The local spirit said, "The Great Strength King is none other than the Bull Demon King." Wukong asked, "Could it be that the Bull Demon King started the fires of the Flaming Mountain, and that's why he goes by that name?" The local spirit quickly replied, "No, no! If the Great Sage will pardon me for speaking, I dare tell the truth." Wukong said, "What crime have you committed? Speak freely, it doesn't matter." The local spirit said, "This fire was actually set by you, Great Sage."
Wukong said angrily, "When did I ever set a fire? Don't talk nonsense! Do I look like someone who would start a fire?"
The local spirit said, "You wouldn't recognize me now. This mountain wasn't here originally. Five hundred years ago, when the Great Sage rebelled against Heaven and was captured by Erlang Shen, you were taken to the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. The Lord put you into his Eight Trigrams Furnace to be refined. Later, when he opened the furnace, you kicked it over, and a few bricks fell out, still carrying residual flames. They landed here and became the Flaming Mountain. I was originally the Daoist in charge of watching the furnace in the Tushita Palace. At the time, the Lord blamed me for my negligence and banished me here, where I became the local spirit of the Flaming Mountain."
When Zhu Bajie heard this, he said with bitter resentment, "No wonder you're dressed like that! So you're a Daoist turned local spirit!"
Wukong was half convinced and asked, "Then tell me, what use is finding the Great Strength King?"
The local spirit said, "The Great Strength King is the husband of the Rakshasa Woman . Lately, he abandoned her and lives in the Mo Cloud Cave on the Piled Thunder Mountain . There was once a ten-thousand-year-old Fox King there, and when he died, he left a daughter called the Jade Faced Princess . This princess has millions in family wealth but no one to manage it. Two years ago, she heard that the Bull Demon King possessed great magical powers and willingly offered her fortune to take him as her live-in husband. The Bull King abandoned the Rakshasa Woman and hasn't returned since. If the Great Sage can find the Bull King and persuade him to come here, only then can you borrow the real fan. First, you can fan out the flames and ensure your master's journey continues; second, you can permanently eliminate this fire disaster and save the people's lives here; and third, you can absolve my crime and allow me to return to Heaven to report back to the Lord."
Wukong asked, "Where is the Piled Thunder Mountain? How far is it from here?"
The local spirit said, "Due south, about three thousand miles from here."
Upon hearing this, Wukong immediately instructed Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie to protect their master well, and told the local spirit to stay and keep them company, not to return. With a sudden whoosh, he vanished.
In less than half an hour, Wukong saw a towering mountain piercing the clouds. He lowered his cloud and stood on the peak to observe it carefully. This mountain was truly magnificent: The summit was so high it brushed against the azure heavens, while its roots were so vast they plunged deep into the Yellow Springs of the underworld. Before the mountain, the sun was warm; behind the ridges, the wind was biting cold. In the sun-warmed front, even in the dead of winter, plants grew as if unaware of the cold season. On the wind-blasted rear ridges, even in the height of summer, ice and frost never melted. Dragon pools connected to mountain streams that flowed forever; tiger caves nestled against cliffs where flowers bloomed early. The waters cascaded in a thousand streams like flying jade, and the blossoms opened with a single heart like brocade spread out. On the winding ridges grew winding trees; among the jagged rocks stood jagged pines. Truly, there were towering peaks, steep ridges, sheer cliffs, deep ravines, fragrant flowers, beautiful fruits, red vines, purple bamboo, green pines, and emerald willows. Through all seasons and all weathers, their colors never changed; for a thousand or ten thousand years, their hues remained as vibrant as a dragon's scales.
After gazing for a long while, Wukong descended from the sharp peak and plunged into the deep forest to find a path. Just as he was at a loss, he suddenly saw a woman beneath a pine tree, holding a sprig of fragrant orchid and walking slowly towards him. Wukong hid behind a strange rock and studied her appearance closely: She possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms, with a delicate gait like a lotus flower moving step by step. Her face was as lovely as the legendary Wang Qiang , her features as fair as the maidens of Chu . She was like a flower that could speak, like jade that exuded fragrance. Her high hair bun was piled like dark green crows, her eyes were like pools of autumn water. A short bow-shoe peeked from beneath her Xiangjiang silk skirt , and her jade-like wrists were long beneath her emerald sleeves. Words like " morning clouds and evening rain " could not describe her; truly, she had crimson lips and white teeth. Her moth-like eyebrows were more beautiful than the finest brocade on the Jin River , surpassing even the famed beauties Wenjun and Xue Tao .
