Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Then the锦衣官 (Imperial Guard Official) dragged the false Tang Seng out of the postal relay station, surrounded by the羽林军 (Palace Guard troops), all the way to the palace gate. There he addressed the黄門官 (Palace Attendant Official): "We have brought the monk Tang here. Please be so good as to announce us." The Palace Attendant Official hurried into the palace and reported this to the muddle-headed king, who then ordered them brought in. All the officials knelt and bowed at the foot of the steps, but the false Tang Seng stood erect in the middle of the steps and called out in a loud voice: "King of the Bhikkus, what does your poor monk have to say to you?" The king smiled and said, "I have been suffering from an illness that has lingered for many days without cure. Fortunately, the State Preceptor has provided a prescription, and all the medicines are prepared—only one ingredient is lacking: a guiding agent. I have specially invited you, Elder, to provide this medicinal guide. If I recover, I will build a shrine for you, make offerings to you in all four seasons, and ensure you are worshipped forever as the patron saint of the realm." The false Tang Seng said, "I am a monk who has left home. I came here alone. I don't know what medicinal guide His Majesty wishes to obtain from the State Preceptor." The muddle-headed king said: "I especially seek the heart and liver of the Elder." The false Tang Seng said: "To be frank with Your Majesty, I have several hearts. I wonder what color you want?" The State Preceptor, standing beside him, pointed and said: "Monk, we want your black heart." The false Tang Seng said: "In that case, quickly bring a knife and cut open my chest and belly. If there is a black heart inside, I will obey your command." The muddle-headed king was overjoyed and thanked him. He immediately ordered the official in attendance to bring a short ox-ear knife and hand it to the false monk. The false monk took the knife, unbuttoned his robes, puffed out his chest, rubbed his belly with his left hand, and held the knife in his right. With a loud ripping sound, he cut open his belly, and out rolled a pile of hearts, clattering as they fell. The civil officials turned pale with fright, and the military officers' bodies went numb. The State Preceptor, seeing this in the palace, said: "This is a monk with many hearts." The false monk picked up the hearts one by one, still dripping with blood, and displayed them for all to see. They were red hearts, white hearts, yellow hearts, hearts of stinginess and greed, hearts of lust for profit and fame, hearts of jealousy, hearts of calculation, hearts of competitiveness, hearts of ambition, hearts of arrogance and contempt, hearts of murder, hearts of venom, hearts of terror, hearts of caution, hearts of wickedness and delusion, hearts of nameless hidden darkness—all sorts of evil hearts. Not a single black heart was among them. The muddle-headed king was so frightened that he stood dazed and speechless. Trembling, he said: "Put them away, put them away." The false monk could no longer contain himself. He gathered his magic hearts, revealed his true form, and said to the king: "Your Majesty, you are completely blind. We monks are all full of good hearts. Only your State Preceptor has a black heart—a perfect medicinal guide. If you don't believe me, let me take it out for you to see."

When the State Preceptor heard this, he opened his eyes wide and looked carefully. He saw that the monk's face had changed—he no longer looked the same. Ah! He recognized the Great Sage of Sun, famous from five hundred years ago. He tried to withdraw and rise into the clouds, but Sun Wukong turned a somersault and leaped into the air, shouting: "Where are you going? Take my staff!" The State Preceptor immediately wielded his coiled-dragon crutch to meet him. The two fought a splendid battle in midair:

The Compliant Staff and the Coiled-Dragon Crutch—

A stretch of dim clouds in the void.

The State Preceptor was actually a demon,

Who had passed off a monster maiden as a beauty.

The king, indulging in pleasure, had fallen ill;

The evil fiend wanted to slaughter children.

The Great Sage met him, displaying his powers,

Catching the monster and saving lives in peril.

The iron staff struck with savage force;

The crutch parried, worthy of admiration.

They fought until the sky's dark mist shrouded the city,

And the people within the city lost their color.

The civil and military officials' souls flew away;

The consorts and palace ladies' beauty was transformed.

