The old man nodded and said, "This is because your finger strength has been developed; otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to learn it. This Thunderbolt Needle Technique is a unique skill of my Lu Clan, belonging to the category of martial arts. If the Thunderbolt Needle is used, nothing can withstand its power!"
As the old man spoke, he flicked his right hand and casually pulled out a needle, about three inches long, as thick as a three-edged needle, and entirely black, from his sleeve.
"This Thunderbolt Needle is forged from a rare type of black iron. Only two exist in the world. Today, I'll let you witness its power." As he spoke, the old man thrust the needle into a pine tree as thick as a bowl. His fingers trembled slightly, and the needle pierced the trunk, almost reaching the top, as if it had pierced nothing.
"Huh!?" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this. The old man's thorns were as soft as cotton against the hard tree trunk, offering no resistance whatsoever.
"Why don't you give it a try? With your current finger strength, you can do it too." The old man smiled, took the lightning needle from the tree trunk, and handed it to Song Hao.
Song Hao hurriedly stepped forward and excitedly took it. Unexpectedly, the small lightning needle was surprisingly heavy, as if he were holding an iron rod; it was indeed a rare and wondrous object. Because it had just been pulled from the tree trunk and was being rubbed vigorously, it was still a little hot to the touch, which greatly surprised Song Hao.
Song Hao held the Thunderbolt Needle, gathered all his strength, and thrust it at the pine tree. He felt resistance as if he were piercing a sandbag, but he still managed to penetrate most of it.
"This child is teachable!" the old man nodded in admiration.
The old man then stepped forward and pulled the Thunderbolt Needle from the tree trunk, hiding it in his sleeve. He said happily, "What powerful finger strength! You've already met the requirements for using the Thunderbolt Needle Technique. It's a pity I only have one of these Thunderbolt Needles; the other one was lost to the martial world over a hundred years ago and has never been found again. Otherwise, I would have given you one as well. However, since your finger strength is exceptionally strong, you can use another needle instead, and you will achieve the same effect."
The old man then solemnly said, “I am Lu Yanping, the seventeenth generation successor of the Lu Clan. Today, I will impart to you the secret and supreme skill of the Lu Clan, the Thunderbolt Needle Technique. Firstly, you have cultivated extraordinary finger strength on your own through needle practice, and it would be a pity not to guide you. Finger strength is difficult to cultivate, and none of the next generation of the Lu Clan possesses your perseverance and determination. You have diligently practiced your finger strength for a long time. Since we have met by chance, I will naturally help you master a unique skill for self-defense. Secondly, I see that you are a diligent, studious, and kind person, and I believe you will not do anything evil. You must promise me that you will not mention today's events to anyone, as if you had never seen me. I do not wish to reveal my whereabouts to others. Also, tell me your name.”
Only then did Song Hao realize that he had encountered a legendary figure in the martial arts world. Overjoyed, he bowed deeply and said, "Old man, my name is Song Hao, and I live in Baihe Town. I have remembered everything you said. Please rest assured, I will never tell anyone that I have met you, not even my relatives."
"Very good! I believe in you!" Na Lu Yanping nodded in satisfaction and said, "Actually, with your current super strong finger strength, you've already mastered about 80% of the Thunderbolt Needle Technique. Just a little guidance on the key point will complete your mastery. Remember, the key point is that at the moment the needle tip is about to pierce the target, your finger must tremble slightly. This tremor will cause your finger strength to generate a vibration within the needle itself. After piercing the target, especially flesh and blood, this instantaneous vibration can, at best, temporarily extinguish their consciousness and slow their blood and qi, immediately immobilizing their body, as if struck by lightning." Acupuncture points are generally used. In severe cases, the tremors can sever the tendons and veins, taking the life. Therefore, when administering acupuncture, one must carefully control the force of the tremors, applying varying degrees of pressure to control life or death. Selecting specific acupuncture points enhances the effect. The effect is the same regardless of the location of the needle. Even if the needle is inserted into the hands or feet, the entire body can be shaken, causing paralysis or death—it all depends on your intentions. You, child, are not one to cause trouble, so naturally you won't get into fights. Having a self-defense skill isn't a bad thing. Although the world is peaceful now, there are always evil people out there. Perhaps one day an evil person will come knocking on your door for no reason; you can then use the Thunderclap Needle Technique to subdue him.”
"Thank you for your guidance, senior!" Song Hao was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that the key to the Thunderclap Needle Technique lay in the momentary vibration generated when the hand holding the needle trembled. He would never have known this profound mystery until it was revealed to him.
"Why don't you try this Thunderclap Needle Technique with the needles and books you're used to?" Lu Yanping said.
Song Hao excitedly picked up a filiform needle. Since he hadn't brought his old practice books, he spent a long time choosing from the medical books and textbooks he'd brought to read that day, finally settling on the English book, which he now considered the most useless. Holding the book in his left hand and the needle in his right, he pondered for a moment before inserting the needle. Just as he pierced the book's cover, the needle trembled slightly.
