الفصل الثالث والخمسون

الفصل الثالث والخمسون

At that moment Wu Yong, the Academician, said to Song Jiang: "To break this spell, we must quickly send someone to Ji Province to fetch Gongsun Sheng, and then we can defeat it." Song Jiang said: "Last time Dai Zong went for quite a while, but he found no trace of him at all. Where can we search?" Wu Yong said: "He only said Ji Prefecture, which has so many counties, towns, and villages under his jurisdiction. He couldn't have searched everywhere. I think Gongsun Sheng is a man of noble character; he must be dwelling in a famous mountain retreat or a great river's sacred realm. This time let Dai Zong go around the famous mountains and sacred places in the counties under Ji Prefecture and search thoroughly. There is no fear he won't find him." Having heard this, Song Jiang immediately summoned Director Dai to discuss going to Ji Province to fetch Gongsun Sheng. Dai Zong said: "I am willing to go, but it would be better to have a companion." Wu Yong said: "When you use your 'magic travel technique,' who can keep up with you?" Dai Zong said: "If it's a companion, I can tie the talismanic horses to his legs too, and he can cover great distances as well." Li Kui then said: "I'll go with Director Dai as his companion." Dai Zong said: "If you want to follow me, you must eat vegetarian food along the way and obey everything I say." Li Kui said: "What's so difficult about that? I'll do everything as you say." Song Jiang and Wu Yong instructed him: "Be careful on the road and don't cause trouble. Once you find him, come back as quickly as possible." Li Kui said: "I killed Yin Tianxi, which got the Honorable Chai into legal trouble. How could I not want to save him? This time I absolutely won't cause trouble." The two men each concealed their weapons, packed their bundles, and took their leave of Song Jiang and the others. They departed from Gaotang Province and took the road to Ji Province.

After walking more than twenty li, Li Kui stopped and said: "Brother, it would be good to buy a bowl of wine before we go on." Dai Zong said: "If you want to use the 'magic travel technique' with me, you must drink only vegetarian wine. Let's go further ahead." Li Kui replied: "What's the harm in eating some meat?" Dai Zong said: "There you go again. It's already late today. Let's find an inn to stay at and start early tomorrow." The two walked another thirty li, and as darkness fell, they found an inn to rest at. They lit a fire to cook and bought a jug of wine to drink. Li Kui brought a bowl of vegetarian rice and a bowl of vegetable soup to the room for Dai Zong. Dai Zong said: "Why aren't you eating rice?" Li Kui replied: "I'm not ready to eat rice yet." Dai Zong thought to himself: "This fellow is definitely hiding from me and eating meat on the sly." Dai Zong ate his vegetarian rice and then quietly went to look around the back, where he saw Li Kui drinking two jugs of wine and eating a plate of beef by himself. Dai Zong said to himself: "What did I say? I won't expose him now. Tomorrow I'll play a little trick on him." Dai Zong went back to his room to sleep. Li Kui had finished eating meat and wine, and fearing Dai Zong would scold him, he secretly went to his room to sleep.

By the fifth watch, Dai Zong rose and called Li Kui to light the fire. They prepared some plain food and ate, then each shouldered his pack, settled their bill with the innkeeper, and left the inn. Before they had gone two *li* or so, Dai Zong said, "Yesterday we did not use our 'magic travel method.' Today we must make up for lost time. First tie your bundle securely—I will perform the spell for you. We shall cover eight hundred *li* before stopping." Dai Zong took out four paper horses and bound them to both of Li Kui's legs, instructing him, "Wait for me ahead at a wine or food shop." Dai Zong murmured incantations, blew a breath onto Li Kui's legs, and Li Kui strode off as though riding a cloud, flying along at tremendous speed. Dai Zong laughed to himself, "Let him endure a day's hunger for now." Dai Zong then bound the paper horses to his own legs and hurried after him.

Li Kui understood nothing of this magic and thought he was simply walking along with him. All he could hear was the sound of wind and rain rushing past his ears; the houses and trees on either side seemed to topple over in rows, and beneath his feet it was as though clouds were driving him forward on a mist. Li Kui grew frightened and several times tried to stop, but his two legs would not obey him—it was as though someone were pushing him from below. His feet never touched the ground, and he simply kept going. When he caught sight of a tavern or butcher's shop, he could not manage to turn in and buy something to eat. Li Kui could only cry out, "Grandpa, stop a moment!"

