The Handsome Monkey King, returned in glory to his homeland, had destroyed the Demon King of Chaos and seized a great blade. Day by day he drilled martial arts, teaching the little monkeys to chop bamboo for spears, shave wood for swords, raise banners, blow whistles—advancing, retreating, making camp, establishing stockades. After much play, he suddenly sat in stillness and thought: "We practice here, but if play becomes real, it may stir the human kings, or some bird-king or beast-king may take offense, accuse us of drilling troops for rebellion, raise armies to kill us. You all wield bamboo poles and wooden blades—how can you face them? We need sharp swords and halberds. What is to be done?"
The monkeys heard, each filled with fear: "What the Great King sees is far-reaching, but there is nowhere to obtain such weapons."
As they spoke, four old monkeys stepped forward—two red-rumped macaques, two gibbon-apes—walking to his front and saying: "Great King, if you wish to forge sharp instruments, it is most easy."
Wukong said: "How is it easy?"
The four monkeys said: "From this mountain, two hundred li east lies a stretch of water. Beyond it is the border of Ao Lai Kingdom. In that kingdom sits a royal seat; the city holds countless soldiers and civilians—surely there are goldsmiths, silversmiths, coppersmiths, ironsmiths among them. If the Great King goes there, to buy or forge weapons, then drill us to guard this mountain realm, truly this is the mechanism for lasting peace and safety."
Wukong heard, heart full of joy: "You all stay here and play. I will go."
Good Monkey King! He urgently leaped his tumble-cloud; in an instant, he crossed the two hundred li of water. Indeed, he saw a walled city on the other side: six streets, three markets, ten thousand households, thousand gates—people coming and going, all beneath the bright sun and open sky.
Wukong thought: "Surely there are ready-made weapons here. Rather than go down and buy a few, better I use supernatural power to find a few."
He pinched the seal, spoke the spell, drew a breath from the Xun direction, blew it out with a whoosh—immediately a wind arose, flying sand and rolling stones. Truly terrifying:
Cannon-clouds rise, shaking heaven and earth;
Black fog and haze darken the great land.
River and sea waves churn—fish and crabs flee;
Mountain forests snap—tigers and wolves run.
All trades: no merchants travel;
Every craft: no people seen.
In the hall, the king returns to inner chambers;
Before the steps, ministers turn back to offices.
The thousand-autumn throne—all blown down;
The five-phoenix tower—its banners uprooted.
Where the wind rose, it scattered the Ao Lai Kingdom's ruler. All six streets and three markets panicked, closing doors and windows, no one daring to walk.
Only then did Wukong press down his cloud-head, burst straight through the court gates, and search directly into the Armory Hall and Weapon Vault. Opening the doors, he looked inside: countless weapons—blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, fur-blades, sickles, whips, rakes, clubs, maces, bows, crossbows, forks, lances—every kind complete.
Seeing this, he was greatly pleased: "I alone can carry how many? Better I use the body-division method to move them all."
Good Monkey King! He plucked a handful of hairs, chewed them in his mouth, spat them out, spoke the spell, and shouted: "Change!" They transformed into hundreds of little monkeys, all scrambling and snatching—the strong carried five or seven pieces, the weak carried two or three—moving everything until nothing remained. He stepped directly onto the cloud-head, used a summoning method, called back the wild wind, led the little monkeys, and all returned to their place.
Now, the great and small monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain were playing outside the cave entrance when suddenly they heard the wind's sound. Seeing the mid-air filled with crisscrossing, boundless monkey-spirits, they were frightened into running and hiding in chaos.
After a short time, the Handsome Monkey King pressed down his cloud-head, gathered the clouds and mist, shook his body, gathered his hairs, and piled all the weapons in a heap before the mountain. He called: "Little ones, all come to receive weapons!"
