Wan Yunting followed Nie Xiaoyu and Nie Jiantao into the villa's first-floor hall. The interior was simply decorated with wooden furniture, and the walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings. However, most prominent were the children's toys, piled in a corner beneath the TV cabinet, exuding a sense of lived-in comfort.
"This way..."
Nie Xiaoyu and Xie Jiantao led Wan Yunting into a large room. Many people were already present: two young men in military uniforms, two women dressed conspicuously, and several doctors in white coats.
Seated by a large bed was a woman in a white coat named Huang Hongying, the director of the Beijing Military Region Hospital.
At that moment, Huang Hongying was taking the pulse of an elderly man propped against the headboard of the bed. This elder was none other than Nie Xiaoyu's grandfather, Nie Shengrong. He was over ninety years old, with short, silver-white hair and a face full of wrinkles and age spots. Perhaps due to the torment of his illness, the old man appeared very gaunt, yet his sharp eyes were piercing and resolute, commanding an unyielding gaze.
Wan Yunting, brought in by Nie Xiaoyu and Nie Jiantao, glanced at Nie Shengrong leaning against the headboard. Just from the look of those sharp, spirited eyes, which exuded a hint of killing intent from beneath, Wan Yunting's heart skipped a beat. He froze, murmuring inwardly, "Such powerful killing intent!"
Beyond the killing intent, the military bearing emanating from Nie Shengrong commanded deep respect, clearly indicating he was an old hero who had survived the baptism of war.
Wan Yunting's appearance immediately drew the attention of everyone in the room. Nie Xiaoyu's elder brother, Nie Bayi, her cousin Nie Xuehai, and her two aunts all eyed Wan Yunting with curiosity. They asked, "Xiaoyu, is this Wan Yunting, who recently saved the British Ambassador's life?"
Nie Xiaoyu nodded. Meanwhile, Nie Shengrong, leaning against the headboard, fixed his sharp gaze on Wan Yunting. He then broke into a genial smile and said, "Young man, I am very fond of your calligraphy!"
This statement caught Wan Yunting off guard.
Director Huang Hongying, who was beside the bed taking his pulse, slowly turned her head. After appraising Wan Yunting for a moment, she said to Nie Shengrong, "Elder Nie, this seems to be your old ailment. Do you require hospitalization for treatment?"
Nie Jiantao asked, "Director Huang, if he is hospitalized, can my father's hidden illness be cured?"
Huang Hongying shook her head slightly and replied, "Elder Nie's hidden illness is a result of severe injuries sustained in the past. Hospitalization can only temporarily alleviate his pain, but a complete cure is impossible."
"I'm not going."
Nie Shengrong, leaning against the headboard, waved his hand and chuckled, "It's just the occasional severe headache. I can endure it for the rest of my life. There's no need for me to go to the hospital and cause trouble, nor to waste national resources."
"Dad, what are you talking about?"
Nie Shengrong's youngest daughter went to sit by his bed, taking his hand. "Every time you have an episode, your headache is so bad you wail like a ghost. Director Huang wants you to go to the hospital for treatment because it can relieve your pain."
Nie Shengrong unceremoniously shook off his youngest daughter's hand and grumbled with displeasure, "What kind of talk is that? What do you mean I wail like a ghost when I have a headache? Have you ever seen your father shed a single tear since you were little?"
His youngest daughter, Nie Nanqing, smiled and shook her head, chuckling. "I really haven't, but Dad, let's go to the hospital to get it checked. Even if it only alleviates your headache and reduces your suffering, it would be good."
"Yes, Dad, please go for a period of hospitalization." His third daughter also chimed in to persuade him.
But Nie Shengrong was adamant about not going. He felt that at his age, he shouldn't be hospitalized and waste national resources. This was the awareness of an old soldier.
"Grandpa, let Doctor Wan take a look at you."
Nie Xiaoyu then said, pointing to Wan Yunting beside her. At this point, he had also reacted, surprised that Nie Xiaoyu's grandfather would appreciate his calligraphy.