By the time the red sun had sunk toward the west, his stomach was parched with hunger and thirst, and still he could not stop. He broke out in a foul sweat and gasped for breath in great heaving gasps. Dai Zong came up from behind and called out, "Elder Brother Li, why not buy some refreshments along the way?" Li Kui answered, "Brother, save me—Iron Ox is starving to death!" Dai Zong pulled a few baked cakes from his robe and ate them himself. Li Kui shouted, "I can't stop to buy anything—give me two to fill my stomach." Dai Zong said, "Brother, catch up and I'll give them to you." Li Kui stretched out his hand, but though Dai Zong was only ten feet or so away, he could not reach him. Li Kui cried, "Good brother, wait for me!" Dai Zong replied, "Even I have something strange happening today—my own two legs won't stop either. You're on your own." Li Kui wailed, "Ai-ya! These damned legs of mine aren't mine at all—they just carry me off on their own. I'll have to take my great axe and chop off the lower half." Dai Zong said, "That would be the only way to manage it. Otherwise, you won't stop until New Year's Day of next year." Li Kui said, "Good brother, don't play tricks on me with your magic. If I chop my legs off, you'll only laugh at me." Dai Zong replied, "Is it because you didn't listen to me last night? Today even I can't make my legs stop. You'll just have to go on your own." Li Kui cried out, "Good grandpa, spare me—let me stop!" Dai Zong said, "My magic forbids eating meat—the first thing it prohibits is beef. If you've eaten so much as one piece of beef, you'll have to travel a hundred thousand *li* before you can stop." Li Kui said, "What misery! Last night I hid it from you and secretly bought several catties of beef to eat. What am I to do!" Dai Zong said, "So that's why even my own legs won't stop today. We'll have to go all the way to the ends of heaven. It will take three or five years before we can make it back." When Li Kui heard this, he wailed to high heaven. Dai Zong laughed and said, "If from now on you obey me in one matter, I'll lift the spell." Li Kui said, "Old father, I'll obey you in everything from now on." Dai Zong said, "Will you dare hide meat-eating from me again?" Li Kui said, "From now on, if I eat meat, may a sore as big as a bowl grow on my tongue! I saw that you wanted to eat only plain food, but Iron Ox couldn't manage it, so I hid it from you. I won't dare do it again." Dai Zong said, "Since that's how it is, I'll forgive you this once!" He stepped back one pace, swept his sleeve across Li Kui's legs, and shouted, "Stop!" Li Kui was as though nailed to the spot—his two feet stood planted on the ground and would not budge. Dai Zong said, "I'll go on ahead; you come slowly." Li Kui tried to lift his foot but could not move it, could not drag it up—it was as though he had been cast in solid iron. Li Kui shouted, "More misery! How am I to go on this evening?" He called out, "Brother, save me!" Dai Zong turned back and laughed. "Will you listen to me now?" Li Kui said, "You're my own father—how would I dare go against your word?" Dai Zong said, "Now you must obey me." He took Li Kui by the hand, shouted, "Rise!" and the two of them floated lightly along. Li Kui said, "Brother, take pity on Iron Ox—let's stop early!" Ahead they came to an inn, and the two of them went to take lodging. Dai Zong and Li Kui entered their room, removed the paper horses from their legs, burned several strings of paper money as an offering, and Dai Zong asked Li Kui, "How is it now?" Li Kui said, "These two legs are finally mine again." Dai Zong said, "Who told you to secretly buy wine and meat last night?" Li Kui said, "Because you wouldn't let me eat meat, I stole some to eat—and you've played your tricks on me quite enough!"

Dai Zong told Li Kui to arrange some vegetarian food and plain rice to eat, boiled water to wash his feet, and then go to bed. They slept until the fifth watch, got up, washed their faces, ate their meal, paid the innkeeper, and the two set out again on the road. They had gone no more than three li or so when Dai Zong took out the amulet-horses and said, "Brother, today I'll bind only two on you, so you'll have to go a bit slower." Li Kui said, "Dear father, I don't want them bound on me." Dai Zong said, "If you follow my words and I'm doing great business with you, why would I ever trick you? But if you don't listen to me, I'll fix you here just like last night, stuck in place. I'll go alone to Ji Prefecture to find Gongsun Sheng, and when I come back I'll release you." Li Kui cried out in alarm, "I'll listen, I'll listen!" That day Dai Zong and Li Kui each bound two amulet-horses, activated the "Magic Travel Method," and supported Li Kui so that the two could travel together. The thing about Dai Zong's method was that they could go when they wanted to go and stop when they wanted to stop. From then on Li Kui dared not disobey his words, and along the way they only bought some vegetarian food and plain rice to eat, then pressed on. No need to dwell on this. Using the "Magic Travel Method," in less than ten days they arrived at an inn outside the walls of Ji Prefecture and rested there.

The next day the two entered the city. Dai Zong played the master and Li Kui played the servant. They spent the whole day searching through the city, but not a single person recognized Gongsun Sheng. The two returned to their inn and rested. The next day they again went searching through the small streets and narrow lanes of the city for a whole day, but there was no news whatsoever. Li Kui grew impatient and cursed, "This beggar of a Taoist—where the hell is he hiding? If I see him, I'll grab him by the head and drag him back to see our brother." Dai Zong said, "There you go again. If you don't listen to my words, I'll make you suffer again." Li Kui laughed and said, "I was just saying it in jest." Dai Zong scolded him some more, and Li Kui didn't dare talk back. The two went back to the inn to rest.

