"What was the point of raising this daughter? What was the point?!" Zhang Pingcui lamented from her chair, her body suddenly growing weak and powerless. All at once, darkness enveloped her vision, and she slumped sideways uncontrollably.

"Darling!"

"Mom!"

"Auntie!"

The three of them rushed forward and helped the fallen Zhang Pingcui up.

"Mom, please don't scare me!" Li Qiaoqiao cried, her sobs growing even more intense.

"Darling! Darling!"

Li Yuanguang called out frantically, his fingers pressing hard on Zhang Pingcui's philtrum in an attempt to rouse her.

"Don't cry, Qiao Qiao. I'll go find Grandpa Zhao right now! I'll get the car, and then we'll take Auntie to the hospital!" Li Hao said, his eyes filled with determination.

He leaped up from his chair and dashed out the door like a cheetah.

Before long, he found the old doctor deep in the village. To his surprise, although the old doctor was nearly seventy, his stride was still steady and strong.

"Grandpa Zhao, you go to Qiao Qiao's house first while I get the car. If the situation is serious, we might need to rush to the hospital immediately," Li Hao said as he hurried away.

"Okay!"

Grandpa Zhao nodded and then sped toward Li Qiaoqiao's house.

「...」

On this sunny afternoon, Chen Zheng and Liu Qianqian were strolling down a village lane, enjoying the peaceful moment. However, their tranquility was shattered by the sound of Li Hao's hurried footsteps.

"What happened?" Chen Zheng asked, his brow furrowed.

"Brother Zheng, something's happened! Li Qiaoqiao's mother suddenly passed out, and I have to drive back right now!" Li Hao shouted as he ran past.

"How could she suddenly faint? Was she agitated by something?" Chen Zheng murmured in confusion. He took Liu Qianqian's hand and they hurried toward Li Qiaoqiao's home.

They arrived shortly after the old doctor.

"Uncle Zhao! Quick, take a look at Ping Cui!" Li Yuanguang said urgently.

"Alright, don't panic. Carry Ping Cui to the bed," the old doctor instructed.

Li Yuanguang immediately complied, carefully placing Zhang Pingcui on the bed.

The old doctor had already opened his medicine box and was taking her pulse. However, his brow suddenly furrowed.

"Uncle Zhao, why do you look so grave?" Li Yuanguang's heart flooded with worry when he saw the old doctor's expression.

The old doctor didn't respond immediately, and Li Yuanguang didn't dare disturb him again.

After a moment, the old doctor finally spoke. "The situation is quite severe. Her qi and blood are striking her heart, and there are signs of a blockage in her heart meridian. I can only do my best."

With that, the old doctor swiftly opened his medicine box, took out a set of silver needles, selected one, and quickly inserted it into an acupoint on Zhang Pingcui's hand. He then proceeded to apply the other needles with the grace of a painter.

Soon, Zhang Pingcui's body was covered in silver needles. However, there seemed to be no change at all.

"Mom!" Li Qiaoqiao's tears fell like rain as she collapsed by the bedside, devastated.

"Ping Cui!" Li Yuanguang's voice choked with emotion. Even this tough-as-nails man couldn't hold back his tears now.

Chen Zheng and Liu Qianqian arrived to witness this very scene.

"Grandpa Zhao, how is she?" Chen Zheng asked with concern.

"Sigh…" The old doctor's fingers gently slid across the back of Zhang Pingcui's hand—a hand weathered by the years, covered in wrinkles and the marks of hard labor. His eyes were filled with helplessness and sadness.

"Qiao Qiao, quickly help me get your aunt into the car! We're going to the hospital!" At that moment, Li Hao rushed into the room like a gust of wind.

"Li Hao, it's hopeless! Not even the gods can save her now!"

The old doctor's words were like a cold knife, piercing straight through his heart.

Zhang Pingcui suffered from a blockage in her heart meridian, with a surge of qi and blood attacking her heart. This wasn't an ailment that had developed overnight. If they had paid more attention to her health, this could have been avoided. But they were farmers, with no extra time or energy to focus on such things.

"It's all my fault. All my fault!" Li Hao was overcome with self-reproach. Seeing Li Qiaoqiao's grief-stricken face, his heart ached with guilt.

"My condolences. You should start making the final arrangements." The old doctor's words were unbearably painful to hear.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully triggering a choice mission]

[Ding! Choice one: Treat Zhang Pingcui and receive the following reward: A set of top-grade specialized silver needles]

[Ding! Choice two: Follow Grandpa Zhao's arrangements, help Li Qiaoqiao prepare for the funeral, and receive the following reward: +10 Li Family Goodwill]

At that moment, the system's voice suddenly rang out.

Chen Zheng's steps were steady and strong. He didn't make a choice immediately. Instead, he walked to the bedside and gently placed his hand on the back of Zhang Pingcui's. The Grandmaster-level mysterious power within his body flowed out like a spring, instantly enveloping Zhang Pingcui and locating the root of the problem.

"Her qi and blood are assaulting her heart, a result of a blockage in her meridian," Chen Zheng whispered softly.

The old doctor looked at him, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. "Zheng, it took you less than two seconds to take her pulse and pinpoint the problem. Could it be that you…"

"Grandpa Zhao, I know a little about medicine! Could you let me try?" Chen Zheng interrupted him.

The old doctor frowned. "Zheng, this is no joke. Ping Cui is on the brink of life and death. She might still have some awareness. If something goes wrong, she might not even get to hear her family's last words."

Without hesitation, Chen Zheng made his decision. System, I choose one!

Then he said aloud, "Let me try. There might still be a chance."

Without another word, he waved his hand, and all of the old doctor's silver needles flew out of her body.

"Zheng, you…!"

The old doctor erupted in a blaze of fury. Removing the silver needles so carelessly was incredibly dangerous! But before he could finish his sentence, his entire body froze as if encased in ice, rooting him to the spot.

The air seemed to solidify as all eyes focused on Chen Zheng.

He had pulled the silver needles out one by one, and now they hovered in his hand, suspended in the air. His fingers danced with poetic grace, and the air hummed with unseen energy.

Then, like nine shooting stars streaking across the night sky, the silver needles plunged into Zhang Pingcui's body with unerring accuracy.

He pressed down gently, and a mysterious force whipped up a small whirlwind in the room. It was a power that no one could see, guided by the needles as it flowed gently into Zhang Pingcui's body.

At last, Zhang Pingcui's eyelids fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes.

The old doctor watched it all as if witnessing a miracle. His lips trembled, unable to form a single word.

"True Qi Needle Technique… Nine Needles Soul Crossing!" His voice was filled with undeniable shock. "This… this is actually… Nine Heavens Acupuncture!"

The old doctor's eyes, like withered chrysanthemums, sank deep into shadow. His words drifted through the air like an ancient echo.

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