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🕑 Added 2025-05-26 16:44:55 +0000 UTCChapter 304: Life and Death Race in the ER
Duncan’s Apartment.
Adam had spent hours at the bar celebrating Matthew and Lily’s engagement with the others.
When he returned, he found Bianca still fast asleep and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Despite her petite frame and delicate features, she looked quiet and reserved—but deep down, she was anything but.
When she let loose, she could be even wilder than most girls.
Adam had tried to stop her, but to no avail.
The Next Day
“A new day begins.”
Adam nudged Bianca awake.
“Mm.”
Bianca kept her eyes shut, unwilling to move.
“Are you planning to give up on becoming a surgeon?”
Adam teased.
“Of course not! Hiss…”
Bianca shot up immediately, only to wince and suck in a sharp breath. “Damn it! Adam, are you even human?”
“Heh.”
Adam just smiled without responding.
Arguing with a woman about who was right or wrong was a pointless endeavor.
“You okay?”
Adam stepped forward to help her out of bed. “Do you want to take the day off and rest?”
“Absolutely not.”
Bianca pushed him away, grimacing as she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up.
Every surgical intern wanted to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible.
Hospitals treated interns like workhorses, and taking a leave of absence on just the second rotation? That would be a disaster for their evaluation scores.
If she got a poor rating or negative remarks recorded in her medical file, it would be a permanent stain on her career.
Landing a good job or competing for a coveted position later on? Candidates with blemishes on their records were usually the first to be eliminated.
Even though their resident supervisor, Dr. Shani, was known as the "compassionate doctor," Bianca wasn’t about to take any risks.
After all, she was dating Adam Duncan.
Who knew if Shani would smile to her face while secretly holding a grudge and making her life difficult?
As a woman, Bianca understood all too well how tempting Adam could be.
Shani was just a few years older than them and still single. If she truly had no interest in Adam, Bianca wouldn’t believe it for a second.
Medical Center
The second rotation officially began.
Unlike the grueling 48-hour initiation shift from the first round, this time it was about 14 hours per day—7 AM to 9 PM, six days a week.
As soon as Adam parked the car with Bianca, the loud rumbling of a motorcycle echoed nearby.
A rider clad in full leather pulled up beside his parking spot.
When the helmet came off, Christina’s not-so-friendly face was revealed.
“Morning.”
“Morning. You two?”
Christina’s eyes darted between Adam and Bianca, brimming with curiosity.
“We just happened to arrive at the same time,” Bianca explained.
“Oh.”
Christina’s expression read: Sure, if you say so… but I don’t buy it.
“You patched things up with Meredith yet?”
Adam locked his car and changed the subject as they walked toward the hospital.
“Yeah.”
Christina shrugged. “There was never really a problem to begin with. We’re all surgeons—we know the rules of the game. Competition is the norm. If you can’t handle that, you might as well quit now.”
“Now that’s the spirit.”
Adam nodded approvingly. “I’ll keep that in mind. Next time, I won’t hesitate to jump in and answer first.”
“….”
Christina rolled her eyes hard.
Locker Room
The interns were busy changing into their blue scrubs and white coats.
Fierce-looking Liz immediately drew the attention of most of the male doctors—especially Alex, the resident playboy.
He looked like he was about to whistle, his face plastered with a grin.
The embarrassment from his first rotation had clearly vanished from his mind.
His thick skin was practically bulletproof.
Watching the scene unfold, Adam reconsidered his earlier assumption that Alex would be one of the first to get kicked out.
Turns out, shamelessness was a superpower.
Compared to the self-righteous Liz and the perpetually unlucky, timid George, Alex might actually have a better survival rate.
“You’re looking for roommates?”
Meredith walked in and pinned a notice to the wall.
George, who harbored a crush on her, rushed over immediately. “Count me in!”
“I’m in too,” Liz added, her eyes lighting up.
“Not a chance.”
