《南游记》Vol. 1

The Jade Emperor, ruler of the thirty-third heaven, established a gathering to display treasures. He issued a Jade Decree summoning the deities of the Three Realms and the Buddhas of the Western Heaven to assemble at the Golden Palace, the celestial court, each bringing a treasure. On the third day of the third month, the gates of Heaven swung open. The World-Honored One of the Western Heaven and the Jade Emperor sat side by side in the seats of honor. The assembled deities entered the hall in turn, paid their respects, and stood in order.

The Jade Emperor issued a decree: “Since ascending the imperial throne, I have not yet summoned you all. Today I have convened this gathering, called the ‘Radiant Assembly of the Three Realms.’ Each of you has inherited a treasure. Bring it forth for comparison and display your powers.” All the deities assented together.

The first to appear were the Eight Immortals of the Grottoes. Han Zhongli took out a feather fan and presented it on the imperial table. The Jade Emperor asked, “This treasure of yours…”

The first to enter the hall were the Eight Immortals of the Eight Grottoes. Han Zhongli took out a feather fan and presented it before the imperial table. The Jade Emperor asked, “What wondrous powers does this treasure have?” Zhongli replied, “Fan a fire with it, and the flames go out; fan the wind, and it stills; fan away evil spirits, and they perish. Its transformations are endless: it can become a boat to carry you across the sea, block out the sun, roll up the moon, and gather mist and summon clouds.” The Jade Emperor was delighted to hear this.

Zhang Guolao then took out a tin staff and presented it, saying, “My treasure can lift Mount Tai. Plunge it into water, and the waters part; press it against the earth, and the ground splits. Its transformations are endless.”

Cao Guojiu presented a board of earth and said, “Strike my treasure once, and messages can reach all three realms—the realms of Heaven, Earth, and humanity. Strike it open, and you can summon and command whatever you need. It can also subdue ghosts and monsters, encircle and capture evil spirits, and wield powers beyond measure.”

Lü Dongbin presented a pair of male and female swords and said, “My swords can fly for ten thousand li, slay demons, and dispel evil spirits. They also find their way back to each other on their own. Enter the water, and the waters part.”

Lan Caihe presented a golden-thread basket and said, “Toss this basket, and it will fly into the sky, large enough to contain the whole world. Whether fruits and vegetables are ripe or not, once gathered into the basket, they ripen on their own. Anyone sitting inside the basket becomes invisible to others.”

Tieguai Li presented a gourd and said, “My gourd holds wind and fire: ask for wind, and there is wind; ask for fire, and there is fire; ask for gold, and there is gold; ask for silver, and there is silver. It also holds my body, mind, and form. Point it east, and it flies east; point it west, and it flies west. It has many uses.”

He Xiangu presented an iron canopy and said, “My canopy can cover the sun and moon, plunging Heaven and Earth into darkness. Swing it, and the stars shift and the Dipper changes its place. Sit beneath it, and neither water nor fire can harm you.”

Han Xiangzi presented a fish drum and said, “Beat my fish drum, and Heaven and Earth grow dark. The drum can conceal tens of thousands of heavenly troops, and it can also make demons enter of their own accord. Ride astride it, and you can ascend to where water meets sky.”

After hearing each of the Eight Immortals describe the wondrous powers of their treasures, the Jade Emperor was greatly pleased.

Among the Buddhas of the Western Heaven was one named Guanyin. She presented a lotus throne and said, “When a good person sits upon this treasure, wisdom and insight will come naturally, and they will know what has happened across a hundred lifetimes. When an evil person sits upon it, it will turn into a mountain of blades. The lotus throne can also bring forth all things. Toss it into the air, and it will transform into whatever blade you desire, whether a knife or a sword. Its transformations are endless.”

The Patriarch Puyan, teacher of the myriad teachings, presented a horsetail whisk and said, “This precious whisk of mine can carry someone a thousand miles in an instant. When the demons of the Three Realms—the different levels of existence, such as Heaven, Earth, and the human world—see it, they dare not come near. With a gentle sweep, it can make ten thousand people immortal, and it can also perform transformations.”

The Great Emperor of the Three Origins and Three Grades presented a golden spear and said, “This golden spear of mine can subdue demons and capture ghosts, and protect people from floods and fires. Toss it into the air, and it will transform without end. Command it to kill, and it displays its might in battle; command it to stop, and it stops at once.”

The Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heavens in the North presented a black flag and said, “This flag of mine can sweep all three realms into itself. At the sight of it, evil ghosts and powerful demons enter the flag of their own accord, and after seven days they dissolve into water.”

The Venerable White Lotus presented a golden alms bowl and said, “This golden bowl of mine can hold tens of thousands of divine soldiers. If you want rice, rice will appear. A hungry ghost who eats a single meal from it will not go hungry for three years. The bowl shines with golden light, and purple mist rises from it.”

Sun Wukong presented an iron staff that obeyed his wishes and said, “If I want this staff to grow, it can reach ten thousand feet; if I want it to shrink, it can become as small as a flower needle. It can subdue demons and capture ghosts, and its transformations are endless. And on top of that, everything about me is a treasure.”

The Jade Emperor laughed and asked, “How can everything about you be a treasure?”

Sun Wukong replied, “With a single somersault, I can fly a thousand miles—that is a treasure too. If I pull out one hair, it can become a hundred monkeys—that is a treasure too.”

The Jade Emperor laughed heartily and said, “Try displaying your supernatural powers, and let us see whether they are truly as you say.”

Sun Wukong recited an incantation before the hall, pulled out a handful of hairs, and blew on them. In the blink of an eye, the entire hall was filled with monkeys, each holding a staff and leaping and dancing about. The Jade Emperor ordered Sun Wukong to end the transformation, then covered his sleeve over his mouth and laughed, saying, “I have heard that you once accompanied Tang Monk to the Western Heaven to seek the scriptures, and that your powers were extraordinary. Seeing you with my own eyes today, I find the stories well deserved. You may truly be called the greatest.” He then bestowed upon Sun Wukong a golden flower reserved for the imperial household and two cups of imperial wine. Sun Wukong thanked him for the favor and withdrew.

Then the Holy Mother of Phoenix Mountain presented a golden pagoda and said, “My pagoda can transform in countless ways. It can suppress evil spirits and capture demons. Just recite its spell, and it will become as heavy as Mount Tai; even ten million people could not move it. Ask it to grow small, and it will shrink to the size of a grain of millet, light enough for a three-year-old child to pick up.”

The King of Hell then presented a Mirror of Karmic Deeds, a precious mirror that reveals good and evil, and said, “This treasure leaves nowhere for good or evil to hide. In the Three Realms, anyone who tries to conceal a misdeed need only raise the mirror, and good and evil will appear clearly. It can look back ten thousand years into the past and ahead ten thousand years into the future. When demons and evil spirits see it, their limbs grow weak, their Qi disperses, and their forms vanish.”

The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea’s Iron Tracks presented a luminous pearl and said, “Hang this pearl beneath the roof of a palace, and it will shine in every direction. It can swallow and emit things. Any ordinary person who sees it will be spared calamity forever.”

The Great King of Ma’er Mountain also presented a treasure-gathering pearl and said, “The Dragon King’s treasure is indeed extraordinary. My pearl can likewise shine in the dark and swallow and emit things. Any ordinary person who sees it will be spared calamity forever. It can also transform into pure gold, or into silver when silver is needed. With a single point, it can make flowers bloom; with a single flick, it can make fruit appear. Recite a spell, and it will soar into the sky.”

The Jade Emperor listened and said with a smile, “Your treasure is even better than the Dragon King’s.” When the gathering ended that day, the Jade Emperor presented each guest with five cups of imperial wine, in turn. They then left the court gate in order, each riding clouds and mist back to their cave dwelling.

Later, Master Yu of Yangshang read this passage. Seeing that Sun Wukong possessed such extraordinary powers, he wrote a poem especially to praise him:

Worthy of admiration is Sun Wukong, ancestor of the monkeys;

He traveled west to learn from a master and achieved great feats.

Before, he swept away demons and wiped out their traces;

Now, in the palace hall, he displays his wondrous powers.

That day in the hall, the Dragon King had been publicly challenged by King Ma’er over the pearl, and he was deeply displeased. After returning to the Dragon Palace, he mustered all the troops and forces of the sea, went to Mount Ma’er, and loudly called for battle. The soldiers entered the mountain to report the news. When the Great King of Mount Ma’er heard that the Dragon King’s forces had arrived, he led his troops out to meet them.

The Dragon King angrily shouted, “You wretch, picking a quarrel for no reason! You humiliated me in public before the Jade Emperor that day. Hand over the precious pearl at once, and we can let the matter rest. Refuse, and you’ll lose your life!” King Ma’er shouted back, “Your pearl was rightfully lost to me. Why are you still so greedy? Withdraw your troops peacefully, and that will be the end of it. If you refuse, swords will soon be flashing, and then it will be too late to regret it!” The two fought for fewer than ten rounds before the Dragon King struck the Great King of Mount Ma’er from his horse with a single blow. The Dragon King then withdrew his troops and returned to the Dragon Palace.

Now, the Great King of Mount Ma’er’s eldest son was named Three-Eyed Bhikṣu. He wanted to raise an army and avenge his father. His mother, Lady Ye, tried to stop him, saying, “I am pregnant now and cannot send troops to avenge him at once. If Heaven looks kindly on us and I give birth to a boy, you will have another brother, and then you can avenge your father. If the child is not a boy, we will have to bear this patiently and make other plans.” Mother and son discussed the matter, but for now, let us leave them there.

Behind Spirit Bird Mountain, there was a cave where a Cave King lived. His name was Great King Solitary Fire. He muttered to himself, “The present-day World-Honored One, the Tathagata, was once practicing austerities in the Snow Mountains. He came to my Spirit Mountain, saw its hazy green peaks and deep, clear waters, and asked to borrow a place to live. We drew up a written agreement stating that he would return it after one year. When the year was up, I went to see him, but he said I had agreed to let him stay for ten years. I was angry and told him to show me the agreement. Sure enough, it said ‘ten,’ so I had to let him stay for ten years. When those ten years were over, I went to claim the place again, but he said I had written that he could stay for a thousand years. I told him to show me the agreement once more, and sure enough, there was the character ‘thousand.’ I wanted to make a scene, but his Buddhist powers were formidable, and I could not get the place back from him. So I let him stay, right up to this day.

“Now Spirit Mountain is thriving, and the Ten Great Disciples are preaching the scriptures and teaching the Dharma. I have heard that if insects hear scriptures and mantras, they can be reborn as human beings. Offerings are served at Spirit Mountain morning and evening, and after the preaching there is a meal. I’m going to listen to the scriptures, too. If he treats me well, that will be the end of it. But if he snubs me, I’ll make a fuss, release the fire inside me, and burn Spirit Mountain to the ground. Why shouldn’t I?”

One day, the Tathagata began to preach, and all the disciples were gathered in the Dharma Hall.

When the Tathagata’s teaching assembly began, his disciples were listening to the Jing in the Dharma Hall. He had spoken only a few lines when the Fire-Demon King arrived at the hall, bowed deeply to the Tathagata, and greeted him. The Tathagata rose to return the greeting, invited him to sit, and asked, “Great King, what brings you here this time? Is there something you wish to teach us?”

