Chapter 219

Hearing Zinnia’s words, Charlie felt a lump in his throat. He knew she suffered from severe anemia, and any blood loss would be a significant drain on her body.

“Charlie, hurry! We’re running out of time. The golden treatment window is only fifteen minutes, and five have already passed,” Zinnia urged, pulling out a silver needle and thrusting it toward him. Closing her eyes, she offered her hand to Timothy.

Zinnia couldn’t bring herself to do it, so Charlie had to step in. Time was critical. There was no time to set up any blood collection equipment. Every second wasted put Henry in even greater danger.

“Zinnia…” Charlie’s face tensed as he realized how grave Henry’s condition was. He lowered his gaze to her delicate palm, where the slender silver needle drew a thin line. Crimson beads of blood immediately welled up in its wake.

Zinnia winced at the pain in her palm, biting her lip as she closed her hand into a tight fist. Drops of blood trickled down in a steady stream.

Charlie quickly placed a sterile cup beneath her hand, and then gently wrapped his fingers around hers, pressing inward so the crimson drops fell one after another.

For some reason, Yannis felt a tightness in his chest as he waited outside. His eyes remained fixed on the tightly closed door, clouded with growing worry.

The cup quickly filled with blood. Charlie swiftly grabbed the first aid kit and wrapped Zinnia’s hand. “Zinnia, it’s done,” he rasped, his throat tight with emotion. He never imagined Zinnia would go this far to save Henry.

“Give Grandpa the blood first,” Zinnia said, her eyes still closed as her fingers searched through the silver needle case, selecting the needles she needed.

Charlie gently lifted Henry up. The old man’s face was ghostly pale, his eyes shut tight, and his breathing was so shallow it was barely there.

“Zinnia, the blood’s been given,” Charlie murmured after carefully feeding Henry and wiping the blood from the old man’s lips with a handkerchief. His eyes clouded with concern as he looked at her bandaged hand.

“Take off Grandpa’s shirt,” Zinnia said, opening her eyes at last. She glanced at her freshly bandaged hand, the pain prickling like needles beneath her skin, but pushed it aside. Her expression was grave and focused.

Charlie complied without hesitation.

One by one, Zinnia drew out silver needles and expertly inserted them into Henry’s exposed chest in rapid succession, removing them just as swiftly. Her hands were moving in such a blur that Charlie could barely follow her technique.

As time ticked by, Charlie could only watch as beads of cold sweat gathered on Zinnia’s forehead and her lips turned pale. He didn’t dare utter a word, afraid any sound might break her concentration.

The private room was quiet. Moving swiftly, Charlie passed each needle through the flame before returning it to the acupuncture kit.

Inside, the two were in a flurry of activity, while those waiting outside wore grim, anxious expressions. The entire hall was eerily quiet. Sofia, supported by Isaac, looked deathly pale.

Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open, revealing Charlie, his face etched with exhaustion.

“How is he? How’s Grandpa?” Sofia’s voice was hoarse with worry as several people surged forward.

“Grandma, Zinnia says you should get some rest now. Grandpa’s condition has stabilized, but he’ll need a bit more time,” Charlie said from the doorway.

As he took in the worried faces of his family, his own heart ached.

Yannis stood outside, using his height to peer through the narrow gap in the door.

From a distance, he caught sight of Zinnia’s petite figure half-kneeling on the floor, her hand wrapped in thick bandages as she reached for a needle. The sight made his heart clench with worry.

“How much longer?” Jackson asked anxiously.

“Zinnia says it’ll take at least four hours,” Charlie said.

Two hours had already passed, with four more to go, six hours in total. Just hearing that it would take so long made it clear how tricky Henry’s problem was.

Yannis strained to peer through the narrow gap, but could only make out half of Zinnia’s figure. Her expression was hidden from view. “How is Zinnia holding up?” he asked quietly.

Charlie couldn’t meet Yannis’ eyes. “Zinnia’s completely focused on Grandpa’s acupuncture. I need to go help her,” he said.

With his wooden medical kit slung over his shoulder, Raymond hurried over and asked, “How’s Henry doing?”

Sofia’s eyes were already bloodshot as she spotted Raymond. “Raymond,” she pleaded hoarsely, “please, you have to save Henry!”

Jackson said, “Mr. Spence, Zinnia is inside performing acupuncture on Grandpa right now.”

“I’ll go take a look,” Raymond said, gently pushing the door open. Inside, he saw Zinnia’s petite figure kneeling on the floor, a long acupuncture kit spread out on the coffee table.

Charlie wanted to say something, but Raymond raised a finger to his lips, a clear command for silence.

Zinnia was utterly absorbed in the acupuncture, completely oblivious to her surroundings. Every needle placement had to be perfect. A single mistake would be irreversible.

Raymond tiptoed over and gently set down his medical kit. But when he caught sight of the acupuncture technique Zinnia was performing – at once familiar and yet strange – his eyes widened in disbelief.

'The Flowing Technique!' he thought, stunned. 'I never imagined I’d witness this legendary method in my lifetime.'

“Second volume, first row, first needle,” Zinnia called out urgently, her hand already reaching for the next one.

Charlie was about to search for the needle when Raymond swiftly retrieved one from the acupuncture kit, sterilized it over the flame, and handed it to Zinnia with practiced ease.

Compared to Charlie’s fumbling movements, Raymond’s actions were far more dexterous. With a quick wave of his hand, Raymond gestured for Charlie to step aside and took over.

Raymond’s medical expertise was certainly no joke. As soon as Zinnia finished speaking, the needle she needed was already in her hand.

Zinnia’s speed visibly increased. She felt something was off. Charlie wasn’t this quick or skilled with the needles. She stole a glance to her side and froze for a split second when she saw Raymond had arrived.

“Don’t worry. I’m here with you,” Raymond murmured, handing the needle to Zinnia with steady hands.

Hearing Raymond’s reassuring words, Zinnia felt a wave of relief wash over her.

With Raymond by her side, everything became much smoother. She no longer had to spell out which needle she needed. All she had to do was name it, and Raymond would instantly have it ready for her.

Time ticked by relentlessly as Zinnia worked, one hand twirling the needle while the other gripped her trembling wrist. The prolonged effort was taking its toll. Her wrist threatened to give out at any moment.

This was Zinnia’s first real attempt at the Flowing Technique. To think her very first patient was Henry, the weight on her shoulders felt suffocating.

The Lynn family had always been so kind to Zinnia. Henry’s ordeal was partly her fault. If it weren’t for Zinnia, Frastis wouldn’t have gone so far.

If anything happened to Henry, Zinnia didn’t know how she could ever face Sofia or the rest of the family.

The Lynn family waited from dusk until late into the night. Sofia’s eyes remained fixed unblinkingly on the closed door, her hands and feet icy cold. “Didn’t they say it would only take four hours? Why aren’t they out yet? Could something have gone wrong?” she whispered, her voice trembling. In just a few hours, she seemed to have aged several years – her back more hunched than ever.

Jackson exclaimed, “They’re coming out.”