第四十八回
第四十八回 魔弄寒风飘大雪 僧思拜佛履层冰
话说陈家庄众信人等，将猪羊牲醴与行者、八戒，喧喧嚷嚷，直抬至灵感庙里排下，将童男女设在上首。行者回头，看见那供桌上香花蜡烛，正面一个金字牌位，上写“灵感大王之神”，更无别的神像。众信摆列停当，一齐朝上叩头道：“大王爷爷，今年、今月、今日、今时，陈家庄祭主陈澄等众信，年甲[1]不齐，谨遵年例，供献童男一名陈关保，童女一名陈一秤金，猪羊牲醴如数，奉上大王享用。保佑风调雨顺，五谷丰登。”祝罢，烧了纸马，各回本宅不题。
那八戒见人散了，对行者道：“我们家去罢。”行者道：“你家在那里？”八戒道：“往老陈家睡觉去。”行者道：“呆子又乱谈了。既允了他，须与他了这愿心才是哩。”八戒道：“你倒不是呆子，反说我是呆子！只哄他耍耍便罢，怎么就与他祭赛，当起真来！”行者道：“莫胡说！为人为彻，一定等那大王来吃了，才是个全始全终。不然，又教他降灾贻害，反为不美。”
正说间，只听得呼呼风响。八戒道：“不好了！风响是那话儿来了！”行者只叫：“莫言语，等我答应。”顷刻间，庙门外来了一个妖邪。你看他怎生模样：
金甲金盔灿烂新，腰缠宝带绕红云。
眼如晚出明星皎，牙似重排锯齿分。
足下烟霞飘荡荡，身边雾霭暖熏熏。
行时阵阵阴风冷，立处层层煞气温。
却似卷帘扶驾将，犹如镇寺大门神。
那怪物拦住庙门问道：“今年祭祀的是那家？”行者笑吟吟的答道：“承下问，庄头是陈澄、陈清家。”那怪闻答，心中疑似道：“这童男胆大，言谈伶俐。常来供养受用的，问一声不言语，再问声，唬了魂，用手去捉，已是死人。怎么今日这童男善能应对？……”怪物不敢来拿，又问：“童男女叫甚名字？”行者笑道：“童男陈关保，童女一秤金。”怪物道：“这祭赛乃上年旧规，如今供献我，当吃你。”行者道：“不敢抗拒，请自在受用。”怪物听说，又不敢动手，拦住门喝道：“你莫顶嘴！我常年先吃童男，今年倒要先吃童女！”八戒慌了道：“大王还照旧罢，不要吃坏例子。”
那怪不容分说，放开手，就捉八戒。呆子扑的跳下来，现了本相，掣钉钯，劈手一筑，那怪物缩了手，往前就走，只听得当的一声响。八戒道：“筑破甲了！”行者也现本相看处，原来是冰盘大小两个鱼鳞，喝声：“赶上！”二人跳到空中。那怪物因来赴会，不曾带得兵器，空手在云端里问道：“你是那方和尚，到此欺人，破了我的香火，坏了我的名声！”行者道：“这泼物原来不知，我等乃东土大唐圣僧三藏奉钦差西天取经之徒弟。昨因夜寓陈家，闻有邪魔，假号灵感，年年要童男女祭赛，是我等慈悲，拯救生灵，捉你这泼物！趁早实实供来！一年吃两个童男女，你在这里称了几年大王，吃了多少男女？一个个算还我，饶你死罪！”那怪闻言就走，被八戒又一钉钯，未曾打着。他化一阵狂风，钻入通天河内。
行者道：“不消赶他了，这怪想是河中之物。且待明日设法拿他，送我师父过河。”八戒依言，径回庙里，把那猪羊祭醴，连桌面一齐搬到陈家。此时唐长老、沙和尚，共陈家兄弟，正在厅中候信，忽见他二人将猪羊等物都丢在天井里。三藏迎来问道：“悟空，祭赛之事何如？”行者将那称名赶怪钻入河中之事，说了一遍。二老十分欢喜，即命打扫厢房，安排床铺，请他师徒就寝不题。
却说那怪得命，回归水内，坐在宫中，默默无言。水中大小眷族问道：“大王每年享祭，回来欢喜，怎么今日烦恼？”那怪道：“常年享毕，还带些馀物与汝等受用，今日连我也不曾吃得。造化低，撞着一个对头，几乎伤了性命。”众水族问：“大王，是那个？”那怪道：“是一个东土大唐圣僧的徒弟，往西天拜佛求经者，假变男女，坐在庙里。我被他现出本相，险些儿伤了性命。一向闻得人讲，唐三藏乃十世修行好人，但得吃他一块肉延寿长生。不期他手下有这般徒弟。我被他坏了名声，破了香火，有心要捉唐僧，只怕不得能够。”
那水族中，闪上一个斑衣鳜婆，对怪物跬跬拜拜[2]，笑道：“大王，要捉唐僧，有何难处！但不知捉住他，可赏我些酒肉？”那怪道：“你若有谋，合同用力，捉了唐僧，与你拜为兄妹，共席享之。”鳜婆拜谢了道：“久知大王有呼风唤雨之神通，搅海翻江之势力，不知可会降雪？”那怪道：“会降。”又问：“既会降雪，不知可会作冷结冰？”那怪道：“更会！”鳜婆鼓掌笑道：“如此，极易！极易！”那怪道：“你且将极易之功，讲来我听。”鳜婆道：“今夜有三更天气，大王不必迟疑，趁早作法，起一阵寒风，下一阵大雪，把通天河尽皆冻结。着我等善变化者，变作几个人形，在于路口，背包持伞，担担推车，不住的在冰上行走。那唐僧取经之心甚急，看见如此人行，断然踏冰而渡。大王稳坐河心，待他脚踪响处，迸裂寒冰，连他那徒弟们一齐坠落水中，一鼓可得也！”那怪闻言，满心欢喜道：“甚妙！甚妙！”即出水府，踏长空兴风作雪，结冷凝冻成冰不题。
却说唐长老师徒四人，歇在陈家。将近天晓，师徒们衾寒枕冷。八戒咳歌打战[3]睡不得，叫道：“师兄，冷啊！”行者道：“你这呆子，忒不长俊！出家人寒暑不侵，怎么怕冷？”三藏道：“徒弟，果然冷。你看，就是那：
重衾无暖气，袖手似揣冰。此时败叶垂霜蕊，苍松挂冻铃。地裂因寒甚，池平为水凝。渔舟不见叟，山寺怎逢僧？樵子愁柴少，王孙喜炭增。征人须似铁，诗客笔如菱。皮袄犹嫌薄，貂裘尚恨轻。蒲团僵老衲，纸帐旅魂惊。绣被重裀褥，浑身战抖铃。”
师徒们都睡不得，爬起来穿了衣服。开门看处，呀！外面白茫茫的，原来下雪哩！行者道：“怪道你们害冷哩。却是这般大雪！”四人眼同观看，好雪！但见那：
彤云密布，惨雾重浸。彤云密布，朔风凛凛号空；惨雾重浸，大雪纷纷盖地。真个是：六出花，片片飞琼；千林树，株株带玉。须臾积粉，顷刻成盐。白鹦歌失素，皓鹤羽毛同。平添吴楚千江水，压倒东南几树梅。却便似战退玉龙三百万，果然如败鳞残甲满天飞。那里得东郭履[4]，袁安卧[5]，孙康映读[6]；更不见子猷舟[7]，王恭氅[8]，苏武餐毡[9]。但只是几家村舍如银砌，万里青山似玉团。好雪！柳絮漫桥，梨花盖舍。柳絮漫桥，桥边渔叟挂蓑衣；梨花盖舍，舍下野翁煨骨柮[10]。客子难沽酒，苍头苦觅梅。洒洒潇潇裁蝶翅，飘飘荡荡剪鹅衣。团团滚滚随风势，叠叠层层道路迷。阵阵寒威穿小幙，嗖嗖冷气透幽帏。丰年祥瑞从天降，堪贺人间好事宜。
那场雪纷纷洒洒，果如剪玉飞绵。师徒们叹玩多时，只见陈家老者，着两个僮仆扫开道路，又两个送出热汤洗面。须臾，又送滚茶乳饼，又抬出炭火，俱到厢房，师徒们叙坐。长老问道：“老施主，贵处时令，不知可分春夏秋冬？”陈老笑道：“此间虽是僻地，但只风俗人物与上国不同，至于诸凡谷苗牲畜，都是同天共日，岂有不分四时之理？”三藏道：“既分四时，怎么如今就有这般大雪，这般寒冷？”陈老道：“此时虽是七月，昨日已交白露，就是八月节了。我这里常年八月间就有霜雪。”三藏道：“甚比我东土不同，我那里交冬节方有之。”
正话间，又见僮仆来安桌子，请吃粥。粥罢之后，雪比早间又大，须臾，平地有二尺来深。三藏心焦垂泪。陈老道：“老爷放心，莫见雪深忧虑。我舍下颇有几石粮食，供养得老爷们半生。”三藏道：“老施主不知贫僧之苦。我当年蒙圣恩赐了旨意，摆大驾亲送出关，唐王御手擎杯奉饯，问道：‘几时可回？’贫僧不知有山川之险，顺口回奏：‘只消三年，可取经回国。’自别后，今已七八个年头，还未见佛面，恐违了钦限，又怕的是妖魔凶狠，所以焦虑。今日有缘得寓潭府[11]，昨夜愚徒们略施小惠报答，实指望求一船只渡河，不期天降大雪，道路迷漫，不知几时才得功成回故土也！”陈老道：“老爷放心，正是多的日子过了，那里在这几日。且待天晴，化了冰，老拙倾家费产，必处置送老爷过河。”
