After the Hog-Dragon and that old Daoist had gone far away, Chen Wang prepared to continue exploring the mountain, intending to climb to its summit.
But he had not gone far when Chen Wang saw the Hanging Ghost Scholar again.
Chen Wang was stunned. He examined him carefully and discovered that it really was that scholar.
Chen Wang immediately became wary. "brother Wang, weren't you at the foot of the mountain? Why have you come here again?"
The scholar said, "Brother, did I guide you to find treasure in that temple?"
Chen Wang patted the wooden blade at his waist. "I found it."
The scholar smiled. "Excellent, excellent. Could you use the blade in your hand to cut the rope around my neck?"
"You still haven't answered my earlier question," Chen Wang said.
The Hanging Ghost Scholar said, "This tree appears and vanishes like a ghost. There is nothing I can do about it. Do you think I want this?"
Chen Wang stared at the scholar with blazing eyes.
The scholar looked at Chen Wang with a thoroughly sincere expression. "Please help me. Once you cut the rope, I will be free."
"I heard that if you want to be free, you need to hang someone else in your place and find a substitute," Chen Wang said.
The scholar shook his head. "Those are the words of ignorant country folk. The Heavenly Dao turns in cycles; good and evil are repaid in kind. Why would such a thing be necessary? If I can escape this predicament, how could I harbor thoughts of harming others?"
"I'm afraid I can't help you with this," Chen Wang said. "You and I merely met by chance. It isn't worth taking such a great risk to help you."
The scholar pleaded, "Please. You don't know