As the story continues, Master Que spotted the trio of Ren, Wu and Zhang coming after him and ran away. He then lead them on quite a chase, speeding up and slowing down and setting the pace at his whim. The three were unable to catch him.

"I reckon he's hiding somewhere," said butcher Zhang. "It won't do any harm to stop and think it over for awhile."

Now, the three were already nearly twenty li out of town and had come to a place called The Dragon's Grave. Ahead was a quiet, secluded path that led to the Temple of the Mound. Suddenly they spotted Master Que entering that shrine!

"All right!" shouted Zhang. "He's walked into a dead end. How can he escape now? Let's get him from all three sides!"

And so Wu Sanlang came down the middle while Zhang and Ren closed in through the left and right halls respectively. Now, Master Que saw them and went into the main worship hall where he climbed onto the sacrificial table. Then, using the hands of the great Buddha for a foothold, he clambored up onto its shoulders, holding on with both hands around its head. The three men then stormed into the hall and confronted him.

"Come down nicely now!" they shouted. "If you don't, we'll climb right up there and drag you down!"

"This is awful!" said Que. "Save me quick, Lord Buddha!" Suddenly the head of the idol broke off in his hands and went tumbling down to the floor. He then quickly dove down into the belly of the Buddha and was gone.

"You're not fooling us!" shouted butcher Zhang. "There's no way out of there. How can you hide from us now? You're as good as caught!" Then climbing up onto the sacrificial table and boosting himself up on the idol's clasped hands, he seated himself upon its shoulders and reached down inside, groping and peering into the darkness. Suddenly a pair of hands shot up and grabbed hold of the butcher, pulling him down into the Buddha's belly.

"Damn!" gasped Wu and Ren. "What do we do now?"

"It won't do any harm to climb up and look around!" said Ren. "Maybe we can figure something out!"

"Little Big Brother," cautioned Wu, "Let's be careful about this. Just forget about looking inside of that thing!"

"Don't worry, I'm a better man than Zhang Yilang!" he replied, before climbing up onto that table and using those palms for a boost onto the idol's shoulders. "Zh-a-a-nng Y-i-i-la-a-anng...!" he shouted down into the hollow space but before his mouth had closed that pair of hands shot right out and seized him at once. Sheer terror gripped Ren Qian. "My true father! My living father!" he pleaded, "Have some pity and forgive me! I won't dare ever to chase you again! Whatever you want...hotcakes, buns, sweetbread, they're all yours for the eating..." Then down went his head and up went his feet as he too plunged into the belly of the Buddha.

"Oh, no!" wailed Wu Sanlang. "Now they've both been swallowed down! How can I go back alone?" He wanted to climb up for a look but he feared the same fate; he wanted to go home, but then how could he ever explain the loss of those two lives? He could only go on up, But looking at that table his legs turned to water and he froze in fear, unable to climb up. He thought it over for awhile and did what he had to, climbing onto the table, then up onto the Buddha. He wanted to have a look inside but only feared being swallowed. He was in panic, unable to advance or retreat, until he thought it over a bit.

"I haven't been using my brains at all!" he thought. "I need only find something hard, break open that belly and pull them both out to safety!" But just as he was climbing down from the table somebody seized him from behind round his waist, hoisted him up and tossed him down into the belly of the Buddha, one of his feet landing on top of someone's head.

"Hey, that's me you're standing on!"

"And just who might you be?" asked Wu.

"Ren Qian."

"Where's Zhang the Eldest?"

"Over here!" replied Zhang Qi.

"How did you get in here?" Ren asked the latest arrival.

"I climbed up to look around for you and got snatched and pulled in here by somebody."

"Me too," said Zhang. "It had to have been that crippled priest. He's played with us enough now! Well, if we find him in the dark down here we'd better just let it go and beg him to get us out of this here belly! Then if he won't help us out we'll have to thump him good!"

At that point the three began searching in the dark for Master Que, without any success. "This Buddha's belly is so big!" said Ren. "Why, look, we can actually walk around in here!"

