Chapter 64: The Way That Can Be Spoken Is Not the Eternal Way

At this point, Han Bing could say nothing more and had no choice but to let Ling Tian leave. Watching Ling Tian’s departing figure, she fell into deep thought—perhaps this man wasn’t as frivolous as he appeared.

When Ling Tian arrived at the hospital, Shi Xiaocai and the others had already regained consciousness. Seeing Ling Tian was like seeing their savior.

“Ling Tian, you have to avenge us!” Dai Jin said excitedly.

“Just heal us first. Those doctors are idiots—they said it would take a year before we recover. I don’t want to stay here another minute,” Shi Xiaocai was most concerned about his own body, unwilling to let his movements be restricted.

“No problem. I’ll treat you now. Once you’re well, we’ll go take care of that Viper and Baldy. You’ll deal with them yourselves,” Ling Tian replied, his expression stern.

On the way over, Lin Youya had already told Ling Tian everything. Ling Tian listened, gritting his teeth in anger. Those people were truly despicable; they had to be taught a harsh lesson. But this matter was best handled by Shi Xiaocai and his friends themselves.

At that moment, Song Xiaomei pouted and complained, “It’s all Dai Jin and Yuan Bao’s fault. They fell for that woman’s trick and dragged our Shi Xiaocai down with them.”

After learning what had happened, she was furious. If not for Dai Jin and Yuan Bao keeping that girl around, Shi Xiaocai wouldn’t have drunk those beverages. Because of that, Shi Xiaocai was beaten so badly. Next time, she’d give that woman a good beating herself!

Hearing Song Xiaomei’s words, Dai Jin and Yuan Bao both lowered their heads in shame. It was humiliating to be tricked by a woman—absolutely shameful.

“Don’t worry, I’ll heal them all. Xiaomei, Youya, go handle the discharge papers. Let’s go back to the villa. I don’t want to treat them here and attract attention,” Ling Tian said to Xiaomei.

Though Ling Tian sometimes showed off his medical skills, there was no need to do so in the hospital.

“All right, brother-in-law. You have to make sure Xiaocai is fully healed,” Song Xiaomei replied. She had always recognized Ling Tian as her brother-in-law, and now placed her hopes entirely on him.

When Lin Youya and Song Xiaomei went to handle the discharge, the hospital refused, claiming their injuries were too severe. In the end, Lin Youya settled for transfer papers, claiming they were heading to a specialist orthopedic hospital. Only then did they get approval.

Of course, they didn’t actually intend to go to another hospital. With Ling Tian the miracle doctor around, returning to the villa was the best option.

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Inside the villa.

Ling Tian sat with a grave expression as he treated Shi Xiaocai and the others. Their injuries were indeed severe; those men had been ruthless, not intending for Shi Xiaocai and his friends to recover.

Normally, if a kneecap shattered into three or more pieces, it was considered a comminuted fracture that would take at least half a year to heal. Yet Shi Xiaocai and the others had their kneecaps shattered into seven or eight fragments. Ling Tian’s heart ached at the sight.

He could heal them, but he could imagine how brutal the beating had been. It wasn’t just their knees—many other parts were injured and fractured as well.

Those men were truly vicious, worthy of the name Viper—utterly venomous. Ling Tian regretted not dealing more harshly with Viper and Baldy before, and letting them become subordinates. Clearly, some people simply cannot be used.

To spare Shi Xiaocai and the others further pain, Ling Tian first tapped their sleep acupoints, then began the treatment.

This time he not only used silver needles, but also had to deploy his inner energy. Without it, it would be impossible for the shattered bones to heal so quickly. Strictly speaking, this was beyond the realm of reality. Most people didn’t believe in true qi, but in this day and age, there were still some who practiced cultivation.

In his previous life, Ling Tian had encountered beings even more powerful than himself. Every country had its own practitioners—cultivators in China, ninjas in the East, saints in the West, and in some places, witchcraft. These weren’t mere legends, though the average person would never come into contact with them.

In this life, he didn’t know if he would again face powerful adversaries. He didn’t want trouble; he simply wanted to seek out a few women and enjoy life with his brothers. But if anyone dared to stand in his way, he would not back down.

At present, Ling Tian had only cultivated the Yin-Yang Technique to the entry level of the Profound Stage. He would continue working on it, as he found that the women he fancied were all sought after by many men. If he wanted to win their hearts, he had to make himself stronger. Moreover, the higher his mastery of the Yin-Yang Technique, the stronger his medical skills would become.

Lin Youya and Song Xiaomei waited anxiously outside while Ling Tian treated Shi Xiaocai and the others in the bedroom.

The Way begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets the myriad things. The way that can be spoken is not the eternal Way; the name that can be named is not the eternal Name...

These were the words from the Dao De Jing, also the source of the Yin-Yang Technique. The deeper one comprehended these words, the deeper their understanding of the technique. The vastness of Chinese civilization, with its five thousand years of legacy, was not easily grasped in its entirety.

