OriginChapter 55
Now as the Great Sage Sun and Zhu Bajie were about to use their magic to subdue those women, they suddenly heard a sound of wind and Sha Seng's clamor. They turned hurriedly and saw that Tang Seng was gone. Wukong said, "Who came to seize the Master?" Sha Seng said, "It was a woman who stirred up a whirlwind and carried the Master away." When Wukong heard this, he whistled and leaped into the clouds, shading his eyes with his hand as he looked in all directions. He saw a cloud of dust and rolling wind heading northwest. He hurriedly turned and called, "Brothers, quickly mount the clouds and come with me to pursue the Master!" Bajie and Sha Seng then slung the luggage onto the horse, and with a sound, they all jumped into the air.
The ruler, ministers, and women of the Western Liang Kingdom were so alarmed that they knelt in the dust and all said, "These are Arhats who have ascended in broad daylight. Your Majesty need not be alarmed. The Imperial Brother Tang is also a virtuous Chan monk. We have eyes but no pupils, mistaking him for a Central Land man, and have wasted all this mental effort. Please, Your Majesty, mount the carriage and return to court." The queen felt ashamed, and the many officials all returned to the kingdom; no more of that.
Now the three brothers, the Great Sage Sun and the others, soared through the air and trod on the mist, following that whirlwind straight ahead. They came to a high mountain, where the dust settled and the wind ceased, and they no longer knew in which direction the demon had gone. The brothers lowered their clouds and mists and sought a path to search. Suddenly they saw a smooth green stone on one side, shaped like a screen. The three led the horse around the stone screen, and behind it were two stone doors with six large characters on them: "Pipa Cave on Dudi Mountain." Ignorant, Bajie stepped forward and used his rake to strike the door. Wukong quickly stopped him, saying, "Brother, do not be hasty. We followed the whirlwind to this place, and after searching for a while we have come upon these doors, but we do not know the depth of the matter. If this is not the right door, would we not provoke their anger? You two lead the horse back to the front of the stone screen and wait for a while. Let old Sun go in to investigate and find out whether there is anything or not, so we can act accordingly." Sha Seng heard this and was delighted, saying, "Good, good, good! Indeed, there is refinement within roughness, and in urgency one finds leniency." The two of them led the horse back.
The Great Sage Sun displayed his divine power. He made a mudra, chanted a spell, shook his body, and changed into a bee—truly light and nimble. Look at him:
Wings thin, soft with the wind;
Waist light, slender in the sun's glow.
Mouth sweet, once sought pistils;
Tail sharp, adept at toppling toads.
How shallow the merit of making honey?
At entering the hive, etiquette is modest.
Now he employs his clever scheme,
Dancing and flying into the door's eaves.
Wukong squeezed in through a crack in the door and flew past the inner gate. There in the center he saw a female demon sitting upright on a flower pavilion, with several maids in embroidered colorful garments and with double topknots on either side, all beaming with joy, chattering about who knows what. Wukong flew up gently and alighted on the lattice of the flower pavilion. He was just listening carefully when he saw two girls with unkempt hair in double buns carrying two plates of steaming hot wheaten food up to the pavilion, saying, "Grandma, one plate is meat-filled steamed buns with human flesh, and the other is vegetarian buns with dengsha filling." The female demon laughed and said, "Little ones, bring out the Imperial Brother Tang." Several maids in embroidered colorful garments went to the back room and helped Tang Seng out. The master's face was sallow, his lips white, his eyes red with tears. Wukong sighed secretly, "The master has been poisoned."
