Chapter 63: Two Monks Stir Up the Dragon Palace; the Saints Rout Evil and Recover the Treasure

The king of Jisai and all his ministers and retainers saw Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie ride the clouds away, carrying off the two little monsters. One and all they bowed to the sky and said, "The stories were no lies after all. Only today do we know such immortal Buddhas truly exist."

When they could no longer see them, they again bowed to Tripitaka and Sha Wujing in thanks.

"We are mere mortals," said the king. "We only knew your disciples had strength enough to seize the monster thieves. Who could have guessed they were immortals riding wind and clouds?"

Tripitaka said, "Poor monk has little in the way of power. Along this road I have depended entirely on these three disciples."

Sha Wujing said, "I do not conceal it from Your Majesty. My eldest brother is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who went over to the Buddhist path. In the old days he caused havoc in Heaven, wielded the Golden-Hooped Rod, and withstood a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers without a single match. He only frightened Laozi and startled the Jade Emperor.

My second brother is Marshal Tianpeng in his rightful state. He once commanded the great army of eighty thousand sailors on the Milky River. As for me, I am the Curtain-Raising General, who received the precepts.

My useless brothers and I can do nothing else. But if you speak of catching monsters, binding thieves, subduing tigers, taming dragons, kicking heaven, playing with wells, stirring the sea, overturning rivers, calling rain, summoning wind, shifting constellations, carrying mountains, or chasing the moon, we know a little of all that. What are cloud-riding and mist-riding, calling wind and summoning rain, changing stars and moving the dipper, carrying mountains and chasing the moon? Those are only minor matters, hardly worth mentioning."

When the king heard this, he became even more reverent. He invited Tripitaka to take the honored seat and called him "Old Buddha" again and again, while he called Sha Wujing and the others "bodhisattvas." The whole court was delighted, and all the people of the kingdom bowed in worship, which need not be dwelt on.

As for Sun Wukong and Bajie, they rode the wild wind and carried the two little monsters to the Black Tortoise Pool by the rocky mountain, where they came to a halt in the clouds.

Wukong blew immortal breath on the Golden-Hooped Rod and cried, "Change!"

It changed into a monk's saber. With it he cut off one ear from the black fish demon and one lower lip from the catfish spirit, then flung them into the water and shouted, "Hurry back and tell the Wan Sheng Dragon King that Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, is here. Tell him to send at once the treasure from the pagoda at Golden Light Temple in the kingdom of Jisai, and he and his whole house may keep their lives. If he lets out even half a word of no, I will stir this pool clean and have the old and young of his family put to death."

The two monsters obeyed. Nursing their pain, they fled, dragging their chains, and plunged back into the water. The tortoises, turtles, crabs, shrimp, fish spirits, and all the rest swarmed around them and cried, "Why are you dragging rope and chains?"

One covered his ears and shook his head and tail. The other beat his breast and stamped his feet. All of them shouted and clamored as they went straight to the Dragon King's palace: "Report to the Great King! Disaster has come!"

The Wan Sheng Dragon King was drinking with the Nine-Headed Prince Consort when the two of them suddenly arrived. He set down his cup and asked what disaster had befallen them.

They reported everything from beginning to end: how they had gone scouting last night, only to be captured by Tang monk and Sun Wukong while sweeping the pagoda and bound with iron chains; how this morning, when they had seen the king, they were again seized by Wukong and Zhu Bajie, one having an ear cut off and the other a lip sliced, and flung back into the water to bring word that the treasure atop the pagoda must be surrendered.

When the old dragon heard that it was Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, his soul nearly left him. He trembled and said to the prince consort, "My dear son-in-law, if it were anyone else, there might still be a way to manage it. But if it is truly that one, matters are not good."

The prince consort laughed. "Father-in-law, do not worry.

Your son-in-law has learned a few martial tricks since childhood. I have met a few heroes in the four seas and under heaven. Why should I fear him? Let me go out and fight him for three rounds. I will surely make him bow his head and surrender, not daring to look up."

The demon quickly dressed in armor and stepped out with a crescent moon spade in hand. He opened the water road and came onto the surface, shouting, "Who is this Great Sage Equal to Heaven? Come up here and give yourself up!"

