Once upon a time, there was a saying: "The law arises from the heart and will also vanish from the heart. Who controls its birth and extinction? Please discern carefully for yourself. Since everything is within the heart, why listen to others? With hard work, you can squeeze blood from iron. Thread a silk rope through the nose, tighten the knot of emptiness, and tie it to the tree of non-action, so it doesn't cause trouble. Don't mistake a thief for a son, forgetting all about the heart's law. Don't let it deceive me—give it a thorough punch first. When the heart manifests, there is no heart; when the law manifests, it ceases. When neither person nor ox can be seen, the azure sky is clear, like the full moon in autumn, indistinguishable from one another."
This passage was often recited by Master Xuanzang after he comprehended the "Heart Sutra," and it brought him great enlightenment and insight.
Now, as the story goes, Master Xuanzang and his disciples, enduring hardships and traveling day and night, finally reached the hot summer. At that time, the flowers had withered, butterflies lost their spirit, the trees had grown tall, and the cicadas were noisily chirping. Wild silkworms spun cocoons, pomegranates turned red, and new lotus leaves emerged from the pond. One day, as they were walking, the sky darkened, and they suddenly saw a village house by the mountain road.
Xuanzang said, "Wukong, look, the sun has set behind the western mountains, hiding its fiery mirror, and the moon rises from the eastern sea like an icy wheel. Fortunately, there's a house by the road. Why don't we stay overnight and continue our journey tomorrow?" Bajie agreed, "That's right, this old pig is a bit hungry too. Let's ask for some food from the household so we have the strength to carry the luggage." Wukong laughed, "You homesick ghost! We've only been away for a few days, and you're already complaining!" Bajie replied, "Brother, I'm not like you, living on air. Following Master these days, my stomach is always half-full, you know?"
Hearing this, Xuanzang said, "Wuneng, if your heart is always thinking of home, then you are not truly a monk. You might as well go back." Bajie hurriedly knelt down and said, "Master, don't listen to what my brother says. He's slandering me. I didn't complain about anything, yet he says I did. I'm just a simple-minded fool. I said I was hungry and wanted to ask for food, and he calls me homesick. Master, I've taken the Bodhisattva's vows and, thanks to your compassion, am willing to follow you to the West without regret. This is called ascetic practice, so how can it not be the words of a monk?" Xuanzang said, "If that's the case, then get up."
Bajie leapt up, grumbling as he picked up the load, willingly following along. They soon arrived at the doorstep of the house by the roadside. Sanzang dismounted, Wukong took the reins, and Bajie set down the luggage. They all stood under the shade of the trees. Sanzang, leaning on his nine-ringed staff, adjusted his cloak and approached the door, where he saw an old man reclining on a bamboo bed, chanting the Buddha's name. Sanzang didn't dare speak loudly and softly said, "Excuse me, sir."
The old man jumped up, quickly tidied his clothes, and came out to greet them, saying, "Venerable monk, forgive my lack of hospitality. Where have you come from, and what brings you to my humble abode?" Sanzang replied, "I am a monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East, on a mission to the Thunderclap Temple to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. We've arrived at your esteemed place late in the day and wish to stay overnight, hoping for your kind accommodation."
The old man shook his head and said, "You shouldn't go. It's difficult to obtain scriptures from the West. If you're seeking scriptures, you should go to the East." Sanzang was puzzled, thinking, "The Bodhisattva directed me to go west, so why does this old man suggest going east? Where would scriptures come from in the east?" He hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Wukong couldn't hold back and stepped forward, loudly saying, "Old man, at your age, how can you still be so unreasonable? We monks have traveled far to seek shelter, and here you are speaking nonsense. If your place is too small with no room to sleep, we can just sit under the trees for the night and not disturb you."
The old man grabbed Sanzang and said, "Master, you haven't spoken, but why is your disciple so fierce, like a consumptive ghost? How can he treat an old man like this?" Wukong laughed, "You old man, you really lack perception! Those who look good are often useless. Though I'm small, I'm quite sturdy, with muscles wrapped in skin."
