STORY OF DARKNESS (BY BOST, 2025)

Many cultures have a creation myth; it so happens that Chinese culture has incorporated the dragons in their creation myths.

How wonderful is that?

01- LONGZE READS THE CREATION  STORY OF DARKNESS

A Brief History:

The Book “Epic of Darkness”, compiled in primeval China, is a collection of folklore and legend relayed in epic poetry. Preserved by the inhabitants of the Shennongjia mountain area in Hubei Province, it includes accounts from the birth of Pangu till the historical era.

In August 1982 an old local farmer submitted a rare songbook to Hu Chongjun. The booklet (leaflet), written in brush and ink with about 3,000 lines of seven Chinese characters each, was split into four sections. These sections were: a) The beginnings of the Universe; b) The Birth of Pangu; c) The Great Flood; d) The birth of mankind up until the beginnings of the Three Sovereigns and The Five Emperors. Believing “The Epic of Darkness” to be finest written representation of the oral Han creation myth, Hu went on to study and compile more manuscripts as well as the oral accounts from the elderly living in Shennongjia. It took him 9 years to eventually finish the documentation. Hu had to sort through more than 30, 000 lines of collected manuscript to compile a 5,500-line summary.

 

Here’s a brief retelling (with some liberties taken) of the Han Chinese creation myth:

In the beginning of time, all that was manifest was a cloud of gas, chaos and darkness. A Deity called Jiang Ku, after expending vast effort, created the first drop of water. Another God, Lang Da Zi, swallowed that drop of water and expired. Immediately his body was split into the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. From these elements Pan Gu came into being.

02- PAN GU

The Legend of Pan Gu:

In the primeval Universe there was nothing but a vast formless chaos which, after 18,000 years, merged to form a giant cosmic egg. Inside the egg, the perfectly opposed principles of Yin and Yang eventually balanced, and Pan Gu formed as a primitive, horned, hairy giant, clad in furs. As soon as he emerged from the egg Pan Gu set about the task of creating the world. With a swing of his giant axe, he separated the Yin from the Yang and created the Earth (murky Yin) and the Sky (clear Yang). In order to maintain this separation, Pan Gu stood between them and pushed up the Sky. This task took another 18,000 years; as each day the sky grew ten feet (three meters) higher, the Earth ten feet wider and Pan Gu ten feet taller.

03 - THE CREATION

Pan Gu was aided in this task by the four most prominent beasts: the Turtle, the Qilin, the Phoenix, and of course, the Dragon. After the 18,000 years it took to separate earth and sky Pan Gu passed away. His breath then became the wind; his voice became thunder, his left eye transformed into Sun, his right eye transformed into the Moon and his facial hair turned into brilliant stars and the Milky Way.

His body, his four limbs turned into the mountains and other of the extremities that marked the four corners of the world. (This account bears a strange similarity to Norse myth of the Giant Ymir, and also of the Babylonian tale of Tiamat.) His fur turned into bushes and forests; his blood formed the rivers; his muscles turned into fertile lands; his teeth and nails became metals; his bones became rocks and valuable minerals while his bone marrow transformed into sacred diamonds. Mankind was yet to be created at this point. His sweat fell as rain and the fleas on his fur carried by the wind became the fish and animals throughout the land.

From the five elements and animals were born demons and gods who fought each other until a great flood overcame the land. From this great flood, emerged two mighty dragons, one black and one yellow, which fought a mighty battle.

04- BLACK AND YELLOW DRAGON FIGHT

A goddess, the Sacred Mother Wu Tien, helped the yellow dragon defeat the black dragon. In gratitude, the yellow dragon laid three eggs which the Sacred Mother swallowed and gave birth to three gods: Heaven, Earth and Hell.

Later still, five dragons emerged from the flood, and they discovered a gourd across the Eastern Sea. Wu Tien opened the Gourd and found two humans within. Fuxi and Nuwa, who were ordered by Wu Tien to copulate and thus the human race came into being after the flood waters receded.

05- THE GOURD

In a different version it states: A brother and sister became the only survivors of the prehistoric Deluge by crouching in a gourd that floated on water. The two got married afterwards, and a mass of flesh in shape of a whetstone was born. They chopped it and the pieces turned into large crowds of people, who began to reproduce again. The couple were named “Pan” and “Gou” in the Zhuang ethnic language which stands for whetstone and gourd respectively.

In another version:  Nuwa, the Goddess, supposedly had used the mud of the waterbed to form the shape of humans. These humans were very smart since they were individually crafted. Nuwa then became bored of individually making every human, so she started putting a rope in the waterbed and letting the drops of mud that fell from it become new humans. These small drops became new humans, not as smart at the first.

06 CREATION OF NEW HUMANS

Another interesting note:

When the earth had thus been shaped from the body of Pan Gu, ostensibly the three great rivers formed from his blood, then successively governed the world: as first the celestial, then the terrestrial, and finally the human sovereign.

They were followed by Yung-Ch’eng and Sui-Jen (fireman) who brought the fire down from heaven and taught man its various uses. The Prometheus myth, which by the way is not indigenous to Greece but also known in Mesopotamia and India, is another expression of this theme. There is a slight possibility therefore that the figure Sui-Jen has been derived from the same archetype as the Greek Prometheus.

