Now, the Handsome Monkey King , overjoyed to have received his own name, leapt and bounded with glee before Patriarch Bodhi , bowing in gratitude. The Patriarch immediately instructed the immortals to take Sun Wukong outside the second gate and teach him the rules of sweeping, receiving guests, and proper conduct. Following the Patriarch’s command, the immortals led Wukong out.
Once outside the gate, Wukong bowed to each senior brother and found a place to settle by the corridor. The very next morning, he began learning speech and etiquette from his brothers, attending lectures on scriptures and discussions on the Dao , as well as practicing calligraphy and burning incense. This was his daily routine. In his spare time, he swept the floors, weeded the vegetable garden, tended flowers, pruned trees, gathered firewood, lit fires, fetched water, and delivered broth. Every task that needed doing, he did thoroughly, never missing a single one. Unbeknownst to him, six or seven years passed in the cave.
One day, the Patriarch ascended his throne, gathered the immortals, and began expounding the Great Dao . The scene was truly magnificent: Celestial blossoms rained down in profusion, and golden lotuses burst forth from the earth. He marvelously elucidated the Three Vehicles of the Buddhist teachings, and the subtle essence of all ten thousand dharmas was fully revealed. Slowly waving his horsetail whisk , he sprayed forth pearls and jade; his voice thundered, shaking the nine heavens. He spoke for a while on the Dao, then discoursed for a while on Chan (Zen) Buddhism , seamlessly blending the three schools into a single, natural truth. He illuminated the single principle of returning to sincerity, guiding all toward the profound mystery of transcending birth and death .
Sun Wukong, listening nearby, was so delighted that he scratched his ears, rubbed his cheeks, beamed from ear to ear, and could not help but dance and wave his arms. The Patriarch suddenly noticed him and called out, “Sun Wukong! Why are you jumping and capering like a madman in the assembly, instead of listening to my discourse?”
Wukong replied, “Disciple was listening with all sincerity. Hearing the Master’s words reach such a sublime height, I was overcome with joy and could not contain myself. I made these excited movements without realizing it. I beg the Master to forgive my offense!”
The Patriarch said, “Since you can comprehend such subtle truths, let me ask you: how long have you been in this cave?”
Wukong answered, “Disciple was previously so muddled that I do not know how much time has passed. I only remember that when the kitchen was out of firewood, I would often go behind the mountain to cut some. There I saw a fine peach tree, and I have already eaten my fill of its peaches seven times.”
The Patriarch said, “That mountain is called Rotten Peach Mountain . Since you have eaten peaches seven times, it must be that seven years have passed. Now, which school of Daoist arts would you like to learn?”
Wukong said, “It is entirely up to the Master. As long as it has a touch of the Dao, your disciple is willing to learn.”
The Patriarch said, “Within the gate of the Dao, there are three hundred and sixty byways, each of which can lead to a positive result. Which one would you like to learn?”
Wukong said, “Whatever the Master wishes; your disciple will follow your arrangements wholeheartedly.”
The Patriarch said, “How would it be if I taught you the arts of the ‘Artifice’ school?”
Wukong asked, “What are the arts of the ‘Artifice’ school?”
The Patriarch said, “The Artifice school involves seeking immortality through planchette writing , divination, and fortune-telling, enabling one to know how to court good fortune and avoid disaster.”
Wukong asked, “Can such arts grant immortality and eternal youth?”
The Patriarch replied, “No! No!”
Wukong said, “Then I will not learn them! I will not!”
The Patriarch continued, “Then how about I teach you the arts of the ‘Flow’ school?”
Wukong asked again, “What principles lie within the ‘Flow’ school?”
The Patriarch said, “The Flow school encompasses the teachings of Confucianism , Buddhism, Daoism, the Yin-Yang school , Mohism , and medicine. It involves either studying the classics, chanting Buddhist sutras, or performing rites to worship immortals and welcome sages.”
Wukong asked, “Can such practices grant immortality?”
The Patriarch said, “If you rely on this for immortality, it is like ‘ setting a pillar within a wall .’”
