DRAGON LONGZE FALLS IN LOVE (BOST ORIGINAL STORY, 2026 PART 2)

Then came a time of the Mid Autumn Festival. The particulars of the annual festival, through natter (gossip, blather), without fail reached far and wide, even the remotest regions, drawing significant crowds to the event at Hurin.

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The festival had always delighted the senses with the array of colourful decorations, exquisitely crafted lanterns and kites. Multitude booths displayed hand crafted toys, jewelry and keepsakes; delicious and aromatic abundant food stalls, meanwhile, satisfied every penchant palate (food, appetite). The delightful melodies, tunes emanating from diverse instruments, perforated the air, accompanying the varied entertainment of street operas, graceful dances, or enthralling acrobatics- that were enjoyed by the enthusiastic crowds of human families and loving couples.  

The eligible handsome young men, in the meantime, ceased this opportunity to spot potential mates, while others gaged (evaluated, assessed) or flirted with beautiful, coy (bashful) ladies, dressed in in their fineries. In this jocund (blithe, amiable) atmosphere one and all, young and old, milled about with rare abandon and continuously, with joyful zeal, had week-long, fun-filled memorable experiences.

Where were the criminals, the bad elements, the ruffians during this time, you may wonder. But because of the endorsed (confirmed) rich economic advantages of the festival (for the region), the constables were dispatched on mass for the duration to ensure the safe and uninterrupted mirthful participation (partaking) of all its citizens.

Longze and Brenda despite their qualm (misgivings) about humans, were riveted (enthralled) by all the hearsay about the incessant, boisterous annual event. Wishing to experience it firsthand hence, the two serpents one white and one green, one fine day transformed themselves into two young ladies and, appropriately dressed, embarked on the long journey.

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They walked for two days on foot, sometimes traversing difficult terrain (land, topography), then secured a passage on a small boat, to finally at dawn of the subsequent day, arrive at the vicinity (locale), the hub, at picturesque Hurin.  

They rested under the shade of a tree for a while, then discreetly blended in with the crowd, to enjoy the festivities. Longze and Brenda’s attires were adequate, but not as rich; bothered by the scathing (scornful, mocking, derisive) looks from passers by, Longze accosted one friendly merchant and got the directions to a respectable clothing shop.  

When they had first entered the establishment, they were greeted cooly by the proprietor, who quoted the price for two ready made dresses that were available in their sizes, expecting them to bashfully withdraw. But instead, when Longze boldly produced three gold coins, which were considerably far more than the asking price, the proprietor became all smiles. Fawning on them henceforth, two of his female staff (employees) ushered the two young ladies Longze and Brenda to the back room, they then promptly retrieved from the racks few already completed exquisite gowns. 

Subsequently, with all their needs solicitously met, Longze and Brenda emerged from the shop, confident and looking radiantly beautiful. They once more blended in with the crowds, this time however, receiving admiring looks from every young man, while envy registered in the pupils of the female counterparts.

Later that morning, Longze and Brenda without abandon talked and laughed as they breakfasted on sesame steam buns, pancakes with honey and jam and chicken hot noodles. Strolling through the food stalls, they later indulged their palate (appetite) for sweets and sampled other, strange but delectable morsels.  At noon, they drunk refreshing drinks, purchased trinkets and keepsakes and for a while watched some of the entertainment. In short, they took in the general sites, as they frequently dodged the unwarranted attention from several young men.

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The eastern part of Lake Taho lied beside the prosperous (trading port) city of Monter and bordered by lush green hills; it had always been renowned for its breathtaking scenery drawing many scholars or noted visitors who loved to stroll its banks or take boats across the water.

Longze and Brenda, were so enthralled by the beauty of the surroundings that they’d without intending to, strayed quite far from the crowds, desiring to observe the magnificent waterfalls up close. There, throwing all caution into the wind, they’d lingered for a time quite forgetting themselves; however, as luck would have it, at the far bend (curvature, stoop), at a secluded spot that had an ancient, somewhat dilapidated (derelict, rundown) terrace, a dashing young scholar named Jedrik Nenzo, stood leaning over the ivy assailed (overrun) ramshackle (rickety) railing. He was also admiring the sights from that lone ventage point, when he just then happened to spot Longze. This serious young scholar, for a time stood mesmerized, discreetly observing this enchanting young lady.