 

Fin 

LONGZE RECOMPENSE DOOMED LOVERS (AN ORIGINAL STORY BY BOST, 2025)

 

LONGZE RECOMPENSE DOOMED LOVERS

 (AN ORIGINAL STORY BY BOST, 2025)

 

Long ago in ancient times, there lived a very ealthy merchant named Kenzo, who was frugal, hardhearted and ambitious. He had a beautiful daughter named Beatrice, with long, cascading, golden blond hair and eyes with the color of brilliant blue skies.  Her happy and contented life, unfortunately, had ended abruptly, when her birth mother had passed away quite suddenly from a mysterious affliction, when Beatrice was only nine years old. Her father had remarried soon after to a wealthy shrew widow Tuziko, with a sizeable dowry, and a lifelong stipend (income) of thousand cash per year.

01-TUZIKO

Tuziko, also had from her previous husband, two facetious (flippant), ordinary looking daughters, Seson and Flaret. They were three and five years older than Beatrice; always pampered (cossetted, indulged) by their mother, they constantly berated poor Beatrice at every chance they got.  Beatrice was barely tolerated by her malicious stepmother that never missed a chance to criticize, demean, complain and, often in secret perpetually torment her stepdaughter Beatrice, whom she saw as nothing more than a worthless bother.

 Left mostly alone, Beatrice often ventured far into the woods, to pick wildflowers but sometimes walked along the remote strip of pebbled sandy shores of the mighty Lake Taho. Once she’d come across a distraught little white snake trapped in a jagged hole, a trapper’s contraption from the looks of it, suffering presumably for several days. Beatrice knew that when the trapper returned, little helpless creature would be instantly claimed, then sold to a local eatery, that specialized in water snake soup. She observed the poor thing, still trying to breakout, but failing at each attempt to extricate his slender body, out of this clever contraption. Beatrice’s heart ached seeing his wretched, weakened state, for he looked to be so miserable and weak and would perish before long. Beatrice summoning her courage, for she actually feared snakes despite size, as all through her life she’d heard of terrible accounts, hair-raising stories about sea serpents, and reached out to gently release the poor thing out of this deadly trap. She had always saved then ministered help to any found injured (hurt, maimed) creatures, regardless of potential danger to herself, and she knew she could nurture him more aptly back in her room; so without delay, she wrapped the little white snake in a cloth, took it home and secretly for many days cared and gingerly tended to his injuries. To her surprise, when she found that he preferred human food, she began concealing bit portions of her meagre meals, to indulge him later on at night.  When the creature looked to be semi-recovered, she took it back to the shoreline and set it free. She with melancholy eyes watched the little white snake slither away from the cloth and slide into the water, to disappear quickly under the gently undulating (rolling) waves of the deep lake Taho.

“I shall miss you, Precious Wan!” She somberly whimpered using the name she had given him, for even in that short a time, she had grown quite accustomed to the little snake’s presence, moreover, overcoming her fear, had actually grown quite fond of him.  Tears glistening (brimming) in her eyes, she had then turned and walked away, resisting looking back, therefore, missing the fact the little white snake (Precious Wan) had just then jutted his head out of the water to watch her retrace her steps back to her home. That night returning to her lonely, sparsely furnished, drab room, she had read a little then went to sleep; in her troubled slumber she had dreamt of Precious Wan (wan meaning white) who’d glowed in strange, luminous light and instantly transformed into a human form, a most attractive, handsome young boy. She heard him speak, using strange vernacular (dialect, lingo), caught the name Longze and something urgent, something she could not rightly understand.

He then bashfully smiled, a smile transforming his already handsome features into something more exquisite that simply took her breath, and as she stood frozen, transfixed in wonder (admiration) of him, he hesitantly drew near and reverently planted a tender kiss, that tickled and excited her senses, on her left cheek. Upon waking she blushed, and her fingers reflexively (automatically, instinctively) reached out and touched the spot on her cheek, remembering the shy, tender kiss of his lips that had so delighted her. Subsequent days and weeks had quickly passed without any variance; and on those occasions when she took respite from her onerous chores to catch her breath, she often found herself thinking of Precious Wan.

Years passed quickly and by now she had grown into her mid teens. By then things had gotten worse at home, aside from neglect and barrage of open hostility, now that they were more grown up and Beatrice who was gentle and kind, possessed brilliance of mind, had a (curvy) shapely body and in face was stunningly  beautiful (gorgeous)- consequently, a strong, unequivocal jealousy had taken root in the black hearts of her step-mother and step-sisters.

At every important function, or party, meanwhile, Beatrice despite her plain attire, always drew unwarranted attention, outshining and without fail always steeling the limelight from the other elder siblings, who were instead clad in fancy brocades and were bedecked in jewels. Eligible young men always buzzed around Beatrice like bees drawn to a rare flower; choosing her company instead of her insufferable (obnoxious), not at all good looking, gussied up (decked out), haughty (snooty, condescending) stepsisters. Thinking Seson and Flaret were perfect, Tuziko blamed her stepdaughter for this typical rejection however, and to remedy this perceived inacceptable wrong, Beatrice was punished from then on by being excluded from every function and her bedding and stuff was relocated, for her to reside in one of the back rooms, near the servants’ quarters. There, mostly sequestered (quarantined) indoors, Beatrice was essentially rendered invisible.

