Once upon a time, the Great Sage Sun Wukong found himself in quite the predicament. He was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, with no plans in sight. Suddenly, he leaped onto his cloud and headed straight for Wudang Mountain in the Southern Zhanbu Continent to seek help from the Demon-Exorcising Celestial. As he flew, he didn’t stop for a moment, and before long, he arrived at the beautiful realm of the Grandmaster. It was a sight to behold! Towering Hibiscus Peaks and majestic Purple Covered Ridge, with the Nine Rivers flowing and the Hundred Yue mountains rolling like waves—truly a paradise on earth!
He landed on a cloud and carefully surveyed the magical land. There were treasure caves and spiritual platforms, the sounds of golden chimes echoing from the thirty-six palaces, and a steady stream of pilgrims visiting. White cranes danced among the clouds, while green phoenixes and red phoenixes chirped joyfully in the sunshine. It was a place that made one reluctant to leave. But Sun Wukong had no time to admire the scenery; he was worried about his master’s safety and hurried toward the Taihe Palace.
When he reached the palace, he suddenly found himself surrounded by five hundred celestial officials. One of them stepped forward and asked, “Who are you?” With his chest puffed out, Sun Wukong declared, “I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, here to see the Master!” The officials immediately rushed off to report, and soon the Grandmaster came down from the hall to greet him.
“I need your help with something,” Sun Wukong said solemnly. The Grandmaster, intrigued, asked, “What is it?” Wukong then recounted the whole story of how his master, Tang Seng, went to the West to obtain scriptures, especially detailing how the demons had captured him. Everyone listened with wide eyes. He also mentioned the embarrassing situation of being trapped under the golden chime—truly a tragedy within a tragedy!
“I’m at my wit's end, so I came here to seek your assistance!” Sun Wukong pleaded earnestly. The Grandmaster pondered for a moment, recalling his glorious days of subduing the North, and decided to help this brave monkey. “Though I live in comfort here, I cannot ignore the rampant demons. Today, I will send the Tortoise and Snake Generals along with the Five Dragon Gods to assist you. We will surely catch that demon and rescue your master!”
Hearing this, Sun Wukong’s heart soared with joy, and he hurriedly expressed his gratitude. So, with the Tortoise, Snake, and Dragon deities, Sun Wukong set off on his journey west once more. Before long, they arrived at the Little Thunder Sound Temple, ready to teach that demon a lesson!
Meanwhile, the Yellow Brow King was gathering his demon minions under his treasure pavilion, pondering, “Where has that Sun Wukong been these days? Is he off borrowing troops?” Just then, a little demon rushed in to report, “My King, the Monkey King is outside with some dragons and snakes challenging us!” This startled the Yellow Brow King: “How did that monkey get dragons and snakes? Where did they come from?”
With a loud command, the Yellow Brow King donned his armor and stepped out of the mountain gate, shouting, “You dragon gods, dare to cause trouble in my paradise?” The five dragons and the two generals stood tall and fierce, responding, “You vile creature! We are the Five Dragon Gods and the Tortoise and Snake Generals from the Taihe Palace of Wudang Mountain. Today, we are here at the invitation of the Great Sage to catch you, demon! Release Tang Seng and the celestial stars, or you’ll face a gruesome end! Otherwise, we’ll tear your minions apart and burn your mountain to ashes!”
Furious, the Yellow Brow King shouted, “What can that monkey do to be so arrogant? Don’t run! Take this!” The five dragons summoned storms, and the two generals kicked up dust, brandishing their weapons, ready for battle. Sun Wukong was equally unyielding, raising his iron staff to join the fray. The fight was truly spectacular: demons unleashed their might while Sun Wukong called for reinforcements. Swords clashed, sparks flew, and it was a lively commotion.
The sounds of battle were as loud as firecrackers, with the clanging of swords ringing out, water and fire clashing against the demons, weapons swirling around, creating an uproar. Just then, the demon pulled out a bag from his bosom. Sun Wukong’s heart tightened at the sight and he shouted, “Everyone, be careful!” But the dragon gods, turtles, and snakes didn’t understand, and they all stopped their weapons, moving closer.
Seizing the opportunity, the Yellow Brow King roared and swung the bag. Sun Wukong didn’t have time to think; he soared into the sky, thinking, “What now?” But alas, the dragon gods and the tortoise and snake were swiftly captured and stuffed into the bag by the demon. Proudly, the demon returned to the temple, bound them up, and hid them in the cellar—truly insidious!
At this moment, the Great Sage Sun Wukong was feeling quite downcast, leaning against the mountaintop and muttering to himself in frustration, “This monster is really formidable!” As he spoke, his eyelids began to droop, and he was close to falling asleep. Suddenly, a voice called out beside him, “Great Sage, don’t sleep! Hurry and seek help! Your master’s life is in imminent danger!” Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately opened his eyes; it was the Celestial Officer who had arrived.
“You mischievous spirit! A few days ago, you were indulging yourself, and now you come to disturb me?” Sun Wukong complained. The Celestial Officer hurriedly bowed, saying, “Great Sage, you are a joyful deity in the mortal realm; why should you worry? We have long been under the Bodhisattva's orders to secretly protect Tang Seng, which is why we haven’t been able to see you often. How can you blame me?”
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong became even more anxious: “Then how effective has your protection been? Where are my master and his disciples suffering right now?” The Celestial Officer quickly replied, “Your master and his disciples are hanging under the eaves of the treasure hall, while the stars and others are trapped in the cellar suffering. Recently, we heard that the monsters captured the dragons, turtles, and snakes and sent them to the cellar. We only just learned you were looking for troops, so I came to find you—quickly seek help!”
Listening to this, Sun Wukong felt tears welling up: “I truly apologize to the Heavenly Palace; I am so ashamed! The troops I summoned have also been captured; what should I do?” The Celestial Officer comforted him, “Great Sage, don’t worry. I have thought of a solution. Go to Mount Xuyi in the Southern Zhanbu Continent to find Bodhisattva Wang. He has a young prince named Zhang and four divine generals who have previously subdued the Water Mother. If you ask him, he will surely help you catch the demon and rescue your master!”
Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong’s heart brightened: “Alright, you go protect my master and ensure he doesn’t get hurt. I’ll go seek assistance right away!”
Sun Wukong immediately mounted his cloud and flew toward Mount Xuyi. It wasn’t long before he arrived, and wow, what a wonderful place! To the south was Jiangjin, to the north was the Huai River, to the east was the sea, and to the west was Fengfu Mountain. At the mountain’s peak stood towering pavilions, and in the valleys, springs babbled. Oddly shaped rocks loomed, pines stood tall, fruits were abundant, and flowers bloomed in competition.
People came and went, bustling with activity, while boats returned like flocks of geese. There were also the Ruiyan Temple, East Yue Palace, Wuxian Shrine, and Turtle Mountain Temple, with the sound of bells ringing and incense wafting; as well as Glass Spring, Wuta Valley, Eight Immortals Platform, and Apricot Blossom Garden, where the scenery was so beautiful it was intoxicating.
The white clouds drifted across the sky, and lazy birds chirped in the trees. It was truly a fairyland reminiscent of Penglai!
Sun Wukong was filled with excitement as he flew over the Huai River and arrived at the entrance of the Great Sage Zen Temple in Yanzhou City. Wow, the halls were grand, the corridors colorful, and a pagoda soared into the clouds—it was a sight that dazzled the eyes! As the wind blew, the sound of bells chimed, and the sunlight illuminated the ice-like peaks facing the Brahma Palace. Birds occasionally whispered in the air, gazing at the endless Huai River; it was truly a celestial paradise!
