Zhu Erdan of Lingyang possessed a bold and unrestrained spirit, yet his natural aptitude was dull. Despite diligent study, he repeatedly failed to pass the imperial examinations. One day, while drinking with friends, someone jested, "Brother Zhu, I hear you are exceptionally brave. If you dare venture tonight to the Ten Kings Temple and carry back the statue of the Judge (Panguan), I’ll treat you to dinner."

Zhu Erdan laughed, "A trivial matter, easily done." With that, he strode out the door.

The Ten Kings Temple stood in the eastern suburbs, filled with countless wooden carvings of Yama Kings and minor demons. Among them was one with a green face, a scarlet beard, and a terrifying countenance—the statue of the Judge.

Before long, a loud shout echoed from outside, "Gentlemen, I have brought back the Grand Master with the long beard!" The scholars welcomed him inside, but upon seeing the Judge’s face, they all shrank back in fear, exclaiming, "Quickly take him back, quickly take him back!"

Zhu Erdan sprinkled wine upon the ground, apologizing to the statue, "Your student was foolish and presumptuous. Please, Grand Master, do not take offense. My humble abode is not far from here; if the Immortal venerable does not disdain the invitation, you are welcome anytime for a few cups of light wine. Do not decline on account of the boundary between men and gods."

The next night, Zhu Erdan returned home from feasting with his friends to find an extra person inside. Focusing his gaze, he saw it was the very Judge! Startled, he exclaimed, "Alas, it seems I am to die. I offended an immortal last night, and tonight you have come to settle the score."

The Judge stroked his beard and chuckled, "Not so. Young Master invited me with such enthusiasm last night; I happen to be free now and have specially come to keep the appointment. Is there wine?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I shall start a fire to warm the wine immediately."

The Judge replied, "No need for trouble. The weather is warm; cold drink will suffice."

Zhu Erdan meekly agreed, "Yes, yes, venerable Immortal, please sit for a moment. I shall instruct my wife to prepare some accompanying dishes."

Presently, the wine and food were served. Man and ghost clinked cups and exchanged toasts. Zhu Erdan asked, "What is the venerable Immortal's esteemed surname?"

The Judge replied, "My surname is Lu. I have no given name; simply call me Judge Lu."

Zhu Erdan inquired, "Venerable Immortal governs the Underworld; your experience must be extraordinary. Do you understand the Eight-Legged Essay?"

Judge Lu responded, "Studying and composing essays in the netherworld is much the same as in the mortal realm. We can certainly discern the quality of the writing."

The two conversed animatedly. Judge Lu proved to have an immense capacity for drink, downing over ten cups of strong liquor without his expression changing. Zhu Erdan could not match him in a drinking contest and was soon thoroughly intoxicated. When he awoke, Judge Lu had already departed.

From then on, Judge Lu would visit every two or three days—drinking, discussing literature, and chatting cheerfully. When drunk, he would sleep alongside Zhu Erdan. Zhu Erdan would present his essays for Judge Lu’s critique. Judge Lu would circle the inappropriate sections with a red brush and shake his head, saying, "The quality is rotten, completely rotten."

One night, Zhu Erdan awoke with a sharp pain in his abdomen. He was startled awake to see Judge Lu sitting before him, slicing open his belly and carefully laying out his intestines one by one. He asked in alarm, "Venerable Immortal, I bear you no grudge, why do you kill me?"

Judge Lu laughed, "Fear not. I am changing your heart." As he spoke, he brought the incisions back together, tying them up with thread.

Zhu Erdan saw a bloody object in his hand and asked, "What is this?"

Judge Lu replied, "This is your original heart, Young Master. Your creative speed is insufficient because your heart orifice is blocked. I have selected the finest heart from thousands in the Underworld to replace yours. From now on, when you write, your prose will flow smoothly and your brush will become wonderfully brilliant."

After the heart transplant, Zhu Erdan’s literary inspiration surged, and he gained perfect recall. That evening, Judge Lu visited again. Zhu Erdan presented his newest Eight-Legged Essay for Judge Lu’s perusal. Judge Lu read it carefully and said, "The writing is quite good, but your destiny is meager, Young Master. You are fated only to pass as a Juren (Provincial Graduate)."

