Chapter 63

Now the king of Jisai Kingdom and all his high ministers, seeing the Great Sage Sun and Bajie riding clouds and mist and carrying off the two little demons as they drifted away, all faced heaven and made obeisance, saying: "The words were no empty legend; only today do we realize that such immortal gods and living Buddhas exist." And when they saw them vanish far into the distance, they turned and bowed in thanks to Sanzang and Sha Seng, saying: "We, with our mortal eyes and common flesh, knew only that your worthy disciples had strength enough to capture the fiendish thieves—how could we know they were superior immortals who ride clouds and mount mists?" Sanzang said: "This poor monk has no magical powers at all; along the way I have depended wholly on these three young disciples." Sha Seng said: "To tell Your Majesty the truth, my elder senior brother is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven who has taken refuge in the faith. He once threw the Heavenly Palace into great turmoil, wielding a Golden-Banded Staff, and among a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers there was none who could match him—he frightened even the Grand Supreme Elder Lord and made the Jade Emperor's heart tremble. My second senior brother is the Marshal Tianpeng who achieved true fruition; he once commanded eighty thousand heavenly troops of the Tianhe River. As for your humble disciple, I have no magical powers—I am merely the Curtain-Raising General who received the precepts. For other matters our humble fraternity have little ability, but when it comes to seizing demons, binding monsters, capturing thieves, arresting fugitives, subduing tigers, taming dragons, kicking the sky and stirring the wells, even churning the seas and overturning the rivers—of such things we know a little. Riding clouds and mist, summoning rain and calling wind, exchanging the Dipper and moving the stars, carrying mountains and chasing the moon—these are but minor matters, hardly worth mentioning!" When the king heard this, he became all the more reverent, inviting Tang Sanzang to the seat of honor and addressing him repeatedly as "Old Buddha," while calling Sha Seng and the others "Bodhisattvas." The entire court, civil and military, rejoiced, and the common people of the whole kingdom bowed in worship—but of that we shall say no more. Now the Great Sage Sun and Bajie, riding a fierce wind, swept the two little demons up and brought them to the Bibo Pond at Luan Shi Mountain, where they halted their clouds. He blew a breath of immortal energy on his Golden-Banded Staff and called out: "Change!" It transformed into a precept knife. He cut off the ear of the Black Fish Monster and the lower lip of the Catfish Spirit, threw them into the water, and shouted: "Go quickly and report to that Wan Sheng Dragon King, saying that I, your grandfather Sun, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, am here, and that he is to send out at once the original precious treasure from the pagoda of the Golden Light Temple in Jisai Kingdom, and thereby spare the lives of his whole family. If he dares utter half a word of refusal, I shall stir this pond dry and have his entire household, old and young, put to death." Those two little demons, having gained their lives, fled with their wounds, dragging their chains and fetters, and plunged into the water. They so terrified the turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crabs, shrimps, and fish spirits that they all crowded around and asked: "Why are you two dragging ropes and chains?" One covered his ear, shaking head and tail; the other covered his mouth, stamping his feet and beating his chest. All in an uproar, they went straight to the dragon king's palace and announced: "Great King, a calamity has come!" The Wan Sheng Dragon King was just drinking wine with the Nine-Headed Consort when he saw the two arrive; he at once set down his cup and asked what calamity. The two reported: "Last night while on patrol, we were captured by Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong while they were sweeping the pagoda, and we were bound with iron chains. This morning we were brought before the king, and then that Wukong and Zhu Bajie grabbed the two of us, cut off one's ear and the other's lip, threw us into the water, and sent us to report, demanding the treasure from the top of the pagoda." And they related the whole sequence of events in detail. When the old dragon heard that it was Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, his soul fled his body and his spirit scattered to the ninth heaven; trembling with fear, he said to his son-in-law: "My worthy son-in-law, if it were someone else, we could still negotiate, but if it truly is he, things do not look good." The Consort laughed and said: "Rest easy, Father-in-law. I have studied martial arts since childhood and have met several heroes within the four seas—why should I fear him? Let me go out and fight him for three rounds, and I guarantee that fellow will shrink his head and surrender, not daring to look up." The monstrous Consort