Chapter 53: Tripitaka Swallows a Meal and Conceives a Ghost Child; the Yellow Matron Carries Water to Dispel the Evil Fetus

Virtue must be forged for eight hundred years,
and hidden merit gathered for three thousand.
Self and other, kin and foe, must all be weighed alike.
Only then does one answer the original vow for the Western Heaven.

Before the demon rhinoceros, swords and spears bring no fear;
fire and water labor in vain, yet the count is still clean.
Laozi subdued him and rode back up to Heaven,
smiling as he led the blue ox home again.

Now then: who was it crying out by the road? It was the mountain god and earth god of Mt. Jindu, carrying a purple-gold alms bowl and calling, "Holy monk, this bowl of rice was begged by Sun the Great Sage in a good place. Because you would not heed good advice and fell into the hands of monsters, the Great Sage had to labor in a hundred thousand ways before he could rescue you. Come and eat this meal, then continue on your road. Do not let Old Sun's deep filial devotion go to waste."

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, I am greatly in your debt. Words cannot express my thanks. If I had known not to leave the protective circle, how could I have suffered such a near-death calamity?"

Wukong said, "To tell the truth, Master, it was only because you would not trust my circle that you ended up trapped in another man's circle. You have suffered no small amount. Alas, alas!"

Bajie said, "What do you mean, another circle?"

Wukong said, "It is all because of your wicked mouth and wicked tongue, you dumb brute, that Master was brought to such a disaster. Old Sun turned the heavens over and the earth inside out, summoned the heavenly troops, the water and fire, and even the cinnabar of the Buddha, but it was all set by that white, shining circle. Only when the Tathagata gave the hint to the Arhats and told me the demon's true root did I invite Laozi to come and subdue him. It turned out to be the blue ox causing the trouble."

Tripitaka, hearing this, was too grateful for words. "My worthy disciple, after this lesson I shall certainly listen to your instructions next time."

Then the four of them divided the rice. The meal was steaming hot.

Wukong said, "This rice has been sitting around for a long time. How is it still hot?"

The earth god knelt and said, "Because this small god knew the Great Sage's work was complete, I heated it fresh and waited."

Before long they had finished the meal, packed away the bowl, and bid farewell to the mountain god and earth god. The master then mounted and crossed the high mountain. Truly:

He washed away thought and purified the mind, returning to true awakening;
eating wind and sleeping over water, he traveled westward.

After a good long while, it was once again early spring. Listen to the sounds around them:

Swallows murmured and orioles sang.
Swallows murmured as their beaks seemed sleepy with fragrance;
orioles sang in nimble, repeated notes.
Fallen blossoms covered the ground like woven brocade;
green buds burst over the hills like matted turf.
On the ridges the green plums had set their pea-like fruit;
before the cliffs old cypresses held in the clouds.
The wild ground glistened faintly in mist and light;
the sands warmed in the mellow sun.
In a few gardens flowers were in bloom;
the earth had turned back, and willows showed fresh shoots.

As they rode on, they suddenly came to a small river, with clear water and cold, still waves. Tripitaka checked his horse and looked ahead. Far across the water he saw green willow shade hanging down and, faintly beyond it, a few thatched huts. Wukong pointed from afar and said, "There must be a ferry house there."

Tripitaka said, "I see something like that too, but I do not see any boat, so I have not spoken."

Bajie slid off the baggage and shouted in a loud voice, "Ferry! Bring the boat over here!"

He shouted several times before, from within the willow shade, there came an old boat, creaking and groaning as it was pushed out. Before long it reached the shore.

The master and disciples took a close look at the boat. Truly it was:

A short oar split the water, and a light blade skimmed the waves.
The deck was painted in bright lacquer, and the plank boards were smooth and level.
An iron cable coiled at the bow, and the stern cabin shone bright.
Though it was only a strip of reeds on the water, it was no less than crossing a lake or sea.
Though it had no embroidered hawser or ivory mast,
it still had pine posts and cassia oars.
It could not match a vast divine ship, of course,
yet it was enough to cross a single river.
It came and went only between the two banks,
never leaving the old ferry landing.

After a moment the boat touched shore. The boatwoman called out, "Those crossing the river, this way."

Tripitaka rode forward and looked closely. What sort of woman was she?

Her head was wrapped in a brocade kerchief, and her feet wore black silk shoes.
She had a patched cotton jacket made of a hundred scraps, and a skirt belt sewn with a thousand stitches.
Her wrists were rough with leather, her strength hard in sinew, and her face was old, lined, and weary.
Her voice was sweet and thin, like a warbler's song, but in close view she was an aged lady.

Wukong went to the side of the boat and asked, "Are you the ferrywoman?"

The woman said, "I am."

Wukong asked, "Why is there no ferryman, and only the ferrywoman?"

The woman only smiled and said nothing. She held out the gangplank with her hand. Sha Wujing carried the luggage aboard. Wukong helped his master onto the plank, Bajie led the white horse on, and then they stowed the board. The woman pushed off, worked the oars, and in a moment they had crossed the river. Once they reached the western bank, Tripitaka told Sha Wujing to open the baggage and give her a few cash coins. The woman did not haggle over the amount at all; she tied the cable to a post by the water, smiled, and went straight into a farmhouse.

Tripitaka saw that the water was clear and, being thirsty, said to Bajie, "Fetch the bowl and scoop some water for me."

The fool said, "I was just about to ask for some myself."

He took the bowl, scooped up a bowlful, and handed it to his master. Tripitaka drank more than half and left the rest. Bajie took it and drained it in one gulp, then attended Tripitaka onto his horse.

The pilgrims took the western road. Before half an hour had passed, the elder was groaning in the saddle. "My belly aches."

Bajie behind him said, "Mine aches too."

Sha Wujing said, "It must be the cold water."

Before he had finished speaking, the master cried out, "It hurts badly."

Bajie also cried, "It hurts badly."

The two of them could not bear it. Their bellies slowly swelled, and when they touched them with their hands, it felt like there were clots of blood and chunks of flesh rolling around inside.

Tripitaka was not steady in the saddle when suddenly he saw a farmhouse by the roadside, with two bundles of straw on poles hung from the tree tips.

Wukong said, "Master, good, that must be a family that sells wine. Let us go ask them for some hot soup for you, and then find out whether they have medicine for sale. We can get a plaster for your bellyache."

Tripitaka was overjoyed and turned the white horse that way. Soon they reached the farmhouse gate and dismounted. Outside the gate sat an old woman, calmly spinning hemp on a straw stool.

Wukong stepped up and bowed. "Good mother, poor monks are from Great Tang in the Eastern Land. My master is the Tang emperor's brother by religion. Because he drank the water of the river just now, his belly aches and swells with pain."

The old woman laughed brightly. "You drank the water from that river over there?"

Wukong said, "We drank from the clear river on the east side."

The old woman smiled more and more. "What a joke. What a joke. All of you come inside, and I will tell you."

Wukong helped Tripitaka in, and Sha Wujing supported Bajie. The two of them kept crying out as they walked, bellies jutting out, so sore that their faces were yellow and their brows knitted. They sat in the grass house. Wukong only called out, "Good mother, please boil some hot soup for my master. We will be grateful to you."

But the old woman did not boil any soup at once. Instead she laughed and ran to the back, crying, "Come look, come look!"

Soon two or three other half-old, half-young women came out and looked at Tripitaka with smiles and laughter.

Wukong flew into a rage and barked once, baring his teeth. The whole family stumbled and scuttled toward the back.

Wukong stepped forward, grabbed the old woman, and said, "Boil the soup quickly, and I will let you off."

The woman trembled and said, "Lord, boiling soup will not help. It cannot cure those two bellyaches. Let me go, and I will explain."

