Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived in the Wuji Kingdom and paid their respects to the King.
Seeing Tang Sanzang's dignified appearance and courteous manners, the King of the Wuji Kingdom thought, As expected of a man from the great nation of Great Tang. He asked:
"Holy monk, why have you traveled these countless miles west?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, this humble monk has been commanded by King Tang to seek scriptures at the Great Thunderclap Temple in the west, to deliver the dead and bring salvation to all living beings."
The King of the Wuji Kingdom said, "To obtain the true scriptures, you willingly brave the wind and frost over countless miles and endure this arduous journey. You truly are a holy monk of the highest virtue."
Tang Sanzang said, "You flatter me, Your Majesty. Please affix your Precious Seal to our Passbook so that my disciples and I may continue west."
The King of the Wuji Kingdom fetched his Precious Seal and stamped Tang Sanzang's Passbook.
Tang Sanzang put away the stamped Passbook and said:
"Your Majesty, there is another matter this humble monk would like to ask you about."
The King of the Wuji Kingdom asked, "What else is it, holy monk?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Before entering the city, this humble monk encountered a group of Daoists performing hard labor in the mountains. They were most pitiable. I heard that this was by your decree. Might Your Majesty explain the reason behind it?"
The King of the Wuji Kingdom sighed. "I had not wished to mention this matter again, but since you ask, holy monk, there is no harm in telling you. It all began eight years ago..."
The King of the Wuji Kingdom recounted the story in detail.
His account differed little from the version