Tang Sanzang and his disciples were preparing to continue their journey at the break of dawn. Zhenyuanzi and Wukong had become sworn brothers, and their relationship was so good that they were reluctant to part ways. They stayed for another five or six days. After Tang Sanzang took the "Grass Returning Elixir," he felt rejuvenated, as if he had been reborn, full of energy and strength. Eager to obtain the scriptures, he decided to set off without further delay.
After bidding farewell, the master and disciples continued on their journey. It wasn't long before they encountered a towering mountain. Sanzang said, "Disciples, there's a steep mountain ahead. I'm afraid the horse might not be able to pass through easily. Everyone, be cautious." Wukong assured him, "Don't worry, Master, we'll handle it." The clever Monkey King led the way, using his golden staff to clear the path, climbing up the high cliffs. Looking around, they saw peaks upon peaks, surrounded by streams and valleys. Packs of tigers and wolves roamed, and groups of deer and antelope moved together.
The mountain was teeming with wild boars and roe deer, foxes and rabbits gathered together. There were also giant pythons hundreds of feet long and enormous serpents stretching thousands of feet. The pythons exhaled ominous clouds, and the serpents emitted strange winds. The path was lined with thorny bushes, while the mountain ridges were lush with pine and camphor trees. Everywhere was covered with climbing plants and fragrant grass stretching to the horizon. Shadows fell over the northern seas, and clouds parted in the southern skies. The eternal energy of the earth was ever-present, and the thousand peaks stood tall in the cold sunlight. Sanzang, riding on his horse, felt fearful, while Sun Wukong used his skills, brandishing his iron staff, letting out a mighty roar that scared away the wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards.
As they ventured deeper into the mountain and reached a rugged area, Sanzang said, "Wukong, I've been hungry all day. Can you find some food for us?" Wukong chuckled, "Master, you're so wise. Here in the middle of the mountain, there's neither village ahead nor inn behind, even with money there's nowhere to buy food. Where do you expect me to find some?" Sanzang, displeased, scolded, "You monkey! Remember when you were trapped under the mountain by the Buddha and I saved you, making you my disciple? Why don't you work hard instead of being lazy?" Wukong replied, "Master, I'm not lazy at all." Sanzang persisted, "If you're diligent, why not find food for me? I'm hungry and can't walk. Besides, this place is full of mountain mists, how will we reach Thunderclap Monastery?" Wukong said, "Please don't be angry, Master. I'll go find some food. I know you're proud and will recite the tightening spell if I displease you. Sit down and rest, and I'll look for something to eat."
With that, Wukong leaped into the air, scanning the surroundings with his hand shading his eyes. Alas, the road to the west was desolate, with no sign of villages or people—only trees as far as the eye could see. After searching for a while, he spotted something bright red on a mountain to the south. Descending from the clouds, he said, "Master, I've found something to eat." Sanzang asked what it was. Wukong replied, "There are no people to beg food from, but on the southern mountain, there's a patch of red, likely ripe wild peaches. I'll pick some for you to stave off hunger." Sanzang was delighted, "If a monk can eat peaches, that's the best! Go quickly!" Wukong grabbed his alms bowl and, riding his cloud, swiftly reached the southern mountain to pick peaches.
Now, as the saying goes: "High mountains often harbor monsters, and steep ridges give rise to spirits." Indeed, there was a demon on this mountain, and when Sun Wukong arrived, he startled the creature. From the clouds, the demon watched Tang Sanzang sitting below, feeling overjoyed, thinking, "What a blessing! I've heard for years that the Tang Monk from the East is coming to fetch the great scriptures. He is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, a being who has cultivated for ten lifetimes. Eating just a piece of his flesh grants immortality. Today, he's finally here." The demon wanted to seize him but saw that two mighty warriors were guarding the monk and dared not approach. And who were these two warriors? None other than Bajie and Sha Monk. Although they weren't exceptionally powerful, Bajie was the Marshal Tianpeng, and Sha Monk was the Curtain-Lifting General. Their presence was still intimidating, keeping the demon at bay. The demon thought, "I'll play with them first and see how they react."
The demon halted its dark wind and transformed into a beautiful young maiden in a mountain hollow. She was indescribably charming, with delicate features, bright eyes, and red lips. In her left hand, she carried a blue clay pot, and in her right, a green porcelain bottle, heading straight towards Tang Sanzang from the west. The venerable monk was resting his horse beneath a rocky ledge when he suddenly noticed the maiden approaching. Her jade-like fingers were revealed as she lightly waved her emerald sleeves, and her small, lotus-like feet showed beneath her slanted silk skirt.
