Chapter 69: Heart Governs Nighttime Medicine Cultivation, Monarch Discusses Demons at Banquet

**Chapter 69: The Divine Monk Prepares Medicine at Night; The King Discusses Evil Spirits at the Banquet**

It is narrated that Sun Wukong, accompanied by the attending eunuch, arrived at the inner court of the imperial palace and stopped outside the sleeping quarters. He handed three golden threads to the eunuch to take inside, instructing, "Tell the imperial consorts or close eunuchs to first tie them to His Majesty's left wrist, specifically over the *cun*, *guan*, and *chi* pulses, then pass the ends of the threads out to me through the window." Indeed, the eunuch followed these instructions, invited the king to sit on his dragon bed, and tied one end of the golden threads to his *cun*, *guan*, and *chi* pulses, letting the other ends out the window.

The Pilgrim took the thread ends. First, he placed his right thumb against his index finger to examine the *cun* pulse. Next, he pressed his middle finger against his thumb to examine the *guan* pulse. Then, he braced his thumb against his ring finger to examine the *chi* pulse. He adjusted his own breathing, discerning the four *qi*, five stagnations, seven superficial conditions, eight internal conditions, nine pulse positions, and distinguishing between floating, moderate, and deep pulses, and floating within deep, to clarify the nature of deficiency and excess. He then instructed them to untie the threads from the left wrist and re-tie them to the right wrist in the same manner. The Pilgrim then used his left fingers to examine each pulse from the beginning. After finishing, he shook his body, retracting the golden threads onto himself. He then loudly proclaimed, "Your Majesty, your left *cun* pulse is strong and tight; your *guan* pulse is hesitant and slow; your *chi* pulse is hollow and deep. Your right *cun* pulse is floating and slippery; your *guan* pulse is slow and knotted; your *chi* pulse is rapid and firm. A strong and tight left *cun* pulse indicates emptiness in the middle and heart pain; a hesitant and slow *guan* pulse indicates sweating and numbness of the skin; a hollow and deep *chi* pulse indicates red urine and blood in the stool. A floating and slippery right *cun* pulse indicates internal stagnation and amenorrhea; a slow and knotted *guan* pulse indicates undigested food and retained fluids; a rapid and firm *chi* pulse indicates vexation, fullness, and a battle between deficiency and cold. My diagnosis of your esteemed illness is a condition caused by fright, anxiety, and prolonged worry, known as the 'Lost Twin Birds' syndrome." Hearing this from inside, the king was overjoyed. He mustered his strength and loudly responded, "The diagnosis is clear! It is indeed this ailment! Please come out and prepare the medicine!"

The Great Sage then slowly walked out of the palace. The eunuchs who had been listening nearby had already informed the others. Shortly after, when the Pilgrim emerged, Tang Sanzang immediately asked how it went. The Pilgrim replied, "I've diagnosed the pulse; now I'll prepare the medicine according to the symptoms." The officials stepped forward and asked, "Divine Monk, what did you mean by the 'Lost Twin Birds' syndrome you mentioned just now?" The Pilgrim laughed, "Imagine two birds, male and female, flying together. Suddenly, they are scattered by a storm. The female cannot see the male, and the male cannot see the female. The female longs for the male, and the male longs for the female. Is this not 'Lost Twin Birds'?" Hearing this, the officials all cheered, "Truly a divine monk! Truly a divine physician!" and praised him endlessly. At that moment, an imperial physician asked, "The nature of the illness has been discerned, but what medicine will you use to treat it?" The Pilgrim said, "No need to stick to a fixed prescription; I'll use whatever medicine is available." The physician responded, "The classics say: 'There are 808 kinds of medicine and 404 kinds of diseases.' A single person doesn't suffer from all diseases, so how can all medicines be used? How can you use whatever medicine is available?" The Pilgrim said, "The ancients said: 'Medicine should not be confined to fixed prescriptions, but used according to suitability.' Therefore, I'll collect all kinds of medicines and adjust them as needed." The physician said no more. He immediately left the palace gate and dispatched his department's duty officers to inform all raw and prepared medicine shops throughout the city to prepare three *jin* of each type of medicine and send them to the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim said, "This is not the place to prepare medicine. Please send all the medicines and all the necessary equipment for preparing medicine to the Hall of Confluence and hand them over to my two junior brothers." The physician obeyed, and immediately sent all 808 kinds of medicine, three *jin* of each, along with herb grinders, mortars, sieves, pestles, and other related tools, to the Hall, where they were all received.

