Bai Shijing’s face shifted, appearing strained.
As he took the pulse, the others subconsciously remained silent, but seeing his expression change repeatedly, they couldn't help but become surprised.
Chen Fan watched Bai Shijing with a half-smile, as if none of this concerned him.
It took a full five minutes before Bai Shijing released his hand. He stood up with a grave expression.
Han Shuying quickly asked, "Old Bai, how is it?"
Professor Zheng and the others also looked on with inquiry.
Bai Shijing waved his hand, ignoring them, and moved to Chen Fan's other side, taking hold of the Cun, Guan, and Chi on his left wrist.
This time, it took another seven or eight minutes before he let go, his brow furrowed as he pondered deeply.
Chen Fan's expression was slightly dazed, as if recalling something.
"Old Bai?"
Han Shuying spoke, her tone already laced with caution.
Given her status, only Chen Fan could make her this nervous.
Bai Shijing did not respond to her, but looked at Chen Fan and slowly said, "Mr. Chen, may I ask if my elder brother, Bai Shiming, ever treated you?"
Chen Fan nodded and said, "Yes!"
Looking at Chen Fan's young face, Bai Shijing's expression became solemn.
"It is my honor to be able to treat Mr. Chen. However, I am afraid that due to my limited knowledge, I am powerless to help with your condition!"
At these words, Han Shuying's expression changed.
Professor Zheng and the hospital's senior management also stiffened.
Even Old Bai was powerless; was this a death sentence for the patient?
If even Bai Shijing, the pillar of the Great Xia medical community, was unable to treat him, it was unlikely anyone else in the world could.
Chen Fan remained unfazed and said, "Thank you, Old Bai, for making this trip."
"Old Bai, your medical skills are divine, you can bring back the dead, how can you be powerless?" Han Shuying asked, shocked and unwilling to accept it.
"I dare not claim divine medical skills. No doctor truly possesses them!" Bai Shijing said. "The path of medicine is boundless. Even the most skilled physicians cannot grasp its entirety. Mr. Chen's situation is unprecedented, and I am truly powerless."
"How can that be?"
"As long as Mr. Chen can be cured," Han Shuying said, anxious and full of resentment, "no matter how much money it costs, how expensive the medicine, or what price must be paid, it's not a problem!"
"It's not a matter of money!" Bai Shijing shook his head. "It's that no one in the national medical community can treat Mr. Chen's injuries!"
Hearing Bai Shijing's words, Han Shuying's heart sank.
She felt a surge of anger and said irritably, "Divine Doctor Bai, just because you can't treat him doesn't mean others can't. Why be alarmist? Your medical skills aren't the best in the world, are they?"
Bai Shijing held an extraordinary position in the medical world, but he would never claim to be the best.
Although Han Shuying was disappointed and unwilling, what displeased her most was that Bai Shijing had definitively closed the door on hope!
"My medical skills are indeed not the best in the world, but..."
Old Bai paused, then sighed, saying, "Forget it. If General Manager Han doesn't believe me, you can find another expert. But I say no one can treat him, means no one can!"
Han Shuying angrily retorted, "Only arrogant quacks would say such a thing!"
Given her status and composure, she rarely lost her temper, but at this moment, she couldn't help but become distraught.
Chen Fan was too important to her. She didn't care about Bai Shijing's reputation as a luminary of the medical field.
What she wanted was hope!
Almost to the point of being called a quack, Bai Shijing, who was not known for his poor temper, frowned.
However, after frowning, he looked at Chen Fan lying on the bed and gave a wry smile, saying nothing more.
"Shuying, don't be rude!"
Chen Fan said helplessly to Han Shuying, who had lost her composure.
Hearing Chen Fan's words, Han Shuying took a deep breath and calmed herself.
In the ward, Professor Zheng and others who knew Han Shuying's identity showed wry smiles.
Some who were unaware of Han Shuying's identity couldn't help but speak up.
"Medicine cannot save the dying. If a person is destined to die, even immortals cannot save them. Why blame Old Bai?"
"Don't think money gives you the right to speak carelessly. What is Old Bai's status and medical skill? If he were a quack, where would good doctors be?"
"Madam Han, no matter how wealthy or powerful you are, you are no different from an ordinary person before a doctor. This is not a place for you to throw tantrums!"
"..."
Given Bai Shijing's prestige in the medical world, many doctors regarded him as an idol. At this moment, true anger arose in their hearts, and they began to reprimand Han Shuying.
