Hmaidungseia
In ancient times, spirits (ramhuai) were incredibly numerous and frequently harassed humans. They often terrorized people staying in forest sheds (thlam) even if they weren't working. Among these spirits, their most boasted warrior and champion was the one we see here, Hmaidungseia. There was a time when the spirits harassed Vawrsela Pa, but they eventually found they were no match for him. Even during that encounter, their greatest source of confidence had been Hmaidungseia. The Detailed Narrative In the old days, spirits were everywhere, bothering people both in their homes and especially in the forests. They would frighten those staying in forest sheds, pelting the sheds with stones or shaking them violently. Fearful men often refused to stay in the forest even when work was urgent. During this time, there lived a very brave man known as Vawrsela Pa. One year, the spirits appeared frequently in the area where he was farming, terrifiying everyone so much that many dared not stay overnight. Vawrsela Pa, however, was so courageous that he continued to stay in his forest shed whenever he pleased. The spirits would constantly tease and provoke him. They would mock him by calling out, "Vawrsela Pa is a bull (cattle)!" even including children and pregnant spirits in the taunting. When they teased him like this, he would chase them down and soundly thrash anyone he caught. When they realized he was about to catch them, they would quickly change their chant to, "Not a bull, not a bull!" hoping to lessen his anger. Once, he even chased a pregnant spirit who couldn't run fast; as she panted for breath, she stuttered, "Vawrsela Pa... not a bull, he, he, he, not a bull!" The spirits also messed with his belongings and food. They would eat his cooked meals or scatter them everywhere. One day, he was boiling pumpkin (mai), and the spirits desperately wanted to eat some. They kept coming in groups, asking repeatedly from the moment he put the pot on the fire, "Vawrsela Pa, is your boiled pumpkin cooked yet?" Annoyed, he replied, "It’s not cooked yet, you're so bothersome!" and chased them away. Because of his bravery, they didn't really dare to face him directly. Since they craved the pumpkin so much but were afraid of him, the spirits decided to call upon their champion, Hmaidungseia, believing Vawrsela Pa would not be able to defeat him. They threatened him, saying, "Even if you won't let us eat your pumpkin, we will call Hmaidungseia, and we will eat it anyway!" Vawrsela Pa simply replied, "I don't care about your 'Long-Face' or 'Short-Face,' call whoever you want," and continued tending to his pot. The spirits actually went and summoned Hmaidungseia. When the champion arrived, Vawrsela Pa had just taken the pot off the fire. True to his name (Hmaidungseia means "Long Vertical Face"), his face was incredibly long. Hmaidungseia rested his chin on the bottom sill of the shed's doorway, while the top of his head reached the very top of the door frame. In a deep, gravelly voice, Hmaidungseia asked, "Vawrsela Pa, is your boiled pumpkin cooked yet?" The other spirits hid nearby, watching intently, certain that Vawrsela Pa would be terrified. Instead, Vawrsela Pa calmly replied, "Yes, it’s cooked. Do you want to eat some?" He then reached into the very bottom of the pot, pulled out the largest, scalding hot piece of pumpkin, and hurled it straight at Hmaidungseia's face. The searing heat caused Hmaidungseia to scream in agony. Seeing this, the spirits cried out, "Look! Vawrsela Pa has defeated Hmaidungseia! Even our Hmaidungseia is no match for him!" They all fled in terror. From that day on, the spirits never dared to bother him again.
