Now, Sun Wukong turned a somersault and shot up into the sky. The monks , novices , servants , and Taoists of the Guanyin Temple were so terrified that they all kowtowed toward heaven, muttering, "Grandfather! So he is an immortal who can ride clouds and mists—no wonder the fire couldn't touch him! It's all the fault of that blind old fool among us, his heart full of poison; today he has only brought ruin upon himself!"
Tang Sanzang said, "Rise, all of you, and cease your regrets. If we find the cassock this time, there will be no trouble. But if we do not find it, my disciple has a rather hot temper, and your lives will be in grave danger. I fear not a single one of you will escape." Hearing this, the monks were filled with dread and anxiety. They busied themselves praying to heaven and making vows, hoping only that the cassock would be recovered so they could save their own skins. Of this we shall say no more for now.
Meanwhile, Sun Wukong flew into the air, twisted his waist, and soon arrived at Black Wind Mountain . He stopped his cloud and looked down carefully. The mountain was indeed a fine sight. And since it happened to be spring, one could see: a thousand ravines vied to be first with their rushing streams; a hundred cliffs competed in beauty. Birds sang where no one was seen; flowers fell yet the trees still gave off fragrance. Rain had passed, and the sky joined the blue-green cliffs in moisture; wind came, and the pines unfurled like emerald screens. Mountain grass sprouted, wildflowers bloomed, on hanging cliffs and steep peaks. Creepers and vines grew, fine trees stood tall, on lofty ridges and level hills. No recluse was met, and where could a woodcutter be found? By the stream, a pair of cranes drank; on the rocks, wild apes cavorted. Towering piles of jet-black color rose up; majestic clusters of emerald played with the mountain light.
As Sun Wukong was admiring the mountain scenery, he suddenly heard voices coming from the grassy slope. He lightened his steps, quietly hid himself beneath a rocky cliff, and peered in. It turned out that three monsters were sitting on the ground chatting: the one in the seat of honor was a dark-complexioned man, on his left was a Taoist, and on his right was a scholar in white. The three monsters were talking loudly and boldly, all about heretical methods of alchemy and cultivation—how to set up furnaces and refine elixirs , and such things.
As they were speaking, the dark-complexioned man laughed and said, "The day after tomorrow is my birthday. Would the two of you do me the honor of coming?"
The scholar in white said, "Every year we celebrate the Great King's birthday. How could we not come this year?"
The dark-complexioned man said again, "Last night I obtained a treasure called the Brocade Cloud-Flower Cassock . It is a truly fine object. Tomorrow I will use this treasure as a birthday gift and hold a grand banquet, inviting the Taoist officials from all the mountains to celebrate the cassock. I shall call it the 'Cassock Festival.' What do you think?"
The Taoist laughed and said, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! I will come first tomorrow to offer my birthday greetings, and the day after to attend the banquet."
When Sun Wukong heard the words "Brocade Cloud-Flower Cassock," he was certain it was his own cassock. Unable to contain his fury, he leaped out from behind the rocky cliff, raised his gold-banded cudgel with both hands, and roared, "You thieving monsters! You stole my cassock and still want to hold some 'Cassock Festival'! Hurry up and give me back my cassock!" With a great shout, "Don't run!" he swung his cudgel and struck at the monster's head.
The dark-complexioned man, terrified, turned into a gust of wind and fled. The Taoist also mounted a cloud and slipped away. Only the scholar in white was left, and Sun Wukong killed him with one blow of his cudgel. He dragged the corpse over and saw that it was a white-spotted snake that had become a spirit. He tore the snake monster into five or six pieces and then headed toward the back of the mountain to find the dark-complexioned man.
Turning past a sharp peak and skirting a lofty ridge, he saw in front of a steep cliff a cave dwelling. The cave dwelling was a sight to behold: misty clouds, vast and boundless; pines and cypresses, dense and deep. The misty clouds, vast and boundless, filled the gate; the pines and cypresses, dense and deep, encircled the house in green. A bridge was made of withered, broken wood; the mountain peaks were wrapped in creepers and vines. Birds carried red stamens to the cloud-filled valleys; deer trod on fragrant clumps to ascend the stone terraces. Before the gate, the seasons urged the flowers to bloom; the wind carried the fragrance of blossoms. By the dike, green willows turned the orioles; near the bank, peach blossoms fluttered with butterflies. Though it could not boast of being a wilderness, it rivaled the scenery beneath Penglai Island .
