Huo Heng, whose courtesy name was Kuangjiu, hailed from Shanxi. His father, a county lieutenant, passed away young, leaving Huo Heng as his sole heir—a boy of extraordinary intellect. At the age of eleven, he entered the county school, where he was doted upon by his mother.

A fellow townsman, an old man named Wu who was obsessed with Taoist arts, had retreated into the mountains to cultivate, never to return. His daughter, Qing'e, was a mere fourteen, possessing a beauty that seemed celestial. Influenced by her father, she had been steeped in Taoist literature since childhood and held the immortal He Xiangu in highest regard. Since the old man’s retreat, she resolved never to marry, much to her mother’s dismay.

One day, Huo Heng happened to be out and stumbled upon Qing’e. Though still a child, ignorant of romance, he was instantly smitten by her graceful bearing. He returned home and asked his mother to arrange a formal proposal. His mother knew it was impossible, yet she could not deny her son’s heartfelt wish. She paid a visit, but the outcome, as expected, was utterly fruitless.

Rejected in his suit, Huo Heng grew restless, thinking of Qing’e day and night. One day, a Taoist priest arrived at his gate, carrying an iron spade, barely a foot long. Huo Heng inquired, “What is the use of this shovel?” The priest replied, “This is a tool for digging herbs. Though unremarkable, it can split stone and break down walls as easily as turning over tofu.” Unconvinced, Huo Heng watched as the priest took the spade, lightly scraped it against a stone in the wall, and the rock fell away as if it were soft curd, showering dust everywhere.

Huo Heng was astonished. He borrowed the iron spade from the priest and turned it over and over in his hands, unable to set it down. The priest smiled and said, “If the young master likes it, I shall give it to you.” Overjoyed, Huo Heng offered the priest silver and gold, but the man refused, turning and departing swiftly. Huo Heng carried the spade home, musing, “With this object, I can certainly chisel through the walls and visit Miss Qing’e at Old Man Wu’s residence.” Excited by the thought, when the first watch of the night struck, he climbed over the wall and made his way directly to the Wu estate.

He used the iron spade to dig at the wall, and indeed, it proved remarkably effective. He dug through two layers of masonry and entered the courtyard. He spotted lamplight spilling from the eastern wing room. Approaching the window to peer in, he saw Qing’e disrobing, preparing to retire for the night. Moments later, the lamp was extinguished, and silence fell over the room. Huo Heng dug through the final wall and slipped into the bedroom. He stared intently: Qing’e’s eyes were closed; she was already sound asleep. With the beauty just an arm’s length away, Huo Heng’s heart hammered. He quietly removed his shoes and socks, climbed onto the [Omitted for natural flow, assuming sensitive content], worried about waking her, and slowly lay down beside her. He inhaled the fragrance of her skin, his desire fulfilled. Closing his eyes, he surrendered to slumber. Having expended much energy digging, he was quite weary and quickly fell asleep, soon emitting loud snores.

Qing’e awoke to the sound of snoring and stared into the darkness. She noticed a small hole in the wall through which faint moonlight streamed, causing her heart to seize with terror. Seeing a strange man beside her only compounded her shock. Regaining her composure with great effort, she quietly slipped out of bed, went to the servants' quarters, and summoned her maidservants. The group lit lanterns and torches, burst into the room in a clamor, shouting noisily.

Huo Heng bolted awake. The servants cried out, “What thief dares sneak into the young mistress’s chambers to steal?” Huo Heng’s face flushed crimson, yet he showed little fear. He said, “I am Huo Heng, not a thief. It is only because I admire the lady’s grace that I have intruded. Rest assured, I am a scholar; I understand propriety and honor and have done nothing untoward.”

They demanded, “How did you get here?” Huo Heng recounted the truth, but they refused to believe him. “To chisel through a wall with an iron spade? Impossible! It is utter nonsense!” Huo Heng offered no further defense. He took out the spade and gently scraped the wall; a section of blue brick immediately fell away. Seeing this with their own eyes, they were finally convinced. One remarked, “This matter is neither huge nor small; it must be reported to the madam.” Another interjected, “He is just a child who doesn't know better; let him go. Why make a fuss? However, he can leave, but the iron spade must stay.”

