Huishan is located west of Shangjing, about 120 li from the capital, and is under the jurisdiction of Anlin County. There are three villages around Huishan, at varying distances.

At the summit stands Tongchan Temple, which has a history of over a hundred years. During festivals and celebrations, a lively market is held at the foot of Huishan Mountain, attracting people from the surrounding villages. Many also travel along the winding mountain path to Tongchan Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings.

Su Wan and her companion originally planned to arrive at Huishan by the end of July. However, on the way, Su Wan treated patients whenever she saw them. Although it took half a month longer than originally planned, she still managed to treat nearly a hundred patients.

When they arrived at Huishan, it was already mid-August, just in time for the Ghost Festival, also known as the Ullambana Festival in Buddhism.

"Everyone says that the seventh month of the lunar calendar is the month of repaying kindness, but according to Buddhist teachings, today is the day when monks complete their merits," said a doctor carrying a medicine box. "You've really come at the right time, as Tongchan Temple is holding the Ullambana Festival today."

The doctor, surnamed Zhang, was in his thirties and also a traveling healer. He lived in a village near Huishan and they met him while he was treating patients on the road. He greatly admired Su Wan's medical skills and, knowing they were going to Huishan, decided to travel with them.

When he mentioned the Ullambana Festival, Meng Ruliu didn't understand and asked, "What is the Ullambana Festival?"

Dr. Zhang said, "This term is from abroad. 'Yulan' means 'hanging upside down,' and 'pen' means 'vessel for salvation.' 'Yulanpen' means a vessel used to relieve the suffering of being hanging upside down. I even went to Tongchan Temple to see them hold it when I was a child."

His explanation was too abstract, and Su Wan and Meng Ruliu still didn't understand. They asked in unison, "Then what is the origin of this Dharma assembly?"

Seeing their interest, Doctor Zhang became even more enthusiastic, wiping the white foam from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve and saying, "This brings us to a Venerable named Mulian."

Maudgalyayana was a man with a heart for spiritual cultivation and an extremely filial son. His mother, Lady Qingti, was by nature stingy and greedy. She frequently slaughtered livestock while her son was away, indulging in lavish feasts and never performed any good deeds. After death, due to her karma, she instantly fell into the realm of hungry ghosts.

After Maudgalyayana became a Buddhist venerable one, he used his supernatural powers to see his mother suffering all kinds of hardships. He was a filial son, so he used his supernatural powers to deliver food to his mother. However, as soon as his mother put the food into her mouth, the food turned into burning coals.

Maudgalyayana was at his wit's end and deeply saddened, so he could only pray to the Buddha. The Buddha instructed Maudgalyayana to hold the Ullambana Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, so that with the help of monks from all directions, his mother could be fed. Maudgalyayana followed the Buddha's instructions, and thus the Ullambana Festival was held on the fifteenth day of the seventh month to offer alms to monks from all directions in order to help the deceased be reborn in a better realm.

With the help of many monks, Maudgalyayana's mother was able to eat her fill and be reborn as a human, but was reborn as a dog. Maudgalyayana then recited scriptures for seven days and seven nights, which enabled his mother to be freed from her dog form and enter heaven.

Dr. Zhang spoke with great enthusiasm, his saliva flying everywhere. Meng Ruliu listened with great interest and laughed, "I never imagined there were such interesting stories."

She nudged Su Wan and said, "Why are you spacing out?"

Su Wan snapped out of her reverie, a hint of alarm flashing across her face, and said, "It's nothing, I was thinking about something else."

She thought to herself, "I'm just like Lady Qingti. Although I don't eat as much as she does, I've still eaten quite a bit of beef and mutton. Back in Xirong, I got tired of eating meat every day. If I die, will I also fall into the realm of hungry ghosts?"

Then he comforted himself: "These are all Buddhist stories, they're all fake. Besides, I've cured and saved so many people... There's a saying that goes, 'Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.'"

Then, a panic gripped him again: "Although I saved many people, Bai Zhiyi committed so many evil deeds and killed so many people. Her consciousness originated from my side, so her sins should also be attributed to me. Let's just say they offset each other... Oh dear, what if there really is a cycle of reincarnation? Although science is advanced, it can't prove whether there is an underworld after death. If I really end up in the realm of hungry ghosts, I have no son to save me..."

She was lost in thought, and her already pale face turned even paler.

Dr. Zhang noticed this out of the corner of his eye and whispered to Meng Ruliu, "Miss Liu, I don't mean to be nosy, but we doctors use the four diagnostic methods of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation. Observation refers to looking at the complexion. Dr. Su's complexion is very poor, clearly indicating a deficiency of both qi and blood, and signs of physical decline."

Upon hearing this, Meng Ruliu turned to look at Su Wan.

She didn't know anything about medicine, but she noticed that Su Wan's face was pale and she couldn't see much difference. She said to Doctor Zhang, "You know how skilled Doctor Su is. If she were really sick, couldn't she cure herself? This is the kind of face she has."

Doctor Zhang said, "So it's a natural constitution. Then I misjudged you."

As the three approached Huishan, the number of pedestrians on the road increased, all heading towards Huishan. There were elderly people riding in horse-drawn carriages, women carrying baskets with incense sticks for prayer peeking out, and vendors carrying paper money for sacrificial offerings.

Doctor Zhang cupped his hands and said, "Ladies, Huishan is just ahead. We shall part ways here, and meet again if fate allows."

Su Wan and the other woman returned the greetings, and Doctor Zhang walked off to the side road on his own.

Meng Ruliu said to her, "Sister-in-law, Doctor Zhang just said your face was pale, that you were short of energy, that you were suffering from some kind of setback..."

Su Wan touched her face and said, "My face is completely bloodless?"

Meng Ruliu looked at it carefully and said, "Yes, but I don't think it's a big deal. It looks better when it's white."

When Su Wan was in the capital, she kept a low profile in the imperial city. As a general, she couldn't hide in her residence. Every day, she went out under the scorching sun, either inspecting the military camps, reviewing soldiers, or summoning generals to practice martial arts. All of this was done under the sun, which tanned her skin dark.

Noticing Su Wan's pale face, she felt quite envious.

Su Wan said, "Let's go to Huishan quickly."

After saying that, Su Wan quickened her pace. Meng Ruliu was a little confused, so she quickly threw the package that had slipped down behind her and caught up with Su Wan.

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