As the story goes, Wukong, Bajie , and Sha Monk walked to the front hall and said to Tang Sanzang, "The rice is almost ready. Why did you call us here?"
Tang Sanzang replied, "Disciples, this isn't about the meal. There is a kind of fruit in this temple called the ginseng fruit , which looks like a newborn child. Which one of you stole and ate it?"
Zhu Bajie quickly said, "I'm an honest man. I know nothing about it. I never saw it."
Qingfeng pointed at Bajie and shouted, "The one who laughed was him! The one who laughed was him!"
Wukong roared, "Old Monkey was born with this smiling face! Are you saying that just because you lost your fruit, I'm not allowed to laugh?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, don't be angry. We are monks. We must not lie or eat food that weighs on our conscience. If you truly ate it, just apologize. Why stubbornly deny it?"
Seeing that his master spoke with reason, Wukong confessed, "Master, don't blame me. It was Bajie who overheard the acolytes eating ginseng fruits in the next room. He wanted a taste of something new and asked me to knock down three of them. We brothers each had one. Now that we've eaten them, what can be done?"
Mingyue cursed, "You stole four and still claim you're not thieves!"
Bajie became flustered, " Amituofo ! If we stole four, why would we only divide three? Did someone secretly keep one for himself?" This fool actually started twisting things around in confusion.
The two acolytes confirmed the truth and cursed even more fiercely. Wukong was so angry that his steel teeth ground together and his fiery eyes bulged. He clutched his Golden-Banded Staff and held back with great effort, thinking to himself, "These boys truly want to hit me in the face! Fine, if I have to endure this anger, I might as well give them a finishing blow—one so complete that no one will ever enjoy those fruits again!"
What a Great Sage! He plucked a single hair from the back of his head, blew upon it with a magical breath, and shouted, "Change!" It transformed into a false Wukong, who stood with Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Monk, enduring the acolytes' curses. Meanwhile, his true form used his divine powers , mounting his cloud and leaping to the ginseng garden. He pulled out his Golden-Banded Staff and struck the tree trunk with a thunderous "BANG! BANG! BANG!" Then, with the strength to push over mountains and move hills, he shoved the tree until it toppled. Alas! This ten-thousand-year-old immortal tree shed its leaves, snapped its branches, and uprooted itself from the earth. The Five-Village Temple's " Grass-Returning Elixir " was utterly destroyed!
After Wukong pushed down the tree, he searched the branches for fruits, but found none. It turned out that these fruits fall when they touch metal. His staff was wrapped in gold at both ends, and iron is one of the Five Elements , so as soon as he struck, the fruits fell. When they hit the ground, they burrowed into the earth at the touch of soil. Thus, not a single fruit remained on the tree. Wukong said, "Good! Good! Good! Now no one can eat them!" He put away his iron staff, flew back to the front hall, shook his body, and retrieved his true form. Those mortals with their ordinary eyes could not see through the trick at all.
Meanwhile, the acolytes had been cursing for a long time. Qingfeng said, "Mingyue, these monks can really swallow their anger. We've been scolding them like we were scolding chickens, and they haven't said a word. Maybe they really didn't steal any? What if we miscounted because the tree was too tall and the leaves too dense? Let's not wrong them. Let's go check again."
Mingyue replied, "That makes sense." The two of them went to the garden. As soon as they saw the tree toppled, its branches broken, and all the fruits gone, Qingfeng was so terrified that his legs gave way and he stumbled and fell. Mingyue was so frightened that his spine went limp. Both of them were scared out of their wits. Truly, as a poem describes it:
When Sanzang reached the Ten-Thousand-Year Mountain in the west, Wukong destroyed the "Grass-Returning Elixir." The branches split, the leaves fell, revealing the immortal root . Mingyue and Qingfeng were terrified, their hearts and souls trembling with fear.
The two collapsed on the ground, shouting incoherently, "What do we do? What do we do? We've destroyed the immortal root of Five-Village Temple and cut off the lineage of the immortals! When our master returns, how will we answer him?"
