Chapter 92

Three Monks Give Great Battle on Green Dragon Mountain; Four Stars Join Hands to Catch the Rhinoceros Fiends

Now the Great Sage Sun, taking his two brothers with him, rolled on the wind, rode the cloud toward the northeast quarter, and in an instant reached the mouth of the Cave of Dark Mystery on Green Dragon Mountain. He pressed down the cloud head, and Bajie at once made to smash in the gate. Pilgrim said: “Wait a moment. Let me go in and see whether master is alive or dead, and then we can take them on.” Sha Monk said: “The gate is shut fast. How can we get in?” Pilgrim said: “I have powers of my own.”

Great Sage that he was, he put up his staff, pinched a spell sign, pronounced a charm, and cried: “Change!” At once he turned into a firefly, and a nimble one at that. Look at him:

Wings spread, a star of streaming light; the old saying runs, rotting grass turns to firefly.Such powers of transformation must not be slighted; of his own nature he loves to hover and stray.He flew close and hung before the stone door, where cracks at the side let the wind through.With one spring of his body he reached the shadowy court, to sound out the demons’ movements.

Flying in, he saw several oxen lying this way and that, every one bellowing like thunder in deep sleep. In the central hall there was no sign of anything. All the doors stood unlocked, and he could not tell where the three demons slept. He had just rounded the hall when he shone his light behind it and heard the sound of weeping: it was the Tang monk, chained to a pillar under the eaves of the back room, crying. Pilgrim listened secretly to what he wept over, and heard him wail:

“Ten years and more since I left Chang'an, climbing mountains, fording rivers, steeped in hardship.Happily I reached the western lands and met a lovely festival; with joy I came to Jinping and fell in with the first full moon.I did not know the false Buddha image among the lanterns—all because my fate holds calamity within it.May my worthy disciples press the pursuit with all their might; may these heroes use their full power.”

Hearing this, Pilgrim’s heart filled with joy; he spread his wings and flew close before his master. The Tang monk wiped his tears: “Ah! The sights of the west are not like ours—here it is only the first month, when the hibernating insects first stir; how can there be fireflies flying already?” Pilgrim could not contain himself and called: “Master, I have come.” The Tang monk said gladly: “Wukong, I said, how could there be fireflies in the first month? So it is you.” Pilgrim showed his true form at once: “Master, because you could not tell true from false, how many miles have been wasted, how much effort spent! I had just said they were no good ones when you bowed down, and the demon darkened the lantern light, stole the suhe butter-oil, and carried you off with the oil. I told Bajie and Sha Monk to go back and guard the monastery, and I myself followed the wind in pursuit to this place, not knowing its name. Fortunately I met the four duty officers, who brought word: the mountain is called Green Dragon Mountain, and the cave the Cave of Dark Mystery. I fought the demon until dusk before turning back, told my brothers the whole story, and we did not sleep, but came here together. I feared to fight in the depths of night, and did not know where master was, so I transformed myself and came in to find out.” The Tang monk said with joy: “Are Bajie and Sha Monk outside now?” Pilgrim said: “Outside. Just now when old Monkey looked, the demons were all asleep. Let me undo the chain, force the door, and take you out.” The Tang monk nodded his thanks.

Pilgrim used a spell for unlocking; he passed his hand over it, and the chain opened of itself. Leading his master forward, he had gone only a little way when he heard the demon king calling from his chamber in the central hall: “Little ones, shut the doors fast and beware of fire. Why is no one crying the watch and making the rounds? The clappers and bells have gone silent.” The little demons, after a day of battle, had all dropped into exhausted sleep; hearing the call, they woke, and at the sound of clappers and bells several of the armed ones went along beating a gong, walking up from the back, and ran straight into master and disciple. The little demons all shouted: “Well, monk! You have twisted off the chain—where are you going?” Pilgrim wasted no words: he drew out his staff, gave it a shake—thick as a bowl rim—and struck; where the staff fell, two died. The rest dropped their weapons and ran toward the central hall, beating on the door and crying: “Great King, ruin, ruin! The hairy-faced monk is inside killing men!” The three demons heard it, scrambled up in one heave, crying only, “Seize him, seize him.” The Tang monk’s hands and feet went weak with fright. Pilgrim, paying no more heed to his master, rolled forward swinging the staff all the way. The little demons could not hold him: he felled two or three, bowled over another two or three, broke through door after door, and came straight out, calling: “Brothers, where are you?” Bajie and Sha Monk were standing waiting, rake and staff raised, and said: “Elder brother, how went it?” Pilgrim told them the whole tale—how he had transformed himself and gone in to free master, how they had been walking out when the demons took the alarm, how he had left master to his fate and fought his way out—but no more of that.

The demon king seized the Tang monk and locked him up again with the iron chain. Blades were grasped, axes brandished, lamps and torches all lit. They demanded: “How did you undo the lock, fellow? How did that monkey get in? Confess quickly and we will spare your life; otherwise you will be cut in two at a stroke.” The Tang monk, trembling, knelt in terror: “Great kings, my disciple Sun Wukong knows the seventy-two transformations. Just now he turned into a firefly and flew in to save me. Unexpectedly Your Majesties took notice, and the little kings ran into him. My disciple, not knowing good from bad, wounded two, and everyone shouted and took up arms and lit fires; then he could no longer heed me, and made his way out.” The three demon kings laughed aloud: “A good thing we were alarmed in time—he did not get away.” They ordered the little ones to shut the front and back doors tight, and kept a strict silence.

Sha Monk said: “They shut the doors and say nothing—they must be doing some secret harm to our master. Let us set to work.” Pilgrim said: “Right. Let us break down the gate quickly.” The Idiot, showing off his powers, raised the rake and smashed away with all his strength, beating the stone gate to pieces, then roared his abuse: “Oil-thieving fiends! Bring out my master at once!” The little demons inside tumbled head over heels as they rushed in to report: “Great King, ruin, ruin! The monk has broken down the front gate!” The three demon kings were sorely vexed: “The fellow is past all insolence.” They ordered their armor brought, buckled it on, took up their weapons, led the little demons out the gate, and moved to meet the enemy. It was about the third watch, and the moon shone in mid-sky bright as day. They came out and fell to swinging weapons without another word. Here Pilgrim took the battle-axe, Bajie the great sword, Sha Monk the great club. That fight was a good one:

Three monks in company, staff, club, and rake—three demon kings with doubled boldness.Battle-axe, steel blade, knotted rattan; nothing to be heard but rushing wind and whirling dust.In the first few rounds a mist of fury spouted; next they soared aloft, scattering rosy clouds.The mace-rake’s art rolled with the man; the iron staff’s heroism was more to praise still.The demon-quelling precious staff is seldom seen on earth, yet the fiends’ stubborn hearts would yield to none of them.The axe blade gleamed, its steel collar sharp; the rattan shaft was gnarled, a body all of knots.The great sword flashed bright as a door panel, yet the monks’ powers outmatched it.On this side they struck with all their might for their master’s life; on that side they would not loose the Tang monk, smiting at his very face.Axe chopped and staff parried, contesting the victory; rake swung and blade hacked, crossing blow for blow.The knotted rattan against the demon-quelling staff turned and tumbled, each flaunting its splendor.

