Chapter 52

Wukong Wreaks Great Havoc in Golden Cave; the Tathagata Hints at the Fiend's Master

Let it be told: the Great Sage Sun, his gold-banded staff recovered, fought his way out the gate, leaped up onto the high peak, and stood before the gods brimming with joy. Heavenly King Li said: "How went it in there?" Pilgrim said: "Old Monkey changed himself and slipped into the cave, and the monster was singing and dancing the merrier, drinking deep of his victory wine. But nowhere could I learn where his treasure was kept. I made my way round behind, and suddenly heard a horse neighing and a dragon moaning, and knew them for things of the fire department. There against the east wall leaned my gold-banded staff; old Monkey took it in hand and hammered his way out." The gods said: "Your treasure is recovered — when do ours come back to us?" Pilgrim said: "No trouble, no trouble. Now that I have this iron staff, come what may I will beat him down and take the treasure back for you."

As they spoke, they heard gongs and drums sounding together down the slope below, and shouting that shook the ground. It was the Great King Si leading his host of spirits in pursuit of Pilgrim. Pilgrim saw them and cried: "Good, good, good — just as I wished. Be seated, all of you, while old Monkey goes and catches him." Good Great Sage! He raised the iron staff and came at him face on, roaring: "Where do you think you are going, brazen demon? Look out — here is the staff!" The monster met it with his spear and cursed: "You thieving monkey-head, utterly without manners! How dare you rob me in broad daylight?" Pilgrim said: "You beast of calamity that does not know death! It was you who worked a snare and robbed me in broad daylight — which of these things of mine was ever yours? Do not run — taste your lordship's staff!" The monster swung his spear to parry. A fine battle it was:

The Great Sage deals out his fury; the demon yields nothing in softness.The two houses vie in valor — which will stand down first?This one's iron staff is a dragon's tail;that one's long spear is a python's head.This one's staff-work comes whistling like the wind;that one's spear-parry, mighty, flows like water.Colored mists thicken and the ridges darken;auspicious clouds hang heavy and the woods grow sad.Every bird in the sky folds its wings;wolves and scaled things in all the fields pull in their heads.On that side the little demons howl;on this side Pilgrim shakes out his strength.One iron staff no man can stand against,beating his way over the West's ten thousand li.That long spear is a very match for it,forever holding Golden Cave, first in the scale.They have met — and this meeting will have no gentle end:until one is seen the better, neither swears to stop.

The demon king and the Great Sage Sun fought through three watches, neither winning nor losing, and the sky was already darkening. The demon, holding off with his long spear, said: "Wukong, give over. Heaven dark, earth dim — this is no time for a bout. Let each of us rest, and tomorrow morning we will match again." Pilgrim cursed: "Brazen beast, no more talk! Old Monkey's high spirits are only now arriving — what does the late hour matter? I am determined to settle win or lose with you." The monster gave a shout, feinted with his spear, and made off with his life; mustering his demon host he called in the weapons and went into the cave, shutting the gates fast behind him.

The Great Sage drew in his staff and came back, and the gods on the height congratulated him, all saying: "A Great Equal-to-Heaven with power and might — true strength beyond all measure." Pilgrim laughed: "Too much praise, too much praise." Heavenly King Li came near and said: "That is no flattery — in truth a hero. This bout of yours is no less than the day you slipped the net of earth and the net of heaven." Pilgrim said: "No old stories. That demon, given this beating by old Monkey, is sure to be weary. As for me, I will not speak of toil — you all sit and take your ease while I go into the cave again and find out about that ring of his. Steal it I must; then we seize the monster and bring back your weapons for the ride home to heaven." The prince said: "It is already late. Better to sleep one night and go in the morning." Pilgrim laughed: "This young gentleman does not know the world. When did you ever see a thief set to work in broad daylight? For this kind of picking and pilfering it must be night going, night coming, unseen and unfelt — that is the trade." The Fire Star Lord and the Thunder Lords said: "Say nothing, third prince. Of this business we know nothing. The Great Sage is an old hand with a practiced touch. Let him use this moment: first, the demon is weary; second, the night is black and no watch is kept. Go quickly — go quickly."

Good Great Sage! Laughing merrily he hid the iron staff, hopped down from the peak, came again to the cave mouth, shook himself, and changed into a cricket. Truly:

Hard-mouthed, long-antennaed, black of skin;bright-eyed, with clawed and forked feet.When wind is clean and moonlight bright it sings along the wall.In the still of night it is like a man's voice.Weeping dew, a cold and desolate scene;its song in fits and starts is worth the praising.The traveler at his window dreads to hear it —and there it is, on the bare steps, under the bed.

It sprang open its long legs and in three or five hops reached the gate, slipped in through a crack, and crouched at the base of the inner wall, facing the lamplight within, and looked carefully. The imps, great and small, were one and all wolfing and gulping, right in the middle of their meal. Pilgrim chirped and chirred his cry once through. Before long they cleared away the dishes and all went to lay out their bedding, each finding his place to sleep.

About the first watch, Pilgrim made his way to the rooms at the back and heard the old demon giving orders: "Imps on every gate, sleep with one eye open — Sun Wukong may change into something again and sneak in to steal." There were those on the night watch too, clappers and bells sounding through the rounds. All the better for the Great Sage's business. He slipped in through the door of the room and saw a stone bed, with powdered and rouged mountain spirits and tree ghosts in attendance on either side, spreading the bedding and serving the old demon — some pulling off his boots, some undoing his robes. The demon king loosened his clothes, and there on his left arm gleamed white the ring, just like a string-of-pearls bangle. And see: he did not take it off, but pushed it twice more up the arm and bound it tight before lying down. Pilgrim, seeing this, changed again, into a yellow-bodied flea, hopped onto the stone bed, burrowed into the quilt, crawled up the demon's arm, and gave him a real bite. The demon turned over, cursing: "You blundering slaves! Never shaking out the quilt, never dusting the bed — who knows what thing it was that bit me!" And he stroked the ring up twice more and lay back down. Pilgrim crawled onto the ring itself and bit again. The demon could not sleep; he turned over once more: "It prickles me to death!"

Pilgrim saw that the demon's watch was tight and the treasure kept on his body and never taken off — stealing it was past hoping. He hopped off the bed, turned back into a cricket, and left the room, making straight for the back, where again he heard the dragon moaning and the horse neighing. The inner gate was locked fast, with the fire dragon and the fire horse hanging inside. Pilgrim showed his true body, came up to the gate, worked the art of unlocking, murmured the charm, passed his hand over it once — and with a crack both shackles of the lock fell away. He pushed the door open, strode in and looked about: the place was lit bright by the fire gear, bright as day. Suddenly he saw, leaning aslant on either side, east and west, several weapons — the prince's demon-cutting saber and the rest, and the Fire Star Lord's fire bow, fire arrows, and the like. Pilgrim, by the firelight, went round and viewed them all, and saw too that behind the door, on a stone table, stood a woven bamboo tray with a handful of hairs on it. The Great Sage was delighted to his heart's core. He took up the hairs, breathed two mouthfuls of hot breath on them, cried "Change!" — and they became thirty, fifty little monkeys at once. He had them take up every last thing the ring had snatched — saber, sword, pestle, lasso, fire wheel, bow, arrows, spear, cart, gourd, fire crows, fire rats, fire horses — then saddle the fire dragon and let loose the fire, burning outward from within. They heard it roaring and seething, bursting and banging, just like rolling thunder and one long string of cannon. The imps, great and small, woke muddled and staggering, wrapped in quilts, heads muffled, some shouting, some wailing, every one with no way out — and the fire burned more than half of them to death. The Handsome Monkey King came back in triumph; it was just the third watch.

