Chapter 73: Emotions Born from Old Resentments Bring Disaster and Poison The Heart Suffers as Evil Breaks the Light

Sun Wukong supported Tang Sanzang, and together with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, they set off on the main road, traveling westward. Before long, they suddenly saw a place with numerous pavilions and magnificent palaces. Tang Sanzang reined in his horse and asked, "Disciples, what place do you think that is?" Wukong looked up and suddenly saw—

Mountains encircled pavilions, and streams wound around terraces. Dense trees grew profusely before the gate, and fragrant wild flowers bloomed vibrantly outside the residence. White egrets rested among the willows, like flawless jade in the mist; yellow orioles sang within the peach trees, like colored gold in a fire. Pairs of wild deer leisurely grazed on the green grass, oblivious to their surroundings; pairs of mountain birds flew and chirped loudly from the tips of red trees. It was truly like Liu and Ruan's Heavenly Terrace Cave, no less beautiful than the home of an immortal in the Heavenly Garden.

Wukong reported, "Master, that place is neither a prince's mansion nor a wealthy family's home. It looks like a temple or a monastery. We'll only know for sure once we get there." Hearing this, Sanzang spurred his horse onward. When they arrived at the gate, they saw a stone tablet embedded above it, with the three characters "Yellow Flower Temple" inscribed upon it. Sanzang dismounted. Bajie said, "The Yellow Flower Temple is a Taoist establishment. It would be good for us to go in and meet them. Although their attire is different from ours, their practice is similar." Sha Wujing added, "That's right. First, we can admire the scenery, and second, we can let our animals rest. If convenient, we can arrange some vegetarian food for Master to eat." The Tang Monk agreed, and the four entered together. At the second gate, they saw a pair of spring couplets: "Yellow sprout and white snow, the immortal's abode; Jade grass and wondrous flowers, the Taoist's home." Wukong chuckled, "This is a Taoist who burns moxa, refines medicine, tends the furnace, and carries jars." Sanzang pinched him and said, "Watch your words, watch your words! We don't know him, nor are we relatives. We're just visiting for a short while, so what does it matter?" Before he finished speaking, they entered the second gate. They saw that the main hall was tightly closed, but under the east corridor, a Taoist was sitting and making pills. Observe his attire—

He wore a resplendent scarlet cap adorned with gold inlay, a dark, solemn black robe, and a pair of emerald green cloud-toed shoes. Around his waist was tied a flowing yellow Taoist sash. His face was like a dark melon, his eyes bright as stars. His nose was prominent, resembling that of a Hui; his lips were full and open, like a Tatar. His Taoist heart concealed the roar of thunder, a true feathered immortal who could subdue tigers and dragons.

Upon seeing him, Sanzang called out loudly, "Venerable immortal, I offer my greetings!" The Taoist suddenly looked up, startled at the sight. He dropped the medicine in his hand, adjusted his hairpin, straightened his clothes, and descended the steps to welcome them, saying, "Reverend Master, I apologize for not greeting you sooner. Please come inside and sit." The Tang Monk was pleased and entered the hall. Pushing open the door, he saw the sacred images of the Three Pure Ones, and on the altar table, there was an incense burner and incense. He immediately lit incense, placed it in the burner, and bowed three times before greeting the Taoist. Then, he went to the guest area and sat down with his disciples. The Taoist quickly called for his immortal boys to serve tea. Two young boys immediately went inside, searched for a tea tray, washed tea cups, wiped tea spoons, and prepared tea snacks. Their hurried movements soon startled those troublemakers.

It turned out that the seven female monsters from Silk Web Cave had learned their arts in the same school as this Taoist. After changing into their old clothes and summoning their children, they had come directly to this place. They were busy cutting clothes in the back when they suddenly saw the tea-serving boys. They asked, "Boys, what guests have arrived that you are so busy?" The immortal boy replied, "Just now, four monks came in. Master told us to serve them tea." The female monsters asked, "Is there a fair-skinned, plump monk?" The boy said, "Yes." They asked again, "Is there one with a long snout and big ears?" The boy replied, "Yes." The female monsters said, "Go quickly and deliver the tea. Give your master a wink and tell him to come in. We have important matters to discuss." Sure enough, the immortal boy took out five cups of tea. The Taoist adjusted his clothes, took one cup with both hands, and offered it to Sanzang, then to Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Wukong. After they finished their tea and the cups were collected, the young boy gave the Taoist a wink. The Taoist then bowed slightly and said, "Please be seated, everyone." He instructed, "Boy, put down the tea tray and attend to them. I'll be back shortly." At this point, the Tang Monk, his disciples, and one young boy went out to admire the hall, and the narrative pauses here.

