Chapter 77: Demons Deceive Their True Nature, United in Paying Homage to True Thusness

Let us set aside Elder Tang’s distress for a moment and speak of the three demon chiefs, who, with unified effort, fiercely contended with the Great Sage and his two brothers in the foothills east of the city. The battle was like an iron brush scrubbing a copper pot, each side remarkably unyielding and intense. What a fight!

Six different forms wielding six different weapons, six distinct physiques embodying six varied temperaments. Six evils, six sensory roots entwined with six desires, six paths and six realms where victory and defeat were wagered. Thirty-six chambers of unrestrained power, six-times-six forms renowned for their might. One wielded the Golden Clasped Rod, displaying a thousand techniques; another, the Halberd, with a hundred fierce moves. Pigsy's rake was even more ferocious, while the second demon's long spear was agile and capable. Little Sandy's precious staff was extraordinary, aiming for a fatal blow; the old demon's steel blade was swift and sharp, striking without mercy. These three were peerless generals protecting the true monk; those three were savage fiends, disrupting order and deceiving the king. At first, the fight was bearable, but it grew increasingly fierce. All six used their aerial techniques, tumbling and fighting within the clouds. For a time, they spewed mist and clouds, darkening the sky and earth, with only roars and shouts heard.

After the six fought for a long time, it gradually grew dark. Wind and mist spread, and in an instant, it was completely black. Pigsy, with his large ears covering his eyes, became even more disoriented, his movements slow, and he could no longer block the attacks. Dragging his rake, he retreated in defeat. The old demon raised his blade and struck, almost taking his life. Fortunately, Pigsy dodged his head, but the blade sliced off a few bristles. The demon caught up, bit his collar, dragged him into the city, threw him to the lesser demons, and had him tied up in the Golden Imperial Hall. The old demon then ascended on a cloud to provide assistance. Sandy, seeing the dire situation, swung his precious staff as a feint, turned to save himself, and ran. The second demon smacked him on the nose with a loud thud, then seized him by the hand and dragged him into the city. He was also tied up by the imps beneath the hall. The demon then flew up to capture the Monkey King.

The Monkey King saw his two brothers captured, and he alone could not contend; indeed, a good fighter cannot defeat two fists, and two fists cannot defeat four hands. He shouted, used his staff to fend off the weapons of the three demons, then leaped onto a cloud and fled. When the third demon saw the Monkey King take off, he shook his body, revealed his true form, flapped his wings, and pursued the Great Sage. You might wonder how he could catch up. When the Monkey King wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, even a hundred thousand celestial soldiers couldn't capture him, as he could travel 108,000 li with a single somersault cloud, which is why no god could overtake him. This demon could cover 90,000 li with one flap of its wings, and two flaps would overtake the Monkey King. Thus, he was caught by the demon's grasp, held in its hand, unable to struggle free. He wanted to escape but couldn't. Even with transformation or evasion techniques, it was difficult: if he became larger, the demon would loosen its grip; if he became smaller, it would tighten its grip. So he was captured and taken back to the city. The demon released its grip, throwing him to the ground, and ordered the imps to tie him up with Pigsy and Sandy. The old demon and the second demon both came down to greet him. The three demon chiefs ascended to the imperial hall together. Alas! This time, it seemed they were not merely tying up the Monkey King, but rather sending him on his way.

It was now the second watch of the night (around 9-11 PM). The demons had all gathered. They pushed Tang Sanzang down from the hall. In the lamplight, the Elder suddenly saw his three disciples tied up on the ground. The master knelt beside the Monkey King and wept, "My disciples! Whenever we faced danger, you would use your divine powers outside to rescue us and defeat demons. But now, you too are captured! How can I, this poor monk, survive?" Pigsy and Sandy, hearing their master's anguish, also burst into loud sobs. The Monkey King smiled faintly, "Master, don't worry. Brothers, don't cry! No matter what they do, we will definitely not be harmed. Once the old demon settles down, we'll make our escape." Pigsy said, "Brother, you're playing tricks again! We're tied with hemp ropes, and if they're loose, they'll spray water on us. You, being skinny, might not feel it, but I, being fat, am suffering! If you don't believe me, look at my arms; the ropes have dug two inches deep into my flesh. How can we escape?" The Monkey King laughed, "Don't talk about hemp ropes; even coir ropes as thick as bowls would be like an autumn breeze in my ear. It's nothing to worry about!"

