Now, the Great Sage Sun Wukong stepped into the cave entrance and looked around. What he saw was a gruesome sight: heaps of skulls piled up like mountain ridges, skeletons arranged like a forest. Human hair matted into felt, human skin rotted into mud. Sinews hung from the trees, dried and shiny like silver threads. Truly it was a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood , the stench of rotting flesh unbearable. On the eastern side, minor demons were carving flesh from living victims; on the western side, fiendish chiefs were boiling fresh human meat. Had it not been for the heroic courage of the Handsome Monkey King, no ordinary man could have even entered this gate.
Before long, he passed through the second gate and looked inside. Ah! What a contrast! Here everything was refined and extraordinary, beautiful and spacious. On the left and right grew immortal herbs and celestial flowers ; before and behind stood tall pines and emerald bamboos. He walked another seven or eight miles before reaching the third gate. Sidling close to the wall, he peered inside. There, seated high above, were three ancient demons, their appearances utterly ferocious.
The one seated in the middle had teeth like chisels and a mouth like a saw, with a round head and a square face. His roar was like thunder, his eyes flashed like lightning. His nose pointed skyward, and his red eyebrows blazed like flames. When he moved, all beasts trembled in fear; when he sat, every demon quaked. He was the king of beasts, the Green-Haired Lion Monster .
The one on the left had phoenix-like eyes with golden pupils, yellow fangs, and sturdy legs. A silver mane covered his long trunk, and his head seemed to resemble his tail. His round forehead was furrowed, and his body was tall and robust. His voice was soft and delicate, like a gentle maiden's, yet his face was as hideous as an ox-headed demon. This was the Yellow-Tusked Elephant , who had cultivated for many years and concealed his sharp tusks.
The one on the right had a head like a Golden-Winged Roc , star-like eyes, and leopard-like pupils. When he flapped his wings toward the north, he could reach the northern sea; when he flew south, he could reach the southern ocean. His nature was fierce and courageous. In transformation, he could spread his wings and soar; his laughter made even dragons tremble. When he flapped his wings, all birds hid their heads; when he extended his claws, every feathered creature was terrified. This was the Roc, who could fly ninety thousand miles in a single beat of his wings.
Below, on both sides, stood over a hundred chieftains , each clad in full armor , their gear complete and imposing, radiating an aura of awe and murderous intent. When the Pilgrim saw this, his heart was filled with joy instead of fear. He strode boldly through the gate, unfastened the clappers and bells from his belt, and called out, “Great King!”
The three ancient demons laughed heartily and asked, “ Little Drill-Sergeant , you’ve returned?”
The Pilgrim answered, “I have returned.”
The ancient demon asked again, “You went on patrol. Did you find out where Sun Wukong is?”
The Pilgrim said, “Great King, I dare not speak.”
The ancient demon asked, “Why do you not dare to speak?”
The Pilgrim replied, “I followed your orders, beating the clappers and ringing the bell, when suddenly I looked up and saw a man crouching there, sharpening a club. Even crouching, he looked as tall as a road-opening deity ; when he stood up, he must have been over ten spans tall ! He used the stream’s stones, scooped up water to wet the club, ground it a few times, and muttered that his club had not yet shown its divine power here, but once it was sharpened, he would come to beat the Great King. That’s when I realized he was Sun Wukong. I came back specially to report.”
Hearing this, the ancient demon broke out in a cold sweat all over his body. Trembling with fear, he said, “Brothers, I told you before not to provoke that Tang Monk! His disciple has immense magical powers. He’s already prepared to sharpen his club and come for us. What can we do?” Then he shouted, “ Little ones , call all the minor demons outside the cave back in. Shut the gates! Let him pass!”
One of the chieftains who knew the situation reported, “Great King, the minor demons outside have all scattered.”
The ancient demon said in panic, “Scattered? They must have heard the bad news and run away! Shut the gates! Shut the gates quickly!”
With a great clatter, the demons bolted and sealed both front and back gates.