Wukong said, “Master, I am a straightforward person and do not understand such proverbs. What does ‘setting a pillar within a wall’ mean?”
The Patriarch explained, “When people build a house, they set a pillar in the middle of the wall to make it sturdy, but when the building eventually collapses, that pillar will also rot away.”
Wukong said, “So this is not lasting either. I will not learn! I will not!”
The Patriarch said, “Then how about I teach you the arts of the ‘Stillness’ school?”
Wukong asked, “What positive result can be achieved through the ‘Stillness’ school?”
The Patriarch said, “This school practices abstaining from grains for sustenance, pursuing pure tranquility and non-action , sitting in meditation and Chan contemplation , remaining silent and observing fasts, either training in sleep meditation or meritorious deeds, and engaging in deep concentration and retreat.”
Wukong asked, “Can this grant immortality?”
The Patriarch said, “This is also like ‘ an unfired clay brick at the kiln mouth .’”
Wukong laughed and said, “Master, you said I did not understand your proverbs, and now you have used another! What does ‘an unfired clay brick at the kiln mouth’ mean?”
The Patriarch said, “It is like the brick and tile molds at the kiln. Though they have taken shape, they have not yet been fired by water and fire. When a heavy rain pours down, these clay bricks will surely dissolve.”
Wukong said, “This is not lasting either. I will not learn! I will not!”
The Patriarch said, “Then how about I teach you the arts of the ‘Action’ school?”
Wukong asked, “What are the arts of the ‘Action’ school?”
The Patriarch said, “This school involves active practices, such as absorbing yin to nourish yang , drawing bows and treading on crossbows , massaging the navel to regulate breath , concocting elixirs with medicinal recipes , burning reeds to refine cinnabar , consuming red lead , extracting autumn mineral , and drinking women’s breast milk .”
Wukong asked, “Can this grant immortality?”
The Patriarch said, “Relying on this for immortality is like ‘ fishing the moon out of water .’”
Wukong said, “Master, you are using proverbs again! What does ‘fishing the moon out of water’ mean?”
The Patriarch said, “The moon is in the sky, and its reflection is in the water. Although you can see it, you can never grasp it. In the end, it is all for nothing.”
Wukong said, “Then I will not learn that either! I will not!”
Hearing this, the Patriarch let out a sharp “Ha!” and leaped down from his high seat. Holding a ruler , he pointed at Wukong and said, “You macaque ! You will not learn this, nor that—what do you want?” Then he stepped forward and struck Wukong three times on the head. Turning his back, he walked inside, closed the middle gate, and left the assembly behind.
The immortals listening were terrified. Every one of them was frightened, and they all scolded Wukong: “You reckless monkey, you have no manners at all! The Master was transmitting the Dao to you, yet you refused to learn and even argued with him! Now you have angered him, and who knows when he will come out again!” While everyone was blaming him, some even despised and loathed him. But Wukong was not at all angry; he simply smiled apologetically.
Now, the Monkey King had already guessed the Patriarch’s riddle and kept it secretly in his heart. Thus, he did not argue with the others but endured in silence. The three strikes on his head meant he was to pay attention at the third watch of the night. Turning his back and walking inside, closing the middle gate, meant he was to enter through the back gate, to a secret place where the Patriarch would transmit the Dao to him.
That day, Wukong waited with the others in front of the Three-Star Immortal Cave, longing for nightfall, impatient until evening. At dusk, he lay down to sleep with the others, pretending to close his eyes, but in truth, he was concentrating his spirit and calming his breath. Since there was no night watchman in the mountains to announce the hours, he regulated the rhythm of his own nasal breathing to mark the time.
Around the Zi hour (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), Wukong quietly rose, dressed himself, and stealthily opened the front door. Avoiding the others, he slipped out. Looking up, he saw this scene: The moon was bright, and the cold dew glistened; the eight directions were vast and utterly clear. Deep in the trees, secluded birds roosted; at the mountain’s source, streams divided and flowed. Fireflies scattered their light in fleeting shadows; wild geese crossed the sky in formations like written characters. It was exactly the third watch, the perfect time to seek the true Dao.
