Sun Wukong came up with a daring plan to disguise himself as the Bull Demon King. He thought, "I need to trick these little demons into thinking I am their boss, the Bull Demon King." So, he transformed his appearance and even turned a few of his hairs into small demons, posing as if they were out hunting, waiting for the six robust generals to fall for the trap.
Upon seeing the "Bull Demon King," the six generals were terrified, kowtowing so fervently they almost cracked their skulls open. They hurriedly invited the "Bull Demon King" to feast on Tang Sanzang's flesh to prolong their lives. Sun Wukong was inwardly delighted, but he maintained a serious demeanor and said, "My children, get up. Let's go home and change into clean clothes before we go." The little demons, nearly in tears, pleaded, "Great King, it's a long journey. Let's just go directly; no need to go back home."
Soon, they arrived at the demon's lair. Inside, a little demon reported, "The great Bull Demon King has arrived!" The demon king, overjoyed, quickly ordered all the demons to line up for a grand welcome. Sun Wukong strode into the cave with an air of arrogance and sat down in the main seat. Red Boy knelt on the ground and kowtowed. Sun Wukong really pulled off the Bull Demon King's demeanor, waving his hand and saying, "Dispense with the formalities."
Then, the demon king reported to the "Bull Demon King" about capturing Tang Sanzang and expressed his desire to share this exquisite meal. Sun Wukong feigned surprise, "Oh, you've captured Tang Sanzang? That's my disciple Sun Wukong's master! Do you know how powerful Sun Wukong is? He once made trouble in Heaven, and even the celestial soldiers and generals couldn't handle him. If you dare to eat his master, you'll definitely have trouble with that monkey!"
Hearing this, the demon king felt a bit uneasy but still bravely said, "It was easy to capture them; if you don't believe me, just ask around." Sun Wukong chuckled, "You little guy, you only know how to use your Samadhi Fire. Do you know my disciple can transform into seventy-two different forms? What if he turns into a tiny bug and sneaks in here? What would you do then?"
The demon king tried to argue, but Sun Wukong interrupted, "Forget it, I’m actually fasting today and won’t eat meat. Invite me again tomorrow." Although the demon king was puzzled, he didn't ask further and simply agreed.
At that moment, the demon king sensed something was amiss, thinking, "My father isn't usually a vegetarian; why has he suddenly started fasting? There must be something fishy going on here!" So, he stealthily questioned the little demons and discovered that this "Bull Demon King" was an impostor! Alarmed, the demon king ordered his minions to prepare weapons and get ready to capture the fake Bull Demon King.
Sun Wukong, holding his iron staff, came laughing heartily from across the stream. Sha Wujing, hearing him, hurried out to greet him: "Brother, you took so long to return, why are you laughing so joyfully? Did you manage to rescue Master?" Sun Wukong replied, "Brother, although I didn't rescue Master, I did gain the upper hand." Sha Wujing asked, "What upper hand?" Sun Wukong proudly explained, "It turns out Zhu Bajie was tricked by the monster who disguised himself as Guanyin and took him back. I then disguised myself as the Bull Demon King and blended in. They called me 'Father King,' and I played along—it was quite satisfying! Isn't that gaining the upper hand?" Sha Wujing, worried, said, "Brother, you're enjoying these small advantages, but what if something happens to Master?" Sun Wukong reassured him, "Don't worry, I'm going to ask the Bodhisattva for help right now." Sha Wujing still worried, "What if they harm Master while you're gone? You must go and return quickly." Sun Wukong, full of confidence, replied, "I'll be back soon. Just keep an eye on the luggage and the horses here."
No sooner had Sun Wukong finished speaking than he left Sha Wujing, leapt onto a cloud, and headed straight for the Southern Sea. Before long, he arrived at Mount Putuo, ready to meet the Bodhisattva Guanyin. The heavenly beings greeted him, asking, "Great Sage, where are you headed?" Sun Wukong answered, "I am here to see the Bodhisattva." Soon after being announced, he was allowed to enter. Upon seeing the Bodhisattva, Sun Wukong respectfully performed a grand salutation. The Bodhisattva asked, "Wukong, aren’t you supposed to be escorting the Golden Cicada to the West to seek the scriptures? Why have you come here?" Sun Wukong quickly reported, "Bodhisattva, I am protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey westward. Along the way, we encountered the demon Red Boy, who has captured my master. Zhu Bajie and I tried to rescue him, but the demon unleashed his Samadhi Fire, and we were helpless." The Bodhisattva asked, "If he's so powerful, why didn't you come to me instead of going to ask the Dragon King?" Sun Wukong explained, "I intended to come, but the smoke was so thick I couldn't fly, so I had to send Zhu Bajie to ask for your help." The Bodhisattva then asked, "Has Bajie arrived?" Sun Wukong replied, "He was on his way, but the demon disguised himself as you and tricked him into going back. He's now hanging in a sack." Hearing this, the Bodhisattva angrily slapped her vase, throwing it into the sea, which made Sun Wukong tremble with fear. However, soon a monster emerged from the sea, carrying the vase back; it was a giant turtle. The turtle performed twenty-four bows to the Bodhisattva, and Sun Wukong secretly chuckled, "So it's just a turtle guarding the vase." The Bodhisattva asked him what he was saying down there, and Sun Wukong quickly replied, "Nothing."
