Chapter 79

But to resume—the Brocade‑Robed Officer dragged the false Tang Monk out of the lodging hostel, and with the Imperial Forest Army surrounding him on all sides, they proceeded straight to the outside of the court gate. He said to the Yellow‑Gate Officer: “We have invited the Tang Monk to come here; may we trouble you to transmit this to the Throne.” The Yellow‑Gate Officer hastened into court and reported the matter as stated to the benighted ruler, who then bade them enter. All the officials knelt and prostrated themselves at the foot of the steps, but the false Tang Monk alone stood bolt upright in the centre of the hall and called out loudly: “O King of Biqiu, what have you to say in inviting me, a poor monk?” The ruler laughed and said: “I have been afflicted with a malady that has lingered long without recovery. Fortunately, my Imperial Father‑in‑Law has bestowed a prescription, for which all the medicaments are already prepared, lacking only one single ingredient. I have especially invited the Elder to beg for some medicinal substrate. Should I recover through it, I will have a shrine built for the Elder, with seasonal offerings, to be perpetuated as the incense‑fire of our transmitted kingdom.” The false Tang Monk said: “I am one who has left the household, coming here alone and unattended. I do not know what thing his Majesty asks of my Imperial Father‑in‑Law to serve as substrate.” The benighted ruler said: “I have specially begged for the Elder’s heart and liver.” The false Tang Monk said: “To be plain with your Majesty, I do have several hearts, but I know not what colour or kind you require.” The Imperial Father‑in‑Law, who stood nearby, pointed at him and said: “You monk, I want your black heart.” The false Tang Monk said: “If that be so, quickly bring a knife. I will split open my breast and belly; if there is a black heart, I shall respectfully obey your command.” The benighted ruler, delighted, thanked him and ordered the attending officer of the throne to take a hilted short knife and hand it to the false monk. The false monk took the knife in hand, undid his clothes, bared his chest, stroked his belly with his left hand, and with his right hand gripped the knife. With a loud rip he sliced open his stomach, and from within there rolled out, plop‑plop‑plop, a heap of hearts. The civil officials turned pale with fright, and the military generals were numbed with terror. When the Imperial Father‑in‑Law saw this from the hall, he said: “This is a monk with many hearts.” The false monk picked up those hearts, one by one, dripping with blood, and spread them out for all to see. They were all red hearts, white hearts, yellow hearts; hearts of stinginess and avarice, hearts of fame and profit, hearts of envy, hearts of scheming, hearts of competitiveness, hearts that aspire to high places, hearts of arrogance and contempt, hearts of killing and harm, hearts of cruelty and venom, hearts of terror, hearts of over‑caution, hearts of depraved delusion, hearts of obscure and hidden wickedness—all manner of unwholesome hearts, but not a single black heart among them. The benighted ruler was so terrified that he stood dumbstruck, unable to speak, trembling as he ordered: “Take them away, take them away.” The false Tang Monk could contain himself no longer; he withdrew his magical manifestation and revealed his true form, saying to the benighted ruler: “Your Majesty has no discernment at all. We of the monastic household all have good hearts; only this Imperial Father‑in‑Law of yours has a black heart, well suited to be a medicinal substrate. If you do not believe me, wait until I take his out for you to see.” When the Imperial Father‑in‑Law heard this, he quickly stared with wide‑opened eyes and carefully examined him. He saw that the monk had changed his countenance and no longer looked as before. Ha! He recognised the Great Sage Sun of yore, Famed in former days five hundred years ago. He at once turned around, mounted a cloud and rose into the air, but the Wanderer turned a somersault, leaped into the sky and shouted: “Where are you going? Take my staff!” The Imperial Father‑in‑Law at once raised his Coiled‑Dragon Staff to meet him. The two of them, high in mid‑air, fought a splendid battle: The Wish‑Fulfilling Staff, the Coiled‑Dragon Staff— A stretch of void, a mass of murky cloud. The Imperial Father‑in‑Law was in truth a demon sprite, Who therefore had made a strange maiden his fair consort. The ruler, besotted with pleasure, fell sick of a wasting disease, While the evil fiend meant to slaughter young children. They met the Great Sage, who displayed his mighty powers, To capture the fiend and save the