As the story goes, Tang Sanzang sat beneath the lamp in the meditation hall of Baolin Temple . He recited a portion of the * Liang Emperor's Water Penance Sutra * and then read from the * Peacock True Sutra *, sitting until the third watch before finally wrapping up the scriptures and placing them in his traveling bag. Just as he was about to rise and go to sleep, he suddenly heard a loud "crack" outside the door, followed by a strange wind that came howling in.
The elder feared the wind would extinguish the lamp and quickly shielded it with the sleeve of his patched robe . He watched the lamp flicker, dim and bright by turns, and a chill of fear crept into his heart. Feeling both tired and drowsy, he rested his head on the scripture desk and dozed off. Though his eyes were closed, his mind remained clear, and in his ears he could faintly hear the eerie wind moaning outside the window. This was no ordinary wind:
It whispered and moaned, drifting and swirling. Its whispers sent dead leaves flying; its swirls rolled up the floating clouds. The stars in the sky grew dim and hazy; dust and sand scattered wildly across the earth. Sometimes it blew with fierce gusts, sometimes with steady, deep currents. In its steady moments, it made the pines and bamboos sing with a clear, elegant rhythm; in its fierce moments, it churned the rivers and lakes into muddy turmoil. It drove mountain birds from their roosts, their cries choked with fear; it made sea fish leap and thrash without pause. The doors and windows of the halls and pavilions were torn from their frames; the corridors and rooms were filled with the rage of ghosts and spirits. The flower vases in the Buddha hall were knocked to the ground; the crystal lamps swayed, their wisdom light growing dim. The incense burner toppled, scattering ash; the candle stand tilted, its flame turning to smoke. The banners and canopies were torn and shaken; the bell and drum towers were rocked to their very foundations.
In his drowsiness, the elder heard the wind cease, and then, from outside the meditation hall, a faint voice called out: "Master!" He lifted his head in his dream and saw a man standing outside the door. The man was drenched, tears streaming from his eyes, and he kept calling out "Master."
Tang Sanzang half-rose and said, "You must be some demon or ghost, come in the dead of night to toy with me. I am not a man of greed or anger. I am a monk of pure light and righteousness, sent by the Great Tang in the East to journey west to pay homage to the Buddha and seek the scriptures. I have three disciples under my command, all heroes who can subdue dragons and tigers and slay demons. If they saw you, they would grind you to dust and ashes. Out of compassion, I warn you: go far away and do not come to the door of my meditation hall."
The man leaned against the door of the hall and said, "Master, I am no demon or ghost, nor any evil spirit."
Tang Sanzang said, "If you are none of these, why have you come in the dead of night?"
The man said, "Master, look at me closely."
The elder did indeed fix his gaze upon him, and what he saw startled him. The man was:
Wearing a crown that pierced the heavens , a belt of jade around his waist, a robe of ochre yellow embroidered with flying dragons and dancing phoenixes , and boots of cloud-patterned silk with embroidered tips. In his hand he held a scepter of white jade inlaid with gold , adorned with patterns of constellations. His face was like that of the Long-Life Emperor of the Eastern Peak , his form like the Lord of Culture and Enlightenment .
Tang Sanzang was so frightened that his face changed color. He quickly bowed and asked in a loud voice, "Which dynasty's sovereign are you? Please, have a seat." He reached out to help the man, but his hand grasped only air. When he looked back, the man was still standing in the same place.
The elder asked again, "Your Majesty, which kingdom do you rule? Is it that the borders are troubled, or that treacherous ministers have wronged you, and you have fled here in the night? Tell me what has happened."
Only then did the man wipe the tears from his cheeks and begin to speak of the past, his brow furrowed with sorrow. "Master, my home lies directly to the west, only forty miles from here. There stands a city, the place where I founded my kingdom."
Tang Sanzang asked, "What is the name of that place?"
The man said, "To be honest with you, Master, that is the kingdom I established and renamed—the Black Chicken Kingdom ."
