Chapter 6: Shen Xuan’s Medical Skills

"Very well! Grandfather trusts you!"

Watching the determined look in Shen Xuan’s eyes, though doubts still lingered in his heart, the old man was willing to give it a try, if only out of his trust in Shen Xuan.

"Good!"

Seeing how much Old Master Qin trusted him, Shen Xuan felt a surge of gratitude. He drew five silver needles from his sleeve—needles he had crafted himself while at the Sima Bureau just in case, and today, they would prove useful.

Shen Xuan’s hands moved with fluid, practiced speed. In the blink of an eye, he had inserted the needles into five major acupoints on the old man’s body with a technique that was both swift and steady.

Old Master Qin’s condition was not some obscure illness, but rather the result of years of accumulated hidden injuries exacerbated by a pathogenic wind. Had he been forced to take heavy medicine, not only would his condition not have improved, but his frail body might have collapsed under the strain. Thus, Shen Xuan used the "Wandering Dragon Needle Technique" to stabilize the old man’s meridians, ensuring he would remain resilient during the subsequent treatment.

Old Master Qin felt a blur before his eyes; in the span of a heartbeat, several needles had appeared on his body. Shen Xuan’s display of skill caught him off guard. Although the old man was not a healer, he had practiced martial arts all his life and knew his acupoints well. Each of the points Shen Xuan had chosen was vital; a single slip, and his old life might have come to an end.

Shen Xuan had no time to gauge the old man’s reaction. He channeled the internal energy cultivated through the *Heavenly Evolution Scripture* to his fingertips and flicked the five needles. As they vibrated, the old man felt several streams of warmth surge into his body, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

As the frequency of the needles’ vibration increased, the old man felt a growing heat throughout his body, followed by a sweet sensation in his throat. Seeing this, Shen Xuan’s eyes brightened; he swiftly withdrew the needles, and the old man bolted upright, coughing up a mouthful of black blood. Shen Xuan, as if prepared, caught the black blood in a vessel he had placed to the side.

"How do you feel, Grandfather?"

Seeing the old man catch his breath, Shen Xuan handed him a cup of tea from the table and asked.

"Good! Better than ever! I feel an indescribable strength surging within me!"

The old man assessed his condition. He felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, leaving him feeling impossibly light.

"Grandfather, the pathogenic wind has been purged, but you still require long-term recovery. After all, your hidden injuries cannot be healed in a day," Shen Xuan advised kindly.

"No matter, this is already a great improvement. I am at this age; every year lived is a blessing," the old man said, waving his hand, clearly satisfied with his current state. "But tell me, Xuan’er, where did you learn such miraculous medical skills? This old man does not recall you having any interest in medical texts before."

Staring at the grandson who suddenly seemed like a stranger, the old man posed his question.

"Grandfather, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave now." Shen Xuan smiled, choosing not to answer. He could hardly say that the grandson the old man once knew was long gone, and that he was a soul from another world. Even if he told the truth, the old man would never believe him.

"Very well. If you will not speak, I shall not force you. Xuan’er, stay at the Prime Minister’s estate from now on. I may be old, but I am not dead yet. I would like to see who in this house dares to gossip now." Old Master Qin’s tone was formidable. Having recovered, the old man appeared like an aging lion, his aura of iron-blooded battlefield authority impossible to ignore.

"There is no need, Grandfather. Once I have enough money to buy back my household registration and travel papers, I plan to leave the capital." Even with the old man’s protection, Shen Xuan shook his head, declining the offer.

"You want to leave the capital? But where would you go?" The old man stiffened, his voice filled with astonishment.

"Anywhere will do. I have stayed in the capital for so many years and know nothing of the world outside. I wish to see it for myself," Shen Xuan said, looking toward the blue sky outside the window, his voice filled with longing.

"Sigh! Very well. I have a restaurant under my name. Why don't you manage it for a while? How much coin you earn will depend on your own ability. Use this time to think it over. Once you have earned enough for your papers, you can decide whether to stay or go." The old man had wanted to persuade him further, but seeing the unwavering look in Shen Xuan’s eyes, he assumed the boy was still bitter about what happened three years ago. The Qin family had indeed wronged him, and the old man sought a middle ground.

"There is no need, Grandfather. I have ways to earn money. I do not wish to owe the Qin family anything more." Hearing the proposal, Shen Xuan thought for a moment before refusing.

"Why must you be so stubborn, child?" Seeing that he still could not convince him, the old man grew slightly annoyed and sighed helplessly.

Shen Xuan lowered his head in silence.

"Sigh! Fine, fine. I will not meddle in your affairs. Get out of my sight!" The old man, truly frustrated by Shen Xuan’s silence, waved him away.

"Please rest well," Shen Xuan said, bowing respectfully before turning to leave.

"Sigh!"

Watching the slightly lean figure walk away, the old man let out a mournful sigh. His desire to keep Shen Xuan was genuine—not only did he have a fondness for his grandson, but he had been thoroughly conquered by his miraculous medical skills. In all his years, the old man had never witnessed such a technique. Even all the imperial physicians in the palace combined, he suspected, could not compare to Shen Xuan.

As Shen Xuan stepped out of the room, he saw Lady Song and the others waiting outside.

"Shen Xuan, what did Grandfather say to you?" Qin Shujun asked directly.

"My Lady, Princess, young master, this servant will take his leave now." Shen Xuan ignored Qin Shujun’s question, offered a polite greeting to the group, and walked away.

"Shen Xuan, what is the meaning of this?" Qin Shujun, feeling slighted, snapped at his retreating back.

Shen Xuan did not respond and continued toward his quarters.

"Hmph! Fine, keep your secrets. I shall ask Grandfather myself." Frustrated, Qin Shujun turned and entered the room to find Old Master Qin. Lady Song and the others, though silent, were equally curious and followed her inside.

"Oh! Grandfather, how are you standing?"

Upon entering, they were stunned by the sight: the previously frail and haggard Old Master Qin was actually walking on his own feet. Qin Shujun cried out in surprise.

"Oh! Father, do not walk! Please, lie back down! Where is Imperial Physician An? Come quickly and check on my father!" Lady Song, pale with fright, rushed forward to support the old man’s arm, calling out anxiously for the physician.