The next day they rose early and went to search the nearby villages, towns, and markets outside the city. Whenever Dai Zong saw an old man, he would bow and ask where Master Gongsun Sheng lived, but no one knew him. Dai Zong asked dozens of places. Around noon that day, the two were hungry from walking, and beside the road they saw a noodle shop. They went straight in to buy some refreshments to eat. They saw that the place was packed, with no empty seats, so Dai Zong and Li Kui stood in the middle of the shop. The waiter asked, "Honored guests, if you want noodles, would you mind sharing a table with this old man?" Dai Zong saw an old gentleman sitting alone at a large table, so he bowed to him, greeted him, and the two sat down facing each other. Li Kui sat beside Dai Zong and ordered the waiter to make four large bowls of noodles. Dai Zong said, "I'll eat one bowl—won't three be enough for you?" Li Kui said, "That won't do. Make six bowls at once—I'll take care of them all." Even the waiter laughed at that. They waited half a day, but the noodles didn't come. Li Kui saw that they were all being carried inside, and he was already half furious. Then the waiter brought one bowl of hot noodles and placed them before the old man they were sharing with. The old man didn't defer or decline—he picked up the noodles and began to eat. The noodles were piping hot, so the old fellow lowered his head and bent over the table to eat them. Li Kui was by nature impatient. Seeing that no noodles were being brought for them, he shouted, "Waiter!" and cursed, "Making this old lord wait half a day!" He slammed the table with his hand, splashing hot broth all over the old man's face, and the bowl of noodles was overturned. The old man flew into a rage, grabbed Li Kui, and roared, "What manner of behavior is this, knocking over my noodles?" Li Kui clenched his fists and was about to strike the old man. Dai Zong hastily shouted him down and apologized to the old man: "Sir, don't lower yourself to his level. I'll pay for a bowl of noodles for you." The old man said, "Honored guest, you don't understand: this old man has a long way to go. I wanted to eat my noodles early and go back to listen to the lecture—if I'm late, I'll miss the journey." Dai Zong asked, "Where is sir from? And who is lecturing on what?" The old man replied, "This old man is from Ji Prefecture, from below the county of Jiugong, at the foot of the Two Immortals Mountain. I came into the city to buy some good incense to take back, to go listen to the lectures of the Real Man Luo on the 'Method of Living Forever and Never Aging.'" Dai Zong thought to himself, "Could Gongsun Sheng be there too?" and asked the old man, "Sir, is there a Gongsun Sheng in your village?" The old man said, "If you asked anyone else, they surely wouldn't know—many people don't recognize him. This old man is his neighbor. He has only an old mother at home. This master has always been wandering abroad. These days he's called Gongsun Yiqing. Now he's gone by a different surname—everyone just calls him the Pure Taoist, not Gongsun Sheng. That was his worldly name, and no one knows it." Dai Zong said, "Truly, 'One can search for a shoe everywhere in vain, but obtain it without any effort.'" Dai Zong bowed again and asked the old man, "How far is Jiugong County and Two Immortals Mountain from here? Is the Pure Taoist at home?" The old man said, "Two Immortals Mountain is only forty-five li from this county. The Pure Taoist is the foremost disciple of the Real Man Luo—his own master won't let him leave his side." Dai Zong was overjoyed. He hurriedly urged the noodles to be brought, ate together with the old man, paid the noodle money, and they left the shop together, having asked for directions. Dai Zong said, "Sir, go ahead first. I'll buy some incense and paper, and I'll be along shortly." The old man took his leave and departed.

Dai Zong and Li Kui returned to the inn, took their luggage bundles, bound on the amulet-horses again, left the inn, and the two set off for Jiugong County and Two Immortals Mountain. Dai Zong activated the "Magic Travel Method"—forty-five li, and they arrived in an instant. The two came to the county seat and asked about Two Immortals Mountain. Someone pointed and said, "Go east from the county—only five li and you're there." The two left the county seat and headed east. Sure enough, before they had gone five li, they could already see that immortal mountain, truly beautiful and exquisite. And this is what they saw:

Green mountains carved of jade, blue peaks piled with clouds.

The two cliffs part like a crouching tiger and coiling dragon, while from all four sides come the cries of apes and the calls of cranes.

At dawn one sees clouds sealing the mountain peak; at dusk one watches the sun hang upon the forest's edge.

The flowing waters murmur and ripple, and within the gorge their voices ring like jade pendants;

The flying springs and waterfalls in the caves faintly play as though upon celestial lutes.

If not Taoist companions cultivating the Way, surely some Immortal Sage refining elixirs.

