臨洮馮生，蓋貴介裔而陵夷矣。有漁鱉者，負其債不能償，得鱉輒獻之。一日，獻巨鱉，額有白點。生以其狀異，放之。後自婿家歸，至恆河之側，日已就昏，見一醉者，從二三僮，顛跛而至。遙見生，便問：「何人？」生漫應：「行道者。」醉人怒曰：「寧無姓名，胡言行道者？」生馳驅心急，置不答，逕過之。醉人益怒，捉袂使不得行，酒臭熏人。生更不耐，然力解不能脫。問：「汝何名？」囈然而對曰：「我南都舊令尹也。將何為？」生曰：「世間有此等令尹，辱寞世界矣！幸是舊令尹；假新令尹，將無殺盡途人耶？」醉人怒甚，勢將用武。生大言曰：「我馮某非受人撾打者！」醉人聞之，變怒為懽，踉蹡下拜曰：「是我恩主，唐突勿罪！」起喚從人，先歸治具。生辭之不得。握手行數里，見一小村。既入，則廊舍華好，似貴人家。醉人酲稍解，生始詢其姓字。曰：「言之勿驚，我洮水八大王也。適西山青童招飲，不覺過醉，有犯尊顏，實切愧悚。」生知其妖，以其情辭殷渥，遂不畏怖。俄而設筵豐盛，促坐懽飲。八大王最豪，連舉數觥。生恐其復醉，再作縈擾，偽醉求寢。八大王已喻其意，笑曰：「君得無畏我狂耶？但請勿懼。凡醉人無行，謂隔夜不復記者，欺人耳。酒徒之不德，故犯者十之九。僕雖不齒於儕偶，顧未敢以無賴之行，施之長者，何遂見拒如此？」生乃復坐，正容而諫曰：「既自知之，何勿改行？」八大王曰：「老夫為令尹時，沈湎尤過於今日。自觸帝怒，謫歸島嶼，力返前轍者，十餘年矣。今老將就木，潦倒不能橫飛，故態復作，我自不解耳。茲敬聞命矣。」傾談間，遠鐘已動。八大王起捉臂曰：「相聚不久。蓄有一物，聊報厚德。此不可以久佩，如願後，當見還也。」口中吐一小人，僅寸餘。因以爪掐生臂，痛若膚裂；急以小人按捺其上，釋手已入革裏，甲痕尚在，而漫漫墳起，類痰核狀。驚問之，笑而不答。但曰：「君宜行矣。」送生出，八大王自返。回顧村舍全渺，惟一巨鱉，蠢蠢入水而沒。錯愕久之。自念所獲，必鱉寶也。由此目最明，凡有珠寶之處，黃泉下皆可見；即素所不知之物，亦隨口而知其名。於寢室中掘得藏鏹數百，用度頗充。後有貨故宅者，生視其中有藏鏹無算，遂以重金購居之。由此與王公埒富矣。火齊木難之類皆蓄焉。得一鏡，背有鳳紐，環水雲湘妃之圖，光射里餘，鬚眉皆可數。佳人一照，則影留其中，磨之不能滅也；若改妝重照，或更一美人，則前影消矣。時肅府第三公主絕美，雅慕其名。會主游崆峒，乃往伏山中，伺其下輿，照之而歸，設寘案頭。審視之，見美人在中，拈巾微笑，口欲言而波欲動。喜而藏之。年餘，為妻所洩，聞之肅府。大怒，收之。追鏡去，擬斬。生大賄中貴人，使言於王曰：「王如見赦，天下之至寶，不難致也。不然，有死而已，於王誠無所益。」王欲籍其家而徙之。三公主曰：「彼已窺我，十死亦不足解此玷，不如嫁之。」王不許。公主閉戶不食。妃子大憂，力言於王。王乃釋生囚，命中貴以意示生。生辭曰：「糟糠之妻不下堂，寧死不敢承命。王如聽臣自贖，傾家可也。」王怒，復逮之。妃召生妻入宮，將鴆之。既見，妻以珊瑚鏡臺納妃，辭意溫惻。妃悅之，使參公主。公主亦悅之，訂為姊妹，轉使諭生。生告妻曰：「王侯之女，不可以先後論嫡庶也。」妻不聽，歸修聘幣納王邸，齎送者迨千人。珍石寶玉之屬，王家不能知其名。王大喜，釋生歸，以公主嬪焉。公主仍懷鏡歸。生一夕獨寢，夢八大王軒然入曰：「所贈之物，當見還也。佩之若久，耗人精血，損人壽命。」生諾之，即留宴飲。八大王辭曰：「自聆藥石，戒杯中物已三年矣。」乃以口囓生臂，痛極而醒。視之，則核塊消矣。後此遂如常人。
臨洮有個馮生，原是貴族的後代，家道卻已經衰落。有個捉鱉的人欠了他的錢，無力償還，每次捉到鱉，就送給他。一天，那人送來一隻大鱉，額頭上有個白點。馮生覺得它模樣奇異，就把它放了。後來，馮生從女婿家回來，走到恆河邊時，天已經快黑了。他看見一個醉漢，身後跟著兩三個童僕，一瘸一拐、踉踉蹌蹌地走來。醉漢遠遠看見他，便問：「你是什麼人？」馮生隨口回答：「趕路的人。」醉漢生氣地說：「難道你沒有姓名？為什麼說是趕路的人？」馮生急著趕路，沒有理他，徑直走過去。醉漢更加生氣，抓住他的衣袖，不讓他走，滿身酒氣，燻得人難受。馮生越發不耐煩，用力掙脫，卻怎麼也掙不開，便問：「你叫什麼名字？」醉漢像說夢話似的回答：「我是南都從前的令尹。你想怎麼樣？」馮生說：「世上有你這樣的令尹，真是把世人的臉都丟盡了！幸虧你是從前的令尹；要是現在還做令尹，豈不是要把路上的人都殺光？」醉漢大怒，看樣子就要動手。馮生大聲說：「我馮某可不是任人毆打的人！」醉漢聽了，頓時轉怒為喜，踉踉蹌蹌地拜倒，說：「原來是我的恩人，剛才冒犯了，請不要怪罪！」他起來叫隨從先回去準備酒菜。馮生推辭，卻推辭不了。兩人拉著手走了幾里，看見一個小村子。進去後，只見廊屋華美，像是富貴人家的住所。醉漢的酒意稍稍消退，馮生這才詢問他的姓名。他說：「說出來你不要吃驚，我是洮水八大王。剛才西山青童邀我喝酒，不知不覺喝得太醉，冒犯了你，實在慚愧不安。」馮生知道他是妖怪，但見他情意懇切，言辭熱誠，也就不害怕了。不久，豐盛的酒席擺了上來，八大王催他入座，痛快飲酒。八大王喝酒最豪爽，接連喝了好幾大杯。馮生怕他再次喝醉，又糾纏鬧事，就假裝醉了，要求去睡覺。八大王已經明白他的心思，笑著說：「你莫不是怕我發酒瘋？請放心。凡是喝醉後胡作非為的人，說自己隔了一夜就不記得了，都是騙人的。酒徒做出缺德的事，十有八九是故意的。我雖然不被同伴看重，卻還不敢拿無賴的行為來對待你這樣的長者，你怎麼這樣拒絕我呢？」馮生便重新坐下，嚴肅地勸他說：「既然自己知道，為什麼不改掉這些行為？」