The Taoist went into the abbot's quarters, where he saw the seven women kneeling in unison, calling out, "Senior brother, senior brother! Please listen to what your younger sisters have to say!" The Taoist helped them up by hand and said, "When you came this morning, what did you want to tell me? I was making pills today, and this particular medicine must not be seen by women, so I didn't answer you. Now there are guests outside; let's talk about it slowly later." The monsters said, "We beg to inform you, senior brother, that this matter is precisely why we dared to tell you when guests are present. If the guests leave, it will be useless even if we speak." The Taoist laughed, "Look at you, virtuous sisters, why would you only speak when guests are here? Are you mad? Let alone me, a cultivator seeking immortality in solitude, even a common family with a wife, children, and household affairs would wait until guests leave to handle them. How can you be so unvirtuous, trying to make a show for me? Let me go out." The monsters all grabbed him again and said, "Senior brother, please calm your anger. We ask you, where are those guests in the front from?" The Taoist spat and didn't answer. The monsters said, "Just now, the young boy came in to get tea, and I heard him say they were four monks." The Taoist angrily said, "What about monks?" The monsters said, "Among the four monks, there is one with a fair, plump face, and one with a long snout and big ears. Did you ask him where they came from, senior brother?" The Taoist said, "Indeed, those two are among them. How did you know? Did you perhaps see them coming from somewhere?" The women said, "Senior brother, you don't know the whole story. Those monks were sent by the Tang Dynasty to retrieve scriptures from the West. This morning, they came to our cave to beg for alms, and it was truly we sisters who, having heard of Tang Sanzang's name, captured him." The Taoist asked, "Why did you capture him?" The women said, "We have long heard people say that Tang Sanzang is a true essence cultivated over ten lifetimes, and that whoever eats a piece of his flesh will gain immortality. That's why we captured him. Later, that monk with the long snout and big ears stopped us at the Washing Muck Spring. First, he snatched our clothes, then he used his powers and insisted on bathing with us. We couldn't stop him. He jumped into the water and transformed into a catfish, wriggling between our legs, attempting to commit adultery. He was truly shameless! Then he jumped out of the water, revealed his true form, and seeing that we would not comply, he used a nine-pronged rake to try and kill us. If we hadn't been quick-witted, we would have almost suffered his deadly blow. That's why we fled in terror and had your foolish nephew fight him, not knowing if he survived. We came specifically to you, senior brother, hoping you would recall our past camaraderie as classmates and help us avenge ourselves today!" Hearing this, the Taoist grew resentful and his demeanor changed. He said, "So this monk is so rude! So shameless! Don't worry, all of you, I will deal with him!" The women thanked him, saying, "Senior brother, if you take action, let us all come and help you fight him." The Taoist said, "No need to fight, no need to fight! As the saying goes, 'one blow yields three parts of lowliness.' All of you, follow me." The women followed him closely. He entered a room, took a ladder, went behind the bed, climbed onto the roof beam, and took down a small leather box. The box was about eight inches high, a foot long, and four inches wide, secured with a small copper lock. He then took out a square, goose-yellow silk handkerchief from his sleeve. A small key was tied to the tassel of the handkerchief. He opened the lock and took out a packet of medicine. This medicine was—

A thousand catties of bird droppings, collected from the mountains. Boiled in a copper pot, slowly simmered with even heat. A thousand catties reduced to one ladleful, one ladleful refined to three parts. These three parts must then be stir-fried, re-forged, and heavily smoked. This poisonous medicine, once prepared, is more precious than treasures and gems. If one tastes it, upon entry, one will meet the King of Hell!

