Chapter 334: Chapter 334

The eunuch did as told, tying the golden thread around the King’s wrist and then handing the end to Sun Wukong.

With his right hand on the golden thread, Sun Wukong examined the pulse of the Zhu Zi Country’s King.

The many ministers watched intently, daring not to make a sound for fear of disturbing Wukong’s pulse-taking.

Suddenly, Wukong’s arm shivered, and the three golden threads were swiftly retracted.

"How is it, Divine Monk?"

The ministers immediately burst into discussion.

Sun Wukong gathered his thoughts, which in reality meant he was listening to his elder brother’s words.

"Your Majesty’s pulse indicates that he likely suffers from a syndrome of shock and anxiety, known as the ’double birds scattered from their flock’ syndrome."

Upon hearing this, the King’s face showed excitement, finally having his condition diagnosed. He laughed and said, "That’s right, that’s the condition! Please, Divine Monk, provide the cure!"

Instead of responding immediately, Sun Wukong slowly walked out of the Imperial Palace.

Seeing this, the many ministers hurriedly followed Sun Wukong out of the palace.

Xuanzang was also full of curiosity.

"What’s the situation? Was the diagnosis of His Majesty’s illness successful? I wonder if there is a suitable medication?"

Just as Sun Wukong was about to reply, those officials approached him.

"Divine Monk, Divine Monk, may I inquire about the ’double birds scattered from their flock’ syndrome you mentioned?"

One of the officials began to question.

The other officials all looked towards Sun Wukong expectantly.

Xuanzang, too, grew curious upon hearing the officials’ words, wondering about this ’double birds scattered from their flock’ syndrome.

Smiling, Sun Wukong explained, "Originally, there were a pair of birds that flew together. Suddenly, they were scattered by a violent storm. The female can’t see the male, and the male can’t see the female. The female longs for the male, and the male longs for the female—isn’t this the case of double birds scattered from their flock?"

The officials, upon hearing Sun Wukong’s words, nodded in agreement and chorused their praise, "Truly a Divine Monk! Truly a Divine Doctor!"

Their praise was endless.

They had clearly known this for some time, so when Sun Wukong managed to deduce these details from the pulse, their amazement knew no bounds.

However, another imperial physician questioned, "Now that the illness has been determined, what medication would be used for treatment?"

Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "One need not fixate on prescriptions, I simply need to see the herbs."

The medical officer was astonished and exclaimed, "There are eight hundred and eight types of medicines, and people have four hundred and four types of diseases."

"When the ailment is not confined to one person, how can all herbs be deemed fitting? How can you simply want to see them all?"

Being a medical officer, he too had seen many complex and baffling diseases but never had he seen such a way of treatment.

Wukong explained, "The ancients said, ’Medicine needs no fixed formula; if suitable, it can be used.’ Therefore, I hope to have all the herbs brought to me, so that Old Sun can reduce or augment them as needed, ensuring that the remedy eradicates the illness."

Seeing how extraordinary Sun Wukong was, the medical officer no longer pressed the issue and immediately went out of the palace gate to procure the medicines!

He searched the city for all established and makeshift pharmacies to gather all kinds of herbs, three jin of each kind, and delivered them for Sun Wukong to moderate as he saw fit.

Sun Wukong said, "This place isn’t suitable for making medicine. Have these medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients, as well as the tools for making medicine, delivered to Huitong Inn for my two junior brothers to handle."

Following the command, the medical officer had all the herbs brought to the inn.

Xuanzang had intended to go back with Sun Wukong but was instead ordered by His Majesty to stay, promising to exchange the travel documents at Wenhua Hall after the medication was taken the next day and the illness cured.

Xuanzang undoubtedly understood the King’s intentions.

"Disciple, the meaning here is to use me as a bargaining chip. If I cure him well, His Majesty will happily see us off. If not, my little life is forfeit!"

"You must take care in preparing the medication!"

Seeing Master Xuanzang’s unease, Sun Wukong couldn’t help but laugh and said, "Master, rest assured, Old Sun will certainly cure His Majesty’s illness!"

After saying farewell to Xuanzang and bidding adieu to the many ministers, Sun Wukong returned to the inn.

