Chapter 33

A Heterodox Way Bewilders the True Nature; the Primal Spirit Aids the Native Mind

Now the monster brought Bajie into the cave and said, "Big brother, I have caught one." The old demon was delighted: "Bring him here for me to see." The second demon said, "Is this not he?" The old demon said, "Brother, you have taken the wrong one; this monk is of no use." Bajie picked up the cue at once: "Great King, a useless monk—put him out, why don't you. It would be a sin to keep him." The second demon said, "Brother, do not let him go. Useless though he is, he belongs to the Tang monk's company and is called Zhu Bajie. Soak him a while in the clean pool at the back, till his bristles come off, then salt him down and dry him in the sun, and keep him for a cloudy day to go with wine." Hearing this, Bajie said, "Ill luck! I have run into a demon who deals in pickled meats." The imps carried Bajie in and threw him into the water—but of that no more.

Now Tripitaka, sitting at the foot of the slope, felt his ears burn and his eyes twitch and was ill at ease; he called: "Wukong, why has Wuneng gone scouting so long and not come back?" Pilgrim said, "Master, you do not yet know his heart." Tripitaka said, "What heart has he?" Pilgrim said, "Master, if there were a monster in this mountain he could not walk half a step; he would make a great clamor and come running back to report to me. No doubt there is no monster, the road is quiet, and he has gone straight on." Tripitaka said, "And if he truly has gone on, where are we to meet him? This is open mountain country, not like the inns and markets and cities of the lowlands." Pilgrim said, "Do not fret, Master; mount your horse. The Idiot is lazy, and certainly travels slowly. Put some urgency into your horse and we shall be sure to overtake him and go on together." And so the Tang monk mounted, Sha Monk shouldered the load, and Pilgrim led the way up the mountain.

Now the old demon called his second demon again: "Brother, now that you have taken Bajie, the Tang monk is surely near. Go scout the mountain again, and on no account let him slip past." The second demon said, "Off at once, off at once." See him swiftly muster fifty imps and set out to patrol the mountain. As they went they saw auspicious clouds drifting faint and rosy vapor circling, and the second demon said: "The Tang monk is coming." The demons said: "Where is he?" The second demon said: "Over a good man's head auspicious clouds shine; over a wicked man's, black vapor shoots to the sky. The Tang monk is the Elder Golden Cicada come down to the world, a good man of ten lifetimes' practice—that is why these auspicious clouds hang faint above him." The demons could see nothing. The second demon pointed with his finger: "Is that not he?" And there on his horse the Tang monk shivered. The demon pointed again, and the monk shivered again. Three times he pointed, and three times the monk shivered. His spirit uneasy, he said: "Disciples, why am I shivering?" Sha Monk said, "The shivering must be an illness from disordered eating." Pilgrim said, "Nonsense. Master is walking these deep mountains and steep ridges; it is natural to be watchful and to startle at nothing. Do not fear, do not fear. Let Old Sun flourish the staff along the road to calm your nerves."

Brave Pilgrim! He readied the staff and played out before the horse a few schools of play—three up, four down, five left, six right—drawing wholly on the Six Secret Teachings and the Three Strategies as he unleashed his powers. The elder, watching from horseback, saw a display indeed seldom seen within this world, nowhere else on earth. He cut the road open and pressed straight on—and all but frightened the monster to death. From the mountaintop the monster saw it, and his soul flew and his spirit died; he cried out despite himself: "For years I have heard tell of Pilgrim Sun; only today do I learn the report was no idle tale but truth." The monsters came up: "Great King, why puff another's spirit and snuff out your own? Whom are you praising?" The second demon said: "Pilgrim Sun's powers are vast; we will never eat that Tang monk." The monsters said: "Great King, if you have not the arts, let some of us go report to the Eldest King, to muster all the troops of this cave, great and small, and draw up in battle array; with joined strength and one heart, where could he flee?" The second demon said: "You have not seen that iron staff of his, with a valor ten thousand men cannot match. This cave holds no more than four or five hundred soldiers—how could they endure one blow of it?" The demons said: "Then, on your telling, the Tang monk cannot be eaten—and have we not seized Zhu Bajie by mistake? Send him back now." The second demon said: "Taken he was not taken by mistake; but neither should he be lightly returned. The Tang monk we will eat in the end—only, for the present, it cannot yet be." The demons said: "Then, on your telling, we must wait some years?" The second demon said: "Not even years. As I see it, the Tang monk must be won by gentle means, not taken by force. If we seize him by main strength we shall not so much as smell him. Only goodness can move him: win his heart into accord with mine, and then, plotting within goodness, I can have him." The demons said: "If you fix a plan to take him, Great King, will you use us?" The second demon said: "Return each to your own post, and let none of you report it to the Eldest King. If he is startled, word will leak out and spoil my plan. I have transformations and powers of my own to take him." So the demons dispersed.

Alone he leapt down the mountain and, beside the road, shook himself and changed into an aged Daoist master. And how was he dressed, do you think? Behold:

A star-tipped cap flashed bright; his crane-white hair hung in floss.A feathered robe girt with an embroidered sash; cloud shoes stitched with yellow fringe.Spirit clear and eyes bright as an immortal guest; body hale and step light as the Old Man of Longevity.What need to speak of the Green Ox Daoist? He outshone even Master Plain-Deed.His counterfeit likeness was dressed like a true likeness; his feigned distress molded like a real distress.

Beside the great road he played a Daoist who had fallen and broken his leg, blood streaming from his foot, groaning, and crying only: "Help! Help!"

Now Tripitaka, with the Great Sage Sun and Sha Monk to lean on, came on in good heart. As they went they heard the cry: "Master, help!" Hearing it, Tripitaka said: "Good indeed! Good indeed! In these wild mountains, with no village or house in any direction, who can be calling? No doubt some man frightened by tigers, leopards, or wolves." The elder wheeled his fine horse about and called: "Who is it that is in trouble? Come out." The monster crawled out of the tussocks and, before the elder's horse, kowtowed with thumping knocks. Tripitaka, from horseback, saw he was a Daoist and moreover advanced in years, and was greatly distressed. He dismounted in haste and helped him: "Rise, pray rise." The monster said, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts"; and as he let go his hand and looked, he saw blood running from the man's foot. Tripitaka asked in alarm: "Sir, where do you come from? How did you hurt your honored foot?" The monster, with artful words and flowery speech, false feeling feigning true, said: "Master, west of this mountain stands a quiet and secluded temple; I am a Daoist of that temple." Tripitaka said: "Why are you not in your own temple, tending the incense and practicing the scriptures and rites, instead of idling here?" The demon said: "The other day the family of a patron south of the mountain invited our brotherhood to a rite for averting stars and scattering blessings, and we came late. My disciple and I were walking the road together, and in a deep defile a fierce brindled tiger sprang upon us and carried my disciple off in its jaws. This poor Daoist, trembling, could not run, and fell headlong on the slope of broken stones, hurting leg and foot, and lost the way. Today, by great heavenly destiny, I have met you, Master. A hundred thousand times I beg you, Master, open wide your mercy and save my life. Once I reach the temple, though I pledge my body and sell my life, I will repay so deep a kindness in full." Hearing this, Tripitaka took it for the truth and said: "Sir, you and I are both men with one life to live. I am a monk and you are a Daoist; though cap and gown differ, the reason of practice is the same. If I did not save you, I should be no child of the renunciate life. Save you I will—but you cannot walk." The monster said: "I cannot even stand—how could I walk?"