Now on the high peak, Heavenly King Li and the rest saw the firelight flaring and came crowding forward. They found Pilgrim mounted on the dragon, whooping and hallooing, driving the little monkeys before him straight up the peak, where he called out at the top of his voice: "Come collect your weapons! Come collect your weapons!" The Fire Star Lord and Nezha answered to the call. Pilgrim shook himself, and the handful of hairs flew back onto his body. Prince Nezha gathered up his six weapons, and the Fire Star Lord had his fire department take in the fire dragon and the rest, all smiling and praising Pilgrim — but of that no more.

Now inside Golden Cave the flames came swirling, and the Great King Si's soul left his body with fright. He rose up hastily, opened his door, ring in both hands — pushed east and the fire east went out; pushed west and the fire west died — smoke and flame leaping through all the air; carrying his treasure he ran a round of the place, and on every side the fire and smoke were quenched. He hurried to rally his demons: more than half were burned and slain, and of men and maids he could gather barely a hundred and ten. He went and searched the armory: not one weapon of any kind remained. He went around back to look, and there were Bajie, Sha Monk, and the elder still bound fast and unloosed; the white dragon horse still in its stall; the load of luggage still in the room. The demon raged: "Some careless little imp must have let a fire slip and brought this about." An attendant at his side told him: "Your Majesty, this fire is no affair of this house. It must have been some thief raiding our camp — he loosed the gear of the fire department and made off with the divine weapons." Then the old demon understood: "No one else — it was Sun Wukong, the thief, beyond all doubt. No wonder I could not rest when I went to sleep. The thieving monkey must have changed himself and slipped in here and bitten my arm twice. He meant to steal my treasure, but found it bound so tight he could do nothing — so he made off with the weapons, set the fire dragon loose, and let his cruel heart have its way, meaning to burn me to death. Thieving monkey! You have worked your tricks in vain — you do not know my power. With this treasure on me, I could go into the great sea and not drown, walk into a pit of fire and not burn. If I catch that thief this time, I will scrape him into a heap of shreds — that would content my heart."

As he fumed, the cocks crowed and it grew light. On the high peak the prince, with his six weapons recovered, said to Pilgrim: "Great Sage, day has broken. No slackening now: while the demon's fighting spirit is dashed, with the fire department and the rest to back you, let us go and give battle again — perhaps this time we can take him." Pilgrim laughed: "Well said. Let us go out and have our sport with all hearts together." One and all they shook out their martial splendor, joyful in their arts, and came straight to the cave mouth. Pilgrim called: "Brazen demon, come out and fight old Monkey!"

Now the two stone gates there had been burnt to ash by the heat of the fire, and within the doorway several little imps were sweeping and gathering ashes. Suddenly they saw the host of saints arrive together; in terror they dropped their brooms, left their rakes, and ran inside, reporting again: "Sun Wukong has brought a great crowd of gods of heaven and is at the gate bawling for battle." The Si monster heard the report and was terribly alarmed; his steel teeth grated; his round eyes bulged wide. Spear level, treasure on his arm, he came out the gate, cursing unchecked: "You thieving monkey, raider of camps and burner of fires! How great do you think your skill is, to slight me so?" Pilgrim, smiling as he cursed, said: "Brazen monster! If you would know my skill, step up here and I will tell you:

From my birth my skill was strong; through the ten thousand li of space my name ran loud.Even then quick-witted, I sought the immortals' way; in days past the deathless recipe was handed down to me.With set purpose I bowed at the Place of the Square Inch; with devout heart I paid court in the land of saints.I mastered the boundless art of transformation; in the long skies of the cosmos I rage where I will.At ease before the mountain I tamed the tiger; when dull, within the seas I brought the dragon down.My home is Flower-Fruit, where I took the throne of king; in Water Curtain Cave I flaunted my strength.Time and again I had designs on the courts of heaven; more than once, unknowing, I seized the halls above.The Emperor granted the name Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and by decree conferred the Handsome Monkey King besides.Only because the Peach Banquet was spread, and no invitation card was sent me, my temper rose.I burst uninvited into the Jade Pool and stole the jade liquor; into the treasure tower I went unasked and drank the nectar.I have stolen and eaten dragon liver and phoenix marrow; I have tasted every delicacy by stealth.The thousand-year peaches I took my fill of; the ten-thousand-year elixirs stuffed my belly.Rare things of the Heavenly Palace I took one and all; the precious curios of the holy treasury I hid away piece by piece.The Jade Emperor, learning my skill, at once dispatched the heavenly troops and set the field of battle.The Nine Luminaries, baleful stars, were routed by me; the fierce mansions of the five quarters were wounded at my hands.All the divine generals of heaven were no match; the hundred thousand strong host dared not face me.I pressed the Jade Emperor until he passed his edict; the Little Sage of the Guan River raised his troops.We held each other through seventy-two changes, each working his art, each strong.Guanyin of the South Sea came to aid the fight; the pure vase and the willow helped as well.The Supreme Lord Lao threw his diamond snare and had me seized and carried above.I was bound and brought before the Jade Emperor, the great sovereign; the clerks of the court tortured out my guilt — my deserts.They ordered the Strongman to raise the blade; the knife cut my scalp and sparked like flame.A hundred schemes, a thousand devices could not kill me; so I was escorted to the hall of Lord Lao.In the furnace of the Six Dings' divine fire I was smelted, till my whole body was hard as steel.When the seven-times-seven count was told they opened the cauldron — and out I leaped, fiercer than before.The gods barred their gates, and no guard could hold me; the saints took counsel and begged the Buddha.Truly the Tathagata's powers are many; his wisdom truly vast beyond measure.We staked our wager at the flip of a somersault; he pressed the mountain on me, and I could not prevail.Then the Jade Emperor first set the Feast of the Pacified Heaven, and in the Western Region the field of Utmost Bliss was hailed.Five hundred years old Monkey was pressed and held, without one taste of tea or rice.Elder Golden Cicada came down into the world; the Land of the East dispatched him to bow at the Buddha's home.To fetch the true scriptures back to his own country — the sovereign of Great Tang, to redeem his dead.Guanyin urged me to turn to the good; holding to the discipline of the Buddha's keeping, I give my wildness no more rein.Loosed from beneath the root of the high mountain, now I go west to fetch the chapters of scripture.Brazen demon, give over your fox-and-weasel cunning — return my Tang monk, who would bow before the Dharma King."

Hearing this, the monster pointed at Pilgrim: "So you are the great thief who once robbed heaven itself. Do not run — taste my spear." The Great Sage met him with the staff. The two were still at grips when this side of the field Prince Nezha flared in wrath and the Fire Star Lord hardened his heart, and the six divine weapons and the gear of the fire department came flying at the demon. The Great Sage Sun pressed on more fiercely. On one side the Thunder Lords plied their thunderbolts and the Heavenly King raised his blade; without rank or order all came on together. The demon, lofty and calm, smiled coldly; from his sleeve he quietly brought out the treasure, loosed it from his hand and cast it into the air, crying "Fall!" — and with a whoosh it gathered in the six divine weapons and the fire gear, the thunderbolts, the Heavenly King's blade, and Pilgrim's staff, sweeping the whole of them away. The gods stood empty-handed again, and the Great Sage Sun with empty fists. The demon turned from his victory, calling: "Lads, haul stones and wall up the gates; break ground and rebuild; set the halls in order all anew. And when all is ready, we will slaughter those three monks of the Tang and offer it in thanks to the earth, and share out the blessing together." The little imps took their orders and fell to their work — but of that no more.

