Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Now the Bull Demon King had caught up with the Great Sage Sun, and he saw the palm-leaf fan slung over his shoulder as he walked along with a cheerful and contented expression. The Demon King was greatly alarmed. "That blasted monkey has somehow managed to learn how the thing works. If I ask him for it outright, he certainly won't hand it over. If he fans me once, I'll be sent a hundred thousand miles away, and that would suit him perfectly. I've heard that Tripitaka is waiting on the main road. His second disciple is the Pig Spirit, and his third is the Sand Spirit. When I was a demon in the old days, I met them. I'll change myself into the Pig Spirit's form and swindle him again. I reckon the monkey is so pleased with himself that he'll be off his guard." A fine demon king he was—he too knew the seventy-two transformations, and his martial arts were equal to the Great Sage's, though his body was somewhat unwieldy. He was less nimble and not as agile. He hid his sword, recited a spell, shook his body, and at once changed into a figure with Bajie's face. He took a side path and came forward to meet the Great Sage, calling out, "Elder Brother, I'm here!"

The Great Sage was indeed delighted. As the ancients said, "A victorious cat is as proud as a tiger." Relying solely on his strength, he gave no thought to the visitor's intentions. Seeing Bajie's appearance, he called out, "Brother, where have you been?" The Bull Demon King, taking up the tale, said, "Master has been waiting for you for a long time. He was afraid the Bull Demon King's powers were too great for you to match, and that you wouldn't be able to get his treasure, so he sent me to meet you." The Pilgrim laughed and said, "No need for concern. I've already got it." The Bull King asked, "How did you manage it?" The Pilgrim said, "That old Bull fought with me for a hundred rounds or more, and neither of us could win. Then he left me and went to the bottom of Emerald Wave Pool on Chaos Stone Mountain to feast with a crowd of flood dragons and dragon spirits. I secretly followed him, changed into a crab, stole his Water-Avoiding Golden-Beast, and then took on the old Bull's appearance and went straight to Palm Leaf Cave to fool the Rakshasa woman. That woman and I became man and wife in name only, and I managed to trick her into giving me the fan." The Bull King said, "You've really gone to a lot of trouble. Elder Brother, you must be exhausted. Let me carry the fan for you." The Great Sage Sun had no idea it was a fake and didn't consider the possibility. He handed the fan over to him.

Now the Bull Demon King knew the secret of how the fan was made to shrink and grow. Taking it in his hand, he pinched some sort of spell, and at once it was as small as an apricot leaf, resuming its original form. He opened his mouth and cursed, "You blasted monkey! Do you recognize me?" When the Pilgrim saw this, he regretted it to himself. "That was my mistake." He stamped his foot with a cry of anguish. "Aiya! Year after year I've shot wild geese, and today a little goose has pecked my eyes!" Furious as thunder, he drew his iron-banded rod and struck at the Demon King's head. The Demon King then fanned him once with the fan. What he didn't know was that when the Great Sage had previously transformed himself into a midge and entered the Rakshasa woman's belly, he had held the Wind-Fixing Pill in his mouth and had inadvertently swallowed it down. As a result, his five organs were all firmly fixed, his skin and bones were all solid, and no matter how hard the Demon King fanned, he could not be moved at all. The Bull King was thrown into a panic. He popped the treasure into his mouth, raised his sword with both hands, and hacked at him. The two of them fought a splendid battle up in midair:

The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, and the world-troubling, lawless Bull King met for the sake of the palm-leaf fan, each displaying his might. The careless Great Sage had swindled others; the bold Bull King had cheated him of the fan. The one wielded his golden-banded cudgel without mercy; the other's double-edged blue-bright sword held cunning and resource. The Great Sage sent forth colored mists in his fury; the Bull King spat out rays of light in his rage. They vied in valor, both unyielding, gnashing their teeth and breathing defiance. The earth was churned and dust rose, darkening heaven and earth; sand and stones flew, making even ghosts and spirits hide. The one said, "How dare you swindle me again?" The other said, "My wife promised to be yours." Their words were coarse and their language abusive, their tempers fierce and their natures hard. The one said, "You lured away my wife and daughter—you deserve to die; if this were brought before a court, you'd be found guilty." The clever Sage Equal of Heaven and the ferocious Great Power King—each wanted only to kill, and there was no room for discussion. Cudgel struck and sword met it, both striving with all their might; the least slackness would send them to the King of Hell.

