Medical Sage

”That’s right.”

Upon hearing this, the overweight foreigner, Tucci, nodded and said slowly, ”Originally, I didn’t believe it either. But now, I have no choice but to admit that ancient and mysterious country hides many things that are difficult to comprehend. For example, the so-called traditional Chinese medicine... Honorable Earl Pierce, you should know that I once visited Huaxia, and over there, a miraculous Chinese doctor saved my life.”

”Traditional Chinese medicine? Mr. Tucci, are you talking about that thing from the Eastern country that doesn’t even qualify as pseudoscience and is just a complete deception? Please, excuse my bluntness, but that’s utterly fake and cannot be trusted. Do you really believe you can cure diseases with a few strange gestures and a bunch of herbs? Oh, that is the most ridiculous joke I have ever heard. Wouldn’t you agree, my lord Earl?” But upon hearing this, Doctor George’s demeanor shifted, and he became uncharacteristically confrontational and scornful. It was clear he looked down on traditional Chinese medicine.

”However, honorable Doctor George, that very thing you consider a complete deception, not even worthy of being called pseudoscience, is what miraculously pulled me back from the clutches of death. Are you aware that I suffered a sudden myocardial infarction in that country? You should know how dangerous that is. Yet, with nothing more than a small silver needle, that person saved me... If it were you, could you have done the same?” the overweight foreigner, Tucci, asked coolly, glancing at him.

”What!?”

”A sudden myocardial infarction?!”

Hearing this, the other doctors in the room cried out in shock. At their level of expertise, they knew perfectly well how terrifying a sudden myocardial infarction was. But now, Tucci was claiming that someone had cured him with a single silver needle. How was that possible? Was he joking, or was this some kind of magic trick? It was obvious they simply couldn’t believe it... after all, this was a sudden myocardial infarction, a devil that could claim a life the moment it struck!

”Perhaps he was just lucky. A single needle? Don’t be ridiculous, Mr. Tucci. Perhaps you should try to recall if there were any other competent Western doctors at the scene who administered emergency treatment,” Doctor George said sarcastically, his expression stiff.

”Competent Western doctors? I’m sorry, Doctor George, but if I had foolishly waited for them to arrive, I probably wouldn’t be standing here today... Honorable Earl Pierce, perhaps you should consider my suggestion. After all, Doctor George and his colleagues are out of options, are they not?” Tucci said, turning to Earl Pierce.

”I...” Pierce hesitated, his expression clearly showing he was tempted.

Given his status and standing, he was well aware that in that ancient and mysterious nation, there existed a group of people that even his great Saint Laurent Family regarded with deep apprehension—the Ancient Martial Artists of Huaxia! If people like that, and even their great Saint Laurent Family... the great Blood Clan, could exist in this world, then why couldn’t the miracles of traditional Chinese medicine also be real?

”My lord Earl!” Seeing the unmistakable look of interest on Earl Pierce’s face, Doctor George flushed with humiliation. He couldn’t believe the Earl was unwilling to trust him, a formal member of the American Loayabes Medical Alliance—one of the top three medical organizations in the world—and was instead considering some so-called ”esteemed” Traditional Chinese Medicine, which was nothing but a complete and utter scam. Isn’t this a direct humiliation? What else could it be?

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but grit his teeth and say, ”Honorable Earl, please believe me. If you truly choose to believe in that deceptive phantom of traditional Chinese medicine, then your wife... Miss Rosa will likely be beyond saving.”

”But do you have a better solution right now, Doctor George?” The overweight foreigner Tucci’s single question shut him down completely, causing his expression to freeze instantly.

”Doctor George, I can actually understand your way of thinking, as I once held the same prejudice,” Tucci spoke up again. ”However, one must face reality, mustn’t one? I’m not saying that traditional Chinese medicine is superior to Western medicine, but it is a fact that you have run out of options.”

”Who said we have run out of options?” Doctor George’s expression changed dramatically. He turned to the hesitating Earl Pierce and said through clenched teeth, ”Honorable Earl, if you are willing to pay the price, perhaps... I can take Miss Rosa to our facilities at Loayabes. Within Loayabes, there are at least three individuals whose expertise in cardiovascular disease surpasses my own. They are all top Western doctors from around the world, and all of them are Nobel laureates.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, ”Of those three, two are very good friends of mine. So if you are willing, my lord Earl, I can guarantee I can get them both to personally intervene... I trust the ’trivial’ fee would be of no concern to you. To you, it’s like pocket change, hardly worth a second thought.”

