Chapter 55: Lustful Play with Tang Sanzang Proper Cultivation Preserves the Body

Now, Sun Wukong and Pigsy were about to use their magic to subdue the women when suddenly they heard the wind blowing and Sandy shouting. They quickly turned around, but Tripitaka was gone. "Who came and snatched Master?" asked Monkey. Sandy replied, "It was a woman. She conjured a whirlwind and carried Master away." Hearing this, Monkey whistled and leaped into the clouds, shading his eyes with his hand as he looked around. He saw a cloud of dust, churning with wind, moving northwest. He quickly turned back and shouted, "Brothers, quickly take to the clouds with me to chase Master!" Pigsy and Sandy immediately loaded their baggage onto the horse, and with a whoosh, all leaped into the air.

The queen, her ministers, and the women of the Western Liang Kingdom were so alarmed that they knelt in the dust, all exclaiming, "These are arhats ascending to heaven in broad daylight. Your Majesty, there's no need to be alarmed. Imperial Brother Tang is also a virtuous Chan monk. We were all blind and mistook a man from the Middle Kingdom for an ordinary human, wasting our affections. Please, Your Majesty, return to the palace in your carriage." The Queen felt ashamed, and all the officials returned to the kingdom together without further ado.

Meanwhile, the three brothers, Sun Wukong, Pigsy, and Sandy, soared through the air, riding the mists, and chased the whirlwind directly. They arrived at a tall mountain, where the dust had settled and the wind had dispersed, leaving them no idea where the monster had gone. The brothers descended from the clouds and searched for a path. Suddenly, they saw a gleaming green stone wall, shaped like a screen. The three of them led the horse around the stone screen. Behind it were two stone gates, with six large characters inscribed on them: "Poison Mountain, Pipa Cave."

Pigsy, oblivious, stepped forward and tried to break down the gate with his rake. Monkey quickly stopped him, saying, "Brother, don't be hasty. We chased the whirlwind all the way here, and after searching for a while, we found this gate. We don't know what's inside or how deep it goes. What if this isn't the right gate? Wouldn't that annoy them? You two should lead the horse back to the stone screen and wait for a moment. Let Old Monkey go in and scout around to see if there's anything, then we'll know how to proceed." Sandy was delighted to hear this, saying, "Excellent, excellent, excellent! That's being meticulous in a rough situation; indeed, it's best to be cautious in an urgent one." The two of them led the horse back. Sun Wukong then displayed his supernatural power. He made a gesture, recited an incantation, and with a shake of his body, transformed into a nimble little bee! Look at him—

With wings so thin, they sway with the softest breeze,A slender waist that glistens in the sun's warm rays.Sweet mouth that once sought nectar from the flower's heart,A pointed tail, adept at stinging toads.Its skill in brewing honey, profound and deep,Humble it approaches the grand palace gate.Now, employing cunning, with a clever trick,It dances and flutters beneath the entryway.

Monkey slipped through a crack in the gate and flew past the second set of doors. Inside, he saw a female monster sitting at the center of a flower pavilion, flanked by several young girls in colorful embroidered clothes with twin buns. They were all in high spirits, discussing something Monkey couldn't quite make out. Monkey gently flew up and perched on the trellis of the flower pavilion, straining his ears to listen. He then saw two young girls with hair tied in knots and disheveled heads approaching the pavilion, carrying two steaming plates of food. "Grandma," they said, "one plate contains meat buns with human flesh filling, and the other contains vegetarian buns with Dengsha filling." The female monster laughed and said, "Girls, bring out Imperial Brother Tang." Several girls in colorful embroidered clothes went to the back room and helped Tripitaka out. The Master's face was pale, his lips white, and his eyes red and tearful. Monkey sighed in the shadows, "Master has been poisoned!"

The monster descended from the pavilion, revealing her slender, spring-onion-like fingers, and tugged at the Elder, saying, "Imperial Brother, set your mind at ease. Although this is not the palace of the Western Liang Kingdom, nor is it as grand or luxurious, it is truly peaceful and comfortable, perfect for reciting sutras and meditating. Let me be your spiritual companion; we could truly live together in harmony for a hundred years." Tripitaka remained silent. The monster said, "Don't fret. I know you haven't eaten anything since the banquet in the women's kingdom. Here are two plates of food, meat and vegetarian; help yourself to calm your nerves."

