The Heavenly Prophecy and Chao Tong's Reluctant Mission

A few days later, the Ling army finally arrived at Longsongdo, the place where the merchant caravan had been plundered. They pitched more tents at the edge of the forest than there are stars in the sky. One night, the Heavenly Father, White Brahma King, appeared surrounded by a halo of colorful light. Holding an ironwood staff in his right hand and a bell in his left, he descended upon a rainbow of seven colors into King Gesar's tent. He gave the Great King a prophecy:

"If you do not know who I am, I am the White Brahma King of the Thirty-Three Heavens, the divine king who knows the truth of all things. The reason I have come now is that we have not met for a long time, and today is the day we should meet. The azure dragon that roars in the third month has come to descend. Gesar, the Lion King of Ling, blessed by all the gods and buddhas of the world, is the nemesis of demons and the savior of the weak. King Gesar and Gaden, Akhu Chao Tong and Lanba Damu, Gongga Gyentsen and Luo Jingjing Mei, these six with the most powerful magic in the neighboring lands, though among these six the divine son's magic is the greatest, it is Darong Chao Tong who must serve as the vanguard. At the pass of the Hundred Flowers Blooming Mountain, only he can be sent as the scout. All causes and conditions are set; heed this well, Divine Son!"

After the White Brahma King finished this song, a rainbow of seven colors descended from the sky, and the Heavenly Father vanished into its light. King Gesar, as if awakened by sacred nectar, immediately ordered all the generals and troops to gather at the great camp and shared the prophecy with his ministers. Although the Great King Gesar usually disliked his uncle Chao Tong intensely, the Heavenly Father had instructed him to make good use of this unlearned uncle. So he could only pretend to be affable and say to Chao Tong, "The Heavenly Father has prophesied that only a minister of great magic can serve as the vanguard of Ling. In this beautiful land of Ling, who is more powerful in casting spells than Uncle Chao Tong? Therefore, to send a vanguard officer to patrol the Hundred Flowers Mountain pass, no one is more suitable than you."

While the King praised Chao Tong in this way, ministers like Danma and Sinba secretly scoffed, but upon reflection, they assumed the King must have his own plans, so they raised no objections. Upon hearing this, King Chao Tong was instead displeased. He thought to himself, 'This nephew still harbors a grudge against me. Now that we're campaigning against the Gongbu country, which is fiercer than rakshasas, he's all smiles. There must be some scheme in this.' He immediately stood up and said, "Just as a single fast horse cannot make all horses fast, the bravery of only me, King Chao Tong, in the Ling army cannot be counted as the bravery of all Ling! Even if I were to die for my country, I would only be just an uncle. No amount of your praise would be of any use. Think about it, usually, I don't even have the title of a common officer, and during wartime, the generals don't want to fight alongside me. Now that we've come to this godforsaken place called Gongbu, where it's hot enough to catch fire and cold enough to be covered in ice and snow, and where there are demonic whirlwinds, you want to send me as the vanguard?"

As King Chao Tong spoke, he felt quite wronged, and then he continued singing:

"The azure dragon in the middle of the lake! It soars into the sky when it encounters wind and rain. Its angry roar can spread across the entire world. It is the master of lightning and hail. You don't value me in peacetime, but now when war is needed, you place me, Chao Tong, in the position of a king. When you don't need me, Chao Tong, I am the object of disdain for all the uncles and nephews in Ling, the laughingstock of all the women of Ling, the one looked down upon by all the men of Ling. When you need me, I am a gem; when you don't, I am but sand and stone. You do everything to me in peacetime, but when trouble comes, you want me to be the vanguard. No matter how much you hate me, I will certainly not go to this place!"

After singing this song, he sat down heavily, panting heavily. The Great King Gesar signaled to Prince Zhale with a look, and Prince Zhale knew it was time for him to persuade Chao Tong. So Prince Zhale rose from his seat, walked before King Chao Tong, and took out fifteen gold coins and an auspicious khata from his golden gau. He placed them before his elder. He said, "The descendants of the Dokham Ling region are all descendants of gods, and in this beautiful Ling, whose magic can match yours, King Chao Tong? Now is a critical moment in the war against the Gongbu demon kingdom. Among all the soldiers, none can replace you as the vanguard officer. As for the past, may your generosity and magnanimity prevail!"

Prince Zhale then sang:

"The soldiers of Ling have come to the south to defeat the Demon King. The Demon King has many generals under him, but only King Chao Tong can subdue the mages of boundless power. The gods have already issued a divine decree. When a horse reaches a certain age, it must be ridden; when a child is raised to a certain age, he must go. We can no longer stay here. All you soldiers! If the timid elder won't go, the black-hat sorcerer will come for you. These are the prophecies of the gods. Elder, if you won't go south, then I, Zhale, will go. What does it matter if we're without you? If you don't practice the Dharma diligently in life, who will come to save you when you fall into hell after death? A child must obey his parents; the gods have already prophesied your fate. What do you have to worry about? Isn't that right, soldiers? I'll go with you, Elder. Keep my words in your heart!"

