Sun Wukong, truly at his wit's end, had no choice but to mount a cloud of good omen and flip himself in a single somersault, heading straight for the Wudang Mountains in Jambudvipa, the Southern Continent. He intended to seek the aid of the Heavenly Honored One Who Subdues Demons , to rescue Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the heavenly soldiers from their peril. He flew through the sky without a moment's pause, and within a single day, he spotted the celestial realm of the Heavenly Honored One from afar. Gently pressing down his cloud, he took a careful look. This place was truly magnificent: A great mountain range rose in the southeast, a central peak reaching toward the heavens. Hibiscus-shaped peaks stood tall and noble; Purple Canopy Ridge loomed, majestic and steep. The rivers of the Nine Regions all flowed far away beyond Jing and Yang ; the hills of the Hundred Yue lands stretched endlessly, connecting to the constellations Wing and Chariot . Above, there was the Precious Grotto of the Great Void and the Numinous Terrace of Red and Vermilion . Golden chimes rang from thirty-six palaces , and countless pilgrims came to offer incense. Emperors Shun and Yu had once made sacrifices and prayed here, leaving jade slips and golden documents . Towering pavilions were adorned with blue birds ; banners swayed with crimson sashes . This famed mountain, set upon the earth, dominated the cosmos; this celestial realm, opened by heaven, pierced through the void. Several trees of plum blossoms were just blooming; all the jade-like herbs on the mountain were spreading their colors. Dragons lurked at the bottom of the pools; tigers crouched within the cliffs. Secluded ravines seemed to whisper like speaking voices; tame deer approached close to passing men. White cranes, companions to the clouds, perched on ancient junipers; green simurghs and red phoenixes sang facing the sun. This was truly the immortal land of the Jade Void Master and Minister , a golden portal to a benevolent rule over the world.
This Heavenly Honored One, the Primordial Lord , was born in the palace of the King of Pure Joy and his Queen, Goodness Triumphant . She had dreamed of swallowing sunlight, and upon waking, found herself pregnant. She carried the child for fourteen months, and at the noon hour of the first day of the third month in the first year of the Kaihuang era , under the cyclical sign of Jia-chen , he was born in the royal palace. This Heavenly Honored One: In his youth, he was brave and fierce; as he grew, he became a spirit of divine power. He refused to inherit the throne, devoting himself solely to spiritual cultivation. His parents could not restrain him, so he abandoned the royal palace. He delved into the mysteries, entered into deep meditation, and did so on this very mountain. When his cultivation was complete and his deeds fulfilled, he ascended to heaven in broad daylight. The Jade Emperor bestowed upon him the title of True Warrior . He responded to the call of the Mysterious Void , taking the form of a tortoise and a snake. Throughout the cosmos and the Six Directions, all beings called him the Numinous One. No darkness was too deep for him to perceive; no manifestation was beyond his power to achieve. From the beginning of a kalpa to its end, he cut down and subdued demonic essences.
As Sun Wukong admired the celestial scenery and walked forward, he soon passed the First Heavenly Gate, the Second Heavenly Gate, and the Third Heavenly Gate, arriving outside the Supreme Harmony Palace. Suddenly, he saw within the auspicious light and vapors of good omen, five hundred Numinous Officers standing guard. The Numinous Officers came forward to greet him and asked, "Who comes here?"
The Great Sage replied, "I am the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, Sun Wukong. I wish to see the Master and Minister."
Upon hearing this, the Numinous Officers immediately went inside to report. The Heavenly Honored One Who Subdues Demons promptly descended from his hall and came to the gate of the Supreme Harmony Palace to welcome him. Sun Wukong bowed and said, "I have a matter for which I must trouble you."
The Heavenly Honored One asked, "What matter?"