At that time Dai Zong and Wu Song arrived at the foot of Ermountain. They met a woodcutter. Dai Zong bowed to him and said, "May I ask where the Daoist Qing lives in this region?" The woodcutter pointed and said, "Just go past this eastern ridge; the place with a little stone bridge outside the gate is his." The two men made their way past the ridge and saw more than ten thatched cottages surrounded by a low wall, with a small stone bridge outside the wall. They came to the gate, where a village woman emerged carrying a basket of fresh fruit. Dai Zong bowed and asked, "Madam, you have come from the Daoist Qing's home. Is the Daoist at home?" The village woman replied, "He is in the back of the house refining elixirs." Dai Zong secretly rejoiced in his heart and instructed Wu Song, "You go hide behind the trees for now. Let me go in alone, see him, and then I will call for you." Dai Zong went inside and saw a row of three thatched rooms with a reed curtain hanging over the door. Dai Zong coughed, and an old woman with white hair emerged from within. Dai Zong observed the old woman and saw:

A venerable ancient countenance, white hair and ruddy face.

Her eyes were dim as autumn moons veiled in mist; her brows were white as morning frost reflecting the sun.

In her blue skirt and plain dress, she resembled somewhat the Primordial Lady of the Purple Court;

In her cloth jacket and thorn hairpin, she was like the Old Mother of Mount Li.

Her form was like a cloud crane soaring in the heavens; her appearance was like a proud snow pine in the mountains.

Dai Zong bowed and said, "I respectfully inform you, old mother: I wish to request an audience with the Daoist Qing." The old woman asked, "What is your honorable name?" Dai Zong said, "My humble name is Dai Zong. I have come from Shandong." The old woman said, "My son has gone traveling and has not yet returned home." Dai Zong said, "I am an old acquaintance. I have something urgent to say and request an audience." The old woman said, "He is not at home. Whatever you wish to say, you may leave it here. When he returns, he will come to see you himself." Dai Zong said, "I will come again." He took his leave of the old woman and came outside to Wu Song. "This time I will need you. Just now his mother said he is not at home. Now you go and invite him. If he says he is not here, then start fighting, but you must not harm his old mother. I will come and stop you, and then you stop."

Wu Song first took his twin axes from his bundle, tucked them under his belt, and entered the gate, shouting, "Send someone out!" The old woman hurriedly came forward and asked, "Who is it?" Seeing Wu Song with his glaring eyes, she was already eighty percent frightened and asked, "What does the brother have to say?" Wu Song said, "I am 'Black Whirlwind' of Liangshan Marsh. By my brother's orders, I have been sent to invite Gongsun Sheng. Tell him to come out, and we will treat him with the eyes of Buddha. If he still refuses to come out, I will set a fire and burn all your belongings to bare ground. Don't say I didn't warn you—come out quickly!" The old woman said, "Hero, please don't do this. This is not Gongsun Sheng's home; he is simply called the Daoist Qing." Wu Song said, "Just tell him to come out; I know his damn face." The old woman said, "He is away traveling and has not returned." Wu Song drew his great axe and first smashed down a wall. The old woman stepped forward to block him. Wu Song said, "If you don't call your son out, I will kill you." He raised his axe to strike, and the old woman collapsed to the ground in terror. Then Gongsun Sheng walked out from inside and shouted, "Have no manners!" There is a poem as proof:

With medicine furnace and elixir stove he studies immortality,

Hidden in the deep mountains, severed from ten thousand ties.

Had not a fierce spirit come to his house,

How would Gongsun have ever appeared before the hall?

Dai Zong shouted, "Iron Ox, how could you frighten the old mother!" Dai Zong hurriedly helped her up. Li Kui set aside his great axe and made a bow, saying, "Brother, don't blame me. If I hadn't done this, you wouldn't have come out." Gongsun Sheng first helped his mother back inside, then came out to bow and invite Dai Zong and Li Kui in. He led them into a quiet room and sat them down, saying, "I'm grateful that the two of you managed to find your way here." Dai Zong said, "Ever since you, Master, descended the mountain, I first came to Ji Prefecture to search, but there was no trace of you. I could only gather a band of brothers and go up to the mountain. This time, Brother Song Jiang went to Gaotong Prefecture to rescue the Grand Official Chai, but was defeated two or three times by Prefect Gao Lian, who used sorcery. With no other recourse, he sent me and Li Kui to find and invite you. We searched all over Ji Prefecture but found no trace of you. By chance, in a noodle shop, we met an old man from this area who directed us here. Then we saw a village girl who said you were at home refining elixir medicines, but your old mother kept refusing to let us see you, so I had Li Kui provoke you into coming out. This was too rash of him—please forgive us. Our brother is on the border of Gaotong Prefecture, each day passing like a year. Please, Master, set out at once, so that you may fulfill the great cause from beginning to end." Gongsun Sheng said, "This poor priest wandered the rivers and lakes in his youth, often gathering with brave men. Since I returned home from Liangshan Marsh, it has not been from a darkened heart: first, my mother is old and has no one to care for her; second, my original master, the Realist Luo, stayed at my former dwelling, and I feared someone might come looking for me, so I changed my name to the Pure Daoist and have been hiding here." Dai Zong said, "Now Song Jiang is in dire straits. Master, in your compassion, you must make this journey." Gongsun Sheng said, "It is an obstacle—my old mother has no one to support her. Moreover, how could my original master the Realist Luo consent to let me go? Truly, I cannot go." Dai Zong bowed again and pleaded earnestly. Gongsun Sheng raised Dai Zong up and said, "Let me consider further." Gongsun Sheng invited Dai Zong and Li Kui to sit in the quiet room and arranged vegetarian wine and food for them.

