Three days after the Mid-Spring Festival, life in their small alley had returned to a familiar rhythm, but it somehow felt warmer than before. Li Yuan walked to the communal garden to water the plants that were beginning to show small green shoots—a sign that the seeds they had planted a few weeks ago were responding with steady growth.
The morning air was still cool, filled with dew hanging on the young leaves like small pearls. Li Yuan knelt beside his kale patch, observing with a quiet satisfaction how the soil they had carefully tended was now starting to bear fruit.
Like a community, he mused, watering with slow and even movements. Consistent attention, the patience to wait for natural growth, and the trust that an investment in relationships will bear fruit in time.
Inside his Zhenjing, his three exposed understandings vibrated with a familiar harmony. Since the festival, something had changed in the way they resonated—not a dramatic change, but a gradual deepening, like roots growing deeper into fertile soil.
"Qingshan!"
Sister Lin's voice calling him made him turn his head. The woman was walking toward the garden with a slightly faster pace than usual, carrying an empty basket in one hand and an expression that was... worried on her face.
"Morning, Sister Lin. How long have you been up?"
"Since just now. I... I just met with Merchant Liu who passed by this morning." Sister Lin put down her basket and knelt beside her spinach patch, but her hands moved with a distracted motion, not with her usual focus. "He brought some... worrying news."
Li Yuan felt a subtle vibration from his Understanding of Existence—a gentle warning that something in their community's atmosphere was changing. "What news?"
Sister Lin was silent for a moment, her hands stopping their movement over the damp soil. "There's a plague in Yunshan—a city two days' journey from here. Merchant Liu said many people are already sick, and... some have died."
Plague. The word made Li Yuan fall silent. In his three hundred and ten years of life, he had never faced a situation like this directly. The world he had known had been relatively stable—political conflicts, yes, but a widespread disease? This was unfamiliar territory for him.
"What kind of disease?" Li Yuan asked carefully, feeling the uncertainty within himself. His knowledge of healing was more focused on physical wounds and spiritual imbalances, not contagious diseases.
"Merchant Liu didn't know exactly. He said it started like a normal fever, then became a severe cough, and within a few days people became very weak." Sister Lin looked at Li Yuan with eyes full of worry. "What scares me is... Yunshan is on the same trade route as Hexin. The merchants who go there also come here."
Li Yuan felt an internal conflict—the desire to help clashing with the reality that he had no specific knowledge of infectious diseases. His Understanding of the Body vibrated with uncertainty, as if acknowledging that this was an area outside his expertise.
"What are the authorities in Yunshan saying about how to prevent it?" he asked, trying to find some practical information.
"They're telling people to avoid contact with strangers, wash their hands more often, and..." Sister Lin hesitated, "...burn the clothes or belongings of the sick."
Sensible steps, Li Yuan realized, although he wasn't sure how effective they would be. But what's important now is not to cause panic in the community while still taking wise steps.
An hour later, news of the plague in Yunshan had spread to all the homes in their alley. Li Yuan sat in Chen Wei's courtyard, observing how the community was responding to the potentially threatening news. It was interesting to see the different reactions from different people.
Chen Wei, practical as usual, focused on immediate concerns. "We need to stock up on food and clean water in case the situation gets worse and we can't leave the alley for a while."
Master Ma, who tended to be anxious, had already started talking about avoiding the market and limiting contact with outsiders. "Maybe we should stop receiving guests or traveling merchants for a while."
Madam Wang, who had experience in caring for the sick, offered practical advice. "We need to make sure everyone knows the right way to wash their hands, and maybe prepare herbal remedies that can strengthen the body."
And Granny Zhou—whom Li Yuan had just realized was the oldest and most experienced person in their community—responded with a quiet wisdom born from having lived through various crises. "Panic won't help anyone. We need to prepare smartly, but also continue to live and support each other."
Li Yuan listened to all the perspectives, carefully considering what he could contribute without crossing the boundaries he had set for himself as Li Qingshan.
"Perhaps," he said carefully, "we could arrange a small meeting to discuss the practical steps we can take as a community. Not to panic, but to coordinate a sensible response."
Nods of agreement came from everyone. "That's a good idea," Chen Wei said. "It's better for us to prepare together than for each person to worry on their own."
That afternoon, they gathered in Granny Zhou's courtyard for a spontaneous but well-attended meeting. Almost all the heads of household were present, plus a few young adults who would help with the implementation of whatever plan they made.
Granny Zhou, as the natural leader due to her age and wisdom, facilitated the discussion in a way that kept everyone focused on solutions rather than fear.
"First," she said, sitting in the center of the circle, "we need to understand that this is not the first time there has been a plague in this region. And it won't be the last. What's important is that we respond with a cool head and a heart that remains open to our neighbors."
"What can we do concretely?" Chen Daming asked—the boy was old enough now to participate in an adult discussion about community concerns.
"A few practical things," Madam Wang replied, pulling out a small notebook she had prepared. "First, we establish a routine for more thorough cleaning. Second, we prepare a stock of basic medicines and herbal remedies. Third, we coordinate with other nearby alleys to share information about developments."
"And," Master Zhou added, "we establish a protocol for if someone in our community begins to show symptoms. Not to ostracize them, but to provide care while protecting others."
