Chapter 30: Evil Forces Invade the True Dharma Lingering Thoughts and Restless Mind

The monster tied up Sandy but neither killed, beat, nor even cursed him. He picked up his steel saber and thought to himself, "Tang Monk is a person from the Upper Kingdom, surely he understands propriety. It wouldn't do for me to spare his life only to have his disciple capture me later, would it? Ah! It must be that my wife sent some letter to his kingdom, leaking information! I'll go ask her." The monster's ferocity suddenly flared, and he intended to kill the princess.

Meanwhile, the princess, unaware of this, had just finished dressing and was walking forward when she saw the monster glaring with furrowed brows, gnashing his teeth. The princess, still smiling, greeted him, "My lord, what troubles you so?" The monster cursed, "You low-hearted hussy, utterly without human decency! When I first brought you here, you didn't utter a single word of complaint. You wear silks, you wear gold; if anything was missing, I found it. You enjoyed luxury all year round, and our affection deepened daily. How could you only think of your parents and have no conjugal affection at all?" Hearing this, the princess was so terrified that she knelt on the ground, saying, "My lord, why do you speak of separation today?" The monster said, "I don't know whether it's my separation or yours! I captured Tang Monk, intending to use him, but why did you release him without telling me first? So it was you who secretly wrote a letter and had him deliver it for you. Otherwise, why would these two monks come knocking on my door, demanding your return? Isn't this your doing?" The princess replied, "My lord, you're mistaken. When have I ever sent any letter?" The old monster said, "You're still arguing! I've captured an accomplice right here, isn't that proof?" The princess asked, "Who is it?" The old monster replied, "It's Sandy, Tang Monk's second disciple."

When people face death, who would willingly accept it? She could only deny it stubbornly. The princess said, "My lord, please calm your anger. Let me go with you and ask him. If there truly is a letter, I will accept even being beaten to death; but if there's no letter, wouldn't you be wrongly killing your servant?" Hearing this, the monster, without allowing further argument, swung his indigo hand, as large as a winnowing fan, seized the princess's hair—her golden branches and jade leaves—dragged her forward, threw her to the ground, and holding his steel saber, approached Sandy to interrogate him. He bellowed, "Sandy! How dare you two trespass on our doorstep? Did this woman send a letter to their kingdom, and did their king order you to come?" Sandy was already tied up there and saw how vicious the demon was, throwing the princess to the ground and holding a saber ready to kill.

He thought to himself, "It's clear she sent a letter and saved my master; this is an immense kindness. If I were to blurt out the truth, he would kill the princess. Wouldn't that be repaying kindness with enmity? Enough, enough! Old Sandy has followed my master all this time without rendering any significant service. Since I'm already captured today, I might as well use this life to repay my master's kindness." So he shouted, "You monster, don't be rude! She didn't send any letter, you're wrongly accusing her and trying to take her life! We came here to ask for the princess for a reason: because you captured my master in your cave, and my master saw the princess's appearance and situation. When we arrived at Baoxiang Kingdom, we exchanged travel permits. The emperor had portraits of the princess drawn and inquired everywhere. When he showed her image to my master and asked if he had seen her along the way, my master then spoke of the princess. That's how he knew she was his daughter. He bestowed imperial wine upon us and ordered us to come apprehend you and return his princess to the palace. This is the truth. How could there be any letter? If you want to kill, then kill old Sandy, but do not wrongly harm an innocent person and greatly defy heavenly principles!" Seeing Sandy speak with such force, the demon dropped his saber and, with both hands, lifted the princess, saying, "It was my momentary roughness and offense, please forgive me, forgive me." He then helped her rearrange her dark hair and adjust her precious hairpins, speaking softly and tenderly with a pleasant expression, coaxing her back inside. He then invited her to sit in the seat of honor and offered apologies. The princess, being a woman of fickle nature, seeing his mistaken respect, changed her mind and said, "My lord, if you remember our conjugal affection, please loosen Sandy's ropes a little." Hearing this, the old demon immediately ordered his subordinates to untie Sandy's ropes but keep him shackled. Sandy, seeing himself unbound but shackled, stood up and secretly rejoiced, "As the ancients said, 'Help others, and you help yourself.' If I hadn't made things convenient for him, how would he have been willing to loosen my bonds?"

