“I can.”
Chen Xuan had no time to explain.
Chen Jianguo looked at the old man’s face, which was turning increasingly purple. Saving a life was a meritorious deed, and perhaps this would bring some blessings to his family.
Even if, unfortunately, they failed to save him, the problem was the poisoning, not his son’s treatment. After all, even the doctor had not dared guarantee that the old man would survive. The old man’s son also seemed like a reasonable man and probably would not blame their family. With that thought, he immediately stepped forward and supported his son’s arm.
Qin Zhenghai personally lifted his father from the wheelchair and laid him flat on another stretcher. The doctor told the nurses to prepare the emergency equipment while he stayed nearby, ready to begin CPR the moment the old man’s condition worsened.
Chen Xuan opened his needle case, took out seven silver needles, and passed them over the alcohol lamp his assistant had already lit.
Although his body was weak, his fingers remained steady.
Sixty years in the cultivation world had given him extraordinary focus and control.
The finest needle he had ever used was a hundred times thinner than these silver needles.
When refining pills, the slightest error could reduce an entire batch of priceless spiritual medicine to ashes.
And when suturing a cultivator’s meridians, there was even less room for the slightest mistake.
Even though he had lost all his cultivation, that experience had not disappeared.
Chen Xuan pinched the first silver needle between his fingers and lowered it onto the old man’s chest.
The doctor saw the location clearly, and his brows immediately furrowed.
It was not a commonly recognized acupuncture point.
Qin Suxi saw it as well.
“You’re not even needling an acupoint! How can you just stab him at random?”
Chen Xuan ignored her. The second and third silver needles followed in quick succession.
He was not following the meridians and acupoints used in traditional Chinese medicine. Instead, he was observing the path of the poison through the old man’s heart meridian and using the silver needles to temporarily halt the circulation of blood and qi.
This technique was called the Seven Needles of Sealed Meridians.
In the cultivation world, it was originally a rudimentary life-saving technique used by mine slaves and rogue cultivators. It could protect the heart meridian and buy a person some extra time after suffering heatstroke, being crushed by a rock, or being attacked by a poisonous creature, giving rescuers more time to save them.
For Chen Xuan at present, it was the most suitable choice.
When the fourth silver needle fell into place, sweat once again beaded on Chen Xuan’s forehead.
Chen Jianguo could feel his son’s arm trembling faintly.
“Little Xuan, why don’t we let the doctor take over?”
“We can’t stop.”
The most important thing when performing the Seven Needles of Sealed Meridians was to complete it in one uninterrupted motion. If he stopped halfway, the poison that had already been blocked would surge back into the heart meridian.
Chen Xuan circulated the Nourishing Origin Scripture, mobilizing all the qi and blood he had just absorbed from the rice gruel.
A trace of warmth flowed into his fingertips.
He pinched the silver needle and gently twisted it.
The old man’s body convulsed violently, and the heart monitor immediately let out a piercing alarm.
“His heart rate is still rising!” the nurse shouted.
Qin Suxi rushed over.
“I told you he couldn’t do it! Pull the needles out immediately!”
She reached out to remove the silver needle from the old man’s chest.
Chen Xuan’s gaze turned cold.
“If you pull them out now, he’ll die immediately.”
Qin Zhenghai caught Qin Suxi’s hand in midair.
“At a time like this, you’re still trying to scare people?”
“Suxi, step back!”
Qin Zhenghai pulled her away.
“Uncle, Grandpa’s heart rate is still climbing. How long are you going to let him keep this up?”
Qin Yufei was also watching the monitor anxiously, but she did not step forward to touch the needles.
“Sis, don’t interfere yet. Even the doctor said he’d never seen this kind of needling technique. What if something goes wrong after we pull them out?”
“You actually trust him?”
“I just think that, since even the doctor doesn’t dare guarantee Grandpa’s survival, this young man is his last hope.”
Qin Yufei glanced at Chen Xuan, then turned to look at her grandfather on the bed.
“Since we’ve already let him begin, we should at least let him finish.”
Qin Zhenghai nodded and said in a deep voice, “Yufei is right. I, Qin Zhenghai, have always believed that a person should either be trusted or not employed at all. Since he’s already started, let him finish.”
“He’s gambling with Grandpa’s life!”
“My mind is made up. You don’t need to say anything more!” Qin Zhenghai snapped at Qin Suxi again.
On the surface, Chen Xuan looked utterly unremarkable. In fact, he appeared even weaker than an ordinary person.
But what kind of man was Qin Zhenghai? He had met countless people throughout his life. He could tell at a glance whether someone was lying or talking nonsense.
When this young man spoke, his confidence practically shone from his eyes. He absolutely could not be making things up. He had genuine ability.
Whether that ability would be enough to save his father was another gamble altogether.
