Chapter 79- Their Journey And Compassion Save People

It starts with this EBA and imperial official. Right, the official in fine clothes. He brings a monk to the palace. But here's the twist. It's not actually the Tang monk, not Huwei. It's Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, in disguise. A classic Wukong move, always ready with a transformation. Always. And the king, as we said, he's suffering, been sick a long time. He's clearly at his wit's end. And this royal uncle, the Xio, he's positioned himself as the king's sort of chief medical advisor, right? Yeah, exactly. And he's already given the king a prescription, says all the ingredients are ready, almost all of them. Ah, except for one crucial component, the medicine guide, the D. That's it, the final piece. And well, it's the most disturbing part. So the king reveals it. He does. He tells the disguised Wukong that the final ingredient needed is the monk's heart. Just flat out says it. Flat out. But Wukong, still disguised, is incredibly cool under pressure. He just asks, OK, what kind of heart do you need? Speaking of the act. Smart. And the royal uncle, bold as brass, says, your black heart. Wow, so direct. Almost an accusation. Totally. It's chilling. But Wukong's response is, well, pure Wukong. It's genius, really. What does he do? Does he fight back immediately? Not quite yet. He takes out this knife, an ox-eared short knife. OK. And he just slices open his own belly. The text says there's this sound, like a whoosh or maybe a crack. He cuts himself open in front of the whole court. Right there. And then this pile, a literal pile of hearts, just tumbles out onto the floor. No way. A pile of hearts. Yeah. Can you imagine the scene? The officials are stunned, probably turning green. I bet. So he's literally showing them hearts. But what's the point? Is he proving he doesn't have a black heart? Exactly. It's not just for shock value, though it definitely shocks them. He's visually taking apart the whole idea of one black heart. He's showing them, look, it's way more complicated than that. So what kind of hearts come out? Well, first there are physical looking ones, red, white, yellow hearts. But then it gets symbolic. OK, here we go. He basically lays out this whole inventory of human failings represented as hearts. There's the greedy heart, the fame-seeking heart, jealousy, the calculating heart. Wow, he's really going through the list. Oh, yeah. Competitiveness, arrogance, contempt, murderous intent, viciousness, his fear, caution, which is maybe not so bad, but then evil thoughts, and even these nameless, hidden, dark hearts. Basically, all kinds of evil hearts. So it's like a whole psychological profile laid bare, but. Amidst this entire pile, this whole catalog of human vice and emotion, there's not one single black heart. That's the punchline. He literally doesn't have one. Exactly. The king is absolutely terrified. The deck says he's just stunned, speechless, trembling. He's staring, take them away, take them away. I don't blame him. That's quite a demonstration. Wu Kong really made his point, didn't he? He sure did. And then he drops the disguise, reveals his true monkey form. And he points right at the royal uncle and says, he's the one with the real black heart. Boom, mic drop moment. So the accusation is flipped right back. Brilliant. And how does the royal uncle react to seeing Sun Wu Kong standing there after that display? Well, that's when things escalate. The royal uncle recognizes Wu Kong. The text says, who's are two? He knows him from 500 years ago. Ah, so they have a history. This isn't just some random advisor. Not at all. This reveals the royal uncle's true nature. He's a yin, an old enemy. Okay, that explains the bizarre request. It wasn't medicine, it was malice. Pure malice. And it goes deeper. The source reveals the demon had brought this a monster girl into the palace, a beautiful concubine for the king and the king's illness. It was caused by his indulgence with this demon concubine, all part of the plan. Okay, this demon is seriously bad news. So Wu Kong knows all this now. He knows enough. He knows it's a demon with terrible intentions. So naturally- And the fight breaks out. You got it. An epic battle erupts right there in the tin, midair, above the city. It's Wu Kong with his Ruyingu Bang. A size-changing staff. Against the demon who fights back with a sai, a coiled dragon staff, or maybe a crutch. A dragon staff, interesting weapon. So how does the fight go? It's intense. They go at it for more than 20 rounds. The whole city feels it. The sky fills with fogging, darkening everything. Must have been terrifying for the people below. Absolutely. The text says the people, the officials, the concubines, they were, the souls were practically flying out of their bodies from fear. Even the king, he's just hiding somewhere in terror. It shows the sheer power involved in these celestial battles. They shake