The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

The loan of the good swordHEI LUAN of Wei had a secret grudge against Ch'iuPing-chang, for which he slew him; and Lai Tan, the sonof Ch'iu Ping-chang, plotted vengeance against hisfather's enemy. Lai Tan's spirit was very fierce, but hisbody was very slight. You could count the grains of ricethat he ate, and he was at the mercy of every gust ofwind. For all the anger in his heart, he was not strongenough to take his revenge in open fight, and he wasashamed to seek help from others. So he swore that,sword in hand, he would cut Hei Luan's throat unawares.This Hei Luan was the most ferocious character of hisday, and in brute strength he was a match for a hundredmen. His bones and sinews, skin and flesh were cast insuperhuman mould. He would stretch out his neck to theblade or bare his breast to the arrow, but the sharp steelwould bend or break, and his body show no scar from theimpact. Trusting to his native strength, he lookeddisdainfully on Lai Tan as a mere fledgling.Lai Tan had a friend Shên T'o, who said to him: “Youhave a bitter feud against Hei Luan, and Hei Luan treatsyou with sovereign contempt. What is your plan ofaction?"Shedding tears, Lai Tan besought his friend's counsel.