Chapter 74

The causes of emotions and desires are always the same; to have emotions and desires is but natural. Among the many monks who cultivate the Way, to cut off desires and forget emotions is Chan. You must pay attention, you must be firm of heart, spotless as the moon in the sky. Advance in your practice without error; when practice is complete and merit fulfilled, you become a great enlightened immortal. We say that the master and disciples, having broken through the net of desires and leaped out of the prison of emotions, let the horse go and journeyed westward. Before long, summer had ended and autumn begun, with fresh coolness penetrating the body. They saw: Sudden rain sweeps away the lingering heat; a single leaf from the plane tree startles. Fireflies flit over the sedge path at dusk; crickets chirp in the bright moonlight. Yellow hollyhocks bloom, gleaming with dew; red smartweed spreads over the sandy islets. The rushes and willows first wither and fall; the cold cicadas sing in accord with the season. As Sanzang was proceeding, he suddenly saw a high mountain whose peaks pierced the azure sky; truly it brushed the stars and blocked the sun. The elder was frightened in his heart and called out, "Wukong, look at this mountain ahead—it is extremely lofty, but I wonder if there is a road to cross?" The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Master, what are you saying? Since ancient times it has been said: 'A high mountain always has a path for travelers; deep water always has a ferryman.' How could there be no way through? You may proceed without worry." Hearing this, the elder's face lit up with joy; he raised his whip and urged his horse forward, heading straight up the high cliff. After traveling less than a few li, they saw an old man with disheveled temples and white hair fluttering; sparse beard with silver strands swaying; a string of counting beads hanging around his neck, and a walking staff with a dragon's head. He stood far off on the hillside and called out loudly, "Elder going west, halt your steed for a moment and tighten your jade bridle. On this mountain there is a band of demons who have devoured all the people of the Jambudvipa world; you must not go forward." Sanzang, upon hearing this, turned pale with fright. First, the horse's footing was uneven; second, the ornate saddle was unstable—he fell off with a thud, unable to struggle, and lay groaning in the grass. Wukong came near and helped him up, saying, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here." The elder said, "Did you hear that old man on the high cliff report that there is a band of demons on this mountain who have eaten all the people of the Jambudvipa world? Who would dare to ask him the truth of the matter?" Wukong said, "You just sit here; let me go ask him." Sanzang said, "Your appearance is ugly and your speech is coarse; I fear you might offend him and not get a truthful answer." Wukong laughed and said, "I'll change into a more handsome one to ask him." Sanzang said, "Change and let me see." The Great Sage, good at transformations, made a mudra, shook his body, and changed into a clean little monk, truly with elegant eyes and brows, a round head and a proper face; his movements had an air of refinement, and his speech lacked any vulgar words. He shook his brocade robe, strode forward, and said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, how do you think I look?" Sanzang was delighted and said, "Very good." Bajie said, "Why wouldn't it be good? It's just that he makes us all look inferior. Even if I, old Pig, rolled around for two or three years, I couldn't become so handsome." The Great Sage, leaving them behind, went straight up to the old man and bowed, saying, "Venerable elder, your poor monk greets you." The old man, seeing him handsome and refined, youthful and light, gave a perfunctory return bow, stroked his head with his hand, and asked with a grin, "Little monk, where are you from?" The Pilgrim said, "We come from the Great Tang in the East, and we are specially going to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Just as we arrived here, I heard you reporting that there are demons. My master is timid and afraid, so he sent me to ask: what kind of demon is it exactly, that dares to block the road like this? I beg you to tell me in detail so that I may banish him." The old man laughed and said, "You little monk are young and don't know what's good for you; your words are not helpful. That demon's supernatural powers are vast; how dare you speak of banishing him?" The Pilgrim laughed and said, "From your words, it seems you are protecting him; you must be related to him, or be close neighbors or sworn friends. Otherwise, why would you enhance his might and extol his spirit, unwilling to sincerely tell me his origin?" The elder nodded and laughed, saying, "This monk is glib with his tongue. I suppose you have traveled with your master, learning some spells here and there, perhaps able to drive away spirits and exorcise evils for people's homes. You have never encountered truly fierce monsters." The Pilgrim