Chapter 16: Ziya Burns the Pipa Demon with Fire

诗曰： 妖孽频兴国势阑，大都天意久摧残。休言怪气侵牛斗，且俟精灵杀豸冠。 千载修持成往事，一朝被获若为欢。当时不遇天仙术，安得琵琶火后看。

The poem says: Ominous portents frequently arise and the nation's strength wanes, For a long time the great capital has suffered from Heaven's will. Do not speak of strange qi invading Niu and Dou, Wait and see how spirits destroy the officials' hats. After a thousand years of cultivation, it has become past events; To be captured in an instant, how can that bring joy? At that time, had one not encountered the techniques of celestial immortals, How could one have seen the pipa after the fire?

话说子牙同异人来到后花园，周围看了一周，果然好个所在。但见； 墙高数仞，门壁清幽。左边有两行金线垂杨；右壁有几株剔牙松树。牡丹亭对玩花楼，芍药圃连秋千架。荷花池内，来来往往锦鳞游；木香篷下，翩翩翻翻蝴蝶戏。正是；小园光景似蓬莱，乐守天年娱晚景。

It is said that Ziya and Yiren came to the back garden. They looked around for a while, and indeed it was an excellent place. One could see; The walls were several ren high, and the gate and walls were quiet and secluded. On the left side there were two rows of golden-thread willows; on the right wall stood several trees of Tiya pine. The Peony Pavilion faced the Flower-Playing Tower, and the Paeonia Field was connected to the swing frame. In the lotus pond, colorful fish swam back and forth; Under the jasminum trellis, butterflies danced gracefully and playfully. It was indeed; The scenery of this small garden resembles Penglai, a place to joyfully spend one's remaining years and enjoy the twilight of life.

话说异人与子牙来后园散闷，子牙自不曾到此处，看了一回，子牙曰：“仁兄，这一块空地，怎的不起五间楼？”异人曰：“起五间楼怎说？”子牙曰：“小弟无恩报兄，此处若起做楼，按风水有三十六条玉带，金带有一升芝麻之数。”异人曰：“贤弟也知风水？”子牙曰：“小弟颇知一二。”异人曰：“不瞒贤弟说，此处也起造七八次，造起来就烧了，故此我也无心起造他。”子牙曰：“小弟择一日辰，仁兄只管起造。若上梁那日，仁兄只是款待匠人，我在此替你压压邪气，自然无事。”异人信子牙之言，择日兴工破土，起造楼房。那日子时上梁，异人待匠在前堂，子牙在牡丹亭里坐定等候，看是何怪异。不一时，狂风大作，走石飞砂，播土扬尘，火光影里见些妖魅，脸分五色，狰狞怪异，怎见得： 狂风大作，恶火飞腾。烟绕处，黑雾蒙蒙；火起处，千团红焰。脸分五色：赤白黑色共青黄；巨口獠牙，吐放霞光千万道。风逞火势，忽喇喇走万道金蛇；火绕烟迷，赤律律天黄地黑。山红土赤，煞时间万物齐崩；闪电光辉，一会家千门尽倒。正是：妖气烈火冲霄汉，方显龙冈怪物凶。

It is said that Yiren and Ziya came to the back garden for a walk. This was the first time Ziya had been here; after looking around, Ziya said, "Brother-in-spirit, this piece of empty land—why not build a five-room pavilion here?" Yiren replied, "What do you mean by building a five-room pavilion?" Ziya said, "I have no way to repay my brother's kindness. If we build a pavilion here, according to geomancy there will be thirty-six jade sashes and one gold sash, with the number of sesame seeds increasing by one measure." Yiren said, "Does my worthy younger brother also know geomancy?" Ziya replied, "I know a little." Yiren said, "To be honest with my worthy younger brother, this place has been built and rebuilt seven or eight times. Every time it was constructed, it would burn down immediately; therefore, I have no desire to build anything here." Ziya said, "Let me choose a suitable day and hour. Brother-in-spirit, you may proceed with the construction." "On the day of placing the main beam, Brother-in-spirit only needs to entertain the craftsmen. I will be here to suppress any evil qi for you; naturally, nothing untoward will happen." Yiren trusted Ziya's words and chose a day to begin construction by breaking ground, building the pavilion. On that day at zi shi hour they placed the main beam; Yiren entertained the craftsmen in the front hall, while Ziya sat waiting in the Peony Pavilion to see what strange occurrence would take place. In no time, a fierce wind arose, stones rolled and sand flew, soil scattered and dust rose. Amid the flickering firelight appeared some monstrous specters with faces of five colors, grotesque and bizarre. How was this scene described: A violent wind raged, and evil flames surged upward. Where the smoke curled, dark mist thickened; wherever fire broke out, thousands of red flames flared. Their faces showed five colors: red, white, black, green, and yellow; They had huge mouths with fangs, emitting tens of thousands of rays of rosy light. The wind fueled the fire's fury, and suddenly a thousand golden serpents slithered forth with a loud noise; Smoke and flames intertwined, turning the sky red and the earth black. The mountains turned red and the soil crimson; in an instant, all things collapsed together; Lightning flashed with brilliance, and within a moment, thousands of gates crumbled. Indeed: The fierce fire filled the sky with evil qi; only then did the monstrous ferocity of Longgang's specters become evident.

