A merchant named Xu from Jiaozhou was swept away by a sudden gale while traveling by sea. When he opened his eyes, he found himself on a deserted island, shrouded in dense, wild mountains. He thought to himself, "This remote wilderness beyond the seas, I wonder if anyone lives here?" With this thought, he shouldered his dry rations and landed, searching for any sign of human presence. As his feet touched the ground, he saw that both sides of the cliff face were riddled with cave entrances, dense as a honeycomb. Faint sounds of human speech drifted from within the caves. He crept to the mouth of one cave and peered in, discovering two Yakshas residing there. Their teeth were bared like iron halberds, their eyes gleamed like lanterns, and their sharp claws tore into a deer carcass, devouring it raw.

Xu was so terrified his soul nearly fled his body, and he bolted to escape, but the two Yakshas had already spotted him and snatched him into the cave.

The monsters whispered secrets in voices like the cries of birds and beasts. Suddenly, they ripped at Xu’s clothes, their eyes blazing with savage light, seeming intent on devouring him. Overcome with terror, Xu quickly took the dry rations and cured beef from his bundle and offered them as tribute. The Yakshas divided and ate them. Finding the taste delicious and still desiring more, they reached into his bundle, rummaging ceaselessly. Xu waved his hands, signaling that there was nothing left.

The Yakshas flew into a rage and seized him again. Xu pleaded, "Let me go back! I have an iron pot in the ship's hold. I can cook meat for you." The Yakshas did not understand human speech and couldn't grasp what Xu meant. Xu had no choice but to use gestures to explain, and after much effort, the Yakshas finally understood.

The two monsters and Xu entered the ship. Xu retrieved the iron pot and cooking utensils and returned to the cave. He lit a fire, chopped firewood, and cooked the venison. The Yakshas, gorged on the cooked meat, were immensely pleased. That night, they sealed the cave entrance with a massive boulder to prevent Xu from fleeing.

The next morning, the Yakshas departed, only to return after a while, tossing a dead deer to Xu. Xu understood immediately. He skinned it, collected the water, and cooked a large pot of meat broth. Before long, five or six more Yakshas arrived. They devoured the entire pot of venison in moments, wolfing it down, and then pointed at the iron pot, seemingly finding it too small. After three or four days, one Yaksha returned carrying a large iron pot, while the others brought many dead wolves and deer, which Xu cooked together in one massive pot.

The assembled Yakshas invited Xu to eat with them. This continued for several days, and the Yakshas gradually grew familiar with Xu, no longer forbidding him to go out. Human and monster coexisted as if they were one family. As time passed, Xu slowly began to discern their sounds and intentions, mastering the Yaksha language without a teacher. Seeing this, the Yakshas became even more delighted. One evening, the Yakshas brought a female companion and forcibly assigned her to Xu as his wife. Xu was frightened at first, but the female Yaksha eagerly initiated intimacy. Xu, having no other choice, acquiesced and shared the marital rites. Afterwards, the female Yaksha was overjoyed and regularly brought him cooked meat every day. The two became as intimate as a married couple.

One day, the Yakshas rose early, each wearing a string of luminous pearls around their necks, and filed out, as if awaiting the arrival of an esteemed guest. They instructed Xu to cook more venison. Xu inquired of his wife what the occasion was. The female Yaksha replied, "Today is the Heavenly Birthday Festival." She then left the cave and informed the assembled Yakshas, "Xu Lang lacks the gutuzizi." Each of the Yakshas then plucked five pearls from their necks and gave them to her. The female Yaksha then took ten more herself, gathering a total of fifty. She used wild hemp fibers to twist a rope and strung the pearls onto it, hanging them around Xu’s neck.

Xu looked at the pearls; they were extraordinarily valuable, each one worth a hundred gold pieces. The Yakshas departed one after another. After Xu finished cooking the meat, his wife came and invited him, saying, "Come, let us go receive the Heavenly King."

The two arrived at a vast cavern, several acres wide. The cave was furnished with many stone stools, polished as smooth as mirrors. The highest seat was covered with leopard skin, while the remaining stone stools were uniformly covered with deer hide, and upon them sat twenty to thirty Yaksha chieftains.

Soon after, a great wind kicked up dust, and the assembled Yakshas hurriedly stood up and went outside to greet the arrival. Amidst laughter and chatter, a colossal Yaksha strode in, his frame magnificent, and took a seat on the leopard-skin-covered stone bench. The other Yakshas stood attending on both sides, bowing with their arms crossed in front of their chests.

