Reprimanding Zheng Tu

Reprimanding Zheng Tu

His cultivation in the arts of the Dao was useless now. The changes in the Heaven and Earth Rules had left him unable to use it, turning it into a flower in a mirror and a moon reflected in water. Even the Sacred Flame hidden in his blood had been suppressed until it could barely move.

Perhaps he could try his hand at Martial Dao combat techniques, but Li Bai had no intention of stepping in. Instead, he drew a breath and thundered, "Hey, you thug! Stop right there!"

"Y-you! Who are you?"

A young scholar in a blue robe had suddenly appeared in front of him. Even Zheng Tu, who had immersed himself in the role of Zhen Guanxi, couldn't help but falter, his feet hesitating.

It wasn't only Master Zheng. Doctor Chen Sheng and the guards who had caught up also felt as though time and space had gone awry, as if a scholar from the Great Song Dynasty had come to life in this world.

"What sort of uncouth lout are you, refusing to behave? Once this Young Master sends a two-finger-wide note to the authorities, you'll be in for a caning. Now get out of here!"

Facing the boorish butcher, the elegant young master used his Righteous Qi to make this Zhen Guanxi tremble from head to toe.

The Flower Monk Lu Zhishen could only teach Zheng Tu to be reborn with his fists. But in the Great Song Dynasty, a scholar who couldn't even harm a chicken needed only a two-finger-wide note.

"Ah, y-yes! This humble one offended you. I deserve to die ten thousand times over!"

Zheng Tu's ferocity vanished in an instant. He was nothing like the mad bull he had been a moment ago.

Seeing the guards still standing there in a daze, Li Bai flicked his sleeve.

"Why are you just standing there? Take him down! Increase the chlorpromazine dose to one milliliter."

The guards swarmed forward and restrained the now-docile Master Zheng. The nurses hurriedly prepared another dose of tranquilizer.

The patients' family members all breathed a sigh of relief, and applause immediately rang through the corridor.

Chen Sheng looked a little sour. That guy had stolen the spotlight again.

He had originally planned to go over and offer a stiff word of thanks, but when he saw the nurses gazing at Li Bai with admiration and adoration, he swallowed his words again. With a cold snort, he returned to his consultation room and sulked.

"Impressive work, Young Master Li!"

"I'm utterly smitten!"

The young nurses who had been terrified of Li Bai moments earlier instantly turned into giggling fangirls. Their eyes sparkled. Doctor Li was simply so dashing—just like an elegant young master from ancient times.

"What's all this commotion? Get back to work!"

A gray-haired woman doctor sternly herded all the young nurses away. Then she looked Li Bai up and down and suddenly widened her eyes, as if she couldn't believe it.

"You're... Li Bai! It's work hours. What on earth are you doing?"

"Heh, Director Meng. I had a little too much fun yesterday and woke up late this morning. I didn't have time to change!"

Li Bai gave an awkward smile. He couldn't exactly say he'd had a dream of the Yellow Millet and had just returned from another world.

The Director of Psychiatry, Meng Zhijun, was the superior of both Li Bai and Chen Sheng. Clearly, the patient's sudden attack—

"Dean Zhou is waiting for you. Hurry up and change."

Director Meng had come to hurry Li Bai along. True Man Zhou was probably getting impatient by now.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Li Bai immediately dashed for the changing room. Fortunately, he had a set of casual clothes in his locker. He quickly changed, but there was no time to do anything about his long hair, so he borrowed a hair tie and hastily tied it back. Though he no longer looked like a scholar in a blue robe, he still carried a trace of distinctive refinement.

Dean Zhou was greeting colleagues from the Three Provinces and One City in East China as they took their seats in the conference room when a long-haired man carrying a document bag hurriedly pushed the door open. He was puzzled for just a moment before recognizing him.

"Xiao Li, what happened to you?"

They'd only had one weekend apart, yet his hair had grown so long. Was he trying to cause trouble?

"Sorry, I overslept."

Li Bai shrank his neck, bracing himself for True Man Zhou's thunderous anger. He would accept a written self-criticism, a bonus deduction, or even a public reprimand.

He had hurried as fast as he could, but he was still fifteen minutes late. Fortunately, though the conference had been scheduled to start on time, greetings and small talk had held things up. By the time he entered the conference room, the meeting still hadn't officially begun.

"I mean your hair!"

With outsiders present, Zhou Tong couldn't blow up. He could only glare at the long hair down Li Bai's back, his anger reined in. It had grown this long in just two days—unbelievable.

"Uh! It's a wig. A friend glued it on as a prank."

Li Bai's eyes shifted, and he promptly blamed some "friend."

"Let this be the last time. Come in looking presentable tomorrow. Now sit down!"

As dean, Zhou Tong had too much experience not to realize Li Bai was blatantly lying. But he didn't call him out. He simply pointed to a spot against the wall near the conference table. Li Bai could have sat at the table, but he'd arrived late. He would have to sit with the auditors instead.

"Yes, yes!"

Li Bai quickly took his seat.

The Psychiatry and Mental Health Exchange Conference, hosted by the Seventh People's Hospital, was a chance to discuss cases and share treatment results, as well as to showcase the hospital's strength. It was only natural to have highly educated specialist doctors like Li Bai there to lend prestige. Seeing a row of PhDs and master's degree holders was reassuring.

Fortunately, he had reviewed the materials for the conference on the way over and hadn't forgotten his professional knowledge. He managed to get through the meeting, which lasted over three hours that morning.

After the meeting ended, Li Bai was about to join the others for a meal when someone called him over. It was Director of Psychiatry Meng Zhijun.

"Li Bai, we have an appointment evaluation this afternoon. You'll handle it."

"Director Meng, I have to attend the conference this afternoon."

He had looked over the schedule and remembered that the conference would last two days. Today was only the first.

Meng Zhijun wore a stern expression as she said gravely, "I'll speak to Dean Zhou about this afternoon's meeting. The Municipal Public Security Bureau contacted us about this appointment evaluation. It involves a criminal case and is very important. You must take it seriously."

"Understood."

Li Bai nodded.

The Seventh People's Hospital had plenty of professional ties to the Public Security, Procuratorate, and Judiciary systems, including forensic evaluations. When a major case came up, they would often ask specialists from a major hospital to provide an independent assessment, ensuring the results were accurate and impartial.

Although he'd miss the conference's banquet, the hospital cafeteria had prepared a special meal today. Li Bai snagged a serving of the head chef's signature sweet-and-sour ribs and happily crunched away, even chewing up and swallowing the bones.

A nurse in white sat across from him with her lunch. Li Bai looked up, swallowed his mouthful of ribs, and greeted her.

"Su Mei, you look even prettier than you did two days ago."

Teasing the young, pretty nurses was one of the favorite pastimes of many male doctors and nurses. It was probably the only fun they had in the middle of their dull, tedious work.

The young nurse's round, apple-like cheeks turned pink as she said, "You're always joking. Don't you know disaster is right around the corner?"

"Disaster?"

Li Bai's chopsticks paused.