Volume One, Chapter 33: Sensual Treatment

Upon hearing these words, Li Qingcheng’s cheeks flushed a scorching crimson, the heat spreading rapidly from her earlobes down to her neck. She stared at Ye Tian with wide eyes, her expression a mix of shock and maidenly shyness.

For a woman, such matters are intensely private. In daily life, one would typically use a euphemism to avoid such embarrassing terms. Li Qingcheng never imagined that such an intimate condition would be seen through by Ye Tian at a single glance, let alone spoken of so bluntly, which left her feeling incredibly awkward. Yet, what Ye Tian had described was uncannily accurate, down to the very last detail.

"How—how on earth did you figure that out?" Li Qingcheng asked softly, suppressing her inner shame and astonishment.

Ye Tian remained calm, explaining at a leisurely pace, "You only need to observe your own complexion. It is as pale as paper, devoid of any color, which is a classic sign of stagnant Qi and blood. Furthermore, I noticed that your eyes occasionally reveal flashes of pain, and you have been frequently clutching your abdomen. These signs, taken together, are for someone trained in medicine like myself, clear indications of dysmenorrhea."

Li Qingcheng bit her lip, appearing hesitant to delve further into such an awkward topic. After a moment, she conceded, "You are right. My condition is exactly as you described. Although I have suffered from menstrual pain before, it has never been this severe. I do not know why it is like this..."

A look of understanding appeared in Ye Tian’s eyes. He said slowly, "You have likely been plagued by anxiety and irritation recently. Such negative emotional fluctuations easily lead to the stagnation of vital energy. Once the flow of Qi is obstructed, the circulation of blood is naturally affected, and stasis accumulates in the uterus. When your period arrives, the blood that should flow out smoothly is blocked, leading to the TCM principle: 'Where there is no flow, there is pain.' That is why your pain is so intense this time."

Li Qingcheng suddenly understood. Disregarding Li Cheng’s confused look, she ushered him out of the room before asking Ye Tian, "Then... how can this be resolved?"

Ye Tian raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischievous amusement flickering in his eyes. "There are two ways. The first is to engage in intimacy with a man. Through the union of Yin and Yang, one can fundamentally regulate the body’s circulation of Qi and blood, thereby resolving the issue."

*Intimacy with a man? The union of Yin and Yang?* Did that mean... *that*? Upon hearing this, Li Qingcheng’s cheeks burned even hotter, as if they might bleed. Her heart raced like a panicked deer, and for a moment, she did not know how to continue. After a long silence, she asked with a flushed face and a voice as faint as a mosquito's, "And the other? What is the second method?"

Ye Tian smiled. "The second method is acupuncture. However, this only treats the symptoms. It can only alleviate the agony when the pain strikes by using silver needles to stimulate specific acupoints."

Having suffered enough during her recent cycles, Li Qingcheng was already at her limit. Seizing the opportunity, she said, "Could you perform the acupuncture now? I want to see if what you said is true."

"That is no problem. Go into the room; I will prepare the needles." Ye Tian was more than happy to shorten the distance between them. Such intimate interaction seemed to make his own heart race as well.

***

Lying on the couch, Li Qingcheng rested face down, her upper body bare. A thick towel was pressed beneath her, barely covering her breasts, yet those tender curves could not help but be partially exposed. This slight exposure left Li Qingcheng feeling utterly mortified. Her cheeks were burning, as red as the clouds at sunset.

*Why did I have to take everything off? Was Ye Tian doing this on purpose? He must be! I’ve never heard of needing to be fully undressed to treat menstrual pain.* Li Qingcheng felt both embarrassed and annoyed.

Ye Tian, with a faint smile on his lips, calmly admired the exquisite sight before him. Li Qingcheng’s back was smooth and fair; no man could resist drooling while admiring such graceful curves. He was no exception. Perhaps sensing Ye Tian’s hot, aggressive gaze, Li Qingcheng’s breathing grew rapid and ragged, the small portion of her fair skin that was visible seeming to pulse with her heartbeat.

In this scene, a line of poetry came to Ye Tian’s mind: *Still as a maiden, quick as a hare!*

"Tsk, tsk..." Ye Tian could not help but marvel.

After admiring the view for a moment, he took a row of shimmering silver needles from his cloth bag and expertly sterilized them over a candle flame. Then, he began to apply the needles to the relevant acupoints on Li Qingcheng’s back. With each needle, he would twist his fingers slightly.

At first, Li Qingcheng was tense and shy, her body trembling, her hands gripping the edge of the couch tightly. But soon, she clearly felt the knife-like pain in her abdomen begin to ease, like the warm sun of spring dispelling the bitter cold of winter. Her body, taut as a bowstring, gradually relaxed. The shyness on her face faded, replaced by a sense of relief and peace.

***

"It is done." After some time, Ye Tian gently withdrew the needles, a confident smile on his face.

Li Qingcheng opened her eyes, cautiously covered her chest to sit up, and wrapped herself tightly in the towel. "It really doesn't hurt anymore!" Touching her abdomen, she was filled with surprise and joy. Ye Tian’s treatment had yielded immediate, miraculous results. It seemed he hadn't been boasting.

*If he has this kind of ability,* Li Qingcheng thought to herself, *perhaps he really can cure General Xu.*

*Very well, I will take this gamble!*

"Since you are so capable, I will send someone to contact the Xu family!" With that, Li Qingcheng finally made her decision.

"That would be unwise," Ye Tian stopped her.

"Why is that?" Li Qingcheng wondered if he was backing out again.

He explained, "Things that are forced are rarely successful. Going to them directly is inappropriate. It not only shows that we lack confidence, but it also makes us easy to dismiss. We must make them come to us... Only then will it seem precious, and only then will they truly value us."

"That makes sense." Li Qingcheng pondered for a moment, then her eyes brightened. "I have an idea. We can spread the word that we know a legendary doctor with miraculous skills, but this doctor has a peculiar temper and is incredibly arrogant. He never makes house calls; the patient must come to him personally to beg for treatment. That would make for a compelling story and be much easier for people to believe."

Ye Tian agreed, nodding decisively. "Let’s do that."