The Pilgrim said, "I am protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to fetch the scriptures, and we have encountered danger. When we reached the Western Continent of Cattle-Gift, there was a mountain called Little Western Heaven, and within it, a temple called the Little Thunder Monastery, which is inhabited by a monster. My master entered the temple gate and saw Arhats, Guardians, Bhikshus, and Holy Monks arrayed inside. Believing them to be true Buddhas, he knelt down to kowtow, and was immediately seized and bound by the monster. Caught off guard myself, the monster threw a golden cymbal that covered me. The cymbal had not a single crack, and its rim closed as tightly as a pair of pliers. Fortunately, the Golden-Headed Guardian went to petition the Jade Emperor, who sent the Twenty-Eight Mansions down to the mortal world that very night. Yet even they could not pry open the cymbal. Luckily, the Wood-Wading Dragon inserted his horn into the cymbal, allowing me to escape. I shattered the cymbal, which alarmed the monster. As I fought him, he cast out a white cloth bundle, trapping me, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and the Five-Fold Guardians all inside, binding us with ropes. I escaped that very night and rescued the star lords and my master. Later, while searching for the cassock and the monastic staff, I again alarmed the monster. I fought him alongside the heavenly soldiers. When he again produced the bundle, knowing its power, I fled swiftly, but the others were all captured once more. I am utterly out of options and have come especially to beg you, Master and Minister, for your assistance."
The Primordial Lord said, "In years past, I was renowned for my might in the North, holding the position of True Warrior, and I eradicated the evil and monstrous under heaven by decree of the Jade Emperor. Later, with my hair disheveled and my feet bare, treading upon the Flying Serpent and the Divine Tortoise, I led the Five Thunder Spirit Generals, the Giant Horned Dragon, lions, fierce beasts, and venomous dragons to subdue the black vapors and demonic influences in the Northeast, acting on a talismanic summons from the Primordial Heavenly Worthy. Now, I pass my days in tranquility on Wudang Mountain, cultivating my peace in the Supreme Harmony Hall. For these many years, the mountains and seas have been at peace, and the world has been tranquil. However, the demons and monsters within my jurisdiction, the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa and the Northern Continent of Kuru, have all been eradicated, and evil influences have vanished without a trace. Now that you, Great Sage, have come, I cannot refuse to go. Yet, without a decree from the upper realms, I dare not dispatch my troops recklessly. If I were to send the gods on my own authority, I fear I would incur the Jade Emperor's displeasure. But to refuse the Great Sage entirely would make me appear ungracious. I think that even if there are evil beings on the Western Road, they cannot amount to much. I will now dispatch the Generals Tortoise and Snake, along with the Five Divine Dragons, to go with you and lend their aid. They will surely be able to capture the fiend and rescue your master from peril."
The Pilgrim bowed in thanks to the Primordial Lord and immediately set off with the Generals Tortoise and Snake and the Five Divine Dragons, each leading their own elite soldiers, returning to the Western Continent of Cattle-Gift. Within a single day, they arrived at the Little Thunder Monastery. Pressing down their clouds, they went directly to the outer gate to issue their challenge.
Now, the Yellow Brow Great King was within the Precious Tower, consulting with his horde of monsters. "Sun Wukong hasn't come for the past two days," he said. "I wonder where he has gone to borrow more troops."
Before he had finished speaking, a minor demon from the front gate came to report, "Great King, Sun Wukong has brought several gods who look like dragons, snakes, and a tortoise. They are outside the gate, shouting their challenge!"
The demon said, "Where did this monkey find such gods as dragons, snakes, and a tortoise? From whence do they come?" He then donned his armor and helmet and strode out of the mountain gate, crying out in a loud voice, "Which dragon gods are you, daring to act wildly in my celestial realm?"
The Five Dragons and the Two Generals, majestic in appearance and full of vigor, roared back, "You wicked fiend! We are the Five Divine Dragons and the Generals Tortoise and Snake, subordinates of the Heavenly Honored One Who Subdues Demons, the Primordial Lord of the Supreme Harmony Palace on Wudang Mountain. Today, we have come at the invitation of the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, and by the talismanic command of our Heavenly Honored One, to capture you, you goblin! Quickly hand over Tang Sanzang and the various star lords and spare your life! Otherwise, we will beat every monster on this mountain to death and burn every building here to the ground!"
Hearing this, the monster was filled with rage. "You beasts!" he cried. "What skills do you have that you dare speak such nonsense? Don't run! Taste my staff!"
