Gijum Yixi Helps King Gesar Subduing The Soul Of Three Hor Kings 

 

Gijum Yixi vowed to help King Gesar subdue White Tent King. One day, she took Gesar to a snowy mountain, pointed westward, and said, "Great King, look at that mountain white as butter. Behind it are the soul-binding wild yaks of the Hor King. The yellow yak binds the soul of Yellow Tent King, the white one binds White Tent King, the black one binds Black Tent King, the red one binds Sinba Meruze, the multicolored one binds my father's soul, and the blue one binds my own. To subdue the three Hor Kings, you must first cut off the horns of the yellow, white, and black yaks. Do not look back."

 

Following her words, Gesar went behind the snowy mountain and indeed saw a herd of yaks. Among them were six distinct soul-binding yaks: ferocious and enormous. Approaching such fierce, giant yaks was difficult, let alone the spiritual soul-binding ones. Gesar transformed into a Great Golden-Winged Garuda Bird, landing like lightning on the yellow yak and cutting off one of its horns. He then did the same to the white and black yaks. When he landed on the red yak, he suddenly felt very unwell and flew back without managing to cut the horn of Sinba Meruze's soul-binding yak.

 

Gijum Yixi was still waiting by the forest's edge. Gesar's seven Brahmin friends and three hundred sixty celestial attendants had already prepared the charcoal. Gesar resumed his original form, and together with Gijum Yixi, they carried the charcoal back home.

 

Zumu's Sorrow And The Mysterious Beggar’s Testing

 

Meanwhile, Queen Sangjang Zumu had been in the Hor Kingdom for three years. Under extreme duress, she had become White Tent King's consort and even bore him a son. One day, while White Tent King and the queen were playing with their son at the palace's highest point, Zumu suddenly saw a ragged man leading a monkey towards the palace. She immediately said to White Tent King, "Great King, why not call that monkey trainer into the palace for some amusement?"

 

The three brothers—White Tent King, Yellow Tent King, and Black Tent King—had all fallen seriously ill since their soul-binding yaks lost a horn each. After medical treatment and offerings to the gods, White Tent King recovered relatively quickly and could already jest with his queen and prince. Although Yellow Tent King and Black Tent King were also better, they still could not get up and move about. Having been ill, White Tent King was feeling quite bored. Hearing a monkey trainer had come, he was eager to call him in for some entertainment!

 

The monkey trainer was summoned into the palace. After a performance, he indeed made White Tent King laugh heartily, and the prince giggled incessantly. White Tent King ordered the maids to give the trainer food and reward money. As the trainer was about to leave after receiving his reward, the prince made a fuss, refusing to let him go. White Tent King asked Zumu to stay with the prince to watch a while longer, while he went inside the palace to rest.

 

Zumu heard the trainer say he was a beggar wandering everywhere. Perhaps he had also been to the Ling Kingdom, even to the demon lands. With White Tent King present, Zumu couldn't inquire in detail. Now that White Tent King had left, she could properly question this beggar.

 

"Old beggar, you've eaten the food and taken the money I rewarded you. I still have questions. If you tell the truth, I will reward you with food enough for a hundred years and clothes enough for a century."

 

The old beggar nodded. "As you command, my queen."

 

"When you passed through the east, did you see two great mountains? One like a yellow felt coat with buttons, the other like wearing a yellow hat. They are the sacred mountains of my homeland. Please tell me of any changes."

 

"Respected queen, how could I not have seen such famous mountains? Only, the buttons on one mountain have come undone, and the yellow hat of the other has fallen to the flat ground." As he spoke, the old beggar observed Zumu's expression.

 

Hearing this ominous news, tears immediately fell from Zumu's eyes. She thought to herself: The fate of meeting the Great Lion King again probably truly won't happen. But I wonder how the Great King is really doing.

 

"Old beggar, do you know any news of the Great Lion King Gesar?"

 

"I know, I know. He went north to subdue demons, but instead of conquering the enemy, he was destroyed by the demons. He has been dead for several years now." The old beggar showed no pity for the queen's tears, spitting out one piece of unfortunate news after another from his mouth.

 

Hearing this, Zumu thought it was all over. The Great King was dead; what meaning did her lowly body have in living on? Thinking this, she removed all the turquoise hair ornaments from her head and the golden ornaments from her body. "Take them, take them, old beggar. This is my alms to you. You've brought so much unfortunate news that these ornaments have lost their luster on me. I no longer wish to live. I only hope you take these jewels, perform good deeds, and guide the souls of the Great Lion King Gesar and his queen, Sangjang Zumu." With that, she pulled the white-handled crystal dagger from the old beggar's waist and stabbed fiercely at her own chest.

 

Zumu Renewed Hope After Knowing King Gesar’s Situation

 

The old beggar was quick. He snatched the dagger back from Zumu's hand. "Sister, there's no need for such suicide. I was just joking with you earlier. The two eastern mountains haven't changed at all. King Gesar has already subdued the black demon Lutsan. Now, he has come to the Hor Kingdom for revenge."

 

"Really?! Old beggar, don't deceive me again." Zumu was half-believing, half-doubting. Her tear-stained face was now clouded with a mix of joy, worry, and suspicion.

 

"I was deceiving you before, but not now. Quickly put all your ornaments back on, lest White Tent King sees and kills me, and lest you lose your beautiful radiance when you see the Great Lion King." The old beggar chuckled, which reminded Zumu of something. Yes, when she once tried to jump into the Bairi Dongcuo Lake, Joru, holding the horse's tail, had laughed just like that. Could it be... could it be that this beggar before her was another manifestation of the Great Lion King Gesar? Moreover, he spoke so firmly that Gesar had already come to the Hor Kingdom. However, within the palace, he couldn't speak plainly, and she couldn't ask directly. She needed to find an opportunity outside to question him in detail. Zumu put on her ornaments one by one and ordered more food and silver to be rewarded to this beggar.

 

This monkey-training old beggar was indeed the Great Lion King Gesar in disguise. Seeing that Zumu still loved him as before moved him deeply. However, he couldn't show this emotion, fearing the timing wasn't right, alarming the Hor King and causing trouble for the demon-subduing mission. Therefore, he couldn't say much. He hastily ate the rewarded food, took the silver, and left the palace.

 

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The Time for Subjugation Ripens

 

Garbena, intending for his clever adopted son to inherit the family business, naturally recommended the child to White Tent King. Coupled with the child's own high intelligence, he quickly gained White Tent King's appointment. White Tent King personally bestowed upon him the name "Tang Nie." King Gesar had been carefully observing the situation within the kingdom. Everyone believed Sinba Meruze's seclusion was due to White Tent King's cold treatment. Loyal ministers in the kingdom, not wanting to end up like him, no longer admonished White Tent King's actions, allowing him to act recklessly. Furthermore, with the soul-binding yaks of the three Hor Kings killed by Gesar, White Tent King's health deteriorated daily, leaving him even less inclined to attend to state affairs. King Gesar finally awaited the time to completely subdue the Hor.

 

One day, he said to Gijum Yixi, "Now the time to pacify the Hor has ripened. I will send the divine horse to the Ling Kingdom to deliver the message and summon troops!"

 

Hearing this, Gijum Yixi was overjoyed. She quickly offered the Great King fine tea, good wine, meat, and pastries, and sent him on his way with auspicious blessings.

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