Wukong let her go. She said, "This is the Women's Kingdom. Our whole nation is women; there are no men. That is why we are so glad to see you. The water your master drank was bad. That river is called the Mother-and-Child River. Outside our royal city there is also a Sunward Station, and outside that station gate is a Fetus-Reflecting Spring. In our country, no one who is under twenty dares to drink that river water. Once they drink it, they begin to feel belly pain and conceive a fetus. After three days, they go to the Fetus-Reflecting Spring and look at the water. If the reflection shows a double shadow, then the child is soon to be born. Your master drank the water of the Mother-and-Child River, so he has taken on this kind of pregnancy. He will be giving birth before long. How could hot soup cure it?"

Tripitaka was stunned. "Disciples, what are we to do?"

Bajie twisted his waist and hips and moaned, "Mercy, mercy! If we are to bear children, we are men. Where is the birth canal? How are we to get them out?"

Wukong laughed. "As the old saying goes, when a melon ripens, it drops of itself. When the time comes, a hole will surely split in your side, and out you will crawl."

Bajie, hearing that, shivered and could not bear the pain. "It is over, it is over. I am dead, dead."

Sha Wujing laughed. "Second Brother, do not twist about. What if you turn the wrong guts and make it into a prenatal illness?"

That fool grew even more frightened. Tears stood in his eyes as he tugged Wukong's sleeve. "Brother, ask this old mother whether there is some light-handed midwife around. Find a few in advance. These pains are coming in waves, and it feels like the battering of an army. Hurry, hurry."

Sha Wujing laughed again. "Since Second Brother knows the pangs of labor, do not twist yourself around, or you may burst the water sack."

Tripitaka groaned and said, "Good mother, do you have a doctor here? Tell my disciple to go buy a packet of miscarriage medicine and end the pregnancy at once."

The old woman said, "Even if there were medicine, it would do no good. In the south street there is Jieyang Mountain, and in the mountain there is Child-Breaking Cave. Inside the cave is a Fetus-Dispelling Spring. Only if you drink a mouthful of water from that spring can you remove the fetal qi. But as of now, no one can get the water. Some years ago a Daoist came here, calling himself Ruyi True Immortal. He changed Child-Breaking Cave into the Gathering-Immortals Monastery and took charge of the Fetus-Dispelling Spring, refusing to give the water away freely.

Anyone who wants the water must bring flowers, ceremonial gifts, sheep, wine, fruit platters, and an honest offering, and even then he only gives one bowl after prayer. You are wandering monks; how could you possibly have the money to buy all that? You can only endure the pain and wait to give birth when the time comes."

Wukong was overjoyed when he heard this. "Good mother, how far is it from here to Jieyang Mountain?"

The woman said, "Three thousand li."

Wukong said, "Good, good. Master, be at ease. Let Old Sun go fetch some water for you to drink."

The Great Sage gave instructions to Sha Wujing. "Keep careful watch over Master. If this family is rude and tries to bully him, use your old tricks and frighten them. I am going to get the water."

Sha Wujing obeyed. The old woman brought out a large earthen bowl and handed it to Wukong, saying, "Take this bowl along. Be sure to bring back plenty, and leave us some for emergencies."

Wukong took the earthen bowl and flew off in the clouds.

The old woman then bowed toward the sky and said, "Lord! This monk can ride the clouds." She went inside and called out the other women. They all came out and bowed to Tripitaka, calling him Arhat and Bodhisattva. They also boiled soup and prepared food for him, but let that pass.

