詩曰：
天然頑石得機先，結就靈胎已萬年。吸月餐星探地窟，填離取坎復天乾。
诗曰：
天然顽石得机先，结就灵胎已万年。吸月餐星探地窟，填离取坎复天干。
A poem says:
A stubborn rock of nature’s making seized the first chance,and formed its spirit embryo ten thousand years ago.It drank the moon, fed on the stars and searched the caverns of the earth,took from Kan to fill up Li, and restored Heaven’s Qian.
漫誇步霧興雲術，且聽吟龍嘯虎仙。劫火運逢難措手，須知邪正有偏全。
漫夸步雾兴云术，且听吟龙啸虎仙。劫火运逢难措手，须知邪正有偏全。
In vain it boasted of its arts of treading the mists and raising the clouds;now hear of the immortal who sets dragons singing and tigers roaring.But when its turn came to meet the fires of calamity, it was helpless;know, then, that the crooked is partial and the upright whole.
話說哪吒在寶德門將敖光踏住後心，敖光扭頸回頭看時，認得是哪吒，不覺勃然大怒，況又被他打倒，用腳踏住，掙持不得，乃大罵曰：「好大膽潑賊！你黃牙未退，奶毛未乾，騁兇將御筆欽點夜叉打死，又將我三太子打死，他與你何仇，你敢將他筋俱抽去！這等凶頑，罪已不赦。今又敢在寶德門外，毀打興雲布雨正神。你欺天罔上，雖損醢汝屍，不足以盡其辜！」哪吒被他罵得性起，恨不得就要一圈打死他，奈太乙真人吩咐，只是按住他道：「你叫，你叫，我便打死你這老泥鰍也無甚大事！我不說，你也不知我是誰。吾非別人，乃乾元山金光洞太乙真人弟子靈珠子是也。奉玉虛宮法牒，脫化陳塘關李門為子。因成湯合滅，周室當興，姜子牙不久下山，吾乃是破紂輔周先行官是也。偶因九灣河洗澡，你家人欺負我；是我一時性急，便打死他二命，也是小事。你就上本。我師父說來，就連你這老蠢物打都死了，也不妨事。」敖光聽罷，罵曰：「好孺子！打的好！打的好！」哪吒曰：「你要打，就打你。」拎起拳來，或上或下，𠁣𠁣𠃛𠃛，一氣打有一二十拳。打的敖光喊叫。哪吒道：「你這老蠢才，乃頑皮；不要打你，你是不怕的。」古云：「龍怕揭鱗，虎怕抽筋。」哪吒將敖光朝服一把拉去了半邊，左脅下露出鱗甲。哪吒用手連抓數把，抓下四、五十片鱗甲，鮮血淋漓，痛傷骨髓。敖光疼痛難忍，只叫「饒命！」哪吒曰：「你要我饒命，我不許你上本，跟我往陳塘關去，我就饒你。你若不依，一頓乾坤圈打死你，料有太乙真人作主，我也不怕你。」敖光遇著惡人，莫敢誰何，只得應承：「願隨你去！」哪吒曰：「放你起來。」敖光起來，正欲同行，哪吒曰：「嘗聞龍會變化，要大便撐天柱地，要小便芥子藏身。我怕你走了，往何處尋你。你變一個小小蛇兒，我帶你回去。」敖光不得脫身，沒奈何，只得化一個小青蛇兒。哪吒拿來放在袖裏，離了寶德門，往陳塘關來，時刻便至帥府。家將忙報李靖曰：「三公子回府了。」李靖聞言，甚是不樂。只見哪吒進府來謁見父親。見李靖眉鎖春山，愁容可掬，上前請罪。李靖問曰：「你往那裏去來？」哪吒曰：「孩兒往南天門去，請回伯父敖光不必上本。」李靖大喝一聲：「你這說謊畜生！你是何等之輩，敢往天界。俱是一派誑言，瞞昧父母，甚是可惱！」哪吒曰：「父親不必大怒，現在伯父敖光可證。」李靖曰：「你尚胡說！伯父如今在那裏？」哪吒曰：「在這裏。」袖內取出青蛇，望下一丟，敖光一陳清風，見化成人形。李靖吃了一驚，忙問曰：「長兄為何如此？」敖光大怒，把南天門毀打之事，說了一遍；又把脅下鱗甲把與李靖觀看：「你生這等惡子，我把四海龍王齊約到靈霄殿，申明冤枉，看你如何理說！」道罷，化一陣清風去了。李靖頓足曰：「此事愈反加重，如何是好？」哪吒近前，跪而稟曰：「老爺，母親，只管放心。孩兒求救師父，師父說我不是私自投胎至此，奉玉虛宮符命來保明君。連四海龍王，便都壞了，也不妨甚麼事。若有大事，師父自然承當。父親不必掛念。」李靖乃道德之士，亦明玄中奧妙，又見哪吒南天門打敖光的手段，既上得天曹，其中必有原故。殷夫人終是愛子之心，見哪吒站立傍邊，李靖煩惱，有恨兒子之意，夫人曰：
「你還在這裏，不往後邊去！」哪吒聽母命，逕往後園來。
坐了一會，心上覺悶，乃出後園門，逕上陳塘關的城樓上來納涼。此時天氣甚熱，此處不曾到過，只見好景致：曛曛蕩蕩，綠柳依依，觀望長空，果然似一輪火蓋。正是：行人滿面流珠落，避暑閑人把扇搖。哪吒看了一回，自言曰：「從不知道這個所在好頑耍！」又見兵器架上有一張弓，名曰乾坤弓；有三枝箭，名曰震天箭。哪吒自思：「師父說我後來做先行官，破成湯天下，如今不習弓馬，更待何時。況且有現成弓箭，何不演習演習。」哪吒心下甚是歡喜，便把弓拿在手中，取一枝箭，搭箭當弦，望西南上一箭射去。響一聲，紅光繚繞，瑞彩盤旋。這一箭不當緊，正是：
沿河撒下鉤與線，從今釣出是非來。
哪吒不知此弓箭乃鎮陳塘關之寶，乾坤弓，震天箭，自從軒轅黃帝大破蚩尤，傳留至今，並無人拿的起來。今日哪吒拿起來，射了一箭，只射到骷髏山白骨洞，有一石磯娘娘的門人，名曰碧雲童子，攜花籃採藥，來至山崖之下，被這一箭正中咽喉，翻身倒地而死。少時，只見彩雲童子看見碧雲中箭而死，急忙報與石磯娘娘曰：「師兄不知何故，箭射咽喉而死。」石磯娘娘聽說，走出洞來，行至崖邊，看見碧雲童兒，果然中箭而死。只見翎花下有名諱「鎮陳塘關總兵李靖」字號。石磯娘娘怒曰：「李靖，你不能成道，我在你師父前著你下山，求人間富貴，你今位至公侯，不思報德，反將箭射我的徒弟，恩將仇報。」叫：「彩雲童兒看著洞府，待我拿李靖來，以報此恨。」
话说哪吒在宝德门将敖光踏住后心，敖光扭颈回头看时，认得是哪吒，不觉勃然大怒，况又被他打倒，用脚踏住，挣持不得，乃大骂曰：「好大胆泼贼！你黄牙未退，奶毛未干，骋凶将御笔钦点夜叉打死，又将我三太子打死，他与你何仇，你敢将他筋俱抽去！这等凶顽，罪已不赦。今又敢在宝德门外，毁打兴云布雨正神。你欺天罔上，虽损醢汝尸，不足以尽其辜！」哪吒被他骂得性起，恨不得就要一圈打死他，奈太乙真人吩咐，只是按住他道：「你叫，你叫，我便打死你这老泥鳅也无甚大事！我不说，你也不知我是谁。吾非别人，乃乾元山金光洞太乙真人弟子灵珠子是也。奉玉虚宫法牒，脱化陈塘关李门为子。因成汤合灭，周室当兴，姜子牙不久下山，吾乃是破纣辅周先行官是也。偶因九湾河洗澡，你家人欺负我；是我一时性急，便打死他二命，也是小事。你就上本。我师父说来，就连你这老蠢物打都死了，也不妨事。」敖光听罢，骂曰：「好孺子！打的好！打的好！」哪吒曰：「你要打，就打你。」拎起拳来，或上或下，𠁣𠁣𠃛𠃛，一气打有一二十拳。打的敖光喊叫。哪吒道：「你这老蠢才，乃顽皮；不要打你，你是不怕的。」古云：「龙怕揭鳞，虎怕抽筋。」哪吒将敖光朝服一把拉去了半边，左胁下露出鳞甲。哪吒用手连抓数把，抓下四、五十片鳞甲，鲜血淋漓，痛伤骨髓。敖光疼痛难忍，只叫「饶命！」哪吒曰：「你要我饶命，我不许你上本，跟我往陈塘关去，我就饶你。你若不依，一顿乾坤圈打死你，料有太乙真人作主，我也不怕你。」敖光遇着恶人，莫敢谁何，只得应承：「愿随你去！」哪吒曰：「放你起来。」敖光起来，正欲同行，哪吒曰：「尝闻龙会变化，要大便撑天柱地，要小便芥子藏身。我怕你走了，往何处寻你。你变一个小小蛇儿，我带你回去。」敖光不得脱身，没奈何，只得化一个小青蛇儿。哪吒拿来放在袖里，离了宝德门，往陈塘关来，时刻便至帅府。家将忙报李靖曰：「三公子回府了。」李靖闻言，甚是不乐。只见哪吒进府来谒见父亲。见李靖眉锁春山，愁容可掬，上前请罪。李靖问曰：「你往那里去来？」哪吒曰：「孩儿往南天门去，请回伯父敖光不必上本。」李靖大喝一声：「你这说谎畜生！你是何等之辈，敢往天界。俱是一派诳言，瞒昧父母，甚是可恼！」哪吒曰：「父亲不必大怒，现在伯父敖光可证。」李靖曰：「你尚胡说！伯父如今在那里？」哪吒曰：「在这里。」袖内取出青蛇，望下一丢，敖光一陈清风，见化成人形。李靖吃了一惊，忙问曰：「长兄为何如此？」敖光大怒，把南天门毁打之事，说了一遍；又把胁下鳞甲把与李靖观看：「你生这等恶子，我把四海龙王齐约到灵霄殿，申明冤枉，看你如何理说！」道罢，化一阵清风去了。李靖顿足曰：「此事愈反加重，如何是好？」哪吒近前，跪而禀曰：「老爷，母亲，只管放心。孩儿求救师父，师父说我不是私自投胎至此，奉玉虚宫符命来保明君。连四海龙王，便都坏了，也不妨甚么事。若有大事，师父自然承当。父亲不必挂念。」李靖乃道德之士，亦明玄中奥妙，又见哪吒南天门打敖光的手段，既上得天曹，其中必有原故。殷夫人终是爱子之心，见哪吒站立傍边，李靖烦恼，有恨儿子之意，夫人曰：
「你还在这里，不往后边去！」哪吒听母命，径往后园来。
坐了一会，心上觉闷，乃出后园门，径上陈塘关的城楼上来纳凉。此时天气甚热，此处不曾到过，只见好景致：曛曛荡荡，绿柳依依，观望长空，果然似一轮火盖。正是：行人满面流珠落，避暑闲人把扇摇。哪吒看了一回，自言曰：「从不知道这个所在好顽耍！」又见兵器架上有一张弓，名曰乾坤弓；有三枝箭，名曰震天箭。哪吒自思：「师父说我后来做先行官，破成汤天下，如今不习弓马，更待何时。况且有现成弓箭，何不演习演习。」哪吒心下甚是欢喜，便把弓拿在手中，取一枝箭，搭箭当弦，望西南上一箭射去。响一声，红光缭绕，瑞彩盘旋。这一箭不当紧，正是：
沿河撒下钩与线，从今钓出是非来。
哪吒不知此弓箭乃镇陈塘关之宝，乾坤弓，震天箭，自从轩辕黄帝大破蚩尤，传留至今，并无人拿的起来。今日哪吒拿起来，射了一箭，只射到骷髅山白骨洞，有一石矶娘娘的门人，名曰碧云童子，携花篮采药，来至山崖之下，被这一箭正中咽喉，翻身倒地而死。少时，只见彩云童子看见碧云中箭而死，急忙报与石矶娘娘曰：「师兄不知何故，箭射咽喉而死。」石矶娘娘听说，走出洞来，行至崖边，看见碧云童儿，果然中箭而死。只见翎花下有名讳「镇陈塘关总兵李靖」字号。石矶娘娘怒曰：「李靖，你不能成道，我在你师父前着你下山，求人间富贵，你今位至公侯，不思报德，反将箭射我的徒弟，恩将仇报。」叫：「彩云童儿看着洞府，待我拿李靖来，以报此恨。」
