Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Power of the Divine Taiyi Needle

Outside the ward, the elder Zhao was surrounded by his disciples, engaged in lively discussion. Yan Yuanqing listened idly for a moment, quickly losing interest. Most of their conversation was nothing more than flattery for their master. It was clear the elder Zhao possessed considerable skill. Yet this time—

“If your abilities could rival the Taiyi Divine Needle, the medical world would have little need for other doctors!” Yan Yuanqing thought to himself.

He then found an empty seat nearby, settled in quietly, and closed his eyes to rest. To Yan Yuanqing, allowing others to wield the Taiyi Divine Needle—a miraculous artifact meant solely for one individual—was a tremendous drain, not only of his internal strength, but also of his spirit. The powers that comprised the Taiyi Divine Needle originated from Yan Yuanqing himself. By forcibly severing that connection, he was, in effect, cutting off a part of himself; the impact was profound.

Still, Yan Yuanqing believed his decision was right.

He gazed at the patient lying on the bed, eyes tightly shut. Yuan Hongyu took a deep breath, calming his heart once more.

Though he was greatly excited to have received the Taiyi Divine Needle, he knew that losing focus while treating a patient would lead to mistakes, no matter what treasure he possessed.

“The patient’s lips are purple, yet the tongue coating is pale, and the pulse is very weak.” Yuan Hongyu frowned, then abruptly stood, gently shifting the patient’s body, turning him over on the bed.

A sound like running water echoed within the ward, as though fluid coursed inside the patient’s body.

Yuan Hongyu pressed his ear to the patient’s right abdomen, shook him again, and pushed upward gently with his left hand. He could distinctly feel a heavy organ pressing against his palm.

“So that’s it. This patient suffers from excessive yin deficiency, causing cold to accumulate within, ultimately affecting the liver, and spreading to all the organs, resulting in this condition!”

“In that case…”

Yuan Hongyu took out the Taiyi Divine Needle, turned the patient over, and removed his shirt, exposing the back and the area between the waist.

“Taiyi Divine Needle, let me witness your power!”

With ritual solemnity, Yuan Hongyu gripped the needle firmly in his right hand, then thrust it downward, piercing the patient’s kidney—not too deep, stopping at a precise depth.

He then began to rotate and knead the needle, unleashing its power to dispel the harmful water and cold from within the patient’s body.

After a while, Yuan Hongyu treated the left kidney in the same manner. When the entire process was complete, the allotted time had just ended.

Though he was using the Taiyi Divine Needle entrusted to him by Yan Yuanqing, Yuan Hongyu sensed that it was steadily absorbing his strength throughout the procedure.

Stepping out of the ward, Yuan Hongyu was greeted by a chorus of laughter.

“Well now, Divine Physician Yuan, what happened? You look as if you’ve just been hauled out of water!”

“Haha, surely not, Divine Physician Yuan? You treated one patient, but you look like you’ve been swimming in the sea! Go find a place to rest, don’t wear yourself out. Just remember to take down that sign from your Chinese Medicine Hall later!”

“Master, look at Divine Physician Yuan. This contest is sure to end in our victory!”

Yan Yuanqing approached Yuan Hongyu.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Yuan Hongyu let Yan Yuanqing support him, and in the blind spot of the Zhao clan physicians, a streak of golden light quietly flowed into Yan Yuanqing’s hand.

“I’m alright. It’s truly hard to imagine how you forged this Taiyi Divine Needle, Master. Even ordinary use nearly drained all my strength!”