Deliverance in the Bhikshu Kingdom (VII)

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his companions were imprisoned.

The Travel Permit were confiscated, the luggage was taken away, and the horse was tied up in the stable.

Bajie plopped down on the straw in the Prison Cell cell, but Wukong chased him away, making room for Tang Sanzang.

Bajie complained, "Well, that's great! He insisted on saving that so-called 'State Altars,' and now he's got himself in trouble!"

Tang Sanzang sighed.

Wukong said, "That's strange indeed. That Demon doesn't seem like a wise ruler, so why do all the officials support him, and even the Old King's father-in-law speaks up for Demon?"

Sha Wujing said, "Yes! That's really strange!"

Just then, a jailer came over, brandishing a whip, and shouted, "Demon Monk, what are you plotting now!"

Wukong laughed and said, "We're all locked up in jail, what could we possibly be plotting?"

The jailer said, "That's true."

Wukong asked, "May I ask, what are you going to do with us?"

Upon hearing this, the jailer turned his back and did not reply.

Wukong then found a small piece of silver on Bajie's body and stuffed it into the jailer's hand.

The jailer then turned around, beaming with joy, and said:

"You little hairy-faced monk are quite sensible. Let me tell you the truth. If it were anyone else, I'd give them a good meal today and execute them tomorrow morning. Fortunately, you are monks of the Great Tang Dynasty. The Emperor has said he will send an envoy to the Great Tang to accuse you of deceiving the country and request an imperial decree before executing you."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but shed tears and knelt facing east, saying:

"Your Majesty, when I left Chang'an, I promised to return in three to five years. Now, decades have passed, and I have not even reached Spirit Mountain. Instead, I have brought about the disaster of deceiving the country, causing people to blame the Eastern Land. This is the fault of this humble monk!"

After saying this, tears streamed down her face like a spring, dripping onto the ground.

Bajie said, "Master, what's the use of crying now? Fortunately, the journey is long, and we can survive for a few more years!"

The jailer said, "Not far! Not far! Originally, we had to take a detour, but now we hear from traveling merchants that someone is clearing mountains and building bridges on the eastward route to extinguish the Flames, so it's much faster."

Bajie exclaimed, "Oh no! Isn't this monk clearing the way for us to escape?"

Sha Wujing asked, "Elder Brother, what should we do?"

Wukong said, "Don't worry, Master is the Imperial Younger Brother King Tang. If King Tang learns of this, he will surely show compassion and will never issue an order to execute him."

The jailer said, "The king said that if the King Tang doesn't issue a decree, the Demon Monk will be sent back to the Tang Kingdom!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang burst into tears. If he were sent back to the Tang Kingdom, wouldn't his decades-long journey to the Journey to the West be in vain, and he would have to retrace his steps all over again?

Bajie's eyes darted around, and he said, "Please tell His Majesty that there's no need for such a long journey. Just send a few of them back to the Tang Kingdom, and send me, Old Pig, to the Western Liang Women's Kingdom."

The jailer asked, "On what grounds should you be sent to the Western Liang Women's Kingdom?"

Bajie said, "I am a heavy Old Pig. If I were to go to the Tang Kingdom, I don't know how many carts I would break down and how many horses I would collapse along the way! Therefore, I am being sent to the Western Liang Women's Kingdom to save your King's strength."

The jailer sneered, "If that's the case, I'll report this to my superiors and have them prepare some Hemp Rope to tie you to the back of the horse and drag you to the Tang Kingdom, so as not to damage the carriage!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie panicked and exclaimed, "How can this be? We've traveled tens of thousands of miles, and my intestines are practically coming out of their sockets!" He then told the truth, "I won't lie to you, I, Old Pig, have a relative in the Western Liang Women's Kingdom!"

The jailer asked, "What is your relative?"

Bajie said, "The Queen there is my master's wife, and the one facing south who is revered is my master who ordained me. That's why I'm going there to seek refuge. Once you get there, you'll get some good things!"

The jailer, hearing there was good fortune involved, agreed. He muttered to himself, "These monks seem to have so many relatives. Why can't I meet such good relatives?" Then he gradually walked away.

