Chapter 465

First Volume, Chapter 465: Good Doctor or Quack

At night, the Former General was hastily carried into BeixiCounty.

The Former General was already elderly; no matter how robust his physique, he could not be as strong as a young man, and now he alternated between clarity and confusion, accompanied by high fever.

Under Qin Feng's escort, the Former General was taken directly into Beixi County Hospital.

Called a hospital, it was in fact a Yiyuan, housing four Ji Yi and ten apprentices.

The apprentices' duty was to serve as nurses; Qin Feng had once planned to recruit female nurses, but considering gender distinctions, he ultimately abandoned the idea.

The Former General was laid on the bed, his bandages—soaked through with blood—torn away, revealing a blackened wound where medicinal residue mixed with decayed blood, completely clogging the injury.

Seeing this, Hall Master Sun He furrowed his brows: "Difficult, difficult, difficult."

Sun He repeated "difficult" three times, revealing the severity of the Former General's wound; after consulting with the other three Ji Yi, they concluded that treating the Former General required nothing but herbal medicine to stop bleeding, resolve stasis, detoxify, and reduce fever.

In short, it was a matter of enduring it.

"Someone! Quickly change the herbs and bandages for the Former General!"

Qin Feng, standing nearby and witnessing the entire scene, immediately stopped them: "Sun Hall Master, if you apply more herbal poultices, the Former General will surely die."

If these words had come from anyone else, Sun Hall Master would have already erupted in curses.

He had practiced medicine for over thirty years; before coming to Beixi, he was the foremost physician in his region, and had he not heard that Beixi treated its people like children and enjoyed an excellent reputation across the Northern Border, he would have long since opened a Yiyuan in Jingdu.

Sun He forced himself to bow respectfully to Qin Feng: "Qin Qianhu, the Former General's wound still oozes stagnant blood; if stasis is not resolved and bleeding not stopped promptly, the condition will only worsen. If you truly wish to save the Former General, you must listen to me."

Hearing this, Qin Feng asked with solemn gravity: "Sun Hall Master, throughout your medical career, how many Arrow Wounds have you treated?"

Sun He did not think twice and replied offhand: "Before coming to Beixi, I treated almost no Arrow Wounds; since arriving in Beixi, I have treated over Three Hundred."

Qin Feng nodded and pressed directly: "Of these over Three Hundred, how many survived?"

At these words, Sun He's face instantly darkened.

This Qin Feng was clearly looking for trouble!

How could one ask such a question in front of Ji Yi?

Moreover, the door of the Yiyuan was packed with people; the entire street's folk, upon hearing Qin Feng had arrived, rushed over to gawk—publicly humiliating Sun He like this would ruin his reputation!

Folk rumors claimed Qin Feng was generous and especially considerate toward subordinates.

But today's encounter left Sun He deeply disappointed.

Sun He, face cold, replied irritably: "In answer to Qin Qianhu, of those over Three Hundred wounded, twelve survived."

Only twelve survived—Qin Feng could not bear the pain; these were all fine young men of Beixi!

To reduce the mortality rate of Arrow Wounds and to change the conservative mindset of Ji Yi, Qin Feng did not hold back: "So the survival rate is less than one percent?"

Sun He's temper flared; ignoring the protests of the Ji Yi and apprentices, he shouted directly at Qin Feng: "Qin Qianhu! You are indeed the master of Beixi County, and your military strategy is nothing short of genius. But in matters of medicine and herbs, you are an outsider!"

"Who ever heard of an outsider instructing an expert?"

"Since ancient times, Arrow Wounds have been the hardest to treat; only I, personally, have saved twelve. If any other Ji Yi had treated them, frankly, not a single one would have survived!"

Watching the furious Sun He, the onlookers among the folk looked utterly bewildered.

Had Sun He gone mad? How dare he shout at Qin Feng?

An old man standing outside shouted at Sun He: "Bold! How dare you show such disrespect to the Qianhu!"

Seeing the crowd turn against Sun He, Qin Feng immediately raised his hand to interrupt.

Once the Yiyuan fell silent, Qin Feng turned to the folk outside and said calmly: "I was discussing Medical Skill with Sun Hall Master; our views clashed, tempers flared—it is understandable. Moreover, Sun Hall Master's anger proves his integrity. Do not blame him."

Soothed by Qin Feng, the enraged crowd calmed down.

Sun He furrowed his brows, filled with confusion.

What exactly did this Qin Feng want? If he came to provoke, to despise me as Hall Master and replace me, why defend me just now?

If he had no ill intent, why target me at every turn?

Sun He found the young man increasingly inscrutable, and sighed inwardly: Odd man.

Meanwhile, Qin Feng's gaze returned to Sun He, his expression once again stern and his words sharp: "Sun Hall Master claims you cured twelve? Are you certain these twelve were truly cured by you?"

Sun He had just begun to think Qin Feng might be blunt but well-intentioned.

Hearing this, his last hope vanished instantly.

Sun He felt his thirty-year reputation had suffered a Disgrace; Qin Feng could question Sun He himself, but never his Medical Skill.

Sun He roared: "Unthinkable! The world says Qin Feng is kind and benevolent—today I see it is all falsehoods spread by ignorant fools. If you think I am unfit for Hall Master, say so plainly—why resort to such underhanded tricks?"

"This damn Hall Master position? I won't take it! As for Beixi County—hmph! Goodbye!"

Sun He flung his long sleeve and turned to leave.

Qin Feng had anticipated Sun He's rage; in this age, Ji Yi were intellectuals with high social standing among the Folk, especially a renowned elder like Sun He, whose pride brooked no doubt.

It was precisely this authority that made him unable to accept Qin Feng's medical philosophy.

Qin Feng must shatter Sun He's rigid traditions; otherwise, not only would Arrow Wound mortality remain high, but even minor illnesses like headaches or fevers could claim many lives.

"Sun Hall Master, is your heart so narrow you cannot tolerate even a hint of doubt?"

Sun He halted, turned to Qin Feng, his eyes brimming with contempt: "If you were a Ji Yi, and questioned me with reason and evidence, I would humbly accept."

Meaning: You're a green boy—you know nothing of medicine!

Facing Sun He's sarcasm, Qin Feng did not rush to defend himself; he spoke plainly: "Those twelve who recovered would have survived even without your treatment. In fact, had you not treated them, more than twelve might have lived."

This remark shattered everything.

Sun He stared at Qin Feng in disbelief: "You mean those over Two Hundred… were killed by me?!"