 

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As it were, the scholar was simply returning from a visit to his mother’s grave.  He had been orphaned when young and presently lived with his elder sister and her husband, earning a scant living as an assistant in their herbal medicine shop. Jedrik was a breathtakingly handsome (striking) young man of about twenty-five years of age, his height was well over six feet tall, with long white, blond hair cascading down his shoulders and brilliant blue eyes. His nature, however, was taciturn (reserved, aloof, introverted, shy) and so he’d often shunned crowds and instead, buried his head in books.

Providence (fate) had decreed however that Longze and Jedrik should meet that day; as they later crossed the Azura Bridge, each (in midst, melded) blended in a mob of people, headed in the opposite direction, Longze (from the corner of her eye) glimpsing at him, his striking good looks simply (stilled) stole her breath away.

Having crossed the bridge, when suddenly the capricious sun took refuge behind some clouds and abruptly rain begun to fall, the two ladies naturally sought shelter under the nearby willow tree, but without much success. 

Jedrik, a gallant young man, even though he’d quietly with lowered head bypassed them, his intuition making him look back, noted the two young ladies at the opposite end of the bridge, presently in dire straits; uncharacteristically, he’d not hesitated and, hastened over at once to politely offer them his umbrella.

 

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As Longze insisted on Jedrik sharing the umbrella with them the two, during their brief conversation, had hopelessly fallen in love.  Destiny had played a hand, you see, to draw these two lovers together.

To make the long story short, Longze (or Berdis Kenny as she’d introduced herself to the scholar), throwing all caution to the wind, three days hence, married the scholar, Jedrik Nenzo. The happy couple (taking along Brenda to live with them) then moved to the suburb of Monter and there, with the sizeable funds from Longze’s supposed inheritance, opened a medicine shop of their own. Utilizing her extensive knowledge of various herbal medicines, they were able to successfully cure many ailments, and before long the business prospered. Berdis (Longze) especially was much beloved because of her dedication to helping the sick, no matter how poor they were.

Oh, but oh so fickle is fate; for the (terrapin) Muskrat spirit that once dwelled in the same segment of lake Taho as Longze had, by this time, accumulated enough powers to take on a human form and had transformed into a Spiritualist (diviner, seer) called Khronos who, without much success, also dabbled in the healing arts. He learned about the brilliance of Berdis and, to his chagrin, discovered that she is his old nemesis Longze, the white snake.  He was further consumed by jealousy when he found out about her blissful existence and from then on plotted to break up her relationship with Jedrik Nenzo. He visited their shop and, finding an opportunity, discretely approached Jedrik when Berdis, by then an expectant mother, went off for a brief respite leaving her husband to tend to customers.

 

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 “I’m Khronos, the famed Psychic ((diviner, seer)),” the disguised Muskrat spirit introduced himself to Jedrik in a conspiratorial whisper. “I have come here, under this pretext, to warn you of the great peril you are in. Through my spiritual guide, I have discovered that your wife is in fact, a 500-year-old (actually, he’d just on spur made up that number) sprite white snake. Heed my words young man, for now she hides well her true nature, but one day she will surely turn on you, as all demons do, and devour you!”

“How dare you say such a thing?” protested Jedrik. “My wife is an angel, what you say is nothing short of a wicked slander!”

“Fine, fine; don’t take my word for it.” Khronos shaking an index finger, sternly admonished Jedrik. He next pretended to storm out the door but, as if on a second thought, he halted and, half turning, said, “Before long the Winter Solstice Festival will be here. Offer her realgar wine, if she does not revert back to her true form, then I, in advance, offer my apologies.”

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At the Winter Solstice Festival, according to an old custom, everyone would liberally partake of wine mixed with foul-smelling realgar to supposedly to drive away snakes or evil spirits.

To escape disclosure and wary of the possible dangers, Berdis had feigned illness during this Festival. She insisted on keeping to her bed but encouraged her husband to go out and partake of the festivities, while Brenda (the fairy, Green Snake) kept her company and also, tended to her (pregnant) needs. That might have been the end of that but unfortunately, however, the devoted Jedrik had refused to leave her side and, desiring her to be especially safe, he further insisted that she drink some measure of the realgar concoction. When she adamantly refused and offered only feeble excuses Khronos’s dire warnings rushed to Jedrik’s mind. His demeanor darkened but then just as quickly he dismissed it all with a wave of his hand. When his wife inquired as to the reason for his odd behaviour, Jedrik simply shrugged and related the warning words of Khronos, thinking it to be nothing other than a poor joke.

