The clever Monkey King, Sun Wukong, used all his wits to persuade Buddha to capture those monsters, finally rescuing the hardships of Tang Seng and his disciples. They left Lion-Turtle City and began their journey westward. After months of traveling, winter finally arrived. Look! The plum blossoms on the mountain were about to bloom, the pond was starting to freeze, red leaves were falling, and the green pines looked even more vibrant. Light clouds floated by, hinting at snow, while the dry grass lay flat in the cold wind, casting a chilly glow that made one shiver. The disciples braved the cold, enduring the wind and sleeping outdoors, when suddenly they spotted a city ahead.
Tang Seng curiously asked, “Wukong, what place is that?” The Monkey King replied with a smile, “You’ll know when we get closer! If it’s a western kingdom, we’ll need to change our documents; if it’s a county, we can just pass through.” Before he finished speaking, they had already reached the city gate. Tang Seng dismounted, and the four of them walked into Moon City, where they saw an old soldier dozing in the sun. Wukong approached him, shook him awake, and called, “Officer!” The old soldier jolted awake, confused, and upon seeing Wukong, immediately knelt down and exclaimed, “Grandpa!” Wukong was baffled: “Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not a demon; how can you call me grandpa?”
The old soldier insisted, “You are Lord Thunder!” Wukong sighed, “Stop talking nonsense! I’m a monk from the East going to the West to fetch scriptures. I just arrived and don’t know where this is; can you tell me?” The old soldier finally came to his senses, yawned, stood up, and stretched: “My apologies, Elder. This place was originally called the Country of Bhikshus, but now it’s called Kid City.” Wukong asked, “Is there a king here?” The old soldier hurriedly replied, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Wukong turned to Tang Seng and said, “Master, this was originally the Country of Bhikshus, now called Kid City, but I wonder why the name changed.”
Tang Seng pondered, “If it’s called Bhikshu, why is it also called Kid?” Pigsy chimed in, “I think it’s because the Bhikshu king died, and the new ruler is just a kid, hence the name Kid City.” Tang Seng shook his head: “That explanation doesn’t hold! Let’s go in and ask more.” Sandy agreed, “Right, that old soldier might not know, or he might have been scared into talking nonsense. Let’s go into the city and find out.” So they continued walking, passing through three gates and entering a bustling marketplace.
The market was lively, filled with well-dressed people and a vibrant atmosphere. The taverns and theaters were bustling, tea houses had curtains hanging, and the streets were thriving with business, bustling with prosperity. People buying gold and silk were as busy as ants, competing for fame and fortune. The market was polite and dignified, picturesque with clear rivers and calm seas—truly a time of peace and prosperity. The four disciples led their horses and carried their burdens, wandering through the market for a while, dazzled by the splendor, but every household had a goose cage at the entrance.
Tang Seng curiously asked, “Disciple, why do all the families here have goose cages at their doors?” Pigsy looked around and confirmed, “Indeed, they’re colorful silk-covered cages!” He laughed, “Master, it seems like today is an auspicious day; everyone must be getting married!” Wukong scoffed, “Nonsense! Not every family is getting married! There must be a reason; I’ll go check it out.” Tang Seng grabbed him, saying, “Don’t go! You look ridiculous; people will laugh at you.” Wukong replied, “I’ll change my appearance.”
With that, the Monkey King made a gesture, chanted a spell, and transformed into a bee, buzzing over and slipping through the curtain to investigate. Inside, he found a child sitting there.
He then looked into the second cage and, lo and behold, it was another child! He continued to visit eight or nine cages, and they were all boys—no girls in sight. Some children were playing in the cages, some were crying, some were eating fruit, and others were napping. After observing all this, Wukong returned to his original form and reported to Tang Seng, “Those cages are all filled with little kids, the oldest barely seven, and the youngest only five. I really don’t understand what’s going on.”
Tang Seng, upon hearing this, couldn't help but feel puzzled. At that moment, they turned a corner and saw an official building—it was the Jin Pavilion Inn. The elder happily said, “Disciples, let’s go in and ask for directions, and we can also feed the horses. We might find a place to stay for the night.” Sandy agreed, “Yes, let’s hurry inside!” So the four of them entered with excitement. The innkeeper warmly welcomed them, and after they sat down, he asked, “Elder, where do you come from?” Tang Seng replied, “I am a monk sent from the East to the West to fetch scriptures. We hope to borrow a place to rest tonight.”
