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39 The Prefecture of Tongtai

So saying, the king ordered a golden-robed page to bring the squire forth. Wukong thanked King Dizang, breathed upon the squire's spirit to turn it into a breath of air, hid it in his sleeve, and returned to the world of the living. Back at the Kou house, Wukong lifted the lid of the coffin and pushed the spirit inside. In a little while, the squire came to life, clambered out of the coffin, and kowtowed before the Tang Monk and his disciples to thank them for his rescue. The squire next paid his respects to the assembled officials and told the whole story of the robbery, the harm done to him, and Wukong's descent into the underworld to save him. He then called his wife forward, rebuked her for falsely accusing good men, and asked the prefect to pass sentence on her. The lady of the house and the two sons fell on their knees and confessed their fault. The prefect, generous and merciful, pardoned them, and issued orders to the constables to arrest the band of thieves. The truth at last stood plain, and all were overjoyed. The next day, when the Tang Monk took leave of the Kou family, the squire, as on the former occasion, sent them off with drums and music and great good cheer, and saw the Tang Monk and his disciples safely on their way.

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