Sun Wukong then hurried to fetch the vase as commanded by the Bodhisattva. Oh dear, he couldn't move it at all! It was like a dragonfly trying to shake a pillar, completely immovable. Sun Wukong had no choice but to kneel down and say to the Bodhisattva, "Bodhisattva, I truly cannot lift this vase." The Bodhisattva mocked him slightly, "You monkey, always talking big, yet you can't even lift a vase. How are you supposed to subdue demons and vanquish evils?" Sun Wukong explained, "Bodhisattva, usually I could lift it, maybe today the demon played me, and I'm a bit weaker."
The Bodhisattva explained, "This vase is usually empty, but now that I've thrown it into the sea, it has traveled around the great rivers and seas of the south and north, filled with seawater. Where do you get the strength to lift the weight of an entire sea? That's why you can't move it." Sun Wukong suddenly realized and quickly clasped his hands together, saying, "I was ignorant." The Bodhisattva stepped forward, lightly lifted the vase, and placed it on her palm. The turtle, seeing this, nodded and dived back into the water, disappearing. Sun Wukong muttered, "Turns out it's just a dumb turtle guarding the vase!"
The Bodhisattva sat down and said to Sun Wukong, "This vase contains sweet dew that can extinguish the demon's Samadhi Fire. I intended to bring it to you, but since you can't carry it, I thought of sending the virtuous Dragon Maiden with you. But you, always scheming and deceiving, seeing that my Dragon Maiden is beautiful, I feared you might run off with her and the vase. How would I have time to find you again? You need to leave something as collateral." Sun Wukong, with a troubled face, said, "Bodhisattva, you worry too much. Although I'm a monkey, I wouldn't do such a thing. My clothes were bestowed by you, my tiger-skin skirt isn't worth much, my iron staff is for self-defense, and the only valuable thing is the golden hoop on my head, but it's fixed by your spell and can't be removed. How about you recite a spell to release it, and I'll leave it here as collateral?"
The Bodhisattva smiled and said, "You really are a carefree fellow. I don't want your clothes, iron staff, or golden hoop. Just pluck that life-saving hair from the back of your head and leave it as collateral." Sun Wukong was reluctant, "That hair was also given by you. I'm afraid that plucking one might ruin the whole lot, and then I won't be able to protect myself." The Bodhisattva scolded him, "You monkey, unwilling to pluck even a single hair, how can I trust you to take care of the virtuous one?" Sun Wukong, smiling, said, "Bodhisattva, you really are suspicious. Please, I beg you to help save my master!"
The Bodhisattva finally agreed readily, rose from her lotus throne, and walked on the fragrant cliffs, preparing to subdue the demon and rescue Tang Sanzang. Sun Wukong was very pleased and followed the Bodhisattva out of the Chaoyin Cave. The heavenly deities all stood on Mount Putuo. The Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, you cross the sea first." Sun Wukong modestly replied, "Please, Bodhisattva, you go ahead." The Bodhisattva insisted that he go first: "You go ahead." Sun Wukong repeatedly declined, "In front of the Bodhisattva, I dare not display my cloud somersaults, fearing it might seem disrespectful."
After hearing this, the Bodhisattva had the virtuous Dragon Maiden split a lotus petal from the lotus pond and place it on the water for Sun Wukong to step on, and she would help him cross the sea. Sun Wukong looked at the thin lotus petal, worriedly saying, "Bodhisattva, this lotus petal is so light and thin, how can it bear my weight? What if I step on it and fall into the water, soaking my tiger skin skirt? What will I wear if it gets cold?" The Bodhisattva impatiently said, "Just try getting on it first!" Sun Wukong had no choice but to bravely jump onto it. To his surprise, once he got on, he found the lotus petal to be a third larger than a sea ship, and Sun Wukong happily said, "Bodhisattva, this lotus petal can indeed bear my weight." The Bodhisattva said, "Since it can bear you, why haven't you crossed yet?" Sun Wukong then worried, "Without paddles and sails, how can I cross?" The Bodhisattva simply blew a gentle breath, sending the lotus petal across the Southern Bitter Sea, and Sun Wukong stood firmly on the other shore, laughing, "The Bodhisattva really knows how to wield divine powers, making Old Sun run back and forth without using any effort!"
