Nuwan was a woman who sold wine at the market of Chen Shi, and her wine was always excellent in quality. When a xianren (immortal) visited her home to drink wine, he left five volumes of plain writing as collateral. Nuwan opened the books and found that they contained techniques for cultivating one's nature through Taoist inner practice. Nuwan secretly copied the key passages from the sacred Taoist texts, then set up rooms to accommodate young men, served them fine wine, and allowed them to stay overnight, practicing the methods described in the writings. In this way for thirty years, her appearance remained as youthful as that of a twenty-year-old — a testament to Taoist immortal cultivation. At the time, after several years had passed, the xianren returned and said to Nuwan with a smile: "Those who steal the Dao have no sense of privacy; those with wings do not fly." She then abandoned her family and went in pursuit of the xianren, and nobody knew where she went.

The essentials of Xuansu are near at hand; they can be found within one's own body. Gu and Dan obtained these teachings, and presented them in five volumes. Nuwan harbored wondrous knowledge; xianke (immortal guests) came to visit her. They poured out the teachings and opened the way, flying together beyond worldly concerns.