Chapter Fourteen: Lacking Humility!

"Old Wang, are you joking? You're the chief physician of our hospital, a renowned authority in traditional medicine here in Yanjing—how could you even think of apprenticing yourself to a young man?" Lin Qingyuan asked, equally bewildered.

"Director Lin, anyone with true ability can be a teacher. Qin Luo's skills are more than enough to qualify him as my mentor," Old Wang replied indifferently. "Besides, this Taiyi Divine Needle technique he wields—how many people in the whole world can perform it?"

"Old Wang, let's not go through the formalities of master and disciple. If you don't mind, we can simply exchange ideas and learn from each other when we have the chance," Qin Luo declined gently.

Taking on an elderly apprentice—wouldn't that cut my lifespan short?

"Qin Luo, to be honest, I've come today for your Taiyi Divine Needle," Old Wang admitted candidly.

"You want to learn the Taiyi Divine Needle?" Qin Luo asked with a smile.

Old Wang nodded. "I know this technique is a rare art in the world. For an outsider like me to come and ask for it so shamelessly, it might be laughable. But I truly can't bear to see such a skill lost to future generations."

He pulled a yellowed ancient book from his chest and handed it over. "Our Wang family has practiced medicine for generations. Our ancestor, Wang Houzhai, was a renowned physician. This is our family's copy of the 'Taiyi Divine Needle,' but unfortunately, it only contains the first half. The latter part has been lost or damaged, and I haven't been able to restore it all these years. The technique is simply too profound for me to complete it."

"The last time you treated those children with needles, I sensed your methods were strikingly similar to what is recorded in this ancient book. I even asked Director Lin about you. I know it's inconvenient to trouble you, but—I am truly anxious. If you leave Yanjing, I fear I may never fulfill this lifelong wish."

Qin Luo flipped through the book and found that it did indeed detail the needle techniques of the Taiyi Divine Needle. But whether due to the passage of time or careless preservation, the priceless latter half was a patchwork of missing pages.

Having studied the Taiyi Divine Needle, Qin Luo understood that without the complete technique, it wasn't the true art. The Taiyi Divine Needle depended on channeling energy through the needle, and the pathways of energy were critical.

Needle and energy are inseparable; energy follows the needle. This is the true essence of the Taiyi Divine Needle.

If the book is incomplete, the needle and energy become disconnected. Not only would treatment be ineffective, but it could even harm the patient.

Qin Luo handed the ancient book back to Old Wang. "Old Wang, you're too kind. Honestly, if someone can use it, I have no qualms about passing on this skill. But ordinary people can't make use of this needle technique."

"Is it true, then, what the book says? That the Taiyi Divine Needle must be wielded with internal energy?" Old Wang asked, astonished.

"It is indeed so," Qin Luo nodded.

"Ah—" Old Wang sighed deeply. "At my age, how could I possibly start learning Qi Gong? It seems this needlework is not for me. Qin Luo, you must safeguard this treasure our ancestors left behind. If the Taiyi Divine Needle is lost, it would be a tragedy beyond words."

"Grandpa Wang, I understand. Everything I've learned is meant to be passed on, not hoarded. As long as someone is upright and interested in traditional medicine, I can teach them," Qin Luo promised sincerely.

This was also the family tradition of the Qin clan. The Qin family’s descendants practice medicine with compassion and virtue, and share their knowledge with those of good character.

Old Wang gazed at Qin Luo approvingly. "Young people with such vision are rare. Honestly, us old men are nowhere near as broad-minded as you. Our ancestors used to say, 'Teach your apprentice well, and your master starves.' So everyone keeps their knowledge hidden, and that's why our traditional medicine is dying out."

"That's right. Western medicine has spread worldwide because everything is made public, and anyone can study it. Whether they succeed or not depends on themselves. Some fail, but many succeed. The more people study it, the more people use it, and so Western medicine thrives," Lin Qingyuan added with feeling.

"My grandfather often told me that traditional medicine is our national treasure. But for many reasons, it's struggling now. There were even policies a few years back aimed at abolishing traditional medicine altogether. The situation is so widespread that no single person can reverse it," Qin Luo lamented.

He remembered the look of indignation and helplessness on his grandfather Qin Zheng's face whenever the decline of traditional medicine came up, and how Western medicine flourished—even being called 'witchcraft' by foreign media.

Despite its thousands of years of history, traditional medicine was becoming more and more alien to the very people it had nurtured over generations in China.

Many even forgot that during the non-iodine SARS crisis, not a single patient treated with traditional medicine died. This isn't just the sorrow of traditional medicine, but the sorrow of our era.

"Why do you say it can't be reversed? Qin Luo, you could be the one to change it," Old Wang declared, shockingly.

"Me?" Qin Luo smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Old Wang, don't joke. My heart is willing, but my strength is lacking."

"Why do you say that? With your skills, how could you be lacking in strength?"

"Being a good doctor can only heal the sick. How can that alone revive traditional medicine?"

"Then tell me, how can we revive it?" Old Wang pressed, as if he’d found fresh ammunition.

"Well... if everyone learned and used traditional medicine," Qin Luo replied.

