Chapter 89

The Yellow Lion Spirit Stages a False Rake Banquet; Metal, Wood, and Earth by Stratagem Storm Leopard-Head Mountain

Now the smiths in the courtyard, worn with days of toil, had all gone to sleep at night. At daybreak they rose to their forging, and under the shed the three weapons were gone; every one stood gaping, his spirit startled, searching on all sides. Just then the three young princes came out of the palace to look, and the smiths together knocked their heads: "Little princes, the three divine weapons of the masters—no one knows where they are gone."

The young princes heard, heart-shaken and gall-trembling: "The masters must have packed them away tonight." They ran in haste to the Sunned-Silk Pavilion to look: the white horse still stood under the corridor, and they could not forbear crying: "Are the masters still sleeping?" Sha Monk said: "We are up." He opened the room's door and let the princes in to look: no weapons. They asked in a flurry: "Have the masters' weapons all been put away?" The Pilgrim sprang up: "They were never put away." The princes said: "All three weapons vanished in the night." Bajie scrambled up in haste: "Is my rake there?" The young prince said: "Just now, coming out, we saw the people searching before and behind and finding nothing; we feared the masters had taken them, and so came to ask. Your honors' treasures can all grow and shrink; no doubt they are hidden about your persons, making game of us disciples." The Pilgrim said: "Truly they were never taken. Let us all go look."

They went to the courtyard and the shed: indeed no trace. Bajie said: "These smiths must have stolen them. Bring them out quickly; a little later, and you are all beaten to death, beaten to death." The smiths, panic-stricken, knocked their heads, tears dropping: "Gracious sirs, we have toiled days on end, slept in the night, and rising at dawn found them gone. We are common mortal men—how could we carry them? We beg our lives of you, sirs, our lives." The Pilgrim said nothing, and hated himself in the dark: "It is our own fault: having shown them for patterns, we should have kept them on our persons—why leave them lying here? Those treasures threw out rosy light; some wicked fellow must have been startled by it and stolen them by night." Bajie would not believe: "Brother, what talk! Such a peaceful country, and no wilderness or deep mountain—how should a wicked fellow come? The smiths have played false: they saw the sheen of our weapons, knew them for three treasures, slipped out of the palace by night, got a gang together—some carrying, some pulling—and stole them out. Seize them and beat them, beat them." The smiths only knocked their heads and swore.

While they bawled, the old prince came out, asked into the matter, and he too went white of face; he pondered half a while and said: "The divine masters' weapons are not as common arms: a hundred men could not budge them. And I have held this city five generations; to speak without boasting, I have some name for worth abroad; the soldiers and people and craftsmen of this city stand in some awe of my laws, and dare not play false. I beg the divine masters to think again." The Pilgrim laughed: "No need to think again, nor to harry the smiths. I ask Your Highness: round about this prefecture city, are there any mountain forests and monsters?" The prince said: "The divine master's question is very much to the point. North of this city is a mountain called Leopard-Head Mountain, and in the mountain a cave called Tiger's-Mouth Cave. Men often say there are immortals in the cave; some say tigers and wolves; some say monsters. I have never found out the truth, nor what the thing may be." The Pilgrim laughed: "No need to say more: some wicked fellow of that quarter must have known them treasures and stolen them off in the night." He called: "Bajie, Sha Monk, do you stay here guarding the master and the city, while your old Sun goes to look." And he bade the smiths not let the furnace fires die, but keep on forging, one and all.

Good Monkey King: he took leave of Tripitaka, whistled once, and was gone out of sight, and was already astride Leopard-Head Mountain. The city was but thirty li off—one blink and he was there. He went up the peak to look, and indeed there was a taint of the demon about it. Truly:

The dragon vein runs long; the ground spreads far. Sharp peaks stand up and pierce the sky; steep ravines lie deep with hurrying water. Before the mountain, jade grasses spread a carpet; behind it, strange flowers lay out brocade. Tall pines and ancient cypresses; old trees and tall bamboo. Mountain crows and mountain magpies fly and cry at random; wild cranes and wild gibbons all whoop and wail. Beneath the cliff, elk in pairs; before the sheer rock, badgers and foxes by couples. A range rising and falling comes from far—the dragon; nine bends and nine turns, the vein hides in the earth. Its ridge joins the Jade Flower Prefecture: a place of flourishing beauty for ten thousand ages.

As the Pilgrim looked he heard voices behind the mountain. He turned his head quickly: two wolf-headed monsters, talking aloud, walking northwest. The Pilgrim reckoned: "Monsters patrolling the mountain, no doubt. Let your old Sun follow and listen, and hear what they say." He pinched the spell, pronounced a charm, shook himself, and changed into a butterfly, spread his wings, flitting and fluttering, and made after them. And truly the likeness was of the best:

A pair of powdered wings, two threads of silver feelers. Riding the wind it flies in haste; against the sun it dances slow. Over water, over walls, quick and deft; stealing fragrance, toying with down, full of delight. Light of body, it loves the breath of fresh flowers; a graceful mien, a fragrant mood, folding and unfolding at will.

He flew over the monster's head, drifting and swaying, and listened to their talk. One cried out suddenly: "Second brother, our Great King's luck runs high these days: the month before last he got a pretty lady, and in the cave she whiles away the time—great sport; and last night he got three weapons, treasures past price indeed. Tomorrow he opens the feast and holds the Rake Celebration; we shall all have our share." The other said: "We too have some luck: with these twenty taels we are off to buy pigs and sheep. Now we are come to the Dry Quarter market; let us first drink a few pots of wine, pad out the reckoning of the goods, and drop two or three taels of his silver, and buy padded clothes against the cold—is that not well?" And the two monsters, talking and laughing, took the great road, hurrying as if on wings.

The Pilgrim heard they would celebrate the Rake, and rejoiced in the dark. He would have beaten them to death, but it was no business of theirs, and his hands held no weapon besides. So he flew on ahead, showed his true form, and stood planted in the road. The monsters, walking up close, got a mouthful of magic spit sprayed on them, and the word OM HUM ZHA LI spoken, and the fixing spell used—and the two wolf-headed spirits stood fixed: eyes wide, mouths that could not open; straight and stiff, both feet planted. He tipped them over, turned up their clothes and searched: twenty taels of silver truly, in a saddlebag strapped at the waist to their skirt cords; and each had a lacquered plaque hung on him, on one written "Cunning and Odd," on the other "Odd and Cunning."

