The fifty defeated lesser demons, clutching broken banners and dented drums, rushed frantically into the cave to report: "Great King, the Tiger Vanguard could not defeat that hairy-faced monk ! He chased him all the way to the eastern hillside!"
The old demon, already deeply vexed, was brooding over his next move when a gate-guarding demon rushed in: "Great King, the Tiger Vanguard has been killed by that hairy-faced monk! He even dragged the corpse to our gate and is hurling insults at us!"
The old demon's fury boiled over. "This insolent monkey knows no bounds! I have not yet eaten his master, yet he has slain my vanguard first! How detestable! How detestable!" He roared, "Bring me my armor! I have long heard of this Sun Pilgrim . Today, I shall see whether he is a monster with nine heads and eight tails, or just an ordinary monk! I will capture him and make him pay for my Tiger Vanguard's life!"
The lesser demons hurriedly brought out his armor. The old demon donned it fully, grasped a three-pronged steel trident , and led a horde of demons as he leaped from the cave. Sun Wukong stood outside the gate, observing the demon as he emerged, noting his fierce and valiant appearance. Behold the old demon's form:
His golden helmet blazed against the sun, and his golden armor gleamed with condensed light. Upon the helmet, pheasant tail feathers danced; beneath it, a pale yellow silk robe covered the armor. His leather belt, coiled with a dragon pattern, shimmered; the mirror on his chest glittered brilliantly. His deerskin boots were dyed the color of locust flowers; his brocade apron was adorned with willow-leaf embroidery. In his hand, he wielded a sharp three-pronged steel trident, no less formidable than the famed Erlang of old.
As soon as the old demon stepped out, he shouted sternly, "Which one is Sun the Pilgrim?"
Sun Wukong, standing atop the corpse of the Tiger Vanguard and raising his Golden-Banded Cudgel, replied, "Your grandfather Sun is right here! Return my master to me at once!"
The old demon scrutinized Sun Wukong, seeing his small, lean frame and sallow complexion—barely four feet tall. He laughed and said, "How pitiful! How pitiful! I thought you were an invincible hero, but you are nothing but a sickly ghost, all skin and bones!"
Sun Wukong grinned. "You fool, you have no eye for talent! Though your grandfather is small in stature, if you dare strike me on the head with your trident, I will grow three feet taller!"
The old demon said, "Steel yourself, then, and take a thrust from my fork!"
Sun Wukong showed no fear. When the old demon truly thrust his trident, the Monkey King arched his back and indeed grew three feet, reaching a full ten feet in height. The old demon hastily pulled back his steel trident and bellowed, "Sun the Pilgrim! Why do you flaunt your body-transformation skills at my doorstep? Stop your tricks! Come, let us fight with true weapons!"
Sun Wukong laughed. "Fool! As the saying goes, 'He who holds back his hand shows mercy; he who strikes shows none.' Your grandfather's cudgel carries great force; I fear you cannot withstand it!"
The old demon paid no heed and spun his steel trident, thrusting it straight at Sun Wukong's chest. The Monkey King, an old hand at combat, remained unflustered. He swung his iron staff in a move called "The Black Dragon Sweeps the Ground," parrying the trident, then aimed a blow at the old demon's head. The two clashed at the mouth of the Yellow Wind Cave , and the battle was truly fierce:
The demon king raged, and the Great Sage displayed his might. The demon king raged, seeking to capture the Pilgrim to avenge his vanguard; the Great Sage displayed his might, wanting to seize the fiend and rescue the elder. The trident came, and the staff met it; the staff struck, and the trident blocked it. One was the supreme commander of the mountain, the other was the guardian Handsome Monkey King. At first, they fought on the dusty ground; later, they rose into the air. The pointed steel trident was sharp and keen; the As-You-Will Cudgel was black-shafted with gold bands. Whom the trident pierced would have their soul sent to the underworld; whom the cudgel struck would surely meet the King of Hell. The fight relied entirely on quick hands and sharp eyes, requiring great strength and a sturdy body. Both sides fought desperately, oblivious to life and death; none could tell who would be safe and who would be wounded.
