Chapter 69

Chapter 69

The Great Sage, accompanied by the attending eunuchs, proceeded to the inner palace and stood before the bedchamber door. He gave the three golden threads to the eunuchs and instructed them: "Have the inner consorts or the attending eunuchs first tie these to His Majesty's left wrist, at the *cun*, *guan*, and *chi* positions. Then pass the ends of the threads out through the window lattice to me." The eunuchs did as he bade. They asked the Dragon King to sit upon the dragon bed, and at the *cun*, *guan*, and *chi* positions, they tied one end of the golden threads and drew the other ends out the window. Wukong took the thread ends. With his right hand, he first rested his thumb upon his index finger and examined the *cun* pulse. Next he pressed his middle finger over his thumb and examined the *guan* pulse. Then he placed his thumb over his ring finger and examined the *chi* pulse. He regulated his own breathing and distinguished the four *qi*, the five stagnations, the seven exterior signs, the eight interior signs, the nine indicators, the floating and middle and deep, and the deep within the middle and floating, thereby discerning clearly the nature of deficiency and excess. He then had them untie the left hand and tie the threads in the same manner to the right wrist. Wukong used his left hand to examine each position from the beginning. When he finished, he shook his body, drew the golden threads back to himself, and cried out in a loud, stern voice: "Your Majesty, the left *cun* pulse is strong and tight; the *guan* pulse is rough and slow; the *chi* pulse is hollow and deep. The right *cun* pulse is floating and slippery; the *guan* pulse is slow and knotted; the *chi* pulse is rapid and firm. Now, a left *cun* pulse that is strong and tight indicates deficiency in the heart with pain. A *guan* pulse that is rough and slow indicates sweating and numbness of the flesh. A *chi* pulse that is hollow and deep indicates red urine and bloody stools. A right *cun* pulse that is floating and slippery indicates internal binding and blocked menses. A *guan* pulse that is slow and knotted indicates retained food and stagnant fluids. A *chi* pulse that is rapid and firm indicates vexation and fullness, with deficiency and cold contending together. Diagnosing this noble ailment, it is one of fright and grief and anxious thought, called the 'Two Birds Losing the Flock' syndrome."

The king, hearing this from within, was filled with joy. He roused his spirits and called out loudly: "Clear under the fingers, clear under the fingers! It is indeed this illness. Please come outside and prepare the medicine."

The Great Sage then slowly walked out of the palace. The eunuchs who had overheard nearby had already reported to the others. Presently Wukong emerged, and Tripitaka asked how it had gone. Wukong said, "I have taken the pulse. Now I shall prepare medicine to match the symptoms." The officials stepped forward and said, "Holy Venerable, just now you spoke of the 'Two Birds Losing the Flock' syndrome. What does that mean?" Wukong smiled and said: "There were a male and a female bird, flying together in one place. Suddenly a fierce wind and sudden rain startled them and scattered them. The female could not see the male, and the male could not see the female. The female longed for the male, and the male longed for the female. Is this not 'Two Birds Losing the Flock'?" The officials, hearing this, praised him in unison: "Truly a divine monk! Truly a divine physician!" They praised him without ceasing. Then the Chief Medical Officer asked: "The nature of the illness has been discerned, but what medicine will you use to treat it?" Wukong said: "There is no need to adhere to fixed prescriptions. I need only see the medicine." The Medical Officer said: "The classics say: 'There are eight hundred and eighty kinds of drugs, and four hundred and four kinds of illness.' The illness is not in one person's body alone—how could all the medicines be used? Why do you say you need only see the medicine?" Wukong said: "The ancients said: 'Medicine does not adhere to fixed prescriptions; it is used according to what is appropriate.' Therefore I gather all the drugs and add or subtract as I see fit."