Meredith shut them down without hesitation.
“My mom ironed my scrubs yesterday like they were regular clothes.”
George pleaded, “I can’t keep living with my parents. I need a place. Please let me move in.”
“I can cook, and I’m super clean.”
Liz tried to sell herself.
“We already spend 100 hours a week together. That’s more than enough.”
Meredith refused outright. “I just want two strangers as roommates. No small talk, no forced niceties.”
“Come on, what about me?”
Alex smirked. “No small talk, no fake friendliness—you set the rules.”
“I want you as far away from me as possible.”
Meredith slammed her locker shut and stormed off.
Alex just shrugged, unfazed.
Greene Clinic
“Adam, you’re assigned to the ER today.”
“Christina, you’re in trauma.”
“Bianca, go deliver test results to patients.”
“Stu, you’re on sutures.”
Shani handed out assignments.
“Yes, doctor.”
Everyone acknowledged their tasks and dispersed.
Emergency Room
Beep. Beep.
Adam’s pager went off. He checked it and immediately sprinted toward the designated room.
“I’m Dr. Duncan, in charge of this resuscitation. What’s the patient’s status?”
He assessed the situation while questioning the EMTs.
“57-year-old male, cardiac arrest.”
The paramedic responded.
“Defibrillator ready—charge to 200 joules.”
Adam grabbed the paddles, signaling the nurse.
“Charged.”
The nurse confirmed.
“Clear!”
Adam gave the warning, making sure no one was in contact with the patient before delivering the shock.
“Ah!”
The patient gasped and jolted awake from unconsciousness.
“Heartbeat restored,” the nurse announced, looking at Adam with newfound respect.
They had seen plenty of rookie doctors freeze under pressure, standing by helplessly while the nurses took charge.
But Adam? He was decisive and confident, like a seasoned pro.
He glanced at the monitor, satisfied, then set the defibrillator down with a smile.
Because on his system panel, a small notification had just appeared: +0.01
Just like that, he had saved a life.
No wonder some people loved emergency medicine—this kind of high-stakes action was exhilarating.
Compared to long, grueling surgeries that lasted for hours, the ER’s split-second, life-or-death moments seemed like a perfect fit for someone like Adam, whose goal was to extend lives.
But it was just a thought. He didn’t regret choosing surgery over emergency medicine.
After all, these dramatic defibrillator saves were rare. Within the hospital’s coverage area, the odds of such cases weren’t high.
A renowned surgeon, on the other hand, could attract critically ill patients from all over the country—or even the world.
At that point, he could perform as many surgeries as he wanted, maximizing efficiency, stability, and long-term impact—something the ER could never match.
And his instincts were right.
Over the course of the day, Adam only got one chance to play “lightning god” with the defibrillator.
The other emergency cases weren’t life-threatening, giving him system boosts of only +0.0001 to +0.0005 at a time.
In the end, assisting in surgery still yielded better results.
Chapter 305: The Fierce Young Woman
Noon.
Medical Center.
Cafeteria.
Bang!
Meredith walked in and slammed the cooler onto the table.
"Is this it?"
Adam and the others immediately turned to look.
"Yes," Meredith replied irritably.
"Can we take a look?" Adam and Cristina asked in unison.
"What is it?" George, the chubby and slightly effeminate intern, asked curiously.
"You all want to see?" Meredith glanced between Adam and George.
Adam nodded with a smile.
George, not wanting to be left out despite his confusion, nodded enthusiastically.
"Go ahead," Meredith said, pushing the cooler toward them.
Adam held it steady, opened it, and after a quick glance, clicked his tongue in astonishment.
George leaned in and saw an indescribable mass inside.
"What is that?" he asked, puzzled.
"A severed fifth limb," Adam replied with a smirk.
Pfft!
George nearly choked, coughing violently while covering his mouth. "You could've warned me!"
"Wimp," Cristina scoffed, giving him a disdainful look before shutting the cooler.
