第四十七回
第四十七回 圣僧夜阻通天水 金木垂慈救小童
却说那国王倚着龙床，泪如泉涌，只哭到天晚不住。行者上前高呼道：“你怎么这等昏乱！见放着那道士的尸骸，一个是虎，一个是鹿，那羊力是一个羚羊。不信时，捞上骨头来看。那里人有那样骷髅？他本是成精的山兽，同心到此害你，因见气数还旺，不敢下手。若再过二年，你气数衰败，他就害了你性命，把你江山一股儿尽属他了。幸我等早来，除妖邪救了你命。你还哭甚！哭甚！急打发关文，送我出去。”国王闻此，方才省悟。那文武多官俱奏道：“死者果然是白鹿、黄虎，油锅里果是羊骨。圣僧之言，不可不听。”国王道：“既是这等，感谢圣僧。今日天晚……”教：“太师，且请圣僧至智渊寺。明日早朝，大开东阁，教光禄寺安排素净筵宴酬谢。”果送至寺里安歇。
次日五更时候，国王设朝，聚集多官，传旨：“快出招僧榜文，四门各路张挂。”一壁厢大排筵宴，摆驾出朝，至智渊寺门外，请了三藏等，共入东阁赴宴，不在话下。
却说那脱命的和尚闻有招僧榜，个个忻然，都入城来寻孙大圣，交纳毫毛谢恩。这长老散了宴，那国王换了关文，同皇后嫔妃，两班文武，送出朝门。只见那些和尚跪拜道旁，口称：“齐天大圣爷爷！我等是沙滩上脱命僧人。闻知爷爷扫除妖孽，救拔我等，又蒙我王出榜招僧，特来交纳毫毛，叩谢天恩。”行者笑道：“汝等来了几何？”僧人道：“五百名，半个不少。”行者将身一抖，收了毫毛，对君臣僧俗人说道：“这些和尚，实是老孙放了。车辆是老孙运转双关，穿夹脊，捽碎了。那两个妖道也是老孙打死了。今日灭了妖邪，方知是禅门有道。向后来，再不可胡为乱信。望你把三教归一：也敬僧，也敬道，也养育人才。我保你江山永固。”国王依言，感谢不尽，遂送唐僧出城去讫。
这一去，只为殷勤经三藏，努力修持光一元。晓行夜住，渴饮饥餐，不觉的春尽夏残，又是秋光天气。一日，天色已晚，唐僧勒马道：“徒弟，今宵何处安身也？”行者道：“师父，出家人莫说那在家人的话。”三藏道：“在家人怎么？出家人怎么？”行者道：“在家人，这时候温床暖被，怀中抱子，脚后蹬妻，自自在在睡觉；我等出家人，那里能够！便是要带月披星，餐风宿水，有路且行，无路方住。”八戒道：“哥哥，你只知其一，不知其二。如今路多险峻，我挑着重担，着实难走，须要寻个去处，好眠一觉，养养精神，明日方好捱担；不然，却不累倒我也？”行者道：“趁月光再走一程，到有人家之所再住。”师徒们没奈何，只得相随行者往前。
又行不多时，只听得滔滔浪响。八戒道：“罢了！来到尽头路了！”沙僧道：“是一股水挡住也。”唐僧道：“却怎生得渡？”八戒道：“等我试之，看深浅何如。”三藏道：“悟能，你休乱谈。水之浅深，如何试得？”八戒道：“寻一个鹅卵石，抛在当中。若是起水泡来，是浅；若是骨都都沉下有声，是深。”行者道：“你去试试看。”那呆子在路旁摸了一块顽石，望水中抛去，只听得骨都都泛起鱼津[1]，沉下水底。他道：“深！深！深！去不得！”唐僧道：“你虽试得深浅，却不知有多少宽阔。”八戒道：“这个却不知，不知。”行者道：“等我看看。”好大圣，纵筋斗云，跳在空中，定睛观看，但见那：
洋洋光浸月，浩浩影浮天。
灵派吞华岳，长流贯百川。
千层汹浪滚，万叠峻波颠。
岸口无渔火，沙头有鹭眠。
茫然浑似海，一望更无边。
急收云头，按落河边道：“师父，宽哩！宽哩！去不得！老孙火眼金睛，白日里常看千里，凶吉晓得是，夜里也还看三五百里。如今通看不见边岸，怎定得宽阔之数？”
三藏大惊，口不能言，声音哽咽道：“徒弟呵，似这等怎了？”沙僧道：“师父莫哭。你看那水边立的，可不是个人么？”行者道：“想是扳罾[2]的渔人。等我问他去来。”拿了铁棒，两三步，跑到面前看处，呀！不是人，是一面石碑。碑上有三个篆文大字，下边两行，有十个小字。三个大字，乃“通天河”；十个小字，乃“径过八百里，亘古少人行”。行者叫：“师父，你来看看。”三藏看见，滴泪道：“徒弟呀，我当年别了长安，只说西天易走，那知道妖魔阻隔，山水迢遥！”
八戒道：“师父，你且听，是那里鼓钹声音？想是做斋的人家。我们且去赶些斋饭吃，问个渡口寻船，明日过去罢。”三藏马上听得，果然有鼓钹之声：“却不是道家乐器，足是我僧家举事。我等去来。”行者在前引马，一行闻响而来。那里有甚正路，没高没低，漫过沙滩，望见一簇人家住处，约摸有四五百家，却也都住得好。但见：
倚山通路，傍岸临溪。处处柴扉掩，家家竹院关。沙头宿鹭梦魂清，柳外啼鹃喉舌冷。短笛无声，寒砧不韵。红蓼枝摇月，黄芦叶斗风。陌头村犬吠疏篱，渡口老渔眠钓艇。灯火稀，人烟静，半空皎月如悬镜。忽闻一阵白香，却是西风隔岸送。
三藏下马，只见那路头上有一家儿，门外竖一首幢幡，内里有灯烛荧煌，香烟馥郁。三藏道：“悟空，此处比那山凹河边，却是不同。在人家屋檐下，可以遮得冷露，放心稳睡。你都莫来，让我先到那斋公[3]门首告求。若肯留我，我就招呼汝等，假若不留，你却休要撒泼。汝等脸嘴丑露，只恐唬了人，闯出祸来，却倒无住处矣。”行者道：“说得有理。请师父先去，我们在此守待。”
那长老才摘了斗笠，光着头，抖抖褊衫，拖着锡杖，径来到人家门外。见那门半开半掩，三藏不敢擅入。聊站片时，只见里面走出一个老者，项下挂着数珠，口念阿弥陀佛，径自来关门，慌得这长老合掌高叫：“老施主，贫僧问讯了。”那老者还礼道：“你这和尚，却来迟了。”三藏道：“怎么说？”老者道：“来迟无物了。早来啊，我舍下斋僧，尽饱吃饭，熟米三升，白布一段，铜钱十文。你怎么这时才来？”三藏躬身道：“老施主，贫僧不是赶斋的。”老者道：“既不赶斋，来此何干？”三藏道：“我是东土大唐钦差往西天取经者。今到贵处，天色已晚，听得府上鼓钹之声，特来告借一宿，天明就行也。”那老者摇手道：“和尚，出家人休打诳语。东土大唐到我这里，有五万四千里路。你这等单身，如何来得？”三藏道：“老施主见得最是。但我还有三个小徒，逢山开路，过水叠桥，保护贫僧，方得到此。”老者道：“既有徒弟，何不同来？”教：“请，请，我舍下有处安歇。”三藏回头，叫声：“徒弟，这里来。”
那行者本来性急，八戒生来粗鲁，沙僧却也莽撞，三个人听得师父招呼，牵着马，挑着担，不问好歹，一阵风闯将进去。那老者看见，唬得跌倒在地，口里只说是：“妖怪来了！妖怪来了！”三藏搀起道：“施主莫怕。不是妖怪，是我徒弟。”老者战兢兢道：“这般好俊师父，怎么寻这样丑徒弟！”三藏道：“虽然相貌不终[4]，却倒会降龙伏虎，捉怪擒妖。”老者似信不信的，扶着唐僧慢走。
却说那三个凶顽，闯入厅房上，拴了马，丢下行李。那厅中原有几个和尚会经。八戒掬着长嘴，喝道：“那和尚，会的是甚么经？”那些和尚，听见问了一声，忽然抬头：
观看外来人，嘴长耳朵大，
身粗背膊宽，声响如雷咋。
行者与沙僧，容貌更丑陋。
厅堂几众僧，无人不害怕。
阇黎还念经，班首教行罢。
难顾磬和铃，佛像且丢下。
一齐吹息灯，惊散光乍乍。
跌跌与爬爬，门槛何曾跨！
你头撞我头，似倒葫芦架。
清清好道场，翻成大笑话。
这兄弟三人，见那些人跌跌爬爬，鼓着掌哈哈大笑。那些僧越加悚惧，磕头撞脑，各顾性命，通跑净了。三藏搀那老者，走上厅堂，灯火全无，三人嘻嘻哈哈的还笑。唐僧骂道：“这泼物，十分不善！我朝朝教诲，日日叮咛。古人云：‘不教而善，非圣而何！教而后善，非贤而何！教亦不善，非愚而何！’汝等这般撒泼，诚为至下至愚之类！走进门不知高低，唬倒了老施主，惊散了念经僧，把人家好事都搅坏了，却不是堕罪与我？”说得他们不敢回言。那老者方信是他徒弟，急回头作礼道：“老爷，没大事，没大事。才然关了灯，散了花[5]，佛事将收也。”八戒道：“既是了帐，摆出满散[6]的斋来，我们吃了睡觉。”老者叫：“掌灯来！掌灯来！”家里人听得，大惊小怪道：“厅上念经，有许多香烛，如何又教掌灯？”几个童仆出来看时，这个黑洞洞的，即便点火把灯笼，一拥而至。忽抬头见八戒、沙僧，慌得丢了火把，忽抽身关了中门，往里嚷道：“妖怪来了！妖怪来了！”
行者拿起火把，点上灯烛，扯过一张交椅，请唐僧坐在上面。他兄弟们坐在两旁，那老者坐在前面。正叙坐间，只听得里面门开处，又走出一个老者，拄着拐杖，道：“是甚么邪魔，黑夜里来我善门之家？”前面坐的老者，急起身迎到屏门后道：“哥哥莫嚷。不是邪魔，乃东土大唐取经的罗汉。徒弟们相貌虽凶，果然是山恶人善[7]。”那老者方才放下拄杖，与他四位行礼；礼毕，也坐了面前，叫：“看茶来。排斋。”连叫数声，几个僮仆战兢兢，不敢拢帐。
八戒忍不住问道：“老者，你这盛介[8]，两边走怎的？”老者道：“教他们捧斋来侍奉老爷。”八戒道：“几个人伏侍？”老者道：“八个人。”八戒道：“这八个人伏侍那个？”老者道：“伏侍你四位。”八戒道：“那白面师父，只消一个人；毛脸雷公嘴的，只消两个人；那晦气脸的，要八个人；我得二十个人伏侍方够。”老者道：“这等说，想是你的食肠大些。”八戒道：“也将就看得过。”老者道：“有人，有人。”七大八小，就叫出有三四十人出来。