Mingyue said, "Brother, don't shout. Let's first straighten our clothes and not alarm them. It must be that hairy-faced, thunder-beaked ape who used his divine powers to destroy our treasure. If we reason with him, he'll deny it; if we fight, the four of them are too strong for us. Instead, let's trick them. We'll say the fruit count was correct and that we miscounted. Then we'll apologize. Their rice is almost ready. When they sit down to eat, we'll hide on either side of the door. As they pick up their bowls, we'll slam the door shut and lock it. We'll lock every layer of doors and wait for our master to return and deal with them. He is our master's old acquaintance. If our master forgives them, it's an act of kindness; if he doesn't, he can capture the thieves, and we'll be absolved of blame."
Qingfeng said, "Reasonable! Reasonable!"
The two forced themselves to pull themselves together, put on smiling faces, and walked from the back garden to the front hall. They bowed to Tang Sanzang and said, "Master, our words earlier were coarse and offensive. Please don't take offense."
Tang Sanzang asked, "What is the matter?"
Qingfeng replied, "The fruit count was not off. Earlier, the tree was tall and the leaves dense, and we miscounted. When we checked again, the number was the same as before."
Bajie seized the opportunity to chime in, "You little boys are young and ignorant, cursing and shouting wildly, wronging us! How disgraceful!"
Wukong knew the truth in his heart but said nothing, thinking to himself, "Lies! The fruits are long gone. How can they say the count is the same? Do they have a method to bring the dead back to life?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Since that's the case, bring the rice quickly. We'll eat and be on our way."
Bajie went to fetch the rice, Sha Monk set the table and chairs, and the two acolytes quickly brought out side dishes— salted cucumber, salted eggplant, fermented radish, vinegar-soaked beans, pickled lettuce, and blanched mustard greens , setting out seven or eight plates. They also brought a pot of fine tea and two teacups . Just as the four masters and disciples picked up their bowls, the two acolytes, one on each side, slammed the door shut with a "BANG" and slid two copper locks into place.
Bajie laughed, "Is this the custom in your region? Why do you close the door when we eat?"
Mingyue said, "Yes, yes, we'll open it once you finish eating."
Qingfeng suddenly cursed, "You greedy, thieving bald thieves ! Stealing the immortal fruit was crime enough, but you also pushed over the immortal tree and destroyed our sacred root! And you still dare to talk back! If you want to reach the Western Heaven and see the Buddha, you'll have to be reborn in your next life!"
When Tang Sanzang heard this, he was so terrified that he dropped his rice bowl, his heart feeling as heavy as a stone. The acolytes locked the front mountain gate and the second mountain gate as well. They stood at the main hall door cursing until dark, then went to eat their own meal, and afterward retired to their rooms.
Tang Sanzang rebuked Wukong, "You monkey! You're always causing trouble! If you had just endured the cursing after stealing the fruit, that would have been the end of it. But why did you have to push over their tree? Even if your father were a high official, this reasoning wouldn't hold water!"
Wukong said, "Master, don't fuss. The acolytes have gone to sleep. Once they're sound asleep, we'll leave tonight."
Sha Monk asked, "Brother, all the doors are locked tightly. How will we get out?"
Wukong laughed, "Don't worry. Old Monkey has a way."
Bajie said, "I knew you had a way! You can turn into a little bug and fly out through a crack in the window lattice. But we can't transform, so we'll have to suffer here!"
Tang Sanzang said, "If you run away by yourself and leave us behind, I'll recite that old sutra, and we'll see how you fare!"
Bajie, both worried and amused, said, "Master, what old sutra are you talking about? I've only heard of the Shurangama Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. I've never heard of an 'old sutra'!"
Wukong explained, "Brother, you don't understand. The band around my head was given to the master by Bodhisattva Guanyin. The master tricked me into putting it on, and now it can never be removed. The sutra is called the 'Tight-Band Spell.' When the master says 'old sutra,' he means that. As soon as he recites it, my head aches terribly. It's specially designed to control me. Master, please don't recite it. I promise to take everyone out of here."