As Sun Wukong walked and observed, he finally reached the second gate. At this moment, the National Master Bodhisattva Wang had already sensed his arrival and came out to greet him with Prince Zhang. After exchanging pleasantries, Sun Wukong began to share his troubles: “I am protecting Tang Seng on his journey to the West, but along the way, I encountered a Yellow Brow Monster who pretended to be the Buddha and tricked my master into bowing down, resulting in his capture. He even trapped me under a golden chime, but fortunately, the stars fell from the sky to save me. I shattered the golden chime and fought him, but ended up trapping the celestial deities, Jiedi, Jialan, and my master and disciples into a cloth bag. To rescue them, I went to Wudang Mountain to ask for help from the Xuantian Emperor, who sent the five dragons, turtle, and snake to assist, but they were also captured by that monster. With no one to rely on, I came to beseech you, Bodhisattva, hoping you can display your power and save my master!”
Upon hearing this, National Master Bodhisattva Wang nodded in agreement: “Your journey is indeed a contribution to the prosperity of Buddhism, and you should go in person. However, it is early summer now, and the Huai River is rising. The newly captured Water Monkey Great Sage is here, so he might take the opportunity to cause trouble when you arrive. Here’s what we’ll do: I will have my young disciple lead the four generals to assist you in subduing the demons!”
Sun Wukong was extremely grateful and, along with the four generals and Prince Zhang, rode the clouds back to the Little Thunder Sound Temple. Upon arrival, Prince Zhang, wielding his Chuanbai spear, and the four generals, each holding their Kunlun swords, marched forward aggressively, ready for battle. The little demons, seeing this, hurried to report to the demon king, who emerged with his minions, asking, “Monkey! Who have you brought this time?”
Prince Zhang immediately commanded the four generals to step forward and shouted fiercely, “You vile demon! You don’t even recognize us!” The demon king sneered, “You little generals dare to come here and lend your strength?”
Prince Zhang refused to back down: “You should know my martial skills; I didn’t come here casually! My ancestral home is in the Western Land of the Flowing Sand Kingdom, and my father is the king of the Sand Kingdom. I faced many hardships as a child and encountered the evil star Huagai, so I followed my master to practice the Longevity Technique. After taking half a pill of elixir, all my ailments vanished, and I resolved not to be a king. After mastering my skills, I will not age and will retain my youthful appearance! I have also participated in the Dragon Flower Assembly, soared to the Buddha Hall, captured mist and wind, subdued water monsters, and caught dragons and tigers. Now I have made a name for myself in Jingle Yanzhou; everyone knows me as Little Zhang!”
Upon hearing this, the demon king smirked slightly: “Little Zhang, you abandoned your kingdom to follow National Master Wang Bodhisattva to practice what kind of immortality technique? Just to capture the Huai River water monster, how could you believe the lies of Sun Wukong and run thousands of miles here to seek death? Let’s see if you can truly achieve immortality!”
Upon hearing the demon king's words, Prince Zhang was furious and tightened his grip on his spear, preparing for battle. The four generals also stepped forward bravely, while Sun Wukong raised his iron staff, ready for a fierce fight. However, the demon king was unafraid, brandishing his short, soft wolf fang club, blocking left and right as he charged forward. It was quite a spectacle: the young prince wielded his Chuanbai spear, and the four Kunlun swords were all ready for action, their momentum like a rainbow. Sun Wukong also swung his golden staff, and everyone surrounded the demon king for a fierce attack.
However, the demon king was no ordinary opponent; he was immensely powerful and showed no fear. The wolf fang club was a treasure among Buddhas, and neither swords nor spears were effective against him. The winds howled, and malevolence filled the air. The battle raged on fiercely, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Suddenly, the demon king pulled out a bag, and Sun Wukong shouted urgently, “Everyone, be careful!” But Prince Zhang and the others didn’t understand what he meant. As a result, the demon king made a swift motion, capturing the four generals and Prince Zhang in the bag, while only Sun Wukong managed to escape in time.
The demon king, feeling triumphant, returned to the temple, bound them up, and locked them tightly in the cellar. Sun Wukong leaped into the air and saw the demon king closing the door, feeling a wave of despair wash over him. He cried out sorrowfully, “Master! Ever since I followed the teachings into the Zen forest, I have truly been grateful for the Bodhisattva’s assistance. For your sake in obtaining scriptures in the West, I have faced countless hardships along the way, but I never expected to encounter such a monster. I am truly powerless despite all my efforts!”