"How can anyone walk in this darkness?" asked Zhang.

"I'll guide you!" said Ren.

"And I'll follow you both!" replied Wu. Round and about they walked for a li or so.

"Isn't it weird how big this hall is turning out to be? It sure takes a lot of walking to get back to that Buddha's belly!

Just as he was speaking they suddenly saw a spot of brightness. "There is a path, after all!" shouted Wu.

After continuing a bit longer they found a set of rough-hewn stone doors with a shaft of light streaming in from a slit between them. Butcher Zhang leaned forward, pushed one open and stared out. "Great!" he beamed. "What a beautiful mountain scene! All green and sparkling with trees, streams and flowers. What a place!"

"Who'd ever dream of finding such scenery in the belly of the Temple of the Mound's Buddha!" said Wu Sanlang.

"But there's no sign of people!" said Ren Qian. "How can we ask the way back?"

"No problem!" said butcher Zhang. "If there's a road, there must be people somewhere. Let's just press on!" And sure enough after walking another two or three li they came to a large estate. Just look:

"Let's call on the lord of the manor," said butcher Zhang. "Anybody home?" he shouted. "We've lost our way and wandered on in."

"Coming...coming..." went a voice from inside.

The door finally opened and an old woman appeared. The four of them exchanged formalities. "Where are you three from?" she then asked.

"We're city folks, and we've lost our way," replied butcher Zhang. "We'd like to ask the way back to town and buy some food from you, too."

"I'm just a country girl. What do I know of selling food to folks? Anyone who wanders in here is welcome to a meal. Just follow me, fellows."

And so they followed the old woman into a little grass hut where they sat down on a wooden bench. The woman then brought over a long table and placed it in front of them. "I can see that your bellies are all empty so I'll go prepare some rice for you to eat," she said; "If you drink, go on and have a bowl of wine while you wait."

"Thank you so much, ma'am!" said the three. The old woman then went in back and before long emerged with a pot of wine and set out three bowls for them. Then she brought out a steaming hot and fragrant plate of venison and filled the three bowls with wine.

"I know it's nothing like your city wine!" said the woman, modestly. "Out here we ferment it in a wooden crock, so it's only about as strong as tea!"

Now, the three were hungry and thirsty after chasing Master Que and they hadn't had as much as a snack since it all started. "How delicious!" they shouted upon smelling that rich aroma of meat, and together they downed the wine. Then when the old woman served the rice they truly ate their fill.

"Much obliged, madam!" they said. "Here, have some money, won't you?"

"How can I accept payment for a few grains of rice?" she replied while picking up the utensils. The three were then just about to say their goodbyes when who should they spot outside the hut if not that very same Master Que himself!

"You rascal!" shouted butcher Zhang. "You drive us crazy all day and here you are again!" The three men then poured out of the hut and set upon the crippled priest like orioles on a sparrow, seizing him.

"Mom, help!" he shouted as they were about to deal with him. The old woman was right there in an instant.

"You three sure are rude!" she shouted. "This is my son. If he's done anything wrong I'll answer for it!" She then ordered them to release the boy and asked them back into the hut to sit down.

"I give you food and drink out of the goodness of my heart and then you want to beat up my son the moment you lay eyes on him! Why?" scolded the woman. "I think you fellows are way out of line!"

"We're really sorry!" pleaded Zhang. "When we accepted your kind hospitality we didn't know that this crippled monk was your son. He's done a lot of harm to us, and if you hadn't interevened we probably would have broken every bone in his body."

"What did my boy do to deserve that?"

Zhang, Ren and Wu then told her the entire story.

"According to you three, then, it was all my son's fault," said the woman. "Now you just wait while I make him apologise and beg your forgiveness!" Master Que stepped before her. "Just you watch how I handle this!"

""Please old woman!" said Zhang. "We don't wish to see you struggling with your own son. Just have him escort us back home and everything will be fine."