05- MERCHANT KENZO

Kenzo did not object to this, being always too pre-occupied to bother with family affairs, he had left the entire business of proper upbringing of their teen children, as well, the running of the household to his competent wife, and concentrated his efforts instead, more on myriad business ventures and amassing abundant wealth.

The opulent, insatiable (greedy) merchant Kenzo, one day came to procure in his employ as his secretary, a seemingly ordinary youth, a taciturn (reticent, reserved, aloof) scholar who was actually a brilliant inventor and most capable, studious academic, named Nevets. He had come to them on a tumultuous, windswept day looking for employment and though he had no valid credentials, qualifying (measuring up) in the interview and satisfactorily passing Kenzo’s strict scrutiny, Nevets had been quickly hired then set to resolve most arduous (taxing, challenging) trade (commerce, marketing) matters.

06-NEVETS-

On his third day of employment, while Nevets was diligently attending to his master’s accounts, a chance encounter with the beautiful maiden Beatrice caused an unusual, intense stirring sensation in his chest. As he was handsome and seemed both sensitive and had dignified decorum, she was also quite taken with him. Both being pure and utterly innocent, they set these strange feelings, never before experienced, aside. Two days later, on their second coincidental encounter, however, when within that isolated setting (spot) they had the occasion to converse a little, furthermore, when their hand accidentally brushed sending lightening jolts in both, the spark that had previously ignited in in their heart and mind, the irresistible draw, then became undeniable and not easily ignored. Subsequently, they had sought each other’s company and after a week of covert, vernacular exchange of hopes and ideas, finding they had much in common- though they would never outwardly admit it- their friendship had blossomed into something much more: perhaps a deeper fondness, then unequivocally intense adoration, infatuation or, love!

Then came the time, when Kenzo, Teziko, Seson and Flaret planned to be away most of the night, attending an elaborate function at the Governor’s mansion (having purposely left out Beatrice),  for the Governor’s only son Lukon was actually seeking to find his future mate among the most eligible daughters of key prominent families, in that region (district, area).

As consequence, all day long a hectic preparation had ensued, turning everything upside down and engaging (having) all the servants franticly rushing to and for- tending and trying to fulfill Teziko, Seson and Flaret’s every inordinate (unreasonable) needs. Finally, just before dusk, they were finally all readied for the big function; they stood before tall mirrors admiring their image, all decked out in fineries, excessively encrusted with glittering jewels, from head to toe. Next, they all, Kenzo, Teziko, Seson and Flaret, climbed into the rich carriage of the state, reserved for such occasions, and took up their respective seats.

Beatrice impassively watched from the window of her room, the crested carriage driven by a pair of grooms, hauled by four magnificent horses, now leaving the iron gate. She took in a deep breath and shrugged, then quickly fetched her shawl and quietly went out of her room. Most of the servants, panting heavily, had collapsed into chairs out of sheer exhaustion, so none noticed, or paid any particular heed to her stealth advance through the hallways. Her steps quickly led her out the back door and to the rendezvous point in the woods, where at dusk she would meet Nevets clandestinely.  

He was already there, impatiently waiting for her. When he turned and saw her, looking so radiantly beautiful, his breath caught and he remained speechless for a time. After only an awkward momentary hesitation, however, they rushed into each other’s embrace and then, for the first time ever, kissed; the kiss was tentative and gentle at first, but then it grew more intense and with deep sense of urgency. Eventually, when Nevets and Beatrice drew apart, their breath then steadied and seated comfortably underneath the canopy of the ancient tree, they then gazing into each other’s eyes, professed their love for each other. Nevets, furthermore, raptly and earnestly uttered his wow of fidelity to Beatrice.

Later still, Nevets rising to his feet and looking up, watched for a time the gently swaying branches and then, he softly uttered his apology to the ancient tree for what he was about to do. Next, he withdrew a small penknife from his pocket, and with some difficulty but persevering, he carved their initials onto the trunk, to permanently venerate (commemorate), this moment where which they had declared, eternal love for each other.  

Such is the capriciousness of fate, for this clandestine meeting and the breach of conduct, the kiss, had been quietly observed by a disgruntled servant and was relayed soon after, the subsequent day, in fervent (ardent), full detail to master Kenzo. A jealous manservant (butler) who’d always stealthily coveted Beatrice’s affections but never had succeeded despite all his attempts to woo her, was the very culprit who had sought to destroy her bliss, and, to have his reckoning (vengeance, retribution) day.

If he could not have her; then none should have her, not certainly this upstart scholar!  