只见一僮又请进早斋。到厅上吃毕，叙不多时，又午斋相继而进。三藏见品物丰盛，再四不安道：“既蒙见留，只可以家常相待。”陈老道：“老爷，感蒙替祭救命之恩，虽逐日歌筵奉款，也难酬难谢。”
此后大雪方住，就有人行走。陈老见三藏不快，又打扫花园，大盆架火，请去雪洞里闲耍散闷。八戒笑道：“那老儿忒没算计！春三二月好赏花园，这等大雪，又冷，赏玩何物！”行者道：“呆子不知事！雪景自然幽静。一则游赏，二来与师父宽怀。”陈老道：“正是，正是。”遂此邀请到园。但见：
景值三秋，风光如腊。苍松结玉蕊，衰柳挂银花。阶下玉苔堆粉屑，窗前翠竹吐琼芽。巧石山头，养鱼池内。巧石山头，削削尖峰排玉笋；养鱼池内，清清活水作冰盘。临岸芙蓉娇色浅，傍崖木槿嫩枝垂。秋海棠，全然压倒；腊梅树，聊发新枝。牡丹亭、海榴亭、丹桂亭，亭亭尽鹅毛堆积；放怀处、款客处、遣兴处，处处皆蝶翅铺漫。两篱黄菊玉绡金，几树丹枫红间白。无数闲庭冷难到，且观雪洞暖如春。那里边放一个兽面象足铜火盆，热烘烘炭火才生；那上下有几张虎皮搭苫漆交椅，软温温纸窗铺设。
四壁上挂几轴名公古画，却是那：
七贤过关[12]，寒江独钓[13]，叠嶂层峦团雪景；苏武餐毡，折梅逢使，琼林玉树写寒文。说不尽那家近水亭鱼易买，雪迷山径酒难沽。真个可堪容膝处，算来何用访蓬壶？
众人观玩良久，就于雪洞里坐下，对邻叟道取经之事。又捧香茶饮毕。陈老问：“列位老爷，可饮酒么？”三藏道：“贫僧不饮，小徒略饮几杯素酒。”陈老大喜，即命：“取素果品，炖暖酒，与列位荡寒[14]。”那僮仆即抬桌围炉，与两个邻叟，各饮了几杯，收了家火。
不觉天色将晚，又仍请到厅上晚斋。只听得街上行人都说：“好冷天呵！把通天河冻住了！”三藏闻言道：“悟空，冻住河，我们怎生是好？”陈老道：“乍寒乍冷，想是近河边浅水处冻结。”那行人道：“把八百里都冻的似镜面一般，路口上有人走哩！”三藏听说有人走，就要去看。陈老道：“老爷莫忙。今日晚了，明日去看。”遂此别却邻叟。又晚斋毕，依然歇在厢房。
及次日天晓，八戒起来道：“师兄，今夜更冷，想必河冻住也。”三藏迎着门，朝天礼拜道：“众位护教大神：弟子一向西来，虔心拜佛，苦历山川，更无一声报怨，今至于此，感得皇天佑助，结冻河水。弟子空心权谢，待得经回，奏上唐皇，竭诚酬答。”礼拜毕，遂教悟净背马，趁冰过河。陈老又道：“莫忙。待几日雪融冰解，老拙这里办船相送。”沙僧道：“就行也不是话，再住也不是话，口说无凭，耳闻不如眼见。我背了马，且请师父亲去看看。”陈老道：“言之有理。”教：“小的们，快去背我们六匹马来！且莫背唐僧老爷马。”
就有六个小价跟随。一行人径往河边来看，真个是：
雪积如山耸，云收破晓晴。寒凝楚塞千峰瘦，冰结江湖一片平。朔风凛凛，滑冻稜稜。池鱼偎密藻，野鸟恋枯槎。塞外征夫俱坠指，江头稍子乱敲牙。裂蛇腹，断鸟足，果然冰山千百尺。万壑冷浮银，一川寒浸玉。东方自信出僵蚕[15]，北地果然有鼠窟[16]。王祥卧[17]，光武渡[18]，一夜溪桥连底固。曲沼结稜层，深渊重叠沍[19]。通天阔水更无波，皎洁冰漫如陆路。
三藏与一行人到了河边勒马观看，真个那路口上有人行走。三藏问道：“施主，那些人上冰往那里去？”陈老道：“河那边乃西梁女国。这起人都是做买卖的。我这边百钱之物，到那边可值万钱；那边百钱之物，到这边亦可值万钱。利重本轻，所以人不顾生死而去。常年家有五七人一船，或十数人一船，飘洋而过。见如今河道冻住，故舍命而步行也。”三藏道：“世间事惟名利最重。似他为利的舍死忘生，我弟子奉旨全忠，也只是为名，与他能差几何！”教：“悟空，快回施主家，收拾行囊，叩背马匹，趁此层冰，早奔西方去也。”行者笑吟吟答应。
沙僧道：“师父呵，常言道：‘千日吃了千升米[20]。’今已托赖陈府上，且再住几日，待天晴化冻，办船而过。忙中恐有错也。”三藏道：“悟净，怎么这等愚见！若是正二月，一日暖似一日，可以待得冻解。此时乃八月，一日冷似一日，如何可便望解冻！却不又误了半载行程？”
八戒跳下马来：“你们且休讲闲口，等老猪试看有多少厚薄。”行者道：“呆子，前夜试水，能去抛石，如今冰冻重漫，怎生试得？”八戒道：“师兄不知。等我举钉钯筑他一下，假若筑破，就是冰薄，且不敢行；若筑不动，便是冰厚，如何不行？”三藏道：“正是，说得有理。”那呆子撩衣拽步，走上河边，双手举钯，尽力一筑，只听扑的一声，筑了九个白迹，手也振得生疼。呆子笑道：“去得！去得！连底都锢住了。”
三藏闻言，十分欢喜，与众同回陈家，只教收拾走路。那两个老者苦留不住，只得安排些干粮烘炒，做些烧饼馍馍相送。一家子磕头礼拜，又捧出一盘子散碎金银，跪在面前道：“多蒙老爷活子之恩，聊表途中一饭之敬。”三藏摆手摇头，只是不受，道：“贫僧出家人，财帛何用？就途中也不敢取出，只是以化斋度日为正事。收了干粮足矣。”二老又再三央求，行者用指尖儿捻了一小块，约有四五钱重，递与唐僧道：“师父，也只当些衬钱[21]，莫教空负二老之意。”
遂此相向而别。径至河边冰上，那马蹄滑了一滑，险些儿把三藏跌下马来。沙僧道：“师父，难行！”八戒道：“且住！问陈老官讨个稻草来我用。”行者道：“要稻草何用？”八戒道：“你那里得知？要稻草包着马蹄方才不滑，免教跌下师父来也。”陈老在岸上听言，急命人家中取一束稻草，却请唐僧上岸下马。八戒将草包裹马足，然后踏冰而行。
别陈老离河边，行有三四里远近，八戒把九环锡杖递与唐僧道：“师父，你横此在马上。”行者道：“这呆子奸诈！锡杖原是你挑的，如何又叫师父拿着？”八戒道：“你不曾走过冰凌，不晓得。凡是冰冻之上，必有凌眼，倘或着凌眼，脱将下去，若没横担之物，骨都的落水，就如一个大锅盖盖住，如何钻得上来！须是如此架住方可。”行者暗笑道：“这呆子倒是个积年走冰的！”果然都依了他。长老横担着锡杖，行者横担着铁棒，沙僧横担着降妖宝杖，八戒肩挑着行李，腰横着钉钯，师徒们放心前进。这一直行到天晚，吃了些干粮，却又不敢久停，对着星月光华，映的冰冻上亮灼灼、白茫茫，只情奔走，果然是马不停蹄，师徒们莫能合眼，走了一夜。天明又吃些干粮，望西又进。
正行时，只听得冰底下扑喇喇一声响亮，险些儿唬倒了白马。三藏大惊道：“徒弟呀！怎么这般响亮？”八戒道：“这河忒也冻得结实，地凌响了。或者这半中间连底通锢住了也。”三藏闻言，又惊又喜，策马前进，趱行不题。
却说那妖邪自从回归水府，引众精在于冰下等候多时。只听得马蹄响处，他在底下弄个神通，滑喇的迸开冰冻。慌得孙大圣跳上空中，早把那白马落于水内，三人尽皆脱下。