The Fire-Demon King replied, “I have heard that the Tathagata gladly offers a vegetarian feast as alms. I have come especially to listen to the teaching, and I would also like a meal.” The Tathagata agreed and instructed his disciples, “When today’s feast is over, prepare some food to welcome the Fire-Demon King.” A disciple answered, “Today’s meal has already been arranged, and there is nothing extra. Master, you could ask him to return early tomorrow morning, and we will prepare another table for him.”

The Tathagata relayed this to the Fire-Demon King. The King was furious, but then noticed a table of leftover food nearby with no one seated at it. “I’ll eat at this table,” he said. “Whoever says I shouldn’t is my enemy.”

Just then, the Peacock Youth came bearing tea for the Tathagata and the assembled arhats. Seeing the Fire-Demon King seated in his place and eating his food, he cried out angrily, “Why are you sitting in my place and eating my meal?” In his fury, he splashed the scalding tea in his hands onto the Fire-Demon King’s face. The King grew even angrier and unleashed a fierce blaze, burning the Peacock Youth to the ground as he cried out in pain.

The Tathagata hurriedly urged him, “Do not take offense at him.” But the Fire-Demon would not listen, and the flames grew fiercer and fiercer. The Tathagata quickly recited the Cooling Incantation, a spell for quenching heat and fire, and revived the Peacock Youth with sweet-dew water. The Fire-Demon King remained resentful. Enraged that the Tathagata had brought the youth back to life, he prepared to set Mount Ling on fire. The Tathagata perceived this with his wisdom eye and at once recited an incantation, summoning five hundred counterflow dragons. They raised a dense fog that enveloped Mount Ling, preventing the flames from spreading.

The Single Flame Demon discovered that his fire had not ignited and grew furious. He charged around the temple, insulting everyone. Miaojixiang tried to reason with him: “We Buddhist disciples are hardly any wiser than you. You should leave.”

The Great King of Single Flame said, “You’ve stirred up such anger in me that I’ll burn even your dog’s bones to ashes!” Miaojixiang laughed. “Your fire can burn others, but it can’t burn me. If you really could set me alight, then you’d have something to boast about.”

The Great King grew angry and unleashed five dou of fire against Miaojixiang. But Miaojixiang remained calm and laughed. “You monster, how could your fire burn me? I was once an oil lamp before the Buddha’s Dharma Hall, shining day and night as I listened to the Buddhist teachings. One day, after the lamp soot had accumulated, the Buddha chanted a spell, and the spell transformed me into human form. Fire is my very nature; I have spiritual awareness, hearing, and the power to generate life. How could you burn me? If you keep coming to Mount Ling every day to cause trouble and disturb the peace, I’ll have no choice but to summon the Samādhi Fire—a divine fire gained through cultivation that can incinerate demons—and burn you to death before you become a menace.”

The Buddha saw what was happening with his wisdom eye and was about to call them to a halt, but Miaojixiang had already burned the Single Flame Demon to death. The Buddha was furious. He ordered Miaojixiang seized and rebuked him: “You beast! How dare you break my precepts? Although he was not a monk, you and I are both monks and should always be compassionate. Why did you burn him to death? Buddhism cannot tolerate such conduct. I banish you to Mount Yin to serve your punishment.”

Miaojixiang hurriedly begged for mercy.

The Venerable Mother Guanyin (Guanyin) interceded for Miaojixiang, saying, “Although Miaojixiang is guilty, he is a disciple of Vulture Peak and should not be banished to Yin Mountain. In the days when the King of Mount Ma’er was alive, he once went to Vulture Peak to pray for a child. Now the queen is pregnant. Why not let Miaojixiang be reborn in her womb? After he has endured his trials and grown to adulthood, he can be brought back to Vulture Peak to serve his master. What could be wrong with that?” The Tathagata accepted her proposal and was about to send Miaojixiang to be reborn.

With tears in his eyes, Miaojixiang said, “My master commands me to be reborn, but I do not know divine powers or magic arts. I fear others will bully me in the future.” Seated on his throne, the Tathagata recited a spell and said, “I grant you five powers. First, the power of Heaven, which lets you move freely through the heavens; second, the power of Earth, which makes the ground split open of its own accord; third, the power of Wind, which lets you conceal yourself in the wind; fourth, the power of Water, which lets you travel freely through water; and fifth, the power of Fire, which lets you move at ease through flames.” Then the Tathagata touched the crown of Miaojixiang’s head with a ritual hand gesture and said, “I also grant you a celestial eye, with which you can see the Three Realms—the heavens, the human world, and the underworld.” He then had the Venerable Mother Guanyin send Miaojixiang to be reborn.

Meanwhile, one night the Queen of Mount Ma’er was burning incense before the hall when she suddenly saw a flame bearing the five powers drift down from midair and enter her body. She felt slightly unwell, and a faint pain stirred in her belly. When she returned to her room, she gave birth to a son, who also had three eyes. She said to her eldest son, Bhikshu, “Fortunately, this child has been born, and he too has three eyes. When he grows up, he will be able to avenge your father.” Mother and son were overjoyed and named the child Three-Eyed Lingguang.

Meanwhile, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Tieji, could not bear to part with the pearl he had set his heart on. Seeing that the mother and son on Mount Ma’er were safe and well, he held his position and refused to advance. In the end, he had no choice but to withdraw his troops. When he heard that the Queen of Mount Ma’er…

The East Sea Dragon King Tieji was obsessed with the pearl and refused to give up. Since the mother and sons of Ma’er Mountain were safe and holding their ground there, he had no way to deal with them for the moment and had to withdraw his troops. When he heard that the Lady of Ma’er Mountain had just given birth, he once again mobilized his aquatic troops to attack the mountain. He wanted both to recover the pearl and to seize the Lady and take her to the Dragon Palace as his wife. Leading thirty thousand aquatic soldiers and officers, he came to the foot of the mountain, repeatedly shouted challenges, and surrounded Ma’er Mountain.

The Lady of Ma’er Mountain was seated when someone reported that the Dragon King had again brought troops to the mountain and was hurling insults. Startled, she called out her eldest son, Three-Eyed Monk Biqiu, and said to him, “Your father was killed earlier by a rebel, and his death has not yet been avenged. I never expected this villain to remain so greedy and bring troops to attack us again. What should we do?” Biqiu replied, “Mother, please be at ease. Since ancient times, people have said that when enemy troops come, a general must meet them, and when water comes, earth must hold it back. I will lead our troops out to fight and capture this villain to avenge my father.” With that, he took leave of his mother and went out of the city.

The younger son, Lingguang, had been born only three days earlier, yet could already speak. He came to his mother and said, “I want to watch my elder brother fight the Dragon King. If my brother loses, I’ll kill the Dragon King.” His mother objected, but Lingguang would not heed her warning. Taking his attendants with him, he went out to watch the battle.

At that moment, the Dragon King was fighting Biqiu and routed him. Biqiu retreated into the city. When Three-Eyed Lingguang saw this, he immediately set out to kill the Dragon King. The others refused to accompany him, so he knocked his attendants to the ground and charged alone into battle against the Dragon King. After they exchanged names, they fought fewer than ten rounds before Lingguang struck the Dragon King from his horse with a single slash. The aquatic soldiers fled in disorder back to the Dragon Palace.

Biqiu returned to the city and told his mother of his defeat. Mother and son were deeply troubled. One of his men came to report, “The young master saw that the elder master had been defeated. He knocked down our men and went to fight the Dragon King. We don’t know what has happened to him.” The lady heard this and burst into tears. Just then, someone came to report that the young master had slain the Dragon King and brought back his head. His mother was overjoyed. “Your father’s spirit in heaven must have protected you, so that you could avenge him. Now that you have rid us of this enemy, our family can live in peace.” She immediately hung the Dragon King’s head up for all to see.

Prince Lingguang knelt before his mother and said, “I have heard that there are many famous mountains in this region. I would like to take my leave and go explore them.” His mother cautioned him, “You may go, but I fear you might get into trouble. I’ll send an old family servant to accompany you. Come back soon to study, so I won’t have to wait for you by the gate.” After taking leave of his mother, Lingguang happily set off on his outing.

He had gone only a few miles when he heard the sound of bells. He asked the old servant, “What place is making the bells we hear ahead?” The servant replied, “That is Lingxu Hall, the Heavenly Palace where the Three Officials bestow blessings, and the residence of the Great Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole.” Hearing this, the prince went to Lingxu Hall to look around.

At that time, the Great Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole had gone to court to pay homage to the Jade Emperor and had not yet returned. He had simply instructed the Immortal Officials in Red Robes and the Immortal Officials in Feathered Robes to guard Lingxu Hall.

Suddenly, the young lord entered and paid his respects. He said that he was the young prince of Horse-Ear Mountain and had come especially to visit the Great Emperor and take in the scenery. The two immortal officials said, “If you are indeed the young lord from Horse-Ear Mountain, we will prepare a vegetarian meal to welcome you. But whatever you do, do not go to the rear hall.” With that, the two officials went into the side room to prepare the meal.

Three-Eyed Lingguang then made his way to the rear hall. The doors were shut, and a seal had been pasted across them, so he opened the doors and went inside. He saw two demon spirits imprisoned in the hall. They were in fact the Fire Pearl spirits from the eighty-one prefectures of Jiangnan, and they recognized Young Lord Lingguang at once. The two spirits cried out, “Young lord, please come and save us! We will never forget your kindness!”

Lingguang said, “There’s no one guarding this place. Why don’t you escape on your own? Why ask me to save you?” The two spirits replied, “This golden spear can subdue demons and bind ghosts. He used it to imprison us here. If you pull out the spear pinning us down, we’ll be able to escape. Take it with you; it will come in handy someday.”

After hearing this, Lingguang pulled out the golden spear. The two spirits thanked him and fled. From then on, they roamed far and wide, harming the people. Lingguang secretly kept the spear in his hand.

Lingguang took the Golden Spear in his hands and ran off before the vegetarian banquet had ended. Hearing a commotion from the rear hall, the two immortal officials hurried over to investigate. They found that the young master and the little demon had vanished, and the Golden Spear had been stolen. As they stood fretting over what to do, the Great Emperor suddenly descended from the sky and demanded, “How did those two monsters escape?” The two officials wept as they reported what had happened.

The Great Emperor flew into a rage. “That little brute dares to behave so outrageously, stealing my Golden Spear and letting two demons get away! I’ll turn the Yin-Yang Dou, the ritual vessel that brings Yin and Yang together, around, and transform my Nine-Bend Pearl, a magical treasure used to trap people, into Horse-Ear Mountain. If he hides inside the pearl, he can give me back the Golden Spear. If he refuses, I’ll leave him trapped in there until he dies.”

Fearing the Great Emperor would come after him, Lingguang first told the old retainer to take the Golden Spear home. The Great Emperor gave a mighty shout, forbidding Lingguang to escape. Lingguang had no choice but to enter the pearl. What happens next? Listen to the next installment.

Lingguang is born in the Bull-Fight Palace.

Lingguang was on his way when the Great Emperor Ziwei used the Nine-Bend Pearl technique—a spell that traps its victim inside a nine-curved pearl—to transport him to the Hall of Lingxu and bring him before him. The Great Emperor rebuked him: “You beast! How dare you act so brazenly, steal my golden spear, and let two demons escape? Return the spear at once, and I will spare you. Otherwise, before long, you will die inside the pearl.”

