”

“Oh? I see.” Qin Tian smiled. “Where’s the old general? Take me to him.”

Zhou breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “This way, please.”

…

The corridor outside the special-care ward was tense. Qin Tian followed Zhou at an unhurried pace. The armed soldiers kept their eyes forward, but as he passed, each felt an inexplicable tightening in his chest, an instinctive warning of mortal danger.

Sweating, Zhou hurried to the door and knocked gently.

“Come in,” an authoritative voice answered.

Zhou opened the door and stepped aside. “Mr. Qin, please.”

Qin Tian entered calmly. The already quiet room grew stiller. The assembled physicians examined the young man with suspicion, astonishment, and even undisguised contempt.

“That’s the extraordinary doctor and martial artist Physician Meng spoke of?”

“You must be joking. How old is he? I doubt he’s even finished reading the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon.”

“General Shen, the old general’s life is at stake. This is no time for games!”

Ignoring them, Meng Henian bowed solemnly. “Mr. Qin, we meet again.”

Faces changed around the room. Meng was vice president of the Dragon Nation’s traditional medicine association, a revered physician in Zhelin with students throughout government and society. Even Shen Dingshan addressed him respectfully. Yet this towering figure had bowed to a man in his early twenties.