话说子牙在牡丹亭里，见风火影里，五个精灵作怪。子牙忙披发仗剑，用手一指，把剑一挥，喝声：“孽畜不落，更待何时！”再把手一放，雷鸣空中，把五个妖物慌忙跪倒，口称：“上仙，小畜不知上仙驾临，望乞全生，施放大德！”子牙喝道：“好孽畜！火毁楼房数次，凶心不息；今日罪恶贯盈，当受诛戮。”道罢，提剑向前就斩妖怪。众怪哀告曰：“上仙，道心无处不慈悲。小畜得道多年，一时冒渎天颜，望乞怜赦。今一旦诛戮，可怜我等数年功行，付于流水！”拜伏在地，苦苦哀告。子牙曰：“你既欲生，不许在此扰害万民。你五畜受吾符命，迳往西岐山，久后搬泥运土，听候所使。有功之日，自然得其正果。”五妖叩头，迳往岐山去了。

It is said that Ziya, while in the Peony Pavilion, saw five spirits causing havoc amidst the wind and fire. Ziya quickly let his hair loose, brandished a sword, pointed with one hand, and waved the sword, shouting, "You wretched beasts! If you do not fall now, when else will it be?" Then, with a wave of his hand, thunder roared from the sky. The five monsters hurriedly knelt down and cried out, "Great Immortal! Your humble beasts did not know you had arrived; we beg for mercy and your great kindness to spare our lives!" Ziya shouted, "You wretched beast! "Multiple times you have set fire to the pavilion and house; your wickedness has not ceased; today, with your crimes overflowing, you shall be punished and destroyed." No sooner had he finished speaking than Ziya raised his sword and moved forward to slay the monster. �示 The monsters pleaded, "Great Immortal, the Way's compassion is everywhere." "We have cultivated for many years and only momentarily offended Heaven; we beg you to show mercy and forgive us." "If you kill us now, how pitiful that our years of cultivation will be lost like water flowing away!" They fell to the ground in prostration and pleaded desperately. Ziya said, "Since you wish to live, I will not allow you to remain here and harm the people." "You five beasts shall obey my talisman command, go directly to Xiqi Mountain, and in the future carry soil and move earth as commanded." "When you have done good deeds, naturally you will attain true cultivation." The five monsters kowtowed and departed directly for Qi Mountain.

不说子牙压星收妖，且说那日是上梁吉日，三更子时，前堂异人待匠，马氏同姆姆孙氏往后园暗暗看子牙做何事。二人来至后园，只听见子牙吩咐妖怪。马氏对孙氏曰：“大娘，你听听，子牙自己说话。这样人一生不长进。说鬼话的人，怎得有升腾日子。”马氏气将起来，走到子牙面前，问子牙曰：“你在这里与谁讲话？”子牙曰：“你女人家不知道，方才压妖。”马氏曰：“自己说鬼话，压甚么妖！”子牙曰：“说与你也不知道。”马氏正在园中与子牙分辨，子牙曰：“你那里晓得甚么，我善能风水，又识阴阳。”马氏曰：“你可会算命？”子牙曰：“命理最精，只是无处开一命馆。”正言之间，宋异人见马氏、孙氏与子牙说话，异人曰：“贤弟，方才雷响，你可曾见些甚么？”子牙把收妖之事说了一遍。异人谢曰：“贤弟这等道术，不枉修行一番。”孙氏曰：“叔叔会算命，却无处开一命馆。不知那所在有便房，把一间与叔叔开馆也好。”异人曰：“你要多少房子？朝歌南门最热闹，叫后生收拾一间房子，与子牙去开命馆，这个何难。”却说安童将南门房子不日收拾齐整，贴几副对联，左边是“只言玄妙一团理”，右边是“不说寻常半句虚。”里边又有一对联云：“一张铁嘴，识破人问凶与吉；两只怪眼，善观世上败和兴。”上席又一幅云：“袖里乾坤大；壶中日月长。”子牙选吉日开馆。不觉光阴燃指，四、五个月不见算命卦帖的来。

Without mentioning Ziya calming the stars and subduing the spirits, let us speak of that day being an auspicious day for placing the main beam. At three geng in the zi shi hour, Yiren entertained the craftsmen at the front hall while Ma Shi, accompanied by her nurse Sun Shi, secretly went to the back garden to see what Ziya was doing. The two women arrived at the back garden and only heard Ziya giving orders to the monsters. Ma Shi said to Sun Shi, "Madam, listen carefully—Ziya is speaking for himself." Such a person will never make progress in his life. "One who speaks nonsense about ghosts and spirits can never have an auspicious future." Ma Shi became angry, walked up to Ziya's presence, and asked him, "With whom are you speaking here?" Ziya said, "You women don't know—just now I subdued a demon." Ma Shi replied, "Talking nonsense about ghosts yourself—who are you trying to fool by saying you subdued some demon!" Ziya said, "Even if I tell you, you won't understand." While Ma Shi was arguing with Ziya in the garden, Ziya said, "How could you possibly understand anything? I am skilled in geomancy and knowledgeable about yin and yang." Ma Shi asked, "Can you cast horoscopes?" Ziya replied, "I am most skilled in divination, but I just don't have a place to open a fortune-telling shop." While they were speaking, Song Yiren saw Ma Shi and Sun Shi talking with Ziya. Yiren asked, "Worthy younger brother, did you see anything when the thunder cracked just now?" Ziya recounted the entire incident of subduing the demon. Yiren thanked him, saying, "With such Daoist skills, my worthy younger brother's cultivation has not been in vain." Sun Shi said, "Uncle can cast horoscopes but doesn't have a place to open one fortune-telling shop. I wonder which location has an available room—giving one room to Uncle to set up his shop would be nice." Yiren asked, "How many rooms do you want?" "The southern gate of Chao Ge is the liveliest. I'll have a young man prepare one room for you, and give it to Ziya to open his fortune-telling shop—what's difficult about that?" Meanwhile, Antong soon prepared and tidied up the house at the southern gate. He pasted a couple of couplets: on the left was "Only speaking of profound mysteries in one principle," and on the right was "Not uttering even half a sentence of ordinary falsehood." Inside, there was another couplet that read: "A mouth of iron, discerning for people the ill and good in their questions; two strange eyes, skillfully observing the decline and rise of the world." Another scroll on the upper seat read: "The universe is vast within one's sleeve; the days and months in a gourd last long." Ziya chose an auspicious day to open the shop. Unaware of how quickly time passed, after four or five months no one came for divination readings.