Lingguang replied, “When have I ever seen your golden spear?” The Great Emperor said, “You had your family take it home. How dare you still try to deceive me?” Lingguang denied it again and again. Enraged, the Great Emperor recited a spell, trapping Lingguang inside the Nine-Bend Pearl. Then he cast it into the air. Lingguang drifted and swayed, with nowhere to turn for support.

At that time, the Great Benevolent and Compassionate Wondrous Joy Celestial Worthy of the Eight Views Palace was sitting in meditation. Suddenly, he saw a cluster of spiritual light darting about in midair, unrestrained and free. He thought, “I might as well summon this light and send it to the Red-Bearded Flame-Mystery Heavenly King of the Douniu Palace to be reborn.” He reached out and beckoned, drew the spiritual light into his sleeve, and departed.

King Yanxuan was seated in his hall when someone suddenly came to announce that the Celestial Venerable had arrived. The king went out to welcome him, and after they had exchanged bows, the Celestial Venerable said, “I have come to your home today for one purpose: to deliver a noble child for rebirth. The ancient books record the signs by which he can be recognized.”

The king asked, “How can I know that this child is the one you have sent?”

The Celestial Venerable replied, “The princess will give birth shortly. If the child is a boy, with the character ‘Ling’ on his left palm, the character ‘Yao’ on his right palm, and three eyes, then he is the one I have sent. If he does not bear all three signs, then he is not.”

As soon as he had finished speaking, someone came to report that the princess had given birth to a boy. Sure enough, he bore all three signs. The king was overjoyed. He bowed to thank the Celestial Venerable and asked him to name the child. “Call him Three-Eyed Lingyao,” said the Celestial Venerable. “When he is grown, I will come and take him as my disciple.” The king was delighted and saw the Celestial Venerable off.

Time passed quickly, and Lingyao grew bigger by the day. The Celestial Venerable returned to the Palace of the Dipper and the Ox and brought Lingyao there to take him as a disciple. After receiving the Celestial Venerable, the Heavenly King heard that he wanted to take his son as a disciple and was delighted. He called Lingyao out to pay his respects and become the Celestial Venerable’s student.

Following his father’s wishes, Lingyao bade farewell to his parents and went with the Celestial Venerable to the Eight Views Palace. The Celestial Venerable taught him the eighteen martial arts and various transformation techniques, and also gave him the “Five-Day Fire-Invoking Elixir,” a pill from Daoist legend. When the Celestial Venerable went to visit the Five Emperors, he wanted to see how well Lingyao had learned, so he entrusted the key to the Golden Knife to the Golden Knife attendant for safekeeping.

After the Celestial Venerable went down the mountain, Lingyao asked the attendant, “What did my master tell you in the cave?” The attendant replied, “I won’t tell you.” Lingyao pressed him again and again, until at last the attendant said, “My master told me to guard the Golden Knife and not let you know about it.” Lingyao wanted to see the knife, but the attendant firmly refused. So Lingyao thought, “If he won’t let me see it, I’ll have to turn myself into my master.” He recited an incantation and took on the Celestial Venerable’s appearance, then came out and told the attendant, “Bring me the Golden Knife. I’m taking it to the Celestial Court to attend the Lingbao Assembly, a Daoist rite held in heaven.” The attendant did not recognize Lingyao and thought he was the master, so he took out the Golden Knife and handed it to him. After fooling the attendant, Lingyao used a torch to melt the Golden Knife into a triangular gold brick and hid it on his person.

One day, the Celestial Venerable returned. The attendant asked, “You took the knife to the assembly. Why didn’t you bring it back?” The Celestial Venerable said, “When did I ever come back to take the knife?” The attendant hurriedly reported to him: …

One day, after the Celestial Worthy returned, a young attendant asked him, “When you went to the gathering, you took a knife. Why didn’t you bring it back?”

“When did I ever return to fetch a knife?” the Celestial Worthy replied.

The attendant quickly said, “If it wasn’t you, Master, then it must have been Lingyao.”

“How do you know?” asked the Celestial Worthy.

“Three days ago, Lingyao asked to borrow my knife so he could look at it, but I refused to give it to him. I suppose he transformed himself into your likeness and tricked me into handing it over.”

“Since that’s the case, call him here so we can question him,” said the Celestial Worthy. The attendant summoned Lingyao to appear before his master. Under questioning, Lingyao had no choice but to explain everything. “I transformed the knife into a gold brick so it would be easier to store and use. When the Heavenly Court holds its contest of treasures, I hoped to give it to you so you could take it to the gathering.”

The Celestial Worthy did not pursue the matter. He simply cautioned Lingyao, “This treasure can transform in countless ways and can aid you in battle. Keep it safely, and do not lose it.” After giving these instructions, everyone dispersed.

Meanwhile, the Jade Emperor was seated in his hall when the Western Taibai Jinxing, a star deity often sent to report matters to the Jade Emperor, presented a memorial: “Two demons have now descended from the Upper Realm. They are called Fengzhitao and Huozhitao, and style themselves the Wind and Fire Judges. They are causing havoc at Flying Curtain Cave in the Middle Realm, devouring people without end. I ask Your Majesty to dispatch heavenly generals at once to subdue them, lest the people suffer.”

The Jade Emperor was greatly alarmed. He immediately consulted the assembled Perfected Ones about whom to send to lead the troops and capture the two demons. His ministers replied, “The Three-Eyed Lingyao is a disciple of the Buddhist school. He has undergone several reincarnations and now studies under the Celestial Worthy Chaole. His powers are vast, and he is fit for this task.”

The Jade Emperor at once issued an order for Lingyao to lead five thousand heavenly soldiers to the Middle Realm and capture the two demons. Lingyao accepted the order, assembled the troops, and took his leave of his master. He then returned to Mount Ma’er to visit his mother and elder brother, and retrieved the golden spear that had been stolen, so he would have it ready for use.

The Lady was overjoyed to see her son return. “Where did you go before?” she said. “I never knew where you were, and only today have you come back.”

“Your son was unworthy,” Lingyao replied. “I left my mother and elder brother behind and failed to care for them. I beg you to forgive my offense of being unfilial. Now I have been reborn once more in the Palace of the Dipper and Ox in the Celestial Court, where I was given the name Lingyao.”

The Lady said, “Now that you have come here, I can see you every day. I need worry about you no longer.”

“Though your son was unfilial,” Lingyao said, “I have now received a heavenly command to lead troops to the Middle Realm and subdue the demons.”

The Lady asked, “Why have you come back this time?”

“Your son came to visit you,” Lingyao replied, “and also hopes to reclaim the golden spear I stole long ago, so I can fight with it. If I win, I will return at once and serve you as I should.”

After hearing this, the Lady had someone fetch the golden spear and give it to Lingyao. Mother and son took their leave of each other, and Lingyao departed.

The two Fenghuo Judges, divine generals who commanded the powers of wind and fire, were drinking and making merry inside Flying Curtain Cave when someone suddenly came to report: the Celestial Court had dispatched the Three-Eyed Lingyao with five thousand heavenly soldiers to challenge them, and their cave entrance was already surrounded. The two Judges were enraged. They mustered the cave’s lesser demons and charged out to meet the enemy.

The two sides fought fiercely. The Judges chanted an incantation and, riding wind and fire wheels, unleashed a violent assault of wind and fire against Lingyao. Lingyao breathed out Samadhi True Fire, the divine fire of Daoist and Buddhist legend, suppressing their flames. He then sent out his triangular golden bricks, routing the two Judges. They fled back into the cave, slammed the entrance shut, and refused to come out again.

Lingyao thought, “If they keep refusing to come out, how can I win?” He devised a plan. “I could transform into a Jade Maiden of the Celestial Bureau, turn my fire pills into two immortal peaches, and enter their cave. I’ll say I’m a Jade Maiden attending the Queen Mother of the West, that I heard the drums and gongs thundering below and wanted to watch the battle, but in my haste took a wrong turn and blundered into their cave. Then I’ll trick them into eating the peaches. Whoever eats one will be invigorated, with powers as strong as in their youth. Once they’ve eaten them, I’ll make them burst into flames. Wouldn’t that let me win?”

The Wind and Fire Judges fled back to their cave, deeply troubled. They ordered the lesser demons inside to guard the entrance carefully and not let it fall. As soon as they had finished speaking, someone suddenly came to report that a woman was at the cave entrance. The two demons told her to come in. The Jade Maiden stepped forward and recounted what had happened.

Seeing that she had brought immortal peaches, the two demons were delighted. “Give us the peaches to eat,” they said. “If you do, we won’t eat you, and we’ll let you go home. Otherwise, we’ll eat you too.” The Jade Maiden pretended to refuse. The two demons then had the lesser demons snatch the peaches from her, and each put one in his mouth. Just as they were about to bite down, the peaches rolled straight into their bellies. The two demons were astonished. The Jade Maiden immediately revealed her true form and shouted, “You two villains have eaten my Fire Elixir. Surrender at once!”

The demons recognized her as Lingyao and were about to flee, but Lingyao had already begun chanting an incantation. The Fire Elixir took effect at once, burning the two demons until they collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain. Lingyao then escorted them back to the Celestial Bureau, seized their two magical treasures—the Wind Wheel and the Fire Wheel—and led her victorious troops back to the Celestial Bureau.

After the Jade Emperor had taken his seat in the hall, Lingyao brought two demons before him and reported what had happened. The Jade Emperor was delighted and had the two demons imprisoned in Fengdu, the underworld of Daoist legend. He then appointed Lingyao Grand Marshal of the Armies of the Fire Department.

Before Lingyao had finished offering his thanks, Deng Hua, the Solar Officer among the assembled officials, stepped forward and said, “Lingyao has performed only this small service, yet Your Majesty has appointed him marshal. I fear the other ministers will not accept it. Your Majesty could issue an order for Lingyao to compete with me. If he defeats me, he may take the post; if he proves inferior, he cannot hold so important an office.”

The Jade Emperor accepted his suggestion and immediately ordered Lingyao and Deng Hua to compete. The two received the order, left the hall, and fought. In fewer than ten exchanges, Lingyao seized Deng Hua, who was left with a face full of shame. Lingyao let him go, then returned to court and reported Deng Hua’s defeat. The Jade Emperor was delighted and appointed Lingyao Grand Marshal of the Armies of the Fire Department once again. What happens next will be told in the next installment.

Lingyao bestows the title of Bright Assistant upon the Dragon-Gathering Assembly.

The next day, the assembled Perfected Lords went to court and submitted a petition to the Jade Emperor: “Every year, on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, the Dragon-Summoning Assembly is held. The Dragon Kings from the palaces of the Nine Rivers, Eight Streams, Five Lakes, and Four Seas are all invited to attend and discuss bringing rain to relieve drought and protecting the crops. The time for this year’s assembly has come again. We ask Your Majesty to issue an edict summoning the Dragon Kings to attend, so the gathering will not be delayed.”

The Jade Emperor approved the petition and immediately issued the edict. He then asked, “Who can serve as the assisting officer at this assembly, helping the presiding official?” His ministers replied that they considered the Great Marshal of the Fire Department’s troops the best choice. The Jade Emperor accepted their recommendation and summoned Lingyao to the palace hall. Lingyao entered, bowed, and cried, “Long live Your Majesty!” The Jade Emperor said to him, “I see that you are loyal and upright, and exceptionally brave. The ministers have also recommended you to serve as assisting officer. Apply yourself to this duty on my behalf.” Lingyao gave thanks for the favor and withdrew from court.