Berdis (Longze) could not conceal her ire and terror, and her face grew visibly pallid. The wave of suspicion that grazed her husband’s eyes, though briefly, wrenched Berdis’s heart.  Hoping that her accrued powers were strong enough to withstand the danger she dismissed Brenda and requested a cup of realgar wine from her husband.

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Receiving it, she quickly downed it. As further reassurance she pretended to like it and asked for more, but before she could finish the third, she began to retch violently.  She was helped to her bed by her most concerned and apologetic husband who then rushed out the door to fetch her some medicine.  When he returned, he found, instead of his wife, a giant white snake coiled on the bed.

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Worst still, this white snake had some horns on its head. And scales were beginning to manifest on the white skin. Berdis had had a tranquil life; nothing therefore prepared her for this present transformation.

In truth Berdis, which was the dragon Longze, had now matured enough that he/she, with her ancient lineage (overriding her sentence), she could be transformed into a mighty dragon. The trigger was the realgar wine on top of her pregnancy and the hormones it entailed.  And so, the violent shift soon began to transform Longze into her innate, tremendous white dragon self.  Before she grew too huge to be contained in the room, she spread her wings and bolted out the open window, disappearing into the night’s sky.

 

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The shock of this transformation, meanwhile, had been too great for Jedrik to bear and he’d instantly collapsed (unconscious) onto the floor.

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                                                                                            ~

 

 

(END OF PART 2)

(NEXT POST - THE CONCLUSION PART 3) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 JUDGE LU PAN (REVISED 2025) 

Scholar Zhu Erdan ((courtesy name Xiaoming), who lived in Lingyang, was an easy going, good natured, friendly, handsome young man who was studying diligently for the local exams. But due to his honest nature and slow wit, furthermore, not knowing how to fawn (flatter, toady) on the haughty (arrogant) opulent and influential officials or gentry, he had never attained any academic distinction. 

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Once a study mate dared him to sneak into the Ten Kings Temple in the middle of the night and carry out the statue of the menacing looking judgement god, Judge Lu Pan. Having successfully completed the dare, Zhu Erdan won a feast from his friend, got very drunk and went home.

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The next day, when he remembered what he had done the night before, he felt so bad that he, erroneously, tried to drawn his sorrow by indulging in spirits; while Zhu was having a drink in the pagoda, for it was quiet and peaceful there, especially at night, a gust of wind suddenly broke open the door and in came Judge Lu Pan. Zhu jumped up with his heart pounding in fear of his life, and exclaimed, “I committed a great sacrilege last night. For that, I deserve death. You are here to take my life, aren’t you? “

But the judgement god grimaced then shook his head. “Not necessarily. And I accept your inherent (natural, genuine) invitation, from the heart; I was feeling a bit restless tonight, so I came to share a drink or two with you." Zhu felt relieved and at once set to preparing some drinks; Zhu and the judgement god, hence, drank happily that night, landing an ear to the cacophony of insects and the harmonious sounds of other such nocturnal animals. From then on, Judge Lu visited Zhu frequently. In time they become good friends, so much so that they "sometimes slept together with the soles of their feet touching." However, much to Zhu’s dismay, the judge constantly criticized Zhu's essays for being "good for nothing". 

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One night Zhu was startled awake from his deep sleep, because of an unusual, though somewhat annoying pain emanating (originating) from his chest and gut.  Upon opening his eyes, his gaze sharpened, he was shocked to find Judge Lu Pan there, bent over his stomach and rearranging his internal organs. Naturally, Zhu became hysterical and with a trembling voice, asked for the reason for this perceived injury and harm, begging for Judge Lu to stop.

Judge Lu, however, just smiled and said, “You don't write your essays very well. That's because there is a blind spot in your heart. I’ve replaced it with a good one which I found in the world of the living."

