The Divine Physician's Rebirth: Ascension from Silverbrook

Chapter 2: Red Lines

 “What? You're staying, here?” Theo's voice was sharp. He balled his fists, his muscles tense, barely holding back his anger. He glared, daring anyone to disagree. He was breathing hard, his breath coming out in short bursts, you could cut the tension with a knife.

Ryder sat still in the chair, looking right at him. “I’m broke and have nowhere to live. My girlfriend cheated on me. Got to stay here.”

He sounded almost calm, like he'd already accepted things were bad and didn't care anymore. No fear, no sorry—just the way it was. He wasn't asking, just saying. Like he'd always just taken whatever life threw at him. This was no different.

Theo's face turned red with anger, his veins popping. “Damn it, Zara, I told you, keep your problems away from me!” His voice shook with old pain, fists still tight at his sides. “See what you've done.” He grabbed the phone, his hands shaking as he dialed 911.

“Hello? I need the police right away,” Theo said, his voice tight with panic. “There's someone here who doesn't belong. Yes, Silverbrook Hall, Ravenwood Street. Hurry, please.”

He was scared to death. He hung up, and the room went quiet. Theo froze, breathing fast, his chest rising and falling. He just stood there, glaring at Ryder, like he expected him to disappear. When he didn't, he turned and walked toward the entrance, stiff as a board, like he was walking into a storm.

“Dad, why call the cops? You're making it worse!” Zara's voice shook. Her face was red, trying to figure out what was going on, trying to find a reason behind her dad's anger and Ryder being there. She sounded desperate, like she was wishing for a different world.

Ryder glanced at her, something in his eyes, and then back at Theo. He was here to practice medicine, sure. But there was another reason, too. He saw he could maybe help Theo and Zara. He knew stuff from the Medical Sect that could help them out, even if Theo didn't see it yet. Ryder would wait for the moment.

Ryder sighed, leaning back in the chair, starting to relax, but his eyes stayed sharp. “Okay, whatever,” he mumbled. But he couldn't shake the girl -- Zara. ‘She's got a good heart,’ he thought. ‘If we meet again, I'll help her out.’

He stood up slowly, ready to leave. Then the door burst open, and everything changed.

Two people stumbled in, one holding his stomach and moaning. Theo's face changed fast, from angry to all business. He went right over.

A young guy, maybe thirty, came in, sweating, his face twisted in worry. He was holding up an older guy—frail, breathing hard, in terrible pain.

“Theo, please help! My dad—his stomach hurts so bad!” The young man was scared, begging for help as he tried to keep his dad from falling.

Ryder's eyes narrowed, his pulse quickening. “This is it,” he thought, feeling like something was meant to be. “This clinic... this place... I'm meant to be here.” He felt an odd pull, like the world wanted him here. Everything brought him to this moment, and he realized why he was here.

Theo had already helped the old man, Rowan, onto the table, sure and steady. Rowan was pale, shaking with pain, covered in sweat. His breath was shallow, wincing with each one. “Rowan, hang in there,” Theo said, his hands shaking a little as he reached for his needles, trying to remember what to do. “I need to do acupuncture to help him.”

Theo put a needle into Rowan's Zhongwan point, a spot for stomach problems. Then, he quickly stuck needles in other spots—Perineum, Guanyuan, Zusanli, and his head. But Rowan just got worse. He groaned louder, and his face got even paler, looking like his life was leaving him. Theo started to panic.

“This isn’t working. Why?”

“That's weird... usually helps fast,” Theo said, wiping his head, getting mad. His hands shook as he grabbed more needles, hurrying. “I don’t get it. Why isn’t this working?” His voice cracked, sounding unsure.

Theo stopped as he looked at Rowan, doubt in his eyes. Usually, it worked fast, but nothing was happening. He hesitated. Just as he was about to try something else, a voice spoke up.

Ryder had walked quietly to Rowan's side. He put his fingers on Rowan's wrist, checking his pulse, calm and steady, the opposite of the chaos in the room.

“Hey! Don’t touch him!” Theo snapped, losing it. His face was red, mad, and his hands clenched. “You have no idea what you’re doing!”

Ryder didn't listen. He calmly checked Rowan's pulse, gently feeling for the beat. After a moment, Ryder started taking out the needles Theo put in, sure and steady.

“What do you think you're doing?” Theo yelled, his voice rising. “If something happens to Rowan, it's on you!”

Ryder didn't listen, not even a bit. He put his own needles in Rowan's body, in the Renzhong, Tanzhong, and Neiguan spots. He twisted the needles a little, and a pulse came from the tips, like a little hum of energy.

The room was quiet. Theo, Zara, and Rowan's son stood there, staring. Then faint pink lines showed up on Rowan's body. The lines glowed and moved along the Governor Vessel, Conception Vessel, and Pericardium channel—glowing lines, like energy on his skin. Faint, but clear.

Rowan's son jumped back. “What's going on?! Why are there red lines on my dad?” He was scared.

Theo didn't yell or get defensive. He was quiet, his face a little softer. He even gestured for the young man to be quiet. His eyes stayed on Ryder, still frustrated—but with a hint of respect.

The room was still.

Time passed.

Finally, Rowan stopped groaning. The sweat slowed, and his face looked better. His breathing got easier, and the pain faded. Rowan's son, still confused, just stood there, not knowing what to think.

Ryder stepped back, happy. His job was done, for now. The battle was over, and the lines of who was good and bad, who he was fighting, were mixed up in the quiet room.