Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The passage describes Lu Zhishen's departure from Wutai Mountain after receiving four prophetic lines from the abbot, his journey to Tokyo, and his arrival at a village where he encounters hostile villagers who refuse him lodging. The narrative sets the stage for a conflict as the monks and villagers react to his presence.

Lu Zhishen hefted his staff and was about to make trouble when an old man came out of the manor. Zhishen looked him over—the man appeared to be nearly sixty or more. He walked out leaning on a long cane and scolded the servants, "What's all this commotion?" The servants said, "This monk is impossible—he was about to beat us." Zhishen said, "This humble monk is a priest from Mount Wutai, on my way to the Eastern Capital on an errand. Tonight I can't make it to an inn, so I asked to lodge here for the night. Your master was discourteous and tried to tie me up." The old man said, "Since you are a monk from Mount Wutai, come in with me." Zhishen followed the old man into the main hall, where they took their seats as host and guest. The old said, "Master, please don't take offense. The servants didn't realize you've come from a place that venerates living Buddhas, and they treated you like any ordinary visitor. This old man has always revered the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Although there is a matter at hand in my manor tonight, I can still put you up for the evening." Zhishen leaned his staff aside, rose, and pressed his palms together in thanks. "I am grateful to you, benefactor. May I ask your honorable name?" The old man said, "My surname is Liu. This place is called Peach Blossom Village, and the villagers call me Squire Liu of Peach Blossom Manor. May I ask your lay surname and your religious name?" Zhishen said, "My master is Elder Zhizhen, who gave me my religious name. Since my surname is Lu, I am called Lu Zhishen." The squire said, "Master, please have some supper. Would you eat meat?" Lu Zhishen said, "I have no taboos against meat or wine—whether it's cloudy or clear wine, I make no distinctions. Beef or dog meat, if there is any, I'll eat it." The squire said, "Since the master has no restrictions, I'll have the servants bring wine and meat at once." Before long, the servants set out a table and placed before Zhishen a plate of beef, three or four vegetable dishes, and a pair of chopsticks. Zhishen untied his money pouch and sat down. One of the servants poured a pot of wine, took a cup, and filled it for Zhishen. Lu Zhishen neither deferred nor declined—in no time at all, he had finished the entire pot of wine and the whole plate of meat. The squire, watching from across the table, was struck dumb for a while. The servants brought rice, which he also ate. Then the table was cleared away.

The squire said, "Put the master up for the night in the outer side room. If there's any commotion outside tonight, don't come out to look." Zhishen said, "May I ask what business the manor has tonight?" The squire said, "It is not a matter for a monk to concern himself with." Zhishen said, "Why does Squire seem so displeased? Could it be that you resent my coming to disturb you? Tomorrow I will pay you for my lodging." The squire said, "Master, you should know—my household regularly gives alms to monks and makes offerings. I wouldn't begrudge you alone. It is only that tonight my youngest daughter is to receive a husband, and this troubles me." Lu Zhishen laughed loudly and said, "'A man must marry when he grows up, and a woman must be wed.' This is a great matter of human relations and a fundamental rite of the Five Constants. Why does it trouble you?" The squire said, "Master doesn't understand. This marriage was not entered into willingly." Zhishen laughed again and said, "Squire, you are a fool too. If neither party is willing, how can you take him in as a son-in-law?" The squire said, "I have only this one daughter, now just nineteen years old. There is a mountain here called Peach Blossom Mountain. Lately two chiefs have made camp there, gathering five or seven hundred men to rob and plunder. The government troops of Qingzhou have been unable to suppress them. They came to my manor demanding tribute, and when they saw my daughter, they left twenty taels of gold and a bolt of red brocade as a betrothal gift, choosing tonight as the auspicious day to come and be married into my manor. I could not argue with them, and had to agree. That is why I am troubled—it is not about you, Master."

Zhishen listened and said, "So that is the matter. This humble monk has a way to make him change his mind and not take your daughter. What do you think?" The squire said, "He is a demon who kills without blinking his eyes. How could you possibly make him change his mind?" Zhishen said, "At Mount Wutai, under Elder Zhizhen, I learned to expound the causes and conditions of things. Even a man of iron or stone could be persuaded by me. Tonight, have your daughter hide somewhere else. I will go into her room and expound the causes and conditions to him, and he will change his mind." The squire said, "That would be excellent, but I'm afraid you'll be stroking the tiger's whiskers." Zhishen said, "This monk doesn't value his life! Just do as I say." The squire said, "Then it is settled! My household is blessed to have a living Buddha descend among us." The servants who heard this were all astonished.