As the master and disciples were speaking, they overheard the old demon saying, "My three virtuous brothers, you possess strength and wisdom, and have indeed devised a brilliant plan to capture Tang Sanzang!" He commanded, "Minions! Five of you fetch water, seven scrub the pots, ten tend the fire, and twenty bring out the iron steamer! Steam those four monks until they're cooked. My brothers and I will enjoy them, and then we'll share a piece with each of you minions, so you too can achieve immortality." Pigsy heard this and tremblingly said, "Brother, listen! The demons are planning to steam and eat us!" The Monkey King said, "Don't be afraid. Let me see if they are novice demons or experienced ones." Sandy cried, "Brother! Don't talk so big! We're practically neighbors with the King of Hell now. What's this talk of novices or experienced ones?" Before he finished, they heard the second demon say, "Pigsy is difficult to steam." Pigsy rejoiced, "Amitabha! Who is that virtuous one who says I'm hard to steam?" The third demon said, "If he's hard to steam, peel him first and then steam him." Pigsy panicked and shouted loudly, "Don't peel me! I may be coarse, but I'll turn tender as soon as the water boils!" The old demon said, "If he's hard to steam, put him on the bottom shelf." The Monkey King laughed, "Pigsy, don't be afraid. They're novices, not experienced." Sandy asked, "How can you tell?" The Monkey King said, "Generally, when steaming things, you start from the top. If something is hard to steam, you put it on the top shelf, add more fuel, and let the steam circulate fully, and it will be fine. But if you put it on the bottom, the steam gets blocked, and even if you burn for half a year, the steam won't rise. Since they said Pigsy is hard to steam and put him on the bottom, what else could they be but novices?" Pigsy said, "Brother, if what you say is true, they'll cook us alive! If they see no steam rising, they'll lift the lid, turn me over, and stoke the fire again, making me cooked on both sides but raw in the middle!" As they were speaking, a minor demon came to report, "The water's boiling!" The old demon gave the order to carry them. All the demons immediately began, lifting Pigsy onto the bottom shelf and Sandy onto the second shelf.

The Monkey King estimated when they would come to lift him. He then escaped his bonds, saying, "This lamplight is perfect for my tricks!" He plucked a hair, blew a puff of immortal breath, and cried, "Change!" It immediately transformed into another Monkey King, tied with hemp ropes. His true self escaped from his body, leaped into mid-air, and looked down. The group of demons, unaware of the deception, lifted the first person they saw, placing the "fake Monkey King" on the third shelf. Then they seized Tang Sanzang, tied him up, and placed him on the fourth shelf. Dry firewood was stacked, and fierce flames blazed. The Great Sage sighed from the clouds, "My Pigsy and Sandy can endure two boils, but my master will be ruined with just one boil. If I don't use magic to save them, they'll be lost in an instant!" The clever Monkey King, in mid-air, formed a hand seal, recited a spell: "Luolan Pure Dharma Realm, Qian Yuan Heng Li Zhen," and immediately summoned the Dragon King of the North Sea. A dark cloud in the sky responded, and a voice cried out, "Aoshun, the little dragon of the North Sea, kowtows!" The Monkey King said, "Rise, rise! I wouldn't trouble you without cause. Tang Sanzang and I have arrived here, but he's been captured by a malicious demon and is being steamed in an iron cage. Please go and protect him for me, don't let him be steamed to death." The Dragon King immediately transformed into a cold wind, blew beneath the pot, circled and protected it, preventing any heat from reaching the pot. Only then were the three of them saved from harm.