那和尚与老者一问一答的讲话，众人方才不怕。却将上面排了一张桌，请唐僧上坐；两边摆了三张桌，请他三位坐；前面一张桌，坐了二位老者。先排上素果品菜蔬，然后是面饭、米饭、闲食、粉汤，排得齐齐整整。唐长老举起筯来，先念一卷《启斋经》。那呆子一则有些急吞，二来有些饿了，那里等唐僧经完，拿过红漆木碗来，把一碗白米饭，扑的丢下口去就了了。旁边小的道：“这位老爷忒没算计，不笼[9]馒头，怎的把饭笼了，却不污了衣服？”八戒笑道：“不曾笼，吃了。”小的道：“你不曾举筯，怎么就吃了？”八戒道：“儿子们便说谎！分明吃了。不信，再吃与你看。”那小的们，又端了碗，盛一碗递与八戒。呆子幌一幌，又丢下口去就了了。众僮仆见了道：“爷爷呀！你是‘磨砖砌的喉咙，着实又光又溜’！”那唐僧一卷经还未完，他已五六碗过手了。然后却才同举筯，一齐吃斋。呆子不论米饭面饭，果品闲食，只情一捞乱噇[10]，口里还嚷：“添饭！添饭！”渐渐不见来了。行者叫道：“贤弟，少吃些罢。也强似在山凹里忍饿，将就够得半饱也好了。”八戒道：“嘴脸！常言道：‘斋僧不饱，不如活埋’哩。”行者教：“收了家火，莫睬他！”二老者躬身道：“不瞒老爷说。白日里倒也不怕，似这大肚子长老，也斋得起百十众。只是晚了，收了残斋，只蒸得一石面饭、五斗米饭与几桌素食，要请几个亲邻与众僧们散福，不期你列位来，唬得众僧跑了，连亲邻也不曾敢请，尽数都供奉了列位。如不饱，再教蒸去。”八戒道：“再蒸去！再蒸去！”
话毕，收了家火桌席。三藏拱身，谢了斋供，才问：“老施主，高姓？”老者道：“姓陈。”三藏合掌道：“这是我贫僧华宗了。”老者道：“老爷也姓陈？”三藏道：“是，俗家也姓陈。请问适才做的甚么斋事？”八戒笑道：“师父问他怎的！岂不知道？必然是‘青苗斋’、‘平安斋’、‘了场斋’罢了。”老者道：“不是，不是。”三藏又问：“端的为何？”老者道：“是一场‘预修亡斋’。”八戒笑得打跌道：“公公忒没眼力！我们是扯谎架桥，哄人的大王，你怎么把这谎话哄我！和尚家岂不知斋事？只有个‘预修寄库斋’、‘预修填还斋’，那里有个‘预修亡斋’的？你家人又不曾有死的，做甚亡斋？”
行者闻言，暗喜道：“这呆子乖了些也。老公公，你是错说了。怎么叫做‘预修亡斋’？”那二位欠身道：“你等取经，怎么不走正路，却到我这里来？”行者道：“走的是正路，只见一股水挡住，不能得渡；因闻鼓钹之声，特来造府借宿。”老者道：“你们到水边，可曾见些甚么？”行者道：“止见一面石碑，上书‘通天河’三字，下书‘径过八百里，亘古少人行’十字，再无别物。”老者道：“再往上崖走走，好的离那碑记只有里许，有一座灵感大王庙，你不曾见？”行者道：“未见。请公公说说，何为灵感？”那两个老者一齐垂泪道：“老爷呵！那大王：
感应一方兴庙宇，威灵千里祐黎民。
年年庄上施甘露，岁岁村中落庆云。”
行者道：“施甘雨，落庆云，也是好意思，你却这等伤情烦恼，何也？”那老者跌脚捶胸，哏了一声道：“老爷呵！
虽则恩多还有怨，总然慈惠却伤人。
只因要吃童男女，不是昭彰正直神。”
行者道：“要吃童男女么？”老者道：“正是。”行者道：“想必轮到你家了？”老者道：“今年正到舍下。我们这里，有百家人家居住。此处属车迟国元会县所管，唤做陈家庄。这大王一年一次祭赛[11]，要一个童男，一个童女，猪羊牲醴[12]供献他。他一顿吃了，保我们风调雨顺；若不祭赛，就来降祸生灾。”行者道：“你府上几位令郎？”老者捶胸道：“可怜！可怜！说甚么令郎，羞杀我等！这个是我舍弟，名唤陈清。老拙叫做陈澄。我今年六十三岁，他今年五十八岁，儿女上都艰难。我五十岁上还没儿子，亲友们劝我纳了一妾。没奈何寻下一房，生得一女，今年才交八岁，取名唤做一秤金。”八戒道：“好贵名！怎么叫做一秤金？”老者道：“我因儿女艰难，修桥补路，建寺立塔，布施斋僧。有一本帐目，那里使三两，那里使五两，到生女之年，却好用过有三十斤黄金。三十斤为一秤，所以唤做一秤金。”
行者道：“那个的儿子么？”老者道：“舍弟有个儿子，也是偏出[13]，今年七岁了，取名唤做陈关保。”行者问：“何取此名？”老者道：“舍下供养关圣爷爷，因在关爷之位下求得这个儿子，故名关保。我兄弟二人，年岁百二，止得这两人种。不期轮次到我家祭赛，所以不敢不献。故此父子之情，难割难舍，先与孩儿做个超生道场。故曰‘预修亡斋’者，此也。”
三藏闻言，止不住腮边泪下道：“这正是古人云：‘黄梅不落青梅落，老天偏害没儿人。’”行者笑道：“等我再问他。老公公，你府上有多大家当？”二老道：“颇有些儿：水田有四五十顷，旱田有六七十顷，草场有八九十处；水黄牛有二三百头，驴马有三二十匹，猪羊鸡鹅无数。舍下也有吃不着的陈粮，穿不了的衣服。家财产业，也尽得数。”行者道：“你这等家业，也亏你省将起来的。”老者道：“怎见我省？”行者道：“既有这家私，怎么舍得亲生儿女祭赛？拚了五十两银子，可买一个童男；拚了一百两银子，可买一个童女。连绞缠[14]不过二百两之数，可就留下自己儿女后代，却不是好？”二老滴泪道：“老爷！你不知道。那大王甚是灵感，常来我们人家行走。”行者道：“他来行走，你们看见他是甚么嘴脸？有几多长短？”二老道：“不见其形，只闻得一阵香风，就知是大王爷爷来了，即忙满斗焚香，老少望风下拜。他把我们这人家，匙大碗小之事，他都知道。老幼生时年月，他都记得。只要亲生儿女，他方受用。不要说二三百两没处买，就是几千万两，也没处买这般一模一样同年同月的儿女。”
行者道：“原来这等。也罢，也罢，你且抱你令郎出来，我看看。”那陈清急入里面，将关保儿抱出厅上，放在灯前。小孩儿那知死活，笼着两袖果子，跳跳舞舞的，吃着耍子。行者见了，默默念声咒语，摇身一变，变作那关保儿一般模样。两个孩儿，搀着手，在灯前跳舞，唬得那老者慌忙跪着唐僧道：“老爷，不当人子！不当人子！这位老爷才然说话，怎么就变做我儿一般模样，叫他一声，齐应齐走！——却折了我们年寿！请现本相！请现本相！”行者把脸抹了一把，现了本相。那老者跪在面前道：“老爷原来有这样本事。”行者笑道：“可像你儿子么？”老者道：“像！像！像！果然一般嘴脸，一般声音，一般衣服，一般长短。”行者道：“你还没细看哩。取秤来称称，可与他一般轻重。”老者道：“是，是，是。是一般重。”行者道：“似这等可祭赛得过么？”老者道：“忒好！忒好！祭得过了！”
行者道：“我今替这个孩儿性命，留下你家香烟后代，我去祭赛那大王去也。”那陈清跪地磕头道：“老爷果若慈悲替得，我送白银一千两，与唐老爷做盘缠往西天去。”行者道：“就不谢谢老孙？”老者道：“你已替祭，没了你也。”行者道：“怎的得没了？”老者道：“那大王吃了。”行者道：“他敢吃我？”老者道：“不吃你，好道嫌腥？”行者笑道：“任从天命。吃了我，是我的命短；不吃，是我的造化。我与你祭赛去。”
那陈清只管磕头相谢，又允送银五百两；惟陈澄也不磕头，也不说谢，只是倚着那屏门痛哭。行者知之，上前扯住道：“大老，你这不允我，不谢我，想是舍不得你女儿么？”陈澄才跪下道：“是舍不得。敢蒙老爷盛情，救替了我侄子也够了。但只是老拙无儿，止此一女，就是我死之后，他也哭得痛切，怎么舍得！”行者道：“你快去蒸上五斗米的饭，整治些好素菜，与我那长嘴师父吃。教他变作你的女儿，我弟兄同去祭赛。索性行个阴骘，救你两个儿女性命，如何？”那八戒听得此言，心中大惊，道：“哥哥，你要弄精神，不管我死活，就要攀扯我。”行者道：“贤弟，常言道：‘鸡儿不吃无工之食。’你我进门，感承盛斋，你还嚷吃不饱哩，怎么就不与人家救些患难？”八戒道：“哥啊，你便会变化，我却不会哩。”行者道：“你也有三十六般变化，怎么不会？”唐僧叫：“悟能，你师兄说得最是，处得甚当。常言‘救人一命，胜造七级浮屠’。一则感谢厚情，二来当积阴德。况凉夜无事，你兄弟耍耍去来。”八戒道：“你看师父说的话！我只会变山，变树，变石头，变赖象，变水牛，变大胖汉还可，若变小女儿，有几分难哩。”行者道：“老大莫信他，抱出你令爱来看。”那陈澄急入里边，抱将一秤金孩儿到了厅上。一家子妻妾大小，不分老幼内外，都出来磕头礼拜，只请救孩儿性命。那女儿头上戴一个八宝垂珠的花翠箍，身上穿一件红闪黄的纻丝袄，上罩着一件官绿缎子棋盘领的披风，腰间系一条大红花绢裙，脚下踏一双虾蟆头浅红纻丝鞋，腿上系两只绡金膝裤儿；也袖着果子吃哩。行者道：“八戒，这就是女孩儿。你快变的像他，我们祭赛去。”八戒道：“哥呀，似这般小巧俊秀，怎变？”行者叫：“快些！莫讨打！”八戒慌了道：“哥哥不要打，等我变了看。”
这呆子念动咒语，把头摇了几摇，叫：“变！”真个变过头来，就也像女孩儿面目，只是肚子胖大，郎伉不像。行者笑道：“再变变！”八戒道：“凭你打了罢！变不过来，奈何？”行者道：“莫成是丫头的头，和尚的身子？弄的这等不男不女，却怎生是好？你可布起罡[15]来。”他就吹他一口仙气，果然即时把身子变过，与那孩儿一般，便教：“二位老者，带你宝眷与令郎令爱进去，不要错了。一会家，我兄弟躲懒讨乖，走进去，转难识认。你将好果子与他吃，不可教他哭叫，恐大王一时知觉，走了风汛。等我两人耍子去也！”
好大圣，分付沙僧保护唐僧，他变作陈关保，八戒变作一秤金。二人俱停当了，却问：“怎么供献？还是捆了去，是绑了去？蒸熟了去，是剁碎了去？”八戒道：“哥哥，莫要弄我。我没这个手段。”老者道：“不敢！不敢！只是用两个红漆丹盘，请二位坐在盘里，放在桌上，着两个后生抬一张桌子，把你们抬上庙去。”行者道：“好！好！好！拿盘子出来，我们试试。”那老者即取出两个丹盘，行者与八戒坐上。四个后生抬起两张桌子，往天井里走走儿，又抬回放在堂上。行者欢喜道：“八戒，像这般子走走耍耍，我们也是上台盘的和尚了。”八戒道：“若是抬了去，还抬回来，两头抬到天明，我也不怕。只是抬到庙里，就要吃哩，这个却不是耍子！”行者道：“你只看着我。刬着[16]吃我时，你就走了罢。”八戒道：“知他怎么吃哩？如先吃童男，我便好跑，如先吃童女，我却如何？”老者道：“常年祭赛时，我这里有胆大的，钻在庙后，或在供桌底下，看见他先吃童男，后吃童女。”八戒道：“造化！造化！”兄弟正然谈论，只听得外面锣鼓喧天，灯火照耀，同庄众人打开前门，叫：“抬出童男童女来！”这老者哭哭啼啼，那四个后生将他二人抬将出去。端的不知性命何如，且听下回分解。
[1] 鱼津：鱼在水中窜跃所溅起的水泡。此处指石头激起的水泡。
[2] 扳罾（zēnɡ）：一种捕鱼的方法。罾是用木棍或竹竿做支架的方形鱼网。
[3] 斋公：对僧道的敬称。这里指供应斋饭的主人。
[4] 不终：“终”与“中”同音。不中就是不成、不好。
[5] 散了花：又称“散华”，做法会时在佛前散花的仪式。
[6] 满散：功德圆满时的散斋。
[7] 山恶人善：原指地理环境虽然险恶，居民却很善良。这里意为相貌丑恶而心地善良。
[8] 盛介：对对方仆人的敬称。介，仆人。
[9] 笼：古代人的衣袖很宽大，在袖内藏东西叫笼。这里讳言偷，所以说笼。前文第二十五回“一袖子笼住”，则作装解释，是装在袖里的意思。
[10] 噇（chuánɡ）：穷凶极恶地吃、喝。
[11] 祭赛：祭祀神灵。
[12] 牲醴：牲，供祭祀用的家畜。醴，用谷物发酵制成的酒，美酒。
[13] 偏出：庶出，妾生的子女。
[14] 绞缠：即搅缠。指费用、开销。后文第九十一回作“缴缠”。
[15] 布起罡：即“步罡”，按照北斗星的位置走步作法。
[16] 刬（chǎn）着：等到。
CHAPTER 47. The holy monk’s blocked at night at Heaven-Reaching River; Metal and Wood, in compassion, rescue little children.
We were telling you that the king, who was leaning on his dragon table, wept without ceasing until night fell, his tears gushing forth like a stream. Finally Pilgrim went up to him and shouted, “How could you be so dimwitted? Look at the corpses of those Daoists: one happens to be that of a tiger and the other, a deer. Goat-Strength was, in fact, an antelope. If you don’t believe me, let his bones be bailed out for you to see. How could humans have skeletons like that? These three Daoists were all mountain beasts which had become spirits, united in their efforts to come here and plot against you. When they saw that your nodal fate was still in strong ascendancy,1 they dared not harm you as yet. After two or more years when your nodal fate declines, they would have taken your life and your entire kingdom would have been theirs. It was fortunate that we came in time to exterminate these deviates and save your life. And you are still weeping? What for? Bring us our rescript at once and send us on our way.” Only when he had heard this from Pilgrim did the king return to his senses. The civil and military officials also went forward to report to him, saying, “The dead indeed turn out to be a white deer and a yellow tiger, while bones in the cauldron do belong to an antelope. It is unwise not to listen to the words of the holy monk.” “In that case,” said the king, “we are grateful to the holy monk. It’s late already. Let the Grand Preceptor escort the holy monks back to Wisdom Depth Monastery to rest. During early court tomorrow, we shall open up the Eastern Pavilion and command the Court of Imperial Entertainments to prepare a huge vegetarian banquet to thank them.” The priests were escorted back to the monastery.
At the time of the fifth watch the following morning, the king held court for many officials. He at once issued a decree to summon the Buddhist monks to return to the city, and this decree was to be posted on every road and on all four gates. After also giving the order for the preparation of a huge banquet, he sent his imperial chariot to the Wisdom Depth Monastery to invite Tripitaka and followers back to the Eastern Pavilion for the feast, and we shall speak no more of that.
We tell you now instead about those monks who succeeded in escaping with their lives. When they heard of the decree that was promulgated, every one of them was delighted and began to return to the city to search for the Great Sage Sun, to thank him, and to return his hairs. Meanwhile, the elder, after the banquet was over, obtained the rescript from the king, who led the queen, the concubines, and two rows of civil and military officials out the gate of the court to see the priests off. As they came out, they found many monks kneeling on both sides of the road, saying, “Father Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, we are the monks who escaped with our lives on the beach. When we heard that Father had wiped out the demons and rescued us, and when we further heard that our king had issued a decree commanding our return, we came here to present to you the hairs and to thank you for your Heavenly grace.” “How many of you came back?” asked Pilgrim, chuckling. They replied, “All five hundred. None’s missing.” Pilgrim shook his body once and immediately retrieved his hairs. Then he said to the king and the lay people, “These monks indeed were released by old Monkey. The cart was smashed after old Monkey moved it beyond the double passes and through the interlocking spinal ridge, and it was Monkey also who beat to death those two perverse Daoists. After such pestilence has been exterminated this day, you should realize that the true way belongs to the gate of Chan. Hereafter you should never believe foolishly in any doctrine that comes along. I hope you will honor the unity of the Three Religions: revere the monks, revere also the Daoists, and take care to nurture the talented. Your kingdom, I assure you, will be secure forever.” The king gave his assent and his thanks repeatedly before he escorted the Tang Monk out of the city.
And so, their journey had as its purpose
A diligent search for the three canons;
A strenuous quest for the primal light.
As they proceeded, they walked by day and rested by night; they drank when they were thirsty and ate when they were hungry. Spring ended, summer waned, and soon it was again the time of autumn. One day toward evening, the Tang Monk reined in his horse and said, “Disciples, where shall we find shelter for the night?” “Master,” said Pilgrim, “a man who has left the family should not speak as one who remains in the family.” Tripitaka said, “How would a man in the family speak? And how would a man who has left the family speak?” “In this time of the year,” said Pilgrim, “a man who remains in the family will enjoy the benefits of a warm bed and snug blankets; he has his children in his bosom and his wife next to his legs. That’s how comfortably he will sleep! Now, how could we who have left the family expect to enjoy such things? We must be cloaked by the stars and wrapped by the moon; we must dine on the winds and rest by the waters. We move on if there’s a road, and we stop only when we come to its end.” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “you know only one thing, but you can’t see its implications. Look how treacherous is this road we’re walking on! I have such a heavy load on me that I find it difficult even to walk. Please find some place where I can have a good night’s rest and regain my strength. By morning, I can face the load once more. Otherwise, I’ll die of fatigue!” “Let’s move on a little further then in this moonlight,” said Pilgrim, “and we can stop when we reach some place where there are houses.” Master and disciples had no choice but to follow Pilgrim forward.
They did not journey long before they heard the sound of rushing water. “Finished!” said Eight Rules. “We’ve come to the end of the road!” “We are blocked by a torrent of water,” said Sha Monk. The Tang Monk asked, “How could we get across?” “Let me test it to discover how deep it is first,” said Eight Rules. Tripitaka said, “Wuneng, don’t speak such nonsense! How could you test the depth or shallowness of water?” “I’ll find an egg-shaped pebble,” said Eight Rules, “and throw it in: if it splashes and foam comes up, it’s shallow; if it sinks down with a gurgling sound, then it’s deep.” “Go and test it,” said Pilgrim. Our Idiot groped on the ground and found a stone, which he threw into the water; all they heard was a gurgling sound as if fishes were releasing bubbles as the stone sank down to the bottom. “Deep! Deep! Deep!” he said. “We can’t cross it!” “Though you may have discovered its depth,” said the Tang Monk, “you may not know how wide it is.” “Indeed not! Indeed not!” said Eight Rules. Pilgrim said, “Let me have a look.” Dear Great Sage! He somersaulted at once into the air and fixed his gaze on the water. He saw
The moon soaked in vast sheens of light;
The sky’s image drenched in the deep;
A spirit branch gulping mountains;
A long river feeding hundred streams;
A thousand foaming layers churn;
Ten thousand folds of mountlike waves;
(No fisher-fires lit up the banks
But egrets rested by the beach.)
An oceanlike vast expanse,
With no boundaries in sight.
He dropped down quickly from the clouds to the bank of the river, saying, “Master, it’s very wide! Very wide! We can’t get across! These fiery eyes and diamond pupils of old Monkey can discern good and evil up to a thousand miles during the day, and even at night, they can cover a distance of four or five hundred miles. Just now I couldn’t even see the other shore. How could I tell the width of the river?”
Horrified, Tripitaka could not say a word for a long time. Then he sobbed out, “O Disciple! What shall we do?” “Master, please don’t cry,” said Sha Monk. “Look over there! Isn’t that a man standing by the water?” Pilgrim said, “He could be a fisherman lowering his nets, I suppose. Let me go and ask him.” Holding his iron rod, he sprinted forward to have a closer look. Ah! It was not a man, but only a stone monument, on which were written three large words in seal script and two rows of smaller words down below. The three large words were: Heaven-Reaching River. The two rows of smaller words read:
A width of eight hundred miles
Which few, from days of old, have crossed.
“Master,” Pilgrim called out, “come and look.” When Tripitaka saw the monument, tears rolled down his cheeks, saying, “O Disciple! When I left Chang’an that year, I thought that the way to the Western Heaven was quite easy. How could I know of the obstacles of demons and monsters, the long distance over mountains and waters!”
“Master,” said Eight Rules, “listen for a moment. Isn’t that the sound of drums and cymbals coming from somewhere? It must be that some family is feasting the monks. Let’s go over there and beg for some vegetarian food and make inquiry concerning the possibility of finding a boat to take us across tomorrow.” Cocking his ears as he rode, Tripitaka indeed heard the sound of drums and cymbals. “These are not the musical instruments of Daoists,” he said. “It has to be some religious service conducted by us Buddhists. Let us go over there.” Pilgrim led the horse in front and all of them proceeded toward where the music was coming from. There was actually no road for them to walk on, only a rolling sandy beach. Presently, they saw a group of well-built houses, about four or five hundred of them altogether. They saw that these houses were
Close by the hill and the roads,
Next to the shores and the stream.
Every where the wooden fences were shut;
The bamboo yard of each house was closed.
Egrets resting on sand dunes had peaceful dreams;
Birds nesting on willows voiced their chilly tunes.
The short flutes were silent;
The washing flails had no rhythm.
Red smartweed twigs quaked in moonlight;
Yellow rush leaves battled the wind.
A village dog barked through sparse field fences;
An old fisher slept on his ford-moored boat,
Where lights were low,
And human bustles, quiet.
The bright moon seemed a mirror hung in the air,
The scent of duckweed blossoms all at once
Was sent by the west wind from the far shore.
As Tripitaka dismounted, he saw a house at the head of a path; before the house was erected a pole with a banner flying, while the inside was ablaze with lamps and candles and filled with fragrant incense. “Wukong,” said Tripitaka, “what we have here is certainly better than either the fold of the mountain or the edge of the river. At least the eaves of the roof can provide some shelter from the night mists, and we can rest without fears. You, however, should stay behind first, and let me go up to that patron’s door to make known our request. If he is willing to let us stay, I’ll call for you; but if he’s unwilling, all of you are not to let loose any mischief. You are, after all, quite ugly in your appearances, and I fear that you may frighten them. Offending these people may mean that we shall have nowhere at all to stay.” “What you say is quite right,” said Pilgrim. “Please go first, Master, and we’ll wait for you here.”
Taking off his broad-brimmed bamboo hat, the elder shook the dirt from his clerical robe and went up to the door of the house, holding the priestly staff in his hands. He found the door half-closed; not daring to enter without permission, the elder stood still and waited for a brief moment, when an old man, with some beads hanging around his neck, emerged from the house, chanting the name of Buddha as he walked. Seeing that the old man was about to shut the door, however, the elder hurriedly pressed his palms together and cried out, “Old Benefactor, this humble priest salutes you.” Returning his greeting, the old man said, “You are too late, monk.” “What do you mean?” said Tripitaka. “I mean that you won’t get anything because you are late,” said the old man. “If you had come earlier, you would have found that we were feasting the monks. After you have eaten your fill, you would then be given an additional three ounces of cooked rice, a bale of white cloth, and ten strings of copper pennies. Why do you come at this hour?”
“Old Benefactor,” said Tripitaka, bowing, “this humble priest is not here to be feasted.” “If you are not,” said the old man, “then why have you come here?” Tripitaka said, “I am someone sent by imperial decree of the Great Tang in the Land of the East to acquire scriptures in the Western Heaven. It was late when we arrived at your region. When we heard the sound of drums and cymbals from your house, we came to ask you for one night’s lodging. We’ll leave by morning.” “Monk,” said the old man, waving his hand gently, “a man who has left the family should not lie. The distance between our place here and your Great Tang in the Land of the East happens to be fifty-four thousand miles. A single person like you, how could you come here all by yourself?” “That’s an exceptionally accurate observation, Old Benefactor,” said Tripitaka, “but I am not alone. I have three disciples, who have opened up a path through the mountains and built bridges when we came upon the waters. It was because of their being my escorts that I could arrive here today.” “If you have disciples,” said the old man, “why haven’t they come with you? Please invite them forth at once! My house has enough room for all of you.” Turning around, Tripitaka said, “Disciples, come here.” Now, Pilgrim was by nature rather impulsive, Eight Rules was born without manners, and Sha Monk, too, happened to be very impetuous. The moment the three of them heard their master beckoning, they rushed like a cyclone toward the house, dragging the horse and the luggage along. When the old man caught sight of them, he was so terrified that he fell on the ground, crying repeatedly, “Monsters are here! Monsters are here!” Raising him with his hands, Tripitaka said, “Don’t be afraid, Benefactor. They are not monsters. They are my disciples.” Trembling all over, the old man said, “Such a handsome master! Why did you take such ugly disciples?” “Though they are not good to look at,” said Tripitaka, “they are quite knowledgeable in taming tigers and subduing dragons, in seizing monsters and capturing fiends.” Not fully believing what he heard, the old man supported himself on the Tang Monk and walked slowly with him inside.
