The young Taoist had prepared a lot of excuses to answer the straw sandal boy's inevitable question, "Who are you?" However, to his surprise, the boy opened the door quickly, bypassing that step entirely.
Mud Bottle Alley was one of the narrowest and most claustrophobic lanes in the town, and the Taoist's two-wheeled wooden cart couldn't be left outside blocking the way. Although Chen Ping'an looked frail and thin, he was actually quite strong and helped the young Taoist move the heavy cart into the yard without much effort. Throughout the process, the boy didn't say much, which made the Taoist feel a bit awkward. It was like someone thick-skinned going to borrow money, only to find the host welcoming him with the best tea, wine, and food, making it even harder for the guest to speak up.
The young Taoist thought that since it was already uncomfortable, he might as well rip the band-aid off quickly. He lifted the quilt covering the cart, revealing a black-clad girl lying curled up on her side. Despite her awkward position, her veil stubbornly covered her face. As soon as he uncovered the thin quilt, a strong scent of blood filled the air. It wasn't until then that Chen Ping'an noticed that her black clothes were faintly soaked with blood. He didn't understand how such a small quilt could completely mask the heavy scent of blood. The boy stepped back a few paces and asked, "Taoist, what are you going to do?"
The young Taoist said, "Save her! She's badly injured, and no one in town is willing to help her. You can't blame them; everyone minds their own business. So, I thought you might be the exception."
Chen Ping'an hit the nail on the head and asked, "How did she get injured?"
The Taoist lied smoothly, "I was passing by the archway when I saw this young woman from out of town. She said she was going to make a rubbing of the 'Qi Chong Dou Niu' plaque, carrying her rubbing kit and brush. She climbed up, and I got really worried, so I kept warning her to be careful. Despite that, she got too engrossed, and then, bam, she fell hard to the ground. The ground there is as hard as the green stone slabs of Fortune Street, unlike your Mud Bottle Alley. She must have hurt her internal organs badly. I'm a Taoist; I must be compassionate. I couldn't just ignore her, right? So, I took her along. Every household turned her away because she was covered in blood, not wanting bad luck after the New Year. It's human nature. I had no other choice, so I came to you. If you refuse to take her in, I'm no god who can pull her back from death's door. We'll just have to wait for her to take her last breath, then I'll find a place to bury her and set up a tombstone."
The Taoist deliberately spoke quickly and unclearly, hoping to confuse the boy and muddle through. Getting the boy to agree was the hard part; once he did, they could take things one step at a time. Surely, there would be a way out eventually.
Chen Ping'an looked conflicted, glancing at the hopeful young Taoist and then at the lifeless girl. After a moment of internal struggle, he nodded and said, "How do we save her?"
The young Taoist brightened up immediately. "Great! With you willing to help, it's already half done. Don't be fooled by her injuries looking serious; they're not as bad as they seem. She has a strong will to live and some family methods protecting her vital organs. Our town has many strange things that can help her. You may not understand the intricacies, but just know it's true."
The young Taoist realized he had said too much and laughed awkwardly. "Anyway, you probably don't understand, right?"
The boy responded seriously, "I don't understand, but I remember most of it."
The young Taoist tentatively asked, "So, you knew it was me at the door because you recognized my voice?"
Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes."
The young Taoist, curious, asked, "You have a good memory? How good?"
The boy glanced at the barely breathing girl. The young Taoist quickly explained, "She's in a delicate state and shouldn't be moved. Let's wait a bit."
Chen Ping'an, doubtful, said, "I remember things better when I see them than when I hear them."
The young Taoist pressed, "Give me an example."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment. "For example, Master Yao at our dragon kiln is the best at 'jumping knife' technique. I remember every detail after watching him once, but…"
The young Taoist completed his sentence, "But your hands and feet can't keep up, right?"
Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up, nodding vigorously.
The young Taoist smiled knowingly. "Have you ever thought about what makes Master Yao's skill truly remarkable?"
Chen Ping'an's face clouded. "I couldn't understand it before. Later, Liu Xianyang told me that Master Yao said the key to the 'jumping knife' technique is not just steady hands, but a steady heart. After hearing that, I began to understand a bit. I used to be too anxious. The more anxious I got, the more mistakes I made. Seeing my mistakes clearly only made me more anxious, so I was always the worst at the dragon kiln."
The young Taoist said calmly, "There's an old saying, 'A master leads the way, but the disciple must walk the path alone.' But if the master never intends to lead you, how can you walk the path?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I'm clumsy. Even compared to an average apprentice, I'm worse. It's no wonder Master Yao doesn't think much of me."
