Pigsy came down the mountain and walked along a small path for about five or six miles when he suddenly spotted two female demons drawing water by a well. He took a closer look and saw that these two demons had hairdos that were about a foot or two high, looking quite shabby! Pigsy thought to himself, "How can they be so arrogant?" So, he walked up and teased, "Hey, demons!" The two female demons immediately exploded with anger, complaining to each other, "This monk is really ridiculous! We don’t even know him, so why does he call us demons?" As they spoke, one of the female demons angrily swung a pole at Pigsy. Poor Pigsy, unarmed, ended up with a swollen head and had to run back up the mountain, shouting, "Bro, let’s go back! The demons are too fierce!"
When the Monkey King heard this, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s so fierce about them?” Pigsy, looking aggrieved, replied, “There are two female demons in the mountains drawing water. I just called out to them, and they hit me three or four times!” The Monkey King laughed and asked, “What did you call them?” Pigsy answered, “I called them demons.” The Monkey King shook his head and said, “They didn’t hit you enough!” Pigsy was unhappy: “Thanks for your concern! My head is swollen, and you still say it wasn’t enough!” The Monkey King replied, “You need to learn some manners. They’re local demons, and we’re outsiders. You should show some respect.”
Pigsy scratched his head and said, “I really don’t understand!” The Monkey King patiently explained, “You grew up in the mountains, don’t you know there are two kinds of wood?” Pigsy looked confused: “What kinds?” The Monkey King explained, “One is poplar, very soft, and can be carved into Buddha statues; the other is sandalwood, very hard, used for making tools and suffering.” Pigsy sighed, “Bro, if you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten hit!” The Monkey King said, “Go ask them where they’re from.” Pigsy replied, “But do they know me?” The Monkey King suggested, “Change your appearance first.” Pigsy asked, “How do I ask after changing?” The Monkey King instructed, “After changing, first ask their age. If they’re about the same age, call them ‘young ladies’; if they’re older, call them ‘grandmas.’” Pigsy chuckled, “But how can I tell?”
The Monkey King clarified, “It’s not about recognizing them; it’s about gathering information. If they’ve captured the master, it’ll be easier to act; if not, we shouldn’t waste time.” Pigsy nodded, “That makes sense. I’ll go now.” So, this fool put away his rake, transformed into a stout black monk, and wobbled over to the female demons, bowing deeply, “Grandma, I bow to you.” The two female demons heard this and laughed, “This monk really knows how to talk!” They asked, “Elder, where do you come from?” Pigsy replied, “I come from nowhere.” They asked again, “Where are you going?” He answered, “I’m going nowhere.” The female demons found this monk amusing and asked, “What’s your name?” Pigsy replied, “What’s my name?”
The female demons giggled, “This monk is interesting; even though he has no background, he speaks smoothly.” Seizing the opportunity, Pigsy asked, “Grandma, why are you drawing water?” One of the female demons answered, “Monk, don’t you know? Our old lady is inviting a Tang monk to the cave tonight, so we’re preparing a vegetarian feast.” Upon hearing this, Pigsy’s heart sank, and he hurried back up the mountain, shouting, “Sandy, quickly bring the luggage! We need to split up!” Sandy asked, “Second brother, split what?” Pigsy explained, “You go to the River of Sand to eat people, I’ll visit Gao Laozhuang, and brother will go to Flower-Fruit Mountain to gain enlightenment. The White Dragon Horse will return to the sea to become a dragon, and the master will get married in that demon cave. We’ll all be safe!”
The Monkey King shook his head in anger: “This fool is talking nonsense!” Pigsy retorted, “I’m not talking nonsense; those two demons said so!” The Monkey King replied, “The master is trapped in the cave, waiting for us to rescue him. What are you babbling about?” Pigsy asked, “How do we rescue him?” The Monkey King thought for a moment and said, “You hold the horse, carry the burden, and we follow those two female demons as bait, leading them to the door, and then we strike together!” Pigsy had no choice but to follow along. The Monkey King kept a close eye on the two female demons, and they gradually ventured deeper into the mountains. After walking about twenty miles, they suddenly disappeared. Pigsy exclaimed, “The master must have been captured by the daytime demons!” The Monkey King calmly replied, “You really have sharp eyes; how did you see through their disguise?” Pigsy said, “Those two demons were carrying water, and then suddenly vanished. Isn’t that a daytime demon?” The Monkey King said, “They must have gone into the cave; let me go take a look.”
