I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Acupuncture Skill

”Silver coins are not a must, but...” Duan Rong’s gaze swept over Zhu Xiaoqi’s right foot, hesitating for a moment.

”But what...”

”I see Xiaoqi, you’re wearing a silver bracelet on your foot, can I borrow it for a look?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaoqi’s face instantly blushed, and she looked at Duan Rong with a peculiar expression.

That look couldn’t be more obvious!

It was the suspicion of whether Duan Rong was a fetishist pervert!

Duan Rong waved his hands repeatedly and explained: ”Don’t misunderstand! My mother used to have a similar silver bracelet, I just want to take a look...”

As Duan Rong spoke, he lowered his head, seeming deeply grieved.

After all, Duan Rong has lived two lives; when it comes to lying, not only does he have a whole set of skills, but he’s also long learned to maintain composure without a heartbeat, speaking quite sincerely!

Zhu Xiaoqi’s heart was indeed touched; the silver bracelet on her foot was also left to her when her mother died.

It seemed she and Duan Rong were sufferers alike, both having unfortunate fates...

”Well then... in that case... you can take a look...”

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong raised his head and smiled, saying: ”It’s settled then!”

Zhu Xiaoqi also smiled, revealing two rows of white shiny little teeth, saying: ”Let’s go to the main room, it’s brighter there!”

Saying this, Zhu Xiaoqi tidied up the paintbrushes and pigments on the table, excitedly taking them to the coffee table in the main room and arranging them neatly.

Zhu Xiaoqi sat across from Duan Rong, who gazed at her, contemplating the plan for drawing!

Zhu Xiaoqi was always a straightforward and generous girl, but suddenly sitting face-to-face with a man like this, and being stared at by him, she suddenly felt shy, her face blushing pink.

Duan Rong was just about to begin drawing when Zhu Xiaoqi suddenly stood up, saying: ”Wait for me, I need to go to the kitchen and add some firewood!”

Saying this, Zhu Xiaoqi lifted her skirt and ran out; she was still steaming buns with sour and spicy dried bean curd stuffing on the stove!

A few moments later, Zhu Xiaoqi ran back again, sitting in the chair, her small mouth panting, her chest heaving...

Duan Rong suddenly noticed a black charcoal mark on Zhu Xiaoqi’s face, extending right up to her nose, and immediately laughed, pointing to his own right cheek, saying: ”Xiaoqi, there’s something black on your face...”

”Where is it?...” Zhu Xiaoqi pawed her face with her hand, but couldn’t wipe off that spot on her nose tip.

Duan Rong laughed while standing up from his seat, leaning over the coffee table, using his finger to wipe Zhu Xiaoqi’s nose tip, removing the charcoal mark.

He then reached out his finger towards Zhu Xiaoqi, showing the faint black smudge on the pad of his index finger, smiling: ”There... on the nose tip...”

Zhu Xiaoqi smiled with some embarrassment, her lips as fresh and tender as lychee, her little white teeth jumping amidst her lips and tongue, like little rabbits roaming far away in the fields...

Duan Rong drew the portrait of Zhu Xiaoqi in about a quarter of an hour!

As Zhu Xiaoqi was of a particular type — petite — Duan Rong had already thoroughly studied how to portray such clients!

At this moment, it was as easy as pie!

Zhu Xiaoqi took the picture, looking at herself depicted, her eyes lighting up, incessantly smiling...

What girl doesn’t love beauty!

The obsession with beauty among women is akin to men’s greed for power and status!

It’s etched deep in the primitive genes!

Xiao Baijiao watched Duan Rong and Zhu Xiaoqi leave from her boudoir, her gaze subsequently dimming...

Her health was poor, often remaining indoors, unable to go out and play, let alone roam Jianghu like her sister Xiao Yu...

Though her father was the Chief Tutor, he was cold-hearted towards his apprentices, teaching them batch by batch, with none but Duan Rong as an exception.

Last time, he even kept him at home for a meal.