The needle passed right through the book. At first, nothing seemed amiss, but then Song Hao felt the English book in his hand suddenly go limp and turn into tiny pieces that scattered and fell to the ground. The English textbook was ruined, leaving Song Hao dumbfounded.
"Great! The Thunderbolt Needle Technique is complete!" Lu Yanping exclaimed with delight.
"You have a real knack for needlework! You grasp it instantly, wonderful! Wonderful!" Lu Yanping exclaimed in admiration.
"Grandpa, is this...is this real?" Song Hao stared in astonishment at the needle in his hand, almost unable to believe what he was seeing. He had shattered a book with a single needle.
"The Thunderbolt Needle Technique is so powerful that even immortals and demons cannot resist it; it is truly astonishing! If I were to use ordinary needles instead of the Thunderbolt Needle, I still wouldn't achieve the same effect! With focused intention and concentrated spirit, you are training your spirit and intention while practicing your finger strength! True intention gives rise to divine power. Just now, you used pine needles instead of needles because you mentally regarded these easily broken and soft pine needles as ordinary needles, concentrating your spiritual power on them. Therefore, you were able to pierce the book with a single needle. Otherwise, if you used tree leaves, no matter how strong your finger strength was..." Its force is only enough to penetrate a hundred or so pages of paper, which is already quite good. Although you practice finger strength regularly, you are also cultivating your spirit and will. Now that your true intention has been drawn out, extraordinary power has arisen spontaneously, achieving such a divine effect. This is your good fortune, congratulations! Remember, this acupuncture technique belongs to martial arts. The technique emphasizes speed like lightning and accurate acupoint placement. In close combat, its power is immense. It strikes suddenly, catching opponents off guard and subduing them in an instant. Those struck by the needles are invariably paralyzed. However, it is too dangerous and should not be used indiscriminately. Use it only as a last resort.
Chapter Six: Thunderbolt Needle Technique (2)
Song Hao stood in the woods for a moment, stunned, before finally snapping out of his daze. He was incredibly excited to have been unexpectedly taught the Thunderbolt Needle Technique by a passing martial arts master, as if he'd just woken from a dream. He then put the book in his bag and happily walked home. He should have told his grandfather about this; now he had a new skill—he could shatter a book with a single needle! They could have shared the joy. But he had promised Lu Yanping to keep it a secret, so he would keep it to himself. He needed to practice more to master the power of the Thunderbolt Needle Technique. If he encountered a villain, one needle would be enough to subdue him; if he killed him with a single blow, it would be a much bigger problem. Song Hao thought to himself as he walked, his face beaming with the joy of his extraordinary encounter.
As they passed a watermelon patch, a watermelon grower named Wu Er saw Song Hao approaching from afar and hurriedly called out, "Song Hao, you've gone to bathe in the Baishui River, haven't you? Come here for a bit, pick a watermelon for your grandfather to try!"
When Song Hao saw that it was Wu Er, he recognized him. This man still owed Ping An Tang more than a hundred yuan for medicine, and hadn't paid it back in over a year. So he walked over and unceremoniously took a watermelon that Wu Er had just picked, and said with a smile, "Uncle Wu Er, the cost of this watermelon will be deducted from your medicine bill." He was intentionally reminding Wu Er that he still owed Ping An Tang for medicine.
"You silly child, this watermelon is for your grandpa to try, how can I accept money from it!" Wu Er said with an embarrassed smile.
Song Hao then left with a grin, carrying the watermelon.
Halfway there, Song Hao glanced at the watermelon he was holding in his arms, and on a whim, took out a fine needle and used the Thunder Needle Technique to stab the watermelon.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the shockwave from the needle instantly shattered the entire watermelon, splashing watery flesh all over Song Hao. What a waste of a sweet watermelon!
"Am I... am I really that amazing?" Song Hao was stunned again.
Then, Song Hao laughed and turned to run towards the Baishui River. He needed to wash off the watermelon stains on his clothes before going home.
A month or so later, when Song Hao went to the pine forest to study and practice needlework, he inadvertently discovered that the pine tree that Lu Yanping had pierced with his thunderbolt needle was slowly withering and dying. He then realized that the seemingly casual needle Lu Yanping had inserted that day had severed all the veins within the tree trunk, depriving it of its ability to absorb water and causing it to gradually wither. Such incredible power could be generated from such a tiny needle; if used on a ferocious beast like a tiger or leopard, it could shatter even its steel-like skeleton.
Surprised, Song Hao exclaimed, "There really are extraordinary people in this world!"
From then on, Song Hao secretly practiced the Thunderclap Needle Technique. A year later, the vibrational force emanating from the needles was sometimes astonishing even to himself. He also learned from Lu Yanping, concealing three acupuncture needles in his sleeve for easy access when needed. Song Hao practiced acupuncture with both hands simultaneously, achieving near-equal finger strength in both, allowing him to apply the needles with both hands. When performing acupuncture on patients, he could prick their entire bodies with needles without the patients noticing, and the therapeutic effects became increasingly apparent, astonishing everyone.