But let us leave the two of them locked in combat, unable to gain the upper hand. Let us speak instead of Tripitaka, who sat by the road. For one thing, the heat was stifling; for another, his heart was anxious and his mouth was parched. He said to the local spirit of the Fiery Flames Mountain, "May I ask, honored spirit, how great is the Bull Demon King's magic power?" The local spirit said, "The Bull King's supernatural powers are no small thing. His magic is boundless. He is a worthy opponent for the Great Sage Sun." Tripitaka said, "Wukong is someone who can travel on foot. In the ordinary course of things, two thousand li would take him no time at all. But he's been gone a whole day now. He must be locked in a contest with the Bull King." He called out, "Wuneng, Wujing—which of you will go and meet your elder brother? If you encounter an enemy, you must lend your strength to help. Get that fan, relieve my distress, and let us cross the mountain quickly and continue on our way." Bajie said, "It's late in the day now. I'd like to go and meet him, but I don't know the way to Thunder-Accumulating Mountain." The local spirit said, "This humble deity knows the way. Let the Curtain-Lifting General keep your master company. I'll go with you." Tripitaka was overjoyed. "Much obliged, honored spirit. I'll thank you properly when the deed is done."

Bajie braced himself, gathered his black brocade robe around him, seized his rake, and together with the local god rose into the clouds and sped straight back toward the east. As they traveled, he suddenly heard the din of battle and a howling gale. Bajie halted his cloud and looked down. It was Sun Xingzhe locked in combat with the Bull King. The local god said, "Marshal Tianpeng, why do you not go forward? What are you waiting for?" The fool drew his spiked rake and cried out in a fierce voice, "Elder Brother, I am here!" Xingzhe said angrily, "You clumsy oaf, how much great business you have ruined for me!" Bajie said, "Master sent me to meet you. Because I could not find the mountain path, we discussed it for a long time and had the local god guide me. That is why I arrived late. How have I ruined great business?" Xingzhe said, "I do not blame you for being late. This wretched Bull has been utterly without manners. I obtained the fan from the Rakshasa woman, but this fellow changed himself into your likeness and claimed he had come to meet me. In my moment of joy, I handed the fan straight into his hands. Then he revealed his true form and has been fighting me here. That is how the great business was ruined." When Bajie heard this, he flew into a great rage. He raised his spiked rake and cursed him to his face, "I will teach you, you blood-swollen pestilence! How dare you take the likeness of your own ancestor, deceive my elder brother, and set us brothers at odds?" Then he swung his rake without aim or restraint, raining blows on him from every direction.

The Bull King, for one thing, had been fighting Xingzhe all day and was worn out in body and spirit; for another, Bajie's spiked rake was ferocious, and he could not fend it off. He broke ranks and fled. But the local god of the Flaming Mountain led his ghostly soldiers and blocked his path, saying, "Great King, stop your hand. Tang Sanzang is on his journey to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures. No deity fails to protect him, no heaven fails to bless him. The Three Realms have been informed, and all ten directions rally to his aid. Quickly take out the palm-leaf fan and quench the flames, so that he may pass over the mountain without disaster or hindrance. If you do not, Heaven will hold you guilty of your crimes, and you will surely be put to death." The Bull King said, "You local god, you have no sense of reason at all. That wretched ape stole my son, bullied my concubine, and deceived my wife. Time and again he has shown no decency. I would like to swallow him whole and turn him into dung to feed the dogs. How could I ever lend him my precious treasure?"

Before he could finish speaking, Bajie caught up and cursed, "I will teach you, you knot-hearted abscess! Quickly hand over the fan and I will spare your life." The Bull King had no choice but to turn back and engage Bajie with his precious sword. The Great Sage raised his staff to help. And what a battle that was:

A boar turned demon, a bull turned monster, and an ape who had stolen the Way from Heaven. The nature of Chan has always been able to endure trial and combat; it must be joined with earth to achieve the primal source. The nine-pronged rake was sharp and keen; the twin-bladed sword was swift and supple. The iron staff, now coiled, now extended, served as the chief weapon; the earth god lent his strength to form the elixir head. The three clashed and contended with each other, each displaying his prowess and scheming his strategy. To catch the Bull is to plow the field and grow the gold; to call back the Boar is to return to the furnace and gather the wood-qi. When the mind wanders, how can one practice the Way? When the spirit dwells constantly in its abode, the ape must be tethered. They shouted wildly, they pleaded bitterly; the three weapons rang and clashed. The rake struck and the sword wounded with no good intent; the golden-banded staff rose for a reason. They fought until the stars lost their brightness and the moon its splendor, and a cold mist darkened the whole sky.

