Chapter 57

But to resume: the Great Sage, Sun, was deeply vexed. He rose into mid-air, intending to return to the Water-Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. Yet he feared that the little demons in his cave would laugh at him, saying he had gone back on his word, which would not be the mark of a true hero. He thought of seeking refuge in the Heavenly Palace, but feared he could not stay there long. He thought of going to the islands in the sea, but was ashamed to face the immortals of the Three Isles. He thought of going to the Dragon Palace, but could not bring himself to beg the Dragon King for help. Truly, he was without support or dependents. Bitterly he pondered to himself: "Enough, enough! I shall go back to see my master—that is still the right path." So he lowered his cloud and went straight to stand before Sanzang's horse, waiting upon him, and said: "Master, forgive your disciple this once! From now on I shall never again act violently—I shall heed your teachings. I beg you, still let me escort you to the Western Heaven." When Tang Sanzang saw him, he gave no reply. He reined in his horse and at once recited the Band-tightening Spell. He recited it over and over, more than twenty times. He did not stop until the Great Sage had been thrown to the ground, with the band sunken a full inch deep into his flesh. Then he said: "If you are not going back, why do you come to pester me again?" The Great Sage only pleaded: "Do not recite it, do not recite it! I can manage well enough on my own, but I fear that without me, you will not reach the Western Heaven." Sanzang flew into a rage and said: "You murderous ape! You have killed living beings and brought endless trouble upon me. Now I truly will have nothing more to do with you. Whether I get there or not is no concern of yours. Go, go at once! If you tarry even a little, I shall recite the holy words again, and this time I shall not stop until I have squeezed your very brains out!" The Great Sage, unable to bear the pain and seeing that his master was utterly unmoved, had no choice but to mount his somersault cloud again and rise into the air. Suddenly he realized: "This monk has wronged me. I shall go to Potalaka Cliff and tell the matter to Guanyin Bodhisattva." The splendid Great Sage turned his somersault cloud around, and in less than an hour he had arrived over the Southern Ocean. He brought down his auspicious light and went straight to Mount Potalaka. As he entered the Purple Bamboo Grove, he suddenly saw Mokṣa (Woodchā) disciple coming to greet him with a bow, saying: "Where is the Great Sage going?" The Great Sage replied: "I wish to see the Bodhisattva." Mokṣa then led him to the Tide-Sound Cave entrance, where he saw Sudhana (Shancai) boy making a bow and saying: "Why has the Great Sage come?" The Great Sage replied: "I have a matter to report to the Bodhisattva." When Sudhana heard the word "report," he laughed and said: "You tricky-mouthed monkey! Still like the time I had captured Tang Sanzang and you tricked me! Our Bodhisattva is all-compassionate, all-saving, of vast vows and the Great Vehicle, who relieves suffering and distress, boundless and immeasurable in holiness and goodness. What wrong has she done that you should report her?" The Great Sage, already full of pent-up anger, flew into a rage at these words. He gave a loud "Hah!" that made Sudhana stumble backward, and said: "You ungrateful little beast! You are truly thick-witted! Back then, when you were wreaking havoc as a spirit, I invited the Bodhisattva to subdue you and bring you into the true faith. Now you have attained such bliss, such long life, such freedom and ease, sharing the age of Heaven itself—and you do not even thank Old Sun, but instead treat me with such contempt! I have come to beg the Bodhisattva's help in a matter—how dare you say I have a tricky mouth and want to report her?" Sudhana smiled ingratiatingly and said: "Still an impatient monkey! I was only joking with you—why do you lose your temper?" While they were speaking, they saw the white parrot fly back and forth, which they knew was the Bodhisattva summoning them. Mokṣa and Sudhana then led the way forward to the foot of the Jeweled Lotus Terrace. When the Great Sage saw the Bodhisattva, he threw himself to the ground in obeisance, unable to stop tears streaming down his face, and wept aloud. The Bodhisattva told Mokṣa and Sudhana to help him up, and said: "Wukong, what sorrowful thing has happened? Tell it clearly. Do not weep, do not weep—I shall relieve your suffering and dispel your calamity." The Great Sage, with tears flowing, bowed again and said: "In all my years as a mortal, did I ever suffer such treatment? Ever since you, Bodhisattva, released me from my heavenly calamity and led me to