The Nine Medical Forces

Feng Yulong settled into the hotel while Huo Xuan and Guo Lan split up—Guo Lan went to the university to pick up Professor Guo, while Huo Xuan headed to the airport to meet his master, Hua Buyi.

At the airport around 12:30 p.m., Hua Buyi arrived. To Huo Xuan's surprise, his master was accompanied by a woman in her thirties, dressed in traditional Tang-style attire. She carried an air of elegance, her features refined and dignified.

Hua Buyi, however, seemed indifferent toward her. Spotting Huo Xuan, he said bluntly, "Huo Xuan, this is your martial aunt, Zhuo Xinyi. She's not a core disciple of the Divine Farmer Sect—she dabbled in our arts before switching to martial training."

Huo Xuan hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Martial Aunt."

Zhuo Xinyi shot Hua Buyi a glare. "Senior Brother, must you always emphasize that I'm not a core disciple? Besides, even though I switched to martial arts, I've now reached Hua Jin—hardly inferior to you."

Hua Buyi ignored her with a snort and turned to Huo Xuan. "Take me to the patients."

Not daring to comment further, Huo Xuan led them to the hotel. During the ride, Zhuo Xinyi bombarded him with questions—his age, whether he'd begun medical studies—seeming oddly attentive.

Yet Huo Xuan sensed no real warmth from her. Her tone and gaze carried a scrutinizing edge, leaving him puzzled. Have I somehow offended her?

At the hotel, Feng Yulong and Professor Guo were already waiting, both showing deep respect upon Hua Buyi's arrival. Strangely, Zhuo Xinyi fell silent, standing quietly behind Hua Buyi like an attendant.

Hua Buyi examined Professor Guo first. Lifting the professor's shirt, he pressed lightly with his index and middle fingers. Huo Xuan observed how those subtle touches concealed two or three distinct force techniques—profoundly intricate.

After the inspection, Hua Buyi briefly inquired about the professor's medical history before asking Huo Xuan, "You've already treated him?"

Huo Xuan nodded. "But without mastering the Nine Medical Forces, I couldn't realign his spine. I had to trouble you, Master."

"You've already cleared most of the latent damage to his spinal nerves," Hua Buyi remarked. "That saves me considerable effort."

He had the professor lie prone on a firm bed and began treatment. As he worked, he explained to Huo Xuan:

"The Nine Medical Forces are our sect's foundation—essential for treating internal and bone injuries. They are:

Severing Force – Cleanly splits adhesions

Adhering Force – Reconnects tissues without scarring

Crumbling Force – Disintegrates calcifications

Harmonizing Force – Balances conflicting tensions

Shifting Force – Repositions displaced structures

Oscillating Force – Loosens deep-seated stiffness

Vacuum Force – Draws out pathological accumulations

Spiral Force – Untwists muscular torsions

Hair-Fine Force – Operates at capillary precision."

With nine needles inserted along the spine, Hua Buyi's hands danced lightly across the vertebrae. Through his clairvoyance, Huo Xuan saw each misalignment corrected with exacting force—muscles and tendons yielding under the Nine Forces' mastery.

When a muscle obstructed the spine's path, a Spiral Force twisted it aside. Where bone spurs from years of friction blocked realignment, Crumbling Force powdered them effortlessly.

Most remarkably, Professor Guo experienced only moderate discomfort—no anesthesia required.

Western medicine would demand risky surgery for this, Huo Xuan realized. One slip could sever nerves. No wonder doctors usually recommend conservative management.

In just five minutes, Hua Buyi straightened up, removing the golden needles. To Professor Guo, he said, "Don't move for ten hours. If you're hungry, use a straw for liquids."

"I can't even sit up to thank you properly, Master Hua," Professor Guo said gratefully.

Hua Buyi gave a slight nod. "No need."

Feng Yulong, who had been staring wide-eyed at Hua Buyi's miraculous treatment, couldn't help exclaiming, "This borders on divine skill!"

Next was Feng Yulong's turn. He eagerly extended his wrist for pulse diagnosis. Hua Buyi checked it briefly, then asked Huo Xuan, "How did you detect his condition last time?"

Huo Xuan didn't hide it. "Just by touching him, I knew."

Hua Buyi froze. Zhuo Xinyi couldn't resist interjecting, "Nonsense. Unless you've mastered the Divine Farmer's Finger technique."

Huo Xuan blinked. "Master, does Divine Farmer's Finger allow that?"

Hua Buyi nodded slowly. "If not identical, close enough. Your claim puzzles me."

Huo Xuan inwardly sighed—he couldn't exactly reveal his X-ray vision now.

After further examination, Hua Buyi addressed Feng Yulong: "As Huo Xuan previously noted, your red marrow depletion causes anemia, fatigue, splenomegaly, and visceral pressure. Western medicine calls this myelofibrosis—a slow-progressing condition with no effective treatment."

Feng Yulong's face paled. After a stunned silence, he asked hoarsely, "Can you cure it, Master Hua?"

"Herbal decoctions, acupuncture, and Yangyuan Exercise—fully eradicated within a year."

From despair to hope in seconds, Feng Yulong nearly trembled. "Please treat me."

"This requires long-term commitment," Hua Buyi warned. "Monthly acupuncture, daily herbs, and unbroken Yangyuan practice. As an official, can you adhere?"

Feng Yulong's voice turned steel. "Without health, there's no career. I will persist."

"Good," Hua Buyi said. "Today's treatment and Yangyuan instruction first. Then visit me in Jiangzhou every month on this date."

Feng Yulong agreed fervently.

Hua Buyi stayed at the hotel for seven days, administering daily acupuncture, massages, and herbal decoctions to Feng Yulong while teaching him the Yangyuan Exercise. Feng complied diligently, practicing earnestly—a discipline that pleased Hua Buyi.

By dawn of the second day, Professor Guo could already walk again, though lying prone overnight had left his chest and abdomen slightly sore. The discomfort soon faded, and both father and daughter felt endless gratitude toward Hua Buyi.

On the third day, Professor Guo arrived bearing an ancient sword as a gift. The blade measured about one meter, sheathed in blue sharkskin with a golden hilt. An inscription on the nameplate read: Shuang Feng .

A scholar himself, Hua Buyi drew the sword immediately. Its unadorned surface bore cloud-like patterns, yet the edge gleamed lethally sharp.

After a long look, he murmured, "This was Nian Gengyao's personal sword. To think it survived."

Shuang Feng had been Nian Gengyao's courtesy name.

Professor Guo smiled. "Master Hua's knowledge impresses. Indeed, this belonged to General Nian of the Qing Dynasty. I acquired it during my youth in the countryside. Today, I offer it as a humble token of thanks."

Hua Buyi accepted with a faint smile. "Then I'll keep it."

Delighted, Professor Guo turned to Huo Xuan. "Xiao Zhang, I have a few more antique swords at home. Visit sometime and pick one."

Huo Xuan chuckled. "I won't hold back."

To his surprise, Hua Buyi tossed the sword to him. "Next week, Sword Immortal Situ Xing visits the mainland. Gift this to him in exchange for his 'Heavenly Descent' technique."

Huo Xuan stared. "Master… you can't be serious. That move actually exists?"