Although Song Hao had a heavy workload in high school, he diligently studied classical medical texts and accompanied Song Zihe on clinical practice during holidays, further refining his medical skills without neglecting his studies. However, he struggled to learn English and lost interest, eventually abandoning it altogether. As a result, he missed the cutoff score for the nationally renowned medical school he had applied to due to his poor English performance. The entire school was filled with regret.
When the college entrance exam results reached Song Zihe, he felt a little disappointed but wasn't overly concerned. He had previously contacted many graduates from various TCM colleges in his search for a suitable apprentice, but none of them impressed him. He found it strange that all TCM practitioners trained by medical colleges were of such a low level. Therefore, the grandfather and grandson sighed a bit about Song Hao's failure, but that was the end of it; neither of them took it to heart. With Song Hao's current TCM skills, he was on par with any professor at a TCM college, especially in acupuncture; he was practically unparalleled, if not the best. Further study would just be a formality.
Song Zihe had dedicated his life to studying traditional Chinese medicine and knew little about Western medicine. However, he was a discerning man. Since Song Hao hadn't been admitted to medical school, his wish to have Song Hao learn both traditional Chinese and Western medicine was temporarily dashed. As soon as the college entrance exams were over, Song Zihe sent Song Hao to a local primary health school in the county town to study Western medicine.
At this time, Song Hao was nearly seventeen years old and had truly grown into a young man. Hearing that there would be new medical skills to learn at the health school, he was very happy. He packed his belongings, bid farewell to his grandfather, and went to the county town alone to stay at the health school.
The health school is located next to the only hospital in the county that combines traditional Chinese and Western medicine, making it a teaching and clinical base in the region.
There were over fifty students in Song Hao's class, mostly children of healthcare workers and a few who had failed their college entrance exams. Song Hao was the youngest in the class, but no one dared to underestimate him. Everyone knew he was the grandson of Song Zihe, a renowned doctor in the county, and that he was already independently treating patients at Ping'an Hall. They all secretly respected him. Because of this, Song Hao made several friends who actively sought to befriend him: Liu Tian, Ma Ji, and Zhang Baolun.
The main courses at the health school included Physiology, Human Anatomy, Western Internal Medicine Theory, and Pharmacy, as well as a course on Basic Traditional Chinese Medicine. Fortunately, there was also a course on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Song Hao first skimmed through several books and felt that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medicine were truly two different medical systems. TCM diagnosis mainly relies on the four diagnostic methods of observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation to understand the underlying causes from the surface. Western medicine, on the other hand, primarily relies on biochemical indicators from laboratory tests for diagnosis. TCM diagnosis seems like a general concept, while Western medicine is more specific, even down to the cell level.
Someone once made a vivid analogy, saying that traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are like two strands on a twisted rope. Although they are unrelated, they are intertwined and combine to form a complete medical system.
Western medicine feels so different from traditional Chinese medicine. Everything seems so clear, but does it have the same effect on treating illnesses as traditional Chinese medicine? This puzzled Song Hao.
As soon as the course started, Song Hao devoted himself to learning, wanting to see what the essential differences were between Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
The lecturer was an elderly TCM doctor named Wu Quan from the hospital. At the beginning of the class, he shared his insights on learning TCM: "To learn TCM, you must first be confused, and then you will gradually understand!"
The audience burst into laughter, completely bewildered. Did they learn Western medicine, understand it initially, and then gradually become confused?
In the course of "Human Anatomy," students were required to observe and learn directly from cadavers in the dissection room, a practice that frightened the timid female students to the point of not daring to approach. For Song Hao, however, this was a tremendous opportunity. He had long dreamed of directly seeing and understanding the muscles, bones, and internal organs of the human body. Although he had previously seen descriptions of human anatomy in traditional Chinese medicine texts, they lacked a clear visual representation. Ancient physicians were not without explorers in this field; in folk medicine, animal organ diagrams were commonly used, or unofficially, nameless corpses were exhumed and dissected. Official sources also used executed prisoners for medical research. The most famous surviving example is the "Ouyang Xiu's Five Viscera Diagram," but the artist's brushwork lacked detail, making it difficult to understand.
After more than a decade of studying medicine, Song Hao has developed a deep curiosity and a strong desire to understand the structure of the human body. His understanding of meridians, in particular, remains somewhat obscure. The essence of meridians is still a mystery in the medical field, an age-old enigma. Despite explanations from vascular and neurological theories, the true nature of meridians remains unknown. Since meridians only manifest in living organisms, further discussion will follow.
Song Hao had once heard his grandfather tell him that even a critically ill person, whose heart had stopped beating and who had stopped breathing, could still be saved as long as the Qi in their meridians remained. Acupuncture could activate the Qi in the meridians, especially by restoring heartbeat and breathing. The Song family's Nine Needles for Resuscitation had proven remarkably effective in this regard.