As the third watch (around 11 PM - 1 AM) was drawing to a close, they heard the old demon issuing orders: "Minions! We have exhausted ourselves with our schemes to capture Tang Sanzang and his party, and have also toiled without sleep for four days and nights seeing them off. Now that they are bound in the steamer, they will surely find it hard to escape. You must guard them carefully. Ten of you minor demons are to take turns stoking the fire. We will retreat to our chambers for a brief rest. By the fifth watch (around 3-5 AM), when dawn approaches, they will surely be thoroughly cooked. Prepare garlic paste, salt, and vinegar, and call us to rise and enjoy them on an empty stomach." All the demons obeyed the command, and the three demon chiefs returned to their respective sleeping quarters. The Monkey King in the clouds clearly heard these instructions, but when he lowered his cloud, he couldn't hear any sound from inside the steamer. He thought to himself, "With the fire blazing, it must be hot. How come they aren't afraid, and why are they silent? Humph! Could they have been steamed to death? Let me get closer and listen."

The clever Great Sage, stepping on his cloud, shook himself and transformed into a black housefly. He perched on the iron steamer to listen intently and heard Pigsy inside saying, "Bad luck, bad luck! I don't know if this is a 'stifled steam' or an 'open steam' method." Sandy asked, "Second Brother, what do you mean by 'stifled steam' and 'open steam'?" Pigsy replied, "'Stifled steam' means the lid is on the steamer, and 'open steam' means it's not." Tang Sanzang, from the layer above, responded, "Disciples, it's not covered." Pigsy exclaimed, "Good fortune! We won't die tonight! This is 'open steam'!" The Monkey King heard all three of them speaking, unharmed, so he flew off and gently placed the iron steamer lid back on. Tang Sanzang panicked, "Disciples! It's covered!" Pigsy cried, "That's it! This is 'stifled steam,' we're sure to die tonight!" Sandy and the Elder began to weep softly. Pigsy said, "Don't cry yet. The fire-stokers have changed shifts now." Sandy asked, "How do you know?" Pigsy said, "When they first carried me up, it was just what I wanted: I have a bit of a damp and cold illness, and I needed some steam. But now, cold air is rising instead. Hey! Fire-stoking officer, why don't you add some more firewood? Are you stingy with it?!"

The Monkey King heard this and couldn't help but secretly laugh, "This blockhead! Cold is still bearable, but heat would be fatal. If he talks like this twice more, he'll give away our secret. I must rescue him quickly. Wait! To rescue them, I must reveal my true form. But if I do, those ten fire-stokers will see me and shout, alarming the old demon, which would cause more trouble. Let me give them a little magical trick first." He suddenly remembered, "When I was the Great Sage, I once played a guessing game with the Guardian King of the Northern Gate and won some 'sleepy bugs' from him. I still have a few left. I'll give them to these fellows." He immediately reached into his belt and found twelve of them. "I'll give them ten and keep two as seeds." He threw the bugs, scattering them onto the faces of the ten minor demons. They burrowed into their nostrils, and gradually the demons began to doze off, falling asleep. Only one demon, holding a firefork, couldn't sleep soundly. He rubbed his head and face, pinched his nose left and right, and continuously sneezed. The Monkey King said, "This fellow is aware of something. I'll give him another dose." He threw another bug onto his face. "With two bugs, entering from the left and exiting from the right, or vice versa, at least one should settle." The minor demon yawned two or three big yawns, stretched his back, dropped his firefork, and collapsed into a deep sleep, not stirring again.

The Monkey King exclaimed, "This spell is truly wonderful and effective!" He immediately reverted to his true form, walked closer, and called out, "Master!" Tang Sanzang heard him and said, "Wukong, save me!" Sandy asked, "Brother, are you calling from outside?" The Monkey King said, "If I weren't outside, would I be suffering inside with you?" Pigsy said, "Brother, the quick ones escaped, and we're the scapegoats, suffering from stifling steam here!" The Monkey King laughed, "Idiot, stop complaining. I'm here to save you." Pigsy said, "Brother, if you're going to save us, save us completely. Don't let us end up back in the steamer!" The Monkey King then lifted the lid of the steamer, freed his master, shook the false hair he had transformed, and retrieved it. Then, layer by layer, he released Sandy, and then Pigsy. The moment that idiot was freed, he was eager to run. The Monkey King said, "Don't rush, don't rush!" He then recited a spell, dismissed the Dragon God, and only then said to Pigsy, "On our journey to the West, there are still high mountains and steep ridges. Our master has no means of transport and will find it difficult to walk. Let me go get the horse."

