Fake death, also known as feigned death, exists as a technique among the peripheral and eclectic arts of the Jianghu. It is said that during the previous dynasty, the emperor summoned Ge Hongwen of Songyun Temple on Henglu Mountain to the court to assume the position of National Master. This cultivator of true virtue didn't want to openly refuse, so he feigned death right in front of his own temple.
At that time, during the height of summer, Ge Hongwen's body quickly decomposed, attracting flies in an instant. The emperor's envoy, seeing this, believed it to be true and chose not to persist in coercing Ge Hongwen.
However, later, someone spotted Ge Hongwen again in Linzhou. When the new emperor heard of this, he became even more convinced of Ge Hongwen's true talents and skills and, following the former emperor's example, sent someone to invite him to court once more. This time, Ge Hongwen repeated his old trick and 'died' again.