Chapter 41

For a moment good and evil were both forgotten; Success and failure alike were cast from mind. In darkness or light, revealed or concealed, he drifted as he pleased; Following his lot, he ate when hungry and drank when thirsty. When the spirit is still, serene, and ever quiescent, In the dim gloom the demons will find their way in. The Five Elements' stumbling breaks the Chan grove; When the wind stirs, the cold must be piercing. Now the Great Sage Sun, leading Zhu Bajie, left Sha Wujing behind, leaped over the Dry Pine Stream, and went straight to the strange rock cliff. There indeed he saw a cave mansion, truly of extraordinary scenery. Behold: The winding path to the imperial carriage was secluded and still; The wind and moon listened to the black crane's play. White clouds pierced through, revealing light across the river; Water flowed past the bridge, with an air of immortal delight. Apes howled, birds sang, and flowers and trees were wondrous; Vines and creepers, stone steps, and orchids surpassed all. Azure swayed on cliff and vale, scattering mist and haze; Emerald tinted pines and bamboo, summoning the phoenix. Far off, peaks stood arrayed like inserted screens; The mountain faced the stream, encircling the true immortal's cave. The Kunlun vein of earth brought forth the dragon's course; Only those with destiny and affinity could enjoy its fruits. Drawing near the gate, he saw a stone tablet, on which eight large characters were engraved: "Fire Cloud Cave, Dry Pine Stream, Numbered Mountain." Over on that side, a troop of little demons were there brandishing spears and wielding swords, leaping and playing in the wind. The Great Sage Sun cried out in a stern, loud voice: "You little ones there! Go report to your cave master at once and tell him to send out my master, the Tang Monk, and thus spare the lives of all you spirits in this cave. If a single 'no' slips from your teeth, I shall overturn your mountain grounds and level your cave dwelling." When those little demons heard these words, they hastily turned around, each went back into the cave, closed the two stone doors, and went inside to report: "Great King, disaster has come!" Now that fiend, after capturing Tripitaka and bringing him to the cave, had stripped off his clothes, bound him hand and foot with four limbs trussed together in the rear courtyard, and ordered the little demons to draw clean water and wash him, intending to steam him in a steamer and eat him. Suddenly hearing the report of disaster, he stopped the washing for the moment and came to the front hall to ask: "What disaster?" The little demon said: "There is a monk with a hairy face and a thunder-god beak, leading a monk with a long snout and big ears, at the gate, demanding something about Master Tang. If a single 'no' slips from their teeth, they say they will overturn the mountain grounds and level the cave dwelling." The demon king gave a faint cold laugh: "That is Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie. They know how to find us. I captured his master halfway up the mountain and came here—a hundred and fifty li—yet how did they track us to the door?" He ordered the little ones to push out the carts in charge. That band of several little demons pushed out five small carts and opened the front gate. When Bajie saw them, he said: "Brother, I think this fiend is afraid of us—he's pushing out carts and moving them over there." Wukong said: "No. Wait and see where he places them." Then the little demons set the carts down according to the Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—and had five watch over them, while five went inside to report. The demon king asked: "Are they set?" They answered: "They are set." He ordered them to bring his spear. That group of weapon-keeping little demons had two carry out a twelve-foot-long fire-tipped spear and hand it to the demon king. The demon king twirled the spear and strode forward, without any armor—he merely wore a brocade battle skirt girded at his waist, barefoot, and walked out before the gate. Wukong and Bajie looked up and saw that the monster: His face was powdered white, three parts fair; His lips were rouged, a fine figure indeed. His side-locks coiled like green clouds, surpassing indigo dye; His brows were parted like new moons, as if cut with a knife. His battle skirt was embroidered with coiling dragons and phoenixes; His form was fuller than Nezha's. Both hands grasped the spear, awe-inspiring and fierce; Auspicious light shielded his body as he came out the gate. His snort was like spring thunder roaring; His fierce eyes flashed like lightning bolts. If you would know this fiend's true name and surname, His