The innkeeper immediately arranged for tea, and after they finished drinking, he prepared food and treated them warmly. Tang Seng was very grateful and then asked, “Is it possible to enter the court to verify our documents today?” The innkeeper shook his head, “Not tonight; you’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning. You can stay here for the night.”
Soon, everything was arranged, and the innkeeper invited the four of them to share a vegetarian meal, while his staff prepared the guest rooms. Tang Seng felt immensely grateful, but then suddenly remembered something and asked the innkeeper, “I have a question that I don’t understand. What’s the deal with the children you’re raising here?” The innkeeper replied, “Heaven has no two suns, and people have no two principles. Raising children is the responsibility of parents; after ten months of pregnancy, they must be cared for meticulously after birth. How could anyone not understand that?”
Tang Seng continued, “But when I entered the city, I saw a goose cage at every household entrance, with children inside. What’s going on?” The innkeeper whispered, “Elder, don’t concern yourself with that, and don’t ask. Just leave tomorrow morning.” Upon hearing this, Tang Seng became even more curious, grabbing the innkeeper and insisting on getting a clear answer. The innkeeper shook his head and waved his hands, “Be careful!” But Tang Seng wouldn’t let go, determined to understand.
With no other choice, the innkeeper dismissed the others and spoke softly, “The matter of the goose cages is related to the current ruler's misrule. You should just ask him about it!” Tang Seng grew anxious, “What do you mean by misrule? You must tell me so I can be at ease.” The innkeeper, feeling helpless, explained, “This country was originally called the Country of Bhikshus, but it was recently renamed Kid City. Three years ago, an old man disguised as a Taoist brought a sixteen-year-old girl as a tribute to the king. The king fell in love with her beauty and favored her in the palace, which led to the neglect of the other concubines, and as a result, the king fell gravely ill, with the imperial physicians unable to help.”
“But this Taoist has a secret recipe that can extend life, but it requires the hearts of one thousand one hundred and ten children as medicinal ingredients. The children in those goose cages have all been selected, and their parents, fearing the king's law, dare not let them cry, which is how the rumor of ‘Kid City’ spread. Isn’t this misrule?” After saying this, the innkeeper hurriedly left. Upon hearing this, Tang Seng felt a wave of sorrow wash over him, and tears streamed down his face as he cried out, “Foolish king! For your greedy pleasures, you harm so many children. How painful this is, it hurts me too!” In his grief, he couldn’t help but recite a poem:
“The wicked ruler, ignorant of true principles,
In greed for pleasure, oblivious to his own harm.
In seeking eternal life, he sacrifices the lives of children,
To avert heaven’s calamity, he kills the innocent.”
Pigsy stepped forward, “Master, what’s wrong with you? Don’t take other people’s troubles upon yourself! This foolish king harms his own subjects; what does it have to do with you? Come, loosen your clothes and get some sleep, don’t worry about ancient matters.” Tang Seng, with tears streaming down his face, replied, “Disciple, how can you be so unkind! As a monk, accumulating merit through good deeds, it’s crucial to act with compassion. How can I allow this foolish king to run amok, consuming hearts to prolong his life? This is all misrule; how can I not be heartbroken!”
Seeing his master so distressed, Sandy advised, “Master, don’t be sad. Tomorrow, we’ll change our documents and see the king to get to the bottom of this. If that doesn’t work, we’ll find out who this national uncle really is. Perhaps he’s a demon, specifically wanting to eat human hearts, which is why he devised this scheme!”
Wukong nodded, “What Wujing says makes sense. Master, you should rest easy; tomorrow I’ll take you into the court to see what kind of person this national uncle really is. If he is indeed a person, I fear he has strayed from the right path, pretending to be a herbalist. At that time, I’ll set him straight; if he’s a demon, I’ll capture him and let the king know not to harm those children anymore!”
Tang Seng immediately opposed, “Disciple, this is a great idea! But when you meet the foolish king, be sure not to mention this matter, lest he hears it and causes trouble.” Wukong smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I have a plan. I’ll first get all the children from those goose cages out, and when the king sees they’re gone tomorrow, he’ll surely panic or ask the national uncle for a solution.”
At this moment, Tang Seng grew anxious, “But how can we get the children out of the city? If you can manage that, it would be a great achievement!” Wukong immediately perked up and instructed Pigsy and Sandy, “You two wait here. I’ll cast a spell, and if there’s a gust of wind, it means the children are leaving the city.” The three chanted in unison, “Namo Medicine Master Buddha! Namo Medicine Master Buddha!”
As Wukong stepped outside, he let out a loud whistle, flew into the air, formed hand gestures, and recited incantations, calling upon the city god, land gods, and other deities: “Come quickly! I have urgent business!” The gods hurried over and asked, “Great Sage, you called us in the middle of the night. What is the urgent matter?” Wukong explained, “I passed through the Country of Bhikshus, where the king is misruling and listening to evil beings, intending to use children’s hearts as medicinal ingredients. My master is heartbroken for these children, so I ask you to use your powers to take all the children from the goose cages in the city out and hide them in a safe place in the mountains, giving them some food so they don’t go hungry or scared.”
The gods immediately took action, and a chilling wind swept through the city, enveloping it in a thick fog, as if night had fallen. At first, the wind blew gently, but then it became fierce, with everyone busy searching for the children. Parents panicked, and siblings were filled with sorrow. That night, as the wind howled, the children were taken one by one by the gods and hidden in safe places.
By the time it was the third watch of the night, the gods had settled the children, and Wukong returned to the inn, finding the other three still chanting, “Namo Medicine Master Buddha!” He felt a surge of joy and approached them, asking, “Master, I’m back. How’s the wind?” Pigsy replied, “A good chill!” Tang Seng asked, “How did it go with saving the children?” Wukong confidently said, “They’ve all been saved; we’ll return them when we leave!” Tang Seng was immensely grateful, repeatedly thanking him, and then peacefully fell asleep.
At dawn, Tang Seng woke up, yawned, and patted his head, saying, “Wukong, I need to hurry to the court to change the documents.” Wukong immediately interjected, “Master, it’s not safe for you to go alone; let me accompany you to see whether that national uncle is a good person or a bad one.” Tang Seng frowned, “But if you don’t pay your respects, the king might be displeased.” Wukong confidently replied, “I won’t show myself; I’ll protect you in secret. No problem!” Hearing this, Tang Seng’s heart filled with joy, and he quickly instructed Pigsy and Sandy to keep an eye on their luggage and horses.
Just as they were preparing to set off, the innkeeper appeared again. This time, he was dressed quite differently from yesterday, wearing a splendid Buddhist robe, a golden top hat, and holding a nine-ringed staff, with a mysterious light shining from his chest. He looked just like a celestial being descended to earth! The innkeeper bowed to them and whispered to Tang Seng, “Don’t meddle in unnecessary matters.” Tang Seng nodded in agreement. At that moment, Wukong darted to the door, recited a spell, and transformed into a small insect, buzzing onto Tang Seng’s hat, and the two headed straight for the court.
Upon reaching the palace gate, Tang Seng encountered the yellow gate official and immediately bowed, “I am a monk sent from the East to the West to fetch scriptures. I have come today to change the documents and request an audience with the king.” Upon hearing this, the yellow gate official quickly went to announce it, and the king, upon hearing, joyfully said, “A monk from afar must possess great wisdom!” He allowed Tang Seng to enter. The yellow gate official invited Tang Seng into the hall, where he respectfully greeted the king and was invited to sit down. However, upon looking at the king, Tang Seng felt worried; the king was as thin as a stick, appearing dazed, and every movement seemed listless, with his voice breaking as he spoke.
Tang Seng handed over the documents, and the king squinted at them, staring for a long time before finally managing to stamp them with his royal seal and handing them back to Tang Seng. Just as the king was about to inquire about the scriptures, he suddenly heard the attendant announce, “The national uncle has arrived!” The king immediately supported the little eunuch, jumped down from the dragon bed, and hurried to welcome him, causing Tang Seng to hastily stand up and step aside.
