第四十一回
第四十一回 心猿遭火败 木母被魔擒
善恶一时忘念，荣枯都不关心。晦明隐现任浮沉，随分饥餐渴饮。 神静湛然常寂，昏冥便有魔侵。五行蹭蹬破禅林，风动必然寒凛。
却说那孙大圣引八戒别了沙僧，跳过枯松涧，径来到那怪石崖前。果见有一座洞府，真个也景致非凡。但见：
回銮古道幽还静，风月也听玄鹤弄。
白云透出满川光，流水过桥仙意兴。
猿啸乌啼花木奇，藤萝石蹬芝兰胜。
苍摇崖壑散烟霞，翠染松篁招彩凤。
远列巅峰似插屏，山朝涧绕真仙洞。
昆仑地脉发来龙，有分有缘方受用。
将近行到门前，见有一座石碣，上镌八个大字，乃是“号山枯松涧火云洞”。那壁厢一群小妖，在那里抡枪舞剑的，跳风[1]顽耍。孙大圣厉声高叫道：“那小的们，趁早去报与洞主知道，教他送出我唐僧师父来，免你这一洞精灵的性命！牙迸半个‘不’字，我就掀翻了你的山场，平了你的洞府！”那些小妖闻得此言，慌忙急转身，各归洞里，关了两扇石门，到里边来报：“大王，祸事了！”
却说那怪自把三藏拿到洞中，选剥了衣服，四马攒蹄，捆在后院里，着小妖打干净水刷洗，要上笼蒸吃哩。忽听得报声“祸事”，且不刷洗，便来前庭上问：“有何祸事？”小妖道：“有个毛脸雷公嘴的和尚，带一个长嘴大耳的和尚，在门前要甚么唐僧师父哩。但若牙迸半个‘不’字，就要掀翻山场，平洞府。”魔王微微冷笑道：“这是孙行者与猪八戒。他却也会寻哩。我拿他师父，自半山中到此，有百五十里，却怎么就寻上门来？”教：“小的们，把管车的，推出车去！”那一班几个小妖，推出五辆小车儿来，开了前门。八戒望见道：“哥哥，这妖精想是怕我们，推出车子，往那厢搬哩。”行者道：“不是。且看他放在那里。”只见那小妖将车子按金、木、水、火、土安下，着五个看着，五个进去通报。那魔王问：“停当了？”答应：“停当了。”教：“取过枪来。”有那一伙管兵器的小妖，着两个抬出一杆丈八长的火尖枪，递与妖王。妖王抡枪拽步，也无甚么盔甲，只是腰间束一条锦绣战裙，赤着脚走出门前。行者与八戒抬头观看，但见那怪物：
面如傅粉三分白，唇若涂朱一表才。
鬓挽青云欺靛染，眉分新月似刀裁。
战裙巧绣盘龙凤，形比哪吒更富胎[2]。
双手绰枪威凛冽，祥光护体出门来。
哏声响若春雷吼，暴眼明如掣电乖。
要识此魔真姓氏，名扬千古唤红孩。
那红孩儿怪出得门来，高呼道：“是甚么人，在我这里吆喝！”行者近前笑道：“我贤侄，莫弄虚头。你今早在山路旁，高吊在松树梢头，是那般一个瘦怯怯的黄病孩儿，哄了我师父。我倒好意驮着你，你就弄风儿把我师父摄将来。你如今又弄这个样子，我岂不认得你？趁早送出我师父，不要白[3]了面皮，失了亲情；恐你令尊知道，怪我老孙以长欺幼，不像模样。”那怪闻言，心中大怒，咄的一声喝道：“那泼猴头！我与你有甚亲情？你在这里满口胡柴[4]，绰甚声经儿！那个是你贤侄？”行者道：“哥哥，是你也不晓得。当年我与你令尊做弟兄时，你还不知在那里哩。”那怪道：“这猴子一发胡说！你是那里人，我是那里人，怎么得与我父亲做兄弟？”行者道：“你是不知。我乃五百年前大闹天宫的齐天大圣孙悟空是也。我当初未闹天宫时，遍游海角天涯，四大部洲，无方不到。那时节，专慕豪杰。你令尊叫做牛魔王，称为覆天大圣，与我老孙结为七兄弟，让他做了大哥；还有个蛟魔王，称为覆海大圣，做了二哥；又有个大鹏魔王，称为混天大圣，做了三哥；又有个狮王，称为移山大圣，做了四哥；又有个猕猴王，称为通风大圣，做了五哥；又有个狨王，称为驱神大圣，做了六哥；惟有老孙身小，称为齐天大圣，排行第七。我老弟兄们那时节耍子时，还不曾生你哩！”
那怪物闻言，那里肯信，举起火尖枪就刺。行者正是那会家不忙，又使了一个身法，闪过枪头，抡起铁棒，骂道：“你这小畜生，不识高低！看棍！”那妖精也使身法，让过铁棒道：“泼猢狲，不达时务！看枪！”他两个也不论亲情，一齐变脸，各使神通，跳在云端里，好杀：
行者名声大，魔王手段强。一个横举金箍棒，一个直挺火尖枪。吐雾遮三界，喷云照四方。一天杀气凶声吼，日月星辰不见光。语言无逊让，情意两乖张[5]。那一个欺心失礼仪，这一个变脸没纲常。棒架威风长，枪来野性狂。一个是混元真大圣，一个是正果善财郎。二人努力争强胜，只为唐僧拜法王。
那妖魔与孙大圣战经二十合，不分胜败。猪八戒在旁边，看得明白：妖精虽不败阵，却只是遮拦隔架，全无攻杀之能；行者纵不赢他，棒法精强，来回只在那妖精头上，不离了左右。八戒暗想道：“不好啊！行者溜撒，一时间丢个破绽，哄那妖魔钻进来，一铁棒打倒，就没了我的功劳。……”你看他抖擞精神，举着九齿钯，在空里，望妖精劈头就筑。那怪见了心惊，急拖枪败下阵来。行者喝教八戒：“赶上！赶上！”
二人赶到他洞门前，只见妖精一只手举着火尖枪，站在那中间一辆小车儿上，一只手捏着拳头，往自家鼻子上捶了两拳。八戒笑道：“这厮放赖不羞！你好道捶破鼻子，淌出些血来，搽红了脸，往那里告我们去耶？”那妖魔捶了两拳，念个咒语，口里喷出火来，鼻子里浓烟迸出，闸闸眼[6]，火焰齐生。那五辆车子上，火光涌出。连喷了几口，只见那红焰焰大火烧空，把一座火云洞，被那烟火迷漫，真个是熯天炽地。八戒慌了道：“哥哥，不停当！这一钻在火里，莫想得活，把老猪弄做个烧熟的，加上香料，尽他受用哩！快走！快走！”说声走，他也不顾行者，跑过涧去了。
这行者神通广大，捏着避火诀，撞入火中，寻那妖怪。那妖怪见行者来，又吐上几口，那火比前更胜。好火：
炎炎烈烈盈空燎，赫赫威威遍地红。却似火轮飞上下，犹如炭屑舞西东。这火不是燧人钻木，又不是老子炮丹，非天火，非野火，乃是妖魔修炼成真三昧火。五辆车儿合五行，五行生化火煎成。肝木能生心火旺，心火致令脾土平。脾土生金金化水，水能生木彻通灵。生生化化皆因火，火遍长空万物荣。妖邪久悟呼三昧，永镇西方第一名。
行者被他烟火飞腾，不能寻怪，看不见他洞门前路径，抽身跳出火中。那妖精在门首看得明白，他见行者走了，却才收了火具，帅群妖转于洞内，闭了石门，以为得胜，着小的排宴奏乐，欢笑不题。
却说行者跳过枯松涧，按下云头，只听得八戒与沙僧朗朗的在松间讲话。行者上前喝八戒道：“你这呆子，全无人气！你就惧怕妖火，败走逃生，却把老孙丢下。早是我有些南北[7]哩！”八戒笑道：“哥啊，你被那妖精说着了，果然不达时务。古人云：‘识得时务者，呼为俊杰。’那妖精不与你亲，你强要认亲；既与你赌斗，放出那般无情的火来，又不走，还要与他恋战哩！”行者道：“那怪物的手段比我何如？”八戒道：“不济。”“枪法比我何如？”八戒道：“也不济。老猪见他撑持不住，却来助你一钯，不期他不识耍，就败下阵来，没天理，就放火了。”行者道：“正是你不该来。我再与他斗几合，我取巧儿捞他一棒，却不是好？”他两个只管论那妖精的手段，讲那妖精的火毒。沙和尚倚着松根，笑得[8]了。行者看见道：“兄弟，你笑怎么？你好道有甚手段，擒得那妖魔，破得那火阵？这桩事，也是大家有益的事。常言道：‘众毛攒毬[9]。’你若拿得妖魔，救了师父，也是你的一件大功绩。”沙僧道：“我也没甚手段，也不能降妖。我笑你两个都着了忙也。”行者道：“我怎么着忙？”沙僧道：“那妖精手段不如你，枪法不如你，只是多了些火势，故不能取胜。若依小弟说，以相生相克拿他，有甚难处？”行者闻言，呵呵笑道：“兄弟说得有理。果然我们着忙了，忘了这事。若以相生相克之理论之，须是以水克火，却往那里寻些水来，泼灭这妖火，可不救了师父？”沙僧道：“正是这般。不必迟疑。”行者道：“你两个只在此间，莫与他索战。待老孙去东洋大海求借龙兵，将些水来，泼息妖火，捉这泼怪。”八戒道：“哥哥放心前去，我等理会得。”
好大圣，纵云离此地，顷刻到东洋，却也无心看玩海景，使个逼水法分开波浪。正行时，见一个巡海夜叉相撞，看见是孙大圣，急回到水晶宫里，报知那老龙王。敖广即率龙子龙孙、虾兵蟹卒一齐出门迎接，请里面坐。坐定，礼毕，告茶。行者道：“不劳茶，有一事相烦。我因师父唐僧往西天拜佛取经，经过号山枯松涧火云洞，有个红孩儿妖精，号圣婴大王，把我师父拿了去。是老孙寻到洞边，与他交战，他却放出火来。我们禁不得他，想着水能克火，特来向你求些水去，与我下场大雨，泼灭了妖火，救唐僧一难。”那龙王道：“大圣差来。若要求取雨水，不该来问我。”行者道：“你是四海龙王，主司雨泽，不来问你，却去问谁？”龙王道：“我虽司雨，不敢擅专。须得玉帝旨意，分付在那地方，要几尺几寸，甚么时辰起住，还要三官举笔，太乙移文，会令了雷公、电母、风伯、云童。俗语云‘龙无云而不行’哩。”行者道：“我也不用着风云雷电，只是要些雨水灭火。”龙王道：“大圣不用风云雷电，但我一人也不能助力，着舍弟们同助大圣一功如何？”行者道：“令弟何在？”龙王道：“南海龙王敖钦、北海龙王敖顺、西海龙王敖闰。”行者笑道：“我若再游过三海，不如上界去求玉帝旨意了。”龙王道：“不消大圣去，只我这里撞动铁鼓、金钟，他自顷刻而至。”行者闻其言道：“老龙王，快撞钟鼓。”
