“The reverse needle technique in the Luo Clan's Magic Needles can be countered with a needle-breaking technique. Your deadly needle, which slowly takes a life, also has a way to break it,” Song Hao said.
"Hmph!" Li He snorted coldly and said, "The people who sought treatment from the Heavenly Physician Hall were only treated with 70% of my acupuncture power. If I had used 90% to 100% of my acupuncture power, their qi and blood would be disordered, especially if the needles could not be inserted. If the needles were inserted, they would die instantly. Hence the saying that it is a matter of life and death. Not to mention you, even if a god came, he could not save you."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao was startled, realizing that Li He indeed possessed powerful techniques. He also secretly felt fortunate that Li He hadn't used excessive acupuncture on those people.
“This acupuncture technique is deadly. If you are not a doctor, why would you learn such a harmful technique?” Song Hao said.
"Just hurting people for fun! Everything in this world has lost its meaning for me. I feel uncomfortable watching others live freely. I heard that there are masters of acupuncture in the Heavenly Physician Hall, so I tried it on a few people. I didn't expect that they would actually be able to cure me. If those people hadn't caught me, I would have had someone perform severe acupuncture and see if you could still be saved." Li He sneered.
“Your behavior is pathological, and as a patient, I can forgive you. Please cooperate with the treatment,” Song Hao said.
"Do you still think you can control me?" Li He suddenly let out a strange laugh and got up to move closer to Song Hao.
"Senior brother, no!" Luo Feiying exclaimed in alarm.
Song Hao, however, remained calm and seemingly anticipated Li He's move. Standing still, he subtly inserted a needle into Li He's Hegu acupoint as Li He extended his right hand to his chest, employing a powerful acupuncture technique. Li He had confidently assumed this move would capture Song Hao, but Song Hao's movement was swift as lightning, his body jolting and instantly freezing in place. Qiu Ru, standing nearby, was utterly horrified.
Tang Yu then laughed and said, "Just as you expected, he will attack you."
"Song Hao, so you were prepared!" Luo Feiying exclaimed in surprise.
“That’s right. Didn’t you say your senior brother was a dangerous person? That’s why I was on guard,” Song Hao said with a smile. He then laid Li He down on the bed.
“Your deadly needles aren’t as fast as mine! If you master the deadly needle technique and make it more aggressive, I might not be able to control you. Now let me take your pulse.” As Song Hao spoke, he took Li He’s pulse, focused his mind, and began to examine it carefully.
"Brother Song, you didn't know you could pinpoint people with needles!" Qiu Ru exclaimed in surprise.
Tang Yu laughed and said, "That's all he knows how to do for self-defense. If he succeeds, great, otherwise he'll be controlled by others. But with his close-range surprise attack, there's really no one in the world who can withstand his needle."
"I was truly amazed by his move!" Luo Feiying exclaimed with a smile. Song Hao had once used his Thunderbolt Needle Technique to save Luo Feiying from danger.
"Really!" Qiu Ru looked at Song Hao, her eyes filled with a smile that was particularly captivating.
"Her laughter is unbearable!" Luo Feiying nudged Tang Yu secretly and muttered.
Tang Yu stood there without responding, because she saw Song Hao, who was taking Qiu Ru's pulse, turn his head and glance at her, then smile back, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.
After examining Li He's pulse, Song Hao frowned slightly. He removed the needles from Li He's hand and gestured for Tang Yu and the others to leave the room. He then locked the iron door again.
“With all six meridians damaged, the prognosis is indeed poor. I suspect he used a self-inflicted fatal needle technique to torture himself!” Song Hao said.
"What? Senior Brother Li He tortured himself with the Death Needle!" Luo Feiying exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.
“That’s right, he’s torturing himself with this pain. If he can’t be cured within six months, he’ll be completely ruined,” Song Hao said.
"Song Hao, is it true that even our Tianyi Hall can't save him now?" Luo Feiying asked sadly.
