The Starry Healer's Dilemma: Lihengxuan's Choice

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the ancient healing gardens of the Starry Temple. Lihengxuan, the temple's most revered healer, stood before a patient who had been suffering from a soul-wounding for years. Her eyes reflected the pain etched into the patient's face, a pain that she had vowed to alleviate.

"Master Lihengxuan," the patient whispered, voice laced with hope, "I have been to many healers, but none have been able to mend my soul."

Lihengxuan's heart ached for the patient's plight. She had spent countless nights studying the ancient texts, searching for a cure for such a rare and severe condition. But there was a catch; the healing process was not only physically demanding but also emotionally taxing.

"You must trust in the stars, my child," Lihengxuan replied, her voice soft yet firm. "The healing will be long and arduous, but it is possible."

As the days passed, Lihengxuan's bond with the patient deepened. She felt a connection to the patient's soul, a connection that was both a gift and a burden. She knew that to heal the patient, she would have to delve deep into the shadows of their mind, to confront the darkest fears and deepest regrets.

One evening, as the temple's lanterns flickered to life, Lihengxuan found herself in a dilemma. She had reached a critical juncture in the healing process, where the patient's soul was at its most vulnerable. To continue, she would need to make a choice that could forever change her life.

The patient's soul was a tapestry of emotions, woven with threads of love, loss, and betrayal. As Lihengxuan delved deeper, she discovered a hidden truth: the patient's soul was entwined with the soul of a long-lost friend, someone who had betrayed them years ago.

The choice loomed large before her. She could heal the patient's soul, but it would mean erasing the memories of the betrayal, thus freeing the betrayer from the consequences of their actions. Or, she could choose to leave the patient's soul as it was, allowing them to confront their past and learn from it.

Lihengxuan's heart ached with the weight of the decision. She knew that healing the patient's soul would bring them peace, but it would also absolve the betrayer of their guilt. She felt a tug of war between her duty as a healer and her moral compass.

As she stood in the moonlit garden, Lihengxuan's mind raced with possibilities. She thought of the patient's suffering, the years of pain they had endured. She thought of the betrayer, who had also been scarred by their actions.

In that moment, she realized that the true healing lay not just in the mending of the patient's soul, but in the healing of all souls involved. She needed to find a way to balance the scales, to ensure that justice was served while also granting peace to the patient.

Lihengxuan turned to the patient, who was now sleeping soundly. She whispered a silent vow to herself, a vow to heal not just the patient's soul, but to heal the hearts of all those involved.

The next morning, as the first light of dawn filtered through the temple's windows, Lihengxuan began the final phase of the healing process. She used her starry power to weave a new tapestry, a tapestry that would allow the patient to confront their past, learn from it, and move forward with a newfound strength.

As the healing reached its climax, the patient's eyes fluttered open. They looked at Lihengxuan with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "Master Lihengxuan," they whispered, "I feel... whole."

Lihengxuan smiled, tears of relief and joy streaming down her face. "You are whole, my child. You have faced your past, and you have grown stronger from it."

The patient's healing was not just a victory for them; it was a victory for Lihengxuan as well. She had found a way to heal the soul without absolving the betrayer of their guilt, thus ensuring that justice was served.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, casting its golden light over the temple, Lihengxuan knew that her journey as a healer was far from over. There would be more patients, more souls to heal, and more choices to make.

But she was ready. She had learned that healing was not just about mending wounds; it was about mending hearts, about finding a balance between justice and peace.

And so, Lihengxuan continued her journey, her heart filled with hope, her mind filled with purpose. She was the Starry Healer, and her mission was to heal the wounded soul, one patient at a time.