The Pilgrim went to the hall to invite his master to join them at the Hall to prepare the medicine. Just as the Venerable Monk was getting up, a royal decree from the inner palace arrived, instructing the minister to keep the Buddhist master and have him stay overnight in the Wenhua Hall. After the king took the medicine the next morning and recovered, they would offer thanks and arrange for his travel permit before seeing him off. Sanzang was greatly alarmed and said, "Disciple, this means they are keeping me as collateral! If the king recovers, they will happily send me off; but if he doesn't, my life is over. You must be very careful and prepare the medicine with utmost diligence and devotion!" The Pilgrim laughed, "Master, don't worry. Enjoy your stay here. Your old grandson has the skill to heal a nation."

The Great Sage, a capable figure, bade farewell to Sanzang, took leave of the officials, and went directly to the Hall. Pigsy greeted him with a laugh, "Senior Brother, I know what you're up to now." The Pilgrim asked, "What do you know?" Pigsy said, "I know that your quest for scriptures has failed, and you want to start a business without capital. Seeing how wealthy this place is, you've figured out a way to open a medicine shop!" The Pilgrim snapped, "Don't talk nonsense! Once I've cured the king, I'll happily take leave and go on our way. What medicine shop are you talking about!" Pigsy retorted, "After all, there are 808 kinds of medicine, three *jin* of each, totaling 2,424 *jin*. To treat just one person, how much will you use? It would take ages to consume all that!" The Pilgrim said, "Who needs that much? Those imperial physicians are ignorant and blind fools. That's why I asked for so many medicines, so they wouldn't know what I'm up to, unaware of which specific ingredients I would use, and unable to comprehend my miraculous prescription."

As they were speaking, two hall attendants knelt before them and said, "Honorable Divine Monk, please come for your evening meal." The Pilgrim asked, "This morning you treated me differently; why are you now kneeling to invite me?" The attendants kowtowed and said, "When you first arrived, your humble servants were blind and did not recognize your esteemed presence. Now we hear that you have displayed your exceptional medical skill to cure our nation's ruler. If His Majesty recovers, you, Venerable Sir, will share in the nation's glory, and we, as his subjects, should rightfully bow and invite you." Hearing this, the Pilgrim gladly ascended to the hall and took the main seat. Pigsy and Sandy sat to his left and right. The vegetarian meal was served. Sandy then asked, "Senior Brother, where is Master?" The Pilgrim laughed, "Master has been kept by the king as collateral. Only after the king is cured will he be thanked and sent off." Sandy then asked, "Is he comfortable there?" The Pilgrim replied, "Of course, the king would ensure his comfort! When I left, three Grand Secretaries were already attending him, and he was invited into Wenhua Hall." Pigsy said, "In that case, Master is still the most important. He has Grand Secretaries attending him, while we only have two hall attendants serving us. Never mind him, let old Pig enjoy a good meal first." So, the brothers comfortably enjoyed their meal.

It was already late. The Pilgrim called the hall attendants, "Put away the household items, and bring more oil and candles. We need the quiet of night to prepare the medicine." The attendants indeed brought a good quantity of oil and candles, then disbursed as ordered.

