In every hour of the day, one must never forget; the practice of a hundred moments gathers all. Five years, one hundred and eight thousand cycles—let not the divine water dry, nor give rein to the fire of worry . Water and fire, when harmonized, suffer no loss; the Five Elements are linked like interlocking hooks. Yin and Yang , united, ascend the cloudy tower , riding the phoenix to the Purple Palace , crossing on the crane to Yingzhou .
This lyric, set to the tune of " Riverside Daffodils ," speaks of how, after harmonizing water and fire, calming their minds and finding coolness, the four pilgrims—Tang Sanzang and his disciples—borrowed the pure yin Palm-Leaf Fan to extinguish the Flaming Mountain. Within days, they had traversed the eight-hundred-mile stretch. The master and his disciples traveled freely and at ease, pressing westward. It was now the cusp of late autumn and early winter, and the scenery along the way appeared as follows:
Wild chrysanthemums shed their last petals; new plum blossoms burst forth with tender stamens. Every village gathered its harvest; everywhere, fragrant soups were savored. The bare trees of the level forest revealed distant mountains, while winding ravines, heavy with frost, showed clear, secluded depths. The bell of response sounded, and creatures sealed their lairs. It was the month of pure yin and yang, the time of the Emperor of the Dark Prime , when the power of water was at its peak, and Shun's sun cherished the clear sky. The earth's breath descended, and heaven's breath rose. Rainbows hid their shadows, and ponds and marshes gradually formed ice. Withered flowers hung on vines clinging to cliffs; pines and bamboos, frozen, grew even greener.
After traveling for a while, the four pilgrims saw a city gradually appearing in the distance. Tang Sanzang reined in his horse and said to his disciples, "Wukong, look at those towering, magnificent towers and pavilions over there. What place is that?" Wukong looked up and saw it was indeed a city. Truly, it could be described as:
It coiled like a dragon, crouched like a tiger, a metal-walled city. The four sides were close to the canopied heavens; a hundred turns leveled the purple mounds. Jade and stone bridge railings lined up with cunning beasts; golden terraces and pedestals displayed wise and virtuous figures. Truly, it was a divine continent's capital, a celestial city of jade. The state's borders were secure for ten thousand miles; the emperor's enterprise had flourished for a thousand years. The barbarians submitted, grateful for the sovereign's far-reaching grace; the seas and peaks paid homage, overflowing with sacred gatherings. The imperial steps were clean; the imperial carriage paths were peaceful. Taverns echoed with songs and noise; pleasure towers were filled with joy. Outside the Weiyang Palace , the ever-green trees stood, promising the cry of the crimson phoenix in the morning sun.
Wukong said, "Master, this city is the capital of a kingdom."
Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Every prefecture has its own city, and every county has its own city wall. How do you know this is a capital?"
Wukong replied, "You don't understand. The dwelling place of an emperor is different from a prefecture or county. Look at it—it has over a dozen city gates on all four sides, a perimeter of more than a hundred miles, towers and terraces soaring high, shrouded in clouds and mist. If it weren't a capital, how could it be so magnificent?"
Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother has keen eyes. Even if we know it's a capital, what is its name?"
Wukong said, "There's no signboard or plaque with a name on it. How can we know? We'll have to enter the city and ask to find out."
Tang Sanzang urged his horse forward, and soon they arrived at the city gate. They dismounted, crossed the bridge, and entered the city. They saw bustling markets and streets, with thriving trade and currency flowing freely. The people were well-dressed and had an air of distinction. As they walked, they suddenly saw a dozen or so monks, all wearing cangues and locked in chains, begging along the streets. Their clothes were tattered and torn, a truly pitiable sight.
Tang Sanzang sighed and said, "When the hare dies, the fox grieves ; one feels for those of his own kind." He said to Wukong, "Wukong, go over and ask them why they are suffering so." Wukong did as he was told, went up to them, and called out, "You monks, which temple do you belong to? Why are you wearing cangues and chains?" The monks all knelt down and said, "Grandfather, we are the wronged monks of the Golden Light Temple ." Wukong asked, "Where is the Golden Light Temple?" The monks said, "It's just around the street corner."