Now then: Sun the Great Sage rose on his somersault cloud. Before long he saw a mountain blocking the cloud's edge. He lowered his cloud-light and looked closely. Good mountain! Truly:

Wild flowers spread brocade, and wild grass laid out blue carpets.
Spring water leaped and fell, and the stream clouds seemed equally at ease.
Layer on layer the ravines and gullies were thick with vines and creepers;
far off the peaks were crowded with trees.
Birds called, geese passed, deer drank, and monkeys climbed.
Green mountains stood like screens; blue cliffs rose like braided hair.
Dust and dirt could scarcely reach it, yet the springs and rocks were lovely to see.
Every so often there came a child gathering herbs,
and often a woodcutter carrying firewood back.
Truly it was no less than the scenery of Tiantai,
and better still than Mount Huaxi's Three Peaks.

The Great Sage was still admiring the mountain when he saw, in a shady hollow, a compound standing there, and soon after heard a dog barking. He went down the mountain and straight to the farmstead. It was a fine place indeed. See it:

A small bridge linked to running water; a thatched cottage leaned on green hills.
Village dogs barked at the fences; the hermit came and went at ease.

Before long he reached the gate and saw an old Daoist sitting cross-legged on the green grass. The Great Sage set down the earthen bowl and went up to salute him.

The Daoist rose a little and returned the greeting. "Where do you come from? What brings you to my small monastery?"

Wukong said, "Poor monk is an imperial envoy from Great Tang in the Eastern Land, on the way west to seek the scriptures. My master drank the Mother-and-Child River by mistake, and now his belly aches and swells without end. We asked the locals, and they said it had formed a fetus, with no way to cure it. We learned that the Fetus-Dispelling Spring in Child-Breaking Cave on Jieyang Mountain can remove the fetal qi, so I have come especially to pay my respects to Ruyi True Immortal and ask for a little spring water to save my master. I trouble the old Daoist to show me the way."

The Daoist smiled. "This is Child-Breaking Cave, now changed into the Gathering-Immortals Monastery. I am no one else; I am the senior disciple of Lord Ruyi True Immortal. What is your name? Let me go and report for you."

Wukong said, "I am the eldest disciple of Master Tripitaka. My humble name is Sun Wukong."

The Daoist asked, "Where are your flower offerings and wine gifts?"

Wukong said, "I am only a traveling guest monk. I did not prepare any."

The Daoist laughed. "How foolish you are. My master guards the mountain spring and never gives it away for nothing. Go back and prepare the gifts, and I will report for you.

Otherwise, go back at once. Do not dream of it. Not a chance."

Wukong said, "A little human favor is greater than an imperial decree. Go tell him Old Sun's name, and he will surely show some favor, perhaps even giving me the whole well."

The Daoist had no choice but to go in and report. Lord Ruyi was playing the lute. Only after the music ended did the disciple say, "Master, outside there is a monk calling himself Sun Wukong, the eldest disciple of Tripitaka, and he wants a little Fetus-Dispelling Spring water to save his master."

The true immortal would have let it pass, but the moment he heard the name Wukong anger rose from his heart and evil from his gall. He sprang up, left the lute bench, took off his plain clothes, put on his Daoist robe, seized a Ruyi hook, and jumped out of the monastery gate, shouting, "Where is Sun Wukong?"

Wukong turned and looked. The true immortal was dressed like this:

A star crown on his head flashed in bright colors;
a robe of gold thread shone red across his body.
Cloud shoes on his feet were piled with embroidery;
a jeweled belt wound with delicate loops around his waist.
His embroidered socks of layered brocade showed half a skirt;
in his hand he held a Ruyi golden hook,
with a sharp point and a rod long as a serpent-dragon.
His phoenix eyes shone bright, his brows bristled high;
his steel teeth were sharp, and his mouth gleamed red.
A fiery beard swept below his chin;
short red hair bristled at his temples.
He looked fierce as Marshal Wen, though his robes and cap were not the same.

Wukong saw him and joined his palms. "Poor monk is Sun Wukong."

The Daoist laughed. "Are you truly Sun Wukong, or are you only borrowing the name?"

Wukong said, "Listen to yourself. As the old saying goes, a gentleman changes neither his name when he walks nor his surname when he sits. I am indeed Wukong. What false borrowing is there?"