The three monks and the three demons dueled a long while without a decision. Then the Great King Who Banishes Cold shouted a call: “Little ones, up and at them!” All the fiends came together with weapons in hand, and soon had Bajie tripped to the ground; several water-buffalo fiends seized him by turns and dragged him into the cave and bound him. Sha Monk, seeing Bajie lost, heard the herd of oxen give a great shout; he whirled the precious staff, feinted a pass at the Great King Who Banishes Dust, and made to flee, but the fiends came swarming again; he staggered one lurching step, could not struggle up in time, and was likewise taken and bound. Pilgrim felt things going hard; he somersaulted up on his cloud and escaped. Then Bajie and Sha Monk were dragged before the Tang monk, who wept at the sight of them: “Poor souls—you too have fallen into their cruel hands. Where is Wukong?” Sha Monk said: “When elder brother saw us taken, he went off.” The Tang monk said: “Since he has gone, he must have gone somewhere to seek help. But who knows what day we shall escape this net?” Master and disciples sat in gloom and sorrow—but no more of that.

Now Pilgrim rode his somersault cloud back to the Compassionate Clouds Monastery. The monks came out to meet him and asked: “Master Tang, can he be saved?” Pilgrim said: “Hard to save, hard to save. That demon’s powers are vast. My brothers and I fought their three a long time, but they called up their little demons and took Bajie first, then Sha Monk; old Monkey barely escaped.” The monks said in fear: “Gracious sir, even one who rides the clouds and mists cannot take them—we fear the elder teacher has been done to death.” Pilgrim said: “No matter, no matter. My master has the monastery guardians, the sky-going protectors, and the Six Dings and Six Jias guarding him in secret, and he has eaten the Herb-of-Return elixir besides; his life will not be hurt. But that demon is strong. Look well after the horse and the luggage, while old Monkey goes up to Heaven to fetch rescuers.” The monks said faintly: “Gracious sir, you can go up to Heaven too?” Pilgrim laughed: “The Heavenly Palace was my old home. In those days I was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and because I threw the Peach Banquet into disorder the Buddha received me and subdued me. Now there is nothing for it but to guard the Tang monk and fetch the scriptures, working off my crimes with merit, upholding the right and casting out the wicked along the road. That my master should meet this calamity is his allotted share—but you would not know it.” At these words the monks bowed again and knocked their heads. Pilgrim walked out the gate, gave a whistle, and vanished on the spot.

In no time the Great Sage was at the West Heaven Gate. There he found the Gold Star of Venus talking with the Heavenly King Virudhaka and the four great numinous officers Yin, Zhu, Tao, and Xu. Seeing Pilgrim come, they hurried to salute him: “Where away, Great Sage?” Pilgrim said: “I was guarding the Tang monk on his way, and we reached Mintian County, Jinping Prefecture, on the eastern border of the land of India. The monks of the Compassionate Clouds Monastery there kept my master to enjoy the Lantern Festival. When we came to the Golden Lantern Bridge there were three golden lanterns, burning suhe butter-oil worth more than fifty thousand taels of silver, and every year the Buddhas were said to descend in omen and enjoy them. As we watched, three Buddha images did in truth descend. My master, not knowing good from bad, went onto the bridge and bowed. I said they were no good ones, but before the words were out they had darkened the lantern light and swept off the oil and my master together on one wind. I pursued on the wind until daybreak and reached a mountain, where fortunately the four duty officers brought word: the mountain is Green Dragon Mountain, and in it is the Cave of Dark Mystery; in the cave are three fiends named the Great King Who Banishes Cold, the Great King Who Banishes Heat, and the Great King Who Banishes Dust. Old Monkey went up to their gate at once to demand my master and fought them a round without winning. Then I transformed myself and went inside, saw my master chained but unharmed, undid the chain and was leading him out, but they took the alarm and I escaped. Afterward I fought bitterly alongside Bajie and Sha Monk, and the fiends seized and bound those two as well. For this reason I have come specially to open the matter to the Jade Emperor, to look into their origins and request a general to subdue them.” The Gold Star laughed coldly: “Great Sage, since you crossed weapons with the fiends, could you not see what they were?” Pilgrim said: “I knew them, I knew them—a pack of ox spirits. But their powers are great, and I could not subdue them in haste.” The Gold Star said: “They are the spirits of three rhinoceroses. Because they bear the images of the heavens in their forms, they cultivated year after year to enlightenment and became true, and can ride the clouds and tread the mists. The rhinoceros is a creature of the utmost cleanliness, forever displeased with its own shadowed body, always wanting to go into the water and bathe. Their kinds are many: there is the si rhino, the xiong rhino, the gu rhino, the ban rhino, and again the humao rhino, the Duoluo rhino, and the rhino patterned with flowers reaching to heaven. All have one horn-pore sprouting three hairs and a pair of horns; they walk amid rivers and seas and can open a channel through the water. Your Banishes-Cold, Banishes-Heat, and Banishes-Dust are those whose horns bear marks of nobility, and so they took their names from these and call themselves great kings. If you would take them, only the four Wood-constellation stars can do it—they bow the moment they meet.” Pilgrim hastily saluted and asked: “Which four Wood-constellation stars? I beg you, Elder Changgeng, tell me plainly, tell me plainly.” The Gold Star laughed: “Those stars lie outside the Dipper-Ox Palace, spread over heaven and earth. Go present your memorial to the Jade Emperor, and all will be made clear.” Pilgrim folded his hands in thanks and went straight in through the heaven gate.

In a moment he stood below the Hall of Complete Illumination, where he first saw the four great celestial masters Ge, Qiu, Zhang, and Xu. The masters asked: “Where are you bound?” Pilgrim said: “I lately came to Jinping Prefecture, and because my master let his meditative nature slip and went lantern-watching on the night of the first full moon, a demon carried him off. Old Monkey cannot subdue it, and has come specially to lay the matter before the Jade Emperor and ask for rescue.” The four celestial masters led Pilgrim at once to the Hall of Divine Mists and presented the memorial; when all had paid their respects they told the whole affair. The Jade Emperor decreed: “Which host of heavenly soldiers shall be sent to his aid?” Pilgrim memorialized: “Old Monkey had just reached the West Heaven Gate when I met the Gold Star, who said those fiends are rhinoceroses become spirits, and only the four Wood-constellation stars can subdue them.” The Jade Emperor thereupon dispatched the celestial master Xu to go with Pilgrim to the Dipper-Ox Palace and muster the four Wood-constellation stars to descend and quell them.

