Chapter 13

Poem:     The wondrous isle of Penglai holds immortals apart,     With swallows' chirps and orioles' songs before the painted hall.     Yet for too many cups, her pure form was bared,     Startling the lord's body, sending it up to the Lofty Heavens. Now let us speak of a Daoist who had newly arrived at the Temple of Patriarch Lü — a practitioner from Mount Mao, by dharma-name True Person Lu Yi. His Daoist arts were supreme; he could drive away demons and subdue monsters, dispatch ghosts and command spirits. On his wanderings he had come here, and in this great hall he dispensed elixirs and medicines, broadly succoring all living beings. On this day, Hanwen went to the temple with the crowd. When he reached the hall, the True Person suddenly raised his head and saw Hanwen enter, his face carrying demonic aura. He thereupon invited him to sit in a quiet chamber and asked, "Layman, from which place do you hail? What is your honorable surname and great given name? How many are in your precious household? Why does your face bear a demonic aura? I beg you to tell me in full." Hanwen, seeing this Daoist with the bearing of an immortal and the bone structure of a transcendent, his appearance clear and extraordinary, could not help but feel a sudden awe. He called out, "Dharma Master, this humble student dwells here in this locale. My surname is Xu, given name Xian, style Hanwen. My wife is of the Bai clan, and the serving-maid is Xiaoqing. Our household has three persons. If this humble student has indeed encountered offending demons and monsters, I beseech the Dharma Master, in your compassion, to save this humble student's life." Thereupon he knelt down. The True Person helped him up and said, "Layman, please rise. Since you wish poor Daoist to save you, that is not difficult." He then rose and took from his case three spirit talismans, and said to Hanwen, "Poor Daoist gives you these three talismans to take with you. On no account must you let your wife and household know of them. At the third watch tonight, paste one upon the lintel of the door, burn one before the stove, and carry one on your person. Act according to my method, and the demon spirit will not dare to harm you. Poor Daoist shall in the temple tonight tread the Dipper and pace the stars, dispatch divine generals to seize the demon spirit, and escort it in chains to Fengdu, saving your life. Remember my words well. Farewell." Hanwen thanked him beyond measure, took the talismans, and was about to give the True Person the four taels of silver he had brought to purchase medicinal ingredients. The True Person laughed and said, "I act for the purpose of removing demons and saving lives — how could I want your silver?" Hanwen said, "This is merely a slight token of this humble student's poor sentiments. If the Dharma Master will not accept it, this humble student dares not receive the talismans." The True Person, seeing his sincerity, had no choice but to accept, and saw Hanwen out of the temple. We shall not speak of the True Person going back inside. As for Hanwen returning home — now let us speak of Bai, who at home suddenly felt her heart blood surge. Pressing her fingers in divination, she already knew. She said to Xiaoqing, "The master has been fooled by that wild Daoist from Mount Mao, and is now bringing talismans home to harm us. When the master enters the door, you must do thus and so — why fear his spirit talismans?" Xiaoqing nodded in understanding. In no time, Hanwen returned. Entering the inner quarters, he saw Bai, and indeed did not mention the matter at all. Bai asked, "Master, you went early this morning to the Wu household to buy medicine — why have you been delayed until only now to return?" Hanwen prevaricated, saying, "I was kept by the elder for a little wine, and so could not return at once." While the two were thus conversing, Xiaoqing was seen bringing in tea. She called out, "Master, have some tea." Hanwen reached out his hand to take it, and inadvertently revealed the talismans, which Xiaoqing at once saw. She exclaimed, "What is that thing in the master's hand?" Hanwen hurriedly said, "It is a prescription." Xiaoqing said, "What prescription? Pray let this humble maidservant see it." Hanwen said, "You womenfolk — what do you know of prescriptions?" Xiaoqing, guessing he would not willingly show it, snatched at it with her hand, and before Hanwen could stop her, she had seized it. He rushed to grab it back, but it was already torn to shreds by Xiaoqing. Bai feigned anger and scolded, "You impudent wretched maid! How dare you tear up the master's prescription!" Xiaoqing said, "Miss, it was