The Five Dragons immediately stirred up clouds and summoned rain, while the Generals Tortoise and Snake raised dust and sand. Each brandishing their spears, sabers, swords, and halberds, they charged forward together to attack. Sun Wukong followed behind, wielding his golden-banded staff. The battle that ensued was truly fierce: The fierce demon displayed his martial prowess; the Pilgrim sought out troops. The fierce demon displayed his prowess, arrogantly seizing the precious tower and posing as a Buddha; the Pilgrim sought out troops, traveling far to a precious realm to borrow dragon gods. The tortoise and snake brought forth water and fire; the monster wielded his weapons of war. The five dragons came west by decree; the Pilgrim, for his master's sake, brought up the rear. Swords and halberds gleamed, shaking like colored lightning; spears and sabers flashed, shimmering like rainbows. One wielded a wolf-tooth club, strong yet soft and short; the other, the golden-banded staff, responding to its master's will. One could only hear the cracking sounds like firecrackers, and the clanging tones like striking metal. Water and fire together attacked the monster; blades and soldiers clustered around the spirit. The cries of battle startled wolves and tigers; the clamor shook the very ghosts and gods. As the chaotic battle raged on with no clear victor, the demon once again produced his precious treasure.
Sun Wukong, leading the Five Dragons and the Two Generals, fought the demon for half an hour. Then the fiend untied his cloth bundle and held it in his hand. Sun Wukong saw this and was alarmed, shouting loudly, "Everyone, beware!"
But the Dragon Gods, Tortoise, and Snake did not know what to beware of. They all stopped their advance and went forward to block the attack. The fiend let out a "whoosh" and cast his bundle into the air. Sun Wukong, abandoning the Five Dragons and the Two Generals, mounted his somersault cloud and leaped beyond the nine heavens to escape. The Dragon Gods, Tortoise, and Snake were all captured by the fiend's bundle. Having won the victory, the fiend returned to his temple, bound them all with ropes, carried them to the underground vault, and covered it over. Of this, we will say no more for now.
Meanwhile, Sun Wukong descended from his cloud and leaned dejectedly against a mountain peak, crestfallen and despondent. "This monster is truly too powerful!" he muttered. Unconsciously, his eyes grew heavy, and he drifted off as if asleep. Suddenly, he heard someone call out, "Great Sage, stop pretending to sleep! Get up quickly and think of a way to seek help! Your master's life is hanging by a thread!"
The Pilgrim started awake, leaped to his feet, and saw that it was the Day Duty Patrol Spirit. The Pilgrim roared, "You petty god! Where have you been hiding these past days, indulging in incense offerings and failing to report to me? And now you dare to startle me! Stretch out your leg and let Old Sun give you a couple of whacks to relieve my boredom!"
The Patrol Spirit quickly bowed and said, "Great Sage, you are the immortal of joy in the human world. What is there for you to be bored about! We have long been under the Bodhisattva's command to secretly protect Tang Sanzang. Together with the local earth spirits, we dare not leave him for a single moment. Thus, we could not come frequently to see you. How can you blame us?"
The Pilgrim said, "Since you are protecting him, where are the various star lords, the Guardians, the Protectors of the Faith, and my master now being held captive by the fiend? What torments are they suffering?"
The Patrol Spirit replied, "Your master and your junior brothers are all hanging from the beams of the main hall's veranda. The various star lords and the others are all imprisoned in the underground vault, suffering grievously. For the past two days, we have heard no news from you, Great Sage. Just now, we saw the fiend capture the Divine Dragons, Tortoise, and Snake and send them to the vault as well. Only then did we realize that you had brought reinforcements. That is why I, this petty god, have come especially to find you. Great Sage, do not begrudge the trouble. Please go and seek aid once more."
When the Pilgrim heard the Patrol Spirit's words, he could not hold back his tears. "Now," he said, "I have no face to return to the Heavenly Palace, nor any face to go to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace. I dare not ask the Bodhisattva for the reason, and I am even more afraid to see the jade image of the Tathagata Buddha! Those who were just captured are the Generals Tortoise and Snake and the Five Divine Dragons from the True Warrior's command. Now, I truly have nowhere left to seek help. What is to be done?"
The Patrol Spirit smiled and said, "Great Sage, set your mind at ease. I, this petty god, recall one group of elite soldiers. If you invite them, they will surely be able to subdue this monster. The Wudang Mountain you just visited is in the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa. This other force is also in the Southern Continent, at the city of Xuyi Mountain, which is present-day Sizhou. There lives a Bodhisattva, the Great Sage State-Guiding King, whose spiritual powers are vast. He has a disciple called the Young Prince Zhang, along with four great spirit generals. In years past, they subdued the Water Mother Goddess. If you go to him now, he will surely be moved by compassion and come to your aid. He will definitely be able to capture the fiend and rescue your master."
