Even a firefly can outshine the moon

Bai Ren was utterly stunned.

As a master of traditional Chinese medicine, he constantly yearned to bring its lost arts back into the world, dreaming of the day it could become a pillar of global healthcare.

Sadly, too much of its essential knowledge had been lost, and traditional Chinese medicine was gradually declining.

He had thought he would never see a trace of those lost arts in his lifetime. Yet a young man barely into his twenties had just performed a technique lost since Zhang Zhongjing's era—the Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles!

Of all the lost medical arts, the Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles were the most miraculous. Rumor had it that once they were used, even someone already dead could be restored to life, their soul returned to their body.

It sounded fantastical, but in that era, the technique truly had produced such miraculous effects.

When Bai Ren cried out in astonishment, the attending physicians were equally dumbfounded. Having practiced medicine for over a decade, they naturally knew that the Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles were a lost medical art. But the real question was, why was a young man barely into his twenties able to perform it?

The changing expressions on Bai Ren's and the others' faces stirred an inexplicable excitement in Zifeng Town. Clearly, Jun Wangchen's medical technique was extraordinary. Anything that could shock even Bai Ren had to be beyond ordinary understanding. Bringing the dead back to life might not be impossible after all.

At that thought, Zifeng Town's breathing quickened, and his heart pounded wildly. He was filled with hope for Jun Wangchen, but even more with anxious uncertainty over whether his wife could wake up.

Jun Wangchen, by contrast, remained calm. In the past minute, he had inserted all thirteen needles into the corresponding acupuncture points on Shen Yu's body. Now came the second step—channeling reincarnation power into her!

Taking a deep breath, Jun Wangchen focused his gaze. He touched the tips of his left thumb and index finger together to form a ring, extending the other three fingers in an arc. He inserted his right thumb into that ring, wrapped his remaining four fingers around his left hand, and held them before his chest.

"First needle, at the philtrum, Ghost Palace rests!"

"Second needle, Ghost Trust, three fen deep!"

"Third needle, Ghost Rampart, two fen deep!"

"Fourth needle, five fen deep at Ghost Heart!"

"Fifth needle, Ghost Road, seven fen gleaming!"

With every murmured line from Jun Wangchen, the silver needles embedded in Shen Yu's body trembled violently. Waves of heat invisible to the naked eye surged from the world around them and poured into her body.

Watching from the side, everyone barely dared to breathe, afraid of disturbing Jun Wangchen.

At some point, Zifeng Town had clasped his hands together and begun praying under his breath. There was even more sweat on his forehead than on Jun Wangchen's.

After channeling the reincarnation power into her, Jun Wangchen closed his eyes. He pressed each thumb against the base of his ring finger and held his hands at his sides, murmuring a series of obscure, incomprehensible incantations.

"Human Reincarnation! Crown Chakra, Throat Chakra, Heart Chakra, Navel Chakra, Yin Chakra—open!"

As his shout rang out, wheels of white, red, yellow, blue, and purple light suddenly appeared throughout the bedroom. They merged into a multicolored mass of light that surrounded Shen Yu, forming a radiant barrier.

Then a faint wisp of white smoke drifted slowly into Shen Yu's body, seeming to merge with the void and vanish without a trace.

As soon as the white smoke entered her body, Jun Wangchen waved his hand. Every silver needle left Shen Yu's body in turn and flew into his palm. The entire process flowed seamlessly, without the slightest pause.

The instant he retrieved the needles, Shen Yu shuddered and suddenly sprang upright in bed.

"Feng? Oh, Little Eight is here too. And this elderly gentleman is... ah, are you Elder Bai?"

"Yu!" Zifeng Town had not heard his wife speak in six months. At her words, he began trembling uncontrollably and rushed forward to pull her into a tight embrace.

Brother Eight turned his head away and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. He knew that Zifeng Town's embrace held far too much heartache, and far too much longing.

"With so many people watching, why are you still acting like a child... huh? Why are you crying?"

Zifeng Town's eyes reddened, and he smiled through his tears. "I missed you so much that I cried!"

"It's only been one night, and you missed me enough to cry? Isn't that a little dramatic?" Shen Yu gave him a reproachful look, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"Huh?" Zifeng Town froze at those words and hurriedly looked at Jun Wangchen.