Zhu Erdan asked, "When will I pass?"

Judge Lu stated, "In this year’s examination, you will certainly have your name posted on the Golden List."

Soon after, the college examination began, and Zhu Erdan placed first, qualifying as a Xiucai (Budding Talent). In the subsequent provincial examination, he again placed first, qualifying as a Juren.

That night, Judge Lu returned for another feast. During the meal, Zhu Erdan pleaded, "A while ago, I benefited greatly from your washing my intestines and changing my heart. Now I have one more matter that troubles you; I wonder if you might grant my request."

Judge Lu asked, "What is it? Tell me."

Zhu Erdan said, "Venerable Immortal possesses heaven-defying abilities. Since you could change a heart, could you perhaps change a head? My wife has a fine figure, but her features are not beautiful enough. I wonder if the venerable Immortal could wield his axe and chisel for me, what do you say?"

Judge Lu replied, "No problem, but a fine head is hard to come by. Allow me time to find a solution."

A few days later, Judge Lu knocked late at night, holding a bundle. He said, "The matter you requested of me last time was difficult to source, but today I finally found a beautiful head and have come to fulfill my promise." As he spoke, he opened the bundle, revealing a woman’s severed head inside, exquisitely featured and breathtakingly beautiful.

Zhu Erdan was overjoyed and led the way to his wife's room. The door was firmly bolted from the inside, and no amount of force could open it. Judge Lu smiled faintly, "Allow me." He placed his palm against the door and pushed gently; the door swung open. He entered, lit a candle, and examined by the light. His wife lay asleep, her expression peaceful.

Judge Lu approached the bedside, pulled a dagger from his boot, and sliced lightly across Zhu’s wife's neck—it yielded as easily as tofu—and her head fell away. Then, unhurriedly, he took out the beautiful head and replaced it, aligning and setting the position meticulously. He laughed, "Done. Find a place to hide your wife's old head, and I shall take my leave."

The next morning, the wife awoke feeling an uncomfortable soreness and stickiness around her neck. When she touched it, her hand met congealed blood. She was startled, and just then, the maid brought a basin of clean water for washing her face; the entire basin instantly turned bright red. She took a mirror and looked; the reflection showed features drawn like a painting, as beautiful as a fairy—it was utterly unrecognizable as her former self.

But whose new head was this?

It turned out that Censor Wu had a daughter, nineteen years old, of striking beauty. On the night of the Lantern Festival, she visited the Ten Kings Temple. Amidst the crowd of sightseers, a scoundrel, infatuated with Miss Wu’s looks, secretly discovered her residence. Under the cover of darkness, he climbed the wall and sneaked into her private chambers with the intent to violate her. When Miss Wu resisted, she angered the scoundrel, who severed her head with a single slash.

When the tragic news arrived, her family was heartbroken. They hastily prepared the body for burial and conducted the funeral rites, ordering the maid to guard the mourning hall. Who could have imagined that by dawn the next day, the young lady's head was missing—naturally, it had been taken by Judge Lu.

Ignorant of the truth, the family lodged a complaint with the magistrate. The county magistrate dispatched constables to apprehend the murderer, but after three months, the case made no progress. Soon after, the news that Zhu Erdan’s wife had a new head reached Censor Wu's ears. Censor Wu was enraged and went to Zhu Erdan to demand an explanation. Zhu Erdan argued, "My wife’s head was swapped in her sleep; I truly have no idea how it happened. Sir, to accuse me of murdering your daughter is to wrongfully accuse an innocent man, is it not?"

Censor Wu would not believe him and brought the case to the public court, where the magistrate was also greatly troubled and unable to make a ruling. Involving himself in a lawsuit, Zhu Erdan could only seek help from Judge Lu. Judge Lu chuckled, "This matter is not difficult. I will have Miss Wu explain the truth herself."

That night, Censor Wu dreamt that his daughter appeared, saying, "Your child was killed by Yang Danian of Suxi, and has nothing to do with Young Master Zhu. Young Master Zhu disliked his wife’s ugly appearance, so Judge Lu swapped the head with your daughter’s. Though your daughter is dead, her head lives on. Father, please do not trouble the Zhu family."