people, resolving their calamity. The iron staff aimed at the head was truly fierce; The dragon‑staff met it head‑on—a worthy sight to cheer. The fight turned the sky all misty, darkening the city, So that every household within the walls lost colour. The civil and military multitude, their very souls took flight; The concubines and palace maidens, their faces changed. The benighted ruler of Biqiu was so frightened that he hid his person, Trembling and quaking, with no plan at all. The staff rose like a tiger bursting from the mountain; The dragon‑staff whirled like a dragon leaving the sea. This time the great commotion in the Kingdom of Biqiu Made clear the distinction between fiend and true. The fiend fought bitterly with the Wanderer for over twenty bouts, but the Coiled‑Dragon Staff could not withstand the Golden‑Banded Staff. He feinted once with his staff, then turned his body into a streak of cold light and plunged into the inner court of the palace. He took the tribute‑maiden demon‑queen out of the palace gate, and together they transformed into cold light and vanished, no one knew where. The Great Sage descended from the clouds and arrived below the palace hall, saying to the multitude of officials: “A fine Imperial Father‑in‑Law you have!” All the officials bowed together and gave thanks to the divine monk. The Wanderer said: “Do not bow yet. Go and see where your benighted ruler is.” The officials said: “When our lord saw the battle joined, he fled in terror and hid himself; we do not know to which palace he has gone.” The Wanderer at once ordered: “Search quickly, lest the fair queen have spirited him away.” The officials, upon hearing this, made no distinction between inner and outer quarters, but went with the Wanderer straight to the Fair Queen’s palace. It was utterly deserted; even the Fair Queen was nowhere to be seen. The main palace, the eastern palace, the western palace, and all six courtyards—all the assembled empresses and concubines came to bow and thank the Great Sage. The Great Sage said: “Pray rise; this is not the place for thanks. Go rather and find your lord.” In a little while, four or five eunuchs were seen supporting the benighted ruler as he came from behind the Hall of Solemn Reverence. All the ministers prostrated themselves on the ground and jointly memorialised: “O Sovereign, O Sovereign, thanks to the divine monk who has come here, the true and the false have been distinguished. That Imperial Father‑in‑Law was a demon fiend, and even the Fair Queen is nowhere to be seen.” When the king heard this, he at once invited the Wanderer to leave the imperial palace and come to the precious hall, where he bowed and thanked him, saying: “Elder, the countenance you bore when you came this morning was so handsome and imposing; how is it that you have now changed your appearance?” The Wanderer laughed and said: “To be plain with your Majesty, he who came this morning was my master, the royal brother of the Tang court, Tripitaka. I am his disciple Sun Wukong; I have two other junior brothers, Zhu Wuneng and Sha Wujing, who are at present in the Golden Pavilion Hostel. Because I learned that you had believed a demon’s words and meant to take my master’s heart and liver for a medicinal substrate, old Sun changed himself into the likeness of my master and came here specially to subdue the fiend.” When the king heard this, he immediately issued a decree ordering the Grand Chancellor of the Cabinet to go quickly to the hostel and invite all the masters to come to court. When Tripitaka heard that the Wanderer had revealed his true form and was subduing a fiend in mid‑air, his soul flew away and his spirit scattered. Fortunately, Bajie and Sha Monk guarded him, and he still had a smear of foul mud on his face. He was sitting there in melancholy when he heard someone call out: “Dharma‑Master, we have been sent by the King of Biqiu, the Grand Chancellor of the Cabinet, specially to invite you into court to give thanks for the favour.” Bajie laughed and said: “Master, do not fear, do not fear. This is not another invitation to take your heart; I think Senior Brother has won and invites you for the reward.” Tripitaka said: “Though they come inviting us after a victory, how can I show this foul face of mine to anyone?” Bajie said: “There is no help for it; let us first go and see Senior Brother, and there will surely be some explanation.” Indeed, the Elder had no alternative but to follow Bajie and Sha Monk, carrying the pole, leading the horse, and together they went to the hostel courtyard. When the Grand Chancellor saw them, he was frightened and said: “Venerable ancestors! These all look like fiendish heads and monstrous