The Medical Officer said no more. He left the palace gate and dispatched the men on duty at his office to notify every wholesale and retail medicine shop in the city to prepare the drugs. For each kind, three *jin* were to be delivered to Wukong. Wukong said: "This is not the place to prepare medicine. Have all the drugs and every vessel for preparing them delivered to the Reception Hall and handed over to my two junior brothers." The Medical Officer obeyed. He had the eight hundred and eighty kinds of drugs, three *jin* of each, along with medicine grinders, medicine mills, medicine sieves, medicine mortars, pestles, and the like, all delivered to the hall and handed over, every item received and accounted for.

Wukong went to the palace hall and invited his master to go with him to the hall to prepare the medicine. The elder was just rising when an edict came from the inner palace, instructing the ministers to detain the Dharma Master and let him stay overnight in the Hall of Literary Splendor. After he had taken the medicine the following morning and the illness was cured, he would be thanked, his travel documents exchanged, and he would be sent on his way. Tripitaha was greatly alarmed. "Disciple," he said, "this means they are holding me as a hostage! If the illness is cured, they will gladly send us on our way. If it is not cured, my life is finished. You must be careful and diligent, and prepare the medicine with all your skill." Wukong smiled and said: "Master, rest easy and enjoy yourself here. This old Sun has the hands to heal a nation."

The good Great Sage took leave of Tripitaka and the officials and went straight to the hall. Bajie came to meet him, smiling. "Brother, I understand you," he said. Wukong said: "What do you understand?" Bajie said: "I understand that your quest for the scriptures is not bearing fruit, and you want to make a living but have no capital. Seeing how wealthy this place is, you've hatched a plan to open a medicine shop." Wukong shouted: "Stop your nonsense! When I've cured the king, I'll take my leave of the court and be on my way. What medicine shop?" Bajie said: "Well then, these eight hundred and eighty kinds of drugs, three *jin* of each—that's two thousand four hundred and twenty-four *jin* in all. You're treating one person. How much will you use? I don't know how many years it will take to finish it all." Wukong said: "Who needs so much? Those officials in the Imperial Medical Bureau are all blind fools. That's why I had them fetch so many drugs—so they would have no way to figure out which few I'm actually using, and they couldn't fathom my divine prescription."

Just as they were talking, two officers came forward and knelt, saying, "May the divine venerable sir come to the evening meal." Pilgrim said, "You treated me so shabbily this morning. Why are you kneeling to invite me now?" The officers kowtowed and said, "When you first arrived, your subordinates were blind and could not recognize your illustrious countenance. Now we hear that you have displayed your threefold healing skill to cure our king. Should His Majesty recover, you would have a share in our kingdom, and we would all be your subjects. It is proper that we kneel and invite you." When he heard this, Pilgrim gladly ascended the hall and sat down, with Eight Rules and Monk Sha seated to his left and right. The meal was served, and Monk Sha asked, "Elder Brother, where is Master?" Pilgrim said with a smile, "The Master has been detained by the king as collateral. He will be thanked and sent on his way only after the illness is cured." Monk Sha asked again, "Is he being treated well at least?" Pilgrim said, "How could the king not be well provided for? When I left, he already had three grand secretaries attending him on either side and had been invited to the Hall of Literary Splendor." Eight Rules said, "In that case, it's still the Master who is important: he has grand secretaries to wait on him, while we only have two officers to serve us. Never mind all that—let me, old Hog, have a proper meal." The brothers then freely enjoyed themselves.

The sky had grown dark. Pilgrim called the officers to come and said, "Put away the dishes and prepare more oil and wax. When the night is still, we can prepare the medicine." The officers duly delivered a quantity of oil and wax and were each dismissed.