fame through the ages: Red Boy. When the Red Boy fiend came out of the gate, he cried out loudly: "Who is it that yells here by my place!" Wukong stepped forward and laughed: "My worthy nephew, don't play your tricks. This morning you hung high on the tip of a pine branch by the mountain path, looking like a thin, sickly, sallow boy, and you fooled my master. I kindly carried you on my back, and you used your wind magic to snatch my master away. Now you put on this appearance again—do you think I wouldn't recognize you? Hurry up and send out my master. Don't ruin your face and lose our kinship. I fear that if your honored father finds out, he will blame me, Old Sun, for bullying the young—that would be unseemly." When the fiend heard this, he was furious in his heart, and with a "Tch!" he bellowed: "You blasted monkey-head! What kinship do I have with you? Why do you spout nonsense here and sound off? Who is your worthy nephew?" Wukong said: "Brother, you don't understand. Back when I was sworn brothers with your honored father, you weren't even born yet." The fiend said: "This monkey is talking even more nonsense! Where are you from, and where am I from? How could you have been sworn brothers with my father?" Wukong said: "You don't know. I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. Before I caused that havoc, I roamed to the ends of the earth and the corners of the seas, throughout the Four Great Continents—there was no place I did not reach. At that time, I particularly admired heroes. Your honored father is called the Bull Demon King, styled the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, and he and I, Old Sun, formed a brotherhood of seven. We made him the eldest brother. There was also the Dragon Demon King, styled the Great Sage Who Covers the Seas, made the second brother. There was also the Great Roc Demon King, styled the Great Sage Who Confuses Heaven, made the third brother. There was also the Lion Demon King, styled the Great Sage Who Moves Mountains, made the fourth brother. There was also the Macaque King, styled the Great Sage Who Penetrates the Wind, made the fifth brother. There was also the Gibbon King, styled the Great Sage Who Drives Spirits, made the sixth brother. Only I, Old Sun, being small in stature, was called the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and ranked seventh. When we old brothers were having our fun in those days, you had not yet been born." When the monster heard this, how could he believe it? He raised his fire-tipped spear and thrust. Wukong, being an expert, was not flustered. He used a body technique, dodged the spearhead, swung his iron staff, and cursed: "You little beast, you don't know your place—take my staff!" The fiend also used his body technique, evaded the iron staff, and said: "You blasted monkey, you don't understand the times—take my spear!" The two of them, no longer discussing kinship, both changed their expressions, each displaying his divine powers, and leaped into the clouds. A fine battle: Wukong's fame was great; the demon king's skill was strong. One wielded the golden-banded staff sideways; the other thrust the fire-tipped spear straight. Spitting mist veiled the Three Realms; spewing clouds illumined all directions. A day of murderous fury and fierce howls; sun, moon, and stars showed no light. Their words held no courtesy; their feelings were both perverse. This one, cheating in heart, lost all propriety; that one, changing face, had no morals. The staff parried with lasting might; the spear came with wild savagery. One was the true Great Sage of Primordial Chaos; the other was the boy of perfect fruit, Sudhana. The two strove with all their might for victory—all because of Tripitaka, to worship the Dharma King. That demon fought with the Great Sage Sun for twenty bouts, with neither victory nor defeat. Zhu Bajie, watching from the side, saw clearly: though the fiend did not lose, he could only block and parry, lacking any ability to attack; though Wukong did not overcome him, his staff technique was precise and strong, as he came and went always above the fiend's head, never leaving his left or right. Bajie thought to himself: "Not good. Wukong is slippery—he might at any moment show an opening, lure the fiend in, and knock him down with one staff-stroke, and then I'll get no credit." So he roused his spirits, raised his nine-pronged rake in the air, and struck at the fiend's head. The fiend saw it and was alarmed; he hastily dragged his spear and retreated in defeat. Wukong shouted: "Bajie, chase him! Chase him!" The two of them arrived at the entrance of his cave, and saw the demon holding a fire-tipped spear in one hand, standing