那妖邪将三藏捉住，引群精径回水府，厉声高叫：“鳜妹何在？”老鳜婆迎门施礼道：“大王，不敢！不敢！”妖邪道：“贤妹何出此言！‘一言既出，驷马难追。’原说听从汝计，捉了唐僧，与你拜为兄妹。今日果成妙计，捉了唐僧，就好昧了前言？”教：“小的们，抬过案桌，磨快刀来，把这和尚剖腹剜心，剥皮剐肉；一壁厢响动乐器，与贤妹共而食之，延寿长生也。”鳜婆道：“大王，且休吃他，恐他徒弟们寻来吵闹。且宁耐[22]两日，让那厮不来寻，然后剖开，请大王上坐，众眷族环列，吹弹歌舞，奉上大王，从容自在享用，却不好也？”那怪依言，把唐僧藏于宫后，使一个六尺长的石匣，盖在中间不题。
却说八戒、沙僧在水里捞着行囊，放在白马身上驮了，分开水路，涌浪翻波，负水而出。只见行者在半空中看见，问道：“师父何在？”八戒道：“师父姓‘陈’，名‘到底’了。如今没处找寻，且上岸再作区处。”原来八戒本是天蓬元帅临凡，他当年掌管天河八万水兵大众；沙和尚是流沙河内出身；白马本是西海龙孙：故此能知水性。大圣在空中指引。须臾，回转东崖，晒刷了马匹，[23]晾了衣裳。大圣云头按落，一同到于陈家庄上。早有人报与二老道：“四个取经的老爷，如今只剩了三个来也。”兄弟即忙接出门外，果见衣裳还湿，道：“老爷们，我等那般苦留，却不肯住，只要这样方休。怎么不见三藏老爷？”八戒道：“不叫做三藏了，改名叫做‘陈到底’也。”二老垂泪道：“可怜！可怜！我说等雪融备船相送，坚执不从，致令丧了性命！”行者道：“老儿，莫替古人耽忧。我师父管他不死长命。老孙知道，决然是那灵感大王弄法算计去了。你且放心，与我们浆浆衣服，晒晒关文，取草料喂着白马，等我弟兄寻着那厮，救出师父，索性剪草除根，替你一庄人除了后患，庶几永得安生也。”陈老闻言，满心欢喜，即命安排斋供。
兄弟三人饱餐一顿，将马匹、行囊，交与陈家看守，各整兵器，径赴水边寻师擒怪。正是：误踏层冰伤本性，大丹脱漏怎周全？毕竟不知怎么救得唐僧，且听下回分解。
[1] 年甲：年龄。
[2] 跬（kuǐ）跬拜拜：半步为跬。跬跬拜拜，形容敬礼的虔诚，半步都不敢越过的样子。
[3] 咳歌打战：发抖、打哆嗦。
[4] 东郭履：古史记载，东郭先生很穷困，经常穿着破衣破鞋，曾穿着没底的履（鞋）在雪中行走。
[5] 袁安卧：袁安，东汉人。他未做官的时候，一次洛阳大雪，人多出外找东西吃，袁安独僵卧不起。后人把这段故事称为“袁安高卧”。
[6] 孙康映读：晋朝孙康，因为家贫，没钱买油点灯，冬天夜里就映雪读书。
[7] 子猷舟：晋朝王子猷同戴安道为好友，曾在雪夜驾船到山阴（今浙江绍兴）去访问他，到了戴的门前，没见面就回来了。人问其故，他说：“乘兴而来，兴尽而返，何必见戴。”
[8] 王恭氅：晋朝王恭曾穿鹤氅在雪上行走，为当时人所羡慕。
[9] 苏武餐毡：汉朝苏武出使匈奴，被其囚禁，渴时饮雪，饿了吃毡子，表现出不受屈辱的民族气节。
[10] 煨骨柮：靠着火盆烤火。煨，盆中之火。骨柮，木柴块，树根疙瘩。
[11] 潭府：又作“檀府”，对别人住宅的尊称。
[12] 七贤过关：我国古代名画之一。传为苏轼作。宋黄庭坚题为《七才子入关图》。
[13] 寒江独钓：这幅图取唐人柳宗元“孤舟蓑笠翁，独钓寒江雪”的诗意。
[14] 荡寒：挡寒。
[15] 东方自信出僵蚕：我国古代神话传说，冰蚕出于东海员峤山。这里所说的东方即指此而言。
[16] 北地果然有鼠窟：我国古代传说，北方有层冰万里，厚百丈，磎鼠的窟就在冰下。
[17] 王祥卧：传说晋朝王祥，因为他母亲冬天想吃鱼，他就“卧”在冰上，冰融化了遂得鲤鱼。
[18] 光武渡：历史记载，汉朝光武帝刘秀于公元二十四年在敌人追击下，从冰上渡过滹沱河，行至中间，冰解陷在水里。此处即引用这个故事。
[19] 沍（hù）：冻结。
[20] 千日吃了千升米：意思是既然已经给人家找了很多麻烦，再多上一点也不算什么。
[21] 衬钱：做佛事的布施。
[22] 宁耐：忍耐。
[23] （zhěn）：拧干。
CHAPTER 48. The demon, raising a cold wind, sends a great snow fall; The monk, intent on seeing Buddha, walks on layered ice.
We tell you now about those worshippers from the Chen Village, who carried Pilgrim and Eight Rules, along with various offerings of livestock, straight to the Temple of Numinous Power. The virgin boy and girl were placed on top of the offerings. Pilgrim turned his head and saw that there were incense, flowers, and candles on the offering tables, in the middle of which there was also a tablet inscribed in gold letters with the title: “God of the Great King of Numinous Power.” There was no other image of any deity. After the worshippers had set out everything properly, they knelt down and kowtowed toward the tablet, saying in unison, “Great King Father, in this year, this month, this day, and this hour, Chen Cheng, the one in charge of the sacrifice and the leader of all the faithfuls of the Chen Village, young and old, does follow our annual custom and offer to you a virgin boy by the name of Chen Guanbao and a virgin girl by the name of One Load of Gold. Hogs and sheep in the same number are presented to you also for your enjoyment. We pray that you will grant us rain and wind in due season and a rich harvest of the five grains.” After they made this invocation, they burned paper money and horses before returning to their houses.
