Ye Qiu used the first needle of the Nine Heaven-Defying Needles, Exorcising Evil. After the golden needle pierced Old Xu’s forehead, he remained unconscious.
Ye Qiu took another golden needle and inserted it into the Baihui acupoint on top of Old Xu’s head.
This was the second needle, Expelling Malevolence!
After inserting this needle, Ye Qiu paused and waited for ten seconds.
However, Old Xu’s eyes remained closed, showing no signs of movement.
How could this be?
Ye Qiu frowned.
He had thought these two needles would wake Old Xu, but the result was deeply disappointing.
Next, Ye Qiu checked Old Xu’s pulse again.
The next moment, his frown deepened.
Xu Changjin couldn’t help but ask, “Ye Qiu oppa, my grandfather, he…”
“His condition is the same as before,” Ye Qiu said.
Hearing this, Xu Zhiming kicked Li Zhengxi twice.
“It’s all because of this bastard Li Zhengxi. If he hadn’t been so ungrateful and plotted against my father, he wouldn’t be in this state.”
“I really want to kill him.”
“Ye Qiu, my father… will he wake up?” Xu Zhiming asked nervously, looking at Ye Qiu.
“Uncle Xu, don’t worry, let me think of something.” Ye Qiu pondered for a moment, then took out seven golden needles, disinfected them with alcohol swabs, and swiftly inserted them into Old Xu’s chest.
Then, he flicked the tail of one needle with his finger.
“Buzz!”
The seven needles vibrated simultaneously, emitting a humming sound.
Ye Qiu was now using the Seven-Star Needle Technique.
After thirty seconds.
Old Xu still showed no signs of waking. Helplessly, Ye Qiu retrieved the seven needles with a sweep of his right hand.
“Strange, the deathly aura on Old Xu’s forehead has vanished, so he shouldn’t die, but why hasn’t his pulse changed?”
“Also, Li Chengye’s painting was sinister, and the Nine Heaven-Defying Needles should counter all malevolent forces. Why isn’t it working?”
“What went wrong?”
Ye Qiu now also wanted to kick Li Zhengxi. It was all because of this old man. If he hadn’t used such despicable means to extort money from the Xu family, Old Xu wouldn’t be lingering in this state.
What to do?
Ye Qiu glanced over and noticed tears in Xu Changjin’s eyes. Surprised, he asked, “Why are you crying?”
Xu Changjin said, “Ye Qiu oppa, is my grandfather never going to wake up?”
Ye Qiu comforted her, “He will wake up.”
“Don’t lie to me. If my grandfather was going to wake up, he would have by now.” Xu Changjin’s face was streaked with tears, looking pitiful.
Ye Qiu felt a pang of sympathy and said, “Changjin, trust me. I say your grandfather will wake up, and he will.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to make him wake up.”
“Give me some time.”
Ye Qiu then tried the Taiyi Divine Needle, the Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles, and other techniques, but Old Xu still didn’t respond.
Ye Qiu was getting frustrated.
He was the greatest medical sage in China in three hundred years. If he couldn’t save Old Xu, it would be a huge loss of face.
Even Xu Zhiming might start to doubt, thinking, Is this all the Chinese medical sage can do?
So, he had to find a way to wake Old Xu—for Xu Changjin, for himself, and for the reputation of Chinese medicine.
Ye Qiu continued the treatment.
This time, he abandoned acupuncture and instead held Old Xu’s wrist, channeling a strand of innate true qi into his body.
Soon, a look of joy appeared on Ye Qiu’s face.
The innate true qi was effective on Old Xu.
Ye Qiu noticed that after the true qi entered Old Xu’s body, his pulse went from weak to strong, now indistinguishable from a healthy person’s.
Moreover, some minor blockages in Old Xu’s blood vessels were cleared by the true qi.
At the same time, Ye Qiu saw Old Xu’s pale complexion turn rosy.
Ye Qiu continued to channel innate true qi into Old Xu’s body.
Gradually, the joy on his face faded.
After a while, Ye Qiu withdrew his hand, staring at Old Xu with a strange expression.
Seeing Ye Qiu’s look, Xu Zhiming asked, “Little Ye, what are you thinking?”
Ye Qiu replied, “Uncle Xu, after my treatment just now, Old Xu’s vital signs are completely normal, without the slightest issue.”
Xu Zhiming asked, “If my father’s body is fine, why isn’t he waking up?”
“To be honest, I’m as puzzled as you are, Uncle Xu.”
Ye Qiu couldn’t understand why, despite a perfectly healthy body, Old Xu wouldn’t wake up.
Xu Changjin said, “Could it be that burning the painting didn’t work, and Grandpa is still trapped in the illusion?”
Hearing this, Xu Zhiming said, “That’s possible. Should I wake Li Zhengxi and ask him?”
Ye Qiu said, “That old man probably doesn’t know anything. If he did, he would have said so already.”
“What do we do now?” Xu Zhiming looked worried.
At that moment, Xu Changjin’s mother, Song Huixian, walked in from outside and asked, “Zhiming, how’s Father doing?”
“When will he wake up?”
“Huh, isn’t that Li Zhengxi? Why is he unconscious?”
Song Huixian saw Li Zhengxi lying on the ground and asked, puzzled.
Her mention of Li Zhengxi reignited Xu Zhiming’s anger.
Bang, bang, bang!
Xu Zhiming kicked Li Zhengxi several times before saying to Song Huixian, “It’s all because of this bastard. If it weren’t for him, Father wouldn’t be like this.”
Song Huixian grew more confused. She had left when Li Zhengxi was performing his ritual for Old Xu in the bedroom, so she was unaware of what happened afterward.
“Does Father’s coma have something to do with Li Zhengxi?” Song Huixian asked.
“It has everything to do with him.” Xu Zhiming briefly recounted how Li Zhengxi had plotted against Old Xu.
After hearing this, Song Huixian was furious, saying, “That Li Zhengxi is truly an ungrateful wretch. If it weren’t for Father saving his life, he’d have died in China long ago.”
Xu Zhiming said, “That’s why seeing this guy makes me so angry. I really want to kill him.”
“Zhiming, don’t be rash. Let’s focus on finding a way to wake Father.”
Song Huixian asked about Ye Qiu’s treatment progress, then stared at Old Xu for a while and said, “Why does it seem like Father’s condition is like he’s lost his soul?”
Lost his soul?
Ye Qiu’s heart jolted. Yes, how could I have overlooked that?
Ye Qiu quickly grabbed a piece of Old Xu’s clothing and hung it on the bedpost, then traced his fingers over it while softly chanting, “Soul, come back, soul, come back…”
Moments later.
Old Xu’s body trembled slightly on the bed, then went still again.
“This didn’t work?”
Ye Qiu was stunned, then took out a golden needle and pierced it into Old Xu’s Shenting acupoint.
Five seconds later.
Old Xu, who had been in a coma, suddenly opened his eyes.
