Wu Cheng’en (attributed) · Complete work
Chapter 70
Chapter 70 of 100. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Traditional Chinese
第七十回 妖魔寶放煙沙火 悟空計盜紫金鈴
卻說那孫行者抖擻神威，持著鐵棒，踏祥光，起在空中，迎面喝道：「你是那裡來的邪魔？待往何方猖獗？」那怪物厲聲高叫道：「吾黨不是別人，乃麒麟山獬豸洞賽太歲大王爺爺部下先鋒，今奉大王令，到此取宮女二名，伏侍金聖娘娘。你是何人，敢來問我？」行者道：「吾乃齊天大聖孫悟空，因保東土唐僧西天拜佛，路過此國，知你這夥邪魔欺主，特展雄才，治國祛邪。正沒處尋你，卻來此送命。」那怪聞言，不知好歹，展長槍就刺行者；行者舉鐵棒劈面相迎。在半空裡這一場好殺：
棍是龍宮鎮海珍，槍乃人間轉煉鐵。凡兵怎敢比仙兵，擦著些兒神氣泄。大聖原來太乙仙，妖精本是邪魔孽。鬼祟焉能近正人，一正之時邪就滅。那個弄風播土諕皇王，這個踏霧騰雲遮日月。丟開架子賭輸贏，無能誰敢誇豪傑！還是齊天大聖能，乒乓一棍槍先折。
那妖精被行者一鐵棒把根槍打做兩截，慌得顧性命，撥轉風頭，徑往西方敗走。
行者且不趕他，按下雲頭，來至避妖樓地穴之外，叫道：「師父，請同陛下出來，怪物已趕去矣。」那唐僧才扶著君王，同出穴外。見滿天清朗，更無妖邪之氣。那皇帝即至酒席前，自己拿壺把盞，滿斟金杯，奉與行者道：「神僧，權謝，權謝。」這行者接杯在手，還未回言，只聽得朝門外有官來報：「西門上火起了。」行者聞說，將金杯連酒望空一撇，噹的一聲響喨，那個金杯落地。君王著了忙，躬身施禮道：「神僧，恕罪，恕罪，是寡人不是了。禮當請上殿拜謝，只因有這方便酒在此，故就奉耳。神僧卻把杯子撇了，卻不是有見怪之意？」行者笑道：「不是這話，不是這話。」少頃間，又有官來報：「好雨呀，才西門上起火，被一場大雨，把火滅了。滿街上流水，盡都是酒氣。」行者又笑道：「陛下，你見我撇杯，疑有見怪之意，非也。那妖敗走西方，我不曾趕他，他就放起火來。這一杯酒，卻是我滅了妖火，救了西城裡外人家，豈有他意？」
國王更十分歡喜加敬。即請三藏四眾，同上寶殿，就有推位讓國之意。行者笑道：「陛下，才那妖精，他稱是賽太歲部下先鋒，來此取宮女的。他如今戰敗而回，定然報與那廝，那廝定要來與我相爭。我恐他一時興師帥眾，未免又驚傷百姓，恐諕陛下，欲去迎他一迎，就在那半空中擒了他，取回聖后。但不知向那方去？這裡到他那山洞有多少遠近？」國王道：「寡人曾差夜不收軍馬到那裡探聽聲息，往來要行五十餘日。坐落南方，約有三千餘里。」行者聞言，叫：「八戒、沙僧護持在此，老孫去來。」國王扯住道：「神僧且從容一日，待安排些乾糧烘炒，與你些盤纏銀兩，選一匹快馬，方才可去。」行者笑道：「陛下說得是巴山轉嶺步行之話。我老孫不瞞你說，似這三千里路，斟酒在鍾不冷，就打個往回。」國王道：「神僧，你不要怪我說，你這尊貌，卻像個猿猴一般，怎生有這等法力會走路也？」行者道：
「我身雖是猿猴數，自幼打開生死路。遍訪明師把道傳，山前修煉無朝暮。倚天為頂地為爐，兩般藥物團烏兔。採取陰陽水火交，時間頓把玄關悟。全仗天罡搬運功，也憑斗柄遷移步。退爐進火最依時，抽鉛添汞相交顧。攢簇五行造化生，合和四象分時度。二氣歸於黃道間，三家會在金丹路。悟通法律歸四肢，本來觔斗如神助。一縱縱過太行山，一打打過凌雲渡。何愁峻嶺幾千重，不怕長江百十數。只因變化沒遮攔，一打十萬八千路！」
那國王見說，又驚又喜，笑吟吟捧著一杯御酒遞與行者道：「神僧遠勞，進此一杯引意。」這大聖一心要去降妖，那裡有心吃酒，只叫：「且放下，等我去了回來再飲。」好行者，說聲去，唿哨一聲，寂然不見。那一國君臣，皆驚訝不題。
卻說行者將身一縱，早見一座高山阻住霧角。即按雲頭，立在那巔峰之上，仔細觀看，好山：
沖天占地，礙日生雲。沖天處，尖峰矗矗；占地處，遠脈迢迢。礙日的，乃嶺頭松鬱鬱，生雲的，乃崖下石磷磷。松鬱鬱，四時八節常青；石磷磷，萬載千年不改。林中每聽夜猿啼，澗內常聞妖蟒過。山禽聲咽咽，山獸吼呼呼。山獐山鹿，成雙作對紛紛走；山鴉山鵲，打陣攢群密密飛。山草山花看不盡，山桃山果映時新。雖然倚險不堪行，卻是妖仙隱逸處。
這大聖看看不厭，正欲找尋洞口，只見那山凹裡烘烘火光飛出，霎時間，撲天紅焰，紅焰之中冒出一股惡煙，比火更毒。好煙！但見那：
火光迸萬點金燈，火焰飛千條紅虹。那煙不是灶筩煙，不是草木煙，煙卻有五色：青紅白黑黃。燻著南天門外柱，燎著靈霄殿上梁。燒得那窩中走獸連皮爛，林內飛禽羽盡光。但看這煙如此惡，怎入深山伏怪王？
孫大聖正自恐懼，又見那山中迸出一道沙來。好沙，真個是遮天蔽日！你看：
紛紛絯絯遍天涯，鄧鄧渾渾大地遮。細塵到處迷人目，粗灰滿谷滾芝麻。採藥仙僮迷失伴，打柴樵子沒尋家。手中就有明珠現，時間刮得眼生花。
這行者只顧看玩，不覺沙灰飛入鼻內，癢斯斯的，打了兩個噴嚏。即回頭，伸手在岩下摸了兩個鵝卵石，塞住鼻子。搖身一變，變做一個攢火的鷂子，飛入煙火中間，驀了幾驀，卻就沒了沙灰，煙火也息了。急現本像下來，又看時，只聽得丁丁東東的一個銅鑼聲響。卻道：「我走錯了路也，這裡不是妖精住處。鑼聲似鋪兵之鑼，想是通國的大路，有鋪兵去下文書。且等老孫去問他一問。」
正走處，忽見似個小妖兒，擔著黃旗，背著文書，敲著鑼兒，急走如飛而來。行者笑道：「原來是這廝打鑼。他不知送的是甚麼書信？等我聽他一聽。」好大聖，搖身一變，變做個猛蟲兒，輕輕的飛在他書包之上。只聽得那妖精敲著鑼，緒緒聒聒的自念自誦道：「我家大王忒也心毒。三年前到朱紫國強奪了金聖皇后，一向無緣，未得沾身，只苦了要來的宮女頂缸。兩個來弄殺了，四個來也弄殺了。前年要了，去年又要，今年又要，如今還要。卻撞個對頭來了，那個要宮女的先鋒被個甚麼孫行者打敗了，不發宮女。我大王因此發怒，要與他國爭持，教我去下甚麼戰書。這一去，那國王不戰則可，戰必不利。我大王使煙火飛沙，那國王君臣百姓等，莫想一個得活。那時我等占了他的城池，大王稱帝，我等稱臣。雖然也有個大小官爵，只是天理難容也。」
行者聽了，暗喜道：「妖精也有存心好的。似他後邊這兩句話，說『天理難容』，卻不是個好的？但只說金聖皇后一向無緣，未得沾身，此話卻不解其意。等我問他一問。」嚶的一聲，一翅飛離了妖精，轉向前路，有十數里地，搖身一變，又變做一個道童：
頭挽雙丫髻，身穿百衲衣。手敲魚鼓簡，口唱道情詞。
轉山坡，迎著小妖，打個起手道：「長官，那裡去？送的是甚麼公文？」那妖物就像認得他的一般，住了鑼槌，笑嘻嘻的還禮道：「我大王差我到朱紫國下戰書的。」行者接口問道：「朱紫國那話兒，可曾與大王配合哩？」小妖道：「自前年攝得來，當時就有一個神仙，送一件五彩仙衣與金聖宮妝新。他自穿了那衣，就渾身上下都生了針刺，我大王摸也不敢摸他一摸。但挽著些兒，手心就痛，不知是甚緣故。自始至今，尚未沾身。早間差先鋒去要宮女伏侍，被一個甚麼孫行者戰敗了。大王奮怒，所以教我去下戰書，明日與他交戰也。」行者道：「怎的大王卻著惱啊？」小妖道：「正在那裡著惱哩。你去與他唱個道情詞兒，解解悶也。」
好行者，拱手抽身就走。那妖依舊敲鑼前行。行者就行起兇來，掣出棒，復轉身，望小妖腦後一下，可憐，就打得頭爛血流漿迸出，皮開頸折命傾之。收了棍子，卻又自悔道：「急了些兒，不曾問他叫做甚麼名字。罷了。」卻去取下他的戰書，藏於袖內。將他黃旗、銅鑼藏在路旁草裡。因扯著腳要往澗下捽時，只聽噹的一聲，腰間露出一個鑲金的牙牌。牌上有字，寫道：「心腹小校一名，有來有去。五短身材，扢撻臉，無鬚。長川懸掛，無牌即假。」行者笑道：「這廝名字叫做有來有去，這一棍子，打得有去無來！」將牙牌解下，帶在腰間。欲要捽下屍骸，卻又思量起煙火之毒。且不敢尋他洞府，即將棍子舉起，著小妖胸前搗了一下，挑在空中，徑回本國，且當報一個頭功。你看他自思自念，唿哨一聲，到了國界。
那八戒在金鑾殿前正護持著王、師，忽回頭看見行者半空中將個妖精挑來，他卻怨道：「噯！不打緊的買賣。早知老豬去拿來，卻不算我一功？」說未畢，行者按落雲頭，將妖精捽在階下。八戒跑上去，就築了一鈀道：「此是老豬之功。」行者道：「是你甚功？」八戒道：「莫賴我，我有證見，你不看一鈀築了九個眼子哩。」行者道：「你看看可有頭沒頭。」八戒笑道：「原來是沒頭的，我道如何築他也不動動兒？」行者道：「師父在那裡？」八戒道：「在殿裡與王敘話哩。」行者道：「你且去請他出來。」八戒急上殿，點點頭。三藏即便起身下殿，迎著行者。行者將一封戰書揣在三藏袖裡道：「師父收下，且莫與國王看見。」
說不了，那國王也下殿，迎著行者道：「神僧長老來了？拿妖之事如何？」行者用手指道：「那階下不是妖精？被老孫打殺了也。」國王見了道：「是便是個妖屍，卻不是賽太歲。賽太歲，寡人親見他兩次，身長丈八，膊闊五停；面似金光，聲如霹靂。那裡是這般鄙矮？」行者笑道：「陛下認得，果然不是。這是一個報事的小妖，撞見老孫，卻先打死，挑回來報功。」國王大喜道：「好好好，該算頭功。寡人這裡常差人去打探，更不曾得個的實。似神僧一出，就捉了一個回來，真神通也。」叫：「看暖酒來，與長老賀功。」
行者道：「吃酒還是小事。我問陛下：金聖宮別時，可曾留下個甚麼表記？你與我些兒。」那國王聽說「表記」二字，卻似刀劍剜心，忍不住失聲淚下，說道：
「當年佳節慶朱明，太歲兇妖發喊聲。強奪御妻為壓寨，寡人獻出為蒼生。更無會話並離話，那有長亭共短亭？表記香囊全沒影，至今撇我苦伶仃。」
行者道：「陛下在邇，何以惱為？那娘娘既無表記，他在宮內可有甚麼心愛之物？與我一件也罷。」國王道：「你要怎的？」行者道：「那妖王實有神通，我見他放煙、放火、放沙，果是難收。縱收了，又恐娘娘見我面生，不肯跟我回國。須是得他平日心愛之物一件，他方信我，我好帶他回來。為此故要帶去。」國王道：「昭陽宮裡梳妝閣上，有一雙黃金寶串，原是金聖宮手上帶戴。只因那日端午要縛五色彩線，故此褪下，不曾戴上。此乃是他心愛之物，如今現收在減妝盒裡。寡人見他遭此離別，更不忍見；一見即如見他玉容，病又重幾分也。」行者道：「且休題這話，且將金串取來。如捨得，都與我拿去；如不捨，只拿一隻去也。」國王遂命玉聖宮取出。取出即遞與國王。國王見了，叫了幾聲「知疼著熱的娘娘」，遂遞與行者。行者接了，套在肐膊上。
