In the county lived a man named Wang, the seventh son of a wealthy family. From a young age, he was fond of the Taoist way. Hearing that Mount Laoshan was home to many immortals, he took up his book bag and traveled there to visit. Climbing to one peak, he found a temple, extremely secluded. A Taoist priest sat on a rush cushion, his white hair falling to his collar, his spirit bright and vigorous. Wang knocked and spoke with him. The priest's reasoning was profound and mysterious, so Wang asked to be his disciple. The priest said, 'I fear you are spoiled and lazy, unable to endure hardship.' Wang replied, 'I can.' The priest had many disciples. At dusk, they all gathered, and Wang joined them in bowing to the master. He was then kept in the temple.
At dawn, the priest called Wang away, gave him an axe, and ordered him to follow the others in gathering firewood. Wang carefully accepted the instruction. After more than a month, his hands and feet were covered in thick calluses, and he could not bear the hardship, secretly wishing to go home. One night, returning, he saw two guests drinking with the master. It was already late, yet there were no lamps or candles. The master cut paper into the shape of a mirror and stuck it on the wall. In a moment, the moonlight shone brightly on the wall, illuminating every detail. The disciples gathered around and hurried to attend them. One guest said, 'A fine night and excellent entertainment; we cannot enjoy it alone.' He took a pot of wine from the table and distributed it to the disciples, instructing them to drink until drunk. Wang thought to himself, 'With seven or eight people, how can one pot of wine be enough for everyone?' So they each found bowls and cups, competing to drink first, fearing the pot would empty. Yet as they poured back and forth, the wine never decreased. Wang was amazed.
Soon, one guest said, 'We are blessed with the moon's light, yet we drink in silence. Why not call Chang'e to join us?' He threw a chopstick into the moon. A beautiful woman emerged from the light. At first, she was not even a foot tall, but upon reaching the ground, she became human-sized. With a slender waist and graceful neck, she danced in the style of the Rainbow Robe. Then she sang: 'Immortal, immortal, shall I return? Shall I be secluded in the Palace of Vast Cold on the moon?' Her voice was clear and piercing, like a flute. When the song ended, she spun and rose, leaping onto the table. In a moment of surprise, she had become a chopstick again. The three men laughed heartily. Another guest said, 'Tonight is the most joyful, but I cannot bear the wine's strength. Shall we bid farewell in the Moon Palace?' The three moved their seats and gradually entered the moon. The crowd watched them sitting in the moon, drinking, their beards and eyebrows clearly visible, like shadows in a mirror. After a while, the moon grew dim. The disciples lit candles and came in. The priest sat alone, and the guests were gone. The food and fruit pits remained on the table, and the moon on the wall was just a round piece of paper, like a mirror. The priest asked the crowd, 'Have you drunk enough?' They said, 'Yes.' 'If you are satisfied, you should sleep early and not miss the firewood gathering.' They agreed and withdrew.
Wang secretly admired this, and his thoughts of returning home ceased. Another month passed, but the hardship was unbearable, and the priest did not teach him a single technique. Unable to bear it any longer, he said, 'I have come hundreds of miles to study under an immortal master. Even if I cannot gain the art of immortality, if I could learn even a little, it would comfort my desire for teaching. Now, after two or three months, I have only chopped wood in the morning and returned in the evening. At home, I have not known this hardship.' The priest smiled and said, 'I told you you could not endure hardship, and now it is true. Tomorrow morning, I will send you on your way.'
Wang said, 'I have worked for many days. If the master would teach me a small skill, this trip would not be in vain.' The priest asked what art he sought. Wang said, 'I often see the master pass through walls and barriers. If I could learn this method, that would be enough.' The priest smiled and agreed. He taught him the incantation, letting him recite it. Then he called, 'Enter!' Wang faced the wall but did not dare to enter. The priest said again, 'Try to enter.' Wang calmly walked in, but was blocked by the wall. The priest said, 'Bow your head and rush in; do not hesitate.' Wang stepped back a few paces from the wall and ran into it. Upon reaching the wall, it was empty as if nothing were there. Looking back, he was indeed outside the wall. Overjoyed, he entered to thank the priest. The priest said, 'When you return, you must keep yourself pure, or it will not work.' He then gave him travel expenses and sent him home.
Upon arriving home, Wang boasted of meeting an immortal and that even solid walls could not stop him. His wife did not believe him. Wang imitated the action, running a few feet from the wall and dashing in. His head hit the hard wall, and he fell down suddenly. His wife helped him up and looked at him; his forehead was swollen like a giant egg. His wife teased him. Wang, ashamed and angry, cursed the old Taoist for being unkind.