The squire asked Zhishen if he wanted more rice. Zhishen said, "No rice, but bring more wine if you have it." The squire said, "We do, we do!" He immediately had the servants bring a cooked goose and poured wine in a large bowl, letting Zhishen drink his fill—thirty or twenty bowls—and the whole cooked goose as well. He had the servants take Zhishen's bundle and put it in the room first. Zhishen took his staff and his monk's knife and asked, "Squire, has your daughter been hidden away?" The squire said, "I have already sent my daughter to a neighboring manor." Zhishen said, "Take me to the bridal chamber." The squire led him to the room and pointed. "This is it." Zhishen said, "All of you, go hide yourselves." The squire and the servants went outside to prepare the wedding feast. Zhishen moved the tables and chairs out of the room, placed the monk's knife at the head of the bed, leaned the staff beside it, lowered the embroidered canopy, stripped himself completely naked, and jumped onto the bed to sit.

Old Liu saw the sky growing dark and ordered his servants to light lanterns and candles fore and aft, making the manor bright as day. A table was set up on the threshing ground, adorned with fragrant flowers, lamps, and candles. He also told his servants to prepare large platters of meat and to warm wine in big jugs. Around the first watch of the night, the sound of gongs and drums was heard from the mountainside. Old Liu's heart was filled with dread, and the servants were all in a cold sweat. They rushed out of the manor gates to look, and in the distance they saw forty or fifty torches shining as bright as daylight. A band of men came galloping toward the manor. Behold:

From the mist-locked shadows of the green hills, a troop of headless gods came rolling forth;

By the smoke-hazed edge of the dark wood, several rows of food-grabbing ghosts were drawn up.

Each man was fierce, every face was hideous.

Their head-scarves were all dyed madder-red; their padded jackets were all the color of maple leaves.

Spear on spear, they surrounded the little devils who would eat men's livers and hearts;

Cudgel on cudgel, they escorted the true Plague Lord who cared nothing for father and mother.

The night-fiend came to claim his bride; the mountain tiger came down from his horse.

When Old Liu saw them, he ordered his servants to throw open the manor gates and come out to welcome them. The band came with a great show of weapons and banners, all bound with red and green silk. The lesser robbers had wild flowers stuck in the brims of their head-scarves. Four or five pairs of red gauze lanterns led the way, illuminating the chieftain riding on horseback. How was he dressed? Behold:

On his head he wore a pointed crimson scarf with a hollowed face; beside his temples was stuck a silk artificial flower. On his body he wore a green silk robe embroidered with gold thread and trimmed with velvet, woven with tiger motifs around it. At his waist he had a red sash with a gold-trimmed belly wrap, fitted to a wolf's body. On his feet he wore a pair of leather boots that covered his cloud-like heels. He rode a tall, curly-haired white horse.

When the chieftain reached the manor gate and dismounted, the lesser robbers all cried out together: "How shiny your hat is—tonight you'll be a bridegroom! How tight your clothes are—tonight you'll be a handsome guest!" Old Liu hastily lifted a wine cup with his own hands, filled it with good wine, and knelt on the ground. All the servants knelt as well. The chieftain reached out his hand and said, "You are my father-in-law. How can you kneel to me?" Old Liu said, "Say no more, old man. I am merely a household under the chieftain's jurisdiction." The chieftain was already seven or eight parts drunk. He laughed loudly and said, "If I become your son-in-law, I shall not let you down. Your daughter is a good match for me." Old Liu offered the dismounting cup. They came to the threshing ground, where the fragrant flowers, lamps, and candles were set out. The chieftain said, "Father-in-law, there was no need for such a reception." He drank three more cups, then they came to the hall. He called to the lesser robbers to tie his horse to a green willow tree. The lesser robbers began beating drums and playing music before the hall. The chieftain sat down in the hall and called out, "Father-in-law, where is my bride?" Old Liu said, "She is too shy to come out." The chieftain laughed and said, "Bring the wine then. I shall return the toast to my father-in-law." After drinking a cup, he said, "Let me go and see my bride first. I can drink later."

