Zhang Guolao Riding His Donkey Backwards
Among the Eight Immortals, Zhang Guolao once lived as a hermit in the mountains. When emperors summoned him, he always refused. During Empress Wu's reign, when envoys arrived, they found him "dead"—but later saw him riding his white donkey into the mountains. He had faked his death to avoid service.
Zhang's donkey could travel ten thousand miles a day. When not in use, he folded it like paper and stored it in a box. With a breath, it became a strong white donkey again.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang finally invited him to court. Seeing his white hair and missing teeth, the Emperor asked why an immortal looked so aged. Zhang simply pulled out all his hair and teeth, covering himself in blood. By afternoon, he had grown back black hair and white teeth, looking younger than ever.
When tested with poisoned wine, Zhang drank three cups, fell asleep, then knocked out his blackened teeth and grew new ones. When the Emperor hunted a deer, Zhang claimed he had released it a thousand years ago during Emperor Wu of Han's reign. A bronze tag confirmed this.
A Taoist priest revealed Zhang was a white bat born at the dawn of creation—and immediately collapsed, bleeding. Only after the Emperor begged forgiveness did Zhang revive him.
Zhang Guolao's story reminds us: some truths are too heavy to speak. Fate follows its own path, and knowing the future doesn't mean we can escape it.