Long Xiao touched Old Master Bai's chest, then other parts of his body. The other parts were already cold, but his chest still held a slight warmth.
"He can still be saved," Long Xiao said.
Long Xiao's medical skills were spoken of in near-mythical terms. Now that he declared the old master could be saved, Bai Zhenkun felt a surge of hope and pleaded, "Divine Doctor Long, I beg you to save my father."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "Have someone bring Old Master Bai out. I'll try."
Bai Zhenkun called for people to bring out Old Master Bai's body. The mourners, hearing that Long Xiao intended to save him, all remained, waiting in the courtyard for a miracle.
Old Master Bai was laid on the ground. Just as Long Xiao was about to begin, Luan Jiping walked over.
"Little brother, you're back."
Long Xiao smiled. "Sister, you're here too."
Luan Jiping nodded. "Old Master Bai was very good to me. I've come to see him off."
Long Xiao gestured to Old Master Bai on the ground. "Sister, I'm afraid the sending off won't be happening."
Long Xiao had no needles. He asked Bai Zhenkun to prepare silver needles and several types of medicine. Bai Zhenkun arranged for someone to fetch the necessary items. Long Xiao knelt on one knee and took Old Master Bai's wrist.
There was no pulse, and Old Master Bai's arm had become stiff.
The onlookers were whispering among themselves, most of them skeptical of Long Xiao, believing he was merely seeking attention.
Long Xiao examined Old Master Bai's body using his five-element vital energy. His internal organs had ceased to function, but they had not yet completely failed.
"Sister, could you go to Xinglin Grass Hall and ask Mi Tianfu to give you some detoxifying medicine, and a piece of old ginseng? Bring them both."
Luan Jiping nodded and drove to Xinglin Grass Hall to get the medicine. Long Xiao stood up and said, "Xiaoqing, go ask the kitchen to prepare a banquet and boil two pots of hot water."
"What do we need boiling water for?" Bai Xiaoqing asked curiously.
Long Xiao smiled. "For tea. I haven't seen Old Master Bai in a while. I'd like to have a cup of tea and chat with him."
Seeing Long Xiao's cheerful demeanor, Bai Xiaoqing felt a bit dizzy. She hurried to the kitchen, telling the servants to boil water and prepare the dishes for the banquet.
More mourners continued to arrive at the Bai residence. When people saw Old Master Bai lying on the ground, they gathered around curiously, soon forming a dense crowd.
Shortly after, Luan Jiping returned with the detoxifying medicine and old ginseng. Long Xiao placed a detoxifying pill into Old Master Bai's mouth and put the ginseng in his hand.
Although Long Xiao could now stimulate the ginseng's life force to save people, he still needed to maintain appearances. The fact that he possessed life force was something he couldn't let anyone know.
After a while longer, the silver needles and required herbs arrived. Long Xiao ordered someone to decoct the herbs. He held Old Master Bai's hand, which clutched the ginseng, with his right hand, while his left hand began to swiftly insert needles.
As dozens of silver needles pierced Old Master Bai's body, Long Xiao channeled the life force from his dantian into the old master.
Old Master Bai's organs had all failed and were on the verge of losing all vitality. Stimulated by the life force, the failing organs began to reactivate.
As vital energy started to flow within Old Master Bai, his heart began to beat slowly.
Long Xiao continuously monitored Old Master Bai's condition. When he saw the heart begin to beat, he quickly used his 'Dragon Swallows the Four Seas' technique to absorb the life force from the old ginseng in his hand, circulated it within his own body, and then channeled it into Old Master Bai's heart meridian.
The new life force stimulated the heart meridian, completely unblocking it, and the heart began to beat faster and faster.
In the past, Long Xiao would not have dared to casually use 'Dragon Swallows the Four Seas'.
After his recent journey, Long Xiao had absorbed a considerable amount of life force from various medicinal herbs. His 'Dragon Swallows the Four Seas' technique had become much more refined, capable of targeted absorption.
The moment the old ginseng in Old Master Bai's hand turned to powder, Long Xiao stopped using the 'Dragon Swallows the Four Seas' technique.
Releasing Old Master Bai's hand, Long Xiao feigned exhaustion, let out a long sigh, and casually pulled out all the silver needles.
"Old Master Bai, please rise and join me for a cup of tea," Long Xiao said, standing up and speaking in a clear voice.
While everyone stared in stunned silence, Old Master Bai let out a sigh, opened his eyes, and looked around.
"Where am I?"
Old Master Bai's voice was weak, but the shock he delivered to everyone present was immense.
A man who had already ceased to breathe and whose heart had stopped was now alive, thanks to Long Xiao's actions.
Everyone was staring blankly at Old Master Bai when he suddenly vomited a mouthful of black blood with a loud "wua."
The Bai family rushed to help Old Master Bai. Long Xiao took out another detoxifying pill and handed it to Bai Xiaoqing. "Give your grandfather another pill, and the toxins in his body will be completely cleared."
Everyone moved into the living room. After rinsing his mouth, Old Master Bai swallowed the pill Bai Xiaoqing gave him.
Soon, a maid brought in the prepared tea. As Long Xiao reached for his cup, Bai Zhenkun quickly picked up the teapot and poured tea for him.
Old Master Bai looked at the tea in his cup, licked his dry lips, and asked, "Long Xiao, can I drink tea?"
Long Xiao nodded. "Of course. You can even drink alcohol."
Seeing her grandfather alive, Bai Xiaoqing excitedly paced around the room.
Just as everyone was celebrating Old Master Bai's revival, a young man in his early twenties, covered in dirt, pushed through the crowd and entered.
"Old man, how are you alive? I was waiting for the banquet. If you're alive, how can we have a banquet?"
"Bai Xiaotian, what nonsense are you spouting?" Bai Zhenkun shouted, swinging his hand to slap him.
"Father, why are you hitting him? He's just a foolish boy."
"Dad, you're still protecting him. He's going to make me furious to death," Bai Zhenkun said.
Bai Xiaotian had a sturdy build, a straight back, and a well-defined face. If one didn't look at his eyes, they wouldn't know he was mentally impaired.
"Old Master Bai, is this Xiaoqing's brother?" Long Xiao asked.
Old Master Bai nodded. "Yes, he is Xiaoqing's brother."
"I haven't met him. Was he not home last time I visited?" Long Xiao asked again.
Old Master Bai nodded and sighed. "Alas, this is also a calamity for our Bai family."
Bai Xiaotian was the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Bai family. He had been serving in the military and, with his initial Earth Realm strength, had become a school-level officer at a young age.
Three years ago, during a border conflict in the south, he led a small team deep behind enemy lines. Ten days later, he returned severely wounded, while the others perished in a foreign land.
Although his life was saved after treatment, he became mentally impaired.
For three years, he had been recuperating in a military hospital. A few days ago, Old Master Bai, missing his grandson, had him brought back, but his presence had caused chaos in the Bai residence.
Long Xiao stood up, circled Bai Xiaotian once, and suddenly reached for his neck.
Bai Xiaotian dodged, then threw a punch at Long Xiao's head. The punch was fast and fierce, accompanied by a whistling wind.
The people standing in the living room, seeing the two about to fight, quickly retreated, making space for them.
Long Xiao tilted his head to evade Bai Xiaotian's punch and struck his chest with an open palm. A mouthful of black blood erupted from Bai Xiaotian, who then suddenly leaped up and crashed backward into the glass door of the living room.
The glass door shattered completely with a crash. Bai Xiaotian fell into the courtyard.
Long Xiao chuckled and said, "Everyone, prepare for the banquet. I'm going to stretch my muscles with Brother Bai."