The Daoist said, "Do you know who I am?"

Wukong said, "Since I have entered the Buddhist gate and taken the monk's teaching in sincerity, I have crossed mountains and rivers for a long while and have lost touch even with friends from my childhood. I have not had the chance to visit, and so I only know your face a little. Just now I asked the local people west of the Mother-and-Child River, and they said you were Ruyi True Immortal, so I recognized you."

The Daoist said, "You go your way and I cultivate my truth. Why did you come looking for me?"

Wukong said, "Because my master drank the Mother-and-Child River by mistake and now has belly pain and a forming fetus. I have specially come to your immortal estate to beg for one bowl of Fetus-Dispelling Spring water, so as to relieve my master's suffering."

The Daoist glared. "Is your master Tripitaka?"

Wukong said, "Exactly so, exactly so."

The Daoist gritted his teeth. "Did you not once come across a Holy Infant King?"

Wukong said, "That is the nickname of the red boy demon in the Fire Cloud Cave at Dry Pine Stream on Mount Flamed, isn't it? Why does the true immortal ask after him?"

The Daoist said, "He is my nephew. I am the younger brother of the Bull Demon King. Some time ago my elder brother sent me a letter saying that Sun Wukong, Tripitaka's eldest disciple, had been vicious and had harmed him. I have had nowhere to look for you and take revenge, and now you come looking for me as well, asking for water. What water?"

Wukong said with a smile, "Sir, you are mistaken. Your elder brother and I were once friends, and in our youth we were sworn brothers, seven in all. I have only failed to pay respects at your house because I did not know your residence. Your nephew has had a good fate; he is now with Guanyin Bodhisattva as the Good Wealth Boy. We are still worse off than he is. How can you blame me?"

The Daoist shouted, "You wretched monkey! Still twisting your tongue. Is it better for my nephew to reign free, or better for him to serve another man? No more nonsense. Take this hook!"

The Great Sage raised his iron staff to block it. "Do not talk of striking, sir. Just give me a little spring water."

The Daoist cursed, "Wretched monkey! You do not know life from death. If you can last three rounds against me, I will give you the water. If not, I will chop you into meat paste and avenge my nephew."

Wukong shouted back, "You ignorant monster! If you want a fight, come out and see my staff."

The true immortal returned the Ruyi hook in a flash.

The two of them fought like this at the Gathering-Immortals Monastery:

The holy monk had drunk the conception water by mistake; the Pilgrim had come to seek the immortal Ruyi.
Who would have thought the true immortal was in fact a monster, relying on brute force to guard the Fetus-Dispelling Spring?
When they met and spoke of old grudges, they wrestled so fiercely that neither would give way.
Words flew back and forth, each more bitter than the last, and both had murder in their hearts.
One came because his master was harmed and sought water; the other would not give it because his nephew had died.
The Ruyi hook was more vicious than a scorpion's poison, and the Golden-Hooped Rod was cruel as a dragon's spine.
The hook stabbed straight at the chest with violent force; the rod hooked diagonally at the feet with marvelous skill.
The underhand staff landed hard and harmed the ribs; the over-the-shoulder hook leaped high and struck near the head.
One staff held the waist like an eagle clutching a sparrow; three hooks pressed from above like a mantis catching a cicada.
They went back and forth, fighting for victory, turning and turning, with no end in sight.
Hook and rod crossed again and again, and still there was no clear winner.

The true immortal fought the Great Sage for more than ten rounds, but could not defeat him. The Great Sage only grew fiercer, his iron staff whirling like a rolling star. The true immortal lost his strength and backed toward the mountain, dragging the Ruyi hook behind him.

Wukong did not pursue him. Instead he went back into the monastery to look for the water. The Daoist who had been guarding the place had already shut the gate. Wukong took the earthen bowl and rushed to the gate, and with one hard kick he smashed the monastery door and stormed inside.

