Zhang Yudan of Zhaoyuan County possessed a wild and unrestrained nature, residing in a dilapidated temple to pursue his studies. The County Magistrate Lu had a daughter who was fond of hunting. One day, Miss Lu was out riding when she encountered the scholar Zhang. Zhang Yudan, beholding Miss Lu's graceful demeanor, clad in a sable coat, astride a fine steed, appearing like an immortal from a painting, was immediately captivated by love. Back home, he was consumed by thoughts of the fair lady, his mind filled with endless musings. Not long after, he suddenly heard that Miss Lu had succumbed to a sudden, grave illness. The dreadful news arrived, leaving Zhang Yudan heartbroken to the point of collapse.

Because the Lu family's ancestral home was far away, Magistrate Lu temporarily placed his daughter's coffin in the temple where Zhang Yudan studied. The scholar Zhang offered incense morning and evening, mourning her day and night, treating Miss Lu's remains with divine reverence.

That night, Zhang Yudan poured wine onto the earth and prayed aloud, "Since the last time I beheld the young lady's countenance, my heart has been tethered to her. Little did I expect such a fate for beauty, that the delicate life would vanish so quickly. Though you and I are now close enough to touch, it feels as if distant mountains and rivers separate us; old acquaintances meeting yet remaining unknown—there is no greater sorrow in this world. In life, the young lady maintained propriety and respected the boundaries between the sexes, but in death, all restraints should be lifted. If you have a spirit in the underworld, please come gracefully to soothe the agony of my longing."

He continued these fervent prayers day and night for half a month. One evening, Zhang Yudan was reading by lamplight, and when he inadvertently looked up, a maiden stood smiling beside the lamp. Startled, Zhang Yudan sprang up and asked, "Who are you, Miss?"

The maiden replied, "I am Miss Lu. Moved by your deep affection, I could not restrain myself and have come to meet you, disregarding any suspicion of elopement." Zhang Yudan was overjoyed. The two went to bed, shared their deepest feelings, and from then on, they were inseparable night after night.

After that night, Miss Lu said, "In my former life, I delighted in bows and horses, finding pleasure in shooting deer and boar; my sins are heavy, and I cannot be reincarnated. If you truly love me, Sir, please chant the Diamond Sutra for me—five thousand and forty-eight volumes—and I shall never forget your kindness in all my lifetimes." Zhang Yudan readily agreed, diligently chanting the scriptures by lamplight every night without fail. Sometimes, when a festival occurred, Zhang Yudan invited the lady to return home with him. Miss Lu smiled and said, "My feet are weak; I cannot walk far." Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yudan laughed, "Then allow me to carry you." Miss Lu smiled and consented. Zhang Yudan lifted her onto his back, holding her as if she were an infant, finding her weightless, and gradually grew accustomed to it. He even carried her when he went to take examinations, though to avoid terrifying people, he often traveled late at night when all was quiet.

That year, Zhang Yudan packed his belongings to prepare for the imperial examination. Miss Lu said, "Your fortune is thin; there is no use wasting your effort." Zhang Yudan nodded, and from then on, he never set foot in the examination hall again.

Four or five years passed. Magistrate Lu was dismissed from office and returned to his hometown, his family fortunes declining. He wished to inter his daughter properly but could not find a suitable burial plot. Zhang Yudan visited him and said, "I possess a burial plot near the temple and am willing to gift it to you, sir." Magistrate Lu was overjoyed upon hearing this and thanked him repeatedly. Zhang Yudan then busied himself making arrangements and exerting considerable effort for the burial. Magistrate Lu was secretly grateful but puzzled by his enthusiasm: what motive could the scholar possibly have for such fervor? He sighed, shaking his head, but decided not to pry further. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took his leave.

After Magistrate Lu departed, the man and woman retired to their bedchamber for their usual intimacy. That night, Miss Lu leaned in the scholar's embrace, tears falling like beans, sobbing, "Five years of blissful companionship, and now the time for parting has finally arrived. The kindness and righteousness you have shown me cannot be repaid even with a hundred deaths." Zhang Yudan was astonished and bewildered, quickly asking, "What exactly is happening?"