The old demon then ordered a banquet to be prepared to apologize to the princess and calm her fright. When they were half-drunk, the old demon suddenly changed into a bright new outfit, took a precious saber, fastened it to his waist, and turning, touched the princess, saying, "Wife, you stay home and drink, watch the two children, and don't let Sandy go. While Tang Monk is in that kingdom, I'll go early to acknowledge my relatives too." The princess asked, "What relatives are you acknowledging?" The old demon said, "Your father, the King. I am his son-in-law, and he is my father-in-law. Why shouldn't I go acknowledge him?" The princess said, "You cannot go." The old demon asked, "Why can't I go?" The princess replied, "My father did not gain his kingdom through struggle or battle; it is an ancestral legacy. He ascended the throne as a prince from childhood and has never traveled far from the city gates. He has never seen such a fierce man as you. Your appearance is so ugly; if he saw you, he might be frightened, which would be undesirable. It's better not to go and acknowledge him." The old demon said, "If that's the case, I'll transform into a handsome man and go." The princess said, "Try transforming, let me see." What a monster! Right there at the banquet, he shook his body and transformed into a handsome man, truly born with—

Elegant in form, magnificent in build. His speech was formal, his bearing that of a youth in his prime. His talent was like Zizhen's, effortlessly composing poetry; his looks like Pan An's, whose mere presence drew thrown fruit. On his head, he wore a magpie-tail cap, black clouds subdued beneath it; on his body, a jade-gauze robe, with wide sleeves flowing gracefully. His black boots were adorned with floral patterns, and a luminous phoenix belt encircled his waist. Truly a remarkable man of noble bearing, an imposing and handsome hero.

The princess saw him and was exceedingly pleased. The demon laughed, "Wife, have I transformed well?" The princess said, "Very well! Very well transformed! Once you enter the court, my father will be utterly delighted and surely have all the civil and military officials invite you to a banquet. Should you be drinking, be extremely careful, utterly cautious, and do not reveal your true face or expose your true form, which would leak information and be quite uncivilized." The old demon said, "No need to tell me, I know what to do."

See him, riding on a cloud, he soon arrived at Baoxiang Kingdom. He descended from the clouds and went outside the palace gate, telling the palace usher, "The Third Royal Son-in-Law has come especially to see His Majesty. Please announce my arrival." The eunuch in charge of announcements came before the white jade steps and reported, "Your Majesty, the Third Royal Son-in-Law has come to see you and is currently waiting outside the palace gate for your summons." The King was just conversing with Tang Monk when he suddenly heard "Third Royal Son-in-Law" and asked his officials, "I only have two sons-in-law. How is there a third?" The officials said, "The Third Royal Son-in-Law must be a demon." The King asked, "Should I summon him in?" The Elder, alarmed, said, "Your Majesty, a demon that isn't crafty isn't powerful. He can know the past and the future, and he can ride clouds and mist. Whether you summon him or not, he will still come in. It's better to summon him in; at least it will save face." The King approved the request and ordered the demon to be summoned to the golden steps. He also performed the same elaborate court bows. The officials, seeing his handsome appearance, dared not recognize him as a demon. Being mortals with ordinary eyes, they took him for a good person.

