"Then...then you can treat me first." Seeing Song Hao's confident demeanor and finding some logic in his words, the man hesitated for a moment before speaking. His meaning was that even if he couldn't cure him, he could have Wu Qiguang treat him later.
Song Hao smiled, then took a one-inch needle from the needle box on the table, held the man's arm, and disinfected the index finger joint with an alcohol swab.
Seeing this, the man asked in bewilderment, "You're using such a short needle? Is that really okay?"
Song Hao laughed and said, "For your illness, one needle is enough! The key to choosing acupoints is not the number, but the precision."
As he spoke, with a flick of his fingers, the needle pierced the Sanjian acupoint on the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand Yangming at the joint of the index finger on the affected side. He then applied a slight manipulation and left the needle in place.
After a moment, Song Hao said, "Try raising your arm."
After hearing this, the man hesitated for a moment, but still tried to stretch out his arm and slowly raise it.
"Huh!" The man raised his arm and looked surprised, his movements now completely free.
"You're fine now, just be careful not to overexert yourself for the next few days," Song Hao said with a smile.
Upon seeing this, Wu Qiguang nodded and smiled, revealing a hint of approval.
"Young man, you're really something! Let me see for myself!"
Several patients with back and leg pains immediately surrounded him, asking Song Hao for treatment. Some who had been ill for a long time, or those who pretended to be mature, patiently sat there and watched.
Song Hao then administered acupuncture and medication as needed, and in the blink of an eye, he had treated several more patients. He reviewed the prescriptions he had written before Wu Qiguang, who nodded and said, "The medicine and symptoms match; it can be used!" Clearly, Song Hao had treated many of those patients before, and he knew exactly what prescriptions and medications to use.
Luo Feiying thought to herself in surprise, "Song Hao is indeed quite skilled! His acupuncture technique is proficient, and his acupoint selection is precise. He must be a master in the medical field!" She couldn't help but feel a little more respect for him.
With Song Hao's help, the number of patients in the consultation room gradually decreased. After Wu Qiguang saw off the last patient, he stood up, beaming, and said, "Song Hao, that's really good! It must be a family heirloom of medicine, otherwise how could it be so effective? Thanks to you today, you saved me a lot of time, thank you so much!"
Song Hao said happily, "I'm just glad Mr. Wu doesn't mind my impetuousness."
Wu Qiguang laughed and said, "A doctor should have a benevolent heart! Treating illnesses whenever they arise, regardless of time or place, requires skill. I didn't expect you could use acupuncture and medicine together, which suits my nature perfectly. Come on, I'll treat you to a drink. If you're not busy, stay the night and exchange ideas!"
At this moment, Song Hao's heart stirred, and he happily replied, "Alright! I'll gladly accept!" He then said to Luo Feiying, who was standing beside him, "Miss Li, thank you very much for your hospitality throughout the journey. I have a connection with Mr. Wu and would like to ask him some more questions, so I've decided to stay for the time being. Please, Miss Li, do as you please." His meaning was clear: it was none of your business, and you should leave on your own, as he wanted to use this opportunity to slip away.
Upon hearing this, Luo Feiying was taken aback at first, then secretly snorted and chuckled, saying, "Your idea changes so quickly. Fine, I don't have anything else to do anyway. Let's see what scenic spots are here, and stay for a few days before leaving." The implication was that if he didn't leave, she wouldn't leave either, even though she knew Song Hao was already suspicious.
Upon hearing this, Song Hao smiled and said, "As Miss Li sees fit." But inwardly he felt a chill, knowing that the visitor was indeed up to no good.
Luo Feiying glared at Song Hao again before leaving in a huff.
Wu Qiguang, watching from the side, was completely bewildered and asked in surprise, "Song Hao, aren't you and this girl together?"
“I just hitched a ride with her!” Song Hao replied.
"Oh! As the saying goes, you can judge a person by their appearance. Although this young lady is beautiful and extraordinary, she has phoenix eyes and fierce eyebrows, which suggests that she is a person with an eccentric temperament. In particular, the resentment in her eyes as she left suggests that you may have offended her."
Song Hao shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I've only known her for a day, how could I possibly offend her?"
Wu Qiguang said, "That's for the best! It's best to stay away from girls like that, otherwise you'll be in trouble."
Luo Feiying left the clinic and sat in her car, feeling extremely angry. She realized then that Song Hao was no ordinary fool; he probably already understood her intentions.
"Want to get rid of me? Dream on! I'll put up with you this time for the sake of that acupuncture bronze figure. Just wait and see how I deal with you later. This world isn't for you!" Luo Feiying said bitterly, biting her lip.
In the distance, a lean, gray-clad old man with a goatee glanced at Wu Qiguang's clinic, then at Luo Feiying's car. A chilling murderous glint flashed in his eyes, and he smiled mysteriously before turning and disappearing quietly.
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Ice and Fire Needle (4)
In the back courtyard of Wu Qiguang's clinic, Wu Qiguang prepared wine and dishes to entertain Song Hao in the hall.
