第三十五回

第三十五回 外道施威欺正性 心猿获宝伏邪魔

本性圆明道自通，翻身跳出网罗中。

修成变化非容易，炼就长生岂俗同？

清浊几番随运转，辟开数劫任西东。

逍遥万亿年无计，一点神光永注空。

此诗暗合孙大圣的道妙[1]。他自得了那魔真宝，笼在袖中，喜道：“泼魔苦苦用心拿我，诚所谓水中捞月；老孙若要擒你，就好似火上弄冰。”藏着葫芦，密密的溜出门外，现了本相，厉声高叫道：“精怪开门！”旁有小妖道：“你又是甚人，敢来吆喝？”行者道：“快报与你那老泼魔，吾乃行者孙来也。”

那小妖急入里报道：“大王，门外有个甚么行者孙来了。”老魔大惊道：“贤弟，不好了！惹动他一窝风了！幌金绳现拴着孙行者，葫芦里现装着者行孙，怎么又有个甚么行者孙？想是他几个兄弟都来了。”二魔道：“兄长放心，我这葫芦装下一千人哩。我才装了者行孙一个，又怕那甚么行者孙！等我出去看看，一发装来。”老魔道：“兄弟仔细。”

你看那二魔拿着个假葫芦，还像前番，雄纠纠，气昂昂，走出门高呼道：“你是那里人氏，敢在此间吆喝？”行者道：“你认不得我？

家居花果山，祖贯水帘洞。

只为闹天宫，多时罢争竞。

如今幸脱灾，弃道从僧用。

秉教上雷音，求经归觉正。

相逢野泼魔，却把神通弄。

还我大唐僧，上西参佛圣。

两家罢战争，各守平安径。

休惹老孙焦，伤残老性命！”

那魔道：“你且过来。我不与你相打，但我叫你一声，你敢应么？”行者笑道：“你叫我，我就应了。我若叫你，你可应么？”那魔道：“我叫你，是我有个宝贝葫芦，可以装人。你叫我，却有何物？”行者道：“我也有个葫芦儿。”那魔道：“既有，拿出来我看。”行者就于袖中取出葫芦道：“泼魔，你看！”幌一幌，复藏在袖中，恐他来抢。

那魔见了大惊道：“他葫芦是那里来的？怎么就与我的一般？……纵是一根藤上结的，也有个大小不同，偏正不一，却怎么一般无二？”他便正色叫道：“行者孙，你那葫芦是那里来的？”行者委的不知来历，接过口来，就问他一句道：“你那葫芦是那里来的？”那魔不知是个见识，只道是句老实言语，就将根本从头说出道：“我这葫芦是混沌初分，天开地辟，有一位太上老祖，解化女娲之名，炼石补天，普救阎浮世界；补到乾宫夬地[2]，见一座昆仑山脚下，有一缕仙藤，上结着这个紫金红葫芦，却便是老君留下到如今者。”大圣闻言，就绰了他口气道：“我的葫芦，也是那里来的。”魔头道：“怎见得？”大圣道：“自清浊初开，天不满西北，地不满东南，太上道祖解化女娲，补完天缺，行至昆仑山下，有根仙藤，藤结有两个葫芦。我得一个是雄的，你那个却是雌的。”那怪道：“莫说雌雄，但只装得人的，就是好宝贝。”大圣道：“你也说得是，我就让你先装。”

那怪甚喜，急纵身跳将起去，到空中，执着葫芦，叫一声：“行者孙。”大圣听得，却就不歇气连应了八九声，只是不能装去。那魔坠将下来，跌脚捶胸道：“天那！只说世情不改变哩！这样个宝贝，也怕老公，雌见了雄，就不敢装了！”行者笑道：“你且收起，轮到老孙该叫你哩。”急纵筋斗，跳起去，将葫芦底儿朝天，口儿朝地，照定妖魔，叫声：“银角大王。”那怪不敢闭口，只得应了一声，倏的装在里面，被行者贴上“太上老君急急如律令奉敕”的帖子，心中暗喜道：“我的儿，你今日也来试试新了！”

他就按落云头，拿着葫芦，心心念念，只是要救师父，又往莲花洞口而来。那山上都是些洼踏不平之路，况他又是个圈盘腿，拐呀拐的走着，摇的那葫芦里漷漷索索，响声不绝。你道他怎么便有响声？原来孙大圣是熬炼过的身体，急切化他不得；那怪虽也能腾云驾雾，不过是些法术，大端是凡胎未脱，到于宝贝里就化了。行者还不当他就化了，笑道：“我儿子啊，不知是撒尿耶，不知是漱口哩，这是老孙干过的买卖。不等到七八日，化成稀汁，我也不揭盖来看。——忙怎的？有甚要紧？想着我出来的容易，就该千年不看才好！”他拿着葫芦，说着话，不觉的到了洞口，把那葫芦摇摇，一发响了。他道：“这个像发课[3]的筒子响，倒好发课。等老孙发一课，看师父甚么时才得出门。”你看他手里不住的摇，口里不住的念道：“周易文王、孔子圣人、桃花女先生[4]、鬼谷子先生……”

那洞里小妖看见道：“大王，祸事了！行者孙把二大王爷爷装在葫芦里发课哩！”那老魔闻得此言，唬得魂飞魄散，骨软筋麻，扑的跌倒在地，放声大哭道：“贤弟呀！我和你私离上界，转托尘凡，指望同享荣华，永为山洞之主，怎知为这和尚，伤了你的性命，断吾手足之情！”满洞群妖，一齐痛哭。

猪八戒吊在梁上，听得他一家子齐哭，忍不住叫道：“妖精，你且莫哭，等老猪讲与你听。先来的孙行者，次来的者行孙，后来的行者孙，反复三字，都是我师兄一人。他有七十二变化，腾那进来，盗了宝贝，装了令弟。令弟已是死了，不必这等扛丧[5]，快些儿刷净锅灶，办些香蕈、蘑菇、茶芽、竹笋、豆腐、面筋、木耳、蔬菜，请我师徒们下来，与你令弟念卷《受生经》。”那老魔闻言，心中大怒道：“只说猪八戒老实，原来甚不老实！他倒作笑话儿打觑[6]我！”叫小妖：“且休举哀！把猪八戒解下来，蒸得稀烂，等我吃饱了，再去拿孙行者报仇。”沙僧埋怨八戒道：“好么！我说教你莫多话，多话的要先蒸吃哩！”那呆子也尽有几分悚惧。旁一小妖道：“大王，猪八戒不好蒸。”八戒道：“阿弥陀佛！是那位哥哥积阴德的？果是不好蒸。”又有一个妖道：“将他皮剥了，就好蒸。”八戒慌了道：“好蒸！好蒸！皮骨虽然粗糙，汤滚就烂。户[7]！户！”