The Great Sage took their silver, took off their plaques, and strode back to the prefecture city. In the palace he saw the princes and Tripitaka Tang and the officers great and small and the craftsmen, and told the whole matter. Bajie laughed: "No doubt my rake's rosy sheen was so bright that they buy pigs and sheep and lay a banquet to celebrate it. But how shall we get at him now?" The Pilgrim said: "We three brothers all go. This silver was to buy pigs and sheep: let it be given the smiths for wages, and let Your Highness find a few pigs and sheep. Bajie, you change into Cunning and Odd; I into Odd and Cunning; Sha Monk dresses as a dealer in pigs and sheep; we walk into that Tiger's-Mouth Cave, and at the right moment each takes his weapon, and we beat the fiends to nothing, and come back and pack for the road." Sha Monk laughed: "Fine, fine, fine—no delay; go quickly." The old prince followed the plan, and bade his stewards buy seven or eight pigs and four or five sheep.

The three took leave of the master, and outside the city showed their powers in full. Bajie said: "Brother, I never saw that Cunning and Odd—how am I to change into his shape?" The Pilgrim said: "That monster my old Sun fixed with the fixing spell, and there he stands till this hour tomorrow. I remember his look. Stand you there, and let me teach you the change—so, and so: that is his very look." The Idiot truly pronounced the charm in his mouth, the Pilgrim blew a breath of immortal air, and in a moment he was changed into the very twin of Cunning and Odd, and hung a pink plaque at his waist. The Pilgrim changed into Odd and Cunning, and hung a plaque at his own waist. Sha Monk dressed like a dealer in pigs and sheep. Together they drove the pigs and sheep up the great road and made for the mountain.

In no time they were in the mountain fold, and met another little demon, whose face and snout were fierce enough! Look at him:

Two round eyes, rolling, bright as swinging lamps; a shock of red hair, like fire streaming light. A brewer's nose and a wolf-hound mouth, tusks sharp and keen; splayed ears and a hacked brow, blue face puffed and swollen. A pale yellow gown on his body; a pair of sedge sandals on his feet. Ferocious and martial as a wrathful god; hurrying and scurrying like a wicked ghost.

The monster carried under his left arm a lacquered box of invitation cards, and met the Pilgrim, crying: "Odd and Cunning, are you two come? How many pigs and sheep did you buy?" The Pilgrim said: "Are not these the drove?" The monster said to Sha Monk: "Who is this?" The Pilgrim said: "The dealer in pigs and sheep. We still owe him a few taels, and brought him home to be paid. Where are you going?" The monster said: "To Bamboo-Joint Mountain, to invite the old Great King to the feast tomorrow morning." The Pilgrim caught at his tone and asked: "How many do you invite in all?" The monster said: "The old Great King is asked to the seat of honor, and with our mountain's Great King and the chiefs and the rest, some forty and more." As they spoke Bajie said: "Go on, go on—the pigs and sheep are scattering every way." The Pilgrim said: "You go lead them; let me beg a look at his card." The monster, seeing one of his own, opened the box, took it out, and handed it over. The Pilgrim unfolded it and read; it was written:

Tomorrow morning I respectfully lay a feast, to hold the happy gathering of the Rake, and humbly beg your honor cross the mountain for a talk. Pray keep no distance; it would move me deeply. This is offered before the honored Venerable Ancestor, the Old Sage of Ninefold Numina. Your servant and grandson, the Yellow Lion, bows his head a hundred times.

The Pilgrim read it, and handed it back; the monster put it in the box and made off southeast.

Sha Monk asked: "Brother, what is written on the card?" The Pilgrim said: "An invitation to the Rake Celebration. The name signed is 'your servant and grandson, the Yellow Lion, bows his head a hundred times.' The one invited is the venerable ancestor, the Old Sage of Ninefold Numina." Sha Monk laughed: "Yellow Lion must be a golden-maned lion become a spirit. But what creature is the Old Sage of Ninefold Numina?" Bajie heard and laughed: "That is old Pig's goods." The Pilgrim said: "How do you make it your goods?" Bajie said: "The ancients say: 'The scabby sow hunts ever the golden-maned lion.' So you may know it is old Pig's goods." The three, talking and laughing, drove the pigs and sheep, and now saw the gate of Tiger's-Mouth Cave. Behold, outside the gate:

Round about, the hills gird it in green; one vein of vapor ties it to the city.Sheer rocks trail green vines; high cliffs hang redbud.Birdsong rings in the deep trees; flower shadows greet the cave door.Not second to the Peach Blossom Spring; a fit place to hide from the world.

Coming near the gate, they saw a swarm of monsters, big and small, playing under the flowering trees. When they heard Bajie hah-hah-ing the pigs and sheep up, they all came out to meet them, and fell to—these catching pigs, those catching sheep—and tied them all down. The noise soon roused the demon king within, who came out with a dozen little demons and asked: "Are you two come? How many pigs and sheep did you buy?" The Pilgrim said: "Eight pigs and seven sheep, fifteen beasts in all. The pigs came to sixteen taels, the sheep to nine. We drew twenty taels before; five taels are still owing. This is the dealer, come along for his money." The demon king heard, and called: "Little ones, bring five taels, and pay him off." The Pilgrim said: "The dealer has come for his money, true, but he wants to see the happy gathering too." The demon flew into a rage and cursed: "You slinking Cunning, you hateful thing! You were sent to buy goods; why prate to strangers of gatherings?" Bajie stepped up: "Our lord has got a treasure, a rarity indeed under heaven; what harm to let him look?" The monster snapped: "You Odd one are hateful too! This treasure of ours was got in the city of Jade Flower Prefecture; if this dealer looks and carries the tale to the city, and men come to know, what if the princes come seeking it—what then?" The Pilgrim said: "My lord, this dealer is a man from behind the Dry Quarter market, far from the city, none of its townsfolk—where should he carry tales? Besides, his belly is hungry, and we two have not eaten; there is ready wine and food in the house: give him a bite, and send him off." Before the words were done a little demon brought five taels and handed them to the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim passed the silver to Sha Monk: "Dealer, take your money, and I will take you in the back and get you some food."

