Once upon a time, Tang Monk finally managed to bring Sun Wukong back, and the four of them continued their journey westward with renewed determination. After rescuing a princess in the Kingdom of Baoxiang, they received a warm farewell from the king and ministers. Along the way, they were well-fed and rested, traveling during the day and resting at night. It was springtime, and the scenery was picturesque: a gentle breeze caressed the willow branches, birds sang joyfully, flowers bloomed, and the air was filled with fragrance. In the courtyard, a pair of swallows flitted beneath the crabapple blossoms—a perfect time to enjoy the spring. As they traveled, the hustle and bustle of the world surrounded them, accompanied by melodious music. The disciples were lost in the beauty of it all when suddenly, a large mountain loomed ahead, blocking their path.
Tang Monk, a bit worried, said, "Disciples, be careful. The mountain ahead is steep; there might be tigers and wolves blocking the way." Wukong laughed and replied, "Master, monks shouldn't speak of such mundane fears. Remember the Heart Sutra from the Crow's Nest Monk? 'With no hindrances in the mind, there is no fear. Far from deluded thoughts, this is Nirvana.' As long as your heart is clear and your mind is undisturbed, what is there to fear? With me here, even if the sky falls, there's nothing to worry about, let alone some tigers or wolves!" Hearing this, Tang Monk recalled the scene when they first set out and sighed, "When I first received the imperial decree to leave Chang'an, to worship Buddha and seek scriptures, I've crossed countless nameless rivers and climbed many uncharted mountains. When will I ever get to rest?"
Wukong laughed heartily, "Master, if you want to rest, that's simple! Once we've achieved our goal and everything is behind us, naturally, you'll have time to relax." Tang Monk felt a bit relieved and urged his horse to move on. As they climbed the mountain, they found it incredibly steep: towering ridges, sharp peaks, deep valleys, and sheer cliffs. The mountain was a strange place, with water pythons playing in the streams and fierce tigers lurking. The mountain was so high it blocked the sun, and beasts roamed about. The paths were overgrown, making it difficult even for horses to pass. How could they possibly reach Buddha?
At that moment, Tang Monk reined in his horse and surveyed the mountain, spotting a woodcutter on a grassy slope. The woodcutter was dressed simply: an old felt hat on his head, a coarse cloth coat, and holding a well-sharpened axe, chopping wood with an air of carefree nonchalance, seemingly indifferent to fame or disgrace.
The woodcutter, busy chopping wood on the slope, noticed Tang Monk and his companions approaching from the east. He immediately stopped his work and walked to the edge of a rock, calling out to Tang Monk, "Hey there, elder heading west! Please wait a moment, I have something to tell you: there's a gang of vicious demons in this mountain who prey on travelers like you!" Tang Monk was so frightened that he nearly fell off his horse and quickly called out, "Disciples, did you hear that? The woodcutter says there are vicious demons in this mountain. Who dares to go and find out more?" Wukong said, "Master, don't worry. I'll go and ask him."
Wukong strode forward and called out to the woodcutter, "Hey, brother!" The woodcutter returned the greeting, "Elder, what brings you here?" Wukong replied, "To be honest, we're from the Great Tang in the east, heading west to fetch scriptures. The one on the horse is my master, and he's a bit timid. We heard you mention vicious demons in this mountain, so I'm here to find out more: how old are these demons? Are they formidable or just novices? Please, brother, tell me the truth so I can ask the mountain gods and earth spirits to deal with them." The woodcutter laughed heartily, "So you're a crazy monk!" Wukong said, "I'm not crazy; I'm telling the truth." The woodcutter said, "If you're telling the truth, how dare you say you'll deal with them?" Wukong replied, "You're giving them too much credit. Are you related to them somehow? If not family, then neighbors; if not neighbors, then friends."