好大聖，不吃得功酒，且駕觔斗雲，唿哨一聲，又至麒麟山上。無心玩景，徑尋洞府而去。正行時，只聽得人語喧嚷，即佇立凝睛觀看。原來那獬豸洞口把門的大小頭目，約摸有五百名，在那裡：
森森羅列，密密挨排。森森羅列執干戈，映日光明；密密挨排展旌旗，迎風飄閃。虎將熊師能變化，豹頭彪帥弄精神。蒼狼多猛烈，獺象更驍雄。狡兔乖獐掄劍戟，長蛇大蟒挎刀弓。猩猩能解人言語，引陣安營識汛風。
行者見了，不敢前進，抽身徑轉舊路。你道他抽身怎麼？不是怕他。他卻至那打死小妖之處，尋出黃旗、銅鑼，迎風捏訣，想象騰那，即搖身一變，變做那有來有去的模樣，乒乓敲著鑼，大踏步，一直前來，徑撞至獬豸洞。正欲看看洞景，只聞得猩猩出語道：「有來有去，你回來了？」行者只得答應道：「來了。」猩猩道：「快走，大王爺爺正在剝皮亭上等你回話哩。」
行者聞言，拽開步，敲著鑼，徑入前門裡看處，原來是懸崖削壁，石屋虛堂，左右有琪花瑤草，前後多古柏喬松。不覺又至二門之內，忽擡頭，見一座八窗明亮的亭子，亭子中間有一張戧金的交椅，椅子上端坐著一個魔王，真個生得惡像。但見他：
晃晃霞光生頂上，威威殺氣迸胸前。口外獠牙排利刃，鬢邊焦髮放紅煙。嘴上髭鬚如插箭，遍體昂毛似疊氈。眼突銅鈴欺太歲，手持鐵杵若摩天。
行者見了，公然傲慢那妖精，更不循一些兒禮法：調轉臉，朝著外，只管敲鑼。妖王問道：「你來了？」行者不答。又問：「有來有去，你來了？」也不答應。妖王上前扯住道：「你怎麼到了家還篩鑼，問之又不答，何也？」行者把鑼往地下一摜道：「甚麼『何也』、『何也』？我說我不去，你卻教我去。行到那廂，只見無數的人馬列成陣勢，見了我，就都叫：『拿妖精，拿妖精。』把我推推扯扯，拽拽扛扛，拿進城去。見了那國王，國王便教：『斬了。』幸虧那兩班謀士道：『兩家相爭，不斬來使。』把我饒了。收了戰書，又押出城外，對軍前打了三十順腿，放我來回話。他那裡不久就要來此與你交戰哩。」妖王道：「這等說，是你吃虧了，怪不得問你更不言語。」行者道：「卻不是怎的？只為護疼，所以不曾答應。」妖王道：「那裡有多少人馬？」行者道：「我也諕昏了，又吃他打怕了，那裡會查他人馬數目？只見那裡森森兵器擺列著：
弓箭刀槍甲與衣，干戈劍戟並纓旗。剽槍月鏟兜鍪鎧，大斧團牌鐵蒺藜。長悶棍，短窩槌，鋼叉銃鉋及頭盔。打扮得䩺鞋護頂並胖襖，簡鞭神彈與銅鎚。」
那王聽了笑道：「不打緊，不打緊。似這般兵器，一火皆空。你且去報與金聖娘娘得知，教他莫惱。今早他聽見我發狠，要去戰鬥，他就眼淚汪汪的不乾。你如今去說那裡人馬驍勇，必然勝我，且寬他一時之心。」
行者聞言，十分歡喜道：「正中老孫之意。」你看他偏是路熟，轉過角門，穿過廳堂。那裡邊盡都是高堂大廈，更不似前邊的模樣。直到後邊宮裡，遠見彩門壯麗，乃是金聖娘娘住處。直入裡面看時，有兩班妖狐、妖鹿，一個個都妝成美女之形，侍立左右。正中間坐著那個娘娘，手托著香腮，雙眸滴淚。果然是：
玉容嬌嫩，美貌妖嬈。懶梳妝，散鬢堆鴉；怕打扮，釵環不戴。面無粉，冷淡了胭脂；髮無油，蓬鬆了雲鬢。努櫻唇，緊咬銀牙；皺蛾眉，淚淹星眼。一片心，只憶著朱紫君王；一時間，恨不離天羅地網。誠然是：自古紅顏多薄命，懨懨無語對東風。
行者上前打了個問訊道：「接喏。」那娘娘道：「這潑村怪，十分無狀。想我在那朱紫國中，與王同享榮華之時，那太師、宰相見了，就俯伏塵埃，不敢仰視。這野怪怎麼叫聲『接喏』？是那裡來的這般村潑？」眾侍婢上前道：「太太息怒。他是大王爺爺心腹的小校，喚名有來有去。今早差下戰書的是他。」娘娘聽說，忍怒問曰：「你下戰書，可曾到朱紫國界？」行者道：「我持書直至城裡，到於金鑾殿，面見君王，已討回音來也。」娘娘道：「你面君，君有何言？」行者道：「那君王敵戰之言，與排兵布陣之事，才與大王說了。只是那君王有思想娘娘之意，有一句合心的話兒，特來上稟。奈何左右人眾，不是說處。」
娘娘聞言，喝退兩班狐、鹿。行者掩上宮門，把臉一抹，現了本像，對娘娘道：「你休怕我。我是東土大唐差往大西天天竺國雷音寺見佛求經的和尚。我師父是唐王御弟唐三藏。我是他大徒弟孫悟空。因過你國倒換關文，見你君臣出榜招醫，是我大施三折之肱，把他相思之病治好了，排宴謝我。飲酒之間，說出你被妖攝來。我會降龍伏虎，特請我來捉怪，救你回國。那戰敗先鋒是我，打死小妖也是我。我見他門外兇狂，是我變作有來有去模樣，捨身到此，與你通信。」那娘娘聽說，沉吟不語。行者取出寶串，雙手奉上道：「你若不信，看此物何來？」娘娘一見垂淚，下座拜謝道：「長老，你果是救得我回朝，沒齒不忘大恩。」
行者道：「我且問你，他那放火、放煙、放沙的，是件甚麼寶貝？」娘娘道：「那裡是甚寶貝，乃是三個金鈴。他將頭一個幌一幌，有三百丈火光燒人；第二個幌一幌，有三百丈煙光燻人；第三個幌一幌，有三百丈黃沙迷人。煙火還不打緊，只是黃沙最毒，若鑽入人鼻孔，就傷了性命。」行者道：「利害，利害。我曾經著，打了兩個嚏噴。卻不知他的鈴兒放在何處？」娘娘道：「他那肯放下？只是帶在腰間，行住坐臥，再不離身。」行者道：「你若有意於朱紫國，還要相會國王，把那煩惱憂愁，都且權解，使出個風流喜悅之容，與他敘個夫妻之情，教他把鈴兒與你收貯。待我取便偷了，降了這妖怪，那時節，好帶你回去，重諧鸞鳳，共享安寧也。」那娘娘依言。
這行者還變作心腹小校，開了宮門，喚進左右侍婢。娘娘叫：「有來有去，快往前亭請你大王來，與他說話。」好行者，應了一聲，即至剝皮亭，對妖精道：「大王，聖宮娘娘有請。」妖王歡喜道：「娘娘常時只罵，怎麼今日有請？」行者道：「那娘娘問朱紫國王之事，是我說：『他不要你了，他國中另扶了皇后。』娘娘聽說，故此沒了想頭，方才命我來奉請。」妖王大喜道：「你卻中用。待我剿除了他國，封你為個隨朝的太宰。」
行者順口謝恩，疾與妖王來至後宮門首。那娘娘歡容迎接，就去用手相攙。那妖王喏喏而退道：「不敢，不敢。多承娘娘下愛，我怕手痛，不敢相傍。」娘娘道：「大王請坐，我與你說。」妖王道：「有話但說不妨。」娘娘道：「我蒙大王辱愛，今已三年，未得共枕同衾。也是前世之緣，做了這場夫妻。誰知大王有外我之意，不以夫妻相待。我想著當時在朱紫國為后，外邦凡有進貢之寶，君看畢，一定與后收之。你這裡更無甚麼寶貝，左右穿的是貂裘，吃的是血食，那曾見綾錦金珠？只一味鋪皮蓋毯。或者就有些寶貝，你因外我，也不教我看見，也不與我收著。且如聞得你有三個鈴鐺，想就是件寶貝，你怎麼走也帶著，坐也帶著？你就拿與我收著，待你用時取出，未為不可。此也是做夫妻一場，也有個心腹相託之意。如此不相託付，非外我而何？」妖王大笑陪禮道：「娘娘怪得是，怪得是。寶貝在此，今日就當付你收之。」便即揭衣取寶。行者在旁，眼不轉睛，看著那怪揭起兩三層衣服，貼身帶著三個鈴兒。他解下來，將些綿花塞了口兒，把一塊豹皮作一個包袱兒包了，遞與娘娘道：「物雖微賤，卻要用心收藏，切不可搖幌著他。」娘娘接過手道：「我曉得。安在這妝臺之上，無人搖動。」叫：「小的們，安排酒來，我與大王交歡會喜，飲幾杯兒。」眾侍婢聞言，即鋪排果菜，擺上些獐𤜱鹿兔之肉，將椰子酒斟來奉上。那娘娘做出妖嬈之態，哄著精靈。
孫行者在旁取事，但挨挨摸摸，行近妝臺，把三個金鈴輕輕拿過，慢慢移步，溜出宮門，徑離洞府。到了剝皮亭前無人處，展開豹皮幅子看時，中間一個有茶鍾大，兩頭兩個有拳頭大。他不知利害，就把綿花扯了。只聞得噹的一聲響喨，骨都都的迸出煙、火、黃沙，急收不住，滿亭中烘烘火起。諕得那把門精怪一擁撞入後宮，驚動了妖王，慌忙教：「去救火，救火。」出來看時，原來是有來有去拿了金鈴兒哩。妖王上前喝道：「好賤奴，怎麼偷了我的金鈴寶貝，在此胡弄？」叫：「拿來，拿來。」那門前虎將、熊師、豹頭、彪帥、獺象、蒼狼、乖獐、狡兔、長蛇、大蟒、猩猩，帥眾妖一齊攢簇。
那行者慌了手腳，丟了金鈴，現出本像，掣出金箍如意棒，撒開解數，往前亂打。那妖王收了寶貝，傳號令，教：「關了前門。」眾妖聽了，關門的關門，打仗的打仗。那行者難得脫身，收了棒，搖身一變，變作個痴蒼蠅兒，釘在那無火石壁上。眾妖尋不見，報道：「大王，走了賊也，走了賊也。」妖王問：「可曾自門裡走出去？」眾妖都說：「前門緊鎖牢拴在此，不曾走出。」妖王只說：「仔細搜尋。」有的取水潑火，有的仔細搜尋，更無蹤跡。妖王怒道：「是個甚麼賊子？好大膽，變作有來有去的模樣，進來見我回話，又跟在身邊，乘機盜我寶貝。早是不曾拿將出去。若拿出山頭，見了天風，怎生是好？」虎將上前道：「大王的洪福齊天，我等的氣數不盡，故此知覺了。」熊師上前道：「大王，這賊不是別人，定是那戰敗先鋒的那個孫悟空。想必路上遇著有來有去，傷了性命，奪了黃旗、銅鑼、牙牌，變作他的模樣，到此欺騙了大王也。」妖王道：「正是，正是，見得有理。」叫：「小的們，仔細搜求防避，切莫開門放出走了。」這才是個有分教：
弄巧翻成拙，作耍卻為真。
畢竟不知孫行者怎麼脫得妖門，且聽下回分解。
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Chinese, passage for passage, covering all 100 chapters and 3,782 source paragraphs of the Traditional Chinese text.
The Demon Unleashes Fire, Smoke, and Sand from His Treasure; Wukong Plots to Steal the Purple-Gold Bells