Tripitaka pondered silently, "If I refuse to speak or eat, this monster is unlike the Queen. The Queen is human and acts with propriety, but this monster is a demon-spirit, and she might harm me. What should I do? My three disciples don't know I'm trapped here. If she harms me, wouldn't I die in vain?" Asking himself inwardly, with no other choice, he forced himself to speak, "Which is the meat? Which is the vegetarian?" The female monster said, "The meat ones have human flesh filling, and the vegetarian ones have Dengsha filling." Tripitaka said, "This humble monk eats vegetarian." The monster laughed, "Girl, bring hot tea for your Grandpa Elder to eat his vegetarian bun." Indeed, a girl brought a cup of fragrant tea and placed it before the Elder. The monster broke open a vegetarian bun and handed it to Tripitaka. Tripitaka, meanwhile, handed a whole meat bun to the female monster. The monster laughed, "Imperial Brother, why didn't you break it open for me?" Tripitaka put his palms together and said, "As a monk, I dare not break a meat dish." The monster said, "You, a monk, dare not break a meat dish, yet yesterday by the River of Pregnancy, you drank too much water, and today you're so eager for Dengsha filling?" Tripitaka replied, "When the water is high, the boat goes fast; when the sand gets deep, the horse travels slow."

Monkey, listening through the trellis, heard their exchange of words. Fearing his Master's resolve might waver, he couldn't hold back. He revealed his true form, pulled out his iron staff, and shouted, "Impudent beast!" Seeing him, the female monster spewed a burst of smoky light, enveloping the flower pavilion, and commanded, "Girls, take Imperial Brother away!" She then grabbed a three-pronged steel trident, leaped out of the pavilion's door, and cursed, "You wretched, lazy monkey! How dare you secretly enter my home and spy on my appearance! Don't run! Take this fork from me!" The Great Sage blocked with his iron staff, fighting as he retreated.

The two fought their way out of the cave. Pigsy and Sandy were waiting in front of the stone screen. Suddenly seeing the two struggling, Pigsy nervously led the white horse aside and said, "Sandy, you just guard the baggage and the horse. Let Old Pig go and help with the fight." The good simpleton, raising his rake with both hands, rushed forward and shouted, "Elder Brother, stand back! Let me fight this wicked hussy!" When the monster saw Pigsy approaching, she performed another trick: she let out a cry, fire burst from her nostrils, smoke poured from her mouth, and with a shake of her body, her three-pronged trident flew about to meet them. The female monster seemed to have countless hands, attacking wildly without any particular aim. Monkey and Pigsy attacked her from both sides. The monster said, "Sun Wukong, you don't know when to advance or retreat! I recognize you, but you don't recognize me. Even the Buddha Tathagata in your Thunderclap Monastery fears me! What can you two hairy creatures do? Come on, both of you, just watch how I fight!" What a fierce battle it was—

The monster's might grew, the Monkey King's spirit soared.Marshal Tian Peng vied for merit, wildly wielding his rake to show his skill.One, with many hands, tightly gripped her trident, wreathed in smoky light;The other two, impetuous and strong, surged forth amidst misty vigor.The female monster sought only a mate, but how could the male monk yield his primal essence!Yin and Yang mismatched, they fought, each displaying their prowess in bitter struggle.Yin, serene, nurtured beauty, longing to move; Yang, restrained, cherished purity and peace.Thus, harmony was absent between the two sides; trident, rake, and iron staff gambled for victory.The staff was mighty, the rake even more so; the monster's steel trident met them point for point.In front of Poison Mountain, none gave ground; outside Pipa Cave, the two were relentless.One wished Tripitaka to be her phoenix mate; the other two were bound to follow the Elder to acquire the scriptures.They fought a battle that shook heaven and earth, until the sun and moon lost their light and the stars changed their courses!

The three fought for a long time without a clear victor. The female monster suddenly leaped, employing a 'Horse-Stinging Venomous Barb,' and before Monkey knew it, she had pricked his scalp. Monkey cried out, "Oh, the pain!" Unable to bear it, he retreated from the battle in agony. Seeing that things were not going well, Pigsy dragged his rake and retreated completely. The monster, having gained victory, retrieved her steel trident.