When Eight Rules saw that the people had dispersed, he said to Pilgrim, “Let’s go home, too.” “Where’s your home?” asked Pilgrim. Eight Rules said, “I want to go back to old Chen’s house to sleep.” “Idiot,” said Pilgrim, “you are babbling again! If you have agreed to do this for him, you have got to finish the job.” “You call me an idiot,” said Eight Rules. “Aren’t you the real idiot? We were supposed to have some fun with the Chens and fool with them a bit. You can’t be serious that you want us sacrificed?” “If we help someone,” said Pilgrim, “we must help him to the end. We must wait until that Great King arrives and devours us before we can consider a perfect end to our efforts! If he has no sacrifice, he will send calamities to the village, and that will not be right.”
As he spoke, they heard the wind howl outside. “O dear!” said Eight Rules. “When the wind blows like that, it must mean that the thing is here!” “Shut up!” cried Pilgrim. “Let me do the talking!” In a moment, a fiend arrived at the door of the temple. Look at the way he appears:
Gold helmet and cuirass both bright and new;
A treasure sash like red clouds wrapped his waist.
His eyes seemed big stars blazing in the night;
His teeth resembled those of a heavy saw.
Waves of mists did encircle both his legs,
And steamy fog surrounded all his frame.
He walked and a cold wind stirred repeatedly;
He stood and baleful aura rose in tiers.
He looked like the Curtain-Raising Captain
Or the great god of a monastery’s gate.
Standing right at the doorway, the fiend asked, “Which family this year is providing the sacrifice?” Laughing merrily, Pilgrim said, “Thank you for asking! Those in charge are Chen Cheng and Chen Qing.” Puzzled by this answer, the fiend thought to himself, “This virgin boy is not only bold, but also articulate. Usually the victims in the past could not even reply to the first question, and they would be frightened out of their wits at the second one. By the time I seized them with my hands, they would already be as good as dead. How is it that this virgin boy today can still respond so intelligently?” Not bold enough to seize his prey immediately, the fiend asked once more, “What are the names of the boy and the girl?” With a laugh, Pilgrim said, “The virgin boy is called Chen Guanbao, and the virgin girl is called One Load of Gold.” “This sacrifice,” said the fiend, “happens to be an annual custom. Now that you have been offered to me, I’m going to eat you.” “I dare not resist you,” said Pilgrim. “Please feel free to enjoy yourself.” When the fiendish creature heard this, he was even more reluctant to raise his hands. Standing there in the doorway, he shouted, “Don’t you dare be impudent! In years past I would eat the virgin boy first. But this year, I’m going to eat the virgin girl first.” “O Great King,” said Eight Rules, horrified, “please follow the old way! Don’t eat by breaking a usual custom!”
