Chapter 32 Cannot be Hidden
It was late afternoon in the slums, and Li An's small, makeshift clinic was bustling. News of her skill had spread quickly, and her patients ranged from slum dwellers to the occasional curious merchant or guard. She treated them all the same, charging little or nothing if they couldn't pay. In return, those she healed brought small gifts: a bag of rice, a freshly baked bun, or, once, a pot of tea. It was enough to sustain her work, and even more herbal merchants had appeared at the slum's entrance, eager to sell their herbs now that demand had surged.
Her fame, however, wasn't purely advantageous. Some of the capital's more established clinics had begun to take notice, and their physicians were baffled by the skill of the mysterious "Little Doctor." Several times, representatives from reputable clinics had come to her dilapidated clinic, offering her a place in their practices with promises of wealth and stability. Li An, however, declined each offer. They never understood her refusal. Medicine wasn't just a career; it was a duty, a way to help those who had nowhere else to turn.
Many would not think that she was a little kid. Because of her excellent skills, people thought that she is just naturally small.
As she was packing away her tools one evening, she felt Seedee materialize by her side.
"Are you ready for today's closing," Seedee asked, its small, translucent form pulsing gently. "You've done well, Li An."
Li An smiled, her young face calm but with a wisdom far beyond her years. "It's thanks to you, Seedee. But it feels as if the work here never ends." She sighed, rolling up her sleeves and wiping her hands on her apron.
Her walk home is now relaxed and carefree. She would sometimes greet those that greeted her as she would pass by as her small figure is now common in the slums.
Just then, a loud commotion broke out near the edge of the slum as she was walking by. Shouts and hurried footsteps filled the air, as a small crowd gathered around a plump, well-dressed man lying on the ground, his face contorted in pain.
"Step back! Give him room!" Li An ordered as she quickly made her way to the scene.
The man's face was flushed and sweaty, and he clutched his abdomen, groaning in agony. His attire and jewelry marked him as someone of wealth—likely a merchant from the capital. One of the onlookers whispered to Li An, "Little Doctor, he collapsed right as he reached the slum border. No one knows what happened."
Li An knelt beside him, placing her hand on his forehead. His skin was hot to the touch, and his pulse was rapid and weak. "Sir, can you hear me?"
The merchant cracked open an eye, nodding feebly. "My stomach… it hurts… unbearable," he gasped.
Seedee floated close, silently watching. "I sense an inflammation here," it murmured, pointing to a spot on the merchant's lower right abdomen.
Li An frowned, immediately recognizing the symptoms. "Seedee, can you take a closer look?"
Seedee's form shimmered as he concentrated, casting a faint glow over the area. For Li An, it was as if she could see right through the man's skin. Seedee's energy painted a hazy, semi-transparent outline of the merchant's abdominal organs, revealing the swollen appendix beneath.
"It's appendicitis," Li An confirmed to herself. She knew what needed to be done, but her resources were limited. An untreated rupture would be fatal.
"Sir," she addressed the merchant, her tone steady, "I need to perform an operation to save your life. It will be painful, and you'll need to trust me."
The merchant's face paled as he comprehended her words, but another wave of pain seized him, and he gritted his teeth. "Do whatever… whatever you must."
Li An wasted no time, calling to one of her old patients nearby, "Follow me."
The people were suddenly astounded when they saw the small girl lifting the fat fellow. Almost all of the onlookers did a double take as they watched the unreal scene before them.
Upon entering her makeshift clinic, Li An carefully puts the fat fellow on the long table inside the separate room. He then called the man who followed her, "Fetch a few clean blankets, a bottle of strong liquor. Quickly!"
Within minutes, everything was gathered. The crowd watched outside in small holes in a mix of horror and fascination as Li An laid the merchant down on a makeshift operating surface she'd created from stacked crates and blankets.
She takes out her silver needles and suddenly hits a few acupoints which made the fat merchant on the table stop squirming.
"This is a temporary pain relief…" she explained.
She washed her hands thoroughly with the liquor, then soaked a cloth in the same liquid and handed it to the merchant.
"Bite down on this. The pain might be intense," she warned him softly. "I'll work as quickly as I can."
The merchant was still confused as she stuffed the cloth on his mouth.
She looked at Seedee, who hovered close, his energy steady. "Guide me, Seedee," she whispered. As her partner, he illuminated the areas she needed to cut, showing her where to avoid blood vessels and muscle layers.