Wukong and Bajie stood on the bank and looked him over. How was the monster dressed?

He wore a cracked silver helmet, bright enough to outshine white snow;
a suit of scale armor gleamed like autumn frost.
Over it he wore a brocade battle robe, clouded with colors like jade;
a belt patterned like rhinoceros hide coiled around him like a flowered python.
In his hand he held a crescent spade, flashing like sunset lightning;
on his feet were pigskin boots, cutting through the water as the waves parted.
From far away he seemed to have one face all over; up close he had faces on all sides.
Eyes in front, eyes behind, seeing in every direction;
mouth on the left, mouth on the right, nine mouths to speak with.
One shout shook the empty sky,
like a crane cry carried through the nine heavens.

Seeing that no one answered, he shouted again, "Which one of you is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?"

Wukong touched his fillet, set his staff straight, and said, "Old Sun is here."

The monster said, "Where do you live? From what region do you come? How did you come to Jisai Kingdom and take charge of the pagoda? Yet you were bold enough to capture my men and even dared come here to show your violence on my treasured mountain?"

Wukong cursed him. "You thieving monster, it seems you do not know your Grandfather Sun. Come closer and hear me:

Old Sun was born on Flower-Fruit Mountain,
in the Water-Curtain Cave beside the great sea.
From childhood I cultivated an indestructible body;
the Jade Emperor himself named me Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
Because I raised havoc in the Bullfight Palace,
the gods of Heaven were unable to prevail.
Then the Tathagata was invited to reveal his marvelous height,
whose boundless wisdom had no match among men.
I was trapped beneath the mountain for my somersault-cloud boast,
until after five hundred years Guanyin persuaded me and I escaped with my life.
The Tang monk of Great Tang went west to the Western Heaven
to bow before Lingshan and seek the Buddha's chants.
I was freed from bondage and went to protect him,
refining monsters and clearing evil through cultivation.
On the road we came to the Jisai Kingdom of the Western Regions,
where your crimes had brought three generations of monks to ruin.
We came in mercy to ask after the old wrong.
Then my master swept the pagoda and found it clear:
in the dead of night, by the sound of the heavens in stillness,
he captured the two little monsters you had sent on patrol.
They were escorted to court this morning and confessed plainly.
The king therefore invited my master to subdue you,
and he ordered us here.
Earlier in battle you stretched out a head from your waist
and snatched up Bajie in your mouth.
I changed myself and went into the water,
and freed Bajie.
We fought a great battle just now,
and I killed the old dragon.
Your household has returned to the palace to keep vigil in mourning.
That is why we now demand battle.
You need not ask again whose son Old Sun is. Hand over the treasure at once and save the lives of your old and young.
If you are still ignorant and boast of victory,
I will leave your water dry and your mountain broken.'

When the prince consort heard this, he gave a cold smile.

"So you are the monk who seeks the scriptures. You are fussing over matters that concern you not. I stole his treasure and you are taking scriptures. What is that to you, to come here and fight?"

Wukong said, "You shameless monster, how little sense you have. I may not have accepted the king's bounty or eaten his water or rice, so I need not lift a finger for him. But you have stolen his treasure, disgraced his pagoda, and for years you have wronged the monks of Golden Light Temple. He and I are of the same Buddhist household. How could I fail to stand up for him and make the wrong plain?"

The prince consort said, "Since that is how it is, I suppose you mean to try a wager of arms. As the old saying goes, a warrior does not play at niceties. But be warned: if we start, I may show you no mercy at all, and you may lose your life and your scripture journey with it."

Wukong flew into a rage. "You vile monster! What skill do you have that you dare speak so loudly? Come on, taste my rod!"

The prince consort did not flinch. He raised his crescent moon spade and met the iron rod head-on. On the rocky mountain, what a fine killing match it was:

The monster had stolen the pagoda's treasure, and the light had gone out;
Wukong seized the monster and reported him to the king.
The little ones fled back into the water;
the old dragon, pale with fright, began to plot with his house.
The Nine-Headed Prince Consort showed his martial force,
clad in armor and stepping forth with rugged strength.
The Great Sage, hair bristling with rage to the heavens,
lifted the Golden-Hooped Rod with the fullest vigor.
The monster had nine heads and eighteen eyes,
and from front to back each blinked with glittering light;
the Great Sage had two iron arms with a thousand-catty strength,
all bright and noble with radiant cloud.
The spade was like the first moon of the day of renewal,
the rod like frost flying over ten thousand li.
He said, "You have no business settling old grudges."
I said, "You are the thief of the treasure, and your heart is wicked."
"You thieving brute, do not be arrogant. Return the treasure and all will be well." Rod met spade, and they fought for rank and advantage,
with no winner in sight on the practiced battlefield.