Without permitting further discussion, the fiend stretched out his hands to seize Eight Rules. With a bound Idiot leaped down from the offering table and changed back into his true form. Whipping out his rake, he brought it down hard on the hands of the fiend. The fiend retreated hurriedly and tried to flee, but not before the blow of Eight Rules sent something to the ground with a clang. “I’ve punctured his armor!” shouted Eight Rules. As he changed back into his true form also, Pilgrim stepped forward to have a look and found that there were two fish scales about the size of ice dishes. “Chase him!” he yelled, and the two of them leaped into the air. Since that creature thought he was coming to a feast, he brought no weapon along. With bare hands he stood on the edge of the clouds and asked, “Monks, where did you come from? How dare you come to oppress me here, rob me of my offerings, and ruin my name?” “So, you’re an ignorant, brazen creature!” said Pilgrim. “We are disciples of the holy monk Tripitaka from the Great Tang in the Land of the East, who was sent by royal decree to go to the Western Heaven for scriptures. When we stayed with the Chen family last night, we heard that there was a perverse demon who falsely assumed the title of Numinous Power. Every year he demands a virgin boy and a virgin girl as sacrifice. In compassion we wanted to save lives and arrest you, you lawless creature. Confess at once. How many years have you called yourself Great King of this place, and how many boys and girls have you devoured? Give us a detailed account, and we may spare your life.” When that fiend heard these words, he turned and fled immediately. Eight Rules tried to strike at him again with the muckrake but did not succeed, for the fiend changed into a violent gust of wind that faded into the Heaven-Reaching River.
“No need to chase him anymore,” said Pilgrim. “This fiend has to be a creature of the river. Let’s wait till tomorrow before we try to catch him and ask him to take Master across the river.” Eight Rules agreed and both of them returned to the temple and hauled all the offerings and livestock, including the tables on which they were laden, back to the Chen house. At that time, the elder, Sha Monk, and the Chen brothers were all waiting for some news of them, when suddenly, they saw the two disciples dumping the sacrificial animals and offerings in the courtyard. “Wukong,” said Tripitaka, going forward to meet them, “how did the sacrifice go?” Pilgrim gave a thorough account of how they revealed their names and how the fiend disappeared into the river. The two old men were most pleased, and they at once gave the order for rooms to be made ready and bedding laid out for master and disciples to rest. There we shall leave them for the moment.
We tell you instead about that fiend, who escaped with his life and went back to his water palace. After he sat down, he fell completely silent for such a long time that his watery kinsfolk, young and old, all gathered about him to ask, “Great King, you are usually quite happy when you come home after the sacrifice. Why is it that you seem so annoyed this year?” “After I’ve satisfied myself in past years,” said the fiend, “I usually managed to bring some leftovers for you to enjoy. Today, however, not even I myself got anything to eat. I was so unlucky that I ran into an adversary and almost lost my life.” “Which adversary was that, Great King?” they asked. The fiend said, “A disciple of a holy monk of the Great Tang in the Land of the East, who was on his way to seek scriptures from Buddha in the Western Heaven. He took on the form of a virgin girl, while another disciple became the boy, both sitting in the temple. When they changed back into their original forms, I was nearly killed by the two of them. I have long heard that Tripitaka Tang happened to be a good man who had been practicing self-cultivation for ten incarnations. To eat even one piece of his flesh would prolong one’s life indefinitely, but I didn’t realize that he had such disciples under him. Not only has my reputation been ruined by them, but also the offerings due me were taken away. I would like very much to catch hold of that Tang Monk, but I fear that I may not be able to.”
From among the watery kinsfolk stepped a stripe-coated perch-mother who wriggled and bowed toward the fiend, saying with a smile, “Great King, if you want to catch the Tang Monk, it isn’t difficult at all. But I wonder if you would be willing to reward me with some wine and meat once you catch hold of him.” “If you could devise a plan and succeed in capturing the Tang Monk,” said the fiend, “I would become your bond-brother. We two shall share the same table to feast on him.” After thanking him, the perch-mother said, “I’ve known for a long time that the Great King possesses the magic to summon winds and rains and to stir up seas and rivers. May I ask whether you are able to cause snow to descend?” “Of course,” said the fiend. She asked again, “How about making ice and causing things to freeze over?” The fiend said, “Certainly.” “In that case,” said the perch-mother, clapping her hands and laughing, “it’s most easy! It’s most easy!” “Tell me what it is that’s most easy,” said the fiend.
The perch-mother said, “When it is about the hour of the third watch this night, the Great King should exercise his power without any further delay. Call up a cold wind and send down a great snowfall so that the entire Heaven-Reaching River will be solidly frozen. Those of us capable of transformation will assume human forms: carrying luggage, holding umbrellas, and pushing carts, we will follow the direction of the main road to the West and walk continuously on the ice on top of the river. That Tang Monk must be rather impatient to get to the scriptures, and when he sees people walking about like that, he too will want to cross the river by walking on the ice. The Great King can sit quietly at the heart of the river; as soon as you hear the sound of their footsteps, crack open the ice so that he and his disciples will fall into the water. All of them will be captured then.” When that fiend heard these words, he was exceedingly pleased. “Marvelous! Marvelous!” he cried, and he left his water residence at once to rise into the air. There he began to raise up a cold wind to bring snow and to cause everything to freeze up, but we shall mention him no further.
We tell you now instead about the Tang elder and his disciples, the four of them, sleeping in the Chen household. Just before dawn, all of them began to feel the chill even inside their blankets and their pillows turning cold. Sneezing and shivering, Eight Rules could no longer sleep, and he called out, “Elder Brother, it’s very cold!” “Idiot, why don’t you grow up!” said Pilgrim. “Those who have left the family cannot be touched by heat or cold. How could you be afraid of the cold?” Tripitaka said, “Disciple, it is indeed cold. Look! Even the
Heavy quilts provide no warmth,
And hands in sleeves feel like ice.
Presently frost buds dangle from withered leaves,
And icy bells form on the hoary pines.
The ground cracks for the severe cold;
The pond’s level as the water’s frozen.
No old fisher is seen on any boat,
Nor a monk at the mountain temple.
Wood is scarce and the woodman’s sad;
Charcoals added, and the noble’s glad.
The soldier’s beard is like iron;
The poet’s brush is all hardened.
A leather coat still seems too thin;
A fur robe feels even too light.
On straw mats old priests turn stiff;
By paper screens no traveler can sleep.
Though brocade covers are heavy,
Your whole body shivers and shakes!”
Neither master nor disciples could sleep any longer; they scrambled up, and after putting on their clothes they opened the door to look outside. Ah! It was completely white, for it was snowing. “No wonder you were complaining of the cold,” said Pilgrim. “It’s snowing heavily!” The four of them stared at it. Marvelous snow! You see
Dark clouds densely formed—
Gray fog thickly gathered—
Dark clouds densely formed,
As a frigid wind howls throughout the sky;
Gray fog densely gathered,
As a great snowfall covers the earth.
