A verse said:
The Dharma is born from the mind, and from the mind it perishes. Birth and death—who truly governs them? Let each of you discern for yourselves. Since all arises from your own heart, why need another's words? Only by enduring bitter toil can you wring iron from blood. Thread a soft rope through the nose of the ox, and tie a knot in the void itself. Tether it to the tree of non-action , so that it may not run wild. Do not mistake a thief for your own child; forget both mind and Dharma entirely. Do not let it deceive you—strike through with one blow! When the mind is seen, there is no mind; when the Dharma is revealed, the Dharma ceases. When the man and the ox are both unseen, the azure sky shines pure and bright. The autumn moon is perfectly round; in that moment, self and other can no longer be distinguished.
This verse was Tang Sanzang's full realization after penetrating the Heart Sutra , clearing the path for his spiritual cultivation. From that day on, the elder recited it daily and remembered it always, until a glimmer of spiritual light naturally shone forth from his heart.
Now, as for the three masters and disciples, they traveled on, eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew, journeying beneath the stars and the moon, until before they knew it, summer had arrived. The scene before them was thus:
The flowers had withered, leaving no butterflies to grace them; the trees had grown tall, and cicadas sang in noisy chorus. Wild silkworms spun their cocoons as pomegranate blossoms blazed with fiery beauty; in the marshes, new lotus leaves began to appear.
One day, as they traveled, the sky suddenly grew dark, and by the roadside there happened to be a village. Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, look—the sun is setting beyond the western mountains, and the moon is rising from the Eastern Sea. Fortunately, there is a house by the road. Let us ask for lodging for the night and continue tomorrow."
Zhu Bajie said, "Well said! Old Pig is feeling a bit hungry too. Let us beg some vegetarian food at their door, so I'll have the strength to carry the luggage."
Wukong said, "You home-loving fool! We've only been away from home a few days, and already you're complaining!"
Zhu Bajie replied, "Brother, you can survive on wind and mist without ever feeling hunger, so you don't know my suffering. Following the master these past days, I've often gone to bed with an empty stomach. Do you even realize that?"
Tang Sanzang heard this and said, " Wuneng , if you still long for home like this, you are not behaving like a monk. You might as well turn back."
The fool was so startled that he dropped to his knees. "Master, don't listen to Senior Brother! He's always slandering me. I didn't complain about anything—he just says I did. I'm a straightforward fellow. I only said I was hungry and wanted to beg food at some house, and he accuses me of being homesick. Master, I have received the Bodhisattva's precepts , and you took pity on me and accepted me as your disciple. I am willing to serve you all the way to the Western Heaven, and I will never regret it! This is what they call ' enduring hardship in cultivation .' How can you say I'm not speaking like a monk?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Since that is so, you may rise."
The fool leaped up in one bound, muttering under his breath, then shouldered the carrying pole and followed with a resigned heart. Soon they reached the door of that house. Tang Sanzang dismounted, Wukong took the reins, and Zhu Bajie set down the luggage. All stood in the shade of a tree. Tang Sanzang, leaning on his nine-ringed monk's staff and adjusting his wicker rain hat , approached the door first.
There he saw an old man reclining on a bamboo couch, softly chanting the Buddha's name. Not daring to speak loudly, Tang Sanzang called out gently, " Benefactor , I am disturbing your peace."
The old man leaped up at once, hurriedly straightened his clothes, and came out to return the greeting. " Venerable Master , forgive me for not coming out to welcome you. Where have you come from, and what business brings you to my humble home?"
Tang Sanzang said, "I am a monk from the Great Tang in the East, sent by imperial decree to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures at Thunderclap Monastery. Passing by here as night falls, I wished to trouble you for a night's lodging. I beg you to extend this kindness."
The old man waved his hand and shook his head. "You cannot go! The scriptures of the Western Heaven are not easy to obtain. If you seek scriptures, you had better head east instead."
