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The little ghost is extremely cunning and vicious. I can naturally gradually dissipate its evil energy, just like being executed by a thousand cuts (lingchi), to retaliate for its wickedness. Eventually, it will not even be able to become a ghost; where else can it go? This ghost underwent three transformations: before July, it acted like a scholar; after July, it became a villain; and after encountering me, it resembled a petty person. I personally went to my younger brother's house and burned all his poems, essays, and the spirit tablets he worshipped. I instructed him: do not listen to words of intimidation, nor to words of pity. The key is to maintain an unmoved mind (Bu Dong Xin). It tries every trick to shake his mind. If his mind moves, it can borrow his vital energy (Zheng Qi); if his mind remains unmoved, it cannot borrow energy. Without borrowed human energy, the ghostly qi will easily dissipate. "Hearing but not listening" is the crucial method for maintaining an unmoved mind. For a month, I lived with my brother, constantly guiding him, combined with medicinal power. The ghostly qi gradually descended from the chest and heart region, its voice became fainter and no longer echoed in the ears, and his sleep was peaceful every day. On September 20th, I traveled to Qingjiang and returned to the town half a month later. My brother's condition had not improved significantly. He said that when the ghost saw me leave, it was overjoyed, thinking it could finally take his life, so it churned restlessly in his abdomen. Since I had previously stated I would not use acupuncture, and a physician surnamed Bao from the acupuncture department was invited, the ghost concentrated its qi in the middle abdomen. Dr. Bao inserted a needle at this point. After withdrawing the needle, there was a sensation of qi leaking outwards, but the ghost did not leave; instead, it seemed triumphant. His sleep became restless at night, and his spirit grew confused. I pondered that treating ghosts originally involved acupuncture, specifically needling the Thirteen Ghost Points (Shisan Guixue) simultaneously. However, this ghost has merged with the human body and cannot be needled; my previous statement was merely a bluff. Unexpectedly, my brother misunderstood and foolishly summoned the acupuncturist, and Dr. Bao, also misunderstanding, foolishly applied needling techniques. Instead of targeting the Ghost Points, he was mocked by the ghost, damaging the healthy qi. When healthy qi is deficient, ghostly qi flourishes, causing further disturbances. Fortunately, I returned early, preventing major harm. I could not speak plainly to my brother because if he knew, the ghost would know. So I comforted him: "Dr. Bao is not skilled in acupuncture, and this ghost's tricks are limited; there is no need for major needling. Now that I am back, do not worry." My brother said the ghost was terrified by my return and was now complaining about its bad luck, having no vitality left. I said, "Ignore this shameless demon." I invited my brother to stay at my home, living together as before. After twenty days of treatment, the ghostly qi moved from the middle abdomen to the lower abdomen, the voice became more distant and lower, and lost coherence. It tried to push against the abdomen but lacked strength. Initially, the ghost would disturb him after bowel movements due to slight deficiency of healthy qi. Over two months, he felt relief in the abdomen after bowel movements, indicating the gradual dissipation of ghostly qi. Knowing the ghost was powerless, he wanted to return home. I knew he would not relapse and allowed him to go freely, but insisted he continue taking the pill formula daily until finished. Twenty-plus days after returning home, all signs disappeared completely. It was truly like being executed by a thousand cuts; the ghost ceased to exist. The decoction prescribed mainly tonified both qi and blood while stabilizing the soul (Ding Po An Hun). The pills contained Polygonatum Rhizoma (Sheng Huang Jing), Polygonatum Rhizoma Preparatum (Shu Huang Jing), Os Draconis (Long Gu), Os Draconis Preparatum (Long Chi), Os Tigris (Hu Gu), Fel Cervi (Lu Dan), Cornu Rhinocerotis (Xi Jiao), Cornu Saigae Tataricae (Ling Jiao), Succinum (Hu Po), Cinnabaris (Zhu Sha), and other precious substances to calm the heart and expel evil. Additionally, Ramus Pruni Mume (Tao Nu), Plumule Oryzae Sativae (Jian Yu), Polyporus Umbellatus (Lei Wan), and Realgar (Xiong Huang)—herbs known for killing ghosts—were added. These were processed into pills using mutton soup. Since the ghost belonged to a specific sect, we catered to its preferences and used the strong odor of mutton to disperse the ghostly qi. Those who understood his illness thought recovery impossible, yet I cured him, creating a sensation. However, this illness was not untreatable by me alone; it required my brother's abstinence from lust, our close brotherly bond, my extensive counseling, and our prolonged cohabitation. Merely prescribing medicine without these factors would have failed. The root cause was delusion induced by planchette writing (Fuji). Today, many use planchette writing to deceive people; one should be vigilant and fearful. The ghost's mockery of Lanru (the author) was cunning and infinite, too numerous to detail; this is only a summary.