When they came outside the palace, the twenty-eight constellation stars were already there to meet them. The celestial master said: “I bear the sacred decree: muster the four Wood-constellation stars to descend with the Great Sage Sun and quell the fiends.” At once there stepped forward the Wood-Jiao of the Horn, the Wood-Xie of the Dipper, the Wood-Wolf of the Casket, and the Wood-Han of the Well, calling out: “Great Sage Sun, where would you muster us to quell fiends?” Pilgrim laughed: “So it is you. That old Changgeng kept it dark, and I could not make out his meaning. Had he said at once, the four Wood stars of the twenty-eight constellations, old Monkey would have come straight to invite you—why trouble over a decree?” The four Wood stars said: “Great Sage, what talk is that? Without a decree, who of us would dare leave his post? Where exactly? Make haste and let us go.” Pilgrim said: “At Green Dragon Mountain in the northeast quarter of Jinping Prefecture, in the Cave of Dark Mystery—rhinoceroses become spirits.” The Wood-Xie of the Dipper, the Wood-Wolf of the Casket, and the Wood-Jiao of the Horn said: “If they are truly rhinoceroses become spirits, you need none of us—only the Well star will do; he can climb mountains to eat tigers and dive into the sea to seize rhinoceroses.” Pilgrim said: “These rhinoceroses are not rhinoceroses that gaze at the moon; they have won the Way by cultivation, each with a span of a thousand years. It would take all four of you going together—and no shirking. If one of you alone could not hold one of them, would that not make more trouble?” The celestial master said: “What talk is this? The decree names the four of you—how can you not go? Be off and fly at once. I return to render the decree.” The celestial master then took leave of Pilgrim and went.

The four Wood stars said: “Great Sage, no hesitation. You go first and pick a fight, draw them out, and we will move in behind.” Pilgrim went up close and shouted abuse: “Oil-thieving fiends! Return my master to me.” The gate, which Bajie had smashed, had been stopped up by the little fiends with a few planks. Hearing the curses, they rushed inside to report: “Great King, the monk Sun is outside bawling abuse.” The One Who Banishes Dust said: “He fled the field—why come again this same day? I suppose he has fetched some rescuers from somewhere.” Banishes Cold and Banishes Heat said: “What rescue troops do we fear? Bring our armor quickly. Little ones, all of you must circle him with care and let him not escape.” That pack of fiends, not knowing death from life, took up spears and blades, one and all, waved banners, beat drums, and came out of the cave, shouting at Pilgrim: “You monkey that fears no beating—here again!” Nothing stung Pilgrim more than that word “monkey”; he ground his teeth in fury and raised the iron staff to strike. The three demon kings wheeled their little fiends into a circling ring and enclosed Pilgrim in the middle. On that side the four Wood-constellation stars, each swinging his weapon, called: “Accursed beasts! Stand off!” The three demon kings, seeing those four stars, were afraid by nature, all crying: “Ruin, ruin—he has gone and found our tamer! Little ones, every man for his life, run!” There was nothing to be heard but whistling and howling, panting and bellowing, as all the little fiends showed their true forms—those wild-ox, water-buffalo, and yellow-ox spirits—and fled helter-skelter over the mountain. The three demon kings too showed their true shapes, dropped to their hands on four hooves apiece, and bolted off like iron cannon toward the northeast. The Great Sage led the Wood-Han of the Well and the Wood-Jiao of the Horn in hot pursuit, easing not a whit. Only the Wood-Xie of the Dipper and the Wood-Wolf of the Casket, in the hollows east of the mountain, on its crests, in its ravines and its valleys, killed or took alive the ox fiends and swept them all clean. Then they went into the Cave of Dark Mystery and freed the Tang monk, Bajie, and Sha Monk.

Sha Monk recognized the two stars and bowed with them in thanks, asking: “How have you two come here to save us?” The two stars said: “It was the Great Sage Sun who memorialized the Jade Emperor and obtained the decree to muster us to take the fiends and rescue you.” The Tang monk again shed tears: “Why has my disciple Wukong not come in?” The two stars said: “Those three old fiends are three rhinoceroses; at the sight of us they each looked to his own life and fled toward the northeast quarter. The Great Sage Sun led the Wood-Han of the Well and the Wood-Jiao of the Horn in pursuit. We two stars swept up the herd of oxen to this place, and have come specially to free the holy monk.” The Tang monk bowed his head to the ground again in thanks, and bowed once more toward Heaven. Bajie raised him up: “Master, too much courtesy means deceit—no need to keep on bowing. Officers of the four stars: yours is first the sacred decree of the Jade Emperor, and second our elder brother’s favor. Now that the pack of fiends is swept away, we still do not know how the old fiends are to be subdued. Let us gather up some of their valuables and carry them out, overturn this cave to cut off the root, and go back to the monastery to wait for elder brother.” The Wood-Wolf of the Casket said: “Marshal Tianpeng speaks reason. You and the Curtain-Raising General guard your master back to the monastery to rest, while we return to the northeast quarter to meet the enemy.” Bajie said: “Right, right. You two must join in the hunt and root them out utterly before you return with your report.” The two star officers at once set off in pursuit.

Bajie and Sha Monk searched out a whole stone’s weight of the treasures and precious things in the cave (corals, agates, pearls, amber, jade pendants, precious stones, fine jade, good gold) and carried them outside. They begged master to sit on the crag of the mountain, then went back in and set the fire going, burning the whole cave to ashes. Only then did they lead the Tang monk to find the road back to the Compassionate Clouds Monastery in Jinping. And the poem says:

The scripture says, “When peace reaches its height, misfortune is born again”; that blessings meet with bane is no fable.To love the gazing at flower lanterns threw the meditative nature into disorder; to delight in roaming lovely scenes thinned the mind set on the Way.The great elixir, from of old, should be guarded long; once lost, the loss at the last is sure.Shut tight and bound fast, do not wander loose; a moment’s slack, and all goes awry.

To say no more of how the three returned with their lives to the monastery: the two star officers, the Wood-Xie of the Dipper and the Wood-Wolf of the Casket, rode their clouds straight toward the northeast quarter after the fiends, and in mid-air they searched and saw nothing. On until the Western Ocean, they descried from afar the Great Sage Sun shouting on the sea. The two pressed down their clouds: “Great Sage, where have the fiends gone?” Pilgrim said with venom: “Why did you two not come in pursuit and take them? And now you come blundering up and asking questions?” The Wood-Xie of the Dipper said: “I saw the Great Sage with the Well and Horn stars beating the fiends and giving chase, and judged you certain to take them. We two swept up the pack of spirits, went into the Cave of Dark Mystery, and brought out your master and brother; we searched the mountain, burned the cave, entrusted your master to your two brothers, and led him back to the Compassionate Clouds Monastery in the prefecture city. When for a long while we saw no sign of your return, we came on after you.” Hearing this, Pilgrim’s wrath turned to joy and thanks: “So you have done good work—much obliged, much obliged. But those three demons, when I chased them here, dived into the sea. The Well and Horn stars are in hot pursuit, and old Monkey was told to block the shore. Since you two are here, hold the shore, and let old Monkey go down after them.”