The woman slowly approached the rock. Wukong stepped forward with the utmost respect and said in a soft voice, " Female Bodhisattva , where are you going?" The woman hadn't seen him clearly, and only looked up when she heard someone speak. Seeing Wukong's ugly face, her heart trembled with fear. She wanted to retreat but couldn't; she wanted to run but couldn't move. Trembling, she barely managed to reply, "Where have you come from? How dare you ask me such a question?"
Wukong thought to himself, "If I tell her I'm here to borrow the fan for the pilgrimage, I'm afraid she might be connected to the Bull King and ruin everything. Better to pretend I've come to invite the Bull King and use that as an excuse." The woman, seeing he didn't answer and that his expression had changed, shouted angrily, "Who are you? How dare you question me!"
Wukong bowed with a forced smile, "I've come from the Green Cloud Mountain . I just arrived and don't know the way. May I ask, Bodhisattva, is this the Piled Thunder Mountain?"
The woman said, "It is."
Wukong then asked, "And where is the Mo Cloud Cave?"
The woman countered, "What business do you have at that cave?"
Wukong said, "I was sent by the Iron Fan Princess of the Plantain Cave on Green Cloud Mountain to invite the Bull Demon King."
No sooner had the woman heard "the Iron Fan Princess invites the Bull Demon King" than she flew into a towering rage. The roots of her ears turned red, and she burst into curses: "That shameless slut! Has she no decency? The Bull King has been at my house for less than two years, and how many pearls, jewels, gold, silver, silks, and satins have I given him? I've supplied him with firewood and rice through all four seasons and let him live in comfort, and she still has the nerve to send for him to come back!"
Wukong realized this must be the Jade Faced Princess. He deliberately drew his iron staff and roared, "You shrew! You bought the Bull King with your family wealth, shamelessly paying a man to marry you. You have no shame, yet you dare to curse others!" The woman was so terrified at the sight of the iron staff that her soul nearly fled her body. Panicking, she turned and ran. Wukong shouted and chased after her. It turned out that beyond the pine forest lay the Mo Cloud Cave. The woman ran inside and slammed the door shut with a bang.
Wukong put away his iron staff, coughed a couple of times, and stopped to examine the cave entrance. This was truly a fine place: The forest was dense and thick, the cliffs were steep and jagged. Creepers and vines hung in soft, shady curtains, and the air was filled with the fragrance of orchids and angelica. A flowing stream, like washing jade, wound through slender bamboo groves, and strangely shaped rocks, as if knowing the secrets of nature, were scattered among fallen petals. Mist and rosy clouds enshrouded the distant peaks, while sun and moon shone upon a screen of clouds. Dragons roared and tigers howled; cranes cried and orioles sang. A scene of pure tranquility, truly lovely, with jade flowers and precious grasses always in bloom. It was no less than the celestial grotto of Mount Tiantai, surpassing even the fairy isle of Penglai in the Eastern Sea.
Let us leave Wukong admiring the scenery for a moment. The woman, drenched in sweat and her heart pounding with fear, ran straight into the study. At that moment, the Bull Demon King was quietly reading a book on elixir arts. The woman threw herself into his arms in a bad temper, scratching her ears and cheeks as she burst into loud sobs. The Bull King smiled apologetically and said, "My beauty, don't be angry. Whatever it is, tell me calmly."
The woman jumped and stamped her feet, cursing, "You damned devil! You've ruined me!" The Bull King laughed and asked, "Why are you cursing me?" The woman said, "My parents are dead, and I had no one to rely on, so I took you in to protect me and support me. Everyone in the world says you're a true hero, but it turns out you're nothing but a coward afraid of your wife!"
