Chapter 2: The First Healing

The evening air was cool and fresh as Li Sheng walked towards Mei Lin's home, his heart racing in anticipation. After their brief encounter in the market, he had visited her every evening, hoping to learn from her, to understand the mysterious powers she possessed. Mei Lin was more than just a healer—there was something otherworldly about her. Every time he watched her work, he felt as though he was witnessing a miracle.

Tonight was no different. He had no idea what to expect, but Mei Lin had asked him to come to her clinic after sunset. He hurried his pace, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. As he reached her small wooden door, he knocked, and it opened almost immediately.

"You're here," Mei Lin said softly, a smile on her lips. Her expression was calm, yet there was a warmth to her that Li Sheng hadn't noticed before. "Come inside."

Li Sheng entered, and the familiar smell of medicinal herbs and dried flowers filled his senses. It was a peaceful, almost sacred atmosphere in the small room. Mei Lin's clinic wasn't grand, but it felt like a place of healing in every sense. It was modest yet full of quiet strength.

She motioned for him to sit, and as he did, he noticed an elderly woman sitting in a chair near the center of the room. Her face was crinkled with age, and her eyes were dull with pain. There was a sadness in her expression, as though life had taken its toll.

"This is Aunt Xu," Mei Lin said, introducing the woman. "She's been suffering from a chronic pain in her leg for several years. No medicine has worked for her, and the doctors have given up hope."

Li Sheng's heart went out to the woman. It was a tragedy when someone had to endure pain for so long with no relief. He looked to Mei Lin, waiting for instructions.

Mei Lin smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with a knowing look. "Watch closely. There is more to healing than just remedies."

Li Sheng nodded, eager to learn. Mei Lin walked over to Aunt Xu, who looked at her with weary eyes.

"Let me help you," Mei Lin said gently, placing her hands on the old woman's leg. Her touch was light, but there was a power in it that Li Sheng couldn't quite comprehend. Mei Lin's fingers hovered over the woman's leg, moving in small, deliberate circles. She was silent, and the room was still as a strange energy seemed to fill the air.

Li Sheng felt a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach. It was as if the room itself had become charged with energy, and he could feel the warmth of Mei Lin's hands even from where he was sitting.

For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then, slowly, Aunt Xu's face softened. Her eyes widened, as though she could suddenly feel the release of tension in her leg. A gasp escaped her lips.

"The pain... it's gone!" Aunt Xu whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "How is this possible?"

Mei Lin slowly withdrew her hands, a serene smile on her face. "It's not just about medicine. It's about balance. Everything in the body must align, and sometimes, that requires something beyond what is visible."

Li Sheng sat frozen, his mind racing. He had seen healing before—he had assisted in the herbalist shop enough times to know that the right herb could ease a person's pain. But this? This was beyond anything he could ever imagine. It was as if Mei Lin had tapped into something deep, something mystical that defied explanation.

Aunt Xu stood, her movements slow at first, but then with increasing confidence. She took a few tentative steps, and for the first time in years, there was no pain.

"Thank you, Mei Lin," Aunt Xu said, her voice thick with emotion. "You are truly a miracle."

Li Sheng watched in awe as the woman left, her movements light and graceful, no longer burdened by the agony that had once ruled her life. He turned to Mei Lin, his voice trembling. "How did you do that?"

Mei Lin met his gaze, her eyes soft and knowing. "Some things are beyond explanation. Healing is not just about the body, Li Sheng. It is about understanding the soul, the spirit, the flow of energy that connects all living things. I have been gifted with this knowledge, but it is not something I share lightly."

Li Sheng sat in silence for a moment, processing everything he had just witnessed. He wanted to ask her more, to understand the true extent of her abilities, but he sensed that she was not ready to share everything.

"You're not just a healer, are you?" Li Sheng asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.

Mei Lin looked at him, her expression unreadable. "No. I am something else. But that is a story for another time."