After nightfall, the moon rose. Wukong said, "Now there's no sound of people, and the moon is bright. It's time to go."
Bajie said, "Brother, stop boasting. The doors are all locked. How do we get out?"
Wukong replied, "Watch me!" He held his Golden-Banded Staff in his hand and used the "Lock-Opening Technique." He pointed it at the door, and with a "CLICK," the locks on all the layers of doors fell off, and the doors swung open with a "WHOOSH."
Bajie laughed, "What skill! Even a locksmith couldn't open them so quickly!"
Wukong said, "This door is nothing. I could open the Southern Gate of Heaven with a single point of my finger."
Wukong invited his master to leave the temple and mount the horse. Bajie shouldered the carrying pole, Sha Monk led the horse, and they headed west. Wukong then said, "You go on slowly. I'm going to make sure those two acolytes sleep for a month."
Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, don't harm their lives, or we'll have another sin on our heads."
Wukong replied, "I understand." He returned to the temple, went to the acolytes' door, and took out two sleep-inducing insects. He had won these from the Heavenly King of Increase at the Eastern Gate of Heaven in a game of "guess the fingers." He flicked them through a crack in the window, and the acolytes immediately fell into a deep, dead sleep. Only then did Wukong catch up with Tang Sanzang, and they all raced westward.
The masters and disciples traveled all night without stopping until dawn. Tang Sanzang said, "You monkey! You've exhausted me! Just because of your gluttony, I haven't slept a wink all night!"
Wukong said, "Don't complain anymore. It's daylight now. Rest in the woods by the roadside. Recover your energy before we continue."
The elder dismounted and leaned against a pine root to rest. Sha Monk put down the carrying pole and dozed off. Bajie pillowed his head on a stone and fell asleep. Wukong climbed a tree, bent branches, and played. The four of them rested there.
Meanwhile, Immortal Zhenyuan had finished his gathering at the Primordial Beginning Palace. He descended from the Jade Heaven with his immortals, riding his cloud to the gate of Five-Village Temple. Seeing the gate wide open and the ground clean, he said, "Qingfeng and Mingyue have been quite capable. Usually, they won't get up until the sun scorches their backsides. But today, while we were away, they got up early, opened the gate, and swept the floor." All the immortals were pleased.
When they reached the main hall, however, there was no incense burning, no one in sight, and no sign of Qingfeng or Mingyue. The immortals said, "Those two must have taken advantage of our absence, stolen something, and run away."
The Great Immortal said, "Impossible! People who cultivate immortality wouldn't be so wicked. Perhaps they forgot to close the door last night and went to sleep. They probably haven't woken up yet."
The immortals went to the acolytes' room. The door was closed, and they could hear snoring from inside. They knocked and called out, but no one answered. They pried the door open and pulled the acolytes out of bed, but they still wouldn't wake. The Great Immortal laughed, "Fine immortal boys! Those who have achieved immortality are supposed to have a full spirit and need little sleep. Why are they so drowsy? Someone must have played a trick on them! Bring water quickly!"
One of the immortal boys brought half a cup of water. The Great Immortal recited a spell, sprayed a mouthful of water onto the acolytes' faces, and dispelled the sleep demon.
The two acolytes woke up. As soon as they opened their eyes and saw Zhenyuanzi and the other immortals, they quickly kowtowed and said, "Master! Your old acquaintance is actually a band of monks from the East! They are so vicious!"
The Great Immortal laughed, "Don't panic. Speak slowly."
Qingfeng said, "Master, not long after you left, a monk named Tang Sanzang from the East truly arrived, along with four other monks and a horse. We dared not disobey your orders. After confirming their identities, we took two ginseng fruits and offered them to him. But he didn't recognize the treasure. He said they looked like newborn children and absolutely refused to eat them. So we ate them ourselves. Unexpectedly, one of his disciples, named Sun Wukong, first stole four fruits and ate them. When we argued with him, he refused to accept blame. In secret, he used his divine powers—oh, the pain!" The two acolytes burst into tears at this point.
