Finding the Dragon King
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong said with a broad smile:
"Don't say so much. If you're going to give us money, then we definitely won't bring you rain. But if we're talking about accumulating good deeds, then I'll send you a heavy rain."
The princess, being very upright and loving towards her people, immediately took Sun Wukong's hand, knelt down, and said:
"The elder is indeed kind; I will certainly live up to everyone's expectations."
After speaking, Sun Wukong, unable to contain himself any longer, waved his hand impatiently and said:
"Stop talking nonsense. Get up first. You stay here and watch over my master. I need to take care of something."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie ran to Sun Wukong's side with a puzzled look and asked, "Brother Monkey, what exactly do you need to handle?"
"You and Sha Wujing come over here and build a small platform under this main hall. I'll go and summon the old dragon here to make it rain."
Sun Wukong grabbed Zhu Bajie by the ear and pulled Sha Wujing by the hand, and together they arrived at the center of the main hall.
Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie did not disobey, but simply followed Sun Wukong's instructions. The three of them stood in the middle of the hall, where the princess was also burning incense and praying.
Tang Xuanzang sat there chanting scriptures, while Sun Wukong recited incantations. Suddenly, he saw a dark cloud slowly approaching from directly above, which turned out to be the Dragon King of the East Sea.
The Dragon King of the East Sea transformed into human form, stepped forward, bowed to Sun Wukong, and said, "Great Sage, I wonder what brings you here?"
After hearing what the Dragon King of the East Sea, Sun Wukong paused for a moment and then said to him:
"Get up quickly. Thank you for coming here. Actually, there's nothing else. It's just that there's been a drought here for years, and I wanted to ask why it doesn't rain here."
"Although you know I can make it rain, I am the Jade Emperor's hand. If the Jade Emperor forbids me from making it rain here, then I dare not come here to make it rain."
The Dragon King of the East Sea respectfully explained to Sun Wukong, but he was inwardly terrified that the slightest slip of the tongue would enrage Sun Wukong.
After speaking, Sun Wukong pondered seriously for a long time before explaining to the Dragon King of the East Sea. Sun Wukong said:
"I passed by and saw that this place has been suffering from drought for so long, so I specifically asked you to come here to bring rain, but why are you making excuses here?"
Seeing Sun Wukong's furrowed brows, the Dragon King of the East Sea inwardly sighed in alarm and immediately said to Sun Wukong:
"How can you say that's abdication? Since you've summoned me, I dare not refuse. First, I don't have the Jade Emperor's decree; second, my trip was too rushed, and I didn't bring my rain-making minister with me. How could it possibly rain?"
"If you have a kind heart, please let me go back and find some soldiers. You go to the heavens and ask the Jade Emperor for a decree to send rain, so I can send down rain."
Sun Wukong found the words of the Dragon King of the East Sea to be reasonable, so he sent the Dragon King of the East Sea back to the sea. Then he went to Tang Xuanzang's Tang Xuanzang and told him what had just happened.
Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang patted Sun Wukong the shoulder and said seriously, "Since that's the case, then go ahead. Just don't lie here."
Then, Sun Wukong said to Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, "You two stay here and protect Master, I'm going to take a trip to Heavenly Court."
After speaking, Sun Wukong vanished. The princess, terrified, asked Tang Xuanzang, "Elder, where has your disciple gone?"
Before Tang Xuanzang could speak, Zhu Bajie patted his belly and burst into laughter, saying, "My senior brother is already flying through the clouds and soaring Zhu Bajie the sky!"
Upon hearing this, the officials were immediately thrown into a panic and knelt down in the direction where Sun Wukong had left, bowing and paying their respects.
A short while later, Sun Wukong arrived. At the Southern Heavenly Gate, the Four Heavenly Kings stopped Sun Wukong and Sun Wukong:
"Sun Wukong, why didn't you protect Tang Xuanzang on his journey to the Western Heaven to obtain the Buddhist scriptures? Why did you come here instead?"
After hearing what the King Who Upholds the Nation, Sun Wukong said to him:
"Actually, we're almost at Kingdom of Tianzhu. We're currently in a prefecture near Kingdom of Tianzhu, which has been suffering from drought for several years. I specifically wanted to report to the Jade Emperor to request some rain."
King Who Upholds the Nation hearing this, Wide-Eyed Heavenly King was about to speak when Wide-Eyed Heavenly King suddenly interrupted him, saying:
"If we follow your logic, it probably won't work, because rain requires the Jade Emperor's approval no matter where it is."
However, Sun Wukong said to Wide-Eyed Heavenly King without any concern, "I don't care about any of that. What I want now is for that county to have rain."
Sun Wukong had just finished speaking when he started acting like a rogue, but the Four Heavenly Kings didn't react at all. Sun Wukong was very surprised to see this, so he continued to act like a rogue.
Just as Sun Wukong was frowning and acting like a rogue, he squinted at the Four Heavenly Kings, but they still didn't react.
Then Sun Wukong gave up and was about to go in when the Four Heavenly Kings suddenly stopped Sun Wukong. Seeing this, Sun Wukong asked the Four Heavenly Kings with a puzzled look:
"What's going on with you? Why are you stopping me?"
Upon hearing this, Four Heavenly Kings immediately began to explain to Sun Wukong. They said:
"It can't rain there now. I heard that the princess offended the Jade Emperor, Jade Emperor was angry. He then said that it can only rain after the rice mountain, the flour mountain, and the golden lock disappear."
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was completely bewildered but insisted on entering. The Heavenly King dared not stop him and allowed Sun Wukong to pass. Sun Wukong quickly arrived at the main hall and saw the Four Great Celestial Masters. The Four Great Celestial Masters said to Sun Wukong:
"Great Sage Sun, what brings you here?"
After speaking, Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Because we were protecting Tang Xuanzang when we arrived at a place on the Kingdom of Tianzhu where it never rains all year round, the princess asked us to bring rain for her."
"I summoned the Dragon King and asked him to make it rain, but the Dragon King said he dared not proceed without the Jade Emperor's decree. So I came here to ask the Jade Emperor for an imperial edict."
After saying this, Sun Wukong paused for a moment, then continued, "I hope you will do me the favor and allow me to see the Jade Emperor."
After hearing what Sun Wukong said, the Four Great Celestial Masters smiled and said to Sun Wukong, "Great Sage Sun, to tell you the truth, it shouldn't have rained there in the first place."
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong looked at the Four Great Celestial Masters a bewildered expression, and said with a smile, "Don't say so much in front of me, just take me to see the Jade Emperor. Let me see just how much influence I have."