The old demon and Sun Wukong fought for thirty rounds without either gaining the upper hand. Sun Wukong, eager to win quickly, employed his " Body Outside the Body " technique: he plucked a handful of his fur, chewed it into pieces, spat it into the air, and shouted, "Change!" Instantly, a hundred Sun Wukongs appeared, all dressed identically, each wielding an iron staff, surrounding the old demon in the sky.
The old demon panicked and used his own skill. Turning his head toward the Xun direction (southeast), he opened his mouth and exhaled three breaths. Suddenly, a fierce yellow wind swept down from the heavens. This wind was truly terrible!
A cold, howling gale transformed heaven and earth; invisible and formless, it whirled yellow sand. It tore through forests, snapped ridges, and toppled pines and plum trees; it churned up dust and earth, collapsing hills and mounds. The Yellow River's waves churned, muddying its waters to the depths; the Xiang River's currents surged, rolling and turning. The azure sky trembled, shaking the Dipper and Ox palaces ; it nearly blew down the Hall of the King of Hell . Five hundred Arhats clamored in chaos; the Eight Great Vajra Guardians shouted in disarray. Manjushri lost his blue-haired lion; Samantabhadra 's white elephant could not be found. Zhenwu 's tortoise and snake scattered from their ranks; the Zitong mule 's saddle flaps drifted away. Traveling merchants cried out to heaven; boatmen made all sorts of vows and prayers. Lives of smoke and mist were cast adrift in the currents; the remnants of fame and fortune followed the waters. Immortal caves and mountains became pitch black; the isles of Penglai grew dark and dim. Lord Laozi could no longer tend his elixir furnace; the Old Man of the South Pole put away his dragon-whisk fan. The Queen Mother, on her way to the Peach Banquet , had her skirt belt snapped by the wind. Erlang lost his way in Guanzhou City; Nezha could not draw his sword from its sheath. The Heavenly King could not find his pagoda; Lu Ban lost his golden drill. The Thunderclap Monastery collapsed three stories; the Zhaozhou Stone Bridge broke in two. The red sun swayed, its light dimmed; all the stars in the sky grew dim and disordered. Birds from the southern mountains flew to the northern peaks; the waters of the eastern lake flowed into the western lake. Mates were separated, unable to call to each other; mothers and children were parted, unable to cry out. The Dragon King searched the seas for his yakshas; the Thunder God everywhere sought his lightning. The Ten Kings of the Underworld looked for their judges; the Ox-Head and Horse-Face demons chased each other in the underworld. This wind blew down Mount Putuo and rolled up Guanyin's sutra scroll. White lotus flowers were torn from their stems and flew toward the sea, blowing down twelve of the Bodhisattva's halls. Since the time of Pangu, winds have been seen, but none as fierce as this. With a howling roar, the universe nearly split apart; the ten thousand-mile realm of mountains and rivers trembled!
The demon's yellow wind blew the hundred miniature Pilgrims created from Sun Wukong's fur spinning in the air like tops, unable to wield their staffs or even stand steady. Sun Wukong quickly shook his fur, retracting the clones, and charged forward alone with his iron staff. But the old demon blew another mouthful of yellow wind directly into his face. Sun Wukong's fiery golden eyes were forced shut, stinging and unable to open. Unable to use his staff, he was forced to retreat in defeat. The old demon withdrew the wind and returned to his cave, leaving the matter for now.
Meanwhile, Zhu Bajie, seeing the yellow wind rage and the sky darken, had led the horse and guarded the luggage while crouching in a mountain hollow. He dared not open his eyes or lift his head, constantly reciting Buddhist prayers and making vows. He had no idea how Sun Wukong's fight was going or whether his master was alive or dead. As he was lost in anxious thought, the wind suddenly stopped, and the sky cleared. He raised his head to look at the cave entrance but saw neither weapons nor heard the sound of drums or gongs. The Fool did not dare approach the cave, yet there was no one to watch the horse and luggage. Caught between advancing and retreating, he grew increasingly frantic.
