Volume One, Chapter 19: The Spoiled Hua Qingqing

Yun Pinghai introduced him to Qi Wuxie.

Upon hearing this, Divine Doctor Hua and Hua Qingqing both turned their heads, fixing their gazes on Qi Wuxie.

Aside from Yun Pingchang, Yun Zhiqiu, and Yun Pinghai, there were over a dozen other members of the Yun family present, none of whom had met Qi Wuxie before. They looked at the young man before them with expressions filled with curiosity. Qi Wuxie was even younger than they had imagined!

A flicker of surprise crossed Divine Doctor Hua’s eyes. Although he had heard from Yun Pinghai that the person who saved Old Man Yun yesterday was a young man in his twenties, seeing him in person still brought a sense of shock. Qi Wuxie was barely over twenty, yet he had managed to save Old Man Yun—whose chronic injuries were notoriously tricky to treat. This feat alone surpassed that of countless young people from traditional Chinese medicine families.

Hua Qingqing, around twenty years old, was a graceful and slender young woman. She wore no makeup, her skin was as smooth as cream, and her eyes were bright and spirited. She looked at Qi Wuxie with curiosity, but upon realizing he was only a year or two older than her, her eyes filled with disdain and doubt.

"You’re the guy who saved Grandpa Yun yesterday?" Hua Qingqing stood up and looked at Qi Wuxie.

"It is me." Sensing the skepticism in her tone, Qi Wuxie frowned almost imperceptibly.

"I heard you claim you can cure Grandpa Yun’s injuries. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Then have you read the *Pharmacopoeia*, the *Shennong Herbal Classic*, or the *Qingyang Secret Teachings* of traditional Chinese medicine?"

"No."

"Then do you know the *Yellow Emperor’s Needle Classic* or the *Yellow Emperor’s Mingtang Moxibustion Classic*?"

"No."

"Then if you know nothing, how dare you spout such wild nonsense, claiming you can cure Grandpa Yun’s injuries!" Hua Qingqing questioned him, stepping closer with every word.

Her aggressive demeanor made Yun Pinghai frown, and he glanced toward Divine Doctor Hua. Seeing his granddaughter’s behavior, the doctor felt a sense of impending trouble. He knew she was questioning the young man because she suspected he was a fraud.

"Qingqing, do not be rude!" Divine Doctor Hua said, his face stern. "It is a fact that young friend Qi saved Old Man Yun yesterday. Stop badgering him and apologize at once!"

Hua Qingqing snorted, "Uncle Yun, I know this guy accidentally saved Grandpa Yun yesterday. He might have some tricks, but you know Grandpa Yun’s injuries better than anyone—even my grandfather couldn't cure them. He’s only a year or two older than me; how could he possibly cure Grandpa Yun? In my eyes, he’s just a charlatan and a swindler. You’d all better not believe him!"

Her words echoed through the room, and the members of the Yun family couldn't help but nod in agreement. Qi Wuxie was simply too young; he looked like someone who had just stepped into society. Could such a young man’s medical skills really surpass those of the Divine Doctor Hua? They found it hard to believe.

Yun Pinghai looked embarrassed. While he understood that Hua Qingqing’s intentions were good and that she was looking out for his father, he had witnessed Qi Wuxie’s abilities—this young man was suspected to be a master-level expert! A twenty-year-old master! Not even the Four Great Families possessed such a prodigy. This was one of the reasons why Yun Pinghai trusted Qi Wuxie further.

Before Yun Pinghai could speak, Qi Wuxie looked at Hua Qingqing, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "You call me a charlatan and a swindler. What proof do you have?"

"Proof? Didn't you say it yourself? You know nothing! You haven't even read the basics that I knew by the age of eight. How can you say you aren't a fraud?" Hua Qingqing retorted. She had studied medicine by her grandfather’s side since childhood, reading all the ancient classics, yet she still considered herself a mere beginner. If even her grandfather, a man renowned throughout China as a Divine Doctor, was helpless against Old Man Yun’s injuries, how could Qi Wuxie dare to make such claims?

Qi Wuxie shook his head, amused by her words. "I haven't read those classics, true. But not having read them does not mean one cannot heal the sick! Your grandfather’s medical skills are decent, but would you dare claim he is the best in the world?"

Qi Wuxie stepped forward until he was only half a foot away from her. Hua Qingqing felt the masculine scent emanating from him and her face flushed slightly, though she was soon overcome by shame and anger. "So what if my grandfather isn't the best in the world? What does that have to do with you? You’re still a swindler!" She stood tall, her chest heaving, refusing to yield an inch in their confrontation.

Divine Doctor Hua felt a headache coming on. He knew his granddaughter’s personality all too well—not only was she competitive, but she was also unrestrained in her speech.

Seeing the two of them at odds, Yun Pinghai quickly tried to smooth things over. "Qingqing, it’s fine. My father’s condition is already like this; I can’t afford to give up any hope, can I? Let Qi Wuxie try. Isn't your grandfather here as well?"

Hua Qingqing snorted and turned her head away.

Qi Wuxie’s expression remained calm as he smiled. "Since you doubt me so much, how about we make a bet?"

"What kind of bet?" Hua Qingqing asked.

"If I cannot save the old man, I will end my own life to pay for the offense."

"Fine!" A smile appeared on Hua Qingqing’s face.

"But, if I succeed in saving him, then you..."

"Then I will be at your disposal and agree to any request!"

Hua Qingqing held her head high, filled with disdain.

"Good, then don't cry later." Qi Wuxie scoffed and walked directly to the bedside.

Hua Qingqing watched him and sneered, "Cry? I think the one who will be crying soon is you. Uncle Yun, you heard him—he said it himself, if he can't cure Grandpa Yun, he’ll kill himself!"

Yun Pinghai shook his head. Kill himself? He wouldn't allow it. Even if Qi Wuxie couldn't cure his father, he still intended to bring him into the Yun family. A twenty-year-old suspected master would drastically increase the power of the Yun family! Besides, the Tiannan Martial Arts Tournament was approaching, and the current generation of the Yun family lacked a champion.

Divine Doctor Hua sighed. "Young friend, my granddaughter is ignorant; please don't take it to heart."

Qi Wuxie shook his head slightly. The Divine Doctor was a reasonable man, but his granddaughter was far too spoiled—she needed a lesson! "Do you have needles?"

"Needles? Yes, how many do you need?" Divine Doctor Hua opened the wooden box beside him and brought out several cloth pouches containing many silver needles.

"That will do." Without another word, Qi Wuxie picked up a silver needle.

Divine Doctor Hua watched with curiosity, wanting to see if this young man truly had a way to cure the injuries he couldn't. Hua Qingqing wore a look of disdain, while Yun Pinghai looked on nervously.

Qi Wuxie picked up the needle, and spiritual energy immediately flowed into it. He moved quickly, piercing the needle into Old Man Yun’s chest. His hands never stopped, picking up needles one after another, his technique becoming faster and faster. Soon, Yun Pinghai couldn't even track his movements.

The expression on Hua Qingqing’s face shifted to one of disbelief as she watched. "You... you actually know acupuncture!" Even she couldn't match the speed of his movements.

Divine Doctor Hua had also harbored doubts, but as a true physician, he possessed professional integrity. Seeing Qi Wuxie’s technique, his eyes widened until he suddenly stood up in shock, exclaiming, "This... could this be the lost Nine Extremes Rejuvenation Needle technique!"