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, why are you in such a state of panic? What has happened?"
The man said, "Master, five years ago, a great drought struck my kingdom. Not a blade of grass grew, and the people starved to death. It was a heartbreaking sight."
Tang Sanzang nodded and sighed. "Your Majesty, the ancients said, 'When a kingdom is well governed, Heaven responds accordingly.' It must be that you did not show proper compassion to your people. When famine struck, why did you abandon the city? You should have opened the granaries to relieve the people, reflected on your past faults, done more good deeds, and pardoned those who were wrongly accused. Then Heaven would surely have blessed you with favorable winds and timely rains."
The man said, "At that time, my granaries were empty, and there was no money or grain left. The civil and military officials all had their salaries suspended, and I could not even afford to eat meat. I followed the example of the Great Yu who tamed the floods , sharing the hardships of the people, eating vegetarian food and observing fasts, burning incense and praying day and night. Three years passed like this, until at last the rivers ran dry and the wells were exhausted. In the midst of this crisis, a Quanzhen Taoist from Mount Zhongnan arrived. He could summon wind and rain and turn stone into gold. He first met with my civil and military officials, and then came to see me. I immediately invited him to ascend the altar and pray for rain. It was truly effective—as soon as he struck his command tablet , a great downpour began. I had only hoped for three feet of rain , but he said that such a long drought required more moisture, and he added another two inches. Seeing his generosity, I swore brotherhood with him, calling him my sworn brother ."
Tang Sanzang said, "That should have been a great blessing for Your Majesty!"
The man said, "What blessing could there be?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Since that Quanzhen Taoist had such great powers—able to summon rain at will and create gold from stone—what more could he desire? Why would he cause you to abandon your city and come here?"
The man said, "I ate and lived with him for two years. Then spring came again. The red apricots and peach blossoms were in full bloom, and every household, rich and poor, young and old, went out to enjoy the spring scenery. At that time, the civil and military officials had all returned to their offices, and the consorts had withdrawn to the inner palace. The Quanzhen and I walked hand in hand, strolling slowly until we reached the imperial garden. There we came upon an octagonal glazed well . I do not know what he threw into it, but suddenly a thousand beams of golden light shot up from the well. He tricked me by saying there was a treasure in the well and urged me to look over the edge. Taking advantage of my distraction, he suddenly turned treacherous. With a loud 'splash,' he pushed me into the well, then sealed the opening with a stone slab, piled earth on top, and planted a banana tree over it. Alas, I have been dead for three years now. I am nothing but a wronged ghost who drowned in a well !"
When Tang Sanzang heard that he was a ghost, his whole body went weak with fear, and the hair on his skin stood on end. But he had no choice but to continue asking, "Your Majesty, what you say does not make sense. You have been dead for three years. When the civil and military officials and the consorts of the three palaces held court, how did they not notice your absence?"
The man said, "Master, let me tell you of his skills—they are rare in this world! After he murdered me, he immediately transformed himself in the garden, taking on my exact appearance, without a single difference. Now he has seized my throne, taken my kingdom, and all my civil and military officials, the consorts of the three palaces, and the ladies of the six courts are under his control."
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, you are too weak."
The man asked, "In what way am I weak?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, although that demon has great magical powers and has taken your form to usurp your kingdom, and although the officials and consorts cannot tell the difference, you know clearly that you are dead. Why did you not go to the Underworld to lodge a complaint with King Yama and state your grievance?"
The man said, "His magical powers are vast, and he is well-acquainted with the officials of the Underworld. The City God of the capital often drinks with him; the Dragon King of the seas is his relative; the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak is his good friend; and the Ten Kings of Hell are his sworn brothers. Because of this, I have no place to lodge my complaint."
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, since you cannot appeal in the Underworld, what use is there in coming to me in the mortal world?"