The Pilgrim thought to himself in alarm, “If the gates are shut, and he starts asking me about family matters, I won’t be able to answer, and I’ll be exposed and caught. I need to scare him even more, make him open the gates so I can escape.”
He stepped forward again and said, “Great King, he also said something even more terrifying.”
The ancient demon asked, “What else did he say?”
The Pilgrim said, “He said he would flay the Great Great King, bone the Second Great King , and pull the sinews of the Third Great King . If you all shut yourselves in and don’t come out, he can change his shape . He might turn into a fly and slip through the crack in the door, then capture every one of us. What would you do then?”
The ancient demon said, “Brothers, listen carefully! In all my years in this cave, there has never been a fly. If a fly gets in, it must be Sun Wukong!”
The Pilgrim chuckled to himself, “Then I’ll turn into a fly to scare him, so he’ll open the gates.”
The Great Sage slipped aside, reached behind his head, and plucked out a single hair. He blew on it with an immortal breath and cried, “Change!” Instantly, it turned into a golden fly that flew straight at the ancient demon’s face and bumped into him.
The ancient demon panicked, “Brothers! This is bad! What we talked about before has come true! A fly has gotten in!”
Terrified, all the demons, great and small, grabbed their rakes and brooms and rushed forward to swat the fly.
The Great Sage couldn’t help himself and let out a giggle. But this was his mistake—this laugh revealed a bit of his true form. The third demon leaped forward and grabbed him, shouting, “Brother, we were almost fooled by him!”
The ancient demon asked, “Dear brother, who fooled whom?”
The third monster said, “This little demon who just reported is not the Little Drill-Sergeant at all. He is Sun Wukong! He must have run into the real Little Drill-Sergeant, killed him, and then taken his form to trick us!”
The Pilgrim was alarmed. “He’s recognized me!” He quickly rubbed his face and said to the ancient demon, “How can I be Sun Wukong? I am the Little Drill-Sergeant. Great King, you have made a mistake.”
The ancient demon laughed and said, “Brother, he is the Little Drill-Sergeant. He comes to report before me three times a day, and I know him well.” Then he asked, “Do you have your token ?”
The Pilgrim said, “I do.” He lifted his clothes and took out the token.
The ancient demon was even more certain. “Brother, don’t wrong him.”
The third monster said, “Brother, didn’t you see? Just now, when he turned aside and laughed, I saw his Thunder God face ! When I grabbed him, he changed back to this form.” Then he shouted, “Little ones, bring the rope!”
The chieftains immediately brought ropes. The third monster threw the Pilgrim to the ground, bound his hands and feet, and lifted his clothes. There was no mistake—it was the very same Protector of the Horses!
Now, Sun Wukong had seventy-two transformations. When he turned into birds, beasts, flowers, trees, tools, or insects, he could transform his entire body. But when he took human form, he could only change his face and head—his body remained the same. And indeed, his body was covered in yellow fur, he had two red buttocks, and a tail.
The ancient demon looked at him and said, “This body is Sun Wukong’s, but the face is the Little Drill-Sergeant’s. It must be him!” Then he shouted, “Little ones, set out the wine! We must celebrate the Third Great King’s achievement! Now that we’ve caught Sun Wukong, Tang Monk is surely meat for our mouths.”
The third monster said, “Don’t drink yet. Sun Wukong is slippery and knows how to escape. Don’t let him get away. Tell the little ones to bring out the bottle, put Sun Wukong inside, and then we can drink.”
The ancient demon laughed heartily. “Right! Right!” He immediately ordered thirty-six minor demons to go inside, open the treasury, and bring out the bottle. Now, you might wonder how big this bottle was. It was only two feet four inches tall, so why did it take thirty-six men to carry it? Because this bottle was a treasure made of the two primal forces of yin and yang. It contained the mysteries of the seven jewels, the eight trigrams, and the twenty-four solar terms. Only thirty-six men, matching the number of the Heavenly Stars, could lift it.
