Back in the interrogation room, Xu Ze watched as Niu Bo and the man with slanted eyes approached him with batons, ready to gang up on him. He let out a helpless, bitter laugh. Although he didn’t want to cause trouble here, he certainly couldn’t just let himself be bullied. After all, those two batons were no joke…
So, with a resigned sigh, Xu Ze stood up, prepared to give them a proper lesson right there in the police station.
Seeing Xu Ze’s bitter smile, the slanted-eyed man grew even more smug, waving his baton and sneering, “Kid… just let us vent a little, or else don’t blame us if we go too hard on you…”
Noticing the slanted-eyed man’s arrogant expression, Xu Ze responded with a faint smile but said nothing. He then glanced at Niu Bo, who was holding his baton with far more caution, and shook his head slightly, sighing softly. “What’s the point of all this…?”
Xu Ze actually enjoyed the fight because the plump woman, watching eagerly from the sidelines, couldn’t resist joining in after a few moments, grabbing a stick to try her luck. Although Xu Ze usually avoided hitting women, facing three opponents at once turned out to be quite satisfying…
At first, Xu Ze observed the situation carefully. But after dodging a few attacks and seeing their menacing grins, he chuckled lightly and decided not to hold back. With a swift motion that left them stunned, he struck the slanted-eyed man’s wrist as he swung his baton, disarming him in one smooth move before delivering a backhanded blow.
Thwack! A sharp crack echoed as the slanted-eyed man let out a pained groan, struck squarely on the chin by the rubber baton, and collapsed backward. Without missing a beat, Xu Ze blocked Niu Bo’s incoming strike with a swift parry…
With skills far surpassing those of an elite special forces soldier, dealing with these three was no challenge for Xu Ze. However, remembering how despicable they were, he had no intention of letting them off easily. Instead of finishing them off quickly, he put on a show—swinging left and right, landing blows that had them howling in agony.
After taking several hard hits from Xu Ze, Niu Bo finally realized something was off. It became clear that Xu Ze wasn’t fighting at full strength. Just as Niu Bo tried to escape to call for backup, Xu Ze blocked the doorway, trapping all three inside for a one-sided beating…
By the time Chief Li came knocking on the door, the trio was already bruised and battered.
Hearing the knocking outside, Xu Ze finally stopped. Recognizing the voice, he guessed it was likely the chief of the Fuping District branch. Glancing at the three badly beaten individuals, he felt a twinge of embarrassment. Beating up the chief’s subordinates like this—he hoped the chief wouldn’t take it too personally.
But as soon as the door opened, Niu Bo, still dazed, thought reinforcements had arrived. Instead, the chief stormed in and slapped him hard across the face, then proceeded to handcuff him, along with his sister and brother-in-law. Seeing the chief’s concerned and apologetic demeanor toward him, Xu Ze finally felt relieved.
Beating up the head of the public security team in a police station, while also taking down two scumbags in the process—now that was satisfying…
As Niu Bo was handcuffed by his former subordinates, he watched Chief Li treating the young man with such respect and humility. He couldn’t help but wish he could slap himself twice over, thinking bitterly, “I should’ve known something was off when I saw how calm this kid was. Now I’ve really stepped on a landmine—today, I’ve truly capsized in a shallow ditch…”
As for the slanted-eyed man and his wife, seeing Niu Bo—the powerful backer they had always relied on—arrested right before their eyes, while the young man who had beaten them was treated like an honored guest by someone who looked like a high-ranking official, they were utterly dumbfounded. Stunned, they were led away without a word.
Xu Ze retrieved his confiscated phone and, escorted by Chief Li, walked out of the Fuping Police Station. Secretary Zhang was already waiting outside.
Watching Xu Ze get into Secretary Zhang’s Audi and speed away, Chief Li’s once-enthusiastic smile faded into a somber expression. He sighed softly and shook his head, now feeling utterly uncertain about his future.
Secretary Zhang, sitting beside the young man, couldn’t help but stare at him with curiosity. Recalling Chief Li’s detailed and unsparing account of the incident over the phone, he finally couldn’t resist asking, “Xu Ze… are you really alright?”
“I’m fine,” Xu Ze replied with a smile, shaking his head. “Really, I’m fine.”
Seeing that Xu Ze bore no visible injuries, moved without difficulty, and showed no signs of discomfort, Secretary Zhang finally believed him and let out a sigh of relief…
Still, he couldn’t help but wonder—how did this seemingly slender and delicate young man manage to take on a police officer and a thug all by himself?
Noticing Secretary Zhang’s lingering doubt, Xu Ze offered a wry smile and sighed softly before changing the subject. “Brother Zhang, could you tell me a bit about Secretary Lin’s condition?”
Hearing Xu Ze’s question, Secretary Zhang immediately snapped to attention and began explaining earnestly, “Secretary Lin has been suffering from lower back pain for years. He was diagnosed with a lumbar disc herniation at the First Affiliated Hospital. He’s tried physical therapy, medication, and even traction, but none of it helped much. The hospital suggested surgery, but they couldn’t guarantee the results, so Secretary Lin has been managing with medication for now…”
“A few days ago, after seeing your remarkable acupuncture skills at Baorui, Secretary Lin was inspired to ask for your help…” Secretary Zhang looked at Xu Ze hopefully. “We’re hoping you might have a way to help Secretary Lin with this problem.”