Sha Monk, hardening his gall, went with Bajie and the Pilgrim into the cave. On the floor of the second hall they saw, set high on the table in the middle, a nine-toothed rake in state, its sheen dazzling to the eye; against the east end leaned the gold-banded staff, against the west end the demon-subduing staff. The demon king followed them in: "Dealer, what shines in the middle is the rake; look if you will, only, when you go out, never breathe it to a soul." Sha Monk nodded his thanks.

Ah! Truly it is: let the thing see its master, and it must be taken. Now Bajie was a lout all his life; seeing the rake, what talk of feelings had he? He ran up, took it down, swung it in his hand, showed his true form, flung through his figures, and dug at the demon's face. The Pilgrim and Sha Monk too rushed to the two ends, each seized his weapon, showed their true forms, and the three brothers fell on together. The demon king, in a fright, dodged aside, slipped to the back, fetched a four-cornered spade, long-shafted and sharp of socket, hurried to the court, met the three weapons, and roared: "What men are you, to play tricks and gulled me of my treasures?" The Pilgrim cursed: "You thieving hairy beast! You do not know us. We are disciples of the holy monk Tripitaka Tang of the eastern lands. Coming to Jade Flower Prefecture to have our rescript countersigned, the worthy prince had his three sons bow to us as masters and learn the arts, and our treasures were laid out as patterns for smiths to forge weapons after. Left in the courtyard, they were stolen in by night by you, you thieving hairy beast—and you say we played tricks and gulled you! Stand still, and let these three weapons pay you their compliments, a taste apiece." The demon raised his spade to meet them. The fight ran from the court out the front door—three monks swarming one monster; a fine battle:

Whoosh—the staff is wind; roll on—the rake is rain. The demon-subduing staff rises, a sky full of rosy cloud; the four-cornered spade reaches out, clouds weaving brocade. Like three immortals smelting the great elixir, its firelight dazzling, startling gods and ghosts. The Pilgrim puts forth his might, able indeed; the monster, stealing treasures, is all unmannerly. Tianpeng Bajie shows his powers; the great general Sha Monk is braver still and fairer. The brothers, of one heart, ply their wiles; in the Tiger's-Mouth Cave the battle rises. That monster, bold and crafty, plays his tricks; four heroes are well matched. They fought till the sun hung west; the fiend's strength softened, and he could hold no more.

They fought long on Leopard-Head Mountain; the demon could stand no more, and cried to Sha Monk: "Look at the spade!" Sha Monk gave ground with a turn and dodged. The demon seized his moment and fled, riding the wind up into the southeast, into the quarter of Xun. Bajie strode to give chase, but the Pilgrim said: "Let him go. From of old: 'A beaten foe, do not pursue.' Let us only cut off his road home." Bajie did as he said.

The three came to the cave mouth and beat to death the hundred and odd monsters, big and small—all of them tigers, wolves, leopards, panthers, red deer, and wild goats. The Great Sage used his art to carry out all the cave's valuables, together with the carcasses of the slain beasts and the drove of pigs and sheep. Sha Monk drew out dry wood and fired it, and Bajie fanned the wind with his two ears, and in a moment the den was burned out clean. Then, with all the stuff they had brought out, they turned back to the city.

The city gate was still open, and the houses not yet asleep. The old prince and his sons and Tripitaka Tang were waiting and watching at the Sunned-Silk Pavilion when down came the four with a great clatter, strewing the courtyard with dead beasts, pigs and sheep, and the valuables, all crying: "Master, we are come home in triumph." The prince bowed and bowed his thanks, and Tang the elder's heart was full of joy. The three young princes knelt; Sha Monk raised them: "Thank us not yet; come near and look at these things." The prince said: "Where do all these come from?" The Pilgrim laughed: "The tigers, wolves, leopards, and panthers, the red deer and wild goats, were all monsters of the spirit kind. We took our weapons and fought our way out the gate. The old demon is a golden-maned lion; he swung a four-cornered spade and fought us till dark, then broke away and fled southeast. We did not chase him, but swept the road behind him, killed this swarm of demons, raked up these things, and brought them here." The old prince heard, and rejoiced and grieved at once: glad at the triumph, fearing the demon's revenge hereafter. The Pilgrim said: "Your Highness, be at ease; I have weighed it well and disposed it right: we will sweep him out root and branch before we go; no harm shall be left behind. At midday I met a blue-faced, red-haired little demon carrying an invitation, and read his card: 'Tomorrow morning I respectfully lay a feast, to hold the happy gathering of the Rake, and humbly beg your honor cross the mountain for a talk. Pray keep no distance; it would move me deeply. Offered before the honored Venerable Ancestor, the Old Sage of Ninefold Numina.' The name signed was 'your servant and grandson, the Yellow Lion, bows his head a hundred times.' Just now the monster, beaten, will surely go talk with his venerable ancestor; tomorrow morning he will certainly come for his revenge on us. It is right we sweep him out clean for you." The old prince thanked him, and laid the evening meal. Master and disciples ate, and went each to his lodging—no more of that.

Now the monster truly made for the southeast and came to Bamboo-Joint Mountain. In that mountain was a heaven of caverns called the Nine-Bend Winding Cave; in the cave the Old Sage of Ninefold Numina was his venerable ancestor. That night, feet never leaving the wind, he came at the fifth watch to the cave mouth, knocked, and went in. The little demons saw him: "Great King, last night Blue Face came down with an invitation; the old lord kept him till this morning, meaning to bring him along to your Rake feast—why come yourself so early to invite?" The monster said: "I cannot tell it, I cannot tell it; the feast will never be." As he spoke, Blue Face came out from within: "Great King, what brings you? The old Great King is up, and about to come with me to the feast." The monster, all in a flutter, only waved his hands and said nothing.

