話說董太清拿寶劍出來一瞧，不是別人，正是他師兄張太素，由外面回來，董太清趕緊一行禮，張太素一瞧，氣往上沖，說：「好師弟，我教會了你能為，你會拿寶劍要殺我？這倒不錯。」董太清說：「師兄莫生氣，這內中有一段隱情。」張太素說：「什麼隱情？」董太清說：「師兄進來說。」
话说董太清拿宝剑出来一瞧，不是别人，正是他师兄张太素，由外面回来，董太清赶紧一行礼，张太素一瞧，气往上冲，说：「好师弟，我教会了你能为，你会拿宝剑要杀我？这倒不错。」董太清说：「师兄莫生气，这内中有一段隐情。」张太素说：「什么隐情？」董太清说：「师兄进来说。」
Now, when Dong Taiqing came out with his sword and took a look, it was none other than his senior brother Zhang Taisu, just back from outside. Dong Taiqing hurriedly bowed to him. Zhang Taisu took one look, and his anger shot up. “My fine little brother!” he said. “I teach you your skills, and you come at me with a sword to kill me? Very nice indeed.” “Don’t be angry, Brother,” said Dong Taiqing. “There’s a story behind this.” “What story?” said Zhang Taisu. “Come inside, Brother, and I’ll tell you,” said Dong Taiqing.
張太素來到裡面，說：「怎么一段事？」董太清說：「師兄，你教給我害人那個方法，卻是真靈，現在我害了一個人。」張太素說：「害誰。」董太清說：「害永寧村的王安士。」張太素一聽，勃然大怒，說：「好，你害別人我不惱，你害王安士，我且問你，咱們廟裡兩頃香火地誰施捨的？」董太清說：「王安士。」張太素說：「修蓋大殿誰的銀子？」董太清說：「王安士。」張太素說：「化緣簿誰給寫的，一年四季供燈油誰供給？廟中吃的糧米誰施捨的？」董太清說：「也是王安士。」張太素說：「你既知道都是王安士，他是咱們廟裡頭一家施主，你害他，你還有良心么？」董太清說：「我倒不是要害他，是張士芳叫我害他的，許給我五百銀子。」張太素一聽，「呵」了一聲說：「既是五百銀子還罷了，殺人倒落兩把血呀！我只打算白害了人呢，這還可以。」張士芳一聽，要不好，這一提五百銀子，見張太素也是見財起意的強徒。張太素說：「你害人為什麼拿寶劍砍我呢？」董太清說：「現在有一個梅花真人把桃木人要去了，我只打算他來找我要攝魂瓶，我故此拿寶劍出去，這個老道要壞我們的事。」張太素說：「不要緊，我教給你害人七天準死，我還會叫他當天就死的法子。張士芳，你去買點應用的東西，今天晚上我管保叫王安士咽氣，明天張士芳你就辦白事。」張士芳甚為喜悅，立刻把應用的東西買來。等到天有二鼓以後，星斗出全了，張太素在院中擺設香案，把包頭上扎頭繩解開，披散開頭髮，手中仗劍，燒上香，一禱告：「三清教主在上，保佑弟子張太素，把王安士害了。得張士芳五百銀子，我再給三清教主掛袍，還願上供。」其實三清教主，也不能為掛袍上供就保佑他害人，也沒有這不開眼的神仙。張太素禱告完了，畫了三道符，用寶劍尖一挑，點著，口中念念有詞。三道符燒完，老道一用寶劍，說聲：「太上老君，急急如律令赫！」把攝魂瓶打開。立時就見一陣陣冷氣吸人，一聲聲山林失色，「咕嚕嚕」聲如牛吼，「嘩啦啦」進來一個，滴溜溜就地亂轉，原來正是王安士魂魄。一陣陰風慘慘，眼瞧老道就把魂魄收在攝魂瓶之內，用紅綢子一封，五色線一系，兩個老道同張士芳來到西配房屋中。這屋裡靠西牆有條桌，頭前八仙桌，兩邊有椅子。兩個老道在椅子上一坐，把攝魂瓶放在條桌當中。張太素說：「張士芳，你不信你去瞧去，你姑父此時咽了氣了。明天你辦白事，你可得給五百銀子，不給我照樣收拾你。」張士芳說：「我焉有不給之理？」正說著話，就聽東配房後有人喊嚷：「我要上吊了。」張太素一聽，說：「賢弟你聽東邊有人喊嚷要上吊，你我去瞧瞧，焉有不管之理？」董太清說：「瞧瞧去，我聽聲音像東後院。」說著話，兩個老道同張士芳出來，將門倒帶上，繞到東配房後。一看，本來院裡有一棵樹，在樹上搭著一件大氅，見這人頭戴翠藍色六瓣壯士帽，藍翠箭館薄底靴子，白臉膛俊品人物，正解下絲絛，搭在樹上拴套，口中自言自語：「罷了，人是生有處，死有地，閻王造就三更死，誰敢留人到五更？死了死了，萬事皆休。」
张太素来到里面，说：「怎么一段事？」董太清说：「师兄，你教给我害人那个方法，却是真灵，现在我害了一个人。」张太素说：「害谁。」董太清说：「害永宁村的王安士。」张太素一听，勃然大怒，说：「好，你害别人我不恼，你害王安士，我且问你，咱们庙里两顷香火地谁施舍的？」董太清说：「王安士。」张太素说：「修盖大殿谁的银子？」董太清说：「王安士。」张太素说：「化缘簿谁给写的，一年四季供灯油谁供给？庙中吃的粮米谁施舍的？」董太清说：「也是王安士。」张太素说：「你既知道都是王安士，他是咱们庙里头一家施主，你害他，你还有良心幺？」董太清说：「我倒不是要害他，是张士芳叫我害他的，许给我五百银子。」张太素一听，「呵」了一声说：「既是五百银子还罢了，杀人倒落两把血呀！我只打算白害了人呢，这还可以。」张士芳一听，要不好，这一提五百银子，见张太素也是见财起意的强徒。张太素说：「你害人为什么拿宝剑砍我呢？」董太清说：「现在有一个梅花真人把桃木人要去了，我只打算他来找我要摄魂瓶，我故此拿宝剑出去，这个老道要坏我们的事。」张太素说：「不要紧，我教给你害人七天准死，我还会叫他当天就死的法子。张士芳，你去买点应用的东西，今天晚上我管保叫王安士咽气，明天张士芳你就办白事。」