The demon came down from the pavilion, revealing her ten slender fingers like spring onions, and took the elder by the hand, saying, "Imperial Brother, set your mind at ease. Although this place is not the palace of the Western Liang women's kingdom, and cannot compare with wealth and luxury, it is actually peaceful and carefree, just right for chanting Buddha's name and reading scriptures. I will be your companion in the Way, and truly we shall be harmonious for a hundred years." Sanzang did not speak. The demon said, "Do not fret. I know that when you attended the banquet in the women's kingdom, you did not take any food or drink. Here are two plates of meat and vegetarian noodles and buns; please partake a little to settle your nerves." Sanzang thought silently: "If I do not speak and do not eat, this demon is different from that queen: the queen was human and acted with propriety; this demon is a spirit, and I fear she may harm me—what then? My three disciples do not know I am trapped here; if she harms me, would my life not be lost in vain?" He asked his own heart and found no plan, so he forced himself to speak up: "What about the meat? What about the vegetarian?" The female demon said, "The meat ones are buns filled with human flesh; the vegetarian ones are buns filled with dengsha." Sanzang said, "Your poor monk eats vegetarian." The demon laughed and said, "Girl, bring hot tea for your elder grandfather to eat the vegetarian buns." One girl indeed brought a cup of fragrant tea and placed it before the elder. The demon broke open a vegetarian bun and handed it to Sanzang. Sanzang handed the whole meat bun to the demon. The demon laughed, "Imperial Brother, why do you not break it open for me?" Sanzang pressed his palms together and said, "I am a monk; I dare not break the meat." The female demon said, "You are a monk and dare not break the meat—how then did you drink high water by the Mother-Child River the other day, and today you are fond of eating dengsha filling?" Sanzang said, "When the water is high, the boat goes swiftly; when the sand sinks, the horse moves slowly."
Wukong, listening through the lattice as the two exchanged words, feared that the master might lose his true nature. Unable to contain himself, he revealed his true form, drew his iron staff, and shouted, "Beast, how dare you be so rude!" When the female demon saw him, she spewed out a beam of smoke and light, shrouding the flower pavilion, and ordered, "Little ones, take the Imperial Brother away." She then took a three-pronged steel fork, leaped out of the pavilion gate, and cursed, "Mischievous monkey! How dare you secretly enter my home and spy on my looks? Don't run—take a fork from your granny!" The Great Sage parried with his iron staff, and they fought as he retreated, the two of them fighting their way out of the cave. Bajie and Sha Seng were waiting in front of the stone screen when they suddenly saw the two of them locked in combat. Bajie hastily led the white horse over and said, "Sha Seng, you just guard the luggage and the horse; let old Pig go help fight." The good idiot raised his rake with both hands, rushed forward, and called out, "Brother, stand back—let me fight this shameless wretch!" When the demon saw Bajie coming, she used another trick: she gave a shout, fire came from her nose, smoke from her mouth, and she shook her body, brandishing her trident to meet him. It was impossible to tell how many hands the demon had; she rolled toward them wildly. Wukong and Bajie attacked her from both sides. The demon said, "Sun Wukong, you have no sense of propriety. I may know you, but you do not know me. Even the Buddha Tathagata in your Thunderclap Monastery is still afraid of me. How far can you two hairy men get? Come on—I'll take you all on, one by one."
How was this battle fought?
The demon's might grew long, the Monkey King's spirit rose.
Marshal Tian Peng vied for merit, wildly wielding his rake to show his prowess.
The one had many hands and tight grip on her fork, surrounded by smoke and light;
These two, impatient in battle, strong in arms, stirred up mists and vapors.
The demon only sought a mate, but how could the monk release his vital essence?
Yin and yang not matching, they fought and held each other,
Each displaying heroic talent in bitter struggle.
Yin, still and nourishing, thought of stirring;
Yang, withdrawing and guarding, cherished clarity.
Thus the two sides had no harmony;
Fork, rake, and iron staff gambled on victory or defeat.
The staff was powerful, the rake even more so;
The demon's steel fork met them point to point.
Before Dudi Mountain, neither gave way;
Outside Pipa Cave, both were relentless.
The one delighted in having Tang Seng as a phoenix mate;
These two must follow the elder to fetch the true scriptures.
They fought with heaven-shaking, earth-moving fury,
Until sun and moon lost their light and the stars changed their positions.