The Great Sage Sun rose on auspicious light, iron staff in hand, and challenged the creature in the sky. “Where are you from, evil monster? What trouble are you bent on causing?” “I am the advance officer of Great King Sai Taisui of Xiezhi Cave on Mount Qilin. He has sent me for two palace women to serve Lady Golden Sage. Who are you to question me?” “I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. I am guarding the Tang monk on his western journey to worship the Buddha. Passing this kingdom, I learned that you demons have bullied its ruler, and I mean to rid the land of you. I was looking for you, and here you have come to die.” The monster thrust his spear, and Pilgrim met it with his staff. Their clash in midair was fierce:
The staff is a treasure that anchored the sea beneath the dragon palace;The spear is iron forged by mortal hands.How can an earthly weapon equal an immortal one?A single touch will drain its power away.The Great Sage is a celestial immortal;The creature is born of evil demons.How can a wicked spirit approach the upright?Where the true stands firm, evil falls.One stirs wind and earth to frighten a king;The other rides clouds and mist to darken sun and moon.They test their skill and strength in combat;Let no unworthy fighter boast of valor.The Great Sage Equal to Heaven proves his might:With a ringing blow he breaks the spear in two.
With his spear broken, the monster thought only of saving himself. He turned his wind west and fled. Pilgrim did not pursue.
He descended beside the king's refuge and called, “Master, bring His Majesty out. The creature has fled.” Tripitaka helped the king up. The clear sky showed no trace of the demon. At the banquet table the king filled a golden cup himself and offered it to Pilgrim. “A small token of thanks, divine monk.” Before Pilgrim could answer, an officer came from the palace gate. “A fire has broken out at the western gate!” Pilgrim flung cup and wine into the sky, and the golden cup rang as it struck the ground. The king bowed in alarm. “Forgive me. I should have invited you into the hall to thank you properly, rather than offering you a cup here. Have I offended you?” “Not at all,” Pilgrim smiled. Another officer hurried in: “What wonderful rain! It put out the fire at the western gate. Wine-scented water is flowing through the streets.” “When you saw me throw the cup, you mistook my meaning,” Pilgrim said. “The defeated monster set a fire in the west. I used that cup of wine to quench it and save the households inside and outside the gate.”
The king honored him still more and invited all four travelers into the throne hall, even wishing to offer him the throne. Pilgrim laughed. “The creature called himself Sai Taisui's advance officer, come for palace women. He will report his defeat, and his master will want to fight me. If the demon brings his army here, he may harm your people and frighten you. I would rather meet and capture him in midair and recover your queen. Where is his cave, and how far away?” “I sent mounted scouts. The journey there and back takes more than fifty days. His cave is about three thousand li to the south.” “Bajie, Sha Monk, guard Master. I'll go.” The king held him back. “Wait a day. I'll prepare provisions and money and select a swift horse.” “Those are arrangements for someone traveling on foot. I can make the three-thousand-li round trip before a cup of wine grows cold.” “Forgive me, divine monk, but your face resembles a monkey's. How can you travel so quickly?” Pilgrim answered:
“Though my body has a monkey's form,I opened the road beyond life and death in my youth.I sought wise teachers to learn the WayAnd practiced day and night before the mountain.Heaven was my roof, earth my furnace;Sun and moon were the medicines I joined.I gathered yin and yang and blended water and fire;In a moment I understood the hidden gate.The powers of Heaven's Great Bear move me;I follow the Dipper's turning handle.I withdraw the furnace and feed the fire in season;Lead and mercury join and nourish each other.Five elements converge in creation;Four forms are harmonized in their appointed time.Two breaths return to the golden path;Three houses meet on the road to the elixir.The law I learned flows through all four limbs;My somersault comes as though the gods assist it.One bound carries me over the Taihang Mountains;One leap crosses Cloud-Reaching Ford.A thousand steep ridges cannot trouble me,Nor a hundred reaches of the long river.With transformations that know no barrier,One somersault spans 108,000 li!”