Presently the old demon rose, and had him called in. The monster dropped his weapons, flung himself down in worship, and the tears would not stay from his cheeks. The old demon said: "Worthy grandson, you sent your card yesterday, and this morning were to come to the feast; why come yourself, grieving and troubled?" The monster knocked his head: "The night before last, walking at leisure under the moon, I saw radiance shooting into the sky from the city of Jade Flower Prefecture. I hurried to look: it was three weapons shining in the palace courtyard: one the nine-toothed gold-inlaid rake, one the precious staff, one the gold-banded staff. I used my divine art and carried them off, and named a 'Happy Gathering of the Rake,' and sent the little ones to buy pigs and sheep, fruits and the rest, to lay a feast and celebrate, and invite your worship, grandfather, to grace it, for a day's delight. Yesterday, after Blue Face went with the card, the Cunning and Odd I had sent to buy pigs and sheep came driving a drove, and brought a dealer along seeking his money. He insisted on seeing the gathering; I feared he would spread the tale outside, and would not let him look. He said too he was hungry, and begged a meal; so I bade him eat in the back. Going in, he saw the weapons and said they were his. The three of them snatched one apiece, and showed their true forms: one a monk with a hairy face and thunder-god beak, one a monk with a long snout and big ears, one a monk with a dingy, sallow face. They made no distinctions, but raised a cry and fell on. I hastily took the four-cornered spade and hurried out to hold them, asking what men dared play tricks. They said they were disciples of Tripitaka Tang, sent from the eastern lands to the western heaven, who had passed the city to countersign the rescript, been kept by the prince to learn the arts, and their three weapons laid out as patterns for forging; and that I had stolen them, so they were wroth and closed with me. I know not the names of those three monks, but they have powers. I alone could not stand against the three, and so fled to my grandfather. I beg you draw the blade to help, take those monks, and avenge me—so shall my grandfather's love for his grandson be seen."

The old demon heard, pondered a moment, and laughed: "So it is he. My worthy grandson, you have made a bad enemy." The monster said: "Does grandfather know who he is?" The old demon said: "He of the long snout and big ears is Zhu Bajie; he of the dingy sallow face is Sha Monk: these two might pass. He of the hairy face and the thunder-god beak is called Sun the Pilgrim. That man is truly vast in his powers: five hundred years ago he threw the Heavenly Palace into an uproar, and a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers could not hold him. He makes a trade of hunting men: he is a ringleader of mischief, sweeping mountains and overturning seas, breaking caves and storming cities. How did you come to provoke him? Well, well: I will go with you, seize that fellow and the princes of Jade Flower too, and get your satisfaction." The monster heard, and knocked his head in thanks.

Then the old demon called up his grandsons Ape-Lion, Snow Lion, Suan-Ni, Bai-Ze, Crouching Lynx, and Elephant-Seizer, each with keen weapons, and the Yellow Lion led them; each rode a wild wind, and they came straight to the bounds of Leopard-Head Mountain. They smelled smoke on the wind, and heard the sound of weeping. Looking close, it was Cunning and Odd, crying for their lord. The demon came near and roared: "Are you the true Cunning, or a false one?" The two monsters knelt, tears held, and knocked their heads: "How should we be false? Yesterday about this hour we drew our silver to buy pigs and sheep, and got as far as the great road west of the mountain, when we met a monk, hairy of face with a thunder-god beak. He spat at us, and our feet went soft and our mouths stiff; we could not speak, could not move. He tipped us over, searched away the silver, and took off the plaques. We two lay in a daze and only woke just now. And coming home, we found the fires not yet cold and the houses all burned; and no lord, no chiefs, great or small, to be seen. So we weep here in our grief. We know not how the fire began."

At this the monster's tears gushed like a spring; he stamped with both feet, his cries shook the sky, and he cried in wrath: "Bald scoundrels! Utterly wicked! How could they work such cruelty? My cave burned to the walls, my pretty lady burned to death, my goods and household all swept away. It chokes me, it chokes me!" The old demon bade Ape-Lion pull him over: "Worthy grandson, it is past mending; fretting is no use. Gather up your mettle, and to the city, and take those monks." The monster would not stop weeping: "My lord, that mountain holding of mine was no day's work, and this bald rogue has razed it all—what have I to do with life?" He struggled up and began beating his head against the stone crag; and Snow Lion and Ape-Lion and the rest begged him sorely before he stopped.

Then leaving the place, they all made for the city. They heard the wind rolling, the mist seething, coming very near. The people of the outer town, men, women, and children, heeding not their goods, all fled into the city; in at the gate, and the gate was shut. Word was carried into the palace: "Calamity, calamity!" The princes and Tripitaka Tang and the rest were at their morning meal in the Sunned-Silk Pavilion; hearing the report of trouble, they came out to ask. The people said: "A troop of monsters, flying sand and rolling stones, spouting mist and driving wind, are coming on the city." The old prince cried in alarm: "What is to be done?" The Pilgrim laughed: "All be at ease, all be at ease. This is the Tiger's-Mouth Cave monster, beaten yesterday, gone off southeast to league with that Old Sage of Ninefold Numina or whoever. Wait while my brothers and I go out. Give orders to shut the four gates, and you muster men to hold the city." The prince gave the command: the four gates were shut, men were mustered on the walls, and he and his sons and Tripitaka Tang stood posted on the gate tower: banners veiling the sun, cannon fire joining the sky. The Pilgrim and his two, half cloud and half mist, went out the city to meet them. And this was truly:

The wise arms were lost through lack of care;at once the demons rise, and all the fiends grow fierce.

How this battle would go, victory or defeat? Listen to the next chapter to find out.

The Yellow Lion Demon Throws a False Rake Feast; Metal, Wood, and Earth Scheme and Raid Leopard-Head Mountain

Now the smiths in the courtyard, worn out from days of work, had all gone to sleep at night. When they rose at daybreak to work the metal, the three weapons were gone from under the shed. Every one stood stunned and terrified, searching on all sides. The three young princes came out of the palace to see, and the smiths knocked their heads together: "Young Masters, the divine masters' three weapons are gone — no one knows where."