The three fought for a long time without deciding victory or defeat. The female demon leaped up and used the technique of the Downward Horse Poison Sting, and before he knew it, she pricked the Great Sage on his scalp. Wukong cried out, "Oh, the pain!" Unable to endure it, he retreated in defeat, suffering the pain. Bajie, seeing that things were not going well, dragged his rake and withdrew. The demon, having gained victory, put away her steel fork.
The Pilgrim clutched his head, frowned with a pained face, and cried out: "Fearsome! Fearsome!" Eight Rules came up to him and asked, "Elder Brother, you were fighting so well, so why did you come back howling with pain?" The Pilgrim held his head and only cried, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts." Sand Monk said, "I think you have a headache from wind?" The Pilgrim jumped and said, "No, no." Eight Rules said, "Brother, I didn't see you wounded, yet your head aches—why?" The Pilgrim groaned and said, "Terrible, terrible. While I was fighting him, he saw that I broke his trident stance, so he leaped up, and I don't know what sort of weapon it was, but it jabbed me on the head, and now I can't bear this headache—that's why I lost the fight and withdrew." Eight Rules laughed, "You usually boast in quiet times that your head has been cultivated. How could it not withstand this single jab?" The Pilgrim said, "Exactly. This head of mine—ever since I cultivated to true achievement, stole and ate the Immortal Peaches and the divine wine, and Laozi's Golden Elixir, and when I caused havoc in Heaven, the Jade Emperor sent the Great Strength Demon King and the Twenty-Eight Constellations to take me to the Taurine Palace for execution everywhere; those divine generals used knives, axes, hammers, swords, thunder, and fire; and then Laozi placed me in the Eight Trigrams Furnace and refined me for forty-nine days—none of that harmed me. Today I don't know what weapon this woman used, but she injured Old Sun's head." Sand Monk said, "Let go of your hand, let me look—has it broken?" The Pilgrim said, "Not broken, not broken." Eight Rules said, "I'll go to the Western Liang Kingdom and get some plaster for you to stick on." The Pilgrim said, "It's neither swollen nor broken—how can I stick plaster on it?" Eight Rules laughed, "Brother, I never had any prenatal or postnatal ailments, but you've got yourself a forehead carbuncle."
Sand Monk said, "Second Brother, stop joking. Now it's getting late, Elder Brother's head is hurt, and we don't know whether Master is alive or dead—what are we to do?" The Pilgrim groaned, "Master is all right. When I went in, I turned into a honeybee and flew inside. I saw that woman sitting in the flower pavilion. Shortly after, two maids brought two trays of steamed buns: one tray had human-meat filling—that was the meat kind; the other had red-bean filling—that was the vegetarian kind. She also had two girl attendants help Master out to eat one to calm his shock, and she wanted to make some sort of 'companion in the Way' with Master. At first Master didn't answer the woman and didn't eat the buns. Later, after hearing her sweet talk and flattery, somehow he opened his mouth and said he would eat the vegetarian one. That woman then split open a vegetarian bun and handed it to Master. Master handed her a whole meat bun. The woman said, 'Why didn't you split it open?' Master said, 'One who has left home does not dare break the meat.' The woman said, 'If you don't break meat, then how is it that the day before yesterday you drank deeply by the Mother-Child River, and today you relish the red-bean filling?' Master didn't understand her meaning and replied with two lines: 'Water deep, the boat goes swiftly; sand traps, the horse moves slowly.' I heard this from the lattice, and fearing that Master might lose his composure, I revealed my true form, drew my staff, and struck. She also used her divine powers, spewed out smoke and mist, shouted 'Seize the Imperial Brother,' and then brandished her steel trident and fought me out of the cave." When Sand Monk heard this, he bit his finger and said, "That wanton wretch must have followed us from somewhere—she knows all about what happened before."