"That girl is one fierce fighter," Adam remarked.
"If there were more women like her, there'd be a lot fewer rapists in the world," Cristina agreed.
"She was wearing the same shoes as me," Meredith murmured, momentarily dazed.
Americans tend to have an interest in mysticism, given that belief in God is mainstream.
Today, Meredith had worn a pair of shoes she hadn't touched in a long time, picking them from her closet on a whim. And now, she realized they were identical to the ones worn by this fierce young woman. That coincidence made her feel an unusual connection with the girl—something beyond the typical doctor-patient relationship. She felt emotionally invested.
Earlier That Morning.
Paramedics had wheeled in a severely injured and unconscious young woman. She was covered in wounds, barely clinging to life. Meredith had been the first doctor to attend to her, making her the girl’s primary physician by default.
In the Operating Room.
While performing surgery, Dr. Burke had discovered something in the girl's mouth. When he extracted it, he couldn’t immediately tell what it was.
But Meredith recognized it at a glance and stated what it was.
Immediately, a horrifying image formed in everyone’s mind—a young woman, beaten to a bloody pulp by her assailant. Just as the rapist assumed she was too weak to resist, she had summoned the last of her strength and bitten off his detestable "fifth limb."
Dr. Burke, staring at the severed appendage held in his forceps, instinctively tossed it into a sterile container. It wasn’t a lack of professionalism—just an unavoidable, visceral male reaction.
Due to the chain of custody rules, until the police arrived, Meredith was required to keep the evidence with her at all times.
And given the efficiency (or lack thereof) of the NYPD, Meredith had been stuck carrying it around, attracting attention wherever she went.
This kind of story had already spread throughout the hospital—and, by now, probably across all of New York’s medical community. Dr. Burke and his team had also alerted other hospitals to be on the lookout for a rapist who was almost certainly in critical condition.
"Damn rapist!" Liz cursed viciously.
"I hope they don’t find him too soon," Bianca said coldly.
"Even if he shows up at a hospital now, it's already too late for him," Cristina said with a smirk. "Bite wounds are jagged and unsuitable for clean surgical reattachment. Plus, saliva damages muscle tissue. Even if they attempt to repair it, they’d have to cut away a portion first. He’ll be using a catheter for a long time—and he’ll never be able to commit the same crime again."
"Sigh," Adam exhaled.
"What is it?" Cristina frowned. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Your medical assessment is spot on," Adam said, shaking his head. "But saying he’ll never commit another crime again? That’s too optimistic. Sometimes, men like him become even more dangerous after something like this. It all depends on whether he has money."
Everyone fell silent.
Even if they weren’t familiar with the history of twisted eunuchs in ancient China, they had certainly heard of men whose psychological scars made them even more depraved.
"But this is a serious crime. He’ll be sentenced to a long time in prison, right?" George still had faith in the justice system.
"Yes, theoretically," Adam said dryly. "But only if he’s poor. Otherwise, whether he’s guilty at all will be ‘up for debate.’ There’s always ‘consent’ or a ‘misunderstanding in a financial transaction.’ Hell, the girl could even end up being charged with aggravated assault. And even if he is convicted, watch as a heavy sentence turns into a light one, a light one into probation, and then the sentence keeps getting reduced. You’d be amazed."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Hearing it laid out like that was disturbing—but it was the reality of America’s legal system.
"Then what do we do?" Meredith asked, her voice thick with sorrow. "She’s already been shattered—barely clinging to life. Are we really going to save her, only for her to wake up to a nightmare instead of a new beginning?"
"That’s horrifying," Liz muttered, shivering.
"We do what we can," Adam sighed.
After all, she was born into ‘the land of the free.’
"Adam, you can help her!" Liz suddenly exclaimed, her face full of hope. "You’re a billionaire, a famous author—you can do something!"