We tell you now about those three rogues, who dashed into the hall, where they dropped their luggage and tied up the horse. There were at that time several priests in the hall reciting sūtras. Sticking out his long snout, Eight Rules shouted at them, “Hey monks! Which sūtra are you reciting?” On hearing this, those monks raised their heads and all at once
They saw a visitor,
With long snout and huge ears,
A thick frame and wide shoulders,
A voice that boomed like thunder.
But Pilgrim and Sha Monk
Were in looks e’en uglier.
Of those priests in the hall
None was not in terror.
They tried to keep reciting
But were stopped by their leader.
They left their stones and bells
And forsook the graven Buddhas.
The lamps were all blown out,
And torches all smothered.
They scrambled and they stumbled,
The doorsills falling over.
Like gourds when props were down,
Their heads bumped one another.
A pure, serene plot of ritual
Became a cause of great laughter!
When the three brothers saw how those priests stumbled and fell all over, they clapped their hands and roared with laughter. More terrified than ever, those priests banged into one another as they fled for their lives and deserted the place. Tripitaka led the old man up the hall, but the lights and lamps were completely out, while the three of them were still in guffaws. “You brazen creatures!” scolded the Tang Monk. “You are so wicked! Haven’t I taught you every day, admonished you every morning? The ancients said,
To be virtuous without instruction,
Is this not sagacity?
To be virtuous after instruction,
Is this not nobility?
To be virtueless even after instruction,
Is this not stupidity?
The way you have perpetrated mischief has just shown you to be people of the greatest baseness and stupidity! You barged into someone’s door without any manners! You have frightened the old Benefactor and scattered the priests reciting the sūtras, completely spoiling the good works of others. Wouldn’t I be blamed for all this?” He spoke with such vehemence that they dared not utter a word in reply, and only then did the old man become convinced that they were his disciples. He turned quickly to bow to Tripitaka, saying, “Venerable Father, it doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter! They were putting out the lights just now because the ceremony was almost done anyway.” “If it’s over,” said Eight Rules, “bring out the end-of-service feast so that we can enjoy it and sleep.” “Bring out the lights! Bring out the lights!” cried the old man. Some of the members of his household, when they heard him, began to complain to themselves, “There are enough candles already in the hall for the religious service. Why is he calling for lights?” A few houseboys came out to see for themselves and they found the hall in complete darkness. Returning hurriedly with torches and lanterns, they suddenly saw the forms of Eight Rules and Sha Monk. So terrified by the sight they were that they dropped their torches and dashed inside, slamming shut the mid-level door and shouting all the time, “There are monsters here! There are monsters here!”
Picking up one of the torches, Pilgrim relit the lamps and the candles before he pulled a chair to the middle of the hall for the Tang Monk to sit on. Then he and his brothers sat down on both sides and the old man took a seat in front of all of them. As they sett led into their seats, they heard the inner door open and another old man walked out, supporting himself on a staff. “What kind of perverse demons are you,” he said, “that you dare enter the door of a virtuous family in the dark of night?” The old man, who was seated, quickly arose and met him behind the screens, saying, “No need to clamor, Elder Brother. They are no perverse demons, but arhats sent to acquire scriptures by the Great Tang in the Land of the East. Though they look vicious, they are actually quite gentle.” Only then did the other old man put down his staff and bow to greet all four of the visitors, after which, he also took a seat in the front of the hall. “Bring out the tea,” he cried, “and prepare us some vegetarian food.” He had to call several times before several houseboys, still trembling, emerged, though they still did not dare walk near the visitors.
Unable to contain himself, Eight Rules said, “Old man, why are your servants milling about on both sides?” “I told them to bring out some vegetarian food to serve to the Venerable Fathers,” said the old man. Eight Rules asked, “How many are there to serve us?” “Eight of them,” said the old man. “Which of us are they going to serve?” said Eight Rules. “Why, all four of you!” said the old man. Eight Rules said, “That pale-faced master requires only one person to serve him; the one with the hairy face and thunder-god beak needs only two. But the one with the gloomy complexion will have to have eight persons, and, as for me, nothing less than twenty attendants will do.” “If I understand you correctly,” said the old man, “you are trying to tell me that you have a large appetite.” “It’s passable, passable,” said Eight Rules. “Well,” said the old man, “there are plenty of people here.” Young and old, he managed to summon thirty servants to come out.
As the two old men spoke amiably with the monks, the rest of the household felt more at ease. A table was set up in the middle of the hall and the Tang Monk was asked to take the honored seat. Three other tables were set up on both sides for the disciples, while the two old men were seated at another table facing all of them. Fruits and vegetables were presented first, after which they brought out glutenous rice, plain rice, side dishes, and soup with vermicelli. After the food was laid out properly, the elder Tang lifted his chopsticks and recited the Fast-Breaking Sūtra. Our Idiot, however, was an impulsive eater for one thing, and he was hungry for another. Without waiting for the Tang Monk to finish his recitation, he grabbed one of the red lacquered wooden bowls and hurled a whole bowl full of rice into his mouth. Every grain of it immediately vanished! One of the young attendants on the side said, “This Venerable Father is not very smart! If you want to snatch something and hide it in your sleeve, why don’t you take some steamed buns? Why do you snatch a bowl of rice instead? Won’t it soil your clothing?” “I didn’t put it in my sleeve,” said Eight Rules, chuckling. “I ate it!” “You have hardly moved your mouth,” said the young man. “How could you have eaten it?” “Only your son would lie!” said Eight Rules. “Of course I ate it! If you don’t believe me, I’ll eat some more for you to see!” The young man indeed picked up the bowl, filled it with rice once more, and handed the bowl to Eight Rules. Idiot took it, and instantly he gulped it all down with a flick of his hand. When the houseboys saw this, they cried, “O Father! You must have a throat lined with polished bricks! It’s so level and smooth!” Before the Tang Monk had finished reciting one sūtra, Idiot had downed five or six bowls of rice. After that, they raised their chopsticks to enjoy the other kinds of food. Without regard for whether they were fruits, rice, glutenous rice, or side dishes, Idiot simply scooped them all up with his hands and stuffed them into his mouth, calling all the time, “More rice! More rice! Where are you all disappearing to?” “Worthy Brother,” said Pilgrim, “please don’t eat so much! We are already much better off than trying to endure hunger in the fold of the mountain. It’s good enough if you are half-filled.” “Never mind,” said Eight Rules. “As the proverb says,
The priest half-fed
Is worse than dead!”
“Take away the housewares,” said Pilgrim. “Don’t mind him!” Bowing, the two old men said, “To tell you the truth, there is no problem whatever if it is during the day, for we can easily feed over a hundred priests like our big-bellied elder here. But it’s late now. We have put away the leftovers, and we have managed to steam only one stone of glutenous rice and five barrels of plain rice together with a few tablefuls of vegetarian food. We were about to invite a few neighbors to disperse the blessings with the priests. When all of you arrived, the priests became frightened and left, and we dared not even ask our neighbors or kin to come here. Everything that had been prepared was already presented to you. But if you are not yet filled, we can steam some more.” “Steam some more! Steam some more!” said Eight Rules.