the foundations of the mortal world. Definitely. But ultimately, the demon can't stand up to Wu Kong's John, the golden cudgel. It's just too powerful. So Wu Kong wins. Well, the demon pulls a classic villain move. He knows he's losing, so he transforms into a cold light. Makes a quick escape. Yep, and as he flees, he swoops down and grabs the note, the tribute demon queen, that monster girl concubine from the palace, and poof, they vanish. Ah, so he gets away and takes his accomplice with him. Typical. But at least the immediate threat is gone. Right, the danger to the king and potential of the children is averted for now. Wu Kong lands, probably dusting himself off. And now explanations are needed, I imagine. The court must be utterly bewildered. Totally. So Wu Kong explains everything to the officials and the king, who probably creeps out of hiding. He tells him, look, your royal uncle, total demon, and that beautiful concubine, also a monster. The truth comes out. Must be a huge shock for the king. A massive shock. Wu Kong also clarifies the whole disguise thing. He says, that monk who showed up earlier, that was my actual master, Tang Monk. And I'm Sun Wu Kong. I just transformed myself to cheat, to subdue the demon, and stop them from cutting out my master's heart. A pretty good reason. How does the king take all this? Is he angry, confused? He seems mostly enlightened and grateful. Extremely grateful. He realizes he was completely duped, a deluded ruler, as you said. Right, he sees the light. Yeah. He immediately orders the Jola Grand Secretary, go get the real Tang Monk, and his other two disciples, Pigsy and Sandy. Zhu Wuning and Shao Wu Jing. Right. They're waiting back at the Jinting Inn. Bring them here. Tang San Zang. He's really shaken up. Understandably. The text says he's got a muddy face. He feels distressed, ashamed even. And right then, the king's ministers show up to invite them to court for a thank you. Talk about awkward timing. It really highlights his vulnerability, doesn't it? I mean, he's on this huge spiritual quest, but he's still human, feeling messy, both literally and figuratively. Yeah, it makes you think, how do you keep your cool, your spiritual composure when you're feeling like that? Literally covered in dirt. And maybe feeling a bit defiled symbolically, too. That's a great point. And you see the group dynamic right away. Baji jumps in. Oh, Baji. He tries to reassure Tang San Zang, you know, don't worry, master. They don't want your heart again. It's just a party. Ever the pragmatist? Or maybe just focused on the potential feast. Oh. The officials are a bit surprised by how they look, obviously. But Xia Sang smooths it over, says their looks are naturally formed, and promises the master will look better once Wukong arrives. Which leads us right to Wukong's entrance. Yes. And this part really shows Wukong's insight, just how fast he acts. Gets to the palace, sees his master's state immediately. He doesn't miss a thing. Grabs the mud off Tang San Zang's face, blows a puff of that immortal qi. That vital energy. And just says, Zang. Like, right, we're fixed. And boom, Tang San Zang is instantly cleaned up, looking even better than before, refreshed. The king himself comes down, super respectful, calling him law master old Buddha. You know, it's more than just a magic trick. It shows how attuned Wukong is, how protective. His spiritual power isn't just for fighting, it's for fixing things, for restoring order right then and there. Absolutely. So Tang San Zang's back to his dignified self. And Wukong, he gets straight to the point. No time wasted. Asks the king, okay, this monster, where did it come from, where is it hiding? And this is where the king has to spill the beans. It's quite a confession. It really is. He explains that three years ago, this figure arrived, calling himself the royal uncle. Claiming to be local, right, from just south of the city. Yeah, willow forest slope, pure brightness village, 70 lanes south. This uncle offers his supposedly 16-year-old daughter beautiful, graceful, all that. The king accepts her, really favors her. But then, wouldn't you know it, the king gets sick. Convenient timing for the uncle. Exactly. And this demon, disguises the uncle, says the only cure, his special fairy remedy, needs a child's heart. It gets dark fast. It does. So children were being collected for this sacrifice, set for noon that day. Wukong obviously stopped that. Right, he saved the kids earlier. But then the demon escalated, thwarted with the kids. It targeted Tang Sanzang himself, said his heart. Because of his cultivation, right? Yes, 10 generations of true cultivation, primordial yang, not leet. It made his heart 10,000 times better than a child's. Wow. That backstory is so important. It shows this wasn't just a randor attack, it was a long, insidious plan. Pretending to be family, exploiting the king's weakness. His desperation. Exactly. It's a