"Isabelle Stevenson!" Adam’s face darkened, his tone turning sharp. "In this hospital, I am your colleague and a doctor—not a billionaire or a celebrity. If you want to do something for this brave young woman, then go do it yourself.
As for what I choose to do, that’s my business. You have no right to demand anything from me. Do you understand?!"
Did Adam want to help the girl?
The truth was, he did.
In fact, he had already decided that if the legal system failed her in some egregious way, he would quietly step in and provide whatever assistance he could. He considered it a good deed.
But wanting to help and being guilt-tripped into it were two completely different things.
Even if he did help, it would be in secret and only within his means.
Because in this so-called ‘free world,’ there were too many injustices and tragedies. If he openly built a reputation for being generous, he’d attract an endless stream of opportunists looking to exploit him.
Losing a bit of money wasn’t the issue.
The real problem was how exhausting it would be.
And some scammers would go to extreme lengths—like faking illnesses to exploit his kindness.
The first person that came to Adam’s mind was Frank from Shameless. That old crook would definitely pull a stunt like that.
Adam wasn’t afraid of lawsuits, but if he lost his medical license because of some scammer? That would directly impact his longevity—something he cared about far more than any moral debate.
He had no interest in Liz's moral crusade. Even if she were a true saint, if she jeopardized his future, she’d become his enemy.
"Adam…" Meredith tried to smooth things over, but Adam cut her off with a wave of his hand.
"Isabelle Stevenson!" Adam’s gaze was icy. "Did you hear me clearly?!"
Chapter 306: A Round of Applause
Medical Center.
Cafeteria.
Liz's face turned red with frustration. She wanted to argue back, but when she met Adam’s cold and sharp gaze, she instinctively lowered her head, unable to maintain eye contact. She murmured softly, "I understand..."
Aura is a mysterious thing.
It cannot be seen, yet it undeniably exists.
A person with a strong aura can influence those around them with just a look, an expression, or a single sentence—sometimes profoundly.
As a system-enhanced transmigrator, Adam's physical abilities had undergone a drastic transformation since crossing over, steadily advancing towards a superhuman level.
With immense wealth backing him, along with long-term companionship with Juno, Karen, and Heather—honing his skills in hunting and dissection—he had recently even performed real surgical procedures. His aura had naturally acquired a unique quality.
Most of the time, he was calm and composed, friendly to all. But when angered, he made sure everyone knew exactly where they stood.
On the other hand, Saintly Liz, despite her emotional nature and self-imposed moral high ground, had an aura that was nothing but an illusion—merely a product of her own imagination.
Under normal circumstances, this wasn’t obvious. But when confronted with someone like Adam, her flimsy sense of righteousness was easily shattered.
If people acknowledge you, you’re a saint.
If they don’t... well—
Beep, beep.
Beep, beep.
At that moment, the pager clipped to Adam’s waist buzzed, notifying him of a new task.
Glancing at it, he stood up and left.
"Tsk, tsk, such a commanding presence," remarked Alex from another table, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
"That’s not about presence—it’s about standing firm in his convictions!" Bianca retorted. "Was Adam wrong? Who has the right to interfere with his choices? If it were you, would you like someone dictating your actions under the banner of morality?"
"I didn’t—" Liz didn’t dare argue with Adam, but Bianca was not Adam, so she instinctively defended herself. "I just thought she was pitiful and wanted to help..."
"Helping someone means forcing others to contribute?" Bianca sneered. "A normal person who wants to help would think of ways to do it themselves first."
"Alright, Liz meant well."
Meredith tried to smooth things over. "She just expressed it poorly."
"We know you’re defending Adam," Christina teased. "Liz already admitted she understood, and Adam accepted it. No need to get worked up."
"Hmm?"
Meredith and the others immediately perked up, sensing gossip in the air.
Emergency Room.
An ambulance arrived.
A stretcher was swiftly wheeled in, carrying a patient as the medical team rushed into the hospital.
"What’s the situation?"
