"Linggui Shugan Decoction combined with Poria, Cinnamon Bark, Licorice and Jujube Soup?"

Lin Guorui murmured to himself, deep in thought.

"That's right!" Li Xu continued. "But that's not enough. The patient is also experiencing distending pain in her chest and flanks. This is because the cold fluid is surging upward, obstructing the Yang Qi and the flow of Qi in her chest. So, we must also borrow from the treatment approach for 'chest impediment disease' and add another formula from the *Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet*—Aconite, Dried Ginger and Cinnamon Bark Soup! This formula unblocks the Yang, transforms phlegm, relieves fullness, and descends rebellious Qi. This is the principle of 'treating different diseases with the same method'!"

"Three formulas combined into one!"

Lin Guorui was utterly impressed by Li Xu's thought process for creating the prescription.

This was no longer a simple case of treating the symptoms. It was treatment based on pattern differentiation of the highest order—a flexible, dynamic approach that masterfully integrated different classical formulas with consummate skill!

Li Xu didn't stop, continuing to explain the roles of the herbs in the formula—the monarch, minister, adjuvant, and courier:

"All three of these formulas have a core ingredient—Cinnamon Bark. Therefore, we must use a large dose of Cinnamon Bark to pacify and descend the rebellious, surging Qi.

Cinnamon Bark combined with Poria Cocos unblocks the Yang and promotes the draining of fluids;

Poria Cocos combined with Atractylodes strengthens the spleen to drain dampness;

Licorice combined with Large Dates nourishes the middle-jiao spleen earth to control the overflow of fluids.

At the same time, combining Cinnamon Bark with licorice—acrid and sweet to generate Yang—can also warm and supplement the heart's Yang Qi, which has been injured by the cold fluid."

"The Trichosanthes fruit, Allium Macrostemonis bulb, and Banxia in the formula can expand the chest, regulate Qi, transform phlegm, and descend rebellious Qi;

While the Fructus Aurantii Immaturus and Magnolia Bark can direct Qi downward, eliminate fullness, and guide the pathogenic factor downward."

"I also recommend that during the treatment, we can consider adding the Three Sons Nourishing Parents Soup as appropriate—that is, Raphanus Seed, white mustard seed, and Sesame Seed—to enhance the effect of descending Qi and eliminating phlegm.

Among them, Raphanus Seed is recorded in ancient texts as having the miraculous effect of 'expelling wind-phlegm through vomiting'.

If the patient can vomit a large amount of phlegm after taking the medicine, it means the pathogen has found an exit. It's a sign that she is on the road to recovery."

"By combining all these herbs and modifying the formula according to the symptoms, we can surely eliminate the cold fluid, restore the Yang Qi, pacify the surging Qi, and smooth the flow of Qi. Then, this illness can be cured!"

His speech was eloquent and expansive, well-reasoned and well-founded, quoting from the classics with tight logic.

Lin Guorui went from initial skepticism to shock, and finally… to complete and utter admiration!

Looking at the young man before him, who was more than ten years his junior, he no longer felt any of the pride he held as an Associate Chief Physician.

In terms of understanding the Medical Classics and their clinical application, the gap between them was as wide as that between the clouds and the mud.

"Doctor Li…" Lin Guorui said, filled with emotion. "You've taught me a great lesson. I'll go fill the prescription right now."

Hu Qiming had been listening from the side the entire time, but he couldn't get a single word in.

He looked at Li Xu, finding it truly difficult to associate him with a renowned doctor.

However, Li Xu's skill level was genuinely far beyond his own.

He hadn't understood much of what Li Xu had just said.

「Meanwhile.」

Lin Guorui took the prescription written by Li Xu and personally ran to the pharmacy.

"Quick! Fill this prescription immediately! Use the best quality herbs!"

Lin Guorui handed the prescription to the pharmacist, his tone solemn. "And don't use the decoction machine. Use a clay pot! Simmer it slowly over a low flame! We must ensure the decoction is potent!"

The pharmacists in the pharmacy were a bit surprised when they saw the large doses of Cinnamon Bark and Poria Cocos, as well as the strange combination of three formulas in one. But since it had Lin Guorui's signature, they didn't say much and immediately began weighing and preparing the herbs.

