After bidding farewell to the king of Purple-Gold Kingdom, Tang Sanzang adjusted his saddle and luggage and continued westward. They traversed countless mountains and plains, crossed innumerable rivers and seas, and before they knew it, autumn had passed and winter had ended. Once again, the days grew bright with the warmth of spring. As the master and his disciples were enjoying the spring scenery along the road, they suddenly caught sight of a grove of trees surrounding a nunnery. Tang Sanzang quickly dismounted and stood by the side of the main road.
The Pilgrim asked, "Master, this road is smooth and free of danger. Why have you stopped?"
Pigsy said, "Elder Brother, you really don't understand human nature! The Master has been riding for a long time and must be tired. Let him get down and catch his breath."
Tang Sanzang said, "It's not to catch my breath. I see that place over there is someone's home. I thought I might go and beg for some vegetarian food myself."
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Master, what kind of talk is that? If you want vegetarian food, I'll go and beg for it. As the old saying goes, 'One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father.' How could it be right for the disciple to sit idle while the master begs for food?"
Tang Sanzang said, "That's not how it is. Usually, when the road stretches out of sight, you have to travel far to beg for food. But today, this house is right before our eyes. I could call out and be heard. Let me go and beg just this once."
Pigsy said, "Master, you really have no judgment. As the old saying goes, 'When three people travel, the youngest does the hard work.' Besides, you are our elder and we are your disciples. The ancient books also say, 'When there is work to be done, the disciple should do it.' Let old Pigsy go."
Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, the weather is so fine today, not like when it's windy or rainy. In those times, you indeed had to travel far. But today, with this house so close, I can go. Whether or not they have food, I'll be back quickly, and we can continue on our way."
Sha Wujing laughed and said, "Elder Brother, don't argue anymore. The Master's nature is like this. Don't go against him. If you make him unhappy, even if you beg for food, he won't eat it."
When Pigsy heard Sha Wujing's words, he took out the alms bowl and exchanged his hat and robe with the Master. Striding forward, he went straight to the front of that estate to have a look. It was quite a sight to behold: a stone bridge rose high into the air, and ancient trees stood in dense, orderly rows. The stone bridge was lofty, with gurgling streams connecting to a long river; the ancient trees were well-arranged, with chirping birds singing in the distant mountains. On the other side of the bridge were a few thatched cottages, so elegant they seemed like a hermit's dwelling . There was also a window made of woven reeds, so bright it outshone a Taoist priest's courtyard. Before the window, he suddenly saw four young women, all embroidering phoenixes and painting mythical birds with their needlework.
Seeing that the household had no men, only these four women, Tang Sanzang did not dare to enter. He stood in the woods by the bridge and looked again at the women. Each one had a will as firm as stone within her boudoir and a nature as lively as spring itself. Their delicate faces were like red clouds reflecting the sun, their bright red lips were evenly painted with rouge. Their curved eyebrows were as fine as new moons, and their fluffy hair buns were as fresh as clouds. If they stood among the flowers, even the honey-gathering bees would mistake them for blossoms.
He waited for about an hour, but all around remained silent. There wasn't even the sound of a chicken or a dog. Tang Sanzang thought to himself, "If I can't even beg a simple meal, I'll surely be laughed at by my disciples. If the master can't beg for food, how can the disciples hope to worship the Buddha and obtain the scriptures?"
