Chapter 85: The Mind-Monkey Grew Jealous of the Wood Mother; the Demon Lord Schemed to Swallow the Monk

The king went to court early in the morning, and civil and military ministers all stood with memorials in hand and reported, "Your Majesty, we beg you to forgive us our offense in failing to observe proper ceremony."

The king said, "You ministers have behaved as usual. What offense do you mean?"

The ministers said, "Your Majesty, we do not know why, but all of us lost our hair overnight."

The king held the memorials from the hairless ministers and descended from the dragon couch to face them all. "Indeed, I do not know why. In my palace, men and women alike all lost their hair overnight as well."

King and court all wept tearfully and said, "From this day on, we will never again dare to kill monks."

The king returned to the dragon throne, and the officials stood back in their proper ranks.

The king said, "If there is business, step forward and report it. If not, let the curtains be rolled up and the court dismissed."

Then from the military ranks came out the city-patrol general, and from the civil ranks the East City cavalry commander. Both knelt on the steps and reported, "Your servant followed imperial orders to patrol the city and last night obtained a stolen trunk and a white horse. I dare not decide the matter on my own, so I ask for Your Majesty's decree."

The king was delighted. "Bring the trunk here at once."

The two officers withdrew to their office, summoned disciplined soldiers, and carried the trunk in.

Tripitaka, inside, felt as though his soul had left his body. "Disciples, how am I supposed to explain this before the king?"

Wukong laughed. "Do not shout. I have already arranged everything. When the trunk is opened, he will bow to us as his masters. Just make sure Bajie does not start competing over first and last place."

Bajie said, "So long as we are spared from execution, that is blessing enough. How could I still compete?"

The trunk was carried outside the palace and into the Five-Phoenix Tower, then set down on the vermilion steps.

The two officers asked the king to open it for inspection. The king ordered it opened at once.

The lid had just been lifted when Zhu Bajie could not contain himself and leaped out. The ministers were so frightened that they trembled and lost their voices. Then Sun Wukong helped Tripitaka out, and Sha Wujing carried out the baggage.

When Bajie saw the general holding the horse, he stepped forward and snapped, "That horse is mine. Hand it over."

The officer was so startled he flipped over backward and fell to the ground.

The four pilgrims stood together on the steps.

The king saw that they were only four monks and hurried down from the dragon couch. He summoned the three palace consorts and empresses, descended from the golden hall, and bowed with his ministers while asking, "Reverend master, where have you come from?"

Tripitaka said, "This monk has come under order from Great Tang in the East to the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Heaven to bow before the Buddha and seek the true scriptures."

The king said, "Master, you have come from afar. Why did you lodge in that trunk?"

Tripitaka said, "This poor monk knew that Your Majesty had once vowed to kill monks, so I dared not enter the kingdom openly. I disguised myself as a layman and stayed the night at a local inn in your precious land. Because I feared my true form would be discovered, I slept in a trunk. Unfortunately I was stolen out and then seized by the general and brought here. Now that I have seen Your Majesty's dragon countenance, it is as though the clouds have parted and the sun has come out. I beg Your Majesty to forgive this poor monk and show your ocean-deep grace."

The king said, "Master is a high monk from the great empire. I failed to welcome you properly. For years I have held a vow to kill monks because one once slandered me, and I made a heaven-bound vow that I would kill ten thousand monks to fulfill it. I never expected that in one night you would come to convert us all and make us into monks ourselves.

Now the king, ministers, and consorts all have their hair shaved off. I beg you, holy master, do not withhold your noble virtue. Please accept us as disciples."

Bajie, hearing this, laughed loudly. "If you want to become disciples, what sort of gift will you offer?"

The king said, "If the masters are willing to stay, I will offer all the treasures of the kingdom."

Wukong said, "Do not speak of treasures. We monks are men of the Way. You only need to exchange our travel pass and send us out of the city. We will guarantee that your imperial fortune will be secure forever and your blessings and years will increase without end."

When the king heard this, he ordered the Court of Revenue to prepare a grand banquet.

King and court alike bowed and turned to the Dharma.

The travel pass was exchanged at once, and they asked the master to change the kingdom's name.