said, "How fierce?" The elder said, "If that demon sends a letter to Mount Ling, five hundred Arhats all come to receive him; if he sends a brief to the Heavenly Palace, each of the eleven Great Luminaries reveres him. The four Dragon Kings have been his friends, and the eight grotto immortals often hold meetings with him; the ten Kings of Hell address him as brother, and the earth spirits and city gods treat him as a guest and friend." When the Great Sage heard this, he couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, and tugging at the old man's sleeve, he said, "Don't say any more, don't say any more. That demon is merely like a younger servant to me, or a brother, or a friend—I don't consider him very impressive. If he knew that I, the little monk, was coming, he would pack up and move away overnight." The elder said, "You little monk are talking nonsense, not like a proper person. What divine being is your younger servant?" The Pilgrim laughed and said, "To tell you the truth, I, the little monk, originally dwell in the Water Curtain Cave on Mountain of Flowers and Fruit in the country of Aolai. My surname is Sun, and my given name is Wukong. In former years I too was a demon and did great deeds. Once, when I had gathered with many demons, I drank too much wine and fell asleep. In a dream I saw two men with a warrant summoning me to the underworld. In a fit of anger, I struck the ghostly judge with my golden-banded staff, terrified the King of Hell, and nearly overturned the Hall of Senluo. The judges in charge of records were so frightened they brought paper, and the ten Kings of Hell signed and marked it, begging me to spare them from beating, and they willingly became my younger servants." Hearing this, the elder said, "Amitabha! This monk has said such overblown words; he'll never grow up now." The Pilgrim said, "Sir, I'm big enough as I am." The elder said, "How old are you?" The Pilgrim said, "Guess." The old man said, "About seven or eight years old." The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Ten thousand times seven or eight. I'll show you my original face, but don't be alarmed." The elder said, "How can you have another face?" The Pilgrim said, "I, the little monk, indeed have seventy-two faces." The old man, not knowing the trick, kept questioning him. Then he rubbed his face and instantly revealed his true form: baring his fangs and grinning, with a red complexion, a tiger-skin kilt around his waist, and a golden-banded staff in his hand, standing beneath the rocky cliff like a living Thunder God. The old man, seeing this, turned pale with fright, his legs and feet went weak and numb; unable to stand steady, he fell with a thud; getting up, he stumbled again. The Great Sage stepped forward and said, "Old sir, don't be so startled; we are fierce in looks but kind in heart, don't be afraid. Just now you kindly warned us of demons. How many monsters are there exactly? Please tell me, so I may thank you." The old man trembled, unable to speak, and pretended to be deaf, not answering a single word. When the Pilgrim saw that he did not speak, he turned and went back down the slope. The Elder said, "Wukong, you've come? What did you ask?" Pilgrim laughed and said, "It's nothing, nothing. There might be one or two little demons on the Western Heaven, but these people here are just timid and take them to heart. No matter, no matter, I'm here." The Elder said, "Did you ask him what mountain this is? What cave? How many demons? Which road leads to Thunderclap?" Bajie said, "Master, don't blame me for saying this. If it's about competing in transformations, using tricks, and fooling people, even three or five of us are no match for Senior Brother; but if it's about being honest, even a whole line of Senior Brothers wouldn't match me." Tang-seng said, "Right, right, you are honest." Bajie said, "He somehow poked his head in without looking back and asked two questions, then came back in an awkward way. Let old Pig go ask for some real news." Tang-seng said, "Wuneng, be careful." That good idiot tucked his rake into his belt, straightened his black cassock, and with a coy swagger ran up the slope and called to the old man, "Grandfather, I salute you." That old man, seeing Wukong return, had just managed to prop himself up with his staff and was trembling with fear, wanting to leave, when he suddenly saw Bajie and became even more frightened, saying, "Grandfather! What bad dream have I had tonight that I meet this bunch of villains? That first monk, ugly as he was, still had a bit of human likeness; but this monk, with such a pestle-shaped mouth, palm-leaf ears, an iron-sheet face, and a hairy neck, has not a trace of human air about him!" Bajie laughed and said, "You old gentleman, you're not being gracious—you do like to criticize people. How do you look at me? I may be ugly, but I'm durable—give me a moment and I'll become handsome." When the old man heard him speak like a human, he had to ask, "Where do you come from?" Bajie said, "I am the second disciple of Tang-seng, my ordained name is Wuneng Bajie. The one who asked