The old man said, "You must have some skills." Wukong replied, "I wouldn't boast, but I manage." The old man asked, "Where are you from, and why did you become a monk?" Wukong said, "I, Sun Wukong, hail from the Water Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Continent of Divine Victims. I was a demon from a young age, named Wukong, and earned the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven. However, I caused a great uproar in the Heavenly Palace due to not accepting heavenly rewards, leading to disaster. Now, having escaped calamity, I have turned to Buddhism, escorting my Tang Dynasty master to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. I fear no high mountains or treacherous paths, nor wide waters and wild waves. I can capture monsters and subdue demons, tame tigers and catch dragons, and perform various feats. If your household experiences any disturbances, such as missing bricks or broken tiles, I can restore peace."
The old man laughed heartily, saying, "So you're a monk with a glib tongue." Wukong said, "Your son is the one with a glib tongue! I've been traveling with my master, and it's been tiresome, so I don't feel like talking." The old man said, "If you weren't tired and reluctant to speak, you'd probably chatter me to death! Given your skills, you might indeed manage to reach the West. How many are in your party? Please come into the cottage to rest."
Sanzang said, "Thank you, kind sir, for not minding. There are three of us." The old man asked, "Where is the other one?" Wukong pointed and said, "This old man must be blind. Isn't he standing under the shade?" The old man, indeed with poor eyesight, looked closely and, upon seeing Bajie's appearance, was so frightened that he stumbled backward into the house, shouting, "Close the door! Close the door! A monster has come!"
Wukong caught up and reassured him, "Don't be afraid, old man. He's not a monster; he's my junior disciple." The old man, trembling, said, "Alright, alright, alright! Each monk is uglier than the last!" Bajie stepped forward and said, "Old man, if you judge people by their looks, you're making a big mistake. We may be ugly, but we're useful."
As the old man was chatting with the three monks, two young men approached from the south of the village, accompanied by an old woman and several children, returning from planting rice seedlings. Seeing the white horse and luggage at the door, they were curious and gathered around, asking, "What are you doing here?" Bajie turned around, wiggled his ears, and extended his long snout, scaring the people into a panic. Sanzang quickly reassured them, "Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! We are not bad people; we are monks on a pilgrimage for scriptures."
At this point, the old man came out, supporting the old woman, and said, "Don't be afraid, dear. This master is from the Tang Dynasty, only his disciples look a bit ugly, but they are kind-hearted. Children, go home now." The old woman then took the old man's arm, and the two young men led the children back into the house.
Sanzang sat on their bamboo bed, complaining, "Disciples, both of you look so ugly and speak so coarsely that you scared the family half to death. You're really causing me trouble!" Bajie said, "To be honest, ever since I started following you, I've become much more handsome. Back in Gao Village, when I pouted my lips and wiggled my ears, I often scared twenty or thirty people to death." Wukong laughed, "Fool, stop talking nonsense and tidy up that ugly appearance." Sanzang said, "Wukong, what are you saying? Appearance is innate; how can it be tidied up?" Wukong said, "Just tuck that rake-like mouth into your chest and don't bring it out; stick those fan-like ears behind your head and don't let them flap around. That's tidying up." Bajie actually tucked his mouth in and pressed his ears back, standing quietly to the side. Wukong moved the luggage inside and tied up the white horse.