After they finished eating, the tables and dishes were put aside. Tripitaka stood up and bowed to the two old men to thank them for the feast. Then he asked, “Old Benefactors, what is your honored name?” One of them said, “Our surname is Chen.” Pressing his palms together, Tripitaka said, “We share the same illustrious ancestors.” “So the Venerable Father also has the surname of Chen?” asked one of the old men. “Yes,” said Tripitaka, “that is the name of my secular home. May I ask what kind of religious service was held just now?” “Why do you ask, Master?” said Eight Rules, laughing. “Can’t you guess? It has to be a service for harvest, or for peace, or for the completion of a building. Nothing more!” “No, no,” said the old man. “Truly, what was it for then?” asked Tripitaka again. The old man replied, “It’s a preparatory mass for the dead.” Laughing so hard that he could hardly remain seated, Eight Rules said, “Grandpa, you aren’t very perceptive! We are experts in half-truths, masters of humbug! How could you hope to deceive us with that fraudulent title? You think that monks are ignorant of masses and religious services? You may hold a preparatory mass for the transference of merit, or for the presentation of a votive offering. Since when was there ever a preparatory mass for the dead? There is no one in your house who has died. How could you have a mass for the dead?”
When Pilgrim heard these words, he was secretly pleased and thought to himself, “This Idiot is getting smarter!” Then he said, “Old Grandpa, you must have been mistaken. What is this preparatory mass for the dead?” Instead of replying at once, the two old men bowed and said, “How did all of you turn from the main road to acquire scriptures and arrive at our place?” Pilgrim said, “We were walking along the main road, but it was barred by a torrent of water and we could not cross it. Then we heard the sound of cymbals and drums, and that led us here to ask you for a night’s lodging.” “When you reached the edge of the water,” said the old man, “did you see anything?” “Only a stone monument,” said Pilgrim, “with the three-word inscription, Heaven-Reaching River. Below it, there were the words:
A width of eight hundred miles
Which few, from days of old, have crossed.
There was no other thing.”
“If you had gone about a mile inland from the monument,” said one of the old men, “you would have come upon a temple of the Great King of Numinous Power. But you didn’t see it?” “We did not,” said Pilgrim. “Tell us, old Grandpa, what is this Numinous Power?”
At once the two old men began to shed tears as they said, “O Venerable Father! That Great King was
Potent to move one place to build his shrine;
Numinous to bless people far and near.
He sends us sweet rains from month to month,
And auspicious clouds from year to year.”
Pilgrim said, “Sending sweet rains and auspicious clouds indicate good intentions, but you are so sad and dejected. Why?” Beating their chests and stamping their feet, the old men sighed deeply and said, “O Venerable Father!
Though favors abound, there’s also spite.
He would hurt life even when he is kind.
For his love to eat virgin boys and girls,
He is no patent god of righteous mind!”
“So he likes to devour virgin boys and girls?” asked Pilgrim. “Yes,” said the old men. Pilgrim said, “I suppose it’s your family’s turn now?” “Indeed it is,” said one of the old men. “Our village here consists of over one hundred families, and it belongs to the Yuanhui County of the Cart Slow Kingdom. The name of this village of ours is the Chen Village. Every year this Great King requires the sacrifice of a virgin boy and a virgin girl in addition to the offering of various kinds of livestock like hogs and sheep. When he has devoured all of these to his satisfaction, he would bless us with wind and rain in due season. If there is no such sacrifice for him, he will inflict upon us all kinds of calamity.” “How many esteemed sons do you have in your family?” asked Pilgrim. “Alas! Alas!” said the older of the two men, beating his breast. “Why mention ‘esteemed sons’? The term would only embarrass us to death! This is my brother, Chen Qing, and I am called Chen Cheng.2 He is fifty-eight and I am sixty-three, both badly off for children. Since I had no children even when I was fifty, friends and relatives urged me to take a concubine. I had no choice but to do so and a girl was born later. Her name is One Load of Gold, and she is barely eight this year.” “What an expensive name!” said Eight Rules. “Why was she given it?” The old man said, “Since I was childless for so many years, I persisted in repairing bridges and roads, in erecting temples and stūpas, and in the feasting of monks. I kept a record of all I spent—a few ounces here and a few ounces there—and by the time my daughter was born, I had spent exactly thirty pounds of gold. Thirty pounds make one load, and that was how she got her name.”
“And does he have a son?” asked Pilgrim. The old man said, “He has, indeed, a son born also of a concubine. He is only seven years old, and his name is Chen Guanbao.”3 “Why such a name?” asked Pilgrim, and the old man said, “Because our family worships the Holy Father Guan, and the child was conceived after prayers were offered to the Holy Father. That’s why he has such a name. The joint age of my brother and me is over one hundred and twenty, but we have only these two children to perpetuate our families. How could we ever anticipate that the turn to provide the victims would fall on us! We dare not, of course, refuse, but it is difficult to give up our precious children. It was for the welfare of their souls that we established this plot of ritual in advance, and that was the reason I named it the preparatory mass for the dead.”
When Tripitaka heard these words, he could not restrain the tears from rolling down his cheeks and he said, “Truly it’s like what the proverb says:
Instead of yellow plums only green plums drop.
Old Heaven’s doubly harsh to a childless man!”
Pilgrim, however, smiled and said, “Let me question him a bit more. Old Grandpa, how much property do you have?” The two old men said together, “Quite a bit. We have at least some seven hundred and fifty acres of paddy fields and over a thousand acres of dry fields. There must be some ninety pasture fields, three hundred water buffalos, some thirty horses and mules, and countless numbers of hogs, sheep, chickens, and geese. There is more grain in our warehouses than we can consume and more clothing in our houses than we can wear. Our property and our wealth, as you can see, are quite sizable.” “If you own so much,” said Pilgrim, “it’s pathetic that you are so stingy!” “How did you come to that conclusion?” said one of the old men. Pilgrim said, “If you are so well-off, how could you permit your own children to be sacrificed? Throw away fifty ounces of silver and you can buy a virgin boy; throw away another hundred ounces and you can buy a virgin girl. You need spend no more than two hundred ounces of silver for all expenses and you will preserve posterity for you and your family. Isn’t that much better?”
Shedding copious tears, the two old men said, “Venerable Father! You aren’t aware of the fact that the Great King is truly so powerful that he knows everything. Why, he even comes frequently to the families here.” Pilgrim said, “When he came through, did you ever discover how he looked or how tall he was?” “We have never seen his form,” said the two old men. “But whenever we felt a fragrant breeze, it was a sign that the Father Great King had arrived. Then we had to burn hurriedly lots of incense and all of us, young and old, had to bow toward the wind. He knows everything there is to know of our families here; he can remember even the birth dates and hours of young and old. He will not consider it a treat unless he can devour children who are truly ours. Don’t speak of two or three hundred ounces of silver; even if we were to spend several thousand ounces, we had nowhere to purchase a boy or a girl of exactly the same appearance and age.”
“So, that’s how it is!” said Pilgrim. “All right, all right! Bring out your son and let me take a look at him.” Chen Qing went inside at once and carried his son Guanbao out to the front hall, placing him before the lamps. The child, of course, was wholly unaware of the disaster that was about to descend on him. With two sleeves stuffed with preserved fruits and candies, he danced about as he munched on the goodies. On seeing him, Pilgrim recited a spell silently and shook his body: at once he changed into a boy with the exact appearance of that child Guanbao. Now there were two boys holding hands and dancing before the lamps! The old man was so startled that he fell on his knees, causing the Tang Monk to cry out, “Venerable Father, this is blasphemy! Blasphemy!” The old man said, “But this Venerable Father was just speaking to us. How did he manage to take on the appearance of my child all at once? Look, you give them a call, and both of them answer together! We are the ones who are not worthy! Please show your true form! Please show your true form!” With a wipe of his own face Pilgrim changed back into his true form. Remaining on his knees, the old man said, “So the Venerable Father has this kind of ability!” “Did I look like your son?” asked Pilgrim, laughing. “Very much! Very much!” said the old man. “You had exactly the same features, the same voice, the same clothes, and the same height!” “You haven’t even examined me closely,” said Pilgrim. “Bring out the scale and see if I’m of the same weight as his.” “Yes! Yes! Yes!” said the old man. “I could tell that you were exactly of the same weight.” “You think I could serve as the sacrifice?” asked Pilgrim. “It’s marvelous! Just marvelous!” said the old man. “Of course, you could serve as the sacrifice.”
