The warrior Fujiwara Hidesato was crossing Seta Bridge over Lake Biwa when he found an enormous serpent asleep from one railing to the other.
Its scales shone like wet armour. Two horns curled above its eyes. Each breath stirred the lake below.
Travellers had dropped baskets and sandals in their hurry to escape. Hidesato simply tightened his sword, stepped onto the creature’s back and walked across.
At the far end, a voice called, “Wait!”
The serpent was gone. A richly dressed man stood in its place.
“I am the Dragon King of Lake Biwa,” he said. “For months, a giant centipede from Mount Mikami has attacked my palace. I lay on the bridge to find someone whose courage would not vanish at the sight of scales.”
Hidesato looked towards the dark mountain. “Show me the creature.”
The Dragon King led him beneath the lake. They passed through water as if through green glass and entered a palace built of coral, pearl and shell. At supper, fish carried silver dishes while tiny crabs marched sideways with cups.
Suddenly every lamp went out.
Across the lake, two red lights appeared on Mount Mikami. They were not lamps. They were eyes.
The giant centipede crawled down the slope. Its body wrapped around the mountain twice, and its feet struck sparks from the rocks.
Hidesato planted his feet on the palace balcony and drew his great bow. His first arrow struck the creature’s head—and bounced into the water.
The second arrow snapped against its hard shell.
Only one remained.
Hidesato remembered an old belief: human saliva could break a centipede’s magic. He placed the arrowhead in his mouth, fitted it to the string and waited.
The red eyes came closer. The palace shook. One of the sideways crabs forgot which direction to run.
Hidesato aimed between the glowing eyes and released.
Thunder cracked above the lake. Lightning struck the mountain. The centipede twisted once, then slid down the rocks and lay still.
For a breath, nobody moved.
Then the palace lamps blazed on. The Dragon King’s children rushed onto the balcony, and music rang through the halls. Outside, the water settled until Mount Mikami appeared upside down on its surface.
Hidesato placed his bow beside him. Three arrows had gone into the night. One had returned peace to the lake.