When the Bull King heard this, he hugged her and said, "My beauty, what have I done wrong? Tell me slowly, and I'll make it up to you." The woman said, "Just now, I was strolling in the shade outside the cave, picking orchids and gathering angelica, when suddenly a monk with a hairy face and a thunder-god beak appeared and bowed to me, scaring me half to death. When I recovered enough to ask who he was, he said he was sent by the Iron Fan Princess to invite you. I barely said two words to him when he started cursing me and chased after me with a staff, trying to beat me. If I hadn't run fast, he would have beaten me to death! Isn't this disaster your doing? You've ruined me!"
The Bull King quickly straightened her clothes and apologized, comforting her for a long time before she calmed down. But now the Bull King was furious. "My beauty, don't worry. Let me tell you the truth: Although the Plantain Cave is remote, it's quiet and peaceful. My wife has cultivated since childhood and is a Daoist immortal. Her household is very strict; there isn't even a young boy servant. How could there be a thunder-god monk coming from her to invite me? This must be some demon from elsewhere, or someone impersonating another to deceive me. Let me go out and see."
What a Bull Demon King! He strode out of the study, went to the main hall, put on his armor and gear, and took up a mixed iron staff. He walked out the door and shouted loudly, "Who is it that dares to run wild on my turf?" Wukong watched from the side and saw that his appearance was quite different from five hundred years ago: On his head he wore a polished, silver-bright iron helmet; on his body he wore a suit of golden armor threaded with velvet; on his feet he wore a pair of curled-toe, white-soled deerskin boots; around his waist he wore a three-strand lion-belt woven with silk. His eyes shone like bright mirrors, and his eyebrows were as vivid as rainbows. His mouth was like a blood basin, and his teeth were like copper plates. His roar shook the mountains and frightened the local spirits; his movements were so fierce they terrified even evil ghosts. Known throughout the four seas as the Havoc-Maker, in the West he was called the Great Strength Demon King.
Wukong straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and made a deep bow, saying, "Elder Brother, do you still recognize your younger brother?"
The Bull King returned the bow and said, "Are you the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Sun Wukong?"
Wukong said, "Indeed, indeed! It's been a long time since I've paid my respects to you, Elder Brother. I just asked a woman and found my way here. Your bearing is even more impressive than before—truly a cause for celebration!"
The Bull King roared, "Save your glib tongue! I heard that after your rebellion in Heaven, you were crushed under the Five Phases Mountain by the Buddha. Only recently were you freed from that suffering to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey west to see the Buddha and fetch the scriptures. But why did you harm my son, Bull Sage King, at the Fire Cloud Cave on the Withered Pine Stream of Hao Mountain? I've been nursing a grudge against you for that, and yet you still dare to come looking for me?"
Wukong bowed and said, "Elder Brother, don't misunderstand me. At that time, your son had captured my master and wanted to eat his flesh. I couldn't get close to him. Fortunately, the Bodhisattva Guanyin wanted to save my master and persuaded your son to reform. Now your son has become the Sudhana Youth Attendant, a rank even higher than yours, Elder Brother. He can enjoy blessings in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, eternally free and long-lived. What's wrong with that? Why do you blame me instead?"
The Bull King cursed, "You smooth-tongued monkey! You make the harm you did to my son sound like it was only right! But what about your bullying of my beloved concubine and your attack right up to my doorstep? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Wukong smiled and said, "Because I hadn't seen you, Elder Brother, I asked that woman for directions, not knowing she was your second sister-in-law. She cursed me a few times, and in a moment of impulse, I startled her. I hope you'll forgive me, Elder Brother!"
The Bull King said, "Since that's the case, for the sake of our old friendship, I'll let you go."
Wukong said, "I am deeply grateful for your mercy, Elder Brother! But there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you. I sincerely hope you'll grant me this favor." The Bull King cursed, "You ungrateful monkey! I let you off, and you still won't leave? Instead, you pester me! What favor do you want?"
Wukong said, "To be honest, Elder Brother, I'm protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey west, but the Flaming Mountain blocks our path and we can't go forward. I asked the locals and learned that your honored wife, the Rakshasa Woman, has a plantain fan. I wanted to borrow it. Yesterday I went to the Plantain Cave to pay my respects to my sister-in-law, but she absolutely refused to lend it. That's why I came especially to ask you, Elder Brother. I hope you'll be merciful and come with me to my sister-in-law's place. Please, by all means, lend me the fan so I can fan out the flames and get my master across the mountain. I'll return it to you immediately."