Now, at the Gate of Precious Virtue Nezha had his foot planted on Ao Guang’s back. Ao Guang twisted his neck round to look, and when he saw that it was Nezha, he flew into a towering rage; what was more, the boy had knocked him down and was pinning him under his foot so that he could not struggle free. So he cursed him roundly: “You brazen villain! Your milk teeth haven’t fallen out and your baby hair isn’t even dry, yet you run amok and kill a yaksha appointed by the royal brush, and kill my third prince too! What grudge did he have against you, that you dared pull out his sinew? Such savagery is past all pardon already. And now you dare beat a true god who raises the clouds and spreads the rain, here outside the Gate of Precious Virtue! You defy Heaven and deceive your betters. Even if your corpse were chopped to mince, it would not pay for your crimes!” His cursing put Nezha in such a temper that he longed to kill him then and there with one blow of the ring. But the Immortal Taiyi had given him his instructions, so he only held him down and said, “Yell all you like, yell all you like! If I beat you to death, you old mud loach, it would be no great matter. If I didn’t tell you, you’d never know who I am. I am none other than Lingzhuzi, disciple of the Immortal Taiyi of the Golden Light Cave on Mount Qianyuan. By a sacred warrant from the Palace of Jade Emptiness I was born again as a son of the house of Li at Chentang Pass. Because the house of Tang is doomed to fall and the house of Zhou is due to rise, and Jiang Ziya will soon come down the mountain, I am to be the vanguard officer who overthrows King Zhou and supports the house of Zhou. I just happened to be bathing in the Jiuwan River when your people bullied me, so I lost my temper and killed the two of them. That’s a small thing — and for that you’d send up a memorial! My master says that even if I beat you to death as well, you old blockhead, it wouldn’t matter.” When Ao Guang heard this, he cursed him: “You young brat! A fine beating! A fine beating!” “You want a beating?” said Nezha. “Then you’ll get one.” He raised his fists and, up and down, bang-bang, thump-thump, rained ten or twenty blows on him at a stretch, until Ao Guang howled. Nezha said, “You old dolt, you’ve a hide like leather. If I don’t give you a beating, you won’t be afraid.” An old saying has it: “A dragon dreads having its scales torn off; a tiger dreads having its sinews pulled.” With one tug Nezha ripped away half of Ao Guang’s court robe, baring the scales beneath his left ribs. He clawed at them handful after handful and tore off forty or fifty scales. The blood streamed down, and the pain went to the marrow of his bones. The pain was more than Ao Guang could bear, and he could only cry, “Spare me!” Nezha said, “If you want me to spare you, I won’t let you send up your memorial. Come with me to Chentang Pass, and I’ll spare you. If you won’t, I’ll beat you to death with the Heaven-and-Earth Ring. I reckon the Immortal Taiyi will stand behind me, so I’m not afraid of you.” Ao Guang had run into a ruffian he could do nothing about. He had no choice but to agree: “I’ll go with you!” “Then I’ll let you up,” said Nezha. Ao Guang got up and was about to go with him when Nezha said, “I’ve heard that dragons can change their shape: when they want to be big, they can prop up the sky and stand upon the earth, and when they want to be small, they can hide in a mustard seed. I’m afraid you’ll get away, and then where would I look for you? Turn yourself into a little snake, and I’ll take you back with me.” Ao Guang could not get away. There was nothing for it: he had to turn himself into a little green snake. Nezha picked it up and put it in his sleeve, left the Gate of Precious Virtue and made for Chentang Pass, and in no time at all he reached the commander’s headquarters. The household guards hurried to tell Li Jing, “The third young lord has come home.” Li Jing was most displeased to hear it. Then Nezha came into the residence to pay his respects to his father. Seeing Li Jing’s brows knit like spring hills and his face heavy with sorrow, he stepped forward and asked his pardon. “Where have you been?” Li Jing asked. Nezha said, “Your child went to the Southern Gate of Heaven and asked Uncle Ao Guang to come back and not send up his memorial.” Li Jing gave a great shout: “You lying beast! What sort of creature are you, to dare go to the realm of Heaven? It’s all a pack of lies to fool your parents. It’s infuriating!” Nezha said, “There’s no need to be so angry, Father. Uncle Ao Guang is right here to bear me out.” “Still talking nonsense!” said Li Jing. “And where is your uncle now?” “Here,” said Nezha. He took the green snake out of his sleeve and tossed it down, and Ao Guang, in a puff of fresh breeze, appeared in human form. Li Jing was startled and asked at once, “Elder brother, how did this happen?” In a towering rage, Ao Guang told him the whole story of how he had been beaten at the Southern Gate of Heaven, and showed Li Jing the scales beneath his ribs. “You’ve fathered such a wicked son that I shall call the Dragon Kings of the four seas together to the Hall of Divine Mists and lay out the wrong I have suffered. Then we’ll see what you have to say for yourself!” With that he turned into a puff of fresh breeze and was gone. Li Jing stamped his feet. “This makes it worse than ever. What are we to do?” Nezha came forward, knelt and said, “Father, Mother, set your minds at rest. Your child went to his master for help, and my