Sun Wukong opened his eyes wide, using his fiery golden eyes to scan the area, but he saw no movement either up or down the mountain. Suddenly, he noticed a paifang (a traditional Chinese archway) ahead, exquisitely crafted with intricate designs, prominently displaying the words "Xian Kong Mountain Bottomless Cave." Wukong turned to Pigsy and Sandy and said, "Brothers, this demon is really up to no good, setting up a structure here. Which way does the entrance open?" Sandy replied, "Not far! Let's look for it!" They turned around and saw a large stone under the archway with a hole in the middle, about the size of a jar opening, and it was very smooth.
Pigsy immediately said, "Bro, this must be the entrance for the demon!" Wukong looked at it and found it strange: "I, Sun Wukong, protect Tang Seng, and this demon has taken quite a lot, yet I’ve never seen such a cave. Pigsy, you go down first to test the depth so I can go in and rescue the master." Pigsy shook his head, "That's difficult! If I collapse in, I don’t know how long I’d sink!" Wukong asked, "How deep is it?" Pigsy replied, "Just look!" Wukong bent down to take a look and exclaimed, "Wow, it really is very deep—over three hundred miles around!" He turned back to his brothers and said, "It’s indeed very deep!" Pigsy said, "Then you should go back; we can't rescue the master!" Wukong refused, "Don’t be lazy! Quickly put down the luggage and tie the horse to the paifang. You use the rake, and Sandy uses the staff to block the entrance while I go in to gather information."
So, Wukong leaped down, with colorful clouds under his feet and auspicious energy surrounding him. Soon, he arrived at a bright place filled with sunlight, the sound of wind, and flourishing flowers and trees. Wukong felt delighted: "What a great place! Back in the day when I was born, the heavens granted me Water Curtain Cave, and this is also a blessed land!" Just as he was admiring the scenery, he suddenly saw a gate tower adorned with pines and bamboos, with many houses inside. He thought, "This must be the demon's residence; I need to go in and find out what's going on." Thus, he transformed into a fly and gently flew up to the gate tower.
He saw the demon sitting high in a grass pavilion, looking increasingly beautiful, with her hair styled like a crow's nest and wearing a green velvet floral dress—truly a beauty. Wukong listened in secretly and heard the demon happily exclaim, "Hurry, prepare a vegetarian feast! I’m going to marry Tang Seng!" Wukong chuckled to himself, "So Pigsy wasn’t talking nonsense! I need to see where the master is." He flew inside and saw Tang Seng sitting inside a red paper grid.
Wukong crashed through the grid, landing on Tang Seng's bald head, and shouted, "Master!" Tang Seng immediately cried out, "Disciple, save my life!" Wukong laughed and said, "Master, don’t be afraid! That demon wants to marry you and have a son or daughter. You’ll be the descendant of a monk, so what’s there to worry about?" Tang Seng gritted his teeth, "Disciple, I set out from Chang'an to collect you at Two Worlds Mountain. How could I have had such thoughts? Now that I’m captured by the demon and being asked for a spouse, if I lose my true essence, wouldn’t I be trapped in reincarnation and never able to turn back?"
Wukong comforted him, "Don’t make rash vows. As long as you sincerely go to the West to obtain the scriptures, I’ll take you out." Tang Seng frowned, "I’ve forgotten the way I came in." Wukong said, "Don’t worry; this cave isn’t entered from the outside. You need to drill down from above. If you’re fortunate enough, you can drill out; if not, you’ll suffocate here." Tang Seng cried tears of despair, "It’s so difficult! What should I do?" Wukong said, "It’s fine! That demon is preparing a feast, and you’ll have to drink a cup; if I pour quickly, I’ll turn into a little bug, fly into the wine, and when she swallows it, I can deal with her, and you can escape."
Tang Seng hesitated, "Disciple, your words are not fitting for a son." Wukong replied, "Don’t worry about that; the demon harms others, why are you still concerned?" Tang Seng had no choice but to agree, "Alright, you must follow me." Thus, the Great Sage Sun vowed to protect Tang Seng, and their journey to obtain the scriptures relied entirely on this beautiful Monkey King!
While the master and disciple were discussing, they didn't expect the demon had already made arrangements. She walked to the east corridor, opened the door, and called out, "Elder." Tang Seng's heart tightened, and he didn't dare to respond. Why was he afraid? Because he thought that if he spoke, his composure would be lost; if his tongue moved, it might invite trouble. Yet he also worried that if he didn't respond, the ruthless demon might take his life in an instant. Just as he was caught in this dilemma, the demon called out again, "Elder." Tang Seng had no choice but to reply, "Yes, my lady."