See him, moving lightly and quietly, as he walked to the Golden Imperial Hall. He saw all the demons, big and small, fast asleep. He untied the reins without disturbing them. That horse was originally a dragon-horse. If a mortal approached, it would kick twice and whinny a few times. But the Monkey King had once cared for horses as the Head of the Imperial Stables and was one of their own party, so it didn't jump or whinny. He quietly led it over, tightened the girth, and prepared it. Then he invited his master to mount. The Elder, trembling, mounted, and was about to leave. The Monkey King said, "Don't rush yet. As we travel west, there will be kings who require travel permits before we can proceed. Otherwise, what identification would we use? Let me go find our luggage." Tang Sanzang said, "I remember when we entered, the demons put our luggage to the left of the Golden Hall, and the carrying pole was also over there." The Monkey King said, "I know." He immediately pulled himself up and leaped into the hall to search. Suddenly, he saw a glimmer of light. The Monkey King knew it was the luggage. How did he know? Because Tang Sanzang's brocade cassock had a luminous pearl, which emitted light. He quickly went forward and saw the carrying pole untouched. He immediately took it down and handed it to Sandy to carry. Pigsy led the horse, and the Monkey King led the way, heading straight for the Main Gate. They heard a chaotic clanging of wooden clappers and bells. The gate had a lock, and a sealed paper was pasted on it. The Monkey King said, "With such defenses, how can we leave?" Pigsy said, "Let's go through the back door." The Monkey King led the way to the back door. "Outside the rear gate, there are also sounds of clappers and bells, and the gate is also locked. What should we do? This time, if it weren't for Tang Sanzang being a mortal, the three of us could simply ride the clouds and wind to escape. But because Tang Sanzang has not transcended the Three Realms and is still within the Five Elements, his body is made of the coarse bones of his parents, so he cannot ascend and escape easily." Pigsy said, "Brother, no need to discuss. Let's go to a place where there are no clappers or guards, carry our master, and climb over the wall." The Monkey King laughed, "That's not good. We might be forced to carry him over now, but when we return with the scriptures, you, idiot, with your big mouth, will go around telling everyone that we were monks who climbed walls." Pigsy said, "At a time like this, we can't worry about our reputation. Let's just escape with our lives." The Monkey King had no choice but to agree. They went to a clean section of the wall, planning to climb over.

Alas! Such a thing! It seems Tang Sanzang's misfortunes were not yet over. The three demon chiefs, who were sleeping in their palace, suddenly awoke with a start. They heard that Tang Sanzang had escaped. One by one, they hastily put on their clothes, rushed up to the imperial hall, and asked, "How many boils has Tang Sanzang endured?" Those minor demons stoking the fire, already affected by the "sleepy bugs," were all asleep. Even if they were beaten, not one would wake up. A few of the other, off-duty demons woke up, startled, and blurted out, "Seven, seven, seven, seven boils!" They rushed to the side of the pot, only to see the steamer racks scattered on the ground and the fire-stokers still asleep. Panicked, they came back to report, "Great King, he's escaped, escaped, escaped!" The three demon chiefs all descended from the hall. Upon careful inspection near the pot, they indeed saw the steamer racks strewn on the ground, the soup pot completely cold, the fire gone, and all the fire-stokers snoring like logs. All the demons cried out in alarm, shouting, "Quickly seize Tang Sanzang! Quickly seize Tang Sanzang!" This wave of shouts startled all the demons, big and small, in front and behind. Swords and spears crowded, they reached the Main Gate. Seeing the seal untouched and the clappers and bells still ringing, they asked the night patrol outside, "Where did Tang Sanzang escape from?" All replied, "No one has gone out." They rushed to the rear gate; the lock and clappers were just as before. Then, in a frantic scramble, with lanterns and torches illuminating the sky in crimson like daylight, they clearly saw the four of them climbing the wall! The old demon rushed closer and roared, "Where do you think you're going?!" The Elder was so frightened his legs turned to jelly and his muscles cramped. He fell from the wall and was captured by the old demon. The second demon seized Sandy, the third demon captured Pigsy, and the other demons snatched the luggage and white horse. Only the Monkey King escaped. Pigsy grumbled and mumbled complaints against the Monkey King, "You cursed one! I said if you save us, save us completely! Now we're back in the steamer again!"

