This is a fresh, complete English translation of Wu Cheng’en’s public-domain one-hundred-chapter novel, produced with GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark assistance. It is an AI-assisted first edition, not a reproduction of an existing translation.

At that point, the Great Sage, Sun Wukong, pinched a handful from Sha Wujing with his left hand and a handful from Zhu Bajie with his right, and both men suddenly came to understanding. They sat above them, faces stiff, silent. By the lights the Daoist priests had lit, the three of them before and behind tending the flame, looked like figures of clay clothed in gold. Huli Immortal said, “There was no villain—how then were all the offerings eaten?” Luli Immortal said, “It looks like human eating indeed; everything with skin had its skin removed, everything with kernels had the kernels spit out, and yet not a single human shape is to be seen.” Yangli Immortal said, “Brother-prior, do not doubt. We offered with sincere reverence, reciting scriptures day and night, petitioning and submitting memorials. The court titles were invoked, and surely the Celestial Lord was startled by our sincerity. It must be the Three Purities coming in person to receive these offerings. While this immortal has not yet returned and the car of a celestial swan still lingers here, let us worship and report to Heaven. May we beg for Holy Water and alchemical elixir to offer the Son of Heaven, that he may gain long life and endless years.” Huli Immortal said, “That is well said.” He ordered, “Disciples, begin chanting with joy. On one side fetch the ritual robe; I will step into the celestial stride and offer obeisance.” The young priests all obeyed and formed two neat rows. With a sharp strike of the chime, they chanted together from a copy of the Huangting Daode Scripture. Huli Immortal put on his robe, lifted a jade tablet, and, moving dust-whisk in front, prostrated on the ground and announced upward:

With utmost reverence and fear, I kneel and submit in devotion. Your ministers in this faith, eyes lifted toward the Pure Void, though base and low are we, revere the radiance of the Way. The jade hall has been set up by command; the court and gate have imperial form. Lavish offerings spread, dragon banners hung aloft, Through the night candles burn; daylong incense clouds rise. With one true heart we ascend in humble worship. Now blessed by your descent though your immortal carriage has not returned, grant a little Holy Water and golden pill, to bring to court, and prolong life as lofty as Mount Nanshan. Zhu Bajie heard and, anxious, whispered to Sun Wukong, “It is our own doing: we ate and still would not leave, only waiting through such invocation. How are we to answer?” Sun Wukong pinched once more and suddenly spoke out: “Young Immortal, cease your prayers. We are come from the Grand Peach Banquet and did not bring any Holy Water or sacred elixir. Come another day and we may bestow it.” The Daoists, hearing him speak, all trembled and burst out: “My lord! When Heaven’s Sovereign descends to the mortal world, he does not easily refuse. Somehow we must ask for the method of immortality.” Luli Immortal stepped forward and prostrated, saying: Scattering dust, I bow twice and beg your grace. Humble servant submits, gazing up and down at the Three Purities. Since old, in this realm we have promoted the Way and dispersed monks; the king has rejoiced, honoring the mystery of the Primordial Command. A grand royal rite of Heaven was held; we read scriptures through the whole night. If only the Celestial Honored One does not cast us off, having descended in holy carriage and entered the court, may we dare hope for your thought and glance of mercy, and pray for extension of life and the life of immortality for your disciples. Sha Wujing squeezed Sun Wukong and whispered, “Elder brother, it’s the tightening hold again; they start praying again.” Sun Wukong said, “Give him a little.” Zhu Bajie said softly, “Where could it be?” Sun Wukong replied, “You just watch me. When I do it, you all will have it too.” The Daoists finished their blowing and drumming. Sun Wukong then spoke: “Young Immortal, no need to prostrate. I do not want to leave any Holy Water with you, lest your lineage perish. If I wanted to give, it would be far too easy.” All the Daoists, hearing this, fell down together, knocking heads in the dust: “May Heaven-mandated Lord remember our reverence and grant us favor. For the spread of Virtue and the Way, we submit this plea that our disciples may praise the doctrine and you may be heard by the king, and the mystery of the Mystery be widely honored.” Sun Wukong said, “Since that is so, bring vessels.” The priestly crowd then knelt and thanked him together. Huli Immortal eagerly lifted a large vat and set it on the altar platform. Luli Immortal carried a shallow basin and placed it on the offering table. Yangli Immortal removed flowers from a vase and moved it to the center. Sun Wukong said, “All of you go out of the hall, close the lattice shutters, do not let this heavenly secret leak, and leave some of this Holy Water for you.” All the Daoists knelt on the painted-stone threshold beneath the dais and closed the hall doors.

Sun Wukong rose at once, pulled up his tiger-skin skirt, and poured out one vase of filthy urine. Zhu Bajie saw this and said joyfully, “Brother, in all these years of brotherhood we have never done this sort of thing. I just ate a little, and now I am going to do this.” The idiot pulled his clothes loose and at once, with a loud thud like a board dropped by Lu Lianghong, made a hissing stream and urinated into a basin. Sha Wujing too emptied half a jar. Then he set himself back in order and sat upright, saying, “Small immortal, receive the Holy Water.”

The Daoists pushed open the lattice, knelt and offered thanks, lifted out the jars, and gathered both the bottle and basin in one place. One of the priests called, “Disciples, fetch a bell cup and taste it.” A young Daoist took a tea bell and handed it to the elder priest. The old one scooped out a cup and drank, then smacked his lips and licked them. Luli Immortal said, “Elder brother, is it good?” The old priest pinched his lips and said, “Not very good; there is some heavy, cloying taste.” Yangli Immortal said, “Let me taste it,” and drank one mouthful, then said, “There is some pig-urine odor.” Sun Wukong, seated above, heard this and at once saw through it. He cried out:

Wushou, Wushou! What wild imaginings! How could the Three Purities descend to common mortal soil? I shall tell you my true name: I am of the great Tang, a monk ordered to journey west. On a fine evening with nothing to do I came down into the palace grounds, ate the offerings and lay idling in play. You kowtowed to me; how then should I return it? What is this you call Holy Water? All you drank was but my own urine. Hearing these words, the Daoists blocked the gate and rushed in with halberds, brooms, broken roof tiles, and stones, striking without shouts, faces hidden and fierce. The Monkey, with Sha Wujing tucked to his left and Zhu Bajie to his right, broke through the gate, mounted his light, flew in a cloud of radiance, and went straight to the abbot's room of Zhiyuan Temple. Not daring to rouse Tripitaka, the three returned and lay down to sleep again.

It was already in the deep hour—near the third point of the fifth watch. The king held audience, gathering two lines of civil and military officials and four hundred court ministers. Crimson-silk lanterns burned brightly, and the sacred incense-braziers glowed under a dense cloud of incense.

At that time Tripitaka woke and called, “Disciples, disciples, come and attend me while I change the travel permit.” Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie sprang up, dressed, and stood on either side. “To report to the master,” they said. “This king believes what those Daoist priests say and is stirring up persecution of monks. If his words are misplaced, he may refuse to release us on the passport exchange. We must protect Tripitaka and all go to court.” Tripitaka rejoiced, put on his brocaded robe. Sun Wukong took the document of passage. He told Wujing to hold the begging bowl and Bajie to take the iron staff. They gave their packs and horse into the keeping of the monks of Zhiyuan Temple, then went directly to the Five-Phoenix Pavilion gate. There they saluted the gate official and reported their names, saying they were monks from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land who had come to change the border pass, and asked that the matter be submitted. The hall usher entered court and prostrated before the golden steps, reporting: “Outside are four monks from the Great Tang of the East, say they come for the scripture journey and seek to exchange documents; they now wait before the Five-Phoenix Pavilion.” The king, hearing this, said, “These monks have nowhere else to seek death, and yet they came here to seek it. How have the patrol officials not brought them in?” At the side, the chief minister serving at court interjected, “The Great Tang is in the Southern Continent of Jambudvīpa, called Zhonghua, a great realm. It lies thousands of li away, on roads full of demons. These monks must possess some power to dare come west. If the Son of Heaven has regard for this distant monk of Zhonghua, summon him in for inspection and let him pass; do not lose this good fortune of virtue.” The king agreed, and summoned Tripitaka and his companions to the hall below the Jinluan Hall. The four disciples arranged themselves before the steps, lifted the permit, and handed it to the king.