"Alright, stop talking nonsense!"
Amidst the scolding, Han Shuying remained silent with a cold expression, but Bai Shijing spoke.
He glanced at the many doctors, some of whom were his disciples or renowned physicians from Jiangnan. He said, "I said I am powerless, but I did not say Mr. Chen is certain to die. All of you, please leave!"
Professor Zheng and the other doctors were stunned.
They recalled what Bai Shijing had just said and realized that Bai Shijing had indeed not stated that Chen Fan would surely die.
"Old Bai, what do you mean?"
Professor Zheng asked curiously.
"Young Zheng, Mr. Chen's condition is due to old injuries, and it appears very serious. But there's a simple principle here, isn't there? If he didn't die when he was injured back then, how can we be sure he will die this time?"
The words were a bit convoluted, but they made Professor Zheng pause.
He was right; it was a simple principle.
It was just that seeing Chen Fan's severe, even tragic, physical condition, they had instinctively assumed he was beyond saving and wouldn't live much longer.
"Alright, everyone out!"
Old Bai began to usher them out.
Han Shuying was also somewhat stunned.
Given Old Bai's status and reputation, the doctors had no choice but to leave the room.
Professor Zheng, with a fawning smile, said, "Old Bai, this is a rare opportunity. I'll be your assistant and learn from you!"
Old Bai glanced at him and did not refuse.
"Close the door!"
Professor Zheng closed the door, shutting out other prying eyes.
"I never thought Mr. Chen was still alive!"
This sudden remark from Old Bai completely confused Professor Zheng.
However, before he could ponder it further, Old Bai spoke again.
"Five years ago, my elder brother Bai Shiming treated you. At that time, the most prominent physicians in the country were assembled, each with medical skills far superior to mine. They all pronounced your death sentence!"
Chen Fan said helplessly, "I said I was fine, but they wouldn't believe me!"
Old Bai smiled wryly, "Let alone them, even when I took your pulse, I found it hard to believe you were still alive!"
"If my pulse-taking is not mistaken, there has always been a very peculiar aura within your body, protecting your severely injured internal organs and sustaining your life force?"
Chen Fan nodded.
The renowned elders of the medical community were not falsely reputed. To ascertain this through pulse-taking was indeed remarkable.
"This is the reason you survived after being injured!" Bai Shijing said, disbelieving it himself.
Chen Fan neither confirmed nor denied it.
"Five years ago, when my elder brother and the best physicians in the country examined you, this aura should not have been apparent."
"As a result, my elder brother sighed when he spoke to me, lamenting that he could not preserve a vital asset of the nation, and felt a sense of guilt!"
Bai Shijing sighed.
"Is your elder brother well?"
"He passed away a year ago!"
Bai Shijing said, "Physicians cannot heal themselves. After a lifetime in medicine, one cannot escape the King of Hell's summons!"
"Before my elder brother passed, he listed the regrets of his medical career, and your case was among them. Yet, you are still alive and well, while my elder brother is gone!"
Han Shuying and Jiang Tiansheng began to understand a little.
Chen Fan's old injury had previously been examined by more than one top physician who was also helpless and had pronounced him a death sentence.
And yet, Chen Fan was still alive and well.
Bai Shijing was astonished by this. Although he was powerless to treat Chen Fan's old injury, he did not believe Chen Fan would surely die.
Moreover, it seemed that when Chen Fan was first injured five years ago, his condition was far worse than it was now.
The anxious hearts of the two of them could not help but relax.
Although Mr. Long's condition was not good, as long as he wasn't on the verge of death, the situation wasn't as dire for them.
Chen Fan said, "Old Bai, you've worked hard. You've traveled a long way. Why don't you rest first?"
"Alright!"
Bai Shijing nodded and said, "Since I'm here, I will stay for a few more days. I ask for Mr. Chen's permission to study your condition."
"I have no confidence in curing you. However, Mr. Chen is weak after being shot, and I can offer some assistance in regulating your condition. This should also be helpful for your recovery!"
Chen Fan pondered for a moment and nodded, saying, "The Bai family's acupuncture and stone techniques are indeed unique. Then I'll trouble Old Bai!"
Bai Shijing's expression turned solemn, and he said, "You are a vital asset to the nation, a pillar of its destiny. To be able to provide even the slightest assistance to you is an honor for my generation!"