Now Heavenly King Li led the host back up the high peak. The Fire Star Lord blamed Nezha's hot temper; the Thunder Lords grumbled at the Heavenly King's slyness; only the Water Earl stood by without a word. Pilgrim, seeing that they would not look one another in the face, and thoughts twisting in him, could do nothing but nurse his grudge and force a smile, and said to them all, laughing: "No gloom, my friends. The old saying has it: now victorious, now beaten — the common lot of soldiers. In a match of arms against him, old Monkey comes to about this much; it is only that he has that ring, and so works his mischief — and off go our weapons again into the snare. Set your hearts at rest. Old Monkey will go and dig into this fellow's pedigree." The prince said: "You already petitioned the Jade Emperor, and a search of all the heavens found not a trace. Where would you search now?" Pilgrim said: "It occurs to me that the Buddha's law is boundless. I will go up to the Western Heaven and ask our Buddha the Tathagata to turn his eye of wisdom over the four great continents of the earth, and see where this monster was reared, what village and household he belongs to, and what manner of treasure the ring may be. Come what may, we will take him, and win you satisfaction, and send you home to heaven content." The gods said: "If that is your purpose, no lingering — go quickly, go quickly."

Good Pilgrim! At the word he mounted the somersault cloud, and in no time reached Vulture Peak. He let down his auspicious light and gazed about on all sides — what a place it was:

Lofty and spare, the spirit peaks; ridge upon ridge, clean and fine; the summits of the immortal mountains brush the blue vault.The West looks up to this mighty anchor; its mass bears down upon the Middle Kingdom.The primal breath streams through it, far as heaven and earth; its awe flies out and fills the terraced flowers.Ever the sound of bells and chimes runs long; ever the voice of the sutras, clear and bright.Under the green pines the elders discourse; among the jade cypresses the arhats walk.White cranes, in their affection, come to Vulture Ridge; azure phoenixes attend at the idle pavilion.Dark monkeys in pairs hold up immortal fruit; long-lived deer two by two offer purple blossoms.Hidden birds call and call as if telling their griefs; strange flowers blaze with colors beyond naming.Ridges fold back and wind about, turning to gaze; the old roads bend and curve, everywhere smooth.Truly a land pure and numinous, delicate and blest — the solemn grand air of the Buddha's great awakening.

Pilgrim was still taking in the mountain scenery when someone called: "Sun Wukong — from where do you come, and where are you going?" He turned quickly and saw it was the Venerable Bhiksuni. The Great Sage saluted: "There is a matter on which I would see the Tathagata." The bhiksuni said: "You impudent one. If you would see the Tathagata, why not climb to the precious monastery, and stand here admiring the mountain instead?" Pilgrim said: "It is my first visit to this holy ground — hence the boldness." The bhiksuni said: "Then come along with me, quickly." Pilgrim kept close behind her down to the mountain gate of the Thunderclap Monastery, where the Eight Great Vajra Warriors stood blocking the way on either side, a formidable sight. The bhiksuni said: "Wukong, wait a moment while I go up and report for you." Pilgrim could only stand and wait outside the gate. The bhiksuni came before the Buddha, joined her palms, and said: "Sun Wukong has a matter on which he asks to see the Tathagata." The Tathagata gave the order to admit him, and only then did the vajras stand aside and let him pass.

Pilgrim bowed low in worship, and the Tathagata asked: "Wukong, I heard that the Venerable Guanyin freed you from your bonds and turned you to the Buddha's teaching, to guard the Tang monk on his quest for scriptures. How is it you stand here alone? What has happened?" Pilgrim bowed his head to the ground: "I make my report to our Buddha. Since taking the discipline, your disciple has come west with his master of the Tang, and at Golden Mountain, Golden Cave, fell in with a wicked demon called the Great King Si, of vast powers, who swept my master and my brothers-in-the-law into his cave. Your disciple asked him for them without malice; we fell to fighting, and with a gleaming white ring he robbed me of my iron staff. I feared he was some general of heaven yearning for the world below, and hurried up to search — and found nothing. The Jade Emperor was gracious enough to send Heavenly King Li and his son to my aid, and the demon robbed the prince of his six weapons. I begged the Fire Star Lord to loose fire on him, and the demon snatched away the fire gear. I begged the Water Star Lord to loose water and drown him — and could not wet a hair of him. Your disciple spent spirit and strength without number, stole the iron staff and the rest back out, went and demanded battle again — and the demon swept away all the same things once more. There is no way to subdue him. So I have come to tell our Buddha, and beg his mercy to look for me and see what manner of creature this truly is. Then I can go take his kin and his neighbors, seize this demon, rescue my master, and with joined palms and devout hearts bow in quest of the true fruit."

The Tathagata listened, then looked far off with his eye of wisdom, and already knew. He said to Pilgrim: "That monster I know — but I cannot tell you. You monkey, your mouth is a sieve: the moment the word spreads that it was I who said so, he will not fight you; he will raise an uproar up Vulture Peak itself and visit the mischief on me. Here — I will send power to help you seize him." Pilgrim bowed again in thanks: "And what power will the Tathagata send to help me?" The Tathagata at once ordered eighteen arhats to open the precious treasury and take out eighteen grains of golden cinnabar sand to aid Wukong. Pilgrim said: "And what of golden cinnabar sand?" The Tathagata said: "You will go outside his cave and call the demon out to try you — lure him out — and have the arhats release the sand and sink him, so that he cannot move his body or pull free his feet; then you may seize and beat him as you please." Pilgrim laughed: "Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Let us go at once."

The arhats did not dare delay; they took the golden cinnabar sand and went out the door. Pilgrim thanked the Tathagata once more. He looked them over on the way and counted only sixteen. Pilgrim bawled: "What sort of a place is this, that lets men slip away?" The arhats said: "Who has slipped away?" Pilgrim said: "Eighteen were ordered; how is it there are only sixteen?" Before the words were done, two more came out from within — the Dragon-Subduing and the Tiger-Taming arhats — and stepped up: "Wukong, how can you be so sly? The two of us were at the back, hearing the Tathagata's instructions." Pilgrim said: "Fine way to slip a friend, fine way! If I had bawled a moment later, I suppose you would never have come out." The arhats, laughing, mounted the auspicious cloud.

In no time they reached the borders of Golden Mountain. Heavenly King Li met them and led the host out to welcome them, and the whole story was told. The arhats said: "No need for the details — quick, call him out." The Great Sage, twisting his fists, came to the cave mouth and cursed: "You bloated brazen monster! Come out and settle it with your grandfather Sun!" The imps flew off to report. The demon king said in anger: "Who has the thief monkey fetched this time, to come swaggering?" The imps said: "No general at all — he is alone." The demon king said: "That staff of his is already in my keeping — how does he come alone like this? Does he mean to box with me?" He hung his treasure on, took his spear in hand, had the imps haul the stones aside, and leaped out the gate, cursing: "Thieving monkey! Time after time you have gained nothing by it; you should have kept away. Why come bawling again?" Pilgrim said: "You brazen demon, you know neither good nor bad! If you would have your grandfather stay away, then surrender and make your apology, hand out my master and my brothers, and I will let you be." The monster said: "Your three monks are washed and clean already, and soon to be slaughtered — and you still cannot tell which way the wind sits? Be off with you."

At the word "slaughtered," the fire flared along Pilgrim's cheeks; he could not hold down the rage in his heart. He dropped his stance, swung his fists, moved in slantwise, feeling his steps, and came at the demon with a hook to the face. The monster spread his long spear and met him hand to hand. Pilgrim hopped left and hopped right, beguiling the demon; and the demon, not knowing it was a trick, was drawn away south, out from the cave mouth. Pilgrim signaled the arhats, and together they flung the golden cinnabar sand down on the demon. Good sand! Just look:

Like mist, like smoke, at first dispersing slowly, drift on drift it falls from the rim of the sky.A white blindness — everywhere it fills the eyes; a gray bewilderment — flying, it loses the road.The woodcutter loses his partner; the immortal boy gathering herbs cannot see his home.Fine and light it drifts like wheat flour; coarse and churning it tumbles like sesame.The world goes dim, the mountaintops dark; the long skies are blotted out, the sun veiled over.Not the loud dust that trails galloping horses; no words for the lightness, the softness under the perfumed carriage.This sand by nature is a thing without feeling, covering earth, veiling heaven, to take the monster.Only because a demon has invaded the true way does the arhat wield the law in such splendor.In his hand a bright pearl already shows — and in a moment it grinds the eyes to flowers.