Wukong said, "Your Majesty, the name 'Kingdom of Dharma Destruction' is fine enough, but the character for 'destroy' is not suitable. Since I have passed through here, you may change the title to 'Kingdom of Revering Dharma,' and I guarantee that the seas will be calm, the rivers clear, and ten thousand regions blessed with favorable wind and rain."

The king thanked him.

They set out the royal carriage and horses and escorted Tripitaka and the four pilgrims west out of the city. We need not speak of how king and court all repented and returned to the true path.

Now to return to the holy monk. After taking leave of the king of the Kingdom of Revering Dharma, he rode happily and said, "Wukong, this method is truly good. It has done great service."

Sha Wujing said, "Brother, where did you find all those barbers to shave so many heads overnight?"

Wukong told them of the changes and divine transformations he had used, and all the pilgrims laughed until they could not close their mouths.

While they were still in high spirits, they suddenly saw a high mountain blocking the road.

Tripitaka reined in his horse. "Disciples, look. This mountain ahead is steep and towering. You must be careful."

Wukong laughed. "Do not worry. I guarantee that nothing will happen to you."

Tripitaka said, "Do not say nothing will happen. I can see the mountain peaks standing upright, and from far away there is some fierce energy. Dark clouds are flying out, and I already feel uneasy, numb all over, and unable to settle my mind."

Wukong laughed. "Have you already forgotten the Heart Sutra taught by the Master of the Nest?"

Tripitaka said, "I remember it."

Wukong said, "Even if you remember it, you have forgotten these four lines."

Tripitaka said, "Which four lines?"

Wukong said:

Seek not the Buddha far away in Lingshan;
Lingshan lies only in your own heart.
Each person has a Lingshan pagoda;
cultivate it well beneath that tower.

Tripitaka said, "Disciple, do I not know that? If I follow those four lines, then ten thousand scriptures and every canon amount to nothing more than training the mind."

Wukong said, "There is no need to say more. When the mind is pure, one bright light shines alone. When the mind abides, ten thousand scenes are all clear. Lose it by even a little, and you become lazy and slack; a thousand years and ten thousand years will still not bring success. Only one strand of sincere intent is needed, and Thunderclap is already right before your eyes. But with your fear and alarm, your mind unsettled, the Great Way is far away, and Thunderclap is far away too. Do not doubt blindly. Follow me."

When the monk heard this, his mind and spirit suddenly brightened, and all worries were gone.

The four of them advanced together. After only a few steps they reached the mountain.

Looking up, they saw that it was a fine mountain:

The mountain was truly beautiful, and its colors ran in fine patterns. Clouds floated around its top, and tree shadows grew cold beside the cliffs. Birds flew in a flurry, and beasts ran wild and fierce. Inside the forest were pine trunks by the thousand, and on the ridges stood a few bamboo stalks. Wolves howled as they fought over food, and hungry tigers roared as they battled for a meal. Wild monkeys cried out as they searched for fresh fruit, and deer climbed toward the flowers on green mists. Wind hissed, water murmured, and from time to time you could hear hidden birds calling among the branches. Here and there vines and creepers pulled and tangled, and the stream was filled with jade-colored grasses mixed with sweet orchids. Strange rocks gleamed like scales, and peaks cut upward like blades. Foxes and badgers ran in groups, and monkeys and apes played in bands. The traveler worried over the steepness and danger, and the ancient road bent and turned and would not go straight.

The pilgrims went on fearfully, and as they traveled they suddenly heard a rush of wind.

Tripitaka said, "The wind is rising."

Wukong said, "Spring has a gentle wind, summer a warm wind, autumn a metal wind, and winter a northern wind. Every season has wind. Why be afraid?"

Tripitaka said, "This wind has come so suddenly. It is surely not a natural wind."

Wukong said, "Since ancient times, wind rises from the ground and clouds come from mountains. How can there be a wind of heaven?"

Before he had finished speaking, they saw fog rise too. That fog was truly this:

Dark and thick, it joined the heavens;
murky and dim, it wrapped the earth.
Sunlight lost all shadow;
bird calls could not be heard.
It was as though chaos had returned,
and dust was flying in the air.
You could not see the trees on the mountain peaks,
and you would never meet a herb-gatherer.

Tripitaka grew even more alarmed. "Wukong, the wind has not yet settled, so why has such fog risen?"

Wukong said, "Do not hurry. Please dismount, Master. You two brothers stay here and guard him while I go see whether there is good or ill."

