Chapter Two: Haven't You Ever Watched a Martial Arts Drama?

Assistant Li Zhao was the first to react, his voice trembling as he asked, “Miss, are you telling the truth?” Xie Qingtang nodded, and in an instant, unrestrained joy flooded Li Zhao’s face.

Second Uncle Gu snapped out of his shock and erupted in fury, shouting, “Where did this slip of a girl come from, daring to spout such nonsense here? Butler, throw her out at once!”

“I am a doctor—a practitioner of traditional medicine,” Xie Qingtang replied, glancing at Second Uncle Gu, then stepping toward the bedside. The servants, almost involuntarily, parted to make way for her.

“Please, Miss, help him at once!” Li Zhao agreed without hesitation, immediately leading Xie Qingtang to the bed.

“Wait! I do not consent!” Second Uncle Gu blocked their path with a swift stride, his eyes wide as he bellowed, “My nephew is dead—Dr. James himself declared it! He’s an internationally renowned physician. How could some unknown girl possibly surpass him?”

He turned to look at the foreigner standing in a white coat in the room. “Isn’t that right, Dr. James?”

James’s expression was also tinged with displeasure. In halting Mandarin, he said, “Yes, Mr. Li. I personally witnessed all Mr. Gu’s vital signs—his heartbeat, blood pressure—drop to zero before pronouncing him dead. There can be no mistake.”

He paused, then addressed Li Zhao, “Mr. Li, I understand your grief at losing a friend, but the machines do not lie. We should accept reality and let the deceased rest in peace, rather than believe in something like traditional medicine, which is nothing but superstition…”

Gu’s younger aunt even took out a handkerchief, dabbing at her eyes in a show of tears. “Oh, my poor nephew! Even in death, he cannot rest, tormented by these people—what can their intentions possibly be?”

Xie Qingtang, who had remained placid until now, frowned at Dr. James’s words, giving a soft, disdainful laugh. “Yes, heartbeat and blood pressure are evidence of life, but their absence does not mean life is gone. If you think traditional medicine is trickery, that is your own ignorance. Today, I will show you what true medicine is.”

Li Zhao’s resolve only grew firmer. He declared with conviction, “That’s right. I believe in this lady of traditional medicine!”

At this point, it didn’t matter if it was traditional medicine or not—if someone could bring the chairman back, Li Zhao would even consider drawing a magic circle to summon a demon in exchange for his life.

Second Uncle Gu was furious, stamping his feet. “No! Without the family’s consent, I’d like to see who dares touch Gu Xiujin’s body!”

The Gu family immediately closed ranks behind him, blocking Xie Qingtang and Li Zhao’s way with menacing glares.

Li Zhao could barely contain his laughter at the scene. “It’s not that you’re worried about disturbing the chairman’s peace—you’re just afraid this lady really will bring him back!” His eyes flashed with severity as he barked, “Move!”

With a chorus of mechanical clicks, the bodyguards from Gu Corporation drew their firearms, aiming the cold muzzles at the family.

Li Zhao sneered. “I am saving the chairman, no matter what. If any of you wish to risk your lives, by all means—step forward and stop us!”

Xie Qingtang glanced at Li Zhao in surprise, silently giving him a thumbs-up.

The Gu family was duly intimidated, watching helplessly as Xie Qingtang approached the bed, anxiety written all over their faces. They weren’t fools; seeing the girl’s confidence, they began to worry that if she succeeded, not only would their scheme fail, but they would have to face Gu Xiujin’s vengeance.

A wild look flashed in the younger aunt’s eyes. Suddenly she lunged forward, throwing herself in front of the bed, resolutely blocking Xie Qingtang with a twisted expression. “If you want to disturb my nephew’s remains, you’ll have to step over my corpse first! I won’t allow it. Go ahead, shoot—shoot if you dare!”

Li Zhao was seething, about to give the order to fire for real, when a gentle, warm hand stopped him.

He looked over in surprise to see Xie Qingtang smiling. “Calm down. Going to prison for trash like this isn’t worth it. Leave it to me. Don’t worry.”

A sly glint sparkled in Xie Qingtang’s eyes. Without missing a step, she walked up to the younger aunt, then, like a flash of lightning, pressed a spot on her shoulder.

Caught completely off guard, the woman’s body went numb and limp, and with a cry, she collapsed onto the floor.

Xie Qingtang brushed her aside as if sweeping away rubbish, then stepped past her. “See? Problem solved.”

Jaws dropped all around, and everyone wondered if their eyes were deceiving them.

Li Zhao hurriedly motioned for two bodyguards to drag the younger aunt away, then hesitantly asked, “Miss, just now, you…”

Xie Qingtang was already bent over, examining Gu Xiujin. Hearing the question, she looked up in surprise. “Acupoint sealing. Haven’t you ever seen martial arts dramas?”

Everyone: “…”

It wasn’t that they hadn’t seen martial arts dramas—they just never expected those skills to be real!

Most astonishing of all, the young woman spoke of “acupoint sealing” as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world—utterly incredible!

But after witnessing Xie Qingtang’s display, the Gu family fell silent. Who knew what else she might be capable of—perhaps even launching into the legendary Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms? Their slim frames certainly couldn’t withstand that.

Since Gu Xiujin had no heartbeat, Xie Qingtang didn’t take his pulse. Instead, she checked his mouth and nose, lifted his eyelids to examine his pupils, and, feeling more confident, took out her needles. With practiced swiftness, she selected vital acupoints—Philtrum, Hundred Meetings, and more—and in a flash, inserted seventy-two needles.

Everyone watched with bated breath, clutching their chests and silently thanking their luck that they hadn’t provoked her—otherwise, all those needles might have ended up in their own bodies.

When she finished, Xie Qingtang exhaled deeply, then looked instinctively at the man on the bed—only to see no response.

The Gu family grew restless again. Second Uncle Gu leaped up, shouting, “I told you this woman was a fraud!”

Dr. James shook his head repeatedly. “The machines don’t lie. We should trust science…”

Xie Qingtang calmly packed away her acupuncture kit, paying no mind to the noisy relatives and doctor.

Li Zhao’s eyes reddened, his entire being on the verge of collapse from the blow.

But just then, the monitors attached to Gu Xiujin’s body suddenly let out a beep, data slowly returning—heartbeat, blood pressure…

Dr. James could hardly believe his eyes. He rubbed them hard, but it was true—the dead had returned to life!

The man he had declared dead was opening his eyes.

“A-A zombie!” Second Uncle Gu screamed, rolling his eyes and fainting dead away from fright.

Xie Qingtang was speechless. Her serene eyes flickered over the collapsed uncle, then she turned to the overjoyed Li Zhao. “I’ve pulled him back from the gates of death. I’ll write a prescription—once he takes the medicine, he’ll be out of danger for good.”