Echo and Narcissus

　　A long time ago, there was a young man called Wang Qi. When he heard that there were many immortals2 on Mount3 Lao, he went there at once.

　　There was a Daoist who still looked young although he was very old. Wang Qi became one of his pupils. During his first month, Wang Qi went to the hills with other students every day and listened to the instructions of his teacher patiently. In his second month, he felt that he could not stand the hard and tiring life, but he still waited for the teacher to teach him the magical skills he wanted. In his third month, he could not bear the suffering any longer. He went to see his teacher and said, "I've been working hard for so many days. Now would you please teach me some skills, or it'll be a waste of time for me to be here."

　　"What do you want to learn?"

　　"Whatever."

　　"Then I'll teach you how to go through a wall." The Daoist told Wang Qi the incantations（咒语） that let him walk through a wall. After reciting the incantations, Wang Qi made it through the wall. With great pleasure, Wang Qi said goodbye to his teacher and went back home.

　　Back at home, he told his family and neighbors that he had met with an immortal1 and learned how to magically go through a wall, but no one believed in him. So Wang Qi recited the incantations and ran towards a wall to prove his point. However, his head hit wall with a "Bang!", and he was knocked to the floor. His wife helped him to his feet and found that there was a large bump4 on his forehead.

　　The story means that, bragging5 will only lead to failure.

　　从前，有一个年轻人名叫王七，听说崂山上有很多仙人，就前往崂山访道。

　　在崂山上，王七拜一位鹤发童颜的老道士为师。第一个月王七每天跟着众人去山上砍柴，认真地听师傅讲道。可是第二个月他就难以忍受山上清贫辛苦的生活了，但是为了学到仙术，他只得耐心等待。到了第三个月，他实在忍无可忍了，于是找到老道，对师傅说：“弟子操劳多日，请师傅传授弟子一些仙术，也不枉弟子在这里所受的辛苦。”

　　老道问他：“那你想学什么呢？”

　　“什么都可以。”

　　“那我就教给你穿墙术吧。”老道答应了他。然后就把穿墙术的咒语告诉了王七。王七念过咒语后，果然能够穿墙而过，他非常高兴，谢过师傅就下了山。

　　王七回到家后，向家里人和左邻右舍吹嘘他在崂山上遇到了神仙，学会了穿墙术。众人不相信，于是王七就念动咒语，然后奔向一堵墙壁。只听“嘭”的一声，王七的头重重地撞到了墙上，由于太用力，他一下子坐到了地上。他的妻子连忙上前把他扶起来。王七不但没有穿墙而过，反而把头撞了一个大包。

　　这个故事告诉我们：投机取巧、哗众取宠的人注定要吃苦头。