Truly it is like
A flower that blooms six times,
Each petal a precious jasper;
Or a thousand-tree forest,
Each plant bedecked with jade.
In a moment: piles of flour!
In an instant: heaps of salt!
The white parrot has lost its essence;
The frosty crane can’t boast of its cost.
You add to all rivers of Wu and Chu
Or press down plum blossoms of the southeast.
Now it seems like vanquished jade dragons, some three million strong—
Indeed like torn scales and ripped armor flying through the air.
Where can one find Dongguo’s shoes,1
Yuan An’s resting place,2
Or the glow by which Sun Kang studied?3
Nor can one see Ziyou’s boat,4
Wang Gong’s robe,5
Or blankets which fed Su Wu.6
All you have are some village huts of silver bricks,
And a country side kneaded out of jade.
Marvelous snow—
Willow fleeces o’erspreading bridges;
Pear blossoms coating houses.
Willow fleeces o’erspreading bridges
As a fisher hangs up his coir-coat by the bridge;
Pear blossoms coating houses
As wild codgers burn tree roots in houses.
The guests find it hard to buy wine;
The old servant can’t find the plums.
Flitting and fluttering like butterfly wings;
Drifting and soaring like goose down;
Churning and rolling it follows the wind;
In heaps and mounds it hides the roads.
In waves the chilly might pierces the screens;
Soughing, the cold air penetrates the drapes.
A good year’s fine omens drop from the sky
To wish humans in their affairs success.
That snow came down fluttering, like flying threads of silk and finely cut chips of jade. After master and disciples gazed at it for a while, admiring its beauty, they saw the elder Chen approaching as two houseboys swept open a path. Two more brought along hot water for them to wash their faces, after which others presented hot tea and milk cakes. Then they carried charcoal fires into the parlor and invited master and disciples to sit inside. “Old Benefactor,” asked the elder, “may I inquire whether the seasons of your region are divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter?” With a smile, the elder Chen said, “Though ours is a rather out-of-the-way region, only our people and our customs are different from those of a noble nation. But all the grains and livestock share the benefits of the same Heaven and the same sun. How could the four seasons be lacking?” “If so,” said Tripitaka, “how is it that we have such a great snowfall at this time of the year and such a terrible cold?” The elder Chen said, “Though this is only the seventh month, we just passed White Dew7 yesterday, and that means that we are approaching the eighth month. In this place of ours, we have frost and snow during the eighth month.” “That’s quite different from our Land of the East,” said Tripitaka, “for we never have snow back there until winter actually arrives.”
As they conversed, the servants came forward once more to set the tables for them to dine on rice gruel. After the meal, the snow fell even more heavily, and soon it was two feet deep on the ground. Growing more and more anxious, Tripitaka began to weep. “Venerable Father, please do not worry,” said the elder Chen. “Please don’t let the deep snow bother you. We have stored up in our house a considerable amount of food, and, I dare say, sufficient to feed all of you for quite a long time.” Tripitaka said, “You don’t understand my sorrow, Old Benefactor. In that past year when I was entrusted with the decree to acquire scriptures, His Majesty personally escorted me outside the capital. With his own hand holding the goblet to toast me, the Tang emperor asked me, ‘When can you return?’ Not having any idea of the dangers of mountains and waters, this humble priest replied rather casually, ‘After three years I shall be able to return to our nation with the scriptures.’ Since we parted, it has been seven or eight years, and I have yet to see the face of Buddha. I have great fear that I might have exceeded the imperial limit, and I also am troubled by the viciousness of demons and monsters. Today it is my good fortune to live in your great mansion. After the small service rendered you by my foolish disciples last night, I had hopes that I could ask you for a boat to cross the river. Little did I expect that Heaven would send down this great snowfall to block and cover all the roads. Now I wonder when I would attain my goal and be able to return home.” “Relax, Venerable Father,” said the elder Chen, “for after all, many days of your journey have passed already. It does not matter if you spend a few more days here. When the weather clears and the ice melts, this old moron will see to it that you cross the river, even if I have to exhaust my wealth to do it.”
Just then, a houseboy came to invite them to breakfast. After they finished that in the front hall, they hardly had time to converse when lunch was served also. Troubled by the sight of the elaborately prepared meal, Tripitaka said in great earnestness, “If you are kind enough to take us in, you must treat us as ordinary members of the family.” “Venerable Father,” said elder Chen, “we are deeply indebted to you for saving our children’s lives. Even if we were to feast you every day, we could never repay you sufficiently.”
Thereafter the snow stopped, and people soon began to come and go once more. When the elder Chen saw how unhappy Tripitaka appeared to be, he asked that the garden be swept out. After a huge brazier with fire was sent for, he invited the whole party to spend some time in a snow cave. “This old fellow doesn’t quite use his head!” said Eight Rules, laughing. “One can admire the garden in the second or the third month during the time of spring. But after such a big snowfall, and it’s so cold now, what’s there for us to admire?” Pilgrim said, “Idiot, you are ignorant! The scenery of snow quite naturally has a mysterious calm, something which not only we can enjoy but which also can console our master.” “Exactly! Exactly!” said the elder Chen. Following his beckoning, they went to the garden and they saw
A scenery of late autumn,
When prospects of La8 appeared.
Jadelike buds formed on hoary pines;
Silver blooms hung on lifeless willows.
Jade-moss beneath the steps heaped up powder;
Bamboos before the window sprouted jasper roots.
On artificial mountains—
In domestic fish ponds—
On artful rockeries
Pointed peaks were ranged like shoots of jade;
In garden fish ponds
The clear, running water became ice trays.
By the banks the color of hibiscus faded
And their tender twigs all drooped near the ridge.
Begonia plants
Were completely crushed;
Winter-plum trees
Brought forth new branches.
The peony arbor,
The pomegranate arbor,
And the cassia arbor—
Every arbor was piled high with goose down;
The place of enjoyment,
The place of entertainment,
The place of amusement—
Each place was covered with butterfly wings.
Two fences of chrysanthmum: white jade framed in gold;
A few maple trees: lovely red lined with white.
Since countless courtyards were too cold to reach,
You might admire the snow cave chilly as ice.
Inside sat a beast-face brazier with elephant legs,
In which a hot charcoal fire had just begun.
All around were some lacquered armchairs draped with tiger skins
By the paper windows set so warm and soft.
Inside the cave, there were hung on walls several old paintings by famous hands, the themes of which all had to do with
Seven worthies going through the pass,9
A cold river’s lonely fisher,10
The scenes of snow-bound mountain plateaus;
Su Wu feeding on his blanket,
Breaking a plum-twig for the mailman,11
And frigid art wrought by trees and plants of jade.
You can’t begin to describe
The house by the waters where fishes are easily bought,
Or how scarce is wine when snow buries the roads.
