Chapter 86

So saying, the Great Sage Sun led the horse and carried the burden, searching all over the mountain ridges while calling for his master, when suddenly he saw Zhu Bajie come running up in a huff, saying, "Elder Brother, what are you shouting about?" The Walker replied, "The master has disappeared. Have you seen him?" Bajie said, "I originally came along just to be a monk with Tang Sanzang, but you tricked me again and made me act as some general. I risked my life and fought with that fiend for a while, then barely escaped with my life. The master was under your and Sha Monk's watch, yet you come asking me?" The Walker said, "Brother, I'm not blaming you. I don't know how your eyes played tricks on you, but you let that fiend come back and seize the master. I went to strike the fiend and told Sha Heshang to guard the master, but now even Sha Heshang is gone." Bajie laughed, "Perhaps Sha Monk took the master off somewhere to relieve himself." Before he finished, Sha Monk arrived. The Walker asked, "Sha Monk, where has the master gone?" Sha Monk said, "Both your eyes are dim—you let the fiend come and capture the master. Old Sha went to fight that fiend, while the master sat on his horse by himself." The Walker was so furious he stamped and leaped, saying, "We've fallen for his trick, we've fallen for his trick." Sha Monk asked, "Fallen for what trick?" The Walker said, "This is the 'splitting-petal plum-blossom stratagem'—he split us brothers apart and then snatched the master right from our midst. Heavens, heavens, what are we to do?" Uncontrollably, tears ran down his cheeks. Bajie said, "Don't cry—if you cry, you're a weakling. After all, it can't be far; it's only on this mountain. Let's go search." With no other plan, the three had no choice but to enter the mountains to search. After traveling some twenty li, they saw beneath a overhanging cliff a cave residence: Shrouded by sharp peaks, jagged and towering strange rocks; Fragrant wondrous flowers and jade grasses, Brilliant red apricots and emerald peaches. Before the cliff, ancient trees—their frosty bark, smooth and rain-washed, forty spans around; Outside the gate, dark-green pines reach to heaven two thousand feet. Pair by pair, wild cranes often come to dance in the clear breeze before the cave mouth; Couple by couple, mountain birds ever sing in the daylight from the branches. Clusters of yellow vines like hanging ropes; Rows of misty willows like dangling gold. A square pond holds water; a deep cavern leans against the mountain. The square pond's water conceals a dragon whose scales are not yet changed; The deep cavern by the mountain houses an old fiend who has eaten men for many years. Truly not inferior to a fairy's domain—indeed a nest that harbors wind and gathers vital energy. When the Walker saw this, he leaped forward in two or three strides to the gate and looked—the stone door was tightly shut, and across it horizontally was fixed a stone slab with eight large characters on it: "Hidden Mist Mountain—Zhe-Yue Interlocking-Link Cave." The Walker said, "Bajie, get to work! This is the fiend's dwelling; the master must surely be in his house." That idler, relying on his strength, raised his rake and struck with all his might, smashing a great hole in the stone door, and shouted, "Monster! Quickly send out my master, lest my rake topple your door and your whole household be done for." The little demon guarding the gate ran in hurriedly and reported, "Great King, trouble has come!" The old fiend asked, "What trouble?" The little demon said, "There are people before the gate who have broken down the door, shouting for their master!" The old fiend was greatly startled and said, "I wonder which one has come looking for us?" The vanguard said, "Don't be afraid; let me go out and see." That little demon rushed to the front gate and, through the broken hole, cocked his head and looked out. Seeing it was a long-snouted, big-eared one, he immediately turned back and shouted, "Great King, don't fear him—this is only Zhu Bajie. He has no real skill and dares not act rudely. If he does, we can open the gate, take him in, and steam him along with the other. What we fear is that hairy-faced, thunder-beak-mouthed monk." Bajie heard this outside and said, "Brother, he doesn't fear me—only you. The master must surely be in his house; you go forward." The Walker cursed, "You vile brute! Your Old Sun Grandfather is here. Send out my master, and I'll spare your life." The vanguard said, "Great King, bad news—Sun Walker has also come looking." The old fiend complained, "It was all because of that 'split-split' plan of yours—now trouble is at our door. How are we to settle this?" The vanguard said, "Great King, rest assured and don't complain yet. I recall that Sun Walker is a monkey with a generous, magnanimous heart. Though his powers are vast, he loves flattery. Let us take a fake head out to deceive him, praise him a bit, and tell him his master has been eaten by us. If we can coax him away, Tang Sanzang will