第二十八回

第二十八回 花果山群妖聚义 黑松林三藏逢魔

却说那大圣虽被唐僧逐赶，然犹思念，感叹不已，早望见东洋大海，道：“我不走此路者，已五百年矣！”只见那海水：

烟波荡荡，巨浪悠悠。烟波荡荡接天河，巨浪悠悠通地脉。潮来汹涌，水浸湾环。潮来汹涌，犹如霹雳吼三春；水浸湾环，却似狂风吹九夏。乘龙福老，往来必定皱眉行；跨鹤仙童，反复果然忧虑过。近岸无村社，傍水少渔舟。浪卷千年雪，风生六月秋。野禽凭出没，沙鸟任沉浮。眼前无钓客，耳畔只闻鸥。海底游鱼乐，天边过雁愁。

那行者将身一纵，跳过了东洋大海，早至花果山。按落云头，睁睛观看，那山上花草俱无，烟霞尽绝，峰岩倒塌，林树焦枯。你道怎么这等？只因他闹了天宫，拿上界去，此山被显圣二郎神，率领那梅山七弟兄，放火烧坏了。这大圣倍加凄惨。有一篇败山颓景的古风为证。古风云：

回顾仙山两泪垂，对山凄惨更伤悲。

当时只道山无损，今日方知地有亏。

可恨二郎将我灭，堪嗔小圣把人欺。

行凶掘你先灵墓，无干破尔祖坟基。

满天霞雾皆消荡，遍地风云尽散稀。

东岭不闻斑虎啸，西山那见白猿啼？

北溪狐兔无踪迹，南谷獐没影遗。

青石烧成千块土，碧沙化作一堆泥。

洞外乔松皆倚倒，崖前翠柏尽稀少。

椿杉槐桧栗檀焦，桃杏李梅梨枣了。

柘绝桑无怎养蚕？柳稀竹少难栖鸟。

峰头巧石化为尘，涧底泉干都是草。

崖前土黑没芝兰，路畔泥红藤薜攀。

往日飞禽飞那处？当时走兽走何山？

豹嫌蟒恶倾颓所，鹤避蛇回败坏间。

想是日前行恶念，致令时下受艰难。

那大圣正当悲切，只听得那芳草坡前，曼荆凹里，响一声，跳出七八个小猴，一拥上前，围住叩头，高叫道：“大圣爷爷！今日来家了？”美猴王道：“你们因何不耍不顽，一个个都潜踪隐迹？我来多时了，不见你们形影，何也？”群猴听说，一个个垂泪告道：“自大圣擒拿上界，我们被猎人之苦，着实难捱！怎禁他硬弩强弓，黄鹰劣犬，网扣枪钩，故此各惜性命，不敢出头顽耍，只是深潜洞府，远避窝巢。饥去坡前偷草食，渴来涧下吸清泉。却才听得大圣爷爷声音，特来接见，伏望扶持。”那大圣闻得此言，愈加凄惨，便问：“你们还有多少在此山上？”群猴道：“老者，小者，只有千把。”大圣道：“我当时共有四万七千群妖，如今都往那里去了？”群猴道：“自从爷爷去后，这山被二郎菩萨点上火，烧杀了大半。我们蹲在井里，钻在涧里，藏于铁板桥下，得了性命。及至火灭烟消出来时，又没花果养赡，难以存活，别处又去了一半。我们这一半，捱苦的住在山中。这两年，又被些打猎的抢了一半去也。”行者道：“他抢你去何干？”群猴道：“说起这猎户，可恨！他把我们中箭着枪的，中毒打死的，拿了去剥皮剔骨，酱煮醋蒸，油煎盐炒，当做下饭食用。或有那遭网的，遇扣的，夹活儿拿去了，教他跳圈做戏，翻筋斗，竖蜻蜓，当街上筛锣擂鼓，无所不为的顽耍。”

大圣闻此言，更十分恼怒道：“洞中有甚么人执事？”群妖道：“还有马、流二元帅，崩、芭二将军管着哩。”大圣道：“你们去报他知道，说我来了。”那些小妖撞入门里报道：“大圣爷爷来家了。”那马、流、崩、芭闻报，忙出门叩头，迎接进洞。大圣坐在中间，群怪罗拜于前，启道：“大圣爷爷，近闻得你得了性命，保唐僧往西天取经，如何不走西方，却回本山？”大圣道：“小的们，你不知道。那唐三藏不识贤愚，我为他一路上捉怪擒魔，使尽了平生的手段，几番家打杀妖精。他说我行凶作恶，不要我做徒弟，把我逐赶回来，写立贬书为照，永不听用了。”

众猴鼓掌大笑道：“造化！造化！做甚么和尚，且家来带携我们耍子几年罢！”叫：“快安排椰子酒来，与爷爷接风。”大圣道：“且莫饮酒。我问你，那打猎的人，几时来我山上一度？”马、流道：“大圣，不论甚么时度，他逐日家在这里缠扰。”大圣道：“他怎么今日不来？”马、流道：“看待来耶。”大圣分付：“小的们，都出去，把那山上烧酥了的碎石头，与我搬将起来堆着。——或二三十个一堆，或五六十个一堆，堆着，我有用处。”那些小猴都是一窝风，一个个跳天搠地，乱搬了许多堆集。大圣看了，教：“小的们，都往洞里藏躲，让老孙作法。”

那大圣上了山巅看处，只见那南半边冬冬鼓响，锣鸣，闪上有千馀人马，都架着鹰犬，持着刀枪。猴王仔细看那些人，来得凶险。好男子，真个骁勇！但见：

狐皮苫肩顶，锦绮裹腰胸。

袋插狼牙箭，胯挂宝雕弓。

人似搜山虎，马如跳涧龙。

成群引着犬，满膀架其鹰。

荆筐抬火炮，带定海东青[1]。

粘竿百十担，兔叉有千根。

牛头拦路网，阎王扣子绳。

一齐乱吆喝，散撒满天星。

大圣见那些人布上他的山来，心中大怒，手里捻诀，口内念念有词，往那巽地上吸了一口气，呼的吹将去，便是一阵狂风。好风！但见：

扬尘播土，倒树摧林。海浪如山耸，浑波万叠侵。乾坤昏荡荡，日月暗沉沉。一阵摇松如虎啸，忽然入竹似龙吟。万窍怒号天噫气，飞砂走石乱伤人。

大圣作起这大风，将那碎石，乘风乱飞乱舞，可怜把那些千馀人马，一个个：

石打乌头粉碎，沙飞海马俱伤。人参官桂岭前忙，血染朱砂地上。　附子难归故里，槟榔怎得还乡？尸骸轻粉卧山场，红娘子家中盼望。[2]