Hearing this, the young princes' hearts pounded: "Perhaps the masters packed up and left in the night." They rushed to the Exposed-Gauze Pavilion, saw the white horse still under the corridor, and could not help calling: "Are the masters still asleep?" Sha Monk said: "They're up." He opened the room door and let the princes in to look: no weapons. In a flurry they asked: "Have the masters' weapons been gathered in?" Pilgrim sprang up: "Not gathered." The prince said: "All three weapons vanished in the night." Bajie scrambled up at once: "Is my rake there?" The young prince said: "Just now when we came out, we saw everyone searching back and forth without finding them. We feared the masters had gathered them in, and so we came to ask. The masters' treasures can all grow and shrink — surely they're hidden on your persons, to fool your disciples." Pilgrim said: "Truly, they are not gathered. Let's all go look."

They went to the shed in the courtyard, and indeed there was no trace. Bajie said: "These smiths must have stolen them. Hand them out at once — any delay and you're all beaten to death, beaten to death!" The smiths knocked their heads in terror, tears falling: "Your lordships, we worked hard day after day and slept at night; rising at dawn, they were gone. We are common men altogether — how could we move them? Spare our lives, spare our lives!" Pilgrim said nothing, blaming himself in his heart: "It's our own fault. Once we had seen the pattern, we should have kept them on our persons — how did we leave them lying here? Those treasures shone with rosy light; some wicked person must have been drawn by it and stolen them away in the night." Bajie would not believe it: "Brother, what talk is this? In so peaceful a land, not some wild mountain waste — where would a wicked man come from? It must be the smiths' dishonest hearts. They saw our weapons shining, knew them for three treasures, slipped out of the palace in the night, got some fellows together — carrying and dragging — and stole them off. Bring them here and beat them, beat them!" The smiths only knocked their heads and swore their oaths.

In the middle of the shouting the old prince came out, and hearing the matter, he too went white as a ghost. He pondered a long moment: "The divine masters' weapons are not as common things; a hundred men and more could not budge them. Moreover, my house has held this city five generations now — I do not boast when I say I have some name for worth abroad; the soldiers, people, and craftsmen of this city stand in some awe of my law. They would never dare so dishonest a thing. I beg the divine masters to think again." Pilgrim laughed: "No need to think again, and no need to torment the smiths. Let me ask Your Highness: are there any mountain spirits or demons around your city?" The prince said: "Your question, divine master, is very much to the point. North of my city is a mountain called Leopard-Head Mountain, and in it a cave called Tiger's-Mouth Cave. People often say there is an immortal in the cave, others say tigers and wolves, others say a demon. I have never found out the truth of it — I don't know what creature it is." Pilgrim laughed: "Say no more. It must be some wicked one of that quarter who knew they were treasures and stole them away in the night." He called: "Bajie, Sha Monk — stay here and guard the master and defend the city while old Sun goes to look." He also told the smiths to keep the furnace fires burning and the forging going.

That fine Monkey King took leave of the Tang monk, gave a whistle, and vanished body and shadow, and in a moment was astride Leopard-Head Mountain. The city, you see, was only thirty li off — a blink and he was there. He went straight up the peak to look, and there was indeed a demon taint in the air. Truly:

A dragon vein long and lasting; a landform far and grand.Sharp peaks stand stiff and pierce the sky; deep ravines run dark with hurrying water.Before the mountain, jade grasses spread like a carpet; behind it, rare flowers unroll like brocade.Tall pines and ancient cypresses; old trees and tall bamboo.Mountain crows and mountain magpies flutter crying everywhere; wild cranes and wild monkeys call and wail.Below the hanging cliff, elk go by in pairs; before the sheer wall, badgers and foxes move in couples.A dragon rises and dips, come from afar; nine bends and nine turns, a vein hidden in the earth.Its ridge-end touches on Yuhua Prefecture — a place of flourishing splendor through ten thousand ages.

While Pilgrim looked, he suddenly heard voices behind the mountain. Turning quickly, he saw two wolf-headed demons talking in clear voices, walking toward the northwest. Pilgrim reckoned: "They must be monsters out patrolling the mountain. Let old Sun follow and listen to what they say." He pinched the spell, spoke a charm, shook his body, and changed into a butterfly, spread his wings, and fluttered away after them, flip and flit. He had certainly made a fine specimen:

A pair of powdered wings; two silver whiskers.Riding the wind, flying in haste; against the sun, dancing in ease.It crosses water and clears walls with nimble grace; it steals fragrance and plays in the floss with great delight.Light of body, it loves the scent of fresh flowers; its graceful ways and fragrant moods unfurl at will.

He flew over one demon's head, drifting and swaying, and listened. That demon burst out: "Second brother, our Great King's luck runs on. Last month he got a pretty girl to while away the time with in the cave, in great happiness; last night he got three weapons besides — truly priceless treasures. Tomorrow he opens a feast for the Nail-Rake Festival, and we'll all share the treats." The other said: "We have our luck too: twenty taels of silver to buy pigs and sheep. When we get to Qianfang Market we'll first drink a few pots of wine. We'll pad the account on the goods and pocket two or three taels of silver, and buy a padded jacket for the cold — isn't that fine?" The two demons talked and laughed, and hurried up the high road as if flying.

Pilgrim, hearing of the coming Nail-Rake Festival, rejoiced in secret. He wanted to beat them to death, but it was none of their doing — and besides he had no weapon at hand. He flew on ahead, showed his true form, and planted himself at the crossroads. When the demons had walked up close, he sprayed out a magic mouthful of spittle, spoke the word "om hum zha li," and used the fixing spell, freezing the two wolf-headed spirits in place. Eyes wide open, mouths unable to part; stiff and straight, both pairs of feet stuck fast. He tipped them over, turned up their clothes, and searched them. There really were twenty taels of silver in a saddle bag knotted at each one's waist sash; and each wore a white lacquered plaque — on one was written "Trickish-Strange," on the other "Strange-Trickish."