The demons brought Tang Sanzang to the hall, but this time they didn't steam him. The second demon ordered Pigsy to be tied to a pillar at the front eaves of the hall, the third demon ordered Sandy to be tied to a pillar at the back eaves, but only the old demon hugged Tang Sanzang tightly and refused to let go. The third demon said, "Elder Brother, why are you holding him? You're not going to eat him alive, are you? That wouldn't be very interesting. This person is not like ordinary mortals who can just be grabbed and eaten as a meal. This is a rare and precious item from a superior country. You must wait for a cloudy, leisurely time, bring him out, prepare him meticulously, play guessing games, and enjoy him slowly, with music." The old demon laughed, "What you say, virtuous brother, is true. But the Monkey King will come to steal him again." The third demon said, "Within this imperial palace, there is a Brocade Fragrance Pavilion, and inside the pavilion, there's an iron cabinet. Follow my advice: hide Tang Sanzang in the cabinet, lock the pavilion, and then spread a rumor that we have already eaten Tang Sanzang half-cooked. Order the minor demons to spread this news throughout the city. The Monkey King will surely come to inquire, and if he hears this, he will be heartbroken and leave for good. After three or five days, if he doesn't bother us, we can then take him out and enjoy him at our leisure. How does that sound?" The old and second demons were greatly pleased and said, "Yes, yes, yes! Brother, you speak wisely!" Poor Tang Sanzang was taken inside that very night, hidden in the cabinet, and the pavilion was locked. The rumor was spread, and the whole city was abuzz with it, needing no further mention.

Now, as for the Monkey King, after leaving Tang Sanzang at midnight, he escaped on a cloud and went directly to the Lion Camel Cave. With a single sweep of his staff, he wiped out all ten thousand minor demons. He hurried back as the sun rose in the east, reaching the city outskirts. He dared not challenge them, for "a single thread cannot make a line, and one palm cannot clap." He descended from his cloud, shook himself, and transformed into a minor demon. He slipped into the city, searching for news in the main streets and small alleys. The entire city was saying, "Tang Sanzang was eaten half-cooked by the Great King last night." Everywhere he went, that's what they said. The Monkey King was truly anxious. He walked to the front of the Golden Imperial Hall to observe. Inside, there were many spirits, all wearing gilded leather hats, yellow cloth robes, holding red lacquered sticks, and ivory plaques at their waists, constantly moving to and fro. The Monkey King thought to himself, "These must be the palace demons. I'll transform into this appearance and go in to scout for information." The clever Great Sage indeed transformed, looking exactly like them, and slipped into the Golden Gate. As he walked, he saw Pigsy groaning, tied to a pillar at the front of the hall. The Monkey King approached and called out, "Wuneng." The idiot recognized the voice and said, "Senior Brother, you've come? Save me!" The Monkey King said, "I'll save you, but do you know where Master is?" Pigsy said, "Master is gone. He was eaten half-cooked by the demons last night." Hearing this, the Monkey King suddenly cried out, and tears gushed like a spring. Pigsy said, "Brother, don't cry. I also just heard the minor demons talking nonsense; I didn't see it with my own eyes. Don't give up, go and ask around again." Only then did the Monkey King stop crying and search further inside. He suddenly saw Sandy tied to a pillar at the back eaves. He approached and touched his chest, calling out, "Wujing." Sandy also recognized the voice and said, "Senior Brother, have you transformed and come in? Save me, save me!" The Monkey King said, "Saving you is easy, but do you know where Master is?" Sandy, shedding tears, said, "Brother! The demons couldn't wait to steam Master, so they ate him half-cooked!" The Great Sage heard their words were the same, and his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, tears flowing like water. He quickly leaped into the air, not bothering to save Pigsy or Sandy yet, returned to the mountain east of the city, descended his cloud, and cried out loudly, "Master!

"I hate that I defied Heaven and was trapped in a net,But Master came to save me from deep suffering.With focused mind and firm resolve, we sought enlightenment together,Diligently cultivating ourselves and battling demons.How could I have known that today I'd suffer this harm,Unable to protect you to reach the Western Paradise.The Western Paradise, no chance of reaching;My spirit scattered, what can be done?"