诗曰：

人亡马死怎归家？野鬼孤魂乱似麻。

可怜抖擞英雄辈，不辨贤愚血染沙。

大圣按落云头，鼓掌大笑道：“造化！造化！自从归顺唐僧，做了和尚，他每每劝我话道：‘千日行善，善犹不足；一日行恶，恶自有馀。’真有此话！我跟着他，打杀几个妖精，他就怪我行凶，今日来家，却结果了这许多猎户。”叫：“小的们，出来！”那群猴，狂风过去，听得大圣呼唤，一个个跳将出来。大圣道：“你们去南山下，把那打死的猎户衣服，剥得来家，洗净血迹，穿了遮寒；把死人的尸首，都推在那万丈深潭里；把死倒的马拖将来，剥了皮，做靴穿，将肉腌着，慢慢的食用；把那些弓箭枪刀，与你们操演武艺；将那杂色旗号，收来我用。”群猴一个个领诺。

那大圣把旗拆洗，总斗做一面杂彩花旗，上写着“重修花果山，复整水帘洞，齐天大圣”十四字。竖起杆子，将旗挂于洞外，逐日招魔聚兽，积草屯粮，不题“和尚”二字。他的人情又大，手段又高，便去四海龙王借些甘霖仙水，把山洗青了。前栽榆柳，后种松楠，桃李枣梅，无所不备，逍遥自在，乐业安居不题。

却说唐僧听信狡性，纵放心猿，攀鞍上马，八戒前边开路，沙僧挑着行李西行。过了白虎岭，忽见一带林丘，真个是藤攀葛绕，柏翠松青。三藏叫道：“徒弟呀，山路崎岖，甚是难走，却又松林丛簇，树木森罗，切须仔细！恐有妖邪妖兽。”你看那呆子，抖擞精神，叫沙僧带着马，他使钉钯开路，领唐僧径入松林之内。正行处，那长老兜住马道：“八戒，我这一日其实饥了，那里寻些斋饭我吃？”八戒道：“师父请下马，在此等老猪去寻。”长老下了马，沙僧歇了担，取出钵盂，递与八戒。八戒道：“我去也。”长老问：“那里去？”八戒道：“莫管。我这一去，钻冰取火寻斋至，压雪求油化饭来。”

你看他出了松林，往西行经十馀里，更不曾撞着一个人家，真是有狼虎无人烟的去处。那呆子走得辛苦，心内沉吟道：“当年行者在日，老和尚要的就有。今日轮到我的身上，诚所谓‘当家才知柴米价，养子方晓父娘恩’。公道[3]没去化处。”他又走得瞌睡上来，思道：“我若就回去，对老和尚说没处化斋，他也不信我走了这许多路。须是再多幌个时辰，才好去回话。……也罢，也罢，且往这草科里睡睡。”呆子就把头拱在草里睡下。当时也只说朦胧朦胧就起来，岂知走路辛苦的人，丢倒头，只管齁齁睡起。

且不言八戒在此睡觉。却说长老在那林间，耳热眼跳，身心不安，急回叫沙僧道：“悟能去化斋，怎么这早晚还不回？”沙僧道：“师父，你还不晓得哩。他见这西方上人家斋僧的多，他肚子又大，他管你？只等他吃饱了才来哩。”三藏道：“正是呀！倘或他在那里贪着吃斋，我们那里会他？天色晚了，此间不是个住场，须要寻个下处方好哩。”沙僧道：“不打紧。师父，你且坐在这里，等我去寻他来。”三藏道：“正是，正是。有斋没斋罢了，只是寻下处要紧。”沙僧绰了宝杖，径出松林来找八戒。

长老却独坐林中，十分闷倦，只得强打精神，跳将起来，把行李攒在一处，将马拴在树上，摘下戴的斗笠，插定了锡杖，整一整缁衣[4]，徐步幽林，权为散闷。那长老看遍了野草山花，听不得归巢鸟噪。原来那林子里却是些草深路小的去处，只因他情思紊乱，却走错了。他一来也是要散散闷，二来也是要寻八戒、沙僧，不期他两个走的是直西路，长老转了一会，却走向南边去了。出得松林，忽抬头，见那壁厢金光闪烁，彩气腾腾，仔细看处，原来是一座宝塔，金顶放光。这是那西落的日色，映着那金顶放亮。他道：“我弟子却没缘法哩！自离东土，发愿逢庙烧香，见佛拜佛，遇塔扫塔。那放光的不是一座黄金宝塔？怎么就不曾走那条路？塔下必有寺院，院内必有僧家，且等我走走。这行李、白马，料此处无人行走，却也无事。那里若有方便处，待徒弟们来，一同借歇。”

噫！长老一时晦气到了。你看他拽开步，径至塔边。但见那：

石崖高万丈，山大接青霄。根连地厚，峰插天高。两边杂树数千棵，前后藤缠百馀里。花映草梢风有影，水流云窦月无根。倒木横担深涧，枯藤结挂光峰。石桥下，流滚滚清泉；台座上，长明明白粉。远观一似三岛天堂，近看有如蓬莱胜境。香松紫竹绕山溪，鸦鹊猿猴穿峻岭。洞门外，有一来一往的走兽成行；树林里，有或出或入的飞禽作队。青青香草秀，艳艳野花开。这所在分明是恶境，那长老晦气撞将来。

那长老举步进前，才来到塔门之下，只见一个斑竹帘儿，挂在里面。他破步入门，揭起来，往里就进，猛抬头，见那石床上，侧睡着一个妖魔。你道他怎生模样：

青靛脸，白獠牙，一张大口呀呀。两边乱蓬蓬的鬓毛，却都是些胭脂染色；三四紫巍巍的髭髯，恍疑是那荔枝排芽。鹦嘴般的鼻儿拱拱，曙星样的眼儿巴巴。两个拳头，和尚钵盂模样；二只蓝脚，悬崖榾柮[5]枒槎。斜披着淡黄袍帐，赛过那织锦袈裟。拿的一口刀，精光耀映；眠的一块石，细润无瑕。他也曾小妖排蚁阵，他也曾老怪坐蜂衙。你看他威风凛凛，大家吆喝，叫一声爷。他也曾月作三人壶酌酒[6]，他也曾风生两腋盏倾茶[7]。你看他神通浩浩，霎着下眼，游遍天涯。荒林喧鸟雀，深莽宿龙蛇。仙子种田生白玉[8]，道人伏火[9]养丹砂。小小洞门，虽到不得那阿毘地狱；楞楞妖怪，却就是一个牛头夜叉。

