Happy Little Farmer
Chapter 653

Chapter 653: Chapter 653

Yang Fan’s limit was at the ninth breath.

By this step, he didn’t feel much pressure, but he clearly felt that he was running out of breath. He could hold on for a little while longer, but trying to take one more breath seemed somewhat beyond his reach.

It was then that Yang Fan took a deep breath and exhaled that last bit of air.

Unsure whether his condition was good or bad, he turned to Huang Baoming and asked, "Mr. Huang, is my performance acceptable?"

Huang Baoming didn’t even feel like giving Yang Fan a proper look, "What do you think?"

"Well, you are the master, where else would I go to find out?" Yang Fan said.

He didn’t even know the basic rules, let alone whether his performance was good or bad.

Huang Baoming spoke in an exasperated tone, "Your current state is like asking a high school student to do elementary school problems. What do you think that indicates? Normally, people can only hold their breath for two or three breaths, and they might not be able to hold the first breath; it usually takes several practices to barely meet the criteria."

"You managed to grasp it in one step and successfully took nine breaths, which definitely makes you standout amongst beginners. This is the advantage of reinforcing with Inner Qi. As you get more practiced in this technique, your state should improve even further."

Now Yang Fan realized and said with a light chuckle, "Mr. Huang, why do I feel like you’re somewhat displeased?"

"Because I don’t have Inner Qi!" Huang Baoming huffed unhappily.

Thinking back to the hardships he faced when he first started, how could his mood possibly be balanced upon seeing Yang Fan’s ease?

Even though his Qi Cultivation skills were quite decent, watching a beginner surpass his decades of practice on their first try, it would be strange if his mentality didn’t waver.

That’s the difference between visualization and Qi Cultivation.

But Huang Baoming couldn’t possibly brazenly ask Yang Fan for the technique of visualization.

These are treasures of the Factions, not easily learned.

"With your foundation of Inner Qi, these things are not complicated for you; I believe you can skip this part," Huang Baoming said gruffly, "When you have time, practice these techniques more, feel your organs, get to know them."

"When you’re more familiar with them, we’ll combine them with movements, and I’ll teach you that later. For now, let’s start with the Ren Meridian, follow me back to the room."

Yang Fan nodded his head.

Since he had already agreed, now was not the time to turn deserter.

Old Sir Huang treated him with great importance and respect, and if he failed to recognize that, it would be a bit too much.

"Old Sir Huang, with your status, if you wanted to take on a disciple, I’d think there would be crowds willing. Why fixate on someone like me who understands nothing?" Yang Fan asked.

Although Huang Baoming had mentioned several times the idea of taking him as a disciple, Yang Fan really had yet to understand.

Although he had some relations with Old Sir Huang, to speak frankly, he didn’t feel he was cut out to be a doctor.

"Because you’re ugly!" Huang Baoming turned his head and said.

Yang Fan: ...

The old gentleman does not seem to be in a very good mood this early morning.

Huang Baoming entered the clinic, tossed a human anatomy model in front of Yang Fan, "First, check out the path of the Ren Meridian, stop thinking about all those other things. What’s the use of understanding everything so clearly? People need to be a bit confused from time to time, that’s how to live comfortably and at ease."

"Mr. Huang, if you put it that way, suddenly this thing in my hands feels a bit too hot to handle," Yang Fan said.

As soon as the old man opened his mouth, it was all about secrets of the deepest kind.

This does not sound right.

Yang Fan has been in touch with too many secrets recently, and he is now seriously allergic to them.

Huang Baoming settled down in his decades-old, worn and tattered chair, and with an annoyed smile, he said, "I’m just giving you a heads-up, there’s nothing so complicated or roundabout about this matter."

"I’ve been stubborn all my life, and on the matter of taking disciples, I’m even less willing to relax my principles. You should know that I’ve always been a person who follows the ancient techniques, especially in the matter of taking disciples."

"In the past, the rules for taking medical apprentices were very strict, assessing comprehension, character, and other aspects like habits and behavior. It might take three to five years in the pharmacy before you could even catch the eyes of a master to be taken as a disciple. As for why I’ve always wanted to take you as my apprentice, the reason lies in what I just mentioned. Otherwise, why do you think I would do this?"

"You just said that with my level, as soon as I mention I want to take a disciple, there will be plenty of people seeking to become my apprentices. I don’t lack for candidates, and it’s not like I can ask you every time."

"For a master like me to desperately seek a disciple is quite embarrassing, but I’d rather humiliate myself a bit than to be perfunctory. It doesn’t matter if a bastard tarnishes my name, but smashing the reputation of our revered ancestors is another matter."

Yang Fan spoke earnestly: "Old Sir Huang, you truly honor me too much. I am so flattered and at a loss for words. I am genuinely ashamed, having not noticed anything particularly commendable in my own character."

Huang Baoming looked at Yang Fan seriously, "If you still don’t call me master, then get out of here!"

Yang Fan: ?

"Master!"

He called out eagerly and without hesitation.

After a pause, he asked cautiously, "But, Master, wasn’t there a traditional tea ceremony for taking disciples in the past? Like offering tea or something."

He had been waiting for this moment.

The expression on Huang Baoming’s face softened considerably, "That’s not important, those are mere formalities."

"The primary consideration for taking an apprentice is his comprehension and character. Whether there is a tea ceremony for apprenticing is irrelevant. I don’t care about that anyway."

Huang Baoming took a wet towel and wiped his hands, "Alright, you shouldn’t have any problems now, right?"

Yang Fan shook his head.

Huang Baoming nodded and began, "Let’s talk about the Ren Meridian."

"The Ren Meridian is where all yin converges and begins at the Hui Yin. This acupoint is quite special; its position is unique, and so are its effects. It’s generally not prone to illness or pain; it’s only used occasionally in emergencies."

He dove straight into the subject without giving Yang Fan a chance to adjust.

"Above the Hui Yin is the Qu Bone, right in the middle of your pubic bone. Dividing the line from the Shen Que, your belly button, down to the Qu Bone into five equal parts, there are five acupoints densely arranged. Let’s go through them one by one. The Qu Bone is a nearby acupoint to draw from, which means it’s used due to its proximity," Huang Baoming said while he rummaged through a cabinet and tossed a book to Yang Fan.

"If you have any issues with your bladder or surrounding areas, you can needle the Qu Bone. It doesn’t distinguish between deficiency or excess, cold or heat; it can be needled..."

Yang Fan was already feeling dizzy from listening.

He quietly memorized the positions of Hui Yin and Qu Bone, then quickly cross-checked the content in the book.

The more he looked, the more confused he became—the book had even more information than what Huang Baoming told him.

"Just browse through the book and get an understanding, some acupoints are not commonly used. I’ll explain the important ones to you in detail," Huang Baoming glanced at Yang Fan and said.