Just as he was feeling despondent, he suddenly noticed a colorful cloud drifting in from the southwest, accompanied by a torrential downpour. Someone called out, “Wukong, do you recognize me?” Sun Wukong hurried over and saw a person with a big face, wide ears, and a plump figure, smiling broadly. It was none other than the Maitreya Buddha!
Sun Wukong quickly bowed, saying, “Buddha, where are you going? I beg your pardon; I have been disrespectful, truly a thousand sins! A thousand sins!” Maitreya laughed and said, “I came here for that little Thunder Sound monster.” Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong felt a surge of joy: “Thank you for your grace, my lord! May I ask where that monster is from? What treasure is his bag?”
Maitreya replied, “He is the Huangmei Tong'er who serves as my attendant. On the third day of the third month, I went to attend the Yuanshi Assembly and left him in the palace to guard it. As a result, he stole several of my treasures and pretended to be a Buddha. That bag is my acquired bag, commonly known as a human seed bag, and that wolf fang club is actually a hammer for striking the chimes.”
Sun Wukong, furious, shouted, “What a laughing monk! You let this brat pretend to be the Buddha, causing me endless suffering. Is there no family law to discipline him?” Maitreya smiled and replied, “On one hand, it’s my lack of caution; on the other hand, your master and disciples’ magical barriers haven’t been lifted, which is why you’re suffering. I came this time to help you reclaim what he took.”
Sun Wukong was somewhat worried: “This monster is immensely powerful, and you have no weapons. How will you capture him?” Maitreya chuckled, “I’ve set up a thatched hut at the foot of the hill, where I’ve planted a patch of melons and fruits. You go and fight him; during the battle, you are allowed to lose, but not to win. Lure him into my melon patch; my melons are all unripe, while you can transform into a big ripe melon. He will definitely want to eat you, and at that moment, I can consume both you and him, and retrieve his bag.”
Sun Wukong thought this idea was quite good but still had doubts: “Although this plan is clever, how will he agree to follow me?” Maitreya laughed, “I am the respected ruler of the world with keen insight; how could I not recognize you? No matter what you transform into, I will know. However, I worry he won’t come willingly, so I’ll teach you a spell.” Sun Wukong curiously asked, “If he uses the bag to capture me, how will I get him to follow me?”
Maitreya instructed Sun Wukong to stretch out his hand, then dipped his index finger in divine water and wrote a character for “forbidden” on his palm. He taught him to clench his fist and release it when he encounters the demon, and then the demon would follow him.
Now, Sun Wukong was truly pumped up! He clenched his fist, excitedly wielding his iron rod, and rushed out of the mountain gate, shouting loudly, “Demon, your Grandfather Sun is back! Come out, and let’s see who’s stronger!” The little demon, hearing this, hurriedly ran to report to the demon king: “My lord, he’s come alone to challenge us!”
The demon king laughed heartily: “Just him? This monkey is truly at the end of his rope, coming to his demise!” So, the demon king picked up his light, soft wolf fang club and stepped out, shouting, “Sun Wukong, today you will suffer misfortune!” Sun Wukong refused to back down, cursing, “You vile monster! How could I possibly lose to you?” The demon king sneered, “You’ve come alone; do you really think you can defeat me?”
Sun Wukong didn’t care: “Give it a try! I’m not that easy to deal with!” The demon king said, “Alright, I won’t use any treasures; let’s see who’s stronger in a fair fight.” With that, he raised his wolf fang club and charged at Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong met him head-on, releasing his fists and swinging his staff, but the demon king didn’t retreat; he pressed forward, truly a reckless fellow!
As they fought, Sun Wukong suddenly noticed a patch of melons nearby and had a brilliant idea. He rolled and dove into the patch, transforming into a big, ripe watermelon. The demon king looked around, confused about where Sun Wukong had gone, and called out near the hut, “Whose melons are these?”