Tang Sanzang said nothing aloud, but his heart was troubled. "The Bodhisattva clearly pointed the way westward. Why does this elder speak of going east? Where would there be scriptures in the east?" Too embarrassed to press the question, he remained silent for a long time.
Wukong, who was naturally impatient, could not hold back. He stepped forward and said loudly, "Old sir, at your advanced age, how can you be so senseless! We monks have traveled a great distance to ask for lodging, and you try to frighten us with such discouraging words. Even if your house is too small to accommodate us, we can sit under the tree all night and not trouble you."
The old man grabbed Tang Sanzang's arm and said, "Master, you say nothing, but this disciple of yours—with his crooked face, pointed chin, thunder-beak mouth , and red eyes, looking like a consumptive ghost —how dare he insult an old man like me!"
Wukong laughed. "Old sir, you have no eye for true quality! Those who look handsome are often useless when it comes to real things. Old Sun may be thin and small, but I am tough and sturdy—nothing but sinew beneath this hide!"
The old man said, "It seems you have some skill?"
Wukong replied, "I wouldn't dare boast, but I can handle a few matters well enough."
The old man asked, "Where is your home? Why did you become a monk?"
Wukong said, "My home is in the Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain, in the Aolai Kingdom east of the Eastern Continent of Superior Divinity. In my youth, I studied to become a demon and took the name Wukong. By my own abilities, I earned the title 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven.' Later, because I refused to submit to the Heavenly Court's authority, I caused great havoc there and brought disaster upon myself. Now I have reformed my ways, left the secular life to become a monk, and seek true enlightenment. I protect my master from the Tang Dynasty as he goes to worship the Buddha in the Western Heaven. Do not speak of high mountains, perilous roads, wide rivers, or towering waves—Old Sun can capture demons and subdue monsters, tame tigers and dragons. I even know a thing or two about ascending to heaven and entering the earth. If your household has lost anything or suffered from strange occurrences, I can handle it all."
Upon hearing this, the old man burst into loud laughter. "So you are a smooth-talking mendicant monk !"
Wukong said, "Your son is the smooth talker! These past few days, traveling with the master has tired me out so much that I can hardly bear to speak!"
The old man said, "If you weren't tired and unwilling to speak, I fear you might talk me to death! Since you have such abilities, I suppose the Western Heaven is indeed reachable. How many of you are there? Please, come inside and rest."
Tang Sanzang said, "Thank you for your kindness, benefactor. There are three of us."
The old man asked, "Where are the other two?"
Wukong pointed to the shade of the tree and said, "Your eyesight is failing. Aren't they standing right there under the tree?"
The old man was indeed dim-sighted. He raised his head and looked carefully, but when he saw Zhu Bajie's appearance, he was so terrified that he stumbled and fell with every step as he ran back into the house, shouting, "Close the door! Close the door! A demon is coming!"
Wukong caught up and grabbed him. "Old sir, don't be afraid. He is no demon—he is my junior brother."
The old man trembled as he said, "Fine! Fine! Fine! One uglier monk than the next!"
Zhu Bajie stepped forward and said, "Old sir, if you judge by appearances, you are greatly mistaken. We may be ugly, but we all have our uses."
Just as the old man was speaking with the three monks, two young men came from the southern part of the village, leading an old woman and three or four children. They had rolled up their trouser legs and were barefoot, having just returned from transplanting rice seedlings. Seeing the white horse, the luggage, and the commotion at the door, and not knowing what was happening, they gathered around and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Zhu Bajie turned his head, wiggled his ears, and stretched out his long snout, sending the people stumbling and falling back in terror. Tang Sanzang quickly called out repeatedly, "Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! We are not evil people. We are monks traveling to fetch the scriptures."
Only then did the old man come out. He helped the old woman up and said, "Wife, get up. Don't be afraid. These venerable masters are from the Tang Dynasty. It's true their disciples are a bit ugly, but they are good people. Take the children back inside." The old woman took the old man's arm, and the two young men led the children into the house.
Tang Sanzang sat down on the bamboo couch inside the gatehouse and complained, "Disciples, it's bad enough that you two are ugly, but you also speak so crudely. You've frightened this family half to death. This is all my fault!"