He saw the Daoist leaning over the well rail. Wukong shouted and was about to strike, but the Daoist ran off to the back. Wukong had just found the bucket and was about to draw water when the true immortal came back from the front, hooked his foot, and made him fall flat on his face. Wukong scrambled up and struck with the iron staff.

The true immortal slipped away to the side, clutching the hook and saying, "Let's see whether you can get my water!"

Wukong cursed him. "Come here, come here, and I will beat you to death, you evil thing!"

The true immortal would not come forward to fight. He only kept Wukong from drawing water. Wukong saw that he could not get anywhere and that every time he bent to the well the hook would come again. He thought to himself, "Let me go call in help."

The Great Sage turned his cloud around and went straight back to the farmhouse gate, where he called out, "Sha Wujing!"

Inside, Tripitaka was groaning in pain and Bajie was crying out without end. Hearing the call, both of them were delighted. "Sha Wujing, Sun Wukong has come!"

Sha Wujing hurried out to greet him. "Brother, have you brought back the water?"

The Great Sage went inside and told Tripitaka the whole story. Tripitaka wiped away tears and said, "Disciple, what are we to do?"

Wukong said, "I have come to ask Brother Sha to go with me. We will go to the monastery gate and let Old Sun fight that fellow. Meanwhile Brother Sha can slip inside and fetch the water to save you."

Tripitaka said, "If the two who are not sick both leave, and leave the two of us who are sick here, who is to care for us?"

The old woman by the side said, "Holy monk, do not worry. You do not need your disciples. My family will naturally look after you. When you arrived this morning, we had a warm feeling of pity. Only just now, when we saw this Bodhisattva riding the clouds in and out, did we understand that you are an Arhat and Bodhisattva. We would never dare harm you again."

Wukong snapped, "You womenfolk! Which of you dares lay a hand on anyone?"

The old woman smiled. "Lord, it is your good fortune that you came to our house. If you had gone to another house, you would not have stayed whole."

Bajie moaned, "What do you mean, not stay whole?"

The old woman said, "My whole family, four or five people, are all old, and we have long since put aside the business of love and desire, so we would not hurt you. If you had gone to some other household, where there are old and young together, what young person would let you go? They would all force themselves on you. If you refused, they would kill you and cut the flesh off your body to make scented sachets."

Bajie said, "If that is all, I am certainly safe. They are all fragrant, so they make good sachets. I am a stinking pig, so even if they cut off my flesh it would still smell. There can be no harm done."

Wukong laughed. "Do not run your mouth. Save your strength for labor."

The old woman said, "Do not delay. Hurry and go fetch the water."

Wukong said, "Does your house have a bucket? Lend me one."

The old woman went to the back and brought out a big bucket, together with a coiled rope, and handed them to Sha Wujing.

Sha Wujing said, "Take two ropes. The well may be deep and we may need them."

He took the bucket and rope, and the Great Sage led him out of the farmhouse. They rose into the clouds and in less than half an hour reached Jieyang Mountain.

They set down the clouds and went straight to the monastery gate. The Great Sage told Sha Wujing, "Take the bucket and rope and hide to one side. I will go out and bait him into a fight. When the two of us are locked in battle, you take the chance to go in and fetch the water, then leave at once."

Sha Wujing obeyed carefully.

Sun the Great Sage drew his iron staff and shouted at the gate, "Open up, open up!"

The gatekeeper saw him and hurried in to report, "Master, Sun Wukong has come again."

The true immortal was furious. "This wretched monkey is outrageously bold. I have heard for a long time that he has some skill, and now I know it is true. His staff is hard indeed to face."

The Daoist said, "Master, though his skill is high, you are no less than he is. You are a matched opponent."

The true immortal said, "He has beaten me twice already."

The Daoist said, "Though he won twice, it was only because he was wild and forceful. On the two later attempts to fetch water, Master hooked him and knocked him over twice, which shows you are just as good as he is. Since he could not do anything and had to leave before, and now has come again, it must be because Tripitaka's fetus has grown and his body is heavier, so he is complaining bitterly and has no choice. He must have some contempt for his master. This time, our master is certain to win."