Kenzo, highly incensed, had rushed at once to confront the scholar Nevets; finding him and ignoring Nevets’ words, moreover, uttering threats with murder registering in his pupils Kenzo dismissed Nevets on the spot and banished him from the state. Kenzo, while had ashamedly in all that time utilized the scholar’s ability and benefited greatly, still was prejudiced against all academicians and furthermore, regarded them all as idealistic fools; they were deemed hence, a most unworthy candidate to be his son-in-law. Besides which, he had more profitable avenues for dispensing his property, which he saw his daughter as one.  In an angry reprimand Kenzo next had unleashed his fury on his daughter; when his voice became coarse from all that bellowing (yelling) and uttered threats, he gave orders to have her virtually imprisoned within the confines of her room and all her activities from then on to be continually monitored by the two guards selected from his squadron (unit) of  twenty armed guards- which he retained for the standard security of the State.

Beatrice spent the subsequent days engulfed in a miasma of hopelessness and anger; and, often in utter frustration she shed copious tears. 

While Beatrice withered away in her room, Kenzo and his wife Teziko, meanwhile, had already directed their attention to a much more important matter. There was much to do, bribes to be considered, palms to be greased, gifts to be allocated to key members of Governor’s family, for Seson had won the jackpot, so to speak. She was among the final five finalists, that were being consider for matrimony to the Governor’s son Lukon.

08- LUKON

Subsequent weeks, within that chaotic atmosphere, few paid any heed to Beatrice, and so the severe restrictions were gradually eased, and she was permitted now the infrequent leisurely walks in the gardens or by the water’s edge. The love-struck Beatrice, however, could not forget the handsome Nevets she’d fallen in love with, and, with longing heart, her thoughts often reverted to the happier times they both had shared. Sometimes she would sit beneath the ancient tree that had once been a place of joy and quietly weep.  Months went by but Beatrice still longed to see her handsome, young Nevets. In the interim, Kenzo and Teziko succeeded in their aim and with all the pomp and ceremony, happily married their daughter Seson to the governor’s son Lukon.

Kenzo and Teziko’s attention next was directed on their other most promising daughter Flaret and ensuing months they preened her and paraded Flaret like a peacock at subsequent, numerous functions (occasions, parties) to, as well find a suitable match for her and to have her settled down most profitably, to another opulent candidate.  This warranted more funds to aptly fill the coffers (that had been seriously depleted because of Seson), in anticipation of Flaret’s future nuptial expenditures.

Beatrice, meanwhile, out of sight and mind, albeit temporarily, was virtually forgotten. She spent many solitary walks into the woods and along the shoreline of the lake Taho. Sometimes she would wistfully look at the lake and wonder how the white little snake “Precious Wan”, which of course was now grown up, had all this while fared.

Then one day her eyes caught sight of a shell fitted with sails containing a poem, and a bead which Beatrice had given to Nevets. It had floated to the water’s edge.  Beatrice’s heart jumped for joy as hope sprung anew, for she grasped (realized) from this find, that her lover had not forsaken her.

Her elation was short lived, and joy turned to consternation, however, when that evening she was summoned by her father’s study and curtly informed of her (planned) upcoming betrothal to the Duke Takin, a very powerful, warrior Duke that resided at (far off) border province Keanfu.

DUKE TAKIN

Worse still, the Duke Takin was twenty-five years her senior and was renowned for his malice. Her heart sank in despair when it was announced to her that her future husband would be arriving in a few days time, bearing gifts of rare items and jewels to consolidate (solidify) the deal. The wedding was expected to take place soon after, for the duke had acquired a new land in adjacent territory and was anxious to develop it; meanwhile, he would be taking along for the ride, his new bride.  As it were, duke Takin did not care about the matrimonial event as he’d gone through it five times prior already, this being his sixth time, not by any means the last.  Kenzo, on the other hand urgently needed the funds to meet the anticipated expenditures, for the befittingly ostentatious, upcoming nuptial ceremonies planned for Flaret.

Then came the dreaded day when the duke Takin arrived by boat with extravagant, ostentatious (flamboyant, grandiose) display of his wealth, bearing chests of rare items and, one small box of rare, priceless jewels, as gifts, to lay claim to his (contrastingly lowly in stature) young, compliant, beautiful, intended (planned) bride to be.

On the eve of Beatrice’s anticipated wedding to the duke, when at a feast given in his honor, all grew sleepy from the continually replenished celebratory wine in their cups, Nevets, disguised as a servant, had slipped into the main hall, unnoticed. Nevets abided (stood) in the shadows till small hours and when Kenzo, the Duke and quests all became totally inebriated, the disguised Nevets, then easily passed through to the interior garden. 

Earlier, Nevets had sent a message to Beatrice via her trusted, personal maid, in order to arrange a clandestine meeting by the small fountain.  Beatrice therefore had also fled through the hushed rooms, carrying the casket of jewels. Now in the inner gardens, as Nevets drew near, he saw his beautiful Beatrice sitting by the fountain.  His heart thumping wildly, he at once rushed to embrace her; they were so much in love that no words needed to be spoken out loud. They would brave all dangers, not wanting to face the future apart. They would elope and get married or die trying. 

Her father Kenzo, the Duke, and the invited guests even some of the servants and guards had consumed so much wine that the couple almost made it through to safety. But unfortunately, just as they had reached the outer gate, her father Kenzo, prior seeking fresh air to clear his head, already there, about to relive himself (urinate, wee), therefore, spotting and recognizing his daughter and Nevets despite their disguises, shouted his alarm, causing the loving couple to be vehemently chased over the land and then on the lake.  

