Chapter 1

Poem: The plain essence, mindful of the world, received deep grace, Repaying in life the ransom paid a hundredfold. Bearing offspring to fulfill the duty, then ascending, By Thunder Peak Pagoda her name shall ever stand. Now the story goes: In the Yuan dynasty, in Qiantang County, Hangzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang, there was a scholar named Xu Xian, styled Hanwen. His father, Xu Ying, titled Nanxi, was a merchant by trade; his mother was nee Chen. When Hanwen was but five years old, his parents fell ill and passed away one after another, leaving behind a small estate. Fortunately, he had an elder sister named Jiaorong, who was married to one Li Gongfu of the same county. This Gongfu served as a yamen runner in Qiantang County, and his household was fairly well-off. After Hanwen's parents died, Jiaorong took Hanwen into her home and raised him. Time passed swiftly; the sun and moon revolved like a shuttle. Before he knew it, Hanwen had grown to sixteen years of age. He was born with clear brows and delicate eyes, handsome and elegant in bearing. Gongfu and Jiaorong were very fond of him. One day, Gongfu, having no official business at the yamen, sat idle and suddenly thought that Hanwen, now grown to manhood, ought to find some occupation to pursue. That evening, he said to Jiaorong: "Your younger brother has been with us since childhood, and now he is grown. We must find some craft for him to learn, so he does not fritter away his days." Jiaorong replied: "I lost my parents early in life, and my younger brother has from childhood been raised and cared for by you, my husband. Now that he has grown up, if you would see to his welfare, I would be most grateful beyond measure." Gongfu said: "Worry not, my dear wife. I have a good friend named Wang Ming, styled Fengshan, who now runs a medicine shop at the mouth of Huaiqing Lane in front of this county—a very bustling business. Tomorrow morning I shall go see him and send your younger brother to his establishment to learn the trade of pharmacy." Jiaorong was overjoyed. That night passed without further words. Come dawn, Gongfu finished washing and dressing, went out, and walked straight to Wang Yuanwai's medicine shop in front of the county. The Yuanwai received him with a smiling face and escorted him into the shop, where they seated themselves as host and guest. The Yuanwai spoke first: "Brother Li, what instruction brings you to my humble shop so early this morning?" Gongfu said: "I beg to inform you, Yuanwai, that I have a brother-in-law named Xu Xian, styled Hanwen. He is a fairly steady and prudent young man, and has been staying idle at home with no way to earn a living. I wish to send him to your esteemed shop to learn the trade of pharmacy and to serve at your disposal. I wonder if you would be willing to take him in?" The Yuanwai replied: "Of late my shop has had a good deal of stock and I have been in need of a careful assistant. If you, Brother Li, do not think it unworthy, it would truly show your discerning friendship. Excellent! Excellent!" Seeing the Yuanwai agree, Gongfu promptly rose, expressed his thanks, and took his leave. Returning home, he told Xu and Hanwen in detail of the Yuanwai's kind consent, and the two were overjoyed beyond words. Gongfu then selected an auspicious day from the almanac and brought Hanwen to the Wang family medicine shop. As he was about to leave home, Xu could not help giving her brother a few words of exhortation. Arriving at the shop, the Yuanwai received them and they sat down. Gongfu spoke: "I am grateful for your kindness the other day, Yuanwai. Today being an auspicious day, I have specially brought my brother-in-law here, and pray that you will instruct and teach him. If he achieves anything in the future, he will forever remember your great kindness and never forget it." The Yuanwai saw that Hanwen was of outstanding talent and surpassing appearance, and was greatly pleased. He replied: "Your brother-in-law is naturally gifted and elegant—he will surely achieve great things in time, and I too shall share in his glory." Gongfu then had Hanwen come forward and pay his respects to the Yuanwai, who returned a half-courtesy. Gongfu took his leave and went home, where he reported to Xu. Of this no more need be said. Meanwhile, Hanwen stayed at the Yuanwai's shop. The Yuanwai found his speech quick and clever and his manner meticulous, and was very fond of him, treating him differently from others. Gongfu also often came to the shop to look in on him and make small