ExclusiveTraditional Chinese Tales：Recognizing the Returning Boat on the Horizon, Identifying the River Trees

Recognizing the Returning Boat on the Horizon, Identifying the River Trees among the Clouds
Xue Zhao and Tsui Yu once studied together in Lu Mountain, Jiangxi Province. Among the four students who studied together, two dropped out halfway. Tsui studied diligently and quickly passed the imperial examination. However, Xue focused on studying Taoism. After several years of hard practice, he received guidance from immortals. At the foot of Lu Mountain, there was a seriously ill patient. For years he had been incurable and was on the brink of death. Once, Xue passed by his house and, upon hearing about the sick person from his family, went in to take a look. After examining him, Xue said, "This illness can be cured." Then he left behind a medicine smaller than a grain of rice and told the patient's family, "Take half of it tomorrow morning, and it should take effect. If the patient does not recover, take the other half three days later." The family thought that they had already spent tons of money on treating the patient with no success, how could this half grain of medicine save him from dying? However, after the patient took half of it the next noon, he was able to get up, eat lunch, and even walk with a cane. Three days later, the patient fully recovered. After taking the other half, he became refreshed, his skin became as white as jade, and his hair became black and shiny, like a person in his twenties. After more than a month, Xue returned and said to the man, "Your body carries immortal energy. Taking my medicine not only cured your illness but also led you to enlightenment." Thus Xue explained the principles of cultivation to the man, who then went to Wulao Peak to seek immortality.

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