Liu Songting's malaria transformed into dysentery treated effectively. Liu Songting was a prominent figure in Qingjiangpu, nearly seventy years old. In summer, he suffered from heat-malaria (Shu Nüe) with mild chills and severe fever. Physician Zhu, a leading doctor in Qingjiang influenced by local habits favoring Rheum Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), added Dahuang whenever fever persisted, regardless of the pathogen. Zhu followed this habit, adding two doses of Dahuang for Liu's high fever, which subsequently transformed into dysentery characterized by more red than white discharge, tenesmus (Li Ji Hou Zhong), occurring over twenty times a night. Being elderly and post-malaria, he was severely prostrated. Hearing I was in Pukou, they invited me to advise. Upon arrival, I found Zhu's prescription still centered on Dahuang. I said, "While Dahuang is indicated for dysentery with stagnation, this is not primary dysentery but malaria transforming into dysentery. The Shaoyang heat pathogen has sunk into the Taiyin, which is considered a adverse progression (Ni). Further purgation risks severe Spleen Qi deficiency and sinking in an elderly patient. Classics state: harmonize blood to cure stool issues, regulate qi to relieve tenesmus. We should prioritize this, combined with Yu Chang's (Yu Xichang) 'reverse withdrawal' method to guide the pathogen back out through Shaoyang, ensuring stability." Zhu agreed. I prescribed Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) 8 qian, Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) 8 qian, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) 8 fen to harmonize blood; added Brown Sugar-fried Hawthorn Fruit (Hongtang Chao Shanzha Rou) 3 qian, Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang) 5 fen, and Tangerine Peel (Guangpi) 8 fen to regulate qi; added Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian) 5 fen and Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) 8 fen to clear heat; and added Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) 2 qian to lift the pathogen out of Shaoyang. One dose resulted in smooth bowel movements and cessation of dysenteric symptoms. A second dose cleared all red and white discharge. His family suspected malaria recurrence, but none occurred, as the pathogens were resolved. This formula is ideal for dysentery in deficient patients, requiring heavy use of Danggui and Baishao. I often achieve success with it. Interestingly, Qingjiang pharmacies consider using 8 qian of Danggui and Baishao remarkable, yet do not find 1-2 liang of Dahuang unusual. This local adherence to convention is lamentable.

Hu Guan Gu Case treated effectively. In the 9th year of Daoguang, I was summoned by Huang Zhu'an in Hu Guan. Gu, after an argument, suddenly stood upright and could not lie down. Other physicians failed. I examined him and said, "This is the liver lobe standing upside down." His family asked in shock, "Can an inverted liver be treated?" I smiled, "The patient cannot recognize it; once recognized, it is easy to treat." I prescribed Xiao Wendan Tang (Minor Warm Gallbladder Decoction) with Gentiana Scabra Radix (Longdan Cao), boiled together with gold artifacts. Separately, a pig gallbladder was suspended over a sorghum stalk with a small hole, allowing bile to drip directly into the boiling herbal pot until exhausted. One dose cured him. The family marveled. Later, a humble physician from Guan asked why I treated "liver inversion" with herbs entering the Gallbladder meridian. I replied, "This is the method of calming Jia (Yang Wood) to harmonize Yi (Yin Wood)." The Liver is Yi Wood, the Gallbladder is Jia Wood. The Gallbladder lies beneath the Liver lobes, protecting it like a mother protects a child. When Liver Qi rebels upward, Gallbladder Qi follows. Thus, calming the Liver is less effective than calming the Gallbladder. Like a mother scolding someone while holding her child; persuading the mother fails, but enticing the child to go home makes the mother calm down to retrieve the child. The Liver is the General, housing strategy; the Gallbladder is the Official of Justice, housing decision-making. The classics state all eleven zang-fu depend on the Gallbladder, especially the Liver. Therefore, calming Jia Wood harmonizes Yi Wood. The Guan physician bowed in admiration and left.