Jun Wangchen explained unhurriedly, "Master Zi, a consciousness returning from the Underworld will automatically forget some of the things that caused her pain, such as the car accident that left her in a vegetative state.

"Also, after a consciousness has been washed by the Underworld's yin energy and returns to the living world, she will experience severe drowsiness for a week. In that condition, Madam Zi might even fall asleep while walking."

"I see." Relieved, Zifeng Town looked back at Shen Yu, only to find that she had already fallen asleep against him.

Everything had happened exactly as Jun Wangchen had described.

Only then did all traces of disdain vanish from the way everyone looked at Jun Wangchen. All that remained was shock and amazement.

One was Bai Ren, a renowned authority in medicine; the other was Jun Wangchen, an unknown newcomer. Compared side by side, they seemed like the bright moon and a firefly.

Yet now, the place the moon had failed to illuminate had been lit up by the firefly, clear and bright, shimmering with golden light.

After gently settling Shen Yu onto the bed, Zifeng Town turned to Jun Wangchen. He was about to clasp his hands in thanks when Jun Wangchen motioned for silence. "Master Zi, Madam Zi needs plenty of rest now. If we have anything to discuss, let's go outside."

Zifeng Town paused, then quickly nodded. He ushered Elder Bai and the others quietly out of Shen Yu's bedroom and into the villa's main hall.

As soon as they reached the hall, Zifeng Town bowed deeply to Jun Wangchen, his face filled with excitement and gratitude. "Young friend Jun, I no longer know how to express my thanks. Without you, Yan'er would surely have lost her chastity. Without you, Yu might never have woken up. I truly have no way to repay everything you've done for me."

As he spoke, Zifeng Town was overcome with emotion. He had originally invited Jun Wangchen to his home merely to thank him in person for saving his daughter. He had never imagined that Jun Wangchen also possessed such astonishing, miraculous medical skills, or that he would cure his wife. Meeting Jun Wangchen was, without question, the greatest stroke of luck in his life.

Jun Wangchen waved a hand. "There's no need for this, Master Zi. They say a physician should care for patients as a parent would. When I heard today that Madam Zi was suffering, I couldn't leave her that way when I had the ability to help. What use are medical skills if they aren't used to save people?"

"Well said!" Before Zifeng Town could respond, Bai Ren began applauding beside them, clearly full of admiration for Jun Wangchen's words.

"Young friend Jun, not only are your medical skills exceptional, you're also neither arrogant nor impatient. You have a great future ahead of you. Might you have any time available soon? After witnessing your miraculous technique today, I'm filled with both admiration and longing. I would therefore like to seek some medical guidance from you, young friend Ling, to make up for the gaps in my limited knowledge."

His current medical skills might rank among the best compared with most doctors, but among a select few, they might amount to nothing.

And Jun Wangchen was one of those select few.

Although Jun Wangchen looked very young, as he himself had said, age meant nothing when it came to medical skill. There was no shame in seeking medical knowledge from him.

After all, anyone capable of performing a lost medical art like the Thirteen Ghost Gate Needles had already surpassed him. Receiving guidance from such a person would undoubtedly improve his own skills tremendously.

"Well..." Jun Wangchen did not know how to answer Bai Ren.

His so-called medical skills mainly consisted of acupuncture. In any other area, he was just an ignorant fool. Bai Ren was different: he was a veteran practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine with forty years of experience, extensive expertise in various medical fields, and more awards than he could count. Jun Wangchen really had nothing to teach such an authority!

Seeing Jun Wangchen hesitate, Bai Ren paused, then seemed to make up his mind. "Young friend Jun, I know traditional Chinese medicine values teachings passed down within a single lineage, and secrets cannot be shared with outsiders. If you would give me some guidance, I would gladly become your disciple."

Everyone nearby gasped, startled.

Bai Ren's reputation was immense, both in Huaxia and throughout the world. There were only a handful of people qualified to take him as a disciple. In fact, not a single one had appeared in the past forty years.

Yet what was happening now?

Bai Ren, an authority in medicine, was seeking to become the disciple of an unknown twenty-year-old?

The corner of Jun Wangchen's eye twitched, and he quickly spoke up. "What are you saying, Elder Bai? There's no need to distinguish between master and disciple in medicine. If you'd like to learn anything from my modest medical knowledge, we can find some time to discuss it at leisure. There's no need to go as far as becoming my disciple."

