Li Chuntan was in charge of transporting provisions down the river to Dachangkou in Huaining, Anhui. One of his subordinates, Gong Kai, approached him and said, "I had a most peculiar dream last night."
"What did you dream?"
"I saw an old man with white hair and a long white beard. He was weeping as he came to me and pleaded, 'Help! You must save my life! If you do, I will surely repay you one day!'"
"That is indeed strange."
Their conversation was cut short by sudden shouts. All the soldiers in the escort were pointing excitedly at something in the water.
"Look, sir," said Gong. "It's a seal! Have you ever seen one this far upriver?"
The soldiers captured the seal and hauled it beside the boat. Li and Gong went to inspect it. When the seal locked eyes with Gong, it gave him a long, profound look. Gong's heart raced as he recalled his dream.
"Sir, I wish to buy this seal and set it free. I believe it is connected to the dream I just described."
"Very well, as you wish. It's your money." Gong took out his purse to reward the soldiers for retrieving the seal.
Everyone was pleased—except for a cruel soldier named Chen Si, who insisted on eating the seal for dinner. He refused Gong's money, snatched up his spear, and stabbed the seal in the head. The water turned red with its blood.
"Don't you know how delicious seal meat is?" Chen asked the others. "Why settle for a measly tip? Let's feast tonight!" While most soldiers pitied the poor creature, some were indifferent. They helped Chen haul the dead seal aboard and joined him in eating it.
This meal soon proved to be a grave mistake. Before long, everyone who had partaken fell ill. Chen suffered the most, writhing in agony. As others tended to him, he suddenly spoke in an eerie voice:
"For years I cultivated my powers. All was going smoothly until a stroke of misfortune stranded me in this river. I begged Gong Kai for help. Everyone agreed to spare me—everyone but you, Chen Si. You refused me life. You drove your spear into my head and killed me! You took my life, and now I shall take yours!"
To the soldiers' horror, Chen Si threw back his head and died.
Some spirits spend decades or even centuries honing their abilities, among them the power of transformation. Science may not yet acknowledge such phenomena, but remember: there may be more to the animals around us than meets the eye.