After the three had eaten for a while, Dai Zong again pleaded piteously, "If you, Master, refuse to go, Song Jiang will certainly be captured by Gao Lian. The great cause of the mountain stronghold will be finished!" Gongsun Sheng said, "Allow me to go and consult my original master, the Real Person. If he consents, then I will go with you." Dai Zong said, "Please go and ask the Real Person right now." Gongsun Sheng said, "Stay here calmly for the night; I will go early tomorrow." Dai Zong said, "Our brother there endures each day as if it were a year. I beg you, Master, to go with us." Gongsun Sheng then rose, led Dai Zong and Li Kui away from his home, and took the road up to Two Immortals Mountain. By then it was late autumn and early winter—the days were short and the nights long, and evening came quickly. When they reached halfway up the mountain, the red sun was already sinking in the west. A small path through the pine shade led all the way to the Realist Luo's monastery. They saw a vermilion plaque with three gold characters written upon it: "Purple Void Monastery." When the three arrived before the monastery and looked upon Two Immortals Mountain, it truly was a fine immortal realm. They saw:

Dark pines, dense and luxuriant; emerald cypresses, thick and solemn.

A flock of white cranes listening to the scriptures; several grey-robed attendants grinding medicines.

Green parasol trees and emerald bamboo—the cave door deep-locked, cold behind jade windows;

White snow and yellow sprouts—the stone chamber sealed by clouds, warm around the cudweed stove.

Wild deer carry flowers through the path and depart; mountain apes clutch fruit and cross the rocks.

At times one hears the Daoists discussing the sutras; often one sees mountain elders debating the Dharma.

By the altar of the Sovereign of Emptiness, the heavenly wind carries down the sound of steps into the void;

In the Hall of Worshipping the Dipper, the phoenix-borne suddenly come with the tinkling of jade pendants.

This alone is the true Purple Mansion—where else need one seek Mount Penglai?

The three of them went to the changing pavilion, arranged their clothes, and came through the corridor, going straight to the Pine and Crane Studio behind the hall. Two lads saw Gongsun Sheng leading people in and reported this to the Realist Luo. He transmitted his divine decree, commanding that the three be invited in. Gongsun Sheng then led Dai Zong and Li Kui into the Pine and Crane Studio, just as the Real Person had finished his morning devotions and was sitting on his cloud couch. Gongsun Sheng stepped forward to pay his respects and inquire after his well-being, then stood at attention. Dai Zong and Li Kui looked at the Realist Luo—truly he had the appearance of one whose spirit roamed the eight extremities. They saw:

A star-crown studded with jade leaves; a crane-feather cloak embroidered with golden mist.

Long whiskers and broad cheeks—he had cultivated to the heaven of no leakage;

Jade-green eyes and square pupils—he had consumed elixirs to reach the realm of long life.

He had eaten the jujubes of Anqi, and tasted the peaches of Fang Shuo.

His qi filled the lower cinnabar field—truly green sinews and purple brain;

His name was registered in the mysterious records—certainly dark kidneys and blue-green liver.

Even so: at the third watch, walking in the moon, the phoenix cry is distant; riding the clouds for ten thousand miles, the crane's back is high.

Dai Zong, seeing this, hastily bowed. Li Kui just stared with his eyes. The Realist Luo asked Gongsun Sheng, "Where have these two come from?" Gongsun Sheng said, "They are the righteous friends from Shandong that I once told you about, Master. Now Prefect Gao Lian of Gaotong Prefecture is displaying his strange arts, and my elder brother Song Jiang has specially sent these two brothers here to summon me. I dared not act on my own authority, so I have come to consult you, Master." The Realist Luo said, "My disciple has already escaped the fiery pit and is studying the refining of long life—why would you again covet this realm?" Dai Zong bowed again and said, "I humbly beg you to temporarily allow Master Gongsun to go down the mountain. Once we have defeated Gao Lian, we will send him back." The Realist Luo said, "You two do not understand: this is not a matter for a monk to meddle in. You may go back down the mountain and deliberate among yourselves."

Gongsun Sheng had no choice but to lead the two men away from the Pine and Crane Studio and down the mountain late that evening. Li Kui asked, "What did that old immortal gentleman say?" Dai Zong replied, "You mean you didn't hear?" Li Kui said, "I couldn't make out that blasted chirping of his." Dai Zong said, "He told his disciple not to go." When Li Kui heard this, he shouted, "You made us travel all that distance, through a thousand hardships to find him, and now he lets out a fart like that. Don't get me riled up—I'll crush your Taoist hat with one hand, grab you by the waist with the other, and throw that old Taoist thief headfirst down the mountain." Dai Zong glared at him and said, "Are you going to get yourself nailed down again!" Li Kui said, "No, no, I was just saying it for fun."

