Chapter 1185 - 1185: I'm not very sure either.

"What are you doing?"

Director Yang, who had a bag day, hadn't reacted before Gu smacked his hand, making a crisp SMACK.

While Du Heng could pinch and pull Gu's face today, it was only because she currently needed his help. Previously, she was the type to frequently stir up trouble with Wu Shengnan whenever she felt like it. Now, an unfamiliar, shriveled old man wanted to touch her face. Even if that side of her face had no sensation, she wouldn't allow it.

Besides, who was he to just reach out and touch her?

He wasn't the one who had admitted her to the hospital that morning, nor was he the director who had come in later.

Even during the treatment just moments ago, he had been so intimidated by Dr. Cao that he'd stood pressed against the wall. Who did he think he was to touch her?

At this point, Mr. Gu also became displeased. Du Heng was his last resort. He could endure some excessive demands and actions for his daughter's sake. But who was this bag day man to dare touch his daughter's face? Moreover, her face had just been steamed with hot air, punctured by needles, treated with moxibustion, and massaged. If this were to affect the outcome of Du Heng's treatment, could this man bear the responsibility?

Mr. Gu had also clearly seen how this senior doctor hadn't dared to move under Dr. Cao's intense gaze. Someone like that couldn't possibly be connected to Du Heng. He then stared coldly at the somewhat embarrassed and bewildered Director Yang. "May I ask who you are?"

Director Yang awkwardly withdrew his hand. "I am a Chief Chinese Medicine Doctor. I just wanted to check on the patient's condition; I had no other intentions."

Mr. Gu continued coldly, "Are you Director Du's leader?"

This question made Director Yang even more embarrassed.

Mr. Gu wanted to say more, but then he remembered that this old man was, after all, a doctor at the hospital. Deciding to give Du Heng some face and not make things too awkward, he changed his words as they reached his lips, "My daughter's condition is quite special. Unless Director Du instructs otherwise, I don't want anyone else touching my daughter's face."

"Understood, understood. I was being presumptuous." Director Yang, extremely embarrassed, mumbled an excuse and scurried off towards the other side of the corridor.

Seeing this, the others didn't dare to step forward. Before the family could shoo them away, they all smiled and walked out as if nothing had happened.

Once outside, however, they immediately began chattering amongst themselves.

Each one of them speculated about Du Heng's every step, trying to find a reasonable explanation.

But as they talked, the discussion gradually shifted from the scientific to the metaphysical.

Cao Binghe was also full of questions but couldn't find an opportunity to ask.

At noon, Du Heng went to take a nap, so it wasn't convenient.

Before the treatment, Du Heng had to familiarize himself with the weight of the iron, and they also needed to test its heating in the office, so there was no time.

Now, back in the office, seeing Du Heng already engrossed in a thick book, he dared not disturb him.

「After work」

When Director Wu returned to the Department and heard about Du Heng's treatment process, he too was dumbfounded.

An iron?! Heating?! Fanning hot air?! Attacking dead blood with fire toxin?!

While Director Wu was mulling this over, he happened to see Du Heng heading out for dinner. He called out to Du Heng, suggesting they eat together.

Du Heng asked curiously, "Director, you don't have to be on duty tonight, do you?"

Director Wu shook his head. "No, I just want to see how you perform the treatment. I also have many questions to ask, if it's convenient for you."

Du Heng chuckled. "What's inconvenient about that? Why don't we talk while we eat?"

"That sounds great! Let's go. My treat tonight. I know a greasy spoon nearby—it's small, but the food is absolutely delicious."

Director Wu invited Du Heng with a smile. Just then, Cao Binghe and the resident doctor appeared at the door.

The difference was, the resident doctor was preparing to go home for the day, while Cao Binghe was waiting for Du Heng to perform the treatment later that evening.

Upon hearing Director Wu and Du Heng's conversation, Cao Binghe hurriedly approached. "Director Wu, Director Du, count me in! I have many questions too."

Director Wu laughed. "Alright, let's go together."

At this, the resident doctor also hurried over. "Director, can I come too?"

"Together, together." Director Wu shook his head with a smile. "I bet you all only decided not to go home because you heard I was treating, right?"

The group chatted and laughed on their way to the restaurant Director Wu had mentioned outside the hospital. While waiting for their food to arrive, Cao Binghe was the first to blurt out, unable to hold back any longer, "Director Du, I can't hold it in anymore. I've been bottling up this question all day!"

"Then just ask. Given our relationship, what's there to hesitate about?"

"Alright, I'll ask." Cao Binghe nodded. "You've already explained your reasons for accepting her as a patient. But what I don't understand is, where does this vitality you mentioned come from? Besides, the patient's current condition is quite clear: acupuncture and massage will definitely be ineffective. So why did you perform them today?"

Du Heng smiled faintly. "Where do you find vitality? Naturally, you look for it where it's been damaged or lost."

"How do you find it?" Cao Binghe was still puzzled. "You mean, by using the iron to blow hot air, like you did?"

"Exactly." Du Heng nodded with certainty. "As long as there's no necrosis, it means it's not completely dead. I use the fire toxin from the iron to penetrate the skin and underlying tissues. This can stimulate any remaining vitality to fight back."