第三十八回
第三十八回 婴儿问母知邪正 金木参玄见假真
逢君只说受生因，便作如来会上人。
一念静观尘世佛，十方同看降威神。
欲知今日真明主，须问当年嫡母身。
别有世间曾未见，一行一步一花新。
却说那乌鸡国王太子，自别大圣，不多时回至城中。果然不奔朝门，不敢报传宣诏，径至后宰门首，见几个太监在那里把守。——见太子来，不敢阻滞，让他进去了。好太子，夹一夹马，撞入里面，忽至锦香亭下，只见那正宫娘娘坐在锦香亭上，两边有数十个嫔妃掌扇，那娘娘倚雕栏儿流泪哩。你道他流泪怎的？原来他四更时也做了一梦，记得一半，含糊了一半，沉沉思想。这太子下马，跪于亭下，叫：“母亲！”那娘娘强整欢容，叫声：“孩儿，喜呀！喜呀！这二三年在前殿与你父王开讲，不得相见，我甚思量，今日如何得暇来看我一面？诚万千之喜！诚万千之喜！孩儿，你怎么声音悲惨？你父王年纪高迈，有一日龙归碧海，凤返丹霄[1]，你就传了帝位，还有甚么不悦？”太子叩头道：“母亲，我问你：即位登龙是那个？称孤道寡果何人？”娘娘闻言道：“这孩儿发风了！做皇帝的是你父王，你问怎的？”太子叩头道：“万望母亲赦子无罪，敢问；不赦，不敢问。”娘娘道：“子母家有何罪？赦你，赦你！快快说来。”太子道：“母亲，我问你三年前夫妻宫里之事与后三年恩爱同否，如何？”
娘娘见说，魂飘魄散，急下亭抱起，紧搂在怀，眼中滴泪道：“孩儿！我与你久不相见，怎么今日来宫问此？”太子发怒道：“母亲有话早说，不说时且误了大事。”娘娘才喝退左右，泪眼低声道：“这桩事，孩儿不问，我到九泉之下，也不得明白。既问时，听我说：
三载之前温又暖，三年之后冷如冰。
枕边切切将言问，他说老迈身衰事不兴！”
太子闻言，撒手脱身，攀鞍上马。那娘娘一把扯住道：“孩儿，你有甚事，话不终就走？”太子跪在前面道：“母亲，不敢说。今日早朝，蒙钦差架鹰逐犬，出城打猎，偶遇东土驾下来的个取经圣僧，有大徒弟乃孙行者，极善降妖。原来我父王死在御花园八角琉璃井内，这全真假变父王，侵了龙位。今夜三更，父王托梦，请他到城捉怪。孩儿不敢尽信，特来问母。母亲才说出这等言语，必然是个妖精。”那娘娘道：“儿呵，外人之言，你怎么就信为实？”太子道：“儿还不敢认实，父王遗下表记与他了。”娘娘问是何物，太子袖中取出那金镶白玉珪，递与娘娘。那娘娘认得是当时国王之宝，止不住泪如泉涌，叫声：“主公！你怎么死去三年，不来见我，却先见圣僧，后来见我？”太子道：“母亲，这话是怎的说？”娘娘道：“儿呵，我四更时分，也做了一梦，梦见你父王水淋淋的站在我跟前，亲说他死了，鬼魂儿拜请了唐僧降假皇帝，救他前身。记便记得是这等言语，只是一半儿不得分明。正在这里狐疑，怎知今日你又来说这话，又将宝贝拿出。我且收下，你且去请那圣僧急急为之。果然扫荡妖气，辨明邪正，庶[2]报你父王养育之恩也。”
太子急忙上马，出后宰门，躲离城池，真个是噙泪叩头辞国母，含悲顿首复唐僧。不多时，出了城门，径至宝林寺山门前下马。众军士接着太子，又见红轮将坠，太子传令，不许军士乱动。他又独自个入了山门，整束衣冠，拜请行者。只见那猴王从正殿摇摇摆摆走来，那太子双膝跪下道：“师父，我来了。”行者上前搀住道：“请起，你到城中，可曾问谁么？”太子道：“问母亲来。”将前言尽说了一遍。行者微微笑道：“若是那般冷呵，想是个甚么冰冷的东西变的。不打紧！不打紧！等我老孙与你扫荡。却只是今日晚了，不好行事。你先回去，待明早我来。”太子跪地叩拜道：“师父，我只在此伺候，到明日同师父一路去罢。”行者道：“不好！不好！若是与你一同入城，那怪物生疑，不说是我撞着你，却说是你请老孙，却不惹他反怪你也？”太子道：“我如今进城，他也怪我。”行者道：“怪你怎么？”太子道：“我自早朝蒙差，带领若干人马鹰犬出城，今一日更无一件野物，怎么见驾？若问我个不才之罪，监陷羑里[3]，你明日进城，却将何倚？况那班部中更没个相知人也。”行者道：“这甚打紧！你肯早说时，却不寻下些等你？”
好大圣！你看他就在太子面前，显个手段，将身一纵，跳在云端里，捻着诀，念一声“唵蓝净法界”的真言，拘得那山神、土地在半空中施礼道：“大圣，呼唤小神，有何使令？”行者道：“老孙保护唐僧至此，欲拿邪魔，奈何那太子打猎无物，不敢回朝，问汝等讨个人情，快将獐鹿兔，走兽飞禽，各寻些来，打发他回去。”山神、土地闻言，敢不承命？又问各要几何。大圣道：“不拘多少，取些来便罢。”那各神即着本处阴兵，刮一阵聚兽阴风，捉了些野鸡山雉，角鹿肥獐，狐獾狢兔，虎豹狼虫，共有百千馀只，献与行者。行者道：“老孙不要。你可把他都捻就[4]了筋，单摆在那四十里路上两旁，教那些人不纵鹰犬，拿回城去，算了汝等之功。”众神依言，散了阴风，摆在左右。
行者才按云头，对太子道：“殿下请回。路上已有物了，你自收去。”太子见他在半空中弄此神通，如何不信，只得叩头拜别，出山门传了令，教军士们回城。只见那路旁果有无限的野物，军士们不放鹰犬，一个个俱着手擒捉喝采，俱道是千岁殿下的洪福，怎知是老孙的神功？你听凯歌声唱，一拥回城。
这行者保护了三藏，那本寺中的和尚，见他们与太子这样绸缪，怎不恭敬？却又安排斋供，管待了唐僧，依然还歇在禅堂里。将近有一更时分，行者心中有事，急睡不着。他一毂辘爬起来，到唐僧床边，叫：“师父。”此时长老还未睡哩。他晓得行者会失惊打怪的，推睡不应。行者摸着他的光头，乱摇道：“师父怎睡着了？”唐僧怒道：“这个顽皮！这早晚还不睡，吆喝甚么？”行者道：“师父，有一桩事儿，和你计较计较。”长老道：“甚么事？”行者道：“我日间与那太子夸口，说我的手段比山还高，比海还深，拿那妖精如探囊取物一般，伸了手去就拿将转来，——却也睡不着，想起来，有些难哩。”唐僧道：“你说难，便就不拿了罢。”行者道：“拿是还要拿，只是理上不顺。”唐僧道：“这猴头乱说！妖精夺了人君位，怎么叫做理上不顺？”行者道：“你老人家只知念经拜佛，打坐参禅，那曾见那萧何的律法[5]？常言道：‘拿贼拿赃。’那怪物做了三年皇帝，又不曾走了马脚，漏了风声。他与三宫妃后同眠，又和两班文武共乐，我老孙就有本事拿住他，也不好定个罪名。”唐僧道：“怎么不好定罪？”行者道：“他就是个没嘴的葫芦，也与你滚上几滚。他敢道：‘我是乌鸡国王。有甚逆天之事，你来拿我？’将甚执照[6]与他折辩？”唐僧道：“凭你怎生裁处？”
行者笑道：“老孙的计已成了。只是干碍着你老人家，有些儿护短。”唐僧道：“我怎么护短？”行者道：“八戒生得夯，你有些儿偏向他。”唐僧道：“我怎么向他？”行者道：“你若不向他呵，且如今把胆放大些，与沙僧只在这里。待老孙与八戒趁此时先入那乌鸡国城中，寻着御花园，打开琉璃井，把那皇帝尸首捞将上来，包在我们包袱里。明日进城，且不管甚么倒换文牒，见了那怪，掣棍子就打。他但有言语，就将骨榇[7]与他看，说：‘你杀的是这个人！’却教太子上来哭父，皇后出来认夫，文武多官见主，我老孙与兄弟们动手，这才是有对头的官事好打。”唐僧闻言，暗喜道：“只怕八戒不肯去。”行者笑道：“如何？我说你护短。你怎么就知他不肯去？你只像我叫你时不答应，半个时辰便了！我这去，但凭三寸不烂之舌，莫说是猪八戒，就是‘猪九戒’，也有本事教他跟着我走。”唐僧道：“也罢，随你去叫他。”