须臾间，三海龙王拥至，问：“大哥，有何事命弟等？”敖广道：“孙大圣在这里借雨助力降妖。”三弟即引进见毕，行者备言借水之事。众神个个欢从，即点起：
鲨鱼骁勇为前部，鳠痴口大作先锋。
鲤元帅翻波跳浪，提督吐雾喷风。
鲭太尉东方打哨，鲌都司西路催征。
红眼马郎南面舞，黑甲将军北下冲。
把总中军掌号，五方兵处处英雄。
纵横机巧鼋枢密，妙算玄微龟相公。
有谋有智鼍丞相，多变多能鳖总戎。
横行蟹士抡长剑，直跳虾婆扯硬弓。
鲇外郎查明文簿，点龙兵出离波中。
诗曰：
四海龙王喜助功，齐天大圣请相从。
只因三藏途中难，借水前来灭火红。
那行者领着龙兵，不多时，早到号山枯松涧上。行者道：“敖氏昆玉[10]，有烦远踄。此间乃妖魔之处，汝等且停于空中，不要出头露面。让老孙与他赌斗，若赢了他，不须列位捉拿；若输与他，也不用列位助阵；只是他但放火时，可听我呼唤，一齐喷雨。”龙王俱如号令。
行者却按云头，入松林里，见了八戒、沙僧，叫声：“兄弟。”八戒道：“哥哥来得快呀！可曾请得龙王来？”行者道：“俱来了。你两个切须仔细，只怕雨大，莫湿了行李。待老孙与他打去。”沙僧道：“师兄放心前去，我等俱理会得了。”
行者跳过涧，到了门首，叫声：“开门！”那些小妖又去报道：“孙行者又来了。”红孩仰面笑道：“那猴子想是火中不曾烧了他，故此又来。这一来切莫饶他，断然烧个皮焦肉烂才罢！”急纵身，挺着长枪，教：“小的们，推出火车子来！”他出门前，对行者道：“你又来怎的？”行者道：“还我师父来。”那怪道：“你这猴头，忒不通变。那唐僧与你做得师父，也与我做得按酒，你还思量要他哩。莫想！莫想！”行者闻言，十分恼怒，掣金箍棒劈头就打。那妖精使火尖枪，急架相迎。这一场赌斗，比前不同。好杀：
怒发泼妖魔，恼急猴王将。这一个专救取经僧，那一个要吃唐三藏。心变没亲情，情疏无义让。这个恨不得捉住活剥皮，那个恨不得拿来生蘸酱。真个忒英雄，果然多猛壮。棒来枪架赌输赢，枪去棒迎争下上。举手相轮二十回，两家本事一般样。
那妖王与行者战经二十回合，见得不能取胜，虚幌一枪，急抽身，捏着拳头，又将鼻子捶了两下，却就喷出火来。那门前车子上，烟火迸起，口眼中，赤焰飞腾。孙大圣回头叫道：“龙王何在？”那龙王兄弟帅众水族，望妖精火光里喷下雨来。好雨！真个是：
潇潇洒洒，密密沉沉。潇潇洒洒，如天边坠落银星；密密沉沉，似海口倒悬浪滚。起初时如拳大小，次后来瓮泼盆倾。满地浇流鸭顶绿，高山洗出佛头青。沟壑水飞千丈玉，涧泉波涨万条银。三叉路口看看满，九曲溪中渐渐平。这个是唐僧有难神龙助，扳倒天河往下倾。
那雨淙淙大小，莫能止息那妖精的火势。原来龙王私雨，只好泼得凡火，妖精的三昧真火，如何泼得？好一似火上浇油，越泼越灼。大圣道：“等我捻着诀，钻入火中！”抡铁棒，寻妖要打。那妖见他来到，将一口烟劈脸喷来。行者急回头，煼得眼花雀乱，忍不住泪落如雨。原来这大圣不怕火，只怕烟。当年因大闹天宫时，被老君放在八卦炉中，煅过一番。他幸在那巽位安身，不曾烧坏，只是风搅得烟来，把他煼做火眼金睛，故至今只是怕烟。那妖又喷一口，行者当不得，纵云头走了。那妖王却又收了火具，回归洞府。
这大圣一身烟火，炮燥难禁，径投于涧水内救火。怎知被冷水一逼，弄得火气攻心，三魂出舍。可怜气塞胸堂喉舌冷，魂飞魄散丧残生！慌得那四海龙王在半空里，收了雨泽，高声大叫：“天蓬元帅！卷帘将军！休在林中藏隐，且寻你师兄出来！”
八戒与沙僧听得呼他圣号，急忙解了马、挑着担出林来，也不顾泥泞，顺涧边找寻。只见那上溜头翻波滚浪，急流中淌下一个人来。沙僧见了，连衣跳下水中，抱上岸来，却是孙大圣身躯。噫！你看他踡跼四肢伸不得，浑身上下冷如冰。沙和尚满眼垂泪道：“师兄！可惜了你，亿万年不老长生客，如今化作个中途短命人！”八戒笑道：“兄弟莫哭。这猴子推佯死，吓我们哩。你摸他摸胸前还有一点热气没有？”沙僧道：“浑身都冷了，就有一点儿热气，怎的就得回生？”八戒道：“他有七十二般变化，就有七十二条性命。你扯着脚，等我摆布他。”真个那沙僧扯着脚，八戒扶着头，把他拽个直，推上脚来，盘膝坐定。八戒将两手搓热，仵住他的七窍，使一个按摩禅法。原来那行者被冷水逼了，气阻丹田，不能出声。却幸得八戒按摸揉擦，须臾间，气透三关，转明堂，冲开孔窍，叫了一声：“师父呵！”沙僧道：“哥啊，你生为师父，死也还在口里。且苏醒，我们在这里哩。”行者睁开眼道：“兄弟们在这里？老孙吃了亏也！”八戒笑道：“你才子发昏的，若不是老猪救你呵，已此了帐了。还不谢我哩！”行者却才起身，仰面道：“敖氏弟兄何在？”那四海龙王在半空中答应道：“小龙在此伺候。”行者道：“累你远劳，不曾成得功果。且请回去，改日再谢。”龙王帅水族泱泱[11]而回，不在话下。
沙僧搀着行者，一同到松林之下坐定。少时间，却定神顺气，止不住泪滴腮边，又叫：“师父啊！
忆昔当年出大唐，岩前救我脱灾殃。
三山六水遭魔障，万苦千辛割寸肠。
托钵朝餐随厚薄，参禅暮宿或林庄。
一心指望成功果，今日安知痛受伤！”
沙僧道：“哥哥，且休烦恼。我们早安计策，去那里请兵助力，搭救师父耶。”行者道：“那里请救么？”沙僧道：“当初菩萨分付，着我等保护唐僧，他曾许我们，叫天天应，叫地地应。那里请救去？”行者道：“想老孙大闹天宫时，那些神兵都禁不得我。这妖精神通不小，须是比老孙手段大些的，才降得他哩。天神不济，地煞不能，若要拿此妖魔，须是去请观音菩萨才好。奈何我皮肉酸麻，腰膝疼痛，驾不起筋斗云，怎生请得？”八戒道：“有甚话分付，等我去请。”行者笑道：“也罢，你是去得。若见了菩萨，切休仰视，只可低头礼拜。等他问时，你却将地名、妖名说与他，再请救师父之事。他若肯来，定取擒了怪物。”八戒闻言，即便驾了云雾，向南而去。
却说那个妖王在洞里欢喜道：“小的们，孙行者吃了亏去了。这一阵虽不得他死，好道也发个大昏。——咦，只怕他又请救兵来也。快开门，等我去看他请谁。”
众妖开了门，妖精就跳在空里观看，只见八戒往南去了。妖精想着南边再无他处，断然是请观音菩萨，急按下云，叫：“小的们，把我那皮袋寻出来。多时不用，只恐口绳不牢，与我换上一条，放在二门之下。等我去把八戒赚将回来，装于袋内，蒸得稀烂，犒劳你们。”原来那妖精有一个如意的皮袋，众小妖拿出来，换了口绳，安于洞门内不题。
却说那妖王久居于此，俱是熟游之地。他晓得那条路上南海去近，那条去远。他从那近路上一驾云头，赶过了八戒，端坐在壁岩之上，变作一个假观世音模样，等候着八戒。
那呆子正纵云行处，忽然望见菩萨。他那里识得真假？这才是见像作佛。呆子停云下拜道：“菩萨，弟子猪悟能叩头。”妖精道：“你不保唐僧去取经，却见我有何事干？”八戒道：“弟子因与师父行至中途，遇着号山枯松涧火云洞，有个红孩儿妖精，他把我师父摄了去。是弟子与师兄等寻上他门，与他交战。他原来会放火，头一阵，不曾得赢；第二阵，请龙王助雨，也不能灭火。师兄被他烧坏了，不能行动，着弟子来请菩萨。万望垂慈，救我师父一难！”妖精道：“那火云洞洞主，不是个伤生的，一定是你们冲撞了他也。”八戒道：“我不曾冲撞他，是师兄悟空冲撞他的。他变作一个小孩子，吊在树上，试我师父。师父甚有善心，教我解下来，着师兄驮他一程。是师兄掼了他一掼，他就弄风儿，把师父摄去了。”妖精道：“你起来，跟我进那洞里见洞主，与你说个人情，你陪一个礼，把你师父讨出来罢。”八戒道：“菩萨呀，若肯还我师父，就磕他一个头也罢。”
妖王道：“你跟来。”那呆子不知好歹，就跟着他，径回旧路，却不向南洋海，随赴火云门。顷刻间，到了门首。妖精进去道：“你休疑忌，他是我的故人。你进来。”呆子只得举步入门。众妖一齐呐喊，将八戒捉倒，装于袋内。束紧了口绳，高吊在驮梁之上。妖精现了本相，坐在当中道：“猪八戒，你有甚么手段，就敢保唐僧取经，就敢请菩萨降我？你大睁着两个眼，还不认得我是圣婴大王哩！如今拿你，吊得三五日，蒸熟了赏赐小妖，权为案酒！”八戒听言，在里面骂道：“泼怪物！十分无礼！若论你百计千方，骗了我吃，管教你一个个遭肿头天瘟！”呆子骂了又骂，嚷了又嚷，不题。
却说孙大圣与沙僧正坐，只见一阵腥风刮面而过，他就打了一个喷嚏道：“不好！不好！这阵风凶多吉少。想是猪八戒走错路也。”沙僧道：“他错了路，不会问人？”行者道：“想必撞见妖精了。”沙僧道：“撞见妖精，他不会跑回？”行者道：“不停当。你坐在这里看守，等我跑过涧去打听打听。”沙僧道：“师兄腰疼，只恐又着他手，等小弟去罢。”行者道：“你不济事，还让我去。”