The Demon King fought with fierce valor, battling as they moved. They fought all night with no clear victor, and soon dawn broke. Ahead was the entrance to his Thunder-Accumulating Mountain, Cloud-Touching Cave. The three of them, together with the local god and the ghostly soldiers, raised such a deafening clamor that they startled the Princess Jade-Face, who called her maids to see where the shouting was coming from. A gate-guarding imp came to report, "It is our Grand Lord fighting with that thunder-mouthed fellow from yesterday, along with a long-eared, big-mouthed monk, and the local god of the Flaming Mountain and his troops." When Princess Jade-Face heard this, she ordered the outer guards and all the officers, great and small, to take up spears and blades and reinforce the King. They mustered over a hundred in all, long and short, each one showing off his spirit, brandishing spears and staves. They all declared, "Grand Lord, we have received the inner orders of the Old Lady and have come specially to lend our strength." The Bull King was overjoyed. "Well done, well done!" The demons surged forward all at once, slashing wildly. Bajie was caught off guard. He turned his rake around and fled in defeat. The Great Sage leaped out of the encirclement on his somersault cloud. The ghostly soldiers scattered in every direction. Old Bull, victorious, gathered his demons back into the cave and shut the gate tight. But enough of that.

Xingzhe said, "This fellow is fierce and valiant. From yesterday's shen hour he has been fighting me right up to tonight, and still no winner has been decided. Then you two came to take turns. After such a bitter struggle for half a day and a whole night, he shows not the least sign of weariness. And now this band of lesser demons is so bold and strong. He has shut his cave gate tight and will not come out. What are we to do?" Bajie said, "Elder Brother, you left Master at the si hour yesterday. How is it that you did not begin fighting him until the shen hour? Where did you spend those two or three hours?" Xingzhe said, "After parting from you, I reached this mountain in an instant. I saw a woman and made inquiries. It turned out to be his beloved concubine, Princess Jade-Face. I frightened him with my iron staff, and he ran into the cave and called out the Bull King. We exchanged heated words and shouted at each other for a while. Then we fought for about an hour. Right in the middle of the battle, someone invited him to a feast. I followed him to the bottom of the Wave-Green Pool on the Chaotic Rock Mountain. I changed myself into a crab, gathered intelligence, stole his Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast, disguised myself as the Bull King, went back to the Palm-Cloud Mountain and the Palm-Leaf Cave, deceived the Rakshasa woman, and coaxed the fan from her. When I came out and tried the method of using it, I made the fan grow large, but I could not make it small again. Just as I was carrying it away, he changed himself into your face and tricked it back from me. That is why I was delayed those two or three hours."

Bajie said, "This is exactly what the saying goes: 'A tofu boat overturned in the great sea—coming from the soup, going into the water.' Now that we've failed to get his fan, how can we protect our master across the mountain? Let's go back and take another road, damn it."

The local deity said, "Great Sage, fret not. Heavenly Pig, slack not. But speaking of taking another road would be entering a side gate—it wouldn't count for cultivation. The ancient saying goes: 'Walk not by the path.' How can you turn back? Your master sits on the main road, watching eagerly, hoping only for your success."

Sun Wukong said fiercely: "Right, right. Fool, don't babble nonsense. The local deity speaks reason. We must now:

Contest victory and defeat, employ stratagems—let me deploy my transformations of the Earthly Fiends.

Since coming to the West, I've had no match, but the Ox King is but a transformation of the Mind-Monkey.

Now we meet at the very source—we must contend to borrow the precious fan.

Seeking coolness, quenching the flames, breaking through stubborn emptiness to face the Buddha.

When deeds are fulfilled, ascend beyond the heavens of ultimate bliss, and we all attend the Dragon-Flower Assembly together."

When Bajie heard these words, he roused his effort and said earnestly:

"Yes yes yes, go go go—who cares whether the Ox King can match us or not?

