Ling Li took Kim Kim's hand gently, adjusting Chin Chin comfortably on her hip. "Both of you have photographic memories, which is a rare gift in acupuncture. I'm confident in your understanding — it's your hand control that I'm concerned about. I'll need to forge a set of needles designed for your smaller grips."
"Then we will trouble you, and thank you in advance, Mom," Kim Kim said sweetly, her tone sincere.
"Thank you, Mom!" Chin Chin added, planting an enthusiastic kiss on Ling Li's cheek that felt like a warm blessing.
"You two sweet talkers," Ling Li teased, amusement dancing in her eyes. "There's no need to be so formal with me."
Together they arrived at Shi Min's quarters. Ling Li knocked gently, and the twins' voices rang out in harmonious unison:
"Brother, open the door, it's us — me and Kim Kim!"
"Brother, open the door, Mom is here to give you a puncture!"
Ling Li erupted into laughter just as the door swung open. Shi Min stood there, a towel casually slung over his shoulder, his hair still damp from a refreshing bath. With a swift motion, he scooped Kim Kim into his arms, the embodiment of affection.
"It's acupuncture, not a puncture," he corrected her with a playful grin.
"Oh," Kim Kim said, cheeks flushing sheepishly. "A…puncture."
Shi Min chuckled heartily. "Close enough."
"What about Chin Chin? Can you say acupuncture?" he teased.
"Puc…ture!" she proclaimed confidently, her small face radiating pride.
Shi Min laughed even harder, shaking his head. "Never mind. Big Brother got both of you!"
Ling Li stepped inside, her demeanor shifting to that of a focused teacher. "Alright, let's begin. The herbs are still active in your system."
Shi Min nodded dutifully, setting Kim Kim down before disappearing into the bathroom. When he emerged, his upper body bare and glistening, Chin Chin gasped, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Wah! Big Brother's body looks awesome!" she exclaimed, unabashed. Her eyes were gawking at his brother's body.
Shi Min raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "You're only two. How do you know what a man's body should look like?"
"I'm a girl! Of course, I can and should appreciate handsome men!" Chin Chin huffed defiantly, her little hands on her hips.
"Who taught you that?!" Shi Min chuckled, astonished.
"I read it in Second Sister's book!" Chin Chin pouted, her innocence endearing.
The Golden Thread: Acupuncture of the Nascence Soul
Ling Li cleared her throat, redirecting the focus. "Enough, Shi Min. Lie down. Girls, stand here. Watch closely."
She disinfected her hands with careful precision and summoned a velvet-lined case from her special ring, revealing a stunning set of golden needles within. Slender and gleaming, they sparkled under the light, etched with ancient runes that whispered secrets of healing and strength. The air was filled with anticipation as the art of acupuncture was about to unfold.
"These needles," Ling Li said, her voice imbued with reverence, "were passed down from our ancestors. Forged from celestial gold, mined from the luminous depths of the Skyfall Crater, tempered in the fiery breath of dragons, and blessed by the first Matriarch of the illustrious Li line. They're not mere tools — they are a legacy, a testament to our heritage."
The twins stared, wide-eyed and transfixed, as if witnessing a sacred ritual.
Shi Min lay face down on the exquisite jade-inlaid bed, exhaling slowly, his breath a whisper against the tranquil air. With a flick of his fingers, he released the layers of concealment that shrouded his true form. In an awe-inspiring surge, his aura flared into existence, aglow with the radiant brilliance of the Nanscent Soul stage.
The twins gasped, their hearts pounding with exhilaration.
"He's even more amazing than Wolverine!" Chin Chin whispered, her small hand instinctively covering her mouth as a grin spread across her face.
"I totally agree!" Kim Kim exclaimed, her wide eyes sparkling with awe, reflecting the wonder of the moment.
"Wait, you're only two, and you already know who Wolverine is?" Shi Min inquired, her eyebrows knitting together in disbelief.
"Of course I do! He's the hero of my dreams!" Chin Chin declared, her eyes glimmering with a fiery enthusiasm that lit up her cherubic face.
Shi Min lay there, speechless, his surprise hanging in the air like the fading echoes of their excited chatter.
Ling Li stifled a smirk; her mouth twitched at the twins' enthusiastic comparison, while Shi Min groaned inwardly. 'I need to have a word with Lily about her questionable book collection.'
"Now, quiet," Ling Li commanded, her voice transforming into that of a seasoned master. "Acupuncture at this level transcends mere placement — it's about resonance."
She held up the first needle, its gleam catching the light. "This needle targets the Tianmen point — at the crown of the head. It opens the spiritual gate, allowing qi to flow freely between the mind and the heavens."
As she inserted it with a precise, practiced flick, the needle hummed with a faint, melodic vibration, settling into place with an almost sentient grace.
"The next," Ling Li continued, her voice steady and authoritative, "is Shendao, positioned between the shoulder blades. It stabilizes the heart meridian and soothes the soul flame. Without this, the influx of energy could unleash emotional turbulence or hallucinations."
One by one, she applied the needles with meticulous care: Qihai, nestled just below the navel, anchoring the dantian; Zu San Li, on the leg, reinforcing stamina and preventing the dangerous deviation of qi; Yin Tang, delicately placed between the brows, sharpening mental clarity and shielding against spiritual backlash; and Baihui, which orchestrated the symphony of spiritual energy flowing through the intricate meridian network.
"With each needle," Ling Li elaborated, her tone thick with focus, "I must infuse a thread of my own spiritual energy. This harmonizes the patient's qi with the needle's frequency. If the resonance is off by even the slightest fraction, it could rupture a meridian or destabilize the dantian."
The twins stood frozen, captivated, ingesting every word as if it were a sacred teaching.
Meanwhile, Shi Min felt the needles sink into his flesh like warm, crackling lightning. Each insertion sent waves pulsing through his body — some soothing, others jarring — while he gritted his teeth, beads of sweat forming like tiny jewels upon his brow.