好行者，咬着牙，忍着疼，捻着铁棒，走过涧，到那火云洞前，叫声：“妖怪！”那把门的小妖，又急入里报：“孙行者又在门首叫哩！”那妖王传令叫拿，那伙小妖，枪刀簇拥，齐声呐叫，即开门，都道：“拿住！拿住！”行者果然疲倦，不敢相迎，将身钻在路旁，念个咒语叫：“变！”即变做一个销金包袱。小妖看见，报道：“大王，孙行者怕了；只见说一声‘拿’字，慌得把包袱丢下走了。”妖王笑道：“那包袱也无甚么值钱之物，左右是和尚的破偏衫，旧帽子，背进来拆洗做补衬[12]。”一个小妖果将包袱背进，不知是行者变的。行者道：“好了！这个销金包袱，背着了！”那妖精不以为事，丢在门内。
好行者，假中又假，虚里还空，即拔一根毫毛，吹口仙气，变作个包袱一样，他的真身却又变作一个苍蝇儿，丁在门枢上。只听得八戒在那里哼哩哼的，声音不清，却似一个瘟猪。行者嘤的飞了去寻时，原来他吊在皮袋里也。行者丁在皮袋，又听得他恶言恶语骂道，妖怪长，妖怪短：“你怎么假变作个观音菩萨，哄我回来，吊我在此，还说要吃我！有一日我师兄：
大展齐天无量法，满山泼怪等时擒！
解开皮袋放我出，筑你千钯方趁心！”
行者闻言，暗笑道：“这呆子虽然在这里面受闷气，却还不倒了旗枪。老孙一定要拿了此怪，若不如此，怎生雪恨！”
正欲设法拯救八戒出来，只听那妖王叫道：“六健将何在？”时有六个小妖，是他知己的精灵，封为健将，都有名字：一个叫做云里雾，一个叫做雾里云；一个叫做急如火，一个叫做快如风；一个叫做兴烘掀，一个叫做掀烘兴。六健将上前跪下。妖王道：“你们认得老大王家么？”六健将道：“认得。”妖王道：“你与我星夜去请老大王来，说我这里捉唐僧蒸与他吃，寿延千纪。”六怪领命，一个个厮拖厮扯，径出门去了。行者嘤的一声，飞下袋来，跟定那六怪，躲离洞中。毕竟不知怎的请来，且听下回分解。
[1] 跳风：蹈空。与前文“踢天”意近。
[2] 富胎：胖的意思。避讳说胖，变称富胎。
[3] 白：人于急怒时脸气得煞白。这里指变脸。
[4] 胡柴：就是胡说、胡扯。
[5] 乖张：不顺，不正常。
[6] 闸闸眼：即眨眨眼。
[7] 南北：算计、计谋。这里作有两下子解释。
[8] （ái）：呆，傻。
[9] 众毛攒毬：毛发虽小，但积攒的多了，就能填满皮毬。比喻只要每个人都发挥自己的作用，就能干成大事。毬，圆形皮囊中塞毛作成的皮球。
[10] 昆玉：称别人兄弟时所用的敬词。
[11] 泱泱：同“怏怏”，不高兴或者不满意的样子。
[12] 补衬：残破碎布，不能做衣服，只能作打补钉、衬里子用。
CHAPTER 41. Mind Monkey is defeated by fire; Wood Mother is captured by demons.
Good and evil—a moment’s false thoughts;
Shame and honor, neither concerns you.
Failure or success, let it come and go;
Live as you need, within your lot.
Composed, you’ve peace deep and lasting;
Muddled, you’re besieged by demons.
Five Phases hobbled wreck the grove of Chan,
Certain as rising wind’s frigid.1
We were telling you about the Great Sage Sun, who, along with Eight Rules, took leave of Sha Monk. Leaping over the Dried Pine Stream, they went before a cliff full of strange rocks and discovered that there was indeed a cave dwelling. The scenery all around was most unusual. You see
A winding old path silent and remote;
E’en wind and moon heed the black cranes singing.
White clouds part and the river’s full of light;
Water flows past a bridge—what a scene divine.
Apes and birds call amid rare flowers and plants
And rocks entwined by creepers and orchids fair.
The cliff’s rustling green scatters mist and smoke;
Verdant pines and bamboos the phoenix beckon.
Distant summits rise like vertical screens.
Fronting stream and mountain’s a true divine cave,
Its source coming from the Kunlun ranges,
To be enjoyed only by one ordained.
When they went up to the entrance of the cave, they found a slab of stone on which an inscription was written in large letters: “Fiery Cloud Cave, Dried Pine Stream, Roaring Mountain.” Before the entrance was a mob of little imps prancing around with swords and spears. In a loud voice, the Great Sage Sun cried out, “You punks! Go quickly and report this to your cave master. Tell him to send out our Tang Monk at once, so that the lives of all these spirits in your cave may be spared. If you whisper but half a ‘No,’ I’ll overturn your residence and level your cave!” When those little fiends heard these words, they turned and dashed inside the cave, slamming shut the two doors of stone. Then they ran to make this report: “Great King, disaster!”
We now tell you about that fiend, who captured Tripitaka and brought him back to the cave. The monk was stripped of his garments, hog-tied with all four limbs behind his back, and left in the rear yard. The little fiends were ordered to scrub him clean with water so that he might be steamed and eaten. When the announcement of disaster was suddenly heard, the demons stopped their activities and went to the front to ask, “What disaster is there?” “A monk with a hairy face and a thunder-god beak,” said one of the little fiends, “leading another