One of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese Literature (16th Century).
Back when the world was small and China was its navel, a 7th Century monk defied the Tang Emperor's ban on traveling and headed to the Western World (present day India) to ask for the Scrolls of Wisdom. As the monk was pure of heart, beasts and monsters sought to capture him thinking he could bring them great power. Fortunately, he picked up fellow travelers along the way — companions who would protect him.
There was a Dragon Prince who became a white horse, a steed for him to ride on. Then there was a Sand Spirit — once a General in Heaven, who was disfigured for breaking a crystal goblet and sent to live beneath treacherous quicksand. There was also a Powerful Pig who — before he was transformed — commanded the Celestial Navy before making the terrible mistake of flirting with the Moon at the Jade Emperor's party. Last was the mightiest of them all: the Magic Monkey King, or Sun Wukong, who could transform himself seventy-two times, leap eighteen thousand leagues in an instant, and ride on the backs of clouds.
As they journeyed to the Peak of Vultures for the scrolls (present day Griddhraj Parvat), they encountered eighty-one trials. This is one of them:
On the banks of the Upward River, so named because it flowed against gravity to touch heaven, there was an Evil King who ruled his kingdom with a Hammer of Nine Bronze Petals. Each year, he would demand the sacrifice of a boy and a girl or he would bring his Hammer down and cause an earthquake so large, it would rip the waters from the river and bring a great flood that would kill all.
As the monk and his motley band of travelers came to this kingdom, they witnessed the families of the boy and girl crying along the path, begging for help. The monk at once asked, 'My good folks, why do you weep?'
