Wang Mian, styled Mengzhai, hailed from Lingshan, blessed with sharp wit, innate elegance, and prodigious talent.

Wang Mian possessed an arrogant temperament, excelled in debate, and wielded words like honed blades. His fellow scholars and friends often left his verbal sparring matches utterly humiliated. One day, Wang Mian chanced upon a Daoist priest who scrutinized him intently, then declared, "Young Master, your features suggest nobility, yet your combative and frivolous nature has severely diminished your fortune. With your intellect, should you abandon scholarship for the Way, you could surely ascend to the ranks of the Immortals."

Wang Mian scoffed, laughing, "How can fortune be predicted? Where in this world are there Immortals?"

The Daoist replied, "Why is your insight so shallow? To tell the truth, I myself am an Immortal."

Wang Mian curled his lip in disdain and sneered, "You're an Immortal? What powers do you possess?"

The Daoist said humbly, "My own abilities are meager, but I know many Immortal friends. If you are willing to accompany me, I guarantee you a sight that will broaden your horizons."

Wang Mian inquired, "Where is this place?"

The Daoist replied, "Closer than you think." As he spoke, he took the wooden staff he carried, placed it between his legs, and handed the other end to Wang Mian, instructing him, "Follow my lead, grip the staff tightly, and close your eyes."

Wang Mian obeyed, closing his eyes. He heard the Daoist utter a sharp cry, "Ascend!" The staff immediately elongated, becoming as thick as a five-bushel wineskin, and soared into the empty air. Wang Mian cautiously felt around; the staff’s surface was covered in scales, hard as teeth. A wave of terror washed over him, freezing him in place.

After a short while, the Daoist’s voice sounded again, sharply ordering, "Halt!" The staff landed steadily. They found themselves in a colossal mansion, its soaring eaves and layered towers resembling an Imperial Palace. A high platform rose from the ground, towering at least ten feet, upon which stood a great hall supported by eleven massive wooden pillars, conveying a grandeur that was unparalleled.

The Daoist led the way, and the two entered the hall, where young attendants rushed out to greet them, setting up a feast with more than ten tables laden with food and wine. The Daoist changed into splendid robes and took an honored seat, apparently awaiting guests.

Soon after, celestial visitors gathered in the sky, arriving in droves—some riding dragons, others driving tigers, and still others mounted on cranes; the arrivals were diverse. All the Immortals carried musical instruments; there were both women and men among them, some barefoot.

At the center was a stunning beauty, astride a multi-colored phoenix, dressed in court attire. Beside her was a young boy holding an instrument that was neither a qin nor a se—its kind was unknown.

The banquet then commenced, filled with delicacies whose fragrance delighted the senses upon tasting. Wang Mian sat quietly, his gaze fixed upon the beauty, and a deep admiration bloomed in his heart. After several rounds of wine, an old man, emboldened by the drink, proposed, "We are indebted to True Man Cui for hosting this banquet. Today, truly, all the worthies have gathered—what a grand assembly! Why don't we all join together and perform a piece in concert?"

Everyone readily agreed, each taking up an instrument, tuning strings and setting the pitch. Instantly, the sound of strings and flutes filled the air, resounding to the heavens. Only the beautiful woman remained unmoved. Waiting until the others finished, she finally took out her instrument, lightly extended her fair wrists, and set her ten fingers dancing. Her music sounded like the melody of Heaven itself, possessing both passionate fervor and gentle harmony. At its most vigorous, it seemed to shake the very chest and stir the spirit; in its softest moments, it stirred profound emotion. Silence fell over the entire assembly, each person lost in their own enchantment.

About half an incense stick's time later, the music ceased with a sharp, resonant clang, like the striking of a chime cymbal. The assembly was genuinely won over, praising, "Lady Yunhe’s peerless skill is beyond description!" As soon as they finished speaking, they rose to take their leave. One heard the cries of cranes and the roars of dragons, and in an instant, the entire group vanished completely.