Wood is born in亥 and paired with the pig—turn the ox to return to earth's kind.

Metal is born beneath the monkey—without punishment or conquest, much harmony prevails.

Using the plantain leaf fulfills water's intention—the flames are extinguished, achieving Completion.

Day and night, never part from bitter toil until the work is done, then hasten to the Ullambana Assembly."

The two of them, leading the local deity and the ghostly soldiers, advanced together—wielding the rake, swinging the iron staff—clang bang, clang bang, smashing the front gate of Cloud-Touching Cave to pieces. The outer guards trembled in terror, rushing inside to report, "Great King, Sun Wukong has led a crowd and smashed our front gate."

The Ox King was just then speaking with the Jade-Face Princess, filled with bitter resentment toward Sun Wukong. Upon hearing the front gate had been smashed, he flew into a great rage. He hastily donned his armor, seized his iron club, and came out from within, cursing: "Rascal monkey! How great a person are you, that you dare come to my gate and raise such havoc, smashing my door?"

Bajie stepped forward and cursed wildly: "Old rascal, you bald skin! What manner of creature are you, that you dare measure size? Don't run—take my rake!"

The Ox King roared, "You gluttonous dullard—what do you see in me? Quickly call that monkey up here."

Sun Wukong said, "Ungrateful wretch of a hay-eater! Yesterday I still spoke of brotherhood with you—today we are enemies. Carefully receive my staff."

The Ox King bravely charged to meet him. This battle surpassed the previous one. Three heroes tangled together—what a fight!

Rake and iron staff displayed divine might; together commanding ghostly soldiers, they battled the old sacrifice. The sacrifice alone unleashed its ferocious nature, its power filling the entire sky. With the rake they struck, with the staff they beat—the hero of the staff again showed the extraordinary. The three weapons clanged and rang—who would yield in parrying and blocking? He claimed he was foremost; I claimed I would triumph supreme. The ghostly soldiers bore witness but could not settle it—wood and earth contended, rising and falling together. The two demanded, "Why won't you lend us the Plantain Fan?" The other retorted, "How dare you deceive my heart and cheat my wife? The grudge of driving my concubine and harming my son is unavenged—now you pound at my gate and startle my home." One said, "Carefully guard against the As-You-Will Staff—brush against it and your skin splits." The other said, "Well avoid the teeth of my rake—one wound and nine holes pour blood." The Ox Demon feared not the display of might; the iron club raised high had its own cunning. He turned clouds and rain as he came and went; he breathed mist and spat wind at will. Bitter hatred filled this struggle—they all fought for their lives, each nursing malice yet delighting in the contest. They cast aside their stances, yielding and surging high and low—advancing and retreating, none suffered loss. The two brothers strove together; the lone fighter wielded his staff alone. They battled from the hour of卯 past the hour of辰, and when the fight was done, the Ox Demon surrendered and withdrew.

The three of them, abandoning all thought of death, fought for over a hundred rounds. Bajie, in his dull-witted frenzy, relying on Wukong's divine power, raised his rake and struck wildly. The Ox King could not parry and defend—defeated, he turned and fled toward the cave gate. But the local deity and ghostly soldiers blocked the cave gate and roared, "Great Power King, where do you think you're going? We are here."

The old ox could not enter his cave and hastily turned. Then he saw Bajie and Wukong pursuing him, and in his panic he stripped off his armor, threw down his iron club, transformed his body, and became a great swan, flying off into the sky.

Wukong saw it and laughed, "Bajie, the old ox has gone." The fool was completely unaware, and the local deity could not tell either—they all looked this way and that, searching wildly around Thunder-Accumulating Mountain. Wukong pointed and said, "Isn't that the one flying in the sky?"

Bajie said, "That's a swan."

Wukong said, "That's the old ox, transformed."

The local deity said, "If so, what shall we do?"

Wukong said, "You two break into this gate, exterminate all the demons thoroughly, tear down his nest, and cut off his escape route. Wait while this old Sun contests transformations with him."

Bajie and the local deity, following his words, smashed through the cave gate—but no more of that.