It took the lovers, nevertheless, a harrowing effort and sheer luck, to make good their escape.  Nevets and Beatrice having raced across the bridge to an awaiting boat had sailed away, though still fervidly (ardently, vigorously) pursued; fortunately, just then a thick miasma (fog, haze) had suddenly manifested over the shoreline and the vast lake and therefore, aided them to eventually outrun the duke’s ship.

The duke Takin was outraged by this turn of events and after uttering threats, he demanded satisfaction from merchant Kenzo for his failing in his inadequate discipline of Beatrice and the disdainful security of his state that had allowed this disgrace (humiliation) to transpire. Kenzo was beside himself with fear and worry; in the end, he tried to pacify duke Takin, and going against the wishes of his wife Teziko, he proposed a resolution where which he would bestow his other more precious daughter Flaret’s hand in marriage to him, in Beatrice’s stead (lieu).

10 A - FLARET

The duke appeared hesitant at first, but in the end, not wishing to leave empty handed, he conceded to this replacement.

Nevets and Beatrice, meanwhile, had eventually reached a far-off small island and took refuge there; the retired official Marko whose island this was, loathed (hated, detested) the duke and ceasing this chance of retribution (revenge, payback), he eagerly welcomed the lovers into his home. He was willing to harbour the refugees for however long it was necessary, or at least, until the danger had abated. After a private ceremony with Marko’s blessings, the lovers officially became husband and wife.   For a period Nevets and Beatrice lived happily with Nevets earning his keep as the new tutor to Marko's only son who was about twelve years in age.  When the Duke Takin discovered their whereabouts however, Nevets and Beatrice, not wishing to bring least harm to Marko’s family, secretly took flight once again. Properly disguised, they secured a passage in a merchant ship that was about to depart. After an arduous, long trip, they disembarked (went ashore, arrived in port) at a remote small island, sparsely populated with a three separate indigenous (ethnic, local) group, totalling less then two hundred, that lived in separate shacks (huts, cabins) within three villages, located at walking distance from each other, on the island.   They were agrarian (farming) communities, with strange vernacular and alien customs, each village had a chieftain and a small group of elders that kept order, but more importantly, they kept to themselves.  Remoteness of the island, furthermore, afforded Nevets and Beatrice the anonymity and security they’d sought. Selling the reminder of the jewels, they purchased a small portion of land on the island, away from any settlement, alongside a creek, and then built a lovely pavilion on it. Nevets tilled the surrounding fields until it blossomed with every kind of fruit and vegetable. So successful were his agricultural ventures, Nevets wrote a book about how to cultivate the land and published it under an assumed name. Over time Nevets became renowned for his brilliant work and this, unfortunately, came to the attention of the vindictive Duke Takin.  Guessing who the author was and still hungry for vengeance, he immediately dispatched armed guards to the island to capture and kill the lovers.

Duke Takin's soldiers came upon Nevets as he was working his fields and slew him.

10- PICKNICKING IN THE FIELDS

Beatrice, was carrying his lunch (midday-meal)  in a covered basket, as they often picnicked in the fields; when she stumbled instead upon his corpse, determined to be with Nevets in death as she had been in life, she retrieved the knife from her basket that would have been used for slicing the bread, and plunged it deep into her heart.  Thus, they both perished.

The small white snake, “Precious Wan”, who was in fact The Dragon Longze, a long time ago had violated a sacred Law of Heaven and was duly punished for half a century by being stripped of some of his powers. Longze, in that period was reincarnated as mortal in various forms.  He had, nevertheless, persevered through these ruthless, evil ordeals and torments, endured myriad trials and tribulations, felt most anguished pain, experienced innumerable deep loss and lived though unbearable sorrows. He had with stoicism (fortitude, grit) survived all these and, just at the cusp (brink, end) of his sentence, on that terrible afternoon in the form of a little white snake he had yet again faced, imminent, ignoble end. Fortunately for him, however, he was rescued by Beatrice and since then, in addition to his eternal gratitude, he had carried a special fondness for this rare, compassionate mortal being.

Once his punishment had ended and his immortal state restored, he had since then quietly dwelled (resided) at the bottom of the lake Taho. Nevertheless, having never forgotten her kindness and the debt of gratitude he owed her, he had from time to time, through his magic mirror, keenly observed his once benefactor Beatrice, watching her grow up and turn into an enchanting beauty. Unfortunately, her fated life being precarious (turbulent) and grave, he’d with sadness overwhelming him, observed her unjust suffering and many misfortunes. He’d naturally wished to appeal her case in Heavenly court, but was deterred from his aim each time by  the caring, friendly  Gods and immortals- for he was actually well liked, despite his rebel nature or perhaps because of it-  who’d reminded him of  Supreme God’s stringent (inflexible, rigid) stand when it came to Celestial (Cosmic) Laws and the non-interference clause (article, law) pertaining to the destiny of myriad mortal beings.

11- DRAGON LONGZE WATCHES

Once, however, observing the lover’s desperate flight, he’d dared to act recklessly, and assisted their escape from the clutches of death, by manifesting the miasma; it was a small-scale help, hoping as he did, it would go unnoticed by Heaven. And luckily for him it had.

