The scholar Niu Tongren suffered hauntings from a fox spirit in his home, which frequently pilfered possessions and bewitched relatives. One day at noon, Niu Tongren passed his father’s chamber and saw him sleeping soundly, still utterly unconscious; he knew instantly the fox demon was at work again. He roared, “Insolent fox spirit, how dare you harm my father! You must be tired of living. I shall petition the Sage Lord Guan Di immediately and ask him to descend and capture the demon. Hmph, the lower realms are overrun with these fox fiends, and he won’t even manage that!” He promptly drafted a formal petition, burned it to ash, and submitted it to the Jade Emperor. The petition sharply criticized Lord Guan Di for dereliction of duty.

Before long, Lord Guan Di suddenly materialized in the clouds, angrily chastising, “How dare a mere scholar be so disrespectful! I govern all living beings under heaven; my duties are vast. How can I stop everything to catch a demon for just one family? You never lodged a prior complaint with me—on what grounds do you lay blame?” He ordered his subordinates to seize Niu Tongren and administer twenty strokes of the staff, beating him until his skin split and blood flowed freely. Once the punishment was complete, a dark-faced general descended into the courtyard carrying a hemp rope, bound the fox spirit securely, and departed swiftly. From that day forward, the fox demon vanished from the household.

Three years later, the daughter of a certain garrison commander in Jinan was bewitched by a fox demon, rendering her completely senseless. They invited eminent masters to set up an altar, draw talismans, and chant spells, but all methods proved futile. The fox demon spoke in a human voice, saying, “In my entire life, the only person I truly fear is scholar Niu.” The commander had no knowledge of scholar Niu’s background and could not track him down immediately.

Coincidentally, Niu Tongren was traveling to Jinan to participate in the provincial examination when he was inexplicably insulted by the garrison commander’s subordinates. Feeling deeply indignant, he proceeded directly to the commander’s mansion to lodge a complaint. Upon learning that this was the very man he sought, the commander was overjoyed, treating him with the utmost hospitality, severely punishing his own soldiers, and mollifying Niu’s anger. Afterward, he implored him to capture the demon.

Niu Tongren, having no other choice, burned another petition, calling upon Lord Guan Di for aid. In a moment, a divine general clad in gold armor descended from the heavens. The fox demon, catching sight of the deity, instantly changed color, reverting to its true form—a dog-like creature—and scurried wildly around the residence. Knowing its heavy sins, it dared not resist, voluntarily kneeling motionless at the foot of the steps.

The Golden-Armored God declared, “I spared you last time, but your repeated wickedness now deserves no pardon.” He produced a rope, bound the fox demon, hung it from a horse’s neck, and soared away into the sky.