That great Sage took their silver, untied their plaques, and strode back to the prefecture city. At the prince's palace he saw the prince, the Tang monk, and the officials and craftsmen great and small, and told the whole matter. Bajie laughed: "I suppose old Pig's treasure shone so bright that they're buying pigs and sheep to lay on a feast in celebration. But how do we get there now?" Pilgrim said: "We three brothers will all go. This silver was for buying the pigs and sheep; give it to the smiths as a reward, and have Your Highness find a few pigs and sheep. Bajie, you change into Trickish-Strange; I'll change into Strange-Trickish; Sha Monk will dress as a pig-and-sheep trader. We walk into that Tiger's-Mouth Cave, and when the moment comes, each grabs his weapon, wipes out those devils, and we come back and pack for the road." Sha Monk laughed: "Fine, fine, fine! No delaying — quick, let's go." The old prince took this plan and had his stewards buy seven or eight pigs and four or five sheep.

The three took leave of their master and outside the city showed their powers in full. Bajie said: "Brother, I never laid eyes on that Trickish-Strange. How am I to copy his look?" Pilgrim said: "That demon is fixed in place by my fixing spell and won't wake till this time tomorrow. I remember his look. Stand there, and let me teach you the change. …So and so, thus and thus — and that is his look." The Idiot truly spoke the charm in his mouth, Pilgrim blew a breath of magic air, and in an instant he was changed, exactly like Trickish-Strange, with the white plaque at his waist. Pilgrim then changed into Strange-Trickish, a plaque at his waist too. Sha Monk dressed up like a pig-and-sheep trader. Together they drove the pigs and sheep up the high road and made straight for the mountain.

Before long, entering the hollow of the hill, they met another little demon — a fierce enough face he had! Look at him:

Two round rolling eyes, gleaming like lamps; a shock of bristly red hair, blazing like flying fire.A boozy red nose, a wolfish muzzle with sharp tusk fangs; splayed ears, a hacked-flat brow, a blue face with puffed blisters.On his body a light yellow jacket; on his feet a pair of sedge-fiber shoes.Fierce and martial as a wrathful god; bustling and hurried as a hungry ghost.

The demon had a polychrome-lacquered invitation box under his left arm. Meeting Pilgrim he called: "Strange-Trickish — is that you two? How many pigs and sheep did you buy?" Pilgrim said: "What else would we be driving?" The demon looked at Sha Monk: "Who is this?" Pilgrim said: "The pig-and-sheep trader himself. We still owe him a few taels, so we brought him home to collect. Where are you off to?" The demon said: "To Bamboo-Joint Mountain, to invite the Old Grandfather to the feast tomorrow morning." Pilgrim caught at his tone and asked: "How many are invited in all?" The demon said: "The Old Grandfather takes the seat of honor, and with the Great King of our own mountain, the chiefs, and the rest, about forty and more." While they spoke Bajie put in: "Get along, get along — the pigs and sheep are scattering every way!" Pilgrim said: "You go keep them together; let me ask for his card to look at." The demon, seeing his own folk, lifted it out at once and handed it to Pilgrim. Pilgrim unfolded it, and on it was written:

Tomorrow morning I humbly prepare meats and wine to celebrate the happy gathering of the Nail-Rake, and beg your honor to cross the mountain for a talk. Please do not hold yourself a stranger — it would move me deeply. This is addressed before the honored person of the Grandfather, the Old Venerable Nine-Souled Numinous Sage. Your subordinate grandson Yellow Lion bows his head and bows a hundred times.

Pilgrim finished reading and handed the card back. The demon put it in its box and went off toward the southeast.

Sha Monk asked: "Brother, what does the card say?" Pilgrim said: "It is an invitation to celebrate the Nail-Rake Festival. The signature reads: 'Your subordinate grandson Yellow Lion bows his head and bows a hundred times.' The one invited is the grandfather, the Old Venerable Nine-Souled Numinous Sage." Sha Monk laughed: "Yellow Lion must be a gold-maned lion turned spirit. But what creature is this Nine-Souled Numinous Sage?" Bajie, hearing this, laughed: "That's old Pig's game." Pilgrim said: "How do you make it yours?" Bajie said: "The ancients said: 'The scabby sow chases the gold-maned lion.' So you know it's old Pig's game." The three talked and laughed, driving their pigs and sheep, and soon the gate of Tiger's-Mouth Cave was in view. And outside that gate:

Green mountains ring it round; one vein of vapor links it to the city.Sheer walls are laced with green vines; high cliffs hang with red bud.Birdsong rings through the deep trees; flower shadows greet the cave door.Nothing behind the Peach-Blossom Spring — a fit place for quitting the world.

Drawing near the door, they saw a crowd of demons, great and small, of every sort, playing under the flowering trees. At the sound of Bajie's "ho, ho!" driving the pigs and sheep up, they all came out to meet them — some grabbing pigs, some grabbing sheep — and tied them down together. Their noise soon roused the demon king inside, who came out with a dozen little demons and asked: "So you two are back? How many pigs and sheep did you buy?" Pilgrim said: "Eight pigs and seven sheep — fifteen beasts in all. The pigs cost sixteen taels and the sheep nine. We drew twenty taels before, so five taels are still owed. This is the trader, come along for his money." Hearing this the demon king called: "Little ones, bring five taels of silver and send him off." Pilgrim said: "The trader has come for his money, and he'd also like a look at the happy gathering." The demon flew into a rage and swore: "You Trickish wretch, what a sneaky one! You went to buy goods, and now you're blabbing to outsiders about festivals?" Bajie stepped up: "Our master has got treasures, true rarities of the world. What harm in letting him have a look?" The demon snapped: "You Strange one are just as hateful! These treasures were gotten from Yuhua city. If this trader looks and goes back to that city and spreads the tale, and it comes to men's ears, and the prince comes hunting for them one of these days — what then?" Pilgrim said: "My lord, this trader is a man from behind Qianfang Market, a good many li from the city, and no townsman of theirs — where would he spread tales? And besides, his belly is empty, and we two haven't eaten either. There's food and wine in the house. Give him a bite to eat, and send him on his way." Before the words were done a little demon fetched five taels of silver and handed it to Pilgrim. Pilgrim passed the silver to Sha Monk: "Trader, take your money, and I'll take you in the back for some food."