The Monkey King, in great sorrow, pondered and questioned himself, "This is all because my Buddha Tathagata sits there in the Land of Utmost Bliss with nothing to do, so he concocted these Tripiṭaka scriptures! If he truly intended to promote good, he should have sent them to the Eastern Land himself. Wouldn't that be a legacy for ten thousand ages? But no, he begrudged sending them and instead made us come to fetch them. Who knew that after struggling through a thousand mountains, Master would lose his life here today! Enough, enough, enough! I, Old Sun, will take my somersault cloud, go see Tathagata, and report the entire matter. If he is willing to send the scriptures to the Eastern Land with me, it will both propagate good deeds and fulfill our wishes. If he is unwilling, let him recite the Loose Fillet Spell, remove this band from my head, and I will return it to him. Old Sun will then go back to my cave, declare myself king, and enjoy myself!"

The Great Sage, in a hurry, flipped over, mounted his somersault cloud, and headed straight for India. It didn't even take an hour before he could see Mount Sumeru not far away. In a short while, he descended from his cloud, arriving at the foot of Vulture Peak. Suddenly, he looked up and saw the Four Great Vajras blocking his path, saying, "Where are you going?" The Monkey King bowed and said, "I have something to discuss with Tathagata." Then, the Unbreakable Honored King, the Ever-Residing Vajra from Jinxia Ridge of Kunlun Mountain, shouted, "This unruly monkey is extremely boorish! Before, when the Bull Demon was in great trouble, we exerted ourselves for you. But today, when you appear before us, you show no courtesy at all! If you have something to say, wait until it's announced, and only proceed when summoned. This place is not like the South Heavenly Gate, where you can just walk in and out, wandering around! Humph! Get back!" The Great Sage was already vexed, and being rebuked like this, he roared with anger like thunder, unable to stop shouting and yelling, which soon alarmed Tathagata. Tathagata Buddha, who was seated upright on his Nine-Grade Lotus Throne, expounding scriptures to the Eighteen Arhats of the World, immediately opened his mouth and said, "Sun Wukong has arrived. You all go out and receive him." All the Arhats, obeying the Buddha's command, formed two lines with their banners and precious canopies, and immediately exited the mountain gate, responding, "Great Sage Sun, Tathagata has summoned you!" Only then did the Four Great Vajras at the mountain gate step aside, allowing the Monkey King to proceed. The Arhats led him to the foot of the Precious Lotus Throne. Seeing Tathagata, he prostrated himself, shedding tears of sorrow. Tathagata said, "Wukong, why are you weeping so bitterly?" The Monkey King said, "Your disciple has repeatedly received your teachings and sought refuge at Buddha's gate. Since attaining the true fruit, I have protected Tang Sanzang, taking him as my master. The journey has been indescribably arduous! Now, reaching Lion Camel Mountain, Lion Camel Cave, and Lion Camel City, there are three poisonous demons—the Lion King, the Elephant King, and the Great Roc—who have captured my master, and even your disciple and my brothers, tying us all up in a steamer, suffering the calamity of boiling water and fire. Fortunately, your disciple escaped and summoned the Dragon King to save us. That night, I secretly took out Master and the others, but unexpectedly, their misfortune was not yet over, and they were captured again. By dawn, when I entered the city to inquire, I found that those demons were incredibly vicious and ferociously powerful. They ate Master half-cooked during the night, and now not a trace of his flesh and bones remains. Moreover, my junior brothers Wuneng and Wujing are still tied up there, and soon, their lives will also be lost. Having no recourse, your disciple specifically came here to pay respects to Tathagata. I humbly request your great compassion: please recite the Loose Fillet Spell, remove this band from my head, and return it to you. Then, allow your disciple to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain to live a carefree life!" Before he finished speaking, tears gushed forth like a spring, and his sorrowful cries continued unabated. Tathagata smiled, "Wukong, calm your distress. Those demons possess vast magical powers, you cannot defeat them, which is why your heart aches so much." The Monkey King, kneeling below, beat his chest and said, "To be honest with Tathagata, when your disciple wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and called himself the Great Sage, I never suffered a loss since I became a sentient being. But this time, I have fallen into the hands of these poisonous demons!" Tathagata heard this and said, "Don't be angry. I recognize those demons." The Monkey King suddenly blurted out, "Tathagata! I heard people say that those demons are related to you!" Tathagata said, "This cunning monkey! How are demons related to me?" The Monkey King laughed, "If they weren't related to you, how would you recognize them?" Tathagata said, "I recognize them because I observed them with my wisdom eye. The old demon and the second demon have masters." He called out, "Ananda, Kasyapa, come. You two, go on separate clouds to Mount Wutai and Mount Emei and invite Manjusri and Samantabhadra to come see me." The two venerables immediately departed as ordered. Tathagata said, "These are the masters of the old demon and the second demon. But as for the third demon, strictly speaking, he is also somewhat related to me." The Monkey King asked, "Related by your father's side? Or your mother's side?" Tathagata said, "From the time Chaos was divided, Heaven opened at the Hour of Zi, Earth was created at the Hour of Chou, and humans were born at the Hour of Yin. When Heaven and Earth reunited, all myriad things were born. Among them are walking beasts and flying birds. Among walking beasts, the Qilin is the chief; among flying birds, the Phoenix is the chief. That Phoenix, in turn, received the essence of union and gave birth to the Peacock and the Great Roc. When the Peacock was born, it was extremely evil and could eat humans, swallowing a person whole from forty-five li away. When I cultivated my sixteen-foot golden body on the summit of the Snowy Mountains, it had already swallowed me into its belly. I wished to exit through its 'convenience gate,' but feared defiling my true body. So, I cut open its back and stepped onto Vulture Peak. I intended to take its life, but I was dissuaded by the Buddhas, who said that harming the Peacock would be like harming my own mother. Therefore, I kept it at the Vulture Peak assembly, consecrating it as the Buddha Mother Mahamayuri Vidyarajni Bodhisattva. The Great Roc was born from the same mother as the Peacock, which is why he is somewhat related to me." The Monkey King heard this and laughed, "Tathagata, if that's the reasoning, then you are the demon's nephew!" Tathagata said, "That demon must be subdued by me personally." The Monkey King kowtowed and entreated Tathagata, "I earnestly hope you will condescend to come!"