The true immortal heard that and was delighted, his chest full of springtime. Smiling and brimming with force, he gripped the Ruyi hook and came out, shouting, "You wretched monkey! What are you doing here again?"

The Great Sage said, "I am only here to fetch water."

The true immortal said, "The spring water is our own well. Even emperors and ministers would have to bring flowers, wine, and gifts to ask for it, and only then receive a little. You, especially, are my enemy. How dare you come empty-handed and think to take it?"

Wukong said, "You really will not give it?"

The true immortal said, "I will not, and I will not."

Wukong cursed, "Wretched evil thing! Since you will not give the water, take my staff!"

He threw a stance and rushed in headlong. Without more words, he struck at once. The true immortal turned sideways to avoid the blow and returned it with a quick hook.

This fight was even fiercer than the last:

The Golden-Hooped Rod and the Ruyi Hook, both furious, both bearing old grudges.
Flying sand and rolling stones dimmed heaven and earth; dust rose in swirls and the sun and moon grew troubled.
The Great Sage fought to save his master and fetch the water; the fiendish immortal fought to avenge his nephew and would not yield.
Both sides strained with all their might and wagered everything in one place.
Grinding their teeth, they fought for victory; biting their lips, they decided whether hardness or softness should win.
Each new trick called forth a sharper turn, each twist more lively than the last;
clouds burst and mist spouted, and even ghosts and gods were troubled.
The staff clapped and rang against the hook; shouts and roars shook the hills.
Wild wind rolled in endless waves, driving through forest and wood;
killing aura drifted thickly past the stars of Bull and Ox.
The Great Sage grew happier and happier as he fought; the true immortal grew ever more entangled.
With purpose and resolve they faced each other in battle, refusing to stop until life and death were decided.

The two of them fought from the monastery gate all the way down the slope, whirling and leaping, locked in bitter struggle. We need not say more of it here.

Meanwhile Sha Wujing took the bucket and slipped into the gate. The Daoist was blocking the well and asked, "Who are you, and how dare you come fetch water?"

Sha Wujing set down the bucket, took out his demon-subduing staff, and without a word struck at once. The Daoist could not dodge in time, and his left arm was broken by the blow. He collapsed on the ground and struggled for his life.

Sha Wujing cursed him. "I should kill you, you evil creature. But since you are a human being, I still spare your life. Get away and let me draw water."

The Daoist cried to Heaven and Earth and crawled to the back. Sha Wujing then drew a full bucket of water from the well, came out of the monastery gate, and rode the clouds to Wukong, shouting, "Brother, I have fetched the water. Spare him, spare him!"

The Great Sage heard him and only then used his iron staff to hold off the hook. "I meant to wipe him out, but since he has not committed a crime, and because of his elder brother Bull Demon King's sake, I will spare him. Earlier I took two hooks and did not get the water. Just now I used a tiger-luring-away-from-the-mountain trick to draw him out and fight, while my brother fetched the water. If Old Sun were willing to show all his power and fight him, let alone one Ruyi True Immortal, even several of them would be beaten to death. It is better to kill by leaving alive, so I will spare him and let him live a few more years. If anyone comes for water again, he must not extort them."

The immortal did not know what was good for him. As soon as he turned, he came to hook at Wukong's foot again. Wukong dodged the hook-head, rushed forward, and shouted, "Do not run!"

The immortal was caught off guard and stumbled flat. He struggled up, but Wukong snatched the Ruyi hook away, broke it in two, then in four.

He flung the pieces to the ground and said, "Wretched evil beast! Will you dare be rude again?"

The immortal trembled all over and said nothing, enduring the shame.