At this moment, the old man brought a young man carrying a tray with three cups of tea to serve them. After drinking the tea, the old man instructed them to prepare a vegetarian meal. The young man brought out a worn-out table and several broken stools, inviting them to sit in the courtyard. Sanzang asked, "Kind sir, what is your surname?" The old man replied, "My surname is Wang." "How many children do you have?" "I have two sons and three grandsons." Sanzang said, "Congratulations, congratulations." He then asked, "How old are you this year?" The old man said, "I am sixty-one years old." Wukong said, "Good! Good! Good! A full cycle of sixty years!" Sanzang continued, "Kind sir, you mentioned earlier that it's difficult to obtain scriptures from the West. Why is that?" The old man said, "It's not that the scriptures are hard to obtain, but the journey is difficult. Thirty li west from here, there's a mountain called Yellow Wind Ridge, which stretches for eight hundred li. There are monsters in the mountains, which is why it's difficult. But if the young monk has skills, you might be able to go."
Wukong said, "Don't worry! Don't worry! With my brother and me here, no monster would dare to trouble us." Just then, the old man's son brought out the meal, placing it on the table, and said, "Please enjoy the meal." Sanzang clasped his hands together and began to recite the meal prayer, but Bajie had already finished a bowl. Before the prayer was over, Bajie had eaten three bowls. Wukong said, "This fool! Eating like he's possessed by a hungry ghost!" Old Wang, being observant, noticed his fast eating and said, "This monk must be truly hungry, quickly bring more food." The fool indeed had a big appetite, eating over ten bowls in a row. Sanzang and Wukong hadn't even finished two bowls each, yet Bajie kept eating.
Old Wang said, "In such a rush, we don't have any good dishes. Please have a bit more." Sanzang and Wukong both said, "That's enough." Bajie said, "Old man, what are you mumbling about, talking about divination and hexagrams! Just bring more food if you have it." The fool's meal nearly emptied the family's entire supply, and he still claimed to be only half full. Once they finished tidying up, they prepared to sleep on the bamboo bed under the gate tower.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Wukong went to fetch the horse, Bajie packed up the luggage, and Old Wang had the old woman prepare some snacks and soup to see them off. The three of them thanked him and bid farewell. The old man said, "If you encounter any trouble on the road, remember to come back and find me." Wukong laughed, "Old man, don't say such silly things. We monks never retrace our steps." With that, they mounted the horse and carried their load, continuing westward. Ah, as they traveled, it truly was a treacherous path, with monsters surely causing trouble along the way.
They had not traveled for half a day before encountering a towering mountain. Truly, this mountain was perilous. Sanzang rode to the edge of a cliff, leaning over to look, and saw that the mountain: soared into the clouds, incredibly steep; with sheer cliffs and deep ravines; the sound of trickling springs and vibrant flowers. The mountain peak touched the blue sky, while the valley below seemed bottomless. Before the mountain, white clouds swirled, and jagged rocks jutted out, with countless sheer cliffs stretching for thousands of feet. Behind the cliff lay a winding dragon cave, echoing with the sound of dripping water. There were antlered deer staring blankly and muntjacs gazing curiously; coiling red-scaled pythons and mischievous white-faced gibbons. At night, tigers sought their dens, while in the morning, dragons emerged from the water, echoing through the cave entrance. Birds in the grass flapped and flew away, while beasts in the forest scampered off. Suddenly, a pack of wolves and insects passed by, terrifying enough to make one's heart race. This mountain truly was: a thousand-foot jade dyed in azure, shrouded in layers of emerald mist.
Sanzang slowly urged his horse forward, while Wukong stopped in his tracks and Bajie dawdled along. As they were observing the mountain, a sudden whirlwind arose, startling Sanzang on his horse. "Wukong, the wind is rising!" he exclaimed. Wukong replied, "What's there to fear about the wind? It's just the seasonal wind; nothing to worry about!" Sanzang said, "This wind feels different from the usual." Wukong asked, "How is it different?" Sanzang explained, "Look at this wind: vast and sweeping, whistling and swirling, coming from the azure sky. It roars through a thousand trees on the ridge and sways ten thousand bamboo stalks in the forest. The willow trees by the bank are uprooted, and the flowers and leaves in the garden are scattered. Fishing boats tighten their cables, and passenger boats drop anchor. Travelers on the road lose their way, and woodcutters in the mountains struggle with their loads. Monkeys scatter in the celestial fruit forest, and deer flee among the exotic flowers. Pines on the cliff topple, and pine needles in the ravine wither. Dust and sand fly, and waves surge."