The woodcutter couldn't help but laugh at Wukong's words, "You crazy monk, you're unreasonable. I'm kindly warning you to be careful on the road, and you blame me instead. Even if I knew where the demons were, what could you do about it? Where would you take them?" Wukong replied, "If they're heavenly demons, I'll send them to the Jade Emperor; if they're earthly, I'll send them to the earth spirits. Western ones go to Buddha, eastern ones to saints. Northern ones to Zhenwu, southern ones to the Fire Deity. If they're dragon spirits, I'll send them to the sea lord; if they're ghosts, to the King of Hell. Each has their place. I know people everywhere; I'll send them off overnight with a dispatch." The woodcutter coldly chuckled, "You crazy monk, you must have learned some exorcism tricks on your travels, but you've never seen demons as fierce as these." Wukong asked, "How fierce are they?" The woodcutter replied, "This mountain stretches six hundred miles, called Flat-Top Mountain. There's a Lotus Cave inside, home to two demons who specialize in capturing and eating monks. If they know you're from the Tang Dynasty, they certainly won't let you go!"
Upon hearing this, Wukong calmly replied, "We are indeed from the Tang Dynasty." The woodcutter continued, "They are just waiting to eat you." Wukong laughed, "Well, that's actually a good thing! But I wonder how they plan to eat us?" The woodcutter asked, "How would you like to be eaten?" Wukong said, "If they start with the head, that's fine; if they start with the feet, that's troublesome." The woodcutter was curious, "What's the difference between starting with the head and the feet?" Wukong explained, "You probably haven't experienced it. If they start with the head, one bite and I'm dead, so no matter how they cook me, I won't feel a thing. But if they start with the feet, I'll still be alive while they chew on my legs, and that'll be painful, won't it?" The woodcutter said, "Monk, they won't bother with that. They'll just catch you, throw you in a cage, and steam you whole." Wukong laughed, "That's even better! It might be a bit painful, but at least it's quick."
The woodcutter added, "Monk, don't joke around. Those demons have five magical treasures and great powers. Protecting Tang Monk might require some clever thinking." Wukong asked, "How much thinking?" The woodcutter replied, "Maybe three or four thoughts." Wukong said, "That's nothing. We have seven or eight hundred thoughts a year, what's three or four? They'll pass in no time." Wukong wasn't afraid at all, focusing only on protecting Tang Monk. He left the woodcutter and returned to the mountain slope, saying to Tang Monk, "Master, it's nothing serious. There's just a demon or two, and the locals are timid, so they worry too much. With me here, what is there to fear? Let's go!" Tang Monk, reassured, continued on their journey. As they walked, they noticed the woodcutter was gone. Tang Monk asked, "Where did that woodcutter go?" Bajie said, "We must have encountered a daytime ghost." Wukong said, "He might have gone into the woods to chop more wood. I'll take a look."
Wukong used his fiery eyes to scan the surroundings but couldn't see the woodcutter anywhere. Suddenly, he looked up at the clouds and saw it was the Duty God of the Day. He flew up and scolded, "Why didn't you come directly to report, and instead turned into that to scare me?" The Duty God quickly bowed, "Great Sage, forgive me for the late report. The demons are indeed formidable, and you must be careful to protect your master. If you're careless, the journey to the West will be difficult." Wukong listened, dismissed the Duty God, and remembered his words. He returned to the mountain, where he saw Tang Monk, Bajie, and Sha Monk walking ahead. He thought, "If I tell Master what the Duty God said, he'll be scared to tears. But if I don't say anything and we get caught by demons, it'll be troublesome for me. I'll let Bajie take the lead and see if he can handle the demons. If he can, it'll be his merit; if not, and he gets captured, I'll rescue him and show my skills." With this plan in mind, Wukong worried that Bajie might be lazy and unwilling to take the lead, and that Master might be protective. So he came up with an idea. He rubbed his eyes to squeeze out a few tears and approached Master.
Seeing Wukong's expression, Bajie quickly shouted, "Sha Brother, put down the load and let's split the luggage!" Sha Monk looked puzzled, "Second Brother, split what?" Bajie said, "Let's split it! You go back to the Flowing Sands River and continue being a demon, I'll return to Gao Village to find my wife. Sell the white horse, buy a coffin for Master, and let's part ways. Why go to the West?" Tang Monk, overhearing this, couldn't help but say, "You fool! We're on the road, why are you talking nonsense again?" Bajie replied, "You're the one talking nonsense! Can't you see Sun Wukong is crying over there? He's a fearless hero, and now he's wearing a worried face with tears. It must be that the mountain ahead is too dangerous, and the demons too fierce. How can weaklings like us make it through?"