Old Liu had been counting on the monk to talk the chieftain out of it. He said, "Old man will lead the chieftain there myself." Taking a candle stand, he led the chieftain around the screen and all the way to the bridal chamber. Old Liu pointed and said, "It is in here. Please go in yourself, Chieftain." Then Old Liu took the candle stand and went straight away. Not knowing whether fortune or calamity awaited, he first prepared an escape route.

The bandit chief pushed open the door and found the room pitch black. He said, "Look at my father-in-law—a thrifty man indeed. He doesn't even light a lamp in the room, leaving my wife sitting in the dark." Lu Zhishen, seated inside the curtained bed, heard all this and suppressed his smile, making no sound. The chief groped his way into the room. "My dear wife," he called, "why don't you come out to greet me? Don't be shy—tomorrow I'm going to make you my mountain stronghold's lady." He kept calling for his wife while reaching out in the dark, groping here and there. His hands touched the gold-threaded bed curtains. He lifted one aside and reached in—his hand landed on Lu Zhishen's belly. Lu Zhishen seized him by the headband and the corners of his hat, twisted, and pulled him down off the bed. The chief tried to struggle free, but Lu Zhishen clenched his right fist, cursed "Damn you!" and struck him one blow that covered his ears and neck. The chief cried out, "What are you hitting your husband for?" Lu Zhishen roared, "Let me teach you to recognize your wife!" He dragged the chief to the side of the bed and rained down fists and kicks upon him, beating the chief until he screamed for help.

Old Lord Liu was paralyzed with shock. He had thought that at this hour Lu Zhishen would be discoursing on karma to persuade the chief to change his ways—instead he heard cries for help from inside. The old man hurriedly took a lamp and led several little bandits rushing in together. By lamplight, everyone saw a huge monk, stark naked without a stitch of clothing, straddling the chief and beating him before the bed. The leading little bandit shouted, "All of you, come save the chief!" The bandits together dragged their spears and staffs and charged in to rescue him. When Lu Zhishen saw them, he threw the chief aside, seized his staff from beside the bed, and swept it along the ground as he charged out. The little bandits, seeing his ferocity, raised a cry and fled. Old Lord Liu could only lament bitterly. In the confusion, the chief crawled out of the room, ran to the front gate, felt for his horse, broke a willow branch from a tree, leaped onto the horse's back, and lashed the horse with the branch—but the horse would not run. The chief said, "This is bitter indeed! Even the horse is bullying me." He looked again and realized that in his panic he had never untied the reins. He hastily tore them free and rode bareback, flying away. Once outside the manor gate, he cursed, "Old ass Liu, don't panic—you won't get away even if you fly!" He struck the horse twice more with the willow branch, and away it galloped, carrying the chief up the mountain.

Old Lord Liu seized Lu Zhishen's arm. "Monk, you've ruined my whole family!" Lu Zhishen said, "Don't blame me for my rudeness! Bring me my clothes and my robe so I can get dressed and talk." A servant went to the room and fetched them, and Zhishen put them on. The old man said, "I originally counted on you to discourse on karma and persuade him to mend his ways. Who would have thought you'd just punch him like that? He's surely gone back to the stronghold to report and bring a whole gang of bandits to kill my family." Zhishen said, "Old man, don't panic. Let me tell you—I'm not just anyone. I was once a company commander under Old Zhong, the Military Commissioner of the Yan'an Prefecture command. I killed a man and became a monk to escape the law. Don't speak of just these two scoundrels—even if a thousand or two thousand soldiers came, I wouldn't fear them. If any of you don't believe me, try lifting my staff." The servants could not budge it. Zhishen took it in his hands and twirled it as easily as if he were handling a wick. The old man said, "Master, don't leave—you must protect my whole family." Zhishen said, "Nonsense. I won't leave even if I die." The old man said, "Let me offer you some wine to drink, Master—but please don't drink yourself into a stupor." Lu Zhishen said, "With one-tenth wine, I have one-tenth ability. With full wine, I have full strength." The old man said, "Then that's best. We have plenty of wine and meat here—eat and drink as much as you like, Master."

