Chapter 14: Chapter 14: An Introduction to Needling Techniques

The few of them returned together to Doctor Li's pharmacy, where the backyard connected to their family residence. The woman went back to her room, and shortly after, the aroma of cooking began to waft through the air. Wang Anfeng and the refined gentleman sat in the study, a not-so-large room filled with two bookshelves of books. There was an ancient text on the desk, and upon a glance, the youth noticed "Twelve Visceral Commanders Scroll" inked on it—he understood it must be a medical book.

"Hehe, my apologies for the cramped space, my dear nephew. Please don't hold it against me."

The refined gentleman seemed slightly embarrassed as he hastily tidied up the desk and bed, creating a clean area before inviting Wang Anfeng to sit down. His right hand caressed the weighty wine pot, his face expressing a touch of reminiscence. After a long while, he sighed deeply and said,

"How has Big Brother Li been?"

Wang Anfeng nodded and replied, "He's doing well, drinking and eating meat every day, spirited as ever, no different from the young folks."

The man chuckled upon hearing this and said, "Look at the question I asked... How silly of me. With Big Brother Li's martial arts skills, his robust energy and strong constitution, even if I were in the grave, he would still likely be able to drink and eat as heartily as ever."

The lad was slightly taken aback by these words. Although he had vaguely guessed that Big Brother Li had some martial arts skills, he never imagined they were to this extent. The doctor before him was at most in his thirties, yet from the way he spoke, it seemed Big Brother Li was far more robust than he. This made the boy even more curious about the old man he knew so well. Hesitant at first, the naïve nature of youth got the better of him, and he could not help but ask,

"Uncle Li... How did you meet Big Brother Li back then?"

"He sent you to find me and didn't tell you about our relationship? Big Brother Li's character, not a single change in twenty years..."

Li Kangsheng was momentarily stunned, then shook his head and chuckled twice. Despite the laughter, a touch of nostalgia appeared on his face. He shook the wine pot in his hand, sighed, and then slowly began to recount just what had happened all those years ago. Meanwhile, the woman finished preparing some drinks and dishes to serve them, and Li Kangsheng simply continued to drink while immersing himself in the memories of the past.

The story began twenty years prior.

Back then, Li Kangsheng was not yet the well-known doctor he was now; he was just a young man stepping out into the world, running around Jianghu with his family's medical skills. The land at that time was not as stable as it is today, with brigands often lurking along the roads. He was captured once, with a knife held to his neck, forced to treat an injured gang leader. But despite being young, his stubbornness had never waned. He stood his ground and scolded the leader furiously.

Just when he thought his life was beyond saving, a middle-aged ranger laughed his way in, as swift as lightning, leaving nothing but shadows to slay a mountain of robbers and then escorted him to this city. Along the way, the two found that their personalities clicked—one stubborn and honest, the other bold and unrestrained—and they became good friends. However, all good things come to an end, and so the day of parting could not be avoided.

Speaking of their separation from all those years ago, after seventeen or eighteen years, Li Kangsheng kept drinking deeply, his scholarly face flushed with red. Putting the black crystal pot aside, he grabbed Wang Anfeng's arm forcefully, his voice slurred as he said,

"This pot never left Big Brother Li's side back in the day. I... I knew immediately upon seeing it that you had a special relationship with him. Now that you're here, hic, consider this place as your own home. Please, feel free to stay as long as you like... How about, how about Uncle Li arranges a marriage for you... You could stay here permanently."

The refined gentleman's demeanor turned uninhibited, clearly overwhelmed by the wine, and he was thoroughly inebriated. He held onto Wang Anfeng's arm and gave it a vigorous shake, saying,

"My family has a young daughter named Ya'nan, she's only, only four or five years younger than you. Why not... my dear nephew, why don't we draw up a marriage contract right here? You can take it back with you, show Big Brother Li, so our two families can become, become even closer..."

