Sun Wukong took his leave of the Bodhisattva and descended from his cloud. First, he hung the cassock on a fragrant nanmu tree , then drew out his Golden-Banded Cudgel and charged into the Black Wind Cave. Not a single minor demon remained inside—they had all fled in terror when they saw the Bodhisattva appear and their elder writhing on the ground, thoroughly subdued. Wukong, determined to finish the job, piled dry firewood at the cave's several gates and set them ablaze from front to back, turning the Black Wind Cave into a "Red Wind Cave." Then, retrieving the cassock, he mounted his auspicious cloud and headed northward back to the Guanyin Temple.
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang had been waiting for Wukong, growing increasingly anxious with each passing hour. He wondered whether the Bodhisattva could not be persuaded or if Wukong had simply taken the chance to run away. Lost in such troubling thoughts, he saw a patch of colorful mist drifting through the sky, and suddenly Wukong landed on the steps before him, shouting, "Master, I've brought back the cassock!"
Tang Sanzang was both astonished and overjoyed, and the monks were equally delighted, all crying out, "Good! Good! Our lives are saved today!"
Tang Sanzang took the cassock and asked, "Wukong, when you left this morning, you said you'd be back by noon at the latest. Why have you only arrived now, when the sun is nearly setting?"
Sun Wukong recounted the entire tale—how he had sought the Bodhisattva's help and how she had transformed him to subdue the demon. When Tang Sanzang heard this, he quickly set up an incense altar , kowtowed in gratitude toward the south, and then said, "Disciple, since the cassock has been recovered, let us pack our belongings quickly and continue our journey."
Sun Wukong replied, "No rush, no rush. It's almost dark now, not a good time for travel. We'll leave in the morning."
The monks all knelt down and said, "Lord Sun is right! For one thing, it's too dangerous to travel at night; for another, we still have some unfulfilled vows. Now that all is peaceful and the treasure has been recovered, we wish to make our offerings and let you share in the blessings. Tomorrow morning, we will see you off on your westward journey."
Sun Wukong said, "Yes, that's the way to do it!"
And so the monks brought out all the meager savings they had salvaged from the fire, prepared a vegetarian feast , burned paper offerings for peace, and chanted several sutras to dispel misfortune. That evening, they completed all these ceremonies.
At dawn the next day, the monks helped groom the horse and pack the luggage, then saw the master and disciple off. They accompanied them a great distance before finally turning back. With Sun Wukong leading the way, the two continued westward. It was springtime then, and the scenery was beautiful: the grass softened the steps of the white-maned horse ; weeping willows swayed, their golden threads glistening with fresh dew. Peach and apricot trees filled the groves, vying in splendor; vines and creepers wound along the paths, full of vitality. On the sandy shore in the warm sunlight, mandarin ducks slept peacefully; by the mountain stream, amidst fragrant flowers, butterflies fluttered tamely. Thus, autumn had passed, winter had waned, and spring was already half over. Who knew how many years would pass before their pilgrimage was fulfilled and they obtained the true scriptures ?
After traveling for five or seven days through desolate wilderness, as evening approached one day, they spotted a village in the distance. Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, do you see that village over there? Let's go and ask for lodging for the night, and then continue tomorrow."
Sun Wukong replied, "Let me first see if this place is safe before we make any plans."
Tang Sanzang reined in his horse, and Sun Wukong observed carefully. The village was a patchwork of dense bamboo fences and thatched cottages clustered together. Tall ancient trees stood opposite the gates, and a stream wound past small bridges right up to the doorsteps. The roadside willows were lush and green, and the flowers in the courtyards bloomed fragrantly. As the sun set in the west, birds sang everywhere in the woods; evening smoke rose from farmhouse chimneys, and cattle and sheep returned along the paths homeward. Full-fed chickens and pigs could be seen dozing in corners, while an old man, tipsy from drink, hummed a tune as he came back from outside.
After taking it all in, Sun Wukong said, "Master, don't worry. This is surely a good household, just right for lodging."
Tang Sanzang urged the white horse forward, and soon they reached the village entrance. There they saw a young man, his head wrapped in a cotton cloth, wearing a blue jacket, carrying a bundle on his back and an umbrella, with his trouser legs tightly tied and a pair of straw sandals on his feet. He was hurrying out of the village. Sun Wukong stepped forward and grabbed hold of him, asking, "Where are you going? Let me ask you something: what is the name of this place?"
