Chapter 453: Four Symbols Needle Method

"Straighten him out, I'm going to needle him!" Sitting on the long chair was Yangzi, who was trembling as he gazed at the eerie long needle in Pangzi's hand.

I asked Pangzi, "Are you preparing to use the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate again?"

I felt somewhat surprised, because the needle in Pangzi's hand now was different from the needles used in ordinary acupuncture. Not to mention its length being longer than ordinary needles, even the color of the needle seemed off. It gave a feeling of being very cold and icy.

Pangzi shook his head and replied, "No, this is another set of needling methods; in traditional Chinese medicine it's called Four Symbols Acupuncture."

After simply explaining it to me, Pangzi picked up Yangzi's arm and instructed, "This needle is a cold iron needle; inserting it into the body feels a bit cold, so bear with it."

After saying that, Pangzi flicked his five fingers, and with both hands he inserted needles at Yangzi's acupoints at an astonishing speed; in my words, it was a swift whoosh, and suddenly countless silver needles appeared on Yangzi's arm. It felt strange yet smooth.

Moreover, Pangzi's needling technique this time was slightly different from before; previously, Pangzi would take the needles out one by one from the needle box and slowly insert them into the patient's body. This time, Pangzi seemed to have hidden the needles all at once; a swipe of his five fingers, and Yangzi's arm quickly gained a dense row of silver needles.

"Azure Dragon wagging tail, White Tiger shaking head, Vermilion Bird scattering feathers, Black Tortoise returning to position..." What made me even more incredulous was that, as Pangzi inserted the needles, Song Lin murmured the names of these techniques.

I couldn't help but push Song Lin, leaning in to whisper, "Brother Lin, do you know Pangzi's needling method?"

Song Lin nodded, then immediately shook his head, rubbing the back of his head and earnestly answering me: "I've only heard of it, never seen it; the name of this needling method I heard from my master, who described the scene of using this method, which is exactly how Elder Qiang is currently shaking the needles."

After hearing Song Lin's explanation, I finally understood; it's no surprise that Liu Guozhong would know the name of this needling method. Unlike Daoism, our Fa Sect is a great mishmash, or rather, it has permeated every corner of the folk world.

Whether it's martial arts sects, or the underworld organizations of the Ming-Qing era, or the famous Boxer Rebellion at the end of the Qing dynasty, our Fa Sect's skills and incantations have been passed down.

Moreover, many secret codes of underworld groups founded during the Republican era used the opening of our Fa Sect's incantation: "The east is red with a point of sunrise." Because of the Fa Sect's practical cultivation style, its disciples' footsteps have trodden every corner of the folk world; aside from the numerous tales of extraordinary folk figures, its magical arts have also been spread abroad.

Liu Guozhong, the true disciple of Liu Family Fist, a veteran of the jianghu for decades, knowing these secrets is not surprising. Although he may not have been granted invulnerability nor know magical arts, in fact, the knowledge of many elderly folk and veteran jianghu figures is not inferior to that of the new generation of Fa Sect disciples.

After Pangzi inserted the needles, he twisted and flicked, employing several techniques at once. Like a hedgehog, Yangzi would shiver from cold one moment, then his face would flush hot the next. After more than half an hour of torment, Yangzi's complexion quickly turned purplish-blue.

At that very moment, Pangzi slammed Yangzi's chest hard; after Yangzi exhaled a mouthful of stagnant qi, Pangzi twisted Yangzi's wrist and then cut his vein.

Under Yangzi's panicked and uneasy gaze, that blood trickled into the basin. Moments later, Pangzi chanted the hemostasis spell and pressed the broad blade onto Yangzi's vein.

"All right..." Pangzi exhaled a mouthful of turbid air with a sigh, wiping the sweat dripping from his forehead.

At that moment, Yangzi happily felt himself over, exclaiming joyfully, "Ah, it's fine—I don't feel any pain anymore, and my head feels much clearer, like after taking a cold shower on a scorching day."

Pangzi merely grinned, then waved at Song Lin, saying, "Brother Lin, help him inside, and then bring out the other brothers."