Seeing that the jailer had gone far away, Sha Wujing said to Bajie:

"Second Senior Brother, you're really spineless! How could you go and join that Demon Dragon?"

Bajie said, "We're already in dire straits, what are you still saying? I've heard that the Tang Kingdom is very strict. If we return with merit from our Journey to the West, that's fine! But if we return with a guilty conscience, someone as unlucky as Sha Wujing will be castrated and enslaved! If we're lucky enough to be given to Chancellor Yin by the King Tang, Master might have some connections to get you out. Otherwise, we won't be able to see him. For the sake of our brotherhood, if you also want to go to the Western Liang Women's Kingdom, don't be shy, I'll help you out."

Wukong couldn't help but laugh, "Bajie has already planned his escape route. If he really sends him back, he'll take me with him too."

Bajie said, "I'll definitely bring it! I'll definitely bring it!"

Seeing his disciples about to leave, Tang Sanzang couldn't stop his tears from flowing. He grabbed Wukong and cried out in anguish:

"My dear disciple! Do you have any plan to save your master? If not, we shall truly go our separate ways!"

Wukong laughed and said, "Master, don't be in a hurry, let's wait until tonight to talk about it."

Soon, darkness fell.

Bajie found a secluded corner and lay down to sleep.

Sha Wujing also went to sleep.

Wukong practiced his internal energy and pretended to sleep.

Tang Sanzang looked out of the cell alone. The Prison Cell was not well-built, and moonlight shone through a crack. Tang Sanzang couldn't help but miss his homeland.

Around four or five in the morning, Tang Sanzang could no longer resist the sleepiness and fell asleep leaning against the Prison Cell wall.

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom, seeing that the four of them were asleep, appeared to Tang Sanzang in a dream, calling out, "Holy Monk! Holy Monk!"

Tang Sanzang opened his eyes and saw that he had dreamt of the Old King again. He couldn't help but complain, "Your Majesty, you have ruined this humble monk!"

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom, however, turned the tables and questioned, "Holy Monk, I've long heard that you and your disciples can Subduing Demons demons and monsters. Why couldn't you subdue that Demon today?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, you previously said that if I could identify the Demon, the court officials would surely capture Demon. Now, my disciples and I have identified it in public, yet all the officials recognize the Demon and not Your Majesty. Why is that?"

The King of Bhikkhu said, "I have long said that my ministers are disloyal, and this is precisely why. Why don't the holy monks simply kill that monster?"

Tang Sanzang said, "That Demon has the support of many ministers and the protection of thousands of soldiers. How dare my master and I rashly start a war?"

The King of Bhikkhu said, "Those are all people who collude with the demon. They have all benefited from the demon, been promoted, and gained power. Therefore, they are loyal to the demon. Holy Monk and his disciples should just kill them all!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang exclaimed in alarm, "Your Majesty, they are all your subjects!"

The King of Bhikkhu said, "If a ruler commands his subject to die, the subject would be disloyal to refuse. Now I hereby order the Holy Monk to eliminate these people; the Holy Monk may proceed accordingly."

Tang Sanzang dared not lay a hand on them, repeatedly chanting Buddhist mantras, saying, "No! No! My disciples and I are all monks, how can we commit such a heinous crime!"

Upon hearing this, the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom stepped forward and pressed, "What sin? Eliminating those disloyal people is a meritorious act! I will certainly reward the Holy Monk! If he is not eliminated, he will be guilty!"

As they were talking, suddenly, a hairy-faced monk with Thunder Duke's mouth entered Tang Sanzang's dream, abruptly appearing before the King the Bhikshu Kingdom, baring his teeth and roaring.

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was so frightened that he stumbled and fell, quickly expelling himself from the dream and fleeing.

Wukong wasn't in a hurry. He first emerged from Tang Sanzang's dream. Tang Sanzang woke up in a panic, and Wukong went forward to comfort Tang Sanzang sit down. Then, he recited a Soul-Seizing Spell, which instantly brought back the King who had fled to who-knows-how-far, and threw him to the ground.

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom hurriedly begged for mercy:

"Grandpa Thunder Duke God, spare me! Thunder Duke God, spare me!"