As Sun Wukong was entering, Zhu Bajie hurriedly came out to greet him.

"Elder Brother, I know what you’re planning!"

Zhu Bajie spoke with an air of secrecy.

Sun Wukong looked at Zhu Bajie, who seemed so mysteriously smug, with increasing curiosity.

Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Brother Monkey, aren’t you just realizing that seeking scriptures won’t work out, and since you see wealth in this place, you’re planning to open a pharmacy and make money!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong could not help but laugh and said, "You fool, spouting nonsense again. Once I’ve cured the King, we’ll exchange the travel documents and be on our way. What pharmacy would I open?"

Zhu Bajie heard this and exaggeratedly retorted, "Brother Monkey, don’t fool me. With eight hundred and eight types of herbs, three jin each, that makes two thousand four hundred and twenty-four jin in total—just to treat one person, how much will actually be used?"

"Who knows how many people could be treated? And yet you claim you don’t want to start a pharmacy here!"

Sun Wukong, hearing this, could only shake his head silently and said, "Where would we need so much? Those officials at the Imperial Medical Bureau are all ignorant; by bringing so much medicine, they can’t fathom which herbs I will use. This way, Old Sun can seem mysterious."

While they were talking, two innkeepers came over, knelt down before them, and said, "Please, Divine Monk, enjoy your dinner."

Sun Wukong shook his head upon seeing this and said, "You treated us poorly this morning, and now you kneel and invite us for dinner—what’s the meaning of this change?"

Zhu Bajie also snorted coldly, "Exactly, exactly, making us cook for ourselves!"

Zhu Bajie was dissatisfied indeed, having not yet had a full meal.

The innkeepers, in a rush, kowtowed profusely, "When the honored monk arrived, we had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. We could not see how capable you divine monks were."

"Having heard today of the honored monk’s magnificent feats in treating our sovereign, if His Majesty recovers from his illness, then even this kingdom bears your mark, and we are all your subjects. It is only right to respectfully invite you."

Seeing this, Sun Wukong no longer wished to make things difficult for the two of them.

He ascended the hall with Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk and took their seats.

Bajie and Sand Monk sat to the left and the right respectively, as the table was set for the meal.

Upon noticing that Xuanzang was not there, Sand Monk couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Big Brother, where is Master?"

With a chuckle, Sun Wukong replied, "Master has been detained by the King, used as a hostage. We’ll be rewarded and sent on our way once the King’s illness is cured."

Upon hearing this, Sand Monk began to worry and asked, "Doesn’t that mean Master won’t have it easy?"

"Junior Brother Sand, no need to worry too much. Master is faring much better than we are. When I came back, he already had three elder statesmen at his side, inviting him to the Wenhua Hall!"

Sun Wukong said, waving his hand dismissively.

Zhu Bajie, upon hearing this, also chimed in spontaneously, "In that case, Master really is comfortable. He has elder statesmen accompanying him and servants at his beck and call, while we only have two innkeepers to flatter us."

"Let’s not bother about him then; let Old Pig have a full meal first," he concluded.

Without further ado, Sun Wukong and the others began devouring the vegetarian meal.

By the time they finished, night had already fallen.

Sun Wukong asked the manager to put things away and to buy some extra candles.

"Sirs, will you be making the medicine tonight?"

The manager asked, nodding.

"Of course, we need to cure His Majesty as soon as possible so that we can set off early!"

The two managers nodded in agreement.

By midnight, the streets were silent and deserted.

Unable to wait any longer, Zhu Bajie urged, "Brother Monkey, what kind of medicine are you making? Hurry up and finish so we can go to sleep!"

Glancing at the sky, Sun Wukong also nodded and said,

"Go and get one tael of rhubarb and grind it into a fine powder!"

Zhu Bajie nodded and hurriedly followed the order.

Knowing a bit about medicine, Sand Monk expressed his doubts, "Rhubarb tastes bitter. Isn’t it true that it shouldn’t be used by those weak from prolonged illness?"

"Junior Brother Sand, you don’t understand. This medicine dissipates phlegm and smooths the flow of qi, eliminating the stagnating cold and heat in the stomach."

