Under Zhou Jiande’s watchful gaze, Lu Xuan accepted the money.

Seeing Lu Xuan take the money, Zhou Jiande didn’t say much, but then turned with a serious expression and looked at Lu Xuan: “Dr. Lu, to be honest, I can’t simply profit from your research achievements without offering something in return. If you don’t mind, I, Zhou Jiande, would like to become your apprentice from today and learn the art of acupuncture from you.”

???

Lu Xuan thought he misheard and laughed, “Elder Zhou, please don’t joke with me. You learn acupuncture from me? It would be more fitting if I learned from you. I’ve been learning acupuncture for less than ten days, what could I possibly teach you!

The only reason I came in was to make your acquaintance, so that I could seek your guidance in the future when I encounter difficulties. But here you are, saying these things to belittle me?”

“Dr. Lu, I’m not joking with you.”

Zhou Jiande said solemnly, “I mean it sincerely. Among everyone I’ve met or heard of, your talent is the highest—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it extraordinary. There’s not much I can teach you; the techniques—given a bit of time—you’d quickly master them.

As for the principles of acupuncture, you already know more than I do, so there’s even less I can teach you. Right now, you’ve managed to revive the two great acupuncture techniques and taught them to me without any reservation. Other than becoming your apprentice, I can’t think of any better way to express my current feeling.

Money?

I think no amount of money could buy the two great acupuncture techniques—they are priceless treasures.

If you think I’m just saying this lightly, I can formalize it, hold an apprenticeship banquet, and invite a few friends from the United South Chinese Medicine Association to witness it.”

Lu Xuan said helplessly, “Elder Zhou, there’s no need for that. If you truly want to thank me, then spread the knowledge of Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold far and wide. That’s what I want most.

Moreover, if everyone who sees me does the same and wants to become my apprentice, how could I possibly teach so many people?

Don’t you think?”

Zhou Jiande glanced at his two students: “They don’t matter, even if they saw it, they’d struggle to understand so many contents at once, and wouldn’t remember much. They won’t grasp much about the practical techniques of Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold. As for the two patients earlier, for someone who hasn’t learned acupuncture, remembering even a few sentences would be enough to give them a headache. You don’t need to worry about them.”

The two students scratched their heads, looking frustrated after hearing Zhou Jiande’s words.

However, the blow they received today was already quite heavy, especially when compared to Lu Xuan, making them feel that the year they’ve spent learning from their teacher was for nothing.

They decided to act as if they hadn’t heard Zhou Jiande’s words.

After all, their teacher wasn’t wrong.

Given their abilities, they couldn’t understand, let alone remember.

They were nothing more than witnesses to the birth of the two great techniques, Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold.

Among those present, the only person who could, or already had, learned, albeit without performing, was Zhou Jiande.

And indeed, as Zhou Jiande mentioned, the two techniques are priceless treasures—money couldn’t buy them, leaving no other option but to become an apprentice.

Faced with such a persistent old man, Lu Xuan was both amused and helpless. He couldn’t refuse, yet he couldn’t agree with Zhou Jiande’s proposal.

Accepting Zhou Jiande as a student could lead him to be criticized by the acupuncture community in Yong City!

Many would jump out to scold him.

Lu Xuan didn’t want to get entangled in such trivial matters, so he decisively rejected Zhou Jiande’s proposal: “Elder Zhou, please don’t bring this up again. There’s no way I could agree. If you become my apprentice, the entire acupuncture community in Yong City would talk behind my back.”

Lu Xuan was resolute in his refusal.

But he underestimated Zhou Jiande’s determination: “Dr. Lu, to be honest with you, I’ve learned Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold, but only to a limited extent. Many things cannot be thoroughly understood by simply watching once; in many aspects, I still need to consult with you. Without being your apprentice, I can’t bring myself to ask.

Once I become your apprentice, you are my teacher, it’s only natural for a student with questions to consult their teacher, relieving some of my burdens.”

Lu Xuan opened his mouth, about to speak, but was interrupted by Zhou Jiande.

“Dr. Lu, please let me finish first.”

Lu Xuan was helpless.

Zhou Jiande continued: “If it were other acupuncture techniques, it’s just you teaching me, and I would owe you a favor, which I would repay in the future.

But Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold are acupuncture masterpieces and priceless. I can’t think of any other way to repay this favor.

You don’t need to worry about people talking behind your back; I will clarify this matter, and only a few will know, so you don’t have to worry about getting into trouble.”

“What about the techniques I just learned from you, how should we account for that?” Lu Xuan shrugged, not wanting to agree no matter what.

Zhou Jiande shook his head and said: “The basic techniques are not worth much. Give you a year of practice, and surpassing me would be no problem. But Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold are different. Had you not explained to me and demonstrated them, I might not have made any progress even after years of research, possibly leaving with regret.

Now, in my lifetime, I’ve been fortunate enough to personally witness the revival of Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold, and I’m already satisfied, let alone you teaching me them.

If I don’t become your apprentice, my heart won’t rest.”

“Teacher, you don’t need to say anymore. In the next few days, I’ll find an opportune time, arrange a banquet for the apprenticeship, and invite a few of my old friends to witness it. I won’t publicize this matter outside, how about that?”

Goodness, he directly called him teacher.

Lu Xuan was filled with helplessness, how did he end up encountering such a stubborn elder?

Insisting on becoming an apprentice.

For a moment, Lu Xuan didn’t know what to do.

However, Zhou Jiande seized the opportunity to settle the matter: “Since teacher has no objections, then this is settled.”

“When did I say I had no objections?” Lu Xuan was wide-eyed in disbelief at how things were being done!

Zhou Jiande seemed not to hear, turned to his two students: “From today, Lu Xuan is my teacher.”

Zhou Jiande’s two students, upon hearing this, gulped hard, exchanging glances, both seeing a hint of shock in each other’s eyes.

They looked at Lu Xuan with bizarre gazes.

“What should I call my teacher’s teacher?”

“Grandteacher?”

I… have a grandteacher now?

The two wanted to cry but found no tears, looking at Zhou Jiande, wishing to exclaim.

“Teacher, don’t mess with us!”

In the future, when encountering Dr. Lu, wouldn’t they have to address him as grandteacher?

If someone heard, it’d be socially embarrassing!

They were anxious, while Lu Xuan found it terrifying.

A grandteacher in his twenties.

Truly, if he met these two outside, and they called him grandteacher, he’d be overwhelmed.

As if unaware of these matters, Zhou Jiande turned to Lu Xuan and said: “Teacher, regarding Mountain Burning Fire and Heart-piercing Cold, I have some more questions to ask.

Continuing from what you mentioned earlier, the principle of Mountain Burning Fire is transitioning from yang to yin, allowing heavenly energy to enter; while Heaven-piercing Cold transitions from yin to yang, enabling earth energy to exit.

According to the supplementing and draining technique, slow and rapid replenishing and draining uses Slow Advance and Rapid Retreat for replenishing, and Rapid Advance and Slow Retreat for draining.

Mountain Burning Fire’s stratified slow advance (three advances) gradually guides yang qi inward; Heaven-piercing Cold’s stratified slow retreat (three retreats) expels yang pathogen to bring forth a surge of yin qi.

Similarly, Insertion and Extraction Replenishing and Draining involves pushing it inside—tightly pressing for replenishing, moving and extending outwards—tightly extracting for draining, tightly pressing to lower yang, tightly extracting to raise yin.

Does this imply that these two techniques have a synergistic effect, and thus, Mountain Burning Fire and Heaven-piercing Cold are essential measures for ‘Returning Yang and Inverting Yin’?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep