Chapter Twenty-Two: Only by Disrobing Can the Wounds Be Healed

Chapter Twenty-Two: Stripped Bare for Healing

Qiu Yan’s expression changed dramatically. She suddenly raised her head and glared at Xu Yun. If it weren’t for the torment of her internal injuries, she would surely have killed anyone who dared speak to her so insolently!

Xu Yun easily interpreted the cold sharpness in Qiu Yan’s gaze. He shrugged, unconcerned. “If you want to live, do as I say. I’m not skilled enough to perform acupuncture through clothing. Every acupoint in the Eight Extraordinary Meridians is crucial. You don’t have to undress, but if I miss a point, don’t blame me.”

“You!” Qiu Yan didn’t know much about medicine, but she understood the importance of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians to martial artists like herself. As a top-tier fighter who had already opened all her main channels, she knew exactly how vital—and how dangerous—this was.

Especially the Ren and Du meridians: a mistaken needle could mean losing all her martial arts abilities at best, and death or a vegetative state at worst.

Xu Yun withdrew the silver needles. “Forget it. Since you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. Take a look at the Yutang, Tanzhong, and Zhongting points on your chest later. If my guess is correct, those points are already bruised and discolored. The major points on your back—Dazhui, Lingtai, Mingmen—are likely even worse.”

Qiu Yan clenched her teeth. How could she bear to expose her chaste body to a man? Unless—after he treated her—she killed him... Once, she would have done exactly that, but now she couldn’t bring herself to harm Xu Yun.

“Life and death aren’t governed by fate, but by your own choices,” Xu Yun said, putting away the silver needles and handing Qiu Yan all seven Nine-Treasure Revival Pills. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Guo Guo.”

With that, Xu Yun left Qiu Yan’s room, only to bump into Ruan Qing Shuang and Guo Guo coming upstairs.

“Daddy, what were you doing in Sister Qiu Yan’s room?” Guo Guo asked suspiciously. “You already have Mommy, so don’t go chasing after other women. Besides, by seniority, she’s practically your daughter. You should pay attention to proper relationships, you know!”

Proper relationships, my foot!

Xu Yun nearly spat blood. Is there a daughter in the world almost the same age as her father?!

“I was just bringing her medicine. Your sister isn’t feeling well,” Xu Yun replied, exasperated.

The awkwardness on Ruan Qing Shuang’s face shifted to concern. She pulled Xu Yun aside and whispered, “Xu Yun, if a girl’s not feeling well, why didn’t you tell me? It’d be much more appropriate for me to help.”

“Uh...” Xu Yun scratched his head. It would be more appropriate, but she couldn’t perform acupuncture. Did she misunderstand, thinking Qiu Yan was just having her period?

Guo Guo’s next words nearly made Xu Yun and Ruan Qing Shuang collapse with embarrassment.

“Ah, women always have a few days every month when they don’t feel well.” Guo Guo sighed with a look of deep empathy.

Good grief! You’re just a child—what do you even know?!

Xu Yun began to wonder how mature Guo Guo’s mind really was.

“Let’s go, Guo Guo! Mommy will give you a bath!” Ruan Qing Shuang finally gave up trying to reason with Guo Guo and dragged her away. “Now that there are more people living in the shop, you can’t dawdle during bath time anymore.”

After Ruan Qing Shuang took Guo Guo away, Xu Yun returned to his own room.

Hearing the silence outside, Qiu Yan breathed a long sigh of relief. She gathered her courage, stood before the mirror, and slowly undressed. The mirror reflected her graceful figure; her skin was as flawless as white jade, making it hard to believe she was a killer.

Looking in the mirror, Qiu Yan clearly saw the dark purple bruises spreading across the Yutang, Tanzhong, Zhongting points on her chest, and the Juque and Shenque points on her abdomen. She shuddered. Xu Yun was right: her internal injuries had reached a critical stage. If left untreated, only death awaited her.

But Xu Yun was still a man! No matter what, Qiu Yan couldn’t bring herself to let a man see her body. Even if he was acting with a healer’s compassion, intending only to heal, he would still see her!

Moreover, if the acupuncture targeted the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, it meant the Du, Ren, Chong, Dai, Yang Wei, Yin Wei, Yin Qiao, and Yang Qiao meridians—her entire body would be exposed, not a single inch left covered!

Yet, without acupuncture, in a month she’d be unable to protect Guo Guo.

Guo Guo... That was Qiu Yan’s Achilles’ heel.

She finally made her decision: for Guo Guo’s sake, she could even face death; why then fear letting a man see her body? For Guo Guo, for the trust placed in her by Feng Qiansui, what did this humiliation matter?

With this resolve, Qiu Yan dressed and went next door, pushing open Xu Yun’s door.

Xu Yun seemed to have anticipated her arrival. “Have you made up your mind?”

Qiu Yan steadied her breathing.

“It’s nothing, really. The main acupuncture points are on the Ren and Du meridians. I won’t... uh... I won’t see much anyway.” Xu Yun had intended to say he wouldn’t see much, but remembering Qiu Yan’s temperament, he swallowed the joke.

This surprised Qiu Yan. “You only need to perform acupuncture on the Ren and Du meridians?”

“Exactly,” Xu Yun replied.

“Then I’ll handle the points on the Ren meridian on my chest myself! You focus only on the Du meridian on my back!” Qiu Yan seemed to have found an acceptable solution—she’d only have to let Xu Yun see her back. Awkward, but tolerable; at least she wouldn’t have to bare her chest to a man.

Xu Yun paused. Looks like he’d miss the chance to witness the famed Fox Sovereign’s curves. “You know how to perform acupuncture?”

“I know a little,” Qiu Yan admitted. She’d rather risk a little danger herself than let Xu Yun see her fully exposed.

Xu Yun just smiled. “Fine, I trust you won’t gamble with your own life. Just do exactly as I say.”

“Alright!” Qiu Yan gritted her teeth, having had enough of the torment.

“Take off your clothes,” Xu Yun instructed, moving behind her. “You’ll need seven silver needles. Follow my instructions exactly, and don’t make any mistakes about the order or placement.”

Qiu Yan nodded, her expression icy. Without further hesitation, she stripped off her top and unfastened her undergarment.

The room was instantly filled with a certain tension. Xu Yun even held his breath—he’d never seen a woman’s bare back before. Qiu Yan’s graceful form was enough to spark endless imagination: her skin like creamy white jade, so supple that it seemed a squeeze would yield water... G