Tripitaka said: "Very well, very well. I can still walk; take my horse and ride a stretch, and when you reach your temple, return my horse." The monster said: "Master, I am grateful for your kindness; only my hip and thigh are hurt from the fall, and I cannot ride." "So it is," said Tripitaka, and called Sha Monk: "Strap the luggage on my horse, and carry him a stretch yourself." Sha Monk said, "I will carry him." The monster turned his head quickly and shot Sha Monk a look. "Master, I was so frightened by that fierce tiger that at the sight of this somber-faced father I grow more terrified still; I dare not have him carry me." Tripitaka called: "Wukong, you carry him." Pilgrim answered over and over: "I will carry him, I will carry him." The demon fixed on Pilgrim, meekly made him the bearer, and said nothing more. Sha Monk laughed: "What a blind old Daoist! A poor bearer in me, yet him you must have. If he loses sight of the master, he will smash your sinews to pieces on a triple-pointed rock."

Hearing this, Pilgrim said with a smile: "You brazen demon—how dare you come provoking me? Why not ask how many years Old Sun has been about? Such ghost-talk as this may fool the Tang monk—but come to fool me with it? I know you for the monster of this mountain, meaning to eat my master. And my master is no common man, to be eaten by the likes of you. If you would eat him, you must share the better half with Old Sun." Hearing Pilgrim muttering, the demon said: "Master, I am a child of a good family, made a Daoist. Today, unhappily, I met the peril of tigers and wolves. I am no monster." Pilgrim said, "If you fear tigers and wolves, why not recite the scripture of the Northern Dipper?" Tripitaka, in the very act of mounting, heard this and cursed: "You brazen ape! 'To save one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.' Carry him and have done—what talk is this of the Scripture of the Northern Dipper, of the Scripture of the Southern Dipper?" Hearing this, Pilgrim said: "This fellow is in luck: my master is a man of mercy and goodness—though kindly without, a bit gnarled within. If I refused to carry you he would blame me. Carry you I will—but there are terms to settle first: if you must relieve yourself, tell me beforehand; if you let it run down my back, the stench would be unbearable, and it would foul my clothes, with no one to wash them." The demon said: "At my age, do you think I do not know what you are saying?" Then Pilgrim pulled him up and set him on his back, and with the elder and Sha Monk they hurried down the great road westward. Where the mountain rose and fell unevenly, Pilgrim walked carefully and slowly, letting the Tang monk go on ahead.

They had gone no more than three or five li when the master and Sha Monk descended into a fold of the hills and passed out of Pilgrim's sight. He grumbled in his heart: "The master is old, old, and knows nothing of the world. On so long a road, even empty-handed one's arms grow heavy—one would like to shake the whole burden off—and yet he has me carrying this demon. Never mind that he is a demon; even were he a good man, at that age he might well die. Dash him to death—what do I want with carrying him?" The Great Sage was just reckoning to dash him down—when it turns out the monster knew his thought, and could command mountains as well. He worked the art of Moving Mountains and Overturning Seas: twisting a sign on Pilgrim's back, he pronounced the true words and sent Mount Sumeru hurtling through the air to crush Pilgrim's head. The Great Sage, quick as thought, cocked his head aside, and the mountain came down on his left shoulder and arm. He laughed: "My child, what mass-giving art is this you press on Old Sun? That I do not fear—but a load square on the shoulders carries well; a load set off-center is hard to bear." The demon said, "One mountain will not hold him," and pronounced another spell, sending Mount Emei through the air to press him. Again Pilgrim cocked his head aside, and the mountain came down on his right shoulder and arm. See him, two great mountains on his shoulders, flying like a spark to catch up his master. At the sight the demon broke out in a sweat from head to foot, moisture standing on every limb: "So he can carry mountains!" Then he gathered himself and pronounced the true words again, sending Mount Tai through the air to crush Pilgrim's head. The Great Sage's strength failed and his sinews went slack; caught under this art of Mount Tai Descending on the Crown, he was pressed till the three corpse-spirits within him gaped and the seven apertures of his head spurted red.

Aha, the demon! Having crushed Pilgrim with his powers, he sped on a long wind to chase the Tang monk and, from the clouds, reached down a hand to snatch the man from horseback. Sha Monk, in consternation, dropped the luggage, drew his demon-subduing staff, and barred the way before him. The demon raised his Seven-Star Sword and came on to meet him. A fine battle it was:

The Seven-Star Sword, the demon-subduing staff, ten thousand glints of gold light flashing.This one, round-eyed, fierce as the Black Slaying God; that one, iron-faced, in truth the Curtain-Raising General.The monster before the mountain showed all his might, his one thought to seize Tripitaka.This one strained to guard the true monk, his one thought never to yield though he die.The two of them spewed clouds and belched mists that lit upon the heavenly palace, stirred earth and raised dust that veiled the forms of the Dipper.They fought till the red wheel of the sun went dim and lightless, and the great world swam in dusk.Back and forth they held each other eight or nine rounds—and who expected Sha Monk to be beaten?

The demon was fiercely brave; with his precious blade he came rolling on in the meteor school of play, and fought Sha Monk until his strength was spent and he could no longer parry, and turned to flee. The demon had already pinned the precious staff, flung out his great hand, seized Sha Monk, and clamped him under his left arm; with his right hand he took Tripitaka from the horse, hooked the luggage with his toe, and gripped the horse's mane in his teeth. Then, working the art of seizure, he bore them all off in a rush of wind to Lotus Cave, where he cried out loudly: "Brother! I have taken all the monks."

Hearing this the old demon was overjoyed: "Bring them for me to see." "Are not these they?" said the second demon. The old demon said: "Worthy brother, you have seized the wrong ones again." The second demon said: "You were the one who said, take the Tang monk." The old demon said: "These are the Tang monk, yes—but that resourceful Pilgrim Sun is not yet taken. Only when he is taken may we eat the Tang monk; until he is taken, on no account touch his people. That Monkey King's powers are vast, his transformations numberless: if we ate his master, would he take it quietly? He would raise such a row at our gate that we should never know peace again." The second demon laughed: "Brother, how you do exalt people! By your praise he is scarce seen in heaven and nowhere on earth. As I see him, he is nothing much—no great arts." The old demon said: "And you have taken him?" The second demon said: "I have buried him under three great mountains sent down by my arts; he cannot move an inch. That is how I brought away the Tang monk and Sha Monk, with the horse and the luggage." At this the old demon rejoiced with his whole heart: "What luck, what luck! With this fellow taken, the Tang monk is meat in our mouths at last." He called to the imps: "Quick, set out the wine; let us drink a cup to your Second Great King's success." The second demon said: "Brother, no wine yet. Have the lads fish Zhu Bajie out of the water and hang him up." So they hung Bajie in the eastern gallery, Sha Monk at the western side, the Tang monk in the middle, put the white horse in its stall, and carried the luggage within.

The old demon laughed: "Worthy brother, what arts—to catch three monks in two tries! But though Pilgrim Sun has a mountain on him, we must still contrive some means to fetch him here and complete the steaming." The second demon said: "Elder brother, be seated. To take Pilgrim Sun we need not stir ourselves: two imps with two treasures can bring him to us packed inside." The old demon said: "Which treasures shall go?" The second demon said: "Take my purple-gold red gourd and your mutton-fat jade vase." The old demon brought out the treasures: "Which two shall be sent?" The second demon said: "Send Fine-Wit and Quick-Wit, those two." He instructed them: "Carry these treasures straight to the very summit of the high mountain. Hold the bottom to the sky and the mouth to the ground, and call 'Pilgrim Sun.' If he answers, he is already inside; at once paste on the slip reading 'By the urgent command of the Supreme Lord Lao, as the law prescribes, by imperial edict,' and in next to no time he will turn to pus." The two imps kowtowed, received the treasures, and went out to take Pilgrim—but of that no more.