The Taoist said to the seven women, "Sisters, if this treasure of mine is given to a mortal, just one *li* (a tiny fraction) will kill them upon ingestion; if given to an immortal, three *li* will suffice to kill them. These monks, I fear, may have some cultivation, so they will require three *li*. Quickly, bring the measuring scale." One of the women quickly brought a scale and said, "Weigh out twelve *li*, and divide it into four portions." She then took twelve red dates, pricked them open slightly, and inserted one *li* of the substance into each, distributing them among four tea cups. (Each cup would then contain three dates, hence three *li* of the poison.) She then placed two black dates in a fifth tea cup, placed them all on a tray, and told the other women, "I will go and ask them. If they are not from the Tang Dynasty, then let it be. But if they are from the Tang Dynasty, I will instruct them to switch teas, and you can then have the boy bring out this tea. Once they drink it, they will all die, and your revenge will be complete, and your troubles will be resolved." The seven women were immensely grateful.

The Taoist changed his clothes and walked out with polite humility, inviting Tang Sanzang and the others to sit in the guest area again. He said, "Reverend Master, please don't be offended. I just went to the back to instruct my young disciples to gather some green vegetables and radishes to prepare a vegetarian meal as an offering, which is why I was away." Sanzang said, "This poor monk came empty-handed. How dare I impose upon you for a meal?" The Taoist chuckled, "We are all renunciants. When you see a temple gate, there are three *sheng* of stipend grain available. How can you say 'empty-handed'? May I ask, Reverend Master, from which precious mountain do you hail? And what brings you here?" Sanzang replied, "This poor monk was sent by the Great Tang Emperor from the Eastern Land to retrieve scriptures from the Great Thunderclap Temple in the West. I just passed by your immortal palace and offered my sincere greetings." Hearing this, the Taoist's face lit up. "Reverend Master is a loyal and virtuous Buddha! This humble Taoist was unaware and failed to give you a proper welcome. My apologies, my apologies!" He called out, "Boys, quickly bring the new tea, and at the same time, prepare the vegetarian meal promptly." The young boy went inside, and the women called him over, saying, "Here's some ready-made good tea. Take it out." The boy indeed took out five cups of tea. The Taoist quickly took a red date tea cup with both hands and offered it to Tang Sanzang. Seeing Bajie's large physique, he assumed he was the eldest disciple; Sha Wujing, the second disciple; and Wukong, being small, the third disciple. Therefore, the fourth cup was offered to Wukong. Wukong was quick-witted. As he took the tea cup, he already saw that the tea cup on the tray was the one with two black dates. He said, "Sir, let me switch cups with you." The Taoist laughed, "To be frank, Reverend Elder, this humble Taoist in the mountains doesn't always have tea and snacks readily available. I just personally went to the back to find some fruits, and there were only these twelve red dates, which I made into four cups of tea to offer you. This humble Taoist cannot simply sit empty-handed, so I used two inferior dates for my own cup to accompany you. This is my respectful intention." Wukong chuckled, "What are you talking about? The ancients said, 'Poverty at home is no poverty, but poverty on the road kills.' You are a resident here, why speak of poverty? It is us itinerant monks who are truly poor! Let's switch, let's switch." Hearing this, Sanzang said, "Wukong, this immortal master is truly being hospitable. Just drink it. Why switch?" Wukong had no choice. He took the cup with his left hand, covered it with his right, and watched them.

Meanwhile, Zhu Bajie, being both hungry and thirsty and naturally having a huge appetite, saw the three red dates in his cup, picked it up, and swallowed them all down. The Master also ate, and Sha Wujing also ate. In an instant, Bajie's face changed color, Sha Wujing's eyes filled with tears, and Tang Sanzang foamed at the mouth. They all became unsteady and collapsed to the ground. Sun Wukong, realizing it was poison, raised the tea cup and hurled it directly at the Taoist's face. The Taoist blocked it with his sleeve, and with a clang, the cup shattered into pieces. The Taoist angrily said, "You monk, you are utterly boorish! Why did you break my cup?" Wukong cursed, "You beast! Look at what happened to my three companions! What business do I have with you that you should poison my people with your tea?" The Taoist said, "You boorish beast, you brought this trouble upon yourself, don't you know?" Wukong said, "We just entered your gate, settled into our seats, spoke of our origins, and said nothing offensive. What trouble have we brought?" The Taoist said, "Did you beg for alms at Silk Web Cave? Did you bathe in the Washing Muck Spring?" Wukong said, "The Washing Muck Spring belongs to seven female monsters. Since you mentioned this, you must be in cahoots with them; you must also be a demon! Don't run! Take this staff!"