Though, his unruly nature often gnawed at him to interfere and set things right by them, his own precarious position, being on probation had curtailed him thus far, from another serious breach (violation) of Heavenly Law.

On that faithful day though, having witnessed Nevets and Beatrice’s plight and ultimately, their tragic demise, moreover, their undying love and devotion towards each other to the very end, he could no longer stand idly by and do nothing.

One more violation, he’d been warned, and he would be imprisoned in a cave for all eternity.

Regardless of the consequence, the infuriated Longze, yet again braving the terrible wrath of Heaven, contravened; and this time, because his success depended on speed, before he could be stopped, moving at lightening speed, he’d intentionally violated (breached, disobeyed) another most sacrosanct (sacred, inviolate) Divine law:

 Longze in his mighty Dragon form, soared upwards from the churning, foamy waters of the deep lake, to shot through the sky stopping only when he reached the moon’s surface. There, he snuck into the palace of the Moon Goddess and swiftly stole the little porcelain bottle containing two magic elixirs. He removed the cap of the small bottle, tilted the mouth and dropped the two pearly pills into his palm.

Back on earth and in his human form, squatting beside each of the corpses, tilting their head back, Beatrice first and then Nevets’s, one after the other, he pried (forced) open their mouth and then fed them the immortal elixir pills, making sure it went down their throat.

12- LONGZE REVIVES THEN TRANSFORMS THE LOVERS INTO MANDARIN DUCKS

Next, he blew his cool breath encapsulating Nevets and Beatrice in luminous miasma, at which point, the two corpses instantly transformed into colourful, immortal Mandarin Ducks. He reverted to his dragon form, gently picked them up, cradling them within his clows and flew over the mighty lake Taho, then at some distant, secluded safe spot, he gently released the grip and deposited them onto the water.  The two Mandarin Ducks can still be seen today, always together, playfully circling each other and happily riding the gentle undulating waves of the Taho lake.

The End.

 

NOTE: What befell Lonze? Here’s a hint: Check the earlier post about LONGZE.

 

13- lONGZE IS PUNISHED

                                                                                                 ~

 

 A MAN WITHOUT AVARICE (Revised 2025)

HEAVEN

In the Halls of the Immortals, where the virtuous and brave dwell after their time spent on the mortal coil was done, there was great consternation. There were no more recruits from Earth, not in the last hundred years.

A conclave was called and the situation on the Earth was viewed, and reviewed. The problem was immediately apparent; greed and materialism had taken hold in every part of the globe. Nobody did anything anymore unless it produced material gain for themselves or, blocked their competitor from attaining an advantage.

One would assume that all this preoccupation with wealth would lead to a cornucopia of abundance, however quite the opposite was true. People, afraid of theft or jealousy, hid their possessions while the rest of the populace lived in abject poverty. Those who could not contribute to the economic engine or whose lives could not be gainfully exploited were cast aside with no further consideration. They were of no value, and therefore of no concern.

The Immortals, however, could not believe that humanity had deteriorated so far and chose to believe there was some semblance of virtue still in existence. Surely there was someone on Earth who had not been tainted by the rot of materialism. Keeping alight this hope they resolved to send an emissary to the mortal realm to find this exceptional being, and they commissioned a discerning member Briannhon, who could turn base rock into fine gold nuggets with his touch.

02-BRIANNHON

Dispatched to the Earthly realm, Briannhon wandered the four corners of the globe, repeatedly using the same method to test those candidates who seemed most likely to rise above their base instincts.

Presented with a likely applicant, the Immortal tested him. He would first turn a small pebble into a large gold nugget and offer it to him.

Most people quickly picked up the nugget and walked away. If they were a bit wealthier they examined the nugget then pocketed it and asked for more.  For those who held out for more, Briannhon then took a larger rock and turned that one into an even larger ingot of gold.

The greed however was never satiated, they still asked for more and when, being disappointed in them, he did not deliver, they shrugged and went away with curses on their lips.

 Briannhon continued testing person after person, growing more disillusioned as time wore on.

Finally, he reached a small village on the edge of human habitation but even there, far removed from cultural influences, they still exhibited the same greedy and materialistic traits.

Then one day he heard of a person who was commonly regarded as living totally outside of the norms of society, a young man who had no regard for anyone or anything in the village. His mother had shown up one night out of nowhere, gave him birth, and then summarily died. Poor peasant looking to train him as a goat herder took him in and let him live and be nursed in the goat shed. When the orphan showed no promise, the peasant cut his losses and cast him into the streets to fend for himself.  But with his will to survive, he persisted, endured untold hardships and humiliation, often   eating the garbage people tossed at him for amusement’s sake. As he had never been given a name, people called him “The Nobody”.

04- The NOBODY

The Nobody, seated on a rock at the edge of the creek, having gone outside of the village, for he appreciated solitude, was happily chewing on a piece of vegetable he’d found discarded, hoping it would satiate his hunger pains. Briannon approaching, called out to the young man and summarily elucidated his objective of finding the right kind of person and after a test for which he would be empowered to make these worthy individual rich beyond imaginings. 

