After several months of eating in the wind and sleeping beneath the stars, and after the affair at the Black Water River, Tang Monk and his companions finally reached the borders of the Chechi Kingdom!
Upon arriving in the Chechi Kingdom, Sun Wukong saw this scene.
Daoists were driving groups of Buddhist monks to perform hard labor. Years of sitting in meditation had left the monks physically clumsy!
How could they manage such toil? The Daoists' whips lashed them mercilessly!
The sight filled Sun Wukong with fury!
After rescuing the monks, he told them to wait there without worry. He would go into the Chechi Kingdom and demand justice for them!
Seeing how unwelcome Buddhist monks were, Sun Wukong transformed into a Daoist priest and went to make inquiries!
At the city gates, he encountered a Daoist guarding the entrance and struck up a conversation!
Seeing that Sun Wukong was also dressed as a Daoist, the man respectfully said, "There is no need to ask where the state preceptors reside, Reverend. Please wait here, and the three state preceptors will come to welcome you personally!"
Sun Wukong paused, then asked, "Who are your state preceptors, and how powerful is their magic?"
The Daoist said, "Our three state preceptors can summon wind and rain with a mere turn of their palms. Turning water into oil and stone into gold is as easy for them as turning around. Such is their power that they can seize the creative workings of heaven and earth and alter the mysteries of the stars."
Sun Wukong was taken aback and thought, They do have a few tricks up their sleeves!
He then asked, "What are your state preceptors like as people?"
The Daoist said, "Naturally, they are good men. Twenty years ago, the Chechi Kingdom suffered