Now the Great Sage, pressed by the demon's art beneath the root of the mountain, in his suffering thought of Tripitaka and in calamity called the holy monk to mind. He cried aloud: "Master, do you recall when you came to Two-Bounds Mountain and peeled away the pressing seal, and Old Sun escaped his great calamity and took the discipline of the Buddha's order? Thanks to the Bodhisattva's gift of her mandate, you and I were to dwell together and cultivate together, share one lot and one form, see with one eye and know with one mind. Who would have thought that here I should meet a demon's hindrance and be crushed under his sent mountains again. Pity, pity! If I die it were deserved—only it goes hard with Sha Monk and Bajie, and with the little dragon turned horse. As the saying is: 'The tall tree draws the wind, and the wind shakes the tree; man pursues high fame, and high fame unmakes man.'" When he had sighed, his pearl-tears fell like rain.

The cry soon startled the mountain god, the local earth god, and the guardian spirits of the five quarters, who met with the Golden-Headed Guardian: "Whose is this mountain?" The earth god said: "Ours." "Who is pressed beneath your mountain?" The earth god said: "We do not know who." The Guardian said: "So you did not know. The one pressed here is Pilgrim Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who wrecked the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago and has now taken the true fruit and become the Tang monk's disciple. How could you lend your mountain to a demon to crush him? You are dead men. If he frees himself one day, will he spare you? Even at the lightest, the earth god would be sentenced to the relay posts, the mountain god to exile at the frontier, and we should take our share of blame for not answering." Then the mountain god and the earth god were afraid: "Truly we did not know, we did not know. We only heard the demon pronounce the spell for sending mountains, and we moved the mountain here for him. Who could have known it was the Great Sage Sun?" The Guardian said: "Do not be afraid yet. The law says, 'Those who did not know are not held guilty.' Let us contrive to release him—only we must not let him lay hands on us." The earth god said: "That were senseless: release him, and be beaten for it?" The Guardian said: "You do not know him. He carries the As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff, a thing of dire efficiency: struck, you die; grazed, you are wounded; a touch snaps sinews, a brush peels skin."

The earth god and the mountain god, fearful at heart, took counsel with the guardians of the five quarters, and came to the outer side of the three mountains and called: "Great Sage—the mountain god, the earth god, and the guardians of the five quarters have come to see you." Brave Pilgrim! The tiger may be lean, but the bold heart is his still; his bearing was proud and his voice rang clear: "What would you have with me?" The earth god said: "Let the Great Sage know: we will send the mountains away and beg him to come out, and pardon our offense of discourtesy." Pilgrim said, "Send the mountains away, and I will not beat you," and gave the command: "Up and away!" As a magistrate discharges a case, the gods pronounced the true words and spells, sent the mountains back each to his place, and raised Pilgrim up. Pilgrim leapt up, shook off the dust, cinched his kilt, drew the staff from behind his ear, and called to the mountain god and the earth god: "Stick out those ankle-bones, both of you—two blows apiece to begin, to relieve Old Sun's spleen." The gods were aghast: "Just now the Great Sage gave his word to pardon our offense—why, once out, does he change his words and fall to beating?" Pilgrim said: "A fine earth god, a fine mountain god! You say you do not fear Old Sun—but you fear demons?" The earth god said: "That demon's powers are vast and his arts mighty. He pronounces the true words and spells and summons us to serve in his cave, one of us on duty each day by turns."

At the words "on duty" Pilgrim's heart, too, gave a start. He turned his face to the sky and cried out with a loud voice: "Blue Heaven, Blue Heaven! Since the first cleaving of chaos, when heaven opened and earth spread wide, and Mount Flower-Fruit brought me forth, I too went everywhere in search of true masters to teach me the secrets of long life. Think what I have done—changed with the wind, tamed tigers and subdued dragons, wrecked the Heavenly Palace, taken the name of Great Sage—yet never once did I presumptuously press the mountain god or the earth god into my service. And today this shameless demon dares make servants and slaves of the mountain god and the earth god, to wait upon him by turns! O Heaven! Having made Old Sun, why make such as these?"

While the Great Sage was thus lamenting, he saw rosy light blazing up from a fold of the hills. Pilgrim said: "Mountain god, earth god—since you serve in that cave, what is the thing that gives off that light?" The earth god said: "That is the demon's treasures shining. No doubt some demon spirit is coming with the treasures to subdue you." Pilgrim said: "Well, that will be fun. Tell me: who keeps company with them in that cave?" The earth god said: "They love the smelting of cinnabar and the compounding of elixirs, and are fond of Perfect Truth Daoists." Pilgrim said: "No wonder one turned into an old Daoist and beguiled my master away. Since it is so, the beating I owe you goes on the books—go back now, and let Old Sun take him himself." The gods all rose into the air and scattered.

The Great Sage shook himself and changed into an aged Perfect One. And how was he dressed, do you think?

His head bound with a double topknot; his body in a coat of a hundred patches.His hand tapped the fisher-drum and the clappers; his waist girt with the sash of Patriarch Lü.Leaning aslant beside the great road, he waited only for the demon imps.In a moment the demons came; the Monkey King laid his snare in silence.

Before long the two imps arrived. Pilgrim stretched the gold-banded staff across; the demons, off their guard, caught their feet and fell flat. They scrambled up, and only then saw Pilgrim, and bawled: "Shameless, shameless! Were it not that our Great King honors men like you, we would have it out with you." Pilgrim said with an apologetic smile: "Have it out over what? Daoist meeting Daoist—we are all one family." The imp said: "What are you doing lying here to trip a fellow up?" Pilgrim said: "Young Daoist lads, meeting an old Daoist like me, take a tumble for their introduction fee." The imp said: "Our Great King's introduction fee is a few taels of silver—what kind of fee is a tumble? You are from another countryside altogether; you are no Daoist of this region." Pilgrim said: "Indeed I am not; I come from Mount Penglai." The imp said: "Mount Penglai is the isle-land of the immortals." Pilgrim said: "If I am no immortal, who is?" Then the imps turned wrath to delight and came forward: "Old immortal, old immortal! We are fleshly men with mortal eyes and could not tell; excuse our rude words, excuse them." Pilgrim said: "I do not blame you. As the saying goes, 'An immortal's body does not tread common earth.' How could you have known? I have come to your mountain today to deliver some good soul into immortality and the Way. Who will come with me?" Fine-Wit said: "Master, I will go with you." Quick-Wit said: "Master, I will go with you."

