Original Text
Wu Chengxiu was a native of Liaoyang, fond of socializing, and all those he associated with were renowned scholars. One night, Wu Chengxiu dreamed that someone told him: "Your friends are spread across the land, yet none have been truly chosen. Only one person can share your hardships and dangers—why do you not recognize him?" Wu Chengxiu asked, "Who is he?" The person replied, "Is Tian Qilang not the one?" Wu Chengxiu awoke, deeply perplexed. At dawn, when he met with his acquaintances, he inquired who Tian Qilang was. Someone knew Tian Qilang, saying he was a hunter from the eastern village. Wu Chengxiu respectfully visited his home, knocking on the door with his horsewhip.
Shortly thereafter, a man emerged, about twenty years old, with round, tiger-like eyes and a slender, wasp-like waist. He wore a greasy, soiled cap and a black knee-length apron patched with numerous white cloth pieces. Raising his clasped hands to his forehead, he asked Wu Chengxiu whence he came. Wu gave his name and, feigning discomfort from the journey, requested shelter for rest. He then inquired after Tian Qilang, to which the man replied, "I am he," and invited Wu inside. They entered a ramshackle hut, its walls propped up with forked branches. Within a small chamber, tiger and wolf pelts hung from the pillars, with no chairs or stools to be found. Tian spread a tiger skin on the ground for his guest to sit. As they conversed, Wu found Tian's speech simple and honest, and took great delight in him. Wu promptly offered Tian silver for his livelihood, but Tian declined. Insisting, Tian accepted and went to inform his mother. Soon, Tian returned the silver to Wu, repeatedly refusing to keep it. Wu pressed him several times, but Tian's mother, aged and frail, appeared in the chamber and said sternly, "I have but this one son, and I do not wish him to serve a noble guest like you!" Wu, abashed, withdrew. On his way home, he pondered the matter, unable to fathom its meaning. By chance, his attendant had overheard the mother's words from behind the house and recounted them: earlier, when Tian took the silver to his mother, she said, "I just saw that the gentleman's face bears ominous wrinkles, portending a calamity. I have heard that one who receives favor must share the burden, and one who accepts kindness must aid in times of need. The rich repay with gold, the poor with righteousness. Thus, an undeserved heavy gift bodes ill; I fear you may have to repay this man with your life." Hearing this, Wu deeply admired the mother's virtue and grew even more enamored of Tian Qilang.
The next day, Wu Chengxiu prepared a feast and invited Tian Qilang to attend, but Tian Qilang declined and did not come. Wu Chengxiu went to Tian Qilang's home, sat down, and immediately asked for wine. Tian Qilang personally poured wine for him and served dried venison as a refreshment, showing both affection and courtesy. After a day had passed, Wu Chengxiu returned the invitation, and only then did Tian Qilang come; their conversation was harmonious and joyful. Wu Chengxiu wished to give him silver, but Tian Qilang refused to accept it. Wu Chengxiu pretended it was for purchasing tiger skins, and only then did Tian Qilang take it. Upon returning home, Tian Qilang examined his collection of tiger skins and estimated they were not worth that amount of silver, so he planned to hunt more and then present them together to Wu Chengxiu. Unexpectedly, after three days in the mountains, he caught nothing. Moreover, his wife fell ill, and he spent his time tending to her with decoctions and medicines, neglecting the hunt. After ten days, his wife passed away, and for preparing the funeral rites and burial, the silver he had received was somewhat spent. Wu Chengxiu personally came to offer condolences and attend the burial, with great ceremonial respect. After his wife was interred, Tian Qilang shouldered his bow and crossbow and ventured deep into the wild forests, even more eager to repay Wu Chengxiu with game, but still he caught nothing. Wu Chengxiu, having learned the reasons, always urged Tian Qilang not to be anxious. He earnestly hoped Tian Qilang would find time to visit him, but Tian Qilang, troubled by his debt, remained uneasy and refused to go. So Wu Chengxiu said he first wanted the tiger skins that Tian Qilang already had at home, to hasten Tian Qilang's coming. Tian Qilang examined his existing tiger skins and found them moth-eaten, with the fur completely gone, which made him even more distressed. When Wu Chengxiu learned of this, he rode to Tian's home and earnestly comforted him. Seeing the damaged skins, Wu Chengxiu said, "These are fine as well. What I want does not depend on whether they have fur." He then rolled up the skins and prepared to leave, while inviting Tian Qilang to accompany him. Tian Qilang did not go, so Wu returned home alone. Tian Qilang, considering that these skins were ultimately insufficient to repay Wu Chengxiu, took dry provisions and went into the mountains. After several nights, he caught a tiger and presented it whole to Wu Chengxiu. Wu