The King, seeing his imposing stature, believed him to be a pillar of society and asked him, "Royal Son-in-Law, where do you live? From what region are you? When did you marry my princess? And why have you only now come to acknowledge your kinship?" The old demon bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, your humble servant is from Bowel Mountain, Bowl's Edge Village, east of the city." The King asked, "How far is your mountain from here?" The old demon said, "Not far, only three hundred *li*." The King asked, "Three hundred *li* away, how did my princess get there and become your spouse?" The demon, with artful words and feigned sincerity, replied, "Your Majesty, your humble servant has loved practicing archery and horsemanship since childhood, making a living by hunting. Thirteen years ago, leading dozens of servants, I was hawking and coursing when I suddenly saw a striped fierce tiger carrying a woman on its back, heading down the mountainside. Your humble servant drew his bow and with one arrow, shot down the fierce tiger. I then brought the woman to my estate, revived her with warm water, and saved her life. When I asked where she was from, she never once mentioned the word 'princess'. If she had said she was Your Majesty's Third Princess, how would I dare to act presumptuously and marry her without permission? I would have certainly presented her to the Golden Hall and sought an official position, great or small, for my own honor. Only because she said she was a commoner's daughter did your humble servant keep her at the estate. With her beauty and my talent, we were both willing, and thus we have been married for many years. After our marriage, I wanted to butcher the tiger and invite my relatives for a feast, but the Princess Consort told me not to kill it. The reason for not killing it was explained in a few beautiful lines, which said:

By heaven and earth, we became husband and wife, without matchmaker or witness, our marriage was made. In a previous life, a red thread bound our feet; now, this tiger serves as our go-between.

Because of these words, your humble servant untied the tiger and spared its life. That tiger, with its arrow wound, galloped away with its tail between its legs. Little did I know that after surviving, it cultivated itself in that mountain for several years, refining its body into a demon, specializing in bewitching and harming people. Your humble servant has heard that in past years there were several Buddhist pilgrims, all said to be Tang Monk from the Great Tang. I suspect this tiger harmed Tang Monk, obtained his travel permit, transformed into the pilgrim's appearance, and is now in court deceiving Your Majesty. Your Majesty, the one sitting on that embroidered stool is precisely the fierce tiger that carried the princess thirteen years ago, not a true Buddhist pilgrim!"

See how that fickle King, with his deluded mortal eyes, failed to recognize the demon and instead took his empty words as truth. He asked, "Esteemed Son-in-Law, how do you recognize this monk as the tiger that carried the princess?" The demon replied, "Your Majesty, in the mountains, your humble servant eats tigers, wears tigers, sleeps with them and rises with them. How could I not recognize it?" The King said, "Since you recognize him, can you make him reveal his true form?" The monster said, "Lend me half a cup of pure water, and your humble servant will make him reveal his true form." The King ordered an official to fetch water and hand it to the Royal Son-in-Law. The monster took the water in his hand, leaped up, stepped forward, used a black-eye freezing spell, chanted an incantation, and then spat a mouthful of water towards Tang Monk, shouting, "Change!" The Elder's true form, concealed within the hall, indeed transformed into a striped fierce tiger. At that moment, the king and his officials watched with their own eyes as the tiger was truly—

With a white forehead and a round head, a flowery body and eyes like lightning. Four hooves, straight and imposing; twenty claws, curved and sharp. Serrated teeth enclosing its mouth, pointed ears connected to its brows. Ferociously mighty like a giant cat, fiercely powerful like a young bull. Stiff whiskers piercing like silver rods, a piercing tongue spewing evil aura. Indeed, it was a striped fierce creature, its waves of might sweeping through the precious hall.

The King, seeing this, was utterly terrified, his spirit scattered and soul fled, and all the officials hid in fright. A few brave military generals, leading their officers and soldiers, rushed forward and hacked wildly with various weapons. This time, if Tang Monk wasn't destined to survive, even twenty monks would have been beaten to pulp. Fortunately, at that moment, the celestial guardians—Dingjia, Jiedi, Gongcao, and other protecting deities—secretly guarded him from mid-air. Therefore, none of their weapons could wound him. The officials clamored until evening before they finally captured the tiger alive, bound it with iron ropes, placed it in an iron cage, and kept it in the imperial chamber.

