Maoshan Taoist priests practice falsehood and become reality

Chapter 41 Lao Xu’s Chinese Medicine Shop

It was almost dusk when we left the patient's home.

The rain has been falling for a long time, but it shows no sign of letting up.

The water level on the street continues to rise, and all kinds of garbage are washed out from unknown corners, and sink into large and small vortices with the current.

The two held umbrellas and tried to walk in shallow water beside the road.

During the chat just now, Su Heng learned that Lao Xu's real name was Xu Qiuyang, and that he and his master Wang Zhiyuan grew up wearing a pair of crotchless pants.

After reaching middle age, Wang Zhiyuan chose to go to the city and inherit the rebuilt Maoshan Taoist Temple, while Xu Qiuyang stayed in his hometown and opened a Chinese medicine shop.

"At least he has a granddaughter in the city. My husband died early and has no children. It is better to stay in Tingyun Town to see doctors and save people than to go to the city to join in the fun."

After chatting for a few words, Su Heng went straight to the topic.

"Are there many people suffering from heat stroke in the town these days?"

"Not many, even less than in previous years. The plumber just now is the second one since the beginning of summer this year."

"What about the first one?"

"I just left the night before yesterday. The old man is old and can't bear it."

"Where's the corpse?"

"It was transported away and cremated. They don't do your Taoist burial routine."

It can be heard from Xu Qiuyang's tone that nothing strange has happened in Tingyun Town recently. The old man who died the day before yesterday also died of a normal illness.

Could it be that the plumber we just rescued is the only person in the town who is cursed?

"That's right, where do so many evil spirits come from?"

While talking, the two of them had already arrived at the Chinese medicine shop.

As soon as you enter the door, the strong aroma of medicine hits your nostrils.

Xu Qiuyang turned on the green-lacquered iron-shaded lamp, and the warm yellow light instantly filled the entire small pharmacy.

It was dark outside, and the rainwater formed a stream running down the street. If someone happens to be standing on the second floor across the street and looks through the window, he or she will see that the illuminated old Xu Pharmacy looks like a still river lantern.

Su Heng placed a bag of agarwood in front of the counter and informed Xu Qiuyang.

"It's true, Lao Wang, he delivers it every time. The last delivery hasn't been used up yet."

While joking, he lit one.

"Wait a moment, I'll find a bone-strengthening patch."

Xu Qiuyang squatted down and disappeared behind the counter. Su Heng's eyes fell on the antique solid wood medicine cabinet at the back.

There are small pieces of paper taped to each small drawer, with ginseng, licorice, angelica, astragalus, atractylodes, etc. written on them with a brush.

It was raining heavily outside, and the lights inside the house were warm, and the smoke was curling up, mixed with the comforting aroma of herbs.

Su Heng was immersed in this comfortable atmosphere, until the sound of treading water from far to near ruined everything.

A woman with disheveled hair and a white nightdress walked straight towards the brightest Chinese medicine shop on the street like a moth lost in the night.

She didn't hold an umbrella and let the rain wet her whole body. Even though the material of her clothes was almost transparent against her skin, she still didn't care.

The woman stepped barefoot into the Chinese medicine shop, rainwater dripping down her kelp-like hair, and soon a puddle formed where she stood.

The woman is not an evil spirit, but she is cursed.

The black curse wrapped around his left and right arms like poisonous snakes, with signs of crawling up his arms.

She was shivering all over because of the rain, but her dull eyes were looking at Su Heng through her wet hair, and she slowly moved away after confirming that the other person was not the person she was looking for.

The woman trembled and said, "Doctor Xu, help me."

Hearing the voice, Xu Qiuyang poked his head out from behind the counter and was startled by the woman's appearance: "Xiu'e, why do you look like this!"

Xiu'e did not answer the question, but just said to herself: "Doctor, save my little baby. He is sick, very sick."

Two days ago, Xiu'e took her child to see a doctor. The child had a fever. Xu Qiuyang gave him acupuncture. He thought it would reduce the fever, but who knew the fever would get worse.

That night, Xu Qiuyang urged Xiu'e to take the child to the county hospital for IV drip.