The Great Sage put away his golden-banded staff, pinched the spell, muttered an incantation, shook his body, and transformed himself into a gyrfalcon. With a swoop of his wings he darted into the eye of the clouds, then flew backward down and landed on the swan, seizing its neck and pecking at its eyes. The Ox King knew at once that this was Sun Wukong's transformation, and hastily shook his wings, changing into a golden eagle, which turned back to peck at the gyrfalcon. Wukong then transformed himself into a black phoenix, intent solely on chasing the golden eagle. The Ox King recognized this and changed again into a white crane, letting out a long cry as he flew southward. Wukong stood still, shook his plumage, and transformed himself into a vermilion phoenix, letting out a high-pitched cry. When the white crane saw that the phoenix was king of all birds, the other birds dared not move rashly; with a sweep of his wings he plunged down the mountain cliff, shook his body, and transformed himself into a musk deer, skittishly grazing on the grass before the cliff. Wukong recognized him and descended on his wings, transforming into a hungry tiger, swishing his tail and lifting his hooves, coming to chase the deer for food. The Demon King was thrown into a panic and transformed himself into a great leopard with golden coin-like spots, intending to maul the hungry tiger. Wukong met him, faced the wind, shook his head once, and transformed into a golden-eyed lion with a voice like thunder, an iron forehead and a copper head, then turned to devour the great leopard. The Ox King, pressed hard, transformed himself into a man-bear, spread his feet, and came to seize the lion. Wukong rolled over and transformed into a lazy elephant, with a trunk like a long snake and tusks like bamboo shoots, uncoiling his trunk to curl around the man-bear.

The Ox King chuckled, then revealed his true form: a great white ox. His head was like a steep mountain ridge, his eyes like flashing light, his two horns like two iron pagodas, his teeth arrayed like sharp blades. From head to tail he was over a thousand feet long; from hoof to back he was eight hundred feet tall. He shouted loudly to Wukong: "You wretched macaque! What can you do to me now?" Wukong also revealed his true form, drew out his golden-banded staff, straightened his back, and cried: "Grow!" He grew to a height of ten thousand feet, his head like Mount Tai, his eyes like the sun and moon, his mouth like a pool of blood, his teeth like door panels, and he wielded an iron staff, striking at the Ox King's head. The Ox King hardened his head and charged with his horns. This battle truly shook the mountains and moved the earth, startling all of heaven. A poem testifies to this:

The Way rises one foot, the demon a thousand fathoms high;

The clever mind-monkey strives with all his might to subdue.

If the flaming mountain is to have no more blaze,

The treasure fan must bring its cooling breeze.

The Yellow Dame is steadfast in aiding the elder lord;

The Wood Mother shows mercy in sweeping away the demons.

When the five elements are harmonized, the true fruit is attained;

Refining away the filth of demons, they journey to the West.

The two of them displayed their great magic powers, battling halfway up the mountain, startling all the divine hosts who passed through the void, as well as the Golden-Headed Ksitigarbha, the Six Jia and Six Ding spirits, and the eighteen Dharmapala guardian bodhisattvas, who all came to surround the Demon King. The Demon King showed no fear at all. See him—now charging east, now charging west, his two iron horns straight and gleaming, thrusting back and forth; now crashing south, now crashing north, his coarse, sinewy, hard tail whipping left and right. the Great Sage of Sun faced him head-on while the many gods struck from all four sides. The Ox King, in a panic, rolled on the ground, resumed his original form, and fled toward the Plantain Cave. Wukong also withdrew his transformed body and, together with the many gods, gave chase. The Demon King charged into the cave and shut the door, refusing to come out. The host of gods surrounded Mount Cuiyun so tightly that not a drop of water could have gotten through.

They were just attacking the front door when they heard Zhu Bajie, the Earth god, and the yin soldiers arriving with a great commotion. Wukong saw them and asked: "How did matters go at the Cave of the Cloud-Rubbing?" Bajie laughed and said: "That old ox's wife—I struck her dead with my rake. When I tore open her clothes, she turned out to be a jade-faced fox spirit. The rest of the demons were all donkeys, mules, calves, bulls, badgers, foxes, raccoon dogs, musk deer, goats, tigers, elk, deer, and the like—all of them have been wiped out. We also set fire to the cave's rooms and corridors. The Earth god said he had another family dwelling on this mountain, so we came here to finish the job." Wukong said: "Brother, you have done a fine deed—well done, well done. I was empty-handed in my transformation contest with that old ox and never got the better of him. He turned into a white ox of immeasurable size, and I transformed into a body as vast as heaven and earth. Just as we were butting heads, fortunately the gods descended and besieged him for a long time. Then he returned to his original form and fled into the cave." Bajie said: "Is that the Plantain Cave?" Wukong said: "Yes, yes. The Rakshasi is right here." Bajie said fiercely: "If that's the case, why don't we charge in, wipe out that fellow, and demand the fan from him? Why let him linger and grow wiser, the two of them making love together?"