The muddled king of Bhikku hid himself in terror,

Trembling and utterly at a loss.

The staff rose like a tiger leaving the mountains;

The crutch swung like a dragon emerging from the sea.

This great uproar in the Kingdom of Bhikku

Made the distinction between evil and righteousness clear.

The demon fought bitterly with the Great Sage for more than twenty rounds. The Coiled-Dragon Crutch could not withstand the Golden-Hooped Staff. Feinting with his crutch, the State Preceptor transformed himself into a beam of cold light and descended into the inner palace. He seized the demon queen who had been offered as tribute and carried her out of the palace gate, then transformed into cold light again, disappearing without a trace.

The Great Sage descended on his cloud and arrived at the palace steps. He said to the officials: "What a fine State Preceptor you had!" All the officials bowed together, thanking the divine monk. The Great Sage said: "Don't bow yet—go and see where your muddle-headed king is." The officials said: "When he saw the battle, our lord hid in fear. We don't know which palace he went to." The Great Sage immediately ordered: "Find him quickly, before the Beautiful Queen kidnaps him!" Hearing this, the officials, both inner and outer court alike, ran first to the Beautiful Queen's palace, but she was nowhere to be found—the Beautiful Queen had vanished completely. The empress of the main palace, the crown prince's consorts of the East and West palaces, and all the consorts of the Six Courts came to bow and thank the Great Sage. The Great Sage said: "Please rise—there is no need to thank me yet. Go and find your lord." Shortly afterward, four or five eunuchs were seen supporting the muddle-headed king as he emerged from behind the Palace of Scrupulous Conduct. The officials prostrated themselves on the ground and reported in unison: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, thanks to the divine monk's arrival, the truth has been made clear. The State Preceptor was an evil demon, and the Beautiful Queen has disappeared as well." Upon hearing this, the king immediately asked the Great Sage to come out of the palace to the treasure hall. He bowed and thanked him, saying: "Elder, when you came this morning, your appearance was so handsome. How is it that you have changed your looks?" The Great Sage laughed and said: "To be frank with Your Majesty, the one who came this morning was my master, Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty, the Emperor's younger brother. I am his disciple Sun Wukong. I have two fellow disciples, Zhu Wujing and Sha Wujing, who are at the Gold Pavilion Postal Relay Station. Because I learned that you had believed the demon's words and wanted to take my master's heart and liver as a medicinal guide, old Sun transformed myself into my master's form and came here specifically to subdue the demon." When the king heard this, he immediately issued an edict ordering the Grand Chancellor to go quickly to the postal relay station to invite the entire company to the court.

When Tripitaka heard that Pilgrim had revealed his true form and was battling the demon from the sky, his soul nearly left his body in terror. Fortunately, Bajie and Sha Wujing stood by to protect him, and besides, his face was smeared with a layer of stinking mud. Just as he sat in gloomy silence, someone called out: "Honorable Master, we are the Grand Chamberlain of the Bhikṣu Kingdom, sent here to invite you into the court to receive thanks." Bajie laughed: "Master, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. This time they're not asking you for your heart. It must be that our senior brother has won the battle, and they want to thank you." Tripitaka said: "Even if they're inviting me because of victory, how can I show this shameful face to anyone?" Bajie said: "There's no helping it. Let's go find our senior brother first—he'll have an explanation." The old master truly had no choice but to follow Bajie and Sha Wujing, carrying the load and leading the horse, to the post station together. When the Grand Chamberlain saw them, he cried out in fright: "Great gods! These all look like demons and monsters!" Sha Wujing said: "My lord, don't be put off by our ugly appearances—these are simply the bodies we were born with. When our master meets up with our senior brother, he'll look handsome again."