By midnight, the streets were deserted, and all was silent. Eight Rules said, "Brother, what medicine are you making? Let's get on with it quickly—I'm sleepy." Pilgrim said, "Get one ounce of rhubarb and grind it into fine powder." Monk Sha said, "Rhubarb is bitter in taste and cold in nature, with no toxicity. Its tendency is to sink rather than float; it works by moving rather than staying. It dispels all stagnation without causing congestion, and it brings peace out of chaos. It is called 'the General.' This is a purging medicine, but I fear that one who has been ill for a long time and is weakened may not be able to tolerate it." Pilgrim said with a smile, "Dear brother, you do not understand. This medicine is good for resolving phlegm and smoothing the qi, and it can sweep away the congealed cold and heat in the belly. Leave it to me. Go and get one ounce of croton seed, remove the shell and the skin, pound it to extract its oily toxin, and grind it into fine powder." Eight Rules said, "Croton seed is pungent in taste and hot in nature, with toxicity. It cuts through hardened accumulations and sweeps away deep cold from the lungs and viscera. It opens blockages and clears the pathways of water and grain. It is a general who storms the gate and seizes the pass—it cannot be used lightly." Pilgrim said, "Brother, you do not understand either. This medicine breaks up knots and opens the intestines; it can relieve bloating and water-swelling. Prepare it quickly—I still need adjuvant ingredients."

The two of them promptly ground the two medicines into powder and said, "Elder Brother, what of the other several dozen ingredients?" Pilgrim said, "We won't need them." Eight Rules said, "Eight hundred and eighty ingredients, three pounds of each, and we only use two ounces of these two—this is truly startling." Pilgrim took a flowered porcelain cup and said, "Brother, stop talking. Take this cup and scrape half a cup of the soot from the bottom of the wok." Eight Rules said, "What for?" Pilgrim said, "It's needed for the medicine." Monk Sha said, "Little brother has never seen wok soot used in medicine." Pilgrim said, "Wok soot is called 'Frost of a Hundred Herbs' and can regulate a hundred ailments—you didn't know." The idiot indeed scraped half a cup and ground it fine.

Pilgrim then handed the cup to him again and said, "Go and get half a cup of our horse's urine." Eight Rules said, "What do you want that for?" Pilgrim said, "To make the pills." Monk Sha said with a smile, "Brother, this is no joking matter. Horse urine is foul and rank—how could it be put into medicine? I have only ever seen pills made with vinegar paste, old rice paste, refined honey, or just plain water. Who has ever seen pills made with horse urine? That stuff is so foul and rank that a person with a weak spleen would vomit at the mere smell; and if he then took croton and rhubarb on top of it, he would have both vomiting and diarrhea—is this a joke?" Pilgrim said, "You don't understand the principle. My horse is no ordinary horse—he was originally a dragon of the Western Sea. If he is willing to urinate, no matter what illness you have, you will be cured the moment you take it. But the trouble is that it's not easy to get him to do so." When Eight Rules heard this, he actually went over to the horse, which was lying curled up on the ground. The idiot kicked it with his foot and propped it up from underneath; after waiting quite a while, not a single drop of urine came out. He ran back and said to Pilgrim, "Brother, never mind curing the emperor for now—go and cure the horse first. That wretched creature is all dried up; don't expect him to pass even a drop." Pilgrim said with a smile, "I'll go with you." Monk Sha said, "I'll come and have a look too."

The three of them went to the horse's side. The horse leapt up, spoke in a human voice, and cried out in a loud, stern tone: "Brother, do you not know? I was originally a flying dragon of the Western Sea. Because I violated a heavenly ordinance, the Bodhisattva Guanyin saved me. She had my horns sawed off and my scales stripped away, and she transformed me into a horse to carry Master to the West to obtain the scriptures, so that I might atone for my crimes through merit. If I urinate in the water, the fish that swim in it will become dragons. If I urinate on the mountains, the grass that grows there will absorb the flavor and turn into sacred mushrooms, which immortals gather to prolong their lives. How could I lightly cast it away in this dusty, mundane place?" Pilgrim said, "Brother, be careful with your words. This is the king of the West—it is not a mundane place, nor is it a matter of lightly casting anything away. As the saying goes, 'Many hairs make a fur coat.' We need it to cure the king of this country. If we cure him, we all share in the glory. If not, I'm afraid none of us will be able to leave this place in peace." The horse then called out, "Wait." Watch him—he lunged forward, then crouched back, and his teeth gnashed and ground with a clacking sound. He strained and managed only a few drops, then stood up. Eight Rules said, "This wretched creature—even if it's golden juice, couldn't he let out a little more?" When Pilgrim saw that there was a little less than half a cup, he said, "Enough, enough. Take it away." Only then did Monk Sha rejoice.