The Great Sage, excellent as he was, pulled his Golden-Hooped Rod from his ear. With a shake, it became as thick as a bowl and he struck it directly at the Taoist's face. The Taoist quickly turned to dodge and drew a treasured sword to meet the attack. As the two exchanged curses and blows, the female monsters inside were alerted. All seven of them rushed out, calling, "Senior brother, don't trouble yourself! Let us younger sisters capture him." Seeing this, Wukong grew even more enraged. He wielded his iron rod with both hands, throwing off his restraints, and rolled in to attack wildly. The seven monsters, baring their chests and revealing their snow-white bellies, projected a magical force from their navels: silk threads erupted in a chaotic cascade, forming a canopy that enveloped Wukong.

Wukong, seeing that things were not going well, immediately flipped over, recited a spell, and performed a somersault, smashing through the canopy and escaping. Suppressing his anger, he stood silently in the air and watched. He saw the strange silk threads shimmering brightly, crisscrossing and intertwining like a weaver's shuttle, instantly covering the pavilions and halls of the Yellow Flower Temple, making them disappear without a trace. Wukong said, "Formidable, formidable! Good thing I wasn't caught by them! No wonder Zhu Bajie fell so easily! What should I do about this? My Master and junior disciples are poisoned. This group of monsters is united in purpose, but I don't know their origins. I'll go and ask the local Earth God."

The Great Sage, excellent as he was, pressed down his cloud, formed a hand seal, and recited the "Om" mantra, summoning the old Earth God again. Trembling, the Earth God knelt by the roadside and kowtowed, "Great Sage, you went to rescue your Master; why have you returned again?"

Wukong said, "This morning I rescued Master. Not far from there, we encountered a Yellow Flower Temple. My Master and I went inside to have a look, and the temple master welcomed us. While we were talking, he poisoned my Master and the others with tea. Fortunately, I didn't drink the tea. I used my staff to strike, but then he mentioned the incident at Silk Web Cave and bathing at Washing Muck Spring. That's when I knew he was a monster. Just as I raised my hand to fight, the seven women rushed out and spewed silk threads. Old Sun, thankfully, was quick-witted and escaped. I thought that since you are a deity here, you must know his origin. What kind of demon is he? Tell me truthfully, and you'll avoid a beating!" The Earth God kowtowed and said, "That demon has been here for less than ten years. This humble deity only saw his true form three years ago, after inspection. He is a centipede demon. Those silk threads he spews are actually spider silk." Wukong heard this and was overjoyed. "According to you, he's a minor threat. Since that's the case, you can go back. I'll use my magic to subdue him." The Earth God kowtowed and departed. Wukong then went outside the Yellow Flower Temple, plucked seventy hairs from his tail, blew a breath of immortal air, and commanded, "Change!" They transformed into seventy small Wukongs. He then blew a breath of immortal air onto his Golden-Hooped Rod and commanded, "Change!" It transformed into seventy double-pronged rakes. He gave one to each small Wukong, and kept one for himself. Standing outside, they used their rakes to stir the silk threads. With a united effort and a shout, they broke all the silk threads, each raking in over ten catties. From inside, seven spiders were dragged out, each with a body as large as a bushel basket. They huddled their limbs, bowed their heads, and cried, "Mercy, mercy!" At this moment, the seventy small Wukongs held down the seven spiders, unwilling to let go. Wukong said, "Don't hit them yet. Just make them return my Master and junior disciples." The monster yelled loudly, "Senior brother, return Tang Sanzang and save my life!" The Taoist ran out from inside and said, "Sisters, I want to eat Tang Sanzang; I cannot save you!" Hearing this, Wukong became enraged. "Since you won't return my Master, then look at your sisters!" The Great Sage, excellent as he was, shook his rake, and it reverted to a single iron rod. He raised it with both hands and mercilessly crushed the seven spider demons. They looked like seven bags of rotting flesh, dripping with pus and blood. Then he shook his tail twice, retracted his hairs, and single-handedly swung his rod, rushing inside to strike the Taoist. The Taoist, seeing his sisters-in-arms killed, felt great reluctance but immediately became furious and raised his sword to meet the attack. In this battle, each harbored immense anger, and each displayed great magical powers. It was a fierce fight—