那长老看见他这般模样，唬得打了一个倒退，遍体酥麻，两腿酸软，即忙的抽身便走。刚刚转了一个身，那妖魔，他的灵性着实是大，强撑开着一双金睛鬼眼，叫声：“小的们，你看门外是甚么人！”一个小妖就伸头望门外打一看，看见是个光头的长老，连忙跑将进去，报道：“大王，外面是个和尚哩。团头大面，两耳垂肩，嫩刮刮的一身肉，细娇娇的一张皮，且是好个和尚！”那妖闻言，呵声笑道：“这叫做个‘蛇头上苍蝇，自来的衣食’。你众小的们！疾忙赶上也，与我拿将来！我这里重重有赏。”那些小妖，就是一窝蜂，齐齐拥上。三藏见了，虽则是一心忙似箭，两脚走如飞，终是心惊胆颤，腿软脚麻。况且是山路崎岖，林深日暮，步儿那里移得动？被那些小妖，平抬将去。正是：

龙游浅水遭虾戏，虎落平阳被犬欺。

纵然好事多磨障，谁像唐僧西向时？

你看那众小妖，抬得长老，放在那竹帘儿外，欢欢喜喜，报声道：“大王，拿得和尚进来了。”那老妖，他也偷眼瞧一瞧。只见三藏头直上，貌堂堂，果然好一个和尚。他便心中想道：“这等好和尚，必是上方人物，不当小可的，若不做个威风，他怎肯服降哩？”陡然间，就狐假虎威，红须倒竖，血发朝天，眼睛迸裂，大喝一声道：“带那和尚进来！”众妖们，大家响响的答应了一声：“是！”就把三藏望里面只是一推。这是“既在矮檐下，怎敢不低头”！三藏只得双手合着，与他见个礼。那妖道：“你是那里和尚？从那里来？到那里去？快快说明！”三藏道：“我本是唐朝僧人，奉大唐皇帝敕命，前往西方访求经偈。经过贵山，特来塔下谒圣，不期惊动威严，望乞恕罪。待往西方取得经回东土，永注高名也。”那妖闻言，呵呵大笑道：“我说是上邦人物，果然是你。正要吃你哩，却来的甚好！甚好！不然，却不错放过了？你该是我口里的食，自然要撞将来，就放也放不去，就走也走不脱！”叫小妖：“把那和尚拿去绑了！”果然那些小妖，一拥上前，把个长老绳缠索绑，缚在那定魂桩上。

老妖持刀又问道：“和尚，你一行有几人？终不然一人敢上西天？”三藏见他持刀，又老实说道：“大王，我有两个徒弟，叫做猪八戒、沙和尚，都出松林化斋去了。还有一担行李，一匹白马，都在松林里放着哩。”老妖道：“又造化了！两个徒弟，连你三个，连马四个，够吃一顿了！”小妖道：“我们去捉他来。”老妖道：“不要出去，把前门关了。他两个化斋来，一定寻师父吃；寻不着，一定寻着我门上。常言道：‘上门的买卖好做。’且等慢慢的捉他。”众小妖把前门闭了。

且不言三藏逢灾。却说那沙僧出林找八戒，直有十馀里远近，不曾见个庄村。他却站在高埠上正然观看，只听得草中有人言语，急使杖拨开深草看时，原来是呆子在里面说梦话哩。被沙僧揪着耳朵，方叫醒了，道：“好呆子呵！师父教你化斋，许你在此睡觉的？”那呆子冒冒失失的醒来，道：“兄弟，有甚时候了？”沙僧道：“快起来！师父说有斋没斋也罢，教你我那里寻下住处哩。”

呆子懵懵懂懂的，托着钵盂，拑着钉钯，与沙僧径直回来。到林中看时，不见了师父。沙僧埋怨道：“都是你这呆子化斋不来，必有妖精拿师父也。”八戒笑道：“兄弟，莫要胡说。那林子里是个清雅的去处，决然没有妖精。想是老和尚坐不住，往那里观风[10]去了。我们寻他去来。”二人只得牵马挑担，收拾了斗篷、锡杖，出松林寻找师父。

这一回，也是唐僧不该死。他两个前后寻一会不见，忽见南下有金光闪灼。八戒道：“兄弟呵，有福的只是有福，你看师父往他家去了。那放光的是座宝塔，谁敢怠慢？一定要安排斋饭，留他在那里受用。我们还不走动些，也赶上去吃些斋儿。”沙僧道：“哥呵，定不得吉凶哩。我们且去看来。”

二人雄纠纠的到了门前。呀！闭着门哩。只见那门上横安了一块白玉石板，上镌着六个大字“碗子山波月洞”。沙僧道：“哥呵，这不是甚么寺院，是一座妖精洞府也。我师父在这里，也见不得哩。”八戒道：“兄弟莫怕。你且拴下马匹，守着行李，待我问他的信看。”那呆子举着钯，上前高叫：“开门！开门！”那洞里有把门的小妖开了门，忽见他两个的模样，急抽身跑入里面报道：“大王！买卖来了！”老妖道：“那里买卖？”小妖道：“洞门外有一个长嘴大耳的和尚，与一个晦气色的和尚，来叫门了！”老妖大喜道：“是猪八戒与沙僧寻将来也！噫，他也会寻哩！怎么就寻到我这门上？既然嘴脸凶顽，却莫要怠慢了他。”叫：“取披挂来！”小妖抬来，就结束了，绰刀在手，径出门来。

