"Easy for you to say. This national treasure was destroyed because of your carelessness. You've become a sinner for all time. I misjudged you. You donated it so easily to save your life and escape the danger this matter brought. I thought you were a great man who could live and die with that bronze statue! Turns out you're just a coward!" Luo Feiying said disdainfully.
"I'm not some great hero to begin with. This was forced upon me, and I had no choice but to accept it," Song Hao said, suppressing a laugh and feigning helplessness. He could fool the astute Luo Feiying, and he could fool the entire martial arts world. The danger and trouble brought by the acupuncture bronze figure could finally come to an end, and he felt incredibly relieved.
"Cowardly fool! I truly regret ever knowing you and letting you go." With that, Luo Feiying turned and left.
The bronze statue, which she had almost obtained, was now unexpectedly and permanently lost, causing Luo Feiying to resent Song Hao, and also to feel anger towards his lack of resolve. This was because Song Hao's image in her mind had been greatly diminished; he was no longer the stubborn and resilient man who had protected the acupuncture bronze statue.
Watching Luo Feiying disappear into the distance, Song Hao shook his head and sighed, then turned to return to Shangqing Temple. Suddenly, someone beside him called out, "Song Hao, is all of this true?"
Tang Yu emerged from the woods with a look of doubt on her face, clearly having arrived quite some time ago and overheard Song Hao and Luo Feiying's conversation.
"You're back!" Song Hao was overjoyed to see Tang Yu.
"I'm asking you a question!" Tang Yu said, staring into Song Hao's eyes.
"What do you think?" Song Hao countered.
...
After a moment of silence, Tang Yu said, "A few days ago, I accidentally discovered that the Taoist priests in the temple were secretly transporting an acupuncture bronze figure out of the temple. I suspect that you gave the Song Tiansheng acupuncture bronze figure, a medical treasure, to the Shangqing Temple and were planning to smuggle it out. So I followed those Taoist priests to find out where the bronze figure was. As long as the bronze figure wasn't in your hands, I would have a reason to snatch it from someone else. So you came to the Shangqing Temple with a purpose and had already hidden the acupuncture bronze figure in the temple. No wonder you've always been so at ease! Your plan is quite meticulous. If I didn't live in the temple, I wouldn't have been able to find out."
"My master is indeed amazing!" Song Hao thought to himself, "He actually managed to leak the information by using Tang Yu, a member of the medical sect."
Tang Yu continued, "I later discovered that members of the China Taoist Association were escorting the bronze statue, and I overheard them planning to donate it to the nation. That's when I learned that you, through the Shangqing Temple, intended to hand over this national treasure to the state in order to extricate yourself from this dangerous situation. Seeing that things had come to this, I had no choice but to abandon my plan to seize it, as this was the best outcome for the bronze statue. Unexpectedly, instead of taking the safe air or land routes, they chose the sea route, perhaps intending to catch them off guard. Unfortunately, they encountered an accident and the ship capsized, and the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Statue sank to the bottom of the sea forever. What a pity!"
“However…” Tang Yu paused for a moment and said, “That person just now was the eldest daughter of the Luo family from the Demon Needle Sect, right? I noticed that your expression was off when you were talking to her, as if you knew nothing about all of this. Could it be that the Taoists of Shangqing Temple did this behind your back, or is there some other reason?”
"Tang Yu, all I can tell you right now is that it's really not convenient for me to say much about this matter. I hope you can understand," Song Hao said earnestly. He didn't want to deceive Tang Yu, but he also couldn't expose his master's carefully laid plan.
"It seems I was right. What you did was the right thing. After all, your strength alone is too weak. It's just a pity about that national treasure." Tang Yu shook his head.
"Now it's all right. You've finally gotten rid of the trouble this caused, and you can show your face with peace of mind without worrying about anyone chasing you. This matter has spread widely in the martial arts world, and some people even say that there was never any story about Song Tiansheng's acupuncture bronze man being born; it was all fabricated. And that person named Song Hao doesn't even exist," Tang Yu added.
"Oh! That's perfect. I also hope that all of this was just a dream," Song Hao said happily.
“Since that’s the case, you won’t be in any danger, and you’ll be safe at Shangqing Temple. I’ve been away from home for a long time, so I should go back. We’ll meet again sometime in the future.” Tang Yu sighed, clearly reluctant to part, but she had no reason to stay any longer.
"Thank you, Tang Yu. I will definitely visit you in Tang Village when I have the chance," Song Hao said gratefully.
"Then it's a deal." After saying that, Tang Yu glanced at Song Hao again, sighed inwardly, and turned to leave.
Chapter Sixty-Three Divine Veins
After seeing Tang Yu off, Song Hao returned to Shangqing Temple. By this time, Luo Beichen and Luo Feiying had already left.
"Master, thank you for everything you've done for me," Song Hao said excitedly as he stepped forward.