The three returned to Gongsun Sheng's home and that evening prepared some supper. Gongsun Sheng said, "Let's stay the night and tomorrow we'll plead with my master again. If he agrees, we'll go." Dai Zong told them to retire for the night, and the two packed their belongings and went to the meditation chamber to sleep. Around the fifth watch, Li Kui quietly got up. Hearing Dai Zong snoring deeply, he thought to himself, "Isn't this a bloody waste of effort? You were originally one of our band on the mountain—why go asking some blasted teacher for permission? Tomorrow that fellow will refuse again, and then our brother's great business will be ruined! I can't stand it anymore—I'll just kill that old Taoist thief so there's no one left to ask, and he'll have no choice but to go with me."

Li Kui then took up his two axes, quietly opened the door, and under the bright stars and moon, made his way up the mountain step by step. When he reached the Purple Void Temple, he found both gates shut, but the side wall was not very high. Li Kui leaped over it, opened the gates, and crept inside. He went all the way to the Pine and Crane Studio, where he could hear someone through the window reciting the Jade Pivot Precious Scripture. Li Kui climbed up and licked a hole in the window paper. Inside he saw the Hermit Luo sitting alone on a cloud bed. On the table before him burned a fine incense in a censer, with two painted candles lit, as he recited the scripture aloud. Li Kui said, "This Taoist thief sure deserves to die!" He crept around to the door, gave it a push, and the two lattice panels flew open with a crash. Li Kui rushed in, raised his axe, and brought it down on the Hermit Luo's skull. He toppled over onto the cloud bed, and white blood flowed out. Li Kui looked and laughed, "Clearly this Taoist thief was a virgin—he preserved his primal yang energy and never let any of it leak away, so there's not a drop of red in him." Li Kui looked again more carefully—the Taoist hat had been split in two, and his head had been severed all the way down to the neck. Li Kui said, "Now I've eliminated a pest, and there'll be no trouble keeping Gongsun Sheng from going." He turned and left the Pine and Crane Studio, running out through the side corridor, when a young Taoist novice blocked his path and shouted, "You've killed my master—where do you think you're going?" Li Kui said, "You little Taoist thief, take an axe from me too!" His axe fell, and the boy's head was already chopped off onto the terrace. Both had been killed by Li Kui. Li Kui laughed, "Might as well spread the word." He took the road straight out of the temple gate and flew down the mountain like the wind. He reached Gongsun Sheng's home, slipped inside, closed the door, and listened—Dai Zong was still sound asleep in the meditation chamber. Li Kui lay back down as before. When dawn came, Gongsun Sheng got up and prepared breakfast for the two men to eat. Dai Zong said, "Please, sir, lead us both up the mountain again and plead with the Hermit." Li Kui listened and secretly smiled a cold smile.

The three followed their original path and went up the mountain again. They entered the Purple Void Temple and came to the Pine and Crane Studio, where they saw two novices. Gongsun Sheng asked, "Where is the Hermit?" The novices answered, "The Hermit is seated on his cloud bed cultivating his nature." When Li Kui heard this, he was startled and stuck his tongue out, unable to draw it back in for a long while. The three lifted the curtain and went in to look—there sat the Hermit Luo in the center on his cloud bed. Li Kui thought to himself in secret, "Did I kill the wrong man last night?" The Hermit Luo then said, "What business brings you three here again?" Dai Zong said, "We have come especially to beg my master for mercy, to save our men from disaster." The Hermit Luo said, "Who is this big black fellow?" Dai Zong answered, "He is my sworn brother, surnamed Li, given name Kui." The Hermit smiled and said, "I was not going to let Gongsun Sheng go, but out of regard for his face, I will let him go on this journey." Dai Zong bowed and thanked him. Li Kui secretly thought to himself, "That fellow knew I wanted to kill him, and yet he still talks such nonsense!"