八大王說：「我做令尹的時候，沉迷於酒，比今天還厲害。因為觸怒了天帝，被貶回島嶼，努力改掉舊習慣，已經十多年了。如今老了，快要進棺材，衰頹潦倒，再也不能像從前那樣縱橫馳騁，老毛病卻又犯了，我自己也不明白。現在我恭敬地接受你的勸告。」兩人暢談著，遠處已經響起鐘聲。八大王站起來，拉住馮生的胳膊，說：「我們不能再相聚多久了。我存著一件東西，姑且用來報答你的厚恩。這東西不能長久佩戴，等你的心願實現後，就該還給我。」他從嘴裡吐出一個小人，只有一寸多高，又用指甲掐馮生的胳膊，疼得像皮膚裂開了一樣。他連忙把小人按在那個地方，鬆開手時，小人已經鑽進皮膚裡面。指甲掐出的痕跡還在，那地方卻慢慢鼓起來，像個痰核。馮生吃驚地問他，八大王笑著不答，只說：「你該走了。」他送馮生出去，自己轉身回去了。馮生回頭看，村子和房屋全都消失了，只有一隻大鱉，緩緩爬進水裡，沉下去不見了。馮生驚愕了好一會兒，心想自己得到的一定是鱉寶。從此，他的眼力格外敏銳，凡是有珠寶的地方，即使深藏在地下，他也能看見；就連從前不認識的東西，他也能隨口說出名字。他在臥室裡挖出幾百串埋藏的錢，日常用度便很充足了。後來，有人出售舊宅，馮生看見裡面埋著數不清的錢，就花重金買下來居住。從此，他的財富可以和王公相比，火齊、木難之類的寶物，他全都收藏著。他得到一面鏡子，背面有鳳凰形的鏡鈕，周圍刻著水雲間湘妃的影像。鏡光能照出一里多遠，人的鬍鬚眉毛都能數清。美人照過一次，影像就留在鏡中，怎麼擦磨也去不掉；只有她換了妝容再照，或者換另一個美人來照，先前的影像才會消失。當時，肅府的第三公主美貌絕倫，馮生早就仰慕她的名聲。恰逢公主遊覽崆峒，他便藏在山中，等她下轎時，用鏡子照了她，然後回家，把鏡子放在桌上。他仔細看去，只見美人在鏡中拈著手巾，微微含笑，嘴唇彷彿要說話，眼波彷彿要流動。他十分歡喜，把鏡子藏了起來。一年多後，這件事被妻子洩露，傳到了肅府。肅王大怒，派人逮捕馮生，追繳鏡子，準備把他斬首。馮生重金賄賂宮中的宦官，讓他替自己向肅王說：「王爺如果赦免我，天下最珍貴的寶物，都不難得到。不然，我只能一死，對王爺實在沒有好處。」肅王打算抄沒他的家產，把他流放。三公主說：「他已經窺見了我，就是死十次，也不能洗去這份汙辱，不如讓我嫁給他。」肅王不答應。公主便關上房門，不肯吃飯。王妃十分擔憂，極力勸說肅王。肅王這才把馮生放出監牢，命宦官把這番意思告訴他。馮生推辭說：「不能趕走與我共過患難的妻子，我寧可死，也不敢接受這個命令。王爺如果准許我贖罪，我願意獻出全部家產。」肅王發怒，又把他逮捕了。王妃召馮生的妻子進宮，打算毒死她。見面後，馮生的妻子獻給王妃一座珊瑚鏡臺，說話溫柔懇切。王妃喜歡上她，便讓她去拜見公主。公主也很喜歡她，兩人約定做姐妹，公主轉而讓她去勸馮生。馮生對妻子說：「王侯的女兒，不能按進門早晚來決定誰是正妻、誰是妾。」妻子不聽，回家準備了聘禮，送進王府，運送的人將近一千。那些珍奇的石頭、寶玉，連王府的人都叫不出名字。肅王大喜，把馮生放回家，將公主嫁給他。公主仍把那面鏡子帶了回來。一天夜裡，馮生獨自睡覺，夢見八大王昂然走進來，說：「我送給你的東西，該還給我了。佩戴得太久，會消耗人的精血，縮短人的壽命。」馮生答應了，隨即留他飲酒。八大王推辭說：「自從聽了你那番治病良藥般的勸告，我戒酒已經三年了。」說完，他用嘴咬馮生的胳膊。馮生疼得厲害，醒了過來，一看，胳膊上的腫塊已經消失。從此，他就和普通人一樣了。
临洮冯生，盖贵介裔而陵夷矣。有渔鳖者，负其债不能偿，得鳖辄献之。一日，献巨鳖，额有白点。生以其状异，放之。后自婿家归，至恒河之侧，日已就昏，见一醉者，从二三僮，颠跛而至。遥见生，便问：「何人？」生漫应：「行道者。」醉人怒曰：「宁无姓名，胡言行道者？」生驰驱心急，置不答，径过之。醉人益怒，捉袂使不得行，酒臭熏人。生更不耐，然力解不能脱。问：「汝何名？」呓然而对曰：「我南都旧令尹也。将何为？」生曰：「世间有此等令尹，辱寞世界矣！幸是旧令尹；假新令尹，将无杀尽途人耶？」醉人怒甚，势将用武。生大言曰：「我冯某非受人挝打者！」醉人闻之，变怒为懽，踉蹡下拜曰：「是我恩主，唐突勿罪！」起唤从人，先归治具。生辞之不得。握手行数里，见一小村。既入，则廊舍华好，似贵人家。醉人酲稍解，生始询其姓字。曰：「言之勿惊，我洮水八大王也。适西山青童招饮，不觉过醉，有犯尊颜，实切愧悚。」生知其妖，以其情辞殷渥，遂不畏怖。俄而设筵丰盛，促坐懽饮。八大王最豪，连举数觥。生恐其复醉，再作萦扰，伪醉求寝。八大王已喻其意，笑曰：「君得无畏我狂耶？但请勿惧。凡醉人无行，谓隔夜不复记者，欺人耳。酒徒之不德，故犯者十之九。仆虽不齿于侪偶，顾未敢以无赖之行，施之长者，何遂见拒如此？」生乃复坐，正容而谏曰：「既自知之，何勿改行？」八大王曰：「老夫为令尹时，沉湎尤过于今日。自触帝怒，谪归岛屿，力返前辙者，十余年矣。今老将就木，潦倒不能横飞，故态复作，我自不解耳。兹敬闻命矣。」倾谈间，远钟已动。八大王起捉臂曰：「相聚不久。蓄有一物，聊报厚德。此不可以久佩，如愿后，当见还也。」口中吐一小人，仅寸余。因以爪掐生臂，痛若肤裂；急以小人按捺其上，释手已入革里，甲痕尚在，而漫漫坟起，类痰核状。惊问之，笑而不答。但曰：「君宜行矣。」送生出，八大王自返。回顾村舍全渺，惟一巨鳖，蠢蠢入水而没。错愕久之。自念所获，必鳖宝也。由此目最明，凡有珠宝之处，黄泉下皆可见；即素所不知之物，亦随口而知其名。于寝室中掘得藏镪数百，用度颇充。