Sun Wukong walked to the cave entrance. The two stone doors were shut tight. On the doors was a stone slab, on which were clearly written six large characters: "Black Wind Mountain, Black Wind Cave ." He raised his cudgel and smashed it against the doors, shouting, "Open up!"
The little monster guarding the cave opened the door, stuck its head out, and asked, "Who are you? How dare you smash the door of our immortal cave ?"
Sun Wukong cursed, "You beast, you are looking for death! How dare you call this lousy place an 'immortal cave'? Is the word 'immortal' something you can use so freely? Go quickly and tell that dark-complexioned man of yours to hurry up and hand over your grandfather's cassock, and I will spare the lives of your whole den of monsters!"
The little monster rushed in and reported, "Great King! The Cassock Festival is off! There's a monk outside with a hairy face and a thunder-god mouth who has come to demand the cassock!"
That dark-complexioned man had just been chased all over the grassy slope by Sun Wukong and had only just closed the door and sat down. When he heard this, he thought to himself, "I wonder where this fellow came from, being so rude! He even dares to come to my door and make a racket!" He quickly said, "Bring me my armor!" After putting it on properly, he took up a black-tasseled spear and went out the door.
Sun Wukong, hiding outside the door, raised his iron cudgel and stared wide-eyed. The monster was indeed fierce-looking: a bowl-shaped iron helmet shone with fiery lacquer; black-gold armor gleamed brightly. A black silk robe covered his wind-defying sleeves; a black and green silk sash hung with long tassels. In his hand he held a black-tasseled spear; on his feet he wore a pair of black leather boots. His eyes flashed with golden light like lightning; he was truly the Black Wind King of the mountain.
Sun Wukong laughed to himself, "This fellow really looks like a kiln worker or a coal miner ! I suspect he makes his living burning charcoal, otherwise why would he be so black all over?"
The monster shouted sternly, "Which temple's monk are you, that you dare to run wild in my territory?"
Sun Wukong, holding his iron cudgel, walked up to him and roared, "Less nonsense! Hurry up and return your old maternal grandfather 's cassock!"
The monster said, "Which temple's monk are you? Where did you lose your cassock, that you dare to come to me to demand it?"
Sun Wukong said, "My cassock was placed in the abbot's quarters of the Guanyin Temple to the north. Because that temple caught fire, you scoundrel took advantage of the chaos to steal my cassock, and you still want to hold a Cassock Festival to celebrate your birthday! How dare you deny it! Hurry up and return it, and I'll spare your life! If you utter a single word of refusal, I will topple Black Wind Mountain, level Black Wind Cave, and grind every monster in your den to powder!"
When the monster heard this, he laughed coldly and said, "You impudent monkey! You started the fire last night! You set the fire on the roof of the abbot's quarters and blew the wind, so I took a cassock. What can you do about it? Where are you from? What is your name? What abilities do you have, that you dare to speak such big words?"
Sun Wukong said, "You don't even know your old maternal grandfather? I am the disciple of the Dharma Master Tripitaka, the younger brother of the Great Tang Emperor. My surname is Sun, and my name is Wukong. If you ask about my abilities, just hearing them will make your soul fly away and your spirit scatter, and you'll die of fright on the spot!"
The monster said, "I've never seen you before. If you have any abilities, tell me about them."
Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Listen carefully, you scoundrel, and stand firm! From childhood, I possessed divine powers and high skills; I changed with the wind and showed off my heroism. I nurtured my nature and cultivated truth, enduring sun and moon; I leaped out of the cycle of reincarnation to escape death. With a sincere heart, I once sought the Way; on Spirit Terrace Mountain, I gathered medicinal herbs. On that mountain lived an ancient immortal master, whose age was one hundred and eight thousand years. Old Sun bowed to him as my teacher; he pointed out to me a path to eternal life. He said that within the body there is the elixir; seeking it externally is all in vain. I received the Great Heavenly Immortal Formula; without a foundation, it would indeed be hard to endure. I turned my light inward and sat in peace; within my body, sun and moon, water and fire, intertwined. I thought of nothing and completely reduced my desires; my six senses were pure, and my body was strong. It was easy to regain youth and become a child; the path to transcendence and sagehood was not far. In three years, without leakage, I achieved an immortal body; I was not like common folk suffering hardship. I roamed the Ten Continents and Three Islands; I traveled to the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea. It was my lot to live over three hundred years without being able to ascend to the Nine Heavens. I went down to the sea to subdue a dragon and obtained a true treasure; only then did I have a single gold-banded cudgel. On Flower-Fruit Mountain, I became the chief marshal; in the Water Curtain Cave, I gathered a host of monsters.
"The Jade Emperor issued a decree and summoned me; he appointed me the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, of the highest rank. I several times made havoc in the Hall of Miraculous Mist; I several times stole the Queen Mother's peaches. A hundred thousand heavenly troops came to subdue me; layer upon layer, they deployed their spears and swords. I fought back the Heavenly King, who returned to the upper realm; Nezha, wounded, led his troops in flight. The True Lord of Manifest Sainthood could transform; Old Sun stubbornly gambled with him and they fought to a draw. The Patriarch, Guanyin, and the Jade Emperor watched the demon-subduing from the Southern Heavenly Gate. But the Lord Laozi gave a helping hand, and Erlang captured me and took me to the Heavenly Court. I was bound to the demon-subduing pillar, and they ordered the divine soldiers to cut off my head. Knives and axes could not harm me; then they ordered thunder and fire to burn me. Old Sun truly had skills; I was not the least bit afraid of any of it. They sent me into the Lord Laozi's furnace to be refined; the Six Ding Divine Fire slowly roasted me. When the days were complete and the furnace was opened, I leaped out, holding my iron cudgel, and ran around the sky. I went everywhere without hindrance; I made havoc in the Thirty-Three Heavens. The Buddha Tathagata exerted his magical power; Five Elements Mountain pressed down on Old Sun's waist. I was pressed there for a full five hundred years, until I was fortunate enough to meet Tripitaka, who came out of the Great Tang. Now I have converted to the true faith and am going to the West; I will go up to Thunderclap Monastery to see the Buddha's white hair. Go and ask around the Four Seas and the whole world; I am the number one demon famous throughout the ages!"
When the monster heard this, he laughed and said, "So you are that Protector of the Horses who made havoc in Heaven?"
Sun Wukong hated it most when others called him "Protector of the Horses." When he heard these words, his fury blazed up, and he cursed, "You thieving monster! You stole my cassock and won't return it, and you still dare to insult me! Don't run! Taste my cudgel!"
The dark-complexioned man dodged to the side, raised his long spear, and met him. The two of them fought at the cave entrance. The scene was truly fierce: the Wish-Fulfilling Cudgel and the black-tasseled spear; the two of them showed their strength at the cave entrance. They struck at the heart and stabbed at the face; they aimed at the arms and struck at the head. One wielded his cudgel with a sideways thrust; the other thrust straight with his rapid spear. The White Tiger climbed the mountain to extend its claws; the Yellow Dragon lay on the path and turned quickly. They sprayed colored mists and emitted brilliant light; the two monster immortals were beyond measure. One was the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, who had cultivated the true way; the other was the Black Great King, who had become a spirit. This battle on the mountain arose because of the cassock; each was determined not to yield.
The monster and Sun Wukong fought for over ten rounds without either gaining the upper hand. When the sun had risen to its zenith, the dark-complexioned man raised his spear to block the iron cudgel and said, "Sun the Pilgrim, let us stop for now. Let me eat my lunch, and then I will fight you again."