Miss Lu replied, "Sir, your daily chanting of the scriptures has cleansed the sins of my life. Now my karmic tribulation is complete, and I am destined to be reborn soon into the family of Minister Lu in Hebei. If you do not forget our affection, come to the Lu residence on the sixteenth day of the eighth month, fifteen years hence, to renew our bond."

Zhang Yudan wept, "I am now over thirty; fifteen years from now, I shall be nearing my end. What is the use of meeting again then?" Miss Lu responded, "At that time, I will serve you as a maidservant, attending you until your last breath." After a pause, she added, "Please escort me a little way. The road to reincarnation is six or seven li long, covered in thorns. My long skirt hinders my walking." As she spoke, she placed her hands around the scholar's neck and smiled faintly.

Zhang Yudan suppressed his grief, held his lover in his arms, and carried her all the way to the endpoint. There, he saw a crowd of carriages and horses gathered by the roadside—one or two people on horseback, and three, four, or even a dozen people in the carriages. One carriage, exquisitely luxurious, carried an old woman. Seeing Miss Lu approaching from afar, she inquired, "Is that Madam Lu who has arrived?" Miss Lu replied, "I am here." She turned back to the scholar and said, "Though I have accompanied you a thousand li, we must part here. Please return, Sir, and do not forget the promise of fifteen years." Zhang Yudan nodded forcefully.

Miss Lu approached the carriage, and the old woman helped her into the compartment. Just as the horses neighed and dust billowed up, the carriage sped away.

Zhang Yudan returned, despondent, and carved the date of their appointment onto the wall. Recalling how effective the chanting of scriptures had been, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to Buddhism. That night, he dreamt that an immortal descended, saying, "Your intention to do good is commendable, young sir, but to achieve the Great Dao, you must travel to the South Sea." Zhang Yudan asked, "How far is the South Sea?" The immortal replied, "It is at the ends of the earth, yet it resides within your own heart." Zhang Yudan seemed to grasp something, and soon awoke, thereafter cultivating his nature and practicing asceticism; though residing in the mortal world, his heart was like the Bodhi tree.

Three years later, Zhang Yudan's eldest and second sons successively achieved high honors in the imperial examinations, and the family's prosperity grew. Despite their eminent status, he remained devoted to virtuous conduct. One night, he dreamt again that he was invited by a man in green robes to a palace reception. In the hall sat a monk of solemn and dignified appearance who greeted him with palms pressed together, saying, "Your charitable deeds are commendable, Benefactor, but your original fate destined you for an early death. Fortunately, I pleaded your case before the Jade Emperor and secured an extension of sixty years for your lifespan."

Zhang Yudan was overwhelmed with gratitude, prostrating himself to kowtow his thanks. The monk helped him up, offered him a seat and tea, the aroma of which was as fragrant as orchid blossoms. After a while, an acolyte led Zhang Yudan away to a bathing pool. The water was clear, with fish darting through it. The attendant said, "Please enter the pool, lay gentleman, and cleanse yourself."

Zhang Yudan removed his clothes and stepped into the water. The temperature was like warm jade. He inhaled deeply, smelling a fragrance like lotus leaves, and reveled in the moment, playing in the water until he drifted into the deeper part, lost his footing, and sank. The water rose over his head, and he cried out in alarm, abruptly waking up, marveling inwardly at the dream.

Since the last dream, Zhang Yudan's physique had become vigorous, his eyes sharp. Touching his chin, he found his white whiskers had all fallen out, the wrinkles on his face vanished, and his complexion glowed with ruddy light. Thus, several months passed, and Zhang Yudan became handsome and tall, resembling a youth of fifteen or sixteen, his temperament also turning lively and capricious, fond of play.

Not long after, Zhang Yudan's wife passed away. His sons implored him to remarry, but Zhang Yudan said, "There is no hurry in this matter; I will decide after a trip to Hebei." Unbeknownst to him, fifteen years had slipped by, and the date to meet Miss Lu was fast approaching.

Never forgetting his old love, Zhang Yudan rode alone to Hebei, inquiring and searching. Indeed, there was a Minister Lu in that region.

Prior to this, Old Master Lu had given birth to a daughter who could speak upon landing and grew up intelligent and beautiful, deeply cherished by her parents. Old Master Lu sought to choose a husband for his daughter, but the maiden shook her head and refused, saying, "I have a fifteen-year vow with Young Master Zhang of Zhaoyuan County; I will marry no one but him."

