Now Sun Wukong, his spirit fully roused, gripped his Golden-Banded Staff and soared into the sky upon his auspicious cloud. He bellowed at the demon, "What fiend from what land dares to stir up trouble here?"
The monster shouted back, "I am none other than the vanguard under the great king, the Grand Supreme of the Xiezhi Cave on Qilin Mountain ! Today, by my king's command, I have come to seize two palace maids to attend the Golden Saintly Consort . Who are you to meddle with me?"
The Pilgrim replied, "I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, escorting the Tang Monk from the East to worship the Buddha in the Western Heaven. Passing through this Purple-Gold Kingdom, I learned of your villainy against the king. I have come specifically to display my skills and rid the nation of evil. I was just looking for you, and you deliver yourself to your doom!"
That fiend, knowing neither heaven nor earth, thrust his long spear at the Pilgrim. Wukong met him head-on with his staff. The two clashed in midair, and a fierce battle ensued:
Wukong's staff was the treasure that had calmed the seas in the Dragon King's palace, a divine weapon forged from celestial iron . The demon's spear was but a mortal weapon, smelted from mundane ore. How could a common soldier's armament compare to a divine one? The slightest touch would drain its spiritual power. The Great Sage was a true Immortal of the Supreme Purity , while the fiend was but a creature of evil. How could a ghostly apparition stand against a righteous man? Where righteousness prevails, evil is extinguished. One stirred up wind and dust to frighten the king; the other trod on mist and rode the clouds to shroud the sun and moon. They squared off, each betting on victory or defeat. Who would dare boast of prowess if lacking skill? It was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who proved superior; with a single ringing blow, he snapped the demon's spear in two.
Seeing his spear broken in half by the Pilgrim's staff, the demon was terrified and fled for his life, turning westward.
The Pilgrim did not give chase. He descended on his cloud to the entrance of the underground refuge where the king was hiding, and called out, "Master, come out quickly with His Majesty! The demon has been driven off."
Tang Sanzang helped the king emerge from the underground chamber. They saw the sky was clear and vast, with not a trace of demonic aura. The king walked to the banquet table, personally picked up the wine pot, and poured a golden cup of wine. He handed it to the Pilgrim, saying, " Divine Monk , my thanks to you first! My thanks to you first!"
Wukong had just taken the cup and was about to speak when an official at the court gate reported, "A fire has broken out at the West Gate!" Hearing this, Wukong flung the golden cup and its wine into the air. With a clang, the cup fell to the ground.
The king panicked and bowed, saying, "Divine Monk, forgive me! Forgive me! It was my fault! I should have invited you to the main hall to offer my thanks properly, but since the wine was right here, I served you casually. You threw away the cup—could it be that you think I have slighted you?"
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "It is not as you think. Not at all."
Soon after, another official reported, "It is raining heavily! The fire at the West Gate has been completely put out by a great downpour. The streets are flooded, and the water even smells of wine!"
The Pilgrim laughed again and said, "Your Majesty, you saw me throw the cup and thought I was displeased. But that is not the case. When the demon fled westward, I did not pursue him, and he set a fire. The cup of wine I threw was used to extinguish the demon's blaze, saving the people inside and outside the West City. There was no other meaning!"
The king was even more delighted and treated the Pilgrim with greater respect. He immediately invited the Tang Monk and his disciples to the main hall, even going so far as to offer Wukong his kingdom.
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Your Majesty, that demon earlier claimed to be the vanguard of the Grand Supreme, sent to seize palace maids. Now that he has been defeated and fled back, he will surely report to the Grand Supreme, and that fiend will come to settle the score with me. I fear that if he acts on a whim and brings his minions, he might frighten the people and alarm Your Majesty again. I wish to go ahead and meet him, capture him in midair, and rescue the Golden Saintly Consort. But I do not know which direction to take, nor how far his cave is from here."
The king replied, "I once sent scouts to investigate that area. The round trip took over fifty days. His cave is to the south, roughly three thousand miles away."
