Chapter 367: Why Not Enshrine Lu Dongbin?

"Humans consume the five flavors, each flavor corresponding to one organ..."

After completing the cultivation of the Nine Returns to the Sun Scripture, Gu Qing held the Dongxia Secret Pill in his hands and softly recited, savoring the alchemical secrets of the Dongwanggong lineage, pondering its internal elixir transformations, comparing them with the Nine Returns to the Sun Scripture to discern their differences.

"The Dragon King sent over so much jade."

Xiao Qing curled up into a ball, lying atop a chest filled with gold, silver, pearls, jade, and various hairpins; she had seen many treasures, desired many, and finally simply lay on the chest, claiming it all for herself.

After all, everything inside reflected the Dragon's taste—something Xiao Qing could not resist.

"Qing'er, let me take a few beads."

Bai Suzhen smiled gently at Xiao Qing as she reached for the jewels.

Xiao Qing shifted slightly aside, letting Bai Suzhen take the jade.

Gu Qing smiled at the sight and continued reciting the scripture.

After killing Wang Daoling, Gu Qing won the full recognition of every deity and spirit in Hangzhou; after all, his communication with the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper was undeniable, and every deity in Hangzhou now regarded him with deep respect—what he had once given away now returned to him tenfold.

All operations of the pharmacy were now entrusted to Xu Xian, who devoted himself entirely to medicine, guided by Gu Qing's teachings; his diagnoses and prescriptions grew bolder, earning him the trust of neighbors and townsfolk.

"It's time to offer to the Toilet Deity."

Gu Qing closed the scroll in his hand, took up the incense and candles, and walked toward the latrine.

The Toilet Deity is a spirit notoriously hard to summon; Gu Qing could bring him forth not merely because he kept the latrine clean, but because his Dao-body was utterly pure.

Inside the outhouse, Gu Qing lit the incense and offered it with meticulous care.

Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing both knew Gu Qing had a gift for dealing with spirits; they fully supported his devoted offerings. When Gu Qing emerged, washed his hands, Bai Suzhen handed him the strung prayer beads for him to examine.

"Good."

Gu Qing toyed with the beads briefly, then set them aside, ready to retrieve another scripture, when he heard commotion outside. He walked with Bai Suzhen to the front courtyard and saw a middle-aged beggar, brazen and unruly, grabbing the fruit offered before the Medicine God statue and devouring it greedily, ignoring Xu Xian's frantic pleas.

"Sir, our Tongren Hall has always stood on benevolence and righteousness."

Xu Xian urged the beggar: "If you're in need, tell us—whether you require free medicine or a meal, you must not act so violently, nor offend the divine!"

Gu Qing had carefully maintained this statue; the beggar's desecration would surely provoke his wrath.

The beggar, unfazed, chewed loudly: "No offense at all—just unfair!"

Gu Qing arrived at that moment, studying the beggar before him.

The beggar casually pointed to the Medicine God portrait hanging above: "Shennong, Bianque, Sun Simiao, Wei Shanjun—all are folk-deified Medicine Gods. You honor these four, fine. But why don't you honor Lu Zu?"

Lu Dongbin is also considered a Medicine God; in the Suzhou arc of New White Snake, Xu Xian's Bao'an Hall enshrined Lu Dongbin.

"You speak of folk legends."

Gu Qing said calmly: "I honor these four because they are named in Daoist liturgical texts."

The middle-aged beggar instantly flew into rage: "Liturgical texts? What are liturgical texts? You're just spouting nonsense! Hang up Lu Zu's statue right now!" He turned and shouted loudly: "All the offerings you've given them—you must give the same to Lu Zu! Only then is it fair!"

This man clearly acted as Lu Zu's champion.

The patients watching the beggar's demeanor began whispering among themselves.

"Could this be Lu Zu manifesting himself?"

"Dr. Gu is so sincere—his devotion must have moved the heavens."

Someone nearby murmured quietly.

Gu Qing scanned the crowd, waved his hand to calm them, and asked: "You're from Suzhou, aren't you?"

The beggar's face flickered with alarm, then vanished as he snapped: "Suzhou? Why do you say we're from Suzhou?"

Gu Qing, observing the beggar's reaction, bluntly exposed him: "I've heard some fraudsters feign madness to appear mystical... You're not pretending to be Lu Zu, are you?"

Gu Qing's words were too direct—the beggar froze in place. The onlookers, now alerted, began pointing and muttering that the beggar had always seemed suspicious.

"I'm not pretending to be Lu Zu!"

The beggar's voice cracked.

"Then you are Lu Zu?"

Gu Qing pressed again.

The beggar's face tightened; he said nothing, dared not admit it—afraid Gu Qing would test him.

"Fine."

Gu Qing told the beggar to sit still, then said to Xu Xian: "Go to your sister's house. There should be Suzhou constables there—notify them to come identify him."

Earlier, the Suzhou Prefect's private secretary had died here; the Suzhou constable had come to investigate, and Gu Qing was aware of it.

As soon as he spoke, the beggar panicked, rose to flee—but Gu Qing's hand pinned him down.

Xu Xian rushed to his sister's home and returned shortly with over a dozen constables. The lead officer, tall and thin, entered Tongren Hall, scanned the room, and immediately spotted the beggar seated on the chair.

"Liu Ba—I've got you!"

The constable seized the beggar and announced to the crowd: "This is a fraudster from Suzhou—already convicted and sentenced to exile, but this brat somehow escaped to Hangzhou. His specialty? Pretending to be a deity to swindle money."

At these words, the beggar hung his head in shame; the crowd erupted in cheers.

"And these others..."

Gu Qing singled out several more people in the crowd who had claimed Lu Zu had manifested, and the constable confirmed they were all accomplices of Liu Ba.

"Our oversight caused you trouble," the Suzhou constable bowed to Gu Qing. "Dr. Gu, we've all heard your name. In Suzhou, there's a Three Emperors Master Society—composed entirely of medical practitioners. If you ever have time, do visit."

Gu Qing nodded, studying the constable, and asked his name.

"I'm Hao, Hao Jianghua."

The constable introduced himself.

Gu Qing realized at once: this was the man who had arranged Xu Xian's marriage after his exile to Suzhou.

It was just a hard name to believe.

The farce came swiftly and ended just as quickly. After Hao Jianghua arrested the culprits, patients resumed their quiet visits. Yet unnoticed, a white-clad man stood in the shop, gazing at the enshrined Shennong, Bianque, Sun Simiao, and Wei Shanjun. He reached out, took a fruit from the freshly arranged offerings, bit into it with a crisp crunch, and walked out.

This farce came quickly and vanished just as fast; after Hao Jianghua arrested the man, the patients in the shop resumed their quiet consultations, yet unnoticed, a white-robed man stood there, gazing at the deified Shen Nong, Bian Que, Sun Simiao, and Wei Shanjun, reaching out to take a fruit from the freshly rearranged offerings, biting into it with a crisp sound, then walking out the door.

(End of chapter)