The Old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea received the Jade Emperor’s command to attend a gathering on governing the rain. He was deeply troubled and sighed, “I am old now. How could I possibly make the journey? And even if I reached the gathering, it would be awkward to bow to the other Dragon Kings. What should I do?”

At that moment, his son, Crown Prince Ironhead, was standing nearby. Hearing his father’s words, he stepped forward and said, “Father, there is no need to worry. Since ancient times, sons have been able to take care of matters on behalf of their aged fathers. You are too old to go, and as your son, I am willing to go in your place. Would that be acceptable?”

The Old Dragon King replied, “That would be fine. But you have a fondness for drink. If you drink too much at the gathering, you may neglect the business at hand. Thinking of that, I still cannot put my mind at ease.”

The Crown Prince said, “Today I swear that from this moment on, if I indulge in drink again and disobey your instructions, may my four limbs be unable to return home.”

The Old Dragon King said, “With such resolve, my son, I can rest easy. At the gathering, everyone you meet will be your uncles and elder brothers. You must be humble and courteous, and treat no one with disrespect.”

The Crown Prince accepted his father’s instructions and set out from the Dragon Palace. He spent the night on the road and continued at dawn. When he reached a village, he saw an inn. He thought, “Father told me not to drink, but whenever I see the character ‘wine’ on an inn’s sign, I can’t resist wanting a drink. How can I possibly hold out? I might as well go in and have a few cups, so I won’t keep thinking about it.”

He went into the inn and told the attendant to bring him wine. Then he drank while singing.

After several jugs of wine, he took out a mace of gold dust to pay for the wine, left the tavern, and went to the Gate of Heaven. He entered the Southern Heaven’s Precious Virtue Pass, then proceeded to the assembly hall to meet the Dragon Kings.

Mingfu, the official appointed by the Jade Emperor to preside over the banquet, took his seat in the hall. The Dragon Kings came forward one by one to pay their respects. Mingfu said, “By order of the Jade Emperor, I have been appointed Mingfu to host this banquet for you all. While drinking, do not behave rashly, leave your seats, wander about, or change places without permission. And when drunk, do not speak carelessly. Anyone who disobeys will be expelled from the Gate of Heaven, demoted, and dismissed from service. I will first offer each of you a toast. Then you may take your places at the banquet in order.”

Prince Iron Head thought to himself, “This is imperial wine, served only once a year. A chance like this is rare; I should drink several cups.” He drank dozens in succession, soon became insensible with drink, and made a scene. “Mingfu, you’re terribly unfair! In past years, when my father came, he sat in the place of honor and was the first to be toasted. This year I’ve come, yet I’m seated off to the side, and no one has toasted me. What kind of treatment is that? It’s completely unfair!”

Hearing this, Lingyao replied, “In past years, your father attended the banquet. He was your elder. This year you have come in his place, so among everyone here you should rightfully take the last place. What do you mean by accusing me of unfairness? As Mingfu, how could I favor anyone? You are drunk, which is why you’re saying these insulting things to me.” Enraged, he drove Prince Iron Head out through the Southern Heaven’s Precious Virtue Pass.

Then Lingyao addressed the Dragon Kings: “Today’s affair has nothing to do with you. Each of you should follow your orders and return to your own domain. Guard it well, and do not violate the laws, or you will incur punishment.” The Dragon Kings all agreed, then departed together.

The crown prince was pushed down from the Southern Heaven’s Baode Pass by Mingfu. His face burning with shame, he thought he could not return to the Dragon Palace and face his father. He transformed himself into a giant carp two zhang long and swam in the river at Yangzhou, churning the water and raising waves. Suddenly the tide receded, leaving him stranded on a sandbar with no way to move forward or back.

Just then, a group of woodcutters returning from gathering firewood saw the giant carp trapped on the sandbar. They put down their axes, called over the others, and together began cutting away its flesh. The crown prince was in unbearable pain. Tears filled his eyes, and he thrashed about, trampling the people to death.

The crown prince then hurried back to the Dragon Palace, his face streaked with tears. Weeping, he told his father, “I disobeyed your command and caused trouble at the Fenlong gathering after getting drunk, so I did not dare return to face you. I transformed into a carp and went swimming in Yangzhou. I never expected the river to recede, leaving me unable to escape. The people of Yangzhou cut away all the flesh from my body. I fear I may not survive. I beg you, Father King, for the sake of the bond between father and son, to avenge me.” As soon as he finished speaking, he died.

The old Dragon King wept bitterly. He assembled the shrimp spirits, turtle generals, and the aquatic troops, then raised great waves and attacked Yangzhou. The people of Yangzhou were consequently struck by floods and suffered terribly.

In Yangzhou there was a local earth deity, an image of the Holy Mother Houtu. She saw that the floodwaters had reached the front of her temple. The local people streamed there, walking and bowing as they went, until they reached the temple. They prayed for the Holy Mother to manifest her power and drive back the flood.

The Holy Mother was deeply alarmed and immediately went up to Heaven to report the matter. When she entered the Heavenly Gate, the Jade Emperor had already taken his seat in the court, and the officials had finished paying their respects. The Holy Mother Houtu of Yangzhou prostrated herself before the throne and reported that the Old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea had raised the waters and drowned the people. The Jade Emperor approved her request and said, “Return first. I will issue an order at once, sending the Four Earth Star Lords—the celestial star lords who govern the Earth phase—to lead the heavenly troops down to the human world and drive back the flood.”

The Four Earth Star Lords received the order and set out. When they reached the human world, they saw the Old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea raising the waters. They piled up earth to block the waves, routed the Old Dragon King, and drove him back to his Dragon Palace. The Four Earth Star Lords then brought their victorious troops to pay a visit to the Holy Mother Houtu. She served them tea and said, “Some days ago, the floodwaters reached the front of my temple. Before it stands a jade tree, a rare and precious tree, which had never bloomed. Now, after being submerged by the flood, it has produced a jade blossom. Its fragrance is extraordinary: it rises to the Thirty-Three Heavens and reaches down to the Five Lakes and Four Seas, so that all three realms can smell it. I would like to present the flower to the Jade Emperor, but I do not know whether that would be appropriate.” The Four Earth Star Lords replied, “If the flower is so rare and precious, surpassing many treasures, why should there be any objection to presenting it to the Jade Emperor?” With that, they took their leave. Let us set this matter aside for now and hear what the next volume has to say.

Volume Two: Lingyao Causes Uproar at the Jade Blossom Gathering

The Jade Emperor took his seat in the court, and the assembled officials had finished paying their respects when a report suddenly arrived: the Holy Mother of Yangzhou and the Four Earth Star Lords had driven back the flood and were returning to Heaven with their victorious troops. The Five Emperors were delighted and rewarded the Star Lords with two…

After the Jade Emperor had taken his seat in the palace hall and the assembled officials had finished paying their respects, someone suddenly reported that the Holy Mother of Yangzhou and the four Saturn Lords had ended the flooding and were leading their victorious troops back to court. The Five Emperors were delighted and rewarded the Saturn Lords.

The Holy Mother of Yangzhou then made another report: “Before my temple stands a qiong tree—a precious jade tree of legend—that has never blossomed. It was submerged in the flood, but now that the waters have receded, a single qiong flower has suddenly appeared on its branches. Its fragrance has spread throughout the Three Realms. I would not dare conceal this, so I have brought it specially to present to Your Majesty.”

The Jade Emperor was overjoyed. He rewarded the Holy Mother of Yangzhou with golden flowers and imperial wine, then said to the assembled officials, “This flower is truly extraordinary. Today I shall hold a banquet and name it the ‘Qiong Flower Gathering.’ Among the civil and military officials, anyone who has rendered meritorious service may wear this flower to the banquet and drink three cups of wine. Those without merit must not claim credit falsely or presume to ask for a reward.” The Jade Emperor then appointed the Golden Spear Crown Prince to preside over the banquet.

The Golden Spear Crown Prince accepted the decree and summoned the officials. They arrived at the banquet in turn. The Crown Prince announced the decree: “By order of my royal father, I have been appointed to preside over this banquet…”

The Crown Prince received the decree and summoned the officials, who arrived one after another. He conveyed the king’s order: “My father has asked me to host a banquet and has specially arranged a Qionghua Banquet, where Qionghua flowers are awarded as prizes. I have summoned you all. Whoever has rendered meritorious service may wear one of these flowers and drink the imperial wine.”

The Crown Prince asked the ministers one by one, but they all said they had rendered no meritorious service and did not dare accept the reward. When it was Lingyao’s turn, he too claimed to have done nothing worthy. Seeing that none of the ministers would accept the Qionghua flowers or the imperial wine, the Crown Prince put a flower in his own hair and drank several cups of wine.

When Lingyao saw the Crown Prince wearing a flower and drinking, he grew angry and said, “You are hosting the banquet. His Majesty told you to encourage others with rewards, so why are you wearing a flower and drinking yourself? Are you trying to encourage yourself?” The Crown Prince replied, “The ministers all said they had rendered no meritorious service, so I put on the flower myself. What is wrong with that?” Lingyao said, “I have rendered meritorious service. That flower should be given to me.” The Crown Prince asked what service he had performed. Lingyao said, “I subdued the two Judge Officials of Wind and Fire. Doesn’t that count as merit?” Before he had finished speaking, he snatched the Qionghua flower and put it in his hair, then picked up the imperial wine and drank three cups in a row.

The Crown Prince cursed him: “You reckless brute! How dare you act so boldly and deceive His Majesty!” Lingyao did not answer. He swung his golden spear and lashed the Crown Prince. Unable to defeat Lingyao, the Crown Prince left when the officials stepped in to calm things down.

After disrupting the Qionghua Banquet, Lingyao declared himself the Heavenly King Huaguang. He thought, “In a moment of anger, I struck the Crown Prince. If this is reported to the Jade Emperor, I will surely be punished. What should I do? I’d better pretend to be drunk.” The officials were greatly shocked, then went their separate ways.

The Crown Prince came to court, where the Jade Emperor was receiving the officials in the hall. Weeping, the Crown Prince reported, “Your son was appointed by Your Majesty to preside over the banquet, but Lingyao defied the imperial command and caused trouble at the Qionghua Gathering. He also beat your son to a pulp and called himself the Heavenly King Huaguang. I ask Your Majesty to judge the matter on your son’s behalf.”

The Jade Emperor was furious. He immediately ordered Lingyao brought into the hall and asked, “You are a subject, and the Crown Prince is your sovereign. How dare you do such a thing?” Lingyao replied, “I am only a servant, while the Crown Prince is my master. How could I dare strike him? He beat me, and I was too afraid to fight back. If Your Majesty does not believe me, ask the assembled officials and the facts will be clear.”

The Jade Emperor questioned the officials present. They all said the two had not come to blows; they had only hurt each other with words. The Jade Emperor said, “Even if Lingyao did not strike him, he should not have insulted My Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, too, is guilty of claiming credit that was not his. How dare you do such a thing! Had the officials not explained what happened, you would surely have been put to death. Since they have testified on your behalf, I will spare your life. But you are stripped of your former post and demoted to serve as a wandering spirit at the Mao Ri Palace, where you will await a chance to atone through future merit.”

Huaguang had no choice but to thank the Jade Emperor for his mercy. He left the palace gates and went to the Mao Ri Palace to pay his respects to Deng Hua. There is no need to recount the officials’ departure from court.

Deng Hua of the Mao Sun Palace was delighted to learn that Lingyao, because of the great disturbance he had caused at the Qionghua Assembly, had been stripped of his office by the Jade Emperor and demoted to serve under him as a roving deity. He thought: Lingyao was once my enemy, and now he must obey my orders. So he instructed his subordinates: when Lingyao comes to pay his respects, first give him forty strokes of the “authority-establishing rod,” and do not let him off lightly.

Just after he had given these instructions, Huaguang suddenly arrived. Deng Hua invited him in, and after the two had exchanged salutes, Deng Hua pretended to know nothing, asked why Huaguang had come, and mocked his unkempt attire and questioned what achievements he had. Huaguang recounted how he had caused trouble at the Qionghua Assembly and beaten the Crown Prince. Hearing this, Deng Hua flew into a rage, put on the airs of a superior, and said, “In that case, I have authority over you. Why do you not kneel?” Huaguang had no choice but to kneel. Deng Hua immediately ordered men to seize him and prepared to give him forty strokes of the authority-establishing rod.

Huaguang said, “I have committed no crime, so why beat me as soon as I arrive? If you deal with me unjustly, you cannot beat me.” Deng Hua replied, “Since you say you have committed no crime, I will handle this according to the rules. From now on, every day when I call the roll in the main hall, you must come to the hall to answer the roll; if you are late or absent, you will receive forty strokes. You must also follow the sun in its course; if you are not present, you will likewise receive forty strokes.”

Huaguang had no choice but to accept the order and return to his dwelling. He thought to himself: “That fellow Deng Hua is deliberately making things hard for me. I had better think of a way: I will transform an emanation to follow the sun, while my true body goes to the hall to answer the roll call. Then let us see what else he can do to me.”

The one under Deng Hua assigned to follow Huaguang was a golden rooster. Deng Hua ordered the golden rooster to keep a close watch on Huaguang and report immediately if Huaguang was ever absent. Unexpectedly, Huaguang exercised his divine powers and created an emanation, so he never missed a roll call.

Seeing that Huaguang had never once been absent, the golden rooster wanted to find an opportunity to harm him and said to Huaguang, “I have to go home today to see my mother, so I will not come today. You may go to the general to hear the roll call, or you may follow the sun—either way.” Huaguang thought to himself: “This fellow is trying to trick me. How can I keep enduring Deng Hua’s bullying? There will be no end to this. I might as well write a few seditious lines on the Mao register—the roll-call ledger—leave the heavenly realm and go down to the middle realm, and then make further plans.” So he picked up his brush and wrote: “】【。”

Hua Guang sighed inwardly: “I can only blame my bad fortune. Nothing goes smoothly for me, and now I am trapped in the heavenly net. The roll of names makes it perfectly clear: it says that Hua Guang opposes the Sun Palace.”

After inscribing his poem, Hua Guang left. When the Golden Rooster returned and could not find him, it hurried to report this to Deng Hua. Deng Hua ordered the roll of names brought to him. Seeing the four lines of rebellious verse written there, he flew into a rage, assembled all the troops under his command, and set out to capture Hua Guang.

Hua Guang was about to leave the Southern Heaven’s Baode Pass when he met Deng Hua coming toward him. Deng Hua cursed him: “You wretch! You deserved to die for your crimes, but the Jade Emperor spared your life and ordered you to serve under my command, awaiting your assignments. Yet you have shown no remorse. You even dared to write rebellious verse. Where do you think you can run? Surrender quietly and I may let you live. If you resist, you will die at once!”

Hua Guang replied: “You wretch! You have held on to your old grudge all along. You expect me both to follow your orders and to follow the sun, making things difficult for me at every turn. If I do not resist, I will end up in your hands.”

Deng Hua raised his blade and struck. Hua Guang fought with all his might. Unable to hold his ground, Deng Hua turned his horse and fled, intending to report the matter to the Jade Emperor. After driving Deng Hua back, Hua Guang descended to the mortal realm. Ahead, he saw a famous mountain. On inquiry, he learned it was Zhaozhen Mountain, home of Hongyu Temple, where the Flame King Bright Light Buddha lived, cultivating the Way and seeking awakening.

Hua Guang went at once to Hongyu Temple to pay his respects to the Flame King Bright Light Buddha. The Buddha, whose title was Master of Encouraging Goodness, was seated on the meditation platform when Hua Guang suddenly entered. After Hua Guang bowed, the master asked, “I have long heard that the Heavenly King serves as a marshal in the celestial realm and enjoys every luxury. What brings you to this mountain temple today? What would you have me do?”

Hua Guang recounted what had happened: he had caused a great disturbance at the Qionghua Assembly and struck the Golden Spear Prince, so he was stripped of his marshal’s post and demoted to serve as a roaming spirit in the Sun Palace. Later, he renewed an old feud with Deng Hua. Deng Hua forced him to await orders and follow the sun. Hua Guang felt that this resentment could never be settled, and in a fit of anger he wrote rebellious verse and fled to the mortal realm. He had long heard of the master’s teachings and precepts, he said, and had come to pay his respects. Would the master be willing to take him in?

The master was delighted. He instructed Hua Guang that from then on he must not act as he had before, but must observe the master’s precepts. Hua Guang accepted the teaching. For now, we will leave the story here.

When the Dragon King Li of the Eastern Sea celebrated his birthday, a feast was laid in the Dragon Palace, and a Pearl of Gathering Treasures was placed among the banquet dishes. Its light shone in every direction, illuminating the sky as purple vapors rose upward; even at night, it gleamed like starlight. The Dragon King drank and made merry until he was thoroughly drunk.

Huaguang secretly worked his magic. Opening his Celestial Eye, he saw the pearl, chanted a spell, and transformed himself into a shrimp. He slipped into the Dragon Palace beneath the sea and stole the pearl. Then he returned to his original form, delighted, and went back to Hongyu Temple, where he hid the pearl without telling his master.

When Dragon King Li sobered up, he discovered that the pearl was gone. Alarmed, he questioned the aquatic creatures, but they all said they knew nothing. He searched everywhere without finding a trace, then suspected that a demon had stolen it. He decided to go to the South Sea and ask the Buddha Mother Guanyin. When the Dragon King arrived, he paid his respects to her. After a brief inspection, the Buddha Mother Guanyin told him, “The one who stole the pearl was none other than Huaguang from the Upper Realm. He changed into a shrimp, entered the Dragon Palace, and stole it. He is now at Hongwang Temple on Chaizhen Mountain in the Middle Realm, studying under Master Quan Shan. If you want your pearl back, you can go there and look for him.”

Dragon King Li took his leave of the Buddha Mother Guanyin, returned to the Dragon Palace, assembled the aquatic creatures, and marched on Chaizhen Mountain. They surrounded Hongyu Temple and shouted their challenge, their cries shaking the heavens. The Flame King Light Buddha was meditating on the altar when he learned that someone outside the temple was calling for battle and intended to storm the mountain gate.

The Dragon King Li claimed he would demand the Bejeweled Pearl back from Huaguang. The Buddha of Light was greatly surprised when he heard this, so he summoned Huaguang and asked, “Today the Dragon King Li led his aquatic troops here and repeatedly said that you stole his pearl. Is it true?”

Huaguang replied, “Disciple would not dare deceive you, Master. I did indeed take the Bejeweled Pearl.”

The Master asked, “Now that the Dragon King has come to demand it back, how do you plan to explain yourself?”

Huaguang said, “Do not worry, Master. I’ll send him on his way.”

Huaguang took leave of his Master and went out through the temple gate, where he met the Dragon King. The Dragon King challenged him: “Why did you steal my pearl? Just return it quietly and that will be the end of it. If you refuse to admit it, I’ll make sure you don’t leave here alive.”

Huaguang said, “Who says I took your pearl?”

The Dragon King replied, “When I sobered up, I found the pearl was missing, so I went to ask the Buddha Mother Guanyin of the South Sea. She said you stole it.”

Huaguang said, “Since the Buddha Mother told you, I’ve brought the pearl here now. What can you do about it?”

The Dragon King flew into a rage and raised his great saber to strike Huaguang. Huaguang lifted his spear to meet the attack. They fought for fewer than thirty rounds before Huaguang defeated the Dragon King soundly, forcing him to retreat to the Dragon Palace with his battered troops. Huaguang returned to the temple to see his Master, feeling very pleased.

The Master said, “I had intended to go to the Celestial Bureaucracy to meet the Emperor, but because you got into this trouble, I have not been able to set out. Now that things have settled, I will go to the Celestial Bureaucracy tomorrow.” The Master instructed Huaguang to guard the temple gate.

Huaguang listened from the side, then suddenly began to weep. The Master asked why he was crying. Huaguang replied, “Ever since I left the upper realm and came here to follow you, Master, I have thought of my parents day and night, yet have never been able to see them. Now I hear that you are going to the Celestial Court, but I still cannot return to visit them. When I see things that remind me of my parents, my feelings well up, and so I weep.”

The Master said, “If that is why you are crying, then you are truly a filial son. I will take you back for a visit, but you must not cause trouble. If you wish to go to the Celestial Court to see your mother, come with me.”

Huaguang said, “If you would lead me so that I may see my parents, Master, I would be fully content. How could I dare cause trouble?”

The Master said, “Very well. I will give you a string of Buddhist prayer beads to wear around your neck and recite a spell. Even if you encounter the demon-revealing mirror on your way to heaven, it will not reveal your true form; it will take you for a Buddhist disciple. Go and visit your parents. When I descend to the middle realm, you can come down with me as before.”

Huaguang was overjoyed. His Master at once hung a string of Buddhist prayer beads around his neck, recited a spell, and took him with him up to the Celestial Court.

The Red-Bearded Flame-Mystery Heavenly King and his wife of Dou Niu Palace were seated together, speaking of their son and wondering where he had gone. Suddenly, someone came to report that the young lord had returned. His parents were delighted. When they met, they said, “Ever since you left, we have had no idea where you were, and we have often worried about you. How did you come to the Celestial Bureau—the government offices of Heaven—today?”

Huaguang reported to his parents, “After I left you, I had nowhere to stay, so I went down to the human realm. I came to Hongyu Temple on Chaizhen Mountain and became a disciple of the Buddha of Flame, King Guang. Now my master has brought me up to Heaven, and that is how I was able to see you.”

His parents replied, “Some time ago, after you defeated Deng Hua, you fled to the human realm. Deng Hua reported this to the Jade Emperor, who was furious. He has now sent the Crown Prince to Xuanhua Hall to recruit troops and stockpile provisions, so he can come to the Middle Realm and capture you. You can stay here for one night, then hurry back to the human realm tomorrow to avoid further trouble. If the Jade Emperor learns you are here, things could become dangerous.”

Huaguang said, “Father and Mother, don’t worry. Your son has a plan.” After settling his parents in for the night, he thought to himself, “That Crown Prince of the Golden Spear has ordered troops to be recruited to capture me. I may as well disguise myself as a soldier of the Celestial Bureau, use a false name, and enlist with him. If he takes me in, I’ll strike from inside the camp, kill the Crown Prince of the Golden Spear, and then flee back to the human realm. Wouldn’t that be a fine plan?”