The Great Sage bent his waist and leaped into the air.

He shaded his eyes with his hand and opened his fiery eyes wide. Looking down, he indeed saw a demon seated beside a hanging cliff. What did it look like?

His markings were bright and varied, full of color.
His bearing was proud and imposing.
His tusks jutted from his mouth like steel drills,
and his claws hid in his hooves like jade hooks.
Gold eyes and round pupils made birds and beasts afraid;
silver whiskers stood up and frightened ghosts and spirits.
He roared wildly, showing his might,
while he blew fog and wind with cunning breath.

He also saw three or four dozen little demons ranged on his left and right, and there he was, blowing wind and fog with his magic.

Wukong laughed inwardly. "My master had a sign of this too. He said it was not natural wind, and indeed it is a demon making a racket here. If Old Sun simply took his iron staff and hit downward, that would be called 'smashing garlic' - one blow and it would be dead, but it would damage my reputation."

The Great Sage was a born hero, but he did not understand hidden schemes against others.

He thought, "I will go back and look after Zhu Bajie. I will let him meet this demon first. If Bajie has skill and knocks the monster down, then that is good fortune. If he has no skill and gets taken away, I can save him afterward and make a name for myself. Besides, he usually acts lazy and does not like to step forward, but he does have a tight mouth and likes to eat. Let me tease him and see what he says."

At once he dropped back from the clouds to stand before Tripitaka.

Tripitaka asked, "Wukong, what about the wind and fog? Is there good or ill?"

Wukong said, "It is bright and clear now. There is no wind or fog."

Tripitaka said, "Indeed, it does feel as though it has died down somewhat."

Wukong smiled. "Master, I usually see things clearly, but this time I was mistaken. I only said there might be a demon in the wind and fog, but it turned out not to be so."

Tripitaka asked, "What was it then?"

Wukong said, "Not far ahead there is a village. The people there are kind-hearted and are steaming white rice and white-flour buns to offer monks. That fog must be the steam from their cookpots, and it is a sign of accumulated virtue."

Bajie heard this and believed it. He pulled Wukong aside and whispered, "Brother, did you just come from eating their alms yourself?"

Wukong said, "Only a little. The vegetables were too salty, and I did not want to eat much."

Bajie said, "Bah! No matter how salty they are, I can still eat enough to fill my stomach. If I get very thirsty, I will come back and drink water."

Wukong said, "You want to eat?"

Bajie said, "Yes. I am hungry, and I want to go eat something. What's wrong with that?"

Wukong said, "Brother, do not mention it. The old books say, 'While the father lives, the son may not act on his own.' Master is still here. Who would dare go first?"

Bajie laughed. "If you will not say anything, then I will go."

Wukong said, "If I do not say anything, how will you go?"

That fool had his own crooked way of seeing things. He stepped forward and bowed. "Master, just now Senior Brother said there is a family in the next village offering alms to monks.

Look at the horse. If it bothers them to have the horse there, it will need grass and fodder. That would be trouble for them, would it not? Fortunately the wind and fog have now cleared. Please sit here for a moment while I go seek some tender grass to feed the horse, and then we can go to that household and beg alms."

Tripitaka was delighted. "Good. Today why are you so diligent? Hurry and go, then come back soon."

The fool smiled to himself and went off.

Wukong caught up and tugged him. "Brother, they only offer alms to handsome monks. They do not offer to ugly ones."

Bajie said, "In that case, I will have to change again."

Wukong said, "Exactly. Go change."

The fool had thirty-six transformations too. He went to the mountain hollow, pinched a spell, and recited an incantation. He shook himself and changed into a short, thin monk. He held a wooden fish in his hand and hummed to himself, though he did not really know the sutras. What he hummed was the refrain "Shang ta ren."

The demon, having gathered wind and fog and commanded the little fiends, stood in a ring formation at the roadside waiting for travelers.

Bajie was unlucky. Not long after, he walked right into the middle and was surrounded by the demons. One grabbed his clothes, another his sash, and they shoved and pushed him all at once.

Bajie said, "Do not pull. Let me eat my way through each household first."

The demons said, "Monk, what do you want to eat?"

Bajie said, "You are offering monks alms. I have come to eat the vegetarian food."

