89: Remove the spent cartridge case from the body without surgery?

At the entrance of the banquet hall, the air suddenly froze.

Every eye was fixed on the two figures on the red carpet... especially the young man being greeted with cupped hands by Old Master Zhang.

Mr. Ye?

To most people present, this man was as unfamiliar as the air.

But the respect in Old Master Zhang's voice when he called him "Mr. Ye" was undeniable, even carrying a hint of the restraint a junior shows toward a teacher!

Good heavens!

This completely subverted their understanding!

Old Master Zhang was old enough to be this young man's grandfather!

A Cultural Titan nearby adjusted his glasses, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

The Cultural Titan beside him adjusted his glasses, his eyes full of shock.

Several elders who had moved closer looked at each other, seeing the same shock reflected in each other's faces.

Feeling the gazes from all around.

Ye Chen still wore that same indifferent smile.

Then.

He reached out and shook Zhang Sansheng's hand: "Old Master Zhang, you're too kind. Thank you for waiting."

"Mr. Ye, your presence is a huge honor for this old man. It is only right that I wait."

Zhang Sansheng was all smiles; he even gave Ye Chen's hand a gentle shake before letting go and stepping aside to lead the way. "Mr. Ye, Miss Bing Lan, please come inside."

Immediately after, a scene occurred that left everyone dumbfounded... as they walked toward the entrance, Zhang Sansheng intentionally lagged half a step behind, yielding the main path.

Zhang Lu and Zhang Wuji, father and son, took another step back in tacit agreement, flanking Ye Chen and Bing Lan like two attendants.

???

Were they seeing this correctly?

Three generations of the Zhang family were following behind like that!

This was no longer simple etiquette; it was a posture of self-subordination.

"Hiss—"

Someone gasped.

At the hotel entrance, it became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

The guests who had still harbored doubts were now frozen in place, their minds buzzing.

It wasn't just politeness; it wasn't an act!

Old Master Zhang was serious!

The entire Zhang family actually treated this young man as a guest of honor—even as a mentor!

But how was that possible?

What right or ability did a young man in his early twenties have?!

That Cultural Titan opened his mouth, only managing a stunned whisper after a long pause.

"Old Zhou... Old Master Zhang hasn't gone senile, has he?"

"Could this youth really be some so-called 'master'? But this is just too..."

Too young! Too ridiculous! Too contrary to common sense!

Professor Zhou's Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't utter a single word.

They had lived for over half a century and prided themselves on having seen it all, but the scene before them was completely beyond their comprehension.

The red carpet wasn't long, and Ye Chen and Bing Lan didn't walk fast, but every step felt like it was treading on everyone's heartstrings.

Wherever they passed, the crowd involuntarily parted like a tide receding from a rock.

Soon.

Ye Chen's group disappeared into the banquet hall, and only then did Zhang Sansheng and his descendants quicken their pace to follow.

The people at the entrance finally snapped out of it, and a roar of discussion broke out.

"They're in! Old Master Zhang really followed behind him!"

"Bing Lan's relationship with him is definitely not simple... Does Shuyue Group have some history with him?"

"Quick, let's go inside! There's bound to be a good show at today's banquet!"

...The crowd surged into the hall, everyone wanting to find out the truth.

After all... Old Master Zhang held a prominent position in their circles, and Bing Lan was a high-profile goddess of the business world!

For both of them to treat a young man so unusually... there was definitely something going on!

Could that Mr. Ye be some big shot from The Capital?

Meanwhile, walking down the hallway, Zhang Wuji vaguely heard the noise behind them. He leaned closer to his father, Zhang Lu, and whispered, "Dad, they look like they've been scared silly."

Zhang Lu's expression was calm, his eyes fixed forward.

"They're just making a fuss over nothing."

"Once they witness Master Ye's abilities, they will naturally understand why Father is acting this way."

Leading the way, Zhang Sansheng's smile deepened.

A bunch of old fogies with narrow horizons—you'll have your eyes opened soon enough!

How could a true dragon like Mr. Ye be measured by ordinary eyes?

He looked up at Ye Chen and Bing Lan, who had already taken their seats, his gaze becoming more certain.

After today, Ye Chen's name would likely not be limited to Xiamen City but would truly enter the vision of the Provincial Capital's top circles... He took a deep breath and signaled Zhang Lu and his son to sit behind Ye Chen.

This move once again sent a shock through the guests who were watching in secret.

How could they not be shocked?

Because the seats Ye Chen and the other occupied were at the head table!

The table was filled with retired provincial and ministerial-level leaders, or founders of certain domestic fields!

By arranging for him to sit there, Zhang Sansheng's intention couldn't be clearer.

"Old Zhang!"

A silver-haired elder looked at Zhang Sansheng and then glanced at Ye Chen. "Aren't you going to introduce this young friend?"

This was Zhou Weiguo. He had once governed a province, and his influence remained profound even after retirement.

Because Zhang Sansheng had saved his life in his early years, the two were lifelong friends.

"I'll introduce him right now!"

Zhang Sansheng chuckled and then faced the room.

"Old friends, honored guests."

"Thank you all for coming."

"I would like to take this opportunity to grandly introduce a gentleman."

Everyone's eyes instantly converged on Ye Chen as he slowly stood up.

Young, so young.

Yet standing there, his posture was upright and his gaze was calm. Facing the scrutinizing eyes of the entire room, he didn't show the slightest bit of awkwardness... as if...

He were as composed as if he were standing in his own backyard.

"This is Ye Chen, Mr. Ye."

Zhang Sansheng continued his introduction, "Mr. Ye's attainments in the path of medicine have reached perfection. I... am ashamed to say I cannot compare."