Pilgrim, knowing the answer, asked anyway: "Where have you two come from?" The imps said: "From Lotus Cave." "And where are you going?" The imps said: "By our Great King's command, to take Pilgrim Sun." Pilgrim said: "To take which one?" The imps said again: "To take Pilgrim Sun." Pilgrim Sun said: "The same Pilgrim Sun who travels with the Tang monk seeking scriptures?" The imps said: "The very same, the very same. Do you know him too?" Pilgrim said: "That monkey is somewhat wanting in manners. I know him, and he has vexed me somewhat. I will help you take him—count it as aid to your merit." The imps said: "Master, we need no aid to our merit. Our Second Great King has arts of his own: he sent down three great mountains and buried him beneath them; he cannot move an inch. He sent the two of us to fetch the treasures and pack him inside." Pilgrim said: "What treasures are these?" Fine-Wit said: "Mine is the red gourd, and his the jade vase." Pilgrim said: "How does it pack a man?" The imps said: "Hold the bottom to the sky and the mouth to the ground, call his name once, and if he answers he is inside; paste on the slip reading 'By the urgent command of the Supreme Lord Lao, as the law prescribes, by imperial edict,' and in next to no time he turns to pus." Hearing this, Pilgrim was startled within: "Dire, dire! When the Duty Officer of the Day brought his warning he said there were five treasures; two are accounted for. What can the other three be?" Pilgrim laughed: "Let me have a look at your treasures, gentlemen." The imps, suspecting no trickery, took both treasures from their sleeves and handed them to Pilgrim with both hands. At the sight Pilgrim rejoiced inwardly: "Fine things, fine things! One flick of my tail and a leap—whoosh, and I am gone—they might as well have made a gift of them to Old Sun." Then he thought again: "No, no. Snatch them I might, but it would besmirch Old Sun's name. That would be daylight robbery." So he handed them back: "But you have not yet seen my treasure." The imps said: "What treasure has the master? Lend it to us poor mortals for a look, to keep calamity away."

Brave Pilgrim! He reached down, plucked one hair from his tail, twisted it, and cried: "Change!" At once it became a great purple-gold red gourd a foot and seven inches long, which he brought out from his waist: "Well? What do you say to my gourd?" Quick-Wit took it in hand and looked: "Master, your gourd is long and large, of fine pattern and good to see—only it is of no use." Pilgrim said: "How so, of no use?" The imp said: "Each of these two treasures of ours can pack a thousand men." Pilgrim said: "Packers of men—what is there to marvel at? My gourd can pack the very sky inside it." The imp said: "It can pack the sky?" Pilgrim said: "Pack the sky, truly." The imp said: "It smells of a lie. Pack it before our eyes and we will believe; otherwise, never." Pilgrim said: "When the sky displeases me, I pack it seven or eight times in a month; when it does not, I may go half a year without packing it once." Quick-Wit said: "Brother, let us trade him for the sky-packer." Fine-Wit said: "Why would he trade a sky-packer for our man-packers?" Quick-Wit said: "If he will not, we can throw in this vase to sweeten it." Pilgrim rejoiced inwardly: "A gourd for a gourd, with the vase thrown in: one piece for two—a fine bargain indeed." He stepped up and seized Quick-Wit: "If it packs the sky, will you trade?" The imp said: "If it packs the sky, we trade; and if we do not trade, I am your son." Pilgrim said: "Very well, very well. I will pack it for you to see."

Brave Great Sage! He bowed his head, twisted the sign, pronounced a spell, and called on the Day-Wandering God, the Night-Wandering God, and the guardians of the five quarters: "Go up at once and report to the Jade Emperor for me: that Old Sun has taken the true fruit and guards the Tang monk seeking scriptures in the Western Heaven; that high mountains block the road and his master has met bitter calamity; that I mean to lure the demons into trading away their treasures. A hundred thousand times I beg him: lend me the sky to pack away for half a watch, to help the work along. And if the answer carries the least sound of refusal, I go straight up to the Numinous Mists Hall and set the blades to war."

The Day-Wandering God went straight in at the South Gate of Heaven and below the Numinous Mists Hall laid the whole matter before the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor said: "That brazen ape, how recklessly he speaks! When Guanyin came and spoke for his release to guard the Tang monk, We in Our turn appointed the guardians of the five quarters and the Duty Officers of the Four Watches to protect him by turns. And now he asks to borrow the sky to pack away. Can the sky be packed?" Scarcely had he said it could not be done when Prince Nezha the Third stepped from the ranks and memorialized: "Ten thousand years! The sky can be packed." The Jade Emperor said: "How can the sky be packed?" Nezha said: "Since chaos first divided, the light and clear has been heaven and the heavy and turbid earth. Heaven is one body of pure vapor bearing up the jade palaces and towers; by reason, it is indeed hard to pack. But Pilgrim Sun's guarding of the Tang monk on his western quest for scriptures is, in truth, a blessed destiny like Mount Tai and a good fortune deep as the sea; this day we ought to help him succeed." The Jade Emperor said: "What aid do you propose?" Nezha said: "Let an edict go down: at the North Gate of Heaven, borrow the black eagle banner from the True Warrior; spread it once from the South Gate of Heaven, and the sun, moon, and stars are shut away. Face to face you could not see a man, nor tell white from black. Then let the demons be told only that the sky has been packed, and so help the Pilgrim succeed." The Jade Emperor heard him: "Let it be as you propose." The prince took the edict to the North Gate of Heaven, saw the True Warrior, and told him the whole matter; and the Patriarch handed the banner to the prince.

The wandering god had already sped down to the Great Sage's ear: "Prince Nezha has come to aid the work." Pilgrim looked up and saw auspicious clouds wreathing—divine power indeed. He turned to the imps: "Now I pack the sky." The imps said: "If you mean to pack it, pack it—what is all this dilly-dallying?" Pilgrim said: "I have but now gathered my spirit and pronounced the spell." The imps kept their eyes wide open to see how the sky would be packed. Pilgrim tossed the false gourd into the air. Consider: a thing changed from a single hair—what could it weigh? The wind on the mountaintop carried it off, floating and drifting a full half-watch before it came down. And at the South Gate of Heaven Prince Nezha shook the black banner out with a great snap, and the sun, moon, and stars were all shut away. Truly heaven and earth were dyed with ink; the universe seemed cut from indigo. The two imps were astonished: "When we were speaking just now it was hardly midday—how has dusk fallen so soon?" Pilgrim said: "With the sky packed away, who can tell the hour? Why should it not be dusk?" "But why so black?" Pilgrim said: "The sun, moon, and stars are all packed inside; without them there is no light—why should it not be black?" The imps said: "Master, where are you standing that you speak?" Pilgrim said: "Am I not before your face?" The imps reached out and groped: "We hear the words but cannot see the face. Master, what place is this?" Pilgrim beguiled them again: "Do not stir your feet. This is the shore of the Bo Sea; put a foot wrong and you fall in—and seven or eight days would not bring you to the bottom." The imps were terrified: "Enough, enough! Unpack the sky! We have seen how you pack it. Stay at it a while longer and we shall drop into the sea and never get home."

Brave Pilgrim! Seeing they believed it in earnest, he pronounced the spell again, rousing the prince, who rolled up the banner—and there was the noonday sun. The imps laughed: "Wonderful, wonderful! With such a treasure, not to trade for it—no true son of any house would hesitate." So Fine-Wit handed over the gourd and Quick-Wit brought out the vase, and together they passed both to Pilgrim. Pilgrim passed the false gourd to the imps, and the trade was made. But having made his trade, he pushed matters to the limit: from below his navel he plucked a hair, blew on it a breath of immortal air, and changed it into a copper coin. He called: "Lads, take this coin and buy me a sheet of paper." The imps said: "For what?" Pilgrim said: "I will draw you up a contract. You have traded two man-packing treasures for one of mine that packs the sky. Lest hearts be uneven and, years on, some repining raise a difficulty, let each side hold a copy for record." The imps said: "There is no brush or ink here—what writing? Let us swear an oath instead." Pilgrim said: "Swear how?" The imps said: "We give two man-packing treasures, with the vase thrown in, for one of yours that packs the sky; if either repents, may plague take him all four seasons of the year." Pilgrim laughed: "I will never repent; and if I do, may plague take me all four seasons, just as you say."

