ENG
The furnace crumbles, bricks fall, a day of disgrace,
Lament did he, the beauty he could not embrace.
All his talents wasted on the golden son,
Looking back, he's become a foolish one.
The galaxy was clear, and the sky was spotless. That night, a young Daoist boy sat by the furnace, fanning the fire. Feeling drowsy, he was about to sneak in a nap when he suddenly heard a soft laugh.
Looking up, he saw his master standing at the door with a girl, watching him doze off. He quickly straightened his clothes and stood up to apologize. Contrary to his usual stern demeanor, the master did not scold him. Instead, he called the boy over and briefly introduced the newcomer, instructing them to guard the furnace together from now on. Finally, he said lightly, "She is your senior. You may call her Rakshasi."
At first, the young Daoist boy was delighted to have a companion, but upon hearing that the newcomer was a senior, he felt displeased. As soon as the master left, he decided to make things difficult for her.
Handing her the fan, he said, "The furnace is now your responsibility. It's only right that the older one does the work, isn't it, my senior?" The girl did not argue and simply smiled, "Indeed, my junior, you may go rest."
The next day, when the master ascended the altar, the girl approached. The young Daoist boy thought she was going to complain, but instead, she said, "Master, as a new disciple, it is only right that I fan the fire. However, the fan my junior gave me is a bit small and not very handy."
The master glanced at the young Daoist boy and smiled, "If that's the case, I'll make a new one for you. You may as well wield it as a nice vessel."
The young Daoist boy had not expected his usually strict master to be so kind to the girl. Gradually, he began to see her in a new light.
From then on, they practiced together. He discovered that the girl was adept in both Buddhist and Daoist teachings. No matter what scripture the master taught, she could always engage in discussion, whereas he often struggled to keep up, both in speech and thought.
Later, when the furnace was kicked over, he was severely punished by the master. While other disciples looked on coldly, it was only this senior who volunteered to descend to the mortal realm to help him.
In the mortal realm, he learned that his senior had her own cave dwelling and a group of loyal followers. The master had even granted her the title of Earthy Immortal as compensation.
Some time later, the master arranged for her to marry a yaoguai king in the mortal realm. Though he felt a bit melancholic, he understood that he was ultimately unworthy of her, no matter how many dirty tasks he had done for the master. In the master's eyes, he would never be a match for her.
The passage begins with a sense of loss and regret: the furnace collapses and the narrator laments that he could not win the affection of a beautiful person. He feels his talents were wasted and, looking back, calls himself foolish for failing to embrace that beauty. This establishes the narrator’s sorrow and the emotional tone of the story.
The scene itself opens with a young Daoist boy guarding a furnace and nearly falling asleep. His master arrives with a girl and tells the boy that the girl is his senior, instructing them to guard the furnace together and calling her Rakshasi. The boy is initially glad to have company but upset that she is officially his senior, so he decides to be petty and hand her the work, saying the older one should do it.
The girl accepts without complaint and later tells the master that the fan the boy gave her is small and awkward. Rather than scolding the boy, the master smiles and has a better fan made for her. The boy is surprised by his master’s kindness toward her and begins to respect and admire her. He discovers she is skilled in both Buddhist and Daoist teachings and can follow any scripture the master teaches, while he struggles to keep up.
A major turning point comes when the furnace is kicked over and the boy is harshly punished. While other disciples watch coldly, Rakshasi volunteers to go down to the mortal realm to help him. In the mortal realm the boy learns she has her own cave dwelling and loyal followers, and that the master had given her the title Earthy Immortal as a form of reward or compensation.
Eventually the master arranges for Rakshasi to marry a yaoguai king in the mortal realm. The boy feels melancholic and accepts that he is not worthy of her; despite his service to the master, he realizes the master never considered him a match for her. The story ends with the boy’s resigned understanding that his feelings and efforts are not enough to change the master’s judgment.