The monkeys looked: only Wukong stood alone on the flat ground. All ran over, kowtowed, and asked the reason. Wukong told them everything: how he used the wild wind, moved the weapons—all matters. The monkeys finished giving thanks, all snatching blades and seizing swords, grabbing clubs and fighting for spears, pulling bows and drawing crossbows, shouting and cheering, playing the whole day.
The next day, they arranged camp as before. Wukong gathered the troop of monkeys—counting forty-seven thousand mouths. This stirred the mountain's strange beasts: wolves, insects, tigers, leopards, badgers, deer, foxes, jackals, lions, elephants, suanni, apes, bears, wild boars, mountain oxen, antelopes, green rhinos, cunning hares, divine mastiffs… all manner of demon kings, seventy-two caves in total—all came to bow and worship the Monkey King as supreme.
Yearly they offered tribute; each season they reported for duty. Some drilled with the ranks; some collected grain by festival. Neat and orderly, they made Flower-Fruit Mountain into an iron bucket, a golden city. Each route's demon kings also contributed golden drums, colored banners, armor and helmets—busy and bustling, day by day practicing dance and raising armies.
The Handsome Monkey King, in the midst of joy, suddenly said to all: "You are skilled with bows and crossbows, proficient with weapons—but this blade of mine is truly coarse and clumsy, not suiting my will. What is to be done?"
The four old monkeys stepped forward and presented: "The Great King is an immortal sage—mortal weapons are unworthy. But we wonder: can the Great King travel in water?"
Wukong said: "Since I heard the Dao, I possess the seventy-two earthly transformations; the tumble-cloud has immense supernatural power. I am skilled in hiding and vanishing, raising and summoning methods. Heaven has my path; earth has my gate. I step through sun and moon without shadow; I enter metal and stone without obstruction. Water cannot drown me; fire cannot burn me. Where could I not go?"
The four monkeys said: "If the Great King has such power, then beneath our iron-plank bridge, the water connects to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace. If the Great King is willing to descend, find the Old Dragon King, and ask him for some weapon—would it not suit your heart?"
Wukong heard, greatly pleased: "Wait for me to go."
Good Monkey King! He leaped to the bridgehead, used a water-closing method, pinched the seal, dove into the waves with a splash, parted the waterways, and went straight into the Eastern Ocean's seabed.
As he traveled, suddenly a night-patrolling yaksha blocked his path, asking: "You who push the water—who are you, holy one? Speak clearly, so I may report and welcome you properly."
Wukong said: "I am Sun Wukong, heaven-born sage of Flower-Fruit Mountain, your old Dragon King's immediate neighbor. Why do you not know me?"
The yaksha heard, quickly turned to the Crystal Palace and reported: "Great King, outside there is a Sun Wukong, heaven-born sage of Flower-Fruit Mountain, claiming to be the Great King's neighbor. He approaches the palace."
The Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang immediately rose, and with dragon-sons, dragon-grandsons, shrimp-soldiers, and crab-generals, exited the palace to welcome him: "High Immortal, please enter, please enter."
Until they met inside the palace, the upper seat was offered, tea presented. Then the Dragon King asked: "When did the High Immortal attain the Dao? What immortal arts were bestowed?"
Wukong said: "Since my birth, I left home to cultivate, attaining a body unborn and undying. Recently, because I drill my children and grandchildren to guard the mountain cave, I lack a weapon. Long have I heard that my worthy neighbor enjoys this jade palace and shell-temple—surely there are surplus divine weapons. I specially come to beg one."
The Dragon King, hearing this, could not refuse. He ordered the Gui Commander to bring out a great-handled blade and present it.
Wukong said: "Old Sun does not know how to use a blade. I beg another."
The Dragon King again ordered the Eel Grand Marshal to lead the Eel Warriors to carry out a nine-pronged spear.
Wukong leaped down, took it in hand, performed a routine, set it down and said: "Light, light, light—not handy. I beg another."
The Dragon King laughed: "High Immortal, do you not see? This spear weighs three thousand six hundred jin."
Wukong said: "Not handy, not handy."