Great Sage that he was, he swung his staff, pinched a spell sign, clove a path through the water, and went straight down into the depths of the waves, where he saw the three demons beneath the sea locked in a life-and-death struggle with the Wood-Han of the Well and the Wood-Jiao of the Horn. He leaped close and shouted: “Old Monkey is here!” The fiends, hard pressed by the two star officers and caught unready, were in direst straits; hearing Pilgrim’s cry, they abandoned all thought of life, whirled about, and flew for the heart of the sea. The horns on their heads are wondrous at parting the water; with a rush of spray they burst open a shining road. Behind them the two star officers and the Great Sage Sun pressed the chase with all their strength.

Now in the Western Sea there was a yaksha who probed the deeps and a shell-armored soldier who patrolled them; from afar they saw the rhinoceroses parting the waters, and knew the Great Sage Sun and the two heavenly stars. They hurried to the crystal palace and reported in a flurry to the Dragon King: “Great King, three rhinoceroses, driven here by the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and two heavenly stars!” The old Dragon King Aoshun heard and at once summoned the prince Mo’ang: “Muster the sea soldiery quickly. It must be the rhinoceros fiends Banishes-Cold, Banishes-Heat, and Banishes-Dust, who have crossed Sun Pilgrim; now that they have reached the sea, draw your blades to help, quick, quick!” Ao Mo’ang took the order and mustered his troops on the spot. In an instant the turtles, soft-shells, great terrapins, and alligators, the carp, bream, perch, and tench, and the shrimp soldiers and crab pikemen, each with spear or blade, raised a shout as one and burst out of the crystal palace to bar the rhinoceros fiends’ way. The rhinoceros fiends could not advance; falling back in haste, they found the Well and Horn stars and the Great Sage barring that way too. In panic they lost one another, each fleeing for his life, scattering every way—and the One Who Banishes Dust was ringed round by the old Dragon King at the head of his troops. The Great Sage Sun saw it and his heart leaped: “Gently, gently! Take him alive, not dead!” Mo’ang took the order; his troops swarmed forward, threw the One Who Banishes Dust on his back, ran an iron hook through his nose, and trussed him hoof to hoof.

The old Dragon King then passed the word to split the force and chase the other two, to help the two star officers take them. At once the young Dragon King led his host forward, and they saw the Wood-Han of the Well in his true form, holding down the One Who Banishes Cold and gnawing at him, great bite after small. Mo’ang called out: “Well star, Well star, do not bite him to death—the Great Sage Sun wants him alive, not dead!” He had hardly shouted a few times before the star had already bitten through the fiend’s neck.

Mo’ang ordered the shrimp soldiers and crab pikemen to carry the dead rhinoceros back to the crystal palace, and pressed on in pursuit with the Wood-Han of the Well. They saw the Wood-Jiao of the Horn driving the One Who Banishes Heat back before him, right into the Well star. Mo’ang led turtles, soft-shells, terrapins, and alligators, flung out a winnowing-fan array and closed it round. The fiend cried only: “Spare me, spare me!” The Wood-Han of the Well came close, seized him by the ear, wrenched his blade from him, and called: “We will not kill you, we will not kill you—you go to the Great Sage Sun for judgment.”

They then grounded their arms, returned to outside the crystal palace, and reported: “All are taken.” Pilgrim saw one lying headless on the ground, dripping blood, and one pushed down kneeling by the Wood-Han of the Well, who held him by the ear. He came close, looked carefully, and said: “That head was not taken by any weapon.” Mo’ang laughed: “If I had not shouted so hard, the Well star would have eaten the whole body.” Pilgrim said: “Since it is so, so be it. Bring a saw; saw off these two horns and strip the hide to carry away. As for the rhinoceros flesh, let it stay for the worthy father and son, the Dragon Kings, to feast on.” Then he had a ring put through the One Who Banishes Dust’s nose and the Wood-Jiao of the Horn lead him, and a ring through the One Who Banishes Heat’s nose and the Wood-Han of the Well lead him: “Carry them up to Jinping Prefecture before the prefect, and let the whole matter be examined—he shall answer for years of feigning Buddha and oppressing the people; then the execution.”

All obeyed; they took leave of the Dragon King father and son and came out of the Western Sea, leading the rhinoceroses, joined by the Casket and Dipper stars, riding cloud and mist straight back to Jinping Prefecture. Pilgrim, treading the auspicious light, called out from mid-air: “Prefect of Jinping, all your deputy officers and clerks, and all soldiers and people within and without the city walls, hear me: I am the holy monk sent from the Tang of the Eastern Land to the Western Heaven for the scriptures. The ones your prefecture and county have year after year honored with the golden lanterns, pretending the Buddhas descend in omen—these are the rhinoceros fiends. As we passed this way, watching the lanterns on the night of the first full moon, we saw the fiends carry off the lantern oil and my master together; it was I who invited the heavenly gods to take them. Now the mountain cave is swept clean and the fiends rooted out, and they can work no more harm. From now on your prefecture and county must offer the golden lanterns no more, toiling the people and wasting their wealth.”

In the Compassionate Clouds Monastery, Bajie and Sha Monk had just seen the Tang monk through the mountain gate when they heard Pilgrim’s voice in mid-air; leaving master on the spot, dropping the load, they whipped up wind and cloud into the sky and asked Pilgrim about the quelling of the demons. Pilgrim said: “One was bitten to death by the Well star—his horns are sawn and his hide stripped and brought along; two are taken alive here.” Bajie said: “Let us roll these two straight down into the city, that the officials and people may see and know we are saints and gods. The four star officers may as well gather in their clouds and come down to earth with us to the prefect’s hall, and let the execution be done there. The facts are proved and the crimes deserve it—what more is there to say?” The four stars said: “Marshal Tianpeng has learned of late to know right and read the law—bravo.” Bajie said: “A few years as a monk, and one picks up a little of it.” The gods indeed rolled the rhinoceroses down, and in a knot of bright clouds came to rest above the prefect’s hall. The officials of prefecture and county, and the people within and without the city, all set out incense tables, every household bowing to the heavenly gods.

