C8 Miscalculation

"Oh no, Liuzi, have you lost your mind?"

In a flash, the onlookers gasped in shock, many turning away, unable to watch the scene unfold.

Old Immortal Zhao might have been in decent health, but he was no match for Liuzi's wild tumble.

The thought of the benevolent healer, who had spent his days curing the sick, being ruined by Liuzi's hands was heartbreaking to everyone.

The Old Immortal came to lend aid, and with your father already gravely injured, you shouldn't have acted this way, even if he was beyond saving.

Yet, nobody could truly fault Liuzi; after all, his mind wasn't exactly sharp.

Just as disaster seemed imminent, the crowd was forcefully parted by an immense energy. A whirlwind swept through, and a figure appeared out of nowhere in the clinic, catching Old Immortal Zhao and gently setting him down.

The incident happened so fast, the crowd barely had time to react, not even Old Immortal Zhao, who was left speechless and shaken.

"Hey, he... he wasn't hexing me..."

After a brief hush, someone identified Xiao Ming as the young man who had earlier made the disrespectful remarks. But since he had just performed a rescue, the rest of the accusation was swallowed back.

Meanwhile, Liuzi, seeing his attack had no effect, became enraged and charged with a bellowing punch.

The crowd exclaimed in alarm once more.

Liuzi, known for his formidable strength, towered over Xiao Ming. The disparity between them was more than noticeable.

Many in the crowd averted their eyes, anticipating the sight of Xiao Ming being pummeled beyond recognition.

Chen Xiaoxiao clutched her mouth, her anxiety palpable.

But as the crowd waited, no cries of pain followed.

Looking up, they saw Xiao Ming effortlessly blocking Liuzi's massive fist with his palm, not budging an inch.

"Hey, big guy, wise up."

Xiao Ming stood nonchalantly, hands behind his back, speaking coolly, though inwardly, he was slightly taken aback.

This young man possessed remarkable strength. Even with her body trained to the first level of Qi Refinement, she struggled to hold her ground against him.

The clinic's attending doctor and others nearby chimed in with their advice.

"Liuzi, rein in that temper of yours. How can you lash out at Old Immortal Zhao?"

"Exactly. Your father's situation isn't his fault."

"Murder demands retribution. Take your anger out on the actual culprit, not him."

But Liuzi was beyond reason, letting out a howl as he prepared to strike once more.

Xiao Ming's eyes flickered with a hint of frost. He understood that Liuzi's mind wasn't fully there, but such relentless interference was costing precious time that could be used to save lives. In his past life, Medical Saint Zixuan was no pushover to be trifled with.

Intending to make Liuzi back down, Xiao Ming nimbly sidestepped the assault and swiftly targeted several acupoints beneath Liuzi's ribs with his backhand.

In a flash, the muscular Liuzi let out a cry of pain and collapsed, unable to rise for quite some time.

To the onlookers, Xiao Ming's actions were lightning-fast. It appeared as though he simply dodged an attack and then gently nudged Liuzi, who then found himself unable to stand.

Such an event was beyond their comprehension, and for a brief moment, a stunned silence fell over the crowd, as they struggled to grasp what had just occurred.

Meanwhile, Old Immortal Zhao, who had narrowly escaped a nasty fall himself, seemed to recognize the skill involved. He turned and addressed Xiao Ming, "Young man, the death of his father lies on my shoulders. Please, don't be too hard on him."

At these words, the crowd, which had just settled, erupted into a commotion once more.

"Old Immortal, what are you saying?"

"Indeed. Old Li's misfortune was just that—misfortune. It had nothing to do with you."

"It's not your fault, Old Immortal."

To these common folk, Elder Zhao was not to blame for Old Li's death, and they wouldn't stand for the tarnishing of a revered figure's reputation.

The attending physician also offered his words of comfort, "Master, there was nothing you could have done in this situation. After all, humans cannot defy the will of the heavens."

"Shut up," Old Immortal Zhao chided sharply. "What do you know? Ah, it's my fault for being arrogant, for not checking thoroughly, for..."

Before Old Immortal Zhao could finish, an infuriatingly smug voice cut in. "Hmm, not too shabby. Realizing your mistake isn't too late."

Initially, the crowd was absorbed in Old Immortal Zhao's self-blame, but that comment instantly stirred them up. Recognizing the speaker as Xiao Ming, who had been disrespectful earlier, a chorus of scolding ensued.

"Little rascal, you're not even fully grown. Watch your mouth."

"Show some respect when speaking to Old Immortal. Do you have any idea how many lives he's saved over the years?"

"It's this kid. He was the one cursing Old Li earlier. A real harbinger of doom."

Even the usually calm attending physician spoke up sternly, "Young man, Elder Zhao's medical expertise is renowned, even in the city. This situation is beyond anyone's help, even the gods."

As the crowd grew agitated, Chen Xiaoxiao quickly weaved through them and tugged at Xiao Ming's arm. "Ming, let it go. We should leave."

But Xiao Ming's gaze turned icy. He gently patted Xiaoxiao's hand, signaling her not to worry, and then walked up to Elder Zhao with determination. As the Medical Saint Zixuan, in this unfamiliar world, he could overlook many things: an odd marriage, a wife with a dubious reputation, a heap of troubles. But he drew the line at the integrity of medicine—it must not be sullied or maligned, especially not by a quack endangering lives.

Old Immortal Zhao may have healed many, but this time, he had committed an unforgivable error. A lack of medical skill could be understood, but lives were at stake. Physicians are the last line of defense before the King of Hell; there is no room for error.

"You've made two mistakes," Xiao Ming stated. "First, you administered acupuncture without properly assessing the patient's condition. Second, of the seven needles you placed, three had incorrect pressure. These are mistakes no physician should ever make."

"Bullshit!" someone in the crowd exploded before Elder Zhao could even respond.

"What are you spouting, you greenhorn? Elder Zhao was a healer before you were even born!"

"Exactly, how could Elder Zhao possibly err?"

"That guy clearly isn't up to any good. Get rid of him, quick!"

The attending physician spoke with a surge of anger, "Young man, this incident was simply an unavoidable mishap. Elder Zhao's mastery in traditional Chinese medicine is unquestionably among the nation's elite, unlike your baseless disparagement."

In his mind, Elder Zhao's expertise and capabilities were truly unparalleled. If not for that incident, why would he stay in this small town when numerous prestigious hospitals across the country were eager to have him?

To think he made not one, but two errors, and even the force of his acupuncture was off. Ridiculous.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Ming responded with scorn, "This is considered top-notch?"

"You're ungrateful."

The attending physician was incensed. The thought of someone disrespecting Elder Zhao, whom he revered like a deity, was intolerable. He was about to confront the issue head-on.

But then, a fierce shout interrupted.

"Stand down."

"Teacher..."

The attending physician turned to see Elder Zhao, once vibrant and robust, now stumbling backward like a deflated balloon, sinking powerlessly into a chair.

"The young man is correct. You might fool others, but not yourself. I indeed erred with those three needles."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback, gazing at Xiao Ming as though he were an enigma.