行者离了师父，径到八戒床边，叫：“八戒！八戒！”那呆子是走路辛苦的人，丢倒头，只情打呼，那里叫得醒。行者揪着耳朵，抓着鬃，把他一拉，拉起来，叫声：“八戒。”那呆子还打棱挣[8]。行者又叫一声，呆子道：“睡了罢，莫顽！明日要走路哩！”行者道：“不是顽，有一桩买卖，我和你做去。”八戒道：“甚么买卖？”行者道：“你可曾听得那太子说么？”八戒道：“我不曾见面，不曾听见说甚么。”行者道：“那太子告诵我说，那妖精有件宝贝，万夫不当之勇。我们明日进朝，不免与他争敌，倘那怪执了宝贝，降倒我们，却不反成不美？我想着打人不过，不如先下手。我和你去偷他的来，却不是好？”八戒道：“哥哥，你哄我去做贼哩。这个买卖，我也去得，果是晓得实实的帮寸[9]，我也与你讲个明白：偷了宝贝，降了妖精，我却不奈烦甚么小家罕气的分宝贝，我就要了。”行者道：“你要作甚？”八戒道：“我不如你们乖姣能言，人面前化得出斋来。老猪身子又夯，言语又粗，不能念经，若到那无济无生处，可好换斋吃么。”行者道：“老孙只要图名，那里图甚宝贝，就与你罢便了。”那呆子听见说都与他，他就满心欢喜，一毂辘爬将起来，套上衣服，就和行者走路。这正是青酒红人面，黄金动道心。两个密密的开了门，躲离三藏，纵祥光，径奔那城。
不多时到了，按落云头，只听得楼头方二鼓矣。行者道：“兄弟，二更时分了。”八戒道：“正好！正好！人都在头觉里正浓睡也。”二人不奔正阳门，径到后宰门首，只听得梆铃声响。行者道：“兄弟，前后门皆紧急，如何得入？”八戒道：“那见做贼的从门里走么？瞒墙跳过便罢。”行者依言，将身一纵，跳上里罗城墙。八戒也跳上去。二人潜入里面，找着门路，径寻那御花园。
正行时，只见有一座三檐白簇的门楼，上有三个亮灼灼的大字，映着那星月光辉，乃是“御花园”。行者近前看了，有几重封皮，公然将锁门锈住了，即命八戒动手。那呆子掣铁钯，尽力一筑，把门筑得粉碎。行者先举步[10]入，忍不住跳将起来，大呼小叫，唬得八戒上前扯住道：“哥呀，害杀我也！那见做贼的乱嚷？似这般吆喝，惊醒了人，把我们拿住，送入官司，就不该死罪，也要解回原籍充军。”行者道：“兄弟呵，你却不知我发急为何。你看这：
彩画雕栏狼狈，宝妆亭阁敧歪。莎汀蓼岸尽尘埋，芍药荼俱败。 茉莉玫瑰香暗，牡丹百合空开。芙蓉木槿草垓垓[11]，异卉奇葩壅坏。
巧石山峰俱倒，池塘水涸鱼衰。青松紫竹似干柴，满路茸茸蒿艾。 丹桂碧桃枝损，海榴棠棣根歪。桥头曲径有苍苔，冷落花园境界！”
八戒道：“且叹他做甚？快干我们的买卖去来！”行者虽然感慨，却留心想起唐僧的梦来，说芭蕉树下方是井。正行处，果见一株芭蕉，生得茂盛，比众花木不同。真是：
一种灵苗秀，天生体性空。
枝枝抽片纸，叶叶卷芳丛。
翠缕千条细，丹心一点红。
凄凉愁夜雨，憔悴怯秋风。
长养元丁力，栽培造化工。
缄书成妙用，挥洒有奇功。
凤翎宁得似，鸾尾迥相同。
薄露瀼瀼滴，轻烟淡淡笼。
青阴遮户牖，碧影上帘栊。
不许栖鸿雁，何堪系玉骢。
霜天形槁悴，月夜色朦胧。
仅可消炎暑，犹宜避日烘。
愧无桃李色，冷落粉墙东。
行者道：“八戒，动手么！宝贝在芭蕉树下埋着哩。”那呆子双手举钯，筑倒了芭蕉，然后用嘴一拱，拱了有三四尺深，见一块石板盖住。呆子欢喜道：“哥呀！造化了！果有宝贝！是一片石板盖着哩！不知是坛儿盛着，是柜儿装着哩。”行者道：“你掀起来看看。”那呆子果又一嘴，拱开看处，又见有霞光灼灼，白气明明。八戒笑道：“造化！造化！宝贝放光哩！”又近前细看时，呀！原来是星月之光，映得那井中水亮。八戒道：“哥呀，你但干事，便要留根。”行者道：“我怎留根？”八戒道：“这是一眼井。你在寺里早说是井中有宝贝，我却带将两条捆包袱的绳来，怎么作个法儿，把老猪放下去。如今空手，这里面东西，怎么得下去上来耶？”行者道：“你下去么？”八戒道：“正是要下去，只是没绳索。”行者笑道：“你脱了衣服，我与你个手段。”八戒道：“有甚么好衣服？解了这直裰子就是了。”
好大圣，把金箍棒拿出来，两头一扯，叫：“长！”足有七八丈长。教：“八戒，你抱着一头儿，把你放下井去。”八戒道：“哥呀，放便放下去，若到水边，就住了罢。”行者道：“我晓得。”那呆子抱着铁棒，被行者轻轻提将起来，将他放下去。不多时，放至水边。八戒道：“到水了！”行者听见他说，却将棒往下一按。那呆子扑通的一个没头蹲，丢了铁棒，便就负水[12]，口里哺哺的嚷道：“这天杀的！我说到水莫放，他却就把我一按！”行者掣上棒来，笑道：“兄弟，可有宝贝么？”八戒道：“那见甚么宝贝，只是一井水！”行者道：“宝贝沉在水底下哩。你下去摸一摸来。”呆子真个深知水性，却就打个猛子[13]淬将下去。呀！那井底深得紧！他却着实又一淬，忽睁眼见有一座牌楼，上有“水晶宫”三个字。八戒大惊道：“罢了！罢了！错走了路了！下海来也！海内有个水晶宫，井里如何有之？”原来八戒不知此是井龙王的水晶宫。
八戒正叙话处，早有一个巡水的夜叉，开了门，看见他的模样，急抽身进去报道：“大王，祸事了！井上落一个长嘴大耳的和尚来了！赤淋淋的，衣服全无，还不死，逼法说话哩。”那井龙王忽闻此言，心中大惊道：“这是天蓬元帅来也。昨夜夜游神奉上敕旨，来取乌鸡国王魂灵去拜见唐僧，请齐天大圣降妖。这怕是齐天大圣、天蓬元帅来了。却不可怠慢他，快接他去也。”
那龙王整衣冠，领众水族，出门来厉声高叫道：“天蓬元帅，请里面坐。”八戒却才欢喜道：“原来是个故知。”那呆子不管好歹，径入水晶宫里。——其实不知上下赤淋淋的，——就坐在上面。龙王道：“元帅，近闻你得了性命，皈依释教，保唐僧西天取经，如何得到此处？”八戒道：“正为此说。我师兄孙悟空多多拜上，着我来问你取甚么宝贝哩。”龙王道：“可怜，我这里怎么得个宝贝！比不得那江、河、淮、济的龙王，飞腾变化，便有宝贝。我久困于此，日月且不能长见，宝贝果何自而来也？”八戒道：“不要推辞，有便拿出来罢。”龙王道：“有便有一件宝贝，只是拿不出来，就元帅亲自来看看，何如？”八戒道：“妙！妙！妙！须是看看来也。”
那龙王前走，这呆子随后，转过了水晶宫殿，只见廊庑下横[14]着一个六尺长躯。龙王用手指定道：“元帅，那厢就是宝贝了。”八戒上前看了，呀！原来是个死皇帝，戴着冲天冠，穿着赭黄袍，踏着无忧履，系着蓝田带，直挺挺睡在那厢。八戒笑道：“难！难！难！算不得宝贝！想老猪在山为怪时，时常将此物当饭；且莫说见的多少，吃也吃够无数，那里叫做甚么宝贝。”龙王道：“元帅原来不知。他本是乌鸡国王的尸首，自到井中，我与他定颜珠定住，不曾得坏。你若肯驮他出去，见了齐天大圣，假有起死回生之意呵，莫说宝贝，凭你要甚么东西都有。”八戒道：“既这等说，我与你驮出去，只说把多少烧埋钱[15]与我？”龙王道：“其实无钱。”八戒道：“你好白使人？果然没钱，不驮！”龙王道：“不驮，请行。”八戒就走。龙王差两个有力量的夜叉，把尸抬将出去，送到水晶宫门外，丢在那厢，摘了辟水珠，就有水响。
八戒急回头看，不见水晶宫门，一把摸着那皇帝的尸首，慌得他脚软筋麻，撺出水面，扳着井墙，叫道：“师兄！伸下棒来救我一救！”行者道：“可有宝贝么？”八戒道：“那里有！只是水底下有一个井龙王，教我驮死人，我不曾驮，他就把我送出门来，就不见那水晶宫了，只摸着那个尸首，唬得我手软筋麻，挣搓不动了！哥呀！好歹救我救儿！”行者道：“那个就是宝贝，如何不驮上来？”八戒道：“知他死了多少时了，我驮他怎的？”行者道：“你不驮，我回去耶。”八戒道：“你回那里去？”行者道：“我回寺中，同师父睡觉去。”八戒道：“我就不去了？”行者道：“你爬得上来，便带你去，爬不上来，便罢。”八戒慌了：“怎生爬得动！你想，城墙也难上。这井肚子大，口儿小，壁陡的圈墙，又是几年不曾打水的井，团团都长的是苔痕，好不滑也，教我怎爬？哥哥，不要失了兄弟们和气，等我驮上来罢。”行者道：“正是。快快驮上来，我同你回去睡觉。”那呆子又一个猛子淬将下去，摸着尸首，拽过来，背在身上，撺出水面，扶井墙道：“哥哥，驮上来了。”那行者睁睛看处，真个的背在身上，却才把金箍棒伸下井底。那呆子着了恼的人，张开口，咬着铁棒，被行者轻轻的提将出来。