faces.” Sha Monk said: “Do not take offence at our ugliness, Court Gentleman; we were born with these bodies. Once my master has seen my senior brother, he will become handsome again.” The three of them, together with the multitude, came to court. Without waiting for summons, they went straight up to the throne. When Wukong saw them, he turned and descended from the hall, met them face to face, pulled off the mud mask from his master's face, blew on it a breath of immortal air, and said, "Change!" At once Tang Sanzang recovered his original form, and his spirit felt even more refreshed. The king came down from the hall to greet him in person, saying, "Dharma Master, Ancient Buddha." The master and disciples tied up the horse and all ascended the hall to meet each other. Wukong said, "Your Majesty, do you know where that monster came from? Wait till old Sun goes and captures him for you, to cut off the trouble at its root." The three palaces, six courts, and all the consorts and concubines were behind the jadeite screen. When they heard Wukong speak of cutting off the trouble at its root, they did not stand on ceremony about inner or outer chambers, male or female, but came out together and bowed, saying, "We earnestly beg the divine monk and Ancient Buddha to exert your vast magic power, to uproot the evil and wipe it out completely. That would truly be a kindness beyond measure, and we shall surely repay you richly." Wukong hastily returned the courtesy and only told the king to speak of the monster's dwelling place. The king, ashamed, replied, "When he arrived three years ago, I asked him. He said it was not far from the city, only seventy li to the south, at Clear Flower Manor in Willow Forest Slope. The royal father-in-law was old and had no son; only his later wife bore a daughter, just sixteen years old, not yet betrothed, and he wished to offer her to me. Because I loved the girl, I took her and favored her in the palace. Unexpectedly I fell ill, and the imperial physicians applied many medicines without effect. He said, 'I have a magic prescription, only needing the hearts of small children decocted as a draft.' I, lacking virtue, lightly believed his words, and so chose children from among the common people, selecting today at noon to cut open and take their hearts. Unexpectedly, the divine monk descended just at that time, and the cages of children all disappeared. Then he said that the divine monk had cultivated truth for ten lives, and his primal yang had not been leaked; obtaining his heart would be ten thousand times better than children's hearts. For a moment I erred, not knowing that the divine monk had seen through the demon. I dare hope you will broadly apply your great magic to cut off the trouble at its root; I will reward you with the wealth of the entire kingdom." Wukong laughed and said, "To tell you the truth, the children in the cages were hidden by me out of my master's compassion. Do not speak of rewards of wealth; when I capture the monster, that will be my merit." He called, "Bajie, come with me." Bajie said, "I obey my elder brother's command. But my belly is empty; it will be hard to exert myself." The king immediately issued a decree, ordering the Court of Imperial Banquets to prepare vegetarian offerings quickly. In no time the offerings arrived. Bajie ate his fill, roused his spirit, and followed Wukong as they mounted the clouds and rose into the air. The king, consorts, and all the civil and military officials were so frightened that they bowed toward the sky, all saying, "Truly immortals and true Buddhas have descended to the mortal world." The Great Sage, taking Bajie with him, went straight to the place seventy li to the south, lowered the wind and clouds, and sought the demon's lair. He saw only a clear stream with banks on both sides, and on the banks were countless willows, but he did not know where Clear Flower Manor was. It was just like: With boundless wild fields stretching beyond sight, A thousand dikes of misty willows hide all trace. Sun Wukong could not find it, so he formed a mudra, recited the sacred syllable "Om," and summoned the local earth spirit of that place, who tremblingly came forward, knelt, and called out, "Great Sage, the earth spirit of Willow Forest Slope kowtows." Wukong said, "Don't be afraid, I won't strike you. I ask you: where is Clear Flower Manor in Willow Forest Slope?" The earth spirit said, "There is a Clear Flower Cave here, but no Clear Flower Manor. Your little god knows now—Great Sage must have come from Bhiksu Kingdom?" Wukong said, "Exactly, exactly. The king of Bhiksu Kingdom was deceived by a demon. I went there and recognized it as a monster, and