not a prescription, but a love poem with which he was teasing this humble maidservant." Bai laughed and said, "Xiaoqing, do not deceive me. I already know it is that crooked talisman of the Mount Mao sorcerer at the Temple of Patriarch Lü. The master has been fooled by him into dealing with some demon spirit or other, and was also cheated out of four taels of silver. Tomorrow morning I shall go to the temple myself and reason with that sorcerer, and also demand the silver back." Hanwen, exposed by Bai, was struck speechless with terror. The whole night he was gloomy and silent. When dawn came, Bai finished washing and dressing, and said, "Master, come with your concubine to see that sorcerer and demand our silver back." Hanwen had no choice but to accompany her out. Xiaoqing followed behind, and Tao Ren was ordered to guard the house. They traveled all the way to the Temple of Patriarch Lü, where the True Person was seen in the great hall. Bai spoke and asked, "Are you the one called True Person Lu Yi?" The True Person said, "Indeed." Bai scolded, "You foul sorcerer — from what place do you hail, you rogue, that you dare come here to cheat my husband of silver? Hand it over forthwith and all will be well; but if you dare so much as utter half a word of refusal, do not think you can escape with your wretched life." The True Person shouted, "You vile creature! You presumptuously wield your demon arts to delude Xu Xian. I advise you to withdraw your heart in time and return to your lair — then all things are finished. If not, I fear that when your true form appears, regret will come too late." Bai flew into a rage and cursed, "Wild Daoist! You call me a demon — let me ask you, what arts have you to show? Lady and I shall see who is the better!" When the True Person heard this, he was enraged in his heart. He trod the Dipper and paced the stars, intoned the true words, drew pure water from his bottle and sprayed it into the air. In an instant the sky darkened and the earth dimmed, with thunder and rain together. Bai, seeing this, smiled faintly and said, "This is but a minor trick — hardly worth mentioning!" She then chanted a spell, pointed at the sky, and cried, "Swift!" In that instant the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased, with the sun shining bright overhead. When the True Person saw she had broken his art, he drew his waist-sword and cast it into the air, where it blazed with myriad beams of iridescent light, flashing down toward Bai's head. Bai, seeing this, took from her side a kerchief called the Qiankun Kerchief and covered her head with it. The sword could not descend, but only whirled in midair. Bai then intoned the true words, pointed at the sword, and shouted, "Fall!" The sword fell into the dust, and was taken away by Bai. She then shouted, "Where are the Yellow-Turban Divine Warriors? Quickly hang this sorcerer aloft in the air." Before the shout had faded, the Yellow-Turban Divine Warriors descended from the sky and hung the True Person in midair. Bai ordered the warriors to flog the True Person. Being flogged, the True Person had no recourse but to plead, "Poor Daoist knew not that Lady's powers were so supreme. In ignorance I gave offense. I beg your compassion, spare poor Daoist's life — I shall never again dare to offend." Bai laughed and said, "Wild Daoist! I am a disciple of the Old Mother of Mount Li, sent down the mountain by my master's command. How dare you prattle that I am a demon? Quickly return the silver, and I will spare your life." The True Person hurriedly said, "The silver is now in the room, not a whit touched." Bai, seeing his entreaties so earnest, laughed and said, "I shall spare you this once. Pack up quickly and be gone to other parts. If you remain here still, stirring up talk and deluding the masses, your dog's life will not escape!" Having said this, she dismissed the warriors and lowered the True Person to the ground. The True Person, his face full of shame, went into the room, fetched the silver, and returned it to Bai. He then packed up and returned to his mountain, to seek out his master and take revenge — but this is a matter for later and shall not be told here. On this side, Bai took the silver. All who watched were full of admiration and envy. The husband and wife were both highly pleased. Returning home, Hanwen at once ordered Xiaoqing to prepare wine, which was set out in the chamber, and he drank with Bai. During the feast he praised his worthy wife, and their affection grew even deeper. That night they were entirely merry; Hanwen, unable to bear much wine, retired to bed first. That night, Xiaoqing said to Lady