Monkey clutched his head, his face contorted in pain, crying, "Terrible, terrible!" Pigsy came forward and asked, "Brother, how is it that you were fighting so well, and then you ran away, wailing?" Monkey held his head, only managing to groan, "Pain, pain, pain!" Sandy said, "Perhaps your headache has flared up?" Monkey cried out, "No, no!" Pigsy said, "Brother, I didn't see you get wounded, yet you have a headache. Why is that?" Monkey groaned, "It's awful, awful! While I was fighting her, she saw me break her trident's stance, so she leaped, and I don't know what kind of weapon it was, but it pricked my head. The headache is unbearable, that's why I retreated." Pigsy laughed, "You always boast in quiet times that your head is impervious from your cultivation. How could it not withstand just one prick?" Monkey said, "Exactly! My head has been impenetrable ever since I achieved enlightenment through cultivation, stole and ate the Peaches of Immortality and immortal wine, and Laozi's elixirs. During the Havoc in Heaven, the Jade Emperor sent the mighty Ghost Kings and the Twenty-Eight Constellations to execute me at the Bull-Demon Palace with swords, axes, hammers, and spears, and lightning and fire, and Laozi even put me in the Eight Trigram Furnace for forty-nine days, yet none of that harmed me. Today, I don't know what kind of weapon this woman used to injure Old Monkey's head!" Sandy said, "Let go of your head and let me see. Is it broken?" Monkey said, "No, not broken!" Pigsy said, "I'll go to the Western Liang Kingdom and get you some plaster to put on it." Monkey said, "It's not swollen or broken, how can I put plaster on it?" Pigsy laughed, "Brother, I've never had prenatal or postnatal illnesses, but you've managed to get a forehead carbuncle!" Sandy said, "Second Brother, stop making fun. It's getting late, Eldest Brother's head is injured, and we don't know if Master is alive or dead. What should we do?"

The clever Monkey groaned, "Master is fine. When I went in, I transformed into a bee and flew inside. I saw the woman sitting in the flower pavilion. A short while later, two maids brought two plates of buns: one with human flesh filling, meat; the other with Dengsha filling, vegetarian. Then two young girls helped Master out to eat something to calm his nerves, and she wanted to be his spiritual companion. Master initially didn't speak to the woman or eat the buns, but later, hearing her sweet words, he somehow opened his mouth and said he ate vegetarian. The woman then broke open a vegetarian bun and handed it to Master, who in turn handed a whole meat bun to the woman. The woman asked, 'Why didn't you break it open?' Master replied, 'As a monk, I dare not break a meat dish.' The woman retorted, 'Since you dare not break a meat dish, how is it that the day before yesterday by the River of Pregnancy, you drank too much water, and today you're so eager for Dengsha filling?' Master, not understanding her hidden meaning, replied with two lines: 'When the water is high, the boat goes fast; when the sand gets deep, the horse travels slow.' I heard this from the trellis, and fearing Master's resolve might weaken, I revealed my true form and struck with my staff. She also used her magic, spewing smoke, ordered them to take Imperial Brother away, then wielded her steel trident and fought Old Monkey out of the cave."

Sandy, hearing this, bit his finger and said, "That wretched hussy must have followed us from somewhere, knowing all these past events!" Pigsy said, "If that's the case, we can't rest, can we? Never mind whether it's dusk or midnight, let's go to her gate and challenge her, making a big racket so she can't sleep, and prevent her from tormenting Master." Monkey said, "My head hurts, I can't go!" Sandy said, "No need to challenge her to battle. Firstly, Elder Brother has a headache; secondly, our Master is a true monk, and he will certainly not be swayed by lust or emptiness. Let's just sit here for the night, in a sheltered spot on the hillside, to rest and gather our spirits. We'll deal with it in the morning." Thus, the three brothers tied up the white horse, guarded their baggage, and rested on the hillside, without further mention.

Meanwhile, the female monster set aside her fierce intentions and regained her joyful demeanor. She called out, "Girls, lock all the front and back doors tightly!" She also posted two guards to watch for Monkey, instructing them to report immediately if they heard any noise at the door. Then she instructed, "Girls, tidy up the bedroom, light candles and incense, and invite Imperial Brother Tang. I wish to enjoy myself with him." So, they helped the Elder out from the back. The female monster adopted an utterly charming and alluring posture, taking Tripitaka's hand and saying, "As the saying goes, gold is not the most valuable; peace and happiness are worth far more. Come, let's be husband and wife for a while and enjoy ourselves."