Hearing this, Wukong said to Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, "You two stay here and protect the master and His Majesty. I will go and return shortly."
The king stopped him, saying, "Divine Monk, do not be so hasty. Wait a day, and I will have some dry provisions and fried snacks prepared, along with some silver for travel expenses. I will select a fast horse for you before you depart."
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Your Majesty speaks of traveling over mountains and valleys. To be honest with you, a distance of three thousand miles like this—I could hold a cup of wine and make the round trip before it even cooled."
The king said, "Divine Monk, do not take offense at my bluntness. Your appearance is like that of an ape. How could you possess such great ability and speed?"
The Pilgrim replied, "Though my body is of the ape kind, I have, since my youth, opened the path of life and death. I traveled far and wide to seek out a wise master who imparted the Dao to me. Before the mountain, I cultivated without rest, day and night. I took the sky as my tripod and the earth as my furnace, and the two elixirs I refined were the sun and the moon. I gathered the essence of yin and yang, blending water and fire, and in an instant, I comprehended the spiritual gateway. All this I accomplished by the power of the Big Dipper 's movements and the shifting of the celestial handle . I withdrew and fed the fire at the proper times, drawing out the lead and adding the mercury in mutual harmony. I gathered and combined the Five Primal Forces to create life, and harmonized the Four Symbols according to their seasons. The two primal energies returned to the Yellow Path , and the three powers converged on the path of the Golden Elixir . Having understood the laws, I integrated them into my limbs. My original cloud-somersault is as if blessed by the gods. With one leap, I can cross the Taihang Mountains ; with one bound, I can pass over the Cloud Crossing . Why should I fear a thousand towering peaks? I do not dread a hundred vast rivers. It is only because my transformations know no bounds that I can cover one hundred and eight thousand miles in a single somersault!"
The king was both astonished and overjoyed. Smiling, he raised a cup of imperial wine and offered it to the Pilgrim, saying, "Divine Monk, you have labored. Have a cup to warm yourself. It is but a token of my gratitude."
The Great Sage, however, was intent on subduing the demon and had no mind for wine. He only said, "Set it aside for now. I will drink it when I return."
Truly a remarkable Pilgrim! The moment he uttered the word "go," he gave a whistle and vanished. The ruler and ministers of the Purple-Gold Kingdom were all astonished—but we will leave them for now.
Let us instead speak of the Pilgrim. With a single leap, he soon saw a towering mountain blocking his path. He descended on his cloud and stood atop the peak to examine it carefully. This mountain was truly perilous and steep:
It pierced the sky and covered the earth, blocking the sun and giving birth to clouds. Where it pierced the sky, sharp peaks rose in jagged spires; where it covered the earth, distant mountain ranges stretched endlessly. The sun was blocked by the dense, verdant pines on the ridges; the clouds were born from the jagged, layered rocks beneath the cliffs. The pines were lush and green, evergreen through all four seasons and eight solar terms. The rocks were jagged and sharp, unchanging for ten thousand years. From the forests came the mournful cries of wild apes; from the ravines, the slithering sounds of demonic pythons. Mountain birds sang in plaintive tones; mountain beasts roared in deep bellows. Mountain antelope and deer wandered in pairs and flocks; mountain crows and magpies flew in dense, swarming formations. The mountain grass and flowers were a sight to behold, and the mountain peaches and fruits shimmered with the freshness of the season. Though perilous and difficult to traverse, this was a place where demons and immortals alike chose to dwell in seclusion.
The Pilgrim was still gazing when he suddenly saw billowing flames erupt from a hollow in the mountain. In an instant, they became a sky-filling crimson blaze, and from within the red flames, a black smoke, more poisonous than fire, arose. This smoke was truly terrifying:
From the flames burst forth ten thousand sparks like golden lanterns; the fire itself flew in a thousand streaks like red rainbows. This smoke was not from a kitchen chimney, nor from burning wood or grass. It had five colors: green, red, white, black, and yellow. It scorched the pillars outside the Southern Heavenly Gate and singed the beams within the Hall of Miraculous Mist. It burned so fiercely that the beasts in their dens were cooked, skin and all, and the birds in the forest had their feathers completely singed away. Seeing such a terrible smoke, how could one enter the deep mountains to subdue the demon king?