Just as his anxiety peaked, he heard Sun Wukong calling out as he approached from the west. Bajie rose to greet him: "Brother, what a tremendous wind! Where have you come from?"
Sun Wukong waved his hand and said, "Formidable! Formidable! In all my years, Old Sun has never seen such a vicious wind! That old demon wielded a three-pronged steel trident and fought me for over thirty rounds. When I used my duplication technique and surrounded him, he grew desperate and conjured this wind. It was so fierce it blew me off balance. I had to retract my clones and flee against the gale. Ah, this wind is truly sinister! I can summon wind and rain myself, but I have never seen anything so powerful!"
Bajie asked, "Brother, how was the demon's martial skill?"
Sun Wukong replied, "Not bad. His trident technique was quite orderly; we were evenly matched. But his wind is too fierce; I cannot overcome him."
Bajie said, "Then how will we rescue our master?"
Sun Wukong answered, "Rescuing our master can wait a bit. Is there an eye doctor around here? I need to get my eyes treated first."
Bajie asked, "What's wrong with your eyes?"
Sun Wukong said, "That demon blew a mouthful of yellow wind into my face. My eyes are sore and painful, and they keep tearing up."
Bajie said, "Brother, in these desolate mountains and wild forests, and with night falling, there is not even a place to stay, let alone an eye doctor!"
Sun Wukong said, "Finding a place to stay is not difficult. I suspect that demon does not dare to harm our master. Let us first find a main road and seek lodging with some family. Tomorrow at dawn, we will return to subdue the demon."
Bajie agreed: "Right, let's do that!"
The two led the horse and carried the load as they left the mountain hollow and walked onto the main road. Dusk was approaching when they heard the barking of dogs from the southern slope of the road. They stopped to look and saw a house with a light on inside. Regardless of whether there was a path, they tramped through the grass until they reached the door and called out, "Open up! Open up!"
An old man emerged from the house, followed by several young farmers carrying pitchforks, rakes, and brooms. "Who are you?" he asked.
Sun Wukong bowed and said, "We are disciples of the holy monk from the Great Tang in the East, journeying to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. Passing through this mountain, our master was captured by the Yellow Wind Great King and has not yet been rescued. Night has fallen, and we wish to beg for lodging at your home. We beseech you to be kind."
The old man returned the bow and said, "Forgive me! Forgive me! This is a remote and sparsely populated area. When I heard the knocking at the door, I feared it might be a fox spirit, a tiger, or bandits, so the young men were a bit hasty and rude. I did not expect it to be two venerable monks. Please, come in! Come in!"
The two led the horse and carried their load into the house. They tied up the horse, set down the luggage, exchanged greetings with the old man, and sat down. A servant brought tea, and after they had finished, served several bowls of sesame rice. After the meal, the old man ordered bedding to be prepared.
Sun Wukong said, "Sleeping can wait. May I ask, good benefactor, do you sell eye medicine here?"
The old man asked, "Which venerable monk has trouble with his eyes?"
Sun Wukong said, "To be honest with you, we monks are usually free from illness and have never suffered from eye ailments."
The old man said, "Since you have no eye ailments, why do you ask for eye medicine?"
Sun Wukong replied, "Today, while trying to rescue our master at the mouth of the Yellow Wind Cave, that demon blew a gust of wind into my face. My eyes are sore and painful, and they keep tearing up. That is why I seek some eye medicine."
The old man exclaimed, "Oh! Venerable Monk, you are so young and yet you speak falsely! The Yellow Wind Great Sage's wind is the most fearsome of all. It is nothing like the ordinary spring wind, autumn wind, or the winds from the east, south, west, or north..."
Bajie interrupted, "Could it be the brain-piercing wind, the sheep's ear wind, the leprosy wind, or the partial headache wind?"
The old man said, "None of those. His wind is called the 'Three Flavors Divine Wind.'"
Sun Wukong asked, "What makes it so formidable?"
