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19 The Kingdom of Chechi

Bajie hoisted the statue on his shoulder, muttering to himself, "To taste the rare dishes I trouble the Three Pure Ones; having borrowed the precious seat, I rest here a while. You who are served with offerings every day, lodge for today in the privy." With that he flung the statue into the privy. Bajie returned to the hall and the three feasted to their hearts' content. In a little while the vegetarian dishes and the plates of fruit were eaten completely clean. Just then a young Daoist came back looking for a hand bell he had left behind; hearing what sounded like movement in the hall, he was very much afraid. The young Daoist hurried outside, slipped and fell flat, and Bajie could not help bursting out laughing. The young Daoist was frightened out of his wits; staggering and stumbling, he ran to the abbot's door, beating on it and crying out. The three old Daoists opened the door, heard what had happened, and led the whole company of Daoists to the hall of the Three Pure Ones. Hearing them coming, Wukong and the other two sat still upon the high platform like gilded clay images. The Daoists looked all about them, and saw that the offerings had been eaten up completely. Tiger-Strength and Deer-Strength cried out that it was passing strange, but Goat-Strength said, "Do not doubt, brothers. The Heavenly Worthies must have been moved by our devotion and come down in person to partake of these offerings. Why should we not seize the chance to beg for some holy water and golden elixir?" When the Daoists heard that the Three Pure Ones had manifested themselves, they all prostrated themselves and kowtowed. The Tiger-Strength Immortal presented his petition: "Your subjects have promoted the Dao and rooted out the monks, serving the faith with all devotion. Now that the Heavenly Worthies have deigned to descend, we pray you to grant us some golden elixir and holy water, that the court may be mindful of the boundless grace of our teaching." Bajie glanced at Wukong, and Wukong suddenly opened his mouth and said, "Young immortals, cease your worship. We have come straight from the Feast of Peaches and have brought no golden elixir or holy water with us; we shall bestow some upon you another day." The moment they heard a Heavenly Worthy speak, the Daoists kowtowed without ceasing. The Deer-Strength Immortal stepped forward and bowed, saying, "We beg the Heavenly Worthy, for the sake of your disciples' reverence, to grant us some holy water, be it ever so little, that we may lengthen our days and live forever." Wukong said, "If that is so, bring vessels." The Daoists kowtowed their thanks. The Tiger-Strength Immortal fetched a great vat and set it on the floor of the hall; the Deer-Strength Immortal brought an earthenware basin and set it on the table; and the Goat-Strength Immortal brought a vase and placed it between them. Wukong said, "Withdraw for the present, and do not let the secrets of heaven be revealed." The Daoists filed out of the hall and pushed the doors to. The three brothers jumped down from the high platform and, over the great vat, the earthen basin and the vase, each passed a stream of urine; then Wukong called out, "Come, young immortals, and receive the holy water." At the call the Daoists came in, gave thanks for the favour, and carried the holy water out of the hall. Tiger-Strength took a teacup, ladled out a cupful and drank it down; he smacked his lips and knitted his brows. Deer-Strength and Goat-Strength also tasted it, and both found it harsh and hard to swallow. Wukong, Bajie and Sandy resumed their true forms and roared with laughter, saying, "How should the Three Pure Ones manifest themselves for you? We are monks journeying westward by imperial command, and the holy water you drank just now was plainly the urine of us three!" At this the Daoists flew into a rage and began hurling brooms and broken tiles wildly into the hall. Quick of eye and hand, Wukong caught Bajie and Sandy up under his arms, burst out of the hall door, and flew back to the Zhiyuan Temple. Early the next morning the Tang Monk took his travel pass and prepared to go to court to have it exchanged. Wukong, Sandy and Bajie rose in haste, put on their clothes, and went with him.

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