"I can save his life, but it will be difficult to cure him completely, because he has applied at least 80% of the heavy acupuncture technique to himself. Once such a deadly needle is implanted, in a sense, he is already dead. But don't worry, I will find a way to treat him again in a few days. If he is lucky, he will recover completely." Song Hao said with a hint of hope as he looked at Wansong Ridge in front of him.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yu understood what Song Hao meant and nodded secretly.
"Really! Then why wait a few more days? Can't we treat it now?" Luo Feiying asked, both surprised and bewildered.
"The time is not right yet! To treat a special disease, we must wait for the right opportunity," Song Hao said.
"As long as my senior brother can be saved, that's all that matters," Luo Feiying said gratefully.
"Song Hao." Tang Yu walked to Song Hao's side and whispered, "Let's go back to Tianyi Hall now. We're being watched here, and staying too long will arouse suspicion."
Song Hao nodded and said to Qiu Ru, "We're going back now. If Li He has any issues, please inform Tianyi Hall immediately."
Qiu Ru said, "It's a rare treat that you, Sister Tang Yu, and Miss Luo have come to the Hundred Herbs Garden together today. I've specially prepared some Poria cocos cake. Please try it before you leave."
Song Hao smiled and said, "Thank you! But there are still important things to do at Tianyi Hall, so we can't delay. How about this, we'll take your Poria cocos cake back with us."
"Alright!" Qiu Ru said, slightly disappointed, and had someone bring out a food box. Luo Feiying happily took it and put it in the car.
"Song Hao." Qiu Ru walked to Song Hao's side and said softly, "There is a large and safe cellar for storing medicinal herbs in the Hundred Herbs Garden. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the Hundred Herbs Garden. You can put whatever you want in there. No one will know except me."
Song Hao was taken aback upon hearing this, and then realized that Qiu Ru, who was very observant, had noticed his actions on Wansong Ridge and was implying that she could provide a safe place for him.
"Thank you. Someone will contact you later," Song Hao replied softly, expressing his gratitude.
"See? They're whispering to each other again." Luo Feiying, who was already in the car, said to Tang Yu next to her with a sour expression.
"If you want to know what they said, just ask Song Hao later," Tang Yu said.
On the way back, Luo Feiying, who was driving, asked Song Hao, "Song Hao, what did Qiu Ru say to you when you were leaving? Could you tell me and Sister Tang Yu about it?"
Song Hao smiled and said, "She didn't say much, just that the Poria cocos cake she makes is stored in a very hidden place, which no one else can find, only she knows about it. Anyone who wants to eat it must go through her, because she is the owner of the Hundred Herbs Garden and this Wansong Ridge." After saying that, Song Hao glanced at Tang Yu.
Tang Yu was taken aback at first, but then she understood Song Hao's meaning. She thought to herself, "What a clever and thoughtful girl! She was able to notice all the changes on Wansong Ridge. I did my best to be discreet, but I still couldn't hide it from you. Since you are so confident, you should move into your Hundred Herbs Garden. It's also time to find a safe place for Ji Dongyang."
"Qiu Ru wouldn't be so stingy, would she? Making such a fuss over a piece of Poria cocos cake?" Luo Feiying shook her head and said.
Tang Yu and Song Hao exchanged a smile.
Just then, Song Hao's phone rang.
"Song Hao, this is Diao Cheng. Have you considered what I told you? Listen, you only have three days. You must hand over Ji Dongyang within three days to ensure your safety and that of Tianyi Hall. I suggest you hand him over to the Life and Death Gate; this way, you can redirect all the trouble to them. If you still can't make a decision after three days, I won't be able to control this situation." Diao Cheng's voice came through the phone. He then hung up.
Seeing Song Hao frown slightly after answering the phone, Tang Yu asked, "Whose call was that?"
“Diao Cheng!” Song Hao said.
"Is it that 'Ghost Hand' Diao Cheng? How did he know your phone number?" Luo Feiying asked in surprise.
“This person has arrived. But now that we know he’s a murderer, I won’t believe anything he says,” Song Hao said.