By midnight, the streets were quiet, and all sounds had ceased. Pigsy said, "Brother, what medicine are you preparing? Let's get it done quickly; I'm sleepy." The Pilgrim said, "Bring one *liang* of rhubarb and grind it into a fine powder." Sandy then said, "Rhubarb is bitter, cold, and non-toxic. Its nature is sinking, not floating; its action is swift and not stagnant. It clears all stagnations without obstruction, and it restores order from chaos, earning it the name 'General.' It's a purgative medicine. However, for a long-standing illness with weakness, it should not be used." The Pilgrim laughed, "My dear brother, you don't know. This medicine clears phlegm, regulates *qi*, and purges the congealed cold and heat from the belly. Don't worry about me. Now go and fetch one *liang* of croton seeds, remove the shells and membranes, pound out the oily toxins, and grind them into a fine powder." Pigsy said, "Croton seeds are pungent, hot, and toxic. They break down stubborn accumulations, clear deep-seated cold from the viscera, open blockages, and facilitate the passage of food and water. They are a general that 'breaks through gates and captures cities,' and should not be used lightly." The Pilgrim said, "My dear brother, you also don't know. This medicine breaks up stagnation and clears the intestines, and can treat heart distension and edema. Hurry and prepare it. I still have auxiliary ingredients to complement it." The two of them immediately ground the two medicines finely, then asked, "Senior Brother, do you need dozens more ingredients?" The Pilgrim said, "No, not anymore." Pigsy said, "808 kinds of medicine, three *jin* each, and you only use two *liang* of them? You're truly pulling a fast one!" The Pilgrim took a patterned porcelain bowl and said, "My dear brother, enough talk. Take this bowl and scrape half a bowl of soot from the bottom of the pot." Pigsy asked, "What do you need it for?" The Pilgrim replied, "It's for the medicine." Sandy said, "Junior brother has never seen pot soot used in medicine." The Pilgrim said, "Pot soot is called 'soot of a hundred herbs' and can treat a hundred diseases, don't you know that?" The oaf indeed scraped half a bowl and ground it finely. The Pilgrim then handed the bowl to him again and said, "Now go and wait for half a bowl of our horse's urine." Pigsy asked, "What do you need that for?" The Pilgrim replied, "To make pills." Sandy again laughed, "Brother, this is no joke. Horse urine is stinky and foul; how can it be used in medicine? I've only seen pills made with vinegar paste, old rice paste, refined honey, or just clear water. Who ever heard of pills made with horse urine? That stuff is so stinky and foul, someone with a weak spleen would vomit just from smelling it! And then to take croton seeds and rhubarb, making a person vomit and have diarrhea—is this a joke?" The Pilgrim said, "You don't know the inside story. My horse is no ordinary horse. He is originally a dragon from the West Sea. If he is willing to urinate, whatever ailment you have, taking it will cure it immediately. But it's hard to get it when you need it urgently." Hearing this, Pigsy truly went to the horse. The horse was lying obliquely on the ground, asleep. The oaf kicked it awake, propped it up by its belly, and waited for a while, but it didn't urinate at all. He ran back and told the Pilgrim, "Brother, let's not bother curing the emperor for now; let's quickly cure the horse instead. That poor thing is constipated; don't even think about getting a drop of urine out of it!" The Pilgrim laughed, "I'll go with you." Sandy said, "I'll go take a look too."

The three of them went to the horse. The horse suddenly sprang up, speaking in human tongue, and loudly exclaimed, "Senior Brother, don't you know I was originally a flying dragon from the West Sea? Because I violated heavenly rules, Bodhisattva Guanyin saved me, had my horns sawn off, my scales removed, and transformed me into a horse to carry Master to the Western Heaven to atone for my sins. If I urinate in the water, the fish that drink it will turn into dragons. If I urinate on a mountain, the grass that tastes it will become spirit *zhi*, which immortal youths collect for longevity. How could I lightly cast it away in this mundane place?" The Pilgrim said, "Brother, mind your words. This is the king of a Western country, not a mundane place, nor is this a matter of lightly casting it away. As the saying goes, 'Many small hairs make a fur coat.' We need to cure this country's king. If we succeed, everyone will be glorified. Otherwise, I fear none of us will be able to leave this place in peace." Only then did the horse say, "Wait." See how it lunged forward, then squatted backward, its teeth clenching with a chattering sound, barely managing to produce a few drops, then stood up. Pigsy said, "This poor thing! Even if it's golden elixir, just a bit more would be fine!" The Pilgrim saw there was a little less than half a bowl and said, "Enough, enough! Take it away." Only then did Sandy become happy.

