Chapter 407: Acupoint Sealing

Seeing that Nie Qianyu was also blushing shyly, Zhang Xiaohua dared not say anything more. He hurriedly raised Little Orange in his hand and said anxiously: “I’ve brought Little Orange back.”

“How is Little Orange? Why are you still holding her? Don’t tell me she’s injured?”

Hearing Zhang Xiaohua say this, Nie Qianyu also cast her shyness aside and looked anxiously at Little Orange.

Zhang Xiaohua gave a bitter smile and said: “Can I put Little Orange inside the house first?”

“Yes, I’ve been holding her for quite a while now, and I’m really a bit tired.”

Seeing this, Nie Qianyu quickly stepped aside at the door. Zhang Xiaohua carried Little Orange into the small room that still held a lingering fragrance. When she saw Zhang Xiaohua place Little Orange in the bedding she had just slept in, Nie Qianyu felt a strange emotion. When Zhang Xiaohua’s hand touched the still-warm quilt, his feelings were the same.

Once Zhang Xiaohua settled Little Orange, he turned around and told Nie Qianyu everything that had happened to Little Orange in detail. After listening, Nie Qianyu frowned deeply and quickly walked to the kang. She first carefully observed Little Orange’s condition, then placed her left hand on Little Orange’s wrist to check her pulse.

Nie Qianyu’s brows went from tightly furrowed to relaxed, then from relaxed back to furrowed again. Watching from the side, Zhang Xiaohua grew extremely nervous. When Nie Qianyu finally released her hand, still frowning and looking worried, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but ask, “Little Fish, is it…”

Nie Qianyu said: “Yes, Little Orange was given some strange narcotic, and moreover, all her vital acupoints have been sealed.”

“So serious?” Zhang Xiaohua frowned as well and asked: “Then how should we deal with it? She hasn’t had a drop of water or a grain of rice for several days now.”

“Sigh, I don’t understand the technique of acupoint sealing. However, judging from her pulse, Little Orange just seems a bit weak, and her life is not in danger. Perhaps this narcotic and the acupoint sealing technique are rather special and can protect the body.”

“Oh dear, Little Fish, even you don’t know what to do. Looks like we’ll have to find another expert!”

“Puchi—” Nie Qianyu, who had been keeping a straight face, couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She said: “Big Brother Ren, you misunderstood. I only said I don’t know the technique of acupoint sealing, but as for this narcotic incense, I do have a solution!”

Seeing Nie Qianyu’s face full of pride, looking as if her cunning plan had succeeded, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but laugh and said: “Then why are you still standing there? Hurry and give Little Orange the antidote!”

Nie Qianyu didn’t delay after hearing this. She walked to the kang, rummaged through several small boxes, and soon found a small porcelain bottle. She poured out a jet-black pill about the size of a tung seed. As soon as the pill was taken out of the porcelain bottle, a wave of medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out. Zhang Xiaohua’s nose twitched, as if trying to sniff out something from the scent.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s expression, Nie Qianyu smiled at the corners of her mouth, walked to the kang, and said: “Big Brother Ren, come help me. Open Little Orange’s mouth so I can give her the pill.”

Zhang Xiaohua did as he was told. After all, he had been holding her all the way here, so he didn’t mind pinching her little face a bit more.

After Nie Qianyu put the pill into Little Orange’s mouth, Zhang Xiaohua quickly ran to the table nearby, poured a cup of water, and handed it over. Nie Qianyu smiled and said: “No need, Big Brother Ren.”

“Huh?” Zhang Xiaohua was a bit surprised. On the deserted island, he had refined Fasting Pills before, which would dissolve instantly in the mouth and didn’t require water to swallow. Could this pill be the same?

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s surprise, Nie Qianyu explained: “This Awakening Pill is specially made by my Spring Rebirth Valley, specifically for dealing with these lowly narcotic incenses and drugs. It’s extremely effective. Besides, the Awakening Pill is only the size of a tung seed. Little Orange’s own saliva can dissolve it, so there’s no need to take it with water. Moreover, didn’t you see Little Orange’s state? She can’t even move; how could she drink water?”

Zhang Xiaohua laughed and said: “You truly live up to being from Spring Rebirth Valley; your medical experience is unparalleled.”

Nie Qianyu covered her mouth and smiled: “Thank you for your praise, Big Brother Ren.”

Zhang Xiaohua continued: “And then?”

“And then?” Nie Qianyu was taken aback and said: “Then, of course, it’s Big Brother Ren’s turn to act!”

“Me? I act?”

“Yes, this little girl doesn’t know the technique of acupoint sealing, so naturally, it’s up to Hero Ren to handle it personally! I imagine this mere acupoint sealing technique is nothing before Hero Ren’s discerning eyes, right?”

“Uh…” Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head and said embarrassedly: “Little Fish Nie, as for this acupoint sealing, I really don’t know how!”

“Ah?!” Nie Qianyu was also surprised and said: “This is something you should know!”

“This… I really don’t know how.”

“How is that possible? Acupoint sealing is a common technique among martial artists, especially those who’ve mastered internal energy. It’s a foundational method for training internal force control! How could you… not know? Did your master never teach you?”

Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head again and said: “It’s hard to explain in a few words. Simply put, I truly don’t understand acupoint sealing techniques.”

