Scorching-Fire Lesser Yaoguais
Description
Legend has it that during the reign of the Yellow Emperor, an official of pottery named Ningfengzi learned the art of fire with five-colored fumes from immortals, and tried to ascend by roasting himself over the flames. Some say he achieved ascension; others claim he burned himself to death; no one knows the truth. The tale we have here is recounted by a runaway disciple from the Fumefire Temple in the Kingdom of Sacrifice, a place rooted in the art of the five-colored fumefire.
The master of the disciple served as the abbot of the temple. One day, the disciple accompanied his master for some liquor in town and they came across a fugitive being pursued by officers. As the temple was short on help, and the fugitive was a wealthy one, they offered him shelter. This man, Zhao San, was a mere wastrel who lured patrons of brothels into extravagant spending. The temple was already home to various robbers and bandits, and it proved to be a corrupting influence on Zhao San. In the company of fellow criminals every day, he soon became ten times more villainous than before.
One day, Zhao San set off to rob travelers to fund his own lavish lifestyle. He targeted a wealthy family returning from their monthly worship, and in an act driven by greed and lust, he abducted the family’s concubine, Meiniang.
Imprisoned within the temple walls, Meiniang endured daily chores and beatings. Despite her deep resentment towards Zhao San, she was powerless against his violence. She could only grit her teeth and bide her time, hoping for an escape.
Years later, a ceremony for ascension was announced in the temple. The disciple who tells this story was tasked with escorting Meiniang to the event, held atop a high cliff overlooking a river of lava. Zhao San had already prepared to leap into the fire for ascension with a talisman from his master. He insisted Meiniang accompany him. Amidst the frenzied cheers of the followers and the terrified cries of Meiniang, the disciple pushed the girl off the cliff as ordered.
Charred in the river of lava, their bodies swelled grotesquely as the lava, guided by the talisman, seeped into their skulls. Their distorted new forms staggered up, writhing in agony, and ran towards the depths of the black mountains. Witnessing this horrifying transformation, the disciple renounced his belief in the temple’s teachings, no matter how vehemently the master rationalized it as a transcendent metamorphosis.
Poetry
Ignorance ignites a fool’s fire,
Daily anguish in a somber mire.
Enduring a life of ceaseless pain,
They yearn for death, not celestial gain.
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