Looking at the phone I just put down, I frowned. This is my new number, and logically, Ma Shuai shouldn't know it.
I moved from my hometown to the capital largely because my grandfather wanted me to avoid certain troubles, and Ma Shuai was one of them.
This wasn't the first time my grandfather and I helped Ma Shuai with his health.
Everyone knows Ma Shuai is great at skits and is one of the representatives of Er Ren Zhuan, but few know that his real talent lies in the divine tunes.
Ma Shuai's current status is certainly due to his abilities, but there are many capable people out there, so why did he rise to the top?
Here's one reason: Ma Shuai's second uncle is a legitimate heir of Shamanism.
In a way, Ma Shuai is also a person of the Yin Gate.
For over twenty years, whenever Ma Shuai had health issues, my grandfather was the one who helped him.
I'm very familiar with his affairs.
I can only say that anyone who achieves great things must be ruthless.
Many years ago, when I was still in elementary school, my grandfather had a huge argument with Ma Shuai.
The content was so explosive that even after all these years, I remember it clearly.
It was just a few days after the New Year, and the clinic was empty. Ma Shuai arrived in the heavy snow.
After a few words, my grandfather started arguing with him.
Throughout the process, it was basically my grandfather scolding him while he listened.
My grandfather called him cold-blooded and heartless, an emotionless beast who could sacrifice his own son for his future.
He replied with a sentence that I still remember to this day.
He said, "The child is suffering alive, better off dead, at least he'd be of some use!"
The coldness in his words shocked me deeply.
My grandfather was furious upon hearing this and cursed him, saying that his son was born sick because of his own karma, and he was the least qualified to say that living is suffering.
Ma Shuai didn't argue back.
After a long tirade, my grandfather finally calmed down.
Once calm, my grandfather took out his acupuncture kit, treated him, and prescribed medicine.
After prescribing the medicine, my grandfather told him, "Our Feng family doesn't owe your second uncle much anymore."
Ma Shuai said nothing and left in the wind and snow.
After he left, I asked my grandfather why he was so angry.
My grandfather told me a story. New chapters come out on g.com first.
He said there was a man who grew up in poverty, lost his mother early, and his father left. His grandfather, who he depended on, also passed away soon after, and he grew up eating from the kindness of neighbors.
Growing up in such an environment, the man had only one thought: to climb higher.
Later, he apprenticed under his second uncle, learning to play the erhu, perform Er Ren Zhuan, and even how to seek guidance and invite spirits.
When the first turning point in his life came, he sought guidance and invited spirits to help him.
He succeeded, and his performance became an instant hit.
But some things come at a price. If he didn't pay it, his family would.
That year, his son was born, but he was disabled from birth.
He was heartbroken, but compared to his son, he cared more about his career.
He quickly let go of his guilt, leaving his wife and son to focus on his career.
Perhaps out of sight, out of mind, or perhaps because he could pretend nothing happened, he rarely went home after that.
Time flew by, and ten years later, another opportunity arose. To climb higher, he once again sought guidance and invited spirits.
This time, the price was greater—his son died.
After telling the story, my grandfather asked if I understood.
I said I did and knew he was talking about Ma Shuai.
My grandfather said that in life, one must know what to do and what not to do, and he advised me never to become someone like Ma Shuai.
After that, Ma Shuai became more and more famous each year, his influence rapidly expanding under the patronage of that benefactor.
Even so, Ma Shuai would come to our house every New Year to pay his respects.
My grandfather's reaction to his visits was always indifferent.
Though he accepted the New Year gifts Ma Shuai brought, he would send them to the nursing home as soon as Ma Shuai left.
As for Ma Shuai's health, it had never been great over the years, and he never stopped getting treatments.
After that big argument, my grandfather rarely mentioned the debt issue; it was always Ma Shuai paying, and my grandfather doing the work.
When I was young, I didn't understand, but as I grew older, I did.
My grandfather initially helped Ma Shuai with his health because he owed a debt to Ma Shuai's second uncle.
After the argument, my grandfather continued to help because Ma Shuai's influence was growing too fast, and he feared Ma Shuai might target me, even though Ma Shuai never showed such intentions.
But who could guarantee that someone who could sacrifice his son to climb higher wouldn't do such a thing? My grandfather couldn't take that risk.
Before he passed away, my grandfather told me to sell the house and move to the capital, wanting me to say goodbye to the past and live an ordinary life.
The intention was good, but having grown up watching my grandfather treat various people from the Yin Gate and learning his skills, even if I wanted a peaceful life, those people wouldn't let me have it. This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
Just like Ma Shuai, I never told him my address or phone number, yet he still found me.
"Grandfather, your grandson is destined for greatness!"
Thinking of this, I chuckled to myself, not forgetting to put on a bit of bravado.
In the following days, I performed acupuncture on Li Li in the mornings and afternoons, and in the evenings, Mr. Yang would call me out to have fun with him.
Sometimes it was on the top floor of his Jinghu Building, other times in the largest nightclub in the capital, or even Asia, with its massive dance floor.
After a few days of partying, I got to see another side of Mr. Yang and understood why his nickname, The Dancing King, wasn't just for show.
Besides, I gained some benefits; I met several bosses in Mr. Yang's circle who ordered nourishing medicines from me.
As the saying goes, middle-aged people can't help themselves, and these bosses all had some health issues.
After a few days of indulgence, it was time to awaken Li Li.
"Mr. Feng, can Li Li recover?"
Compared to my calmness, Mr. Li was quite anxious.
"Don't worry, I've treated cases like Li Li's several times!" I said.
"They all turned out fine!"
After saying that, I added another sentence.
Then, I inserted the needles into Li Li.
From Baihui to Shenting, then to Benshen and Sishencong, these four points were all on the head, and it didn't take more than three seconds to insert all four needles.
After these four needles, I lifted Li Li's right hand and inserted the final needle into the Shenmen point on the side of the wrist and palm junction.
This needle is called the Securing the Spirit Gate.
Once the needle was in, I gently twirled the end, and Li Li let out a soft hum and opened her eyes.
"Li Li?"
Mr. Li called out softly, his heart anxious.
"Dad!"
Li Li looked at Mr. Li in confusion, murmuring, "What happened to me?"
After asking, she looked at me, "And who is he?"
Mr. Li was taken aback, then looked at me with an inquiring gaze, as if Li Li had forgotten that unpleasant past.