The three returned to the hall, mixed the aforementioned medicinal ingredients together, and rolled them into three large pills. The Pilgrim said, "Brothers, they're too big." Pigsy said, "They're only the size of walnuts. If I were to eat them, one wouldn't even be a mouthful!" They then put them into a small box. The brothers lay down in their clothes, and nothing more was said that night.

It was already dawn. Meanwhile, the ailing king held court. After meeting Tang Sanzang, he immediately ordered his officials to quickly go to the Hall of Confluence to pay respects to the Divine Monk, Elder Sun, and retrieve the medicine.

The officials followed him to the Hall and prostrated themselves before the Pilgrim, saying, "Our king has specially commanded your humble servants to respectfully receive the miraculous medicine." The Pilgrim told Pigsy to fetch the box, open the lid, and hand it to the officials. The officials asked, "What is the name of this medicine, so we can report to the king?" The Pilgrim replied, "It is called 'Black Gold Elixir'." Pigsy and Sandy secretly chuckled, "Mixed with pot soot, of course it's 'Black Gold'!" The officials then asked, "What is the delivery agent for this medicine?" The Pilgrim said, "Two kinds of delivery agents can be used. One is easy to obtain: a decoction made from six ingredients." The officials asked, "What are these six ingredients?" The Pilgrim replied: "Crow's farts flying in mid-air, carp's urine from swiftly flowing water, the Queen Mother's face powder, the ash from Laozi's alchemy furnace, three pieces of the Jade Emperor's worn-out headscarf, and five whiskers from a sleeping dragon. A decoction made from these six ingredients will deliver this medicine and instantly cure your king's illness caused by worry." Hearing this, the officials said, "These are things that do not exist in this world! Please tell us what the other kind of delivery agent is." The Pilgrim said, "It is to be taken with 'rootless water'." The officials laughed, "That's easy to get!" The Pilgrim asked, "How is it easy to get?" The officials explained, "According to common saying here, to get rootless water, one takes a bowl, goes to a well or river, scoops up water, quickly turns around without letting it touch the ground or looking back, and then brings it home for the patient to take the medicine. That's it." The Pilgrim said, "Water from wells and rivers all have roots. My 'rootless water' is not that. It is water that falls from the sky and is consumed before it touches the ground; only then is it called 'rootless water'." The officials again said, "That's also easy. We'll just wait for a cloudy day when it rains, and then take the medicine." They then bowed and thanked the Pilgrim, took the medicine, and presented it to the king.

The king was overjoyed and immediately ordered his attendants to bring it to him. He looked at it and asked, "What kind of pills are these?" The officials replied, "The Divine Monk said it's 'Black Gold Elixir,' to be taken with 'rootless water'." The king then instructed the palace staff to fetch some rootless water. The officials said, "The Divine Monk explained that 'rootless water' is not from wells or rivers, but water that falls from the sky without touching the ground." The king then summoned the officer on duty to issue a decree, inviting Taoist priests to pray for rain. The officials obeyed and issued the proclamation, which need not be further elaborated upon.

