Chapter 89: Needle and Fire Roasting
Chapter 89: Needle and Fire Roasting
Watching Li Zian reach into Du Zhishan’s clothes and feel around, not only Du Linlin but even Mu Chuntao was utterly confused. Luckily, Du Zhishan was a man in his fifties, nearly an old man. If it had been a beautiful woman, she would have suspected Li Zian’s motives.
Li Zian was actually using the Great Sloth Bone-Probing Technique to further diagnose Du Zhishan while also determining Du Zhishan’s fortune and misfortunes.
After feeling for about two minutes, Li Zian withdrew his hand. Then he moved to the head of the bed, placed his hands on Du Zhishan’s head, and continued to feel.
“Hmm…” A faint, weak groan came from Du Zhishan’s throat, and his eyelids twitched but did not open.
Beside the bed, the heart monitor showed a noticeable increase in heartbeat. It had been 48 just moments ago, but now it had risen to around 55.
“Dad?” Du Linlin called out excitedly, trying to wake Du Zhishan.
“Shh.” Mu Chuntao immediately reminded her to stay quiet.
Du Linlin quickly shut her mouth tightly.
Li Zian finished his diagnosis using the Great Sloth Bone-Probing Technique. He pulled a tissue from the bedside table, wiped his hands, and tossed the tissue into the bin before saying calmly, “Your father has had a stroke. A blood clot entered his brain. The doctors couldn’t operate, right?”
Du Linlin immediately became deeply respectful and said excitedly, “Yes, we consulted the most authoritative brain surgeons, but they all said surgery wasn’t possible. I never thought you, Master, could diagnose the condition so clearly without any equipment. You must have a way to save my father, right?”
Li Zian said, “Not only do I know his condition, I also know exactly where the clot is located. I can try to treat him, but I can’t guarantee success.”
“It’s already wonderful if you’re willing to try, Master. I know my father’s situation. I only ask that you do your best. Afterwards, the Du Family will surely reward you handsomely.” Du Linlin bowed deeply to Li Zian again.
Li Zian said lightly, “Talking about money is vulgar. Since you’ve come to me, I will do my best to try.”
Du Linlin’s respect for Li Zian grew even more.
Truly a Master. Everyone else in the world is obsessed with money, but the Master treats it like dirt. Though he is young, how many could match his integrity?
She didn’t notice Mu Chuntao beside her move her lips slightly, though she said nothing.
The Master didn’t talk about money, but someone else would.
It just wasn’t the right time to discuss money before the Master had even begun his treatment.
Li Zian took out a pack of Silver Needles from the Toolbox and selected the longest and thickest one.
He had bought these Silver Needles from a medical equipment store after returning from Yun Di. Back when he performed surgery on Kaqianda Jielong, he used embroidery needles. That was when the idea to buy Silver Needles first occurred to him.
He was pursuing a high-end, private customization service, an international route. Kaqianda Jielong was one thing; even if he used nails for the surgery, Kaqianda Jielong probably wouldn’t mind. But for clients like Du Zhishan, he needed to be more particular. For instance, in this situation, he couldn’t just ask Du Linlin for an embroidery needle, heat it with a lighter, and poke it into Du Zhishan’s head, right?
So after returning from Yun Di, he bought a set of Silver Needles, along with some disinfecting alcohol and bandages for wounds, and put them in his Toolbox.
Li Zian disinfected the Silver Needle with alcohol, found the correct spot, and slowly inserted the needle into Du Zhishan’s head. Then, using his thumb and index finger, he twisted the needle, drilling it further into Du Zhishan’s skull.
Doctors in hospitals, even skilled acupuncturists, couldn’t push a Silver Needle through the skull bone into a patient’s brain because the skull is the hardest bone in the head. Besides, no doctor would use a Silver Needle for a blood clot surgery, especially not one inside the brain. Traditional doctors would need to perform a craniotomy for such surgery, but the human brain isn’t something you can just open up easily. Some areas are simply too risky to operate on.
But Li Zian was different. He had Zhenqi, the energy obtained from Cultivation of the Great Slumber Qi Refining Art. This Zhenqi could make the Silver Needle become hot and hard. When hot, it could dissolve diseased tissue; when hard, it could penetrate even the hardest bones. At the same time, the Zhenqi acted as his eyes, allowing him to perceive situations invisible to the naked eye. Thus, the Silver Needle in his hand was essentially a special surgical knife, enabling him to perform surgeries that traditional doctors couldn’t.
The Silver Needle slowly entered the brain, bit by bit penetrating Du Zhishan’s cerebrum.
Du Linlin grew tense. Several times she wanted to speak but held herself back. The most authoritative doctors had already told her to prepare for the worst, and the Master’s own Divination Symbol reading had mentioned digging a pit. She had no choice but to try this desperate measure.
Mu Chuntao also looked nervous. Standing several steps away, watching Li Zian insert a Silver Needle into Du Zhishan’s head made her scalp tingle, as if the needle were being inserted into her own head.
Du Linlin and Mu Chuntao could only see the needle, but Li Zian could “see” the situation inside Du Zhishan’s head.
When the Silver Needle reached the location of the blood clot, he took a slight breath, stopped twisting with his thumb and index finger, and guided the Zhenqi to gather at the needle tip, beginning to dissolve the clot it pointed at.
