The Envoy's Journey and the Ambush at Yitang Guomu

Following King Xinchi's orders, Jayu Dengba Xieni swiftly assembled thirteen ministers and Achung, selecting five thousand elite soldiers from the army. Once all preparations for the journey to seek aid from Jhana were complete, they set out under cover of darkness to keep their mission secret from the people of Lingga, then traveled day and night without rest. Before long, they arrived at the border region of Yitang Guomu and settled down for a comfortable night's rest.

The next day, as they were packing their belongings to continue the journey, the sudden thunderous sound of hooves broke the morning stillness. Jayu Dengba Xieni mounted his horse, shading his eyes with his hand to survey the approaching riders. Recognizing them as pursuers from Ling, he cried out: "Three men of Lingga have come! We must prepare for battle—there is no other choice!"

He loosed an arrow at each of the three Lingga ministers, but the heroic trio each bore protective amulets from their patron goddesses, and the arrows could not pierce their bodies. Darong's La Guo Benglu charged straight at Jayu Dengba Xieni, swinging his great blade and striking the envoy's shoulders twice, sending him tumbling from his horse. Even sprawled on the ground, Jayu Dengba Xieni frantically fumbled for his arrows and managed to loose two more shafts, yet neither could wound La Guo Benglu. La Guo Benglu delivered another blow, cutting Dengba Xie'ni down once more. Overwhelmed and unable to mount any further defense, the envoy was left with no choice but to surrender. His remaining followers immediately begged for quarter as well. La Guo Benglu and his men returned to the great Lingga encampment bearing the joy of victory.

The Fall of Yuzhu Jinzong and the Southern Assault

On that very same day, Yula Toju led fifty thousand soldiers of the Blue Tassel Regiment and nineteen thousand riders in an attack on the southern castle of Yuzhu Jinzong. As they approached within a single arrow's flight of the fortress, the gatekeeper Yuzhu Dajie spotted them. The gatekeeper thought to himself: This general bears a striking resemblance to the man who purchased my marvelous sky-horse long ago in the land of Purple Jiang. It would be wise to offer my allegiance to this commander.

He hastily hung a white flag from the tip of his golden spear and thrust it out through the eastern window.

Yula called out: "Gatekeeper Yuzhu Dajie, you and I are indeed old acquaintances from a fair transaction—you sold me the marvelous blue sky-horse, and we parted as friends. But why did you not speak these words during the first battle between Men and Ling? Now, at the end of your rope, driven to desperation, it is too late for pleas. Yet, heroic gatekeeper Bajie, if your heart is truly set on surrendering to me, do not linger in that fortress—come out at once! Array your troops before the gate, each bearing a white flag of surrender. I shall personally take command of the castle, plant the Lingga war-banner upon its battlements, and kindle the white smoke of victory. To subdue a fortress without shedding a single soldier's blood is a feat worthy of a true hero—and a testament to my fortune!"

Yuzhu Dajie's heart swelled with joy. He arranged his forces—ninety thousand infantry and nineteen thousand cavalry—into eighteen formations before the castle gates. The gate troops raised their white banners like falling snowflakes, while the sacred smoke of victory curled upward like rolling clouds. After the formal surrender ceremony, the hero Yula Toju led his forces into Yuzhu Jinzong Castle, raised the radiant blue lion war-banner atop the battlements, and kindled the ceremonial smoke offering like clouds drifting across the sky.

When the other Lingga commanders witnessed this sight, they shouted: "Look there! The hero Yula Toju has stormed the castle and triumphed over the enemy! Let us hasten to seize the enemy fortresses as well!"

With fierce war cries and eager battle lust, they spurred their horses onward—each hero vying to be first. Prince Zhale's forces charged toward the Maja Chizong Fortress and encircled it from all sides. At this moment, the aged southern generals Muqiong Guru and Aqiong Guru leaped onto their warhorses and galloped out from the fortress, blocking the path of the Lingga heroes. Prince Zhale was waiting to hear what the two old generals might say, when Muqiong Guru spoke: "If you are truly the son of Bumba, then listen to this old general's words! Your father, the venerable Gyatsa of Bumba, fell to the spear-point of Sinba. Yet that very butcher Sinba has become a high minister in your Ling king's court! You coward, you disgrace to your father's name—you do not avenge your father's death, but instead treat his killer as an honored guest! A worthless wretch like you is unmatched in all the world! The mighty Lion King is like a louse—boneless through and through! And you, a man without spine, leave your father's murder unavenged while you play the fierce warrior before two old men!"

With those words, he loosed an arrow that struck the prince squarely between chest and abdomen. Fortunately, the prince wore his vajra armor and bore the protective amulet of his patron goddess—the arrow only pierced through several layers of his outer garments, failing to take his life. Prince Bumba Zhale drew his long sword from its scabbard and proclaimed: "Listen well, Muqiong Guru of the Southern Land! As the saying goes—boasting brings ruin upon one's fathers eighteen treasures, and showing off one's tender hands leads to scratching one's own eyes blind. Hear my song and understand! You old fool Muqiong have brought calamity upon yourself, spouting lies and slander—yet instead of repenting for your past crimes, you wound others with your venomous words. You slippery old foxes, Achung and Muqiong, listen while I speak plainly! I know right from wrong, truth from falsehood. I keep my accounts in black and white like stones in a pile—Lord Yama will render the final judgment! The lotus grows from the muddy swamp, yet remains unstained by filth. The sun claims it as kin, and the world sets it in vases for adornment. Sinba was born in the land of Hor, yet he remained untainted by the Hor demons' evil breath. The Lion King drew him close, and eighty heroes sing his praises. Do you not know this? Aqiong Guru, you ghost of the Men Kingdom, skulking about covetously for Ling's wealth! Muqiong Guru, you thief of the South, sneaking about to steal treasures! The two of you conspired together, stretching your demon claws into Ling's territory, pilfering the ancestral jewels of Lingga! Today, under the shining sun, your Maja Chizong Fortress is surrounded by my Ling forces. We shall recover our stolen treasures, seize the criminals, and exact blood-vengeance for our grievances! Do you know why the Ling army has come to the land of Men? You feign ignorance, but not only do you show no respect to those who approach—you spew slander with your dying breath!"

So saying, he spurred his azure dragon horse, brandished his great treasure blade, and in an instant was upon Muqiong Guru's steed. One stroke of his sword cleft Muqiong Guru in two, and he immediately took the old general's head as a trophy. At that moment, Aqiong Guru drew his blade and lunged at Prince Zhale, but Niben intercepted with a single stroke that sent Aqiong Guru's head tumbling—round as a ball of yarn rolling across the ground. Laduo Ji Wangzha spurred his fierce horse forward, shouting as he drew his sword to charge at Gade and young Lord La Guo, blocking their path with his blade. Prince Zhale loosed an arrow that struck him squarely in the chest, sending him toppling backwards off his horse. Amidst shouts and battle cries, many soldiers of Men fell to sword and arrow.

Three demon-ministers of the Men Kingdom, armed with weapons of black iron, each loosed arrows at Prince Zhale and his men—but none could wound them. Darong's young lord La Guo Benglu and the black-cloaked protector deity Gade led their troops to surround the western camp, their arrows falling like hail and driving into the stockade. Before long, they breached the great Maja Chizong Fortress and put it to the torch.

Ling Army’s Attack and the Capture of Dongjiong Dala Chiga

Bara and Danma were besieging the eastern Damu Rongcha Castle, when they spotted Dongjiong Dala Chiga within the fortress walls. The two Lingga heroes thought to themselves: Dongjiong Dala Chiga is a divine son—if he is killed, the Ling king will surely rebuke us. We must capture him alive by some clever stratagem.

Danma notched an arrow and called out to Dongjiong: "You guardian of the Speckled Tiger Fort, arrogant hero of the Southern Land! Dongjiong Dala Chiga, you boast that in a past life you were a son of the gods, that you descend from the lineage of Brahma, that you claim to be a brother to the Ling king himself! But who does not know you are a traitor—one who turned against his own kin and allied with the enemy, unable to distinguish friend from foe, unworthy of the name of man! Dongjiong Dala Chiga, stubbornness will do you no good. Come out from that gate and plead your case. Entrust yourself to the eighty heroes, submit to the eighty accomplished ones, and join forces with us in common purpose—that is the wisest course! King Xinchi of the Southern Land of Men is like a flower at summer's end, a sheep's dropping on the threshold, a butter lamp on the great ocean—his days are numbered! Should you not also be considering your own path to survival?"

Hearing these words, Dongjiong Dala Chiga thought to himself: Danma's honeyed words urge me to surrender to Lingga, but as they say—sweet talk often spells a man's death. He threw open the southern coral window and shouted: "Old man Danma, why should I surrender to you?"

