In an instant, a stunning figure appeared before Ye Qiu.
Xu Changjin perfectly embodied the phrase “looks slim in clothes, but curvaceous underneath.” Her figure was no less impressive than Lin Jingzhi or Bai Bing’s. Perhaps due to her younger age, she exuded a pure charm compared to the sultry Lin Jingzhi or the icy Bai Bing.
“What are you doing? Put your clothes back on!”
Ye Qiu said, moving to help Xu Changjin pull her dress back up, but she suddenly threw herself into his arms.
“Dr. Ye, I’m giving myself to you. Please, I beg you, spare Senior Lee Jung-hee’s life.”
With that, Xu Changjin wrapped her arms around Ye Qiu’s neck, leaning in to kiss his face.
“What are you doing!”
Ye Qiu pushed her away, suddenly angry.
“What kind of person do you think I am, Ye Qiu?”
In that moment, Xu Changjin was at a loss, standing frozen, her eyes brimming with tears.
She looked pitiably vulnerable.
Realising he might have frightened her, Ye Qiu softened his tone and said, “Changjin, put your clothes back on.”
Xu Changjin pulled her dress up, fastened it, and then looked at Ye Qiu, saying, “Dr. Ye, do you look down on me?”
“Do you think I’m some improper girl?”
“I’m not…”
“Changjin!” Ye Qiu interrupted, “Don’t ever think that. In my eyes, you’re not only beautiful but also kind.”
“But what you just did disrespects both yourself and me.”
“I know this wasn’t your intention, your family must have pressured you, but even so, you shouldn’t have done this.”
“Especially for someone like Lee Jung-hee, it’s not worth it.”
“If I were a bad person, you’d be in danger right now.”
Ye Qiu reached out, gently wiping the tears from the corner of Xu Changjin’s eyes, and said earnestly, “Changjin, promise me you won’t do something this foolish again. You must cherish yourself.”
“Mm.” Xu Changjin nodded.
She didn’t dare meet Ye Qiu’s gaze, mortified by her earlier actions.
Then, she remembered her purpose.
“Oh, Dr. Ye, before I came, my grandfather called me. He said if you’re willing to spare Senior Lee Jung-hee’s life, he’s prepared to give you a gift.”
Xu Changjin quickly pulled out her phone, opened a photo, and said, “Dr. Ye, this is the gift my grandfather mentioned.”
Ye Qiu wasn’t particularly interested at first.
But when he saw the object in the photo, his expression changed dramatically.
“Changjin, give me the phone,” Ye Qiu said seriously.
Xu Changjin quickly handed it over.
Ye Qiu stared at the photo, examining it closely, his eyes filled with profound shock.
The photo showed a bronze figure.
The figure was engraved with hundreds of acupuncture points, each labelled with its name in small, intricate characters.
“This is… the Tiansheng Bronze Man!”
Ye Qiu gasped.
The Tiansheng Bronze Man, also known as the Acupuncture Bronze Man, was cast in the fifth year of the Tiansheng era of the Northern Song Dynasty by Wang Weiyi, a medical official of the Hanlin Academy.
It was life-sized, with its chest and back designed to open, revealing carved internal organs. The surface was marked with acupuncture points, each labelled with its name.
The points were sealed with yellow wax, and the figure was filled with water. If an acupuncture point was accurately targeted, the needle would pierce through, and water would flow out; if the point was missed, the needle wouldn’t penetrate.
Wang Weiyi made two such figures. One was kept in the palace for the emperor’s appreciation.
The other was placed in the Medical Academy, used as a teaching model for acupuncture and to test medical students’ skills.
Over the centuries, one of the figures was lost, but the other was preserved.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, during China’s turmoil and invasions by foreign powers, many cultural relics, including the last Tiansheng Bronze Man, went missing.
The Tiansheng Bronze Man was considered a “sacred relic” in the eyes of Chinese medicine practitioners and a national treasure.
Since its disappearance, countless practitioners and scholars had searched tirelessly for its whereabouts.
Ye Qiu never imagined he’d see it here today.
Xu Changjin said, “My grandfather often says Chinese culture is the greatest in the world.”
“He loves Chinese Tang poetry, Song lyrics, calligraphy, porcelain, Peking opera…”
“This acupuncture bronze man was bought by my grandfather years ago from a Japanese merchant for over ten million US dollars.”
“He had it appraised by several top experts, who confirmed it’s from China’s Northern Song Dynasty.”
“Knowing you’re a Chinese medicine practitioner and the value of this bronze man, my grandfather asked me to tell you that if you spare Lee Jung-hee’s life, he’s willing to give it to you.”
Honestly, Xu Changjin didn’t hold much hope.
She didn’t think a bronze figure would change Ye Qiu’s mind.
As expected.
Ye Qiu said, “This medical contest isn’t a personal matter but a clash between Chinese medicine and Korean medicine, and a cultural showdown between two nations.”
“At this point, how could I alone decide its outcome?”
Xu Changjin’s face fell, thinking to herself, *Grandfather, I’ve done my best…*
But then, Ye Qiu suddenly said, “I can give Lee Jung-hee a way out.”
Xu Changjin’s head snapped up, staring at Ye Qiu in disbelief.
“Dr. Ye, what did you say?”
She thought she’d misheard.
Ye Qiu smiled, “I said, I can give Lee Jung-hee a way out, but tell your grandfather, I want that bronze man.”
“Great, I’ll call my grandfather right away!” Xu Changjin said, overjoyed.
She’d thought she’d failed her grandfather’s task, but the situation had turned around.
Yet soon, a sense of disappointment crept into her heart.
*Dr. Ye would rather have a bronze man than me. Am I really that unappealing to him?*
Seeing Xu Changjin lower her head, Ye Qiu asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing,” Xu Changjin quickly hid her thoughts and said, “Dr. Ye, before I came, Lee Min-han also told me something.”
“He said Senior Lee Jung-hee hopes this China-Korea medical contest can end in a draw.”
A draw?
In his dreams!
Ye Qiu snorted, “Changjin, please pass a message to Lee Jung-hee for me.”
“Sparing his life is already giving him face. Tell him not to push his luck.”
“Otherwise, I’ll make sure he stays in China forever.”
“And the competition continues tomorrow until he’s convinced!”
Xu Changjin nodded, “Dr. Ye, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to pass your words to Senior Lee Jung-hee. It’s getting late, I should head back.”
With that, Xu Changjin turned to leave.
“Changjin—”
Ye Qiu suddenly called out, saying, “It’s late, and it’s not safe for a girl to go back alone.”
Xu Changjin froze.
What did Dr. Ye mean?
Was he suggesting she stay the night?
