Explore the intriguing tale of Liu Haishi, his supernatural abilities, and the encounter with a mystical creature that led to a remarkable transformation.
Liu Haishi was a native of Putai and came to Binzhou to escape the war. At that time, he was only fourteen years old and was classmates with Liu Cangke, a local scholar in Binzhou. Because they were very close, they became sworn brothers. Not long after, Liu Haishi’s parents passed away, and he rushed back home for the funeral. From then on, the two lost contact.
Liu Cangke came from a wealthy family. By the time he was forty, he already had two sons: his eldest son Liu Ji was seventeen years old and a renowned scholar in the county; his second son was also very intelligent. Later, Liu Cangke married the daughter of a local family named Ni as his concubine and doted on her greatly.
After six months, Liu Ji suddenly fell ill with a severe headache and died. The couple was overwhelmed with grief. In just a few days, Liu Cangke’s wife also fell ill and passed away. A few months later, Liu Ji’s widow also died, and the household servants and maids began to die one after another. Liu Cangke mourned the deceased and suffered unbearable pain.
One day, Liu Cangke was sitting in distress when suddenly he received a message from the gatekeeper that Liu Haishi had arrived. Liu Cangke was very pleased and hurriedly went out to welcome Liu Haishi inside. Just as Liu Cangke was about to exchange pleasantries, Liu Haishi asked in astonishment, “Brother, have you not heard about the calamity that has befallen your family?” Liu Cangke was greatly surprised and had no idea what he was talking about. Liu Haishi explained, “It’s been a long time since we communicated, and I’ve had my doubts about your well-being.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Cangke teared up and proceeded to recount everything that had happened in his family over the past six months. Liu Haishi couldn’t help but shed tears as well. After a while, Liu Haishi smiled and said, “Your family’s misfortune is not over yet, but luckily you’ve run into me. I have come here to offer my condolences to you.” Liu Cangke asked, “Have you become skilled in medicine during our long separation?” Liu Haishi replied, “Medicine is not my expertise, but I am quite knowledgeable in Feng Shui and physiognomy.” Liu Cangke was delighted and asked him to examine the Feng Shui of his residence, whether it was auspicious or ominous.
Liu Haishi entered Liu Cangke’s residence and thoroughly examined every nook and cranny. Then, he requested to see all the members of the family. Following his instructions, Liu Cangke gathered his son, daughter-in-law, concubine, and servants in the living room. Liu Cangke pointed to each one as he introduced them to Liu Haishi. However, when he pointed to the concubine Ni, Liu Haishi looked up to the sky and burst into laughter uncontrollably.
As everyone was filled with bewilderment, they witnessed Ni trembling all over, her face turning pale, and her body rapidly shrinking until she was only about two feet tall. Liu Haishi took a measuring rod and struck her head, producing a sound like hitting a pot. He grabbed her hair and examined the back of her head, where he found a few white hairs. Liu Haishi attempted to pull them out, and Ni, with her neck cringed, knelt there crying incessantly, pleading not to have the white hairs removed.
In anger, Liu Haishi exclaimed, “Your malicious intent has not died, has it?” Saying so, he forcefully plucked out all the white hairs from the back of her head. Ni immediately transformed into a different appearance, resembling a black ferret. Everyone present was shocked and terrified.
Liu Haishi placed it in his sleeve and said to Liu Cangke’s young daughter-in-law, “The poison in your body runs deep, and there must be something unusual on your back. Please allow me to take a look.” The young daughter-in-law felt shy and unwilling to undress to reveal her back. Liu Cangke’s younger son forced her to remove her clothes, and they saw that there were several white hairs on her back, each about four fingers long. Liu Haishi used a needle to pluck out the white hairs and said, “These hairs are already
After Liu Haishi finished speaking, he was about to take his leave. Suddenly, he felt his sleeve was empty and couldn’t help but be alarmed, saying, “It’s escaped! There was still a big hair on its tail root that I didn’t pluck, and now it has run away.” Everyone was horrified upon hearing this. Liu Haishi said, “I’ve already plucked all the hairs from its neck, so it won’t transform back into a human. It can only become an animal. I believe it hasn’t gone far.”