The man said, "Master, how would a wronged soul like me dare to come to you on my own? Outside the mountain gate are protective heavenly spirits, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Five Directions Revealers, the Four Duty Gods, and the Eighteen Guardians of the Faith, all of whom follow you. Fortunately, the Night-Wandering God brought me in with a divine wind. He said that my three-year ordeal in the water was at an end, and he allowed me to come and pay my respects to you. He said that you have a senior disciple, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who is especially skilled at slaying demons. I now sincerely beg you to ask him to go to my kingdom, capture the monster, and separate truth from falsehood. I will surely repay your kindness!"
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, you have come to ask my disciple to capture the demon for you?"
The man said, "Exactly! Exactly!"
Tang Sanzang said, "My disciple is not good at many things, but when it comes to subduing demons and capturing monsters, it is exactly his specialty. However, Your Majesty, even if I send him to capture the demon, I fear the reasoning may not hold."
The man asked, "Why wouldn't it hold?"
Tang Sanzang said, "That demon has vast magical powers and has taken your form. The entire court obeys his every word, and the consorts are intimate with him. Even if my disciple has the skills, he cannot act rashly. If the officials seize him and accuse us of invading the kingdom, charging us with high treason and trapping us within the city, all our efforts would be wasted."
The man said, "There is someone in my court who can help."
Tang Sanzang said, "That is excellent! Excellent! I suppose it is one of your princes or elders, sent to guard some other region?"
The man said, "No. In my palace, there is a crown prince, my own flesh and blood, my heir."
Tang Sanzang said, "That prince must have been banished by the demon?"
The man said, "No. He still resides in the Golden Throne Hall and the Five Phoenix Tower. Sometimes he studies with the scholars, and sometimes he accompanies that Quanzin Taoist to court. For three years, the demon has forbidden the prince from entering the imperial palace, preventing him from meeting the queen."
Tang Sanzang asked, "Why is that?"
The man said, "This is the demon's cunning scheme. He fears that if mother and son meet, they might chat and reveal the truth, letting the secret slip. So he deliberately keeps them apart, allowing him to hold onto my kingdom forever."
Tang Sanzang said, "Your ordeal seems to be ordained by Heaven, and it bears some resemblance to my own experience. When I was a child, my father was murdered by river bandits, and my mother was taken by them. Three months later, she gave birth to me. I escaped death in the water and was fortunately rescued by a master from Jinshan Temple, who raised me. I remember having no parents when I was young, and now the prince has also lost his. It is truly shameful and sad!" He then asked, "Even if the prince is in court, how can I meet him?"
The man said, "Why can't you meet him?"
Tang Sanzang said, "He is under the demon's control and cannot even see his own mother. I am just a monk—how could I see him?"
The man said, "He will leave the palace tomorrow morning."
Tang Sanzang asked, "Why would he leave the palace?"
The man said, "Tomorrow, after the morning court, he will lead three thousand troops, with hunting falcons and hounds, out of the city to hunt. You will surely see him. When you do, tell him my words, and he will believe you."
Tang Sanzang said, "He is just an ordinary person, deceived by the demon for so long, calling him 'Father King' every day. How will he believe my words?"
The man said, "I fear he might not believe, so I will leave you a token of proof."
Tang Sanzang asked, "What is it?"
The man set down the gold-inlaid white jade scepter he was holding and said, "Use this as a token."
Tang Sanzang asked, "How is this to be used?"
The man said, "After that Quanzhen Taoist transformed into my likeness, he could not replicate this treasure. When he entered the palace, he falsely claimed that the Taoist who prayed for rain had stolen the jade scepter. For three years, this item has been missing from the palace. If the prince sees it, he will think of me and surely avenge my death."
Tang Sanzang said, "Very well. I will keep this item and have my disciple handle the matter for you. Where will you wait for news?"
The man said, "I dare not wait here. I will leave now and ask the Night-Wandering God to send me with a divine wind into the imperial palace, where I will appear in a dream to my queen, so that mother and son may be of one mind, and you, master and disciples, may also be united."