When the Bull King heard this, his anger blazed up. Grinding his teeth, he cursed, "You said you hadn't been rude, but it turns out you came to borrow the fan! You must have bullied my wife first, and when she wouldn't lend it, you came looking for me! And on top of that, you chased and beat my beloved concubine! As the saying goes, 'You cannot bully a friend's wife, and you cannot insult a friend's concubine.' You have bullied my wife and insulted my concubine—this is the height of rudeness! Come, take a blow from my staff!"
Wukong said, "Elder Brother, if you want to fight, I'm not afraid. But my request to borrow the fan is sincere. I beg you, by all means, lend it to me!" The Bull King said, "If you can defeat me within three rounds, I'll have my wife lend you the fan. If you can't, I'll beat you to death to avenge my son and my concubine!"
Wukong said, "Well said, Elder Brother. I've been a bit lazy lately, and it's been a long time since we've met. I don't know how your martial skills compare to before. Let's spar a bit with our staves." The Bull King didn't wait for another word. He raised his mixed iron staff and brought it down with all his might on Wukong's head. Wukong, wielding his golden-banded staff, met the blow without hesitation. The fight between the two was truly fierce: The golden-banded staff and the mixed iron staff clashed, and their faces changed as they abandoned all pretense of friendship. One said, "I hate you, you macaque, for harming my son!" The other said, "Your son has already attained the Dao—cease your anger!" One said, "How dare you, ignorant fool, come to my door?" The other said, "I have a reason and came specially to ask." One wanted the fan to protect Tang Sanzang, the other refused to lend it out of sheer stinginess. Their words flew back and forth, erasing all old affections, and the entire family was filled with resentment. The Bull King's staff rose like a dragon, and the Great Sage's staff met it as gods and ghosts fled. At first, they fought in front of the mountain, but then both mounted auspicious clouds and rose into the air. In midair, they displayed their divine powers, unleashing wondrous arts amidst five-colored light. The sound of the two staves shook the very gates of Heaven, and neither could gain the slightest advantage.
Wukong and the Bull King fought for over a hundred rounds without either gaining the upper hand. Just as they were locked in a stalemate, they suddenly heard a shout from the mountain: "Lord Bull, our king sends his most respectful greetings and asks you to come quickly so the feast can begin!"
Hearing this, the Bull King used his mixed iron staff to block the golden-banded staff and said, "Monkey, stop for a moment. I'm going to a friend's house for a banquet. I'll come back and continue our fight later!" With that, he lowered his cloud and returned to the cave, saying to the Jade Faced Princess, "My beauty, that thunder-god monk just now was Sun Wukong the monkey. I've driven him off with my staff, and he won't dare come back. You can relax and enjoy yourself. I'm going to a friend's house for some drinks."
He took off his armor, put on a dark blue velvet jacket, mounted his Golden-Eyed Beast, and instructed his servants to guard the house well. Then, half-riding on a cloud and half-walking on the ground, he headed northwest.
Wukong watched from the mountain peak and thought to himself, "This old bull has made some new friend and is going to some banquet. Let me follow him and see." What a Wukong! He shook his body, transformed into a gentle breeze, and followed the Bull King. Before long, they arrived at a mountain, and the Bull King suddenly disappeared.
Wukong resumed his original form and entered the mountain to search. He saw a clear, deep pool in the mountain, and beside the pool stood a stone tablet engraved with six characters: "The Jasper Waves Pool of the Chaotic Stone Mountain." Wukong thought, "The old bull must have gone into the water. The water spirits down there are either flood dragons, dragons, fish, or turtles, giant tortoises, and the like. I'd better go down and have a look."
