| | Lü Gong, courtesy name Wenjing, was fond of taking elixirs from an early age. He took one male servant and one female servant to gather herbs in the Taihang Mountains. Suddenly, three people appeared in a valley, so they asked Gong: "Do you desire eternal life?" "You are thus diligently enduring hardship and danger!" Gong said, "I truly desire eternal life, but I have not encountered a good formula. Therefore, I gather and consume these substances, hoping for some slight benefit." One of them said, "My surname is Lü, courtesy name Wenqi." Another person said, "My surname is Sun, courtesy name Wenyang." One person said, "My surname is Li, courtesy name Wenshang." They were all xianren (immortals) of the Taiqing Taihe Fu. At that time, they had come to gather herbs and intended to pass on their knowledge to a new student. Since Gong shared the same surname as them and his courtesy name contained half of theirs, it was said that Gong's destiny was fated for eternal life. "If you are able to follow us in gathering herbs, I will tell you the method of immortality." Gong immediately bowed and said, "It is a great fortune to meet divine beings, but I fear my ignorance and many sins make me unworthy of instruction. If you would deign to rescue and teach me, it would fulfill my wish for rebirth." He immediately followed the immortals away. After two days, they taught Gong a complete secret formula and then sent him back, saying: "You may return to visit your hometown." Gong immediately bowed in farewell. The immortals said to Gong: "Although you have come for only two days, it is already 200 years in the human world." When Gong returned home, he saw only an empty wilderness; there were no descendants left. He then encountered Zhao Guangfu, a descendant of several generations from his hometown, and asked where the house of Lü Gong was. The people turned to him in surprise and said: "From where have you come?" They then asked this old man, "I have heard from previous generations that there was a Lü Gong who took one male servant and one female attendant into the mountains to gather herbs and never returned. We thought he had been injured by tigers or wolves. It has now been more than 200 years—why are you asking about him?" There is a descendant of Lü Gong named Lü Xi, who lives ten li northeast of the city and practices as a Daoist priest. Many people revere and serve him; it should be easy to find him." Gong followed Guangfu's words, went to Xi's home, knocked on the door, and called out to him. A servant came out and asked, "Where have you come from?" Gong said, "This is my family home." "I previously gathered herbs and followed immortals away; it has now been over 200 years, and I have returned today." Xi's entire family was astonished and delighted. They ran out barefoot and bowed, saying: "The immortal has returned home." They wept uncontrollably, unable to contain their emotions. After staying for a long time, he imparted the divine formula to Xi and then left. At that time, Xi was already 80 years old; after taking the elixir, he gradually returned to youth. By the age of 200, he went into the mountains and disappeared. His descendants continued to take this medicine generation after generation; none aged or died of old age, and they all attained immortality.
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