As Sun Wukong was still in shock, he saw a blast of sand erupt from the mountain. This sand blotted out the sky and covered the sun, and it was truly terrifying:
A swirling, chaotic mass spread across the horizon, a dense, murky cloud that obscured the entire earth. Fine dust blinded the eyes of all who approached; coarse ash filled the valleys, rolling like sesame seeds. Immortal lads gathering herbs lost their companions; woodcutters could not find their way home. Even if one held a bright pearl in hand, the swirling sand would sting the eyes and make them water.
The Pilgrim was so absorbed in watching that he failed to notice the sand and ash flying into his nostrils. It tickled him, and he sneezed twice. Startled, he quickly turned back, found two pebbles under a rock, and stuffed them into his nose. Then, with a shake of his body, he transformed into a sparrowhawk, a bird that preys on fire. He flew straight into the smoke and flames, circling several times, and to his surprise, both the sand and the fire ceased.
He changed back into his original form and descended. As he did, he heard the clanging of gongs. He thought to himself, "Have I taken the wrong path? This is not the demon's lair. The sound of this gong is like that of a courier delivering an official document. Let me find out."
As he walked, he saw a small demon carrying a yellow flag and a document pouch on his back, running swiftly while beating a gong. The Pilgrim smiled and said, "So it's this fellow beating the gong. I wonder what message he is delivering. Let me listen."
Truly a remarkable Great Sage! He shook his body and transformed into a tiny grasshopper, lightly landing on the small demon's document pouch. He heard the little demon beating his gong and muttering to himself, "Our great king is far too cruel. Three years ago, he seized the Golden Saintly Consort from the Purple-Gold Kingdom, but he has never had a chance to touch her. He has only been able to make do with the palace maids he captures. Two maids were tormented to death, and four more were also tormented to death. The year before last, he demanded more; last year, he demanded more; this year, he is demanding more again. And now, the vanguard sent to fetch them today has been defeated by someone named Sun Wukong. The great king is furious and wants to go to war with the Purple-Gold Kingdom. He has sent me to deliver a declaration of war. If we go to war, that king will surely be defeated. Then we will occupy the city, our king will become emperor, and we will become his ministers. But even though we would have official positions, this is a deed that defies the will of heaven!"
Hearing this, the Pilgrim was secretly delighted. "Among these demons, there is one whose conscience is not entirely lost. His words about 'defying the will of heaven' show he is a decent sort. But when he said the Golden Saintly Consort 'has never had a chance to be touched,' I do not understand. Let me ask him."
With a buzz, he flew away from the little demon. After flying several miles ahead, he transformed again, this time into a young Daoist acolyte:
His hair was tied in two topknots, and he wore a robe of a hundred patches. He tapped on a fish-shaped wooden drum and sang a Daoist hymn.
He rounded a mountain slope and, meeting the little demon, made a bow and asked, "Sir, where are you headed? What official document are you delivering?"
The small demon, as if recognizing him, stopped beating his gong and returned the greeting with a grin. "My great king has sent me to deliver a declaration of war to the Purple-Gold Kingdom."
The Pilgrim asked deliberately, "Has the Golden Saintly Consort of the Purple-Gold Kingdom been with your great king?"
The small demon replied, "Ever since she was captured the year before last, an immortal presented her with a five-colored celestial robe as a new garment. After she put it on, her entire body grew thorns. My great king dares not even touch her. The slightest contact makes his palm ache, and he does not know why. To this day, he has not been able to approach her. This morning, he sent the vanguard to demand palace maids, but he was defeated by someone named Sun Wukong. The great king is angry, which is why he sent me to deliver the declaration of war. He plans to fight tomorrow."
The Pilgrim asked, "Is your great king very angry now?"