“Then what should we do?” Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s sincere expression, Nie Qianyu grew anxious. “I’ve heard acupoint sealing methods are highly intricate, with each practitioner having their own secrets. Little Orange looks like she’s just asleep, but there might be hidden complications. And from what you’ve said, Brother Ren, her acupoints have been sealed for at least three days. Ordinary acupoint seals resolve on their own after twelve hours, but this has lasted three times that long. It must be a unique technique—there’s likely some deeper mystery here.”

Zhang Xiaohua was equally helpless. The immortal jade slips left by the Fire Dragon True Person made no mention of acupoint sealing, suggesting the method didn’t exist in immortal dao practices. Just then, an idea struck him: “A few days ago, I saw a Lotus Escort Agency in Pingyang City with martial artists training there. Maybe I could ask their experts to help unseal her? At worst, we’ll spend a few more taels of gold.”

“Ah…” Nie Qianyu sighed, giving Zhang Xiaohua a peculiar look. “Big Brother Ren, this must be your first time venturing into the jianghu, right?”

Zhang Xiaohua hesitated. “I’ve mostly cultivated in the mountains. This is my first real experience in the mortal world.”

“Hmm, that explains it. Your master is truly irresponsible! Not only did he neglect to teach you acupoint sealing, but he also failed to explain basic jianghu customs. Details like these can get you killed, you know.”

Zhang Xiaohua broke into a cold sweat—was this really a twelve-year-old girl speaking?

Seeing his earnest expression, Nie Qianyu lectured solemnly: “There’s an unwritten rule in the jianghu: unless you’re a certified physician or part of a publicly recognized healing faction, no one should recklessly interfere with matters like acupoint sealing, poisoning, or injuries. Take acupoint sealing—unless the one who sealed the points undoes them, anyone else who attempts it would be meddling in the feud between the two parties. It could even be seen as taking responsibility for the grudge yourself.”

Zhang Xiaohua pondered for a moment and continued: “So, the person who unseals the acupoints is usually a close relative, friend, or someone from the same sect as the injured party? Others are generally just bystanders, right?”

Nie Qianyu nodded and said: “Exactly. Brother Ren, you’re very clever.”

Zhang Xiaohua gave a wry smile. “And, as you said, the person who sealed Little Orange’s acupoints must be extremely skilled in martial arts. The Lotus Escort Agency is just a local agency in Pingyang City—even if they wanted to earn this gold and take on this grudge for us, they might not have the strength to do so.”

Nie Qianyu looked surprised and said: “Big Brother Ren, you really… your thinking jumps around and draws connections—I didn’t even consider that.”

Nie Qianyu had never been stingy with her praise for Zhang Xiaohua.

Zhang Xiaohua rubbed his nose and said: “Don’t praise me. Listening to you, I now realize that after the bodyguards protecting you and Little Orange were killed by those unknown people, you two probably could only rely on the original escort agency for protection. If you hired another agency, they’d be taking on your enemies as well? Sigh, maybe from the moment I saw you two, it was destined that I’d have to escort you to Mochou City?”

Upon hearing the word “destined”, Nie Qianyu’s face flushed slightly. She said: “Big Brother Ren, you misunderstand. Escort agencies are businesses that work for silver; it’s not quite the same as what we discussed earlier. Escorting us and helping us unseal acupoints are fundamentally different matters.”

“Alright, alright,” Zhang Xiaohua said impatiently. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Little Orange is in such a state, and you’re still giving me lessons on jianghu basics? Anyway, I know there’s no one at the Lotus Escort Agency who can unseal these acupoints.”

After all, that mysterious old man wasn’t even afraid of immortal flying swords—how could anyone at the Lotus Escort Agency compare? Fourth Master Wen? That was just Yu Deyi’s wild guess.

Come to think of it, is the Lotus Escort Agency even still around? Judging by Yu Deyi’s tone, it doesn’t seem like much has changed. How did the Heaven’s Way Alliance let the Lotus Escort Agency off so easily?

Thinking of the Heaven’s Way Alliance, Zhang Xiaohua’s mind suddenly lit up. Right, doesn’t the Heaven’s Way Alliance have experts? Maybe I could ask them for help?

But then he immediately chuckled to himself: “Didn’t Nie Qianyu just say that the Heaven’s Way Alliance has nothing to do with me—why would they help me unseal acupoints? And besides…”

Zhang Xiaohua gritted his teeth and thought: “If I owe the Heaven’s Way Alliance a favor today, how will I ever seek justice for Hero Wen, Hero Lu, and Heroine Xue of the Piaomiao Sect?”

But he couldn’t just stand by and watch Little Orange remain unconscious. Anyone could guess that the longer this went on, the more harm it would do to her body.

“What should I do? Nie Qianyu only knows basic martial arts—if she knew acupoint sealing, she would have done it herself by now. Looks like it’s up to me.”

“That’s right!” Suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes lit up and he smiled. “How could I have forgotten this?”

Nie Qianyu was startled and asked: “Big Brother Ren, what did you forget?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled mysteriously. “Wait here in the room for a bit—I’ll be right back.”

With that, he quickly walked out.

Nie Qianyu was about to ask when she heard a voice from outside—the voice of Zhang Xiaohua, who had just left: “Little Fish, close the door. But this time, you don’t need to lock it.”