before；　and　they　felt　rather　suspicious。

When　the　Taoist　was　taking　his　leave　of　the　officer　in　charge　of　the　party；　he　said；　〃I　am　an　old　friend　from　the　same　village　as　the　Prince　of　Wei。　My　name　is　Zuo　Ci。　Among　Taoists　I　bear　the　appellation　of　'Black　Horn'。　When　you　get　to　the　end　of　your　journey；　you　may　say　that　I　was　inquiring　after　your　lord。〃

Zuo　Ci　shook　down　his　sleeves　and　left。　In　due　course　the　orange　bearers　reached　the　new　Palace；　and　the　oranges　were　presented。　But　when　Cao　Cao　cut　one　open；　it　was　but　an　empty　shell　of　a　thing：　There　was　no　pulp　beneath　the　rind。　Cao　Cao　was　rather　puzzled　and　called　in　the　porters；　who　told　him　of　their　falling　in　with　the　mysterious　Taoist　on　the　way。　But　Cao　Cao　scouted　the　idea　of　that　being　the　reason。

But　just　then　the　warden　of　the　gate　sent　to　say　that　a　certain　Taoist　named　Zuo　Ci　was　at　the　gate　and　wished　to　see　the　king。

〃Send　him　in；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃He　is　the　man　we　met　on　the　way；〃　said　the　porters　when　he　appeared。

Cao　Cao　said　curtly；　〃What　sorcery　have　you　been　exercising　on　my　beautiful　fruit？〃

〃How　could　such　a　thing　happen？〃　said　the　Taoist。

Thereupon　he　cut　open　an　orange　and　showed　it　full　of　pulp；　most　delicious　to　the　taste。　But　when　Cao　Cao　cut　open　another；　that　again　was　empty；　nothing　but　rind。

Cao　Cao　was　more　than　ever　perplexed。　He　bade　his　visitor　be　seated；　and；　as　Zuo　Ci　asked　for　refreshment；　wine　and　food　were　brought　in。　The　Taoist　ate　ravenously；　consuming　a　whole　sheep；　and　drank　in　proportion。　Yet　he　showed　no　sign　of　intoxication　or　repletion。

〃By　what　magic　are　you　here？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

＇e＇　Emei　Mountain　one　of　the　most　renowned　Buddhist　and　Daoist　（Taoist）　sanctuaries　in　China。　The　mountain　is　locate