Adam stepped forward, examining the patient while questioning the paramedics.
"One-year-old infant found unresponsive in their crib, unable to receive IV fluids," a paramedic reported quickly.
"What was the condition upon your arrival?"
Adam pressed further.
"No spontaneous breathing, cyanosis, pulse at 200—extremely weak."
The paramedic efficiently relayed the vital signs.
"Call Dr. Lewis."
Adam habitually instructed the nurse.
As an intern, it was protocol to notify the senior resident before proceeding with treatment. If the situation was critical and the resident had yet to arrive, only then could an intern act independently.
The senior resident in the ER was Dr. Susan Lewis—an experienced doctor. With Adam being temporarily assigned to the ER under Dr. Chenney’s orders, he was currently shadowing Dr. Lewis.
"Already called," the nurse responded.
Adam nodded and turned to the young, anxious parents.
"Has your child been sick recently?"
"No!"
"Taken any medication?"
"No!"
"Any recent injuries?"
"None!"
As they spoke, the team reached the treatment room.
Adam placed his stethoscope on the infant’s chest to listen, while the nurse followed protocol, connecting the baby to monitors and reporting in real time.
"Try to find a vein."
"No access, sinus rhythm, heart rate 180."
Adam lifted the baby and began manual CPR.
"Laryngoscope!"
"Curved forceps!"
After a round of emergency care, Adam put the infant down and called out.
The nurses immediately handed him the laryngoscope and curved forceps.
Adam inserted the laryngoscope into the baby’s mouth, opening the throat and using the built-in light to check for obstructions. He held the forceps in his other hand, ready to extract anything blocking the airway.
Everyone in the room held their breath, watching Adam work.
The young parents trembled, covering their mouths to avoid making a sound that might disrupt their child’s treatment.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
"Found it!"
Adam murmured, pulling out a shiny object with the forceps.
"It’s an earring!"
Everyone exhaled in relief. The worst-case scenario had been not finding the cause at all.
"Give her assisted ventilation!"
Adam ordered.
The nurse moved quickly.
"Blood sugar levels?"
"Twenty!"
"I need an 18-gauge spinal needle—insert into the intraosseous space. Prepare glucose!"
"Glucose IV is ready."
Adam placed the stethoscope on the infant’s chest again.
"Stop ventilation."
Waaah!
A loud cry echoed in the room.
"Ah!"
The young parents sobbed, overcome with emotion.
"Run blood gas analysis, chest X-ray, complete blood count, and metabolic panel," Adam instructed the nurse before turning to the teary-eyed parents with a smile. "She’s going to be okay. You can come see her now."
"Thank you!"
"Thank you so much!"
The relieved parents hurried to the bedside, repeatedly expressing their gratitude.
Out of the corner of his eye, Adam noticed ER resident Dr. Susan Lewis standing by the doorway. He quickly approached her and reported the case.
"You did great. You saved her," Dr. Lewis said approvingly, breaking into applause.
Clap, clap, clap!
She was soon joined by the nurses.
ER nurses are seasoned professionals.
They were used to guiding wide-eyed, clueless interns through their first cases. But witnessing an intern handle an emergency with such precision was rare.
Even compared to senior residents, Adam’s composure rivaled that of the esteemed Dr. Duncan.
In a hospital where skill and expertise reign supreme, competence is the ultimate power—and Adam was already a shining presence.
The combination of his talent and authority...
Tonight, many would struggle to sleep.
And many more would find comfort dreaming of Adam...
Adam felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Compared to his earlier victory as the "Thunder King," this kind of rescue was far more intense, thrilling, and rewarding.
The admiration of those around him and the system's +0.01 notification filled him with joy, completely washing away the lingering disgust from his earlier clash with Saintly Liz.
As the saying goes: The joy of saving lives is incomparable. Compared to this, what is Eastern Evil or Western Venom? Medicine is the true divine path!
(End of Chapter)