Sweat glistened on her powdered face like dew on a flower, and dust brushed her elegant brows like smoke on willow branches. Upon closer inspection, the maiden was already by their side. Sanzang, seeing her, called out, “Bajie, Sha Monk, Wukong just said this place was deserted, yet here comes a person!” Bajie replied, “Master, you and Sha Monk rest here, and let old Zhu go take a look.”
The foolish Bajie set down his rake, tidied his clothes, and sauntered forward with an air of pretended refinement to greet her. From afar, he couldn’t see clearly, but up close, he realized that the woman was indeed beautiful: her skin was as smooth as ice and jade, her collar slightly open, her eyebrows like willow leaves, and her eyes sparkling like silver. She had a charming face, a refreshing demeanor, a figure like a swallow, and a voice like an oriole.
She resembled a half-bloomed crabapple flower bathed in morning light, or a newly blossomed peony swaying in the spring sunshine. Upon seeing her, Bajie’s heart was immediately stirred, and he couldn’t help but babble, “Fair maiden, where are you headed? What are you carrying?” Unbeknownst to him, she was a demon, but Bajie failed to recognize it. The maiden quickly replied, “Venerable monk, in this blue pot, I have fragrant rice, and in this green bottle, I have stir-fried gluten. I specifically came here to fulfill a vow and offer food to monks.” Hearing this, Bajie was overjoyed and hurried back to report to Sanzang, “Master! Truly, heaven is looking out for us! You were hungry, and though Brother Monkey went to beg for food, he’s off somewhere picking peaches. Eating too many peaches can upset the stomach. Look, isn’t this someone bringing us food?”
Tang Sanzang was skeptical, saying, “You fool! We’ve traveled so far without meeting a single good person, where would someone bringing food come from?” Bajie insisted, “Master, here she is!”
Seeing the maiden, Sanzang quickly got up, clasped his hands, and said, “Fair maiden, where is your family from? What brings you here to offer food to monks?” In truth, she was a demon, but Tang Sanzang didn’t recognize her either. The demon, seeing Sanzang inquire about her background, quickly fabricated a story and deceitfully said, “Master, this mountain is called White Tiger Ridge. My home is just to the west. My parents are devout, reading scriptures and doing good deeds, making many virtuous connections. They were childless, prayed for blessings, and had me. They wish to find me a good husband, but fearing loneliness in old age, they took in a son-in-law to care for them in their later years.” Sanzang responded, “Fair maiden, what you say is not quite right. The scriptures say: ‘While parents are alive, one should not travel far; if one must, there should be a clear purpose.’ Since your parents are alive, and you have a husband, if you have a vow, shouldn’t the men come instead of you wandering the mountains alone without attendants? That’s not proper conduct for a woman.”
The maiden, smiling sweetly, replied, “Master, my husband is in the northern valley, working the fields with some guests. This is the lunch I prepared for them. During these hot months, there’s no one to help, and my parents are elderly, so I came myself. Meeting you here by chance, I thought of my parents’ kindness and decided to offer this meal to you. If you don’t mind, please accept it.” Sanzang said, “Blessings! Blessings! I have a disciple who went to pick fruit, and I’ll eat only when he returns. If I, a monk, eat your food and your husband finds out and scolds you, wouldn’t that implicate me?” The maiden, seeing Sanzang’s reluctance, warmly assured him, “Master, my parents offering food to monks is a small matter; my husband is even more virtuous, spending his life building bridges and roads, caring for the elderly and poor. If he knew this meal was for you, he’d be even happier.” Sanzang still refrained from eating, but Bajie grew impatient. The fool pouted and complained, “There are countless monks in the world, but I’ve never seen one as timid as my master! Here’s food, and he won’t eat a bite until Brother Monkey returns to make it a full meal!” With that, he ignored Sanzang’s protests, went forward, and knocked over the pot, ready to eat.
Sun Wukong had picked a few peaches at the top of the southern mountain and returned in a somersault with his bowl in hand. Using his fiery eyes, he immediately recognized the maiden as a demon. Wukong set down the bowl and drew his iron staff, ready to strike. Tang Sanzang quickly grabbed him, exclaiming, "Wukong! Who are you planning to hit now that you're back?" Wukong replied, "Master, this woman is no good; she's a demon trying to deceive you." Sanzang didn't believe him, saying, "You monkey! You used to have sharp eyes, but today you're talking nonsense! This maiden has a kind heart, bringing us food, and you say she's a demon?"