Wukong brought them before Tang Sanzang and said, "Tell us what injustice you've suffered." The monks said, "Grandfather, we don't know where you've come from, but you look familiar to us. This is not a good place to talk. Please come to our temple, and we will tell you all our grievances in detail." Tang Sanzang said, "Very well. Let us go to your temple and inquire carefully about the situation."
The group arrived at the temple gate, where they saw seven golden characters written horizontally above the door: "The Golden Light Temple, Built by Imperial Decree to Protect the Kingdom." The master and disciples entered the gate and saw that the temple was desolate:
The ancient hall's incense and lamps were cold; the empty corridors were swept by leaves in the wind. A thousand-foot pagoda scraped the clouds; a few pines nurtured the spirit. Fallen flowers covered the ground, with no visitor to walk among them; spider webs hung freely under the eaves. The drum stood empty, the bell hung in vain; dust covered the painted walls, blurring the images of the deities. The lecture hall was silent, with no monk to be seen; the meditation hall was quiet, where birds often came. Desolate enough to evoke sighs, lonely and bitter without end. Though an incense burner was set before the Buddha, the ashes were cold, the flowers withered, and everything was empty.
Tang Sanzang's heart ached, and he could not help but shed tears. The monks, still wearing their cangues, pushed open the main hall's doors and invited Tang Sanzang to enter and worship the Buddha. He went in, lit incense, and kowtowed three times. Then he went to the rear of the temple and saw six or seven young monks still locked to the pillars in the abbot's quarters, which pained him even more. When they reached the abbot's chamber, all the monks came to kowtow and ask, "Your appearances are extraordinary, noble sirs. Could you be the ones from the Great Tang in the East?"
Wukong laughed and said, "Do you have the power of prophecy? We are indeed. How did you recognize us?" The monks said, "Grandfather, we have no such power of prophecy! It's just that we have suffered a great and terrible injustice, with no one to appeal to. We cry out to heaven and earth every day. It must have moved the gods. Last night, each of us had a dream, saying that a holy monk from the Great Tang in the East would come to save our lives and clear our names. When we saw your extraordinary appearances today, we recognized you."
Tang Sanzang was overjoyed and asked, "What place is this? What injustice have you suffered?" The monks knelt and said, "Grandfather, this city is called the Sacrifice Festival Kingdom , a great nation of the Western Regions . In the past, four kingdoms paid tribute to us: the Moon-Tuo Kingdom to the south, the Gaochang Kingdom to the north, the Western Liang Kingdom to the east, and the Ben-Bo Kingdom to the west. Every year, they sent tribute of fine jade, bright pearls, beautiful maidens, and fine horses. Our kingdom didn't need to wage war or conquer; they naturally respected us as a great power."
Tang Sanzang said, "Since it is a great kingdom, I suppose your king is wise and your civil and military officials are capable?" The monks said, "Grandfather, the civil officials are not wise, the military officials are not capable, and the king is not a wise ruler either. Our Golden Light Temple was once enveloped in auspicious clouds and auspicious vapors. At night, it emitted a radiant glow visible for ten thousand miles; during the day, it spewed colorful energy, visible to all four surrounding kingdoms. Because of this, everyone regarded this place as a divine capital, and the four kingdoms came to pay tribute.
"But three years ago, on the night of the first day of the seventh month, a rain of blood fell. When dawn broke, every household was terrified, and everyone was grief-stricken. The ministers reported to the king, wondering what heavenly punishment had been sent. The king ordered Taoist priests to perform rites and Buddhist monks to chant sutras, praying for heaven's forgiveness. But then, the golden jeweled pagoda in our temple was defiled, and for the past two years, the foreign kingdoms have stopped coming to pay tribute.
"The king wanted to send an army to punish them, but the ministers reported that it was the monks of our temple who had stolen the treasures from the pagoda. Because the treasures were gone, the pagoda no longer emitted auspicious clouds and vapors, and the foreign kingdoms stopped paying tribute. The foolish king, without distinguishing right from wrong, and those corrupt officials, had us arrested and tortured us a hundred times, demanding the whereabouts of the treasures. Our temple had three generations of monks. The first two generations were beaten to death. Now they have captured our generation, and we suffer in cangues and chains. Grandfather, how could we dare to steal the treasures from the pagoda! We beg you, Grandfather, to have pity on us. We are all men of religion. Please, in your great mercy, use your divine powers to save our lives!"