Meanwhile, the Pilgrim, in the hall of the Hall of Confluence, called Pigsy and said, "Just now I agreed that the medicine should be taken with water falling from the sky. In this urgent situation, how can we get rain? I see this king is quite a wise and virtuous ruler. How about I help him with some rain for the medicine?" Pigsy asked, "How will you help?" The Pilgrim said, "You stand to my left, acting as a supporting star. And you, Sandy," he called, "stand to my right, acting as an assisting constellation. Let your old grandson help him with some rootless water." The capable Great Sage performed a Taoist step and chanted an incantation. Soon, a dark cloud appeared from the east, gradually approaching above his head. A voice called out, "Great Sage, Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, has come to see you." The Pilgrim said, "I wouldn't bother you without reason. I ask you to help with some 'rootless water' for the king's medicine." The Dragon King said, "Great Sage, when you called, you didn't mention needing water. Your humble dragon came alone and didn't bring any rain-making instruments, nor are there wind, clouds, thunder, or lightning. How can I make it rain?" The Pilgrim said, "Now, we don't need wind, clouds, thunder, or lightning, nor do we need much rain. Just a little water to accompany the medicine will suffice." The Dragon King said, "Since that's the case, I'll just sneeze twice and spit some saliva for him to take the medicine." The Pilgrim was overjoyed and said, "Excellent, excellent! Don't hesitate; do it quickly."

The old dragon in the sky gradually lowered the dark cloud until it was directly over the imperial palace. Concealing his form, he expelled a mouthful of saliva, which transformed into sweet rain. All the officials in court cheered in unison, "A thousand joys to Your Majesty! The Heavenly Lord has sent down sweet rain!" The king immediately issued a decree, ordering, "Bring vessels to collect it! Regardless of whether they are inside or outside the palace, and regardless of rank, all officials must wait and collect this immortal water to save your lonely sovereign."

Look, the numerous civil and military officials, along with the empresses and concubines of the three palaces and six courtyards, and the three thousand court ladies and eight hundred beautiful maids, each held up cups, saucers, bowls, and plates, waiting to catch the sweet rain. The old dragon in mid-air continued to transform his saliva, remaining above the king's palace, front and back. After about an hour, the Dragon King bade farewell to the Great Sage and returned to the sea. The officials collected their cups, bowls, and dishes. Some had caught a drop or two, some three to five drops, and some not a single drop. All together, they collected about three cups' worth, which were presented to the imperial desk. Truly, a peculiar fragrance filled the Golden Throne Hall, and a delightful aroma wafted through the Emperor's court!

The king bade farewell to the Buddhist master, took the "Black Gold Elixir" and the sweet rain back to his palace. He first swallowed one pill and drank a cup of sweet rain; then swallowed another pill and drank another cup of sweet rain; a third time, he swallowed all three pills, washing them down with all three cups of sweet rain. Before long, his abdomen rumbled incessantly, like a winding well pulley. He immediately called for a commode and relieved himself three to five times. After taking some rice porridge, he collapsed onto his dragon bed. Two concubines inspected the commode and found an indescribable amount of foul phlegm and saliva, including a lump of glutinous rice from three years ago. The concubines approached the dragon bed to report, "The root of the illness has all been purged!" The king was very pleased to hear this and ate another serving of rice porridge. After a short while, he gradually felt his chest expand and relax, his *qi* and blood harmonized, and he became energetic and his legs strong. He got off the dragon bed, put on his court robes, and immediately ascended to the main hall. Upon seeing Tang Sanzang, he prostrated himself. The Venerable Monk hastily returned the bow. After the bows, the king helped him up with his imperial hand and then instructed his minister, "Quickly prepare an invitation, writing 'Your Humble Sovereign bows again' on it, and dispatch officials to respectfully invite the Master's three esteemed disciples. At the same time, open the East Pavilion wide, and have the Court of Imperial Entertainments prepare a banquet of thanks." The many officials received the order; those who prepared invitations did so, and those who arranged the banquet did so. Indeed, a nation possesses the power to overturn mountains; everything was completed in an instant.

Meanwhile, when Pigsy saw the officials delivering the invitation, he was overjoyed and said, "Brother, what a truly miraculous medicine! This gratitude is all due to your efforts." Sandy said, "Second Brother, what are you saying! As the saying goes, 'One person's good fortune brings luck to the whole house.' We all had a hand in preparing this medicine; we are all deserving of credit. Just go and enjoy yourselves, and stop talking so much." Lo! See how the brothers, all joyful, entered the court directly.

