Synopsis:
In a teahouse, the storyteller's wooden clapper cracked against the table. He opened his folding fan.
"They say that at the foot of a great mountain stood Ten-Mile Village. An old hunter from the village went into the mountains to hunt and came back with a little girl who had no father or mother.
"She grew up wild and knew no human speech. She could only crouch on the ground, bare her teeth, and make a 'kongkong' sound. So they called her Kongkong."
"The girl was born with a remarkable physique! Swift as a monkey, fierce as a tiger or leopard. Though she was only about eight, she dared to fight a giant wolf king the size of a calf with her bare hands!
"After she came to Ten-Mile Village, every bear and tiger in the mountains was subdued and kept in line. They never dared come down to harm the livestock again."
"What a pity!" The storyteller suddenly closed his fan. "The good times didn't last!"
"One day, a foul wind swept through, and a demon with blood-red eyes and fangs burst into the village. It opened its bloody maw and lunged straight for the village's cattle and sheep!
"The villagers thought a ferocious beast was running amok, so they grabbed their hoes and pickaxes to drive it off. But how fearsome was that demon? With a pull of its hands, it tore apart a grown man five feet tall, spraying blood across the spot!"
"Just as everyone was scared out of their wits, a dark figure suddenly shot up from the ground like an arrow released from a bow, charging straight at the demon!
"It was none other than Kongkong!"
"Though small, the girl was fearless. She grabbed the demon and bit and clawed at it! But she was still too young. After just a few exchanges, she was knocked to the ground, spitting blood!"
"The villagers thought they were doomed. But just as the demon was about to take her life, a sudden change occurred.
"A burst of crimson light erupted from Kongkong's body! Then her hand turned into a claw and plunged straight into the demon's belly. She actually tore out its core while it was still alive!"
"Red light?!" The onlookers cried out, buzzing with discussion.
"They say immortal power is blue, demonic power is green, and the power of demons is red!"
"Is this little wildling not from the demon race, but the demonic race?"
The storyteller struck the table with his clapper again and continued.
"The villagers had never seen immortals, demons, or devils, but they had heard the legends of the three races. So instead of being grateful to Kongkong, who belonged to the demonic race, they were afraid of her. Some even claimed that she was the one who had lured the demon there!
"The old hunter knew Ten-Mile Village could no longer keep Kongkong, so he tricked her, telling her that beyond the mountains lay a prosperous land where, thanks to the immortals' blessings, everyone wore fine silk and ate delicious food.
"Kongkong's eyes lit up, and she boldly declared, 'Then I'll go become an immortal too! Old man, just you wait. I'll come back and bless you!'"
A demon wants to become an immortal? What an unbelievable tale!
The audience eagerly pressed him. "What happened next?"
The storyteller smiled faintly. "If you want to know what happens next, add I Want to Become an Immortal to your library and wait for the story to begin!"
Theme: The world doesn't need gods. We are our own gods.
