On this very day, as the two were chatting idly, the beggar remarked, "I must be taking my leave now. I have intruded upon your generosity for too long, and I feel quite undeserving. This evening, at dusk, I shall prepare a small feast in the garden. If you do not scorn the humble offering, please grace it with your presence."

Gao Yucheng replied, "Our time together has been delightful; why this sudden departure? Furthermore, preparing a banquet for guests involves no small expense—how could I allow you to bear the cost?"

The beggar chuckled. "A mere table of refreshments will hardly bankrupt me."

Gao Yucheng still hesitated, saying, "It is the dead of winter, and the wind in the garden is fierce; I fear it will be too cold."

The beggar waved a hand dismissively. "No matter, follow me." The two strolled out, and soon the garden pavilion came into view. Upon entering the garden grounds, they immediately felt the climate shift, warm as the height of a vernal spring. Entering the pavilion itself, they gazed upon a scene where birds flew in flocks and flowers bloomed in glorious tapestry.

The tables and chairs within the pavilion were entirely inlaid with agate and adorned with jade, showcasing an extreme extravagance. A crystal screen stood before them, so lucid and radiant it reflected their images perfectly. Beyond the screen lay another world entirely: trees swayed, some blossoming, others shedding their petals. White birds, like drifts of snow, darted back and forth.

Gao Yucheng’s eyes were wide with wonder, and he gasped in admiration. He reached out to touch the crystal screen. At his contact, the birds scattered, the flowers withered instantly, but when he drew his hand back, the scene returned unchanged—the flowers were flowers, the birds were birds once more.

The host and guest settled in. A myna bird floated gracefully over, speaking clearly, "Tea, if you please." Hardly had the sound faded when a Sun-Crested Phoenix flew in, holding a jade tray in its beak. It placed the tray on the table. Upon it rested two glazed cups brimming with fragrant tea, steam rising and rich aroma wafting into the air.

After the tea, the beggar casually picked up the glazed cups and placed them back on the tray. The Phoenix let out a cry, its beak swiftly clamping down on the jade tray, and with a beat of its wings, it flew away.

The myna bird cleared its throat and called out again, "Wine!" A Green Luan and a Yellow Crane descended gracefully from above; one carried a golden ewer, the other a jade goblet, setting them on the table. In moments, flocks of birds danced in, arriving in succession—some presenting rare delicacies, others offering exquisite morsels. The table groaned under a mountain of dishes, every single one a masterpiece.

Gao Yucheng was overjoyed, drinking heartily until his cup was empty again and again.

Seeing his prodigious capacity, the beggar laughed. "The jade cups are too small; they don't satisfy. We must switch to larger bowls." The myna bird heard this and let out a piercing squawk, "Fetch the bronze vessels!" Before the command was finished, a giant butterfly descended from the horizon, large as a wild goose, its magnificent, multicolored wings fully spread.

The colossal butterfly presented a Parrot Cup, cast entirely of bronze, large enough to hold a midou measure of liquid. One cup of this required several pounds of fine liquor. The beggar smiled faintly and commanded the giant butterfly, "Serve the wine!"

The butterfly heard, circled, and transformed in a shimmer, becoming a youthful maiden in flowing, embroidered robes. She approached and began pouring. The beggar shook his head. "The wine is excellent, but alas, we lack something to accompany the drink."

The maiden understood, swaying her slender waist, she began to dance. Her movements were graceful, transcendent, as if she were an immortal. As the dance reached its passionate peak, the maiden’s toes left the ground. She bent backward, lifting her head until it met her feet, then sprung upright. She twisted and turned in mid-air, never touching the dust below. While dancing, she sang, her voice lingering melodiously around the beams: "Continuous laughter treads the fragrant thicket, low branches brush the blush upon my cheek. I know not where my golden ornaments have fallen, following the butterfly past the eastern fence." The final notes drifted away, lingering endlessly.

Gao Yucheng was immensely pleased. He grabbed the maiden, pulling her into his embrace, and ordered her to drink. With such beauty before him, his heart stirred, and he could not resist reaching out, touching, and making advances with unrestrained liberty. The maiden grew displeased. She extended her delicate hand and flicked Gao Yucheng sharply on the forehead.

The pain was searing. Gao Yucheng cried out, his vision blurring. When he focused, he saw the maiden had transformed into a hideous Yaksha—bulging eyes, bared fangs, skin black like an orange peel, ugliness beyond description. Terror gripped his heart; he released her instantly, trembling and unable to regain his composure.

The beggar burst into loud laughter. He casually picked up a chopstick and jabbed it into the Yaksha’s pointed mouth, sharply reprimanding it, "Insolent! Retire at once!"

