C7 Going Berserk

"I've been by your side for quite some time, and yet I never knew you had such a life-saving skill. How did you come by it?" Zach inquired, curious about Rupert's ability to save the world, which he had never heard about before.

"Oh, where do I begin? Roughly ten years ago, I was sent to West Lake by imperial decree. That lake is extraordinarily picturesque, with winding paths and beautiful weeping willows draping their branches over the water. The lake's surface rippled with waves, and the white flowers added to the stunning scenery. The climate was delightful, and the area was dotted with exotic flowers and plants. Despite my good fortune to be there, I was in grave danger and ended up staying for three days," Rupert recounted, his brow furrowing as he remembered the past.

"Ha! That sounds rather mystical. If the scenery was so beautiful, why the grim talk of dragging your life along? Doesn't that detract from the enjoyment of such beauty?" Zach was puzzled.

"Well, back then I was younger and inexperienced, prone to carelessness. I sat by the lake to meditate, but I was too hasty and got distracted, which led to a blockage in my meridians. My body became rigid, and my blood flow reversed. Without a doctor's timely intervention to clear the blockages and revive my circulation, I wouldn't be here today..."

"At that time, I was struggling to breathe due to the blockage in my chest, and I was on the verge of a serious internal injury. If no one had been there to clear the blocked pathways, I might have been incapacitated for life. However, I realized I was in a deserted area and, feeling a chill in my heart, I decided that instead of a futile struggle against death, I would rather fully appreciate the beautiful scenery before me, accepting this gorgeous lakeside as the final chapter of my life..."

"That was quite an enlightened thought! Just as I was about to close my eyes for the last time, a bald man with a comical appearance showed up behind me. He had the innocent face of a child, white hair, and long ears. More than that, he radiated an endless Buddhist light, and despite his stature being only three feet tall, I mistook him for a boy. It was then that he chanted in a resonant voice, 'Amitabha! How fortunate.' His voice signaled that he had noticed me: 'Kind sir, since fate has brought us together, might you spare some silver coins? I wish to use them to build a monastery.'"

My entire body was paralyzed, my blood flowing backward, leaving me incapable of movement. I could only emit faint groans. The monk, pure-hearted and kind, mistook my inability to speak as a refusal of his offer and spared me further talk. "If the patron is unwilling, I shall not insist. May the heavens bless you. Amitabha!"

"Haha, I thought to myself. If this venerable monk knew how to manipulate acupoints or could summon help, perhaps there might be hope for me. Yet, trapped in my own body, unable to move without depleting my vital energy and facing certain death, all I could do was wallow in despair. The monk, having said little, walked away, leaving me to my fate. I couldn't blame him, though my anxiety had me writhing inwardly like an ant on a hot pan, my groans unceasing."

This monk was a truly intriguing and innocent soul. After walking only a short distance, he turned back and approached me, asking, "Benefactor, are you paralyzed because you've overexerted yourself in practice, causing your meridians to become chaotic? Your face is red, your limbs are turning blue! Hmm! Do you need my help?"

"But let's strike a bargain. Saving you is no trouble, but afterwards, you must escort me back to the temple. You see, I've lost my way..."

What could you possibly say to that? Lost? Could anyone believe he was lost? Despite his age, the monk's grasp of the body's acupoints and meridians was impeccable. Using only his thumb, he pressed each point with the precision of the pure Yang Finger technique. To an onlooker, his skill would appear as though he were a master with years of experience. He worked his way through the acupoints—Tian Chi, Tian Shu, Tian Ding, Shaoyin, Shaoyang, Taiyin, Taiyang—relieving tension and restoring circulation. Suddenly, I expelled a mouthful of black blood and lost consciousness from the pain. Thankfully, the blockages were cleared, and the stagnant blood was purged.

I wasn't sure how long I had been unconscious, but when I finally awoke, the moon was high in the sky. All around was a hushed stillness, except for the bonfire crackling beside me. A monk, staff in hand, was keeping watch. I didn't know what had him so concerned, but I felt a sense of relief knowing he was there to look after me.

Upon hearing me stir, the monk approached and said with a gentle voice, "Amitabha, Amitabha, my friend, you're awake. Do you feel any discomfort?"

By then, Rupert had sat up and was regulating his breathing. His circulation had improved significantly without any blockages. Rupert responded, "Mentor, was it you who saved me? Have I been blessed by the heavens to receive such fortune?"

"Yes, there's no one else here. But it's your own profound inner strength that has kept you alive. I, an old monk, can only offer so much. Please, don't hesitate to tell me if you're feeling unwell in any way," the old monk replied with a nod, his voice exuding warmth and compassion.

"Mentor, your humility belies your exceptional healing skills. I've faced many calamities and have narrowly escaped death more times than I can count. I owe my life to you this time, and words cannot express my gratitude," Rupert said before settling into a meditative posture.

"Benefactor, you are speaking too soon. Do you believe you've overcome your affliction? How can you not realize the danger of becoming delirious during your meditation? Do you feel pain at the Heavenly Fault and the Greater Yin acupoints when it rains? The agony is unbearable. Your method of meditation and your practice of purifying the heart are not aligned, leaving remnants of your illness," the mentor explained.

Rupert's heart raced. (Ah... How did the mentor discern my long-concealed ailment so quickly? Could he have the knowledge to diagnose and treat it?) "Mentor, please, is there a remedy? I implore you to save my life. My name is Rupert. May I know how to address you? How did you detect my chronic condition? And how might I overcome this ailment that has plagued me for years?"

Kerwin, a monk residing in a Western temple along the banks of Silvermere Lake, had a keen interest in the study of medicine and meticulously examined ancient medical texts. Being born a dwarf, he was acutely aware of the pain associated with physical imperfections.

As a result, he possessed an in-depth knowledge of the human body's meridians and acupoints, from head to toe. He also embraced the teachings of the legendary Shennong, experimenting with a variety of herbs. Despite his condition, he maintained an optimistic outlook and never shied away from the names others called him, dedicating himself to rigorous study. "My friend, you are in a state of unconsciousness, and your constitution seems to be weak internally yet strong externally, which could lead to dry, cracked skin. Your internal organs are akin to a blazing inferno. However, there's a faint scent of musk in your breath, which I believe is indicative of blood ginseng. Conversely, this very scent is likely to attract peculiar cold-blooded creatures such as venomous snakes, blood toads, golden silkworms, and threadworms, which could pose a threat." His words suggested a paradox: the very thing that heals can also bring harm. Isn't that a contradiction?