Astonished and delighted, the king offered him a cup of royal wine for the journey. Intent on fighting the demon, Pilgrim said, “Keep it for when I return.” With a whistle he vanished, leaving king and court amazed.
At one bound he came upon a high mountain rising through the mist. He descended onto its summit and looked closely. A fine mountain:
It reaches heaven and spreads over the earth,Concealing the sun and bringing forth clouds.Sharp peaks rise into the sky;Long ridges stretch across the land.Thick pines on its heights hide the sun;Jagged stones beneath its cliffs gather clouds.The pines stay green through every season;The stones remain unchanged through countless years.Apes cry at night among the trees;Serpents slide through the ravines.Mountain birds call softly, mountain beasts roar.Musk deer and common deer wander in pairs;Crows and magpies fly in crowded flocks.Wild flowers and grasses seem endless;Mountain peaches and fruit trees brighten with the season.Its steep paths are hard to travel,Yet demon immortals have made it their secluded home.
As the Great Sage looked for the cave, fire blazed from a hollow in the mountainside. In a moment red flames filled the sky, and from them rose a noxious smoke more deadly than the fire. See:
Ten thousand golden sparks burst from the fire;A thousand scarlet rainbows fly from its flames.This is neither chimney smoke nor burning grass or wood:It billows in five colors—blue, red, white, black, and yellow.It smokes the pillars outside the Southern Gate of HeavenAnd scorches the beams of the Palace of Divine Mists.Beasts in their dens burn skin and all;Birds in the woods lose every feather.With smoke as terrible as this,How can one enter the mountain to subdue its king?
As Pilgrim watched uneasily, a stream of sand burst from the mountain, blotting out the sun. See how it spread:
It swirls across the horizon and shrouds the earth.Fine dust blinds the eyes wherever it falls;Coarse ash rolls through valleys like sesame seeds.Young immortals gathering herbs lose their companions;Woodcutters cannot find the road home.Even a bright jewel held before one's eyesWould be lost in the stinging grit.
Absorbed in the spectacle, Pilgrim let sand enter his nose. It tickled, and he sneezed twice. He picked up two pebbles from beneath a rock and stopped his nostrils. Then he became a little hawk that flies into fire, wheeled through the smoke and flames, and saw the sand and fire die away. Resuming his form, he heard a copper gong ringing. “Perhaps I've come to the wrong place,” he thought. “That sounds like a dispatch rider on a royal road. I'll ask him.”
A little demon came racing toward him, carrying a yellow flag, a dispatch on his back, and a gong in his hand. “So he was making the noise,” thought Pilgrim. “What message is he carrying?” The Great Sage changed into a large insect and settled on the dispatch bag. The demon beat his gong and muttered to himself: “My king is cruel. Three years ago he stole Golden Sage Palace from Zhuzi, but he has never been able to touch her. It's the women brought in to serve her who suffer: two have been killed, then four. He demanded more the year before last, last year, and this year, and demands more still. Now his officer has met Sun Wukong and been defeated, and there are no women coming. In his rage my king sends me with a declaration of war. If Zhuzi fights, it will lose. My king's smoke, fire, and sand will kill its ruler, court, and people. Then he will take the city and become emperor, and we will hold offices under him. But Heaven cannot allow it.”
Pilgrim rejoiced to hear that even a demon could have some decency. But what did the messenger mean by saying the king could not touch the queen? He flew ahead a dozen li, changed into a young Daoist, and waited by the road:
Two buns of hair crown his head;He wears a robe of many patches.His hand beats a fish-shaped drum;His lips sing songs of the Way.
As the demon came around the slope, Pilgrim saluted him. “Where are you going, officer? What message do you bear?” The creature returned his greeting as though he knew him. “My king sent me to declare war on Zhuzi.” “Has he had his way with the woman from Zhuzi yet?” “When he brought her here three years ago, an immortal gave her a five-colored robe to wear. Since putting it on she has grown needles all over her body. My king cannot so much as touch her hand without pain. He has never been able to lie with her. This morning the officer he sent for maids was beaten by someone named Pilgrim Sun, so he has sent me with a challenge to fight tomorrow.” “Why is he angry?” Pilgrim asked. “He is brooding over it now. Go sing him one of your songs to lighten his mood.”
Pilgrim bowed and stepped aside. As the creature continued, Pilgrim drew his staff, turned, and struck him behind the head. Skull and neck shattered, and the demon died instantly. “I acted too quickly,” Pilgrim thought. “I didn't ask his name.” He took the dispatch and hid it in his sleeve; he tucked the flag and gong in the grass. Dragging the body toward a ravine, he heard a metal tag ring at the waist. Its inscription read: “Trusted messenger, Youlai Youqu, Come-and-Go; short, with a lumpy face and no beard. Wears this tag at all times; anyone without it is an impostor.” Pilgrim laughed. “Come-and-Go has gone and won't come back.” He took the tag. Remembering the deadly smoke and fire, he chose not to seek the cave yet. Instead he thrust his staff into the corpse's chest, lifted it into the air, and somersaulted back to Zhuzi to claim an initial success.
Bajie was guarding king and master outside the throne hall when he saw Pilgrim carrying a demon's body in midair. “If I had gone,” he grumbled, “that victory could have been mine.” Pilgrim landed and threw the body on the steps. Bajie struck it with his rake. “Now it's my victory!” “How?” “Look at the nine holes I've made.” “Does it still have a head?” “Oh, it has none. No wonder it didn't move when I struck it.” “Where's Master?” “Talking with the king inside.” “Bring him out.” Bajie fetched Tripitaka, and Pilgrim slipped the declaration of war into his sleeve. “Keep it hidden from the king, Master.”
The king came out. “Did you catch the demon?” Pilgrim pointed to the body. “I killed that one.” “It's a monster, but it isn't Sai Taisui. I've seen Sai Taisui twice. He is eighteen feet tall, broad as five men across the shoulders, with a face of golden light and a voice like thunder. This one is small and mean.” “You're right. He was only a messenger I met and killed on the way back.” “Excellent,” said the king. “My scouts have never brought such certain news. You went out once and brought a demon back. You deserve credit.” He ordered wine warmed for Pilgrim.
“The wine can wait. When Golden Sage Palace left, did she leave you any keepsake? Give me something of hers.” At the word “keepsake,” the king wept as though stabbed:
“On a summer feast day beneath the crimson sun,The Great Year demon came with a savage cry.He seized my wife to be his captive bride;I sent her out for my people's sake.No words of greeting or farewell passed between us;We could not part beneath a roadside pavilion.She left no scented pouch or keepsake;Ever since I've lived in loneliness and pain.”
“Don't grieve while I am here. Is there something in the palace that she loved? Give me that.” “Why?” “The demon king has formidable powers. I've seen his smoke, fire, and sand; subduing him will be hard. Even if I do, your queen will not know my face or trust me to lead her home. A beloved possession will prove that you sent me.” “In her dressing room in the Zhaoyang Palace is a pair of golden bracelets she wore. She took them off at the Dragon Boat Festival to tie five-colored threads on her wrist and never put them back. They lie in her jewelry box. I cannot bear to look at them: they remind me of her face and make my illness return.” “Have them brought. Give me both if you can bear it, or one if you cannot.” The king had Jade Sage Palace fetch them. At sight of the bracelets, he called his queen's name with tears, then gave them to Pilgrim, who slipped them over his arm.
Without waiting to drink his wine, the Great Sage somersaulted back to Mount Qilin. He ignored the scenery and sought the cave. Hearing voices, he stopped to look. At the entrance of Xiezhi Cave stood some five hundred demon captains and guards:
They stand in serried ranks with weapons bright in sunlight;Packed close, their banners flutter in the wind.Tiger generals and bear commanders know transformations;Leopard-headed and fierce-beast captains display their prowess.Gray wolves are savage, otters and elephants bold;Wily hares and clever deer wield swords and halberds;Snakes and pythons carry knives and bows.Orangutans who speak human wordsCan array their troops and read the wind.
Pilgrim turned away, not from fear but to find the place where he had killed the messenger. He fetched the yellow flag and gong, formed a sign, and changed into Youlai Youqu. Ringing the gong, he strode up to Xiezhi Cave. An orangutan guard called, “Come-and-Go, you're back!” “Yes.” “Hurry. The great king is waiting for your report in the Flaying Pavilion.”
Pilgrim beat his gong through the first gate. Sheer cliffs rose above stone chambers with wondrous flowers and grasses and old pines and cypresses. Through the second gate he saw a bright pavilion with eight windows. In the center a demon king sat in a chair inlaid with gold. He looked fearsome:
Rosy radiance flashes above his head;Fierce killing breath rises from his chest.Tusks beyond his lips stand like blades;Singed hair at his temples sends up red smoke.Whiskers bristle from his mouth like arrows;Raised hair blankets his body like felt.Eyes jut like bronze bells, fiercer than the Great Year;He holds an iron pestle high as heaven.