八戒将尸放下，捞过衣服穿上。行者看时，那皇帝容颜依旧，似生时未改分毫。行者道：“兄弟呵，这人死了三年，怎么还容颜不坏？”八戒道：“你不知之。这井龙王对我说，他使了定颜珠定住了，尸首未曾坏得。”行者道：“造化！造化！一则是他的冤仇未报，二来该我们成功。兄弟快把他驮了去。”八戒道：“驮往那里去？”行者道：“驮了去见师父。”八戒口中作念道：“怎的起！怎的起！好好睡觉的人，被这猢狲花言巧语，哄我教做甚么买卖，如今却干这等事，教我驮死人！驮着他，腌臜臭水淋将下来，污了衣服，没人与我浆洗。上面有几个补丁，天阴发潮，如何穿么？”行者道：“你只管驮了去，到寺里，我与你换衣服。”八戒道：“不羞！连你穿的也没有，又替我换！”行者道：“这般弄嘴，便不驮罢！”八戒道：“不驮！”——“便伸过孤拐来，打二十棒！”八戒慌了道：“哥哥，那棒子重，若是打上二十，我与这皇帝一般了。”行者道：“怕打时，趁早儿驮着走路！”八戒果然怕打，没好气，把尸首拽将过来，背在身上，拽步出园就走。
好大圣，捻着诀，念声咒语，往巽地上吸一口气，吹将去，就是一阵狂风，把八戒撮出皇宫内院。躲离了城池，息了风头，二人落地，徐徐却走将来。那呆子心中暗恼，算计要恨报行者，道：“这猴子捉弄我，我到寺里也捉弄他捉弄，撺道师父，只说他医得活；医不活，教师父念《紧箍儿咒》，把这猴子的脑浆勒出来，方趁我心！”走着路，再再寻思道：“不好！不好！若教他医人，却是容易，他去阎王家讨将魂灵儿来，就医活了。只说不许赴阴司，阳世间就能医活，这法儿才好。”
说不了，却到了山门前，径直进去，将尸首丢在那禅堂门前，道：“师父，起来看邪。”那唐僧睡不着，正与沙僧讲行者哄了八戒去久不回之事。忽听得他来叫了一声，唐僧连忙起身道：“徒弟，看甚么？”八戒道：“行者的外公，教老猪驮将来了。”行者道：“你这馕糠的呆子！我那里有甚么外公。”八戒道：“哥，不是你外公，却教老猪驮他来怎么？也不知费多少力了！”
那唐僧与沙僧开门看处，那皇帝容颜未改，似活的一般。长老忽然惨凄道：“陛下，你不知那世里冤家，今生遇着他，暗丧其身，抛妻别子，致令文武不知，多官不晓！可怜你妻子昏蒙，谁曾见焚香献茶？”忽失声泪如雨下。八戒笑道：“师父，他死了可干你事？又不是你家父祖，哭他怎的！”三藏道：“徒弟啊，出家人慈悲为本，方便为门。你怎的这等心硬？”八戒道：“不是心硬。师兄和我说来，他能医得活。若是医不活，我也不驮他来了。”那长老原来是一头水[16]的，被那呆子摇动了，也便就叫：“悟空，若果有手段医活这个皇帝，正是‘救人一命，胜造七级浮图’。我等也强似灵山拜佛。”行者道：“师父，你怎么信这呆子乱谈！人若死了，或三七五七，尽七七日，受满了阳间罪过，就转生去了。如今已此三年，如何救得！”三藏闻其言道：“也罢了。”八戒苦恨不息，道：“师父，你莫被他瞒了。他有些夹脑风。你只念念那话儿，管他还你一个活人。”真个唐僧就念《紧箍儿咒》，勒得那猴子眼胀头疼。毕竟不知怎生医救，且听下回分解。
[1] 龙归碧海，凤返丹霄：都是帝王去世的委婉说法。
[2] 庶：庶几，或许。
[3] 羑（yǒu）里：地名，故址在今河南省汤阴县境内。传说殷朝纣王曾把周文王姬昌在这里囚禁七年。
[4] 就：就是抽、朒（nǜ）的意思。
[5] 萧何的律法：萧何是汉代法律的制定者，故后世常以“萧律”代指法律。
[6] 执照：此处指证据。
[7] 骨榇（chèn）：死人埋葬后经过腐烂剩下来的骨头。这里指尸体。
[8] 棱挣：从熟睡中被突然叫起，精神尚未清醒的半迷糊状态。
[9] 帮寸：即帮衬。
[10] （chà）：大步跨进。
[11] 垓（ɡāi）垓：形容乱草丛生的样子。
[12] 负水：同“凫水”，游泳。
[13] 猛子：以头倒入水中的泅水法。
[14] （duǒ）：此处为躺着的意思。
[15] 烧埋钱：旧时烧化、埋葬死人的报酬叫烧埋钱。
[16] 一头水：没有主见，像水一样，哪头重就向哪头倒。
CHAPTER 38. The child queries his mother to learn of deviancy and truth; Metal and Wood, reaching the deep, see the false and the real.
I meet you to speak just on the cause of birth
That’ll make you one of Buddha’s assembly.
One calm thought sees Him in this realm of dust;
The whole world watches the god who subdues.
If you’d know today’s true, enlightened lord,
You must ask your mother of former years.
There’s another world you have never seen,
For each step in life may bring something new.
We were telling you about the prince of the Black Rooster Kingdom, who, after he took leave of the Great Sage, soon returned to his city. Indeed, he did not approach the gate of the court, nor did he dare announce his arrival. Going instead to the Rear Gate of the Servants, he found that it was guarded by several eunuchs. When they saw the prince approaching, however, they dared not stop him and let him pass. Dear prince! Pressing his horse, he galloped inside and went straight up to the Brocade Fragrance Pavilion, in which the queen was seated, with scores of palace maidens waving their fans on both sides. The queen, however, was reclining on the carved railings of the pavilion and shedding tears. Why was she shedding tears, you ask? For at the hour of the fourth watch, you see, she too had a dream, but she could remember only half of it. She was trying very hard to recall the other half when the prince dismounted and knelt beneath the pavilion, saying, “Mother!” Forcing herself to appear delighted, the queen cried out, “Son, what joy! What joy! For these two or three years, you have been staying in the front palace to study with your father king and I have not been able to see you. How I have thought of you! How is it that you have the leisure today to come see me instead? This is truly my greatest joy, my greatest joy! O son, why do you sound so sad? Your father king, after all, is getting on in his years. There will be a day when the dragon returns to the jade-green sea and the phoenix will go back to the scarlet heavens. You will then inherit the throne. What could there possibly be to make you unhappy?”
The prince kowtowed before he said, “Mother, permit me to ask you: who is he that is on the throne now? Who is the man who uses the royal ‘we’?” When the queen heard this, she said, “This child has gone mad! The one who is ruling is your father king. Why do you ask such questions?” Again kowtowing, the prince said, “I beseech my mother to grant her son a pardon first. Only then would I dare present a further question. If you do not, I’ll dare not ask.” “Between mother and son,” said the queen, “how could there be any criminal offense? Of course I’ll pardon you. Speak up, quickly!” The prince said, “Let me ask you this: are your relations with your husband just as warm and intimate as three years before?”
When the queen heard this question, her spirit left her and her soul fled. She dashed out of the pavilion and embraced the prince tightly as tears fell from her eyes. “My child,” she said, “I haven’t seen you for such a long time. Why do you come to the palace today and ask this question?” “Mother,” said the prince, becoming irritated. “If you have something to say, say it. If you don’t speak up, you might jeopardize a very important affair.” Only then did the queen dismiss all her attendants and spoke, quietly weeping, “This matter, if you, son, did not ask me, would never have come to light even when I reached the Nine Springs1 down below. Since you have asked me, listen to what I have to say:
Three years ago he was loving and warm;
For three years now he has been cold as ice.
By the pillows I’ve pressed him long and hard;
He said, ‘I’m old, I’m frail, I can’t make that something rise’!”
When the prince heard these words, he at once struggled free and mounted his horse once more. Clutching at him desperately, the queen said, “Child, what are you doing? Why do you leave before we finish speaking?” Again the prince knelt on the ground and said, “Mother, I dare not speak, though I must! During the time of the early court this morning, I went out by imperial decree to hunt with falcons and dogs. By chance I met a holy monk sent by the Throne in the Land of the East to fetch scriptures. He has under him a senior disciple by the name of Pilgrim Sun, who is an expert in the subjugation of fiends. I was told that my real father king had been murdered in the imperial garden; he died, in fact, in the well with the octagonal marble walls. It was the Daoist, who falsely changed into the form of father king and usurped his dragon seat. Last night, father king appeared to the monk in a dream and asked him to send his disciple to the city to catch this fiend. Your child did not dare believe them completely and that was why I came specially to question you. Now that mother has spoken like this, I know that there must be a monster-spirit here.”
“O son,” said the queen, “how could you take the words of some stranger outside as the truth?” The prince said, “I did not, but father king left them a sign.” When the queen asked what sort of sign it was, the prince took out that white jade token inlaid with gold and handed it to her. Recognizing at once it was a treasure that had belonged to the king, the queen could not hold back the torrents of tears. “My lord!” she cried. “How could you not come to see me first, if you had been dead for three years? How could you go to see the sage monk first, and then the prince afterwards?” “Mother,” said the prince, “what are you saying?” The queen said, “My child, I also had a dream last night at about the hour of the fourth watch. I dreamed that your father king stood before me dripping wet, and he told me himself that he was dead. His spirit, he said, had gone to plead with the Tang Monk to subdue the specious king and to save his former body. I clearly recall these words, but there is another half of the dream which I just cannot remember. I was speculating just now by myself when you arrived with your questions and this treasure. Let me put away the jade token for the moment. You should go and ask the sage monk to do what he must do quickly, so that the demonic miasma may be dispelled and the perverse and true can be distinguished. That’s the way you can repay your father king’s kindness in rearing you.”
Swiftly mounting his horse, the prince went out of the Rear Gate of the Servants and slipped away from the city. Truly
Holding back his tears, he kowtowed to leave the queen;
In grief he went to bow again to the Tang Monk.
In a little while, he was out of the city gate and went straight to the gate of the Precious Grove Monastery, where he dismounted. As the soldiers came to receive him, the sun began to set. The prince gave the order for the soldiers to remain where they were stationed. Again by himself, he walked inside after straightening out his clothes to solicit Pilgrim’s assistance.
Just then the Monkey King swaggered out from the main hall, and the prince at once went to his knees, saying, “Master, I’ve returned.” Pilgrim went forward to raise him, saying, “Please rise. Did you ask anyone when you reached the city?” “I did,” said the prince, and he gave a complete account of the conversation with his mother. Smiling gently, Pilgrim said, “If he is that cold, he must be the transformation of some kind of coldblooded creature. Don’t worry! Don’t worry! Let old Monkey get rid of him for you. But it’s getting late now, and I can’t move. You go back first, and I’ll arrive tomorrow morning.” Kowtowing repeatedly, the prince said, “Master, I’ll stay here to wait upon you until tomorrow, and then I can travel with you.” “That’s no good,” said Pilgrim. “If we enter the city together, the fiend would become suspicious; instead of a chance meeting, he’ll think that you have gone somewhere especially to fetch me. The whole arrangement will make him blame you, will it not?” “Even if I go back now,” said the prince, “he will still blame me.” “Why?” asked Pilgrim. The prince said, “I was commanded during the early court to lead this number of men and horses, of falcons and dogs, to leave the city. But when I go back today, I have no game to present to the throne. If he accuses me of being incapable and has me jailed in Youli,2 whom would you rely on when you enter the city in the morning? There is no one, after all, in the ranks who knows about this.”
“That’s nothing!” said Pilgrim. “You should have told me earlier about this, and I’d have found some game.” Dear Great Sage! Look at the way he shows off before the prince! With a bound he leaped straight up to the clouds, made the magic sign, and recited the spell, Let Oṃ and Ram purify the Dharma-realm, which summoned a mountain god and a local spirit. They arrived and bowed to him in midair, saying, “Great Sage, what is your wish when you command these humble deities to appear?” Pilgrim said, “Old Monkey arrives here in the company of the Tang Monk, and he now intends to catch a wicked demon. Unfortunately, the prince did not catch any game during the hunt and he dared not return to the court. I am, therefore, going to ask you for a small favor. Please find for us some fallow deer, antelopes, wild hares, and fowls—a few pieces of each kind—so that we can send him off.” Not daring to disobey when they heard this instruction, the mountain god and the local spirit inquired as to how many heads of wild game were needed. “It doesn’t matter,” said the Great Sage, “just bring us some.” The two deities, leading the demon soldiers under their command, called up a strong gust of dark wind to round up the wild animals. They caught some grouse and pheasants; horned deer and fat fallow deer; foxes, badgers, and hares; tigers, leopards, and wolves—all in all, several hundred of these which they brought before Pilgrim. Pilgrim said, “Old Monkey has no need of these. Pull out their leg tendons and place them on both sides of the forty-mile road leading back to the city. Those people will then be able to take them back without having to use falcons and dogs, and this will be counted as your merit.” The deities obeyed; calming the dark wind, they placed the game beside the road.
Pilgrim dropped down from the clouds and said to the prince, “Your Highness, please go back. There is game on the road that you may collect.” After having seen the kind of power Pilgrim displayed on top of the clouds, the prince had no doubts whatever. He kowtowed to take leave of Pilgrim before walking out of the monastery gate to order the soldiers to return to the city. As they journeyed, they found indeed a large number of wild game laid out on both sides of the road. Without releasing falcons and dogs, the soldiers caught them by merely lifting their hands. All of them, therefore, shouted bravos and congratulated the prince, saying that it was his great luck that brought them the game, but not knowing, of course, that it was the might of old Monkey. Listen to their songs of triumph as they proceeded back to the city!
Pilgrim, meanwhile, returned to protect Tripitaka. When those monks in the monastery saw how intimate the pilgrims had become with the prince, how could they dare not be reverent? They again prepared a vegetarian meal to serve to the Tang Monk, who then rested once more in the Zen hall. By about the hour of the first watch, Pilgrim, who had something on his mind, was unable to fall asleep. Rolling off his bed, he dashed up to the Tang Monk and cried, “Master.” The elder at this time actually was not yet asleep, but knowing that Pilgrim could be rather restless and frenetic, he pretended that he was and did not respond. Pilgrim caught hold of his bald head and started to shake it violently, crying, “Master, how is it that you are already asleep?”
“You rascal!” said the Tang Monk, growing angry. “You aren’t going to sleep at this hour? What are you clamoring for?”
“Master,” said Pilgrim, “I have a little matter that I want to discuss with you.” “What matter?” asked the elder.
Pilgrim said, “During the day I boasted to the prince that my abilities were higher than a mountain and greater than an ocean. To catch that monster-spirit, I said, was as easy as reaching for something in my pocket—all I had to do was to stretch forth my hand and take it. Now I can’t sleep, and when I think about the matter, I find that there’s some difficulty.”
“If you say that it’s going to be difficult,” said the Tang Monk, “then let’s not try to catch him.” “We still have to,” said Pilgrim, “but we cannot justify our action.” The Tang Monk said, “This ape is babbling again! The monster-spirit has usurped the throne of a ruler. What do you mean that we cannot justify our action?”
Pilgrim said, “Your venerable self only knows how to recite sūtras and worship Buddha, how to sit and meditate. Since when have you ever seen the legal codes established by Xiao He?3 The proverb says, ‘If you arrest a thief, you must seize him with the stolen goods.’ That fiend has been a king for three years, but he has not permitted his secret to leak out in any way. He has slept with the ladies of the three palaces, and he has ruled amiably with his two rows of civil and military officials. Even if old Monkey has the ability to arrest him, it will not be easy to convict him of his crime.”
“Why not?” asked the Tang Monk. Pilgrim said, “Even if he is a mouth-less gourd, he will have a row with you for awhile. Can’t you hear him? ‘I’m the king of the Black Rooster Kingdom. What offense against Heaven have I committed that you dare come to arrest me?’ What evidence do I have with which I can argue with him?” “What do you plan to do, then?” said the Tang Monk.