张士芳甚为喜悦，立刻把应用的东西买来。等到天有二鼓以后，星斗出全了，张太素在院中摆设香案，把包头上扎头绳解开，披散开头发，手中仗剑，烧上香，一祷告：「三清教主在上，保佑弟子张太素，把王安士害了。得张士芳五百银子，我再给三清教主挂袍，还愿上供。」其实三清教主，也不能为挂袍上供就保佑他害人，也没有这不开眼的神仙。张太素祷告完了，画了三道符，用宝剑尖一挑，点着，口中念念有词。三道符烧完，老道一用宝剑，说声：「太上老君，急急如律令赫！」把摄魂瓶打开。立时就见一阵阵冷气吸人，一声声山林失色，「咕噜噜」声如牛吼，「哗啦啦」进来一个，滴溜溜就地乱转，原来正是王安士魂魄。一阵阴风惨惨，眼瞧老道就把魂魄收在摄魂瓶之内，用红绸子一封，五色线一系，两个老道同张士芳来到西配房屋中。这屋里靠西墙有条桌，头前八仙桌，两边有椅子。两个老道在椅子上一坐，把摄魂瓶放在条桌当中。张太素说：「张士芳，你不信你去瞧去，你姑父此时咽了气了。明天你办白事，你可得给五百银子，不给我照样收拾你。」张士芳说：「我焉有不给之理？」正说着话，就听东配房后有人喊嚷：「我要上吊了。」张太素一听，说：「贤弟你听东边有人喊嚷要上吊，你我去瞧瞧，焉有不管之理？」董太清说：「瞧瞧去，我听声音像东后院。」说着话，两个老道同张士芳出来，将门倒带上，绕到东配房后。一看，本来院里有一棵树，在树上搭着一件大氅，见这人头戴翠蓝色六瓣壮士帽，蓝翠箭馆薄底靴子，白脸膛俊品人物，正解下丝绦，搭在树上拴套，口中自言自语：「罢了，人是生有处，死有地，阎王造就三更死，谁敢留人到五更？死了死了，万事皆休。」
Zhang Taisu went inside. “What’s all this about?” he said. “Brother,” said Dong Taiqing, “that method you taught me for harming people really works. I’ve just used it on a man.” “On whom?” said Zhang Taisu. “On Wang Anshi of Yongning Village.” At this Zhang Taisu flew into a towering rage. “Oh, fine! If you’d harmed anyone else, I wouldn’t mind. But Wang Anshi! Let me ask you this: who gave our temple its two qing of endowment land?” “Wang Anshi,” said Dong Taiqing. “Whose silver built the main hall?” said Zhang Taisu. “Wang Anshi’s,” said Dong Taiqing. “Who put his name in our alms book? Who keeps us in lamp oil all the year round? Who gives the grain we eat in this temple?” said Zhang Taisu. “Wang Anshi again,” said Dong Taiqing. “Since you know it’s all Wang Anshi,” said Zhang Taisu, “and he’s the first patron of our temple, have you no conscience, harming him?” “It isn’t that I wanted to harm him,” said Dong Taiqing. “Zhang Shifang told me to, and he’s promised me five hundred taels of silver.” At that Zhang Taisu said, “Oh! Well, if there’s five hundred taels in it, that’s another matter. If you’re going to kill a man, you may as well come away with two handfuls of blood! I thought you’d harmed him for nothing. This is all right.” Zhang Shifang had been listening, and it had looked bad; but at the mention of five hundred taels, Zhang Taisu showed himself another ruffian whose wickedness wakes at the sight of money. “But why did you come at me with a sword,” said Zhang Taisu, “when it’s you who’s been harming people?” “Now some Perfected One Meihua has taken away the peach-wood figure,” said Dong Taiqing. “I thought he’d come to me for the Soul-Seizing Vase, so I went out with my sword. This Daoist means to spoil our business.” “No matter,” said Zhang Taisu. “The method I taught you kills in seven