After Song Lin got up to help Yangzi back, Pangzi then plopped onto the long bench, breathing slowly and rhythmically with eyes closed, nurturing his spirit.

At that moment, I crouched down and lightly touched the fresh blood in the basin with my hand, discovering that the blood's temperature was a bit off—aside from being somewhat higher than normal human blood temperature, the spot my fingertip touched gave a stinging sensation.

In an instant, I realized this blood must be Yangzi's resentful blood, stagnant blood corrupted by resentment. Although after letting out the blood Yangzi looked much weaker on the surface, in fact, once this stagnant blood was cleared, Yangzi's body returned to normal.

"Ah, Pangzi, you just said your needling method is called the Four Symbols Needle, right? Could you tell me who transmitted this needle to you? I don't know why!" Curious, I pushed Pangzi, who was resting with eyes closed.

Pangzi merely opened his eyes, glanced at me, and listlessly replied, "The needle was passed down to me by Seventh Master; if you want to know, ask Seventh Master yourself or read the Baopuzi—I have no time..."

After saying that, Pangzi continued to keep his eyes closed, nurturing his essence and energy.

I "……"

What followed was much simpler; Pangzi, following the previous method, one by one gave acupuncture and bloodletting to these injured brothers, though the needling process was extremely tedious—despite having the first experience, it still consumed considerable time and effort.

After everyone had been treated and Pangzi had written the tonic prescription, it was already past seven in the evening. Eight people, taking a full five hours, an entire afternoon's time.

After all the patients were cured, Pangzi finally patted his chest and let out a relieved sigh. After chatting with everyone for a moment, the exhausted Pangzi packed up his belongings, preparing to return with us to Liu Guozhong's residence.

"I thought I'd have to stay in Red Peace for a while; I didn't expect to cure everyone so quickly. It seems in two days I'll have to part from my uncle-in-law." Pangzi took a sip of water, saying reluctantly.

Liu Guozhong had once said that as long as Pangzi could cure the brothers in the troupe, his Liu Family Troupe would immediately leave Red Peace. Although Pangzi likes to meddle, I estimate he won't oppose Liu Guozhong.

Walking at Pangzi's left side, I held a cigarette, smirking at him, "Fortunately everyone's close; otherwise they wouldn't know what you mean! Are you really trying to heal the troupe's brothers, or are you cursing them to get better later?"

Just as I finished speaking, I involuntarily stopped, because I saw Song Lin beside me space out for a moment, his face full of worry, seeming deeply troubled.

I pushed him and asked, "Brother Lin, do you have something on your mind? Why do you seem lost, as if you've lost your soul?"

"Ah... what did you say?" Song Lin was indeed absentminded; even after I pushed him, he remained dazed for a while before regaining his senses.

At that moment, Pangzi walking ahead sensed something off and promptly stopped.

Under our two earnest gazes, Song Lin still tried to hide it by shaking his head and saying nothing was wrong, but the gloom in his brow completely gave him away.

"Brother Lin, just say what's on your mind! We're all our own people; although you're not related by blood, you're my uncle-in-law's apprentice. People often say an apprentice is like half a son to the master; since I was little I've never treated you as an outsider... Could it be that the brothers' predicament is because of you?" At the end, Pangzi gave a weird laugh and teased Song Lin.

Who would have thought, Pangzi's words were like stepping on Song Lin's tail; he jumped up, face flushed, shouting loudly, "What nonsense are you spouting? The troupe's brothers are all my brothers; I, Song Lin, am not a beast—how could I harm my own kin? I'm just worried this play can't go on, and the Liu Family Troupe will collapse..."

When people are emotionally agitated, they often reveal their hidden true feelings because they lack time to think. For example, Song Lin is exactly in that state now.

Although he reacted in time and covered his mouth, since it concerns his uncle-in-law, Pangzi couldn't help but ask for the full story.

After barely a moment of stunned silence, Pangzi grabbed Song Lin's shoulder and anxiously asked, "What did you say? Which play can't go on, the Liu Family Troupe will collapse—tell me clearly, what exactly is going on?"