When asked about Song Hao's family background, Wu Qiguang exclaimed in surprise, "So you are a descendant of the famous doctor Song Jingchun! My apologies! My apologies! I often heard my teachers talk about Mr. Jingchun when I was a young man studying medicine. He was a legendary figure among doctors. It is a kind of fate to meet his descendant today."
Upon learning that only Song Hao and Song Zihe among the descendants of the Song family continued the Song family's medical tradition, Wu Qiguang was deeply moved. Speaking of the overall decline of traditional Chinese medicine in the modern world, Wu Qiguang and Song Hao sighed together.
Song Hao then said admiringly, "Sir, your Ice and Fire Divine Needle technique is truly miraculous. There is no such technique in ancient or modern times. Although there is a saying about 'burning mountain fire and penetrating heavenly coolness' in acupuncture, you are probably the only one in ancient and modern times who can truly produce the strange effect of ice and fire."
Wu Qiguang shook his head and said, "I wouldn't claim to be the only one who has mastered the Ice and Fire Divine Needle technique; there have been at least six people throughout history. This needling method originated from a physician surnamed Liu in the Tang Dynasty, whose real name is now lost to history. The famous medical master Xi Hongcheng of the Song Dynasty inherited this technique, Luo Tianyi of the Yuan Dynasty accidentally obtained the method, and Gao Wu of the Ming Dynasty further perfected it by obtaining Luo Tianyi's surviving book. In the Qing Dynasty, a mad Taoist priest also accidentally revealed this technique to the world. Twenty years ago, I glimpsed this technique in an ancient medical book that I unintentionally acquired at a roadside bookstall, and I practiced it diligently for twenty years before finally mastering it." After saying this, Wu Qiguang looked quite proud.
Upon hearing this, Song Hao exclaimed in amazement, "Truly, Heaven has granted your wish, sir! This acupuncture technique is remarkably effective. Under the touch of the needle, both ice and fire are present, and the cold and heat can be controlled. There must be internal martial arts cultivation involved, otherwise, how could there be such a rapid and miraculous effect?"
Wu Qiguang said, "There is nothing special about it, just the technique! But you need to have a certain amount of finger strength as a foundation, master the changes in frequency, speed and strength, and then choose the corresponding time and acupoints. With long-term practice, the cold and heat will come out naturally. Let me try it on you."
At this point, Wu Qiguang got up and fetched a glass of water. He first had Song Hao test the water with his finger, and it turned out to be cold water. Wu Qiguang then found a three-inch acupuncture needle, held it in his right hand, inserted it into the water, and began to perform acupuncture.
At first glance, the water in the cup and the needle under Wu Qiguang's fingers seemed to be motionless, but upon closer inspection, the tip of the needle was trembling slightly and occasionally showing signs of being lifted or inserted.
After a short while, Wu Qiguang stopped and laughed, "Song Hao, try again!"
Song Hao then dipped a finger into the cup of water and felt that the water was now warm, unlike the cold water from before. It was clear that Wu Qiguang had warmed the water while performing acupuncture, but it wasn't due to the friction between the needle and the water; there was another reason.
"Amazing!" Song Hao exclaimed, and on a whim, he said, "I'll give it a try too!" He took the needle that Wu Qiguang had just used, intending to use the same trembling method to generate heat, but when he inserted the needle into the cup of water, he habitually used the Thunder Needle Technique.
But then there was a loud "bang" and water splashed everywhere; the glass had shattered.
"Huh!?" Wu Qiguang exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that Song Hao's needles could generate such a strong vibration.
"Song Hao, your finger strength is so extraordinary, you are truly exceptional in the art of acupuncture! You have already laid the foundation for the Ice and Fire Divine Needle, but by weakening this force and frequently vibrating it, you can create both hot and cold sensations. You can master the Ice and Fire Divine Needle in a short period of time, and the world will have gained another master." Wu Qiguang said with delight.
Song Hao was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Please enlighten me, senior!"
Wu Qiguang smiled and said, "This acupuncture technique is difficult to master, and it is also difficult to find a person with the right affinity. I have met a few people with good aptitude before, and although I tried my best to teach them, they still could not master this acupuncture technique. It can be seen that medical skills also require choosing the right person to succeed. This is the reason why divine skills are born in heaven."
Subsequently, Wu Qiguang imparted the secrets of the Ice and Fire Divine Needle to Song Hao, which was simply a matter of breaking through the window paper with just a few words of incantation.
Song Hao accepted the gift with great joy.
"You are the seventh person in history to be able to perform this Ice and Fire Needle Technique! If you practice according to the method I taught you, you will see results in a month and master it in three months! It is also the will of Heaven that has made you so powerful in your fingers, so you can master everything and achieve everything. Good Song Hao! The results of three months are equivalent to my twenty years of hard training. There is really no way to argue with you!" Wu Qiguang said with joy and emotion.