Chapter 42: The Nine Ruins of the Spiritual Pivot, Seeking Healing and Taking an Apprentice

"What?!" Qin Pojun exclaimed in horror when he heard Yun Shuhan say that his father had no pulse.

He was about to rush over, but found that his fist was still being held by Jiang Chen.

"General Qin, I have given you enough respect. You stopped me from saving your father twice; you must bear the consequences yourself, and do not vent your anger on the Zhao family!"

Jiang Chen released Qin Pojun's fist and said this. He did not fear Qin Pojun's anger or retaliation; he simply did not want to involve the innocent.

Old Master Zhao and Zhao Tingshan were deeply moved. They had not expected Jiang Chen to still be considering the Zhao family at a time like this. Had the occasion been different, they would have already knelt to pledge their loyalty to Jiang Chen.

Qin Pojun, meanwhile, was flooded with regret. If he hadn't stopped Jiang Chen from performing acupuncture on his father, then given Jiang Chen's strength as a high-level martial arts master, he might have truly been able to save his father!

Still clinging to a glimmer of hope that Yun Shuhan had misdiagnosed the situation, he rushed to the bedside to check his father's heartbeat and breathing, only to find them gone, just like the pulse.

"No!"

Struck as if by lightning, Qin Pojun swayed, gripping Old Master Qin's hand as he trembled. "Father, your son is unfilial. I am so sorry..."

"General Qin, it is all my fault. My medical skills were insufficient, and my arrogance has killed Old Master Qin!" Yun Shuhan bit her lip, her face filled with guilt and self-reproach.

"Mr. Jiang, is there really no saving Old Master Qin?" Old Master Zhao could not help but ask Jiang Chen, his voice filled with unspeakable sorrow.

"Perhaps he can still be saved." Jiang Chen looked at the old man on the bed and said indifferently, "But since I was obstructed at every turn, why should I exert myself for nothing?"

Hearing this, Qin Pojun looked up abruptly at Jiang Chen and changed his tone politely. "Mr. Jiang, can you really save my father?"

"I cannot give you a complete guarantee. If you do not trust me, General Qin, then consider as if I said nothing." Jiang Chen made it clear to him.

"I trust you, Mr. Jiang!" Qin Pojun said without hesitation, as if grabbing onto a final straw. "Please, save my father!"

"General Qin, I am not one of your soldiers, to be called when you wish and dismissed when you please. You need to give me an explanation." Jiang Chen did not see enough sincerity in Qin Pojun's attitude.

Recalling Jiang Chen's previous words and his own actions, Qin Pojun knew that when one does wrong, one must admit it and apologize.

He took off his military uniform, set it aside, and knelt before Jiang Chen. "My previous arrogance and rudeness were intolerable. I apologize to you! If you wish to break this hand that offended you, I will have no complaints!"

Yun Shuhan, Old Master Zhao, and Zhao Tingshan were all stunned. Was this really the General Qin they knew? He was actually kneeling to apologize to Jiang Chen and was even willing to sacrifice a hand!

Even if Jiang Chen had been angry, it had now dissipated. A dignified general of the Linzhou Military Region was willing to do this for his father; he was clearly a man of loyalty and filial piety. Jiang Chen had no reason not to save him.

"General Qin, please rise. I will do my utmost to save Old Master Qin!"

Jiang Chen flashed to the bedside in an instant. Silver needles imbued with inner energy appeared in his hands, and he pierced them into Old Master Qin's body with lightning speed.

"Lingxu, Shencang, Yufu, Shenfeng, Youmen... could this be the legendary Lingxu Nine-Void Needling technique?!" Seeing the acupuncture points Jiang Chen was targeting, Yun Shuhan’s pupils contracted, her mouth agape, her voice filled with excitement and agitation.

"Military Doctor Yun, what is the Lingxu Nine-Void Needling?" Qin Pojun asked, sensing its significance.