却说那八戒、沙僧在门前正等，只见妖魔来得凶险。你道他怎生打扮：

青脸红须赤发飘，黄金铠甲亮光饶。

裹肚衬腰石带[11]，攀胸勒甲步云绦。

闲立山前风吼吼，闷游海外浪滔滔。

一双蓝靛焦筋手，执定追魂取命刀。

要知此物名和姓，声扬二字唤黄袍。

那黄袍老怪出得门来，便问：“你是那方和尚，在我门首吆喝？”八戒道：“我儿子，你不认得？我是你老爷！我是大唐差往西天去的！我师父是那御弟三藏。若在你家里，趁早送出来，省了我钉钯筑进去！”那怪笑道：“是，是，是有一个唐僧在我家。我也不曾怠慢他，安排些人肉包儿与他吃哩。你们也进去吃一个儿，何如？”

这呆子认真就要进去，沙僧一把扯住道：“哥呵，他哄你哩。你几时又吃人肉哩？”呆子却才省悟，掣钉钯望妖怪劈脸就筑。那怪物侧身躲过，使钢刀急架相迎。两个都显神通，纵云头，跳在空中厮杀。沙僧撇了行李、白马，举宝杖急急帮攻。此时两个狠和尚，一个泼妖魔，在云端里，这一场好杀，正是那：

杖起刀迎，钯来刀架。一员魔将施威，两个神僧显化。九齿钯真个英雄，降妖杖诚然凶咤。没前后左右齐来，那黄袍公然不怕。你看他蘸钢刀晃亮如银，其实的那神通也为广大。只杀得满空中，雾绕云迷；半山里，崖崩岭咋。一个为声名，怎肯干休？一个为师父，断然不怕。

他三个在半空中，往往来来，战经数十回合，不分胜负。各因性命要紧，其实难解难分。毕竟不知怎救出唐僧，且听下回分解。

[1] 海东青：一种产自辽东的青雕。

[2] 红娘子家中盼望：这是集合各种药名写的词。乌头、海马、人参、官桂、朱砂、附子、槟榔、轻粉、红娘子等，都是药名。

[3] 公道：实在是。

[4] 缁衣：黑色衣服，僧尼穿的一种服装。

[5] 榾（ɡǔ）柮（duò）：树根。一般作烧火取暖之用的。后文第四十八回写作“骨柮”。

[6] 月作三人壶酌酒：这里是用唐李白“举杯邀明月，对影成三人”的诗意。

[7] 风生两腋盏倾茶：这里是用唐卢仝《谢孟谏议寄新茶》“惟觉两腋习习清风生”的诗意。

[8] 种田生白玉：据《搜神记》记载，杨伯雍因在路边免费供应行人茶水，得到客人赠送的一斗石子。杨按照客人嘱咐，将石子种在田里，田中生出了白玉。

[9] 伏火：调低炉火的温度。

[10] 观风：指游览、欣赏、参观。后文第七十二回作“关关风”。

[11] （qú）石带：石就是砗（chē）磲，文蛤类的最大者。用这种蛤壳做带上的装饰，所以叫石带。后文第九十二回又写作“砗琚”。

CHAPTER 28. At Flower-Fruit Mountain a pack of fiends hold assembly; At the Black Pine Forest Tripitaka meets demons.

We were telling you about the Great Sage, who, though he was banished by the Tang Monk, was nevertheless filled with regret and nostalgia when he saw the Great Eastern Ocean. He said to himself, “I haven’t come this way for five hundred years!” This is what he saw as he looked at the ocean:

Vast, misty currents;

Huge, far-reaching waves—

Vast, misty currents that join the Milky Way;

Huge, far-reaching waves that touch the pulse of Earth.

The tide rises in salvos;

The water engulfs the bays—

The tide rises in salvos

Like the clap of thunder in Triple Spring;

The water engulfs the bays

As violent gales that blow in late summer.

Those old, blessed dragon-drivers1

Would travel no doubt with knitted brows;

Those young, immortal crane-riders

Would surely pass by anxious and tense.

No village appears near the shore;

Few fishing boats hug the water.

Waves roll like a thousand year’s snow;

Wind howls as if autumn’s in June.

Wild birds can come and go at will;

Water fowls may stay afloat or dive.

There’s no fisher before your eyes;

Your ears hear only the sea gulls.

Deep in the sea fishes frolic;

Across the sky wild geese languish.

With a bound, our Pilgrim leaped across the Great Eastern Ocean and soon arrived at the Flower-Fruit Mountain. Lowering the direction of his cloud, he stared all around. Alas, that mountain had neither flowers nor plants, while the mist and smoke seemed completely extinguished: cliffs and plateaus had collapsed and the trees had dried and withered. How had it all become like this, you ask. When Pilgrim disrupted Heaven and was taken captive to the Region Above, this mountain was burned to total ruin by the Illustrious Sage, Erlang God, who was leading the Seven Bond-Brothers of Plum Mountain. Our Great Sage became more grief stricken than ever, and he composed the following long poem in ancient style as a testimony. The poem says:

I view this divine mountain and tears fall;

I face it and my sorrows multiply.

The mountain, I thought then, would not be harmed;

Today I know this place has suffered loss.

Hateful was that Erlang who vanquished me,

That heinous Little Sage who oppressed me.

In violence he dug up my parental tombs;

With no cause he broke up my ancestral graves.

All Heaven’s mists and fog are now dispersed;

The whole land’s wind and clouds both dissipate.

None can hear a tiger’s roar on eastern peaks;

Who sees a white ape howling on western slopes?

The northern gorge has no trace of fox or hare;

All deer have vanished from the southern glen.

Green rocks are burned to form a thousand bricks;

The bright sand’s changed to a pile of dirt.

Tall pines outside the cave have fallen down;

Green cedars before the cliff are thin and scarce.

Chun, shan, huai, kui, li, and tan2 all are scorched;

Peach, pear, prune, plum, almond, and date are gone.

How could silkworms be fed with no mulberry?

Midst few bamboos and willows birds cannot live.

Well-formed rocks on the peak have turned to dust;

The brook’s water has dried up—all is grass.

No orchid grows on parched earth below the cliff;

Creepers o’erspread the brown mud by the road.

To what region have birds of past days flown?

To which mountain have the beasts of old retired?

This gutted spot that snakes and leopards loathe!

This blasted place that cranes and serpents shun!

It must be for evil deeds in former times

That I should this day suffer so much pain.