Eight Rules said, "If that's so, we can't rest. Never mind dusk or midnight—let's go to her gate and challenge her to battle, making a great clamor and keeping her from sleeping, so she can't play tricks on our Master." The Pilgrim said, "My head hurts—I can't go." Sand Monk said, "We don't need to challenge her: first, Elder Brother has a headache; second, our Master is a true monk and will never let his nature be disturbed by lust and emptiness. Let's just spend the night here at the foot of the slope in a sheltered spot, rest our spirits, and wait till dawn to make further plans." So the three brothers tied the white horse securely, guarded the luggage, and settled down at the slope for the night—but we shall say no more of that.
Now that female demon put away her cruel heart and rearranged her joyful looks, and called out, "Little ones, bar both the front and back doors securely." She also posted two night watchmen to guard against the Pilgrim, and if they heard the door make any sound, they were to report at once. She further ordered, "Maids, make the bedchamber neat and tidy, light the candles and burn incense, and invite the Imperial Brother Tang to come—I want to enjoy union with him." So they supported the elder from the rear. The female demon displayed an exceedingly charming and coquettish demeanor, took hold of Tang Monk, and said, "As the saying goes, 'Gold is not precious; peace and pleasure are worth more.' Come, let's be husband and wife and have some fun." This elder gritted his teeth and did not let out a sound. He did not want to go, but feared she might harm him, so he trembled and followed her into the fragrant chamber. He was as if dumb and deaf, never raising his head or lifting his eyes; he did not even look at what bedding or curtains were in the room, nor did he know what trunks or dressing tables there were. As for the amorous words and passionate suggestions the female demon spoke, he remained utterly indifferent. What a good monk! Truly:
His eyes did not look upon evil sights, his ears did not listen to licentious sounds.
He regarded her brocade-like charming face as dung and filth, her golden and bejeweled beauty as dust and ashes.
His whole life he loved only meditation; he never took a step from the Buddha's ground.
How could he cherish jade or pity fragrance? He knew only to cultivate truth and nurture his nature.
That female demon was lively, with boundless spring passion; this elder was dead serious, with meditation's mystery present.
One was like soft jade and warm fragrance, the other like dead ashes and withered wood.
One spread the mandarin-duck quilt, with intense lustful ardor; this one tightened his cassock, with loyal and upright heart.
That one wanted to press breast and cross thighs, uniting like phoenix and lute; this one wanted to face the wall and return to the mountain, to visit Damo.
The female demon undid her clothes, flaunting her fragrant skin and smooth flesh; Tang Monk gathered his robes, tightly concealing his rough and coarse hide.
The female demon said, "My pillow is left, my quilt is idle—why not sleep?"
Tang Monk said, "My head is shaven, my robes are strange—how can I keep you company?"
That one said, "I would be like Liu Cuicui of former dynasties."
This one said, "This poor monk is not Yue Sheli."
The female demon said, "I am as beautiful as Xishi, and even more graceful."
Tang Monk said, "Because of that, the King of Yue long ago lay buried in death."
The female demon said, "Imperial Brother, do you remember the saying, 'Better to die beneath the flowers, and be a ghost with style'?"
Tang Monk said, "My true yang is the utmost treasure—how could I lightly give it to a skeleton of powder like you..."
The two of them bandied words and trifling talk until deep into the night, but Elder Tang never stirred in his thoughts. The female demon kept tugging and pulling and would not let go, but this master only remained steady and steadfast and refused. They tangled until about midnight, and the demon grew vexed and called out, "Little ones, bring rope." Pitifully, they bound that beloved person with a rope until he was trussed up like a monkey-lion. She also ordered him dragged out to the corridor, then blew out the silver lamp, and each went to their own sleeping place. That night passed without further words.
Before they knew it, the cock crowed three times. At the foot of the slope, Sun the Great Sage stretched and said, "My head hurt for a while, but now it neither hurts nor is numb—it's just a little itchy." Eight Rules laughed, "If it itches, let her jab you again—how about that?" The Pilgrim spat and said, "Enough, enough, enough." Eight Rules laughed again, "Enough, enough, enough—my master has been 'rolling, rolling, rolling' all night." Sand Monk said, "Stop bickering. It's daylight—hurry and go catch the demon early." The Pilgrim said, "Brothers, you stay here and guard the horse—do not move. Zhu Eight Rules, come with me."