Having no other choice, and forgetting his embarrassment, Tang Sanzang stepped onto the bridge. After a few more steps, he saw a pavilion made of wood and herbs within the thatched courtyard. Beneath the pavilion, three more women were kicking a ball. These three were even more beautiful than the first four. They were dressed in flowing emerald sleeves and swaying yellow skirts. The emerald sleeves were lowered, barely concealing their slender, jade-like fingers; the yellow skirts were pulled aside, half-revealing their tiny, bound feet . Their figures were perfectly formed, and every movement of their feet was elegant and varied. They caught the ball with their heads, judged its height, and passed it with precision. They turned to kick an " over-the-wall flower ," then stepped back and performed a " great sea crossing ." They gently caught a muddy ball, then swiftly kicked it with a single leg. They balanced the ball on their heads like a bright pearl on a Buddha's crown , then pinched it with their toes. They could catch a narrow brick, lie on their sides, and kick with their feet. They bent at the waist, knelt, twisted their heads, and lifted their heels. They could bounce the ball on their benches, let it fall from their shoulders, and pass it between their legs with ease, letting it swing around their necks. They kicked so fiercely that the Yellow River seemed to flow backward, and golden fish were bought on the shore. If one mistakenly thought the ball was headed for her head, another would turn and kick it away. They held the ball steadily on their shins, caught it squarely with their toes, and kicked it up behind them, catching it over their shoulders. They hooked the ball with their feet, let it drop from their backs, and pretended to miss the goal. They kicked with such skill and beauty that the women watching all cried out in praise. Each one of them was drenched in sweat, their delicate perfume soaking through their silk robes, and only when they were tired and languid did they finally call a halt.
Words could not fully describe their appearance, and there was a poem to bear witness to it: It was the third month of spring, a time for kicking the ball, as if celestial breezes had blown down the purest of moon maidens . Sweat stained their powdered faces like flowers covered in dew; dust touched their moth-like eyebrows like willows veiled in mist. Their emerald sleeves hung low, concealing their jade fingers; their yellow skirts were pulled askew, half-revealing their tiny golden lotuses . After several rounds of kicking, they were delicate and weak, their cloud-like hair disheveled and their precious hairpins askew.
After watching for a long while, Tang Sanzang finally walked to the head of the bridge and raised his voice, saying, "Ladies, this humble monk has come to beg for some vegetarian food according to our fate."
Hearing his voice, the women happily put down their needlework and their ball, and came out smiling to greet him. They said, "Elder, please forgive us for not coming out sooner. Today, you have come to our humble, desolate estate. We would never dare to refuse alms to a monk. Please come inside and sit."
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang thought to himself, "Excellent! Excellent! The Western Paradise is truly a land of Buddha ! Even women think of giving alms to monks. How much more sincere must the men be in their devotion to the Buddha?"
Tang Sanzang stepped forward, bowed, and followed the women into the thatched cottage. Passing through the wooden pavilion, he looked around. Ah! There were no rooms or corridors at all. He only saw: towering mountain peaks and a vast, stretching earth vein . The high peaks touched the clouds, and the long earth vein connected to the mountains and seas. The entrance was near a stone bridge, with winding, nine-bend streams flowing around it. The garden was planted with peach and plum trees, thousands of them blooming with brilliant, abundant flowers. Creeping vines and ivy hung from three or five trees, and the fragrance of orchids and angelica spread among the countless blossoms. From afar, this cave-dwelling could rival the immortal isle of Penglai; up close, these woods could overshadow Mount Hua. This was truly a hidden retreat for demons and immortals, with no neighbors, just this one household.
One of the women stepped forward and pushed open two stone doors, inviting Tang Sanzang to enter. He had no choice but to go in. Looking up, he saw that everything inside was made of stone—stone tables and stone benches—all radiating a cold, eerie aura. His heart began to pound, and he thought to himself, "This place doesn't look very auspicious. It's definitely not a good place."
The women, however, were all smiles and said, "Elder, please sit." Having no choice, Tang Sanzang sat down. In a moment, he felt a cold shiver run through him.
The women asked, "Elder, from which precious monastery have you come? What kind of alms are you seeking? Are you raising funds to build a bridge, repair a road, construct a temple, worship the Buddha, print sutras, or make statues? Show us your donation book so we can see."
Tang Sanzang said, "I am not a monk seeking alms."
The women said, "If you're not seeking alms, then what have you come here for?"