The Dragon King, heart filled with fear, again ordered the Carp Admiral and Carp General to carry out a painted-handle square-heaven halberd. This halberd weighed seven thousand two hundred jin.
Wukong saw it, ran close, took it in hand, tossed a few stances, scattered two techniques, planted it in the center and said: "Still light, light, light."
The old Dragon King grew even more afraid: "High Immortal, in my palace only this halberd is heavy—there are no other weapons."
Wukong laughed: "The ancients said: 'A worried sea dragon has no treasures!' Search again. If there is anything suitable, I will pay the price for each."
The Dragon King said: "Truly there is nothing more."
As they spoke, from behind flashed the Dragon Queen and Dragon Princess, saying: "Great King, observe this sage—decidedly no ordinary being. In our sea-treasury, that piece of River of Heaven's seabed-settling divine iron—these past few days, rosy light blazes, auspicious breath surges. Could it be destined to appear, meeting this sage?"
The Dragon King said: "That was a gauge-setter from when Great Yu controlled the waters, measuring the seas' depth and shallowness—a piece of divine iron. What use could it serve?"
The Dragon Queen said: "Regardless of whether he uses it or not, give it to him. Let him transform it as he wills—once it leaves the palace gates, that is the end."
The old Dragon King followed her words, telling Wukong everything.
Wukong said: "Bring it out for me to see."
The Dragon King waved his hand: "Cannot carry, cannot lift—the High Immortal must see it personally."
Wukong said: "Where is it? Lead me."
The Dragon King truly guided him to the sea-treasury's center. Suddenly, ten thousand golden rays appeared. The Dragon King pointed: "That which shines is it."
Wukong lifted his robes, stepped forward, touched it: truly an iron pillar, about a bushel thick, over twenty feet long. He strained with both hands to lift it: "Too thick, too long—shorter and thinner would be usable."
As he finished speaking, the treasure shortened several feet, thinned one circumference.
Wukong tapped it again: "Even thinner would be better."
The treasure truly thinned several more parts.
Wukong, greatly joyful, took it out of the sea-treasury to look: originally, both ends were golden hoops; in the middle was a section of black iron. Close against the hoops, a line of characters was carved, reading: "Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod, Weight: Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Jin."
Secretly pleased, he thought: "Surely this treasure follows human will."
Walking, thinking, and speaking simultaneously, he tapped it with his hand: "Shorter and thinner would be even better."
Brought outside, it was only about twenty feet long, the thickness of a bowl.
Watch him wield supernatural power, scatter techniques, and strike through the Crystal Palace! Frightening the old Dragon King until his heart trembled and his spirit shocked; the little dragon-sons until their souls flew and their spirits scattered; turtles, soft-shelled turtles, and frogs all shrinking their necks; fish, shrimp, giant turtles, and crabs all hiding their heads.
Wukong held the treasure in his hand, sat upon the Crystal Palace throne, and laughed to the Dragon King: "Thank you, worthy neighbor, for your generous intent."
The Dragon King said: "I dare not, I dare not."
Wukong said: "This iron, though useful, has another matter."
The Dragon King said: "What other matter does the High Immortal have?"
Wukong said: "Originally, without this iron, it would have been fine. Now that I hold it in my hand, I have no clothing to match my body. What is to be done? If you have armor here, simply give me a set—I will thank you altogether."
The Dragon King said: "This, truly, I do not have."
Wukong said: "One guest should not trouble two hosts. If you do not have it, I will certainly not leave these gates."
The Dragon King said: "I trouble the High Immortal to cross another sea—perhaps there you will find it."
Wukong said again: "Walking three houses is not as good as sitting in one. I beg you earnestly for one piece."
The Dragon King said: "Truly I do not have it. If I did, I would certainly present it."
Wukong said: "Truly you do not have it? Then I will test this iron on you!"
The Dragon King panicked: "High Immortal, do not strike, do not strike! Let me see if my younger brothers have any—I will present a set."