"Good!" said the woman. "Why don't you sit and make yourselves comfortable. "I'm beginning to think that you three are all predestined, and that is why you've just arrived here. But just the same I will order him to take you back, with regrets. You see, I've got secret and holy magic powers, and I'll teach a bit to each of you, giving you deadly skills." She then looked at Master Que. "You refuse to leave home, and then when you finally go out you only stir up trouble! You've made these three men come here. Well, now, whatever magic you've got, show it to them!"

She then turned to the three. "My boy has a few stage skills, and he's going to give you a little demonstration right now!"

"Well, thank you!" said the men.

At your command, mother!" said Master Que. He then reached into his belt and took out a hollow gourd vial, mumbling something and shouting "Live!"

And as they watched, a stream of water poured out of that vial, in an instant covering the floor with waves like the sea. "Wonderful!" shouted the three.

"Now, brothers, let me take it all back in, right in front of your eyes!" said Que. And ever so gradually did he recover that water, right back into the little gourd. And then once again he mumbled something and commanded "Live!", and this time a tongue of flame shot out of the little container, instantly rising up to sear the sky!

"Great!" said the three in appreciation, and once more Que recovered his magic.

"Master Que!" said Zhang in awe. "Would you be willing to give us that little hollow gourd?"

"Son!" commanded the old woman. "Give elder brother the Fire and Water Vial!"

Now, Master Que didn't dare defy his mother. He handed that little Fire and Water Vial right over to butcher Zhang, who thanked him heartily.

"Now I've got yet another trick to show you!" said Que. He then took out a sheet of paper and scissors and cut out a horse. Placing it on the floor before him, he then shouted "Live!" That paper horse then rose up quickly from the floor, tail wagging and head rearing high, eventually becoming a fine white horse! And here is a Xijiangyue poem:

Master Que then leapt up onto that horse and let out a yell. Off he went, galloping up into the sky. After a good length of time he gradually came back down to earth. He then climbed down off of its back and it changed back into a paper horse. "Would you like that trick too, brothers?" he asked.

"I'd sure love to learn that paper horse charm!" said Wu Sanlang. Master Que then took the paper cutting of the horse and gave it to him, receiving warm thanks.

"Two of our elder brothers have now got some of the craft!" said the old woman. "How about the third?"

"Anything you say, Mother!" said Que. "I wouldn't dare disobey you...I was just afraid my childish skills weren't up to it..."

A woman then appeared just as he was speaking, none other than our very own Hu Yong'r herself! "Myriad blessings, all of you!" she said in greeting. Then she turned to the woman.

"Please, Mum! Let me teach elder brother a magic charm. I'm at your command!"

"Let the holy work be done!" said the old woman.

Hu Yong'r went inside and came out with a bench that she placed on the ground in front of the hut. She then sat on it, mumbled something and shouted "LIve!" All then watched that bench change into a giant tiger with a white head and bulging eyes. As for what it looked like, there is this Xijiangyue poem:

Now Hu Yong'r mounted that tiger, shouted "Rise up!" and up it went into the sky. "Be still!" she commanded, and the giant cat gradually came back down to earth. "Live!" she then shouted and it changed back into a bench as before.

"Well, brother Ren," asked the old woman, "did you see that?"

"Oh, yes auntie! I've seen it all!"

"My daughter, you can now pass the magic charm to brother Ren!" Hu Yong'r then gave him the secret code and he thanked her.

"Now I want each of you three to perform once!" ordered the woman.

Each of them was able to accomplish his trick.

"Now that you three have finally got some magic craft," continued the woman, "I've got something to ask of you. I don't know whether you'll be willing, though..."

"Go ahead, auntie! Whether we're willing or not, there's no harm in asking us!"

"Now be informed, you three, that on a certain future day there will be an event at Beizhou, and you will have a chance to come forth to assist us and likewise be rewarded with geat wealth."