In a little while the monks of the Compassionate Clouds Monastery brought the elder into the prefect’s gate by sedan chair, and meeting Pilgrim, the word “thanks” never left his lips: “We are much obliged to the star officers of the upper heavens for saving us. Missing our worthy disciples, we were racked with worry; today you return in triumph. But where were the fiends driven to, that they were caught at last?” Pilgrim said: “Since I parted from you the other day, old Monkey went up to Heaven to inquire, and thanks to the Gold Star of Venus, who knew the fiends for rhinoceroses and pointed me to the four Wood-constellation stars, I memorialized the Jade Emperor, and by his decree was sent down to give battle at the cave mouth; the demon kings fled. Then the Dipper and Casket stars freed you, reverend teacher. Old Monkey and the Well and Horn stars joined forces in the chase, straight to the Western Ocean, where the Dragon King sent his son at the head of troops to help—so they were taken and brought here for judgment.” The elder praised and thanked him without end. And there were the proper officers of prefecture and county with their deputies and chiefs, all burning precious candles high and heaping censers with incense, bowing toward Heaven.

In a moment Bajie’s temper rose; he drew the precept knife and cut off the head of the One Who Banishes Dust with one stroke, and with another stroke cut off the head of the One Who Banishes Heat. Then he took the saw and sawed off the four horns. The Great Sage Sun had his own plan: he had the four star officers carry those four rhinoceros horns up to Heaven and present them as tribute to the Jade Emperor, closing out the sacred decree. Of the two he himself had brought along, one he left in the prefect’s hall to guard the treasury, as proof that the lantern-oil levy was ended forever; one he kept to carry and offer to the Buddha at Vulture Peak. The four stars were overjoyed, took leave of the Great Sage on the spot, and whirled away on bright clouds to render their report.

The officials of prefecture and county pressed the four travelers to stay and laid out a great vegetarian banquet, inviting the country gentlemen to attend them. On one side they issued proclamations, informing soldiers and people that in the year to come no golden lanterns were to be set up, and the burden on the oil-providing great households was remitted forever. On another side they called in butchers to slaughter and strip the rhinoceroses; the hides were tawed with saltpeter, smoked dry, and made into armor, and the meat was dealt out to officials and people alike. On yet another side they drew on fine monies and grain from fines that burdened no one, bought vacant land from the people, and raised a temple to the four stars who quelled the fiends, and a shrine in life to the Tang monk and his three disciples, each with a stone tablet and engraved inscription to hand down through a thousand ages, in thanks.

The master and his disciples took it all in good grace. And the two hundred forty great households who had provided the lantern oil—this house feasting them, that house inviting them—left them not an idle moment. Bajie ate and drank to his heart’s content, and slipped a little of each kind of treasure found in the cave into his sleeve, to bestow as tokens at each household’s table. They stayed a full month and still could not get away. The elder gave orders: “Wukong, give the treasures that remain to the monks of the Compassionate Clouds Monastery as thanks. Without letting those great households know, let us be off before dawn. If we go on reveling we shall delay the fetching of the scriptures, offend the Buddha, and bring new calamities on ourselves—most inconvenient.” Pilgrim disposed of each item accordingly.

The next day they rose at the fifth watch and called Bajie to saddle the horse. The Idiot, grown soft on carefree food and wine, was sleeping half in dream: “Saddle the horse at this hour, why?” Pilgrim barked: “Master says we march.” The Idiot rubbed his face: “There goes that elder again, never serious. Two hundred forty great households all inviting, and we have eaten but thirty-odd full feasts—why must this old pig go hungry again?” The elder heard and cursed: “You greasy blockhead, no nonsense—up at once! Give me any more of your mouth, and I will have Wukong knock your teeth out with the gold-banded staff.” At the word “beating” the Idiot panicked: “Master, you have changed: always you doted on me, loved me, called me a dolt and shielded me; when elder brother meant to strike, you pleaded for me. Why so fierce today, and telling him to beat me?” Pilgrim said: “Master is angry at you for your belly, that has held up the journey. Pack the luggage quickly, saddle the horse, and save yourself a beating!” Truly afraid, the Idiot sprang up, dressed, and bawled to Sha Monk: “Get up quick—the beating is coming!” Sha Monk jumped up too, and all was packed and ready. The elder waved his hands: “Softly, softly—do not wake the monks.” They mounted at once, opened the mountain gate, and took the road away. And this was truly:

The jade cage opened in secret, and the phoenix of bright colors flew; the golden lock slipped quietly, and the flood dragon walked free.

But what, when day broke, became of the households that wished to thank them? Listen to the next chapter to find out.

Three Monks Fight a Great Battle on Azure Dragon Mountain; Four Star Gods Capture the Rhinoceros Monsters

The Great Sage took his two brothers northeast through wind and clouds. In a moment they arrived at Xuanying Cave on Azure Dragon Mountain and landed. Bajie wanted to break down the door, but Pilgrim said, “Wait. Let me go in and see whether Master is alive first. Then we can fight them.” Sha Monk said, “The door is tightly shut. How can you get in?” “I have my methods,” said Pilgrim.

The Great Sage put away his staff, made a magic sign, recited a spell, and said, “Change!” He turned into a firefly, quick and nimble. Look at him:

His wings flashed as he flew, bright as stars; the ancients said fireflies come from rotting grass. His magic powers were not to be dismissed, and he had a firefly's wandering habits.He flew close to inspect the stone door, found a crack at its side that let in the wind, and darted through into the dark courtyard to find out what the monsters were doing.

Inside, several ox demons lay sprawled, sleeping soundly and snoring like thunder. The central hall was silent. Doorways opened on all sides, and he didn't know where the three monsters slept. He flew past the hall toward the back and heard weeping. Tripitaka was chained to a pillar under the eaves of a rear room. Pilgrim listened to his master's lament:

“I left Chang'an more than ten years ago and suffered crossing mountains and rivers.At last in the western lands I found a festival; in Jinping I was glad to see the first full moon.I couldn't recognize the false Buddhas among the lamps. This disaster must have been written in my fate.My good disciples have pursued them and shown their strength; I hope these heroes can use all their power.”

Delighted, Pilgrim flew up to him. Tripitaka wiped his tears. “How different things are in the West! It's only the first month, when insects begin to stir. Why is there a firefly already?” Pilgrim could not hold back. “Master, I'm here!” “Wukong! I was wondering how there could be a firefly in the first month. It was you!” Pilgrim took his normal form. “Master, your failure to tell truth from falsehood has cost us so much time and effort. I told you those were bad people, but you bowed to them. They dimmed the lanterns, stole the fragrant suhe oil, and carried you off too. I sent Bajie and Sha Monk back to guard the baggage at the monastery and followed the wind here. I didn't know the place until the four officials told me this was Xuanying Cave on Azure Dragon Mountain. I fought the monsters all day and went back at night to tell my brothers. We didn't sleep but returned here together. I didn't want to fight at night without knowing what had happened to you, so I changed shape and came in to investigate.” “Are Bajie and Sha Monk outside now?” asked Tripitaka happily. “Yes. The monsters were asleep when I came in. I'll unlock your chains and open the door so we can leave.” Tripitaka thanked him.