on a small cart in the middle; with the other hand he made a fist and punched his own nose twice. Bajie laughed and said, "This wretch is being shameless and unreasonable. You're probably trying to break your nose so blood will flow, then smear it on your face to make it red, and go somewhere to accuse us, right?" That demon punched himself twice, recited a spell, and spat fire from his mouth, while thick smoke burst from his nostrils; he blinked his eyes, and flames sprang up all at once, and from the five carts firelight surged forth. After several more spits, a great blazing fire filled the sky, and the whole Fire Cloud Cave was shrouded in smoke and flames—truly it scorched the heavens and burned the earth. Bajie panicked and said, "Elder Brother, this is not good—if we get into that fire, we won't live. Old Pig will be turned into roast meat, and with some spices added, he'll have a fine meal. Let's go, let's go." As he said "go," he paid no heed to Wukong and ran across the stream. But this Wukong had vast supernatural powers; he made the Fire-Avoidance Spell with his fingers and charged into the fire to look for the fiend. When the fiend saw Wukong coming, he spat several more times, and the fire became even fiercer than before. A fine fire: Blazing and fierce it filled the sky with flame, majestic and mighty it spread redness everywhere. It was like fiery wheels flying up and down, like embers dancing east and west. This fire was not that which Suiren produced by drilling wood, nor that which Laozi used for his elixir; it was neither heavenly fire nor wild fire, but the true Samadhi Fire cultivated by the demon. The five carts combined the Five Agents; from the interaction of the Five Agents, this fire was produced. The Wood of the Liver can give rise to the Fire of the Heart, and the Fire of the Heart causes the Earth of the Spleen to be balanced. The Earth of the Spleen generates Metal, which transforms into Water, and Water can generate Wood, reaching through to spirit. All transformations and productions come from fire, and fire fills the vast sky, making all things flourish. The fiend, long practiced, called it Samadhi, and it was forever the foremost in the West. Wukong, because the smoke and fire were whirling about, could not find the fiend, and could not see the path before the cave entrance, so he withdrew and leaped out of the fire. The fiend, standing at the entrance, saw it clearly; when he saw Wukong leave, he then put away his fire implements, led the crowd of demons, turned back into the cave, closed the stone door, thinking he had won, and ordered his underlings to set a banquet and play music, laughing and celebrating—no more of that. Now to tell of Wukong, who leaped over the Dry Pine Stream and lowered his cloud. He heard Bajie and Sha Seng speaking clearly among the pines. Wukong went up and scolded Bajie, saying, "You idiot, you're completely heartless. You were afraid of the demon's fire and fled in defeat, leaving me behind. Fortunately, I have some skill in all directions." Bajie laughed and said, "Brother, you've been hit by that demon's words—you truly don't know the times. The ancients said, 'He who knows the times is called a hero.' That demon is not related to you, yet you insist on claiming kinship; since he has gambled with you and released such merciless fire, you still wouldn't leave but insisted on fighting him." Wukong said, "How does that fiend's skill compare to mine?" Bajie said, "Not up to it." "And his spear technique compared to mine?" Bajie said, "Also not up to it. Old Pig saw that he couldn't hold out, so I came to help you with my rake, but unexpectedly he didn't know how to play, and when he was defeated, he broke all reason and set fire." Wukong said, "That's exactly why you shouldn't have come. If I had fought him a few more rounds, I could have taken advantage and landed a blow on him—wouldn't that have been good?" The two of them kept discussing the fiend's skill and the virulence of his fire. Sha Seng, leaning against the root of a pine, was laughing foolishly. Wukong saw him and said, "Brother, why are you laughing? Do you perhaps have some means to capture that demon and break that fire array? This matter is beneficial to all. As the saying goes, 'Many hairs make a ball.' If you can capture the demon and save the Master, that would be a great achievement for you." Sha Seng said, "I don't have any special means, nor can I subdue demons. I laugh because you two have both panicked." Wukong said, "How have I panicked?" Sha Seng said, "That fiend's skill is not as good as yours, his spear technique not as good as yours; he merely has more fire power, hence you cannot win. If I