“Lumbar disc herniation, huh?” Xu Ze raised an eyebrow, trying to recall if the Electro-Acupuncture Emergency Techniques included any treatments for this condition. While he didn’t find an immediate solution, he wasn’t overly concerned. As long as the cause was clear, he could assess the situation himself. If he could help, that would be great—if not, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Nodding, he said, “I’ll do my best to try.”
Hearing Xu Ze’s non-committal but not dismissive response, Secretary Zhang felt a wave of relief. As long as Xu Ze hadn’t outright refused, there was still hope.
After passing through a guarded gate, the car entered a secluded villa area. Xu Ze knew exactly what this place was—a residential compound for most of the city’s high-ranking officials, including Tang Guorui, who often stayed here.
Ordinary people had no access to this area, and this was Xu Ze’s first time visiting. Thanks to Secretary Lin’s invitation, he now had the chance to see the exclusive residential zone of Xingcheng’s elite.
The Audi soon stopped in front of a villa. Following Secretary Zhang’s lead, Xu Ze stepped inside. The villa wasn’t particularly large, but it was exquisitely decorated, reminding Xu Ze of Tao Yiyi’s family villa on Tianyang Mountain.
As they entered, a woman who appeared to be a housekeeper warmly greeted them. Recognizing Secretary Zhang, she smiled casually and said, “Secretary Zhang, you’re here.”
Secretary Zhang responded with great respect, smiling as he asked, “Auntie Lin… is the Secretary in his study?”
“Yes, he’s in the study,” Auntie Lin replied with a nod.
“Alright, Auntie Lin, I’ll head up for a moment. This is Xu Ze—could you please look after him? I’ll be right back,” Secretary Zhang introduced politely.
Xu Ze immediately sensed that this woman was no ordinary housekeeper, so he greeted her respectfully with a nod and a smile. “Hello, Auntie Lin.”
Auntie Lin looked at Xu Ze, a faint smile appearing on her face. Although she didn’t know the young man’s background, his poised demeanor and handsome features left a favorable impression. Coupled with the fact that Secretary Zhang had brought him, she warmly nodded and said, “Xiao Xu, make yourself at home. Have a seat—Auntie Lin will get you some tea.”
Once Xu Ze settled in the living room, Secretary Zhang hurried upstairs. They were already over an hour behind schedule, and Secretary Lin was likely growing impatient.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Secretary Zhang gently knocked on a door. Hearing a voice inside say, “Come in,” he cautiously entered.
Secretary Lin looked up at his assistant and asked with a smile, “Have you brought him?”
“Yes, Secretary, he’s here,” Secretary Zhang replied, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Then, with a chuckle, he added, “I never expected such a mishap to happen today—it really gave me quite a scare.”
“Haha… indeed, it startled me too. If anything had happened to that young man, the old master would’ve turned Xingcheng upside down!” Secretary Lin chuckled softly and shook his head.
“Still, the Fuping District branch’s behavior was completely unacceptable. How could they let something like this happen? Tomorrow, I’ll discuss the matter with Yang Li—we need to thoroughly address this.”
Hearing Secretary Lin’s words, Secretary Zhang nodded, thinking to himself that Chief Li of the Fuping District branch was in serious trouble this time.
“Let’s go… I’ll go down and meet the young man. He seems quite capable—I hope he can help me with this old ailment…” Secretary Lin said, holding his lower back as he stood up. Secretary Zhang quickly stepped forward to support him, asking with concern, “Secretary, did you not take your medication today?”
“No… I deliberately skipped it today, waiting for Xu Ze to examine me,” Secretary Lin replied with a nod before gently pushing Secretary Zhang’s hand away and walking slowly out of the room.
As the man descended the stairs, Xu Ze immediately recognized him as the person who had been present at the Baorui Grand Hotel that day. He knew this was Secretary Lin, one of the top eight officials in the Xingcheng municipal government and a close associate of Tang Guorui.
Without any pretension, Xu Ze stood up respectfully and greeted him calmly, “Good evening, Secretary.”
Secretary Lin smiled warmly as he walked down the stairs. “Please, have a seat… No need for formalities, Xu Ze. Your Uncle Tang and I are close friends—just call me Uncle Lin.”
“Of course, Uncle Lin,” Xu Ze replied without hesitation.
After exchanging a few pleasantries in the living room, they quickly got to the main topic. Secretary Zhang brought over some of Secretary Lin’s medical records for Xu Ze to review and analyze.
Taking the documents, Xu Ze examined them carefully. He needed to understand the severity of Secretary Lin’s condition based on these records.
As Xu Ze reviewed the files, Secretary Lin and Secretary Zhang watched anxiously, hoping he would find a solution.
Looking through the examination reports, Xu Ze couldn’t help but frown slightly. The MRI clearly showed a lumbar disc herniation, specifically between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, and the condition appeared quite severe and complex.