Tang Sanzang nodded and said, "Go, then."
The wronged ghost kowtowed and took his leave. As he rose to see Tang Sanzang off, his foot slipped and he fell. Tang Sanzang was jolted awake—it had all been a dream. He looked at the dim lamp and called out urgently, "Disciple! Disciple!"
Zhu Bajie woke up and said impatiently, "What 'disciple, disciple'? Back when I was a demon, I lived by eating human flesh. How joyful that was! But no, you had to become a monk, and now we have to protect you on this journey! I thought being a monk would be easy, but instead I've become a servant—carrying bags and leading the horse by day, and holding the chamber pot and massaging your legs by night! Now, in the middle of the night, you're calling for your disciples. What is it?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, I was just dozing at the table when I had a strange dream."
The Pilgrim jumped up and said, "Master, dreams are born from the mind. You were afraid of monsters before you even reached the mountain, worried that the road to the Western Heaven was too long, and longing for Chang'an, not knowing when you might return. With all these thoughts, it's no wonder you had so many dreams. Take me, for example—my only thought is to reach the Western Heaven and see the Buddha. I never have dreams."
Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, this dream of mine was not a dream of homesickness. As soon as I closed my eyes, I saw a fierce wind blow past, and a king appeared at the door of the meditation hall. He said he was the king of the Black Chicken Kingdom. He was drenched, his face covered in tears." Then he recounted the entire dream to the Pilgrim.
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "There's no need to say more. His coming to you in a dream clearly means he's found me a job. There must be a demon there who has usurped the throne. I'll go and help him sort out truth from falsehood. No matter how powerful the demon is, one blow of my staff will settle the matter."
Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, he said that demon has vast magical powers."
The Pilgrim said, "What do I care about his vast magical powers! If I had known he was coming, he wouldn't have had a place to run even if he wanted to!"
Tang Sanzang said, "I also remember he left a treasure as a token."
Zhu Bajie said, "Master, don't get carried away. It was just a dream. How can you take it seriously?"
Sha Wujing said, "'One should not easily trust the outwardly upright, nor fail to guard against the seemingly benevolent.' Let's light a lamp, open the door, and have a look. Then we'll know."
The Pilgrim did indeed open the door, and they all looked out. In the starlight and moonlight, a gold-inlaid white jade scepter lay on the steps. Zhu Bajie picked it up and said, "Brother, what is this thing?"
The Pilgrim said, "This is a treasure that a king holds in his hand, called a jade scepter. Master, since we have this item, it means the events in the dream are real. Tomorrow, I will handle the demon-catching. However, there are three unlucky things that will fall upon you."
Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Good, good! A dream, and you tell him this. He's the best at making trouble. Now he says there are three unlucky things for you."
Tang Sanzang came in and asked, "What are these three things?"
The Pilgrim said, "Tomorrow, you will have to take the blame for someone, endure anger, and suffer misfortune."
Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "One unlucky thing is hard enough to bear. How can you bear three?"
Tang Sanzang, being a clever elder, asked, "Disciple, what do these three things mean?"
The Pilgrim said, "There's no need to say more. Let me first transform a couple of things for you."
This Great Sage was truly remarkable. He plucked a single hair, blew on it with his immortal breath, and said, "Change!" The hair immediately transformed into a small box painted with red and gold lacquer. He placed the jade scepter inside and said, "Master, hold this box in your hands. After dawn, put on your brocade kasaya, go to the main hall, sit down, and recite scriptures. I will go and have a look at the city of the Black Chicken Kingdom. If there really is a demon, I will kill him and earn some merit here. If there isn't, we won't stir up trouble."
Tang Sanzang said, "Right! Right!"
The Pilgrim said, "If the prince doesn't leave the city, fine. But if he really does go hunting as the dream said, I will surely lure him here to see you."
