The news that the Coffin Shop had changed hands had already spread throughout these two or three streets, but only a few inford individuals knew who the new boss was. After all, when Old Man Guan left, a funeral was held and those who knew about the street ca to offer incense.
Firecrackers had been set off. Soone was running towards this direction – it was Manager Ji, who sold Ingot Candle Incense. Upon glancing at the shop’s signboard, he read aloud, "Feichang Dao." Then looking towards Qin Liuxi and the others, he smiled and greeted with a bow: "Little Taoist, is your shop opening? Congratulations on the grand opening."
"Congratulations to you too," Qin Liuxi replied with a smile: "Today marks the opening indeed, and I hope for Manager Ji’s continued support in the future."
"Ah, little Taoist has real skills. I dare not claim to support but instead look forward to your care," bead Manager Ji cheerfully.
Qin Liuxi then chuckled, "We’re all neighbors; it’s proper for us to look out for one another. As our shop officially opens today, Manager Ji is our first destined patron, so I present to you an Amulet for peace and joy."
Chen Pi hurriedly took out a triangle charm from his sleeve and offered it with both hands: "It’s personally drawn by our boss."
Manager Ji’s eyes lit up and he quickly accepted the talisman, having already inquired about this little Taoist, who was no other than Qingping Temple’s Master Buqiu, a na that had recently surged in fa.
People nearby perhaps did not quite understand Master Buqiu’s capabilities, but from interactions with Old Man Guan, Manager Ji knew this was the real deal, and what this Coffin Shop was set to do – offering dical help, expelling evil and selling talismans – was no ordinary business. Just like his own trade of selling Ingot Candle Incense, wouldn’t people still need them?
There was still demand, and plenty of it.
"Thank you, thank you," Manager Ji said, securing the Amulet in his chest pocket. "As little Taoist said, we’re all from the sa street. From now on, we should indeed look out for each other, especially since we both run uncommon businesses."
"That makes sense," Chen Pi chuckled.
"Well then, I won’t disturb you anymore." Manager Ji clasped his hands in a bow and returned to his own shop. Soon after, he sent over a small red envelope via an assistant, seeking good fortune.
Qin Liuxi instructed Chen Pi to give back a peace charm.
Soone was walking into the alley, past Feichang Dao, and upon seeing the remnants of firecracker paper all over the ground, looked up and mused, "Feichang Dao? Are they no longer making coffins?"
Qin Liuxi glanced at him, offering an Amulet as he spoke: "The Coffin Shop is no more; now we practice dicine, suppress evil, expel evil forces, and hunt ghosts. Today, as we open, we present good people with an Amulet. Should you have any needs, rember there is a Feichang Dao at Shouxi Square, ready to relieve the worries of the good."
The man scoffed, his face full of disdain, snatching the Amulet to clench it in his palm, not a word of thanks before he walked past.
After leaving the courtyard, he spat disdainfully on the ground: "Playing gods and ghosts."
He intended to toss the crumpled peace charm in his hand, but after looking at it, he irritably stuffed it into his waistband and hurried away.
Qin Liuxi had given out five Amulets when Wang Chuan, with cheeks propped in her palms, asked in confusion, "Master, why didn’t you gift charms to so people?"
"Amulets are only for the destined," Qin Liuxi explained while ruffling her hair. "Your senior brother has already completed a small cycle. What about you?"
Wang Chuan exclaid in a flustered tone.
"Go to the quiet room to practice and cultivate," Qin Liuxi chided: "Don’t be lazy."
In the quiet room of the backyard, she had carefully arranged a small spiritual array with jade and reinforced it with Spiritual Energy. The walls were etched with talismans and scriptures that cleared the spiritual platform and soothed the mind, making cultivation twice as effective.
Qin Liuxi turned her gaze to Teng Zhao, who had finished cultivating. Just as she was about to speak, Teng Zhao said, "The ti agreed with General Song has co."
Qin Liuxi was taken aback.
As if on cue with his words, the sound of carriage wheels ca from the alley entrance, and a carriage stopped at its mouth.
Both master and disciple looked simultaneously.
The tall figure of Song Ye appeared first within their line of sight. Reaching forward to the carriage door, he helped a woman down from inside.
Leading the way, the woman was followed by a maid, a nanny, and two n dressed as guards.
Qin Liuxi looked toward Teng Zhao: "Your mory serves you quite well."
Without a word, Teng Zhao stood beside her, his gaze on the pair with a slight frown.
"Do you see anything?"
"That woman is surrounded by a greyish-blue aura. Is her life in danger?" Teng Zhao asked, puzzled.
Qin Liuxi explained, "This is the aura of illness, only found around those who have been sick for a long ti. If it turns to grayish-black, it becos a malevolent force leading to bad luck, and if it turns dense black, it could lead to death. On the other hand, the blue corresponds to ’Zi’ among the twelve Earthly Branches. At the ’Zi’ hour, yin and yang shift, yin energy peaks, and the air is at its coldest; hence the cold blue color."
Listening, Teng Zhao grew even more bewildered, "But the current hour is the second quarter of ’Si’ ti."
"Yin energy also relates to one’s birth dates and the Five Elents. Those born between May and early August are elentally water, which is the ultimate yin. She might have been born in sumr, and given her complexion – a pallid yellow without a healthy luster, lips lacking shine, sluggish steps, and her unstable and floating gait – she is likely suffering from a common won’s ailnt. With won, yin energy is particularly heavy," Qin Liuxi said, swiftly discerning the approaching Song Family’s complexion.
Teng Zhao’s eyes sparkled, glancing at her with all admiration kept deep within.
Being his master was not without good reason.
"Of the Xuann Five Skills exists the branch of Xuan Yi, and as the saying goes, ’in the Dao, nine out of ten are healers’. You can’t avoid learning it; whether you can excel will depend on your aptitude. As for what you wish to study and what you don’t, I am open-minded; it’s up to you. However, being versatile is certainly the best," Qin Liuxi looked at him with piercing eyes – only if you are capable in all areas can I rest easy.
Teng Zhao averted his gaze, feeling a sense of crisis, knowing he shouldn’t answer – once he did, he’d only dig himself into a deeper hole.
Qin Liuxi coughed lightly, then said, "The art of dicine requires utmost precision because if you diagnose incorrectly, you’ll prescribe the wrong treatnt. If you get the prescription wrong, not only will it be ineffective, but in severe cases, it could kill. The sa goes for acupuncture. I expect that you can identify all of the body’s ridians and acupoints with your eyes closed, so that when you do perform acupuncture in the future, you won’t hit the wrong spot. Acupuncture is delicate; one wrong point and everything follows suit. In minor cases, it exacerbates the illness; in severe cases, it can cause paralysis or death."
"So, Teng Zhao, rember: dical skills can both save and harm. You must exercise extre caution. If you harm soone, the karma and retribution will fall upon you – you will have to repay it."
Qin Liuxi’s words struck Teng Zhao like a thunderclap, a teaching and warning from a master to her disciple.
Facing Qin Liuxi’s eyes, Teng Zhao stepped back and bowed: "Disciple shall heed Master’s teachings."
Qin Liuxi tapped his forehead and with a smile, greeted Song Ye with a Taoist ceremony: "General Song truly values punctuality. Is this your sister?"
She turned her head to look at Song Family’s face; her eyes flickered – interesting.
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