Feigning insolence, Pilgrim turned his back and kept beating the gong. “Have you returned?” the demon asked twice without an answer. He seized the supposed messenger. “Why beat the gong at home and refuse to answer?” Pilgrim threw it down. “Why ask why? I said I didn't want to go, but you sent me. At Zhuzi a whole army stood ready. They cried, ‘Catch the demon!’ and dragged me before the king, who ordered my execution. Luckily his counselors said, ‘Do not kill a messenger when two lands are at war.’ He spared me, took the dispatch, and had me marched out and beaten thirty times before the troops. His army will soon come here to fight.” “You suffered. No wonder you wouldn't answer.” “I'm aching too much to speak.” “How many soldiers?” “They terrified and beat me so badly I couldn't count. I saw weapons everywhere:
“Bows and arrows, swords and spears, armor and robes,Shields and halberds, tasseled banners;Javelins and crescent spades, helmets and mail,Great axes and round shields, iron caltrops;Long clubs and short mallets,Steel forks, guns and cannons, protective headgear;Strong shoes, padded coats, whips and batons,Magic pellets and copper hammers.”
“Never mind,” the king laughed. “I can burn all those weapons in one blaze. Go tell Lady Golden Sage so she won't worry. When she heard me vow to fight this morning she wept without cease. Tell her their soldiers are fierce and certain to beat me; it will comfort her for a while.”
“Just what I hoped,” Pilgrim thought, and made his way through side doors and halls as though he knew the place. At the back rose grand buildings unlike the outer cave. A splendid gate led to Golden Sage Palace's chambers. Demon foxes and deer disguised as beautiful maidservants stood on either side. The queen sat with her cheek in her hand, weeping:
Her jade face is tender, her beauty radiant,But she will not dress her hair; its dark masses hang loose.She wears no jeweled pins;No powder brightens her face, no rouge its pale cheeks.Her cloudlike hair is uncombed and dry.She presses her red lips against her white teeth;Frowning brows shadow her eyes, wet with tears.Her thoughts remain with the king of Zhuzi;She longs to escape the net that holds her.Truly: beauty has so often brought cruel fate;Silent and languishing, she faces the spring wind.
Pilgrim approached with a casual salute. “Greetings!” “What an insolent creature,” the queen cried. “When I lived in Zhuzi, even ministers and chancellors bowed with eyes lowered. Why does this rude monster offer me such a greeting?” The maids explained, “Mistress, this is our king's trusted messenger, Youlai Youqu. He carried the declaration of war this morning.” She restrained her anger. “Did you reach Zhuzi?” “I went to the throne hall and spoke with its king.” “What did he say?” “I've reported his threats and troop formations to our lord. He sent one heartfelt word for you, but there are too many people here to speak of it.”
The queen dismissed the foxes and deer. Pilgrim shut the doors and wiped his face, showing his true form. “Don't fear me. I am Sun Wukong, first disciple of Tripitaka Tang, sworn brother of the Tang king, who is seeking scriptures at the Thunderclap Monastery in the far west. In your country I saw the call for a physician and cured your king of the illness caused by longing for you. At his feast I learned the demon had stolen you. I know how to subdue dragons and tigers and came to rescue you at his request. I defeated the advance officer and killed the messenger. When I saw the fierce guards, I took the messenger's form to bring you this news.” She listened silently. Pilgrim took out the golden bracelets and offered them with both hands. “If you doubt me, where could I have got these?” She wept at the sight, rose, and bowed. “If you bring me home, I will remember your kindness as long as I live.”
“What treasure produces his fire, smoke, and sand?” Pilgrim asked. “Three golden bells. If he shakes the first, fire blazes for three hundred zhang; the second, smoke spreads for three hundred zhang; the third, yellow sand blinds all within three hundred zhang. The smoke and fire are not the worst: if the sand enters your nose, it kills.” “That is dangerous. I've already sneezed twice from it. Where does he keep the bells?” “On his belt at all times, awake or asleep; he never sets them down.” “If you want to see the king of Zhuzi again, put aside your grief for now. Smile and speak lovingly to the demon as a wife, and persuade him to entrust the bells to you. I'll steal them when I have the chance, subdue him, and return you to your husband and a peaceful life.” She agreed.
Pilgrim resumed the messenger's shape, opened the doors, and called the maids in. “Come-and-Go,” the queen said, “invite your king to speak with me.” He went to the Flaying Pavilion and told the demon. “She usually curses me. Why does she ask for me now?” “She asked about the king of Zhuzi. I told her he had forgotten her and installed another queen, and that ended her hopes. Then she sent for you.” “Well done,” the demon said. “When I destroy that kingdom, I'll make you my chief minister.”
Pilgrim thanked him and accompanied him to the queen. She greeted the demon warmly and reached for his hand. “Please don't,” he said, drawing back. “I'm grateful, but touching you hurts.” “Sit and let us talk. You brought me here three years ago, yet we have never shared a bed. It seems fate meant us to be husband and wife, but you treat me like a stranger. When I was queen of Zhuzi, my husband gave me every treasure brought in tribute after he had seen it. Here your attendants wear skins and eat bloody meat. I see no silk, gold, or pearls, only furs and rugs. Perhaps you have treasures but won't let me see or keep them because you consider me an outsider. I've heard of your three bells. Why carry them even when you sit? Let me keep them and give them to you when needed. A husband should trust his wife. If you cannot trust me with them, what else can I think?” “You're right,” said the demon, laughing apologetically. “I'll give them to you now.” Pilgrim watched him lift two or three layers of clothing and unfasten three bells next to his skin. He plugged their mouths with cotton, wrapped them in leopard skin, and handed them to her. “These may seem small, but store them carefully. Above all, don't shake them.” “I know. I'll put them on the dressing table where no one will disturb them. Bring wine,” she told the maids. “We will drink together.” They set out fruit, vegetables, the meat of deer and hares, and coconut wine. The queen smiled and charmed the demon as they drank.
Pilgrim edged toward the dressing table, took the bells quietly, slipped out of the chamber, and left the cave. Alone by the Flaying Pavilion, he opened the leopard-skin bundle. One bell was as big as a teacup; the other two, as large as fists. Not realizing the danger, he pulled out their cotton plugs. With a clang, smoke, fire, and yellow sand burst forth. Flames filled the pavilion before he could stop them. Guards rushed into the inner palace shouting for water. The demon king came out and found Youlai Youqu holding the bells. “Wretched servant! Why steal my treasure and play with it here? Give it back!” Tiger generals, bear commanders, leopard captains, fierce beasts, otters, elephants, wolves, deer, hares, snakes, pythons, and orangutans crowded around him.
Pilgrim dropped the bells in alarm, regained his own form, drew his gold-banded staff, and fought wildly. The demon seized his treasure and ordered the front gate barred. As some demons fought and others closed the gate, Pilgrim transformed into a sluggish fly and clung to an unburned stone wall. “The thief has escaped!” the demons reported. “Did he go out the gate?” “It's barred; no one passed.” “Search carefully.” They doused the fire and searched in vain. “Who was bold enough to take Come-and-Go's shape, speak with me, stay by my side, and steal my treasure?” the king raged. “Luckily the bells were not carried out to meet the wind of heaven. What would have happened then?” “Your fortune saved us,” said a tiger general. A bear commander said, “It must be Sun Wukong, who beat your advance officer. He killed Come-and-Go on the road, took his flag, gong, and tag, and came in wearing his shape.” “Yes,” said the king. “Search everywhere, keep watch, and do not open the gates.” Thus it was:
His clever scheme turns into folly;What began as play becomes a real ordeal.
How would Pilgrim Sun escape the demon's gate? Listen to the next chapter to find out.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the Chinese, covering all 100 chapters and 3,782 source paragraphs of the Traditional Chinese text.
The Demon Looses His Treasure's Smoke, Sand, and Fire; Wukong Steals the Purple-Gold Bells by Cunning
Now Sun the Pilgrim braced his might, took his iron staff, stepped onto his lucky light, and rose into the air, meeting it head on with a shout: "What evil demon are you, from where? Where would you run wild?" The monster called harshly: "We are no others but the vanguard under the Great King, the Rival of the Great Year of the Cave of the Xiezhi on Qilin Mountain. By the Great King's order we have come for two palace maids, to serve the Gold-Saint Queen. Who are you, to dare question me?" Pilgrim said: "I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Guarding the Tang monk of the Eastern Land to worship the Buddha in the Western Heaven, I pass through this kingdom, and learning that you pack of evil demons bully your king, I have put out my powers to order the realm and drive out evil. I was hunting you—and you come here to lose your life." The monster, hearing this, knew no measure; it thrust out its long spear at Pilgrim; Pilgrim raised the iron staff and met it full in the face. In midair they had a fine battle:
The staff is the sea-taming treasure of the dragon palace; the spear is iron smelted and turned in the world of men.How dare common weapons match immortal ones? A touch, and the spirit-power leaks away.The Great Sage is a perfected immortal of the Great One; the monster is the spawn of evil demons.How can a haunting thing come near an upright man? The moment right meets it, evil dies.That one stirs wind and throws up dust to frighten a king; this one treads mist and mounts cloud and shuts out sun and moon.They throw off all feints and stake the win and loss; without power, who would dare boast of prowess?But the Great Sage Equal to Heaven has the art: with one crack of his staff the spear breaks first.