Chengxiu was overjoyed, prepared wine and food, and invited Tian Qilang to stay for three days. Tian Qilang firmly declined, but Wu Chengxiu locked the main gate, preventing him from leaving. Wu's guests, seeing Tian Qilang's rustic appearance, privately remarked that Wu Chengxiu was indiscriminate in his friendships. Yet Wu Chengxiu's ceremonial gestures of deference toward Tian Qilang far exceeded those toward the other guests. Wu Chengxiu wanted to change Tian Qilang's clothes for new ones, but Tian Qilang refused to accept them. While Tian Qilang was asleep, Wu Chengxiu secretly changed his clothes for him, and Tian Qilang, having no choice, accepted them. After returning home, Tian Qilang's son, following his grandmother's orders, returned the new clothes and asked for his father's old ones. Wu Chengxiu laughed and said, "Go back and tell your grandmother that the old clothes have been torn up to make shoe linings." From then on, Tian Qilang daily sent Wu Chengxiu gifts of hare and venison, but when invited, he would not come. One day, Wu Chengxiu went to visit Tian Qilang, but Tian was out hunting and had not returned. Tian's mother came out, leaned against the doorframe, and said to Wu Chengxiu through the door, "Do not entice my son anymore; it is greatly ill-intentioned!" Wu Chengxiu bowed respectfully and left Tian's home in shame.
After about half a year, a family member suddenly said, "Tian Qilang, in a dispute over a leopard, killed a man and has been taken to the authorities." Wu Chengxiu was greatly alarmed and rode swiftly to visit him, finding Tian Qilang already in chains and imprisoned. Upon seeing Wu Chengxiu, Tian Qilang said nothing but only, "From now on, I beg you to look after my aged mother." Wu Chengxiu left sorrowfully, quickly bribed the county magistrate heavily, and also used a hundred taels of silver to bribe the victim's family. After a month or so, the matter was resolved, and Tian Qilang was released and returned home. His mother sighed with emotion and said, "My son's life was given by Master Wu; it is not something this old body can cherish anymore. I only pray that Master Wu may be free from calamity all his life—that will be my son's fortune." Tian Qilang wished to go and thank Wu Chengxiu, but his mother said, "Go if you must, but when you see Master Wu, do not express gratitude. Small favors can be thanked; great favors cannot be thanked." When Tian Qilang met Wu Chengxiu, Wu comforted him with gentle words, and Tian Qilang only responded with continuous nods. The family members found Tian Qilang cold and indifferent, but Wu Chengxiu admired his honesty and sincerity and treated him even more generously. From then on, Tian Qilang often stayed at Wu Chengxiu's home for several days at a time; whatever was given to him, he accepted without further refusal and without any show of repayment.
On this day, it happened to be Wu Chengxiu's birthday, with many guests and servants, and the guest lodgings were filled to capacity for the night. Wu Chengxiu and Tian Qilang slept together in a small room, while three servants slept on straw beneath the bed. When the second watch was nearly over, the servants had all fallen asleep, but the two men were still engaged in fervent conversation. Suddenly, Tian Qilang's sword, hanging on the wall, leaped several inches from its scabbard with a clanging sound, flashing with a cold light like lightning. Startled, Wu Chengxiu quickly rose, and Tian Qilang also got up, asking, "Who is sleeping beneath the bed?" Wu Chengxiu replied, "They are all servants." Tian Qilang said, "There must be a villain among them." Wu Chengxiu asked how he could tell, and Tian Qilang answered, "This sword was bought from a foreign land; it kills instantly upon drawing blood. It has been passed down through three generations, having beheaded thousands, yet it remains as sharp as if newly honed. This sword makes a sound when it encounters a villain and leaps from its sheath, suggesting that killing may be near. You should draw close to the virtuous and distance yourself from the base, and perhaps there is still a thread of hope to escape calamity." Wu Chengxiu nodded repeatedly. Tian Qilang remained gloomy and restless, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. Wu Chengxiu said, "Good fortune and disaster are all a matter of fate; why are you so weighed down with worry?" Tian Qilang replied, "I fear nothing; if I am troubled, it is only because my aged mother still lives." Wu Chengxiu asked, "How could it suddenly come to this?" Tian Qilang said, "It is well if nothing happens." Now, the three servants sleeping beneath the bed were: one named Lin'er, a favored catamite much doted upon by his master; one a young page of twelve or thirteen, often employed by Wu Chengxiu; and one named Li Ying, the most stubborn and unruly, who would often glare at Wu Chengxiu and argue over trivial matters, frequently incurring his anger. That night, Wu Chengxiu pondered silently, suspecting that this must be the one. The next morning, he summoned Li Ying and dismissed him with kind words.