What a Great Sage! He recited a spell, shook his body, and transformed into a crab. It was neither too big nor too small, weighing exactly thirty-six pounds. With a splash, he jumped into the water and sank straight to the bottom. Suddenly, he saw an exquisitely carved and transparent archway. Beneath the archway was tied the Golden-Eyed Beast. When he crawled inside the archway, there was no water at all. Wukong crawled in and looked around. He heard music coming from one direction, and the scene was like this: A vermilion palace with shell-like walls, no different from the mortal world. Gold was used for roof tiles, white jade for door hinges. Screens were made of hawksbill turtle shells, and railings were inlaid with coral pearls. Auspicious clouds and blessed mists shone upon lotus seats, connecting above to the sun, moon, and stars, and below to the eight directions. It was neither the Heavenly Palace nor the Dragon King's underwater treasury, but truly this place rivaled the fairy isle of Penglai. In the grand hall, a feast was set for guests and hosts, with high and low officials all wearing crowns and pearls. Hurriedly, jade maidens were called to bring ivory trays, and fairy attendants were urged to tune their instruments. Giant whales sang, huge crabs danced, turtles played the sheng, and crocodiles beat drums. Pearls from the dragon's chin illuminated the wine vessels. Bird-script characters were arrayed on emerald screens, and shrimp-whisker curtains hung in the corridors. The eight tones of music played in succession, mingling with celestial melodies, their harmonies rising to pierce the clouds. A green-headed perch courtesan played the jade zither, while a red-eyed horse-minstrel played the jade flute. A mandarin fish wife presented fragrant venison, and dragon maidens wore golden phoenix hairpins. What they ate were the eight treasures and delicacies of the celestial kitchen; what they drank were the jade nectar and ripened brews of the Purple Mansion.
Seated at the head was none other than the Bull Demon King, with three or four flood dragon spirits to his left and right. Before him sat an old dragon spirit, and on both sides were dragon sons and grandsons, dragon wives and dragon daughters. As they were raising their cups to drink, the Great Sage Sun strode directly in. When the old dragon spirit saw him, he immediately ordered, "Seize that wild crab!" The dragon sons and grandsons rushed forward together and captured Wukong.
Wukong suddenly spoke, shouting only, "Mercy! Mercy!" The old dragon spirit said, "Where are you from, you wild crab? How dare you barge into the hall and charge about before our honored guest? Confess quickly, and I'll spare your life!" What a Great Sage! He made up a story and said to the assembled spirits: "I was born in a lake and lived by its waters, making my lair in a cave by the cliffs. Over time, I grew large and was granted the title of 'Sideways-Walking Knight.' I drag through grass and mud, and I've never learned proper manners. I didn't know the rules and offended the king's majesty. I humbly beg your honored mercy to forgive my crime!"
When the assembled spirits heard Wukong's fabricated story, they all stood up and bowed to the old dragon, saying, "The Crab Knight is entering your immortal palace for the first time and doesn't know the king's rules. We beg you to spare him." The old dragon nodded and thanked the assembled spirits. The spirits then ordered, "Release him. We'll let it slide this time. Let him go outside and wait!"
Wukong acknowledged the order and quickly scurried out, all the way back to the archway. He thought to himself, "This old bull is drinking happily here. How can I wait for the feast to end? Even if it ends, he won't lend me the fan. Better to steal his Golden-Eyed Beast, transform into the Bull King's likeness, and go trick the Rakshasa Woman into giving me the fan. That way, I can get my master across the mountain."
What a Great Sage! He immediately transformed back into his own form, untied the Golden-Eyed Beast's reins, leaped onto the saddle, and rode the beast straight out of the water. Once outside the pool, he transformed again into the Bull King's likeness, mounted the beast, and rode a cloud. In no time, he arrived at the entrance of the Plantain Cave on Green Cloud Mountain and shouted, "Open the door!"
The two maids inside heard the voice and opened the door. Seeing the Bull King's face, they immediately went in to report, "Mistress, the master has returned!" When the Rakshasa Woman heard this, she quickly tidied her hair and hurried out to greet him. The Great Sage dismounted, led the Golden-Eyed Beast inside, and boldly began to deceive the female demon. The Rakshasa Woman, with her mortal eyes, couldn't recognize the impostor. She immediately took his hand and led him into the cave, ordering the maids to set out a seat and pour tea. The whole household, seeing that their master had returned, treated him with the utmost respect.