The three returned to the hall, mixed the medicinal ingredients together, and rolled them into three large pills. "Brother," said the Pilgrim, "they're too big." "They're only as big as walnuts," said Eight Picks. "If I were to eat them, they wouldn't even be one mouthful." They put them away in a small box, and the brothers lay down to sleep in their clothes. Nothing more happened that night, and soon dawn broke.

Now, the king, though ill, held court and summoned Tripitaka to an audience. He then ordered all the officials to go at once to the Reception Hall to pay their respects to the divine monk Elder Sun and fetch the medicine.

The officials followed to the hall and prostrated themselves before the Pilgrim. "Our king has specially commanded us to receive the wondrous medicine with reverence," they said. The Pilgrim told Eight Picks to fetch the box, open the lid, and hand it to the officials. "What is the name of this medicine?" one of them asked. "So that we may report to the king." "It's called the Black Gold Elixir," said the Pilgrim. Eight Picks and Sha Monk snickered to themselves: "Mixed with pot soot—of course it's black gold!" "What is the guiding ingredient?" the officials asked again. "There are two kinds of guiding ingredients that will work. One is easy to obtain—a decoction of six substances taken with the medicine." "What are the six substances?" the Pilgrim asked. "The fart of a crow flying in midair, the urine of a carp swimming in swift water, the face powder of the Queen Mother of the West, the alchemical ash from Lord Lao's furnace, three pieces of the broken headcloth worn by the Jade Emperor, and five strands of the Sleeping Dragon's whiskers. Decoct these six substances and take the medicine with the broth, and your king's ailment will be cured in no time." The officials said, "These are things that do not exist in this world. May we ask what the other guiding ingredient is?" "Take it with rootless water," said the Pilgrim. "That's easy to get," the officials said with a laugh. "How so?" asked the Pilgrim. "The common saying here is: to get rootless water, take a bowl to the well or the river, scoop up the water, turn quickly without letting your feet touch the ground or looking back, and bring it home for the patient to take with the medicine." "Water from wells or rivers all has roots," said the Pilgrim. "My rootless water is not that kind. It is water that falls from the sky and is consumed before it touches the ground—that alone is called rootless water." "That's also easy then," said the officials. "We'll just wait for it to rain and cloudy up before taking the medicine."

They thanked the Pilgrim, took the medicine back, and presented it to the king. The king was overjoyed and ordered his attendants to receive it. He looked at it and asked, "What are these pills?" "The divine monk said they are called the Black Gold Elixir, to be taken with rootless water," the officials replied. The king then ordered the palace women to fetch rootless water. "The divine monk said rootless water is not from wells or rivers," the officials explained. "It is water that falls from the sky without touching the ground." The king immediately summoned the master of ceremonies and issued an edict ordering the ritual masters to pray for rain. The officials obeyed and posted the notice—but no more of that.

