Chapter Four: Fate Rewritten, An Honored Guest

Upon hearing the sound, Chen Tong immediately rolled his eyes. He thought to himself, “I’m just a doctor, not some wish-granting internet café in a fantasy novel. A surgeon can treat and save lives, but I’m not some celestial immortal who can cure diseases with a mere flick of the finger.”

“Of course he’s not awake yet. He’s lost too much blood; he won’t regain consciousness anytime soon,” Chen Tong explained patiently. “I can only say that his life is temporarily saved, but he’s not out of danger. After all, such a deep wound being stitched up already feels like a blessing from the heavens.”

“There’s only one way to ensure he wakes up safely—and that’s a blood transfusion.”

“Blood transfusion?”

“That’s right. He’s lost too much blood and is at serious risk. The only way for your second-in-command to get through this critical period is with new blood. Otherwise, relying solely on stem cells to regenerate blood will take ages.”

Chen Tong rephrased it in simpler terms. Hearing this, the bandits exchanged confused glances. They didn’t understand the concept of blood transfusion nor the medical jargon, but they grasped the meaning.

To give their blood to the second-in-command so he could live—didn’t that mean they’d die instead?

How could this scholar manage such an impossible, divine feat?

In an instant, all the bandits stepped back in unison, their faces filled with horror.

“I’ll do it,” Iron Bull stepped forward.

Glaring with his bull-like eyes and panting heavily, he approached Chen Tong and gritted his teeth. “Scholar, use my blood. I’m a strong man, a fearless fighter, not afraid to die.”

“As long as it saves my brother, even death is worth it to me.”

Iron Bull’s words ignited a fierce brotherhood among the Black Wind Bandits. Though they feared Chen Tong, hesitation gave way to a fervent chorus of chest-beating and stool-thumping.

“Use mine, I’ve got strength too—it’s no loss for Tiger Lord.”

“Don’t argue with me, use my blood! I owe my life to the second-in-command; now’s my chance to repay him gladly.”

“No, use mine!”

The bandits grew increasingly passionate, some even lifting their shirts to expose their chests, ready to offer their blood at Chen Tong’s command.

Chen Tong immediately realized these ignorant ancient bandits had likely misunderstood the situation.

A mere blood transfusion didn’t warrant such a dramatic fuss.

Though the second-in-command of Black Wind Bandit’s camp was unconscious from massive blood loss, only a modest amount—no more than 400cc—was needed to save him. It was not harmful, but beneficial. Why all this life-or-death drama?

“Scholar, whose blood do you need?” Xie Qingshuang took a deep breath and fixed her determined gaze on Chen Tong, seemingly resigned to die if necessary for the cause.

“No need. Your blood won’t work,” Chen Tong shook his head just as Xie Qingshuang was about to speak. She was willing to die to save the second-in-command, the leader of Black Wind Bandit’s camp.

But Chen Tong cut her off: “Don’t say anything. None of your blood will do. Such a procedure can’t be done casually. Using your blood would only cost your second-in-command his life.”

“I will!” Chen Tong suddenly declared with a look of noble sacrifice.

Setting aside issues of incompatible blood types causing clotting reactions, he had no way to test blood types here. Fortunately, Chen Tong’s universal blood type was a blessing—or a favor to repay.

Unexpectedly, Chen Tong’s resolve astounded the bandits. This scholar was willing to use his own blood to save the second-in-command?

What a spirit of selflessness.

The atmosphere turned solemn. Even Xie Qingshuang showed a fleeting look of surprise. Iron Bull knelt heavily on the ground, pounding the earth with three thunderous bows, shaking the floor.

“Scholar, I was wrong to mistrust you. I bow to you.”

“If you die, I’ll light incense and erect a memorial for you, burn paper money on festivals.”

Iron Bull’s sincerity was genuine, but hearing this from Chen Tong’s perspective was eerie—erect a memorial for me?

But at this point, Chen Tong had to act.

Gritting his teeth, he grabbed a long knife from a bandit’s waist and slashed his own fingertip. He intended it as a show, but the blade was surprisingly sharp.

“Damn, cut too deep,” Chen Tong winced in pain, but wore an expression of compassion and sorrow.

At that moment, he sensed all the bandits, including Xie Qingshuang, looked at him differently. The scholar, their captive, was truly sacrificing himself to save the second-in-command. What generosity, what dedication.

Xie Qingshuang’s expression trembled.

Iron Bull’s bows on the ground grew even more fervent.

The entire bandit camp’s respect now centered on Chen Tong.

[Notification: Life trajectory has been rewritten. Please check your status.]

At that moment, the system’s alert sounded again.

Having finished drawing his blood, Chen Tong instructed the bandits to remain on standby. He carried the half-filled blood container into the main hall and fashioned a simple transfusion device from horse intestine casing.

Once his blood was steadily transfused into Xie Hu’s body, the man’s complexion visibly regained a healthy glow. Chen Tong then sat heavily in a chair and opened the system panel.

[...]
[You are anxious and fearful about the road ahead, unaware that the bandits burn with rage to avenge their grievously wounded leader, Xie Hu of Black Wind Bandit’s camp. Though scared, you are a native of Pingyang Town and were conscripted to guide the bandits down the mountain for vengeance.]

[You acted cleverly, using your surgical skills to heal Black Wind Bandit’s second-in-command, earning the bandits’ respect. They honor you as a distinguished guest.]

[You have rewritten a fatal ending and now navigate comfortably within Black Wind Bandit’s camp, having met their chief, Xie Qingshuang. Yet, Black Wind Bandit’s camp is far from a united front.]

[Some bandits secretly collude with the authorities to eliminate Black Wind Bandit’s camp. They conspire to trap you during the night siege by government troops. You fall into a deep sleep, unable to respond.]

[You died.]

[You sadly realize that even after narrowly escaping death once, this troubled world remains unchanged. You still must live in fear, awaiting the next crisis. This time, can you once again defy fate and rewrite your destiny?]

Indeed.

Chen Tong clenched his fist with renewed vigor, his heart brimming with excitement.

Life’s path is not set in stone.

Every pivotal decision holds the power to subtly shift an otherwise fatal outcome—just like a butterfly’s wing in South Africa might stir a tempest thousands of miles away.

But…

“What the hell? I barely escaped death, and now I’m supposed to die anyway?”

Chen Tong was stunned.