Truly this is a place most worthy to linger in.
Think of it, and you needn’t visit Penghu.12
After they had admired the scenery for a long while, they sat down in the snow cave and chatted with some of the aged neighbors on the matter of acquiring scriptures. When they finished drinking some fragrant tea, the elder Chen asked again, “Would the several Venerable Fathers take some wine?” “This humble cleric does not drink,” said Tripitaka, “but my disciples may drink a few cups of vegetarian wine.” Delighted, the elder Chen at once gave the order: “Bring fruits and vegetables, and warm the wine. We would like to help our guests ward off the chill.” The houseboys and servants brought forth tables and small braziers for heating the wine. The pilgrims and the neighbors each drank a few cups before the utensils were taken away.
Soon it was dusk, and they were taken back to the front hall again for dinner. Just then, someone walking on the street was heard saying, “What chilly weather! Even the Heaven-Reaching River is frozen!” On hearing this, Tripitaka said, “Wukong, if the river is frozen, what shall we do?” “This sudden cold,” said the elder Chen, “must have frozen only the shallow parts of the river near the bank.” But the man walking on the street was saying, “All eight hundred miles across the river are so solidly frozen that its surface is smooth like a mirror. Even people are walking on it.” When Tripitaka heard that there were people walking on the river, he immediately wanted to go and look. “Please be patient, Venerable Father,” said the elder Chen, “for it’s getting late now. We shall go tomorrow.” They took leave of the neighbors, and after dinner, they rested in the parlors as they had the night before.
When they arose the next morning, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, last night was even colder. The river, I suppose, must be solidly frozen.” Facing the door, Tripitaka knelt down and bowed toward Heaven, saying, “All you great Guardians of the Faith, your disciple has with complete sincerity resolved to journey to the West to see Buddha. Throughout the bitter experience of traversing mountains and streams, I have never once complained. Having reached this place, I thank Heaven for providing assistance by freezing the river. Your disciples therefore wish to offer you our thanksgiving first. After we have acquired the scriptures, we shall inform the Tang emperor so that he may repay this favor of yours with all due reverence.” After he finished praying, he ordered Wujing immediately to saddle the horse so that they could walk on the ice to cross the river. “Please be patient,” said the elder Chen again. “Wait for a few days until the snow and ice melt away. This old moron will prepare a boat to take you across.” “I don’t think we should settle on staying or leaving,” said Sha Monk, “for what we hear is not as reliable as what we see. Let me saddle the horse, but Master should go personally to the river to have a look.” “You are right,” said the elder Chen. “Little ones, go and saddle six horses at once. But don’t saddle Father Tang’s horse yet.”
With six houseboys following, all of them went to the bank of the river to look. Truly there were
Snow piles rising up like hills,
As sunlight broke up the clouds of dawn.
The southern border froze to turn barren all peaks;
Ice formed to make lakes and rivers flat and smooth.
The wind was cold and biting;
The ground was hard and slippery.
Pond fishes cuddled dense weeds;
Wild birds hugged dead branches.
Travelers abroad all lost their fingers;
The river boatman’s teeth madly chattered.
Snake bellies split;
Bird feet snapped.
Truly the icebergs rose a thousand feet tall.
Cold silver floated in countless ravines;
The whole river seemed one cold piece of jade.
The East might think that they produced silkworms,
But the North in truth had their caves of rats.
Here Wang Xiang lay;13
Here Guangwu crossed.14
In one night e’en the river bottom all hardened!
The winding stream formed jagged layers;
The deep river turned frozen blocks.
Not a ripple throughout the water’s width,
It seemed a road on land, just bright and smooth.
When Tripitaka and the others came up to the river’s edge, they stopped the horses to look, and true enough, there were people walking on to the ice from the main road. “Benefactor,” said Tripitaka, “where are those people going on the ice?” The elder Chen said, “On the far side of the river is the Western Kingdom of Women, and these people must be traders. Things worth a hundred pennies on our side can fetch a hundred times more over there, and their things worth a hundred pennies can similarly fetch a handsome price over here. In view of such heavy profits, it is understandable that people want to make this journey without regard for life or death. Usually, five or seven people, and the number may even swell to more than ten, will crowd into a boat to cross the river. When they see that the river is frozen now, they are risking everything to try to cross it on foot.” “Profit and fame,” said Tripitaka, “are regarded as most important in the affairs of the world; for profit, men would give up their own lives. But the fact that this disciple strives so hard to fulfill the imperial decree may also be taken as his quest for fame. Am I so different really from those people?” He turned around and said, “Wukong, go quickly back to our Benefactor’s home and pack. Saddle up the horse, too. Let’s make use of the ice and leave for the West at once.” Smiling broadly, Pilgrim obeyed.
“O Master,” said Sha Monk, “the proverb says, ‘In a thousand days, you only eat a thousand pecks of rice.’ You are already indebted to the hospitality of Mr. Chen. Why not stay a few more days and wait until the weather turns warmer, when we can cross with a boat? Otherwise, I fear that all this hurry may cause us to make mistakes.” “Wujing,” said Tripitaka, “how could you be so unthinking? If this were during the second month of the year, one might well expect the weather to warm up day by day and the snow to melt eventually. But this is after all the eighth month, and it will grow colder and colder from now on. How could you expect the ice to break so readily? If we were to wait, wouldn’t our trip be delayed, perhaps even up to half a year?”
Leaping down from the horse, Eight Rules said, “Stop arguing, all of you, and let old Hog test it to see what’s the thickness of the ice.” “Idiot,” said Pilgrim, “you threw a stone the other night and succeeded in testing the depth of the water. But the ice now is solid and heavy. How could you test it?” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “you don’t realize that I can give the ice a blow with my rake. If it breaks open, it will be too thin for us to walk on, but if it does not, it will be thick enough. There’s no reason for us not to want to walk on it.” “Yes,” said Tripitaka, “what you said is quite reasonable.” Hitching up his robe and walking forward in great strides, Idiot went to the edge of the river. He raised the muckrake high with both hands and brought it down with all his might. A loud thud could be heard and nine white marks were left on the ice, while Idiot’s hands were momentarily numbed by the impact. “You can walk on it! You can walk on it!” said he, laughing. “Even the bottom is solid!”
When Tripitaka heard this, he was very pleased. He went back hurriedly to the Chen household and all he could say was that they had to leave at once. When those two old men found that all their earnest pleas for him to remain fell only on deaf ears, they had no alternative but to prepare some such dried food as baked biscuits and breads to give to the pilgrims. As the whole family came out to kowtow to them, the old men also brought out a tray of gold and silver. Going to their knees, they said, “We thank you again, Venerable Fathers, for saving our children. Please take this, just for a meal on your way.” Shaking his head and waving his hand, Tripitaka refused to accept it, saying, “This humble monk is a person who has left the family. I have no need of money. Even if I were to keep it, I wouldn’t dare use it on our way, for begging is our proper means of livelihood. It is more than enough for us to take the dried goods.” The two old men pleaded with him again and again; so Pilgrim stuck his finger into the tray and lifted up a tiny piece, approximately as heavy as four or five drams, which he handed over to the Tang Monk, saying, “Master, keep it as their offering so that these two will not be too disappointed.”