See how he followed the old path to the back gate, which he found half-open. Wukong said joyfully, “The old Master truly intends to transmit the Dao to me, so he deliberately left the gate open.” He crept forward, slipped sideways through the gate, and went straight to the Patriarch’s bed. Seeing the Patriarch curled up, sleeping with his face to the wall, Wukong did not dare disturb him and knelt before the bed.
Not long after, the Patriarch woke up, stretched out his legs, and recited to himself: “Difficult! Difficult! Difficult! The Dao is most profound; do not treat the Golden Elixir lightly. Without meeting a true sage to transmit the subtle formula, all talk is but empty words that tire the mouth and dry the tongue!”
Wukong immediately responded, “Master, your disciple has been kneeling here waiting for a long time.”
Hearing Wukong’s voice, the Patriarch sat up, put on his robe, crossed his legs, and asked, “You macaque! Why aren’t you sleeping in the front hall? What are you doing here in the back?”
Wukong said, “Yesterday, on the high seat before the assembly, the Master promised that your disciple should come through the back gate at the third watch to receive the Dao. Therefore, I dared to come boldly and pay my respects at the Master’s bedside.”
Hearing this, the Patriarch was greatly pleased and thought to himself, “This monkey is truly a creature born of heaven and earth! Otherwise, how could he have guessed the riddle I set?”
Wukong said, “There is only your disciple here; no third person knows. I beg the Master to show great compassion and transmit to me the art of immortality. Your disciple will never forget your kindness!”
The Patriarch said, “Today you are destined, and I am happy to teach you. Since you have guessed my riddle, come closer and listen carefully. I will now transmit to you the wondrous art of immortality.”
Wukong kowtowed in thanks, then drew near and listened attentively, kneeling before the bed. The Patriarch recited: “The true, subtle formula is open yet secret, perfectly round and penetrating. It is about cherishing and cultivating the nature and life—there is nothing else to say. In the end, it all comes down to essence, breath, and spirit. Guard them firmly and store them deep; let none leak out. Let none leak out; hide them within the body. Receive my transmission, and the Dao will flourish in you. Remember the oral formula, for it will bring great benefit. Cast out evil desires and attain cool clarity. Attain cool clarity, and your light will be bright and pure. Then you can enjoy the bright moon from the Elixir Terrace. The moon hides the Jade Rabbit; the sun hides the Golden Crow. Naturally, the tortoise and the snake intertwine and coil. Intertwine and coil, and your nature and life will be firm. Then you can plant a golden lotus in the midst of fire. Gather the Five Primal Forces and invert their use. When the work is complete, you will become a Buddha or an Immortal.”
At this moment, the Patriarch thoroughly explained the root of immortality. Wukong’s heart was enlightened by fortune, and he firmly memorized the formula. Then he bowed to thank the Patriarch for his great kindness and left through the back gate. The eastern sky was faintly brightening, while the west still shimmered with golden light. He followed the old path back to the front gate, gently pushed it open, entered, and sat down in his original place. Deliberately shaking his bed to make it creak, he called out, “It’s dawn! It’s dawn! Time to get up!” The others were still asleep and had no idea that Wukong had already received the wondrous art of immortality.
That day, Wukong continued his chores as usual, but secretly he practiced the formula. Every day, before the Zi hour and after the Wu hour, he regulated his breath and cultivated himself.
Unbeknownst to him, another three years passed. The Patriarch again ascended his throne and discoursed with the assembly. This time, he discussed gong’an (koan) metaphors and debated surface appearances. Suddenly, the Patriarch asked, “Where is Wukong?”
Wukong stepped forward and knelt: “Your disciple is here.”
The Patriarch said, “What arts have you been cultivating lately?”
Wukong replied, “Your disciple has recently gained a deeper understanding of the nature of the Dao, and my foundation is gradually becoming firm.”
The Patriarch said, “Since you understand the nature of the Dao and have grasped the foundation, your Primordial Spirit is also stable. However, you must still guard against the ‘Three Calamities and Disasters.’”