at once fought and drove it back. It turned into a cold light and vanished, and I do not know where it went. When I asked the king of Bhiksu, he said that when the beauty was presented three years ago, he asked the reason, and the monster said it lived at Clear Flower Manor in Willow Forest Slope, seventy li south of the city. I searched here and only saw the forest slope, but not Clear Flower Manor, so I ask you." The earth spirit kowtowed and said, "I beg the Great Sage to forgive my offence. The king of Bhiksu is also the lord of this land; it is proper for your little god to watch over it. But the demon's spiritual power and magic are great; if I divulge his affairs, he comes and bullies me. Therefore I have not been able to obtain any information. Now that the Great Sage has come, go only to the root of a willow tree with nine branches on the south bank. Turn three times to the left and three times to the right, then strike the tree with both hands, and call 'Open' three times, and Clear Flower Cave will appear." When the Great Sage heard this, he ordered the earth spirit back, and with Bajie crossed the stream to look for that willow tree. Sure enough, there were nine forked branches all on one root. Wukong instructed Bajie, "Stand far away for now. When I call the door open and find the monster and drive him out, you then come to his support." Bajie obeyed and stood half a li from the tree. The Great Sage, following the earth spirit's words, circled the tree root, turned three times left and three times right, struck the tree with both hands, and called, "Open, open." In an instant, with a loud crash, the doors swung open, and no trace of the tree remained. Inside it was bright with rosy light and colored clouds, but there were no people. Wukong, exerting his divine might, charged inside, and he saw that it was a fine place: Misty clouds dazzling bright, Sun and moon stealing their light. White clouds often left the cave, Emerald moss spread in disarray over the court. A path of rare flowers vied in brilliance, All steps with jeweled grasses contended in fragrance. Warm air, scenery ever spring, Truly like the Jade Park, No less than Penglai and Yingzhou. Smooth benches hung with long vines, Flat bridges draped with tangled creepers. Bees carried red stamens to the rocky grotto, Butterflies played with orchids past the stone screen. Wukong hurried forward and examined it closely, and saw four large characters on the stone screen: "Clear Flower Immortal Mansion." He could not restrain himself, and leaped over the stone screen to look. There he saw the old monster holding a beautiful woman in his arms, panting heavily, just discussing matters of Bhiksu Kingdom. They both cried out, "A fine opportunity has come—the matter of three years, today it will be accomplished, but that monkey has ruined it." Wukong ran close, raised his staff, and shouted, "You bunch of hairy balls! What 'fine opportunity'? Take my staff!" The old monster abandoned the beauty, whirled his coiled-dragon staff, and parried swiftly. The two fought before the cave; this battle was truly fierce, and quite different from before: The staff rose, bursting with golden light; The coiled staff whirled, sending out fierce aura. The monster said, "Ignorant wretch, you dare enter my door!" Wukong said, "I have a mind to subdue the demon." The monster said, "I dote on the king—none of your business; Why do you impudently come to meddle?" Wukong said, "A monk's cultivation and governance are founded on compassion; I cannot bear to see children put to death." As words went back and forth, each nursed hatred; Staff met staff, each aiming at the heart. They trampled rare flowers to protect their lives, Kicked through emerald moss because of slippery footing. They fought till the rosy light in the cave grew dim, And all the fragrant blooms on the cliffs were overshadowed. The clashing scared the birds so they could not fly; The shouting frightened the beauties into scattering. Only the old monster and the monkey king remained, With howling winds that swept the ground. Soon they fought their way out of the cave gate, And then encountered Bajie's foolish nature aroused. Now Bajie, outside, heard the clamor inside, and it made him itch with impatience. He raised his rake and pulled down the nine-forked willow tree, then raked it several times, making fresh blood spurt out with a murmuring sound. He said, "This tree has become a spirit, this tree has become a spirit!" Just as Bajie raised his rake to strike again, Wukong came leading the monster out. The idiot did not speak, but rushed forward and raised his rake to strike. The old monster, already hard-pressed in his fight