“Are you interested? “, he then asked.

The young man called Nobody, had listened intently but simply shrugged his shoulders and pretended not to care.

When the Immortal turned a pebble into a golden nugget as a demonstration, The young man appeared still to be unimpressed and continued chewing on the vegetable (which was like a turnip).  

Surprised, Briannhon turned a larger stone into a fine golden ingot in front of him, as an enticement.  The young man turned his head (askew) to see, then turned his attention right back to the vegetable, quite uninterested.

Briannhon was encouraged to see this response.

Finally, the Immortal turned the nearby, small mound consisting of pebbles and debris into fine minted ingots of gold, all of it piled up one on top of another and brilliantly shimmering under the midday sun; but once more, his efforts earned him no more than, another scowl from the young man.

“You appear not to want gold, sir. What is it that you want after all?”

The Nobody pursing his lips, looked up at this persistent stranger, who was bent on interrupting his peace and finally grunted, “Because I have no attachments, I am free, and you can’t put a price on that. So, if you don’ t mind, I ask you kindly to be on your way.”

Immortal Briannhon did not take any offense to this rude dismissal; moreover, smiling, he nodded, “I’ll be seeing you.” then, instantly vanished into thin air.

The End.

 

THE DRAGON'S PEARL (REVISED)

 THE DRAGON'S PEARL 

 

Once upon a time in Shu province a widowed woman and her only son lived in a thatched hut by the banks of the Min River. Now they were very poor and since the mother was old and ailing the young boy from an early age was burdened with the responsibility of providing for them both. As he loved his mother very much, he worked very hard from dawn to dusk trying his best to obtain a reasonable livelihood by cutting and selling grass. Many a night he stayed awake worrying that this may not be enough to sustain them; should an unforeseen calamity strike, it would surely mean certain ruin.

Then came a time when his worse fears were realized. That summer a severe drought depleted their already scant reserves, and he was forced to venture farther inland each morning in search of better grass. Even this expanded effort had proved fruitless as what he harvested was not even worth taking to market. Unrelenting, he ventured ever higher into the mountain, following paths never before trod by human feet. Once more he’d scavenged most of the morning and afternoon and being disappointed, with stooped shoulders he resolved to head home when suddenly, over a small rise, he spotted a meadow of verdant grass. In disbelief he rubbed his eyes and looked on anew. It still was there. With bated breath he ran towards it. True enough, the thick luxuriant grass, flourishing on a fertile earth was ripe for the picking. Halting for a spell he breathed in the fragrance of this lush green treasure. Oh, how gently they swayed, combed by the gentle breeze.

“What am I waiting for?” He quickly put an end to his daydream and a moment later began cutting and bundling the grass. He worked well into the afternoon, and it was only when the rays of the sun began to dim that he reluctantly shouldered his heavy burden and made his journey home. Not before making a mental note of the topography of the exact location however, so as to claim the remainder on the morrow.

 In the drought stricken land the proceeds from the sale of the lush grass were far more than the weekly pay and that evening mother and son were able to indulge for the first time ever in a more bountiful feast that included fish, poultry and varied vegetables alongside a superior brand of rice.

 The subsequent day the boy retraced his steps joyfully expecting to find the remainder of the patch. However, to his great amazement, the meadow was once more fully overgrown with verdant grass. He did not stop to wonder why but set to work at once with boundless energy and enthusiasm and this time harvested the entire field. As he loaded up the last of his bundle and headed home, he consoled himself by resolving to scour the area more carefully on next occasion. There had to be a comparable field waiting to be found somewhere adjacent to this one.

 You can imagine his delight the next day in finding the same patch re-grown so fully and perfectly he could swear it had never been touched at all. “The field is enchanted; there is no need to look elsewhere!”

Once more he set to work, this time fearlessly harvesting all the grass once more and returning home with his heavy burden. This he repeated day after day as their circumstances became more comfortable, then luxuriant and secure. They now lived happily. However, there was only one hitch; the long, arduous, sometimes hazardous, trek had begun to wear the boy down. Consulting with his mother on this matter the alternative suddenly presented itself. If the patch was enchanted it could perhaps deliver the same abundance if it was planted elsewhere, preferably at closer proximity.

 With this in mind, he made the journey the following morning, and instead of harvesting it he dug up each segment of the turf, roots, soil and all and tied them into rolls. Midway through this toil he spotted a most magnificent, luminescent pearl resting in a tangle of root and soil as he rolled up the clod of turf. “Hah, what a pretty find. Mom will like this. ” He stopped long enough to put it in his pocket then continued on with his work, not giving it another thought.

Wrestling this heavier burden down the mountain he replanted it at closer proximity to his home. And it wasn’t until all the patches were laid down next to their cabin that he realized his fatigue and hunger. He quickly got washed up and entered the home to sit at the table already laden with food and satiate his hunger. Stomach quickly filled he leaned back for a reprieve before they cleared the dishes. Then his hand, roaming in his pocket, happened to touch the pearl. Elatedly he presented it at once to his mother. Even with her failing sight she could tell its brilliance and value, especially when it lit up the dim room with a warm glow. Fearing losing it, his mother decided to store it in the unused old rice jar that she kept as a memento from the lean years. It still contained those few grains of rice they had left before their stroke of luck, just enough of them to cover the pearl.