Tang Monk said, "Stop talking nonsense. Let me ask him what's going on." He then asked Wukong, "Wukong, if there's something to say, just say it. Why are you upset? Is this crying face meant to scare me?" Wukong replied, "Master, that informer was the Duty God of the Day. He said the demons are fierce, and the path here is difficult, with steep mountains. Perhaps we should come back another day." Hearing this, Tang Monk was frightened and clutched Wukong's clothes, saying, "Disciple, we've already traveled halfway. How can we just turn back?" Wukong said, "It's not that I'm not trying, but I'm afraid there are many demons, and we're too few. Even if we were made of iron, we couldn't drive many nails." Tang Monk said, "Disciple, you're right, one person can't do it. The military books say the few cannot defeat the many. But I have Bajie and Sha Monk, your junior brothers. Listen to your command, work together to clear the mountain path, and lead me over the mountain, and we'll all achieve enlightenment."
Wukong's act finally led Tang Monk to speak his mind. Wiping away his tears, Wukong said, "Master, to cross this mountain, Bajie must agree to do two things for me; only then do we have some hope. If he doesn't listen and can't help at all, then we can forget about crossing." Bajie said, "If Brother isn't going, then let's just part ways and don't involve me." Tang Monk said, "Disciple, first ask your brother what he wants you to do." So Bajie went to ask Wukong, "Brother, what do you want me to do?" Wukong said, "The first is to look after Master, and the second is to scout the mountain." Bajie said, "Looking after Master means sitting, and scouting means walking. Do you want me to sit and walk at the same time? I can't manage both!" Wukong said, "I'm not asking you to do both, just pick one."
Bajie laughed, "That's a good idea. But how should I look after Master, and how should I scout the mountain? Explain it to me so I can choose the right one to do." Wukong said, "Looking after Master: when he needs to use the toilet, you assist him; when he wants to walk, you support him; when he needs a vegetarian meal, you go and beg for it. If he gets hungry, you get beaten; if he looks pale, you get beaten; if he loses weight, you also get beaten." Bajie was alarmed and said, "That's difficult! Assisting and supporting him is fine, even carrying him is okay. But if I have to go begging, people on the road to the West won't know I'm a monk on a pilgrimage. They'll think I'm a little pig running from the mountains, and a group of them might catch me with pitchforks and brooms, take me back, slaughter me, and pickle me for the New Year. Wouldn't that be the end of me?" Wukong said, "Then go scout the mountain." Bajie asked, "How should I scout the mountain?" Wukong said, "Go into the mountain, find out how many demons there are, what kind of mountain it is, and what kind of cave, so we can be prepared." Bajie said, "That's simple. I'll go scout the mountain." With that, he lifted his robe, picked up his rake, and marched into the deep mountain with great enthusiasm.
Wukong watched from the side, unable to suppress a chuckle. Tang Monk noticed and scolded, "You mischievous monkey! Instead of caring for your brothers, you're always thinking of teasing them. You send Bajie to scout the mountain, and now you laugh at him!" Wukong explained, "I'm not laughing at him; it's a laugh with meaning. You see, Bajie won't really scout the mountain or dare to face the demons. He'll probably find a place to hide for a while and come back with a lie to fool us." Tang Monk curiously asked, "How do you know?" Wukong said, "I just guess that's what he'll do. If you don't believe me, I'll follow him and take a look, help him subdue demons, and see if he's sincere about the pilgrimage." Tang Monk instructed, "Alright, alright, but don't tease him."