Wukong laughed and said, "Master, you don't understand! When I was a demon in the Water Curtain Cave, if I wanted to eat human flesh, I would transform into gold, silver, a pavilion, an intoxicating person, or a beautiful woman. Once someone was fooled, I'd lure them into the cave and eat them however I pleased; the leftovers would be dried and stored! Master, if I had come later, you surely would have been tricked and harmed by her!" However, Tang Sanzang refused to believe it, insisting the maiden was a good person. Wukong said, "Master, I see you've been captivated by her looks. If that's the case, let Bajie chop down some trees, Sha Monk gather some grass, and I'll be the carpenter to build you a nest right here. You can marry her, and we'll all go our separate ways, no need to fetch the scriptures anymore!"
Sanzang, being an honest man, was utterly embarrassed by these words, his face turning bright red. In the midst of Sanzang's awkwardness, Wukong acted on impulse, swinging his iron staff to strike the demon across the face. The demon, possessing some skills, used a corpse-displacement technique to evade, leaving only a false body behind, struck dead on the ground. Tang Sanzang was so frightened he trembled, chanting, "This monkey is truly unruly! He doesn't listen to reason and has unjustly taken a life!" Wukong said, "Master, don't blame me. Come over and see what's in this pot." Sha Monk helped Sanzang over, and upon closer inspection, it was not fragrant rice but a pot full of long-tailed maggots, nor was it gluten, but rather frogs and toads, jumping all over the place. Only then did Sanzang believe Wukong a bit, but Bajie, still upset, fanned the flames, saying, "Master, she claimed to be a farmer's wife bringing lunch to the fields and happened upon us. How did she become a demon? Brother's staff is heavy; he tested it with a strike and accidentally killed her. Afraid you'd chant the tightening spell, he used trickery to deceive you with these things."
Poor Tang Sanzang believed Bajie's words, and with his fingers forming a seal, he began chanting the spell. Wukong immediately cried out, "Headache! Headache! Don't chant! Let's talk this over." Sanzang said, "What's there to talk about! A monk should always be accommodating, never straying from kindness, sweeping the ground carefully to avoid harming ants, cherishing moths around a lamp. How can you resort to violence, killing innocent people? What's the point of fetching scriptures? You should leave!" Wukong asked, "Master, where should I go?" Sanzang replied, "I don't want you as my disciple." Wukong said, "Without me as your disciple, I'm afraid you won't make it to the Western Heaven." Sanzang retorted, "If it's my fate to be eaten by a demon, so be it. Can you save my life?"
Wukong replied, "Master, if I must leave, so be it, but I haven't repaid your kindness." Sanzang asked, "What kindness do I have with you?" Hearing this, Wukong quickly knelt and kowtowed, saying, "When I caused havoc in Heaven, I was imprisoned under the Two Realms Mountain by the Buddha. Thanks to Guanyin Bodhisattva for giving me a chance and you for freeing me. If I don't accompany you to the Western Heaven, it would seem ungrateful, and I'd be cursed for eternity." Sanzang, being a compassionate monk, softened at Wukong's plea and said, "In that case, I'll spare you this time, but don't act recklessly again. If you do, I'll chant the spell twenty times!" Wukong said, "Thirty times is fine, as long as I don't hit anyone." With that, he helped Sanzang back onto the horse and offered the peaches he had picked. Sanzang, on horseback, ate a few peaches to stave off hunger.
Meanwhile, the demon escaped into the sky. It turned out that Wukong's staff hadn't killed her; she had already fled in spirit form. In the clouds, she gritted her teeth and bitterly resented Wukong, thinking, "I had heard of his prowess, and today it's proven true. Tang Sanzang was about to eat my food. If he had just lowered his head to smell it, I would have captured him. But Wukong ruined my plan and nearly hit me with his staff. If I let this monk go, all my efforts would be wasted. I must descend and toy with him again."
The demon descended from the dark clouds and transformed into an eighty-year-old woman at the foot of the front hill, leaning on a bent bamboo cane, crying with each step as she walked. Upon seeing her, Bajie exclaimed in alarm, "Master! This is bad! That old lady is coming to find someone!"
Tang Sanzang looked and asked, "Who is she looking for?" Bajie quickly replied, "The one Brother killed must be her daughter. This old lady is definitely here to find her." Wukong laughed and said, "Brother, don't talk nonsense! That girl was only eighteen, and this old lady is eighty. Can someone give birth at sixty? This must be fake; I'll go take a look."
Wukong strode over and examined her closely. The demon had transformed into an old woman: her temples were white as snow, she walked slowly, her body was thin like a bamboo pole, and her complexion was like withered leaves. Her cheekbones were high, her lips drooped, and her face was full of wrinkles like a lotus leaf. Wukong immediately recognized her as a demon and, without a word, raised his iron staff to strike her on the head. The demon, seeing the staff coming, used her magic to escape in spirit form, leaving only a false body struck dead on the mountain path.