After hearing this speech from Zhale, which was half comfort and half threat, Chao Tong felt particularly afraid. After a long while, he finally replied, "It is said that the demon kingdom of Aqiong Muzha has three black-hat sorcerers of boundless magic. If I were to encounter them, it's uncertain who would win. If I win, what reward will you give me? Think back, when we fought against the Jiang territory, who was it that took the life of the demon's guru? Now we face demons again; watch how I take the lives of those black-hat sorcerers."

As Chao Tong spoke his boasts, he was inwardly calculating how to deal with the situation. Since the Great King Gesar had already given the divine decree, there was no way he could avoid going. But if he could just leave the main camp first, he was sure he could find a way to have the best of both worlds. As he thought, he walked towards the dark mountain pass.

Chao Tong's Capture and the Plan for His Rescue

Just as he was approaching the Hundred Flowers Mountain pass, Chao Tong saw three women as beautiful as celestial maidens walking ahead, chatting and laughing, holding stones for herding cattle in their hands. Chao Tong's heart immediately filled with joy, there must be a pasture nearby. If they were just ordinary girls, they'd surely be eager to marry into the high-ranking Darong family. He imagined the three beauties as his new brides and cast aside the mission as vanguard and the fear of the black-hat sorcerers to the winds. He immediately used his magic to transform into the appearance of a handsome young man and caught up with the three girls. One of them, upon seeing him, asked, "Oh, mighty and handsome man! Where are you from? And where are you going? Who is the king you serve?"

Seeing that the girl seemed to look at him with affection, Chao Tong secretly gloated, thinking that the transformation had served its purpose well. He replied, "Why must a chance acquaintance on the road know all the details? Look at how dignified I am, why can't I be a king myself, rather than just serving one? You three village girls are lucky to have met me today. How about coming to live with me from now on? I promise you wealth and honor."

After the man transformed from Chao Tong had said these words, the three girls looked at each other, and each threw a herding sling around Chao Tong's neck and began to pull. Chao Tong was extremely shocked, these three girls also knew magic! Was he offending celestial maidens or provoking rakshasis? His body trembled with fear, his heart beat like prayer flags in the wind, he gasped for breath, cried out for his father and mother, never having expected that these three girls were actually the three black-hat sorcerers he least wanted to encounter, transformed. They broke Chao Tong's spell, picked him up, and flew into the sky like a giant vulture catching a small rabbit.

At that moment, the soldiers in the Ling camp saw this happen, Chao Tong captured, hanging in the sky with no way to escape, and they knew not how to rescue him. The Lion King heard Chao Tong's cries of despair and quickly used his powers to summon the protector deity of Ling, the Mountain God Machen Pomra. The mountain god, dressed in white and riding a white horse, pursued the black-hat sorcerers. When he reached the cliff where the sorcerers practiced, as Machen Pomra tried to get closer, a black whirlwind suddenly blew up. The sky filled with dark clouds, lightning flashed, and thunder roared, preventing the mountain god from advancing even half a step. He could only return to the Lion King's tent to plan their next move. "It seems that King Chao Tong's luck has run out today, falling into the hands of those three black-hat sorcerers. Their magic is powerful; I could not get within a step of them. It seems we must seek the aid of the celestial gods to subdue them." After reporting to the Great King Gesar, the Mountain God Machen Pomra disappeared.

All the ministers and generals of Ling had seen Chao Tong's embarrassing capture. Gesar had summoned the mountain god but failed to rescue him. The first engagement had been a show of force by the black-hat sorcerers. How great were the abilities of these demon ministers of Aqiong Muzha? Many felt a tremor of fear in their hearts but dared not show it before the Lion King.

Meanwhile, King Chao Tong was taken by the three black-hat sorcerers to their cave and bound tightly, making even breathing difficult. The sorcerers quickly sent someone to report to King Aqiong Muzha that they had captured an unusual person. The next day, before dawn, the King, accompanied by his demon ministers, came to the dark cave where Chao Tong was imprisoned. After listening to the sorcerers' brief report, the King decided to personally interrogate the prisoner. His fierce tone seemed ready to devour Chao Tong alive: "You are a man of unknown origins. You had better confess your background clearly now, or you will not have a good ending!"

Chao Tong thought to himself, 'There is almost no chance of my escape. Today, I must say the opposite of the truth. If he's displeased, I'll definitely suffer torture. But if I beg desperately, perhaps he'll spare my life for now. And thinking of that wicked child Joru of Guomu, who doesn't even care for the bond of uncle and nephew, better to be a powerful king than a poor shepherd.' So he begged the King for mercy, "I am King Chao Tong of Ling, deceived here by my wicked nephew Joru. Please spare my life, Great King. I have sons and nephews in the Ling army who are all brave generals. If you spare me, I will immediately persuade them to withdraw their troops. Given my standing in Ling, they will surely listen to me. If you don't believe me, we can make an agreement. Please spare this poor old man!"

As Chao Tong spoke, he wept profusely, as if he were truly a cowardly, innocent old man. King Aqiong Muzha and all his ministers looked at him and were moved by his honeyed words. The sorcerer said, "You are King Chao Tong of the Darong tribe. We've heard that in all of Ling, your magic is unmatched. Yesterday they sent you as a scouting vanguard, so you must have some extraordinary abilities. Now tell me, between us, who do you think is more powerful in magic?"