They went back and forth for more than thirty rounds, and neither side gained the advantage.

Bajie stood at the mountain's edge watching. Seeing them in the middle of the fight, he raised his rake and struck the monster from behind.

But the monster had nine heads, each one with eyes, and saw everything clearly.

When he saw Bajie come up behind him, he used the spade hilt to block the rake while the spade blade pressed against Wukong's rod.

He held out for five or seven more rounds, but could not resist the front-and-back assault. He rolled once, leaped into the air, and showed his true form: a Nine-Headed Insect.

He was hideous to look upon, and the sight of him alone could frighten people to death.

He was born with:

feathers layered like brocade, his whole body clumped like wool.
Broad as a zhang and two, in shape like a tortoise or a giant eel.
His feet were sharp as hooks, and nine heads crowded close together.
When he spread his wings he could soar with perfect ease;
even if a roc were there, it would not have his strength.
When he cried out, his voice could shake the farthest horizon,
and even the crane's high cry could not match him.
His eyes flashed with golden light;
his breath was proud beyond all other birds and beasts.

Bajie stared and cried out in alarm. "Brother, I have seen many things in my time, but never such a dreadful creature. What blood and breath could give birth to this beast?"

Wukong said, "It is truly rare, truly rare. Let me catch up and strike him."

The Great Sage quickly rode an auspicious cloud and leaped into the air, bringing down his iron rod toward the monster's head. The creature spread his wings, turned sharply, and darted away toward the mountain. Halfway along his body another head sprang out, opened a mouth like a blood basin, and bit Bajie by the mane, dragging him half-pulled and half-tugged down into the waters of the Black Tortoise Pool.

When he reached the palace outside the dragon's home, he changed back into his former shape and flung Bajie to the ground, calling, "Where are the little ones?"

Inside, the fish spirits, turtle spirits, crab spirits, and all the rest came crowding out and cried, "Here!"

The prince consort said, "Bind this monk over there and avenge the scouts I sent out."

The little monsters pushed and shouted as they carried Bajie in. The old dragon king was delighted and came out to greet them.

"My good son-in-law, what merit is this? How did you capture him?"

The prince consort repeated the whole matter. The old dragon immediately ordered wine and set it out to celebrate his success, which need not be dwelt on.

Meanwhile Sun Wukong saw the monster had seized Bajie and was frightened.

"This fellow is that formidable. If I return to court and see Master, the king may laugh at me. If I go out and curse him, I am alone, and I am not used to fighting on the water. Let me transform and slip in to see how the fool is being handled. If there is a chance, I will steal him out and then make a move."

The Great Sage pinched a spell, shook himself, and changed into a crab. He dived into the water and went straight to the painted gate. This road, after all, was one he already knew well from the time he had previously disguised himself to rob the Bull Demon King and steal the divine steed.

He crawled straight beneath the palace halls and saw the old dragon king and the Nine-Headed Insect's whole household drinking joyfully.

Wukong did not dare go close. He crawled under the eastern corridor and saw several shrimp demons and crab demons playing and chattering. He listened for a while, then took up their speech and asked, "Has the long-mouthed monk brought here by the prince consort already been killed?"

The demons said, "Killed? He is not dead. Is that not him tied and groaning under the western corridor?"

Wukong heard this and crawled softly across to the west corridor. Sure enough, Bajie was bound to a pillar, groaning.

Wukong went up and asked, "Bajie, do you know me?"

Bajie heard the voice and knew it was Wukong.

"Brother, what now? I have been caught by this fellow."

Wukong looked around and, seeing no one nearby, cut the ropes with his claws and told him to flee.

Bajie, once freed, said, "Brother, he has taken my weapon. What now?"