Wu Qingjiao's wife in Dantu County treated effectively. Wu Qingjiao, a Jinshi from Hangzhou serving as magistrate of Dantu, had a wife who developed a strange ailment: purple spots appeared on her chest and breasts after combing her hair, accompanied by extreme distress. After one to two hours, the spots faded, and she felt calm. This persisted for over ten days. I asked why she didn't comb her hair earlier? She said it happened regardless of time. Pulse was deep. At the Guan positions, the left was wiry and rapid, the right slippery and rapid. I diagnosed Spleen Qi stagnation involving the Liver. Left deep/wiry/rapid indicates Liver Qi stagnation and Liver Yin deficiency. Right deep/slipping/rapid indicates Spleen Qi stagnation and damp-heat obstruction. The Spleen governs transportation; the Liver governs free flow. Due to stagnation, Earth is controlled by Wood, and damp-heat accumulates in the Spleen. The Spleen governs the four limbs. Combing hair raises the arms, causing Spleen Qi to rise, carrying damp-heat upward. This manifests externally as spots and internally as distress. Lowering the arms allows Spleen Qi to descend, returning damp-heat to the Spleen, temporarily relieving symptoms but not removing the root. As damp-heat was not severe, I harmonized the Liver and Spleen, opened stagnation, and vented damp-heat. I prescribed Buyin Yiqi Jian (Tonify Yin and Boost Qi Decoction): Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudi) to calm the Liver, Dioscorea Rhizome (Shanyao) to strengthen the Spleen, Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) to soothe the Liver, Cimicifugae Rhizome (Shengma) to raise Spleen Qi, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), Glycyrrhizae Radix (Gancao), and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) to harmonize the middle. One dose cured her; two follow-up doses ensured permanent remission.

Mr. Xie Jiaoshi's alternating-day insomnia treated effectively. Attached: Brother Dai Liu's case treated effectively. Mr. Xie Jiaoshi, from Jiangxi, former Director of Kaigui Dao and current head of Yangzhou Anding Academy, was timid and suspicious. Yu Yunsī suffered from emotional stagnation and preferred hot medicines. Yang physicians Zheng and Chen prescribed Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi), Aconite Root (Fuzi), and Realgar Pill (Shiliuhuang), burning up the viscera, causing bloody stools resembling rotten fish intestines, yet refusing yin-nourishing herbs until death. Grieving for his friend, Xie developed suspicion and fear, resulting in alternating-day insomnia. On non-sleeping nights, he suffered daytime symptoms: dizziness, headache, back/leg pain, palpitations, muscle twitching, abdominal distension/pain, varying endlessly. Sleeping days were quiet. Yang physicians failed. Xie hired Physician Zhang Xuelin, who stayed day and night with no effect; symptoms worsened, spirit declined. They crossed the river to invite me. Initially, I prescribed Heart-calming herbs with little effect. After three days, analyzing the pulse—which varied inconsistently, resembling a pathological pulse but lacking external evil signs—I realized it was caused by the Three Corpses (Sanshi). The Three Corpses (or Three Peng) reside in the Niwan Palace (upper), Danzhong (middle), and Dantian (lower). They encourage evil and discourage good. Cultivators must eliminate them to attain the Dao. Failure leads to madness, caused by the Corpses. Human consciousness resides in the Heart. During sleep, the Spirit rests in the Heart, yet dreams occur due to the Corpses. Hidden sins revealed in dreams are exposed by the Corpses. The Heart is the Sovereign; the Gallbladder is the Official of Justice. If the Heart is upright and Gallbladder bold, the Corpses remain quiet. If Heart is deficient and Gallbladder timid, suspicion arises, and the Corpses mock, creating bizarre symptoms. This is the "ghost born of suspicion," essentially the Three Corpses. They are called worms or spirits, highly spiritual, uncuttable even by those guarding Gengshen days. Xie's Heart/Gallbladder were deficient, inviting the Corpses. Treatment required addressing the Corpses secretly; if the patient knows, the Corpses know. Their skill is formidable. I explained this to his son, Si Shaojun, instructing him to hide the prescription. Si hesitated, fearing his father would inspect the herbs. I reasoned that since Xie trusted me implicitly regarding his life, I could