只见那日有一樵子，姓刘名乾，挑著一担柴往南门来。忽然看见一命馆，刘乾歇下柴担，念对联，念到：“袖里乾坤大，壶中日月长。”刘乾原是朝歌破落户，走进命馆来，看见子牙伏案而卧，刘乾把桌子一拍。子牙諕了一惊，揉眉擦眼，看时，那一人身长丈五，眼露凶光。子牙曰：“兄起课，是相命？”那人道：“先生上姓？”子牙曰：“在下姓姜，名尚，字子牙，别号飞熊。”刘乾曰：“且问先生‘袖里乾坤大；壶中日月长’这对联怎么讲？”子牙曰：“‘袖里乾坤大’乃知过去未来，包罗万象；‘壶中日月长’有长生不死之术。”刘乾曰：“先生口出大言，既知过去未来，想课是极准的了。你与我起一课，如准，二十文青蚨；如不准，打几拳头，还不许你在此开馆。”子牙暗想：“几个月全无生意，今日撞著这一个，又是拨嘴的人。”子牙曰：“你取下一封帖来。”刘乾取了一个卦帖儿，递与子牙。子牙曰：“此卦要你依我才准。”刘乾曰：“必定依你。”子牙曰：“我写四句在帖儿上，只管去。”上面写著：“一直往南走，柳阴一老叟。青蚨一百二十文，四个点心、两碗酒。”刘乾看罢：“此卦不准。我卖柴二十馀年，那个与我点心酒吃；论起来，你的不准。”子牙曰：“你去，包你准。”刘乾担著柴，迳往南走；果见柳树下站立一老者，叫曰：“柴来！”刘乾暗想：“好课！果应其言。”老者曰：“这柴要多少钱？”刘乾答应：“要一百文。”──少讨二十文，拗他一拗。老者看看：“好柴！乾的好，困子大，就是一百文也罢。劳你替我拿拿进来。”刘乾把柴拿在门里，落下柴叶来。刘乾爱乾净，取扫帚把地下扫得光光的，方才将尖担绳子收拾停当等钱。老者出来，看见地下乾净：“今日小勤谨。”刘乾曰：“老丈，是我扫的。”老者曰：“老哥，今日是我小儿毕姻，遇著你这好人，又卖的好柴。”老者说罢，往里边去，只见一个孩子，捧著四个点心、一壶酒、一个碗：“员外与你吃。”刘乾叹曰：“姜先生真乃神仙也！我把这酒满满的斟一碗，那一碗浅些，也不算他准。”刘乾斟满一碗，再斟第二碗，一样不差。

