Seeing that this monkey, though fierce-looking, spoke with real confidence, Gao Cai dared not slight him. With a miserable expression, he could only say:
"You don't know the whole story, Elder. When this monster first arrived, he was quite a fine-looking fellow. He said his surname was Zhu, that he had no parents, no home, and no livelihood. All he had, he said, was a strong pair of arms, and he was willing to marry into our household."
Sun Wukong chuckled and released his collar. "Marry into your household? So your master took him in because he wanted his labor?"
"Exactly."
Gao Cai sighed. "At first, the fellow really was hardworking. He needed no ox to plow and no blade to harvest. He did the work of ten hired hands all by himself. Seeing how honest and willing he was, our master gave him our third young mistress, Cui Lan, in marriage."
"Doesn't that sound good?" Sun Wukong scratched the back of his hand. "A worker and a son-in-law in one. Your master stumbled upon a treasure."
"Good? What's good about it?" Gao Cai slapped his thigh, his face full of misery:
"He was all right at first, but as time passed, our son-in-law showed his true form! He grew a long snout and huge ears, with a strip of bristles down the back of his head. He turned into something that looked like a pig!"
"And his appetite is frightening. He eats three to five bushels of rice at a meal, and even his morning snack takes a hundred or so baked flatbreads. That's enough to feed our whole family."
"But worst of all, he's now locked our young mistress in the rear quarters, and it's been a full six months! With us trapped in this living death, our master finally ordered me to find a priest to subdue the monster and end this marriage."
After hearing this, Sun Wukong rubbed his fists and flexed his hands, golden light flashing in his eyes:
"So it's a pig demon! Easy enough, easy enough. Let Old Sun catch him and show your master his son-in-law's true face. I'll save you those bushels of rice while I'm at it!"
"Young benefactor."
Xuanzang suddenly spoke, his voice calm:
"Let this humble monk ask you something. In the three years since that pig demon married into your household, apart from eating rather more and looking rather uglier, has he ever killed anyone in the village? Has he ever eaten any young boys or girls?"
Gao Cai froze, thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I've never heard of him hurting or killing anyone. It's just... he's just too ugly, and he has some supernatural powers. He comes on clouds and leaves in mist. It's terribly frightening."
Xuanzang spoke mildly, his tone carrying a deeper meaning. "He has worked diligently to support the household, married through proper rites, and committed no outrage against Heaven or man."
"Wukong, don't be so hasty."
"Master?" Sun Wukong turned back, puzzled.
Xuanzang began walking, motioning for Gao Cai to lead the way, and spoke as he went:
"When people need a man, they wish he had the strength to lift a thousand pounds, even if he's a rough fellow from the wilds. Once they tire of him, they resent every extra mouthful he eats and despise his ugly face, all but wishing he were a demon or a monster."
"Come. Let's meet this Elder Gao and see just what sort of 'injustice' this really is."
They entered the Gao family compound, which was indeed splendid.
Elder Gao came out to greet them upon hearing the news. The old man wore a black damask headcloth and a pale-green robe of Shu brocade. Though dressed as a country gentleman, he exuded the shrewd, calculating air of a wealthy man. At that moment, however, his face was clouded with misery, as though someone owed him eight hundred strings of cash.
At the sight of Xuanzang's party, Elder Gao was initially delighted. But once he got a clear look at Sun Wukong's thunder-god mouth and A-Hu, who remained imposing even with wings folded away, he stumbled in fright and nearly collapsed to the ground.
"What... what sort of fiends have you brought here? Gao Cai! Is this household not troubled enough for you? Must you invite wolves through our door?!"
Xuanzang stepped forward slightly and raised one palm upright. Standing like a pine or cypress, he radiated a pure, upright presence that steadied Elder Gao's nerves.
"Do not be afraid, Elder. This humble monk is an imperial envoy of the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, traveling west to obtain the scriptures. Though my companions look unusual, they have all taken the precepts and will not harm the innocent."
Hearing that he was an imperial envoy of the Great Tang, Elder Gao finally regained some composure. He rallied himself, ushered everyone into the main hall, and served fragrant tea.
After three rounds of tea, Elder Gao began pouring out his woes amid tears and sniffling:
"Elder, save us! This unfortunate old man has only daughters, with no one to carry on the family line. I only wanted a son-in-law who would support me in my old age and uphold the household. Who knew I would be so blind three years ago as to bring a monster home! Now neither young nor old in this family can go on living!"
Xuanzang sat as steady as a bell, unmoved by this tearful plea, and merely asked calmly:
"Elder, I heard from your servant that this son-in-law was quite diligent when he first arrived?"
"Diligent, yes, he was diligent..." Elder Gao wiped his tears.
"Before he came, we had only a few acres of poor farmland. After he arrived, he plowed without an ox and harvested without a blade, working from dawn until dark. He did the work of ten hired hands, and that truly was thanks to his strength."
"Then has he ever eaten anyone?"
"No, he hasn't."
"Has he ever demanded wages?"
"He has no home or livelihood. All he wants is a full belly. He has never asked for money."
Xuanzang set down his teacup and looked straight at Elder Gao with clear eyes:
"Elder, he harms no one, asks for no money, and has earned you this considerable estate. You couldn't find such a son-in-law even if you searched with a lantern. Why are you now making such a desperate fuss about finding a priest to subdue him?"
Elder Gao slapped his thigh and said urgently:
"You don't understand, Elder! His face changed later, until he looked like a pig! And his appetite is enormous-three to five bushels of rice in a single meal! Even that would be tolerable. Our household can still afford to feed him."
"But now he conjures winds and mists and keeps my daughter locked in the rear quarters, refusing to let us see her for six months! If word of such an ugly monster spreads, it will ruin the Gao family's good name. Our relatives and neighbors all laugh at us. How can we hold our heads up?"
"So it is a matter of reputation."
Xuanzang nodded slightly, his tone betraying neither pleasure nor anger:
"Elder, let this humble monk settle an account with you."
"He does the work of ten hired hands by himself. Over these three years, that amounts to thirty hired hands' annual wages saved. He has cleared wasteland, expanded your fields, and built up your estate. How much profit has that brought you?"
"Though he eats a great deal, compared with what he earns, it is only a single hair from nine oxen."
"When you took him in, you wanted his strength and did not mind that he had no home or livelihood. Now you want to drive him out because he is ugly and costs you face."
Xuanzang's voice gradually grew grave:
"Elder, in this world's chain of cause and consequence, what is borrowed must be repaid. You have accepted three years of his hard labor and enjoyed the wealth he brought you. Now, merely because his ugly form has emerged, you turn your back on him and even seek a priest to kill him?"
"Does the word 'monster' belong on his body, or within your own heart?"
The questions left Elder Gao speechless. His aged face flushed the color of pig liver. After stammering for some time, he grew angry with embarrassment and argued stubbornly:
"Elder! You can't put it that way! He's a monster!... Whatever else may be true, he can't forcibly possess my daughter! Humans and demons walk different paths. Surely that is wrong!"
Xuanzang rose and straightened his robes and headwear.
"Forcibly possessing her is certainly wrong. But the rights and wrongs of this matter cannot be judged from your side of the story alone."
Xuanzang turned toward Sun Wukong, who was crouched on a chair, gnawing on fruit:
"Wukong."
"Here, Master!" Sun Wukong jumped down from the chair and spun the Golden Cudgel in his hand.
"Go to the rear courtyard."
"Tell him this humble monk has come to settle his accounts for these past three years."
"Yes, Master!"
Sun Wukong chuckled. With a flicker, his figure turned into a wisp of smoke and drifted straight toward the rear courtyard.
Before you continue