monk with large ears and long snout, is demanding the return of their master, someone by the name of the Tang Monk, in front of our cave. If we but whisper half a ‘No,’ they said, they would overturn our residence and level our cave.” Smiling scornfully, the demon king said, “These two happen to be Pilgrim Sun and Zhu Eight Rules. They truly know where to look! From the spot halfway in the mountain where I caught their master to our place is a distance of some one hundred and fifty miles. How did they manage to find our door so quickly?” He then gave this order: “Little ones, those of you who look after the carts, push them out!”
Several of the little fiends opened the door and pushed out five small carts. When he saw them, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, these monster-spirits must be afraid of us. They have hauled out their carts to move to another place.”
“No,” said Pilgrim, “look at the way they are placing the carts over there.” The little fiends indeed placed the carts at five locations corresponding to the Five Phases of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth; five of the fiends stood guard beside the carts while five others went inside again to make their report. “Everything set?” asked the demon king. “All set,” they replied. “Bring me my lance,” he ordered. Those fiends who looked after weapons had two of them carry out an eighteen-foot fire-tipped lance to hand over to the monster king. With no other armor except a battle kilt of embroidered silk and with naked feet, the monster king took up the lance and walked outside. When Pilgrim and Eight Rules raised their heads to look, they found a fiendish creature who had
A face as if it had been powdered white,
And lips so ruddy, they seemed brushed with paint.
No dye could create such dark, lovely hair;
His eyebrows curved like new moons carved with knives.
Phoenix and dragon coiled on his battle kilt;
More husky than Nata’s a frame he had.
With air imposing he lifted up his lance
And walked out the door, swathed in hallowed light.
He roared like thunder in the time of spring;
His striking eyes flashed like lightning bright.
If one would know his true identity,
Remember Red Boy, a name of lasting fame.
After that Red Boy monster had emerged from the door, he shouted, “Who is here making all these noises?” Smiling as he drew near, Pilgrim said, “My worthy nephew! Stop fooling around! This morning when you were hung high on top of a pine tree by the mountain road, you presented yourself as a thin, frightened boy with jaundice and deceived my master. I carried you on my back with all good intention, you know, but you used a little wind to abduct my master here. Even though you appear before me now like this, you think I can’t recognize you? You might as well send my master out quickly. Stop behaving like a callow youth and take care not to upset the feelings of kinship. For I fear that if your father gets wind of this, he might blame old Monkey for oppressing youth with age, and that wouldn’t be quite right.”
Enraged by the words he heard, the fiend shouted back, “You brazen ape! What feelings of kinship do I share with you? What sort of balderdash are you mouthing around here? Who’s your worthy nephew?” “O brother!” said Pilgrim. “You wouldn’t know, would you? At the time when your father and I became bond-brothers, we didn’t even know where you were.” “This ape is babbling more nonsense!” said the fiend. “Where do you come from, and where do I come from? Think about this! How could my father and you become bond-brothers?”