The oath sworn, he gave a bound and a flick of his tail, leapt up before the South Gate of Heaven, and thanked Prince Nezha for the aid of his banner. The prince returned to his palace to report his commission fulfilled and sent the banner back to the True Warrior—but of that no more. Pilgrim stood poised between the empyrean clouds, watching the two imps.

But how he would manage them—who could say? Listen to the next chapter to find out.

A false way clouds the true nature; the primal spirit aids the true heart

Now the demon took Bajie into the cave and said, "Big brother, I've brought one back." The old demon was delighted: "Bring him here; let me see." The second demon said, "Isn't this one?" The old demon said, "Brother, you've caught the wrong one. This monk is no use." Bajie picked up the cue at once: "Your Majesty, if this monk is no use, let him out and no harm said." The second demon said, "Big brother, don't let him go. Useless or not, he's one of the Tang monk's party, called Zhu Bajie. Soak him for now in the clean pool at the back, till his bristles come off, then salt him down and dry him in the sun, and keep him for wine on a cloudy day." Bajie said, "Bad luck! I've run into a demon in the pickled-meat trade." The little demons carried Bajie in and dumped him in the water. No more of that.

Now Tripitaka sat before the slope. His ears burned and his eyes twitched, and he felt unwell. He called: "Wukong, why has Wuneng been gone so long this time, scouting the mountain?" Pilgrim said, "Master, you don't yet know his heart." Tripitaka said, "What heart has he?" Pilgrim said, "Master, if there were a monster on this mountain, he couldn't take half a step. He'd puff himself up and run back to report to me. I suppose there's no monster, the road is quiet, and he's gone straight on." Tripitaka said, "But if he has really gone on, where would we meet him? This is open wild mountain country, not like the inns, markets, cities, and wells." Pilgrim said, "Master, don't worry. Get on your horse. That Idiot is lazy; he's sure to walk slow. Push your horse a little and we'll catch up with him and go on together." So the Tang monk mounted, Sha Monk shouldered the load, and Pilgrim led the way up the mountain.

Now the old demon called the second demon again: "Brother, since you've got Bajie, the Tang monk can't be far. Go scout the mountain again, and don't let him slip past." The second demon said, "Going now, going now." See him quickly call up fifty little demons and patrol up the mountain. As he went, he saw auspicious clouds drifting high and lucky vapors circling. The second demon said, "The Tang monk is coming." The demons said, "Where is the Tang monk?" The second demon said, "Over a good man's head, auspicious clouds shine; over an evil man's head, black vapor shoots to the sky. The Tang monk is Elder Golden Cicada come down to earth, a good man ten lifetimes in cultivation. That is why the clouds hang so fair." None of the monsters could see it. The second demon pointed with his finger: "Isn't that it?" At that Tripitaka shuddered once on his horse; he pointed again, and Tripitaka shuddered again. He pointed three times in a row, and Tripitaka shuddered three times in a row. Uneasy in mind, he said, "Disciples, why am I shuddering?" Sha Monk said, "Shuddering—maybe his indigestion is acting up." Pilgrim said, "Nonsense. Master is crossing deep mountains and steep ridges; of course he's jumpy—a false scare. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Let Old Sun flourish his staff a round or two to calm your nerves."

The fine Pilgrim whirled the staff and threw out a few flourishes before the horse: three up, four down, five left, six right, all by the old books of war, showing his powers. The elder watched from the horse. Truly such skill was rare in the world, unknown on earth. He cut the road open and pressed straight on, nearly frightening the monster to death. Watching from the mountaintop, his soul flew and his courage died, and the words burst out of him: "For years I've heard of Pilgrim Sun. Only today do I learn the reports were no lie." The monsters came up: "Your Majesty, why build up another man's spirit and kill your own? Who are you praising?" The second demon said, "Pilgrim Sun's powers are vast. We won't get to eat the Tang monk." The monsters said, "Your Majesty, if you're short of means, let some of us go report to the eldest king, have him call out every soldier in the cave, big and small, form ranks, and join forces with one heart. Where could they run?" The second demon said, "You never saw that iron staff of his—the courage of ten thousand men. My cave has only four or five hundred soldiers. How would they stand one blow of that staff?" The demons said, "In that case, since the Tang monk can't be eaten, wasn't Zhu Bajie caught by mistake? Better send him back now." The second demon said, "We didn't catch him by mistake, but we won't hand him back lightly either. The Tang monk will be eaten in the end—only not now, not yet." The demons said, "Then in a few years?" The second demon said, "Not even a few years. I see the Tang monk can only be won by good means, not seized by force. Go at him with brute strength and we won't even catch his scent. We must move him with kindness, win his heart to match mine, and then lay the trap inside the kindness. Then we can have him." The demons said, "If Your Majesty lays a plan to take him, will you use us?" The second demon said, "Go back to your own camps, every one of you. But no reporting to the eldest king. If he's startled, word will leak and ruin my plan. I have my own transformations, and I can take him myself." The demons scattered.

He jumped down the mountain alone, and beside the road shook himself and changed into an aged Daoist. What did he look like? See him:

A star cap flashing bright; crane-white hair, loose and fluffy.A feather robe around an embroidered sash; cloud shoes trimmed with yellow-brown.Clear spirit, bright eyes, like a guest from the immortals; a sound body, light as the Old Man of Longevity.Never mind your famous Daoist masters—he outshone any plain-robed scholar.A fake figure made up like a true one; a false story kneaded like a real one.

There beside the high road he posed as a Daoist with a broken leg, blood dripping from his foot, groaning, and crying only: "Help! Help!"

Now Tripitaka, with the Great Sage Sun and Sha Monk to lean on, came along in good spirits. As they went, they heard the cry: "Master, help!" Tripitaka heard it and said, "How good, how good! In these wild mountains, with no village for miles around, who is calling? Someone must have been frightened by tigers, leopards, or wolves." The elder turned his fine horse and called: "Who is in trouble there? Come out." The monster crawled out of the grass and, before the elder's horse, knocked his head on the ground again and again. From the horse, Tripitaka saw he was a Daoist, and old with it, and felt very sorry for him. He hurried down to help him: "Please rise. Please rise." The monster said, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts." When he let go and looked, blood was running from the man's foot. Tripitaka asked in alarm: "Sir, where have you come from? How did you hurt your foot?" With pretty words and false feeling, the monster said, "Master, west of this mountain there is a quiet monastery. I am a Daoist of that house." Tripitaka said, "Aren't you supposed to be tending the incense and practicing the scriptures at your monastery? Why are you wandering here?" The demon said, "The other day a patron south of the mountain invited our brothers to hold a rite and scatter blessings, and we were late coming back. My disciple and I were walking together. Deep on the road we met a fierce striped tiger, and it carried off my disciple. This humble Daoist, trembling, could not run, and fell on a slope of loose stones. I hurt my leg and foot and lost my way. Today great heaven-sent luck brought me to Master. I beg you a thousand times, Master, show mercy and save my life. Get me to the monastery, and I will sell my body and my life to repay your deep kindness." Hearing this, Tripitaka took it for the truth and said, "Sir, you and I both have one life to live. I am a monk, you are a Daoist. Our dress differs, but the way of practice is the same. If I didn't save you, I'd be no man of religion. Save you I will—but you cannot walk." The monster said, "I can't even stand. How could I walk?"

