Tang Monk was so terrified by what he had just heard that his bones seemed to turn to jelly.
The Terrified Monk Tang
Approaching Tripitaka, Bajie asked:
“What’s wrong, Master? You’re always the one carrying other people’s coffins and mourning others’ deaths your whole life. Don’t be so sad, please. That madman is harming his own subjects—what does it have to do with you? Go to sleep and leave others’ troubles behind.”
Tripitaka scolded him, unable to hold back tears:
“How hardened your heart must be! Those of us who have renounced family have the duty to do as much good as we can. No matter how hard it may be, we cannot shut our eyes to the sufferings of others. How could a sovereign commit such brutal acts against his own people? I’ve never before heard such nonsense—that consuming others’ hearts can prolong one’s life. How can I not grieve for those poor souls?”
Sha Wujing advised:
“Please try to calm yourself, Master. Why don’t you rest peacefully tonight and wait until tomorrow? When we go to have the travel documents sealed, we can discuss this entire matter with the king. If he refuses to listen, we’ll show him what kind of cruel father-in-law he has brought into his life. Most likely, this is a monster who made up this entire story simply to test human hearts. I’m absolutely certain of it.”
The Rescue of the Children
Wukong said:
“I agree with Wujing. What you should do now, Master, is try to rest. When you go to the palace tomorrow, I will accompany you secretly and carefully observe that heartless father-in-law. First, I will get all those children out of the goose cages and away from this city. Then tomorrow he won’t have anyone left whose heart he can rip out.”
Tripitaka asked:
“How are you going to get all those children out of the city?”
Wukong immediately stood up and said to Bajie and Sha Wujing:
“You two stay here and take care of the Master. When you hear a powerful gust of wind, be certain that the children are leaving the city.”
By then, the Monkey King had already left the room. Rising into the air, he pointed a finger and recited magical words:
“Let Om purify the realm of Dharma!”
At once, the city god, the regional god, the earth god, and various immortals—including the Guardians of the Five Cardinal Directions and the Protectors of Monasteries—rushed to appear before him. After respectfully bowing, they asked:
“Great Sage, what urgent matter could possibly summon us at midnight?”
The Monkey King replied:
“It all stems from the ruler of Bhiksu Kingdom listening to the tales of a certain monster, who convinced him that by drinking a broth made from children’s hearts, he can attain longevity. This has deeply upset my master, forcing me to promise him that I would both save these children’s lives and capture that beast. That is precisely why I summoned you. Using your magical powers, you must immediately remove all the children imprisoned in the goose cages throughout the city. Hide them in a secluded valley or deep within a safe forest, and feed them some fruit so they do not starve. Pay special attention to ensure nothing happens to them—avoid frightening or upsetting them as much as possible. Once I’ve defeated that monster and made the king realize his wrongdoing, you will return them safely and soundly to the city.”
Once they understood his orders, the gods descended from the clouds and began to employ their extraordinary magical powers. The city became shrouded in thick mist carried on an extremely cold wind. The stars ceased their twinkling messages of light, and the moon lost its dazzling glow.
It was approximately the third watch of the night when the gods finished transporting the last goose cage.
The ailing King
As dawn broke, Tripitaka quickly dressed and said to Wukong:
“I wish to attend the morning court session. It is essential that they seal our travel documents as soon as possible.”
The Monkey King said:
“You cannot go alone to the palace. I will follow you secretly. I won’t reveal myself, but don’t worry—I will always be ready to assist you.”
The Guardian himself personally led Tang Monk into the palace.
After performing the ritual bows at the foot of the throne, he was permitted to sit beside His Majesty. Tang Monk expressed his gratitude for this unexpected display of trust with the appropriate respect.
He then realized that the king appeared so sickly it was as if he were already dead. He had lost so much strength that even after great effort to lift his hand, he could not use it to greet anyone. When he spoke, his voice sounded weak, making it extremely difficult to catch all his words. When Tang Monk handed him the travel document, the king stared at him for a long time with a vacant, expressionless gaze. Though clearly he had not understood a single word, he finally stamped the document and returned it to Tang Monk.
As he was about to ask about the monk’s decision to seek the scriptures, an imperial official loudly announced:
“Your honorable father-in-law has just arrived, Your Majesty.”
The insolent royal father-in-law
Leaning on a eunuch, the king immediately rose from his dragon throne and hurried forward to welcome the newcomer.
His haste startled Tang Monk, who immediately stood up and stepped aside.
But the visitor didn’t even bother to greet the king. As he passed him, he continued climbing the stairs with his head held high, while the sovereign bowed obsequiously and exclaimed, moved:
“What undeserved honor it is to enjoy the sacred presence of our respected father-in-law so early today!”
Without waiting for an invitation, he seated himself on the left side of the dragon throne.
Tripitaka bowed to him and saluted, saying:
“May this humble monk offer his respects to the Imperial Father-in-law.”
Without deigning even to look at him, the Taoist turned to the king and asked:
“Where did this monk come from?”
The king replied:
“He is an envoy from the Great Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the Eastern Lands, sent on a mission to obtain sacred scriptures from the Western Paradise. He came only to have his travel document sealed.”
The king ordered the chief of celebrations and imperial festivities to prepare a vegetarian banquet, so the monk who had traveled from afar could regain his strength before continuing westward.
Grateful for such consideration, Tripitaka bid farewell to His Majesty and prepared to leave the palace.
The disappearance of the children
At that very moment, the Commander of the Five Military Divisions stepped forward and informed his lord:
“Last night, Your Majesty, a fierce and bitterly cold wind arose, carrying away without trace all the children who lived in the goose cages in front of every house.”
Consumed by both rage and fear, the king turned to the royal father-in-law and declared:
“This means Heaven has decreed my end.”
Smiling, the imperial father-in-law replied:
“There is no need for concern. The fact that those children were snatched away into the sky does not mean Heaven wishes to shorten your life—it means quite the opposite.”
“How can you say such a thing?” the king retorted.
Sympathy invites disaster
The imperial father-in-law responded:
“As I entered court, I realized there exists a vessel far superior to the broth made from the hearts of those 1,111 children.”
Still not fully believing what he was hearing, the king demanded a more detailed explanation. The Taoist added:
“I have noticed that this monk sent by the Lord of the Eastern Lands has undergone at least ten reincarnations dedicated to cultivating virtue. That explains why his body is perfectly pure—he has never squandered even a drop of his original yang essence. In fact, his effectiveness surpasses that of all those children’s hearts combined by hundreds of thousands of times. If you could make his heart as the solvent for the medicine I prescribed, be assured—you would live for ten thousand years.”
Wukong quickly soared into the sky and rushed back to his companions, shouting anxiously:
“Oh, what great misfortune, Master! Calamity has struck you again!”
Pigsy asked:
“What calamity are you talking about? Can’t you explain it calmly? There’s no use alarming the Master like that.”
Wukong explained:
“After parting from the king, I stayed behind in the palace to learn more about this royal father-in-law—who is definitely a monster. Soon after, the Commander of the Five Military Divisions arrived and reported to the king that a violent wind had taken away all the children. Upon hearing the news, the king looked devastated. But the Taoist tried to reassure him, saying he should actually rejoice, because rather than a curse, it was truly a blessing from Heaven. He told the king that your heart, Master, contains such medicinal properties that whoever consumes it will live for ten thousand years. The king believed him completely and has already dispatched a detachment to this palace to arrest you.”
Bajie reprimanded him:
“See what sympathy gets you? What good did saving those children do, if you’ve now brought disaster upon our heads?”
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