I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 247 - 112: Mountain Burning Fire, Heart-piercing Cold

"Dr. Lu's talent is not something an average person can learn."

Just one glance made Zhou Jiande a bit reluctant to look away. If Lu Xuan hadn't been invited by the United South Chinese Medicine Association to practice, he would've wanted to take Lu Xuan as a disciple. With such talent, it wouldn't take long for him to graduate; three to five years... no, maybe just one or two years before he could surpass his masters.

Zhou Jiande had a look of regret.

He looked out the corner of his eye at his two students earnestly watching Lu Xuan's needle work, his eyes full of disdain.

Indeed, comparison can be discouraging.

Originally, he was quite satisfied with these two students, but after seeing Lu Xuan, he felt the urge to expel them from his mentorship.

"Elder Zhou, you can just call me Lu," Lu Xuan grinned.

He now considered himself half a student of Elder Zhou, so how could he let the other call him Dr. Zhou?

However, Zhou Jiande shook his head: "After all, you are a guest physician invited by the United South Chinese Medicine Association. In terms of status, we're the same, neither more noble than the other. The only thing I might be better at is having more years, but over where I am, age isn't given that weight. In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, one's prowess determines seniority; whoever is more skillful is the elder."

Lu Xuan didn't say any more, swiftly inserting the needle, feeling it pierce through the skin to a certain depth, he started lifting and thrusting at the acupuncture point, with even force and minimal amplitude.

In no time, perhaps just in a blink, Lu Xuan seemed to have found something, twisting back and forth dozens of times before letting go.

"How does it feel, Elder Zhou?"

Zhou Jiande looked up at him: "You don't seem like someone who has learned for less than ten days. If you told me you'd been learning for one or two years, I'd believe it. Your needle insertion technique is quite good. Practice a bit more, and you might surpass me. You get Qi pretty quickly too, and your lifting, thrusting, and twisting techniques don't seem like they belong to someone who's just learned."

"Elder Zhou overpraises."

Zhou Jiande smiled but shook his head in disagreement: "I'm not joking with you; with your talent, it may take an ordinary person five to ten years or more to master acupuncture, but for you, within three years, you'll surely achieve mastery."

After saying that, he didn't forget to remind his two students: "This is talent, so don't feel too bad about yourselves. Don't compare everything to Dr. Lu. Talent is more important than effort; without talent, no amount of hard work will suffice. Talent noticeably multiplies the efficiency of effort."

Though the two said nothing, they understood that Zhou Jiande wasn't lying.

Lu Xuan's talent was apparent, not something mere effort could catch up with.

"I see Dr. Lu is quite familiar with the lifting-thrusting and twisting techniques; why not try some other techniques?" Zhou Jiande was also eager to see more.

Having encountered such a prodigy, he wished Lu Xuan would demonstrate everything he knew, to learn from the good and offer more guidance on the less familiar parts, to better pass on the art of traditional Chinese acupuncture. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Lu Xuan was a bit taken aback; are there other techniques?

He hadn't read many acupuncture books; most of his guidance came from the Heart's Voice. Recently, he'd mostly been using the lifting-thrusting and twisting techniques, naturally becoming familiar with them, making it easy to get Qi.

Thinking it over, Lu Xuan had to be honest: "I haven't really learned about other techniques yet."

Haven't learned?

Zhou Jiande's eyes lit up.

It's good he hasn't learned!

Not having learned gives me the opportunity to show off!

Zhou Jiande cleared his throat: "In needle manipulation, to facilitate obtaining Qi or achieve a better sense of the needle, besides the basic techniques, there are the following auxiliary techniques.

Follow Technique, Handle Rubbing Technique, Handle Flicking Technique, Handle Shaking Technique, and Trembling Technique. These techniques are mainly used when the lifting-thrusting and twisting cannot get Qi.

If you want to learn, I can demonstrate them for you."

Lu Xuan nodded like a pecking chick.

How could he not want to learn?

Missing such a good opportunity would make it hard to ask again later.

Though he could learn through reading or from Heart's Voice, what one learns from books feels incomplete. Having someone to teach and point out issues directly is much better than self-study, right?

While in this field of knowledge, Elder Zhou may not match Heart's Voice, in terms of technique, he excels beyond it.

After all, those teachers can't provide hands-on guidance.

Zhou Jiande smiled, looking at the two students: "You can watch too, but generally, focus on the lifting-thrusting and twisting techniques. Once you've mastered these, then move on to these five auxiliary techniques."

The two could only nod helplessly, with much emotion, as the gap between people is really vast.

Zhou Jiande then no longer paid attention to the two but focused on Lu Xuan, preparing to insert the needle into himself.

But Lu Xuan stopped him: "Elder Zhou, use me. It's easier to remember when experienced firsthand."

As he spoke, before Zhou Jiande could react, Lu Xuan had already rolled up his trouser leg, revealing skin whiter than Zhou Jiande's.

Zhou Jiande blinked, but he didn't say much; pricking Lu Xuan was indeed better than pricking himself.

After all, feeling the insertion force and the sensation of getting Qi allows the learner to more easily master the method of getting Qi. This is why acupuncture learners usually start by needling themselves.

Needling oneself truly offers faster learning than needling others.

Zhou Jiande took an acupuncture needle from the box, located the acupuncture point, inserted the needle, and began explaining as he operated: "Follow Technique involves using fingers to gently, slowly press or encircle the point of insertion, in the direction of the meridian or around the acupuncture point. This helps to circulate and stimulate Qi when Qi hasn't been achieved or when the needle feels too deeply anchored, promoting relaxation and smooth flow beneath the needle."