may say, to capture him using the principle of mutual production and mutual conquest, what difficulty is there?" Wukong, hearing this, laughed heartily and said, "Brother, you speak reasonably. Indeed we have panicked and forgotten this. If we reason by the theory of mutual production and mutual conquest, we must use Water to conquer Fire. But where can we find some water to pour and extinguish this demonic fire, so as to save the Master?" Sha Seng said, "Exactly so, do not hesitate." Wukong said, "You two stay here, and do not challenge him to battle. Let Old Sun go to the Eastern Ocean to ask for aid from the Dragon troops, and bring some water to quench the demonic fire and capture this reckless fiend." Bajie said, "Brother, go with ease; we understand." The splendid Great Sage, mounting the clouds, left that place and in an instant arrived at the Eastern Ocean. He had no mind to enjoy the sea scenery; he used the Water-Parting Spell to divide the waves. As he was going, he ran into a patrolling sea yaksha, who, recognizing Sun the Great Sage, quickly returned to the Crystal Palace and reported to the Old Dragon King. Ao Guang immediately led his dragon sons, dragon grandsons, shrimp soldiers, and crab troops all out to welcome him, and invited him inside to sit. After they were seated and exchanged greetings, tea was offered. Wukong said, "No need for tea; I have a matter to trouble you with. Because my master Tang Sanzang is going to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and fetch scriptures, passing through the Fire Cloud Cave at Dry Pine Stream in Hao Mountain, there is a demon called Red Boy, titled Holy Infant King, who has captured my master. I went to the cave and fought with him, but he released fire. We could not withstand it; thinking that Water can conquer Fire, I have come specially to ask you for some water, to give us a heavy rain, to quench that fire and save Tang Sanzang from this calamity." The Dragon King said, "Great Sage, you are mistaken. If you seek rain, you should not ask me." Wukong said, "You are the Dragon King of the Four Seas, in charge of rain and moisture—if I don't ask you, whom should I ask?" The Dragon King said, "Though I control rain, I dare not act without authorization. I must have the Jade Emperor's decree, specifying the place, the number of feet and inches, the time to start and stop, and also the Three Officials to record, the Great Unity to dispatch documents, and to summon the Thunder Duke, Lightning Mother, Wind Earl, and Cloud Boys. As the saying goes, 'A dragon cannot move without clouds.'" Wukong said, "I don't need wind, clouds, thunder, or lightning; I just need some rain water to extinguish the fire." The Dragon King said, "If the Great Sage does not need wind, clouds, thunder, or lightning, then I alone cannot help. How about letting my younger brothers join in helping the Great Sage in this feat?" Wukong said, "Where are your younger brothers?" The Dragon King said, "The Dragon King of the South Sea, Ao Qin; the Dragon King of the North Sea, Ao Run; the Dragon King of the West Sea, Ao Shun." Wukong laughed and said, "If I have to visit the other three seas, I might as well go to the upper realm to ask for the Jade Emperor's decree." The Dragon King said, "No need for the Great Sage to go; I will just strike the iron drum and golden bell here, and they will arrive in an instant." Hearing this, Wukong said, "Old Dragon King, quickly strike the drum and bell." In a moment, the three Dragon Kings arrived, and asked, "Elder Brother, what business do you have for us?" Ao Guang said, "Sun the Great Sage is here to borrow rain to help subdue a demon." The three younger brothers were then brought in to meet him; Wukong fully explained the matter of borrowing water. All the gods happily agreed, and immediately mustered: The valiant shark fish as the vanguard, the stupid catfish with its big mouth as the pioneer. The carp marshal leaping through waves, the sturgeon admiral spouting mist and wind. The mackerel commander scouting in the east, the mullet lieutenant urging the march in the west. The red-eyed horse-fish dancing in the south, the black-armored general charging in the north. The captain of the gurnard holding the signal in the central army, heroes in all five directions. The crafty and resourceful soft-shell turtle as military counsellor, the subtly calculating turtle as prime minister. The wise and shrewd alligator as chancellor, the versatile and capable soft-shell turtle as commander-in-chief. The crab warrior brandishing his long sword, the shrimp wife drawing her strong bow. The catfish clerk checking the registers, mustering the dragon troops out of the waves. There