Tathagata immediately descended from his lotus throne, and with all the Buddhas and assembly, they exited the mountain gate. They then saw Ananda and Kasyapa leading Manjusri and Samantabhadra to meet them. The two Bodhisattvas bowed to the Buddha. Tathagata said, "Bodhisattvas, how long have your beasts been down the mountain?" Manjusri said, "Seven days." Tathagata said, "Seven days in the mountains is several thousand years in the world. Who knows how many living beings they have harmed there. Quickly, follow me to retrieve them." The two Bodhisattvas accompanied him on either side, and together with the assembly, they flew into the sky. And they saw—

Auspicious clouds drifted across the sky,As my compassionate Buddha descended with his Dharma.Clearly demonstrating the principles of creation,And elaborating on the transformations of the earth.Before him, five hundred Arhats;Behind him, three thousand Guardian Deities.Kasyapa and Ananda at his sides,Samantabhadra and Manjusri dispelling the demonic aura.

The Great Sage, having this personal connection, successfully invited the Buddha and his assembly. Before long, they could already see the city. The Monkey King reported, "Tathagata, that place emitting black aura is the Lion Camel Kingdom." Tathagata said, "You go down first. Go into the city and fight the demons. You are allowed to lose, but not to win. When you are defeated and come up, I will subdue them myself." The Great Sage immediately pressed his cloud down, went straight to the city wall, stepped on the parapet, and cursed, "You wicked beasts! Come out quickly and fight Old Sun!" The minor demons on the city tower panicked, quickly jumped down into the city, and reported, "Great King, Sun Wukong is calling for battle on the city wall!" The old demon said, "This monkey hasn't come for two or three days, but now he's calling for battle. Has he perhaps invited some reinforcements?" The third demon said, "What's there to fear? Let's all go and see." The three demon chiefs, each holding their weapons, rushed onto the city wall. Without a word, they raised their weapons and lunged. The Monkey King swung his iron staff to meet them. After seven or eight rounds of fighting, the Monkey King feigned defeat and fled. The demon king roared triumphantly, "Where are you going?!" The Great Sage leaped with a somersault, springing into mid-air, and the three demons immediately mounted their clouds to pursue him. The Monkey King flashed his body, hiding within the golden aura of the Buddha, completely out of sight. There, the three Buddhas (of the past, present, and future), along with the five hundred Arhats and three thousand Guardian Deities, spread out on all sides, completely surrounding the three demon kings, leaving no escape. The old demon panicked and cried out, "Brothers, this is bad! That monkey is truly a mischievous ghost! Where did he manage to invite such a master?!" The third demon said, "Elder Brother, don't be afraid. Let's all go forward together, use our spears and blades to strike down Tathagata, and seize his Thunderclap Monastery!" This demon, not knowing proper conduct, actually raised his blade and slashed wildly. But Manjusri and Samantabhadra recited true incantations and shouted, "You wicked beast! Are you still not going to return to righteousness?! What are you waiting for?!" This frightened the old demon and the second demon so much that they dared not resist. They dropped their weapons, rolled over, and revealed their true forms. The two Bodhisattvas threw their lotus thrones onto the backs of the demons and leaped to sit astride them. The two demons immediately submitted.