In any case, Qin Zhenghai had complete faith that the young man before him possessed real skill.
Besides, Qin Suxi’s repeated attempts to stop Chen Xuan had only deepened his suspicions.
But with his father still hovering between life and death, he did not press her for an explanation at that moment.
“Three needles left.”
Chen Xuan paid no attention to them.
The fifth needle landed on the old man’s wrist.
After the sixth needle was inserted, the old man’s stiff fingers slowly relaxed.
Chen Xuan’s vision had already begun to blur.
This body was simply too weak. His ability to last this long was entirely due to his control over his body and the needle technique.
The final silver needle rested between his fingers.
Supporting his son’s arm, Chen Jianguo could clearly feel that it had almost no strength left.
“Dad, lift it a little higher.”
Chen Jianguo did not dare delay. He followed his son’s instructions and raised his arm slightly.
Chen Xuan fixed his gaze on the old man’s chest and lowered the silver needle steadily.
The seven needles were now complete.
The old man’s convulsions stopped.
The chaotic waveforms on the heart monitor began to change. His heart rate was still rapid, but it was no longer deteriorating. His steadily falling blood pressure also began to stabilize.
The doctor stared at the monitor, his expression changing from doubt to astonishment.
“His blood pressure has stabilized.”
The nurse checked the old man’s pupils again.
“His pupillary response is returning.”
Qin Zhenghai hurried to the bedside.
“Dad, can you hear me?”
The old man did not wake up, but a faint groan escaped his throat.
The tension in Qin Zhenghai’s heart finally eased somewhat.
Qin Yufei also let out a sigh of relief. When she looked at Chen Xuan, there was now a hint of astonishment in her eyes.
Not long ago, even the doctor had not dared guarantee that her grandfather could be saved. Yet Chen Xuan had actually managed to stabilize his condition, at least temporarily, with nothing more than seven silver needles.
Qin Suxi stared at the monitor, her expression turning ugly.
“Perhaps the emergency medication has finally taken effect.”
The emergency physician glanced at her.
“Miss Qin, the old master’s condition is caused by poisoning. The emergency medication administered earlier could not have resolved it.”
Qin Suxi was momentarily speechless.
She quickly turned her attention back to Chen Xuan.
“Even if you’ve stabilized him temporarily, until the complete examination is finished, there’s no proof that you’ve truly saved Grandpa. If he suffers any lasting aftereffects, this matter won’t be over.”
“Cousin.”
Qin Yufei frowned at her.
“Grandpa has stabilized. No matter what, he’s Grandpa’s lifesaver. How can you speak to him like that?”
Qin Suxi opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.
Qin Yufei immediately turned to Chen Xuan and said, “I’m sorry. My cousin has always had this kind of temperament. Please don’t take it to heart. I apologize to you on her behalf—and thank you for saving my grandfather.”
Qin Yufei’s attitude was good, so Chen Xuan said nothing. He merely glanced indifferently at Qin Suxi and nodded.
Qin Zhenghai saw every reaction Qin Suxi had made.
Before, he had only thought her behavior today was somewhat unusual. But now that his father was temporarily out of danger, she still showed no sign of relaxing. Instead, she continued to deny Chen Xuan’s contribution.
Then he remembered the medicine his father had been given—the bowl that had gone wrong—and his suspicions about Qin Suxi deepened.
Chen Xuan withdrew his right hand, and his entire arm dropped limply onto the bed.
The small amount of qi and blood he had just recovered had been completely exhausted, leaving his face even paler than before.
“Don’t remove the needles yet.”
“The poison has only been suppressed for twenty minutes. Take him to the emergency room immediately. Test the medicine’s ingredients, then administer treatment according to the poisoning.”
This time, the doctor did not argue.
He personally checked the positions of the needles, then hurriedly had the nurses take the old man to the emergency room.
Qin Yufei immediately followed the gurney.
Qin Suxi hesitated where she stood for a moment before following as well.
Qin Zhenghai watched her retreating figure, his expression darkening slightly.
He soon looked away and returned to Chen Xuan’s side.
“What may I call you, sir?”
“Chen Xuan.”
“My name is Qin Zhenghai. My niece was worried about the old man just now, so she spoke and acted somewhat excessively. I hope you won’t take offense, Mr. Chen.”
Chen Xuan did not hold it against her.
“Save the patient first.”
“Thank you for your efforts today, Little Xuan. Regardless of whether my father makes it safely through this crisis, the Qin family will certainly visit you in person to express our gratitude.”
After saying this solemnly, Qin Zhenghai glanced once more in the direction Qin Suxi had gone before hurrying after the gurney.
The people gathered in the corridor soon dispersed.
The nurse responsible for transporting Chen Xuan was still watching him, as though she were seeing the man on the bed for the first time.
“You’re really not a doctor?”