The small demon said, "He is furious! If you were to go and sing him a Daoist hymn to cheer him up, it would be a good deed."
The Pilgrim bowed and took his leave. The small demon continued on his way, beating his gong. But the Pilgrim's face instantly changed. He drew his Golden-Banded Staff and, turning, struck the little demon on the back of the head. The poor creature was beaten to death on the spot, his skull shattered and blood flowing.
The Pilgrim put away his staff, then regretted his haste. "Too quick! I didn't even ask his name. Oh, well!" He took the declaration of war from the demon's pouch and hid it in his sleeve. He then concealed the yellow flag and gong in the grass by the roadside. Grabbing the little demon by the foot, he was about to throw the corpse into a mountain stream when he heard a clang. A gilded plaque fell from the demon's waist. On it was written:
"A trusted personal attendant named You Lai You Qu (There Is a Way to Come). Short of stature, with a pockmarked face and no beard. This plaque is to be worn at all times. Without it, the bearer is an impostor."
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "This fellow was called 'There Is a Way to Come,' but with one blow of my staff, I have turned him into 'There Is a Way to Go but Not to Return'!" He unfastened the plaque and put it on his own waist. He was about to discard the body, but then he remembered the demon's deadly smoke and fire. Not daring to approach the cave recklessly, he lifted his staff and pierced the demon's chest, hoisting the corpse onto it. He then headed straight back to the Purple-Gold Kingdom to report his achievement.
As he flew, he pondered. With a whistle, he arrived at the borders of the Purple-Gold Kingdom.
Zhu Bajie, who was protecting the Tang Monk and the king in front of the Golden Throne Hall, looked back and saw the Pilgrim in midair, carrying a demon on his staff. He grumbled, "Ah! Such an easy task! If I had known, I would have gone and claimed the credit for myself!"
Before he could finish his complaint, the Pilgrim descended on his cloud and flung the demon's corpse down the steps. Bajie rushed over, raised his nine-toothed rake, and brought it down, saying, "This is my achievement!"
The Pilgrim said, "What does this have to do with you?"
Bajie replied, "Don't try to cheat me! There is proof! Look, I've made nine holes in him with one blow!"
The Pilgrim said, "See if he still has a head."
Bajie laughed and said, "So he has no head! No wonder he didn't react when I struck him."
The Pilgrim asked, "Where is the master?"
Bajie said, "He is in the hall, talking with the king."
The Pilgrim said, "Go and ask the master to come out."
Bajie hurried into the hall and gave Tang Sanzang a meaningful look. The Tang Monk immediately rose and descended the steps to meet the Pilgrim. The Pilgrim slipped the declaration of war into the Tang Monk's sleeve, saying, "Master, keep this safe. Do not let the king see it."
As he finished speaking, the king also descended the steps and, meeting the Pilgrim, asked, "Divine Monk, you have returned! How went the matter of capturing the demon?"
The Pilgrim pointed down the steps and said, "Is that not a demon lying there? I have killed him."
The king looked and said, "This is indeed a demon's corpse, but it is not the Grand Supreme. I have seen the Grand Supreme twice. He is over eighteen feet tall, with arms as thick as pillars, a face as bright as gold, and a voice like thunder. He is not so short and ugly."
The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Your Majesty is right. This is not the Grand Supreme, but a minor demon sent to deliver a message. I encountered him, killed him first, and brought him back to report this small achievement."
The king was overjoyed. "Good! Good! Good! This should count as your first merit! I have often sent people to investigate, but they never brought back reliable news. The Divine Monk goes out and immediately captures a demon—truly miraculous!" He then called out, "Bring hot wine at once! To celebrate the Divine Monk's achievement!"
The Pilgrim said, "Drinking wine is a trivial matter. Let me ask Your Majesty: when the Golden Saintly Consort left, did she leave behind any token? Give me one."