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang was so frightened that he dismounted, sat paralyzed by the roadside, and said nothing, only reciting the Reverse Tightening Spell twenty times. Poor Wukong's head was squeezed like a gourd, the pain unbearable, and he quickly rolled over to beg for mercy, "Master, please stop chanting! Let's talk this over!" Tang Sanzang said, "What's there to talk about! A monk listens to kind words and avoids hell. I've advised you, yet you keep resorting to violence. You killed one person and now another, what is this?"
Wukong said, "She was a demon." Tang Sanzang didn't believe it, "This monkey is talking nonsense! How can there be so many demons! You're just someone who doesn't embrace goodness and loves to do evil. You should leave!" Wukong said, "Master wants me to leave again; if I must go, then I'll go, but there's something inappropriate." Tang Sanzang asked, "What's inappropriate?" Bajie interjected, "Master, he wants to divide the luggage with you. He's been with you for years; he can't go back empty-handed, right? You should give him some of the old clothes and worn hats from the bundle."
Hearing this, Wukong jumped up in anger, "You sharp-mouthed fool! I've always practiced Buddhism, never harboring jealousy or greed, so why would I want to divide the luggage?" Tang Sanzang said, "If you're not jealous or greedy, why don't you leave?" Wukong said, "To tell the truth, Master, five hundred years ago, I was a king at the Water Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain, commanding forty-seven thousand demons. I wore a purple-gold crown, a crimson robe, a blue jade belt, cloud-walking shoes, and wielded the Ruyi Jingu Bang. I was quite a figure back then. Ever since being trapped under the Five Elements Mountain, I've shaved my head and become a monk, following you as a disciple, with this tight band on my head. If I go back, I can't face my hometown people. If you truly don't want me, just chant the 'Loose Band Spell' to remove this band and give it to someone else, so I can be free. Surely, you won't deny me even this small favor?"
Tang Sanzang was shocked and said, "Wukong, I only learned the 'Tight Band Spell' given by the Bodhisattva, not any 'Loose Band Spell'." Wukong said, "If there's no 'Loose Band Spell,' then please take me along." Tang Sanzang, having no other choice, said, "Stand up, and I'll forgive you this time. Don't act recklessly again." Wukong quickly agreed, "I won't dare again, I won't dare again." He then helped his master back onto the horse, and they continued on their journey.
As for the demon, in truth, Wukong's second strike hadn't killed her either. In the air, the demon smugly said, "This Monkey King is truly formidable! He recognized me even in that form. If these monks pass this mountain and go forty miles further west, they'll be out of my territory. If they're captured by other demons, it would be a huge disgrace for me, so I must go down and toy with them once more." With that, the demon used her magic again, transforming into an old man with features like this: white hair like Peng Zu, a beard like the God of Longevity, ears that seemed to ring with jade chimes, and eyes that sparkled with golden light. He held a dragon-headed staff, wore a light crane cloak, and fingered prayer beads, reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Seeing the old man from his horse, Tang Sanzang happily said, "Amitabha! The Western land is indeed a blessed place! Look at that old man, he can barely walk but is still reciting scriptures." Bajie quickly interjected, "Master, don't praise him; this could be the root of trouble." Tang Sanzang asked, "Why do you say it's the root of trouble?" Bajie replied, "Wukong killed his daughter and then his wife. This old man must be here to cause trouble. If we run into him, you'll have to pay with your life, I'll be exiled, Sha Monk will stand guard, and Wukong will run off, leaving the three of us in a terrible state."
Hearing this, Wukong laughed and said, "This fool is talking nonsense, trying to scare the master! I'll go take another look." Wukong hid his staff and walked up to the demon, calling out, "Old man, where are you going? Why are you reciting scriptures as you walk?" The demon didn't recognize Wukong and thought he was an ordinary person, so he replied, "Elder, I am a native of this land, and I've spent my life doing good deeds, feeding monks, and reciting Buddha's name. I have no sons, only a daughter, who married and brought in a son-in-law. This morning, they went to the fields to deliver food and might have encountered a fierce beast. My wife went to find them first but hasn't returned, so I came to look. If something really happened, I can only bring their bodies back for burial."