Upon responding, Tang Seng felt a mix of emotions. Everyone said he was a sincere monk, seeking the Buddha in the West, so how could he converse with a female demon? But at that moment, it was a matter of life and death. Although he replied, he didn’t want to at all. The demon, upon hearing his response, immediately pushed open the door, helped Tang Seng up, and they became close, whispering to each other. The demon's flirtatious demeanor was dazzling, yet Tang Seng was filled with worry. Wukong, watching from the side, secretly laughed, thinking, "My master has been charmed by her; this is truly dangerous!" It was indeed a case of a true monk suffering at the hands of a beautiful demon.
The demon took Tang Seng's arm and walked toward the grass pavilion, saying, "Elder, I’ve prepared a cup of wine for you; let’s drink together." Tang Seng hurriedly replied, "My lady, I don’t drink anything meaty." The demon smiled and said, "I know you don’t eat meat, so I specially fetched pure water from the mountain to prepare vegetarian dishes and fruits for you." Upon hearing this, Tang Seng felt relieved and followed her into the room, where he was greeted by the delightful aroma of delicious food, beautifully arranged on the table.
The exquisite dishes made one's mouth water: apples, olives, lotus seeds, grapes, and all sorts of fresh vegetables like tofu, fresh bamboo shoots, and mushrooms—everything was present. The demon revealed her delicate fingers, held a golden cup filled with fine wine, and handed it to Tang Seng, sweetly saying, "Elder brother, please drink this celebratory wine!" Tang Seng bashfully accepted the wine, silently praying, "Protectors of the heavens, please ensure I am not harmed by this demon." He thought that if it were meaty wine, it would be disastrous; he would break his vows and never be able to recover.
At that moment, Wukong transformed into a small, nimble form and quietly whispered into Tang Seng's ear, only he could hear. Wukong knew his master loved to drink grape-based vegetarian wine and specifically taught him how to drink a cup. Tang Seng had no choice but to drink, hurriedly filling his cup to toast the demon, and indeed poured out a cup of celebratory wine. Just then, Wukong transformed into a tiny bug and gently flew to the bottom of the wine cup. The demon took the cup, ready to drink, but didn’t notice the bug hiding beneath the flowers.
Seeing the situation was dire, Wukong thought it would be difficult to sneak into the demon’s belly, so he transformed into a hungry eagle. This eagle was quite impressive: with jade claws and golden eyes, its powerful wings made it soar like a little dragon. When the demon foxes and cunning rabbits saw it, they immediately fled in all directions. When hungry, it chased after birds in the wind; when full, it soared high in the sky—a truly formidable character.
The eagle swooped down, its sharp claws knocking all the vegetarian fruits and vegetables off the table, sending Tang Seng tumbling aside. The demon was so frightened her heart nearly leaped out, and Tang Seng felt weak in the knees. The demon tightly clutched Tang Seng and trembled, asking, "Elder brother, where did this creature come from?" Tang Seng panicked and quickly replied, "I don’t know." The demon angrily retorted, "I went to so much trouble preparing this vegetarian feast, only to have it ruined by this pesky creature!" The little demons nearby were picking up the pieces, feeling quite sorry for themselves.
The demon thought for a moment and decided not to panic. She instructed the little demons, "Quickly pick up these pieces and prepare the food and wine again, regardless of whether it's meat or vegetarian. I want to call upon the heavens as witnesses and then marry Tang Seng." After saying this, she returned Tang Seng to the east corridor to sit down.
Meanwhile, Wukong flew out, revealing his true form, and called at the cave entrance, "Open the door!" Pigsy happily said, "Sandy, I'm back!" As they both put away their weapons, Wukong jumped out, and Pigsy quickly asked, "Is there a demon? Is the master inside?" Wukong excitedly replied, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Pigsy grew anxious, "Is the master suffering inside? Is he tied up or being steamed?" Wukong said, "Not at all! They are just preparing a vegetarian feast and want to do that thing with him." Upon hearing this, Pigsy immediately cheered, "You’re truly lucky; you even got to drink the wedding wine!"
Wukong grew anxious and said, "Fool, the master's life is at stake; how can we think about drinking!" Pigsy was so worried he started stamping his feet, "Why did you only just arrive?" Wukong recounted the events and encouraged, "Brothers, don’t worry; the master is right here, and I will definitely rescue him!" After saying this, he transformed into a fly and quietly listened for any sounds from the door tower.
