1.Yang Zhi had studied martial arts ever since he was a boy. Seeking an official post for himself he went to the Eastern Capital and set about greasing palms, but to no avail. His money was about to run out, and all he had left was a family heirloom-an antique saber.
2.There was nothing else for it. He attached a piece of straw to the saber to indicate that it was for sale, and headed for market. Suddenly he saw a crowd of people scattering in panic. "It's The Beast!" they cried. Yang Zhi spotted a drunken figure weaving in his direction. It was Niu'er, a local menace known as "The Beast."
3.Seeing how Yang Zhi didn't flee, Niu'er stepped up to face him.
"How many coppers d'ye want for this saber?"
"3000 strings of cash. It's a valuable heirloom."
4."That much for some shitty saber? I can get one of these for 30 coppers, for chopping tofu and pork."
"This blade slices through bronze and iron like butter. If you place a hair on the blade, a slight breeze will cause the hair to be cut in two. It can kill a man without being stained by a drop of blood."
5.Niu'er helped himself to 20 copper coins from a nearby store, and stacked them on the pillar of a wooden bridge. With a single chop, Yang Zhi cleaved the stack of coins clean in two. The crowd of onlookers gasped.
6.Niu'er lifted a lock of hair from his head. Yang Zhi placed it against the saber, and when the wind blew, the hair was sliced to pieces. The crowd cheered.
7.The Beast declared: "Now kill someone. Let's see if there's any blood left on the blade."
"This is the capital," Yang objected, "I can't just kill someone. Get me a stray dog and I'll see what I can do."
"You said kill a man, not kill a dog. Have a go-kill me!"
"Forget about it. You're not buying, you're just a pest."
8.Niu'er gripped Yang Zhi and demanded that he kill someone. Yang Zhi tried to shake free but Niu'er held on tight and started punching him. Suddenly Yang Zhi broke away and with a reflex action drew his saber across Niu'er's gut. Niu'er dropped dead in the dust.
9.Yang Zhi went to surrender himself to the authorities, asking some of the bystanders to go along and testify on his behalf. Having rid them of a notorious troublemaker, the locals were filled with admiration for Yang Zhi. On account of his martial prowess and his personal conduct, Yang Zhi was subsequently recruited for an important post by the famous grand secretary, Liang.