“No wonder the First Affiliated Hospital couldn’t guarantee surgical results,” Xu Ze thought, frowning at the complexity of the case. Given the location and intricacy, achieving a successful outcome with current surgical standards would indeed be difficult.
As for his own capabilities, he wasn’t entirely confident either. After all, this involved bony structural changes, and aside from surgery, there were no particularly effective non-invasive treatments.
If he were to perform the surgery himself, he’d have some confidence—with Xiao Dao’s support, such a procedure wouldn’t be overly challenging.
But for others, even lumbar spine specialists, achieving a good outcome would be far from easy.
And performing the surgery himself was out of the question—he was only an intern, with no authority to lead an operation.
With a soft sigh, Xu Ze looked up at Secretary Lin and said, “Uncle Lin, your disc herniation is indeed quite complicated…”
Hearing Xu Ze’s words, Secretary Lin didn’t seem too disappointed. He had been dealing with this condition for years and had consulted numerous hospitals. If Xu Ze had claimed he could easily cure it, Secretary Lin would have been skeptical.
Still, he looked at Xu Ze with hopeful eyes and said, “An old doctor once treated me with acupuncture, and it worked very well for a while. But after two months, the effects gradually wore off. I was wondering if you…”
Seeing Secretary Lin’s hopeful expression, Xu Ze smiled gently and nodded. “Uncle Lin, while I may not be able to cure this completely right away, I can certainly help manage and improve the condition.”
“Really?” Secretary Lin’s face lit up with hope. He hadn’t expected a complete cure—he just wanted some relief. If Xu Ze could improve his condition, that would be more than enough.
“Yes, improvement is possible,” Xu Ze confirmed with a nod. After reviewing the medical records, he had a clear understanding of Secretary Lin’s condition. Although the Electro-Acupuncture Emergency Techniques didn’t specifically address this issue, Xu Ze was confident he could help.
Conditions like lumbar disc herniation, which compress spinal nerves and cause back pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs, often involve nerve inflammation due to the compression. While the bony protrusion itself couldn’t be immediately resolved, reducing the nerve inflammation could significantly alleviate Secretary Lin’s pain and numbness.
“That’s wonderful, Xu Ze. When can you start the treatment?” Secretary Lin asked eagerly, his excitement evident.
Secretary Lin had long been troubled by this condition, relying on medication that provided only minimal relief. If Xu Ze’s acupuncture could help, he was more than willing to try it.
Ever since he witnessed Xu Ze using acupuncture to stop Mayor Bai’s severe bleeding, Secretary Lin had held onto hope. Now that Xu Ze was willing to treat him, he felt a wave of relief. As long as there was improvement, he wasn’t expecting an instant cure.
Understanding Secretary Lin’s eagerness, Xu Ze nodded. He always carried his acupuncture needles with him, so starting right away was no issue. “We can begin now.”
“Really? Right now?” Secretary Lin asked, his face brightening with delight.
“Yes, right now. Uncle Lin, just find a quiet room, and we can start immediately.”
Following Xu Ze’s instructions, Secretary Lin removed his shirt, revealing his slightly plump back, and lay face down on the bed.
Secretary Zhang stood nearby, holding a small bottle of iodophor, watching nervously as Xu Ze prepared a long, gleaming silver needle.
Having never seen Xu Ze treat anyone before, let alone witnessed the remarkable effects of his acupuncture, Secretary Zhang couldn’t help but feel anxious.
After all, Xu Ze was so young—without knowing his capabilities, few would trust him with such a procedure.
Although Secretary Lin had spoken highly of Xu Ze’s skills, Secretary Zhang remained on edge, worried that a single mistake could worsen Secretary Lin’s condition.
Still, despite his concerns about the ten-centimeter-long needle, he didn’t dare interfere.
Noticing Secretary Zhang’s unease, Xu Ze offered a reassuring smile before selecting a medium-length needle from his case and putting the rest away.
Seeing Xu Ze use only one relatively short needle, Secretary Zhang relaxed slightly. With just one needle, the risk seemed minimal. Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder—how much effect could a single needle have? The old doctor who had treated Secretary Lin before had used seven or eight needles each session.
Amid Secretary Zhang’s doubts, Xu Ze took a cotton swab, gently disinfected the area around Secretary Lin’s lumbar spine, sterilized his needle, wiped it dry with another swab, and began the procedure.
By now, his X-ray perspective functionality was active. In his field of vision, the area around the L4-L5 intervertebral space was highlighted with red markers.
Under Secretary Zhang’s watchful and nervous gaze, Xu Ze held the needle in his right hand and, without any preliminary palpation or positioning, inserted it directly into Secretary Lin’s lower back.
Watching Xu Ze insert the needle so effortlessly into Secretary Lin’s spine, Secretary Zhang was momentarily stunned. Only when he saw that Secretary Lin showed no adverse reaction did he let out a sigh of relief.
Xu Ze gently held the needle’s tip between his thumb and forefinger while the ring against the needle’s base transmitted bioelectrical energy toward the lumbar nerves.
Assessing nerve function was second nature to Xu Ze by now. In no time, he identified the abnormalities in Secretary Lin’s lumbar spinal nerves.