They thus said farewell and the pilgrims went to the river, but when the horse stepped onto the ice, it began to slip and slide and Tripitaka was almost thrown off its back. “Master,” shouted Sha Monk, “we can’t go!” “Stop for a moment,” said Eight Rules, “and let’s ask Mr. Chen for some straw.” “What for?” asked Pilgrim. Eight Rules replied, “You wouldn’t have any idea about this! The straw will be used to wrap up the hoofs of the horse, so that Master won’t fall down.” When the elder Chen heard on the shore what Eight Rules said, he told someone to fetch the straw at once. After the Tang Monk returned to the bank and dismounted, Eight Rules wrapped all four hoofs of the horse with straw and that enabled it to step on the ice without slipping.
Having taken leave of the Chen clan at the edge of the river, they proceeded for no more than three or four miles when Eight Rules handed the nine-ringed priestly staff to the Tang Monk, saying, “Master, put this across your saddle.” “Idiot,” said Pilgrim, “don’t be so sly! You’re supposed to carry this priestly staff. Why are you asking Master to do it?” “Since you have no experience in walking on ice,” said Eight Rules, “you will not think of this. Even the thickest of ice has holes; step on one of them and you will plunge into the water. Without something like this held crosswise, you will sink rapidly while the ice above closes in like a huge wok cover. You can never crawl out again unless you have something like this to stop your fall.” Snickering, Pilgrim said to himself, “This Idiot must have walked on ice for years!” So, all of them followed what Eight Rules told them to do: the elder held the staff crosswise across his saddle; Pilgrim and Sha Monk each carried his iron rod and his fiend-routing treasure staff across his shoulders. Eight Rules, who was poling the luggage, tied the rake sideways at his waist. Master and disciples then felt perfectly safe to proceed.
They journeyed until evening; after eating some dried goods, they dared not stop at all. As the stars and the moon lighted up the ice, turning it into brilliant patches of white, they pressed forward. Indeed, the horse never stopped trotting for the entire night; master and disciples never once closed their eyes. By morning, they ate some more of their provisions and again set out toward the West. As they journeyed, a rending sound came from the bottom of the ice, so frightening the white horse that it almost fell. Greatly astonished, Tripitaka said, “O Disciples, why was there such a sound?” “This river is so solidly frozen,” said Eight Rules, “that the ice formed from top to bottom must be grating the river bed. That may be the sound we heard.” Astonished but pleased by what he was told, Tripitaka urged his horse on and they started out once more.
We now tell you about that fiend, who led various spirits from the water residence and sat waiting for a long time beneath the ice. Finally, when the sound of the horse’s hoofs became audible, he at once exercised his magic power and caused the ice to break open. The Great Holy Sun managed to leap at once into the air, but his three companions and the white horse all plunged into the water.
After catching hold of Tripitaka, the fiend led the spirits back to the water residence, where he shouted aloud, “Where are you, perch-sister?” The old perch-mother met him at the door, bowing, and said, “Great King, I’m not worthy of it!” “Worthy Sister, why do you say that?” said the fiend. “For ‘Even a team of horses cannot overtake the word that has left my mouth!’ I promised you that if your plan could enable me to catch the Tang Monk, I would become your bond-brother. Today your marvelous plan did materialize, and the Tang Monk had been caught. You think I would retract my promise?” He then gave the order, “Little ones, bring out the tables and the sharp knives. Cut up this monk: take out his heart, skin him, and debone him. Meanwhile, start the music. I’m going to share him with my worthy Sister, so that both of us will gain longevity.” “Great King,” said the perch-mother, “let’s not eat him yet, for I fear that his disciples may spoil our party should they come here to search for him. Wait a couple of days, and if no one appears, we can then cut him up. Great King can take your honored seat, while the watery kinsfolk can surround you with singing and dancing. His flesh will be presented to you, and you can take your time to enjoy your feast. Isn’t that much better?” The fiend agreed; the Tang Monk was placed in a lidded stone box about six feet long which was then hidden in the rear of the palace, and we shall speak no more of him for the moment.
We tell you now about Eight Rules and Sha Monk, who managed to recover the luggage in the water. After they had placed it on the white horse, they opened up a path in the water and trod on the waves to rise to the surface. Pilgrim saw them from midair and asked at once, “Where is Master?” “He changed his family name to Sink,”15 said Eight Rules, “and his given name is To-the-Bottom. We don’t know where to look for him. Let’s get to shore before we decide what to do.” Eight Rules, you see, happened to be the incarnation of the Marshal of Heavenly Reeds, who in past years was a commander of eighty thousand marines stationed in the Heavenly River. Sha Monk came from the Flowing-Sand River, and the white horse, too, was the descendant of Dragon King of the Western Ocean. That was why all of them felt so comfortable in the water. Led by the Great Sage in the air, they soon returned to the eastern shore, where they brushed down the horse and stripped themselves of their wet garments. After the Great Sage dropped down from the clouds, they went together to the Chen Village. At once someone went to make this report to the two old men: “Four Fathers went to seek the scriptures, but only three have come back.” The two brothers went quickly out the door to receive them, and they found the clothing of the pilgrims still dripping wet.
“Venerable Fathers,” they said, “we pleaded with you to stay and you refused. You would stop only when you came to this! Now, where is Father Tripitaka?” Eight Rules said, “He’s no longer named Tripitaka, for he has changed it to Sink To-the-Bottom.” As tears fell, the two old men said, “How pitiful! How pitiful! We said we would prepare a boat for him to cross the river, but he absolutely refused and that cost him his life.” “Old fellow,” said Pilgrim, “it’s no use worrying for the dead. But I have a hunch that Master is going to live for a long time yet. Old Monkey knows! It has to be that Great King of Numinous Power, who has planned all this and abducted him. Don’t worry now. Wash our clothes for us and dry our rescript. Make sure our white horse is fed, and let us brothers go and find that fellow. We will not only rescue our master, but we will root out also this evil for your entire village, so that you will be able to live peacefully forever.” When the two brothers heard these words, they were delighted and asked for food for the pilgrims at once.
After the three brothers had a big meal, they gave the horse and the luggage to the Chen family to look after. Each wielding his own weapon, they went straight to the river to search for their master and seize the fiend. Truly
Wrong to walk on thick ice, nature is hurt.
What’s perfection when great elixir leaks?
We do not know in what way they succeeded in rescuing the Tang Monk, and you must listen to the explanation in the next chapter.