swiftly donned his armor, took up his weapon, a crescent-moon spade, and strode out of the palace, parting the waters, and called out from atop the water: "Which one of you is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven? Come up quickly and offer your life." Wukong and Bajie stood on the bank and observed how the demon was attired: He wore a silver helmet of tarnished brightness, whose luster outshone white snow; he was clad in a mail corselet whose gleam vied with autumn frost. Over it was a brocaded battle robe, truly like rainbow clouds enfolding jade; at his waist was a rhinoceros-horn belt, indeed like flowered pythons twining gold. In his hand he held a crescent-moon spade, flashing like rosy clouds and lightning; on his feet he wore pigskin boots that parted the water's flow. Seen from afar he had one head and one face; seen close up, he had faces on all four sides: eyes in front, eyes behind, seeing clear in all eight directions; mouths on the left, mouths on the right, nine mouths all speaking. One shout shook the vast sky, like a crane's cry piercing the nine celestial spheres. Seeing no one answer, he called out again: "Which one is the Great Sage Equaling Heaven?" Wukong adjusted his golden fillet and straightened his iron staff, saying: "Your old Sun is here." The fiend said: "Where is your home? From what place do you hail? How did you come to Jisai Kingdom and guard the pagoda for that king, and then dare to capture my underlings, and furthermore come to my precious mountain to provoke battle?" Wukong cursed: "You fiendish thief, so you don't know your grandfather Sun! Come forward and listen to my words: Old Sun's home is Flower-Fruit Mountain, within the great sea, the Water-Curtain Cave. From youth I cultivated an indestructible body, and the Jade Emperor made me Great Sage Equaling Heaven. Only because I threw the Dipper-and-Cow Palace into uproar could none of the heavenly hosts defeat me. Then they invited Tathagata to display his sublime powers— his boundless wisdom was no common use. For the sake of a somersault wager in divine skill, his hand turned into a mountain that weighed heavily on me. Thus I lay for five hundred full years, until Guanyin persuaded them and I escaped with my life. The Tang monk Sanzang set out for the Western Heaven, far away to worship Spirit Mountain and seek the Buddha's recitation. He released me to protect him, to subdue demons and purify monsters and cultivate the Way. On the road we came to the western realm's Jisai City, where three generations of monks had suffered wrongful harm. We, in compassion, asked after the old grievance— it was because the pagoda bore no shining light. My master swept the pagoda and investigated clearly, at night, when the third watch came and all sounds were still. He captured the demons and took their true confession; they said that you had stolen the treasure. In league with the dragon king as thieves, with the princess named Wan Sheng in partnership, you poured down blood-rain to smear the pagoda's light, and stole his treasure for your own use. The confession before the hall is without falsehood; I come to this place on the king's command. Thus I seek you out to do battle— no need to ask further about Grandfather Sun's surname. Quickly return the treasure to him, and spare the lives of your whole household, old and young. If you foolishly rely on strength and try to prevail, I'll make your waters dry and your mountains crumble in ruin." When the Consort heard this, he gave a slight cold laugh and said: "So you are that pilgrim monk, meddling without cause. I stole his treasure; you are fetching the Buddha's scriptures—what has it to do with you, that you come to fight?" Wukong said: "You fiendish thief are utterly unreasonable. Though I have received no favor from the king, nor eaten his food or drunk his water, so I ought not exert myself for him—yet you stole his treasure and defiled his pagoda, causing years of suffering for the monks of Golden Light Temple. They are of the same school as me—how can I not exert myself to clear their wrongful grievance?" The Consort said: "Since it is so, you must wish to engage in combat. As the saying goes: 'When weapons are drawn, no courtesy remains.' But I fear that at the first stroke I may not be able to show mercy, and if I harm your life, it will delay your journey for the scriptures." Wukong flew into a rage and cursed: "You brazen fiend, what strength have you that you dare boast so wildly? Step forward and take your grandfather's staff!" The Consort, completely unflustered, parried the iron staff with his crescent-moon spade, and there on the summit of Luan Shi Mountain—truly this was a fine battle: The fiendish demons stole the pagoda, and its light was extinguished; the Pilgrim seized the demons to report to the king. The lesser monsters escaped back into the water; the old dragon, terrified, each took counsel. The nine-headed consort displayed his might, donned his armor and came forth to show his prowess. Enraged, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, raised his golden-banded staff, exceedingly