The immortals asked, "Did those monks beat you?"
Mingyue said, "They didn't beat us. They just pushed over our ginseng tree!"
Upon hearing this, the Great Immortal was not angry. Instead, he said, "Don't cry! Don't cry! You don't understand. That fellow surnamed Sun is a loose immortal of the Great Monad. He once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and possesses vast divine powers. Since he has destroyed our precious tree, do you recognize those monks?"
Qingfeng said, "We recognize them all."
The Great Immortal said, "Since you recognize them, come with me. Disciples, prepare the instruments of punishment. Wait for me to return and deal with them." The immortals acknowledged the order.
The Great Immortal, accompanied by Mingyue and Qingfeng, mounted his auspicious cloud and set off in pursuit of the monks. In an instant, they had flown a thousand miles. The Great Immortal looked west from the clouds but did not see Tang Sanzang. He turned and looked east, then said, "I've overshot by nine hundred miles." It turned out that the masters and disciples had only traveled one hundred and twenty miles in the entire night. The Great Immortal's cloud had leaped over nine hundred miles in a single bound.
The immortal boys said, "Master, the one sitting under the tree by the roadside is Tang Sanzang."
The Great Immortal said, "I see him. You two go back and prepare the ropes. I will capture them myself." Qingfeng returned first.
The Great Immortal descended from his cloud, shook his body, and transformed into a wandering Taoist. Behold his appearance: He wore a patched robe of a hundred scraps, tied at the waist with a sash of Lord Lü. In his hand, he waved a horsetail whisk and lightly tapped a bamboo drum. On his feet, he wore three-eared straw sandals, and his head was wrapped in a Nine-Yang headcloth. His sleeves fluttered in the wind, and he sang the tune "The Moon on High."
He walked straight to the tree, cupped his hands in greeting, and said to Tang Sanzang, "Elder, I, the poor Taoist, pay my respects."
The elder quickly returned the greeting, "My apologies! My apologies!"
The Great Immortal asked, "Elder, where have you come from? Why are you sitting in meditation by the roadside?"
Tang Sanzang replied, "I am a poor monk sent from the Great Tang in the East to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven. I am passing through this area and stopped here to rest for a while."
The Great Immortal feigned surprise, "Elder, since you came from the East, did you by any chance pass by a certain wild mountain?"
The elder asked, "And where might that immortal abode of yours be located?"
The Great Immortal said, "The Ten-Thousand-Year Mountain and Five-Village Temple—that is the humble dwelling of this poor Taoist."
Wukong, feeling guilty, quickly interrupted, "No! No! We came by a different road."
The Great Immortal pointed at him and laughed, "You mischievous ape! Who are you trying to fool? In my temple, you pushed over the ginseng fruit tree and then fled here in the night. And still you refuse to admit it, trying to cover it up? Don't run! Come back with me and return my tree!"
Wukong flew into a rage at these words. He pulled out his Golden-Banded Staff and, without a second thought, struck at the Great Immortal's head. The Great Immortal sidestepped the blow, mounted his auspicious cloud, and soared into the sky. Wukong also leaped onto his cloud and gave chase. The Great Immortal revealed his true form in midair. Behold his attire: He wore a purple-gold crown and a crane-feather cloak free of care. On his feet were shoes, and at his waist, a silk belt. His body was like that of a young boy, and his face resembled a beautiful woman's. Three wisps of beard hung below his chin, and his hair was layered like a crow's feathers at his temples. Facing the Pilgrim, he had no weapon, only a jade horsetail whisk in his hand.
The Pilgrim, heedless of height or distance, raised his staff and struck wildly. The Great Immortal used his jade whisk to parry left and right. After two or three exchanges, he employed his technique of "Sleeve Concealing Heaven and Earth." In the clouds, he gently spread his robe's sleeve against the wind. With a "SWOOSH," he swept up all four masters and disciples, along with the horse, into his sleeve.