with Wukong, saw Bajie's rake coming and grew even more flustered. He lost the battle, shook his body, turned into a cold light, and fled straight to the east. The two of them would not relax their pursuit and chased him eastward. Just as the killing cries were at their height, another sound was heard—the singing of cranes and the calls of phoenixes, while auspicious light drifted ethereally. Looking up, they saw it was the Old Man of the South Pole Star. That old man cast a cold radiance over the area and called out: "Great Sage, slow down! Tian Peng, cease your pursuit! This old Daoist salutes you here." Pilgrim immediately returned the greeting: "Brother Shouxing, where do you come from?" Bajie laughed and said: "That fleshy-headed old fellow has cast his cold light—he must have caught the monster." Shouxing smiled and added: "He is here, he is here. I beg you two gentlemen to spare his life." Pilgrim said: "This old monster has nothing to do with you, little brother—why do you come to plead for him?" Shouxing smiled and said: "He is a beast of burden of mine. Unexpectedly he ran off and came here to become this monster." Pilgrim said: "Since he belongs to you, little brother, just make him show his true form and let us see it." When Shouxing heard this, he released the cold radiance and shouted: "Wretched creature! Show your true form at once, and I will spare you the death penalty." That monster spun around, and it turned out to be a white deer. Shouxing picked up his staff and said: "This wretched beast even stole my walking staff." That deer lay prostrate on the ground, unable to speak, only kowtowing and shedding tears. One could see: His body like jade tablets with mottled marks, His two antlers uneven, seven-forked and curved. In times of hunger he sought the herb garden, On days of thirst he drank from cloudy streams. With years he learned the art of flying, Through long practice he perfected his transforming form. Now that he hears his master's call, He shows himself, ears flat, prostrate in the world. Shouxing thanked Pilgrim and was about to mount the deer and leave, when Pilgrim grabbed him and said: "Little brother, wait a moment—there are still two matters unfinished." Shouxing said: "What unfinished matters remain?" Pilgrim said: "The beautiful woman has not yet been captured—I don't know what monster she is—and we also need to return to Biqiu City with you to show these forms before that昏君 and report our mission." Shouxing said: "If that's the case, I shall be patient. You and Tian Peng go down into the cave to capture that beautiful woman, and then we can all go show ourselves together." Pilgrim said: "Little brother, wait a little while—we'll go and come back directly." Then Bajie roused his spirit and followed Pilgrim straight into Qinghua Immortal Mansion, shouting: "Catch the goblin! Catch the goblin!" That beautiful woman, trembling with fear and finding no way to escape, heard the shouting grow loud, so she turned behind the stone screen, but there was no rear exit to flee through. Bajie shouted: "Where are you going? You stinking vixen who seduces men—take this rake!" The beautiful woman had no weapon in hand and could not defend herself; she dodged aside, transformed into a cold light, and flew outward. But the Great Sage blocked the cold light and struck with his staff—bang! The monster could not keep her footing, fell to the ground, and revealed her true form—it turned out to be a white-faced fox. That idiot couldn't hold back his hand and raised his rake to strike her on the head. Pity that the one who could topple cities and kingdoms with a thousand smiles now turned into a furry fox shape. Pilgrim called out: "Don't smash her to pieces—keep this body to show the昏君." That idiot, not minding the filth, grabbed her by the tail and dragged her along as he followed Pilgrim out the gate. They saw Old Man Shouxing stroking the deer's head and scolding: "Fine wretched beast! How could you betray your master and flee, becoming a goblin here? If I hadn't come, the Great Sage Sun would surely have beaten you to death." Pilgrim jumped out and said: "What are you saying, little brother?" Shouxing said: "I'm admonishing the deer, I'm admonishing the deer." Bajie flung the dead fox in front of the deer and said: "Is this your daughter?" That deer bobbed its head, stretched out its muzzle, sniffed at her several times, and made bleating sounds, as if reluctant to part. Shouxing gave it a slap on the head and said: "Wretched beast! You're lucky to have your life—why are you still sniffing at her?" He then untied his sash, looped it around the deer's neck, and led it up, saying: "Great Sage, I will go with you to