Saying this, the sorcerer flicked Chao Tong's head three times hard, causing him to jump around in pain. King Aqiong Muzha pondered this. He had long heard that during the Hor-Ling War, Chao Tong had sent many things to the Hor. He must be a smart man who knew which way the wind blew. For now, sparing his life might prove useful in the future. But wary of Chao Tong's magic, he arranged for guards to surround him on all sides. Then he threatened Chao Tong, "I will loosen your bindings and won't allow the ministers to beat or scold you. But you must tell me all the details about Ling, what kind of people are in this campaign, what their abilities are, and where their weaknesses lie. If you speak truthfully, I will spare your life! Otherwise, you will certainly know that falling into the hands of me, King Aqiong Muzha, is like entering hell!"

Seeing how King Aqiong Muzha was questioning him, Chao Tong knew his life was safe. Both to save his own life and out of genuine desire for the Aqiong demon king to defeat his arrogant nephew so he could avenge his shame, he didn't even wait for further threats from Aqiong Muzha. He divulged all the secrets of Ling he knew in meticulous detail to the King.

The Rescue, the Battles Against the Soul Beasts

Before the sun had set, with the snowy mountains clothed in golden light, a white rainbow descended from the sky, and the Heavenly Father, White Brahma King, descended and appeared in the Lion King's tent, prophesying:

"If you do not know where this place is, it is the domain of the northern demons. If you do not know who I am, I am the mighty practitioner in the three-tiered golden-roofed shrine hall. Your royal uncle, King Chao Tong, has now fallen into enemy hands. Do you know why this happened? The black-hat sorcerers' magic is profound; they transformed into incomparably beautiful women to lure King Chao Tong into their trap. Chao Tong used his magic but lost his senses, captivated by beauty, and fell into the snare. Good son Tuibagawa, you should know that your uncle has already sold the secrets of Ling. Every day he remains in the dungeon of Gongbu, the cause of Ling grows more perilous. Before the sun rises tomorrow, do not stay here, advance. On the grasslands by the lake and river, the demon army has already gathered. Honest words are not pleasing to hear, burning fire cannot be placed on stone, and straightforward people make no friends, let alone when facing this demon king. You must use sweet words to deceive him. Choose eloquent speakers, let the Prince of the Jiang region, Yula Toju, the Hor general, Sinba Meruze, and Gongba, these three, go. They are smooth-tongued. Through negotiation and dialogue, they will bring back your uncle, King Chao Tong. Remember the words of your father!"

After speaking, the White Brahma King ascended with a white light to his palace in the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Lion King received the prophecy of the White Brahma King and gained more confidence in victory. No longer worried about enemy sneak attacks, he settled into peaceful meditation. The next day, as the sun rose, the Ling camp lit sacred juniper smoke, and the fragrance of sandalwood filled the camp. The Lion King summoned all the generals to his tent and shared the White Brahma King's prophecy with them. Hearing the King's words, they were no longer afraid and, following the King's orders, broke camp and advanced.

Meanwhile, the Lion King used his magic to transform into a knight riding a white horse and appeared before King Aqiong Muzha, saying, "I am the messenger of the Demon King Garan Wangxun. We have long enjoyed your offerings, and today I have come to guide your path. As for Chao Tong, do not kill him, and do not treat Ling as an enemy. Deal with them with both soft and hard tactics. Establish an agreement with them, make Gesar your minister, and enfeoff the Thirty Heroes as generals. If you can do this, the territory of Gongbu will expand further, and in the long history of the Aqiong family, you will be the greatest king!"

King Aqiong Muzha was deeply tempted and immediately summoned all his ministers to hear his decree: "Today I have received a prophecy from the Demon God. There is a great Ling camp by Mirror Lake. It is best to reach a reconciliation. The Thirty Heroes of Ling are as fierce as tigers and will be taken under my command. All achievements are already predetermined. I will not lead the army there myself. You ministers, do not stay here. Each of you lead five hundred soldiers to negotiate. If they don't surrender immediately, don't bring Chao Tong along. Keep him locked in his cell. Once the agreement is signed, we'll deal with him slowly!"

The envoys sent by Gongbu met the three heroes pre-arranged by the Great King Gesar at the edge of the forest. The Prince of the Jiang region, Yula, was clever and quick-witted. He knew the King wanted to first delay the Gongbu army until reinforcements arrived, so he engaged the Gongbu envoys with eloquent speech. Sinba and Gongba also cooperated with smooth talk. The arrogant Gongbu generals and ministers, seeing the heroes of Ling flattering them, willingly immersed themselves in these words, as if they could already see the soldiers of Gongbu conquering the world.

The soldiers guarding King Chao Tong had all gone to witness the surrender of Ling, so the prison holding Chao Tong was naturally deserted. The Great King Gesar transformed into a rainbow and appeared, illuminating the dim cave with dazzling light. Seeing his nephew appear in this rainbow light, Chao Tong knew the King had come to rescue him. A sudden wave of shame washed over him. Tears streaming down his face, he silently followed behind the King. The two, each on a horse, vanished into the rainbow and returned to the Ling camp.