The Daoist instructed the attendants to clear the dishes and lay out bedding, arranging lodging for Wang Mian. Wang Mian had been smitten upon first seeing the beauty, and after hearing her performance, his soul became utterly captivated, filling his mind with reverie. He thought to himself, "I, Wang Mian, possess prodigious talent. To pass the examinations and attain office is but a trivial matter. Once I achieve fame and fortune tomorrow, why should I lack a wife? Although Lady Yunhe is peerless in beauty, in this vast world, who is to say there isn't someone more beautiful?" His thoughts spiraled wildly, his mind a tangled mess.

The Daoist seemed to sense his turmoil and smiled, "Young Master, in a past life, we were classmates. Later, due to wavering resolve, I fell into the net of the mundane world. Now, you are deeply mired and find it hard to break free. I shall send you back first. Perhaps there will be a time for us to meet again, but if you wish to attain immortality and ascend, you must still endure trials." He pointed to the long stone below the steps, commanding Wang Mian to sit upon it with his eyes closed, cautioning, "Do not open your eyes."

Before the words were finished, the long stone shot toward the sky, swift as a shooting star. The wind howled past Wang Mian’s ears as they traversed hundreds or thousands of li. Seated upright on the stone, Wang Mian suddenly thought, "I wonder what the lower realm looks like?" He cracked his eyes open just a sliver to steal a glance, seeing only the vast, boundless ocean below.

Fear gripped Wang Mian’s heart, and he quickly slammed his eyes shut, but he failed to prevent the stone from plummeting. With a loud crash, it plunged into the sea. Fortunately, their landing spot was near the shore, and since he knew a little swimming, he flailed his limbs, fighting desperately for survival.

Just then, he distinctly heard applause and a voice laughing, "That fall was truly magnificent. Auspicious, auspicious! The scholar has been 'moistened'!" (Zhong Shi, meaning achieving success in the examination, was played upon by the woman as 'becoming wet'—a playful jest.)

Wang Mian looked up and saw a young woman, about sixteen years old with radiant beauty, approaching in a small boat not far away. Greatly relieved, Wang Mian cried out, "Miss, please save me!"

The woman reached out and pulled him aboard her vessel. Wang Mian had been in the water too long; his clothes were soaked through, the chill penetrating to the bone, causing him to tremble uncontrollably. He asked, "Is there fire? I am so cold."

The woman replied, "There is no fire on the boat. If you need to warm yourself, come to my home."

Wang Mian declared, "I am a scholar from the Central Plains who met with misfortune. Having received your kind help, I shall repay you with my person one day; I dare not forget your virtue."

The woman smiled faintly, urged the boat forward with her oars, and the vessel sliced through the water like the wind. Before long, they reached the near shore, and both disembarked. The woman had gathered lotus flowers in her cabin, which she now carried in her hand as she led the way. They walked half a li to a village, passed through several courtyards, and suddenly the view opened up before them: a grand, imposing residence stood loftily, displaying unparalleled luxury.

The woman went in first to announce their arrival. Soon after, a middle-aged man of about forty hurried out. Upon seeing Wang Mian, he clasped his hands in greeting and ushered him into the main hall. A maid brought dry clothes, shoes, and a cap. Wang Mian changed, and his spirits immediately revived.

After the host and guest were seated, the middle-aged man inquired about Wang Mian’s background. Wang Mian admitted, "To be frank, I am a scholar from the Central Plains, known for my talent. True Man Cui invited me to a gathering to discuss heavenly secrets, but I remain attached to the mortal world and do not aspire to immortality, thus I was unwilling to become a recluse."

The middle-aged man adopted a solemn and respectful demeanor. "This place is called Immortal’s Isle, far removed from the dust of the world. My surname is Huan. You, Young Master, are a renowned figure of this age. Your presence graces us greatly. To be frank, I have two daughters. My eldest is named Fangyun, sixteen years old. If you do not disdain her, I would be willing to betroth her to you as your wife." As he spoke, he ordered the wine service, attending to Wang Mian with great diligence.

Wang Mian mused, "This Miss Fangyun must be the lotus-picking girl. She saved my life. If a marriage can come of this, what greater joy could there be?" He immediately agreed, offering repeated thanks.

The middle-aged man smiled slightly and instructed a maid, "Go and summon the two young ladies."