embrace the Buddhist faith, to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey west to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures, your disciple has risked life and limb to save him from demonic obstacles—as if snatching tender bones from a tiger's mouth, or stripping living scales from a dragon's back. I only hoped to achieve the true fruition, to wash away my sins and eliminate evil. But how was I to know that this elder would be so ungrateful, so utterly deluded in his good intentions, and unable to distinguish right from wrong?" The Bodhisattva said: "Tell me the whole story of this right and wrong." The Great Sage then recounted in detail the entire matter of killing the bandits, from beginning to end. He told how Tang Sanzang, because he had killed many men, bore a grudge and, without distinguishing right from wrong, recited the Band-tightening Spell and drove him away several times. With no way to go up to Heaven and no door to enter the earth, he had come especially to tell the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva said: "Tang Sanzang, by imperial decree, is journeying west. His mind is set on practicing goodness as a monk, and he will never lightly take life. With your boundless supernatural powers, why did you have to kill so many bandits? Though bandits are wicked, they are still human beings and should not have been killed. They are not like monstrous birds, savage beasts, ghosts, or goblins. To kill those is your merit; but to kill human beings is still your lack of compassion. You need only have driven them off, and naturally your master would have been saved. In my fair judgment, this is your fault." The Great Sage, choking with tears, kowtowed and said: "Even if it was your disciple's fault, I should still be allowed to atone for my crimes with merit. You should not have driven me away like this. I beg you, Bodhisattva, in your great compassion, recite the Band-loosening Spell, take off this golden band, and return it to you. Let me go back to the Water-Curtain Cave to save my life." The Bodhisattva smiled and said: "The Band-tightening Spell was given to me by Tathāgata himself. When he sent me to the Eastern Lands to find a scripture pilgrim, he bestowed upon me three treasures: the cassock of fine kasaya cloth, the nine-ringed monk's staff, and the three headbands—Golden, Tightening, and Restraining. He secretly taught me the three spells, but there is no such thing as a Band-loosening Spell." The Great Sage said: "If that is so, I take my leave of you, Bodhisattva." The Bodhisattva said: "If you leave me, where will you go?" The Great Sage said: "I shall go to the Western Heaven to beseech Tathāgata and ask him to recite the Band-loosening Spell." The Bodhisattva said: "Wait a moment. Let me examine your fortune and misfortune." The Great Sage said: "No need to look—this much misfortune is quite enough." The Bodhisattva said: "I am not looking at you; I am looking at Tang Sanzang's fortune and misfortune." The excellent Bodhisattva sat upright on her lotus dais, concentrated her mind through the Three Realms, and with her divine eye gazed far and wide throughout the cosmos. In a moment she opened her mouth and said: "Wukong, your master is about to suffer danger to his person. Before long he will come looking for you. You stay here, and I shall speak to Tang Sanzang, telling him to take you back with him on the scripture quest, so that you may achieve the true fruition." Sun the Great Sage had no choice but to submit and dare not act rashly. He stood waiting beneath the Jeweled Lotus Terrace. But to return to Elder Tang: after he had driven the Great Sage back, he told Bajie to lead the horse and Sha Seng to carry the burden. With the horse and the four of them, they traveled westward no more than fifty li when Sanzang reined in his horse and said: "Disciples, ever since we left the village at the fifth watch, I have been angered by that Macaque. All this time I have been hungry and thirsty. Will one of you go and beg some alms-food for me?" Bajie said: "Master, please dismount. Let me see if there is any village nearby where I can beg for food." When Sanzang heard this, he rolled off his horse. The idiotic fellow rose on his cloud and looked carefully from mid-air. As far as he could see, there were only mountain ranges—not a single house. Bajie lowered his cloud and said to Sanzang: "There is nowhere to beg for food; I see no villages at all." Sanzang said: "If there is no place to beg, at least get some water to quench my thirst." Bajie said: "Let me go to the southern stream and fetch some water." Sha Seng then took the bowl and handed it to Bajie. Bajie took the bowl, mounted his cloud and mist, and went off. The elder sat by the roadside, waiting a long time, but