Tang Sanzang said, "I am a monk sent by the Great Tang in the East to go to the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Paradise to obtain the true scriptures. Passing through your esteemed region, I have become hungry and have come especially to your home to beg for a meal. After I have eaten, I will be on my way."
The women said, "Good! Good! Good! As the old saying goes, 'A monk from afar recites the sutras better.' Sisters! Don't be negligent. Prepare the vegetarian meal quickly."
At this point, three of the women stayed to chat with Tang Sanzang about matters of karma and causality, while the other four went to the kitchen, rolled up their sleeves, lifted their skirts, lit the fire, and scrubbed the pots. Can you guess what they were preparing? They were cooking with human oil and stewing human flesh. They made a dark, greasy mess to pass off as wheat gluten, and fried up scooped-out human brains as if they were pieces of tofu.
They brought out two plates and set them on the stone table, saying to Tang Sanzang, "Please eat. In our haste, we haven't prepared a proper meal. Just eat a little to stave off your hunger. There will be more to follow."
Tang Sanzang smelled the food. A foul, fishy stench assailed his nostrils. He did not dare to open his mouth. He bowed and pressed his palms together, saying, "Ladies, this humble monk has been a vegetarian since birth."
The women laughed and said, "Elder, this is vegetarian."
Tang Sanzang said, "Amitabha! If this is what you call 'vegetarian,' then if this monk eats it, I will never be able to see the Buddha or obtain the true scriptures."
The women said, "Elder, you are a monk who has left the world. You must not be picky with your benefactors."
Tang Sanzang said, "I dare not! I dare not! This monk has been sent by the Emperor of the Great Tang. On my journey westward, I have never taken a single life. Whenever I see suffering, I save it. When I encounter a grain of rice, I pick it up and eat it. When I see a thread, I sew it into my clothes. How would I dare to be picky with a benefactor!"
The women laughed and said, "Elder, even if you are not picky with your benefactors, why do you complain the moment you enter our door? Don't mind the coarseness or the blandness. Just eat a little."
Tang Sanzang said, "I truly dare not eat it. I am afraid of breaking my precepts. I beg you, Ladies, rather than keeping me here, it would be better to release me and let this monk go on his way."
Tang Sanzang struggled to leave, but the women blocked the door and refused to let him go, no matter what. They said, "A business that comes to our door, how can we not take it? 'You only cover your mouth after you've farted.' Where do you think you're going?" Every one of them knew some martial arts. Their hands and feet were nimble. They grabbed hold of Tang Sanzang and, as easily as leading a lamb, they threw him to the ground with a thud. The women pinned him down, bound him with ropes, and hung him from the roof beam. This method of hanging had a name: "The Immortal Points the Way." One hand was stretched forward and tied with a rope to hang; the other hand was bound around the waist and also hung with a rope; both legs were stretched backward and hung with a single rope. With three ropes, they hung Tang Sanzang from the beam, in a posture with his back up and his belly down.
Enduring the pain and holding back his tears, Tang Sanzang silently cursed his fate: "Why is this monk's life so bitter? I thought this was a good family and wanted to beg a meal, but instead I've fallen into a fiery pit! My disciples! Come and save me quickly, and we may still meet. If you are two hours late, my life will be lost!"
Even in his misery, Tang Sanzang kept a careful eye on the women. After they had hung him up, they began to take off their clothes. Tang Sanzang's heart grew even more panicked. He thought to himself, "If they are taking off their clothes, they are probably going to beat me. Perhaps they will even eat me alive!" But those women only untied their upper silk robes, exposing their bellies, and each one began to display her magical power. From their waists, they shot out silk threads as thick as duck eggs. It was like bursting forth white jade or flying out silver threads. In an instant, they covered the entrance to the estate. We will leave them for now.
Let us return to the Pilgrim, Pigsy, and Sha Wujing, who were still by the side of the main road. Pigsy and Sha Wujing were watching the horse and guarding the luggage. Only the Pilgrim was being mischievous. He jumped up into a tree, hung from the branches, and plucked leaves while looking for fruit. Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a patch of bright light. He quickly jumped down and shouted loudly, "This is bad! This is bad! The Master's luck has run out!"
