Chapter Forty-Eight: Aid by the Roadside

Zhang Xuan recalled the first aid knowledge he had learned in the past. When you truly need it, you regret not having read more; after all, knowledge unused for a long time fades away, especially when one never even had the chance to practice. All he could barely remember was pressing on the philtrum and performing chest compressions for CPR, but looking at the current situation, such methods might not even help. Yet, watching the man convulsing on the ground, with his wife anxiously crying out at his side, Zhang Xuan felt that if he simply walked away after witnessing this, his conscience would never forgive him.

Just as Zhang Xuan was about to step forward and try to help, a young man hurriedly ran over, dragging another person with him. As they ran, the young man shouted, “Make way! Make way! Don’t block the path!” Hearing the commotion, the surrounding crowd assumed a doctor had been summoned and instinctively parted to clear a path.

“Master, it’s him—please take a look,” the young man said, pointing at the convulsing man and addressing the one he’d brought along.

The so-called “Master” paused to catch his breath, then approached the man on the ground and squatted down, affecting a solemn air as he took the patient’s pulse. While the “Master” was busy, Zhang Xuan, who didn’t recognize this figure, quietly asked the young man who he was. Why had he never seen this “Master” before?

“I was actually heading to fetch a doctor, but the nearest one’s too far. There really ought to be a clinic nearby. On my way, I happened to witness this ‘Master’ treating someone else, and that person thanked him profusely. So, I stepped forward and asked if he could help here too. The ‘Master’ agreed, so I hurried back with him to see if he could do anything,” the young man explained. After hearing this, everyone turned their attention back to the convulsing man.

After taking the pulse for a while, the “Master” inspected the patient’s eyelids and inquired how long the convulsions had lasted. He then took off his own coat, rolled it into a ball, and placed it under the man’s head. He tilted the man’s head to the side, slightly elevated the neck, then loosened the man’s clothing to ensure his breathing was unimpeded. He asked the man’s wife to gently hold his hands. After this seamless series of actions, the man on the ground gradually stopped convulsing. The onlookers broke into applause, praising the “Master” for his skill.

The “Master” then took out several talismans, handing them to the wife. He instructed her to soak one talisman in water each day and have her husband drink it. After the talismans were used up, he assured her, her husband would be fully healed. The grateful wife thanked him profusely.

Watching the treatment unfold, Zhang Xuan had to admit that the “Master” seemed to possess genuine skill. Yet, seeing those final talismans, he stroked his chin, lost in thought.

The middle-aged man who had been convulsing was now able to stand without assistance. After a few words of instruction from the “Master,” the couple watched as he walked away, expressing their heartfelt thanks to his departing back. The surrounding crowd marveled at the “Master’s” miraculous hands.

Zhang Xuan gazed after the “Master,” then glanced at the talismans clutched in the woman’s hands, puzzled. “Why would someone do such a good deed and not leave his name? This doesn’t seem like the usual style of promoting the ‘Way of Great Peace.’ Could it be that in this era, the ‘Way of Great Peace’ works in such a subtle fashion? Or perhaps I’m overthinking it and this ‘Master’ is just a capable wandering healer. But it’s rare for such healers to use talismans in their cures.” Because Zhang Xuan had not been close enough during the treatment, he hadn’t heard what the “Master” had said to the couple.

Driven by curiosity and a desire to confirm his suspicions, Zhang Xuan approached the couple.

“Uncle, Auntie, may I be so bold as to ask what the ‘Master’ told you when he gave you those talismans?”

“Young man, why do you ask? I’m not giving you these talismans—they’re for curing my husband’s illness!” The woman clutched the talismans tightly. After all, the “Master’s” skills seemed almost divine, saving her husband from the jaws of death. The talismans he had given her were for her husband’s recovery, and she feared others might covet them. Surrounded by a crowd, she was anxious they might be snatched away.

Reading the woman’s posture, Zhang Xuan understood her concerns. “Auntie, don’t worry, I have no intention of taking your talismans. I’m just curious—when the ‘Master’ gave you the talismans, did he say anything else? Did he perhaps leave an address? I’d like to visit him if possible.”

“Young man, you want to know where the ‘Master’ lives? He must have amazed you too, and now you want to become his disciple, right? I actually don’t know where he lives—he didn’t say.”

Hearing the word “disciple,” Zhang Xuan finally understood what it meant to feel as if a thousand wild horses were galloping through his mind. Still, to confirm his thoughts, he nodded “sincerely.”

“But the ‘Master’ did tell us that tonight he’ll be holding a gathering to distribute more talismans at the temple on the outskirts of the city. My husband and I will both be attending. If you wish to become his disciple, you can go as well. You look unfamiliar—if you don’t know the way, you can come with us. As for whether you succeed in becoming his disciple, that’s up to fate. But young man, if you do succeed and learn his skills, you mustn’t forget us.”

“All right, I’ll ask around and come by the temple tonight. Auntie, did he say anything else?”

“He taught me a chant to recite while soaking the talismans, but I can’t share it with you. The ‘Master’ said the chant must not be spread, or it won’t work. If you become his disciple, I’m sure he’ll teach you. It’s getting late, so we’ll head home for now. See you tonight at the temple.” With that, the woman and her husband bade Zhang Xuan farewell and left, supporting each other as they walked away.

The crowd, still lingering nearby, had heard all this. Hearing that the “Master” would be distributing talismans at the temple that evening, they burst into excited discussion. After witnessing the “Master’s” miraculous display, everyone wanted to go to the temple—if they were lucky, perhaps they too could receive a talisman, useful for treating illness or warding off misfortune.