Aiden Knight's POV
The silver needle slides into the old man's wrist with surgical precision. Chen Wei doesn't even flinch as I locate the exact pressure point where his blocked qi pools like stagnant water.
"What are you doing to him?" His daughter hovers beside the chair, wringing her hands.
"Clearing the pathways." I insert a second needle two inches higher. "Your father's life force has been trapped for months. We're going to set it free."
The crowd presses closer. I can smell their mixture of curiosity and doubt. Someone behind me mutters about calling the police.
Let them watch. Let them see what happens when ancient knowledge meets desperate need.
The third needle goes into Chen Wei's shoulder. The moment it penetrates, his breathing changes. The labored wheeze becomes smoother, deeper.
"Dad?" His daughter's voice trembles with disbelief.
"I can breathe," the old man whispers. Wonder fills his rheumy eyes. "For the first time in months, I can actually breathe."
