“I want no money!”
“You want no money? I see! Then you are at last tired of luxurious living?”
The old man incredulously watched Tu Tzuchun’s eyes.
“No, I am not tired of my way of living, but I am disgusted with all men,” replied Tu Tzuchun harshly.
“That is amusing. And what has made you so disgusted with men?”
“They are heartless, every one of them! While I am rich, they say pretty things, but, as soon as I become poor, they will not even smile at me. It seems useless to become rich again when I reflect on what has happened before.”
On hearing Tu Tzuchun’s words, the old man began to grin broadly.
“I see. Even though you are young, you have some good sense left. Well, then, even though you might be a poor man hereafter, do you intend to live a quiet and simple life?”
Tu Tzuchun hesitated a little, then quickly lifting up his face, which bore a resolute expression, he looked steadily at the old man and began imploringly:
“Just now I do not wish to live in that way, but I would like to become one of your pupils and study magic. … O, do not hide your learning from me. I am sure that you are a hermit of high virtue, otherwise how would you have been able to make me the richest man in the world in a single night? I implore you, become my teacher, and explain to me your wonderful art of magic.”
The old man thought for some time in silence, and a frown crossed his brows. Then with a pleasant smile he again began to speak:
“Yes, I am a hermit as you supposed. My name is Tiehkuantzu, and I live among the mountains of Emeishan. When I first saw you, I thought that you possessed some wisdom, so twice I tried to make you rich … If you wish to be one of my pupils, and if you are truly earnest in what you say, you shall have your wish.”
The old man gladly consented to take him as his pupil, and Tu Tzuchun was beside himself with joy. Before waiting for the old man to finish his words, he prostrated himself and bowed to the ground at his feet. But the old man bade him rise, saying:
“No, no, do not thank me so much yet. Even though I have consented to take you as a pupil, it depends wholly upon yourself whether you will become a great magician or not … At any rate, will you come with me into the heart of the mountains of Emeishan? Look, pick up that bamboo-stick which is lying in the dust. Let us fly immediately into the air.”
The old man took the green bamboo stick which the youth had handed to him. They seated themselves upon it as one might ride a horse, he mumbled a few magic words, and lo! the stick began to soar up into the sky as vigorously as if it had been a dragon. They speedily flew toward the mountains of Emeishan through the clear evening sky of a perfect spring day.
Frightened beyond words, Tu Tzuchun looked timidly beneath him, but he could only discern the blue mountains rising out of the twilight. The western city gate of Loyang was hidden, perhaps in the evening mist, and, though he strained his eyes, there was no sign of it to be seen. Then Tiehkuantzu, with his white beard flowing behind him in the breeze, began to sing loudly:
“In the morning I visit the Polar Seas,
In the evening the mountains of Tsangwu.
With a dagger at my belt, and with a brave heart,
Three times I entered Loyang, but no one knew me,
And singing, I flew over the lake of Tungtinghu.”
Part IV
Very soon the bamboo stick on which the two of them rode, descended upon the mountains of Emeishan. Where they came down Tu Tzuchun saw a large flat rock protruding from a deep ravine; but he knew that it must have still been very high, because in the sky the polar star still could be seen sparkling brightly, as large as a cup. Being a deserted part of the country, all was very still, and they could only hear the whispering of the wind in a twisted that grew on the edge of a cliff near by.
When they alighted on the rock, Tiehkuantzu told Tu Tzuchun to rest there under the shelter of the cliff, saying:
“I am going to heaven to see Hsiwangmu, so you must wait until I come back. Probably during my absence many devils will appear before you, but whatever you do make no noise at all. If you give vent to a single word, you must know that you will not be fit to become a magician. Mark what I say! You must keep absolute silence even if the earth should split asunder!”
“You can count upon it. I will never make a noise. I will keep silent, even though I may lose my life,” answered Tu Tzuchun.
“Then I am content,” said Tiehkuantzu, “and, now I am going.”
With a word of parting the old man rose again on his bamboo stick, flew straight up into the sky, and disappeared above the steep mountains which stood vertically against the night sky, looking as if they had been hewn and shaped by the axe of some giant.
Tu Tzuchun sat alone on the flat rock, and in silence he watched the stars in the evening sky. After an hour or so, as the cold night wind from the high mountains began to penetrate his clothes, a ringing voice came from the sky. It shouted suddenly down upon him, and its tone was rough:
“Who is it that sits there?”
Tu Tzuchun remained silent as the old man had told him to do. Then again the same menacing voice called sternly:
“If you will not answer, prepare to die