Tang Sanzang listened, nodded, and sighed, "This matter is indeed strange. On one hand, the court's governance is improper; on the other, you have suffered a calamity. Since the rain of blood defiled the pagoda, why didn't you report this to the king at the time and save yourselves from this suffering?" The monks said, "Grandfather, we are mere mortals. How could we know the will of heaven? Besides, our predecessors couldn't figure it out, so what could we do?"
Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, what time is it now?" Wukong said, "It's probably around three or four in the afternoon." Tang Sanzang said, "I had originally planned to enter the city to see the king and exchange our travel documents, but until we clear up this matter with the monks, I cannot speak to the king. When I left Chang'an, I made a vow at the Dharma Gate Temple: as I travel westward, I will burn incense at every temple I encounter, worship every Buddha I see, and sweep every pagoda I come across. Today, I have arrived here and met monks who have been wronged, and the matter involves the pagoda. Go and get a new broom. I will bathe, then go up and sweep the pagoda. I will see why the pagoda has become defiled and why it no longer shines. Once I have discovered the truth, I can go before the king and present the case to save them from their suffering."
When the monks in cangues heard this, they quickly went to the kitchen, took a kitchen knife, and handed it to Zhu Bajie, saying, "Grandfather, please use this knife to cut the iron locks that hold the young monks to the pillars, so they can prepare the vegetarian meal and bathwater. They will serve you gentlemen your meal and prepare your bath. We will go out to beg and get a new broom for the master to sweep the pagoda."
Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "What's so hard about opening a lock! There's no need for knives or axes. Let my hairy-faced elder brother handle it. He's an old hand at picking locks." Wukong stepped forward, used his unlocking spell, and with a touch of his hand, all the locks fell off. The young monks ran to the kitchen, scrubbed the pots and stoves clean, and prepared tea and food. Tang Sanzang and his disciples ate their vegetarian meal as dusk gradually fell. The monks in cangues then returned with two new brooms, which greatly pleased Tang Sanzang.
As they were talking, a young monk lit a lamp and invited Tang Sanzang to bathe. The sky was now filled with stars and moonlight, and the night watch drums on the city towers began to sound. It was a scene described thus:
A cold wind rose from the four walls; ten thousand homes lit their lamps. On the six main streets, doors and windows were shut; in the three markets, gates and courtyards were closed. Fishing boats returned to the deep trees; plows and ropes were laid to rest. The woodcutter put aside his axe; the sound of students reciting their lessons was heard.
After bathing, Tang Sanzang put on a narrow-sleeved short jacket, tied his belt, changed into a pair of soft-soled shoes, and took the new broom. He said to the monks, "You may rest peacefully. I am going to sweep the pagoda." Wukong said, "The pagoda was defiled by the rain of blood, and it hasn't shone for so long. There may be monsters inside. Besides, it's cold and windy at night. What if something happens to you if you go alone? I'll go with you." Tang Sanzang said, "Good! Good!"
Each took a broom. They first went to the main hall, lit a glazed lamp, burned incense, and bowed before the Buddha, saying, "Your disciple, Chen Xuanzang, has been sent by the Great Tang in the East to journey to Spirit Mountain to pay homage to the Tathagata Buddha and obtain the true scriptures. Today, I have arrived at the Golden Light Temple in the Sacrifice Festival Kingdom. I have heard from the monks here that the pagoda has been defiled, and the king suspects the monks of stealing the treasure, causing them to suffer injustice. Your disciple sincerely sweeps the pagoda, beseeching the Buddha to manifest his power and reveal the reason for the pagoda's defilement, so that innocent mortals may not be wronged."