That idiot braced himself, tucked his black brocade straight robe, and followed the Pilgrim. Each took his weapon, leaped onto the mountain crag, and went straight to the foot of the stone screen. The Pilgrim said, “You stand still here. I fear this monster may have harmed Master during the night. Let me go in first to find out. If he has been fooled by her and lost his primal yang, truly damaging his virtue, then we may as well all scatter. But if she has not disturbed his nature and his dhyana-mind remains unmoved, then we can strive hard together, beat the monster to death, and save Master to go west.” Eight Rules said, “How foolish you are! As the saying goes, ‘Would a dried fish make a good pillow for a cat?’ Even if not so, even if not so, she would still have scratched you a few times.” The Pilgrim said, “Don’t be suspicious and talk nonsense. Let me go see.”
The Great Sage, turning around the stone screen and leaving Eight Rules behind, shook his body and changed again into a honeybee, flying in through the gate. Inside the gate he saw two maidservants, their heads pillowed on watchman’s clappers, sound asleep. He went to the flower pavilion to look—the goblin had been busy half the night, and all of them, not knowing it was dawn, were still sleeping. The Pilgrim flew to the rear and vaguely heard Tang Monk groaning. He looked up and saw Master bound under the eaves with his four legs tied together in a bundle. The Pilgrim lightly alighted on Tang Monk’s head and called out, “Master.” Tang Monk recognized the voice and said, “Wukong has come? Save my life quickly.” The Pilgrim said, “How were the night’s pleasures?” Tripitaka gritted his teeth and said, “I would rather die than do such a thing.” The Pilgrim said, “Yesterday I saw she had an air of pity and affection for you—why then has she treated you so harshly today?” Tripitaka said, “She pestered me for half the night, but I never loosened my robe nor lay down on the bed. When she saw I would not yield, she bound me here. You must save me, so we can go fetch the scriptures.”
While master and disciples were thus questioning and answering, they woke the goblin. Although the goblin was cruel, she still had lingering reluctance to give him up. Turning over in her sleep, she heard only the words “go fetch the scriptures,” and she rolled off the bed, shrieking loudly, “Why not be good husband and wife, but go fetch scriptures instead?”
The Pilgrim, alarmed, left Master, quickly spread his wings and flew out, resumed his true form, and called out, “Eight Rules.” That idiot turned around the stone screen and asked, “Has the business been accomplished?” The Pilgrim laughed, “No, no. Our old master would not yield to her caresses, so she grew angry and bound him there. He was just telling me the whole story when the monster woke up, and I fled out in haste.” Eight Rules said, “What did Master say?” The Pilgrim said, “He only said he never loosened his robe nor lay down on the bed.” Eight Rules laughed, “Good, good, good—he is a true monk! Let us go rescue him.”
The idiot, coarse and impatient, would not listen to explanation; he raised his muckrake and with all his strength struck the stone gate, crashing it into pieces with a loud rumble. The maids who had been sleeping with their heads on the clappers were terrified and ran to the second gate, shouting, “Open the gate! The front gate has been broken by those two ugly men from yesterday!” The female monster was just coming out of her room when four or five maids ran in to report, “Mistress, those two ugly men from yesterday have come again and smashed the front gate.” Hearing this, the monster at once called out, “Little ones, heat water for washing my face and doing my hair.” And she ordered, “Carry the imperial brother, still tied up, into the rear chamber and put him away. Let me go fight them.”