The young Taoist suddenly laughed. "Chen Ping'an, do you know how hard it is to truly understand the word 'steady'? Don't belittle yourself."
Chen Ping'an shook his head again. "It's like catching fish in a stream. Standing in shallow water and catching a fish by bending over is one thing. Someone with good swimming skills diving into a deep pool and catching a fish is another. Both catch fish, but they're not the same, right?"
The young Taoist laughed heartily, neither confirming nor denying, and suddenly said, "We can save her now."
Chen Ping'an froze. The young Taoist, also taken aback, said, "What are you waiting for? Carry her to the bed inside!"
Chen Ping'an stood still. "And then?"
The Taoist replied matter-of-factly, "Then we'll change her into clean clothes, get some herbs to replenish her energy, and then it'll be my turn to work my magic."
Chen Ping'an, dark-faced, asked, "What if she wakes up and kills me?"
The young Taoist assured him, "No way! You'll be her savior. How could she be so ungrateful?"
Chen Ping'an remained silent.
The Taoist coughed, his confidence waning. "Probably not?"
Chen Ping'an sighed, suggesting, "How about asking the girl next door, Zhi Gui, to do it?"
The young Taoist shook his head. "That's not possible. The problem lies right there."
Chen Ping'an didn't insist, crouching and scratching his head.
The young Taoist asked suddenly, "Don't you have questions? You can ask, and I'll answer what I can."
Chen Ping'an sighed, standing up. "Let's save her first."
The young Taoist beamed. "Good!"
He secretly suppressed the restless flying sword in its sheath.
Chen Ping'an carried the girl inside, laying her gently on the wooden bed. He'd recently repaired the bed after Liu Xianyang had broken it. The Taoist followed him in, surveying the barren room.
The young Taoist slapped his forehead, heading out to get pen and paper for a prescription. Returning, he purposely avoided looking at the bed, thinking the poor boy would soon be in over his head.
To his surprise, the boy was already cleaning the girl's face with a clean cloth and basin of water, having removed her veil. Her face was bloodied and pale.
The Taoist turned away, holding a piece of paper. "There's a small pharmacy on Fortune Street. Take this prescription."
The boy, puzzled, asked, "Didn't you say…"
The young Taoist, feigning ignorance, blinked. "Yes, I did say to be careful not to attract attention, to avoid rumors and protect her reputation."
Chen Ping'an accepted this, rinsing the cloth. "Do you have money for the medicine?"
The Taoist grew tense. "You don't?"
Chen Ping'an placed a gold coin on the table. "I'll exchange this for regular coins. You decide how."
The young Taoist thought for a moment. "This coin will cover the medicine. I'll get you the change."
Soon, the Taoist returned with a bag of coins and some small silver pieces, handing them all to Chen Ping'an.
The boy carefully counted the money, committing the amounts to memory before pocketing it. "I'll handle the water later. Song Jixin next door likes to watch. It's better if he doesn't see."
The young Taoist asked seriously, "Don't you have any questions?"
Chen Ping'an, having finished counting, motioned for them to talk outside. Once there, he looked up slowly. "I know you're all not ordinary people. Master
Yao said our town is unusual, but he couldn't explain how. Recently, Gu Can said the storyteller made a big bowl pour out a whole vat of water. I know Gu Can wasn't lying. And…"
Chen Ping'an paused. "And today, a tall woman flicked my forehead and hit my chest. She said I'd die soon. I believe her."
The young Taoist's face grew somber.
Chen Ping'an continued, "You said your talismans could bring my parents good luck. I believe you. So when you came asking for help, I didn't hesitate. But I have a condition. If you agree, I'll do whatever you ask. If not, after getting the medicine and making the decoction, I'll ask you to leave."
The Taoist asked, "What condition?"
The usually calm and collected boy seemed nervous. "If I help save her, and if—if I die suddenly, can you make sure I'm reborn as my parents' child again?"
The Taoist was silent.
Chen Ping'an smiled wryly. "If not, never mind. It's a ridiculous request. Sorry for putting you on the spot."
The Taoist asked, "What about the girl?"
Chen Ping'an turned abruptly, raising a fist in mock excitement. "She's pretty. Not saving her would be foolish!"
The young Taoist watched the boy leave, trying to hold back tears.
---
In Mud Bottle Alley, the young Taoist pushed a cart to a gate and knocked. "Is Chen Ping'an home?"
On the cart, a white-sheathed sword lay in the corner, its flying sword inside, seemingly disdainful of the Taoist's choice of such a poor household.