Before long, the precious bottle was brought out, placed outside the third gate, and polished clean. The lid was opened, the Pilgrim’s ropes were untied, his clothes stripped off, and with a whoosh, the bottle’s immortal aura sucked him inside. The lid was replaced, seal pasted, and then they went to drink. “This monkey, once inside my precious bottle, will never see the Western Road again! If he still wants to go worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures, he’ll have to be reborn!”
Now, all the demons, great and small, laughed heartily and went to celebrate their victory. We will leave them for now.
As for the Great Sage, once inside the bottle, his body was shrunk by the treasure. He changed his posture, crouched in the middle, and waited for a while. At first, it felt cool and pleasant. Suddenly, he laughed out loud and said, “This demon is all talk! How can he tell people that once someone is in this bottle, they will dissolve into pus and blood within a few hours? If it’s this cool, I could live here for seven or eight years without trouble!”
Alas! The Great Sage did not know the true nature of this treasure. If a person was inside and did not speak for a year, it would remain cool for a year. But the moment they spoke, fire would come to burn them.
No sooner had the Great Sage spoken than the bottle filled with flames. Fortunately, he had his skills. He sat in the middle, making the fire-avoiding hand seal, and felt no fear.
He endured for half an hour, and then forty snakes emerged from the walls of the bottle and began to bite him. The Pilgrim swung his hands, grabbed the snakes, and squeezed them hard, crushing them into eighty pieces.
Soon after, three fire dragons emerged and coiled around the Pilgrim, above and below. Now he found it truly hard to bear. Panic rose in his heart. “Other things I could handle, but these three fire dragons are too much! If I stay in here any longer, the fire will attack my heart, and that will be the end!”
He thought, “I’ll stretch my body and burst this bottle open.”
Good Great Sage! He made a hand seal, chanted a spell, and cried, “Grow!” His body instantly grew to over ten spans tall, but the bottle also stretched to match his height. When he shrank, the bottle shrank with him.
The Pilgrim was shocked. “This is hard! Hard! Hard! When I grow, it grows; when I shrink, it shrinks. What am I to do?”
Before he had finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through his ankle. He quickly reached down and felt it. The fire had softened the flesh. He grew anxious. “What can I do! My ankle is burned soft! I’ll be a cripple!” He could not hold back his tears. Truly, in the midst of suffering, he thought of Tripitaka; in the face of danger, he yearned for the holy monk.
He murmured, “Master! In those days, I submitted to the true path, thanks to the Bodhisattva Guanyin’s persuasion, and escaped my heavenly punishment. I followed you across a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers, subduing so many monsters, capturing Pigsy, and taking in Friar Sand. Through countless hardships, we hoped to reach the West together and achieve the true fruit. How is it that today I have encountered this venomous demon? I have entered here by mistake, and if I lose my life, leaving you stranded halfway up the mountain, unable to move forward, what can be done? I suppose it is because my fame was too great in the past that I am suffering this calamity today!”
Just as he was grieving, a thought suddenly struck him. “The Bodhisattva once gave me three life-saving hairs on Serpent-Coil Mountain. I wonder if they are still there. Let me see.”
He immediately reached up and felt all over his body. At the back of his head, he found three hairs that were exceptionally stiff. A surge of joy filled him. “All the other hairs on my body are soft, but only these three are so stiff. They must be the ones to save my life!”
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he plucked out the three hairs, blew on them with an immortal breath, and cried, “Change!” One became a diamond drill, one became a bamboo strip, and one became a silk cord. He bent the bamboo strip into a bow, attached the diamond drill, and began to drill into the bottom of the bottle with a series of rapid whirs. He drilled a small hole, and light streamed in.
He exclaimed joyfully, “What luck! What luck! Just enough to get out!” He shrank his body and squeezed through the hole. As soon as he was out, the bottle immediately cooled down. Why did it cool? Because the hole he had drilled had let the yin and yang forces leak out, so it became cold.
Good Great Sage! He collected the hairs, shrank his body, and turned into a tiny cicada, light and delicate, as fine as a strand of hair, as long as an eyebrow. He flew out through the hole but did not leave immediately. Instead, he landed on the ancient demon’s head and perched there.