A debate ensued, with opinions sharply divided. All eyes eventually turned to Qing’e, awaiting her judgment. Qing’e remained silent, but a knowing softness in her expression betrayed her inclination to let him go. Understanding dawned on the servants. They chuckled, “This young man surnamed Huo is from a respectable lineage; he is well-matched to the young mistress. It is best to let him return and have his family formally propose. If the madam questions this, we shall all cover for him, claiming a burglar broke in.” Hearing this, Qing’e still uttered no words, but her silence was assent.

The servants urged Huo Heng to leave. As he departed, Huo Heng reached for the iron spade. They laughed, “Silly boy, still focused on your weapon? Hurry, go, go!” Huo Heng glanced briefly and saw a phoenix hairpin lying on the table; he swiftly tucked it into his sleeve. A sharp-eyed maid noticed instantly and called out, “Miss, he is stealing from you!” Qing’e neither spoke nor showed anger. A maidservant playfully clapped Huo Heng on the neck and said with a laugh, “Don’t let his youth fool you; he’s quite cunning.” While joking, she escorted Huo Heng out.

Upon returning home, he mentioned the matter to his mother, asking her to mediate. Having been rebuffed once already, his mother dared not approach the Wu family again. Yet, unable to refuse her son directly, she vaguely agreed to act as matchmaker while secretly planning to find him a more suitable bride. When Qing’e learned of this, she grew anxious and dispatched a trusted confidante to call on Madam Huo, declaring her unwavering devotion and vowing to marry no one but Huo Heng. Only then was Madam Huo pleased and she initiated a new proposal. However, Madam Wu had already learned the full truth from the maids and was furious beyond measure. When the matchmaker arrived, she viciously berated both Huo Heng’s mother and son. Madam Huo, upon learning the details, also grew incensed, angrily retorting, “What does my reckless son’s behavior have to do with me? Why curse me? If I had known this would happen, why didn’t she strike them dead when my boy was meeting his paramour in secret?” She spread the story to everyone she met. Qing’e, exposed, felt utterly shamed, and Madam Wu also regretted her outburst. Ill will festered between the two families, and the marriage was called off.

At that time, Old Master Ou served as the magistrate of Shanxi. He had seen Huo Heng’s essays and praised them highly, occasionally inviting him to his residence, showing him great affection. One day, Old Master Ou asked Huo Heng, “Are you married?” Huo Heng replied, “No.” The magistrate inquired if he had a beloved, and Huo Heng answered, “I had an understanding with Miss Wu, but it dissolved over a trivial matter, and the engagement came to naught.” Old Master Ou pressed, “Do you still care for Miss Wu very much?” Huo Heng blushed at the question and would not commit to an answer.

Old Master Ou laughed and said, “Rest assured, I will settle this for you.” He immediately ordered the county lieutenant and the director of studies to prepare betrothal gifts and call upon the Wu family. Madam Wu was overjoyed and dropped her objections. The two families set a wedding date. A year later, Huo Heng wed Qing’e.

After entering the household, Qing’e brought the iron spade with her and tossed it on the ground, saying with a smile, “This is a tool of a trespasser; it is returned to you.” Huo Heng replied, “Without it, how could we have met? We must not forget our matchmaker.” He picked up the spade and treasured it close to his heart.

Qing’e was dutiful and quiet. Apart from paying respects to her mother-in-law daily, she spent the rest of her time in quiet contemplation, showing little interest in household affairs. Occasionally, when the elder madam was away, the domestic matters fell to Qing’e; she managed them with composure, keeping everything perfectly orderly.

A year passed swiftly, and the couple welcomed a young son, whom they named Mengxian. The child’s care, feeding, and routine were entirely entrusted to the wet nurse; Qing’e rarely intervened. Four or five years later, Qing’e told Huo Heng, “We have been together for eight years; our fate seems fulfilled. What shall become of us?” Huo Heng anxiously asked why, but Qing’e remained silent. She dressed in her finest attire, paid her respects to her mother-in-law, and then returned to her room.

Mother and son went to visit her, only to find Qing’e lying in bed, her breath ceased—she was dead. Both were overcome with grief. They promptly purchased a coffin and laid Qing’e to rest.