still be ours to enjoy. If we can't fool him, we'll think of something else." The old fiend said, "Where can we get a fake head?" The vanguard said, "Let me make one." The fine monster took a steel knife and axe, cut a willow root into the shape of a human head, sprinkled some human blood on it, and made it a messy thing. He then had a little demon carry it out on a lacquered tray to the gate, calling, "Great Sage Grandfather, calm your anger and hear me." Sun Walker indeed loved flattery; hearing the call "Great Sage Grandfather," he at once stopped Bajie: "Don't strike yet—let's hear what he has to say." The little demon with the tray said, "Your master was taken into the cave by our Great King. The little demons in the cave are rustic and foolish—not knowing good from bad, some came to swallow, some to gnaw, some clawed, some bit, and they ate your master up, leaving only this head here." The Walker said, "Since he's eaten, so be it—but just bring out the head and let me see if it's real or fake." That little demon tossed the head out through the hole in the door. When Zhu Bajie saw it, he wept, "Pitiful! That master of ours went in, and now he's come out as this sort of master!" The Walker said, "Idiot, first recognize whether it's real or fake before you cry." Bajie said, "Shameless! How can a head be real or fake?" The Walker said, "This is a fake head." Bajie asked, "How can you tell it's fake?" The Walker said, "When a real head is thrown, it doesn't go 'plop'; a fake head sounds like a clapper. If you don't believe me, let me throw it and you listen." He picked it up and dashed it against a rock—it gave a clear clang. Sha Heshang said, "Brother, it does ring." The Walker said, "If it rings, it's fake. I'll make it show its true form for you." He quickly drew his golden cudgel and struck it—it broke apart with a single blow. When Bajie looked, it was a willow root. The idler couldn't help cursing, "You mob of fur-balls! You've hidden my master in the cave and used a willow root to fool your Pig Ancestor—do you think my master was transformed from a willow tree spirit?" The tray-carrying little demon, trembling with fright, ran back and reported, "Hard, hard, hard! Hard, hard, hard!" The old fiend said, "Why so many 'hards'?" The little demon said, "Pig Bajie and Sha Monk were easily fooled, but Sun Walker is an antique dealer—he knows the goods, he knows the goods. He recognized that as a fake head right away. Now we must give him a real head, and then perhaps he'll go away." The old fiend said, "Where can we get a real head? In our flaying pavilion there are leftover human heads—pick one." The demons went to the pavilion, chose a fresh head, ordered the scalp scraped clean until it was smooth and slippery, and again brought it out on a tray, calling, "Great Sage Grandfather, the first one was indeed a fake head. This one is truly Lord Tang's head—our Great King kept it as a house-talisman, and now he specially offers it." With a plop, they tossed another head out through the hole in the door, rolling about dripping with blood. Sun Wukong recognized it as a real human head, but having no alternative, he could not help but weep; Bajie and Sha Seng also burst into loud wailing together. Bajie, holding back tears, said, "Elder Brother, do not weep for now. The weather is not good; I fear it may soon grow foul. Let me take it and bury it while it is still fresh, and then we can weep." Wukong said, "That is reasonable." The idiot, not minding the filth, took the head in his arms, ran up to a sunny spot on the cliff, found a place that sheltered from the wind and gathered the vital energy, took out his rake, dug a pit, buried the head, and then raised a mound. Only then did he call out to Sha Seng: "You stay here and weep with Elder Brother; I will go find something to offer as sacrifice." He then went to the stream bank, broke off a few large willow branches, and picked up several pebbles. Returning to the grave, he stuck the willow branches on either side and piled the pebbles in front. Wukong asked, "What is the meaning of this?" Bajie said, "These willow branches shall serve as pines and cypresses to shade Master's grave; these pebbles shall serve as cakes to make offering to Master." Wukong scolded, "You dolt, the man is dead, and you still offer him pebbles!" Bajie said, "It shows the living one's intent, and serves as a token of filial devotion." Wukong said, "Stop this fooling. Let Sha Seng stay here: first, to keep vigil at the grave; second, to watch over the luggage and the horse. You and I will go break open his cave, seize the demon, cut him to pieces, and avenge Master." Sha He Shang, shedding tears, said, "Elder Brother's words are most fitting. You two take care; I will keep watch here." The good Bajie at once took off his black brocade cassock, tightened his undergarments, raised his rake and followed Wukong. The two pressed forward with all their might, without any debate, and directly smashed open the stone gate of the cave, their shouts shaking the