Wukong agreed and immediately followed up the slope, transforming into a small insect. He had thin wings fluttering in the wind, a body as tiny as a needle, moving nimbly through grass and flowers, faster than a shooting star. His eyes were bright, his voice faint, the smallest among insects, hidden so well that no one could find him. Wukong flew to Bajie's side and hid in the bristles behind his ear. Bajie walked on, unaware of the little insect on him. After walking seven or eight miles, he put down his rake, turned around, and gestured back towards Tang Monk, cursing, "You weak old monk, prankster Bimawen, and feeble Sha Monk! They're all leisurely there, while I, old pig, am sent to scout the mountain! We're all on this pilgrimage, so why should I be the one to scout the mountain? Haha! Knowing there are demons, they should avoid them, but before we're halfway there, they send me to find demons. What bad luck! I'll find a place to nap and make up some story when I get back to fool them, say I scouted the mountain, and that'll be that."
Bajie, feeling lucky, picked up his rake and continued walking. When he reached a mountain hollow, he saw a patch of red grass and decided to lie down there. He used his rake as a mat, stretched out comfortably, and said, "How delightful! Even that Bimawen doesn't have it as good as I do!" Wukong, hidden behind Bajie's ear, heard everything clearly and couldn't resist playing another trick on him. He transformed into a woodpecker, with a sharp iron beak, bright green feathers, and steel-like claws, known for pecking at decaying trees with a crisp sound. The woodpecker wasn't too big or too small, weighing only two or three ounces, with a copper-red beak and iron-black feet. It flew down and pecked Bajie's lip.
Startled awake, Bajie quickly got up, shouting, "A demon! A demon! It poked me! My lip hurts!" He touched his lip and found it bleeding, puzzled, "I don't have any happy occasion, so why is my lip red?" Looking at the blood on his hand and glancing around, he saw nothing unusual. He thought, "I didn't see any demon, so what poked me?" Looking up, he saw a woodpecker flying in the air. Bajie cursed through gritted teeth, "This creature! It's bad enough that Bimawen bullies me, but now you too! I get it, it must not see me as a person, just mistook my lip for a piece of dead wood, thinking there were bugs inside to eat, and pecked me. Fine, I'll just cover my mouth and sleep." He lay down again, but Wukong flew back and pecked him behind the ear. Bajie jumped up again, "This creature is really annoying! It must be its nest, and it's afraid I'm taking its spot, so it's bothering me. Forget it, I won't sleep here!" He picked up his rake and left the red grass patch, continuing to find his way. Wukong laughed to himself, thinking, "This fool, with his big eyes, can't even recognize his own kind!" Wukong turned back into a small insect, clinging to Bajie's ear, and followed him.
Bajie entered deeper into the mountain, walking another four or five miles, where he saw three square stones in a hollow. He put down his rake and bowed to the stones. Wukong, observing secretly, chuckled, thinking, "This fool is hilarious! Stones can't speak or return a bow, so what's the point of bowing to them?" It turned out Bajie was using the stones as stand-ins for Tang Monk, Sha Monk, and Wukong, rehearsing what he would say. He pondered, "When I return and see Master, if he asks if there are demons, I'll say there are demons. If he asks what kind of mountain it is, I can't say it's made of mud, earth, tin, copper, steamed dough, paper, or painted; they'd call me foolish. Saying those would make me seem even more stupid, so I'll say it's a stone mountain. If he asks what kind of cave, I'll say it's a stone cave."
Bajie continued thinking, "If he asks what kind of door, I'll say it's a nailed iron-leaf door. If he asks how deep it is, I'll say it has three layers inside. If he asks further, about how many nails on the door, I'll say I was too busy to count." Having crafted his lies, he dragged his rake back, unaware that Wukong had overheard everything. Seeing Bajie returning, Wukong quickly flew back first, reverted to his original form, and met with Master. Tang Monk saw Wukong and asked, "Wukong, you're back. Why hasn't Bajie returned yet?" Wukong laughed and said, "He's busy making up lies; he'll be here soon." Tang Monk said, "With his ears covering his eyes, that silly one, what kind of lies can he make up? Did you concoct some ghost story to blame him again?"