The king opened it and then looked up. The gate official came in and reported, “The three Imperial Teachers have arrived.” Alarmed, the king put the passport aside, leapt down from the dragon throne, ordered a embroidered cushion for the attendants, and bowed to welcome them. Tripitaka and his companions turned and saw the Great Immortal staggering and wobbling in, followed by two unruly little boys with disheveled locks of hair and twin topknots. The officers of both columns knelt with bent backs, not daring to look up. He entered the Jinluan Hall and, on coming before the king, did not perform any formal bow. The king said, “Great Teacher, I never invited you. Why have you descended today?” The old Daoist said, “I have one matter to report; thus I have come. From which country are those four monks?” The king replied, “They are from the Great Tang in the Eastern lands, sent to go west for scriptures, and came to pass their permit here.” The three Daoists clapped and laughed. “I said he had gone, and yet he is still here.” The king asked in surprise, “What is the matter, Great Teachers? They only just announced their names and were to be handed over to the court officials for review. Yet because the chief minister gave sound reasons, I summoned them out of kindness for distant holy friends. Now, after your question, I fear they have offended me?” The Daoists laughed and said, “Your Majesty does not know. Yesterday he came and on the east gate side he killed two of my disciples, released five hundred captive monks, and smashed chariots. At night he broke into the temple, ruined the images of the Three Purities, and stole the imperial offerings. Deceived by him, we thought it was Heaven’s Lord descending, so we sought Holy Water and elixir to take to Your Majesty for longevity; instead he left behind a trick of urine to deceive us all. Each of us tasted it and found the flavor. We were about to seize him when he fled. Yet today he is still around. Truly, enmity finds a narrow road." Hearing this, the king grew furious and moved to execute all four disciples.

The Great Sage Sun Wukong folded his palms and said in a sharp, loud voice: "Your Majesty, for now let the thunderous fury cease and permit these monks to speak out." The king said, "You have struck at the National Master; can there be an error in the words of the National Master?" Sun Wukong said, "He says I went outside the city yesterday and beat and killed his two disciples. Who can testify to that? At most, admit the claim and have two monks pay with their lives, and then let two monks go to seek the Way. He also says I smashed the carriages and released captive monks. This also has no witness and should not be punishable by death; one monk should alone bear the fault. He further says I destroyed the Three Purities and threw chaos into his shrine; this too is an attempt to pin a treasonous blame on me." The king said, "How is that a frame-up?" Sun Wukong said, "I am a monk from the Eastern Capital. When I first arrived in this place, the city streets were not even passable. How could I know what happened in his observatory that very night? If there was already a trace left by a loose bladder, he should have been seized at once, yet now he keeps setting up names to accuse others. In all under heaven there are endless men with false names and borrowed surnames; how can all of them say it was I? I beg Your Majesty to lay aside anger and examine carefully." The king, who had first been in a muddle, heard him all the way through and grew uncertain.

At that moment, while he was still wondering, another Huangmen officer came with a report: "Your Majesty, outside the gates there are many village elders waiting to present a petition." The king asked, "What is the matter?" and had them brought in. They came and, bowing their foreheads on the ground, said, "Long live the Son of Heaven! This year spring has been without rain, and we fear the summer will be drought. We respectfully beg that the National Master pray for sweet rain to save the common folk." The king said, "Elders, return now; perhaps rain will come of itself." They thanked him and withdrew. The king continued, "As for you monks of the Tang School, why would I, who honors the Way, have done anything that would call for your slaying? Only in past years, when we sought rain, did not a single monk of my court obtain even one drop. By Heaven’s grace, a National Master came and pulled us from burning distress. Now, although you traveled from afar and offended the National Master and should have been punished at once, I will pardon you for the moment. Do you dare gamble against my National Master for a contest to bring rain? If you obtain even one sweet rain to relieve all the people, I will pardon your crime, exchange your arrest warrants for travel documents, and send you westward. If you lose this wager and there is no rain, I shall drive you all to the killing ground and execute you as an example." Sun Wukong laughed, "The young monk knows a little of petitioning and prayer, too."

The king, hearing this, ordered the altar ground to be cleaned. At another side he said, "Prepare the sedan; I will go up Wufeng Tower myself to inspect." At once many officials set out the sedan, and after a short time he ascended and sat. Tripitaka followed by Sun Wukong, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie stood below at his side. The three Taoist practitioners sat above with the king. After a while, an officer came in on a flying horse and reported, "All the items for the altar are in place. Pray summon the National Master to mount the altar."