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A few days later, Lu returned to review Zhu's latest essays; putting the papers aside, Lu opined (pronounced) that Zhu will be a successful but not outstanding scholar.  Nevertheless, from then on Zhu did make tremendous progress in his studies and not long afterwards even attained first place in the local exam. In autumn he also passed the national exam. His study and drinking mates, meanwhile, were all very surprised, especially when they learn that it was all due to Judge Lu Pan. 

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Naturally they all wanted to meet Judge Lu in person, hoping also to gain some favor; and so, they pestered (pressured) Zhu till he acquiesced to take them along, the next time he would go and have a shared drink with Judge Lu Pan.

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However, upon seeing the green-faced, red-bearded Judge Lu and looking into his blazing eyes, everyone was so terrified that they all took to their’ heals (fled, ran away) in sheer panic.

Zhu, feeling responsible, apologized profusely to Judge Lu for their rudeness, then invited him to have another session of drinking with him at his humble abode. Along the way, pressed to speak about the concern on his mind Zhu finally said, "My wife is a good sort, but, as you shall see presently for yourself, is rather plain looking; now that I have achieved a more prominent position, her unattractive (disagreeable) appearance and clumsy demeanour (image, bearing) has become somewhat a liability; can you do anything about it?" 

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Judge Lu was silent for a while, then he smiled and said," It so happens that your wife’s life span is nearing an end, and within three days she shall expire because of a freak accident. But there is an error in the books, she wasn’t supposed to die. I think I have a way to remedy this situation. And since you ask so contritely (almost penitently, ashamedly), I shall, therefore, honor your request."

As predicted, two days later Zhu’s wife was suddenly deceased, after having stepped on a carelessly discarded banana peel on the cobble-stoned garden path; Zhu forestalling her funerary arrangements, allowed her body to (albeit temporarily) lie peacefully in repose on her bed, as if in deep sleep.  A day later, expectantly at dusk, Judge Lu manifested in Zhu’s study carrying with him the decapitated head of a beautiful woman and asked to be taken to Zhu ‘s wife's bed chamber. Once there, Judge Lu without delay, took out a sharp knife and severed her head from the keck then adroitly (proficiently, capably) replaced it with the beautiful woman's head. After careful alignment, he mended the cut with his fingers and placed the head back on the pillow.

In the morning, Zhu’s wife suddenly coming to life, opened her eyes, got up and, remembering nothing, was about to comb her hair, when she suddenly found herself looking at a stranger in the mirror. Zhu told her the whole story of how Judge Lu had changed her head. Zhu then took a closer look at his wife. Ah, she was like an enchanting beauty in a silk painting!

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It so happened that, the local Magistrate Wu’s daughter’s corpse, was discovered few days prior; she’d been murdered and decapitated in a meadow (field), among the tall grasses (bullrushes), at the edge of town, some distance away from the Magistrate Wu’s posh dwelling.  Previously, Magistrate Wu had been away on urgent business in the capital, this discovery upon his return, greatly perturbed him. There were no clues as to who her assailant (killer, slayer) might be, but in his grief, Magistrate Wu would not listen to any reason and instead, suspected that his daughter had been secretly abducted and murdered by Zhu's black magic, so he filed suit against Zhu, and Zhu was captured and interrogated.

But due to lack of evidence, the court couldn't pass a sentence and released Zhu temporarily. That night, drinking together at his study, Zhu politely asked Judge Lu, curious now, to learn of the details how he’d procured (come by) his present wife’s head. Nodding in understanding, Judge Lu then succinctly recounted the beautiful girl’s somewhat tragic story:

 She’d once been the beloved daughter of Magistrate Wu and beautiful though she’d been, she had remained single, till passed (her prime,) of marriageable age; because some time ago, both of her fiancés had died, rather ominously, before the appointed matrimonial date. Disheartened, she had from then on refused any would be suitors.  Once during a Lantern Festival, the lovely girl had visited the Chamber of Horrors and had been followed back home by a man who first tried to rape her and then beheaded her. When her corpse had been found, but the culprit was still unknown and at large, the grief-stricken family, prolonging (extending) her funeral (burial), had placed her head next to her body, in the hall. And when Lu had taken the head, Magistrate Wu’s family, for reasons known only to them, had concealed this fact, while they determinedly continued with their search of the culprit that had so brutally slayed (murdered) her.