The demon, seeing the flying sand blind his eyes, lowered his head a little, and already his feet had sunk more than three feet deep. In terror he gave a leap and jumped to a floating crust on top; and before he could stand firm, in a moment he had sunk another two feet. The monster, desperate, pulled his feet out, hastily took the ring, flipped it upward, cried "Fall!" — and with a whoosh all eighteen grains of golden cinnabar sand were swept away; and drawing his steps back he went straight home to his cave.

The arhats, one and all, halted their clouds empty-handed. Pilgrim came near and asked: "Reverend arhats, why have you let the sand stop?" The arhats said: "There was a sound just now, and the golden cinnabar sand was gone." Pilgrim laughed: "Snatched away by that same old thing again." The Heavenly King and the rest said: "So hard to subdue — how are we ever to take him? What day do we return to heaven, and with what face do we see the Emperor?" Then the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming arhats said to Pilgrim: "Wukong — do you know why the two of us were slow coming out the door?" Pilgrim said: "Old Monkey only grumbled that you were hiding — he did not know there was a message." The arhats said: "The Tathagata charged us two thus: 'That demon's powers are vast. If the golden cinnabar sand is lost, then send Sun Wukong up to the Tushita Palace in the Heaven of Parting Sorrow, to the Supreme Lord Lao, to seek his traces — then he may be taken at one drum.'" Pilgrim heard and said: "Insufferable, insufferable! So the Tathagata was shuffling old Monkey along too. He should have told me at the time, and spared you all this long journey." Heavenly King Li said: "Since the Tathagata has given this clear sign, Great Sage, you should start at once."

Good Pilgrim! At the word he mounted a somersault cloud and went straight in through the Southern Gate of Heaven. The four great marshals raised their fists and saluted: "How went the business of seizing the demon?" Pilgrim answered as he went: "Not yet, not yet. But now I know where to look for the root of it." The four generals dared not hold him and let him through the gate. He did not go up the Hall of Divine Mists, nor into the Palace of the Dipper and the Ox, but straight to the Tushita Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, in the Heaven of Parting Sorrow. Two immortal boys stood in attendance; he gave no name but walked straight in. The two, alarmed, caught at him: "Who are you? Where are you going?" Only then did Pilgrim say: "I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, come to find old Lord Li." The immortal boys said: "What a rough way to behave! Wait while we announce you." Pilgrim would brook no delay; with a shout he walked straight in — and there was Lord Lao coming out from within, and they collided full in the arms. Pilgrim bowed from the waist with a salutation: "Old gentleman, it has been too long since I looked in on you." Lord Lao laughed: "Monkey, what brings you to my door instead of your scriptures?" Pilgrim said: "Scriptures, scriptures — no pause day or night. A little obstruction on the road, so I have dropped by for a stroll." Lord Lao said: "The western road is blocked — what is that to me?" Pilgrim said: "Western Heaven, Western Heaven — say no more. When I have found what I am looking for, you and I will have a long settlement." Lord Lao said: "This is the palace of the utmost immortals — what trace of anything would you find here?"

Pilgrim went in, his eyes never resting, peering east and west. He had passed through several corridors when he saw, by the ox stall, a boy fast asleep — and the green ox not in the stall. Pilgrim said: "Old gentleman — the ox is loose! The ox is loose!" Lord Lao was badly startled: "When did this beast of calamity get out?" While they were still shouting, the boy woke, knelt before them, and said: "Master, your disciple fell asleep — I do not know when he left." Lord Lao cursed: "And how did you come to be snoring?" The boy knocked his head: "Your disciple found a pill in the elixir room, ate it on the spot, and fell asleep right here." Lord Lao said: "It must be one of the seven-times-returned fire pills smelted the other day — one dropped, and this fellow picked it up and ate it. One grain of that pill brings seven days of sleep. With you asleep there was no one to watch the beast, so he seized his chance and went down into the world — and today makes the seventh day."

He made search at once to see whether any treasure had been stolen besides. Pilgrim said: "No treasure to speak of — only that he has a ring, and a deadly one." Lord Lao looked quickly through his stores: everything was there except the Diamond Bangle. Lord Lao said: "This beast of calamity has stolen my Diamond Bangle!" Pilgrim said: "So that is the treasure. It was he who once cracked old Monkey's skull with it. Now down in the world he plays the tyrant — who knows how much of ours he has swept away with it." Lord Lao said: "Where is the beast?" Pilgrim said: "At Golden Mountain, in Golden Cave. He took my Tang monk inside and robbed me of my gold-banded staff. I asked the heavenly troops for help — he robbed the prince of his divine weapons. I asked the Fire Star Lord — he robbed him of his fire gear. The Water Earl alone could not drown him, but at least lost nothing to the ring. Then I begged the Tathagata to send arhats down with their sand — and he swept away the golden cinnabar sand besides. And you, old gentleman, turning loose a monster that robs and harms men — what are your deserts?" Lord Lao said: "My Diamond Bangle is the very implement with which I crossed the Pass and converted the Hu — a treasure smelted in my youth. No weapon, no water, no fire can come near it. If he had stolen my banana-leaf fan, then even I could do nothing with him."

Then at last the Great Sage was content, and went along with Lord Lao. Lord Lao took up the banana-leaf fan and rode the auspicious cloud beside him, out of the immortal palace. Outside the Southern Gate they lowered the cloud and came straight to the borders of Golden Mountain, where they found the eighteen arhats, the Thunder Lords, the Water Earl, the Fire Star Lord, and Heavenly King Li and his son, and the whole story was told over. Lord Lao said: "Sun Wukong, go and lure him out again, and I will take him."

Pilgrim hopped down from the peak and bawled again: "Bloated beast of calamity! Come out and take your death early!" The imps ran to report. The old demon said: "Who has the thief monkey fetched this time?" In haste, spear and treasure, he came out the gate to meet him. Pilgrim cursed: "Brazen demon, this time you are dead and finished! Do not run — take my palm!" He sprang up with a leap full into his arms, dealt him a slap across the face, and turned and ran. The demon whirled his spear and gave chase. Then from the high peak came a call: "Ox, will you not go home? What day are you waiting for?" The demon looked up, saw it was the Supreme Lord Lao, and his heart quaked and his gall trembled: "This thieving monkey is a true ghost of the underworld — how has he ferreted out my master and lord?"

Lord Lao murmured a charm and flicked the fan once; the monster flung the ring at him, and Lord Lao caught it in one hand. He flicked again: the creature's strength failed and his sinews went slack; he showed his true form — a green ox. Lord Lao breathed a mouthful of immortal breath through the Diamond Bangle, ran it through the ox's nose, took the sash from his own robe, tied it to the bangle, and led him by the hand. To this day the ring that tethers an ox by the nose remains, called the binlang — and this is how it began. Lord Lao took leave of the gods, bestrode the green ox's back, and rode the colored clouds straight home to the Tushita cloister; the demon bound, he rose high to the Heaven of Parting Sorrow.

Then the Great Sage Sun, with the Heavenly King and the rest, stormed into the cave, beat to death every one of the hundred-odd imps, and each recovered his weapons. They thanked the Heavenly King and his son, who returned to heaven; the Thunder Lords went back to their bureaus, the Fire Star Lord to his palace, the Water Earl to his river, and the arhats turned west. Only then did they unbind the Tang monk, Bajie, and Sha Monk, and Pilgrim took up the iron staff. The three thanked him again, gathered the horse and the baggage, and the master and his disciples left the cave and took to the high road.