The fine goblin came out, raised her three-pronged fork, and cursed, “Wretched monkey! Wild boar! Utterly ignorant! How dare you break my gate?” Eight Rules cursed back, “Shameless whore! You trapped my master and dare to talk back! My master was coaxed here by you to be your husband—send him out quickly and I’ll spare you; if you say so much as half a ‘no,’ your old Pig will bring down his rake and level even the mountain with you!” The goblin gave no chance for talk; she shook her body, worked her magic as before, spewed smoke and fire from her nostrils and mouth, and thrust her steel fork at Eight Rules. Eight Rules dodged aside and struck with his rake; Sun the Great Sage wielded his iron staff and joined in to help. The monster again displayed her supernatural powers—no one knew how many hands she had—blocking left and right. After three or five rounds, with some weapon unknown, she stabbed Eight Rules right on the lips. That idiot dragged his rake, covered his mouth, and fled in pain. The Pilgrim also had some wariness of her; he made a false swipe with his staff and retreated in defeat. The monster, victorious, returned and ordered the little ones to pile up stones to mend the front gate—no more of that.
Now Sha Monk was tending the horse before the slope when he heard pig grunts. He looked up and saw Eight Rules coming, covering his mouth and grunting. Sha Monk said, “What happened?” The idiot grunted, “Terrible, terrible. Pain, pain, pain.” Before he finished, the Pilgrim also arrived and laughed, “What a good idiot! Yesterday you cursed me with a boil on the forehead, but today you’ve turned into a swollen-mouth plague!” Eight Rules grunted, “Unbearable, unbearable—it hurts dreadfully. Fierce, fierce.”
The three were in a quandary when they saw an old woman approaching from the road on South Mountain, carrying a green bamboo basket in her left hand, as if gathering vegetables. Sha Monk said, “Elder Brother, that old woman is coming near. Let me ask her for news—to see what goblin this is, and what weapon, that wounds so grievously.” The Pilgrim said, “Wait, let old Sun go ask her.” He quickly opened his eyes wide and saw above her head an auspicious cloud covering her, and around her body fragrant mist enveloping her. The Pilgrim recognized this and called out, “Brothers, why not come and bow? That old woman is the Bodhisattva!” In panic, Eight Rules endured his pain and knelt; Sha Monk led the horse and bowed; Sun the Great Sage pressed his palms together and knelt, crying out, “Homage to the Greatly Compassionate, Greatly Merciful, Suffering-Saving, Distress-Relieving, Efficacious Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.”
When the Bodhisattva saw that they recognized her radiance, she trod on the auspicious cloud, rose into mid-air, and revealed her true form—it was the Fish-Basket manifestation. The Pilgrim hastened up into the air and bowed, saying, “Bodhisattva, forgive your disciple the sin of not coming to meet you. We have been striving to save our master, unaware that the Bodhisattva had descended. Now we have encountered a demonic difficulty we cannot overcome; we beg the Bodhisattva to rescue us.” The Bodhisattva said, “This goblin is extremely fierce. Her three-pronged fork is actually her two natural pincers. What pierces with pain is a hook on her tail, called the ‘Horse-Overturning Poison.’ She herself is a scorpion spirit. Formerly, at Thunderclap Monastery, she was listening to the Buddha expound the scriptures. When the Tathagata saw her, he inadvertently pushed her with his hand, and she turned her hook around and stung him on the middle finger of his left hand. Even the Tathagata could not bear the pain and immediately ordered the Vajras to seize her. She fled here. If you want to save Tang Monk, you must go and appeal to another—even I cannot get near her.” The Pilgrim bowed again and said, “May the Bodhisattva instruct us—to whom should we go to appeal? Your disciple will go invite him at once.” The Bodhisattva said, “Go to the Bright Light Palace inside the Eastern Heavenly Gate and beg the Star Lord of the Pleiades—he alone can subdue her.” Having spoken, she transformed into a beam of golden light and went straight back to the Southern Sea.
Sun the Great Sage then lowered his cloud and said to Eight Rules and Sha Monk, “Brothers, set your minds at ease—Master has a rescuer.” Sha Monk said, “Where is the rescuer?” The Pilgrim said, “The Bodhisattva just instructed me to go and invite the Star Lord of the Pleiades. Old Sun will go.” Eight Rules, covering his mouth, grunted, “Brother, ask the Star Lord for some pain-stopping medicine too.” The Pilgrim laughed, “No need for medicine—just as I got through the pain last night, you’ll be fine by morning.” Sha Monk said, “No more chatter—go quickly.”