The ancient demon was just drinking when he suddenly put down his cup and said, “Third Brother, Sun Wukong should have dissolved into pus and blood by now, shouldn’t he?”
The third monster laughed and said, “Not that fast.”
The ancient demon ordered someone to bring the bottle. The thirty-six minor demons went to lift it, but suddenly the bottle felt much lighter. The minor demons panicked and reported, “Great King, the bottle has become light!”
The ancient demon roared, “Nonsense! This treasure is the full achievement of yin and yang forces. How could it become light?”
One of the minor demons, bracing his courage, lifted the bottle and brought it forward. “See for yourself, Great King. It really is light!”
The ancient demon lifted the lid and looked inside. Seeing that it was empty and bright, he could not help but cry out, “The bottle is empty. He has escaped!”
The Great Sage, perched on his head, could not help but add, “My boy! ‘Escaped’ means he’s gone!”
All the demons heard the shout, “Escaped! Escaped!” and immediately passed the order: “Shut the gates! Shut the gates!”
The Pilgrim shook his body, retrieved his stripped clothes, and returned to his original form. He leaped out of the cave and shouted back, “Demons, have some manners! The bottle is broken by me; it can’t hold people anymore. You can only use it to hold shit!”
Laughing and shouting joyfully, he stepped onto his cloud and flew straight back to Tang Monk.
The elder was there, kneading earth into incense and praying to the heavens. The Pilgrim stopped his cloud first to listen to what he was praying.
The elder clasped his hands and prayed to the heavens:
“I beseech all the cloud-dwelling immortals, the Six Ding and Six Jia guardians, and all the heavenly deities. May they protect my worthy disciple, Sun Wukong, whose divine powers are vast and whose dharma knows no bounds.”
Hearing this, the Great Sage was even more invigorated. He withdrew his cloud light, stepped forward, and called out, “Master, I have returned!”
The elder steadied him and said, “Wukong, you have worked hard! You went deep into the mountains to scout the path, and you were gone so long that I was deeply worried. Is this mountain range auspicious or dangerous?”
The Pilgrim laughed and said, “Master, that I was able to return this time is, first, due to the karmic affinity of all beings in the Eastern Land; second, due to your boundless merit; and third, thanks to your disciple’s dharma power!”
He then recounted in detail the entire affair—how he had impersonated the Little Drill-Sergeant, been trapped in the precious bottle, and finally escaped. He added, “To see you again today is like being reborn into a second life!”
The elder was filled with gratitude and asked, “Did you not fight with the demons this time?”
The Pilgrim said, “No.”
The elder said, “In that case, can you still guarantee my safe passage across the mountain?”
The Pilgrim, who was competitive by nature, shouted, “How could I not guarantee your passage?”
The elder said, “You haven’t settled the score with them. If things are so ambiguous, how dare I go forward?”
The Great Sage laughed and said, “Master, you are too rigid. As the saying goes, ‘A single strand of silk does not make a thread; one hand alone cannot clap.’ There are three demon chiefs and thousands of minor demons. How can I, alone, fight them all?”
The elder said, “When outnumbered, one man alone is indeed at a disadvantage. But Pigsy and Sha Monk both have skills. Have them go with you, and together you can work with one heart and one mind, clear the mountain path, and ensure my passage.”
The Pilgrim thought for a moment and said, “Master, you are right. Let Sha Monk protect you, and let Pigsy come with me.”
The Idiot was alarmed. “Brother, you have no judgment! I am clumsy and have no real skill. When I walk, I stir up wind. What use would I be going with you?”
The Pilgrim said, “Brother, even if you have no great skill, you are still a man. As the saying goes, ‘Even a fart can add a little wind.’ Having you along will give me some courage.”
Pigsy said, “Alright, alright. I just hope you’ll look after me. Just don’t play tricks on me when things get tight.”
The elder said, “Pigsy, be careful. Sha Monk and I will wait for you here.”