正嚷处，只见前门外一个小妖报道：“行者孙又骂上门来了！”那老魔又大惊道：“这厮轻我无人！”叫：“小的们，且把猪八戒照旧吊起，查一查还有几件宝贝。”管家的小妖道：“洞中还有三件宝贝哩。”老魔问：“是那三件？”管家的道：“还有七星剑、芭蕉扇与净瓶。”老魔道：“那瓶子不中用，原是叫人，人应了就装得，转把个口诀儿教了那孙行者，倒把自家兄弟装去了。不用他，放在家里。快将剑与扇子拿来。”那管家的即将两件宝贝献与老魔。老魔将芭蕉扇插在后项衣领，把七星剑提在手中，又点起大小群妖，有三百多名，都教一个个拈枪弄棒，理索抡刀。这老魔却顶盔贯甲，罩一领赤焰焰的丝袍。群妖摆出阵去，要拿孙大圣。那孙大圣早已知二魔化在葫芦里面，却将他紧紧拴扣停当，撒在腰间，手持着金箍棒，准备厮杀。只见那老妖红旗招展，跳出门来。却怎生打扮？

头上盔缨光焰焰，腰间带束彩霞鲜。

身穿铠甲龙鳞砌，上罩红袍烈火然。

圆眼睛开光掣电，钢须飘起乱飞烟。

七星宝剑轻提手，芭蕉扇子半遮肩。

行似流云离海岳，声如霹雳震山川。

威风凛凛欺天将，怒帅群妖出洞前。

那老魔急令小妖摆开阵势，骂道：“你这猴子，十分无礼！害我兄弟，伤我手足，着然可恨！”行者骂道：“你这讨死的怪物！你一个妖精的性命舍不得，似我师父、师弟连马四个生灵，平白的吊在洞里，我心何忍！情理何甘！快快的送将出来还我，多多贴些盘费，喜喜欢欢打发老孙起身，还饶了你这个老妖的狗命！”那怪那容分说，举宝剑劈头就砍。这大圣使铁棒举手相迎。这一场在洞门外好杀！咦！

金箍棒与七星剑，对撞霞光如闪电。悠悠冷气逼人寒，荡荡昏云遮岭堰。那个皆因手足情，些儿不放善；这个只为取经僧，毫厘不容缓。两家各恨一般仇，二处每怀生怒怨。只杀得天昏地暗鬼神惊，日淡烟浓龙虎战。这个咬牙锉玉钉，那个怒目飞金焰。一来一往逞英雄，不住翻腾棒与剑。

这老魔与大圣战经二十回合，不分胜负。他把那剑梢一指，叫声“小妖齐来！”那三百馀精一齐拥上，把行者围在垓心。好大圣，公然无惧，使一条棒，左冲右撞，后抵前遮。那小妖都有手段，越打越上，一似绵絮缠身，搂腰扯腿，莫肯退后。大圣慌了，即使个身外身法，将左胁下毫毛拔了一把，嚼碎喷去，喝声叫：“变！”一根根都变做行者。你看他长的使棒，短的抡拳，再小的没处下手，抱着孤拐啃筋，把那小妖都打得星落云散，齐声喊道：“大王啊，事不谐矣！难矣乎哉！满地盈山，皆是孙行者了！”被这身外法把群妖打退，止撇得老魔围困中间，赶得东奔西走，出路无门。

那魔慌了，将左手擎着宝剑，右手伸于项后，取出芭蕉扇子，望东南丙丁火，正对离宫[8]，唿喇的一扇子搧将下来，只见那就地上火光焰焰。原来这般宝贝，平白地搧出火来。那怪物着实无情，一连搧了七八扇子，熯[9]天炽地，烈火飞腾。好火：

那火不是天上火，不是炉中火，也不是山头火，也不是灶底火，乃是五行中自然取出的一点灵光火。这扇也不是凡间常有之物，也不是人工造就之物，乃是自开辟混沌以来产成的珍宝之物。用此扇，搧此火，煌煌烨烨，就如电掣红绡；灼灼辉辉，却似霞飞绛绮。更无一缕青烟，尽是满山赤焰。只烧得岭上松翻成火树，崖前柏变作灯笼。那窝中走兽贪性命，西撞东奔；这林内飞禽惜羽毛，高飞远举。这场神火飘空燎，只烧得石烂溪干遍地红！

大圣见此恶火，却也心惊胆颤，道声：“不好了！我本身可处，毫毛不济，一落这火中，岂不真如燎毛之易？”将身一抖，遂将毫毛收上身来，只将一根变作假身子，避火逃灾。他的真身捻着避火诀，纵筋斗跳将起去，脱离了大火之中，径奔他莲花洞里，想着要救师父。急到门前，把云头按落，又见那洞门外有百十个小妖，都破头折脚，肉绽皮开。原来都是他分身法打伤了的，都在这里声声唤唤，忍疼而立。大圣见了，按不住恶性凶顽，抡起铁棒，一路打将进去。可怜把那苦炼人身的功果息，依然是块旧皮毛！

那大圣打绝了小妖，撞入洞里，要解师父，又见那内面有火光焰焰，唬得他手慌脚忙道：“罢了！罢了！这火从后门口烧起来，老孙却难救师父也！”正悚惧处，仔细看时，呀！原来不是火光，却是一道金光。他正了性，往里视之，乃羊脂玉净瓶放光，却自心中欢喜道：“好宝贝耶！这瓶子曾是那小妖拿在山上放光，老孙得了，不想那怪又复搜去，今日藏在这里，原来也放光。”你看他窃了这瓶子，喜喜欢欢，且不救师父，急抽身往洞外而走。才出门，只见那妖魔提着宝剑，拿着扇子，从南而来。孙大圣回避不及，被那老魔喝道：“那里走！”举剑劈头就砍。大圣急纵筋斗云，跳将起去，无影无踪的逃了不题。

却说那怪到得门口，但见尸横满地，就是他手下的群精，慌得仰天长叹，止不住放声大哭道：“苦哉！痛哉！”有诗为证。诗曰：

可恨猿乖马劣顽，灵胎转托降尘凡。

只因错念离天阙，致使忘形落此山。

鸿雁失群情切切，妖兵绝族泪潺潺。

何时孽满开愆锁，返本还原上御关？

那老魔惭惶不已，一步一声，哭入洞内。只见那什物家火俱在，只落得静悄悄没个人形，悲切切愈加凄惨。独自个坐在洞中，蹋伏在那石案之上，将宝剑斜倚案边，把扇子插于肩后，昏昏默默睡着了。这正是“人逢喜事精神爽，闷上心来瞌睡多”。

