The story tells that the brocade-clad official dragged the fake Tang Priest out of the post station, and with the Feathered Forest Guard surrounding him in layers, they proceeded all the way to the palace gate. There he said to the Yellow Gate Official: "We have brought the Tang Priest as requested. I trouble you to announce us."
The Yellow Gate Official rushed into the court, reported as instructed to the foolish king, and was told to invite them in.
All the officials knelt and bowed at the foot of the steps. Only the fake Tang Priest stood erect in the center of the steps, calling out in a loud voice: "King of Bhiksou, what business did you have in summoning this poor monk?"
The king laughed and said: "I have been afflicted with an illness that has lingered for a long time without cure. Fortunately, the State Father bestowed a prescription upon me. All the medicinal ingredients are already prepared—only one guiding ingredient is lacking. I have specially invited you, Venerable One, to provide this medicinal guide. If my illness is cured, I shall build a shrine for you and offer sacrifices in all four seasons, establishing it as an eternal shrine of incense for the realm."
The fake Tang Priest said: "I am a monk who has come here alone. I do not know what thing the State Father wants from me as a guide."
The foolish king said: "I specifically seek the Venerable One's heart and liver."
The fake Tang Priest said: "To be honest with Your Majesty, I actually have several hearts. I do not know which kind you want."
The State Father, standing to one side, pointed and said: "That monk—we want your black heart!"
The fake Tang Priest said: "In that case, bring a knife quickly. Cut open my chest and belly. If there is a black heart, I shall respectfully comply."
The foolish king, delighted and grateful, immediately ordered an attending official to fetch a short ox-ear knife and hand it to the fake monk.
The fake monk took the knife in hand, opened his robes, thrust out his chest, pressed his belly with his left hand, held the knife in his right, and with a loud ripping sound, sliced open his belly. Out from within tumbled a pile of hearts, bubbling forth. The civil officials turned pale; the military officers went numb.
The State Father, seeing this from the hall, said: "What a many-hearted monk!"
The fake monk picked through those hearts, dripping with blood, holding them up one by one for all to see—red hearts, white hearts, yellow hearts, stingy and greedy hearts, fame-and-profit hearts, jealous hearts, calculating hearts, competitive hearts, ambitious hearts, haughty hearts, murderous hearts, vicious hearts, fearful hearts, cautious hearts, depraved and wicked hearts, nameless dark and hidden hearts, hearts of every kind of evil—but not one black heart.
The foolish king was so terrified he stood stunned, unable to speak, and trembling cried: "Put them away! Put them away!"
The "fake Tang Priest" could hold back no longer. He dropped the spell and revealed his true form.
To the foolish king he said: "Your Majesty has no discernment at all! We monks all have good hearts. It is your State Father who has a black heart—perfect for a medicinal guide. If you don't believe me, let me extract his and show you."
The State Father heard this, opened his eyes wide, and stared carefully. He saw that the monk's face had changed—it was not the same appearance as before. Ha! He recognized the Great Sage Sun of five hundred years ago, famous since olden times. He immediately pulled back, rose on the clouds, and was about to flee. But the Pilgrim flipped a somersault, leapt into the air, and shouted:
"Where are you going! Take a blow from my rod!"
The State Father brought out his coiled-dragon walking stick to meet the attack. The two of them battled in midair—what a fine fight!
The As-You-Will rod, the coiled-dragon staff— A stretch of clouds in the empty sky. The State Father was a demon all along, Who dressed a fox-spirit as a beauty. The king, greedy for pleasure, fell ill; The demon schemed to slaughter children. When the Great Sage met him, he showed his power, Seizing the monster, saving men, undoing woes. The iron rod, aimed at the head, was truly fierce; The walking stick, rising to meet it, deserved applause.