One day a woodcutter appeared; his surname was Liu and given name Qian, carrying a load of firewood heading toward the southern gate. Suddenly he saw a fortune-telling shop; Liu Qian set down his firewood and read the couplet, reciting: "The universe is vast within one's sleeve; the days and months in a gourd are long." Liu Qian was originally from a fallen family in Chao Ge. He walked into the fortune-telling shop and saw Ziya lying over his desk. Liu Qian struck the table with one hand. Ziya was startled and, rubbing his eyebrows and eyes, looked up to see a man over five zhang tall with fierce glinting eyes. Ziya asked, "Brother, do you wish for a reading? Is it for physiognomy or fortune-telling?" The man said, "What is your surname, Master?" Ziya replied, "My humble surname is Jiang, given name Shang, courtesy name Ziya, and my other name is Feixiong." Liu Qian said, "Let me ask Master: 'The universe is vast within one's sleeves; the days and months in a gourds last long.' How do you explain this couplet?" Ziya said, "'The universe is vast within one's Sleeve' means knowing the past and future, encompassing myriad phenomena; "'The days and months in a Gourd last long' refers to the techniques of immortality." Liu Qian said, "Master speaks grandly. If you truly know the past and future, then your readings must be extremely accurate. Give me a reading. If it is correct, I will give you twenty qingfu coins; if it's wrong, I'll punch you a few times and won't allow you to open this shop here." Ziya thought to himself, "For months there has been no business at all. Today I have encountered this one customer, and he is a quarrelsome type." Ziya said, "Bring me a piece of paper to write on." Liu Qian took out a divination slip and handed it to Ziya. Ziya said, "This reading will only be accurate if you follow my instructions." Liu Qian replied, "I shall certainly obey you." Ziya said, "I will write four lines on the slip. Just go ahead." It read: "Go straight south; under a willow tree an old man waits. One hundred and twenty qingfu coins, four pastries, two bowls of wine." After reading it, Liu Qian said, "This reading is incorrect. I have been selling firewood for over twenty years; who has ever given me pastries and wine to eat? To put it plainly, your reading is wrong." Ziya said, "Go ahead; I guarantee this will be accurate for you." Liu Qian carried his firewood and went straight south; Indeed, he saw an old man standing under a willow tree who called out, "Firewood comes!" Liu Qian thought to himself, "What a good reading! Indeed, the words came true." The old man asked, "How much do you want for this firewood?" lington Liu Qian answered, "One hundred coins." ──I asked for twenty fewer coins, just to test him. The old man looked at it and said, "Fine firewood! Liu Qian's is good, the bundles are large; one hundred coins will do. Be so kind as to carry it in for me." Liu Qian carried the firewood inside the gate, and some leaves fell off. Liu Qian was particular about cleanliness, so he took a broom and swept the floor clean before finally tidying up his pole and ropes and waiting for payment. The old man came out and saw that the ground was clean: "You are a diligent young man today." Liu Qian said, "Sir, I swept it myself." The old man said, "Old friend, today is my son's wedding. Meeting you this good person and buying such fine firewood from you." After the old man finished speaking, he went inside. Soon a child came out holding four pastries, a pot of wine, and a bowl: "My master offers these to you." Liu Qian sighed and said, "Master Jiang is truly a divine being! I filled one bowl full with wine and left the other slightly less; that wouldn't count as an accurate reading." Liu Qian poured a full first bowl, then filled the second one equally, without any difference.

刘乾吃了酒，见老者出来，刘乾曰：“多谢员外。”老者拿两封钱出来，先递一百文与刘乾曰：“这是你的柴钱。”又将二十大钱递与刘乾曰：“今日是我小儿喜辰，这是与你做喜钱，买酒吃。”就把刘乾惊喜无地，想：“朝歌城出神仙了！”拿著尖担，迳往姜子牙命馆来。早晨有人听见刘乾言语不好，众人曰：“姜先生，这刘大不是好惹的；卦如果不准，你去罢。”子牙曰：“不妨。”众人俱在这里闲站，等刘乾来。

After drinking the wine, Liu Qian saw the old man come out and said, "Thank you very much, Master." The old man took out two bundles of money, first handing Liu Qian one hundred coins and saying, "This is the payment for your firewood." He then handed Liu Qian twenty large coins and said, "Today is my son's joyous occasion. This is a gift for you to celebrate with some wine." Liu Qian was overwhelmed with surprise and thought, "There must be immortals in Chao Ge city!" Carrying his pole, he went straight to Ziya's fortune-telling shop. In the morning, someone overheard Liu Qian speaking ill of others. The crowd said, "Master Jiang, this Liu Da is not a man to be trifled with; If your reading proves inaccurate, you had better leave." Ziya said calmly, "No problem." Everyone gathered here idly waiting for Liu Qian to arrive.

不一时，只见刘乾如飞前来。子牙问曰：“卦准不准？”刘乾大呼曰：“姜先生真神仙也！好准课！朝歌城中有此高人，万民有福，都知趋吉避凶！”子牙曰：“课既准了，取谢仪来。”刘乾曰：“二十文其实难为你，轻你。”口里只管念，不见拿出钱来。子牙曰：“课不准，兄便说闲话；课既准，可就送我课钱。如何只管口说！”刘乾曰：“就把一百二十文都送你，也还亏你。姜先生不要急，等我来。”刘乾站在檐前，只见南门那边来了一个人，腰束皮挺带，身穿布衫，行走如飞，刘乾赶上去，一把扯住那人。那人曰：“你扯我怎的？”刘乾曰：“不为别事，扯你算个命儿。”那人曰：“我有紧急公文要走路，我不算命。”刘乾曰：“此位先生，课命准的好，该照愿他一命。况举医荐卜，乃是好情。”那人曰：“兄真个好笑！我不算命，也由我。”刘乾大怒：“你算也不算？”那人道：“我不算！”刘乾曰：“你既不算，我与你跳河，把命配你！”一把拽住那人，就往河里跑。众人曰：“那朋友，刘大哥分上，算个命罢！”那人说：“我无甚事，怎的算命？”刘乾道：“算若不准，我替你出钱；若准，你还要买酒请我。”那人无法，见刘乾凶得紧，只得进子牙命馆来。那人是个公差有紧急事，等不的算八字：“看个卦罢。”扯下一个帖儿来与子牙看。子牙曰：“此卦做甚么用？”那人曰：“催钱粮。”子牙曰：“卦帖批与你去自验。此卦逢于艮，钱粮不必问。等候你多时，一百零三锭。”那人接了卦帖，问曰：“先生，一课该几个钱？”刘乾曰：“这课比众不同，五钱一课。”那人曰：“你又不是先生，你怎么定价？”刘乾曰：“不准包回换。五钱一课，还是好了你。”那人心忙意急，恐误了公事，只得称五钱银子去了。刘乾辞谢子牙。子牙曰：“承兄照愿。”众人在子牙命馆门前，看那催钱粮的如何。过了一时辰，那人押钱粮，到子牙命馆门前曰：“姜先生真乃神仙出世！果是一百零三锭。真不负五钱一课！”子牙从此时来，轰动一朝歌。军民人等，俱来算命看课，五钱一命。子牙收得起的银子。马氏欢喜，异人遂心。不觉光阴似箭，日月如梭，半年以后，远近闻名，都来推算，不在话下。

