Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The Bet
Why did Zhang Huacheng say he couldnât wake up?
Firstly, Master Baiâs old age has drastically diminished his self-healing capabilities, and previous hidden injuries combined with prolonged bed rest have caused his bodyâs functions to deteriorate.
Secondly, his meridians have atrophied, slowing blood circulation and causing blockages in some areas, similar to martial artists experiencing meridian blockage. However, for martial artists, it only makes training difficult, but for an ordinary elder like Master Bai, it results in not waking up at all.
If one wants him to wake up, the only option is to clear his meridians.
Clearing the meridians is not an unsolvable problem for Lin Xi, but for Zhang Huacheng, it is extremely difficult.
Unless Master Bai were twenty years younger, Zhang Huacheng might have used medication to impact the blocked areas within his body, but at his current age, that is absolutely impossible.
Otherwise, he wouldnât even get the chance to disperse the blockages before Master Bai, unable to withstand it, would die.
So, Zhang Huacheng says that Master Bai cannot wake up.
"Haha, young man, donât let your tongue get twisted by the wind!" Zhang Huacheng laughed angrily.
"What if he wakes up?" Lin Xi retorted angrily.
"Wake up?"
Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he wouldnât dare boast like this.
"If he wakes up, I, Zhang Huacheng, am willing to take you as my master."
These words from Zhang Huacheng shocked everyone, but they also dashed any remaining hope they had in Lin Xi, who had been confidently unwavering.
Zhang Huacheng was renowned by the people of Chuzhou as a "Divine Doctor" of the current age.
"Take me as your master?" Lin Xi was taken aback, not expecting such candidness from this elderly man.
"You lack the talent!"
This person looks as old as the elder, canât even solve this small issue with Master Bai, what use would he be?
Besides, if Iâm collecting disciples, I might as well choose a beautiful one who can kiss and cuddle.
"You, you, you..." Zhang Huacheng was furious, he had said it casually.
Others, even Bai Bing beside him, thought Lin Xi was perhaps too arrogant.
"If you can wake Grandpa Bai, I will reward you with a million!" Chen Bainan stepped forward earnestly for Master Baiâs sake.
If Lin Xi agreed, regardless of whether he could cure him, Chen Bainan would gain great favor in the Bai family. If he didnât agree, it would clearly show Lin Xiâs incapability.
Yu Cheng tugged on Bai Zhenyangâs sleeve, wanting to stop him from speaking, to leave some face for Xiaobingâs friend, but Bai Zhenyang obviously didnât care, "My Bai family will also reward a million."
Lin Xi paid no attention to Bai Zhenyang, but took a good look at Chen Bainan for the first time, did this person really think he had a good temper?
"Chen Bainan, right, I donât want your money, just slap yourself ten times!" Lin Xi said nonchalantly.
Even with Chen Bainanâs scheming, he didnât expect Lin Xi to say such a thing, but it felt as though a knife was at his throat, unable to back down, "Okay, as long as you can cure Grandpa Bai, whatâs ten slaps, Iâd be willing to do a hundred."
After all, not even the Divine Doctor could do anything, what could a rural laborer like you do?
"Alright, then a hundred." Lin Xi said.
"You..." Chen Bainan was at a loss, he had just said it casually.
"Canât keep your word? Then ten will do, more would be too much."
"Who said I wouldnât, a hundred then a hundred."
Once the words left his mouth, Chen Bainan felt like a clown.
"Pfft."
Bai Bing, who was initially feeling heavy-hearted, couldnât help but laugh, feeling a lot more at ease.
Yu Cheng seemed to see Lin Xi in a new light, Bai Xingye looked awkwardly at Chen Bainan, while Bai Zhenyang still looked furious.
"A war of words." Zhang Huacheng said softly.
At this moment, Lin Xi said as he focused on Bai Bing, "You have a beautiful smile, you should smile more often."
Bai Bing felt a mix of anger and amusement, this rascal just says whatever he pleases, regardless of whether people are present or not, "Arenât you going to treat my grandpa?"
Her words were slightly coquettish, inadvertently piercing Chen Bainanâs heart.
Lin Xi said no more, taking out a rectangular wooden box from his bag, opening it to reveal over a dozen slender silver needles, glinting coldly under the light, lying silently in the box.
Zhang Huacheng, not far away, though he didnât hold Lin Xi in any regard, couldnât help but focus when it came to Chinese acupuncture.
Especially when he saw Lin Xi, with the speed of a blink, take out a silver needle from the box and immediately disinfect it, such skilled techniques were not something ordinary people could perform.
At this moment, Lin Xi concentrated his spirit and energy.
Master Baiâs condition, albeit difficult for Lin Xi, allowed no room for distraction.
Slowly untying the elderâs outer garment, revealing the skin-and-bones upper body, Lin Xi couldnât help but furrow his brow, such a case made finding the acupoints much easier, but the burden of impacting the meridian blockages became much greater.
Gently pressing down on several acupoints with his left thumb, Lin Xi took a deep breath, focused, and suddenly murmured to himself,
"The First Needle of the Nine Divine Needles of Heaven-Reversing, Endless Growth!"
In an instant, three silver needles were inserted into Master Baiâs body, and his pale complexion became slightly rosy.
Others found it difficult to notice, but Zhang Huacheng was suddenly astounded. If he had underestimated Lin Xi earlier, now his breath was held.
Ahh...
He couldnât believe what he was seeing, as if in a dream.
"The Nine Divine Needles of Heaven-Reversing!"
The legendary acupuncture of Huaxia, rumored to be for the ancient mighty ones, allowing ascension to immortality.
Though exaggerated, ancient texts recorded the first three needles, with the first being what Lin Xi had just performed.
With just this needle, Master Bai could live an additional five or six years.
But if this was the only needle known, it still couldnât wake Master Bai.
While Zhang Huacheng was amazed, Lin Xi murmured again,
"The Second Needle of the Heaven-Reversing, Revive the Dead."
This needle, legendary for locking dissipating souls and having a nourishing effect, restoring the soul to its best current state.
Sweat faintly appeared on Lin Xiâs forehead.
Administering the Nine Divine Needles of Heaven-Reversing wasnât easy, requiring extensive concentration and oneâs own True Qi. If not for his enigmatic Cultivation Technique, he couldnât have performed the second needle with his current ability.
However, it still wasnât enough to awaken Master Bai.
At most, with these two needles, Master Bai could live another ten years, but he would remain in a vegetative state, unconscious.
Unless the third needle of the Nine Divine Needles of Heaven-Reversing, Purging and Cleansing, was used.
But Lin Xi had never used this needle before, having no guarantee of success.
If this needle failed, the damage to Master Baiâs body wouldnât be too severe.
At worst, everything would revert to the original state.
"My ancestorâs spirit is showing, in a lifetime I can see the Nine Divine Needles of Heaven-Reversing, and more than one needle!"
Zhang Huacheng was already moved beyond measure.
If he werenât worried about affecting Lin Xiâs treatment, he would have knelt immediately, kowtowed, and taken Lin Xi as his master.
Itâs said that even Hua Tuo only mastered the first needle.