The Elder clenched his teeth, not uttering a sound. He wished not to go, but feared she might become malicious and take his life, so he tremblingly followed her into the fragrant chamber. He was like a fool or a mute, not once raising his head or looking up. He didn't see what kind of bed or curtains were in her room, nor did he notice any chests or dressing tables. He paid no heed to the monster's flirtatious words. What a good monk! He was truly—

His eyes saw no evil sights, his ears heard no lewd sounds.He regarded her embroidered beauty as dirt, her jeweled allure as dust.His entire life, he loved only Chan meditation, never straying half a step from the Buddha's path.How could he cherish jade or pity fragrance? He only knew how to cultivate truth and nurture his nature.The female monster, vibrant and full of endless spring desire;This Elder, rigid and unwavering, his Chan mind present.One was like soft jade and warm fragrance, the other like dead ashes and withered wood.One spread the mandarin duck quilt, her lust intense;The other tightened his monk's robe, his pure heart unyielding.One wanted to press breast to thigh, to mingle like phoenixes;The other sought to paint murals, to return to the mountain and visit Bodhidharma.The monster unrobed, displaying her fragrant, smooth skin;Tripitaka adjusted his robe, tightly concealing his rough, coarse flesh.The monster asked, "My pillow is unused, my quilt empty, why not sleep?"Tripitaka replied, "My head is shaven, my robes different, how can I accompany you?"She said, "I wish to be Liu Cuicui of a former dynasty."He said, "This humble monk is not Yue Xiangli."The monster said, "I am as beautiful and graceful as Xi Shi."Tripitaka replied, "Because of her, the King of Yue was long buried beneath the earth."The monster said, "Imperial Brother, do you remember the saying, 'Better to die beneath the flowers, and be a romantic ghost'?"Tripitaka replied, "My true yang essence is a supreme treasure; how could I lightly give it to a powdered skeleton like you?"

They exchanged such scattered, fragmented words, arguing late into the night. Elder Tang remained completely unmoved. The female monster pulled and tugged, unwilling to let go, but the Master remained firmly unwilling. This struggle continued until midnight, finally infuriating the monster. She shouted, "Girls, bring ropes!" Pitiably, she took her beloved, and with a rope, tied him up tightly like a bound animal. She then ordered him dragged to the veranda, blew out the silver lamp, and they all returned to their sleeping quarters. The night passed without further incident, until three crows of the rooster marked the dawn.

On the hillside below, Monkey King stretched and said, "My head ached for a while, but now it neither hurts nor is numb; it just feels a little itchy." Pigsy laughed, "If it's itchy, why not let her prick it again?" Monkey spat and said, "Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense!" Pigsy laughed again, "Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense! My master must have had quite a 'wild' night!" Sandy said, "Stop squabbling. It's dawn; let's hurry and catch the monster." Monkey said, "Brother, you stay here and guard the horse. Don't move. Pigsy, you come with me." The simpleton roused his spirits, adjusted his black brocade robe, and followed Monkey. They each took their weapons and leaped onto the cliff, heading straight for the foot of the stone screen.

Monkey said, "You wait here. I'm afraid this monster might have harmed Master during the night, so let me go in first and scout around. If he was deceived by her and lost his primal essence, truly his virtue would be compromised, and we might as well disband. But if his nature was not corrupted and his Chan mind remained unmoved, then we can strive together, kill the demon, and rescue Master to continue our journey west." Pigsy said, "How foolish you are! As the saying goes, 'Can a dried fish make a good pillow for a cat?' Even if not, even if not, it would still surely get a few scratches!" Monkey said, "Stop your wild speculation; let me go and see."

The Great Sage, turning past the stone screen and bidding farewell to Pigsy, shook his body and transformed back into a bee, flying into the gate. He saw two maids inside the gate, sleeping with their heads on wooden clappers and bells. He then went to the flower pavilion to observe. It turned out the demon had been busy half the night and was exhausted; none of them knew it was dawn and were still asleep. Monkey flew to the back and faintly heard Tripitaka calling out. Suddenly, he looked up and saw Master tied up tightly like a bound animal under the veranda. Monkey gently perched on Tripitaka's head and called, "Master." Tripitaka recognized the voice and said, "Wukong, you're here? Quick, save my life!" Monkey asked, "How were things last night?" Tripitaka gritted his teeth and said, "I'd rather die than comply!" Monkey said, "Yesterday, I saw she had an intention of affection and love for you. Why are you so frustrated today?" Tripitaka said, "She pestered me for half the night. My clothes were not unbelted, and my body never touched the bed. Seeing I wouldn't comply, she tied me up here. Please, you must rescue me so I can go retrieve the scriptures!" As master and disciple were conversing, the demon was startled awake. Although the demon had acted harshly, she still harbored a lingering reluctance to let go. As she turned over, she heard the phrase "retrieve the scriptures" and immediately tumbled out of bed, shouting in a sharp voice, "You won't make a good couple, but you want to go retrieve what scriptures!"