"Hmm! It seems that the girl from the Luo family has already told you something. The effects of Song Tiansheng's acupuncture on the bronze figure have been largely eliminated, but we can't be too careless. Even the wisest can make a mistake, so we must be wary of any unforeseen changes." Xiao Boran nodded and said calmly.
Back in his room, Song Hao sat there, his heart churning with emotion. Things had changed so quickly, and so suddenly. Ever since he secretly protected the bronze acupuncture statue of Song Tiansheng, a series of events had come crashing down, leaving him overwhelmed. Now that everything had settled, it seemed to have returned to normal. But he could no longer return to his carefree, tranquil life of the past, for he now bore a new and more important mission. Revitalizing medicine—this truly gave Song Hao a sense of purpose.
One day, Xiao Boran was explaining the text about the Five Elements and Six Qi in the "Inner Canon" to Song Hao. This "theory of Qi and Qi" uses the cyclical changes in climate caused by the heavens, earth, sun, and moon, combined with the deductions and calculations of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, to reveal a kind of changing law of the "Way of Heaven".
Xiao Boran said, “Understanding the Five Elements and Six Qi is understanding the Dao of Heaven, and can be called ‘Heavenly Physician’! Most of the so-called time medicine today originates from this theory. However, the ancient sages showed later generations this method of understanding the Dao of Heaven, but almost no one in the world pays attention to it. Even those who do are only conducting some theoretical research.”
At this moment, Wuguo came in and reported: "Master, news came from the medical clinic outside the mountain that there is a very troublesome illness that none of the disciples can cure. Please give us your guidance. This is a male patient who is over sixty years old. He is thin but feels heavy, and he is afraid of the cold and has cold limbs. He has diarrhea at night, and his pulse is deep and thready. He has been given Fuzi Lizhong Decoction but it is ineffective."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Boran pondered for a moment and said, "The year is the end of the year, with Taiyin damp earth in charge of the sky and Taiyang cold water in the spring. The body is weak and trapped, and the spleen earth is invaded by evil. Adding a few aromatic dampness-resolving herbs to the original prescription will suffice. Moxibustion should be applied to selected acupoints on the Taiyin spleen meridian."
"Disciple understands!" After hearing this, Wuguo bowed and withdrew.
“When dampness and cold prevail, the body is weak and vulnerable. The medicines used to treat people and ‘heal nature’ should also be different, but they should all aim to restore yang energy,” Xiao Boran said to Song Hao.
Song Hao nodded in agreement.
In the blink of an eye, Song Hao had been residing at the Shangqing Temple for over half a year. During this time, building upon his existing medical skills, and under Xiao Boran's comprehensive and systematic tutelage, Song Hao had achieved a qualitative leap in his medical practice. Some illnesses were no longer considered "illnesses" in his eyes. Having thoroughly studied important medical classics such as the *Yin Jie Jing* and *Yang Jie Jing*, his understanding of the relationship between humanity and nature, and of all things in the universe, had undergone a comprehensive improvement. Humans follow the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows Nature. Xiao Boran first transmitted the true Dao of medicine, and then discussed techniques and various prescriptions. This had already enabled Song Hao to transcend the mere concept of the "Dao" in medicine. The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao!
That day, Xiao Boran said to Song Hao, "You have now fully comprehended the true principles of medicine. What you need in the future is to gain a deeper understanding and achieve mastery of medicine. It's just a matter of time. Now you can travel the world and learn from the strengths of various schools. You can go back and visit your grandfather first, and then follow the schedule that I have arranged for you."
Song Hao was thrilled to hear that he would be meeting his grandfather, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.
Xiao Boran said, "You should first visit someone named Lin Fengyi. He is a master of pulse diagnosis, having studied pulse diagnosis for fifty years and mastered its true essence—unparalleled in the world! The principles of pulse diagnosis are subtle and profound; often, one understands them in one's mind but struggles to apply them to one's fingers. Although many ancient books on pulse diagnosis have been passed down, few truly comprehend their meaning. Anyone who studies medicine must first understand the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, and then master acupuncture and pulse diagnosis before prescribing medicine. Only in this way can one practice medicine and help the world. Your acupuncture skills are already..." "Yes, but the pulse diagnosis is flawed. That's why I instructed you to learn the pulse diagnosis method from this person. However, this Lin Fengyi is aloof and difficult to get along with. To truly master his pulse diagnosis method, you'll need to go through some trouble. Therefore, you must bring copies of the *Yin Jie Jing* and *Yang Jie Jing* to him, first to move his heart. Touch his heart with sincerity, then move his will. He previously asked me to borrow these two scriptures, but I refused, all for the sake of enabling you today, even though back then I didn't know who my future disciple would be."
"Is this Senior Lin a friend of Master's?" Song Hao asked, inwardly admiring Xiao Boran's foresight.