As they went, they heard a call from beside the road: "Holy monk of the Tang, stop and take a meal!" And the elder's heart started.

But who it was that called out? Listen to the next chapter to find out.

Wukong makes a great uproar in the Gold Cave; The Tathagata drops a hint about the demon's master

The story goes that the Great Sage Sun, having recovered his gold-banded staff, fought his way out the door, jumped up onto the peak, and stood before the gods, joyful at heart. Heavenly King Li said: "How did it go in there?" Pilgrim said: "Old Sun changed himself and slipped into the cave. That monster was still singing and dancing, drinking his victory wine. I could not find out where he kept his treasure. But when I went around to the back, I heard a horse neighing and a dragon droning, and knew those were the fire gods' creatures. And there against the east wall leaned my own gold-banded staff. Old Sun took it in hand and fought his way out." The gods said: "You have your treasure back. When do we get ours?" Pilgrim said: "No trouble, no trouble. Now that I have this iron staff again, no matter what it takes, I will knock him down and take your treasures back for you."

While they were talking, gongs and drums sounded together from below the slope, and shouts shook the ground. It was the Demon King Si leading his spirits in pursuit of Pilgrim. Pilgrim saw them and cried: "Good, good, good—just what I wanted. Please sit down, all of you. Old Sun will go catch him again." Good Great Sage! He raised the iron staff and met them head-on, shouting: "Brazen demon, do not run! Take the staff!" The monster met it with his spear and cursed: "Wretched monkey-head! What rudeness! How dare you rob me of my things in broad daylight?" Pilgrim said: "You reckless beast that does not know death! You played your ring trick and robbed me in broad daylight—which of those things is yours? Do not run—take your lord's staff!" The monster swung his spear to parry. This was a fine fight:

The Great Sage lets loose his might; the demon yields no ground.Both sides fight with all their courage, and neither will give up.One has an iron staff like a dragon's tail; the other a long spear like a python's head.The staff comes whistling like wind; the spear parries, mighty as flowing water.Look: colored mists dim the air and darken the ridges; auspicious clouds hang heavy, and the woods grow sad.Every bird in the sky folds its wings; every wolf and beast in the fields pulls in its head.On that side the little demons howl; on this side Pilgrim bristles with fight.One iron staff no one can match—he battles his way across the ten thousand li of the West.That long spear is a true match—forever holding the field at Gold Mountain, counted first-rate.They met, and this round can end in nothing good: until one is seen to be higher, they swear never to stop.

The Demon King and the Great Sage Sun fought for three watches, and neither won. The sky was already darkening toward evening. The demon braced on his long spear and said: "Wukong, stop. It is dark; this is no time for a contest. Let each of us rest, and tomorrow morning we will fight again." Pilgrim cursed: "Quiet, you brazen beast! Old Sun is just warming up. Who cares how late it is? I mean to settle win or lose with you." The monster gave a shout, feinted with his spear, and fled for his life. He led his demons back, put away the weapons, went into the cave, and shut the door tight.

The Great Sage trailed the staff back, and the gods on the hillside congratulated him: "A truly able and powerful Great Sage Equal to Heaven, with real skill beyond all measure." Pilgrim laughed: "Thanks for the praise, thanks for the praise." Heavenly King Li came near and said: "That was no flattery. You are truly a fine fellow. This round was as good as the time you slipped past the nets of heaven and earth." Pilgrim said: "Let us not rake up old stories. After the beating Old Sun gave him, that demon must be worn out. And I need not tell you how tired I am. You all sit down and rest while I go back into the cave and hunt for that ring. I must steal it, seize the monster, find your weapons, and return them to you for your trip back to Heaven." The prince said: "It is already dark. Better to sleep a night and go in the morning." Pilgrim laughed: "This young fellow does not know the world. When did you ever hear of a thief going to work in daylight? For this kind of picking and stealing, you must go by night and come back by night, with no one the wiser. That is the trade." Fire Star and the thunder gods said: "Say nothing, Third Prince. This business is beyond us. The Great Sage is the old hand at the trade. Let him use this moment: the demon is weary, and the night is dark and unguarded. Go quickly, go quickly."

Good Great Sage! Laughing to himself, he hid the iron staff, jumped down from the peak, came again to the cave mouth, shook himself, and changed into a cricket. Truly:

Hard of beak, long of feeler, black of skin; bright of eye, splayed of claw and foot.When the wind is clear and the moon is bright, it sings along the walls.In the still of night its voice is like a man talking.It weeps with the dew in the bleak scene; its chirring, on and off, deserves all praise.The traveler at his window dreads to hear it—and there it is, right by the empty step, under the bed.

He kicked out his hind legs, and in three or five jumps reached the door, slipped in through the crack, and crouched at the base of the wall, facing the lamplight inside, and looked carefully. The demons big and small were eating, each of them gobbling like wolves and tigers. Pilgrim chirped his cricket call all around the room. Before long they cleared away the dishes, went to set out their bedding, and each lay down to sleep.

About the first watch, Pilgrim reached the rooms at the back. The old demon was giving orders: "You lads on the gates, sleep light. Sun Wukong may change into something and slip in to steal." And the men on night watch were out there, clappers and bells ringing all together. This suited the Great Sage fine. He slipped through the bedroom door and saw a stone bed, with several powder-and-rouge mountain spirits and tree ghosts in attendance, spreading the bedding for the old demon—some pulling off his boots, some undoing his clothes. The Demon King loosened his robes, and there on his left arm, gleaming white, was the ring: just like a linked-bead bracelet. See—he would not take it off; he only pushed it up his arm a couple of pushes and strapped it tight before lying down. Pilgrim, seeing this, changed himself again, into a yellow-bodied flea, jumped onto the stone bed, burrowed into the covers, crawled onto the demon's arm, and bit him a good bite. The demon rolled over, cursing: "You lazy, good-for-nothing slaves! You do not shake out the quilt or smooth the bed, and some thing bites me!" He stroked the ring up his arm twice more and lay back down. Pilgrim crawled up onto the ring and bit him again. The demon could not sleep; he turned over again and cried: "These stinging things will be the death of me!"

Seeing the demon guarded so tightly, with the treasure worn on his body and never taken off, Pilgrim knew he could not steal it. He jumped off the bed, turned back into a cricket, left the room, and went to the back, where he again heard the dragon droning and the horse neighing. The door there was locked tight, with the fire dragon and fire horse hanging inside. Pilgrim showed his true form, walked up to the door, used his lock-opening art, murmured the spell, and stroked the lock with his hand. With a click, both shackles of the lock fell away. He pushed the door open, marched in, and looked around: inside, the fire gear lit the place bright as day. He saw several weapons leaning against the east and west walls—the prince's demon-cutting knife and the rest, together with Fire Star's fire bow, fire arrows, and the rest. By the light of the fire gear, Pilgrim looked all around, and behind the door he saw a stone table with a wicker plate on it, holding that handful of hairs. The Great Sage was overjoyed. He picked up the hairs, blew two mouthfuls of hot breath on them, and cried: "Change!" They became thirty or fifty little monkeys. He had them take up the knives, swords, pestles, ropes, fire wheels, bows, arrows, spears, carts, gourds, fire crows, fire rats, and fire horses—everything the ring had swept up—mount the fire dragon, and raise the flames, burning their way from inside out. There was a roaring, crackling, popping crash, just like rolling thunder and string after string of firecrackers. The demons big and small, muddled with sleep, pulled quilts over their heads, shouting and crying, and ran every way with no road out; the fire burned up more than half of them. The Handsome Monkey King came back in triumph; it was only about the third watch.

