Strange Stories from the Liao Studio - Examination for the Post of Guardian God (continued)

Sung then realized (what had happened), bowed his head and wept, saying, “I am highly and unworthily honored with your commands. How could I dare to refuse?

And yet my old mother is seventy years old, and there is none to care for her. I beg of you to permit (me) (to wait) till the end of her life, and then I will be at your disposal.”

There was one among them resembling an emperor, who commanded that they search out his mother's term of life.

A long-haired servant brought in the Book of Life and turning the leaves over examined it and reported that nine years still remained for her to live.

They were all in a quandary, but Kuan-Ti said, “Never mind. Let Chang act in his place, and after nine years he shall be relieved.”

And then he said to Sung, “You ought to proceed at once to your post, but in consideration of your filial affection, a leave of nine years is granted to you, after the end of which term you will be again summoned.”

He also addressed words of encouragement to Chang; and then they both made their obeisance and stepped down. The other student took Sung's hand and led him out into the country.

He told him that his name was Chang and he was from Ch'ang-shan. At parting he presented him with a bit of verse. I have forgotten what was in it, but there were these lines in those verses:

“If we have flowers and wine to drink, / We will enjoy eternal spring. / Without moon, without light / The night itself to us is bright.”

Sung then got upon his horse and bidding him farewell left. Having arrived at his village, he became conscious as if waking from a dream. He had been as dead for three days.

His mother heard groans in the coffin and helped him out. It was some time before he was able to speak. He asked about Ch'ang-shan, and found there really was a student named Chang who had died that very day.

Nine years later his mother died. When the funeral was over, Sung performed his washings, went into his room and died.

His wife's parents lived inside the city near the western gate. They suddenly saw Sung followed by many carriages and horses with gay trappings and red tasseled bridles arrive at their place, enter the hall, make his obeisance and go.

They were all astonished and alarmed, not knowing that he had become a spirit. They hastened to the village and found that he had already died.

Sung had made his own records of his experiences, but unfortunately in the confusion and disturbances of those days they were lost. This is only a bare sketch of the story.