Pilgrim used an unlocking spell, brushed the lock with his hand, and opened it. As he led Tripitaka forward, a demon king called from his room off the central hall: “Servants, keep the doors shut and watch for fire. Why aren't the night patrols calling? I can't hear a single clapper or bell.” The lesser demons, exhausted after fighting all day, had fallen asleep. Awakened by his call, some armed guards started patrolling from the back, beating gongs and ringing bells. They ran straight into the two monks. “Where are you going, monk, after opening your lock?” they shouted. Pilgrim answered with his staff. He made it as thick as a bowl and killed two of them. The others dropped their weapons, ran to the central hall, and shouted at the door, “Kings! The hairy-faced monk is inside killing us!” The three monsters leaped from bed and shouted, “Catch him!” Tripitaka went weak with fear. Pilgrim had no time to look after him. He fought his way forward with the staff, knocking down several demons and shoving others aside. He broke through several doors and rushed out. “Brothers, where are you?” Bajie and Sha Monk waited with rake and staff. “What happened?” they asked. Pilgrim told them how he had changed shape, freed Master, and been discovered on the way out, forcing him to leave Master behind and fight his way out.

The demon kings caught Tripitaka and chained him again. With knives and axes in hand and lamps lit, they demanded, “How did you open that lock? How did the monkey get in? Tell us at once and we'll spare you. Otherwise we'll cut you in two.” Trembling, Tripitaka knelt. “Great kings, my disciple Sun Wukong can change into seventy-two forms. He became a firefly and flew in to rescue me. But you noticed. Your servants came upon us, and he foolishly injured two. When they shouted and took up weapons and torches, he had to leave without me.” The three laughed. “Luckily we found out before you escaped.” They ordered the servants to secure the front and back doors and keep quiet.

Sha Monk said, “They've shut the doors and gone quiet. They may be plotting against Master. Let's attack.” “Right,” said Pilgrim. “Break down the door.” Bajie swung his rake with all his strength and smashed the stone door to pieces. Then he shouted, “Oil-thieving monsters! Return our master!” The frightened guards rushed in to tell their kings the front door had been broken. The kings were furious. “What insolence!” They dressed in armor, took their weapons, and led their followers outside. It was about the third watch, and the moon made the sky bright as day. Without a word, they attacked. Pilgrim met the axe, Bajie the great sword, and Sha Monk the heavy club. What a fight it was:

Three monks wielded staff, rake, and rod against three monsters, who fought even more boldly. Axe, steel sword, and knotted vine club stirred wind and sand. In the first exchanges a sad mist rose; as they leaped about, colored clouds scattered. Bajie rolled with his rake in skillful moves; Pilgrim's skill with his iron staff was greater still. Sha Monk's demon-fighting staff was a rare weapon in the human world, but the monsters stubbornly fought on. The axe had a sharp blade and point, while the knotted vine struck marks across the body. The great sword flashed, broad as a door panel, but the monks' powers were stronger. One side fought fiercely to save their master's life; the other refused to release the Tang monk and struck at their faces. Axe and staff met in a contest of strength; rake and sword crossed. The vine club and demon-fighting staff swept back and forth as their wielders showed off their skills.

The three monks and three monsters fought for a long time without either side winning. King Cold-Repeller shouted, “Servants, attack!” The lesser demons rushed forward with weapons and tripped Bajie. Several water buffalo demons dragged him into the cave and tied him up. Sha Monk saw the ox demons shouting around him and pretended to strike King Dust-Repeller with his staff before trying to escape. But the crowd rushed him, pulled him off balance, and captured and tied him too. Pilgrim saw he could do nothing and escaped on his somersault cloud. The monsters brought Bajie and Sha Monk before Tripitaka. Weeping, Tripitaka said, “Poor boys, they've caught you too. Where's Wukong?” “He escaped when they caught us,” Sha Monk answered. “If he escaped, he must be going for help,” Tripitaka said. “But who knows when we'll get free?” The three grieved together.

Pilgrim flew back to Compassionate Cloud Monastery. The monks met him and asked whether he had rescued Tripitaka. “No. These monsters are powerful. The three of us fought the three of them a long time, but they called their servants, who captured Bajie first and then Sha Monk. I barely escaped.” The monks were frightened. “If even you, who can ride the clouds, can't capture them, they'll surely harm your master.” “Don't worry. Guardian spirits protect him secretly, and he once ate the fruit of immortality. I don't think they'll kill him. Look after the horse and baggage. I'm going up to heaven to get help against the monsters.” “Can you go to heaven too?” they asked. Pilgrim laughed. “The Heavenly Palace used to be my home. I was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven until I disrupted the Peach Banquet and the Buddha subdued me. Now I protect the Tang monk on his quest, making up for my wrongdoing by defeating evil. This trouble was destined for Master; you didn't know that.” The monks bowed again. Pilgrim went outside, whistled, and vanished.

The Great Sage soon reached heaven's western gate. He saw the Gold Star of Venus talking with Heavenly King Virudhaka and four celestial officers named Yin, Zhu, Tao, and Xu. They greeted Pilgrim and asked where he was going. He told them, “I'm protecting the Tang monk, and we reached Mintian County in Jinping Prefecture on the eastern border of Tianzhu. Monks at Compassionate Cloud Monastery invited him to watch the Lantern Festival. On the Golden Lantern Bridge we saw three lamps burning fragrant suhe oil worth over fifty thousand taels of silver. People said Buddhas come each year to enjoy the offering. Three figures looking like Buddhas did appear, and Master went to the bridge to bow to them. I warned him they were not good people, but they darkened the lamps and swept him and the oil away in a gust of wind. I followed to a mountain at dawn, where the four officials told me it was Azure Dragon Mountain and held Xuanying Cave, home to King Cold-Repeller, King Heat-Repeller, and King Dust-Repeller. I challenged them but couldn't win. I changed form and entered, found Master chained up but unharmed, and freed him. They discovered us, and I escaped. I came back and fought them with Bajie and Sha Monk, but they captured both my brothers. I've come to ask the Jade Emperor to find out what these monsters are and send someone to defeat them.” The Gold Star laughed. “After fighting them, couldn't you tell?” “They're ox monsters,” Pilgrim replied, “but so powerful that I couldn't defeat them quickly.” “They're three rhinoceros spirits. Their kind is linked to the stars, and they've practiced for years until they acquired great powers, including traveling through clouds and mist. They're fastidious creatures, always troubled by their own reflections and eager to wash in water. There are many kinds: si rhinoceroses, male rhinoceroses, old bull rhinoceroses, spotted rhinoceroses, humao and duoluo rhinoceroses, and sky-reaching patterned rhinoceroses. Each has two horns and three hairs in a single pore. They can travel through rivers and seas and open a path through water. Cold-Repeller, Heat-Repeller, and Dust-Repeller are named kings because their horns have special qualities. Only the four Wood stars can make them surrender.” Pilgrim bowed. “Which four stars? Please tell me, old Gold Star.” “They are stationed around the Dipper and Ox Palaces, spread across the sky. Petition the Jade Emperor and you'll see.” Pilgrim thanked him and went in through the gate.