话说孙大圣拨转筋斗云，伫立山前，想着要救师父，把那净瓶儿牢扣腰间，径来洞口打探。见那门开两扇，静悄悄的不闻消耗[10]，随即轻轻移步，潜入里边。只见那魔斜倚石案，呼呼睡着，芭蕉扇褪出肩衣，半盖着脑后，七星剑还斜倚案边，却被他轻轻的走上前拔了扇子，急回头，呼的一声跑将出去。原来这扇柄儿刮着那怪的头发，早惊醒他。抬头看时，是孙行者偷了，急慌忙执剑来赶。那大圣早已跳出门前，将扇子撒在腰间，双手抡开铁棒，与那魔抵敌。这一场好杀：

恼坏泼妖王，怒发冲冠志。恨不过挝来囫囵吞，难解心头气。恶口骂猢狲：“你老大将人戏！伤我若干生，还来偷宝贝。这场决不容，定见存亡计！”大圣喝妖魔：“你好不知趣！徒弟要与老孙争，累卵焉能击石碎？”宝剑来，铁棒去，两家更不留仁义。一翻二复赌输赢，三转四回施武艺。盖为取经僧，灵山参佛位，致令金火不相投，五行拨乱伤和气；扬威耀武显神通，走石飞沙弄本事。交锋渐渐日将晡，魔头力怯先回避。

那老魔与大圣战经三四十合，天将晚矣，抵敌不住，败下阵来，径往西南上，投奔压龙洞去不题。

这大圣才按落云头，闯入莲花洞里，解下唐僧与八戒、沙和尚来。他三人脱得灾危，谢了行者，却问：“妖魔那里去了？”行者道：“二魔已装在葫芦里，想是这会子已化了。大魔才然一阵战败，往西南压龙山去讫。概洞小妖，被老孙分身法打死一半，还有些败残回的，又被老孙杀绝，方才得入此处，解放你们。”唐僧谢之不尽道：“徒弟啊，多亏你受了劳苦！”行者笑道：“诚然劳苦。你们还只是吊着受疼，我老孙再不曾住脚，比急递铺[11]的铺兵还甚，反复里外，奔波无已。因是偷了他的宝贝，方能平退妖魔。”猪八戒道：“师兄，你把那葫芦儿拿出来与我们看看，只怕那二魔已化了也。”大圣先将净瓶解下，又将金绳与扇子取出，然后把葫芦儿拿在手道：“莫看！莫看！他先曾装了老孙，被老孙漱口，哄得他揭开盖子，老孙方得走了。我等切莫揭盖，只怕他也会弄喧[12]走了。”师徒们喜喜欢欢，将他那洞中的米面菜蔬寻出，烧刷了锅灶，安排些素斋吃了。饱餐一顿，安寝洞中，一夜无词。早又天晓。

却说那老魔径投压龙山，会聚了大小女怪，备言打杀母亲，装了兄弟，绝灭妖兵，偷骗宝贝之事，众女怪一齐大哭。哀痛多时道：“你等且休凄惨。我身边还有这口七星剑，欲会汝等女兵，都去压龙山后，会借外家亲戚，断要拿住那孙行者报仇。”说不了，有门外小妖报道：“大王，山后老舅爷帅领若干兵卒来也。”老魔闻言，急换了缟素孝服，躬身迎接。原来那老舅爷是他母亲之弟，名唤狐阿七大王。因闻得哨山的妖兵报道，他姐姐被孙行者打死，假变姐形，盗了外甥宝贝，连日在平顶山拒敌。他却帅本洞妖兵二百馀名，特来助阵，故此先拢姐家问信。才进门，见老魔挂了孝服，二人大哭。哭久，老魔拜下，备言前事。那阿七大怒，即命老魔换了孝服，提了宝剑，尽点女妖，合同一处，纵风云，径投东北而来。

这大圣却教沙僧整顿早斋，吃了走路。忽听得风声，走出门看，乃是一伙妖兵，自西南上来。行者大惊，急抽身，忙呼八戒道：“兄弟，妖精又请救兵来也。”三藏闻言，惊恐失色道：“徒弟，似此如何？”行者笑道：“放心！放心！把他这宝贝都拿来与我。”大圣将葫芦、净瓶系在腰间，金绳笼于袖内，芭蕉扇插在肩后，双手抡着铁棒，教沙僧保守师父稳坐洞中，着八戒执钉钯同出洞外迎敌。

那怪物摆开阵势，只见当头的是阿七大王。他生的玉面长髯，钢眉刀耳，头戴金炼盔，身穿锁子甲，手执方天戟，高声骂道：“我把你个大胆的泼猴！怎敢这等欺人！偷了宝贝，伤了眷族，杀了妖兵，又敢久占洞府！赶早儿一个个引颈受死，雪我姐家之仇！”行者骂道：“你这伙作死的毛团，不识你孙外公的手段！不要走！领吾一棒！”那怪物侧身躲过，使方天戟劈面相还。两个在山头一来一往，战经三四回合，那怪力软，败阵回走。行者赶来，却被老魔接住，又斗了三合，只见那狐阿七复转来攻。这壁厢八戒见了，急掣九齿钯挡住。一个抵一个，战经多时，不分胜败。那老魔喝了一声，众妖兵一齐围上。

却说那三藏坐在莲花洞里，听得喊声振地，便叫：“沙和尚，你出去看你师兄胜负何如。”沙僧果举降妖杖出来，喝一声，撞将出去，打退群妖。阿七见事势不利，回头就走，被八戒赶上，照背后一钯，就筑得九点鲜红往外冒，可怜一灵真性赴前程，急拖来剥了衣服看处，原来也是个狐狸精。

那老魔见伤了他老舅，丢了行者，提宝剑，就劈八戒，八戒使钯架住。正赌斗间，沙僧撞近前来，举杖便打。那怪抵敌不住，纵风云往南逃走，八戒、沙僧紧紧赶来。大圣见了，急纵云跳在空中，解下净瓶，罩定老魔，叫声：“金角大王。”那怪只道是自家败残的小妖呼叫，就回头应了一声，嗖的装将进去，被行者贴上“太上老君急急如律令奉敕”的帖子。只见那七星剑坠落尘埃，也归了行者。八戒迎着道：“哥哥，宝剑你得了，精怪何在？”行者笑道：“了了！已装在我这瓶儿里也。”沙僧听说，与八戒十分欢喜。

