Chapter 709: Raise the Stakes

Chapter 709: Chapter 709: Raise the Stakes

(Third Installment)

“Even if you win this competition, or if one day you truly become the best acupuncturist in the world, if you want to decorate your clinic, you might as well ask me to write a scroll. It will certainly be of higher artistic merit than the calligraphy currently hanging up there,” said Luo Ziling after admiring the characters he had just written. Only then did he put down his brush contentedly.

Writing with a slight anger, Luo Ziling’s characters turned out even more exceptional than usual, and he was very satisfied with it himself.

If there were no one else around, and only Yang Qingyin was standing by his side, he would surely have pointed to the characters and bragged to her.

Although he did not boast today, his expression was still quite smug after setting down his brush.

“Luo Family boy, don’t get carried away just because you can write a few characters,” Gu Jian’an would certainly not admit that Luo Ziling’s writing was better than his own. After scrutinizing the cursive script written by Luo Ziling, he said contemptuously, “It’s all superficial. I hope your acupuncture skill won’t disappoint later.”

Saying this, he then barked at Gu Changwei, “Bring out our Copper Man.”

Upon hearing Gu Jian’an mention bringing out a Copper Man, Luo Ziling’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Gu Jian’an has an acupuncture bronze man here?

Luo Ziling learned from his grandfather’s words and some research that, during the Song Dynasty, the renowned medical scientist Wang Weiyi did extensive research in acupuncture studies, compiling the great achievements of his predecessors into the book “The Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points on Bronze Figures,” and at the command of Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, he created two acupuncture bronze man figures.

“The Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points on Bronze Figures” was naturally one of the most famous medical books related to acupuncture treatment from ancient times, but what was most miraculous were the two acupuncture bronze man figures personally supervised by Wang Weiyi in their creation.

The acupuncture bronze man, also known as the “Divine Bronze Figures of Acupuncture,” was cast in fine bronze to form models of acupuncture, in the same size as an average adult male. The outer shell comprised two sections, front and back, with internal organs fitted inside. The surface was engraved with fourteen meridian lines including the hand’s three yang meridians, along with six hundred and fifty-seven acupoints. The names of the acupoints were marked next to them; the craftsmanship was extremely delicate and suitable for teaching and testing.

During use, yellow wax was applied to the surface of the bronze figure, the acupoint holes were plugged, and water or mercury was injected inside the body. If the examinee or apprentice chose the correct acupoint and punctured it with the needle, the mercury or water would spurt out from the acupoint. If they failed to hit the acupoint, meaning they chose the wrong acupoint, then no liquid would come out, and the needle could not even be inserted.

These two copper figures, combined with “The Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points on Bronze Figures,” were the classic textbooks for learning acupuncture studies.

There were two acupuncture bronze man figures, and after they were cast, they were placed in the Hanlin Medical Academy and Renji Hall of the Great Xiangguo Temple in the capital Bianliang, respectively.

At the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, when the Jurchens invaded from the north, the whereabouts of one of the bronze figures became unknown.

In the eighth year of the Zhengtong reign during the Ming Dynasty, considering that the meridians and acupoints on the Copper Man had become blurred and difficult to discern, Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Zhu Qizhen, ordered skilled craftsmen to make copies. Since then, the acupuncture bronze man from the Song Dynasty was lost to records and its whereabouts became unknown, and even if copies appeared later, they were just that—copies.

Luo Ziling had never seen a Copper Man, but he had studied “The Illustrated Manual of Acupuncture Points on Bronze Figures” since he was young. Not having used a Copper Man for teaching was Luo Ziling’s regret, as well as Luo Liansheng’s.

Luo Liansheng regretted not only his inability to possess a Copper Man but also his inability to create one.

Luo Ziling did not know whether Gu Jian’an’s reference to “bringing out the Copper Man” meant they were preparing to bring out an acupuncture bronze man for the competition.

While Luo Ziling was curious, Gu Changwei directed several people around him to move a statue covered in red cloth from the next room.

Wu Hongwei had heard about the acupuncture bronze man, but Wang Tongshan, who was not a medical student, and Yang Qingyin had not. Therefore, they did not understand the significance of the acupuncture bronze man, so when Gu Changwei very respectfully instructed his subordinates to place the figure in the reception room, they did not react much.

After placing the figure properly, Gu Jian’an himself lifted the red cloth covering its head.

The moment the red cloth was lifted, Luo Ziling and Wu Hongwei couldn’t help but exclaim.

“I believe Teacher Wu has heard of the acupuncture bronze man, haven’t you?” Seeing both Wu Hongwei and Luo Ziling change their expressions, Gu Jian’an was quite proud. He dismissed Wu Hongwei’s reaction and said disdainfully to Luo Ziling, “That year when I challenged your grandfather to a contest of acupuncture skill, we bet on this Copper Man. If he had won, the Copper Man would have been his. But Sir Luo didn’t have the courage to compete with me, hence this Copper Man has always belonged to me.”

“However, this is neither a Copper Man from the Song Dynasty nor a replica of the Divine Bronze Figures of Acupuncture from the Ming Dynasty; it was made by later generations,” Luo Ziling stepped forward, observed carefully, and said to Gu Jian’an, “Therefore, this Bronze Figure does not have great value as a cultural artifact.”

“But its practical use is significant, isn’t it?” Gu Jian’an did not deny Luo Ziling’s words. He chuckled and said, “Thanks to this Bronze Figure, I have taught many disciples with outstanding acupuncture skills, and Chang Wei is one of them.”

“Are you planning to include this Bronze Figure as a part of the bet?” Luo Ziling looked at Gu Jian’an in surprise, “If you want to add this Copper Man to the bet, I need to think about how to transport it afterward.”

Luo Ziling’s arrogant words nearly made Gu Jian’an choke in fury.

What made him even more inclined to strike out was Luo Ziling’s next statement, which belittled him further.

“Anyway, it’s not much use to you here. It would be better to lose it to me as a bet, as I can put the Copper Man to much greater use,” Luo Ziling said, ignoring Gu Jian’an’s impending explosion and casually added, “I can also add something you might be interested in into the bet, an unnamed Collection of Prescriptions compiled by my grandfather.”

“Luo Ziling, don’t push your luck,” Gu Changwei couldn’t hold back. Seeing his grandfather getting very angry, he jumped up, shouted furiously at Luo Ziling, “This is the Gu Family’s heirloom, not something you can compare to a book of random prescriptions you’ve concocted. You’re going too far, always belittling us. If you keep this up, don’t blame us for not showing you face.”

Unexpectedly, Gu Jian’an did not get angry but showed an unusual expression and coldly pressed, “Is Sir Luo’s Collection of Prescriptions with you?”

“Of course,” Luo Ziling said, and he pulled out a thread-bound book from the pocket he had brought, “Right here.”

“Let me see it!” Gu Jian’an reached out to Luo Ziling, “I want to check its authenticity.”

“Impossible,” Luo Ziling flatly refused, tucking the thick volume back into his pocket, “If you win against me, this Collection of Prescriptions will be yours, and you can look at it as much as you want. But until you win against me, you won’t get a chance to see its content. If you doubt that this Collection of Prescriptions is genuine, that’s your prerogative. I won’t force you to believe it.”

“…”