Yun Se-Pyong was a military man who rose to the rank of minister in
the days of King Choong-jong. It seems that Yun learned the doctrine
of magic from a passing stranger, whom he met on his way to Peking in
company with the envoy. When at home he lived in a separate house,
quite apart from the other members of his family. He was a man so
greatly feared that even his wife and children dared not approach
him. What he did in secret no one seemed to know. In winter he was
seen to put iron cleats under each arm and to change them frequently,
and when they were put off they seemed to be red-hot.
At the same time there was a magician in Korea called Chon U-chi, who
used to go about Seoul plying his craft. So skilful was he that he
could even simulate the form of the master of a house and go freely
into the women's quarters. On this account he was greatly feared and
detested. Yun heard of him on more than one occasion, and determined
to rid the earth of him. Chon heard also of Yun and gave him a wide
berth, never appearing in his presence. He used frequently to say,
"I am a magician only; Yun is a God."
On a certain day Chon informed his wife that Yun would come that
afternoon and try to kill him, "and so," said he, "I shall change my
shape in order to escape his clutches. If any one comes asking for
me just say that I am not at home." He then metamorphosed himself
into a beetle, and crawled under a crock that stood overturned in
the courtyard.
When evening began to fall a young woman came to Chon's house, a very
beautiful woman too, and asked, "Is the master Chon at home?"