“Of course, you wouldn’t know about this,” said Pilgrim. “I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, who greatly disturbed the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. But before I caused such disturbance, I made extensive tours of all the Four Great Continents, and there was not a spot on Earth or in Heaven that I did not set foot on, for I was most eager to befriend all the valiant and heroic persons. Your father, the Bull Monster King, called himself the Great Sage, Parallel with Heaven. He and old Monkey formed a fraternal alliance of seven, and we all made him the big brother.2 There were also a Dragon Monster King, who called himself the Great Sage, Covering the Ocean, and became the second brother; a Garuda Monster King, who called himself Great Sage, United with Heaven, and became the third brother; a Lion Monster King, who called himself the Great Sage, Mover of Mountains, and became the fourth brother; a Female Monkey King, who called herself the Fair Wind Great Sage and became the fifth member; and a Giant Ape Monster King, who called himself the God-Routing Great Sage and became the sixth brother. Old Monkey, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, was rather small in size, and so he was number seven. At the time when we old brothers were having fun, you weren’t even born!”
Refusing to believe a word he heard, the fiend lifted up his fire-tipped lance to stab at Pilgrim. An expert, as they said, would not be exercised, and Pilgrim at once stepped aside to dodge the blow before striking out with his iron rod, yelling at the same time, “You little beast! You don’t know what’s good for you! Watch my rod!” The monster-spirit also parried the blow, yelling at the same time, “Brazen ape! You are so ignorant of the ways of the world! Watch my lance!” The two of them thus refused to give any consideration for kinship relation; changing colors all at once, they used their magic and leaped to the edge of the clouds. What a fight!
Pilgrim enjoyed great fame;
The demon king had vast powers.
One raised up the golden-hooped rod sideways;
One lunged forward with the fire-tipped lance.
Mist spread out to shroud the Three Regions;
Clouds spewed forth to hide the four quarters.
Violent air and savage noise did fill the sky;
The sun, the moon, the stars—all lost their light.
Not one kind word was spoken,
They felt such hatred and scorn.
That one’s contempt made him lose all manners;
This one’s wrath killed all regard for relations.
The rod struck with increasing might;
The lance came with growing fury.
One was the primordial, true Great Sage;
One was Child Sudhana3 of the right fruit.
They drove themselves, each trying hard to win,
All for the Tang Monk, who would greet the dharma king.
The demon and the Great Sage Sun fought for more than twenty rounds without reaching a decision. Standing on one side, Zhu Eight Rules saw clearly what was going on: although the monster-spirit was not about to be defeated, he was only parrying the blows left and right, and did not attack his opponent at all; and, although Pilgrim did not seem able to prevail all at once, he was, after all, such an adroit and skillful warrior that the rod back and forth never seemed to leave the vicinity of the monster’s head. Eight Rules thought to himself, “That’s good! Pilgrim is so tricky! He could fake something and deceive the demon into drawing closer. One blow of that iron rod then would wipe out my chance of making any merit!” Look at him! He roused his spirit, lifted up his nine-pronged rake, and brought it down hard on the monster-spirit’s head. Terrified by what he saw, the fiend quickly turned around and fled, dragging his lance behind him. “Chase him! Chase him!” shouted Pilgrim to Eight Rules.
The two of them gave chase up to the entrance of the cave, where they saw the monster-spirit standing in one of the five carts, the one set up in the middle. With one hand he held on to his fire-tipped lance; with the other fist, he gave his own nose a couple of punches. Laughing, Eight Rules said, “Shame on him! This fellow’s indulging in roguery! He wants to bust his own nose, make himself bleed a little, and smear his face red so that he may go somewhere to file suit against us.”
After that demon gave himself two punches, he recited a spell and immediately flames shot out from his mouth as thick smoke sprouted from his nose. In an instant, flames darted up from all five carts. The demon opened his mouth a few more times and a huge fire shot up to the sky, burning so fiercely that the entire Fiery Cloud Cave was hidden from sight by the flames and smoke. Horrified, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, it’s getting sticky! Once we are caught in that fire, we are finished. Old Hog will be roasted, and after some spices are added, they can just enjoy me! Quickly! Run!” He said he would run, and the next moment he had already crossed the stream without any regard for Pilgrim.
Pilgrim, however, had vast magic powers; making the fire-repellent sign by kneading together his fingers, he hurled himself into the fire to search for the fiend. When the fiend saw him approaching, he spat out a few more mouthfuls of flame and the fire grew even more intense. Marvelous fire!
Torrid and fierce, a blaze reaching the sky;
Hot and brilliant, it reddens the whole earth.
It’s like a fiery wheel flying up and down,
Like charcoals aglow dancing east and west.
This fire is not from Suiren4 drilling wood,
Or from Laozi roasting cinnabar;
It’s not fire from Heaven,
Nor is it a wildfire.
It’s the realized samādhi fire5 born of the demon’s self-cultivation.
The five carts conform to the Five Phases
That grow and transform to beget the flame.
The liver’s wood6 can make the heart’s fire strong;
The heart’s fire can calm the earth of the spleen;
The spleen’s earth begets metal, which changes into water;
Water can beget wood, thus the magic’s complete.
Growth and transformation, all are caused by fire,
For all things flourish when fire fills the sky.7
The fiend, long enlightened, summons samādhi.
He rules the West forever as number one.
Because the fire and smoke were so intense, Pilgrim could not even see the way before the cave’s entrance and therefore he could not search for the fiend. Turning quickly, he leaped clear of the blaze at once. Having seen clearly what took place before his own cave, the monster-spirit retrieved his fire equipment after Pilgrim left, and led the various fiends back inside. After the stone doors were shut, the little fiends were told to prepare for a joyous victory celebration, and we shall speak no more of them for the moment.
We tell you instead about Pilgrim, who vaulted over the Dried Pine Stream. As he dropped from the clouds, he heard Eight Rules and Sha Monk conversing loudly in the pine forest. “You idiot!” shouted Pilgrim as he approached Eight Rules. “You haven’t one whit of manliness! You could be so terrified by the demonic fire that you would abandon old Monkey to flee for your own life. It’s a good thing that I can still take care of myself!” “Elder Brother,” said Zhu Eight Rules, chuckling, “what that monster-spirit said of you was certainly correct, for you truly are ignorant of the ways of the world. The ancients said, ‘He who knows the ways of the world shall be called a hero.’ The monster-spirit did not want to talk kinship with you, but you insisted on presenting yourself as his kin. When he fought with you and let loose that kind of ruthless fire, you wouldn’t run but still wanted to tangle with him.”
“How’s the fiend’s ability compared with mine?” asked Pilgrim. “Not as good,” said Eight Rules.
“How about his skill with the lance?”
“No good, either,” said Eight Rules. “When old Hog saw that he had a hard time withstanding you, I came to lend you a little assistance with my rake. Little did I expect that he was so puny that he would retreat in defeat at once and start the fire in such an unconscionable way.” Pilgrim said, “Indeed you shouldn’t have stepped forward. I was about to find a way to give him a blow with my rod after a few more rounds. Wouldn’t that have been better?” The two gave themselves entirely to discussing the ability of the monster-spirit and the viciousness of his fire, but Sha Monk, leaning on the trunk of a pine tree, was laughing so hard that he could barely stand up.
“Brother,” said Pilgrim, after he noticed him, “why are you laughing? If you had the ability to capture that demon and destroy his fire defense, that would be a benefit to all of us. As the proverb says, a few feathers will make a ball. If you could seize the demon and rescue our master, it would be your great merit.” “I don’t have that kind of ability,” said Sha Monk, “nor can I subdue the fiend. But I am laughing because both of you are so absentminded.” “What do you mean?” asked Pilgrim. Sha Monk said, “Neither the ability of that monster-spirit nor his skill with the lance can be a match for you, but the only reason why you two cannot prevail against him is because of his fire. If I have anything to say about this, I’ll say that you should overcome him by mutual production and mutual conquest.8 What’s so difficult about that?”