The young man struggled fiercely, shouting, "Is there no one else in our village? Am I the only one you can bully? Why pick on me!"
Sun Wukong smiled apologetically and said, "Don't be angry, benefactor. 'He who helps others helps himself.' Telling me the name of this place won't cost you anything, and maybe I can even help you with your troubles."
The man, unable to break free, stamped his feet in frustration. "Bad luck! Bad luck! I haven't even finished suffering my master's temper, and now I have to run into a bald-headed monk like you and suffer yours!"
Sun Wukong said, "If you can pry my hand open, I'll let you go."
The man twisted left and right, but could not break free—Sun Wukong's grip was like iron pincers. In a rage, he threw down his bundle and umbrella and struck at Sun Wukong with both hands like a rain of blows. Sun Wukong, holding his luggage with one hand and fending off the man with the other, remained untouched no matter how the man flailed. Sun Wukong tightened his grip, and the man grew even more frantic, hopping about in fury.
Tang Sanzang advised, "Wukong, isn't someone coming up ahead? You can ask someone else. Stop holding onto him and let him go."
Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Master, you don't understand. Asking anyone else would be useless. I have to ask him if I want to get to the bottom of something important."
The man, at his wit's end, finally said, "This place is within the borders of the Kingdom of Wusizang , and it's called Gao Village . Most of the people in the village are named Gao, which is how it got its name. Now let me go!"
Sun Wukong pressed further, "The way you're dressed, you don't look like you're going on a short trip. Tell me honestly where you're going and what you're up to, and then I'll let you go."
With no other choice, the man confessed, "I'm a servant of the Gao family, named Gao Cai . My master, Lord Gao , has a youngest daughter who is twenty years old and still unmarried. Three years ago, a goblin took possession of her—he's been acting as a son-in-law ever since. Lord Gao is not happy about it. He says, 'Having a daughter married to a goblin is no long-term solution: first, it brings disgrace upon the family; second, we can't even have proper in-laws.' He's been wanting to drive the goblin away, but the goblin refuses to leave, and he's locked my young mistress in the back courtyard. It's been almost half a year, and no one in the family has seen her. Lord Gao gave me a few taels of silver and told me to find a sorcerer to subdue the goblin. I haven't rested these past few days. I've hired three or four people already, but they were all useless monks and cowardly Daoists who couldn't subdue the goblin at all. Just now, Lord Gao scolded me for being useless and gave me another five maces of silver for travel expenses, telling me to go find a powerful sorcerer. Then I ran into you, this cursed star, who grabbed hold of me and delayed my journey. That's why I'm angry inside and out and shouting at you. But you're pretty strong, and I can't break free, so I've had to tell you the truth. Now let me go!"
Sun Wukong said, "You're in luck. I happen to have some work to do—what a coincidence! You don't have to go far, and you don't have to spend any silver. We're not useless monks or cowardly Daoists. We really have the power to subdue demons. As they say, 'First, I'll help your family find the right man; second, I'll solve your family's troubles.' Please go back and tell your master that we are the imperial younger brother of the Great Tang in the East, a holy monk sent to seek scriptures from the Buddha in the Western Heaven, and we are experts at subduing demons and monsters."
Gao Cai said, "Don't you fool me! I'm already full of anger with nowhere to vent it. If you can't subdue the goblin, I'll be the one to suffer even more!"
Sun Wukong said, "I promise I'm not lying. Just take me to the door of your house."
The man had no choice. He picked up his bundle and umbrella and led the master and disciple to the gate of the Gao mansion, saying, "Two elders, please sit on the mounting block for a moment while I go in and report to my master."
Sun Wukong finally let go. He set down the carrying pole, led the horse over, and the master and disciple waited at the gate.
Gao Cai entered the main gate and went straight to the central hall, where he ran into Lord Gao. Lord Gao scolded him, "You useless fellow! Why aren't you out looking for someone? What are you doing back here?"
Gao Cai put down his bundle and umbrella and said, "Master, calm your anger. I had just reached the street corner when I ran into two monks—one riding a horse, the other carrying a carrying pole. They grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go, asking where I was going. I refused to tell them at first, but they pestered me until I had no choice but to tell them everything about our family's troubles. To my surprise, they were delighted and said they wanted to help us subdue the goblin."
