Yang Zhou, a native of Kuaiji, was extremely diligent in his studies and often recited poems and books. However, he faced many setbacks on the path to attaining fame and official positions. Nevertheless, he continued to study painstakingly without interruption. Even when he was tired from studying, he would prick his thigh with an awl to refresh himself.
Afraid of being disturbed, Yang Zhou sometimes lived in an old residence to read. One late - night, feeling rather tired, he was about to go to bed. Suddenly, amidst the flickering of the lamp, he vaguely saw a figure. Looking up, he found it was a beautiful woman. Yang Zhou was greatly shocked. Not knowing whether she was a human or a ghost, he nervously summoned up his courage and loudly asked, "Which family's girl are you? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" The woman replied, "I'm not a girl from the neighborhood. Due to a predestined relationship from our previous lives, I've come to meet you." Yang Zhou said, "Leave quickly. If others find out, it will damage both our reputations." The woman said, "It's already late at night. Everyone around has fallen asleep. Who will know?" Yang Zhou was bewitched by these words. Attracted by her beauty, he accepted her.
A month later, Yang Zhou asked, "You've been in my humble abode for quite a while. You must tell me truthfully which family you're from. Otherwise, I'll always be suspicious." "Our relationship is deep. What is there to be afraid of?" the woman said again. "In fact, I'm the flower spirit of your old residence. I've been very impressed by your dedication to learning. However, seeing that you don't care about your family's livelihood at all, I'm afraid this won't last long." Yang Zhou said, "I'm not afraid. You should tell me the truth." The woman said, "You haven't been able to pass the imperial examinations, and this is not the worst of it. I'm afraid you'll face a situation of begging for food in the future. That's why I've come to help you." Yang Zhou asked, "So how do you plan to help me?" The woman said, "I can teach you how to paint, so that you can make a living. Tomorrow, I'll go and buy items, get you pigments and paintbrushes, and then teach you how to paint."
From then on, the woman no longer left. She dressed like Yang Zhou's wife. First, she taught Yang Zhou the secrets of using the brush, ink, and water in painting, and then she taught him the techniques of painting mountains, rocks, trees, and adding dots of moss. After three or four months, Yang Zhou learned the methods of painting. He painted a deer picture every two days. However, the eyes of the deer had to be dotted by the woman. Once she did it, the deer looked naturally vivid and lifelike. Everyone who saw it loved it and was willing to buy it. In this way, Yang Zhou gained a good reputation, and his family became prosperous from selling paintings. His friends came to congratulate him, thinking that Yang Zhou had become rich through his own abilities. Yang Zhou's affection for the woman grew deeper, and he almost never returned to his own home, which made his wife complain. At first, she just asked Yang Zhou to go home and have a look. Later, she started to scold and cry. Eventually, she even went to the place where Yang Zhou lived and made a scene. But the woman was always humble, so Yang Zhou's wife couldn't make things too difficult for her.
Later, unable to bear the anger from his wife, Yang Zhou told her the whole story of the woman's origin. Unexpectedly, Yang Zhou's wife said, "Since the flower spirit has taken on a human form and doesn't harm people, we might as well bring her home as a concubine." Yang Zhou thought it made sense, so he took the woman home. They lived in peace for over a year. Yang Zhou had always liked the beautiful appearance of the woman transformed from the flower spirit, and also appreciated her meticulous care. Everything she did was to his liking, so he stopped going to his wife's room. His wife's resentment flared up again. Once, when she went back to her parents' home, she cried to her father, "Father, a husband is a woman's lifelong reliance. Now Yang Zhou is like this, and it's as if I have no husband." Then she burst into tears in the courtyard. Her father comforted her, saying, "That woman is a flower spirit. If you quarrel with her, you'll surely invite disaster. Be patient for now. I have a way." Then he persuaded his daughter to go home first and told her not to make it public.
Then, her father prepared some silver and secretly went to the Celestial Master's Mansion in Jiangxi to seek help. When the Celestial Master heard this, his expression turned serious. This matter might seem normal on the surface. Others might even sympathize with the flower spirit and think that Yang Zhou's wife was jealous. In fact, there was more to it. Only the Celestial Master knew that if this situation was left unchecked, it would encourage evil trends and disrupt the order of the world. So it couldn't be ignored. Immediately, he ordered the judge to set up an altar to eliminate evil. On the altar, the judge burned incense and prayed, then held a sword, burned talismans, and issued orders to summon the divine generals. Immediately, faint thunder rumbled. In an instant, several imposing divine generals, wearing golden armor and holding divine weapons, received the decree and headed towards Yang Zhou's home.