Wukong said: "Where are your honorable brothers?"
The Dragon King said: "My younger brothers are: Southern Sea Dragon King Ao Qin, Northern Sea Dragon King Ao Shun, Western Sea Dragon King Ao Run."
Wukong said: "Old Sun will not go, will not go. The proverb says: 'Promising three is not as good as showing two.' I only hope you will send a set, high or low."
The old Dragon King said: "The High Immortal need not go. I have here an iron drum and a golden bell. Whenever there is urgent business, if the drum is beaten and the bell is rung, my younger brothers will arrive instantly."
Wukong said: "If so, quickly beat the drum and ring the bell."
Truly, the alligator-general went to ring the bell, and the turtle-commander came to beat the drum.
After a short time, when the bell and drum sounded, they truly stirred the three sea-dragon kings. In an instant, they arrived, all meeting outside.
Ao Qin said: "Elder Brother, what urgent matter caused you to beat the drum and ring the bell?"
The old Dragon King said: "Honorable Brother, it is difficult to say. There is a certain heaven-born sage of Flower-Fruit Mountain who came this morning to acknowledge me as a neighbor. Later he requested a weapon—I offered the steel fork, he deemed it small; I presented the painted halberd, he deemed it light. He took a piece of River of Heaven's seabed-settling divine iron himself, performed some techniques. Now he sits in the palace, demanding armor. I have none, therefore I rang the bell and beat the drum to invite you, honorable brothers. Do any of you have armor? Present a set to him, and let us send him away."
Ao Qin heard, greatly angered: "We brothers will raise troops and seize him, will we not?"
The old Dragon King said: "Do not speak of seizing, do not speak of seizing. That iron—if you brush against it slightly, you die; if you knock against it slightly, you perish. Grazing it breaks the skin; rubbing it injures the tendons."
The Western Sea Dragon King Ao Run said: "Second Brother, we cannot fight him. Simply gather a set of armor for him, send him out the gate, then submit a memorial to heaven above—heaven will punish him itself."
The Northern Sea Dragon King Ao Shun said: "Well said. I have here a pair of lotus-root-silk cloud-walking shoes."
The Western Sea Dragon King Ao Run said: "I brought a suit of chain-linked golden armor."
The Southern Sea Dragon King Ao Qin said: "I have a phoenix-wing purple-gold crown."
The old Dragon King, greatly pleased, led them into the Crystal Palace to meet. They presented these offerings.
Wukong donned the golden crown, golden armor, and cloud-walking shoes completely, wielded the compliant rod, and struck all the way out. To the assembled dragons he said: "Noisy, noisy."
The four sea-dragon kings were deeply aggrieved. They discussed submitting a memorial to heaven—but that is not told here.
Watch this Monkey King: he parted the waterways, went straight to the iron-plank bridgehead, and vaulted up. He saw the four old monkeys leading the troop, all waiting by the bridge.
Suddenly, Wukong leaped from the waves—not a drop of water wet his body. Golden and brilliant, he walked onto the bridge.
Frightened, the monkeys all knelt together: "Great King, what splendid glory! What splendid glory!"
Wukong, face full of spring breeze, ascended the precious throne and planted the iron rod in the center.
Those monkeys, not knowing better, all came to take the treasure—but it was like dragonflies shaking an iron tree: not a hair's breadth could they move it. Each one bit his finger and stuck out his tongue: "Grandfather above! So heavy—how did you manage to carry it?"
Wukong approached, spread his hand, grabbed it in one grip, and laughed to all: "All things have their masters. This treasure was suppressed in the sea-treasury for who knows how many thousands of hundreds of years. Coincidentally, this year it emitted light. The dragon kings only recognized it as a piece of black iron, calling it the River of Heaven's seabed-settling divine treasure. Those fellows could not lift or carry it—they invited me to take it personally. At that time, this treasure was over twenty feet long, the thickness of a bushel. I grabbed it once, meaning it was too large—it became much smaller. I told it to become smaller again—it became much smaller again. I told it to become smaller once more—it became much smaller again. Urgently holding it to the sky-light to look, there was a line of characters: 'Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod, Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Jin.' You all stand apart—let me make it transform once more for you to see."