The old man said, "This wind can transform heaven and earth, and even ghosts and gods fear it. It can shatter rocks and topple mountains. If it blows on a person, they will surely die! The fact that you survived is remarkable. Only immortals can remain unharmed."
Sun Wukong said, "True! True! Though we are not immortals, immortals are still my juniors. My life is safe enough, but my eyes are painfully wind-burned."
The old man said, "From what you say, you must be a person of some background. I do not sell eye medicine here, but I myself suffer from the ailment of tearing up when facing the wind. I once met a master who passed on a prescription to me, called the 'Three Flowers and Nine Seeds Ointment.' It can cure all sorts of wind-induced eye ailments."
Sun Wukong quickly bowed his head and said, "I beg you to give me some to try!"
The old man agreed and went inside, returning with a small agate stone jar. He pulled out the stopper, dipped a jade hairpin into the ointment, and applied a bit to Sun Wukong's eyes. He told him not to open his eyes, to sleep peacefully, and that he would be better by morning. After applying the medicine, he put away the jar and went inside with the young men.
Bajie opened the bundle, spread out the bedding, and asked Sun Wukong to rest. Sun Wukong, with his eyes closed, fumbled around. Bajie laughed and said, "Sir, where is your walking stick?"
Sun Wukong retorted, "You chaff-eating fool! Are you treating me like a blind man?"
The Fool chuckled secretly and went to sleep. Sun Wukong sat on the bed and circulated his energy until after the third watch, when he finally fell asleep.
Just before dawn at the fifth watch, Sun Wukong wiped his face, opened his eyes, and said, "This medicine is truly effective! My vision is a hundred times clearer than usual!" He turned his head to look—and gasped. There was no house, no doors or windows to be seen! Only a few old locust trees and tall willows remained. Master and disciples were sleeping on the grass.
Bajie woke up and asked, "Brother, what are you shouting about?"
Sun Wukong said, "Open your eyes and look!"
The Fool raised his head and saw that the house was gone. Startled, he scrambled to his feet. "Where is my horse?"
Sun Wukong said, "Isn't it tied to that tree over there?"
Bajie asked again, "And the luggage?"
Sun Wukong said, "Isn't it right beside your head?"
Bajie exclaimed, "This family is too lazy! If they were moving, why didn't they wake us? At least they could have offered us some tea and snacks! They must have been afraid the village head would find out and moved in the middle of the night. Alas! We slept like the dead! We didn't even hear them tearing down the house!"
Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Fool, stop your nonsense. Look at the paper note pasted on that tree."
Bajie walked over and tore it down. On it were four lines of verse:
This dwelling was no common man's abode; the Guardian Spirits conjured it as a lodge. The wondrous medicine cured your eye's distress; now with all your heart subdue the demon, and do not hesitate.
Sun Wukong said, "This group of Guardian Spirits! Ever since the dragon horse was exchanged, I have not summoned them, and now they come to play tricks on us again!"
Bajie said, "Brother, stop putting on airs. How could they possibly obey your summons?"
Sun Wukong replied, "Brother, you are still unaware. These Guardian Spirits, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Five Revealers, and the Four Duty Gods are all under the Bodhisattva's orders to secretly protect our master. After they reported their names to me last time, I have not needed to call upon them because you have been with us. That is why I haven't summoned them."
Bajie said, "Brother, they are under orders to protect our master in secret and cannot reveal themselves, so they conjured this estate. Do not blame them. Yesterday, thanks to them, your eyes were treated, and they even fed us a meal. That is more than enough. Let us not delay any longer; let us go and rescue our master!"
Sun Wukong said, "Brother, you speak wisely. This place is not far from the Yellow Wind Cave. Do not move about recklessly. Stay in the woods to watch the horse and guard the luggage. I will go into the cave to find out our master's whereabouts and then fight the demon again."
Bajie said, "Right, first scout out the situation. If our master is dead, we can each make our own plans. If he is still alive, we will do our utmost to rescue him."
Sun Wukong said, "Do not speak nonsense. I am off!"
