Chapter 15 Unworthy to be a Doctor

• "What? How did this happen?"
• Silas's rapidly worsening condition visibly shook Jerry. He hadn't anticipated things would escalate so drastically.
• "Dr. Bowen, what is going on?"
• Alice's brows furrowed as she asked with urgency.
• "This is odd—truly strange! It was just a few needles! I simply removed them, and that should have been the end of it. How could this happen?"
• Jerry was wiping the sweat off his forehead as he muttered to himself.
• "Dr. Bowen! The patient's condition is critical—we need to perform emergency treatment now!"
• A senior physician urged anxiously from the side.
• Jerry barked, "Quick! Prepare Mr. Silas for surgery! Do it now!"
• He couldn't care less about anything else at this point. Jerry reached out for the medical equipment in a frantic attempt to save the patient.
• Yet, despite their best efforts, Silas's condition only worsened. His vital signs dropped sharply, and there was no sign of improvement.
• "Grandpa!"
• "Grandpa!"
• The sudden change in the situation terrified Alice. She rushed to the operating table, anxiously calling out to Silas. She cast a panicked glance at Jerry and asked furiously, "Jerry Bowen! What is happening to my grandpa? Didn't you just tell me that it would be fine to remove the needles? Explain yourself!"
• Jerry was sweating profusely as he looked at Silas, whose life was in peril. He shook his head frantically and said, "I don't know! Maybe it's happening because Mr. Silas's time has simply come."
• Realizing that he might have caused a medical disaster and his career might be over, Jerry began to panic. Desperation flooded his mind as he started shifting the blame. "Oh, that's right! It must be a young man! Yes, it must be him! Mr. Silas was fine under my care, but after he used those needles, everything went wrong! It has nothing to do with me! It's his fault, all of it!"
• Before Jerry could finish his sentence, Alice cut him off angrily. "Shifting blame like a coward? And you call yourself an expert? Your behavior is nothing but a disgrace to the medical community of Skaonia! Let me tell you this, if anything happens to my grandpa, I swear I will personally skin you!"
• Thud!
• Jerry's complexion turned pale with fear as he collapsed to the ground.
• He understood the immense power the Hiltons held in Ciderbrook. With a snap of their fingers, they could destroy him.
• "What's going on here?"
• Amid the chaos in the hospital room, Eric walked in, carrying a bag of freshly prepared medicine. He was puzzled by the commotion. When his gaze fell upon Silas, pale and on the brink of death, his brow furrowed deeply.
• "Who removed the needles?"
• Eric's eyes swept over the chaotic room as he asked icily.
• "Mr. Goodwell, I'm so sorry. Just now—"
• Alice was just about to explain things to Eric when Jerry suddenly scrambled to his feet. He grabbed Eric by the collar and shouted hysterically, "You! How dare you come back? Let me tell you, you're in big trouble now! Mr. Silas is about to die, and it's all because of you! If it weren't for your ridiculous insistence on using holistic medicine and putting those needles on him, Mr. Silas's condition wouldn't have worsened! You're going to be held legally responsible for this!"
• Smack!
• A loud slap landed hard across Jerry's face, abruptly ending his frantic tirade.
• The force of the blow caused him to stumble, almost sending him crashing to the ground.
• Before Jerry could comprehend what had happened, Eric gripped his collar tightly. His gaze was cold and sharp. Eric spoke each word deliberately, "That slap was on behalf of your forefather. For thousands of years, holistic medicine has enriched the lives of millions of children of the ancients. As one of them, you not only abandon the legacy of your forebears, but you disgrace it. You choose to mock what has been passed down through generations, seeking favor with foreign practices. Are you not ashamed?"
• "You ... You little punk! How dare you hit me?"
• Jerry was momentarily stunned before his embarrassment turned to rage.
• Struggling furiously, he screamed hysterically at Eric. "Am I wrong? Holistic medicine is outdated! We should have replaced it long ago! How can it possibly compare to modern medicine?"
• Smack!
• Another sharp slap landed squarely on Jerry's face, cutting him off mid-sentence and forcing him to swallow the rest of his words.
• Eric raised a finger and pointed at Silas, who was lying pale and critically ill on the hospital bed. His voice boomed with anger. "This slap is for the patient! Now tell me, what's the first thing you learn in medical school? What is the first tenet of the Hippocratic Oath that all doctors must swear to?"
• Eric's powerful question echoed through the room, silencing everyone.
• Shaken by the intensity of Eric's words, Jerry stammered instinctively, "D-Do no harm ... "
• "Haha ... "
• Eric sneered and questioned, "So you do know that the first tenet is to do no harm, and what have you done? You call yourself a doctor, but lack the ability to save your patient. Instead, you acted with malice, recklessly removing the needles and nearly causing the patient's death. Do you even deserve to wear that white coat?"
• "You ... you ... you ... "
• Jerry's cheeks were red and swollen from the slaps. He stammered, trying to form words but failing.
• He opened his mouth and wanted to say something.
• Smack!
• Eric's third slap landed hard on Jerry's right cheek and he said coldly, "This last slap is for yourself! As a doctor, your foremost duty is to save lives. Yet, not only have you shirked your responsibilities, but you've also lacked the courage to admit your mistakes, choosing instead to push the blame onto others."
• His tone was sharp and unforgiving as he continued, "What's the difference between you and criminals who harm people for money? You aren't fit to be a doctor without basic medical ethics, no matter how skilled you are.
• With these words, Eric gave another three slaps. He walked away with a disdainful expression, not even glancing back at Jerry.
• The room fell into complete silence.
• Everyone's gaze was fixed on Eric. Their mouths hung wide open, eyes filled with disbelief, staring at his serious and stern expression.
• Clearly, the impact of what Eric had just done lingered with them for a long time.
• Jerry was still reeling from the three powerful slaps he received. He tried to stand. His face was swollen, but his anger and embarrassment drove him to attempt an attack on Eric.
• However, after taking only a couple of steps, he collapsed and writhed on the floor in agony.
• His mouth opened wide, and his trembling fingers pointed at Eric's retreating back. Jerry's face was contorted in agony, but no matter how hard he tried, Jerry found himself unable to utter a single word.
• Alice watched this unfold, a trace of astonishment flickering in her eyes.
• Just moments ago, Jerry was perfectly fine—why did he suddenly collapse to the floor?
• Could that be it?
• Suddenly, she realized what had occurred. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and bowed to Eric. She said, "Mr. Goodwell, please save my grandfather. My family will be forever grateful."
• Eric didn't respond right away. Instead, he raised a hand, his voice firm. "Unbutton Mr. Silas's shirt."
• Alice nodded. She started to undo Silas's shirt and exposed his chest.
• "Good," Eric muttered.
• He took a deep breath and summoned his vitality energy. His fingers pressed firmly on the center of Silas's forehead, the top of his head, and his temples—all their key pressure points. Slowly, he began transferring his own vital energy into Silas, channeling it through the critical pathways to restore the old man's life force.