C18 Acupuncture

"Dad, let's not do the check-up here. Let me have a look first," Soong Fei offered as he settled onto the edge of the bed. He extended his hand, gently placing two fingers on the old man's wrist.

Soong Li, observing Soong Fei seemingly taking their father's pulse, couldn't hide her irritation. "I asked you to talk to Dad, not to mess around. What are you doing?"

"I've picked up a bit of the Apricot Forest Technique. I'm just checking Dad's pulse first."

Soong Li bristled with impatience, her eyes wide with exasperation as she watched him, though she held her tongue.

The old man kept shooting Soong Fei pointed looks, clearly hoping to hear that there was nothing wrong with him.

Just then, a doctor entered the room and noticed Soong Fei at work. The doctor's eyebrows knitted together in a frown, but he remained silent, standing off to the side, observing.

When Soong Fei withdrew his hand, the old man asked eagerly, "My body's okay, isn't it?"

"I can't confirm anything just yet. I need to examine you further," Soong Fei replied, his voice steady.

After swallowing hard, he instructed, "Let's turn you on your side first."

He assisted the old man in turning to one side, then pressed gently along the center of his spine before helping him back to a flat position.

The old man asked urgently, "Well? Is everything alright?"

Soong Fei maintained a composed expression. He had just learned from his sister that the old man had been injured on the job, and the responsible party had shown no concern.

Knowing the old man as he did, Soong Fei was certain that if the other party refused to cover the medical expenses, the old man would stubbornly refuse treatment.

This insight confirmed Soong Fei's suspicions about the old man's condition.

"There is a problem—a serious one," he said gravely. "There's a compression fracture of the twelfth thoracic vertebra. Without immediate treatment, paralysis could be a risk."

He thought to himself about the Wong family, "Once Dad's better, I'll take care of you."

Meanwhile, the old man grew frantic. "You're making this up, just trying to frighten me into getting checked."

Soong Li finally caught on, silently admiring her brother's thoroughness.

She hastily interjected, "Dad, I've heard that little brother has truly mastered some of the Apricot Forest Technique. You should trust us to examine you."

"Examine what? Just go and handle the discharge paperwork."

The attending doctor chimed in, "Sir, you might indeed have a fracture, but we need an X-ray to determine where it is. That will put Little Li and Soong Fei's minds at ease."

"No X-ray for me. You doctors just want to take my hard-earned money!"

Witnessing the exchange, Soong Fei spoke up with measured calm, "Dad, we can skip the X-ray, but we still need to address your illness."

He glanced at the doctor and requested in a low voice, "Doctor, could you please bring over a set of silver needles?"

The doctor's brow furrowed. "Treating patients is serious business. Please don't act rashly."

Initially, the doctor thought Soong Fei was just trying to scare Soong Yuangui, which is why he had played along earlier. But now, with Soong Fei asking for needles, it seemed like sheer folly.

Soong Fei asserted with confidence, "When acupuncture is practiced to its full potential, even reviving the dead isn't out of the question. Please, quickly fetch a set of needles for me."

The doctor's irritation grew, "This is a hospital. You've been here three days without a proper checkup. Are the family members going to start meddling too?"

He looked at Soong Li and said, "Teacher Soong, if it weren't for the respect I have for you, I would have sent you all packing by now."

Soong Li replied with urgency, "Dr. Qi, I apologize sincerely."

She turned to Soong Fei, "I asked you to persuade Dad, what on earth are you doing?"

Soong Fei addressed Dr. Qi, "Dr. Qi, your experience with the Apricot Forest Technique may not be extensive, and for that, I don't fault you."

"The man in that bed is my father. Do you think I would harm him?"

"Thank you for agreeing to bring the silver needles. Observing my treatment will be a rare and valuable experience."

Dr. Qi had shown respect for his sister, and despite his earlier impatience, Soong Fei was ready to afford him the chance to witness something extraordinary.

However, his words struck a nerve with Doctor Qi, who took them as a challenge.

Infuriated, Qi retorted, "You claim to know the Apricot Forest Technique? Such shameless boasting."

"You just mentioned your father has a compression fracture of the twelfth thoracic vertebra, correct? Do you dare to have him get an X-ray? If it truly is a compression fracture of the T12 vertebra, my clinic will cover the costs of the X-ray and all subsequent treatment."

"But if it turns out otherwise, you owe me an apology and must acknowledge your ignorance."

Soong Fei smiled serenely and turned to his father, "Dad, did you catch that? Doctor Qi has offered to get your X-ray done for free."

The old man replied irritably, "I'm not deaf, and it's highly unlikely that I have a fracture. You're all in cahoots, trying to trick me into getting checked. If anyone's eager for an X-ray, they can have it themselves."

Doctor Qi, now truly enraged, faced the old man and insisted, "Even if the X-ray shows no fracture of the T12 vertebra, I won't charge you a dime."

"I just want your son to realize that the Qi family's medical expertise is not to be disrespected."

Perking up, the old man quickly inquired, "You're really not going to charge me?"

"Not a penny."

"Then let's do it."

Twenty minutes later, Doctor Qi stared at the X-ray, dumbfounded.

The image clearly showed a compression fracture of the twelfth thoracic vertebra.

He glanced at Soong Fei, his mind a whirl of confusion.

Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Xuan Yuan lineage could indeed identify bone fractures, but to pinpoint the exact location of the T12 vertebra through pulse diagnosis?

Still, he trusted Soong Li's integrity. She had brought the old man straight here; he surely hadn't been elsewhere for tests.

Noticing Doctor Qi's prolonged silence, Soong Li inquired, "Doctor Qi, what's the verdict?"

"It is indeed a compression fracture of the T12 vertebra, and the condition is quite severe. I recommend surgery."

"The procedure carries minimal risk, and the recovery time should be brief..."

"Doctor Qi, I specialize in this treatment. Just a few silver needles will do the trick," Soong Fei interjected, cutting off Doctor Qi.

Dr. Qi regarded Soong Fei with a measured look. "Though I was a bit heated earlier, my recent words weren't spoken in anger. I'll waive your treatment fees. Are you certain you want to proceed on your own, using only acupuncture?"

Soong Fei gave a firm nod. "Absolutely, please fetch the silver needles quickly!"

After a moment of contemplation, Dr. Qi instructed, "Head to the hospital ward and wait for me there."

The Gu siblings set off at once, but before they even reached the ward, they encountered Lyi Yu.

And this time, Lyi Yu wasn't alone.

He pointed directly at Soong Fei and declared, "That's the kid."

No sooner had Lyi Yu finished speaking than two security officers approached Soong Fei.

One, a middle-aged officer, fixed his gaze on Soong Fei and demanded, "Were you the one who assaulted Mr. Li just now?"

Soong Fei nodded, his voice steady and resolute, "Yes, it was me."

"Take him away," came the order.

Someone moved to Soong Fei's back, yet he offered no resistance.