Chapter 45: The Great Sage Leaves His Name at the Three Pure Ones Monastery; Sun Wukong Shows His Powers in Chechi Kingdom

Now Sun Wukong gave Brother Sha one pinch with his left hand and Brother Pig one pinch with his right, and at once the two of them understood. They sat high up there with their faces stiff and said nothing at all. The Taoists lit lamps and torches and searched high and low, yet the three pilgrims sat there just like painted figures of clay and gilt.

Tiger Power Great Immortal said, "There are no evil men here. How, then, has the whole feast been eaten?"

Deer Power Great Immortal said, "It looks like the work of human hands. Even the things with skins have had their skins stripped off, and the things with seeds have had their seeds spat out. Why do we not see any human figures?"

Goat Power Great Immortal said, "Brother, do not doubt it. We have been devout and earnest, chanting scripture here day and night and sending memorials to the capital. We also bear the title of the imperial court. Surely this has startled the Perfected Ones into coming down in person. They must have accepted all these offerings.

Since the immortal visitors have not yet departed and the crane-carried carriage still stands here, let us bow to the celestial lords and beg for some holy water and cinnabar pills to present to His Majesty. Would that not give him long life and show our merits as well?"

Tiger Power Great Immortal said, "Well spoken."

He ordered, "Disciples, resume the music and the chanting. And fetch my ritual robe. I will pace the stars and kneel in prayer."

All the little Taoists obeyed. They lined themselves up neatly in two rows. With a ding from the bell, they chanted a full scroll of the Yellow Court Scripture and the Dao De Jing. Tiger Power Great Immortal put on his ritual robe, lifted a jade tablet, danced and scattered dust before the altar, and bowed face-down, petitioning upward:

"In utmost fear and trembling, I bow and take refuge. My ministers promote the teaching and look up toward the pure void. We destroy the monks and uplift the light of the Dao. By imperial command we repair the treasure hall and adorn the palace courts. We spread our offerings wide and hang dragon banners high. Through the night we hold the candles, and all day we burn incense. One sincerity reaches above; one tiny devotion is reverently returned. We are fortunate to have received the descent of the holy carriage and not yet seen it depart. Please grant us some cinnabar pills and holy water to present to the court, that his life may be as long as the Southern Mountains."

Bajie heard this and grew uneasy. He sent a quiet look toward Wukong and said, "Brother, this is on us. We ate the food and did not move on, but stayed to let them pray. How are we to answer?"

Wukong pinched him again and suddenly spoke up, calling, "Little immortals of the next rank, do not kneel and pray yet. We have come from the Peach Banquet and did not bring any cinnabar pills or holy water with us. Wait until another day, and we may return and bestow some."

When the high and low Taoists heard those words, every one of them trembled in his robe and cried, "Lord! The living Perfected Ones have descended into the world! By all means do not let them leave. We beg only for some method of long life."

Deer Power Great Immortal stepped forward and bowed again, saying:

"We bow with dust at our brows and prepare our sincere elixir hearts. We came to this realm to promote the Dao and drive out the monks. The king is pleased and honors the mysterious teaching. A great cosmic rite has been held, and we have chanted through the whole night. Since the celestial lords have not scorned us but have descended in person, we humbly beg your care and look up for your grace. Surely you will leave us some holy water, so that we disciples may prolong our lives and attain immortality."

Sha Wujing pinched Wukong and muttered, "Brother, this is serious. They are back at it again with their prayers."

Wukong said, "Give them some."

Bajie said softly, "Where are we to get any?"

Wukong said, "Just watch me. When I have some, all of you will have some too."

When the chanting and music were done, Wukong spoke again. "Little immortals, there is no need for such bowing and kneeling. I did not mean to leave you no holy water at all, for I fear that would wipe out your line. Yet if I should give it to you, it would be too easy."

At this, the Taoists all knelt and knocked their heads to the floor, saying, "We beg the celestial lord to remember the devotion of his disciples and grant us a little. We disciples spread the teachings of the Dao and proclaim to the king that the mysterious gate is to be honored."