Pointing with his finger, the Pilgrim said, "Look at that estate. What do you see?"
Pigsy and Sha Wujing looked together. That patch of light was as white as snow and as bright as silver. Pigsy said, "It's all over! It's all over! The Master has run into a goblin! Let's go find him quickly!"
The Pilgrim said, "Worthy Brother, don't shout. You haven't seen the situation clearly. Let me go and have a look."
Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother, be careful."
The Pilgrim said, "I have my own methods."
This Great Sage was truly magnificent. He tightened his tiger-skin kilt, pulled out his golden-banded staff, and strode forward. In two or three steps, he was at the front of the estate. He saw that the silk threads were wound in a thousand layers, crisscrossing like the warp and weft of a loom. He pressed his hand against them and found them a bit sticky. Not knowing what this thing was, the Pilgrim raised his staff to strike, saying, "With one blow from this staff, not just a few thousand layers, but even tens of thousands could be broken!" But just as he was about to strike, he stopped. "If it were hard, I could break it. But since it's soft, hitting it will only flatten it. If I alarm them, they might wrap me up, and that would be bad. Let me first ask about the situation before I strike."
Can you guess whom he asked? He immediately made a hand seal, recited a spell, and summoned the local tutelary deity. In his temple, the local deity was spinning around like a millstone. His wife said, "Old man, what are you spinning for? Have you been struck by a fit of the goat's wind?"
The local deity said, "You don't know! You don't know! The Great Sage Equaling Heaven has arrived, and I didn't go to greet him. He is summoning me right now!"
His wife said, "Then just go and see him. Why are you spinning around here?"
The local deity said, "If I go to see him, his staff is so heavy! He'll hit me whether I'm right or wrong!"
His wife said, "He sees how old you are. Why would he hit you?"
The local deity said, "In this life, he loves to take advantage of people, and he especially likes to hit old people!"
The couple argued for a while. Having no choice, the local deity tremblingly went out, knelt by the roadside, and called out, "Great Sage, the local deity of this place kowtows to you."
The Pilgrim said, "Get up first. Don't be in a hurry. I won't hit you for now, but I'll keep it on the books. I ask you, what is this place?"
The local deity said, "Great Sage, from which direction have you come?"
The Pilgrim said, "I've come from the East, heading West."
The local deity said, "When the Great Sage came from the East, did you pass over that mountain ridge?"
The Pilgrim said, "Yes, we are on that very ridge! Our luggage and horses are all still on that ridge!"
The local deity said, "That mountain ridge is called Spider-Silk Ridge. Beneath the ridge there is a cave called the Spider-Den Cave. In that cave, there are seven goblins."
The Pilgrim said, "Are they male or female goblins?"
The local deity said, "They are female goblins."
The Pilgrim said, "How great is their power?"
The local deity said, "This minor deity's magic power is shallow, and I do not know the extent of their power. I only know that three miles due south of here, there is a spring called the Cleansing Spring. It is a naturally hot spring. It was originally the bathing pool of the Seven Celestial Maidens. But ever since the goblins came to live here, they have occupied that spring. The Seven Celestial Maidens did not even argue with them and simply gave it up to them. I think that even the immortals do not provoke these goblins, so their power must be great."
The Pilgrim said, "What use is there in occupying this spring?"
The local deity said, "These goblins have occupied the bathing pool and go there to bathe three times a day. The hour of the Snake has passed, and the hour of the Horse is nearly here."
Hearing this, the Pilgrim said, "Local deity, you may return. I will deal with them myself."
The local deity kowtowed and, trembling, returned to his own temple.