hard and fierce. That monster had nine heads and eighteen eyes, emitting dazzling light from front and rear; this Pilgrim had a pair of iron arms with a thousand jin of strength, all serene and auspicious. The spade was like the first crescent moon at the rising of the sun; the staff was like frost flying over ten thousand leagues. He said: "You have no cause to stop and avenge this injustice." I said: "You deliberately stole the treasure—truly evil. That vile rogue, less arrogant—return the treasure and gain safety." The staff met the spade in contest of superiority, and no victory or defeat was seen on the training field. The two of them came and went, fighting for over thirty bouts, with no decision. Zhu Bajie stood before the mountain, and seeing them at the height of the battle, raised his rake and struck from behind the fiend. Now that monster had nine heads, all turning with eyes everywhere, and he saw clearly. Seeing Bajie coming from behind, he used the spade's haft to parry the rake, and the spade's head to block the iron staff. After another five or seven bouts, unable to withstand attacks from both front and rear, he rolled over, leaped into the air, and revealed his true form—he was a nine-headed serpent. His appearance was most hideous, and his shape was terrifying to behold. He was born with: Feathers like brocade, body coiled in tufts. Round and square, about twelve feet in size; long and short like a turtle or crocodile. Two feet sharp as hooks, nine heads clustered together. Spreading his wings, he flew most swiftly; even the great Peng had not his strength. When he raised his voice, it resounded far to the horizon; compared to the immortal crane, he could cry even higher. His many eyes sparkled with golden light; his pride was not that of common birds. Seeing this, Zhu Bajie was alarmed and said: "Brother, since I became human, I have never seen such a foul creature. What blood and breath gave birth to this beast?" The Pilgrim said: "Truly rare, truly rare. Let me catch up and strike him." The Great Sage, leaping onto the auspicious cloud, jumped into the air and swung his iron staff at the monster's head. The monster greatly displayed his power, spread his wings and flew obliquely, swiftly turned around, swept to the front of the mountain, and from his mid-body stretched out another head, opening a mouth like a blood basin, and bit Bajie by the bristles, half-dragging and half-pulling him into the碧波潭 (Bibo Tan) water. When they reached outside the dragon palace, he changed back to his former appearance, threw Bajie to the ground, and called: "Where are my little ones?" The fish-spirits—bream, perch, carp, and mandarin fish—and the turtle, soft-shelled turtle, and crocodile creatures all crowded around and answered: "Here." The consort said: "Bind this monk there to avenge my patrol soldier." The many creatures pushed and shoved, carrying Bajie in. The old dragon king was delighted and came out to welcome him, saying: "My worthy son-in-law has achieved merit—how did you capture him?" The consort recounted the whole affair. The old dragon then ordered wine to celebrate the merit—but no more of that. Now Sun Wukong, seeing that the fiend had captured Bajie, felt fear in his heart and thought: "This brute is so formidable. If I return to court to see the master, I fear the king will laugh at me; if I shout abuse and challenge him, I am alone, and besides I am not used to water battles. Let me change and go in to see how the monster deals with that idiot. If I find an opportunity, I can steal him out and do my business." The Great Sage, pressing his fingers together, shook his body and changed into a crab, plunged into the water, and went straight to the archway. This road he had traveled before when he attacked the Bull Demon King and stole the Golden-Eyed Beast. He went all the way to the palace, crawled sideways, and saw the old dragon king and the nine-headed serpent happily drinking with the whole family. The Pilgrim did not dare approach; he crawled past the eastern corridor and saw several shrimp and crab spirits playing in a bustle. After listening to their talk for a while, he learned their speech and asked: "The long-mouthed monk captured by the consort—has he died yet?" The spirits said: "He is not dead; isn't he the one groaning tied up in the western corridor?" Hearing this, the Pilgrim quietly crawled over to the western corridor, and indeed the idiot was bound to a pillar, groaning. The Pilgrim approached and said: "Bajie, do you recognize me?" Bajie heard the voice and knew it was the Pilgrim, and said: "Brother, what happened? I was caught by this brute." The Pilgrim looked around—no one was there—and bit through the rope with his pincers, saying "Go!" The idiot freed his hands and said: "Brother, my weapon was taken by him—what can I do?" The Pilgrim said: "Do you know where it was put?" Bajie said: "It was taken to the palace by that fiend." The Pilgrim said: "You go first and wait for me at the archway." Bajie escaped and slipped away quietly. The Pilgrim climbed back up to the palace to look. On the left