Tripitaka said, "Very well, very well. I can still walk. Take my horse for a stretch. Ride it to your monastery and send the horse back to me." The monster said, "Master, your kindness is great, but my leg and hip are hurt. I can't ride." Tripitaka said, "True." He called to Sha Monk: "Put the luggage on my horse, and carry him a while." Sha Monk said, "I'll carry him." The monster turned his head quickly, shot him one glance, and said, "Master, that tiger left me scared out of my wits. Seeing this master with the gloomy face frightens me more still. I dare not have him carry me." Tripitaka called, "Wukong, you carry him." Pilgrim answered at once: "I'll carry him, I'll carry him." So the demon fixed on Pilgrim, meekly let himself be carried, and said nothing more. Sha Monk laughed: "What a blind old Daoist. Carried by me wasn't good enough—he wants that one. If Master ever loses sight of him, he'll dash your sinews apart on a three-pointed rock."

Pilgrim heard it, smiling to himself: "You brazen demon. You dare pick a quarrel with me? Why not ask Old Sun how many years he has been around? Ghost talk like that might fool the Tang monk, but me as well? I know you for the monster of this mountain, and you're after my master's flesh. And my master is no common man for you to eat. If you want to eat him, you'd better share more than half with Old Sun." Hearing Pilgrim muttering, the demon said, "Master, I'm the son of a good family who became a Daoist. Today, unlucky, I met with tigers and wolves. I am no monster." Pilgrim said, "If you fear tigers and wolves, why don't you recite the Scripture of the Northern Dipper?" Tripitaka was just mounting when he heard this and scolded: "You brazen monkey! 'Saving one life beats building a seven-story pagoda.' Carry the man and be done. What's all this about Northern Dipper and Southern Dipper scriptures?" Pilgrim said, "You're in luck. My master is a merciful, kind soul—though there's some rough grain under the smooth outside. If I refused to carry you, he'd blame me. Carry you I will. But let's be clear first: if you need to relieve yourself, tell me before you start. If it runs down my back, the stink would be past bearing, and it would foul my clothes, with no one to wash them." The demon said, "A man of my years—wouldn't I know your meaning?" Then Pilgrim pulled him up and slung him on his back, and with the elder and Sha Monk struck out west along the high road. Where the mountain path was rough and uneven, Pilgrim walked slowly and carefully, letting the Tang monk go on ahead.

They had gone no more than three or five li when master and Sha Monk dropped into a hollow and passed out of his sight. Pilgrim grumbled in his heart: "Master is old, and he never understands how things are. On a road this long, even empty-handed you feel the weight in your hands—you'd love to throw it all down—and then he has me carrying this monster on my back. Never mind that he's a monster. Even a good man, at his age, is old enough to die. Let me dash him down. Why carry him?" Just as the Great Sage was planning to dash him down, the monster knew it—and he knew the art of summoning mountains too. He used the magic of moving mountains and overturning seas: right on Pilgrim's back he pinched the sign, spoke the true words, and called Mount Sumeru down through the air, headfirst onto Pilgrim. The Great Sage ducked his head quickly, and it landed on his left shoulder and arm. He laughed: "My child, what heavy-body magic is this you're pressing on Old Sun? This much I don't fear. Only, a load carried square sits well; a load carried crooked is hard to bear." The demon said, "One mountain won't hold him." He chanted his spell again and called Mount Emei down through the air to press him. Pilgrim ducked again, and it pressed onto his right shoulder and arm. See him with two great mountains on his shoulders, flying like a shooting star after his master. The demon saw it and broke out in sweat all over his body: "He can carry mountains!" He gathered himself, spoke the true words again, and called Mount Tai down through the air, crushing Pilgrim head-on. The Great Sage's strength gave out and his sinews went numb. Under this Mount-Tai-on-the-head magic he was pressed so hard that the three corpse-spirits within him bawled and red burst from his seven openings.

The demon, having crushed Pilgrim with his magic, rode a long wind fast after the Tang monk, reached his hand down out of the clouds, and snatched at the man on the horse. Sha Monk dropped the luggage in a fright, drew his monster-quelling staff, and blocked him head-on. The demon raised his seven-star sword and met him face to face. What a fight:

The seven-star sword, the monster-quelling staff—ten thousand flashes of gold light like lightning.This one, with round fierce eyes, like the Black Killer god; that one, with an iron face, truly the Curtain-Raising General.The demon showed his full power before the mountain, set on seizing the Tang monk.This one strained every nerve to guard the true monk, resolved to die before letting go.The two of them spat clouds and breathed mist up to the heavenly palace, threw up earth and dust to hide the stars.They fought till the red sun went pale and dim, till earth and sky were dark and reeling.They locked and broke eight or nine rounds—when who expected it, Sha Monk lost the field.

The demon was savage. With his precious blade he came rolling in like a shooting star and fought Sha Monk until he was weak and could not hold, and Sha Monk turned to run. But the demon had already pinned the precious staff, swung a great hand, seized Sha Monk, and clamped him under his left arm. His right hand took Tripitaka from the horse, his toes hooked the luggage, and his open mouth bit the horse's mane. Then he raised his carrying magic, and in one gust of wind swept them all into Lotus Cave, where he shouted: "Big brother! I've caught all the monks."

The old demon heard and rejoiced: "Bring them; let me see." The second demon said, "Here they are, aren't they?" The old demon said, "Worthy brother, you've caught the wrong ones again." The second demon said, "You said to catch the Tang monk." The old demon said, "This is the Tang monk, true. But that resourceful Pilgrim Sun is still at large. We must take him first; only then can we eat the Tang monk. Until he's caught, touch none of his people. That Monkey King has vast powers and endless changes. If we eat his master, will he take it quietly? He'd raise such a riot at our gate we'd never know peace again." The second demon laughed: "Big brother, how you do build a man up. By your praise he's rare in heaven, unknown on earth. To my eyes he's nothing much, no great skill at all." The old demon said, "And you've caught him?" The second demon said, "I've buried him under three great mountains. He cannot move an inch. That's why I've carried off the Tang monk and Sha Monk, horse and luggage and all." The old demon was overjoyed: "Luck, luck! With this fellow caught, the Tang monk is meat in our mouths at last." He called the little demons: "Quick, set out wine. Let us drink a toast to the second king on his success." The second demon said, "Big brother, hold the wine. Have the boys fish Zhu Bajie out of the water and hang him up." So they hung Bajie in the east corridor, Sha Monk in the west, the Tang monk in the middle, put the white horse in its stall, and stored the luggage inside.

The old demon laughed: "Worthy brother, fine work—three monks caught in two tries. But though mountains pin Sun Wukong down, we still need a scheme to fetch him here and steam the whole set together." The second demon said, "Sit down, elder brother. To take Pilgrim Sun we needn't stir ourselves. Just send two little demons with two treasures, and they'll fetch him packed inside." The old demon said, "Which treasures would you send?" The second demon said, "My purple-gold red gourd, and your mutton-fat jade vase." The old demon brought the treasures out: "Which two shall go?" The second demon said, "Send Fine Ghost and Clever Bug." He gave his orders: "You two take these treasures straight to the very top of the high mountain. Hold the bottom to the sky and the mouth to the ground, and call once: 'Pilgrim Sun.' If he answers, he's inside already. At once paste on the label 'By urgent decree of the Supreme Lord Lao, quick quick, as the law commands,' and within the hour and three quarters he'll melt into pus." The two little demons knocked their heads, took the treasures, and went out to catch Pilgrim. No more of them yet.

