91 Composed Acupuncture Diagnosis
Since Li Yuer’s Qi had safely entered the courtyard, Xu Ping’an naturally did not hesitate any longer.
This Old Master Qian, Qian Zhongyi, was actually a distant relative of his father, though by now the connection was barely traceable.
Fortunately, Xu Ping’an still remembered from childhood that this old gentleman had a good relationship with his father and was one of the rare cross-generational friends.
Back when the Xu Family was rising steadily in status, this Old Master Qian had contributed significantly.
But later, the old man went to the capital, and the distance from his hometown was neither very far nor very close. Over time, their contact grew infrequent.
Until finally, the Xu Family was utterly destroyed—both husband and wife were schemed against and killed by bandits, their bodies devoured by wild beasts so completely that no intact remains could be recovered.
As for when Qian Zhongyi later received the news and hurried to contact Xu Ping’an, by then he was already on his way back from seeking immortality.
Coincidentally, Qian Zhongyi was seriously ill at that time, and Xu Ping’an treated him.
That was when Xu Ping’an and Qian Zhongyi first met.
The silver needles in his hand quickly landed on Old Master Qian’s face and head, each needle trembling slightly the moment it was inserted.
With every needle inserted, the previously immobile limbs of the old man twitched faintly.
When all the needles were in place, Old Master Qian’s head looked like a bristling porcupine, with needles standing one after another, many inserted over half their length.
As Xu Ping’an gently moved the needles, a drop of black blood suddenly coughed out from the old man’s nasal cavity.
Yes, he coughed, and then a few drops of black, congealed blood fell from his nose—clearly clotted blood, sticking like black residue at the corner of his mouth.
“Hm? What is this!?”
Qian Zhongyi touched the corner of his mouth, and when he saw the thick bloodstains left on the back of his hand, he was slightly startled.
“Old Master Qian, there’s no need to be alarmed. This is some stagnant blood in your brain. Due to the brain’s unique structure, it’s rare for blood to be expelled through the mouth, so I guided the stagnant blood to the nasal cavity, where you coughed it out yourself.”
“Oh~ I see, hahahaha. Little Xu’s methods are truly impressive—probably better than even the Imperial Physicians in the palace, haha~”
Looking at the wrinkles piled up on Qian Zhongyi’s face from his smile, his eyes were kind with a hint of relief, clearly very satisfied with Xu Ping’an.
“You flatter me, Old Master Qian. My little tricks are only enough to scrape by in this rural area—I wouldn’t dare compare myself to those Imperial Physicians.”
Xu Ping’an smiled and continued to gently manipulate the silver needles.
Visible to the naked eye, as the needles moved, the muscles on Qian Zhongyi’s forehead twitched involuntarily; his nostrils flared slightly twice, followed by an uncontrollable bout of coughing.
Then, several irregularly sized blood clots and fresh blood flowed out from his nose.
“Father!?”
Qian Guoshun, standing nearby, was shocked and hurried forward to inquire, but Qian Zhongyi waved him back.
“Step aside!”
With a sudden surge of strength, he sat upright.
A joyful expression appeared on his aged face as he glanced at Xu Ping’an.
“Youngsters are truly admirable, so admirable~”
“Old Master Qian, although you can now move your limbs with strength, the prolonged blockage has affected your brain somewhat. You may not be able to walk independently in the short term and will need some time to rest. During this period, get plenty of sunshine and have the servants massage you regularly to prevent bedsores.”
Seeing fresh blood flowing from the old man’s nostrils confirmed that the stagnant blood in his brain had mostly cleared.
Fortunately, the amount wasn’t much—about the size of a fingertip.
While withdrawing the silver needles from Qian Zhongyi’s head and placing them into the box, Xu Ping’an advised.
“Also, I will prescribe some medicine for you. You must take it on time. I will give you three sets.”
“Three sets? Until when must I take them?”
A bitter expression briefly appeared on Qian Zhongyi’s face, and Xu Ping’an smiled gently.
“Old Master Qian, don’t worry. One set is for your current recovery; you only need to take it for one month. The other two sets, although medicines, can be brewed as tea. Every spring in the third month and every autumn in the ninth month, use these two sets as tea for Old Master Qian. Taking them for half a month each time will guarantee you health and vitality for at least fifteen years.”
“Oh? Such wonderful medicine! Excellent, excellent. Then I shall follow this prescription from now on.”
Xu Ping’an approached the desk.
Just as he prepared to grind the ink stick, a quick-handed maid snatched it up first.
“Sir, please take the brush.”
The young maid showed some insight, and Xu Ping’an smiled and nodded approvingly.
He wrote three prescriptions on three sheets of Xuan paper and handed them to Qian Guoshun.
“Master Qian, this prescription is for Old Master Qian’s current treatment. He should take one dose daily for a month. These are the Spring Tea Prescription and Autumn Tea Prescription. Remember to brew these as tea every year in the third and ninth months, and have Old Master Qian drink them. Each time, half a month’s course is sufficient.”
“Thank you, Sir. I will order the servants to prepare the medicine immediately!”
Qian Guoshun was a filial son, despite political differences with Qian Zhongyi. The old man was a steadfast moderate, while he was more radical.
But regardless of faction, the father-son relationship was intact.
“Little Xu, can I drink alcohol now?”
“Old Master Qian, you absolutely must not drink now—no alcohol at all for this month. In the future, if you do drink, please control the amount and never get drunk, or serious trouble will arise.”
“Ah~ Very well.”
Since the illness was cured, Xu Ping’an naturally clasped his fists and prepared to return to the side room.
“Old Master Qian, since the consultation is complete, I’ll head back to the side room and check if the ladies are well.”
“Good, good. Go ahead. Rest assured, within this small piece of land in the Qian Mansion, you will be safe.”
These words were a clear indication.
The old man’s eyes were full of kindness, and with that, he nodded.
“Since that’s the case, I’ll trouble you tonight.”
“Very well, very well~ But when you leave tomorrow, you must bring that girl for me to see.”
“That’s a given.”
Led by a servant, Xu Ping’an arrived at the East side room.
Upon arrival, Zhou Liang stood at the door, his right hand resting on the knife at his waist, his gaze alertly sweeping the surroundings.
Seeing this, Zhao Pingzhi, who had followed Xu Ping’an, immediately became vigilant and looked around warily.
“There’s no need to be so tense; this is the Qian Mansion.”
Xu Ping’an smiled and turned his gaze toward the courtyard walls beyond the side room.
At that moment, several martial arts experts were lurking outside, and under his Observing Qi Technique, their true forms were fully revealed.