The peddler froze for a moment, then nodded. "That's right! I lost my footing while carrying a box, slammed the left side of my waist into a shelf first, and then fell. How did you know?"
Lin Taichu explained, "Your pulse is deep and sluggish, but the pulse on your left side is weaker than the right. That indicates stagnant blood in the left side of your waist blocking the meridians and affecting the circulation of qi and blood, which caused your abdominal pain. Your pain isn't simply from blood stasis; it's caused by obstructed meridians. Clearing the stasis alone won't help."
After saying that, he took out Silver Needles and inserted one into each of three acupoints on the peddler's body. As he did so, his fingers gently twirled the needles, his movements precise and swift.
The young man sneered from the side. "I told you it wouldn't work. Those are just ordinary health-preserving acupoints. What can they do for abdominal pain?"
Lin Taichu ignored him and continued treating the peddler with acupuncture. After about an incense stick's duration, he removed the needles and said to the peddler, "Stand up and walk around. See whether the pain has lessened."
The peddler stood up doubtfully and moved his body a little. Then he cried out in delight, "It doesn't hurt anymore! It really doesn't hurt! It felt like something was pressing against me just now, but I feel much better now!"
Everyone was stunned. The young man's Stasis-Clearing Pill had been in the peddler's system for half an hour, yet he had still been grimacing in pain. Lin Taichu had used acupuncture for only an incense stick's duration, and the pain was completely relieved.
The young man's expression changed drastically. He stepped forward, grabbed the peddler's wrist, and checked his