Section 1
Once upon a time, in ancient Japan, the Dominion of the Sea was under the wise governance of a magnificent sovereign, renowned as Rin Jin, or the Sea's Dragon King. His dominion was unrivaled, for he reigned over every marine creature, both large and small, and held the Jewels of the Ebb and Flow of the Tide in his custody. The Ebbing Tide Jewel, when cast into the sea, drew the waters away from the shore, while the Flowing Tide Jewel caused the waves to surge as high as mountains and to inundate the coast like a formidable tidal wave.
Rin Jin's Palace rested at the ocean's depths and was so exquisite that it surpassed any mortal's imagination. Its walls were composed of coral, its roof adorned with jadestone and chrysoprase, and the floors were paved with the finest mother-of-pearl. Despite the Dragon King's extensive realm, his resplendent Palace with its marvels, and his uncontested power throughout the vast ocean, he was discontented, for he ruled alone. Eventually, he resolved that marrying would not only grant him joy but also augment his supremacy. Hence, he made up his mind to take a spouse. Summoning all his fish retainers, he appointed several of them as envoys to traverse the sea and locate a young Dragon Princess fit to become his bride.
After a lengthy quest, they eventually returned to the Palace, accompanied by a charming young dragon. Her scales gleamed in a resplendent green hue, akin to the wings of summertime beetles. Her eyes radiated fiery glances, and she donned resplendent garments, embellished with sea jewels meticulously sewn into the embroidery.
The King was immediately enamored with her, and the nuptial rites were held with grandeur and magnificence. Every living creature in the ocean, from the immense whales to the tiniest shrimps, gathered in crowds to felicitate the newlyweds and bless them with a long and prosperous life. Never before had the Fish World witnessed such a congregation or such mirthful celebrations. The retinue of carriers who conveyed the bride's possessions to her new abode appeared to stretch across the waves, spanning the entire expanse of the sea. Each fish bore a luminous lantern and was adorned in ceremonial robes, glittering in shades of blue, pink, and silver. The undulating waves that rose and fell that night appeared as though they were billows of white and green flames, for the phosphorescent glow shone with amplified radiance, in honor of the occasion.
For a while, the Dragon King and his bride dwelt in unadulterated bliss. They cherished each other ardently, and the groom took immense pleasure in presenting his bride with the marvels and riches of his coral Palace every day. She, in turn, never grew weary of strolling with him through the vast halls and gardens. Life appeared to be an eternal summer's day to them.
Two months elapsed in such blissful contentment until the Dragon Queen became afflicted with illness and was compelled to remain bedridden. The King was deeply distressed upon witnessing his beloved Queen in such a state and hastily summoned the fish doctor to prescribe some medicine for her. He gave explicit instructions to the attendants to attend to her needs meticulously and tend to her with vigilance. However, despite the tireless care of her attendants and the medicine that the doctor administered, the young Queen showed no signs of improvement but rather deteriorated with each passing day.
Thereafter, the Dragon King summoned the doctor and reproached him for his inability to heal the Queen. The doctor was taken aback by Rin Jin's apparent disapproval and sought to excuse his incompetence by explaining that despite his knowledge of the appropriate medicine to prescribe for the invalid, it was impossible to procure it within the confines of the sea.
"Are you insinuating that the medicine cannot be obtained within these waters?" inquired the Dragon King.
"Indeed, Your Majesty, it is as you say," replied the doctor.
"Pray, inform me of what is required for the Queen," demanded Rin Jin.
"I require the liver of a live monkey," replied the doctor.
"The liver of a live monkey! Indeed, that shall prove to be a most challenging task," replied the King.
"If only we could obtain it for Her Majesty, she would soon recover," remarked the doctor.
"Very well, that settles it; we must obtain it somehow. But where would be the most likely place to find a monkey?" inquired the King.