当时通扫净诸邪，回至洞里，与三藏报喜道：“山已净，妖已无矣，请师父上马走路。”三藏喜不自胜。师徒们吃了早斋，收拾了行李、马匹，奔西找路。

正行处，猛见路旁闪出一个瞽者，走上前扯住三藏马，道：“和尚，那里去？还我宝贝来！”八戒大惊道：“罢了！这是老妖来讨宝贝了！”行者仔细观看，原来是太上李老君，慌得近前施礼道：“老官儿，那里去？”那老祖急升玉局宝座，九霄空里伫立，叫：“孙行者，还我宝贝。”大圣起到空中道：“甚么宝贝？”老君道：“葫芦是我盛丹的，净瓶是我盛水的，宝剑是我炼魔的，扇子是我搧火的，绳子是我一根勒袍的带。那两个怪：一个是我看金炉的童子，一个是我看银炉的童子。只因他偷了我的宝贝，走下界来，正无觅处，却是你今拿住，得了功绩。”大圣道：“你这老官儿，着实无礼。纵放家属为邪，该问个钤属[13]不严的罪名！”老君道：“不干我事，不可错怪了人。此乃海上菩萨问我借了三次，送他在此托化妖魔，看你师徒可有真心往西去也。”大圣闻言，心中作念道：“这菩萨也老大惫懒！当时解脱老孙，教保唐僧西去取经，我说路途艰涩难行，他曾许我到急难处亲来相救，如今反使精邪掯害[14]。语言不的[15]，该他一世无夫！——若不是老官儿亲来，我决不与他，既是你这等说，拿去罢。”那老君收得五件宝贝，揭开葫芦与净瓶盖口，倒出两股仙气，用手一指，仍化为金、银二童子，相随左右。只见那霞光万道。噫！缥缈同归兜率院，逍遥直上大罗天。毕竟不知此后又有甚事，孙大圣怎生保护唐僧，几时得到西天，且听下回分解。

[1] 道妙：玄妙的道行。

[2] 乾宫夬地：我国古代根据八卦将周天分为八个等份，每个等份为一宫。乾宫位于正北方。同时，又根据六十四卦将一宫分为八个等份，每个等份为一地。夬地位于乾宫稍偏西的方位。

[3] 发课：卜卦、占算。

[4] 桃花女先生：我国民间传说，殷朝有个叫周公的人，他因为替人算命，每次都受到桃花女的禳解，后来两人斗法，周公给他儿子娶了桃花女。这个故事叫做“桃花女破法嫁周公”。

[5] 扛丧：哭丧，办丧事。

[6] 打觑（qù）：打趣，嘲笑。

[7] （juàn）户：指在圈里喂养的。较之野外放养的，它的皮肉柔嫩一些，故说“汤滚就烂”。

[8] 东南丙丁火，正对离宫：按古人的五行理论，天干中的丙属阳火，丁属阴火，合称丙丁火。丙丁属于南方位上的离宫，这里又有“东南”二字，可能是因为东南方为巽宫，巽属风，取风助火势之意。

[9] 熯（hàn）：燃烧，烘烤。

[10] 消耗：音信，声息。

[11] 急递铺：传送紧急文书的驿站。

[12] 弄喧：使花样，做手脚。

[13] 钤（qián）属：管束家属、属下。钤，钤束，约束。

[14] 掯（kèn）害：刁难，找麻烦。

[15] 不的：不可靠，不确实。

CHAPTER 35. Heresy uses power to oppress the proper Nature; Mind Monkey, bagging treasures, conquers deviate demons.

His nature’s perfect: thus he knows the Way.

Turning, he leaps clear of the net and snare.

To learn transformation’s no easy thing,

Nor is it common to achieve long life.

Luck changes him to things pure and impure;

Free of fated kalpas he moves at will.

For countless aeons he is fancy-free—

A ray divine fixed always on the void.

The meaning of this poem, you see, subtly corresponds to the wonders of the Dao attained by the Great Sage Sun. Since he had acquired the true treasure from that demon, he concealed it in his sleeve, saying happily to himself, “Though that lawless demon tries so hard to capture me, his efforts are no better than the attempt to fish the moon out of water. But when old Monkey wants to catch him, it’s as simple as melting ice over fire!” Hiding the gourd, he slipped out the door and changed back into his original form. “Monster spirits,” he shouted, “open the door!” A little fiend said, “Who are you that you dare make noises here?” Pilgrim answered, “Report at once to those old lawless demons that a Sun Pilgrim has arrived.”

The little fiend dashed inside to make the report, saying, “Great King, there is a so-called Sun Pilgrim showing up outside our door.” “Worthy Brother,” said the old demon, deeply shaken, “that’s bad! We have stirred up a whole nest of pestilence! Look! The yellow-gold rope has caught a Pilgrim Sun, while the gourd has stored up a Grimpil Sun. How can it be that there is another Sun Pilgrim? It must be that they have several brothers and they have all arrived.” “Relax, Elder Brother,” said the second demon. “This gourd of ours can hold up to a thousand people, and we have only one Grimpil Sun inside. Why worry about another Sun Pilgrim? Let me go out and take a look. I’ll store him up also.” “Do be careful, Brother,” said the old demon.

Look at that second demon! Holding the specious gourd, he walked out the door as resolutely and confidently as before. “Who are you,” he cried, “that you dare make noises around here?” Pilgrim said, “So, you don’t recognize me!

I lived at Flower-Fruit Mountain.

My home: the Water-Curtain Cave.

For disturbing Heaven’s Palace

I ceased to strive for a long time.

Lucky to be freed of my woes,

I left Dao and followed a monk

To reach, obedient, Thunderclap,

To seek scriptures and right knowledge.

When I meet wild, lawless demons,

I work with my mighty magic.

Return my monk of Great Tang

That we go West to see Buddha.

Our conflict will then be ended,

And each one can enjoy his peace.

Don’t stir up old Monkey’s ire,

Or your stale life will expire!”

“You come over here for a moment” said the demon, “but I’m not going to fight with you. I’m about to call your name once. You dare answer me?” “If you call me,” said Pilgrim, chuckling, “I’ll answer you. But if I call you, will you answer me?” “I call you,” said that fiend, “only because I have a treasure gourd which can store up people. What do you have that makes you want to call me?” Pilgrim said, “I, too, have a little gourd.” “If you do,” said the fiend, “take it out for me to have a look.” Pilgrim took the gourd out of his sleeve, saying, “Lawless demon, you look!” He waved it once and stuffed it immediately back into his sleeve, for he was afraid that the demon might want to snatch it away.

When the demon caught sight of the gourd, he was greatly shaken, saying, “Where did that gourd of his come from? How is it that it is exactly like mine? Even if it grew from the same branch, there ought to be some difference in size or shape. How could they be exactly alike?” With complete seriousness, he said, “Sun Pilgrim, where did your gourd come from?” Pilgrim, of course, did not know the history of the gourd, but he turned the question around and asked instead, “Where did yours come from?”