As the two Bodhisattvas had subdued the Green Lion and White Elephant, only the third demon remained unsubdued. It unfurled its wings, dropped its halberd, and soared straight up, intending to seize the Monkey King with its sharp talons. But the Great Sage was hidden within the light; how could it approach him? Tathagata, knowing its intention, immediately flashed a golden light, and that prominent head, swaying in the wind, transformed into a piece of fresh red flesh. The demon swung its sharp talons to seize it, but the Buddha pointed his hand upward, and a tendon in the demon's wing became cramped. Unable to fly away, it could only remain above the Buddha's head, unable to escape far. It revealed its true form: a Great Golden-Winged Roc. It immediately opened its mouth and cried out to the Buddha, "Tathagata, how did you use such great magical power to trap me?" Tathagata said, "You have created much evil karma here. Come with me, and you will achieve meritorious progress." The demon said, "Over there, you adhere to vegetarianism and suffer extreme poverty and hardship. Here, I eat human flesh and enjoy endless pleasure! If you starve me, you will incur sin." Tathagata said, "I govern the Four Great Continents, where countless beings revere me. For anyone who performs good deeds, I will instruct them to first offer sacrifice to your mouth." The Great Roc wished to escape but could not; it wanted to leave but how could it? Having no recourse, it had no choice but to submit.

The Monkey King then emerged, kowtowed to Tathagata, and said, "Buddha, you have now subdued the demons and removed a great menace, but my master is gone!" The Roc gritted its teeth and angrily said, "You unruly monkey! You found such a ruthless person to trap me! When did your old monk get eaten? Isn't he in the iron cabinet in the Brocade Fragrance Pavilion right now?" Hearing this, the Monkey King hurriedly kowtowed and thanked the Buddha. The Buddha did not dare to release the Roc completely, but only instructed it to serve as a Dharma protector on his aura, then led the assembly back on clouds, returning directly to his precious temple. The Monkey King then descended his cloud and went straight into the city. There wasn't a single minor demon left in the city, truly like a snake without a head that cannot move, or a bird without wings that cannot fly. They had seen the Buddha subdue the demon kings and each fled for their lives. Only then did the Monkey King release Pigsy and Sandy. He found the luggage and the horse, and told the two of them, "Master wasn't eaten. Follow me, all of you." He led the two directly into the inner courtyard, found the Brocade Fragrance Pavilion, opened the door, and saw an iron cabinet inside. He could hear Tang Sanzang's weeping. Sandy used his demon-subduing staff to open the iron lock, lifted the cabinet lid, and cried out, "Master!" Tang Sanzang saw them and burst into loud tears, saying, "Disciples! How did you subdue the demons? How did you manage to find me here?" The Monkey King recounted all the previous events in detail, from beginning to end. Tang Sanzang was endlessly grateful. The master and disciples searched the palace for some rice and grains, prepared some food and tea, ate their fill, then packed up and left the city, heading west along the main road.

Indeed: True scriptures must be obtained by true individuals; noisy intentions and weary hearts are ultimately in vain. After all, from this departure, it is unknown when they will see Tathagata again. Let's listen to the next chapter for the continuation.