Bajie did not return. Poor man, he suffered unbearably from thirst. A poem bears witness to this: Preserving spirit and nourishing qi is called essence; Nature and temperament originally share one form. When the mind is confused and spirit dim, all ills arise; When form declines and essence fails, the Dao's foundation topples. The Three Flowers not attained—all toil is vain; The Four Elements wasted—strife is useless. Wood and Earth fail, Metal and Water are cut off; When will the Dharma-body, so slack, ever be perfected? Sha Seng, standing by, saw that Sanzang could barely endure his hunger and thirst, and Bajie had gone for water but not returned. He could only steady the luggage, tie the white horse securely, and said, "Master, you just sit here at ease; let me go and urge the water to come." The elder, with tears but no words, only nodded in reply. Sha Seng hastily mounted the cloud-light and also headed toward the southern mountain. Left alone, the master endured his hardship, suffering greatly. In the midst of his distress, he suddenly heard a loud noise. Startled, the elder raised himself to look, and there was Sun Xingzhe kneeling by the roadside, holding a porcelain cup with both hands, saying, "Master, without old Sun, you cannot even get water. This cup holds fine cold water; first drink a little to quench your thirst, and I will go beg for alms." The elder said, "I will not drink your water. Even if I die of thirst on the spot, I shall accept my fate. I have no need of you. Go away." Xingzhe said, "Without me, you cannot reach the Western Heaven." Sanzang said, "Whether I can reach or not is none of your business. You vile monkey, why do you keep pestering me?" Then Xingzhe's face changed, he grew angry and enraged, and cursed the elder, saying, "You heartless vile bald donkey! You utterly despise me." He swung his iron staff, dropped the cup, and struck the elder on the back. The elder fainted to the ground, unable to speak. Xingzhe took the two blue felt bundles in his hands, mounted his somersault cloud, and disappeared. Now Bajie, carrying the alms bowl, went straight to the southern slope of the mountain, when he suddenly saw a thatched cottage among the mountain hollows. Earlier, when he had looked, it had been hidden by the high peaks, so he had not seen it; now that he came near, he knew it was a dwelling. The idiot thought to himself, "If I show this ugly face of mine, they will surely be afraid of me, and all my effort will be wasted—I will never get alms. I must change, I must change." So the idiot made the mudra, recited a spell, shook his body seven or eight times, and transformed into a fat, jaundiced monk suffering from consumption, groaning as he shuffled to the door, calling out, "Benefactor, if there is leftover rice in the kitchen, there are hungry people on the road. This poor monk comes from the East and is going to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures. My master is hungry and thirsty on the road; if you have any scorched rice or cold leftovers at home, please give some to save us." Now the men of that household were not at home; they had all gone out to transplant rice seedlings and sow grain. Only two women were at home. They had just cooked the midday meal, filled two basins, and were about to take them to the fields. There was still some rice and scorched bits in the pot, not yet ladled out. When the women saw his sickly appearance and heard him speak of going from the East to the Western Heaven, they feared he might be delirious from illness, and also feared he might fall and die at their door. So they reluctantly gave him a full alms bowl of leftover rice and scorched crusts. The idiot took it, reverted to his true form, and went straight back along the old road. As he was walking, he heard someone call, "Bajie." Bajie looked up and saw Sha Seng standing on a cliff, shouting, "Come here, come here." When he descended the cliff and came before him, Sha Seng said, "There is such fine clear water in this stream—why didn't you draw some? Where did you go?" Bajie laughed and said, "I came here and saw a household in the mountain hollow; I went and begged this bowl of dried rice." Sha Seng said, "Rice is also useful, but the master is terribly thirsty. How can we get water?" Bajie said, "Water is easy. You take the front of your robe to hold this rice, and I'll use the alms bowl to scoop some water." The two happily returned to the road, only to see Sanzang face down on the ground, lying in the dust; the white horse had slipped its rein and was neighing and prancing by the roadside; the luggage pole was nowhere to be seen. Sha Seng was so startled that he stamped his feet and beat his chest, shouting, "No need to say more, no need to say more—this must be the