The white parrot spread its wings, and Sun Wukong and Hui An followed closely behind. Before long, they saw a mountain. Sun Wukong pointed at the mountain and said, "That mountain is our destination. From here to the demon's lair is about four hundred li." Upon hearing this, the Bodhisattva immediately commanded everyone to stop and chanted the "Om" mantra on the mountain top. Suddenly, many gods and spirits emerged from both sides of the mountain; they were the local deities of the mountain, all coming to bow under the Bodhisattva's precious lotus seat.
The Bodhisattva told them, "There's no need to be afraid, I am here today to capture this demon king. Help me clean up this area; within a three hundred li radius, no living beings should be allowed. Send all the small animals and insects to the mountain top." The deities obeyed and quickly reported back that the task was completed. The Bodhisattva, satisfied, said, "Since it's already cleaned up, you all may go back." Then, the Bodhisattva turned the vase upside down, pouring out water with a sound as loud as thunder. It truly was a spectacular sight, as the water flowed over the mountain top, breaking through the rock walls, and the entire mountain top was submerged, looking just like an ocean.
Sun Wukong watched this scene and secretly admired, "The Bodhisattva truly has a compassionate heart! If I had such power, I'd simply tip the vase towards the mountain, not caring about any animals or insects!" At that moment, the Bodhisattva called Sun Wukong over, and he quickly rolled up his sleeves and stretched out his left hand. The Bodhisattva picked up a willow branch, dipped it in sweet dew, and wrote the character "迷" (bewilder) in his palm, then instructed him, "Clench your fist, go challenge that demon, and remember, you can lose but not win. If you lose, come back to me, and I have ways to deal with him."
Sun Wukong, having received his orders, returned to the cave entrance on a cloud, waving his iron staff and shouting loudly, "Demon, open the door!" The little demons inside, hearing that Sun Wukong had returned, were so frightened that they ran inside to report. The demon king ordered, "Close the doors, ignore him!" Sun Wukong shouted outside, "Good son, how can you keep your father out, open the door quickly!" The little demons reported again to the demon king, who still ordered them not to pay attention. After Sun Wukong called a few times and saw that no one was opening the door, he became furious and with one swing of his staff, he made a big hole in the door. The little demons hurriedly ran in to report, "Sun Wukong has broken the door!" Hearing that the front door was broken, the demon king quickly jumped out, brandishing his spear and cursing Sun Wukong, "You monkey, really ignorant of good fortune! I let you take advantage, and you're still not satisfied, coming back to cause trouble!" Sun Wukong replied, "My son, you drove your father out, what should I do?" The demon king, overwhelmed with shame and anger, swung his spear to stab; Sun Wukong raised his iron staff to block, and the two fought several rounds. Sun Wukong intentionally showed weakness and was defeated. The demon king stood in front of the mountain and said, "I'm going to wash Tang Sanzang now!" Sun Wukong pretended to be scared, "Good son, heaven is watching you! Come on over!" The demon, angrier, charged forward and stabbed again with his spear. After a few more rounds, Sun Wukong deliberately retreated. The demon king taunted, "Monkey, you used to be able to fight twenty or thirty rounds, why are you running away now?" Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Noble son, I'm afraid you'll set a fire." The demon said, "I won't set a fire now, come on up." Sun Wukong replied, "Since you're not setting a fire, then step back a bit, a good man doesn't fight in front of his own house." The demon, not realizing this was a trick, really raised his spear and chased after him again. Sun Wukong intentionally delayed time, and the demon king chased even more urgently.
Soon, they saw the Bodhisattva. Sun Wukong pretended to be scared and said, "Demon, I am afraid of you, please spare me. You've chased me all the way here to the Southern Sea where Guanyin Bodhisattva resides, why don't you go back?" The demon king did not believe him and continued to pursue relentlessly. Suddenly, Sun Wukong flashed and hid within the divine light of the Bodhisattva. The demon approached, squinting at the Bodhisattva and asked, "Are you the reinforcements called by Sun Wukong?" The Bodhisattva did not answer. The demon king asked again, "Are you really the reinforcements called by Sun Wukong?" The Bodhisattva remained silent. Annoyed, the demon thrust his spear at the Bodhisattva, who transformed into a beam of golden light and soared into the sky. Sun Wukong then said, "Bodhisattva, you really know how to tease me! The demon asked you several times, and you pretended to be deaf and mute, not responding, and fled at his spear thrust, even leaving the lotus throne behind!" The Bodhisattva simply said, "Be quiet, let's see what he does next." At this moment, Sun Wukong and Moksha were watching from the air. The demon scoffed and said, "You silly monkey, you've mistaken me! You don't know whom you have taken me for. I've defeated you several times in battle, and you even called some pus-filled Bodhisattva who I chased away with a single spear thrust, even losing the precious lotus throne. Wait till I sit on it." The demon then mimicked the Bodhisattva and sat cross-legged in the center of the lotus throne.