The next day, Huaguang bade his parents farewell, saying only that he was still going back to the human realm with his master. His parents did not see through his intentions. They merely urged him to keep out of sight and wait until an amnesty was issued before returning to the Celestial Bureau.

After bidding farewell to his parents, Huaguang went to the Hall of Mysterious Splendor. Using magic, he transformed himself into a burly man one zhang tall, with shoulders ten armspans across. He looked imposing and carried a long spear as he went to pay his respects to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince asked his name. “Your servant’s surname is Chen, and my name is Sanlang,” he replied. “I heard that the Crown Prince is recruiting troops to go into the human world and capture Huaguang, so I have come to enlist.”

When the Crown Prince saw Chen Sanlang, he said, “Tomorrow I will report to my father and recommend you as the vanguard of the forward army.” Before he could finish speaking, Huaguang revealed his true form and thrust his golden spear at the Crown Prince. The soldiers and generals scattered in terror.

The Crown Prince hurried into the Northern Pole Exorcism Court and hid behind the Suopo Mirror. Huaguang pursued him there but could not see him. He saw only two ghosts beside the mirror. Held in check by the Suopo Mirror, the ghosts were eager for Huaguang to break the golden mirror so they could escape. They quickly told him, “Get out of the way! The Crown Prince has fled and is hiding behind the Suopo Mirror.”

Hearing this, Huaguang flew into a rage. He tossed up a golden brick and smashed the Suopo Mirror, freeing the two ghosts. One was the Golden-Eyed Hundred-Eyed Ghost; the other was the Holy Mother Jizhituo. Once free, they each fled to the human world.

Seeing the golden mirror shattered, the Crown Prince shouted, “Huaguang has broken into Heaven’s Gate and is causing havoc in the Celestial Palace! Ministers, hurry and capture him!” The heavenly generals in all four directions heard the order and mobilized their celestial troops to seize Huaguang. Unable to hold them off, Huaguang had to retreat. Pursuers pressed him from the east, west, south, and north, leaving him no way to escape.

Huaguang entered the northern region, guarded by the Dark Heavenly Emperor. As soon as he saw the Emperor, he said nothing and hurled a golden brick at him. The Dark Heavenly Emperor waved the Seven Stars Yellow Banner, a ritual implement, and swept the brick away. In alarm, Huaguang threw out a Wind Dragon and a Fire-Subduing Dragon Whip, but the Emperor caught them with the banner as well. Huaguang then hurled a Fire Elixir, which the Seven Stars Banner swept away. Panicked and with no way forward or back, he could only fight desperately. In the end, the Emperor trapped him with the star banner.

The Dark Heavenly Emperor summoned the northern Ren-Gui Water—the Water energy of the north represented by the Heavenly Stems Ren and Gui—and flooded Huaguang, pinning him to the ground. He then pressed him down with a Water-Subduing Staff, leaving his entire body unable to move. Huaguang had originally formed from the sparks of a lamp burning before the Tathagata, who brought him to life by reciting a true-word incantation. Huaguang was a spirit of Fire, made of spiritual energy and Yang energy. Now that he was in the northern land of Ren-Gui Water, he could not escape and was captured by the Emperor.

The Emperor rebuked him: “You beast, you truly have no sense! What powers do you think you have, to dare defy the Celestial Court and attack the Crown Prince? Now that I have captured you, what have you to say?”

Unable to move his arms or legs, Huaguang wept and replied, “I was forced into this by Deng Hua. I had no choice but to act as I did. Now that Your Majesty has captured me, I beg you to show mercy and save me.”

The Emperor said, “If you are willing to mend your ways and return to the right path, my forces already have thirty-five generals. If you submit to me, you will make thirty-six, and I will save you.”

Huaguang agreed again and again. “If Your Majesty will save me, I willingly submit. From this day on, I will never dare rebel again.”

The Supreme God took out a Water-Gathering Pearl, a precious bead that could gather and draw water, and transformed it into a grain of rice for Huaguang to swallow. This way, he could free him. Huaguang had no choice but to swallow the rice. The Supreme God warned him, “This grain of rice was made from my Water-Gathering Pearl. Now that you have swallowed it, if you ever turn against me, I need only recite a spell, and the water inside your belly will churn. You will die within seven days.” Huaguang replied, “If the Supreme God is merciful enough to take me in, I will follow you forever.”

Hearing this, the Supreme God picked up the Rain-Commanding Staff and released Huaguang. Huaguang said, “Master, thank you for taking me in. But the heavenly troops are pursuing me relentlessly. How can I escape the Celestial Court’s pursuit?” The Supreme God said, “You are a Fire Star, so you can go south. The south belongs to Bing and Ding Fire; fire can strengthen fire. If you burn down the Southern Heaven’s Baode Pass, you can escape the Upper Realm. If you stay here with me, I am in the north, which belongs to Ren and Gui Water. Your fire cannot overcome water, so how could you escape?”

Huaguang replied, “Thank you, Master, for showing me the way. But you have taken all my magical treasures. How can I act without them?” The Supreme God returned the treasures he had taken from Huaguang. Huaguang took his leave and went straight to the Southern Heaven’s Baode Pass. Finding its gates shut, he unleashed the Samadhi True Fire, a divine flame often found in Daoist and Buddhist tales, and burned the pass down. When the heavenly troops saw the pass ablaze, they rushed to put out the fire. Huaguang seized the chance to flee south and descend to the Middle Realm. His followers reported to the Crown Prince of the Golden Spear that Huaguang had set fire to the pass and escaped to the Middle Realm. Only then did the prince call back the heavenly troops and report the matter to the Heavenly Emperor. Let the other events pass for now; the rest will be told in the next installment.

Huaguang manifested his power in the Kingdom of Qiantian.

After receiving guidance from Emperor Xuantian (a Daoist deity, also known as the Great Emperor Zhenwu), Huaguang burned down the pass and left. He came to the Middle Realm, unsure where to go. As he was fretting, he saw ahead a strange mountain where flowers bloomed in every season, and all eight seasonal periods seemed like spring.

Huaguang asked the local Earth God, “What is this mountain called?” The Earth God replied, “It is Mount Lilou. In the mountain is the Green-Water Lotus Cave, where two kings live, charged with guarding the cave.”

Huaguang then asked who the two kings were. At first, the Earth God dared not say, fearing that if he spoke their names, they would sense it. Huaguang told him to speak freely and said there was no need to be afraid, since Huaguang was there.

Only then did the Earth God explain that one was called Thousand-Mile Eyes, who could see a thousand miles away, and the other Wind-Following Ears, who could hear sounds from a thousand miles away. Nothing could be hidden from them. They were also known as Lilou and Shikuang, together called the “Two Kings of Keen Sight and Hearing.” They craved human flesh and had eaten countless people. The bones they had accumulated were piled as high as a mountain. After hearing this, Huaguang sent the Earth God away and set off for Mount Lilou.

After walking only a few miles, Huaguang arrived at Mount Lilou. Clairvoyance and Clairaudience were sitting inside a cave. Clairaudience said, “That land god is despicable. He just told Huaguang that we brothers are here eating people. Now Huaguang is coming to capture us. Big brother, did you see him?” Clairvoyance replied, “I saw him too. That fellow will be here today. What should we do?” Clairaudience said, “He has great supernatural powers and will be hard to defeat. I have a plan: we’ll turn into two mountains and stand on either side of the road. Huaguang won’t recognize us. When he walks between us, we’ll catch him and eat him. Wouldn’t that be perfect?” They agreed on the plan and turned into two mountains, one on each side of the road.

When Huaguang reached Mount Lilou, he looked around but saw no one. He thought, “I’ve heard these two demons have great supernatural powers. They must already be using magic against me.” He opened his celestial eye and looked closely. He saw that the two mountains were really Clairvoyance and Clairaudience in disguise, and laughed. “These two demons knew I was coming. They turned into mountains and stood on either side of the road, planning to catch and eat me when I walk between them. I’ll come up with a plan too. I’ll burn them with the Samadhi True Fire—the flames used in Daoist magic. I’ll set one mountain on the left ablaze and another on the right. That should do it!” With that, he chanted an incantation and unleashed the Samadhi True Fire, setting the mountains alight.

Seeing the fire, the two demons quickly resumed their true forms and came out to fight Huaguang. Huaguang pretended to retreat in defeat and turned to flee.

When the two demons caught up, Huaguang planted his Demon-Subduing, Ghost-Capturing Spear in front of them and tricked them, saying, “What can you do? If you can pull this spear free, I’ll grant that you’re strong. You won’t be able to move it.” The demons replied, “You clearly can’t defeat us, yet you dare make such a boast?” Huaguang said, “Words prove nothing. Try it and see. Which of you dares to pull it out?”

Qianliyan said, “My brother needn’t bother. I’ll do it.” He first tugged at the spear with one hand, but it did not budge. He tried with both hands, and still could not pull it free. Shunfeng’er stepped forward and tugged too, but he could not move it either. Huaguang said, “If one of you can’t pull it free, then the two of you together won’t manage it either.”

The demons did not realize Huaguang had set a trap. Still feeling defiant, they both stepped forward and pulled at the spear. Huaguang recited a spell, sticking their hands to the shaft so they could not get free no matter what they tried. The demons could only cry out in distress. Seeing that his plan had worked, Huaguang said, “This spear is called the Demon-Subduing, Ghost-Overcoming Spear. How could two monsters like you pull it free? If you agree to surrender to me, I’ll spare you. If you refuse, I’ll burn you to death with the Samadhi True Fire.” In Daoist tales, the Samadhi True Fire is a divine fire used to subdue demons and defeat evil spirits.

The demons immediately agreed, saying, “We are willing to surrender to the Heavenly King.” Huaguang then conjured a fire pill and transformed it into two pellets. He tricked them, saying, “If you want me to save you and surrender to me, swallow these two pellets. Your hands will come free at once.” The demons swallowed the pellets and then tried to leave.

Huaguang said, “What you two just swallowed were my fire elixirs—pills imbued with fire that can be activated by magical power. If the thought of escaping crosses your minds, I’ll set the elixirs burning inside you and burn you to death.”

The two ghosts did not believe him. They turned and tried to flee. Huaguang recited a spell, setting the two fire elixirs ablaze and burning them to the ground. They cried out in pain, begging the Celestial King to spare their lives. Huaguang asked, “Will you submit to me now?” The ghosts replied, “If only the fire would go out, we would submit to you sincerely and never dare resist again.” Huaguang immediately extinguished the fire, and the elixirs in their bellies stopped burning. They at once bowed to the ground and asked, “Where does the Celestial King intend to go now?”

Huaguang said, “I’d like to settle here.” The two ghosts reported, “This would be a suitable place for the Celestial King to settle. It lies within the territory ruled by the King of Qiantianguo. In the past, we caused trouble here and appeared to the king in a dream, demanding that he prepare boys and girls as sacrifices to us every year on the third day of the third month. In return, we protected his realm, ensuring favorable weather and peace for the people.”

Huaguang said, “From now on, the three of us will appear in the King of Qiantianguo’s dreams and tell him he need not sacrifice boys and girls anymore. Instead, he can build a temple for us, carve statues of all three of us, and hold sacrifices in spring and autumn. Wouldn’t that be better?” After reaching their agreement, the three appeared in the king’s dream that very night.

