Huang Gong of the East Sea observed An Qisheng, who had returned from studying Taoist arts on Mount Zhifu, command a tiger with a sword. When An pointed the sword forward, the tiger dared not retreat; when he waved it left, the tiger dared not go right. Huang Gong was deeply envious.
One day, he secretly stole An Qisheng's sword while the latter was unprepared. Convinced that the sword alone was the source of An's power over the tiger, Huang Gong began to regard tigers with contempt after acquiring the weapon.
Later, encountering a tiger on the road, Huang Gong immediately drew the sword and waved it before the beast, expecting it to obey. To his shock, the tiger leaped at him and killed him.