Being entirely ignorant of what had taken place, Li Ching sought No-cha to question him.

An Unruly Son

No-cha was in the garden, occupied in weaving the belt of dragon-sinew.  The stupefaction of Li Ching may be imagined.  “You have brought most awful misfortunes upon us,” he exclaimed.  “Come and give an account of your conduct.”  “Have no fear,” replied No-cha superciliously; “his son’s sinews are still intact; I will give them back to him if he wishes.”

When they entered the house he saluted the Dragon-king, made a curt apology, and offered to return his son’s sinews.  The father, moved with grief at the sight of the proofs of the tragedy, said bitterly to Li Ching:  “You have such a son and yet dare to deny his guilt, though you heard him haughtily admitting it!  To-morrow I shall report the matter to Yue Huang.”  Having spoken thus, he departed.

Li Ching was overwhelmed at the enormity of his son’s crime.  His wife, in an adjoining room, hearing his lamentations, went to her husband.  “What obnoxious creature is this that you have brought into the world?” he said to her angrily.  “He has slain two spirits, the son of Lung Wang and a steward sent by the King of Heaven.  To-morrow the Dragon-king is to lodge a complaint with Yue Huang, and two or three days hence will see the end of our existence.”

The poor mother began to weep copiously.  “What!” she sobbed, “you whom I suffered so much for, you are to be the cause of our ruin and death!”

No-cha, seeing his parents so distracted, fell on his knees.  “Let me tell you once for all,” he said, “that I am no ordinary mortal.  I am the disciple of T’ai-i Chen-jen; my magic weapons I received from him; it is they which brought upon me the undying hatred of Lung Wang.  But he cannot prevail.  To-day I will go and ask my master’s advice.  The guilty alone should suffer the penalty; it is unjust that his parents should suffer in his stead.”

Drastic Measures

He then left for Ch’ien-yuean Shan, and entered the cave of his master T’ai-i Chen-jen, to whom he related his adventures.  The master dwelt upon the grave consequences of the murders, and then ordered No-cha to bare his breast.  With his finger he drew on the skin a magic formula, after which he gave him some secret instructions.  “Now,” he said, “go to the gate of Heaven and await the arrival of Lung Wang, who purposes to accuse you before Yue Huang.  Then you must come again to consult me, that your parents may not be molested because of your misdeeds.”

When No-cha reached the gate of Heaven it was closed.  In vain he sought for Lung Wang, but after a while he saw him approaching.  Lung Wang did not see No-cha, for the formula written by T’ai-i Chen-jen rendered him invisible.  As Lung Wang approached the gate No-cha ran up to him and struck him so hard a blow with his golden bracelet that he fell to the ground.  Then No-cha stamped on him, cursing him vehemently.