The demons said, "So you think this place offers alms to monks? You do not know that here we specialize in eating monks. We are all demon immortals who have attained the Way in these mountains. We only take monks back home, steam them in a steamer basket until they are fully cooked, and then eat them. You still think you came here to eat alms?"

When Bajie heard this, he grew afraid and began blaming Wukong. "That Marshal Canopy is truly lazy. He tricked me by saying there was a village offering alms to monks, but where is any village here? What monks could possibly be offered here? It was all these demons."

Pressed hard by their pulling, he immediately revealed his true form. He drew out his rake and beat wildly, driving the little demons back.

The little demons hurried back to report to the old demon.

"Great King, disaster has come."

The old demon asked, "What disaster?"

The little demon said, "A monk has come to the front of the mountain, and he is very clean-looking. I said to catch him home and steam him. If we could not eat him all, we could save some for when the weather turned cloudy.

But he can change his shape."

The old demon asked, "What shape did he change into?"

The little demon said, "Not really a human shape at all. He has a long mouth and big ears, and he even has a mane on his back. He is swinging a rake with both hands and beating wildly without caring where it lands. He frightened us back here to report to Great King."

The old demon said, "Do not be afraid. Let me go see."

He took up a steel staff and went to look. Sure enough, the fool was ugly indeed. He was made like this:

His snout was three feet long,
and his tusks jutted like silver nails.
His round eyes shone like lightning;
his great ears flapped in the wind.
A mane ran down the back of his head like rows of iron arrows;
his hide was rough and scabby, yet still greenish.
In his hands he wielded a strange weapon,
a nine-pronged rake that frightened everyone who saw it.

The demon hardened his courage and shouted, "Where are you from? What is your name? Tell me quickly and I will spare your life."

Bajie laughed. "My son, you do not even know your pig grandfather. Come closer and I will tell you:

My huge mouth and tusks give me great strength;
the Jade Emperor raised me to Marshal Canopy.
I commanded eighty thousand troops by the Heavenly River,
and life in Heaven was easy and free.
But because I drank too much and teased the palace maids,
I sold my heroism away then and there.
With one snout I toppled the Hall of Dipper and Bull,
and I ate the Queen Mother's spirit mushrooms.
The Jade Emperor struck me two thousand times with the hammer,
and I was banished to the lower world below the sky.
There I was told to cultivate my original spirit,
but down below I became a monster instead.
Just as I was happily married at High Family Mansion,
fate led me to meet Brother Sun.
Under the Golden-Hooped Rod I received my submission,
and only then did I bow down and become a monk.
I carry baggage and lead the horse, doing the work of a drudge;
in a former life I still owed Tripitaka a debt.
I, Marshal Canopy, am a pig by surname,
and my Dharma name is Zhu Bajie."

The demon heard this and shouted, "So you are one of Tripitaka's disciples. I have long heard that Tripitaka's flesh is delicious, and I was just about to catch you. Now you have come right to me. Will I spare you? Do not run. Taste my staff."

Bajie said, "You evil beast, you are really a dyer's apprentice."

The demon said, "How am I a dyer's apprentice?"

Bajie said, "If you are not a dyer's apprentice, how do you know how to use a rolling pin?"

The monster would not hear any more. He rushed in and fought.

It was a fine battle in the mountain hollow:

The nine-pronged rake and the steel staff,
one flung mad skill and the other sent flying sleet.
One was a nameless fiend blocking the mountain road;
the other was the guilty Marshal Canopy, still aiding the master.
A righteous nature fears neither monster nor demon;
on a high mountain even gold cannot make soil from earth.
The staff-blocks were like a python leaving a pool;
the rake came on like a dragon leaving a marsh.
Their shouts shook the mountains and rivers;
their cries of prowess startled the underworld.
Two heroes showed their skill and staked their lives in a contest of divine power.

Bajie pressed with all his force and fought the demon, while the monster ordered the little demons to surround him.

Now to return to Wukong behind Tripitaka. He suddenly gave a cold laugh.

Sha Wujing asked, "Brother, why the cold laugh?"

Wukong said, "Bajie is truly stupid. He heard there was an alms-giving monastery and let me fool him into going. By this time he still has not come back. If he fights and drives the monster off, then he will come back boasting of his merit. If he cannot beat him and is captured, then it will be my bad luck. He will curse me, Marshal Canopy, from both front and back, I do not know how many times.