With a single leap, Sun Wukong flew straight to the entrance of the Yellow Wind Cave. Seeing the cave door still closed, with the demons presumably still asleep, he did not call out or disturb them. Instead, he made a hand seal, recited a spell, shook himself, and transformed into a small flower-spotted mosquito—truly tiny! There is a poem to prove it:
With a tiny, buzzing form and a sharp, piercing proboscis, its hum was as faint as thunder. It could easily slip through gauze curtains in fragrant chambers, loving the warmth of summer days. It only feared smoke from incense and the swat of a fan, but cherished the glow of lamplight. Light and small, it was adept at drilling through cracks, and it flew into the demon's cave.
He saw the gate-guarding demon snoring loudly. Sun Wukong bit him on the face. The little demon turned over and woke up, cursing, "Heavens! What a huge mosquito! One bite and I have a big lump!" He opened his eyes and said, "It's already dawn." Then, with a creak, the second gate opened. Sun Wukong buzzed inside and heard the old demon ordering the gates to be secured while he prepared his weapons, saying, "That wind yesterday did not kill Sun the Pilgrim. He will surely come again today. When he does, I will make short work of him!"
Hearing this, Sun Wukong flew through the hall and into the rear courtyard. Seeing a tightly shut inner door, he squeezed through a crack and found a large, empty garden. There, Tang Sanzang was tied with ropes to a Wind-Settling Pillar! His master's face was covered in tears, his heart full of longing for Wukong and Bajie, not knowing where they were. Sun Wukong landed on his master's bald head and whispered, "Master."
The elder recognized his voice and said, "Wukong, I have missed you so much! Where are you calling me from?"
Sun Wukong said, "Master, I am on your head. Do not be anxious or troubled. We will surely capture the demon and rescue you."
Tang Sanzang asked, "Disciple, when will you capture the demon?"
Sun Wukong said, "The Tiger Vanguard who captured you has already been killed by Bajie. It is only the old demon's wind that is formidable. I expect we will catch him today. Do not worry and do not cry. I am leaving now."
With that, he buzzed his way to the front courtyard. He saw the old demon seated on high, reviewing his various captains. He also saw a lesser demon at the cave entrance waving a command flag, who then rushed in panic to report: "Great King, I was patrolling the mountain when, just as I left the gate, I saw a long-snouted, big-eared monk sitting in the woods. I barely escaped being caught by him. I did not see that hairy-faced monk from yesterday."
The old demon said, "If Sun the Pilgrim is not around, he must have been blown to death by the wind, or else he has gone to seek reinforcements!"
The crowd of demons said, "Great King, if he is truly dead, that would be our good fortune. But if he is not dead and goes to summon heavenly soldiers, what shall we do?"
The old demon said, "What do I fear from heavenly soldiers? The only one who can withstand my wind is Bodhisattva Lingji. I fear no one else!"
Sun Wukong, perched on a beam, heard this and was overjoyed. He immediately flew out, resumed his true form, and ran to the woods, calling out, "Brother!"
Bajie said, "Brother, where have you been? Just now, a demon carrying a command flag was chased away by me."
Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Thanks to you! I transformed into a mosquito and flew into the cave to scout for our master. He is tied to the Wind-Settling Pillar, crying, but I told him not to worry. Then I flew up to the beam and eavesdropped. Just then, the demon with the command flag ran in to report—after you chased him away, he didn't see me. The old demon guessed that I was either blown to death or had gone for help. He even let slip the name of the one person he fears, which is perfect!"
Bajie asked, "Who did he let slip?"
Sun Wukong said, "He said he fears no heavenly soldiers, and that only Bodhisattva Lingji can subdue his wind—but I do not know where Lingji lives."
As they were discussing this, an old man approached from the main road. Behold his appearance:
A sturdy old man who needed no staff, with snow-white hair and beard flowing freely. Golden flowers adorned his head, and his eyes were dim yet bright; his thin bones and withered sinews were surprisingly strong. With a hunched back and lowered head, he walked slowly; his thick eyebrows and ruddy face made him look like a child. His appearance was like that of the God of Longevity emerging from his cave.