The demon wielded his treasured sword, the Great Sage raised his golden hoop. All for Tang Sanzang of the Tang Dynasty, first causing the seven women to perish. Now, displaying their martial prowess, they unleashed their might and magic, showcasing their formidable skills. The Great Sage's divine radiance was strong, the demon immortal's courage robust. Their full range of techniques was like brocade patterns, their hands moving back and forth like a well-pulley. Clanging sounds of sword and staff echoed. Gloomy wild clouds floated. Ambiguous words, clever schemes, back and forth like a painting. They fought until the wind howled and sand flew, scaring wolves and tigers, until the sky grew dim and the Big Dipper disappeared.

The Taoist fought the Great Sage for fifty or sixty rounds, gradually feeling his strength wane. In an instant, his joints loosened, and he untied his sash. With a sudden rip, he shed his black robe. Wukong laughed, "My son! If you can't beat someone, stripping won't help!" It turned out that when the Taoist stripped off his clothes and raised both hands, a thousand eyes appeared under his ribs, from which burst forth extremely potent golden light.

Dense yellow mist, dazzling golden light. Dense yellow mist, like clouds spewing from both sides beneath his ribs; dazzling golden light, like fire blazing from a thousand eyes. To the left and right, it was like golden barrels; to the east and west, it resembled bronze bells. This was the demon immortal exerting his magic, the Taoist displaying his divine power. It momentarily blinded the sky, obscuring the sun and moon, trapping people in a stifling, hazy atmosphere; the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, was trapped within the golden light and yellow mist.

Wukong was flustered, spinning wildly within the golden light. He couldn't move forward or backward, feeling as if he were trapped inside a barrel. Frustrated and unable to bear it any longer, he leaped upwards with all his might, smashing through the golden light. He fell headfirst with a thud, feeling a headache. He quickly reached up to feel his head, finding the skin on his crown softened from the impact. He worried, "Bad luck, bad luck! This head is useless today! Usually, knives and axes can't harm it, but how was it softened by this golden light? In the long run, it's bound to fester, and even if it heals, it will be tetanus. For a moment, he was uncontrollably agitated, then he pondered to himself, "I can't go forward, I can't go back, I can't go left, I can't go right, and I can't jump up. What should I do? I'll go down instead!"

The Great Sage, excellent as he was, recited a spell, shook his body, and transformed into a pangolin, also known as an armadillo-scaled creature. It was truly—

Four iron claws, piercing mountains and shattering rocks like powder; a body full of scales, breaking through ridges and tunneling through rocks as easily as slicing scallions. Its two eyes shone brightly, like two shimmering stars; its pointed snout was sharper and stronger than a steel drill or a golden awl. In medicine, it is known for its ability to penetrate mountains, and colloquially, it is called the armadillo-scaled creature.

See how, with its hard head, it burrowed into the ground, drilling for over twenty *li* (about 10 km) before finally emerging. It turned out the golden light only covered a radius of about ten *li*. When Wukong emerged and reverted to his true form, his limbs were weak, his muscles numb, and his entire body ached. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes as he suddenly cried out, "Oh, Master—

That year I took up the teachings and left the mountain, working diligently together, journeying west. I feared no towering waves of the great ocean, yet encountered a storm within a shallow ditch!"

