Ye Qiu led Su Luoying and Sun Shengshou out of the hospital entrance, where Xiao Zhan was already waiting.
“Get in!”
Ye Qiu said, sliding into the back seat of the car. Su Luoying sat beside him.
Sun Shengshou, tactfully, took the front passenger seat.
Xiao Zhan started the car and drove them toward the villa where Hu Zi used to live.
Su Luoying and Sun Shengshou were brimming with questions, but each time they opened their mouths, they hesitated, seeing Ye Qiu’s silence, and held back.
Soon, the car arrived at the villa and stopped at the entrance.
“Follow me!”
Ye Qiu stepped through the gate. Since Hu Zi left, the villa had been empty.
Ye Qiu sat down in the courtyard, looked at the two, and said softly, “Say whatever you want to say.”
“Ye Qiu, are you really resigning?” Su Luoying asked.
“Yes,” Ye Qiu confirmed with a nod.
“Master, if you’re resigning, I’m done too,” Sun Shengshou said.
Back when Ye Qiu cured the Dragon King’s poison, Sun Shengshou was so impressed by his medical skills that he not only took Ye Qiu as his master but also gifted him his family’s heirloom golden needles.
At that time, the Chinese medicine department was struggling with poor performance and a shortage of staff, so Ye Qiu invited Sun Shengshou to help by taking shifts there.
It could be said that Sun Shengshou only worked at Jiangzhou Hospital out of respect for Ye Qiu.
“Old Sun, you can’t leave Jiangzhou Hospital just yet. After I go, Luoying will take over as director. She’s too young and lacks experience, so she’ll need your help,” Ye Qiu said. “To be honest, Luoying is my confidante.”
Sun Shengshou was taken aback.
He had long suspected that Ye Qiu and Su Luoying had an unusual relationship, but he hadn’t realized it was this close.
Immediately, he bowed respectfully to Su Luoying and called out, “Mistress!”
Su Luoying felt both shy and awkward, especially since Sun Shengshou was old enough to be her grandfather.
Ye Qiu said, “Old Sun, though you call me Master, truthfully, I haven’t taught you much. I feel quite guilty about that.”
Sun Shengshou replied, “Master, please don’t say that. The time I’ve spent with you has taught me so much.”
Though Ye Qiu was younger, his medical skills and ethics earned Sun Shengshou’s heartfelt admiration.
Sun Shengshou continued, “Master, why did you call me here?”
Ye Qiu beckoned, and Xiao Zhan quickly stepped forward, handing him a square wooden box.
Ye Qiu passed the box to Sun Shengshou with a smile. “Open it and take a look.”
Sun Shengshou opened the box, and a dazzling golden light shone out. Inside were over a hundred golden needles, gleaming and pristine.
“Master, what’s this?”
“It’s a gift for you,” Ye Qiu said. “You gave me your family’s heirloom golden needles. As I’m about to leave, I’m giving you a set of golden needles in return.”
“This set is identical in size, length, and thickness to the heirloom needles you gave me.”
Sun Shengshou hurriedly said, “Master, these needles are too precious. I can’t accept them.”
“You must accept them. It’s a token of my appreciation, so don’t refuse,” Ye Qiu said with a smile. “Besides, compared to your heirloom needles, this set is nothing.”
“But Master…”
“Listen to me first. I’m giving you these needles for another reason,” Ye Qiu said. “I want you to fully master the golden needle technique.”
Sun Shengshou was stunned, then his expression dimmed. “The golden needle technique requires channeling qi. I lack internal energy, so I’m afraid I can’t learn it.”
Ye Qiu smiled. “If I dare say this, I have confidence I can help you gain internal energy.”
Overjoyed, Sun Shengshou knelt before Ye Qiu, saying gratefully, “Master, your kindness is beyond repayment. Let me kowtow to you!”
Ye Qiu quickly helped him up. “No need for that. If you really want to thank me, stay at Jiangzhou Hospital and help Luoying.”
Sun Shengshou nodded. “Master, rest assured, I will do my utmost to assist Mistress.”
“With your word, I’m at ease,” Ye Qiu said. “I’ve arranged leave for you and Luoying with Director Bai. Old Sun, you can leave once you’ve mastered the golden needle technique.”
“Xiao Zhan has arranged food and lodging, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Old Sun, sit down. I’ll help you open your meridians.”
Sun Shengshou sat immediately.
Ye Qiu began tapping Sun Shengshou’s back with his palms, channeling true qi into his body. In just a few minutes, Sun Shengshou’s meridians were fully opened.
At that moment, Sun Shengshou felt as if he were decades younger, brimming with boundless energy.
“Do you feel a warmth in your dantian?” Ye Qiu asked.
Sun Shengshou nodded. “Yes, I feel it.”
“That warmth is your internal energy,” Ye Qiu said. “I’ll give you a manual for practicing the Five Animal Frolics later. If you practice diligently, living past a hundred won’t be a problem.”
“Thank you, Master,” Sun Shengshou said, his face beaming with joy.
Who in this world doesn’t want to live a long life?
“Now, I’ll teach you the golden needle technique. Luoying, watch closely,” Ye Qiu said, taking out the golden needles and beginning his demonstration.
Sun Shengshou watched intently, his eyes wide.
“Golden Needle Crossing Points!”
“Golden Needle Overcoming Tribulation!”
…
It took Ye Qiu half an hour to teach Sun Shengshou the needle techniques. Then, he sent Sun Shengshou to a room to practice on his own.
“Did you memorize the golden needle technique?” Ye Qiu asked Su Luoying.
She nodded. In truth, she had memorized the techniques after just one demonstration.
“Come with me.”
Ye Qiu led Su Luoying to a room on the third floor of the villa.
This room was specially prepared for Ye Qiu by Xiao Zhan, though Ye Qiu rarely stayed there.
As soon as they entered, Su Luoying threw herself into Ye Qiu’s arms and said, “I don’t want to be a director. I just want to be with you. Can’t you take me with you?”
“No,” Ye Qiu said. “Because I’m going to the cultivation world.”
Su Luoying was stunned. “The world where Fairy Hundred Flowers and the others came from?”
“Exactly,” Ye Qiu said. “My father is in danger there, and I need to help him.”
“But I can’t bear to let you go,” Su Luoying said, tears streaming down her face, her delicate features glistening with emotion.
Ye Qiu wiped her tears, cradling her face in his hands, and said softly, “I can’t bear to leave you either, but I must go to the cultivation world. Don’t worry, I’ll come back as soon as I handle things.”
“Really?” Su Luoying’s face lit up.
“Really,” Ye Qiu nodded solemnly. With his family and so many devoted confidantes in the mortal world, he had to return alive!
Su Luoying asked, “So why did you bring me here?”
Ye Qiu said earnestly, “Luoying, I want you to become the first female medical sage in the history of Chinese medicine!”