Turning around, they saw an old Taoist priest swaying as he walked in from the jade steps. He wore a light yellow nine-ringed silk scarf on his head, a fragrant crane cloak draped over his shoulders, a blue cord around his waist, cloud-soled shoes on his feet, and leaned on a nine-section staff. A pouch hung from his chest, and his smooth face and flowing white beard made him look like a celestial being.
His eyes sparkled with golden light, higher than his eyebrows, and as he walked, it seemed as if he floated on clouds, surrounded by a fragrant mist. The officials at the steps called out in unison, “The national uncle has entered the royal court!” The national uncle walked directly up to the hall without bowing, striding confidently. The king slightly inclined his body and respectfully said, “The national uncle has graciously descended early today.” He then invited him to sit on a cushioned seat to his left. Tang Seng, not wanting to be outdone, stepped forward and bowed, “National uncle, I humbly greet you.” However, the national uncle remained seated without even returning the greeting and turned to the king, asking, “What is this monk’s purpose?”
The king, curious, asked, “This monk from the Eastern Tang Dynasty has come to the West to fetch scriptures; is it to change documents?” The national uncle laughed and interjected, “The road to the West is dark and treacherous; what good could it possibly bring?” Tang Seng immediately countered, “Since ancient times, the West has been a land of bliss; how could it be bad?”
Upon hearing this, the king pondered, “I have heard that in ancient times it was said that monks are disciples of Buddha. Don’t they know that being a monk can lead to immortality and that by following Buddha, one can attain enlightenment?”
Tang Seng quickly clasped his hands and replied, “Those who become monks must let go of all worldly attachments; understanding one’s true nature means realizing that all phenomena are empty. The wise live leisurely, and true insight lies in stillness. The three realms are all empty; when the six senses are purified, a thousand troubles can disappear. As long as the heart is pure, all things become clear. One’s true nature is complete and unblemished, visible even in life; while illusory appearances will ultimately decay, so why pursue them?”
His words were eloquent and convincing. The national uncle couldn’t help but laugh, pointing at Tang Seng, “Haha, you monk are simply talking nonsense! In the realm of stillness, you must recognize your true nature, but do you know where that nature comes from? Simply sitting in meditation is blind practice and meaningless effort. As the saying goes, ‘Sit, sit, sit, your butt will wear out!’ If you boil it down, it will only turn into disaster.”
The national uncle continued, “As a cultivator, my bones are strong, and those who attain the Dao are truly divine beings. I carry a gourd to the mountains to visit friends, gathering herbs to aid the world. I pick celestial flowers for hats, fold fragrant orchids for bedding, sing and dance, living carefree. I elucidate the Dao and spread the teachings of the Great One; I use talismans to drive away worldly demons, capturing the essence of heaven and earth and gathering the spirit of the sun and moon.”
“Your sitting in meditation cannot transcend the mundane! Among the three teachings, only Daoism is supreme!” The king was very pleased to hear this, and all the officials in the court applauded, “Only Daoism is supreme!” Hearing this, Tang Seng’s face flushed with embarrassment, feeling somewhat ashamed.
The king then ordered the Guanglu Temple to prepare a vegetarian feast to entertain this monk from afar. Tang Seng expressed his gratitude and had just stepped out of the hall when Wukong flew down and quietly whispered in his ear, “Master, this national uncle is an evil being, and the king has been affected by his malice. You should go to the inn and wait for the meal; I’ll stay here and listen for information.” Tang Seng nodded and left the court alone, pondering this matter.
Wukong quickly landed on the screen of the Golden Luan Hall and overheard an official from the Five Cities Army rushing in to report, “My lord, tonight a cold wind blew, and all the children in the goose cages from every neighborhood have vanished without a trace!” The king, upon hearing this, was both shocked and angry, saying to the national uncle, “This is as if heaven wants to destroy me! I have been seriously ill for months, and the imperial physicians have no remedy. Thankfully, you provided me with a celestial prescription, and I prepared to operate and take children’s hearts as medicinal ingredients today, but unexpectedly, they were blown away by the cold wind. Isn’t this a sign from heaven?”