Bajie cried out in panic, "This is bad! We've all been bagged!"
Wukong said, "Fool, we haven't been bagged. We've been swept into his sleeve."
Bajie said, "What's there to fear? Let me use my rake to bore a hole and crawl out. I'll say he didn't catch us properly, and we fell out!" So saying, he swung his rake and struck the sleeve. But although the sleeve looked soft, it was harder than iron when struck, and he couldn't make a single dent.
The Great Immortal rode his auspicious cloud back down to Five-Village Temple. After he sat down, he called for his disciples to bring ropes. The immortals quickly attended to him. He reached into his sleeve and, as if pulling puppets, pulled out Tang Sanzang and tied him to one of the main hall's eaves pillars. Then he pulled out Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Monk, tying each to a separate pillar. The horse was tethered in the courtyard and given some fodder. The luggage was tossed under the corridor. The Great Immortal then said, "Disciples, these monks are men of religion. Don't use knives or spears. Bring the leather whip and give them a flogging to vent my anger over my ginseng fruits!"
The immortals immediately brought out a whip. It was not made of cowhide or sheepskin, but of dragonhide—a Seven-Star Whip. They soaked it in water. A strong immortal boy picked up the whip and asked, "Master, who should we flog first?"
The Great Immortal said, "Tang Sanzang is the master and failed to discipline his disciples properly. Flog him first."
Wukong thought to himself, "My old master can't withstand a flogging. If he is beaten to death, wouldn't it be my fault?" He couldn't help but speak up, "Sir, you are mistaken! It was I who stole the fruits, ate them, and pushed over the tree. Why don't you flog me first? Why flog him?"
The Great Immortal laughed, "This mischievous ape dares to take responsibility for his actions. Very well, flog you first."
The immortal boy asked, "How many lashes?"
The Great Immortal said, "According to the number of fruits stolen, flog him thirty times."
The immortal boy raised his whip and struck. Wukong was afraid of the power of the immortal's whip, so he stared with wide eyes to see where it would land. It was aimed at his legs. He twisted his waist and shouted, "Change!" His two legs turned into wrought iron. Let the whip strike as it may. The immortal boy lashed him thirty times, one after another. By then, it was nearly noon.
The Great Immortal then ordered, "We must also flog Tang Sanzang. He failed to discipline his disciples and allowed them to run wild." The immortal boy was about to raise his whip again when Wukong quickly said, "Sir, you are mistaken again! When the fruits were stolen, my master knew nothing about it. He was in the main hall talking to your disciples. It was us brothers who did the deed. Even if he is guilty of failing to discipline, I, as his disciple, should take the punishment for him. Flog me again!"
The Great Immortal laughed, "This mischievous ape may be cunning, but he does have some filial piety. Very well, flog you again."
The immortal boy lashed him another thirty times. Wukong looked down and saw that his two legs were as bright as mirrors, without a trace of pain. By then, it was getting dark. The Great Immortal said, "Soak the whip back in the water. We'll interrogate them again tomorrow." The immortal boy put away the whip, and everyone went to their rooms. After eating their evening meal, they all went to sleep.
Tang Sanzang, weeping, rebuked his three disciples, "You have caused this disaster, and now I am implicated and suffering here. What are we to do?"
Wukong said, "Don't complain. Even if they flog someone, they'll flog me first. You haven't been struck once, so why sigh?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Although I haven't been beaten, being tied up like this is painful!"
Sha Monk said, "Master, we are tied up right alongside you!"
Wukong said, "Stop arguing. We'll leave soon."
Bajie said, "Brother, you're boasting again! These hemp ropes have been soaked in water and are tied tightly. It's not like last time in the hall, when you could use your Lock-Opening Technique to open the door and leave!"
Wukong said, "Don't underestimate me! Even if it's a coil of palm-fiber rope as thick as a bowl, soaked in water, it's nothing but autumn wind to me!"
