Chapter 319 — A Master Who Keeps His Talents Hidden
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Much better — I feel wonderful! But my body is so uncomfortable; I must take a bath!" Liu Zhenhu felt clear-headed and light of limb, except for a sticky sensation all over his skin that was most unpleasant.
"Eh?" Liu Tianyi hurried over to help his father up, and there on his father's skin he saw a layer of greasy black-yellow grime. He started back in fright: "What... what is this?"
Roused by Liu Tianyi's cry, Guan Xuewen came closer as well. Earlier, while Wei Zhao was needling, the two had stood well back so as not to disturb him; now, at a nearer look, they were so shaken that their hands began to tremble.
"Marrow-washing and bone-scouring?" Guan Xuewen well knew that the ancient healing arts spoke of washing the marrow and scouring the bone — but the technique had been lost for many years! Marrow-washing and bone-scouring meant using acupuncture or herbal medicine to expel the body's toxins, achieving an effect akin to a rebirth!
People eat the five grains and sundry foods, and toxins inevitably accumulate in the body. Though metabolism can expel a portion of them, another portion is absorbed by the body, and over the years such toxins pile up ever higher.
What Guan Xuewen had not expected was that Wei Zhao's acupuncture could produce such an effect — not only curing illness, but expelling toxins as well.
At Guan Xuewen's name for it, Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback. Then Jiao Yazi's voice came to his ear: "Wei Zhao, a portion of your pure essence has the power to expel toxins, so even without meaning to, you bring about this result. But as it happens, that whelp Liu Zhenhu will likely live a few years longer for it — and ten years from now, you will have to needle him again..."
That whelp Liu Zhenhu? Wei Zhao was left somewhat speechless, though coming from Elder Jiao's mouth it did not seem so very strange. What manner of being this old monster Elder Jiao was, Wei Zhao did not know; he wanted to ask, but Elder Jiao always said that his strength was still too feeble and that he had no need to know too much — so Wei Zhao had no way to find out.
One thing, however, was certain: Elder Jiao's age was far greater than that Liu Zhenhu's, or he could never have called him a "whelp"!
"Heh..." Wei Zhao smiled at Guan Xuewen without offering any explanation. It seemed Liu Zhenhu's hundred million had not been spent in vain — not only had it cured his illness, it had extended his life! A stroke of fortune like that could not be bought for any amount of money. Still, since Liu Zhenhu could now live a few more years, Wei Zhao felt he ought to administer a word of caution. Adopting an air of unfathomable mystery, he said mildly, "The old Mr. Liu's constitution was poor, and I dealt with it along the way. But first I must tell Mr. Liu some bad news."
"Oh? What news? Please speak, Divine Doctor Lin..." Liu Tianyi was startled. He had assumed that the marrow-cleansing and bone-washing was a good thing; seeing Guan Xuewen so excited, he had thought his father had stumbled upon a great bargain. But then he heard Wei Zhao say there was bad news...
Even Liu Zhenhu, who had remained calm throughout, could not help but lift his head. Had Wei Zhao not said he was cured? How could there still be bad news? Could this marrow-cleansing and bone-washing be harmful to the body? Yet he himself felt perfectly comfortable...
Guan Xuewen, too, stopped wiping the oily grime from Liu Zhenhu's body, raised his head, and looked toward Wei Zhao...