remaining followers of Sun Xingzhe, come to kill the master and seize the luggage." Sha Seng said, "Let's first tie the horse!" Then he cried, "What to do? What to do? This is truly what they call abandoning the task halfway and stopping in the middle." He called out, "Master," his eyes brimming with tears, and wept bitterly. Bajie said, "Brother, stop crying. Things have come to this; let's not speak of fetching scriptures anymore. You watch over the master's corpse. I'll ride the horse to some prefecture, county, village, or market, sell it for a few taels of silver, buy a coffin, bury the master, and then each of us can go our own ways and disband." Sha Seng could not bear to part with him. He turned the Tang Monk's body over, pressed his face against his to warm him, and cried, "Ill-fated master!" Then he saw that the elder's mouth and nose were giving off warm breath, and his chest was warm. He called out, "Bajie, come here—the master is not dead yet." The idiot then came forward and helped the elder up. After reviving and groaning for a while, the elder cursed, "You vile monkey! You nearly beat me to death." Sha Seng and Bajie asked, "Which monkey?" The elder did not speak, but only sighed. He asked for some water, drank a few mouthfuls, and then said, "Disciples, just after you left, that Wukong came again to pester me. I firmly refused to take him back, so he struck me with his staff and stole the blue felt bundles." When Bajie heard this, he gnashed his teeth and flew into a rage, saying, "How dare that vile monkey be so insolent?" He said, "Sha Seng, you attend to the master. I will go to his home to demand the bundles." Sha Seng said, "Do not be angry yet. Let us support the master to that household in the mountain hollow and beg some hot tea and soup, warm up the rice we already begged, and care for the master, then we can go find him." Bajie agreed. He helped the master onto the horse, took the alms bowl, carried the cold rice, and went straight to the door of that household. There they saw only an old woman at home, who hurriedly hid when she saw them. Sha Seng pressed his palms together and said, "Old mother, we are sent from the Tang court in the East to go to the Western Heaven. Our master is somewhat unwell; we specially come to your house to beg for some hot tea and soup to go with his meal." The old woman said, "Just now there was a consumptive sick monk who said he was sent from the East—he already begged alms and left. What other Easterner is there? I have no one at home; please go elsewhere." Hearing this, the elder leaned on Bajie, dismounted, bowed, and said, "Old granny, your disciple has three apprentices, all of one mind to protect me to the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Heavenly-Terrance Mountain to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures. But because my eldest apprentice, named Sun Wukong, has always been fierce and does not follow the good way, I sent him back. Unexpectedly, he came secretly and struck me on the back, seizing my luggage and alms bowl. Now I want to send one of my apprentices to find him and retrieve them. Since the open road is no place to sit, I have come to your house to rest for a while. Once the luggage is recovered, we will leave at once—we dare not stay long." The old woman said, "Just now a jaundiced fat monk with consumption came—he went to beg alms and also said he was from the East going to the Western Heaven. How is there another group?" Bajie could not help but laugh and said, "That was me. Because I have a long snout and big ears, I feared your family would be afraid and would not give alms, so I changed into that appearance. If you don't believe me, isn't the scorched rice in my brother's robe from your pot?" That old woman recognized that he had indeed been the one to give her the rice, so she did not refuse them and had them sit down. She then boiled a pot of hot tea and handed it to Sha Wujing to soak the rice. Sha Wujing immediately soaked the cold rice and presented it to his master. The master ate a few mouthfuls, then sat still for a long while to compose himself, and said: "Who will go fetch the luggage?" Bajie said: "Two years ago, because Master drove him away, I went looking for him once and know his Huaguo Mountain Water Curtain Cave. Let me go, let me go." The elder said: "You cannot go. That ape was never on good terms with you, and you are rough of speech. If a word or two goes amiss, he will strike you. Let Wujing go instead." Sha Wujing agreed: "I will go, I will go." The elder then instructed Sha Wujing: "When you get there, you must size up the situation. If he is willing to give you the bundle, you may pretend to thank him and take it; if he is unwilling, by no means quarrel with him, but go straight to the