side, there was a brilliant light—it was Bajie's rake shining. He used the invisibility spell, stole the rake, and went to the archway, calling: "Bajie, take your weapon." The idiot got the rake and said: "Brother, you go first; let old Pig attack the palace. If I win, I'll capture the whole family; if I lose and retreat, you wait on the bank of this pool to rescue me." The Pilgrim was delighted, only telling him to be careful. Bajie said: "Don't worry—I have some skill in the water." The Pilgrim left him and emerged from the water—no more of that. Bajie tightened his black robe, grasped his rake with both hands, and with a shout, charged inside. The aquatic creatures of all sizes were thrown into confusion, rushing to the palace, shouting: "Bad news! The long-mouthed monk has broken his ropes and is attacking!" The old dragon, the nine-headed serpent, and the whole family were caught off guard; they jumped up and hid in panic. The idiot, reckless of life and death, stormed into the palace, raking as he went, smashing doors, breaking tables and chairs, and shattering all the wine utensils. There is a poem to attest: The Wood Mother met the water fiend's capture, The Mind Ape could not bear to cease his search. In secret he devised a plan to unlock the chains, And then displayed his mighty wrath and deep resentment. The consort hastily fled with the princess, The dragon king trembled, his voice silenced. The crimson palace's doors and windows were damaged, The dragon's sons and grandsons lost all spirit. In this fray, Bajie smashed the tortoiseshell screen to pieces and shattered the coral trees. The nine-headed serpent placed the princess safely inside, quickly took his crescent spade, and rushed to the front hall, shouting: "You vile, stupid pig! How dare you disturb my family with such audacity?" Bajie cursed back: "You treacherous fiend! How dare you capture me? This fight is none of my doing—you invited me to come and fight in your home. Quickly return the treasure to me, so I can report to the king and settle the matter; otherwise, I will not spare a single life in your family." The fiend would not show any mercy; he gritted his teeth and engaged Bajie. Only then did the old dragon calm his mind, and leading his dragon sons and grandsons, each with spear and sword, they joined the attack. Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Bajie feinted with his rake and turned to flee. The old dragon led his hosts in pursuit. In a moment, they burst out of the water and thrashed about on the surface of the pool. Now Sun Wukong was standing on the bank waiting, when he saw them chasing Bajie out of the water. He half-stepped onto the clouds, drew his iron staff, and shouted: "Stop!" With one blow, he smashed the old dragon's head to pieces. Pitifully, blood splashed in the pool, turning the water red, and the corpse floated on the waves, its scales scattered. The dragon sons and grandsons, terrified, each fled for their lives, and the nine-headed consort gathered the dragon's corpse and returned to the palace. Xingzhe and Bajie did not pursue further but returned to the shore and recounted the foregoing events. Bajie said, "That rogue's spirit is broken; when I struck in with my rake all the way, I beat them to scattered flowers and flowing waters, their souls dispersed and spirits flown. I was just fighting that mounted warrior when the old Dragon King gave chase, but thanks to you, he was beaten dead. When those scoundrels go back, they will surely stop their mourning and hang up their filial garments, and definitely will not come out again. Now the day is also late—what are we to do?" Xingzhe said, "What care we for the day's lateness? Seizing this opportunity, you should go down again and attack them in battle. You must retrieve the precious treasure before we can return to court." That idler, his will slack and spirits lazy, made excuses and prevaricated. Xingzhe urged him, "Brother, do not harbor doubts; just lure them out as before, and I will strike them." While the two were still deliberating, they suddenly heard violent gusts of wind rolling and dense, somber mists gathering, coming from the east and heading straight south. Xingzhe looked carefully and saw that it was Erlang Xiansheng, leading the six brothers of Meishan, with falcons and hounds in their train, carrying foxes and hares on poles, bearing roe deer and munts on their shoulders, each with a curved bow at his waist and sharp blades in hand, bounding along on wind and mist. Xingzhe said, "Bajie, those are my seven holy brothers. It would be well to invite them to stay and aid us in battle. If we succeed, it will be a great opportunity." Bajie said, "Since they are brothers, we should most certainly invite them." Xingzhe said, "But among them is the elder brother Xiansheng, who once subdued me; it is awkward for me to meet him. You go stop their cloud-head and call out: 'True Lord, pray halt a moment; the Great Sage Equal to Heaven is here to pay his respects.' If he hears it is I, he will surely stop. After they have settled, I may then meet him." That idler quickly leaped