At the same time, he notched an arrow and declared: "In days gone by, Gula Tuojie, the great minister, was cruelly murdered by Ling's deceivers. Sixty Achung warriors of Men were wiped out to the last man. You sing the praises of your Gesar, calling him a divine one, a seer, a god from above. You say he is a son of the celestial realm—but such boasts are shameless! He is no divine child descended from heaven—he is a criminal, a butcher! I have stood guard over the Flower Tiger Fort—why have you surrounded me on all sides? Lingga's Danma loves to show off, his words deceive all who hear them. A man of many words is like dog dung; a woman of many words like rotten meat. Today, under the shining sun, you black dwarf of Lingga—watch my archery skills and see how high they soar!"

Dongjiong Dala Chiga loosed a fierce arrow. Though it failed to strike Danma, it felled some fifty of Danma's men on either side. He shot another arrow, killing over a hundred of Bara's troops. Bara, consumed with fury, drew his bow with all his might and loosed a single arrow that collapsed three tiers of the Flower Tiger Fort. Danma and Bara continued their violent assault with arrows and spears, but the fortress would not yet yield.

Meanwhile, Sinba and the heroine Adanam had conquered the northern great fortress and had just concluded their victory celebrations when word came that the eastern fortress still had not fallen. The Red Sinba swiftly mounted his red lightning horse and galloped over to assist Generals Bara and Danma. The Red Sinba called out: "Young Dongjiong, do not be so stubborn—heed my advice and come to your senses! Do not put your faith in these fortress walls—no matter how high the castle, it becomes but a millstone for grinding your life away! I have spoken peaceable words and you would not listen. When disaster descends, do not regret it!"

Sinba sang this song:

"Hero hidden in the fortress,

Dongjiong Dala Chiga!

Trusting castle walls to escape death—

You are pitiful as a child!

Now the situation stands thus:

To guard against foes, walls were raised,

But stone ramparts become death's grinding stone!

To preserve your life, you hide in the fort,

Yet in the end you'll be buried in its ruins!

I counsel you with gentle words,

Only to spare all living souls,

And so that Dongjiong may yet escape alive!

If you remain obstinate still,

Three celestial iron meteorites

Shall shatter your great iron gates!

Your mighty fortress shall be razed without trace,

All your men and horses utterly destroyed,

All your accumulated wealth seized!"

When his song concluded, he summoned three celestial iron meteorites that smashed through the first great iron gate. As he charged toward the entrance, Dongjiong Dala Chiga erupted in fury—he hastily fastened on his three weapons, leaped upon his speckled-nose swift horse, and burst forth from the fortress. At that moment, Danma brandished his Dawn-Star precious lasso, Bara uncoiled his white divine transformation lasso, and Sinba grasped his red wrathful long lasso—all three cast their ropes simultaneously, and every loop settled around Dongjiong's neck, capturing him alive. When all the southern soldiers within the Damu Chizong Flower Tiger Fortress saw their leader captured, they turned their coats and surrendered entirely. The Ling army then celebrated with great ceremony their victory in conquering the Damu Chizong Castle.

The Fall of the Royal Palace and Xinchi's Final Flight

With the Lingga generals—Prince Zhale, Chaxiang Danma, Jiang’si Yula, and Red Sinba at the forefront—now holding all four great castles of the Men Kingdom, they pressed their strategic advantage and marched without rest to attack King Xinchi's royal palace at the southern gate. The Ling forces smashed through two gates of the Dongri Langzong Palace fortress. The gatekeepers Luncen Jimei and Dagong Baze, clad in full armor and wielding various weapons, plunged into the Lingga ranks and slaughtered many, leaving corpses scattered across the field. When Chaxiang Danma witnessed this carnage, his fury knew no bounds—he loosed arrows at each of the two southern ministers, and both, badly wounded, fled back into the palace. Taking advantage of the moment, the Lingga Baturu warriors broke through all the gates surrounding the palace fortress, cutting down countless southern soldiers, and surged into the palace like a swarm of bees.

The great strongman of the Southern Land, Alu Yuben, held a strategic vantage point within the Dongri Langzong Palace fortress, driving his troops forward with fierce shouts and slaughter. When the Lingga warriors recognized Alu Yuben, they moved to capture him. But before them stood a towering jade ladder, heavily guarded by southern troops—none of the Lingga heroes could scale it. Just as they were at an impasse, the great strongman Alu Yuben drew his bow and sang: "You damned thieves of Lingga, how dare you presume to storm the palace in such arrogant display! You come in fury seeking to capture me! If you have the courage, climb this jade ladder! If you have magic powers, construct a sky-bridge! Otherwise, abandon all hope of taking me! With this precious bow and my volley of arrows, I'll shoot the brains of all you Lingga heroes out as offerings to the heavens!"