He tossed the treasure in his hand and called: "Small! Small! Small!" Immediately it became like an embroidery needle—small enough to be stuffed inside his ear and hidden.
The monkeys were amazed, calling: "Great King, take it out and play with it!"
The Monkey King truly took it from his ear, placed it on his palm, and called: "Big! Big! Big!" Immediately it became the thickness of a bushel again, twenty feet long.
He played until joy filled him, leaped onto the bridge, walked outside the cave, gripped the treasure in his hand, used a "law-heaven, image-earth" supernatural power, bent his waist, and shouted: "Grow!"
He grew to ten thousand feet tall, his head like Mount Tai, his waist like a lofty ridge, his eyes like lightning, his mouth like a blood basin, his teeth like swords and halberds. The rod in his hand reached upward to the thirty-three heavens, downward to the eighteen layers of hell.
All the tigers, leopards, wolves, and insects; the mountain's full troop of monsters; the seventy-two cave demon kings—all were frightened into kowtowing and worshipping, trembling, their souls scattered and spirits flown.
In an instant, he gathered the dharma-image, returned the treasure to an embroidery needle, hid it in his ear, and returned to the cave-dwelling.
The demon kings of each cave panicked, all coming to offer congratulations.
At this time, they opened wide the drums and banners, rang the copper gongs, broadly set out hundred delicacies and hundred flavors, filled cups with coconut liquid and grape浆—drinking and feasting with all for a long time. Then they resumed drilling as before.
The Monkey King appointed the four old monkeys as Healthy Generals: the two red-rumped macaques he named Marshal Ma and Marshal Liu; the two gibbon-apes he named General Beng and General Ba. All matters of making camp, establishing stockades, rewards and punishments—he entrusted to the four healthy generals to maintain.
He set his heart at ease, day by day riding clouds and mist, roaming the four seas, enjoying the thousand mountains. Displaying martial arts, he visited heroes everywhere; wielding supernatural powers, he befriended worthies broadly.
At this time, he met seven brothers: Bull Demon King, Jiao Demon King, Peng Demon King, Lion-Tusk Demon King, Macaque Demon King, Snub-Nosed Demon King—plus his own Handsome Monkey King, seven in total.
Day by day they discussed literature and martial arts, passed wine-cups and goblets, played strings and sang, danced and whistled—morning departure, evening return, nothing not joyful. The distance of ten thousand li—they treated as the path across a courtyard. As the saying goes: "Nod the head, pass three thousand li directly; twist the waist, eight hundred li more."
One day, in his cave, he instructed the four healthy generals to arrange a banquet, inviting the six kings to drink. They slaughtered oxen, killed horses, sacrificed to heaven, enjoyed earth, commanded the monsters to dance and sing in joy—all drank until heavily drunk.
Sending the six kings out, he then rewarded the great and small headmen. Leaning by the iron-plank bridge, beneath the pine shade, in an instant he fell asleep. The four healthy generals led the troop to surround and protect him, not daring to speak loudly.
Watch the Handsome Monkey King in sleep: he saw two men holding a warrant, upon which were three characters: "Sun Wukong." They approached his body, allowing no argument, looped a rope around him, and led the Handsome Monkey King's soul-spirit away. Stumbling and staggering, they led him straight to the edge of a city.
The Monkey King gradually felt the wine awaken. Suddenly raising his head to look, on the city wall was an iron plaque; on the plaque were three large characters: "Netherworld Realm."
The Handsome Monkey King suddenly awakened: "The Netherworld is the Yama King's dwelling—why have I come here?"
The two men said: "Your yang-life has now ended. We two received the warrant to hook you here."