Tang Sanzang asked, "When he comes, how should I deal with him?"
The Pilgrim said, "When he arrives, I will first signal you. You open the lid of the box a little, and I will transform into a little monk two inches tall and climb inside. Then you hold me and the box together in your hands. When the prince enters the temple, he will surely worship the Buddha. No matter how many times he kowtows, pay him no attention. When he sees that you do not move, he will surely order his men to seize you. Let them seize you—whether they beat you, bind you, or even try to kill you, do not resist."
Tang Sanzang said, "Ah! He is a prince, with the power of life and death. What if he really kills me?"
The Pilgrim said, "No problem! I'll be there! At the critical moment, I will naturally protect you. If he asks who you are, tell him you are a monk from the Great Tang in the East, sent to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures, and that you are also presenting treasures. If he asks, 'What treasures?' you can first describe the virtues of the brocade kasaya, then tell him, 'This is only a third-class treasure. There are first- and second-class treasures as well.' No matter what he asks, tell him that inside this box is a treasure that knows the past five hundred years, the present five hundred years, and the future five hundred years—a full one thousand five hundred years of past and future. Then let me out, and I will tell the prince about your dream. If he believes it, he will go and capture the demon. This will avenge his father and earn us some fame. If he doesn't believe, then show him the jade scepter—though I fear he is young and may not recognize it."
Tang Sanzang was delighted. "Disciple, this plan is wonderful! But when it comes to treasures, one is the brocade kasaya, and the other is the jade scepter. What name shall we give to this treasure you are transforming into?"
The Pilgrim said, "Call it the 'Emperor-Maker.'"
Tang Sanzang committed the Pilgrim's instructions to memory. The master and his disciples could not sleep that night. They eagerly awaited the dawn, wishing they could hasten the sun's arrival and scatter the stars from the sky.
Before long, the eastern sky began to glow with pale light, and dawn was near. The Pilgrim again instructed Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing: "Do not disturb the monks of the temple, and do not wander about. Wait until I have accomplished my task, and then we will continue our journey together." With that, he took his leave of Tang Sanzang, gave a whistle, and with a single somersault leaped into the air. Opening his fiery golden eyes, he looked westward and indeed saw a city. Why could he see it so quickly? As mentioned before, the city was only forty miles from the temple, so from a high vantage point, it was visible at a single glance.
The Pilgrim drew closer and examined it carefully. He saw that the city was shrouded in a layer of gray, eerie mist, with a stream of resentment rising and demon winds howling. He sighed from the sky:
If a true king sat upon the throne, there would surely be auspicious light and five-colored clouds; but because a demon has usurped the dragon seat, thick black vapors lock the golden gates.
As the Pilgrim was sighing, he suddenly heard the roar of a cannon. He saw the eastern gate open, and a troop of horsemen charged out—it was the hunting party, and their momentum was truly impressive. They appeared as:
At dawn they left the forbidden city, spreading out across the shallow grass. Colorful banners reflected the sunlight; white horses galloped against the wind. Camel-skin drums were beaten with a thunderous sound; spears were thrust in pairs. The falconers were fierce; the dog-handlers were bold. Cannons shook the heavens; sticky poles gleamed red in the sun. Every man carried crossbows and arrows; each one wore a carved bow. Nets were spread at the foot of the hills; ropes were laid across the paths. With a sudden thunderclap, a thousand riders surged forward, like bears and griffins. The cunning hare could not save itself; the clever roebuck was at its wit's end. The fox's fate was sealed; the elk fell in their midst. The mountain pheasant could not escape; the wild chicken could not avoid disaster. They all sought to seize the mountain fields and capture fierce beasts, destroying the woods and shooting down flying creatures.
This troop left the city and scattered across the eastern outskirts to hunt. Before long, they reached a high plateau twenty miles wide. In the midst of the central army, there was a young general: helmeted and armored, with a flowered waistband and eighteen layers of protective padding. He held a blue-edged sword, rode a yellow-maned horse, and carried a fully drawn bow at his waist. Truly:
He bore the faint likeness of a king, with the proud bearing of an emperor. His stature was no small thing, and his movements revealed the presence of a dragon.
