Chapter 83

The Mind-Ape Recognizes the Elixir Seed; The Maiden Returns to Her True Nature

Tripitaka was carried out of the cave by the demon, and Sha Monk came up asking: "The master is out—but where is senior brother?" Bajie said: "He has a scheme; he must have traded himself for the master." Tripitaka pointed at the demon: "Your senior brother is inside her belly." Bajie laughed: "Filthy beyond bearing! What business has he in a belly? Come out!" From within the Pilgrim called: "Open your mouth, and let me come out." The demon truly opened her mouth. The Pilgrim made himself very small and perched in her throat; about to come out, he feared she might snap at him unfairly, so he took out the iron staff, blew a breath of immortal air, and cried: "Change!" It became a jujube-pit pin, braced against her upper palate; he gave a bound, jumped out of her mouth, carried the iron staff along in passing, bowed his waist, and stood there in his own form and features; he raised the staff to strike. The demon likewise drew her two precious swords and parried with a clang. The two of them fought a fine battle on the mountaintop:

Two pairs of swords fly, parrying face to face; the gold-banded staff rises, aiming at the head.One is a monkey-born creature, the mind-ape's body; one is an earth-bred spirit, the maiden's frame.The two of them, hate flooding their breasts—enmity born where joy had been, a great muster on the plain.She would take the primal yang to make her mate; he would fight pure yin and crush its holy embryo.The staff swings up—one sky of cold fog spreads; the swords answer—black dust sifts over all the ground.All for the elder, bound to bow before Buddha—hate and pain locked in battle, each showing his great gift.Water and fire do not mix, and the way of the mother suffers; yin and yang will not join, and each must part.The pair fought long; the earth quaked, the mountains shook, and trees went down.

Bajie, watching them fight, muttered away, his resentment turning on the Pilgrim, and said to Sha Monk: "Brother, senior brother muddles things. Just now, inside her belly, he might have swung his fists and given her a bellyful of red, burst through the skin and come out—and done with it. Why come out by her mouth and give her battle, letting her rave on like this?" Sha Monk said: "True. Still, it is to senior brother's credit that he brought the master out of the deep cave—and now he fights the demon again. Let the master sit by himself; you and I, weapons in hand, will help big brother, and knock the demon down." Bajie waved his hand: "No, no, no. He has his powers; we are no use." Sha Monk said: "What talk! This is every man's business; and though we are no use, we can at least add a fart's worth of wind."

The Idiot's blood warmed on the spot; he pulled his rake, crying: "On!" The two, forgetting the master, rode the wind together and came up, rake and staff rising, hammering away at the demon. Against the Pilgrim alone she could already not hold her own; seeing these two more, how could she withstand them? She whipped about and fled. The Pilgrim roared: "Brothers, after her!" The demon, hard pressed, slipped off the flowered shoe on her right foot, blew a breath of immortal air, pronounced a spell, and cried: "Change!" It took her own likeness, whirling the two swords; her body flickered, turned into a gust of clear wind, and headed straight home. This time too she meant only that, beaten, she had fled for her life—but who knew what a business was waiting! It was also that Tripitaka's baleful star had not yet set: she came to the gateway before her cave door and there saw Tripitaka Tang sitting alone. She ran up, threw her arms round him, seized the luggage, gnawed through the reins, and carried off man and horse into the cave once more—no more of that.

Bajie, dodging into an opening, brought his rake down and knocked the demon to the ground—a flowered shoe. The Pilgrim saw it and said: "You two idiots, you had only to watch the master—who asked you to come claiming credit?" Bajie said: "Sha Monk, what did I say? I said don't come. The monkey has a touch of brain-fever: we beat his demon for him, and get complaints for our pay." The Pilgrim said: "And where did you beat any demon? Yesterday, when that demon fought me, she played a shoe-dropping trick and gulled me. But come—no telling how the master fares; let us hurry and look."

The three hurried back: sure enough the master was gone, and with him the luggage and the white horse, all vanished without trace. Bajie ran this way and that in panic; Sha Monk searched behind and before; the Great Sage Sun's heart burned and his temper frayed. As they searched they saw half a rein hanging aslant by the roadside. He snatched it up, and tears streamed from his eyes as he cried aloud: "Master! When I went I bade farewell to men and horse; coming back I find only this rope." Truly it was: at the saddle he thinks of the gallant horse; drop by drop he weeps for the dear one. Seeing him weep, Bajie could not help laughing up at the sky. The Pilgrim cursed: "You lout! Off to scatter again?" Bajie laughed again: "Brother, not so. The demon must have carried the master into the cave again. The old saying goes: 'Nothing succeeds till the third try.' You have gone into the cave twice; go in once more, and I warrant you bring the master out." The Pilgrim wiped his eyes: "Very well. Come to this pass, there is no help for it—I will go in again. You two have lost your luggage and your horse to worry over; guard the cave mouth well."

The Great Sage turned and leaped inside, using no disguise at all, but his own true form and features. Truly:

Quirky of jaw and jutting of cheek, strong at heart;a demon from childhood, mighty in godlike strength.His face, high and low, outdoes a saddle's curve;his eyes flash golden light, bright as fire.His body's hair is stiff as steel needles;his tiger-skin kilt rings with jingling bright flowers.Up to heaven he dashed and scattered ten thousand clouds;into the sea he plunged and churned a thousand waves.In heaven's face, on sheer strength, he hammered the Heavenly Kingsand beat back a hundred and eight thousand generals.Invested Great Sage, the handsome monkey spirit,in his hand the gold-banded staff, wielded by long habit.Today he lets his powers loose in the west,and comes back into the cave to raise up Tripitaka.

He checked his cloud-light and came straight to the demon's dwelling. The gate of the gate tower was shut; without more ado he whirled the iron staff and knocked it open at a blow, and burst in. All within was hushed; no trace of anyone. No Tripitaka Tang under the east corridor; in the pavilion, tables and chairs, and the household stuff everywhere—nothing at all. It turned out her cave ran three hundred li around, and the demon had many dens. The first time she carried Tripitaka Tang here, the Pilgrim found her; this time, carrying him off again, she feared the Pilgrim would come searching, and moved at once, away no one knew where. Rage made the Pilgrim stamp his feet and beat his breast, crying aloud: "Master! You are a Tripitaka Tang spun out of ill luck, a scripture-seeking monk cast in calamity! Ah! This road I know like my own hand—how can you not be here? Where is your old Sun to look?" As he stormed and fumed, a wave of fragrant wind suddenly struck his nose. He came to himself: "That perfume drifts from the back; she must be somewhere behind." He strode in, iron staff in hand, and looked: still no movement. He saw three rooms built back to front, and against the rear wall a carved-lacquer altar table with a dragon-mouth border, and on it a great gilded censer, its incense breathing rich; above it stood a large gold-lettered tablet reading "Seat of my honored father, Heavenly King Li," and, a little lower, "Seat of my honored brother, Crown Prince Nezha." At the sight the Pilgrim's heart leaped with joy; he gave up hunting the demon and hunting Tripitaka Tang, twisted his iron staff into an embroidery needle and tucked it in his ear, gathered up tablet and censer in his arms, turned his cloud-light, and went straight out of the door. At the cave mouth he chuckled and crowed without end.