Lord Gao asked, "Where are they from?"
Gao Cai said, "They say they are the imperial younger brother of the Great Tang in the East, a holy monk sent to seek scriptures from the Buddha in the Western Heaven."
Lord Gao said, "Since they are monks who have come from far away, they might indeed have real skill. Where are they now?"
Gao Cai said, "They are waiting right outside the gate."
Lord Gao quickly changed his clothes and went out with Gao Cai to welcome them, calling out, "Elders!" Tang Sanzang heard the voice and turned around just as Lord Gao came before him. The old man wore a black silk headdress, a green Sichuan brocade coat, a pair of rough leather boots, and a black-green belt. Smiling, he stepped forward to greet them, saying, "Greetings to the two elders."
Tang Sanzang returned the greeting, but Sun Wukong stood still. Lord Gao, seeing how fierce Sun Wukong looked, dared not bow to him. Sun Wukong said, "Why don't you greet Old Sun?"
Lord Gao, somewhat frightened, said to Gao Cai, "You wretch, are you trying to ruin me? I already have an ugly monster for a son-in-law that I can't get rid of, and now you've brought another thunder-god-like monk to harm me!"
Sun Wukong said, "Old Gao, you've lived to such an age, yet you're still so foolish! If you judge people by their looks, you're making a big mistake! Old Sun may be ugly, but I have real skill—capturing the goblin for your family and rescuing your daughter, that's the real business. Stop harping on about appearances!"
Lord Gao, trembling with fear, forced himself to say, "Please, come in, come in."
Seeing that Lord Gao was inviting them in, Sun Wukong led the white horse over, had Gao Cai carry the luggage, and entered together with Tang Sanzang. Without ceremony, he tied the horse to a pillar in the main hall, pulled over a lacquered chair for Tang Sanzang to sit on, and then pulled over another chair for himself and sat down beside him.
Lord Gao said, "This young elder certainly makes himself at home."
Sun Wukong replied, "If you were willing to let me stay for half a year, I'd make myself even more at home."
After they had sat down, Lord Gao asked, "Gao Cai just said that the two of you have come from the East?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Indeed. I, a humble monk, have been ordered by the imperial court to go to the Western Heaven to pay homage to the Buddha and seek the scriptures. Passing by your estate, I wish to ask for lodging for the night and then continue on our way at dawn tomorrow."
Lord Gao asked, "If you two came here originally just to ask for lodging, then how is it that you also claim to be able to subdue demons?"
Sun Wukong said, "Asking for lodging is one thing, and catching a few goblins for fun is another. May I ask how many goblins there are in your house?"
Lord Gao sighed, "Heavens! How many could there be? This one goblin son-in-law alone has already made my life a misery!"
Sun Wukong said, "Tell me everything about this goblin—where he came from, what kind of powers he has—from beginning to end, so I can help you catch him."
Lord Gao said, "This village of ours, from ancient times to the present, has never had any ghosts or goblins. It's just that I, in my old age, was foolish. I had no sons, only three daughters: the eldest is called Xianglan, the second Yulan, and the youngest Cuilan. The two older ones were married off to families in this village long ago. I only had the youngest daughter left, and I wanted to take in a son-in-law to live with us, hoping he would help me manage the household and work the fields, and take care of me in my old age. Three years ago, a man came along. He looked fairly decent and said he was from Fusling Mountain, his surname was Zhu, and he had no parents, no brothers—he was all alone. He was willing to be a live-in son-in-law. Seeing that he had no attachments, I took him in. When he first arrived, he was quite hardworking: he could plow the fields and rake the soil without needing an ox, and he could harvest the crops without needing a sickle. He went out early and came back late, and he was really quite good. But there was one thing: he could change his appearance."
Sun Wukong asked, "How so?"
Lord Gao said, "When he first came, he was a dark, fat fellow. Later, he turned into a dull-witted creature with a long snout and big ears, with a tuft of bristles on the back of his head. His whole body was rough and terrifying, and his face looked just like a pig's! And his appetite is enormous: he eats three to five bushels of rice in a single meal, and for his morning snacks, he needs at least a hundred sesame cakes to be satisfied. Luckily, he's a vegetarian. If he ate meat and drank wine, my entire estate and fields would be devoured within half a year!"
Tang Sanzang said, "Given how much work he does, eating a lot is only natural."