"It is an ancient acupuncture technique lost to history, said to be capable of bringing the dead back to life!" Yun Shuhan replied. "I had only seen a brief mention of it in unearthed ancient medical texts. I never expected it to truly exist! The important points mentioned in the texts correspond perfectly to the ones he is using!"

"I have checked every ancient medical text in the Dragon Kingdom and never found the complete Lingxu Nine-Void Needling. Not only did he find it, he mastered it and is capable of performing it. He is simply incredible!"

At that moment, Yun Shuhan felt genuine admiration for Jiang Chen.

Qin Pojun could think of only four words: bringing the dead back to life! His father could be saved!

Yun Shuhan and Qin Pojun watched Jiang Chen without blinking—one observing the technique, the other watching his father be saved.

"Cough... pfft..."

When Old Master Qin coughed up blood, Qin Pojun and Yun Shuhan were so moved they nearly wept. It meant Old Master Qin had been brought back to life, and that the Lingxu Nine-Void Needling was real.

"Whew..."

Jiang Chen used every ounce of his strength to finish the acupuncture. He withdrew the silver needles and let out a long breath, a thin layer of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"General Qin, your father has been saved, and his cerebral infarction has been treated. He will need to rest and recuperate for a period of time." Jiang Chen told him, "However, one thing must be strictly avoided: do not let him touch tobacco or alcohol again, or I cannot say what will happen next time!"

"Yes! Thank you, Mr. Jiang!" Qin Pojun thanked him repeatedly.

"Mr. Jiang, I beg you to take me as your student! I want to learn the Lingxu Nine-Void Needling from you!" Yun Shuhan also took off her military jacket and suddenly knelt before Jiang Chen, bowing with her hands together in supplication.

"Ah?" Jiang Chen was taken aback. The change in the military doctor's attitude was so sudden he hadn't reacted yet.

Qin Pojun knew that Yun Shuhan was even prouder than he was. That she could kneel to beg to be a student showed she had been completely conquered by Jiang Chen's medical skills.

"Military Doctor Yun, please get up." Jiang Chen gestured. "I do not take students, and furthermore, you cannot learn the Lingxu Nine-Void Needling."

"I am sorry, Mr. Jiang. I misunderstood you before and misled General Qin. You can punish me however you like, as long as you agree to take me as your student!" Yun Shuhan thought Jiang Chen was blaming her. She remained kneeling, looking like a little girl who had made a mistake, begging for his forgiveness.

"Mr. Jiang, please take her as your student. She did not intend to offend you; she was only desperate to save my father. If you must punish someone, punish me!" Qin Pojun interceded for her, taking all the blame upon himself.

"That is not the reason." Jiang Chen shook his head and explained, "First, I have no intention of taking students. Second, learning the Lingxu Nine-Void Needling requires a foundation of internal energy at the high-level martial arts master stage."

Yun Shuhan immediately became dejected. Jiang Chen didn't want her, and the requirements for the technique were so difficult—she felt hit hard, facing so many setbacks for the first time!

Filled with frustration, her eyes turned red, and tears began to stream down her face.

"No, don't cry." Seeing her tears, it looked as if he had made her cry. Jiang Chen said helplessly, "Actually, I can teach you a simplified version of the Lingxu Nine-Void Needling. A beginning-level martial arts master can perform it..."

"Really?!" Yun Shuhan immediately turned her sorrow into joy, wiped her tears, and kowtowed to Jiang Chen three times. "Master is here, please accept this bow from your student!"

Jiang Chen couldn't stop her in time. Looking at her, he couldn't help but ask, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven this year!" Yun Shuhan replied honestly.

"Three years older than me?" Jiang Chen was speechless. Who takes a student older than themselves?

"A woman three years older is like holding a golden brick—it's just right!" Qin Pojun muttered to himself. He didn't say it aloud, but he felt Jiang Chen and Yun Shuhan were a perfect match.

Given the relationship between the Qin family and Yun Shuhan, whether she became Jiang Chen's student or his wife, it would be of great benefit to the Qin family. He would naturally support it with all his might.