蜻蜓精 Dragonfly Guai
穿花度柳放暗箭，奋翅鼓翼乘歪风。
好行小慧难成善，三三两两阻道中。
Fly through the flowers and willows to shoot hidden arrows, flap your wings and ride the crooked wind.
It is difficult to achieve good deeds with small wisdom, and twos and threes block the way.
蜻蜓精很爱射箭，母亲发现他有这项才华，便托了关系，将他送去妖王处学艺。
在妖王看来，蜻蜓精是个异常优秀的徒弟。他每日除了勤勉地完成练习还十分恭敬地服侍师父，随叫随到。有时他明明刚在殿外射箭，但师父嘴上一提，他就立刻出现在了跟前。师父本有些怀疑，但想他有双灵便的翅膀，行动如风，似乎也合情理，便没再深究。
这日，师父教他如何在箭上蓄更多的妖力，叮嘱道:““只待箭头耀光正是射出之时。”那蜻蜓精满口答应记住了，可当师父下午考查时，他却懵然无知。师父暗想，许是他未曾学会，又细细教了他一遍。待次日再问，他又不明白了。
这般情况越来越多，妖王动了大怒，要惩罚蜻蜓精。蜻蜓精心下害怕，赶紧跪地求饶，道:“师父息怒。我有几位同胞兄弟，平日里，大家轮番学习和休息，所以各自都只学了一点，这才答不上来。”
言罢，妖王就见拉拉杂杂跑出来数十个蜻蜓精，长得俱是一般模样，全都跪在那里不停磕头。妖王见此哭笑不得，将它们贬作巡山小妖，再也不教他们本事了。
咦，小聪明初时总显得周全完美，招来称赞和嘉许，其实暗中却埋下了隐患，待露馅之时，非但遭人嘲笑，还会惹祸上身哩。
There was a dragonfly guai who loved archery. His mother saw his gift and used her connections for an opportunity to have him training under the Yaoguai King of the land.
To the King, the dragonfly guai seemed like a diligent and talented student. He drilled hard each day and served his master with great respect, always at his master's beck and call. At times, he'd be practicing outside, but at a single command from his teacher, he'd appear at once. The King had doubts, but considering the dragonfly's swift wings, the King dismissed his suspicions.
One day, the King taught him how to imbue his bolts with greater power. "Wait for the arrowhead to glow, then release." The guai swore he'd remember, but when tested that afternoon, he couldn't recall anything. The King assumed he just hadn't grasped the lesson and explained it once more. But the next day, he'd had forgotten it again.
This pattern continued. The Yaoguai King flew into a rage and set to punish the guai. The guai fell to his knees and pleaded. "Mercy, master! I have brothers. Each of us knows only a portion of the lessons. That's why I can't answer." At this, scores of identical dragonfly guais emerged, all kneeling and bowing non-stop. Offended yet tickled by this revelation, the King demoted them all to lowly patrol guards and taught them no more.
Alas, while petty schemes might seem perfect at first, earning praise and favor, they also sow the seeds of trouble. When the truth is revealed, one faces ridicule and brings ruin upon themselves.
