If we try to force their energy back into place too quickly, we may damage the meridians further."
Doctor He studied her with new interest. "Can you help them?"
"I can try to reduce the pressure at the points where the current is reversing. I cannot promise more until we know what caused it."
She asked for clean water, a thin silver needle, and a small packet of neutralizing powder from the physician's kit. Doctor He supplied them without argument. Qiao Zhi worked slowly, first using the needle to stimulate two points near the wrist, then placing the powder in a cup of clean water for the patient to sip once he could swallow safely. The treatment was not a cure. It gave the man's natural circulation a chance to resume its rhythm without the corrupted energy forcing it to reverse. After several tense minutes, his breathing steadied. The grey colour around his lips faded slightly, and he stopped shaking.
