Song Dingbo of Nanyang encountered a ghost while walking at night. He asked who it was.
"I am a ghost," replied the ghost. "And who are you?"
"I am a ghost too," Dingbo lied.
"Where are you going?" the ghost asked.
"To the City of Wan," Dingbo replied.
"I am going there too," said the ghost. "We are going the same way."
They walked together. After a few li, the ghost suggested, "Walking is tiring. Let's take turns carrying each other on our backs."
"Excellent," Dingbo agreed.
The ghost carried Dingbo first. After a few li, it found him heavy and grew suspicious. "You are too heavy. Are you really a ghost?"
"I died recently, so I am heavy," Dingbo cleverly replied.
When it was Dingbo's turn to carry the ghost, it had almost no weight.
As they continued their journey, Dingbo asked, "I am a new ghost. What are ghosts most afraid of?"
The ghost whispered, "Human saliva."
Later, they came to a small creek. Dingbo let the ghost cross first. It crossed without a sound, as if walking on land. But when Dingbo crossed, he splashed water noisily.
The ghost grew suspicious again. "Why was there so much noise when you crossed?"
"I am new and not used to crossing water yet," Dingbo explained. The ghost was convinced.
As they neared the City of Wan, Dingbo hoisted the ghost onto his shoulder, held it tightly, and began to run swiftly. The ghost shouted to be put down, but Dingbo ignored it. He ran straight into the city, threw the ghost to the ground, where it turned into a sheep. Dingbo sold it, spat on it several times to prevent it from changing back, received 1,500 coins, and left happily.