The mute girl could still be cured.
But when she saw Doctor Tang pull out a wooden box from under the bed and retrieve several iron needles—each about a meter long and nearly as thick as a pinky finger—she suddenly felt she wasn’t that eager to speak after all.
"Come, come," Doctor Tang turned and pulled Jiu Yue over. "I’ve mastered many skills in my lifetime, and naturally, I can’t teach you all of them... So I’ve decided to pass on my greatest technique to you!"
Jiu Yue stared at the oversized silver needles, her eyes nearly popping out. "What are these?"
"Python Needles," Doctor Tang replied, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. "They can treat almost any ailment—except blindness."
Jiu Yue: "..."
She turned her head and saw the mute girl desperately trying to make a sound, her mouth opening and closing.
Jiu Yue’s lips twitched. "So... my sister has to be treated with these too?"
"Not necessarily. Her throat just needs a few doses of medicine," Doctor Tang stroked his beard leisurely. "But her constitution isn’t as strong as yours, so it’s best to unblock her meridians and stimulate her qi and blood... These Python Needles are perfect for that. I’ll teach you, and once you’ve learned, you can administer them to her!"
Mute girl: "..."
Jiu Yue: "..."
There was no backing out now.
So the two stayed in the village for another half-month.
The mute girl drank medicine endlessly.
Jiu Yue practiced needling relentlessly.
Doctor Tang covered his face repeatedly.
"Ah—this isn’t a throwing dart! Are you trying to stab the patient to death?"
"Open your eyes and look carefully—which acupoint did you just hit? The fatal point! We’re here to heal, not to kill, child!"
"This is the fifth needle you’ve broken..."
"..."
Both teacher and student were on the verge of collapse.
Until Doctor Tang tied up Qian Chunqiu and brought him over for Jiu Yue to practice on.
Before this, she’d only practiced on dummies—learning the acupoints while refining her technique... But now, faced with Qian Chunqiu’s flushed face, Jiu Yue hesitated. She turned and met Doctor Tang’s unyielding gaze.
"At the very least, you need to succeed once," he said firmly.
Jiu Yue didn’t fully understand the old man’s persistence... but she wasn’t one to retreat from a challenge either.
Qian Chunqiu, for his part, was brave. "I-I-It’s fine! I’m not sc-scared!"
His entire body trembled along with his voice.
Jiu Yue gave him an admiring look, then raised the needle with determination. "Here I go!"
The meter-long needle flashed before Qian Chunqiu’s eyes—he chose to shut them tight.
Doctor Tang watched from the side. "Begin."
Jiu Yue focused on Qian Chunqiu’s leg, took a deep breath, and steadied her hand. The needle pierced into his calf... By the time the second needle was in, Qian Chunqiu couldn’t hold back a muffled groan.
It wasn’t pain—more like relief. A warm, swelling sensation traveled upward from where the needles had entered, and Qian Chunqiu let out a contented sigh.
Doctor Tang looked pleased. "Amazing, isn’t it?"
Jiu Yue, who had retreated to his side, nodded in agreement.
The Python Needles looked terrifying, and seeing them embedded in flesh was even more unsettling—like skewering meat for roasting. But Jiu Yue herself had been treated with them a few times by Doctor Tang, and the effects were surprisingly gentle.
"Memorize those acupoints well," Doctor Tang suddenly stressed again.
Jiu Yue blinked, then heard him add meaningfully, "Everyone has a fatal point. You must aim carefully."
...
Qian Chunqiu fell straight asleep!
By the time he woke up, the sun had already set—he’d slept for a full six hours!
He jolted upright, only to hear a voice behind him.
"Wow... You’re really nimble," Jiu Yue remarked, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him.
Qian Chunqiu jumped, stammering, "H-Hi... Y-You’re still here..."
Jiu Yue sat cross-legged on the grass. Hearing his familiar stutter, she suddenly laughed.
"I used to know someone who stuttered like you," she said curiously. "But I remember you spoke just fine when you were threatening me before."
Qian Chunqiu: "..."
He hung his head in shame. "S-Sorry... My big brother was right. I’m not t-too bright... Hope you can f-forgive me..."
Jiu Yue listened to his halting apology, then asked, "Are you nervous?"
Qian Chunqiu peeked at her, his legs still shaking. But unable to suppress his admiration, he mustered his courage. "Y-You’re so skilled... I-I was wondering—did you train in martial arts since childhood?"
Jiu Yue nodded. "Pretty much. My master was friends with Doctor Tang."
Qian Chunqiu’s eyes widened. "No wonder!"
Doctor Tang might call himself a divine healer, but his combat skills were nothing to scoff at either. If his friend trained Jiu Yue, she had to be formidable!
"You’re incredible," Qian Chunqiu said, then cautiously added, "Seems like you haven’t seen Doctor Tang in a while... If you stayed, he’d be thrilled!"
Jiu Yue smirked. "But wouldn’t that make you all miserable?"
Qian Chunqiu blinked. "Why?"
She grinned mischievously. "If I stayed, I’d take over Hu Lu’s position as chief. You’d all have to obey me!"
Qian Chunqiu laughed. "Even better! With you leading, we could rob—er, earn even more!"
Jiu Yue: "..."
Qian Chunqiu: "...But don’t worry, we’re still good people."
Jiu Yue’s lips twitched before she burst out laughing.
Qian Chunqiu’s smile faded into regret. He shrugged. "Well, my brother already told me... You’ll be leaving in a few days. What will you do in Great Yan?"
"You want to know?"
"...Can I?"
"Sure." Jiu Yue leaned in conspiratorially. "Actually, I’m returning to the Great Yan palace... to become a princess."
Qian Chunqiu burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! A princess? Can I come with you to the capital? I don’t need to be a princess—a prince will do!" He clutched his stomach, wheezing.
Jiu Yue propped her chin on her hand, watching him lazily.
Qian Chunqiu: "..."
He wiped his face, suddenly alarmed. "Wait... You’re seriously going to be a princess?"
Jiu Yue stayed silent.
Qian Chunqiu scratched his head. "...You’re not going to pretend to be Princess Muling, are you?"
Jiu Yue shook her head, then laughed. "I was joking! You actually believed me?"
Qian Chunqiu exhaled in relief. "You really had me going... I almost thought you were another imposter!"
Jiu Yue frowned. "Imposter?"
"Yeah... You might not know yet." Qian Chunqiu waved a hand understandingly—they’d just arrived from Tianqi, after all. "Princess Muling of Great Yan went missing years ago."
"Since then, the capital’s seen at least ten people claiming to be her." He sighed. "Even now, there’s still no trace of the real Princess Muling."
Jiu Yue found it absurd. "Why would anyone impersonate Princess Muling?"
Qian Chunqiu nodded in agreement. "Exactly! I can't understand it either. These people seem even more foolish than me... Princess Muling is the monarch's most beloved daughter. How could the king possibly not recognize her?"
"It's madness. Even for the sake of wealth and luxury, why go to such extremes?"
Yet Jiu Yue's eyes gleamed with a flicker of thought.
Indeed.
How could anyone be so reckless...
