Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 135 Nezha Subdues the Dragon

Myths and legends usually have an extremely long evolutionary process.

As Lu Beigu observed at the Buddha Bathing Festival in Hejiang County, the current version of "Journey to the West" has only just begun to develop the characters of the Monkey King and the Sand God.

Therefore, there is no trace of "Investiture of the Gods," a work based on "Journey to the West."

The reason Lu Beigu thought of "Investiture of the Gods" was because when he heard Han Ziyu mention "nursery rhymes," he knew that the story needed to be something that children liked to sing, and it couldn't be too complicated.

Given this premise, and considering that the entire city of Luchuan is now being flooded both inside and outside, what story could be more fitting than "Nezha subduing the dragon after the flooding of Chentang Pass"?
In fact, the image of Nezha gradually became localized in China with the introduction of Buddhism, while the association with the Dragon King can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. The Dunhuang mural "Vaisravana, the Heavenly King, Attends the Meeting of Nezha" depicts a scene of Nezha and the Dragon King together.

The most classic plot of "pulling out the dragon's tendons" only just began to take shape during the reign of Emperor Renzong, as mentioned in the Buddhist scripture "The Supreme Secret Sutra of Nezha" which describes Nezha "using dragons as armpits and waistbands".

As for Nezha subduing the dragon, we have to wait until the Yuan Dynasty zaju play "Erlang Shen Drunkenly Shoots the Demon-Locking Mirror" to see Nezha subdue the one-horned, reverse-scaled dragon in his child form, marking the transition of the entire story from religious text to folk interpretation.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Beigu decided to adapt the image of Nezha from "The Complete Collection of the Origins of the Three Teachings and the Search for Gods" to the current situation in Luchuan City, and write a myth that would be easy for children to sing.

The plot of this myth obviously cannot be too complicated, nor can the language be too elaborate.

If the language is ornate and full of classical allusions, ordinary people simply cannot understand it, let alone sing it.

Lu Beigu picked up his pen and began to write in front of Han Ziyu's desk.

Han Ziyu watched from the side and found that the mythological story called "Nezha Subdues the Dragon" seemed to have an interesting beginning.

“Ao Bing, the Dragon Prince of the East Sea, was ferocious and cruel. Relying on the power of the Water God, he demanded young boys and girls as sacrifices every year. Chen Tang Pass bowed down and accepted the sacrifices for nine years, and the people all wept blood with their bones in their mouths.”

Nezha was the son of Li Jing, the garrison commander of Chentang Pass. He was born from a spirit pearl and was favored by the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, who bestowed upon him the Qiankun Ring and the Hun Tian Ling.

When Nezha was seven years old, a great drought struck, and the land was parched for miles.

Instead of bringing rain, Ao Bing sent sea demons to seize young boys and girls on the shore. Nezha, enraged, came to their rescue. Upon hearing the news, Ao Bing revealed his true form and opened his mouth to pounce.

Nezha shouted, "You wicked beast, how dare you!"

Ao Bing was then killed by the Qiankun Ring, his tendons were pulled out and used as a rope, and his body was hung on the reef. The demon generals were terrified and reported to the Dragon King of the East Sea.

The Dragon King was terrified and arrived with a surging wave, the waters rising a thousand fathoms high and flooding the pond.

Han Ziyu asked, "Does the Dragon King's flooding of Chentang Pass refer to Luchuan City, which is currently besieged by floods?"

"exactly."

Lu Beigu rewrote the story based on reality, aiming to make it truly influential in shaping public opinion in the city. He definitely needed to add some content that best fit the current situation.

He then continued writing.

"The gentry and elders of Chentang Pass were terrified and went to Li Jing, saying: 'Your son has acted violently, extracting the dragon's marrow and cutting off our livelihood in Chentang! We beg the general to consider the people of Guanzhong and offer this child to appease the dragon's wrath!'"

The elders retorted, "The walls may be sturdy, but how can our flesh and blood withstand the dragon's thunder? To sacrifice one person to save a city—is this not a greater cause?"

Nezha wanted to fight, but Jing stopped him and took away his treasure.

Nezha's eyes widened in fury: "Father, you've knelt before the dragon for nine years to feed human children, and now you're offering your own son to the demon? Though I am young, I know the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' The Dragon King's concern is merely that within Chen Tang Pass, I still have a fighting chance with my two treasures, the Universe Ring and the Heavenly Silk. If you offer me up, then Chen Tang Pass will cease to exist!"