The three of them came to court with the others and went straight to the foot of the throne without waiting to be announced. When Pilgrim saw them, he turned and descended from the hall to meet them face to face. He grabbed the mud mask from his master's master's face, blew on it with immortal breath, and shouted: "Transform!" Instantly Tripitaka resumed his original form, and his spirits revived with renewed vigor. The king came down from his throne to welcome him personally, addressing him as "Venerable Master and Old Buddha." The master and disciples tethered their horse and all ascended the hall to pay their respects. Pilgrim said: "Your Majesty, do you know where that monster came from? Let me catch him for you and eliminate the threat once and for all." The three palaces, six courts, and all the concubines and ladies-in-waiting were behind the jade-green screen. When they heard Pilgrim speak of eliminating the threat, they paid no heed to the propriety of men and women mingling and came out together to bow and plead: "We beg the divine monk and Old Buddha to exercise your great power, root him out and destroy him completely. This would be a boundless kindness, and we shall repay it richly." Pilgrim hastily returned their bows and told the king to explain where the demon lived. The king said with shame: "Three years ago when he first came, I asked him. He said it was not far from the city—just seventy li to the south, in Willow Grove Slope, at the Qinghua Manor. The State Preceptor was old and had no sons; his second wife had borne a daughter, just sixteen years old and not yet betrothed, and he wished to present her to me. Because I loved the maiden, I accepted her and favored her in the palace. Unexpectedly I fell ill, and the imperial physicians' medicines were all useless. He said: 'I have a divine prescription that requires only a child's heart decocted as a guiding ingredient.' It was my folly that I lightly believed his words and chose children from among the common people, fixing today at noon to cut out their hearts. I did not expect the divine monk to descend, and then it happened that the cages with the children had all vanished. He then said that the divine monk had cultivated himself through ten lifetimes and had not spilled his primal essence—obtaining his heart would be ten thousand times better than a children's hearts. It was a momentary offense. He did not know that the divine monk had seen through the demon. I humbly pray you exercise your great power and eliminate this threat. I shall repay you with all the wealth of my kingdom." Pilgrim laughed: "To tell you plainly, the children in the cages were hidden by my master's mercy. Never mind about rewards—when I catch the demon, that will be my merit." He called out: "Bajie, come with me!" Bajie replied: "I obey, brother. But my belly is empty, and I won't have much strength." The king immediately issued an order to the Court of Imperial Entertainment to prepare a vegetarian meal at once. Before long, the food arrived. Bajie ate his fill, roused his spirits, and followed Pilgrim up into the clouds. The king, the queen, and all the civil and military officials were so awed that they bowed toward the sky one after another, saying: "True immortals and true Buddhas have descended to the mortal world!"

The Great Sage took Bajie straight south for seventy li, then halted his wind and cloud to search for the demon's lair. All he saw was a clear stream with banks on either side, and upon those banks thousands upon thousands of willow trees. Where the Qinghua Manor might be, he had no idea. Indeed:

*Vast wild fields stretch beyond the eye's reach;*

*A thousand dikes of misty willows hide all trace.*

Unable to find it, the Great Sage of the Sun pinched his fingers, uttered a single syllable of the true mantra—"Om!"—and summoned the local Land God, who trembled as he came forward and knelt. "Great Sage," he called, "the Land God of Willow Grove Slope bows his head." Pilgrim said: "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hit you. I ask you: where is the Qinghua Manor in Willow Grove Slope?" The Land God said: "Here there is a Qinghua Cave, but there has never been a Qinghua Manor. I know now—the Great Sage must have come from the Bhikṣu Kingdom?" Pilgrim said: "Exactly, exactly. The king of the Bhikṣu Kingdom was deceived by a demon. I went there and recognized it as a demon. I fought it off at the time, but it transformed into a streak of cold light and vanished. When I asked the king, he said that when the beautiful maiden was presented three years ago, he had asked the demon where he lived. The demon said the Qinghua Manor on Willow Grove Slope, seventy li south of the city. I searched here and found only the grove and slope, not the manor, so I asked you." The Land God knocked his head on the ground: "I beg the Great Sage's forgiveness. The king of the Bhikṣu Kingdom is also the ruler of this territory, and I should have watched over the matter. But the demon's spiritual power and magic are so great that if I exposed his affairs, he would come and torment me. That is why I dared not. Now that the Great Sage has come, go to the nine-forked head on the south bank, to the root of a willow tree. Turn left three times, turn right three times, slap both hands on the tree, and call 'Open the door' three times. The Qinghua Cave will appear."