With a chuckle, Pilgrim said, “The plan of old Monkey is already made, but one obstacle I have to face right now is that you, Dear Sir, have a tendency to dote on people.” “What do you mean?” asked the Tang Monk. Pilgrim said, “Eight Rules is rather stupid, but you are somewhat partial to him.” “How am I partial to him?” asked the Tang Monk. “If you are not,” said Pilgrim, “then you should try to be more courageous and stay here with Sha Monk. Let old Monkey and Eight Rules take this opportunity now to go into the Black Rooster Kingdom first and find the imperial garden. We will break open the marble well and fish out the corpse of the true king, which we will wrap in our bags. When we enter the city tomorrow, we won’t bother with having our rescript certified; as soon as we see the fiend, I’ll attack him with my rod. If he has anything to say, we’ll show him the skeleton and tell him, ‘You killed this man!’ We can tell the prince to come out and mourn his father, the queen to give recognition to her husband, and the various officials to see their true lord. Old Monkey and the brothers, meanwhile, can lift our hands to fight. Now, that’s what I call a worthwhile litigation because there’s something we can go on!”
Secretly pleased by what he heard, the Tang Monk nevertheless said, “My only fear is that Eight Rules is unwilling to go with you.” “You see!” said Pilgrim, laughing. “I told you that you doted on him! How did you know that he would be unwilling to go? Perhaps you think that he’ll be like you when I called you just now, and after half an hour, I would give up. But watch me! If you let me go near him, I’ll use only my healthy, three-inch tongue to persuade him. Never mind that he is Zhu Eight Rules; even if he were Zhu Nine Rules, I would have the ability to make him go with me.” “All right,” said the Tang Monk, “you may go and rouse him.”
Walking away from his master, Pilgrim went straight up to the side of Eight Rules’s bed and shouted, “Eight Rules! Eight Rules!” Idiot, after all, was a man overcome by travel fatigue: once he put his head down, he snored so hard that nothing could wake him. Pilgrim finally grabbed his ears and took hold of his bristles; giving a terrific pull, he yanked Eight Rules right up while shouting, “Eight Rules!” Idiot was still shuddering when Pilgrim hollered again. Idiot mumbled, “Let’s sleep! Don’t play around! We have to travel tomorrow.” “I’m not playing,” said Pilgrim. “There’s some business that you and I must attend to.”
“What business?” asked Eight Rules. Pilgrim said, “Did you happen to hear what the prince said?” “I haven’t even seen him,” said Eight Rules. “I haven’t heard what he had to say.” “The prince told me,” said Pilgrim, “that that monster-spirit had in his possession a treasure that could overwhelm ten thousand warriors. When we enter the city tomorrow, we can’t avoid doing battle with him; but if that fiend brings out his treasure and defeats us, that won’t be good. So, I thought that if we couldn’t vanquish him, we should do something first. You and I, in fact, should go and steal his treasure. Isn’t that much better?” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “you are trying to persuade me to be a thief! Well, I know this sort of business, so I can be your customer. But let me say this to you clearly first: when we have stolen the treasure and subdued the monster-spirit, I won’t put up with this niggardly practice of dividing the loot. I’m going to keep the treasure.” “What for?” asked Pilgrim. “I’m not eloquent like all of you,” said Eight Rules, “and it’s not easy for me to beg for food. This body of old Hog is sluggish, and his words are dull. Moreover, I can’t even recite sūtras. When I get to those wild, uninhabited places, I have hopes that I can exchange the treasure for food.” Pilgrim said, “Old Monkey is only concerned with acquiring a reputation, not a treasure. Of course I’ll give it to you.” When Idiot heard that it was to be given to him, he was delighted and scrambled up at once. Climbing into his clothes, he left with Pilgrim. Truly as the saying goes:
Even clear wine reddens a man’s face,
And yellow gold moves the mind of Dao.
The two of them opened the door stealthily and slipped away from Tripitaka; mounting the auspicious luminosity, they headed straight for the city.
In a little while, they reached their destination; as they lowered their clouds, they heard the sound of the second watch struck from a tower. “Brother,” said Pilgrim, “it’s the second watch.” “Just right!” said Eight Rules. “Everybody is sleeping soundly inside.” Instead of heading for the Central Gate of the Sun, the two of them went to the Rear Gate of the Servants, where they heard also the sound of the rattle struck by guards on patrol. “Brother,” said Pilgrim, “the front and rear gates are all tightly guarded. How can we get in?” Eight Rules said, “Have you ever seen a thief walking through a door? Let’s just jump over the wall.” Pilgrim agreed and leaped at once onto the palace wall, followed by Eight Rules. Sneaking inside, the two of them searched for their way to the imperial garden.
As they walked along, they came upon a towered gate with triple eaves and flying white banners. Painted on top of the gate were three large words that were luminescent in the light of the stars and moon: “The Imperial Garden.” When Pilgrim drew near and saw that the gate was locked and sealed with several layers of crossed strips of paper, he told Eight Rules to go to work. Idiot lifted up his iron rake and brought it down on the gate as hard as he could: the gate was pulverized at once. Pilgrim led the way to enter the garden, but no sooner had he stepped inside when he began to jump up and down, whooping and howling. Eight Rules was so startled that he ran forward to tug at him, saying, “Elder Brother, you scare me to death! I have never seen a thief bellowing like that! If you wake up the people and they catch us and send us to court, even if we are not executed we would be banished to our native province for military service.”
“Brother,” said Pilgrim, “you may wonder why I’m making such a fuss. Just look at those
Carved and painted railings in ruin;
Bejeweled sheds and towers crumbling;
Banks of sedges and smart-weeds all buried in dirt;
Peonia and tumi4 both wilted.
The scent of jasmines and roses is slight;
Tree-peonias and lilies bloom vainly.
Hibiscus, a few kinds, give way to bushes and shrubs;
Rare flowers and plants all perish.
Artificial rock mountains collapse;
Ponds dry up and fishes decline.
Green pines, purple bamboos—they’re like dried firewood;
Wormwood and artemisia grow rank on the paths.
From cassia and peach trees twigs break off;
Roots of pear and plum trees are upturned.
There’s green moss on the bridge-head’s winding path:
The scene of this garden’s desolate!”5
“Why waste your breath in this lamentation?” said Eight Rules. “Let’s go finish our business quickly.” Though Pilgrim was saddened by what he saw, he also thought of the dream of the Tang Monk, when he was told that the well could be found only beneath a plantain tree. As they walked along, they saw indeed such a tree, whose luxuriant growth was quite different from the other plants. Truly she is
A fine, spiritual root of a kind,
Her empty self’s6 Heaven-endowed.
Every branch is thin like paper;
Every leaf can fold like a petal;
A thousand fine strands of green
Enclose one cinnabar heart within.
She grieves when saddened by night rain
And droops for fear of autumn’s wind.
She grows in the primal strength of Heav’n;
Her nurture’s the work of Creation.
A parchment forms her wondrous usage;
As a fan she makes rare merit.
How could phoenix plumes approximate her?
Could e’en phoenix tails resemble her?
Bathed in droplets of light dew,
Swathed in slender wisps of smoke,
Her green shade shrouds windows and doors;
Her green shadow mounts curtains and screens.
Wild geese aren’t allowed to perch here,
Nor may horses be tied to her.
A frigid sky will make her dejected,
A moonlit night her colors faint.