A little over an hour later, a bowl of warm, dark brown medicinal soup with a bitter aroma was brought to the patient's bedside.

The girl's parents, a simple middle-aged couple, were keeping vigil by her bed, their faces stained with tears.

They had heard what Xue Shuheng said in the hospital room earlier.

Although they hadn't received a "critically ill" notice yet, they already knew the prognosis.

At this moment, they were in the depths of despair.

When Lin Guorui walked in carrying the bowl of medicine, they just gave him a numb glance, their eyes devoid of any hope.

In their minds, this was probably just the hospital's routine, final attempt.

"Here, help her sit up," Lin Guorui said to the girl's mother. "Feed her this bowl of medicine."

With her mother's help, Chen Xiuli, who was still only semi-conscious, was painstakingly fed the entire bowl of bitter medicinal soup.

Everyone waited in silence.

Lin Guorui's heart was also pounding with anxiety.

Although he was ninety percent convinced by Li Xu's diagnosis and prescription, he still felt extremely anxious since he hadn't seen the effects with his own eyes. 'After all, the human body's mechanisms are complex. Li Xu sounded completely convincing, but what if he was wrong? The patient's body is as fragile as a leaking house. It can't withstand any more trials.'

Time ticked by, second by second.

About half an hour passed.

A miracle began to happen.

The patient, who had been curled up on the bed, cold and trembling, slowly started to regain a faint touch of color on her deathly pale face!

Her icy limbs also seemed to be warming up slightly.

"Dad… Mom…" The patient let out a faint moan. Her tightly closed eyes slowly opened. Although her gaze was still unfocused, there was a glimmer of life in them that hadn't been there before.

"Xiuli! You're awake!"

The girl's mother rushed to the bedside, overcome with emotion, and tightly gripped her daughter's hand.

"I… I feel… so warm… inside my stomach…"

Chen Xiuli's voice was still weak, but it was much clearer.

Just then, something even more miraculous happened!

Suddenly, Chen Xiuli was seized by a violent coughing fit. She turned her head aside and, with a retching sound, spat out a large mouthful of viscous, white, foam-like phlegm!

The moment the phlegm came out, her whole body seemed to relax.

Her constantly furrowed brow smoothed out, and the rise and fall of her chest became gentler.

"She vomited! She got it out!"

Seeing this, Lin Guorui was so excited he almost jumped for joy!

He remembered Li Xu's words: 'Raphanus Seed is recorded in the literature to have the effect of "expelling wind-phlegm through vomiting," so when the patient vomits up a large amount of phlegm... it means the pathogen has found an exit, a sign that the illness is about to heal!'

It was true!

Everything was happening exactly as Li Xu had foreseen!

Seeing their daughter's condition improve so dramatically, the girl's parents were overjoyed and thanked Lin Guorui profusely.

Lin Guorui waved his hand, his heart filled with a swirl of emotions.

'I don't deserve these thanks,' he thought. 'The one who truly deserves their gratitude is Li Xu, who single-handedly turned the tide.'

Standing nearby, Hu Qiming was even more overcome with excitement.

He had personally witnessed how his classmate, with his masterful medical skills, had snatched a patient who had been given a "death sentence" right back from death's door!

Unable to contain his excitement, he pulled out his phone and posted a video and a message in their university class group chat.

The video was one he had secretly recorded earlier, showing Chen Xiuli's condition improving after taking the medicine.

Hu Qiming: [Brothers! Sisters! Let me show you what a real Divine Physician looks like! Today, a patient in our department with Rushing Pig Qi, who was basically given a death sentence, made an immediate recovery after taking a single dose of medicine prescribed by Li Xu! She was brought back from the dead! I won't say more, the video is the proof! Li Xu, you're a fucking legend! My superman!]

This message was like a bombshell, instantly causing the quiet group chat to erupt.

Miaoli: [Wow! Li Xu works his magic again!]

Li Baojie: [Holy crap! Rushing Pig Qi? That's a disease I've only ever read about in books, and he actually cured it? @Li Xu, get in here and share your wisdom!] 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Jiang Peng: [@Li Xu, So powerful! You're unstoppable! From now on, if I have any patients I can't handle, I'm just sending them straight to you.]