Hearing this, the Great Sage bade the local deity to return and, with Bajie, crossed the stream to seek out the poplar tree. Sure enough, there were nine forked branches, all growing from a single root. The Pilgrim instructed Bajie: "Stand at a distance. Wait for me to call out and open the gate, then when I find the monster and chase him out, you are to give support." Bajie obeyed and took his position half a *li* from the tree. Following the local deity's instructions, the Great Sage circled the tree's roots, turned left three times, then right three times, struck the tree with both hands, and called: "Open the gate! Open the gate!" In an instant, with a loud crash, the gate swung open in two panels, and the tree vanished without a trace. Inside, all was bright and radiant, yet no sign of life. The Pilgrim seized the advantage of his divine might and charged in. What a place it was:

Glowing mist shimmered and shone, and the sun and moon lent their stolen light. White clouds ever drifted from the cave, and green moss spread wild across the courtyard. Along the single path, rare flowers vied in splendor; upon every step, jade-green herbs competed in fragrance. The air was warm, the scenery ever spring—altogether like the gardens of Langyuan, rivaling even the immortal isles of Peng and Ying. Slung seats trailed with long creepers; flat bridges were strung with tangled vines. Bees bore crimson stamens to the rocky grottoes; butterflies sported among the secluded orchids past the stone screens.

The Pilgrim quickened his pace and drew near for a closer look. Upon the stone screen he saw four great characters: "Immortal Mansion of Pure Splendor." Unable to restrain himself, he leaped over the screen to look, and there he saw the old monster embracing a fair maiden, panting and gasping, discussing matters of the Bhikkhu Kingdom. Together they cried out: "A fine opportunity! Three years of work, to be completed today—and now that monkey fellow has ruined it!" The Pilgrim rushed forward, drew his staff, and shouted: "I'll have you, you mangy crew! What 'fine opportunity'? Take a blow from my staff!" The old monster cast aside the beauty, seized his coiling-dragon crutch, and hastened to meet the attack. The two clashed before the cave entrance—a fierce battle, far surpassing the ones before:

The staff rose, bursting with golden light; the crutch whirled, unleashing savage fury. The monster said: "You fool, how dare you enter my gate!" The Pilgrim said: "I have come with purpose to subdue a demon!" The monster said: "I dally with the king—what business is it of yours? Why come with such malicious intent?" The Pilgrim said: "A monk upholds the teachings out of compassion—I cannot bear to see children slaughtered alive." Word met word in mutual hatred; staff clashed with crutch, each aimed at the heart. Rare flowers were crushed in the struggle to preserve life; green moss was trampled to keep from slipping. So fierce was the fight that the cave's radiant light dimmed, and the cliff-side blossoms were all beaten down. The clanging and clashing startled the birds into flight; the shouts and cries scattered the maidens in all directions. Only the old monster and the Monkey King remained, as a whirlwind swept the ground in a roaring gale. The battle raged out of the cave entrance, where the befuddled nature of Wuneng was once again stirred.

For while Bajie had waited outside, he had heard the clamor within, and it so maddened him with impatience that he seized his spiked rake and struck down the nine-forked poplar tree. He raked it several times, and fresh blood gushed forth, with faint moaning sounds. "This tree has become a spirit!" he cried. "This tree has become a spirit!" Just as Bajie raised his rake to strike again, the Pilgrim emerged leading the monster. Without a word, the fool rushed forward and swung his rake. The old monster was already no match for the Pilgrim; when he saw Bajie's rake coming, he grew all the more panicked. He broke ranks, shook his body, transformed into a shaft of cold light, and fled straight to the east. The two gave no quarter and gave chase eastward.