"Wonderful. Here is my business card. Whenever you have some free time, please give me a call. Allow me to thank you in advance, young friend Jun." Bai Ren brightened and quickly took a business card from his pocket, handing it to Jun Wangchen.

In truth, he had felt some reluctance about becoming a disciple. Jun Wangchen was simply too young, and word getting out would probably cause a public stir. Now that Jun Wangchen was willing to spare time to guide him without requiring that formality, it was a truly happy outcome.

The attending physicians who witnessed this were all deeply shaken. Ever since they had known Bai Ren, it had always been other famous doctors lining up to beg him for guidance. They had never seen him ask anyone to teach him. Jun Wangchen really was extraordinary.

After a little more conversation, Bai Ren left with the attending physicians. Unlike Jun Wangchen, he had little free time and was extremely busy. If not for Zifeng Town's standing as an underworld boss in the East District, why would he have come here?

After watching Bai Ren and the others leave, Zifeng Town gave Jun Wangchen a thumbs-up. "Young friend Jun, you truly are an exceptional talent. There are very few people Elder Bai would humble himself to seek an appointment with!"

"You flatter me, Master Zi. Traditional Chinese medicine has five thousand years of accumulated knowledge. I've only scratched the surface, nowhere near enough to be considered accomplished." Jun Wangchen smiled modestly.

Zifeng Town did not know whether to laugh or cry. If those medical skills only counted as scratching the surface, did everyone else's not even reach that far?

Of course, he knew Jun Wangchen was merely being modest, so he did not dwell on it. Instead, he signaled Brother Eight with his eyes. Understanding immediately, Brother Eight produced a check.

"Young friend Jun, this is one hundred million. Please accept it as thanks for saving my wife and daughter."

"What?" Jun Wangchen stared at the string of zeroes, dumbfounded.

Good grief, Zifeng Town really is generous. An amount ordinary people could never hope to earn in a lifetime means no more to him than a blank sheet of paper.

Although he desperately wanted that hundred million, Jun Wangchen remembered his mother's admonition and shook his head. "Master Zi, please take this hundred million back. I use my medical skills to save those who should be saved, not to make a profit.

"Besides, men go bad when they have money. I still want to experience a life of hard work. I don't want to have all my needs provided for while I'm still so young."

To be honest, Jun Wangchen had said this against his conscience. After all, one of his personal mottos was that only an idiot passed up a free advantage.

But suddenly receiving such a huge sum felt unreal and disorienting, like a beggar abruptly becoming emperor. In that instant, he would feel not excitement, but panic.

An innocent man could become a target simply by possessing a treasure. Jun Wangchen understood that principle well enough.

His polite refusal took Zifeng Town completely by surprise. Even someone who cared little for money would probably struggle to remain as calm as Jun Wangchen when faced with a hundred million.

"You truly are extraordinary, young friend Jun. To refuse a hundred million so calmly has given me a whole new respect for you. Since you've put it that way, I can't insist. But if you ever need anything or run into any trouble, please come to me. I will do everything in my power to help."

"Thank you, Master Zi!" Jun Wangchen clasped his hands in thanks, quietly pleased.

Zifeng Town's influence in the East District was at its peak. Giving up a hundred million in exchange for his protection was a worthwhile trade.

Checking the time, Zifeng Town smiled and invited him, "Young friend Jun, it's lunchtime. How about sharing a few drinks with me?"

"You're too kind, Master Zi. Normally, I'd gladly join you for a drink, but I still have to return to school to finish an assignment from my teacher. Please forgive me."

"Hahaha! You really are an outstanding young man. Even outside school, you never forget your studies. I should truly learn from your example." Zifeng Town laughed heartily, then waved to Brother Eight. "Little Eight, take our young friend Jun back to school."

"Of course!" Brother Eight nodded, then turned to Jun Wangchen with a respectful expression. "Mr. Jun, this way, please!"

"Master Zi, I'll take my leave!" Jun Wangchen clasped his hands, then followed Brother Eight out of the villa and departed in the car.

Watching the Ferrari SA Aperta recede into the distance, Zifeng Town's eyes gleamed brightly, and he let out an occasional sigh of admiration.

Jun Wangchen, huh?

It looks like another remarkable figure is about to emerge in Jinling City!