As the Great Sage was thus expressing his grief, seven or eight small monkeys suddenly leaped out with a cry from among the tall grass and bushes on the slope. They rushed forward to surround him and kowtow, shouting, “Father Great Sage! You’ve come home today?” “Why aren’t you all having a little fun?” asked the Handsome Monkey King. “Why is everyone in hiding? I’ve been back for quite a while, and I haven’t seen even the shadow of one of you! Why is that?” When the several monkeys heard these words, every one of them began to weep. “Since the Great Sage was taken captive to the Region Above,” they said, “we have been suffering from the hands of hunters, truly an unbearable affliction. How could we withstand those sharp arrows and strong bows, those yellow hawks and wicked hounds, those ensnaring nets and sickle-shaped spears! To preserve our lives, none of us dares come out to play; instead, we conceal ourselves deep in the cave dwelling or take refuge in some distant lairs. Only in hunger do we go steal some grass on the meadow for food, and in thirst we drink the clear liquid from downstream. Just now we heard the voice of our Father Great Sage, and that was why we came to receive you. We beg you to take care of us.”

When the Great Sage heard these words, he became more distressed. He then asked, “How many of you are there still in this mountain?” “Young and old,” said the monkeys, “altogether no more than a thousand.” The Great Sage said, “In former times, I had forty-seven thousand little monsters here. Where did they go?” The monkeys said, “When Father left, this mountain was burned by the Bodhisattva Erlang, and more than half of them were killed by the fire. Some of us managed to save our lives by squatting in the wells, diving into the brook, or hiding beneath the sheet iron bridge. When the fire was extinguished and the smoke cleared, we came out to find that flowers and fruits were no longer available for food. The difficulty in finding sustenance drove another half of the monkeys away, leaving those of us to suffer here in the mountain. These two years saw our number dwindle even further by more than half when hunters came to abduct us.”

“For what purpose?” asked Pilgrim. “Talk about those hunters,” said the monkeys, “they are truly abominable! Those of us who were shot by arrows, pierced by spears, or clubbed to death they took away for food to be served with rice. The dead monkeys would be skinned and boned, cooked with sauce and steamed with vinegar, fried with oil, and sauteed with salt. Those of us who were caught by the net or the trap would be led away live; they would be taught to skip ropes, to act, to somersault, and to do cartwheels. They would have to beat the drum and the gong on the streets and perform every kind of trick to entertain humans.”

When the Great Sage heard these words, he became terribly angry. “Who is in charge in the cave now?” he asked. “We still have Ma and Liu, the two marshals,” said the little fiends, “Peng and Ba, the two generals: they are in charge.” “Report to them at once,” said the Great Sage, “and say that I’ve returned.” Those little fiends dashed inside the cave and cried, “Father Great Sage has come home!” When Ma, Liu, Peng, and Ba heard the report, they rushed out of the door to kowtow and to receive him inside the cave. The Great Sage took a seat in the middle as the various fiends all lined up before him to pay homage. “Father Great Sage,” they said, “we heard recently that you had regained your life so that you could protect the Tang Monk on his journey to the Western Heaven to acquire scriptures. Why are you not heading toward the West? Why do you come back to this mountain?”

“Little ones,” said the Great Sage, “you have no idea that the Tang Monk is wholly ignorant of who is worthy and who is foolish. For his sake, I caught fiends and overcame demons throughout the journey, using all my abilities. Several times I slew a monster, but, accusing me of doing evil and violence, he disowned me as his disciple and banished me back here. He even wrote me a formal letter of banishment as proof that he would never want to use me again.”

Clapping their hands and roaring with laughter, the monkeys said, “Lucky! Lucky! What do you want to be a monk for? Come home and you can lead us to have a few years’ fun. Quick! Let’s bring out the coconut wine for the reception of Father.” “Let’s not drink wine just yet,” said the Great Sage. “Let me ask you, how often do those hunters come to our mountain?” “Great Sage,” said Ma and Liu, “there’s no telling of time. They are here every day to make trouble.” The Great Sage asked, “Why aren’t they here today?” Ma and Liu replied, “Just wait and you’ll see them come.”

The Great Sage gave this order: “Little ones, go up to the mountain and bring me the rocks that have been burned to small pieces. Pile them up around here in piles of thirty or sixty pieces. I have use for them.” Those little monkeys were like a cloud of bees; they swarmed all over the mountain and brought back the rock pieces and piled them together. When the Great Sage saw that, he said, “Little ones, go hide in the cave. Let old Monkey exercise his magic.” Our Great Sage went straight up to the peak to look around, and he saw over a thousand men and horses approaching from the southern half of the mountain. Beating drums and striking gongs, they were holding spears and swords, leading hawks and hounds. When the Monkey King stared carefully at them, they appeared to be most ferocious indeed. Dear men! Truly fierce! He saw

Fox skins covered their heads and backs;

Silk brocades wrapped around their torsos;

Quivers full of wolf-teeth arrows;3

And carved bows hung on their thighs.

The men seemed mountain-prowling tigers;

The horses, like brook-leaping dragons.

The whole group of men led their hounds,

As hawks perched on all their shoulders.

They hauled fire cannons4 in baskets.

They had also eagles most fierce,

And hundreds of poles with birdlimes,

And thousands of forks to catch rabbits;

Dragnets like those used by bullheads,

And lassos tossed by King Yama.

They yelled and shrieked altogether,

Causing confusion far and near.

When the Great Sage saw those men swarming up his mountain, he became terribly angry. Making the magic sign with his fingers and reciting a spell, he drew in a breath facing the southwest and blew it out. At once a violent wind arose. Marvelous wind!

It threw up dust and scattered dirt;

It toppled trees and cut down forests.

The ocean waves rose like mountains;

They crashed fold upon fold on the shore.

The cosmos grew dim and darkened;

The sun and the moon lost their light.

The pine trees, once shaken, roared like tigers;

The bamboos, hit abruptly, sang like dragons.

All Heaven’s pores let loose their angry breaths

As rocks and sand flew, hurting one and all.

The Great Sage called up this mighty wind that blew up and scattered those rock pieces in every direction. Pity those thousand-odd hunters and horses! This was what happened to every one of them:

The rocks broke their dark heads to pieces;5

Flying sand hurt all the winged horses.

Lords and nobles confounded before the peak,

Blood stained like cinnabar the earth.

Fathers and sons could not go home.

Could fine men to their houses return?

Corpses fell to the dust and lay on the mountain,

While rouged ladies at home waited.