The Monkey King heard and said: "Old Sun transcends the three realms, exists not within the five elements—no longer subject to their jurisdiction. How dare you confuse me and hook me?"
Those two soul-hookers merely pulled and tugged, determined to drag him inside.
This Monkey King, angered in his nature, drew the treasure from his ear, shook it once—it became the thickness of a bowl. Slightly raising his hand, he beat the two soul-hookers into meat paste. He freed himself from the rope, released his hands, swung the rod, and struck into the city.
Frightening the ox-head ghosts to hide east and conceal west; the horse-face ghosts to flee south and run north.
The ghost-troops ran to the Hall of Senluo, reporting: "Great King, calamity! Calamity! Outside, a hairy-faced thunder-god strikes in!"
Panicked, the ten generation Netherworld Kings urgently straightened their robes to look. Seeing his appearance fierce and evil, they immediately arranged their ranks and responded, calling loudly: "High Immortal, leave your name! High Immortal, leave your name!"
The Monkey King said: "If you do not recognize me, how did you send men to hook me?"
The ten kings said: "We dare not, we dare not. Surely the men were sent in error."
The Monkey King said: "I am originally Sun Wukong, heaven-born sage of Flower-Fruit Mountain, Water-Curtain Cave. You—what official positions are you?"
The ten kings bowed and said: "We are the ten generation Netherworld Kings, emperors of the yin realm."
Wukong said: "Quickly report your names, to avoid beating."
The ten kings said: "We are: King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang, King Song Di, King Wu Guan, King Yan Luo, King Ping Deng, King Tai Shan, King Du Shi, King Bian Cheng, King Zhuan Lun."
Wukong said: "You have all ascended to royal positions—you are of the spiritually manifest and responsive kind. Why do you not know good from bad? Old Sun has cultivated the immortal Dao, longevity equal to heaven, transcended beyond the three realms, leaped out of the five elements—why did you send men to restrain me?"
The ten kings said: "High Immortal, calm your anger. Under all heaven, there are many with the same name and surname. Could it be the soul-hookers took the wrong path?"
Wukong said: "Nonsense! Nonsense! The common saying goes: 'The official is different, the clerk is different—but the man who comes is not different.' Quickly bring me the Life-and-Death Register to see!"
The ten kings heard, immediately invited him to the upper hall to inspect.
Wukong, holding the compliant rod, directly ascended the Hall of Senluo and sat in the exact center, facing south.
The ten kings immediately ordered the record-keeping judge to bring out the ledgers for inspection. That judge dared not be slow—he went to the office, carried out five or six ledgers and ten-class registers.
Examining one by one: naked insects, hairy insects, feathered insects, scaled creatures—none held his name.
Looking further to the monkey category: originally, these monkeys resemble human form but are not entered in human registers; resemble naked insects but dwell not within borders; resemble walking beasts but bow not to the qilin's rule; resemble flying birds but accept not the phoenix's jurisdiction.
There was another ledger. Wukong personally inspected it until the character "Soul," entry number one thousand three hundred and fifty, where Sun Wukong's name was registered: "Heaven-born stone monkey, destined lifespan: three hundred forty-two years, good end."
Wukong said: "I do not remember my lifespan's count. Simply erase the name—that is enough. Bring the brush."
The judge hurriedly picked up the brush, saturated it with thick ink.
Wukong took the ledger, and for the monkey category, every single name—without exception—he crossed out.
Throwing down the ledger, he said: "Settled! Settled! This time, I no longer bow to your jurisdiction!"
Rod in hand, he struck out of the Netherworld Realm.
The ten kings dared not approach—all went to the Ciyun Palace, together bowed to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, discussed submitting a memorial to report to heaven above—but that is not told here.
The Monkey King struck out of the city. Suddenly he tripped on a straw rope, fell headfirst, and suddenly awakened—truly a Southern Bough Dream.
Only just feeling his waist stretch, he heard the four healthy generals and the troop of monkeys calling loudly: "Great King, how much wine did you drink? Sleeping this one night, still you do not awaken?"