The battle filled the sky with fog, darkening the city; Every household in the city lost its color. Civil and military officials' souls flew away; Consorts and palace maids changed countenance. The foolish lord of Bhiksou, terrified, hid in confusion, Trembling and shaking, with nowhere to turn. The rod rose like a tiger charging from the mountain; The staff whirled like a dragon leaving the sea. This time, the great uproar in the city of Bhiksou Made clear the difference between evil and good.
The demon fought the Pilgrim for over twenty rounds. The coiled-dragon staff could no longer withstand the golden-hooped rod. The demon feinted with his staff, transformed his body into a beam of cold light, dropped into the inner palace, seized the Beautiful Consort who had been presented as tribute, and together they merged into cold light and vanished—no one knew where.
The Great Sage brought down his cloud, arrived at the palace, and said to the officials: "Some State Father you have!"
The officials all bowed in gratitude to the divine monk. The Pilgrim said: "Don't bow yet. Go see where your foolish king is."
The officials said: "When the fighting started, our lord was terrified and hid. We don't know which palace he went to."
The Pilgrim commanded: "Find him quickly! Don't let the Beautiful Consort carry him off!"
Hearing this, the officials searched everywhere, inside and out, rushing with the Pilgrim first to the Beautiful Consort's palace—but she too was gone without a trace.
The Principal Consort, the Eastern Palace, the Western Palace, and the Six Courts—all the consorts and concubines—came out to thank the Great Sage.
The Great Sage said: "Please rise. This is no time for thanks. Go find your lord."
Presently, four or five eunuchs were seen supporting the foolish king, coming from behind the Hall of Careful Conduct.
The officials prostrated themselves and cried in unison: "My lord! My lord! Thanks to the divine monk who came and exposed the true from the false. That State Father was a demon—and even the Beautiful Consort has disappeared."
The king, hearing this, invited the Pilgrim out of the inner palace to the throne hall, bowed in gratitude, and said: "Venerable One, when you came this morning, you looked so handsome and imposing. How is it that your appearance has changed now?"
The Pilgrim laughed: "To be honest with Your Majesty, the one who came this morning was my master—the Tang Priest, the Imperial Brother Sanzo of the Great Tang. I am his disciple Sun Wukong. I also have two junior fellow disciples, Zhu Wuneng and Sha Wujing, currently at the Golden Pavilion Post Station. Because I learned that you believed the demon's words and wanted to take my master's heart and liver as a medicinal guide, old Sun transformed into my master's appearance and came here specifically to subdue the demon."
The king, hearing this, immediately issued an edict ordering the Grand Treasurer to go quickly to the station and invite the master and his disciples to court.
Now the Tang Priest, hearing that the Pilgrim had revealed his true form and subdued the demon in midair, was so frightened his soul flew and his spirit scattered. Fortunately, Bajie and the Sha Monk were there to protect him. He still had that patch of foul-smelling mud on his face and was feeling miserable, when he heard someone calling: "Dharma Master, we are Grand Treasurers sent by the King of Bhiksou, specially inviting you to enter the court to receive thanks for your grace."
Bajie laughed: "Master, don't be afraid! They're not asking for your heart again. It must be that our elder brother has won, and they're inviting you to receive their thanks."
The Tang Priest said: "Even if they're inviting me because of victory, with this foul-smelling face, how can I face anyone?"
Bajie said: "Can't be helped. Let's go see our elder brother first—he'll have an explanation."
The elder, having no other plan, had to lean on Bajie while the Sha Monk carried the luggage and led the horse, and together they went to the courtyard of the station.
The Grand Treasurer, seeing them, was frightened and said: "Good heavens! These all look like monster heads and demon brains!"
The Sha Monk said: "Court official, don't be put off by our ugliness. We were born with these bodies. When my master sees our elder brother, he'll be handsome again."
The three of them came to court without waiting for announcement, straight to the foot of the steps. The Pilgrim saw them, turned and came down from the hall, met them face to face, and scraped the mud mask off his master's face. He blew an immortal breath and cried "Correct!" The Tang Priest instantly reverted to his original appearance, his spirit feeling even more refreshed than before.