Li Yuan listened with growing appreciation for the maturity and compassion of this small community. They did not respond with selfish panic or isolating fear, but with cooperative planning that balanced self-protection with community care.
This, he realized, is exactly the kind of response that will be most effective in managing a crisis like this. Not excessive panic that destroys social bonds, nor reckless ignorance. But wise preparation that maintains community cohesion.
"There's one more thing that might help," Li Yuan said carefully. "Although I don't know much about the spreading disease, I've heard from people on my travels that keeping the body strong is the most important thing."
All eyes turned to him with focused attention. "What do you mean?" Sister Lin asked.
Li Yuan chose his words carefully. "There are certain herbal remedies that are said to help keep the body strong. And there are also... simple practices like breathing exercises and light physical activity that keep the body healthy. Not a magic cure, but a sensible prevention."
"You know those remedies?" Granny Zhou asked with sharp but interested eyes.
Be careful here, Li Yuan reminded himself. Share useful knowledge, but not so advanced or specific that it would arouse suspicion.
"Some basic ones," he answered in a humble tone. "Ones I heard about from people I met on my travels. Mostly common herbs that might already be familiar to Madam Wang and others who have experience with traditional medicine."
Madam Wang nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I know some too. Maybe we can combine our knowledge and prepare a stock for the whole community."
"A good idea," Granny Zhou said with warm approval. "Qingshan, would you be willing to work with Madam Wang to prepare this?"
Li Yuan felt a clear moment of decision. This was a chance to truly help the community he had come to love, while still maintaining his role as Li Qingshan, the helpful neighbor, rather than Li Yuan, the spiritual master with vast supernatural abilities.
"Of course," he said with a quiet conviction. "I will share what I know."
Two hours later, the meeting ended with a comprehensive yet realistic plan of action. They would establish an enhanced cleaning routine, prepare a stock of preventative medicines, coordinate information sharing with neighboring communities, and establish a care protocol that balanced safety with compassion.
Most importantly, they would do all of this together, as a united community rather than as individuals each trying to protect themselves in isolation.
As the residents began to disperse to their homes with a sense of shared purpose, Sister Lin approached Li Yuan with a knowing expression.
"Qingshan," she said in a low voice, "thank you for the perspective you brought to the discussion just now."
"I just shared what I know."
"Yes, but... there was something about the way you talked about managing a crisis that made me feel like... like you've faced this before. Not just heard about it, but truly experienced it."
Li Yuan felt a moment of mild caution. Sister Lin was a keen observer, and she had already started to notice patterns that might indicate Li Yuan had more experience than he claimed.
"Perhaps it's because I've traveled a lot and met with various communities," he said with careful honesty. "Other people's experiences become my experiences too, in a way."
Sister Lin looked at him with searching eyes, but then she smiled with familiar warmth. "Yes, perhaps so. What's important is that we're all grateful you're here with us now."
Trust, Li Yuan realized, feeling a complex wave of emotion. Sister Lin may suspect there's more to my background than I've revealed, but she's choosing to trust me based on the actions and character she has observed, rather than demanding full transparency about my past.
This is a rare and precious gift—acceptance that is not conditional on complete disclosure.
That night, Li Yuan sat in his small study, carefully writing down herbal formulas that would be safe and useful for strengthening the body's system without being too obviously advanced for an ordinary traveler. He had to balance providing real help with maintaining a believable cover story.
Inside his Zhenjing, his fourteen understandings vibrated with... a complex anticipation. Not excitement, but an awareness that the community he loved was facing a potential challenge that would test not only their practical preparations, but also the strength of the bonds they had already built.
This is a moment that will reveal character, he mused, mixing the right amounts of various dried herbs. A crisis has a way of either strengthening communities or tearing them apart, depending on the foundation that is already there and the choices people make when under pressure.
But based on today's response, I'm optimistic about this community. They chose cooperation over competition, care over fear, and unity over isolation.
And for the first time in a long time, I will have the opportunity to contribute concretely to protecting the people I care about, while still honoring my commitment to living as an ordinary human.
The Understanding of the Body vibrated with a gentle readiness—not for a fight or an overt display of power, but for subtle healing and support that would appear completely natural. The Understanding of Existence resonated with a determination to remain a stable anchor in whatever turbulence might come. And the Understanding of the Wrapper prepared for the careful management of spiritual energy that might be needed, wrapped in a form that would seem entirely ordinary.
Tomorrow, Li Yuan decided as he finished the last of the herbal preparations, I will begin teaching Madam Wang and the others about the preventative measures. I will help the community prepare without creating panic. And I will be ready for whatever developments may come, while continuing to be the Li Qingshan they trust and rely on.
The night wind carried the aroma of the herbs he had prepared—ginger for bodily support, chrysanthemum for cooling and detoxification, goji berries for overall vitality. Simple ingredients that could be found in any traditional market, but combined with knowledge and intent that would make them more effective than most people would expect.
Protection hidden in plain sight, he realized with a faint smile. Perhaps this is the most fitting kind of contribution for my situation—strong enough to genuinely help, subtle enough to maintain an ordinary appearance, and rooted in traditional knowledge that won't arouse suspicion.
That night, Li Yuan's dreams were filled with a mixture of images—concern for the community he loved, a determination to protect them in any way he could, and a deep gratitude for the trust they had placed in him.