Wujing, keep quiet. Let me go take a look."

The Great Sage did not tell Tripitaka. Quietly he plucked a hair from the back of his head, blew on it with immortal breath, and cried, "Change!"

It became a copy of himself, and he left it there to accompany Sha Wujing and the master. His true body slipped into the air to watch.

He saw Bajie surrounded by demons, his rake in disorder and growing weaker by the moment. Wukong could not hold back and dropped down from the clouds, shouting, "Bajie, do not rush. Old Sun has come."

When Bajie heard Wukong's voice, he grew bolder at once and used the rake in a frenzy.

The demon could not hold out and cried, "That monk was useless just now. Why has he suddenly grown fierce?"

Bajie said, "My son, do not bully me. My family has come."

He pressed forward all the more and beat at them without mercy.

The monster could not hold on and led the little demons in defeat.

When Wukong saw the demons flee, he did not go forward. He simply turned the cloud around and went back where he had come from, shaking the hair from his body to bring it back in.

The monk with mortal eyes could not tell the difference.

Soon the fool came back victorious, still dripping with spit and snot and white foam, and walked up huffing. "Master."

Tripitaka was startled. "Bajie, you went to fetch horse grass. Why have you come back in such a battered state? Did the mountain people not let you cut grass?"

The fool dropped his rake, beat his chest, and stamped his feet. "Master, do not ask. If I say it aloud, I will die of shame."

Tripitaka said, "Why ashamed?"

Bajie said, "Senior Brother tricked me. He first said the wind and fog were not demons, and that there was no sign of ill fortune, only a village of kind people steaming white rice and white-flour buns to offer monks. I believed him. Then, hungry as I was, I went to beg for some under the pretext of cutting grass. Who knew there were so many demons? They surrounded me, and I fought this long time. If Senior Brother had not helped me with his mourning staff, I would never have escaped the net."

Wukong laughed beside them. "This fool is talking nonsense. If you do something criminal, you always drag a good person into it. I have been here guarding Master all this time. When did I ever step away?"

Tripitaka said, "Yes, Wukong has not left my side."

The fool jumped and cried, "Master, you do not know. He has a body-double."

Tripitaka asked, "Wukong, was there really a demon?"

Wukong could not hide it and bowed, smiling. "There was a little demon or so, but he did not dare provoke us. Bajie, come here. I will look after you too. Since we are protecting Master, walking along the dangerous mountain road is like marching with an army.

Bajie asked, "What is marching with an army?"

Wukong said, "You will be the road-clearing general, walking in front and clearing the way. If the demon does not come, that is fine. If he does, you can fight him. If you knock him down, the merit is yours."

Bajie thought the demon's skill was about equal to his own. "If I die at his hands, so be it. Let me go first."

Wukong laughed. "This fool always starts by saying unlucky things. How is he ever to grow?"

Bajie said, "Brother, you know the saying: 'A prince at banquet must either eat his fill or get drunk; a warrior facing battle must either die or be wounded.' If I say one wrong thing first, then I can have some bravado later."

Wukong was pleased. He quickly carried the horse for Tripitaka to mount, and Sha Wujing took the baggage. Following Bajie, they entered the mountain road.

Now to return to the demon. He led his defeated little monsters back to the cave and sat high on the stone cliff, silent and sullen. There were still many little demons guarding the cave, and they came forward asking, "Great King, you always come back happy and laughing from your patrols. Why are you so upset today?"

The old demon said, "Little ones, whenever I leave the cave to patrol the mountain, I do not care whether I meet man or beast. I always bring home a few captives to feed you. Today my luck was poor, and I met a worthy enemy."

The little demons asked, "Who was the enemy?"

The old demon said, "A monk, a disciple of Tripitaka from the East, named Zhu Bajie. He beat me down with his rake. That was truly hateful. I have often heard people say Tripitaka is a monk who has cultivated for ten lifetimes, and that anyone who eats a piece of his flesh can live forever. I never expected that he would arrive at my mountain today, where I could capture him and steam him to eat. Who knew he would have such disciples?"

While he was still speaking, a little demon slipped out from the rank and stepped before him. He wept three times, then laughed three times.

The old demon shouted, "Why are you crying and laughing?"

The little demon knelt and said, "Great King, you just said you wanted to eat Tripitaka, but Tripitaka's flesh cannot be eaten."