is a poem as evidence. The poem says: The Four Dragon Kings of the Seas were glad to assist in the deed; The Great Sage Equal to Heaven asked them to follow his lead. Only because on Tripitaka's journey difficulties arose, He borrowed water to come and extinguish the crimson fires. Pilgrim led the dragon troops, and before long they arrived at Dry Pine Ravine on Number Mountain. Pilgrim said, "Brothers Ao, I have troubled you to come far. This place belongs to a demon. You may halt here in midair and do not show yourselves. Let Old Sun wager with him; if I win, there is no need for you gentlemen to seize him; if I lose, neither need you come to my aid. Only, when he releases his fire, listen for my call and together spray rain." The Dragon Kings all acknowledged the order. Pilgrim then lowered his cloud, entered the pine grove, and seeing Eight Rules and Friar Sand, called out, "Brothers." Eight Rules said, "Elder Brother comes quickly. Did you succeed in inviting the Dragon Kings?" Pilgrim said, "They have all come. You two must be very careful—I fear the rain may be heavy, so do not let the luggage get wet. Wait while Old Sun goes to fight him." Friar Sand said, "Elder Brother, go forth with confidence; we all understand." Pilgrim leaped across the ravine and arrived before the gate, calling out, "Open up!" Those little demons went in to report again: "Sun Wukong has come again." Red Boy looked up and laughed, saying, "That ape must not have been burned up in the fire, so he comes again. This time we must not spare him; we must certainly scorch him till his hide is charred and his flesh is cooked through before stopping." He quickly sprang up, gripped his long spear, and ordered, "Little ones, roll out the fire carts." He came out before the gate and said to Pilgrim, "Why have you come again?" Pilgrim said, "Give me back my master." The fiend said, "You monkey-head, you are utterly unreasonable. That Tang Sanzang may serve you as a master, but he can also serve me as a relish to go with wine. You still think of taking him—do not dream of it, do not dream of it." On hearing this, Pilgrim grew extremely angry, whipped out his Golden Cudgel, and struck straight at the head; the fiend used his Fire-tipped Spear to parry the blow in haste. This bout of combat was different from before. A fine slaughter: Fury burst from the wanton demon; Rage sped the monkey-king general. This one was bent on saving the sutra-seeking monk, That one was set on devouring Tripitaka Tang. Their hearts changed, showing no kinship; Their affections cooled, with no yielding in honor. This one wished he could seize him and flay him alive, That one wished he could catch him and dip him in sauce. Truly heroic both, Indeed fierce and mighty each. Staff came, spear parried—they wagered victory and loss; Spear went, staff met—they contested high and low. Raising hands they whirled through twenty rounds, Both sides' abilities were evenly matched. The fiend king fought with Pilgrim for twenty rounds, and seeing he could not win, he feinted with his spear, quickly withdrew, clenched his fist, and struck his nose twice, whereupon he spewed forth fire. From the carts before the gate smoke and flame burst forth, and crimson fire flew from his mouth and eyes. Sun the Great Sage turned his head and called out, "Where are the Dragon Kings?" The dragon king brothers, leading the multitude of water creatures, sprayed rain toward the demon's fiery light. A fine rain! Truly it was: Drifting and scattering, Dense and heavy. Drifting and scattering—like stars falling from the sky's edge; Dense and heavy—like waves tumbling from the sea's mouth upended. At first it was fist-sized, Next it poured as from jars and tipped from basins. Everywhere it washed the ground to duck-egg green, And washed the high mountains to Buddha's-head blue. From gullies water flew in thousand-foot jade ribbons, From ravine springs waves swelled in ten-thousand-thread silver strands. At the three-forked road it was nearly full, In the nine-bend stream it gradually leveled. This was the holy dragon aiding Tripitaka in his ordeal, Tilting the River of Heaven to pour downward. The rain fell splashing, great and small, but could not stop the demon's fire. For the Dragon Kings' private rain could only douse ordinary fire—how could it quench the demon's Samādhi True Fire? It was exactly like pouring oil on a fire—the more it was poured, the fiercer it burned. The Great Sage said, "Wait while I form a mudra and plunge into the fire." He whirled his iron staff and sought the demon to strike him. When the fiend saw him approach, he blew a mouthful of smoke straight into his face. Pilgrim quickly turned his