”Really!?” A look of joyful surprise appeared on Earl Pierce’s face, and he exclaimed aloud. The significance of winning a Nobel Prize in medicine needed no explanation. He believed these two were undoubtedly the top cardiovascular specialists on Earth. If he could truly get them to help, wouldn’t his wife, Rosa, have a very good chance of being saved? As for the fee... he didn’t give it a moment’s thought.

As a member of one of the Eleven Major Mafia Families of Europe and Italy’s oldest and greatest Blood Clan, money was just a number to them. They themselves didn’t even know how much wealth they possessed. Three trillion? Five trillion? Or even more! So, as the public representative of such a massive Mafia Family, he, Pierce, truly did not lack money.

”Of course, it’s true. Honorable Earl Pierce, forgive my bluntness, but so-called traditional Chinese medicine is a complete hoax with no scientific basis whatsoever. Compared to that, Western medicine is the most authoritative and the most trustworthy, is it not?” Seeing his advantage, Doctor George regained his proud demeanor and spoke loudly.

”This... Doctor George, if we are to take my wife to Loayabes, when can we depart?” Earl Pierce replied, sidestepping the comment with a direct question.

”Honorable Earl, I think perhaps you should be asking a different question,” Tucci interjected suddenly. ”Even if you take Miss Rosa to America, to Loayabes, what are the actual chances she can be cured?”

He paused, his gaze fixed on Doctor George, whose expression had suddenly turned ugly. Tucci continued slowly, ”Doctor George, with science being so advanced, perhaps you can use data transmission and video diagnostics to have those two authoritative experts at Loayabes give a preliminary assessment. They can tell us just how confident they are that they can cure Miss Rosa. If even they aren’t sure, then going all the way to America would be pointless. Wouldn’t you agree?”

”...Mr. Tucci, are you working against me?” Doctor George couldn’t help but ask angrily. He truly couldn’t understand. Had this man been brainwashed by those Easterners? Traditional Chinese medicine? What a load of nonsense. How could it possibly be compared to their authoritative and systematic Western medicine?

”Working against you? Doctor George, that’s a serious accusation. My dear Earl, I believe my actions are in service of being responsible for Miss Rosa’s life. Of course, if you would rather I didn’t continue, I will fall silent immediately,” Tucci replied calmly.

It was undeniable that, in his view, Doctor George was one of Italy’s foremost specialists in cardiovascular disease. However, because of this, the man had become far too stubborn and dismissive. True, traditional Chinese medicine had a poor reputation internationally, but no one could deny that its miraculous healing methods existed. Furthermore, they had already admitted they were powerless to help Miss Rosa’s condition, yet George was still trying to prevent him from taking responsibility for her life by recommending the wonders of traditional Chinese medicine to Earl Pierce. Such behavior was not only ungentlemanly but outright despicable. That was why he continued to oppose him.

After all, in his heart, his confidence in Chen Fei had clearly surpassed any faith he had in the others. That’s right, the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner he wanted to recommend to Earl Pierce was none other than Chen Fei, the young man from the East whom he considered to be magical. He’s truly incredible!

”You...” Hearing this, Doctor George was choked with frustration, unable to find the words. He could only turn and look angrily at Earl Pierce.

However, when he met Doctor George’s gaze, the Earl hesitated for a moment before nodding. ”Doctor George, Tucci is right. I must be responsible for my wife’s life. Please, use whatever means necessary to confirm with your colleagues first. Given Rosa’s current condition, how confident are they that she can be cured, or if she can be cured at all. If not, then I will have no choice but to set aside my reservations and prejudices and seek the help of that miraculous traditional Chinese medicine from that ancient and mysterious nation.”

”You... this... Very well. I will contact them immediately.” Though he was seething with anger, Doctor George nodded in agreement. This demonstrated that, despite his animosity toward traditional Chinese medicine, he still possessed the basic professional ethics of a doctor: one must not trifle with a patient’s life.

Not long after, however, he returned, his head bowed in silence. Seeing his demeanor, Earl Pierce’s expression changed. ”Doctor George, don’t tell me that even the experts at Loayabes...”

”My apologies, Honorable Earl Pierce.” Doctor George looked up apologetically, his eyes evasive. ”I sent Miss Rosa’s case files to my two friends over there, the two Nobel laureates in cardiovascular disease... I am very sorry, but they both regretfully stated that the chances are extremely slim. The probability of a cure... is no more than thirty percent. And even if she were cured, Miss Rosa would very likely be left with severe, permanent complications.”

”FUCK!” Pierce couldn’t help but curse, his face turning grim.