The king came down from the hall to personally welcome them, calling: "Dharma Master, Living Buddha!" The master and disciples tethered their horse and all went up to the hall to meet each other.
The Pilgrim said: "Does Your Majesty know where that demon came from? Let old Sun go and capture him at once, to eliminate future troubles."
The Three Palaces and Six Courts, all the consorts and concubines, behind the emerald screen, heard the Pilgrim speak of eliminating future troubles. Without regard for the propriety of inner and outer, men and women, they all came out to bow and plead: "We earnestly beg the divine monk and living Buddha to exert his great dharma power, to pull up the weeds by the roots, to eliminate him utterly. That would be the greatest grace—we shall surely repay you handsomely!"
The Pilgrim hurriedly returned their bows, asking only that the king tell him where the demon lived.
The king, with shame, said: "Three years ago, when he arrived, I asked him. He said not far from the city, just seventy li to the south, at Willow Grove Slope, there is a Qinghua Village. The State Father, being old and without sons, had a daughter by his second wife, aged sixteen, unwed, whom he was willing to present to me. I, because of the girl's beauty and grace, took her and favored her in the palace. Unexpectedly, I fell ill, and the imperial physicians' medicines were of no avail. He said he had an immortal prescription that only required the hearts of young children, decocted in soup as a guide. It was my unworthiness that I lightly believed his words and selected children from the common people, choosing today at noon to cut them open and take their hearts. Who could have expected that the divine monk would descend, and that just then the caged children would all disappear. Then he said the divine monk had cultivated truth through ten lifetimes, his primal yang never discharged—obtaining his heart would be ten thousand times better than a child's heart. For a moment I was misled—I had no idea the divine monk could see through the demon. I beseech you to wield your great dharma and eliminate this future trouble. I shall repay you with all the wealth of my realm!"
The Pilgrim laughed: "To be honest, the children in the cages—my master took pity and had me hide them. Let's not talk about repaying with wealth. Once I capture the demon, that will be my merit." He called: "Bajie, come with me!"
Bajie said: "I'll follow your command. But my belly is empty—I won't have the strength."
The king immediately issued an edict: "The Court of Imperial Entertainments is to quickly prepare a vegetarian feast."
In no time the meal arrived. Bajie ate his fill, roused his spirits, and followed the Pilgrim, rising on the clouds.
The king, consorts, and all the civil and military officials each bowed toward the sky, all saying: "True immortals and true Buddhas have descended to the mortal world!"
The Great Sage, carrying Bajie, went seventy li to the south, halted the wind and clouds, and searched for the demon's lair. But he saw only a clear stream, banks on both sides lined with thousands upon thousands of willow trees, and no sign of Qinghua Village anywhere. Indeed:
Ten thousand acres of wild fields, endless to view; A thousand dykes of misty willows, hiding all trace.
The Great Sage, unable to find it, pinched a spell, recited the "Om" true word, and summoned the local Earth God of that place, who approached trembling and knelt: "Great Sage, the Earth God of Willow Grove Slope bows his head."
The Pilgrim said: "Don't be afraid. I won't hit you. I ask you: there is a Qinghua Village at Willow Grove Slope—which direction is it?"
The Earth God said: "Here there is a Qinghua Cave, but no Qinghua Village. I understand now—the Great Sage must be coming from the Kingdom of Bhiksou?"
The Pilgrim said: "Exactly, exactly. The King of Bhiksou was deceived by a demon. Old Sun went there, recognized the demon, and fought him off. He turned into a beam of cold light and vanished, no one knows where. When I asked the King of Bhiksou, he said three years ago, when the demon presented the beauty, he had asked about his origins. The demon said he lived at Qinghua Village, Willow Grove Slope, seventy li south of the city. I came here and see only the willow grove, not Qinghua Village. That is why I ask you."
