Xu Wugui (8)

1 The King of Wu made a voyage by boat. When he passed the Monkey Mountain, King Wu ordered the boat to pull over and land for mountain climbing.

2 Seeing so many people of the King coming up, monkeys in the hillside all ran away into the deep jungle. Only a monkey still jumped, climbed and swayed among the trees to show off his skill.

3 King Wu pulled the bow to shoot at him. The monkey stretched his hand to seize the coming arrow by a graceful gesture and then turned its head to King Wu with a defiant look.

4 The monkey’s provocative action irritated King Wu. He ordered his left and right guardians to shoot at the monkey with their large bows at the same time. With a cry, the miserable monkey fell down and died.

5 Pointing at the monkey, King Wu said to Yan Buyi and other officers, “The proud monkey thought that he was agile and strong and his skill was good enough to seize my arrow. Now he was killed in front of you. You should take warning from it. You should not be conceited and contemptuous to others for your talent, for it would incur killing to you just like this monkey.”

6 Hearing this, Yan Buyi was frightened with an overall cold sweat. Retrieving his past deeds, he felt lucky his behaviors had not brought him any misfortune.

7 After going back, he immediately requested Dong Wu to teach him the way of modesty. Since then, Yan Buyi never sung at high pitch or attended these parties of celebrities. Usually, he took plain carriage with fewer attendants and wore plain clothes. His behavior became polite and modest.

8 After three years, people all round the country praised him as an urbane gentleman.