Chapter 4: Is This Even Human Speech?

Qin Chuan did not reply but instead shifted his gaze to Lan Jin, his eyes silently asking: Whom do you trust—him or me?

“Sir, could you tell us how you plan to treat my grandfather?” Lan Jin asked, weighing her words carefully, worried about displeasing Qin Chuan yet feeling uncertain.

Qin Chuan replied in a deep voice, “The human body has twelve major valleys, three hundred and fifty-four minor streams, and twelve lesser meeting points. These are where the defensive energy gathers and where evil energy can invade. Only by using needles and stones to draw them out can a cure be achieved.”

Lan Jin stared in confusion. Guo Zitong’s lip twitched—could anyone explain what this guy was rambling about?

“Can you speak plainly?” Guo Zitong couldn’t hold back, and the other famous doctors present nodded in wholehearted agreement.

“A few needles and some herbal medicine, and he’ll be as good as new,” Qin Chuan explained patiently.

What the hell! Now that sounds like human speech!

“Nonsense! Even the Needle King, Doctor Li, wouldn’t dare make such outrageous claims!”

“Miss Lan, throw this madman out at once!”

“Young man, I can understand your eagerness to show off, but human life is no joke. Go pretend somewhere else!”

The team of renowned doctors launched another barrage of verbal attacks on Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan merely smiled, saying nothing, his gaze fixed on Lan Jin, waiting for her decision.

“I’ll trust you!” Lan Jin bit her lip and made her choice.

Qin Chuan grinned, “So, having a generous chest doesn’t always mean being brainless after all!”

Lan Jin’s cheeks flushed red, and she retorted angrily, “You’d better live up to my trust, or I won’t let you off easily.”

“If you welcome me with open arms, I’ll teach you everything I know.” Qin Chuan’s smile widened.

Lan Jin was stunned for a moment, but as she caught the teasing glint in Qin Chuan’s eyes, she immediately understood the implication of his words.

How dare he flirt with me! She made up her mind: Once he has healed my grandfather, I’ll make sure to settle this with him.

But while these thoughts raced through her mind, Qin Chuan had already moved to Lan Weimin’s side.

Seeing Qin Chuan preparing to remove the needles, Lan Jin clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood, though she barely noticed.

“Some people just won’t cry until they see the coffin,” Doctor Li sneered.

Qin Chuan was deaf to the doubts and ridicule. Swift as lightning, he plucked all the silver needles from Lan Weimin’s body. Then, he drew several slender golden needles from his robe, each one gleaming brilliantly.

As the golden needles rested in his palm, they seemed almost alive, vibrating softly, even producing a subtle metallic hum barely audible to the ear.

“Go!”

With a low command, Qin Chuan inserted the golden needles with impeccable precision into Lan Weimin’s major acupoints.

Twisting, rolling, shaking...

His hand techniques flowed seamlessly from one to the next, dazzling the eye. If one looked closely, one would see the golden needles quivering in place, surrounded by wisps of white vapor rising gently around them.

Doctor Li’s initial scorn gave way to astonishment, and then to utter disbelief.

“Could this be the legendary Fuxi Divine Needles?” he murmured, his face a mask of shock.

Guo Zikun couldn’t understand what was happening, but unease welled up in his heart.

“Bring a spittoon over—he’ll be vomiting out impurities soon,” Qin Chuan said suddenly.

With a glance from Lan Jin, a bodyguard quickly fetched a spittoon.

“Rise!”

At Qin Chuan’s sharp command, the unconscious Lan Weimin suddenly opened his eyes. An invisible force seemed to lift him upright.

“Ugh!”

Uncle Fu, quick as ever, handed him the spittoon just in time. Lan Weimin retched violently. What came out was pitch black as ink, streaked with threads of blood. The stench was revolting, driving many from the room.

After rinsing his mouth with warm water, Lan Weimin slipped back into unconsciousness. But now, the ashen pallor of his face had been replaced with a healthy flush.

“Bring paper and ink. Follow my prescription for the herbs—after three doses, he’ll be out of danger,” Qin Chuan said with a cheerful smile.

Lan Jin was overjoyed, hardly able to believe her eyes.

“Elder, was that the Fuxi Divine Needles you just used?” she began to ask, when Doctor Li suddenly stepped forward, his tone now full of deference.

“Well, well, you’re not entirely blind after all,” Qin Chuan remarked, surprised that someone recognized the legendary technique.

Far from being angry at the slight, Li Youshan’s face was humble and respectful.

With a thud, Li Youshan dropped to his knees, bowing low. “Please, Master, accept me as your disciple and teach me the Fuxi Divine Needles.”

The room erupted into an uproar.

Li Youshan, hailed as the Needle King, was a towering figure in the field. Countless people sought to study medicine under him. Yet here he was, begging to become the disciple of a young man barely in his twenties?

Unimaginable! Astonishing!

“The Fuxi Divine Needles require inner energy to guide the needle. Without a foundation in inner cultivation, learning the hand techniques alone will be futile,” Qin Chuan said solemnly.

“I thought as much,” Li Youshan replied, crestfallen.

“If you’re truly eager to learn, I can teach you. But without the energy to wield them, the needles’ effects will be less than one-tenth their true power,” Qin Chuan added.

Setting aside Li Youshan’s earlier arrogance, the man was indeed accomplished in acupuncture.

“Master, I beg to be accepted as your disciple!” Li Youshan kowtowed, his joy nearly overflowing.

“Enough, enough. You’re not qualified to be a formal disciple—at most, I’ll accept you as a registered disciple,” Qin Chuan dodged aside.

“Yes, Master!” Li Youshan replied with utmost respect. Even as a registered disciple, he was more than satisfied—after all, learning even the form of the Fuxi Divine Needles would be a great benefit.

As everyone remained stunned by what they had witnessed, Qin Chuan suddenly turned to the back of the crowd and called out, “Hey, where do you think you’re going?”

Following his gaze, the others saw Guo Zikun tiptoeing toward the door, clearly trying to slip away.

“I just need to use the bathroom,” Guo Zikun replied stiffly.

Qin Chuan didn’t expose him but played along, “Perfect timing—I need to go as well. You might even get something fresh to eat.”

“Wha…what?” Guo Zikun’s face turned ashen.

“Don’t tell me you’re backing out?” Qin Chuan sneered.

“Bah! Am I the kind of man who can’t afford to lose?” Guo Zikun tried to bluff, but when Qin Chuan began unbuckling his belt, he choked down the rest of his words. He had considered reneging, but after seeing the revered Doctor Li kneel and beg to be taught, Guo Zikun realized just how profound Qin Chuan’s medical skills must be.

“Friend, can we settle this with money?” Guo Zikun tried to negotiate.

Qin Chuan snorted, “Do you take me for a greedy man?”

“One hundred thousand!”

“I can barely hold it—come with me to the bathroom.”

“Five hundred thousand!”

“Must I bow to the mighty and betray my own happiness?”

“One million!”

“Deal! Here’s my bank account!”

Guo Zikun: ???