后有货故宅者，生视其中有藏镪无算，遂以重金购居之。由此与王公埒富矣。火齐木难之类皆蓄焉。得一镜，背有凤纽，环水云湘妃之图，光射里余，须眉皆可数。佳人一照，则影留其中，磨之不能灭也；若改妆重照，或更一美人，则前影消矣。时肃府第三公主绝美，雅慕其名。会主游崆峒，乃往伏山中，伺其下舆，照之而归，设寘案头。审视之，见美人在中，拈巾微笑，口欲言而波欲动。喜而藏之。年余，为妻所泄，闻之肃府。大怒，收之。追镜去，拟斩。生大贿中贵人，使言于王曰：「王如见赦，天下之至宝，不难致也。不然，有死而已，于王诚无所益。」王欲籍其家而徙之。三公主曰：「彼已窥我，十死亦不足解此玷，不如嫁之。」王不许。公主闭户不食。妃子大忧，力言于王。王乃释生囚，命中贵以意示生。生辞曰：「糟糠之妻不下堂，宁死不敢承命。王如听臣自赎，倾家可也。」王怒，复逮之。妃召生妻入宫，将鸩之。既见，妻以珊瑚镜台纳妃，辞意温恻。妃悦之，使参公主。公主亦悦之，订为姊妹，转使谕生。生告妻曰：「王侯之女，不可以先后论嫡庶也。」妻不听，归修聘币纳王邸，赍送者迨千人。珍石宝玉之属，王家不能知其名。王大喜，释生归，以公主嫔焉。公主仍怀镜归。生一夕独寝，梦八大王轩然入曰：「所赠之物，当见还也。佩之若久，耗人精血，损人寿命。」生诺之，即留宴饮。八大王辞曰：「自聆药石，戒杯中物已三年矣。」乃以口囓生臂，痛极而醒。视之，则核块消矣。后此遂如常人。
临洮有个冯生，原是贵族的后代，家道却已经衰落。有个捉鳖的人欠了他的钱，无力偿还，每次捉到鳖，就送给他。一天，那人送来一只大鳖，额头上有个白点。冯生觉得它模样奇异，就把它放了。后来，冯生从女婿家回来，走到恒河边时，天已经快黑了。他看见一个醉汉，身后跟着两三个童仆，一瘸一拐、踉踉跄跄地走来。醉汉远远看见他，便问：“你是什么人？”冯生随口回答：“赶路的人。”醉汉生气地说：“难道你没有姓名？为什么说是赶路的人？”冯生急着赶路，没有理他，径直走过去。醉汉更加生气，抓住他的衣袖，不让他走，满身酒气，熏得人难受。冯生越发不耐烦，用力挣脱，却怎么也挣不开，便问：“你叫什么名字？”醉汉像说梦话似的回答：“我是南都从前的令尹。你想怎么样？”冯生说：“世上有你这样的令尹，真是把世人的脸都丢尽了！幸亏你是从前的令尹；要是现在还做令尹，岂不是要把路上的人都杀光？”醉汉大怒，看样子就要动手。冯生大声说：“我冯某可不是任人殴打的人！”醉汉听了，顿时转怒为喜，踉踉跄跄地拜倒，说：“原来是我的恩人，刚才冒犯了，请不要怪罪！”他起来叫随从先回去准备酒菜。冯生推辞，却推辞不了。两人拉着手走了几里，看见一个小村子。进去后，只见廊屋华美，像是富贵人家的住所。醉汉的酒意稍稍消退，冯生这才询问他的姓名。他说：“说出来你不要吃惊，我是洮水八大王。刚才西山青童邀我喝酒，不知不觉喝得太醉，冒犯了你，实在惭愧不安。”冯生知道他是妖怪，但见他情意恳切，言辞热诚，也就不害怕了。不久，丰盛的酒席摆了上来，八大王催他入座，痛快饮酒。八大王喝酒最豪爽，接连喝了好几大杯。冯生怕他再次喝醉，又纠缠闹事，就假装醉了，要求去睡觉。八大王已经明白他的心思，笑着说：“你莫不是怕我发酒疯？请放心。凡是喝醉后胡作非为的人，说自己隔了一夜就不记得了，都是骗人的。酒徒做出缺德的事，十有八九是故意的。我虽然不被同伴看重，却还不敢拿无赖的行为来对待你这样的长者，你怎么这样拒绝我呢？”冯生便重新坐下，严肃地劝他说：“既然自己知道，为什么不改掉这些行为？”八大王说：“我做令尹的时候，沉迷于酒，比今天还厉害。因为触怒了天帝，被贬回岛屿，努力改掉旧习惯，已经十多年了。如今老了，快要进棺材，衰颓潦倒，再也不能像从前那样纵横驰骋，老毛病却又犯了，我自己也不明白。现在我恭敬地接受你的劝告。”两人畅谈着，远处已经响起钟声。八大王站起来，拉住冯生的胳膊，说：“我们不能再相聚多久了。我存着一件东西，姑且用来报答你的厚恩。这东西不能长久佩戴，等你的心愿实现后，就该还给我。”他从嘴里吐出一个小人，只有一寸多高，又用指甲掐冯生的胳膊，疼得像皮肤裂开了一样。他连忙把小人按在那个地方，松开手时，小人已经钻进皮肤里面。指甲掐出的痕迹还在，那地方却慢慢鼓起来，像个痰核。冯生吃惊地问他，八大王笑着不答，只说：“你该走了。”他送冯生出去，自己转身回去了。冯生回头看，村子和房屋全都消失了，只有一只大鳖，缓缓爬进水里，沉下去不见了。冯生惊愕了好一会儿，心想自己得到的一定是鳖宝。从此，他的眼力格外敏锐，凡是有珠宝的地方，即使深藏在地下，他也能看见；就连从前不认识的东西，他也能随口说出名字。他在卧室里挖出几百串埋藏的钱，日常用度便很充足了。后来，有人出售旧宅，冯生看见里面埋着数不清的钱，就花重金买下来居住。从此，他的财富可以和王公相比，火齐、木难之类的宝物，他全都收藏着。他得到一面镜子，背面有凤凰形的镜钮，周围刻着水云间湘妃的图像。镜光能照出一里多远，人的胡须眉毛都能数清。美人照过一次，影像就留在镜中，怎么擦磨也去不掉；只有她换了妆容再照，或者换另一个美人来照，先前的影像才会消失。当时，肃府的第三公主美貌绝伦，冯生早就仰慕她的名声。恰逢公主游览崆峒，他便藏在山中，等她下轿时，用镜子照了她，然后回家，把镜子放在桌上。他仔细看去，只见美人在镜中拈着手巾，微微含笑，嘴唇仿佛要说话，眼波仿佛要流动。他十分欢喜，把镜子藏了起来。一年多后，这件事被妻子泄露，传到了肃府。肃王大怒，派人逮捕冯生，追缴镜子，准备把他斩首。