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Once, a nobleman fell ill during a period of prolonged drought with no rain for over ten days. Several physicians were consulted, but none achieved any effect. The final physician arrived, took the pulse, and then counted on his fingers according to the sexagenary cycle (Ganzhi), stating, "On a certain evening, it will certainly rain again." He did not mention any treatment prescription.

The nobleman doubted this, asking, "Do you imply that my illness is incurable? Why speak of rain and not of medicine?" That evening, it indeed rained. The nobleman joyfully rose and walked into the courtyard until dawn, feeling as though his illness had suddenly vanished. The next day, this physician came to pay a visit. The nobleman, both pleased and puzzled, asked, "You spoke of rain when examining my pulse the other day; now that it has rained, my illness has indeed healed. Why is this?" The physician replied, "Your Lordship's illness stems from worry. However, I privately surmised that your loyalty and benevolence lead you to worry about the people. You worried because of the drought and found relief because of the rain; this is in accordance with reason. Why wait for medicine to heal?" Such a physician can be said to have grasped the fundamental way of healing. What is recorded in medical texts and established in conventional theories can be used by anyone; but to seek the unspoken meaning beyond words requires a rare talent. Who else but an extraordinary person could achieve this? (From *Xunzhi Zhai Wenji*)

Liu Hanqing, a Langzhong (Imperial Physician), suffered from alveolar wind (a condition characterized by gum ulceration and pus discharge) for a long time, resulting in perforation of the mandible with continuous dripping of pus and blood. All physicians failed to treat him. In Weiyang (modern Yangzhou), there was an official named Qiu, who was skilled in acupuncture. He needled the Weizhong (BL40) and Nvxue points on Liu Hanqing. That very night, the pus and blood stopped. Ten days later, the necrotic part of the mandible shed off, and new bone grew back, perfect as before. Similarly, Zhang Shidao suffered from the same condition and was also cured using this method. The Weizhong point is located in the center of the popliteal fossa (back of the knee); the Nvxue point is located at the heel. Although these points are not found in the *Zhenjing* (Classic of Acupuncture), unfortunately, later generations were unaware of their miraculous efficacy. (From *Guixin Zazhi*)

A man suffered from abdominal pain and invited Ge Kejiu for consultation. After taking the pulse, Ge told the patient's family, "There is a fleshy mass resembling a turtle in the abdomen. While he is in a deep sleep, I will needle it. Do not let the patient know; if he knows, the 'turtle' will hide." When the patient asked for the reason, the family lied, saying, "The doctor says cold qi is condensed; drinking strong wine will disperse it naturally." The patient was delighted, drank heavily, and fell into a deep slumber. The family urgently informed Ge Kejiu, who immediately needled the affected area. The patient woke up startled and was given herbal medicine. Soon after, a substance was expelled, shaped exactly like a turtle, with a hole at its head where the needle had entered. The illness was thus cured. (From *Huang Risheng Pengchuang Leiji*)

Huang Zinong, a medical practitioner from Jiangxi, possessed profound skills, and his treatments often defied expectations. A wealthy merchant suffered from chronic diarrhea for a year and invited Huang Zinong with great courtesy. After ten days of treatment, there was no improvement. Huang said, "I have not yet understood the underlying cause; I request permission to return home." One day, while reading the *I Ching* (Book of Changes) at the Qian hexagram, he encountered Zhu Xi's commentary: "The qi of heaven rotates ceaselessly, thus holding the earth in the middle, just like a person spinning a bead within a bowl; only through constant motion does it stay suspended in the air without falling; if it stops even slightly, it falls." From this, he realized that the wealthy merchant's illness was due to qi failing to lift and support, leading to sinking (prolapse or qi deficiency). He further reflected on the phenomenon of water being sucked up: initially, pressing the upper orifice with the thumb keeps the water in the tube; releasing the pressure causes the water to drain completely. Suddenly enlightened, he exclaimed, "Now I can treat the old gentleman's illness!" He packed his bags and went to the merchant's house. The merchant was overjoyed. Huang immediately performed moxibustion on the Baihui (GV20) point. After thirty to forty moxa cones, the diarrhea ceased. (From *Zhu Shi Wenji*)