The officials ushered them up to the East Pavilion, where Tang Sanzang, the king, and the Grand Secretaries were already arranging the banquet. The Pilgrim, Pigsy, and Sandy bowed respectfully to their master. Then the other officials also arrived. They saw four vegetarian tables set up, each a feast for the eyes and the stomach; in front of them was a meat table, also laden with exquisite delicacies. To the left and right, there were four or five hundred single tables, truly arranged neatly:

As the ancients said: a hundred flavors of rare delicacies, a thousand cups of fine wine. White cream, buttered cheese, finely shredded fatty red meats, brilliantly adorned pastries, and richly fragrant fruits. Sugared dragons and lions intertwined, cakes baked in furnaces arranged like phoenix pairs. Among the meat dishes were various kinds of pork, lamb, chicken, goose, fish, and duck; among the vegetarian dishes were vegetables, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and other mushrooms. Several kinds of fragrant noodle soups, multiple servings of crispy sugar snacks, smooth and soft millet rice, and fresh mushroom and rice porridge. All kinds of noodle soups, fragrant and spicy; all kinds of dishes replenished, delicious and sweet. Only when the monarch and his officials raised their cups did they begin the banquet, and wine was slowly poured according to rank. The king, holding a cup with his imperial hand, first invited Tang Sanzang to be seated. Sanzang said, "This poor monk does not drink alcohol." The king said, "It's vegetarian wine. Master, how about a cup of this?" Sanzang said, "Alcohol is the first precept for monks." The king was very apologetic and said, "If the Master abstains from drinking, then what shall I offer as a sign of respect?" Sanzang replied, "Let my three mischievous disciples drink on my behalf." Only then was the king pleased. He turned the golden goblet and handed it to the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim accepted the wine, performed a courtesy to the assembly, and drank a cup. Seeing him drink so readily, the king offered another cup. The Pilgrim accepted without demur and drank it. The king smiled, "Drink a 'Three Treasures Cup'." The Pilgrim accepted without demur and drank it again. The king then ordered another refill, "Drink a 'Four Seasons Cup'."

Pigsy, standing by, saw that no wine was offered to him and swallowed his saliva with difficulty. Seeing the king earnestly urging the Pilgrim to drink, he began to blurt out, "Your Majesty, I also contributed to the medicine you took, that medicine had horse..." Hearing this, and fearing the oaf would let out the secret, the Pilgrim quickly handed the wine in his hand to Pigsy. Pigsy took it and immediately drank it, saying nothing further. The king asked, "The Divine Monk said the medicine had horse in it; what kind of horse?" The Pilgrim quickly interjected, "My brother here is a chatterbox. If there's a good, effective prescription, he just has to tell everyone. Your Majesty, the medicine you took this morning contained Aristolochia." The king asked the officials, "What kind of medicine is Aristolochia and what ailments does it treat?" At that moment, an imperial physician standing nearby said, "Your Majesty, Aristolochia is bitter and cold, non-toxic, and highly effective in calming asthma and resolving phlegm. It is most potent in regulating *qi* and dispelling blood stagnation, strengthening deficiency, calming coughs, and easing the chest." The king smiled, "Used appropriately, used appropriately! Elder Pig, drink another cup." The oaf also said nothing but drank a 'Three Treasures Cup'. The king then offered wine to Sandy, who also drank three cups, and then they all resumed their seats.

After much feasting, the king again raised a large goblet and offered it to the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim said, "Your Majesty, please be seated. Your old grandson will drink heartily as is customary and would never decline." The king said, "Divine Monk, your kindness is as vast as a mountain; your humble sovereign can never repay you enough. Please, by all means, drink this large goblet, for I have something to say." The Pilgrim said, "What is it you wish to say? Your old grandson is eager to drink." The king said, "Your humble sovereign has suffered from a disease of anxiety and worry for several years. Thanks to the Divine Monk's miraculous elixir, it has been cleared, and I am now well." The Pilgrim laughed, "Yesterday, when your old grandson examined Your Majesty, I already knew it was an illness of anxiety and worry, but I didn't know what caused such fright and worry." The king said, "The ancients said: 'Family scandals should not be spoken of outside.' However, since the Divine Monk is my benefactor, I can only tell you if you promise not to laugh." The Pilgrim said, "How could I possibly mock you? Please speak freely."

