The fourth book of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils revolves around the adventures of Xuzhu. The chapter titles form the poem Song of the Cave Immortal 《洞仙歌》, named after the tone pattern it uses.
Poem
This poem uses the 《洞仙歌》 tone pattern, as indicated by the book’s title. Each verse in the poem refers to a key scene or summarises the events in each chapter.
Tone pattern
中 (zhōng) is a middle tone. 平 (píng) is a level tone. 仄 (zè) is an oblique tone. 韵 (yùn) in brackets at the end of each line indicates a rhyme.
平平仄仄，仄平平仄仄（韵）。
仄仄平平仄平仄（韵）。
仄平平，仄仄平仄平平，
平仄仄、仄仄平平仄仄（韵）。
平平平仄仄，仄仄平平，
仄仄平平仄平仄（韵）。
仄仄仄平平，仄仄平平，
平平仄、平平仄仄（韵）。
仄仄仄、平平仄平平，
仄平仄平平，仄平平仄（韵）。
Original text
输赢成败, 又争由人算!
且自逍遥没谁管，
奈天昏地暗，斗转星移。
风骤紧，缥缈峰头云乱。
红颜弹指老, 刹那芳华。
梦里真真语真幻。
同一笑，到头万事俱空。
糊涂醉，情长计短。
解不了，名缰系嗔贪。
却试问，几时把痴心断？
Translation
While I tried to rhyme the verses, I found it difficult to do so without altering the meaning of each line. Suggestions welcomed.
Victory or defeat—none can divine!
Now carefree with none to oversee,
As heaven and earth darken, the very stars shift their course.
Fierce winds sweep Piaomiao Peak in chaos.
Beauty ages in a blink—fleeting splendor.
Dream-whispered truths hover between real and unreal.
United in laughter—yet all things ultimately come to naught.
Recklessly drunk, long on passions but short on plans.
Unable to break free from fame’s tether that binds anger and greed.
Yet I ask: when will this obsessed heart find peace?
Chapters
- Chapter 31 – Victory or defeat—none can divine!
- Chapter 32 – Now carefree with none to oversee
- Chapter 33 – As heaven and earth darken, the very stars shift their course
- Chapter 34 – Fierce winds sweep Piaomiao Peak in chaos
- Chapter 35 – Beauty ages in a blink—fleeting splendor
- Chapter 36 – Dream-whispered truths hover between real and unreal
- Chapter 37 – United in laughter—yet all things ultimately come to naught
- Chapter 38 – Recklessly drunk, long on passions but short on plans
- Chapter 39 – Unable to break free from fame’s tether that binds anger and greed
- Chapter 40 – Yet I ask: when will this obsessed heart find peace?