Bodhisattva of the South Sea, tell her the whole matter, and ask her to go demand it from him." Sha Wujing listened to all this. He said to Bajie: "I am going to look for him now. You must not be troublesome, but attend to Master well. Neither must you cause trouble at this house, lest they refuse to provide food. I will go and return." Bajie nodded: "I understand. But whether you get it or not, come back quickly, and do not end up like a shoulder-pole carrying firewood at both ends — losing hold of both." Sha Wujing then made the hand-seal, mounted a cloud-light, and headed straight for the East-Superior-Sacred-Continent. Truly: The body remains while the spirit flies and leaves its dwelling, With a furnace but no fire, how can one refine the elixir? Yellow Dame leaves her master to seek the Golden Elder, Wood Mother detains the master, troubled by his sickly face. This departure — who knows when he will return? This return — hard to measure how many days. The five phases' mutual conquest and generation are not in accord, Only wait till the Mind-Ape re-enters the pass. Sha Wujing, in mid-air, traveled for three days and nights before he reached the Eastern Ocean, where he suddenly heard the sound of waves. Looking down, he saw truly: black mists filled the sky with dense yin air, the dark sea swallowed the sun with cold dawn light. He had no heart for viewing the sights, but headed toward the immortal mountains, crossed Yingzhou, and went straight east to the borders of Huaguo Mountain. Riding the sea wind and treading the water currents, after much more time, he saw ahead towering peaks like rows of halberds, and sheer cliffs like hanging screens. Reaching the summit, he descended from the clouds to find the path down the mountain and seek the Water Curtain Cave. As he drew near, he heard within the mountain countless monkey-spirits clamoring in great tumult. Sha Wujing drew closer and looked carefully — it was Sun Wukong seated high on the stone platform, pulling a sheet of paper taut with both hands and reading aloud in clear tones: "By the imperial command of His Majesty Emperor Li of the Great Tang in the East, before his throne, the holy monk and royal brother, Master Chen Xuanzang, is dispatched to the Western Heaven, to the Thunderclap Monastery on Vulture Peak in the Land of India, there specially to worship the Tathagata Buddha and seek scriptures. Your Majesty, because a sudden illness assailed my person and my spirit wandered through the underworld, fortunately my allotted years were not yet ended, and I was graciously returned to life by the King of the Dead. I then extensively held pious assemblies and established requiem ceremonies to deliver the dead. In great compassion, the golden body of the Guanshiyin Bodhisattva appeared and directed that in the West there is Buddha and scriptures that can deliver the dead and bring them transcendence. I therefore specially dispatch the Master Xuanzang to traverse a thousand mountains and seek the gathas and scriptures. Should he pass through various nations in the Western regions, let not good karmic connections be destroyed; act in accordance with this passport. Issued on an auspicious autumn day in the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan reign of the Great Tang. Imperial Passport. Since leaving the great nation and passing through many states, on the way he has accepted his eldest disciple, Sun Wukong the Pilgrim, his second disciple, Zhu Wuneng Bajie, and his third disciple, Sha Wujing the Monk." He read it from the beginning again. Sha Wujing heard it was the travel passport, and could not help but step forward and cry out loudly: "Elder Brother, why are you reading Master's passport?" When the Pilgrim heard this, he quickly raised his head, but did not recognize Sha Wujing, and called out: "Seize him, seize him." The monkeys surrounded him at once, dragging and pulling Sha Wujing before him, and shouted: "Who are you, that you dare approach our immortal cave?" Seeing his changed expression and that he refused to recognize him, Sha Wujing had no choice but to bow and say: "I appeal to you, Elder Brother: earlier it was truly Master's violent temper that wronged you, cursing you several times and driving you home. On one hand, we disciples failed to intercede; on the other, because Master was hungry and thirsty, we went to find water and beg for food. Unexpectedly, Elder Brother came back with good intentions, but again took offense that Master, enforcing the rules, would not let you stay, and so you struck Master down, leaving him dazed on the ground, and seized the luggage. Later we revived Master and have come specially to pay respects to you, Elder Brother. If you no longer resent Master, but still recall the kindness of your deliverance