on a cloud, went up the mountain, and stopped them, shouting in a loud voice: "True Lord, pray slow your carriage; the Great Sage Equal to Heaven requests an audience." When that lord heard this, he immediately gave the order and halted his six brothers. After exchanging greetings with Bajie, he asked, "Where is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?" Bajie said, "He is now at the foot of the mountain, awaiting your summons." Erlang said, "Brothers, go quickly and invite him." The six brothers—Kang, Zhang, Yao, Li, Guo, and Zhi—each came out of camp and called, "Brother Sun Wukong, the elder brother invites you." Xingzhe stepped forward, saluted them all, and then went up the mountain together with them. Erlang, the lord, came out to meet him, took him by the hand, and they greeted each other, saying, "Great Sage, you have escaped great calamity, taken the precepts as a Śramaṇa, and soon your merits will be complete, and you will ascend the lotus throne—congratulations, congratulations." Xingzhe said, "I dare not. In the past I received boundless kindness from you, yet I have not shown the least requital. Though I have escaped and journeyed west, I do not know how my merits will turn out. Now, because our path has brought us to Jisai Kingdom, in answer to the monks' distress, we are here capturing demons and seeking treasures. I chanced to see your lordship's train and have taken the liberty to beg you to stay and lend a hand. May I ask whence you come, and would you be willing to grant your favor?" Erlang laughed and said, "Being at leisure with nothing to do, I was returning with my brothers from hunting. I am fortunate that the Great Sage does not disdain to stay and meet with us—this fully moves me with the sentiment of old friendship. If you command me to lend my strength to subdue demons, how would I dare not obey? But I do not know what demon bandits are here." The six sages said, "Has elder brother forgotten? This place is Luan Shi Mountain, and below the mountain is the dragon palace of Wansheng in Bibo Pool." Erlang said in surprise, "The old dragon Wansheng has never made trouble—how did he dare to steal the pagoda treasure?" Xingzhe said, "Recently he took in a mounted warrior son-in-law, who is a Nine-Headed Insect spirit. The father-in-law and son-in-law both turned thieves, and caused a rain of blood to fall on Jisai Kingdom, stealing the Buddha relic treasure from the top of Jinguang Temple's pagoda. The king, not understanding the matter, harshly had the monks tortured. My master, in his compassion, went to sweep the pagoda last night, and I happened to seize two little demons on the pagoda who had been sent to scout. This morning they were brought to court and fully confessed. The king then invited my master to subdue them, and my master ordered us to come here. In the first battle, the Nine-Headed Insect stretched out one head from his waist and carried off Bajie in his mouth. I then transformed and went into the water, rescuing Bajie. Just now we fought a great battle, and I killed the old dragon; those scoundrels have gone back to collect the corpse and put on mourning. The two of us were discussing how to provoke a fight when I saw your lordship's retinue arrive—hence this presumptuous intrusion." Erlang said, "Since you have already wounded the old dragon, it is precisely the time to attack him, so that those rogues cannot cope; then why not exterminate even their nest?" Bajie said, "Though that is so, what about the lateness of the day?" Erlang said, "The military classic says: 'In campaigning, wait not for the hour.' Why fear the day's lateness?" Kang, Yao, Guo, and Zhi said, "Elder brother, do not hurry. Their family is here; they have nowhere to flee. Second brother Sun is also a honored guest, and Zhu Ganglie has returned to the true fruition. In our camp we have wine and delicacies brought along; let the lads kindle a fire and set them out here: first, to congratulate you two, and second, to renew our fellowship. Why not enjoy this night together and wait until dawn to provoke battle?" Erlang was greatly pleased and said, "Worthy brothers, your words are most fitting." He then ordered the young officers to make arrangements. Xingzhe said, "I dare not decline your overwhelming kindness. But since I have become a monk, I observe the precepts—I fear meat and vegetarian fare do not mix." Erlang said, "We have vegetarian fruits, and the wine is also vegetarian." The brothers, under the light of the stars and the moon, with the sky as their canopy and the earth as their mat, raised their cups and renewed old times. Truly, when loneliness makes the night longer, joy makes the night short. Unawares, the east began to pale. Bajie, after a few cups of wine, was so exhilarated that he said, "Dawn is approaching; let old Pig go down to the water and provoke battle." Erlang said, "Marshal, be careful; just lure him out, so that we brothers may act." Bajie laughed and said, "I know, I know." See him gather his robes, wrap his rake, use the water-parting method, leap down, and go straight to the memorial archway. With a