As the Handsome Monkey King was in deep sorrow, he suddenly heard someone weeping from behind the mountain. He quickly sat up, wiped his tears, and looked back. He saw a woman, dressed in heavy mourning, carrying a bowl of cool gruel in her left hand and a few sheets of burnt paper money in her right, walking from that direction, crying with every step. Wukong nodded and sighed, "It's truly a weeping eye meeting a weeping eye, a brokenhearted person encountering another brokenhearted person! This woman, I wonder what she is weeping about. I shall ask her." Soon, the woman walked onto the road, approaching Wukong. Wukong bowed and asked, "Lady Bodhisattva, for whom are you weeping?" The woman, her eyes filled with tears, said, "My husband argued with the master of Yellow Flower Temple over buying bamboo poles, and he was poisoned to death with tea. I am burning this paper money to repay my marital affection." Hearing this, tears welled up in Wukong's eyes. The woman, seeing this, became angry and said, "How ignorant you are! I am grieving for my husband, and you are here with tearful eyes and sorrowful brows, making fun of me?"

Wukong bowed and said, "Lady Bodhisattva, please calm your anger. I am Sun Wukong, the Great Disciple of Tang Sanzang, the Imperial Envoy from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land. On my journey to the West, I stopped at the Yellow Flower Temple to rest my horse. The Taoist in that temple, I don't know what kind of demon he is, but he and the seven spider demons are sworn siblings. The spider demons tried to harm my Master in Silk Web Cave, but my junior disciples Bajie, Sha Wujing, and I rescued him. The spider demons then came to him, fabricating stories and claiming we had ill intentions. The Taoist then poisoned my Master and two junior disciples, a total of three people, plus the horse, four lives, trapping them in his temple. Only I did not drink his tea. When I shattered his teacup, he began to fight me. Just as we were arguing, the seven spider demons rushed out and spewed silk threads, binding me. I used my magic to escape. I asked the Earth God, who told me their true forms. Then I used my duplication magic to break the silk threads, dragged out the demons, and beat them to death with my staff. This Taoist then sought revenge for them, raising his treasured sword to fight me. After sixty rounds of fighting, he lost the battle, then stripped off his clothes, revealing a thousand eyes under his ribs, emitting ten thousand rays of golden light that enveloped me. Thus, I was trapped, unable to advance or retreat, so I transformed into a pangolin and burrowed out from underground. As I was grieving, I suddenly heard your weeping, which is why I asked. Seeing you honoring your husband with paper money, while my Master is losing his life with nothing to reciprocate, I was lamenting my own situation and felt sorrow, how dare I make fun of you!"

The woman put down her gruel and paper money and apologized to Wukong, "Please don't be offended, please don't be offended. I didn't know you were also a victim. From what you just said, you don't recognize that Taoist. He is actually the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, also known as the Multi-Eyed Monster. Since you possess such transformations, escaped the golden light, and fought for so long, you must have great divine powers. However, you still can't get close to that fellow. I'll tell you to invite a sage who can break the golden light and subdue the Taoist." Hearing this, Wukong immediately saluted, "Lady Bodhisattva knows his origin. Please be so kind as to instruct me. Who is this sage? I will go and request their help to rescue my Master and also avenge your husband." The woman said, "I will tell you, but if you go and invite him to subdue the Taoist, it may only serve to avenge, and I fear it won't be able to save your Master." Wukong asked, "Why can't he be saved?" The woman explained, "That fellow's poison is extremely potent. It poisons a person, and within three days, their bones and marrow will rot. If you go back and forth, it might be too late, so he might not be saved." Wukong said, "I am a fast traveler. No matter how far, a thousand *li* takes only half a day." The woman said, "Since you can travel fast, listen to me: From here to that place is a thousand *li* (about 500 km). There is a mountain there called Purple Cloud Mountain, and within it is Thousand Flower Cave. Inside that cave lives a sage named Pílán Pó. She can subdue this monster." Wukong asked, "Where is that mountain located? And from where should I go?" The woman pointed with her hand, "It's directly to the south." When Wukong turned his head to look, the woman had already disappeared. Wukong hastily bowed, "Which Bodhisattva was that? Your disciple was too muddled to recognize you. I humbly beg for your name, so I can offer my thanks!" A voice called from mid-air, "Great Sage, it is I." Wukong quickly looked up and saw it was the Old Mother of Li Shan. He hastened into the air and thanked her, "Old Mother, from where did you come to instruct me?" The Old Mother said, "I just returned from the Dragon Flower Assembly. Seeing your Master in distress, I pretended to be a filial wife, using the pretext of my husband's death, to save him from immediate demise. Hurry and invite her, but you must not say that I instructed you. That sage is a bit peculiar about people." Wukong thanked her, bid farewell, and with a leap of his cloud somersault, arrived at Purple Cloud Mountain. As he settled his cloud, he saw Thousand Flower Cave. Outside the cave—

Green pines concealed the beautiful scenery, verdant cypresses encircled the immortal dwelling. Green willows lined the mountain path, and exotic flowers filled the stream beds. Fragrant orchids surrounded the stone house, and sweet grasses reflected off the cliff faces. Flowing water connected the clear streams, and clouds enveloped ancient, hollow trees. Wild birds chirped noisily, and secluded deer walked leisurely. Slender bamboo branches were graceful, and red plum leaves unfurled. Cold crows rested on ancient trees, and spring birds sang from tall varnish trees. Summer wheat filled the vast fields, and autumn grains covered the remaining land. No leaves fell in all four seasons, and flowers bloomed in all eight segments of the year. Auspicious mists always connected to the heavens, and propitious clouds constantly reached into the void.

The Great Sage cheerfully walked inside, observing every section and every step, marveling endlessly at the heavenly scenery. He went directly further in, finding no one, and observed the profound silence, with no sounds of chickens or dogs. He thought to himself, "This sage must not be at home." He proceeded several more *li* and saw a female Taoist nun sitting on a couch. Observe her appearance—

She wore a cap adorned with five-colored brocade, a robe woven with golden threads. Her feet were clad in cloud-tipped phoenix-headed slippers, and around her waist was a sash with clustered silk tassels. Her face resembled autumn's aged beauty after frost, her voice was delicate like spring swallows before the temple fair. Within her heart, she had long mastered the Three Vehicles of Dharma, and in her mind, she constantly cultivated the Four Noble Truths to abundance. She had comprehended the true fruit of emptiness and attained perfect liberation. She was truly the Buddha of Thousand Flower Cave, the highly renowned Bodhisattva Pílán Pó.

Wukong could not stop his feet. He approached and called out, "Bodhisattva Pílán Pó, I offer my greetings!" The Bodhisattva immediately descended from her couch, pressed her palms together, and returned the salutation, saying, "Great Sage, I apologize for not greeting you sooner. Where have you come from?" Wukong asked, "How did you recognize me as the Great Sage?" Pílán Pó said, "When you caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace back then, your image was spread throughout the land. Who doesn't know you, who doesn't recognize you?" Wukong said, "Indeed, good deeds don't leave the house, but bad deeds travel a thousand *li*. Now that I've embraced Buddhism, you might not know!" Pílán Pó said, "When did you convert? Congratulations, congratulations!" Wukong said, "Recently, I barely escaped with my life while escorting my Master, Tang Sanzang, to the West to obtain scriptures. My Master encountered the Taoist of Yellow Flower Temple, who poisoned him with tea. I fought that fellow, and he enveloped me in golden light, but I used my divine powers to escape. I heard that Bodhisattva can extinguish his golden light, so I specially came to ask for your help." The Bodhisattva said, "Who told you? I attended the Ullambana Assembly, and since then, for over three hundred years, I haven't left my home. I have lived under an assumed name, and no one knows me. How did you find out?" Wukong said, "I am a 'ground-spirit.' No matter where, I can find it myself." Pílán Pó said, "Very well, very well. I was not planning to go, but since the Great Sage has personally come, I cannot impede the good deed of seeking scriptures. I will go with you." Wukong expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am too ignorant to have rushed you, but I don't know what weapon you brought." The Bodhisattva said, "I have an embroidered needle that can break that fellow's power." Wukong couldn't help but say, "Old Mother, you've mistaken me! If I had known it was just an embroidered needle, I wouldn't have bothered you. Old Sun has a whole load of those!" Pílán Pó said, "Your embroidered needles are nothing but steel and gold needles; they are useless. This treasure of mine is neither steel, nor iron, nor gold; it was refined in my son's eye of the sun." Wukong asked, "Who is your distinguished son?" Pílán Pó said, "My son is the Pleiades Star Lord." Wukong was greatly astonished.