"We've heard your request, auntie," said Zhang, "about helping out someday at Beizhou. Now, if you please, just show us the road back home!"

"I'll have my son take you back into the city."

"At your command!" said Master Que.

The trio then thanked the old woman, who gazed on them. "My son will now guide you back, brothers, and tomorrow you are to meet us again at the Temple of the Mound."

They then bade farewell to the old woman and Yong'r.

Master Que then led the way, and just as they had travelled the first few hundred metres a high mountain came into view, and Master Que led the trio up to the top "Can you see the capital, brothers?" he then asked.

Butcher Zhang, Wu Sanlang and Ren Qian then gazed out and saw the city just a short distance ahead. Just then, Master Que fiercely came at the three and pushed them down with one shove, and suddenly they woke up in fright in the Temple of the Mound! Butcher Zhang watched incredulously as Wu Sanlang and Ren Qian also awoke.

"What do you two remember seeing?" he asked.

"Master Que taught us some magic craft," said Wu Sanlang; "have you still got that little gourd vial on you?"

When butcher Zhang groped around he indeed found it next to his breast.

"I've still got my little paper horse here!" said Wu.

"What I learnt was the magic code for conjuring up the giant tiger!" said Ren.

"It was half dream and half real," said butcher Zhang; "that Master Que, the old woman, and then that Hu Yong'r were all really weird. And especially that bit about us helping them out someday at Beizhou; who knows what that's supposed to mean?"

Just as the three sat there unable to figure it out they caught sight of Master Que coming out from behind that idol of the Buddha. "Now go home, you three!" he admonished, "Remember the magic you've learnt and come back to meet us here in the temple tomorrow!" The three then left him there and each went back to his own home. And here is a poem:

Next morning after breakfast the three went back to the Temple of the Mound, and upon looking inside saw only the Buddha sitting there ever so still. The three then went to search around in back for the old woman and crippled priest but didn't find them. "Let's go home!" said butcher Zhang, but after he spoke they heard another voice.

"Now, don't you fellows go back! I've been waiting here for a long time!" And when the trio looked, it was none other than that old woman from the day before, emerging from behind the idol.

"We're here!" shouted the men with all their vigor.

"As you three gentlemen are so late, why don't you give me a little demonstration of the skills we passed on to you yesterday for future use?"

"Mine is the magic vial of water and fire," said Zhang. He then mumbled a chant and shouted "Live!" and out shot the flood of water. Then came the cry "Recover!" and the water gradually retreated into the little gourd. Again he shouted "Live!" and there appeared a flash of fire shooting up from the little vial. And once more he shouted "Recover!" and the fire slowly retreated into the gourd. "I've done it!" shouted Zhang in glee.

Next Wu Sanlang pulled out the paper horse from inside his blouse, put it on the ground and chanted something. Then he shouted "Live!" and it changed into a white horse trotting happily along. Wu climbed onto the stallion, rode for a few moments and then dismounted, and it turned back into a paper horse.

Ren Qian then got a bench from the back of the hall and sat straddled it, uttered a charm and shouted "Live!" That bench then became a giant tiger and roared right off. "Halt!" shouted Ren and the giant beast slowly recovered its original form of a bench. Suddenly as he was finishing his demonstration another voice was heard.

"For Heaven's sake!" a man was shouting, "You're practicing sorcery! The government has posted signs for the arrest of sorcerers, and if they find out about this I'll be involved!"

They all suddenly turned around to see see a Buddhist monk standing there in a flame pattern gown and earrings. "I've been watching you from outside for awhile," he said.

"I'm to blame for this, Master!" said the woman. "I taught them a bit of magic craft here."

"Well, I hope you've taught them well. Otherwise it's just a waste of energy. Let them show me what they can do!"

The old woman then told the three to perform once more, and each went through his paces.

"Well, Master," said the woman. "How about these three disciples of mine?"

"They didn't do so well in my opinion!" replied the monk.

"You Bonzes are all the same!" scolded the woman. "Do any of you ever dare do anything really earthshaking? If you've got any magic at all, give us a show of it!"

