The next day, when Mu Lin and the professor arrived again, the senator was already waiting at the corridor entrance, bowing respectfully. He insisted that since Mu Lin had treated him without charging any fee, this was the only way he could express his gratitude. Mu Lin noticed that the senator’s condition had visibly improved compared to yesterday, although a full diagnosis was still needed to confirm the details. The professor arranged for a comprehensive examination, and the resulting health data astonished him, deepening his sense of mystery regarding traditional Chinese medicine.
Today, Mu Lin would begin treatment using auricular acupuncture. This therapy involves using short filiform needles or intradermal needles inserted into specific points on the ear. The distribution of these points follows a specific pattern: the ear resembles an inverted fetus in the womb, with the head pointing downward (toward the earlobe) and the buttocks upward.
The ears are closely connected to the body’s meridians and internal organs. Many ailments manifest as tender points on corresponding areas of the ear, and these areas are known as auricular points for acupuncture treatment. Mu Lin had learned this from the second volume of *Golden Needle Records*, and through experimentation during his travels, he had now mastered the technique. He wouldn’t have chosen this method if the patient hadn’t been so weak.
Mu Lin identified six tender points on the ears, three related to the digestive system and three to the respiratory system. He used intradermal needles for the acupuncture treatment, which lasted another half hour. The day’s treatment was now complete. Neither the professor nor the senator had expected the treatment to be so simple and straightforward, and they exchanged astonished glances. Mu Lin advised them that the senator could now consume some light semi-liquid food, and naturally, the senator nodded eagerly, restraining his appetite.
After three days of treatment, the news of Mu Lin curing the senator’s severe illness quickly spread throughout the eastern part of country U. The fact that he had used a mysterious form of medicine made him a hot topic among the upper class of the country. This news gradually spread westward and eventually reached Europe, where people were amazed to learn that a sixteen-year-old physician had been the one responsible for the cure.
That day, in the Massachusetts State House, Mu Lin began his lecture on traditional Chinese medicine. The State House, built in 1798, was designed by the renowned 18th-century architect Charles Bulfinch. Its distinctive golden dome had long been a symbol of Boston. Described by Oliver Wendell Holmes as the “center of the solar system,” the building was opulent inside. The Flag Hall, located beneath the dome, was constructed to house Civil War battle flags. Murals depicting Paul Revere’s midnight ride and the “Boston Tea Party” decorated the stairwell of the Senate chamber. The House of Representatives chamber displayed a famous wooden fish—the “Sacred Cod” of Massachusetts—symbolizing the importance of the fishing industry since 1784. The basement archives and museum housed many valuable historical documents, including the *Mayflower Compact*.
This was after Mu Lin had cured the senator from country D. Using acupuncture, he had quickly treated two Massachusetts senators and two representatives. By this time, Mu Lin had completed his university studies and successfully obtained bachelor’s degrees in three majors, causing another sensation on campus and further cementing his reputation as a prodigy, affectionately known as “Little Brother.” Due to his agreement with the professor, Mu Lin had not charged a single penny for his services. However, the four patients, out of gratitude, learned that Mu Lin was from China and decided to give him each a Chinese antique from their personal collections. They then visited him together to express their thanks and set a date for his lecture.
Now, these four individuals were completely in awe of Mu Lin’s medical skills. He had cured them without requiring long hospital stays or repeated tests. These men were all long-term chronic patients who had access to the most advanced Western medical technologies and medications available. Yet, even the most cutting-edge treatments had failed to cure them. They had long since given up hope, resigned to merely prolonging their lives. Suddenly, a young physician appeared and gave them hope for a full recovery, effectively extending both their political and personal lives. Naturally, they felt immense gratitude toward Mu Lin, their savior.
They then reached out to their close political allies, successfully arranging for Mu Lin to give a specialized lecture on traditional Chinese medicine in the State House. These allies, in turn, had their own networks. Upon hearing that attending the lecture might offer a chance to be treated by Mu Lin, they eagerly supported the idea. Soon, attending Mu Lin’s lecture became a symbol of status. As for the professor, he received a special research grant from the state government, solving his severe funding shortage and ensuring continued support until the completion of his research. With this good news, the four men visited Mu Lin’s apartment, bringing small gifts for him.