Wu Chengxiu's eldest son, Wu Shen, had married a woman of the Wang family. One day, when Wu Chengxiu was away from home, he left Lin'er to mind the house. The chrysanthemums in the study were just blooming in a splendid golden display, and Wang, thinking that since her father-in-law was out the study would surely be empty, went alone to pick the flowers. At that moment, Lin'er suddenly rushed out and began to seduce and molest her. Wang tried to flee, but Lin'er forcibly seized her and dragged her into the room. Wang wept and resisted, her face turning pale and her voice growing hoarse. Wu Shen ran into the study, and only then did Lin'er release her and escape. When Wu Chengxiu returned home and learned of this, he went in a fury to find Lin'er, but Lin'er had already vanished without a trace. After two or three days, it was discovered that Lin'er was hiding in the home of a certain Censor. This Censor was serving in the capital, having entrusted all household affairs to his younger brother. Wu Chengxiu, relying on their collegial bond, sent a letter demanding Lin'er's return, but the Censor's brother simply ignored it. Wu Chengxiu grew even more enraged and filed a lawsuit with the county magistrate. Although a warrant for arrest was issued, the constables did not execute it, and the magistrate took no action. Just as Wu Chengxiu was seething with anger and resentment, Tian Qilang happened to arrive. Wu Chengxiu said, "Your words have come true," and then told him the whole story. Tian Qilang's face turned grim and sorrowful, and without uttering a single word, he rose and left directly.
Wu Chengxiu ordered capable servants to patrol and investigate Lin'er's whereabouts. Lin'er returned home at night and was captured by the patrolling servants, who then escorted him to see Wu Chengxiu. Wu Chengxiu beat Lin'er, but Lin'er still spoke insolently against him. Wu Chengxiu's uncle, Wu Heng, was a kind and prudent elder, fearing that his nephew's rage might lead to disaster, advised him to punish Lin'er according to the law of the officials. Wu Chengxiu followed this advice and sent Lin'er to the court. However, a letter from the censor's residence arrived at the county office, and the magistrate released Lin'er, allowing the censor's steward to take him away. Lin'er grew even more reckless, spreading slanderous rumors in the crowd, claiming that his master's daughter-in-law had illicit relations with him. Wu Chengxiu was helpless against Lin'er and was furious to the point of death. He rode his horse to the censor's gate, pointing at the sky and cursing loudly. Neighbors came to mediate and console him before he returned home. After a night, a servant suddenly reported, "Lin'er has been dismembered, and his corpse was thrown in the wilderness." Wu Chengxiu was both shocked and delighted, feeling somewhat relieved. Soon after, he heard that the censor's family had accused the Wu uncle and nephew, so the two went to confront the charges. The magistrate refused to listen to any explanation and ordered Wu Heng to be beaten. Wu Chengxiu shouted loudly, "The charge of murder is false! As for insulting the official and gentry, I indeed did it; it has nothing to do with my uncle." The magistrate acted as if he had not heard. Wu Chengxiu glared angrily and tried to step forward to rescue Wu Heng, but a group of constables seized him. The constables wielding the rods were all lackeys of the censor's household, and Wu Heng, being a man of seventy or eighty years, had barely endured half the strokes before he grew faint and died. Seeing that Wu Heng was about to die, the magistrate ceased the punishment. Wu Chengxiu wailed and cursed loudly, but the magistrate still acted as if he had not heard. Wu Chengxiu then carried his uncle Wu Heng's body home, filled with grief and indignation, at a loss for what to do. He thought of seeking counsel from Tian Qilang, but Tian Qilang had not come to offer condolences even once. Wu Chengxiu mused to himself, "I treated Qilang well; why has he suddenly become like a stranger to me?" He also suspected that the one who killed Lin'er must be Tian Qilang. But then he reconsidered, "If that were the case, how could he not come to discuss it?" So he sent someone to Tian Qilang's home to inquire. Upon arrival, they found the gate locked, with no sound of anyone, and the neighbors did not know any news of Tian Qilang.
