Original Text
Xu Yuangong of Changshan County was a scholar of the Ming dynasty. After the dynastic change, he abandoned his studies for the imperial examinations and turned to seeking the Way of Daoism, gradually learning the arts of drawing talismans and exorcising spirits, so that his fame spread far and wide. A certain high official in another county prepared gifts and sent a sincere letter, dispatching a servant with a horse to invite him. Xu Yuangong asked, "What does he want me for?" The servant pleaded ignorance, saying only, "He instructed me to beg you to condescend to visit him." Xu Yuangong then set out on the journey.
Upon arriving at the host's residence, he saw a banquet laid out in the center of the hall. The host received him with great courtesy and respect, yet never revealed the reason for inviting him. Unable to contain his curiosity, Xu Yuangong asked, "What exactly do you wish me to do? Please dispel my doubts." The host, however, claimed there was no particular purpose, merely urging him to drink, speaking in evasive and puzzling terms. As they conversed, dusk fell unnoticed, and the host invited Xu to continue drinking in the garden. The garden was beautifully laid out, but the bamboo groves were tangled and disorderly, tall trees blocked the sunlight, and the scenery was gloomy, with clusters of wild flowers mostly hidden among the weeds. They arrived before a small tower, whose roof planks were covered with crisscrossing spider webs, large and small, above and below, beyond count. After several rounds of wine, darkness descended, and the host ordered candles lit to continue drinking. Xu declined, saying he had drunk enough, so the host had the feast cleared and tea served. The servants hastily removed the dishes and utensils, placing them on a small table in a room to the left of the tower. Before half the tea was finished, the host excused himself and left, and a servant, holding a candle, led Xu to the room on the left of the tower for the night. They set the candle on the desk and hurriedly withdrew, showing scant courtesy. Xu guessed they might be fetching bedding to keep him company, but after a long time, no one appeared, so he rose, closed the door, and prepared to sleep. The bright moonlight outside the window streamed into the room, scattering across the bed, while night birds and autumn insects chirped and buzzed together. Xu's heart filled with fear, and he could not fall asleep.
After a short while, a thumping sound like the stamping of feet came from the partition board, heavy and loud. Then the sound descended the ladder and approached the door. Xu Yuangong was terrified, his hair standing on end, and he hastily covered his head with the quilt. Suddenly, the door crashed open, swinging wide. Peeking through a corner of the quilt, he saw a creature with the face of a beast and the body of a man, covered in deep black hair like a horse's mane, with two rows of sharp, peak-like teeth in its mouth and eyes that blazed like torches of fire. Soon, the creature lowered its head to lick the leftover food on the plates, and wherever its tongue passed, several plates were left as clean as if washed. Then it approached the bed and sniffed at Xu Yuangong's quilt. Xu suddenly rose, flipped the quilt over the creature's head, pressed it down tightly, and shouted loudly. The creature, taken by surprise, struggled free in panic, opened the door, and dashed out. Xu also threw on his clothes and fled, but the garden gate was locked from the outside, so he could not escape. He ran along the wall, found a low section, and climbed over, landing in the master's stable. The groom was greatly startled, and Xu told him the whole story, then begged to stay there for the night.
As dawn was about to break, the master sent someone to check on Xu Yuangong, but finding him nowhere to be seen, they were greatly alarmed. Later, Xu was discovered in the stable. Emerging from the stable, he said with extreme indignation, "I am not accustomed to exorcising demons and monsters. You called upon me to drive away the fiend, yet kept the matter secret. In my bundle, I carried a Ruyi Hook, but you did not bring it to my quarters. Was it your intention to bring about my death?" The master apologized, saying, "I originally planned to tell you, but feared it would cause you distress. Moreover, I was unaware that your bundle contained a Ruyi Hook. I earnestly beg your forgiveness for my grave offense." Xu Yuangong remained disgruntled, requested a horse, and rode away. From that day forth, the monster vanished without a trace. Whenever the master held a banquet in the garden, he would always say to his guests with a smile, "I cannot forget the merits of Scholar Xu."
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: "It matters not whether the cat be yellow or black; the one that catches the mouse is a good cat." This is no empty saying. Had Xu Yuangong, after turning over the quilt to cover the monster and crying out loudly, concealed his own terror and openly declared that the creature's flight was due to his own display of prowess, the world would surely have proclaimed him a divine man beyond all reach.
Commentary
Xu Yuangong was a scholar of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties who harbored strong loyalist sentiments. This tale recounts his perilous yet fortunate experience in exorcising a demon, praising his quick-witted resourcefulness and honest, straightforward character, while condemning the vulgar mercenary demeanor of a certain high-ranking official.
Although the strange creature exorcised by Xu Yuangong remained unknown in its true form, Pu Songling rendered it with vivid and lifelike detail. In describing its appearance, he employed both explicit and implicit metaphors, crafting a unique image; in depicting its actions, he focused solely on its swift licking and devouring, showcasing his astonishing imagination. Particularly striking was the sudden encounter between Xu Yuangong and the monster, where both were terrified—Xu Yuangong "covered the monster's head with his overturned cloak," and each fled in panic. Though described in just a few words, the writing cut through the paper with force, like urgent strings and rapid beats, capturing the tension and peril of the moment! The subsequent dialogue between Xu Yuangong and the eminent gentleman—one speaking with urgent indignation, the other with slow, measured ease—adjusted the narrative rhythm of the entire tale.