As they spoke, the surroundings were quiet and still. It was the dead of night. What a fine Wukong! He shrank his body, slipped out of the ropes, and said, "Master, let's go!"
Sha Monk cried out in panic, "Brother, save us too!"
Wukong whispered, "Don't make a sound!" He untied Tang Sanzang, then released Bajie and Sha Monk. They straightened their clothes, led the horse, and gathered the luggage. Together, they left the temple gate. Wukong then told Bajie, "Go and cut down four willow trees from the cliff."
Bajie asked, "What do we need willow trees for?"
Wukong said, "They'll be useful. Hurry up and cut them!"
The fool was immensely strong. He went over, uprooted four trees with one bite each, and carried them back. Wukong broke off the branches and told Bajie and Sha Monk to go back inside and tie the original ropes back onto the pillars as they were before. He recited a spell, bit the tip of his tongue, and sprayed blood onto the willow trees. He shouted, "Change!" One tree became Tang Sanzang, another became himself, and the other two became Sha Monk and Bajie. They looked exactly like the originals. If their names were called, they would answer. If asked a question, they would reply. Only then did the two of them catch up with their master. They traveled all night without stopping, putting distance between themselves and Five-Village Temple.
By dawn, Tang Sanzang was dozing off on his horse. Wukong called out, "Master, that won't do! How can a monk be so afraid of fatigue? Old Monkey can go a thousand nights without sleep and not feel tired. Get down from the horse quickly, or passersby will laugh at us. Let's rest in a sheltered spot at the foot of the hill before we continue."
Meanwhile, after daybreak, Immortal Zhenyuan ate his morning meal and came to the main hall. He said, "Bring the whip! Today we must flog Tang Sanzang!" The immortal boy raised his whip and shouted at the willow-tree Tang Sanzang, "I'm going to flog you!" The willow tree replied, "Go ahead." With a "WHACK," it was lashed thirty times. Then he shouted at the willow-tree Bajie, "I'm going to flog you!" The tree also answered, "Go ahead." He flogged the willow-tree Sha Monk, and it too answered, "Go ahead." When he came to flog Wukong, the real Wukong, who was on the road, suddenly shivered. "This is bad!" he said.
Tang Sanzang asked, "What's wrong?"
Wukong said, "I used four willow trees to impersonate the four of us. I thought since I was flogged twice yesterday, they wouldn't flog me today. But they are still flogging my substitute. That's why my real body shivered. Quickly, I must withdraw the spell!" He immediately recited the spell and withdrew the transformation.
When the immortal boys in the temple saw this, they were terrified. They dropped the whip and reported, "Master! At first, we were flogging the Great Tang monk, but now we are flogging willow roots!"
Upon hearing this, the Great Immortal laughed coldly and praised, "Sun the Pilgrim is truly a fine Monkey King! I had heard before that he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and that even Heaven's nets and earth's snares could not capture him. It's true indeed. You may leave if you wish, but to tie up willow trees and pass them off as yourselves—I cannot forgive that! After them!"
So saying, the Great Immortal leaped onto his cloud. He looked west and saw the four masters and disciples carrying the load and riding the horse, hurrying along. He descended from his cloud and shouted, "Sun the Pilgrim! Where do you think you're going? Give me back my ginseng tree!"
When Bajie heard this, he said, "It's over! Our nemesis has caught up with us again!"
Wukong said, "Master, don't talk about mercy anymore. Let's fight him head-on. Once we've dealt with him, we can get away!"
Tang Sanzang trembled with fear and had not yet answered when Sha Monk drew his demon-quelling staff, Bajie raised his nine-pronged rake, and Wukong wielded his Golden-Banded Staff. Together, they surrounded the Great Immortal in midair, striking and stabbing wildly. This fierce battle is described in a poem:
Wukong did not recognize Immortal Zhenyuan, the Lord of the World, whose mysteries were deeper still. The three divine weapons struck with savage force, while a single horsetail whisk danced lightly in the air. It blocked left and right, following every move; it parried from behind and met attacks from the front, turning and spinning with ease. From night until morning, they could not break free. How many days would they linger before reaching the Western Heaven?
