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When attending to a patient, the ancients employed four methods: observation (Wang), listening and smelling (Wen), inquiry (Wen), and palpation (Qie). While pulse diagnosis is certainly important, observation, listening/smelling, and inquiry should take precedence. One must carefully investigate the source of the disease and distinguish its manifested signs. Observe whether the complexion is lustrous or withered; listen to whether the voice is robust or feeble; inquire about dietary intake and preference for cold or hot substances; explore whether there are painful areas in the chest and abdomen, and whether urination and defecation are obstructed or free. Examine the eyes, nose, tongue, breath, whether the body is curled up or extended, and whether the head/feet turn inward or outward. Subsequently, diagnose the pulse principles to clarify the exterior and interior, deficiency and excess, cold and heat, yin and yang, and the surplus or insufficiency of qi, correlating these findings with external symptoms to see if they match. Assess the depth and normality or deviation of the disease, clearly distinguishing between similar and truly different conditions. Trace back the condition before the onset of illness, and anticipate the evolution after onset. In acute cases, treat the branch (symptoms); in chronic cases, treat the root (cause). Employ either direct treatment (Zheng Zhi) or contrary treatment (Cong Zhi). For severe illnesses, further palpate the pulses at Taixi (KI3), Taichong (LR3), and Chongyang (ST42) on both feet. Further verify which formulas and herbs have been taken previously, paying close attention to detailed examination. Only after fully grasping the condition should one draft a prescription and record the case. The patient should especially detail their daily habits, temperament, and the cause of the illness to the physician. Concealing illness and avoiding medical help aids the errors of mediocre doctors, hinders skilled physicians, and brings disaster upon oneself. Furthermore, physicians must not only master ancient formulas but also spiritually understand the nature of substances. Medicinal materials differ in yin-yang ascending-descending dynamics, qi dominance, and flavor dominance. These must be thoroughly understood so that when used, one does not rigidly adhere to antiquity while violating its principles. It is said that medication should not be bound by fixed formulas but used when appropriate. Ancient formulas and herbs merely outlined general principles, awaiting refinement by later generations. This is because climatic conditions vary in cold and warmth; dwellings vary in dryness and humidity; human bodies vary in age, strength, obesity, leanness, skin color, and quantity of food and drink; disease conditions vary in exterior-interior, deficiency-excess, appearing deficient yet being excess, appearing excess yet being deficient, appearing cold yet being hot, and appearing hot yet being cold. Among these, manifestations change endlessly, requiring flexible application according to timing. Are the "divine, sacred, skillful, and clever" (Shen Sheng Gong Qiao) qualities attributed to the ancients possessed only by extraordinary individuals? Moreover, regarding treatment methods and medication, even those that seem bizarre, dangerous, or shocking can be applied as long as the true nature of the disease is identified, without hesitation. For instance, in critical conditions where pathogenic factors are excessive due to failure in purging, even if the patient is nearly dead with faint pulse, purgation should still be employed to achieve efficacy. Conversely, in cases of chronic diarrhea or dysentery leading to incontinence, strong astringents should be used first, followed by regulation. Just as a state uses punishment to deal with thieves and soldiers to repel invaders, employing flexibility out of necessity is not hegemony but kingly way (Wang Dao), provided it does not deviate from orthodoxy. However, some physicians falsely claim to follow the kingly way by using only mild tonifying and balancing methods. This is suitable for deficiency patterns but inappropriate for excess patterns. Applying tonics to excess patterns strengthens the pathogen, accelerating death. In critical emergencies, such as when Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) or Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) are indicated, though their effects differ vastly like heaven and earth, fear of causing death may lead physicians to use only neutral formulas without extreme hot or cold properties, resulting in failure to save the patient and causing death just as surely. Patients lacking insight prefer stable, mild treatments and suffer harm unknowingly. How sorrowful! Nevertheless, the subtle applications in clinical practice depend entirely on one's prior knowledge and learning. Profound mastery cannot be achieved by chance in a day or two.