Čarovnik Xu Guang

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Čarovnik Xu Guang

In the days of Wu, there was a man named Xu Guang who once performed his arts in the marketplace. He begged a melon from a seller, but the man refused him, so he asked instead for a slice. He struck the ground with his staff and planted it there. In a moment a melon plant sprang up, its vines spread, and it blossomed and bore fruit. Xu Guang picked the melons and ate some, then gave the rest to the onlookers. When the seller turned back to inspect his own stock, he found it had all vanished. Xu Guang’s predictions of floods and droughts invariably proved accurate. Once, passing the gate of the Grand General Sun Chen, he gathered up his robes and hurried along, picking his way from side to side. Someone asked him why. He replied, “The foul stench of blood is unbearable.” When Sun Chen heard this, he took offense and had him killed. Yet when Xu Guang’s head was cut off, no blood flowed. Later, Sun Chen deposed the young emperor and set Emperor Jing on the throne. As he was getting into his carriage to pay his respects at the imperial tombs, a great wind buffeted the carriage and made it tilt. He saw Xu Guang up in a pine tree, clapping his hands, pointing, and laughing scornfully at him. Sun Chen questioned his attendants, but none of them could see anything. Soon afterward, Emperor Jing had Sun Chen put to death.