One day, the censor's younger brother was inside the county yamen's inner chambers, colluding with the magistrate. Just as morning servants arrived to deliver firewood and water, a woodcutter suddenly stepped forward, set down his load, drew a sharp blade, and charged straight at the censor's brother. The brother, panic-stricken, raised his hand to block the knife, but the blade severed his wrist in an instant; a second stroke lopped off his head. The magistrate, utterly aghast, fled in disarray. The woodcutter, still tense, cast anxious glances all around. A crowd of constables hastily bolted the yamen gates, seized clubs, and raised a great clamor, whereupon the woodcutter slit his own throat and fell dead. The throng gathered to identify him, and someone recognized the man as Tian Qilang. Once the magistrate had somewhat recovered from his shock, he emerged to inspect the scene. There lay Tian Qilang, stiff in a pool of blood, still clutching the knife. As the magistrate paused to examine him closely, the corpse suddenly sprang upright with a jerk, lopped off the magistrate's head, and then collapsed again. The yamen officials moved to arrest Tian Qilang's mother and son, but they had already fled several days prior.
Upon hearing that Tian Qilang had died, Wu Chengxiu rushed to the scene and wept bitterly, expressing the deepest grief. People all said that Wu Chengxiu had instigated Tian Qilang's actions. Wu Chengxiu spent his entire fortune to bribe those in power, thereby escaping prosecution. Tian Qilang's corpse lay abandoned in the wilderness for over thirty days, yet eagles and dogs guarded it from harm. Wu Chengxiu collected the body and gave it a lavish burial. Tian Qilang's son fled to Dengzhou to live, changing his surname to Tong. He began as a soldier and, through merit, rose to the rank of Tongzhi General. When he returned to Liaoyang, Wu Chengxiu was already over eighty years old, and he led him to visit his father's grave.
The Chronicler of the Strange remarks: One who does not lightly accept the aid of a single coin is precisely the kind of person who never forgets the kindness of a single meal. How wise was Mother Tian! As for Tian Qilang, his anger not yet spent, he sought vengeance even after death—how extraordinary and remarkable! If Jing Ke had been able to do the same, there would have been no regret for a thousand years. If such men existed, they could mend the gaps in Heaven's net; but alas, the world is dark, and men like Tian Qilang are too few. How sorrowful!
Commentary
Tian Qilang is a character the author seeks to extol; Pu Songling praises him, saying, "He would not lightly accept a single coin, precisely because he never forgets a single meal." Yet it is his aged mother who serves as his guiding spirit, and the moral maxim, "One who receives another's regard must share his burdens; one who receives another's kindness must hasten to his aid in times of trouble. The rich repay with wealth, the poor repay with righteousness," is uttered from the lips of Tian Qilang's mother. In the tale, every action of Tian Qilang follows his mother's instructions. The commentator He Yin of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio remarked that reading "Tian Qilang" is like reading "The Biographies of Assassins," a view not without merit. In terms of imagery, the story is indeed deeply influenced by the "Biographies of Assassins" in the Records of the Grand Historian; yet, comparing the two, "Tian Qilang" is after all a work of fiction. Apart from the striking romantic touch where Tian Qilang, even after death, "suddenly sprang up, severed the magistrate's head, and then fell back down," the appearance of a resolute and insightful mother who nurtured him is something the "Biographies of Assassins" lacks.
Tian Qilang, by avenging Wu Chengxiu's grievances and slaying his enemy, was undoubtedly acting with chivalrous righteousness. Pu Songling remarked: "If such a man existed, he could mend the holes in Heaven's net; yet in this vast and murky world, how we lament that there are too few Qilangs! Alas!" As long as social disparities of wealth and injustice persist, such phenomena will never vanish. However, upon closer reflection, Tian Qilang was executing private vengeance; even if Lin'er's hooliganism was heinous, his crime did not warrant being "dismembered and cast aside." More importantly, the relationship between Tian Qilang and Wu Chengxiu had essentially devolved into that of a wealthy master and a hired thug willing to sacrifice his life. Tian Qilang's mother, with profound insight, warned Wu Chengxiu: "Do not lure my son again, for your intentions are far from kind."