In the midst of the pursuit, they heard the cry of cranes and the hazy glow of auspicious light. Looking up, they saw the Star of the South Pole—the Old Man of Longevity. The Old Man enveloped the cold light and called out: "Great Sage, slow your steps! Marshal Tianpeng, cease your chase! This old Taoist greets you here." The Pilgrim returned the salute and said: "Brother Star of Longevity, whence do you come?" Bajie laughed and said: "The bald old fellow has trapped the cold light—he must have caught the monster." The Star of Longevity said with an apologetic smile: "Here he is, here he is. I beseech you two to spare his life." The Pilgrim said: "This old monster has nothing to do with you, Brother. Why do you intercede on his behalf?" The Star smiled and said: "He is my mount. Without intending it, he escaped and became this demon." The Pilgrim said: "Since he belongs to you, Brother, have him reveal his true form so that I may see it." The Star of Longevity released the cold light and commanded: "Wretched creature! Quickly show your true form, and I shall spare your life." The monster turned—and proved to be a white deer. The Star of Longevity picked up his crutch and said: "This wretched creature even stole my walking staff!" The deer prostrated itself on the ground, unable to speak, only bowing its head and weeping tears. Observe him:

His body was dappled like slips of white jade; his two antlers, uneven, branched in seven forks.

In times of hunger he had sought the medicinal gardens; when thirsty, he had drunk from the flowing cloud-streams.

Through the long years he had learned the arts of flight; through the passing days he had cultivated the power of transformation.

Now hearing his master's call, he appeared with drooping ear upon the mortal dust.

The Star of Longevity thanked the Pilgrim and mounted his deer to depart. The Pilgrim caught hold of him and said: "Brother, not so quickly. There are still two matters left unfinished." The Star said: "What remains unfinished?" The Pilgrim said: "The fair maiden has not been captured—I know not what sort of monster she is. Moreover, we must go together to the Bhikkhu capital to present our true forms before the dim-witted king and fulfill our mission." The Star said: "In that case, I shall wait patiently. You and Marshal Tianpeng go down into the cave to capture that maiden, and then we shall all go together to present ourselves." The Pilgrim said: "Brother, wait a moment—we shall be back shortly."

Ba Jie summoned his spirits and followed Sun Wukong straight into the Immortal Mansion of Pure Splendor, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Seize the demon! Seize the demon!" The beautiful woman trembled with terror and had no hope of escape. Hearing the roaring shouts grow even louder, she darted behind a stone screen, but there was no back door through which she could flee. Ba Jie bellowed, "Where do you think you're going? I'll show you, you stinking seductress who beguiles men—take my rake!" The woman had no weapons in her hands and could no longer resist. She gave a flash and transformed into a bolt of cold light, darting outward to flee. The Great Sage blocked the cold light and swung his staff with a crack. The demon could no longer keep her footing, fell to the dust, and revealed her true form—she was a white-faced fox. The Idiot could not restrain himself and raised his rake, bringing it down squarely on her head. Pitiful indeed—that face which could topple cities and kingdoms, with its thousand bewitching smiles, was reduced to a furry fox.

Wukong called out, "Don't smash her to pieces. Leave her body intact so she can be brought before the foolish king."

The Idiot, not minding the filth, seized her tail, dragging and hauling her along, and followed Wukong out of the gate. There they saw the Star of Longevity stroking the head of his deer and cursing: "You wretched beast! How dare you abandon your master and flee here to become a demon? Had I not come, the Great Sage Sun would surely have beaten you to death." Wukong leaped out and said, "What is the old brother saying?" The Star said, "I'm talking to my deer, I'm talking to my deer." Ba Jie flung the dead fox down before the deer and said, "Is this your daughter?" The deer nodded its head, stretched out its muzzle, sniffed at her a few times, and let out a mournful cry, as if reluctant to part. The Star struck it on the head with his palm and said, "Wretched beast! You've had enough of your life—why do you still sniff at her?" He then untied his sash, fastened it around the deer's neck, and led him away, saying, "Great Sage, let us go to the Kingdom of Bhikṣu together." Wukong said, "Wait. Let us clean out this place thoroughly so that no demons can rise again in years to come."