The poem says:

Men killed, horses dead—how could they go home?

Lost, lonely souls floundered like tangled hemp.

Pity those strong and virile fighting men,

Whose blood, both good and bad, did stain the sand!

Lowering the direction of his cloud, the Great Sage clapped his hands and roared with laughter, saying, “Lucky! Lucky! Since I made submission to the Tang Monk and became a priest, he has been giving me this advice:

‘Do good a thousand days,

But the good is still insufficient;

Do evil for one day,

And that evil is already excessive.’

Some truth indeed! When I followed him and killed a few monsters, he would blame me for perpetrating violence. Today I came home and it was the merest trifle to finish off all these hunters.”

He then shouted, “Little ones, come out!” When those monkeys saw that the violent wind had passed and heard the Great Sage calling, they all jumped out. “Go down to the south side of the mountain,” said the Great Sage, “and strip the dead hunters of their clothes. Bring them back home, wash away the bloodstains, and you all can wear them to ward off the cold. The corpses you can push into the deep mountain lake over there. Pull back here also the horses that are killed; their hides can be used to make boots, and their meat can be cured for us to enjoy slowly. Gather up the bows and arrows, the swords and spears, and you can use them for military drills again. And finally, bring me those banners of miscellaneous colors; I have use for them.”

Every one of the monkeys obeyed these instructions. Pulling down the banners and washing them clean, the Great Sage then patched them together into a large banner of many colors, on which he wrote the following words in large letters: The Flower-Fruit Mountain Rebuilt, the Water-Curtain Cave Restored—Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. A flagpole was erected outside the cave to hang up the banner. Thereafter, he gathered together more fiends and beasts by the day, and he stored up all kinds of foodstuff. The word “monk” was never mentioned again. As he enjoyed wide friendship and great power, he had no trouble in borrowing some sweet, divine water from the Dragon Kings of the Four Oceans to wash his mountain and make it green again. He next planted elms and willows in front, pines and cedars in the back; peach, pear, date, and plum—he had them all. He then sett led down to enjoy life without a care, and we shall speak no more of him for the moment.

We now tell you about the Tang Monk, who listened to Crafty Nature and banished the Monkey of the Mind. He mounted his horse to head for the West as Eight Rules led the way in front, while Sha Monk poled the luggage in the rear. After they passed the White Tiger Ridge, they came upon a large forest, full of vines and creepers, green pines and cedars. “Disciples,” said Tripitaka, “the mountain road is already rough and difficult to negotiate. And now we have a thick and dark pine forest. Do be careful. I fear that we may run into some fiends or monstrous beasts.” But look at Idiot! Rousing his energies, he told Sha Monk to take hold of the horse, while he himself used his muckrake to open up a path in front and led the Tang Monk directly into the pine forest. As they journeyed, the elder stopped the horse and said, “Eight Rules, I’m getting really hungry today. Where can you find me some vegetarian food to eat?” “Please dismount, Master,” said Eight Rules, “and let old Hog go find some for you.” The elder descended from his horse. Sha Monk put down his load and took out the alms bowl to hand over to Eight Rules. Eight Rules said, “I’m off!” “Where to?” asked the elder. “Never mind,” said Eight Rules. “Once I go, I will

Drill ice for fire6 to find your maigre,

And press snow for oil to beg your rice.”

Look at him! He left the pine forest and walked toward the West for over ten miles, but he did not come upon even a single household. It was truly a place more inhabited by tigers and wolves than by humans. When Idiot became tired from walking, he thought to himself, “When Pilgrim was here, whatever that old priest wanted he got. Today, it’s my turn to serve, and it’s like what the proverb says:

You know the cost of rice and firewood when you run a house;

You realize your parents’ kindness when you bring up a child!

Where in the world can I go to beg for food?” He walked some more and became rather drowsy. He thought to himself, “If I go back now and tell that old priest that there’s no place here for me to beg for vegetarian food even after traveling all this distance, he won’t believe me. I must find some means to while away another hour or so before I go back to answer him. Well, well! Let’s take a nap here in the grass.” Idiot indeed put his head in the grass and lay down. At the time, he thought that he would doze for awhile and then get up, but little did he realize how fatigued he was from all that walking. Once he lay down his head, he fell into a deep, snoring slumber.

For the time being, we shall speak no more of Eight Rules asleep in this place. We tell you instead about the elder in the forest, who grew so restless and anxious that his ears became flushed and his eyes began to tic. He turned quickly and said to Sha Monk, “Why hasn’t Wuneng returned from his trip to beg for food?” “Master,” said Sha Monk, “don’t you understand? When he sees how many families there are in this region of the West who love to feed monks, he’s not going to worry about you, is he, especially when he has so large a stomach! He’s not going to come back until he’s completely filled!” “You are right,” said Tripitaka. “But if he is staying at some place just to satisfy his hankering for food, where are we going to meet him? It’s getting late, and this is no place to live. We better find some lodging.” “Don’t worry, Master,” said Sha Monk, “you sit here and let me find him.” “Yes, yes,” said Tripitaka, “it doesn’t matter whether there’s food or not. But it’s important for us to find a place to stay.” Grasping his precious staff, Sha Monk left the pine forest to search for Eight Rules.

The elder, sitting alone in the forest, became so weary and fatigued that he had to force himself to summon enough energy to get up. Putting the luggage together in a pile and tying the horse to a tree, he took off his wide splint hat, stuck his priestly staff into the ground, and straightened his clerical robe in order to take a walk in this secluded forest just to rid himself of his depression. He looked at all the wild grass and untended flowers, but he did not hear any chattering of birds heading homeward. The forest, you see, was a place of tall grass and small paths. Because he was rather confused he soon lost his way. He had, to be sure, wanted to dispel his boredom in the first place, and to find Eight Rules and Sha Monk in the second. Little did he realize that they were proceeding westward, whereas he himself, after going in circles for awhile, was heading south. As he emerged from the pine forest, he raised his head and saw all at once flashes of golden light and colorful mists ahead of him. He looked more carefully and found that it was a bejeweled pagoda, whose golden dome was gleaming in the rays of the setting sun. “This disciple truly has no affinity!” he said to himself. “When I left the Land of the East, I made a vow to burn incense in every temple, to worship Buddha when I saw an image of Buddha, and to sweep a pagoda if I came upon a pagoda. Isn’t that a golden pagoda that is so brilliant over there? Why didn’t I take this road before? Beneath the pagoda there must be a temple, inside of which there must also be a monastery. Let me walk over there. It’s all right, I suppose, to leave the white horse and the luggage here since there is no one passing by. If there’s any space there, I’ll wait till my disciples return and we can all ask for lodging for the night.”