"And how can we make that happen?"

"Open schools for traditional medicine, build hospitals... But, from what I know, enrollment in traditional medicine programs isn't great. Not many people want to study it," Qin Luo said with a wry smile.

"Not just bad—it's abysmal. Few students, even fewer teachers. The president of Capital Medical University is an old friend of mine, and he complained recently that finding a truly skilled teacher for traditional medicine is nearly impossible. Most applicants lack both talent and character—it's disappointing," Lin Qingyuan added.

"Director Lin, isn't there a good candidate right here?" Old Wang pointed at Qin Luo, smiling.

"Qin Luo? Yes! Qin Luo, let me recommend you as a teacher of traditional medicine. You’d be perfect," Lin Qingyuan said excitedly. He’d been pondering how to keep Qin Luo in Yanjing, and now he finally had a legitimate excuse.

"I'll have to think about it," Qin Luo replied. His plan had always been to leave after settling his engagement.

"Qin Luo, as a beneficiary of traditional medicine, can’t you do something for it?"

"Yes, pass on what you know to your students. Let them spread it everywhere. Only then can traditional medicine be saved," Old Wang encouraged.

"I’ll discuss it with my grandfather," Qin Luo said, feeling tempted under the combined pressure of the two elders. It felt as if refusing would be a crime against heaven.

"No need to discuss. Your grandfather will surely support your decision. Qin Luo, I wanted you to consult at the hospital, but now I see that would waste your talent. Go and teach—this is a great and noble work for all generations. Come, I’ll take you to meet my friend right now. Old Wang, you should come too."

Lin Qingyuan grew more excited as he spoke, grabbing Qin Luo’s hand and heading out, leaving him no room to refuse.

"Isn’t this a bit rushed?" Qin Luo protested.

"Not at all," Lin Qingyuan replied. If he let this young man slip away, it would be too late to regret. Where else could he find such a good grandson-in-law?

———

These days, the wealthy prefer suburban homes, while the less fortunate live in the city.

Lin Qingyuan's friend lived in the outskirts of Yanjing, in a stylish two-story villa with tall courtyard walls. Two large hunting dogs, standing as tall as a person, eyed visitors warily.

The yard was filled with flowers, vegetables, and garlic shoots. Several plump ducks waddled around, giving the place a tranquil, idyllic feel.

Seeing this scene, Qin Luo immediately thought of his own home—warm, comfortable, and equally relaxed.

"Old Lin, what brings you here?" A fair-skinned, pot-bellied elderly man greeted them warmly as they approached.

"Haha, Old Li, didn’t you complain last time about how hard it is to find a good traditional medicine teacher? Well, I’ve brought you some real talent," Lin Qingyuan said cheerfully, shaking hands with Li Yonggang.

"Talent? This gentleman?" Li Yonggang looked at Old Wang.

"No, him," Lin Qingyuan said, pointing to Qin Luo.

Li Yonggang’s eyebrows twitched unconsciously. Glancing at Qin Luo, he said, "He looks a bit too young, doesn’t he?" The implication was clear: What could someone so young possibly know?

"Old Li, what are you doing? I just gave Jia Jia a bowl of vinegar, and the fishbone is still stuck. The child keeps crying—you’d better take her to the hospital," an elderly woman called out, running over.

"What’s going on?" Lin Qingyuan asked in confusion.

"Sigh, we had fish for lunch, and Jia Jia got a bone stuck in her throat. We tried everything—rice balls, vinegar—but nothing worked. It looks like we’ll have to go to the hospital," Li Yonggang said with a wry smile.

"No need to go to the hospital for something so minor," Qin Luo remarked.

"You have a way?" Li Yonggang asked, surprised.

"Give me a clean bowl," Qin Luo instructed.

"Bring a bowl," Li Yonggang called to his wife.

"Alright," she replied, hurrying inside and quickly returning with a clean bowl.

Qin Luo approached, grabbed a plump duck, lifted its leg so its head hung down, and let saliva drip from its beak into the bowl.

After five or six drops, he released the duck. Handing the bowl to the woman, he said, "Have her drink this. The fishbone will dissolve on its own. If you go to the hospital, they’ll use forceps to remove it—much harder for a child to endure."

"This... will it really work?" The woman eyed the clear, viscous liquid doubtfully.

"It will," Qin Luo affirmed.

"Let’s try it," Li Yonggang said.

The woman hesitated no longer, carrying the bowl inside at a brisk pace.

"Come, let’s sit inside," Li Yonggang invited.

The group entered the house. The water for tea had yet to boil when the woman came running back, face alight with excitement. "Old Li, it’s amazing! As soon as Jia Jia drank it, the fishbone dissolved right away."

Li Yonggang looked at Qin Luo and smiled. "It seems you really can’t judge a book by its cover. The young man has real ability."

By ordinary standards, Qin Luo should have responded with some modesty, asking for guidance from his elders. Instead, he accepted the praise without hesitation. "If I didn’t have some skill, I wouldn’t dare teach at a school and risk misleading students."

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to be humble; it was simply that he had complete confidence in his medical expertise.