"Alright, young man, I truly admire your calligraphy. Little Xiaoyu mentioned your medical skills are also very high; you even saved the British Ambassador's life the day before yesterday. To possess such abilities at such a young age, you are truly remarkable."
Nie Shengrong's sharp old eyes scrutinized Wan Yunting. Besides appreciating his calligraphy, his granddaughter Nie Xiaoyu had also told him many stories about Wan Yunting.
"You flatter me, Elder."
Wan Yunting, with a respectful demeanor, smiled politely at the old hero. He picked up his medicine box to approach, but stopped upon seeing the female doctor in the white coat.
Huang Hongying seemed to sense his hesitation and smiled, "I've long heard that Doctor Wan's medical skills are extraordinary and his touch is miraculous, even at such a young age. I also visited Ambassador Will the other day, but I was unable to treat his heart condition."
"That you were able to cure him proves that your medical skills are indeed remarkable."
Wan Yunting was unaware of Huang Hongying's identity. Nie Xiaoyu beside him introduced her, and Wan Yunting then politely smiled at Huang Hongying, "Director Huang, you are too kind. Allow me to examine the Elder."
"Please."
Huang Hongying gracefully stepped back, inviting Wan Yunting to examine Nie Shengrong.
Wan Yunting nodded politely at her, then picked up his medicine box and went over. He sat on a chair by the bed, placed down the medicine box, and smiled, "Elder, allow me to take your pulse first."
"Alright."
Nie Shengrong smiled and extended his right hand to him. As Wan Yunting took his pulse, he also observed his complexion and the slightly deformed shape of his head, saying, "Elder, you were shot on the right side of your head, weren't you?"
Nie Shengrong's old eyes widened, and he chuckled, "It seems what they say about you is true; you indeed have some skill."
"That's right. This part of my head was hit by a bullet during the Korean War. Haha, but the King of Hell didn't claim me. Perhaps it was because he felt I hadn't killed enough American GIs, so he spared my life."
Hearing the elder's humorous remark, Wan Yunting chuckled as he continued to take his pulse, "Are there still fragments in your head?"
"Yes, a few pieces are lodged near my brain. Huang Yātou tried to surgically remove the fragments before, but it was unsuccessful." Nie Shengrong pointed at Huang Hongying, who was in her forties, and chuckled.
Huang Hongying also explained, "Those three fragments are adjacent to the second ventricle of Elder Nie's brain. If we forcefully remove them, it could damage the brain. Therefore, we had no choice but to leave them there."
Wan Yunting stood up and moved to the left side, then took Nie Shengrong's left pulse, saying, "So, Elder, you occasionally suffer from unbearable headaches, feeling like your entire head is about to explode, right?"
"Yes."
Nie Shengrong nodded and smiled, "It doesn't hurt right now. Before you arrived, the pain was so intense I wanted to bash my head against the wall."
Huang Hongying also added, "Initially, Elder Nie's headaches were not severe, but in the past two years, the intensity has gradually increased. If it is not controlled promptly, the situation will likely become more difficult."
"Indeed."
Wan Yunting released Nie Shengrong's left pulse and looked up at Huang Hongying, asking, "Director Huang, if you were to hospitalize the Elder, would you perform surgery?"
Huang Hongying nodded. She was well aware of Wan Yunting and knew his proficiency in traditional Chinese medicine.
Especially regarding Ambassador Will's heart condition a few days prior, she had also examined him but was unable to help, eventually returning.
However, when she heard that Wan Yunting had cured Ambassador Will's heart condition, Huang Hongying was greatly astonished and found it incredible.
Therefore, she did not mind Wan Yunting examining Elder Nie in her presence earlier.
"While I cannot remove the fragments from Elder Nie's head, I have methods to prevent further deterioration," Huang Hongying stated.
Wan Yunting nodded, "That is indeed one approach."
"Do you have another method?" Nie Xiaoyu couldn't help but ask.
The entire Nie family, spanning several generations, watched Wan Yunting. Just then, an elderly woman entered. His youngest daughter, Nie Nanqing, and others called out, "Mom..."
"Grandma..."