Now, the Pilgrim called Eight Picks in the hall of the Reception Hall and said, "Just now I promised him water from the sky to take with the medicine. But this is urgent—how can we get rainwater so quickly? I think this king is actually a ruler of great virtue. How about you and I help him get some rain for his medicine?" "How can we help?" asked Eight Picks. "Stand on my left and act as the Supporting Star," said the Pilgrim. He then called to Sha Monk: "Stand on my right and act as the Assisting Constellation. Let me help him get some rootless water." The great Sage stepped through the astral patterns and recited an incantation. Soon a dark cloud appeared from the east and drew near above his head. "Great Sage," a voice called, "Dragon King Ao Guang of the Eastern Sea has come to see you." "I wouldn't trouble you without reason," said the Pilgrim. "I've asked you to come to help provide some rootless water for the king to take his medicine." "When the Great Sage summoned me, you didn't mention water," said the Dragon King. "I came alone and didn't bring any rain-making equipment. I have no wind, clouds, thunder, or lightning with me. How can I make rain?" "We don't need wind, clouds, thunder, or lightning," said the Pilgrim. "And we don't need much rain—just a little water to guide the medicine will do." "In that case," said the Dragon King, "let me give a couple of sneezes and spit some saliva for him to take with his medicine." "Excellent, excellent!" said the Pilgrim with delight. "Don't hesitate—let's do it at once."

The old dragon gradually lowered his dark cloud in the sky until he was directly above the palace. Concealing his form, he sprayed a mouthful of saliva, which transformed into sweet rain. All the officials in the court cried out in unison: "Our lord's boundless fortune! Heaven has sent down sweet rain!" The king immediately issued an edict: "Take vessels and collect it. No matter whether inside or outside the palace, and regardless of rank, everyone must store this immortal water to save your sovereign." Look at those civil and military officials, the consorts of the three palaces and six courtyards, the three thousand painted ladies and the eight hundred lovely maids—each holding cups and trays, raising bowls and plates, waiting to catch the sweet rain. The old dragon transformed his saliva in midair, never leaving the area around the palace. After about two hours, the Dragon King took leave of the Great Sage and returned to the sea. The officials collected their cups, bowls, and basins. Some had caught a drop or two, some three or five drops, and some had not caught a single drop. When all was gathered together, there were about three cups' worth in total, which was presented to the throne. Truly, the exotic fragrance filled the golden hall, and the fine aroma wafted through the Son of Heaven's court.

The king took leave of the monk and brought the Black Gold Elixir and the sweet rain into the palace. He swallowed one pill and drank a cup of the sweet rain. He swallowed a second pill and drank another cup. The third time, he swallowed all three remaining pills and drank the remaining three cups of sweet rain. Before long, sounds came from his abdomen, like the ceaseless creaking of a windlass. He took a nightstool and used it three or five times. After drinking some rice broth, he lay down on the dragon bed. Two palace women examined the nightstool and found an endless amount of foul phlegm and mucus, along with a lump of glutinous rice. They approached the dragon bed to report: "The root of the illness has passed." When the king heard this, he was overjoyed and took another meal of rice.

Presently, he gradually felt his chest grow easy and comfortable, his blood and breath in harmony; his spirits revived, his legs grew strong. He stepped down from the dragon bed, put on his court robes, ascended the throne hall, and, seeing Tripitaka, at once prostrated himself and bowed to the ground. The elder hastily returned the bow. When the king had finished, he took the monk by the hand and commanded the court: "Quickly prepare a note, and on the note write the words 'I bow again and knock my head.' Send an official to invite the three high disciples of the master. At the same time, open wide the Eastern Pavilion, and let the Court of Imperial Entertainments prepare a banquet in thanks." The many officials received the edict; some prepared the note, some arranged the banquet. Truly, the state has the strength to overturn mountains, and in an instant all was done.

Now Bajie, seeing the officials present the note, was overjoyed. "Brother," he said, "it really is a wonderful medicine. Now they come to thank us—it's all your doing." Shaseng said, "Second Brother, what talk is this? As the saying goes, 'When one man has good fortune, he brings it upon the whole house.' We were all here preparing the medicine; we all had a share in the merit. Just enjoy the reward and say no more." Ah! You see the brothers, all cheerful and delighted, straightway entering the court.