Now the Great Sage lay pressed under the mountain's root by the demon's magic. In his pain he thought of Tripitaka; in his trouble he called on the holy monk. He cried out: "Master, remember when you came to Two-Bounds Mountain and lifted the pressing label, and Old Sun escaped his great trouble and entered the Buddhist order. Thanks to the Bodhisattva's decree, you and I lived together and trained together, shared one fate, one form, one sight, one knowledge. Who would have thought that here I'd meet a demon's hindrance, and have mountains called down on me again. Pitiful, pitiful! If you die, so be it. But it's hard on Sha Monk and Bajie, and on the little dragon who became a horse for nothing. Truly: a tall tree catches the wind, and the wind shakes the tree; a man who chases fame is destroyed by his fame." When the sigh was done, his tears fell like rain.

His cries startled the mountain god, the local earth god, and the guardian spirits of the five quarters. They met with the Gold-Headed Guardian, who asked: "Whose mountain is this?" The earth god said, "Ours." "Who is pressed beneath your mountain?" "We don't know who." The Guardian said, "So you didn't know. Under there is Pilgrim Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who wrecked the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. Now he has taken holy orders and become the Tang monk's disciple. How dare you lend your mountain to a demon to press him down? You're dead men. If he ever gets free, do you think he'll spare you? Even at the lightest, the earth god would be sent to a labor post and the mountain god exiled to the frontier, and we'd take the blame for failing in our watch." Only then did the mountain god and earth god grow afraid: "Truly we didn't know, didn't know. We heard the demon chant his mountain-moving spell, so we moved the mountains for him. Who knew it was the Great Sage Sun?" The Guardian said, "Don't be afraid yet. The law says: 'Those who did not know are not held guilty.' Let me plan with you: we'll free him—but we must not let him raise his hand against us." The earth god said, "That makes no sense. Free him, and get beaten anyway?" The Guardian said, "You don't know him. He carries the As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff, and it is deadly. Struck full, you die; caught glancing, you're hurt. A knock breaks sinews; a graze takes the skin off."

The earth god and mountain god, frightened, took counsel with the guardians of the five quarters and came to the foot of the three mountains, calling: "Great Sage, the mountain god, the earth god, and the guardians of the five quarters have come to see you." The fine Pilgrim—thin as the tiger was, his bold heart was whole. His bearing was proud and his voice rang clear: "What do you want with me?" The earth god said, "We report to the Great Sage: we will move the mountain aside and ask the Great Sage to come out, and beg him to pardon our offense of disrespect." Pilgrim said, "Move the mountain, and I won't beat you." He barked: "Up and away!" Like officials clearing a case, the gods spoke their true words and spells, sent the mountains back to their places, and raised Pilgrim up. Pilgrim jumped up, shook the dirt off, tied his kilt, pulled the staff from behind his ear, and called to the mountain god and earth god: "Stick out your shins, both of you. Two strokes each to start, to loosen Old Sun's mood." The gods were shocked: "The Great Sage just promised to pardon our offense. How is it that out of the mountain he's changed his tune and wants to beat us?" Pilgrim said, "Fine earth god, fine mountain god. You don't fear Old Sun, but you fear monsters?" The earth god said, "That demon's powers are vast and his magic strong. He chants true words and spells and drafts us to serve in his cave, one day each, taking turns on duty."

At the word "duty" Pilgrim's heart jumped too. He turned his face to the sky and cried out: "Blue Heaven, Blue Heaven! Since the chaos first split, since heaven opened and earth spread out, Flower-Fruit Mountain bore me. I searched everywhere for a true teacher and learned the secrets of long life. Think of me—changing with the wind, taming tigers, subduing dragons, wrecking the Heavenly Palace, styled the Great Sage—and I never once dared use the mountain gods and earth gods as my servants. And today this shameless demon dares to keep the mountain gods and earth gods as slaves, serving him by turns on duty! Heaven! Having made Old Sun, why did you make his kind too?"

While the Great Sage sighed, a blaze of colored light came up out of a hollow in the hills. Pilgrim said, "Mountain god, earth god—since you serve on duty in that cave, what is that thing shining?" The earth god said, "That is the demon's treasure shining. I'd say a demon is bringing it to take you." Pilgrim said, "Well, that will be fun. Tell me: what company keeps to that cave of theirs?" The earth god said, "They love burning elixirs and refining drugs, and they like perfected masters of the Dao." Pilgrim said, "No wonder he turned into an old Daoist and tricked my master away. Since it's so, all of you—your beatings are on record. Go back for now. Old Sun will take him himself." The gods rose into the air and scattered.

The Great Sage shook himself and changed into an aged perfected master. How was he dressed?

On his head two knotted buns; on his body a robe of a hundred patches.In his hand a fisherman's drum and clapper; at his waist the sash of Master Lü.Leaning at the edge of the high road, waiting for the little demon imps.In a moment the demons came—and the Monkey King laid his snare.

Before long the two little demons arrived. Pilgrim stretched the gold-banded staff across their way. Off their guard, the demons caught their feet and fell with a thump. They scrambled up, saw Pilgrim, and shouted: "Shameless, shameless! If our king didn't respect a man like you, we'd settle this with a fight." Pilgrim said with a smile: "Settle what? When a Daoist meets a Daoist, they're all one family." The demon said, "Why were you lying here to trip us?" Pilgrim said, "Little Daoist boys meet an old Daoist like me and take a tumble as introduction money." The demon said, "Our king's introduction money is only a few taels of silver. What sort takes a tumble for introduction money? You're from some other countryside. You're surely no Daoist of ours." Pilgrim said, "Truly I'm not. I come from Penglai Mountain." The demon said, "Penglai Mountain is the isle of the immortals." Pilgrim said, "If I'm no immortal, who is?" The demons turned anger to joy and came up: "Old immortal, old immortal! We are mortal-eyed creatures of flesh; we couldn't tell who you were. Forgive our rude words, forgive us." Pilgrim said, "I don't blame you. The common saying goes: 'An immortal's body does not tread common ground.' How would you know it? Today I've come to your mountain to carry off to immortality one good man who will finish the Way. Which of you will come with me?" Fine Ghost said, "Master, I'll go with you." Clever Bug said, "Master, I'll go with you."

