Divine Level Witch Doctor

The trio’s heavy sighs were too much for their companion behind the wheel. She couldn’t help but ask, ”Is this Zhao Yuan guy really that amazing? You all worship him to this extent! Old Deng, your hospital is full of experts and professors, but I’ve never seen you admire any of them like this.”

The driver of the seven-seater SUV was a striking young woman of about twenty. With her short hair and leather jacket, she had a sharp, competent air about her. A quick glance was all it took to mistake her for a handsome young man.

She wasn’t in the medical field and had never seen the news reports or videos, so naturally, she didn’t recognize Zhao Yuan.

”Not a single expert or professor in our hospital can compare to Zhao Yuan!” Deng Chang immediately launched into an explanation for his companion. ”Ying Ji, you’re not in medicine, so you don’t know how incredible Zhao Yuan is. Let me tell you...”

With a bit of dramatic flair, he recounted how Zhao Yuan had single-handedly turned the tide by exposing Kobayashi Haruo’s plot and defeated the Jinling Zhao Family.

He finished by adding, ”And don’t you go thinking the Jinling Zhao Family is some pushover, Ying Ji. We’re talking about a Noble Family of medicine with a lineage stretching back hundreds of years. The people they sent to compete against Zhao Yuan were, without exception, top-tier medical masters! Even so, Zhao Yuan completely decimated them! As for Kobayashi Haruo, he was hailed as the future star of Japanese Traditional Chinese Medicine, but Zhao Yuan crushed him so badly he was practically in tears. In the end, he could only scurry back to Japan in disgrace, never daring to set foot in China again! Compared to a guy like that, the experts and professors at our hospital are absolute trash!”

Ying Ji was astonished. ”This Zhao Yuan guy is that incredible? He doesn’t look that old, does he?”

Deng Chang nodded. ”He’s not. He’s just a college freshman. In fact, he’s a year behind you in school.”

’To be so young and have such masterful medical skills... this Zhao Yuan is certainly interesting...’ Ying Ji thought, a brow slightly arched.

At the same time, she said aloud, ”Alright, alright, you three can stop all the sighing. Once we get Feng Ming settled at the county hospital, we’ll buy a thank-you gift and go back up the mountain to thank Zhao Yuan for stepping in to help at such a critical moment. Won’t you get to see your idol again then?”

The eyes of Deng Chang and the other two men lit up, their sorrow instantly replaced by joy as they chimed in one after another:

”That’s right! We have to thank Zhao Yuan properly!”

”Xiaofeng got hurt saving us. If he’d died from his injuries, we’d have felt guilty for the rest of our lives! Zhao Yuan stepping in didn’t just save Xiaofeng, he saved us too! It’s only right that we show him our gratitude!”

”Forget everything else—when we go back, I’m definitely getting a picture with my idol! And an autograph!”

Meanwhile, after watching the vehicle drive away, Zhao Yuan turned and headed back to his house.

He had just stepped into the courtyard when Uncle Liu from next door came over.

After a few words of praise, he asked, a little sheepishly, ”Brother Yuan, could you take a look at me, too? I was chasing a wild rabbit in the mountains a few days ago and sprained my ankle. I rubbed it with some medicinal wine, and while the swelling went down, the pain hasn’t really gotten any better. It hurts terribly if I take more than a couple of steps. When it gets really bad, I break out in a cold sweat from the pain and can’t even stand.”

The villagers had always looked out for Zhao Yuan since he was a child. When he left for university in Rongcheng City, Uncle Liu had generously lent him all of his family’s meager savings.

Though the money had long since been repaid, Zhao Yuan never forgot the kindness.

Now that Uncle Liu was injured, Zhao Yuan certainly wasn’t going to stand by and do nothing. He immediately helped Uncle Liu to a stool and said, ”Take off your shoe and sock. Let me take a look.”

Uncle Liu immediately took off his shoe and sock. Zhao Yuan felt the ankle and diagnosed a joint dislocation. It was minor, which was why it had gone unnoticed, but it would immediately cause pain whenever he put weight on it or tried to walk.

Zhao Yuan briefly explained the injury to Uncle Liu, then said, ”I’m going to set it back in place for you now. It might hurt a little, so try to bear with it.”

Uncle Liu waved it off. ”Go ahead. I can handle it.”

Zhao Yuan recalled the relevant techniques from the”Traditional Chinese Surgery”. Then, with a firm motion of both hands, he performed the joint reduction technique he had learned from Wu Peng. With a sharp CLICK, the dislocated joint popped back into place.

”ARGH!” Uncle Liu let out a pained scream, tears welling in his eyes.

Everyone in the courtyard jumped at the sound of his scream, and the same thought went through all their minds: ’What’s going on? Did Brother Yuan mess up? Did the treatment fail?’

Zhao Yuan stood up. ”Uncle Liu, try standing up.”

Uncle Liu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did as Zhao Yuan said, shakily getting to his feet.

”Take a couple of steps,” Zhao Yuan said.

Uncle Liu took two steps as instructed, his face lighting up with surprise and delight. ”It doesn’t hurt! It really doesn’t hurt at all! HAHA, I’m back in action! I can go hunting in the mountains and work the fields again! Brother Yuan, you’re incredible! You fixed me up just like that!”

He was so overjoyed that he even started jumping on the spot.

Zhao Yuan hurriedly stopped him. ”Uncle Liu, don’t jump! Your joint was just set. You need to rest it. If you dislocate it again, you’ll just have to go through that pain all over again.”

Uncle Liu immediately backed down. The pain of the joint being set was still fresh in his mind.

Everyone knew Zhao Yuan had performed Feng Ming’s surgery, but no one had seen the actual procedure. Now, however, the villagers had witnessed with their own eyes Zhao Yuan instantly heal Uncle Liu’s foot. This got them excited. Anyone with the slightest ache or pain swarmed the Zhao Family’s courtyard, pleading for Zhao Yuan to diagnose and treat them.

Zhao Yuan turned no one away, essentially setting up a free clinic in the courtyard. Whenever possible, he treated them with the Golden Needle rather than writing a prescription. He knew the villagers were poor and wouldn’t be willing to spend the money to have a prescription filled.

Lately, Zhao Yuan had practiced the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique to the point of perfection. One insertion of the needle, while not always a miraculous instant cure, would almost always produce a noticeable effect. This skill left the villagers in awe. After being treated, they didn’t leave. Instead, they stayed in the courtyard, some helping in the kitchen, others helping Zhao Yuan maintain order.

By the time Zhao Yuan had finished treating all the villagers, it was noon. Zhao Shiquan then announced that the feast was served!

At that moment, tables filled the courtyard and the area just outside it.

The Zhao Family’s tables alone weren’t nearly enough, so neighbors had contributed their own, ensuring there was a seat for everyone in the village.

When the feast was in full swing, the old village chief stood up and said, ”I have some good news to share with everyone today!”

Everyone’s ears perked up.

But the old village chief decided to keep them in suspense. He waved to Zhao Yuan. ”Brother Yuan, why don’t you be the one to tell them.”