Sha Monk, screwing up his courage, went into the cave with Bajie and Pilgrim. Up in the two-storied shed hall, on the table in the very middle, they saw a nine-toothed nail rake enshrined on high, its glitter truly dazzling the eyes; against the east end leaned the gold-banded staff, against the west end the Demon-Subduing staff. The demon king followed behind and said: "Trader, that shining thing in the middle is the nail rake. Look if you like, but when you go out, never breathe a word to anyone." Sha Monk nodded his thanks.

Ah! It is just as they say: when the thing sees its master, it must be taken. Bajie had been a clod all his life. Seeing his nail rake, what ceremony would he stand on? He ran up, snatched it down, swung it in his fist, showed his true form, sent it through its figures, and smashed straight at the demon's face. Pilgrim and Sha Monk also dashed to the two ends, each grabbing his weapon and showing his true form, and the three brothers fell to together in a wild assault. The demon king, in a panic, jerked aside, slipped into the back, fetched a four-eyed spade with a long shaft and sharp socket, rushed into the courtyard, and held off the three weapons, roaring: "Who are you, to play your tricks and cheat me of my treasures?" Pilgrim swore: "You thieving hairy thing! You just don't know us. We are the disciples of the holy monk Tripitaka Tang of the Land of the East. Coming to Yuhua to have our papers stamped, we were so honored by the worthy prince that he had his three young sons take us as masters to learn the arts, and had our treasures taken as patterns to forge weapons in their likeness. Left in the courtyard, they were stolen in the dead of night by you, you thieving hairy thing — and now you say we played tricks to cheat you of treasure! Don't run — let these three weapons of ours each pay you a few compliments, for you to taste." The demon raised his spade to meet them. This battle ran from the courtyard out the front gate. See three monks closing on one demon — a fine fight:

The staff whistles like wind; the rake tumbles like rain.The Demon-Subduing staff rises and fills the sky with rosy light; the four-eyed spade stretches out and breeds gauzy cloud.It was as if three immortals were smelting the great elixir — fire and glory flashing, startling gods and ghosts.The Pilgrim deals out his might, a man of real power; the demon stole the treasures, a rogue past all manners.Tianpeng Bajie shows his magic; the general Sha Monk is braver and finer still.The brothers, of one heart, work their stratagems, and the fight flares up in Tiger's-Mouth Cave.That demon, fierce and proud, plays his sly tricks; four heroes are well matched, every one.They fought till the sun hung in the west, and the demon's strength went soft and could hold no more.

They fought long on Leopard-Head Mountain. The demon, unable to hold out, cried to Sha Monk: "Look at my spade!" Sha Monk swerved his body aside and dodged it. The demon seized his opening and fled, riding the wind away toward the southeast quarter. Bajie started to give chase, but Pilgrim said: "Let him go. From of old the saying goes: 'A beaten foe, do not pursue.' Let's just go cut off his road home." Bajie took his word.

The three went straight to the mouth of the cave and killed every one of the hundred-odd demons, great and small. They had all been tigers, wolves, wild cats, leopards, red deer, and mountain goats. The Great Sage worked his art: the soft goods and valuables of the cave, the carcasses of the beasts they had killed, and the pigs and sheep they had driven along — all were brought out. Sha Monk brought out dry firewood and set it alight, and Bajie fanned the flames with his two ears, and in a moment the whole den was burned clean. Then, with all the goods brought out, they turned back to the city.

The city gates were still open and the houses not yet abed. The old prince and his sons and the Tang monk were waiting in hope at the Exposed-Gauze Pavilion when they saw them come tumbling in, dropping a courtyardful of dead beasts, pigs, sheep, and soft goods. All together they called: "Master, we have come back victorious!" The Highness bowed and bowed his thanks. The Tang elder's heart was full of joy. The three young princes knelt to the ground, and Sha Monk helped them up: "Thank us not yet — come near and look at these things." The prince said: "Where did all this come from?" Pilgrim laughed: "Those tigers, wolves, wild cats, leopards, red deer, and goats were all spirits turned demons. We took back our weapons and beat our way out the gate. The old demon is a gold-maned lion. He wielded a four-eyed spade and fought us till dark, then broke and fled toward the southeast. We did not chase him, but swept away his road home, struck down his band of demons, searched out these goods, and brought them back." Hearing this, the old prince rejoiced and grieved together: glad at their victory, anxious that the demon would come one day for revenge. Pilgrim said: "Rest easy, Your Highness. I have thought it through and handled it right. I will not set out until I have swept them away root and branch — there will be no harm left behind. When I went at midday I ran into a little demon with a blue face and red hair carrying an invitation. On his card, I saw, was written: 'Tomorrow morning I humbly prepare meats and wine to celebrate the happy gathering of the Nail-Rake, and beg your honor to cross the mountain for a talk. Please do not hold yourself a stranger — it would move me deeply. This is addressed before the honored person of the Grandfather, the Old Venerable Nine-Souled Numinous Sage.' And the signature: 'Your subordinate grandson Yellow Lion bows his head and bows a hundred times.' Now that the demon has lost the field, he will surely go to his grandfather's place to talk it over, and tomorrow morning he is certain to come for revenge on us. It is only right that I sweep them clean for you." The old prince thanked him again and again and set out the evening meal. When master and disciples had eaten, each went to his rest. Of that no more.

Now the demon really did run southeast to Bamboo-Joint Mountain. In that mountain was a grotto-heaven called the Nine-Bend Winding Cave. In the cave dwelt the Nine-Souled Numinous Sage, his grandfather. That night his feet never rested from the wind, and at the fifth watch he reached the cave mouth, knocked, and went in. The little demons said: "Great King, last evening Blue-Face brought down your invitation, and the old lord kept him overnight, meaning to go with him to your Nail-Rake Festival. Why have you come yourself at this early hour to invite him again?" The demon said: "I can't tell it, I can't tell it — the feast is off." As he spoke Blue-Face came out from inside and said: "Great King, what brings you? Grandfather the Old Lord is rising this minute to come with me to your feast." The demon, all of a fluster, only waved his hands and said nothing.