In no time, Liu Qian arrived flying in with excitement. Ziya asked, "Was the reading accurate?" Liu Qian shouted joyfully, "Master Jiang is truly an immortal! What an accurate reading!" There is such a great person in Chao Ge city; all the people are blessed, and everyone knows how to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune!" Ziya said, "Since the reading was accurate, bring me your gift of thanks." Liu Qian replied, "Twenty coins is really difficult for you to give; it's too little a token of appreciation." He kept saying this in words, but did not actually take out the money. Ziya said, "When the reading is inaccurate, you say all sorts of things; Now that it has proven accurate, please give me my payment for the reading." Why are you just talking without action!" Liu Qian said, "Even if I give you all one hundred and twenty coins, it's still not enough to show my gratitude. Master Jiang, don't be in a hurry; wait for me." Liu Qian stood at the eaves and saw a man coming from the southern gate. He wore a leather belt around his waist, a cloth robe on his body, and moved as fast as flying. Liu Qian rushed up to him and grabbed hold of the man's arm. The man said, "What do you want by grabbing me?" Liu Qian replied, "It's not for any other reason; I just want you to read my fortune." The man said, "I have urgent official documents to deliver and must be on my way. I do not cast fortunes." Liu Qian said, "This Master is very accurate in his readings; you should give him a fortune-reading as requested. Besides, recommending medicine and divination is an act of kindness." The man said, "You are really funny, brother! I don't cast fortunes if I choose not to; it's up to me." Liu Qian became very angry and asked, "Will you read my fortune or not?" The man replied, "I won't do it!" Liu Qian said, "Since you refuse to read my fortune, I will jump into the river with you and give my life to match yours!" He grabbed hold of the man and ran toward the river. The crowd said, "Friend, for Liu Da's sake, just read a fortune for him!" The man replied, "I have no particular business; why should I cast a fortune?" Liu Qian said, "If the reading is inaccurate, I will pay for it myself; if it proves accurate, you must buy me some wine." The man had no choice; seeing how determined Liu Qian was, he reluctantly entered Ziya's fortune-teller shop. The man was a government official with urgent business and could not wait for an eight-character reading: "Just cast me a hexagram, then." He took out a slip of paper and handed it to Ziya to read. Ziya asked, "What is this hexagram for?" The man replied, "To collect overdue taxes and grain." Ziya said, "I will write a reading on the slip for you to verify yourself. This hexagram is associated with Gen; there is no need to inquire about money or grain. You have been waiting for a long time, one hundred and three ingots." The man took the slip and asked, "Master, how much should I pay for this reading?" Liu Qian said, "This reading is different from others; it costs five coins per hexagram." The man asked, "You are not a master yourself. How can you set the price?" Liu Qian replied, "If it's inaccurate, I'll give it back and exchange it for another." Five coins per reading is still a good deal for you. The man, preoccupied and in a hurry to avoid delaying his official duties, had no choice but to weigh out five coins of silver and leave. Liu Qian bid farewell and thanked Ziya. Ziya said, "I appreciate your kindness." The crowd gathered in front of Ziya's fortune shop to see how the man collecting overdue taxes would fare. After a while, that man arrived at Ziya's shop with the collected money and grain and said, "Master Jiang is truly an immortal born in this age! It was indeed one hundred and three ingots. Truly, it is worth five coins for a reading!" From this time onward, Ziya became widely renowned throughout Chao Ge. Soldiers, civilians, and all sorts of people came to have their fortunes read, paying five coins per reading. Ziya accepted the silver he was paid. Madam Ma was delighted, and this extraordinary person found his heart's desire fulfilled. Time passed swiftly like an arrow, and the days and months flew by like a shuttle. After half a year, Ziya had become well known far and wide, with people coming from all directions to have their fortunes calculated—this need not be detailed further.