master says I didn’t come to be born here on my own account: I came by the command of the Palace of Jade Emptiness to protect the enlightened ruler. Even if all the Dragon Kings of the four seas came to grief, it wouldn’t matter a bit. If anything serious comes of it, my master will naturally take it on himself. Don’t worry, Father.” Li Jing was a man of the Way and its Virtue, and he understood something of its hidden mysteries; besides, he had seen what Nezha could do, beating Ao Guang at the Southern Gate of Heaven. If the boy could get up to the offices of Heaven, there must be some reason behind it all. Madam Yin, after all, had a mother’s love for her son. Seeing Nezha standing to one side and Li Jing so vexed that he seemed to bear his son a grudge, she said,
“Still here?Off with you to the back!”Nezha obeyed his motherand went straight to the back garden.
He sat there a while, but he felt dull, so he went out through the garden gate and straight up onto the tower on the wall of Chentang Pass to enjoy the cool. The weather was very hot just then. He had never been up here before, and what a fine view it was: a wide, hazy glow, green willows softly swaying; and when he gazed at the open sky, the sun truly hung there like a round canopy of fire. Truly: beads of sweat stream down the travellers’ faces; idlers hiding from the heat wave their fans. Nezha looked around for a while and said to himself, “I never knew this place was such fun!” Then he saw that on the weapon rack there was a bow, called the Heaven-and-Earth Bow, and three arrows, called the Sky-Shaking Arrows. Nezha thought to himself, “My master says I’m to be a vanguard officer one day and break the realm of Cheng Tang. If I don’t practise archery and riding now, when will I? Besides, here’s a bow and arrows ready to hand. Why not try them out?” Delighted, Nezha took the bow in his hand, took an arrow, fitted it to the string and loosed it toward the southwest. There was a twang; red light swirled round it and auspicious colours wheeled about. That arrow might have been nothing — but, truly:
along the river he has let down hook and line,and from now on he will fish up trouble.
Nezha did not know that this bow and these arrows were the treasures that guarded Chentang Pass. The Heaven-and-Earth Bow and the Sky-Shaking Arrows had been handed down ever since Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor, routed Chiyou, and no one had ever been able to lift them. Today Nezha had lifted them and shot an arrow, and it flew all the way to the White Bone Cave on Mount Kulou. There a disciple of Lady Shiji, the page boy Biyun, had come down to the foot of the cliff with a flower basket on his arm to gather herbs. The arrow struck him full in the throat, and he toppled over and died. A little later the page boy Caiyun saw that Biyun had been killed by an arrow, and he rushed to tell Lady Shiji, “Senior Brother has been shot through the throat with an arrow and killed — I don’t know why!” When Lady Shiji heard this, she came out of the cave and went to the edge of the cliff, and there was the page boy Biyun, killed by an arrow sure enough. And below the feathers of the arrow was written a name and title: “Li Jing, Commander Guarding Chentang Pass.” Lady Shiji said angrily, “Li Jing! When you could not attain the Way, it was I who spoke to your master to have you sent down the mountain to seek wealth and honour among men. Now you have risen to high rank, and instead of thinking to repay my kindness, you shoot my disciple with an arrow — repaying kindness with enmity!” She called, “Caiyun, watch the grotto. I’m going to bring Li Jing here and avenge this wrong.”
石磯娘娘乘青鸞而來，只見金霞蕩蕩，彩霧緋緋，正是：
仙家妙用無窮盡，咫尺青鸞到此關。
娘娘在半空中大呼：「李靖出來見我！」李靖不知道是誰人叫，急出來看時，像似石磯娘娘。李靖倒身下拜：「弟子李靖拜見。不知娘娘駕至，有失迎迓，望乞恕罪。」娘娘曰：「你行的好事！尚在此巧語花言。」將八卦雲光帕──上面有坎離震兌之寶，包羅萬象之珍。──望下一丟，命黃巾力士：「將李靖拿進洞府來！」黃巾力士平空把李靖拿去，至白骨洞放下。娘娘離了青鸞，坐在蒲團之上。力士將李靖拿至面前跪下。石磯娘娘曰：「李靖，你仙道未成，已得人間富貴，你卻虧了何人。今不思報本，反起歹意，將我徒弟碧雲童兒射死，有何理說？」李靖不知何事，真是平地風波。李靖曰：「娘娘，弟子今得何罪？」娘娘曰：「你恩將仇報，射死我門人，你還故推不知？」李靖曰：「箭在何處？」娘娘命：「取箭來與他看。」李靖看時，卻是震天箭。李靖大驚曰：「這乾坤弓，震天箭，乃軒轅皇帝傳留，至今鎮陳塘關之寶，誰人拿得起來。這是弟子運乖時蹇，異事非常，望娘娘念弟子無辜被枉，冤屈難明，放弟子回關，查明射箭之人，待弟子拿來，以分皂白，庶不冤枉無辜。如無射箭之人，弟子死甘瞑目。」石磯娘娘曰：「既如此，我且放你回去。你若查不出來，我問你師父要你！你且去！」
石矶娘娘乘青鸾而来，只见金霞荡荡，彩雾绯绯，正是：
仙家妙用无穷尽，咫尺青鸾到此关。
娘娘在半空中大呼：「李靖出来见我！」李靖不知道是谁人叫，急出来看时，像似石矶娘娘。李靖倒身下拜：「弟子李靖拜见。不知娘娘驾至，有失迎迓，望乞恕罪。」娘娘曰：「你行的好事！尚在此巧语花言。」将八卦云光帕──上面有坎离震兑之宝，包罗万象之珍。──望下一丢，命黄巾力士：「将李靖拿进洞府来！」黄巾力士平空把李靖拿去，至白骨洞放下。娘娘离了青鸾，坐在蒲团之上。力士将李靖拿至面前跪下。石矶娘娘曰：「李靖，你仙道未成，已得人间富贵，你却亏了何人。今不思报本，反起歹意，将我徒弟碧云童儿射死，有何理说？」李靖不知何事，真是平地风波。李靖曰：「娘娘，弟子今得何罪？」娘娘曰：「你恩将仇报，射死我门人，你还故推不知？」李靖曰：「箭在何处？」娘娘命：「取箭来与他看。」李靖看时，却是震天箭。李靖大惊曰：「这乾坤弓，震天箭，乃轩辕皇帝传留，至今镇陈塘关之宝，谁人拿得起来。这是弟子运乖时蹇，异事非常，望娘娘念弟子无辜被枉，冤屈难明，放弟子回关，查明射箭之人，待弟子拿来，以分皂白，庶不冤枉无辜。如无射箭之人，弟子死甘瞑目。」石矶娘娘曰：「既如此，我且放你回去。你若查不出来，我问你师父要你！你且去！」
Lady Shiji came riding her blue phoenix amid billowing golden clouds and drifting coloured mists. Truly:
the wondrous powers of immortals know no end;in the space of a step the blue phoenix reaches this pass.