The Pilgrim was overjoyed and said, "You go and protect my master. Do not let him come to any harm. I will go and seek reinforcements."
The Pilgrim mounted his somersault cloud, avoiding the monster's territory, and sped straight for Xuyi Mountain. Within a single day, he arrived. He looked carefully, and this place was truly magnificent: To the south, it neared the river crossing at Jiangjin; to the north, it bordered the Huai River. To the east, it connected to the sea cliffs; to the west, it joined the Fengfu region. On the mountain top, pavilions and towers rose in jagged splendor; in the mountain hollows, ravines and springs surged with vast torrents. Strange rocks rose in jagged peaks; lofty pine trees flourished in beauty. All kinds of fruits ripened fresh with the season; a thousand varieties of flowers opened to greet the sun. People moved about like ant swarms, countless in number; boats sailed back and forth like flocks of geese, vast in multitude. Above, there were the Auspicious Rock Temple, the Eastern Peak Palace, the Temple of the Five Manifestations, and the Tortoise Mountain Monastery, whose bell tones and incense smoke pierced the azure heavens. There were also the Glass Spring, the Five Pagoda Valley, the Eight Immortals Terrace, and the Apricot Blossom Garden, where the light of the mountains and the colors of the trees reflected off the city walls. White clouds stretched across, refusing to pass; weary birds sang as they grew silent. Why speak of the beauty of Mount Tai, Mount Song, Mount Heng, or Mount Hua? This celestial scene was like the isles of Penglai and Yingzhou.
The Great Sage admired the view without end, then crossed the Huai River, entered the city, and arrived outside the mountain gate of the Great Sage's Zen Temple. He saw that the temple's halls were vast and spacious, its long corridors brilliantly colored, and a precious pagoda towered high into the sky. Truly: Reaching into the clouds, leaning against the Milky Way, a thousand zhang high; looking up, one could see the golden vase piercing the blue sky. Light congealed above and below, filling the universe; no shadow fell east or west, obscuring the window blinds. The wind blowing the precious bells sounded like heavenly music; the sun shining on the icy dragons reflected against the Brahma palace. Perching and flying, spirit birds occasionally spoke; gazing into the distance, the Huai River stretched endlessly, vast and boundless.
The Pilgrim walked as he looked, until he reached the second gate. The State-Guiding King Bodhisattva already knew he was coming and immediately came out with the Young Prince Zhang to welcome him. After they had exchanged greetings, the Pilgrim said, "I am protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to fetch the scriptures. On the way, I encountered a Little Thunder Monastery where there is a Yellow Brow Fiend impersonating the Tathagata Buddha. My master could not distinguish the false from the true and knelt down to kowtow, whereupon he was seized. The fiend also covered me with a golden cymbal, but I was rescued by the star lords from heaven. I broke the cymbal and fought with him, and he produced a cloth bundle, capturing all the heavenly gods, the Guardians, the Protectors of the Faith, my master, and my junior brothers. I went to Wudang Mountain to seek help from the Heavenly Honored One of the Mysterious Heaven, who sent the Five Dragons, Tortoise, and Snake to capture the fiend, but they too were all captured by the demon's bundle. I am now utterly helpless and have come especially to pay my respects and beg your aid, Bodhisattva. I hope you will exercise your great spiritual power, using the divine powers with which you once subdued the Water Mother Goddess, and your ability to save the common people, to come with me and rescue my master! When we have obtained the scriptures and returned, they will be spread forever in the Central Plains, proclaiming the wisdom of our Buddha and propagating the Dharma of Prajnaparamita."
The State-Guiding King Bodhisattva said, "Your present affair truly concerns the flourishing of our Buddhist faith. I should go in person. But it is now early summer, and the Huai River is in flood. I have just subdued the Great Sage Water Ape, and that creature will stir up trouble whenever he encounters water. I fear that if I leave, he will take the opportunity to cause chaos, and no one will be able to control him. I will now send my disciple to lead the Four Great Spirit Generals and go with you to subdue the fiend."
