Volume 1, Chapter 39: Treating Deafness with Acupuncture

Guo Dong finally got a real taste of his grandfather’s personality.

The distance from Immortal Peach Village to East Village was not far, yet they stopped dozens of times along the way. Each time, the old man took the initiative to stop the car and introduce Guo Dong to someone: "This is so-and-so, you should call them this!"

It wasn't as if Guo Dong didn't know these people, but to save his grandfather some face, he played along. By the time he finally drove the car to his uncle’s house, the old man reluctantly climbed out.

"Is Guoliang home?" The moment he stepped out, the old man began shouting toward the courtyard.

Guo Dong really wanted to tell his grandfather to stop yelling, as his grandfather wouldn't hear him even if he shouted until his throat gave out. However, he kept his mouth shut and let the old man stand at the gate and holler.

Soon, the eldest aunt from next door ran out, and the neighbors in front followed suit upon hearing the noise. Seeing Guo Dong’s car, they immediately swarmed around. "Oh, Guodong, did you buy a car?"

Guo Dong took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure as he greeted them with a forced smile. Even the eldest aunt next door, usually so sharp-tongued and mean-spirited, stood at her gate staring at the car without saying a word.

The door to his youngest uncle’s house opened, and his aunt poked her head out through the gap, some bruising visible on her face. "Guodong, why didn't you give us a heads-up before coming?" She quickly opened the gate and ushered them into the yard, casting a wary glance at the aunt next door as she did so.

"It’s my grandfather; he wanted to visit my maternal grandfather, so I brought him along," Guo Dong said, walking into the yard without standing on ceremony. "By the way, is my uncle not home?"

"He's never home these days. He’s always out. This life is impossible to live; there's constant arguing, it’s maddening!"

Guo Dong offered a dry laugh and didn't follow up, instead walking toward his maternal grandfather, who was sitting in the yard. Even now, the hard-of-hearing old man was engrossed in a book, completely unaware of their arrival.

"Ha! You old coot, have you started studying the *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon*?" The grandfather walked up to Ren Guoliang and gave him a heavy slap on the shoulder.

Ren Guoliang looked up, saw Guo An, and stood up abruptly. "Why are you here?"

The two had been rivals long ago, then became in-laws, and eventually reached a point of not speaking to one another. Ren Guoliang’s expression flickered as he stared at Guo An. Guo Dong stood by, watching silently.

The aunt sighed quietly from the side.

"Can't I come? I came today just to see if you old bastard were dead yet!" The words were cruel, but the aunt could only listen without daring to utter a syllable.

"What? My ears are bad, I can't hear you!" In the past, Ren Guoliang would have surely started a row upon hearing such a remark. Today, however, he could only see Guo An’s lips moving, hearing nothing at all.

Guo An shook his head, muttered a few curses, and reached out to press firmly around the man's ears. To everyone’s surprise, Ren Guoliang did not resist and let him do as he pleased.

"I said, why aren't you dead yet!"

*Bang!* Ren Guoliang shoved Guo An away. "I won't die before you do!"

This sudden shift shocked not only Guo Dong but also the aunt standing nearby. "Dad, can you hear now?"

There was no response. Ren Guoliang pointed at Guo An and barked, "You old immortal, did you come here just to show off your medical skills?"

Guo An smiled and said nothing, simply clasping his hands behind his back and beckoning to Guo Dong.

"Guodong is here too?" Ren Guoliang acted as if he had just noticed him, nodding in acknowledgment.

Guo Dong nodded in return, then turned his gaze to his grandfather. The old man, knowing exactly what his grandson was thinking, walked over to Ren Guoliang and pressed his ears again.

"Old friend, your deafness isn't congenital; it can be treated. I imagine you know how to treat it yourself, don't you? But you know the old rule that a doctor cannot treat himself—you can't apply the needles on your own." Guo An laughed. "I didn't come here for anything else today but to cure your deafness."

Ren Guoliang swatted his hand away. "Even if I'm deaf for the rest of my life, I won't let you treat me!"

Guo An shook his head and reached out again. "I’m not the one treating you; my grandson is. He’ll use the acupuncture technique you taught him. That should be fine, right?"

What? Ren Guoliang suddenly turned his gaze toward Guo Dong, his eyes filled with inquiry. Guo Dong reached into his pocket and pulled out a case of silver needles.

The Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles!

He didn't hide them from his aunt this time. He felt there was no need. Previously, he hadn't known what his maternal grandfather had given him, so he hadn't spoken of it, but now that he knew, he had nothing to fear. It was just a case of silver needles; to his aunt, who knew nothing of medicine, it meant nothing.

"Guodong, you’ve learned it?" Ren Guoliang paced back and forth in the yard, checking the time on his phone. It had only been a few days! He had spent his whole life studying it and hadn't even grasped the basics, yet his grandson had mastered it as soon as it was handed to him. It didn't make sense!

No one spoke; the three of them watched Ren Guoliang. After a long while, Ren Guoliang walked up to Guo Dong and stood facing him.

"You can try first, don't feel any pressure," Ren Guoliang said, then turned to the aunt. "Bring a mirror out from the house."

Guo Dong understood his grandfather’s intent and took out a silver needle. When the aunt returned with a large mirror and placed it before Ren Guoliang, he took a deep breath. "Acupuncture can indeed treat deafness, but it is a great test for the physician. First, you must..."

Before he could finish, Guo Dong held the silver needle with speed, precision, and stability, piercing it directly into the *Tinggong* acupoint.

Ren Guoliang froze, his eyes locked onto the mirror, unblinking. One could see the shock in his expression. A true master knows the caliber of an opponent with a single move; this single needle’s technique was already on par with his own.

Guo Dong didn't stop. He took another needle and pierced the *Tinghui* point, followed by the *Ermen*, *Yifeng*, and *Qimai* points.

After several needles were inserted, Ren Guoliang closed his eyes and remained motionless, as if paralyzed by a spell. Guo An stood by, looked at his grandson, and took a deep breath, his eyes welling up. He had intended for Ren Guoliang to explain the method first before Guo Dong performed the procedure, just in case, but he hadn't expected Guo Dong to master the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles directly!

The silver needles twisted and vibrated. Guo Dong poured his heart and soul into the treatment, not daring to be even slightly careless. A minor issue wouldn't be a problem, but his grandfather’s deafness was no small matter.

"Aunt, please get me some disinfectant! There should be some in my grandfather’s room!"

With that, he began to withdraw the silver needles.