At the Hall of Light he met the four celestial masters Ge, Qiu, Zhang, and Xu. “Where are you going?” they asked. Pilgrim explained how his master had let his discipline slip while watching the Lantern Festival at Jinping, been carried off by monsters, and how he had come to ask the Jade Emperor for help. The four brought him to the Palace of the Divine Sky. After the proper bows, he explained everything. The Jade Emperor asked which heavenly soldiers should help him. “The Gold Star told me the monsters are rhinoceroses that only the four Wood stars can subdue.” The emperor sent Master Xu with Pilgrim to the Dipper and Ox Palace to summon them.

Outside the palace, the twenty-eight lunar-mansion stars came to meet them. Master Xu announced the imperial order: the four Wood stars were to go down with the Great Sage to defeat monsters. The Wood Dragon of the Horn, the Wood Unicorn of the Dipper, the Wood Wolf of the Legs, and the Wood Wild Dog of the Well stepped forward. “Where shall we fight, Great Sage?” Pilgrim laughed. “So it's you! That old Gold Star kept your identities hidden. If he'd told me you were the four Wood stars among the twenty-eight mansions, I could have come to ask directly without troubling the emperor.” “We wouldn't dare leave without an order,” they replied. “Where are the monsters? Let's go.” “At Xuanying Cave on Azure Dragon Mountain, northeast of Jinping. They're rhinoceros spirits.” The Unicorn, Wolf, and Dragon said, “If they're rhinoceroses, the Well star alone will do. He can eat tigers in the mountains and catch rhinoceroses in the sea.” “These aren't ordinary rhinoceroses,” Pilgrim said. “They've practiced the Way for a thousand years. All four of you must come. If just one fails, it'll only make more trouble.” Master Xu said, “The imperial order names all four. You must all go. Hurry; I'll report back.” He took his leave.

The four stars told Pilgrim to challenge the monsters and draw them out while they prepared to act. “Oil-thieving monsters!” Pilgrim shouted at the cave. “Give back my master!” Bajie had broken the door, and the demons had blocked the opening with boards. From inside they heard him and reported to their kings. Dust-Repeller said, “He fled the battle. Why has he returned today? He must have brought help.” The other two said, “We aren't afraid. Bring our armor, and everyone surround him so he can't escape.” Their servants took up spears and swords and came out beating drums and waving flags. “You monkey, didn't you get enough of a beating?” they shouted. Pilgrim hated being called a monkey in that tone. He raised his staff and struck. The three kings arranged the lesser demons in a circle around him. The four Wood stars raised their weapons and called, “Evil beasts! Stop fighting!” At the sight of the stars the kings panicked. “He's brought those who can defeat us! Run for your lives!” Their followers bellowed and returned to their true forms—mountain oxen, water buffalo, and yellow cattle—and scattered over the mountain. The three kings changed back into rhinoceroses, dropped their weapons, and galloped northeast on four hooves as heavily as iron cannonballs. Pilgrim and the Well and Horn stars chased them closely. The Dipper and Legs stars stayed to kill or capture every ox demon in the mountain hollows, peaks, streams, and valleys. Then they went into the cave and freed Tripitaka, Bajie, and Sha Monk.

Sha Monk recognized the two stars and thanked them. “How did you come to save us?” “The Great Sage petitioned the Jade Emperor, who sent us down to rescue you and capture the monsters.” Tripitaka wept. “Where is my disciple Wukong? Why isn't he here?” “The three kings are rhinoceroses. When they saw us, they fled northeast, and the Great Sage and the Well and Horn stars went after them. We cleared away the ox demons and came to free you.” Tripitaka bowed to them and toward heaven. Bajie helped him up. “Master, stop bowing; too many bows look insincere. The four stars are acting on the emperor's order and helping our brother. We've beaten the lesser monsters, but don't know if the kings have been caught. Let's take their valuables, destroy this cave, and return to the monastery to wait for Pilgrim.” The Legs star said, “Marshal Tianpeng is right. You and the Curtain-Raising General take your master back to rest. We two will go northeast and help in the fight.” “Yes,” said Bajie. “Finish them all before you report back.” The two stars left in pursuit.

Bajie and Sha Monk gathered the cave's valuables—coral, agate, pearls, amber, jade ornaments, gems, fine jade, and gold—and carried a great pile outside. They settled their master on a ledge and set fire to the cave, burning it to ashes. Then they led Tripitaka back toward Compassionate Cloud Monastery in Jinping. As the saying goes:

The scriptures say that good fortune at its height turns to misfortune; trouble can come even at the best of times.He loved watching lanterns and let his discipline slip; he enjoyed the beautiful sights and lost his focus on the Way.The medicine of immortality must always be guarded; once lost, the loss is final.Shut it away and hold it tight instead of wandering freely; even a moment's carelessness causes trouble.

While the three returned safely to the monastery, the Dipper and Legs stars flew northeast in pursuit. They could see nothing from the sky until they reached the Western Ocean and spotted the Great Sage shouting over the water. They landed and asked where the monsters were. Pilgrim said angrily, “Why didn't you help pursue them? Now you arrive and ask that?” The Dipper star explained, “We thought you and the other two could catch the kings. We cleared the lesser demons, rescued your master and brothers, gathered the cave's goods, and burned it down. Your brothers have taken him back to Compassionate Cloud Monastery. When you didn't return, we came looking for you.” Pilgrim thanked them. “That's good work. I chased the three here, but they dived into the sea. The Well and Horn stars are pursuing them below, and I'm guarding the shore. Now that you're here, stay and guard it. I'll go down too.”

The Great Sage raised his staff, made a magic sign, parted the water, and plunged into the depths. He saw the three monsters fighting desperately with the Well and Horn stars on the seabed. “I'm here too!” he shouted. The monsters were already hard-pressed by the stars. Hearing Pilgrim, they turned and raced toward the center of the sea to save their lives. Their horns parted the water with a rushing sound and opened a clear passage. Pilgrim and the two stars chased them together.

A sea-watching yaksha and an armored sea patrol in the Western Ocean saw the rhinoceroses parting the water. They recognized Pilgrim and the two stars and rushed to the crystal palace to tell Dragon King Ao Shun. “The Great Sage Equal to Heaven and two stars are chasing three rhinoceroses into the sea!” The Dragon King called his son Mo'ang. “Those must be Cold-Repeller, Heat-Repeller, and Dust-Repeller, who have angered Pilgrim Sun. Muster our troops and help him.” Mo'ang assembled turtles, tortoises, alligators, fish of every kind, shrimp soldiers, and crab officers, each with spear or sword. They rushed out of the palace and blocked the rhinoceroses. The monsters tried to retreat, but Pilgrim and the two stars blocked the other way. They scattered in panic. The old Dragon King and his troops surrounded Dust-Repeller. Pilgrim called, “Wait! Take him alive!” Mo'ang's men knocked him down, pierced his nose with an iron hook, and bound all four of his legs.