She can only dispel high heat
And protects from the scorching sun.
Bashful for lacking the peach and pear’s charm,
She stands alone east of the white wall.
“Eight Rules,” said Pilgrim, “let’s get started. The treasure’s buried beneath the plantain tree.” Idiot lifted his rake with both hands and toppled the plantain tree, after which he used his snout to burrow into the ground. After digging up some three or four feet of dirt, he discovered a slab of stone. Delighted, Idiot said, “Elder Brother, we’re lucky! There’s indeed a treasure here, covered by a slab of stone. I wonder if it’s contained in a jar or a box.”
“Lift the stone up and take a look,” said Pilgrim.
Idiot indeed used his snout to give the slab of stone a shove; immediately, glimmering shafts of light shot up. Laughing, Eight Rules said, “Lucky! Lucky! The treasure’s glowing.” He went forward to take another careful look and saw that it was actually the glow of the stars and moon reflected in the water of a well. “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “when you want to do something, you ought to get to the bottom of it.” “How so?” asked Pilgrim. Eight Rules said, “This is a well. If you had told me in the monastery that the treasure would be found in a well, I would have brought along those two ropes we use to tie our bags. Then we would have been able to find a way to lower old Hog down there. Now we’re empty-handed. How could we go down there to fetch the thing up here?” “You want to go down there?” asked Pilgrim. “Of course,” said Eight Rules, “but we have no ropes.” “Take off your clothes,” said Pilgrim, “and I’ll give you the means.” Eight Rules said, “I don’t have any good clothes! All I have to do is untie this shirt.”
Dear Great Sage! He took out his golden-hooped rod and gave both its ends a pull, crying, “Grow!” It grew to about seventy or eighty feet long. “Eight Rules,” he said, “you grab hold of one end, and I’ll let you down the well.” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “you can do that, but when we reach the surface of the water, you stop.” “I know,” said Pilgrim. Idiot then wrapped himself around the rod at one end, and with no effort at all Pilgrim picked him up and lowered him into the well. In a little while, they reached the edge of the water and Eight Rules said, “We’re touching water.” When Pilgrim heard that, he gave the rod a plunge downward and with a loud splash Idiot fell into the water headfirst. Abandoning the iron rod, he began at once to tread water, muttering to himself, “Damn him! I told him to stop when we reached water, but he gave me a plunge instead.” Pilgrim retrieved his rod and said, laughing, “Brother, is there any treasure?”
“What treasure?” said Eight Rules, “only a well of water!”
Pilgrim said, “The treasure has sunk deep into the water. Why don’t you go below and feel around?” Idiot indeed knew well the nature of water; he ducked his head under the surface and dove straight down. Ah, the well was extremely deep! He plunged hard a second time before opening his eyes to look around, and he saw all at once a towered edifice, on which were written the three words, “Water Crystal Palace.” Highly shaken, Eight Rules said, “Undone! Undone! I got on the wrong way. I must have fallen into the ocean, for only the ocean has a Water Crystal Palace. How could there be one in a well?” Eight Rules, you see, did not know that this happened to be the palace of the Well Dragon King.
As Eight Rules was speaking to himself, a yakṣa on patrol opened the gate of the palace. When he saw what he saw, he ran inside to report, saying, “Great King, disaster! From the well above fell a monk with a long snout and huge ears, stark naked and without a stitch of clothing. He isn’t dead yet, and he is talking.” When the Well Dragon King heard this, he was greatly startled. “This must be the Marshal of Heavenly Reeds. Last night the Night Patrol God came here by imperial decree from above to take the soul of the king of the Black Rooster Kingdom to see the Tang Monk. They were to ask the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, to subdue a fiend. This has to be the Great Sage and the Marshal of Heavenly Reeds. We should not treat them rudely. Hurry, we must welcome them.”
Straightening out his clothes, the dragon king led his water kinsmen out the door and cried in a loud voice, “Marshal of Heavenly Reeds, please take a seat inside.” Eight Rules became very pleased and said to himself, “So there’s a friend here!” Without regard for etiquette or decency, Idiot walked right into the Water Crystal Palace and, still stark naked, took the honored seat above. “Marshal,” said the dragon king, “I heard recently that your life was spared when you embraced the Buddhist faith to accompany the Tang Monk to acquire scriptures in the Western Heaven. For what reason have you come here?” “I was just about to tell you that,” said Eight Rules. “My elder brother, Sun Wukong, wanted to send you his most earnest greetings. He told me to come to ask you for a certain treasure.”
“That’s pitiful!” said the dragon king. “Where do I have any treasure around here? I’m not like those other dragon kings of such big rivers as the Yangzi, the Yellow River, the Huai, and the Ji. When they can fly and soar through the air most of the time to transform, they will have treasures. I have been stuck here for a long time; I can’t even get to see the sun and the moon regularly. Where would I get any treasures?” “Don’t refuse me,” said Eight Rules. “If you have any, bring them out.” “I do have just one treasure,” said the dragon king, “but I can’t bring it out. The Marshal himself will have to go and take a look. How about it?” “Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!” said Eight Rules. “I’ll go and take a look.”
The dragon king walked in front, while Idiot followed. They passed the Water Crystal Palace and came upon a long corridor, inside of which they found a six-foot corpse. Pointing with his finger, the dragon king said, “Marshal, that’s the treasure.” Eight Rules went forward to look at it. Ah, it was actually a dead king; still wearing a rising-to-Heaven cap, a reddish brown robe, a pair of carefree boots, and a jade belt, he lay there stiff as a board. “Hard! Hard! Hard!” said Eight Rules, chuckling. “This can’t be considered a treasure! When I recall the time when old Hog was a monster in the mountain, this thing was frequently used as food. Don’t ask me how many such things I have seen—even as far as eating was concerned, I have consumed countless numbers. How could you call this a treasure?”
“So you don’t know, Marshal,” said the dragon king, “that he is actually the corpse of the king of the Black Rooster Kingdom. Since he reached the well, I have embalmed him with a feature-preserving pearl so that he won’t deteriorate. If you are willing to carry him out of here on your back to see the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, who, by the way, may have the wish to revive him, don’t speak of treasures—you can have anything you want.” “In that case,” said Eight Rules, “I’ll carry him out on my back for you. But how much cartage are you going to pay me?” The dragon king said, “I don’t have any money.” “You want to use people free!” said Eight Rules. “If you really don’t have any money, I won’t carry him.” “If you don’t,” said the dragon king, “please go.” Eight Rules left at once. The dragon king, however, ordered two powerful yakṣas to haul the corpse out of the Water Crystal Palace’s gate. They threw him down, took off the water-repelling pearl, and water began to close in on all sides noisily.
Turning around quickly to look, Eight Rules could no longer see the gate of the Water Crystal Palace. When he stretched out his hands, all he could lay hold of was the corpse of the king, the touch of which made his legs weaken and his tendons turn numb with fear. He darted up to the surface of the water; with his hands clinging to the wall of the well, he shouted, “Elder Brother, stick your rod down here to save me!” “Is there any treasure?” asked Pilgrim. Eight Rules said, “There isn’t any! Beneath the water, however, there’s a Well Dragon King, who told me to carry a dead man on my back. I wouldn’t do it, and he sent me out the door; that was when his Water Crystal Palace disappeared also. When I felt that corpse, I was so scared that my hands grew weak and my tendons turned numb; I could hardly move. Elder Brother, for good or ill please save me.”