This Great Sage then displayed his divine power. With a shake of his body, he transformed himself into a common housefly and landed on a blade of grass by the roadside to wait. In a little while, he heard a sound like the heavy breathing of a bellows, or the sound of silkworms eating mulberry leaves, or the rising tide of the sea. About half a cup of tea later, the silk threads had all disappeared, and the estate had returned to its original appearance. Then he heard a "creak" as the wicker door opened, and the sound of talking and laughing came from within as seven women walked out.
The Pilgrim, hiding in the shadows, watched them carefully. He saw them walking hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, laughing and chatting as they crossed the bridge. They were truly beautiful. They were more fragrant than fine jade, more delicate than fresh flowers. Their eyebrows were like distant blue mountains, their lips were as red as cherries. The kingfisher feathers on their hairpins stood erect, and their tiny golden-lotus shoes flashed with a red light. They were like Chang'e descending to the mortal world, or a celestial maiden visiting the earth.
The Pilgrim laughed to himself and said, "No wonder the Master wanted to go and beg for food. So it was because of these beauties! Even if these seven beauties were to keep the Master, they wouldn't have enough to eat for a single meal, nor enough to use for two days. If they were to take turns dealing with him, the Master would have been dead long ago. Let me first listen to their plans and see what they intend to do."
This Great Sage was truly something. With a "buzz," he flew over and landed on the hair bun of the woman walking in front. Just as they crossed the bridge, a woman from behind came forward and called out, "Elder Sister, after we finish bathing, let's go back and steam that fat monk to eat!"
The Pilgrim secretly laughed. "These monsters have no sense! Boiling him would save firewood. Why do they want to steam him instead!"
The women picked flowers and played games of grass as they walked south. In no time, they arrived at the bathing pool. They saw a gate and a wall, very imposing. The wildflowers on the ground were dazzlingly bright, and the orchids and fragrant grasses beside them grew luxuriantly. A woman from behind came forward, whistled, and pushed open the two gates. In the middle of the gate, there was indeed a pool of hot water. The origin of this water was quite extraordinary. Since the creation of heaven and earth, there had originally been ten suns. Later, Hou Yi, who was skilled in archery, shot down nine of them, leaving only one Golden Crow, which became the true fire of the present sun. Under heaven, there are nine hot springs, all of which were transformed from those nine suns. These nine springs are: the Fragrant Nymph Spring, the Companion Mountain Spring, the Warm Spring, the Eastern Harmony Spring, the Yellow Mountain Spring, the Filial Peace Spring, the Broad Fragrance Spring, the Soup Spring, and this one, the Cleansing Spring.
There is a poem to bear witness to it: The primal force knows no winter or summer; through the three autumns, it ever flows with spring. The fiery waves are like a boiling cauldron; the hot currents are as fresh as newly heated soup. The separate streams nourish the crops; the still waters wash away the dust of the world. Gently, like pearl-like teardrops it ripples; rolling, like jade-like lumps of liquid it surges. Warm and smooth, it is not brewed; clear and calm, it is naturally warm. Its auspicious essence is born of the local beauty; its creation is from the very nature of heaven. When beauties bathe here, their icy skin becomes smooth; washing away the dust and worries, their jade bodies become new.
This bathing pool was about five zhang wide and over ten zhang long, with a depth of about four feet. The water was so clear you could see the bottom. At the bottom of the pool, the water bubbled up like rolling pearls and floating jade, making a "gurgling" sound. On four sides, there were six or seven holes through which the water flowed. It ran for two or three miles, and when it reached the fields, it was still warm. Above the pool, there was a pavilion with three bays. In the pavilion, against the back wall, there was an eight-legged bench, and at both ends were two clothes racks painted with gold and colorful designs.
The Pilgrim, hiding in the shadows, was secretly delighted. With a "buzz," he flew over and landed on the head of a clothes rack. He then watched the women. Seeing that the water was clear and hot, they prepared to bathe. They took off their clothes and draped them over the racks, then all jumped into the water together. The Pilgrim saw it all clearly: they untied their buttons and loosened their sashes. Their skin was like silver, their bodies like white snow. Their arms were as smooth as ice, their shoulders softer than powder. Their bellies were soft and yielding, their backs smooth and clean. Their knees were round when bent, and their tiny, three-inch golden lotuses were truly delicate. The area of skin in between was full of a thousand kinds of charm.