That Huli Great Immortal inclined and offered a full bow, took leave of the king, and came straight down the stairs. Sun Wukong stepped ahead and blocked him. "Where do you go, esteemed sir?" the Great Immortal said, "To ascend the altar and pray for rain." Sun Wukong replied, "You have given yourself too much weight and would not even allow this monk from a distant land to be seen. Very well, this is indeed what the saying means: 'a great dragon does not crush a snake at the place where it lies.' Since you go first, you must explain it before the king." The Great Immortal asked, "Explain what?" Sun Wukong said, "Both you and I will pray on the altar. If rain comes, whose merit will it be—yours or mine? Should not that be made clear?" Upstairs, the king heard this and inwardly rejoiced: "The small monk’s words have some good knots to them." Sha Wujing, hearing it, thought to himself and smiled, "Let’s see when all those knots in his belly will come out." The Great Immortal said, "No need to explain; Your Majesty naturally knows." Sun Wukong said, "Even if he knows, I am a monk who came here from far away and have not met you before. We met only by chance and have yet to set matters right; we must speak plainly before we proceed." The Great Immortal said, "Once we mount the altar, look only to my signal token. One strike of the token: wind rises. Two: clouds gather. Three: thunder and lightning roar together. Four: rain arrives. Five: clouds scatter and rain ceases." Sun Wukong laughed, "Wonderful! As for me, I have never seen this. Pray it, pray it."

As the Great Immortal entered forward, Tripitaka and the others followed after and came straight to the gate of the altar. Looking up, they saw a high platform, a little over three zhang in height. To either side were set up flags of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. On top sat a table, and on the table a censer from which heavy incense smoke floated. On both sides stood two candle stands, and the platform blazed with wind-bent, bright flames. At the side of the censer leaned a golden plaque engraved with the name of the Thunder God. Below were five large jars full of clear water, with willow shoots floating on top; on each willow branch rested an iron tablet, inscribed with the sigils of the Department of Thunderbolt Lords. At either side stood five great posts, and on each post were written the rosters of the Five Directions’ fierce thunder envoys. Beside every post stood two Taoists, each holding an iron hammer, ready to strike the posts. Behind the altar there were many Taoists there drafting documents. In the center was set a paper furnace, and beside it stood a few figures like living people: all officials of the talisman-bearers and the deities who teach and endorse the earth gods.

The Great Immortal entered and, without any show of humility, mounted and stood upright on the high platform. At his side a young Taoist brought several yellow papers bearing sealed talismans and held out a precious sword. The Great Immortal took the treasure sword, chanted a spell, and burned one talisman over the candle flame. Two or three Taoists below carried up a life-size figure of a talisman bearer and a document and set them alight as well. Above, the signal token sounded once, a sharp clack, and there came drifting in the sky a faint sweep of wind color. Zhu Bajie thought to himself, "No good, no good—this priest truly has power. One blast of the token and surely the wind stirred." Sun Wukong said, "Brothers, keep silent. Speak not with me again. Attend only to protecting the Master and let me do my work."

The Great Sage Sun Wukong pulled out one strand of fine hair, blew a breath of immortal wind, and cried, "Transform!" He became a false Sun Wukong and stood beneath Tripitaka. His true body sent forth its spiritual presence and rushed into midair, then shouted, "Who is in charge of the wind?" Alarmed, the Wind Mother seized her cloth bag, and Xun Erlang held her mouth-bridle and came forward to make obeisance. Sun Wukong said, "I am protecting Tripitaka, the holy monk of the Tang, on the way to the West. Passing through Chechi Country we wagered with that demon-priest on bringing rain. Why did you not assist Old Sun, but instead help that priest? I will let you off this time: gather in the winds. If even a little wind stirs and shakes that priest’s beard, each of you will be struck with twenty iron clubs." The Wind Mother said, "I dare not, I dare not." The wind then subsided. Zhu Bajie could no longer keep still and shouted, "Sir, please step aside. The signal token has sounded; why is there no wind at all? Come down and let us go up."

The Taoist again took up the token, burned the talisman order, and with a slap-like strike sent it out once more. Instantly the sky was filled with cloud-mist. Sun Wukong cried out from above, "Who laid these clouds?" In panic, the Cloud-Pushing Boy and the Mist-Spread Lord came face to face and made formal bows. Sun Wukong told them the previous matter all over again. Cloud and mist attendants also withdrew their fog, and the sun broke forth blazing with clear radiance; all sky for ten thousand li was cloudless. Zhu Bajie laughed, "This fellow can only fool the emperor and placate the common people. This is no real power at all. The token has sounded twice, so where are the clouds now?"