whole concept in itself. It makes you question the king's judgment, doesn't it? And how vulnerable the whole kingdom was to this manipulation. A really critical point. So Wukong then tells the king, yeah, I saved the kids. And he wants no reward. His only goal is capturing the demon. That's his... His kiching, his spiritual duty, his merit. Right, he tells Bajie, come on, we're going hunting. And Bajie's reaction is predictable. Completely. But master, my stomach's empty, I can't fight like this. Classic Bajie. Always hungry. The king's eager to help, though. Orders a feast immediately from the Guanglu temple. Gotta fuel the pig demon. So Bajie eats his fill, gets all powered up, Yexin Zhengshan full of spirit now, and then, whoosh, he and Wukong fly off. Which must have looked incredible to the humans watching. Totally. The king, queen, officials, they're amazed. True immortals, true Buddhas, they think. So Bajie's refueled, and they're off, heading 70 lines south. Just like the king said. Okay, so they arrive at the spot the king described. Yep. Clear stream, tons of willow trees. It's beautiful, actually, but empty. No pure brightness village, nothing. Just, as the text says, thousands of willow trees hiding without a trace. Ah, so the deception goes deeper. It wasn't just the identity, the location itself was a lie, or at least misrepresented. Exactly, which is a great moment. The demon didn't just trick the king, it hid its lair so well, even the local spirits were scared. Which makes you wonder, you know, how much of what seems real is just a carefully built facade? Yeah. An illusion? So Wukong needs answers. He does his thing, uses an OM mantra, and summons the local land god. The Dongfang Tiandi. And this poor little god is terrified, kneeling, trembling. Understandable, given the neighbor. Right. He clarifies straight away, look, there's no village here. There's a pure brightness cave, Kung Hua Dong. Ha ha, the cave. He admits he was too scared to say anything before. This demon's just too powerful. Revealing the lair, that's asking for trouble. But Wukong's presence changes things. Yes, so now he gives Wukong the secret handshake, basically. Go to the south bank, find this specific tree, a nine-forked willow tree. Jing sha du yi ge yang shu. Very specific. Very. Circle the root left three times, then right three times. Clap your hands on the tree, shout open the door three times and the entrance will appear. Like a magical password. Totally. So Wukong tells Bajie, wait here, half a little away, be ready for backup. Smart move. Then he does a ritual. Circles the tree, claps, calls out, and bam, it works. Loud sound, two doors swing open, the tree itself vanishes. Wow, what's inside? It's stunning. A stone screen announces it as pure brightness, immortal manner, Kung Hua Jiang Fei. It's described as gorgeous. Mist, bright light, clouds, moss, exotic flowers, jade grass, like it's always spring. It's so beautiful, but hiding such ugliness. Exactly. That contrast is so stark, this idyllic, immortal manner versus the evil creature living there. It really drives home the theme of deceptive appearances. That beauty is just camouflage for something truly rotten. So Wukong rushes in and finds the demon, the old monster, literally embracing the beautiful woman, the one he gave the king. Caught red-handed. And the monster is actually gloating, saying something like, great timing, three years of work, almost done, but that darn monkey ruined it. To them, it's the whole scheme. Yep, Wukong's not having any of it. Charges in, staff ready, shouting. The fight is on. The demon just shoves the woman aside and grabs its own weapon, a dragon coiling staff. Tan Long Gon, sounds impressive. The battle is fierce, golden light, fierce aura. They're tearing up the place, wrecking the flowers, scattering the moss, startling the birds. That beautiful illusion is shattering. It really brings the conflict to life, good versus evil, right there, destroying the false paradise. You see the raw power, the collateral damage. Meanwhile, outside, there's Bajie. Oh boy, what's he up to? Here's the fight, right? And he gets, as the text says, itchy-hearted, impatient. Can't just wait around. Nope. So he looks at the nine-forked willow tree, or where it was, maybe the spot still holds some magic, and decides it must be a spirit, too. Zheguo Shu, Shangguo Jing. He's gonna fight the tree. He starts whacking at the roots with his rake. Digging away, and get this fresh blood spurts out. And there's a faint whining sound. What? From the tree roots? That's bizarre. Right. Just as Wukong and the demon burst out of the now-revealed cave entrance, fighting, there's Bajie, still attacking the tree spot. Only Bajie. But he sees the real fight now, and immediately jumps in, rake, swinging at the actual demon. Okay, finally joining the proper battle. And this seems to be the tipping point. The demon was already struggling with Wukong. Seeing