Then the ministers who had gone to negotiate returned, jubilantly telling their King about the various weaknesses of Ling. The King was also exceptionally pleased and rewarded them with countless delicacies. After the rulers and ministers had eaten and drunk their fill, the King ordered King Chao Tong to be brought forward, as the Ling people would only sign the surrender document once Chao Tong was safely back in Ling. But when the King's herald went to the prison, it was as if a bird had flown leaving no trace, a ghost had passed leaving no sign, it was as if Chao Tong had never been there. They ran back in panic to report to the King.

Aqiong Muzha thought over the entire sequence of events and finally realized he had been tricked by Ling's cunning. He stamped his feet in fury on his throne, screaming at his ministers, "I, King Aqiong Muzha, have lived for thirty-seven years, yet today I have been tricked by these detestable Ling people for the first time! I will make these robbers understand that I, King Aqiong Muzha, am the dark cloud that blocks out the sky, the executioner of my enemies! If I do not separate that cursed enemy Joru's head from his body, I am not worthy to be your king!"

After saying this, he ordered all the guards who had abandoned their posts to be executed, then commanded an attack on the Ling camp.

Pakdo Zatsan, the vanguard general of Gongbu, led a contingent of soldiers charging towards the Ling front lines. Yula Toju, the Prince of the Jiang region, was eager to earn merit in the Ling army, so he requested to engage Pakdo Zatsan in battle. Seeing a mere child come forward, Pakdo Zatsan sneered to himself, this was a chance for an easy victory delivered right to his doorstep. He was intent on killing this ignorant Ling kid as quickly as possible, so he immediately engaged Yula in combat. Pakdo Zatsan shot an arrow aimed at Yula's head, but it only knocked off the plume from his helmet. Then he swung his sword, but Yula countered with his own treasured blade, deflecting the enemy's strikes. Realizing he had underestimated his opponent, Pakdo Zatsan suddenly reined his horse around and fled. Yula Toju, eager to make a name for himself, was not about to let him get away. He shot an arrow at the fleeing enemy. Hearing the arrow whizzing behind him, Pakdo Zatsan desperately tried to dodge, but was thrown from his horse. Yula Toju galloped up and cut Pakdo Zatsan down.

Yula Toju had earned the first battle merit, and the Great King Gesar praised him greatly, bestowing upon him many treasures.

With the first battle won, the Great King Gesar led the Ling army deeper into Gong territory. As they entered a valley, a terrifying giant serpent blocked the road in the middle. This serpent could blot out the sun and sky when it stood up, and flatten great mountains when it lay down. Light emanated from its head. This was the soul serpent of King Aqiong Muzha, and only magic could subdue it. Chao Tong thought to himself, 'The people of Ling probably already know about my betrayal while captured. If I don't achieve some merit to make up for it now, life will certainly be difficult later. Isn't this a perfect opportunity? When it comes to magic and sorcery, no one here is more powerful than me. Today, I will take down this serpent demon in one fell swoop!'

King Chao Tong took out his staff and began to cast his spells. In an instant, the vajra demon-subduing staff emitted a brilliant light, like a war banner shrouded in black clouds, its surface flashing with fire. It was like the flame of a protector deity, capable of moving mountains at the deity's command, cutting through rocky cliffs, burning down entire forests, and melting thousands of miles of snow mountains. He cast this spell to reduce the soul serpent to ashes immediately.

The vajra staff, blessed by Hayagriva, emitted a wisp of blue smoke and then flew with a "whoosh" towards the black serpent. It pierced through the serpent's head and out through its scales. The soul serpent howled in unbearable agony, its miserable shriek echoing through the valley, whipping up sand and stones. Even the battle-hardened heroes of Ling felt a twinge of fear. Looking at the black serpent, enraged, it began to use its magic, growing to the size of a small mountain. Its eyes, glaring at King Chao Tong, were bigger than lanterns. Chao Tong's legs trembled, and he involuntarily backed up a few steps, only to have his hair catch on a branch behind him. Thinking the black serpent had used a second form to attack him from behind, he turned and ran, slamming his knee hard into a large tree. He howled in pain, a sound that was even more chilling than the soul serpent's own screams.

Amidst these alternating cries of agony, the crowd also instinctively began to retreat. The Great King Gesar, riding his divine steed Jang Gapeibu, which stepped forward resolutely, nocked a sharp, precious arrow to his bow, aimed steadily at the great serpent's heart, and let it fly. The arrow pierced through, carrying the serpent's heart out with it, and the serpent fell to the ground. The Great King Gesar retrieved countless treasures from the serpent's body and then ordered the army to make camp in the valley.

The Final Confrontation and the Complete Victory of Ling

The next day, the Lion King's army marched on and arrived at a valley called Wild Yak Ravine. Within it dwelt the soul wild yak of King Aqiong Muzha. The Great King Gesar ordered the main army to wait outside the valley and sent the northern heroine Adanam to conquer that demonic yak. Receiving the King's command, the heroine was rather pleased with herself. She glanced at the other heroes from the corner of her eye, for her, shooting a wild yak was a trivial matter. She held her head high, spurred her horse, and galloped deep into the valley.