Bajie stepped forward and grabbed Wukong, saying, "Brother, the wind is too strong! We should take cover." Wukong laughed, "Brother, you're too timid! If you hide from the wind, what will you do if we encounter a demon?" Bajie said, "Brother, haven't you heard? Avoid lust like avoiding an enemy, and avoid the wind like avoiding an arrow! There's no shame in taking cover." Wukong said, "Stop talking. Let me catch a bit of this wind to sniff." Bajie laughed, "Brother, you're boasting again. How can you catch the wind? Even if you could, it would slip away." Wukong said, "Brother, you don't know that I have a knack for catching the wind." Wukong circled behind the wind, caught its tail, and took a sniff. Detecting a fishy smell, he said, "Indeed, this is no ordinary wind! The scent is unlike a tiger wind; it must be a demon wind. Something's amiss."
Before he finished speaking, a striped ferocious tiger leaped out from the hillside, startling Sanzang so much that he fell off his horse, leaning against the roadside, his soul nearly leaving his body. Bajie dropped the luggage and drew his nine-toothed rake, preventing Wukong from advancing, and shouted, "Fiend! Where do you think you're going?" He charged forward, swinging his rake at the tiger's head. The tiger stood upright, grabbed its own chest with its front paws, and with a swift motion, peeled off its skin and stood by the roadside. How fierce it looked! A blood-soaked, naked body, with fiery red limbs, flame-like mane, bristling eyebrows, four gleaming steel teeth, and bright golden eyes, it roared menacingly, "Hold on! Hold on! I'm not just anyone; I'm the vanguard of the Great King of Yellow Wind. By the king's command, I patrol the mountains, seeking a few mortals to make a feast. Where do you monks come from, daring to brandish weapons against me?"
Bajie cursed, "You fiend! You don't recognize me! We're not mere passersby; we're the disciples of Sanzang, the imperial monk of the Tang Dynasty, on a mission to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Step aside and spare my master, and I'll spare your life. If you continue to be arrogant, my rake will show no mercy!" The demon, refusing to listen, lunged at Bajie. Bajie quickly dodged and counterattacked with his rake. The demon, having no weapon, turned to flee, with Bajie in pursuit. The demon dashed into the rocky terrain at the foot of the hill, retrieved two red copper knives, and turned to face Bajie. The two engaged in fierce combat on the slope. Wukong helped Sanzang to his feet, saying, "Master, don't be afraid. Sit tight while I help Bajie defeat the demon so we can continue our journey." Sanzang finally sat up, trembling as he recited the Heart Sutra.
Wukong drew his iron staff and shouted, "Take this!" Bajie was invigorated, and the demon began to retreat. Wukong said, "Don't let him escape! We must catch him!" The two wielded their rake and staff, chasing the demon down the mountain. The demon, panicking, employed the golden cicada shedding technique, rolled over, and reverted to its tiger form. Wukong and Bajie refused to let it go, pursuing the tiger relentlessly. The demon, seeing them closing in, shed its skin again, draping it over a crouching tiger stone, and escaped in its true form, transforming into a gust of wind heading straight for the road.
At the roadside, Sanzang was still reciting the Heart Sutra when the demon seized him and whisked him away on the wind. Alas, poor Sanzang: destined for trials and tribulations, finding it difficult to achieve enlightenment.
