Chapter 183: Chapter 182: Witch Doctor’s Mastery of Poison
"For a moment, I seemed to become the little girl. Was the woman standing by the street calling me to go on an outing the little girl’s mother?" Lin Wanwan pondered secretly, "But why did I become the little girl? And why did I see things from my parents’ funeral? Am I poisoned, or have I lost my mind?"
"It’s her!" As Lin Wanwan thought about it, she suddenly widened her eyes.
She remembered the exotic woman who came looking for the little girl, who was dressed exactly like someone she’d seen the first time she visited Xiao Yixun, in the dark corner of his courtyard. She was startled back then, but since the whole courtyard was filled with Heavenly Defects and Earthly Defects, she didn’t pay special attention later.
Could they be the same person after all? How could there be so many coincidences in this world?
Another albino, another exotic woman!
Could the little girl be related to Xiao Yixun? Is she his sister?
Lin Wanwan wanted to figure out one thing immediately: Did Xiao Yixun go to Lingyin Temple yesterday? Hong Yan had said that his purpose in coming to Qiantang was to pray for healing at the Medicine Master Hall of Lingyin Temple! The reason he went to Ge Xian Temple later was because Old Sun had arrived.
With Old Sun there, naturally it would be more effective than any clay statue deities.
For someone as special as Xiao Yixun and that little girl, anyone who saw them would surely remember. Even if others didn’t know, the monks in the temple definitely would.
If she went to Lingyin Temple, then this little girl must be related to him. As for the strange things happening to me, who knows, they might also be related to him.
Just as she was deep in thought, a small foot kicked at her waist out of nowhere. Lin Wanwan came back to her senses, grabbed Qingyu’s foot, turned around, and positioned Qingyu’s foot properly, covered her back with her small quilt, cleared her mind, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, she woke up to Qingyu’s murmuring again. Today, without Hong Yan to do their hair, Lin Wanwan simply tied two small pigtails for Qingyu and made a simple bun for herself, tying it with a cloth strip, which looked clean and neat.
After washing up and sending Qingyu off to find Lu Zhao Lin, she was just planning to head to the courtyard where Old Sun was staying when Old Sun himself came over with Qing Feng and Ming Yue, two young Daoists.
"Greetings, Ancestor." Lin Wanwan bowed.
Old Sun motioned for her to sit, saying, "Extend your hand, let me check your pulse again."
Lin Wanwan obediently knelt on the cushion beside him, extending her right hand for Old Sun to check her pulse. After about ten minutes, Old Sun said, "Open your mouth, stick out your tongue."
Lin Wanwan complied.
"How did you sleep last night? Did you dream much?"
"Dreamless all night," Lin Wanwan responded. "Ancestor, what happened to me yesterday?"
Old Sun withdrew his hand, pondering, "It’s nothing serious now. Take another dose of medicine today to cleanse the residual poison."
Lin Wanwan exclaimed, "Ancestor, I was really poisoned? What kind of poison? After having tea with my cousins yesterday and walking to the main hall, I heard a little girl crying—oh, that little girl had albinism—and I didn’t eat anything odd, so why was I the only one poisoned?"
Old Sun slightly raised his eyes, "Albinism? Little girl?"
Old Sun knew what Lin Wanwan meant by albinism because, some time ago, while treating Xiao Yixun’s eyes, Lin Wanwan frequently mentioned this term.
He had gotten used to the terms Lin Wanwan occasionally came up with, attributing them to her reclusive master’s naming of the condition.
"The young lady from the Xiao Family did come to Lingyin Temple for medicine yesterday, but I haven’t heard of another little girl with albinism," Old Sun said, stroking his beard.
Lin Wanwan frowned; a distinctive condition like albinism would surely leave an impression on anyone who saw it. And since she came to the temple, knowing Old Sun was there, it would be impossible not to seek treatment.
But Old Sun said he didn’t know!
It didn’t make any sense!
At this point, Old Sun continued, "The poison you ingested was inhaled; I found residual powder in your nasal passages, which is why I prescribed an antidote decoction. Think back, did you encounter any strange flowers or plants yesterday?"
Lin Wanwan shook her head, "No strange flowers or plants, but when I saw the little girl with albinism, I did smell a peculiar fragrance. By the way, Ancestor, when Xiao Yixun came yesterday, was there an older woman in exotic dress with her?"
Old Sun said, "Indeed, there was such a person with her. That woman is a witch doctor, also treating the young lady of the Xiao Family, though her methods differ from mine."
At that, Old Sun hesitated, then slowly added, "Witch doctors often like to use poisonous mushrooms, snakes, scorpions, and other toxins in their treatments."
Lin Wanwan angrily slammed the table, furrowing her brows, "Then it must be their doing!"
It’s infuriating. She hadn’t offended Xiao Yixun, so why would his people target her? Lin Wanwan felt like galloping back to the Xiao Mansion and confronting Xiao Yixun face to face!
At this moment, Old Sun said, "Wanwan, the young lady of the Xiao Family has a very challenging disease, with a certain aggressiveness. You should be cautious."
Knowing who had targeted her calmed Lin Wanwan considerably, and she smiled, "Don’t worry, Ancestor. I won’t be easily bullied either."
Old Sun nodded, saying no more, "Take note of the prescription. You can brew the medicine for yourself later. Today, Old Cao will leave, and you can see him off. There’s no need to follow me today."
"Are you heading out of town to treat people again today, Ancestor?"
Old Sun shook his head, "There’re always more patients than time; today, I’m heading to the mountains to gather herbs."
Lin Wanwan said urgently, "There’s no need to gather herbs personally, Ancestor. Just tell me what you need and I’ll buy it for you."
Old Sun couldn’t help but tap her on the forehead, "You, always looking for shortcuts. How can you comprehend the properties of herbs without tasting them yourself? Mencius said, ’To believe in a book entirely is worse than having no book.’ Our medical practice is the same; medical books aren’t all-knowing."
Lin Wanwan giggled, "I know, Ancestor!"
Old Sun shook his head helplessly, grumbling as he started dictating the prescription, and Lin Wanwan quickly took out charcoal and paper to jot it down.
"Your handwriting is atrocious—formless and shapeless. Wanwan, what exactly have you learned from your master? Two steps forward and one step back? You claim to know everything but master nothing."
Lin Wanwan held her forehead, thinking for a bit, then defended herself, "I’m really good at math, Ancestor. I’d certainly pass the Mingjing Examination if I took it."
"Ha ha ha."
As they spoke, Hua Nong came over with freshly cooked three-delicacy noodles, while, right on cue, Old Cao entered the courtyard with Lu Zhao Lin and Qingyu.
"It’s the last day, I’ll have one more taste of this delicacy. Who knows when I’ll have it again," Old Cao said.