After their prayer, Wukong and Tang Sanzang opened the pagoda's door and began sweeping from the lowest level upward. This pagoda was truly:
Towering and majestic, reaching the Milky Way; abruptly rising, it pierced the sky. It was called the Five-Colored Glazed Pagoda, the peak of a thousand gold relics. The stairs turned as if passing through a cave; opening the doors felt like emerging from a cage. The treasure vase cast its shadow on the moon at heaven's edge; the golden bells' sound carried the wind from the sea. One could see the upturned eaves and bracket sets, the summit holding the clouds. The upturned eaves and bracket sets were cunningly carved stone phoenixes piercing flowers; the summit holding the clouds formed a floating stupa with dragons winding through the mist. From afar, one could see for a thousand miles; ascending high, it felt like being in the ninth heaven. On each level's doors hung glazed lamps, dusty and unlit; before every step's eaves were white jade railings, covered in grime and crawling with insects. In the pagoda's heart, on the Buddha's throne, incense and smoke were utterly spent; outside the windows, before the gods' images, spider webs stretched and tangled. The censer held much rat droppings; the lamp cups lacked oil. Because the treasure within had been secretly lost, the monks were cruelly killed, their hopes dashed. Sanzang set his heart on sweeping the pagoda, determined to restore its former glory.
Tang Sanzang swept one level, then another, going up until he reached the seventh level. It was already the second watch of the night. Tang Sanzang was growing tired. Wukong said, "If you're tired, sit down and rest. I'll sweep for you." Tang Sanzang asked, "How many levels does this pagoda have altogether?" Wukong said, "I'm afraid it has thirteen levels." Suppressing his fatigue, Tang Sanzang said, "I must sweep them all to fulfill my vow." He swept three more levels, but his back and legs ached. He sat down on the tenth level and said, "Wukong, sweep the remaining three levels for me."
Wukong, full of energy, climbed to the eleventh level, and soon reached the twelfth. As he was sweeping, he suddenly heard voices coming from the top of the pagoda. Wukong thought, "Strange! It's already the third watch. How can there be people talking at the top of the pagoda? It must be monsters! I'll go and see."
The good Monkey King gently tucked his broom under his arm, lifted his robe, slipped out through the pagoda's door, stepped onto a cloud, and looked up. He saw two monsters sitting in the heart of the thirteenth level. Before them were a plate of appetizers, a bowl, and a wine pot. They were playing the finger-guessing drinking game. Wukong used his magic to put away his broom, drew his Golden-Hooped Rod, blocked the pagoda's door, and shouted, "Fine monsters! So it was you who stole the treasures from the pagoda!"
The two monsters panicked. They jumped up and threw their wine pot and bowl at him. Wukong blocked them with his rod and said, "If I kill you, there will be no one to confess." He merely pressed them with his rod. The monsters were pushed against the wall, unable to move, and only cried out, "Spare us! Spare us! It wasn't us! The real thief of the treasure is somewhere else!"
Wukong grabbed one in each hand with his capture technique and brought them down to the tenth level of the pagoda. He reported, "Master, I have caught the monsters who stole the treasure!" Tang Sanzang, who was dozing, was startled and delighted. "Where did you catch them?" Wukong forced the monsters to kneel before Tang Sanzang and said, "They were drinking and playing games at the top of the pagoda. I heard their voices, rode a cloud, jumped up, and blocked them. I didn't use force, fearing that one blow of my rod would kill them and leave no one to confess. So I captured them easily. Master, ask them what kind of monsters they are and where the stolen treasure is."
The monsters trembled with fear, crying out for mercy, and confessed truthfully: "We two were sent by the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King of the Chaos Stone Mountain's Azure Wave Pond to guard the pagoda. He is called Benbo'erba, and I am called Babo'erben. He is a catfish monster, and I am a black fish spirit. Our Ten Thousand Saints Old Dragon has a daughter, the Ten Thousand Saints Princess, who is as beautiful as a flower and as lovely as the moon. The princess married a prince consort, the Nine-Headed Prince Consort, who has vast magical powers.
"Two years ago, the Prince Consort and the Dragon King came here, used their great magic to cause a rain of blood, defiled the pagoda, and stole the Buddha's Relic Treasure from within. The princess also went to the Numinous Void Hall in the Great Luo Heaven and stole the Queen Mother's Nine-Leaf Ganoderma, which she keeps at the bottom of the pond to nurture the Buddha's Relic. Now the pond glows with golden light, as bright as day even at night. Recently, we heard that a Sun Wukong is on his way to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures, and that he has vast magical powers and meddles in everyone's business along the way. So the Dragon King often sends us here to patrol. If Sun Wukong comes, we can prepare early."