in former days, return with your younger brother, bring the luggage to see Master, and together go to the Western Heaven to complete this true fruition. But if your resentment is deep and you will not go with us, I beg you at least to bestow the bundle upon your younger brother, while you, Elder Brother, remain in the deep mountains and enjoy your evening years in peace — that too would truly be a perfect solution for both sides." When the Pilgrim heard this, he gave a cold laugh and said: "Worthy Younger Brother, this argument does not suit me at all. I struck Tang Sanzang and seized the luggage, not because I refuse to go to the West, nor because I love living here. I have now memorized this passport thoroughly, and I myself shall go to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures, and deliver them to the Eastern Land. I alone shall accomplish this merit, and cause the people of the Southern Jambu Continent to establish me as their patriarch, and pass down my name for ten thousand generations!" Sha Wujing laughed and said: "Elder Brother, your words are most improper. There has never been any talk of Sun Wukong fetching scriptures. Our Buddha Tathagata created the Tripitaka scriptures, and originally instructed Guanyin Bodhisattva to go to the Eastern Land to seek a scripture-fetcher, and to have us endure the toil of a thousand mountains and seek out the various states, protecting that scripture-fetcher. The Bodhisattva once said: the scripture-fetcher is a disciple of Tathagata, named Elder Golden Cicada. Because he did not heed the Buddha's exposition of the scriptures, he was banished from Spirit Mountain and reborn in the Eastern Land, so that he might achieve true fruition in the West and again cultivate the great Way. Along the road he was destined to encounter such demonic obstacles, and to liberate us three to act as his Dharma protectors. If you, Elder Brother, do not go with Tang Sanzang, which Buddha would be willing to transmit the scriptures to you? Would that not be a vain expenditure of all your spirit and thought?" The Pilgrim said: "Worthy Younger Brother, you are truly muddled — you know only one side, not the other. You say you have Tang Sanzang, protected by me — and do I then have no Tang Sanzang? I have here selected another true and virtuous monk, and shall go fetch scriptures myself. Old Sun will support him alone — what impossibility is there? I have already chosen to set out early tomorrow morning. If you do not believe me, wait till I invite him out for you to see." He called: "Little ones, quickly invite the master out." They indeed ran inside and led out a white horse, and brought out a Tang Sanzang, followed by a Bajie carrying the luggage, and a Sha Wujing holding the monastic staff. When Sha Wujing saw this, he flew into a rage and said: "I, Old Sha, change not my name nor my surname — how can there be another Sha Monk here? Do not be insolent — take my staff!" Good Sha Wujing raised his demon-subduing staff with both hands and brought it down upon the false Sha Wujing, splitting his head and killing him at once. This was in fact a monkey-spirit. The Pilgrim, angered, whirled his golden-banded staff and led the monkeys in surrounding Sha Wujing. Sha Wujing charged east and west, fighting his way out of the pass, and fled by cloud and mist, saying: "This vile monkey is so perverse — I shall go and tell the Bodhisattva!" Seeing that Sha Wujing had killed one monkey-spirit and driven Sha Heshang away, the Pilgrim did not pursue him. He returned to the cave and ordered the little ones to drag the dead demon's corpse aside, skin it, take the meat and fry it, and together with the monkey troop he ate it all, along with coconut wine and grape wine. He then chose another demon monkey skilled in transformation to change into a Sha Wujing, and taught him anew — but of this, no more. Sha Wujing, riding the clouds, left the Eastern Sea and traveled for a day and a night until he reached the South Sea. As he went, he soon saw Mount Potalaka not far ahead. Hurrying forward, he lowered his clouds and mist to look — a fine place indeed! Truly: Encompassing the depths of heaven, embracing the regions of earth. Gathering a hundred rivers to bathe the sun and churn the stars, returning all streams to give birth to wind and ripple the moon. The tide surges and soars as the great Kun transforms; the waves roll vast and mighty as the giant Ao swims. Waters connect to the northwestern seas, billows join the eastern ocean. The four seas are linked as one vein of earth, and each immortal isle and continent has its own celestial palace. Say no more of Penglai scattered everywhere—rather behold Putuo's Cloud Cave. What fine scenery! Rosy mists on the peaks enhance the primal essence; auspicious winds