He heard the demon in the pavilion angrily instructing, "You little ones, whether meat or vegetarian, quickly burn some paper, calling upon heaven and earth as witnesses, and we must ensure that I marry Tang Seng!" Wukong secretly chuckled to himself, "This demon has no shame at all, keeping the monk at home during the day to manipulate him. No need to rush; I'll go in and take another look." With a soft buzz, he flew to the bottom of the east corridor and saw his master sitting there, tears streaming down his face.
Wukong squeezed in, gently landing on Tang Seng's head, and called out, "Master!" Upon hearing this, Tang Seng immediately jumped up, gritting his teeth in anger, "You monkey! You’re so bold, ruining my home—what’s that worth? This demon insists on marrying me; what should I do?" Wukong smiled and said, "Master, don’t be angry; I have a way to save you." Tang Seng asked, "How will you save me?"
Wukong explained, "When I flew up, I saw there was a garden behind. You can coax her to play in the garden, and then I can rescue you." Tang Seng questioned, "What’s so good about the garden for rescue?" Wukong clarified, "When you reach the peach tree, don’t walk away. Wait for me to transform into a red peach, and you can pick it for her to eat. If she eats me, I can stir things up inside her and defeat her, allowing you to escape."
Tang Seng listened but still felt uneasy, "If you have the ability, why not fight her directly? Why go into her belly?" Wukong replied, "Master, you don’t understand. The demon’s cave is hard to navigate. If a fight breaks out, even I might get caught. We need a safer method."
Tang Seng nodded in agreement, thinking, "Just stick close to me!" Wukong immediately responded, "Got it, Master; I’ll be right on your head!" Once they had a plan, Tang Seng stood up, supporting himself on the lattice, and called out, "My lady, my lady!" The demon heard him and came running over, smiling like a flower, asking, "Charming brother, what’s the matter?" Tang Seng feigned friendliness, "My lady, I traveled west from Chang'an, and the journey has been full of mountains and rivers. Yesterday, I stayed at Zhenhai Temple and caught a cold. I’m only feeling a bit better today. You’ve been so kind to bring me to your celestial abode; I’d like to stroll around and relax a bit."
The demon, upon hearing this, was overjoyed and said, "Charming brother, you’re so interesting! I’ll take you to the garden to have some fun!" She then instructed her little demons to open the door and clear the path.
The demon opened the lattice and helped Tang Seng out. Just look at those little demons, each with oiled hair and painted faces, graceful and charming, surrounding Tang Seng as they walked toward the garden. What a good monk! In this splendid company, he felt like a mute, only thinking of going to the Buddha. If it had been a man of wine and lust, he would have succumbed long ago. They arrived at the garden entrance, and the demon playfully said, "Charming brother, this is a great place to relax!" Tang Seng held her hand as they entered the garden, looking up and thinking, "Wow, this place is really nice!"
There were winding paths covered in moss; the windows were adorned with embroidered curtains, exuding tranquility. A gentle breeze stirred the silk, and the light rain had just stopped, with dewdrops sparkling like ice. The apricots under the sun were as red as a fairy's dress, and the plantains under the moonlight were as green as a beauty waving a fan. Surrounding walls were painted pink, willows swayed in the wind, and the courtyard was filled with dancing begonia flowers. Not to mention the Fragrant Pavilion, Green Moth Pavilion, Sober Pavilion, and Longing Pavilion, all stacked beautifully with crimson curtains hanging high—truly a sight to behold.
Looking at the Bathing Crane Pool, Washing Cup Pool, Moonlight Pool, and Wading Pool, the water plants swayed, and golden scales shimmered; there were also the Ink Flower Pavilion, Unique Box Pavilion, Leisurely Interest Pavilion, and Cloud Admiring Pavilion, with jade bowls and exquisite cups floating in green foam. In the pools and pavilions, there were Taihu stones, purple stone, parrot stones, and brocade river stones, with lush tiger whiskers everywhere; east and west of the pavilions, there were wooden hills, emerald screens, Wind Howling Mountain, and Jade Grass Mountain, with clusters of phoenix tail bamboo—truly picturesque.
