Chapter 2 That Man Looks Exactly Like Him!

Tan Qingjiu frowned, then bent down and stepped out of the carriage.

Outside, rings of people had already gathered.

Tan Qingjiu parted the crowd and walked to the front, finally seeing what was happening.

It was in front of a medical hall. A woman sat on the ground, cradling a man whose face was deathly pale and who had long since fallen unconscious.

The man’s lower body was soaked in blood; one of his trouser legs was in tatters, exposing his limb. The leg looked as though it had been savagely mauled by a wild beast, with several patches where the flesh had been torn clean off, leaving only blood-stained bone.

There were other wounds elsewhere on his body, but none as severe as on the leg.

The woman’s voice trembled with sorrow as she cried, “My husband is a hunter. He makes his living by chopping wood and hunting in the mountains. Early this morning, my husband went up the mountain with several companions. When they separated to search for prey, he encountered a tiger and was gravely injured in the attack.”

“Fortunately, his companions arrived in time and drove the tiger away, saving his life and carrying him down the mountain.”

“We brought him to the medical hall, but they said his injuries are too grave, that he can’t be saved…”

Someone nearby spoke up, “The doctor here is the renowned Physician Lin from the capital. If even he says there’s no hope, then it can’t be helped. You’d best take him home and get his affairs in order.”

As soon as those words fell, a child’s voice rang out, clear and spirited: “Who says so? My mother can save him!”

It was Tan Xingyou.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Tan Xingyou and Tan Qingjiu. “Child, don’t speak so carelessly. A human life is at stake—this isn’t a game.”

“Your mother? A woman—can she really know the healing arts?”

“And even if she does, she’s so young. At most she might know a little, but don’t make wild boasts, not with all these people watching.”

Tan Xingyou refused to back down. “My mother really can save him!”

Then he turned and clung to Tan Qingjiu, pleading, “Mother…”

Tan Qingjiu’s gaze fell on the woman’s nearly despairing face. She sighed and walked over, squatting down to examine the man’s wounds.

The injuries were indeed critical. The worst was the leg—there was likely no way to save it.

Tan Qingjiu lifted her head. “I’m afraid this leg can’t be salvaged.”

“I know,” the woman replied. “I don’t hope for the leg to be saved. I just want him to live. So long as he survives, it doesn’t matter if he loses a leg. Can you save him?”

After a moment’s thought, Tan Qingjiu nodded. “I can.”

No sooner had she spoken than a voice behind her sounded: “You’d best think carefully. His leg was mauled by a beast, the wounds are extensive, and the delay in bringing him down the mountain has allowed filth to spread through his blood to his organs.”

“Even if you amputate, it will likely cause widespread infection. He’ll die all the same.”

Tan Qingjiu turned and saw a middle-aged man standing behind her.

“It’s Physician Lin.”

Tan Qingjiu understood at once—this must be the doctor who had just diagnosed the man as beyond all hope.

She nodded, for she too knew: even with amputation, infection and rampant inflammation were almost inevitable.

In this world, such medical challenges remained unsolved.

However…

She was not from this world.

Six years ago, when she awoke in this land, she discovered she had brought her medical space with her.

All her medical instruments and supplies had come with her.

As the crowd whispered, Tan Qingjiu pressed her lips together. “Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, it must be tried. So long as there is the faintest hope, I will save him.”

She looked up at the woman. “Are you willing to let me try?”

The woman nodded.

“Wait a moment, I’ll fetch my medicine chest.”

Tan Qingjiu boarded the carriage, focused her mind, and entered her medical space. Swiftly, she selected the instruments and supplies she needed and hurried back.

She took a packet of anesthetic from her chest and placed it in the man’s mouth.

Then she brought out a bottle disguised as liquor, but which actually contained alcohol, and began to clean the wounds.

After cleaning and disinfecting, she determined the point of amputation, took out a sterilized knife, incised the skin, then used fine thread to ligate the blood vessels, continuing downward.

Her movements were quick and deft; the onlookers could barely keep up, holding their breath.

Physician Lin, who had been frowning in silence, gradually moved closer, squatting beside Tan Qingjiu to observe and assist where needed.

Tan Qingjiu was not shy about directing him. She pointed to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament. “Please press here.”

Physician Lin did as instructed, and saw with his own eyes the blood halt at that spot.

So this was the pressure point for hemostasis?

His gaze grew intent as he glanced at Tan Qingjiu. Who was she, truly? Such medical skill was no simple matter.

Tan Qingjiu quickly cut around the muscle, tied off all the vessels, then, after a deep breath, took the saw and swiftly severed the femur.

Next, she tended to the blood vessels and nerves, then bandaged the stump.

Everything proceeded with order and precision. When all was done, she produced two bottles of medicine—one for inflammation, one for pain.

Taking out several tablets, she pried open the man’s mouth and fed him the medicine, then removed the anesthetic packet.

Soon, the man awoke.

He was still dazed. Tan Qingjiu checked his pulse, then handed the two bottles to the woman. “The white jade bottle—give him two tablets, three times a day, morning, noon, and night. The green bottle—give him one tablet if the pain is severe…”

She instructed her carefully. Physician Lin frowned, placing his hand on the man’s wrist, his astonishment deepening.

How could this be? The man’s blood had clearly been infected earlier, but now…

Tan Qingjiu stood. “The first period will be the hardest. He’ll feel as though his leg is still there, and it will hurt. This is called phantom limb pain, and he must work to endure it.”

“I’m staying at the Fortune Inn up ahead. If he has any problems, you can come find me.”

She took a jade token from her sleeve. “My name is Tan Qingjiu.”

“Miracle Hands Pavilion, Tan Qingjiu. With this token, you may see me.”

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

“Tan Qingjiu of the Miracle Hands Pavilion?”

“Isn’t she the Pavilion Master, the Miracle Physician herself?”

“She’s the Miracle Physician—so young, too?”

“No wonder she dared promise a cure when even Doctor Lin could not.”

“These two are truly fortunate, to have met the Miracle Physician.”

The woman’s eyes widened and she repeated her thanks, “Thank you, Miracle Physician, thank you!”

Tan Qingjiu simply waved her hand, turned, and left the crowd, boarding her carriage.

Inside, only Xingqi was waiting. Tan Qingjiu’s eyes widened. “Where is Tan Xingyou?”

Xingqi laughed. “Mother, don’t worry about him. We’ve been in the capital over ten days—he’s already familiar with the whole area. Besides, Bai Ying and Bai Shu are with him. He’ll be fine.”

Tan Qingjiu pressed a hand to her forehead. “That little monkey, always running off…”

“Let’s go back to the inn. There are still patients waiting.”

Elsewhere, the very boy Tan Qingjiu was fretting over was dashing down the street. Just now, he’d spotted a man in the crowd—one who looked exactly like him!