Wukong said, "Master, you always protect him, but I have proof this time." He then recounted how Bajie slept in the grass, got pecked awake by the woodpecker, bowed to the stones, and made up stories about the stone mountain, stone cave, iron-leaf door, and the demons. After a while, Bajie indeed returned, muttering to himself the lies he'd concocted to avoid forgetting them. Wukong suddenly shouted, "Fool! What are you muttering about?" Bajie looked up and around, saying, "I've reached the place!" He hurried forward and knelt before Tang Monk, who helped him up, saying, "Disciple, you've worked hard." Bajie replied, "Indeed, climbing mountains and walking is exhausting." Tang Monk asked, "Were there any demons?" Bajie answered, "Yes, demons! A whole bunch of them!"
Tang Monk asked, "How did they let you come back?" Bajie replied, "They called me 'Ancestor Pig' and 'Grandpa Pig,' prepared a vegetarian feast for me, and even said they'd set up flags and drums to escort us over the mountain." Wukong laughed, "Were you sleep-talking in the grass?" Hearing this, Bajie was so frightened he seemed to shrink three inches, thinking, "Oh no! How did he know I was sleeping?"
Wukong stepped forward, grabbing him, and said, "Come here, let me ask you something." Bajie, trembling with fear, said, "Ask away, just don't grab me." Wukong asked, "What kind of mountain is it?" Bajie answered, "A stone mountain." "What kind of cave?" "A stone cave." "What kind of door?" "A nailed iron-leaf door." "How far inside?" "There are three layers inside." Wukong said, "You don't need to continue; I remember the rest. In case Master doesn't believe you, I'll finish it for you."
Bajie, feeling indignant, said, "You've never been there, how do you know, and how can you finish it for me?" Wukong laughed, "When asked how many nails on the door, you were going to say you were too busy to count, right?" Bajie quickly knelt down. Wukong continued, "You bowed to the stones, thinking they were us three, and rehearsed your questions and answers, right? You even said you'd fool me with your made-up story, right?" Bajie hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "Brother, when I went to scout the mountain, you didn't follow me to listen, did you?" Wukong scolded, "You fool! Such an important task, and you go to sleep! If it weren't for the woodpecker waking you, you'd still be sleeping. After waking, you made up such a big lie, aren't you afraid of causing trouble? Stick out your hand, I'll give you five strokes to teach you a lesson!"
Terrified, Bajie quickly said, "That stick is heavy; a scratch breaks the skin, a swing injures the tendons, five strokes and I'm done for!" Wukong said, "If you're afraid of being hit, why did you dare to lie?" Bajie pleaded, "Brother, just this once, I won't dare again." Wukong said, "Then three strokes." Bajie begged, "Grandfather, I can't even take half a stroke!" With no other option, Bajie held onto Tang Monk, pleading, "Master, please speak on my behalf." Tang Monk said, "Wukong says you made up lies, I didn't believe it, but now it seems true, and you do deserve punishment. However, we need manpower to cross the mountain, Wukong, spare him for now, and punish him after we cross." Wukong said, "The ancients said, obeying one's parents is great filial piety. Since Master says not to hit you, I'll spare you. But if you go scouting again and lie, I won't forgive you!" Bajie had no choice but to get up and set off to scout the mountain again.
This time, feeling guilty, Bajie suspected Wukong had transformed into something to follow him with every step. After walking seven or eight miles, he saw a tiger running across the hillside, but he wasn't scared at all. Holding up his rake, he shouted, "Brother, stop following to catch me lying; this time I'm not lying." Walking further, a strong mountain wind blew a dead tree down in front of him. He slapped his leg and chest, exclaiming, "Brother! What's going on! I said I wouldn't lie, and you've turned into a tree to hit me!" Moving forward, he saw a white-necked crow cawing overhead, and he said, "Brother, how shameless! I said I wouldn't lie, and you've turned into a crow to listen to me?" In reality, Wukong wasn't following him this time; Bajie was just panicking and imagining things.
Meanwhile, there was a mountain called Flat Top Mountain, with a Lotus Cave where two demons lived, one named King Gold Horn and the other King Silver Horn. That day, King Gold Horn sat and asked King Silver Horn, "Brother, how long has it been since we patrolled the mountain?" Silver Horn replied, "About half a month, I think." Gold Horn said, "Brother, let's go patrol the mountain today." Silver Horn curiously asked, "Why the sudden urge to patrol today?" Gold Horn explained, "Haven't you heard? Recently, it's said that from the Tang Dynasty in the East, there's a monk named Tang Seng going to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha, accompanied by three disciples: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, along with a horse. Let's see if we can capture them."