head, but it smarted so that his eyes grew dizzy and he could not help tears falling like rain. Now the Great Sage feared not fire but smoke. In the days of old, when he had thrown the Heavenly Palace into chaos, Laozi had placed him in the Eight-Trigram Furnace and refined him there; fortunately he had taken shelter in the Xun position and was not burned. But the wind stirred up smoke and made his eyes fiery and golden—and ever since, he has been afraid of smoke. The fiend blew another mouthful, and Pilgrim, unable to bear it, mounted his cloud and fled. The fiend king then gathered up his fire implements and returned to his cave. Pilgrim was covered with smoke and fire, suffering unbearably, so he plunged straight into the ravine water to extinguish himself. But who knew that with the cold water pressing on him, the fire energy would attack his heart and his three souls would leave their abode? Pitiful—his breath was blocked, his chest and throat cold, his spirit scattered, his life lost. The Four Dragon Kings, alarmed, reined in the rain in midair and called out loudly, "Marshal Tianpeng, General Curtain-raising, do not stay hidden in the grove—come and search for your elder brother!" Eight Rules and Friar Sand, hearing their holy titles called, quickly untied the horse, shouldered the luggage, and rushed out of the grove, heeding not the mud as they searched along the ravine edge. They saw that upstream the waves were tumbling and churning, and in the rushing current a man was floating down. Friar Sand saw him and, without removing his clothes, leaped into the water and carried him ashore—and it was the body of Sun the Great Sage. Ah! You could see his limbs curled and unable to stretch, his whole body cold as ice. Friar Sha's eyes filled with tears as he said, "Elder Brother, what a pity! You who were a guest of immortality for incalculable ages have now turned into a short-lived man upon the road." Eight Rules laughed and said, "Brother, do not weep. This ape is pretending to be dead to scare us. Feel him—does his chest still have a trace of warmth?" Friar Sand said, "His whole body is cold; even if there were a trace of warmth, how could he return to life?" Eight Rules said, "He has seventy-two transformations, and thus seventy-two lives. You pull his feet, and let me work on him." So Friar Sand pulled his feet while Eight Rules supported his head, straightened him out, propped up his feet, and made him sit cross-legged. Eight Rules rubbed his hands warm, covered his seven orifices, and applied a massage method of meditation. It turned out that Pilgrim, pressed by the cold water, had his energy blocked in the elixir field and could not make a sound. Fortunately Eight Rules massaged and rubbed him; in a moment the energy broke through the three passes, turned through the Bright Hall, and burst open the apertures. He cried out, "Master!" Friar Sand said, "Brother, whether alive or dead, you still have Master on your lips. Wake up—we are here." Pilgrim opened his eyes and said, "Brothers, you are here? Old Sun has suffered a loss." Eight Rules laughed and said, "You just now fainted away; if Old Pig hadn't saved you, you would have been done for—and you don't even thank me." Pilgrim then stood up, raised his face, and said, "Brothers Ao, where are you?" The Four Dragon Kings answered from midair, "We lesser dragons are here in attendance." Pilgrim said, "I have troubled you to come far, and no merit has been achieved. Please return for now; another day I will thank you." The Dragon Kings led their water creatures and went back in a vast tide—no more of that. Friar Sand supported Pilgrim, and together they went to sit under the pine grove. After a short while he settled his spirit and smoothed his breath, but could not stop tears from rolling down his cheeks. Again he cried out, "Master! I recall the years gone by when I left Great Tang, At the cliff's face you saved me from calamity. Over three mountains and six waters I met demonic hindrances, Through ten thousand hardships and a thousand sufferings my heart was torn. Bearing my alms bowl at morning meals I took what came thick or thin, Contemplating Chan at dusk I lodged in grove or village. All my hope was set on achieving the fruition of merit— Who knew that today I would suffer such grievous hurt?" Sha Seng said, "Elder Brother, do not fret. Let us early devise a plan and go somewhere to invite troops to help rescue Master." Xingzhe said, "Where can we go to invite help?" Sha Seng said, "When the Bodhisattva first instructed us to protect Tang Seng, she promised us: call on Heaven and Heaven answers; call on Earth and Earth answers. Where should we go to invite help?" Xingzhe