The monster's spear was beaten in two by one blow of the Pilgrim's iron staff; thinking only of its life, it wheeled its wind about and fled west in defeat.
Pilgrim did not chase it; he brought his cloud down outside the pit of the demon-shunning tower and called: "Master, come out with His Majesty, please—the monster is driven off." The Tang monk helped the king out of the pit. The whole sky was clear, with no breath of demon air. The king came to the wine table, took up pot and cup himself, filled the gold cup full, and offered it to Pilgrim: "Holy monk, my thanks, my thanks." Pilgrim took the cup in his hand, and before he could answer, an officer came from the court gate: "Fire has broken out at the west gate!" At this Pilgrim flung the gold cup and wine into the sky; with a clang the gold cup fell to earth. The king flustered and bowed low: "Holy monk, pardon, pardon—it is my fault. The rite was to invite you up to the hall and thank you there; only this ready wine was at hand, and so I offered it. And you threw the cup away—is that not a sign you take offense?" Pilgrim laughed: "It is not that, it is not that." Soon another officer reported: "Fine rain! The fire that broke out at the west gate was put out by a great downpour; the whole street runs with water, and it all smells of wine." Pilgrim laughed again: "Your Majesty, you saw me throw the cup and thought I took offense—not so. That monster, beaten, fled west; I did not chase him, and he set a fire. This cup of wine was my quenching of the demon fire, and it saved the people in and outside the west city. What other meaning could there be?"
The king rejoiced and honored him the more. He asked the Tang monk and the four to come up to the jeweled hall, and seemed ready to yield his throne and give up his kingdom. Pilgrim laughed: "Your Majesty, that monster just now called himself the vanguard of the Rival of the Great Year, come for palace maids. Beaten, he has gone back and will surely report to his master, and the master will surely come to contend with me. I fear that if he raises his host all at once, the people may be hurt again and Your Majesty frightened. I mean to go out and meet him halfway, and take him in midair, and win back the queen. But which way does he lie? How far from here to his cave?" The king said: "I once sent scouts and horsemen to sound him out; the round trip takes fifty days and more. He lies to the south, about three thousand li away." Pilgrim heard and said: "Bajie, Sha Monk, guard matters here; old Sun will go." The king held him: "Holy monk, take a day to prepare: dried food and roasted grain, some travel silver, a good swift horse—then you may go." Pilgrim laughed: "Your Majesty talks like a man walking over passes and ridges. To speak plainly, on a road like these three thousand li, before the wine in your cup cools, I can go and come back." The king said: "Holy monk, do not take it amiss, but with that face of yours, like an ape or a monkey, how can you have such powers and travel so?" Pilgrim said:
Though my body is of the ape-and-monkey kind, from childhood I broke open the road of life and death.I sought wise masters everywhere to learn the Way, and cultivated before the mountain, morning to night.I took heaven for my crown and earth for my furnace, and kneaded the two drugs, the crow and the hare.I gathered yin and yang, water and fire to meet, and in a moment broke through the mysterious pass.All by the turning might of the sky's fixed stars, and by the Dipper's handle moving step by step.Banking the furnace and feeding the fire came each at its hour; drawing lead and adding mercury, each watched the other.The five elements gathered close, and creation was born; the four emblems fused, and the hours were measured out.The two breaths came home along the sun's own road; the three families met on the road of the golden elixir.When I woke to the law and it ran through my four limbs, my somersaults were from the first as if gods helped them.One leap carries me over the Taihang mountains; one turn carries me over the Ford of Piercing Clouds.What care I for thousands of steep ridges, or a hundred and ten stretches of the long river?Only because my changes meet no barrier: one turn is a hundred and eight thousand li!
The king, hearing this, was startled and delighted; smiling, he offered a cup of royal wine: "Holy monk, for your far labor, take this cup to lead the way." But the Great Sage had one thought only—to put down the demon; he had no heart for wine, and only said: "Set it down; I will drink when I come back." A fine Pilgrim! At the word "go" he gave a whistle and was gone without a sound. The whole court of king and ministers stood astonished—there we leave it.
Now Pilgrim gave a leap and saw a high mountain barring the misty edge. He brought down his cloud and stood on its crest, looking carefully—a fine mountain:
It thrusts at heaven and fills the land; it blocks the sun and begets cloud.Where it thrusts at heaven, sharp peaks bristle; where it fills the land, far ridges run on and on.That which blocks the sun is the pines, dark on the ridge top; that which begets cloud is the rocks, glinting under the cliffs.The pines, dark, are green through the four seasons and the eight feasts; the rocks, glinting, change not in ten thousand years.In the woods one always hears apes cry by night; in the ravines, often, a demon serpent passing.Mountain birds sob their notes; mountain beasts roar and bellow.Mountain river-deer and musk-deer run by twos and pairs in throngs; mountain crows and magpies wheel in flocks, flying thick.Mountain grasses and flowers cannot be seen to the end; mountain peaches and fruits gleam fresh in season.Steep as it is and past walking, it is a hiding place for demon immortals.
The Great Sage looked without tiring, and was just hunting the cave mouth when a glow of fire burst out of a fold of the mountain; in a moment red flame filled the sky, and out of the flame breathed a foul smoke, deadlier than the fire. A fine smoke! And it looked like this:
The firelight burst into ten thousand golden lamps; the flame flew out in a thousand rainbows of red.That smoke was not the smoke of kitchen flues, nor of wood and grass; the smoke had five colors: blue, red, white, black, and yellow.It would scorch the pillars outside the South Heaven Gate and singe the beams of the Lingxiao Hall.It burned the beasts in their lairs rotten to the skin, and stripped the birds in the woods of every feather.Look how foul this smoke is—how would one enter these deep hills and subdue the monster king?
Just as the Great Sage stood aghast, a stream of sand burst out of the mountain. Fine sand—it hid the sky and blotted the sun! See:
Whirling and swishing it filled the sky's edge; thick and murky it veiled the great earth.Fine dust everywhere blinded the eyes; coarse grit filled the valleys, rolling like sesame.Immortal boys gathering herbs lost their companions; woodcutters could not find the way home.Though a bright pearl shone in your hand, in a moment it flayed your eyes to flashing sparks.
Pilgrim, all eyes for the show, never noticed the sand and dust fly up his nose; it tickled, and he gave two sneezes. He turned back, felt under the cliff for two pebbles, and plugged his nose. He shook himself, changed into a fire-braving hawk, flew into the smoke and fire, dashed through it several times—and the sand and dust were gone, and the smoke and fire had died. He hastily showed his true form and came down to look again, when he heard the ding-dong of a bronze gong. "I have taken the wrong road," he thought. "This is no demon's dwelling. The gong sounds like a post rider's gong; it must be the great highway of the kingdom, with a courier carrying dispatches. Let old Sun go and ask him."
As he walked, he saw what seemed a little demon, carrying a yellow banner, a dispatch on his back, beating a gong, hurrying as if flying. Pilgrim laughed: "So it is this fellow beating the gong. What letter can he be carrying? Let me listen to him." A fine Great Sage! He shook himself, changed into a little gnat, flew softly, and settled on the demon's dispatch bag. He heard the demon beating his gong and muttering to himself as he went: "My Great King is too cruel by half. Three years ago he carried off the Gold-Saint Queen from the Kingdom of Vermilion Purple by force, and has had no luck since—not once has he touched her—and the poor palace maids he demands stand in for her. Two came and were done to death; four came and were done to death too. He asked the year before last, and again last year, and again this year, and he is asking now. And now an enemy has turned up: the vanguard who went for the palace maids was beaten by some Sun Wukong or other, and no maids will be sent. That is why the Great King is in a rage and means to contest it with that kingdom, and has sent me to deliver a declaration of war. On this errand, if that king does not fight, well and good; if he fights, it will go ill with him. With my Great King's smoke, fire, and flying sand, that king, with all his ministers and people, will not one of them live. Then we shall hold his city, the Great King will be emperor, and we shall be his ministers. Though there will be offices and ranks for us, great and small, yet heaven's reason will not bear it."
Pilgrim heard, and rejoiced in secret: "So even demons have good hearts. Those last words of his, 'heaven's reason will not bear it'—are those not the words of a good one? But his saying that the Gold-Saint Queen has 'had no luck' and has 'never been touched'—I do not take his meaning. Let me ask him." With a hum, one flap of his wings carried him off the demon and ahead on the road some ten-odd li; he shook himself, and changed into a young Daoist:
His head bound with double topknots; his body in a coat of a hundred patches.In his hand a fish-skin drum and clappers; on his lips a Daoist song.
He came round the hillside, met the little demon, and opened with a salute: "Sir officer, where are you going? What official paper do you carry?" The demon, as if he knew him, stopped his gong stick, and returned the bow smiling: "My Great King has sent me to the Kingdom of Vermilion Purple with a declaration of war." Pilgrim took up the question: "And that lady of Vermilion Purple—has she ever been matched with the Great King?" The little demon said: "Carried off the year before last—yet at the very time an immortal came and gave the Gold-Saint Queen a fairy robe of five colors to dress her bride in. From the day she put it on, needles grew all over her body, and my Great King dare not so much as touch her. The least touch of her hurts his palm to aching—who knows why? From first to last he has never had her. This morning he sent the vanguard to demand maids to serve her, and some Sun Wukong or other beat him. The Great King flew into a rage, and so sent me with this declaration of war; tomorrow he gives battle." Pilgrim said: "And why is the Great King so vexed?" The little demon said: "He is vexing away right now. Go and sing him a Daoist song, and cheer him up a little."