Soon, they saw the dazzling golden light. Wukong immediately turned to Pílán Pó and said, "That place with the golden light is the Yellow Flower Temple." Pílán Pó then took an embroidered needle from her collar. It was as thick as an eyebrow and about five or six *fen* (a small fraction of an inch) long. She held it in her hand and tossed it into the air. A short while later, with a clang, it broke through the golden light. Wukong exclaimed joyfully, "Bodhisattva, marvelous, marvelous! Find the needle, find the needle!" Pílán Pó held it in her palm and said, "Isn't this it?" Wukong then descended his cloud with her and entered the temple. They saw the Taoist with his eyes closed, unable to move. Wukong cursed, "You wicked monster, you're pretending to be blind!" He took out his rod from his ear and was about to strike. Pílán Pó stopped him, saying, "Great Sage, don't strike yet. First, go see your Master."

Wukong went directly to the guest quarters in the back and saw all three of them lying on the ground, spitting phlegm and foam. Wukong wept, "What can be done, what can be done?!" Pílán Pó said, "Great Sage, don't grieve. Since I've come out today, I might as well accumulate some good karma. I have anti-poison pills here; I'll give you three." Wukong turned and bowed to ask for them. The Bodhisattva took out a torn paper packet from her sleeve and handed Wukong three red pills, telling him to put them into their mouths. Wukong pried open their jaws and slipped one pill into each person's mouth. Soon, the medicine took effect, and they all vomited simultaneously, expelling the poison and saving their lives. Zhu Bajie was the first to scramble up, saying, "I thought I was going to suffocate!" Sanzang and Sha Wujing also awoke, saying, "What a terrible dizziness!" Wukong said, "You were poisoned by that tea. Thanks to Bodhisattva Pílán Pó for saving you, quickly come and express your gratitude." Sanzang straightened his clothes and bowed in thanks. Bajie said, "Senior brother, where is that Taoist? Let me ask him why he harmed me like this!" Wukong then recounted the entire incident with the spider demons. Bajie furiously said, "Since this fellow is sworn siblings with spiders, he must be a demon!" Wukong pointed, "He's standing outside the hall, pretending to be blind." Bajie took up his rake to attack, but Pílán Pó stopped him, saying, "Marshal Tian Peng, calm your anger. Great Sage knows that there's no one in my cave; I'll take him back to guard my gate." Wukong said, "We are deeply grateful for your great virtue, how could we not comply! But could you please make him reveal his true form so we can see it?" Pílán Pó said, "Easily." She stepped forward and pointed with her hand. The Taoist immediately fell into the dust, revealing his original form: a large centipede demon seven feet long. Pílán Pó lifted him with her little finger and rode her auspicious cloud directly back to Thousand Flower Cave. Bajie looked up and marveled, "This old woman is really formidable! How can she subdue such a fierce creature?" Wukong chuckled, "I asked her what weapon she had to break his golden light, and she said she had an embroidered needle, refined in her son's eye of the sun. When I asked who her son was, she said he was the Pleiades Star Lord. I thought, the Pleiades Star Lord is a rooster, so this old woman must be a hen. Chickens are best at subduing centipedes, which is why she was able to subdue him."

Hearing this, Sanzang bowed endlessly and instructed, "Disciples, let's pack up and go." Sha Wujing immediately found some rice and grain inside and prepared a vegetarian meal, which they all ate to their fill. They led the horse and carried the luggage, inviting their Master to leave. Wukong then set a fire in the Taoist's kitchen, instantly burning the entire temple to ashes. They then strode onward. Indeed, Tang Sanzang's life was saved, thanks to Pílán Pó, and the Multi-Eyed Monster was eliminated. What further events await them on their journey forward, listen to the next chapter's explanation.