Zhu Bajie said, "To tell you the truth, Master, I've actually become much better-looking since I started following you! Back in my days at Gao Laozhuang, I would stick my snout out and flap my ears, and I could send twenty or thirty people scattering in panic!"
Wukong laughed. "Fool, stop your nonsense. Tuck away that ugly look of yours."
Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, what nonsense is this? A person's face is given by heaven. How can it be tucked away?"
Wukong said, "Just push that rake-like snout into his chest so it doesn't show, and press those palm-leaf ears flat against the back of his head so they don't flap. Isn't that tucking it away?"
Zhu Bajie did indeed shrink his snout inward, pressed his ears flat against his skull, and stood by with his head bowed. Wukong brought the luggage inside and tied the white horse to a post.
Before long, the old man led a young man carrying a wooden tray with three cups of clear tea. After they had drunk the tea, the old man ordered the preparation of a vegetarian meal. The young man brought out an old, unvarnished table with a hole in it, along with two stools with broken legs, and set them in a shady spot in the courtyard. He invited the three to sit down.
Tang Sanzang then asked, "Old benefactor, what is your honorable surname?"
The old man said, "My surname is Wang."
Tang Sanzang asked further, "How many sons do you have?"
The old man said, "Two sons and three grandsons."
Tang Sanzang said, "Congratulations, congratulations." Then he asked, "How old are you, sir?"
The old man said, "I have idled away sixty-one years."
Wukong said, "Good! Good! Good! You've passed the age of sixty."
Tang Sanzang then asked, "Old benefactor, why did you say earlier that the scriptures of the Western Heaven are not easy to obtain?"
The old man said, "The scriptures themselves are not hard to get, but the road is extremely difficult. From here westward, about thirty miles, there is a mountain called the Eight Hundred Mile Yellow Wind Ridge. That mountain is full of demons. That is why I said it would be difficult. However, seeing that this young venerable master has such great abilities, you should be able to pass through."
Wukong said, "No problem! No problem! With my junior brother and me here, no demon, whatever it may be, would dare to trouble us."
As he was speaking, the young man brought the meal and set it on the table, saying, "Please begin your meal." Tang Sanzang clasped his hands and began reciting the Meal-Offering Sutra, but Zhu Bajie had already swallowed a bowl before the prayer was done. Before the master had finished his sutra, the fool had eaten three more bowls.
Wukong said, "You chaff-guzzling fool! You're like a starving ghost reborn!"
Old Wang, however, was perceptive. Seeing how quickly Zhu Bajie ate, he said, "This venerable master must be truly famished. Quickly, bring more rice."
The fool was indeed a voracious eater. Without lifting his head, he downed more than ten bowls in one breath. Tang Sanzang and Wukong had not even finished two bowls between them, and he was still eating. Old Wang said, "There's nothing fine in the house to offer. Please don't mind the simplicity. Eat a bit more."
Both Tang Sanzang and Wukong said, "That is enough."
Zhu Bajie said, "Old sir, don't chatter on about five lines and six lines! If there's rice, just bring it quickly!"
With that one meal, the fool ate up all the rice in the Wang household and still claimed he was only half full. Afterward, the dishes were cleared away, bamboo beds and wooden planks were laid out in the gatehouse, and the three settled down to sleep.
At daybreak the next morning, Wukong went to lead the horse, and Zhu Bajie packed the luggage. Old Wang had his wife prepare some pastries and soup to entertain them. After expressing their thanks, the three took their leave.
The old man said, "If you encounter any trouble along the way, you must come back to my house."
Wukong said, "Old sir, don't talk nonsense. We monks never take the road back." With that, the three masters and disciples—one riding the horse, two carrying the load—headed westward.
Alas! This journey indeed had no easy road to the Western Regions; surely evil demons would bring great calamity. After traveling less than half a day, they truly encountered a towering mountain, exceedingly perilous to behold.