A fine Pilgrim! He saluted and slipped away; the demon went on beating his gong. Then Pilgrim's mood turned fierce: out came the staff; he wheeled about and struck the little demon behind the head. Pity him—his skull burst, blood and brains spattered, skin split, neck snapped, life gone. Pilgrim put up his staff, then repented: "Too hasty—I never asked his name. Too late now." He took the declaration of war from him and hid it in his sleeve, and stowed the yellow banner and the bronze gong in the roadside grass. As he took the body by the feet to hurl it down the ravine, there was a clang at the waist: a gold-mounted ivory tally showed, with writing on it: "One trusted soldier of the body, named You Lai You Qu, Come-and-Go. Short of stature, pockmarked face, no beard. To be worn always; without this tally, an impostor." Pilgrim laughed: "So this fellow is called Come-and-Go—and my one stroke has made him gone with no coming back!" He untied the tally and hung it at his own waist. He meant to throw the body down, but bethought him of the poison of the smoke and fire, and dared not hunt out the cave yet; so he raised his staff, gave the little demon's chest a thrust, balanced him in the air, and flew straight back to the kingdom, to count it a first small victory. See him murmuring to himself; with a whistle he was at the border of the kingdom.
Now Bajie, standing guard before the Golden Luan Hall over king and master, looked up and saw Pilgrim in midair carrying the demon balanced on his staff, and grumbled: "Ah! A poor bit of trade. If old pig had gone to fetch him, would that not count as my credit too?" Before the words were out, Pilgrim brought his cloud down and dropped the demon at the foot of the steps. Bajie ran up and raked him once: "That is old pig's doing." Pilgrim said: "What doing of yours?" Bajie said: "Do not deny it—I have my witness: did you not see my rake leave nine holes in him?" Pilgrim said: "Look and see whether he has a head." Bajie laughed: "So he has no head! No wonder he never stirred, however I raked him." Pilgrim said: "Where is Master?" Bajie said: "In the hall, talking with the king." Pilgrim said: "Go ask him out." Bajie hurried up the hall and nodded to him. Tripitaka rose at once, came down, and met Pilgrim, who slipped the declaration of war into his sleeve: "Master, keep this, and do not let the king see it."
Before the words were done, the king too came down the hall and met Pilgrim: "Has the holy monk come back? How went the taking of the monster?" Pilgrim pointed: "Is not that the monster at the foot of the steps? Old Sun has beaten him to death." The king looked: "A demon's corpse it is, no doubt—but it is not the Rival of the Great Year. The Rival of the Great Year I have seen twice with my own eyes: a body eighteen feet tall, shoulders five spans broad; a face like golden light, a voice like thunderclaps. How could it be this squat wretch?" Pilgrim laughed: "Your Majesty knows him; truly it is not he. This is a little demon that carries reports, who ran into old Sun, was killed out of hand, and carried back to count as a trophy." The king rejoiced greatly: "Good, good, good—it shall count as a first merit. I have often sent men to spy him out, and never learned anything sure. Your holiness goes out once and brings back a captive—truly divine powers!" He called: "Bring warm wine, to honor the elder's merit."
Pilgrim said: "Wine is a small matter. Let me ask Your Majesty: when the Gold-Saint Queen parted from you, did she leave any keepsake? Give me some small thing of hers." At the word "keepsake" the king was as if a knife were scooping out his heart; the tears broke from him before he could stop them, and he said:
On the feast day of old, in the bright of summer, the savage demon of the Great Year raised his war cry.He seized my queen by force to stock his den; I gave her up to save the living.No word of meeting, no word of parting—where were the long pavilion and the short?Of keepsake or scent pouch not a trace; to this day she leaves me desolate and alone.
Pilgrim said: "Your Majesty, why grieve? She is near at hand. If the queen left no keepsake, is there nothing she loved in the palace? Give me any one thing of hers." The king said: "What do you want it for?" Pilgrim said: "That demon king has true powers. I saw his smoke, his fire, and his sand, and they are hard indeed to quell. And even quelled, I fear the queen, seeing a stranger, would not follow me home. I must have some thing she has loved and worn, or she will not believe me, and then I cannot bring her back. That is why I ask to carry it." The king said: "In the Zhaoyang Palace, in the dressing tower, there is a pair of gold bracelets set with jewels, which the Gold-Saint Queen wore on her wrists. Only on that Dragon Boat day, when we were to bind the five-colored threads, she took them off and did not put them on again. They are her dearest things, and now they lie in her jewelry case. Since her parting I cannot bear to look at them; one look is as if I saw her jade face, and my sickness deepens a degree." Pilgrim said: "Speak no more of that—only fetch the gold bracelets. If you can part with them, let me take both; if not, one will serve." The king ordered the Jade-Saint Queen to fetch them; she brought them and handed them to the king. He looked at them and murmured several times: "My queen, who knew my hurts and warmed my cold," and handed them to Pilgrim. Pilgrim took them and slipped them over his forearm.
A fine Great Sage! He would not stay for the wine of merit; he mounted his somersault cloud, gave a whistle, and was back on Qilin Mountain. With no heart for scenery, he went straight to hunt the cave. As he went he heard voices clamoring, and stopped to look: at the mouth of the Cave of the Xiezhi stood gatekeepers, great and small, to the number of some five hundred—and there they were:
Ranked in dark array, packed close in files.Ranked in dark array, they held spears and shields, glittering in the sun; packed close in files, they spread their banners, fluttering and flashing in the wind.Tiger generals and bear masters who can change their shapes; leopard heads and tiger-cat chiefs swaggering with spirit.Gray wolves, fierce and many; otters and elephants, bolder still.Cunning hares and crafty river-deer brandished sword and halberd; long snakes and great serpents slung saber and bow.The ape-fiends understood men's speech, marshaled the lines, pitched the camp, and read the coming winds.
Seeing this, Pilgrim dared not go forward, but turned back along his old road. And why did he turn? Not for fear. He went back to the place where he had beaten the little demon to death, found the yellow banner and the bronze gong, made the sign against the wind, imagined and shifted—and shook himself and changed into the very shape of Come-and-Go, beating the gong with a clatter, striding along, straight to the Cave of the Xiezhi. He was about to look at the cave scenery when an ape-fiend called out: "Come-and-Go, are you back?" Pilgrim had only to answer: "Back." The ape said: "Hurry! The Great King is waiting on the Skin-Stripping Pavilion for your report."
Pilgrim, hearing this, strode on, beating his gong, straight in through the front gate, and looked about: sheer cliffs and crags, stone houses and open halls, fairy flowers and magic herbs to left and right, old cypresses and tall pines before and behind. Before he knew it he was inside the second gate, and looking up saw a pavilion bright with eight windows. In the middle of it stood a gilt battle chair, and in the chair sat a demon king, truly monstrous to see. And he looked like this:
A shimmer of rosy light rose over his crown; an awful battle-breath burst from his breast.Tusks outside his mouth ranked like keen blades; scorched hair at his temples smoked red.The whiskers on his lip stood like driven darts; the bristling hair over his body like folded felt.His eyes bulged like bronze bells, outstaring the Great Year Star; the iron pestle in his hand seemed to brush the sky.
Pilgrim, seeing him, was openly insolent to the demon, keeping back not one bit of courtesy: he turned his face outward and went on beating his gong. The demon king asked: "Are you back?" Pilgrim did not answer. He asked again: "Come-and-Go, are you back?" Still no answer. The demon king came up and seized him: "Why do you go on beating your gong the moment you are home, and answer nothing when I ask?" Pilgrim flung the gong to the ground: "What 'why' and what 'why'? I said I would not go, and you made me go. When I got there, I saw men and horses beyond number drawn up in battle array. The moment they saw me they all shouted: 'Seize the demon! Seize the demon!' They shoved and dragged, hauled and carried me into the city. When I saw the king, the king said: 'Behead him.' Happily his two files of counselors said: 'When two houses quarrel, the envoy is not beheaded,' and they spared me. They took the declaration of war, then hustled me out beyond the gate and gave me thirty strokes on the backs of my legs before the army, and let me go home to report. Before long they will be here to give you battle." The demon king said: "If that is how it was, you had the worst of it—no wonder you would not answer." Pilgrim said: "Just so—only for guarding my hurts did I not answer." The demon king said: "How many men and horses were there?" Pilgrim said: "I was frightened silly and cowed by their beating—how would I count their host? I only saw their weapons ranked there, thick and dark:
Bows and arrows, sabers and spears, armor and coats; shields and halberds, swords and daggers, tasseled banners.Lithe spears and moon spades, helmets and corselets; great axes, round shields, and caltrops of iron.Long crushing staves and short bludgeons; steel forks, firelocks, and battle-axes, and helmets.Felt boots and neck guards and padded jackets; iron rulers, whips, divine slings, and copper mallets.
The king laughed as he heard: "No matter, no matter. Weapons like those—one fire and they are all empty air. Go now and report to the Gold-Saint Queen, and tell her not to grieve. This morning, when she heard me swearing to go to battle, her eyes brimmed and would not dry. Go and tell her that the men and horses of that kingdom are bold and will surely beat me—and ease her heart a while."