When Pilgrim heard these words, he roared with laughter and said, “Brother, you are right! Indeed, we are absentminded, and we have forgotten about the whole matter. If we consider the principles of mutual production and mutual conquest, then it is water that can overcome fire. We must find water somewhere to put out this demonic fire. We would be able to rescue Master then, wouldn’t we?” “Exactly,” said Sha Monk. “No need for further delay.” Pilgrim said, “Stay here, the two of you, but don’t fight with him. Let old Monkey go to the Great Eastern Ocean and request some dragon soldiers to come with water. After we have put out the demonic fire, we will rescue Master.” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “feel free to go. We can look after ourselves here.”
Dear Great Sage! Mounting the clouds to leave that place, he arrived at the Eastern Ocean in a moment. He was too busy, however, to linger and enjoy the scenery; using the water-division magic, he opened up a pathway for himself through the waves. As he proceeded, he ran into a yakṣa on patrol. When the yakṣa saw that it was the Great Sage Sun, he went quickly back to the Water-Crystal Palace to report to the old Dragon King. Aoguang immediately led the dragon sons and grandsons together with shrimp soldiers and crab lieutenants to meet his visitor outside the gate. Pilgrim was invited to take a seat inside and also tea. “No need for tea,” said Pilgrim, “but I do have a matter that will cause you some trouble. My master, who’s on his way to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures from Buddha, happens to be passing through the Fiery Cloud Cave at the Dried Pine Stream of the Roaring Mountain. A Red Boy monster-spirit, with the fancy title of the Great King, Holy Child, has captured my master. When old Monkey made his search up to his door and fought with him, he let out some fire which we couldn’t put out. Since we thought of the fact that water could prevail over fire, I came especially to ask you for some water. You can start a big rainstorm for me to put out that fire so that the Tang Monk will be delivered from this ordeal.”
“You are mistaken, Great Sage,” said the Dragon King, “for if you want rainwater, you shouldn’t have come to ask me.” “You are the Dragon King of Four Oceans, the principal superintendent of rain and dew. If I don’t ask you, whom should I ask?” The Dragon King said, “Though I’m in charge of rain, I can’t dispense it as I will. We must have the decree of the Jade Emperor, specifying where and when, the number of feet and inches, and the hour when the rain is to begin. Moreover, three officials have to raise their brushes to draft the document, which then must be dispatched by the North Star. Thereafter, we must also assemble the Thunder God, the Lightning Mother, the Wind Uncle, and the Cloud Boy, for as the proverb says, ‘The dragon can’t move without clouds.’”
“I have no need for wind, cloud, thunder, or lightning,” said Pilgrim, “only some rainwater to put out a fire.” “In that case,” said the Dragon King, “I still would not be able to help you all by myself. Let my brothers give you a hand to achieve this merit for you. How about that?” “Where are your brothers?” asked Pilgrim. The Dragon King said, “They are Aoqin, Dragon King of the Southern Ocean; Aorun, Dragon King of the Western Ocean; and Aoshun, Dragon King of the Northern Ocean.” Laughing, Pilgrim said, “If I have to go and tour the three oceans, I might as well go to the Region Above to ask for the Jade Emperor’s decree.” The Dragon King said, “There’s no need for the Great Sage to go there. All we have to do here is to beat our iron drum and sound the golden bell, and they will arrive momentarily.” Hearing this, Pilgrim said, “Old Dragon King, please beat the drum and sound the bell.”
In a moment, the three Dragon Kings rushed in and asked, “Big Brother, why did you summon us here?” Aoguang said, “The Great Sage Sun is here asking for our assistance; he needs rain to subdue a fiend.” The three brothers were led to greet Pilgrim, who then gave an account of why he needed water. Each one of the deities was willing to oblige. They at once called up
The shark, so ferocious, to lead the troops,
And the big-mouthed shad to be the vanguard.
The carp marshal leaped through the tide and waves;
The bream viceroy spewed forth wind and fog;
The mackerel grand marshal screamed passwords in the east;
The culter-fish commander urged the troops in the west;
Red-eyed mermaids danced along in the south;
Black-armored generals rushed forward from the north;
The sturgeon sergeant took command at the center;
Soldiers of five quarters were all valiant.
Astute and clever, the sea-turtle lord chancellor;
Shrewd and subtle, the tortoise counselor;
Full of plots and wisdom, the iguana minister;
Agile and able, the sand-turtle commander.
Wielding long swords, crab warriors walked sideways;
Stretching heavy bows, shrimp amazons leaped straight up.
The sheatfish vice-director checked his books with care
To call up the dragon soldiers to leave the waves.
We have also a testimonial poem that says:
Dragon Kings of four seas are pleased to help
At the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven’s request;
When Tripitaka meets an ordeal on the way,
Water is sought to put out the fiery red.
Leading those dragon troops, Pilgrim soon arrived at the Dried Pine Stream on the Roaring Mountain. “Worthy Ao Brothers,” said Pilgrim, “I’m sorry for asking you to traverse such a distance. This is the habitat of the demon. Please remain for the moment in the air and do not reveal yourselves. Let old Monkey go fight with him; if I win, there’s no need for you to catch him, and even if I lose, there’s no need for all of you to help me. Only when he starts his fire will I call on you, and then you can send down your rain.” The Dragon Kings all agreed to heed his command.
Pilgrim lowered his cloud and went straight into the pine forest, where he shouted “Brothers” to Eight Rules and Sha Monk. “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “you’ve returned very quickly. Have you been able to fetch the Dragon Kings?” “They are all here,” said Pilgrim. “You two had better be careful not to let the luggage get wet by the torrential rain. Old Monkey will go fight with him.” Sha Monk said, “Go right ahead, Elder Brother, we’ll take care of everything here.”
Leaping over the stream, Pilgrim dashed up to the entrance of the cave and shouted, “Open the door!” The little fiends went at once to report, “Great King, Pilgrim Sun is here again.” Raising his head, Red Boy laughed aloud and said, “That monkey, I suppose, has not been burned by the fire and that’s why he has returned. Well, I’ll not spare him this time, for I won’t stop until his skin is charred and his flesh is seared.” As he leaped up to take hold of his lance, he gave the order: “Little ones, push out the carts!” After he rushed out the door, he said to Pilgrim, “Why are you here again?” “Return my master,” said Pilgrim. “Monkey head,” said the fiend, “you are indeed obtuse! If the Tang Monk can be your master, can’t he also be our hors d’oeuvre for wine? Forget him! Forget him!” When Pilgrim heard these words, he was infuriated; pulling out his golden-hooped rod, he struck at the fiend’s head. The monster-spirit quickly raised his fire-tipped lance to parry the blow, and their battle this time was not the same as theirs last time. Marvelous battle!
The wild demon, greatly enraged;
The Monkey King, highly incensed.
This one just wished to save the scripture monk;
That one would eat Tripitaka Tang.
Changed minds quelled all kinship feelings;
Estranged, they allowed no concession.
This one wished he could be caught and skinned alive;
That one wished he could be seized and dipped in sauce.
Truly so ferocious!
Indeed so strong and fierce!
The rod blocked by the lance, thus the contest raged;
The lance met by the rod, each strove to win.
They raised their hands to fight for twenty rounds,
Both persons’ abilities were just the same.
The demon king fought Pilgrim for some twenty rounds, and when he saw that he could not prevail, he made a fake thrust with his lance and turned quickly to give his own nose two punches with his fist. Fire and smoke poured out at once from his eyes and mouth as a huge blaze leaped up from the carts set before the cave’s entrance. Turning his head skyward, the Great Sage Sun shouted, “Dragon Kings, where are you?” Leading their aquatic kin, the Dragon King brothers sent a torrential downpour of rain toward the fire of the monster-spirit. Marvelous rain! Truly
Drizzling and sprinkling—
Pouring and showering—
Drizzling and sprinkling,
It’s like the meteors falling from the sky;
Pouring and showering,
It’s like waves churning in a sea upturned.