The demon brought Tang Sanzang to the entrance of the cave, subdued the wild wind, and said to the little demon guarding the gate, "Go tell the Great King that the Tiger Vanguard has captured a monk and is waiting outside." Upon hearing this, the cave master quickly ordered, "Bring him in." The Tiger Vanguard, with two red copper knives tucked into his belt, cradled Tang Sanzang in his arms, approached, and knelt, saying, "Great King, I am unworthy, but by your command, I patrolled the mountain and encountered a monk. He is Tang Sanzang, the imperial monk from the Tang Dynasty, on a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures. I captured him to offer you a fresh delicacy." The cave master was startled and said, "I heard that Tang Sanzang is a divine monk on an imperial mission from the Tang Dynasty. He has a disciple named Sun Wukong, who is incredibly powerful and intelligent. How did you manage to capture him?"
The Vanguard replied, "He has two disciples: one wields a nine-toothed rake, with a long snout and big ears; the other has a golden-banded iron staff and fiery eyes. They were chasing me, but I used the golden cicada shedding technique and seized the monk to present to you." The cave master said, "Don't be hasty to eat him." The Vanguard protested, "Great King, if we don't eat when there's food, we'll go hungry." The cave master explained, "You don't understand. Eating him isn't the issue; the problem is if his two disciples come causing trouble, it could be troublesome. First, tie him to the wind-stabilizing post in the back garden. If they don't come in three to five days, we'll decide then. This way, we ensure he's clean and avoid trouble. When the time comes, we can cook or steam him at our leisure." The Vanguard cheerfully agreed, "The Great King is indeed wise and farsighted. You're right." He then ordered, "Take him away." Seven or eight little demons came forward, tied up Tang Sanzang securely like an eagle clutching a bird. Poor Tang Sanzang, thinking of Wukong and Bajie, sighed, "Oh, disciples! I don't know where you are fighting demons, but I've been captured and tormented. When will I see you again? How bitter it is! If you come soon, you might still save me; if you're late, I may not survive!" As he sighed, tears streamed down his face.
Meanwhile, Wukong and Bajie chased the tiger down the slope, only to find it lying in front of a cliff. Wukong swung his staff with all his might, but it hurt his hand. Bajie also struck hard with his rake, only to have the teeth fly off. It turned out to be a tiger skin covering a crouching tiger stone. Wukong was alarmed, "Oh no! We've fallen for his trick!" Bajie asked, "What trick?" Wukong explained, "This is the golden cicada shedding technique. He left the tiger skin here and has already fled. We must hurry back to check on Master before anything happens."
The two hurried back, but Tang Sanzang was nowhere to be found. Wukong shouted, "Oh no! Master has been taken!" Bajie, leading the horse, wept, "Oh heavens! Oh heavens! Where can we find him?" Wukong jumped up and said, "Stop crying! Crying saps your fighting spirit. He's definitely still in this mountain. Let's search for him."
Wukong and Bajie ran wildly, crossing mountains and ridges, until they finally discovered a cave at the base of a rocky cliff. They stopped to observe carefully, noting the treacherous surroundings: sharp peaks layered upon one another, ancient paths winding through, lush green pines and bamboos, willows and phoenix trees swaying in the wind. Jagged rocks stood before the cliff, pairs of mysterious birds nestled in the forest, streams crashed against stone walls, and mountain springs dripped onto sandy banks. Wild clouds drifted, jade grasses flourished, crafty foxes and cunning rabbits scurried, horned deer and fragrant musk deer clashed bravely. Vines hung from steep cliffs, ancient cypresses stood tall in deep valleys, creating a landscape as magnificent as a painting.
Wukong said to Bajie, "Brother, leave the luggage here in the mountain hollow and let the horse roam freely. Don't show yourself. I'll go to the cave entrance to confront the demon. We must capture him to rescue our master." Bajie replied, "No need to say more, just go quickly." Wukong adjusted his clothes, tightened his belt, picked up his golden-banded staff, and headed straight for the cave entrance. There, he saw the six large characters "Yellow Wind Ridge Yellow Wind Cave" inscribed above the entrance. He stood firm and shouted loudly, "Demon! Hand over my master immediately, or I'll tear down your lair and flatten your dwelling!"