Seeing a stranger invade her territory, especially a woman riding alone, the soul yak flew into a rage. Venomous breath snorted from its nostrils, and it pawed the ground with its hind hooves, shaking the valley. It pointed its horns at Adanam and charged with all its might, intending to kill her. The heroine calmly nocked the divine arrow given to her by the Great King Gesar, aimed at the yak's forehead, and fired. Struck, the wild yak staggered forward a few steps before crashing to the ground, never to move again. Adanam retrieved the treasures from the yak's body and returned joyfully to claim her reward from the King.

The Lion King was very pleased. They continued their advance and came to a small, relatively densely populated village. The King spoke kindly to the Gongbu commoners living in the valley, saying, "The demon Aqiong will not live long. You people of this land shall continue to live as before. We will provide clothes for the naked and food for the hungry. If you are loyal to me, your descendants will also want for nothing."

Hearing Gesar's words, and thinking of the miserable life under the rule of the demon Aqiong, the people shed tears of gratitude and prostrated themselves in thanks to the Lion King. They told the Great King Gesar that the most important soul object of the demon king Aqiong Muzha, the soul eagle, lived at the Zhaxi Shangri La Pass at the end of the valley. This fierce eagle could blot out the sun with its wingspan; even mountain gods would yield to it, and it could travel to the heavens above and the earth below in a single day. But this vicious creature demanded a blood sacrifice of a hundred animals daily from the villagers, or it would take human lives instead, making life unbearable in the valley. They hoped the King would eliminate this scourge for the people and remove this terrible beast first. Seeing these poor people weeping in despair, the Great King Gesar felt immense compassion and his resolve to quickly vanquish the demon king grew even stronger.

At dawn the next day, the Great King Gesar and the heroes finally arrived at the Zhaxi Shangri La Pass. This soul eagle was a demonic creature without a rival in heaven or on earth. It knew of the Lion King's arrival. Spreading its wings in the sky and stretching its neck, its claws differed from other eagles. Hung from its two wings were various weapons: treasured swords, golden spears, and iron hooks. If one were caught in this beast's clutches, death was certain.

The Lion King sat on his horse, contemplating who could subdue this monster. At that moment, the dakini Dorje Yudro transformed into a jade-colored bee and whispered in the Great King Gesar's ear, "The hero Danma is the destined nemesis of this soul eagle. Only Danma can establish his name in this valley where the beast runs rampant. Whatever enemies come, let Danma deal with them; whatever friends come, let all offerings belong to Danma."

The Great King Gesar's face lit up with joy. He ordered Danma to prepare and go forth to meet this proud soul eagle. Danma acknowledged the order, gave a mighty shout of "I'm off!" and spurred his horse forward.

Seeing someone recklessly charging forward, the demon eagle opened its iron-like beak, a current of electricity dancing on its tongue. Danma thought, 'Whatever your origin, you demon beast, today you've fallen into my hands, and you won't leave alive.' As the demon eagle swooped down from the heights, Danma nocked his divine arrow to his bow and shouted in a brave, fearless voice, "I am Danma, the great general of Ling! Don't say you don't know me. When my precious arrow flies, even the sun and moon in the sky must hide! And even more so, you accursed bird!"

The soul eagle paid no heed to Danma's warning and accelerated its attack. As it came close, Danma released his bowstring. The arrowhead struck the bird's head like a bolt of lightning, and the demon bird, unable to dodge, died instantly, its head bursting apart.

The Ling army's killing of King Aqiong Muzha's soul objects left him dazed and confused, his mind unclear. The pain was like an avalanche crashing down, leaving him at a loss. After he regained his senses, King Aqiong Muzha ordered a divination. Only then did he learn that his soul objects had been destroyed. This enraged him beyond measure. He summoned Xisa Zhaba, the Son of Darkness Duodan, and General Jiangze to find out what had happened, with special instructions that the soul serpent, soul yak, and soul eagle were no ordinary demonic beasts. Those who could destroy them in one go were certainly people of extraordinary ability. If one could befriend such people, they could surely ensure the Ling people would never return home. If they were enemies of Ling, then more meticulous plans were needed to deal with them.

Upon receiving the King's orders, the three of them immediately selected a hundred elite soldiers from their respective camps and marched south in full force. Not far from Wild Yak Ravine, by the riverbank, a vast expanse of exquisite tents was pitched. The soldiers and generals moving in and out were as imposing as heavenly troops. Xisa Zhaba feared the scene before him was an illusion cast by the Ling army, so he decided to go forward and interrogate someone before making any decisions.

The hundreds of Gong soldiers advanced, but before they could even begin questioning, King Chao Tong brought out the red lasso of Hayagriva. He whirled it around in the sky and cast it towards Xisa Zhaba, catching him around the neck. He was dragged from his horse like a stray dog. Led by Danma, the generals rushed out of the camp and, within a quarter of an hour, had slain all the attackers.

