Finger Strength and Techniques

Although Su Ziyang pretended to be stupid and escaped a disaster, Su Ziyang felt that when Yang Tianzheng hit him on the buttocks with the stick after work in the afternoon, it was even harder.

After being beaten, Yang Tianzheng would usually let Su Ziyang move around freely.

However, today Su Ziyang was asked by Yang Tianzheng to continue studying.

At home, Su Ziyang stood to one side, holding a notebook, while Yang Tianzheng sat upright, drinking tea.

"You've memorized all the techniques?"

"I've got it!" Su Ziyang nodded, holding the notebook.

"Okay, then put the notebook down and let me test you."

"No need for a test, I'll explain it myself!"

"Burning Mountain Fire can dispel the cold; three inhalations followed by one exhalation bring a surge of heat. Inhale through the nose once, then exhale five times."

Heaven-Penetrating Coolness it can dispel heat; three steps forward and one step back, and it feels icy cold. Inhale once through your mouth and exhale five times through your nose.

"These are extensive techniques for dispelling cold and heat; those who can perform them are basically only found in novels these days."

Su Ziyang first recited two sections of the mnemonic, and then explained them.

"What do you mean? I don't quite understand!" Su Ziyang made Yang Tianzheng scratch his head.

"It's nothing, Master. I've been reading some novels lately, and I'm a little engrossed!"

Su Ziyang chuckled.

"Ziyang, let me tell you something. We're getting old, so please stop using those new words. We really don't understand them. If we don't understand, I'll get a little upset, and then I might hit you!"

Upon hearing Yang Tianzheng's words, Su Ziyang's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a serious expression.

"Then I'll continue reciting the techniques you just taught me, Master!"

Su Ziyang nodded and muttered to himself.

"No, I've changed my mind. I want you to practice while you speak!"

As Yang Tianzheng spoke, he took out a mat from his backpack. It was about 20 centimeters square and four or five inches thick, made of sized Xuan paper.

Then he took out a box of acupuncture needles from his bag.

"Go ahead and stab me! Talk as you go! If you pass today, I won't beat you up tomorrow."

Su Ziyang took the mat tied with cotton thread and touched it in his hand.

"Master, is it possible to pierce something that's so hard?"

"Needle therapy emphasizes the coordination of force and intention. Therefore, you need to have finger strength. Do you understand finger strength?"

Yang Tianzheng took a needle from the needle box and pricked it into the Xuan paper mat.

Yang Tianzheng didn't seem to be using much force; at least, Su Ziyang thought Yang Tianzheng wasn't using much force.

However, the two-inch-long needle sank right into the pad made of Xuan paper.

"You can do it." Yang Tianzheng put the needle box in his hand aside.

Su Ziyang picked up a needle and stabbed it into the Xuan paper.

The needle tip poked into the rice paper, and it suddenly bent at a ninety-degree angle.

Su Ziyang looked at the bent needle with an embarrassed expression.

"Didn't you learn acupressure? Doesn't acupressure require finger strength?! I don't think your acupressure skills are very good," Yang Tianzheng scolded.

Yang Tianzheng scolded him, and Su Ziyang didn't dare to say a word. He took out another needle from the box and stuck it into the paper. This time, he still couldn't get it in. The tip of the needle bent at a 60-degree angle. It was obvious that Su Ziyang had ruined the needle as well.

Su Ziyang's competitive spirit kicked in, and he took out another needle from the needle case. However, this time Su Ziyang did not rashly prick the rice paper mat, but carefully examined the needle in his hand.

During his undergraduate studies, Su Ziyang practiced acupuncture. At that time, he used a piece of artificial flesh for needle insertion, and there was never a problem with the needle not going in or bending the needle.

Now that two needles have bent in succession, Su Ziyang wonders if the needles are different from the ones he usually uses.

Sure enough, Su Ziyang noticed the difference. The disposable needles he had bought before were all made of stainless steel, and even the two-inch needles were very stiff. But this two-inch needle was a bit soft, and you could see the needle body wobbling when you shook it slightly.

"Oh! Right, I forgot to tell you, this box of needles is silver, it's a gift from your teacher to you as we first met. If one needle breaks, you'll have one less."

Yang Tianzheng saw Su Ziyang receiving the injection and then quietly reminded him.

"I..."

Seeing Yang Tianzheng's sharp gaze, and touching his still slightly burning buttocks, Su Ziyang swallowed back the half-word he was about to say. He then turned around, put on a different expression, and said with a grin.

"Master, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I thought you could feel it, but you just pricked it right away. An acupuncturist who doesn't understand his needles is like a soldier going into battle without knowing how to use a gun. Before inserting a needle, you should check if the needle tip is still sharp, if there are any barbs on the tip, if the needle body is straight, and if the connection between the needle handle and the needle body is secure, and whether there will be any broken, bent, or bent needles!"

Yang Tianzheng wasn't in a hurry; instead, he began to explain slowly to Su Ziyang.

