Xiao Zongting sat in the chair, his lips still trembling, his face covered in tears. This old man who had faced life and death was still unable to calm his emotions.
Duan Rong picked up a porcelain pot from the tea table, poured a cup of clear water, and handed it to Xiao Zongting.
Xiao Zongting’s hand shook slightly as he brought the teacup to his lips, taking a couple of sips, finally calming down slowly.
Seeing his sowhat worried expression, Duan Rong, who was standing beside him, asked, "From whom did you learn this acupuncture skill?"
If not for Duan Rong’s tily intervention just now, it seems that Xiao Baijiao might not have made it...
Duan Rong sighed softly and began to tell the prepared story, slowly and profoundly.
"When I was about ten years old, a neighbor moved in nearby, an elderly man, slightly hunched and living alone."
"I noticed that alone he found it difficult to manage daily tasks, so at tis, I would gather so wild fruits for him."
"Occasionally, I also helped him chop wood, fetch water, and do so odd chores!"
"After a few months of such interaction, he began to teach painting and acupuncture."
"He taught for about a year, and then one day, he suddenly disappeared."
"I asked all the nearby neighbors, but nobody knew where he had gone."
"Now, six or seven years have passed... and I have never seen him again..."
As Duan Rong narrated slowly, Xiao Zongting’s emotions completely cald down. He sighed a long, deep breath, wiped away the remaining tears on his face, and said, "That old man must have had a mysterious background... this is also a stroke of luck for you, young one!"
The night he gave Duan Rong the Second Level Inner Breath formula, he noticed Duan Rong’s familiarity with human acupoints, which surprised him at the ti, though he didn’t ask further.
So it turns out, this young boy had such an experience!
This child not only comforts him in his old age but also saved Baijiao’s life, considered a blessing to the Xiao Family!
Naturally, Xiao Zongting had no doubts about Duan Rong’s story. Whether it was painting or acupuncture, these were skills Duan Rong indeed mastered.
If no one taught him, could these skills have co from his mother’s womb?
After they chatted for a while, lasting no more than the ti of a burning incense stick, Gu Suxiu erged from the inner room to the east.
Gu Suxiu, his hair was grey, walked with a heavy step. A layer of fine sweat covered his forehead, and his eyes showed a slightly weary look.
Evidently, the treatnt of Xiao Baijiao cost him a trendous amount of energy!
"Brother Gu! How is Baijiao?"
Seeing Gu Suxiu co out, Xiao Zongting imdiately stood up, asking urgently.
Duan Rong, standing aside, also looked at Gu Suxiu with concern.
Gu Suxiu’s lips moved slightly, wanting to speak but hesitated as he looked at Duan Rong.
Duan Rong imdiately understood, realizing that Gu Suxiu did not recognize him. What he was about to say could pertain not only to Xiao Baijiao’s condition but even her life and death.
Such confidential information was not suitable to be announced to outsiders!
Though worried about Xiao Baijiao’s safety, Duan Rong understood that it was not appropriate for him to remain.
"Elder Xiao, I have matters to attend to, and will check on the Second Miss a bit later." Duan Rong bowed to Xiao Zongting and then to Gu Suxiu before turning and leaving.
At this mont, Xiao Zongting was preoccupied with Xiao Baijiao, paying little attention to Duan Rong’s departure, only urging Gu Suxiu with his gaze.
Gu Suxiu sighed and sat down in the chair in front of him, leaning back, and sighed, "Brother Xiao! You must be ntally prepared... Though Baijiao has been saved this ti, another incident like this might..."
As Gu Suxiu spoke, he shook his head and sighed again.
Hearing this, Xiao Zongting felt as if struck by thunder, his legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the chair. "Baijiao... she..."
Xiao Zongting barely steadied himself by holding on to the armrest, as tears welled up in his eyes again.
"Brother Gu, if Baijiao were to go, it would rip my heart out! Please, do what you can to save her..."
"Baijiao is a child I’ve watched grow up! But Brother Xiao... her illness seems to be destined!"
After resting for a mont and regaining so strength, Gu Suxiu wrote a prescription, asking Zhu Xiaoqi to take it to the Herbal Shop to get the dicine.
The dicine promotes expelling wind and energizing Qi, nourishing blood, and improving circulation.
After Zhu Xiaoqi brought the dication back, she imdiately brewed it in the kitchen.
Gu Suxiu observed Xiao Baijiao taking her dicine, and within fifteen minutes, she fell into a steady sleep, her complexion regaining vitality.
After advising Xiao Zongting a few more words, Gu Suxiu then took his leave.
Xiao Zongting personally escorted him out.
"Brother Xiao, when I ca in earlier, who administered the needles on Baijiao’s forehead and neck?"
"It was the young boy standing next to just now..." Xiao Zongting replied absent-mindedly.
Gu Suxiu paused for a mont. "The needle technique looked quite similar to my family’s Plum Blossom Needle Technique..."
Coming from a family of dical practitioners, Gu Suxiu’s needle technique was personally taught by his grandfather.
This technique also has so history; it’s said to be created a hundred years ago by a hidden weapon master, combining acupuncture and hidden weapon techniques, truly challenging to master.
As a young man, Gu Suxiu endured a lot to learn this technique.
"That young boy... perhaps there’s so connection with !" Gu Suxiu then recalled Duan Rong’s face, rembering him as a dark-skinned, robust young man.
"Oh... he’s... a newly recruited Apprentice Escort Master this year..." Xiao Zongting, worried about Xiao Baijiao’s condition, didn’t quite register what Gu Suxiu said about the acupuncture technique.
Seeing Xiao Zongting’s absent-minded deanor, Gu Suxiu realized he was overwheld by his daughter’s condition and thus did not say more, taking his leave.
anwhile, upon leaving Xiao Zongting’s courtyard, Duan Rong went to the Martial Arts Arena, practicing his stance until 3 p.m.
Seeing the ti, Duan Rong returned to the dorm, washed off the sweat, and then set off towards the crooked willow tree on West Main Street, taking up his role as a human stand.
After completing an hour of painting work by dusk, Duan Rong packed up and went back...
On his way back to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, he purposely detoured to a pastry shop to buy so osmanthus cakes and preserved fruits.
Returning to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, Duan Rong first put his art supplies in the dorm. Although it was supper ti in the cafeteria, he didn’t go there, instead taking two packages of osmanthus cakes and preserved fruits wrapped in straw paper to Xiao Zongting’s courtyard.
As soon as Duan Rong entered the yard, he saw Zhu Xiaoqi in the outer court’s kitchen, sitting on a small stool in front of the stove, stoking the fire...
The aroma of food was already wafting through the air...
Duan Rong swallowed and walked into the kitchen, softly calling, "Xiaoqi."
Zhu Xiaoqi turned her head, the firelight from the stove illuminating her face like a blooming peach blossom.
"Why are you here?"
"Is the Second Miss feeling any better?"
Zhu Xiaoqi snapped a few thin pieces of wood in her hands, stuffing them into the stove as she sighed and said, "She’s already resting... it’s her old ailnt... Though this year is causing more trouble!"
Zhu Xiaoqi was unaware of the severity of Xiao Baijiao’s condition, thinking it was like previous years, a minor issue that would pass.
"Please give this to the Second Miss for ! Tell her to take good care of her health." Duan Rong handed the two packages to Zhu Xiaoqi and said.
User Comments
0 comments from readers