Before long, they began to chat about family matters. The Great Sage said, "My lady, it's been a long time." The Rakshasa Woman said, "May the Great King enjoy ten thousand blessings." Then she asked, "Great King, ever since you took a new wife, you've abandoned me. What wind has blown you here today?" The Great Sage smiled and said, "How could I dare to deliberately abandon you? It's just that after the Jade Faced Princess took me as her husband, there's been much business at home, and friends often come to visit, so I've been staying over there. But I've also managed to build up some family property on the side."
He then said deliberately, "I've recently heard that that rascal Wukong is protecting Tang Sanzang and is about to reach the Flaming Mountain. I'm afraid he might come to borrow the fan from you. I hate that rascal for harming our son. If he comes, send word to me immediately, and I'll capture him and grind his bones to dust to avenge our husband-and-wife grievance!"
When the Rakshasa Woman heard this, tears streamed down her face, and she said, "Great King, as the saying goes, 'A man without a wife has no anchor, and a woman without a husband has no support.' My life was nearly taken by that monkey!" The Great Sage pretended to be angry and cursed, "When did that blasted monkey come?"
The Rakshasa Woman said, "He hasn't left yet. Yesterday, he came to borrow the fan. Because I hate him for harming our son, I put on my armor, took up my swords, and went out to slash at him. He endured the pain and called me 'sister-in-law,' saying that you, Great King, had once sworn brotherhood with him." The Great Sage followed along, "That's right. Five hundred years ago, we did indeed swear brotherhood, the seven of us."
The Rakshasa Woman continued, "I cursed him, and he didn't dare talk back. I slashed at him, and he didn't dare fight back. Finally, I used the fan to blow him away. I didn't expect that he somehow learned the art of stabilizing the wind. This morning, he came to the door again. When I used the fan on him again, he didn't move at all. In desperation, I slashed at him with my sword, but this time he didn't show me any courtesy. I was afraid his staff was too heavy for me, so I retreated into the cave and shut the door tight. But somehow, he got into my belly and nearly killed me! I had no choice but to call him 'Uncle' a few times and give him the fan."
The Great Sage deliberately beat his chest and said, "What a pity! What a pity! My lady, you were wrong! How could you give such a precious treasure to that monkey? It infuriates me to death!"
The Rakshasa Woman laughed and said, "Great King, don't be angry. I gave him a fake fan to trick him into leaving." The Great Sage quickly asked, "Where is the real fan then?" The Rakshasa Woman said, "Don't worry! Don't worry! I have it safely put away." She ordered the maids to set out wine to welcome the "Bull King" home. Then she raised a cup and handed it to him, saying, "Great King, you've been newly married, but don't forget your first wife. Drink a cup of the wine from our homeland."
The Great Sage didn't dare refuse. He smiled and raised his cup, saying, "My lady, you drink first. I've been busy managing the family property abroad and haven't seen you for a long time. You've been holding down the fort all this time. Let this cup be my thanks to you." The Rakshasa Woman took the cup, refilled it, and handed it back to him, saying, "Since ancient times, 'A wife is equal to her husband.' A husband is the one who supports his wife. What thanks are there to speak of?" After a few more polite exchanges, they finally sat down to drink. The Great Sage dared not eat any meat, so he only ate a few fruits while keeping the Rakshasa Woman company in conversation.
After several rounds of wine, the Rakshasa Woman was a little drunk and began to feel amorous. She pressed close to the Great Sage Sun, pulling and tugging at him. Holding his hand, she whispered sweet nothings; leaning on his shoulder, she murmured softly in his ear. They shared the same cup of wine, each taking a sip, and even fed each other fruits. The Great Sage forced a smile and, having no choice, let her nestle against him. Truly: Wine is the hook that fishes for poetry, the broom that sweeps away sorrow; nothing in the world can dispel troubles like wine. A man of integrity may open his heart, and a woman, forgetting her reserve, may laugh with joy. Her face grew as red as a peach blossom, her body swayed like a tender willow. She chattered on and on, pinching and patting with amorous intent. Now she would smooth her cloud-like hair, now she would gesture with her delicate fingers. Several times she lifted her foot, and many times she tugged at her sleeves. Her powdered neck naturally drooped, and her slender waist began to twist. Their intimate words never ceased, and her garments loosened, revealing golden buttons undone. Drunk, she truly seemed like a jade mountain about to topple, her hazy eyes and amorous movements making a somewhat indecent spectacle.