The explanations of “the Way” varied. Most regarded it as the Heavenly Way, while others took it as the origin of all things. The way that can be spoken is not the eternal Way; what can be described is not the true Way. In the end, the Way is a matter of individual enlightenment.

The Way begets One—some say One is chaos, some say it's Taiji, and some call it Wuji. The theories are countless, and throughout Chinese history, countless prodigies have had their own insights or inheritances. What it really is doesn’t matter; what matters is what one can gain from it for oneself.

One begets Two—on this, most agree: it refers to Yin and Yang. The interplay and transformation of Yin and Yang gives rise to endless vitality; everything in the world can be described in terms of Yin and Yang.

Whether in geomancy, traditional medicine, or the world of cultivation, distinguishing Yin and Yang is fundamental. The southern side of a mountain and the northern side of a river are Yang; the northern side of a mountain and the southern side of a river are Yin. Men are Yang, women are Yin; hardness is Yang, softness is Yin. Yin and Yang are mutually opposed and mutually transformative, and the Taiji diagram illustrates this beautifully.

Ling Tian’s Yin-Yang Technique was founded upon this ancient theory.

The doctrine of Yin and Yang has a long history. In ancient times, the “Three Teachings and Nine Schools” included Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism as the Three Teachings, and the Nine Schools as Confucianism, Daoism, Yin-Yang, Legalism, Logicians, Mohism, Strategists, Miscellaneous, and Agriculture.

Of these, the Yin-Yang School was especially influential, arising in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, basing itself on the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and integrating astronomy, geography, and human affairs into the highest philosophy of “the unity of Heaven and Man.”

Ancient Chinese science and technology—astronomy, meteorology, chemistry, mathematics, music, and medicine—all developed under the influence of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory.

At this moment, Ling Tian sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating the Yin-Yang Technique. A tiny Taiji symbol appeared in his palm, with wisps of vital energy streaming from his fingertips.

This vital energy entered the bodies of Shi Xiaocai and the others, causing their bodies to glow with flecks of green light. Minor wounds healed rapidly, and fractured bones gradually knit back together.

Though this treatment was not quite raising the dead or regrowing flesh from bones, it was still miraculous. Treating three people at once was taxing—Ling Tian exhausted a great deal of his true qi.

Eight hours passed before Ling Tian finally finished. He released the sleep acupoints for Shi Xiaocai and the others. If his cultivation were higher, this would have been effortless—a mere wave of his hand. Unfortunately, he was still far from that realm.

Lin Youya and Song Xiaomei had waited a full eight hours. During that time, Lin Youya ate a little, but Song Xiaomei hadn’t touched a thing. Her feelings for Shi Xiaocai were genuine, and his injuries pained her deeply. No matter how Lin Youya urged her to eat, she refused.

As soon as Ling Tian emerged, Song Xiaomei hurried over, her face full of concern. “Brother-in-law, how is Xiaocai? Is he healed?”

“They’re all fine now. They’re still sleeping, but will wake up soon,” Ling Tian replied, his face pale.

“Thank you, brother-in-law. I’ll go check on him now.” With that, Song Xiaomei ran into the bedroom.

Ling Tian managed a weak smile—this girl was truly devoted. Shi Xiaocai was a lucky man. He wondered if, were he ever hurt, anyone would worry for him like this. Maybe Li Youran would? Lin Youya? Perhaps.

Seeing Ling Tian’s pale face, Lin Youya exhaled in relief, her eyes filled with concern. “Are you all right? Why do you look so pale?”

“I’m fine. I just need to eat something to get my strength back, and then find a beautiful woman to sleep with. That’ll fix everything. I haven’t eaten in two days,” Ling Tian said with a crooked smile.

He had suffered a lot—tormented by Han Bing yesterday, then worrying over Shi Xiaocai’s injuries today, he hadn’t even had time for a proper meal.

“Hmph! Is this the time to be thinking about women? Drink this porridge first. I’ll have someone warm up some food for you later,” Lin Youya said, exasperated.

“I’m serious. I burnt through a lot of true qi and need to replenish it. It’s called ‘absorbing yin to nourish yang.’ Wife Youya, why don’t we consummate our marriage tonight? You’re still a virgin—that’s a great tonic for a man who needs to replenish his yang,” Ling Tian said, looking at her intently.

“Replenish your head! If you say that again, I’ll pour this porridge over your face! Be good and drink it!”

Lin Youya was so angry she nearly did just that. Even in his weakened state, this guy couldn’t stop teasing her—he really deserved a beating.

If only Ling Tian had pleaded a little more sincerely, perhaps Lin Youya would have given herself to him. But instead, he spoke of “absorbing yin to nourish yang” and how virgins were the best tonic—how could she not be angry?

It’s true that women love a bit of a rogue, but too much and you’ll scare them off, especially a sheltered girl like Lin Youya, whose face burned at the slightest provocation.

“All right, all right, I’ll drink it. After that, I’ll find a woman to replenish my strength. Wife Youya, I really need a woman tonight,” Ling Tian grumbled as he obediently picked up the bowl of porridge.