As soon as the king heard the word "token," it was as if a knife had pierced his heart. He could not help but weep and said:
"In those years, during the festival of midsummer, the fierce demon of the Grand Supreme let out a roar. He forcibly seized my beloved wife to be his consort in the mountain stronghold. I, the ruler, offered her up for the sake of my people. There were no parting words, no farewell speeches; how could there be a farewell pavilion or a short pavilion? No scented sachet or keepsake was left behind. To this day, I am left in bitter solitude!"
The Pilgrim said, "Your Majesty, you will soon see the consort again. Do not be so sad. Since the consort left no token, did she have any beloved personal item while she was in the palace? Give me one of those."
The king asked, "What do you need it for?"
The Pilgrim said, "That demon is truly powerful. I saw him release smoke, fire, and sand; he is very difficult to deal with. Even if I capture him, I fear the consort, seeing a stranger, might not be willing to return with me. If I have a beloved item of hers, she will trust me, and I can bring her back. That is why I am asking you."
The king said, "In the dressing chamber of the Zhaoyang Palace, there is a pair of golden bracelets set with jewels. They were originally worn on the hands of the Golden Saintly Consort. During the Dragon Boat Festival that year, she wanted to tie a five-colored thread and took them off, leaving them there. She never wore them again. These are her most beloved items. They are still in the dressing case. Seeing these bracelets reminds me of her appearance and makes my illness worsen."
The Pilgrim said, "Do not speak of such sad things anymore. First, bring out the golden bracelets. If you are willing to part with them, give them all to me. If not, just one will do."
The king immediately ordered the Jade Saintly Consort to fetch them. She brought them and handed them to the king. The king took the bracelets, called out "My good consort!" several times, and then handed them to the Pilgrim. Wukong took them and slipped them onto his arm.
Truly a remarkable Great Sage! He had no mind for a celebratory feast. He mounted his cloud-somersault, gave a whistle, and flew back to Qilin Mountain. He had no interest in admiring the scenery and went straight to find the Grand Supreme's cave. As he walked, he heard a commotion ahead. He stopped and looked carefully. There, guarding the entrance of the Xiezhi Cave, were about five hundred minor chiefs and soldiers, lined up in formation:
They stood in dense, orderly ranks. In their dense, orderly ranks, they held shields and spears that glinted in the sunlight. Their banners were packed tightly together, fluttering in the wind. There were tiger generals and bear commanders who could transform; leopard-headed leaders and fierce chieftains full of swagger. The gray wolves were exceptionally fierce; the powerful elephants were even more valiant. Cunning rabbits and nimble deer wielded swords and halberds; long pythons and great boas carried knives and bows. The orangutans could understand human speech and knew how to arrange formations and interpret the wind.
Wukong did not dare to approach directly. He turned and went back the way he came. Why did he turn back? It was not because he feared these minor demons, but because he wanted to retrieve the yellow flag and copper gong he had hidden in the grass at the place where he had killed the little demon earlier. Facing the wind, he recited a spell, activated his transformation powers, and shook his body, becoming the spitting image of "You Lai You Qu." Beating his gong with a clang, he swaggered forward, heading straight for the Xiezhi Cave.
Just as he was about to look inside the cave, he heard an orangutan speak: "You Lai You Qu, you're back?"
Wukong had to answer, "I'm back."
The orangutan said, "Hurry inside! The great king is waiting for your report at the Flaying Pavilion!"
Hearing this, Wukong quickened his pace and, beating his gong, entered the front gate. Inside the cave, he saw a stone hall built into the cliff face, with rare flowers and exotic herbs planted on either side, and ancient cypresses and green pines in the front and back. He then passed through a second gate and, looking up, saw a bright pavilion with eight windows. In the center of the pavilion was a gilded armchair, and seated upon it was a demon king, whose appearance was truly ferocious:
A shimmering, radiant glow emanated from the top of his head, and a fierce, murderous aura burst forth from his chest. From his mouth protruded fangs like sharp blades, and the disheveled hair at his temples gave off a red smoke. The whiskers on his lips were like inserted arrows, and the bristles all over his body were like stacked felt. His bulging eyes, like copper bells, outdid even the Grand Supreme himself. In his hand, he held an iron club that seemed to touch the sky.