Wukong said, "Do you know where he put it?"

Bajie said, "It was taken up into the palace hall by that monster."

Wukong said, "You go wait under the painted gate."

Bajie escaped and slipped away quietly.

Wukong climbed back into the hall and looked around. On the left side below, a bright glow shone: it was Bajie's rake. He used an invisibility spell, stole the rake away, and carried it to the painted gate, where he called, "Bajie, take your weapon."

When Bajie got the rake, he said, "Brother, you go first. Let Old Pig smash his way into the palace. If I win, I will capture his whole household. If I lose and have to retreat, you can help me from the bank of the pool."

Wukong was delighted and only told him to be careful.

Bajie said, "Do not fear him. In water, I have a little skill."

Wukong left him and rose above the water without further remark.

Bajie tied up his black robe, gripped the rake in both hands, and let out a shout as he charged in.

The little fish and water spirits were so alarmed that they ran in chaos to the palace and cried, "Disaster! The long-mouthed monk has broken his ropes and fought his way in!"

The old dragon, the Nine-Headed Insect, and the whole household were all taken unawares. They all sprang up and hid and scrambled.

Bajie no longer cared whether he lived or died. He burst into the palace, and as he went, his rake smashed the gate panels, broke the tables and chairs, and destroyed all the household things used for drinking wine.

A verse says:

The Wood Mother met the water beast and was captured;
the mind-monkey would not let him go and kept searching in pain.
A hidden trick opened the lock and let him out;
his divine force flashed forth, and his anger was deep.
The prince consort hurried away with the princess;
the dragon king trembled, not daring to make a sound.
In the dragon palace, gates and windows were damaged,
and the dragon sons and dragon grandsons all lost their wits.

Bajie smashed the tortoise-shell screen to pieces and dashed the coral trees to ruin.

The Nine-Headed Insect hid the princess safely inside and hurried to fetch his crescent moon spade. He chased after Bajie into the front hall and shouted, "Vile hog! How dare you frighten my household with such wickedness?"

Bajie cursed back. "You thieving monster, how dare you have me seized? This is none of my doing. You invited me into your house and gave me this fight. Quickly hand back my treasure and I will return to the king and settle matters. If not, I will never spare your whole household."

The monster would not show mercy and bared his teeth to fight Bajie.

The old dragon king only then recovered his senses. He led the dragon sons and dragon grandsons, each armed with spears and blades, to attack together.

Bajie saw the affair was going badly and, with a false swing of his rake, turned and fled. The old dragon led the whole troop in pursuit. In a moment they burst out of the water and came rolling and boiling to the surface of the pool.

Sun Wukong was standing on the bank waiting. When he saw them chase Bajie out of the water, he half-stepped on cloud and mist, raised his iron rod, and shouted, "Do not run!"

With one blow he smashed the old dragon's head to bits.

Alas, red blood splashed through the pool, and the corpse floated on the waves while broken scales bobbed up around it. The dragon sons and grandsons were so frightened they fled for their lives. The Nine-Headed Prince Consort took up the dragon corpse and returned to the palace.

Wukong and Bajie did not pursue them immediately. They returned to the bank and recounted everything that had passed.

Bajie said, "That fellow's spirit was broken. When I went in with my rake, I beat him like falling flowers in running water, his soul scattered and his spirit blown apart. While I was fighting that prince consort, the old dragon king chased me, and then you came and killed him. Those fellows will surely go back to keep mourning and mourning rites. They will not dare come back out. But now it is late. What can we do?"

Wukong said, "What do we care if it is late? Take this chance and go back down. We must get the treasure out before we can return to court."

Bajie was lazy and reluctant and kept refusing.

Wukong pressed him. "Brother, do not overthink it. Do as before: lure him out and let me beat him."

While they were talking, there came a wild rush of wind, dark mist, and a sudden movement from east to south. Wukong looked closely and saw Erlang the Manifest Saint leading the six brothers of Meishan, with eagles and hounds, foxes and hares slung and carried about, deer and antelope borne along, each one with a curved bow at the waist and a sharp blade in hand as they rode the wind and mist.

Wukong said, "Bajie, those are my Seven Holy Brothers. It would be best to keep them and ask for their help in battle. If we succeed, it will truly be a great opportunity."