On the high peak, Heavenly King Li and the rest saw the flames leaping bright and rushed forward together. They saw Pilgrim riding the dragon, shouting as he drove the little monkeys before him, straight up to the peak, crying in a loud voice: "Come take your weapons! Come take your weapons!" Fire Star and Nezha answered. Pilgrim shook his body, and the handful of hairs flew back onto his skin. Prince Nezha took back his six weapons, and the Fire Star Lord had the fire department take back the fire dragon and the rest, all smiling and congratulating Pilgrim—and no more of that.

In the Gold Cave the flames were flying thick. The Demon King Si, scared out of his wits, jumped up and opened his chamber door. He took the ring in both hands—push it east, the eastern fire died; push it west, the western fire went out—and ran all about through smoke and spitting flame with his treasure, until the fires everywhere were out. He hurried to rescue his demons: more than half had burned to death, and the males and females he gathered numbered barely a hundred or so. Then he checked the storeroom of weapons: not one thing was left. He went around to the back to look, and there were Bajie, Sha Monk, and the elder, still tied up and unloosed, the white dragon horse still at its trough, the luggage still in the room. The demon said with hatred: "Some careless little demon must have started the fire and brought this about." One of his attendants said: "Your Majesty, this fire is none of our household's doing. It must have been some raider, someone who set loose the fire gods' gear and made off with the divine weapons." The old demon came to his senses: "No one else. It was certainly that thief Sun Wukong. No wonder I could not sleep easy when I went to bed. That thief monkey must have changed himself, slipped in, and bitten my arm twice. He was surely after my treasure; but seeing how tight I had strapped it, he could not manage it, so he stole the weapons, let loose the fire dragon, and meant to burn me to death with that vicious heart of his. Thief monkey! You wasted your tricks—you do not know my skill. With this treasure of mine on me, I could sink into the great sea and not drown, walk into a pool of fire and not burn. If I catch that thief, I will chop him fine; that would suit me."

So he fumed a long time, and before anyone knew it, the roosters crowed and day broke. On the high peak the prince, with his six weapons recovered, said to Pilgrim: "Great Sage, it is already light. No dawdling. While the demon's spirit is broken, let us, with Fire Star and the rest to back you, go fight him hard again—this time we may take him." Pilgrim laughed: "Well said. With all our hearts together, let us go have some fun." One and all they shook out their might, happy to show their arts, and went straight to the cave mouth. Pilgrim called: "Brazen demon, come out and fight Old Sun!"

The two stone doors had burned to ash in the fire. Inside, a few little demons were sweeping up the ashes. Suddenly they saw all the saints arriving, dropped their brooms and ash rakes in alarm, ran inside, and reported: "Sun Wukong has brought a crowd of gods with him and is at the gate cursing for battle again." The Si demon heard and was greatly alarmed: his steel teeth ground and cracked; his round eyes bulged wide. He leveled his long spear, took his treasure, and walked out the door, spitting curses: "You thieving monkey, raider and firebug! What great skill do you have, that you dare scorn me so?" Pilgrim, smiling as he cursed back, said: "Brazen monster! You want to know my skill? Step up and I will tell you:

From the time I was small my skill has been strong; through heaven and earth, over ten thousand li, my name is known.Quick to learn, I took up the way of the immortals long ago and was taught the recipe for never growing old.With firm resolve I enrolled in the Square-Inch land, and with a devout heart visited the country of the sages.There I learned the boundless art of transformation; through the whole sky of the universe I range where I will.In idle hours before the mountain I tamed tigers; when bored, out in the seas I subdued dragons.My ancestral home is Flower-Fruit, where I took the throne as king; in the Water Curtain Cave I showed my strength.More than once I planned to storm the heavens; more than once, in my folly, I seized the halls above.The Emperor granted me the name Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and by edict also named me Handsome Monkey King.But when the Peach Banquet was set, no invitation came to me, and my temper flared.I stole into the Jade Pool by stealth and stole the jade liquid; I walked uninvited into the treasure pavilion and drank the nectar.I ate stolen dragon liver and phoenix marrow; I tasted by theft the hundred rare dishes.The thousand-year peaches I ate at pleasure; the ten-thousand-year elixir filled my belly.I took the rare things of the Heavenly Palace one and all; the wonders of the holy treasury I hid away piece by piece.The Jade Emperor, learning of my skill, at once sent the heavenly troops and set the battlefield.The Nine Luminaries, stars of ill omen, were routed by me; the fierce mansions of the five quarters were wounded by my hand.All the god-generals of heaven were no match for me; a hundred thousand brave troops dared not face me.I pressed the Jade Emperor so hard he had to send down his edict, and the Little Sage of Guan River raised his troops.We held each other through seventy-two changes, each showing his spirit, each strong.Guanyin of the Southern Sea came to help the fight; her pure vase and willow branch helped too.Then the Supreme Lord Lao threw the diamond snare and caught me and carried me up above.Bound, I was brought before the Jade Emperor the great; the officers of the record questioned me, and the crime was mine to bear.They sent in the strongman to behead me; the blade struck my scalp and flashed fire.A hundred schemes, a thousand ways—they could not kill me, so they hauled me off to Lord Lao's hall.In the furnace of the six fire gods I was smelted, and the smelting made my whole body hard as steel.When the seven times seven days were done they opened the cauldron to look, and I leaped out, fiercer than ever.The gods barred their doors, with nothing left to stop me; the saints put their heads together and begged the Buddha.Truly the Tathagata has many magic powers; his wisdom is boundless indeed.We made a wager of somersaults from his palm, and he pressed me down under a mountain; I could not be strong.The Jade Emperor then held the Feast of the Pacified Sky, and the Western Region first had its field of Highest Joy.Pressed and trapped, Old Sun lay there five hundred years, without one mouthful of tea or food.Then the elder Golden Cicada came down into the world, sent from the Land of the East to worship at the Buddha's home.He is to fetch the true scriptures back to the higher land; the Emperor of Great Tang seeks salvation for the dead.Guanyin urged me to turn to the good, to hold to the faith and its discipline and give up my wildness.Freed at last from under the high mountain, I now go west to fetch the chapters of scripture.Brazen demon, stop playing fox tricks: hand back my Tang monk, who must bow before the King of the Law."

Hearing this, the monster pointed at Pilgrim: "So you are a heaven-robbing thief! Do not run—take my spear!" The Great Sage met it with his staff. While the two were locked together, Prince Nezha flared up in anger and the Fire Star Lord put out his strength, throwing the six divine weapons and the fire department's gear at the demon. The Great Sage Sun pressed harder still. On one side the thunder gods sent their stakes flying and the Heavenly King raised his blade, and without rank or order they all rushed in together. The demon, calm and cool, laughed quietly, secretly took the treasure from his sleeve, tossed it into the air, and cried: "Hit!" With a whoosh it came down and swept away the six divine weapons, the fire gear, the thunder stakes, the Heavenly King's blade, and Pilgrim's staff, every one. The gods were left empty-handed as before, and the Great Sage Sun with empty fists. The demon, victorious, turned and called: "Lads, haul stones and wall up the door, break ground and rebuild, and fix up the halls again. When it is all ready, we will kill the Tang monk and his two disciples as a sacrifice of thanks to the earth, and all share the blessings together." The little demons took the order and set to work—and no more of that.