且说南门外轩辕坟中，有个玉石琵琶精，往朝歌城来看妲己，便在宫中夜食宫人。御花园太湖石下，白骨现天。琵琶精看罢出宫，欲回巢穴，驾著妖光，迳往南门过，只听得哄哄人语，扰嚷之声。妖精拨开妖光看时，却是姜子牙算命。妖精曰：“待我与他推算，看他如何？”妖精一化，变作一个妇人，身穿重孝，扭捏腰肢而言曰：“列位君子让一让，妾身算一命。”纣时人老诚，两边闪开。子牙正看命，见一妇人来的蹊跷。子牙定睛观看，认得是个妖精，暗思：“好孽畜！也来试我眼色。今日不除妖怪，等待何时！”子牙曰：“列位看命君子，‘男女授受不亲’，先让这小娘子算了去，然后依次算来。”众人曰：“也罢，我们让他先算。”妖精进了里面坐下。子牙曰：“小娘子，借右手一看。”妖精曰：“先生算命，难道也会风鉴？”子牙曰：“先看相，后算命。”妖精暗笑，把右手递与子牙看。子牙一把将妖精的寸关尺脉揝住，将丹田中先天元气，运上火眼金睛，把妖光钉住了。子牙不言，只管看著。妇人曰：“先生不相不言，我乃女流，如何拿住我手。快放手！旁人看著，这是何说！”旁人且多不知奥妙，齐齐大呼：“姜子牙，你年纪老大，怎干这样事！你贪爱此女姿色，对众欺骗，此乃天子日月脚下，怎这等无知，实为可恶！”子牙曰：“列位，此女非人，乃是妖精。”众人大喝曰：“好胡说！明明一个女子，怎说是妖精。”外面围看的挤嚷不开。子牙暗思：“若放了女子，妖精一去，青白难分。我既在此，当除妖怪，显我姓名。”子牙手中无物，止有一紫石砚台，用手抓起石砚，照妖精顶上响一声，打得脑浆喷出，血染衣襟。子牙不放手，还揝住了脉门，使妖精不得变化。两边人大叫：“莫等他走了！”众人齐喊：“算命的打死人！”重重叠叠围住了子牙命馆。不一时，打路的来，乃是亚相比干乘马来到，问左右：“为何众人喧嚷？”众人齐说：“丞相驾临，拿姜尚去见丞相爷！”比干勒住马，问：“甚么事？”内中有个抱不平的人跪下：“启老爷；此间有一人算命，叫做姜尚。适间有一个女子前来算命，他见女子姿色，便欲欺骗。女子贞洁不从，姜尚陡起凶心，提起石砚，照顶上一下打死，可怜血溅满身，死于非命。”比干听众口一辞，大怒，唤左右：“拿来！”子牙一只手拖住妖精，拖到马前跪下。比干曰：“看你皓头白须，如何不知国法，白日欺奸，女子良妇不从，为何执砚打死！人命关天，岂容恶党！勘问明白，以正大法。”子牙曰：“老爷在上，容姜尚禀明。姜尚自幼读书守礼，岂敢违法。但此女非人，乃是妖精。近日只见妖气贯于宫中，灾星历遍天下，小人既在辇毂之下，感当今皇上水土之恩，除妖灭怪，荡魔驱邪，以尽子民之志。此女实是妖怪，怎敢为非。望老爷细察，小民方得生路。”旁边众人，齐齐跪下：“老爷，此等江湖术士，利口巧言，遮掩狡诈，蔽惑老爷，众人经目，明明欺骗不从，逞凶打死；老爷若听他言，可怜女子衔冤，百姓负屈！”比干见众口难调，又见子牙拿住妇人手不放，此干问曰：“那姜尚，妇人已死，为何不放他手，这是何说？”子牙答曰：“小人若放他手，妖精去了，何以为证。”比干闻言，吩咐众民：“此处不可辨明，待吾启奏天子，便知清白。”众民围住子牙；子牙拖著妖精，往午门来。比干至摘星楼候旨。纣王宣比干见。比干进内，俯伏启奏。王曰：“朕无旨意，卿有何奏章？”比干奏曰：“臣过南门，有一术士算命，只见一女子算命，术士看女子是妖精，不是人，便将石砚打死。众民不服，齐言术士爱女子姿色，强奸不从，行凶将女子打死。臣据术士之言，亦似有理。然众人之言，又是经目可证。臣请陛下旨意定夺。”妲己在后听见比干奏此事，暗暗叫苦：“妹妹，你回巢穴去便罢了，算甚么命！今遇恶人打死，我必定与你报雠！”妲己出见纣王：“妾身奏闻陛下，亚相所奏，真假难辨。主上可传旨，将术士连女子拖至摘星楼下，妾身一观，便知端的。”纣王曰：“御妻之言是也。”传旨：“命术士将女子拖于摘星楼见驾。”旨意一出，子牙将妖精拖至摘星楼。子牙俯伏阶下，右手揝住妖精不放。纣王在九曲雕栏之外，王曰：“阶下俯伏何人？”子牙曰：“小民东海许州人氏，姓姜，名尚，幼访名师，秘授阴阳，善识妖魅。因尚住居都城，南门求食，不意妖氛作怪，来惑小民。被尚看破天机，剿除妖精于朝野，灭怪静其宫阙。姜尚一则感皇王都城覆载之恩，报师传秘授不虚之德。”王曰：“朕观此女，乃是人像，并非妖邪，何无破绽？”子牙曰：“陛下若要妖精现形，可取柴数担，炼此妖精，原形自现。”天子传旨；搬运柴薪至于楼下。子牙将妖精顶上用符印镇住原形，子牙方放了手，把女子衣服解开，前心用符，后心用印，镇住妖精四肢，拖在柴上，放起火来。好火！但见： 浓烟笼地角，黑雾锁天涯。积风生烈焰，赤火冒红霞。风乃火之师；火乃风之帅。风仗火行凶；火以风为害。滔滔烈火，无风不能成形；荡荡狂风，无火焉能取胜。风随火势，须臾时燎彻天关；火趁风威，顷刻间烧开地户。金蛇串绕，难逃火炙之殃；烈焰围身，大难飞来怎躲。好似老君扳倒炼丹炉，一块火光连地滚。

