In the quiet of the night, a young man from the Chi family, clever and fond of strange tales, enjoyed the art of printing and was skilled in observing ancient curiosities. One evening, he heard that the secluded pond was full of wonders, so he set out at night. As the night deepened and the hour grew late, he walked alongside the pond. The moon was obscured and the stars sparse, with faint blue phosphorescence dotting the path, creating a desolate atmosphere. Upon reaching the pond's edge, the silver moon emerged from the clouds, illuminating the scene with a bright, fragrant light, and the pond shimmered beautifully. Suddenly, he heard the sound of water gurgling, and the pond's surface began to ripple, as if something was stirring beneath.
Something rose from the water, revealing a handsome young man. The young man's face resembled a crown of jade, his appearance like that of a celestial being, with eyes that contained the autumn's water, dressed in blue with flowing sleeves, holding a white lotus that swayed gracefully. He looked at the boat and smiled, saying, "I am a giant catfish, the spirit of this spring, having cultivated for a hundred years. This night is a fine one, with the sky bright and clear; if I shed my scales and transform into a dragon, I will need the assistance of yang energy. If you help me, my achievements will be realized."
The young man hesitated, unsure if this was a true spirit or a deceptive being. Just then, a fierce wind arose, dark clouds covered the moon, and the stars lost their luster. The giant catfish, in a panic, said, "This must be an evil spirit obstructing my path to immortality; come with me to my water palace for refuge!" The young man, feeling compelled, followed the giant catfish into the water. The water palace was deep and unfathomable, adorned with pearls and jewels. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed, and a violent storm approached. An evil spirit descended from the sky, appearing before them with terrifying, jagged teeth. The young man was horrified and drew his sword to confront the enemy. The giant catfish laughed and said, "Do not be afraid! This is merely a transformed enemy from my past." The ghost sneered, saying, "You foolishly seek to transform into a dragon! Tonight, I will devour you both!"
The giant catfish, enraged, fought fiercely against the ghost, with the young man also assisting in the battle. However, as the fight continued, the giant catfish's strength began to wane. Suddenly, dark winds arose, and the ghost howled like a wolf. The giant catfish urgently said, "This is no ordinary foe; we cannot fight it head-on." He then produced an ancient bronze mirror and handed it to the young man, saying, "Use this mirror to reflect its image, and you can repel the demon." Following his advice, the young man used the mirror to shine upon the ghost. In a moment of crisis, the giant catfish suddenly dove down and bit its own tail fin. A loud sound broke the air as the giant catfish transformed into a white light, soaring into the sky. The evil spirit was greatly frightened and attempted to flee in panic. The bronze mirror emitted a brilliant light, causing the ghost to wail and transform into a wisp of black smoke, disappearing with the wind.
The giant catfish gradually descended, taking on a human form. It said to the young man, "You are my destined benefactor! If you assist me tonight, I can transform into a dragon and ascend to the heavenly realm! In this world, good and evil are hard to discern; please accept this pearl and cultivate yourself." After speaking, it transformed into silver light and sank to the bottom of the pond. After a moment, the silver light re-emerged, and a bright pearl floated to the surface, flying into the young man's hand. The pearl sparkled brilliantly, warm as jade, containing a rainbow of colors that flowed endlessly. This was a deep pearl, capable of helping one remain safe amidst turbulent waves. The young man bowed in gratitude to the pond and departed.
In later years, many came to the secluded pond in search of wonders, but none encountered the giant catfish again. Some claimed that deep within the pond, there were flashes of light like pearls, and at night, faint sounds of laughter and singing could be heard by the pond. It is said that on nights of the full moon, one could see a handsome young man lingering by the pond, either reciting poetry or singing softly, his voice clear and melodious.
Ah! Is it true or false? Can the son of the Chi family truly attain enlightenment with this pearl? Who can question the impermanence of the world?