Wukong said, "Very well. Bring vessels."

The Taoists all kowtowed in thanks.

Tiger Power Great Immortal, being the pushy sort, had a great vat carried up and set in the hall. Deer Power Great Immortal brought a sand basin and placed it on the altar table. Goat Power Great Immortal took down the flowers from a vase and moved the vase to the center.

Wukong said, "All of you go out before the hall and shut the lattice doors. Do not let the heavenly secret leak out. I will leave you some holy water."

The Taoists all knelt before the red steps and closed the hall doors.

Then Wukong stood up, lifted the tiger-skin skirt, and let loose a full vase of foul urine. When Bajie saw it, he was delighted and said, "Brother, after all these years as brothers, this is one thing you have never shown me. I only just ate a little food, and now I have work to do as well."

The fool lifted his robe and, with a roar like the Longmen Falls, filled a sand basin in a rush. Sha Wujing also gave half a vat. Then they straightened their clothes and sat again in their places.

"Little immortals," Wukong said, "the holy water is ready."

The Taoists pushed open the lattice doors, kowtowed in thanks, and carried the vat out. They poured the vase and basin together and told one disciple, "Bring a cup and let us taste it."

One of the little Taoists brought a tea cup and handed it to the old Taoist. He ladled out a cupful and drank, licking his lips and smacking his tongue.

Deer Power Great Immortal asked, "Brother, is it good?"

The old Taoist pursed his lips. "Not very good. There is a somewhat drunken flavor to it."

Goat Power Great Immortal said, "Let me taste some."

He drank a mouthful too and said, "There is a bit of pig-urine stink."

Wukong sat above and heard that, and by then he had seen through the whole thing. "I will make a move and leave my name behind all at once," he said. Then he shouted:

"Daoist title, Daoist title, how foolish are your thoughts!
Would the Three Purities ever descend to this mortal place?
I will tell you my true surname and let you know.
We Tang monks came west by imperial command.
In the quiet night there was nothing to do, so we descended into your court.
We ate your offerings and sat idly for fun.
You bowed to us, and how should we answer?
This is no holy water at all.
What you drank was all my own piss."

When the Taoists heard this, they blocked the doorway and all rushed in with forks, rakes, brooms, tiles, and stones, beating wildly at the room without regard for face or body. Wukong, very fine indeed, tucked Sha Wujing under his left arm and Bajie under his right, burst through the door, rode his cloud light, and went straight back to the abbot's quarters at Zhiyuan Temple. They did not dare wake Tripitaka, and all three of them went back to sleep.

Before long it was nearly the fifth watch.

The king held court, gathering the civil and military officials and the four hundred court ministers. The lanterns of crimson gauze shone bright, and the incense smoke from the treasure burner drifted in clouds.

At that time Tripitaka woke and called, "Disciples, disciples, come and help me change the travel pass."

Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Bajie all got up at once, put on their clothes, and stood on either side. They said, "Master, hear us. This king has faith in those Taoists and is promoting the Dao while suppressing the monks. We fear that if the words are not carefully chosen, they will refuse to change the pass. Let us all go into court with you."

Tripitaka was overjoyed. He put on the brocade cassock. Wukong took the travel documents, Sha Wujing carried the alms bowl, and Zhu Bajie took the monk's staff. The luggage and horse were left with the monks of Zhiyuan Temple. Then they went straight to the Five Phoenix Tower, bowed to the gate officer, gave their names, and said they were monks from Great Tang in the Eastern Land, come to exchange their travel pass and asking that the matter be reported above.

The gate captain went into court and bowed to the gold steps. "Outside there are four monks saying they are from Great Tang in the Eastern Land and have come to exchange their travel pass. They are now waiting before the Five Phoenix Tower for your decree."

The king said, "These monks must have nowhere to go and so have come here to die. Why have the patrol officers not seized them and brought them in?"

