Wu Tong still remembered how the Daoist master Taiyi Zhenren had once spoken to him with great earnestness:
"You two young men have hearts full of chivalry and the ambition to roam far and wide. Yet the world today is in decline, morals are no longer what they were, the martial world is treacherous, with endless fighting, and poison plots are commonplace. I have prepared some medicinal pills—carry them with you, for they may save a life or protect your own."
At that time, just as Wu Tong and Zhao Rou were about to take their leave, Taiyi Zhenren instructed his disciples to prepare the medicines. He especially packed for them various remedies: salve for sword wounds, pills for invigorating the blood and dispersing bruises, antidote pills, powders to regulate the qi and strengthen the body, and calming elixirs for the mind. He repeatedly exhorted them:
"Do not use these unless it is an emergency. Always put saving others first."
Wu Tong had felt that bringing along so many medicines was a bit excessive, but he accepted them gladly—never expecting that today, they would prove their worth.
Now, recalling those pills, he dismounted at once and strode quickly to the poisoned villagers. Glancing around, he saw that the toxins had penetrated deeply—some were already on the verge of death. If they hesitated any longer, the moment to save them might pass.
Without delay, Wu Tong said, "Young brother, I have some medicines that may counter this poison. See if they can be used to save these people."
He untied a large medicine bundle from his horse and laid it out on the wooden table before the thatched gate. A row of porcelain bottles stood neatly, each with a label, releasing a fragrant scent that seemed to refresh the spirit.
The young boy, who had been frantic with worry, was stunned at the sight. "Brother, how do you come to have so many rare medicines? Such a collection could rival that of some great physicians' halls!"
Wu Tong gave a modest smile. "One meets many dangers in the martial world. Carrying a few remedies for emergencies is only wise." His casual tone made the boy even more curious—ordinary wanderers could never afford such priceless medicine. This young lord's background was surely no simple matter.
But saving lives came first. The boy quickly instructed the villagers to bring fresh water, and began administering the antidote. Within moments of swallowing the pills, the patients broke out in a cold sweat, shivering all over, then retched violently, expelling black blood from their mouths and noses—the poison leaving their bodies. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, color returned to their faces and their breathing steadied; they were out of danger.
An elderly woman with white hair joined her palms in gratitude. "Such miraculous antidote work—surely you must be the apprentice of the divine physician Xue!"
The boy hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no! You should thank this young lord here."
Hearing this, the villagers surged forward, kneeling to Wu Tong and thanking him profusely.
Wu Tong quickly helped them up. "Please, don't do this. I have only done what I could."
The villagers, deeply moved, all cried in unison, "Thank you, young master! Thank you, immortal master!" Thus, this deadly crisis was turned aside through Wu Tong's righteous act. The setting sun cast golden light over the little village; though it had seen hardship, it now held a touch of warmth.
Seeing the people safe, Wu Tong and Zhao Rou packed away the medicines and rode on. After a few more miles, they came to a fork in the road. Zhao Rou asked, "Which way should we take?"
Noticing smoke curling upward to the right, Wu Tong said, "It's getting late. Let's see if we can find a household there to spend the night."
They led their horses that way, finding the path lined with peach blossoms, apricot trees, and azaleas—a true hidden paradise. Entranced by the beauty, they rode on without thinking, until the setting sun bathed the sky in crimson. Wild azaleas bloomed in profusion, petals drifting on the breeze.
Being a man of feeling, Wu Tong plucked a wildflower from the roadside and gently placed it in Zhao Rou's hair. Looking at her delicate features, he said softly, "Rou-mei, you truly outshine the flowers."
She blushed. "Brother Tong, what's come over you?"
Wu Tong smiled. "In such beauty, with you beside me, I envy not the immortals."
Hearing this, Zhao Rou's heart stirred. If only I could live out my days here with Brother Tong, life would be complete.
But soon they realized something strange—they had returned to where they started. Zhao Rou was startled. "Brother Tong, have you noticed? We've somehow come back to the same place!"
Wu Tong nodded. "The scenery distracted us. We've stumbled into a formation. Let me think how to break it."
He leapt lightly into a nearby tree, surveying the forks ahead. Every path split into two, and each time, two routes lay before them. This matched the yin-yang pattern his master had once described.
Leaping down, he said, "This must be the home of a reclusive master. The arrangement here follows the principles of yin, yang, and the five elements."
Zhao Rou grew anxious. "Will we be trapped here?"
"Hard to say," Wu Tong replied. "Let's try something."
At the first fork: left, yellow flowers; right, apricot trees. Wu Tong recalled the five-element cycle—metal produces water, water produces wood, wood produces fire, fire produces earth, earth produces metal. Metal's colors include white, apricot, and gold. "We'll take the right."
At the next fork: left, black trees; right, red trees. "Black is water. We'll go left."
At the third: left, apricot trees; right, green trees. "Water produces wood—green is wood. We'll go right."
At the fourth: left, yellow leaves; right, red trees. "Wood produces fire—red is fire. Which way, Rou-mei?""Red is fire, so we go right."
At the fifth: left, yellow leaves; right, green trees. "Fire produces earth—what color is earth?""Yellow," she answered. "So we go left."
At the sixth: left, apricot trees; right, green trees. "Earth produces metal—so we go left!"
Wu Tong nodded, though with a trace of concern. "Let's hope this is the way out of this strange place."