arrangements. But let this be told slowly. Thus: If not for the bitter cold of winter, How could the plum blossom yield its fragrance? Now, to the west of Chengdu Prefecture in Sichuan Province lies Mount Qingcheng—layers of ridges and ranges stretching for a thousand li. This mountain is known as the Fifth Grotto-Heaven, containing seventy-two small caves corresponding to the seventy-two pentads, and eight great caves corresponding to the eight seasonal nodes. From ancient times it has been said: high mountains must harbor spirits, and lofty peaks can breed demons. Among these mountains there is another cave named Qingfeng Cave, wherein dwelt a white snake spirit who cultivated the Way within. In the cave, rare flowers vied in beauty, exotic grasses contended in splendor; the scenery was secluded and serene, untouched by human footsteps—truly a place for cultivation. This snake had cultivated in the cave for eighteen hundred years and had never harmed a single soul. Because she had cultivated for so many years, her magic arts were highly refined. She called herself Bai, and her name was Zhenniang. Yet after all, she was but a beast, and could not transcend to the true fruition. One day, while roaming about the cave, she suddenly thought: I have cultivated here for many years and have yet to attain the true fruition. Why not travel to some other famous mountain for a while? Then she reflected: Hangzhou in Zhejiang is famed as a place of prosperity, with West Lake renowned for its beauty and Huqiu for its scenic splendor. Let me go and view those sights—how delightful that would be! Her mind made up, she sealed the cave and at once mounted the clouds, rising into the air. In no more than a moment, she could see that Hangzhou was not far ahead. Now it so happened that on that very day, the Great Emperor Zhenwu, having paid homage at the Heavenly Palace, was returning to his immortal mountain, Wudang. While among the clouds, he cast open his divine eye and suddenly saw a baleful cloud coming from the west. The Great Emperor shouted: "What base creature dares to raise an ominous cloud?" When the white snake saw that it was the Great Emperor, her soul flew and her wits scattered in terror. She hurriedly knelt upon the clouds and cried out: "This humble creature is the white snake spirit of Qingfeng Cave on Mount Qingcheng, who has cultivated for eighteen hundred years and has never dared to harm a single living thing in the least. To this day, I have not attained the true fruition. I am now on my way to the South Sea to seek an audience with Guanyin Bodhisattva, to inquire about my root and destiny. I did not know that the Holy Emperor would descend—this humble creature failed to give way, and deserves death! Deserves death!" The Great Emperor smiled faintly and said: "You base creature, if you are truly sincere in going to the South Sea, you must swear an oath, and only then shall I let you pass." The white snake then knelt and swore: "If this humble creature speaks falsely and does not go to the South Sea, may I in days to come be crushed beneath Thunder Peak Pagoda." When the Great Emperor saw her swear the oath, he ordered the divine generals attending him to record it, and then rode back to his immortal mountain. When the White Snake saw that the Great Emperor had departed, she was filled with joy. She then rode the clouds to Hangzhou, descended from the clouds, and sought a secluded garden or courtyard to settle in. Hangzhou was the most bustling and prosperous place in all the realm—the mansions of princes and marquises, famous gardens and ancient temples were beyond count, and the garden of Prince Qiu's mansion in the eastern part of the city was especially renowned for its scenic beauty. Its terraces and pavilions, encircled by clouds, rivaled the imperial gardens, but having been unoccupied for many years, it was an empty garden. When the White Snake saw this garden's vast and splendid appearance, she was greatly delighted and at once slipped inside. Unexpectedly, this garden was extremely deep and secluded; within it, a female Green Snake spirit had already made her nest in the Drunk Spring Pavilion. This snake had also cultivated for over eight hundred years and could likewise fly, transform, and change. That day, seeing the White Snake enter, she hurried out to block her way and said, "What monstrous creature are you, daring to trespass into my garden? Are you not afraid of the deadly power of my precious sword?" The White Snake laughed and said, "Xiaoqing, do not boast of your