The Taoist grew uneasy in his heart, and with the treasure sword in hand, released his tied hair, chanted mantras, burned another talisman, and sent another token-strike downward. Then, within the Southern Gate of Heaven, Deng Tianjun arrived with Leigong and Dianmu down to midair and came forward with greetings. Sun Wukong once more told them the prior events. "By what purpose did you come, and under what mandate?" Deng Tianjun said, "The Five-Thunder rite this Taoist uses is genuine. He issued formal documents and burned commands that alarmed the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor threw down an edict and it went straight to the hall of Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun. By command of that order, we have come to aid in rain by means of thunder and lightning." Sun Wukong said, "If that is so, then all of you should stay, and wait while Old Sun acts." True to that, neither thunder rolled nor lightning burned.

The Taoist became ever more flustered, adding incense, burning talismans, chanting incantations, and striking down command tablets. In midair, the Four Sea Dragon Kings all arrived together. Sun Wukong shouted, “Ao Guang, where are you going?” Ao Guang, Ao Shun, Ao Qin, and Ao Run stepped forward and paid their respects. Sun Wukong repeated the earlier matter again and said, “Yesterday we labored hard and had no success; in today’s affair, I hope for your help.” The Dragon King answered, “At your command, at your command.” Sun Wukong then thanked Ao Shun: “The other day you had your subordinate bind the demon and rescue Master.” The Dragon King said, “That wretch is still chained in the sea; I dared not act on my own, and I was about to ask the Great Sage to dispose of him.” Sun Wukong replied, “You handle that if you can. For now, help me with one task. The Taoist has finished the four voice-command tablets; now it is Old Sun who must go on to do the work. But I do not know how to issue talismans, burn proclamations, or strike any command tablet—yet you all should help me do this.” Lord Deng said, “The Great Sage’s order—who would dare not obey? But we need a clear command signal before we dare to act; otherwise thunder and rain will be in disorder and it will make the Great Sage seem without authority.” Sun Wukong said, “I will use the staff as the signal.” The Thunder King cried out, “Elder, how can we bear this staff?” Sun Wukong said, “I am not striking you, but when I lift this staff and point once upward, there will be wind.” The Wind Lady and Xun Erlang, silently consenting, said, “Let there be wind.” “With the second point of the staff, cloud must spread,” and the Boy Who Drives Clouds and Lord Who Spreads Fog said, “Spread cloud, spread cloud.” “With the third point, thunder and lightning must strike,” the Thunder King and Thunder Mother replied, “We comply, we comply.” “With the fourth point, let it rain.” the Dragon King said, “At your command, at your command.” “With the fifth point, let there be bright clear sun. Do not mistake the mark.”

When he had finished giving instructions, he pressed down the cloud knot, shook out his fine hairs, and drew himself back in. Those with ordinary mortal eyes could not perceive any of it. Sun Wukong then cried from beside them, “Master, I am ready. The four command tablets have all sounded, and there is still no wind, cloud, thunder, or rain. It is my turn to take over.” The Taoist, with no alternative, unwilling to remain too long, stepped down from the altar platform and allowed him to proceed. With his lips tightened, he went straight upstairs to attend the throne. Sun Wukong said, “I will follow him and hear what he says.” The king asked, “I am truly listening with both ears. Why is it that your four command calls sounded in this place, yet there is no wind or rain?” The Taoist replied, “Today none of the Dragon Gods is at home.” Sun Wukong called out sharply, “Your Majesty, the Dragon Kings are all in residence; it is merely this court preceptor’s rite that is ineffective, so he failed to summon them. Wait until the monk invites them and then see for yourself.” The king said, “Then return at once to the altar; I will wait here for rain.”

Sun Wukong received the order and hurried back to the altar platform, dragging Tripitaka by the sleeve and saying, “Master, please go up onto the stage.” Tripitaka said, “Disciple, I do not know how to pray for rain.” Zhu Bajie laughed, “He has done this to you. If there is still no rain, bring a great bundle of brushwood and set a fire to take down the awning.” Sun Wukong said, “You do not know to request rain, but you can recite the sūtra well. I will help you with that.” At that, the elder took a few steps and ascended the platform, sat upright, steadied his mind, and in silence chanted the Midu Heart Sūtra. Just as he sat, a court officer riding a flying horse appeared and asked, “That monk, why are there no command tablets, no burned talismans?” Sun Wukong called out loudly, “No need! No need! We are invoking through stillness.” The officer went away to report; no need to continue this part.