days without fail, but I also know a way to make a man die the same day. Zhang Shifang, go and buy the things we’ll need. Tonight I guarantee Wang Anshi will breathe his last, and tomorrow, Zhang Shifang, you can hold the funeral.” Zhang Shifang was delighted, and at once he went and bought what was needed. After the second watch, when the stars were all out, Zhang Taisu set up an incense table in the courtyard, untied the cord that bound his topknot, let down his hair, took his sword in hand, lit incense and prayed: “Master of the Three Pure Ones above, protect your disciple Zhang Taisu and let him do away with Wang Anshi. When I’ve got Zhang Shifang’s five hundred taels, I’ll hang a robe on you, Master of the Three Pure Ones, make you offerings and fulfil my vow.” In truth the Master of the Three Pure Ones would not help a man do murder for the sake of a robe and some offerings; there is no god as blind as that. When Zhang Taisu had finished praying, he drew three talismans, picked them up on the tip of his sword, lit them and muttered incantations. When the three talismans had burned away, the old Daoist made a pass with his sword and cried, “By the Supreme Lord Lao’s command: swiftly, swiftly, as the law decrees!” and opened the Soul-Seizing Vase. At once gust after gust of cold air came sucking at them, and sound after sound made the woods and hills turn pale. There was a rumbling like the bellow of an ox, and with a whoosh something came in and spun round and round on the ground: it was the soul of Wang Anshi. In a dismal gust of ghostly wind they saw the old Daoist gather the soul into the Soul-Seizing Vase, seal it with red silk and tie it with five-coloured thread. Then the two old Daoists and Zhang Shifang went into the west side room. In this room a long side table stood against the west wall, with an Eight Immortals table in front of it and chairs on either side. The two old Daoists sat down in the chairs and put the Soul-Seizing Vase in the middle of the side table. “Zhang Shifang,” said Zhang Taisu, “if you don’t believe me, go and look: your uncle has breathed his last by now. Tomorrow you hold the funeral, and you’d better pay the five hundred taels, or I’ll deal with you the same way.” “How could I not pay?” said Zhang Shifang. As they were talking, they heard someone shouting behind the east side room: “I’m going to hang myself!” “Brother,” said Zhang Taisu, “listen, someone over on the east side is shouting that he’s going to hang himself. Let’s