Chapter 4 Truly Cured!

"Kneel on the spot? And resigning from your job at the hospital?" James said as he looked at John with a puzzled expression. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," John scoffed mockingly. "I say, James, are you backing out now? Can't keep up the act? Of course, I'm not that hard-hearted. If you do end up regretting it, which, it's not impossible. Just kneel down and apologize to me. That'll do, haha."

Others gawked at James, giving him incredulous looks. This guy truly seemed ridiculous, daring to make such grand claims. It seemed like he had painted himself into a corner with his pretentious behavior.

Jennifer wore a grim expression. She was filled with regret. Why did she ever agree to James coming to Lindwood City before? Now, her reputation was tarnished because of him.

She had made up her mind; once they returned, she would file for divorce. She couldn't bear living this kind of life anymore! Even if she ended up alone for the rest of her days, it would be better than staying with this piece of trash.

"I hope you don't back out later," James said calmly, unbothered.

For some reason, seeing James in this light made John feel a twinge of fear. Could this guy actually heal the patient?

'Impossible, I have already failed. How could this incompetent person possibly heal him?' John thought to himself.

With this realization, John composed himself, regaining his confidence with a smug smile.

"Forget it. You should just admit defeat now, lest you end up in jail for worsening the patient's condition. For Jennifer's sake, I won't let you embarrass yourself too much," John hypocritically remarked.

James couldn't be bothered to engage in further conversation with him. He walked over to the young boy, knelt down, and gently caressed the boy's head. Strangely, the restless boy immediately calmed down at his touch.

James comforted him, "You don't need to be afraid, little one. Big brother will make you better."

The boy stared blankly at James, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Unperturbed, James rubbed his hands together and proceeded to massage specific acupoints on the boy's body. To onlookers, it seemed like he was just being theatrical.

Somebody mocked, "Ha, how skilled he is... it turns out he's just massaging."

Someone sneered, "This is hilarious! The boy has a skin condition, and here he is, giving him a massage. It doesn't add up."

One added, "He's definitely lost. I feel sorry for Dr. Johnson, marrying a fool like him."

The crowd mercilessly mocked, treating the situation as a joke.

Jennifer couldn't bear to watch any longer and cast a look of immense disgust at James before turning and walking away.

At that moment, the young boy suddenly retched, forcefully expelling a thick, dark green phlegm that emitted a foul and putrid odor, causing those around to cover their noses.

"Damn it, what did you do to my son? I'll kill you!" the middle-aged man immediately turned menacing, grabbing James by the collar, ready to get physical.

James remained calm. He pointed out, saying, "Take a look at your son's complexion. Has it improved significantly?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man turned around and indeed noticed that his son's complexion had become rosier.

Previously pale, his face now had a healthy flush, his eyes were brighter, and he had calmed down significantly. Most importantly, he had stopped fidgeting and appeared much more at ease.

Overjoyed, the middle-aged man's eyes welled up with tears as he released James and embraced his son. "Son, you're finally okay. Thank goodness, you had me so worried."

The onlookers couldn't help but be shocked. Could this incompetent individual truly have healing abilities?

Jennifer, who had started to walk away, heard the commotion and turned back, her eyes widening at the scene before her.

"This is impossible!" John exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "This is a complex skin condition; how could it simply improve with a few massages?

"The cases are completely different! No, he hasn't healed him at all; he's just made the patient vomit. The chickenpox is still present!"

Indeed, upon reflection, the crowd realized that merely causing the patient to vomit didn't equate to a cure. As medical professionals, they understood the pathology of skin diseases and knew that massages alone couldn't treat them.

While it was true that skin conditions couldn't be healed through simple massages, the issue lay in the fact that the young boy didn't have a skin condition but had contracted something else, leading to chickenpox.

Moreover, James's actions weren't as simple as just massaging; he was employing his methods to rid the boy of the harmful elements.

Jennifer felt conflicted. Could her wastrel of a husband truly possess healing capabilities?

The middle-aged man stood up and asked, "What's the matter with my son? Why is he coughing up this foul-smelling phlegm?"

James said, "Your son has a particularly deficient constitution and needs sunlight more than the average person. If I'm not mistaken, have you been making him wear some cooler items?"

While others thought James was talking nonsense, the middle-aged man's expression changed immediately upon hearing this.

Indeed, he had been having his son wear something recently—a quality jade pendant he had purchased from a tomb raider. He had cleaned and disinfected the jade pendant multiple times; logically, there shouldn't have been any viruses left.

After observing James's confidence for a few seconds, the middle-aged man nodded and explained the situation with the jade pendant.

He insisted, "But I've already disinfected the jade pendant; there shouldn't be any viruses left."

Rather than directly stating that it was due to malign energy and that disinfection was futile, James tactfully remarked, "It's not due to a virus but rather because the jade pendant, having been stored in a cool and dark place underground for a long time, absorbed dampness.

"Given your son's deficient constitution and prolonged wear, his overall health deteriorated, leading to a weakened immune system and the onset of this chickenpox..."

"Nonsense!" John interjected before James could finish. "You don't understand anything. The boy's condition is definitely a viral skin infection, hence the symptoms. What's with all this talk of dampness and bullshit, trying to deceive everyone."

"Oh really, if you understand so well, why haven't you cured the patient? Instead, haven't you worsened his condition?" James mocked.

"You!" John was furious. He claimed, "Who says I can't cure him? I just need time. This is a skin condition, not a fever. Can it improve so quickly?"

James rebutted, "Well then, watch and see. I'll heal him in half an hour."

John burst into laughter again, "Half an hour? If you can heal him in half an hour, I'll swallow this phlegm on the spot!"

John thought, 'Trying to show off in front of me? Take a good look at yourself first before you act all high and mighty.'

It was the third boast John had made, each one more audacious than the last. He remained unruffled, as he was confident of his impending victory, knowing full well that James couldn't possibly heal the boy within half an hour.

James had long been displeased with John. In the past, he had his reasons for holding back, but with the five-year deadline approaching and the seal loosening, he had a chance today. He vowed to either beat John to a pulp or relinquish the Smith name.

"To fully heal the patient, acupuncture is necessary," James turned to Jennifer, and asked, "Could I borrow your silver needle?"

Jennifer furrowed her brow. To be honest, she really didn't want to stay any longer. James was clearly incompetent, yet here he was, putting on a show, determined to make a fool of himself.

"My silver needle isn't here," Jennifer declined his request.

James Smith felt dejected; Jennifer's opinion of him was abysmal.

James repeated his request, "Does anyone have a silver needle I could borrow?"

After a brief hesitation, a young nurse handed her silver needle case to James. She offered, "I happen to have one with me."

"Thank you," James acknowledged. He took out the silver needle, soothed the boy's emotions, and began the acupuncture.

Acupuncture was his forte, and it had been a while since he had handled needles.

Holding the silver needle in his hand, he felt a surge of excitement. Despite his slower pace and apparent rustiness, he began inserting the needles at several common acupoints on the boy's body.

Some doctors familiar with acupuncture couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing James. It was clear to them that James had no knowledge of the practice; he was simply pretending.

However, it didn't take long before the young boy expelled another thick phlegm, this time even more substantial than before. Afterward, the boy's complexion returned to normal.

Simultaneously, the chickenpox on the boy's body began to shrivel and diminish.

The sudden change left everyone baffled, with jaws dropping in disbelief as they stared at James.

Even Jennifer's eyes widened with astonishment and bewilderment, her beautiful gaze filled with shock.

Especially John, he was completely astonished!

James had actually cured the boy!