Hearing this, Wukong pondered for a while before saying, “Master, this doesn’t seem right. I have often heard that those with profound Dao and deep virtue can share the same lifespan as heaven, and that by harmonizing water and fire, they will not fall ill. How can there be ‘Three Calamities and Disasters’?”
The Patriarch said, “This art of immortality is no ordinary Dao: it seizes the creative power of heaven and earth and exploits the mysteries of the sun and moon. Once the Golden Elixir is refined, even ghosts and gods cannot tolerate you. Although it can keep you young and prolong your life, after five hundred years, heaven will send down a thunder calamity to strike you. You must recognize your nature and awaken your mind, and avoid it in advance. If you evade it, you will share heaven’s longevity; if you fail, you will lose your life. After another five hundred years, heaven will send down a fire calamity to burn you. This fire is not heavenly fire nor mortal fire; it is called ‘Yin Fire.’ It will burn up from your Yongquan acupoint through to the Niyuan Palace, reducing your five viscera to ashes and rotting your four limbs. A thousand years of cultivation will be utterly wasted. After another five hundred years, a wind calamity will blow upon you. This wind is not the wind from the four cardinal directions, nor the gentle spring breeze, nor the harsh winter wind, nor the wind that blows flowers and willows. It is called ‘Bi Wind.’ It will enter your six bowels through your fontanel, pass through your elixir field, and exit through your nine orifices, loosening your bones and flesh until your body naturally falls apart. These three calamities must all be avoided.”
Wukong was so terrified that his hair stood on end. He hastily kowtowed and said, “I beg the Master to take pity on your disciple and transmit to me the methods for avoiding the three calamities. Your disciple will never forget your kindness, even unto death!”
The Patriarch said, “This is not difficult, but you are different from others, so I cannot casually transmit it.”
Wukong said, “I also have a round head that supports the sky and square feet that tread the earth. I have the same nine orifices, four limbs, five viscera, and six bowels. How am I different from others?”
The Patriarch said, “Although you resemble a human, you lack the cheek pouches.” For this monkey had a pointed mouth and thin cheeks. Wukong reached up and touched his own face, then laughed and said, “Master, you have miscalculated! Although I lack cheek pouches, I have an extra throat pouch. That should make up for it, shouldn’t it?”
The Patriarch said, “Very well, then! Which kind of transformation would you like to learn? There is the Heavenly Stem number, which has thirty-six transformations, and the Earthly Branch number, which has seventy-two transformations.”
Wukong said, “Your disciple wishes to learn more, so I will take the Earthly Branch number of seventy-two transformations!”
The Patriarch said, “If that is so, come closer, and I will transmit the formula to you.” So saying, he leaned close to Wukong’s ear and whispered the subtle method. This Monkey King was clever indeed; once one principle was understood, all others followed. He immediately memorized the formula and gradually cultivated it on his own, soon mastering all seventy-two transformations.
One day, the Patriarch and his disciples were admiring the evening scenery in front of the Three-Star Cave. The Patriarch asked, “Wukong, how is your cultivation progressing?”
Wukong said, “Thanks to the Master’s great kindness, your disciple has succeeded in his cultivation and can now ride the clouds and ascend through the mists.”
The Patriarch said, “Show me a flight.”
Wukong, eager to show off, tensed his body, somersaulted a few times, and leaped about fifty or sixty feet into the air. He rode the clouds and mists for about the time it takes to eat a meal, but in total, he traveled no more than three miles before landing back before the Patriarch. Holding his hands together, he said, “Master, this is riding the clouds.”
The Patriarch laughed and said, “This cannot be called riding the clouds; it can only be called crawling on the clouds! As the ancient saying goes, ‘Immortals roam the Northern Sea in the morning and reach Cangwu by evening.’ If you cannot even travel three miles in half a day, you cannot even be said to be crawling on the clouds!”
Wukong asked, “What does ‘roam the Northern Sea in the morning and reach Cangwu by evening’ mean?”
The Patriarch said, “Any immortal who can ride the clouds sets out from the Northern Sea in the morning, travels through the Eastern, Western, and Southern Seas, and then returns to Cangwu. Cangwu is a place in Lingling, north of the sea. Only one who can travel across the four seas and beyond in a single day can be said to ride the clouds.”