Liu Haishi then returned to the house to check the cats and inspected the dogs outside, but found nothing unusual. When he opened the door to the pigsty, Liu Haishi smiled and said, “It’s right here.” Liu Cangke took a look, and there was an extra pig in the pigsty. As soon as the pig heard Liu Haishi’s laughter, it
Liu Haishi put the ferret back into his sleeve and was about to take his leave. Liu Cangke earnestly tried to persuade him to stay, and Liu Haishi stayed for a meal. Before parting ways, Liu Cangke asked when they could meet again. Liu Haishi said, “That’s hard to predict. My master has long had a grand aspiration for us to roam frequently in the mortal world, helping countless beings. We will have the chance to meet again.”
After Liu Haishi left, Liu Cangke carefully ponder
《刘海石》
刘海石，蒲台人，避乱于滨州。时十四岁，与滨州生刘沧客同函丈，因相善，订为昆季。无何，海石失怙恃，奉丧而归，音问遂阙。沧客家颇裕，年四十，生二子：长子吉，十七岁，为邑名士；次子亦慧。沧客又内邑中倪氏女，大嬖之。后半年，长子患脑痛卒，夫妻大惨。无几何，妻病又卒，逾数月，长媳又死，而婢仆之丧亡，且相继也。沧客哀悼，殆不能堪。
一日，方坐愁间，忽阍人通海石至。沧客喜，急出门迎以入。方欲展寒温，海石忽惊曰：“兄有灭门之祸，不知耶？”沧客愕然，莫解所以。海石曰：“久失闻问，窃疑近况未必佳也。”沧客泫然，因以状对。海石欷歔。既而笑曰：“灾殃未艾，余初为兄吊也。然幸而遇仆，请为兄贺。”沧客曰：“久不晤，岂近精‘越人术’耶？”海石曰：“是非所长。阳宅风鉴，颇能习之。”沧客喜，便求相宅。
海石入宅，内外遍观之。已而请睹诸眷口，沧客从其教，使子媳婢妾，俱见于堂。沧客一一指示，至倪，海石仰天而视，大笑不已。众方惊疑，但见倪女战慄无色，身暴缩短，仅二尺馀。海石以界方击其首，作石缶声。海石揪其发，检脑后，见白发数茎，欲拔之。女缩项跪啼，言即去，但求勿拔。海石怒曰：“汝凶心尚未死耶？”就项后拔去之。女随手而变，黑色如狸。众大骇。
海石掇纳袖中，顾子妇曰：“媳受毒已深，背上当有异，请验之。”妇羞，不肯袒示。刘子固强之，见背上白毛，长四指许。海石以针挑出，曰：“此毛已老，七日即不可救。”又视刘子，亦有毛，裁二指，曰：“似此可月馀死耳。”沧客以及婢仆，并刺之，曰：“仆适不来，一门无噍类矣。”问：“此何物？”曰：“亦狐属。吸人神气以为灵，最利人死。”沧客曰：“久不见君，何能神异如此！无乃仙乎？”笑曰：“特从师习小技耳，何遽云仙！”问其师，答云：“山石道人。适此物，我不能死之，将归献俘于师。”
言已，告别。觉袖中空空，骇曰：“亡之矣！尾末有大毛未去，今已遁去。”众俱骇然。海石曰：“领毛已尽，不能化人，止能化兽，遁当不远。”于是入室而相其猫，出门而嗾其犬，皆曰无之。启圈，笑曰：“在此矣。”沧客视之，多一豕。闻海石笑，遂伏，不敢少动。提耳捉出，视尾上白毛一茎，硬如针。方将检拔，而豕转侧哀鸣，不听拔。海石曰：“汝造孽既多，拔一毛犹不肯耶？”执而拔之，随手复化为狸。
纳袖欲出，沧客苦留，乃为一饭。问后会，曰：“此难预定。我师立愿弘，常使我等遨世上，拔救众生，未必无再见时。”及别后，细思其名，始悟曰：“海石殆仙矣！‘山石’合一‘岩’字，盖吕仙讳也。”