Drawing a steady breath, Li An made the first incision. The man jerked but stifled his scream, pressing the cloth hard between his teeth. The man who was inside quickly grabbed the merchant to stop him from moving. The man went pale and quickly stopped looking at the gaping wound.
Blood pooled, but she managed it calmly, her hands moving deftly. Each motion was precise, as Seedee whispered guidance into her ear, warning her of delicate veins and shifting her focus where necessary.
Finally, she located the inflamed appendix, its swollen and angry-red form clearly visible. Working quickly, she carefully tied off the organ, using thread she'd boiled earlier, then severed it.
"That should do it," she muttered, her concentration unwavering. She began suturing the wound with careful, deliberate stitches, her fingers nimble and confident. Minutes later, she cleaned the area one last time and pressed a clean cloth over the stitches, binding it in place with a bandage.
The merchant lay still, the pain finally subsiding as he drifted into a stupor, exhausted but breathing more easily. The needles did their magic and numbed his external wound.
Li An exhaled, relieved, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "You'll need rest, and I'll need to check on you for the next few days to make sure there's no infection."
A murmur of astonishment rippled through the gathered crowd. No one had ever seen an operation like that. Even the herbal merchants who'd set up shop nearby looked on in awe, their expressions a mix of fear, respect, and trepidation.
"What sort of doctor are you, little miss?" the man assisting inside finally dared to ask.
He had received her treatment before, but she was using acupoint needles and herbs. It was his first time seeing such a scene. He could not believe that someone could still live after being cut open like that, but right before his eyes he could see the fat merchant breathing calmly.
Li An's face remained impassive. "One who does what's needed to help others," she answered simply, nodding to Seedee, who hovered close by. Only she could see him, yet his presence felt as real as any of the onlookers.
After ensuring the merchant was stable, Li An arranged for him to stay in the clinic for further monitoring. She checked on him frequently, administering herbs to help with the pain and prevent infection. Each time, Seedee scanned the man's wound, letting her know that her stitching had held and that the inflammation was subsiding.
The healing process was a bit fast and looked unnatural, but no one suspects a thing.
As the merchant began to recover, he watched Li An with a new level of respect, though he seemed haunted by the experience. "I've never seen anything like what you did, young lady. Not in any clinic in the capital, not even among the imperial physicians."
Li An shrugged modestly, stirring a pot of herbs. "I just do what I can."
The merchant nodded slowly. "You saved my life. I owe you everything. Perhaps I could employ you… or at least fund you! A young doctor like yourself deserves a better place to practice than this run-down shack."
Li An shook her head, her tone respectful but firm. "Thank you, sir, but I belong here. There are people who need my help and cannot afford to go to the clinics in the capital. I can't abandon them."
The merchant's eyes softened, recognizing her resolve. "Well, I will at least repay you by sending you the best medical supplies I can obtain..."
Li An inclined her head gratefully, surprised and touched by his offer. "That would be very helpful. Thank you."
True to his word, in the following days, deliveries began to arrive. Bundles of rare herbs, new bandages, and bottles of purified alcohol were delivered discreetly to her clinic, along with a note bearing the merchant's name and gratitude.
More patients came to see her, and her small clinic thrived, becoming a beacon of hope amid the harsh realities of life in the slums. Seedee often whispered in her ear, reminding her of techniques, refining her skills, and guiding her on the correct herbs to use for each ailment.
As word spread, she couldn't help but notice the subtle changes. The slums, once chaotic and harsh, seemed to soften. People were more hopeful, the herbal merchants organized themselves to support the clinic, and even the local guards respected her space. Despite her young age, Li An had carved a place for herself here, becoming a healer and a pillar in a community that had once been overlooked.
Late one night, as she finished her rounds and prepared to rest, Seedee appeared beside her. "You've come far, Li An. I think even the heavens would be proud of your kindness… At least I've got tons of wisdom points… Hehehe…"
Li An smiled, gazing at the stars visible through the broken slats in the roof. "It's not kindness, Seedee. It's duty. The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is to do… And of course, your wisdom points…" she chuckled.
Seedee's soft voice drifted close. "Perhaps. But for now, rest. Even warriors of the mind need time to replenish."
Li An nodded, leaning against the wall and letting her eyes close, her thoughts swirling with ideas for new treatments and ways to help her patients. In the quiet of the night, with Seedee standing guard by her side, she allowed herself a rare moment of peace. The challenges of tomorrow would come, but for tonight, she had done enough.