Sun Wukong, seeing the demon sitting on the lotus throne, couldn't help but mock, "Good! Good! Good! The lotus throne has been given away!" The Bodhisattva heard this and asked him, "Wukong, what are you talking about?" Sun Wukong laughed and replied, "What am I saying? I'm saying the lotus throne has already been given away!" The demon sat there firmly, but the Bodhisattva said, "I wanted him to sit there." Sun Wukong continued, "He sits quite stably, more suitable than you." The Bodhisattva stopped him from speaking further and gestured for him to watch the display of her powers.
The Bodhisattva pointed her willow branch downward and shouted "Retreat!" Instantly, the light from the lotus throne disappeared, and it turned out the demon king was actually sitting on a sharp knife. The Bodhisattva commanded Moksha to use the demon-subduing mace, striking repeatedly like building a wall. The demon's legs were pierced by the knife tips, blood flowed like rivers, and his flesh turned inside out. The poor fellow, enduring the pain and gritting his teeth, still tried to pull out the knives. Seeing this, Sun Wukong said to the Bodhisattva, "This guy really can endure pain, still trying to pull out the knives." Observing this, the Bodhisattva told Moksha not to harm the demon's life and used her willow branch to chant a spell, turning the knives into hooks that the demon could not pull out.
The demon truly panicked then, painfully pleading with the Bodhisattva, "I was blind and failed to recognize your profound powers. Please show great mercy and spare my life! I will no longer commit evil and wish to convert to Buddhism." Hearing this, the Bodhisattva descended with Sun Wukong and the white parrot in a golden light, coming before the demon. The Bodhisattva asked if he was willing to accept the precepts, and the demon king nodded and tearfully agreed. The Bodhisattva then asked if he was willing to join Buddhism, and the demon king agreed again. Thus, the Bodhisattva took out a golden razor and shaved the demon into a monk's hairstyle, leaving three small braids. Sun Wukong commented from the side, "This demon is really unlucky, looking neither male nor female, I wonder what he resembles!" The Bodhisattva said, "Since you have accepted my precepts, I will not demean you. I will name you Virtuous Wealth Child, how about that?"
The demon nodded in agreement, hoping only to save his life. The Bodhisattva pointed her finger and shouted "Retreat!" Instantly, the knife blades fell off as dust, and Virtuous Wealth Child's body was unharmed. The Bodhisattva then instructed Hui An, "Take this knife back to the heavenly palace to your father king, you don't need to come fetch me, just wait at Mount Putuo." Moksha obeyed and returned the knife to the celestial realm.
However, the wild nature of Virtuous Wealth Child was hard to change. Feeling no more pain in his legs and buttocks, and with three small braids on his head, he picked up a long spear and said to the Bodhisattva, "Where is the real magical power to subdue me! It was all a sham! I don't accept any precepts, take this spear!" He thrust his spear at the Bodhisattva. Sun Wukong was so angry that he wanted to hit him with his iron staff, but the Bodhisattva stopped him, "Don't hit him, I have my own way to punish."
The Bodhisattva took out a golden hoop from her sleeve, saying, "This treasure was bestowed by the Buddha, one of the three golden hoops used to find the scriptures. I was reluctant to give it to anyone else, but seeing this monster's rudeness, I'll give it to him." Saying this, the Bodhisattva threw the golden hoop into the air, which split into five hoops, each fitting around the head and limbs of Virtuous Wealth Child. Then the Bodhisattva told Sun Wukong, "Wukong, step back, I'm going to chant the 'Golden Hoop Spell.'" Sun Wukong panicked, "Bodhisattva, you came here to subdue demons, why are you cursing me again?" The Bodhisattva explained, "This spell is not the 'Tightening Hoop Spell' for you, it's the 'Golden Hoop Spell' for that child." Sun Wukong was relieved and stood aside to listen to the Bodhisattva chant the spell. The Bodhisattva twirled her fingers and silently chanted a few times, and Virtuous Wealth Child immediately felt discomfort, began rubbing his ears, rolling and turning over. This is the power of Buddhism, a single chant causing unbearable pain. As for whether Virtuous Wealth Child truly converted to Buddhism, that will be continued in our next story.