Now, the chief of Mount Taohua was sitting in his stronghold, about to send men down the mountain to find out how his second-in-command was faring as a bridegroom, when several little bandits came rushing in, panting and frantic. "Bitter! Bitter!" they cried in the stronghold. The chief quickly asked, "What's happened to throw you into such a panic?" The bandits said, "The Second Brother has been beaten half to death!" The chief was greatly alarmed and was asking for details when someone reported, "The Second Brother has arrived!" The chief looked and saw that the second-in-command had lost his red headband, his green robe was torn to shreds, and he had fallen from his horse in the hall, crying, "Brother, save me!" The chief asked, "What happened?" The second-in-command said, "I went down the mountain and entered the old man's manor. I went into the room, but that cursed old ass had hidden his daughter away and instead had a fat monk hiding in the bed. I wasn't on my guard. I lifted the curtain to feel around, and the bastard seized me and gave me a terrible beating with fists and kicks. When he saw the others coming to rescue me, let go, seized his staff, and charged out. That's how I escaped with my life. Brother, avenge me!" The chief said, "So that's how it is. Go to your room to rest. I'll go capture that bald thief myself." He shouted to his men, "Saddle my horse, quickly!" All the little bandits rushed to do so. The chief mounted his horse, took up his spear, and led all the little bandits down the mountain with a great shout.

Next, Lu Zhishen was drinking wine when the manor servants reported, "The chief leaders from the mountain have all arrived." Zhishen said, "Don't panic, all of you. Anyone I knock down, you just tie him up and take him to the authorities to claim your reward. Bring me my monk's saber." Lu Zhishen took off his robe, tucked up his clothes underneath, strapped on the saber, strode out with his staff, and went out to the threshing ground. He saw the chief leader among the torches, riding a horse up to the manor gate, holding a long spear on horseback, and shouting loudly, "Where is that bald donkey? Come out quickly and let us fight it out!" Zhishen flew into a rage and cursed, "You filthy rascal, let me make you know who I am!" He swung his staff and swept it along the ground toward him. The chief leader parried with his spear and shouted, "Hold on, monk, don't attack yet. Your voice sounds very familiar. Tell me your name first." Lu Zhishen said, "This monk is no other man—I am Lu Da, who served as a commandant under Old Chong, the Military Commissioner of Weizhou. I've since left secular life and become a monk. They call me Lu Zhishen." The chief leader laughed heartily, rolled off his horse, dropped his spear, prostrated himself, and kowtowed, saying, "Brother, you've been well, I trust. But you've gotten my second brother good!" Zhishen thought he was trying to trick him, so he leaped back several paces, held his staff at the ready, and looked closely. By the torchlight he recognized him—it was no other man than Li Zhong, the martial arts instructor and medicine peddler known on the rivers and lakes as "Tiger-Fighting General" Li Zhong. Now, when bandits kowtowed, they did not use these two words, as it was considered unlucky in military circles—they called it "jianfu" instead, which was an auspicious term. Li Zhong rose after his jianfu and, supporting Lu Zhishen, asked, "Brother, why did you become a monk?" Zhishen said, "Let's talk inside." When Liu the Old Lord saw this, he could only cry in distress, "So this monk is one of them after all!"

Lu Zhishen went inside, put his robe back on, and went with Li Zhong to the hall to reminisce about old times. Lu Zhishen sat in the seat of honor and called for Liu the Old Lord to come out. The old man did not dare approach. Zhishen said, "Old Lord, don't be afraid. He is my sworn brother." The old man, hearing he was a brother, became even more frightened, yet dared not stay away. Li Zhong sat in the second seat, and the Old Lord sat in the third. Lu Zhishen said, "You two sit here. Ever since I killed 'Zhenxi Guan' with three blows in Weizhou, I fled to Yanmen County in Daizhou, where I met the old man Jin whom I had helped with traveling expenses. That old man did not return to the Eastern Capital but instead followed an acquaintance and settled in Yanmen County as well. His daughter was given to a local wealthy man, Squire Zhao. He and I met and treated each other with great respect. But then the authorities pursued me relentlessly, so the squire spent money to send me to Mount Wutai to take tonsure as a monk under the Venerable Abbot Zhizhen. I caused disturbances in the monastery twice while drunk, so my master abbot gave me a letter and sent me to the Dabao Temple in the Eastern Capital to seek out Chan Master Zhiqing and obtain a position as an administrative monk. Because it was late, I came to this manor to spend the night, never expecting to meet my brother. Now, who was that fellow I just fought a moment ago, and how do you come to be here?" Li Zhong said, "Younger brother, ever since that day when you, brother, and Shi Jin parted ways at the Weizhou wine shop, the next day I heard that Brother had killed Butcher Zheng. I went looking for Shi Jin to discuss it, but no one knew where he had gone. When I heard the officers were searching for me in a panic, I fled in haste and passed by this mountain. The man Brother just fought had earlier established a stronghold on Blossom Mountain and is called 'Little Tyrant' Zhou Tong. At that time he led men down the mountain to fight me, but I defeated him. He invited me to stay on the mountain as the bandit chief, yielding the first seat of honor to me and letting me take it. That is why I have been living as a bandit here."