Bajie was delighted at the sight. "Brother, as the saying goes, 'To know the road ahead, ask those who have traveled it.' Why don't you go and ask him?"
Sun Wukong hid his Golden-Banded Cudgel, straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and called out, "Old sir, may I trouble you?"
The old man slowly returned the greeting and asked, "Where are you monks from? What are you doing in this desolate wilderness?"
Sun Wukong said, "We are disciples of the holy monk on the scripture-seeking journey. We lost our master here yesterday. I would like to ask you, sir, where does Bodhisattva Lingji reside?"
The old man said, "Lingji is due south, about two thousand miles from here. There is a mountain called Little Sumeru, and within it a monastery where the Bodhisattva preaches the dharma. Are you going to seek his scriptures?"
Sun Wukong said, "Not to seek scriptures, but to beg for his help in an urgent matter. I just do not know which road to take."
The old man pointed south with his finger and said, "This winding path is the way."
In the moment Sun Wukong turned his head to look at the road, the old man transformed into a gust of clear wind and vanished, leaving behind a note on the roadside with four lines of verse:
A message for the Great Sage Equal to Heaven: the old man is Li Changgeng. On Sumeru Mountain lies the Flying Dragon Staff, given by the Buddha to Lingji in days of old.
Sun Wukong picked up the note and turned to leave. Bajie said, "Brother, our luck has been terrible these past two days! We keep running into strange things! Who was that old man who turned into wind and disappeared?"
Sun Wukong handed the note to Bajie. After reading it, Bajie asked, "Who is Li Changgeng?"
Sun Wukong said, "That is the name of the Great White Planet Venus of the West."
Bajie immediately kowtowed toward the sky: "Benefactor! Benefactor! If not for the Planet Venus speaking well of me before the Jade Emperor, Old Pig would have lost his life long ago!"
Sun Wukong said, "Brother, it is good that you remember kindness. Do not show yourself. Stay deep in the woods and watch over the luggage and the horse. I am going to Sumeru Mountain to invite the Bodhisattva."
Bajie said, "I understand! I understand! Go quickly! Old Pig will learn from the tortoise and tuck in his head when necessary."
Sun Wukong leaped into the air, mounted his somersault cloud, and flew due south with incredible speed—a nod carried him three thousand miles, and a stoop covered another eight hundred. Soon, he saw a lofty mountain, its peaks wreathed in auspicious clouds and radiant mists. In a mountain hollow, there was indeed a meditation temple, from which came the sounds of bells and chimes and the scent of incense. Sun Wukong flew to the gate and saw a Taoist holding a prayer bead necklace and reciting the Buddha's name. He stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Taoist."
The Taoist returned the greeting with a bow and asked, "Where have you come from?"
Sun Wukong said, "Is this the place where Bodhisattva Lingji preaches the dharma?"
The Taoist replied, "Indeed it is. What business do you have?"
Sun Wukong said, "Please trouble yourself to announce me. I am a disciple of the Imperial Younger Brother of the Great Tang in the East, the Dharma Master Tripitaka, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong. I have urgent business to see the Bodhisattva."
The Taoist smiled and said, "Your name is long and your speech is wordy. I cannot remember it all. I will just say that Sun Wukong, the disciple of Tang Sanzang, has come."
The Taoist went in to announce him, and the Bodhisattva immediately donned his cassock, lit incense, and came out to welcome him.
Sun Wukong entered the meditation temple and looked around. He saw:
The hall was filled with splendor and majestic dignity. Disciples chanted the Lotus Sutra in unison, while the elder priest gently struck a golden bell. Before the Buddha were offerings of celestial fruits and flowers; on the tables were laid out vegetarian dishes and offerings. Bright jeweled candles blazed with rainbow-like flames; thick incense smoke rose like colorful clouds. It was a moment after the sermon, when the mind was at peace and entered meditation, with white clouds drifting around the pine tops. The sword of wisdom was sheathed, the demon subdued; the true meaning of Prajna Paramita was profound.