The Pilgrim was secretly delighted from the sky. "There's no need to ask—this must be the crown prince of the Black Chicken Kingdom! Let me have a little fun with him." This Great Sage descended from the clouds, flew to the front of the prince's horse, and with a shake of his body transformed into a white rabbit, running back and forth before the prince's mount. When the prince saw the white rabbit, he was pleased. He took up his arrow, drew his bow to the full, and shot the white rabbit.
In truth, the Great Sage had deliberately let himself be hit. Quick of eye and hand, he caught the arrowhead, leaving only the arrow's feathers in front of him as he turned and ran. When the prince saw that his arrow had struck the white rabbit, he spurred his horse and gave chase alone. No matter how fast or slow the horse ran, the Pilgrim kept a short distance ahead—when the horse was fast, he was like the wind; when the horse slowed, he slowed as well. Thus he led the prince, stage by stage, to the gate of Baolin Temple. The Pilgrim then changed back to his original form, and the white rabbit vanished, leaving only an arrow stuck in the threshold. He rushed straight into the temple and said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, he's coming! He's coming!" Then he transformed again into a little monk two inches tall and climbed into the red box.
Meanwhile, the prince pursued the rabbit to the temple gate but found it gone. He saw only a carved arrow stuck in the threshold. The prince's face turned pale with shock. "Strange! Strange! I clearly shot the white rabbit, but the rabbit has vanished, and only the arrow remains! Could it be that this rabbit had lived for many years and become a spirit?" He pulled out the arrow and looked up. Above the gate were five large characters: "Baolin Temple, Built by Imperial Decree." The prince said, "I remember now! Some years ago, my father king sent officials from the Golden Throne Hall to give gold and silver to the monks of this temple for repairing the Buddha hall and statues. I never thought I would end up here today. Truly, 'Passing by a bamboo courtyard and chatting with a monk gives you half a day's leisure.' Let me go in and have a look."
The prince dismounted and was about to enter the gate when the escorting officials and three thousand soldiers caught up. They crowded together and followed him through the mountain gate. The monks of the temple were flustered and quickly came to kowtow and welcome him, inviting him to the main hall. After the prince had paid homage to the Buddha, he was about to stroll through the corridors and admire the scenery when he suddenly noticed a monk sitting in the middle of the main hall.
The prince was furious. "This monk is utterly rude! I have brought half my court and my troops into the mountain. Even if I did not send word ahead and do not require a distant welcome, now that the troops have reached the gate, you should at least rise to greet me. How dare you sit there without moving!" He shouted, "Seize him!" At the command, the soldiers on both sides immediately stepped forward and dragged Tang Sanzang down, preparing to bind him with ropes.
Inside the box, the Pilgrim quietly recited a spell: "Protective heavenly spirits, Six Ding and Six Jia, I am now setting a plan to subdue a demon. This prince does not understand the situation and wants to bind my master. You must protect my master. If he is truly bound, you will all bear the responsibility!" Once the Great Sage had given his secret command, who dared to disobey? They immediately shielded Tang Sanzang so tightly that anyone who tried to touch his shaven head felt as if they had struck a wall and could not get near him.
The prince said, "Where are you from, using this kind of invisibility art to deceive me!"
Tang Sanzang stepped forward and bowed. "I have no invisibility art, Your Highness. I am Tang Sanzang from the East, a monk on my way to the Thunderclap Monastery to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures, and also to present treasures."
The prince said, "The East, even if it is the Central Plains, is a poor place. What treasures could you possibly have? Tell me."
Tang Sanzang said, "This robe I am wearing is only a third-class treasure. There are first- and second-class treasures that are even better!"