The Earth God kowtowed: "I beg the Great Sage to forgive me. The King of Bhiksou is also the lord of my land. I should have been watchful. But the demon's spiritual power and magic are great—if I had leaked his affairs, he would have come and bullied me. That is why I did not report. Now that the Great Sage has come, go to the south bank, to the root of a single willow tree with nine branches. Turn left three times, turn right three times, slap the tree with both hands together, and call out 'Open the door' three times—the Qinghua Cave dwelling will appear."
The Great Sage, hearing this, sent the Earth God away, and with Bajie leapt over the stream to find that willow tree.
Sure enough, there was a tree with nine branches, all from a single trunk.
The Pilgrim instructed Bajie: "You stand far off. When I call open the door and find the demon, I'll chase him out, and you come to support me."
Bajie, hearing the order, stationed himself half a li from the tree. The Great Sage, following the Earth God's instructions, walked around the tree root—left three turns, right three turns—slapped the tree with both hands, and called: "Open the door! Open the door!" Instantly, with a loud crash, the tree split open like double doors, and the tree vanished without a trace. Inside, the light was radiant and colorful, but there was no sign of people.
The Pilgrim, taking advantage of his divine prowess, charged in. He saw a fine place indeed:
Mist and glow shimmered bright, The sun and moon borrowed their light. White clouds drifted constantly from the cave, Green moss ran wild across the courtyard. Along one path, rare flowers vied in splendor; On every step, jade grasses contended in fragrance. The air was warm, the scene ever-spring— Just like the Garden of Langyuan, No less than Penglai or Yingzhou. Slippery seats were overgrown with long vines; A level bridge was hung with tangled creepers. Bees carried red stamens to the rocky cave; Butterflies played among hidden orchids past the stone screen.
The Pilgrim hurried forward, looked closely, and saw four large characters on the stone screen: "Qinghua Immortal Palace."
Unable to contain himself, he leapt past the stone screen and saw the old monster embracing a beautiful woman, panting heavily, talking about the Bhiksou affair, both crying out: "What a fine opportunity! Three years' work, finished today—ruined by that monkey head!"
The Pilgrim rushed up, whipped out his rod, and shouted: "You bunch of hairy louts! What fine opportunity! Take a blow from my rod!" The old monster dropped the beauty, swung his coiled-dragon staff, and hurried to meet the attack. The two of them fought before the cave—this battle even fiercer than before:
The rod rose, spewing golden light; The staff whirled, belching vicious air.
The monster said: "You ignoramus, you dare enter my door!"
The Pilgrim said: "I mean to subdue you, evil monster!"
The monster said: "I courted the king—what's it to you? Why do you come bullying your way in?"
The Pilgrim said: "A monk's practice is rooted in compassion; I cannot bear to see children slaughtered alive."
Words flew back and forth, each side full of hatred; The rod met the staff, aimed straight at the heart. Fine flowers were crushed in the heat of battle; Green moss was trampled where feet slipped. The battle dimmed the cave's radiant glow; The fragrant blooms on the rocks were all pressed flat.
The clash startled birds so they could not fly; The shouts frightened the beauty into flight. Only the old monster and the Monkey King remained, As howling winds swept the ground.
Just as they fought their way out the cave door, they ran into Bajie, whose dull nature was roused. Originally, Bajie outside had heard the commotion inside, and it had made him itch with impatience. He took out his rake, uprooted the nine-branched willow tree, and hacked at it a few times. Blood spurted out, with a faint crying sound.
He said: "This tree has become a spirit! This tree has become a spirit!" He pressed it down and was about to strike again when he saw the Pilgrim chasing the demon out. Without a word, the idiot rushed forward, raising his rake to strike. The old monster, already hard-pressed fighting the Pilgrim, saw Bajie's rake coming and grew even more panicked. He lost the fight, shook his body, turned into a beam of cold light, and fled eastward. The two of them refused to let go and gave chase to the east.