Sun Wukong said, "You beast, do you even deserve to be called a man? What kind of real man stops to eat after only half a day of fighting? I was pressed under Five Elements Mountain for over five hundred years and never tasted even a drop of soup or water, yet I never complained of hunger! No more excuses! Don't run! Return my cassock, and then you can go eat!"
The monster feinted with his spear, turned, and slipped back into the cave. He closed the stone door and called all the little monsters back inside. While he arranged a banquet, he also wrote invitation letters to invite the demon kings of the various mountains to a feast. Of this we shall say no more for now.
Sun Wukong, unable to open the door, had no choice but to return to the Guanyin Temple. The monks of the temple had already buried the old monk and were all in the abbot's quarters attending to Tang Sanzang. The morning meal had been finished, and the noon meal had been laid out. As they were adding soup and changing the water, Sun Wukong descended from the sky. The monks quickly kowtowed and welcomed him into the abbot's quarters, where he saw Tang Sanzang.
Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, you're back? Have you found the cassock?"
Sun Wukong said, "There is already a clue. Fortunately, these monks are not to blame. The cassock was stolen by a monster from Black Wind Mountain. I went secretly to look for him and saw him chatting on the grassy slope with a scholar in white and an old Taoist. The monster let it slip himself, saying that the day after tomorrow is his birthday and he wants to invite monsters from all directions to celebrate. He also said that last night he obtained a Brocade Cloud-Flower Cassock and wants to use it as a birthday gift to hold a 'Cassock Appreciation Festival.' I leaped out and struck with my cudgel. The dark-complexioned man turned into wind and fled; the Taoist also disappeared. I only killed the scholar in white, who turned out to be a white-spotted snake that had become a spirit. I then hurried to his cave entrance and called him out to fight. He also admitted that the cassock is with him. We fought for half a day without a clear victor. The monster went back into his cave, saying he wanted to eat, and closed the door, not daring to come out. I came back first to report to you, Master. The cassock's whereabouts are known; we need not fear that he will not return it."
When the monks heard this, some put their palms together and recited sutras, while others kowtowed in gratitude. They all chanted, "Namo Amitabha Buddha! Now that we have a clue today, we can finally save our lives!"
Sun Wukong said, "Don't be too happy too soon. The cassock is not yet in hand, and my master has not yet set out. Wait until I get the cassock back and safely see my master on his way; then you can rest easy. If there is the slightest mistake, Old Sun is not to be trifled with! Have you prepared tea and food for my master? Have you prepared fodder for the horse?"
The monks quickly replied, "Yes! Yes! Yes! We have never dared to neglect the venerable sir!"
Tang Sanzang said, "In the half day you were gone, I have already drunk three cups of tea and eaten two meals of vegetarian food. They have not dared to neglect me. But you must still do your utmost to recover the cassock."
Sun Wukong said, "Don't worry! Since we have a clue, we will surely catch that monster and return your cassock. Rest assured, rest assured!"
As they were speaking, the steward of the upper quarters prepared a vegetarian meal and invited Sun Wukong to eat. Sun Wukong ate a little, then mounted his auspicious cloud again to go after the monster. While flying, he saw a little monster coming along the main road, carrying a box made of rosewood under its left arm. Sun Wukong guessed that the box must contain a letter. He raised his cudgel and struck the little monster on the head. The little monster could not withstand the blow; it was smashed flat like a meat patty. Sun Wukong dragged the little monster to the side of the road, opened the box, and indeed found an invitation letter. The letter read:
Your humble servant, Xiong Pi, bows his head and prostrates himself. I present this to the alchemical chamber of the greatly enlightened Venerable Gold Pool:
I have repeatedly received your gracious favors, and my gratitude is as deep as the ocean. Last night, I witnessed the calamity of the fire. I failed to come to your aid, but I trust that your immortal foresight must have kept you from harm. I happened to obtain a Buddha's cassock and wish to hold an elegant gathering. I respectfully prepare a floral banquet and humbly invite you to come and appreciate it.
On the appointed day, I earnestly beg your immortal carriage to come and converse with me. This is my sincere request.