beneath the crags ripple the moon's crystal light. In the purple bamboo grove, peacocks fly; on the green willow branches, spirit parrots speak. Rare flowers and wondrous grasses bloom year after year; jewel trees and golden lotuses grow season after season. White cranes pay court to the summit many times; azure phoenixes come to the mountain pavilion repeatedly. Even the swimming fish understand cultivating their true nature—leaping through waves and piercing the currents to hear the scriptures preached. Sha Seng slowly climbed Mount Potalaka, admiring the fairy realm. Just then he saw Muzha the Novice coming to meet him face to face, saying, "Sha Wujing, you are not escorting Tang Monk to fetch the scriptures—what brings you here?" Sha Seng finished his salute and said, "I have a matter for which I have come especially to pay respects to the Bodhisattva; I beg you to announce me." Muzha knew in his heart that he was looking for the Novice, but did not bring it up; he went in first and said to the Bodhisattva, "Outside is Sha Wujing, the junior disciple of Tang Monk, come to pay homage." Sun Wukong heard this from below the dais and laughed, saying, "This must be that Tang Monk has met with trouble, and Sha Seng has come to invite the Bodhisattva." The Bodhisattva then ordered Muzha to call him in from outside. This Sha Seng threw himself down in obeisance, and after bowing, raised his head and was about to tell the foregoing events, when he suddenly saw Sun Wukong standing beside him. Unable to wait for words, he whipped out his Demon-Subduing Staff and struck straight at the Novice's face. The Novice did not return the blow but sidestepped to evade it. Sha Seng cursed loudly, "You wretched monkey, guilty of the ten evils and rebellion! You have come again to deceive the Bodhisattva!" The Bodhisattva shouted, "Wujing, do not strike! If you have some matter, first tell me." Sha Seng put away his precious staff, bowed again below the dais, and said to the Bodhisattva indignantly, "This monkey has committed outrages all along the way beyond number. The day before yesterday, at the foot of a slope, he slew two highway robbers, and the Master blamed him. That night, unexpectedly, we lodged in the very home of the bandits' ringleader, and he again beat a whole gang of robbers to death, and with blood still dripping, carried a human head to show the Master. The Master was so terrified that he fell off his horse, cursed him a few times, and drove him back. After we parted, the Master was greatly hungry and thirsty and bade Bajie go find water. When he did not return for a long time, he then sent me to seek him. Unexpectedly, Sun Wukong, seeing that we two were not there, came back and struck the Master with an iron staff, and seized the two blue felt bundles. When we returned and revived the Master, I came especially to his Water-Curtain Cave to demand the bundles, but he had turned hostile and would not recognize me, reading the Master's passport over and over. I asked him why he read it, and he said he would no longer escort Tang Monk but would himself go west to fetch the scriptures and deliver them to the East—to count as his own merit, to establish himself as the Patriarch, and to be celebrated for ten thousand ages. I then said, 'Without Tang Monk, who would be willing to transmit the scriptures to you?' He said he had chosen a true monk of the Way. When he brought him out, it was indeed a white horse and a Tang Monk, followed by Bajie and Sha Seng. I said, 'I am Sha Heshang—how can there be another Sha Heshang?' I rushed forward and struck him with my staff, and it turned out to be a monkey spirit. Then he led a host to seize me, and I have come specially to petition the Bodhisattva. I do not know how he, being able to use the Somersault Cloud, arrived here beforehand; nor do I know with what smooth words and honeyed phrases he has deceived the Bodhisattva." The Bodhisattva said, "Wujing, do not accuse falsely. Wukong has been here for four days now, and I have never let him go back. How could he have any intention of finding another Tang Monk and going to fetch scriptures himself?" Sha Seng said, "At this very moment there is a Sun Wukong in Water-Curtain Cave—how dare I deceive?" The Bodhisattva said, "If that is so, do not be impatient. I will have Wukong go with you to Flower-Fruit Mountain to have a look. The true cannot be destroyed, the false is easily removed; once there, you will see for yourselves." When the Great Sage heard this, he took leave of the Bodhisattva with Sha Seng. This time, they went to: Before Flower-Fruit Mountain to distinguish black and white, At the mouth of Water-Curtain Cave to discern true from false. But after all, how would they distinguish them? Hear the explanation in the next chapter.