Tang Sanzang reined in his horse at the edge of a cliff and looked carefully. The mountain was a sight to behold: soaring peaks, steep ridges, precipitous cliffs, deep ravines, gurgling springs, and fresh blossoms. The mountain rose so high its summit touched the azure sky; the ravines were so deep they reached the underworld. Before the mountain, white clouds rolled endlessly, and jagged rocks rose in eerie formations. There was no describing the thousand- or ten-thousand-zhang tall "Soul-Snatching Cliffs." Behind the cliffs, there were winding "Dragon-Hiding Caves," within which were "Dripping Water Crags" where water dripped with a tinkling sound. One could also see horned wild deer, staring river deer, coiled red-scaled pythons, and playing white-faced gibbons. At night, tigers lurked in mountain caves; at dawn, flood dragons emerged from the water. When the cave doors opened, they clattered loudly. Birds in the grass took flight with a flutter of wings; beasts in the forest fled in panic. Suddenly, a pack of wolves and leopards passed by, sending chills down the spine and making hearts pound. Truly, "When the cave topples, the mountain topples; when the mountain topples, the cave topples," and the mountain itself became a vast labyrinth. The green cliffs were like a thousand zhang of white jade; the emerald mists were like ten thousand piles of green smoke.
Tang Sanzang slowed his horse, Wukong walked slowly, and Zhu Bajie dragged the carrying pole behind. As they were gazing at the mountain, a whirlwind suddenly sprang up. Tang Sanzang, feeling uneasy in his saddle, said, "Wukong, the wind is rising!"
Wukong said, "What is there to fear in the wind? This is just the normal wind of the four seasons that blows through the heavens. Why be afraid?"
Tang Sanzang said, "This wind is too fierce. It is not like the usual heavenly wind."
Wukong asked, "How is it different?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Look at this wind: it howls and roars, sweeping mightily across the land; it stretches vast and boundless, rising from the azure sky. Crossing the ridge, it makes a thousand trees groan; entering the forest, it sets ten thousand bamboos swaying. On the riverbank, willows are uprooted, roots and all; in the garden, flowers are blown away, petals and leaves drifting together. Fishing boats have all pulled in their nets and tightened their moorings; passenger vessels have lowered their sails and dropped their anchors. On the road, travelers lose their way; in the mountains, woodcutters can barely carry their loads. In the immortal fruit groves, monkeys scatter; among the rare flowers, deer flee. Before the cliffs, cypresses and junipers topple one after another; beneath the ravines, pines and bamboos shed every leaf. It stirs up dust and sand, sending grit flying; it churns the rivers and seas, raising waves like mountains."
Zhu Bajie quickly stepped forward and grabbed Wukong's arm. "Brother, the wind is too strong! Let's take shelter for a while and continue once it dies down."
Wukong laughed. "Brother, you are useless! If you hide from the wind, what will you do if we run straight into a demon later?"
Zhu Bajie said, "Brother, haven't you heard? 'Avoid lust as you would avoid an enemy; avoid the wind as you would avoid arrows.' There's no shame in taking shelter!"
Wukong said, "Don't talk. Let me grab a handful of wind to smell."
Zhu Bajie laughed. "Brother, you're boasting again! How can wind be grabbed? And even if you could, wouldn't it scatter the moment you opened your hand?"
Wukong said, "Brother, you don't know that I have the skill of 'grabbing the wind.'"
Truly a Great Sage! When the wind's head had passed, he reached out and grabbed the wind's tail, brought it to his nose, and sniffed. He detected a fishy odor and said, "This is indeed no good wind! The smell suggests either a tiger's wind or a demon's wind. There is definitely something wrong."
Before he had even finished speaking, a great striped tiger leaped out from the hillside. Tang Sanzang was so terrified that he could not stay in the saddle. With a thud, he tumbled off the white horse and collapsed by the roadside, his soul nearly flying from his body. Zhu Bajie dropped the luggage, seized his nine-pronged rake, and rushed forward ahead of Wukong, bellowing, "Beast! Where do you think you're going!" He chased after the tiger and struck at its head with his rake.