From midair the Lady cried, “Li Jing, come out and face me!” Li Jing, not knowing who was calling, hurried out to look, and it seemed to be Lady Shiji. He threw himself down in a bow. “This disciple, Li Jing, pays his respects. I did not know my lady was coming and failed to come out to meet you. I beg your forgiveness.” The Lady said, “A fine thing you’ve done! And still you stand here with your clever words and flowery speeches!” She tossed down the Eight Trigrams Cloud-Light Kerchief — it bore the treasures of the trigrams Kan, Li, Zhen and Dui, jewels that embrace all creation — and ordered the Yellow-Turbaned Strongman, “Take Li Jing to my grotto!” The Yellow-Turbaned Strongman snatched Li Jing up out of thin air, carried him off and set him down at the White Bone Cave. The Lady got down from her blue phoenix and sat on a rush cushion, and the strongman brought Li Jing before her and made him kneel. Lady Shiji said, “Li Jing, you never attained the way of the immortals, yet you have won wealth and honour in the human world — and whom have you to thank for it? Now, instead of thinking to repay me, you turn to wickedness and shoot dead my disciple, the page boy Biyun. What have you to say for yourself?” Li Jing had no idea what this was about: truly, a storm had blown up on level ground. “My lady,” he said, “what crime has this disciple committed?” “You repay kindness with enmity and shoot my disciple dead,” said the Lady, “and still you pretend not to know?” “Where is the arrow?” asked Li Jing. The Lady ordered, “Bring the arrow and show it to him.” Li Jing looked, and it was one of the Sky-Shaking Arrows. He said in great alarm, “The Heaven-and-Earth Bow and the Sky-Shaking Arrows were handed down from the Emperor Xuanyuan, and to this day they are the treasures that guard Chentang Pass. Who could lift them? This is my bad luck and evil times, a strange thing indeed. I beg you, my lady, to remember that I am innocent and wrongly accused, with a grievance that is hard to clear. Let me go back to the pass and find out who shot the arrow. I will bring him to you, so that black may be told from white and no innocent man be wronged. If I cannot find the archer, I will die and close my eyes content.” Lady Shiji said, “In that case, I will let you go back for now. If you can’t find out who it was, I shall go to your master and demand you of him! Off you go!”
李靖連箭帶回，借土遁來至關前；收了遁法，進了帥府。殷夫人不知何故，見李靖平空拎去，正在驚慌之處，李靖回見夫人。夫人曰：「將軍為甚事平空攝去？使妾身驚慌無地。」李靖頓足歎曰：「夫人，我李靖居官二十五載，誰知今日運蹇時乖。關上敵樓有乾坤弓，震天箭，乃鎮壓此關之寶；不知何人將此箭射去，把石磯娘娘徒弟射死。箭上是我官銜，方纔被他拿去，要我抵償性命。被我苦苦哀告，回來訪是何人，拿去見他，方能與我明白。」李靖又曰：「若論此弓箭，別人也拿不動，莫非又是哪吒？」夫人曰：「豈有此理！難道敖光事未了，他又敢惹這是非！就是哪吒，也拿不起來。」李靖沉思半晌，計上心來，叫左右侍兒：「請你三公子來。」不一時，哪吒來見，站立一傍。李靖曰：「你說你有師父承當，叫你輔弼明君，你如何不去學習些弓馬，後來也好去用力。」哪吒曰：「孩兒奮志如此。纔偶在城敵樓上，見弓箭在此，是我射了一箭，只見紅光繚繞，紫霧紛霏，把一枝好箭射不見了。」就把李靖氣得大叫一聲：「好逆子！你打死三太子，事尚未定，今又惹這等無涯之禍！」夫人默默無言。哪吒不知其情，便問：「為何？又有甚麼事？」李靖曰：「你方纔一箭，射死石磯娘娘的徒弟。娘娘拿了我去，被我說過，放我回來，尋訪射箭之人，原來卻是你！你自去見娘娘回話！」哪吒笑曰：「父親且息怒。石磯娘娘在那裏住？他的徒弟在何處？我怎樣射死他？平地賴人，其心不服。」李靖說：「石磯娘娘在骷髏山白骨洞，你既射死他徒弟，你去見他！」哪吒曰：「父親此言有理，同到甚麼白骨洞，若還不是我，打他個攪海翻江，我纔回來。父親請先行，孩兒隨後。」父子二人駕土遁往骷髏山來：
李靖连箭带回，借土遁来至关前；收了遁法，进了帅府。殷夫人不知何故，见李靖平空拎去，正在惊慌之处，李靖回见夫人。夫人曰：「将军为甚事平空摄去？使妾身惊慌无地。」李靖顿足叹曰：「夫人，我李靖居官二十五载，谁知今日运蹇时乖。关上敌楼有乾坤弓，震天箭，乃镇压此关之宝；不知何人将此箭射去，把石矶娘娘徒弟射死。箭上是我官衔，方才被他拿去，要我抵偿性命。被我苦苦哀告，回来访是何人，拿去见他，方能与我明白。」李靖又曰：「若论此弓箭，别人也拿不动，莫非又是哪吒？」夫人曰：「岂有此理！难道敖光事未了，他又敢惹这是非！就是哪吒，也拿不起来。」李靖沉思半晌，计上心来，叫左右侍儿：「请你三公子来。」不一时，哪吒来见，站立一傍。李靖曰：「你说你有师父承当，叫你辅弼明君，你如何不去学习些弓马，后来也好去用力。」哪吒曰：「孩儿奋志如此。才偶在城敌楼上，见弓箭在此，是我射了一箭，只见红光缭绕，紫雾纷霏，把一枝好箭射不见了。」就把李靖气得大叫一声：「好逆子！你打死三太子，事尚未定，今又惹这等无涯之祸！」夫人默默无言。哪吒不知其情，便问：「为何？又有甚么事？」李靖曰：「你方才一箭，射死石矶娘娘的徒弟。娘娘拿了我去，被我说过，放我回来，寻访射箭之人，原来却是你！你自去见娘娘回话！」哪吒笑曰：「父亲且息怒。石矶娘娘在那里住？他的徒弟在何处？我怎样射死他？平地赖人，其心不服。」李靖说：「石矶娘娘在骷髅山白骨洞，你既射死他徒弟，你去见他！」哪吒曰：「父亲此言有理，同到甚么白骨洞，若还不是我，打他个搅海翻江，我才回来。父亲请先行，孩儿随后。」父子二人驾土遁往骷髅山来：
Li Jing took the arrow back with him and came to the pass by the earth escape. He put away his magic and went into the headquarters. Madam Yin had seen him snatched away out of thin air and had no idea why; she was still in a panic when he came back to her. “General,” she said, “why were you carried off out of thin air like that? Your wife was frightened out of her wits.” Li Jing stamped his foot and sighed. “Madam, I, Li Jing, have held office for twenty-five years. Who would have thought my luck would turn so bad today? In the watchtower on the wall of the pass are the Heaven-and-Earth Bow and the Sky-Shaking Arrows, the treasures that hold this pass secure. Someone — I don’t know who — has shot one of those arrows and killed a disciple of Lady Shiji. My rank and title are on the arrow, so she carried me off just now and wanted my life in payment. I begged and pleaded with her, and she let me come back to find out who did it and take him to her; only then can I clear my name.” And he went on, “As for that bow and those arrows, no one else could even move