Chapter 5

Like a withered tree blooming in spring, life surged back.

Under Donovan's precise hands, his mother slowly regained the color in her waxen skin. It was visible to the naked eye, a breathtaking transformation.

Every medical staff member present was frozen, unable to speak and utterly stunned.

Donovan moved like a masterful, seasoned physician. His silver needles danced between his fingers, invisible forces of the world flowing subtly through the room. Spiritual energy converged on Tiffany, funneled through the needles, seeping into her body.

He reversed the balance of life, awakened vitality, using the power he had cultivated in the immortal realm to wrest life from the universe itself and give it back to his mother.

"Dr. Sawyer, you..."

The staff noticed Carl's mental collapse. They hurried to steady him, pity written on their faces. His confidence in his own skills had been utterly shattered. The bet was not just lost, it was a crushing blow to his pride and arrogance.

He couldn't bring himself to believe his eyes. But Edward's awe and unrestrained excitement left no room for doubt. It was real.

"D-Don..."

Tiffany opened her eyes for the first time in three years. Though her vision was blurred, she recognized her son instantly. Tears streamed down her face. She tried to reach for him, but her body wouldn't respond.

"Mom... Mom!"

Donovan seized her fragile hand and pressed it to his cheek, his own eyes glistening.

"She's... really awake!"

The medical staff were completely stunned.

A patient who had been pronounced unsalvageable by Carl was now awake and alive. It was nothing short of a miracle.

"No way... this guy's for real. He actually dragged her back from death's door."

"Is this the power of ancient needle techniques? Even legendary physicians were said to study methods like this... it's unreal."

"And now that she's awake... it means Dr. Sawyer lost. He's really going to have to kneel?"

Carl wasn't just a colleague. To many of them, he was a role model, even the kind of doctor they hoped to become one day.

Was he really supposed to kneel before someone like Donovan, an ungrateful son rumored to spend his days drinking, gambling, and sleeping around? And to admit he was a quack?

How could Carl ever hope to continue in the medical world after this?

Although everyone was stunned by Donovan's extraordinary skill, they felt a twinge of sympathy for Carl's pride.

The tender mother-son scene continued to unfold, while Carl's composure slowly unraveled.

Ten long minutes passed.

Gradually, Carl accepted the truth staring him in the face. He had lost. He had misjudged.

He pushed away the people supporting him and lifted his head, looking toward Donovan, who was still focused entirely on his mother.

With visible effort, he raised his heavy legs and walked forward, one step at a time.

No one spoke.

The doctors and nurses nearby watched every step closely, ready to catch him if he stumbled.

Finally, he reached Donovan.

Thud!

Carl knelt.

"H-he really knelt?"

Many of the staff gaped in disbelief.

This was a man who had always towered above everyone else, a medical genius who was sought after to lecture at every top university in the country.

He was a proud, untouchable man.

Yet now, he was kneeling before a young man like Donovan?

The image they had held of him shattered in an instant. Their medical hero had been dragged down from his pedestal.

"Dr. Sawyer, please get up."

"Don't kneel to him! You're his elder. How can you lower yourself to someone that young? Get up!"

"Exactly. Dr. Sawyer is a giant in the medical world. This kid just got lucky. A fluke, nothing more. He doesn't deserve that. Get up!"

Even though Donovan had clearly saved his mother, they refused to accept it. To them, it was luck. Coincidence.

Even the so-called ancient needle technique was surely just another coincidence.

"If you lose, you lose. I'm not someone who can't accept defeat. I will honor my bet."

Carl shook off the hands trying to pull him up. His jaw clenched tight, his face twisted with resistance and humiliation as he spoke through his teeth.

"I apologize to you. I was blind and arrogant before. I was wrong. I'm a quack!"

The room fell into stunned silence.

Everyone felt their ears ring.

Kneeling alone was already an unbearable act of submission.

But to apologize out loud, and to admit he was a quack in front of everyone?

It meant throwing away decades of his career and losing all dignity.

If this spread, Carl's reputation would take a serious hit, and his position in the medical world would fall apart.

Donovan stayed focused on his mother, not even noticing Carl kneeling and apologizing behind him. After surviving centuries of battles in the cultivation world and rising to the rank of Medicine Overlord, he no longer paid attention to insignificant insects.

The apology and kneeling didn't matter to him at all.

The only thing that mattered was his mother's health.

"Mom, I'm sorry for letting you suffer..."

Just then, a voice pierced through the room, trembling with desperation and tears.

"Help! Doctor, please... help my father!"

All the medical staff turned in shock, quickly moving closer.

"Ms. Sinclair, what's wrong? What happened?" a young doctor asked, rushing forward with concern.

Before them stood Cassandra Sinclair, the prized daughter of the Sinclair family, one of the top families in Jadewood City. She was also one of the city's famed golden girls and known for her icy beauty and cold demeanor. But now, she had been reduced to asking for help in such a desperate, vulnerable way.

Seven days ago, her father had suffered a heart attack and been rushed to the hospital. He had stabilized, but he hadn't woken up. Cassandra had stayed by his bedside around the clock, tending to him herself.

Now she had suddenly come running here, begging for help.

Everyone's heart lurched. If something happened to William Sinclair, there was no telling how the powerful Sinclair family might retaliate. The hospital could be in serious trouble.

"M-my father is convulsing. You have to go to him... Please save my dad! I'll agree to anything you want..."

The doctors sprang into action.

Cassandra's words were clear. Whoever could save her father would be guaranteed a lifetime of wealth and privilege in the Sinclair family, and would forever be treated as an honored guest.

The Sinclair family was one of Jadewood City's most prestigious families. Being their honored guest meant moving through life untouchable, above the law in all but name.

And Cassandra also openly promised to agree to any condition...

The doctors scrambled eagerly, each desperate to claim the credit.

Even Carl, who had been kneeling just moments ago, got to his feet and joined them. Edward was still stunned by Donovan and unable to fully control his emotions, and he ignored everything else and went along to take a look as well.

Edward arrived at William's hospital room and found a cluster of doctors gathered around, checking the patient with grave expressions. Each one kept their head low, shaking it helplessly.

Even the famed expert Carl admitted defeat.

"Ms. Sinclair, I'm afraid there's nothing more we can do. You should... start preparing for the worst."

Carl let out a heavy sigh, his eyes tinged with sorrow.

Cassandra broke down entirely, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed Carl's shoulders, shaking him desperately.

"Dr. Sawyer, aren't you one of the top doctors in the country? Aren't you a renowned expert? How can you have no solution? Please... please save my father. I'll do anything—anything at all. I'll work for you, I'll devote myself to you, I'll even give you my family's fortune as payment..."

The offer was irresistible.

Anyone would leap at the chance to win the hand of Cassandra, one of the city's legendary beauties, and inherit control of the Sinclair family's multibillion-dollar empire. With a single turn of fate, he could become the head of a top-tier family.

A mere stamp of his foot, and all of Jadewood City would tremble. Who wouldn't dream of that kind of power?

But talent has its limits. Their medical skills simply weren't enough.

Edward examined the patient and shook his head slowly.

"He has heart failure, and his organs are shutting down. Even I can't do anything about it, but..."

His eyes suddenly lit up, a thought striking him. He glanced at Carl from the corner of his eye and said, "Ms. Lane's son knows the ancient needle techniques. Right now, that's the only hope we have!"