earlier is called Wukong the Pilgrim, my senior fellow disciple. My Master blamed him for offending you and not getting any real news, so he specially sent me to inquire respectfully. What mountain is this exactly? What cave? What demon is in the cave? Which is the great road west? I beg you to show me." The old man said, "Are you honest?" Bajie said, "In all my life I dare not have a trace of falsehood." The old man said, "Don't be like that monk who just came, using flowery talk and slippery nonsense." Bajie said, "I'm not like him." The old gentleman leaning on his staff said to Bajie, "This mountain is called Lion Camel Ridge, eight hundred li across. In the middle there is Lion Camel Cave. Inside the cave there are three demon kings." Bajie spat and said, "You old fellow, you're overly cautious—three demons also require you to go to the trouble of reporting?" The old man said, "Aren't you afraid?" Bajie said, "To tell you the truth, these three demons—my senior brother can kill one with one blow of his staff; I can kill one with one thrust of my rake; and I have a junior fellow disciple who can kill another with his demon-subduing staff. If all three are killed, my Master can pass—what difficulty is there?" The old man laughed and said, "This monk doesn't know the depth. Those three demon kings have vast supernatural powers. Under them, little demons: on South Ridge there are five thousand, on North Ridge five thousand; at East Pass there are ten thousand, at West Pass ten thousand; patrolling sentries four or five thousand; gatekeepers also ten thousand; countless fire-tenders, countless woodcutters; altogether about forty-seven or forty-eight thousand. All of them have names and badges, and they specialize in eating people here." When that idiot heard these words, trembling he ran back, approached Tang-seng, but did not answer; he put down his rake and squatted there to relieve himself. Wukong saw this and shouted, "You don't answer, but squat there—what are you doing?" Bajie said, "I was scared out of my shit. Now there's no need to talk; let's each look to our own lives early." Wukong said, "You idiot root—I go ask and I'm not frightened, but you go ask and you're all panicked." The Elder said, "What exactly is the matter?" Bajie said, "This old man said: this mountain is called Lion Camel Mountain, eight hundred li across. In the middle is Lion Camel Cave. In the cave are three old demons and forty-eight thousand little demons, who specialize in eating people there. If we tread even near the edge of their mountain, we'll be food in their mouths. Don't think of going." Sanzang upon hearing this trembled, his hair stood on end, and he said, "Wukong, what's to be done?" Wukong laughed and said, "Master, don't worry, it's no big deal. I think there might be a few demons here, but these people are timid and they make out many and big, so they frighten themselves. I'm here." Bajie said, "Brother, what are you saying? I'm different from you—I asked for the truth, and there's absolutely no falsehood. The whole mountain and valleys are full of demons—how can we advance?" Wukong laughed and said, "Idiot face, don't be alarmed for nothing. If it's about the demons filling mountain and valley, it only takes old Sun's staff to beat them all out in half a night." Bajie said, "Shame, shame, don't boast. Those demons would take seven or eight days just to muster—how can you beat them all out?" Wukong said, "How do you say I should beat them?" Bajie said, "Even if you grab them, tie them up, or use the immobilization spell to freeze them, it wouldn't be that fast." Wukong laughed and said, "No need for grabbing, taking, or tying. I'll just pull this staff at both ends and say 'Long!' and it becomes forty zhang long. I'll shake it and say 'Thick!' and it becomes eight zhang in circumference. I'll roll it once to the south of the mountain and roll to death five thousand; roll once to the north and roll to death five thousand; roll from east to west, and I'm afraid forty or fifty thousand will be crushed into meat paste." Bajie said, "Brother, if you fight like that, like rolling dough, perhaps by the second watch it will all be done." Sha-seng laughed at the side and said, "Master, with Senior Brother's great supernatural powers, why fear them? Please mount your horse and go." Tang-seng saw them discussing their abilities and had no choice but to set his mind at ease, mount his horse, and proceed. As they were going along, the old man who had brought the news disappeared. Sha-seng said, "He is a demon, deliberately coming to report with borrowed authority to frighten us." Wukong said, "Don't rush, let me go have a look." The Great Sage leapt up to a high peak, looked all around but saw no trace, then quickly turned and saw colored clouds shining in mid-air. He rode the clouds to catch up and saw it was Taibai Jinxing. He approached, grabbed him with his hand, and repeatedly called his nickname, saying, "Li Changgeng, Li Changgeng, you are so lazy. If you have something to say, it would be better to say it face to face—why did you disguise yourself as an old man of