Upon waking, Censor Wu discussed the dream with his wife, who had experienced an identical vision. Fearing to delay, they immediately reported the dreams to the magistrate. The magistrate dispatched subordinates to arrest Li Danian at once. Under interrogation, Li Danian confessed his guilt.

Life returned to peace afterward, but Zhu Erdan failed to pass the Metropolitan Examination in Beijing three times, growing disheartened. Thirty years later, Judge Lu told him, "Young Master, your lifespan has reached its limit. You will die soon."

"When will I die?"

"In five days."

"Is there a cure?"

"It is decreed by fate; how can it be altered? In the eyes of an open-minded person, life and death are but cycles. What joy is there in living, and what fear is there in dying?"

Zhu Erdan nodded, "The Venerable Immortal speaks wisdom." He then purchased a coffin and burial clothes and calmly prepared his final affairs.

Five days later, Zhu Erdan indeed died. While his wife was mourning at home, Zhu Erdan’s soul drifted in. Startled, his wife asked, "Husband, are you a person or a ghost?"

Zhu Erdan replied, "I am indeed a ghost, but no different from when I was alive. I cannot bear to leave you and the orphaned children behind."

"In ancient times, there was talk of returning to life. Since your spirit has not perished, why do you not reincarnate and return to the living world?"

"Heaven’s decree cannot be defied."

"What position do you hold in the Underworld?"

"Judge Lu recommended me to manage the archives; I have been granted official rank and title. Wife, you need not worry for me."

"Where is Immortal Lu? Has he come too?"

"Yes, Judge Lu accompanied me. Quickly prepare wine and food."

His wife wiped away her tears and busied herself in the kitchen. Soon, a banquet table was set. She heard her husband and Judge Lu drinking inside, their laughter and chatter much like when he was alive. After midnight, the voices ceased, and the two departed without bidding farewell, slipping away quietly.

From then on, Zhu Erdan would return home every few days. Sometimes he would share a bed with his wife and tend to household chores or instruct his son in his studies.

His son, Zhu Wei, was five years old, intelligent and quick-witted. By nine, he was already skilled in writing. At fifteen, he passed the Xiucai examination. Each time he played with his father, he remained completely unaware that his father had been dead for a long time.

One night, Zhu Erdan came to bid farewell to his wife, saying, "I must leave now. We shall never see each other again."

His wife asked, "Where are you going?"

Zhu Erdan explained, "The Jade Emperor has appointed me as Grand Minister of the Grand Purity, in charge of Mount Hua in the Western Peak. I must take up my post immediately. Official duties are heavy, and the journey is far; I cannot return in the future."

Upon hearing this, his wife couldn't help but weep softly. Zhu Erdan comforted her, "Do not be like this! Our son is now a grown man, and the family estate is prosperous and secure. Is there any couple in the world that never parts?" He then told Zhu Wei, "Be an honorable man and do not neglect your studies. In ten years, we shall meet again." With that, he strode away.

Later, when Zhu Wei was twenty-five, he passed the Jinshi examination and was ordered to offer sacrifices at Mount Hua. Passing through Huayin, he suddenly encountered a large escort of riders approaching. Among them was a luxurious carriage, inside which sat a man who was none other than Zhu Erdan.

Father and son met, and there was a warm reunion. Zhu Erdan said, "My son, your reputation as an official is excellent; your father can now rest in peace." He turned to leave, and as they parted, he untied a ceremonial saber and presented it to Zhu Wei, saying, "Wear this saber, and it will guarantee you great wealth and high status."

Zhu Wei drew the blade and gazed at it. It was exquisitely crafted, engraved with a line of small characters: "The courage should be great, but the heart should be small; the wisdom should be circular, but the actions should be square."

Later, Zhu Wei rose to the rank of Sima (Military Advisor) and fathered five sons, named in order: Chen, Qian, Wo, Hun, and Shen. One night, Zhu Erdan appeared in a dream to his wife, saying, "The saber should be given to Zhu Hun; this grandson will surely achieve prominence in the future."

Zhu Erdan’s prediction proved correct. Zhu Hun grew up and eventually achieved the position of Zongxian (Chief Censor), with distinguished political achievements.