Not realizing that it was a trick, the demon thought that it was an honest query and he proceeded to give a complete account of its origin, saying, “This gourd of mine came into existence during the time when chaos divided and Heaven and Earth were created. There was then a Supreme Primordial Old Patriarch,1 who through death changed himself into Nüwa and took on her name. She melted stones in order to repair the heavens and save the mundane world. When she reached a crack in the northwest region at the base of the Kunlun Mountain, she discovered a strand of immortal creeper on which was formed this red gourd of purple gold. It is, therefore, something handed down by Laozi until now.” When the Great Sage heard this story, he at once used it as a model for his own account, saying, “My gourd also came from the same spot.” “How so?” asked the demon. “Since the division of the pure and the turbid,” said the Great Sage, “Heaven was incomplete at the northwest corner, and Earth was incomplete in the southeast corner. The Supreme Primordial Daoist Patriarch through death changed himself into Nüwa.2 After she had repaired the heavens, she journeyed to the base of the Kunlun Mountain, where there was a strand of immortal creeper on which two gourds had formed. The one I have is a male, while yours is a female.” The fiend said, “No need to distinguish the sexes; if it can store up people, it’s a good treasure.” “You are right,” said the Great Sage, “I’ll let you try first.”

Highly pleased, the fiend leaped into the air, held up the gourd, and cried, “Sun Pilgrim!” When he heard the call, the Great Sage replied in one breath eight or nine times without stopping, but nothing happened to him at all. Dropping down from the air, the demon beat his breast and stamped his feet, crying, “Heavens! And we say that only human life has not changed in the world! Even a treasure like this is afraid of her mate: when the female meets the male, it ceases to be effective!”

“Why don’t you put yours away,” said Pilgrim, laughing, “for it’s old Monkey’s turn to call you.” Swiftly somersaulting into the air, he turned the gourd upside down and took aim at the demon, crying, “Great King Silver Horn!” Not daring to close his mouth, the fiend made his reply, and instantly he was sucked into the gourd, which was then sealed by Pilgrim with the tape bearing the words, “May Laozi Act Quickly According to This Command.” Secretly pleased, Pilgrim said, “My child, you are going to try something new today!”

He descended from the cloud, holding the gourd, and headed straight for the Lotus-Flower Cave, every thought of his set on rescuing his master. The road on that mountain, you see, was pockmarked with holes, and he, moreover, was somewhat bowlegged. As he scurried along, the gourd was shaken repeatedly, and soon there came from within a loud swashing sound continuously. “How is it that it swashes already?” you ask. The Great Sage, you see, had a body which had been so thoroughly refined that he could not be dissolved speedily. On the other hand, the fiend might know some such paltry magic as mounting the clouds and riding the fog, but he had not been completely delivered from his mortal constitution. The moment he was sucked into the treasure, he was dissolved. Pilgrim, however, did not quite believe that that had been the case. “O my child,” he said, laughing, “I don’t know whether you are pissing or gargling! But this sort of business is most familiar to old Monkey. Not until after seven or eight days, when you have become thin liquid, will I lift the cover to look. Why hurry? What’s the rush? When I think of how easily I got out, I wouldn’t spy on you for a thousand years!” As he held the gourd and talked to himself like that, he soon arrived at the entrance of the cave. He gave the gourd a shake and it was swashing even more loudly. “This sounds like the rattle of a fortune-telling tube,” he said. “Old Monkey should make an inquiry to see when Master can come out of this door.” Look at him! He shook the thing in his hand constantly while reciting, “The Classic of Change of King Wen, Great Sage Confucius, Master Zhou of Lady Peach-Blossom,3 Master Ghost Valley.”4

When the little fiends in the cave saw that, they cried, “Great King, disaster! Sun Pilgrim has stored up our Second Great King in the gourd and he’s using that for fortune-telling now.” When the old fiend heard these words, he was so horrified that his spirit left him and his soul fled, his bones weakened and his tendons turned numb. He fell on the ground and began to wail, crying, “O Worthy Brother! When you and I left the Region Above in secret and found our lives in this mortal world, our hope was to enjoy together riches and glory as permanent lords of this mountain cave. How could I know that, because of this monk, your life would be taken away and our fraternal bond be broken?” The various fiends of the entire cave all began to wail aloud.

When Zhu Eight Rules, hanging there on the beam, heard the wailing of the whole family, he could not refrain from calling out, “Monster, don’t cry! Let old Hog tell you something. The Pilgrim Sun who arrived first, the Grimpil Sun who came next, and finally the Sun Pilgrim who came last—all three of them are in fact a single person, my elder brother. He is very versatile, knowing seventy-two ways of transformation. It was he who stole your treasure and had your brother stored up. Since your brother is now dead, there is no need for you to mourn like that. You should clean up your pots and pans quickly and fix up some dried mushrooms, fresh butt on mushrooms, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, soybean cakes, wheat glutens, wood ears, and vegetables. Invite us master and disciples for a meal, and we will be pleased to recite for you once the Receive Life Sūtra.”

Infuriated by what he heard, the old demon said, “I thought Zhu Eight Rules was a guileless person, but he’s actually most sassy. He dares to make fun of me at this moment! Little ones, stop mourning. Untie Zhu Eight Rules and steam him until he’s soft and tender. Let me have a full stomach first, and then I’ll go catch Pilgrim Sun to avenge my brother.” Turning to Eight Rules, Sha Monk chided him, saying, “Isn’t that nice? I told you not to talk so much! Now your talking means that you’ll be steamed and eaten.” Idiot himself became somewhat alarmed, but a little fiend then spoke up, saying, “Great King, it’s not good to steam Zhu Eight Rules.” “Amitābha Buddha!” said Eight Rules. “Which elder brother is trying to pile up secret merits? I’m indeed no good if I’m steamed.” Another fiend said, “After he’s skinned, he’ll then be good to steam.” Horrified, Eight Rules said, “I’m all right! I’m all right! Though my bones and skins are coarse, I’ll be tender the moment the water boils.”