go and see. How can we not step in?” “Let’s go and look,” said Dong Taiqing. “It sounds to me like the east back courtyard.” With that the two old Daoists and Zhang Shifang came out, pulled the door shut behind them and went round behind the east side room. They looked: there was a tree in that courtyard, with a cloak thrown over it, and a man was there, wearing a six-panel warrior’s cap of kingfisher blue, a blue-green jacket with archer’s cuffs and thin-soled boots, a fair-faced, handsome fellow. He was untying his silk sash and looping it over the tree to make a noose, muttering to himself, “Enough. A man is born in his place and dies in his place. When King Yama has set your death for the third watch, who dares keep you alive till the fifth? Die and be done with it, and all troubles are over.”
老道一看說：「朋友，你怎么跑到我們院裡上吊來了？我們跟你無冤無仇，素不相識，你這可不必。」這人抬頭一看，說：「道爺不可見怪，我實不知道這廟裡有人，我只打算是空廟呢。我要知道有觀主，我天大膽也不敢來攪擾。」老道一聽，這人說話很通情理，這才說：「朋友，你為什麼要尋死呢？我看尊駕，堂堂一表非俗，大概不致不明白，為何尋此短見？」這人嘆了一聲說：「道爺要問，一言難盡。我本是鎮江人，保鏢為業。我保著二十萬銀子鏢，走在這東邊漫窪里，不想出來一夥強盜，約有四五十人，把我截住，要擋鏢車。我一提我們鏢局子的字號，這些賊人也不懂場面，他們說：‘就是皇上從此路過，也要留買路金錢。’我一動手，他們人多勢眾，我一人焉能敵得了？二十萬銀子，被他們劫了去，我自己越想越沒路。有心回去，這場官司打不了，客人焉能答應？叫我賠，我哪有銀子賠？我一想，莫如一死方休。」董太清說：「你家裡有什麼人呢？」這人說：「家中有白髮的娘親，綠鬢的妻子，未成丁的幼兒，母老妻單子幼。」老道說：「既是你家中有老母妻子，你要一死，家中一家子全竭了。依我勸你，你別想不開。你到本地衙門去報去，留下案底，你還是回去，你總是實有其事。客人不信，叫他到本地衙門來細查此案，客人不能夠要你的命。你想對不對？你趕快去罷，我也不讓你廟裡坐著了，今天我們廟裡有佛事。」這人點點頭，說：「多虧道爺開導我，我謝謝道爺。」立刻深施一禮，由樹上把銅筆拿下來，立刻跳牆出去。老道轉身往回走，剛來到院中，只見西配房屋中有一個人，紅鬍子，藍靛臉，正要盜攝魂瓶。老道一看，氣往上撞說：「孽障大膽！」立刻把門堵住。
老道一看说：「朋友，你怎么跑到我们院里上吊来了？我们跟你无冤无仇，素不相识，你这可不必。」这人抬头一看，说：「道爷不可见怪，我实不知道这庙里有人，我只打算是空庙呢。我要知道有观主，我天大胆也不敢来搅扰。」老道一听，这人说话很通情理，这才说：「朋友，你为什么要寻死呢？我看尊驾，堂堂一表非俗，大概不致不明白，为何寻此短见？」这人叹了一声说：「道爷要问，一言难尽。我本是镇江人，保镖为业。我保着二十万银子镖，走在这东边漫洼里，不想出来一伙强盗，约有四五十人，把我截住，要挡镖车。我一提我们镖局子的字号，这些贼人也不懂场面，他们说：‘就是皇上从此路过，也要留买路金钱。’我一动手，他们人多势众，我一人焉能敌得了？二十万银子，被他们劫了去，我自己越想越没路。有心回去，这场官司打不了，客人焉能答应？叫我赔，我哪有银子赔？我一想，莫如一死方休。」董太清说：「你家里有什么人呢？」这人说：「家中有白发的娘亲，绿鬓的妻子，未成丁的幼儿，母老妻单子幼。」老道说：「既是你家中有老母妻子，你要一死，家中一家子全竭了。依我劝你，你别想不开。你到本地衙门去报去，留下案底，你还是回去，你总是实有其事。客人不信，叫他到本地衙门来细查此案，客人不能够要你的命。你想对不对？你赶快去罢，我也不让你庙里坐着了，今天我们庙里有佛事。」这人点点头，说：「多亏道爷开导我，我谢谢道爷。」立刻深施一礼，由树上把铜笔拿下来，立刻跳墙出去。老道转身往回走，刚来到院中，只见西配房屋中有一个人，红胡子，蓝靛脸，正要盗摄魂瓶。老道一看，气往上撞说：「孽障大胆！」立刻把门堵住。