The King then issued a decree, ordering the Imperial Household Department to prepare a grand banquet to thank the Royal Son-in-Law for his saving grace. Otherwise, he would have been almost harmed by that monk. That evening, after the court disbanded, the demon entered the Silver Antechamber. He also selected eighteen palace maids and female entertainers to play music, sing, and dance, encouraging the demon to drink and enjoy himself. The monster sat alone in the seat of honor, flanked by beautiful, charming women. See how he enjoyed himself. As he drank until the second watch of the night, drunkenness came upon him. Unable to restrain his wild impulses, he leaped up with a loud laugh, revealed his true form, suddenly became ferocious, extended his large hand, as big as a winnowing fan, grabbed a woman playing the *pipa*, and savagely bit off her head. The remaining seventeen palace maids were so terrified that they ran wildly, scattering and hiding everywhere. See how—

Palace maids trembled in fear, female entertainers were startled into action. The palace maids trembled in fear, like hibiscus flowers battered by a night rain; the female entertainers were startled into action, like peonies dancing in the spring wind. Some dropped their *pipas* to save their lives, others stumbled, injuring their *guqins* and *se*, fleeing for their lives. They cared not for north or south when exiting the doors, nor east or west when leaving the hall. They bruised their jade-like faces and marred their delicate complexions. Everyone ran for their lives, each striving to preserve their remaining existence.

Those people, once outside, dared not shout, and with the night deep, they dared not disturb the King. They all hid under the eaves of low walls, trembling with fear, a story left untold.

Meanwhile, the monster sat there, pouring and drinking for himself. With each cup he drank, he pulled over a corpse and took two bloody bites. While he indulged inside, people outside spread the word: "Tang Monk is a tiger demon!" The news spread wildly and loudly, reaching the Golden Pavilion Post Station. At this time, the station was empty of people; only the white horse was in its stall, eating grass and feed. He was originally the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon King, who, having violated celestial laws, had his horns sawn off and scales removed, transformed into a white horse, and now carried Tang Monk to the West for scriptures. Suddenly hearing people say Tang Monk was a tiger demon, he secretly thought to himself, "My master is clearly a good person; he must have been transformed into a tiger demon by some monster, harming him. What can I do? What can I do? Senior Brother has been gone for a long time, and there's no news from Pigsy or Sandy!" He endured until the second watch, when all was silent, then finally leaped up and said, "If I don't rescue Tang Monk now, my merits will be ruined, utterly ruined!" Unable to bear it, he broke his tether, shook loose his saddle and bridle, swiftly leaped, quickly transformed, and again became a dragon. He rode dark clouds straight up into the nine heavens to observe. A poem serves as evidence, which says:

Tripitaka journeyed west to pay homage to the World-Honored One, but along the way, evil demonic aura abounds. Tonight, transformed into a tiger, he cannot escape disaster; the white horse, with loosened reins, rescues its master.

The little Dragon King in mid-air saw the Silver Antechamber ablaze with lamplight and candlelight, with eight candles lit on the eight "Full House Red" lamps. He lowered his cloud and looked closely: the demon was alone on the dais, methodically drinking wine and eating human flesh. The little dragon chuckled, "This fellow is useless! He's shown his true colors, revealed his secret, and is gorging himself on human flesh, what an 'advancement'! I don't know what has become of my master, but I've encountered this wicked monster. Let me go and play a trick on him. If I succeed in capturing the demon, it won't be too late to rescue my master."