The tiger, however, stood up straight on its hind legs, raised its left front paw, pressed it against its chest, and tore off its own tiger skin with a ripping sound, standing there by the roadside. Just look at its ferocious form! Alas, it was truly terrifying: a bloody, bare body; red, crooked legs; disheveled hair like flames at its temples; stiff, bristling double eyebrows; four gleaming white fangs of steel; a pair of shining golden eyes; furiously roaring with all its might; boldly shouting at the top of its voice.
The tiger demon shouted, "Hold! Hold! I am no ordinary creature. I am the vanguard of the Yellow Wind King. Today, I am patrolling the mountain on the king's orders, to catch a few mortals to go with our wine. Where are you monks from, daring to strike at me?"
Zhu Bajie cursed, "You beast! You don't even recognize me? We are no ordinary travelers. We are disciples of the royal brother of the Great Tang in the East, Tripitaka, sent by imperial decree to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures in the Western Heaven! Get out of our way quickly and clear the road, and don't frighten my master, and I will spare your life. If you dare to be arrogant again, my rake will show no mercy!"
The demon paid him no heed. It rushed forward swiftly, extending its claws to grab at Zhu Bajie's face. Zhu Bajie dodged quickly and swung his rake. The demon had no weapon in its hands, so it turned and ran, with Zhu Bajie in hot pursuit. When they reached a pile of rocks at the foot of the slope, the demon pulled out two copper-bladed swords, whirled around, and struck back.
The two fought back and forth before the slope, charging and colliding. Meanwhile, Wukong quickly helped Tang Sanzang up and said, "Master, don't be afraid. Sit still for a moment. Let me go help Bajie. Once we knock down this demon, we can continue." Tang Sanzang sat up, trembling all over, and began reciting the Heart Sutra under his breath. We shall leave him for now.
Wukong pulled out his golden-banded staff and shouted, "Seize it!" By this time, Zhu Bajie's spirit had also been roused. The two fought together, and the demon was soon defeated. Wukong shouted, "Don't let it escape! We must catch it!"
The two of them—one wielding a rake, the other a staff—chased the demon down the mountain. The demon, panic-stricken, resorted to the "cicada shedding its shell" trick. It rolled over and transformed back into its original form—the tiger. Wukong and Zhu Bajie refused to let it go. They pursued it relentlessly, determined to uproot the evil. Seeing them so close, the demon pressed its chest again, tore off its tiger skin, and draped it over a "Crouching Tiger Rock." It itself turned into a gust of wind and raced straight back to the mountain pass.
At the pass, Tang Sanzang was still reciting the Heart Sutra. The demon grabbed him, mounted the whirlwind, and carried him off. Poor Tang Sanzang! He was destined to suffer many trials; achieving true enlightenment was never meant to be easy!
The demon carried Tang Sanzang to the mouth of a cave, stopped the wind, and said to the little demon guarding the gate, "Go quickly and report to the king that the Tiger Vanguard of the front road has captured a monk and is waiting outside the gate for orders."
The cave lord issued a command: "Bring him in."
The Tiger Vanguard, with the two copper swords tucked into his belt, carried Tang Sanzang in with both hands, knelt down, and said, "Great King, your humble servant is useless. I was patrolling the mountain on your orders when I happened upon a monk. He is the royal brother of the Great Tang in the East, the Dharma Master Tripitaka, on his way to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures in the Western Heaven. I captured him and present him to you as a small dish."
Upon hearing this, the cave lord was startled. "I have heard before that the Dharma Master Tripitaka is a holy monk sent by the Great Tang to fetch the scriptures, and that he has a disciple named Sun the Pilgrim, whose divine powers are vast and abilities great. How could you have captured his master?"
The Vanguard said, "He has two disciples. The one who came first wielded a nine-pronged rake and had large ears and a long snout. The other wielded a golden-banded iron staff and had fiery eyes and golden pupils. They were chasing me, so I used the 'cicada shedding its shell' trick to escape and captured this monk to present to you, Great King, as a token of gratitude."
