Page 568
When the merchant finished and stopped weeping the demon said, “By God, I must kill you, as you killed my son, even if you weep blood.” The Merchant asked, “Must you?” The demon replied, “I must,” and raised his sword to strike.
The Merchant’s Debt to his Brother
Before the demon strikes, the merchant pleaded, saying, “Oh demon please have mercy on me and allow me to repay the debt I owe to my brother, a wealthy man who has done much for me throughout my life. For it is not right for me to die with out repaying such a good man.” The demon agreed and allowed the merchant to go to his brother and repay his debts. Once the merchant arrived at his brothers house, they both wept since it has been years since they last met. The merchant told his brother how he will be killed by a demon for killing its son, but he must repay the debt he owed to his brother first. The merchants brother wept saying, “Oh brother how can I ask anything of you after hearing your great and tragic fate, for I can not ask anything in return of you for the little food and shelter I’ve given to you during your times of need. The merchant was moved after hearing this from his brother and offered him a bag of silver coins, all that the merchant has saved throughout his life. Seeing this the merchants brother refused to take it. Being a wealthy man the merchants brother gave the merchant two more small bags of sliver coins. The merchants brother said, “Take these bags along with yours, so you may buy and enjoy whatever your heart desires on your journey back to the demon.” The brothers hugged and wept as the merchant began his journey back to the demon.
When the merchant arrived to the demon, the demon asked, “Has your brother forgiven the debts you owe him?” The merchant replied, “Yes.” The demon prepared to kill the merchant but before he could the merchant pleaded once more saying, “Oh demon, my brother has gifted me these bags of silver, it would not be right for me to die without assigning them to someone else.” The demon agreed and allowed the merchant more time to assign the bags of silver coins to whoever he wanted after he died.
However, the demon ruled that he must came back no later than seven months, or not only the merchant but also his family would all suffer the death. Then the merchant began his journey with the two bags of silver coins, looking for people who needed his help.
One day, he came across a man in rugs, sitting on knees in the street, staring at his palms and muttering, “I know what is wrong. It almost achieves success! These seeds need more nutrition and soil!” Feeling strange and curious, the merchant came close to the man, asking, “What are you saying? I am quite confused about your words.” “It must be a great invention!” The man raised his head, “I am a botanist, having taken experiments for forty years on making out a kind of food, which can mix human beings’ all favorite tastes. Before, I have failed many times, wasting thousands of seeds and large scale of soil. But just now, I figured out what is wrong with my seeds! I need one more time! The most delicious fruit in the world will come out soon!” His eyes glowed with pleasure but suddenly returned to silence, “I have run out of my properties, without more money to continue the plantation.” After hearing the story of the botanist, the merchant thought it was the person who needed his help. He gave the bags of silver coins to the botanist and said, “These coins are for you. I hope your invention of the fruit can bring benefit to the other people in the world.” Taking over the money, the botanist was moved with tears in his eyes. He fell on his knees, kissing the ground, “Oh, God, how kind you are. You bring such a charitable man to me and I pledge never to let you down.” Then he looked at the merchant, pleading, “Please stay with me here util my fruit comes out. You must be the first person to taste the most delicious fruit in the world.” Thinking of the time limit from the demon, the merchant refused and went back.
When the merchant reached the demon asked, “Have you assigned those coins to whoever in need?” The merchant replied, “Yes.” The demon prepared to kill the merchant, but before he raised his sword to strike, the merchant pleaded again, saying, “Oh demon, I gave the bags of silver coins to a botanist, who claimed that he could plant out the most delicious fruit in the world. For I helped him, I must be the first person to taste it. Please let me see what the fruit looks like before I die.” The demon felt interested in this food, agreeing, “Go to find that botanist and bring the fruit one to me! I also want to know what the most delicious fruit tastes like.”