After the King of Qianda Kingdom came to court, he said to his ministers, “Last night I had a dream. I saw a figure wearing a golden dragon crown, with an eye growing from his forehead and a triangular gold brick in his hand. He introduced himself as a celestial official deity from Heaven, named the Heavenly King Huaguang. He said he had gone to Mount Lilou and subdued the two men Lilou and Shikuang. Bodhisattva Huaguang also told me that from now on there is no need to sacrifice boys and girls. If we build a temple and offer sacrifices in spring and autumn each year, he will protect our kingdom and keep it at peace for generations. I want to build a temple. What do you think?”

The ministers replied, “In the past, the dream’s message was that boys and girls should be offered as sacrifices. Now the deity in your dream has said himself that this is no longer necessary, and that offerings in spring and autumn will suffice. He is a god who brings blessings. How could we disobey him? Your Majesty can issue an order to choose a site and build a temple and statue as soon as possible. There is no need to hesitate.”

The king asked, “Where would be a suitable place to build the temple?” The ministers answered, “Five li outside the city there was once a temple dedicated to the General Huopiao, but it now lies abandoned. Your Majesty can order the old temple to be torn down and a new one built in its place. That would be the most suitable site.”

The king immediately issued an order. He instructed Song Qing, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to lead three thousand imperial guards in demolishing the old temple, building a new one, and enshrining a statue of the deity. After the court session, Song Qing carried out the order: he had the old temple torn down and a new one built, naming it the Shrine of the Heavenly King. Before long, the temple was complete, and the king personally led his civil and military officials there to offer incense and sacrifices.

Now that the Heavenly King Huaguang, a Daoist deity, had a temple, his statue too received offerings. He instructed Qianliyan and Shunfeng’er, the legendary divine generals who can see and hear across great distances: “The two of you must watch over the incense offerings and never harm the people. I will travel through the human world, helping wherever disaster strikes and wherever danger arises. Do not disobey my instructions.” The two accepted his command.

Huo Piao Jiang was furious because King Qiandao had demolished his temple and rebuilt it as the Huaguang Shrine. He wanted to take revenge on Huaguang, the Heavenly King of Radiant Splendor, but knew he did not possess powers like Huaguang’s and could only endure his anger. Day and night, he schemed over how to harm Huaguang, but could never come up with a plan.

One day, the princess of the Kingdom of Qiandao asked her father for permission to visit the Heavenly King’s Temple to offer incense. The king agreed, and the princess prepared incense, candles, and paper offerings with her ladies-in-waiting before going there in person. After paying her respects, she had her attendants draw back the curtain in front of the statue so she could see what the Heavenly King of Radiant Splendor looked like. Admiring it, she exclaimed, “This statue of the Heavenly King is truly handsome.” Then she got into her carriage and set off for the palace.

When Huo Piao Jiang saw the princess, he thought: “Huaguang caused me to lose my temple, and I still haven’t taken my revenge. Now I’ve come across this beautiful princess. I might as well summon a strange wind and carry her off to my cave. That way I can force her to become my wife, and the king may think Huaguang abducted her. Then I can take my revenge.” So he used his magic to raise a strange wind and swept the princess into his cave, intending to marry her.

The princess refused. Huo Piao Jiang told her, “I am Huo Piao Jiang. Because King Qiandao demolished my temple and rebuilt it as the Heavenly King’s Shrine, I came to live in this cave. Today, when I saw how beautiful you are, I carried you off to make you my wife. If you refuse, I will eat you.”

The princess thought that if she refused, he might really eat her, so she made a pretense of saying, “The king has brought me to this cave, and I am frightened and unsettled. Please give me a few days to calm down, and then I will marry you.” Huo Piao Jiang was delighted. “That makes sense. Now that you’re here, you’re destined to be my wife. Where could you possibly escape to?” He ordered the minor demons to attend to the princess, then went out to procure rare delicacies in preparation for their wedding.

Meanwhile, King Tiantian of the Qiantian Kingdom was holding court. After the ministers had paid their respects, an attendant who had accompanied the princess to burn incense at the Temple of the Heavenly King entered the hall to report: “We went with the princess to burn incense at the temple. She lifted the curtain in front of the shrine and saw the radiant image of Huaguang. A thought suddenly came to her. As she stepped outside the temple, a violent gust of wind sprang up, and flying sand blinded us. We were blown to the ground. When the wind died down, we looked again and the princess was gone. We had no choice but to return and report this to Your Majesty.”

The king flew into a rage. “It must have been that wild spirit Huaguang who seized the princess! I will issue an order at once for the Imperial Guard to tear down the Temple of the Heavenly King.” The ministers urged him: “Your Majesty previously dreamed of that deity, who said he was a true god from the upper realm. You even built him a temple and had an image made. He should understand benevolence and righteousness. Why would he repay kindness with harm? It seems more likely that some other monster outside the city abducted the princess, but the facts have not yet been established. Please issue an official dispatch—a document used to convey orders or correspond between offices—and burn it as an offering, ordering Huaguang to return the princess to court within three days. If he fails, there will still be time to tear down the temple.”

The king accepted their advice. He returned to the Tiantai Palace, wrote the dispatch, and burned it as an offering. For now, let us leave aside what happened after court was dismissed.

Meanwhile, Li Lou and Shi Kuang had seen the princess carried off by the Fire-Floating General. They had also received the dispatch the king had burned and sent, giving them three days to bring her back. They wanted to fight the Fire-Floating General and rescue the princess, but felt they lacked his supernatural powers. With the Heavenly King Huaguang still away, they were deeply worried.

Just then, Huaguang returned to the hall riding auspicious clouds. Li Lou and Shi Kuang told him the whole story from beginning to end: how the princess had gone to burn incense at the Temple of the Heavenly King, lifted the shrine curtain, stepped out of the temple and into her carriage, and then been seized by the Fire-Floating General. Huaguang was furious when he heard this and immediately went to the Fire-Floating General’s cave. As it happened, the general was not there. Huaguang went into the rear cave and saw the princess weeping and calling for help.

“Don’t cry,” Huaguang told her. “I’ll carry you back on the clouds. Be sure to explain to the king that I had nothing to do with this.” The princess agreed, and Huaguang carried her back to the palace on auspicious clouds.

When the king held court, the princess reported everything that had happened. She explained that Huaguang had not abducted her; it was the Fire-Floating General, and Huaguang had now rescued her. The king was very pleased to hear this.

Huaguang returned to General Hu Piao’s cave, took on the princess’s appearance, and turned his Fire Elixir—a fire treasure used by Huaguang—into a date. He sat in the cave and waited. When General Hu Piao entered, he asked the princess, “Huaguang has rescued you, and the king is delighted. Are you feeling better? If you are, you can marry me.”

“I still feel a little unwell,” the princess replied. General Hu Piao said, “I’ve waited for you all day. If you keep saying you’re unwell, I’ll go ahead with the wedding. I can’t wait any longer.” The princess said, “I could marry you now, but I’m afraid you’ll grow tired of me later and stop wanting me.” General Hu Piao swore, “If I ever feel that way, may heaven and earth refuse to tolerate me.”

The princess still said she did not believe him. She took out the date and said, “I’ll marry you only if you’re willing to eat this.” General Hu Piao asked what would happen if he ate it. “Then we’ll be able to live in harmony from now on,” she replied. Delighted, General Hu Piao took the date and swallowed it.

As soon as the date reached his stomach, General Hu Piao’s body burst into flames. Huaguang immediately revealed his true form and cursed him: “You audacious monster! You stole the princess and dragged me into this mess.” General Hu Piao roared with anger: “You took over my temple, and I haven’t yet settled that old score with you. Now you dare come into my cave and bully me!” He was about to fight Huaguang.

Huaguang told him to stop and asked what the date he had just swallowed was. “A date. What else could it be?” General Hu Piao replied. Huaguang told him it was actually his Fire Elixir. If General Hu Piao refused to surrender, Huaguang would make the elixir flare up inside him. General Hu Piao did not believe him and thrust his spear at Huaguang. Huaguang chanted a spell, and General Hu Piao was instantly burned to the ground. He had no choice but to cry out for help and beg for mercy.

Huaguang said, “You didn’t believe me when I told you it was a Fire Elixir. Now that you’re burning, do you believe me? The fire has taken hold in your belly. Will you surrender?” General Hu Piao begged Huaguang to spare his life and said he was willing to submit. Huaguang stopped the flames and eased the pain in his belly. He then took General Hu Piao on as a subordinate, ready to serve at his command.

The king of Qianguo held court and consulted with his ministers. After the Heavenly King Huaguang rescued the princess, the king personally went with his civil and military officials to the Heavenly King’s shrine to perform a purification ritual, burn incense, and pray. A poem later in the text recounts the princess’s ordeal:

A woman should stay safely within her chambers; how could she travel far to the Abyss of Heaven to offer incense? Had the Heavenly King not used his miraculous powers to save her, she would surely have met her end in the bridal chamber.

The Sacred Mother Jizhituo lived in Xia Family Village.

The Holy Mother Jizhitou said, “In years past, I and the Golden-Eyed Hundred-Eyed Demon were trapped inside the Sapo Mirror in the Northern Pole Exorcism Bureau. Later, Huaguang wreaked havoc in the Celestial Palace and pursued Prince Golden Spear. The prince fled into the Northern Pole Exorcism Bureau and hid behind the mirror. Huaguang raised a gold brick and smashed the Sapo Mirror, allowing the Hundred-Eyed Demon and me to escape. After that, I never learned where Prince Golden Spear had gone.

“Now, from the clouds, I can see that in the Xiao family village of Wuyuan County, Huizhou Prefecture, Nanjing, there is an elder named Xiao Shuigong. His wife is the old madam Fan. Every night she burns incense and prays in the back garden, hoping for a child to continue the family line. I thought: Why not turn into a moth, fly into the light and put it out, then seize the chance to eat old Madam Fan? I could take on her appearance, deceive Elder Xiao, and become his wife. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Having said this, she spoke no more of the matter.

One night, Madam Fan had set out incense, candles, and an offering table in the back garden. Just as she was about to take up the incense and pray, a large moth suddenly flew in and snuffed out the light. Madam Fan was startled and was about to call a maid to relight it, when the Holy Mother Jizhitou revealed her true form, ate Madam Fan, and then changed into her likeness.

From then on, the false Madam Fan spent her days and nights enjoying herself with Elder Xiao. She also often went to neighbors’ homes to eat people: one day she would go to the household on the east and eat someone, and the next night to a household on the west. People kept disappearing from the neighboring homes. Everyone was worried and distressed, yet no one knew whether the Madam Fan before them was real or false. Elder Xiao, too, never realized that his wife had been replaced.

One day, the false Madam Fan became pregnant and told Elder Xiao. He was over forty and still had no children, so when he heard that his wife was expecting, he was overjoyed, and the couple spent their days happily together.

The Jade Emperor, ruler of the Celestial Court, learned that Huaguang had rebelled against the Middle Realm. Fearing that this would cause trouble in the future, he mustered his troops and prepared to capture Huaguang. What happened next will be told in the next installment.