The old Daoist looked and said, “Friend, what are you doing, running into our courtyard to hang yourself? We’ve no quarrel with you, we don’t even know you. There’s no call for this.” The man looked up. “Don’t take it amiss, Reverend,” he said. “I really didn’t know there was anyone in this temple. I took it for an empty temple. If I’d known it had a master, I’d never have dared come and trouble you, not if my nerve were as big as the sky.” When the old Daoist heard how reasonably the man spoke, he said, “Friend, why do you want to die? Looking at you, sir, you’re a fine figure of a man and out of the common run. You can hardly be a fool. Why would you think of taking your own life?” The man sighed. “Since you ask, Reverend, it’s a long story. I’m from Zhenjiang and I make my living as an escort. I was escorting two hundred thousand taels of silver, and out on the open flats east of here a gang of robbers sprang out, forty or fifty of them, and stopped me and tried to block the carts. I called out the name of our escort agency, but these thieves didn’t know the ways of the trade. They said, ‘Even if the Emperor himself came this way, he’d have to leave money to buy his passage.’ I fought them, but there were many of them and they were strong, and how could one man stand against them? They robbed me of the two hundred thousand taels. The more I think about it, the less way out I see. I thought of going back, but I could never get through the lawsuit, and how would the clients let it go? If they make me pay it back, where would I find the silver? So I thought I’d be better off dead and done with it.” “Who have you got at home?” said Dong Taiqing. “At home I have a white-haired mother, a young wife with her hair still black, and a little son not yet grown: my mother is old, my wife is alone, and my son is small.” “Since you’ve an old mother and a wife and child at home,” said the old Daoist, “if you die, your whole family is finished. Take my advice, and don’t be so desperate. Go and report it to the local yamen so there’s a record of the case, and then go back. After all, it really did happen. If the clients don’t believe you, let them come to the yamen here and look into the case themselves. The clients can’t have your life for it. Isn’t that right? Now off you go, quick. I won’t ask you to sit down in the temple; we’ve a rite to perform tonight.” The man nodded. “Thank you, Reverend, for setting me straight. I’m much obliged.” At once he bowed deeply, took his bronze-brush weapon down from the tree and leapt over the wall. The old Daoist turned and went back, and he had just reached the courtyard when he saw a man in the west side room, red-bearded and indigo-faced, about to steal the Soul-Seizing Vase. At the sight the old Daoist’s anger shot up. “You bold wretch!” he cried, and at once he blocked the doorway.