Meanwhile, King Aqiong Muzha waited in his impregnable palace for news from the front. After several days with no word, he assumed they had fallen at the hands of the Ling army. His ministers were thrown into panic, some vowing to fight to the death, others secretly plotting surrender. King Aqiong Muzha, however, began to formulate a defense plan.

The demon minister Zhaba Lazan was an old veteran of the Aqiong demon clan. He was stationed on the only road leading to the King's palace, swearing never to surrender. One day, the army led by Bara Senda Adong and Prince Zhale arrived at Zhaba Lazan's post like divine soldiers and heavenly thunder. Some cowardly officers, seeing the Ling troops, turned their horses and fled. Zhaba Lazan thought, 'There's probably no escape today. Better to fight and perhaps find a slim chance of survival. If I am defeated, dying by the sword of such heroes would be no regret.'

With this thought, Zhaba Lazan drew his treasured sword, a fire of rage burning in his heart, and spurred his horse toward Bara Senda Adong. Seeing the ferocious enemy charging, Bara also drew his treasured blade and engaged him in battle. After a few exchanges, Zhaba Lazan was clearly no match for Bara. In an instant, his head was lobbed off like a turnip. Bara severed his head and took his helmet plume to celebrate the victory.

Seeing his comrade decapitated and so humiliated, the minister Dengba Raojian, who had been defending the city alongside Zhaba Lazan, felt an overwhelming fury rise in his heart and swore to fight the Ling people to the bitter end. With a death wish, he charged at the triumphant Bara. Seeing this, Prince Zhale grew angry, swiftly drew his treasured sword, and blocked Dengba Raojian's path, like a hunting dog stopping a deer, leaving him no escape. Prince Zhale personally engaged the enemy in battle. From the Ling camp arose thunderous shouts of encouragement that filled Prince Zhale with even greater valor and struck terror into the enemy's heart.

The two clashed with treasured swords, bows and arrows, and long spears in turn. After about the time it takes to drink three cups of tea, Prince Zhale was growing stronger, while Dengba Raojian was weakening. Finally, Prince Zhale beheaded him with his precious Yasi sword. Prince Zhale tossed the enemy's helmet plume into the air, and from the Ling camp erupted cheers of "Gogo! Sosuo!"

With the generals and ministers of the Gongbu region either dead or fled, their supposedly impenetrable defense proved brittle. The remaining resistance retreated step by step to the King's fortress. King Aqiong Muzha, directing the defense, urged his ministers and soldiers, "Our homeland is our homeland; we must fight to the end, good or bad!"

Then, addressing the Lion King below, who was pressing hard, he sang:

"Gongbu is the land left by my ancestors; here, we will have the final say. Before today, no enemy has ever reached our gates. If there was no debt before, why are you forcing payment now? If a sorcerer doesn't practice diligently, why should people believe him? This precious homeland of ours! Good or bad, it is our own. Without provocation, you bully your way to our doorstep. What is it you want? In this land we have toiled to build, bandits from afar have surrounded us. What exactly do you hope to gain from the territory of Gongbu!"

The Lion King sneered at this twisted logic and shouted, "You demon king speak strangely! Did I, the Lion King, bring a million troops here to play games with you? You say my Ling has unjustly invaded your Aqiong demon clan? If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for seizing the wealth of my Ling and harming the precious lives of my Ling people! Our meeting today was fated long ago; we are destined enemies. Though meeting a person usually calls for offering a white khata, when facing you, Aqiong Muzha, this sword is my khata for you, and this cold spear is my tea offered in your honor. This body of flesh and blood, if you can kill me, then I am not Gesar the King!"

The ministers on both sides faced off, and the two Kings glared at each other. A grand battle was about to erupt.

Aqiong Muzha, seeing the Lion King appear, knew that Gesar was a god incarnate. But he too was a scion of the Aqiong family, a descendant of demons. He could not shame his family or lose the prestige of the Demon God. He drew his sword and charged at Gesar, swinging it three times. The first strike was blocked by the celestial gods, the second by the mountain gods, and the third by the dragon gods. Although the sword struck Gesar's helmet, it did not even leave a scratch. Then Gesar raised his own sword. Seeing the danger, King Aqiong Muzha began to retreat. As he did, Gesar's sword came down, cracking the King's protective armor and leaving a wound on his arm. Ignoring the pain, the King lashed his horse and fled swiftly.

Meanwhile, their soldiers were engaged in fierce combat. The Ling general Sincha Longla Juedeng descended like Yama, the King of Hell, his face radiating the light of death and dark smoke of evil. No one doubted he was the Grim Reaper. He blocked the demon minister Zanla Zhaba's path like a fawn caught by a hunting dog. Sincha Longla Juedeng loudly sang, "Remember! The one who takes your life today will definitely be me!"

