Chapter Fourteen: Watching Your Performance

At that very moment, the effects of the sedative on the man in the wheelchair had worn off. He slowly regained consciousness, and the instant he awoke, he leapt to the ground like a madman, crawling on all fours and letting out a beast-like roar. The crowd gathered outside was so startled by this sight that they instinctively took several steps back. Gu Xiujin, however, simply raised his right hand, and the bodyguards behind him immediately tensed, ready for action.

The crazed man’s bloodshot eyes swept the surroundings. At last, as if locking onto his prey, he lunged wildly toward Xie Qingtang. “Protect Xie Qingtang,” Gu Xiujin barked, and the bodyguards surged forward like lightning to shield her. Yet, they were no match for the deranged man’s speed; after all, he was only a few paces away from her.

Just as everyone thought the man would tackle Xie Qingtang to the ground, she moved with a lightness as swift as the wind, sidestepping effortlessly. In a flash, the silver needle in her hand struck the central acupoint on the man’s back with the speed of lightning. In the next instant, the man who had seemed utterly unhinged collapsed to the floor like a toad, completely immobilized.

With her patient now motionless, Xie Qingtang wasted no time. Silver needles flickered through her fingers, each one piercing critical points—Shendao, Mingmen, Qihai, and more—until she had inserted a total of one hundred and eighteen needles. Throughout the process, the crowd stood in breathless silence. Each needle sent shivers of anxiety through the onlookers.

Yet what startled them even more was the girl herself. Though she looked quite young, she remained calm and composed, her hand unwavering. Every needle landed with precision and swiftness, as though she didn’t even need to look.

All eyes were fixed on Xie Qingtang and her extraordinary display of acupuncture. No one noticed when Wang Miao’er, accompanied by the nurse Xiaoying who was always eager to curry favor, appeared at the entrance to the Hall of Benevolence.

“Is this treatment or a performance? With so many needles stuck in the patient, isn’t she afraid of killing him?” Xiaoying’s voice was perfectly pitched, loud enough to ensure those nearby could all hear.

At once, the spectators turned to look at her. Noticing the insignia of Gu’s Hospital on their uniforms, they began to whisper among themselves. “Aren’t those two girls from Gu’s Hospital? That nurse just said the girl inside might kill the patient. I think she has a point—just look at the man’s back, it’s like a porcupine!”

“Nonsense! That’s a national treasure of acupuncture right there. Can’t you see? I think the young lady inside has real skill.”

Suspicion and support for Xie Qingtang were evenly divided among the crowd. Xiaoying bit her lip, glancing at Wang Miao’er, who stood beside her exuding a chilly aura. Gathering her resolve, Xiaoying cleared her throat and raised her voice, shouting into the Hall of Benevolence, “You frauds of traditional medicine, turning the patient’s back into a pincushion and calling it healing—I say it’s just a circus act for show!”

The hall and the street fell silent at her words. Zhou Jinfan’s eyes flashed; he strode outside and called out sternly, “Who is this ignorant person mouthing off at the doorstep of our Hall of Benevolence?”

“Ignorant? I am a nurse at Gu’s Hospital, trained in modern medicine! What you’re doing is nothing but a sham. Don’t blame me if you end up killing someone—look, that man can’t even move!” Xiaoying retorted, hands on her hips, looking for all the world like a street shrew, and began to argue with Zhou Jinfan right at the entrance.

The commotion outside made Xie Qingtang, who was in the middle of her acupuncture, furrow her brow. The disturbance brought a wave of irritation to her heart.

Gu Xiujin, sitting in his wheelchair, noticed the flicker of annoyance between her brows. He turned to Li Zhao at his side and said, “Get that woman out of here.”

“Yes, Mr. Gu.” Without hesitation, Li Zhao signaled his men. The bodyguards formed a wall in front of the entrance and addressed Xiaoying: “You have one minute to leave this place, or we’ll throw you out ourselves.”

“What kind of talk is that? I’m not even inside your Hall of Benevolence, I’m standing outside on public property. Are you saying I can’t even stand here?” Xiaoying was momentarily stunned. Though intimidated by the imposing men, she forced herself to speak up.

Li Zhao had no patience for her arguments. At his gesture, the bodyguards moved swiftly toward Xiaoying. Just then, Wang Miao’er stepped forward, blocking them with a grave face. “Assistant Li, I don’t think my colleague is wrong. You’re allowing that so-called traditional healer to stick needles into a patient at will. What if she does real harm? I’ve seen plenty of cases where people believed in acupuncture and ended up paralyzed.”

Wang Miao’er’s tone was calm but firm. Her words stirred further discussion among the onlookers. But Li Zhao’s expression remained unchanged, and the bodyguards did not pause. Ignoring Wang Miao’er, they picked up the still-protesting Xiaoying and swiftly carried her across the street, dumping her at the doors of Gu’s Hospital.

“Dr. Wang, help me! Let me go!” At first, Xiaoying hoped Wang Miao’er would intervene on her behalf. But seeing Wang Miao’er simply stand there, locked in silent confrontation with Li Zhao, a wave of disappointment washed over her. When the bodyguards finally tossed her at the hospital gates, passersby all witnessed the scene, and Xiaoying felt her dignity utterly shattered.

Meanwhile, as the acupuncture continued, beads of sweat slowly trickled down Xie Qingtang’s forehead—a testament to the tremendous effort the treatment required of her. With the noise outside subsiding, she was finally able to focus all her attention on the procedure. When the last of the one hundred and eighteen needles was in place, she slumped to the ground, utterly drained.