Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Sun the Great Sage, together with his two brothers, rode the wind and soared on clouds toward the northeast, to the Gen region, arriving in an instant at the entrance of the Xuan Ying Cave on Qinglong Mountain. They descended from the clouds, and Zhu Bajie was about to smash down the gate. Sun Wukong said, "Hold on. Let me go in first and see whether our master is alive or dead. Then we can deal with them." Sha Wujing said, "The gate is shut tight. How can we get in?" Wukong said, "I have my own powers."

The great sage put away his staff, formed a hand seal, and silently recited an incantation. "Transform!" he cried. At once he transformed into a firefly—and a nimble one indeed. Behold:

Spreading wings, a streaming starlight glow,

The ancients said rot-grass becomes a firefly.

Such divine transformations must not be scorned,

For by nature it loves to hover and roam.

It flew near the stone gate to observe,

Found a crack where wind slipped through the side.

With one dart it darted into the dark courtyard,

To spy upon the demons' movements.

The firefly flew inside and saw several oxen lying propped up or toppled over, each snoring like thunder—all fast asleep. In the central hall there was no sign of anything. Doors and passages were open on all sides, but he had no idea where the three demons were sleeping. He passed through the hall and looked further back, when he heard the sound of weeping. It was Tang Seng, locked to a pillar in the back room, crying. The Great Sage listened quietly to what he was saying:

"Ten long years since I left Chang'an behind,

Crossing mountains and fording streams, suffering and confined.

By fortune I reached the Western lands at a festival time,

And came to Jinping for the Shangyuan, in its prime.

But I failed to see the false Buddha in the lamp's light,

For calamity was written in my fate's design.

My worthy disciple chases them with might and skill—

May the hero's great power now fulfill his will!"

Hearing these words, the Great Sage was overjoyed. He spread his wings and flew near his master. Tang Seng wiped his tears and said, "Ah! The Western lands are different indeed. It is the first month of spring—the hibernating insects are just stirring. How is it there are already fireflies?" Unable to restrain himself, Wukong called out, "Master, I have come!" Tang Seng said joyfully, "Wukong, I was wondering why there was firefly light in the first month of spring—so it was you!" Wukong then resumed his true form and said, "Master, because you could not tell true from false, you have traveled how many extra miles and wasted how much effort. I and the others told you they were not good people, but you bowed to them nonetheless. That demon took advantage of the dimmed lamplight to steal the fragrant curd-and-oil and carried you off as well. I told Bajie and Sha Wujing to go back and guard the temple, then I followed the wind and tracked you here. I did not know the name of this place, but fortunately the Four Duty Spirits came and told me this mountain is called Qinglong Mountain, and this is the Xuan Ying Cave. I fought the demon all day until nightfall, then returned and told my brothers the whole story. We didn't sleep—the three of us came here together. I feared it would be difficult to fight at night, and I didn't know where you were, so I transformed to come in and find out." Tang Seng said happily, "Are Bajie and Sha Wujing outside?" Wukong said, "They're outside. When I looked just now, the demons were all asleep. Let me unlock you, pry open the gate, and bring you out." Tang Seng nodded gratefully.

The Great Sage used his lock-opening technique and gave a flick of his hand. The lock opened at once. He led his master forward, but suddenly they heard the demon king call from the inner room of the central hall, "Little ones, shut the gates tight and watch out for fire. Why isn't anyone beating the night watch or sounding the clappers and bells?" The lesser demons had fought all day and were exhausted in sleep. Only now did they wake at the call. At the sound of the clappers, a few carrying weapons and beating gongs came from the back—and ran straight into the master and disciple. All the lesser demons shouted at once, "Good monks! You've picked the lock—where do you think you're going?" Wukong wasted no words. He pulled out his staff, gave it a shake—it was as thick as a bowl—and struck. With each blow he killed two. The rest dropped their weapons and ran toward the central hall, pounding on the door and crying, "Great King! It's terrible, terrible! The hairy-faced monk is killing people inside the house!" The three demons heard this and scrambled to their feet. "Seize them! Seize them!" they shouted. Tang Seng was so frightened his hands and feet went weak. Wukong paid no further attention to his master and rolled forward, staff in hand. The lesser demons could not withstand him. He felled three or two, knocked over another three or two, broke through several layers of doors, and came out, shouting, "Where are you, brothers?" Bajie and Sha Wujing were waiting outside with their rake and staff raised. "Brother, what happened?" they asked. Wukong told them how he had transformed, gone in, and freed their master, but as they were leaving the demons woke up, and he had no choice but to fight his way out without being able to look after his master. He finished his account and that was that.

The demon king seized Tang Seng again and chained him with iron locks as before. Grasping swords and swinging axes, with lamps and torches blazing, he demanded, "How did you pick that lock? How did that monkey get in? Confess quickly and I'll spare your life. Otherwise I'll cut you in two!" Tang Seng trembled and knelt, saying, "Great King, my disciple Sun Wukong knows seventy-two transformations. He turned into a firefly and flew in to rescue me. I didn't expect Your Majesty to wake up, and the young lords ran into him. My disciple, not knowing better, killed two of them. The rest raised the alarm and grabbed their weapons and torches, and so he had no choice but to leave me and fight his way out." The three demon kings laughed loudly. "Good thing we woke up in time—he didn't get away." They ordered the lesser demons to shut the front and back gates tightly and to make no noise.