The Idiot roused his spirits, and together with the Pilgrim, they rode the wind and clouds, leaping onto the high mountain. Soon they reached the cave entrance. The gates were tightly shut, and not a soul was in sight. The Pilgrim stepped forward, grasped his golden-banded staff, and shouted loudly, “Demons, open the gates! Come out quickly and fight Old Sun!”
The minor demons inside rushed to report. The ancient demon was terrified, his heart pounding. “All these years, I’ve heard people talk about the monkey’s ferocity, and now I see it’s truly well-deserved!” The second demon asked from the side, “Brother, what do you mean by that?” The ancient demon said, “That Pilgrim sneaked into our cave this morning disguised as the Little Drill-Sergeant, and none of us recognized him. Fortunately, our third brother saw through him and put him in the precious bottle. But he had the skill to drill through the bottle and escape, even stealing back his clothes. Now he’s outside, challenging us to battle. Who dares to fight the first round?”
Not a single minor demon in the cave answered. The ancient demon asked again, but still no one replied. They all played deaf and dumb. The ancient demon grew angry. “We have some reputation on this great Western Road. To be so belittled by Sun Wukong today—if we don’t dare to go out and face him, it will be a terrible loss of face! I will risk this old life of mine and fight him for three rounds! If I win, Tang Monk will still be our meal; if I lose, we’ll shut the gates and let him pass.”
With that, the ancient demon put on his armor, opened the gates, and strode out.
The Pilgrim and Pigsy watched from beside the gate. Truly, this monster was imposing:
His iron forehead and bronze head wore a jeweled helmet, whose tassels danced with brilliant light. His eyes flashed like lightning bolts, and his whiskers spread like clouds on both sides. His hooked claws were silver, sharp and keen, and his saw-like teeth were dense and even. He wore a golden armor without a single seam, and around his waist was tied a dragon-sash belt, ready for any opportunity. In his hand, he held a gleaming steel blade. His heroic, martial bearing was rare in all the world. His shout was like a thunderclap as he demanded, “Who is it that knocks at my gate?”
The Great Sage turned around and said, “It is your grandfather, the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven!” The ancient demon laughed and said, “So you are Sun Wukong? You reckless, impudent monkey! I have not provoked you, so why have you come here to challenge me?” The Pilgrim said, “‘When there is wind, waves rise; when the tide is calm, the water is still.’ If you had not provoked me, would I have come looking for you? It is because you and your pack of foxes and dogs have gathered together and plotted to eat my master that I have come here to deal with you!”
The ancient demon said, “You come storming to my gate, shouting and screaming. Do you want to fight?” The Pilgrim said, “Exactly!” The ancient demon said, “Don’t be too arrogant! If I were to summon my demon troops, set up a battle formation, wave flags, and beat drums to fight you, it would seem like I was bullying you by outnumbering you. I will fight you one-on-one, and no one is allowed to help!”
Hearing this, the Pilgrim said to Pigsy, “Pigsy, come over here and see how Old Sun handles him!” The Idiot really did step aside. The ancient demon said, “Come here. Let me use you as a chopping block. I will put all my strength into three blows on your bald head. If you can withstand them, I will let your master pass. If you cannot, then send Tang Monk over to be my wine snack!”
Hearing this, the Pilgrim laughed and said, “Demon, if you have paper and a brush in your cave, bring them out. I will write a contract with you. From today onward, even if you keep chopping until next year, I won’t take it seriously!”
The ancient demon roused his might, planted his feet in a T-stance, raised his blade with both hands, and brought it down on the Great Sage’s head. The Great Sage lifted his head to meet it. There was a loud crack, but his scalp did not even redden. The ancient demon was greatly startled. “This monkey’s head is incredibly hard!”
The Great Sage laughed and said, “You don’t know. Old Sun was born with a bronze head and an iron skull, unmatched in heaven and earth. Axes and hammers cannot break it, for in my youth, I was cast in Lord Laozi’s furnace. The Four Dipper Star Lords supervised its making, and the Twenty-Eight Constellations labored over it. Soaked in water many times, it was never damaged, and it is wrapped all around with sinew plates. The Tang Monk, fearing it might not be strong enough, even put a gold fillet on it beforehand.”