At his side, the grand tutor of the court stepped forward and said, "Great Tang in the Eastern Land is the Southern Continent, called the great civilized realm. It lies tens of thousands of li away, with many demons on the road. These monks must have some power, which is why they dared come west. I beg Your Majesty to consider the remoteness of this civilized land and summon them in to inspect the pass and then let them go, so that the virtue of kindness may not be lost."

The king accepted the advice and had Tripitaka and the others summoned to the base of the Golden Chime Hall. The master and disciples lined up before the steps and handed the travel pass to the king.

The king had just opened it to look when another gate officer came to report, "The three national teachers have arrived."

The king was startled, put away the travel pass, and hurried down from the dragon throne. He had attendants set out an embroidered stool and bowed to receive them. Tripitaka and the others turned to look and saw the three immortals swaying in, with a pair of little boys with puffy topknots following behind.

The two ranks of officials bent low and dared not look up. The Taoists went up to the Golden Chime Hall and did not bow to the king at all.

The king said, "National teachers, I had not invited you today. Why have you come down?"

The old Taoist said, "We have come to report a matter. Which country are those four monks from?"

The king said, "They are monks from Great Tang in the Eastern Land, sent to the Western Heaven to seek the scriptures. They have come here to exchange their travel pass."

The three Taoists clapped and laughed. "I said they had gone, but it turns out they are still here."

The king was alarmed. "What do the national teachers mean? They have just reported their names, and I was about to have them brought in and handed over for your use. But the grand tutor spoke reasonably, and because I wished to respect the far-off travelers and not cut off China's good fortune, I summoned them in to inspect the pass. I had no idea the national teachers would ask this. Have they somehow offended you?"

The Taoists laughed. "Your Majesty does not know. Yesterday they came to the city gate, killed two of our disciples, set loose five hundred imprisoned monks, and smashed the carts to pieces. At night they broke into our monastery, destroyed the statues of the Three Pure Ones, and stole the imperial offerings. They deceived us into thinking they were celestial lords descending from Heaven, so we begged them for holy water and cinnabar pills to present to Your Majesty, in hopes of prolonging your life. Little did we know they only left us some urine and fooled us all. We each drank a cup and discovered the taste for ourselves. We were just about to seize them when they ran off. And now they are still here. Truly, the road of grievance is narrow."

The king was furious and wanted to execute the four pilgrims.

Sun Wukong joined his palms and spoke up in a stern voice, calling, "Your Majesty, calm your thunderous rage for a moment and let the monks speak."

The king said, "You have offended the national teachers. How could their words be wrong?"

Wukong said, "Who can prove it when they say I killed two of their disciples yesterday outside the city? We may as well admit it and have two monks pay with their lives, while two others still go west to seek the scriptures. And when they say I smashed carts and released imprisoned monks, there is no witness to that either. By that reasoning, one monk should be made to answer for it.

They say I destroyed the Three Pure Ones and caused trouble in the monastery. That is another false charge."

The king asked, "How is it false?"

Wukong said, "I am a monk from the Eastern Land and had only just arrived here. I could scarcely even find my way along the streets. How could I know what was happening in their monastery at night? Even if I had left behind some urine, they should have seized me then and there. Why do they wait until now to invent a charge and harm people? There are countless men in the world who travel under false names and false surnames. Why, then, do they say it was me? I beg Your Majesty to cool your anger and examine the matter carefully."

The king, already muddled, heard Wukong's argument and could not make up his mind.

While he was still in doubt, another gate officer came to report, "Your Majesty, many elders from the countryside are waiting outside for an audience."

The king asked, "What do they want?"

He had them summoned at once. Thirty or forty village elders came before the hall, knocked their heads to the floor, and said, "May you live ten thousand years. This spring we have had no rain at all, and we fear a summer drought. We have come to beg that one of the national teachers pray for a sweet rain and save the common folk."

The king said, "Let the elders withdraw. There will be rain soon enough."

The elders thanked him and withdrew.