The Dragon King divided his troops to pursue the other two alongside the stars. Mo'ang soon found the Well star in his original form, holding down Cold-Repeller and eating him with great bites. “Well star!” Mo'ang shouted. “Don't kill him! The Great Sage wants him alive!” But by the time he had repeated the warning, the star had already bitten through the monster's neck.

Mo'ang sent shrimp and crab troops to carry the dead rhinoceros back to the palace, then continued the pursuit with the Well star. The Horn star was driving Heat-Repeller back toward them. Mo'ang spread his turtle and alligator troops around the monster in a wide formation. “Spare my life!” the creature begged. The Well star seized his ear and took his sword. “We won't kill you. We'll take you to the Great Sage for judgment.”

They put away their weapons and gathered outside the crystal palace. “We've caught them all,” they told Pilgrim. One rhinoceros lay on the ground, bloody and headless; the Well star had the second by the ear and made him kneel. Pilgrim looked closely. “A weapon didn't cause that wound.” Mo'ang laughed. “If I hadn't shouted so quickly, the Well star would have eaten the whole body.” “Very well,” Pilgrim said. “Bring a saw and cut off the dead one's two horns. Skin him and take the hide. Let the Dragon King and his good son have the meat.” He had Dust-Repeller's nose pierced so the Horn star could lead him, and likewise had the Well star lead Heat-Repeller by the nose. “Take them to the prefect of Jinping. Let everyone learn how they've pretended to be Buddhas and harmed the people for years. Then we'll execute them.”

They said goodbye to the Dragon King and his son and rose from the Western Ocean. Leading the rhinoceroses, they met the other two stars and flew back to Jinping Prefecture. From the sky Pilgrim called, “Prefect of Jinping, your officers, soldiers, and people, both inside and outside the city, listen! I am a holy monk sent from Tang in the east to seek scriptures in the Western Heaven. The creatures who have pretended to be Buddhas each year and taken the golden-lamp offerings are these rhinoceros monsters. When we came to watch the Lantern Festival, they carried off the oil and my master. I called on heavenly gods to defeat them. We've destroyed their cave and rid the area of demons. Never again provide golden lamps at the people's expense.”

At Compassionate Cloud Monastery, Bajie and Sha Monk had just brought Tripitaka through the gate when they heard Pilgrim speaking overhead. Leaving their master and the baggage, they flew up to ask about the fight. “The Well star bit one rhinoceros to death,” Pilgrim said. “We brought its horns and hide, and caught the other two alive.” Bajie said, “Let's take these two into the city and show the officials and people what we can do. Ask the four stars to land with us at the prefectural court, where we can execute the monsters. Their crimes are clear; there's nothing left to argue.” The stars laughed. “Marshal Tianpeng knows law and reason these days!” “After all my years as a monk, I've learned a little,” Bajie answered. They landed in a colorful cloud at the prefectural court, bringing the rhinoceroses with them. Officials and people throughout the prefecture set out incense altars and bowed to the heavenly gods.

Soon the monks brought Tripitaka to the prefect's office in a sedan chair. He met Pilgrim and kept thanking the stars for freeing them. “I was worried when I didn't see my good disciple. I'm glad you've returned victorious. Where did you catch the monsters?” Pilgrim explained, “After I left you, I went to heaven, where the Gold Star of Venus recognized them as rhinoceroses and told me to ask for the four Wood stars. I petitioned the Jade Emperor, who sent them. We fought at the cave, but the kings fled. The Dipper and Legs stars rescued you. I chased the monsters with the Well and Horn stars as far as the Western Ocean, where the Dragon King sent his son and troops to help catch them. We brought them here to answer for their crimes.” Tripitaka praised and thanked everyone. The prefect, county officials, and their assistants burned fine candles and heaps of incense and bowed upward.

Bajie suddenly drew his knife and cut off Dust-Repeller's head, then Heat-Repeller's. He sawed off their four horns. The Great Sage directed the four stars to present those four horns to the Jade Emperor when they reported the fulfillment of his order. Of the two horns from the dead rhinoceros, he left one in the prefectural treasury as proof that the lamp-oil levy was abolished and kept the other to offer the Buddha at Vulture Peak. Pleased, the stars said farewell and flew up in a colorful cloud to make their report.

The prefectural and county officials held a large vegetarian banquet for the four travelers and invited local dignitaries. They issued a notice telling the people that no golden lamps would be set up the following year and that the duty imposed on the oil-paying households was permanently abolished. Butchers skinned the rhinoceroses, cured and dried their hides for armor, and distributed the meat among officials and others. From unused funds collected in fines, they bought land from local people and built a shrine to the four stars who had defeated the demons. They also built a shrine to the four monks while they were still alive, with inscribed stone monuments so their gratitude would be remembered forever.

The travelers relaxed and accepted the hospitality. The two hundred and forty former oil-paying households invited them to meals one after another, leaving hardly a moment free. Bajie enjoyed himself thoroughly. He put a little of each kind of treasure from the cave in his sleeves as a gift for each host. A month passed, and they still could not leave. Tripitaka said, “Wukong, give all the remaining treasure to the monks of Compassionate Cloud Monastery in thanks. Let's leave before dawn without telling those households. If we keep enjoying ourselves and delay the scripture quest, the Buddha may blame us and bring us more trouble.” Pilgrim did as he asked.

At the fifth watch next morning, he woke Bajie to prepare the horse. After days of leisurely eating and drinking, the Idiot mumbled sleepily, “Why prepare the horse so early?” “Master says we're leaving,” Pilgrim told him. Bajie rubbed his face. “That old monk makes no sense. Two hundred and forty families have invited us, and we've only eaten thirty-some hearty meals. Why make me go hungry again?” Tripitaka scolded him. “You greedy fool, stop talking and get up! If you argue, I'll tell Wukong to knock your teeth out with his staff.” Bajie was alarmed. “Master has changed! He used to love me and protect me because I'm slow. When Brother wanted to hit me, he stopped him. Now he's telling him to do it!” “He's angry that your appetite is delaying us,” Pilgrim said. “Get dressed, pack, and prepare the horse if you don't want a beating.” Afraid, Bajie jumped up, dressed, and called Sha Monk. “Get up! He's going to hit us!” Sha Monk rose, and they packed. Tripitaka waved for silence. “Don't wake the monks.” He mounted the horse, they opened the gate, and all four set off.

They secretly let the bright phoenix fly from its jade cage;They quietly opened the golden lock and let the river dragon go.

What would the families who had hosted them do at dawn? Listen to the next chapter to find out.