Before long the old demon rose and called him in. The demon dropped his weapon, threw himself down in worship, and could not stop the tears running down his cheeks. The old demon said: "Worthy grandson — you sent your card yesterday and were to come this morning to the feast. Why do you come yourself now, so grieved and troubled?" The demon knocked his head: "The night before last, walking at ease under the moon, your grandson saw a light shoot up into the sky from Yuhua city. Rushing to look, I found it was three weapons shining in the palace courtyard: a nine-toothed gold-flecked nail rake, a precious staff, and a gold-banded staff. Your grandson used his magic art to carry them off, named it 'the Nail-Rake Gathering,' ordered the little ones to buy pigs, sheep, fruit, and the rest, and set a feast to celebrate, asking you, Grandfather, to come and enjoy it — a pleasure for us all. Yesterday, after Blue-Face was sent down with the card, I saw Trickish and the others, the ones first sent to buy pigs and sheep, driving back a few pigs and sheep, and bringing along a trader come for his money. He insisted on seeing the gathering, but your grandson, fearing tales would spread abroad, would not let him look. He said his belly was empty and begged some food, so I told him to eat in the back. Going inside, he saw the weapons and claimed them for his own. The three of them snatched up one each and showed their true forms: one a monk with a hairy face and the Thunder god's beak, one a monk with a long snout and big ears, one a monk of a gloomy, sallow face. Without rhyme or reason they raised a shout and fell upon me. Your grandson hastily took his four-eyed spade, chased them out, and held them off, asking who they were to play such tricks. They said they were disciples of the Tang monk sent west from Great Tang in the Land of the East; that passing the city to have their papers stamped they were kept by the prince to learn the arts of war; that their three weapons had been taken as patterns for forging and left in the courtyard, and that I had stolen them — and so they grudged it and grappled with me. I do not know the three monks' names, but every one had real powers. Your grandson alone could not stand against the three of them, and so fled beaten to you, Grandfather. I beg you to draw your blade and help me take those monks for revenge — and so show your love for your grandson."

Hearing this, the old demon pondered a moment, then laughed: "So it's them. My worthy grandson — you have picked the wrong quarrel." The demon said: "Grandfather knows who they are?" The old demon said: "The one with the long snout and big ears is Zhu Bajie; the one of the gloomy sallow face is Sha Monk — those two might be borne. But the one with the hairy face and the Thunder god's beak is called Sun the Pilgrim. That one truly has vast powers: five hundred years ago he wrecked the Heavenly Palace, and a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers could not hold him. He is a man who goes looking for trouble — a captain of ransacking mountains and turning over seas, breaking caves and storming cities, brewing disasters. How could you provoke him? Well then — I'll go with you and seize those fellows, with the Prince of Yuhua into the bargain, to give you your satisfaction." Hearing this, the demon knocked his head in thanks.

The old demon then mustered his grandsons — the Ape-Lion, the Snow Lion, the Suan-ni, the Bai-ze, the Crouching Lynx, and the Elephant-Wrestler — each with keen weapons in hand. Yellow Lion led the way, and each rode a wild wind straight to the bounds of Leopard-Head Mountain. They smelled the reek of smoke and fire in their nostrils and heard the sound of weeping. Looking carefully, they found Trickish-Strange and Strange-Trickish crying there, calling on their master and mourning their master. The demon came up and snapped: "Are you the real Trickish, or false?" The two fell on their knees and knocked their heads with tears held in their eyes: "How could we be false? Yesterday at about this hour we drew the silver to buy pigs and sheep, and on the high road west of the mountain we met a monk with a hairy face and the Thunder god's beak. He spat at us once, and our feet went weak and our mouths locked — no speech, no stepping. He tipped us over, searched the silver off us, and untied our plaques. We lay in a daze and only woke about now. Getting home, we found the fires not yet out and the buildings all burned down, and no sign of our master, the chiefs great and small. So we sit here grieving and wailing. We don't know how the fire began."

Hearing this, the demon could not hold back — tears gushed like a spring. He stamped both feet and his cries shook the sky: "Bald wretch! Utterly wicked — how could they do such a cruel thing? They burned my cave home to the ground, burned my pretty girl to death, stripped me of goods and household, great and small. It chokes me, it chokes me!" The old demon had the Ape-Lion pull him over and said: "Worthy grandson, it has come to this; fretting is no use. Gather your keen spirit whole again, and we go to the city to take those monks." But the demon would not stop crying: "My lord, that estate of mine was not built in a day, and now this bald wretch has wrecked it all — what do I want with my life?" He struggled up and beat his head against the stone cliff, and only the pleading of the Snow Lion, the Ape-Lion, and the rest could stop him.

Then they left that place and all rushed for the city, with the wind rolling and the mist boiling, coming on very near. The folk outside the walls, terrified, dragged sons and carried daughters, forgetting their goods, and crowded into the city; within the gates, the gates were shut. Someone ran word into the palace: "Disaster! Disaster!" The prince, the Tang monk, and the rest were just at breakfast in the Exposed-Gauze Pavilion. Hearing the report, they came out to ask. The people said: "A troop of demons is coming at the city — flying sand and rolling stones, spouting mist and raising wind!" The old prince was badly alarmed: "What now?" Pilgrim laughed: "All of you rest easy, all of you. This is the Tiger's-Mouth Cave demon, beaten yesterday, gone off southeast to join that Nine-Souled Numinous Sage of his. Wait while my brothers and I go out. Give orders to shut the four gates, and you others muster men to hold the city." The prince indeed sent the order, the four gates were shut, men were mustered up onto the walls, and the prince and his sons and the Tang monk took station on the gate tower — banners blotting the sun, signal fires filling the sky. Pilgrim and his two went out half in cloud and half in mist to meet the enemy. And this was truly:

Losing the wise arms came of carelessness; in a flash the demons rise, the devils all grow fierce.

How this battle went, victory or defeat, who can say? Listen to the next chapter to find out.