At first the raindrops seem the size of a fist;
In awhile they fall by the buckets and pans.
The whole earth’s o’erflowed with duck-head green,9
And tall mountains are washed blue like Buddha’s head.10
Water flies down the canyon like sheets of jade;
The stream swells in a thousand silver strands.
Roads forked three ways are all filled up;
So is a river which has nine bends.
The Tang Monk facing an ordeal is helped by dragons divine
Who o’erturn Heaven’s river and pour it down.
The rain descended in torrents but it could not extinguish the fiend’s fire at all. The fact of the matter was that what the Dragon Kings let loose happened to be unauthorized rain, capable of putting out worldly fires. How could it extinguish the true fire of samādhi cultivated by that monster-spirit? It was, in fact, like adding oil to the fire, making the blaze all the more intense. “Let me make the magic sign,” said the Great Sage, “and penetrate the flames.” Wielding the iron rod, he searched for the fiend. When the fiend saw him approaching, he blew a mouthful of smoke right at his face. Pilgrim tried to turn away swiftly, but he was so dazed by the smoke that tears fell from his eyes like rain. This Great Sage, you see, could not be hurt by fire but he was afraid of smoke. For during that year when he greatly disturbed the Heavenly Palace, he was placed in the eight-trigram brazier of Laozi, where he had been smelted for a long time.11 He managed to crawl into the space beneath the compartment which corresponded to the Sun trigram and was not burned. The smoke whipped up by the wind, however, gave him a pair of fiery eyes and diamond pupils, and that was the reason why even now he was afraid of smoke. Once more, the fiend spat out a mouthful of smoke and the Great Sage could no longer withstand it. Mounting the clouds, he fled hurriedly while the demon retrieved his fire equipment and returned to his cave.
His whole body covered by flame and smoke, the Great Sage found the intense heat unbearable and he dove straight into the mountain stream to try to put out the fire. Little did he anticipate that the shock of the cold water was so great that the heat caused by the fire was forced inward into his body and he fainted immediately. Alas!
His breath caught in his chest, his tongue and throat grew cold;
His spirit fled, his soul left, and his life was gone!
Those Dragon Kings of the Four Oceans were so terrified that they put a stop to the rain and yelled loudly, “Marshal Heavenly Reeds and Curtain-Raising Captain! Stop hiding in the forest! Start looking for your elder brother!”
When Eight Rules and Sha Monk heard that they were addressed by their holy titles, they quickly untied the horse and poled the luggage to dash out of the forest. With no regard for the mud and slush, they began searching along the banks of the stream when the bubbling currents swept down from above the body of a person. When Sha Monk saw it, he leaped into the water fully clothed and hauled the body back to shore. It was the body of the Great Sage Sun. Alas, look at him!
His four limbs were bent and they could not be stretched;
His whole body up and down was cold as ice.
“Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, as tears filled his eyes, “what a pity you have to go like that! You were
Someone who never aged through countless years.
Now you have died young in the middle of the way.”
With a chuckle, Eight Rules said, “Brother, stop crying. This ape is pretending to be dead, just to scare us. Feel him a little and see if there’s any warmth left in his breast.” “The whole body has turned cold,” said Sha Monk. “Even if there were a little warmth left, how could you revive him?” Eight Rules said, “If he is capable of seventy-two transformations, he has seventy-two lives. Listen, you stretch out his legs while I take care of him.” Sha Monk indeed straightened Pilgrim’s legs while Eight Rules lifted his head and straightened his upper torso. They then pushed his legs up and folded them around the knees before raising him into a sitting position. Rubbing his hands together until they were warm, Eight Rules covered Pilgrim’s seven apertures and began to apply a Chan method of massage on him. The cold water, you see, had had such a traumatic effect on Pilgrim that his breath was caught in his cinnabar field12 and he could not utter a sound. He was lucky, therefore, to have all that rubbing, squeezing, and kneading by Eight Rules, for in a moment his breath went through the three passes,13 invaded the bright hall,14 and burst through his apertures. “O Master,” he began to say.
Sha Monk said, “Elder Brother, when you were alive, you lived for Master, and his name’s on your lips even when you are dead! Wake up first. We are all here.” Opening his eyes, Pilgrim said, “Are you here, Brothers? Old Monkey’s a loser this time!” “You fainted,” said Eight Rules Zhu, chuckling, “and if old Hog hadn’t saved you, you would have been finished. Aren’t you going to thank me?” Pilgrim got up slowly and raised his head, saying, “The Ao Brothers, where are you?” The Dragon Kings of Four Oceans replied in midair, “Your little dragons wait upon you here.” “I am sorry to have caused you to travel all this distance,” said Pilgrim, “but we have not accomplished our merit. Please go back first and I shall thank you again in another day.” The Dragon Kings led their large group of followers to return to their residences, which need not concern us here.
Sha Monk then supported Pilgrim and led him back into the pine forest to sit down. In a little while, Pilgrim felt more collected and his breathing became more even, but he could not restrain the tears from rolling down his cheeks. Again he cried out, “O Master!
Think of your leaving the Great Tang that year,
When you saved me from woe beneath that mount.
On waters and hills we face demonic foes;
Our bowels are torn by ten thousand pains.
We eat with an alms bowl, whether bare or filled;
In houses or woods we meditate at night.
Our hearts are set on achieving the right fruit.
How could I know I would be hurt this day?”
Sha Monk said, “Elder Brother, please do not worry. Let us devise a plan soon and see where we can go to ask for help to rescue Master.” “Where shall we go to seek help?” asked Pilgrim. Sha Monk said, “I remember when the Bodhisattva first gave us the instruction that we should accompany the Tang Monk, she also gave us the promise that when we called on Heaven, Heaven would respond, or when we called on Earth, Earth would reply. We just have to decide where we should go to seek help.” “When I caused great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace,” said Pilgrim, “all those divine soldiers were no match for old Monkey. This monster-spirit, however, has considerable magic powers, and so our helper must be someone stronger than even old Monkey. Neither the gods in Heaven nor those deities on Earth will be adequate. If we want to catch this demon, we must go to ask the Bodhisattva Guanyin. But unfortunately, my bones and muscles are sore and my torso is weak. I can’t perform my cloud somersault. How can I go?” “If you have any instruction,” said Eight Rules, “tell me. I’ll go.” Smiling, Pilgrim said, “All right! You can go, but when you appear before the Bodhisattva, don’t stare at her face. You must lower your head and bow with reverence, and when she asks you, you may then tell her the names of this place and the fiend and beseech her to come to rescue Master. If she’s willing, the fiendish creature will, of course, be taken.” After Eight Rules heard this, he mounted the clouds and mists at once and headed toward the south.
We now tell you about that demon king, who was celebrating in his cave. Merrily he said to his subjects, “Little ones, Pilgrim Sun truly has suffered loss this time. Though he may not die, he will be in a big coma! Holla! I fear that they might want to go find help somewhere. Open the doors quickly! Let me see where they are going.” The fiends opened the doors and when the monster-spirit rose into the air to look all around, he discovered Eight Rules heading toward the south. The south, the monster-spirit thought to himself, could mean only one thing: Eight Rules was going to seek the help of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. Dropping quickly from the clouds, the fiend cried, “Little ones, find that leather bag of mine and take it out. It hasn’t been used for quite some time and I fear that the rope around its mouth is not strong enough. Change the rope for me and place the bag beneath the second door. Let me go and capture Eight Rules by deception; when he is brought back here, we’ll store him in the bag. Then he’ll be steamed until he’s flaky so that all of you may enjoy him with wine.” The monster-spirit, you see, had a compliant leather bag, which those little fiends took out and fastened a new rope to its mouth. They placed it beneath the second door as they were told, and we shall speak no more of them.