Bajie said, "Since they are your brothers, we ought to ask them to stay."

Wukong said, "Only one thing: among them is the Manifest Saint elder brother. I once suffered defeat at his hands, so it would not be fitting for me to meet him face to face. You go stop their cloud and call out, 'True Lord, please wait a moment. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is here to pay respects.' If he hears it is me, he will certainly stop. Once he has settled down, I can go and greet him."

Bajie quickly rose on cloud and stopped them on the mountain, shouting, "True Lord, slow your carriage! The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is here and wishes to pay respects."

When the lord heard this, he immediately gave the order to halt the six brothers. After Bajie had greeted them, he asked, "Where is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?"

Bajie said, "He is waiting below the mountain to answer your call."

Erlang said, "Brothers, go and invite him."

The six brothers - Kang, Zhang, Yao, Li, Guo, and Zhi - went out and called, "Brother Sun Wukong, our elder brother invites you."

Wukong stepped forward, greeted them all, and went up the mountain with them.

Erlang the Lord came out to meet him, took his hand, and said, "Great Sage, you have escaped a great calamity and gone over to the Buddhist gate. If the work is soon finished, you will rise to the lotus throne. Congratulations, congratulations."

Wukong said, "I do not deserve it. I have long received your immense favor, but I have yet to repay you even a little. Though I have escaped calamity and gone west, I still do not know how my cultivation is faring. Right now, as I passed through the kingdom of Jisai, I am helping save the monks' disaster and have come here to seize the monster and reclaim the treasure. By chance I saw your carriage and took the boldness to ask you to stay and help me. I do not know whether you will consent to show me this favor."

Erlang laughed. "I happened to have leisure and was returning from hunting with the brothers. Since the Great Sage does not despise me and wishes me to stay, I am deeply grateful for our old friendship. If you command me to help subdue the demon, how could I refuse? But what sort of monster thief is this?"

The six brothers said, "Has elder brother forgotten? This place is the rocky mountain, and below it is the Dragon Palace of the Wan Sheng Pool."

Erlang was surprised. "The old dragon of the Wan Sheng Pool was never troublesome. How could he dare steal a pagoda treasure?"

Wukong said, "He recently took a prince consort, a spirit who had become the Nine-Headed Insect. The husband and wife both became thieves. They brought a blood rain down on the kingdom of Jisai and stole the Buddha relic from the pagoda top of Golden Light Temple. The king did not understand what had happened and cruelly beat the monks. My master, out of compassion, swept the pagoda last night, and I captured two little monsters on the tower - the ones he had sent to scout. They were brought to court this morning and confessed everything. The king then asked my master to subdue them, and Master told us to come here.

In the first battle, the Nine-Headed Insect stretched a head out from his waist and seized Bajie in his mouth. I changed myself and went down into the water, where I freed Bajie. We fought a great battle just now, and I killed the old dragon. The others went back in mourning. Bajie and I were just planning the next assault when your banners appeared, which is why I have troubled you."

Erlang said, "If the old dragon has already been killed, then it is all the better to attack them while they are off balance. That way the whole nest can be wiped out."

Bajie said, "That may be so, but what about the late hour?"

Erlang said, "The old soldiers say, 'Campaigns do not wait on the clock.' Why fear the lateness of the hour?"

Kang, Yao, Guo, and Zhi said, "Elder brother, do not hurry. The monsters' family is still here, so they cannot go far. Brother Sun is an honored guest, and Zhu Ganglie has already returned to the righteous fruition. Our camp has wine and food with us. Let the men make a fire and spread things out here. First we can congratulate the two of you and also renew our friendship. Let us enjoy ourselves through the night, and when dawn comes, is there any hurry to fight?"

Erlang was delighted. "Well said, brother."

He ordered the soldiers to prepare the meal.

Wukong said, "Gentlemen, I am grateful for your generous hearts, but ever since I became a monk, I keep the precepts and eat vegetarian food. I fear meat and vegetables will not suit me."

Erlang said, "There are vegetarian fruits. Wine is vegetarian too."

The brothers sat under the stars and moon, with sky for a canopy and earth for a mat, raising cups and talking of old times.