abilities. Listen carefully to my words: I am the master of the Clear Wind Cave on Qingcheng Mountain, the White Snake Cave Master. Having cultivated in my cave for eighteen hundred years without yet achieving the true fruition, I have therefore ridden the clouds to tour the Central Kingdom in search of immortal Dao. For now, I wish to borrow this garden as a temporary abode. Moreover, you and I are of the same kind—why must you be so angry?" When the Green Snake heard this, she shouted, "This is my immortal abode! You are a wild outsider—how dare you rely on force to seize my garden? If you have any magical power, dare you fight me for three rounds?" The White Snake smiled faintly and said, "Xiaoqing, listen to me. If you wish to contest in magic with me, I, considering that we are both of one kind, will not take your life. Let us rather wager on our powers: the superior shall be the master, the inferior shall be the maid—what say you?" The Green Snake angrily said, "What great skill do you possess, that you dare utter such boastful words?" She at once drew the precious sword at her side and slashed it toward the White Snake's face. The White Snake, unhurried, drew her paired double-mouthed precious sword from her waist and met the blow face to face. Before they had exchanged more than a few rounds, the White Snake's skill indeed proved superior. She muttered something under her breath, then shouted, "Swift!"—and before the Green Snake knew it, her precious sword had been taken away, leaving both her hands empty. The Green Snake was greatly startled and hastily knelt down, crying, "Your Ladyship, stay your hand! Xiaoqing is willing to serve you as a maidservant; I beg you to spare my life." The White Snake laughed and said, "I merely used a minor art to subdue your heart. Since you are willing to be my maid, that is enough—why would I take your life?" The Green Snake was overjoyed and bowed four times to the White Snake, saying, "Your Ladyship above, your handmaiden Xiaoqing pays her respects." The White Snake helped her up, and they entered the garden together. From then on, the two demons lodged in this garden, addressing each other as mistress and maid. Thus it is said: 　　Like voices respond, together they dwell; 　　In light makeup, cleverly adorned, they await their beloved. Now to speak of Xu Hanwen in Squire Wang's pharmacy. The squire cherished him as if he were his own son. Before long, the wintry scenes of the twelfth month passed, and once again the spring light was radiant; the season arrived at the fine Qingming Festival, when peach and plum trees bloomed in fragrance. Hanwen sat in the shop and watched the crowds on the road, all going to sweep and tend their ancestral graves. He could not help but be moved in his heart, thinking: Since my parents passed away, I have been cared for by my brother-in-law. Now that I have grown up, I have never once visited my parents' graves. Today is Qingming—as I see everyone going to sweep their ancestors' tombs, I might as well ask the squire for leave and go early tomorrow morning to offer sacrifices at my parents' graves, to fulfill a little of a son's filial duty. Having made up his mind, he immediately went inside. It happened that the squire was sitting at leisure in the hall, and seeing Hanwen enter, he asked, "Virtuous nephew, what brings you in?" Hanwen replied, "I beg to inform you, Squire: your humble nephew lost his parents in childhood and took refuge in my brother-in-law's household, where he was raised and educated by my brother-in-law. I have always felt that since I have failed in providing for them in life, I have also lacked in offering sacrifices after death. Now that Qingming has come, I wish to go early tomorrow morning to offer sacrifices at my parents' graves, to show a little of a son's devotion. I do not know if you, Squire, will permit it." The squire laughed and said, "Your going to sweep your parents' graves is an act of filial piety, perfectly proper—how could I not permit it?" Hanwen was overjoyed; he thanked the squire and took his leave, returning to the shop to attend to the medicinal materials. The squire then ordered his servant Wang Duan to go and buy paper money, sacrificial offerings, and the like, to be carried in a pole-basket early the next day to the graves for the sweeping and sacrifices—but we need not dwell on this. Now, this journey of Hanwen's would lead to—when all seemed calm before his eyes, sudden storms would arise. If you wish to know what followed, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.