Chapter Sixty-Four: The Five Dragons Needle Technique!

"Challenge? Challenge what?" The female receptionist still hadn't understood the situation. Or perhaps she did realize this fellow was here to stir up trouble, but she needed to make sure of it.

"What do you think is his greatest strength?" Qin Luo asked with a smile.

If she answered that her boss's skills in bed were the best, he'd be at a loss.

"Of course, it's his medical expertise. Our Director Wang comes from a famous family of traditional medicine practitioners and is renowned in the capital. You know the international superstar Jack Chen? Even he came to our boss for treatment when he was injured on set. And our city's Deputy Mayor had a car sent to personally invite Director Wang over. There are countless celebrities and government officials who have to make appointments just to see our boss," the woman replied proudly.

Seeing the pride on her face, Qin Luo thought, as long as you have real skill, traditional medicine can indeed be quite lucrative.

You always hear about scholars starving, but have you ever heard of a doctor dying of hunger?

No matter how troubled the times, a doctor can always find a bowl of porridge to fill his stomach.

"So, in your opinion, which area of your Director Wang's medical skills is the most formidable?"

"Naturally, it's acupuncture. His father was the King of Needles in China, renowned far and wide. Director Wang inherited those family secrets and is known as the Little Needle King."

"Well. I've come to challenge him at acupuncture," Qin Luo said.

The receptionist's face darkened, and she sized up Qin Luo again, snapping, "Are you out of your mind?"

"I am. It's a condition I've had since birth—incurable, unfortunately. Still, it doesn't affect my challenge," Qin Luo replied. The congenital yang meridian in his body was indeed a troublesome thing, and he had yet to find the right medicinal primer to resolve its root cause.

"Who on earth are you? Our Director Wang doesn't have time for you. You'd better leave," the receptionist said curtly, turning to greet other guests. She clearly thought Qin Luo was just a troublemaker.

"It was your Director Wang who invited me. If you don't believe me, call him and ask," Qin Luo called after her.

"If you have his number, why don’t you call him yourself?" the receptionist sneered. Did he really think such a lie could fool her?

"Good point. It's not like I don't have a phone," Qin Luo thought. He took out his mobile, dialed the number on the business card, and called Wang Yangxin's phone.

The phone rang several times before someone picked up.

"Hello? Who is this?" The voice on the other end was unmistakably Wang Yangxin, who had met Qin Luo twice before.

"It's Qin Luo," Qin Luo announced.

"So? When are you coming to compete?" Wang Yangxin's tone grew mocking.

"I'm standing right outside the King of Needles Clinic," Qin Luo said, looking up at the building, knowing Wang Yangxin was somewhere inside.

The call ended abruptly, with no farewell.

But the two soon met in person.

Wang Yangxin had changed out of the flashy Armani suit he’d used to impress women, now donning a pale yellow silk Tai Chi suit, paired with silver silk cloth shoes. In this attire, he truly looked the part of a master—perfect for deceiving the elderly, who would be taken in without question.

He was not alone; more than a dozen young people followed behind him, men and women both. The men wore pure black Tai Chi outfits, the women pure white, each embroidered on the chest with a silver needle and the "King of Needles" insignia.

Who these people were, Qin Luo couldn't say, but from the way they stood two steps behind Wang Yangxin, they were likely students or subordinates.

Wang Yangxin gazed at Qin Luo with a smile, like a hunter waiting for prey to walk straight into his net.

He did not come down to shake hands, but remained on the steps, looking down at Qin Luo and chuckling, "Qin Luo, you really dare to show up? I must admit, your courage is impressive. But this is good—I'll expose your hypocrisy in public, so Huanxi can see your true colors for herself."

Qin Luo kept his smile, unbothered by the provocation. Pointing to the plaque above Wang Yangxin's head, he said, "That sign is quite nice. I like it very much."

Wang Yangxin glanced up at the 'King of Needles' sign and sneered, "Do you know the story behind this plaque? It would scare you to death."

"Then, by all means, tell me and frighten me to death. Since you hate me so much, wouldn't that be a relief?"

"You—!" Wang Yangxin hadn't expected Qin Luo to be so quick-witted and almost choked on his words. Pointing at the plaque, he said, "This sign is made from a single block of yellow pear wood, which itself is priceless. The calligraphy is by the great master Qizhi Chan himself. Back in late Qing times, a prince, grateful for our family's help, had this delivered personally. If you can carry this plaque home, it will feed you for a lifetime."

"Such a remarkable story?" Qin Luo asked with a smile.

"Of course," Wang Yangxin replied arrogantly.

Qin Luo thought for a moment, then said, "How about this—I'll add a condition to our wager. If you lose, you give me this plaque?"

"And if you lose?" Wang Yangxin demanded, annoyed. This guy was really taking himself seriously.