冯生重金贿赂宫中的宦官，让他替自己向肃王说：“王爷如果赦免我，天下最珍贵的宝物，都不难得到。不然，我只能一死，对王爷实在没有好处。”肃王打算抄没他的家产，把他流放。三公主说：“他已经窥见了我，就是死十次，也不能洗去这份污辱，不如让我嫁给他。”肃王不答应。公主便关上房门，不肯吃饭。王妃十分担忧，极力劝说肃王。肃王这才把冯生放出监牢，命宦官把这番意思告诉他。冯生推辞说：“不能赶走与我共过患难的妻子，我宁可死，也不敢接受这个命令。王爷如果准许我赎罪，我愿意献出全部家产。”肃王发怒，又把他逮捕了。王妃召冯生的妻子进宫，打算毒死她。见面后，冯生的妻子献给王妃一座珊瑚镜台，说话温柔恳切。王妃喜欢上她，便让她去拜见公主。公主也很喜欢她，两人约定做姐妹，公主转而让她去劝冯生。冯生对妻子说：“王侯的女儿，不能按进门早晚来决定谁是正妻、谁是妾。”妻子不听，回家准备了聘礼，送进王府，运送的人将近一千。那些珍奇的石头、宝玉，连王府的人都叫不出名字。肃王大喜，把冯生放回家，将公主嫁给他。公主仍把那面镜子带了回来。一天夜里，冯生独自睡觉，梦见八大王昂然走进来，说：“我送给你的东西，该还给我了。佩戴得太久，会消耗人的精血，缩短人的寿命。”冯生答应了，随即留他饮酒。八大王推辞说：“自从听了你那番治病良药般的劝告，我戒酒已经三年了。”说完，他用嘴咬冯生的胳膊。冯生疼得厉害，醒了过来，一看，胳膊上的肿块已经消失。从此，他就和普通人一样了。
A scholar named Feng of Lintao came of a noble line, but the family had come down in the world. A man who caught turtles owed him money he could not repay, and whenever he caught a turtle he brought it to Feng. One day he brought a huge one with a white spot on its forehead. Feng thought it looked strange and let it go. Later, Feng was on his way home from his son-in-law’s house. By the time he reached the bank of the Heng River it was already dusk. He saw a drunk man, two or three boy servants at his heels, come lurching and stumbling along. Seeing Feng from a distance, the man called out, “Who’s that?” “Someone on the road,” Feng answered offhandedly. The drunk was angry. “Haven’t you got a name? What do you mean, someone on the road?” Feng was in a hurry to get on. He ignored him and went straight past. The drunk grew angrier still and caught him by the sleeve so that he could not go on. The reek of wine was overpowering. Feng was even less patient now, but struggle as he might he could not shake him off. “And what is your name?” he asked. The man answered thickly, as if talking in his sleep: “I am the former county magistrate of the Southern Capital. What of it?” “A magistrate like you is a disgrace to the world!” said Feng. “Lucky you’re a former magistrate. If you were in office now, you’d kill everyone on the road!” The drunk was furious and looked ready to come to blows. Feng said loudly, “I, Feng, am not a man to take a beating from anybody!” Hearing this, the drunk’s anger turned to joy. He staggered down to bow to him. “It’s my benefactor! Forgive my rudeness!” He got up and called to his servants to go home ahead and get a meal