What a Dragon King! He shook his body and transformed into a palace maid, truly light of body and charming in appearance. He swiftly moved inside, greeted the demon with a bow, "Royal Son-in-Law, please do not harm my life. I have come to pour wine for you." The demon said, "Pour the wine." The little dragon took the pot and poured wine into his cup; the wine rose three to five tenths above the rim, yet did not spill. This was the little dragon using his water-control spell. The monster saw it, but didn't recognize the trick, and rejoiced inwardly, "You have such skill!" The little dragon said, "I can still pour it a bit higher." The monster said, "Pour more, pour more!" He held the pot and just kept pouring, and the wine kept rising, like a thirteen-story pagoda, pointed and full, not spilling a drop. The monster reached out his mouth, drank a cup, pulled over a corpse, took a bite, and said, "Can you sing?" The little dragon said, "I know a little." He sang a short song according to the tune, and then offered another cup. The monster said, "Can you dance?" The little dragon said, "I know a little, but with bare hands, it doesn't look good." The monster lifted his clothes, unfastened the precious sword from his waist, drew it from its scabbard, and handed it to the little dragon. The little dragon took the saber, paid close attention, and right there at the banquet, performed an elaborate saber dance, moving up and down, left and right, with flourishes. The monster watched, dazzled. The little dragon then dropped the flourish and swung a saber strike at the demon. What a monster! He dodged sideways, flustered, and raised a "Full House Red" to block the precious saber. That "Full House Red" was originally forged from wrought iron, weighing eighty to ninety *jin* including the handle. The two exited the Silver Antechamber, the little dragon revealed his true form, and then rode up on a cloud, fighting the demon in mid-air. What a fierce battle in the darkness! How can we describe it—

One was a monster born from Bowel Mountain, the other a true dragon punished from the Western Ocean. One emitted brilliant light, like spurting white lightning; the other generated sharp qi, like bursting red clouds. One resembled an old white-tusked elephant walking among men, the other was like a golden-clawed civet-cat flying down from above. One was a sky-propping jade pillar, the other a sea-spanning golden beam. Silver dragon danced, yellow demon tumbled. On both sides, precious sabers worked without pause, and the "Full House Red" ceaselessly moved back and forth.

The two of them fought for eight or nine rounds in the clouds. The little dragon's hands grew soft and numb, while the old demon was strong and robust. The little dragon could no longer resist; he threw his saber, striking the monster. The monster had a way to catch the saber; with one hand, he caught the precious saber, and with the other, he threw his "Full House Red" and struck. The little dragon was caught off guard and was struck on his hind leg. In a panic, he quickly lowered his cloud. Fortunately, the Imperial Water River saved his life. The little dragon dove headfirst into the water. The demon pursued him but couldn't find him. He then held his precious saber and his "Full House Red" and returned to the Silver Antechamber, continuing to drink and sleep as before, a story left untold.

Meanwhile, the little dragon submerged himself underwater. After half an hour, when he heard no sound, he finally gritted his teeth, endured the pain in his leg, leaped up, trod on dark clouds, and directly returned to the post station, transforming back into his horse form and lying down in the stall. Pitifully, he was soaking wet all over, with a wound on his leg. At that moment—

The Mind-Horse and Heart-Monkey were both scattered, the Golden Elder and Wooden Mother withered away. The Earthly Matron suffered injury, and with righteousness diminished, how could success be achieved!

Let us not speak of Tripitaka's misfortune or the little dragon's defeat. Now, Pigsy, after leaving Sandy, burrowed into a patch of grass and dug a muddy pig wallow. He slept through until midnight before finally waking up. When he awoke, he didn't know where he was. He rubbed his eyes, collected his thoughts, and then listened carefully. Ah! It was indeed a place where no dogs barked in the deep mountains, and few roosters crowed in the wide wilderness. He saw the stars shift and the Dipper turn, estimating it to be around the third watch of the night. He thought to himself, "If I go back to rescue Sandy, truly a single thread cannot make a line, and one hand cannot clap. Enough, enough! I'll go into the city, see master, get the current emperor's approval, then select some brave soldiers and horses to help old Pig rescue Sandy tomorrow." The oaf quickly ascended on his cloud and returned directly to the city, arriving at the post station in half an instant. At this time, it was quiet with a bright moon, and he couldn't find his master in the two corridors. He only saw the white horse sleeping in its stall, completely wet, with a bruise the size of a plate on its hind leg. Pigsy exclaimed in shock, "Double bad luck! This poor creature hasn't even traveled, so why is it sweating and has a bruise on its leg? Perhaps some villains robbed master and injured the horse."

