Chapter 19: Profound Opening

Hearing Xiao Che’s words, Xia Qingyue attempted to focus her profound energy into her hands. Instantly, her heart trembled once more; the flow of profound energy gathering in her hands was vastly smoother than ever before, and its speed had increased by nearly twenty to thirty percent.

Beholding Xia Qingyue’s reaction, Xiao Che nodded in satisfaction. "Does it not feel much smoother and swifter? If the cold qi pervading your body were drawn out and your meridians cleared, your body temperature would be no different from an ordinary person's when you are not using the Frozen Cloud Arts. All negative side effects would vanish entirely, and the speed at which you channel profound energy would increase by nearly half. Moreover, from this day forth, the speed of your cultivation in the Frozen Cloud Arts would increase by at least thirty percent! Oh, I am merely speaking casually, and you may listen just as casually; after all, you would never allow me to do this anyway."

As Xiao Che spoke, he began packing away the items he had brought from the Medical Hall.

"Did you just say... the speed of cultivating the Frozen Cloud Arts would increase by thirty percent?" Xia Qingyue suddenly turned her head. Xiao Che's words shook her to her core, shocking her so deeply that she yearned to believe them, yet found it impossible to do so.

A medicinal pellet capable of accelerating a person's progress by ten to twenty percent over a span of a year or two would be deemed an unparalleled treasure of the world, questioned by none and sufficient to ignite a bloody tempest of conflict. Yet what Xiao Che implied... was a permanent increase of thirty percent!

This statement was far more than merely astonishing! If a certain object or a particular condition could permanently elevate a person's profound cultivation speed by such a staggering margin as thirty percent, then Xia Qingyue harbored no doubt that the world's heroes would swarm forth, risking all to seize it.

"Indeed," Xiao Che nodded. "Believe it or not, it is entirely up to you."

Xiao Che’s "take it or leave it" demeanor actually caused Xia Qingyue to believe him a fraction more, and coupled with the physical reality she had just experienced after his treatment, she found herself unable to foster too much doubt against the astounding words he uttered so nonchalantly. This sensation left even her profoundly astonished. The immense Frozen Cloud Asgard had stood upon the Blue Wind Empire for a thousand years, yet she had never heard of a method possessing such miraculous efficacy. How could a sixteen-year-old youth from this tiny Floating Cloud City, with crippled profound veins, speak with such absolute certainty... and even cause her to blindly believe him against her own volition?

"If it truly possesses the efficacy you claim... why did you say I would not agree to let you do it?" Xia Qingyue inquired.

"Well..." Xiao Che’s lips curled askew as he spoke with utmost solemnity, "It is quite simple; you will understand if you reflect upon it yourself. To dispel the cold qi throughout your body and unblock the frozen meridians, needles must certainly be applied to your person. Since needles must be applied to your body, you naturally must disrobe, exposing at least your entire back to me... You are unwilling to let me touch even your hand, so would you be willing to strip before me?"

Xia Qingyue: "..."

"Very well, the silver needles have been used, and I ought to return them to the Medical Hall." Xiao Che offered a faint smile to Xia Qingyue. "No need to thank me; after all, you are my wife. You braved the dead of night to bring me a blanket yesterday, so it is only right that I do something for you."

Watching Xiao Che’s retreating figure as he packed his things, Xia Qingyue’s expression shifted through a succession of emotions before she finally took the initiative to speak again: "I have always been aware of the accumulated cold qi within my body. I also know that the initial stages of the Frozen Cloud Arts will congeal a portion of the meridians. If the cold qi is dispersed and the meridians are cleared, it can indeed alleviate the physical discomfort and aid in channeling profound energy... But what does this have to do with increasing the speed of cultivating profound energy?"

"This involves highly intricate medical principles—yes, exceedingly complex, which is why I am rather reluctant to elaborate, and even if I did, it would be impossible for you to comprehend," Xiao Che muttered evasively. Cold sweat nearly broke out across his brow; he had thought his previous words and acupuncture had successfully mystified Xia Qingyue, never expecting her to inquire with such lingering doubt, striking directly at the heart of the matter—for accelerating cultivation speed truly had absolutely nothing to do with cold qi or meridians.

Fortunately, Xia Qingyue pressed no further. Just as Xiao Che was tying the bundle back together, she spoke once more: "Where did you learn all of these things? With the acupuncture technique you displayed just now, you are fully qualified to join those immense medical sects! If you truly possess the capabilities you claimed earlier, then let alone this tiny Floating Cloud City, the entire Blue Wind Empire would know your name. How could you remain utterly obscure, bearing nothing but the reputation of a cripple?"

Join those medical sects? Xiao Che curled his lips in utter disdain, then turned his face, speaking serenely, "All of this was taught to me by my master."

"Your... master?" Xia Qingyue’s delicate brows twitched slightly; she had never heard of Xiao Che possessing any master.

"My master was a grand physician who spent his life practicing medicine to benefit the world, saving countless lives. I met him when I was very young. He taught me the methods of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, the techniques of needling, manipulation, moxibustion, and massage, and instructed me in the principles of medicine, pharmacology, toxicology, and the identification of all the world's hundreds of medicines, poisons, insects, and herbs. I am his sole successor; his kindness to me is as weighty as a mountain, a debt I can never repay in this lifetime... yet not long ago, he departed from me, leaving no path for me to seek him... This is why I possess some medical skills. As for the rest, ask no further. I do not wish to speak too much of my master's affairs. Moreover, concerning my medical knowledge, let alone outsiders, even my grandfather and little aunt are unaware. Aside from myself, you are the only one who knows."