Hearing him, Bajie and Sha Monk left the cave mouth and came to meet him: "Brother, so merry—you must have saved the master?" The Pilgrim laughed: "No need for us to save him; we will ask this tablet for the man." Bajie said: "Brother, the tablet is no demon and cannot speak—how will you ask it for a man?" The Pilgrim set it on the ground: "Look." Sha Monk came close and read: "Seat of my honored father, Heavenly King Li" and "Seat of my honored brother, Crown Prince Nezha." Sha Monk said: "What does it mean?" The Pilgrim said: "This is what the demon's household enshrines. I burst into her dwelling and found no one, only this tablet. She must be the daughter of Heavenly King Li, sister of the Third Prince, who yearned for the world of men, came down from heaven, disguised herself a demon, and carried off my master. If I do not demand the man of them, of whom shall I demand him? You two keep watch here; your old Sun, tablet in hand, will go straight up to heaven and lay the imperial complaint before the Jade Emperor, and make the Heavenly King and his son give me back my master." Bajie said: "Brother, the old saying goes: 'He who sues a man of death may die for it.' The case must be sound before you act; and when was an imperial complaint ever lightly brought? Tell me—how will you accuse him?" The Pilgrim laughed: "I have my plan: this tablet and censer shall be my witnesses, and I will draw up a written charge besides." Bajie said: "What will the charge say? Read it to me." The Pilgrim said:

Your plaintiff, Sun Wukong, of age as entered on the register, disciple of Tripitaka Tang, the monk of Tang in the Land of the East who seeks scriptures in the Western Heaven, brings suit in the matter of a false demon seizing and imprisoning a man: Li Jing, Heavenly King Pagoda Bearer, together with his son Crown Prince Nezha, kept not strict their women's quarters; their own daughter got out, and in the world below, at Sunken Void Mountain's Bottomless Cave, she has transformed herself into a demon, beguiling and destroying lives beyond count. Now she has seized my master and hidden him in some winding recess past all finding. If I do not lodge complaint, I hold it that father and son, unkind, have knowingly let their daughter become a fiend to harm the multitude. I humbly beg your compassion to grant the writ, summon them to the bench, take the wicked and rescue my master, and let the law plainly fix their guilt; this would be deep and gracious favor. On these grounds I bring my suit.

Bajie and Sha Monk heard him out with great delight: "Brother, the suit is well grounded; you are sure to win. But come back soon; a little late, and the demon may take the master's life." The Pilgrim said: "I am quick, I am quick—the time rice takes to cook, the time tea takes to boil, and I am back."

The Great Sage, tablet and censer in hand, gathered himself, rose on propitious clouds, and flew straight to the Southern Gate of Heaven. There the Heavenly King of Mighty Strength and the Heavenly King of the Guarded Nation, who kept the gate, saw the Pilgrim, bowed with clasped hands, dared not bar him, and let him through. He came to the Hall of Translucent Light, where the four great Celestial Masters—Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu—met him with courtesies: "Great Sage, where do you come from?" The Pilgrim said: "I have a written charge, and mean to sue two persons." The Celestial Masters were startled: "This rogue—whom can he mean to sue?" Helpless, they led him to the Hall of Numinous Clouds and memorialized, and by decree he was summoned in. The Pilgrim set down the tablet and censer, paid his courtesies facing the throne, and presented the charge. Immortal Ge took it and spread it on the imperial desk. The Jade Emperor read it through from the first line, saw it was thus and so, annotated the original charge into an edict, and decreed that the Gold Star of Venus, the Evening Star of the west, bear the decree to Cloud-Roost Palace and summon Pagoda-Bearer Heavenly King Li to appear before the throne. The Pilgrim came forward: "I beg Your Majesty to punish him well; otherwise new trouble will breed." The Jade Emperor further ordered: "The plaintiff goes too." The Pilgrim said: "Your old Sun goes too?" The four Celestial Masters said: "His Majesty has issued the decree; go along with the Gold Star."

The Pilgrim truly followed the Gold Star, riding the cloud tops, and soon reached Cloud-Roost Palace—the Heavenly King's residence, named Cloud-Roost Palace. At the palace gate stood a page in attendance. The page knew the Gold Star and ran in to announce: "The Gold Star of Venus, my lord, has come." The Heavenly King came out to receive him, and seeing him bear the imperial decree, bade incense be burned. Turning, he saw the Pilgrim following him in—and his anger rose. And why was he angry? When the Pilgrim wrought havoc in heaven long ago, the Jade Emperor had made the Heavenly King great marshal for subduing demons and Nezha the prince god of the Triple Altar and the Sea Assembly, commanding the heavenly host to take and subdue the Pilgrim; battle after battle, they could not win. The grudge of that defeat five hundred years before still rankled somewhat, and so he was wroth. He could not hold back: "Old Evening Star, what decree do you bring?" The Gold Star said: "A charge that Sun the Great Sage has brought against you." The Heavenly King, already vexed, at the word "charge" thundered into towering rage: "What has he to charge me with?" The Gold Star said: "A false demon seizing and imprisoning a man. Burn your incense and open the decree yourself." Fuming, the Heavenly King set the incense table and thanked heaven with his face to the sky; the rites done, he unfolded the decree and read—thus and so, such and such—and in his rage smote the incense table with his hand: "This monkey-head has wronged me with a false charge!" The Gold Star said: "Calm your wrath. The tablet and the censer stand as evidence before the throne; they say she is your own daughter." The Heavenly King said: "I have but three sons and one daughter. My eldest son Jinzha serves the Tathagata as vanguard guardian of the Law; my second son Muzha is with Guanyin in the Southern Sea as her disciple; my third son Nezha is at my side, morning and evening guarding the throne. One daughter, seven years old, named Zhenying, who does not yet know right from left—how could she play the demon? If you will not believe me, I will have her carried out for you to see. This monkey-head is past all manners. Not to speak of my rank as a pillar of heaven, holding the office of beheading first and reporting after—even a common man below may not be falsely accused. The law says: 'A false charge adds three degrees of penalty.'" He called to his men: "Bind this monkey-head with the demon-binding cord." In the court stood the Giant Spirit God, the Fish-Belly General, and the yaksa captains; they swarmed forward and bound the Pilgrim. The Gold Star said: "Heavenly King Li, do not bring disaster on yourself! I stood before the throne and took the decree with him to summon you; that cord of yours is heavy—if it injures him in the binding, it will be an ugly business." The Heavenly King said: "Gold Star, with such fraudulent, vexatious suing, why should he be suffered? Sit you down; let me take the demon-cleaving blade, cut down this monkey-head, and then go with you to the throne and return the decree." At the sight of the blade the Gold Star's heart quaked, and he said to the Pilgrim: "You have botched the business. When was an imperial complaint a light thing? You did not first make sure; to blunder about like this and lose your life—what is to be done?" The Pilgrim, utterly unafraid, said smiling: "Old gentleman, be at ease; nothing will come of it. Your old Sun's trade is always done this way: lose first, win after."

