Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 619: Chapter 619: Self-Regulation

Li Xu stretched his back.

Such prolonged, intense concentration was truly mentally draining.

Moxibustion seems simple, but it’s anything but.

You have to constantly watch the burning moxa cone, ensuring the heat penetrates continuously while also preventing any embers from falling and burning the patient.

This sort of prolonged, high-intensity mental focus was more exhausting than any physical exertion.

As they were talking, the man on the hospital bed stirred.

As the effects of the second dose of Sleeping Saint Powder gradually wore off, he slowly began to wake up again.

This time, there was a newfound clarity in his eyes. Though still a bit groggy from sleep, the gloomy aura that had perpetually shrouded him seemed to have faded considerably.

"Dr. Li..."

The man sat up. Seeing Li Xu and the others still busy cleaning up, he greeted them, a little sheepishly.

"You’re awake?"

Li Xu walked over and said gently, "The second moxibustion session is over. It’s almost five-thirty in the morning."

"Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for all your hard work."

The man’s gratitude was sincere.

Even though he had been asleep, he knew these doctors had watched over him all night.

"Don’t be so quick to thank me,"

Li Xu said, looking at the man seriously, "I need to give you a heads-up. The treatment may be over, but you might experience one more major episode in the next day or two."

"In fact, the episode might be even more severe than before, and it could last longer."

The man froze, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes.

Li Xu explained, "It’s a good thing. It’s called a ’healing crisis,’ a reaction where the body expels the illness. Through intensive moxibustion, we’ve forced out five years of accumulated phlegm-fire toxins from your body. Before they’re completely gone, they’ll launch one final counterattack."

"Once you get through this final episode and purge that pathogenic fire from your system, you won’t have another one."

Hearing this, the man sighed in relief. "Doctor, thank you. As long as it means I’ll get better, I’m not afraid of one more episode."

"Don’t get too optimistic just yet."

Li Xu waved a hand, his tone earnest. "When I say it won’t happen again, I’m only talking about the short term—about the physical root of the illness. Whether it comes back in the future is up to you, not me."

"I was very clear with you about your condition before we started treatment. You know better than anyone what caused this illness."

The man nodded, falling silent.

He wasn’t a man of many words, but he understood the situation perfectly.

The failed marriage, the unfaithful wife—they were a thorn lodged in his heart.

"You have to look forward."

Li Xu advised, "Whatever happened, it’s in the past now. Everyone hits bumps in the road. Life is never completely smooth sailing. You have to let go of what needs to be let go. You have to turn the page."

As he spoke, Li Xu couldn’t help but think of his own life.

His own path hadn’t been easy, after all.

Right after college, his parents had passed away, leaving him with a clinic on the verge of bankruptcy and a whole host of problems.

Back then, hadn’t he also been lost, helpless, and even desperate?

If it hadn’t been for the system he acquired later, and the support of Song Sisi and his other friends, who knows where he’d be now, curled up and licking his wounds.

So, he could understand the man’s pain.

"Even if you won’t do it for yourself, you have to think about your mother."

Li Xu gestured toward the door. "How much has she worried about you these past few years, how many tears has she shed? Can you bear to see her, at her age, still living in fear and anxiety because of you?"

"Besides, some things aren’t as terrible or as hard to get through as you imagine. When you truly let go and move past it, you might look back one day and just laugh it off."

"Often, many of our troubles are ones we create for ourselves. Things like other people’s gossip and ridicule. If you feel hurt and ashamed, then change things. Go out and make a real life for yourself. When you become strong, no one will dare to bring up those so-called embarrassing moments from your past. They might even be forgotten entirely."

Perhaps it was the genuine emotion in Li Xu’s words, or perhaps the night’s treatment had truly started to unravel the knot in the man’s heart.

As the man listened, his eyes began to redden.

"Dr. Li, I understand. Thank you."

This time, the man spoke with surprising fluency. The stutter from before was lessened, replaced by a newfound note of resolve in his voice.

In truth, he didn’t actually have a stutter.

His previous stutter was caused by the blockage of his qi, a result of long-term suppression, low self-esteem, and self-blame.

But once his conviction solidified, once he began to find himself again, his qi flowed smoothly, and his speech naturally followed suit.

Often, a person’s greatest enemy isn’t someone else, but the self-made prison they’ve confined themselves to.

"All right, you can head back to your room now. See what Director Lin arranges. For the next couple of days, try your best to stay calm, and have your family with you. After the major episode passes, you can be discharged. Get out, get some fresh air, and get back to being your old self as soon as you can."

Li Xu reached out and patted the man firmly on the shoulder, as if transferring some of his own strength:

"Remember, if you ever run into a hurdle you can’t seem to get over, don’t bottle it up. Even if you have to get blind drunk and use the liquid courage to go a little crazy or have a good cry—letting it all out is better than holding it in until it makes you sick."

"Dr. Li, I’ll remember that."

The man gave a deep bow. "Thank you. You’re the first doctor who’s ever spoken to me so candidly, from the heart."

"Go on, now. Don’t keep your mother waiting. She’s been pacing outside all night; I’m sure she hasn’t slept a wink."

Li Xu said with a smile.

Once the man had left the treatment room, Li Xu checked the time and gave a big stretch.

"Alright, you two champions," he called to Director Zhu and Hu Qiming. "Let’s get some breakfast. My treat. Order whatever you want. After that, we’re all going home to sleep."

"Haha, let’s go! We’ll take Dean Li up on his breakfast offer, then,"

Director Zhu replied with a chuckle.

Hu Qiming followed behind, already calculating in his head. ’I’m definitely going to need a few extra meat buns to recover from this.’

...

After breakfast, Li Xu went home to rest.

He slept straight through until the sun was high in the sky.

When he woke up, it was already noon.

Though he still felt tired, Li Xu decided not to go back to sleep, or else he’d be up all night.

After washing up, he headed to the clinic.

Song Sisi was busy massaging an older woman’s back and legs.

Her technique was masterful, and she chatted with the woman as she worked, making her roar with laughter.

Seeing Li Xu walk in, Song Sisi wiped the sweat from her brow, her gaze softening. "You’re awake? I saved you some breakfast. It’s in the microwave, but it might be a little cold by now."

A warmth spread through Li Xu’s chest. He waved a hand. "I’m not hungry. Let’s just get some lunch."

They went out for lunch.

As they ate, Song Sisi asked, "Are you seeing patients this afternoon? A few people were asking for you this morning, said they came specifically to see you."

Li Xu put down his chopsticks and rubbed his sore shoulders. "No, I’m too tired today. I’m taking the afternoon off. You should take a break too. Let’s go check on the villa this afternoon."

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