"Boom—!"

Despite being somewhat prepared, when the words "cannot compare" actually came out of Zhang Sansheng's mouth, the entire hall erupted in uncontrollable gasps!

Zhou Weiguo and the other elders beside him also changed expression abruptly.

Cannot compare?

Zhang Sansheng personally admitted that his medical skills were inferior to this young man's?

"Old Master Zhang!"

Professor Zhou couldn't help but stand up from his seat in the back. "Are... are you serious? This is no joke!"

Zhang Sansheng turned to him with a solemn expression: "Old Zhou, we've known each other for decades. When have you ever seen me joke about medical matters?"

Professor Zhou was speechless.

Indeed, Zhang Sansheng was easygoing, but he was always rigorously strict regarding medicine and never spoke carelessly.

But this... was simply too inconceivable!

Another elegant elder wearing gold-rimmed glasses spoke up after a moment of thought.

"Old Master Zhang, it's not that we don't believe you, but this matter is just too shocking."

"Might I ask what field Mr. Ye specializes in? Are there any convincing cases?"

He was Academician Li, a top domestic authority in neurosurgery. Everyone's ears perked up.

Zhang Sansheng heard this and puffed out his chest slightly with a hint of pride.

"Cases? Yes!"

"And I saw it with my own eyes not long ago!"

"A case of rabies, in the symptomatic stage, on the brink of death."

"Mr. Ye used only a few Silver Needles and a unique technique to pull the patient back from death's door in an instant. The symptoms subsided, and the patient regained clarity!"

"Afterward, I made a point of following up on the patient's condition."

"It turned out... the viral activity in the body had vanished, and the damage to the nervous system actually showed signs of reversal!"

"Multiple experts at the convention center, colleagues from the pharmaceutical industry, and even Madam Bai Wanqing of Tianyao Group can testify to this!"

Academician Li stood up abruptly, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

"Impossible!"

"Once the rabies virus invades the central nervous system, modern medicine is completely powerless. This is a consensus in the medical world!"

"Silver Needles? This... this violates basic medical principles!"

"Old Master Zhang, was it a misdiagnosis?" another senior medical professor couldn't help but question. "Or is there some other hidden detail?"

Ye Chen's expression remained calm.

He had known that no matter what Old Master Zhang said, no one would believe it.

Such was the prejudice of the world.

But since Old Master Zhang had organized this banquet for his sake, he couldn't hold back his skills.

He thought for a moment.

Before Zhang Sansheng could speak, he looked toward Zhou Weiguo.

"Old Zhou."

"If I'm not mistaken, you served in the military when you were young?"

Zhou Weiguo was slightly taken aback, and a smile of interest appeared on his face. "Oh? Young man, how do you know? Did Old Zhang tell you?"

His words provided an out while also serving as a test.

Ye Chen shook his head.

"Old Master Zhang never mentioned it."

"I observed your complexion and posture, especially your habit of subconsciously keeping your shoulders and back straight when walking or sitting, as well as the distribution of calluses on your tiger's mouth and knuckles..."

"Those were caused by long-term handling of firearms and throwing grenades."

"Furthermore, there should be shell fragments remaining in your body."

Zhou Weiguo's smile faded, and the interest in his eyes deepened.

But before he could speak, Academician Li adjusted his glasses and said.

"That Old Zhou served in the military and has shrapnel in him is no secret in our circles."

"If Mr. Ye did his homework beforehand, it wouldn't be surprising for him to know this."

Many people around them nodded secretly.

Indeed, many people had heard of Old Zhou's experiences.

This alone didn't seem sufficient to prove anything.

Ye Chen shrugged.

"I'm not trying to prove anything. It's just that if I'm not mistaken, what remains in Old Zhou's body isn't an ordinary fragment, but a..."

"...complete shell casing."

He paused, then dropped a bombshell.

"Back then, that bullet must have been fired from extremely close range. After the bullet head penetrated the chest wall, the shell casing became lodged in the narrow gap between the ribs and the heart."

"Because the location is too dangerous—right against the pericardium—any slight displacement could be instantly fatal. So for decades, no one has dared to remove it, nor could they."

"Whenever it rains, or when you're emotionally agitated, you feel a stabbing pain in your chest, accompanied by chest tightness and shortness of breath, making it difficult to lie flat at night. Is that correct?"

The composure on Zhou Weiguo's face vanished completely.

Academician Li stood up even more abruptly, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

"This... how is this possible?!"

"Old Zhou's medical records are highly classified; only a few people know the surgical records. Did Old Master Zhang..."

"Academician Li."

Zhou Weiguo raised a hand to stop him, his gaze fixed deeply on Ye Chen.

"Young man, you're exactly right."

"This 'deadly medal' has been with me for forty-seven years."

"Experts from home and abroad have consulted on it countless times. The conclusion was always: if we don't move it, you live; if we do, it's a one-in-ten chance of survival."

"So, what are you saying?"

The entire banquet hall fell silent.

Every gaze was fixed firmly on Ye Chen.

Zhang Sansheng stroked his beard, his eyes full of pride, as if he were the one being praised.

He had never told Ye Chen about this, but since Ye Chen could hit the mark so accurately, it meant he truly had ability!!!

Zhang Wuji clenched his fists in excitement.

Ye Chen met Zhou Weiguo's gaze, his expression still indifferent.

"What I mean is..."

"I can remove this shell casing for you."

"No need for a thoracotomy, no large equipment, almost no trauma, and certainly no injury to the heart's vessels."

"Right here, right now."

"If Old Zhou trusts me, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, you can shed this shackle you've carried for forty-seven years."}],