Chapter Eight: The Golden Star of the West Enlightens Jin Lang — A Parting Letter Left for His Elder Brother

The Jade Emperor read the memorial through, then sighed: "Truly, time passes easily — it is already thirteen years without my realizing it. Since you, virtuous one, have submitted this petition, it is right that it be granted. Please wait a moment; I shall summon the Golden Star of the West to appear before the throne and dispatch him to the mortal world." The Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool gave thanks for the imperial grace and withdrew to the Hall of Scattered Immortals to await the Imperial Decree.

In Jade Clarity Palace, having dismissed the Holy Mother with his instructions, the Jade Emperor commanded the attendant celestial officials to prepare the imperial procession and convey him to the Hall of Brilliant Illumination. The Jade Emperor ascended his treasure throne; the assembled civil and military star-gods prostrated themselves at the foot of the golden steps and cried out the three salutations, then returned each to his proper rank. The Jade Emperor issued a decree summoning the Lord of the Golden Star of the West to come forward. The Golden Star stepped promptly from his rank and memorialized: "Your subject stands ready to receive the Imperial Decree!" The Jade Emperor said: "The Holy Mother of the Jasper Pool has just submitted a memorial stating that the Twelfth Golden Youth has been banished to the mortal world for thirteen years, and that his term of fulfillment has now come. She petitions Us to issue a decree granting him his fulfillment. You shall carry Our decree, descend to the mortal world, and carry out the matter there." The Golden Star of the West received the decree, withdrew from the hall, mounted a bright cloud of good omen, and proceeded directly toward the Southern Heavenly Gate. In the Hall of Brilliant Illumination, the Jade Emperor retired from court and returned to his palace, while the assembled star-gods each dispersed to their own affairs.

We now turn to the Lord of the Golden Star, who, bearing the imperial decree, arrived at the Southern Heavenly Gate and descended to the lower world. Coming to the region of Henan, he reined in his cloud and surveyed the scene in all four directions. He saw the Golden Ox Star grazing on a hillside, and nearby saw Jin Lang lying asleep beneath a pine tree, eyes shut tight, his breathing deep and steady. The Golden Star descended, appearing in the form of a grand Daoist priest, a fly-whisk in hand, and walked at a leisurely pace toward the ox. The ox raised its head, and seeing it was the Golden Star of the West, wagged its head and swished its tail and said cheerfully: "I did not know the Star Official had come — forgive me for failing to meet you. I beg you not to reproach me!" The Golden Star laughed: "Golden Ox Star, how have you been keeping? I have come especially to look in on you. Do you remember in the Heavenly Palace how you feasted on fairy peaches and celestial fruits, dragon liver and phoenix marrow — and who could have imagined that here in the mortal world you would end up eating the wild grass of barren hills? It truly pains the heart!" And he made a few teasing remarks. The Golden Ox Star replied: "Star Official, there is no need to mock me! I came here to rescue the Golden Youth — this is no obstacle of my own making. Why must you tease me?" The Golden Star said: "You came to rescue the Golden Youth, and I have come to fetch both of you. The Golden Youth has been in the mortal world for thirteen years; it is to your credit that you have stayed by his side all this time, and whenever he faced some unforeseen trouble, you counseled and consoled him through his hardships with such loyal and wholehearted devotion — truly admirable! Now, bearing the Holy Decree of the Jade Emperor, I have come here to bid you both ascend together to the Heavenly Court. Go and wake the Golden Youth, and tell him all."

The Golden Ox Star received the command and went to Jin Lang's side, where he nudged him with one foot. Jin Lang startled awake and quickly sat up. "Why have you called me? Please tell me!" The ox said: "The Golden Star of the West has descended with an imperial decree; you and I are both commanded to ascend to the Heavenly Court together. Hurry and go pay your respects to the Golden Star of the West!" Jin Lang was greatly astonished to hear this. He looked up and saw an immortal elder sitting on a great boulder before him, smiling and beckoning to him as though calling out his name. Having heard the ox's account, Jin Lang had no choice but to step forward and bow deeply to the Golden Star of the West. He said: "Immortal Elder, I am grateful beyond words for your condescension in descending here. I have also heard from the ox that you have come to escort us to ascend to the Heavenly Court — but we are merely mortal men and beasts; how could we possibly ascend to Heaven?" The Golden Star of the West smiled: "Did the Golden Ox not just tell you? I was the one who brought the two of you to this place; now that thirteen years have passed, the Jade Emperor has again sent me to bring you both back with me, so that your predestined bond may be brought to its conclusion." As he spoke, the Golden Star of the West reached into his ear and drew out an immortal elixir pill, which he commanded the Golden Youth to take and swallow.