them. Could it be Nezha again?” “Nonsense!” said his wife. “With the business of Ao Guang not yet settled, would he dare stir up more trouble? And even Nezha couldn’t lift them.” Li Jing pondered for a long while, and then a plan came to him. He called to the maids at his side, “Ask the third young lord to come.” Before long Nezha came and stood to one side. Li Jing said, “You say you have a master to stand behind you, who tells you to help and support the enlightened ruler. Then why don’t you go and learn something of archery and riding, so that later on you can put your strength to good use?” “That’s just what your child has set his heart on,” said Nezha. “Just now I happened to be up in the watchtower on the wall, and I saw a bow and arrows there, so I shot an arrow. Red light swirled round it and purple mist went flying, and a perfectly good arrow shot clean out of sight.” This made Li Jing so angry that he let out a great shout: “You undutiful wretch! You killed the third prince, and that business isn’t settled yet, and now you’ve brought down another disaster without end!” His wife said not a word. Nezha, who had no idea what had happened, asked, “Why? What’s wrong now?” Li Jing said, “That arrow you shot just now killed a disciple of Lady Shiji. The Lady carried me off, but I talked her round, and she let me come back to look for whoever shot the arrow — and it was you all along! Go and answer to the Lady yourself!” Nezha laughed. “Calm yourself, Father. Where does this Lady Shiji live? Where is this disciple of hers? How could I have shot him? Accusing a person out of nowhere — I won’t stand for it.” Li Jing said, “Lady Shiji lives in the White Bone Cave on Mount Kulou. Since you shot her disciple, you go and see her!” “You’re right, Father,” said Nezha. “Let’s go together to this White Bone Cave, or whatever it is. If it turns out it wasn’t me, I’ll give her a beating that churns up the seas and overturns the rivers before I come back. Please go ahead, Father; your child will follow.” So father and son rode the earth escape toward Mount Kulou:
箭射金光起，紅雲照太虛。真人今出世，帝子已安居。
箭射金光起，红云照太虚。真人今出世，帝子已安居。
The arrow flew and golden light rose up;red clouds lit the great void.The Immortal now comes forth into the world;the Emperor’s child already dwells at peace.
莫浪誇仙術，須知念玉書。萬邪難克正，不免破三軍。
莫浪夸仙术，须知念玉书。万邪难克正，不免破三军。
Do not idly boast of the arts of immortals;know that you must keep the jade books in mind.Ten thousand evils can hardly overcome the right,yet there is no escaping the rout of the three armies.
話說李靖到了骷髏山，吩咐哪吒：「站立在此，待我進去，回了娘娘法旨。」哪吒冷笑：「我在那裏，平空賴我，看他如何發付我。」且言李靖進洞中，參見娘娘。娘娘曰：「是何人射死碧雲童兒？」李靖啟娘娘：「就是李靖所生逆子哪吒。弟子不敢有違，已拿在洞府前，聽候法旨。」娘娘命彩雲童兒：「著他進來！」
话说李靖到了骷髅山，吩咐哪吒：「站立在此，待我进去，回了娘娘法旨。」哪吒冷笑：「我在那里，平空赖我，看他如何发付我。」且言李靖进洞中，参见娘娘。娘娘曰：「是何人射死碧云童儿？」李靖启娘娘：「就是李靖所生逆子哪吒。弟子不敢有违，已拿在洞府前，听候法旨。」娘娘命彩云童儿：「着他进来！」
Now, when Li Jing reached Mount Kulou, he told Nezha, “Stay here while I go in and report to the Lady on her sacred command.” Nezha gave a cold laugh. “Where was I, that she can pin this on me out of thin air? Let’s see what she does with me.” Meanwhile Li Jing went into the cave and paid his respects to the Lady. “Who was it that shot the page boy Biyun?” she asked. Li Jing reported, “It was none other than Nezha, the undutiful son that I, Li Jing, fathered. This disciple dared not disobey you: I have brought him to the mouth of your grotto to await your sacred command.” The Lady ordered the page boy Caiyun, “Have him come in!”
只見哪吒看見洞裏一人出來，自想：「打人不過先下手。此間是他巢穴，反為不便。」拎起乾坤圈，一下打將來。彩雲童兒不曾提防，夾頸一圈：「呵呀」一聲，跌倒在地。彩雲童兒彼時一命將危。娘娘聽得洞外跌得人響，急出洞來，彩雲童兒已在地下掙命。娘娘曰：「好孽障！還敢行凶，又傷我徒弟！」哪吒見石磯娘娘帶魚尾金冠，穿大紅八卦衣，麻履絲絛，手提太阿劍趕來。哪吒收回圈，復打一圈來。娘娘看是太乙真人的乾坤圈：「呀！原來是你！」娘娘用手接住乾坤圈。哪吒大驚，忙將七尺混天綾來裹娘娘。娘娘大笑，把袍袖望上一迎，只見混天綾輕輕的落在娘娘袖裏。娘娘叫：「哪吒，再把你師父的寶貝用幾件來，看我道術如何！」哪吒手無寸鐵，將何物支持，只得轉身就跑。娘娘叫：「李靖，不干你事。你回去罷。」不言李靖回關，且說石磯娘娘趕哪吒，飛雲掣電，雨驟風馳，趕彀多時，哪吒只得往乾元山來。到了金光洞，慌忙走進洞門，望師父下拜。真人問曰：「哪吒為何這等慌張？」哪吒曰：「石磯娘娘賴弟子射死他的徒弟，提寶劍前來殺我，把師父的乾坤圈、混天綾都收去了。如今趕弟子不放，現在洞外。弟子沒奈何，只得求見師父，望乞救命！」太乙真人曰：「你這孽障，且在後桃園內，待我出去看。」真人出來，身倚洞門，只見石磯滿面怒色，手提寶劍，惡狠狠趕來，見太乙真人，打稽首：「道兄請了！」太乙真人答禮。石磯曰：「道兄，你的門人仗你道術，射死貧道的碧雲童兒，打壞了彩雲童子，還將你乾坤圈、混天綾來傷我。道兄，好好把哪吒叫他出來見我，還是好面相看，萬事俱息；若道兄隱護，只恐明珠彈雀，反為不美。」真人曰：「哪吒在我洞裏，要他出來不難，你只到玉虛宮，見吾掌教老師。他教與你，我就與你。哪吒奉御敕欽命出世，輔保明君，非我一己之私。」娘娘笑曰：「道兄差矣！你將教主壓我，難道縱徒弟行凶，殺我的徒弟，還將大言壓我。難道我不如你，我就罷了！你聽我道來：
只见哪吒看见洞里一人出来，自想：「打人不过先下手。此间是他巢穴，反为不便。」拎起乾坤圈，一下打将来。彩云童儿不曾提防，夹颈一圈：「呵呀」一声，跌倒在地。彩云童儿彼时一命将危。娘娘听得洞外跌得人响，急出洞来，彩云童儿已在地下挣命。娘娘曰：「好孽障！还敢行凶，又伤我徒弟！」哪吒见石矶娘娘带鱼尾金冠，穿大红八卦衣，麻履丝绦，手提太阿剑赶来。哪吒收回圈，复打一圈来。娘娘看是太乙真人的乾坤圈：「呀！原来是你！」娘娘用手接住乾坤圈。哪吒大惊，忙将七尺混天绫来裹娘娘。娘娘大笑，把袍袖望上一迎，只见混天绫轻轻的落在娘娘袖里。娘娘叫：「哪吒，再把你师父的宝贝用几件来，看我道术如何！」哪吒手无寸铁，将何物支持，只得转身就跑。娘娘叫：「李靖，不干你事。你回去罢。」不言李靖回关，且说石矶娘娘赶哪吒，飞云掣电，雨骤风驰，赶彀多时，哪吒只得往乾元山来。到了金光洞，慌忙走进洞门，望师父下拜。真人问曰：「哪吒为何这等慌张？」哪吒曰：「石矶娘娘赖弟子射死他的徒弟，提宝剑前来杀我，把师父的乾坤圈、混天绫都收去了。如今赶弟子不放，现在洞外。弟子没奈何，只得求见师父，望乞救命！」太乙真人曰：「你这孽障，且在后桃园内，待我出去看。」真人出来，身倚洞门，只见石矶满面怒色，手提宝剑，恶狠狠赶来，见太乙真人，打稽首：「道兄请了！」太乙真人答礼。石矶曰：「道兄，你的门人仗你道术，射死贫道的碧云童儿，打坏了彩云童子，还将你乾坤圈、混天绫来伤我。道兄，好好把哪吒叫他出来见我，还是好面相看，万事俱息；若道兄隐护，只恐明珠弹雀，反为不美。」真人曰：「哪吒在我洞里，要他出来不难，你只到玉虚宫，见吾掌教老师。他教与你，我就与你。哪吒奉御敕钦命出世，辅保明君，非我一己之私。」娘娘笑曰：「道兄差矣！你将教主压我，难道纵徒弟行凶，杀我的徒弟，还将大言压我。难道我不如你，我就罢了！你听我道来：