As they were speaking, another little fiend came from the front door to report, “Sun Pilgrim is reviling us at our door!” “This fellow,” said a startled old demon, “abuses us because he thinks there is nobody here.” He then gave the order, “Little ones, hang up Zhu Eight Rules as before, and find out how many treasures there are still in the house.” A little fiend, who was the housekeeper, said, “There are three treasures yet in the cave.” “Which three?” asked the old demon. “The sword of seven stars,” said the housekeeper, “the palm-leaf fan, and the pure-jade vase.” “That vase is useless!” said the old demon. “It was supposed to store up anyone who answered when his name was called, but the formula was somehow passed on to that Pilgrim Sun and now our own brother has been put away. I won’t use the vase; leave it here at home. Bring me the sword and the fan, quickly.” The housekeeper handed over the two treasures to the old demon, who stuck the fan into his collar behind his neck and held the sword in his hand. He then called up about three hundred monsters, young and old, and told all of them to arm themselves with spears, clubs, ropes, and knives. The old demon himself also put on helmet and cuirass, covered with a flaming red silk cape. As the monsters rushed out the door, they lined up in battle formation, intent on catching the Great Sage Sun. Knowing by now that the second demon had been dissolved in the gourd, the Great Sage fastened the gourd to the belt around his waist while his hands held high the golden-hooped rod to prepare for combat. As red banners unfurled, the old fiend leaped out the door.

How was he dressed?

His helmet’s tassle shimmered on his head,

And from his belt fresh, radiant colors rose.

He wore a cuirass knit like dragon scales,

Topped with a long red cape like crackling flames.

His round eyes opened wide and lightning flashed;

Wiry whiskers flared up like turbid fumes.

His hand held lightly the seven-star sword,

His shoulder half-hidden by the palm-leaf fan.

He moved like clouds rushing past the ocean’s peaks;

Like thunder his voice shook mountains and streams.

An awesome Heaven-defying warrior,

Leading many monsters, he stormed out of the cave.

After ordering the little fiends to take their battle stations, the old demon shouted, “You ape! You are utterly wretched! You murdered my brother and broke up our fraternal bond. You are truly despicable!”

“Monster, you are the one who’s asking for death!” replied Pilgrim, “Do you mean to tell me that one life of a monster-spirit is worth more than those of four creatures like my master, my younger brothers, and the white horse? You think that I can bear the thought of their being hung up in the cave at this moment? That I would agree to that? Bring them out at once and return them to me. You can add also some travel expenses and send off old Monkey amiably. Then I might spare this cur-like life of yours!” The fiend, of course, would not permit any further exchanges; lifting his treasure sword, he slashed at the head of the Great Sage, who met him with uplift ed iron rod. This was quite a battle outside the entrance of the cave. Aha!

The seven-star sword and the golden-hooped rod

Clashed, and sparks flared up like lightning bright;

The spreading cold air brought oppressive chill

As vast dark clouds concealed the peaks and cliffs.

This one because of his fraternal bond

Would not let up a bit.

That one on account of the scripture monk

Would not slow down one whit.

Each one hated with the same kind of hate;

Both parties cherished such hostility.

They fought till Heaven and Earth darkened, scaring gods and ghosts;

The sun dimmed, the smoke thickened, as dragons and tigers quaked.

This one ground his teeth like filing down jade nails;

That one grew so mad that flames leaped out his eyes!

Back and forth they showed their heroic might,

And kept on brandishing both sword and rod.

The old demon fought with the Great Sage for twenty rounds, but neither could gain the upper hand. Pointing with his sword, the old demon shouted, “Little fiends, come up together!” Those three hundred monster-spirits rushed up together and completely surrounded Pilgrim. Dear Great Sage! Not in the least afraid, he wielded his rod and lunged left and right, attacking with it in front and protecting himself in the rear. Those little fiends, however, all had some abilities; the longer they fought, the more ferocious they became—like cotton floss sticking to one’s body, they tackled Pilgrim at the waist and tugged at his legs, refusing to be beaten back. Alarmed, the Great Sage resorted to the magic of the Body beyond the Body. He plucked off a handful of hairs from under his left arm, chewed them to pieces, and spat them out, crying, “Change!” Every piece of the hair changed into a Pilgrim. Look at all of them! The tall ones wielded rods, the short ones boxed with their fists, and the tiniest ones grabbed the monsters’ shanks and began to gnaw on them. They fought till all the fiends were scattered in every direction, crying, “Great King, we’re finished! We can’t fight anymore! The mountain is full of Pilgrim Suns!” The magic of the Body beyond the Body thus sent the flock of monsters into a hasty retreat: only an old demon was left in the middle, surrounded on all sides, sorely pressed but with no way to run at all.

Terribly frightened, the demon switched the treasure sword to his left hand; with his right, he reached behind his neck and pulled out the palm-leaf fan. Facing the direction of due south (which is the direction of fire), he made a sweeping motion with the fan from the left and fanned at the ground once. Flames leaped up instantly from the ground. The treasure, you see, could produce fire just like that. An unrelenting person, the fiend fanned at the ground for seven or eight more times, and a fierce fire raged everywhere. Marvelous fire!

The fire was neither the fire of Heaven

Nor the fire of a brazier;

Neither the wild fire on the meadows

Nor the fire inside an oven.

It was a spark of spiritual light taken naturally from the Five Phases.

The fan also was no common thing in the mortal world,

Nor was it made by any human skill.

It was a true treasure formed since the time chaos parted.

When the fan was used to start this fire,

Bright and brilliant,

It was like the red bolts of lightning;

Clear and ablaze,

It seemed mists iridescent.

There was not even a strand of blue smoke,

Only a mountain full of scarlet flames.

It burned till the summit pines became fire trees,

And cedars changed into lanterns before the cliff.

The beasts of the caves, eager to live,

Dashed to the east and the west;

The birds of the woods, zealous for their feathers,

Flew high and retreated wide.

This divine, air-filling holocaust

Burned till rocks broke, rivers dried up, and all the ground turned red!

When the Great Sage saw how ferocious the fire was, he, too, became quite shaken, crying, “It’s bad! I can stand it myself, but my hairs are no good. Once they fall into the fire, they will be burned up.” Shaking his body once, he retrieved all his hairs except one piece, which he used to change into a specious form of himself, pretending to flee the fire. His true body, making the fire-resisting sign with his fingers, somersaulted into the air and leaped clear of the blaze. He then headed straight for the Lotus-Flower Cave with the intent of rescuing his master. As he sped up to the entrance of the cave and lowered the direction of his cloud, he saw a hundred-odd little fiends outside the door, every one of them with head wounds or broken legs, with lesions and bruises. They were the ones injured by his magic of the Body beyond the Body, all standing there whimpering and in pain. When the Great Sage saw them, he could not suppress the savagery in his nature; lifting up the iron rod, he fought all the way inside. How pitiful it was that he should bring at once to nothing

The fruits of bitter exercise to acquire human forms!

They all became again old pieces of hair and hide!

