After weighing it for a moment, he nodded. "Fine, we'll use the Meditation Hall. I'll accompany you personally and give Physician Lin a hand."
That afternoon, a disciple delivered the brewed medicinal soup. Lin Taichu personally fed it to the Sect Master. When his fingertips touched the Sect Master's lips, he could clearly feel the faint trembling—evidently, the Sect Master still retained a trace of consciousness.
After administering the medicine, he used "observing the effects" as an excuse to remain in the secret chamber for another hour. Only after confirming that the Soul-Guiding Powder had seeped into the Sect Master's meridians along with the medicine's effects did he rise and take his leave.
Early the next morning, Lin Taichu brought silver needles and a medicine case to the Meditation Hall. Two disciples guarded the entrance. Seeing that the Second Elder had accompanied him, they immediately opened the doors.
The hall was empty. A stone bed stood in the center, with several pillars covered in runes beside it, presumably meant to gather spiritual energy. The Second Elder moved a chair to the doorway and sat down, his gaze fixed on Lin Taichu's every movement.
"Second Elder, absolute silence is required when I apply the needles. No one can disturb me." Lin Taichu set down his medicine case. "If you remain here, I'll inevitably be distracted. It would be disastrous if I punctured the wrong acupoint."
The Second Elder frowned and considered it before finally standing. "Then I'll wait outside. Call for me if anything happens." As he walked out, he deliberately left a crack in the door, clearly intending to listen in on what was happening inside.
Once the footsteps had receded, Lin Taichu immediately shut the hall doors tightly and took seven silver needles from his robes.
He walked over