Now, when Nezha saw someone come out of the cave, he thought to himself, “In a fight, nothing beats striking first. This is her lair; here I’m at a disadvantage.” He raised the Heaven-and-Earth Ring and struck. The page boy Caiyun was not on his guard. The ring caught him full on the neck, and with a cry of “Aiya!” he fell to the ground. At that moment the page boy Caiyun’s life hung by a thread. The Lady heard the thud of someone falling outside and hurried out of the cave; the page boy Caiyun already lay on the ground, struggling for his life. “You little devil!” said the Lady. “Still you dare to do violence, and now you’ve hurt another disciple of mine!” Nezha saw Lady Shiji coming at him in a golden fish-tail crown and a scarlet robe worked with the Eight Trigrams, with hemp sandals and a silk sash, and a Tai’e sword in her hand. He caught his ring back and struck at her with it again. The Lady saw that it was the Immortal Taiyi’s Heaven-and-Earth Ring. “Ah! So it’s you!” And she caught the ring in her hand. Nezha, aghast, hastily flung the seven-foot Sky-Stirring Sash to wrap her up. The Lady laughed aloud and raised the sleeve of her robe to meet it, and the Sky-Stirring Sash drifted lightly down into her sleeve. “Nezha,” the Lady called, “bring out a few more of your master’s treasures, and see what my arts can do!” Nezha had not so much as an inch of iron in his hands — what could he hold her off with? There was nothing for it but to turn and run. The Lady called, “Li Jing, this is no business of yours. Go on home.” We will say no more of Li Jing’s return to the pass. Our story turns to Lady Shiji, who chased Nezha, flying like the clouds and flashing like lightning, sweeping like the rain and racing like the wind. She chased him a long while, until Nezha had no choice but to make for Mount Qianyuan. Arriving at the Golden Light Cave, he rushed in at the gate and threw himself down before his master. “Nezha,” the Immortal asked, “why are you in such a fluster?” Nezha said, “Lady Shiji is putting the blame on your disciple for shooting her disciple dead, and she has come after me with her sword to kill me. She has taken your Heaven-and-Earth Ring and your Sky-Stirring Sash, Master, and she’s chasing me and won’t let me go — she’s outside the cave right now. Your disciple didn’t know what else to do and had to come to you. Master, I beg you, save my life!” The Immortal Taiyi said, “You young rascal! Go into the peach orchard at the back for now, while I go out and see.” The Immortal came out and leaned in the gateway of the cave. There was Shiji, her face full of fury and her sword in her hand, bearing down on him with a vicious look. When she saw the Immortal Taiyi, she made a Daoist salute. “Greetings, Daoist brother!” The Immortal Taiyi returned the salute. Shiji said, “Daoist brother, your disciple, trading on your arts, has shot dead Biyun, page boy to this poor Daoist, and beaten my page boy Caiyun half to death, and he even came at me with your Heaven-and-Earth Ring and Sky-Stirring Sash. Daoist brother, be so good as to call Nezha out to see me, and we can still look each other in the face and let the whole thing rest. But if you hide him and shield him, I fear it will be like shooting at a sparrow with a bright pearl — and that would be no pretty thing.” The Immortal said, “Nezha is in my cave, and it would be easy enough to have him come out. But you will have to go to the Palace of Jade Emptiness and see my master, the head of our sect. If he tells me to hand him over, I’ll hand him over. Nezha came into the world by sovereign decree and sacred command, to help and protect the enlightened ruler. This is no private matter of mine.” The Lady laughed. “You’re mistaken, Daoist brother! You use your Sect Master to bear down on me. So you let your disciple run wild and kill my disciple, and then you bear down on me with big words? Do you think I’m less than you, that I’ll just let it go? Listen while I tell you:
「道德森森出混元，修成乾健得長存。三花聚頂非閑說，五氣朝元豈浪言。
「道德森森出混元，修成干健得长存。三花聚顶非闲说，五气朝元岂浪言。
“My Way and Virtue, deep and dense, spring from the primal chaos;perfected to the strength of Qian, they endure for ever.Three flowers gathered at the crown — that is no idle talk;five breaths paying court to the source — these are no empty words.
閑坐蒼龍歸紫極，喜乘白鶴下崑崙。休將教主欺吾黨，劫運迴環已萬源。」
闲坐苍龙归紫极，喜乘白鹤下昆仑。休将教主欺吾党，劫运回环已万源。」
At leisure I ride the azure dragon home to the Purple Pole;for joy I mount the white crane and come down from Kunlun.Do not use your Sect Master to bully those of my kind:the wheel of calamity has come round ten thousand times already.”
