A Buddha and a Demon Meet for the First Time—Southern Border, Continuous Mountain Sect territory, Blackfish Pool, Blackfish Stockade.
The sun rose in the east, spilling across the surface of Blackfish Pool. The pale jade waters immediately shimmered with rippling waves and glittering golden light.
Cooking smoke rose from the stockade, accompanied by scattered sounds. The villagers woke from their dreams and prepared to begin the day's work.
At the edge of the stockade stood a simply built shack.
As the sun rose, the shack's wooden door was pushed open. An aged hand lifted the curtain hanging over the entrance.
"Physician Mo is awake!"
"Physician Mo, my mother made these flatbreads herself. Have some."
"Physician Mo, my wife just cooked this porridge. I brought you a bowl."
"Physician Mo, my child finally slept comfortably last night. Thank you so much!"
"Physician Mo, my father said his headache is gone too. You must accept this cured meat."
Early in the morning, seven or eight households from the stockade had gathered outside Physician Mo's shack.
Some had come to bring him breakfast, some to thank him with gifts, and naturally, some had brought along the old and young to ask him to treat their illnesses.
"Good, good, good. Thank you, everyone. I happen to be hungry after sleeping all night."
Physician Mo accepted their gifts with a cheerful smile, then said to those waiting for treatment, "Please wait a little longer. Once this old man has eaten breakfast, I'll take a look at you all."
"No hurry, no hurry!"
"Physician Mo, eat first!"
As they watched Physician Mo return to his shack, the relatives of the patients continued chatting.
"Physician Mo truly is a good man!"
"Yes, yes. He crosses mountains and rivers, traveling through village after village, treating people everywhere."
"And