Before the words were out, the Heavenly King whirled the blade and hacked at the Pilgrim's head. But the Third Prince sprang forward and caught the demon-cleaving sword upon it, crying: "Father King, calm your wrath." The Heavenly King went white with terror.

Ah! A father, seeing his son bar his blade with a sword, should cry him back—why turn white with terror? It was because when this son was born there was on his left palm the character "Na" and on his right palm the character "Zha," and so he was named Nezha. Three days out of the cradle the prince went down to the sea to bathe and kicked up trouble: he trod down the Crystal Palace and seized the flood dragon, meaning to strip its sinews for a sash. When the Heavenly King learned it, fearing harm to come, he meant to kill him. Nezha, in furious anger, took the blade, cut the flesh from his bones to return it to his mother, and pared the bones to return them to his father, restoring the essence of his father and the blood of his mother; and his one drop of soul flew straight to the World of Bliss in the west to complain to Buddha. Buddha was preaching to the assembled bodhisattvas when a voice cried from among the banners and canopies: "Save my life!" Buddha's wise eye saw at once it was the soul of Nezha; he took a green lotus root for his bones and lotus leaves for his raiment, pronounced the true word that raises the dead to life, and Nezha had his life again. He exercised his godlike strength and by his art subdued the demons of ninety-six caves, vast in his powers. Later he would have killed the Heavenly King, to pay for the paring of his bones. The Heavenly King, helpless, begged our Buddha the Tathagata. The Tathagata held peace highest, and gave him a delicately pierced precious pagoda of yellow gold with wish-granting relics; on its every tier sat Buddhas, ablaze with light. He bade Nezha take Buddha for father, and the feud was dissolved. Hence the name Pagoda-Bearer Heavenly King Li. Today, at leisure at home, he had not taken up that pagoda; dreading Nezha's thought of revenge, he blanched with terror.

He swung back at once, took the golden pagoda from its stand, held it on his palm, and asked Nezha: "Child, you bar my blade with your sword—what have you to say?" Nezha dropped his sword and knocked his head: "Father King, there is a daughter of yours in the world below." The Heavenly King said: "Child, I have begotten but the four of you, brothers and sister—where should another daughter come from?" Nezha said: "Has my father forgotten? That daughter was first a demon. Three hundred years ago she became a monster and stole and ate the incense flowers and precious candles of the Tathagata at Vulture Peak; the Tathagata sent my father and me with the heavenly host, and we took her. Taken, she should have been beaten to death outright, but the Tathagata said: 'Impound the water and nurse the fish, yet never angle; feed the deer in the deep mountains, in hope of long life.' So her life was spared. Gathering up that debt of kindness, she worshipped my father as father and me as brother, and set up tablets below in the world of men, serving them with incense. Who knew she would become a fiend again and work her harm on Tripitaka Tang—until Sun the Pilgrim searched out her lair, carried off the tablets, and entered an imperial charge on the strength of them. She is a daughter bound by sworn kindness, not a sister born of our own mother." At this the Heavenly King, startled out of himself, said: "Child, I had truly forgotten. What is she called?" The prince said: "She has three names. By her original stock she is called the Golden-Nosed White-Furred Rat Spirit; because she stole the incense flowers and precious candles, her name was changed to the Half-Bodied Guanyin; and now, pardoned to the world below, she has changed it again, and is called the Lady Earth-Borne."

Then the Heavenly King came to his senses, set down the pagoda, and came in person to untie the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim played his trick on the spot: "Who dares untie me? Carry me to the throne, rope and all; only then is your old Sun's lawsuit won." The Heavenly King's hands went weak with fright; the prince had no word; the generals drew back sheepishly. The Great Sage rolled on the ground playing the rogue, and would have the Heavenly King before the throne. The Heavenly King, at his wits' end, begged the Gold Star to speak a good word. The Gold Star said: "The ancients say: 'In all things, leniency.' You went at it too hard: bound him, and would have killed him. This monkey is a notorious rogue; how do you now have me settle it? By your son's own telling, though she is a daughter of kindness and not of blood, still the tie is late-made but weighty; however the matter is argued, some guilt sticks to you." The Heavenly King said: "Old Star, find the word that clears me of guilt." The Gold Star said: "I would gladly make peace between you, but there is no case to plead." The Heavenly King said: "Then tell him of the time you memorialized for my amnesty and my rank—that may serve." The Gold Star truly came forward, laid his hand on the Pilgrim, and said: "Great Sage, for my poor sake let the rope be untied, and let us to the throne." The Pilgrim said: "Old gentleman, no need to untie; I know the art of rolling—I can roll there on the spot." The Gold Star laughed: "You monkey, how grudging! I did you some kindness once; will you refuse me in this trifle?" The Pilgrim said: "What kindness did you ever do me?" The Gold Star said: "When you played the demon on Mount Flower-Fruit, taming tigers and subduing dragons, striking your name from the ledger of the dead by force and gathering your goblin host in open defiance, and heaven would have taken you by force—it was this old body that memorialized, won the decree of amnesty, summoned you up to heaven, and had you made Bimawen, Keeper of the Heavenly Horses. When you had drunk the Jade Emperor's immortal wine, and amnesty was moved again, it was again this old body that memorialized, and you were titled Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Then you would not keep your place: stole the peaches, filched the wine, purloined the elixir of the Supreme Lord Lao—thus and thus, till you came to be beyond death and birth. If not for me, how had you come to this day?" The Pilgrim said: "The ancients said it well: 'When dead, never share a grave with an old man'—nothing so neat at picking a man's scabs. I only played Bimawen and wrecked the Heavenly Palace, nothing more. Well, well—out of regard for your old face, let him come untie me himself." Only then did the Heavenly King dare step forward, untied the cords, begged the Pilgrim to put on his robes and take the seat of honor, and came up one by one to salute him.