A short while later, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance. Two young women, accompanied by about a dozen maids, walked gracefully forward. The elder was tall, her countenance radiant as the moon, possessing an ethereal beauty. The middle-aged man introduced her, "This is my eldest daughter, Fangyun."

He then pointed to a small girl, perhaps eleven or twelve, saying, "This is my youngest, Lüyun, intelligent since childhood, quite capable of reading and writing."

Wang Mian searched the group intently, focused on the lotus-picking girl. Seeing her among the crowd brought him immense relief.

The two young ladies sat near the table, and host and guest drank and chatted. After three rounds of wine, the middle-aged man said, "Since you are a scholar from the Central Plains, Young Master, you must be proficient in poetry. Could you favor us with a piece?"

Wang Mian replied, "I recently composed a piece, two lines of which are quite thought-provoking: 'Only beard and whiskers remain upon my body; a small drink can dissolve all sorrow.'"

Fangyun heard this and smiled faintly, saying, "The first line describes the Venerable Sun (Sun Wukong) leaving the Fire Cloud Cave, and the second line describes Pigsy (Zhu Bajie) crossing the Child-and-Mother River."

Wang Mian was momentarily stunned and asked, "Your words are profound, Miss. What do they mean?"

Fangyun explained, "When Sun Wukong entered the Fire Cloud Cave, the Samadhi True Fire burned him, stripping away all his monkey fur, leaving only his beard and whiskers. When Zhu Bajie crossed the Child-and-Mother River, he mistakenly drank the water and became pregnant; when he entered the Fetus-Expelling Spring, the medicine went down his throat, and he was cured." Before she finished speaking, the whole room erupted in laughter.

Wang Mian felt a surge of displeasure and thought, "The Venerable Sun is a monkey, and Pigsy is a wild boar. This girl’s words are malicious; she is clearly mocking me as a beast."

The middle-aged man sensed the shift in atmosphere and looked reproachfully at Fangyun, saying, "Little girl, lacking proper guidance, do not speak such nonsense and disrespect our guest." He then turned to Wang Mian, smiling apologetically, "My daughter knows no propriety. If she has given offense, Young Master, please do not take it to heart." After a cough, he continued, "I recently came across an upper couplet. I wonder if Young Master can provide the matching lower one?"

Wang Mian, confident in his genius, smiled and said, "Please present it."

The middle-aged man offered, "My upper couplet is quite simple: 'By the Prince's side, not a single piece is not jade.'" (The character for jade, Yù , minus one dot becomes the character for King, Wáng .)

Wang Mian thought, "The character for jade missing one dot becomes the character for Wang. This is a character decomposition riddle; devising a response will take some effort." He frowned, racking his brain, unable to find a solution.

Just as he felt awkward, he heard Lüyun speak up, "I have the lower couplet, but Brother-in-law, please don't be angry when I say it."

Wang Mian was delighted in his heart. "You call me Brother-in-law, how could I be angry?" he laughed, "Speak freely."

Lüyun blinked her eyes and said, "The lower couplet is: Upon the head of Old Meng (Meng , which sounds like Mian), adding half an evening makes the Tortoise (Guī )." Before she finished speaking, Fangyun let out a sharp "Tch!" and burst out laughing, reaching out to tickle her sister and admonishing, "Naughty girl, how dare you speak so disrespectfully to your brother-in-law?"

Lüyun retorted stubbornly, "You are allowed to curse, but I am not?"

The two sisters fell into a wrestling match. Wang Mian’s face flushed hot. He thought, "Meng () sounds the same as Mian (). This little lady’s words have hidden meaning; isn't she calling me a cuckold? Bah! If your sister isn't stealing lovers, how could I become a tortoise?" Thinking of this, his expression darkened.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense. The middle-aged man quickly stepped in to smooth things over, laughing heartily, "Children speak plainly without considering consequences. Young Master, please do not take offense at her childishness. Come, let us drink."

Wang Mian, still fuming, replied upon hearing this, "I have drunk quite enough wine. This young scholar is intoxicated."

The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then burst into laughter again, "Since that is the case, a spring night's moment is worth a thousand pieces of gold! Servants! Escort the son-in-law to the bridal chamber!"

The maids responded in unison, giggling and jostling one another, happily ushering the husband and wife into the room.