heavens: "Return our living Tang Seng to us!" The multitude of great and small demons in the cave were all terrified out of their wits, and they all blamed the Vanguard for his misdeeds. The old demon asked the Vanguard, "These monks have broken in—how shall we deal with them?" The Vanguard said, "An ancient saying goes well: 'If you put your hand into the fish basket, you cannot avoid the stench.' One action, then a second; left and right, let us lead our troops and kill those monks." The old monster, hearing this, had no recourse, and indeed gave the order: "My little ones, all be of one mind; take your finest weapons and follow me to battle." Sure enough, they all raised a shout and charged out of the cave. The Great Sage and Bajie quickly retreated a few steps to a flat area on the mountain, where they held their ground against the horde of demons and shouted, "Which one is the famed chieftain? Which demon seized my master?" The demon host set up their camp; a brocade battle flag fluttered, and the old monster, wielding an iron cudgel, called out loudly, "You vile monk, do you not recognize me? I am the Great King of South Mountain, who has roamed here for several hundred years. Your Tang Seng has already been caught and eaten by me—what dare you do?" Wukong cursed, "You audacious hairy beast! How many years have you lived, that you dare claim the name 'South Mountain'? Old Lord Lao is the progenitor who opened heaven and earth, yet he sits to the right of the Great Pure One; Buddha Tathagata is the honored sovereign who rules the world, yet he sits beneath the Great Peng; Confucius is the honored sage of the Confucian school, yet he is only called 'Master.' You wretch, how dare you call yourself 'Great King of South Mountain' and boast of centuries of roving? Do not flee—take this blow from your grandfather and elder!" The demon dodged aside, parried the iron staff with his cudgel, widened his eyes and asked, "With that monkey face of yours, how dare you overwhelm me with so many words? What skills do you have to act so insolently before me?" Wukong laughed, "You nameless brute! You do not even know Old Sun. Stand still, steel your nerves, and listen to me: My ancestral home is the great Divine Continent of the East, Which heaven and earth have embraced for myriads of autumns. On Mount Huaguo, a stone egg of immortals— When the egg split, it gave birth to my root and stock. Born not of mortal kind, My holy body was companion to sun and moon. My nature cultivated itself—no small matter, My heavenly endowments were keen, the great elixir's head. I was titled Great Sage and dwelt in Cloud Mansion, By power I roamed and fought the Bull and Dipper. A hundred thousand heavenly soldiers could not approach me, All the constellations were easily subdued. My fame spreads through the universe, known everywhere, My wisdom pierces heaven and earth, leaving traces in all places. Now happily I have taken refuge in the Buddhist faith, Supporting the Elder as he journeys to the West. Meeting mountains, I open roads with none to hinder; Meeting waters, I bridge them, to demons' dismay. In the forest I display might, capturing tigers and leopards; Before cliffs I turn my hand, seizing the great bears. The eastern fruit indeed reaches the western regions— What evil fiend dares show his head? You beast, harming my master is truly hateful; I will see to it that your life ends shortly." When the monster heard this, he was both startled and enraged. Gritting his teeth, he leaped forward and struck at Wukong with his iron cudgel. Wukong lightly parried with his staff and still wanted to speak with him, but Bajie could not hold back; he drew his rake and recklessly attacked the monster's Vanguard. The Vanguard led his troops to join in together. This battle, fought in the flat area of the mountain, was truly a fierce slaughter: A monk from the great eastern land of noble state, Going west to the Land of Ultimate Bliss for true scriptures. The great leopard of South Mountain spat wind and mist, Blocking the deep mountains, alone displaying his power. He used crafty schemes and wily tricks, And in ignorance mistakenly seized the Tang monk. He met Wukong with vast supernatural powers, And also Bajie of well-known fame. The demon horde fought wildly on the mountain flats, Dust flying thick, the sky unclear. On that side, the little demons howled, brandishing spears and swords; On this side, the divine monks shouted, rakes and staves all raised. The Great Sage, heroic and unmatched; Wuneng, sturdy and glad to strike with force. The old monster of South Mountain and his subordinate Vanguard— All for a piece of Tang Seng's flesh, Causing them to risk death and forget life. These two, for their master's life, became mortal foes; Those two, for Tang Seng, were utterly vicious. They fought back and forth for more than half a bout, Charging and clashing, with no victory or defeat. Sun the Great Sage saw that the little demons were fierce and could not be beaten back, so he employed the method of分身 (body