Good Xingzhe hurriedly mounted the somersault cloud and in a moment arrived outside the Eastern Heavenly Gate. Suddenly he saw the Heavenly King of Growth making a bow before him and saying, "Where is the Great Sage going?" Xingzhe said, "Because I am escorting Tang Seng to the West to fetch scriptures, we encountered demonic obstacles on the way, and I am going to the Guangming Palace to see Mao Ri Xing Guan." Suddenly he also saw the four great marshals Tao, Zhang, Xin, and Deng, who also asked where he was going. Xingzhe said, "I want to seek Mao Ri Xing Guan to subdue the demon and save my master." The four marshals said, "The Star Lord received the Jade Emperor's decree this morning and went up to the Guanxing Terrace to patrol." Xingzhe said, "Is that true?" Heavenly Lord Xin said, "We minor generals came down from the Dou Niu Palace together with him; how would we dare to speak falsely?" Heavenly Lord Tao said, "It has been quite a while now; perhaps he will soon return. The Great Sage should first go to the Guangming Palace; if he is not yet back, then go to the Guanxing Terrace."
The Great Sage was pleased and immediately took leave of them. Arriving at the gate of the Guangming Palace, indeed there was no one; he turned around to leave, when he saw on that side a row of soldiers arranged, and behind them the Star Lord was coming. That Star Lord was still wearing the court robes for paying homage to the emperor, all of golden thread. But see him:
His crown pin held the Five Peaks with golden radiance;
His scepter grasped mountains and rivers, jade-colored and precious.
His robe hung with the Seven Stars, clouds swirling;
His belt encircled the Eight Extremes, with jewel rings shining.
His jade pendants clinked like rhythmic chimes;
His swift steps sounded like swinging bells.
He opened his emerald-feather fan, coming as the Mao constellation;
Celestial fragrance drifted, filling the gate and courtyard.
The soldiers marching ahead saw Xingzhe standing outside the Guangming Palace, and quickly turned around to report: "My lord, the Great Sage Sun is here." That Star Lord gathered his clouds and mists, adjusted his court robes, stopped his attendants and parted them left and right, stepped forward and made a bow, saying: "Why has the Great Sage come?" Xingzhe said: "I have come specifically to trouble you to save my master from a calamity." The Star Lord said: "What calamity? In what place?" Xingzhe said: "In the Pipa Cave of Dudi Mountain in the Western Liang Kingdom." The Star Lord said: "What monster is in that mountain cave, that you come to call upon this minor deity?" Xingzhe said: "Guanyin Pusa just appeared and revealed that it is a scorpion spirit, and specifically recommended that only you, Sir, can subdue it; therefore I have come to invite you." The Star Lord said: "I had intended to return and report to the Jade Emperor, but since the Great Sage has come here, and moreover I am moved by the Bodhisattva's recommendation, I fear that delay might spoil the matter. This minor deity dares not offer you tea; let me go with you to subdue the demon, and then I will return to report."
The Great Sage hearing this, immediately went out with him through the Eastern Heavenly Gate, straight to the Western Liang Kingdom, and seeing that Dudi Mountain was not far, Xingzhe pointed and said: "This is that mountain." The Star Lord lowered his cloud, and went with Xingzhe to the foot of the slope before the stone screen. Sha Seng saw them and said: "Second Brother, get up; Elder Brother has invited the Star Lord." That dullard still covered his mouth and said: "Forgive me, forgive me. I have an illness on me, I cannot perform the formal bow." The Star Lord said: "You are a cultivator; what illness could you have?" Bajie said: "This morning when I fought with that demon, she stabbed me on the lip, and it still hurts." The Star Lord said: "Come up here, I will heal you." The dullard then let go of his hand, and muttered groaning: "Do treat it well; when I'm healed I'll thank you." That Star Lord used his hand to rub his lip, and blew a breath, and the pain was gone. The dullard happily bowed down and said: "Wonderful! Wonderful!" Xingzhe laughed and said: "May I trouble the Star Lord to rub my head as well?" The Star Lord said: "You have not suffered the poison; why rub it?" Xingzhe said: "I also suffered it yesterday, but only after the night did it stop hurting. Now it is still a little numb and itchy; I fear it may act up when the weather turns cloudy; please treat it as well." The Star Lord indeed also rubbed his head, blew a breath, and the remaining poison was neutralized, no numbness or itch. Bajie said fiercely: "Brother, let's go beat that wretched creature." The Star Lord said: "Exactly, exactly. You two call her out, so that I may subdue her."