Jing remained silent.

Nezha then drew his sword and declared resolutely, "Old Nezha, how can I burden the people for the sake of one person! I will return this body and blood to my parents; do not harm the people of Chentang!"

With Nezha eliminated, the Dragon King had no more worries. He revealed his true form and said, "How can the grudge of one son be appeased?"

The gentry and elders of Chentang Pass were greatly alarmed, but there was no one left to ward off the demon.

Han Ziyu's gaze fell on the section where the Dragon King still flooded Chen Tang Pass after Nezha's suicide. He frowned slightly, then relaxed and smiled, "Brother Lu's writing is extremely sharp. The metaphor of those 'gentry' who forced Li Jing to offer his son in order to protect themselves is cleverly used."

A great writer saves the world through his writing.

Clearly, once the Han family starts offering low-priced grain to the elderly and weak in the city, as the myth spreads, the common people of Luchuan will automatically associate this only life-saving grain store with the character of "Nezha".

The immense pressure this character faces in the story, as well as the choices and endings they ultimately make, will serve as a metaphor for reality!

"Li Jing stood atop the city wall, looking up at the Dragon King stirring up clouds and unleashing thunder, and looking down at the countless people perishing in the waves, his heart breaking with despair."

Suddenly recalling Nezha's words while brandishing his sword, his heart pounded with rage: 'My son! Your father, blinded by worldly principles, has forged this calamity!'

At that time, a golden light pierced through the darkness of Qianyuan Mountain, and the True Man Taiyi arrived from the void.

Suddenly, a thousand red lotus petals flew from her sleeve, treading on the water without sinking, and gathered into a sixteen-foot lotus platform.

The immortal pointed and roared, "Where is the Spirit Pearl? If you do not awaken now, will you wait until the calamity washes away all living beings?"

In an instant, the sea boiled and churned.

Nezha's primordial spirit soared from the bottom of the waves and stood on a lotus platform!

The immortal man waved his sleeves, and the lotus root transformed into golden armor, the red stamen into a sharp spear, and the lotus stem into a long ribbon. He also drew upon the karmic fire of the Nine Netherworlds to solidify the twin wheels.

But behold: the flaming spear trembles, burning rain and steaming clouds; the wind-fire wheel turns, plowing through waves.

Nezha leaped into the air on flames, his eyes piercing the heavens, and once again fought the Dragon King, who was utterly defeated and fled.

From then on, the calamities ceased, and the people found peace.

Lu Beigu's brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes, seamlessly depicting the story of Taiyi Zhenren reshaping Nezha's physical body, bestowing upon him magical treasures, and their subsequent battle against the Dragon King.

Han Ziyu watched intently, holding her breath, until the last word was uttered, at which point she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" His eyes gleamed with admiration. "The plot is full of twists and turns, and what's even more remarkable is the saying 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold' and 'offering one's son for safety only brings disaster,' which speaks directly to people's hearts! Especially the part where Nezha reshapes his Dharma body and rides the waves to subdue the dragon, the momentum is so powerful that it will surely captivate children and be recited by word of word!"

He picked up the paper, still damp with ink, and read it again carefully.

"Brother Han, you flatter me." Lu Beigu's expression remained calm. "However, for the story to be passed down, it needs to be refined further. I would appreciate it if Brother Han could take the time to extract its essence and create catchy rhymes for children. Using this complete story as the 'base text' would make it even more effective for storytellers and peddlers to spread it."

"It's easy."

Han Ziyu carefully blew the manuscript dry, folded it neatly, and put it away: "My family has a clever person who is best at this. Brother Lu, rest assured, the source of this story will never involve you."

Clearly, for these large local families in Luzhou, spreading rumors is no difficult task.

He paused, looking at Lu Beigu with a probing look in his eyes.

"But in this ending, although Nezha was reborn, defeated the Dragon King, and relieved the calamity of Chentang Pass, he had ultimately 'died' once. Brother Lu, did you have something to say about this?"

Lu Bei looked out the window. The state school was shrouded in a misty rain, with raindrops pouring down from the eaves and tapping on the bluestone steps.

"I just want to tell the people who are listening to the story that some things, such as 'hope' and 'resistance', will never truly die."

Lu Beigu's voice was not loud, but it carried a power that pierced through the rain.

"Even if it is suppressed for a time, it will always return with a stronger force when the time is right. Those who try to exchange compromise for a temporary peace will often end up not even getting that peace."

(End of this chapter)