Among the four gifts were precious Chinese cultural relics that had ended up in this country. These included an authentic Tang tri-colored pottery piece, a six-petaled flower-mouthed vase from the Song Dynasty Ru Kiln, a bronze sword from the Warring States period, a Song Dynasty rare edition book, and a jade *Gang Mao* (a Han Dynasty amulet). Among these, the Han Dynasty *Gang Mao* deeply moved Mu Lin. This *Gang Mao*, also known as a “matching seal,” was a small square column about 2 centimeters tall and nearly 1 centimeter in cross-section. It had a hole running through it from top to bottom, and all four sides were engraved with 32 characters—mainly eight lines from Laozi. Mu Lin naturally knew that this was a Han Dynasty pendant used to ward off evil spirits. The moment the person entered the room, Mu Lin sensed a powerful energy, something imperceptible to anyone who hadn’t practiced Daoist cultivation techniques. Unable to wait, he picked up the *Gang Mao* and scanned it with his spiritual awareness. As soon as he touched the characters “Mysterious, yet more mysterious, the gateway to all wonders,” a flood of information surged into his mind. The sheer volume of data overwhelmed Mu Lin, leaving him momentarily stunned.
This *Gang Mao* had been given by a senator who originally offered a Song Dynasty ancient book but feared his gift was too modest, so he added the small jade *Gang Mao*. When the others saw Mu Lin holding the jade *Gang Mao* without speaking, they assumed he was overwhelmed with excitement. Seeing that Mu Lin seemed to ignore their other gifts, they secretly felt jealous. After leaving, they immediately spread the word that Mu Lin appreciated ancient Chinese jade, prompting others to start collecting ancient jade pieces as gifts for him in gratitude.
Mu Lin, however, was suffering silently. The massive influx of information was actually a Daoist manual on crafting talismans and artifacts, consisting of 125 volumes. Fortunately, Mu Lin had already reached the middle to late stages of the Yuan Dan cultivation level, nearing the golden elixir stage. Otherwise, this information alone would have drained all his spiritual energy. Although it felt like a long time to him, in reality, it was less than fifteen minutes in the eyes of others. When he opened his eyes and saw everyone still there, he forced himself to greet them warmly. After they explained their intentions and Mu Lin expressed his gratitude, he politely saw them off.
Once they left, Mu Lin told the three young women that he was very tired and needed to rest early. He shut the door and began meditating to recover his spiritual energy.
By midnight, Mu Lin felt mostly recovered and began to process the information from the jade *Gang Mao*. It was a high-level Daoist manual on crafting talismans, passed down from a senior disciple of a Han Dynasty sect specializing in artifact crafting. This was a field completely new to Mu Lin’s Daoist cultivation.
At this point, he had only skimmed the surface of this knowledge. To truly master it, he would need to find a secluded place without distractions to study and practice. While browsing through a section on materials, he discovered a description of *Fushi* (floating stone). This description reminded him of a passage in the novel *Jinghua Yuan*, which spoke of a *Nie Kong Grass* in a distant land. When consumed, it allowed humans to fly. In reality, *Nie Kong Grass* was a plant that absorbed the essence of *Fushi* and grew from it. Ordinary people believed *Nie Kong Grass* was a gift from the immortals, but Daoist cultivators knew that wherever *Nie Kong Grass* grew, *Fushi* would be present.
*Fushi* could be added to flying swords, enabling Daoist cultivators to fly. It was also essential for crafting storage artifacts that could hold items in the void. The special energy contained in *Fushi* could greatly strengthen a cultivator’s physical body, ensuring their physical ascension during heavenly tribulations. Throughout the cultivation world, *Fushi* was an essential resource. Possessing even a single piece could incite jealousy and even lead to the destruction of a small sect. Thinking of the large quantity of *Fushi* stored in his ring, Mu Lin was nearly overwhelmed with excitement.
Mu Lin had never expected such an encounter today. This experience prompted him to consider advancing his retreat for cultivation earlier than planned. However, due to the incomplete later stages of his sect’s cultivation techniques, he remained hesitant. This book was first published on Qidian.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage