Chapter 59: Tang Sanzang Blocked by Flaming Mountain Sun Wukong's Trick with the Banana Leaf Fan

Many natures are fundamentally the same, embracing everything like the boundless ocean. A thousand thoughts and ten thousand worries ultimately become delusion; all forms and colors blend harmoniously. One day, when merits are complete and conduct perfected, the perfectly enlightened dharma nature will ascend majestically. Do not let differences scatter to the east or west; keep them firmly locked. Gather them and place them within the alchemical furnace, refining them until they are as red as the golden crow. Bright, radiant, and splendid, allowing one to freely enter and exit, riding dragons.

It is narrated that Tripitaka, following the Bodhisattva’s instructions, had accepted Sun Wukong. Along with Pigsy and Sandy, he had cut off their divided minds, restraining the ape-mind and horse-will, and uniting their efforts to hasten towards the Western Heaven. Time flew by like an arrow, days and months like a shuttle. After enduring the scorching summer, they now faced the frosty scenery of late autumn. They saw—

Thin clouds dissipate, the west wind blows strong;Cranes cry in distant peaks, frost adorns the forest.The scenery is desolate and bleak;Mountains are long, rivers even longer.Wild geese return from the northern frontier;Swallows fly back to the southern paths.The traveler's path fears solitude;The monk's robe easily grows cold.

As the four pilgrims continued their journey, they gradually felt an oppressive heat. Tripitaka reined in his horse and said, "It is autumn now, so why is it still so hot?" Pigsy said, "You don't know, but there's a country called Sihaali on the Western Road, which is where the sun sets, commonly known as the 'Edge of the Sky.' If it's the hours of Shen-You (3-7 PM), the king sends people onto the city walls to beat drums and blow horns, mingling their sounds with the roaring of the boiling sea. The sun, being the true fire of the sun, descends into the Western Sea, like fire quenching in water, creating a tumultuous, boiling sound. If there weren't the sounds of drums and horns to mix with it, it would shake the small children in the city to death. The steaming heat here must mean we've reached the place where the sun sets."

Upon hearing this, the Great Sage couldn't help but laugh. "Don't talk nonsense, idiot! As for Sihaali, it's still far away. With Master delaying like this, like 'three in the morning, two in the evening,' even if he lived from childhood to old age, then became young again, and went through three such life cycles, he still wouldn't reach it." Pigsy said, "Brother, if what you say is true, and this isn't where the sun sets, then why is it so scorching hot?" Sandy said, "Perhaps the seasons are out of alignment, and autumn is behaving like summer."

As the three of them argued, they saw a manor by the roadside. It had houses with red tiles, walls made of red bricks, red-oiled doors, and red-lacquered plank beds—everything was red. Tripitaka dismounted and said, "Wukong, go to that house and ask for information, to find out the reason for this intense heat." The Great Sage put away his Golden-Hooped Rod, tidied his clothes, and with a feigned air of refinement, he turned off the main road and went directly to the gate to observe. Suddenly, an old man walked out from inside the gate. He was—

Wearing a deep-colored ramie robe that was neither yellow nor red,And a cool bamboo-silk hat that was neither green nor black.In his hand, he leaned on a bamboo staff with protruding joints, neither bent nor straight;On his feet, he wore a pair of rough, worn shoes.His face was like red copper, and his beard like white silk.Two long, auspicious eyebrows obscured his green eyes;A gaping mouth revealed golden teeth.

The old man suddenly looked up, saw Wukong, and was startled. Leaning on his bamboo staff, he shouted, "Where are you from, strange man? What are you doing at my gate?" Wukong bowed in return. "Elder benefactor, do not fear me; I am no strange person. I am a humble monk, an imperial envoy from the Great Tang in the East, on a pilgrimage to the West to obtain scriptures. We four, master and disciples, have just arrived at this precious place and find the weather oppressively hot. Firstly, we do not understand the reason; secondly, we do not know the local name. We specifically came to ask for your guidance." The old man then relaxed and smiled, saying, "Reverend, please do not blame me. This old man's eyes were momentarily dim, and I failed to recognize your distinguished presence." Wukong replied, "I wouldn't dare." The old man asked again, "Where is your esteemed master?" Wukong said, "Is he not standing on the main road to the south?" The old man urged, "Please, invite him here, invite him here." Wukong, delighted, waved his hand, and Tripitaka, along with Pigsy and Sandy, leading the white horse and carrying the luggage, approached and all bowed to the old man. The old man saw Tripitaka's handsome appearance and Pigsy and Sandy's extraordinary looks, and was both surprised and pleased. He invited them inside to sit, told his servants to bring tea, and simultaneously to prepare a meal. Hearing this, Tripitaka rose and expressed his thanks, saying, "May I ask, venerable sir, why is it so scorching hot here when it is autumn?" The old man said, "Our place is called the Flaming Mountains. There is no spring or autumn; it is hot all four seasons." Tripitaka said, "Where exactly are the Flaming Mountains? Do they obstruct the path to the West?" The old man said, "You cannot go to the West. That mountain is sixty *li* from here, and it is indeed the necessary path to the West. However, there are eight hundred *li* of flames, and no blade of grass grows within a hundred miles around. If you manage to cross the mountain, even if you had a copper skull and an iron body, you would melt into liquid." Upon hearing this, Tripitaka turned pale with shock and dared not ask further.

Just then, a young man outside the gate pushed a small red cart and stopped by the door, calling out, "Cake for sale!" The Great Sage pulled a strand of his hair, transformed it into a copper coin, and asked the man to buy some cake. The man took the money, and without caring about its quality, he lifted the cloth covering the cart. Steam billowed out, and he took out a piece of cake and handed it to Wukong. Wukong held it in his hand; it was like glowing charcoal in a brazier, or a red-hot nail in a coal stove. You could see him shifting it from his left hand to his right, and from his right hand to his left, only saying, "Hot, hot, hot! Hard to eat, hard to eat!" The young man laughed and said, "If you're afraid of the heat, don't come here. This place is just this hot." Wukong said, "You, fellow, are quite unreasonable! As the saying goes, 'If it's neither cold nor hot, the five grains won't ripen.' Since it's so intensely hot here, where does the flour for your cake come from?" The man said, "If you want to know about the flour and rice, you must respectfully seek the Iron Fan Immortal." Wukong asked, "What about the Iron Fan Immortal?" The man said, "The Iron Fan Immortal has a Plantain Fan. If you can obtain it, one wave extinguishes the fire, a second creates wind, and a third brings rain. Then we can sow our seeds and harvest them in time, thus sustaining ourselves with the five grains. Otherwise, truly not a blade of grass could grow."

Hearing this, Wukong quickly turned and walked back inside, handing the cake to Tripitaka. "Master, don't worry, and don't fret as if it's a problem for next year. Eat the cake, and I'll tell you about it." The elder (Tripitaka) took the cake in his hand and offered it to the old man of the house, saying, "Venerable sir, please have some cake." The old man said, "My family hasn't yet offered you tea and food, how dare I eat your cake?" Wukong laughed and said, "Elder, you needn't trouble yourself with tea and food. I want to ask you, where does the Iron Fan Immortal live?" The old man asked, "Why do you ask about him?" Wukong said, "The cake seller just told me that this immortal has a Plantain Fan. If obtained, one wave extinguishes the fire, a second creates wind, and a third brings rain, allowing your region to sow and harvest crops, and thus sustain yourselves with the five grains. I wish to seek him out and borrow it to extinguish the Flaming Mountains so we can pass, and also enable this region to sow and harvest in season, and live in peace." The old man said, "Indeed, there is such a saying. But you have no gifts, and I fear that sage will not come." Tripitaka asked, "What kind of gifts does he require?" The old man said, "People in this area pray for his help once every ten years. They offer four pigs, four sheep, red silks, exotic incense, seasonal fruits, chickens, geese, and fine wine. After bathing in piety, they journey to that immortal mountain and invite him out of his cave to perform his magic here." Wukong said, "Where is that mountain located? What is its name? How many *li* away is it? I will go and ask him for the fan." The old man said, "That mountain is in the southwest, named Mount Cuikun (Green Cloud Mountain). In the mountain, there is an immortal cave called Plantain Cave. It takes our devout villagers a month to travel there and back to worship the immortal mountain, a distance of about one thousand four hundred and fifty to sixty *li*." Wukong laughed and said, "No problem, I'll go and be back right away." The old man said, "Wait, have some tea and food, and prepare some dry provisions. You'll need two companions. There are no houses on that road, and many wolves and tigers. It's not a journey for a single day, so don't treat it as a game." Wukong laughed and said, "No need, no need, I'm going!" With a shout, he suddenly disappeared. The old man exclaimed in alarm, "Oh my goodness! He's a divine being who can ride on clouds and mists!"