When the chopstick met the demon's mouth, there was a sharp crack. The Yaksha collapsed immediately, reverting to the giant butterfly, which fluttered away into the void.

Startled and shaken, Gao Yucheng bid farewell and left. Outside the pavilion, the moonlight washed the grounds clean. He asked casually, "Brother Beggar, such magnificent wine and fare appeared from thin air. Is your residence perhaps in the Ninth Heaven? If so, could you possibly take me up for a tour?"

The beggar replied, "Certainly." They clasped hands and leaped, ascending into the sky. They arrived at a tall gate, its opening perfectly circular like a well, and entered side by side. Inside, the light was as bright as midday. The path underfoot was paved with smooth, clean flagstones, utterly spotless. Not far off stood a massive tree, dozens of zhang high, covered in red blossoms as large as white lotuses.

Beneath the tree stood a woman, holding a cloth-beating stick, laundering silk. Her beauty was unparalleled, defying mortal description. Gao Yucheng, being naturally inclined toward romance, was stunned by the sight of her, frozen in a lovestruck stupor, his steps arrested.

The woman saw his impropriety and let out a cold snort, raging, "What manner of lout is this, acting so outrageously!" She grabbed the beating stick and hurled it with force. With uncanny accuracy, it struck him squarely in the back.

Gao Yucheng yelled out in pain, the agony sharp. Seeing the resentment etched on his face, the beggar knew he had caused trouble. He cried out, "Fool! You have offended the 'Azure Spirit True Lord'—the consequences will be severe! Let us flee!" Without another word, he grabbed Gao Yucheng by the sleeve and rushed them away.

At the South Heavenly Gate, the beggar spoke, "Our destined connection has run its course; we part ways here forever. I have one final warning for you: Your span of life is nearing its end. If you wish to avert disaster, rise early tomorrow and hasten toward the Western Mountain." He pointed, and a white cloud drifted in from the distance.

Gao Yucheng leaped onto the cloud. The white cloud drifted slowly down, gradually lowering until it stopped upon the earth. He looked around—he was back in his garden. The beggar was nowhere in sight; the flowers were withered, and the landscape was utterly changed.

Upon returning home and recounting the affair to his wife, both were deeply horrified. He took off his outer robe to examine himself; a single spot of crimson marked his back, exuding a strange, persistent fragrance that would not fade.

At dawn the next day, Gao Yucheng packed dry rations and headed into the mountains. A thick fog enveloped everything, making it impossible to discern any path. In a panic, he ran wildly, lost his footing, and tumbled into a cloud abyss. The bottom of the cavern was immeasurable. Looking up, the swirling vapor made it impossible to see. He sighed, "The Immortal Beggar commanded me to seek refuge, yet calamity was unavoidable. When will I escape this grotto?"

As he fretted, a faint light appeared deep within the cave. He followed it and found another world inside. At the center sat a stone table, and beside it, three ancient elders were playing chess. Seeing Gao Yucheng stumble in, they paid him no mind, absorbed in their game.

Gao Yucheng was a devoted chess enthusiast. He remained silent, content to watch the match. When the final move was played, the three elders gathered their pieces into a box and then asked, "Why has our honored guest arrived here?"

Gao Yucheng replied, "I lost my way and fell."

The eldest responded, "This is not the mortal realm; you should not linger. I shall send you back." He casually gripped Gao Yucheng by the collar and threw him outward with great force. Gao Yucheng felt his body shoot out like an arrow, and then his feet struck solid ground—he was back in the mountains.

The surrounding scenery had transformed: leaves were yellowed and withered, the trees shedding their foliage. It was already late autumn. Gao Yucheng was utterly shocked, muttering to himself, "When I entered the mountains, it was deep winter; how is it suddenly autumn?" He sprinted home. Wife and children greeted him, weeping in relief.

His wife wept while complaining, "Husband, you left home to avoid danger, and you have been gone for three years without a word, causing me agonizing loneliness and fear. How could you be so cruel?"

Gao Yucheng was bewildered. "Strange, have I been gone so long? It felt like only an instant." He reached into his waist for his provisions; they had all turned to ash.

His wife continued, "After you left, one night I was sleeping, and I dreamt of two men, wearing dark robes and sashes, appearing like bailiffs. They burst into the room, looking around wildly, and asked me, 'Where is your husband? Where did he go?' I replied, 'My husband is out on business. Who are you to barge into a woman's chambers uninvited?' The two acted arrogantly, dismissing me, and left, muttering as they went, 'Strange, how strange!'"

Gao Yucheng understood instantly and laughed. "Those two must have been Ghost Messengers, coming to claim my life! It is fortunate the Immortal Beggar rescued me, turning misfortune into fortune. My destiny has been greatly altered!" The couple looked at each other, survivors of a near-death experience, filled with uncontainable joy.