Borrowing life from the heavens.
Hearing these four words, not only Zhang Jiuling was stunned, but Tang Lao and Bai Bing also looked puzzled.
Though they didn’t know what it meant, it sounded impressive.
“Ye Qiu, what does ‘borrowing life from the heavens’ mean?” Zhang Jiuling couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked.
When he heard those words, he’d searched his memory and found, strangely, that he had no idea what it entailed.
As a descendant of the Medical Saint Zhang Zhongjing, even he hadn’t heard of it, which showed how extraordinary Ye Qiu’s “borrowing life from the heavens” must be.
Ye Qiu said, “To put it simply, ‘borrowing life from the heavens’ means asking the old man in the sky for some extra lifespan to use.”
Tang Lao couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
If you’re so great, why not ask the old man in the sky for some money to spend?
Borrowing lifespan from the heavens—what an absurd claim. Only Ye Qiu could say it with a straight face.
If Ye Qiu were Tang Fei, Tang Lao would’ve slapped him and asked, “Is something wrong with your head?”
Bai Bing also found it hard to believe. “Ye Qiu, you’re not joking, right?”
Ye Qiu smiled and countered, “Ice Sis, do I look like I’m joking?”
Bai Bing nodded vigorously.
Ye Qiu was speechless. Why didn’t anyone believe him when he told the truth?
“Ye Qiu, is this ‘borrowing life from the heavens’ you mentioned the legendary life-extension technique?” Zhang Jiuling asked gravely.
“Exactly, it’s a life-extension technique,” Ye Qiu replied. “Elder Zhang lives up to his title as a Saintly Hand of Medicine—well-informed.”
Zhang Jiuling said, “When I was young, my grandfather told me our ancestor, Medical Saint Zhang Zhongjing, knew life-extension techniques.”
“Later, in a rare ancient medical book preserved by our family, I read a brief mention of it. It said the most skilled physicians could use secret methods to extend a patient’s life at the brink of death.”
“But it’s been so long, and the book only had fragments—no detailed methods were recorded.”
“I always thought life-extension was just a legend. Ye Qiu, from what you’re saying, you know it?”
Zhang Jiuling looked at Ye Qiu as he asked.
Ye Qiu answered, “Life-extension isn’t a legend—it’s real. And I happen to know it.”
Zhang Jiuling’s heart jolted.
As far as he knew, none of the four top Saintly Hands of Chinese Medicine today could perform life-extension. Where had Ye Qiu learned it?
But Zhang Jiuling didn’t ask.
After all, everyone has their secrets.
Bai Bing finally realized Ye Qiu wasn’t lying. She asked, “Ye Qiu, can my grandfather’s condition be treated with life-extension?”
“Why not?” Ye Qiu said. “Didn’t Elder Zhang just say that as long as a patient has a breath left, a physician can use life-extension techniques?”
At that, Bai Bing grew excited. “Then don’t wait, Ye Qiu—please extend my grandfather’s life now!”
“Ice Sis, don’t rush. Performing life-extension requires some preparations.”
“What do we need? Tell me, I’ll get it.”
Ye Qiu said, “I need a large rooster.”
“That’s easy. I’ll buy one from the market,” Bai Bing agreed readily.
“Ice Sis, let me finish. The rooster I need must be pure white, without a single stray feather, or it’s useless.”
Bai Bing frowned slightly. A pure white rooster wasn’t easy to find.
“When do you need it?” she asked.
Ye Qiu said, “Life-extension must be performed at the midnight transition on an auspicious day. Today happens to be one, so we can treat Old General Bai tonight.”
“This rooster must be found before eleven tonight.”
“Alright, I’ll look for it.” Bai Bing resolved to find it no matter how hard it was—her grandfather’s life depended on it.
Ye Qiu continued, “Second, I need a bowl of black dog blood. Like the rooster, the dog must be pure black, not a single stray hair, pitch-black as ink.”
“Would a military dog work?” Tang Lao interjected. “I have a retired military dog at home, pure black.”
“That’ll do.”
Bai Bing breathed a sigh of relief. The second item was sorted.
“As for the third thing, it might be harder to find,” Ye Qiu said. “I need three hundred-year-old ginseng roots.”
Hundred-year ginseng was extremely rare and expensive.
For Ye Qiu, money wasn’t an issue—he could afford it. The problem was finding them.
Sure enough, Zhang Jiuling frowned. “Hundred-year ginseng is hard to come by, and three of them? Even tougher.”
“The ginseng I have at home is only fifty years old. Would that work?”
Ye Qiu shook his head. “No, it has to be hundred-year-old.”
“What about one hundred-year ginseng?” Tang Lao asked.
“That won’t do either, but if you have one hundred-year ginseng plus two other equally aged tonic herbs, that could work.”
Tang Lao asked, “Would two hundred-year He Shou Wu roots and one hundred-year ginseng do?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“I know someone who might have them. I’ll make a trip later, but whether they’ll sell, I can’t say.”
“Thank you, Tang Lao. As long as they’re willing to sell, I’ll buy them no matter the price.”
Ye Qiu added, “I also need a peach wood sword, one imbued with the aura of incense.”
In other words, a market-bought peach wood sword wouldn’t do—it had to be a Taoist ritual tool.
“I can get that,” Zhang Jiuling said. “Changchun Temple has a hundred-year-old peach wood sword. I’m good friends with the temple master—borrowing it should be no problem.”
Ye Qiu was delighted. “Great, thank you, Elder Zhang.”
“Ye Qiu, I’m helping you with a condition,” Zhang Jiuling said with a smile. “Can I watch when you perform the life-extension?”
“Of course.”
“Then it’s settled. No time to waste—I’ll go prepare.” Zhang Jiuling left in a hurry.
“I’ll go find the herbs,” Tang Lao said, but Ye Qiu stopped him as he turned to leave.
“Tang Lao, please wait.”
Ye Qiu walked over to him and said, “I have one more favor to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
Ye Qiu said, “The life-extension ritual can’t be disturbed by anyone, so…”
“I understand. Don’t worry—until you’re done, I won’t let Bai Yujing or his father near Old General Bai, nor will I let them interrupt you.”
“Thank you, Tang Lao.”
“No need for thanks—we’re family.”
Family?
Ye Qiu was confused, not grasping Tang Lao’s meaning.
“You and Tang Fei are brothers. By rank, you’d call me Grandpa,” Tang Lao chuckled and strode off.
Ye Qiu watched his back, inwardly grumbling, “Taking advantage of me, you old rascal.”
“I’ll go find the rooster,” Bai Bing said, about to leave, but Ye Qiu grabbed her hand.
“I’ll have Tang Fei and Long Ye handle that. Ice Sis, come home with me.”
“Home for what?” Bai Bing asked, bewildered.
Ye Qiu wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered with a sly grin, “To make a baby~”