Monkey panicked, left his Master, quickly spread his wings, flew out, and resumed his true form, shouting, "Pigsy!" The simpleton came from behind the stone screen and asked, "Did it happen?" Monkey laughed, "No, no! The old Master refused her advances, which annoyed her, so she tied him up there. He was just telling me about it when the monster woke up, and I quickly got out." Pigsy asked, "What did Master say?" Monkey said, "He only said his clothes were not unbelted, and his body never touched the bed." Pigsy laughed, "Good, good, good! He's still a true monk! Let's go save him!"

The simpleton, being coarse, without a word, lifted his rake and struck the stone gate with all his might, smashing it into several pieces with a crash. The maids who had been sleeping with their heads on wooden clappers and bells were terrified. They ran to the outside of the second gate and shouted, "Open the gate! The front gate has been broken by those two ugly men from yesterday!" The female monster was just coming out of her room when she saw four or five maids rush in to report, "Grandma, those two ugly men from yesterday have returned and broken the front gate!" Hearing this, the monster immediately commanded, "Girls! Quickly heat water for washing and get me dressed! Carry Imperial Brother, ropes and all, and put him away in the back room! I'm going to deal with them!"

The fierce demon emerged, raising her three-pronged trident and cursing, "Wretched monkey! Wild boar! Ignorant old lout! How dare you break down my gate!" Pigsy cursed back, "You wanton, vile hussy! You trapped my Master, and now you dare to talk back! My Master was lured here by you to be your husband; quickly send him out, and I'll spare you! If you dare to say half a 'no' word, Old Pig's rake will smash down this mountain too!" The demon didn't allow him to finish. She shook her body, used her previous magic, spewed smoke and fire from her nose and mouth, and raised her steel trident to stab Pigsy. Pigsy dodged sideways, and struck with his rake. Monkey King helped with his iron staff, attacking with combined force. The monster again employed her magic, seemingly with countless hands, blocking left and right. After three or five rounds of combat, with some unknown weapon, she pricked Pigsy's lip. The simpleton dragged his rake, covering his mouth, and fled in pain. Monkey, somewhat annoyed with him, feigned a blow and also retreated from the battle. The demon, having won, returned and ordered her girls to pile up stones to barricade the front gate, without further mention.

Meanwhile, Sandy was grazing the horse at the foot of the hill. He heard Pigsy groaning from afar and looked up to see Pigsy approaching, covering his mouth and groaning. "What's wrong?" Sandy asked. The simpleton groaned, "It's awful, awful! Pain, pain, pain!" Before he could finish, Monkey also arrived, laughing, "Oh, you simpleton! Yesterday you cursed me with a forehead carbuncle, and today you've got yourself a swollen-lip plague!" Pigsy groaned, "Unbearable, unbearable! It hurts terribly! Awful, awful!"

As the three found themselves in a difficult situation, they saw an old woman approaching from the southern mountain road, carrying a green bamboo basket of vegetables in her left hand. "Eldest Brother," Sandy said, "that old woman is getting close. Let me ask her for information, to see what kind of demon this is, what kind of weapon she uses, to hurt people like this." Monkey said, "Wait a moment. Let Old Monkey go and ask her." Monkey quickly opened his eyes wide to look, and saw auspicious clouds covering her head and fragrant mist enveloping her body. Monkey recognized this and immediately shouted, "Brothers, why aren't you bowing down? That old woman is the Bodhisattva!" Pigsy, trembling with pain, knelt in homage. Sandy led the horse and bowed. Monkey King put his palms together and knelt down, calling out, "Namo the Great Merciful, Great Compassionate, Deliverer from Suffering, Miraculous Guanyin Bodhisattva."

The Bodhisattva, seeing that they recognized her aura, immediately stepped on auspicious clouds and rose into the air, revealing her true form, which was that of a Fish-Basket Guanyin. Monkey caught up in mid-air, bowed, and pleaded, "Bodhisattva, please forgive your disciple for not greeting you! We are striving to rescue our Master, unaware of your descent. Now we have encountered a demonic difficulty that is hard to overcome. We humbly beg for your assistance!" The Bodhisattva said, "This demon is extremely formidable. Her three-pronged trident is actually her two natural pincer-legs. What causes the piercing pain is a hook on her tail, called the 'Horse-Stinging Venom.' She is a scorpion demon. Formerly, when she was listening to Buddha expound sutras in Thunderclap Monastery, Tathagata, seeing her, happened to push her away with his hand. She then turned her hook and stung Tathagata's left middle finger. Tathagata also found the pain unbearable and immediately ordered the