Joseph Goodenough was a legendary figure.
Joseph graduated from the Medical University in Goldkeep, with exceptional talent and superb medical skills. He had practiced medicine in Goldkeep for twenty years.
It was said that he mostly treated high-ranking officials and his reputation spread far and wide. He even served as the dean of the Traditional Medicine College. His career and future prospects were envied by many colleagues.
But ten years ago, when he was at the peak of his career, he suddenly returned to his hometown, Whiteville. He stopped teaching and running clinics, spending most of his time at home studying medicine.
When he was in a good mood, he would come out to treat a few patients or take on a few apprentices. But when he was in a bad mood, he would ignore even the mayor who came to seek medical help.
Once, there was an outbreak of an infectious virus in a large factory, endangering the lives of fifty-six workers. Upon hearing this, Joseph quickly arrived at the hospital with only himself, a needle, and a medicine box. He miraculously saved all fifty-six workers.
After saving them, in order to avoid gratitude from their families and media attention, he ran away from the window while pulling the curtains, leaving all the crowd present laughing and sighing helplessly.
His unconventional style and superb medical skills made him a legend in the medical world. Lillian knew about him too, even when he shaved his head.
“Wow, little girl, you know me? Do you really know me?”
“Am I that famous?”
“Even though I shaved my head, you still recognized me!”
The bald old man became happy like a child. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“You have great eyesight. It’s a pity that I’m no longer accepting apprentices. Otherwise, I would definitely take you as my disciple.”
Lillian’s mouth hung open, speechless. She never expected that Joseph, who often made headlines in the media, had such a childlike nature.
More than ten medical staff around them smiled without being curious about his behavior. They seemed to be familiar with Joseph’s style.
After a while, Lillian managed to speak up, “Thank you, Dr. Goodenough.”
“Why?”
Joseph laughed heartily and patted his chest. “I should be thanking you. You are the first person tonight who recognized me.”
“All the way here, taxi drivers, security guards, nurses, doctors, and strangers… None of them recognized me except for you.”
Joseph suddenly tilted his head and said, “But if you recognize me, shouldn’t I feel defeated? Why am I so happy?”
Lillian couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t know how to respond.
“Oh right, let’s not talk about that now. I need to see a patient.”
“Noemi, what happened to you?”
Joseph bypassed Lillian and came to the side of Noemi who was touching her waist. He looked concerned. “Did you hurt your back?”
Noemi was poking her waist with her fingers to see if her injury had improved significantly.
“Mr. Goodenough, Ms. Sotheby has an acute back strain. Emergency treatment has been done. The patient will be fine if she rests for half a month.”
Dr. Tyson stepped forward respectfully and continued, “Of course, if you treat her yourself, she will recover even faster, Mr. Goodenough”
He felt somewhat embarrassed towards Noemi and Lillian because he didn’t expect their connection with his master. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have given them attitude in the emergency room, even though he didn’t say anything wrong or make any mistakes at that time.
“Joseph, you really came.”
At that moment, Noemi reacted and immediately beamed when she saw him. “You didn’t let me down at a critical moment. I really appreciate that.”
Lillian looked surprised. She didn’t expect her godmother to have such a relationship with Dr. Goodenough.
“Let’s catch up later. You didn’t call me here just for a chat. Let me take a look at your injury.”
Joseph dropped his playful expression and bent down beside the bed with furrowed brows. His eyes instantly became focused as he uncovered Noemi’s injured back.
Dr. Tyson exclaimed in surprise, “Who removed the cast? Without it, it won’t heal for another month.”
“It was so painful just now, but I feel much better now.”
Noemi slightly turned her body. “It seems like I can move now.”
Dr. Tyson blurted out in shock, “How is that possible?”
“Richard, don’t make such a fuss. Are you trying to scare me to death?” Joseph turned his head and scolded, “If the patient says she can move, who are you to say it’s impossible? You have the final say on whether the patient can move or not?”
“Quiet down.”
As soon as these words were spoken, all the young doctors present fell silent.
Joseph touched Noemi’s waist, his brows knitting together. His eyes, which had been half-open and swollen, were now wide with surprise.
He stared intently at the site of her injury, and upon seeing several needle marks on her lower back, he looked as if he was dumbfounded.
“Nomie, can you turn a bit?”
Joseph had sensed something unusual about her injury but didn’t speak up immediately, instead waiting for Noemi to say something.
Noemi frowned slightly, then bit her lip and slowly began to move. She eventually stood up from the bed, supporting herself against Joseph as she twisted and turned, almost like she was performing a pole dance.
Gradually, she started to move her waist more freely, and after a few rotations, she couldn’t help but let out an ecstatic shout, “Wait! It doesn’t hurt as much anymore! Really, it doesn’t hurt much at all! Just now, speaking felt like a struggle, and now I can walk. How is this possible?”
Noemi excitedly grabbed Joseph’s hand, her words tumbling out in a rush. “This is amazing! What happened?”
The room erupted in astonishment as Dr. Tyson nearly stumbled backward.
He had personally diagnosed and treated her, firmly believing she would need to stay in bed for at least two weeks. How could it be that in less than an hour, she was able to stand?
This scene was utterly shocking!
Lillian felt a spark of curiosity but instinctively asked, “Dr. Goodenough, what exactly is going on?”
“Has anyone been in the ward just now?”
Joseph rubbed his bald head. “Noemi has been treated by a skilled acupuncturist. That’s what made Noemi’s injury heal by seventy percent.”
“She doesn’t need to lie in bed for half a month. In three days, she’ll be able to walk normally.”
The more than ten people in the room were astonished. Was this mysterious person really so powerful? One session of acupuncture had allowed Noemi to return to normal in just three days?
They wanted to doubt it, but Joseph’s words left them with no choice but to believe.
“Little girl, Noemi, can you tell me who did the acupuncture?”
Joseph returned to his playful demeanor, looking at Lillian and Noemi with a pleading expression. “I need to find him! I want to be his disciple.”
The medical staff and leaders in the room were left speechless. Joseph wanted to take someone as his master?
“Please, tell me!”
“Be his disciple?”
Noemi exclaimed in surprise, “What could that jerk possibly teach?”
“Jerk? Which jerk?”
Joseph was overjoyed. “I absolutely must find this jerk.”
Lillian remained silent as there was a hint of contemplation in her eyes.
Dr. Tyson couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Mr. Goodenough, is this mysterious person really that impressive?”
“More impressive than me! Does that answer your question?”
A fiery enthusiasm shone in Joseph’s eyes. “He used the legendary acupuncture skill ‘the Zenith Needle’, capable of controlling life and death.”
Dr. Tyson and the others were taken aback. As medical professionals, they understood the significance of the Zenith Needle. It was a legend in the medical field.
Anyone who could master this technique would enjoy a life free from worry and filled with riches. Yet, they all remembered that this technique had been lost for many years.
How could it possibly appear in the hospital?
Noemi’s mouth hung open in shock. She hadn’t realized Darnell was so extraordinary.