The king said, "Monks from Great Tang, why would I be promoting the Dao and suppressing the monks? It is only because in all the years that our men of the monastery have prayed for rain, not a single drop has ever come. Fortunately, the national teachers came down from Heaven and saved us from hardship.

You have come from far away and offended them. By rights you should be judged at once, but I will pardon you for now. Dare you compete with our national teachers in praying for rain? If you can pray down a sweet rain and save the people, I will forgive your crime at once, exchange your travel pass, and let you go west. If you lose and no rain falls, I will send you to the execution ground and punish you publicly."

Wukong laughed. "Little monk also knows something about praying."

The king was pleased and ordered the altar grounds cleaned. He also said, "Make my carriage ready. I myself will go up to the Five Phoenix Tower to watch."

The court promptly prepared the royal carriage, and in no time the king was seated above.

Tripitaka stood below the tower with Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Bajie attending him. The three Taoists sat with the king above. Before long an officer came galloping in to report, "The altar and all ritual objects are ready. Please have the national teacher ascend the platform."

Tiger Power Great Immortal bowed and cupped his hands, took leave of the king, and went down from the tower. Wukong stopped him and said, "Where are you going, sir?"

"To ascend the altar and pray for rain."

Wukong said, "You think very highly of yourself and do not make room for us monks from afar. Still, that is true enough: a strong dragon does not crush the local snake. You go first, but we must make our understanding clear before the king."

"What understanding?"

Wukong said, "You and I will both ascend the altar and pray for rain. How will we know whose rain it is? It would not do to leave the merit unassigned."

The king, listening from above, was secretly pleased. "That little monk speaks with some backbone," he thought.

Sha Wujing, hearing it, smiled to himself. "He has not yet shown the real backbone in his belly," he thought.

Tiger Power Great Immortal said, "There is no need to argue. His Majesty will know naturally."

Wukong said, "Even if he does, I am a monk from far away and have not yet contended with you. If later there is mutual pretense and no clear reckoning, that would not do. We must make it plain before we begin."

The Great Immortal said, "Once I am on the altar, just watch my token as the signal. One strike and the wind will rise. Two and the clouds will gather. Three and thunder and lightning will sound together. Four and the rain will come. Five and the clouds will scatter and the rain will stop."

Wukong laughed. "Marvelous! This monk has never seen such a thing. Please, after you."

The Great Immortal strode ahead, and Tripitaka and the others followed him to the altar gate.

Looking up, they saw a high platform more than three zhang tall, with the flags of the twenty-eight lunar lodges planted on both sides. At the top stood a table with an incense burner on it, and incense smoke drifted up in clouds. On either side were two candlesticks, their flames bright despite the wind. Beside the burner leaned a gold tablet engraved with the names of the Thunder Gods.

Below stood five large vats filled to the brim with clear water. Floating on the water were willow branches, and on each willow branch rested an iron tablet inscribed with the talismanic script of the Thunder Department. On the left and right stood five great stakes, each marked with the names of the Five Directions' Barbarian Thunder Envoys. Beside every stake stood two Taoists with iron hammers, waiting to strike.

Behind the platform stood many Taoists writing memorials. In the center was a paper furnace, and nearby were several effigies of the talisman bearers, the local gods, and the scripture-attendants.

The Great Immortal went in without the slightest modesty and climbed straight to the top of the platform. A little Taoist handed him several talisman papers written in yellow and a treasured sword. The Great Immortal held the sword, muttered a spell, and burned one talisman over the candle flame.

Below, two or three Taoists took up a talisman effigy and a memorial and also set them on fire. Then came the first crack of the token. In the air, a slow wind began to drift in.

Bajie muttered, "This is bad, this is bad. This Taoist really does have some skill. One strike of the token and the wind has truly come up."

Wukong said, "Brother, be quiet. Do not speak to me again. Just protect Master and let me do the work."

The Great Sage plucked a single hair, blew on it with immortal breath, and cried, "Change!"

