Chapter 14: Jing Weiyao is eye-catching
The old Tongzhi really didn't expect that the person invited to treat the prefect was a girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old. However, judging from her skillful technique and focused expression, it really looked like the doctor.
Magistrate He's symptoms were quite different from those of other people: his eyes were tightly closed, his lips were completely colorless, there was no murmur coming from his mouth, his pulse was weak, and his qi was deficient and powerless.
Upon inquiry, it turned out that when he was found, he was injured, and he was not found with the other two people that month, but in a thatched hut in a field outside the city.
It's no wonder. The prefect was a martial artist and also knew Taoism. He must have discovered the murderer and had a fight with him. He was defeated and seriously injured, and his energy and cultivation were all sucked away, which led to his current situation.
Over the past month, his external injuries have improved somewhat, but he still has internal damage, which is why he is so weak.
Lingxiang gave him the Qi-nourishing pills to take, and treated him with silver needles. She looked at the time and ordered people to carry him out, blindfold him and expose him to sunlight. Two quarters of an hour later, they carried him back to the house.
After about an incense stick of time, the magistrate could be heard whimpering, and he was found to have been bewitched.
It seems impossible to get any clues from Magistrate He.
The old magistrate was delighted to see the prefect's complexion improve, but he didn't expect that this girl actually had some abilities. However, when he heard that the prefect had also been bewitched by some strange magic, he became anxious again.
Seeing this, Lingxiang hurried to comfort him, saying that Magistrate He's life was not in danger, and that as long as the spell he was hit by was removed, he would be able to recover after a month of recuperation.
Having said that, how can this spell be broken? Besides, the day after tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival, won’t three more people be in trouble?
Thinking of this, the old Tongzhi became even more anxious.
The only solution now is to strengthen night patrols and impose a curfew, which may be able to avoid it.
But Lingxiang found one thing strange. Logically, when something like this happened in the city, people should be in a panic. However, the passers-by who were watching that day seemed to be completely unaware of the situation. Even if they had concealed the matter from the prefect, they should have noticed that a neighbor was missing, but no one reported it to the police. Could it be that the people of Liangcheng were as cold-hearted as the name of the city?
She expressed her doubts, but the old magistrate shook his head.
In fact, the Tongzhi had long suspected this, but he could not find the answer. He had sent people to inquire before, but was told that no one was missing.
The third day arrived quickly, and three more people were killed in the western suburbs. One of them was Lu Zheng, a tall and strong man who usually looked tall, but now he had drooped shoulders and lowered his head, which made Lingxiang sigh.
When Long Qi saw Lu Zheng like this, he punched the ground, and his skin was immediately torn and bleeding.
That evil creature is truly despicable! Such a good person was harmed like this...
That night, after settling the three of them, Long Qi actually took the initiative to find Lingxiang and asked to practice with her. Lingxiang thought about how he looked during the day, and agreed after a little thought.
He was now able to draw Qi into the human body and transform it into a physical form, which made his use of spiritual plants for over a month worthwhile. However, if he wanted to make the first step, he still had to wait for the right opportunity.
But now I can teach him the art of chanting talismans.
There are many kinds of talismans. Blood talismans are mostly made of chicken blood, dog blood mixed with cinnabar, but this kind of talisman can harm living beings and is mostly abandoned. Some people with profound Taoist skills will also use their own blood to make talismans.
Nowadays, cinnabar and yellow talismans are mostly used. Cinnabar is formed by the pure yang of heaven and earth. Drawing talismans with cinnabar can increase the power of the talisman and extend its divine power.
Red is Yang and black is Yin, so some Yin Fu also use ink scrolls.
Talismans can be used to summon gods, exorcise demons, subdue demons, cure illnesses and dispel disasters. They can also be used to calm the mind, create invisibility, and shield oneself. The ancient banners and other magical tools are also a type of talisman.
However, all talismans cannot be made by just drawing them, but need to be recited in order for them to take effect.
The so-called reciting of talismans means that when drawing a talisman, one transforms one's personal understanding of the great way of nature into thoughts and injects them into the talisman, allowing it to resonate with all things and thus respond to the caster.
However, although talismans are the foundation of Taoism, not everyone is proficient in this art.
For example, Long Qi.