the woods to frighten old Sun?" Jinxing hurriedly bowed and said, "Great Sage, I am late in bringing the news; I beg you not to blame me, not to blame me. These demon kings truly have vast supernatural powers and formidable might. It all depends on your transformations, clever strategies—if you are cautious, you may pass; but if you are the least bit negligent, it will indeed be hard to pass." Wukong thanked him, saying, "I am grateful, grateful. Since this place is indeed hard to pass, I hope you, old Star, will say a word to the Jade Emperor in the upper realm and borrow some heavenly troops to help old Sun." Jinxing said, "Yes, yes, yes—just send word with me, and even a hundred thousand heavenly troops can be had." Great Sage took leave of Venus, lowered his cloud, and said to Sanzang: "That old man just now was originally Taibai Jinxing who came to give us news." The elder put his palms together and said: "Disciple, hurry and catch up with him, ask him where there is another road, so we can turn around and go." Pilgrim said: "We cannot turn. This mountain path goes on for eight hundred li; I don't know how many more roads there are all around it. How could we turn?" When Sanzang heard this, he could not stop tears from flowing from his eyes and said: "Disciple, with such hardship, how can we worship the Buddha?" Pilgrim said: "Don't cry, don't cry; once you cry, you act like a coward. His giving us this news must have some falsehood in it, it's just to make us pay careful attention. Truly it is said: 'Those who tell are at fault.' You just dismount and sit down." Bajie said: "What further discussion is there?" Pilgrim said: "There is no further discussion. You just guard Master carefully here, and Sha Seng take good care of the luggage and horse. Let old Sun first go up to the ridge to make inquiries, see how many monsters there are in total ahead and behind, capture one, ask him in detail, make him write a sworn statement, open a roster, check every one of them old and young one by one, order him to close the cave gate and not block the road, then invite Master to pass quietly and secretly—that will show old Sun's skill." Sha Seng only urged: "Be careful, be careful." Pilgrim laughed and said: "No need to instruct me. This time I go, even the Eastern Ocean I will boil open a path; even a silver mountain wrapped in iron I will smash through its gate." Splendid Great Sage! With a whistle, he launched himself on a somersault cloud and leaped up to the high peak. Pulling aside vines and creepers, he surveyed the mountain. The mountain was silent and without a soul. Suddenly he exclaimed aloud: "Wrong, wrong! I should not have let that old man Venus go. So he was just trying to frighten me. What monster is there here? If there were any, they would come out to play in the wind, surely they would take up spears and staffs and practice their martial arts—how is it there is not a single one?" While he was pondering this to himself, he suddenly heard from behind the mountain the sound of clanging, crackling, and the rattling of a clapper and bells. He quickly turned his head to look, and it turned out to be a little demon, carrying a flag with the character "Command" on his shoulder, a bell hanging at his waist, and a clapper in his hand, walking from north to south. Looking closely at him, he was twelve feet tall. Pilgrim chuckled to himself: "He must be a courier soldier, probably delivering an official document or a summons. Let me go and listen to him, see what he says." Splendid Great Sage! He made a mudra, recited a spell, shook his body and changed into a fly, gently flying onto his hat and listening intently. He saw the little demon walk onto the main road, knocking his clapper and shaking his bell, chanting to himself: "We who patrol the mountain, each of us must be cautious and beware of Sun Wukong, for he can turn into a fly." When Pilgrim heard this, he was secretly startled and thought: "Has this creature seen me? If he hasn't seen me, how does he know my name, and know that I can turn into a fly?" As it turned out, the little demon had not seen him; it was just that the demon chief had somehow given him this order, which was a rumor, making him chant such nonsense. Pilgrim did not know this, but instead suspected he had been seen, and was about to take out his staff to strike him, but then stopped, thinking to himself: "I remember when Bajie asked Venus, he said there were three old demons and forty-seven or forty-eight thousand little demons. Even if there were tens of thousands more of these little demons, it would not matter. But I do not know how great the powers of these three old demon chiefs are. Let me first ask him, and it won't be too late to act." Splendid Great Sage—do you know how he went to ask? He jumped off his hat, lit on a tree stump, let the little demon go a few steps ahead, then quickly turned around and transformed, also becoming a little demon, knocking on a clapper, shaking a bell, carrying a flag, and wearing the same clothes, just slightly taller than him by three or five inches, and chanting the same thing in his