It turned into a fake Wukong who stood beneath Tripitaka. Then his true body left his spirit and flew into the air, where he shouted, "Which one of you is in charge of the wind?"

The Wind Mother was startled and quickly gathered up her cloth bag, while Xun Erlang tied shut the mouth cord and stepped forward to bow. Wukong said, "I am protecting the holy monk of Great Tang on the road to fetch the scriptures. We have come through Chechi Kingdom and are competing with this evil Daoist to pray for rain. Why are you not helping Old Sun, but instead helping that Taoist? I will spare you this time. Put away the wind. If even a thread of wind remains and stirs that Taoist's whiskers, each of you shall be beaten twenty blows with the iron staff."

The Wind Mother said, "We would not dare, we would not dare."

At once the wind vanished.

Bajie could not help shouting, "Sir, step aside. The token has been struck once, but why is there not so much as a breath of wind? Come down and let us go up."

The Taoist again grasped the token, burned the talisman memorials, and struck the second blow. Instantly, clouds filled the sky.

Sun Wukong cried out over their heads, "Which of you is in charge of the clouds?"

The Cloud-Spreading Boy and the Mist-Dispelling Lord were startled and came forward to bow. Wukong repeated his earlier words, and the cloud and mist attendants drew back the clouds, letting the sun shine brilliantly across a sky of ten thousand li with not a cloud in sight.

Bajie laughed. "This fellow can only fool the king and fend off the common folk. He has no real skill at all. The token has been struck twice, so why is there no cloud?"

The Taoist grew increasingly frantic. He took up his treasured sword, let his hair fall loose, muttered spells, burned talismans, and struck the token a third time. At once Deng the Heavenly General appeared from the Southern Heavenly Gate with the Thunder Lord and Lightning Mother, all escorting the air as they bowed to Wukong.

Wukong repeated the matter and asked, "Why have you come so sincerely? By what decree?"

The Heavenly General said, "That Taoist's Five Thunder Method is genuine. He sent memorials and burned talisman papers, which alarmed the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor issued a decree and sent it straight to the office of the Nine Heavens Responding-Origin Thunder-Sound Universal-Transforming Heavenly Lord. We have come by decree to help with thunder, lightning, and rain."

Wukong said, "If that is so, then stand down for now and wait while Old Sun does his work."

Sure enough, no thunder sounded and no lightning flashed.

The Taoist became even more frantic. He added incense, burned talismans, chanted spells, and struck the token again and again. Suddenly the Four Seas' Dragon Kings arrived together in the air.

Wukong shouted, "Ao Guang, where are you going?"

Ao Guang, Ao Shun, Ao Qin, and Ao Run all stepped forward to bow.

Wukong repeated the matter and said, "I troubled you before and did not succeed. I ask for your aid today."

The Dragon Kings said, "We obey, we obey."

Wukong also thanked Ao Shun and said, "Some days ago I was helped by your son when he bound that monster and rescued my master."

The Dragon King said, "That fellow is still locked in the sea and has not yet been released. We were just about to ask the Great Sage for judgment."

Wukong said, "Handle him however you like. But for now help me with one matter.

The Taoist has finished striking the token four times, and now it is my turn to go up and work. I do not know how to issue talismans or burn memorials, nor how to strike any token. Your honors must help me perform."

Deng the Heavenly General said, "Since the Great Sage commands it, who would dare refuse? But we must have a signal before we dare obey the order. Otherwise the thunder and rain will become confused, and it will look as if the Great Sage had no proper procedure."

Wukong said, "Then I will use my staff as the signal."

The Thunder Lord was startled. "Mercy, mercy! How can we endure the staff?"

Wukong said, "I am not going to strike you. Only watch: when my staff points upward once, the wind must rise."

The Wind Mother and Xun Erlang answered at once, "We will let the wind rise."

"When the staff points a second time, clouds must form."

The Cloud-Spreading Boy and Mist-Dispelling Lord said, "We will spread the clouds."

"When the staff points a third time, thunder and lightning must sound."