The old demon said, "People say one piece of his flesh grants immortality and equal years with heaven. How can you say it cannot be eaten?"

The little demon said, "If it could be eaten, no one would have left it here. Other demons would have eaten him already.

He has three disciples."

The old demon said, "Do you know who they are?"

The little demon said, "His eldest disciple is Sun Wukong, and his third is Sha Wujing. The second is Zhu Bajie."

The old demon said, "How does Sha Wujing compare with Zhu Bajie?"

The little demon said, "About the same."

The old demon asked, "And how does Sun Wukong compare with them?"

The little demon stuck out his tongue. "I do not dare say."

The old demon said, "Speak."

The little demon said, "Sun Wukong has immense powers and many transformations. Five hundred years ago he caused trouble in Heaven. The twenty-eight mansions, the nine luminaries, the twelve stars, the five ministers and four counselors, the stars of east and west, the gods of north and south, the five peaks and four rivers, and the heavenly generals all together did not dare provoke him. How dare you try to eat Tripitaka?"

The old demon asked, "How do you know all this so clearly?"

The little demon said, "I once lived at Lion Camel Cave on Lion Camel Ridge. The great king there did not know what was good for him and wanted to eat Tripitaka. Sun Wukong used his Golden-Hooped Rod and beat his way in. It was pitiful - he beat that king until he was beyond the names of the dominoes, until he was reduced to 'broken five and severed six.' Thanks to my own insight, I escaped through the back door and came here, where Your Majesty took me in. That is why I know his methods."

The old demon was shocked. As the saying goes, a general fears ominous words. Hearing his own people speak like this, how could he not be alarmed?

Just then another little demon came forward and said, "Great King, do not be angry or afraid. As the old saying goes, things should be done slowly. If you still want to eat Tripitaka, let me devise a plan to capture him."

The old demon asked, "What plan do you have?"

The little demon said, "I have a split-petal plum-blossom plan."

The old demon asked, "What is this split-petal plum-blossom plan?"

The little demon said, "We will now call up the great and small demons in the cave, pick three hundred from a thousand, thirty from a hundred, and then only three from ten. They must be capable and able to change shape. We will have them change into forms like the Great King's, each wearing the Great King's helmet, the Great King's armor, and carrying the Great King's staff. We will hide them in three places.

One will fight Zhu Bajie, another will fight Sun Wukong, and the third will fight Sha Wujing. We will leave only three little demons to distract the three brothers. The Great King himself will then stretch down his cloud-grasping hand from the air and seize Tripitaka as easily as reaching into a bag or pinching a fly in a bowl of water. What could be simpler?"

The old demon was delighted. "Excellent, excellent! If this trip cannot capture Tripitaka, then so be it. But if it does, I will not treat you lightly. I will make you the front-line vanguard."

The little demon bowed and thanked him. Then he called for the demons to be assembled. The great and small demons in the cave were mustered, and indeed three capable little demons were selected, all transformed into the old demon and each carrying an iron staff. They lay in ambush and waited for Tripitaka.

Now to return to the holy monk. He had no worries and no fear as he followed Bajie onto the main road.

They had gone for quite a while when, with a clatter, a little demon leaped out from by the roadside and rushed ahead to seize the monk.

Sun Wukong cried, "Bajie, the demon is here. Why do you not move?"

The fool did not know what was true or false. He drew his rake and chased after the demon, beating wildly.

The demon used his iron staff to block him.

The two of them fought back and forth below the hillside. Then from the grass there came another rustle, and another monster jumped out, rushing toward Tripitaka.

Wukong said, "Master, this is bad. Bajie has poor eyes and let the demon come take you. Stay on the horse while I beat him off."

He quickly drew his staff, met the demon, and shouted, "Where are you going? Taste my staff."

The monster gave no answer and only raised his staff to meet him.

The two of them collided in the grass slope, both pressing hard when yet another demon was heard whirling out from the mountain behind, rushing toward Tripitaka.

Sha Wujing saw this and was alarmed. "Master, Senior Brother and Second Brother have both gone blind and let the demon come to take you. Stay on the horse and let Old Sha beat him off."

This monk did not distinguish good from evil and drew his staff to block the demon staff head on.

He held on bitterly, shouting and fighting, and was gradually drawn farther and farther away.