The officials led them to the Eastern Pavilion, where they found Tripitaka, the king, and the grand secretaries already arranging the banquet. The Pilgrim, Bajie, and Shaseng made a respectful salutation to their master. Then all the officials arrived. Above were four vegetarian tables, each a banquet of the "see one, taste ten" kind. In front was one meat table, also a "see one, taste ten" spread of delicacies. On the left and right were four or five hundred single tables, arranged in perfect order:

The ancients said: "A hundred flavors of delicacies, a thousand goblets of fine wine. Creamy jade paste and clotted milk, brocade-threaded and fat and red." The jeweled decorations were bright and colorful, the fruits and confections fragrant and rich. Sugar figures of lions and coiled dragons were displayed, and cakes and ingots were arranged like phoenix companions on tiered stands. For meat there were pork, mutton, chicken, goose, fish, duck—every kind of flesh; for vegetables there were shoots, bamboo sprouts, wood ear, and mushrooms. Several kinds of fragrant soup-cakes, several varieties of honeyed pastries. Slippery soft millet rice, fresh water-rice gruel. Every soup was fragrant and spicy, every dish was sweet and beautiful. The ruler and his ministers raised their cups and were just seating themselves; by rank and grade the wine was slowly passed.

The king raised the cup with his own hand and first invited Tripitaka to be seated. Tripitaka said, "This poor monk does not drink wine." The king said, "It is unfermented wine. Would the master not drink this cup?" Tripitaka said, "Wine is the first prohibition for a monk." The king was much embarrassed. "If the master abstains from wine, with what shall I honor you?" Tripitaka said, "Let my three disciples drink in my stead." The king was then pleased. He turned the golden cup and offered it to the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim took the wine, bowed to all present, and drank a cup. The king, seeing him drink so readily, offered him another. The Pilgrim did not decline and drank it. The king laughed and said, "Drink the 'Three Treasures' cup." The Pilgrim did not decline and drank again. The king then called for more and said, "Drink the 'Four Seasons' cup."

Bajie, standing by, saw that the wine did not come to him, and swallowed his saliva with difficulty. Seeing the king earnestly pressing the Pilgrim, he called out: "Your Majesty, I too had a share in preparing the medicine. The medicine contained a horse—" When the Pilgrim heard this, fearing that the fool might let out the secret, he handed his cup of wine to Bajie. Bajie took it and drank, and said no more. The king asked, "The divine monk said the medicine contained a horse. What horse was it?" The Pilgrim seized the opportunity and said, "This brother of mine is loose-tongued. He has a tried and tested prescription, and he wants to tell it to others. The medicine Your Majesty took this morning contained horse-muzzle." The king asked the officials, "What is the flavor of horse-muzzle? What illness does it cure?" A physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine was standing by and said: "Your Majesty:

Horse-muzzle is bitter, cold, and non-toxic;

It calms the wheezing and dissolves phlegm with great effect.

It opens the passages and best drives out blood parasites;

It tonifies deficiency, quiets coughing, and soothes the chest."

The king laughed and said, "Well used, well used. Lord Pig, drink another cup." The fool said nothing, but drank the "Three Treasures" cup. The king then offered wine to Shaseng, who also drank three cups. Then all were seated.

They had been feasting for some time when the king again raised a large goblet and offered it to the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim said, "Your Majesty, please sit down. Old Sun will drink my fill as the cup goes around; I dare not refuse." The king said, "Divine monk, your kindness weighs heavier than a mountain. I can never repay it. Please drink this huge goblet at the very least, for I have something to say." The Pilgrim said, "Whatever you have to say, say it; Old Sun will drink afterward." The king said, "I have suffered from an affliction of anxiety for several years, but one dose of the divine monk's elixir cleared it right up, and now I am cured."

The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Old Sun could tell yesterday, when I looked upon Your Majesty, that your ailment was one of anxiety. But I do not know what you were anxious about." The king said, "As the ancients say, 'Family ugliness must not be aired before outsiders.' But you, divine monk, are my benefactor, so I will tell you, provided you do not laugh." The Pilgrim said, "How could I dare laugh? Please speak freely."

