After a thorough, vivid, and accessible explanation by Elder Guo, Qin Yongping finally gained a comprehensive and clear understanding of the human body's acupoints. It turned out that the human body boasts around 52 single acupoints, a full 309 pairs of double acupoints, and as many as 50 mysterious extra meridians and acupoints! All told, there are an astonishing 720 acupoints in total.
Among these, there are 108 vital, critical acupoints. Fortunately, 72 of them are relatively mild; regular massage techniques—such as gentle pressing, slow kneading, or light tapping—will generally cause no substantive harm to the human body. The remaining 36 acupoints, however, are entirely different. They are genuine, deadly acupoints, and are thus vividly known as "fatal points." It is crucial to state solemnly here: despite their frightening name, as long as they are massaged and cared for normally without any extraordinary external force, abnormal strength, or dangerous tools, absolutely no adverse effects will occur. After all, the so-called fatal danger is only triggered under extreme circumstances, such as unexpected heavy impacts, unusually violent shocks, or direct assault with hazardous objects.
Next, Elder Guo retrieved a cross-sectional human body model so that Qin Yongping could study and memorize the locations more intuitively.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto Qin Yongping's desk, illuminating thick professional books and dense notes. Qin Yongping sat before the desk, reading every word with intense concentration while his hand moved unceasingly to take notes.
Time slipped away second by second, and before he knew it, noon had arrived. Just as Qin Yongping was immersed in the ocean of knowledge, a crisp knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. "Junior Brother Yongping, it's time for lunch!" Junior Sister's voice came from outside.
Qin Yongping blinked, as if awakening from a dream. He looked at the wall clock and sighed, "Time flies! I had no idea the whole morning had already passed." He gently closed his book, rubbed his tired and aching eyes, and muttered to himself, "Since these technical terms are all completely new to me, they are indeed hard to grasp. I've only managed to memorize around 80 of them this morning; it looks like I'll have to redouble my efforts from now on."
Qin Yongping stood up, stretched luxuriously, and walked out of the room to the dining table. After a simple lunch, he did not hesitate for a moment, returning straight to the study for his afternoon sessions. Throughout the entire afternoon, he absorbed new knowledge like a sponge, looking up references or consulting his master and senior sister whenever he encountered something he did not understand.
As the sun set to the west, a brilliant glow of twilight painted the horizon. Qin Yongping finally completed his studies for the day, slowly setting down his pen to stretch his stiff fingers and shoulders. At that moment, his master walked in from outside, nodding with satisfaction upon seeing how diligent and hardworking Qin Yongping was. The three of them shared dinner together, the table filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.
After dinner, Qin Yongping took the initiative to wash the dishes. Once everything was tidy, he said goodbye to his master and junior sister one by one and set off on the road back to school. Along the way, his mind was still replaying the knowledge he had learned today, pondering how to apply it in practice.
At that moment, a bus slowly pulled up. Qin Yongping dashed onto the vehicle like an arrow released from a bow. Because the bus was packed wall-to-wall with people, it took him a great deal of effort just to pay his fare, after which the driver shouted loudly for him to board from the rear door. Once aboard, he gripped the handrail tightly with a sharp, watchful gaze. Suddenly, a familiar-looking figure caught his eye; he paused in surprise, though he did not pay it much mind.
The person turned out to be Zhou Qingqing, whom he had bumped into earlier that morning, and she was now in trouble. A man standing next to her had been struck with evil intentions upon seeing her heavenly beauty. Taking advantage of the swaying, crowded bus, the man slithered like an eel, pressing his body closer and closer against Zhou Qingqing with the vehicle's motion. At first, Zhou Qingqing did not notice anything amiss, assuming it was simply the usual crush of a crowded bus. She tried to shift away, but the passengers were packed like ants, making it impossible to budge an inch. The man refused to stop there; he even reached out a demonic hand, attempting to grope her. Realizing what was happening, Zhou Qingqing was terrified and cried out loudly, "Pervert!" The man, however, argued shamelessly, "With so many people here, getting bumped by accident—what's all the fuss about?"
Hearing the commotion, Qin Yongping looked over and saw that the source of the shouting was Zhou Qingqing. He hurried over to ask what was wrong. Upon learning the whole story, he cast a contemptuous glare at the man and quickly wedged himself between Zhou Qingqing and the offender like a mother hen shielding her chicks, putting her safely behind him. The man shot Qin Yongping a vicious glare and shut his mouth, but in his heart, he began plotting revenge.
When they reached their destination, Qin Yongping and Zhou Qingqing got off together and walked in the direction of the school. Because they were both inexperienced in the ways of the world, they remained completely unaware of the danger closing in on them.
As it turned out, the man from the bus had trailed them like a ghost. When they reached a turning point where the surroundings were deserted, the man lunged like a starved tiger, leaping up to kick Zhou Yongping. Taken completely by surprise, Qin Yongping crashed to the ground. "Brat, trying to play the hero saving the damsel? That's going to cost you!" the man snarled viciously before raising his foot to kick Qin Yongping again. Qin Yongping was strong and sturdy; how could he let himself be bullied without a fight? He immediately sprang up to resist, wrestling with the attacker.
Seeing that he could not quickly overpower Qin Yongping, the man grew desperate like a starving wolf and searched for an opening. Suddenly, he whipped out a gleaming knife from his waist and plunged it fiercely toward Qin Yongping like a striking viper. Seeing this, Zhou Qingqing's face turned ashen as if struck by lightning. She threw back her head and shrieked at the top of her lungs, "Qin Yongping, watch out for the knife!" But alas, it was all too late. The blade sank ruthlessly into Qin Yongping's chest like a demon's fang, and blood gushed out like a broken levee. "Help! Someone help..." Zhou Qingqing's cries echoed in the air like a desperate wail. Hearing the shouts, the man snapped back to reality; like a startled rabbit, he snatched up his weapon and fled in a panic.
Qin Yongping pressed his right hand tightly against his chest, trying to stem the surging flow of blood, but his efforts were like trying to stop a chariot with a praying mantis's arms—utterly useless. His heart filled with terror and regret: "It hurts so much. Am I really going to die just like this?! I haven't even found my birth parents..." Moments later, his vision blurred, and like a kite with a snapped string, he collapsed into unconsciousness. Amidst her panic, Zhou Qingqing dialed the emergency and police numbers with trembling hands, then dropped to her knees, crying out endlessly, "Wake up, don't sleep! The ambulance is already on its way..." Her voice rang out in the silent air, so sharp and helpless, as if she were locked in a desperate life-and-death struggle against the grim reaper.