That fine fool, rousing his might, raised his rake and struck the door with a crash. With a sharp crack, the stone cliff and the gate were smashed to one side. The young maidservant was thrown into a panic and hurried to report: "Grandfather, I don't know who has smashed the front gate to pieces!" The Ox King had just rushed inside, panting, and was telling the Rakshasi about his contest with Sun Wukong over the fan. When he heard the report, his rage welled up. He spat out the fan from his mouth and handed it to the Rakshasi. The Rakshasi took the fan in her hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and said: "My lord, give this fan to that macaque and make him withdraw his troops." The Ox King said: "My dear, though the object is small, the hatred runs deep. Sit here and wait. I will go and contend with him once more." The demon put on his armor again, chose two precious swords, and walked out the gate. He ran straight into Bajie, who was striking the gate with his rake. The old ox wasted no words—he drew his sword and hacked at Bajie's head. Bajie raised his rake to meet him, then backed several steps and came out the gate, where the Great Sage was already swinging his staff at the Ox Demon's head. The Ox King then mounted a wild wind, leaped away from the cave, and the two of them faced each other again on Mount Cuiyun. The many gods surrounded them on all four sides, and the Earth god's soldiers attacked from left and right. This battle was another fierce one:

The clouds bewildered the world; the fog enshrouded the universe. A chilling wind blew, whirling sand and stones; surging fury churned the sea to turbidity. The swords were whetted once more, and armor donned afresh. The enmity ran deep as the ocean, and resentment only bred greater rage. Look at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven—because of his merit, he no longer acknowledged his old companion from years past. Bajie exerted his might to seek the fan, while the gods guarded the law and captured the Ox Lord. The Ox King's hands never rested, parrying left and right, showing off his spirit. So fierce was the battle that birds flying overhead could not pass—they folded their wings; fish swimming by could not leap—they hid their scales. Ghosts wept and gods wailed, the heavens and earth darkened; dragons grieved and tigers feared, the sunlight grew dim.

The Ox King fought with his life at stake. After more than fifty rounds of combat, he could no longer hold his own, broke formation, and fled northward. But the神通广大泼法金刚 (Dafang Pofa Vajra) of the Secret Demon Crag on Mount Wutai, of vast supernatural power, blocked his way and roared: "Ox Demon, where do you think you're going? I was dispatched by the Buddha Shakyamuni to spread heaven's net and earth's snare—I have come here to seize you!" Even as he spoke, the Great Sage, Bajie, and the host of gods arrived in pursuit. The demon king turned in alarm and fled southward, only to encounter the法力无量胜至金刚 (Shengzhi Vajra) of the Cool and Clear Cave on Mount Emei, of boundless dharma power, blocking his path. He shouted: "I received the Buddha's edict—I have been waiting here to capture you!" The Ox King's heart trembled and his feet went weak. He hastily turned and fled eastward, but met the毘卢沙门大力金刚 (Pilu Shamen Dali Vajra) of the Ear Cliff on Mount Sumeru, who intercepted him and roared: "Old Ox, where are you off to? I received the Tathagata's secret order and was sent to capture you!" The Ox King recoiled in terror and fled westward, only to be confronted by the不坏尊王永住金刚 (Wuxiu Zunwang Yongzhu Vajra) of the Golden Mist Ridge on Mount Kunlun, who blocked him and roared: "Where else will you flee? I carry the personal words of the Buddha of the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Heaven—I am stationed here. Who will let you pass?"

