After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they left the Golden Wave Pavilion. Baozhu was in no hurry to return and stopped seven or eight local people at random to ask about the procession through the city. Having fallen for the traffickers' vicious trick the day before, she was especially cautious and dared not rely on any single account. She asked many people in different places and confirmed that the man named Shen Dexian had indeed told the truth.
A passerby said, "The city procession is Luoyang's grandest celebration. Every year, many young people enter the open selection. The procession guild screens them first, and fewer than ten ultimately stand before Guanyin at Changqiu Temple. Merely taking part in the ceremony of questioning the Buddha brings honor, even if they aren't chosen. The young person finally selected as the Guanyin Attendant is sure to be the most devout and beautiful. Their family considers it a great honor and calls itself a 'household ascended to immortality.'"
Everyone repeated the same story: "The sweet dew's healing power is nothing short of miraculous. So many people have received Willow Guanyin's blessing and recovered without medicine. But the procession draws mountains and seas of people. When the Guanyin Attendant flicks the willow branch, whether you receive the blessing of that sweet dew depends on fate and opportunity. It isn't so easy."
Having verified the stories of the sweet dew's healing powers through many sources, Baozhu brightened. She glanced at Wei Xun and said, "Then we absolutely must attend this procession."
Wei Xun realized that she hoped to cure his terminal illness this way. Both touched and amused, he said, "Fools believe in ghosts and gods because they know nothing. They see anything strange and call it a miracle. Once the notion takes root,