After the Great Sage had finished off all the little fiends, he raced into the cave with the intent of untying his master. Just then he saw again a fiery glow inside, and he became terribly flustered, crying, “Undone! Undone! If this fire is starting again even at the back door, old Monkey will find it hard to save Master.” As he was thus in alarm, he looked again more carefully. Ah! It was not the glow of fire, but actually a beam of golden light. Composing himself, he walked inside to have another look and found that the source of the glow was the pure mutton-jade vase. Filled with delight, he said to himself, “What a lovely treasure! This vase was glowing also when the little fiends took it up the mountain. Then old Monkey got it, only to have it taken away again by the monster. It’s hidden here and today it’s still glowing.” Look at him! He stole the vase at once and turned quickly to walk out of the cave, not even bothering to try to rescue his master. As soon as he came out the door, he ran into the demon returning from the south, holding the treasure sword and the fan. The Great Sage did not have time to hide himself, and the demon lifted his sword instantly to slash at his head. Mounting his cloud somersault, the Great Sage leaped up and vanished immediately.

When the fiend arrived at his own door, he saw corpses lying everywhere, all the monster-spirits under his command. He was so stricken that he lifted his face toward Heaven and sighed loudly before bursting into tears, crying “O misery! O what bitterness!” For him we have a testimonial poem, and the poem says:

Hateful are the sly ape and the froward horse!

The seeds divine who came to the world of dust,

For one erring thought of leaving Heaven,

Fell on this mountain and destroyed themselves.

What bitter grief when flocks of birds break up!

How tears flow when monster troops are wiped out!

When will the scourge end, the chastisement cease,

That they may return to their primal forms?

Overborne by grief, the old demon wailed step by step into the cave; he saw that the furniture and other belongings remained, but not even a single person was in sight. In this total silence, he became sadder than ever: as he sat all by himself in the cave, he placed his head on a stone table, his sword he leaned against the table, and the fan he stuck back into his collar. Soon, he fell into a deep sleep, just as the proverb says:

Your spirit is full when you are happy;

Once dejected you tend to be sleepy!

We tell you now about the Great Sage Sun, who turned the direction of his cloud somersault around and stood before the mountain, thinking again of trying to rescue his master. Fastening the vase tightly to his belt, he returned to the entrance of the cave to see what was happening. The two doors he found wide open, but not a sound could be heard. With light, stealthy steps he slipped inside and discovered the demon sleeping soundly, leaning on the stone table. The palm-leaf fan was sticking out of his collar, half covering the back of his head, while the sword of seven stars was placed against the table. He tiptoed near the demon, pulled out the fan, and turned at once to flee outside. The fan, however, scraped against the hair of the fiend when it was pulled out, rousing him from his sleep. When he lifted his head to look and found that his fan had been stolen by Pilgrim Sun, he gave chase at once with the sword. The Great Sage leaped out the door and, having stuck the fan into his waist, met the fiend with both hands wielding the iron rod. This was a marvelous battle!

The maddened demon king,

His cap raised by angry hair,

Wanted to swallow with one gulp his foe—

But e’en that was no relief!

He reviled the monkey thus:

“You mock me far too much!

You took our many lives.

You steal my treasure now.

This time I’ll not spare you,

I’ll see that you are dead!”

The Great Sage rapped the demon:

“You don’t know what’s good for you!

A student wants to fight old Monkey?

How could an egg smash up a rock?”

The treasure sword came,

The iron rod moved:

The two would no longer cherish kindness.

Again and again a contest they waged;

Over and over they used their martial skill.

Because of the scripture monk

Who sought at Spirit Mount a place,

Bringing discord to Metal and Fire,

The Five Phases, confused, lost their peace.

They showed their awe-inspiring, magic power;

They kicked up dust and stones to flaunt their might.

They fought till the sun was about to sink:

The demon grew weak and retreated first.

The demon fought with the Great Sage for more than thirty rounds; when the sky darkened, the demon fled in defeat and headed for the southwest in the direction of the Crush-Dragon Cave. We shall speak no more of him for the moment.

Lowering the direction of his cloud, the Great Sage dashed into the Lotus-Flower Cave and untied the Tang Monk, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk. After they were freed, they thanked Pilgrim while asking, “Where did the demons go?” “The second demon has been stored up in the gourd,” said Pilgrim, “and he must be completely dissolved by now. The old demon was defeated by me just now and he fled toward the Crush-Dragon Cave in the southwest. Over half of the little fiends of the cave have been killed by the body-division magic of old Monkey, and the rest who were defeated have also been wiped out by me. Only after that could I come in here to rescue and free all of you.” Profoundly grateful, the Tang Monk said, “Disciple, you must have worked awfully hard!” “Indeed,” said Pilgrim, laughing, “though all of you had to bear the pain of being hung up, old Monkey hasn’t been able even to rest his legs! I had to be on the go even more frequently than the postal messenger: coming in and getting out, there was never a moment’s pause. Only after having managed to steal his treasures could I defeat the demons.” “Elder Brother,” said Zhu Eight Rules, “take out the gourd and let us have a look inside. The second demon, I suppose, must have been dissolved by now.” The Great Sage first untied the pure vase; he then took out the gold rope and the fan before he held the gourd in his hands. Then he said, “Don’t look! Don’t look! Just now he had old Monkey stored up, and only after I deceived him into opening the lid by feigning some gargling noise did I escape. We must not, therefore, lift up the lid, for he may still pull some tricks and escape.” Thereafter master and disciples happily searched the cave and found some of the monsters’ rice, noodles, and vegetables; after heating and washing some of the pots and pans, they prepared a vegetarian meal and ate their fill. They rested in the cave for the night and soon it was morning again.

We tell you now about that old demon, who went straight to the Crush-Dragon Mountain and gathered together all the female fiends, to whom he gave a thorough account of how his mother was beaten to death, how his brother was sucked into the gourd, how his monster soldiers were wiped out, and how his treasures had been stolen. The female fiends all burst into tears, wailing for a long time. Then the old demon said, “Stop crying, all of you. I still have with me the sword of seven stars, and I plan to go with all of you, female soldiers, to the back of this Crush-Dragon Mountain to borrow some more troops from my maternal relative. I’m determined to capture that Pilgrim Sun to exact vengeance.”

Before he had even finished speaking, a little fiend came from the door to report, saying, “Great King, your Venerable Maternal Uncle from behind the mountain has led his troops here.” When the old demon heard this, he quickly changed into mourning garments of plain white silk and bowed to receive his visitor. The Venerable Maternal Uncle, you see, was the younger brother of his mother who went by the name, Great King Fox Number Seven. Because he had already received the report from some of his monster soldiers out on patrol that his elder sister was beaten to death by Pilgrim Sun, who then changed into the form of his sister to swindle treasures from his nephew, and that there had been fighting for several days on the Level-Top Mountain, he called up some two hundred soldiers from his own cave to offer his assistance. He stopped first at his sister’s home to find out whether indeed she had died. The moment he walked in the door, however, he saw the old demon in mourning garments, and the two of them burst into loud wailing. After some time, the old demon knelt down to give a complete account of what had taken place. Growing very angry, Number Seven ordered the old demon to take off his mourning garments, to pick up his treasure sword, and to call up all the female monsters. Together they mounted the wind and the cloud, speeding toward the northeast.