After Qing’e’s death, her aging mother, often clutching her grandson and mourning her daughter-in-law, grew profoundly heartbroken. She fell ill, losing all appetite, craving only fish soup. However, there were no fish locally; they could only be purchased a hundred li away. Huo Heng, devoted to his filial duty, feared for his mother’s recovery and braved the hardship to travel to buy fish himself. He traveled day and night. Upon his return, as he passed through the mountains, night had fallen, and his legs ached intolerably, making it hard to walk. He sat upon a large stone to rest.

Just then, an old man approached him, asking, “Are your feet blistered?” Huo Heng nodded. The old man smiled faintly, produced a packet of medicinal powder from his robes, applied it to Huo Heng’s feet, and told him to rise and walk. Huo Heng felt a cool sensation spreading through his legs. He tentatively took a few steps and found his body invigorated, far superior to before. He thanked the elder profusely.

The old man asked, “Why such urgency that you must travel through the night?” Huo Heng explained his mother’s illness truthfully. When he mentioned his wife’s passing, tears of sorrow spilled forth. The old man remarked, “Since your wife is dead, why not marry again?” Huo Heng replied, “I have not found a suitable woman.”

The old man pointed toward a distant mountain village and said, “There is a fine lady here. If you accompany me, I will personally arrange the match.” Huo Heng said, “My mother is gravely ill; I cannot delay. We shall speak of this another time.” The old man bowed in farewell, saying, “Very well. Should you visit another day, I, surnamed Wang, known to all as Old Man Wang, shall personally receive you. I live nearby; just ask for me.” And with that, he departed.

Huo Heng returned home, cooked the fish, and made soup for his mother. Within days, her illness vanished. Huo Heng, free of worry, recalled his promise to the old man and could not break his word. He ordered a servant to prepare horses, and the two set off for the village to visit his friend. Upon reaching the mountain woods, they became hopelessly lost, the location of the village eluding them. Anxiety burned in his chest like fire. In his panic, he rushed frantically in all directions and accidentally tumbled over a cliff edge. Fortunately, a small platform lay below, saving him from certain death.

The platform was only a few square meters, barely enough room to stand, and below was an abyss of impenetrable darkness. Huo Heng dared not move, crying out inwardly in despair. Under the moonlight, he made out a small opening in the cliff face. Overjoyed, he used both hands and feet to scramble slowly into the hole. The tunnel was deep, and a flickering light shone ahead, suggesting habitation. After crawling three or four li, he indeed discovered a house. Though there were no red candles inside, the interior was as bright as day. A beautiful woman emerged from the room, and upon closer inspection, it was none other than Qing’e.

Qing’e was startled to see him: “How did you come to this place?” Huo Heng, overcome with emotion, embraced her, and all his pent-up longing dissolved into tears as he sobbed uncontrollably. Qing’e soothed him tenderly, inquiring about his mother and child. Huo Heng recounted everything; hearing of their dire circumstances, Qing’e was deeply saddened.

Huo Heng asked, “You have been dead for a full year; is this the underworld?” Qing’e replied, “No, this is an Immortal Abode. I did not truly die; what was buried was merely a bamboo staff. You have a deep affinity with the Immortals to have reached this place.” She led him into the cave dwelling to meet her father. Sitting in the main hall was a long-bearded, imposing man, radiating otherworldly grace. When Huo Heng was young, his mother had mentioned a certain Old Man Wu in the village who had gone seeking the Tao. He realized this must be the man before him and immediately knelt to pay his respects.

Qing’e introduced him: “This is Huo Lang.” Old Man Wu rose to welcome him, grasping Huo Heng’s hand and engaging him in familiar conversation with warm intimacy. “My son-in-law has arrived; this is excellent. You shall stay here from now on.” Huo Heng said, “My mother is alone at home; I cannot stay long, please forgive me, Father-in-law.” Old Man Wu replied, “I am aware of the situation. But staying three or four days should not cause great harm.” He hosted a banquet for Huo Heng and ordered a maidservant to prepare bedding in the western room.