Seeing her so drunk, the Great Sage secretly took note. He deliberately teased her, saying, "My lady, where do you keep the real fan? You must be careful with it. I'm afraid that Sun Wukong the Pilgrim, with his many transformations, might come again to trick you out of it." The Rakshasa Woman giggled and spat out a fan no larger than an apricot leaf from her mouth. She handed it to the Great Sage and said, "Isn't this the treasure?"
The Great Sage took it in his hand but was a little skeptical. He thought to himself, "How can something so small fan out a fire? I'm afraid it's another fake." Seeing him staring blankly at the fan, the Rakshasa Woman couldn't help but press her face against his and say, "My dear, put the treasure away and let's drink. Why are you staring off into space like that?"
The Great Sage took the opportunity to follow up on her words, "How can something so small fan out the eight hundred miles of flames?" The Rakshasa Woman, drunk and without restraint, revealed the secret: "Great King, we've been apart for two years. You must have been so busy chasing pleasure day and night, bewitched by that Jade Faced Princess, that you've lost your memory! How can you forget how to use your own treasure? Simply press the seventh strand of red silk on the handle with the thumb of your left hand, recite the spell 'Xu, He, Xi, Xi, Chui, Hu,' and the fan will grow to twelve feet long. This treasure can change size at will! Even if it were eighty thousand miles of flames, one fan could extinguish it all!"
The Great Sage listened carefully and committed every word to memory. He put the fan in his mouth, wiped his face, and transformed back into his own form. He shouted loudly, "Rakshasa Woman! Take a look—am I your real husband? All those shameful things you did with me! For shame! For shame!"
When the Rakshasa Woman saw it was Sun Wukong the Pilgrim, she was so startled that she overturned the table and fell to the ground. Filled with shame and anger, she could only cry out, "It's killing me! It's killing me!"
The Great Sage paid no attention to whether she lived or died. He shook off her hands and strode out of the Plantain Cave. Truly, he had no heart to indulge in sensual pleasures; he proudly carried the fan and headed back. He leaped up, mounted an auspicious cloud, and ascended to a high peak. He spat out the fan and tried to practice its use. He pressed the seventh strand of red silk on the handle with the thumb of his left hand and recited the spell "Xu, He, Xi, Xi, Chui, Hu." The fan indeed grew to twelve feet long. He held it in his hand and examined it carefully. It was indeed different from the previous fake fan. Auspicious light and blessed mists radiated from its surface, and thirty-six strands of red silk interconnected, linking its outer and inner layers.
However, Wukong had only learned the spell to make it grow larger, not the incantation to shrink it, so the fan could only remain at this length. With no other choice, he had to carry the fan on his shoulder and retrace his steps. Let us leave him there for now.
Meanwhile, the Bull Demon King, after the banquet at the bottom of the Jasper Waves Pool had ended, went out and found that his Golden-Eyed Beast was missing. The old dragon king summoned all the spirits and asked, "Who stole the Bull Lord's Golden-Eyed Beast?" All the spirits knelt and said, "No one dared to steal it! We were all at the feast, serving wine, carrying dishes, singing, and playing music. Not a single person left."
The old dragon said, "My household servants certainly wouldn't dare. Has any stranger come in recently?" The dragon sons and grandsons said, "When the feast began, a crab spirit came in. That was the only stranger." When the Bull King heard this, he immediately understood: "No need to ask further! This morning, when a friend's servant came to invite me to the feast, Sun Wukong, the one protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey west, was blocked by the Flaming Mountain and couldn't get through. He came to borrow my plantain fan, but I refused. We fought for a while without either winning, and I left him to come to the feast. That monkey is exceptionally clever and full of schemes. He must have transformed into that crab spirit, come here to spy, stolen my beast, and gone to my wife to trick her out of the plantain fan!"