Chapter 806: Must Fight For It

Chapter 806: Chapter 806: Must Fight For It

Hearing these words, Li Xu narrowed his eyes. He detected a hint of sorrow in them.

Ju Jiahong’s statement sounded reasonable; it even echoed the shared sentiment of many "mainstream" experts in the traditional Chinese medicine community today. However, the subtext behind this logic was extremely dangerous—the idea that because Western medicine excelled in emergency care, traditional Chinese medicine should naturally step aside. This wasn’t merely a division of labor; it was a deep-seated lack of confidence.

In Li Xu’s view, traditional Chinese medicine was losing ground in the field of emergency care—reduced to a supplementary or even ornamental role—not because it couldn’t treat acute illnesses, but because its practitioners had lost their own courage and skill. With the passing of the older generation of renowned masters who dared to "resuscitate a dying patient with a single dose," most modern practitioners were now raised in greenhouses, reading the classics but too afraid to write a prescription when a life was on the line.

The reason traditional Chinese medicine had stood tall for thousands of years, and even today received full support at the national level, was not simply because it could regulate the body. It was because it possessed the "ultimate trump card"—the ability to turn the tide and pull patients back from the brink of death when modern medicine was helpless.

In modern medicine, many chronic and metabolic diseases were actually incurable and could only be managed with lifelong medication. But in the eyes of a true traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, there were no incurable diseases, only doctors with insufficient skill.

If even a leader of the younger generation like Ju Jiahong felt there was "no need to fight, no need to compete, just peacefully play a supporting role," then where was the future of their practice? Was it truly destined to degenerate into some sort of "high-end health and wellness service"?

"Ju Jiahong actually said something like that?" Sitting on the periphery, Liu Haodong could no longer sit still. He lowered his voice and spoke to Liu Haohui beside him.

"I know." Liu Haohui also looked somewhat stunned. "I remember the older generation, like Mr. Wang, valued our emergency capabilities above all else. They’ve always groomed Ju Jiahong to be the future leader of the Xinglin community in the hopes that he could restore the prestige of traditional Chinese medicine in the emergency department. But Director Ju’s words today... Although steady, they lack the valiant spirit of a warrior riding boldly into battle, and the responsibility a leader should possess."

As the leading figure of the younger generation, Ju Jiahong’s mindset was tantamount to surrendering their heavy artillery before the first shot was even fired.

In their world, talent determined the ceiling. If a doctor with mediocre talent could master one or two prescriptions and treat common ailments, that was simply doing their duty. But if an existence regarded as a Saint Heir like Ju Jiahong only wanted to guard his own little acre and live a comfortable life, it would be a tragedy for the entire industry.

Only when a doctor had experienced the ultimate life-and-death struggle, witnessing the shock of "the pulse reviving the moment the medicine enters the stomach," could they truly understand the mystery of the ebb and flow of yin and yang. A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who had never handled critical emergencies would ultimately only scratch the surface when treating chronic diseases.

Li Xu looked at Ju Jiahong and let out a deep sigh. He suddenly felt that although the Ju Jiahong before him held the highest titles and immense fame, if he didn’t change his mindset, his lifelong achievements might stall at being a "famous doctor"—never allowing him to become a true Great Physician.

"Dr. Li, it seems you still hold a different view?" Ju Jiahong astutely caught Li Xu’s sigh and took the initiative to ask.

Li Xu stood up. This time, he no longer deliberately restrained his aura. His gaze was sharp. "Director Ju, you just said that with the current development of modern medicine, there is no need for traditional Chinese medicine to ’compete’ with Western medicine in fields like emergency care. Not only do I disagree with this point, but I also think it’s tantamount to self-sabotage."

The air in the conference room froze instantly.

Everyone’s eyes widened, and Liu Haohui’s palms were covered in sweat.

Li Xu continued, "It’s true that both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine have their own advantages. But when facing the same severe illness, our practice provides an entirely different dimension of understanding life and offering treatment plans.

"According to your logic, since Western medicine already has a highly efficient treatment method, traditional Chinese medicine can simply step back. Then let me ask you, Director Ju, why are there multiple different treatment methods for the exact same illness within our own practice? Some use classic prescriptions, some use contemporary prescriptions, some use acupuncture, and some use moxibustion."

Ju Jiahong faltered for a moment. He was about to speak but was immediately cut off by Li Xu.

"Since there is already an effective treatment method, wouldn’t the other therapies be redundant? Since there are gentle methods, why keep the strong, drastic medicines? Did our predecessors research these methods just so we could voluntarily put them in a museum the moment Western medicine appeared?"

Ju Jiahong opened his mouth, finding himself utterly speechless for a moment.

Li Xu’s pace wasn’t fast, but every single word hammered heavily on everyone’s hearts. "Our various treatment methods exist precisely to address the individual differences of patients. Some people can handle the shock of Western medicine, while others cannot. Some are suited for Western medicine’s physical interventions, while others can only rely on our holistic regulation to fight for a sliver of hope. If we voluntarily give up certain battlegrounds, we aren’t just losing our livelihoods—we are cutting off the path to survival for patients who should have been saved by traditional Chinese medicine.

"If we retreat in so-called ’non-advantageous fields’ because of the development of modern medicine, then wouldn’t our proud tradition of differential diagnosis and personalized treatment become a total joke?"

This barrage of questions was a blatantly aggressive confrontation.

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Although they knew Li Xu was incredible, they never expected him to dare use such sharp logic to directly challenge Ju Jiahong’s core medical values right on Ju Jiahong’s own home turf.

"I told you so. Ju Jiahong was bound to have a hard time once he ran into Li Xu," Liu Haodong said from the back row. He didn’t feel worried in the slightest; instead, he felt an inexplicable sense of excitement. Having been born into a prestigious family, he had spent his whole life suffocating under overly cautious dogmas. Watching Li Xu, this "grassroots vice president," wipe the floor with everyone in the room felt utterly cathartic.

"Li Xu seems easygoing when it comes to other things, but as soon as it touches upon the roots of our practice and the true essence of medicine, he takes it incredibly seriously. He won’t yield a single inch."

In truth, Li Xu’s uncompromising attitude was the greatest form of respect he could offer Ju Jiahong.

In his eyes, Ju Jiahong wasn’t a mediocre doctor merely coasting through life, but a comrade-in-arms with genuine potential and talent. He didn’t want to watch such a promising sapling grow into a beautiful but fragile bonsai simply due to a comfortable environment and limited mindset. He wanted to use the most brutal truths to shatter Ju Jiahong’s shell of "elitist thinking."

The conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Vice President Dong Yongnian and Secretary-General Hao Xiangchen exchanged a glance, both their eyes filled with shock. They had originally thought this was just a standard show of the "Saint Heir descending to the mortal realm." Little did they expect it to turn into a soul-searching interrogation concerning the very future of traditional Chinese medicine.