inquired:  “How is it that the palace threatens to collapse?  There should not be an earthquake at this time.”  He ordered one of his attendants to go at once and find out what evil was giving rise to the commotion.  When the officer reached the river he saw that the water was red, but noticed nothing else except a boy dipping a band of silk in the stream.  He cleft the water and called out angrily:  “That child should be thrown into the water for making the river red and causing Lung Wang’s palace to shake.”

“Who is that who speaks so brutally?” said No-cha.  Then, seeing that the man intended to seize him, he jumped aside, took his gold bracelet, and hurled it in the air.  It fell on the head of the officer, and No-cha left him dead on the rock.  Then he picked up his bracelet and said smiling:  “His blood has stained my precious horizon of Heaven and earth.”  He then washed it in the water.

The Slaying of the Dragon-king’s Son

“How is it that the officer does not return?” inquired Lung Wang.  At that moment attendants came to inform him that his retainer had been murdered by a boy.

Thereupon Ao Ping, the third son of Lung Wang, placing himself at the head of a troop of marines, his trident in his hand, left the palace precincts.  The warriors dashed into the river, raising on every side waves mountains high.  Seeing the water rising, No-cha stood up on the rock and was confronted by Ao Ping mounted on a sea-monster.

“Who slew my messenger?” cried the warrior.

“I did,” answered No-cha.

“Who are you?” demanded Ao Ping.

“I am No-cha, the third son of Li Ching of Ch’en-t’ang Kuan.  I came here to bathe and refresh myself; your messenger cursed me, and I killed him.  Then—­”

“Rascal! do you not know that your victim was a deputy of the King of Heaven?  How dare you kill him, and then boast of your crime?”

So saying, Ao Ping thrust at the boy with his trident.  No-cha, by a brisk move, evaded the thrust.

“Who are you?” he asked in turn.

“I am Ao Ping, the third son of Lung Wang.”

“Ah, you are a blusterer,” jeered the boy; “if you dare to touch me I will skin you alive, you and your mud-eels!”

“You make me choke with rage,” rejoined Ao Ping, at the same time thrusting again with his trident.

Furious at this renewed attack, No-cha spread his silk trousers in the air, and thousands of balls of fire flew out of them, felling Lung Wang’s son.  No-cha put his foot on Ao Ping’s head and struck it with his magic bracelet, whereupon he appeared in his true form of a dragon.

“I am now going to pull out your sinews,” he said, “in order to make a belt for my father to use to bind on his cuirass.”

No-cha was as good as his word, and Ao Ping’s escort ran and informed Lung Wang of the fate of his son.  The Dragon-king went to Li Ching and demanded an explanation.