The Great Yaksha nodded, surveyed the crowd, and asked, "Are all the brothers of Mount Womei present?" The assembled Yakshas answered in unison, "All have come." The Great Yaksha looked at Xu and asked, "Who is this person?" The female Yaksha replied, "He is my husband." The Yakshas all attested to this, praising Xu’s superb culinary skills. Two Yakshas brought a basin of cooked meat for the Great Leader to eat. The Great Yaksha ate with his hands and boomed in praise, "Delicious, truly delicious! From now on, bring me tribute of cooked meat daily."

After eating about ten jin of meat, the Great Yaksha asked Xu, "Your gutzizi is very short, why is that?" The assembled Yakshas replied, "He has only just arrived; he is not yet prepared." The Great Yaksha nodded, plucked ten pearls from his neck, and presented them to Xu, each one as large as a thumb and as round as a pellet. The female Yaksha quickly accepted them, helping Xu put them on and hang them. Xu crossed his arms and repeatedly offered thanks.

The Great Yaksha departed on the wind, swift as a flying arrow.

Four years later, the female Yaksha became pregnant and gave birth to two sons and one daughter. All three children resembled humans and were not as hideous as their mother. The assembled Yakshas were extremely fond of the three children and raised them together. One day, while the Yakshas were out, Xu sat alone at home when a strange female Yaksha suddenly rushed in and forcibly demanded sexual relations with Xu. Xu refused, and the Yaksha became furious, approaching him and administering a severe beating with fists and feet. Xu’s wife returned from outside, saw the scene, and became enraged. The two female Yakshas fought fiercely. Xu’s wife, fierce and brave, bit off her rival’s ear. The other female Yaksha was terrified and fled in disarray.

From that day forward, Xu’s wife guarded her husband day and night, never leaving his side. Another three years passed, and the children could walk. Xu began teaching them the human language, and the young Yakshas gradually learned to speak. Although still children, they could run over the mountains as if treading level ground, showing deep affection for Xu; the bond between father and sons was profound.

On this day, the female Yaksha took one son and one daughter out. They did not return by midday, and a fierce north wind began to blow outside the cave. Xu missed his homeland, feeling a deep, mournful sadness. He took his son to the seaside. Seeing that the old boat was still there, he said to his son, "Come, let us return to Jiaozhou." His son replied, "Let's tell your mother first; it won't be too late to leave then." Xu shook his head to stop him. Father and son boarded the boat and crossed the sea. In just one day and one night, they returned to their hometown.

By this time, his original wife had already passed away. Xu sold two of the pearls, acquiring ten thousand taels of silver, and his family became wealthy. He named his son Xu Biao. Fourteen or fifteen years old, Xu Biao was rough and fond of fighting, strong enough to lift a hundred-jin boulder. His reputation spread, and the Commander of Jiaozhou greatly admired him, specially appointing Xu Biao as a Qianzong (Battalion Commander). It happened that the border regions were in turmoil, and Xu Biao earned merit suppressing the rebels, being promoted to Vice General at eighteen.

Around that time, a merchant sailing out to sea encountered wind and waves and was drifted to Mount Womei. As soon as he landed, he saw a youth whose features and looks were strikingly similar to the people of the Central Plains. After conversing with him, he confirmed they were of the same kind. The youth led the merchant into a small stone cave, surrounded by thorns outside, and treated the guest to deer meat. He introduced himself, "My father is also from Jiaozhou." The merchant inquired for his name and learned it was Xu, whom he knew. He said, "That is an old acquaintance of mine. His son is already a Vice General."

The youth asked, "What is a Vice General?" The merchant replied, "That is an official title in China." The youth asked, "What is an official?" The merchant explained, "Riding in palanquins when entering or leaving, residing in grand mansions, commanding widespread obedience, controlling life and death—that is an official." Hearing this, the youth was moved.

The merchant asked, "Your esteemed father is in Jiaozhou, why do you remain here?" The youth told him the truth. The merchant advised him to return south. The youth said, "I have the same intention, but my mother is not a citizen of China; her language and appearance are vastly different from humans. Furthermore, escaping secretly, if the Yakshas discover it, we will surely be destroyed. Therefore, I hesitate and cannot decide." He stood up and went out, saying, "When the north wind blows again, I will come to see you off. When you return, convey my greetings to my father and brother." The merchant stayed in the cave for half a year, occasionally seeing many Yakshas passing back and forth outside the thicket of thorns, living in constant fear, not daring to move in the slightest.