Wukong laughed and said, "I am the ancestor of those who scare tigers, and you have a ghost hidden up your sleeve to deceive me? You can fool others but not me! I recognize you as a demon!" The demon was so frightened he couldn't speak. Wukong took out his staff and thought, "If I don't hit him, he'll surely play tricks again; if I hit him, the master will chant the spell. But if I don't kill him and he seizes the master, I'll have to rescue him with great effort. I might as well kill him with one blow and then coax the master after he chants the spell."
So Wukong recited an incantation, summoning the local earth gods and mountain deities, "This demon has repeatedly harassed my master, and this time I intend to kill him. You all bear witness in the sky and don't let him escape." The gods obeyed, and who dared not comply? They all watched from the clouds. With one strike, Wukong knocked the demon down, finally severing its spirit.
Tang Sanzang, still on horseback, was trembling with fear and couldn't speak. Bajie laughed beside him and said, "Wow, Wukong! You managed to kill three people in half a day!" As Tang Sanzang was about to chant the Tightening Spell, Wukong quickly ran to the front of the horse and said, "Master, don't chant! Come and see his true form." On the ground was a pile of white bones. Tang Sanzang was shocked and asked, "Wukong, how did this person turn into a skeleton right after dying?" Wukong explained, "This was a corpse demon causing trouble, and after I killed it, it revealed its true form. Look, the words 'White Bone Demon' are written on its spine."
Tang Sanzang was somewhat convinced, but Bajie, stirring trouble, said, "Master, he struck too hard and, fearing you'd chant the spell, deliberately made it look like this to deceive you!" Tang Sanzang, being easily swayed, believed Bajie and began to chant the spell. Wukong, in unbearable pain, knelt and pleaded, "Please stop chanting! Let's talk this over!" Tang Sanzang said, "You monkey! You've killed three people in this desolate place; if it were in the city, how could I escape the calamity? You should just go back!" Wukong, feeling wronged, said, "Master, you're accusing me unjustly! This was clearly a demon, and I saved you! Yet you believe Bajie's words and keep driving me away. If I don't leave, I truly would be shameless. I'll go, but there will be no one left to help you."
Tang Sanzang, angry, said, "This unruly monkey is getting more and more out of hand! Do you think you're the only person here, and Bajie and Sha Monk aren't?" Hearing this, Wukong felt a pang in his heart and said, "Master, have you forgotten when we left Chang'an, Liu Boqin escorted you, and you rescued me from the Two Realms Mountain, accepting me as your disciple? I've traversed mountains and forests, capturing demons and subduing monsters, and recruited Bajie and Sha Monk, enduring much hardship. Yet today, you want to drive me away. This is like 'the birds are gone, the bow is put away; the rabbits are dead, the hounds are cooked!' Very well, very well, it's just that there's this Tightening Spell."
Tang Sanzang said, "I won't chant it anymore." Wukong replied, "That's hard to say. If you encounter a demon and Bajie and Sha Monk can't save you, and you think of me and can't help but chant the spell, my head will ache. If we meet again, it's better not to meet now." Hearing this, Tang Sanzang became even angrier, dismounted, and asked Sha Monk to fetch paper and pen, writing a letter of dismissal to Wukong, "Monkey! Take this and don't be my disciple anymore! If I see you again, I'll go to hell!"
Wukong took the dismissal letter and said with a smile, "Master, there's no need for you to swear; I'll leave." He put the letter away and said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, I've accompanied you for a while and received guidance from the Bodhisattva. Today, I leave halfway, unable to achieve the ultimate fruit of success. Please sit down and accept a bow from me, so I can leave with peace of mind." Tang Sanzang turned away, ignoring him, muttering, "I am a good monk and will not accept the bow of someone like you!"
Seeing that Tang Sanzang wouldn't acknowledge him, Wukong used his magic to create three duplicates of himself, making four in total, and surrounded Tang Sanzang to bow to him. Tang Sanzang couldn't avoid them and had to accept the bow. Wukong then withdrew his magic and advised Sha Monk, "Good brother, you are a good person. Be wary of Bajie's words. Be careful on the road, and if a demon captures the master, just say I am his senior disciple. The demons in the West know my power and won't dare harm him."
Tang Sanzang said, "I am a good monk and won't mention the name of a bad person like you. You may go." Seeing Tang Sanzang's firm attitude, Wukong had no choice but to bid farewell with tears in his eyes. He gave Sha Monk a few more words of advice, then leapt onto his somersault cloud and returned to Flower Fruit Mountain. Along the way, he felt desolate and, hearing the sound of the sea tide, looked down from the sky and realized it was the sound of the Eastern Ocean's waves. At this sight, he thought of Tang Sanzang again, tears flowing uncontrollably. He paused for a moment before continuing on his journey. As for what happens next in his story, we will tell it in the next installment.
