A Battle and its Results

Han Hsiang Tzu, not liking this undeserved abuse, changed his flute into a fishing-line, and as soon as the Dragon-prince was within reach caught him on the hook, with intent to retain him as a hostage.  The Prince’s escort returned in great haste and informed Ao Ch’in of what had occurred.  The latter declared that his son was in the wrong, and proposed to restore the shipwrecked servant and the presents.  The Court officers, however, held a different opinion.  “These Immortals,” they said, “dare to hold captive your Majesty’s son merely on account of a few lost presents and a shipwrecked servant.  This is a great insult, which we ask permission to avenge.”  Eventually they won over Ao Ch’in, and the armies of the deep gathered for the fray.  The Immortals called to their aid the other Taoist Immortals and Heroes, and thus two formidable armies found themselves face to face.

Several attempts were made by other divinities to avert the conflict, but without success.  The battle was a strenuous one.  Ao Ch’in received a ball of fire full on his head, and his army was threatened with disaster when Tz’u-hang Ta-shih appeared with his bottle of lustral water.  He sprinkled the combatants with this magic fluid, using a willow-branch for the purpose, thus causing all their magic powers to disappear.

Shui Kuan, the Ruler of the Watery Elements, then arrived, and reproached Ao Ch’in; he assured him that if the matter were to come to the knowledge of Shang Ti, the Supreme Ruler, he would not only be severely punished, but would risk losing his post.  Ao Ch’in expressed penitence, restored the servant and the presents, and made full apology to the Eight Immortals.

The Dragon in the Pond

One day Chang Tao-ling, the ‘father of modern Taoism,’ was on Ho-ming Shan with his disciple Wang Ch’ang.  “See,” he said, “that shaft of white light on Yang Shan yonder!  There are undoubtedly some bad spirits there.  Let us go and bring them to reason.”  When they reached the foot of the mountain they met twelve women who had the appearance of evil spirits.  Chang Tao-ling asked them whence came the shaft of white light.  They answered that it was the yin, or female, principle of the earth.  “Where is the source of the salt water?” he asked again.  “That pond in front of you,” they replied, “in which lives a very wicked dragon.”  Chang Tao-ling tried to force the dragon to come out, but without success.  Then he drew a phoenix with golden wings on a charm and hurled it into the air over the pond.  Thereupon the dragon took fright and fled, the pond immediately drying up.  After that Chang Tao-ling took his sword and stuck it in the ground, whereupon a well full of salt water appeared on the spot.

The Spirits of the Well