Chapter Ninety-Five: On the Brink of Life and Death

The doctor’s shake of the head was like a blade plunged into the hearts of the anxious family, severing every taut string that held their emotions together. In an instant, they completely broke down.

A’Ben’s cousin’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the floor, his whole being emptied of spirit, his eyes hollow and lifeless.

“Mr. Gu, we’ve done everything we can. The patient is experiencing massive hemorrhage. We’ve transfused all the blood available in the blood bank—essentially replaced her blood supply twice over—but the bleeding hasn’t stopped. According to the agreement the family signed, we can only save the mother now.”

As the doctor finished speaking, the man on the ground scrambled up and stammered, “Doctor, can I change my mind now? Can you save the baby instead?”

At those words, the bystanders all stared at him in shock, their eyes filled with contempt and anger. It was clear the man had made his decision under his mother’s pressure, choosing to sacrifice his wife for the child.

This choice was met with unanimous disdain. People around thought him cowardly, and pitied the woman inside the operating room for having married such a man.

Even the doctor was surprised by this sudden reversal, hesitating as he looked toward Gu Xiujin.

Gu Xiujin turned his wheelchair to face Xie Qingtang, who stood there, bristling with anger. “It’s your turn,” he said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do everything I can to save both mother and child,” Xie Qingtang replied through gritted teeth. She was determined to fight for this mother’s chance at life.

But the man who had just asked to save the baby was stunned and quickly protested, “Wait, what do you mean? You’re letting some unknown quack treat her? Won’t that just cost us the child as well?”

“Cousin, this is Divine Physician Xie from Cishan Hall. She’s highly skilled—maybe she really can save both my sister-in-law and the baby,” A’Ben said, gripping his cousin’s hand reassuringly.

Hearing that, the man’s face darkened. “Cishan Hall is just a traditional medicine clinic, isn’t it? This is absurd! We’re at Gu Hospital, and you want some obscure traditional healer to treat my wife? If we lose the child, Gu Hospital will bear full responsibility!”

“If you keep blocking my way into the operating room, you’ll lose both mother and child,” Xie Qingtang said coldly, her disdain for the man evident. She didn’t bother to hide her contempt.

Something in her manner cowed the man, and before he could protest further, she strode decisively into the operating room.

“President Gu, is this really wise? This is the Gu Hospital’s operating room. You’re letting a traditional medicine doctor take over our patient?” The chief obstetrician felt insulted, his brows knit into a deep knot as he addressed Gu Xiujin.

Gu Xiujin glanced at him indifferently and said only, “The method doesn’t matter—saving lives does. I believe Xie Qingtang is capable.”

His words left the chief obstetrician speechless. He couldn’t understand why Gu Xiujin had such faith in Xie Qingtang.

Inside the operating room, the doctors and nurses had all paused, waiting for the family’s decision on whether to save the mother or the child before proceeding.

While they hesitated, Xie Qingtang suddenly appeared, carrying her medicine box. Everyone stared, momentarily taken aback.

“Resume your work. We’re saving both the mother and the child,” Xie Qingtang declared with unwavering determination, ignoring the startled staff and going straight to the bedside.

The mother’s face was as white as paper, drained of all color. Xie Qingtang took her wrist, her brow furrowing as she realized the situation was even more dire than she’d expected. Without hesitation, she drew a silver needle from her box and inserted it at the woman’s brow.

A nurse rushed forward, furious. “What are you doing? This is a hospital, not some fraudulent clinic! Stop at once! You’ll only make things worse!”

But before she could finish, the unconscious mother suddenly groaned in pain and slowly opened her eyes.

Everyone was stunned. Xie Qingtang snapped at the staff, “Why are you just standing there? Stop the bleeding! Do your jobs. Ignore me.”

Moments earlier, all their efforts had failed to rouse the patient, but with a single deft needle, Xie Qingtang had awakened her. Unconsciously, they obeyed her orders.

Though Xie Qingtang had no training in Western medicine, she exuded a commanding presence in the operating room that brooked no refusal.

Medicine shares universal principles; after a quick assessment, she instructed them to resume transfusions. Then she placed another needle at the crown of the patient’s head, restoring a bit more clarity. She spoke gently, “For your child, and for yourself, you must stay conscious. Do exactly as I say, understand?”

“Are you an angel sent to save me?” the woman murmured, her vision hazy from blood loss. She saw a beautiful girl bending over her, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Xie Qingtang smiled as well, inserting a needle at the woman’s temple while soothing her, “Yes, I am the celestial maiden sent to rescue you. I’ve just been to the king of the underworld’s palace to check your life record—your time is not up. You will not die here. You have decades of peaceful, happy days ahead. So you must hold on, do you understand?”

“Really? That’s wonderful. But it hurts so much…” The woman wailed in agony. Having her blood replaced twice was an unimaginable pain. Sweat poured down her pallid face, her heart rate escalating. Her life hung by a thread—there could be no misstep now.