Written two days prior
Sun Wukong read it and laughed heartily, "That old fool died without any injustice! So he was in league with the monster! No wonder he could live to be two hundred and seventy years old. That monster must have taught him some minor health-preserving techniques to allow him to live so long. I still remember what he looked like. Why don't I transform into that old monk and go into his cave for a stroll to see where my cassock is placed? If I can get it in hand, it will save me from having to fight."
What a Sun Wukong! He recited a spell, faced the wind, and transformed. He truly became the spitting image of the Venerable Gold Pool. He hid his gold-banded cudgel, strode to the cave entrance, and shouted, "Open up!"
The little monster opened the door, saw this appearance, and quickly turned to report, "Great King, the Venerable Gold Pool has arrived."
The monster was greatly startled and thought, "I just sent a little monster to deliver the invitation to him. At this hour, he hasn't even reached the Guanyin Temple yet. How did he get here so quickly? I'm afraid the little monster didn't meet him, and instead Sun the Pilgrim called him to come and demand the cassock. Steward, quickly hide the Buddha's cassock and don't let him see it."
Sun Wukong entered the front gate and saw that the courtyard was lush with pines and bamboos, and peach and plum blossoms were in full bloom. Clusters of flowers bloomed brilliantly, and patches of orchids gave off fragrance. It was indeed a place like a fairyland. He also saw a couplet on the second gate, which read: "In quiet seclusion deep in the mountains, free from worldly cares; in the secluded immortal cave, one enjoys the true nature of heaven."
Sun Wukong thought to himself, "This monster is indeed a creature who wishes to detach himself from the world and understand the mandate of heaven." He continued walking inside until he reached the third gate. Inside, there were carved beams and painted rafters, bright windows and ornate doors. He saw the dark-complexioned man wearing a black and green silk jacket, a black and blue patterned silk robe over it, a black soft cap on his head, and a pair of deerskin black boots on his feet. When he saw Sun Wukong enter, he straightened his clothes and descended the steps to welcome him, saying, "Old friend Gold Pool, we haven't seen each other for many days. Please, sit down, please sit down."
Sun Wukong returned the greeting politely and sat down. A little monster served tea. After drinking the tea, the monster leaned forward and said, "I just sent a little monster to deliver an invitation to you, inviting you to come the day after tomorrow. How is it that you have come today, old friend?"
Sun Wukong said, "I was originally coming to visit you. On the way, I happened to receive your invitation. Hearing that there is to be an elegant Cassock Festival, I hurried over, hoping to see the Buddha's cassock."
The monster laughed and said, "You are mistaken, old friend. This cassock originally belonged to Tripitaka. He stayed at your place. Haven't you seen it? Why do you come to me to see it?"
Sun Wukong said, "I borrowed it from Tripitaka, but because it was evening, I didn't have time to look at it. I never expected that you, Great King, would take it. Later, the fire broke out, burning the temple and destroying my property. Tripitaka's disciple is also very fierce. In the confusion, I searched everywhere but couldn't find it. So it turns out that you, Great King, were fortunate enough to have taken it. That's why I have come especially to see it."
As they were speaking, a little monster who had been patrolling the mountain rushed in and reported, "Great King! Something terrible has happened! The messenger who was delivering the invitation was killed by Sun the Pilgrim on the main road! He also learned our tricks, transformed into the Venerable Gold Pool, and has come to trick us out of the Buddha's cassock!"
When the monster heard this, he thought to himself, "I was wondering why the venerable elder suddenly came today and arrived so quickly. It must indeed be that monkey Sun who has transformed!" He quickly leaped to his feet, grabbed his long spear, and thrust it at "the Venerable Gold Pool." Sun Wukong hastily pulled his gold-banded cudgel from his ear, transformed back into his original form, blocked the spear tip, and leaped from the hall into the courtyard, and from the courtyard to the front gate. The monsters in the cave were scared out of their wits; the old and the young were all at a loss. This battle on the mountain was even more intense than the last.