Bajie charge in, it panics. Two-pronged attack. Transforms into a streak of cold light, and just bolts, heading east. Yeah. Wukong and Bajie are right after him. And this isn't just a casual chase, right? It's described as pretty intense, full throttle. Absolutely, high stakes. But then, almost immediately, the whole dynamic shifts. It does, it shifts really fast, from this very physical pursuit, to something else entirely. Divine intervention, basically. Right, just as Wukong and Bajie think they've got him cornered, zap, this cold light comes down. And poof, there he is, the South Pole Star-Lord. Shaoxing is his name. And he just stops everything. Pretty much, he just appears, and effectively pauses the whole conflict. It immediately signals, okay, something bigger is going on here, a reveal is coming. And boy, is it a reveal. This is where it gets really interesting. Shaoxing steps in, and tells Wukong and Bajie, hold on, spare this creature's life. Which must have been confusing for them. Why spare this monster causing all this trouble? Exactly, and the reason is, well, the terrifying royal uncle. Not actually a demon. No, it turns out it's Shaoxing's own mount. A white deer, just ran away from heaven. Just ran off, and, get this, it apparently stole Shaoxing's staff on the way out, too. Adds a bit of insult to injury there. It really does. And they give this lovely description of the deer, even after we know what it is, something like. Oh yeah, it's quite poetic. A body like jade, with mottled spots. Two horns uneven, with seven branches. It paints a picture. It learned to fly over years, cultivated transformation over time, and then, when Shaoxing calls it. Reveals its true form, head bowed to the dust. It's a moment of submission, returning to its true nature. You really can picture this grand, maybe slightly embarrassed creature. Definitely. So, okay, the first mystery is solved. The royal uncle is a runaway deer. Problem sorted. Not quite. Wukong, ever the thorough one, points out, Okay, fine, but what about the beauty? There was another figure involved. Ah, yes, the accomplice, so to speak. And Wukong also mentions they need to report back to the king, explain what really happened. Makes sense, the king's probably terrified back at the palace. So, Shaoxing agrees, maybe a bit awkwardly, like, okay, you guys handle that, I'll wait here with my deer. Right, so Wukong and Bajie then charge into this place called the Qinghua Immortal Abode. Basically, the monster's hideout. To confront this so-called beauty. And Bajie, ever eager, corners her. She tries the same trick, maybe, transforms into a streak of cold light to escape. But Wukong's too fast, he's the monkey king, after all. Yeah, no messing around, he just smacks it down. The text even gives a sound effect like ping pong. Huh, and what's revealed when the light fades? Not some enchanting beauty, it's a white-faced fox. A fox, okay, another transformation, another illusion shattered. And Bajie, being Bajie, is ready to just, you know, finish it off completely right there, pulverize it. But Wukong holds him back. Yeah, Wukong's thinking strategically. He wants to take the fox's actual body back to the king. Proof, show him what was really going on. That makes sense, undeniable evidence. And the way it happens, so quickly revealing the fox form, and then Bajie just, what, drags it off? Yep, apparently just grabs it by the tail. It's very abrupt, very unceremonious. It really strips away any remaining glamor or fear, doesn't it? Just brings it crashing down to this almost crude reality of a dead animal, a stark contrast. Totally, so they all gather back up. Wukong, Bajie, the dead fox, Shaoxing, and the now rather sheepish white deer. Shaoxing is giving his deer an earful. As you would. And then Bajie does something. Well, it's classic Bajie, darkly funny maybe. He just throws the dead fox down in front of the deer. Oh wow, and asks. And asks the deer basically, Whoa, that's blunt. How does the deer react? It's actually quite poignant. The text says the deer nods its head, sniffs the fox. Sniffs it. Yeah, and makes these sounds like it's reluctant to part with it, almost like it's mourning. Huh, so even these demons, or runner with illustrious pets and their friends, they might have actual feelings, family bonds. It adds this unexpected layer, right? It complicates the simple monster label again. These creatures aren't just pure evil chaos machines. They might have attachments. But Shaoxing isn't having any of it. No, he cuts that short pretty quickly, gives the deer a whack, ties it up with his sash, order must be restored, celestial hierarchy and all that. Right, discipline first. Okay, so before they head back to the palace, Wukong has one more idea. Always thinking ahead. He decides they need to properly sweep clean the whole area. Can't leave this demonic lair standing. A cleansing fire. Exactly. He calls on the local earth god, you