All the women had jumped into the water and were splashing and playing in the waves. The Pilgrim thought, "If I were to fight them, I would only need to stir my staff in the pool, and it would be like 'pouring boiling water on mice—a whole nestful would die.' But what a pity! What a pity! Even if I killed them, it would tarnish Old Sun's reputation. As the old saying goes, 'A man does not fight with a woman.' I am such a fine hero. To kill a few little girls would be truly unbecoming. I won't fight them. I'll give them a 'cut-off-their-escape' plan, so they can't move or get out of the water. That would be much better."
This Great Sage was truly magnificent. He made a hand seal, recited a spell, shook his body, and transformed himself into a hungry old eagle. Its feathers were as white as frost and snow, its eyes as bright as stars. When a demon fox saw it, its soul would fly away and its spirit would scatter; when a cunning hare saw it, its heart would tremble with fear. Its steel-like talons were sharp, its imposing manner fierce. It could use its sharp claws to catch its prey for food, and it dared to personally pursue flying birds. It flew freely in the highest heavens, piercing through clouds and mists to seek its target.
With a "whoosh," the Great Sage spread his wings and flew over. He stretched out his sharp talons, snatched up all seven sets of clothes draped over the clothes rack, and flew straight back to the top of Spider-Silk Ridge. He changed back into his original form and came to see Pigsy and Sha Wujing, saying, "Look."
Pigsy came up to him and said to Sha Wujing with a laugh, "The Master must have gone to a pawnshop and had his things taken."
Sha Wujing said, "How can you tell?"
Pigsy said, "Haven't you seen that Elder Brother has taken all their clothes?"
The Pilgrim put down the clothes and said, "These are the goblins' clothes."
Pigsy said, "How can there be so many?"
The Pilgrim said, "Seven sets."
Pigsy said, "How did you manage to strip them so easily and so cleanly?"
The Pilgrim said, "I didn't have to strip them at all. This place is called Spider-Silk Ridge, and that estate is the Spider-Den Cave. Inside the cave, there are seven female goblins. They caught the Master and hung him up inside the cave. Now they have all gone to the Cleansing Spring to bathe. That spring is a natural hot spring. They were even planning to steam the Master to eat after their bath. I followed them there. When I saw them take off their clothes and get into the water, I wanted to fight them. But I was afraid of dirtying my staff and tarnishing my reputation, so I didn't make a move. Instead, I turned into a hungry old eagle and snatched away all their clothes. Right now, they must be feeling ashamed and embarrassed. They won't dare to come out, so they are squatting in the water. Let's go quickly and rescue the Master, then continue on our way."
Pigsy laughed and said, "Elder Brother, you never do things thoroughly. Since you saw the goblins, why didn't you kill them before rescuing the Master! Even if they are too ashamed to come out now, they will surely come out at night. They still have old clothes at home. They can put on a set and come after us. Even if they don't come after us, they live here permanently. When we have obtained the scriptures, we will have to return by this road. As the old saying goes, 'Better to lack money on the road than to lack a good fist.' If they block our way and make a fuss then, won't we have made enemies?"
The Pilgrim said, "Then what do you want to do?"
Pigsy said, "In my opinion, we should kill the goblins first, then rescue the Master. This is the way to pull out the weeds by the roots."
The Pilgrim said, "I won't fight them. If you want to fight, you go ahead."
Pigsy was energized. Happily raising his rake, he strode forward and ran straight over. With a "creak," he pushed open the gate and looked inside. He saw the seven women squatting in the water, cursing the eagle: "This flat-feathered beast! A reincarnation of a dead thing! It has taken all our clothes! How can we move now!"