multiplication). He plucked a handful of his hairs, chewed them in his mouth, spat them out, and shouted, "Change!" They all transformed into copies of himself, each wielding a golden-banded staff, and charged forward from the front. Those one or two hundred little demons, unable to guard the front and the rear at once, nor the left and the right, each fled for his life and retreated defeated into the cave. Then Wukong and Bajie slaughtered their way out from within the formation. Alas, those unwise demons—those struck by the rake had blood gushing from nine orifices; those hit by the staff had their bones and flesh turned to mud. The Great King of South Mountain was so terrified that he fled for his life, rolling in wind and raising mist. The Vanguard, unable to transform, was struck down by Wukong's staff and reverted to his true form—an iron-backed gray wolf monster. Bajie stepped forward, grabbed his leg, turned him over, and looked, saying, "This wretch must have stolen many piglets and lambs to eat since childhood." Wukong shook his body and withdrew the hairs, saying, "Idiot, do not delay; hurry after the old monster and demand Master's life!" Bajie turned his head and saw that the little Wukongs had all disappeared, and said, "Elder Brother's manifestations are all gone." Wukong said, "I have already withdrawn them." Bajie said, "Wonderful, wonderful!" The two, delighted, returned victorious. Now the old monster, having escaped with his life back to the cave, ordered the little demons to move stones and carry earth to block the front gate. Those little demons who had survived, trembling with fear, all blocked the gate and dared not show their heads again. Wukong led Bajie to the gate and shouted, but no one answered inside. When Bajie tried to rake it, he could not move it at all. Wukong understood and said, "Bajie, do not waste your strength; they have already blocked the gate." Bajie said, "If the gate is blocked, how shall we avenge Master?" Wukong said, "Let us first return to the grave and see Sha Seng." The two of them returned to the original spot and saw Sha Seng still weeping. Bajie grew even more grieved; he dropped his rake, threw himself upon the grave, and pawed at the earth with his hands, crying, "Ill-fated Master! Master from a distant land! Where shall I ever see you again?" Xingzhe said, "Brothers, do not be so sorrowful. This fiend has blocked the front gate, but there must be a rear gate for coming and going. You two stay right here while I go and look again." Bajie said through his tears, "Brother, be careful—do not let yourself be caught as well, or we shall not know how to weep properly: if we weep for Master and then weep for Elder Brother, our weeping will be all confused." Xingzhe said, "No matter, I have my ways." The great sage put away his staff, tucked up his skirt, strode off, and rounded the slope when he suddenly heard the gurgling sound of water. Turning to look, he saw it was the sound of water in a stream, rushing down from the upper reaches. On the other side of the stream he also saw a gate, and to the left of the gate a concealed drain for discharging water. He said, "No need to say more—that must be the rear gate. If I go in my true face, I fear some little demon might open the gate, see me, and recognize me. Better I change into a water snake to cross over. But wait—if I change into a water snake, perhaps the Master's spiritual shade might know and blame me, a monk, for turning into a sinuous snake. Better I change into a little crab and cross over. That won't do either—I fear Master might blame me for having too many feet." So he changed into a water rat and, with a swoosh, dashed across, slipping in through the drainage channel and into the inner courtyard. He poked his head out to look around and saw, in a sunny spot, a little demon arranging pieces of human meat and laying them out to dry. Xingzhe said, "My boy, that must be the Master's flesh they couldn't finish eating—they are drying it into jerky to guard against rainy days. If I show my true form, rush forward, and smash them with one blow of my staff, that would make me look brave but foolish. I'd better change again and go inside to find that old fiend and see what's what." He leaped out of the drain, shook himself, and changed into a winged ant. Truly: Small of strength and tiny of frame, known as the dark steed; Long hidden and nurtured, it has grown wings to fly. At leisure it arrays its ranks by the bridge; In joy it contends in immortal games beneath the bed. Skilled in knowing rain, it often seals its hole; When dust piles up, it turns to ash at last. Cunning and light, it moves with ease; Time and again it passes unseen through the wicker gate. He spread his wings, silent and without shadow, and flew straight into the main hall. There he saw the old fiend sitting in vexation and worry, when a little demon came bounding in from the rear to report, "Great King, a thousand joys!" The old fiend said, "From where do these joys come?" The little demon said, "I