Chapter 16: The Flying Needle Acupuncture Technique

“Little lad, carrying a needle case to school, fearless of sun or storm, but dreading only my wife’s scolding…” Humming a nursery rhyme, Ling Xuan stepped out of the Changping Prince’s mansion. At Yang Xuangan’s invitation, he headed to the Imperial Medical Office.

The bronze pillar of the “Heavenly Pivot of Ten Thousand Nations” stood under the glow of purple sunlight, its shadow slanting across the Luo River. Black blood mist seeped from cracks along its shaft.

The carriage from the Yue King’s residence rolled slowly forward. Yang Xuangan lifted the curtain and teased, “Young master, you seem in high spirits. Looks like your princess has made you quite happy?”

“Your Grace, are you interested in the little joys between a young couple?” Ling Xuan smiled playfully. “Or how about gifting me another Tianshan snow lotus? My wife has tasted it, but I haven’t. That’s hardly fair.”

Yang Xuangan laughed heartily. “The Imperial Medical Office has countless rare herbs and precious medicines. With your mastery of the Taiji acupuncture technique, you’re bound to be valued. I suspect your elder brother will have to rely on you in the future.”

“Your Grace, would the Chief Physician really accept a rustic village lad like me?” Ling Xuan asked as he vaulted into the carriage. “Not everyone is as generous as my brother.”

“The Divine Emperor is wise. Your merit in acupuncture will bring ample rewards,” Yang Xuangan chuckled. “The Imperial Medical Office tests skills in herb identification, detoxification, and acupuncture. I have faith in you.”

Herb identification?

A faint smile curved Ling Xuan’s lips. Since childhood, his grandfather had taken him wandering through fields and mountains. Was it all for this day?

Crossing the threshold of the Imperial Medical Office, he found someone waiting. The man bowed with disdain. “Prince Yue, is the Changping Prince’s heir here to gain fame without effort, or does he truly seek to learn?”

“Chief Physician Cui, by imperial decree, the young prince is to study here,” Yang Xuangan replied with a smile. “But before entry, he must pass an assessment to determine his rank.”

With a wave of his hand, the man overturned a medicine box. Herbs spilled across the floor. Cui stroked his long beard. “Sort these within the time of one incense stick. One mistake, and you’re out of the Imperial Medical Office. Prince Yue, any objections?”

“Proceed as you wish,” Yang Xuangan said calmly, patting Ling Xuan’s shoulder. “Brother, don’t let the Yuwen family underestimate you.”

The Yuwen family?

Was this Chief Physician Cui connected to the Yuwen clan?

Ling Xuan’s smile deepened. “Chief Physician Cui, if I correctly identify these herbs, what position might I earn?”

“An entrance exam grants no position,” Cui sneered, raising his eyebrows. “If you lack confidence, you may leave immediately.”

“Such a trivial task hardly requires my hands,” Ling Xuan chuckled, stroking a small white snake. “Little one, you’ve eaten for free every day—no slacking now. Get to work.”

“Hiss…”

The white snake leapt into the herb pile, its tongue flicking over cinnabar, gentian, licorice powder, and more. The powders moved along its tail, sorting themselves into compartments.

Cui was struck dumb. “Is this even possible?”

Yuwen Chengxiang had specially instructed him to sabotage Ling Xuan, to prevent him from entering the Imperial Medical Office. That was why he awaited him at the door with this challenge.

Who would have guessed that the Changping Prince’s heir would use a small white snake to separate the herbs?

Yang Xuangan’s lips twitched as he murmured, “Could it be that this lad truly wields the Great Spirit Snake Entwining the Moon and communes with the White Chi?”

“Chief Physician Cui, the realgar powder on your sleeve has touched the Atractylodes,” Ling Xuan smiled faintly, pinching a bit of yellow powder and blowing gently. “This snake-repelling medicine… was it meant specifically for me?”

***

“By imperial decree and witness of the Yue King, how could a humble physician like me cheat?” Cui shook his head, his brows twitching as he posed another challenge. “Young master, since you have confidence, how about combining detoxification and acupuncture?”

“If I complete both, will I enter the Imperial Medical Office?” Ling Xuan smiled.

With a wave, a patient in a coma was brought forward. Cui nodded. “If you succeed in both tasks, you may join as a military medical officer.”

“Brother, I’m counting on you,” Yang Xuangan stepped back. “I’ll visit Chief Physician Chao. Await good news.”

Ling Xuan’s eyes flicked to the patient. He gasped inwardly—the man’s condition was identical to that of Uncle Gou’s, the dog-nosed soldier. His face was deathly pale, and black mist oozed from his nostrils.

Yet there were differences. Uncle Gou’s body had scales; this patient had none. Something wriggled inside him.

Uncle Gou was part of the Gray Hawk unit led by Yuwen Chengxiang. Remembering Yuwen Chengxiang’s look when leaving the Luo River tavern, Ling Xuan drew his silver needles, a smirk on his lips. “Yuwen Chengxiang has truly gone to great lengths to deal with me.”