Bai, "Your Ladyship, tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, and every household will buy and use realgar wine. As the saying goes, 'When a snake sees realgar wine, it is like a ghost seeing King Yama.' If this humble maid smells that odor, my belly will ache as if cut by a knife. If I should reveal my true form and be seen by the master, what shall we do? On careful thought, it would be better for us to slip away before the master knows tomorrow morning, go elsewhere with Your Ladyship, and return after the noon hour has passed. What does Your Ladyship think?" Lady Bai said, "Xiaoqing, I have cultivated the Way for many years—how could I fear realgar? But your foundation is shallow, hence you are afraid. I have a plan: tonight you feign illness, and tomorrow lie in bed with the quilt covering you completely. If you reveal your true form, it will be inside the covers. After the noon hour, the gods will not know, nor will the ghosts—and we shall have kept it from the master." Xiaoqing accepted the order and went to feign illness, of which no more need be said. When the next morning came, everyone arose, but Xiaoqing alone was not seen. Hanwen asked Lady Bai, "My worthy wife, today is the Dragon Boat Festival—why has Xiaoqing not yet gotten up?" Lady Bai said, "My husband does not know; last night Xiaoqing fell ill, and therefore cannot rise." Hearing this, Hanwen went to the back room, stood before the bed, and asked, "Xiaoqing, you were well last evening—how did you become ill?" Xiaoqing deliberately feigned sweating and said, "Last night this humble maid felt cold all over and thus fell ill. Now I am very afraid of wind; please close the door for me, master." Hearing this, Hanwen was displeased and gloomy, but he closed the door. He paced out to the front of the shop and instructed Taoren to prepare a feast—the shop hands' tables to be set inside the shop, and another table to be set in the inner chamber for himself and Lady Bai to drink together and celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Hanwen said, "My worthy wife, today is the Dragon Boat Festival; your foolish husband has specially prepared a feast with realgar wine to ward off evil and neutralize poisons for you, and to enjoy the festival together." Lady Bai said, "My husband, since childhood I have not been able to take even a drop. My husband should drink a few cups himself to dispel worry and neutralize poisons; I will sit beside you and keep you company—how would that be?" Hanwen raised his cup and urged her repeatedly, but Lady Bai dared not drink at all and only declined. Hanwen, displeased, said, "My worthy wife, your foolish husband has urged you again and again—if you will not drink much, you should at least drink a little, to show that you accept my heartfelt intent." Lady Bai, seeing her husband unhappy, had no choice but to take the cup in hand and lightly touch it to her lips. Unexpectedly, Hanwen pushed with his hand, and the whole cup of realgar wine was poured straight down her throat. Lady Bai was greatly alarmed, and she felt a slight pain beginning in her belly. Having no choice, she conceived a plan and said, "Your husband has forced this cup upon me, and now my eyes are dim and my head is dizzy—I cannot keep you company. I must lie down for a while. Husband, could you go out and watch the dragon-boat races to amuse yourself?" Hanwen said, "If that is so, my worthy wife, please rest." He then closed the door and went out to watch the dragon-boat races. As for Lady Bai, having been made to drink that cup of realgar wine, she lay down on the bed. Within her belly, thunder and fire blazed; her heart, liver, and five viscera felt as if they were being cut and gouged with knives. She lay stiffly on the bed, and in an instant she revealed her true form. Hanwen, watching the dragon boats by the riverbank, felt his mind unsettled. He thought: My lady is drunk, and Xiaoqing happens to be ill—if they want tea or soup, who will answer? Better to go back. So he took the road home and entered the chamber to see Lady Bai. He lifted the gauze bed-curtain—it would have been better not to look—but when he looked, there on the bed was a huge python, its head like a bushel basket, its eyes like bronze bells, its mouth like a basin of blood, its tongue reeking with foul breath. His spirit and soul were so shocked that he gave a great cry and fell to the ground. As it is seen: 　　His breath stopped in his chest and he returned to the underworld; 　　His spirit fled and his soul scattered, his mortal life cut short. Whether Hanwen's life would be saved or not, hear the next chapter for the explanation.