Xiao Boran said, "It's just a casual acquaintance. My master once kept an eye out for extraordinary medical practitioners who excelled in a particular skill. He said that if someone is truly proficient in a skill, they can even communicate with spirits. Several years ago, I heard that Lin Fengyi's pulse diagnosis was superb, and his diagnosis was like a divine intervention. I went to visit him. It turns out that this man was passionate about pulse diagnosis. Taking advantage of his position in the traditional Chinese medicine department of a large hospital, he required patients to have their pulse re-examined using modern medical equipment after each diagnosis to verify if it matched his findings. He combined ancient and modern methods, and over time, he achieved this miraculous pulse diagnosis technique. He could examine every ailment in the body between the cun, guan, and chi positions under his fingers without missing a single one—truly remarkable! I once witnessed his diagnosis..." A patient reported three reddish lumps, each the size of a bullet, below the right knee, one of which had already shrunk. The patient's family was astonished and checked upon inspection; indeed, it was there. Another patient examined a woman who said her menstrual bleeding was persistent, not due to uterine lumps, but because her fetus had died in utero. The two-month-old fetus, not fully formed, had died in the womb. The instrument had misdiagnosed it as a tumor, and she had been treated conservatively, leading to this condition. The pulse diagnosis is so exquisite, even ghosts and gods cannot fathom it! Therefore, I instructed your late master to study under this person and learn the essence of his pulse diagnosis. Then you can establish a medical clinic, help the world, and spread the art of medicine. There are also several other medical masters; we can visit them later when we have the opportunity.”
"Such a miraculous pulse exists in the world! The extraordinary stories of pulse diagnosis recorded in ancient books must be true!" Song Hao exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Boran said, "The Three-Finger Diagnosis, also known as the Three-Finger Zen, is a technique that, if mastered, renders all medical instruments useless. While not absolute, the unique and effective pulse diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine allows physicians to examine the entire body for ailments using only three fingers on a few inches of skin. It is simple, quick, and directly addresses the root cause. It reveals the superficial and deep, the deficiency and excess, the strength and weakness, and the internal and external symptoms. Unfortunately, among ten thousand physicians today, perhaps only one has truly mastered this technique. It is no exaggeration to say that this art has been largely lost."
"I have previously tried to study pulse diagnosis on my own, but I haven't been able to master it. If I could receive guidance from such a wise master, I would be able to make rapid progress and make up for my shortcomings in pulse diagnosis," Song Hao said excitedly.
"That's exactly what I meant!" Xiao Boran said. "Lin Fengyi's cultivation of this meridian was no easy feat, and we can't let it perish on its own, only to have it destroyed in his hands. He does hope for a successor, but he hasn't had the opportunity to meet the right person. When you go, you can first demonstrate your skills and establish your authority, making him look at you with new respect. Once you've established a harmonious relationship, it's not too late to bring up the matter of becoming his apprentice. In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, those who can truly achieve mastery can only inherit a method through a master-disciple relationship, passing it down from generation to generation, ensuring the true method never dies out. Otherwise, even years of solitary practice behind closed doors will hardly lead to success. You can simply copy what others have already accomplished. It's also because many physicians with extraordinary skills are conservative in their thinking, emphasizing family inheritance. Coupled with various unforeseen factors, countless extraordinary skills have been destroyed before they could be passed down to future generations. Even more often, the skills were passed on to the wrong people, becoming useless or unable to be used correctly, thus causing their skills to become extinct."
“Master, I understand. To carry forward the Chinese medical tradition, we must not only inherit and promote the achievements of our ancestors, but also cultivate successors so that the lineage can be passed down for generations!” Song Hao said earnestly.
"Song Hao understands me best!" Xiao Boran nodded and smiled happily.
Xiao Boran then told Song Hao the address of the city and hospital where Lin Fengyi was located, and instructed him that after he completed his studies, he could choose a location to start his own medical clinic. At that time, Shangqing Temple would provide personnel and financial support, but he did not mention anything about the martial arts world.
Chapter Sixty-Four: Leaving the Mountain
Two days later, Song Hao finally bid farewell to his master, Xiao Boran, and was escorted out of the mountains by Wuguo. Wuguo handed Song Hao some money and valuables he had prepared, then pointed to a highway ahead and said, "Once you get on the highway, you'll encounter passing buses. Remember the ways to contact the temple, and communicate with them promptly if anything happens. Also, my master told me to tell you that the bronze acupuncture figure of Song Tiansheng must never be shown to anyone again, otherwise it will render all of Shangqing Temple's efforts futile, and trouble will arise again, which will be difficult to handle."
Song Hao said gratefully, "Don't worry, senior brother, I know what to do. The six months I've spent learning at Shangqing Temple have given me a new understanding of Chinese medicine and the responsibilities I will bear in the future. I will not let Master and my fellow disciples down."
Wuguo smiled and said, "Master is good at judging people. He said you will definitely achieve great things in the future. We look forward to that day."