Biqiu Kingdom to meet." Pilgrim said: "Wait—let's sweep this whole place clean, lest it breed goblins again in years to come." When Bajie heard this, he raised his rake and began demolishing the willow trees. Pilgrim also recited the "Om" true word, summoned the local earth spirit again, and ordered: "Find some dry firewood, light a great fire, and eliminate the demonic calamity from this place so it may never bully others again." That earth spirit turned around, and with a whoosh of yin wind, led his yin soldiers to gather frost-defying grass, autumn-green grass, smartweed grass, mountain-stamen grass, artemisia brushwood, dragon-bone brushwood, and reed brushwood—all dried-through materials from previous years, which ignited like oil when touched by fire. Pilgrim called: "Bajie, no need to tear down the trees—just stuff this stuff into the cave and set it ablaze, burning it all clean." Once the fire started, it truly turned that Qinghua goblin mansion into a pit of flames. Only then did they dismiss the earth spirit, and together with Shouxing, leading the deer and dragging the fox, they all returned to the palace hall and said to the king: "Is this your beautiful queen—do you enjoy playing with her?" The king trembled with fear. Then the Great Sage Sun led Shouxing, leading the white deer, all into the hall, so frightening that the king, his ministers, consorts, and ladies all knelt together. Pilgrim stepped forward, helped the king up, and laughed: "Don't bow to me. This deer is your Royal Father-in-Law—you should bow to him." The king was so ashamed he had nowhere to hide and could only say: "I thank the divine monks for saving the children of my kingdom—truly heavenly grace." He then issued an order for the Court of Imperial Cuisine to prepare a vegetarian feast, threw open the Eastern Pavilion, and invited the Old Man of the South Pole along with the four from Tang Monastery to sit together and express gratitude. Tripitaka paid his respects to Shouxing, and Sha Monk also greeted him with proper courtesy. They all asked: "Since the white deer belongs to Old Shouxing, how did he come here to do harm?" Shouxing laughed and said: "Earlier, Donghua Emperor passed by my wild mountain, and I invited him to stay for a game of chess. Before one game was finished, this wretched creature slipped away. After the guest left, I couldn't find him. I counted on my fingers and knew he had come here, so I came specially to find him, and encountered the Great Sage Sun displaying his might. If I had arrived any later, this beast would have been finished." Before they finished their conversation, a report came: "The feast is fully prepared." What a fine vegetarian banquet: Five-colored splendor filled the gate, rare fragrances filled the seats. Tables draped with embroidered tapestries shone with silken brilliance; the floor spread with red carpets shimmered with rosy light. Within the precious duck-shaped censers, aloes and sandalwood curled their smoke; before the imperial feast, vegetable dishes sent forth fragrant vapors. On the display plates, towering fruits were piled like terraces; sugared dragons and tigers formed with candy circled about. Mandarin-duck-shaped cakes, lion-immortal sweets—lifelike in form; parrot cups and egret ladles—true to their shapes. Before the seats, fruit platters of every kind abounded; on the tables, vegetarian delicacies each one exquisite. Large round chestnuts and fresh lychees and peaches; dates and persimmon cakes sweet and tasty, pine nuts and grapes fragrant with wine. Several kinds of honeyed preserves, numbered varieties of steamed pastries. Fried and sugar-glazed, flower-bedecked and piled in mounds. Gold platters heaped high with great steamed buns; silver bowls filled to the brim with fragrant rice. Spicy hot soup with long vermicelli noodles, fragrant and steaming, with continuous fresh offerings of excellence. Beyond description were the mushrooms, wood ears, tender bamboo shoots, and yellow-flower herb—ten fragrant vegetarian dishes, a hundred kinds of rare delicacies. Servants hurried to and fro without pause, offering and withdrawing all in grand array. Then they arranged the seating order: Shouxing took the chief seat, the elder the second seat, the king the seat before the feast, while Pilgrim, Bajie, and Sha Monk sat at side seats. Beside them were two or three great ministers to keep them company. They ordered the Music Office to strike up the instruments. The king raised a purple jade cup and offered wine to each in turn. Only Tripitaka did not drink. Bajie said to Pilgrim: "Elder Brother, you may take the fruits, but please let me enjoy the soups and rice." That idiot, without distinguishing