"What is Soul-Loss Syndrome? I've never heard of such an illness." Bai Bing looked genuinely astonished.
Ye Qiu explained: "Soul-Loss Syndrome, as the name implies, means the person has lost their soul."
Soul?
If those words had come from anyone else, Bai Bing would have called it feudal superstition. Who still believed in this kind of thing in modern times?
Ye Qiu continued: "According to Seven Tablets of the Cloud Treasury, humans have three souls: Bright Spirit, Fetal Origin, and Dark Essence. We also have seven corporeal souls, each with a name: Corpse Dog, Hidden Arrow, Sparrow Yin, Devour Thief, Expel Poison, Purify Filth, and Stinking Lung."
"When all three souls and seven corporeal souls are present, a person is healthy. If one soul or corporeal soul is lost, the person becomes abnormal. In mild cases, they fall ill or lose their mind; in severe cases, their life is endangered, even leading to death."
Bai Bing watched how serious Ye Qiu was and couldn't help doubting her own skepticism.
Could humans really have three souls and seven corporeal souls?
"Then how do you treat it?" she asked.
"Summon his soul back."
Bai Bing's expression turned strange. As a Western medicine doctorate, she should have dismissed such supernatural talk. But Ye Qiu spoke with utter sincerity, not like he was making it up.
Under Bai Bing's curious gaze, Ye Qiu took one of Old Li's coats from the wardrobe and hung it on the door. He then traced invisible symbols toward the clothing while muttering quietly to himself, looking every bit like a charlatan.
Is this really medical treatment?
Bai Bing deeply doubted whether this strange ritual would work.
Time ticked by.
Five minutes later, Ye Qiu suddenly raised his voice:
"Soul, return! Soul, return!"
Watching his theatrical performance, Bai Bing almost interrupted him. This looked nothing like treating a patient — it was like a Taoist priest performing a magic ritual.
After a short while, Ye Qiu finally stopped.
Yet Old Li on the bed remained completely still, no different from before.
"Strange." Ye Qiu frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Logically, he should have woken up by now. Why is there no reaction at all?"
Bai Bing rolled her eyes inwardly. Did he really think chanting and waving his hands could wake a vegetative patient?
Ye Qiu crouched beside the bed and studied Old Li's face closely. His expression remained peaceful, unchanged.
"Why isn't this working?
I performed the soul-summoning ritual exactly as the inheritance taught me. Why did it have no effect?
Where did I go wrong?"
Ye Qiu was utterly baffled. According to the method, Old Li should have woken instantly.
"Did I misdiagnose him? Is he not suffering from Soul-Loss Syndrome? Otherwise, why wouldn't the ritual work?"
Bai Jing spoke from a modern medical perspective:
"From a Western viewpoint, a vegetative patient retains vital signs but lacks consciousness and thought. This usually results from severe brain or nerve damage. The chance of waking is small, but not zero.
Don't rush. Take your time."
Ye Qiu said: "I've read his records. He had no brain or nerve damage before this happened. His pulse is steady and strong, showing his body functions are completely normal. That's why I believe he's not truly vegetative — he has Soul-Loss Syndrome."
"Why not try acupuncture?" Bai Bing suggested.
"Acupuncture won't help. Only summoning his soul… Wait!"
Ye Qiu suddenly gasped, staring sharply at Old Li's right hand.
"What is it?" Bai Bing asked hurriedly.
"I think his finger just moved."
Bai Bing looked quickly but saw nothing. "Ye Qiu, are you seeing things?"
"Maybe… Look, Director Bai! It moved again!"
Bai Bing looked down.
Sure enough, Old Li's finger trembled slightly.
"It's really reacting! This is incredible!" Shock spread across her face.
They both stared at his hand.
Half a minute later, the trembling stopped, and he was still again.
"What's going on?" Ye Qiu looked disappointed.
He thought Old Li would wake up, but he'd only twitched and gone back to being motionless.
Was the soul-summoning useless?
No!
If it hadn't worked at all, his finger wouldn't have moved. So why hadn't he woken fully?
What was missing?
Ye Qiu fell deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm trying to figure out how to wake him."
"Don't rush. The fact that he reacted is a good sign. Try another method, and you might succeed."
"Alright, let me check him again."
Ye Qiu bent over the bed to examine Old Li's pupils.
At that moment, a deep, angry shout boomed from the doorway:
"What are you doing?!"
Ye Qiu looked up. A square-jawed middle-aged man stood in the door, glaring furiously at him.
Guo Danu was right behind him.
"Bureau Chief Li? You're here?" Bai Bing sounded surprised.
The man ignored her and snapped at Ye Qiu again:
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm treating Old Li."
Ye Qiu noticed his rage and asked confusedly: "You must be Bureau Chief Li. Didn't you ask me to treat your father?"
"Nonsense! When did I ever tell you to treat him?!"
Ye Qiu immediately turned to Guo Danu.
"Ye Qiu! What is the meaning of this? I only told you and Director Bai to examine him! How dare you treat him without permission? Do you have any discipline at all?!"
Guo Danu then snapped at Bai Bing:
"And you! As surgical director, how could you let him act recklessly? Have you forgotten hospital rules?
You know who Old Li is. If anything happens to him, how will you answer to the Bureau Chief?!"
"Vice Dean Guo, that's not what you said in your office earlier. You said —"
"Enough!" Guo Danu cut her off roughly. "Director Bai, I order you to return to your office and write a self-criticism. As for Ye Qiu, I will call a senior hospital meeting to punish him for unauthorized treatment."
Ye Qiu finally understood.
Bureau Chief Li had never asked for his help. Guo Danu had lied, planning to use the official to get him fired.
Otherwise, the man wouldn't have arrived so perfectly on time, or been this angry.
"Vice Dean Guo, I never thought you'd be this vicious. You tried to use Bureau Chief Li to kick me out. Too bad your plan backfired."
"What are you talking about?!"
Slap!
Ye Qiu suddenly slapped Old Li across the face.