Pigsy couldn't help but laugh and said, "Ladies, are you bathing here? Could you let this monk have a wash with you?"
When the goblins saw him, they said angrily, "You monk, you are too rude! We are women of the home, and you are a man who has left the world. The ancient books say, 'When a boy and a girl reach the age of seven, they do not sit on the same mat.' And you want to bathe with us?"
Pigsy said, "The weather is so hot, there's nothing to be done. Just let me have a wash. Why are you dragging out that bookish talk about 'sitting on the same mat or not'!" Having said this, the Fool threw down his rake, took off his black monk's robe, and with a "plop," jumped into the water.
The goblins were already annoyed, and they all came forward to hit him. But Pigsy was an excellent swimmer. As soon as he jumped into the water, he shook his body and transformed into a catfish spirit. The goblins all tried to grab the fish, but they couldn't catch him. If they felt for him in the east, he would "swish" over to the west. If they felt for him in the west, he would "swish" over to the east. He was slippery, and he would even burrow into the gaps between their legs. The water was about chest-deep. Pigsy swam around on the surface for a while, then dove to the bottom, tiring out all the goblins until they were panting and out of breath.
Only then did Pigsy jump ashore, change back into his original form, put on his monk's robe, raise his rake, and shout, "Do you know who I am? You took me for a catfish spirit!"
When the goblins saw him, they were terrified. They said to Pigsy, "First you were a monk, then you turned into a catfish in the water. We couldn't catch you, and now you have changed into this form. Where are you from? Tell us your name quickly."
Pigsy said, "You vile goblins, you don't even recognize me! I am the disciple of the elder Tang, who is going from the Great Tang in the East to obtain the scriptures. I am Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Wuneng, also known as Pigsy! You hung my master up in your cave and even planned to steam him to eat! Is my master someone you can steam? Quickly, stick out your necks! Each of you will taste my rake, and I will put an end to your roots!"
Hearing this, the goblins were so frightened that their souls flew away. They knelt in the water and said, "We beg you, Lord, to be merciful! We had eyes but could not see Mount Tai. We wrongly captured your master. Although he is hung up, we have not dared to mistreat him. We beg you, in your compassion, to spare our lives. We are willing to offer some traveling expenses and send your master on his way to the Western Paradise."
Pigsy waved his hand and said, "Don't talk like that! As the old saying goes, 'I was once fooled by a candy seller, so now I don't believe sweet talkers.' Quickly, stick out your heads and let me have a swing with my rake. Then we can each go our own way!"
The Fool was naturally crude, and he had just had a fall and was in a bad mood. He had no heart for pity or cherishing beauty. He raised his rake and, without a care for right or wrong, rushed forward and started swinging wildly. The goblins panicked. Forgetting all shame, and with their lives at stake, they used their hands to cover their private parts and leaped out of the water. They all ran into the pavilion and stood there, then began to display their magic powers. From their belly buttons, they shot out silk threads with a "gurgling" sound. They built a huge silk canopy, like a heavenly net, and covered Pigsy inside it.
Pigsy suddenly looked up and could not see the sky. He quickly tried to withdraw and get out, but he couldn't take a single step! The ground was covered with trip-ropes. Everywhere was silk threads. As soon as he moved, he tripped. If he went left, he fell flat on his face. If he went right, he tumbled head over heels. If he hurried to get up, he would slam his mouth against the ground. As soon as he got up, he would fall again, landing on his head. He didn't know how many times he fell. The Fool was bruised all over, his waist and legs were weak, his head was spinning, and he couldn't even crawl. He could only lie on the ground and groan.
The goblins trapped him, but they didn't hit him or hurt him. They all jumped out of the gate, used the silk canopy to block the sunlight, and each one returned to the Spider-Den Cave. When they reached the stone bridge, they stood still, recited a spell, and in a moment, withdrew the silk canopy. Naked, they ran into the cave, covering their