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20 The River That Reaches Heaven

"This demon built a temple to the Great King of Inspired Power on the bank of the Tongtian River. He demands that the people of Chen Village go there every year to offer sacrifice, giving one young boy and one young girl." "The demon eats the boy and girl sacrifices and then ensures good weather for us; if we do not offer sacrifice, he brings disaster. The people have given up their children in turn, and this year it is my family's turn." As Chen Qing spoke to this point, tears streamed down his face. "I have only one son, seven years old, named Chen Guanbao. My elder brother has only one daughter, eight years old, named Yichengjin. Now the children are to be sent as sacrifices; we cannot bear to part with them, so we hold this premature funeral service in the hope that they may be reborn after death." Wukong said, "So that is how it is. Bring your son here for me to see." Chen Qing hurried inside and brought out his son Guanbao, placing him in the hall. The child knew nothing of impending death; he ate fruit as he skipped and played. When Wukong saw him, he silently recited a spell, transformed himself with a shake, and became exactly like Guanbao. The two children took hands and danced before the lamp. Chen Qing was so startled that he kept saying, "How can you, sir, take my son's appearance? You do me too much honor! Please change back at once!" Wukong then wiped his face and showed his true form. Laughing, he asked, "Do I look like your son?" Chen Qing said repeatedly, "Like! Like!" Wukong said, "Then I shall go in your son's place as a sacrifice to the Great King, so that your family's line may continue." When Chen Qing heard this, he knelt and kowtowed, saying, "If this is truly so, I am willing to give Master Tang one thousand taels of silver as travel money for the journey to the Western Heaven." Wukong asked, "Why don't you thank Old Sun?" Chen Qing answered, "If you go as a sacrifice to the Great King, he will surely eat you, and then you will be no more." Chen Qing kept kowtowing in thanks, but Chen Cheng leaned against the door and wept bitterly. Wukong saw this and stepped forward to say to Chen Cheng, "I know you cannot bear to part with your daughter. Quickly prepare some fine vegetarian food for that long-mouthed master to eat, and tell him to change into your daughter and go with me as the sacrifice." When Bajie heard this, he shook his head hastily and said, "Elder Brother Monkey, if you want to show off and get yourself killed, don't drag me in!" Wukong said with a smile, "Dear brother, you have eaten so much of their food; why not help them a little?" Bajie still refused. The Tang Monk also urged him, "Bajie, as the saying goes, saving one life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. Go with your elder brother and endure the hardship once." Bajie said with a long face, "Master, you do not know: I can only change into mountains, trees, and big fat fellows. To change into a little girl would be rather difficult." Wukong said to Chen Cheng, "Don't listen to him. Quickly bring out your beloved daughter." Chen Cheng hurried inside and brought his daughter Yichengjin to the hall. Bajie looked at her and said, "Elder Brother Monkey, she is so small and pretty. How am I to transform?" Wukong shouted, "Hurry up, or you'll get a beating!" Bajie hastily said, "Elder Brother Monkey, don't hit me. Let me try transforming." He recited a spell, shook his head a few times, and cried, "Change!" He truly took on the girl's appearance, but his belly was very fat. Wukong laughed and said, "You look neither male nor female. What are we to do? Transform again!" He blew a breath of immortal air, and Bajie drew in his belly, becoming exactly like the girl. Bajie asked, "I wonder which the Great King of Inspired Power will eat first. If he eats the boy first, I can easily run away; if he eats the girl first, what am I to do?" Chen Qing said, "In past years, when sacrifices were offered, some bold person secretly watched and said that the boy was eaten first." Bajie said delightedly, "That is truly Old Pig's good fortune."

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