The Pilgrim bowed to the Gold Star: "Old gentleman, how is it? I said lose first, win after—that is how the trade is done. Hurry him to the throne; do not cost me my master." The Gold Star said: "No hurry. After all this stir, let us at least have a cup of tea." The Pilgrim said: "Drink his tea, take his bribes, smuggle the prisoner loose, slight the sacred decree—what is your guilt then?" The Gold Star said: "No tea, no tea! Now I am tarred with the same stick. Heavenly King Li, quick, quick!" The Heavenly King dared not go: fearing the rogue would make something out of nothing, babble and rave—how could he argue with him? Helpless, he begged the Gold Star again to speak him fair. The Gold Star said: "I have one word—will you take it from me?" The Pilgrim said: "The rope and the blade—I let both pass for your sake. What more? Speak, speak. If it is good, I take it; if not, blame yourself." The Gold Star said: "One day in court is ten days of pleading. You have entered an imperial charge that the demon is the Heavenly King's daughter; the Heavenly King says she is not; the two of you would wrangle before the throne without end. Now I say: one day in heaven is a year in the world below. In this year, with your master trapped in her cave—never mind the wedding—if she came to her joyful blossom and bore a son, there would be a young monk running about the cave: would that not spoil the great affair?" The Pilgrim bowed his head and thought: "So it is. I left Bajie and Sha Monk saying the time rice takes to cook, the time tea takes to boil; and already half this while is spent—am I not late? Old gentleman, I take your word; but how is the decree to be answered?" The Gold Star said: "Let Heavenly King Li muster his troops and go down with you to subdue the demon; I will return the decree." The Pilgrim said: "How will you answer?" The Gold Star said: "I shall only say the plaintiff has fled, and the defendant need not be brought." The Pilgrim laughed: "Well done! I showed you regard, and you have me a runaway. Have him muster his troops and wait outside the Southern Gate of Heaven; I will go with you to return the decree and close the suit." The Heavenly King said in fear: "If he goes down and talks me crooked, it is a servant betraying his lord." The Pilgrim said: "What sort of man do you take your old Sun for? I too am a man of my word: 'Once the word is out, four horses cannot chase it back.' Would I foul my mouth against you?" The Heavenly King thanked the Pilgrim, who with the Gold Star went to return the decree; and the Heavenly King mustered the troops of his own command and marched straight out the Southern Gate of Heaven.

The Gold Star and the Pilgrim returned and saw the Jade Emperor: "He who trapped Tripitaka Tang is a golden-nosed white-furred rat grown into a demon, who set up false tablets to the Heavenly King and his son. The Heavenly King knows it now, has mustered his troops, and is gone to take the monster; I beg Your Majesty to pardon all." The Jade Emperor, already informed, let his grace descend and dropped the case. The Pilgrim turned his cloud-light, came out the Southern Gate of Heaven, and found the Heavenly King and the prince arraying the heavenly host in wait. Ah! Those god generals, wind rolling and mist billowing, met the Great Sage, and all together dropped down through the clouds, and soon were on Sunken Void Mountain.

Bajie and Sha Monk, watching with all their eyes, saw the heavenly host and the Pilgrim come. The Idiot met the Heavenly King with a bow: "We have troubled you, troubled you." The Heavenly King said: "Marshal Tianpeng, you did not know: because my son and I received one stick of her incense, the demon grew lawless and trapped your master. Forgive my coming late. Is this Sunken Void Mountain? But which way does her cave door open?" The Pilgrim said: "This road I know like my own hand; only the cave is called the Bottomless Cave, three hundred li around, with many demon dens. Last time my master was in the double-eaved gate tower; this time all is hushed, not a ghost's shadow—who knows where she has moved to now." The Heavenly King said: "Let her contrive a thousand schemes; she cannot slip the net of heaven spread upon earth. At the cave door we will see." All moved forward. Ah! Some ten-odd li, and they came to the great stone. The Pilgrim pointed at the vat-mouthed opening: "There it is." The Heavenly King said: "'If you do not enter the tiger's den, how shall you get the tiger's cub?' Who goes first?" The Pilgrim said: "I go first." The Third Prince said: "I bear the decree to subdue the demon; I go first." The Idiot grew forward and bawled: "For the van, there is still old Pig!" The Heavenly King said: "No dinning. Follow my dispositions: the Great Sage Sun and the prince lead the troops and generals down into the cave; we three hold the mouth—a joining from within and without—so that she finds no road to heaven and no door into earth; then you shall see a little of the art." All answered with one voice: "Yes!"

See the Pilgrim and the Third Prince, troops and generals behind them, streaming down into the cave, riding the cloud-light; they raised their eyes and looked—indeed, what a cave:

As ever, the twin wheels of sun and moon shine over a whole prospect of hills and streams.Pearl-depths and jade wells breathe warm veils of smoke.And much besides to be envied.Range on range of crimson towers and painted chambers; lofty red cliffs and green fields.Spring's willows and autumn's ninth-month lotus.Rare indeed, such a heaven of caverns!

In an instant they stayed the cloud-light and came to the demon's old dwelling. They searched from door to door, shouting as they went, one ring after another, one place after another, trampling the grass flat over all the three hundred li—and where was the demon? Where was Tripitaka? They all said: "The evil beast must have left this cave long since and gone far away." Who knew she was in a black corner of the southeast: look down, and there was another small cave. In the cave a little inner door, one low room, a few flowers in pots, a few bamboo stems by the eaves, black vapor thick, hidden fragrance rich. The old demon, carrying off Tripitaka, had moved here, to press the marriage upon him. She thought the Pilgrim would never find it—but his fate was fixed for ruin. The little demons within, jawing and jostling, huddled in crowds. One bolder than the rest stretched up his neck for a peek out of the cave and butted head-on into a heavenly soldier, who shouted: "Here they are!" The Pilgrim's wrath flared; he gripped the gold-banded staff and burst in at a stroke. The place was narrow; a whole den of demons crouched within. The Third Prince loosed the heavenly host, and they swarmed in together—where could they hide?

The Pilgrim found Tripitaka Tang, and the dragon horse, and the luggage. The old demon, no way left her, could only knock her head before Prince Nezha, begging for life. The prince said: "It is by the Jade Decree you are taken—no small matter. We father and sons, over one stick of her incense, came within an inch of dragging the beam—making a whole matter of the temple." He cried to the soldiers to bring the demon-binding cord and bind the demons, every one. The old demon too had a taste of suffering in store. They turned the cloud-light and all came out of the cave together, the Pilgrim chuckling and cackling. The Heavenly King opened the way at the cave mouth and met him: "This time you see your master." The Pilgrim said: "Many thanks, many thanks." He led Tripitaka to bow and thank the Heavenly King, and next the prince. But Sha Monk and Bajie wanted only to carve the old fiend to pieces. The Heavenly King said: "She is taken under the Jade Decree; she may not be touched lightly. We must go up and return the decree."

One way, the Heavenly King and the Third Prince led the heavenly host and god generals, guarding the demon off to memorialize the courts of heaven and await judgment; the other way, the Pilgrim gathered up Tripitaka Tang, Sha Monk packed the luggage, Bajie brought up the horse, they begged the Tang monk to mount, and all took the great road together. And this was truly:

Cut the silk-vine bonds, and dry the golden sea;open the jade lock, and out of the cage.