Heavenly King Li led the company back up the peak. Fire Star blamed Nezha for his hot temper; the thunder gods accused the Heavenly King of slyness; only the Water Lord stood by without a word. Pilgrim saw that they would not look at one another, and his own heart churned. He had no choice: swallowing his anger, he forced a smile and said to them all: "No need to be troubled, friends. From of old the saying goes: 'Win or lose, that is the common lot of soldiers.' In a contest of martial arts, that fellow and I are much the same. The only difference is that extra ring of his, and that is what does the harm—it swept our weapons away again. But set your minds at rest. Old Sun will go find out who this fellow really is." The prince said: "You already reported to the Jade Emperor, and the check of the whole sky found not a trace. Where will you check now?" Pilgrim said: "It occurs to me that the Buddha's Law is boundless. I will go up to the Western Heaven and ask our Buddha the Tathagata to cast his wise eye over the four great continents of the earth, and see where this monster was born, where his home village is, and just what kind of treasure that ring is. Whatever it takes, I will take him, to clear the air for you all and send you home to Heaven happy." The gods said: "If that is your plan, do not linger. Go quickly, go quickly."

Good Pilgrim! At the word "go" he leaped onto the somersault cloud and was soon at Vulture Peak. He lowered his auspicious light and looked around. What a place:

The spirit peaks rise lofty and grand; the ranges fold, pure and fine, and at their summits the immortal mountains brush the blue vault.The West looks up to this great guardian mount, whose presence bears down on the lands of China.The primal breath flows through it, reaching far between heaven and earth; its august wind blows through, and flowers cover the terraces.At times you hear the long tones of bell and chime; again and again the sound of the sutras, clear and bright.You see, under the green pines, the elders preaching, and among the emerald cypresses the arhats walking.White cranes, full of feeling, come to the Vulture Ridge; blue luan birds settle with intent in the idle pavilions.Black monkeys in pairs hold up immortal fruit; aged deer in couples offer purple blossoms.Secluded birds call again and again, as if speaking; rare flowers blaze with colors no one can name.The circling ridges wind about, fold upon fold; the old paths bend and curve, level everywhere.Truly this is a land of pure emptiness and spirit-grace, solemn with the great awakening, the very air of the Buddha's house.

Pilgrim was still taking in the scenery when he heard someone call: "Sun Wukong! Where do you come from, and where are you going?" He turned quickly and saw it was the honored bhiksuni. The Great Sage bowed: "I have a matter on which I wish to see the Tathagata." The bhiksuni said: "You rascal. If you want to see the Tathagata, why not go up into the holy monastery, instead of standing here admiring the mountain?" Pilgrim said: "It is my first visit to this holy ground, so I was taking the liberty." The bhiksuni said: "Then come along with me, quickly." Pilgrim followed her close to the mountain gate of the Thunderclap Monastery, where the Eight Great Vajra-Warriors stood blocking the way on both sides, grim and mighty. The bhiksuni said: "Wukong, wait a moment while I go announce you." Pilgrim had no choice but to stand outside the gate. The bhiksuni came before the Buddha, pressed her palms together, and said: "Sun Wukong has business and asks to see the Tathagata." The Tathagata gave the word to let him in, and only then did the vajra-warriors step aside.

Pilgrim bowed low in worship. When he finished, the Tathagata asked: "Wukong, I heard that the Honored One Guanyin freed you, that you took refuge in the Buddhist faith, and that you protect the Tang monk on his way to seek the scriptures. Why have you come here all alone? What has happened?" Pilgrim bowed his head to the ground: "I report to our Buddha. Since I took the discipline, I have come west with my Tang master. At Gold Mountain, in the Gold Cave, we met a wicked demon called the Demon King Si, whose powers are vast. He snatched my master and my fellow disciples into his cave. I asked him to give them up, but he meant no good, and we came to blows. With a white, gleaming ring he robbed me of my iron staff. I feared he was a heavenly general down here out of longing for the world, and I hurried up to Heaven to check, but found nothing. The Jade Emperor kindly sent Heavenly King Li and his son to help, and the demon robbed the prince of his six weapons. I begged the Fire Star Lord to burn him, and the demon robbed him of his fire gear. I begged the Water Star Lord to drown him with water, and not one drop could touch him. Your disciple spent who knows what effort and spirit to steal the iron staff and the rest out, and went back to demand battle—and the demon swept up all those things again. I have no way to subdue him. So I have come specially to tell our Buddha, hoping that in his mercy he will look into it and tell me for certain what manner of creature this is. Then I can go take his kin and his neighbors, seize this demon, save my master, and with all reverence bow and seek the true fruit."

The Tathagata listened, looked afar with his wise eye, and already knew. He said to Pilgrim: "That monster—I know him, but I cannot tell you. You monkey, you cannot keep your mouth shut. The moment you let out that the Tathagata named him, he would refuse to fight you and come raise a row on Vulture Peak instead, and the harm would fall on me. I will send magic powers here to help you take him." Pilgrim bowed again and gave thanks: "And what powers will the Tathagata send to help me?" The Tathagata at once ordered the eighteen arhats to open the precious treasury and take out eighteen grains of golden cinnabar sand to aid Wukong. Pilgrim said: "And what will this golden sand do?" The Tathagata said: "Go outside his cave and challenge the demon. Lure him out, then have the arhats release the sand and sink him in, so that he cannot move his body or pull his feet free. Then thrash him as you please." Pilgrim laughed: "Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Let us go at once."

The arhats did not dare delay; they took out the golden cinnabar sand and set out. Pilgrim thanked the Tathagata too. On the way he counted them: only sixteen arhats. Pilgrim shouted: "Who let somebody slip away from this outfit?" The arhats said: "Who slipped away?" Pilgrim said: "Eighteen were sent. How come there are only sixteen?" Before the words were out, the two arhats Subduer of Dragons and Tamer of Tigers walked out and came forward: "Wukong, why such sneering? We two were at the back, listening to the Tathagata's instructions." Pilgrim said: "Too sly, far too sly. If I had shouted a little later, I suppose you would never have come out." The arhats rode off on auspicious clouds, laughing.

In no time they reached the borders of Gold Mountain. Heavenly King Li saw them and led the company out to meet them, and the whole story was told. The arhats said: "No need for all the details. Let us go call him out quickly." The Great Sage, clenching his fist, came to the cave mouth and cursed: "Foul brazen monster, come out quickly and settle matters with your Sun grandfather!" The little demons ran flying to report. The Demon King said angrily: "Whom has this thief monkey fetched this time, to come raging here?" The little demons said: "No general at all—only him, alone." The Demon King said: "That staff of his is already stored away in my keeping. How does he come alone? Is it boxing again?" He took his treasure, took up his spear, had the little demons push the stone blocks aside, jumped out the door, and cursed: "Thief monkey, you have come off worse all these rounds—you ought to keep away. Why do you come bawling again?" Pilgrim said: "You brazen demon, you know no gratitude! If you want your grandfather not to come, then surrender, make your apology, and send out my master and fellow disciples, and I will spare you." The monster said: "Those three monks of yours are already washed clean, and soon they will be slaughtered. Do you not know which way is up? Be off with you."

At the word "slaughtered," fire flared along Pilgrim's jaws, and the anger in his heart he could not hold down. He dropped his stance, swung his fists, sidestepped and hooked his steps, and went at the demon with a swinging blow at the face. The monster spread his long spear to parry. Pilgrim hopped left and right, leading the demon on; the demon, not knowing it was a trick, chased him away south of the cave mouth. Pilgrim then called to the arhats to drop the golden cinnabar sand on the demon all together. What sand! Truly:

Like mist, like smoke, at first drifting wide; in flakes and clouds it falls from the edge of the sky.A white blur, blinding the eye everywhere; a dim haze, confounding the path as it flies.The woodcutter loses his companion; the immortal boy gathering herbs cannot find his home.Fine and light, it drifts like wheat flour; coarse and thick, it tumbles like sesame seed.The world grows hazy, the mountaintops dark; the wide sky is blotted out, the sun screened off.It is not the loud dust that follows galloping horses, nor the soft stuff strewn before a perfumed carriage.This sand is in itself a thing without feeling; covering earth and veiling sky, it seizes the monster.Only because a demon has invaded the true Way do the arhats, upholding the Law, unloose this splendor.Even a bright pearl held in the hand would, in that moment, be ground until the eyes saw flowers.