The white horse recognized Pigsy and suddenly spoke human words, calling out, "Senior Brother!" The oaf was so scared he stumbled and fell. He scrambled up, intending to run away, but the horse stretched out and bit his black robe, saying, "Brother, don't be afraid of me." Pigsy stammered fearfully, "Brother, why are you speaking today? Whenever you speak, it must mean something very inauspicious has happened." The little dragon said, "Do you know Master is in trouble?" Pigsy said, "I don't know." The little dragon said, "You don't know! You and Sandy performed your skills before the emperor, thinking to capture the demon and claim credit for a reward. But the demon's power was great, and your skills were insufficient; you couldn't subdue him. It would have been good for one of you to return and report the news, but there was no sound from you at all. That demon transformed into a handsome scholar, intruded into the court, acknowledged kinship with the emperor, and then turned my master into a striped fierce tiger. He was then captured by the officials and locked in an iron cage in the imperial chamber. Hearing of such distress, my heart was cut as if by a knife. You weren't here for two days and didn't know, and I feared his life might be lost at any moment. I had no choice but to transform into my dragon form and go to rescue him, but unexpectedly, when I arrived at the palace, I couldn't find Master. When I reached the Silver Antechamber, I met the demon, and I transformed into a palace maid to trick the monster. The monster told me to perform a saber dance for him, so I seized the chance and struck him with a saber. But he dodged it quickly and, raising a 'Full House Red' with both hands, defeated me. I then threw my saber to strike him again, but he caught the saber, dropped the 'Full House Red', and struck me on my hind leg. That's why I dove into the Imperial Water River and escaped with my life. The bruise on my leg is from his 'Full House Red' strike." Hearing this, Pigsy said, "Is there really such a thing?" The little dragon said, "Are you suggesting I'm lying to you?!" Pigsy said, "What can we do? What can we do! Can you still move?" The little dragon said, "What if I can move?" Pigsy said, "If you can move, then move yourself to the sea. Let old Pig take the luggage back to Gao Family Village and become a son-in-law again." Hearing this, the little dragon bit his monk's robe and wouldn't let go, tears streaming from his eyes, saying, "Senior Brother, please, please don't be lazy!" Pigsy said, "What if I'm not lazy? Brother Sandy has already been captured by him, and I can't defeat him. If we don't disband now, what are we waiting for?"

The little dragon pondered for a long time, then, still shedding tears, said, "Senior Brother, don't talk about disbanding. If you want to rescue Master, you just need to invite someone." Pigsy asked, "Who should I invite?" The little dragon said, "You should hurry back to Flower-Fruit Mountain on your cloud and invite Senior Brother Sun Wukong. He still possesses great magical power to subdue demons. He will surely rescue Master and also help us avenge this defeat." Pigsy said, "Brother, just invite someone else. That monkey and I aren't on good terms. Previously, on White Tiger Ridge, he killed Lady White Bone, and he blamed me for instigating Master to chant the Band-tightening Spell. I only thought it was a joke, but the old monk actually started chanting it and banished him. I don't know how angry he is with me, and he definitely won't come. And if our words don't quite match up, his cudgel is heavy. If he doesn't know what's good for him and swings it a few times, how will I survive?" The little dragon said, "He definitely won't hit you; he is a Monkey King with benevolence and righteousness. When you see him, don't say Master is in trouble; just say Master misses him, and coax him to come. When he sees the situation here, he will surely be indignant and will definitely fight that demon, ensuring he captures the demon and rescues our Master." Pigsy said, "Alright, alright. Since you're so devoted, if I don't go, it will look like I'm not devoted. If I go, and if Wukong is indeed willing to come, I'll come back with him; if he's not willing to come, then don't expect me, for I won't come back either." The little dragon said, "You go, you go! He will surely come!"