The ancient demon said, “Monkey, stop your boasting! Watch my second blow! It will surely take your life!” The Pilgrim said, “There’s nothing to see. It will be no different from the first.”
The ancient demon said, “Monkey, you don’t know the power of my blade. It was forged in a furnace of gold and fire, tempered by divine craftsmen through a hundred refinements. Its edge follows the Three Strategies, its strength accords with the Six Arts of War. It is like a fly’s tail, like a white python’s waist. When it enters the mountains, clouds and mists arise; when it descends to the sea, waves surge. It has been polished countless times, tempered hundreds of times. Kept in deep mountains and ancient caves, it has earned merit on the battlefield. When it strikes the crown of your bald monk’s head, it will cleave it in two like a gourd!”
The Great Sage laughed and said, “This demon has no eyes! He takes Old Sun for a gourd! Never mind. No matter how you chop, try another blow!”
The ancient demon raised his blade and chopped again. The Great Sage lifted his head to meet it, and with a loud crash, his head was split in two. But the Great Sage rolled on the ground and turned into two bodies. The ancient demon was terrified and quickly pressed down his blade. From a distance, Pigsy saw this and laughed, “That old demon’s two blows were well struck. Now he’s turned into four people!”
The ancient demon pointed at the Pilgrim and said, “I have heard of your body-splitting technique. How dare you use it before me!” The Great Sage said, “What body-splitting technique?” The ancient demon said, “Why did the first blow have no effect, but now, with one blow, you have become two people?” The Great Sage laughed and said, “Demon, don’t be afraid. Even if you chop ten thousand times, I can still turn into twenty thousand people!”
The ancient demon said, “You monkey, you only know how to split your body, not how to merge it. If you have the skill to turn back into one person and take a swing at me with your staff, then we’ll talk!” The Great Sage said, “You must not lie! You said you would strike three blows, but you have only struck two. So I will strike you two blows with my staff. If I am off by even half a blow, my name is not Sun!” The ancient demon said, “Good! Agreed!”
Good Great Sage! He pulled his two bodies together, rolled once, and became one person again. He drew out his golden-banded staff and struck at the ancient demon’s head. The ancient demon raised his blade to block and said, “You reckless monkey! How dare you come to my door with that funeral stick of yours to hit people?”
The Great Sage shouted, “If you ask me about this staff, its fame is known throughout heaven and earth!”
The ancient demon said, “How is it famous?”
The Great Sage said:
“This staff was forged from nine-refined celestial iron, smelted in the furnace by Lord Laozi himself. Yu the Great obtained it and named it the Divine Needle, used to fix the depths of the four seas and eight rivers. The stars and constellations are hidden within it, and its two ends are wrapped in sheets of gold. Its dense patterns frighten gods and ghosts, carved with dragon lines and phoenix script. It is called the Staff of Numinous Yang, hidden deep in the ocean treasury, rarely seen by men. When it takes form and transforms, it soars and flies, trailing five-colored clouds of light. Old Sun obtained it and brought it back to the mountain, and through countless transformations, I have gained much experience with it. At times, it can be as thick as a wine vat; at other times, as fine as an iron thread. As thick as the Southern Mountain or as thin as a needle, it grows or shrinks according to my will. A light move produces colored clouds; a bright flash shoots like lightning. Its cold aura chills men to the bone, and killing mists appear in the air. It has subdued dragons and tigers and accompanied me closely, roaming to the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea. With this staff, I once caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, smashing the Peach Banquet with my might. The Heavenly Kings could not defeat me in combat; Nezha could not face me in battle. With this staff, I beat the gods until they had no place to hide, and the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers all fled. The thunder gods guarded the Lingxiao Hall, but I flew up and struck the Tongming Hall. The court officials were all flustered, and the attending immortals were thrown into chaos. I lifted my staff and overturned the Northern Dipper Palace; I turned back and shattered the Southern Pole Courtyard. When the Golden Emperor of Heaven saw the staff’s ferocity, he specially invited the Tathagata to meet with me. Victory and defeat are natural in war, but hardship and calamity are hard to bear. I was trapped for a full five hundred years, until I was saved by the Bodhisattva of the Southern Sea’s persuasion. In the Great Tang, there was a monk who made a great vow before Heaven. He would save the souls in the City of the Unjustly Dead and seek scriptures at the Assembly on Vulture Peak. On the Western Road, there are demons and monsters, making travel very difficult. Knowing that this iron staff was unmatched in the world, he begged me to be his companion on the journey. If a demon touches it, he goes straight to the underworld; his flesh turns to dust and his bones to ashes. Demons everywhere have died under this staff, by the thousands and tens of thousands, beyond counting. Above, it has smashed the Dipper and Bull Palace; below, it has crushed the Hall of King Yama. Heavenly generals have been chased by it, and the judges of the underworld have been wounded by it. When thrown down from midair, it shakes the mountains and rivers, more fearsome than the Great Year’s new sword. It is by this staff that I protect the Tang Monk, and I have beaten all the demons under heaven!”