The three brothers each raised their weapons. The Great Immortal only used his fly-whisk to parry. In less than half an hour, he once again spread his robe's sleeve and, in the same manner, swept all four masters and disciples, along with the horse and luggage, into his sleeve. He rode his cloud back to the temple. The immortals came out to greet him. The Great Immortal sat down in the main hall and, one by one, pulled the people out of his sleeve. He tied Tang Sanzang to a low locust tree in the courtyard, Bajie and Sha Monk to trees on either side, and bound Wukong and threw him to the ground.
Wukong thought, "This is going to be an interrogation." Soon, they were all tied up. The Great Immortal called for ten bolts of long cloth to be brought.
Wukong laughed, "Bajie, this gentleman is quite hospitable. He's bringing cloth to make us long-sleeved robes—save some, make them short-sleeved!"
The immortal boys brought household cloth. The Great Immortal said, "Wrap up Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Heshang in the cloth!"
The immortals stepped forward and wrapped them up. Wukong laughed, "Good! Good! Good! He's directly preparing our funeral shrouds!"
After they were all wrapped, the Great Immortal ordered lacquer to be brought. The immortals took the raw and cooked lacquer they had prepared themselves and lacquered all the places where the three were wrapped, leaving only their heads and faces exposed.
Bajie said, "Sir, it's fine for the top part, but you must leave a hole below. We still need to relieve ourselves!"
The Great Immortal then ordered a large cauldron to be brought. Wukong laughed, "Bajie, we're in luck! They're bringing a cauldron. They must be cooking a meal for us!"
Bajie said, "Very well. Let's have a full meal and die with a full stomach. It will look better as a ghost."
The immortals indeed carried out a large cauldron and placed it in the courtyard. The Great Immortal ordered dry firewood to be stacked and a blazing fire lit. He said, "Pour a cauldron of clear oil, bring it to a rolling boil, and then fry Sun the Pilgrim in it to avenge my ginseng tree!"
Upon hearing this, Wukong was secretly pleased: "This suits me perfectly! I haven't bathed in a while, and my skin is a little itchy. A dip in the oil will feel just right. Thank him for his kindness!" Soon, the oil was nearly boiling. But Wukong became cautious: "I'm afraid of his immortal magic. It won't be easy to fight inside the oil cauldron." He looked around. To the east of the platform was a sundial stand, and to the west was a stone lion. He rolled over to the west, bit the tip of his tongue, and sprayed blood onto the stone lion. He shouted, "Change!" The stone lion transformed into his likeness, also tied up in a bundle. Wukong's primordial spirit left his body, flew up into the clouds, and looked down at the Taoist.
Just then, an immortal boy reported, "Master, the oil is bubbling hot!"
The Great Immortal said, "Carry Sun the Pilgrim down!" Four immortal boys tried to lift him but couldn't. Eight couldn't either. Adding another four still couldn't. The immortals said, "This monkey looks small, but he's quite heavy!" They called twenty immortal boys to lift him together and throw him into the cauldron. With a great "SPLASH," the spattering hot oil scalded the little Taoists' faces, raising several blisters! The boy tending the fire shouted, "The cauldron is leaking! The cauldron is leaking!" Before he could finish, all the oil had drained out, and the bottom of the cauldron was broken—it turned out to be a stone lion inside.
Sun Wukong laughed and said, "You're just unlucky to have run into me—what does that have to do with me? I was actually willing to accept your kindness with the oil, but just now I was in a hurry to relieve myself, and I was afraid that if I broke wind in the cauldron, I'd foul your fine oil and ruin it for cooking. Now I'm clean inside and out—come on, fry me, but don't fry my master!" When the Great Immortal heard this, he let out a cold laugh, strode out of the hall, and grabbed hold of Sun Wukong. What exactly did the Great Immortal have to say, and how would Sun Wukong escape? Read on to find out.