Seeing this, Wukong deliberately put on airs before the demon, showing no respect at all. He turned his face away and just kept beating his gong.
The demon king asked, "You're back?" Wukong did not answer.
The demon king asked again, "You Lai You Qu, are you back?" Still, Wukong did not answer.
The demon king stepped forward and grabbed him, saying, "You're home, so why are you still beating the gong? I ask you a question, and you don't answer. Why?"
Wukong threw the gong to the ground and said, "Why! Why! I told you I didn't want to go, but you insisted on sending me! When I reached the Purple-Gold Kingdom, I saw countless troops and horses drawn up in battle formation. As soon as they saw me, they shouted, 'Seize the demon! Seize the demon!' They grabbed me, pulled me, and dragged me into the city. When I saw the king, he immediately ordered, 'Behead him!' Fortunately, some advisors on both sides said, 'In war between two nations, the envoy is not beheaded,' so my life was spared. They accepted the declaration of war, then had me escorted out of the city and beaten thirty strokes with a bamboo rod in front of the army before they let me come back to report. They said they would soon come here to fight you!"
The demon king said, "So you suffered a loss! No wonder you wouldn't answer my questions."
Wukong said, "Exactly! The pain is terrible. How can I have the heart to answer?"
The demon king asked, "How many troops and horses do they have?"
Wukong said, "I was scared out of my wits and beaten so badly that I couldn't even count! All I saw was a dense array of weapons: bows, arrows, swords, spears, armor, and clothing; shields, halberds, swords, and tasseled flags; sharp lances, moon-shaped halberds, helmets, and armor; great axes, round shields, and caltrops. There were long cudgels, short maces, steel forks, blunderbusses, and helmets. They were dressed in padded jackets and iron-soled boots, and they carried simple whips, sleeve-pellets, and copper hammers."
Hearing this, the demon king laughed and said, "No matter! No matter! With such shabby weapons, they will all be useless in battle. Go and speak with the Golden Saintly Consort first. Calm her down. This morning, when she heard I was angry and planning to fight, she has been sobbing and crying. Go and tell her that the Purple-Gold Kingdom's army is formidable and that I will surely be defeated. It will ease her mind."
Wukong was secretly delighted. "This is exactly what I wanted!" Watch him as if he knew the way. He turned through a side door and passed through a hall—inside, the buildings were all tall and grand, completely different from the front. He went straight to the rear palace, where he saw a magnificent, colorful gate in the distance. This was the Golden Saintly Consort's residence.
Entering inside, he saw two groups of fox and deer spirits, transformed into beautiful women, standing in attendance on either side. In the center sat the consort, her cheek resting on her hand, tears streaming from her eyes. Her appearance was truly:
Her jade-like face was delicate, her beauty enchanting. Too lazy to dress her hair, her disheveled locks were piled like a crow's nest. She feared to adorn herself, refusing to wear hairpins or earrings. Her face was without powder, her rouge and lipstick left cold. Her hair was without oil, her cloudy tresses in disarray. She pouted her cherry-red lips, gritting her silver teeth. She furrowed her moth-like brows, her starry eyes drowning in tears. Her whole heart was fixed on the king of the Purple-Gold Kingdom; in every moment, she longed to escape this net of heaven and earth. Truly, it is said: "Since ancient times, beautiful women have been ill-fated, languishing in silence before the east wind!"
Wukong stepped forward and made a bow, saying, "I pay my respects."
The consort said angrily, "You coarse demon, how rude! When I was queen in the Purple-Gold Kingdom, even the Grand Preceptor and the Prime Minister would prostrate themselves before me, not daring to raise their heads. And you, a wild fiend, presume to merely say, 'I pay my respects'? What kind of boor are you?"
A maidservant stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. He is a trusted personal attendant of the great king, named You Lai You Qu. He is the one who went to deliver the declaration of war this morning."
Hearing this, the consort restrained her anger and asked, "You went to deliver the declaration of war. Did you reach the Purple-Gold Kingdom?"