was just now at the stream head behind the rear gate, spying, when I suddenly heard someone weeping loudly. I at once climbed to the peak and looked—it was Zhu Bajie, Sun Xingzhe, and Sha Seng there, prostrating themselves before a grave and weeping bitterly. They must have taken that human head for Tang Seng's head, buried it, and made a grave to weep over." Xingzhe, overhearing this from his hiding place, was overjoyed and thought, "If he speaks thus, then my Master is still hidden somewhere and has not yet been eaten. I must go and search again, see whether he is alive or dead, and then deal with them." The great sage flew into the main hall, looking east and west, and noticed a small door beside it, tightly shut. He squeezed through the crack and saw that it was a large garden, from which he faintly heard sounds of grief. He flew straight into the depths and beheld a clump of great trees, under which two people were tied. One of them was precisely Tang Seng. When Xingzhe saw him, his heart itched with excitement; unable to contain himself, he revealed his true form, stepped forward, and called out, "Master." The elder recognized him and said through tears, "Wukong, you've come? Save me quickly. Wukong, Wukong." Xingzhe said, "Master, do not keep calling my name—there are people about, and we fear the news may leak. Since you are still alive, I can save you. The fiend only said he had already eaten you and used a false head to fool me, so we fought bitterly with him. Master, set your mind at ease; bear it a little longer. Let me first bring down that fiend, and then I can come to free you." The great sage recited a spell, shook himself, and changed back into an ant, re-entering the main hall and clinging to the main beam. There he saw the little demons who had not yet been harmed, clustered together in a buzzing crowd. Suddenly one little demon leaped out and reported, "Great King, they saw the gate blocked and could not force it open, so they gave up hope, abandoned Tang Seng, and made a grave from the false head. Today they weep for one day, tomorrow they will weep another, and the day after will be the third-day rite—then they will likely go back. When we hear that they have scattered, we can bring out Tang Seng, chop him into bits, stew him with plenty of spices, and all of us have a fragrant bite, and even gain long life and longevity." Another little demon clapped his hands and said, "Don't say that, don't say that—steaming is tastier." Another said, "Boiling saves firewood." Another said, "He is a rare thing after all; better salt him down a little, so we can eat him for a long time." Xingzhe, on the beam, heard this and was furiously angry: "My Master—what deadly grudge do you have against him, that you scheme to eat him in such ways?" He then plucked a handful of his own hair, chewed it up in his mouth, gently blew it out, and silently recited a spell, commanding it all to turn into sleep-inducing insects, which he flung at the faces of the demons. They each bored into their nostrils; the little demons gradually grew drowsy, and before long all had fallen asleep. Only the old fiend could not sleep soundly; he kept rubbing his head and face with both hands, sneezing incessantly, and pinching his nose. Xingzhe said, "Could he have sensed it? I'll give him the 'double lamp-trimming.'" He plucked another hair, made it the same way, threw it at his face, and it too bored into his nostril. The two insects, one entering from the left and the other from the right, caused the old fiend to start up, stretch his waist, yawn twice, and then fall heavily asleep. Xingzhe was secretly pleased; then he leaped down and revealed his true form. He took out his staff from his ear, shook it till it was as thick as a duck's egg, and with a clang broke open the side door, rushed to the rear garden, and called out loudly, "Master!" The elder said, "Disciple, quickly untie these ropes—they are binding me painfully." Xingzhe said, "Master, do not be in a hurry. Let me first kill the fiend, then I will untie you." He hurried back to the main hall and was about to raise his staff to strike, but he checked his hand and said, "No—better to untie Master first, then strike." He returned to the garden, then reconsidered: "Better to strike first, then rescue." He went back and forth two or three times like this, and only then did he prance and dance his way into the garden. When the elder saw him, he turned sorrow to joy and said, "Monkey, you must have seen that I was not killed, so you are so overjoyed you don't know what to do with yourself—thus you dance about like this?" Xingzhe then came forward, untied the ropes, and took the Master by the arm to leave. Then he heard the man tied to the opposite tree call out, "Venerable Sir, show great compassion and save my life as well." The elder stopped and said, "Wukong, untie that man too." Xingzhe said, "Who is he?" The elder said, "He was captured one day before me. He is a woodcutter, and he said his aged mother at home missed him greatly—truly