Amputation, I Will Only Save Your Life

Serena Feng glanced at Felix Fuller, ignoring his question. Instead, she secured the syringe and adjusted the speed of his IV drip.

Once everything was in place, Serena spoke coldly: "Lord Fuller, do you really need me to spell it out? If I weren’t here to save you, why would I bother coming at all? You should know, if I didn’t want to come, I could find a thousand excuses not to."

It’s easy for a doctor to find reasons not to make a house call. The Emperor probably worried I’d pretend to be sick or hurt myself to avoid coming, which is why he sent Ninth Royal Uncle to escort me.

"I understand," Felix Fuller gave a wan smile, his brows finally relaxing as he looked at Serena with a deep, unreadable expression.

"Understand what?" Serena raised an eyebrow.

"I know you’ll save me," Felix said with certainty.

Serena nodded, "I’ll save your life, yes—but that’s all. As for your leg, you should know how bad it is: the wound is deeply rotten, and the surrounding tissue is dead. It’s almost impossible to heal."

Expressionless, Serena unwrapped the bandages from Felix’s leg, prodding here and turning there, nothing like those imperial physicians who either looked shocked or disgusted at the sight of his festering wound. From Serena’s face and eyes, Felix couldn’t read any judgment about the injury.

Only now did Felix look like any ordinary patient, tense and staring at Serena, waiting for her verdict. When she kept silent and expressionless after examining his wound for a long time, anxiety got the better of him and he pressed, "How will you treat my leg? Whatever you need, just say the word—I’ll make sure everyone cooperates with you."

Serena paused, stopped examining the wound, and looked up at Felix. Her announcement was cold: "I never said your leg could be saved. I can keep you alive, but as for your leg—I’m sorry, there’s no hope for it."

"What?" Felix screamed, his pupils dilating sharply, looking as if he might kill someone.

Serena stepped back, retreating to a safe distance, ignoring Felix’s ferocious expression. She repeated, "Lord Fuller, just as you heard—your leg is already rotten. I’m a doctor, not a miracle-worker; I can’t regrow bone from nothing. All I can do now is keep you alive."

That was the promise she made before the Emperor.

"Save my life? Without my leg, what’s the point of living?" Felix bit his lips until they bled, his fists clenched so tightly the veins stood out.

If he had a knife within reach, he’d grab it and hold it to Serena’s throat, forcing her to save his leg. But he didn’t, so he could only glare at her, making his position clear.

"That’s your problem, not mine. Lord Fuller, all I can do is save your life. You have two hours to decide—if you want to live, you’ll have to let me amputate your injured leg."

"No, I won’t accept it! Not two hours, not even two days and nights—I will never agree to having my leg cut off. Did you hear me, Serena? I refuse. I refuse!" Felix gripped the blanket, struggling to suppress his urge to lash out.

Felix’s whole body went rigid. He didn’t shake the IV bottle hard enough to knock it loose, but blood began to flow back into the tube. Serena frowned at the sight of the dark red blood in the line.

Felix’s mood was terrible now, subconsciously resisting her treatment. If Serena kept acting so cold, he’d probably think she was deliberately trying to cripple him.

Serena took a deep breath, tamping down her frustration, then stepped forward and pressed Felix’s shoulder: "Lord Fuller, don’t move. Try to relax. I’m a doctor, not a butcher—I would never recommend amputation without a real medical reason. You’re allowed to be angry, to be unable to accept this, but no matter how upset you are, don’t take it out on your own body. Just look at yourself right now."

Serena took a small mirror from her medicine chest and held it up to Felix, showing him his bloodshot, twisted face reflected back.

"I..." Felix looked at the face in the mirror—full of hatred and unwillingness—and quickly turned away.

How could a descendant of the Divine Temple be so easily broken? Losing control over something so small—how could he ever achieve greatness?

Felix pulled at his stiff lips, "Sorry. I lost my composure."

In just a few breaths, Felix calmed down, his tense muscles relaxing. Serena quietly sighed in relief and adjusted the IV tube; soon the drip flowed normally again, with no more backflow.

"It’s fine, I understand." Serena’s voice stayed cool and even, never showing emotion. From start to finish, she was the calmest one in the room; even if she was dissatisfied with Felix, she never spoke harshly.

Seeing that Felix had truly calmed down, Serena said, "Lord Fuller, we may serve different masters, but right now I am only a doctor. When treating a patient, I follow medical principles and the actual condition—I will never exaggerate or drag things out on purpose. Your injury has deteriorated badly; I really can’t do anything more. If you don’t trust me, you may seek another expert."

"No, I don’t doubt your skill. I just can’t accept becoming disabled—not yet. Serena, let me think." Felix stared at his injured leg, his expression dark, sadness swirling around him.

No one can easily accept becoming disabled—and Felix was no exception.

"You have two hours. Take your time." Serena didn’t say anything more. She pulled over a chair, sat down quietly, and took out a stack of papers, scribbling and sketching as she waited.

Anyone who didn’t know better might think she was worried about Felix’s injury, but a closer look would reveal that Serena was actually revising Victor Yun’s surgical plan.

Felix’s injury was serious, but Serena had seen plenty of wounded patients needing amputation. It didn’t make her nervous at all. On the battlefield, there were always soldiers with arms and legs blown off; she performed amputation surgeries every few days. Although her specialty was neurology, amputations were what she did most often.

Cutting off a leg or an arm—though it saved lives, doing it over and over made her feel more like a butcher than a doctor. Sometimes, Serena wondered if Western medicine was just too limited.

Treat the pain where it hurts, cut away what’s wrong—Western medicine is all about removing dead tissue so the patient can survive. But the parts you cut off never grow back. Is it really good for the patient to sacrifice a piece of their body just to stay alive?

Is it worth it?

Serena’s pen paused for a moment, then she continued writing.

She was just an ordinary doctor, not a research scientist. Even if she wanted to ponder these questions, she probably couldn’t solve them. Rather than waste time, it was better to do something practical...