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25 The Kingdom of Jisai

The dragon grandsons came out of the water in pursuit, and Wukong and the Seven Sages fell upon them all at once, thrusting with spears and blades until the dragons were hacked into mincemeat. Seeing that things had gone against him, the son-in-law resumed his true form once more, spread his wings and flew up into the air. Erlang drew out his golden bow, fitted a silver pellet, drew the bow to its full and shot upward at him. In desperation the son-in-law swooped down to bite Erlang. But no sooner had a head darted out from his middle than the Celestial Hound leapt up and with one snap of its jaws bit the head off, all bloody. The monster's head struggled without cease and was long in dying. In later ages the nine-headed worms that drip blood are the offspring of this creature. The son-in-law fled in pain for his life and made for the North Sea. Bajie was about to pursue when Wukong stopped him, saying, "Do not chase a desperate foe. The Celestial Hound bit off one of his heads, so he is more likely dead than alive. Let us hurry to the Dragon Palace and trick the treasure out of them." And he told Bajie of a plan. Bajie did as he was told and parted the waterway. Wukong changed himself into the likeness of the Nine-Headed Son-in-Law and ran ahead as though fleeing, while Bajie came shouting along behind in pursuit. Wukong went straight into the Dragon Palace, where Princess Wansheng came out to meet him and asked, "Husband, why are you in such a panic?" Wukong cried, "That Bajie is after me. Hide the treasure quickly!" In her haste the princess did not see that Wukong was an impostor. She fetched a casket of solid gold from the rear hall and handed it to him, saying, "This is the Buddha's relic." Then she brought out a white jade casket and gave it to him too. "This is the nine-leaf lingzhi. I will hold Bajie off; you keep the treasures safe." Wukong took the caskets, wiped a hand across his face and resumed his true form, saying with a laugh, "Princess, do I look like your husband to you?" The princess was aghast and would have snatched the caskets back, but Bajie ran up and struck her a blow on the back with his rake, felling her to the ground. Wukong and Bajie carried the caskets back to the bank. Seeing that the demon was disposed of, Erlang took his leave. Wukong was deeply grateful and wanted them to come with him to see the king, but the Seven Sages would not; they returned to Guanjiangkou. Riding the clouds and mist, Wukong and Bajie returned to the Kingdom of Jisai. The monks of the Temple of Golden Light had gathered outside the city; when they saw the two return they all kowtowed in reverence and escorted them into the city. The king was talking with the Tang Monk in the hall; when he learned that Wukong had returned, he came down at once to greet him and gave orders for a feast. The Tang Monk said, "The feast can wait. Let my disciple first restore the treasure to the pagoda." The king was greatly pleased and moved his carriage to the Temple of Golden Light. Wukong set the Buddha's relic in the precious bottle atop the pagoda, then swept all thirteen stories with the lingzhi herb and put the herb into the bottle as well, to warm and nourish the relic. The relic became as good as new and sent forth a myriad rays of rosy light. Wukong said to the king, "Your Majesty, the two words 'golden light' are unlucky and cannot endure. Gold is a thing that flows, and light is a breath that flickers. It would be better to change the Temple of Golden Light into the Temple of the Vanquished Dragon, and it will last for all ages." The king thought this reasonable, and ordered a new tablet hung up bearing the words "Temple of the Vanquished Dragon." Seeing that the matter was settled, the Tang Monk and his disciples took their leave of the king. The king himself escorted them beyond the city walls and offered them a great sum of gold in thanks, but master and disciples declined, and went on toward the West.

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