The national uncle smiled and waved his hand, “Your Majesty, don’t be anxious. The children being taken away is heaven’s gift of longevity to you!” The king, puzzled, asked, “How so? If the children are taken away, how can that be a gift of longevity?” The national uncle mysteriously replied, “When I first entered the court, I saw a marvelous medicinal ingredient that surpasses the hearts of one thousand one hundred and ten children. The heart of a child will only allow you to live for a thousand years, but this medicinal ingredient, when combined with my celestial medicine, can allow you to live for ten thousand years!”
Upon hearing this, the king's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, “What is that medicinal ingredient?” The national uncle slowly replied, “That would be the monk who has come from the East to fetch scriptures. I see he has a pure demeanor and a proper appearance; he is definitely a true practitioner who has cultivated for ten lifetimes. Having been a monk since childhood, he is far superior to any child. If you can obtain his heart to make a broth and take my celestial medicine, you will ensure your longevity for ten thousand years!”
The king, believing this wholeheartedly, felt regret for not having known this sooner. The national uncle continued, “What’s so difficult about this? I’ve already instructed the Guanglu Temple to prepare a vegetarian feast. Once he eats, he will leave the city. Now, urgently issue a decree to secure all gates and send troops to surround the Jin Ting Inn, capturing that monk with proper courtesy. If he agrees, we will take his heart. If he refuses, we will forcibly bind him and take it; it’s quite simple!”
Upon hearing this, the king immediately issued the decree, securing all gates and surrounding the inn with soldiers.
Wukong, upon hearing this news, felt a tightness in his chest and rushed back to the inn, revealing his true form. He urgently said to Tang Seng, “Master, disaster is coming! Disaster is coming!” Tang Seng, along with Pigsy and Sandy, was having their meal when they heard this, and they were so frightened that their souls nearly left their bodies. They broke out in a cold sweat, their eyes wide in shock, unable to speak. Sandy hurried to support Tang Seng, exclaiming, “Master, please wake up!” Pigsy was also anxious, “What on earth happened? Speak slowly, don’t rush!”
Wukong quickly explained, “Since you left the court, I looked back and saw that national uncle is actually a demon! Shortly after, the Five Cities Army reported that a cold wind blew away the children. The king, upon hearing this, was delighted, thinking it was heaven’s gift of longevity, and wants to take your heart to use as a medicinal ingredient to extend his life for ten thousand years!” Pigsy couldn’t help but laugh, “What a kind act, saving the children, but now we’re in trouble!”
Tang Seng, trembling, climbed to his feet and pleaded with Wukong, “My dear disciple, what should we do?” Wukong thought for a moment and replied, “To save our lives, we must switch roles.” Sandy asked, “How do we switch roles?” Wukong explained, “If you want to save your life, Master, you should act as my disciple, and I will take your place as the master. This way, we can protect ourselves.” Tang Seng, upon hearing this, felt a glimmer of hope: “As long as it saves my life, I am willing to be your disciple!”
Seeing this, Wukong immediately commanded, “Pigsy, hurry and get some mud!” Pigsy quickly grabbed a hoe and scooped up some dirt, but was too afraid to go out for water. In the end, he simply lifted his clothing and urinated, mixing it into a lump of mud to hand to Wukong. Wukong, helpless, had to smear the mud on his face to transform into a monkey. He instructed Tang Seng to stand still and not speak, then pressed the mud onto his face, recited a spell, blew some celestial breath, and commanded, “Transform!” Instantly, Tang Seng transformed into Wukong’s likeness, took off his clothes, and donned Wukong’s attire, while Wukong put on Tang Seng’s robes and, using hand signals, transformed into Tang Seng’s appearance.
Just as they were busy disguising themselves, the sound of gongs and drums rang out; the imperial guards had surrounded the inn. An official in splendid robes entered and asked, “Where is the elder from the Eastern Tang Dynasty?” The innkeeper, trembling in fear, pointed and said, “In the guest room below.” The official immediately went to the guest room and called out, “Elder Tang, the king summons you.” The disguised Tang Seng hurried out to pay his respects, saying, “Your Excellency, the emperor has summoned this humble monk. What is your command?”
The official seized the disguised Tang Seng, saying, “I will take you to the court; there must be something you need.” This truly was a case of demons deceiving kindness, and kindness leading to disaster. After all, they did not know what awaited them at the court, so stay tuned for the next installment.