Pilgrim, knowing the answer full well, asked anyway: "Where have you two come from?" The demons said, "From Lotus Cave." "And where are you going?" "On our king's orders, to catch Pilgrim Sun." "To catch whom?" "To catch Pilgrim Sun." Pilgrim Sun said, "The Pilgrim Sun who travels with the Tang monk fetching scriptures?" The demons said, "That's the one, that's the one. Do you know him too?" Pilgrim said, "That monkey is a rude one. I know him, and he has vexed me too. I'll help you take him—count it as help toward your merit." The demons said, "Master, we don't need your help. Our second king has magic: he called down three great mountains and pinned him under, unable to move an inch. He sent us two to fetch the treasures and pack him up." "What treasures?" Fine Ghost said, "Mine is the red gourd; his is the jade vase." "How does it pack him?" The little demons said, "Hold the bottom to the sky and the mouth to the ground, call his name once, and if he answers he's inside. Paste on a label reading 'By urgent decree of the Supreme Lord Lao, quick quick, as the law commands,' and within the hour and three quarters he melts into pus." Hearing this, Pilgrim was startled inside: "Deadly, deadly! The Duty Officer of the Day said there were five treasures. Here are two of them. What can the other three be?" Pilgrim laughed: "Gentlemen, lend me a look at your treasures." The little demons, knowing no better, drew the two treasures from their sleeves and handed them over with both hands. Pilgrim saw them and rejoiced inside: "Fine things, fine things. One flip of my tail and a whoosh of a jump, and they'd be a gift to Old Sun." Then he thought again: "No good, no good. I could snatch them, but it would blacken Old Sun's name. That would be robbery in broad daylight." So he handed them back: "But you haven't seen my treasure yet." The demons said, "What treasure has Master? Lend it to us mortals for a look, to keep calamity away."

The fine Pilgrim reached down, plucked one hair from his tail, gave it a pinch, and called "Change!" It became a great purple-gold red gourd a foot and seven inches long. He drew it from his waist: "What do you say to my gourd?" Clever Bug took it in hand, looked, and said: "Master, your gourd is big and handsome, a proper model. Only it's no use." "No use, how?" The demon said, "Each of our two treasures can hold a thousand men." Pilgrim said, "Hold a thousand men? That's nothing rare. My gourd can hold heaven itself inside." The demon said, "It can pack up the sky?" "Truly it packs the sky." The demon said, "We're afraid it's a lie. Show us the packing, and we'll believe it. Otherwise, never." Pilgrim said, "When heaven offends me, I pack it away seven or eight times in a month. When heaven behaves, I may not pack it once in half a year." Clever Bug said, "Brother, let's trade for the treasure that packs the sky." Fine Ghost said, "Why would he trade a sky-packing one for our man-packing ones?" Clever Bug said, "If he won't, we can throw in this vase on top." Pilgrim rejoiced inside: "A gourd for a gourd, with a vase thrown in: one for two—what a bargain." He stepped up, seized Clever Bug, and said: "It packs the sky—will you trade?" The demon said, "If it packs the sky, we trade. If we don't, I'm your son." Pilgrim said, "Very well, very well. I'll show you the packing."

The Great Sage bowed his head, pinched the sign, spoke a spell, and called on the gods who ramble by day, the gods who ramble by night, and the guardians of the five quarters: "Go at once and report to the Jade Emperor for me. Tell him Old Sun has taken holy orders and guards the Tang monk west to fetch the scriptures. High mountains block the road, and my master has met disaster. The demons hold treasures, and I mean to trick them into trading. I beg him a thousand times: lend me the sky to pack away for half a watch, to help the work. If there is one word of refusal, I'll go up to the Lingxiao Hall and start a war."

The day-rambling god went straight inside the South Gate of Heaven and reported the whole matter to the Jade Emperor below the Lingxiao Hall. The Jade Emperor said, "That brazen monkey and his shameless talk. When Guanyin came to plead for his release to protect the Tang monk, I posted the guardians of the five quarters and the duty officers of the four watches to guard them in turns. And now he wants to borrow the sky to pack away. Can the sky be packed?" He had hardly said it couldn't when Nezha, the Third Prince, stepped from the ranks and said: "Your Majesty, the sky can be packed." The Jade Emperor said, "How would you pack the sky?" Nezha said, "Since chaos first split, the light and clear rose to be heaven and the heavy and turbid settled to be earth. Heaven is one mass of pure air holding up the jade palaces and towers. In strict reason it is hard to pack. But Pilgrim Sun guards the Tang monk west to fetch the scriptures—a blessing deep as Mount Tai, an auspice deep as the sea. Today we ought to help him succeed." The Jade Emperor said, "What help do you offer?" Nezha said, "Issue an edict: at the North Gate of Heaven, borrow Zhenwu's black eagle banner. Spread it once at the South Gate of Heaven, and it will shut out sun, moon, and stars. Men will not see those facing them; broad day will look like night. Let the demons believe the sky is packed away, and so help Pilgrim succeed." The Jade Emperor said, "So be it, as you propose." The prince took the edict to the North Gate of Heaven, saw Zhenwu, told him the whole matter, and the Patriarch handed the banner to the prince.

The rambling god hurried down to the Great Sage's ear: "Prince Nezha is coming to help." Pilgrim looked up and saw auspicious clouds swirling. A god indeed. He turned to the little demons: "Time to pack up the sky." The demons said, "If you'll pack it, pack it. Why all this dawdling?" Pilgrim said, "I was just now gathering my spirit and speaking the spell." The little demons opened their eyes wide to watch him pack the sky. Pilgrim tossed the fake gourd into the air. Think: a thing changed from a single hair—how heavy could it be? The wind at the mountaintop swept it off, drifting and swaying a full half watch before it came down. And there at the South Gate of Heaven Prince Nezha unfurled the black banner with a flap, and sun, moon, and stars were all shut away. Truly heaven and earth looked ink-dyed, and the universe was dressed in indigo. The two little demons were astonished: "When we were talking it was just about noon. How is it dusk already?" Pilgrim said, "The sky is packed away. There's no telling the hour. Why not dusk?" "And why so dark?" Pilgrim said, "Sun, moon, and stars are all packed inside. Without light outside, why not dark?" The little demon said, "Master, where are you standing, talking?" Pilgrim said, "Right in front of you, am I not?" The little demon reached out and felt around: "I hear your voice but can't see your face. Master, what place is this?" Pilgrim tricked him again: "Don't move a step. This is the shore of the Bo Sea. Put a foot wrong and you'd fall in, and seven or eight days wouldn't reach the bottom." The little demons were terrified: "Enough, enough, enough! Let the sky out. We've seen how it's packed. Fiddle with it much longer and we'll drop into the sea and never get home."

The fine Pilgrim, seeing they believed it, spoke his spell again, stirred the prince, and the banner was rolled up—and there was the noon sun. The little demons laughed: "Wonderful! Wonderful! A treasure this good—if we didn't trade for it, we'd be no sons to support a house." Fine Ghost handed over the gourd, Clever Bug brought out the vase, and together they passed them to Pilgrim. Pilgrim passed the fake gourd over and made the trade. And having made the trade, he finished the job to the last: below his navel he plucked a hair, blew a breath of immortal air, and made a copper coin. He called: "Lad, take this coin and buy a sheet of paper." The little demon said, "What for?" Pilgrim said, "I'll write you a contract. You are trading your two man-packing treasures for my one sky-packing treasure. Lest someone's heart sour, and years later there's a regret and trouble, let this be written and kept by each side for record." The little demon said, "No brush or ink here. What writing? Let's swear an oath instead." Pilgrim said, "What oath?" The little demon said, "Our two man-packing treasures, with the vase thrown in, traded for your one sky-packing treasure. If either side regrets it, may plague strike him all four seasons of the year." Pilgrim laughed: "I'll never regret it. And if I do, may the same four-season plague strike me."

The oath sworn, he gave a bound, flicked his tail, and sprang up before the South Gate of Heaven to thank Prince Nezha for the help of his banner. The prince returned to his palace to report and sent the banner back to Zhenwu. No more of that. And Pilgrim stood poised between the clouds and the sky, watching that little demon.

But what would he do about it? Listen to the next chapter to find out.