Fenna’s wrists remained sore the next morning, but Qinghe’s examination showed no collapse in her vitality flow. Her channels were irritated, not depleted. The pain came from pushing qi through a tense hand position while she clenched her fingers around the breath count.
Fenna watched Qinghe examine each wrist. “Jin Rui got Returning Spring Palm. Why don’t I?”
“His pulse was failing,” Qinghe said. “Your flow is irritated but still moving. The palm restores a depleted pathway; it would not address the pressure in your wrists.”
She showed Fenna the pulse notes. The first mark recorded the irritation along the hand channels, while the center flow remained steady. Qinghe offered a cooling wash and a gentle circulation to restore movement. Fenna asked what would happen if she declined.
“You can rest and use the wash, then we check the pain again. The gentle circulation is optional.”
Fenna chose it. Qinghe guided the first pass, and Fenna followed at her own pace. The motion eased the tightness without forcing a surge. Afterward, she could close her hand enough to hold a cup. The pain remained at the wrist, but it no longer shot toward her elbow.
“So the difference is the diagnosis,” Fenna said. “His life was failing. Mine is irritated.”