The demon, with the flying sand blinding him, lowered his head a little, and already the sand was three feet deep under his feet. Alarmed, he sprang up and jumped to the top layer. Before he could stand firm, in a moment it was another two feet deep. The monster, desperate, pulled his feet out, quickly took the ring, and flung it upward, crying: "Hit!" With a whoosh it swept away all eighteen grains of golden cinnabar sand too, and he turned on his heel and went straight home to his cave.

The arhats stood with empty hands, their clouds halted. Pilgrim came near and asked: "Honored arhats, why did the sand stop?" They said: "There was just a crash, and the golden cinnabar sand was gone." Pilgrim laughed: "That thing of his swept it up again." The Heavenly King and the rest said: "So hard to subdue! How can we ever take him? When do we get back to Heaven, and how could we face the Emperor?" The two arhats Subduer of Dragons and Tamer of Tigers said to Pilgrim: "Wukong, do you know why we two were slow coming out the door?" Pilgrim said: "All Old Sun knew was that you were dodging the trip. I had no idea you had anything to say." The arhats said: "The Tathagata charged us two: 'That demon's powers are vast. If the golden cinnabar sand fails, send Sun Wukong up to the Tushita Palace in the Heaven of Parting Sorrow, to the place of the Supreme Lord Lao, to look for the demon's tracks. That way he may be taken at one stroke.'" Pilgrim heard this and said: "Infuriating, infuriating! The Tathagata tricked Old Sun too. He should have told me at the time, and spared you the long trip." Heavenly King Li said: "Since the Tathagata has given so clear a sign, the Great Sage should start at once."

Good Pilgrim! At the word "go" he leaped onto a somersault cloud and went straight in through the South Gate of Heaven. The four great marshals raised their fists in salute: "How goes the demon-catching?" Pilgrim, walking and answering, said: "Not yet, not yet. But now I know where to look for the root of it." The four generals dared not hold him and let him through the gate. He did not go up to the Hall of Divine Mists, did not enter the Palace of the Dipper and the Ox, but went straight beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to the Heaven of Parting Sorrow, to the front of the Tushita Palace. Two immortal boys stood in attendance. Without announcing his name he walked straight in. The two boys, alarmed, grabbed him: "Who are you? Where are you going?" Only then did Pilgrim say: "I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and I have come looking for old Lord Li." The boys said: "How can you be so rude? Stop there and let us announce you." Pilgrim would not hear a word, gave a shout, and walked straight in—and came face to face with Lord Lao coming out from inside. Pilgrim bowed and greeted him: "Old gentleman, it has been too long since I saw you." Laozi laughed: "You monkey, not off fetching scriptures—what business do you have at my place?" Pilgrim said: "Fetching scriptures, fetching scriptures—no rest day or night. A little obstruction, so I dropped by." Laozi said: "The westward road is blocked. What is that to me?" Pilgrim said: "The West, the West—say no more. When I find the trail, you and I will have it out." Laozi said: "This is the palace of the supreme immortals. What trail is there to find here?"

Pilgrim went inside, his eyes darting everywhere. Past several corridors and halls he suddenly saw a boy dozing by the ox pen—and the green ox was not in it. Pilgrim said: "Old gentleman, the ox has bolted! The ox has bolted!" Laozi was startled: "When did this wicked beast get away?" While they were clamoring, the boy woke up and knelt before them: "Master, your disciple fell asleep. I do not know when it got away." Laozi cursed: "How could you doze off?" The boy knocked his head on the ground: "Your disciple found a pill in the elixir room and ate it, and fell asleep right here." Laozi said: "It must be one of the fire elixirs of seven returns I refined the other day—one dropped, and this fellow picked it up and ate it. One pill of that should put you to sleep for seven days. With you asleep and no one watching, the beast seized its chance and ran down to the lower world—and today is the seventh day."

At once they checked whether he had stolen any treasure. Pilgrim said: "No treasure to speak of—only that he has a ring, and a very dangerous one." Laozi hurried to check: everything was there except the Diamond Bracelet. Laozi said: "This wicked beast has stolen my Diamond Bracelet!" Pilgrim said: "So that is the treasure! That is what cracked Old Sun on the head in the old days. Now it is raging about down below—who knows how much of ours it has swept up." Laozi said: "Where is this beast?" Pilgrim said: "He lives at Gold Mountain, in the Gold Cave. He captured my Tang monk and carried him inside, and robbed me of my gold-banded staff. I asked the heavenly troops to help, and he robbed the prince of his divine weapons. I asked the Fire Star Lord, and he robbed him of his fire gear. The Water Lord could not drown him, true, but he did not rob the Water Lord of anything. Then I asked the Tathagata to send the arhats down with their sand, and he swept up the golden cinnabar sand too. And you, old gentleman—you let a monster loose, to rob and hurt people. What is your offense?" Laozi said: "My Diamond Bracelet is the tool I carried through Hangu Pass when I converted the western tribes, a treasure refined from my earliest days. No weapon, no water or fire, can come near it. If they had stolen my banana-leaf fan, even I could do nothing with him."

The Great Sage, delighted, went along with Lord Lao. Laozi took up the banana-leaf fan, and they rode auspicious clouds together out of the immortal palace. Outside the South Gate of Heaven they lowered the clouds and came straight to the borders of Gold Mountain, where they met the eighteen arhats, the thunder gods, the Water Lord, Fire Star, and Heavenly King Li and his son, and the whole story was told once more. Laozi said: "Sun Wukong, go lure him out again, so that I may take him."

Pilgrim jumped down from the peak and cursed at the top of his voice: "Foul brazen beast! Come out and die, and be quick about it!" The little demons ran to report. The old demon said: "Whom has this thief monkey fetched this time?" He quickly took up his spear and treasure and came out to meet him. Pilgrim cursed: "You brazen demon, this time you are as good as dead! Do not run—take my slap!" He leaped up right into his arms, slapped him across the face, and turned and ran. The demon swung his spear and chased. Then from the high peak came a cry: "That ox of mine—still not home? What day are you waiting for?" The demon looked up, saw the Supreme Lord Lao, and was terrified out of his wits: "This thief monkey truly is an earth-spirit! How did he ever track down my lord and master?"

Lord Lao murmured a spell and flicked the fan once. The monster threw the ring at him, and Laozi caught it in one hand. He flicked the fan again; the monster's strength melted, his sinews went slack, and he showed his true form—a green ox. Laozi blew a mouthful of magic breath on the Diamond Bracelet and ran it through the ox's nose, undid the sash of his robe, tied it to the bracelet, and led him along in his hand. That is how the nose-ring for tethering oxen, also called the binlang, has come down to this day. Laozi took leave of the gods, climbed on the green ox's back, rode the colored clouds straight home to the Tushita Cloister; the demon bound, he rose high to the Heaven of Parting Sorrow.

Then the Great Sage Sun, with the Heavenly King and the rest, stormed into the cave and beat to death every one of the hundred or so little demons, and each took back his weapons. They thanked Heavenly King Li and his son, who returned to Heaven; the thunder gods went back to their bureaus, Fire Star to his palace, the Water Lord to his river, and the arhats westward. Then at last they freed the Tang monk, Bajie, and Sha Monk, and Pilgrim took up the iron staff. The three of them thanked Pilgrim again, gathered the horse and the luggage, and the master and his disciples left the cave and took to the high road.

As they walked, they heard a voice call from beside the road: "Holy Tang monk, stop and eat some food first." The elder's heart jumped.

But who was it that called out? Listen to the next chapter to find out.