"I didn't ask you to take the child to the hospital, didn't you?"

"No, Xiaobao is crying and fussy and refuses to go to the hospital. I really can't do anything. Please doctor, please take a quick look."

"How long have you been spoiling a child? Send him to the hospital immediately for a sling! Where is your man?"

"Xiaobao's father is missing. Doctor, please."

"Sorry, the patient is in a hurry. I'll find the things for you when I get them back. I'll go take a look first."

Xu Qiuyang picked up the medicine box and said to Su Heng.

"I'll go together, just in time to hold an umbrella for Xiu'e."

"Okay, thanks a lot."

The three of them walked into the rain curtain, Xu Qiuyang walked in front, and Su Heng and Xiu'e held an umbrella together and walked behind. After walking a few steps, Su Heng put his right hand on Xiu'e's shoulder. Xiu'e trembled as if she was electrocuted, but did not continue to resist.

"Don't be afraid, I just see you are too nervous. I will recite a mind-purifying mantra for you."

Xiu'e said nothing.

Said to be the mantra to purify the mind, Su Heng was actually reciting the mantra to purify the heaven and earth.

"The evil and evil dissipate, but the energy of the Tao will remain forever."

After reciting the divine curse, the curse on the woman's arms disappeared as expected.

Su Heng put down his hand and Xiu'e froze in place.

"what happened?"

The woman lowered her head and replied, "It's okay."

The two of them continued walking forward.

"Where has your man gone?" Su Heng asked.

"No, I don't know."

"Does Xiaobao still have a fever?"

"do not know."

"Don't you know whether the child has a fever or not?"

Xiu'e said nothing.

"Is Xiaobao still alive?"

Xiu'e suddenly raised her head and retorted almost hysterically: "Of course Xiaobao is still alive! He is just sick! He will get better after seeing a doctor. He will definitely get better!"

Xu Qiuyang turned around. It was raining heavily and he couldn't hear what the woman was saying. Seeing that the two people did not follow, Xu Qiuyang waved anxiously.

"Quick! What are you waiting for!"

Xiu'e walked out of the umbrella and followed Xu Qiuyang without looking back, leaving Su Heng alone.

Things are not as simple as imagined.

Su Heng, who noticed something was wrong, silently took out the finger tiger from his pocket and put it on his right hand.

He took a deep breath and then began to recite the mouth-cleansing mantra.

"The Danzhu mouth spits out filth and eliminates odor, and the tongue is upright, nourishes life and nourishes the spirit..."

The three of them walked in front of each other, with their backs to the setting sun, and slowly moved forward in the rain, towards the increasingly cold rainy night.

……

Walk a little further and you'll reach Xiu'e's house.

The terrain in this area is low, and the water has already reached the knees and almost reached the top of the thighs.

To ensure safety, all power supplies have been cut off. The whole street was plunged into darkness.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and Xu Qiuyang, who had poor eyesight, had a hard time walking. He could only knock on other people's doors, and after some persuasion, he borrowed an old-fashioned flashlight.

Relying on the light of the flashlight, the three of them found Xiu'e's house.

Seeing that the water level was still rising, Xu Qiuyang believed that the top priority was not to treat the children.

"Find Xiaobao quickly and move the child out first."

Xiu'e said "Oh" and took Xu Qiuyang's hand into the house.

Su Heng followed behind silently.

After entering the house, Xu Qiuyang looked around with a flashlight. There were no children left and right, only pots and pans floating on the water.

"Xiu'e, go upstairs and pick up the baby."

"Xiu'e?"

Xu Qiuyang suddenly discovered that the arm on his arm had disappeared at some point. The only person following behind was Su Heng with an indifferent expression.

"Su Heng, have you seen Xiu'e?"

"No."

"It's strange, where has the person gone! Xiu'e!"

Xu Qiuyang passed through the front hall, and the flashlight happened to hit the stairs.

There is a toy ball floating up and down on the water ahead.

Xu Qiuyang took a step closer and saw clearly that it was not a toy ball.

Instead, it was half a dead head that had been chewed beyond recognition.

(End of this chapter)