Wukong said: "Sleep is a small matter. I dreamed two men came to hook me, led me to the Netherworld Realm's city gates—only then did I awaken. I displayed supernatural power, shouted straight to the Hall of Senluo, argued with those ten kings, inspected our Life-and-Death Register—every name of our kind, I crossed out. We no longer bow to those fellows' jurisdiction."
The monkeys kowtowed in grateful ceremony.
From this day, many mountain monkeys did not age—because in the yin office, they had no names.
The Handsome Monkey King finished speaking of prior events. The four healthy generals reported to each cave's demon kings—all came to congratulate.
After a few days, the six sworn brothers also came to offer congratulations. Hearing the news of name-erasure, each was joyful. Day by day they gathered in joy—but that is not told here.
Now, report to that High Heaven's Holy One, the Greatly Compassionate Benevolent Ruler, the Jade Emperor of August Heaven, the Mysterious Vault Supreme Deity.
One day, seated upon the Golden Throne Cloud Palace in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, gathering civil and immortal ministers for morning court, suddenly the Immortal Qiu Hongji presented: "Your Majesty, outside the Hall of Clear Light, the Eastern Sea Dragon King Ao Guang has submitted a memorial, awaiting the Heavenly Lord's proclamation."
The Jade Emperor transmitted the decree: "Summon him."
Ao Guang was summoned to the Lingxiao Hall. After bowing, beside him, the guiding immortal youth received the memorial.
The Jade Emperor read it from beginning to end. The memorial stated:
"The water-realm's lower world, Eastern Victory Continent, Eastern Sea's little dragon, your servant Ao Guang, presents to the Great Heavenly Holy Lord, the Mysterious Vault Supreme Deity:
Recently, the demon-immortal Sun Wukong, born of Flower-Fruit Mountain, dwelling in Water-Curtain Cave, has bullied and abused the little dragon, forcibly seated himself in the water-dwelling, demanded weapons, displayed methods and might; demanded armor, flaunted ferocity and power. He startled and injured the water-tribe, frightened away turtles and soft-shelled turtles. The Southern Sea Dragon trembled; the Western Sea Dragon grew desolate; the Northern Sea Dragon shrank his head and surrendered.
Your servant Ao Guang stretched his body and bowed low, presenting the divine-treasure iron rod, the phoenix-wing golden crown, the chain-linked armor, and the cloud-walking shoes—sending him out with ritual. He still wielded martial arts, displayed supernatural powers, merely saying: 'Noisy, noisy.' Truly invincible, most difficult to control.
Your servant now presents this memorial, begging the Sage's judgment. I earnestly request heavenly troops to seize this demon, so that the seas and mountains may be clear and peaceful, the lower realm secure and tranquil. I present this."
The Holy Emperor finished reading, transmitted the decree: "Let the dragon-spirit return to the sea. I will immediately send generals to capture him."
The old Dragon King kowtowed in thanks and departed.
Below, the Celestial Master Ge Xianweng presented: "Your Majesty, the Netherworld Office's King Qin Guang, Ordered by the Netherworld Master Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's memorial, presents it upward."
Beside him, the transmitting jade-maiden received the memorial.
The Jade Emperor also read it from beginning to end. The memorial stated:
"The Netherworld Realm is earth's yin-office. Heaven has gods, earth has ghosts—yin and yang revolve. Birds have birth, beasts have death—repeating male and female. Birth transforms, death transforms, conceiving females become males—this is nature's count, cannot be changed.
Now, the heaven-born demon-monkey Sun Wukong of Flower-Fruit Mountain, Water-Curtain Cave, acts wickedly, commits violence, refuses summonses and restraints. Wielding supernatural powers, he beat to death the nine-netherworld ghost-messengers; relying on power and might, he startled and injured the ten generations of compassionate kings. He made great tumult in the Hall of Senluo, forcibly erased names from the register.