Nie Xiaoyu, her elder brother Nie Bayi, and others also greeted her.
Wan Yunting turned to look at Nie Xiaoyu's grandmother approaching. Although she was over eighty, she had a good complexion and was quite spirited. Nie Xiaoyu briefly introduced Wan Yunting to her grandmother, who also smiled and greeted him without saying much, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at her husband, Nie Shengrong, afraid he might suffer any harm.
"Don't worry, I'm not dying yet."
Nie Shengrong gave his wife, who had accompanied him for most of his life, a reassuring look and smiled.
"Hmph, you can still smile."
Grandmother Cao Yumei gave him a sidelong glance and quietly sat by the bed, stroking Nie Shengrong's arm...
"I do indeed have a method to alleviate the Elder's headaches!" Wan Yunting then declared.
The Nie family members present, as well as Huang Hongying, looked at Wan Yunting. He smiled, "Acupuncture combined with herbal decoction!"
"Will it work?"
Nie Shengrong, upon hearing his method, said, "I've had acupuncture treatments from that old Chinese physician named Gu Shiren before, but it didn't have much effect."
Grandmother Cao Yumei also nodded and told Wan Yunting, "We've also drunk plenty of traditional Chinese medicine, but it hasn't shown any effect."
Wan Yunting smiled, "Elder, are you still feeling pain in your head now?"
Nie Shengrong nodded, "Yes, there's some pain, but I can bear it."
Wan Yunting said, "Alright, I'll give you a few acupuncture needles now to try."
Nie Shengrong nodded and smiled, "Alright, go ahead and needle me."
Wan Yunting smiled and looked back at Nie Xiaoyu and Nie Jianhua. Cao Yumei also smiled, "Young doctor, give him a few needles to see."
Nie Xiaoyu and Nie Jiantao had no objections. They all knew Wan Yunting's medical skills were very high, and even if a few needles didn't have much effect on Nie Shengrong, it shouldn't cause any harm.
"Good."
Wan Yunting smiled and nodded, asking Nie Shengrong to sit up first. He then opened his medicine box and took out the needle case. This set of silver needles was naturally left to him by his master, the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor. After wiping a few silver needles with alcohol cotton, he went behind Nie Shengrong. With his left hand, he felt the right side of his head and indeed found a depression.
This was likely the socket caused by the bullet that had broken his skull back then. With a slight pressure, the elder's face contorted with pain, but his iron will allowed him to endure pain that ordinary people could not bear.
"I'll give you a few needles first..."
As he spoke, Wan Yunting, holding a seven-inch silver needle in his right hand, inserted one into the Tongtian acupoint in the middle of Nie Shengrong's head, then another into the Qiangjian acupoint, followed by one each at the Tianchong and Fubai acupoints on the right side. Descending further, he placed needles at several acupoints such as Naokong and Fengchi: "There."
These few simple needles caused the expressions of Nie Xiaoyu, Nie Jiantao, and the others watching to become somewhat strange; they felt it was too simple.
Many old Chinese physicians had examined Nie Shengrong before and also performed acupuncture. Those doctors used dozens of silver needles, inserting them into all the acupoints on Nie Shengrong's head, which looked very complicated but had no effect whatsoever.
Now, seeing Wan Yunting insert just a few needles, the Nie family members wondered if this was too perfunctory.
However, Huang Hongying, who had been watching from the side, looked serious and couldn't help but say, "Doctor Wan, are you using the Tai Ding Chong Acupuncture technique?"
Wan Yunting channeled his internal energy to his hands and was massaging several acupoints on the back of Nie Shengrong's neck. Seeing that Huang Hongying recognized the acupuncture technique, he couldn't help but be surprised and chuckled, "It seems Director Huang has a profound understanding of our traditional Chinese medicine."
"Mm..."
Nie Shengrong, feeling the comfort from the massage, smiled, "Her grandfather is the truly remarkable one. During our battles back then, her grandfather saved countless soldiers. But alas, those who remained on Korean soil during the Korean War did not return."
Wan Yunting nodded and continued to use his internal energy to massage Nie Shengrong's head...