Alas, the time of that elder’s misfortune has indeed arrived! Look at him! He strode forward and went up to the side of the pagoda. There he saw

Boulders ten thousand feet tall;

A large bluff reaching the green sky:

Its roots joining the thick earth,

Its peaks sticking into Heaven.

Several thousand trees of all kinds on both sides;

A hundred miles of snarled creepers front and back.

Bright flowers on grass tips, the wind had its shadows.

In flowing water’s parted clouds the moon had no root.7

Fallen logs rested in deep streams;

Dried tendrils entangled bare summits.

Beneath a stone bridge

Flowed a bubbling clear stream;

On top of a terrace

Grew flourlike white blossoms.

When seen from afar it seemed the Paradise of Three Isles;

When you drew near it appeared like the lovely Penglai.

Purple bamboos and scented pines enclosed the mountain brook;

Crows, magpies, and monkeys cut through the rugged ridge.

Outside a cave

There were herds of wild beasts coming and going;

In the woods

There were flocks of birds leaving or returning.

In lovely green the fragrant plants thrived;

Radiantly the wild flowers bloomed.

This region, nonetheless,8 was an evil place.

It was the elder’s bad luck to come barging in!

The elder strode up to the door of the pagoda and found a mottled bamboo curtain hanging inside. Walking inside the door, he lifted up the curtain to proceed further when suddenly he saw before him a monster asleep on a stone couch. “How does he look?” you ask.

Indigo face,

Long white fangs,

And a big gaping mouth!

Tousled hair on the head’s two sides

Seemed as if it had been dyed red by rouge.

A few stubs of deep purple beard

Bore the look of lychee sprouting.

A nose curvate like a parrot’s beak,

And eyes glowing like the morning stars.

His two huge fists

Had the shape of a monk’s alms bowl.

Two blue-veined feet

Forked like branches dangling down a cliff.

Half covered by a light yellow robe,

Better than the silk-brocade cassock,

He still grasped a scimitar

Which gleamed and glittered.

He slept on a slab of stone

Both flawless and smooth.

He had led young fiends to make formations like ants,

And old demons to rule with order like bees.

Look at his awesome bearing,

When all his subjects

Raised the cry, “Sire!”

He had made the moon his third friend as he sipped his wine;9

He had felt the wind grow beneath his arms as tea was poured.

Look at his vast magic power!

In the twinkling of an eye

He could tour all the Heavens.

In his wild woods screeched birds and fowls;

In his dens slept dragons and snakes.

Immortals tilled his fields to grow white jade;

Daoists calmed his fire to raise cinnabar.

A door of a small cave

Did not, of course, lead to the Hell, Avīci;

But such an ugly monster

Seemed truly a bullheaded yakṣa!

When the elder saw that kind of appearance, he retreated in horror as his body turned numb and his legs flabby. He tried to turn and run, but just as he got out of the door, the monster, who was a rather alert creature, opened his demonic eyes with golden pupils and shouted, “Little ones, go see who is outside our door!” A little fiend stuck his head out the door and saw that it was a baldheaded elder. He ran quickly inside and reported, “Great King! It’s a priest outside. He has a round head and a large face, with two ears hanging down to his shoulders. He has a body full of tender flesh and very fine skin. He’s a good-looking priest!” When the monster heard these words, he laughed aloud, saying, “This is like what the proverb says:

Flies atop a serpent’s head—

Food by itself presented!

You, little ones. Chase him down and bring him back here. I have great rewards for you.” Those little fiends rushed out of the door like a swarm of bees.

When Tripitaka saw them, his mind wanted him to move like an arrow and his feet wanted to fly; but he quivered and shook, and his feet were numb and flaccid. Moreover, the mountain road was rugged, the forest was dark, and it was getting late. How could he possibly move fast enough? The little fiends ran him down and hauled him back bodily. Truly, it is like

The dragon in shallow water teased by shrimps,

The tiger on level ground mocked by dogs.

A noble venture may have many snags.

Who’s like the Tang Monk when he faces the West?

Look at those little fiends! After having carried the elder back and put him down outside the bamboo curtain, they ran happily to make this report: “Great King, we have caught the monk and brought him back.” The old monster stole a glance at Tripitaka and saw that he had an erect head and a handsome face. He was indeed a good-looking priest. The monster thought to himself, “Such a good-looking priest must be someone from a noble nation. I can’t treat him lightly. If I didn’t show him who’s boss here, would he willingly submit to me?” Like a fox affecting the authority of a tiger, he all at once bristled up his red hairs and whiskers while his eyes split wide open. “Bring that monk in!” he bellowed. “Yes, sir!” the various fiends shouted in response, as they shoved Tripitaka inside. As the proverb has it,

Standing beneath low-pitched eaves,

How could one not bow his head?

Tripitaka had no choice but to fold his hands and greet him.

“From what region are you, monk?” demanded the monster. “Where did you come from? Where are you going? Tell us quickly!” “I’m a monk from the Tang court,” said Tripitaka. “Having received the imperial decree of the Great Tang Emperor to seek scriptures in the West, I passed by your noble mountain and decided to seek an audience with the sage beneath this pagoda. I have no intention to disturb Your Eminence. Please forgive me. When I return to the Land of the East after acquiring scriptures in the West, your illustrious name will be recorded gratefully for posterity.”

When the monster heard these words, he roared with laughter, saying, “I said to myself that you were from a noble nation. So you are indeed! You’re exactly the person I want to eat! It’s marvelous that you presented yourself here. Otherwise, I might have missed you. You are ordained to be the food of my mouth. Since you have barged in here all by yourself, I couldn’t let you go even if I wanted to. And you couldn’t escape even if you wanted to!” He then ordered the little fiends, “Tie up that monk.” The little fiends rushed forward and fastened the elder firmly with ropes to the Spirit-Soothing Pillar.10

Grasping his scimitar, the old monster asked again, “Monk, how many persons are there in your entourage? Don’t tell me you dare go up to the Western Heaven all by yourself!” When Tripitaka saw him picking up the scimitar, he said candidly, “Great King, I have two disciples named Zhu Eight Rules and Sha Monk. They all left the pine forest to go beg for food. I have, moreover, one load of luggage and a white horse, which I left in the forest.” “That’s luckier yet!” said the old monster. “Two disciples including you make three, and there are really four of you if we count the horse. That’s enough for a meal!”