Now let us speak of the Xuan Yuan tomb outside the southern gate, where there was a jade and stone pipa spirit. It came to Chao Ge city to visit Daji and began preying on palace attendants at night within the palace. Beneath a Taihu stone in the imperial garden, white bones were exposed to the sky. After finishing its observation, the pipa spirit left the palace and intended to return to its lair. Riding on a streak of demonic light, it headed straight for the southern gate when suddenly it heard loud voices and clamor. The demon parted its magical aura to look and saw that it was Ziya casting fortunes. The demon thought, "Let me go cast a reading for him and see how he fares." The demon transformed, taking the form of a woman dressed in deep mourning attire. She twisted her waist and said with affected grace, "Ladies and gentlemen, please make way; I wish to have my fortune read." The people of the Zhou dynasty were old-fashioned and honest, so they stepped aside on both sides. Ziya was just examining a fortune when he noticed something odd about the woman who had come. Ziya fixed his gaze and recognized it as a demon. He thought to himself, "What an abominable beast!" It has come to test my discernment. "If I do not eliminate this demon today, then when?" Ziya said, "Ladies and gentlemen who have come to have your fortunes read, 'Men and women should not touch or receive things from each other.' Please let this young lady go first, then proceed in order." The crowd said, "Very well, we will let her go first." The demon went inside and sat down. Ziya said, "Young lady, please lend me a look at your right hand." The demon asked, "Master, when casting fortunes, do you also know palmistry?" Ziya said, "First look at the face, then cast the fortune." The demon smiled secretly and extended her right hand for Ziya to examine. Ziya suddenly seized the demon's pulse at the cun, guan, and chi points. Drawing upon his innate primordial energy from his lower dantian, he directed it to his fiery golden eyes, pinning down the demonic aura. Ziya said nothing and simply continued watching. The woman said, "Master, you neither examine my features nor speak. I am but a mere woman; how can you hold my hand like this?" Quickly let go! Those watching on the side were puzzled, saying, "What is this about?" Most of those nearby did not understand the subtleties and all shouted together, "Master Jiang Ziya, you are so old; how could you do such a thing!" "You are lusting after this woman's beauty and deceiving the crowd. This is under the sun and moon of the Son of Heaven; how could you be so ignorant? It is truly despicable!" Ziya said, "Everyone, this woman is not human—she is a demon." The crowd shouted in unison, "How absurd!" "She is clearly a woman; how can you say she is a demon?" Outside, the onlookers were crowded and could not part. Ziya thought to himself, "If I let this woman go, the demon will escape and it will be hard to distinguish truth from falsehood." "Now that I am here, I must eliminate this demon and demonstrate my name and reputation." Ziya had nothing in his hand but a purple stone inkstone. He seized the stone with his hands and struck it down upon the demon's head with a loud sound, smashing its skull so that brains splattered out and blood stained its clothes. Ziya did not let go but continued to hold the demon's pulse point, preventing it from transforming. People on both sides shouted, "Don't let him escape!" The crowd cried out together, "The fortune-teller has killed a person!" People crowded in layers around Ziya's fortune-telling shop. In no time, a passerby arrived—it was the Grand Chancellor Bi Gan riding on horseback. He asked those around him, "Why are so many people shouting and clamoring?" The crowd shouted in un chorus, "Minister-in-Chief has arrived! Take Jiang Shang to see Minister-in-Chief!" Bi Gan reined in his horse and asked, "What is the matter?" Among them, a person who felt it was unjust knelt down and said, "Your Honor," "Here is a fortune-teller named Jiang Shang." Just now, a woman came to have her fortune read. He saw the woman's beauty and wished to deceive her. The woman, chaste and unwilling to comply, refused. Jiang Shang suddenly developed murderous intent, picked up an inkstone, and struck her on the head, killing her instantly. Poor thing—blood splattered all over her body, and she died a tragic death." Bi Gan, hearing the same account from everyone, became furious. He called to his attendants, "Seize him!" With one hand, Ziya dragged the demon before Bi Gan's horse and made it kneel down. Bi Gan said, "Looking at you with your white hair and beard, how could you not know the law of the state? You commit lewd acts in broad daylight. When a virtuous woman refuses you, why did you kill her by striking her with an inkstone?" A human life is of the utmost importance; how can we tolerate such wickedness! We must investigate and clarify the matter to uphold justice." Ziya said, "Your Honor above, please allow me, Jiang Shang, to explain. "Jiang Shang has studied and observed propriety since childhood; how could I dare to break the law?" "But this woman is not a human being—she is a demon." "Recently, I have seen demonic aura pervading the palace, and calamitous stars spreading across the land. As a humble subject under the imperial capital, I feel deeply indebted to His Majesty's grace of soil and water; therefore, I must eliminate demons and monsters, dispel evil spirits, and drive away malevolence in order to fulfill my duty as a loyal citizen." "This woman is indeed a demon; how dare she commit such wickedness?" "I beg Your Honor to investigate carefully, so that I may find a way to survive." The people around him all knelt down together and said, "Your Honor, this kind of itinerant fortune-teller uses smooth words and cunning tricks to deceive you. We have seen with our own eyes how he lied and refused to comply before committing murder out of cruelty; If Your Honor listens