know, the spirit of the place to help gather up dry wood and plants. And the text even lists the specific types of dry stuff they collect. Things like frost-resisting grass, not weed, dragon bone wood. Yeah, all described as being dry as tinder, dry as oil, they're very specific. It emphasizes that this isn't just burning down a building. It's a ritual, a purification, getting rid of every last trace of this chaotic influence. So the whole King Kua demonic residence goes up in flames, becomes a fire pit. Cosmic order restored. No lingering bad vibes. Okay, now they're ready. The whole procession heads back to the palace. Wukong, Bajie, Shu Xing, the subdued deer, and the dead fox. Can you imagine the scene? The king sees this coming. He must have been absolutely terrified. What is this bizarre parade? Right, but then Wukong steps forward and explains everything. This is the big reveal for the king. Your majesty, the royal uncle monster. It was actually this deer here and that beauty. That was this fox. That must have just completely flipped the king's world upside down. All his fear, maybe paranoia about this demonic uncle. Gone, replaced by probably immense relief and gratitude, right? They saved the children of his kingdom from whatever these creatures were planning. Absolutely. The text says his relief is huge and immediately orders a reward. Not just any reward. A huge, lavish, vegetarian feast for the heroes and Shao Xing. Which is a lovely touch. It signals the return to peace, harmony, abundance, celebrating with food. So they're all sitting down to this feast and you know someone's gonna ask. How did this whole mess start? How did a celestial deer end up terrorizing a kingdom? Exactly, what's the backstory here? And Shao Xing, maybe looking a bit sheepish, explains. He says the deer escaped while he was distracted. Yes, he was playing chess. A game of chess with another high-ranking celestial, the Dong Hua Emperor. He lost track of his giant magical deer because he was focused on a chess game. Apparently so. Just a moment of distraction in heaven. He then had to use his powers of divination to figure out where the deer had run off to. Wow, it seems almost mundane. In a cosmic sort of way. It does, right. It grounds this huge, fantastical event in something relatable. Even gods get distracted in their little lapses like a chess game can cause massive problems down on Earth. It adds a touch of humor to the whole celestial bureaucracy, I guess. Ripple effects. Big ripple effects. Okay, let's talk about this feast though because the description sounds incredible. Oh, it's fantastic. Really paints a picture of royal gratitude. Five colors filling the gate, strange fragrance filling the seats. You get the sense of occasion. Definitely. Embroidered drapes, red carpets, they pulled out all the stops. And the food. It's not just food, it's art. Tall fruit towers, intricate sugar sculptures shaped like dragons and animals. Ooh, mandarin duck ingots, lion immortal sugars, parrot cups, egret ladles, all sounding incredibly lifelike. And then the actual dishes. Fresh lychees, peaches, dates, persimmons, pine nuts, grapes, sweet wines, honeyed sweets, steamed pastries. Okay, I'm getting hungry now. Me too. Spicy soup with long noodles, fragrant and continuously replenished dishes, an endless array of mushrooms, bamboo shoots. 10 fragrant vegetarian dishes, 100 flavor delicacies. It just sounds overwhelming in the best way. It really does. It's not just a meal, it's a symbol. A full-on sensory celebration that everything is back to normal, peace is restored. You can almost feel the royal hospitality, right? Music playing from the, what is it, the music era. It's clearly a big deal. Oh, absolutely. And right away, the seating tells you so much about the hierarchy, about the power dynamics playing out. It's fascinating how these little details set everything up. Okay, so break that down for us. Who's where? Well, top seat, the place of highest honor, goes to the star lord of longevity. A celestial being, so that makes sense. Right, above everyone else. Exactly. Then comes the elder, Tang Sanzang. He's next in line, spiritually important. And only then do you get the king in the front seat. Interesting, so even the king is deferring. Precisely. And our main guys, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, they're off to the side with a couple other masters. It immediately shows you where the, let's say, the real power lies. It's celestial and spiritual, not just worldly. Gotcha. And amidst all this ceremony, the king himself is serving wine. These amazing purple cloud cups, the text calls them. Speaks volumes about the luxury and how much he respects these guests. Definitely. But Tang Sanzang, being the devout monk he is, doesn't touch the wine. Right. But then there's Zhu Bajie. Oh, Bajie. Yes, classic Bajie. The source literally says he indiscriminately consumed everything that came his way, leaving