Manager Liu was startled, as was the lady.
Miss Jun had been seen in her attire recently, and they knew what she was doing. Although it seemed peculiar for a young girl to be a bell healer, it was still acceptable.
They could even accept the girl blocking their path.
After all, bell healers, to put it plainly, were much like beggars, always opening their mouths to drum up business.
But they never imagined that what the girl would say was not an offer of medical advice or to sell medicine, but instead that she bore an ominous sign.
An ominous sign.
Do bell healers now share the same opening line as fortune-tellers?
Caught off guard, the lady was momentarily stunned but regained her composure with a touch of annoyance, spitting on the ground.
"Ptui, ptui," she said. "Bad luck."
The maidservants also reacted, rushing forward angrily to push Miss Jun away.
"Get away, get away," they scolded.
Liu'er, holding the flag, blocked their way.
"What do you think you're doing! If my Miss says you have an ominous sign, then you have an ominous sign!" She shouted, eyebrows raised.
They had never encountered such an aggressive maidservant; the group was startled and froze for a moment.
Seizing the opportunity, Miss Jun smiled and performed a courtesy, while gently pulling Liu'er behind her.
"Madam, I am a Doctor from Jiuling Hall. I see that your complexion is congested and your glabella is darkened, your steps are unsteady, surely you have been restless in your sleep these days and easily frightened," she said gently. "Continuing this way, your health will not withstand it, this is a sign of great misfortune."
After hearing her out, the maidservants snapped back to reality, their expressions even more embarrassed and annoyed.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" they scolded.
Manager Liu also shook his head. It seemed that fortune-telling and bell healing weren't much different. The healer needs to observe, listen, inquire, and feel, just as fortune-tellers do. Observing, listening, inquiring, and feeling involved determining whether the person in front of them was a gullible target by obliquely probing their worries and moving according to the wind, gauging what was on their mind to make a decisive judgment.
The lady clearly had a spirited and joyful countenance. Miss Jun, how could you be so blind as to say her complexion was congested and her glabella was darkened?
Indeed, the lady also laughed and shook her head.
"All right, all right, I won't stoop to your level, child," she said, waving off the maidservants, "Give this child some money and let her be on her way."
Sure enough, the maidservant took out a few coins and stuffed them into Liu'er's arms as she held the flag.
"Next time, say something auspicious when you beg for money," she said indignantly.
Liu'er was about to retort, but Miss Jun held her back, shaking her head.
The lady paid her no more attention and continued walking forward.
"Madam, even if you don't want to treat the condition, if you wish for peace in the coming nights and better days ahead, just spread some pine needles by your door. Then it won't dare to come in," Miss Jun said.
In broad daylight, this statement gave Manager Liu chills.
Was this a threat or a curse?
Terrifying.
The maidservants nearby were even more infuriated.
"What are you talking about!" they scolded in unison.
But Miss Jun did not engage with them further, she made a slight bow, turned gracefully, and walked away, continuing to ring her bell.
Liu'er also snorted at them disdainfully and followed, waving the flag.
Manager Liu shook his head and slightly turned his face as he walked past these people, with the maidservants still angrily cursing Miss Jun's retreating figure.
"It's nonsense from who knows where."
"Such bad luck."
"Nowadays, even children under the Emperor's feet are out deceiving people."
"She said she's from Jiuling Hall; what is Jiuling Hall?"
Manager Liu quickly walked past them sideways, fearful of being recognized and implicated.
"Alright," the lady finally said, "Let's go."
The group then continued on their way, grumbling as the distinct sound of the bell faded down the alley. Manager Liu looked back and saw the lady also looking back, her expression thoughtful.
Now we've done it. Surely she's wondering what Jiuling Hall is all about, and someone's bound to come knocking on our door again.
Manager Liu shook his head and hurried out.
"Miss Jun, what was the deal with that woman just now?"
Luckily, after leaving here, Miss Jun didn't linger and went straight back to Jiuling Hall.
Manager Liu also came directly without hiding any longer and asked bluntly as soon as he arrived.
"It's quite obvious, isn't it? She's the patient I've been looking for," Miss Jun replied.
"So, you mean to say you've been wandering around the capital these past few days just for her?" Manager Liu inquired.
Miss Jun shook her head again.
"To be precise, it's for patients like her," she explained.
Patients like her?
Manager Liu let out a sigh.
"Miss Jun, forgive my bluntness," he said, "are you planning to deceive or to blunder?"
What did he mean by that?
Liu'er, standing by the side, suddenly widened her eyes.
Miss Jun smiled first and set down her tea cup.
"Manager Liu, how could this be deception?" she responded.
"If it's not deception, what is it? You've even brought up matters of auspiciousness and spirits," Manager Liu said.
"The heart gives birth to ghosts, the mind conjures spirits," Miss Jun stated. "Illness muddles the heart and mind, a weakened Qi allows evil spirits to enter. This isn't about ghosts or spirits. Otherwise, why do people always say that someone frail is susceptible to evil? It's because when one is frail, their vital energy dissipates, and their thoughts easily become vague."
Manager Liu listened, utterly baffled.
"So, you mean the woman really is sick?" he asked.
"Of course, she truly is," Miss Jun said.
Manager Liu thought it over, trying to recall the woman's appearance and behavior.
"Why can't I tell she's ill?" he blurted out.
"Because I am a Doctor, and you are not," Miss Jun said with a smile.
There was a ring of truth to her words that made them irrefutable.
Manager Liu was speechless.
"Of course, I noticed something different about her compared to other people. Why else would I have wandered around for so many days, seen so many people, and only stopped her?" Miss Jun continued.
Yes, that did seem quite reasonable when you think about it that way.
"But just saying she's ill doesn't explain the great omen of misfortune, does it?" Manager Liu remarked. "Isn't that a bit too unserious?"
"Illness can lead to death, which of course is an omen of misfortune," Miss Jun asserted seriously.
Now that was a downright earnest lie, Manager Liu finally understood.
This flippant manner, he wondered who she had learned it from.
Doctor Jun was a Doctor, practicing medicine generation after generation, and such a family of doctors prized meticulousness. Moreover, Jun Yingwen was an official, a disciple of the saint, who would not speak of bizarre forces or chaos.
How could Miss Jun's words be like this, seemingly gentle and earnest, yet upon closer reflection, mere nonsense?
Since it was nonsense, she obviously did not want to reveal the real reason to him.
Manager Liu was no child; he knew what he could ask and what he couldn't, and when to stop.
"However, Miss Jun," he said composedly, "I understand these principles you're telling me, but the other person doesn't, you see. With this kind of talk, they simply won't believe you, let alone let you treat them."
Miss Jun responded with an 'Oh.'
"They will," she declared.
So certain?
"Why?" Manager Liu couldn't help but ask.
"Because she's sick," Miss Jun said.
I'm sick too, Manager Liu thought to himself, I shouldn't have asked.