Chapter 7: Nine Needles of the Heavenly Dao!

Qin Dong nodded. “I am. But if we wait another half minute, even an immortal won’t be able to save him.”

Meeting his sincere gaze, Ye Junyao took a deep breath and made her decision. “All right. I trust you.”

She turned to her family. “No one touches Qin Dong. Whatever happens, I’ll take full responsibility.”

“Junyao, you…” Ye Jianguo’s face darkened.

“Dad, given Grandpa’s condition, do you have a better idea?”

He had no answer. She turned back to Qin Dong and forced a smile. “Try. Whether you succeed or not, I won’t blame you.”

Qin Dong nodded and looked at Cao Jisheng. “Doctor Cao, may I borrow your silver needles?”

Cao opened his medical case and handed him a needle roll. “Let’s see what extraordinary skill you possess.”

With everyone watching, Qin Dong lifted the old man’s shirt. Ye Junyao was tense; the rest of the family watched with mocking smiles, waiting to see what he could possibly do.

He closed his eyes and quickly reviewed the medical knowledge in his mind. Then his eyes snapped open. With a flick of his wrist, he inserted a silver needle precisely into an acupoint on the old man’s chest.

His movement was swift and steady. Cao’s disdain vanished. An expert could recognize skill at a glance: the young man really did know medicine. In speed and precision, even Cao’s decades of practice couldn’t match him.

How was that possible?

Before he could think further, Qin Dong accelerated. His fingers moved like a musician playing a pipa, placing needles into major acupoints across the old man’s body. Some went deep, others shallow; he manipulated each one in a fluid sequence.

The Ye family watched, dazzled. Cao followed every movement, his expression changing repeatedly. Suddenly he trembled, as though he had recognized something impossible.

“Th-this is…” His eyes widened. “The Nine Needles of the Heavenly Dao?”

“It really is!”

Overcome, Cao beat his chest. “I never imagined I’d live to see this miraculous technique return to the world!”

Everyone stared at him. Ye Jianguo frowned. “Doctor Cao, what are the Nine Needles of the Heavenly Dao?”

Cao’s gaze remained fixed on Qin Dong’s hands, his voice trembling. “Ancient texts say the technique can seize heaven’s fortune, reverse yin and yang, and turn the cycle of life and death. Legend says that as long as a patient has one breath left, it can snatch them from the King of Hell.”

The family looked at Qin Dong in disbelief. This young man knew a miraculous art lost for a thousand years? Even Ye Junyao was stunned.

Ye Jianguo questioned him. “Doctor Cao, could you be mistaken? Someone like him…”

“Shut up!” Cao snapped. “I’ve practiced medicine most of my life. Do you think I can’t recognize it?”

Ye Jianguo didn’t dare answer.

After placing the final needle, Qin Dong exhaled. It was his first time performing acupuncture, and the work had been exhausting. Whether it succeeded now depended on the old man’s fate.

The motionless old man suddenly arched his back and spat a mouthful of foul black blood onto the floor. The monitor sounded; the flat ECG line returned to a steady rhythm. His chest rose and fell, and a trace of color returned to his ashen face.

He slowly opened his eyes. “Water…”

The room erupted. He was alive! The old man Cao Jisheng had declared dead had been saved by this young stranger.

Ye Jianguo stood frozen, his face burning. Ye Junyao hurried to pour water, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Cao’s knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor before Qin Dong. “Miraculous! Your medical skill is divine. Please accept my respects!”

Qin Dong calmly helped him up, then removed the needles. Ye Junyao carefully gave her grandfather half a cup of warm water. Once he had caught his breath, he learned what had happened and looked at Qin Dong with gratitude.

“Young Qin, words can’t express my thanks. I owe you my life.”

“You’re too kind. Our generation has a peaceful life because yours risked everything for it. If anyone owes a debt, it’s us. You’re still very weak; you need to rest.”

While examining him, Qin Dong had discovered countless tiny fragments of shrapnel in his body. The old man was clearly a veteran who had seen battle. That alone was reason enough to give him his best care.

Grandpa Ye laughed, deeply pleased. “Good boy!”

He took Ye Junyao’s hand and Qin Dong’s, pressing them together. “Junyao, find time to register your marriage with young Qin. Hold the wedding while I’m still alive. Better yet, give me a great-grandchild soon!”

Ye Junyao flushed and panicked. She had brought Qin Dong to pretend to be her boyfriend and comfort her dying grandfather. She had never expected him to save the old man, let alone for Grandpa to insist they marry.

When she didn’t answer, Grandpa Ye’s eyes sharpened. “What? You don’t want to? Were you lying to me? Is young Qin not your boyfriend?”

Alarmed, she shook her head. He had only just escaped death; she couldn’t upset him again.

“N-no, Grandpa. I’m willing. We’ll register as soon as we can.”

“When is that? Go to the civil affairs bureau now. I want to see your marriage certificates today.”