nothing. What does that moment tell us, especially right next to Tang Sanzang being so disciplined? Well, it's funny, but it's also, you know, a really neat character contrast right up front. Bajie is all about that instant gratification, that very earthly desire. Total impulse control failure. Pretty much. While Tang Sanzang is the picture of spiritual discipline, self-control, and this difference, it sort of subtly hints at the deeper theme coming up about what really leads to longevity. Maybe it's not just indulging every whim. Interesting point. Okay, so the banquet wraps up, the star lord of longevity gets ready to head out. And this is where the king gets really serious, right? Oh, yeah. Desperate is the word. He actually kneels down, pleading with the star lord for some way to rid sickness and prolong life. You can really feel his anxiety. He's looking for a magic bullet. Exactly. And the longevity star's first reaction is interesting. He sort of laughs it off, says, look, I was just here looking for my deer. I didn't put any magic potions. Right, no elixirs on hand. And he points out the king's pretty old. His muscles were weak and spirit depleted. Basically says teaching him complex cultivation stuff now would be, well, too difficult. It almost sounds like a polite no. So, seems like a dead end for the king. It does, but this is actually setting up the story's main point, I think. How so? Well, because right after saying no quick fixes, he does something surprising. Ah, the twist. This is where the dates come in. Yes, he pulls out three dates from his sleeve. And it's specific, these weren't just any dates. He says they were meant for the. Dong Hua emperor. For the emperor's teeth. Wow, so like top tier celestial stuff. Absolutely, reserved for the highest beings. And he adds, he hadn't even eaten them himself. That tells you how precious they are. He gives them to the king. A pretty amazing gift. What happens when the king eats them? Instant effect. The text says he gradually felt his body lighten and his sickness recede. A real tangible change. Like a miracle cure after all. Sort of. And the source even adds this little note. Something like, those who later gain longevity all originated from this. It suggests a profound, maybe even lineage starting impact. But is that the ultimate answer the story is giving us? That's the question, isn't it? This quick fix, this magic pill, it works, it gives relief. But it sets up a contrast with what comes later. It hints that maybe divine gifts are great, but perhaps not the whole picture for long-term well-being. Right, right. And you can't have a scene with magical food without Zhu Bajie chiming in. Of course not. He sees the dates and immediately asks the star lord for some fire dates for himself. Always looking out for number one. What does the star lord say? He's quite generous actually. Promises to send Bajie several patties. That's like a few pounds worth another day. Okay, so Bajie might get his snack eventually. Yeah. But you mentioned this wasn't the real lesson, so the pilgrims get ready to leave. Here's where it gets really interesting. Exactly. The banquet's done, the star lord's gone, the pilgrims are packed up. But the king still wants more, doesn't he? He's trying to keep from there, hoping for another easy fix, another teaching. He is. He's clearly still focused on that external solution. But the real teaching, the profound one, it comes from Sun Wukong. Ah, okay. What does Wukong tell him? It's incredibly direct and powerful. Wukong basically cuts through all this ceremony and magic. He says, from now on, reduce lust, accumulate more hidden merits, and in all matters, enhance strengths and compensate for weaknesses. Hidden merits, what exactly does that mean here? It's a key concept. It means doing good deeds selflessly without looking for praise or reward. Just quietly building up good karma, spiritual credit, you know? So like inner cultivation through action, not just magic dates. Precisely. Wukong says that is enough to rid sickness and prolong life. That's the sustainable path, the real core of well-being, much more so than any divine fruit. It's about inner vacu and balanced living. That's a huge shift from just eating magic dates. And speaking of virtue, Tang Sanzang really shows his colors here too, right? With the king's offer. Oh, absolutely. The king offers them two plates of scattered gold and silver bits, a really generous gift for their travels. Probably a fortune. Could well be. But Tang Sanzang refuses flat out. Not a single coin, the text says. He's walking the spiritual path completely detached from that kind of worldly wealth. True integrity. Wow. Okay, so they finally leave, and the send-off is pretty spectacular, isn't it? It's extraordinary. It shows just how much the king respects them now, especially after Wukong's advice. The king and his own concubines physically get behind the phoenix carriage and