Just as they were shouting and pursuing, they heard the sound of luan cranes and auspicious light, ethereal and faint. Looking up, they saw it was the Old Man Star of the South Pole—the Star of Longevity. The old man enveloped the cold light and called: "Great Sage, slow down! Tianpeng, stop chasing! This old Daoist is here to bow."
The Pilgrim returned the bow: "Brother Longevity Star, where are you coming from?"
Bajie laughed: "Meat-headed old fellow, you've enveloped the cold light—you must have caught the monster."
The Star of Longevity smiled apologetically: "He's here, he's here. I beg you two gentlemen to spare his life."
The Pilgrim said: "This old monster has nothing to do with you, brother—why do you intercede?"
The Star of Longevity laughed: "He is my mount. I never expected him to run off and become this monster."
The Pilgrim said: "Since he is your creature, brother, make him show his true form for us to see."
The Star of Longevity, hearing this, released the cold light and shouted: "Wicked beast! Show your true form at once, and I'll spare your death sentence!" The monster turned around—and it was a white deer. The Star of Longevity picked up his walking stick: "This wicked beast! He even stole my staff!" The deer prostrated itself on the ground, unable to speak, only kowtowing and shedding tears.
Just look at him:
His body was like jade, mottled with streaks; His two antlers branched in seven curving tines. When hungry, he sought the herb garden; When thirsty, he drank from cloud-fed streams. Over the years he learned the arts of flight; In time he mastered the power of transformation. Now, summoned by his master, He showed his form, ears folded, prostrate in the dust.
The Star of Longevity thanked the Pilgrim and was about to mount the deer and leave, but the Pilgrim seized him and said: "Brother, wait—there are still two things unfinished."
The Star of Longevity said: "What things are still unfinished?"
The Pilgrim said: "First, the beauty hasn't been captured yet—I don't know what kind of monster she is. Second, we need to go together to the Kingdom of Bhiksou to show the foolish king and report back."
The Star of Longevity said: "In that case, I'll wait here. You and Tianpeng go into the cave and capture that beauty, then we can all go and reveal the truth."
The Pilgrim said: "Just wait a moment, brother. We'll be right back."
Bajie, rousing his spirits, followed the Pilgrim straight into the Qinghua Immortal Palace, shouting: "Capture the demon! Capture the demon!"
The beauty, trembling and terrified, had no way to escape. Hearing the shouts grow louder, she ducked behind the stone screen—but there was no back door. Bajie shouted: "Where are you going! You seductive spirit who deceived men! Take my rake!"
The beauty had no weapon and could not fight back. She flashed to the side, turned into a beam of cold light, and tried to flee outward. But the Great Sage blocked the cold light—crack! One blow of the rod—and the monster could not keep her footing. She fell in the dust and revealed her true form: it was a white-faced fox. The idiot could not restrain himself—raising his rake, he brought it down on her head. Pitiful—that beauty whose smile could topple cities and kingdoms, now transformed into a hairy fox corpse!
The Pilgrim called out: "Don't smash her—keep the body to show the foolish king."
The idiot, not minding the filth, grabbed the fox by the tail and dragged her out, following the Pilgrim through the door.
They saw the Star of Longevity, hand on the deer's head, scolding: "You wicked beast! How could you betray your master and run off to become a demon here! If I hadn't come, the Great Sage Sun would surely have beaten you to death."
The Pilgrim leapt out: "What are you saying, brother?"
The Star of Longevity said: "I was scolding the deer! I was scolding the deer!"
Bajie flung the dead fox down in front of the deer: "Is this your daughter?" The deer nodded and shook its head, stretching its mouth to sniff at the fox several times, making soft sounds, as if reluctant to part. The Star of Longevity slapped it on the head: "Wicked beast! You're lucky to keep your life—why do you sniff at her?" He untied his sash, looped it around the deer's neck, and led it: "Great Sage, let's go see the King of Bhiksou together."
The Pilgrim said: "Wait! Let's sweep this place clean, so no more demons arise here in years to come."