The little demons, trembling with fear, hurried inside to report, "Great King! There's trouble!" The Yellow Wind Demon, sitting in the cave, asked, "What happened?" The little demon replied, "Outside, there's a monk with a thunderous voice and a hairy face, wielding a thick iron staff, demanding his master!" Upon hearing this, the cave master quickly summoned the Tiger Vanguard, "I sent you to patrol the mountains to catch wild oxen, boars, fat deer, and goats, not to capture Tang Sanzang and provoke his disciple to cause trouble. What should we do now?" The Vanguard said, "Don't worry, Great King. I'm willing to take fifty little demons out and capture that Sun Wukong for you to enjoy with your wine." The cave master said, "We have five to seven hundred little demons here. Choose as you wish. As long as you capture Wukong, we can enjoy Tang Sanzang's flesh in peace, and I will even consider making you my sworn brother. But if you fail and get hurt, don't blame me."
The Tiger Demon, full of confidence, said, "Rest assured!" He then selected fifty strong little demons, beat the drums, waved flags, and with two red copper knives, charged out the door, shouting fiercely, "You monkey monk, what are you doing shouting here?" Wukong cursed, "You skinning beast! You used some shedding trick to capture my master, and you dare question me? Hand over my master now, and I'll spare your life!" The Tiger Demon replied, "Your master was captured by me to serve as a meal for my Great King. If you know what's good for you, scram, or I'll capture you too and eat you together."
Upon hearing this, Wukong was enraged, his anger flaring up, his steel teeth grinding, and his fiery eyes glaring. He brandished his iron staff and shouted, "How dare you boast! Take this!" The Tiger Demon hurriedly defended himself with his knives. The battle was fierce: the Tiger Demon was like an egg, while Wukong was like a rock. The red copper knives against the Handsome Monkey King were like eggs smashing against stone. The demon spewed wind, filling the mountain with dust; Wukong exhaled mist, obscuring the sun. After three to five rounds, the Tiger Vanguard could no longer hold on and tried to flee, but Wukong relentlessly pressed him.
Unable to withstand the pressure, the Tiger Demon turned to run. Having boasted earlier in front of the cave master, he dared not return to the cave and fled up the hillside. Wukong, unwilling to let him escape, chased after him with his staff, shouting continuously, until they reached a wind-sheltered hollow. There, Bajie was tending the horse. Hearing the commotion, Bajie turned to see Wukong chasing the Tiger Demon. He dropped the horse's reins, raised his rake, and swung it sideways. Unfortunately for the Vanguard, trying to escape, he ran into Bajie and was struck by the rake, leaving nine gaping holes, bleeding profusely, and his brain matter spilling out.
A poem bears witness: Three to five years ago, he returned to the true path, Observing fasts and seeking enlightenment. With sincere heart, he vowed to protect Tang Sanzang, Establishing his merit as a novice monk. Bajie stepped on the Tiger Demon's back and swung his rake again. Wukong, seeing this, was delighted and said, "Brother, well done! He brought dozens of little demons to fight me, but I defeated them. He dared not return to the cave and ran here to meet his end. Luckily, you intercepted him, or he would have escaped again." Bajie asked, "Was he the one who captured Master?" Wukong replied, "Yes, it was him." Bajie asked, "Did you find out where Master is?" Wukong said, "The demon took Master to the cave to serve his Great King. In my anger, I fought him here, and you ended his life. Brother, this credit is yours. You keep watching the horse and luggage. I'll drag this dead demon to the cave entrance and confront the old demon. Only by capturing the old demon can we rescue Master." Bajie said, "Brother, you're right. Go ahead. If you defeat the old demon and he escapes here, I'll intercept and kill him."
Wukong, holding his iron staff in one hand and dragging the dead tiger with the other, went straight to the cave entrance. As the saying goes: When the master is in trouble, demons appear, but with harmony and skill, chaos is subdued. Whether the demon can be conquered and Tang Sanzang rescued, we shall find out in the next episode.