The Thunder Lord and Lightning Mother said, "We comply, we comply."

"When the staff points a fourth time, it must rain."

The Dragon Kings said, "We obey, we obey."

"When the staff points a fifth time, the sky must clear and the sun must shine. Do not make any mistake."

After giving these orders, he lowered his cloud and shook the hair from his body back into place. The mortal eye could not see any of this. Then Wukong cried out loudly nearby, "Sir, if you please. The token has been struck four times, and there is still no wind, cloud, thunder, or rain. Now it is my turn."

The Taoist had no choice and dared not linger. He came down from the platform and went to the tower to meet the king.

Wukong said, "Let me follow him and hear what he says."

Only then did the king ask, "I am all ears. Your four strikes of the token produced no wind or rain. Why is that?"

The Taoist said, "Today the dragon and spirit gods are all out of the house."

Wukong thundered, "Your Majesty, the dragon and spirit gods are all in the house. It is only that the national teacher's methods are not working, so he cannot summon them. Wait until the monk calls them down and you will see."

The king said, "Then go up to the altar at once. I will still wait here for rain."

Wukong received the command and hurried back to the altar, pulling Tripitaka along with him. "Master, please go up to the platform."

Tripitaka said, "Disciple, I do not know how to pray for rain."

Bajie laughed. "He has got you. If there still is no rain, they will haul you to the firewood pile and make a clean end of it."

Wukong said, "You do not know how to pray, but you do know how to recite scripture. Let me help you."

Only then did the elder step up onto the altar. He sat firmly, gathered his spirit, and silently recited the Heart Sutra. As he sat there, an officer came galloping up and asked, "Monk, why are you not striking the token or burning talismans?"

Wukong shouted back, "No need! No need! We use quiet cultivation for our prayer."

The officer returned to report, and we need not linger on it.

Wukong heard the master finish the scripture and then took the iron staff from his ear. He shook it once in the wind, and it grew to more than a zhang long and as thick as a bowl. Pointing it upward, he made the first sign.

At once the Wind Mother and Xun Erlang saw it and hurriedly opened the cloth bag and untied the cord. They were:

The Wind Mother and Xun Erlang,
the Wind Mother and Xun Erlang showed divine might.
One raised a wind so strong it pressed stones against the sky;
the other sent mist thick as smoke to cover the earth.
The three markets went dark and the six streets dimmed.
The wind came from the sea; the rain followed from Kunlun.
In a moment it covered heaven and earth; in an instant it hid the world from dust.
It was like chaos itself, and the gate of the Phoenix Tower could not be seen.

At that time the mists were thick and the clouds were low.

Wukong pointed upward a second time.

Then came:

Thunder Lord blazing with rage, Lightning Mother burning with wrath.
Thunder Lord blazing with rage rode his fire beast down from the Heavenly Pass;
Lightning Mother, burning with wrath, whipped gold serpents from the starry office.
Roaring thunder split open Iron Fork Mountain;
flashing red silk leaped out over the Eastern Sea.
The rumble rolled like a moving cart;
the lightning shone bright as spilled rice.
All living sprouts and all living creatures changed their spirit;
many hibernating insects awoke from sleep.
King and ministers on the tower were startled in fear,
merchants and traders heard it and trembled.

The thunder crashed and the lightning snapped, as if heaven and earth were breaking apart. The whole city was so frightened that every house burned incense and every home burned paper offerings.

Wukong called out, "Old Deng, be careful. Strike down a few of those corrupt officials and unfilial sons for me, and make an example of them."

The thunder only grew louder.

Wukong pointed the staff upward again.

Then came:

The dragons issued their command, and rain spread across Heaven and Earth.
It flowed like the Silver River pouring over a heavenly gorge, swift as clouds rushing through the sea gate.
The tower heard dripping sounds; outside the windows came a rushing sigh.
Above, the Milky Way poured down; before the streets, white waves surged.
It ran like water from an upturned vat, roared like basins being tipped.
A lonely homestead would have been flooded to the roof;
a riverbank would have been flattened level.
Truly mulberry fields turned to blue sea in an instant, and the shores rolled with waves.
The divine dragons borrowed this power to help, pouring down as if lifting the Yangtze itself.