The Pilgrim quickly expressed his thanks and immediately set off with the Four Great Spirit Generals and the Young Prince Zhang, riding their clouds back to Little Western Heaven, arriving directly at the Little Thunder Monastery. The Young Prince Zhang held a white aspen spear, and the Four Great Spirit Generals brandished four swords of Kunwu jade. Together with Sun Wukong, they went forward and shouted their challenge. A minor demon went in to report, and the demon king again led out his horde of monsters, beating drums and clanging gongs, and rushed out, saying, "Monkey! Who have you brought this time?"
Before he had finished speaking, the Young Prince Zhang, directing the Four Great Spirit Generals, stepped forward and roared, "You vile fiend! Have you no eyes in your face that you do not recognize us standing here?"
The demon king said, "What young general are you, daring to come and help him?"
The prince said, "I am the disciple of the Great Sage State-Guiding King Bodhisattva of Sizhou. Leading the Four Great Spirit Generals, I have come by command to capture you!"
The demon king laughed and said, "What skill do you have, you little brat, to dare act wildly here?"
The prince said, "If you wish to know my skill, listen while I tell you: My ancestral home was the Flowing Sands Kingdom in the Western Lands. My father was originally the King of the Flowing Sands Kingdom. From my youth, I was plagued by many illnesses and misfortunes; my fate was weighed down by evil stars. Because of this, I longed for the arts of immortality and went to study under a master. By fate, I met one who gave me a prescription. Half a pill of cinnabar drove away my sickness, and I vowed to cultivate the Way, refusing to become king. I learned the art of eternal life, my lifespan equaling that of heaven, my youthful appearance forever preserved. I have attended the Dragon Flower Assembly; I have ridden clouds to the Buddha hall. I have caught mist, seized wind, and subdued water monsters; I have captured dragons, tamed tigers, and guarded mountain fields. To comfort the people, I have erected high pagodas; to calm the seas, I have deeply understood the light of the sarira. The tip of my white aspen spear can bind monsters; my light black sleeve can subdue demons. Now, within the city of Pure Joy, the name of Young Zhang is proclaimed far and wide!"
The demon king listened and gave a faint, cold laugh. "Prince," he said, "you abandoned your kingdom to follow the State-Guiding King Bodhisattva, cultivating what art of immortality? At best, you could only subdue the water monsters of the Huai River. How could you listen to Sun Wukong's wild talk and travel so far to meet your death? Let's see if you can live forever!"
When the Young Prince Zhang heard this, he was enraged. Leveling his spear, he thrust it straight at the demon's face. The Four Great Spirit Generals charged forward together to attack, and Sun Wukong also came up to help, wielding his golden-banded staff. But the fiend showed no fear at all. Swinging his wolf-tooth club, which was both short and soft, he parried left and blocked right, charging and crashing. The battle that ensued was truly fierce: The young prince wielded his white aspen spear; the four swords of Kunwu jade were even stronger. Wukong again used his golden-banded staff; united, they surrounded the demon king. The demon king's spiritual powers were truly vast; he feared not a whit, parrying left and right. The wolf-tooth club was a treasure of the Buddha; neither sword cuts nor spear thrusts could harm it. One could only hear the howling of fierce winds and see the chaotic blending of evil vapors. One side was intent on flaunting his mortal skills; the other was single-mindedly seeking to worship the Buddha and obtain the scriptures. They charged back and forth many times; they raged with wild abandon. Spitting clouds and mist, they blotted out the Three Lights; enraged and angry, both sides harbored ill will. For a long time, the supreme Dharma of the Three Vehicles was at stake, causing all the myriad arts to struggle bitterly against each other.
They fought for quite a long time, but still no victor emerged. The fiend again untied his cloth bundle. The Pilgrim again shouted, "Everyone, beware!" But the prince and the generals did not understand what "beware" meant. The monster let out a "swish" and once again used his bundle to capture the Four Great Spirit Generals and the prince. Only Sun Wukong, who had foreseen it, managed to flee.
The demon king returned to his temple victorious and again ordered his minions to bind the captives with ropes and send them to the underground vault, locking it securely. Of this, we will say no more for now.