said, "When I, Old Sun, raised havoc in Heaven, those divine troops could not withstand me. This fiend's magic powers are no small matter; only one whose abilities are greater than Old Sun's can subdue him. The Heavenly Generals are of no use, and the Earthly Fiends cannot prevail. If we are to seize this demon, we must go invite Guanyin Bodhisattva. But my flesh and skin are sore and numb, my waist and knees ache, and I cannot mount a somersault cloud—how am I to go invite her?" Bajie said, "Whatever instructions you have, just tell me, and I will go invite her." Xingzhe laughed and said, "Very well, you can go. When you see the Bodhisattva, do not look up at her; only bow your head in worship. When she asks, tell her the name of the place and the name of the fiend, and then beg her to rescue Master. If she is willing to come, she will surely capture the monster." Bajie, having heard this, at once mounted the clouds and mist and headed south. Now the demon king in his cave was rejoicing and said, "My little ones, Sun Xingzhe has suffered a defeat and gone. Although this bout did not kill him, it must have made him quite dizzy. Eh! I fear he may go invite reinforcements. Quickly open the gate; I will go see whom he invites." The little demons opened the gate, and the fiend ran up into the air to look around, where he saw Bajie heading south. The fiend thought that there was no other place in the south, so he must surely be going to invite Guanyin Bodhisattva. He quickly descended from the cloud and called out, "My little ones, find that leather bag of mine. It has been long unused, and I fear the mouth-cord is not secure—replace it with a new one and place it inside the second gate. I will go trick Bajie into returning, stuff him into the bag, steam him till he is thoroughly tender, and reward you all." Now this fiend possessed a Ruyi leather bag. The little demons brought it out, replaced the mouth-cord, and placed it inside the cave gate—but no more of that. Now the demon king had long dwelt here and was familiar with all the roads; he knew which way to the South Sea was near and which was far. Taking the nearer road, he rode a cloud, overtook Bajie, and sat himself upon a cliff, transforming into a false likeness of Guanyin, waiting for Bajie. As that fool was speeding along on his cloud, he suddenly caught sight of the Bodhisattva. How could he tell true from false? This was truly "seeing an image and taking it for Buddha." The fool halted his cloud, knelt, and said, "Bodhisattva, your disciple Zhu Wuneng kowtows to you." The fiend said, "You are not escorting Tang Seng to fetch the scriptures—what business do you have coming to see me?" Bajie said, "Your disciple, along with his master, reached midway and encountered a fiend, the Red Boy, in Fire Cloud Cave at Withered Pine Stream on Hao Mountain, who seized my master. Your disciple and his elder brothers sought him out at his gate and did battle with him. It turned out he could release fire; in the first bout we did not win. In the second bout we invited the Dragon King to send rain, but that could not extinguish the fire either. My elder brother was burned and cannot move, so he sent me to invite the Bodhisattva. I beg you, in your compassion, to rescue my master from this calamity." The fiend said, "The master of Fire Cloud Cave is not one who harms the living; surely you must have offended him." Bajie said, "I did not offend him—it was Elder Brother Wukong who did. He had transformed into a small child, hanging from a tree, to test my master. My master, being very kind-hearted, had me untie him and told Elder Brother to carry him a while. Elder Brother gave him a shake, and then he raised a wind and carried Master away." The fiend said, "Rise and follow me into the cave to see the cave master. I will put in a good word for you; if you offer a courtesy, you may get your master back." Bajie said, "Bodhisattva, if you can return my master to me, I would even kowtow once to him." The fiend king said, "Follow me." That fool, not knowing good from bad, followed him straight back along the old road, not toward the South Ocean, but directly to Fire Cloud Gate, arriving at the entrance in an instant. The fiend entered and said, "Do not be suspicious. He is an old acquaintance of mine. Come in." The fool had no choice but to step inside. All the little demons raised a shout together, seized Bajie, stuffed him into the bag, tightened the mouth-cord, and hung him high on the carrying beam. The fiend then revealed his true form, sat in the middle, and said, "Zhu Bajie, what abilities do you have that you dare escort Tang Seng to fetch the scriptures? That you dare invite the Bodhisattva to