Wukong said, “This is too difficult! Too difficult!”
The Patriarch said, “Nothing in the world is difficult for those who have a determined heart.”
Hearing this, Wukong immediately kowtowed and said, “Master, ‘if you are going to do something, do it thoroughly.’ Please, in your great compassion, transmit to me the method of riding the clouds as well. Your disciple will never forget your kindness!”
The Patriarch said, “Other immortals rise by stamping their feet to ride the clouds, but you are different. Just now, I saw that you had to somersault several times before you could leap up. I will follow your natural movement and transmit to you the ‘Somersault Cloud.’”
Wukong kowtowed again in entreaty, and the Patriarch transmitted the formula to him: “For this cloud, just form the mudra, recite the spell, clench your fists, shake your body, and leap up. One somersault will carry you one hundred and eight thousand miles!”
When the other disciples heard this, they all laughed and said, “Wukong is truly blessed! If he learns this skill, he could work as a courier, delivering documents and dispatches, and earn a living wherever he goes!”
The master and disciples did not return to their cave until dusk. That night, Wukong practiced and cultivated according to the formula, quickly mastering the Somersault Cloud. In the days that followed, he was unfettered and carefree, enjoying the pleasures that come with immortality.
One day, as spring passed and summer arrived, the group was discussing the Dao under a pine tree for quite some time. The senior brothers said to Wukong, “Wukong, what karma did you accumulate in past lives to earn such fortune? A few days ago, the Master whispered in your ear and transmitted to you the arts of transformation to avoid the three calamities. Have you mastered them all?”
Wukong laughed and said, “To be honest with you, elder brothers, partly due to the Master’s dedicated teaching, and partly because I have practiced diligently day and night, I have indeed mastered those arts.”
The senior brothers said, “Since the occasion is so opportune, why don’t you give us a demonstration?”
Wukong, feeling inspired and wanting to show off, said, “Just give me a subject, elder brothers. What shall I transform into?”
The senior brothers said, “Turn into a pine tree!”
Wukong formed the mudra with his fingers, recited the spell, and shook his body. He indeed transformed into a pine tree. The tree was truly lifelike: Lush and verdant, it seemed to hold mist within its branches throughout the four seasons. It soared straight into the clouds, displaying a graceful and upright form. There was not a trace of the demon monkey’s appearance; it was entirely a branch that had endured frost and snow.
Seeing this, the senior brothers clapped their hands and laughed heartily, all exclaiming, “Good monkey! Good monkey!” This commotion inadvertently disturbed Patriarch Bodhi.
The Patriarch quickly came out, leaning on his staff, and asked, “Who is making such a racket here?”
Hearing the Patriarch’s voice, the senior brothers immediately stifled their laughter, straightened their robes, and stepped forward to pay their respects. Wukong also changed back to his original form, mingled with the crowd, and said, “Reporting to the Master, we were discussing the Dao here. There are no outsiders making a disturbance.”
The Patriarch shouted angrily, “You are shouting and yelling, with none of the demeanor of cultivators! A cultivator, once he opens his mouth, disperses his spirit energy. Speaking easily invites trouble. How can you be so noisy here?”
The senior brothers quickly said, “We dare not hide it from the Master. Just now, Sun Wukong was demonstrating his transformations for fun. We asked him to turn into a pine tree, and he did. We could not help but praise him, and our voices were too loud, disturbing the Master. We beg the Master to forgive our offense.”
The Patriarch said, “All of you, rise.” Then he called, “Wukong, come here! Let me ask you: what are you showing off by turning into a pine tree? Is this kind of skill something to display before others? If you see someone else with a skill, would you not beg them to teach you? If others see your skill, they will surely beg you to teach them. If you are afraid of causing trouble, you will have to transmit it to them. If you do not, they will surely harm you, and then your very life will be forfeit!”
Wukong hastily kowtowed and said, “I only beg the Master to forgive my offense!”
The Patriarch said, “I will not punish you, but you must leave.”