persuade him. During consultation, I told Xie: "Treatment is difficult. If you do not investigate the prescription, I have a pill formula outside the decoction that works instantly. If you insist on knowing the ingredients, the medicine will fail, and I must resign." Xie agreed. I prepared a pill formula containing Corpse-killing herbs and precious calming agents. That night, during an insomnia period, he took 3 qian of pills with decoction and slept peacefully. No insomnia followed for twenty days. I departed. Xie recovered but requested a physician for pulse checks overnight, offering one tael. I recommended Zhang Xuelin, who accepted. I warned Zhang not to change the prescription and credited him with the cure. Zhang asked about the diagnosis and pills. I hinted it was "worms born of suspicion" treated with insecticides, Cinnabar, and Amber to calm the Spirit, emphasizing secrecy. I left. Seven days later, messengers reported relapse. At Xie's residence, Si Shaojun blamed Zhang. Xie had interrogated Zhang about the pills. Zhang admitted knowing they contained Cinnabar and Amber. Xie accused me of hiding toxic drugs. Xie stopped the pills, and insomnia returned. Zhang was helpless. Xie begged for help. I explained the failure was due to breaking the secrecy rule. Xie resumed pills. That night, he took pills again but remained awake. Next day, he removed heavy winter clothes in spring cold, wearing only silk padding, sweating profusely, chest open, steaming. He reported sweating with every meal, unable to eat. I deduced the Corpses sensed the counter-agent in the previous night's medicine and manifested this symptom. I devised a new strategy: treat Stomach Heat while secretly adding a Corpse-killing agent. I told Xie: "Insomnia can wait; this sweating is dangerous (collapse of sweat). Stop eating very hot food. Your Stomach has accumulated heat. Use Reishi Rhizome (Lugen) generously to cool and unblock sweat. But Lugen is cold and may cause diarrhea. We need a herb to counteract Lugen's coldness without dryingness. Atractylodes (Erzhu) is too drying. Only Polygonatum Rhizoma (Huangjing) fits—it tonifies Spleen and Kidney, pairs with Lugen, maintains cooling properties, and prevents diarrhea." Xie checked the Materia Medica. I pointed to Huangjing's entry mentioning "killing Three Corpses" but rushed him to buy Lugen (2 liang) and Huangjing (3 qian). That night, no sweating occurred. He slept peacefully. Subsequent decoctions used these two as guides. He slept nightly, symptoms vanished. I tried to leave; they detained me for a month. Si asked why Huangjing wasn't in the original pill formula. I replied: "This is medical strategy. Such strange cases are rare. I formulated the pills carefully, leaving some ingredients in reserve. If Zhang had exposed the full formula, I would have been helpless." This was in the 16th year of Daoguang. Fifteen years later, in the 1st year of Xianfeng, Brother Dai Liu fell ill. Dai Liu, courtesy name Huaiqing, was also timid and suspicious. Living alone in an empty room at the examination grounds, he felt fear. He experienced back chill, then whole-body aversion to cold. Falling asleep, he dreamed of a dark hell, bound by ropes, unable to scream or move, feeling crushed by stone. Many nightmares ensued. He could only wake when others pushed and shouted him awake. Moving beds didn't stop the dreams. He became confused, lost appetite, and suffered nightmares. Sometimes he felt cold despite thin covers; sometimes hot despite no covers. He laughed uncontrollably day and night, unaware when not prompted. Returning to Yangzhou, Physician Wang prescribed Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction), which seemed appropriate. After 2-3 doses, he felt his heart drop audibly. Insomnia lasted five days. This was not Guipi Tang's fault. Seeking another doctor, he saw Physician Jiang, who diagnosed Yang deficiency and prescribed Guizhi/Fuzi. Due to intense summer heat, Jiang refused to administer. Dai came to me. Pulse was inconsistent, indicating Three Corpses caused by suspicion, similar to Xie's case. I told him: "This is neither cold nor heat, but bizarre. Few doctors understand this. Since you met me, you will recover, but you must NOT see the prescription." Dai trusted me completely. His son fetched the prescription. I added Huangjing to Gallbladder-tonifying and Heart-nourishing herbs, instructing him to take it before bed. He slept peacefully without nightmares.