Bajie, hearing this, raised his rake and hacked wildly at the willow trees.
The Pilgrim recited the "Om" true word again, summoning the local Earth God once more: "Gather some dry firewood and light a blazing fire, to eliminate this demon's lair for your area, so it won't trouble you again." The Earth God turned, and with a gust of cold wind, led his ghost soldiers to gather frost-grass, autumn-green grass, smartweed grass, mountain-rue grass, basket-mugwort wood, dragon-bone wood, and reed-catkin wood—all dried-out remnants from the year before, catching fire as readily as oil.
The Pilgrim called: "Bajie, no need to hack the trees. Just stuff these into the cave and set them ablaze—burn it clean." Once the fire was lit, it indeed burned the Qinghua demon's lair to a scorched pit.
Only then did they dismiss the Earth God. Together with the Star of Longevity leading the deer and dragging the fox, they returned to the court. The Pilgrim said to the king: "Is this your Beautiful Consort? Was she fun to play with?"
The king trembled with fear. Then he saw the Great Sage Sun leading the Star of Longevity, pulling the white deer—they had all arrived before the hall. The king, officials, and consorts all bowed down at once.
The Pilgrim stepped forward, supported the king, and laughed: "Don't bow to me. This deer is your State Father—you should bow to him."
The king was so ashamed he wished the ground would swallow him, and could only say: "I thank the divine monk for saving the children of my entire kingdom. This is truly Heaven's grace!" He immediately issued an edict for the Court of Imperial Entertainments to arrange a vegetarian banquet, to open the Eastern Pavilion, and invite the Old Man Star of the South Pole and the Tang Priest's four disciples to sit together in gratitude.
Sanzo bowed to the Star of Longevity, and the Sha Monk also greeted him with proper ceremony. They all asked: "Since the white deer belongs to the Old Star of Longevity, how did he come here to cause harm?"
The Star of Longevity laughed: "Earlier, the Imperial Lord of the Eastern Florescence visited my humble mountain. I kept him to play chess, and before the game was finished, this wicked beast slipped away. After my guest departed, I looked for him but could not find him. I calculated with my fingers and knew he had come here. I came to find him, and just in time met the Great Sage Sun exerting his power. If I had been any later, this beast would have been finished."
Before the conversation was done, someone reported: "The banquet is ready." What a fine vegetarian feast:
Five colors filled the gate; Extraordinary fragrance filled every seat. The tables were hung with embroidered valances, gorgeous with brocade; The floor was covered with red carpets, shimmering with rosy light. In precious duck censers, aloeswood and sandalwood curled; Before the royal feast, vegetable dishes steamed with fragrance. On the serving platters, tall fruit was stacked into pavilions, And dragon candy was twisted into the shapes of beasts. Mandarin-duck ingots, lion-immortal candies— Each in lifelike shape; Parrot cups, egret dippers— Each as if real. Fruits before the seats, every kind abundant; Vegetarian dishes on the tables, every item exquisite. Giant chestnuts and small bulbs, Fresh lychees and peaches. Dates and dried persimmons, sweet to the taste; Pine nuts and grapes, fragrant and rich. Several kinds of honeyed sweets, A number of steamed pastries. Fried in oil, drizzled with sugar— A tapestry of blooms and brocade. Golden plates heaped high with large steamed buns; Silver bowls brimming with fragrant rice. Spicy-hot soup with long glass noodles, Fragrant and savory, brought in continuous procession. Beyond telling: mushrooms, tree-ear fungus, Tender bamboo shoots, yellow essence root— Ten-fragrance vegetarian dishes, a hundred delicacies. Servers came and went without pause; As courses advanced and retreated, all was sumptuously set.
When the seats were arranged, the Star of Longevity took the seat of honor, the Elder took the second seat, the king took the front seat, and the Pilgrim, Bajie, and the Sha Monk took the side seats. Two or three Grand Preceptors accompanied them on either side. The Music Office was ordered to play. The king held up a purple aurora cup and personally poured wine for each guest—only the Tang Priest did not drink.