The Bodhisattva, having adjusted his robes, welcomed Sun Wukong. After they were seated, a Taoist served tea. Sun Wukong said, "There is no need for tea. My master is in peril at Yellow Wind Mountain. I have come especially to beg the Bodhisattva to use his divine power to subdue the demon and rescue my master."
The Bodhisattva said, "I am under the Tathagata's orders to guard and suppress the Yellow Wind Monster here. The Tathagata gave me a 'Wind-Settling Pill' and a 'Flying Dragon Precious Staff.' When I first captured him, I spared his life and ordered him to return to his mountain and hide his name, forbidding him from harming anyone. I never expected that today he would seek to harm your master, thus violating my teachings. This is my fault."
The Bodhisattva wished to keep Sun Wukong for a meal, but Sun Wukong hastily declined. The Bodhisattva then took up his Flying Dragon Precious Staff and set off with Sun Wukong on their clouds.
Before long, they arrived at Yellow Wind Mountain. The Bodhisattva said, "Great Sage, this demon is afraid of me. I will wait here in the clouds. You go down and do battle with him. Lure him out, and I will use my power to subdue him."
Sun Wukong descended from the clouds and, without a word, raised his Golden-Banded Cudgel and smashed the cave gate, shouting, "Demon! Return my master to me at once!"
The gate-guarding demon rushed inside to report. The old demon said, "This insolent monkey is too rude! He refuses to admit defeat and dares to break down my gate! This time, I will use my divine wind and blow him to death!"
The old demon once again donned his armor, took up his steel trident, and charged out. Without a word, he thrust his trident at Sun Wukong's chest. Sun Wukong sidestepped, dodged the blow, and struck back with his staff. After only a few exchanges, the old demon turned and ran toward the Xun direction. Just as he opened his mouth to summon the wind, Bodhisattva Lingji, hovering in midair, threw down his Flying Dragon Precious Staff. Reciting some spell, the staff transformed into an eight-clawed golden dragon. With a whoosh, it extended its claws, seized the demon, lifted him by the head, and slammed him against the mountain rocks two or three times. The demon reverted to his original form—a yellow-haired mink.
Sun Wukong rushed forward, raising his staff to strike, but the Bodhisattva stopped him. "Great Sage, do not take his life. I must take him to see the Tathagata." He then said to Sun Wukong, "He was originally a mink who attained the Way at the foot of Vulture Peak. Because he stole the clear oil from a crystal lamp and feared being caught by the Vajra Guardians when the lamp grew dim, he fled here and became a spirit. The Tathagata knew his crime did not warrant death and ordered me to watch over him. But he has harmed human lives and now offended the Great Sage and framed Tang Sanzang. I will take him to see the Tathagata for punishment, and only then will the matter be settled."
Hearing this, Sun Wukong quickly thanked the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva took the mink and departed westward, leaving the matter for now.
Meanwhile, Zhu Bajie was in the woods, thinking of Sun Wukong, when he suddenly heard a shout from the hillside: "Brother Wuneng, bring the horse and the load over here!" The Fool recognized Sun Wukong's voice and quickly gathered everything, running out of the woods. Seeing Sun Wukong, he asked, "Brother, how did things go?"
Sun Wukong said, "I invited Bodhisattva Lingji, who used his Flying Dragon Precious Staff to capture the demon. It turned out to be a yellow-haired mink that had become a spirit. The Bodhisattva has taken him to Vulture Peak to see the Tathagata. Let us go into the cave and rescue our master."
The Fool was overjoyed at this news.
The two rushed into the cave, where they used their rake and iron staff to beat to death all the cunning hares, demon foxes, fragrant musk deer, and horned deer inside. Then they went to the rear courtyard to rescue their master. After Tang Sanzang came out, he asked, "How did the two of you capture the demon and rescue me?" Sun Wukong recounted the story of inviting Lingji to subdue the demon, and the master was filled with gratitude. The three disciples and master found some vegetarian food in the cave, ate their fill, and then left the cave, heading westward along