Silver Horn was somewhat dismissive, saying, "If we want to eat people, it's not like we can't find a few. Let that monk go on his way." But Gold Horn replied, "You don't know. I once heard in the heavenly realm that Tang Monk is the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada Elder, a virtuous person who has cultivated for ten lifetimes. His body contains a pure yang energy. Whoever eats his flesh can extend their life." Upon hearing this, Silver Horn's eyes lit up, "If that's true, then why bother cultivating or refining elixirs? We should just eat him! I'll go capture him right now." Gold Horn quickly stopped him, saying, "Brother, don't rush. If you go out and indiscriminately capture any monk you see, what if you catch the wrong one? I remember what Tang Monk looks like; I once drew portraits of him and his disciples. Take them to compare." He then handed the portraits and names to Silver Horn, who gathered thirty little demons to patrol the mountain.
Meanwhile, Bajie, having bad luck, ran into this group of demons, blocking his path. "Who are you?" Bajie looked up and saw a group of demons, panicking inside, "If I say I'm a monk on a pilgrimage, they'll definitely capture me. Better say I'm just passing through." A little demon went back to report, "King, it's just a passerby." Among the thirty little demons, some recognized him, some didn't. A nearby demon pointed and said, "King, this monk looks like the Zhu Bajie in the picture." They hung up the portrait, and Bajie, seeing it, lamented silently, "No wonder I've been feeling uneasy lately; they must have spread my portrait around!" The little demon pointed a spear at him, while Silver Horn pointed to the portrait, saying, "This one riding the white horse is Tang Monk, and the one with the hairy face is Sun Wukong." Bajie, hearing this, prayed silently, "Heavens, protect me!"
The demon continued, "The tall black one is Sha Monk, and the one with the long snout and big ears is Zhu Bajie." Hearing this, Bajie quickly covered his mouth, thinking, "This is bad!" The demon shouted, "Monk, show your mouth!" Bajie hastily said, "It's a congenital defect; I can't show it." A little demon hooked him, and Bajie, having no choice, showed his mouth, "Isn't this petty? If you want to see, just look, why hook?" The demon confirmed it was Bajie and drew a treasured sword to strike. Bajie raised his rake to defend, "My dear, don't act rashly! Taste my rake!" The demon laughed, "This monk must have become a monk halfway through his life." Bajie said, "Good son, you're smart! How did you know I became a monk halfway?" The demon said, "You can wield that rake, so you must have worked in someone's garden and stolen it."
Bajie replied, "My dear, you don't recognize this rake. It is: forged with giant teeth like a dragon's claw, gilded and decorated like a tiger's form. In battle, it sprinkles cold wind, and when wielded, it ignites flames. It clears obstacles for Tang Monk, capturing demons on the way to the Western Heaven. When swung, it obscures sun and moon, and when used, it darkens stars. It can topple Mount Tai, scaring tigers, and overturn the sea, alarming old dragons. Even if you have skills, one strike of this rake will leave nine bloody holes!" The demon, unwilling to be outdone, drew a seven-star sword and engaged Bajie in combat. They fought in the mountains for twenty rounds without a victor. Bajie, growing fierce, fought desperately. The demon, seeing Bajie tugging his ears, spewing sticky saliva, swinging his rake, and shouting, grew somewhat fearful and called for the little demons to join in. Bajie wasn't afraid to fight one-on-one, but with the little demons swarming him, he became flustered, couldn't hold his ground, and turned to flee.
The path was uneven, and Bajie, not watching his step, tripped over some vines and stumbled. Just as he got up to continue running, another little demon tripped him, causing him to fall face-first into the mud. The group of demons caught him, pulling his ears and legs, carrying him into the cave. Alas, truly: "A body full of magic hard to dispel, myriad disasters not easily removed." What will become of Zhu Bajie's fate? Stay tuned for the next installment.