The monks two hands then came out of his sleeves, and when he thrust them open his fingertips beamed forth rays of golden light, iluminating five images of Buddha. Ren, Wu and Zhang fell in worship.

Now, while the three were praying yet another voice was heard. "This temple was established by order of the imperial court Are you practicing Jingang Zen Sorcery here?"

The monk quickly pulled back the five beams of light and all turned to see a Daoist wizard riding into the hall on a fierce beast of prey. Seeing the old woman he dismounted, raised high a fist and then kowtowed.

"Your disciple is here to pay his respects!" he shouted. He then bowed to that monk. Ren, Wu, and Zhang in bowed in turn to the newcomer.

"Have these three all got the craft?" he asked.

"Indeed they have!" said the old woman.

"Your humble wizard has also brought a new disciple here!" answered the gentleman.

"Where is he?"

"By the power of the gods!" commanded the gentleman.

That fierce animal then dipped and swung its head and disappeared, and standing in its place was a man. Those present all trembled at the sight. And as the woman looked on she saw that it was none other than the merchant Pu Ji! The two of them exchanged salutes.

"Pu Ji!" she said. "What brings you here!"

"Auntie! If Master Zhang Ying hadn't saved my life I'm afraid I wouldn't be standing here in front of you now!"

"How did you save him?" the old woman asked Zhang Ying.

"In a grove about thirty li outside of Zhengzhou I suddenly heard someone shouting 'Save me, Holy Auntie!' I realised that was your name, and I used my powers to save him from great danger."

"I see!" said the old woman. "And now that you've met, has he been taught any of your secret crafts?"

"I sure have!" interrupted Pu Ji.

"Have you seen my own magic yet?" asked the woman.

"Show us what you can do, your holiness!" pleaded the bonze and the wizard as one.

The old woman then reached up and snatched out a golden hairpin and shouted "Live!", changing it into a precious sword. She took this and slashed a line down the front of her chest. Then she clenched her fists and beat on either side, popping open her chest cavity. And when they all gathered round, this is what they saw:

"Wonderful!" they all shouted, all the while frightened out of their wits. But suddenly, just as they were admiring the scene, a great commotion was heard outside and a procession came walking in.

"What do we do now?" shouted one of the group.

"Don't panic!" said the bonze. "Just get behind me!" They then hid themselves behind his back.

Now, there were more than twenty men in that procession, all with crossbows strapped to their sides and carrying caged falcons. They were from all over, officials and private individuals both. A mid ranking official rode up to the hall on horseback and dismounted, opened a folding chair and sat. The followers then formed two lines in front of him. Now this official was known as Flawless Commander Wang. This was a day off for him, so he took a holiday and brought this group of his outside of the city for a romp. This leg of their journey had brought them to the Temple of the Mound, where they played a bit of football and had a round of archery. Then the entire entourage ate and drank in the temple, and when the leader had quite a few cups of wine he mounted his horse and reentered the hall with all of his men following him.

"What should I say?" said the old woman. "These men are full of joy and happiness and now they're in for a shock on account of our being in here!"

Butcher Zhang, Ren Qian and Wu Sanlang recognized him.

"He's a mid ranking aristocrat and an official of the tin mines, and he's called Flawless Commander Wang. He is a man of pious and fine character who patronises Bonzes and good works."

"Just watch the trouble I make for him tomorrow!" said the bonze.

The men all dispersed. But on account of our bonze's desire to disturb Flawless Commander Wang, there will be thirty messengers with terror in their eyes coming in from all around Kaifeng and surrounding county, and the brightest officials and inspectors will seek to uncover and apprehend the rebels. The greater Kaifeng area will be in turmoil over the Sutra of the One in White, with the rebels belonging to two heterodox sects of Buddhism and Daoism working together to seduce people and make them into followers of Jingang Zen.

As for what the bonze now has in store, turn to the coming chapter and read more.