As Katelyn’s voice rang out, all eyes instinctively shifted toward the so-called Dr. Scott.
Most of the attending doctors weren’t aware of who the Blood Guild had brought in, but the name intrigued them enough to turn their heads with curiosity. When they saw the young man following behind Katelyn, their expressions immediately betrayed doubt.
A doctor? Could someone so young really be a doctor?
Every doctor present was a veteran in the field, with decades of experience and countless lives saved before they dared claim the title of “doctor.” Yet, here was this man-no more than twenty-five or twenty-six-standing in their midst. Most of those present were old enough to be his parent, if not grandparent.
In Seclela’s medical world, gaining even a shred of recognition required at least thirty years of practice. A true doctor was someone who had saved thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lives. This young man, daring to stand among them… it was outrageous!
Several of the older doctors couldn’t hide their disdain. To them, this boy didn’t even deserve a seat at the table, let alone the right to call himself a peer.
“Ha!” Erik, standing nearby, burst into laughter as Katelyn led the young man forward. He gave the stranger a once-over, shaking his head with a mocking click of his tongue. “Katelyn, Edwin, is this the doctor you were talking about?”
Katelyn exchanged a glance with Edwin but didn’t respond. It was a question that didn’t deserve an answer.
“Well!” Erik continued, his voice rising with theatrical indignation. “The Blood Guild is one of the top three Cultivator Guilds. From a young age, I’ve read countless medical texts and met numerous doctors.
“The people who dare step into our house to practice medicine are either those who’ve solved impossible cases or those who’ve saved uncountable lives.
“Typically, no one with less than thirty years of experience even attempts to treat us!
“But this one? So young? Is he really a doctor? Or are you two-Edwin, Katelyn-or perhaps even your father, losing your minds?”
Katelyn’s expression darkened. She turned to Erik and snapped, “Erik, what exactly are you implying? You can question me and Edwin, but how dare you insult my father?”
Harris chimed in with a smirk. “Erik’s not wrong. We’ve all seen plenty in our lives, and I’ve never met such a young doctor before.
“Edwin, Katelyn, let me be clear: you’ve been deceived.”
He gestured toward the assembled doctors, adding, “If you don’t believe me, why not ask them?”
The room murmured in agreement.
“It’s true,” said one older doctor, adjusting his glasses. “In Seclela, we’ve never seen someone so young practicing medicine. Unless he’s an overseas prodigy, it’s nearly impossible to believe he’s a doctor.”
Another chimed in, addressing Kayden directly. “Dr. Scott, may I ask where you graduated from? What was your specialty? Did you study medical devices or pathology?”
Kayden shook his head. “Neither.”
“Neither?” A silver-haired man in a white coat leaned forward. “Then you must be trained in traditional medicine, correct?”
Kayden remained silent, and the man continued, “If that’s the case, you should know what it takes to earn the title of ‘doctor’ in traditional medicine.
“In the world of traditional medicine, I wouldn’t call myself a master, but I’ve saved 3, 568 lives since I began practicing. Of those, 88 were cases deemed incurable by hospitals-patients with diseases no one else dared to touch.
“Even so, I’ve never stopped striving, because the ceiling in traditional medicine is impossibly high.
“The only names truly respected in our field are Maverick Quinn, Cael Gabor, and Greg Versoonder. These three are the pillars of traditional medicine today.”
He paused, studying Kayden. “Do you know what makes them great? Beyond skill, it’s their medical ethics. In traditional medicine, ethics are everything. Without them, no one has the right to treat others.”
With a tone that was almost paternal, he added, “Young man, I advise you to tread carefully. Turn back before it’s too late. The heights of traditional medicine aren’t something you can reach with empty boasts.
“Learning traditional medicine is noble, but don’t dabble in it just enough to deceive people. Go back, study hard, and maybe one day, you’ll truly be a doctor.”
His words were measured, but the underlying doubt was clear.
Then a young woman, barely in her twenties, stood up. Her traditional attire and demeanor marked her as a student of the field.
“Dr. Rubinger is right,” she said, her voice tinged with pride. “But I’d like to add one more name to his list: my master’s master, the mentor of Greg Versoonder himself.
“My master often speaks of him with the utmost respect, calling him a paragon of virtue and unmatched skill. Though I’ve never met him, I can see from my master’s words and actions just how extraordinary he must be.”
She looked at Kayden with a faint smile. “If you want to make a name for yourself in traditional medicine, you have a long, long way to go.”
The girl’s voice carried an air of superiority. Being Greg Versoonder’s student cast a glow over her that she clearly relished.
“Miss Chloe is absolutely right!” someone added.
In truth, Chloe was only an outer disciple of Greg Versoonder. Years ago, Greg had treated her father and noticed her interest and talent in traditional medicine. He had offered her some guidance, and she had clung to that connection ever since.
Kayden swept his gaze over Chloe, Dr. Rubinger, and then the entire room. His eyes lingered on each face, silently studying the group of self-proclaimed experts.
Finally, he spoke. “Have any of you figured out what’s wrong with Mark Beveridge?”
The room fell silent.
For days, the assembled doctors had tried everything, using every method they knew, but they hadn’t even identified the cause of Mark’s illness. Diagnosing the problem was the first step to treatment, but they were utterly stumped.
Seeing their silence, Kayden smirked. “You don’t know, but I do.
“If you let me treat him, I can cure Mark Beveridge right now. If not, I’ll leave.”
His voice was calm but sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.
Turning to Bryanna, his gaze locked onto hers.
“Madam, do you want me to treat him, or do you want me to leave?”