The Great Sage just then was telling Sha Monk to prepare breakfast so that they could journey after the meal, when suddenly he heard the sound of the wind. Walking out the door, he found a horde of fiendish troops approaching from the southwest. Somewhat startled, Pilgrim dashed inside, calling to Eight Rules, “Brother, the monster-spirit has brought fresh troops to help him.” When Tripitaka heard these words, he paled with fright, saying, “Disciple, what shall we do?” “Relax, relax!” said Pilgrim, chuckling. “Give me all of his treasures.” The Great Sage fastened the gourd and the vase to his waist, stuffed the gold rope into his sleeve, and stuck the palm-leaf fan into his collar. Wielding the iron rod with both hands, he told Sha Monk to stand and guard their master sitting in the cave, while he and Eight Rules holding the muckrake went out to meet their adversaries.

The fiendish creatures ranged themselves in battle formation, and the one at the very forefront was the Great King Number Seven, who had a jadelike face, a long beard, wiry eyebrows, and knifelike ears. He wore a golden helmet on his head and a knitted cuirass on his body; his hands held a “square-sky” halberd.5 In a loud voice he shouted, “You audacious, lawless ape! How dare you oppress people like that! You stole our treasures, slaughtered our relatives, killed our soldiers, and you even had the nerve to take over our cave dwelling. Stick out your neck quickly and accept death, so that I can avenge my sister’s murder!” “You reckless hairy lump!” cried Pilgrim. “You don’t know what your Grandpa Sun can do! Don’t run away! Take a blow from my rod!” The fiend stepped aside to dodge the blow before turning again to meet him with the halberd. The two of them fought back and forth on the mountain for three or four rounds, and the fiend grew weak already. As he fled, Pilgrim gave chase and encountered the old demon, who also fought with him for three rounds. Then the Number Seven Fox turned around and attacked once more. When Eight Rules on this side saw him, he quickly stopped him with the nine-pronged rake; so, each of the pilgrims took on a monster and they fought for a long time without reaching a decision. The old demon shouted for all the monster soldiers to join the battle also.

We tell you now about the Tang Monk, who was seated in the cave when he heard earth-shaking cries coming from outside. “Sha Monk,” he said, “go and see how your brothers are doing in the battle.” Lifting high his fiend-routing staff, Sha Monk gave a terrific cry as he raced outside, beating back at once many of the monsters. When Number Seven saw that the tide was turning against them, he spun around and ran, only to be caught up by Eight Rules, who brought the rake down hard on his back.

This one blow caused nine spots of bright red to spurt out;

Pity one spirit’s true nature going to the world beyond.

When Eight Rules dragged him aside and stripped off his clothes, he found that the Great King, too, was a fox spirit.

When the old demon saw that his maternal uncle was slain, he abandoned Pilgrim and attacked Eight Rules with the sword. Eight Rules blocked the blow with the muckrake; as they fought, Sha Monk charged near and struck with his staff. Unable to withstand the two of them, the demon mounted wind and cloud to flee toward the south with Eight Rules and Sha Monk hard on his heels. When the Great Sage saw that, he swiftly leaped into the air, untied the vase, and took aim at the old demon, crying, “Great King Golden Horn!” The fiend thought that it was one of his defeated little demons calling him, and he turned to give his reply. Instantly he was sucked also into the vase, which was then sealed by Pilgrim with the tape bearing the words, “May Laozi Act Quickly According to This Command.” The sword of seven stars dropped to the ground below and it, too, became the property of Pilgrim. “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, coming up to meet Pilgrim, “you’ve got the sword. But where’s the monster-spirit?” “Finished!” said Pilgrim, chuckling, “He’s stored up in this vase of mine.” When they heard this, Sha Monk and Eight Rules were utterly delighted.

After they had completely wiped out the ogres and monsters, they went back to the cave to present the good news to Tripitaka, saying, “The mountain has been purged of all monsters. Let Master mount up so that we may journey again.” Highly pleased, Tripitaka finished the morning meal with his disciples, whereupon they put in order the luggage and the horse and found their way to the West. As they walked, a blind man suddenly appeared from the side of the road and caught hold of Tripitaka’s horse, saying, “Monk, where are you going? Give me back my treasures!” Horrified, Eight Rules cried, “We are finished! Here’s another old monster coming to ask for his treasures!” Pilgrim looked at the man carefully and saw that he was actually Laozi. Hurriedly he drew near and bowed, saying, “Venerable Sir, where are you going?” The old patriarch swiftly mounted his jade throne, which rose and stopped in midair. “Pilgrim Sun,” he said, “return my treasures.” The Great Sage also rose into the air saying, “What treasures?” “The gourd,” said Laozi, “is what I use to store elixir, while the pure vase is my water container. The treasure sword I use to subdue demons, the fan is for tending my fires, and the rope is actually a belt of my gown. Those two monsters happen to be two Daoist youths: one looks after my golden brazier, while the other my silver brazier. I was just searching for them, for they stole the treasures and left the Region Above. Now you have caught them, this will be your merit.”

The Great Sage said, “Venerable Sir, you are not very honorable! That you would permit your kin to become demons should make you guilty of oversight in the governance of your household.” “It’s really not my affair,” said Laozi, “so don’t blame the wrong person. These youths were requested by the Bodhisattva from the sea three times; they were to be sent here and transformed into demons, to test all of you and see whether master and disciples are sincere in going to the West.”

When the Great Sage heard these words, he thought to himself, “What a rogue is this Bodhisattva! At the time when she delivered old Monkey and told me to accompany the Tang Monk to procure scriptures in the West, I said that the journey would be a difficult one. She even promised that she herself would come to rescue us when we encounter grave difficulties, but instead, she sent monster-spirits here to harass us. The way she double-talks, she deserves to be a spinster for the rest of her life!” He then said to Laozi, “If Venerable Sir didn’t show up personally, I would never have returned these things to you. But since you have made the appearance and told me the truth, you can take them away.” After receiving the five treasures, Laozi lifted the seals of the gourd and the vase and poured out two masses of divine ether. With one point of his finger he transformed the ether again into two youths, standing on his left and right. Ten thousand strands of propitious light appeared as

They all drifted toward the Tushita Palace;

Freely they went straight up to Heaven’s canopy.

We do not know what happens thereafter, how the Great Sun accompanies the Tang Monk, or at what time they reach the Western Heaven; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.