ready. Feng tried to decline, but could not. Hand in hand they walked several li and came to a small village. Inside, the halls and rooms were fine and handsome, like a great family’s house. When the drunk had sobered a little, Feng at last asked his name. “Don’t be alarmed when I tell you,” he said. “I am the Eighth Great King of the Tao River. The Azure Lad of the Western Hills invited me to drink just now, and before I knew it I had drunk too much and offended you. I am truly ashamed and afraid.” Feng knew he was a demon, but his words were so warm and earnest that Feng was not afraid. Soon a rich feast was laid, and they sat close and drank happily. The Eighth Great King was the boldest drinker, draining goblet after goblet. Afraid he would get drunk again and make more trouble, Feng pretended to be drunk himself and asked to go to bed. The Eighth Great King saw what he meant. He laughed. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll run wild? Please, have no fear. When a drunk behaves badly and says next day he can’t remember, he’s lying. Nine times out of ten a drunkard’s misconduct is done on purpose. My fellows may look down on me, but I would never dare treat a worthy man like you with a scoundrel’s manners. Why turn me down like this?” So Feng sat down again and said gravely, “Since you know it yourself, why not mend your ways?” “When I was magistrate,” said the Eighth Great King, “I was sunk in wine even worse than now. Ever since I angered the Emperor on High and was banished back to the islands, I have been trying hard for more than ten years to turn off my old road. Now I am old, with one foot in the coffin, down on my luck and unable to soar, and the old habits come back — I don’t understand it myself. But I respectfully accept your advice.” While they talked their hearts out, a distant bell began to ring. The Eighth Great King rose and took him by the arm. “We shall not be together much longer. I have something put by, a small return for your great kindness. It must not be worn for long. When you have had your wish, you must give it back.” From his mouth he spat out a tiny man, barely an inch tall. Then he dug his nails into Feng’s arm. It hurt as if the skin were splitting. Quickly he pressed the tiny man onto the