The prince said, "This robe of yours covers half your body and leaves half your arm bare. What is it worth that you dare call it a treasure!"
Tang Sanzang said, "Although this kasaya appears incomplete, there is a poem to testify to its worth. The poem says: The Buddha's robe, baring one shoulder, needs no discussion; within it hides the true essence that escapes the dusty world. A thousand threads and ten thousand stitches achieve the true fruit; nine jewels and eight treasures unite with the primordial spirit. Celestial maidens and holy women reverently crafted and sewed it, bestowing it upon the meditating monk to purify his body of defilement. It is acceptable that I do not rise to greet you at your approach, but if your father's wrongs remain unavenged, you are no true man!"
When the prince heard this, he roared in anger, "You mad monk, you talk nonsense! With just this half-piece of clothing and your glib tongue, you dare to boast? What wrongs has my father suffered that remain unavenged? Tell me!"
Tang Sanzang stepped forward, pressed his palms together, and asked, "Your Highness, when a person lives between Heaven and Earth, how many kinds of kindness must they repay?"
The prince said, "There are four kinds of kindness."
Tang Sanzang asked, "Which four?"
The prince said, "The nurturing kindness of Heaven and Earth, the illuminating kindness of the sun and moon, the governing kindness of the king, and the rearing kindness of one's parents."
Tang Sanzang smiled. "Your Highness is mistaken. A person only has the nurturing kindness of Heaven and Earth, the illuminating kindness of the sun and moon, and the governing kindness of the king. Where does the rearing kindness of parents come from?"
The prince said angrily, "You monk are nothing but a vagrant who has shaved his head and does not hold the king in regard! Without parents to rear him, how could a person have a body?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Highness, I am ignorant of these matters. But in this red box, there is a treasure called the 'Emperor-Maker.' It knows the past five hundred years, the present five hundred years, and the future five hundred years—a full one thousand five hundred years of past and future. It can explain why there is no kindness of parents to repay—and it has been waiting here for you for a long time."
When the prince heard this, he said, "Show it to me."
Tang Sanzang lifted the lid of the box, and the Pilgrim immediately jumped out, running back and forth in the hall. The prince said, "Such a tiny thing—what can it possibly know?"
The Pilgrim heard that he was being dismissed for his small size and used his divine power. He stretched his waist and grew to three feet four or five inches tall. The soldiers were astonished. "If he grows this fast, in a few days he will pierce the heavens!" The Pilgrim grew to his original height and stopped.
Only then did the prince ask, "Emperor-Maker, this old monk says you can know the good and bad fortune of the past and future. Do you use tortoise shell divination? Do you use yarrow stalks to calculate? Or do you rely on books to determine a person's fortune and misfortune?"
The Pilgrim said, "I use nothing at all. I rely solely on this mouth of mine. I know everything."
The prince said, "You talk nonsense again! Since ancient times, the *Book of Changes* has been the most profound text, able to calculate all the good and bad fortune in the world and tell a person what to do. That is why tortoise shell divination and yarrow stalk calculation are used. What proof do you have for your claims? How dare you speak recklessly, determining fortune and misfortune and confusing people's minds!"
The Pilgrim said, "Your Highness, do not be impatient. Listen to me. You are the crown prince of the Black Chicken Kingdom. Five years ago, a great drought struck your kingdom, and the people suffered. Your father and his ministers prayed sincerely for rain. Just as there was not a single drop, a Taoist from Mount Zhongnan arrived. He could summon wind and rain and turn stone into gold. Your father valued his skills so highly that he swore brotherhood with him, calling him his sworn brother. Is this true?"
The prince said, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Go on."
The Pilgrim said, "Later, for three years, that Quanzhen Taoist was not seen. Who is sitting on the throne now?"
The prince said, "There was indeed a Quanzhen Taoist. My father king swore brotherhood with him, and they ate and slept together. Three years ago, while playing in the imperial garden, he used a divine wind to sweep the gold-inlaid white