Truly, the oaf packed his rake, adjusted his monk's robe, leaped up, trod on a cloud, and headed straight east. This time, it was also Tang Monk's destiny. The oaf met a favorable wind, and with his two ears spread out like sails, he quickly crossed the Eastern Ocean and descended from the clouds. Before he knew it, the sun star had risen, and he entered the mountains to find his way.

Just as he was walking, he suddenly heard human voices. Pigsy looked closely and saw it was Wukong in a mountain hollow, gathering a host of demons. He was sitting on a rocky cliff, and before him were over twelve hundred monkeys, lined up in order, shouting, "Long live! Grandfather Great Sage!" Pigsy said, "What a good life, what a good life! No wonder he wouldn't be a monk and insisted on coming home! So many benefits, such a large estate, and so many little monkeys to serve him! If old Pig had such a mountain estate, I wouldn't be a monk either. Now that I'm here, what should I do? I must definitely see him." The oaf was a little afraid of him and dared not openly present himself. Instead, he stealthily slipped along the grassy cliff edge, squeezing himself among the twelve or thirteen hundred monkeys, and also kowtowed with them.

Unbeknownst to him, the Great Sage Sun sat high, with keen and sharp eyes, and saw him clearly. He asked, "Who is that barbarian bowing haphazardly among the ranks, and where is he from? Bring him up!" Before he finished speaking, the little monkeys swarmed forward, pushed Pigsy up, and pressed him to the ground. Wukong said, "Where are you from, barbarian?" Pigsy lowered his head and said, "I wouldn't dare, if you please. I am no barbarian, I am an acquaintance, an acquaintance." Wukong said, "All the monkeys under my command, the Great Sage, look the same. Your face is different, your appearance somewhat unsightly. You must be a demon from somewhere else. Since you're from somewhere else, if you wish to join my ranks, first present your official identity, report your name, so I can assign you a place in the order. If I don't keep you, how dare you kowtow here haphazardly!" Pigsy lowered his head, pouting his snout, "Shameless, to show such a face already! You and I have been brothers for years, and now you pretend not to recognize me, calling me some barbarian!" Wukong laughed, "Raise your head, let me see." The oaf stretched his snout upwards and said, "Look! If you don't recognize me, then surely you recognize my snout!"

Wukong couldn't help but laugh, "Pigsy." Hearing his name called, he immediately scrambled up and said, "Exactly, exactly! I am Pigsy!" He then thought, "If he recognizes me, it will be easier to talk." Wukong said, "Why aren't you following Tang Monk to get scriptures, and why are you here instead? Did you offend Master, and has Master banished you back? Is there any banishment letter? Let me see it." Pigsy said, "I didn't offend him, he has no banishment letter, and he didn't drive me away." Wukong said, "Since there's no banishment letter and he didn't drive you away, why are you here?" Pigsy said, "Master misses you and sent me to invite you." Wukong said, "He didn't invite me, and he doesn't miss me. That day, he swore to Heaven and personally wrote a banishment letter. How could he miss me now, or send you from afar to invite me? I absolutely cannot go either." Pigsy quickly told a lie on the spot, "He truly misses you, truly misses you!" Wukong said, "How does he miss me?" Pigsy said, "Master was riding his horse, and he called out 'disciple', but I didn't hear him, and Sandy pretended to be deaf. Then Master remembered you, saying we were useless, and that you were still a clever and intelligent person, always responding promptly when called, and answering ten when asked one. Because he misses you this way, he specifically sent me to invite you. He desperately hopes you will come for a visit. Firstly, not to disappoint his longing heart, and secondly, not to negate my intention of coming from afar."