to his words, the poor woman will carry an unjust death, and the people will suffer wrongfully!" Bi Gan, seeing that the crowd could not be reconciled and observing Ziya still holding onto the woman's hand without letting go, asked, "Jiang Shang, since this woman is already dead, why do you continue to hold her hand? What explanation can you give for this?" Ziya replied, "If I release my grip, the demon will vanish and there will be no evidence to prove anything." Upon hearing this, Bi Gan instructed the crowd, "This matter cannot be resolved here. I shall report it to His Majesty and then we will know the truth." The crowd surrounded Ziya; dragging the demon with him, heading toward Wumen Gate. Bi Gan went to Zhixing Lou to await an imperial decree. King Zhou summoned Bi Gan for an audience. Bi Gan entered the palace, knelt down, and presented his report. The king said, "I have not issued any decree; what is it that you wish to present?" Bi Gan reported, "Your Majesty, while passing through the southern gate, I encountered a fortune-teller. He claimed that a woman who came to have her fortune cast was actually a demon and not human, so he struck her with an inkstone and killed her." The people were dissatisfied and all claimed that the fortune-teller had lusted after the woman's beauty, attempted to rape her when she refused, and then committed murder. Minister Bi Gan added, "According to the fortune-teller's account, it also seems plausible." "However, what the people say is supported by eyewitnesses and can be verified." Minister Bi Gan continued, "I respectfully request Your Majesty's decree to decide this matter." Daji, hearing Bi Gan report the incident from behind, secretly groaned to herself, "Sister, you should have just returned to your lair and not meddled in casting fortunes! Now that you've been killed by a wicked person, I will certainly take revenge for you!" Daji stepped forward to address King Zhou: "Your Majesty, the Grand Minister's report is difficult to verify as true or false. The King may issue an order to bring the fortune-teller and the woman down to Zhixing Lou, where I shall take a look and immediately know the truth." King Zhou said, "Your words are correct, my dear consort." An imperial decree was issued: "Order the fortune-teller to bring the woman to Zhixing Lou for an audience with His Majesty." Upon receiving the decree, Ziya dragged the demon to Zhixing Lou. Ziya knelt at the foot of the steps and continued to hold onto the demon's right hand with his own, refusing to let go. King Zhou, standing beyond the nine-curved carved balustrade, asked, "Who is the person kneeling at the foot of these steps?" Ziya said, "I am a humble commoner from Xu Zhou in the East Sea. My name is Jiang Shang. Since childhood I have sought out renowned teachers and secretly studied yin-yang divination; I am skilled at identifying demons and spirits." "Because I reside in the capital city, I was seeking sustenance near the southern gate. Unexpectedly, a demonic aura caused mischief and came to deceive the common people." I discovered its secret and eliminated this demon from both court and countryside, destroying monsters and calming the palace. "Jiang Shang feels a deep sense of gratitude for His Majesty's capital city providing shelter and protection, as well as the virtue of my master's secret teachings which have not been in vain." The king said, "I observe this woman and see that she is a human likeness, not an evil spirit. Why do you claim there are no flaws in her?" Ziya said, "If Your Majesty wishes to see the demon's true form, you may gather several bundles of firewood and burn this demon; her original form will then reveal itself." The Son of Heaven issued an imperial decree; firewood was carried and piled beneath the pavilion. Ziya placed a talisman and seal on the demon's head to fix its original form. Only then did he release his grip, undressed the woman, applied a talisman to her chest and a seal to her back to immobilize all four limbs of the demon. He dragged it onto the pile of firewood and set it ablaze. What fierce flames! One could see: Thick smoke shrouded the corners of the earth, and dark mist locked down the horizon. Accumulated winds gave rise to fierce flames, and crimson fire surged with red clouds. Wind is the master of fire; Fire is the general of wind. Wind uses fire to carry out its cruelty; Fire takes advantage of the wind to cause harm. Surging fierce flames cannot take shape without wind; Vast and wild winds, without fire, could not achieve victory. Wind follows the momentum of fire; in a moment, flames reach up to the heavenly gates; Fire takes advantage of wind's might and, in an instant, burns open the gate of Earth. Golden serpents coiled around, yet could not escape the calamity of fire scorching; Surrounded by fierce flames, how could one avoid such a great disaster? It was as if the old sage Laozi had overturned his alchemical furnace, and a mass of fiery light rolled across the ground.

子牙用火炼妖精，烧炼两个时辰，上下浑身，不曾烧枯了些儿。纣王问亚相比干曰：“朕观烈火焚烧两个时辰，浑身也不焦烂，真乃妖怪！”比干奏曰：“若看此事，姜尚亦是奇人。但不知此妖终是何物作怪。”王曰：“卿问姜尚，此妖果是何物成精？”比干下楼，问子牙。子牙答曰：“要此妖现真形，这也不难。”子牙用三昧真火烧此妖精。不知妖精性命如何，且听下回分解。

Ziya used fire to purify the demon; after burning for two hours, not a single part of its body from head to toe was scorched at all. King Zhou asked Yabi Bi Gan, "I have observed the fierce fire burning for two hours and yet its whole body is not even scorched or burned. Truly, it must be a demon!" Bi Gan replied, "Judging by this matter, Jiang Shang is also an extraordinary person." "But I do not know what kind of creature it ultimately is that causes such mischief." The king said, "You should ask Jiang Shang; what exactly has this demon transformed from?" Bi Gan went downstairs and asked Ziya. Ziya replied, "To make this demon reveal its true form is not difficult at all." Ziya used the Threefold True Fire to burn this demon. Whether or not the demon's life was taken remains to be seen in the next episode.