a filial son. Let us save him together as well." Acting on the instruction, he also untied the rope and brought him out together through the back gate, climbed up the stone cliff, and crossed the steep ravine. The Elder thanked him, saying, "Worthy disciple, thanks to you for saving him and my life. Where are Wuneng and Wujing?" Xingzhe said, "They are both over there crying for you. You may call out to them." The Elder indeed raised his voice and called loudly, "Bajie, Bajie." That oaf had wept himself dizzy and dazed; he wiped his nose and tears and said, "Sha Seng, the Master has come home to manifest his spirit—isn't that him calling us?" Xingzhe stepped forward and shouted, "Dolt, what spirit? Isn't this the Master coming?" Sha Seng raised his head, saw him, and hastily knelt before him, saying, "Master, how much suffering you have endured! How did elder brother manage to rescue you?" Xingzhe recounted the whole matter from beginning to end. When Bajie heard this, he gnashed his teeth in rage and could not restrain himself from raising his rake and smashing the grave mound flat, digging out the severed head and pounding it to pulp. Tang Seng said, "Why did you smash it?" Bajie said, "Master, I don't know whose departed one this was, yet you made me weep facing him." The Elder said, "Thanks to him my life was saved. When you brothers stormed his gate and clamored for me, he must have used this to fob you off; otherwise, they would have killed me. Bury him again, to show our intent as renunciants." Hearing the Elder's words, the oaf buried that bundle of pulverized bones and flesh, and also raised up a grave mound. Xingzhe then laughed and said, "Master, please sit a while; wait until I go and wipe them out." He immediately leaped back down the stone cliff, crossed the stream, and entered the cave. He took the ropes that had bound Tang Seng and the woodcutter into the main hall—the old demon was still asleep—and trussed him up with his four legs tied together. Then he lifted him with his Golden Cudgel, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and went straight out the back gate. Zhu Bajie saw him from afar and said, "Elder brother is good at this hoisting business. Wouldn't it be better to find another one to carry on the other shoulder?" Xingzhe came up and set him down, and Bajie raised his rake to strike. Xingzhe said, "Wait, there are still little demons in the cave that haven't been caught." Bajie said, "Brother, if there are, take me in to fight them." Xingzhe said, "Fighting them would take more time; better to find some firewood and finish them off for good." Hearing this, the woodcutter led Bajie to the eastern hollow to gather some broken bamboo tips, withered pine, hollow willows, broken-root vines, yellow wormwood, old reeds, cattails, and dry mulberry branches, carrying quite a load of them through the back gate. Xingzhe lit the fire, and Bajie fanned it with his ears. The Great Sage leaped up, gave himself a shake, and retrieved the hairs of the Sleeping Insect spell. Just as the little demons awoke, the smoke and flames were upon them. Pitiful! Not half a one could escape with its life. Even the cave was burned completely empty. Then they returned to see the Master. When the Master heard the old demon just waking and calling out, he said, "Disciples, the demon is awake." Bajie stepped forward and struck with his rake, killing the old monster, who then revealed his true form—it turned out to be an artemisia-leaf spotted leopard demon. Xingzhe said, "The spotted leopard can eat tigers, and now it could also turn into a man. Killing it now finally removes the root of future trouble." The Elder thanked them endlessly, then mounted his horse. The woodcutter said, "Venerable Sir, heading southwest is not far from my humble home. May I invite you to my house to see my elderly mother, so she may thank you for saving my life, and then I will see you off on your way." The Elder was delighted, so he dismounted and walked together with the woodcutter and the four of them, heading southwest along a winding path. Before long, they indeed saw: Stone paths again overgrown with moss, Rough-hewn gate entwined with wisteria vines. Four sides joined by mountain light, One grove of birds in clamor. Dense pines and bamboos interwoven in green, All manner of exotic herbs and rare blossoms. In this remote place deep in clouds, A bamboo-fenced, thatched-hut home. From afar they saw an old woman leaning against the wattle gate, weeping bitterly, crying out to heaven and earth. When the woodcutter saw his own mother, he left the Elder and hurried first to the wattle gate, knelt down, and called out, "Mother, I am here." The old woman embraced him and said, "My son, you have not come home these past days. I thought the mountain lord had taken you and killed you—my heart ached beyond bearing. Since you have not been harmed, why have you only come today? Where are your rope, carrying pole, and woodcutter's axe?" The woodcutter kowtowed and said, "Mother, I was indeed