Hearing this, Wukong leaped down from the cliff, took Pigsy's arm with his hand, and said, "Worthy brother, you've come a long way. Let's go have some fun." Pigsy said, "Brother, this place is far, and I fear Master might be waiting too long, so I won't play." Wukong said, "Since you've come all this way, you might as well see what my mountain scenery is like." The oaf dared not stubbornly refuse and could only follow him. The two, holding hands and supporting each other, with all the little demons following, ascended to the very peak of Flower-Fruit Mountain. What a splendid mountain! Since the Great Sage returned home, it had been restored to its former glory in just a few days. One could see—

Green as carved jade, towering as if touching the clouds. Tigers crouched and dragons coiled all around, while apes cried and cranes shrieked everywhere. In the morning, clouds enveloped the mountaintop; in the evening, the sun hung between the trees. Gurgling streams murmured like jade pendants, and dripping springs played like a precious zither. Before the mountain lay sheer cliffs and precipitous peaks, behind it, lush and vibrant flowers and trees. Above, it connected to the Jade Maiden's hair-washing basin; below, it joined the diverging waters of the Milky Way. Its essence united heaven and earth, surpassing Penglai; the pure and impure nourished it into a true grotto-heaven. Even the finest painter would struggle to depict it, and a celestial maiden's subtle skill could not portray it. Intricate strange rocks, rocks intricately wrought; intricate colors adorned the ridge-top peaks. Sunbeams stirred a thousand purple hues, auspicious aura swayed ten thousand rosy mists. A grotto-heaven and blessed land existing on earth, with new trees and new flowers covering the entire mountain.

Pigsy gazed in endless wonder and said with great delight, "Brother, what a wonderful place! It truly is the foremost famous mountain under heaven!" Wukong said, "Worthy brother, is it good for living?" Pigsy laughed, "Look at what you're saying, Senior Brother! This treasure mountain is a grotto-heaven and blessed land; how can you speak of merely 'passing days'?" The two talked and laughed for a long time, then descended the mountain. They saw several small monkeys by the roadside, holding high purple grapes, fragrant pears and dates, golden loquats, and bright red bayberries. They knelt by the road and called out, "Grandfather Great Sage, please come have your breakfast." Wukong laughed, "My Brother Pigsy has a large appetite; he doesn't take fruit as a meal. Never mind, never mind. Don't mind the humbleness, just eat some as a snack." Pigsy said, "Although my appetite is large, I also adapt to local customs. Bring them, bring them! I'll eat a few to taste something new."

The two ate the fruit, and the sun gradually rose higher. The oaf, fearing he would delay rescuing Tang Monk, kept urging, "Brother, Master is waiting for you and me there. I hope you and I can go soon." Wukong said, "Worthy brother, I invite you to come and play in the Water Curtain Cave." Pigsy firmly declined, "Many thanks for your generous invitation, elder brother, but Master has been waiting for a long time, so let's not bother entering the cave." Wukong said, "Since that's the case, I dare not detain you any longer. Please allow me to bid you farewell here." Pigsy said, "Brother, aren't you coming?" Wukong said, "Where would I go? Here, heaven doesn't control me, and earth doesn't bother me; I'm free and unfettered. If I'm not having fun, why be a monk? I'm not going; you can go by yourself. But convey to Tang Monk: since he banished me, he shouldn't think of me again." The oaf, hearing this, dared not press him, fearing he might provoke his temper and get a few cudgel blows. Helpless, he could only mumble his farewell and find his way back. Wukong saw him leave and immediately dispatched two nimble little monkeys to follow Pigsy and listen to what he might say.

Truly, the oaf descended the mountain, and before he had gone three or four *li*, he turned his head, pointed at Wukong, and cursed, "This monkey, instead of being a monk, has become a demon! This scoundrel, I came with good intentions to invite him, but he wouldn't go! If you don't go, then fine!" He walked a few steps, then cursed a few more times. The two little monkeys quickly ran back and reported, "Grandfather Great Sage, that Pigsy isn't very honest; he walks a bit and then curses a few times." Wukong was furious and yelled, "Bring him here!" All the monkeys swarmed over, overtook Pigsy, lifted him up and threw him down, pulling his mane and ears, tugging his tail and fur, and dragged him back. As for how he was dealt with, and whether he lived or died, listen to the next chapter's explanation.