The woman, who was accompanying Yang Zhou in the house, suddenly felt a powerful oppressive force descending. She was greatly alarmed. Knowing that a great disaster was approaching, yet still reluctant to leave Yang Zhou, she tightly grasped his sleeve with tears in her eyes. Yang Zhou didn't understand what was happening. Only when he saw the divine generals descending from the sky did he realize that his father - in - law had informed the Celestial Master. He wanted to protect the flower spirit but was suppressed by the divine power and couldn't move. The divine generals locked onto the flower spirit's aura and shouted in unison like a great bell tolling, causing the house to tremble slightly. One of the divine generals took the lead and swung the long knife in his hand. The blade light, like a stream of light, slashed towards the flower spirit. The flower spirit dodged with a flash, turning into a stream of light. A heavenly general threw out the fairy - binding rope. The rope coiled in the air like a spiritual snake and instantly bound the flower spirit tightly. The flower spirit struggled desperately, setting herself on fire to try to burn through the rope. But this fairy - binding rope was a divine artifact of the Celestial Master's Mansion and was not easily broken. Another divine general took out the demon - subduing banner. As soon as the banner was unfurled, it emitted golden light, shining on the flower spirit and making her unable to move. The flower spirit let out mournful cries, her eyes filled with despair and unwillingness. Yang Zhou was extremely anxious but helpless. As the divine generals launched their final attack, a bolt of divine thunder descended from the sky, striking the bound flower spirit directly. With a shrill scream, the flower spirit was hit by the divine thunder, and her figure gradually dissipated, finally revealing the original form of the flower and tree. Yang Zhou shouted, "Immortals, please have mercy and return the flower spirit to me!" One of the divine generals said, "You, this scholar, are so muddled." Subsequently, the divine generals took the flower and tree back to the Celestial Master's Mansion to report.
When the divine generals brought the flower spirit to the Celestial Master's Mansion, the Celestial Master used his magic to transform the flower spirit back into human form. The flower spirit wept and said, "Celestial Master, I'm wronged! Since I met Yang Zhou, I've been constantly helping the Yang family. I don't think I've done anything wrong. Please, Celestial Master, see clearly!" "Really no fault?" The Celestial Master reprimanded the flower spirit, "You were originally a spirit attached to a flower and tree, taking on human form by the grace of heaven and earth. Unexpectedly, you didn't cherish this grace. Instead of reflecting on the right path, you dared to associate with a mortal, doing things that go against the will of heaven and corrupt human ethics. Arbitrarily changing the mortal's karma is unacceptable to heaven and earth. Just now, the thunder god should have destroyed your soul and body. Considering the kindness of heaven to all living things, you were only made to reveal your original form to break Yang Zhou's delusions." After hearing this, the flower spirit was in tears, "Thank you, Celestial Master, for your mercy. Now I realize how deeply sinful I am."
The Celestial Master knew that the flower spirit was truly remorseful but still had worldly attachments. He said, "Now I demote you to a deep mountain to reflect on your mistakes. When you've achieved success in your cultivation, I will come to guide you. Do you have any complaints?" The flower spirit kowtowed repeatedly, "I will follow the decree. I will surely repent and cultivate well from now on." After the admonition, the Celestial Master ordered the divine generals to take the flower and tree and plant them in a secluded place in the deep mountains, and set up a barrier: first, to prevent the flower spirit from escaping; second, to prevent mortals from seeing her, which was also to protect her.
Back at home, Yang Zhou wept bitterly. He put all the clothes and other items that the flower spirit used to wear into a coffin and built a grave to bury them. Yang Zhou cried whether he was sitting or lying down. Others tried to comfort him, but he still cried. Eventually, his eyes went blind, and it took some treatment to recover. Later, the deer paintings Yang Zhou made were the same in appearance as before, but they lost all their charm, and he was extremely distressed about this. The flower spirit knew that the Yang family was going to have bad luck, so she taught him painting skills to make a living. One could say that the flower spirit was very kind - hearted. But did the Celestial Master easily believe others and use magic randomly? Obviously not. Yang Zhou was originally a person destined to suffer, but since he received the help of the flower spirit, he became very wealthy, which violated the law of cause and effect. The flower spirit herself had violated the will of heaven, so she was punished. After this, Yang Zhou should let go of his attachments and accept his fate. If he could use this opportunity to cultivate the truth and understand the Tao, that would truly be his good fortune!
