THE REAL PROTEGE

Ling Li studied Fatty's neck carefully, adjusting her hands into position. "I'll start with myofascial release therapy, loosening the tight connective tissues around his injury. Once the tension eases, I'll apply low-amplitude spinal manipulation, correcting the cervical misalignment without excessive force."

Shi Min, quiet until now, murmured, "Mom, you make it sound easy."

Ling Li gave the faintest hint of a smile. "It's anything but. Every adjustment has to be precise. If I exert too much pressure, I risk worsening the ligament damage. If I stimulate the wrong nerve clusters with acupuncture, I could disrupt his cerebral circulation instead of stabilizing it."

Shi Min nodded slowly, absorbing her explanation.

Ling Li exhaled, rolling her shoulders back before lowering the first acupuncture needle toward Fatty's skin.

"Watch closely," she said. "This is where precision matters most."

Ling Li moved with measured precision, her hands steady as she prepped the sterile golden needles, aligning them in a meticulous sequence beside Fatty's bed. The beeping of the monitors filled the room — a rhythmic reminder that every action, every choice at this moment, could influence his recovery.

Shi Min, Mushu, and Pharsa stood on one side, observing closely, their eyes sharp with anticipation.

"This is only the first session," Ling Li stated as she examined Fatty's pulse points, her fingers barely grazing his skin. "It will take time for his body to recover fully, and the number of treatments will depend on how quickly his system responds. Healing is not just physical — it requires alignment between his neurological pathways, vascular circulation, and musculoskeletal recovery."

She selected the first needle, holding it delicately between her fingers. "We begin with the 'Baihui point,' located at the vertex of the skull; this controls cerebral blood flow and helps regulate autonomic function. It will assist in stabilizing the two untreated aneurysms."

With a precise motion, she inserted the needle, its fine tip disappearing effortlessly into the skin. The air in the room tensed as she continued, her voice calm and controlled.

"I will now stimulate 'Shenting and Fengchi points,' which will increase oxygen perfusion and ensure adequate blood supply to the cerebral arteries." Ling Li followed the process, inserting each needle with deliberate care. "These placements will allow the brain to autoregulate blood flow without creating vascular strain."

Shi Min watched closely, his physician's mind dissecting every movement. "You're targeting cerebral perfusion directly without invasive intervention."

"Exactly," Ling Li confirmed. "This avoids the risk of perfusion deficit caused by surgical recoil. His brain will heal at its own pace."

Ling Li moved to Fatty's neck, gently brushing her fingers along the areas of tension before selecting another set of needles.

"For the cervical ligament rupture, I'm applying 'myofascial release therapy,' starting with stimulation of the 'Jiaji points' along the cervical vertebrae. These will relax the deep connective tissues and relieve pressure surrounding the torn ligament."

Mushu frowned slightly, intrigued. "You can repair connective tissue with this alone?"

Ling Li inserted the next needle, her expression unreadable. "No, this only prepares his muscles for the next phase — manual manipulation therapy. Once his fascia relaxes, I can correct the vertebral misalignment."

Just as Ling Li prepared to begin the spinal adjustments, the door to the ward opened.

El Padre and El Capitan entered, their movements crisp, authoritative.

Ling Li did not flinch, though she immediately registered their presence.

El Padre's gaze flickered over the setup, then to Ling Li, his expression unreadable but keenly observant. "We heard you were conducting this procedure. We wanted to witness it firsthand."

El Capitan nodded, his arms crossed, his stance firm. "Few have the expertise to perform integrated acupuncture alongside spinal manipulation. You trained us well, but this — this is rare."

Ling Li's tone remained neutral. "Then observe closely."

She returned to her work, shifting her stance before placing her palms firmly against Fatty's neck.

"Now, I apply low-amplitude spinal manipulation. Small, controlled adjustments will realign his cervical vertebrae without aggravating the injury."

A measured breath.

Then, with the precision of a master, she moved — applying gentle but firm pressure, adjusting the vertebral segments with a technique so smooth it seemed almost effortless.

A faint shift.

A subtle correction.

Fatty's muscles reacted unconsciously, his body adjusting to the newfound balance.

Ling Li exhaled as she finally withdrew her hands.

"The first session is complete," she stated, stepping back. "His body will now begin the recovery process naturally."

El Padre and El Capitan exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable.

El Padre spoke first. "Flawless execution."

El Capitan gave a nod of approval. "No wonder you remain the best."

Ling Li removed her gloves. "This is only the beginning."

As Fatty was stabilized and prepared for rest, Ling Li turned to her team. "We will monitor his progress. The number of sessions will vary depending on how well his body responds."

Shi Min gave a slow nod, digesting everything he had witnessed.

Pharsa released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

Mushu murmured, "That was remarkable."

Ling Li didn't respond. She simply turned, already thinking of the next steps.

There was still much to do.

Ling Li shook her head with a faint chuckle. "You may call everyone in. Otherwise, they might faint from anxiousness."

Mushu wasted no time, stepping toward the door. One by one, they entered the ward.

Lily was the first, her steps quick, almost desperate, her eyes locked onto Fatty's unconscious form. Ren and Shun followed closely, their presence solid beside her, while Chatty and Four Eyes moved in behind them.

Four Eyes hesitated just for a moment, his gaze locking with Ling Li's unspoken questions flickering in his eyes — questions he didn't dare voice.

Ling Li met his silent plea with a firm squeeze of his hand and a reassuring smile. The tension in his shoulders loosened almost instantly, the silent assurance enough to make him relax.

She turned to face the rest, standing tall, unwavering.

"I would say this accident was meant to happen," she declared, her voice steady, carrying an undeniable weight. "In fact, we should be grateful for this calamity because the injuries Quan Ye incurred from the crash are nothing compared to the hidden danger of the two large aneurysms lurking in his brain. Had we not discovered them now, they could have ruptured at any time, and then — none of you would have had the chance to save him."