At that moment, Maitreya transformed into an old man tending the melons and replied with a smile, “My lord, I planted the melons.” The demon king’s eyes lit up: “Are there ripe ones?” Maitreya nodded, “Yes, there are ripe ones.” The demon king hurriedly shouted, “Quick, pick one! I’m thirsty!” Maitreya immediately handed him the ripe melon that Sun Wukong had transformed into, and the demon king, completely unaware, opened his mouth and bit into it.
At that moment, Sun Wukong took the opportunity to burst out from inside the melon, starting to roll around in the demon king’s belly, causing him to cry out in pain, “Who will save me?” Maitreya laughed from the side, “You wretched creature, do you recognize me?” The demon king, upon seeing Maitreya, hurriedly knelt down, rubbing his belly with both hands, begging for mercy: “Master, spare my life! I will never dare again!”
Maitreya walked forward with a smile, grabbed the demon king’s acquired bag, took away his wolf fang club, and said, “Sun Wukong, for my sake, spare him.” Although Sun Wukong felt hatred in his heart, he continued to stir in the demon king’s belly. The demon king writhed in agony on the ground, and Maitreya added, “Wukong, he can’t take it anymore; please let him go.”
Sun Wukong then said, “Open your mouth wide so I can get out.” Although the demon king was in great pain, he endured it and opened his mouth. Sun Wukong immediately jumped out, ready to continue fighting the demon king, but the Buddha had already put the demon king into a bag and scolded, “Wretched creature! Where did you put the golden gong?”
The demon king mumbled from inside the bag, “The golden gong was broken by Sun Wukong.” The Buddha, angered, said, “Then quickly return the gold to me!” The demon king replied, “The broken gold is on the lotus platform in the hall.” The Buddha, holding the bag and the wolf fang club, smiled and said, “Wukong, let’s go find the gold!”
Seeing the Buddha’s immense power, Sun Wukong dared not defy him and had no choice but to lead the Buddha up the mountain to the temple to collect the gold. When they arrived, the mountain gate was tightly closed. The Buddha pointed with his hammer, and the gate immediately opened. The little demons, having learned that the demon king was captured, hurriedly packed their things to escape. Sun Wukong, seeing this, fought one after another, defeating the little demons and forcing them to reveal their true forms, which turned out to be mountain spirits, tree monsters, and beastly demons.
The Buddha collected the gold, blew a breath of celestial air, recited a spell, and the golden gong was restored. He then bid farewell to Sun Wukong and rode the clouds back to the Blissful World.
As it happened, the Great Sage finally rescued Tang Seng, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Seng. However, the foolish Bajie was extremely hungry after being suspended for several days; his stomach had been rumbling for a long time. Without even saying thank you, he rushed straight to the kitchen to find something to eat. Coincidentally, the demon was preparing lunch, and Bajie, upon seeing this, directly devoured half a pot of food. He generously took out two bowls for his master and Sha Seng, and only after eating his fill did he remember to thank the Great Sage.
When asked about the demon, Sun Wukong detailed everything that had happened, including the invitation of the ancestor, borrowing the prince, and Maitreya’s capture of the demon. Tang Seng listened, grateful and bowing repeatedly, thinking, “Where are those divine beings now?” Sun Wukong replied, “Yesterday, the official told me they are all in the cellar.”
Then, Sun Wukong said to Bajie, “Come with me to rescue them!” Bajie, now full and energized, quickly grabbed his digging fork and, together with the Great Sage, rushed to the back of the cellar, opened the door, and freed everyone inside.
Once they were out, Tang Seng donned his cassock and thanked each of them one by one. The Great Sage then sent the five dragons and two generals back to Wudang, returned Prince Zhang and the four generals to Yancheng, sent the twenty-eight lunar mansions back to the heavenly abode, and finally returned all the members of the Jie Ti Kalan to their respective places.
The master and disciples rested for a while, fed the white horse, packed their belongings, and prepared to set off early the next morning. Before leaving, Bajie suggested setting fire to burn down all the precious towers, thrones, high pavilions, and lecture halls to ashes. This way, they could escape without any burdens, dispelling disaster and departing easily. However, how long it would take to reach the Great Thunder Sound Temple will be discussed next time!