Wukong listened and sneered coldly, "These cursed creatures are truly audacious! No wonder Old Bull was feasting at the Azure Wave Pond a few days ago. He's in cahoots with this bunch of monsters, specializing in evil deeds!"
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Bajie and two or three young monks came up from the lower levels of the pagoda, carrying two lanterns. "Master," they said, "after sweeping the pagoda, you're not sleeping, but are up here talking. What's going on?" Wukong said, "Elder Brother, you've come at the right time. The treasures of the pagoda were stolen by the Ten Thousand Saints Old Dragon. These two minor demons were sent here to patrol and spy on us. I just caught them."
Zhu Bajie asked, "What are their names, and what kind of monsters are they?" Wukong said, "They've just confessed: one is called Benbo'erba, the other is Babo'erben. One is a catfish monster, the other is a black fish spirit." Zhu Bajie drew his rake and was about to strike, saying, "Since they're monsters and have confessed, why keep them alive? Let's just kill them!" Wukong said, "You don't understand. We need to keep them alive to present the case to the king and to have them lead us to the thieves and recover the treasure."
Zhu Bajie had no choice but to put away his rake. Each of them grabbed a monster and escorted them down the pagoda. The monsters only cried out, "Spare us!" Zhu Bajie said, "We'll make soup out of you catfish and black fish to nourish the wronged monks!"
The two or three young monks happily carried the lanterns and led Tang Sanzang down the pagoda. One monk ran ahead to report, "Good news! Good news! We are saved! The monsters who stole the treasure have been caught by the venerable masters!" Wukong said, "Find some iron chains, pierce their collarbones, and lock them here. You watch them. We'll go to sleep and deal with this tomorrow." The monks guarded the monsters tightly, allowing Tang Sanzang and his disciples to sleep peacefully.
Unbeknownst to them, dawn arrived. Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong and I will enter the city to see the king and exchange our travel documents." Tang Sanzang put on his brocade Kashaya robe and his Vairocana hat, tidied his appearance, and set off. Wukong also straightened his tiger-skin kilt and cotton cloth tunic, took the travel documents, and went with him. Zhu Bajie asked, "Why aren't you taking the two monsters?" Wukong said, "Wait until we have presented the case to the king. He will naturally issue a warrant and send someone to fetch them."
The two arrived at the outer gate of the court, where the palaces were magnificent beyond compare. Tang Sanzang went to the Eastern Flowery Gate and bowed to the gatekeeper, saying, "May I trouble you, sir, to announce us? This humble monk is from the Great Tang in the East, on my way to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures. I wish to pay my respects to the king and exchange my travel documents." The gatekeeper indeed went in to announce them. He knelt before the steps and reported, "There are two monks of strange appearance outside. They say they are from the Great Tang in the East, in the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa, sent to the Western Regions to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. They wish to pay homage to Your Majesty and exchange their travel documents."
Upon hearing this, the king issued a decree to summon them into the hall. Tang Sanzang led Wukong into the court. When the civil and military officials saw Wukong, they were all terrified. Some called him "the monkey monk," others "the thunder-god-beaked monk." They were all afraid and dared not look at him closely. Tang Sanzang knelt and bowed before the steps, but Wukong stood to one side with his arms crossed, not moving at all.
Tang Sanzang reported, "Your servant is a monk from the Great Tang in the East, in the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa, sent to the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Heavenly Kingdom of the Western Regions to worship the Buddha and obtain the true scriptures. As I pass through your esteemed kingdom, I dare not cross the border without permission. I have brought my travel documents for Your Majesty's inspection, so that I may continue my journey." The king was overjoyed and decreed that the holy monk from the Great Tang be brought to the Golden Throne Hall and be granted an embroidered stool to sit on. Tang Sanzang went up to the hall alone, first presented his travel documents, then thanked the king and sat down.