Sun Wukong mounted his somersault cloud and flew into the sky. Seeing the fiend withdraw his troops and close the gates, he pressed down his auspicious cloud and stood on the Western Mountain slope, gazing at the temple with a sorrowful heart. "Master!" he wept. "Ever since I took the precepts and entered the Zen grove, I have felt grateful to the Bodhisattva for rescuing me from deep calamity. I swore to protect you on your westward quest for the Great Way, to assist you in reaching the Thunder Monastery. I thought only of the smooth, winding goat-path road; who could have known we would encounter these towering monsters blocking our way? With a hundred strategies and a thousand schemes, it is hard to save you. I have begged in the east and sought aid in the west, but all my efforts have been in vain!"
As the Great Sage was grieving, he suddenly saw a colorful cloud from the southwest descend to the ground. The mountain top was covered with falling petals, and someone called out, "Wukong, do you recognize me?"
The Pilgrim quickly stepped forward to look. The person appeared as such: With large ears, a broad chin, and a square face; his shoulders were hunched, his belly full, and his body was plump. A spring of joy filled his heart, beaming brightly; his two eyes were like autumn waves, glowing with light. His loose sleeves fluttered, bearing much good fortune; his straw sandals were carefree, his spirit robust. He was the foremost honored one in the Land of Ultimate Bliss; the Southern Land's Maitreya, the Laughing Monk.
When the Pilgrim saw him, he quickly knelt and kowtowed. "Buddha of the East," he said, "where are you going? Your disciple did not have time to step aside and pay my respects. My offense! My offense!"
The Buddha said, "I have come this time specifically because of the monster in this Little Thunder Monastery."
The Pilgrim said, "I am deeply grateful for your great kindness, Buddha. May I ask what kind of monster this fiend is, and what sort of goblin? I wonder what kind of treasure that cloth bundle of his is? May I trouble you, Buddha, to enlighten me."
The Buddha said, "He is my attendant boy who strikes the chime. On the third day of the third month, I went to attend the Primordial Heavenly Worthy's assembly, leaving him to guard the palace. Instead, he stole several of my precious treasures, impersonated a Buddha, and became a fiend. That cloth bundle is my 'Bag of the Afterworld,' commonly called the 'Human Seed Bag.' That wolf-tooth club is the mallet for striking the chime."
When the Pilgrim heard this, he cried out in a loud voice, "You, Laughing Monk! Look at this! You let your attendant boy run away, allowing him to impersonate a Buddha and cause me to suffer! You are also guilty of failing to discipline him!"
Maitreya said, "On the one hand, it is my fault for lax discipline in letting him escape. On the other hand, the demonic obstacles of you and your master have not yet been eliminated. That is why all the various gods have had to descend to the mortal world and undergo this ordeal. I have now come to help you subdue him."
The Pilgrim said, "That fiend's spiritual powers are vast, and you have brought no weapons with you. How will you subdue him?"
Maitreya smiled and said, "I will build a thatched hut on this mountain slope and plant a field of melons. You go and challenge him. When you fight, you must only lose, never win, and lure him into my melon field. All the other melons I have planted are unripe. Only the one you transform into will be a fully ripe large melon. When he comes, he will certainly want to eat a melon. I will give him the melon you have transformed into. Once he eats it into his stomach, you can do whatever you want inside there. Then I will retrieve his bundle and put him back inside it."
The Pilgrim said, "This plan is good, but how will you recognize the ripe melon that I have become? And how will you get him to follow me here?"
Maitreya smiled and said, "I am the Buddha who governs the order of the world. My sight is extremely sharp. How could I fail to recognize you! No matter what you turn into, I will know it is you. My only fear is that the fiend will not be willing to follow you. But I have a magical power that can make him come."
The Pilgrim asked, "He will surely want to use his bundle to capture me. How can he be made to follow me? What magical power do you have?"
Maitreya smiled and said, "Stretch out your left hand." The Pilgrim immediately stretched out his left hand and offered it. Maitreya dipped the index finger of his right hand into the divine water from his mouth and wrote the character "Forbid" on the Pilgrim's palm. He instructed him to clench his fist tightly and only open his hand when he saw the fiend. Then the monster would follow him.
The Pilgrim clenched his fist and happily agreed. Holding his golden-banded staff in one hand, he ran directly to the outer gate of the Little Thunder Monastery and shouted in a loud voice, "Monster! Your Grandpa Sun is here again! Hurry up and come out! Let's settle this once and for all!"