Recalling his departed master, a look of sorrow and remembrance surfaced uncontrollably upon Xiao Che's face. This was his most genuine emotion, devoid of any falsehood or affectation. This authenticity touched Xia Qingyue, causing her to believe Xiao Che's words completely as she murmured softly, "To allow you to possess such astonishingly adept needle skills at such a tender age, it seems your master must indeed have been a magnificent physician."

"He was the greatest physician in the world, without exception!" Xiao Che declared with absolute conviction.

Xiao Che’s demeanor unconsciously lessened the doubts within Xia Qingyue’s heart a bit further. After a slight hesitation, she finally made up her mind: "...Then, are you certain that what you said about permanently increasing my cultivation speed by thirty percent... is true?"

"Since the words have left my mouth, I shall not disgrace my master's medical reputation. Hmm? Could it be that you... wish to try?" Xiao Che turned around, gazing at her with a face full of astonishment. Xia Qingyue exhaled a soft breath, slightly averting her gaze: "Are you certain it requires only exposing my back?"

Xiao Che’s eyes lit up, and leaning his face forward, he said with a beaming smile, "If you insist on exposing everything, that is perfectly acceptable as well..."

Xia Qingyue’s brows furrowed as she swept her red sleeve, unleashing a sudden gust of chilly wind that caused Xiao Che to shudder all over. Walking toward the bed, she spoke indifferently, "Let us begin. Let me witness whether your medical skills are as miraculous as you claim... However, if you dare harbor any other intentions, I shall certainly not forgive you."

"You could strike me dead with a single palm; even if I wished to, I would not dare," Xiao Che chuckled mischievously.

The silver needle box and the Crimson Sun Flower juice that had just been packed away were brought out once more, and he stepped to the bedside, addressing Xia Qingyue, who was already seated upon the bed, with a face full of solemnity: "Take off your clothes!"

Three perfectly innocent words were somehow barked out by Xiao Che with the cadence of a tyrant forcing himself upon a virtuous woman.

It was easy to imagine what sort of reaction Xia Qingyue, who had always been pure as ice and clean as jade, like a proud celestial lotus, would harbor in her heart upon hearing these three words... However, a permanent thirty percent increase in cultivation speed was simply too grand a temptation. It was so grand that it could be said no profound practitioner could possibly resist it! For if it truly succeeded, it meant that under identical talent, comprehension, profound arts, techniques, environment, and resources, the progress of three years of cultivation would equal four years of another's! A century later, one would surpass their peer by thirty years of progress!

Xiao Che had also calculated accurately that even if Xia Qingyue had to disrobe, she would not choose to refuse. For Xia Qingyue was clearly a maiden who pursued higher profound power; otherwise, she would not have joined the Frozen Cloud Asgard at the cost of severing all emotions and desires.

If it truly possessed the efficacy he claimed, then such a price was entirely worthwhile... moreover, it was merely exposing her back. Thinking thus, Xia Qingyue turned her back to Xiao Che, her chest rising and falling gently as her mind became as tranquil as a placid mirror. She closed her eyes and unfastened her garment; the crimson robe slid slowly down her fragrant shoulders and jade-like arms, instantly presenting the beauty’s flawless back to Xiao Che’s gaze without a shred of concealment.

She pulled the brocade quilt over her chest, closed her eyes, and spoke coldly, "Begin immediately! You are forbidden from harboring any other thoughts!"

"Isn't a woman's body meant to be seen by her husband anyway?" Xiao Che muttered cautiously under his breath, then held his tongue and lifted a silver needle. The moment the needle entered his grasp, his expression turned solemn.

Sensing that Xiao Che’s breathing behind her had grown steady, Xia Qingyue, who was about to speak, closed her mouth and slightly shut her eyes. Though she still found it somewhat difficult to believe that Xiao Che’s words were true... the temptation of a thirty percent increase in cultivation speed was something no one could refuse, even if there were only a minuscule possibility.

The sound of wind stirred faintly, and with a flick of Xiao Che’s wrist, a silver needle lightly pricked the Tianzong acupoint upon Xia Qingyue’s jade back, his fingers never brushing against a single inch of her skin.

Xiao Che’s fingers began to fly like shadows as needle after silver needle was retrieved, swiftly and precisely piercing Xia Qingyue’s back, moving so fast that only a continuous blur could be seen.

Xia Qingyue kept her eyes closed, her entire attention focused upon her back, and she began to perceive that each time a silver needle entered, it was accompanied by a trace of profound qi. This discovery caused her heart to suddenly stir...

She was well aware of Xiao Che's physical condition; with his profound veins crippled, he could only tarry at the first level of the Elementary Profound Realm, and what he could channel was merely the most basic, most minuscule profound qi. Yet the profound qi accompanying each silver needle into her back, though minuscule to her, was almost at the absolute limit of strength for a practitioner at the first level of the Elementary Profound Realm!

She did not know why Xiao Che chose to infuse profound qi into the silver needles. But this clearly signified that with every single needle he struck, he was exerting the entirety of his strength.

The previous eight needles on her hands had been completed too quickly, and her attention had been concentrated entirely upon Xiao Che’s technique, so she had failed to notice this. Perceiving it now, the sea of her heart could not remain calm for a time.

By now, twenty-three needles had been placed into her back, and Xiao Che’s speed had noticeably slowed. If Xia Qingyue were to turn around at this moment, she would see that his face had flushed slightly, and he was drenched in sweat.