After saying this, he removed the sheath from his long spear and began to brandish it. The spear moved like a shooting star, thrusting towards Zanla Zhaba. On his chest, over his heart, was a protective mirror made of black magic iron. The spear and the mirror clashed with a bone-chilling sound. The mirror shattered into three pieces. Sincha Longla Juedeng withdrew his spear and thrust it back in repeatedly, hooking out Zanla Zhaba's heart and lungs. But Zanla Zhaba was a descendant of demons; he did not die. He swung his highly poisonous magic iron, smashing it towards Sincha Longla Juedeng. The general dodged, but the poisonous iron struck the young officer Gama Mizhu behind him. Struck by this hammer, Gama Mizhu was burned to ashes like a feather in a wildfire. Sincha Longla Juedeng was enraged. In fury, he wielded his sword, severing the poisonous iron and cutting off the demon's head like slicing a turnip. The soldiers of Ling erupted in dragon-like cheers.

Meanwhile, not a single one of the stubbornly resisting Gongbu generals and ministers managed to escape the encirclement of the Ling army. At this moment, the demon kingdom of Aqiong had clearly lost its momentum.

Those soldiers and officers who remained by the side of King Aqiong Muzha shared the same terror as their king. As the saying goes: a lone wolf is chased by hunters, a solitary bird is seized by hawks, a straggling lamb is preyed upon by wolves, and an unprotected beauty is bullied by ruffians. The king had become a man without allies. His face was twisted with malice, and his right arm hung bare due to his injury. Surrounded by his consorts and inner ministers, he retreated to the palace, where the air was filled with the anxious murmurs of his court debating what to do.

The minister Xieqie Nuola spoke up: "I am an old official who has served through several reigns of kings, and I know well what is right and wrong. As long as brothers do not quarrel, even the greatest grievances can be avenged. If the grass and water in the valley do not wither, the natural medicine garden will not decline. Now the Ling forces are pressing their attack fiercely, and they are at the height of their martial prowess. To confront them with our current strength is to smash an egg against a rock. As long as the bloodline of the Aqiong family survives, there will surely be an opportunity for revenge. In my humble opinion, Your Majesty should first surrender to the southern kingdom of Men, unite with the King of Men, and together march into Ling territory to avenge today's humiliation."

The king remained silent after hearing this, and none of the ministers or consorts present dared to speak. Surrendering to the Men Kingdom was not the best strategy, but it was the most viable option at hand. After a long silence, the king finally gave his decree, deciding to follow the minister's advice. No matter what, as long as they lived and recuperated their strength, revenge would come in time. The king ground his teeth in hatred as he began to arrange his escape plan.

He ordered that all the tents outside the city be preserved and strengthened their guards, creating the illusion that he was still in his main tent to deceive the enemy. He then arranged for four inner ministers to lead twenty or so men with thirty-odd horses and mules, carrying all the gold, silver, and treasures, to flee southward to the Men Kingdom under the cover of night.

King Gesar, however, had long known of Aqiong Muzha's escape plan. Instead of surrounding the decoy tents, he directly laid siege to the king's tower. The Great King and his generals and ministers engaged in fierce combat with the soldiers defending the city. Standing atop the palace rooftop with his consort Saqiong, the king saw the flames illuminating the sky outside and the Ling army steadily advancing into the palace halls. Despair filled the heart of King Aqiong Muzha. He thought to himself: he was still wounded and could not flee far. If the temple of the heretics did not burn, the faith he followed would never flourish. Since death seemed inevitable, he might as well take someone down with him. A man's worth is first determined at birth, but what matters most is where and how he dies. If he died gloriously, what was there to fear even if his body was left in the wilderness? Having made this resolution, his face took on a look of grim determination.

Aqiong Muzha's uncle, the minister Nuojia, said to him: "Nephew, hear me out. The seven-colored rainbow that encircles the Ling army above, its appearance has meaning. They say a rainbow in the sky is a sign of blessings for the people below. The roar of the azure dragon has descended upon us like a storm today. The bright-eyed soldiers of Ling have come to our very doorstep. How can we fare well? Your Majesty, most honored and noble, you led our troops to the battlefield with no thought but victory. My counsel is that we should avoid confrontation. If you do not recognize who these men are, I am an old minister who has seen past times, I know exactly who they are. The moment I hear their voices, I know their past, present, and future. The ministers of Gongbu and Aqiong overreached and lost their territory; this is the retribution of karma. Should we fight the enemy or surrender? I am an old man with little time left; I can be buried anywhere after death. The blessings of life are no longer mine. To the ministers and the king present here, and to my niece Norbu Droma: do you wish to stay or to leave? If you wish to stay, then consult with the king's two consorts and surrender to fate. If you wish to leave, then we shall each go our separate ways. If we depart, the ancestral inheritance left behind will fall into the hands of the Ling people. Whatever happens to it will be up to them, there is no other option."

Nuojia's words could no longer sway the king's heart, and the consorts and ministers around him held no hope for survival either. A true man must die sooner or later, whether early or late, death comes to all. Rather than bowing down in surrender, better to die at the hands of the enemy. Even in death, one should die with purpose.

Having spoken thus, the king and his ministers had made their resolve, they would flee no more. They donned their armor and helmets, took up their swords, arrows, spears, and all their weapons. The king encouraged his ministers below: "Even if I am wounded, what does it matter? The moment I set foot on the battlefield, it will become a slaughterhouse for the Ling people! Today I am prepared to die in battle, but I will make the blood of the Ling camp flow like rivers!"

