Xu Dog#

No divine arts, no meditation's trance, With a palm fan, he nurtures his pill's dance. A sincere heart, the medicine he seeks, Bored by human woes and worldly techniques.

At the eastern end of Qingxu Alley stood a modest Daoist temple, home to a solitary Daoist. This Daoist professed to have discovered the ancient formula for an immortality pill from the sea, earning him a reputation as a miraculous healer.

The Daoist's pills, when taken by the sick, showed no significant improvement, and when taken by the healthy, had no noticeable effect. If anyone inquired about their efficacy, he would calmly explain,"There is no such thing as a wondrous cure-all pill that can bring the dead back to life. True health arises from the harmony and smooth flow of one's essence, vigor, and spirit." Consequently, people began to doubt the Daoist's skills, leading to his temple being sparsely visited and few seeking his medical assistance.

In the city, there was an old man named Mr. Chen, whose wealth rivaled that of nobility. Now in his sixties, he had fallen gravely ill, showing signs of being near the end of his life. His son sought out the Daoist and invited him to treat his ailing father.

The Daoist had a yellow dog that he kept by his side at all times. This time, he brought it along to the Chen residence. The Daoist prepared many special pills for Mr. Chen. Although the household servants thought he Was merely going through the motions, they dared not say much and watched from the sidelines.

Unexpectedly, after taking the pills, Mr. Chen gradually began to eat and drink a little, and his breathing became smoother, showing signs of recovery. Yet, just when everything was getting better, in one of the Daoist's pill-making sessions, his furnace exploded, killing him in the process.

The household servants came to clean up the Daoist temporary quarters, lamenting the whims of fate. To their astonishment, they saw the Daoist's yellow dog, dressed in his clothes, walking out of the room. The dog was fanning itself with a tattered palm-leaf fan and said, "1 had planned to learn some mortal skills in the human world. Who would have thought that in this world, great talent brings such peril!"

With that, the dog snapped the fan, and disappeared.