Truly, the night was long because joy had made it so, and before they knew it the east had already turned pale.

After several cups, Bajie said in high spirits, "Daybreak is coming. Let Old Pig go down and seek battle."

Erlang said, "Marshal, be careful. Only lure him out, and then our brothers can strike."

Bajie laughed. "I know, I know."

He tucked in his robe, wound his rake, used the water-parting method, and jumped down to the painted gate. He shouted and broke into the hall.

At this moment the dragon's sons were wearing mourning hemp and weeping over the corpse, while the dragon grandsons and the prince consort were in the back arranging the coffin.

Bajie cursed as he charged in. With one swing of the rake, he struck the dragon son square in the head and made nine holes through his skull.

The dragon mother and the others were so frightened they ran wildly inside, crying, "The long-mouthed monk has killed my son again!"

When the prince consort heard this, he took up the crescent moon spade and came out with the dragon grandsons to fight.

Bajie raised his rake to meet him and fought while retreating, leaping back out of the water.

On the bank, Sun the Great Sage and the seven brothers all rushed forward together, spears and blades stabbing at random, and cut the dragon grandsons into several pieces of meat.

Seeing that things were going badly, the prince consort rolled once in the mountain front and showed his true form again. He spread his wings and whirled into the air.

Erlang immediately took up his golden bow and silver pellets, drew the bow to the full, and shot upward.

The monster quickly turned his wings and swooped to the bank, where he tried to bite Erlang.

At that moment his body had just stretched out one head when the spotted hound sprang up and, with one barking snap, bit the head off in a bloody bite.

The monster fled in pain and ran straight toward the Northern Sea.

Bajie wanted to chase him, but Wukong stopped him.

"Do not pursue him yet. This is called, 'Do not press a cornered enemy.' Since the hound has bitten off his head, he will surely live little and die much. Let me change into his shape. You divide the water road and chase me into the palace to trick the princess into surrendering the treasure."

Erlang and the six brothers said, "If you do not chase him, that is fine. But letting such a kind of creature remain in the world will surely be a danger to future generations."

To this day, people still say that there is a Nine-Headed Insect stain of blood, and that is the last surviving remnant of his kind.

Bajie obeyed and parted the water road. Wukong changed into the monster's appearance and led the way, while Bajie shouted after him from behind.

Soon they had chased him back to the dragon palace. The Wan Sheng Princess said, "Prince consort, why are you in such a panic?"

Wukong said, "Bajie has won. He has driven me back here. I can no longer stand against him. Quickly hide the treasure well."

The princess could not tell true from false in her panic. She hurried to the rear hall and brought out a solid-gold casket, which she handed to Wukong.

"This is the Buddha relic."

Then she brought out a white jade casket and handed it to Wukong as well.

"This is the nine-leaf lingzhi grass. Take these treasures and hide them away. I will fight Zhu Bajie for two or three rounds and hold him off. Put the treasures somewhere safe, then come back out and fight him together."

Wukong took both caskets and tucked them away. Then he wiped his face and showed his true form.

"Princess," he said, "do I look like the prince consort?"

The princess was terrified and rushed to snatch the caskets back. Bajie ran up behind her and struck her across the back with his rake, knocking her flat on the ground.

Another old dragon mother turned and fled, but Bajie caught her as well, lifted his rake, and was about to strike.

Wukong said, "Hold it. Do not kill her. Keep one living witness to go back and testify in the kingdom."

So they brought the dragon mother out to the water's surface.

Wukong then came ashore carrying the two caskets and said to Erlang, "Thanks to your brotherly power, we have recovered the treasure and swept away the monster thieves."

Erlang said, "First, it is the king's great fortune. Second, it is your two brothers' immense powers. What merit is mine?"

The brothers all said, "Since Brother Sun has succeeded, we will take our leave."

Wukong thanked them without end and wanted to keep them to go and meet the king, but they would not stay. So he sent them back to Guankou with their followers.

Wukong carried the caskets, Bajie dragged the dragon mother, and in a cloud and mist they reached the kingdom in a flash. All the monks freed from Golden Light Temple were waiting outside the city to greet them. When they saw the two of them come in with the clouds settled, they came forward and bowed, then led them into the city.