Hearing this, Ba Jie raised his rake and began hacking wildly at the willow trees. Wukong then recited the sacred syllable "Om" and summoned the local earth god, saying: "Gather some dry kindling and light a fierce fire. Let this region's demon scour be wiped out, so they can trouble no more." The earth god turned and, with a rustling of dark wind, led forth his ghostly soldiers, who gathered frost-grass, autumn-green grass, knotweed-stalk grass, mountain-blade grass, artemisia kindling, dragon-bone kindling, and reed kindling—all dry and withered from the year before, which caught fire as readily as grease. Wukong said, "Ba Jie, no need to hack at the trees. Just stuff these things into the cave and set it alight—burn it clean through." Once the fire was lit, indeed the whole Demon Mansion of Pure Splendor was reduced to a pit of flames.

Having dismissed the earth god, they led the Star of Longevity with the deer and dragged the fox, returning together to the palace hall. They said to the king: "This is your Beautiful Consort—would you like to sport with her?" The king trembled with fright. Then Sun Wukong appeared, leading the Star of Longevity and the white deer to the hall, terrifying the king, his ministers, and his consorts so that they all prostrated themselves. Wukong stepped forward, supported the king, and laughed: "Don't bow to me. This deer is your father-in-law—bow to him instead." The king was overcome with shame and said only: "I thank the divine monk for saving the children of my kingdom. Truly this is heavenly grace." He at once commanded the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a vegetarian feast and opened the Eastern Pavilion, inviting the Old Man of the South Pole and the four disciples of Tang Seng to sit together in thanks. Tang Seng bowed to the Star of Longevity, and Sha Wujing also paid his respects. They all asked: "Since the white deer belongs to the venerable Star of Longevity, how did it come here to cause harm?" The Star laughed and said: "Some time ago, the Eastern Florescence Divine Lord passed by my mountain and I invited him to sit and play chess. Before the game was finished, this wretched beast ran off. After my guest departed, I could not find him. I counted on my fingers and knew he had come here. I came specially to retrieve him, and I happened upon the Great Sage Sun displaying his might. Had I arrived any later, this creature would have perished."

Before they had finished speaking, a report came: "The feast is ready." What a magnificent vegetarian feast it was:

Five colors filled the gate, and strange perfumes pervaded the hall. Embroidered brocade table-hangings bloomed with splendor; crimson carpets spread upon the ground shimmered with rosy light. Within the treasure duck censers, sandalwood smoke curled upward; before the imperial table, vegetable dishes wafted their fragrance. Displayed fruits were piled high like towers; dragon-wrapped and sugar-fighting beasts were arranged in rows. Mandarin-duck and lion-immortal candies were shaped true to life; parrot cups and egret ladles were modeled faithfully in form. The fruits before the banquet were abundant in every variety; the vegetarian dishes upon the table were exquisite in every detail. Glossy chestnuts and fresh lychees, sweet dates and persimmons, fragrant pine nuts and oily wine-sweet grapes. Several kinds of honeyed pastries, numerous varieties of steamed confections. Deep-fried and sugar-glazed, woven into flowery pyramids. Great white steamed buns were heaped on golden plates; fragrant rice filled silver bowls. Spicy soups with long vermicelli, steaming and aromatic, course after course, each surpassing the last. Words cannot exhaust the mushrooms, wood-ear fungi, tender shoots, and Solomon's seal—ten-scented vegetarian dishes, a hundred flavors of rare delicacy. Attendants came and went without ceasing; every arrangement was sumptuous and complete.

