步康庄逢鬼兵弗惊

斯时义和团作乱山东各县。一日正行路中。遇一洋兵。以枪相向。问公怕死否。公曰倘予该死汝手。任便。洋鬼兵见公。神毫不动。不惊不怖。曰好的你去。公遂赶赴五台。行香毕。以乱故回平。

宣化偈曰：

卒然临之不恐惊。祇缘因果已分清。
杀人偿命毫不错。欠债还钱律不容。

Meeting mercenary on the highway but not being intimidated

Chaos prevailed in the counties of Shan Tung Province at this time due to the Boxer Rebellion. One day, the Master encountered a foreign soldier while walking down the road. The soldier pointed his gun at him and asked the Master: "Are you afraid of dying?" The Master replied, "If I am fated to die by your hand, Then proceed." When the foreign soldier saw that the Master was not flustered, and that he was not to be intimidated or scared, he said "Okay, you may go." The Master then quickly proceeded on to Wu T'ai Mountain. After offering up incense, he returned to Peking, due to the disturbance in Shan Tung.

The gatha says:
Suddenly accosted by the mercenary, the Master was unafraid,
Only because cause and effect is already clearly decided.
For killing someone, one repays with one's own life - it's not off in the slightest.
To have a long-time standing debt and yet refuse to pay is impermissible