"If I lose, even if you give me the plaque for free, I'd have no face to accept it," Qin Luo replied.

Hearing Qin Luo's terms, Wang Yangxin nearly coughed up blood. He pointed at Qin Luo and bellowed, "Qin, do you take everyone for a fool? These tricks might work on women, but don't embarrass yourself in public. If you lose, you must stay away from Huanxi and never contact her again."

"You want to trade a mere plaque for a woman?" Qin Luo shook his head, feeling he'd been shortchanged.

This only made Wang Yangxin angrier. "What do you mean, 'your woman'? Qin, mind your mouth! What is Lin Huanxi to you? What right do you have to call her that?"

"I'm just saying. Don't get upset. Since you insist, let's settle it that way," Qin Luo said cheerfully.

Judging a healer's skill by his character, Qin Luo thought, if Wang Yangxin was so easily provoked, his cultivation was still lacking.

A truly great doctor can remain unflustered even if Mount Tai collapses before him, and perform surgery under the most perilous conditions.

"If you're just here to argue, go do something else. If you're here to compete in medicine, come with me," Wang Yangxin said, having been outdone in words, and turned to lead the way. If Qin Luo dared to follow, he would be thoroughly defeated in medical skill.

Even his students glared at Qin Luo before hurrying after their teacher upstairs.

Qin Luo just smiled and stepped into the classical building, fragrant with medicinal herbs.

As modern technology advances by the day, people's health grows ever worse. Nine out of ten are ill, and the tenth is sub-healthy.

Business inside the building was booming, people coming and going in a steady stream. In the first-floor lounge, a long line of patients waited to be seen.

These were all well-dressed, obviously part of society's successful and elite. Ordinary people wouldn't dare come here—the high consultation fees alone were enough to scare them off.

Led by Wang Yangxin, the group entered a spacious, bright room.

Inside were all manner of medical instruments and traditional herbs, with large charts of the human organs and acupuncture points hung on the walls.

Several people sat waiting on the side sofas, clearly there to see Wang Yangxin.

Suddenly, Wang Yangxin turned to Qin Luo and asked, "What do you want to compete in?"

"I've heard your greatest skill is acupuncture, so let's compete in that," Qin Luo said with a smile.

"You may choose something else," Wang Yangxin replied, thinking this fellow must be mad to pick his strongest area. He meant to let Qin Luo know that whatever he chose, Wang Yangxin would accept.

He was not only skilled at acupuncture, but also at massage, prescription, and other areas. Like Qin Luo, he was an all-around doctor of traditional medicine.

"No need," Qin Luo waved a hand. "Since I intend to take your 'King of Needles' sign, I'll defeat you at acupuncture."

"Hey, watch your mouth! Calling yourself fat and still panting? Our master competing with you is a favor—who do you think you are?"

"Exactly! You haven't even competed, how do you know you'll win? I bet you're not even fit to carry our master's shoes."

"These days, only the poor pretend to be rich. If you want our sign, show us some real skill. What's the point of bragging?"

This time, without Wang Yangxin needing to speak, his students—displeased with Qin Luo—spoke up to mock and belittle him.

Qin Luo regretted not bringing Wang Jiujiu and the others along. One on one, maybe not, but in a group fight, he had the numbers.

In terms of student count, Wang Yangxin couldn't compare to Qin Luo.

Wang Yangxin, fed up with Qin Luo's arrogance, waved to silence his students' increasingly harsh insults and sneered, "Enough with the nonsense. Let’s begin. Open your eyes and watch closely—this is what real acupuncture looks like."

He approached a short, stout man and asked, "Where are you feeling discomfort?"

"My lumbar disc is herniated, Dr. Wang. You already diagnosed me earlier," the man replied.

Wang Yangxin nodded, turned to open his needle box, and took out three 2.5-inch filiform needles, holding them in his palm. With practiced movements, he disinfected them, split them between his hands—one in the left, two in the right—each held between his fingers.

"Take off your shirt," Wang Yangxin instructed.

"Dr. Wang, will it hurt?" the man asked, his face pale as he saw Wang Yangxin holding three needles at once.

"It won't hurt. It will feel like nothing more than an ant bite," Wang Yangxin reassured him.

Hearing this, the man took off his flashy, silver-checkered shirt that made him look like a nouveau riche.

"Lie down. Don't move. Close your eyes," Wang Yangxin ordered, and the man complied.

Wang Yangxin took a deep breath, then both hands moved at once—one up, two down, all needles inserted with a smooth, level motion.

The stout man didn't move, didn't even open his eyes, and seemed to feel no pain at all where the needles pierced him.

Seeing Wang Yangxin display such advanced technique, Qin Luo's eyes lit up with delight. "The Five Dragons Needle Technique! I didn't expect you to know the Five Dragons Needle Technique," he exclaimed.