Strange Stories from the Liao Studio - The Taoist Priest of Lao-shan Mountain (continued)

The priest laughingly said, “I certainly told you, you could not endure hardships, and to-day it is proved. To-morrow early I will send you home”.

“I have worked for you,” replied Wang, “many days. Will you not impart a little of your skill, that my coming may not have been in vain”.

“For what do you ask?” asked the priest. Wang replied, “I have noticed that wherever you go, walls are no obstacle to you. To learn only that secret would be enough.”

The priest laughed and assented. Whereupon he taught Wang a formula and bade him recite.

When he had done so, the priest shouted, “Go through it!” Wang facing the wall did not dare to move forward. “Try to enter it,” said again the priest. Wang slowly advanced, reached the wall and was there stopped.

The priest said, “Hang your head down and enter quickly. Do not hesitate!” Wang took several steps from the wall and rushed at it. At the wall (it seemed to him) there was no wall and looking back he found himself outside.

Overjoyed he returned and expressed his gratitude (to the priest). “When you return home, you must be clean. Otherwise it will not be effective”, said the priest. Then he gave Wang travelling expenses and sent him home.

At home Wang bragged that he had seen the immortals and that no wall was a barrier to him. His wife did not believe (his words).

(Thereupon) Wang repeated his (former) performance. He stepped back several steps from the wall and rushed at it at full speed. His head struck the hard wall and he fell down suddenly.

His wife helped him up and looked at him. On his forehead was a lump as big as a large egg. His wife made fun of him, and Wang half ashamed half angry cursed the old priest calling him a wicked fellow.