Old Master Lu laughed, "Silly child, you are too infatuated. Zhang Yudan is now over fifty; times have changed, and perhaps even his bones have turned to dust. Even if Scholar Zhang is still alive, he must be a decrepit old man with white hair and missing teeth—why marry such a wreck?"

Miss Lu smiled faintly and paid no heed to the advice. Her mother, seeing her resolve, privately consulted with her husband: "For the time being, we must shut the doors to visitors and refuse Zhang Yudan entry to the manor to sever our daughter's hopes."

Soon after, Zhang Yudan did call upon them. The gatekeepers treated him coldly, dismissing him with a few harsh words. Zhang Yudan returned to his lodging full of resentment, at a loss for any plan. Idling in the foreign city, he wandered out daily, looking for an opportunity to secretly inquire about his lover's whereabouts.

When the sixteenth of the eighth month arrived and Zhang Yudan did not appear, Miss Lu thought he had broken his promise, weeping bitterly and refusing to eat. Her mother comforted her, "If Zhang Yudan failed to arrive on time, either he is dead or he has betrayed his vow. Regardless, you have done your utmost; stop thinking of him." Miss Lu remained silent, staying in bed all day, eating and drinking nothing.

Old Master Lu worried secretly and thought, "Perhaps I should go and see Zhang Yudan." He went out to search and found them meeting in the open fields. Old Master Lu peered intently; the man before him was clearly a youth, and he couldn't help but be astonished. After exchanging words, Zhang Yudan proved himself to be a man of extraordinary character, and Old Master Lu took a great liking to him, immediately inviting him to their home for a talk.

Servants brought tea, and after a brief conversation, Old Master Lu hastily departed to tell his daughter in her chamber, "Child, Young Master Zhang has arrived."

Miss Lu was overjoyed at the news and struggled to get out of bed to stand. She secretly hid behind a curtain to peek, but found the features of the scholar before her were utterly unfamiliar—she did not recognize him. Disappointed, she returned to her couch and wept softly, murmuring that her father had lied to her. Old Master Lu shouted that he was wronged, his frustration mounting, and he vented his anger onto Zhang Yudan. In entertaining his guest, he abruptly changed from his former warmth to extreme coldness.

Zhang Yudan asked, "Does anyone in your noble household hold an official post as a Minister?" Old Master Lu gave a vague reply, glancing around with an unmistakably impatient expression. Zhang Yudan found no further encouragement and took his leave immediately.

A few days later, Miss Lu succumbed to an illness born of longing and died in bed.

That night, Zhang Yudan dreamt that he saw Miss Lu, who told him, "Was that truly you who came to see me the other day? Your appearance has changed so drastically, Master, that I failed to recognize you. Now I have died of sorrow and indignation. Quickly go to the local Earth God Temple to summon my soul; there is still a chance to return to life. If you delay, you will regret it forever."

Zhang Yudan awoke startled and rushed to the Lu residence that very night to inquire. He discovered that Miss Lu had indeed been dead for two days. After weeping profusely, he hurried to the main hall to see Old Master Lu and recounted his dream. Without delay, they rushed to the Earth God Temple, performed the soul summoning, and returned. Reaching Miss Lu's chamber, they opened the quilt covering her body and touched the corpse while calling out the maiden's name.

Not long after, a gurgling sound came from Miss Lu's throat. Her vermilion lips parted slightly, and she spat out a piece of icy phlegm. Her eyes opened, and she moaned, revived.

Old Master Lu was ecstatic and prepared a feast to celebrate. During the banquet, he inquired about Zhang Yudan's lineage, and upon learning he was from a grand and wealthy family, his joy redoubled. They immediately set an auspicious date and prepared the wedding for the two.

Half a month after the marriage, Zhang Yudan brought his wife home. Old Master Lu escorted them all the way and stayed at his son-in-law's house for half a year before leaving.

A year later, Old Master Lu passed away, leaving behind an orphan and a widow, with the family fortune depleted. Zhang Yudan, mindful of their past connections, invited his mother-in-law to live with him, and the two families became as one.