When Uncle Gou had summoned a demonic soul to consume him, Ling Xuan had discovered it was actually a poisonous insect, its powder concealed within blood-red characters. After destroying the soul, he had incinerated the insect then and there.

But now, the white snake’s apathy indicated the patient’s parasite was not nourished by a snake demon soul.

Previously, the Ling Snake Entwining the Moon had been effective because it absorbed the demonic soul.

Now, Ling Snake Entwining the Moon must not reveal itself before Yuwen’s lackeys.

If the silver needle pierced the poisonous insect, it would burrow into the attacker’s body.

He could not simply jab the needle, but to enter the Imperial Medical Office, acupuncture was unavoidable. The Yuwen family’s scheming was indeed meticulous.

Silently activating the Taiji Infinite Technique, Ling Xuan stepped back nine paces.

“Giving up?” Cui laughed. “The entrance is over there. Don’t lose your way.”

“Who said I’m giving up?”

Stretching his arms and twisting his waist, Ling Xuan yawned. “Just warming up, wouldn’t want to misplace the acupuncture points.”

“Quickly now, don’t waste time,” Cui urged.

“Watch carefully. It’s a flying needle show, admission charged,” Ling Xuan said, palm spinning a Taiji pattern. Silver needles flew out—three in rapid succession—tracing the path of the Benevolent Heart White Needle technique he had learned with Qiu Rui’s help, the image of a spirit snake flickering its tongue.

Each needle penetrated, black blood mist instantly oozing from their tails. Three slender blood worms darted along the needle paths toward him.

The snake-shaped shadows instantly unfolded. Ling Xuan grinned and dodged behind Cui.

Cui’s lips twitched in surprise. He hurriedly scattered medicinal powder ahead.

“Sizzle…”

The blood worms fell onto the blue brick floor, turning to bloodstains in a blink, releasing green-black smoke.

“Well done, excellent flying needle skill!” Yang Xuangan clapped and cheered.

An elder nearby’s eyes gleamed sharply. “Impressive. Skilled acupuncture, precise point recognition. Changping Prince’s heir, it is an honor to have you join our Imperial Medical Office.”

***

“Enjoyed the performance. Shall I collect the fee?” Ling Xuan smiled. “Too bad the audience is small. Even with tickets, revenue would be meager. Chief Physician Cui, have I passed the test?”

Before Cui could reply, the elder laughed heartily. “With such needle skills, if you can’t enter the Imperial Medical Office, who else can?”

“Brother, this is Chief Physician Chao, head of the entire office,” Yang Xuangan introduced.

“Greetings, Chief Physician,” Ling Xuan grinned. “May I ask what position you might offer me?”

“What are your thoughts on disease?” Chao asked in return.

Chao Yuanfang? Could it be truly him?

If this was Chao Yuanfang, a famed physician who regarded many ailments as caused by insect poisons…

Pleased, Ling Xuan chuckled. “Every disease is like a worm. Poisoning means being possessed by a venomous insect. Alcoholism is caused by a wine worm. Many such examples, too numerous to count.”

“An insightful view, young master. From whom did you learn such wisdom?” Chao stroked his beard, inwardly surprised by the prince’s temperament.

Ling Xuan hurried to reply, “A humble village man’s perspective. It’s difficult to speak plainly to villagers about diseases, so I use such explanations. Please forgive my presumption, Chief Physician.”

Chao smiled, stroking his beard. “Such plain language is easy to understand and worth promoting. How about you take the provisional position of Medical Officer here?”

Medical Officer?

He recalled that this position involved teaching others. Could he really share the Taiji needle technique lightly?

Recalling Chao Yuanfang’s talents—known for pioneering methods of health cultivation—he felt a surge of joy. Perhaps he could learn from him and find a way to seal his acupuncture cultivation.

Resolutely, he shook his head. “Chief Physician, my knowledge is shallow, and my needle skills not yet refined. I dare not mislead others. I cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. Perhaps grant me a chance as your assistant, so I may learn from you?”

“Chief Physician, don’t agree! This village man’s tricks are unworthy,” Cui interjected quickly. “That flying needle display was mere luck.”

Chao chuckled. “If Chief Physician Cui objects, let us add another test. Should the young master perform the flying needle technique again, he will become my assistant. Prince Yue, your thoughts?”

“Since Cui disapproves, he should try it himself,” Yang Xuangan laughed knowingly. “Brother, don’t let your hand shake and hit your heart. If you miss, one physician dies—I wonder if the Changping Prince’s household can bear that responsibility.”

Ling Xuan touched his earlobe and withdrew the three silver needles from the comatose patient. Understanding the hint, he smiled. “Chief Physician Cui, my hand does tremble a bit. Please don’t move or I might lose my sight.”

“To be Medical Officer, one must earn respect from peers,” Cui said quickly, bowing. “Since you have confidence, perform the test openly, so no one suspects the Chief Physician of favoritism or the prince of protection.”

Impressive!

Ling Xuan admired the way Cui silenced dissent with such a grand gesture, clearly a disciple of the Yuwen family. Pretending reluctance, he asked, “Chief Physician Cui, how shall I perform the test?”