"Master, I was wrong!" Su Ziyang lowered his head in shame.

"What a load of crap, hurry up and get the needle in! Use your finger strength! Finger strength! Finger strength!!!"

Yang Tianzheng is straightforward and dislikes fussing. When he saw Su Ziyang admit his mistake, he shouted at him.

Su Ziyang knew the needles were made of silver and that silver needles were relatively soft, so he put his heart and soul into administering the acupuncture this time.

Su Ziyang has plenty of finger strength, but he hasn't used it this way before, which is why the needle broke just now.

Now that he was serious, Su Ziyang inserted the needle halfway into the hole.

"It's done, Master!" Su Ziyang excitedly showed it to Yang Tianzheng.

Yang Tianzheng stared blankly at Su Ziyang and said calmly, "Be yin within yang, and yang within yin."

Yang Tianzheng's concept of "Yang within Yin, Yin within Yang" refers to two techniques, collectively known as "Yin Hidden Within Yang, Yang Hidden Within Yin."

The acupuncture technique "Yin Hidden Within Yang" can treat diseases that start with cold and then become hot. When applying the needle, the needle is first applied superficially and then deepened.

When performing acupuncture, first insert the needle five fen deep, performing the nine Yang cycle. If you feel heat in the limbs, then insert the needle one cun deep, performing the six Yin cycle. When you obtain the Deqi, this technique is complete. It can treat diseases that start with cold and then become hot. The entire technique is to tonify first and then reduce.

"Yang Hidden Within Yin" can treat the condition of initial heat followed by cold; when performing acupuncture, the needle should be inserted deeply at first and then shallowly.

When performing acupuncture, first insert the needle to a depth of one inch, and perform the six Yin number. When the patient feels a coolness under the needle, withdraw the needle to a position five fen below the skin, and then perform the nine Yang number. Once the patient obtains the Deqi, the treatment is complete. This is called Yang Hidden Within Yin, which can treat symptoms of heat followed by cold. It is a technique of first purging and then tonifying.

These two techniques combine the use of Burning Mountain Fire and Heaven-Penetrating Coolness.

Su Ziyang Su Ziyang to himself as he performed the exercise. Although his technique wasn't very skilled, his mastery of breathing techniques made it look somewhat professional.

Yang Tianzheng nodded repeatedly as he watched Su Ziyang's serious expression.

After Su Ziyang finished those two techniques, he began to use other techniques before Yang Tianzheng could ask any questions.

"Qi Retaining Method, Qi Moving Method, Qi Lifting Method, and Qi Centering Method"

The Qi Retaining Method is a type of acupuncture technique used to break up stagnant Qi, and it can be used to treat lumps and nodules on the body.

Some studies, and even published papers, claim that acupuncture is ineffective for lumps or similar ailments, which simply shows a lack of understanding of its true intricacies.

When using the Qi Retaining Method, first insert the needle seven fen below the skin, following the pure Yang principle. Once the Deqi, insert the needle deeper to one cun, and then gently lift the needle back to the seven fen position.

The so-called "Qi Moving Method" is a type of purging method, primarily used in acupuncture to treat pain. It is particularly effective in treating pain located at a distance, such as toothache.

Many people may know that pressing the Hegu acupoint can help with toothache, but the effect is often not very noticeable. This is because the technique is incorrect. When the technique is correct, the effect is very good.

When using the Qi Moving Method with needles, perform a pure Yin count, that is, rotate the needle six times. If you feel that the Qi is full and the Qi has arrived under the needle, lay the needle down and insert it horizontally into the skin, with the needle tip pointing towards the painful area. At the same time, have the patient inhale five times to allow the needle force to reach the affected area.

There's a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine: "Mild pain, moderate numbness, and hardness are difficult to treat." I wonder if any of you have experience with lumbar disc herniation? Lumbar disc herniation often starts with pain, and if it's accompanied by leg pain, it's a more serious condition.

However, the legs often become numb, and numbness is more difficult to treat than pain, requiring a longer treatment period. But if the legs feel completely numb, it is even more difficult to treat, which is commonly known as numbness.

The Qi Lifting Method is used to treat cold and numbness.

When using the Qi Lifting Method with acupuncture, first rotate the needle and then use pure Yin counting. When the Qi arrives, gently lift the needle and let the Qi gather in the meridian under the needle, feeling a swelling sensation. At this time, the symptoms of cold numbness can be treated.

The Qi Centering Method, also known as the Qi circulation Yunqi, consists of two acupuncture techniques that are exactly opposite to the Qi circulation method. Its function is to remove accumulations, such as lumps in the body.

The application of the Qi Centering Method is based on the method of circulating Yunqi. The Qi Moving Method involves laying the needle flat and then leaving it still, but the Qi Centering Method actually restores the needle to an upright position, preventing the Qi from circulating.

Su Ziyang performed several techniques in a row. Yang Tianzheng watched Su Ziyang's serious yet clumsy appearance, a slight smile playing on his lips as he remained silent.