After finishing his words, Li Kangsheng really did rise unsteadily to his feet, turned around to rummage through the papers, readied the ink and brush, and set about to write. Perhaps it was due to the drunkenness, but his writing carried a certain ranger's unrestrained flair. Meanwhile, Wang Anfeng, watching the spectacle unfold, couldn't help but feel uneasy—even though he had just won a great victory, sweat began to bead on his forehead, unsure of how to handle such a predicament.

To meddle or not? Even putting aside his strong dislike for the act of casually deciding his daughter's fate, his master's words continued to echo in his head.

Persuade him? But given the situation, how could he possibly talk sense into him? It seemed the only way to make him stop would be to knock him out, yet the teachings of his father's older brother did not permit him to strike a kind elder.

Just as Wang Anfeng felt somewhat helpless, suddenly a gentle and fair hand reached out, followed by two gleaming silver needles piercing directly into Li Kangsheng's back. The man's body stiffened, and then with a slight shake, he collapsed onto the table, soon followed by loud snores. Wang Anfeng was startled and turned to see his gentle and refined aunt, who wore a bitter smile as she looked at her husband. Surprised, Anfeng blurted out:

"This... Auntie, you know martial arts?!"

"Martial Arts? I'm just a woman, how could I know any martial arts..."

The woman looked somewhat bewildered, then quickly realized what had happened and pointed at the silver needles to explain:

"This isn't some martial art; it's just the family's acupuncture technique. There are eleven points on the human body that can help a person sleep. I just needled two points behind his ear at Fengfu... Besides, he himself was quite drunk, making my nephew feel awkward."

"About the marriage arrangement just now... Ya'nan is only seven years old. Please don't take it seriously..."

As she spoke, she had a look of apology yet determination on her face as she bowed toward Wang Anfeng. The young man quickly stepped aside to avoid her gesture, steadied himself, and then smiled:

"It was just drunken babble... I've also had some drink, my head's all fuzzy. I probably won't remember anything clearly by tomorrow... Uncle Li, did he say anything just now?"

The woman looked at Wang Anfeng's unruffled face, paused for a moment, and then also smiled, "I must have misunderstood, nothing happened just now."

Wang Anfeng smiled again, glanced at the scholarly man who had passed out, and said, "Since Uncle Li is drunk to this state, may I ask which room is aunt and uncle's? I can carry him to bed." The woman beside him, her eyes flashing with annoyance, bitterly said, "He knows he can't hold his liquor yet insists on drinking excessively, which is careless; failing to set an example for the younger ones is impolite; spouting nonsense is irresponsible. He has broken so many of a gentleman's ten commandments in one go; he deserves to suffer the cold here!"

"Anfeng, you don't need to bother with him. Come, your aunt has prepared a guest room for you. Go ahead and wash up and rest."

While complaining about Li Kangsheng, she turned around with a cheerful attitude, taking Wang Anfeng away. The young man looked back at Li Kangsheng, whose face was smeared with ink, and thought, "Indeed, alcohol causes problems, affects temperament, makes one do things one wouldn't dare to do sober, but can also lead to all sorts of trouble. Master certainly didn't lie to me; alcohol should not be touched."

After leaving the study and turning a corner, he arrived at his assigned side room. It wasn't big, but it was exceptionally clean and tidy, with fresh bedding laid out. Wang Anfeng wished Li Kangsheng's wife good night, and after washing up, he lay on the bed, feeling a touch vastly different from the hard plank bed in Great Liang Mount—like tender new shoots in spring, it enfolded him with softness, a scent of medicinal herbs filling his nostrils.

Lying on this bed, Wang Anfeng found it difficult to fall asleep for a long time. Today was the first time he had engaged physically with others, and he had easily defeated several strong men, which made his emotions churn. Just now, he was able to maintain the etiquette his father taught him, but now, alone, he still felt an intense excitement.

After silently repeating the principle "A gentleman is cautious when alone" several times in his mind, his excitement only grew stronger. Suddenly, he remembered he hadn't visited the Shaolin Sect that day. Thinking it would be no problem to disappear for half an hour since it was already night and he was at Uncle Li's house, he raised his arm and whispered to the Buddha Beads:

"I must return to Shaolin Temple to find Master!"

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