Chapter 239 The Whole Audience is Convinced
The entire venue fell silent.
It was as if someone had pressed pause on a movie. Everyone froze, their faces etched with shock and disbelief. All eyes were glued to the stage, to James and the "revived" patient.
The television audience was equally stunned. Jennifer gasped, tears welling up in her eyes.
Though not physically present, she could feel the immense pressure bearing down on James. Failure would bring ridicule and shame, not just upon him but upon traditional medicine as a whole.
Logically, she didn't believe he could succeed. The patient had been dead for several minutes. Nathaniel had even checked his pulse, confirming the absence of a heartbeat. In all her years of studying medicine, she had never heard of anyone bringing the dead back to life.
And yet, there he was. Alive. Tears streamed down her face.
Dennis and Kaitlyn, overwhelmed with pride, couldn't contain themselves. "That's our son-in-law!" Dennis roared. "Bringing the dead back to life! Incredible!"
"James is amazing!" Kaitlyn beamed. "We're so proud of him!"
Even Emberlyn, back in Rainforest City and watching the live broadcast, reacted with uncharacteristic emotion. She sat up straighter, her usual aloofness momentarily forgotten. "Those fools have never seen real power," she muttered, her eyes glued to the screen. "Bringing the dead back to life is nothing for James. He looks so handsome when he's serious… I really like him."
"Did… did Dr. Smith just revive that man?"
"Someone pinch me! This can't be real!"
"It seems pretty real to me. My God, is that man a god?"
"This changes everything. Since when was traditional medicine this powerful? No medicine, just a few needles?"
"Absolutely incredible."
The initial silence gave way to a cacophony of gasps and excited chatter. James's feat was nothing short of miraculous.
The audience, the organizers, the judges, the modern doctors, even the traditional medicine practitioners – all were stunned.
"Impossible!" Nathaniel, snapping out of his daze, pushed through the crowd towards the patient. He examined the man's face closely.
"He was alive. Undeniably alive." Nathaniel shouted, couldn't suppress his excitement.
"Are you crazy? Get off me!" The patient, now fully conscious, shoved Nathaniel away, sending the older man stumbling.
James released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
He had succeeded. The seal on his powers wasn't fully lifted, his full strength unavailable. Reviving someone from the brink of death had taken a toll.
"You were misdiagnosed and mistreated by three modern doctors," James addressed the patient. "Their actions worsened your condition, leading to what appeared to be death. If I hadn't intervened when I did, using acupuncture to stimulate your system, you would be dead."
The patient, finally remembering what had transpired, looked around at the stunned faces and believed. A wave of fear washed over him. He fell to his knees before James, bowing deeply. "Thank you for saving my life!"
"Get up, please," James said, startled. He quickly helped the man to his feet.
The patient tried to bow again, but something seemed to hold him back, an invisible barrier. He was a laborer, strong by ordinary standards, but James's strength was on another level entirely.
"Please, let me thank you properly," the man insisted, tears streaming down his face. "If you hadn't saved me, my family would be ruined."
James shook his head. "Your gratitude honors me, but your words trouble me. As a doctor, my duty is to save lives. You were critically ill, and I possessed the skills to help. Should I have let you die? If anything, thank traditional medicine. I am but a practitioner of the traditional medicine, and it was this ancient art that saved you."
The onlookers were deeply moved by James's humility and compassion.
"He was like an angel, sent from heaven," they whispered.
Even those who had been quick to criticize him felt a pang of shame. They regrated for they had misjudged him entirely.
The audience, the modern doctors, even some of the traditional medicine practitioners – all felt a newfound respect for James.
Dr. Murphy, who had been James's most vocal critic, hung his head in shame. He had never felt so ashamed in his entire life.
"James, you are truly remarkable," Finley, the organizer who had initially favored modern medicine, said, clapping enthusiastically.
His applause was the catalyst. The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause, louder and more heartfelt than before.
James merely smiled, accepting the accolades with grace and humility. He led the patient to his consultation area, prescribed some medicine, and explained the necessary follow-up care.
His quiet dedication, his refusal to boast or claim credit, only deepened the respect he inspired.
Some of the younger women in the audience gazed at him with open admiration. He was more than a doctor; he was an idol. Even those who weren't sick lined up to see him, hoping for a word, a touch, perhaps even an examination.
The incident breathed life into the previously dull third segment of the competition. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the doctor who could bring the dead back to life.
The modern medical camp, once so confident, now felt a collective sense of unease. Over a hundred doctors, overshadowed by a single practitioner of traditional medicine. Some of the younger, less experienced doctors began to question their chosen path.
The competition continued, but the energy had shifted. The traditional medicine camp, particularly James, was the center of attention.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