"Don’t worry about it, just get one tael of croton seeds, shell them, peel off the membranes, pound away the oil and toxicity, and grind them into a fine powder," he instructed.

Zhu Bajie said in surprise, "Brother Monkey, croton seeds taste pungent, are hot, and poisonous. They dispel deep cold in the lungs and intestines, clear obstructions, and facilitate the pathways of water and grain. They should not be used lightly, right?"

Sun Wukong explained, "Blockhead, you also don’t know that this medicine breaks through obstructions and soothes the intestines, regulating water distention in the heart. Quickly make the medicine; I have additional ingredients to add."

The two hurriedly ground the two medicines into a fine powder.

"Big Brother, do we still need those dozens of other ingredients?"

Sun Wukong shook his head, "No need."

Curious, Zhu Bajie said, "Out of the eight hundred and eight ingredients, three jin of each, now we’re only using these two. Isn’t this just playing a trick on them?"

Sun Wukong handed a bowl to Zhu Bajie and said, "Don’t worry, brother. Take this bowl and scrape some pot ash."

With the bowl in hand, Zhu Bajie curiously asked, "What do we need that for?"

"Of course, it’s for making the medicine," Sun Wukong replied.

Even Sand Monk couldn’t help but express his surprise, "I’ve never before seen pot ash used for internal medication."

Laughing, Sun Wukong said, "Pot ash is known as hundred-herb frost and can harmonize all sorts of ailments. You wouldn’t know that."

Sure enough, Zhu Bajie quickly scraped some into the bowl and ground it finely.

Sun Wukong then handed the bowl back to Zhu Bajie, saying, "Blockhead, now go and fetch some of our White Horse’s urine."

Zhu Bajie, surprised, asked, "What do we need that for?"

With complete conviction, Sun Wukong stated, "To make the pills."

At this point, Sand Monk couldn’t help but laugh and say, "Big Brother, isn’t this just playing with them? Horse urine smells foul; how can it be part of a medicinal recipe?"

"I’ve seen pills made with vinegar, with sticky rice paste, with refined honey, or just with clear water, but never with horse urine."

"That stench is repugnant. Someone with a weak spleen would vomit at the smell. After consuming croton seeds and rhubarb, if the person were to end up vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, how would that be alright?"

However, Sun Wukong simply shook his head and said, "Aren’t you aware? Our White Horse is no ordinary horse; he is originally the Dragon of the Western Sea."

"If we can use his urine, no matter how severe the ailment, taking it will lead to certain recovery."

Hearing this, Zhu Bajie actually went over to the horse.

The horse had been lying on the ground asleep; the blockhead kicked it up, propped up his belly, placed the bowl underneath, and waited quite a while, yet the horse did not urinate.

He came back and said to Sun Wukong, "Brother, forget about treating the Emperor for now; first treat the horse."

"It hasn’t urinated a single drop!"

Laughing, Sun Wukong said, "I’ll go have a look with you."

Wanting to join the spectacle, Sand Monk added, "I want to see too."

All three went over to the horse, and upon seeing all three men approach, the horse leaped to its feet, speaking in a human voice, it sternly exclaimed, "Brothers, how could you not know? I was originally the White Dragon of the Western Sea. Having committed an offence in heaven, Guanyin Bodhisattva rescued me, transformed me into a horse to carry Master in our journey to seek scriptures in the Western Heaven in order to atone for my sins."

"If I were to urinate in the water, fish that consume it could turn into dragons."

"Should I urinate on the mountain, the plants that absorb its essence would transform into Lingzhi, which immortal attendants gather for longevity."

"How could I possibly urinate freely in this mundane world?"

Nodding, Sun Wukong replied, "Wise words, brother, but this place belongs to the Western King, not the mundane world, and we are about to heal the monarch of this country."

"If we cure him well, we can all leave peacefully;, if not, we won’t be able to depart, and Master will still be held in the Imperial Palace."

"If we fail to heal the King, there’s no need for us to continue seeking scriptures!"

After hearing these words, the White Dragon Horse fell silent for a moment and then said, "Wait here!"