Wukong said, "I took the declaration straight into the city, to the Golden Throne Hall, and saw the king face to face. I have already brought back a reply."
The consort asked, "When you saw the king, what did he say?"
Wukong said, "The king's words about the war and the deployment of troops, I have already reported to the great king. However, the king also had words of longing for Your Highness. He entrusted me with a private message for you, but with so many people around, it is not convenient to speak here."
Hearing this, the consort waved her hand and dismissed the two groups of fox and deer spirits. Wukong closed the palace door, wiped his face, and reverted to his true form. He said to the consort, "Do not be afraid of me. I am a monk sent by the Great Tang of the East to the Thunder Monastery in the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. My master is the Tang Emperor's sworn brother, Tripitaka Tang. I am his senior disciple, Sun Wukong. We passed through the Purple-Gold Kingdom to exchange our travel documents. Seeing that your king and his ministers had posted a notice seeking a physician, I displayed my medical skills and cured the king of his lovesickness. The king held a banquet to thank me, and while we were drinking, he spoke of how you had been captured by a demon. I am skilled in subduing demons and tigers, so he invited me to capture the fiend and rescue you and bring you back to your kingdom. It was I who defeated the vanguard earlier and killed the little demon. Seeing the fierce minor demons at the cave entrance, I transformed into the likeness of You Lai You Qu and took the risk to come here and inform you."
Upon hearing this, the consort was speechless for a long time. Wukong took out the golden bracelets and, holding them in both hands, offered them to her, saying, "If you do not believe me, look at this. Where did it come from?"
As soon as the consort saw the bracelets, tears streamed down her face. She rose from her seat and kowtowed in gratitude. "Elder, if you can truly rescue me and return me to my court, I will never forget your great kindness for the rest of my life!"
Wukong said, "Let me ask you first. That demon can release fire, smoke, and sand. What kind of treasure does he use?"
The consort said, "It is not some great treasure! It is three golden bells. When he shakes the first one, three hundred feet of fire shoots out to burn people. When he shakes the second, three hundred feet of smoke comes out to suffocate people. When he shakes the third, three hundred feet of yellow sand blinds people. The fire and smoke are bad enough, but the most deadly is the yellow sand. If it gets into a person's nose, it will kill them."
Wukong said, "Formidable! Formidable! I was affected by it earlier and sneezed twice. But do you know where he keeps these golden bells?"
The consort said, "He would never put them down! He wears them on his waist at all times, whether walking, sitting, or sleeping. He never parts with them."
Wukong said, "If you still wish to return to the Purple-Gold Kingdom and see your king, then set aside your worries and sorrow for now. Pretend to be happy, and show him some wifely affection. Get him to hand the golden bells over to you for safekeeping. Then, when I find an opportunity to steal them, I can subdue this demon. At that time, I will be able to take you back, and you can reunite with your king, renew your marital bond, and live in peace."
The consort nodded in agreement.
Wukong then transformed back into the trusted attendant's form, opened the palace door, and called the maidservants back in. The consort said, "You Lai You Qu, go quickly to the front pavilion and invite your great king to come. I have something to say to him."
Truly a remarkable Wukong! He acknowledged the command and immediately ran to the Flaying Pavilion, where he said to the demon, "Great King, the Saintly Consort of the Palace invites you."
The demon king said happily, "The consort usually scolds me. Why has she suddenly invited me today?"
Wukong said, "The consort asked about the affairs of the Purple-Gold Kingdom. I told her, 'The king no longer wants you. He has installed a new queen in his kingdom.' Hearing this, she lost all hope, and that is why she sent me to invite you."
The demon king was overjoyed. "You are very capable! When I have destroyed the Purple-Gold Kingdom, I will appoint you as my Grand Minister of State!"
Wukong offered his thanks in passing and quickly accompanied the demon king to the entrance of the rear palace. The consort, feigning happiness, came out to greet him and reached out to support him. The demon king hastily stepped back, saying, "I dare not! I dare not! I