The Tuhua trellis and rose trellis, with swings like embroidered curtains; the Pine and Cypress Pavilion, Magnolia Pavilion, facing the Wood Fragrance Pavilion, resembled a blue city with embroidered drapes. Peony railings and peony clusters competed in splendor; the Night Blooming Jasmine platform and Jasmine railing, year after year, blossomed with charm. Dewdrops smiled, perfect for painting and writing, and the vibrant red mulberry flowers were suitable for poetry and verses. In terms of scenery, let alone the Land of Immortals; in terms of fragrance, it was hard to compare with Yao Huang and Wei Zi. If it were spring, the garden would be full of jade flowers. Tang Seng, holding the demon's hand, strolled through the garden, marveling at the endless array of exotic flowers.
After passing through many pavilions, they were truly entering a realm of beauty. Suddenly looking up, they reached the edge of the peach grove, and Wukong pinched Tang Seng on the head, making him understand immediately. Wukong flew to the peach tree and transformed into a lovely red peach!
Tang Seng said to the demon, "My lady, your garden is filled with fragrant flowers and ripe fruits, but why are the peaches on the tree uneven in color?" The demon replied cheerfully, "There’s a reason for that! In the heavens, there are no yin and yang; on earth, plants and trees do not grow. Humans must also differentiate between yin and yang, and there are distinctions between men and women. The fruits on the sunny side of the peach tree ripen first, hence they are red; those on the shady side are still growing, so they remain green. This is the way of yin and yang." Tang Seng listened, grateful, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, my lady; now I understand." After saying this, he reached out and picked a red peach, while the demon picked a green peach.
Tang Seng handed the red peach to the demon, saying, "My lady, you love this red peach; please have a taste!" The demon felt secretly delighted, thinking that this monk was quite charming, and immediately exchanged her peach for his, saying, "Good monk, you truly are a genuine person! Although we haven't married yet, this affection is quite interesting." The demon happily took a bite of the red peach, while Tang Seng began eating the green peach. But at that moment, Wukong grew anxious in the demon's belly, flipped over, and rolled down directly into her stomach.
The demon, frightened, said to Tang Seng, "Elder, why is this fruit so powerful? It went into my belly without even being bitten!" Tang Seng laughed and replied, "My lady, this fruit is fresh and delicious, so it goes down quickly." Upon hearing this, the demon panicked, "I haven't even spat out the pit, and it has already gone down!" At that moment, Wukong called from inside her belly, "Master, don’t argue with her; I've already succeeded!" Tang Seng responded, "Disciple, don’t get too comfortable." The demon, hearing this, hurriedly asked, "Who are you talking to?" Tang Seng answered, "I’m speaking with my disciple, Sun Wukong." The demon panicked, "Where is Sun Wukong?" Tang Seng smiled and said, "He’s right inside your belly, in the red peach you just ate!"
Now the demon was truly alarmed, "Oh no, oh no! How did that monkey get into my belly?" Wukong sneered from inside, "It’s nothing; I just ate your insides, and now your organs are all in disarray!" The demon was terrified and hugged Tang Seng, saying, "Elder, I thought we were fated to be together, but now it seems we must part!" Wukong, hearing this, thought to himself that this demon was quite crafty, and he began to stir around fiercely in her belly, causing her to collapse to the ground, unable to speak for a long time.
Wukong thought she was silent because she might be dead, and he felt relieved. But then the demon gasped and called out, "Little ones! Where are you?" The little demons rushed over, seeing the demon lying on the ground, pale-faced, and quickly surrounded her, asking, "Madam, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" The demon hurriedly said, "No! I have someone in my belly; quickly get this monk out of me, or I’ll lose my life!" The little demons, hearing this, immediately came to carry her.
Wukong shouted from inside her belly, "Who dares to lift her! If you send my master out, I will spare your life!" The demon had no choice but to anxiously carry Tang Seng outside. The little demons followed behind, asking, "Old lady, where are you going?" The demon replied, "As long as the bright moon is in the five lakes, there’s no worry about where to cast my gold hooks! Get this monk out, and I’ll find another good partner!" With a leap, the demon headed straight for the cave entrance.
At that moment, the sound of clashing weapons could be heard outside, and Tang Seng said, "Disciple, there’s noise outside!" Wukong said, "That’s Pigsy fighting; call out to him." Tang Seng quickly shouted, "Pigsy!" Upon hearing this, Pigsy immediately responded, "Sandy, the master is coming out!" The two of them pulled apart their weapons, and the demon carried Tang Seng out.
This was truly a case of: the heart of the monkey returns, the evil spirit vanishes, the earthly gate opens, and the holy monk returns. As for the fate of the demon, we will discuss that next time!