mouth. He caught up and called out: "You there walking, wait for me." The little demon turned his head and said: "Where did you come from?" Pilgrim laughed and said: "Good fellow, don't you even recognize one of your own family?" The little demon said: "There's no you in my family." Pilgrim said: "How can there be no me? Take a good look." The little demon said: "Your face is unfamiliar. I don't recognize you, I don't recognize you." Pilgrim said: "Of course the face is unfamiliar. I am the one in charge of the fire; you have seen little of me." The little demon shook his head and said: "No, no. Even those brothers in my cave who tend the fire don't have such a pointed mouth." Pilgrim thought to himself: "This mouth of mine has indeed turned a bit too pointed." He immediately lowered his head, covered his mouth with his hand and rubbed it, saying: "My mouth isn't pointed." And indeed it was no longer pointed. The little demon said: "You had a pointed mouth just now—how did it become not pointed after a rub? You make people suspicious, very hard to recognize, you're not one of my family. Let's part, let's part—suspicious, suspicious. My great king's family rules are very strict: those who tend the fire only tend the fire, those who patrol the mountain only patrol the mountain. Surely they wouldn't have you tend the fire and also send you to patrol the mountain?" Pilgrim was quick-tongued, and took the opportunity to say: "You don't know. The great king saw that I tended the fire well, so he promoted me to patrol the mountain." The little demon said: "Very well; we who patrol the mountain have forty in a squad, ten squads make four hundred in all, each with his own age and appearance, each with his own designation. The great king, afraid that we might mix up the squads and make roll call difficult, gave each of us a badge as a mark. Do you have a badge?" Pilgrim, seeing his get-up and his manner of reporting, had changed himself to match his appearance; but because he had not seen his badge, he did not have one on him. Splendid Great Sage! He did not say he didn't have one, but instead agreed readily, saying: "How could I not have a badge? It's just that I just received a new one. Take yours out and let me see it." The little demon knew nothing of this trick, and immediately lifted his clothes; next to his skin he wore a gold-lacquered badge, with a cord of woolen thread, which he pulled out for Pilgrim to see. Pilgrim saw that on the back of the badge was a gold plaque reading "Mightily Overawing All Demons," and on the front were three real characters, "Little Drill Wind." He thought to himself: "No need to say more—for anyone who patrols the mountain, there must be a 'wind' character as a suffix." So he said: "Just lower your clothes and step aside, let me take out my badge for you to see." He then turned around, put his hand inside, plucked a tiny hair from the tip of his tail, twisted it in his hand, and said: "Change!" It immediately changed into a gold-lacquered badge, also strung with a green woolen cord, with three real characters written on it, which were "Chief Drill Wind." He took it out and handed it to him to look at. The little demon was greatly startled and said: "We are all called Little Drill Wind, yet you alone are called something like 'Chief Drill Wind.'" Pilgrim was perfect in handling matters and fitting in his speech, and said: "You truly don't know. The great king, seeing that I tended the fire well, promoted me to patrol the wind; and gave me a new badge, called 'Chief Patrol Wind,' instructing me to manage you brothers of this squad of forty." When the demon heard this, he hurriedly made a bow and said: "Officer, officer, newly appointed, indeed unfamiliar in appearance, my words were rude—do not take offense." Pilgrim returned the bow and laughed, saying: "Offend I will not, but there is one thing: the meeting-money must be paid. Each person must bring out five taels." The little demon said: "Officer, do not be in a hurry. Let me go to the south ridge top to meet the people of my squad, and I will settle it all at once." Pilgrim said: "Since that is so, I will go with you." That little demon indeed walked ahead, and the Great Sage followed close behind. After no more than a few li, they suddenly saw a Brush Peak. Why was it called Brush Peak? On the top of that mountain there grew a peak, about four or five zhang high, just like a brush stuck in a stand; hence the name. When Xingzhe reached its side, he tucked his tail, leaped up, and sat on the tip of the peak. He called out, "Zuanfeng, all come over." Those little Zuanfeng below bowed and said, "Officer, we await your orders." Xingzhe said, "Do you know why the Great King appointed me to come out?" The little demons said, "We do not know." Xingzhe said, "The Great King wants to eat Tang Sanzang, but he fears that Sun Xingzhe has vast supernatural powers; he has heard that he can transform, and fears that he might change into a little Zuanfeng and come here to spy out the path and gather information. So he promoted me to Chief Zuanfeng to inspect all of you and see if there are