spot, and when he let go it had already gone in under the skin. The nail marks were still there, and slowly the place swelled up into a lump like a cyst. Feng asked in alarm what it was. The King smiled and did not answer, but only said, “You should go now.” He saw Feng out and went back in. Feng looked back: the village and houses had vanished. There was only a huge turtle, crawling sluggishly into the water and sinking out of sight. Feng stood there astonished for a long time. He thought to himself that what he had been given must be a turtle treasure. From then on his eyes were sharper than anyone’s. Wherever there were pearls or treasure, he could see them, even as deep down as the Yellow Springs; and things he had never known before, he could name as soon as he saw them. He dug in his bedroom and found several hundred strings of buried cash, and had plenty to spend. Later, when someone was selling an old house, Feng saw that there was no end of buried money in it, so he paid a high price for it and moved in. From then on he was as rich as princes and dukes. Fire-pearls, munan gems and the like — he had them all. He came by a mirror with a phoenix knob on its back, and round it a picture of the Consorts of the Xiang among waters and clouds. Its light shone more than a li, so clear that one could count the hairs of a man’s beard and brows. If a beautiful woman looked into it once, her image stayed in it and could not be polished away; only if she changed her make-up and looked again, or another beauty looked in, did the earlier image fade. Now the third princess of the house of the Prince of Su was a great beauty, and Feng had long admired her by repute. When the princess went on an outing to Mount Kongtong, he went and hid in the hills. He waited till she stepped down from her sedan chair, caught her in the mirror and went home, and set it on his desk. Looking closely, he saw the beauty in it, twisting a handkerchief and smiling faintly, her lips about to speak and her eyes about to move. Delighted, he hid it away. A year or so later his wife let the secret out, and word of it reached the Prince of Su’s house. The Prince was furious and had Feng arrested. The mirror was taken from him, and he was to be beheaded. Feng heavily bribed