話說太乙真人曰：「石磯，你說你的道德清高，你乃截教，我乃闡教，因吾輩一千五百年不曾斬卻三尸，犯了殺戒，故此降生人間，有征誅殺伐，以完此劫數。今成湯合滅，周室當興，玉虛封神，應享人間富貴。當時三教僉押『封神榜』，吾師命我教下徒眾，降生出世，輔佐明君。哪吒乃靈珠子下世，輔姜子牙而滅成湯，奉的是元始掌教符命。就傷了你的徒弟，乃是天數。你怎言包羅萬象，遲早飛昇。似你等無憂無慮，無辱無榮，正好修持，何故輕動無名，自傷雅道。」石磯娘娘忍不住心頭火，喝曰：「道同一理，怎見高低？」太乙真人曰：「道雖一理，各有所陳。你且聽吾分剖：
话说太乙真人曰：「石矶，你说你的道德清高，你乃截教，我乃阐教，因吾辈一千五百年不曾斩却三尸，犯了杀戒，故此降生人间，有征诛杀伐，以完此劫数。今成汤合灭，周室当兴，玉虚封神，应享人间富贵。当时三教佥押『封神榜』，吾师命我教下徒众，降生出世，辅佐明君。哪吒乃灵珠子下世，辅姜子牙而灭成汤，奉的是元始掌教符命。就伤了你的徒弟，乃是天数。你怎言包罗万象，迟早飞升。似你等无忧无虑，无辱无荣，正好修持，何故轻动无名，自伤雅道。」石矶娘娘忍不住心头火，喝曰：「道同一理，怎见高低？」太乙真人曰：「道虽一理，各有所陈。你且听吾分剖：
Now, the Immortal Taiyi said, “Shiji, you say your Way and Virtue are pure and lofty. But you belong to the Interception Sect, and I to the Exposition Sect. Because for fifteen hundred years we have failed to cut away the Three Corpses, we are caught up in the calamity of slaughter, and so we must be born into the human world, where there is war and punishment, killing and slaughter, to see this calamity through to its end. Now the house of Tang is doomed to fall and the house of Zhou is due to rise; the Palace of Jade Emptiness will invest the gods, and the wealth and honours of the human world will be enjoyed. Back then the three teachings put their names to the Investiture List together, and my master ordered the disciples of our sect to be born into the world and help the enlightened ruler. Nezha is Lingzhuzi come down into the world to help Jiang Ziya destroy the house of Tang, and he acts on the command of Yuanshi, the head of our sect. Even if he did harm your disciple, that was Heaven’s reckoning. And you talk of embracing all creation and rising to Heaven sooner or later! People like you, with no cares or worries, with neither disgrace nor glory, are just the ones to cultivate the Way. Why rashly give way to anger and do harm to your own refined Way?” Lady Shiji could not hold back the fire in her heart. “The Way is one and the same,” she shouted. “How can there be high and low in it?” The Immortal Taiyi said, “The Way may be one principle, but each of us sets it forth in his own way. Listen while I lay it out for you:
交光日月鍊金英，一顆靈珠透室明。擺動乾坤知道力，避移生死見功成。
交光日月炼金英，一颗灵珠透室明。摆动乾坤知道力，避移生死见功成。
Where sun and moon cross their beams I refine the golden essence;one spirit pearl shines through the whole chamber.Shake heaven and earth, and you know the power of the Way;slip free of life and death, and you see the work complete.
逍遙四海留蹤跡，歸在三清立姓名。直上五雲雲路穩，紫鸞硃鶴自來迎。」
逍遥四海留踪迹，归在三清立姓名。直上五云云路稳，紫鸾朱鹤自来迎。」
Roaming at ease, I leave my traces across the four seas;returning to the Three Pure Ones, I set my name among them.Straight up through the five-coloured clouds the cloud road is steady,and purple phoenixes and vermilion cranes come of themselves to greet me.”
石磯娘娘大怒，手執寶劍望真人劈面砍來。太乙真人讓過，抽身復入洞中，取劍掛在手上，暗袋一物，望東崑崙山下拜：「弟子今在此山開了殺戒。」拜罷，出洞指石磯曰：「你根源淺薄，道行難堅，怎敢在我乾元山自恃凶暴！」石磯又一劍砍來。太乙真人用劍架住，口稱：「善哉！」──石磯乃一頑石成精，採天地靈氣，受日月精華，得道數千年，尚未成正果；今逢大劫，本像難存，故到此山。一則石磯數盡；二則哪吒該在此處出身。天數已定，怎能避躲。石磯娘娘與太乙真人往來衝突，翻騰數轉，二劍交架，未及數合，只見雲彩輝輝，石磯娘娘將八卦龍鬚帕丟起空中，欲傷真人。真人笑曰：「萬邪豈能侵正。」真人口中念念有詞，用手一指：「此物不落，更待何時？」八卦帕落將下來。石磯大怒，臉變桃花，劍如雪片。太乙真人曰：「事到其間，不得不行。」真人將身一躍，跳出圈子外來，將九龍神火罩拋起空中。石磯見罩，欲避不出，已罩在裏面。
石矶娘娘大怒，手执宝剑望真人劈面砍来。太乙真人让过，抽身复入洞中，取剑挂在手上，暗袋一物，望东昆仑山下拜：「弟子今在此山开了杀戒。」拜罢，出洞指石矶曰：「你根源浅薄，道行难坚，怎敢在我乾元山自恃凶暴！」石矶又一剑砍来。太乙真人用剑架住，口称：「善哉！」──石矶乃一顽石成精，采天地灵气，受日月精华，得道数千年，尚未成正果；今逢大劫，本像难存，故到此山。一则石矶数尽；二则哪吒该在此处出身。天数已定，怎能避躲。石矶娘娘与太乙真人往来冲突，翻腾数转，二剑交架，未及数合，只见云彩辉辉，石矶娘娘将八卦龙须帕丢起空中，欲伤真人。真人笑曰：「万邪岂能侵正。」真人口中念念有词，用手一指：「此物不落，更待何时？」八卦帕落将下来。石矶大怒，脸变桃花，剑如雪片。太乙真人曰：「事到其间，不得不行。」真人将身一跃，跳出圈子外来，将九龙神火罩抛起空中。石矶见罩，欲避不出，已罩在里面。
Lady Shiji flew into a rage and hacked at the Immortal’s face with her sword. The Immortal Taiyi dodged aside, turned and went back into the cave. He took a sword and hung it from his wrist, and secretly slipped something into a pouch. Then he bowed down toward East Kunlun: “Here on this mountain your disciple now breaks the precept against killing.” When he had bowed, he came out of the cave and pointed at Shiji. “Your roots are shallow and your hold on the Way unsteady. How dare you run wild here on my Mount Qianyuan, trusting in your own violence?” Again Shiji hacked at him with her sword. The Immortal Taiyi caught the blow on his own blade and cried, “So be it!” (Shiji was a stubborn rock that had become a spirit. She had gathered the spiritual breath of heaven and earth and taken in the essence of the sun and moon, and she had possessed the Way for several thousand years without yet attaining the true fruit. Now she had met the great calamity, and her own form could not survive it; that was why she had come to this mountain. For one thing, Shiji’s span had run out; for another, it was here that Nezha was to make his new start. Heaven’s reckoning was fixed — how could it be avoided?) Lady Shiji and the Immortal Taiyi charged back and forth, wheeling and tumbling, their two swords crossing. Before they had fought many rounds, coloured clouds blazed up, and Lady Shiji flung the Eight Trigrams Dragon-Whisker Kerchief into the air, meaning to wound the Immortal. The Immortal laughed. “Can ten thousand evils ever prevail against the right?” He muttered a spell under his breath and pointed at it: “If this thing doesn’t fall now, when will it?” Down fell the Eight Trigrams Kerchief. Shiji, in a fury, went as red in the face as peach blossom, and her sword flew like flakes of snow. The Immortal Taiyi said, “Since it has come to this, I have no choice.” With a bound he leapt clear of the fight and tossed the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Cover into the air. Shiji saw the cover and tried to get out of its way, but could not: it had already come down over her.