Even as he spoke, he loosed a stream of arrows—one struck Axiong En, wounding him gravely; another hit Bengba's warhorse, sending him tumbling to the ground. This enraged Prince Zhale, who roared: "If I do not seize this jade ladder by force, the vile enemy will never be subdued!"

He was about to climb the jade ladder himself, when Danma pulled the divine prince back, arguing: "This man is a wily old fox—let me go up and capture him instead!"

Danma swiftly ascended the jade ladder. Alu Yuben immediately shifted his attention and hurled stones at Danma. Danma dodged the flying rocks left and right, climbing rapidly up the ladder. The two heroes had no time for weapons—they grappled in bare-handed combat, testing each other's strength, wrestling back and forth three times. In the end, the great strongman Alu Yuben slammed Danma to the ground. With no other recourse, Danma grabbed a handful of dust and flung it into the strongman's eyes. Alu Yuben was forced to release his grip and rub his eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Danma drew the dagger from his belt and drove it deep into Alu Yuben's chest. The great strongman of the Southern Land fell dead on the spot. The remaining Lingga warriors stormed into the palace and slaughtered all of King Xinchi's most trusted ministers and close advisors.

As the Ling forces swept through the palace slaughtering the powerful ministers, Xinchi Langka Gyentsen and his Queen Dawa Zedeng, along with their daughter Princess Meiduo Zhuoma, ran about in utter panic, retreating to the palace rooftop where they dashed back and forth in desperation. At that moment, the Great God of Joyous Sovereignty of the Southern Land descended upon a rainbow path from the high heavens and proclaimed this prophecy to King Xinchi:

"Dwelling in the boundless palace above,

I am the God of Joyous Sovereignty,

Leader of all exalted heroes!

King Xinchi of the Southern Land of Men,

The Sovereign God has come to save you!

Do not linger—ascend to heaven quickly!

I have already erected the demon-ladder of the fierce spirits—

Follow the formless five-colored path

To my realm of Joyous Sovereignty!

That vile thief Joru of Lingga,

With his thousand transformations and myriad illusions,

Is the shape-shifting king of this age—

No one in the world dares oppose him!

King Xinchi, climb the ladder swiftly—

Do not let Joru catch up with you!"

As the song ended, a rainbow ladder materialized in the sky. King Xinchi grasped Princess Meiduo Zhuoma's hand tightly, placing the Joyous Fortune-Gathering jewel and the red pearl necklace into Meiduo's hands, saying: "Today your mother and I temporarily journey to the Realm of Joyous Sovereignty. Within three years, I shall certainly return to exact vengeance! Do not grieve!"

He then sang to Meiduo Zhuoma:

"God of Joyous Sovereignty above,

Protect the princess and keep her safe!

King Xinchi of the Southern Land of Men,

Langka Gyentsen hides his grief—

Leaving Meiduo Zhuoma behind,

I journey temporarily to the heavens to escape calamity!

Princess Meiduo Zhuoma,

Go and seek refuge with the Lingga army—

A helpless girl forced to surrender to the foe,

But do not lose heart or abandon hope!

In days to come, my daughter, when you journey to foreign lands,

Preserve your chastity and bide your time—

But never give your heart in trust to the enemy!

Your father's warnings, keep them ever in your mind!

When the Ling forces capture you,

You must plan your own survival as best you can!

The Lion King's powers are vast—

He can see through illusions and break the mightiest spells!

Among the thirty heroes of Lingga,

Three stand above the rest:

Seba, Rinchen, and Alubasen—

Called Lingga's falcon, wolf, and eagle!

Find out who serves as their vanguard!

When your father returns within three years

To slay our foes and exact revenge,

You shall coordinate from within to break the kingdom of Ling!"

When the song ended, Meiduo and King Xinchi clasped hands tightly, unable to bear their separation—their weeping shook the heavens, and their tears fell like pearls rolling from a broken string.

Just as they choked with grief, the Invincible King Gesar perceived through his clairvoyance that Xinchi Langka Gyentsen was about to escape to the celestial realm via the demon-ladder. Gesar's divine steed, Jang Gapeibu, was in a frenzy—his mane standing tall like an erupting volcano, his white conch-like nostrils blowing gusts like a ceremonial horn, his tail swishing like flowing water, four hooves bounding through the air like whirlwinds. The king swiftly fitted the turquoise divine golden saddle, bridled the horse with the jeweled five-treasure reins, fastened the eight-auspicious agate breast strap, and secured the azure-dragon pearl-studded ruby crupper. The front saddle-bow blazed like the rising sun; the rear saddle-bow gleamed like the new moon.

