Chapter 20 The Method of Rescue

"Big brother, how are you? Rest for a moment; the doctor will treat your wounds soon."

The bearded man knelt beside the stretcher, propping up the lying man, whose face was as pale as gold leaf. He coughed weakly twice but said with a trembling voice, "Daniu... cough cough cough, come, come here." Upon hearing this, Zhao Daniu leaned in closer, only to hear his big brother say weakly with a cold laugh:

"Can your friends and brothers expel a decent doctor?"

Before his voice had faded, a broad hand like a fan lifted and fiercely slapped Zhao Daniu's left face. Although severely injured, the slap was extremely vicious. Zhao Daniu saw stars, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The man also seemed to have aggravated his internal injuries, causing a severe bout of coughing and spitting blood from his mouth.

"Squad leader!"

The soldiers on both sides hurried to help him but were stopped by his hand. His eyes, sharp as falcons, stared intently at the ashen-faced Zhao Daniu and he spoke again with trembling words.

"Cough cough cough, Daniu, come, come again..."

Zhao Daniu steadied himself but leaned in once more, receiving another slap to his other intact cheek which now also swelled up red. The man raised his hand, grabbed Zhao Daniu by the collar, struggled to stand while gasping for breath, and said in a fierce tone:

"Zhao Daniu! I've led you for seven years, seven years! Have I ever taught you to bully the good? Have I ever taught you to threaten dangerously? When has the Iron Guards ever had such an order?! Ah?! How come I didn't know about it!"

Zhao Daniu fell to his knees with a thud, his head knocking on the ground like pounding garlic, crying out, "Big brother, please do not be angry. I was just trying to make the doctor save you. I'll take the military beating. Daniu's life is worthless, but brother, please take care of yourself, do not be angry, do not be angry!"

"Insolence!"

The man scolded angrily, pushed away the people on either side, arched his back slightly, swaying, and said in exasperation, "Foolish, foolish! My death is trivial, but our army's reputation is paramount!"

Staggering a few steps, he was tall and dressed in black Armor, but there were many shriveled marks around his waist and abdomen, as if he had been smashed by a heavy weapon. However, on closer inspection, they were clearly marks of fists, the details of which were visibly horrifying. One wondered what kind of monster could possess such terrifying power.

The man's body swayed, ignoring Zhao Daniu, he bowed deeply to Li Kangsheng, who was merely dressed in plain white, and said, "I have failed in my discipline, letting you witness a disgrace, cough cough cough, I will, I must take strict measures!"

Li Kangsheng's expression eased slightly. He reached out to support the man as he bowed, but he insisted on bowing in his Armor, which was impossible to support. With a crack, he knelt straight down, the iron Armor pressing a gap into the bluestone, his expression solemn, clearly not for show. Li Kangsheng sighed inwardly; he was a man of integrity, and seeing the other party treating him this way, it was hard for him to express anger. He thus spoke:

"General, you are too courteous... Earlier, I too was somewhat at fault. However, the extent of your injuries truly surpasses my abilities to mend."

The man clasped his fists in return and said, "A mere squad leader, not worthy of being called a general, cough cough cough, please, please speak clearly, sir."

Li Kangsheng stroked his beard thoughtfully and said:

"If it were a common injury, I would naturally be able to handle it, but the pulse reading indicates depression and knotting, clearly the damage of Internal Strength. To treat it requires the use of Internal Strength with the needle, yet I am but a humble doctor with no significant physical strength, let alone Internal Strength Cultivation. Moreover, the technique of using Internal Strength to apply the needle is a secretive tradition passed down within our family. Its ancestor expressly stated that it should not be taught to anyone who is not a direct relative or a disciple..."

The commandant opened his mouth but then fell silent again. Internal Strength is hard to cultivate. For local guards like them, they generally practice simple External Kung Fu. Even if they found someone with Internal Strength Cultivation, how could they expect to be taught the family's secretive techniques just because they are an outsider? As for traveling to other cities, let alone whether such medical skills exist there, there isn't enough time anyway.

Feeling as if his end was near, even with his naturally bold and unfettered nature, he felt a sense of utter defeat and chill as he faced the emptiness of everything turning back to nothing. Li Kangsheng also sighed, turned his head away, no longer looking. By his side, a bearded man, realizing there was no hope left, collapsed on the ground and began to sob loudly, his injured right hand forcefully hitting the ground, mixing the blood with the dust, which only added to his pitiful state. However, at that moment, another hesitant voice emerged.

"Uncle Li... May I ask if there's any requirement for Internal Strength Cultivation in this needling technique?"

Li Kangsheng looked slightly startled, and the bearded man's eyes sparked with a glint of hope as he turned to look at the youth in a blue short jacket. The latter raised his right hand, and immediately, a surge of fierce and warm flow emitted, clearly indicating significant cultivation of Internal Strength, not something achieved in a few short days.

Li Kangsheng's eyes brightened slightly. He paced back and forth, then clapped his right hand into his palm and gritted his teeth, "Wait here for now; I need to ask my wife first."

No sooner had he spoken than he hurriedly turned into the rear hall. In the medicine shop, Wang Anfeng retracted his hand, feeling like the events had taken a surreal turn. The commandant felt as if he were in a dream, while in the inner hall, Li Kangsheng relayed the matter to his wife before hesitantly saying:

"My lady, although I said I could treat this injury, this needling technique is after all passed down in your family... Anfeng, Anfeng is not your family's heir, this..."

After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "If it can't be done, I'll say Anfeng's cultivation isn't sufficient for this needling technique."

The lady furrowed her brows, eyeing her husband with some reproach, and chided:

"Making decisions on your own, when did I ever say I wouldn't teach it?"

"This... What do you suggest, my lady?"

"Although the 'Taisu Needle' technique I inherited from our great grandfather is simple, it was passed to me since only daughters were born in my generation. He said on his deathbed that it should not be taught to anyone who isn't our direct kin. Normally, I would hesitate to teach it to others, but if it's Anfeng, I have no hesitation at all."

Li Kangsheng was slightly stunned, then heard his wife continue, "That child came here just a day or two ago and has already solved many problems for us. He is handsome, polite, and honorable. I am very fond of him. Even if you didn't mention it, I had planned to pass on this needle technique to him. It's inevitable to get injured in Jianghu; how could he not know medical arts?"

"It's just a pity he's a bit older, otherwise he would make a perfect match for Ya'nan."

As Li Kangsheng was lost in thought, his wife had already neatly tied up her hair and took a roll of white cloth from a carved lattice under the bed, looking up at her husband with a smile, "What are you dazed for?"

"Medicine King 'Great Physician's Sincerity' states: in treating patients, a great doctor must calm the mind and set the will, free from desires and wishes. You, like this, are even less capable than that young apprentice back in the day."

Having finished speaking and eying her husband again, she pushed the door open and walked out ahead, her black hair setting off her snowy neck even more, her carriage and demeanor exuding an air of girlish spirit. Li Kangsheng suddenly almost thought he saw his junior sister from years past. After coming back to his senses, he was overjoyed both for the possibility of saving a life and for his wife's understanding and empathy. With a sweep of his robe, he quickly followed her out.