shout, he burst into the hall. At that moment, the dragon's son, wearing sackcloth, was weeping over the dragon's corpse; the dragon's grandson and the mounted warrior were in the back preparing the coffin. Bajie cursed as he pressed forward; as soon as he raised his hand, his rake struck heavily, and with one blow he made nine holes in the dragon's son's head and brain. Terrified, the dragon's mother and the others fled helter-skelter inside, crying, "The long-snouted monk has killed my son again." When that mounted warrior heard this, he immediately took his crescent-moon shovel and led the dragon's grandson out to fight. Bajie raised his rake to meet the enemy, fighting while retreating, and leaped out of the water. On the bank, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the seven brothers rushed forward together, thrusting with spears and slashing with blades, hacking the dragon's grandson into several pieces like meat cakes. Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, that mounted warrior rolled on the ground before the mountain and again revealed his original form, spread his wings, and soared circling in flight. Erlang immediately took his golden bow, fitted a silver pellet, drew the bow to full, and shot upward. The monster quickly folded his wings and swooped close, trying to bite Erlang. He had just stretched out one head from his waist when that fine-muzzled hound leaped up and, with a yap, bit the head off, dripping with blood. The wounded monster fled in pain, heading straight for the North Sea. Bajie was about to give chase, but Xingzhe stopped him, saying, "Do not pursue him now; it is just 'Do not press a desperate foe.' He has had his head bitten off by the hound; he will surely be more dead than alive. Let me take his form; you part the water and drive me in, and I will seek out the princess and trick her into giving us the treasure." Erlang and the six sages said, "Not pursuing him is all right, but leaving such a breed in the world will surely be a harm to later generations." To this day there is a Nine-Headed Insect that drips blood—that is the remaining breed. Thereupon Bajie followed his words and parted the waterway. Pilgrim changed into the form of the fiend and went ahead, while Bajie shouted and bellowed as he pursued from behind. Gradually they gave chase until they reached the Dragon Palace, where they saw the Wansheng Princess say, "Husband, why are you in such a panic?" Pilgrim said, "That Bajie has won and has driven me in here; I feel I cannot withstand him. Quickly hide the treasures well." The princess, unable in her haste to distinguish truth from falsehood, immediately went to the rear hall and took out a gold-inlaid casket, which she handed to Pilgrim, saying, "This is the Buddhist treasure." She then took out a white jade casket and also handed it to Pilgrim, saying, "This is the nine-leaf lingzhi. Take these treasures and hide them away, and let me exchange two or three rounds with Zhu Bajie to hold him off. Once you have safely stored the treasures, come back out and join the battle against him." Pilgrim tucked both caskets away at his side, wiped his face, and revealed his true form, saying, "Princess, do I still look like your husband?" The princess, alarmed, tried to snatch the caskets back. But Bajie rushed up and, with his rake, struck her down from behind on the back. There was still an old Dragon Grandmother who turned and fled, but Bajie grabbed hold of her and raised his rake to strike, when Pilgrim said, "Hold on, don't kill her. Leave her alive, so we can present her as proof of our merit at the court." Thereupon they dragged the Dragon Grandmother out of the water. Pilgrim then followed, holding the two caskets as he came ashore, and said to Erlang, "Thanks to your elder brother's mighty power, we have obtained the treasures and swept away the fiendish bandits." Erlang said, "On the one hand, it is the king's great fortune, equal to heaven; on the other, it is you worthy brothers' immeasurable supernatural powers. What merit have I?" The brothers all said, "Since Second Brother Sun has already accomplished his task, we shall now take our leave." Pilgrim thanked them profusely and wished to keep them to meet the king together. But the various lords would not stay, and so they led their host back to Guankou and departed. Pilgrim carried the caskets, while Bajie dragged the Dragon Grandmother, and they traveled half in cloud and half in mist, arriving at the capital in an instant. Now the monks who had been released from the Golden Light Monastery were all waiting outside the city to welcome them. When they suddenly saw the two descend from the clouds, they drew near, kowtowed, and paid their respects, then escorted them into the city. The king and Tang Sanzang were just then in the hall discoursing. Some of the monks who had arrived earlier mustered their courage and entered the court to announce, "Your Majesty, the two lords Sun and Zhu have captured the bandits and obtained the treasures and are coming!" When the king heard this, he hurriedly descended from the hall and, together