The Lion King leaped into the saddle. He wore upon his head a helmet encircled by the three principal deities radiating ten thousand beams of light; upon his body, a suit of armor surrounded by a thousand Buddhas in council, enough to awe the three realms. He bore the golden shield surrounded by the battle-gods of Lingga. On his right hung a tiger-skin quiver filled with ninety-nine divine arrows; on his left, a leopard-skin bow case holding the great wild-sheep-horned precious bow. Slung across his body hung the sword that aids kin and destroys foes—its blade engraved with images of savior war-gods encircling it. In his hand, he grasped the spear that overawes the three realms.

The divine son mounted his divine steed and soared along the rainbow path through the sky. The divine horse spoke to King Gesar in mid-air: "Lion King, focus your mind completely—do not be careless! The great demon-lord of Joyous Sovereignty commands the rainbow ladder of transformations. Demons and evil spirits swarm all around. Xinchi climbs the formless ladder, preparing to flee to the Realm of Sovereignty! Invincible Lion King Gesar, let us reach the scene at once! Do not let the Sovereign Demon save him—you must subdue King Xinchi!"

Gesar urged his divine horse onward along the rainbow highway. By then, the crowd of demons and evil spirits had hurried King Xinchi up the rainbow ladder. Gesar arrived upon his thousand-league steed, and saw the Demon Lord of Joyous Sovereignty had already rescued Xinchi and was beginning to withdraw the rainbow ladder. The divine king loosed two arrows in rapid succession, severing both handrails of the rainbow ladder—Xinchi nearly tumbled to his doom.

Seeing Gesar approaching upon his divine horse, Xinchi was terrified beyond measure. Trembling, he cried out: "You demon-child Joru of Lingga! I climbed this ladder to the celestial realm—what business is it of yours to block my path? I never ate your father Senlun's flesh! I never drank your mother Guomu's blood! I never stole the ancestral treasures of Lingga! I never carried off your beloved queen Sangjang Zumu! I never destroyed the great castles you built! I never seized the wealth you accumulated! Why do you bar my way? Upon this thunderbolt bow of clear skies, I have five sovereign arrows—I shall loose each one at you, vile thief! I'll send you and your forces tumbling heels over head—destroy your protective body-armor from without, extinguish your very soul from within like a snuffed lamp!"

He loosed all five arrows in succession.

Instantly, the eighteen billion heavenly soldiers of White Brahma King, the nine million nine hundred thousand demon-troops of Nyanchen Tangla Gezo, the dragon-soldiers and shrimp-generals of Zuna Rinchen surging like an overflowing sea, and the war-gods of the four directions dense as falling snow—all converged to protect Gesar. Xinchi's arrows felled over seven hundred celestial soldiers.

The Invincible Gesar drew a foe-destroying divine arrow from his right-side tiger-skin quiver, took out the great wild-sheep-horned precious bow from his left-side leopard-skin bow case, and notched the arrow as he responded in song: "In days past, Ling held her own borders in peace, yet Xinchi invaded without provocation and slew many of our finest heroes! Do you remember, child? At Upper Abeng Boulder Mountain, you sent Gula by night to raid the Ling camp. Gawu Chuda, our border-patrolling minister, was slain by your villainous minister Gula—killing him was like killing my own father, for he was no different from Senlun. Jaga Mani Pala was one, Riba Puyi Agu another, Jiasi Dazi Minzhu a third—all three fell to Gula's sword and arrows! Losing those three wise ministers of Lingga was like losing Gyatsa himself! Tangze Yuzhou, that heroic general whose fame resounded across Jambudvipa, was also an arm of the Ling king—and you, old demon king Xinchi, used your red sandalwood arrows to shoot him dead into the heavens! When Tangze Yuzhou was murdered, it was like killing my mother Guocha! In the upper valley of Jiala Chasong, Jiao Aba Seda Wa and Jiang Guo's minister Yucao were slain by Men generals' weapons—and the one responsible for all these killings is you! Do you now acknowledge your crimes? The six-fold brocade cloud-patterned robe of Lingga—that was part of Gyatsa Xiega's mother's dowry brought from Jhana—your Men forces seized it by force, as if stealing our ancestral treasures! Today you seek to flee to the Realm of Sovereignty, but the rainbow path through space has been cut off by me—what road of escape remains for you?"

Gesar loosed his divine arrow, striking Xinchi squarely in the chest. The arrow shattered his body into ten thousand fragments, and he tumbled down from the rainbow ladder.

Below, the Lingga warriors had kindled great bonfires whose flames blazed up to illuminate the very heavens. Xinchi's broken remains scattered upon the flames and were reduced to ashes.