After the monk had finished reciting the scripture, Sun Wukong reached into his ear and drew out the Golden-Hooped Staff. He swung it in the wind, making it seem two zhang long and as thick as the rim of a basin, then pointed it toward the sky. The Wind Lady saw this and quickly unbuckled her leather pouch; Xun Erlang untied the rope at his mouth. There was a loud rushing roar of wind as the whole city saw roof tiles ripped away and bricks overturning, with sand and stone racing across the streets. It appeared to be a great wind indeed, yet different from ordinary wind. But see:

Bent willow broken, flowers torn. Forests laid waste and trees uprooted. The Ninth-tier Hall lost its walls, its ramparts broken and crumbling; the Five-Phœnix Tower swayed, rafters and pillars trembling. In the western sky the red sun lost its light, while yellow dust beneath the earth seemed to have wings. Guards at the Martial Exercises Hall were shocked; in the Hall of Prose the civil ministers were terrified. At three palaces powdered rouge and black tresses were in disorder, and in six courtyards noble consorts’ jeweled coiffures were all dishevelled. Gold crowns of lords and dukes fell from embroidered tassels; ministers’ black silk sashes fluttered like wings. Even those in attendance beside the imperial carriage dared not speak a word, and the yellow-gowned eunuchs could not pass any memorial. Goldfish and jade girdles kept no order of rank; robes of woven silk and formal attire no longer held their station. Painted pavilions and green screens were utterly damaged; green windows and vermilion doors lay in confusion. The Golden-Dragon Hall’s tiles rolled and bricks flew; the gate of the Brocade-Cloud Hall was warped, the lintels shattered. This wild gale was truly savage, blowing so fiercely that even father and son, the king and crown prince, could not meet; six avenues and three marketplaces had no one, and all ten thousand households and thousand gates were tightly closed. It was indeed a storm of raging force.

Sun Wukong again displayed his miracle powers, twisted the Golden-Hooped Staff once, and pointed again to the sky. At once one saw:

The Cloud-Pushing Boy displayed divine might, his bones stretching down as if to touch stone and heaven alike; the Fog-Dispersing Lord exerted his power, and thick drifting smoke covered the earth. The three marketplaces lay dim in the dark vastness, and the six streets slowly sank into dusk. As wind parted from the sea, following the rain it set forth from Kunlun. In a moment it spread across heaven and earth; in a moment it veiled the dust of the world. It seemed like primordial chaos itself, and the gate of the Phoenix Tower could not be seen. At this hour the haze and fog were dim and thick, and dark clouds hung low.

Sun Wukong again pressed the Golden-Hooped Staff and pointed once more toward the sky. The Thunder King, in panic, and the Mother of Thunder burst out in anger. The Thunder King, in fury, rode the fire-beast backward and descended through the heavenly gate; the Mother of Thunder in anger violently snapped golden snakes loose from the Dipper Court. Loud hail of thunder and lightning exploded, shattering Iron-Fork Mountain; sharp flashes of red silk-like streaks shot out from beyond the Eastern Ocean. There came roaring, low rolling sounds like hidden chariot wheels, and brilliant lights scattered like drifting grains of fire. Countless living things were shaken into life, and many insects in hiding opened their burrows. In the palace towers above, ministers and retainers were shaken with fear, while merchants and traders, hearing the sounds, were seized by alarm. Then came rumbling subterranean lightning, pinging and clashing, like the force of fissured earth and collapsing mountains. The whole city was terrified; in every household incense was burned, in every household paper was cast to the fire. Sun Wukong shouted aloud, “Old Deng, watch closely for the officials who sold for bribes, broke the law, and for sons who were rebellious and unfilial to their parents. Kill several at least and make it clear to the crowd.” The thunder roared all the louder.