good from bad, attacked everything at once, and whatever came his way he ate clean to the last crumb. Once the feast was over, the Star of Longevity took his leave. The king again came forward, knelt before the Star of Longevity, and begged for a method to dispel illness and prolong life. The Star of Longevity laughed and said, "I came in search of my deer and brought no elixir with me. If I were to teach you the arts of self-cultivation, your sinews are already failing and your spirit declining; you cannot return to the primal elixir. In my sleeve I have only three dates, which were meant to be offered with tea to Lord Donghua; I have not eaten them, so I give them to you now." The king swallowed them and gradually felt his body grow lighter and his illness recede. That he later attained longevity all stemmed from this. When Bajie saw this, he called out, "Old Longevity, if you have fiery dates, give me a few to eat!" The Star of Longevity said, "I did not bring any with me; another day I will give you several catties." Then he left the eastern pavilion, expressed his thanks, gave a shout to the white deer, leaped astride it, and rode off on the clouds. In the court, the king, his consorts, and the ladies, as well as the common people in the city, all burned incense and made obeisance—but we shall not dwell on that. Sanzang called out, "Disciples, pack up and take leave of the king." The king again earnestly begged them to stay and asked for further instruction. Wukong said, "Your Majesty, from now on, moderate your lust for women, accumulate more hidden merit, and in all matters make up for deficiencies by cultivating strengths—that alone will suffice to dispel illness and prolong your years; that is the teaching." He then brought out two trays of loose gold and silver pieces to offer as traveling expenses. Tang Sanzang firmly declined and would not accept a single coin. The king, having no alternative, ordered the imperial carriage to be prepared, asked Tang Sanzang to sit properly in the phoenix‑chariot and dragon‑carriage, while the king and his consorts and ladies all pushed the wheels and turned the axles themselves, and thus they escorted him out of the court. Along the six thoroughfares and three marketplaces, the common people and multitudes also added pure water to their vessels and burned genuine incense in their censers, and saw him out of the city. Suddenly a gust of wind was heard in midair, and on both sides of the road there dropped one thousand one hundred and eleven goose‑baskets, in which infants were crying. In the darkness, the city gods, earth gods, village spirits, true officers, the Five Directional Guardians, the Four Duty Messengers, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Dharma‑protecting Ganas, and other spirits who had originally been guarding them all responded loudly, crying, "Great Sage, we were earlier commanded by you to take away the infants in the goose‑baskets; now we know that your merit is accomplished and you are setting out, so we have sent them back one by one." The king, his consorts, and all his ministers and subjects again prostrated themselves. Wukong looked up into the air and said, "I thank you all for your trouble. Please return to your shrines, and I shall have the people offer sacrifices to express their gratitude." With a whistling and rustling sound, the dark wind rose again and withdrew. Wukong called for the families in the city to come and claim their children. The news spread at once, and all came to recognize their own children in the baskets; joyfully they took them out, crying "My boy!" and "My little one!" Some jumped, some laughed, and all called out, "Hold fast to this elder from Tang—come to our homes and let us repay you for saving our children!" Young and old, men and women, none feared their ugly looks; they carried Zhu Bajie on their shoulders, hoisted Sha Wujing, lifted Sun Wukong, supported Tang Sanzang, led the horse, and carried the load, and all surged back into the city together. The king could not stop them. This household opened a feast, and that household set out a banquet. Those who could not invite them in time made monk’s caps, monk’s shoes, cassocks, and cloth socks, and offered clothes of all sizes, inside and out, as gifts. In this way they lingered on for nearly a month before they could finally leave the city. Later, portraits were handed down, tablets were set up, and people paid homage with incense and offerings. Truly: Deep piled are hidden merits, heavy as a mountain of grace, They saved alive a thousand, ten thousand, myriad men. But as to what events transpired afterward, you must hear the explanation in the next chapter.