Leaving aside how the family double-served Tripitaka, let's talk about how Wukong instantly arrived at Mount Cuikun. He suppressed his auspicious light and was just looking for the cave entrance when he suddenly heard a 'ding-ding' sound. It was a woodcutter felling trees in the forest. Wukong immediately approached, and heard him recite—

In the clouds, I faintly recognize the old forest;On broken cliffs with wild grass, the path is hard to find.Looking west, I saw the morning rain;Returning by the south stream, the crossing place is deep.

Wukong stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Woodcutter brother, may I ask you something?" The woodcutter put down his axe, bowed in return, and said, "Reverend, where are you going?" Wukong said, "May I ask, woodcutter brother, is this Mount Cuikun?" The woodcutter said, "Precisely." Wukong said, "There's a Plantain Cave belonging to the Iron Fan Immortal, where is it?" The woodcutter laughed and said, "While there is a Plantain Cave, there's no Iron Fan Immortal, only the Iron Fan Princess, also known as the Rakshasa Woman." Wukong said, "People say he has a plantain fan that can extinguish the Flaming Mountains. Is that him?" The woodcutter said, "That's right, that's right. This sage possesses this treasure, capable of extinguishing fire and protecting the people of that region, which is why she is called the Iron Fan Immortal. Here, people don't use that title for her; they only know her as the Rakshasa Woman, the wife of the mighty Bull Demon King."

Upon hearing this, Wukong turned pale with shock, thinking to himself, "Another enemy! Back then, I subdued Red Boy, who they said was raised by this fellow. Earlier, at the Cave of Broken Child on Mount Jieyang, I met his uncle, who refused to give me water, intending revenge. Now I've met his parents, how can I possibly borrow this fan?" The woodcutter saw Wukong deep in thought, sighing repeatedly, and chuckled, "Reverend, you are a monk; what worries or doubts do you have? This small path leads east, and in less than five or six *li*, you will reach Plantain Cave. Don't be anxious." Wukong said, "To tell you the truth, woodcutter brother, I am the senior disciple of Tripitaka, who was sent by the Tang Dynasty from the East to seek scriptures in the West. Two years ago, in the Fiery Cloud Cave, I had some words with Red Boy, the son of the Rakshasa. I fear the Rakshasa harbors a grudge and will not lend the fan, hence my worries and doubts." The woodcutter said, "A true man should be perceptive of appearances and moods. Just go under the pretext of borrowing the fan; don't bring up past unpleasantries, and I guarantee you'll borrow it." Hearing this, Wukong bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, woodcutter brother. I'm going now." He then bid farewell to the woodcutter and went directly to the entrance of Plantain Cave. He saw the two doors tightly closed and securely fastened, while the scenery outside the cave was beautiful. What a beautiful place! It was exactly like—

The mountain has stone for its bones, and stone is the essence of the earth.Mist and clouds hold lingering moisture; moss adds fresh green.Its towering peaks seem to pierce Penglai Island;Its secluded tranquility and floral scent are like the ocean.A few tall pines shelter wild cranes;Several drooping willows converse with mountain orioles.Truly, it is a thousand-year-old relic, a ten-thousand-year immortal trace.Green phoenixes cry on jadeite paulownia;Living waters conceal azure dragons.Winding paths are draped with wild vines;Stone steps are enveloped by creeping tendrils.Apes howl from emerald cliffs, joyful at the rising moon;Birds sing from tall trees, delighted by the clear sky.The shade of two bamboo groves is as cool as rain;A path of dense flowers submerges embroidered velvet.Occasionally white clouds come from distant peaks,Without fixed form, drifting freely with the wind.

Wukong stepped forward and called out, "Brother Niu, open the door, open the door!" With a creak, the cave door opened, and a young maid walked out. She carried a flower basket in her hand and a hoe on her shoulder. Truly, she was dressed in rags without adornment, yet her face was full of spirit and Taoist devotion. Wukong stepped forward to meet her, clasped his hands together and said, "Maid, I trouble you to report to your Princess. I am a monk on a pilgrimage to obtain scriptures. On the Western Road, we find it difficult to pass the Flaming Mountains, so I have specially come to respectfully borrow the Plantain Fan for a single use." The maid said, "Which temple are you from, monk? What is your name? So I can report it for you." Wukong said, "I am from the Eastern Land, and my name is Sun Wukong, the monk."

The maid immediately turned back into the cave, knelt before the Rakshasa, and said, "Mistress, outside the cave door is a monk from the Eastern Land named Sun Wukong. He wishes to see you and respectfully requests to borrow the Plantain Fan for use in crossing the Flaming Mountains." When the Rakshasa heard the three words "Sun Wukong," it was like throwing salt into fire, or pouring oil onto flames. Her face instantly flushed red, and fierce anger swelled in her heart. She cursed aloud, "This audacious monkey! He's here today!" She shouted, "Maids, bring my armor and weapons!" She quickly put on her armor, took two green-bladed swords, and prepared herself to go out. Wukong dodged aside outside the cave, secretly observing her attire. He saw her—

Her head was wrapped in a patterned silk handkerchief;Her body was adorned in a brocaded cloud robe.A tiger-sinew sash was doubly tied around her waist,Revealing a hint of embroidered skirt and silk gauze.She wore three-inch phoenix-beak arch shoes,And dragon-whisker knee-length trousers with golden clasps.In her hand she held a precious sword, her voice was loud with anger,And her appearance was fiercer than a furious hag.

The Rakshasa stepped out of the door and loudly called, "Where is Sun Wukong?" Wukong stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sister-in-law, your humble Old Sun is here to greet you." The Rakshasa spat, "Who is your sister-in-law! Who wants your greetings!" Wukong said, "Your esteemed husband, the Bull Demon King, once swore brotherhood with your humble Old Sun; we were sworn brothers. Now that I hear the Princess is Brother Niu's rightful wife, how can I not address you as sister-in-law!" The Rakshasa said, "You audacious monkey! If we are sworn brothers, how could you ensnare my son?" Wukong feigned ignorance and asked, "Who is your son?" The Rakshasa said, "My son is Red Boy, the Holy Infant King of Fiery Cloud Cave in Mount Hao's Dry Pine Stream, whom you destroyed. We had nowhere to seek revenge on you, and now you've come knocking on my door to offer your life? Do you think I'll spare you!"

Wukong said with a flattering smile, "Sister-in-law, you truly don't understand the situation and have wrongly accused your humble Old Sun. Your son captured my Master, intending to steam and boil him. Fortunately, Bodhisattva Guanyin took him away and rescued my Master. He is now the Youth of Wealth at the Bodhisattva's side, having truly attained the Bodhisattva's righteous fruit, neither born nor dying, neither defiled nor pure, enjoying the same lifespan as heaven and earth, and the same age as the sun and moon. Instead of thanking your humble Old Sun for saving his life, you blame him. What kind of logic is that!" The Rakshasa said, "You glib-tongued audacious monkey! Although my son's life wasn't harmed, how can he ever come back to me, and when can I ever see him again?" Wukong laughed, "Sister-in-law, what difficulty is there in seeing your son? Just lend me the fan to extinguish the fire and help my Master pass through. Then I will go to Bodhisattva Guanyin's place in the South Sea and invite him to come see you. Then I'll return the fan to you. What's wrong with that? At that time, you can see if he has suffered even a tiny bit of harm. If there's any slight injury, you'd have reason to blame me. But if he's even handsomer than before, you should thank me." The Rakshasa said, "Audacious monkey, enough of your chatter! Stick out your head, let me hack at it a few times with my sword! If you can endure the pain, I'll lend you the fan; if you can't, I'll send you to King Yama early!" Wukong folded his hands and stepped forward, laughing, "Sister-in-law, no more talk. Your humble Old Sun will offer his bare head; hack at it as much as you like until you run out of strength, but you must lend me the fan for a use." The Rakshasa, without allowing further argument, wielded her swords with both hands, striking Wukong's head with 'ping-ping-pang-pang' sounds for over ten blows, but Wukong took them completely nonchalantly. The Rakshasa grew frightened and turned to leave. Wukong said, "Sister-in-law, where are you going? Quickly lend me the fan to use!" The Rakshasa said, "My treasure is not lightly lent." Wukong said, "Since you won't lend it, take a blow from your old uncle's staff!"

The good Monkey King, with one hand he grabbed her, and with the other, he drew out his staff from his ear. He shook it, and it became as thick as a bowl. The Rakshasa struggled free, raised her swords to meet him, and Wukong immediately swung his staff to strike. The two fought in front of Mount Cuikun, disregarding their familial connection, speaking only of their enmity. What a magnificent battle—

The woman, originally a transformed monster,Harbored hatred for the audacious monkey on account of her son.Although Wukong was furious, because his master's path was blocked,He tolerated the female and spoke with gentle patience.He first spoke of respectfully borrowing the Plantain Fan,Not displaying his fierce prowess, but maintaining gentle patience.The ignorant Rakshasa swung her swords to chop,While the Monkey King intentionally spoke of their kinship.How can a woman contend with a man?Ultimately, masculine strength suppresses feminine weakness.The Golden-Hooped Iron Rod was so ferocious;The frosty-bladed green swords were very dense.Striking the face, aiming for the head,They relentlessly fought with bitter animosity.Blocking left and parrying right, they displayed their martial arts;Parrying forward and warding off backward, they employed their ingenious strategies.Just as the battle reached its fiercest point,Unnoticed, the sun began to set in the west.The Rakshasa quickly took out her true fan,And with one wave, she conjured a wind that made even ghosts and gods tremble!

The Rakshasa Woman fought with Wukong until evening. Seeing that Wukong's staff was heavy and his maneuvers intricate, she realized she couldn't defeat him. She then took out her Plantain Fan, waved it once, and a gust of shadowy wind blew Wukong away, making him disappear without a trace; there was no way to hold him back. The Rakshasa, victorious, returned home.

The Great Sage drifted aimlessly, sinking on the left side, unable to land, and falling on the right, unable to stand firm. He was like a whirlwind scattering withered leaves, or flowing water carrying away withered flowers. He was tossed about all night until dawn, when he finally landed on a mountain, clinging with both hands to a peak stone. After steadying himself for a long time, he carefully observed his surroundings and recognized it as Little Sumeru Mountain. The Great Sage sighed deeply, "What a formidable woman! How did she send your humble Old Sun all the way here? I remember once pleading with Bodhisattva Lingji here to subdue the Yellow Wind Monster and rescue my Master. The Yellow Wind Ridge is over three thousand *li* due south from here. Now, having come from the Western Road, this is the southeast direction. I wonder how many tens of thousands of *li* away it is. Let me go down and ask Bodhisattva Lingji for some information, so I can return to the old path." As he hesitated, he heard the clear ringing of a bell. He quickly descended the hillside and went directly to the meditation temple. The Taoist priest at the gate recognized Wukong's appearance and immediately went inside to report, "That hairy-faced Great Sage who came two years ago to ask the Bodhisattva to subdue the Yellow Wind Monster is back!" The Bodhisattva, knowing it was Wukong, quickly descended from his precious seat to greet him. Wukong entered and bowed, saying, "Congratulations! Have you gotten the scriptures?" Wukong replied, "Not yet! Far from it, far from it!" Lingji said, "Since you haven't yet reached Thunderclap Monastery, why have you returned to this desolate mountain?" Wukong said, "Since last year, when I had the honor of your kindness in subduing the Yellow Wind Monster, I have endured countless hardships along the way. Now I have reached the Flaming Mountains and cannot proceed. I inquired of the locals, who said there is an Iron Fan Immortal with a Plantain Fan that can extinguish the fire. Your humble Old Sun specially went to seek her out, only to find that this immortal is the Bull Demon King's wife and Red Boy's mother. She claims that I turned her son into Bodhisattva Guanyin's attendant, preventing her from seeing him often, and considers me an enemy, refusing to lend the fan and fighting with me. Seeing that my staff was heavy and hard to withstand, she waved her fan at me once, blowing me aimlessly until I drifted all the way here before finally landing. Therefore, I presumptuously came to this meditation temple to ask for directions back. How many *li* is it from here to the Flaming Mountains?" Lingji smiled and said, "That woman is named Rakshasa Woman, also known as Princess Iron Fan. Her Plantain Fan was originally a spiritual treasure formed by heaven and earth behind Kunlun Mountain since the beginning of chaos. It is the essence leaf of the sun, which is why it can extinguish fiery *qi*. If it fans a person, they will be blown eighty-four thousand *li* before the shadowy wind ceases. My mountain is only fifty thousand *li* from the Flaming Mountains, and it is fortunate that the Great Sage possesses the ability to stop clouds, which allowed you to stop here. If it were a mortal, they wouldn't be able to stop at all." Wukong said, "Formidable, formidable! How will my Master cross that region then?" Lingji said, "Great Sage, rest assured, this visit is also part of Tripitaka's destiny, and it is right for the Great Sage to achieve success." Wukong asked, "How will success be achieved?" Lingji said, "In earlier years, I received the Tathagata's decree, granting me a Wind-Calming Pill and a Flying Dragon Staff. The Flying Dragon Staff has already subdued the Wind Demon, but this Wind-Calming Pill has not yet been used. I will give it to the Great Sage now. I guarantee that rogue won't be able to fan you. You can then take the fan and extinguish the fire, thereby achieving this merit, no?" Wukong bowed his head in thanks, expressing boundless gratitude. The Bodhisattva immediately took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve, placed the Wind-Calming Pill inside Wukong's collar, tightly sewed it with needle and thread, and sent Wukong out, saying, "There's no time to keep you; go northwest, and that will be the Rakshasa's mountain domain."

Wukong bid farewell to Lingji, rode his somersault cloud, and returned directly to Mount Cuikun, arriving in an instant. He struck the cave door with his iron staff and shouted, "Open the door, open the door! Your Old Sun is here to borrow the fan to use!" The maids inside were startled and quickly came to report, "Mistress, the one who wants to borrow the fan is back!" The Rakshasa heard this, and fear rose in her heart. "This audacious monkey truly has skill! My treasured fan blows people eighty-four thousand *li* before they can stop, so how could he return so soon after being blown away? This time, I'll fan him two or three times in a row, making sure he can't find his way back!" She quickly leapt up, tidied her attire, held her swords in both hands, and walked out the door, saying, "Sun Wukong! You're not afraid of me, yet you come seeking death again!" Wukong laughed, "Sister-in-law, don't be stingy. You must lend it to me. Once I ensure Tripitaka crosses the mountain, I'll return it to you. I am a gentleman with abundant sincerity, not a petty person who borrows things and doesn't return them." The Rakshasa cursed again, "Audacious monkey! How unreasonable, how senseless! The vengeance for my son has not yet been exacted; how could I grant your wish to borrow the fan! Don't run, take a sword from your old mother!" The Great Sage, openly unafraid, used his iron staff to meet her strike. The two went back and forth, fighting for five or seven rounds. The Rakshasa Woman's hands grew soft and it was difficult for her to swing, while Sun Wukong's body was strong and he was a skilled opponent. Seeing that the situation was not in her favor, she immediately took out her fan and waved it once towards Wukong. Wukong stood unmoving. Wukong put away his iron staff and said with a smile, "This time is not like that time! No matter how you fan, if your Old Sun moves even an inch, I won't be considered a man!" The Rakshasa fanned him two more times. Indeed, he didn't move. The Rakshasa panicked. She quickly put away her treasure, turned and ran back into the cave, and tightly shut the door.

Seeing her close the door, Wukong then employed a trick. He opened his collar, held the Wind-Calming Pill in his mouth, shook his body, and transformed into a small gnat-like insect. He then squeezed through a crack in her door. He saw the Rakshasa call out, "Thirsty, thirsty! Bring tea quickly!" A nearby attendant maid immediately poured a pot of fragrant tea, filling a bowl with a rustling sound, creating a thick layer of foam. Wukong was delighted at the sight. With a 'ying' of his wings, he flew under the tea foam. The Rakshasa was extremely thirsty. She took the tea and drank it all in two or three gulps. Wukong was now inside her stomach. He reverted to his original form and loudly shouted, "Sister-in-law, lend me the fan to use!" The Rakshasa was greatly alarmed and turned pale. She called out, "Servants, is the front door closed?" They all replied, "It's closed." She then said, "If the door is closed, how is Sun Wukong shouting inside the house?" The maid said, "He's shouting from inside you, mistress." The Rakshasa said, "Sun Wukong, where are you performing your magic?" Wukong said, "Your Old Sun has never known how to perform magic in his life; these are all true methods, real abilities. I am now playing inside your venerable belly and have already seen your lungs and liver. I know you're also hungry and thirsty, so I'll first give you a 'sitting bowl' to quench your thirst!" He then stamped his foot downwards. Inside the Rakshasa's lower abdomen, the pain was unbearable. She sat on the ground, groaning in agony. Wukong said, "Sister-in-law, don't refuse; I'll give you another 'snack' to satisfy your hunger!" He then pushed his head upwards. The Rakshasa's heart ached unbearably. She writhed on the ground, the pain making her face yellow and her lips white. She could only cry, "Uncle Sun, spare my life!" Wukong then stopped his actions and said, "Only now do you recognize 'Uncle'? For the sake of Brother Niu, I'll spare your life for now. Quickly bring out the fan for me to use." The Rakshasa said, "Uncle, I have the fan, I have the fan! Please come out and take it!" Wukong said, "Bring the fan for me to see, then I'll come out." The Rakshasa immediately told a maid to bring a Plantain Fan and hold it nearby. Wukong moved up to her throat, saw the fan, and said, "Sister-in-law, since I've spared your life, I won't bore a hole out from your side. I'll come out through your mouth. Open your mouth three times." The Rakshasa indeed opened her mouth. Wukong again transformed into a gnat-like insect, flew out first, and landed on the Plantain Fan. The Rakshasa, unaware, opened her mouth three times and called, "Uncle, please come out now." Wukong reverted to his original form, took the fan, and said, "Am I not here? Thank you for lending it! Thank you for lending it!" He strode forward and walked away. The maids quickly opened the door, letting him out of the cave.

The Great Sage turned his cloud around and headed back east. In an instant, he descended his cloud and stood by the red brick wall. Pigsy saw him and exclaimed happily, "Master, Senior Brother is here! He's here!" Tripitaka, along with the old man of the manor and Sandy, went out to meet him and returned together into the house. Wukong leaned the Plantain Fan nearby and said, "Old sir, is this the fan?" The old man said, "Precisely, precisely!" Tripitaka said happily, "My worthy disciple has performed a great feat! It must have been very arduous to obtain this treasure." Wukong said, "The arduousness is beside the point. Who do you think that Iron Fan Immortal is? That fellow is actually the Bull Demon King's wife, Red Boy's mother, named Rakshasa Woman, also known as Princess Iron Fan. When I went to her cave to borrow the fan, she started talking about our past enmity and chopped me several times with her swords. When I used my staff to scare her, she fanned me once, blowing me aimlessly all the way to Little Sumeru Mountain. Fortunately, I met Bodhisattva Lingji, who gave me a Wind-Calming Pill and showed me the way back to Mount Cuikun. I saw the Rakshasa Woman again. She used her fan, but it couldn't move me, so she returned to her cave. Your Old Sun then transformed into a gnat-like insect and flew into the cave. That rogue was just asking for tea, so I drilled under the tea foam and got into her stomach, where I started to make trouble. She was in unbearable pain, constantly begging me, 'Uncle, spare my life,' and willingly lent me the fan. I then spared her and brought the fan. Once we cross the Flaming Mountains, I will return it to her." Upon hearing this, Tripitaka expressed boundless gratitude. The master and disciples all bowed farewell to the old man.

Continuing their journey west, they traveled for about forty *li*, and the steaming heat gradually became oppressive. Sandy exclaimed, "My soles are burning hot!" Pigsy added, "My trotters are scalding hot!" The horse moved faster than usual, simply because the ground's heat made it difficult to stop, and extremely hard to advance. Wukong said, "Master, please dismount for now, and brothers, don't move. Let me fan out the fire. After the wind and rain, when the ground is cooler, we can cross the mountain." Wukong indeed raised the fan and went directly to the edge of the fire. He fanned with all his might once, and the flames on the mountain surged up fiercely. He fanned a second time, and the fire intensified a hundredfold. He fanned a third time, and the flames reached a height of a thousand *zhang*, gradually burning his body. Wukong quickly retreated, his two strands of body hair already burnt off. He ran directly to Tripitaka and shouted, "Quickly go back, quickly go back! The fire is coming, the fire is coming!" The Master scrambled onto his horse, and with Pigsy and Sandy, they rode back east for over twenty *li* before finally stopping. "Wukong, what happened?" Wukong threw down the fan and said, "It's no good, no good! I was tricked by that rogue!" Upon hearing this, Tripitaka's brow furrowed with worry, and sadness filled his heart. He couldn't stop his tears from flowing, only saying, "What are we to do!" Pigsy said, "Brother, what's with you frantically telling us to go back?" Wukong said, "I fanned it once, and the flames blazed fiercely; the second time, the fire intensified; the third time, the fire rose to a thousand *zhang* high. If I hadn't run fast, all my hairs would have been burnt off!" Pigsy laughed and said, "You always say thunder can't harm you and fire can't burn you, so why are you afraid of fire now?" Wukong said, "You idiot, you know nothing! Back then, I was carefully on guard, which is why I wasn't harmed. Today, I was only focused on fanning out the fire, so I didn't perform the fire-avoidance incantation, nor did I use my body-protection spell. That's why my two strands of hair got burnt." Sandy said, "With such intense fire, and no path to the West, what are we to do?" Pigsy said, "Just pick a place without fire and go that way." Tripitaka asked, "Which direction is without fire?" Pigsy said, "East, South, and North are all without fire." Tripitaka then asked, "Which direction has the scriptures?" Pigsy said, "The West has the scriptures." Tripitaka said, "I only wish to go where the scriptures are!" Sandy said, "Where there are scriptures, there is fire; where there is no fire, there are no scriptures. Truly, we are caught between a rock and a hard place!" As the master and disciples were rambling on, they heard someone call out, "Great Sage, you need not worry. Come and have some vegetarian food, and then we can discuss it."

When the four pilgrims turned around, they saw an old man. He wore a wind-fluttering cloak, a crescent-moon crown on his head, held a dragon-head staff in his hand, and wore iron-soled boots. Behind him was a demon with a bird's beak and fish gills, carrying a copper basin on its head. Inside the basin were some steamed cakes, porridge, and yellow grain rice. The old man, bowing on the path to the west, said, "I am the Earth God of the Flaming Mountains. Knowing that the Great Sage is protecting the venerable monk and cannot proceed, I have specially come to offer a vegetarian meal." Wukong said, "Eating food is a small matter. When can this fire be extinguished so my Master can pass?" The Earth God said, "To extinguish the fire, you must ask the Rakshasa Woman to borrow the Plantain Fan." Wukong went to the side of the road, picked up the fan, and said, "Isn't this it? The more I fan, the fiercer the fire gets. Why is that?" The Earth God looked at it and laughed, "This fan is not the real one; you were tricked by her." Wukong said, "How can I get the real one?" The Earth God, bowing again with a slight smile, said, "If you still want to borrow the true Plantain Fan, you must seek out the Great Strength King." It is not yet known what connection the Great Strength King has. Let's listen to the next chapter for the explanation.