dragon chariot and push the wheels to send Tang Sanzang off from the court. Royalty pushing the carriage, that's incredible deference. It really is. It's acknowledging that spiritual authority, that wisdom, is higher than his own kingship. And it's not just the royals showing respect. No, the whole city gets involved. People from the six streets and three markets, the common folk, they come out offering clean water in cups and burning true incense. A massive outpouring from everyone. Yeah, it's a sign of deep collective gratitude and reverence for the pilgrims. The whole kingdom is basically saying thank you. Okay, so they're finally on their way, leaving the city, and then something truly wild happens. Yes. Just outside the city walls, there's this sudden wind sound from midair, and then descending from the sky. Goose cages. Goose cages, loads of them. 1,111, to be exact, landing on both sides of the road. That number is so specific, 1,111. Why such precision? It's fascinating, isn't it? I think it emphasizes that this isn't random. It's like a planned celestial operation, a bureaucratic level of detail, even in a miracle. It's not just lots of cages, it's an exact count. And inside the cages. You hear small children crying. Oh, wow. So these are the children who were taken earlier. Exactly, and then this whole host of deities appears, unseen guardians, the city god, earth god, various celestial generals, monastic protectors, a whole crowd of them. The cavalry arrives. Pretty much, and they announce they were just following Sun Wukong's orders from before, remember, he'd arranged for the children to be safely taken away in goose cages. Ah, right, during the whole fake heart-eating plot. That's the one. The deities say, basically, mission accomplished, boss. We kept them safe, now we're bringing them back. That's incredible foresight from Wukong. So what's the reaction on the ground? Must have been pandemonium. Absolute chaos, but joyous chaos. The king, the queens, all the officials, the regular people, everyone just drops down, bowing in gratitude. Overwhelmed. And Wukong, still the leader. Yep, ever practical. He tells the deities, essentially, good job, dismissed, go back to your shrines. The people will make offerings later. And then, the reunions. Oh, the reunions must have been something else. Families joyfully recognizing their children from the cages. Kids yelling, older brother or little darling. Just pure relief and happiness. Jumping and laughing. You can just imagine the scene. Tears of joy everywhere, I bet. Definitely. But this raises an important question, you know? The sheer intensity of the people's gratitude. The text describes how everyone, regardless of age or gender, just swarms the pilgrim. Right, and it specifically mentions they weren't afraid of the disciples' appearances anymore. Exactly. They weren't scared of Wukong's monkey face or Bajie's piggish looks. They were lifting Zhu Bajie, carrying Sha Wujing, topping Sun Wukong, pulling Teng San, grabbing the horse, the luggage, just physically carrying them back into the city. Wow, swept away by the crowd. Completely. Even the king couldn't stop them. What does that level of reaction, that complete disregard for their ugly appearance, tell us about the impact of what the pilgrims did? It tells me their actions, their merit, completely transcended how they looked. The people saw their true worth. I think that's exactly it. The profound, selfless act of saving the children created this incredibly powerful bond. Gratitude just washed over everything else, including fear or prejudice about appearances. True compassion recognized. So they get swept back into the city. What happens then? Do they just leave again? Not quite. This massive wave of gratitude actually ends up detaining them for almost a month. A whole month, wow. Yeah, the families were just so grateful. They insisted on hosting banquets, feasts. Everyone wanted a chance to thank them personally. Must have been exhausting for the pilgrims, but also kind of amazing. You imagine. And it wasn't just feasts. For the families who maybe couldn't afford a big banquet, they showed their thanks in other ways, making gifts like monk hats, monk shoes, robes, cloth socks, and clothes of all sizes. Really personal, heartfelt gifts. It shows it was a genuine community-wide outpouring of appreciation for those hidden merits we talked about earlier. And this event clearly stuck with the kingdom. It became legendary. Oh, for sure. The text says the people passed down shadow images, maybe like portraits or drawings, and they erected memorial tablets. They worshiped the pilgrims, offering reverent vows and burning incense. So the pilgrims left a lasting legacy of reverence. Absolutely, and if we connect this back to the bigger picture, that final verse from the source really sums it all up perfectly. Hidden merits piled high, grace as heavy as mountains saving tens of thousands of people.