We tell you instead about that demon king, who had lived in this place for a long time; the whole region, in fact, was familiar to him, and he knew which route to South Sea was the shorter one and which the longer. Taking the shorter route, he mounted the clouds and at once went past Eight Rules. He then lowered himself onto a tall ridge, sat down solemnly, and changed into a specious form of Guanshiyin to wait for Eight Rules.
Treading his clouds, Idiot was on his way when he saw suddenly the Bodhisattva. He could not, of course, distinguish the true from the false; like foolish men of the world, he regarded all images as real Buddhas! Stopping his cloud, Idiot bowed low and said, “Bodhisattva, your disciple Zhu Wuneng kowtows to you.” The monster-spirit said, “Why aren’t you protecting the Tang Monk on his way to fetch scriptures? Why have you come to see me?” “It was because your disciple and his master met on their way a Red Boy monster-spirit, who resided in the Fiery Cloud Cave by the Dried Pine Stream in the Roaring Mountain. He abducted our master, but your disciples found the way to his door and fought with him. He happened to be someone who knew how to start a fire; during our first battle, we could not prevail, and during our second one, we could not extinguish the fire even after we asked the Dragon Kings to assist us with rain. Since Elder Brother suffered burns so severe that he could not move, he asked me to come to plead with the Bodhisattva. We beg you to be merciful and save our master from his ordeal.”
“That master of the Fiery Cloud Cave,” said the monster-spirit, “is not prone to take human lives. It must be that you have offended him.” “Not I,” said Eight Rules, “but Elder Brother did offend him. The fiend changed himself at first into a small child hung on a tree to test Master. Our Master, of course, had a most kindly disposition; he told me to untie the child and Elder Brother to carry him for a distance. Elder Brother wanted to dash him to the ground, and that was when he abducted Master.” The monster-spirit said, “Get up and follow me into the cave to see the cave-master. I’ll speak on your behalf, and you can salute him; the two of us will ask him then to release your master.” “O Bodhisattva,” said Eight Rules. “If he’s willing to return our master, I’ll be glad to kowtow to him.” “Follow me then,” said the demon king.
Idiot, of course, did not know any better; instead of proceeding to the South Sea, he followed the fiend right back to the entrance of the Fiery Cloud Cave. When they reached the cave, the monster-spirit proceeded to walk inside, saying, “Don’t be suspicious, for he’s my acquaintance. You come in, too.” Idiot had no choice but to stride inside also. With a terrific shout, the various fiends seized him all at once and stuffed him into the leather bag. After the rope around its mouth was pulled tight, the bag was drawn up high to a beam and hung there. Changing back into his true form, the monster-spirit took a seat in the middle and said, “Zhu Eight Rules, what sort of abilities do you have that you dare accompany the Tang Monk to acquire scriptures? That you dare go ask the Bodhisattva to subdue me? Open your pair of eyes, take a good look, and see if you recognize me, the Great King Holy Child! Now you are caught, you’ll be hung for four or five days before you’ll be steamed and served as hors d’oeuvre to my little fiends for their wine.” When Eight Rules heard these words, he began screaming inside the bag, saying, “You brazen fiend! Don’t you dare be so insulting! So, you’ve plotted and planned to deceive me, but if you dare eat me, every one of you will be stricken with the Heaven-sent plague of swollen head!” Idiot thus persisted in his expostulation for a long time, but we shall speak no more of him for the moment.
We tell you instead about the Great Sage Sun who sat in the forest with Sha Monk. A gust of putrid wind blew past and, sneezing immediately, he said, “Bad! Bad! This wind betokens misfortune more than good luck! Zhu Eight Rules, I think, must have taken the wrong way.” “If he did,” said Sha Monk, “couldn’t he ask someone?” Pilgrim said, “He must have run into the monster-spirit.” “If he ran into the monster-spirit,” said Sha Monk, “couldn’t he run back to us?” “It’s not right,” said Pilgrim. “You sit here and guard our belongings. Let me dash over the stream and find out what’s going on over there.” Sha Monk said, “Your body is still sore, Elder Brother, and I fear that you’ll be hurt even more by him. Let me go.” “You won’t do,” said Pilgrim, “let me go instead.”
Dear Pilgrim! Gritting his teeth to endure the pain, he took up his iron rod and ran across the stream to reach the entrance to the Fiery Cloud Cave. “Brazen monster!” he cried, and those fiends guarding the door ran inside to report, “Pilgrim Sun is shouting again at the door!” The demon king gave the order for him to be seized, and all those little fiends, teeming with spears and swords, rushed out the door shouting, “Seize him! Seize him!” Pilgrim indeed was too weak to fight and he dared not oppose them. Diving to one side of the road, he recited a spell, crying, “Change!” He changed at once into a cloth wrapper adorned with gold. When the little fiends saw it, they took it inside and reported, “Great King, Pilgrim Sun is scared. When he heard the word ‘seize,’ he was so frightened that he dropped this wrapper and fled.” Laughing, the demon king said, “That wrapper is not worth much! All it contains must be the torn shirts of those monks and their old hats. Bring it in and wash it clean; the piece of material can be used for mending or lining.” One of the little fiends put the wrapper on his back to carry it inside, not knowing that it was the transformation of Pilgrim. Pilgrim said, “That’s good! That’s how you ought to carry this cloth wrapper adorned with gold!” Not thinking much about the thing, the monster-spirit left it inside the door.
Dear Pilgrim! Even in the midst of falsehood he knew greater falsehood, and each fakery of his produced more fakery! He pulled off one piece of his hair on which he blew a mouthful of divine breath: it changed at once into the wrapper, while his true body took on the form of a tiny fly that alighted on the door post. Then he heard Eight Rules moaning and muttering somewhere in a muffled voice, somewhat like a hog stricken with plague! With a buzz, Pilgrim flew up to look around and saw at once that there was a leather bag hung high on the beam. When he alighted on the bag, he heard Eight Rules expostulating the demon in all sorts of vile language. “Wretched fiend,” he said, “how dare you change yourself into a specious Bodhisattva Guanyin to trick me here? How dare you hang me up and want to eat me? One day, when my Elder Brother
Uses his boundless power, equal to Heav’n,
All monsters of this mountain will then be caught.
When I’m freed after this leather bag’s untied,
I’ll rake you a thousand times before I stop!”
When Pilgrim heard these words, he laughed silently, saying to himself, “Though the idiot must be suffocating in there, he hasn’t dropped his banner or spear yet! Old Monkey must catch hold of this fiend! If I don’t, I’ll not be able to rid myself of my hostility!”
He was just trying to think of a plan to rescue Eight Rules when he heard the call of the demon king: “Where are the six mighty commanders?” There were, you see, six little fiends who became special friends of his, and these spirits received the appointment of mighty commander. Their names were: Cloud-in-Fog, Fog-in-Cloud, Quick-as-Fire, Swift-as-Wind, Hurly-Burly, and Burly-Hurly. The six mighty commanders went forward and knelt down. The demon king asked, “Do you all know the way to the house of the Venerable Great King?” “We do,” they replied. The demon king said, “Go at once, and journey in the night if you have to, to give this invitation to the Venerable Great King. Tell him that I have caught the Tang Monk, who will be steamed and served for him to eat so that his age may be lengthened a thousandfold.” Obeying this order, the six fiends swarmed out of the door and left. With a buzz, Pilgrim flew away from the bag and followed those fiends to leave the cave. We do not know who they want to invite to come here; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.