“That’s precisely the treasure,” said Pilgrim. “Why won’t you carry him up here?” Eight Rules said, “He must have been dead for quite awhile. Why should I carry him on my back?” “If you won’t,” said Pilgrim, “I’ll go back.”
“Where?” asked Eight Rules.
“I’m going back to the monastery,” said Pilgrim, “to get some sleep with Master.” “You mean I can’t go with you?” said Eight Rules.
Pilgrim said, “If you can climb up here, I’ll take you back with me; if you can’t, well that’s it!” Eight Rules was horrified, for how could he possibly climb up the well. “Take a look,” he yelled. “Even the city wall was hard to scale already, whereas this well is large down below with a small mouth on top. All around the circular wall is straight up and down. Moreover, it has been such a long time since anyone has bailed water from this well that it’s covered with moss everywhere. It’s terribly slippery. How could I possibly climb it? Elder Brother, let’s not upset our fraternal feelings, let me go and carry him up on my back.” “Exactly,” said Pilgrim. “Do it quickly, and I’ll go back with you to sleep.”
Idiot put his head underwater again and dove straight down; after he found the corpse, he pulled it onto his back and shot back up to the surface. Supporting himself on the wall of the well, he cried, “Elder Brother, I’m carrying him.” Pilgrim stared into the well and saw that the body was indeed placed on Eight Rules’s back. Only then did he lower the golden-hooped rod into the well. A man who had been sorely tried, Idiot opened his mouth and held on to the tip of the iron rod with his teeth; he was then lifted up out of the well by Pilgrim with no effort at all.
Putting down the corpse, Eight Rules grabbed his own clothes and put them on. When Pilgrim took a look, he found that the features of the dead king had not altered in the slightest—it was as if he were still alive. “Brother,” said Pilgrim, “this man has been dead for three years. How could his features not deteriorate?” “You have no idea about this,” said Eight Rules. “This Well Dragon said to me that he had embalmed the corpse with a feature-preserving pearl, and that’s why it has not deteriorated.” “Lucky! Lucky!” said Pilgrim. “This has to mean that his wrong has yet to be requited, and that we are fated to succeed. Brother, put him on your back again quickly and we’ll leave.”
“Where do you want me to carry him?” asked Eight Rules.
“To see Master,” said Pilgrim.
Eight Rules began to grumble, saying, “How am I going to live with this? I was sleeping nicely when this monkey fooled me with his clever talk into doing this so-called business with him. It turns out to be this sort of enterprise—carrying a dead man on my back! When I carry him, some putrid stinking fluid is bound to drip on me and soil my clothes, and there is no one ready to wash and starch them for me. The few patches on my garment may even turn damp again when the sky is grey. How can I wear them?”
“Look, you just carry him,” said Pilgrim, “and when we get to the monastery, I’ll exchange clothes with you.” “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” asked Eight Rules. “You have hardly anything to wear, and you are going to exchange clothes with me?” Pilgrim said, “Oh, you are so smart mouthed! You aren’t going to carry him?” “No!” said Eight Rules. “Stick out your shanks then,” said Pilgrim, “and I’ll give you twenty strokes of my rod!” Horrified, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, that’s a heavy rod! If you give me twenty strokes, I’d be like this king!” “If you are afraid of being beaten,” said Pilgrim, “then hurry up and put him on your back so that we can leave.” Eight Rules was indeed afraid of being beaten; rather listlessly, he yanked the corpse over and put it on his back before turning to walk out of the garden.
Dear Great Sage! Making the magic sign with his fingers, he recited a spell and sucked in a mouthful of air facing the ground in the southwest. When he blew it out, a violent gust immediately arose and lifted Eight Rules out of the palace. They left the city instantly; as the wind subsided, the two of them dropped to the ground and proceeded slowly on foot. Nursing his rage in silence, Idiot planned to repay Pilgrim in kind, saying to himself, “This monkey has pulled a nice prank on me, but when I get to the monastery I’m going to pull one on him, too. I’m going to persuade Master to insist on restoring the king back to life. If that monkey can’t do it, I’ll make Master recite that Tight-Fillet Spell until this monkey’s brains burst. That will give me some relief!” He walked along and thought further to himself, “No good, no good! If you make him heal the man, all he has to do is to go and ask King Yama for the soul, and the man will live again. I must set the conditions so that he won’t be permitted to go to the Region of Darkness; the king has to be restored to life through some means found in the World of Light. Only such a plan is good.”
Hardly had he finished speaking to himself when they reached the gate of the monastery. Eight Rules walked right through it and went up to the door of the Chan hall, where he threw down the corpse and cried, “Master, get up and look at this.” Unable to sleep, Tripitaka was just chatting with Sha Monk on how Pilgrim had deceived Eight Rules into going with him, and how they did not return after such a long time. When he heard the call, the Tang Monk quickly arose and said, “Disciple, what do you want me to look at?”
“The grandpa of Pilgrim,” said Eight Rules, “whom old Hog has brought back on his back.” “You pie-eyed Idiot!” said Pilgrim. “Where do I have a grandpa?” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “if he isn’t your grandpa, why did you ask old Hog to bear him here? You don’t know how much energy I’ve wasted!”
The Tang Monk and Sha Monk opened the door to look, and they discovered that the countenance of the king had not altered at all. Turning sad all at once, the elder said, “Your Majesty, in which previous existence did you incur an enemy who had to catch up with you in this one and cause you to lose your life? Alas, you left your wife and your child, unknown to all the civil and military officials! Pity your wife who’s still in the dark! Who will burn incense or pour tea for you?” He was so broken up that he could not speak anymore as tears rained down his cheeks.
“Master,” said Eight Rules, laughing, “what does his death have to do with you? He isn’t one of your ancestors. Why weep for him?” “O disciple!” said the Tang Monk, “the fundamental principle of life for those who have left the family is compassion. How could you be so hardhearted?” “I’m not hardhearted,” said Eight Rules, “for Elder Brother told me that he could restore him to life. If he couldn’t, I wouldn’t have carried him back here.” This elder, after all, had a head full of water! Shaken by these few words of Idiot, he said at once, “Wukong, if you indeed have the ability to restore this king to life, you would have accomplished something greater than building a seven-storied stūpa. And even we would have been benefited as if we had worshipped Buddha in the Spirit Mountain.”
Pilgrim said, “Master, how could you believe the nonsense of this Idiot! When a man dies, he can pass through the periods of three times seven or five times seven; at most, he may wait for seven hundred days, when after having suffered for all the sins committed in the World of Light, he will then proceed to the next incarnation. This man here died three years ago. How could I revive him?” When Tripitaka heard these words, he said, “Oh, all right!”
Still bitterly resentful, however, Eight Rules said, “Master, don’t believe him. He’s a little sick in his brain! Just recite that little something of yours, and you are certain to get a living man.” The Tang Monk indeed began to recite the Tight-Fillet Spell, and the monkey had such a headache that his eyes bulged. We do not know how he managed to heal the dead king; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.