Sun Wukong then once more pointed the Golden-Hooped Staff upward. One saw at once:

At the Dragon’s order, rain filled heaven and earth. It rushed with the force of the Silver River spilling a sky-cut trench, as swift as streamed clouds passing through the sea-gate. From the eaves came drip by drip; outside the windows sounded hissing and rattling. In the sky the Milky River cascaded down; before the street white waves surged. Gurgling as if from great jars, rolling as if from broad basins. Solitary cottages were about to be submerged, wild banks as if to flatten bridges. Truly the mulberry fields became a vast blue sea, and in an instant the dry shorelines rolled into billows. By this aid the Divine Dragon came to help, lifting up the Great River and pouring down beneath it. That rain began at the Dragon hour and lasted to around the Horse hour; it fell so that the waters flooded inside and out through Carriage-Delay City’s streets and lanes.

The king issued command: “Enough rain, enough rain. If it rains much longer, it will drown the grain seedlings and bring harm instead of good.” An officer under the Five-Phœnix Pavilion rode in through the rain to report, “Your Holiness, the holy monk, enough rain.” Hearing this, Sun Wukong pointed the Golden-Hooped Staff upward again. In a moment the thunder withdrew, the wind ceased, and the rain and clouds scattered. The king was overjoyed and all civil and military officials praised, saying, “Excellent monk! This truly proves that the stronger the master, the stronger still is his superior! If my national preceptor’s rain-prayers are even effective, to make it clear they would still leave a fine drizzling rain for half a day. How could this monk make it clear with a thought—at once the sun rises bright, and within moments there is no cloud across ten thousand li?”

The king ordered him to return to the palace, had the watch changed at the gate, and sent Tripitaka back. Just as he was making court use of the royal treasure, the three Taoists stepped forward and blocked him, saying, “Your Majesty, this rain was not brought by the monk at all; it was the power of our Daoist school.” The king replied, “You only just said the Dragon Kings were not at home, and there was no rain. He rose and prayed in stillness, and then rain came. Why do you now contest credit?” The Great Immortal Huli said, “I issued proclamations from the altar, burned talismans, and struck the command tablets. Which Dragon King would dare not come when I summoned? It was just that another invocation had called them as well. The five offices of wind, cloud, thunder, and rain had all not been present; yet at one sound of my command they all hurried here, and happened upon this opportunity to descend together, so rain fell. From the root, it was still the rain invited by me and the Dragon I summoned—how then can this be counted as his merit?” The king, confused, still remained doubtful.

Sun Wukong stepped a pace forward, joined his palms, and said, “Your Majesty, these side-gate methods are not effective and do not amount to any true merit, and cannot be counted as his or mine. Now the Four Sea Dragon Kings stand in the sky; I, the monk, have not yet signaled release, so they still dare not withdraw at once. If this national preceptor can summon the Dragon Kings to appear, then that is his merit.” The king said joyfully, “For twenty-three years I have been emperor and have never seen a living dragon with my own eyes. You two houses have both shown miraculous skill: whether monk or Daoist, whoever can summon them has merit; whoever cannot is at fault.” “How does that Taoist have such power?” but when he called, the Dragon King, seeing the Great Sage present here, did not dare to reveal himself. The Taoist said, “We are not able to do it. You are the one who called him.”

The Great Sage looked up toward the sky and shouted in a loud voice, “Where is the Dragon King Ao Guang? Brothers, all come out in your true forms and come to see.” When the Dragon King heard the call, he hurriedly revealed himself at once, as four dragons. In midair he passed through mist and danced among clouds, flying toward the Hall of Golden Lounging Glory. Behold:

Soaring through transformations, circling mist and coiling cloud. White claw-hooks dangle from above; silver scales dance with mirror-bright sheen. White-bearded wisps drift with roots of bristling strands; proud horns rise upright and high. Forehead knuckles proud and lofty, round eyes dazzling bright. Hidden and seen, neither can be measured; he soars and flies beyond all assessment. Pray for rain and rain is at once distributed; request sunshine and instantly the sky clears. This was truly the spirit-filled and holy image of a real dragon, with auspicious signs swirling in abundance about the palace courts. In the hall the king offered incense; the ministers and lords in front of the steps offered homage. The king said, “You have exerted yourself, honored one, to descend; please go now. I shall repay my gratitude with rites on another day.” The Great Sage said, “All the gods present may each return to their own places; this king will make thanks on a later day.” The Dragon King returned directly to the sea, and the gods each went back to heaven. And this is precisely: Vast and boundless, the wondrous True Dharma; When true reality is fully realized, it cleaves through the side-gate.

L027

In the end, none yet knew how to drive out the demon; listen and the next chapter will resolve it.