The Golden Youth received it in his palm and looked at it: the pill was the size of a longan, and it glittered in five colors. He hesitated to swallow it. The ox at his side said: "Just go ahead and swallow it — it won't hurt you. Eat it and you shall be enlightened." Jin Lang followed the ox's advice and swallowed it. In a moment he felt his body grow light and fresh, his spirit full and vital. He bowed in gratitude to the Golden Star of the West: "I am deeply moved by the Immortal Elder's grace and kindness — I shall never forget it, and have no way to repay it. I humbly ask the Immortal Elder to explain things clearly to me." The Golden Star of the West said: "By nature, you are the Twelfth Golden Youth who served before the Jade Emperor at the Jade Terrace in the Heavens. In the year of the Jade Emperor's birthday, you were sent to the Jasper Pool Palace of the Holy Mother of the Dipper and Ox to borrow the Warm-and-Cool Jade Cup. When you arrived at the palace, you saw the beauty of the Celestial Granddaughter Weaving Maid, and, in defiance of your orders, you teased and vexed her and plucked a plum blossom. This provoked the Emperor's wrath, and he banished you to the mortal world to suffer. Thirteen years have now passed, and the term of your fulfillment has come. The Golden Ox Star, fearing that your life might be in danger in the mortal world, was sent down by the Jade Emperor to rescue you. He has endured hardship alongside you, and when you stand before the Jade Emperor, you ought to speak a few words in his behalf. But your elder brother treated you with kindness and grace; now that you must bid him farewell, even if you cannot speak to him face to face, you should at least leave a letter behind, to repay the bond of brotherhood."

Jin Lang, hearing this account from beginning to end, suddenly understood everything, as though a fog had lifted from his mind. Combined with the awakening power of the immortal elixir, he was already half transformed into a celestial being. He found a piece of white stone, blew upon it once, and it turned into paper. He reached into a hollow in the rock, drew out some water, and poured it upon some dust on the ground — in an instant it became a pool of ink. He broke off a pine branch, blew upon it once, and it became a writing brush with a fine tip. He sat down on the ground, braced the paper on the rock, dipped the brush deep into the ink, and began to write. When the letter was finished, he brought it to the Golden Star of the West, who read it through and said: "Just as it is written — hurry and deliver it. We will wait for you here."

Jin Lang flew off like a puff of smoke and arrived at the family gate, where he found the old manservant sitting inside the entrance. The man rose and asked: "Young Master is back? Come and have your meal." Jin Lang said: "I have a farewell letter here — please deliver it to my elder brother on my behalf. I shall not be going inside." The servant said: "Young Master, why will you not go in? What is the meaning of this farewell letter? Please give me a full explanation." Jin Lang said: "You need not press me for details. My elder brother has been good to me, and I cannot forget it. Today we part forever, and so I leave this letter to say what I cannot say in person. Old Gate-Keeper, you have looked after me all these years — I bid you farewell as well." With these words, he bowed deeply, turned, and was gone. The old servant tried to rush forward and hold him back, but Jin Lang, having swallowed the immortal elixir, was already half a celestial being — how could the servant possibly catch him? From this day forward, Jin Lang was gone forever, never to be seen again; he left only the farewell letter as his thanks. As for Mrs. Ma, who had so mistreated him — she would have her reckoning in due time.

The servants chased after him for some distance. Then suddenly they saw young Master Jin Cheng returning, and saw the old servant gasping and out of breath. Jin Cheng stopped and asked what had happened. The old servant said nothing further, but handed the farewell letter to Jin Cheng. Jin Cheng took it in his hands, read it, and was greatly startled. To know what happens next, wait for the following chapter — all will become clear.