Zhishen said, "Since you are here, Brother, this marriage arrangement for Old Lord Liu must not be mentioned again. He has only this daughter to care for him in his old age. If you had taken her away, it would have left the old man without support." When the Old Lord heard this, he was overjoyed and arranged food and wine to entertain the two of them. Each of the bandits was given two steamed buns, two pieces of meat, and a large bowl of wine, and they were all well fed. The Old Lord brought out the gold and silk originally intended as the betrothal gifts. Lu Zhishen said, "Brother Li, you take these for yourself. This whole matter is in your hands." Li Zhong said, "That's no problem. But please, Brother, come stay a few days at our small stronghold, and Old Lord Liu should come too." The Old Lord ordered the servants to prepare a sedan chair, in which they carried Lu Zhishen, along with his staff, saber, and luggage. Li Zhong also mounted his horse, and the Old Lord rode in a small sedan chair. By then it was already broad daylight. Everyone went up the mountain. When Zhishen and the Old Lord arrived at the stronghold, they got out of the sedan chairs. Li Zhong also dismounted and invited Zhishen into the stronghold. They went to the Hall of Gathered Righteousness, and the three of them sat down. Li Zhong called for Zhou Tong to come out. When Zhou Tong saw the monk, he thought angrily, "Brother didn't avenge me—instead he's invited this monk to the stronghold and given him the seat of honor!" Li Zhong said, "Brother, do you recognize this monk?" Zhou Tong said, "If I recognized him, I wouldn't have let him beat me!" Li Zhong laughed and said, "This monk is the one I've often told you about—the man who killed 'Zhenxi Guan' with three blows. It's him." Zhou Tong rubbed his head, cried out "Ah!", and immediately prostrated himself in jianfu. Lu Zhishen returned the bow and said, "Forgive my rudeness earlier."

The three men sat down. Old Squire Liu stood before them. Lu Zhishen said, "Brother Zhou, listen to me. You don't understand about this marriage matter with Squire Liu. He has only this one daughter. She is to support him in his old age and see him to his grave, and she is to carry on the family line. If you take her, the old gentleman will be left with nothing. His heart is surely not willing. Follow my advice and give it up. Choose another, better match. The original gold and bolts of silk will be returned here. What do you say?" Zhou Tong replied, "I'll do exactly as you say, brother. I won't dare go to his gate again." Zhishen said, "A true man must not go back on his word!" Zhou Tong snapped an arrow in half as his oath. Squire Liu bowed in thanks, took back the gold and silk, and returned to his manor down the mountain.

Li Zhong and Zhou Tong slaughtered an ox and a horse and prepared a banquet, entertaining him for several days. They took Lu Zhishen to see the scenery all around the mountain front and back. Taohua Mountain was indeed a fine place—fierce and strange in appearance, steep and perilous on all sides, with only a single path leading up, and wild grass stretching endlessly in every direction below. Zhishen surveyed it and said, "Truly a naturally defensible spot." After staying a few days, Lu Zhishen saw that Li Zhong and Zhou Tong were not generous men—they were stingy in all they did—and he wanted only to go back down the mountain. The two urged him to stay, but he would not hear of it. He only said, "Now that I have left the world and become a monk, how could I possibly become an outlaw?" Li Zhong and Zhou Tong said, "Since you won't stay as an outlaw, brother, tomorrow we'll go down the mountain. Whatever we get, we'll send it all with you for traveling expenses." The next day, up in the stronghold they killed sheep and pigs and prepared a farewell banquet. They set out the feast and placed the gold and silver drinking vessels on the table. Just as they were about to sit down and drink, a small scout reported: "Two carriages and a dozen or so men are coming up the mountain." When Li Zhong and Zhou Tong heard this, they mustered a large force of men, leaving only one or two to wait on Lu Zhishen while he drank. The two heroes said, "Brother, just sit and enjoy your wine. We two will go down the mountain, get the goods, and bring them back to see you off." With these orders, they led their men down the mountain.