After dinner, Huo Heng implored Qing’e to sleep beside him, but she firmly refused. “Where is this place, and how can we act so rashly?” Huo Heng kept hold of her arm. The maidservants outside the window giggled, and Qing’e grew even more ashamed. As they argued, Old Man Wu suddenly burst in, shouting, “Mortal! Defiling my abode! Go, go!” His words clearly conveyed the order for him to leave.

Huo Heng, feeling wronged, retorted, “Human affection is unavoidable; why lose your temper? If I must go, then Qing’e must come with me.” Old Man Wu offered no objection, signaling his daughter to accompany the young man, and opened the back door to see them off. Huo Heng, unsuspecting, left happily, only for the Wu father and daughter to seize the moment, slam the door shut, and retreat into the dwelling.

Huo Heng realized he had been tricked and was consumed by hatred. Seeing the cliff face sealed shut, anger surged through him. He pulled out the iron spade, dug into the stone, cursing as he worked, and in moments, carved out a hole four feet deep. Just a moment more, and he would breach the inner sanctum.

He faintly heard voices from inside: “Wretch! Wretch!” Huo Heng ignored them, digging with greater fervor. Then came a sharp creak—the cave door flew open. Old Man Wu shoved Qing’e out, proclaiming, “Wife, I return her to you!” With another loud crash, the door sealed shut once more.

Qing’e lamented, “Since you claim me as your wife, how could you treat your father-in-law this way? I don’t know what kind of priest gave you such a powerful tool; it has caused nothing but unending trouble, I am nearly driven mad.” Huo Heng felt immensely relieved and accepted her scolding without argument. He said, “This place is perilous, and it is far from home. How are we to return?”

Qing’e replied, “No matter.” She casually broke off two tree branches. They each straddled one, and the branches instantly transformed into magnificent steeds. They galloped like lightning, and in moments, they reached their homeland. By the time they arrived, Huo Heng had been missing for seven days.

Returning home, the couple lived together for eighteen years, bearing another daughter, who was married to a young master surnamed Li in the county town. Later, when his mother passed away peacefully, Qing’e said, “There was a wild hen that once laid eight eggs in the thatch near our house. You may bury your mother there. Our son is grown now and should observe the mourning rites for his grandmother; he should no longer live with us.” Huo Heng agreed and followed her wishes.

After arranging the funeral rites for his mother, the couple returned home, leaving their son Mengxian at the gravesite to fulfill his filial duties. Over a month later, Mengxian returned to visit, opened the door, and found no trace of his parents. He inquired of the old servant, who replied, “The master and madam went to escort the late Madam to her burial and have not returned.” Mengxian sensed something was amiss, concluding, “My parents have most likely ascended to immortality and are traveling the four seas.”

Mengxian was exceptionally talented in literature, but fortune eluded him. It was not until he was past forty that he finally passed the examination to become a Gongsheng (tribute scholar). While attending the metropolitan examination that year, he encountered a youth of seventeen or eighteen who introduced himself as surnamed Huo, named Zhongxian, and hailing from Shuntian Prefecture. Seeing they shared the same surname, Mengxian was secretly surprised. He asked for his ancestral home, and the youth replied, “From Shanxi. My father is Huo Heng, and my mother is Qing’e.” Mengxian was overjoyed and cried out, “You must be my own brother!”

Zhongxian was equally delighted. He said, “My father told me as I came for the exams that I would meet an elder relative of our clan and that I should treat him well. I never imagined this elder relative would be my own brother! This is wonderful. Brother, Father and Mother are currently in Shuntian Prefecture. Let us go home together.”

The brothers returned to the old residence, where the daughter-in-law came out to greet them, saying, “The in-laws are gone.” Zhongxian’s face changed color: “What happened?” The daughter-in-law explained, “Last night I drank with them. Mother-in-law said, ‘The young couple is inexperienced. Tomorrow, when Elder Brother arrives, I can finally rest easy.’ This morning, when I went to pay my respects, I entered the room and found only silence; the two have vanished.”

Hearing this, the brothers stamped their feet in grief. Zhongxian wanted to search for them, but Mengxian stopped him: “They have become immortals. Since they intentionally hide from us, how could we ever find them? There is no point in wasting effort.” From that time forward, the couple Huo Heng and Qing’e vanished from the mortal realm, never to be seen again.