Then the Daoist Master Luo said, "What if I teach you three to reach Gaozhou Prefecture in an instant?" The three thanked him. Dai Zong thought to himself, "This Master Luo's powers surpass even my own 'Magic of Swift Travel'..." The master called for his young acolyte to bring three handkerchiefs. Dai Zong said, "Venerable Master, may I ask—how exactly will you enable us to reach Gaozhou Prefecture?" Master Luo then rose to his feet and said, "Follow me, all of you." The three followed him out of the monastery gate and up onto the rocky crag outside. First he laid a red handkerchief upon the stone and said, "My disciple, step upon it." Gongsun Sheng placed both feet upon it. Master Luo swept his sleeve and cried, "Rise!" The handkerchief transformed into a sheet of crimson cloud, bearing Gongsun Sheng aloft, rising gently into the air until he was some twenty-odd zhang above the mountain. Master Luo cried, "Stop!" and the crimson cloud held still. Then he laid down a blue handkerchief and told Dai Zong to step upon it, crying "Rise!" That handkerchief became a sheet of azure cloud, bearing Dai Zong up into the sky and away. The two clouds, one blue and one red, each the size of a reed mat, whirled above in the heavens. Li Gui stood watching, stupefied. Master Luo then spread a white handkerchief on the stone and called Li Gui to step upon it. Li Gui laughed and said, "Are you playing a trick on me? If I fall, I'll make a fine big splatter!" Master Luo said, "Do you see the other two?" Li Gui stood upon the handkerchief. Master Luo said "Rise!" and the handkerchief became a sheet of white cloud, flying upward. Li Gui shrieked, "Ah-ya! I'm not steady—let me down!" Master Luo beckoned with his right hand, and the crimson and azure clouds descended smoothly to the level ground. Dai Zong bowed in thanks and stood waiting before him; Gongsun Sheng stood waiting at his left. Li Gui, still aloft, shouted, "I need to piss and shit too! If you don't let me down, I'll let it rain straight down from up here!" Master Luo asked, "We are all religious practitioners who have never offended you. Why then did you climb over the wall at night, come in, and try to cleave me with your axe? If I lacked the Way, I would already have been killed. You also murdered one of my acolytes." Li Gui said, "It wasn't me—you must have mistaken me for someone else!" Master Luo smiled and said, "Though you only hacked apart two of my gourds, your heart was not good. Let me teach you some hardship." He beckoned with his hand and cried, "Go!" A fierce wind seized Li Gui and blew him into the clouds. He saw two yellow-turbaned divine warriors escorting him. All he could hear in his ears was the sound of wind and rain. Before he knew it, he had been carried straight to the borders of Ji Prefecture. His soul nearly fled his body, and his hands and feet trembled violently. Suddenly there was a great clattering sound, and he came tumbling and rolling down from the roof of the prefectural yamen of Ji Prefecture.

That very day, Prefect Ma Shihong was holding court. Many clerks and officials stood before the hall. They saw a huge dark-skinned man fall from midair, and all were startled. Prefect Ma saw him and cried, "Seize this fellow and bring him forward!" A dozen or so jailers and prison guards drove Li Gui before him. Prefect Ma roared, "Where do you demon-spawn come from? How were you lowered from the sky?" Li Gui, battered from the fall with a gashed head and cracked forehead, could not speak for some time. Prefect Ma said, "He must indeed be a sorcerer. Go fetch some ritual implements." The jailers and warders threw Li Gui down, dragged him to the open ground before the hall, and a court attendant fetched a basin of pig's blood and poured it over his head without ceremony. Another man brought a bucket of urine and dung and drenched Li Gui from head to toe. Li Gui's mouth and ears were full of urine and excrement. Li Gui shouted, "I am no sorcerer! I am a companion of Master Luo!" As it happened, the people of Ji Prefecture all knew that Master Luo was a living immortal of this world, so they were reluctant to harm him. They drove Li Gui back before the hall, and already a clerk reported: "This Master Luo of Ji Prefecture is a famous immortal who has attained the Way, renowned throughout the land. If this man is his follower, we must not apply punishment." Prefect Ma laughed and said, "I have read a thousand volumes and heard of matters ancient and modern, yet I have never heard of an immortal with such a disciple. He is clearly a sorcerer. Jailers, give him a thorough beating!" The men had no choice but to pin Li Gui down and beat him so that one Buddha came into the world and the next passed into nirvana. Prefect Ma roared, "Quick, confess that you are a sorcerer, and we will stop beating you." Li Gui had no choice but to confess that he was "the sorcerer Li Er." They fitted him with a large cangue, nailed it shut, and threw him into the great jail. Li Gui arrived at the death row and said, "I am the Divine General of the Day—how dare you put a cangue on me? One way or another, I'll bring death upon every soul in this city of Ji Prefecture." The warden and jailers all knew of Master Luo's pure and lofty virtue—who among them did not revere him?—so they all came to ask Li Gui, "Just who are you?" Li Gui said, "I am Master Luo's personal Divine General of the Day. Because I momentarily offended the true master, he cast me here to suffer this ordeal. In two or three days he will certainly come for me. If you don't bring me food and wine to sustain me, I will bring death upon all your families." The warden and jailers, hearing his words, were all afraid of him, and had no choice but to buy wine and meat to feed him. Seeing that they were frightened, Li Gui only grew more outrageous in his talk. The people in the jail became even more terrified, and they brought hot water to bathe him and gave him clean clothes to wear. Li Gui said, "If you stint me even a little on food and wine, I will fly away and bring suffering upon you all." The jailers could only humor and placate him. Li Gui languished in the jail of Ji Prefecture—but we shall speak no more of that here.