“Now, I understand, “Zhu nodded, when Lu fell silent. “Still, this has landed me in an inexplicable (bizarre, enigmatic) fix. Though I am temporarily freed from castigation (criticism, scolding) and incarceration (jail, captivity) at present, I suspect Magistrate Wu, in his desperation, will persist (remain, continue) in his adamant course of persecuting me. How can we remedy this?”

"It's quite simple, “said Judge Lu. "Tonight, I'll have the Magistrate Wu's daughter’s spirit explain everything to him (her father) to clear away his suspicion."

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That night, the magistrate had a dream, in which, his daughter appeared before him and said, “I was murdered by that brute Yang Tanien of Suhsi. It had nothing to do with Zhu. Zhu was dissatisfied with his wife's looks, so Judge Lu Pan used my head to replace hers; therefore, my body is deceased (departed), but at least my head now lives on. And in this way, I can exist as the wife of a respectable, gentle, thoughtful Zhu. Please don't make any more trouble or hold anything against him. If you must, go after Yang Tanien and avenge my wrongful death."

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Sure enough, more indebt investigation revealed that there was an affluent merchant Yang Tanien in Suhsi, with questionable, debauched (wicked, decadent) innate attributes, living in a rather large mansion, in the adjacent town. He had several lucrative medicinal stores, two of which was established in Magistrate Wu’s town. After being captured and interrogated, Yang Tanien admitted to the crime of kidnapping and murdering Miss Wu, after she’d refused all his painstaking efforts to woo her, saying nothing of, his many improper advances disguised as business transactions.

With the case satisfactorily solved, Magistrate Wu brought gifts to Zhu's house to apologize and found Zhu's wife identical to his deceased daughter. He immediately adopted her as his own daughter, and Zhu acknowledged the magistrate as his father-in-law.

11- MAGISTRATE WU-  JP 5

Thirty years passed in a blinking of an eye, and Zhu, who was still happily married, furthermore, had a young son named Wei, was content. One night during a drinking bout (session) with Judge Lu, however, Lu abruptly turning to face him, with a somber look, informed Zhu: "Your life span is almost over dear friend; and unfortunately, you have five more days left to live."

Zhu, at first aghast, exhaled a long slow breath, then asked: "Is there a way out of this?”

Judge Lu frowned and shook his head; he was rather displeased by this request. "One's life is predetermined. How can I, out of personal favor, save someone who is destined to die? Besides, an intelligent person should feel natural to death; why do people celebrate life only and fear death? “

Zhu thought that made a lot of sense, so he went on to prepare for his own funeral. But of course, the story of Zhu and his friendship with Judge Lu, does not end here.

The day after his death, Zhu visited his wife as a ghost and told her that he was now working for the judge Lu. Subsequently, he continued to visit his family regularly and, moreover, taught Wei how to read and write. Some time after Wei's fifteenth birthday, however, Zhu told his wife that he had been assigned to Mount Hua as its "mountain god" and hence, must bid his family, a final farewell.

Years later, Wei, then aged twenty-five, became an "inspecting commissioner”. He was sent to Mount Hua to perform a series of rituals. On his way there, he was met by Zhu, who praised him for his accomplishments. Before disappearing, Zhu handed his son a sword, on whose blade was inscribed: "Be bold, but cautious; round in disposition, square in action." 

Wei eventually fathered five children: Chen, Qian, Mi, Hun, and Shen. In a dream, Zhu told Wei to give the sword to Hun. Wei complied, and Hun then became a celebrated official.

Finally, let conclude this post with the original author Pu Songling’s famed inscription (verses, stanzas) in his postscript: "To chop short the crane's legs and stretch the duck's is the folly of artificiality, but grafting a flower to a tree is a marvel of creativity." 

He, furthermore, added: "Is Master Lu of Lingyang still around? Does his supernatural power still work as of old? I would like nothing more than to serve, whip in hand, as his charioteer."

Fin

PS- This is an intriguing (fascinating) story, just in time for the Hungry Ghost Period and the Halloween. Judge Lu is a short story originally written by Pu Songling (1640- 1715) and first published in 1766 in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. Fortuitously, I chanced upon this remarkable book, and thence (thereafter), these Strange Tales, had made me permanently unafraid of ghosts, goblins and other supernatural phenomenon.