After examining the documents, the king said happily, "Your Great Tang king was ill, yet he could still choose a high monk to travel ten thousand miles to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. But the monks of my kingdom are nothing but thieves, ruining the state and implicating their sovereign!" Tang Sanzang pressed his palms together and asked, "What do you mean by ruining the state and implicating the sovereign?" The king said, "My kingdom is a great power in the Western Regions. In the past, many kingdoms paid tribute to us, all because of the Golden Light Temple within our borders. In that temple is a golden jeweled pagoda, whose light shone straight up to heaven. But recently, thieving monks from the temple stole the treasures from the pagoda. For three years, the pagoda has not shone, and for the past two years, the foreign kingdoms have stopped paying tribute. My heart is filled with hatred for this!"
Tang Sanzang pressed his palms together and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, 'A slight error can lead to a great mistake!' Last night, when I arrived in your esteemed kingdom, as soon as I entered the city, I saw a dozen monks in cangues. When I asked them what crime they had committed, they said they were the wronged monks of the Golden Light Temple. Later, I went to the temple and inquired carefully, and I learned that it was not the fault of the monks at all. Last night, while sweeping the pagoda, I caught the monsters who stole the treasure." The king was overjoyed. "Where are the monsters?" Tang Sanzang said, "They are now locked up in the Golden Light Temple by my disciple."
The king quickly issued a golden warrant: "Order the Imperial Guard to go to the Golden Light Temple at once and bring the monsters here. I will interrogate them personally." But Tang Sanzang reported, "Your Majesty, although you have the Imperial Guard, my disciple must go as well." The king asked, "Where is your esteemed disciple?" Tang Sanzang pointed with his finger. "He is the one standing by the jade steps." The king looked and was greatly startled. "The holy monk has a dignified and upright appearance. How can his disciple look like that?"
The Great Sage Sun heard this and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, 'You cannot judge a person by his appearance, nor measure the sea with a bushel.' If you only judge by appearances, how could you ever catch a monster?" The king, both startled and pleased, said, "The holy monk is right. I do not judge by appearances here. As long as he can catch the thieves and recover the treasures to put back in the pagoda, that is all that matters." He then ordered the master of ceremonies to prepare a carriage and canopy, and for the Imperial Guard to serve the holy monk well and go to fetch the monsters.
The master of ceremonies immediately prepared a large sedan chair and a yellow umbrella. The Imperial Guard mustered their officers. Eight men carried Wukong, and with whistling and clearing the way, they proceeded to the Golden Light Temple. This caused a great stir among all the citizens of the city. Everyone came out to see the holy monk and the monsters.
Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing heard the whistling and, thinking it was an official sent by the king, hurried out to greet him. But they saw Wukong sitting in the sedan chair. Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Elder Brother, you've regained your former status!" Wukong got down from the sedan chair and, leaning on Zhu Bajie, said, "How have I regained my former status?" Zhu Bajie said, "You're under a yellow umbrella and sitting in a sedan chair carried by eight men. Isn't that the style of a monkey king? That's why I say you've regained your former status." Wukong said, "Stop joking."
The two of them untied the two monsters and prepared to take them to see the king. Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother, take me along too." Wukong said, "You stay here and watch the luggage and the horse." The monks in cangues said, "Venerable Masters go to receive the king's reward. We will keep watch here." Wukong said, "In that case, after I have presented the case to the king, I will come and release you."
Zhu Bajie grabbed one monster, and Sha Wujing grabbed the other. The Great Sage Sun once again sat in his sedan chair. The procession was laid out, and they escorted the two monsters to the court. Soon they arrived at the white jade steps. Wukong said to the king, "The monsters have been brought." The king descended from his dragon throne and, together with Tang Sanzang and the civil and military officials, looked at the monsters. One monster had a sharp beak, jagged teeth, and a hard, bluish-black shell. The other had a large belly, smooth skin, and a long beard. Although they could walk like humans, it was clear they had assumed human form through transformation.
The king asked, "Where are you monsters from? When did you invade my kingdom? In which year did you steal my treasures? How many accomplices do you have? What are all your names? Confess truthfully!"