The seating was then arranged: the Star of Longevity took the chief seat, the elder the second seat, the king the seat before them, and Wukong, Ba Jie, and Sha Wujing sat at the side seats. Two or three great ministers attended beside them. The king commanded the Music Bureau to play. The king raised his purple-cloud cup and offered wine to each in turn. Only Tang Seng did not drink. Ba Jie said to Wukong: "Elder Brother, you may have the fruits, but let me have my fill of the soups and rice." The Idiot made no distinctions—he fell upon everything and devoured it all until nothing remained.

The banquet concluded, the Star of Longevity took his leave. The king came forward again and knelt before the Star, begging for the secret to dispelling illness and prolonging life. The Star laughed and said, "I came here searching for my deer and brought no elixirs with me. I would have taught you the way of self-cultivation, but your sinews are withered and your spirit is spent—you cannot return the elixir. In my sleeve I have only three dates, which I was to present to the Eastern Lord of the东华 as a tea offering. I have not eaten them; I will give them to you now." The king swallowed them and gradually felt his body grow light and his illness recede. That he later attained long life was all due to this. Zhu Bajie saw this and called out, "Old Star of Longevity! You have fire-dates—give me some to eat!" The Star said, "I brought none with me. Another day I will give you several pounds." He then departed from the Hall of the East, offered his thanks, called out with a shout to his white deer, leaped onto its back, and rode off upon the clouds. The king, his consorts, his queens, and all the common people of the city burned incense and bowed in worship—but of this no more.

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, pack our things and take leave of the king." The king once more entreated them to stay and teach them. Sun Wukong said, "Your Majesty, henceforth indulge less in lust, accumulate more hidden merit, and in all things make up for what is lacking by using what is abundant. This itself is enough to dispel illness and prolong life—this is the teaching." Wukong then produced two trays of gold and silver fragments to be given as traveling expenses. Tripitaka firmly declined and would not accept a single coin. The king, having no other recourse, ordered the imperial carriage to be brought out. He asked Tripitaka to sit in the phoenix palanquin and dragon carriage, while the king and his consorts personally pushed the wheels to escort them out of the palace. In every street and marketplace, the common people likewise filled bowls with pure water and burned true incense, escorting them beyond the city walls.

Suddenly a sound of wind was heard in the sky, and on both sides of the road descended one thousand one hundred and ten goose cages, within which little children were weeping. In the shadows, the City God, the local Earth Spirits, the Altar Lords, the True Officials, the Five Directional Guardians, the Four Hour Attendants, the Six Ding and Six Jia spirits, the Guardian Vajras of the Faith, and all the other divine beings cried out in unison: "Great Sage! We received your earlier instructions and took away the children in the goose cages. Now we know the Great Sage has accomplished his task and is departing—we return them all." The king, his consorts, and all the ministers and common people once more bowed down. Wukong addressed the sky: "I thank you all for your labor. Return each to your shrines, and I shall see to it that the people make offerings in thanks." With a rushing and rustling, the dark wind rose again and then departed.

Wukong called the townspeople to come and claim their children. The news spread, and they all came to identify the children in the cages. Joyfully and happily, they carried them out, calling them "brother" and "my flesh," leaping and laughing, all crying: "Seize the Tang Dynasty grandpa! Bring him to our homes to thank him for saving our children!" Young and old, male and female, none feared their ugly appearances. They carried Zhu Bajie on their shoulders, bore Sha Wengang on their backs, hoisted the Great Sage Sun on their heads, and supported Tripitaka. Leading the horse, shouldering the packs, they all surged back into the city together. The king could not stop them. This family opened a feast, that family spread a banquet. Those who could not invite them made monks' hats, monks' shoes, monastic robes, and cloth socks—clothes large and small, inner and outer garments—and brought them as gifts. Thus they lingered for nearly a month before they were able to leave the city. Moreover, they had portraits drawn and tablets erected, where incense was burned and offerings made in worship. Truly it was said:

Hidden merit piled high, a mountain of grace,

Saving the lives of thousands upon thousands of souls.

What further events lie ahead, you will hear explained in the next chapter.