While the old demon hovered above in the clouds, he saw Tripitaka sitting alone on the horse. He stretched down his five-clawed steel hooks and seized Tripitaka in one grab.

The master fell from the horse, lost his stirrup, and was taken away by a gust of wind.

Alas! This was the moment when Chan nature met demon hardship and the true fruit was tested by suffering.

The old demon lowered the wind and carried Tripitaka into the cave, calling out, "Vanguard."

The little demon who had made the plan came forward and knelt down. "I would not dare, I would not dare."

The old demon said, "Why say that? A great general's word, once spoken, is like black dye upon white cloth. If I said that if you captured Tripitaka you would be made my front-line vanguard, then that is what I mean. Today your strategy has succeeded. How could I possibly go back on my word? Bring Tripitaka here. Have the little ones fetch water, wash pots, carry firewood, and boil the steamer. Let us steam him.

You and I will each eat a piece of him, so that we may live long and gain immortality."

The vanguard said, "Great King, he must not be eaten yet."

The old demon said, "We brought him in. Why can he not be eaten?"

The vanguard said, "It is not a problem for the Great King to eat him, and Zhu Bajie could be managed, and Sha Wujing could be managed. But I fear Sun Wukong's master. If he learns that we have eaten him, he will not come and fight us in person. He will only thrust the Golden-Hooped Rod into the side of the mountain and bore a hole clean through it. Then he will shake the whole mountain down, and we will have nowhere to live."

The old demon said, "Vanguard, what do you suggest?"

The vanguard said, "According to me, send Tripitaka into the back garden and tie him to a tree. Do not give him food for two or three days. First, let his insides become clean. Second, if those three disciples do not come searching by the gate and we find out they have gone back, then we can bring him out and enjoy him at our leisure. Would that not be better?"

The old demon laughed. "Just so, just so. What you say makes sense."

At once he ordered Tripitaka taken to the back garden and tied to a tree with a rope. The little demons all went forward to wait.

Tripitaka suffered bitterly from the ropes and bindings, and tears would not stop flowing down his cheeks. He cried, "Disciples, while you are up there in the mountain catching monsters and chasing demons, I have been seized by this vile fiend and suffer here. When shall we meet again? It is killing me."

As he wept, he heard a voice from the tree opposite calling, "Reverend master, have you been brought here too?"

Tripitaka steadied himself and asked, "Who are you?"

The man said, "I am a woodcutter from this mountain. I was taken by the mountain lord the day before and tied up here. It has already been three days, and they mean to eat me."

Tripitaka wept and said, "Woodman, if you die, it is only one life. There is little to regret. But I would die in a truly unclean way."

The woodcutter said, "Reverend master, you are a monk. You have no parents above you and no wife or children below. Even if you die, what is unclean about it?"

Tripitaka said, "I was sent from East Land to the Western Heaven to seek the scriptures. I carry the imperial decree of Emperor Taizong of Tang and bowed before the living Buddha to obtain the true scriptures, so that I might deliver the orphaned souls in the dark underworld.

If I lose my life here, would that not mean I have betrayed the king and failed the minister? In the city of wrongful death, would there not be endless wronged souls terribly disappointed, denied escape for all time? My whole merit would be turned to dust. How could that be called clean?"

The woodcutter heard this and tears fell from his eyes. "Reverend master, if you die, it is no more than that. But my death is even more bitter. I lost my father young and live with a widowed mother. There is no other property, only the work of chopping wood. My mother is now eighty-three years old, and I alone support her.

If I die, who will bury me and send her into old age? Alas, alas! It is killing me."

Tripitaka heard him and burst into loud tears. "Alas, alas! Even a mountain man still has a heart for his parent, while I am only a monk who knows the scriptures. To serve the sovereign and to serve one's parents are the same principle; you have filial love, and I have loyal love."

It was just as the saying goes: tearful eyes look at tearful eyes, and heartbreak is sent by heartbreak.

We will not speak further of Tripitaka's suffering.

Now to return to Sun Wukong. After defeating the little demons below the slope, he rushed back to the roadside and found that his master was gone. Only the white horse and baggage remained.

He was terrified. He led the horse and carried the burden while searching the mountain slopes.

Alas! This was exactly how the suffering monk met suffering and the demon-slaying Great Sage met a demon.

What became of his search for his master? That must wait for the next chapter.