The cave lord said, "Do not eat him yet."
The Vanguard said, "Great King, to see food and not eat it—is that not foolishness?"
The cave lord said, "You do not understand! Eating him is no great matter, but I fear his two disciples will come looking for trouble, and that would not be safe. Tie him up for now on the Wind-Settling Pillar in the rear garden. Wait three or five days. If his disciples do not come to cause trouble, then his body will be cleaner, and we will avoid trouble. Then, whether we boil him, steam him, fry him, or stir-fry him, we can enjoy him in peace."
The Vanguard said joyfully, "The Great King's plan is thorough and well spoken!" He turned and shouted, "Minions! Take him away!"
Seven or eight little demons rushed forward, bound Tang Sanzang, and wrapped him tightly with ropes as if he were a captured bird. Tang Sanzang's heart was full of anxiety and fear. He thought, "Oh, my bitter fate! When will I see Wukong and Bajie again? Captured by a demon and suffering like this, when will we meet again! If you come soon, you can still save me; if you come late, I will surely die!" As he sighed, tears fell like rain.
Meanwhile, Wukong and Zhu Bajie chased the tiger to the foot of the slope, where they saw the tiger lying motionless on the ground. Wukong raised his staff and struck it hard, but the force jarred his own hand. Zhu Bajie also struck it with his rake, but the prongs bounced back—it was only a tiger skin draped over a "Crouching Tiger Rock."
Wukong was greatly alarmed. "Disaster! Disaster! We have fallen for its trick!"
Zhu Bajie asked, "What trick?"
Wukong said, "This is called the 'cicada shedding its shell' trick! It draped its skin here and ran off itself! We must go back quickly and check on the master, or he might have met with harm."
The two hurried back, but Tang Sanzang was already gone. Wukong shouted, "It's over! The master has been captured by the demon!"
Zhu Bajie, holding the horse's reins, was in tears. "Heavens! Heavens! Where can we search for him now?"
Wukong stamped his foot and said, "Don't cry! Don't cry! Crying will only kill our spirit! The master must be somewhere in this mountain. Let's go find him!"
The two plunged into the mountains, climbing over peaks and crossing ridges for a good while, until they finally saw a cave dwelling beneath a rocky cliff. They stopped and looked carefully. The cave dwelling was indeed menacing: peaks rose in layer upon layer, and ancient paths wound in endless curves. Green pines and emerald bamboos grew luxuriantly; green willows and parasol trees swayed in the breeze. Before the cliff, pairs of grotesque rocks stood; in the forest, pairs of strange birds perched. Stream water flowed over rocky walls; mountain springs dripped onto sandy banks. Wild clouds drifted in patches; fragrant grasses grew in clusters. Demon foxes and hares scurried about; deer and river deer fought with each other. Ten-thousand-year-old vines hung from the cliffs; thousand-year-old cypresses grew in the deep valleys. Its majesty surpassed Mount Hua; its bustle rivaled Mount Tiantai.
Wukong said, "Brother, put the luggage in a sheltered hollow, let the horse loose, and don't show yourself. I'm going to the cave entrance to settle accounts with the demon. I must capture the fiend to save the master."
Zhu Bajie said, "No need for more talk. Go quickly!"
Wukong straightened his robes, tightened his tiger-skin kilt, grabbed his golden-banded staff, and rushed to the cave entrance. There he saw six large characters carved above the door: "Yellow Wind Cave on Yellow Wind Ridge." He planted his feet firmly in a T-shaped stance, raised his staff, and shouted, "Demon! Send my master out at once, or I will tear down your nest and level your cave!"
When the little demons heard this, they trembled with fear and rushed inside to report. "Great King! Trouble has come!"
The Yellow Wind Monster was sitting within and asked, "What trouble?"
The little demon said, "Outside the cave gate, there is a monk with a thunder-beak mouth and a hairy face, carrying an extraordinarily thick iron staff. He is demanding his master!"