“Let’s go and catch them too,” said the little fiends. “Don’t go out,” said the old monster, “but shut the door instead. After begging the food, those disciples would bring it to their master; when they can’t find him, they will surely come seeking right up to our door. The proverb says, ‘Business at one’s own door is easier to do.’ Let’s take our time and catch them then.” The little fiends indeed closed the front door.

We speak no more of Tripitaka who met disaster; we tell you instead about Sha Monk, who left the pine forest looking for Eight Rules. He walked for over ten miles but did not see even a village or hamlet. He went up to a knoll to look all around when suddenly he heard someone speaking in the grass down below. Pushing the tall grass apart hurriedly with his staff, he found Idiot inside talking in his sleep. Sha Monk gave one of the huge ears a hard tug and cried, “Dear Idiot! Master told you to beg for food. Did he give you permission to sleep here?” Idiot woke up with a start, mumbling, “Brother, what time is it?” “Get up, quick!” said Sha Monk. “Master said that it didn’t matter whether there was food or not. He told us to try finding a place to stay instead.”

Picking up the alms bowl and toting his muckrake, Idiot walked back stupidly with Sha Monk. When they reached the forest, their master was nowhere to be seen. Sha Monk began to berate him, saying, “It’s all because of you, Idiot, for taking such a long time to find some food. Master must have been seized by a monster.” “Brother,” said Eight Rules, laughing, “don’t talk nonsense. This forest is a pure, lovely place and it definitely cannot harbor a monster. It must be that that old priest cannot sit still and has gone sightseeing somewhere. Let’s go find him.” The two of them picked up the hat and the priestly staff before they left the pine forest, leading the horse and poling the luggage as they searched for their master.

It happened that the Tang Monk at this time was not yet destined to die. Having looked for him for some time to no avail, his two disciples saw beams of golden light coming from the south. “Brother,” said Eight Rules, “the blessed will only receive more blessings! Master, you see, must have gone to that bejeweled pagoda over there that is giving off that light. Who will dare to be inhospitable at a place like that? They must insist on preparing vegetarian food and his staying to enjoy it. Why aren’t we moving? We should get there and have something, too.” “Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, “you can’t tell whether it’s a good place or not. Let’s go and have a look first.” The two of them walked boldly up to the door of the edifice and found that it was closed. Across the top of the door was a slab of white jade on which were written in large letters the following words: Casserole Mountain, Current-Moon Cave.

“Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, “this is no monastery. It’s a cave-dwelling of a monster. Even if Master were here, I doubt if we could see him.”

“Don’t be alarmed, Brother,” said Eight Rules. “Tie up the horse and stand guard over our luggage. Let me question them.” Holding high his muckrake, Idiot went forward and shouted, “Open the door! Open the door!” The little fiend who was standing guard inside opened the door. When he saw the two of them, he ran quickly to report, “Great King, business is here.” “What sort of business?” asked the old monster. “There is a monk with large ears and a long mouth outside our cave,” replied the little fiend, “and there is also another monk with the gloomiest appearance. They came calling at our door.” Greatly pleased, the old monster said, “They have to be Zhu Eight Rules and Sha Monk! Ho-ho! They know where to look all right! How did they manage to find our door so swiftly? Well, if they appear so audacious, let’s not treat them casually. Bring me my armor!” The little fiend brought it out and helped him put it on. Grasping the scimitar, the old monster walked out of the door.

Eight Rules and Sha Monk were waiting outside the door when they saw this savage fiend emerge. “How did he look?” you ask.

Green face, red beard, and floppy scarlet hair.

His yellow gold cuirass both sparkled and gleamed.

A belt inlaid with ribbed shells wrapped his waist;

A silk sash wound tightly round his armored chest.

The wind howled when he stood idly on the mount;

The waves churned when he glumly roamed the seas.

A pair of hands with veins both brown and blue

Grasped firmly the soul-snatching scimitar.

If you would learn this creature’s given name,

Remember Yellow Robe, two famous words.

That Old Monster Yellow Robe came out of the door and asked at once, “Where are you from, monk, that you dare cause this racket before my door?” “My child,” said Eight Rules, “don’t you recognize me? I’m your venerable father! I’m one sent by the Great Tang to go to the Western Heaven, for my master happens to be the royal brother, Tipitaka. If he’s in your house, send him out at once. That’ll spare me having to level it with my rake!” “Yes, yes,” said the fiend with a laugh, “there’s a Tang Monk in my house, and I haven’t denied him any hospitality either. I was just preparing some buns filled with human flesh for him to enjoy. You two can go inside and have one also. How about it?”

Idiot indeed would have gone inside immediately if Sha Monk had not pulled him back, saying, “Elder Brother, he’s deceiving you. Since when did you start eating human flesh again?” Only then did Idiot realize his mistake. Raising his muckrake, he brought it down hard on the monster’s face. The monster stepped aside to dodge the blow and then turned to meet him with uplifted scimitar. The two of them, summoning their magic powers, mounted the clouds to fight in midair. Sha Monk abandoned the luggage and the white horse; wielding his precious staff, he joined the fray also. At this time, two fierce monks and one brazen monster began a savage battle on the edge of the clouds. Thus it was that

The staff rose high, met by the scimitar;

The muckrake came, blocked by the scimitar.

One demon warrior used his power;

Two divine monks displayed their might.

The nine-pronged rake, how truly heroic!

The fiend-routing staff, ferocious indeed!

Their blows fell left and right, in front and back,

But squire Yellow Robe showed no fear at all.

See his steel scimitar shining like silver!

And, in truth, his magic power was great.

They fought till all the sky

Was fogbound and beclouded;

And in midmountain

Stones cracked and cliff sides collapsed.

This one, for the sake of his fame,

How could he give up?

That one for the sake of his master

Would surely show no fear.

The three of them closed in again and again in midair for scores of times but a decision could not be reached. Though each of them cared for his life, none of them was about to be separated. We do not know how the disciples manage to rescue the Tang Monk; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.