Xingzhe and Bajie leaped up the slope, and again went behind the stone screen. The dullard cursed wildly, "hands like grappling hooks," and with a flurry of his rake, he clawed away the piled stones outside the cave entrance. He burst through the first gate, and with another strike of the rake, smashed the second gate to pieces. The little demons inside the gate were alarmed and flew to report: "Grandmother, those two ugly men have also broken the second gate." That monster was just then ordering Tang Seng to be released and asking for vegetarian tea and food to give him to eat. Hearing that the second gate was broken, she immediately jumped out of the flower pavilion, brandished her fork and thrust at Bajie; Bajie used his rake to parry; Xingzhe on the side also used his iron staff to strike. That monster rushed to their side, intending to use her deadly move; but Xingzhe and Bajie knew the tactic and turned back to flee. The monster chased past the stone screen, and Xingzhe shouted: "Where is Mao Su?" Then they saw the Star Lord standing on the slope, revealed in his true form; it turned out to be a large rooster with a double comb, raising its head about six or seven feet high, and gave a crow toward the monster. That monster immediately revealed her true form; it turned out to be a scorpion spirit about the size of a pipa. This Star Lord crowed again, and that monster's whole body went limp, dying before the slope. There is a poem as proof. The poem says:
With flowery crown and embroidered neck like a tasseled ball,
Claws hard, spurs long, eyes fierce and glaring.
Leaping with majestic might, possessing all five virtues;
In imposing grandeur, envied for its three crows.
How could it be like common birds crying in thatched huts?
It is a celestial star manifesting its holy name.
The poisonous scorpion in vain cultivated the human way;
Returning to the origin and basis, it revealed its true form.
Bajie stepped forward, put one foot on the monster's chest and back, and said: "Wretched beast! This time you can't use your horse-toppling poison." That monster did not move at all, and the dullard with a flurry of his rake pounded it into a mess of pulp. That Star Lord then gathered his golden light and rode away on clouds. Xingzhe, Bajie, and Sha Seng bowed to the sky and thanked: "We have troubled you, we have troubled you. Another day we will come to your palace to pay respects and reward you."
The three finished their thanks, then packed the luggage and horse, and all entered the cave. They saw the maidservants, young and old, kneeling on both sides, bowing and saying: "Elder grandfathers, we are not demonic; we are all women of the Western Liang Kingdom, previously captured by this demon. Your master is sitting in the rear fragrant chamber crying." Xingzhe hearing this, looked carefully, and indeed saw no demonic aura. So he entered the rear and called: "Master." That Tang Seng saw them all come together, and was very happy, saying: "Worthy disciples, I have put you to trouble. How about that woman?" Bajie said: "That creature was originally a big female scorpion. Fortunately Guanyin Pusa gave instructions, and Elder Brother went to the heavenly palace to invite the Mao Ri Xing Guan down, who subdued that creature. Only after Old Pig pounded her into mud did we dare to penetrate deep into this place, and thus see your face, Master." Tang Seng thanked them endlessly. Then they found some vegetarian rice and vegetarian flour, prepared food, and ate a meal. They drove those captured women down the mountain, and pointed out the way home to them. They set a fire and burned all the several rooms and buildings completely. They invited Tang Seng to mount the horse, and sought the main road to go west. It is thus:
Cut off worldly ties, depart from appearances;
Dry up the golden sea, awaken the Chan mind.
After all, we do not know in how many years they will attain the truth; listen to the next chapter for the explanation.