The cave lord was alarmed and immediately called for the Tiger Vanguard. "I sent you to patrol the mountain and catch some mountain cattle, wild boar, fat deer, or mountain goats. Why did you have to capture Tang Sanzang! Now his disciple has come looking for trouble. What are we to do?"
The Vanguard said, "Great King, rest assured! Do not worry! Your humble servant, though untalented, is willing to lead fifty little demons out and capture that Sun the Pilgrim to eat together!"
The cave lord said, "Besides the chief and minor officers, I have five or six hundred little demons here. Take as many as you wish. If you can capture that Pilgrim, we can eat Tang Sanzang's flesh in peace, and I will even swear brotherhood with you. But if you cannot catch him and end up getting hurt instead, do not blame me then."
The Tiger Monster said, "Rest assured! Rest assured! I'm going!" He then mustered fifty stout little demons, beat the drums, waved the banners, tucked his two copper swords into his belt, and charged out of the cave, shouting fiercely, "Where are you from, you monkey monk? How dare you make such a racket here!"
Wukong cursed, "You skinless beast! You used your shell-casting trick to kidnap my master, and now you dare to ask me? Send my master out safely at once, and I might spare your life!"
The Tiger Monster said, "I captured your master. He is to be a dish to go with the king's wine. If you know what's good for you, get out of here quickly. Otherwise, I'll capture you too and eat you both. Isn't that like 'buy one, get one free'?"
When Wukong heard this, he ground his teeth in fury. His fiery eyes and golden pupils widened to their full extent. He pulled out his iron staff and roared, "How dare you speak such big words! Don't run! Taste my staff!"
The Vanguard hurriedly raised his swords to block. This battle was truly fierce. Both sides fought with all their might. The fight was a magnificent spectacle:
The monster was a true pebble, while Wukong was a boulder of flint. The copper swords parried the Handsome Monkey King, but it was like eggs smashing against a rock. How could a magpie contend with a phoenix? How could a pigeon dare to face an eagle or a hawk? The monster's breath blew dust that filled the mountain; Wukong's breath turned to mist that veiled the sun. After no more than three or five exchanges, the Vanguard's back was weak and his strength was gone. He turned to flee and save his life, but Wukong pressed him relentlessly.
The Tiger Monster could hold out no longer. He turned his head and ran. But he had boasted before the cave lord, so he dared not return to the cave. Instead, he fled up the hillside. Wukong would not let him go. He raised his staff and chased after him, shouting all the way, until he came to the sheltered hollow where the wind was blocked—and there was Zhu Bajie, watching the horse.
Zhu Bajie suddenly heard the shouts and turned to look. Seeing Wukong chasing the fleeing Tiger Monster, he dropped the horse's reins, raised his rake, and struck the Tiger Monster square on the head from an angle. Alas for the Vanguard! He had barely escaped from Wukong's hands only to run into Zhu Bajie. The rake smashed his face full of holes, blood gushed out, and his brains spilled dry. There is a poem to bear witness:
Two or three years ago, he had returned to the true faith, keeping a vegetarian diet and realizing the emptiness of all things. With a sincere heart, he wished to protect Tang Sanzang, and for the first time as a monk, he established this merit.
Zhu Bajie planted a foot on the monster's back, raised his rake with both hands, and struck several more times. Wukong was overjoyed. "Brother, well struck! This demon brought several dozen little demons to fight me. I defeated him, and he dared not return to the cave, so he ran here to die. Fortunately, you stopped him, or he might have escaped again."
Zhu Bajie asked, "Was it this one that kidnapped the master?"
Wukong said, "Yes, it was him!"
Zhu Bajie asked, "Did you find out where the master is?"
Wukong said, "This demon captured the master and took him into the cave to be a dish to go with some so-called king's wine. I was so angry I fought him, and I chased him all the way here. Thanks to you, he's finished. Brother, this merit is yours! You stay here and watch the horse and luggage. I'll drag this dead demon to the cave entrance and challenge the fiend again. I must capture that old demon to save the master."
Zhu Baj