After a few days, although he was able to finish seven or eighty pages of the first volume of "The Theory of Talismans", his ability to recite talismans was really worrying. Even the most basic talisman for calming the mind was not effective.
Obviously, he is not suitable for learning this technique.
Lingxiang thought about it for a night and came up with a plan.
However, after listening to her explanation of the great Dao for a few days, Long Qi suddenly became enlightened, as if he was about to enter the stage of Qi Refining.
Those who were affected by the spell were nursed back to health by Lingxiang for nearly a month, and their health was better. However, they kept mumbling all day long, but no one knew what they were saying. It was especially strange in the middle of the night.
On this day, Lingxiang had just been treated by Prefect He and decided to visit Mr. Zhuang Wei - she was really curious about what method had made him recover as normal.
At three quarters past three in the afternoon, Lingxiang and Longqi arrived at the study. It was school time, and they saw a group of young children, some in groups of three or five, some accompanied by their elders, coming out of the study one after another.
After handing over the visiting card, a servant came out to greet them and said that the master was changing his clothes. He asked them to bring the two of them inside and serve them tea.
Jingwei Study is decorated in a simple style. In the courtyard, there are rockeries, flowing water, cobblestone paths, and vigorous pines and cypresses. It is leisurely and elegant, with a harmonious form and meaning, which makes people feel calm and peaceful. It is indeed a good place to study literature and learn etiquette.
The tea was Autumn Chrysanthemum, a heat-removing tea with a moderate sweetness and a lingering fragrance. I had just finished half a cup when I saw a man coming out from the back hall. He was thin, but with a straight back and the bearing of a scholar. It was Master Zhuang Weizhuang.
After the two sides exchanged greetings, Lingxiang stated her purpose. Although Master Zhuang was a scholar, he did not hide anything and spoke frankly about his own hidden illness.
It turned out that Mr. Zhuang's mother accidentally fell into the water when she was pregnant. It was winter and she almost lost her life. As a result, he has been weak since he was born.
Later, when both of my parents passed away, my depressed mood made the situation even worse.
One day, returning home from a trip, he stumbled upon Yao Yi in distress. Seeing her delicate appearance, he felt pity for her and took her into his guest room. Unexpectedly, she possessed a remarkable craft, and brewed a magnolia for him as a token of gratitude. As the two spent time together, they gradually fell in love. He didn't want to burden her, but she persisted, so he informed his ancestors and parents, and they married. Unexpectedly, his own health improved.
"Come to think of it, maybe it was the fox fairy who appeared and granted this marriage." Zhuang Wei smiled faintly.
"Fox fairy?" Lingxiang was puzzled.
"What a coincidence! I was out buying books that day when I came across a red fox whimpering in the fields. When I got closer, I saw it was entangled in a fence netting and couldn't get out. I'd read in a book before that foxes are spiritual beings and are immortal, so I rescued it. To my surprise, it wasn't afraid of strangers and even rubbed against me before leaving."
"Is there such a thing?" Long Qi asked in surprise.
Lingxiang glanced at him with disdain.
"All things have spirits, especially those in the mountains. A tiger is the spirit of a mountain, and a fox is the spirit of a land. This is common sense, so why are you so surprised?"
Zhuang Wei smiled softly, then looked worried.
"It seems its hind legs are injured. I don't know where it got hurt. Is it any problem..."
"Mr. Zhuang has a kind heart, which is really rare. Mountain spirits all have the ability to heal themselves, so there is no need to worry." Lingxiang comforted.
Then she took Zhuang Wei's pulse. Although the pulse seemed strong, there was a hint of uncertainty hidden in it. However, it was certain that he was undoubtedly an ordinary person.
Just as she was about to ask other questions, a woman with a bun came in from outside.
She had her hair pinned diagonally into her temples, her eyes were moving, her gaze was bright, and her figure was graceful. How could she be described as extremely beautiful?
The man bowed towards Lingxiang and stood behind Zhuang Wei.
"This is my wife, Yaoyi," Zhuang Wei said, standing up and introducing her. "These two are the immortals who have come specially to visit me on my sick leave."
After hearing this, Yao Yi bowed to the two of them again and said, "Slave, Zhuang Liu, greets the two immortals."
Lingxiang hurriedly stood up to return the greeting, but saw that Long Qi was staring at Madam Zhuang in a daze.
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