Chapter 67: Saving Tuo Luo's Zen Nature, Attaining Purity of Mind and Liberation from Defilement

Having escaped Little Western Heaven, Tripitaka and his three disciples joyfully resumed their journey. After traveling for about a month, it was late spring, a time of blooming flowers. They saw several gardens shrouded in green, and a round of wind and rain gave way to dusk. Tripitaka reined in his horse and said, "Disciples, it's getting late. Which way should we go to seek lodging?" Monkey King laughed and replied, "Don't worry, Master. If there's no place to stay, the three of us have some skills. We can have Pigsy cut grass, Friar Sand pull pine branches, and I, Old Monkey, am a carpenter. We can build a temporary hut right here on the road and live in it for a year or so. Why are you in such a hurry?" Pigsy said, "Brother, this is no place to stay! The mountains are full of tigers, leopards, wolves, and other beasts, and the ground is teeming with evil spirits and demons. It's difficult enough to travel during the day; how can we dare to sleep here at night?" Monkey King retorted, "Fool, you're not making any progress! It's not bragging for Old Monkey to say that with this staff in my hand, even if the sky falls, I can hold it up!"

As the master and disciples were discussing, they suddenly saw a mountain village not far away. Monkey King exclaimed, "Good! There's a place to stay!" The Elder asked, "Where?" Monkey King pointed, "Isn't that a house in the grove of trees? Let's go there to ask for lodging for the night and continue our journey tomorrow morning." The Elder gladly urged his horse forward, dismounting outside the village gate. They saw the wattle gate tightly shut. The Elder knocked and called, "Open the door, open the door!" Inside, an old man, leaning on a staff, wearing straw sandals, with a black turban on his head and plain clothes, opened the door and asked, "Who is making such a commotion out here?" Tripitaka clasped his hands before his chest, bowed respectfully, and said, "Venerable Elder, this humble monk is an envoy from the Great Tang, sent to the Western Heaven to retrieve scriptures. We have just arrived in your esteemed village as night falls and respectfully request to stay at your honorable residence for a night. We would be immensely grateful for your convenience." The old man said, "Monk, you wish to travel west, but you cannot go. This place is Little Western Heaven; to reach Great Western Heaven, the journey is very far. And let me not even mention the difficulties ahead; this very place is already hard to pass." Tripitaka asked, "Why is it hard to pass?" The old man pointed with his finger, "About thirty li west of our village, there's a place called 'Sparse Persimmon Pain,' and the mountain is named 'Seven Wonders'." Tripitaka asked, "What are the Seven Wonders?" The old man explained, "This mountain path stretches for eight hundred li, and the entire mountain is covered in persimmon fruit. Ancient sayings list seven wonders of the persimmon tree: one, it prolongs life; two, it provides much shade; three, no birds nest in it; four, it is free of insects; five, its frosted leaves are enjoyable; six, it yields good fruit; and seven, its branches and leaves are lush. Hence, it is called Seven Wonders Mountain. Our humble abode here is sparsely populated over a vast area, and no one has ever ventured into those deep mountains since ancient times. Every year, ripe and rotting persimmons fall onto the path, completely filling a narrow stony gully. Then, with rain, dew, snow, and frost, and decaying through the summer, it creates a road of filth. The locals here commonly call it 'Sparse Excrement Pain.' When the west wind blows, there's a stench so foul that even cleaning an outhouse wouldn't compare. It's late spring now, and the southeast wind is strong, which is why we don't smell it yet." Tripitaka felt troubled and remained silent. Monkey King, unable to contain himself, loudly declared, "You old man are quite unaccommodating! We've traveled a long way to seek lodging, and you're spouting all these words to frighten people! If your house is too cramped and there's no room to sleep, we can just crouch under a tree and pass the night. Why all this jabbering?" The old man, seeing his ugly appearance, clamped his mouth shut, then gasped in surprise. Mustering his courage, he shouted, pointing with his staff, "You scoundrel, with your bony face, lumpy forehead, flat nose, sunken cheeks, hairy eyes, and sickly look, you tuberculosis ghost! You don't know your place, running your sharp mouth, daring to offend an old man like me!" Monkey King replied with a conciliatory smile, "Old sir, it seems you have eyes but cannot see, for you don't recognize this 'tuberculosis ghost'! Physiognomy says: 'A strange appearance may conceal a jade within.' If you judge people by their looks, you'll be completely mistaken. Though I may be ugly, I do have some abilities." The old man asked, "Where are you from? What is your name? What abilities do you possess?" Monkey King laughed and said:

My ancestral home is in the Divine Continent of the East,Where I cultivated myself from youth before Flower Fruit Mountain.I bowed before the Patriarch of Lingtai,And mastered all martial arts completely.I can stir the seas and subdue dragon mothers,And I am skilled at carrying mountains and chasing the sun.I am foremost in capturing monsters and demons;Moving stars and shifting constellations brings dread to gods and spirits.My fame for stealing heaven and turning earth is great;I am the endlessly transforming handsome Stone Monkey!

Upon hearing this, the old man's anger turned to joy. He bowed and invited them: "Please come into my humble abode and settle down." Thereupon, the four, leading their horse and carrying their burdens, all entered. They saw thorns and thistles lining both sides. The second gate was a wall built of bricks and stones, also covered with brambles; only deeper inside were three tiled rooms. The old man pulled out chairs for them to sit and awaited tea, then ordered a meal to be prepared. A short while later, a table was moved over, laden with gluten, tofu, taro shoots, radishes, mustard greens, turnips, fragrant rice, and vinegar-braised mallow soup. The master and disciples ate their fill. After eating, Pigsy pulled Monkey King aside and whispered, "Brother, this old man initially refused to let us stay, but now he's prepared such a lavish meal. Why?" Monkey King said, "This isn't worth much! By tomorrow, he'll be sending us off with ten fruits and ten dishes!" Pigsy retorted, "Aren't you ashamed? You just flattered him with a few big words to get a meal. Tomorrow we'll have to run away; how will he send you off?" Monkey King said, "Don't rush, I have my own way of dealing with it."

Before long, as dusk deepened, the old man ordered lanterns to be lit. Monkey King bowed and asked, "Elder, what is your distinguished surname?" The old man replied, "My surname is Li." Monkey King said, "Is this esteemed place perhaps Lijia Village?" The old man said, "No, this place is called Tuoluo Village, with over five hundred households living here. There are many other surnames, but I am the only one named Li." Monkey King asked, "Patron Li, what good intentions does your household have to bestow upon us such a grand meal?" The old man stood up and said, "I just heard you say you can catch demons. We have a demon here, and if you would be so kind as to catch it for us, there will be a substantial reward." Monkey King bowed and said, "It will be taken care of!" Pigsy said, "Look at him inviting trouble! Hearing about catching a demon makes him more eager than his own grandfather, bowing even before the fact!" Monkey King said, "Brother, you don't understand. My bow is like a down payment; he won't go invite anyone else now." Tripitaka, hearing this, said, "This monkey always acts on his own. What if that demon is powerful and you can't capture him? Wouldn't that mean I, a monk, am telling a lie?" Monkey King laughed and said, "Master, don't be angry; let me ask again." The old man said, "What more is there to ask?" Monkey King said, "Your esteemed village here has a peaceful terrain, many households reside, and it's not a remote area. What kind of demon would dare to come to such a prominent family's doorstep?"

The old man said, "To be honest with you, this place has been peaceful for a long time. It was just three years and six months ago that a sudden gust of wind arose. At that time, people were very busy: threshing wheat in the fields, planting rice in the paddies. Everyone panicked, thinking the weather had changed. Who knew that after the wind passed, a demon had eaten the villagers' grazing cattle and horses, devoured their pigs and sheep, swallowed chickens and geese whole, and even snatched and devoured men and women alive? Since then, for the past two years, it has frequently caused harm. Elder, if you have the ability to capture it and rid this land of its presence, we will certainly reward you handsomely and never treat you lightly." Monkey King said, "This one is hard to catch." Pigsy exclaimed, "It really is hard to catch, hard to catch! We are traveling monks, lodging for a night and continuing our journey tomorrow. Why catch a demon!" The old man said, "So you're just monks who cheat for food! When I first met you, you boasted and bragged about changing stars and shifting constellations, subduing demons and capturing monsters, but when it comes to this matter, you suddenly say it's hard to catch!" Monkey King said, "Old man, demons are easy to catch. It's just that the people in this area aren't united, which makes it difficult to catch." The old man asked, "How can you tell that people's hearts aren't united?" Monkey King said, "The demon has troubled you for three years, and who knows how many lives it has harmed. I thought if each household contributed just one tael of silver, five hundred households could collect five hundred taels. No matter where, you could find a sorcerer to catch the demon. Why would you willingly suffer its torment for three years?" The old man said, "As for spending money, it's truly shameful! Which of our families hasn't spent three or five taels of silver! The year before last, we heard of a monk in the village south of the mountain and invited him here to catch the demon, but he didn't succeed." Monkey King asked, "How did that monk try to catch it?" The old man said:

That monk, wearing his kasaya,First recited the Peacock Sutra, then the Lotus Sutra.Incense burned in the censer, and he held a bell in his hand.As he chanted, he disturbed the evil demon.Wind rose, clouds gathered, and it came straight to the village.The monk and the monster fought, truly commendable:One delivered a punch, the other a grab.The monk tried to respond, but responded by losing his hair.Soon, the demon triumphed and vanished into the mists.It turned out to be a dried scab.When we approached to look, his bald head was beaten to a pulp like a rotten watermelon!

Monkey King laughed and said, "So, he suffered a loss." The old man said, "He only lost his life, but we suffered the greater loss: we bought him a coffin and buried him, and then gave some silver to his disciple. That disciple's mind isn't at ease; he still wants to sue us to this day, and it's not over yet!" Monkey King asked, "Did you invite anyone else to catch it later?" The old man said, "Last year, we invited a Daoist priest." Monkey King asked, "How did that Daoist priest try to catch it?" The old man said: That Daoist priest—

Wore a golden crown on his head and a ritual robe on his body.He struck his command tablet, and applied magic water.He summoned gods and commanded generals, capturing the evil spirits.Wild winds roared, black mists swirled.Immediately, he and the Daoist priest confronted each other.They fought until nightfall, when the monster returned to the clouds.The world became clear and bright, and we all gathered.We came out to look for the Daoist priest, and found him dead in the mountain stream.When we pulled him out for everyone to see, he looked like a drowned chicken!

Monkey King laughed and said, "So, he also suffered a loss." The old man said, "He only gave up his life, but we again spent a lot of money and supplies in vain." Monkey King said, "No matter, no matter, let me catch it for you." The old man said, "If you truly have the ability to catch it, I will invite several elders from this village to draw up a written agreement with you. If you are victorious, you can ask for as much silver as you wish for your reward, not a single cent less; but if you fail, do not try to default on us, and each of us will accept our fate." Monkey King laughed and said, "This old man must have been cheated before. We are not that kind of people, please quickly invite the elders."

The old man, filled with joy, immediately ordered his servants to invite several neighbors, cousins, in-laws, and friends—a total of eight or nine elders—to come and meet them. After meeting Tripitaka and discussing the matter of catching the demon, everyone was delighted. The elders asked, "Which esteemed disciple will go to catch it?" Monkey King clasped his hands and said, "It is I, this humble monk." The elders were dismayed and said, "It won't do, it won't do! That demon is incredibly powerful and has a massive body. You, Elder, are so thin and small, not even enough to fill its tooth gaps!" Monkey King laughed and said, "Old sirs, you can't judge a book by its cover. Though I am small, I am solid. I've drunk water from sharpening knives, and my essence is within!" Seeing him speak thus, the elders had no choice but to agree and said, "Elder, if you capture the demon, how much reward would you like?" Monkey King said, "Why speak of rewards! As the saying goes, 'gold dazzles the eyes, silver is foolishly pale, and copper coins smell fishy!' We are monks who accumulate virtue; we absolutely do not want money." The elders said, "Since you speak thus, you must be highly disciplined monks. If you don't want money, how can you toil in vain! Our families all make a living from fishing and farming. If you truly subdue the demon and cleanse this place, each of our families will give you two mu of fertile land, totaling a thousand mu, located in one place. Your master and disciples can then build a monastery there, meditate, and practice Zen, which would be better than wandering around." Monkey King laughed again and said, "That's even worse! If we accept land, we'll have to raise horses for duty, pay grain taxes, prepare fodder, not sleep at dusk, not rest at the fifth watch — it would be utterly exhausting!" The elders asked, "If you want none of these, how shall we thank you?" Monkey King said, "As monks, a cup of tea and a meal are thanks enough." The elders rejoiced, "That's easy! But how will you catch it?" Monkey King said, "As soon as it comes, I will seize it." The elders said, "That monster is huge! Its head reaches the sky, its feet touch the earth; when it comes, there's wind, when it leaves, there's fog. How will you even get near it?" Monkey King laughed, "As for demons that summon wind and ride mist, I treat them like my grandchildren; and if it's about a large body, I have the means to beat it!"

Just as they were speaking, they heard a whooshing sound of wind, startling the eight or nine elders, who trembled and said, "This monk has a 'salty mouth' (jinxes things)! Speak of the demon, and the demon comes!" Old Li opened the side gate and called to his relatives, including Tripitaka, "Come in, come in! The demon is here!" Pigsy was so frightened that he wanted to go inside, and Friar Sand also wanted to go inside. Monkey King grabbed both of them with his two hands and said, "You two are so ill-behaved! As monks, how can you not distinguish between inside and outside? Stand still! Don't run! Follow me to the courtyard and let's see what kind of demon it is." Pigsy said, "Brother, they've all experienced this; the sound of wind means the demon is coming. They're all hiding. We're not related to them, nor do we know them, nor are we old friends. Why should we go and look?" But Monkey King was strong; without a word, he pulled them into the courtyard and made them stand there. The wind grew even stronger. What a wind—

It toppled trees and shattered forests, causing fear among wolves and tigers;It stirred rivers and churned seas, bringing dread to ghosts and spirits.It overturned the stones of Huashan's three peaksAnd lifted the Four Great Continents of the universe.All villagers closed their doors, and all children in the village hid their heads.Dark clouds densely covered the Milky Way,And there was no lamplight, only gloom everywhere.

Pigsy was so frightened that he trembled, prostrated himself on the ground, dug a hole with his snout, and buried himself in the earth, as if nailed down. Friar Sand covered his head and face, finding it difficult to open his eyes. Monkey King, recognizing the demon by the wind, saw two faint lights appear in mid-air as the wind passed. He immediately lowered his head and called, "Brothers! The wind has passed, get up and look!" The fool pulled his snout out, shook off the dust, looked up at the sky, and seeing the two lights, suddenly burst out laughing, "How amusing, how amusing! It turns out to be a demon with good manners! We should be friends with it!" Friar Sand said, "In such darkness, and without having met face-to-face, how do you know if it's good or bad?" Pigsy said, "The ancients said, 'Travel by night with a torch; without a torch, stop.' Look, it's carrying a pair of lanterns to guide its way, it must be a good one." Friar Sand said, "You're mistaken, those aren't a pair of lanterns, they're the demon's two shining eyes." The fool was instantly scared three inches shorter and cried, "Grandpa! Its eyes are that big? I wonder how big its mouth is!" Monkey King said, "Don't be afraid, brother. You two guard the Master, while Old Monkey goes up to question it and see what kind of demon it is." Pigsy said, "Brother, don't give us away."

Good Monkey King, with a whistle, leaped into the air, gripped his iron staff, and shouted in a stern voice, "Hold on, hold on! I am here!" The monster saw him, braced its body, and wildly brandished a long spear. Monkey King, holding his staff in a ready stance, asked, "What kind of demon are you? Where are you from?" The monster did not respond, only continued to brandish its spear. Monkey King asked again, but it still didn't answer, only brandished its spear. Monkey King secretly chuckled, "It's deaf and mute, all right! Don't run! Take this staff!" The monster, fearless, wildly brandished its spear to block. In mid-air, they moved back and forth, up and down, fighting until the third watch of the night, with neither gaining the upper hand. Pigsy and Friar Sand watched clearly from the Li family courtyard. It turned out the monster was only brandishing its spear to defend itself, without the slightest hint of attack. Monkey King's staff never left the monster's head. Pigsy laughed, "Friar Sand, you stay here and guard. Let Old Pig go and help out; don't let that monkey take all the credit alone and claim the first cup of wine."

Good fool, he leaped onto a cloud, rushed forward, and began striking. The monster used another spear to fend him off. The two spears moved like flying snakes and flashing lightning. Pigsy praised, "This demon has excellent spear skills! It's not the 'Mountain Rear Spear,' but the 'Coiling Thread Spear'; nor is it the 'Ma Family Spear,' but rather a 'Soft-Handled Spear'!" Monkey King said, "Fool, stop talking nonsense! What 'soft-handled spear' is there?" Pigsy said, "Look how it uses its spear tip to block us, but we don't see the shaft, so who knows where it keeps it." Monkey King said, "Perhaps it is a 'soft-handled spear.' But this monster still can't speak, so it probably hasn't fully developed into a human-like form, and its yin energy is still heavy. I fear that when the yang energy strengthens at dawn, it will surely flee. When it flees, we must definitely pursue it; do not let it escape." Pigsy said, "Exactly, exactly!" They fought for a while longer, and before they knew it, the east began to whiten. The monster dared not prolong the fight, turned its head, and fled. Monkey King and Pigsy chased it together. Suddenly, they smelled a foul, offensive odor, which was from the 'Sparse Persimmon Pain' of Seven Wonders Mountain. Pigsy said, "Someone's cleaning an outhouse! Ugh! The stench is unbearable!" Monkey King pinched his nose and urged, "Quickly, chase the demon, quickly, chase the demon!" The monster darted over the mountain and revealed its true form: a large red-scaled python. Look at it—

Its eyes shot forth like morning stars, its nostrils spewed dawn mist.Its teeth were densely arranged like steel swords, its curved claws like golden hooks.It wore a fleshy horn on its head, as if assembled from thousands of agate pieces;Its body was covered in red scales, appearing as if laid with tens of thousands of rouge tiles.Coiling on the ground, one might mistake it for a brocade quilt;Flying in the sky, one might confuse it with a rainbow.Where it rested, a foul odor permeated the sky;When it moved, a red cloud enveloped its body.As for its size, people on either side couldn't see anything;As for its length, it spanned a mountain from north to south.

Pigsy said, "So it's this kind of long snake! If it wanted to eat people, it could devour five hundred in one sitting and still not be full!" Monkey King said, "That 'soft-handled spear' was its two tongues. We'll chase it until it tires, then strike it from behind!" Pigsy leaped forward and began thrusting his rake. The monster burrowed headfirst into its cave, leaving a seven or eight-foot-long tail outside. Pigsy put down his rake, grabbed the tail, and said, "Got it, got it!" He pulled frantically with all his might, but couldn't budge it an inch. Monkey King laughed, "Fool! Let it go in, I have a plan. Don't pull the snake backward like that." Pigsy truly let go, and the monster retreated inside. Pigsy complained, "If I hadn't let go, half of it would have been ours! Now that it's retracted like this, how will we get it out? Isn't this what they call 'no snake to play with'?" Monkey King said, "This fellow's body is massive, and its hole is narrow. It definitely can't turn around inside. It must be a straight burrower and will surely have a back exit. Quickly go and block the back exit, and I'll strike from the front." The fool indeed ran like a wisp of smoke over the mountain and found a hole, where he planted his feet firmly. Before he had even stood firm, Monkey King unexpectedly thrust his staff into the front entrance. The monster, guarding its pain, darted straight out the back exit. Pigsy, unprepared, was knocked down by a whack from its tail. Unable to get up, he lay on the ground, enduring the pain. Monkey King, seeing nothing in the hole, held his staff, entered, and shouted to chase the demon. Pigsy, hearing the shouts, felt ashamed. Enduring the pain, he crawled up and wildly swung his rake. Monkey King saw this and laughed, "The demon has fled, what are you still flailing at?" Pigsy said, "Old Pig is 'beating the grass to startle the snake' here!" Monkey King said, "You utterly foolish fellow! Hurry and catch up!"

The two chased it across the stream and saw the monster coiled up, raising its head and opening its enormous mouth, intending to swallow Pigsy. Pigsy, in a panic, immediately retreated. Monkey King, instead, charged forward and was swallowed in one gulp. Pigsy beat his chest, stomped his feet, and cried out, "Brother! You're doomed!" Inside the demon's belly, Monkey King propped himself with his iron staff and said, "Don't worry, Pigsy, I'll make it form a bridge for you to see!" The monster arched its back, resembling a rainbow to the east. Pigsy said, "Though it looks like a bridge, no one would dare to cross it." Monkey King said, "I'll make it turn into a boat for you to see!" Inside, he braced his iron staff against its belly. The monster's belly pressed to the ground, and its head lifted, resembling a boat used on the Gan River. Pigsy said, "Though it looks like a boat, it has no mast or sail, so it can't use the wind." Monkey King said, "Clear the way, and I'll make it use the wind for you to see." Inside, he used all his strength to thrust his iron staff out through its backbone. It was about five to seven zhang long, just like a mast. That brute, enduring the pain and struggling for its life, lunged forward, faster than riding the wind, darting back along its old path, and down the mountain for over twenty li, before finally collapsing in the dust, unable to move, and thus perished. Pigsy followed closely, raising his rake and wildly thrusting it. Monkey King made a large hole through the creature and climbed out, saying, "Fool! It's already dead, why are you still stabbing it?" Pigsy said, "Brother, don't you know Old Pig loves to strike dead snakes?" Thereupon, he put away his weapon, grabbed its tail, and dragged it back.

Meanwhile, back in Tuoluo Village, old Mr. Li and the others said to Tripitaka, "Your two disciples didn't return all night; they must surely have lost their lives." Tripitaka said, "It's certainly nothing to worry about; let's go out and see." In a moment, they saw Monkey King and Pigsy dragging a large python, approaching with shouts and cheers. Only then did the crowd rejoice. All the old and young, men and women in the village came and knelt, bowing, saying, "Grandfathers! This is precisely the demon that has been harming people here! Fortunately, you sirs have exercised your magic, slain the monster, and eliminated the evil, so we can now all live in peace!" All the households were grateful, inviting them from east to west, each offering their thanks. The master and disciples were kept for five or seven days, and only after much earnest pleading were they reluctantly allowed to leave. Furthermore, seeing that they did not want money or goods, each family prepared some dry rations and fruits, brought mules and horses, decorated with red banners and colorful flags, and all came to see them off. From this place of five hundred households, seven or eight hundred people came to bid them farewell.