Bajie said to the Pilgrim: "Elder brother, you can have the fruit, but let me enjoy the soups and rice."
The idiot, not distinguishing good from bad, piled everything together, and whatever came, he ate clean. When the banquet was over, the Star of Longevity took his leave.
The king approached, knelt, and bowed to the Star of Longevity, begging for a method to cure his illness and prolong his life. The Star of Longevity laughed: "I came to find my deer and didn't bring any elixir. I'd like to teach you a cultivation method, but your sinews are withered and your spirit is broken—you cannot return to the elixir. I only have three dates in my sleeve—they were presented to the Imperial Lord of the Eastern Florescence for tea, and I hadn't eaten them. Let me give them to you."
The king swallowed them and gradually felt his body lighten and his illness recede. Those who later attained long life in that kingdom all originated from this.
Bajie, seeing this, called out: "Old Longevity! You have fire-dates—give me a few to eat!"
The Star of Longevity said: "I didn't bring any. Some other day I'll send you a few catties." He then exited the Eastern Pavilion, expressed his thanks, gave the white deer a shout to rise, leapt onto its back, and rode away on the clouds. The king, consorts, and the common people of the city all burned incense and bowed—let us not dwell on this.
Sanzo called: "Disciples, pack up and bid farewell to the king." The king again earnestly begged for instruction.
The Pilgrim said: "Your Majesty, from now on, indulge less in sexual desire and accumulate more hidden merit. In all things, make up for shortcomings with your strengths, and you will naturally be able to cure illness and prolong your life—that is the teaching."
The king brought out two plates of loose gold and silver, offering them as travel expenses. The Tang Priest firmly refused, not accepting a single coin. The king, having no other choice, ordered the imperial carriage to be prepared, invited the Tang Priest to sit in the phoenix carriage and dragon chariot, and the king himself along with the consorts pushed the wheels and turned the axle, seeing them out of the court. The main streets and markets—the common people—all filled their bowls with clean water and lit true incense in their censers, and saw them out of the city.
Suddenly, a gust of wind sounded in midair. On both sides of the road, one thousand one hundred and eleven goose cages descended. Inside, children were crying. Invisible in the air, the City God, the Earth God, the Village God, the True Officials, the Five-Direction Protectors, the Four Duty Officers, the Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Guardian Sangharama all called out in unison: "Great Sage, we were previously commanded by you to take away the children in the goose cages. Now that we know the Great Sage has succeeded and is departing, we have brought them all back, one by one."
The king, consorts, and all the subjects bowed down once more.
The Pilgrim called to the sky: "I have troubled you all. Please return to your respective shrines. I shall have the people offer sacrifices to thank you."
Whoosh, whoosh—the cold wind rose again and departed. The Pilgrim called for the families of the city to come claim their children.
Word spread quickly. They all came, each claiming their child from the cages—joyfully, hugging them out, calling "big brother!" "my little flesh!"—some jumping, some laughing, all crying: "Hold onto the Grandfathers from the Great Tang! Come to our house to receive our thanks for saving our children!"
Young and old, men and women, none were afraid of their ugly appearances. They hoisted up Bajie, carried the Sha Monk, lifted the Great Sage Sun on their heads, supported the Tang Priest, led the horse, carried the luggage—and surged back into the city. The king could not stop them. This family opened a banquet, that family set out a feast. Those who could not invite them in time made monk's hats, monk's shoes, monastic robes, cloth socks—clothes large and small, inside and out—all coming to present as gifts.
In this manner they lingered for nearly a month before they could leave the city. Some even had portraits painted and spirit tablets set up, burning incense and making offerings. This was truly:
Hidden merit piled high—a mountain of grace, Saving thousands upon thousands of lives.
But what happened after—listen to the explanation in the next chapter.