"Little Ye, is there something else?"
Surprised to see Ye Qiu turn back, the Dragon King asked in confusion.
Ye Qiu said: "A method just occurred to me. It might help with your condition."
"Oh?" Light sparked in the Dragon King's eyes. "What method?"
"Acupuncture."
At the word, the light in his eyes instantly dimmed.
"Little Ye, thank you, but in my state, acupuncture won't help."
Over the years, he had consulted countless famous doctors and tried acupuncture for the Gu poison many times — to no effect.
Ye Qiu said: "Dragon King, this acupuncture technique I'm talking about can't purge the Gu or fully heal you… but it can prolong your life."
"I don't have long anyway. There's no point in wasting effort… Wait. Did you say… prolong my life?"
The Dragon King suddenly snapped to his senses, staring at Ye Qiu in shock.
"Yes. I can extend your lifespan."
"You're not joking with me?" He found it hard to believe.
Life-prolonging arts only existed in legends and TV shows. He had never heard of anyone mastering such a secret art in real life.
"I'm not joking. I'm telling the truth." Ye Qiu spoke with utter sincerity.
The Dragon King studied him for a moment. Seeing he was not lying, he asked:
"How much longer can you keep me alive?"
"If everything goes well… one more month."
"Only a month…"
Disappointment returned to the Dragon King's face.
What difference was there between seven days and a month?
None.
It was just waiting to die.
Zhao Yun had served the Dragon King for years and could read his thoughts at a glance. He quickly persuaded:
"My Lord, if Ye Qiu can do this, let him help you!
A month may not be long, but it buys you time.
Maybe within that month, we can find someone who can cure the Gu poison."
"Easy to say!" the Dragon King snorted. "For nine years I've searched for great doctors, and not one detected the Gu. You think I'll find a cure in just one month?" He had no hope left.
Over the years, he had learned a harsh lesson: the greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment.
Every time he found a famous doctor, he had been filled with excitement and faith… only to be let down again and again.
Zhao Yun continued: "My Lord, for nine years no doctor saw the Gu. But Ye Qiu noticed it the moment he arrived. Now he can even prolong your life. What does that mean? It means your life is not meant to end yet!
Let Ye Qiu perform the technique!
I believe good fortune will protect the good. Something will turn around in this month. Won't it, Ye Qiu?"
Zhao Yun winked at him.
Ye Qiu took the hint and urged: "Dragon King, don't hesitate. Let me extend your life."
The Dragon King said: "Seven days or a month makes little difference. Besides, dying sooner would be a relief. You have no idea what it's like to be wracked with stomach pain at midnight — it's worse than death."
Ye Qiu said: "Dragon King, I forgot to mention earlier. Once the life-prolonging treatment succeeds… the stomach pain will stop immediately."
"Really?" The Dragon King doubted him. "The Gu poison is still inside you. How could the pain disappear?"
"That's the magic of this acupuncture art. It can't remove the Gu, but it can extend life and take away the pain."
"If what you say is true and the pain stops… then it's worth trying."
Zhao Yun hurried: "Ye Qiu, the Dragon King has agreed. Perform the acupuncture quickly!"
"Do you have silver needles?" Ye Qiu asked.
"Yes, in the house. I'll get them."
Zhao Yun rushed inside and returned with a medicine box.
He opened it: silver needles, alcohol, cotton swabs — everything was there.
Ye Qiu used tweezers to hold a cotton ball, poured alcohol over it, then picked up a needle and sterilized it.
He spent nearly three minutes disinfecting all the needles.
"Dragon King, turn around and unbutton your shirt."
The Dragon King did as he was told.
Ye Qiu warned: "It will hurt quite a bit when I insert the needles. If you can't stand it, cry out."
"Don't worry. After years of daily stomach pain, needle pain is nothing."
"Shall I begin?"
"Begin."
Whoosh —
Ye Qiu quickly inserted a needle into the Dragon King's Dazhui acupoint.
Two seconds later.
"Can you feel it?"
"A little numb… a little sore… and it's getting worse. Aaaaah — it hurts!"
The Dragon King roared.
Zhao Yun panicked. "Ye Qiu, will the Dragon King be alright?!"
"Relax. This is a normal reaction."
Ye Qiu picked up another needle and stabbed it swiftly into the Shendao acupoint.
"Aaaaah!"
The Dragon King's cry grew louder.
Next, Ye Qiu inserted a needle into the Lingshui acupoint.
The Dragon King suddenly stopped screaming.
"Feeling better now?"
"Yes." He nodded. The first two needles had nearly killed him, and cold sweat covered his forehead.
"From now on, it won't hurt. It will even help balance the Yin and Yang in your body."
Ye Qiu continued inserting needles.
Fourth needle: Zhiyang.
Fifth: Zhongshu.
Sixth: Jizhong.
Seventh: Jueyinshu.
Eighth: Sanjiaoshu.
Ninth needle: Mingmen.
The acupuncture was complete.
Then something miraculous happened.
The bulging purple vein where the cold and hot sides met on the Dragon King's back — it vanished completely, as if it had never existed.
Phew —
Ye Qiu let out a long breath.
It worked.
"How do you feel now?"
"Much better. My body is warm, just like before the Gu poison. It feels wonderful. Little Ye, what kind of acupuncture is this? How is it so magical?"
"It's called the Nine Needles of Restoring Yang. It balances Yin and Yang and replenishes vital energy."
"You're incredible to master such a powerful art."
Ye Qiu smiled inwardly. It wasn't him — it was the Ye Clan ancestor.
The inheritance he had received was filled with divine skills. Just how powerful must that ancestor have been in life?
"Ye Qiu, did the life-prolonging work?" Zhao Yun asked nervously.
"It did. The Dragon King will be safe for one month."
"Thank goodness." Zhao Yun sighed in relief.
Just then, Ye Qiu's phone suddenly rang in his pocket.