The situation took a sudden, drastic turn!
The venue fell silent. It seemed no one had yet recovered from the shocking development!
In the Chinese live stream chat, after a brief pause of a few seconds, the bullet comments once again flooded the screen.
"HOLY FUCK, that plot twist gave me a cold sweat!"
"That was an unparalleled power move! I kneel!"
"My mom asked me why I was watching the live stream on my knees. I told her I was worshipping a Great God!"
"I was wrong. A moment ago, I was saying this guy was trying to act cool but just made himself look like an idiot. Now I know I'm the real idiot! This dude is a master manipulator. He straight up dug a pit for that Japanese ghost! And the funny thing is, the Japanese ghost was so obedient he just jumped right in!"
"That Kobayashi Haruo guy probably thought he'd not only successfully shown off, but also learned the real Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique. He never expected that the whole thing was a setup from the start... I finally get why that young man was talking so fast earlier. He did it on purpose to not give Kobayashi Haruo a chance to think!"
"How old is the person who commented before me? You sound so old and pompous!"
"Sigh, I'm old, talking about age is just depressing! Never mind, my mom's calling me to do my homework. I'm already the top dog of the seventh grade, yet I still fall prey to the demon clutches of homework. What a disgrace!"
In stark contrast to the lively Chinese stream, where everyone was worshipping the Great God, the live stream in East Japan was dead silent. For several minutes, not a single comment appeared, making the host wonder if the network had disconnected or the system had crashed...
Zhao Yuan spoke, breaking the silence.
"Mr. Kobayashi, did you get a clear look at the acupuncture technique Dr. He just demonstrated? What do you have to say for yourself now?"
Kobayashi Haruo clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Zhao Yuan, filled with fury and resentment.
For this challenge against the Jing City Acupuncture Association, he and his team had made all sorts of preparations and anticipated various scenarios. But they never expected such an uninvited guest to appear! And this kid actually recognized the Little Nine Probing Needle Method, completely shattering his plans in an instant!
'Is it really true that man proposes, and God disposes? No, I have to find a way to fix this! This is being live-streamed. If I can't clear my name, the reputation I've worked so hard to build will be utterly ruined! The Chinese doctors I defeated before might even realize I cheated during our competitions...'
Kobayashi Haruo wracked his brain, rapidly thinking of a countermeasure.
He was indeed quick-witted, managing to come up with an excuse in just over ten seconds.
After taking a deep breath to compose himself, Kobayashi Haruo said in a heavy voice, "I admit, the four probes I performed, including Spiritual Snake Probing the Moon, are not, in fact, the true Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique!"
His direct admission sent the crowd into an uproar. But Kobayashi Haruo wasn't finished. He continued, "However, the other five probes I performed were not from the Little Nine Probes. They are the genuine, authentic Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique!"
It had to be said, Kobayashi Haruo's response was clever. Since his trick had already been exposed, stonewalling would be useless. It was better to admit his mistake. At the same time, however, he insisted that his other five probes were real. After all, the other five probes had long been lost. Not even He Chengwei knew them, so there was no way to prove he was using a counterfeit version and not the genuine article!
Without a doubt, Kobayashi Haruo's words caused the uproar in the crowd to grow several times louder!
"So shameless!"
"Exactly, right? He's already been called out for using a fake acupuncture technique, but he still won't fully admit it!"
"It looks like this little ghost is banking on the fact that the other five probes of the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique are lost, so no one can prove him wrong or expose him. That's why he's so brazen!"
Just as the crowd guessed, that was precisely Kobayashi Haruo's plan.
If he had been up against anyone else, his scheme might have succeeded. But unfortunately for him, the person he was facing was Zhao Yuan. His wishful thinking was doomed to fail.
Zhao Yuan gave a cold smirk and retorted, "Do you really think no one can expose you for using a counterfeit?"
Kobayashi Haruo's expression changed instantly. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, 'What does he mean by that? Could it be that he knows the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique? No way, that's absolutely impossible!'
The people at the scene were also stunned, all of them trying to guess what Zhao Yuan meant. As for the live stream chat, the bullet comments had already exploded.
"Everyone, make way! The Great God is about to flex again!"
"What's going on? Don't tell me this guy also knows the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique?"
"Whatever is happening, I've got a feeling this guy from East Japan is about to get his face slapped again!"
"I support the face-slapping! Waiting for the face-slapping!"
Everyone's attention once again focused on Zhao Yuan, waiting to see what he would do.
"Dr. He, come here for a moment."
Zhao Yuan was very calm. He pulled He Chengwei over to a corner. The people around them subconsciously wanted to get closer to eavesdrop, but before they could, a single glance from Zhao Yuan stopped them in their tracks.
His gaze, imbued with the White Tiger Form of the Four Saints Technique, was like the glare of a real White Tiger, sending shivers down the spine of anyone it swept over.
The crowd couldn't get close, so naturally, they didn't know what Zhao Yuan said to He Chengwei. They could only see He Chengwei's expression shifting from astonishment to elation, like the "face-changing" art in Sichuan opera. Finally, a shocking scene unfolded: He Chengwei, a famous master of acupuncture and a full twenty-four years older than Zhao Yuan, actually dropped to his knees and kowtowed heavily to him! Although Zhao Yuan tried to stop him, he wasn't able to, and could only accept the gesture with a wry smile.
"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on? Why did Dr. He just kneel and kowtow to this guy? Don't tell me he actually taught Dr. He the lost Five Probes Technique?"
A bullet comment in the live stream chat voiced the question on everyone's mind.
Amidst the crowd's speculation, Zhao Yuan led He Chengwei back to face Kobayashi Haruo.
Glancing at the nervous Kobayashi Haruo, Zhao Yuan smirked coldly and said, "Dr. He, show Mr. Kobayashi what the real other five probes of the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique look like. Let's see if he has any other excuses left!"
"Alright!" He Chengwei nodded in agreement. He picked up a Golden Needle, brandished it at Kobayashi Haruo, and said, "Mr. Kobayashi, watch closely!"
The moment he finished speaking, the Golden Needle began to dance between his fingers. He was performing the five probes from the Spiritual Snake Nine Probing Needle Technique that had been lost for hundreds of years! Although at first glance it looked very similar to what Kobayashi Haruo had demonstrated, in reality, the two were completely different in many details and key points.
The Five Probes Technique that He Chengwei demonstrated was clearly several times more exquisite than the one Kobayashi Haruo had just performed!