第188部分(第2/7 页)

　white　face；　he　on　the　right　was　swarthy　of　countenance　with　a　curly　beard。　And　they　followed　the　figure　with　the　shining　blade。　They　floated　along　on　a　cloud　which　came　to　rest　on　the　summit　of　the　mountain。

The　recluse　recognized　the　figure　as　that　of　Guan　Yu；　so　with　his　yak's　tail　flagellum　he　smote　the　lintel　of　his　hut　and　cried；　〃Where　is　Guan　Yu？〃

The　spirit　understood；　and　the　figure　dismounted；　glided　down；　and　came　to　rest　at　the　door　of　the　hut。

Interlacing　its　fingers；　it　stood　in　a　reverential　attitude　and　said；　〃Who　is　my　teacher；　and　what　is　his　name　in　the　faith？〃

〃In　the　State　Guardian　Temple　in　River　Si　Pass；　I　once　saw　you；　O　Noble　Sir；　and　I　was　not　likely　to　forget　your　face；〃　replied　the　priest。

〃I　am　deeply　grateful　for　the　help　you　gave　me。　Misfortune　has　befallen　me；　and　I　have　ceased　to　live。　I　would　seek　the　pure　instruction　and　beg　you　to　indicate　the　obscure　way。〃

〃Let　us　not　discuss　former　wrongdoings　nor　present　correct　actions。　Later　events　are　the　inevitable　result　of　former　causes。　I　know　that　Lu　Meng　has　injured　you。　You　call　aloud　for　the　return　of　your　head。　But　who　will　also　return　the　heads　of　your　several　victims………Yan　Liang；　Wen　Chou；　and　the　manders　of　the　five　passes？〃

Thereupon　Guan　Yu　seemed　suddenly　to　prehend；　bowed　in　token　of　assent；　and　disappeared。　After　this　appearance　to　the　recluse；　his　spirit　wandered　hither　and　thither　about　the　mountain；　manifesting　its　sacred　character　and　guarding　the　people。

Impressed　by　his　virtue；　the　inhabitants　built　a　temple　on　the　Mount　of　the　Jade　Spring；　wherein　they　sacrificed　at　the　four　seasons。　In　later　days；　one　wrote　a　couplet　for　the　temple；　the　first　member　reading：

〃Ruddy　faced；　reflecting　the　honest　heart　within；