This causes the monkey category to be unrestrained; macaque beasts to have extended life. Reincarnation is silenced; each has no birth or death.
This humble monk presents the memorial, offending heavenly might. I beg you to dispatch divine troops, seize and subdue this demon, organize yin and yang, and eternally secure the earthly palace. I respectfully present this."
The Jade Emperor finished reading, transmitted the decree: "Let the Netherworld Lord return to the underworld. I will immediately send generals to capture him."
King Qin Guang also kowtowed in thanks and departed.
The Great Heavenly Lord summoned all civil and military immortal ministers, asking: "This demon-monkey—in what year was he born? From what generation did he emerge? How has he attained such Dao?"
Before the words were finished, from the ranks flashed Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear, saying: "This monkey is a heaven-born stone monkey from three hundred years ago. At that time, we did not consider it significant. We do not know in which place he has cultivated these years to become immortal, subduing dragons and conquering tigers, forcibly erasing his name from the death-register."
The Jade Emperor said: "Which route's divine general shall descend to subdue him?"
Before the words were finished, from the ranks flashed the Grand White Golden Star, bowing low to present:
"Most Holy One: Within the three realms, all with nine apertures can cultivate immortality. But this monkey is a body nurtured by heaven and earth, a form conceived by sun and moon. He also treads heaven and steps earth, drinks dew and dines on mist. Now that he has cultivated the immortal Dao, possessing the power to subdue dragons and conquer tigers—how is he different from a human?
Your servant presents to Your Majesty: I beg you to consider the compassionate grace of birth and transformation, descend a decree of recruitment and pacification, summon him to the upper realm, bestow upon him an official position, great or small, register his name in the immortal ledger, and restrain him here. If he accepts heaven's mandate, later promote and reward him; if he violates heaven's mandate, seize him at once.
First, no troops are mobilized, no army labors; second, the immortal is received with Dao."
The Jade Emperor heard, greatly pleased, and said: "According to your memorial."
Immediately, he commanded the Literary Star Official to compose the edict, and the Grand White Golden Star to recruit and pacify.
The Golden Star received the decree, exited the Southern Heaven Gate, pressed down his auspicious cloud, and went straight to Flower-Fruit Mountain, Water-Curtain Cave. To the little monkeys he said: "I am heaven's difference, heaven's messenger. I hold the holy decree here, inviting your Great King to the upper realm. Quickly report."
Outside the cave, the little monkeys transmitted layer by layer to the cave-heaven's depths: "Great King, outside there is an old man carrying a corner of documents, saying he is heaven's dispatched angel, holding the holy decree to invite you."
The Handsome Monkey King heard, greatly pleased: "These past two days, I was just thinking to go up to heaven and walk about—and already an heavenly angel comes to invite."
He called: "Quickly invite him in."
The Monkey King urgently straightened his robes and crown, and went outside the gate to welcome.
The Golden Star entered directly to the center, stood facing south, and said: "I am the Western Grand White Golden Star, summoned and pacified by the order of the Jade Emperor, descending to invite you to heaven, to bow and receive the immortal ledger."
Wukong laughed: "Much gratitude to the old star for descending."
He ordered the little ones to arrange a banquet to entertain him.
The Golden Star said: "The holy decree is upon my person—I dare not stay long. I beg the Great King to accompany me at once. After the honorable promotion, we will speak at leisure."
Wukong said: "Honored by your light, I empty myself and retreat, I empty myself and retreat."
Immediately, he summoned the four healthy generals, instructing: "Carefully drill the children and grandchildren. Wait for me to go to heaven and scout the path—then I may bring you all up to dwell together."
The four healthy generals received the order.
This Monkey King and the Golden Star leaped their cloud-heads, rising into the empty sky above. Truly:
High promotion to the upper rank of heavenly immortal;
Name listed among the cloud-battalion's precious ledger.
After all, what official title he would be granted—listen to the next chapter's unfolding.