Following day at the crack of dawn the boy jumped out of bed and wolfed down some bread and cheese then, careful not to wake his sleeping mom, dashed outside to begin his harvest. What greeted him however, wrenched his heart. There was no lush grass, just a dried withered bald patch with a few dried brown stalks poking up from the dust. “I’ve ruined everything.” His eyes brimming with tears he turned towards the house to relay this terrible news to his mom. Just then a scream from the house hastened his steps.

“What is it mama?” He shouted the moment he entered the premise.

“Look,” She pointed at the old rice container, “See it for yourself.”

Indeed, the moment he lifted the lid, a miracle that greeted his eyes: the old rice container was full of fresh white, fragrant rice and, on top, the large pearl glowed warmly.

 

Mother and son exchanged a knowing look. Later when the son told his mom of his failure with the patch, it became crystal clear that the pearl was the true source of magic. In order to be absolutely sure however, they now placed the pearl in the money box that contained only few coins, then carefully hid it under the bed.

The following morning, even before breakfasting the son was asked to retrieve it, as it was too heavy and cumbersome for her to fetch. True enough, it did feel heavier. It came as no surprise to both when, after the lid was lifted, the bounty of cash was discovered, the pearl perched on top.

 This being proof positive they knew how to proceed from then on. They used the magic pearl sparingly and wisely, reciprocating the kindness of neighbours that had once aided them in their time of need. Knowing what it is like to be poor their unstinting kindness extended to those others, even strangers that happened to be caught in dire straits. Despite all the goodwill, the mother and son’s apparent improved fortunes, in time drew unwarranted attention, curiosity and some envy from their neighbours in their small village.

The secret could no longer be contained. Through coercion and trickery, the source of their wealth was eventually discovered. The word spread like wildfire and soon after a mob of villagers, some friendly, a few not so friendly, gathered by the house demanding in a loud uproar to see this phantom pearl for themselves. Goaded to prove that the reasons for their recent prosperity did not involve thievery, the boy foolishly fetched the pearl then held it up for all to see. The glow at first mesmerized all the onlookers but, far from being assuaged, the crowd grew restless and resentful.

Why should they be the sole possessors of such a gift from the Heavens? Everyone wanted a turn at possessing it. Each coveted it; and some demanded immediate ownership of the pearl for more righteous, personal reasons. Tempers flared and faces became distorted with loathing, greed and revulsion. The tumult grew increasingly uglier and the situation more volatile.

Fearing the impending assault on himself, on his mother, or the theft of the pearl, the boy impetuously popped the pearl into his mouth to keep it safe. In that pandemonium, however, the boy was shoved to and for and, giving in to reflex, the pearl dropped through his oesophagus. All at once he was overwhelmed with the sensation of being scorched from inside the stomach; an unbearable, searing fire consumed his innards.

“Water! Water!” Screaming, he dashed to the well at the side of the house and, as fast as he could haul the buckets out, consuming the water until the well ran dry. Still burning up, he ran in a frenzy to throw his body down to the bank to the river and began to lap it up. He drank and drank, but nothing could assuage the all-consuming sensation of burning. The stunned villagers watched in horrified amazement as the once mighty river Min was diminished to a trickle, then that too disappeared. As the last drop flowed down the boy’s throat, a huge crack of thunder tore up the sky. The Earth trembled as countless forks of lightning flashed across the sky heralding the eruption of a violent storm and a deluge of rain that threatened to drown them all.

 “Now you’ve done it! Heaven is angered. Flee, flee for your lives!” The shouts scattered most of the crowds. Others, with wobbling legs, fell on their knees and covered their heads and faces in terror. Amidst curses and lamentations, they bewailed their ill fate in wavering voices.

Meanwhile the boy had begun to tremble uncontrollably as he grew and grew. His desperate mother, forgetting her own terror, hung on to his legs with all her strength, but he was beyond help. Horns sprouted on his forehead and his eyes grew wider and larger their red glow emitting tendrils of fire. His skin was also altered gradually but surely into scales. Now at mammoth size, his dismayed mother watched in sad resignation, as her beloved son transformed into a Dragon. Too late she remembered the legend of every water dragon possessing a treasured magic pearl, and only then grasped that the pearl had originally belonged to the dragon guarding this river.

The deluge meanwhile had filled the river once more and her darling boy, now a dragon, started to glide towards it. With courage only a mother has she clung onto his scaly foot but, with a gentle pull, he freed himself. He slithered towards the torrent as his very motion threw up mud-banks along the sides of the river. Love is a powerful bond and so, each time that she cried out to him, the dragon did turn his mammoth body to briefly gaze her. After an angst-ridden roar however, he slid beneath the torrent of the river Min. 

To this day the mud banks on the river Min are referred to as the “Looking Back at Mother” banks, in memory of the boy who’d swallowed the pearl and transformed into a mighty River Dragon. True to the boy’s generous nature, the Dragon of the River fed and nourished the crops of the villages along his banks from that day on, and there has never again been such a taxing drought in that province.

The End