Hearing this, Pilgrim rejoiced with all his heart: "Just what old Sun wanted." See him—as if he knew the way, he rounded the corner gate and passed through the halls. Within, all were lofty halls and great buildings, nothing like the front. Straight to the palace at the back: far off he saw a stately painted gateway—the dwelling of the Gold-Saint Queen. He went straight in and looked: two files of demon foxes and demon deer, each dressed in the shape of a beautiful woman, stood in waiting on either side. In the middle sat the queen, cheek resting on her hand, tears dropping from both eyes. Truly:
A jade face, tender and sweet; a beauty, lithe and charming.Too listless to dress her hair, her raven locks unpinned; too heartsick to adorn herself, pin and ring laid by.No powder on her face; the rouge left pale and cold. No oil in her hair; her clouding temples in a tangle.Her cherry lips pressed, her silver teeth set; her moth brows knitted, her starry eyes drowned in tears.Her whole heart dwelt on the king of Vermilion Purple; and in her misery she longed to be out of this net of heaven and earth.Truly: from of old the fair have had hard fates—languid, speechless, she faced the east wind.
Pilgrim came forward, made a salutation, and called: "Take the greeting." The queen said: "This rude country monster has no manners at all. When I dwelt in the Kingdom of Vermilion Purple and shared my king's splendor, the grand tutors and chancellors, at the sight of me, fell prone in the dust and dared not look up. And this wild creature calls 'take the greeting'! Where do such clods come from?" The maids in waiting came up: "Madam, be not angry. He is a trusted soldier of the Great King's own guard, named Come-and-Go. It was he who carried the declaration of war this morning." The queen heard, mastered her anger, and asked: "Did you carry the declaration of war into the bounds of Vermilion Purple?" Pilgrim said: "I carried the letter straight into the city, up to the Golden Luan Hall, saw the king face to face, and have brought back his answer." The queen said: "When you faced the king, what did he say?" Pilgrim said: "His words about giving battle, and his ordering of troops and arrays, I have already told the Great King. Only, the king cherishes thoughts of you, madam, and has sent a word that touches the heart, which I have come up to tell you. But with all these people standing round, this is no place to speak it."
The queen heard and waved back the two files of foxes and deer. Pilgrim closed the palace door, wiped his face, showed his true form, and said to the queen: "Do not be afraid of me. I am a monk sent from the Tang of the Eastern Land to the Great Western Heaven, to the Thunderclap Monastery in India, to see the Buddha and seek scriptures. My master is the Tang emperor's own brother in religion, Tripitaka Tang, and I am his eldest disciple, Sun Wukong. Passing through your kingdom to have our papers changed, I saw your king and ministers post a notice calling a physician; I put forth the art of the arm broken three times and cured him of his sickness of longing, and they laid a feast to thank me. Over the wine it came out that a demon had carried you off. I can subdue dragons and tame tigers, and they begged me to come take the monster and bring you home to your kingdom. It was I who beat the vanguard, and I who beat the little demon to death. Seeing how fierce the crowd was at his gate, I changed into Come-and-Go's shape and risked my way in here, to bring you word." The queen heard and brooded in silence. Pilgrim took out the jeweled bracelets and offered them with both hands: "If you will not believe me, see where this comes from." The queen looked and dropped tears; she came down from her seat and bowed: "Elder, if you truly bring me back to my court, I will never forget this great kindness while I live."
Pilgrim said: "Let me ask you: that smoke and fire and sand of his—what treasure is it?" The queen said: "It is no treasure at all, but three golden bells. The first, shaken, sends out three hundred zhang of firelight to burn a man; the second, shaken, three hundred zhang of smoky haze to choke a man; the third, shaken, three hundred zhang of yellow sand to blind and engulf a man. The smoke and fire are not the worst; the yellow sand is deadliest: once it is up your nostrils, it takes your life." Pilgrim said: "Terrible, terrible. I have felt it—I sneezed twice. And where does he keep the bells?" The queen said: "Would he ever put them down? He wears them at his waist, walking, standing, sitting, lying—never away from his body." Pilgrim said: "If you still care for the Kingdom of Vermilion Purple and want to see your king again, put by your grief and trouble for a while, and put on your most gracious and joyful looks, and play the wife with him a little, and get him to give you the bells to keep. Then, when the chance comes, I will steal them, put down this monster, and bring you home, to be a wife again and live in peace." The queen did as he said.
Pilgrim changed back into the trusted soldier's shape, opened the palace door, and called in the maids on either side. The queen called: "Come-and-Go, run quickly to the front pavilion and beg the Great King to come; I would speak with him." A fine Pilgrim! He answered the call, went to the Skin-Stripping Pavilion, and said to the demon: "Great King, the Queen of the Saint Palace asks for you." The demon king was delighted: "The queen does nothing but scold—why does she ask for me today?" Pilgrim said: "The queen asked me about the king of Vermilion Purple, and I told her: 'He has cast you off; he has set up another queen in his kingdom.' Hearing it, she has given up her hoping, and that is why she sent me to beg you." The demon king rejoiced: "You are a useful fellow. When I have rooted out that kingdom, I will make you a grand steward at my court."
Pilgrim thanked him for the favor offhand, and hurried with the demon king to the door of the back palace. The queen met him with a glad face and put out her hand to help him in; the demon king backed away with bows: "Not so, not so. I thank the queen for her kindness, but I fear my hand will pain her—I dare not come near." The queen said: "Be seated, Great King; I would speak with you." The demon king said: "Say what you will; it cannot hurt." The queen said: "Three years now I have enjoyed your favor, Great King, and never shared your pillow or your quilt. It was fate of a former life that made this marriage. But it seems you hold me at arm's length, and do not treat me as a wife. When I was queen in Vermilion Purple, whatever tribute came from other lands, the king, when he had looked at it, always gave it to the queen to keep. Here there is nothing precious at all: we wear furs, we eat raw flesh—where are silks and brocades, gold and pearls? Nothing but skins to sit on and blankets over us. And if there are treasures here, you hold me at arm's length, and never let me see them nor keep them. Now I hear you have three bells—surely some treasure—yet you carry them walking and carry them sitting. If you gave them to me to keep, and took them out when you wanted them, nothing would be lost by it. We have been man and wife; surely you might trust me with what is next your heart. If you trust me with nothing, how am I not held at arm's length?" The demon king laughed aloud and begged her pardon: "The queen is right to be vexed—right indeed. Here is the treasure: today it shall be given you to keep." And he began to undo his clothes and take out the treasure. Pilgrim, at his side, never took his eyes off him: the monster bared two or three layers of clothes, with the three bells next his skin. He untied them, stuffed their mouths with cotton, wrapped them in a piece of leopard skin like a bundle, and handed them to the queen: "Small as the things are, keep them with care—above all, never shake them." The queen took them: "I know. They shall lie on this dressing table, where no one shakes them." She called: "Lasses, lay the wine; the Great King and I will drink together and make merry." The maids heard, spread the fruit and dishes, and set out river-deer, boar, deer, and hare meat, ladled out coco-palm wine and served it. The queen put on all her charming airs, and played the sprite.
Sun the Pilgrim, waiting his chance at the side, edged and sidled near the dressing table, took the three golden bells softly, moved slowly to the door, slipped out of the palace, and left the cave. At the Skin-Stripping Pavilion, where no one was, he opened the leopard-skin wrapping and looked: the middle bell was as big as a tea bowl, and the two at the ends as big as fists. Not knowing their power, he pulled out the cotton. At once came a clang, and out burst smoke and fire and yellow sand in gouts, past all stopping, and the whole pavilion roared with fire. The goblin gatekeepers tumbled helter-skelter into the back palace and woke the demon king, who cried in haste: "Put the fire out, put the fire out!" He came out to look—and it was Come-and-Go that had made off with the golden bells. The demon king came up roaring: "You wretched slave—so you would steal my golden bells and play your pranks here! Seize him! Seize him!" The tiger generals, bear masters, leopard heads, tiger-cat chiefs, otters and elephants, gray wolves, crafty river-deer, cunning hares, long snakes, great serpents, and ape-fiends before the gate closed in on him from every side, with the whole demon host.
Pilgrim, in a panic, dropped the golden bells, showed his true form, pulled out the As-You-Will gold-banded staff, and laid about him. The demon king rescued his treasure and passed the word: "Shut the front gate!" The demons obeyed—some shutting the gate, some falling on. Pilgrim could not get out; he put up his staff, shook himself, changed into a dull-witted fly, and stuck on the stone wall where the fire had not reached. The demons hunted and could not find him, and reported: "Great King, the thief is gone, the thief is gone!" The demon king asked: "Did he get out by the gate?" The demons all said: "The front gate is locked and barred fast; he did not pass it." The demon king only said: "Search carefully." Some fetched water for the fire, some searched high and low, and there was no trace. The demon king stormed: "What manner of thief is this? What a bold one—to take Come-and-Go's shape, come in, give me his report, keep at my elbow, and steal my treasure on the sly! It is lucky we caught it in time. Had he carried it out over the mountain into the open wind, what a business it would have been!" The tiger general came forward: "The Great King's blessings are as high as heaven, and our allotted span is not yet out—that is how we came to know in time." The bear master came forward: "Great King, this thief is none other than that Sun Wukong who beat our vanguard. He must have met Come-and-Go on the road, taken his life, seized his yellow banner and bronze gong and his tally, and taken his shape, to come here and deceive the Great King." The demon king said: "Just so, just so—well reasoned." He called: "Lads, search and guard carefully, and on no account open the gates and let him slip away." And so it was truly said:
Cleverness turned to folly; the trick played turned true.
But how Sun the Pilgrim would get out of the demon's gate, who could tell? Listen to the next chapter to find out.