The king and Tripitaka were just then discussing matters in the hall. One of the monks who had arrived first, gathering his courage, entered the audience chamber and reported, "Your Majesty, the Sun and Pig lords have arrived with the captured thieves and recovered treasure."

When the king heard this, he hurried down from the hall and went with Tripitaka and Sha Wujing to greet them, thanking them endlessly for their miraculous power. At once he ordered a banquet to repay their kindness.

Tripitaka said, "There is no need for wine yet. Let my disciples restore the treasure to the pagoda first, and then we may feast."

He then asked Wukong, "You left the kingdom yesterday. Why have you only now returned?"

Wukong told him in detail about the battle with the prince consort, the killing of the old dragon, the meeting with Erlang the Manifest Saint, the defeat of the monster, and the stratagem of impersonating the treasure thief.

Tripitaka and the king, with all the civil and military officials, were overjoyed.

The king then asked, "Can the dragon mother understand human speech?"

Bajie said, "She is the Dragon King's wife and has borne many dragon sons and dragon grandsons. How could she not understand human speech?"

The king said, "Since she understands human speech, have her tell us at once how the theft happened from start to finish."

The dragon mother said, "As for stealing the Buddha relic, I knew nothing at all. It was all done by my husband, the dragon fiend, and that prince consort, the Nine-Headed Insect. They knew that the light on your pagoda was a relic of the Buddha, so three years ago they brought down a blood rain and took the treasure by force.

And as for the lingzhi grass, it was my daughter, the Wan Sheng Princess, who secretly went into the palace of the Great Dipper and stole the nine-leaf lingzhi grass from the Queen Mother. The relic was kept warm by the spiritual air of that grass, and so it never spoiled for a thousand years and shone for ten thousand. A little sweeping in the earth or in the fields would bring out ten thousand shafts of rosy light and a thousand threads of auspicious vapor. But now that you have taken it away, you have ruined my husband, destroyed my sons, lost my son-in-law, and killed my daughter. Please spare my life, ten thousand times over."

Bajie said, "We will not spare you just yet."

Wukong said, "A household is not all guilty together. I will spare you, but only if you keep watch over the pagoda for me in the long run."

The dragon mother said, "Better a bad life than a good death. If you spare my life, I will do whatever you tell me."

Wukong called for the iron chain. The palace officer brought one, and they passed it through the dragon mother's shoulder bones. Then Wukong told Sha Wujing, "Please invite the king to see us set the pagoda in order."

The king quickly prepared his carriage and went together with Tripitaka, hand in hand, out of court with the civil and military officials and on to Golden Light Temple.

Wukong mounted the pagoda and set the sarira inside the jeweled vase on the thirteenth level. He then chained the dragon mother to the central pillar of the pagoda. He recited the true words and summoned the local earth god, the city god, and the temple's guardian spirits, ordering them to deliver food and drink to the dragon mother once every three days. If they failed at all, they would be executed at once.

The gods accepted the command in secret.

Wukong then used the lingzhi grass to sweep each of the thirteen stories one by one and place it in the vase, where it warmed and nourished the sarira. Thus the pagoda was restored as before, with rosy light shining in ten thousand shafts and auspicious vapor rising in a thousand threads, for all the world to see.

When they came down from the pagoda, the king said, "If not for the old Buddha and the three bodhisattvas coming here, how would this matter ever have been made clear?"

Wukong said, "Your Majesty, the words 'Golden Light' are not a good omen for a thing meant to endure. Gold is a shifting substance, and light is a flashing vapor. We poor monks have gone to great trouble for you. Let this temple be renamed Fulong Temple, so that it may stand forever."

The king immediately ordered the title changed and hung up a new plaque, which read: "Imperially Built National-Protector Fulong Temple."

On one side they prepared the imperial feast. On the other, they summoned a painter to record the four pilgrims' likenesses, and the king wrote down their names on the Phoenix Tower register. He brought out the royal carriage and sent Tripitaka and his disciples on their way, offering gold and jade as thanks. The pilgrims firmly declined and would not take a single thing.

Truly:

Evil and monsters were cut away, and all the realms grew quiet;
the pagoda recovered its light, and the great earth was bright.

But how the road ahead would go, that must wait for the next chapter.