The king asked, "Divine Monk, since you came from the East, how many countries have you passed through?" The Pilgrim replied, "Five or six." The king asked again, "What are the queens of those other countries called?" The Pilgrim replied, "The king's queens are generally called the Main Empress, Eastern Empress, and Western Empress." The king said, "Your humble sovereign does not use such titles. My Main Empress is called Golden Saint Empress, my Eastern Empress is Jade Saint Empress, and my Western Empress is Silver Saint Empress. Currently, only the Silver and Jade Empresses are in the palace." The Pilgrim asked, "Why is the Golden Saint Empress not in the palace?" The king shed tears and said, "She has been gone for three years." The Pilgrim asked, "Where did she go?" The king said, "Three years ago, during the Dragon Boat Festival, I and my concubines were in the imperial garden, under the pomegranate pavilion, unwrapping *zongzi*, inserting mugwort, drinking realgar wine with calamus, and watching dragon boat races. Suddenly, a gust of wind arrived, and a demon appeared in mid-air. He called himself Sai Tai Sui, saying he lived in the Xiechi Cave on Qilin Mountain, and that he lacked a wife. He had heard that my Golden Saint Empress was beautiful and graceful, and he wanted her as his wife, ordering me to send her out quickly. If she wasn't presented within three calls, he would first eat me, then my officials, and then consume all the common people in the city. At that time, I was worried about the nation and its people. Having no other choice, I pushed Golden Saint Empress out of the pomegranate pavilion, and with a single sound, the demon seized her and took her away. Because of this, I was struck with fright, and the *zongzi* I had eaten became stagnant inside me. Moreover, I worried incessantly day and night, which is why I developed this severe illness three years ago. Now, after taking the Divine Monk's miraculous elixir, I have purged several times, and all of it was the accumulated stagnation from three years ago. That is why I now feel healthy and light, and my spirit is restored. My life today is a gift from the Divine Monk; it is not merely as heavy as Mount Tai, but far more!"

Hearing this, the Pilgrim was filled with joy. He drained the large goblet in two gulps and asked the king with a smile, "So, Your Majesty, this was the cause of your fright and worry! Now that you've met your old grandson, fortunately, you have recovered. But I wonder, do you wish for the Golden Saint Empress to return to the kingdom?" The king shed tears and said, "Your humble sovereign has thought of her constantly, day and night, but there has been no one capable of capturing the demon. How could I not wish for her to return to the kingdom!" The Pilgrim said, "How about your old grandson goes with you to subdue the evil spirit?" The king knelt down and said, "If you can rescue my Empress, I swear I will lead my three empresses and nine concubines out of the city to live as commoners, and surrender the entire kingdom to the Divine Monk, letting you become emperor." Pigsy, standing nearby, saw these words and actions and could not help but burst into loud laughter, "This emperor has lost all decorum! How can he give up his kingdom for his wife and kneel to a monk?" The Pilgrim quickly stepped forward and helped the king up, saying, "Your Majesty, since the demon took the Golden Saint Empress, has he come again at all?" The king said, "He took the Golden Saint Empress in the fifth month of the year before last. Then, in the tenth month, he came again, demanding two palace maids, saying they were to serve the Empress, and I immediately presented two. Last year, in the third month, he came again for two more palace maids; in the seventh month, he took two more; and this year, in the second month, he took two more. I don't know when he'll come again." The Pilgrim said, "With him coming so frequently, are you not afraid of him?" The king said, "Seeing him come so many times, firstly, I was afraid, and secondly, I feared he intended harm. So, in the fourth month of last year, I ordered workmen to build a demon-evading tower. Whenever I hear the wind, knowing it's him, I immediately enter the tower with my two empresses and nine concubines to hide." The Pilgrim said, "Your Majesty, if you don't mind, could you take your old