any impostors." The little Zuanfeng answered repeatedly, "Officer, we are all genuine." Xingzhe said, "If you are genuine, then do you know what abilities the Great King has?" The little Zuanfeng said, "I know." Xingzhe said, "If you know, speak quickly and let me hear. If what you say matches what I know, then you are genuine; if it differs in the slightest, then you are false, and I will certainly take you to see the Great King for punishment." The little Zuanfeng, seeing him sitting up high, playing the wise one and shouting imperiously, had no choice but to tell the truth, saying, "Our Great King's supernatural powers are vast and his abilities supreme; with one mouthful he once swallowed a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers." When Xingzhe heard this, he spat out a sound and said, "You are lying." The little Zuanfeng, flustered, said, "Officer, I am genuine; why do you say I am false?" Xingzhe said, "If you are genuine, why do you speak nonsense? How large can the Great King's body be that he could swallow a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers in one gulp?" The little Zuanfeng said, "Officer, you do not know. Our Great King can transform; when large, he can fill the heavens, and when small, he can be as tiny as a mustard seed. In that year, when the Queen Mother of the West held the Peach Festival and invited all the immortals, she did not send him an invitation. Our Great King wished to contend with Heaven, so the Jade Emperor sent a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers to subdue him. Our Great King then transformed into his dharma body, opened his huge mouth like a city gate, and swallowed them with all his might. He frightened the heavenly soldiers so that they dared not engage him and closed the Southern Heavenly Gate. Hence, it is said that with one mouthful he once swallowed a hundred thousand soldiers." Xingzhe heard this and laughed to himself, thinking, "If we speak of hand-to-hand feats, old Sun has also done such things." Then he called out again, "What abilities does the Second Great King have?" The little Zuanfeng said, "The Second Great King is three zhang tall, with silkworm-like eyebrows, phoenix-like eyes, a voice as beautiful as a woman's, teeth like flat carrying-poles, and a nose like a flood dragon. When he fights with someone, he needs only to roll his nose and coil it around his opponent; even if that opponent has an iron back and a bronze body, his soul will flee and his spirit perish." Xingzhe said, "A demon that coils people with his nose is also easy to capture." Then he called out again, "The Third Great King also has how many skills?" The little Zuanfeng said, "Our Third Great King is not a mortal monster; his name is Yuncheng Wanli Peng. When he moves, he stirs up the wind and churns the sea, shaking the north and plotting toward the south. He carries with him a precious treasure called the Yin-Yang Two-qi Bottle. If anyone is put inside that bottle, in but a moment, they will be dissolved into a pulp." When Xingzhe heard this, he was secretly alarmed, thinking, "I am not afraid of the demons, but I must be careful to guard against his bottle." Then he called out again, "The abilities of the three great kings you have spoken of are not wrong, and they match what I know. But which one of the great kings wants to eat Tang Sanzang?" The little Zuanfeng said, "Officer, do you not know?" Xingzhe shouted, "I am not a bit less informed than you. It is because I fear that you do not know the full details that the Great King sent me to thoroughly question you." The little Zuanfeng said, "My First Great King and Second Great King have long dwelt in the Shituo Cave on Shituo Ridge. The Third Great King does not live here; his original dwelling is about four hundred li to the west from here. There is a city there called Shituo Kingdom. Five hundred years ago, he ate the king of that city and his civil and military officials, and he also devoured all the men, women, young, and old throughout the city, leaving nothing behind. Therefore he seized that kingdom. Now it is entirely inhabited by demons. I do not know in which year he learned that the Tang court in the East had sent a monk to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven, and that this Tang Sanzang is a good man who has cultivated for ten lifetimes—whoever eats a piece of his flesh will gain longevity and become immortal. But because he feared that disciple Sun Xingzhe was extremely formidable, and that he alone could not overcome him, he came straight here to swear brotherhood with my two great kings, joining in unity of heart and mind to join forces and capture that Tang Sanzang." When Xingzhe heard this, he grew furious, thinking, "These scoundrel demons are utterly insolent. I am protecting Tang Sanzang to achieve the right fruit, yet they scheme to eat my man!" With a snarl, he ground his steel teeth, drew out his iron cudgel, leaped down from the high peak, and mashed the cudgel against the little demon's head. Alas, he mashed it into a meatball. Seeing it himself, he felt reluctant, saying, "Hey! He