The rain began at the hour of the dragon and continued until just before noon. It flooded the streets inside and outside Chechi City.

The king sent an order: "Enough rain, enough rain! If you add too much more, you will drown the crops and make matters worse."

An officer below the Five Phoenix Tower galloped through the rain to report, "Holy monk, the rain is enough."

When Wukong heard it, he pointed the staff upward once more. In an instant the thunder ceased, the wind stopped, the rain scattered, and the clouds rolled away.

The king was overjoyed, and all the civil and military officials praised him, saying, "Good monk! This is truly a case where one stronger man stands above another. Even if our national teachers can pray for rain, when they pray for clear weather, it may still dribble for half a day and never really clear. How is it that this monk can make it clear whenever he wants? In an instant the sun is bright again, and there is not a cloud for ten thousand li."

The king ordered the carriage returned and had the travel pass exchanged, then sent Tripitaka on his way. But just as the royal seal was being used, the three Taoists stepped up and blocked him, saying, "Your Majesty, this rain was not the monks' doing at all. It was still the power of our Daoist teaching."

The king said, "You just said the dragon and spirit gods were not at home and there would be no rain. Yet the moment he went up and prayed in quiet cultivation, the rain came down. How can you now compete with him for the merit?"

Tiger Power Great Immortal said, "I sent the memorials, burned the talisman papers, and struck the token. Who would dare not come? It must be that summons from some other direction gathered all five offices of wind, cloud, thunder, and rain elsewhere. The moment they heard my token, they rushed over and happened to meet me below while he happened to be above, all at the same time. So the rain came. If you trace it to the root, it was still I who summoned the dragon and brought the rain. How can you count it as his merit?"

The king was still muddled by these words and could not settle his mind.

Wukong stepped forward, joined his palms, and said, "Your Majesty, these outside-path spells do not count as true merit. They cannot be reckoned as mine or theirs. Right now the Four Seas' Dragon Kings are still in the air, and my monks have not yet dismissed them, so they do not dare leave. If the national teacher can summon the Dragon Kings to show themselves, then let that be counted as his accomplishment."

The king was delighted. "I have been emperor for twenty-three years, and I have never once seen what a live dragon looks like. You two sides may show your powers. I care not whether monk or Daoist, only that whoever can summon them has the merit; whoever cannot summon them has the fault."

How could the Taoists have such power? They could not summon them. The Dragon Kings saw the Great Sage there and did not dare show themselves. The Taoists said, "We cannot do it. You are the one who summoned them."

The Great Sage lifted his face to the sky and cried out sharply, "Where is Ao Guang? Show yourselves in your true forms, brothers."

The Dragon Kings heard the call and at once showed their true bodies, four dragons, drifting through cloud and mist toward the Golden Chime Hall. See them:

Transforming and flying, they circled through cloud and mist.
Their jade claws hung like white hooks, and their silver scales shone like mirrors.
Their whiskers streamed like bolts of silk, each strand bright and crisp.
Their horns rose high and straight, proud and clean.
Their foreheads were lofty; their round eyes flashed.
They could not be measured in hidden or open form, nor could their flying be counted.
When they pray for rain, rain falls; when they pray for clear weather, the sky clears.
Truly these are the images of living sacred dragons, with auspicious light swirling all around the court.

The king burned incense on the hall floor, and all the lords bowed below the steps.

The king said, "We have troubled your noble bodies. Please return. I will offer thanks in a ritual on another day."

Wukong said, "All the divine lords may return to their own places. The king will offer thanks another day."

The Dragon Kings returned to the sea, and all the gods went back to Heaven. This indeed was the great and boundless true marvel, the utterly true and natural way that cuts through all side paths.

As for how the demons are to be rooted out, that must wait for the next chapter.