Hearing this, Wukong’s eyes filled with tears. He asked, “Master, where am I to go?”
The Patriarch said, “Wherever you came from, return there.”
Wukong suddenly realized and said, “I came from the Water Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit in the Nation of Aolai, in the Eastern Continent of Superior Body.”
The Patriarch said, “Hurry back, and you may still save your life. If you remain here, it will certainly not do!”
Wukong acknowledged his fault and said to the Patriarch, “I left home twenty years ago. Although I miss my former children, I think of the Master’s great kindness, which has not yet been repaid. I dare not leave.”
The Patriarch said, “What gratitude or obligation is there! Just do not cause trouble or implicate me!”
Seeing the Patriarch’s firm resolve, Wukong had no choice. He bowed in farewell to the Patriarch and then took leave of each of his senior brothers.
The Patriarch instructed him, “Once you leave, you will surely cause trouble. No matter what mischief or violence you commit, you are not to say that you are my disciple. If you dare utter even half a word about me, I will know immediately. I will then flay you alive, break your bones, and banish your spirit to the Nine Shades of the Underworld, never to be reborn!”
Wukong said, “I will never dare mention the Master’s name, not even a single word. I will say that I learned these skills on my own.”
Wukong thanked the Patriarch, immediately rose, formed the mudra, somersaulted, and leaped up on his Somersault Cloud, flying straight toward the Eastern Continent of Superior Body. In less than an hour, he saw the Water Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. The Handsome Monkey King was overjoyed and silently recited: “When I left, my mortal bones and flesh were heavy; now, having attained the Dao, my body is light and buoyant. Throughout the world, no one is willing to set their will; but once you set your will on cultivating the profound, the profound itself becomes clear. In those years, crossing the sea was a difficult struggle; today, returning is so easy a journey. The parting words of advice still ring in my ears; who would have thought that in an instant I would see the Eastern Sea?”
Wukong descended from his cloud and landed directly on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. He followed the path inward. Suddenly, he heard the cries of cranes and the wailing of monkeys. The cranes’ calls soared into the clouds, while the monkeys’ cries were especially mournful. He immediately called out, “My children! I have returned!”
From beneath the cliffs, among the rocks and flowers, and in the woods, thousands upon thousands of monkeys, large and small, came running out. They surrounded the Handsome Monkey King, kowtowed, and cried out, “Great King, how could you be so heartless! You have been gone for so long, abandoning us completely. We have missed you as if we were starving and thirsting! Recently, a demon has come to bully us, forcibly trying to seize our Water Curtain Cave. We fought with him desperately, but these days, that fiend has stolen our belongings and captured many of our little monkeys. We cannot rest day or night, and can only guard our home. Fortunately, Great King, you have returned! If you had delayed another year or half, even our cave would have been taken over!”
Hearing this, Wukong was filled with rage and said, “What demon dares to be so bold! Tell me in detail, and I will go and take revenge for you!”
The monkeys kowtowed and said, “Reporting to the Great King, that fiend calls himself the Havoc Demon King and lives due north.”
Wukong asked, “How far is it from here to his lair?”
The monkeys said, “When he comes, he rides the clouds; when he leaves, he brings the mist. Sometimes he brings wind and rain, other times lightning and thunder. We do not know how far it is.”
Wukong said, “If that is so, do not be afraid. Play among yourselves while I go find him!”
Good Monkey King! He tensed his body, leaped up, and somersaulted through the clouds, flying straight north to investigate. He saw a high mountain, indeed very perilous. This mountain was truly extraordinary: The peaks stood like writing brushes, piercing through the void; winding ravines ran deep, reaching down to the gates of the earth. Flowers and trees vied for splendor on both cliffs; pines and bamboos competed in emerald green. On the left, dragons were tame and docile; on the right, tigers lay subdued. Iron oxen were often seen plowing, and gold coins were frequently planted. Secluded birds sang sweetly; crimson phoenixes stood facing the sun. The rocks were jagged, the waves were clear, a bizarre and truly ferocious sight. Though there are countless famous mountains in the world, with flowers blooming and withering in abundance, none could compare to this eternal scene, unchanged through the eight seasons and four periods. Truly, this was the Source Mountain of the Three Realms, the Water-Gizzard Cave that nourishes the Five Primal Forces!