The fight was a lively one: The monkey king, bold, pretended to be a monk; the dark-complexioned man, cunning, hid the Buddha's cassock. Their words and arguments were cleverly matched; each adapted to the other without a mistake. He wanted to see the cassock but had no way to do so; the treasure was subtle and truly wonderful. The little monster on patrol spoke of the disaster; the old monster, enraged, displayed his divine might. They tumbled out of the Black Wind Cave; the spear and cudgel clashed to determine right and wrong. The cudgel blocking the long spear made a loud noise; the spear meeting the iron cudgel gave off a brilliant light. Wukong's transformations were rare in the human world; the monster's divine powers were rare on earth. One wanted to use the cassock to celebrate his birthday; the other, without the cassock, would not willingly return. This bitter struggle was hard to resolve; even if a living Buddha descended to the mortal world, he could not separate them.
They fought from the cave entrance to the mountain peak, and from the mountain peak into the clouds. Sometimes they spat out mist, sometimes they blew wind. Sand and stones flew up and filled the sky. They fought until the sun set, but still neither could claim victory. The monster said, "Sun, stop for a moment! Today it is late and not good for fighting. Go away! Go away! Wait until tomorrow morning, and we will settle this matter of life and death!"
Sun Wukong shouted, "Don't run, you scoundrel! If you're going to fight, fight like a real man! Don't use the lateness of the day as an excuse!" Saying this, he paid no heed and raised his cudgel to strike at the monster's head. The dark-complexioned man again turned into a cool breeze and fled back into his cave, tightly closing the stone door and not coming out again.
Sun Wukong had no choice but to return to the Guanyin Temple. He brought his cloud down and called out, "Master." Tang Sanzang had been anxiously waiting for him. When he saw him return, he was first happy; but when he saw that he had no cassock in his hand, he became flustered and quickly asked, "How is it that you still haven't brought back the cassock this time?"
Sun Wukong took the invitation letter from his sleeve and handed it to Tang Sanzang, saying, "Master, that monster and that dead old man were actually friends. He sent a little monster to deliver this invitation, asking the old man to come to the Cassock Festival. I killed the little monster, transformed into the old monk's appearance, and entered the cave. I even drank a cup of tea with him. I wanted him to show me the cassock, but he refused. While we were sitting there, a little monster on patrol accidentally leaked the information, and he started fighting with me. We fought until now, but neither of us could gain the upper hand. When he saw that it was getting late, he slipped back into his cave and closed the door. I had no other choice, so I came back first."
Tang Sanzang asked, "How do your abilities compare to his?"
Sun Wukong said, "I'm not much stronger than him. We're evenly matched."
Tang Sanzang finished reading the invitation letter and handed it to the steward, asking, "Your master couldn't have been a monster too, could he?"
The steward quickly knelt down and said, "Venerable sir, my master was a human being! It's just that that Black Great King had cultivated a human form and often came to the temple to discuss sutras with my master. He also taught my master some methods for nourishing the spirit and replenishing energy. That's why they called each other friends."
Sun Wukong said, "These monks are not monsters. Their heads are round and support the sky; their feet are square and tread the earth. They are just a bit fatter and taller than me, but they are not monsters. Look at the invitation letter, which says 'your humble servant, Xiong Pi.' This creature must be a black bear who has become a spirit!"
Tang Sanzang said, "I have heard the ancients say that 'bears and orangutans are similar.' They are both wild beasts. How could they become spirits?"
Sun Wukong laughed and said, "I am also of the beast kind, and I became the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. What's the difference between me and him? Generally speaking, any creature with nine orifices can cultivate and become an immortal."
Tang Sanzang asked again, "You just said that his abilities are roughly equal to yours. How will you be able to defeat him and get my cassock back?"
Sun Wukong said, "Don't worry, don't worry. I have a plan."
As they were discussing this, the monks set out the evening meal and invited the master and disciple to eat. Tang Sanzang asked the monks to light the lamps and then went back to the front meditation hall to rest. The monks all slept against the walls, leaning against the partitions, or in makeshift shelters. Only the rear abbot's quarters were given to the stewards to use. The night was very still, and one could see: the Milky Way showed its light; the jade firmament was without dust. The sky was filled with sparkling stars; the waves of a single body of water had calmed. All sounds were silent; a thousand mountains were devoid of birds. By the stream, the fishermen's fires were extinguished; on the pagoda, the Buddha's lamps were dim. Last night, the monks' bells and drums had sounded; tonight, one could hear only the sound of weeping.
