"Hello, this is Dr. Zhou from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. May I ask how you’re feeling now after taking the medicine?"

On the other end of the line,

The patient’s voice boomed with energy. "Oh, Dr. Zhou! Thank you all so much. I’m better—completely recovered! I took the Minor Bupleurum Granules twice yesterday and had a peaceful night’s sleep. This morning, I woke up with no dizziness, no sweating, and my hands and feet are warm. I feel fantastic! You guys at the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine really are the best."

Zhou Junwei was stunned. After offering a few humble words, he hung up the phone, his face paling and flushing as a storm of emotions churned within him.

Professor Gao patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Junwei, remember, medicine is a practical science. No matter how ’scientific’ the theory, in the end, it all comes down to ’efficacy.’ The wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine often transcends our current scientific understanding. You must always maintain a sense of reverence."

Zhou Junwei lowered his head. Although he was still unconvinced, he couldn’t deny the facts before him.

Li Xu felt a wave of relief.

Yesterday’s diagnosis was made without any intelligence to reference.

He had relied entirely on his own judgment.

The patient’s feedback proved his diagnosis was correct.

This boosted his confidence immensely.

Over the next few days, Li Xu dedicated himself completely to studying Liang’s Pulse Diagnosis Method. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

By day, he would follow Professor Gao to practice in the clinic.

After work, he would repeatedly watch the detailed instructional video in his mind.

His progress was astonishingly fast.

He could now perceive subtle pulse fluctuations that he had previously missed or ignored.

Even Professor Gao was amazed by his progress, praising him as a natural-born doctor.

Meanwhile, Zhou Junwei, who was also studying hard, was left far behind by the speed of Li Xu’s progress.

He had also lost his initial arrogance.

On this day, Li Xu got up and checked the intelligence as usual.

[Today’s Intelligence: Patient, Xu Xianlun, 56 years old. Eye disease...]

’Hm? How interesting.’

The intelligence not only detailed the patient’s condition but also provided an extremely peculiar treatment plan that seemed completely unrelated.

In the morning, Professor Gao continued to see patients with them.

Just then, a man in his fifties walked in, clutching his eyes with a pained expression.

His eyes were bloodshot, the corners caked with rheum, and tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

He was constantly trying to wipe them with his hands, his face etched with deep anxiety.

After examining him, Professor Gao diagnosed it as common "acute conjunctivitis"—what’s known in Chinese medicine as "epidemic red eye"—caused by ascendant liver fire.

He followed the conventional line of thinking, prescribing some internal medicine and an external wash to clear the liver and purge the fire.

In his view, it was just a very common, minor ailment.

But when the patient saw the prescription, he shook his head repeatedly. "Doctor, I’ve taken this kind of medicine before. It gets better for a day or two, but then the eye problem comes right back. It doesn’t work at all."

"Hm?"

Professor Gao frowned.

He carefully took the patient’s pulse again.

’That can’t be right. It’s just a common eye disease. Why would it keep recurring?’

At that moment,

Li Xu spoke up.

He looked at the patient and said in an unusually solemn tone, "Sir, in my opinion, your eye problem isn’t serious. It will clear up after a few doses of medicine. What *is* serious, however, is that in seven days, malignant sores will grow on the soles of your feet. That will be a major problem. If not treated properly, your life could be in danger!"

As soon as he said this, everyone in the consultation room was stunned.

The patient’s face turned pale with fright upon hearing this.

He quickly put down the prescription and said urgently, "Doctor, Doctor, if my red eye isn’t important, let’s not worry about it for now. Please, tell me quickly, what can I do to treat my foot problem?"

Professor Gao and Zhou Junwei were also dumbfounded.

They had just examined the patient and saw no problems with his feet at all.

’Is Li Xu... being an alarmist?’

However, they knew Li Xu must have a reason for saying so.

With a silent, mutual understanding, neither of them spoke.

Li Xu thought deeply for a long while before saying with a serious expression, "There is a way. But this method is a bit peculiar, and I’m afraid you won’t be able to stick with it."

"I can, I can do it."

The patient patted his chest, assuring him repeatedly.

So, Li Xu introduced a treatment plan that left everyone dumbfounded:

"Starting today, every day, you will use the palm of your left hand to rub the sole of your right foot three hundred and sixty times. Then, use the palm of your right hand to rub the sole of your left foot, also three hundred and sixty times. Remember, not a single time less. You must persist for seven days. Only then can you guide the fire back to its origin and overcome this crisis."

Although the patient found it strange, he hastily agreed.

"Remember, don’t forget to take the eye medicine on schedule."

Li Xu handed over the prescription Professor Gao had written.

"Oh."

The patient took the prescription, nodded, and left.

Professor Gao, in the consultation room, did not intervene.

Because his original treatment plan was to have the patient take the medicine.

Li Xu’s instruction to rub the soles of his feet didn’t conflict with his treatment plan.

But...

’Why?’

"Li Xu," Professor Gao was the first to break the silence. "What was that all about just now? I’ve been practicing medicine for decades, and I’ve never heard that rubbing the soles of the feet can prevent malignant sores. Besides, when I took the patient’s pulse just now, although it was slightly wiry and rapid, that’s a typical sign of ascendant liver fire. I didn’t detect any signs of stagnant heat in the kidney channel that would indicate impending carbuncles. Did you misread it?"

Zhou Junwei was also at the side, looking at Li Xu with a scrutinizing gaze.

’Li Xu’s words just now sounded like the tricks of a street-corner fortune teller,’ he thought. ’Full of deliberate mystification, completely lacking in rigorous medical logic.’

Facing their questions, Li Xu didn’t defend himself directly. Instead, he asked a question in return: "Professor Gao, Senior Brother Zhou, did you notice? From the moment that patient walked in, his brow was furrowed, he was anxious, and he was sighing constantly. When describing his condition, he repeatedly emphasized how worried and anxious he was, terrified that he might go blind."

"Well, that’s true."

Professor Gao nodded. "The liver opens into the eyes. It’s common for people with vigorous liver fire to be irritable, quick to anger, and full of worry. That’s to be expected."

"No," Li Xu shook his head and stated his true diagnosis. "I believe his anxiety isn’t the ’effect’ of the eye disease. On the contrary, it’s the ’cause’ of why his eye disease lingers and won’t heal!"

He paused for a moment, then calmly explained his line of reasoning.

"Actually, what I said earlier... about the poisonous sores growing on the soles of his feet in seven days... that was... a lie."

"What? It was a lie?!" Upon hearing this, Zhou Junwei nearly leaped out of his chair.

’Li Xu is being completely reckless!’

’How could a doctor lie to a patient?’

Professor Gao also wore a look of bewilderment.

But he didn’t say much, believing Li Xu must have a reason for his actions.

He was sure Li Xu would provide an explanation.