The old Ox's heart quaked with fear and his courage crumbled—he regretted it all too late. He saw that on all sides, in every direction, were Buddha's soldiers and heavenly generals, truly like a net cast high from heaven, leaving him no way to escape. In the midst of his panic, he heard that the Pilgrim had led his forces in pursuit. He mounted a cloud and fled straight upward. But there were the Heavenly King Li with Prince Nezha, leading the Yaksha Yudhu and the giant warrior generals, who spread across the sky and shouted: "Not so fast, not so fast! We received the Jade Emperor's decree and have been sent here to destroy you!" The Ox King, in desperation, transformed as before, turning back into a great white ox. He charged the Heavenly King with his two iron horns. The King attacked with his blade. Soon Sun Xingzhe arrived as well. Prince Nezha called out in a loud voice: "Great Sage, I am clad in armor and cannot pay my respects. Yesterday, my father and I saw the Buddha Tathagata, who sent a dispatch to the Jade Emperor reporting that Tang Sanzang's path was blocked by the Flaming Mountains and that the Great Sage Sun had difficulty subduing the Ox Demon King. The Jade Emperor issued an edict specially ordering my father to lead his forces to assist." The Pilgrim said: "This fellow's powers are no small matter—and now he has transformed into such a massive body. What can be done?" The Prince laughed and said: "Great Sage, have no doubts—watch me capture him!"

The Prince shouted: "Transform!" and became three-headed and six-armed. He leaped through the air onto the Ox King's back, wielded his Demon-Slaying Sword, and swung it at the neck. Before anyone knew it, the ox's head was severed. The Heavenly King sheathed his blade and only then came forward to greet the Pilgrim. But from the Ox King's neck cavity, another head sprouted forth, breathing black mist and shooting golden light from its eyes. Nezha struck again with his sword—where the head fell, another head emerged. He struck more than ten times in succession, and more than ten heads grew in turn. Nezha then took his Fire-Wheel and hung it on the old ox's horns, then blew true fire. The flames raged fiercely, and the Ox King, burning, roared wildly, shaking his head and lashing his tail. He was about to transform and escape when the Heavenly King Li held up the Demon-Reflecting Mirror, fixing his true form in place. The Ox King could not move and had no means of escape. He cried out: "Spare my life! I am willing to submit to the Buddha's house!" Nezha said: "Since you value your life, quickly produce the fan!" The Ox King said: "The fan is kept by my wife."

Nezha, upon hearing this, untied the Demon-Binding Rope, looped it around the Ox King's neck, seized his nose, threaded the rope through his nostrils, and led him by hand. Sun Xingzhe gathered the Four Great Vajras, the Six Ding and Six Jia guardians, the Dharmapala guardian deities, the Heavenly King Li, the giant warrior generals, Bajie, the local earth spirit, and the ghost soldiers. Surrounding the white ox, they returned to the entrance of the Plantain Cave. The old ox cried out: "My wife! Bring out the fan and save my life!" Lady Iron Fan, hearing the call, hastily removed her hairpins and ornaments, took off her colored robes, bound her dark hair like a Daoist nun, dressed in plain white cloth like a Buddhist nun, and with both hands presented the twelve-foot-long Plantain Fan as she walked out the door. Seeing the Vajra saints, the Heavenly King, and his son, she quickly knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and said: "I beg the bodhisavas to spare the lives of my husband and me. I am willing to give this fan to Uncle Sun so he may succeed in his quest." The Pilgrim stepped forward to receive the fan, and together with the great host they mounted auspicious clouds and made their way back east.

Meanwhile, Sanzang and Shaseng stood a while and sat a while, watching for the Pilgrim's return. He had been gone a long time, and their anxiety was great. Suddenly the sky was filled with auspicious clouds and the earth bathed in radiant light. Drifting and floating, the host of gods drew near. The elder monk was alarmed and said: "Wujing, whose divine soldiers are those approaching?" Shaseng recognized them and said: "Master, those are the Four Great Vajras, the Golden-Headed Jiedi, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Dharmapala guardian deities, and the passing gods. The one leading the ox is Prince Nezha; the one holding the mirror is Heavenly King Li. Senior Brother is holding the Plantian Fan, and Second Brother and the local earth spirit follow behind. The rest are all guardian divine soldiers." Upon hearing this, Sanzang put on his Pilu hat and donned his kasaya robe. Together with Wujing, he came forward to greet the holy host and said: "What virtue or ability does this disciple of mine possess, that he should trouble all the honored sages to descend from the heavens?" The Four Great Vajras said: "The holy monk may rejoice—your meritorious work is nearly complete. We were sent by the Buddha's edict to assist you. You must exert yourself in cultivation and must not slacken for even a moment." Sanzang bit his teeth, kowtowed, and humbly accepted the charge.