Then the Great Sage laughed and rode his cloud upward. There is a poem to prove it:

If true lead is to be refined, it must have true water;
true water, in harmony, dries the true mercury.
True mercury and true lead have no mother-breath;
spirit-sand and spirit-drugs are the immortal pill.
The child has vainly formed a fetal shape;
the earth-mother's work has been done without effort.
Knock down the side paths and honor the orthodox teaching;
and the heart-king smiles in satisfaction.

The Great Sage rode his auspicious light and caught up with Sha Wujing. They got the true water and returned joyfully to their previous lodging.

They lowered the clouds and went back to the farmhouse.

There they saw Bajie, his belly pushed out, leaning against the doorpost and groaning.

Wukong went up quietly and said, "You fool, how long have you been occupying a room?"

The fool panicked. "Brother, do not laugh. Did you get the water?"

Wukong was still preparing to tease him when Sha Wujing arrived behind him and laughed, "The water is here, the water is here."

Tripitaka, still in pain, half-risen, said, "Disciples, you have troubled yourselves."

The old woman was delighted too. She and the other women came out and bowed, saying, "Holy monks, this is hard-won indeed, hard-won."

At once they brought a flowered porcelain cup, scooped out half a cup, and handed it to Tripitaka, saying, "Holy master, drink it slowly. Just one mouthful will dispel the fetal qi."

Bajie said, "I do not need a cup. Let me drink straight from the bucket."

The old woman said, "My lord, you are frightening me to death. If you drank the bucket, your intestines and belly would melt away."

The fool was so frightened that he did not dare make a scene, and only drank half a cup as well.

Before a meal's time had passed, the two of them were doubled over in cramps, and they heard their bowels rumbling three or five times. After the rumbling, the fool could not hold back and both his bowels and bladder let loose. Tripitaka also could not bear it and had to go relieve himself in a quiet place.

Wukong said, "Master, do not go out into the wind. It is dangerous. If you catch the wind, it may become a post-childbed illness."

The old woman then brought two clean pails and told the two of them to relieve themselves in peace. Before long, after several rounds, the pain began to stop, and the swelling slowly went down. The clots of blood and chunks of flesh dissolved away.

The old woman's family then boiled some white rice gruel for them to restore their strength.

Bajie said, "Good mother, my body is sturdy enough. I do not need restoring. Boil some water for me to wash my hands and feet, and then I can eat the gruel."

Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, you cannot bathe. A person in confinement who is splashed with water will fall ill."

Bajie said, "I was not really giving birth. At most I had a small miscarriage. Why should I fear that? Let me wash and be clean."

Sure enough, the old woman boiled some water and let the two of them wash their hands and feet. Tripitaka drank only two small bowls of gruel, but Bajie ate more than ten and still wanted more.

Wukong laughed. "You brute, eat a little less. Do not turn yourself into a sandbag belly. It does not look proper."

Bajie said, "No matter, no matter. I am not a sow. What do I care?"

The family really did go on to prepare the meal.

The old woman said to Tripitaka, "Holy master, please give me the leftover water."

Wukong asked, "You do not want to drink any?"

Bajie said, "My belly does not hurt anymore. The fetal qi must have dispersed, and I feel light as air. What need have I for more water?"

Wukong said, "Since the two of them are well, let us give the water to your family."

The old woman thanked him and put the remaining water into an earthen jar, which she buried in the ground at the back.

She said to the old and young alike, "This jar of water will be enough for my burial and coffin fund."

The whole household was delighted. They set out the vegetarian meal and arranged the tables and stools. After the pilgrims had eaten, they rested there in peace for the night.

The next morning, when it was light, the master and disciples thanked the old woman's family and left the farmhouse. Tripitaka climbed back onto the horse, Sha Wujing carried the luggage, Sun the Great Sage led the way, and Bajie gathered the reins. Truly:

The mouth's filth was washed away and the body made clean;
the mortal fetus dissolved, and the body returned of itself.

As for what business still awaits them after entering the kingdom, that must wait for the next chapter to explain.