subdue me? With your two eyes wide open, you still do not recognize me as the Great Sage King Holy Infant. Now that I have caught you, I will hang you for three to five days, steam you tender, and reward my little demons with you as a side dish for wine." Bajie, hearing this, cursed from inside, "You vile monster! Utterly rude. If you think that with all your tricks and schemes you can trick me into being eaten, I will see to it that every one of you suffers a swollen-headed plague." The fool cursed again and again, shouted and shouted—but no more of that. Now Sun Dasheng and Sha Seng were sitting together when a gust of foul wind swept past their faces. He sneezed and said, "Not good, not good! This wind bodes more ill than good—I think Bajie has taken the wrong road." Sha Seng said, "If he took the wrong road, could he not ask someone?" Xingzhe said, "He must have run into a fiend." Sha Seng said, "If he ran into a fiend, could he not run back?" Xingzhe said, "Something is amiss. You sit here and keep watch; I will cross the stream and go find out." Sha Seng said, "Elder Brother, your waist pains you—I fear you may fall into his hands again. Let me go instead." Xingzhe said, "You are no match for him; let me go." The valiant Xingzhe gritted his teeth, endured the pain, grasped his iron staff, crossed the stream, and arrived before Fire Cloud Cave, calling out, "Vile fiend!" The little demon at the gate hurried in to report, "Sun Xingzhe is at the gate again, shouting." The fiend king ordered them to capture him. That troop of little demons, with spears and swords clustering around, raised a shout together, opened the gate, and all cried, "Capture him! Capture him!" Xingzhe was indeed weary and did not dare meet them head-on; he dodged to the side of the road, recited a spell, and called out, "Change!" He then transformed into a gold-embroidered bundle. The little demons saw it, picked it up, and reported, "Great King, Sun Xingzhe was afraid. At the mere word 'capture,' he panicked, dropped his bundle, and fled." The fiend king laughed and said, "That bundle has nothing of value in it—just a monk's ragged cassock and old hat. Bring it in and tear it up for patches." One little demon indeed carried the bundle in, not knowing it was Xingzhe transformed. Xingzhe thought, "Good, this gold-embroidered bundle has been carried in." The fiend paid it no mind and tossed it inside the gate. The valiant Xingzhe, playing false within false and empty within empty, plucked a single hair, blew on it with immortal breath, and transformed it into a bundle just like the other; his true body then transformed into a small fly, alighting on the door hinge. He heard Bajie groaning and moaning inside, his voice unclear, sounding like a sick pig. Xingzhe flew about with a buzz to find him, and saw that he was hanging inside the leather bag. Xingzhe alighted on the bag and heard him cursing the fiend with bitter words—"You vile monster this, you vile monster that: How dare you pretend to be Guanyin Bodhisattva, trick me into coming back, hang me here, and even say you will eat me? One day my elder brother will: Unfold his boundless dharma equal to Heaven, And seize every vile fiend on the mountain in a trice. Untie this leather bag and set me free, That I may rake you a thousand times to my heart's content." Xingzhe, hearing this, laughed to himself and thought, "Although this fool is cooped up inside feeling stifled, he has not yet lowered his flag. Old Sun must capture this fiend; if not, how can this hatred be avenged?" Just as he was trying to think of a way to rescue Eight Rules from inside, he heard the demon king call out, “Where are my six valiant generals?” At that time there were six little demons who were his trusted spirits, appointed as valiant generals, each with a name: one called Cloud-in-Mist, one called Mist-in-Cloud; one called Urgent-as-Fire, one called Swift-as-Wind; one called Rising-Scorching-Steam, and one called Scorching-Steam-Rising. The six valiant generals stepped forward and knelt. The demon king said, “Do you know the Old Great King’s house?” The six generals said, “We do.” The demon king said, “Go to him at once, day and night, and invite the Old Great King to come, saying that I have captured Tang Sanzang here and will steam him for him to eat, so that his lifespan may be prolonged by a thousand years.” The six demons accepted the order, and each dragging and pulling the others, they went straight out of the cave gate. With a buzzing sound, the Monkey King flew down from the bag, followed closely behind those six demons, and slipped out of the cave. But as to how they actually invited him, that shall be told in the next chapter.