The Great Sage, holding the fan, approached the mountain's edge and, summoning all his strength, swept the fan once. The Flame Mountain's fires subsided completely, its light extinguished entirely. Sun Wukong, overjoyed, fanned a second time, and at once a gentle breeze stirred, cool and refreshing. At the third fan, clouds spread across the whole sky and fine rain fell in a steady drizzle. A poem bears witness to this. The poem says:

The Flame Mountain stretches eight hundred li away,

Its fiery light makes the earth renowned.

The fire refines the five leaks—the elixir hard to mature,

The fire scorbs the three barriers—the Way hard to clarify.

In time, the palm-leaf fan brings down rain and dew,

By fortune, heavenly generals lend their divine might.

The Ox-herding Buddha returns, wildness set to rest,

Water and fire in harmony—nature finds its peace.

At this, the Tang Monk's dryness and vexation were dispelled; his heart was purified and his mind at ease. The four pilgrims paid homage, thanked the Diamond Guardians, and each returned to their respective treasure mountain. The Six Ding and Six Jia deities ascended into the sky to offer protection. The passing local spirits dispersed in all directions. The Heavenly King and the Crown Prince led the ox straight back to the Buddha's domain to make their report. Only the local spirit of this mountain remained, escorting the Rakshasi, who stood waiting at the side.

Wukong said, "You Rakshasi—why aren't you on your way? What are you still standing here waiting for?"

The Rakshasi knelt and said, "I earnestly beg the Great Sage to show mercy and return the fan to me."

Zhu Bajie shouted, "You wretched woman, you have no sense of your own worth. We've spared your life—isn't that enough? And you still want to beg for the fan? We'll take it across the mountain and sell it for money to buy snacks. We've expended all this effort and energy—why would we give it to you? It's drizzling, too. Go home."

The Rakshasi bowed again and said, "The Great Sage originally promised that once the fire was fanned out, he would return the fan to me. Now, after all this, I truly regret my actions, but it is too late. It was because I was not magnanimous that it came to this, causing the master and his disciples to labor and mobilize an army. We, too, have cultivated to attain the human way, but we have not yet returned to the true fruit. Now that my true form has manifested and turned toward the West, I dare not act recklessly again. I beg you to grant me my original fan, so that I may start anew, cultivate my nature, and nurture my life."

The local spirit said, "Great Sage, since this woman thoroughly knows the method of extinguishing the fire and can sever its root, return her the fan. This humble deity dwells here in precarious peace, seeking to save the people of this region and receive a little blood and food offering—this would truly be an act of kindness."

Wukong said, "When I asked the villagers at the time, they said: if this mountain is fanned to extinguish the fire, the grain harvest will last only one year before the fire breaks out again. How can the root be severed permanently?"

The Rakshasi said, "If you want to sever the root of the fire permanently, you need only fan it forty-nine times in succession, and it will never break out again."

Hearing this, Wukong took the fan, exerted every ounce of his strength, and fanned the mountain forty-nine times in a row. A great rain poured down upon the mountain. Truly it was a treasure: where there had been fire, rain fell; where there had been no fire, the sky was clear. The master and his disciples stood in a place where there had been no fire, and they were not drenched by the rain.

They sat through the night, and only the next morning did they pack the horse and luggage and return the fan to the Rakshasi. Wukong also said, "If Old Sun did not give it to you, people would say I am a man without trust. Take your fan back to the mountain and cause no more trouble. Seeing that you have attained a human body, I will spare you and let you go."

The Rakshasi received the fan, recited an incantation, pinched it into the shape of an apricot leaf, and tucked it into her mouth. She bowed in thanks to all the sages, concealed her name, and devoted herself to cultivation. In the end, she, too, attained the true fruit, and her name flows eternally through the scriptures. The Rakshasi and the local spirit, both filled with gratitude, saw them off from behind. Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing escorted the Tang Monk forward, and indeed their bodies were cool and refreshed, their feet moist and supple. Truly it is said:

When Water and Fire are truly fulfilled, the primal essence unites;

When water and fire are held in balance, the Great Way is achieved.

How many more years would it take before they returned to the Eastern Land? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.