The Heavenly King Huaguang traveled throughout the world and arrived at a place of reverence. He learned that Huaguang had rebelled against the Middle Realm and might cause trouble in the future, so he too mustered his troops and prepared to capture Huaguang. What happened next will be told in the next installment.

Huaguang was reborn into the Xiao family estate.

King Huaguang traveled far and wide, and came to Hongyu Temple on Mount Chaosheng to pay his respects to the Buddha King Guang of Flaming Radiance. After the ceremony, the Buddha asked him, “My disciple, you haven’t come here for two years. Where have you been living?”

Huaguang recounted from the beginning how he had subdued Clairvoyant and Clairaudient, and how the king had built a temple for him. The Buddha King Guang of Flaming Radiance told him, “This is no longer a suitable place for you to stay. Right now, the Lord of Heaven is preparing to send troops to capture you.” Huaguang asked, “If they send troops after me again, what should I do? Please, Master, tell me where I can hide. If I escape this calamity, I will always remember your kindness.” The Buddha said, “You need only find a safe place and be reborn there.” Huaguang replied, “I hear that King Qiandao has built a temple for me, and the people are all coming to offer incense. How can I simply go and be reborn?” The Buddha said, “For now, you must avoid disaster. The rest will be taken care of.”

Huaguang then asked what he should do when he was reborn. The Buddha said, “The five powers—the five supernatural abilities that the Tathagata bestowed on you—should all be reborn together. Let them merge in a single womb and become one lump of flesh, which will be born when the mother gives birth.” Huaguang worried, “How could ordinary people know what is inside a lump of flesh? They will surely think it is a demon child and refuse to cut it open. What if that harms the mother?” His Master said, “Go without worry. I will come and save you afterward.”

Following his Master’s instructions, Huaguang transformed into five golden rays of supernatural power and drifted on the wind to the Xiao family’s village in Wuyuan County, Huizhou Prefecture, Nanjing. From among the clouds, he saw the Xiao family discussing how Madam Xiao An had been pregnant for twenty months but still had not given birth. Huaguang thought, “I may as well be reborn here.” At the third watch of the night, he entered Madam Xiao An’s bedchamber. The five powers merged into a ball of white rice and rolled into her womb.

When Madam An woke, she felt pain in her abdomen and woke Elder Xiao. He got up, prepared incense and candles, and prayed to Heaven, asking that she give birth soon to a boy who could carry on the family line.

After the prayer, a maid came out to report, “Madam An has given birth.” The elder asked, “Is it a boy or a girl?” The maid replied, “Neither. It’s something shaped like a cow’s tripe.” The elder was astonished and went in to look for himself. Sure enough, he saw something shaped like a cow’s head and belly. Furious, he ordered a servant, “Carry it out and throw it into the river. Don’t let anyone outside the household find out, or people will laugh at us.”

One of the servants obeyed, carried the thing to the riverbank, and threw it into the water. To his surprise, it rolled back onto the bank. The servant panicked and threw it into the river again, but it rolled back out once more. After this happened several times, he had no choice but to hurry back and report to the elder, “We throw it into the water, but it rolls back onto the bank. We’ve tried over and over, and there’s nothing we can do.”

“Then bury it in the ground,” said the elder. “Carry it back and bury it by the back gate. Make sure no one finds out.” The servant went to fetch the thing and carry it home. The elder was gloomy and deeply displeased.

The Buddha Flame-King Radiance (a Buddha’s name) took the form of a monk and went to the home of Elder Xiao to ask for alms. Elder Xiao was in the main hall when the monk approached, pressed his palms together, and bowed. The elder returned the greeting and asked, “Venerable sir, what brings you here? Is there something you wish to tell me?” The monk replied, “I have come especially to ask for alms.” The elder answered, “I have something to attend to. Please come back tomorrow.”

The monk said, “You are usually generous and glad to help others. Why turn me away when I come to your home for alms today?” The elder replied, “It is not that I was willing to give before but am unwilling today. There is something you do not know. I have observed fasts and given alms for many years, yet I had no son even after turning forty. Fortunately, my wife became pregnant this year. She has been carrying the child for twenty months, and today she is finally giving birth. At first I was overjoyed, but when I saw the child, it looked like a lump of cow’s tripe. So I told a young servant to carry it to the river and throw it away. The servant dropped it in, but it rolled back to the bank. He threw it in again, and it rolled back once more. At a loss, the servant came back and reported this to me. I was afraid outsiders would find out, so I had him bring it home. I planned to bury it by the back gate tonight. That is what has been weighing on my mind, which is why I asked you to return tomorrow. Otherwise, I would gladly give. Why would I refuse you?”

After hearing this, the monk congratulated him. “That thing does not look like cow’s tripe. It is a ball of flesh.” The elder said, “Even if it is a ball of flesh, what good is that?” The monk replied, “You had no son even at forty, and today you have suddenly gained five noble sons.” The elder said, “I haven’t seen a single one. How can there be five? Where are they?” The monk said, “There are five children inside that ball of flesh.” The elder did not believe him. “If you don’t believe me,” said the monk, “I’ll open it with my monastic knife and show you.” With that, he cut open the ball of flesh, and sure enough, there were five children inside. The elder was astonished.

The monk said, “There is no need to be alarmed. They are five Bodhisattvas. When they attain realization and ascend to the heavens in the future, you too will receive blessings through them. This is the reward for your generous and benevolent heart.” The elder was delighted to hear this. The monk added, “Today is the twenty-eighth day of the ninth month, the birthday of the five brothers. Let me give each of these five young gentlemen a name.” The elder said, “Then I thank you for your kindness, Venerable sir.”

The monk named the five boys in order: the eldest Xiao Xiancong, the second Xianming, the third Xianzheng, the fourth Xianzhi, and the fifth Xiande. After giving them their names, he said, “These five worthy young men have inner organs unlike those of ordinary people.” The elder asked, “How are they different?” The monk replied, “Ordinary people’s organs are made of flesh and skin, but each of these five children has a special organ within him: the Golden Wheel Organ, the Silver Wheel Organ, the Bronze Wheel Organ, the Iron Wheel Organ, and the Radiant Flower Organ.”

The elder asked what would happen after the children were born. The monk said, “They will be able to speak after three days. When they grow up, four of them will take leave of their family and go away to cultivate. One will stay at home and follow in his father’s footsteps.” The elder was delighted to hear this and invited the monk to stay for lunch. The monk said he had business to attend to and could not impose, but would visit another day. The elder then saw him off.

Afterward, Elder Xiao took his five sons into the bedchamber to see their mother. She said, “You five brothers were born in the same birth, and I also gave birth to a daughter.” Huaguang asked, “We clearly have only five brothers. How can we have a younger sister too?” His mother said, “If you don’t believe me, she is right behind you.” The girl then came out to meet them. Huaguang thought, “She must be that Qionghua flower from before, reborn into this world.” He told his mother, “Let’s call our younger sister Qiongniang.” His mother agreed.

The elder said, “Now that all six of you siblings are here, let us gather in the hall, hold a feast, and play music to entertain our relatives and friends.”

The four sons reported to their mother, “Huaguang and our sister will stay here to care for our parents. We four brothers will take our leave first and go practice the Dao. When we have completed the merit of our practice, we will invite Mother to accompany us westward to pay our respects to the Buddha.” Their parents said, “If that is so, I will not hold you back. You brothers must be filial to your parents. Do not leave me worrying about you.” After giving these instructions, the four sons bade their parents farewell and departed. Huaguang and his sister stayed at home to care for their parents. The elder was delighted and hosted a banquet for his guests; let us set that matter aside for now.

Ever since giving birth to Huaguang and his five siblings, the Holy Mother Jizhituo had become even more violent than before. She spent all day eating people at the Xiao Family Estate. Whenever tenant farmers came and went to pay rent or attend to other business, she would often devour several of them in succession, choosing only the young and strong. This happened every day.

One day, King Longrui was riding auspicious clouds, preparing to travel into the mountains to pay homage to the Dharma Master, a revered sacred figure. From among the clouds, he saw the Holy Mother Jizhituo eating people at the Xiao Family Estate. Enraged, he said, “This fiend has not changed her ways. Now she is eating people again at the Xiao Family Estate in the mortal world, causing great suffering to the common folk. I might as well become a wandering monk and go to her home to beg for alms. That fiend will surely be tempted to eat me. Then I can reveal my true form, seize her, and have her thrown into Fengdu, the capital of the underworld, ridding the world of this menace. What could be wrong with that?” With that, he descended from the clouds, transformed into a wandering monk, and walked a mile to the Xiao Family Estate, tapping a wooden fish as he went from door to door begging for alms.

The gatekeeper entered to report that Lady Xiao was seated in the rear hall. The boy said, “There is a monk at the gate, begging for alms at our house.” Lady Xiao was delighted. She planned to lure the monk in and eat him, so she ordered the boy to invite him inside.

The boy went out and told the monk. The monk followed him in to pay his respects to Lady Xiao, then approached and bowed deeply. Lady Xiao returned his bow and told the boy to prepare a vegetarian meal. After the boy left, she turned to inspect the monk and, seeing his striking appearance, began to plot his capture and consumption.

The monk saw the malice in her heart. At once, he displayed his supernatural powers, returned to his true form, and seized her. Lady Xiao had no time to escape. He carried her up into the clouds and escorted her to Fengdu, the legendary realm of the dead.

King Rui displayed his supernatural powers, using a mirror-screen to block Clairvoyant’s sight so he could not see what was happening far away. He then plugged Clairaudient’s ears with two iron pellets, preventing him from hearing distant news. With everything arranged, Dragon King Rui returned to the meditation altar as usual.

When the servant came out with the vegetarian meal ready, she discovered that the mistress of the house and the monk had both disappeared. Elder Xiao was away that day, so Qiongniang came out to ask what had happened. The servant told her how the monk had come to beg for alms. Qiongniang guessed that her mother had probably been taken away by the monk. Weeping, she set out to search for her mother. She cried out all along the way, but could not find her. She ran from place to place, sobbing so bitterly that she sounded like a grieving bird bereft of its mother, making anyone who heard her feel heartsick.

She came to Xixiang Village. This year, Zhang Yilang had been appointed head of the village sacrifice, while Li Jin served as village chief. Both men were in charge of the upcoming rites. The village worshipped a Great King Wulong, to whom a boy and a girl had to be sacrificed each year for the village to enjoy peace. Without the sacrifice, the village would fall into turmoil, and plague and miasma would break out. During the rite, the villagers burned paper money and then left. The Great King Wulong would appear and take the boy and girl away.

The two men in charge were worried because they could not find children to sacrifice and did not know what to do. As they spoke, a young woman came toward them, sobbing and calling loudly for her mother. Seeing her, the two men conceived a wicked plan. They wondered how to proceed, then asked her, “What family does your mother belong to?”

Qiongniang replied, “My mother’s surname is Fan. I have never left the women’s quarters since I was little, so I don’t know where my maternal grandmother’s family lives. This morning, a monk came to our house to beg for alms, and my mother told the servants to prepare a vegetarian meal. While the servant was preparing it, the monk led my mother out of the house. I hurried after them, but they had vanished. Sirs, have you seen them?”

One of the village officials asked, “What is your surname, and what is your name?”

Qiongniang replied, “I am the daughter of Elder Xiao of the Xiao family estate in the neighboring village. My name is Qiongniang.”

The two men in charge then asked, “Where has your father gone?”