Afraid of being disturbed, Yang Zhou sometimes lived in an old residence to read. One late - night, feeling rather tired, he was about to go to bed. Suddenly, amidst the flickering of the lamp, he vaguely saw a figure. Looking up, he found it was a beautiful woman. Yang Zhou was greatly shocked. Not knowing whether she was a human or a ghost, he nervously summoned up his courage and loudly asked, "Which family's girl are you? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" The woman replied, "I'm not a girl from the neighborhood. Due to a predestined relationship from our previous lives, I've come to meet you." Yang Zhou said, "Leave quickly. If others find out, it will damage both our reputations." The woman said, "It's already late at night. Everyone around has fallen asleep. Who will know?" Yang Zhou was bewitched by these words. Attracted by her beauty, he accepted her.
A month later, Yang Zhou asked, "You've been in my humble abode for quite a while. You must tell me truthfully which family you're from. Otherwise, I'll always be suspicious." "Our relationship is deep. What is there to be afraid of?" the woman said again. "In fact, I'm the flower spirit of your old residence. I've been very impressed by your dedication to learning. However, seeing that you don't care about your family's livelihood at all, I'm afraid this won't last long." Yang Zhou said, "I'm not afraid. You should tell me the truth." The woman said, "You haven't been able to pass the imperial examinations, and this is not the worst of it. I'm afraid you'll face a situation of begging for food in the future. That's why I've come to help you." Yang Zhou asked, "So how do you plan to help me?" The woman said, "I can teach you how to paint, so that you can make a living. Tomorrow, I'll go and buy items, get you pigments and paintbrushes, and then teach you how to paint."
From then on, the woman no longer left. She dressed like Yang Zhou's wife. First, she taught Yang Zhou the secrets of using the brush, ink, and water in painting, and then she taught him the techniques of painting mountains, rocks, trees, and adding dots of moss. After three or four months, Yang Zhou learned the methods of painting. He painted a deer picture every two days. However, the eyes of the deer had to be dotted by the woman. Once she did it, the deer looked naturally vivid and lifelike. Everyone who saw it loved it and was willing to buy it. In this way, Yang Zhou gained a good reputation, and his family became prosperous from selling paintings. His friends came to congratulate him, thinking that Yang Zhou had become rich through his own abilities. Yang Zhou's affection for the woman grew deeper, and he almost never returned to his own home, which made his wife complain. At first, she just asked Yang Zhou to go home and have a look. Later, she started to scold and cry. Eventually, she even went to the place where Yang Zhou lived and made a scene. But the woman was always humble, so Yang Zhou's wife couldn't make things too difficult for her.
Later, unable to bear the anger from his wife, Yang Zhou told her the whole story of the woman's origin. Unexpectedly, Yang Zhou's wife said, "Since the flower spirit has taken on a human form and doesn't harm people, we might as well bring her home as a concubine." Yang Zhou thought it made sense, so he took the woman home. They lived in peace for over a year. Yang Zhou had always liked the beautiful appearance of the woman transformed from the flower spirit, and also appreciated her meticulous care. Everything she did was to his liking, so he stopped going to his wife's room. His wife's resentment flared up again. Once, when she went back to her parents' home, she cried to her father, "Father, a husband is a woman's lifelong reliance. Now Yang Zhou is like this, and it's as if I have no husband." Then she burst into tears in the courtyard. Her father comforted her, saying, "That woman is a flower spirit. If you quarrel with her, you'll surely invite disaster. Be patient for now. I have a way." Then he persuaded his daughter to go home first and told her not to make it public.
Then, her father prepared some silver and secretly went to the Celestial Master's Mansion in Jiangxi to seek help. When the Celestial Master heard this, his expression turned serious. This matter might seem normal on the surface. Others might even sympathize with the flower spirit and think that Yang Zhou's wife was jealous. In fact, there was more to it. Only the Celestial Master knew that if this situation was left unchecked, it would encourage evil trends and disrupt the order of the world. So it couldn't be ignored. Immediately, he ordered the judge to set up an altar to eliminate evil. On the altar, the judge burned incense and prayed, then held a sword, burned talismans, and issued orders to summon the divine generals. Immediately, faint thunder rumbled. In an instant, several imposing divine generals, wearing golden armor and holding divine weapons, received the decree and headed towards Yang Zhou's home.