Hearing this, the ancient demon trembled with fear, but he gritted his teeth, raised his blade, and swung it anyway. The Monkey King laughed merrily and met him with his iron staff. The two first fought at the cave entrance, then leaped up and continued their battle in midair. This was a fierce fight indeed:
The staff that fixed the Heavenly River’s depths was unmatched in the world. The demon grew angry at the Pilgrim’s boasts and raised his great blade, displaying his own dharma power. Their clash at the gate was still manageable, but in the sky, neither would yield. One could change his face at will; the other could grow his body on the spot. They fought until the sky was thick with clouds and the fields were covered in drifting mist. One was determined to capture Tripitaka; the other used his vast powers to protect the Tang Dynasty. All because the Buddha had transmitted the scriptures, and the struggle between good and evil was bitter and fierce.
The ancient demon and the Great Sage fought for over twenty rounds without either gaining the upper hand. Pigsy, watching from below, saw the fierce battle and could not contain himself. He drew his rake, rode the wind, and leaped up, striking at the ancient demon’s face. The ancient demon panicked. He did not know that Pigsy was impulsive and only good for blustering and scaring people. He thought this long-snouted, big-eared idiot had a strong hand and a fierce rake. So he retreated in defeat, dropped his blade, and turned to flee.
The Great Sage shouted, “After him! After him!” Pigsy, emboldened, raised his rake and chased after him. When the ancient demon saw that Pigsy was closing in, he stopped on the mountainside, shook himself in the wind, and returned to his true form. He opened his huge mouth to swallow Pigsy. Terrified, Pigsy dove into a thicket of brambles, not caring that the thorns would tear his skin or that his head would be scratched and bleeding. Trembling, he listened from within the grass.
Then the Pilgrim arrived. The demon also opened his mouth to swallow him, but this played right into the Pilgrim’s plan. The Pilgrim put away his iron staff, stepped forward, and was swallowed whole by the ancient demon in one gulp. Pigsy, hiding in the grass, muttered resentfully, “This Protector of the Horses has no sense! The demon wanted to eat you, and instead of running away, you walked right into his mouth! Now that you’re in his belly, today you’re a monk, but tomorrow you’ll be nothing but shit!”
The ancient demon, having won, returned to his cave. Only then did Pigsy crawl out of the grass and slink back the way he had come.
Now, Tang Monk was waiting at the foot of the mountain with Sha Monk, hoping for their return. Suddenly, he saw Pigsy running back, panting heavily. The elder was greatly alarmed. “Pigsy, why are you so bedraggled? Where is Wukong?” Pigsy, sobbing and weeping, said, “Brother was swallowed alive by the demon!”
Hearing this, Tang Monk was so terrified that he fell to the ground. It took him a long time to get up. He stamped his feet and beat his chest. “Disciple! I thought you were skilled in subduing demons and could take me to the West to see the Buddha. I never expected you to die today in the belly of this monster! How bitter! How bitter! The efforts of us master and disciples have all come to nothing!” The master wept most sorrowfully.