The two monsters knelt on the ground, blood still flowing from their necks, yet they felt no pain. They confessed, "On the first day of the seventh month, three years ago, the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King brought many of his relatives. He lives to the southeast of our kingdom, about a hundred miles from here. There is an Azure Wave Pond there, beside the Chaos Stone Mountain. The Dragon King has a daughter of exquisite beauty. He married her to a Nine-Headed Prince Consort, whose magical powers are unmatched. The Prince Consort knew that your pagoda held a treasure, so he and the Dragon King became thieves. First, they caused a rain of blood, then stole the Buddha's Relic Treasure. The treasure is now kept in the Dragon Palace, making it as bright as day even at night. The princess also has the ability. She secretly went and stole the Queen Mother's Nine-Leaf Ganoderma from the Numinous Void Hall and placed it at the bottom of the pond to nurture the Buddha's Relic. We two are not the chieftains; we are just minor soldiers sent by the Dragon King to patrol. We were captured tonight. Everything we have said is the truth."
The king said, "Since you have confessed, why don't you tell me your own names?" The monsters said, "My name is Benbo'erba, and his name is Babo'erben. Benbo'erba is a catfish monster, and Babo'erben is a black fish spirit." The king ordered the Imperial Guard to lock up the monsters. He then issued a decree: "Pardon the monks of the Golden Light Temple of all crimes. Remove their cangues and chains. Order the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a banquet in the Qilin Hall to feast the holy monks, to thank them for their meritorious service in capturing the thieves. Then we will discuss asking the holy monks to capture the chieftains."
The Imperial Kitchen immediately prepared two tables of food, one of meat and one of vegetarian dishes. The king invited Tang Sanzang and his disciples to take their seats in the Qilin Hall and asked, "What is the holy monk's Dharma name?" Tang Sanzang pressed his palms together and said, "This humble monk's secular surname is Chen, and my Dharma name is Xuanzang. By the grace of the Great Tang king, I was granted the surname Tang and the title Sanzang." The king then asked, "What are the names of the holy monk's esteemed disciples?" Tang Sanzang said, "My disciples have no formal Dharma names. The first is called Sun Wukong, the second is Zhu Wuneng, and the third is Sha Wujing. These names were given to them by the Bodhisattva Guanyin from the South Sea. Later, when they took me as their master, I gave Wukong the name Pilgrim, Wuneng the name Bajie, and Wujing the name Monk."
Upon hearing this, the king invited Tang Sanzang to the seat of honor. Sun the Pilgrim sat at the left side table, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing sat at the right side table. They were served vegetarian dishes, fruits, tea, and rice. The king sat at the front table, which had meat dishes. Below, over a hundred tables of meat dishes were set for the civil and military officials. The ministers thanked the king, and the disciples thanked their master, and they all took their seats. The king raised his cup to toast. Tang Sanzang did not drink alcohol, but Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing each drank a cup of the welcoming wine. Music began to play below the hall, as the musicians of the Imperial Music Bureau started their performance.
Zhu Bajie ate with abandon, devouring the entire table of fruits and vegetables. When soup and rice were brought, he finished them completely. When the toast-makers came, he drank every cup. This feast lasted until the afternoon before it ended.
Tang Sanzang thanked the king for the grand feast. The king asked them to stay, saying, "This feast was merely to thank the holy monks for their meritorious service in capturing the monsters." He then ordered the Imperial Kitchen, "Quickly move the feast to the Jianzhang Palace. I will once again invite the holy monks to discuss the strategy for capturing the chieftains, recovering the treasure, and returning it to the pagoda." Tang Sanzang said, "Since we are to capture the thieves and recover the treasure, there is no need for another feast. This humble monk and his disciples will take our leave now and go to capture the monsters." The king would not hear of it. He insisted on inviting them to the Jianzhang Palace, where they had another feast.
The king raised his cup and asked, "Which of the holy monks is willing to lead the men to subdue the demons and capture the thieves?" Tang Sanzang said, "Let my eldest disciple, Sun Wukong, go." The Great Sage Sun clasped his hands and agreed. The king asked, "If Elder Sun goes, how many men and horses will he need? What time will he leave the city?" Zhu Bajie could not help but shout, "What