Pilgrim said, “I’ll exchange my life for your boy’s so that your family’s posterity will be preserved. I’ll present myself as a sacrifice to that Great King.” Kowtowing as he knelt on the ground, Chen Qing said, “If in your compassion you are willing to present yourself as a substitute, I shall present Father Tang with a thousand ounces of white silver as his travel expenses to the Western Heaven.” “And you are not going to thank old Monkey?” said Pilgrim. “If you are a sacrificial substitute,” said the old man, “you will be finished.” “What do you mean finished?” said Pilgrim. “The Great King will devour you,” said the old man, and Pilgrim said, “Does he dare?” “If he doesn’t eat you,” said the old man, “it will only be because you are too smelly for his taste.” “May Heaven’s will be done!” said Pilgrim, chuckling. “If he eats me, it’ll mean that I am to die young; if he does not, it’s my luck. Anyway, I shall be your sacrificial substitute.”
Chen Qing not only kowtowed to thank him, but also promised to give the monks an additional five hundred ounces of silver. Chen Cheng, however, neither kowtowed nor gave thanks; leaning on one of the screens, he wept profusely. Understanding his plight, Pilgrim went up to tug at him and said, “Number One, you are not promising me anything nor are you thanking me. I suppose you must feel terrible about parting with your daughter?” Going to his knees at once, Chen Cheng said, “No, I can’t part with her. I am indebted to you, Venerable Father, for your kindness, and it should be enough that you have saved our nephew. But this old moron has no other children except his daughter. If I should die, she would weep bitterly, too! How could I ever part with her?” “Then go quickly and steam five more barrels of rice,” said Pilgrim. “Prepare some fine vegetarian dishes also and let that long-snout master of ours enjoy himself. Then we can ask him to change into the form of your daughter, and we two brothers will be your sacrificial substitutes. By saving the lives of your daughter and son, we shall accrue to ourselves secret merit. How about that?”
Horrified by what he heard, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, you can show off your energy as you please! But don’t drag me into this venture without any regard for my life!” “Worthy Brother,” said Pilgrim, “the proverb says, ‘Even chickens can eat only food they work for!’ The moment we entered their house, they feted us with a huge banquet, while you were complaining that you were only half-filled! How could you be unwilling to assist them in their difficulties?” “O Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “I don’t know anything about transformation.” “What do you mean?” said Pilgrim. “You know thirty-six modes of transformation.” “Wuneng,” cried Tripitaka, “what your elder brother has just said is certainly right, and what he has proposed is most appropriate. The proverb says, ‘The saving of one life is better than the construction of a seven-tiered pagoda.’ In the first place, we should repay their great kindness to us; in the second, we should make merit whenever possible by the performance of good works. Since there is no other thing you must attend to in this cool night, you and your brother can go and have some fun.” “Look at the way Master talks!” said Eight Rules. “I may know how to change into a mountain, a tree, a rock, a scabby elephant, a water buffalo, or a stout fellow. But it’ll be rather difficult for me to change into a small young girl!” “Don’t believe him, Number One,” said Pilgrim. “Bring out your precious daughter.” Chen Cheng dashed inside and brought out his child, One Load of Gold. At the same time, his whole family, including his wife and his concubine, young and old, all came out to the front hall to kneel before the monks and kowtow, begging them to save the girl’s life.
The girl was wearing on her head a patterned emerald fillet with dangling pearl and precious stone pendants; she had on a coat of red silk shot with yellow, covered by a cape of mandarin green satin with chess-board patterned collar. Around her waist was tied a silk skirt with bright red flowers. She also had on a pair of gold-kneed trousers and a pair of light pink toad’s-head patterned shoes made of hemp thread. And she, too, was munching on some fruits. “Eight Rules,” said Pilgrim, “that’s the girl. Change into her form quickly, so that we can be sacrificed.” “O Brother!” said Eight Rules. “She’s so delicate and lovely! How could I do it?” “Quick!” said Pilgrim. “Don’t ask for a beating!” Alarmed, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, don’t beat me! Let me try and see what happens!”
This Idiot recited a spell and shook his head several times, crying, “Change!” Indeed, his head took on the features of the little girl, but his belly remained as big as ever so that his hulking frame bore hardly any resemblance to the girl’s. “Change some more!” cried Pilgrim, laughing. “You can beat me all you want,” said Eight Rules, “but I can’t change anymore. What am I to do?” “You can’t take on the head of a girl,” said Pilgrim, “and the body of a priest! You would be neither boy nor girl, and that wouldn’t be good, would it? Why don’t you assume the star posture and see what I can do for you?” He blew a mouthful of magic breath onto Eight Rules, whose body at once took on the form of the little girl. Then Pilgrim said to the two old men, “Please take your relatives, your son, and your daughter inside so that we will not be confused with them. I fear that after awhile, my brother may become slothful and sneak inside, and it will be difficult for you to tell them apart. Give your children plenty of nice fruits and candies and make certain that they don’t cry. I don’t want that Great King to get wind of our plans. We two will have some fun and be off.”
Dear Great Sage! He gave instructions for Sha Monk to stand guard over the Tang Monk, while he and Eight Rules assumed the exact forms of Chen Guanbao and One Load of Gold. After the two of them made all the preparations, Pilgrim asked, “How are we to be presented, trussed up or just bound? Steamed or chopped to pieces?” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “don’t pull any more tricks on me! I don’t have that kind of ability!” “No, No!” said one of the old men. “All we need are two red lacquered trays, on which we will ask both of you to sit. The trays will be placed on top of two tables, which will then be carried to the temple by some of our houseboys.” “Fine! Fine!” said Pilgrim. “Bring out the trays and let us try them.” The old man took out the lacquered trays; Pilgrim and Eight Rules sat in them, after which four houseboys lifted up two tables and walked into the courtyard. Delighted, Pilgrim said, “Eight Rules, a couple of turns like this and we shall be priests who have ascended the tray-platform!” “If they carry us inside,” said Eight Rules, “and carry us out again, I won’t be afraid even if they go back and forth until tomorrow morning. But once they take us into the temple, we’ll be devoured, and that’s no game!” “Just watch me,” said Pilgrim. “When he seizes me and tries to eat me, you can flee.” “But how would I know whom he will eat first?” asked Eight Rules. “If he eats the virgin boy first, I can flee, of course. But if he wants to eat the virgin girl first, what am I to do?” “During one of the sacrifices some years ago,” said the old man, “a few people courageous enough hid themselves behind the temple or beneath the offering tables. They saw that he ate the boy first before he devoured the girl.” Eight Rules said, “That’s my luck! That’s my luck!” As the brothers were talking, a loud din of gongs and drums could be heard outside the house, now lit up also by the light of many torches and lamps. The people of the same village came to pound at the front gate, crying, “Bring out the virgin boy and the virgin girl!” As the old men wept and wailed, the four houseboys lifted the tables and carried the two of them away. We truly do not know what happened to their lives; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.