Chapter 20: Ancient Warm Needle Acupuncture

"Exactly, your analysis is spot on," Wang Sen said, visibly invigorated. "Dr. Zhang, please teach me how to perform warming needle acupuncture properly."

"Warming needle acupuncture involves rolling mugwort floss into a ball and twisting it onto the handle of the acupuncture needle, then igniting it. The size of the mugwort ball should be about that of a date pit. Once it has burned out, remove the ash, twist on a new ball, and repeat this process three to five times."

"Dr. Wang, let me demonstrate on you first. How about I place a needle in your Zusanli point?"

"No problem. Poke me wherever you like; I'm not afraid of the pain."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Sen climbed onto the treatment table and rolled up his pant legs.

Zhang Jing stepped forward and located the Zusanli point on his right leg. This is a vital point for strengthening the body, located four finger-breadths below the lateral knee eye, along the edge of the tibia.

He took the needle, sterilized it, and inserted it with a quick, fluid motion. The entire process was seamless.

"Dr. Zhang, you truly have excellent technique. I finally understand what the teacher meant by 'getting the qi.' It’s a dull, distended sensation, yet there isn't the slightest bit of sharp pain."

Zhang Jing thought to himself: *So, this guy has been studying Traditional Chinese Medicine for all these years and has never felt 'getting the qi' from acupuncture?*

In his own memories, when he took acupuncture classes in university, the teachers required them to practice on themselves; one only passed if they could feel the needle sensation. Even if he had only attended a vocational college, surely there should have been some requirements. Perhaps Wang Sen just didn't study seriously and managed to scrape by.

Without time to dwell on it, Zhang Jing began the most critical step of warming needle acupuncture: rolling the mugwort floss into a ball and securing it to the needle handle.

Don't underestimate this step; perfecting it requires real hard work. Because the mugwort floss is completely dry and lacks any natural stickiness, it is difficult to shape it into a date-pit-sized ball. If you press too hard, it falls apart; if you press too lightly, it won't hold together at all.

During his apprenticeship in the system, Zhang Jing had put in a great deal of effort to master this technique. But, as with all things, it is only difficult if you don't know the trick; once you learn it, it becomes easy.

After mastering the skill, it took Zhang Jing less than three seconds to roll the mugwort into a ball and secure it firmly to the handle, all without the needle body moving a fraction of an inch. He then picked up a lighter and ignited the mugwort. A thin trail of blue smoke rose, accompanied by the fragrant scent of mugwort.

"How is it, Dr. Wang? Can you feel the warmth at the acupuncture site?"

"Yes, yes, it's warm, but not burning at all. I can feel a gentle, warm current flowing from the point throughout my body. It's indescribably comfortable." Wang Sen closed his eyes, looking thoroughly satisfied.

"Good!" Zhang Jing nodded, then continued with a serious expression: "As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, whether using acupuncture or prescribing medication, you must first have confidence in your own knowledge. When necessary, you should try it on yourself first, so you can better understand things from the patient's perspective."

"You are absolutely right. I've been just muddling through all these years." Wang Sen scratched his bald head, then asked timidly, "Dr. Zhang, at my age, if I want to become a real practitioner of Chinese medicine, is it still too late?"

"It's not too late. Of course it's not!" Zhang Jing saw in his eyes a genuine longing to become a true practitioner.

"Good, I believe you!"

When Wang Sen said this, his eyes turned slightly red. Before Zhang Jing could ask, he continued: "I have a story, it might be a bit long, but I wonder if you’d be willing to listen."

"Please, go ahead."

"Over twenty years ago, there was a boy obsessed with martial arts novels. When he filled out his college entrance exam forms, he chose a university for Traditional Chinese Medicine and applied for the acupuncture and massage major. He thought the 'pressure point' techniques in those novels were magical, and since acupuncturists know where the points are, he thought that with enough hard work, he might learn those secret arts."

"Later, the boy got into the university, but only with a vocational college score. Once he started, he realized that acupuncture points and martial arts pressure points were completely different things. Plus, the school's management of vocational students was lax, and his interest quickly shifted to online games. He played day and night, often skipping classes entirely."

"After barely graduating, the boy used his family's connections to get a job in the massage department of a county TCM hospital. The department head was a guy who knew nothing but how to scheme. Surprisingly, they hit it off immediately, and the boy became the department's golden boy."

"Later, with the sudden rise of the 'Master Wang Lin' phenomenon, a wave of Qigong fever swept through society. The department head saw it as a rare opportunity and led the boy to mimic Master Wang Lin's so-called 'Qigong Great Law' from videos. From then on, things spiraled out of control. They even packaged the boy as a direct disciple of Master Wang Lin. Cloaked in this mystery, the two of them were the talk of the hospital for a time."

"But it didn't last. Wang Lin was later exposed as a fraud. The boy and the department head were implicated and both fired. Since then, the boy has lived a muddled life, working as a massage therapist just to make ends meet."

"Well, that's the story. I'm sure you've already guessed. That's right, I am that boy. Dr. Zhang, do you find it ridiculous?"

After finishing, Wang Sen let out a long sigh.

Zhang Jing couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. He hadn't expected that Wang Sen, who was already over forty and spent his days giggling over online games like an overgrown child, had such a past.

"It's not ridiculous. As the saying goes, 'a prodigal who returns is worth more than gold.' Dr. Wang, you have the courage to start over, which in itself is no small feat," Zhang Jing said solemnly.

Suddenly, Wang Sen felt as if he were hallucinating; the seemingly frail Dr. Zhang appeared to be radiating a brilliant light, just like a high-level master in an online game. And he, a nearly 90-kilogram fat man, seemed so insignificant in front of him. After a moment of shock, Wang Sen realized: this was the powerful aura that comes from true self-confidence!

"It's rare that you don't look down on me and are willing to take this greasy middle-aged man as a student. Thank you so much, Dr. Zhang," Wang Sen said, bowing sincerely.

"Don't thank me yet. Focus on practicing," Zhang Jing said with a slight nod.

"Understood." Wang Sen nodded vigorously.

He began to imitate Zhang Jing's movements, trying to twist the mugwort on his own leg. However, he clearly underestimated the difficulty. He tried several times, but not only did he fail, he also grimaced in pain because his movements were too clumsy. Yet, having bragged about not being afraid of pain, he was too embarrassed to make a sound in front of Zhang Jing.

Zhang Jing smiled slightly. "Dr. Wang, don't be so anxious for quick success. Break it down. Just learn to roll the mugwort into the size of a date pit first."

"Oh, right, right." Wang Sen scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Rolling mugwort isn't like playing with clay. It requires a bit of finesse. Don't apply force in just one direction; there needs to be a rhythmic, rotating motion."

"Use your thumb, index, and middle fingers to pick up a suitable amount of mugwort. Twist and knead it back and forth. Don't use too much force, but don't use too little either. Find the balance between the two, and carefully feel the sensation under your fingers. Explore it patiently. If you spend ten days or half a month on it, you'll start to get the hang of it."

"What? I have to practice just this move for that long?" Wang Sen's jaw almost dropped.

"Naturally. If it were that easy to learn, it wouldn't be a unique skill."

Zhang Jing thought for a moment and added, "If I recall correctly, it took you nearly a month to beat that 'Sheep a Sheep' game. Dr. Wang, surely you have at least that much patience, don't you?"

"I do! I absolutely do! I must! Dr. Zhang, just you watch!"