Due to familiarity from last time, she dared to have Zhu Xiaoqi call Duan Rong over to paint this time.

But as she was chatting with Duan Rong in the room earlier, she realized a darkness entwined around her heart had momentarily dissipated...

She had always believed she had sunk into the deep dark, irredeemable, yet now she glimpsed a light...

That light could pierce through the darkness, driving away her loneliness!

However, she was ill, her life span short!

Thinking of this, she felt pangs of distress!

Though Xiaoqi was a servant girl, she could live healthily, later marry, have her family, her children!

But she...

Thinking of this, Xiao Baijiao was overwhelmed by grief like a flood...

Her mental defenses crumbled, her body convulsively twitched, eyes rolling upwards, mouth beginning to foam...

With a thud, she fell to the ground...

Zhu Xiaoqi was holding the picture while laughing happily, when suddenly a sound came from the east side inside, a thud!

Zhu Xiaoqi couldn’t care about the picture in her hand, swiftly moving like fire, flashing past!

The picture drifted in the bright main room, fluttered a few times, then fell to the ground.

Soon after, Zhu Xiaoqi’s alarmed cries came from inside, carrying a faint sobbing tone!

”Master, Second Miss is convulsing!”

Duan Rong, with an anxious look, hurried over, just as Xiao Zongting also rushed over, pushing Duan Rong aside.

Zhu Xiaoqi handed over the ebony chopstick wrapped in cotton cloth and needle pouch, Xiao Zongting immediately stretched his hand to take them, his voice hoarse: ”Go find Doctor Gu!”

Seeing Xiao Zongting’s eyes welling up with tears, Zhu Xiaoqi’s figure wobbled and dashed out!

Xiao Zongting placed the ebony chopstick against Xiao Baijiao’s upper and lower jaws, then opened the needle pouch, pinching seven Silver Needles, inserting them into Xiao Baijiao’s seven acupuncture points!

This was a rescue acupuncture method specifically taught by Gu Suixiu to Xiao Zongting, meant for urgent times to save Xiao Baijiao.

Ordinarily, with these seven needles, Xiao Baijiao’s convulsions would lessen, her breathing would stabilize somewhat, allowing time for Gu Suixiu to arrive for treatment!

But today, with these seven needles, Xiao Baijiao’s convulsions were still severe, her breath becoming increasingly rapid, constantly foaming at the mouth, her rolled eyes worsening...

She seemed on the brink of suffocation!

Seeing this, Xiao Zongting’s legs suddenly weakened like mush, he cried out: ”Baijiao, you can’t go! Come back to me! Father won’t allow you to leave! Come back! Do you hear?”

Suddenly, Duan Rong darted over, pinching the Silver Needle from the pouch, without hesitation, expertly inserting them into several acupuncture points on Xiao Baijiao’s forehead and neck.

Xiao Zongting regained his senses, just about to intervene, when he noticed Xiao Baijiao’s breathing revived somewhat, her eyes less intensely rolled, and her body’s convulsions relieved...

It seemed like she caught a breath!

Xiao Zongting calmed a bit, unable to concern himself with how Duan Rong was so skilled in acupuncture, shedding tears of joy continuously, wiping away Xiao Baijiao’s mouth foam, afraid it would block her nostrils, hindering her breathing...

Eventually, Gu Suixiu entered, puffing heavily, pushed in by Zhu Xiaoqi.

Seeing the silver needles on Xiao Baijiao, his eyes moved, astonishingly saying: ”Who applied these needles?”

Xiao Zongting glanced at Duan Rong, saying: ”Save her first!”

Gu Suixiu caught his breath, checking that Xiao Baijiao’s breathing was momentarily stable, wiped his forehead, put down his medicine box, and said: ”You two leave first, let Xiaoqi assist.”

Immediately, Duan Rong supported Xiao Zongting, whose legs were weak, hobbling out of the inner room, arriving at the main room, assisting Xiao Zongting onto the Grandmaster’s Chair.