taken by the mountain lord and tied to a tree; I truly could not have escaped with my life. Fortunately, these venerable lords arrived. This venerable lord is an Arhat from the Tang of the East, on his way to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures. He too was taken by the mountain lord and tied to a tree. His three disciple-venerable lords possess vast supernatural powers; they struck down the mountain lord with a single blow. He turned out to be an artemisia-leaf spotted leopard demon; all the lesser demons were burned to death. Then they untied and rescued that elder lord, and me as well. This is truly a grace as high as heaven and deep as earth. If not for them, your son would surely have died. Now the mountain is at peace, and your son can walk even through the night without fear." When the old woman heard this, she bowed at every step as she welcomed the Elder and the four of them, and they all entered the thatched cottage inside the wattle gate and sat down. Mother and son kowtowed repeatedly with endless thanks, and hastily arranged some vegetarian offerings to express their gratitude. Bajie said, "Brother Woodcutter, I know your household is modest; just a simple meal will do, please do not go to great trouble." The woodcutter said, "To be honest with you, Venerable Lords, here in these mountains we are indeed poor; we have no fragrant mushrooms, agarics, Sichuan pepper, or star anise—only a few wild vegetables to offer you, as a small token of my heart." Bajie laughed and said, "Garrulous, garrulous. Just hurry up a bit—our bellies are hungry." The woodcutter said, "It will be ready, it will be ready." Sure enough, before long, he wiped the table and stools and set them out—indeed several plates of wild vegetables. They were: Tender boiled daylily flowers, Sour pickled white dandelion. Purslane with floating roses, Shepherd's purse and sow-thistle. Swallow-wort, fragrant yet tender, Sprouts curled like fists, crisp and green. Well-cooked horse's-head greens, White-simmered dog's-foot herb. Cat's ears, wild peas, Cooked soft amaranth—good to eat; Shepherd's-purse, water-cress, And snipe-grass with bristly clover; Minute shepherd's-purse and lettuce-purse, Several kinds fragrant, smooth, and delicate. Stir-fried black-flowered herb, Water caltrop most praiseworthy. Cattail roots and wild rice shoots— These four water-plants are truly pure and fine. Barley-grass, delicate and fair; Ragged-robin—not to wear. Bitter-sow beneath the trellis fence. Moss-campion, monkey-foot— Fried sizzling, they taste just fine. Slender wormwood, green wormwood, and mother-wormwood, With buckwheat on which the moth-fly lights. Lamb's-ear, wolfberry tips, Add black-blue and no oil is needed. Several kinds of wild vegetables for one meal— The woodcutter's sincere thanks offered. The masters and disciples ate their fill, packed up, and prepared to leave. The woodcutter dared not keep them long; he invited his mother out to bow again and offer thanks once more. The woodcutter only kowtowed, took a jujube-wood staff, girded up his clothes, and went out to see them off. Sha Seng led the horse, Bajie carried the load, Xingzhe followed close by, and the Elder, seated on the horse, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Woodcutter, please lead us first to the main road, and there we shall part." Together they climbed heights and descended slopes, turned along ravines and sought out paths. As he rode, the Elder pondered and said: "Disciples, Since leaving the sovereign for the Western lands, On and on, the distant road stretches far. Through waters and mountains, calamities never cease, From monsters and demons, life can hardly escape. Heart and mind fixed only on the Three Baskets, Thoughts ever still seeking the Ninth Heaven above. Toiling and wearied—when will this end? When shall I complete my journey and return to the Tang?" When the woodcutter heard this, he said, "Pray, do not worry, Lord. This great highway, going west for not quite a thousand miles, is the Tianzhu Kingdom, the Land of Ultimate Bliss." When the Elder heard this, he turned over and dismounted from his horse, saying, "I am grateful for your trouble in coming so far. Since this is the great highway, I beg you, Brother Woodcutter, to return to your home and convey my many respects to your esteemed elderly mother: a moment ago I was greatly troubled by your bountiful vegetarian feast; this poor monk has nothing with which to repay you, but only morning and evening to recite scriptures and pray that you, mother and son, may be safe and enjoy a hundred years of long life." That woodcutter bowed repeatedly in farewell and returned to his own road. The master and disciples then headed straight west. Thus it is: Subduing monsters, resolving grievances, escaping suffering and distress; Receiving kindness, setting out on the road, traveling with attentive mind. As to how many more days it will yet be before they reach the Western Heaven, if you wish to know, listen to the explanation in the next chapter.