What would come of it as they went on? Listen to the next chapter to find out.

The Mind-Ape Recognizes the Elixir Seed; The Maiden Returns to Her True Nature

Now Tripitaka had been carried out of the cave by the demon. Sha Monk came up and asked: "The master is out — but where is our brother?" Bajie said: "He has his own plan. He must have traded himself for the master." Tripitaka pointed at the demon and said: "Your brother is inside her belly." Bajie laughed: "How filthy! What business do you have in a belly? Come out." From inside Pilgrim called: "Open her mouth, so I can come out." The creature really did open her mouth. Pilgrim made himself tiny and sat just inside her throat. He was about to come out, but feared she might treacherously snap at him. So he drew out his iron staff, blew a breath of magic air on it, and cried: "Change!" It turned into a jujube-pit spike. He wedged it against her upper palate, sprang, and jumped out of her mouth, bringing the iron staff along. Bending at the waist, he was his own true form again. He raised the staff to strike. The demon pulled out her two precious swords and caught the blows with a clang. The two of them fought a fine battle on the mountaintop:

Two swords whirl, flying up to block head-on; the gold-banded staff rises, aiming at the skull.One is a heaven-born monkey creature, the body of the mind-ape; the other is an earth-bred spirit, the frame of the painted girl.The two of them, hate swelling in their breasts, turned joy into enmity and met in a great field of battle.She wants to seize the primal yang for her mate; he means to fight the pure yin and form a sacred embryo.The staff rises and the whole sky fills with cold fog; the swords parry and black dust sifts over the ground.For the elder's sake, for the worship of the Tathagata, they grapple bitterly and show their great skill.Water and fire will not mix, and the mother's way is lost; yin and yang cannot join, and each goes apart.The two sides fight on through many rounds; the earth quakes, mountains shake, and trees go down.

Bajie watched them fight, muttering to himself, and turned against Pilgrim. He said to Sha Monk: "Brother, our brother is fumbling about. When he was in her belly just now, he should have swung his fists, given her a bellyful of red, burst through her skin, and come out. Wouldn't that have settled it? Instead he came out through her mouth and now fights her — and lets her run wild like this!" Sha Monk said: "True. Still, it was our brother who brought the master out of the deep cave, and now he fights the demon again. Have the master sit by himself, and you and I take up weapons, back up big brother, and knock the demon down." Bajie waved his hands: "No, no, no. He has magic power; we'd be no use." Sha Monk said: "What talk! This is work that helps us all. Useless or not, we'd still be like a puff of wind behind him — every little helps."

The Idiot's spirits rose at that. He pulled out his rake, called "Let's go," and the two, forgetting all about the master, rode the wind and caught up, raising rake and precious staff to strike at the demon from every side. The demon could barely hold out against Pilgrim alone; seeing two more come at her, how could she resist? She turned quickly and fled. Pilgrim shouted: "Brothers, after her!" The demon, seeing them press hard, slipped the embroidered shoe off her right foot, blew a breath of magic air, murmured a spell, and cried "Change!" It took her own shape, whirling her two swords; her body shook once, became a gust of clear wind, and went straight home. This time she only meant to save her life, since she could not beat them, and came home. Who could have guessed what would happen! It was also that Tripitaka's ill star had not yet passed. At the gateway by the mouth of the cave she found the Tang monk sitting alone. She ran up, threw her arms around him, grabbed the luggage, bit through the reins, and carried off both man and horse back into the cave. Of that no more.

Meanwhile Bajie caught an opening and knocked the demon to the ground with one blow of his rake. It was an embroidered shoe. Pilgrim saw it and said: "You two idiots! Guarding the master was enough — who asked you to come help?" Bajie said: "See, Sha Monk? Didn't I say not to come? The monkey must have wind in his brain. We subdue the demon for him, and all we get is complaining." Pilgrim said: "Where did you subdue any demon? Yesterday when she fought me she tricked me with her dropped-shoe trick. You two left your post — who knows what's happened to the master? Quick, go and look!"

The three hurried back. Sure enough, the master was gone, and the luggage and the white horse with him. Bajie ran wildly back and forth in a panic, Sha Monk searched front and back, and the Great Sage Sun himself grew anxious and irritable. As they searched, they saw half a rein dangling by the roadside. He picked it up, could not stop the tears from his eyes, and cried out: "Master! When I left, I said goodbye to you and the horse. Coming back, I find only this rope." Truly: the saddle brings back the fine horse; the falling tear brings back the dear one. Bajie saw him weeping and could not help laughing at the sky. Pilgrim swore at him: "You lout! Do you want to break up the band again?" Bajie laughed: "Brother, not at all. The master has surely been carried back into the cave. As the saying goes: 'Nothing succeeds till the third try.' You've gone into the cave twice. Go in once more, and you'll surely bring the master out." Pilgrim wiped his eyes and said: "Very well. Things have come to this, and there's no help for it — I'll go in again. You two have the luggage and horse to worry over; keep a good watch at the mouth of the cave."

That great Sage turned at once and leaped inside, using no transformation — just his own true form. Truly:

Odd of cheek and jutting of jaw, but strong in heart; a demon from childhood, his divine strength full-grown.His jutting face outdoes a saddle's curve; his eyes flash golden light, bright as fire.The hair on his body is stiff as steel needles; his tiger-skin skirt swings with a jingling sound.He went up to heaven and scattered ten thousand clouds in flight; he went into the sea and churned up a thousand waves.In heaven he leaned on his strength and fought the Heavenly Kings; he turned back a hundred and eight thousand generals.Honored with the title Great Sage, that handsome monkey spirit, his hand has always known the gold-banded staff.Today, westward bound, he shows his powers again, and returns to this cave to save his master Tripitaka.

See him stop his cloud and go straight to the demon's dwelling. The gatehouse door was shut. Without more thought he swung the iron staff, knocked it open with one blow, and burst in. It was quiet as could be, with no trace of anyone. The Tang monk was not under the east corridor. Not a table or chair in the pavilion, not a single piece of household goods anywhere. Her cave, you see, spread three hundred li around, full of demon dens. The first time she carried off the Tang monk she stayed here, and Pilgrim found her. This time, afraid he would come looking, she had moved on the spot, to who knows where. This so angered Pilgrim that he stamped his feet and beat his chest, crying out: "Master! You are a Tang Tripitaka spun out of bad luck, a scripture monk cast in disaster. Ah! And I know this road so well — how are you not here? Where is old Sun supposed to look now?" In the middle of his shouting and fuming, a waft of sweet scent suddenly struck his nose. He came back to himself: "This incense smoke drifts from the back. She must be somewhere behind." He strode in, iron staff in hand, and looked — still no sign of anyone. He saw three back-facing rooms. Against the back wall stood a carved lacquer altar table trimmed with dragon mouths, and on it a great gilded incense burner, its smoke thick and sweet. Above it stood a large gold-lettered tablet reading "Seat of my honored father, Heavenly King Li"; and a little lower, "Seat of my honored brother, Crown Prince Nezha." At this Pilgrim's heart leaped with joy. He did not search for the demon or the Tang monk. He rolled his iron staff into an embroidery needle and tucked it in his ear, took the tablet and the incense burner in his arms, turned his cloud, and went straight out the door. At the mouth of the cave he kept laughing, hey and ha, without end.

