Trouble in Heaven

Journey to the West 11 Trouble in Heaven

Erlang quickly tied up Wukong and brought him up to Heaven. “ I want Sun Wukong destroyed, ” said the Jade Emperor. Soldiers tied Wukong to a pillar in a courtyard. They struck him with swords. But his body was as hard as a diamond. The swords shattered. Wukong laughed. “ Your swords can’t hurt me! ”

The Jade Emperor turned to a messenger. “ Bring in the fire gods. ” Several fire gods entered the courtyard and threw balls of flame at Wukong. The courtyard filled with smoke. But when the smoke cleared, not one hair on Wukong’s body was burned. “ Thank you! ” Wukong laughed. “ I was feeling a little cold! ”

“ Gather the thunder gods, ” said the Jade Emperor. Several thunder gods entered the courtyard. The Jade Emperor smiled as lightning bolts shot toward Wukong. But even the lightning couldn’t harm the monkey. “ That tickled! ” said Wukong with a smile. The Jade Emperor shook his head. “ It seems that Wukong can’t be destroyed. ”

“ That’s because he ate all the peaches, ” said Laozi. “ Just one peach would make someone live forever. He ate every peach in the garden! ” The emperor frowned. “ Then how will we get rid of him?” “ I have an idea, ” said Laozi. “ I’ll put him in the large pot I use for making potions. Maybe we can burn him up slowly. ”

“ Perfect, ” said the Jade Emperor. Soldiers brought Wukong to a room in Laozi’s palace. A large pot sat in the middle of the room. Laozi put Wukong into the pot and then closed the lid. Laozi started a fire under the pot. Day and night he tended the fire. He kept it burning for 49 days. “ Wukong must have been destroyed by now, ” thought Laozi.