Along the way, full of joy, they soon arrived at the entrance of "Sparse Persimmon Pain" in Seven Wonders Mountain. Tripitaka smelled the foul stench and saw the blocked path, saying, "Wukong, how can we pass through this?" Monkey King, pinching his nose, said, "This is indeed difficult." Tripitaka, hearing Monkey King say it was difficult, shed tears from his eyes. Old Mr. Li and the others came forward and said, "Esteemed Elder, do not be anxious. We have escorted you this far, and we have all agreed. Since your eminent disciple subdued the demon for us and removed a great plague from our village, we each, with devout hearts, will open another good road to see you across." Monkey King laughed and said, "Old man, all your words are inappropriate. You initially said this mountain path stretches for eight hundred li. You are not divine soldiers like Yu the Great; how could you open mountains and carve roads! If my Master is to pass, we still need to exert ourselves; you all won't be able to do it." Tripitaka dismounted and said, "Wukong, how shall we exert ourselves?" Monkey King laughed and said, "Crossing the mountain right now is difficult, but to say opening another road is even more difficult. We must still go through the old gully, I just fear there will be no one to provide meals." Old Mr. Li said, "Elder, what are you saying! No matter how long you four delay, we can all afford to support you. How can you say there will be no one to provide meals!" Monkey King said, "In that case, go prepare two shi of cooked rice, and also make some steamed buns and cakes. When that long-snouted monk of mine eats his fill, he'll transform into a giant pig and clear the old path. My Master can ride on horseback, and we'll support him; I guarantee you'll get through." Pigsy, hearing this, said, "Brother, you all want to stay clean, so why do you make Old Pig stink alone?" Tripitaka said, "Wuneng, if you truly have the ability to clear the gully and lead me over the mountain, I'll record this as your greatest功绩." Pigsy laughed and said, "Master, and all you patrons gathered here, please don't laugh. Old Pig originally has thirty-six transformations. If it's about transforming into light, splendid, flying things, I truly cannot; but if it's about transforming into mountains, trees, rocks, mounds of earth, or into an elephant, an armored pig, a water buffalo, or a camel, I am truly skilled at all of them. It's just that when my body grows large, my stomach also grows larger, so I must eat my fill before I can do the job properly." The crowd said, "We have provisions, we have provisions! We all brought dry rations, fruits, sesame cakes, and dumplings here. We originally intended to clear the mountain path for your escort, so let's take them all out for you to enjoy. Once you transform and begin moving, we will send people back to prepare more food and bring it." Pigsy was overjoyed. He took off his black clerical robe, dropped his nine-pronged rake, and said to the crowd, "Don't laugh, watch Old Pig perform this smelly feat." Good fool, he made a magical gesture, shook his body, and indeed transformed into a huge pig, truly—

Long snout, short fur, half fatty flesh,Since youth feeding on medicinal herbs in the mountains.Black face, round eyes like sun and moon,Round head, large ears like plantain leaves.Cultivated solid bones with the lifespan of heaven,Refined coarse skin like an iron prison.His snorting nose sounds like a grunt and a squeal,His rasping throat emits a snort and a roar.Four white hooves a thousand feet high,A long body with sword-like bristles, a hundred zhang long.Never has human seen such a fat pig,Nor witnessed Old Piggy today, a monstrous spirit.Tripitaka and the others all praised,Admiring Marshal Tian Peng's high magic power.

Monkey King, seeing Pigsy transformed in such a manner, immediately ordered those who were seeing them off to quickly pile up the dry rations and other provisions in one place and let Pigsy enjoy them. The fool, without distinguishing between raw or cooked, devoured it all in one gulp, then went forward to clear the path. Monkey King told Friar Sand to take off his shoes and carry the burden carefully, invited Master to sit steadily on the embroidered saddle, and he himself took off his cloth shoes. He then instructed the crowd to return, saying, "If you are truly considerate, please send some food early to support my junior brother." Among the seven or eight hundred people who were seeing them off, more than half who had mules and horses swiftly returned to the village to prepare food; the remaining three hundred who were on foot stood at the base of the mountain, watching them from afar. It turned out that the village was over thirty li from the mountain. To return to get food and bring it back again would be another thirty li, making the round trip delay about a hundred li. By then, the master and disciples would have already gone far. The crowd, reluctant to leave, urged their mules and horses into the gully and rushed through the night, only catching up the next day. They called out, "Esteemed Scripture-Pilgrims, go slowly, go slowly! We have brought food!" The Elder, hearing this, expressed his boundless gratitude, saying, "Truly benevolent and faithful people!" He told Pigsy to stop and eat some more food to regain his strength. The fool had been clearing the path for two days and was ravenously hungry. The many people had brought not just seven or eight shi of food; he devoured it all in one gulp, regardless of whether it was rice or flour-based, ate his fill, and then went forward to clear the path again. Tripitaka, Monkey King, and Friar Sand thanked everyone and then parted ways. Indeed—

The guests from Tuoluo Village returned home,While Pigsy cleared the mountain, passing through the 'pain.'Tripitaka's sincere heart was embraced by divine power,And Monkey King's magic manifested, causing monsters and demons to wane.The thousand-year-old 'Sparse Persimmon' was cleansed today,And Seven Wonders Gully was opened this day.All earthly desires and attachments were severed,Allowing safe and unhindered worship before the Lotus Pedestal.

As for how much further they had to travel, or what other demons they would encounter, let's hear the next chapter's explanation.