On this day, the north wind howled. The youth suddenly appeared and led the merchant to the shore, giving him some dried meat. He said, "Hurry and escape. Remember what I told you." The merchant assented vaguely and boarded the boat to leave.

Returning to Jiaozhou, the merchant went to visit the Vice General's residence to see the Xu father and son. He recounted the details of his sea voyage. Xu Biao was overcome with grief upon hearing this and wished to go to Mount Womei to search for his younger siblings. Xu was extremely worried about the turbulent seas and lurking dangers and tried hard to dissuade him. Xu Biao was adamant; he insisted on going. He reported to his superior at the Commander’s headquarters and, taking two subordinates, boarded a ship. Against the wind, they sailed for half a month. All around was boundless, the sea misty, unable to distinguish east from west. Suddenly, a wave like a tide struck the ship, capsizing the vessel. Xu Biao fell into the sea, drifting with the currents, and was saved by a monster, which brought him to a courtyard.

Xu Biao looked closely. The monster’s face was ferocious; it was one of the Yaksha kind. Xu Biao spoke to it in the Yaksha language, saying, "I want to go to Mount Womei; do you know the way?" The Yaksha rejoiced, "Mount Womei is my homeland. Please forgive my rudeness just now. Young Master, you have deviated over eight thousand li from your route; this path leads to the kingdom of the Poison Dragons." He fetched a light skiff and escorted Xu Biao on his way. The Yaksha, remaining in the water, pushed the boat, and it flew forward as if driven, covering a thousand li in an instant. In just one night, they arrived at Mount Womei.

Xu Biao landed on the shore and saw a youth standing by the sea, gazing out. He thought, "There are no humans on Mount Womei; this must be my younger brother." He approached for a closer look, and indeed it was. The brothers grasped hands and wept. Xu Biao inquired about his mother and sister’s recent conditions. The younger brother said, "They are both very well and in good health." Xu Biao said, "Take me to see them." The younger brother waved to stop him and quickly departed. Shortly thereafter, the mother and sister both arrived. Xu Biao said, "Father misses you greatly. Let's all return to Jiaozhou with me." The mother replied, "We are unfamiliar with the place; we fear being bullied." Xu Biao reassured her, "Your son holds a prominent position in China; no one dares bully you." The three settled on returning, but they were troubled by how to sail against the wind to cross the sea. As mother and son were contemplating their dilemma, they suddenly saw the sail move south, and a north wind began to blow from the horizon. Xu Biao rejoiced, "Heaven helps me."

The family of four boarded the boat. The waves rushed like arrows, and in three days, they reached their former home. Passersby on the road saw the Yakshas and fled in all directions. Xu Biao took off his own clothes to cover the three of them to hide their appearances. Returning home, Xu welcomed them. The husband and wife were reunited, but the mother Yaksha cursed ceaselessly, blaming Xu for leaving without saying goodbye. Xu repeatedly apologized. Everyone who met Xu’s wife trembled. Xu Biao persuaded his mother to learn Chinese, wear fine silks, and eat cooked food, whereupon the mother Yaksha was finally appeased. The mother and daughter both dressed in men’s clothing, their attire resembling that of the Manchus. Several months later, the three had a rudimentary grasp of the language, and the complexions of the younger siblings gradually turned fairer.

The younger brother was named Xu Bao, and the sister was called Ye’er. Both possessed innate divine strength. Because Xu Biao himself was uneducated, he meticulously taught his younger brother academics. Xu Bao was intelligent by nature, memorizing classics and historical texts at a glance. He also practiced archery and horsemanship, becoming skilled in both civil and military arts. He passed the imperial examinations, ranking as a Wujinshi (Military Scholar), and married the daughter of a certain Garrison Commander (Youji).

Ye’er, being of mixed origin, no one dared propose marriage. A Defense Officer (Shoubei) under Xu Biao’s command, surnamed Yuan, whose first wife had died, forcibly married his sister to him. Ye’er could draw a hundred-shi strong bow and shoot birds out of the sky at a hundred paces, never missing an arrow. Whenever Commander Yuan went on campaign, he brought his wife along. He was promoted to General (Tongzhi), and most of his military achievements were accomplished by Ye’er’s hand.

When Xu Bao was thirty-four, he resigned his post and marched south on a punitive expedition, his mother accompanying him. Whenever facing a formidable enemy, the mother Yaksha charged into the fray, invincible. The Emperor was overjoyed, and by imperial decree, she was conferred the title of Madame Protector of the Nation (Huguó Fūrén).