with Tang Sanzang and Sha Seng, went out to greet them, giving endless thanks for their divine achievement, and at once ordered a feast to express his gratitude. Sanzang said, "There is no need to offer drink yet; allow my disciples first to return the treasures to the pagoda, and only then may we feast." Sanzang then asked Pilgrim, "You left the capital yesterday—why have you only returned today?" Pilgrim then told in detail the whole story of battling the imperial son-in-law, striking the dragon king, meeting the True Lord, defeating the fiend, and of his transformation and the ruse with the treasures. Sanzang, the king, and all the civil and military officials were overjoyed beyond measure. The king further asked, "Can this Dragon Grandmother speak human language?" Bajie said, "She is the dragon king's wife, who has borne many dragon sons and dragon grandsons—how could she not understand human speech?" The king said, "Since she understands human speech, let her quickly tell us the full story of the theft from beginning to end." The Dragon Grandmother said, "As for the theft of the Buddhist treasure, I knew nothing of it at all. It was all my husband, the dragon ghost, and that imperial son-in-law, the Nine-Headed Insect, who, knowing that the light on your pagoda came from the Buddha's sarira relic, caused a rain of blood three years ago and took the chance to steal it." He then asked, "And how was the lingzhi fungus stolen?" The Dragon Grandmother said, "It was only my young daughter, Princess Wansheng, who secretly entered the Hall of the Milky Way before the Great Heavenly Worthy's Thunderclap Palace and stole the Queen Mother of the West's nine-leaf lingzhi. With the immortal energy of this fungus warming and nourishing it, that relic can last a thousand years without decaying and ten thousand ages with radiance. If one sweeps it over the ground or over a field, it immediately gives forth ten thousand beams of rainbow light and a thousand wisps of auspicious vapor. Now that you have seized it back, you have brought about my husband's death, my sons' and grandsons' extinction, my son-in-law's ruin, and my daughter's demise—I beg you, spare my life." Bajie said, "We will certainly not spare you." Pilgrim said, "A household is not condemned entirely. I will spare you, but only on condition that you watch over my pagoda for all time." The Dragon Grandmother said, "A living death is better than a good death. If you will only spare my life, I will do whatever you bid." Pilgrim called for iron chains. The officer on duty immediately brought an iron chain, and Pilgrim ran it through the Dragon Grandmother's collarbones. He then told Sha Seng, "Invite the king to come watch us secure the pagoda." The king at once prepared his imperial carriage and, hand in hand with Sanzang, left the court, accompanied by all the civil and military officials, and proceeded to the Golden Light Monastery. Pilgrim ascended the pagoda, placed the sarira relic inside the precious vase atop the thirteenth-story pagoda spire, and locked the Dragon Grandmother to the central pillar of the pagoda. He then recited the true mantra and summoned the local earth spirit, the city god, and the monastery's guardian deities, commanding them to bring one meal every three days to the Dragon Grandmother for her sustenance; at the slightest negligence, they would be executed. All the spirits secretly assented. Pilgrim then took the lingzhi fungus and swept each of the thirteen stories of the pagoda with it, then placed it inside the vase to warm and nourish the relic. Thus the old was made new again, with ten thousand beams of rainbow light and a thousand wisps of auspicious vapor, once more visible to all in the eight directions and gazed upon by the four quarters. When he descended from the pagoda gate, the king thanked him, saying, "If it were not for the arrival of the old Buddha and the three bodhisattvas, how could this matter ever have been brought to light!" Pilgrim said, "Your Majesty, the name 'Golden Light' is not good; it is not something that can endure long: gold is a thing that flows, and light is a vapor that flickers and flashes. This poor monk has toiled through this whole affair for you, and I propose that this monastery be renamed 'Subdue Dragon Monastery,' so that it may endure forever in your keeping." The king immediately ordered the name changed and hung a new plaque inscribed "By Imperial Decree, Founded for the Protection of the State: Subdue Dragon Monastery." On one side he arranged an imperial banquet; on the other he summoned painters to depict the images of the four masters, and at the Five Phoenix Tower their names were inscribed. The king then prepared his imperial carriage to escort the master and disciples on their way, offering them gold and jade as recompense. But the master and disciples firmly declined and would not accept a single thing. Truly: The crooked fiends cut down, all realms are still; The pagoda's light returns, the great earth bright. But if you do not know what lies ahead on this journey, listen to the next chapter for its explanation.