Bajie and Sha Monk heard him, left their post at the mouth of the cave, and met him: "Brother, you're this happy — did you get the master out?" Pilgrim laughed: "No need for us to save him. I'll just ask this tablet to hand over the man." Bajie said: "Brother, a tablet isn't a demon and can't talk. How will you ask it for a man?" Pilgrim set it on the ground and said: "Look." Sha Monk came close and read: "Seat of my honored father, Heavenly King Li; seat of my honored brother, Crown Prince Nezha." Sha Monk said: "What does this mean?" Pilgrim said: "This is what the demon's household worships. I burst into her home and found no one, only this tablet. It must be that she is the daughter of Heavenly King Li, the Third Prince's sister, who longed for the world below, came down, disguised herself as a demon, and carried off my master. If I don't demand my man from them, from whom? You two keep watch here. Old Sun will take this tablet straight up to heaven, lay a complaint before the Jade Emperor, and make the Heavenly King and his sons give me back my master." Bajie said: "Brother, as the saying goes: 'Accuse a man of a capital crime, and the accusation may cost your own head.' Your case must be sound before you dare. And when was an imperial complaint ever a light thing? Tell me first — how will you accuse them?" Pilgrim laughed: "I have a plan. This tablet and burner will be my evidence, and besides I'll draw up a written complaint." Bajie said: "What will the complaint say? Chant it to me." Pilgrim said:

"Complainant Sun Wukong, age as on record, disciple of the Tang Tripitaka, the monk of Tang in the Land of the East who seeks scriptures in the Western Heaven. The complaint: that a false demon seizes and holds people. Li Jing, Heavenly King the Pagoda Bearer, together with his son Crown Prince Nezha, kept his inner gates carelessly, and his own daughter slipped out. Down below, at Sunken Hollow Mountain in the Bottomless Cave, she has turned demon, beguiled and destroyed lives without number, and now holds my master shut up in some hidden corner where no one can find him. If I do not file complaint, I fear this father and son, in their unkindness, have willfully let their daughter become a demon to harm the multitude. I humbly beg your pity and approval: summon them to court, seize the evil thing, save my master, and punish their crime openly. That would be a great kindness. With this I make my complaint."

Bajie and Sha Monk were delighted: "Brother, your complaint is sound. You're sure to win. Only come back quickly — any delay and the demon may take the master's life." Pilgrim said: "I'm fast, I'm fast. If the rice takes long to cook or the tea long to boil, I'm back before either."

That great Sage took the tablet and burner, sprang, and rode an auspicious cloud straight to the Southern Gate of Heaven. The Great Strength Heavenly King and the Nation-Guarding Heavenly King who keep that gate saw Pilgrim coming and bowed low, one and all, not daring to block him, letting him through. At the Hall of Perfect Light the four great Heavenly Masters — Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu — met him with bows and asked: "Great Sage, what brings you?" Pilgrim said: "I have a written complaint against two people." The Masters were startled: "This shameless rogue — who can he be accusing?" With no choice they led him to the Hall of Divine Mists to report, and by decree he was called in. Pilgrim set down the tablet and burner, made his bows facing the throne, and presented the complaint. Immortal Ge took it and spread it on the imperial desk. The Jade Emperor read it through, saw how matters stood, turned the complaint itself into a sacred edict, and ordered the Gold Star of Venus, Changgeng of the west, to bear it to the Cloud-Rampart Palace and summon Heavenly King Li the Pagoda Bearer to court. Pilgrim came forward and said: "I beg Your Majesty to punish them well; otherwise there will be more trouble." The Jade Emperor further ordered: "Let the complainant go too." Pilgrim said: "Old Sun goes too?" The four Heavenly Masters said: "His Majesty has issued his decree. Go with the Gold Star."

Pilgrim really did follow the Gold Star, riding the clouds, and soon reached the Cloud-Rampart Palace — the Heavenly King's home, so named. At the palace gate stood a page boy in attendance. He knew the Gold Star and hurried in to announce: "His lordship the Gold Star of Venus is here." The Heavenly King came out to welcome him. Seeing the Gold Star carrying an edict, he ordered incense burned. As he turned, he saw Pilgrim following him in, and his anger rose. Why was he angry? Back when Pilgrim wrecked the Heavenly Palace, the Jade Emperor had named the Heavenly King Grand Marshal for Subduing Demons and Crown Prince Nezha god of the three altars and the sea assembly, to lead the heavenly host and take Pilgrim — and they lost battle after battle. The old grudge of that defeat five hundred years ago still rankled, and so he grew angry. He could not hold back: "Old Changgeng, what edict do you bring?" The Gold Star said: "It is a complaint filed against you by the Great Sage Sun." The Heavenly King was already fretting, and at the word "complaint" his rage burst out like thunder: "What does he accuse me of?" The Gold Star said: "That a false demon of yours seizes and holds people. Burn your incense and open and read it yourself." Puffing with anger, the Heavenly King set up the altar, bowed to the sky, and thanked the grace. Then he unrolled the edict and read it — and this was how it went, and so and so — until, furious, he slapped the altar table with his hand: "That wretched monkey — he has accused me wrongly!" The Gold Star said: "Calm your anger. The tablet and the burner are there at court as evidence. They say she is your own daughter." The Heavenly King said: "I have only three sons and one daughter. My eldest son Jinzha serves the Tathagata as guardian of the vanguard. My second son Muzha is a disciple of Guanyin in the Southern Sea. My third son Nezha is at my side, attending court morning and night to guard the throne. My daughter is just seven, named Zhenying. She doesn't yet know right from wrong — how could she play demon? If you don't believe it, I'll have her brought out for you to see. This monkey is truly insolent. Never mind that I am a founding noble of heaven, holding the office of beheading first and reporting after — even the humblest subject below would not suffer a false accusation. The law says: 'A false accuser gets three degrees more.'" He called to his men: "Tie this monkey up with the demon-binding rope!" The mighty gods arrayed in his courtyard — the giant divinity, the fish-belly generals, the yaksha captains — swarmed forward and bound Pilgrim. The Gold Star said: "Heavenly King Li, don't bring disaster on yourself. I received this edict at court and came with him to summon you. That rope of yours is heavy. If you bruise him, it will cost you." The Heavenly King said: "Gold Star, with a man making false accusations and stirring up trouble, why should I stand for it? Sit down. Let me fetch my demon-cutting saber, cut off this monkey's head, and then go to court with you and report back." Seeing him fetch the saber, the Gold Star's heart pounded and his gall trembled. He said to Pilgrim: "You have made a mistake. Is an imperial complaint a light thing? You didn't even check your facts first. Making a mess like this and losing your life — what good will that do?" Pilgrim was not the least afraid, and said with a smile: "Old official, rest easy. Nothing will happen. Old Sun does business in just this way — always losing first, and winning in the end."