Now let me tell you of the Immortal Luo, who recounted all the above matters to Dai Zong. Dai Zong could only weep and plead, begging him to save Li Kui. The Immortal Luo kept Dai Zong at the temple to stay the night and inquired about affairs at the stronghold. Dai Zong told him how Chao Tianwang and Song Jiang were generous in aiding the needy and acted only on Heaven's behalf, swearing never to harm loyal ministers or virtuous men, filial sons, worthy grandsons, righteous men, or chaste women — all their many good deeds. The Immortal Luo was greatly pleased to hear this. Dai Zong stayed five days, and each day he kowtowed and worshipped, beseeching the Immortal to save Li Kui. The Immortal Luo said, "A man like this can only be driven away — you must not take him back." Dai Zong protested, "Immortal, you do not understand: though Li Kui is foolish and ignorant of law and reason, he has some small merits. First, he is blunt and honest, never taking the least thing from others by improper means. Second, he never flatters or fawns on others, and even unto death his loyalty does not change. Third, he has no lustful or wicked thoughts, nor does he covet wealth or betray others, and he dares to fight in the vanguard. For these reasons Song Jiang loves him dearly. If this man is lost and I return, it will be hard for me to face my elder brother Song Jiang." The Immortal Luo laughed and said, "This poor monk already knows that this man belongs to the number of the Heavenly Killer Star. Because the creatures of the lower world have committed too many sins, he was sent down to slaughter them. How could I go against Heaven's will and ruin this man? I have only been disciplining him for a while. I will summon him and return him to you." Dai Zong bowed in thanks.

The Immortal Luo called out, "Where is the lie zhenshi?" And a gust of wind arose before the crane pavilion. When the wind passed, a Yellow-Turbaned Lie Zhenshi appeared. Behold:

His face was like red jade, his whiskers like black velvet.

He seemed a full zhang in height, and had a thousand catties of strength.

Beside his yellow turban, golden rings blazed in the sunlight, shooting forth rosy light;

Amid his embroidered armor, iron plates spread like frost, swallowing the moon's reflection.

He stands before the altar to guard the Law,

And comes down to the world to subdue demons.

The Yellow-Turbaned Lie Zhenshi reported, "What is your command, Master?" The Immortal Luo said, "Previously I sent you to take a man to Ji Province. His term of punishment is now complete. Go again to the prison in Ji Province and bring him back. Go quickly and return quickly." The Zhenshi acknowledged the order and departed. About half a watch later, Li Kui was tossed down from empty space.

Dai Zong hurriedly caught Li Kui and asked, "Brother, where have you been these past two days?" Li Kui looked at the Immortal Luo and kept kowtowing and saying, "Iron Ox dares not do it again!" The Immortal Luo said, "From this day forward, you must restrain yourself, do your utmost to support Song Jiang, and harbor no wicked thoughts." Li Kui bowed again and said, "How dare I disobey the Immortal's words?" Dai Zong asked, "Where exactly did you go these past days?" Li Kui said, "That day a gust of wind blew me straight to the prefectural office in Ji City. I rolled off the ridge of the main hall and was seized by the people there. That Magistrate Ma called me a sorcerer, had me bound, and ordered the jailers and warders to pour dog's blood and urine and excrement over my head and body. They beat the flesh off both my legs, put me in canisters, and threw me into the great jail. When they asked me what spirit had fallen from the sky, I said I was the Immortal Luo's personal attendant spirit of the day, being punished for some transgression, and that in two or three days he would certainly come to fetch me. Though I took a beating with the sticks, I managed to trick them into giving me some wine and food. Those fellows feared the Immortal and even bathed me and gave me a change of clothes. Just now I was in the pavilion tricking them out of wine and meat when this Yellow-Turbaned Lie Zhenshi dropped down from mid-air, broke my canisters and locks, told me to close my eyes, and as if in a dream, escorted me here." Gongsun Sheng said, "Master, you have over a thousand of these Yellow-Turbaned Lie Zhenshi, all attendants of our true Master." Li Kui, hearing this, cried out, "Living Buddha! Why didn't you tell me earlier, so I wouldn't have done such wrong?" He kept bowing. Dai Zong also bowed again and earnestly said, "I have truly been here many days. The army at Gaotangzhou is pressing hard. I beg you, Master, in your mercy, let Master Gongsun Sheng and your disciple go to rescue my elder brother Song Jiang, defeat Gao Lian, and we will return him to the mountain." The Immortal Luo said, "I originally did not intend to let him go, but now for the sake of your great cause, I will let him go for this one journey. I have a few words for you to remember." Gongsun Sheng knelt forward to hear the Immortal's instructions. Truly, he fulfilled his wish to aid the world and bring peace to the land, becoming one who rides phoenixes and cranes. What exactly the Immortal Luo said to Gongsun Sheng, you will hear in the next chapter.

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Water Margin (120-Chapter Edition)