was well-intentioned and told me all those ordinary matters—why did I finish him off so swiftly? Oh well, oh well; what's done is done." The Great Sage, only because his master's way was blocked, had no choice but to do this deed. He untied the little demon's token and hung it on his own waist, slung the "Order" flag over his back, hung the bell at his waist, and held the clapper in his hand. Facing the wind, he made a mudra and recited a spell, then shook his body and transformed, becoming exactly like a little Zuanfeng. He turned back, retraced his steps, and headed straight for the old path to seek out the cave and investigate the true situation of the three old demons. This was truly: A thousand transformations of the Handsome Monkey King, A myriad shifts of truly marvelous skill! He plunged into the deep mountains, following the old road. As he was walking, he suddenly heard the clamor of men and the neighing of horses. He raised his eyes and saw that at the entrance of Shituo Cave, there were myriad little demons arrayed with spears, swords, halberds, and banners and pennants. The Great Sage secretly rejoiced, thinking, "Li Changgeng's words were not false, truly not false." For the arrangement of this array had a pattern: two hundred and fifty made one great troop. He only saw forty multicolored long banners fluttering wildly in the wind, and from that he knew there were ten thousand troops. Then he mused to himself, "Old Sun has transformed into a little Zuanfeng. Once I enter, if the old demon questions me about patrolling the mountain, I will answer according to circumstance. But if by chance I slip up in my words and he recognizes me, how will I escape? If I try to run out, those guarding the gate will block me—how could I get out? To capture the demon king inside the cave, I must first eliminate all the demons at the gate." How, you ask, would he eliminate all those demons? The Great Sage thought, "That old demon has never met me, yet he already knows old Sun's name. I will rely on that name, wield my prestige, and speak some big words to give them a scare. If indeed the beings of the Central Land have the karmic affinity to obtain the scriptures, then this one trip will only require a few heroic words from me to frighten off the many demons before the gate. But if those beings lack such affinity and cannot obtain the true scriptures, then even if I speak so that lotuses bloom, I still cannot remove the demons outside the Western Cave." He asked his mind, and his mind asked him; as he pondered this plan, he knocked the clapper and shook the bell, and strode straight to the entrance of Shituo Cave. He was soon stopped by the little demons in the front camp, who said, "Little Zuanfeng, you're back?" Xingzhe did not answer, but lowered his head and kept walking. He proceeded to the second level of the camp, where he was again seized by the little demons, who asked, “Little Drill-Wind, have you come?” Pilgrim said, “I have come.” All the demons asked, “You went on patrol early this morning—did you by any chance run into that Sun Wukong?” Pilgrim said, “I ran into him. He was right there sharpening a bar.” The demons asked fearfully, “What does he look like? And what bar is he sharpening?” Pilgrim said, “He was crouching by the stream, looking just like a god who opens the road; if he stood up, he would be over a hundred feet tall. In his hand he holds an iron staff, as thick as a large bar the size of a bowl. There by the stone cliff, he scoops up water with one hand and whets it, muttering all the while: ‘O bar, it’s been a while since I last brought you out to show your magic powers. This time, I shall beat to death a hundred thousand demons, and after I have slain those three demon kings I will offer you a sacrifice.’ When he has sharpened it bright, he will first beat to death a full ten thousand of your vanguard.” Hearing these words, the little demons were all terrified, their hearts trembling and their souls scattering. Pilgrim went on, “Gentlemen, the flesh of that Tang Monk is only a few catties at most—not enough to come to my share. Why should we bear the blame for him? Why not each go our own way and scatter?” All the demons said, “Well said—let each of us save his own life!” For these creatures were wolves, tigers, leopards, and other beasts, running animals and flying fowl; with a great whoosh they all fled in confusion. This was not just a few bluffing words from Great Sage Sun, but rather like the songs of Chu that scattered the eight thousand soldiers. Pilgrim said to himself with secret delight, “Good! The old demon is done for. They flee at the mere mention—how would they dare meet him face to face? If I keep talking like this as I go in, fine; but if I say a single wrong word, and one or two of these little demons run inside and hear it, won’t the secret be blown?” Watch him, then, as he keeps his wits about him entering the ancient cavern, and summons his courage to go deep into the portal. But to know what good or ill fortune meets him when he sees the old demon king, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.