The minor demons hurried in to report. The demon king asked, "How many troops has he brought this time to shout his challenge?"
The minor demon said, "He has brought no other troops. He is alone."
The demon king smiled and said, "This monkey must have nowhere left to turn for help and is exhausted. He has come to seek his death!" He then donned his armor and helmet, took his precious treasure, and, raising his light and soft wolf-tooth club, strode out of the mountain gate, shouting, "Sun Wukong, this time you cannot escape!"
The Pilgrim cursed back, "You vile fiend! Why can't I escape?"
The demon king said, "I can see that you have nowhere to turn for help and are exhausted, yet you are stubbornly holding on. Today, I will capture you, and there will be no more divine soldiers to save you. That is why I say you cannot escape."
The Pilgrim said, "You fiend, you don't know life from death! Stop your boasting! Taste my staff!"
The demon king saw that the Pilgrim was wielding his staff with only one hand and could not help laughing. "This monkey," he said, "look at him trying to be clever! Why are you blocking with only one hand?"
The Pilgrim said, "Little one! You can't even withstand my two hands! If you didn't use your bundle, even if three or five more of your kind came, you couldn't beat me with one hand!"
When the demon king heard this, he said, "Fine! Fine! Today, I will not use my precious treasure. I will fight you fair and square, to see who is superior!" So saying, he raised his wolf-tooth club and charged forward to fight.
Sun the Pilgrim met him, loosened his hand, and switched to wielding his staff with both hands. The fiend, caught under the power of the "Forbid" charm, had no thought of retreating. He truly did not use his bundle, but simply swung his club and chased after him. The Pilgrim deliberately feigned a blow, pretended to be defeated, and fled, with the fiend chasing him all the way to the foot of the Western Mountain.
The Pilgrim saw a melon field ahead, rolled over, and entered it. He immediately transformed into a large, fully ripe watermelon, both sweet and fragrant. The fiend stopped and looked around, not knowing where the Pilgrim had gone. He walked over to the thatched hut and called out, "Who planted this melon field?"
Maitreya had already transformed into an old melon farmer. He came out of the thatched hut and replied, "Great King, I planted this melon field."
The demon king said, "Do you have any ripe melons?"
Maitreya said, "I have ripe ones."
The demon king said, "Pick a ripe one for me to quench my thirst."
Maitreya then picked the melon that was the Pilgrim's transformation and offered it to the demon king with both hands. The demon king, without a second thought, took it and bit into it. The Pilgrim took the opportunity to roll down and drill into the demon king's throat. Once inside, he began to do as he pleased, regardless of the consequences: he grabbed his intestines, pulled at his stomach, turned somersaults, stood on his head, and generally caused chaos and havoc within.
The fiend was in such pain that he bared his teeth and grimaced, tears streaming from his eyes. He rolled back and forth in the melon field, flattening it like a threshing floor, and kept shouting, "It's over! It's over! Who will save me!"
Only then did Maitreya revert to his true form and, smiling, called out, "Wretch! Do you recognize me?"
The fiend looked up, saw him, and immediately knelt on the ground, rubbing his stomach with both hands, kowtowing without ceasing, and crying out, "Master! Spare my life! Spare my life! I will never dare do it again!"
Maitreya stepped forward and grabbed him with one hand, untying his Bag of the Afterworld and seizing his chime mallet. He said to the Pilgrim inside, "Sun Wukong, for my sake, spare his life."
The Pilgrim, who harbored a deep hatred for this fiend, was still punching and kicking wildly inside. The fiend was in such unbearable pain that he fell to the ground and writhed. Maitreya again said, "Wukong, he has suffered enough. Spare him."
Only then did the Pilgrim shout, "Open your mouth wide and let Old Sun out!" Although the fiend's stomach was in agony, his vital organs were not yet fatally injured—as the saying goes, "A man will not die as long as his heart is not wounded; a flower will not wither as long as its roots are not dried up." When he heard the Pilgrim tell him to open his mouth, he endured the pain and opened it as wide as he could.
The Pilgrim leaped out, reverted to his true form, and hastily drew out his golden-banded staff, intending to strike again. But Maitreya had already put the fiend into the Bag of the Afterworld, slung it diagonally over his waist, and, holding the chime mallet, cursed, "Wretch! Where did you hide