The king said, "As you came from the east, how many kingdoms did you pass through?" The Pilgrim said, "Five or six." The king asked again, "What are the queens in those kingdoms called?" The Pilgrim said, "A king's queens are called the Principal Palace, the Eastern Palace, and the Western Palace."

The king said, "My kingdom does not use those titles. I call the Principal Palace the Golden Saint Palace, the Eastern Palace the Jade Saint Palace, and the Western Palace the Silver Saint Palace. At present only the Silver and Jade queens remain in the palace."

The Pilgrim said, "Why is the Golden Saint Palace not in the palace?" The king shed tears and said, "She has been gone for three years." The Pilgrim said, "Where did she go?"

The king said, "Three years ago, on the very day of the Dragon Boat Festival, I was in the sea pomegranate pavilion of the imperial garden with my ladies and queens, unwrapping rice dumplings, hanging mugwort, drinking realgar and calamus wine, and watching the dragon boat races. Suddenly a gust of wind arose, and a demon appeared in midair. He called himself the Great Sai, and said he lived in the Xiezhi Cave on Qilin Mountain. His cave lacked a wife, and he had learned that my Golden Saint Palace was beautiful and graceful. He wanted her for his wife and told me to hand her over quickly. If I did not present her after three calls, he would eat me first, then all my ministers, and devour every last subject in the city.

"At that moment, anxious as I was for my country and my people, I had no choice but to push the Golden Saint Palace out of the sea pomegranate pavilion. With a sound like thunder, the demon snatched her away. I was so frightened by this that the rice dumplings I had eaten became lodged within me. Moreover, day and night I could not stop worrying, and so this bitter illness has plagued me for three years. Now that I have taken the divine monk's elixir, after several bowel movements, everything that was lodged inside me from three years ago has come out. That is why my body feels light and healthy and my spirits are as before. My life today is entirely the gift of the divine monk—how could it be merely as weighty as Mount Tai!"

When the Pilgrim heard these words, his heart was filled with joy. He downed the huge goblet of wine in two gulps and asked with a laugh, "So that is what Your Majesty has been so anxious about. Now that you have met Old Sun, you have fortunately been cured. But tell me—do you want the Golden Saint Palace to return to the kingdom?"

The king shed tears and said, "I think of her ceaselessly, day and night. It is only that no one has been able to subdue the demon. How could I not want her to return?"

The Pilgrim said, "What if Old Sun went with you to vanquish this fiend?"

The king knelt down and said, "If you can save my queen, I will lead all three palaces and nine ranks of concubines out of the city to live as commoners, and I will hand over the entire kingdom to you, divine monk, to be emperor."

Zhu Bajie, standing nearby, could not restrain himself when he heard these words and saw this gesture. He laughed out loud and said, "This emperor has lost all propriety! To abandon his kingdom for a wife and kneel before a monk!"

The Pilgrim hurried forward and helped the king to his feet. "Your Majesty," he said, "since the demon took the Golden Saint Palace away, has he come back at all during this time?"

The king said, "He seized the Golden Saint Palace in the fifth month of the year before last. In the tenth month he came and demanded two palace maids, saying they were to serve the queen. I gave him two. In the third month of last year, he came again and wanted two more maids. In the seventh month, he took two more. In the second month of this year, he took two more. Who knows when he will come again?"

The Pilgrim said, "Since he comes so frequently, are you afraid of him?"

The king said, "Having seen him come so many times, I am afraid on the one hand, and on the other I fear he may intend to harm us. In the fourth month of last year, I ordered the construction of a Demon-Avoidance Tower. Whenever we hear the wind and know he is coming, the two queens and I, along with the nine concubines, take refuge inside the tower."

The Pilgrim said, "If Your Majesty does not mind, could you take Old Sun to see this Demon-Avoidance Tower?"

The king took the Pilgrim by the left hand and rose from the table. All the officials stood up together. Zhu Bajie said, "Elder brother, you have no manners! You won't drink this imperial wine, and now you're disrupting the feast—what are you going to look at?"

