"Because I am a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine," Li Se revealed a confident smile. "And I diagnosed your condition through the 'wang' aspect of TCM's 'wang, wen, wen, qie' diagnostics. Even without taking your pulse, I can clearly see what's wrong with your body. If what I've said so far is accurate, then you must have lumbar disc herniation!"
"Can you treat it?" This time, Qian Yinghong seemed to believe Li Se's words to some extent.
"Of course!" Li Se smiled. "Acupuncture combined with herbal topical application, and you'll be fully recovered in three days!"
"Divine Doctor Li, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I hope you can treat my ailment." Qian Yinghong's attitude improved significantly. She indeed suffered from lumbar disc herniation and had sought medical examination. However, this condition could only be managed, not cured. She never expected Li Se to claim a full recovery.
"Haha, Yinghong, I told you long ago that TCM is profound and extensive. You've been in the US for too long; how can Western medicine compare to TCM?" Qian Tang chuckled.
"Elder Qian, Miss Qian's lumbar disc herniation is not a major ailment. However, you..." Li Se paused slightly before continuing, "Your condition is somewhat more serious."
"Oh, you've noticed something wrong with my health?" Qian Tang was surprised. He had come precisely to seek treatment from a TCM practitioner, but before he could mention anything, Li Se had already discerned it.
"For your condition, I will need to take your pulse," Li Se stated.
"Alright!" Qian Tang immediately extended his hand.
After Li Se had been taking Qian Tang's pulse for a while, Qian Yinghong asked impatiently, "Divine Doctor Li, what is my grandfather suffering from?"
Li Se remained silent. In this era, a doctor's silence was the most alarming, and it made Qian Yinghong even more anxious.
"Elder Qian, may I know what your profession is?" Li Se asked. From the moment he entered, he had sensed a pervasive and intense aura of malevolence surrounding Qian Tang, usually indicating someone whose work was related to death.
"My illness is related to my work?" Qian Tang looked puzzled.
"Most likely," Li Se nodded.
"Indeed, retribution..." Qian Tang sighed softly. "I am an archaeology expert. I've excavated many tombs over the years. Alas, even though our work is legitimate, any such act, whether archaeology or tomb raiding, ultimately damages one's virtue."
Li Se spoke gravely, "Elder Qian, to be precise, you have indeed been in close proximity to those funerary objects for too long. If I'm not mistaken, a significant event must have occurred ten years ago, correct?"
Ten years ago!
Upon hearing this timeframe, a look of pain flickered across Qian Tang's aged face. After a long pause, he finally said, "My wife passed away ten years ago!"
Qian Yinghong, standing nearby, also wore a somber expression. Ten years ago had been a profoundly difficult period for both the grandfather and granddaughter.
"Divine Doctor Li, what does this have to do with what happened ten years ago?" Qian Yinghong inquired.
"Because the moment when the malevolent energy truly entered your body, Elder Qian, was likely ten years ago. And thanks to the jade pendant you wear, if it weren't for it, you would not have survived past ten years ago," Li Se said with a heavy expression.
"The jade pendant..." Qian Tang clutched the jade pendant at his neck. Typically, jade pendants were green, but the one he wore was black and even bore a crack.
"You mean, this jade pendant saved me?" Qian Tang's voice trembled.
Li Se nodded. "Indeed. This jade pendant was consecrated by a master and can help you resist malevolent energy. Unfortunately, ten years ago, you must have entered an ancient tomb with extremely potent malevolent energy, and the jade pendant was damaged at that time!"
Qian Tang suddenly shed tears, his voice growing hoarse. "This... this jade pendant was given to me by my wife. Ten years ago, we entered an ancient tomb, but the tomb suddenly collapsed. My wife died there, while I survived. The jade pendant also cracked then. I thought it was broken during the collapse, but now it seems... my wife saved me!"
"Grandfather..." Qian Yinghong gently touched away her tears. "It's all in the past now."
"After that incident, I dedicated all my energy to my work for the past decade, and my health has been declining day by day. I know my time is short, but the thought of reuniting with her fills me with anticipation..." Qian Tang said.
"Grandfather, what are you saying? You still have me, and Dad, and Mom..." Qian Yinghong said, her voice filled with emotion.
"I am sorry to you all," Qian Tang sighed.
"Elder Qian, I can help you dispel the malevolent energy from your body," Li Se offered.
"Really?" Qian Tang looked incredulous.
"Yes." Li Se stood up and walked towards Qian Tang. Five bronze coins appeared in his hand, threaded with silver needles and inserted into Qian Tang's back. He formed a Yin-Yang posture with his arms, slowly channeling his vital energy into Qian Tang, primarily to nourish his internal organs.
Qian Tang's viscera had long been corroded by the malevolent energy, leaving them in a state of disrepair. Although he appeared fine externally, his remaining lifespan was very limited.
Despite Li Se appearing somewhat like a charlatan at this moment, no one in the private room found anything amiss. Everyone wore a solemn expression, especially Qian Yinghong, whose face conveyed a mix of tension and fear.
Suddenly, a dark energy emanated from Qian Tang's body, accompanied by a piercing, ghastly scream that sounded utterly inhuman.
"Break!" Li Se shouted coldly, his fingers moving like the wind as he drew a talisman on Qian Tang's back. Golden light flashed, and the dark energy quickly vanished without a trace in mid-air. The eerie scream also ceased at that instant.
"Elder Qian, how do you feel?" Li Se retrieved the silver needles and bronze coins.
"So comfortable, truly so comfortable. I've never felt such ease..." Qian Tang felt a sense of wonder, but it was quickly followed by grief. "I should have died ten years ago. My wife died for me, and I am ashamed of my inadequacy before her..."
"Elder Qian, don't dwell on it too much. To be alive is to have hope. She would want you to live for her as well," Li Se said.
"Mm." Qian Tang nodded. The look of pain gradually faded from his face, and his demeanor improved considerably.
Meanwhile, Qian Yinghong felt she had witnessed the most incredible event of her life. She felt as if her past years had been wasted.
Having returned from abroad, she had expected to navigate smoothly within the country. But now, she realized how wondrous China was, and how miraculous TCM was!