That night, as they passed the night in the meditation hall, Tang Sanzang, thinking about the cassock, could not sleep soundly. Suddenly, turning over, he saw the light outside the window. He quickly got up and called out, "Wukong, it's dawn! Go quickly and find the cassock!"
Sun Wukong scrambled to his feet and saw that the monks were already standing by, attending to them, and had brought tea. He said, "You all attend to my master properly. I'm off."
Tang Sanzang got down from the bed and grabbed him, asking, "Where are you going?"
Sun Wukong said, "I think this whole affair is the fault of the Bodhisattva Guanyin! She has a meditation temple here, receiving people's incense and offerings, yet she allows a monster to live right next door. I'm going to the Southern Sea to find her and have a word with her. I'll ask her to come personally and demand the cassock from the monster and return it to me."
Tang Sanzang asked, "If you go, when will you be back?"
Sun Wukong said, "If it's quick, I'll be back after the meal; if it's slow, I'll be back by noon. If those monks dare to be neglectful, just see how I deal with them! I'm off."
As soon as he said the word "off," he had already disappeared. In no time at all, he arrived at the Southern Sea. He stopped his cloud and looked down. He saw: the vast ocean stretched far into the distance; the water seemed to join the sky. Auspicious light enveloped the universe; propitious vapors illuminated the mountains and rivers. A thousand layers of snowy waves roared toward the blue sky; ten thousand folds of misty billows churned in the broad daylight. Water flew to the four fields; waves rolled all around. The water flying to the four fields shook with thunder; the waves rolling all around roared with thunderbolts. Let us not speak of the water's power; let us look at the middle: a five-colored, hazy, jeweled mountain towered up, with red, yellow, purple, black, and green and blue. Only now did one see Guanyin's true, victorious realm; behold the Putuo Mountain of the Southern Sea. What a fine place! The mountain peaks rose high, their tops piercing the void. In the middle were a thousand kinds of strange flowers and a hundred kinds of auspicious herbs. The wind shook the jeweled trees; the sun reflected on the golden lotuses. The tiles of Guanyin's hall were covered with colored glaze; the door of the Tide Sound Cave was inlaid with hawksbill turtle shell. In the shadows of the green willows, a parrot spoke; in the purple bamboo grove, a peacock cried. On the patterned stone, the Dharma protectors were majestic; before the agate beach, Moksha was strong.
Sun Wukong could not finish admiring this strange scene. He pressed his cloud down and landed directly beneath the purple bamboo grove. Heavenly soldiers and generals had already come forward to greet him, asking, "The Bodhisattva previously told everyone that the Great Sage had reformed and often praised you. Now that you are protecting Tripitaka on his journey to fetch the scriptures, how is it that you have time to come here?"
Sun Wukong said, "Because I am protecting Tripitaka, I encountered a matter on the road. I have come especially to see the Bodhisattva. Please trouble you to announce me."
The heavenly soldiers quickly went to the cave entrance to report. The Bodhisattva called Sun Wukong in. Sun Wukong, following the rules, went to the foot of the jeweled lotus platform and kowtowed. The Bodhisattva asked, "What have you come for?"
Sun Wukong said, "My master, on the road, came across your meditation temple. You receive the incense and offerings of the human world, yet you allow a black bear spirit to live nearby, and he stole my master's cassock. I have gone to demand it back several times, but he refuses to return it. Today, I have come especially to ask you for it!"
The Bodhisattva said, "You monkey, how can you speak so rudely! Since a bear spirit stole your cassock, why do you come to me to demand it? It is all because you, audacious monkey, took out the treasure to show off, allowing a petty person to see it. Then you, in your violence, summoned the wind and set fire to my Retained Cloud Temple. And now you come to me to make trouble!"
When Sun Wukong heard the Bodhisattva say this, he knew that she could see through the past and the future. He