且說哪吒看見師父用此物罩了石磯，歎曰：「早將此物傳我，也不費許多力氣。」哪吒出洞口來見師父。太乙真人回頭，看見徒弟來：「呀！這頑皮，他看見此罩，畢竟要了。但如今他還用不著，待子牙拜將之後，方可傳他。」真人忙叫：「哪吒，你快去！四海龍君奏准玉帝，來拿你父母了。」哪吒聽得此言，滿眼垂淚，懇求真人曰：「望師父慈悲弟子一雙父母！子作災殃，遺累父母，其心何安。」道罷，放聲大哭。真人見哪吒如此，乃附耳曰：「……如此如此。可救你父母之厄。」哪吒叩謝，借土遁往陳塘關來。不表。
且说哪吒看见师父用此物罩了石矶，叹曰：「早将此物传我，也不费许多力气。」哪吒出洞口来见师父。太乙真人回头，看见徒弟来：「呀！这顽皮，他看见此罩，毕竟要了。但如今他还用不着，待子牙拜将之后，方可传他。」真人忙叫：「哪吒，你快去！四海龙君奏准玉帝，来拿你父母了。」哪吒听得此言，满眼垂泪，恳求真人曰：「望师父慈悲弟子一双父母！子作灾殃，遗累父母，其心何安。」道罢，放声大哭。真人见哪吒如此，乃附耳曰：「……如此如此。可救你父母之厄。」哪吒叩谢，借土遁往陈塘关来。不表。
Now, when Nezha saw his master trap Shiji with this thing, he sighed, “If he’d handed this down to me sooner, I needn’t have gone to so much trouble.” He came out of the cave to see his master. The Immortal Taiyi looked round and saw his disciple coming. “Ah! The little scamp — now that he’s seen the cover, he’s bound to want it. But he has no use for it yet. Only after Ziya has been installed as commander can I hand it on to him.” The Immortal called at once, “Nezha, go quickly! The Dragon Kings of the four seas have had their memorial granted by the Jade Emperor, and they’ve come to seize your parents.” When Nezha heard this, his eyes filled with tears, and he begged the Immortal, “Master, have mercy on your disciple’s father and mother! The son made the trouble, and now it falls on his parents — how can my heart be at peace?” And with that he burst into loud sobs. Seeing Nezha in such a state, the Immortal put his lips to his ear: “…Thus and thus. That will save your parents from their peril.” Nezha knocked his head on the ground in thanks and set off by the earth escape for Chentang Pass. But no more of that.
且說太乙真人罩了石磯，石磯在罩內不知東西南北。真人用兩手一拍，那罩內騰騰焰起，烈烈光生，九條火龍盤繞──此乃三昧神火燒煉石磯。一聲雷響，把娘娘真形煉出，乃是一塊頑石。此石生於天地玄黃之外，經過地水火風，煉成精靈；今日天數已定，合於此地而死，故現其真形。此是太乙真人該開殺戒。真人收了神火罩，又收乾坤圈、混天綾，進洞。不表。
且说太乙真人罩了石矶，石矶在罩内不知东西南北。真人用两手一拍，那罩内腾腾焰起，烈烈光生，九条火龙盘绕──此乃三昧神火烧炼石矶。一声雷响，把娘娘真形炼出，乃是一块顽石。此石生于天地玄黄之外，经过地水火风，炼成精灵；今日天数已定，合于此地而死，故现其真形。此是太乙真人该开杀戒。真人收了神火罩，又收乾坤圈、混天绫，进洞。不表。
Meanwhile the Immortal Taiyi had trapped Shiji under the cover, and inside it she could not tell east from west or north from south. The Immortal clapped his two hands together, and inside the cover flames leapt up and fierce light blazed, and nine fire dragons coiled round and round — this was the divine samadhi fire, burning and smelting Shiji. With a clap of thunder the Lady was smelted down to her true form: a stubborn rock. This rock had been born outside the dark heaven and the yellow earth, and had passed through earth, water, fire and wind until it was refined into a spirit. Today Heaven’s reckoning was fixed: it was fated to die in this place, and so it showed its true form. And so it fell to the Immortal Taiyi to break the precept against killing. The Immortal took back the Divine Fire Cover, and the Heaven-and-Earth Ring and the Sky-Stirring Sash besides, and went into his cave. But no more of that.
且說哪吒飛奔陳塘關來，只見帥府前人聲擾攘。眾家將見公子來了，忙報李靖曰：「公子回來了。」四海龍王敖光、敖順、敖明、敖吉正看間，只見哪吒厲聲叫曰：「『一人行事一人當』，我打死敖丙、李艮，我當償命，豈有子連累父母之理！」乃對敖光曰：「我一身非輕，乃靈珠子是也。奉玉虛符命，應運下世。我今日剖腹、剜腸、剔骨肉，還於父母，不累雙親。你們意下如何？如若不肯，我同你齊到靈霄殿見天王，我自有話說。」敖光聽見此言：「也罷！你既如此，救你父母，也有孝名。」四海龍王便放了李靖夫婦。哪吒便右手提劍，先去一臂膊，後自剖其腹，剜腸剔骨，散了三魂七魄，一命歸泉。四龍王據哪吒之言回旨。不表。
且说哪吒飞奔陈塘关来，只见帅府前人声扰攘。众家将见公子来了，忙报李靖曰：「公子回来了。」四海龙王敖光、敖顺、敖明、敖吉正看间，只见哪吒厉声叫曰：「『一人行事一人当』，我打死敖丙、李艮，我当偿命，岂有子连累父母之理！」乃对敖光曰：「我一身非轻，乃灵珠子是也。奉玉虚符命，应运下世。我今日剖腹、剜肠、剔骨肉，还于父母，不累双亲。你们意下如何？如若不肯，我同你齐到灵霄殿见天王，我自有话说。」敖光听见此言：「也罢！你既如此，救你父母，也有孝名。」四海龙王便放了李靖夫妇。哪吒便右手提剑，先去一臂膊，后自剖其腹，剜肠剔骨，散了三魂七魄，一命归泉。四龙王据哪吒之言回旨。不表。
Our story turns to Nezha, who sped to Chentang Pass. In front of the commander’s headquarters there was an uproar of voices. When the household guards saw the young lord coming, they hurried to tell Li Jing, “The young lord is back.” The Dragon Kings of the four seas, Ao Guang, Ao Shun, Ao Ming and Ao Ji, were looking on when Nezha shouted in a harsh voice, “‘He who does the deed bears the blame.’ I killed Ao Bing and Li Gen, and I should pay with my life. Whoever heard of a son dragging his parents down with him?” Then he said to Ao Guang, “I am no light matter: I am Lingzhuzi. I came down into the world by the command of the Palace of Jade Emptiness, as the times required. Today I shall cut open my belly, gouge out my guts and strip my flesh from my bones, and give them back to my father and mother, so that they bear no blame. What do you say to that? If you won’t agree, I’ll go with you to the Hall of Divine Mists to see the King of Heaven, and I’ll have my own say there.” When Ao Guang heard this, he said, “Very well! If that’s what you’ll do to save your parents, you’ll at least have a name for filial piety.” And the Dragon Kings of the four seas released Li Jing and his wife. Then Nezha took up a sword in his right hand. First he cut off an arm; then he cut open his own belly, gouged out his guts and stripped his bones, and his three hun and seven po scattered, and his life went down to the Yellow Springs of the dead. The four Dragon Kings went back with Nezha’s words and made their report to the throne. But no more of that.
殷夫人見哪吒屍骸，用棺木盛了埋葬。不表。
殷夫人见哪吒尸骸，用棺木盛了埋葬。不表。
Madam Yin, seeing Nezha’s remains, had them laid in a coffin and buried. But no more of that.
且說哪吒魂無所依，魄無所倚──他原是寶貝化現，借了精血，故有魂魄。哪吒飄飄蕩蕩，隨風而至，逕到乾元山來。不知後事如何，且聽下回分解。
且说哪吒魂无所依，魄无所倚──他原是宝贝化现，借了精血，故有魂魄。哪吒飘飘荡荡，随风而至，径到乾元山来。不知后事如何，且听下回分解。
Now, Nezha’s hun soul had nothing to rest on and his po soul nothing to lean on — he had been a treasure transformed, and only because he had borrowed essence and blood did he have souls at all. Drifting and floating, borne along on the wind, Nezha came straight to Mount Qianyuan. To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.