Enduring the pain of his sword wound, the king took up his battle robe and armor, and wiped them clean with precious silk brocade. His face grew as dark as his armor, and with his final resolve, he declared to his ministers: "That man called Joru from Ling, I never want to hear his name again. We are destined enemies. In this life, we can never share a single mind. We follow different paths of practice and different teachers. To seek peace with one's enemy is the way of cowards. Food one cannot bear to eat should not be given to others, as for unnecessary words, let our weapons speak them!" Cursing loudly, he prepared to charge into battle.

The day before, in the beautiful kingdom of Ling, within the great tent of the Lion King, Gesar had shared with his ministers the prophecy of the Heavenly Mother that the Aqiong kingdom was destined to fall.

"To benefit all sentient beings, we must defeat the army of demons, like hail falling upon the crops, like a storm sweeping away the straw. The end has come for the demon kingdom ruled by the Aqiong Muzha clan. Now is the time for our heroes to earn their glory in battle!"

Then the Great King sang:

If you do not know what place this is,

It is the valley of rocks and forests in Gongbu,

Where towering trees spread their branches,

Where green crops are as precious as treasure,

It is the granary that Tibet needs,

It is where our lords and ministers shall make their names.

If you do not know who I am,

I am the divine son sent from heaven,

The nemesis of evil demons,

The savior of the weak and helpless,

The guardian of my subjects.

If I do not protect my people,

The crow shall feast on filth,

The welfare of all beings shall be guarded from Tibet.

The enemy of Tibet, the King of Gongbu,

Has reached the time of his destruction.

If the demon Aqiong is not defeated,

Tibet will vanish like a rainbow!

He then gave his orders: to bring peace and stability to the people of Tibet, it was imperative to defeat Aqiong Muzha and his demon kingdom. After hearing the Lion King's rousing address, the Ling soldiers cheered and swore their allegiance, vowing to follow his commands forever and fight alongside him to the very end. That evening, the Chief Steward held a lavish banquet in the camp, allowing all the soldiers to celebrate freely. Wine, tea, and food were consumed as though they were inexhaustible.

When the next morning arrived, the strong and well-equipped Ling army stood ready, advancing step by step toward Aqiong Muzha's palace.

The Fall of the Demon King and the Triumph of Ling

Aqiong Muzha and his ministers, who had sworn never to surrender, charged out of the palace gates. The fierce Gongbu warriors Tuola Zanbu and Asituola Maiba threw themselves at the Ling army without hesitation. Standing tall in his stirrups, Asituola Maiba notched a poison-tipped arrow onto his curved bow and declared to the Ling generals: "The highway travelers use is no place for bandits! Before the sun sets today, if even a single Ling man crosses the banks of this great river, then I am no warrior!"

Yet his display of a little dog pretending to be a tiger did not frighten the Ling forces. Before he could finish his boast, the red-cloaked Sinba of Hor severed his head with a great sword. The remaining enemies were cut down by the Ling warriors as easily as reaping barley, and they were quickly wiped out!

The few remaining ministers of Gongbu either died or fled. King Aqiong Muzha's heart was barren with despair. He knew that with hearts so divided, they could never stand together, the great vulture, the eagle, and the owl each yearn for different skies. The vulture awaits the rising sun, the owl longs for night's approach. The eagle wishes to follow the sun, while the owl yearns for the moon.

Now he was truly alone. There was no point in fleeing to any corner of the human world. Better to return to the place guarded by the demon god Garan, wait for the opportune moment to come back to the mortal realm, and be the destined enemy of that wretched child of Guomu, Joru, once more. Next time, he would not allow him such arrogance and triumph!

The Ling army surged forward like a tide, pressing ever closer to the king's palace. There was no more time for hesitation. Aqiong Muzha leaped without turning back onto a warhorse forged of black iron, calling out the name of the demon god Garan, begging him to carry him out of this place surrounded by enemies. The demon god heard Aqiong Muzha's call and lowered a rainbow-colored heavenly ladder from the sky. King Aqiong Muzha rode his iron horse upon this colored ladder, preparing to depart, but King Gesar spotted him from afar. Placing a wisdom arrow upon his bow, and with the blessings of the protector deities and dakinis, this precious arrow shot forth like a beam of light, striking Aqiong Muzha's iron horse. The horse was hit immediately and plummeted from the heights. The evil demon king Aqiong Muzha disappeared from this world forever, just like the beam of light cast down by the demon god.

The bloodline of the Aqiong clan was finally severed completely. The Lion King rescued the people of Gongbu from their suffering. The Chief Steward ordered a grand celebration to be held in Aqiong Muzha's former palace, where all the generals who had distinguished themselves in battle were rewarded one by one, and the remaining treasures of the Aqiong palace were distributed among the local people. After seven days and seven nights of collective celebration, the great Ling army finally returned home in triumph. With the demon kingdom of Aqiong vanquished by King Gesar, the tea and salt trade routes and the pilgrim roads to Lhasa became safe and unobstructed. Merchants and travelers came and went freely, the people's lives grew ever more prosperous, and the neighboring small kingdoms looked upon the Great King with even greater reverence and admiration.