Before the words were done, the Heavenly King swung the saber and chopped down at Pilgrim's head. But the Third Prince had already hurried up and caught the blow with his demon-cutting sword, crying: "Father, calm your anger." The Heavenly King turned pale with fright.

Ah! When a father sees his son block his saber with a sword, he should simply shout him back. Why turn pale with fright? Because when this son was born, the character "ne" was on his left palm and the character "zha" on his right, and so he was named Nezha. At three days old this prince went down into the sea to bathe and made trouble: he trampled the Crystal Palace flat and seized the flood dragon to strip its sinews for a belt. When the Heavenly King heard, he feared later trouble and meant to kill him. Nezha, in furious anger, took a knife, cut the flesh from his bones to return it to his mother, pared the bones to return them to his father, giving back his father's essence and mother's blood. His lone soul flew straight to the world of ultimate bliss in the west, to complain to the Buddha. The Buddha was preaching to the assembled bodhisattvas when, beneath the banners and canopies, a voice cried: "Save me!" The Buddha's wise eyes saw at once it was Nezha's soul. He took a green lotus root for bones and lotus leaves for clothing, spoke the true words of raising the dead to life — and Nezha had his life back. Wielding his divine strength, he subdued the demons of ninety-six caves by the Law, so vast were his powers. Later he meant to kill the Heavenly King, to avenge the paring of his bones. The Heavenly King, helpless, begged our Buddha the Tathagata for help. The Tathagata, prizing peace above all, gave him a delicately carved golden pagoda set with relic treasures, granting every wish. On that pagoda sat Buddha after Buddha, tier upon tier, glowing with light. He had Nezha take the Buddha for his father, and so their feud was dissolved. That is why he is called Heavenly King Li the Pagoda Bearer. Today he was at leisure at home, not holding the pagoda. Fearing Nezha still meant revenge, he went white with fright.

He at once reached back, took the golden pagoda from its stand, and held it on his palm. He asked Nezha: "Child, you block my saber with your sword — what have you to say?" Nezha dropped his sword, knocked his head on the ground, and said: "Father, you do have a daughter down in the world below." The Heavenly King said: "Child, I fathered only you four, brothers and sister. Where would another daughter come from?" Nezha said: "Have you forgotten, Father? That daughter was originally a demon. She became a spirit three hundred years ago and stole and ate the Tathagata's incense, flowers, and precious candles at Vulture Peak. The Tathagata sent us, father and sons, with the heavenly troops, and we caught her. Caught, she deserved only death, but the Tathagata said: 'Still the water and raise the fish, yet never fish them; feed the deer in the deep mountains, in hope of long life' — and spared her life. Out of gratitude for this mercy she bowed to you, Father, as her father, and to me as her brother, and set up our tablets down below, keeping our incense burning. Who knew she would turn demon again and ruin the Tang monk — until Pilgrim Sun searched out her lair, carried off the tablets, and used them to file his complaint at court. She is a sworn daughter bound by gratitude, not a sister born of our own mother." Hearing this, the Heavenly King started in alarm and said: "Child, I had truly forgotten. What is her name?" The prince said: "She has three names. By her origin she is called the Gold-Nosed White-Furred Rat Demon. Because she stole the incense, flowers, and candles, she renamed herself Half a Guanyin. Since being spared and sent down to the world, she has renamed again — she is called Lady Earth-Surge."

Only then did the Heavenly King understand. He set down the pagoda and moved to untie Pilgrim with his own hands. Pilgrim turned stubborn and said: "Who dares untie me? If anything, carry me to court rope and all. That's how old Sun wins his lawsuit." The Heavenly King's hands went weak, the prince fell silent, and the household generals slunk back. The Great Sage rolled on the ground playing the scamp, insisting the Heavenly King go to court. The King had no move left and begged the Gold Star to find a way out. The Gold Star said: "The ancients said: 'In all things, be lenient.' You were too hasty — you had him bound and meant to cut him down. This monkey is a famous rogue. How do you expect me to fix it now? As for what your son said — though she is a daughter of gratitude and not your own flesh, an adopted tie is still weighty. However you argue it, you have some fault to answer for." The Heavenly King said: "Old Star, say some soft word, and I'm cleared." The Gold Star said: "I do want to make peace between you, but I have no grounds to argue." The Heavenly King said: "Then tell him about the time you petitioned for his pardon and his official title — that will do." So the Gold Star went up, laid a hand on Pilgrim, and said: "Great Sage, for my poor sake, let the rope come off, and we'll go to court." Pilgrim said: "Old official, no need to untie me. I know the art of rolling — I can roll my way there." The Gold Star laughed: "Monkey, how unfeeling you are! Didn't I once do you some kindness? And in this little matter you won't humor me?" Pilgrim said: "What kindness did you ever do me?" The Gold Star said: "Back when you were a demon on Mount Flower-Fruit, taming tigers and subduing dragons, striking your name from the death rolls, gathering a horde of demons and running wild — when heaven meant to take you, it was I who strongly petitioned for amnesty and got the decree summoning you up to heaven and making you Bimawen, Keeper of the Heavenly Horses. After you drank the Jade Emperor's immortal wine and was pardoned again, it was I who strongly petitioned and got you named Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Then you would not keep your place — you stole peaches and wine, took the Supreme Lord Lao's elixir — and so and so, until you came to this state of neither death nor birth. Without me, how would you be where you are today?" Pilgrim said: "The ancients put it well: 'When you die, never share a grave with an old man.' You're an expert at raking up the past. All I ever did was serve as Bimawen and wreck the Heavenly Palace — nothing more. Very well, very well. Out of respect for your old face, let him untie me himself." Only then did the Heavenly King dare step forward, undo the bonds, ask Pilgrim to put on his clothes and take the seat of honor, and come up one by one to bow.