The woman, who was accompanying Yang Zhou in the house, suddenly felt a powerful oppressive force descending. She was greatly alarmed. Knowing that a great disaster was approaching, yet still reluctant to leave Yang Zhou, she tightly grasped his sleeve with tears in her eyes. Yang Zhou didn't understand what was happening. Only when he saw the divine generals descending from the sky did he realize that his father - in - law had informed the Celestial Master. He wanted to protect the flower spirit but was suppressed by the divine power and couldn't move. The divine generals locked onto the flower spirit's aura and shouted in unison like a great bell tolling, causing the house to tremble slightly. One of the divine generals took the lead and swung the long knife in his hand. The blade light, like a stream of light, slashed towards the flower spirit. The flower spirit dodged with a flash, turning into a stream of light. A heavenly general threw out the fairy - binding rope. The rope coiled in the air like a spiritual snake and instantly bound the flower spirit tightly. The flower spirit struggled desperately, setting herself on fire to try to burn through the rope. But this fairy - binding rope was a divine artifact of the Celestial Master's Mansion and was not easily broken. Another divine general took out the demon - subduing banner. As soon as the banner was unfurled, it emitted golden light, shining on the flower spirit and making her unable to move. The flower spirit let out mournful cries, her eyes filled with despair and unwillingness. Yang Zhou was extremely anxious but helpless. As the divine generals launched their final attack, a bolt of divine thunder descended from the sky, striking the bound flower spirit directly. With a shrill scream, the flower spirit was hit by the divine thunder, and her figure gradually dissipated, finally revealing the original form of the flower and tree. Yang Zhou shouted, "Immortals, please have mercy and return the flower spirit to me!" One of the divine generals said, "You, this scholar, are so muddled." Subsequently, the divine generals took the flower and tree back to the Celestial Master's Mansion to report.
When the divine generals brought the flower spirit to the Celestial Master's Mansion, the Celestial Master used his magic to transform the flower spirit back into human form. The flower spirit wept and said, "Celestial Master, I'm wronged! Since I met Yang Zhou, I've been constantly helping the Yang family. I don't think I've done anything wrong. Please, Celestial Master, see clearly!" "Really no fault?" The Celestial Master reprimanded the flower spirit, "You were originally a spirit attached to a flower and tree, taking on human form by the grace of heaven and earth. Unexpectedly, you didn't cherish this grace. Instead of reflecting on the right path, you dared to associate with a mortal, doing things that go against the will of heaven and corrupt human ethics. Arbitrarily changing the mortal's karma is unacceptable to heaven and earth. Just now, the thunder god should have destroyed your soul and body. Considering the kindness of heaven to all living things, you were only made to reveal your original form to break Yang Zhou's delusions." After hearing this, the flower spirit was in tears, "Thank you, Celestial Master, for your mercy. Now I realize how deeply sinful I am."
The Celestial Master knew that the flower spirit was truly remorseful but still had worldly attachments. He said, "Now I demote you to a deep mountain to reflect on your mistakes. When you've achieved success in your cultivation, I will come to guide you. Do you have any complaints?" The flower spirit kowtowed repeatedly, "I will follow the decree. I will surely repent and cultivate well from now on." After the admonition, the Celestial Master ordered the divine generals to take the flower and tree and plant them in a secluded place in the deep mountains, and set up a barrier: first, to prevent the flower spirit from escaping; second, to prevent mortals from seeing her, which was also to protect her.
Back at home, Yang Zhou wept bitterly. He put all the clothes and other items that the flower spirit used to wear into a coffin and built a grave to bury them. Yang Zhou cried whether he was sitting or lying down. Others tried to comfort him, but he still cried. Eventually, his eyes went blind, and it took some treatment to recover. Later, the deer paintings Yang Zhou made were the same in appearance as before, but they lost all their charm, and he was extremely distressed about this. The flower spirit knew that the Yang family was going to have bad luck, so she taught him painting skills to make a living. One could say that the flower spirit was very kind - hearted. But did the Celestial Master easily believe others and use magic randomly? Obviously not. Yang Zhou was originally a person destined to suffer, but since he received the help of the flower spirit, he became very wealthy, which violated the law of cause and effect. The flower spirit herself had violated the will of heaven, so she was punished. After this, Yang Zhou should let go of his attachments and accept his fate. If he could use this opportunity to cultivate the truth and understand the Tao, that would truly be his good fortune!
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