The Handsome Monkey King was silently admiring the scenery when he suddenly heard voices. He descended the mountain to investigate. Before the steep cliff was the Water-Gizzard Cave, home of the Havoc Demon King. Outside the cave, several little demons were dancing. Seeing Wukong, they tried to flee.
Wukong said, “Don’t run! Lend me your mouths to deliver my words: I am the cave lord of the Water Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit in the south. That so-called Havoc Demon of yours has repeatedly bullied my children. I have come specifically to settle scores with him!”
Hearing this, the little demons rushed into the cave and reported, “Great King! Trouble is here!”
The Demon King asked, “What trouble?”
The little demons said, “Outside the cave, there is a monkey who calls himself the cave lord of the Water Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. He says you have repeatedly bullied his children and has come specifically to settle scores with you!”
The Demon King laughed and said, “I have often heard those monkey spirits say that their Great King went away to cultivate. He must have returned today. What clothes is he wearing, and what weapons does he carry?”
The little demons said, “He carries no weapons. He is bare-headed, wears a red robe, a yellow sash, and black boots. He looks neither like a monk nor an ordinary man, nor a Daoist immortal. He stands empty-handed before the cave gate, issuing a challenge.”
Hearing this, the Demon King said, “Bring my armor and weapons!” The little demons immediately fetched them. The Demon King donned his armor, grasped his blade, and led the demons out of the cave. He shouted loudly, “Which one is the cave lord of the Water Curtain Cave?”
Wukong quickly widened his eyes and looked. He saw the Demon King: He wore a black-gold helmet that shone brightly in the sunlight; a dark silk robe hung about him, fluttering in the wind. Below, he was clad in black iron armor, tightly bound with leather straps; on his feet were patterned boots, giving him the fierce bearing of a general. His waist was ten spans around, and his height was three zhang. In his hand, he held a blade with a gleaming edge. He was called the Havoc Demon, a fierce and imposing figure.
The Monkey King shouted, “You fiend! With such big eyes, you still cannot see Old Sun!”
Seeing Wukong, the Demon King laughed and said, “You are not even four feet tall and look no more than thirty years old. You carry no weapon. How dare you come to settle scores with me?”
Wukong cursed, “You fiend, you have no eyes at all! You think I am small? It is no trouble for me to become big. You think I have no weapon? My two hands can hook the moon from the sky! Do not be afraid! Take a punch from Old Sun!” So saying, he leaped forward and struck at the Demon King’s face.
The Demon King reached out and blocked the blow, saying, “You are so short, and I am so tall. If you want to fight with fists, and I use my blade, people will laugh at me for cutting you down. I will put down my weapon and match you with fists.”
Wukong said, “Well said! You are a true man! Come on!”
The Demon King dropped his weapon and began to fight with Wukong. Wukong darted in close to the Demon King, and they exchanged blows. It turned out that while long punches looked impressive, they were not solid; short punches, though small, were powerful. Wukong struck the Demon King in the ribs and hip, and soon the fiend was in pain. The Demon King dodged back, grabbed his great steel axe, and swung it at Wukong’s head. Wukong quickly evaded, and the axe cut only air.
Seeing the Demon King’s ferocity, Wukong employed the art of the Body Outside the Body. He plucked a handful of hairs from his body, chewed them up, and spat them into the air, shouting, “Change!” Instantly, the hairs transformed into two or three hundred little monkeys, surrounding the Demon King on all sides.
Now, once a person has cultivated an immortal body, transformations can follow the will. Since learning the Dao, this Monkey King had eighty-four thousand hairs on his body, each capable of transformation, able to turn into anything he wished. These little monkeys had sharp eyes and swift movements. The Demon King’s blade could not cut them, nor could his spear harm them. The little monkeys rushed forward and darted back, swarming around the Demon King. Some grabbed his waist, others pulled his legs; some darted between his legs, others tripped his feet. They kicked, punched, pulled his hair, gouged his eyes, and pin