The king, understanding that Bajie was only thinking about his stomach, ordered the palace steward to set up two tables of plain food and wine outside the Demon-Avoidance Tower. Only then did the fool stop grumbling. He said to his master and Sha Wujing with a laugh, "The feast has moved!"

The civil and military officials led the way, the king and the pilgrim supporting each other as they passed through the imperial palace and arrived at the rear of the imperial garden, where no terraces, towers, or halls were to be seen. Pilgrim Sun said, "Where is this Demon-avoiding Tower?" Before he could finish, two eunuchs appeared carrying two red-lacquered poles, and they lifted a square stone slab from the open ground. The king said, "This is the place. Beneath it is over thirty feet deep, excavated into nine audience halls. Inside are four large vats, filled with clear oil, with lamps burning day and night without ceasing. When I hear the wind howling, I go inside to hide, and men cover the stone slab from above." Pilgrim Sun laughed and said, "The demon hasn't harmed you yet; if it wanted to, how could you hide here?" Even as he spoke, a great wind came howling from the south, stirring up dust and dirt. The officials cried out in alarm, saying, "This monk has a mouth of salt and soy sauce—he talks about a demon, and a demon appears!" In a panic, the king abandoned Pilgrim Sun and dove into the underground chamber; Tripitaka followed him in; and the officials all hid themselves clean away.

Eight Bandage and Sha Monk also wanted to hide, but Pilgrim Sun seized them both, one with each hand, and said, "Brothers, don't be afraid. Let me and you take a look at him and see what kind of demon he is." Eight Bandage said, "What nonsense! What's the point of looking at him? The officials have hidden, the Master has concealed himself, the king has taken shelter—let's not go either. What family honor are we showing?" The fool struggled left and right but could not break free. Pilgrim Sun held him fast for a long time, until a demon appeared flashing in midair. See what he looked like:

Nine feet of fearsome, savage frame,

A pair of round eyes flashing like golden lamps.

Two wheel-like ears spread like fans,

Four steel teeth like driven nails.

Red hair swirled at his temples, brows bristling like flames,

A snub nose with a clear, open nostril.

A few whiskers like threads of cinnabar,

High cheekbones and a face of livid blue.

Sinewy red arms and indigo-blue hands,

Ten sharp claws gripping a spear.

A leopard-skin skirt tied at his waist,

Barefoot and wild-haired, like a ghost in form.

Pilgrim Sun, seeing him, said, "Sha Monk, do you recognize him?" Sha Monk said, "I've never met him before—how could I recognize him?" He then asked, "Eight Bandage, do you recognize him?" Eight Bandage said, "I've never shared tea or wine with him, nor am I his neighbor or friend—how would I know him?" Pilgrim Sun said, "He looks like the masked golden-eyed ghost who guards the gate under the Eastern Peak, the God of Mount Tai." Eight Bandage said, "No, no." Pilgrim Sun said, "How do you know he isn't?" Eight Bandage said, "A ghost is a yin spirit—it only comes out from late afternoon through the hours of shen, you, xu, and hai. It's still the si hour today—what ghost would dare come out? Even if it were a ghost, it couldn't ride the clouds. Even if it could stir up wind, it would only be a whirlwind—how could there be such a violent gale? Perhaps this is the Sai Taisui himself." Pilgrim Sun laughed and said, "Good fool, you actually have some reasoning. Since that's what you say, you two stay here and stand guard. Let this old Sun go ask his name, so we can rescue the Golden Sage Consort for the king." Eight Bandage said, "Go ahead, but don't you dare give us away." Pilgrim Sun made no reply, but swiftly leaped up on auspicious light. Ah! Indeed:

To secure a kingdom, first cure the king's illness;

To uphold the Way, one must purge the heart of love and hate.

As for how this encounter in the air would turn out—whether he would win or lose, how he would capture the demon and rescue the Golden Sage Consort—listen to the next chapter for the explanation.