"Master, it's done! Right?"

Su Ziyang was sweating profusely. The silver needles were soft to begin with, and Su Ziyang was stabbing them both straight and at an angle, afraid of breaking them, so he dared not relax his strength in the slightest.

"Hmm. The combination of theory and practice is not bad, but Ziyang, the needle and the needle paper are quite different! You need to increase your proficiency. Moreover, people's constitutions are different; some people have a strong needle sensitivity, while others have a weak one. This is where your skill and the subtlety of your perception of Qi will be tested!"

Su Ziyang was instantly overjoyed to hear his master's approval.

"Understood!" Su Ziyang nodded.

"I won't have you demonstrate all the methods for passing the level and celebrating the festival, you're tired. Just tell me verbally, and I'll hear how well you've grasped them!"

Although Yang Tianzheng showed no mercy when beating Su Ziyang, he also genuinely cared for him when he felt sorry for him, just like he would his own son.

"The 'passing through the joints' technique is applied to people with obstructed joints and blocked Qi. Generally speaking, there are several types: Azure Dragon Swings Its Tail, Crimson Phoenix Shakes Its Head, Dragon-Tiger Battle, Dragon Rises and Tiger Descends, Five Viscera Meridian Crossing, Pass Opening Meridian Crossing, Diaphragm Corner Meridian Crossing, and Joint Meridian Crossing."

Su Ziyang did not explain in detail, but only gave a general overview of some names.

"Good, not bad. All this time I've been teaching you hasn't been wasted!"

Yang Tianzheng pulled the needles off the Xuan paper mat, then straightened the bent needles Su Ziyang had made by hand and put them back into the needle box.

Then he took a small wooden box out of his bag and handed it to Su Ziyang.

"What is this, Master!"

Su Ziyang took the wooden box and examined it curiously.

"Just open it and you'll know!"

Yang Tianzheng kept everyone in suspense.

Su Ziyang gently opened the small box. Inside was a cushion that looked like cotton silk. Inside, a row of bright yellow needles lay quietly. The needles had golden-yellow bodies and silver-white handles, which were decorated with dragon-shaped patterns. They were very beautiful.

"This is..."

When Su Ziyang saw this set of needles, it was like a woman seeing a set of valuable jewelry.

"A gold needle with a silver handle—this is my true gift to you upon our first meeting. However, its value as a collectible far outweighs its practical use. It is my recognition of your efforts over this period."

Yang Tianzheng said with a smile.

Everyone talks about golden needles, but this was the first time Su Ziyang had ever seen real golden needles.

When Su Ziyang applied to study acupuncture and massage, it was because he saw online that the gold and silver needles used in ancient Chinese medicine looked very elegant and cool.

However, after entering university and encountering a variety of complex courses and a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, Su Ziyang realized that golden needles truly only existed in ancient times. He was unlikely to ever see golden needles in his lifetime.

But Su Ziyang never expected that not only would he see it today, but it would also be a gift to him.

"Thank you, Master!"

Su Ziyang held the gold needles in his hand, admiring them greatly.

"Don't get too cocky. This is just a small reward from your teacher."

Yang Tianzheng chuckled and said, "If you want to use acupuncture, and use it well, you still have a long way to go. Let me test you again. Look at these gold needles and silver needles."

Su Ziyang was secretly pleased. He then counted the gold needles in the box; there were 19 gold needles in total. He also counted the silver needles he had just used; there were 14 silver needles.

Do you know why it's this number?

Yang Tianzheng's expression turned serious as he looked at Su Ziyang with great formality.

"Gold and silver are both metal, and the acupuncture technique utilizes the metal element. Earth generates metal with the number four, and Heaven completes it with the number nine. This corresponds to the innate number 49 in the Yellow River Chart."

The book that Mr. Mengfei gave to Su Ziyang contained the principles of the I Ching, which Su Ziyang knew by heart, so he could recite these principles of the Su Ziyang off the top of his head.

"Good!"

Yang Tianzheng clapped his hands and stood up.

"Alright, you can have both sets of needles. That concludes today's lesson; I need to go back and rest. You can play with them yourself!"

After seeing Yang Tianzheng off, Su Ziyang started admiring himself with the two needles in his arms, until he was practically bubbling with pride.

"Yes, yes, yes! Take a picture, take a picture!"

Su Ziyang took out his phone, placed the two boxes of needles under the desk lamp, and then took pictures from the left and right. After taking about a dozen pictures, he finally took two that he was satisfied with.

So Su Ziyang, who never posts on WeChat Moments, posted the two pictures there, along with two extremely pretentious words: "Needle Theory".

Before long, Su Ziyang's post on WeChat Moments had garnered over fifty likes and a long string of comments.

"Holy crap, golden needles! Really?!"

Upon seeing his roommate's comment, Su Ziyang replied with pride, "Absolutely true."

"Ox!"

"Ox!"

"Golden Needle Saves the World"

Su Ziyang kept chuckling as he looked at the comments on his WeChat Moments.