Now Lu Zhishen was thinking: "These two are truly miserly. They have all this gold and silver right here and they won't give me any of it—they wait until they've robbed someone else before offering it to me. This is taking the highway as a personal favor and making others suffer! I'll give these fellows a little fright." He called the few serving men over to pour him wine. After only two cups he leaped to his feet, knocked the two men flat with his fists, and tied them together with a sash, stuffing their mouths with hempseed walnuts. Then he took out his bundle and opened it, throwing away everything that wasn't essential. He took only the gold and silver drinking vessels from the table, stamped them flat, and fastened them inside the bundle next to his ordination certificate pouch. He hid the letter from Abbot Zhi Zhen. He slung his monk's knife, took up his staff, tucked his clothes bundle under his arm, and walked out of the stronghold. When he looked around at the back of the mountain, it was all steep and dangerous. But he thought, "If I go down the front of the mountain I'm sure to run into those fellows. Better to roll down through the wild grass from here." First he tied the knife and bundle together and tossed them down, then he hurled his staff down after them. Then he threw himself down and rolled—rumble, tumble—straight to the foot of the mountain, without a scratch. A poem says:

Where no bird's path ever pierced the height,

He stopped, then went, half doubting of the right.

The bald head wrapped, from the height he came down,

Like a ripe melon dropping to the ground.

At that moment Lu Zhishen rolled down from the steep place, leaped up, found his bundle, slung his knife, took his staff, and strode off down the road.

Meanwhile Li Zhong and Zhou Tong had gone down to the foot of the mountain and met the dozen or more men, all armed. Li Zhong and Zhou Tong leveled their spears. The men shouted and rushed forward, yelling, "You travelers! If you know what's good for you, leave a toll!" One of the travelers drew his saber and came to fight Li Zhong. Back and forth they went, attacking and retreating, fighting more than ten bouts with neither gaining the advantage. Zhou Tong flew into a rage, rushed forward with a shout, and his men all charged together. The travelers couldn't hold them off and turned to flee. Those who were slowest were stabbed to death—seven or eight of them. They seized the carriages and goods, and singing victory songs, slowly made their way back up the mountain. When they reached the stronghold and looked around, they saw the two serving men tied together at the side of the pavilion pillar. The gold and silver drinking vessels from the table had all vanished. Zhou Tong untied the men and asked for details. Where had Lu Zhishen gone? The men said, "He knocked us down, tied us up, and made off with a whole lot of vessels." Zhou Tong said, "That bald rascal is no good! He played his tricks on us—but which way did he go?" They searched for traces everywhere and went around to the back mountain, where they found a swath of wild grass all pressed flat from rolling. Zhou Tong looked at it and said, "That bald old devil is a crafty one! Such a steep mountain ridge—and he rolled down from here!" Li Zhong said, "Let's chase after him and demand the things back—give him a good shaming." Zhou Tong said, "Forget it, forget it! Shutting the door after the thief has gone—where would we chase him? Even if we caught up, we couldn't get anything back from him. If things went wrong, the two of us couldn't beat him anyway, and it would be awkward seeing him later. Better to let it go—we'll get along better later. Let's open the bundles from the carriages and divide the gold, silver, and silk into three shares. You and I will each take one share, and give one share to the men." Li Zhong said, "It was my fault for bringing you up the mountain and costing you so much. My share I give to you." Zhou Tong said, "Brother, we live and die together—don't be so calculating." Dear reader, remember this: Li Zhong and Zhou Tong continued robbing on Taohua Mountain as before.

To continue: Lu Zhishen left Taohua Mountain and strode onward with long steps. From morning he walked straight through until afternoon, covering some fifty or sixty li of road. His stomach was empty again, and there was no place along the way to stop for a meal. He thought to himself, "I set out early and kept going without thinking of food. Where can I go now?" He looked east and listened to the west, when suddenly from far off he heard the sound of bells and chimes. Lu Zhishen listened and said, "Splendid! That must be either a monastery or a temple—the wind is ringing the bells beneath the eaves. I'll make my way there and seek shelter."

It was not by chance that Lu Zhishen headed toward that place. It would lead to the loss of more than ten lives and the burning by a single fire of a famous and ancient sacred site. Indeed, it brought forth crimson flames above the golden hall and black smoke rising before the jade-green pavilion. But as to which temple or monastery it was that Lu Zhishen sought out, let us listen to the next chapter.

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Water Margin (120-Chapter Edition)