The audience's disgust and the laughter of those two scoundrels pierced Xiao Chen's heart like knives. The pain was so intense he felt like vomiting blood. He couldn't understand how his moment of triumph had turned into such humiliation. Why wouldn't his leg obey him?
It was mortifying! He was Xiao Chen, the genius doctor, the most renowned physician in the Yan Kingdom. How could he lose face like this, ridiculed by so many people?
Coldly, Xiao Chen roared, "Wang Siquan, don't spout nonsense! I'm not kneeling for you! My legs just went numb, and I fell when I lost my balance!"
"Then you should stand up now!" Wang Siquan gestured invitingly.
"Fine! I'll stand up now!" Xiao Chen pushed hard with his legs and stood upright.
But before he could rejoice, he collapsed again, kneeling before Wang Siquan.
Xiao Chen was speechless.
"Hahahaha!" Ye Xingchen and Angkor laughed uproariously.
The audience's disgust intensified.
"Damn! He just stood up and knelt down again!"
"That's some skillful kneeling!"
"Those knees are so weak!"
"If you want to kneel, at least find a better excuse!"
"Do you think we're stupid?"
Xiao Chen sputtered in frustration.
Wang Siquan frowned. "Xiao Chen, what are you playing at? You're not kneeling on behalf of some group again, are you?"
The nearby doctors quickly distanced themselves, shaking their heads. "Don't misunderstand, Dr. Wang. He definitely doesn't represent us. We have nothing to do with him. We're not so spineless!"
Xiao Chen protested, but Wang Siquan solemnly declared, "Xiao Chen, let me be clear: your kneeling only represents yourself. I won't accept it on behalf of others. Though I may be arrogant, my principles are sound!"
Xiao Chen sputtered again, angrily insisting, "No! My legs were weak, so I fell again!"
"Then stand up quickly. This is making me uncomfortable!"
"Alright, I'll stand up now!"
Xiao Chen pushed hard and stood straight again. But he immediately fell, kneeling once more.
"Soft-legged shrimp Xiao Chen!" Ye Xingchen and Angkor laughed until their stomachs hurt.
The audience's contempt grew.
"Still making excuses?"
"He couldn't wait to kneel down again!"
"If you want to kneel, just admit it!"
"Three times kneeling? Even my ancestors weren't this devout!"
"What a dog!"
Xiao Chen sputtered in frustration.
Wang Siquan pleaded, "Xiao Chen, I beg you, stop kneeling! You're embarrassing yourself and me!"
Xiao Chen quickly explained, "No... it must be my leg! Every time I stand, my legs give out!"
He took out two silver needles, applied some acupuncture, and said with satisfaction, "This should solve the problem!"
With a forceful push, he stood up quickly.
Only to kneel down again immediately.
Xiao Chen was at a loss for words.
"Hahahaha! I'm crying from laughter!" Ye Xingchen and Angkor convulsed with mirth.
Xiao Chen sputtered once more.
Wang Siquan spread his hands. "What's your excuse this time?"
"My legs are still weak, and the acupuncture didn't work. Help me!" Xiao Chen said, embarrassed.
Wang Siquan's face filled with suspicion. "You're not trying to take advantage of this situation, are you? I'm warning you, there are many witnesses here. If you try anything, I'll have you arrested!"
Xiao Chen angrily retorted, "Don't worry! I, the dignified descendant of the Ghost Valley faction, would never stoop so low!"
"Alright then, I'll help you."
Wang Siquan helped Xiao Chen up and tried to take a few steps.
"Is it better now?"
"Yes, that's it!"
"Do you still need my help?"
"No, I'm fine!"
But as soon as Wang Siquan let go, Xiao Chen fell straight down.
Xiao Chen was speechless once again.
"Hahahaha!" The two beasts started laughing loudly again.
"Help me up again!"
"Okay!"
However, every time Wang Siquan helped him up, Xiao Chen seemed fine. But as soon as he let go, Xiao Chen would kneel down again.
After several repetitions, Wang Siquan finally lost his patience. "Xiao Chen, enough! Are you deliberately trying to make a fool of me?"
Xiao Chen was also angry. "I don't need your help this time. I'll do it myself!"
"Fine!"
"Bring me a chair first!"
Wang Siquan complied, bewildered.
After getting the chair, Xiao Chen stood up, holding onto the armrests.
"There must be something wrong with a nerve in my leg. I can't use my strength, and my legs give out as soon as I stand. I need to examine it carefully." He held onto the chair, about to sit down slowly.
But his legs were still too weak. He lost his balance without grasping the armrests and fell down.
This time, instead of kneeling, he fell face-first onto the ground.
There was a loud thud!
At that moment, Xiao Chen felt the whole world go silent.
His knees were fine, but his chest...
A heart-wrenching, agonized scream tore through the air.
"Damn! His ribs must be broken again!"
"A fall like that must have caused some damage!"
"That scream... it's at least an 8 out of 10 on the pain scale!"
"Quick, someone help him!"
Fortunately, all the doctors were present, and they rushed to Xiao Chen's aid.
After a preliminary examination, they confirmed that his rib had indeed broken again.
The wound needed to be reopened, reset, fixed, and re-medicated.
Additionally, due to the severe pain, anesthesia was necessary.
By that time, Xiao Chen had already fainted from the pain.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself back in his original ward.
The familiar white bandages, the familiar white flowers, and that one...
Always unpleasant face!
Why was he by his side every time something happened? Such bad luck!
"The doctor said your rib has broken again and needs to be reattached," Lin Beifan explained. "This is the third time, and the condition is quite serious. It will take longer to heal – about three or four months."
Xiao Chen turned his head slightly. "Isn't there medicine from Yaowang Hospital? Why will it take so long?"
"You forgot, your rib is broken and needs to be reattached, so the original medicine has been rendered ineffective," Lin Beifan said. "Once the medicine is compromised, its potency is greatly reduced and it can't be used."
"Can't you buy new medicine? I promise I'll pay you back in the future!"
Lin Beifan shook his head. "I would, but they're not selling it anymore."
"Why not?"
"They say that since you're a descendant of Guigu and threatened to destroy their place, they don't want to give you their good medicine," Lin Beifan said casually.
Xiao Chen was speechless.
"Well, don't worry too much about it," Lin Beifan continued. "Although common medicine works a bit slower, it's better than nothing. You should focus on recovering. I'm going to check on Brother Ye now." He patted Xiao Chen's shoulder gently and left the ward.