The blood clot gradually dissolved and shrank.
This procedure was actually quite similar to the surgery he previously performed on Kaqianda Jielong’s… egg. The only difference was one was on an egg, the other inside a brain.
“Perhaps I should custom-make several Silver Needles of different sizes with grooves. That way, I could guide the dissolved tissue and stagnant blood out. The surgery would be easier, the patient wouldn’t have to absorb those dissolved impurities, and recovery would be much faster.” This thought crossed Li Zian’s mind.
The legacy from Ji Da consisted entirely of things from over two thousand years ago. Times had changed. Integrating modern knowledge and technology to make some adaptations would make the Fangshi’s medical skills more useful.
After about ten minutes, Li Zian stopped. He pulled the Silver Needle out of Du Zhishan’s head.
The moment the needle was withdrawn, another groan came from Du Zhishan’s throat. His eyelids fluttered, then opened.
“Dad!” Du Linlin was so excited she nearly cried.
Du Zhishan had suffered a stroke, fallen unconscious, and been paralyzed. Now he suddenly opened his eyes. This would be considered a miracle even in the top-tier hospitals!
Du Zhishan’s lips trembled, but he didn’t say anything. He was still very weak.
Li Zian took another tissue from the bedside table. But this time, before he could wipe his sweat, Mu Chuntao stepped forward, took the tissue from his hand, and wiped his sweat for him.
How could the Master wipe his own sweat?
Her hands were gentle, her eyes full of admiration for Li Zian.
But to others, her gaze was clearly that of a woman looking adoringly at her man.
After Mu Chuntao finished wiping his sweat, Li Zian spoke, “The blood clot in Mr. Du’s brain is gone. But he is still very weak. He has been paralyzed for some time, his blood and qi are not flowing smoothly, and his organs are weakened. I still need to proceed with the next step of treatment.”
Du Linlin was so moved tears streamed down her face. “Mhmm, mhmm. Whatever treatment the Master says, we’ll do it. I’ll listen to you completely.”
Li Zian said, “Have someone go dig a pit in the Backyard. It should be two meters long, four chi wide, and two chi deep. Then, dig an earthen stove beneath the pit and prepare some dry firewood.”
Du Linlin was stunned for a moment before she could speak, “No, but… he’s already opened his eyes… Why are we digging a pit again?”
She clearly remembered the earlier Hexagram Interpretation: a pit ten feet long and six feet wide. In her worry, she associated it with burying someone.
Li Zian gave a faint smile, “If you want your father to recover quickly, then do as I say. If you think it’s inappropriate, then my treatment ends here.”
“Master, please don’t misunderstand. My mind is just a bit messy. I’ll have someone dig the pit right away.” Du Linlin immediately walked out the door. “Uncle Zhong, take two people to the Backyard and dig a pit.”
“I’ll go right away.” Zhong Fu immediately went to get people to dig the pit.
Mu Chuntao knew why Li Zian wanted the pit dug. It reminded her of the first time she met Li Zian. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her gaze tender.
If Li Zian hadn’t coincidentally passed by the place where she fell that day, dug a pit, coated her body with Mud, and roasted her until she was better, she probably would have died. There wouldn’t be this lively version of her now. The seed of her feelings for Li Zian was planted when he carried her down the mountain. His arms were so strong, his embrace so warm…
Of course, looks played a big part in it too.
Half an hour later, the pit was dug exactly to Li Zian’s specifications: two meters long, four chi wide, two chi deep, with an earthen stove chamber dug underneath for placing firewood. Zhong Fu had even thoughtfully prepared charcoal for starting the fire, a bundle of firewood, and all the materials the Master requested: Panax notoginseng, Eucommia bark, Scutellaria indica, and clay. Du Zhishan was also carried out on a stretcher. Everything was ready, just waiting for the Master to start the fire and roast the person.
Li Zian cut his palm to draw blood, used his bloody palm to mix the Mud, incorporating the Panax notoginseng, Eucommia bark, and Scutellaria indica into the clay.
Du Linlin watched Li Zian’s series of actions with great curiosity.
But, could one casually question the Master’s methods?
She had merely drawn a bird’s nest-like pattern on that piece of paper, yet the Master deduced that her father needed to be buried, even interpreting the wish to handle the funeral back in their hometown. What reason did she have to doubt now?
After mixing the Great Sloth Body Smearing Paste, Li Zian personally removed Du Zhishan’s patient gown and began applying the Mud all over his body.
This time, he didn’t even leave Du Zhishan his underwear, striving for the best possible effect.
Du Linlin had been watching intently, but when Li Zian removed Du Zhishan’s last covering, she felt too embarrassed to keep watching and turned around.
Li Zian coated Du Zhishan’s entire body with the Mud. He had the Du Family members place Du Zhishan into the pit, then started a fire to roast him.
A few minutes later, Du Zhishan, who had been unable to speak, suddenly said with trembling lips, “Hot… It’s hot…”
Hearing her father’s voice, Du Linlin couldn’t care less anymore. She hurriedly turned back around and saw her father in the earthen pit, steam rising from his body, his eyes wide open. Overwhelmed with emotion, she cried out, “Dad!”
Li Zian said calmly, “Take Mr. Du out now. Wash off the Mud paste from his body. He needs bed rest, and his diet should be light.”
The treatment was over. This counted as the medical instructions.