a palace eunuch to say to the Prince, “If Your Highness pardons me, the greatest treasures under heaven will not be hard to come by. Otherwise I can only die, which truly does Your Highness no good.” The Prince meant to confiscate his property and send him into exile. The third princess said, “He has already looked on me. Ten deaths would not wipe out the stain. Better to marry me to him.” The Prince would not allow it. The princess shut her door and would not eat. The Prince’s Consort was very worried and pleaded hard with him. So the Prince let Feng out of prison and had the eunuch let him know what was intended. Feng refused. “A wife who shared the chaff and husks is not sent down from the hall. I would sooner die than obey. If Your Highness will let me buy my freedom, I will give everything I own.” The Prince was angry and had him arrested again. The Consort summoned Feng’s wife to the palace, meaning to poison her. When she came, the wife presented the Consort with a coral mirror stand, and spoke so gently and so movingly that the Consort took a liking to her and sent her to pay her respects to the princess. The princess liked her too. They swore to be sisters, and the princess had her persuade Feng. Feng said to his wife, “With a prince’s daughter, who is principal wife and who is secondary cannot be settled by who came first.” His wife would not listen. She went home, prepared betrothal gifts and sent them to the Prince’s palace; nearly a thousand people carried them. There were rare stones and precious jades whose names even the Prince’s household did not know. The Prince was overjoyed. He released Feng to go home, and gave him the princess in marriage. The princess brought the mirror back with her. One evening, when Feng was sleeping alone, he dreamed that the Eighth Great King strode grandly in and said, “The thing I gave you — it is time to give it back. Worn too long, it drains a man’s vital blood and shortens his life.” Feng agreed, and pressed him to stay and drink. The Eighth Great King declined. “Since I took your words to heart like medicine, I have given up the cup for three years now.” Then he bit Feng’s arm. The pain was so sharp that Feng woke. He looked: the lump was gone. From then on he was like anyone else.