Pilgrim turned to the Gold Star and said: "Old official, how about it? Didn't I say — lose first, win after? That's how old Sun does business. Hurry them off to court, and don't cost me my master." The Gold Star said: "No hurry. After all this fuss, let's have a cup of tea first." Pilgrim said: "Drink his tea, take his private favors, smuggle off a prisoner, slight a sacred edict — what would that earn you?" The Gold Star said: "No tea, no tea. Now he's twisting me into his tricks too. Heavenly King Li — quick, quick, we go!" But the Heavenly King dared not go — afraid that Pilgrim, out of nothing, would make something, turn stubborn again, and rattle on so wildly that no argument could stand against him. Helpless, he too begged the Gold Star to speak a soft word. The Gold Star said: "I have one thing to propose. Will you accept it?" Pilgrim said: "The rope and the saber — for your sake I've let all that pass. What more is there? Speak, speak. If it's good, I'll take it. If not, don't blame me." The Gold Star said: "One day in court, ten days of wrangling. You filed your complaint saying the demon is the Heavenly King's daughter; the King says she is not. The two of you could dispute before the throne forever. Now — one day in heaven is a year below. In that year, with your master trapped in that cave — never mind the wedding — if the bubble-flower of joy should drop a son, you'd come back to find a little monk. Wouldn't that spoil everything?" Pilgrim lowered his head and thought: "True. When I left Bajie and Sha Monk I said I'd be back before the rice cooked or the tea boiled — and look how long this has dragged on. Isn't it late already? Old official, since I take your advice, how do we answer for the edict?" The Gold Star said: "Heavenly King Li will muster his troops and go down with you to subdue the demon, and I'll return the edict." Pilgrim said: "What will you report?" The Gold Star said: "I'll only say the complainant escaped and the accused need not appear." Pilgrim laughed: "Fine! I spared them out of regard for you, and you have me an escapee. Have him muster his troops and wait for me outside the Southern Gate of Heaven. Then you and I report back and hand in the complaint." The Heavenly King said in fear: "If he goes down and something goes wrong with his word, that would be a servant betraying his prince." Pilgrim said: "What sort of man do you take old Sun for? I am a true man too: 'Once a word is out, four horses cannot chase it back.' Would I throw dirty words at you?" The Heavenly King thanked him at once. Pilgrim and the Gold Star returned with the edict. The Heavenly King mustered his own division of heavenly troops and marched straight out the Southern Gate of Heaven.

The Gold Star and Pilgrim returned and saw the Jade Emperor: "The one who trapped the Tang monk is a gold-nosed white-furred rat turned demon, who set up false tablets to the Heavenly King and his sons. The King now knows of it and has already mustered troops to take the creature. I beg Your Majesty to pardon all fault." The Jade Emperor already knew the case and, by heavenly grace, let it pass. Pilgrim wheeled his cloud back to the Southern Gate of Heaven, where the Heavenly King and the prince had arrayed the heavenly host in waiting. Ah! Those god generals came rolling like wind and rising like mist, met the Great Sage, and all dropped down through the clouds together, soon reaching Sunken Hollow Mountain.

Bajie and Sha Monk waited with straining eyes until the heavenly troops came with Pilgrim. The Idiot greeted the Heavenly King with a bow: "We've troubled you, we've troubled you." The Heavenly King said: "Marshal Tianpeng, you don't know the whole of it. Only because my sons and I accepted a stick of her incense did that demon dare such insolence and trap your master. Forgive my lateness. So this is Sunken Hollow Mountain? But which way does her cave door open?" Pilgrim said: "I know this road well enough. But the cave is called the Bottomless Cave; it runs three hundred li around, full of demon dens. Last time my master was in that gatehouse with the double-sloped roof. This time all is silent — not a ghost of a trace. Who knows where she's moved to now?" The Heavenly King said: "Let her scheme a thousand ways — she'll hardly slip out of heaven's net. We'll decide at the cave mouth." All set off. Ah! About ten li on they reached the great rock. Pilgrim pointed at the vat-mouth-sized opening: "There it is." The Heavenly King said: "'Unless you enter the tiger's den, how will you get the tiger's cub?' Who leads?" Pilgrim said: "I lead." The Third Prince said: "I bear the decree to take the demon. I lead." Then the Idiot grew reckless and called out loudly: "The front post belongs to old Pig!" The Heavenly King said: "No squabbling. Take my arrangement: the Great Sage Sun and the prince lead the troops down into the cave. We three guard the mouth. Inside works with outside, so that she has no road to the sky above and no door into the earth below — then we'll show a little real skill." Everyone answered with one word: "Yes."

See Pilgrim and the Third Prince lead their troops straight down into the cave, riding the cloud-light. They looked up, and truly it was a wondrous cave:

The same pair of wheels, sun and moon, shining over one sweep of hills and streams.Pearl pools and jade wells warm with hidden mist — and much more worth envying.Red towers and painted galleries rise tier on tier; red cliffs stand lofty over green fields.Willows of third-month spring, lotuses of ninth-month autumn — such a hidden heaven is rarely seen.

In a moment they stopped their clouds and came straight to the demon's old home. Door by door they searched, shouting as they went, one ring after another, one place after another, trampling the grass bare across those three hundred li. But where was any demon? Where was Tripitaka? They all said: "That wicked beast must have left this cave long ago and gone far away." Who knew that in a dark corner of the southeast, looking down, there was another small cave: one little door, one low room, a few potted flowers, several stems of bamboo by the eaves, black vapor hanging thick and a hidden scent growing sweet. The old demon had carried Tripitaka here and settled in, pressing him for marriage. She thought Pilgrim would never find them — but his fate, it seemed, was due to end. The little demons inside were chattering and squabbling, jostling in crowds. One bolder than the rest stretched out his neck for a peek outside the cave, smacked straight into a heavenly soldier, and yelled: "They're here!" At that Pilgrim's temper flared. Gripping the gold-banded staff, he barged in at a stroke. Inside, in that narrow little space, a whole den of demons was packed. The Third Prince loosed his heavenly soldiers and all swarmed in — where could any one of them hide?

Pilgrim found the Tang monk, the dragon horse, and the luggage. The old demon saw no way out. Facing Crown Prince Nezha, she only knocked her head on the ground, begging for her life. The prince said: "It is by the Jade Emperor's decree that you are taken — no small matter. For one stick of incense received, my father and I nearly dragged the whole temple down on ourselves — it was a near disaster." He called to the heavenly soldiers, took down the demon-binding ropes, and tied up the demons. The old demon too had her share of suffering to taste. They turned their clouds and all came out of the cave together. Pilgrim kept chuckling and chortling. The Heavenly King cleared the mouth of the cave, met Pilgrim, and said: "This time you have your master back." Pilgrim said: "Many thanks, many thanks." He brought Tripitaka to bow to the Heavenly King in thanks, then to the prince. Sha Monk and Bajie wanted nothing but to carve the old demon to pieces on the spot, but the Heavenly King said: "She is taken under the Jade Emperor's decree. We may not deal with her lightly — we must go back and report."

On one side, the Heavenly King and the Third Prince led the heavenly troops and god generals off with the demon in custody, to report to the celestial court and await sentencing. On the other, Pilgrim gathered the Tang monk around him, Sha Monk packed the luggage, Bajie brought up the horse, and they helped the Tang monk into the saddle and all took to the high road. And so:

The silk vine of wedlock cut, and the golden sea run dry; the jade lock opened, out of the cage at last.

How they fared on the road ahead, who can say? Listen to the next chapter to find out.