Nangong Yi burst into laughter on the spot, mocking with utter disdain:
"It's a globally recognized fact in the medical community that traditional Chinese acupuncture is ineffective against snakes. You dare to boast without even knowing such basic medical common sense, it's simply hilarious, hahaha..."
But as he laughed, Nangong Yi suddenly froze. Because as Chen Xiao placed the last silver needle on Long Aotian, the electrocardiograph monitor abruptly ceased its critical warning.
Watching with his own eyes as Long Aotian's vital signs rapidly returned to normal, he couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief:
"I... Damn! Why does traditional Chinese acupuncture have such an immediate and miraculous effect? This... this is unscientific!"
Chen Xiao completely ignored Nangong Yi and said to Jun Dao and Zi Dan:
"Immediately prepare disposable syringes and Qingkailing for me."
Zi Dan, usually wild and untamed, now completely submissive to Chen Xiao, nodded repeatedly and rushed to get the medical kit, acting like a dutiful nurse in an emergency room.
Jun Dao couldn't help but kindly remind Chen Xiao:
"Dr. Chen, Miss Wan Nong also injected Long Wang with Qingkailing last night, but it had no effect at all."
Chen Xiao, of course, wasn't foolish enough to reveal the secret of the wordless golden formula. He explained with a mix of truth and falsehood:
"Qingkailing injections are only effective when combined with my acupuncture."
As he spoke, he took the Qingkailing injection and disposable syringe handed to him by Zi Dan, then looked at Nangong Yi with a cold sneer:
"Old man, open your eyes and watch closely. I'll show you what true priceless medical essence is! If you can grasp even a fraction of it, you will have a place in the global medical community and even in the entire history of human medicine."
Nangong Yi was already stunned by Chen Xiao's acupuncture skills. His eyes were glued to Chen Xiao's movements, nodding vigorously like a pecking chick.
However, to his utter confusion, the Qingkailing injection Chen Xiao used was very ordinary, the disposable syringe was unremarkable, and he employed no unique techniques during the injection.
Yet, with such a seemingly unremarkable needle, Long Aotian slowly woke up in less than two minutes.
"This... this this this..."
Nangong Yi was utterly dumbfounded, like a cultivator who had sought immortality for years in vain and suddenly saw an immortal descend. Without a second thought, he "plop" fell to his knees before Chen Xiao, performing the grand ritual of discipleship. He kowtowed repeatedly, stammering incoherently:
"Dr. Chen, please, please accept me as your disciple. From this day forward, I will kowtow to you morning and night, burn incense for you, prostrate myself, and worship you with utmost reverence..."
Fearing that Long Aotian might be disturbed, Jun Dao and Zi Dan exchanged a look, and immediately four burly bodyguards in black clothes carried him out.
Like Song Kaichao, Long Aotian only woke up briefly before falling into a deep sleep again.
While preparing medication and an IV drip for him, Chen Xiao instructed Jun Dao and Zi Dan:
"Actually, the extent of corrosion and damage to Long Wang's body is far more severe than Song Kaichao's. It's just that his body is as strong as steel, so his illness manifested slightly later than Song Kaichao's. He will need to continue receiving IV drips and rest daily to slowly recover."
Jun Dao and Zi Dan nodded repeatedly, as if receiving instructions from Long Aotian himself:
"We'll listen to Dr. Chen!"
It was already lunchtime, and Chen Xiao, without beating around the bush, said to Jun Dao:
"Then I'll trouble you to drive me back. I'll come again tomorrow."
Before Jun Dao could respond, Zi Dan eagerly interjected:
"Dr. Chen, I'll take you!"
Zi Dan was also driving a minivan, and it was even older and shabbier than the one Jun Dao had used to pick up Chen Xiao. If it were put up for sale in a used car market, it might not fetch even a few thousand yuan.
Fearing that Chen Xiao might find it distasteful, she explained awkwardly:
"Our status as border soldiers is sensitive. Not only are our every move closely watched, but we are also in constant danger and facing life-or-death situations. We must maintain a low profile in public."
Chen Xiao was greatly shocked:
"You are border soldiers?"
Zi Dan realized she had let slip a secret. Her pretty face changed slightly, and she quickly changed the subject:
"Dr. Chen, you haven't had lunch yet, have you? The famous Partridge Sky Hotel is just ahead. How about I treat you?"
Fearing Chen Xiao might refuse, she added eagerly after a pause:
"The scar on my left eye from the peacekeeping mission is really unsightly. It's made me almost thirty and still unmarried. I truly hope Dr. Chen can help heal it."
This was also why she had rushed to offer to drive Chen Xiao away from Swan Lake Residential Area.
But then again, she hadn't held much hope for Chen Xiao. After all, the scar on her left eye was about ten centimeters long and over three centimeters wide, running through both the upper and lower eyelids. Just a slight misstep in that area could lead to blindness, making scar removal through conventional medicine highly unlikely.
Chen Xiao, guessing Zi Dan's identity, secretly admired her and said without hesitation:
"There's no need for a meal. I'll bring you a potent medicine for scar removal tomorrow when I come to give Long Wang his IV drip. It's guaranteed to cure it!"