Sha Seng said, "They've closed the gates and made no noise—they must be secretly doing something to our master. Let's act." The Pilgrim said, "You're right. Let's break down the gate at once." The idiot showed off his magic powers, raised his rake, and brought it down with all his strength, smashing the stone gate to pieces. Then he shouted at the top of his lungs, "You oil-stealing fiends! Send our master out at once!" This so terrified the lesser demons inside that they rolled in to report, "Great King, it's terrible, terrible! The monks have smashed the front gate." The three demon kings were furious. "These monks have no manners at all," they said. They ordered their armor brought out, armed themselves, and led their lesser demons out to meet the enemy. It was about the third watch of the night, and the moon shone as bright as noon in the sky. When they came out, without a word they began fighting. The Pilgrim faced the battle-axe, the Eight Rules faced the broadsword, and Sha Seng met the huge club. What a splendid fight!

Three monks with staff, club, and rake; three demons with courage redoubled. Battle-axe, steel sword, and rattan cudgel—only the sound of wind and flying dust could be seen. After the first few exchanges, gloomy clouds billowed; then they soared and scattered colored sparks. The spiked rake whirled with practiced ease; the iron club was even more to be admired. The monster-subduing staff was rarely seen in the human world; the demons' stubborn hearts would not yield. The battle-axel gleamed with sharp points; the rattan cudgel was rough and knotty all over. The broadsword shone bright as a door; the monks' magic powers surpassed them. On this side they fought fiercely for their master's life; on that side they would not let go of Tang Monk, striking at his faces. The axe chopped and the club met, contending for victory; the rake swung and the sword hacked, crossing and clashing. The rattan cudgel struck the monster-subduing staff; back and forth they showed off their might.

The three monks and the three monsters fought for a long time, with neither side winning. Suddenly the Great King of Heat-Quelling shouted, "Little ones, come up!" All the spirits armed themselves and charged together. They quickly tripped the Eight Rules to the ground. Several water buffalo spirits grabbed him and dragged him into the cave, where they tied him up. When Sha Seng saw the Eight Rules gone, he saw the herd of buffaloes charging with a roar. He immediately drew his treasure staff, made a feint at the Great King of Dust-Quelling as if to flee. But the spirits swarmed over him, pulled him down, and he could barely struggle to his feet before he too was seized and tied up. The Pilgrim realized the situation was hopeless, leaped on his somersault cloud, and escaped. The demons dragged the Eight Rules and Sha Seng to where Tang Monk was. When Tang Monk saw them, tears filled his eyes. "It's pitiful—you two have also fallen into their cruel hands. Where is Wukong?" Sha Seng said, "When our brother saw us captured, he left." Tang Monk said, "Since he has gone, he must have gone somewhere to seek help. But I don't know when we shall escape this trap." The master and disciples were overcome with grief.

Meanwhile, the Pilgrim rode his somerscript cloud back to Compassion Cloud Temple. The monks there came out to greet him and ask, "Was the old Master Tang rescued?" The Pilgrim said, "Hard to rescue, hard to rescue. Those fiends have vast magic powers. My two brothers and I fought the three of them for a long time, but he called his lesser demons and they captured the Eight Rules first, then Sha Seng. I barely escaped." The monks were terrified. "If even you, sir, who can ride the clouds and mist, could not capture them, then our master must have been done in." The Pilgrim said, "No need to worry. My master has the guardian spirits, the揭示, and the Dingjia deities secretly protecting him. Besides, he once ate the Grass-Restoring Pill, so his life should not be in danger. But those fiends are capable. You must look after the horse and the luggage while I go up to Heaven to seek reinforcements." The monks asked timidly, "You can go up to Heaven?" The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Heaven is my old home. When I was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, I disrupted the Peach Banquet and was subdued by the Buddha. Now I have no choice—I'm protecting Tang Monk on his journey to fetch the scriptures, using merit to atone for my crimes, supporting the upright and eliminating evil along the way. My master was destined to face this calamity—you wouldn't know about that." Hearing this, the monks kowtowed and bowed again. The Pilgrim went out the door, gave a whistle, and vanished at once.

Great Sage arrived early at the West Heaven Gate. He happened to see the Star of Venus speaking with the Guardian of Increase and four spirit officers—Yin, Zhu, Tao, and Xu. When they saw the Pilgrim approaching, they hurriedly bowed and said, "Where are you bound, Great Sage?" The Pilgrim replied, "I was escorting Tang Priest to Jintian County in Min Prefecture on the eastern border of the Kingdom of India. My master was invited by the monks of Ciyun Monastery to enjoy the Lantern Festival. When we reached the Golden Lantern Bridge, there were three golden lamps lit with clarified butter and fragrant oil, worth over fifty thousand taels of silver, used every year to welcome the descending presence of the Buddhas. While we were watching, three Buddhas truly descended. My master, unable to distinguish good from evil, went up onto the bridge and bowed to them. I told him they were no good, but before I could stop him, they had dimmed the lamplight and, along with the oil, swept my master away in a gust of wind. I chased after them on the wind until dawn, when I reached a mountain. Fortunately, the Four Duty Gods informed me that the mountain was called Qinglong Mountain, and on it was the Xuan Ying Cave. In the cave lived three demons—the Great King Who Dispels Cold, the Great King Who Dispels Heat, and the Great King Who Dispels Dust. I rushed to the gate to challenge them and fought a bout with them, but could not prevail. I transformed and slipped inside, where I found my master locked up but unharmed. I was about to free him and leave when they discovered me, so I fled. Later I fought bitterly alongside Bajie and Sha Wujing, but they captured the two of them and bound them as well. That is why I have come specially to inform the Jade Emperor, to investigate their origins and request troops to subdue them." The Star of Venus said with a cold laugh, "Great Sage, since you have already fought with these demons, could you not tell where they came from?" The Pilgrim said, "I could, I could. They are a herd of ox spirits. It is just that they possess great magical powers and cannot be quickly subdued." The Star of Venus said, "Those are three rhinoceros spirits. Because they correspond to celestial patterns, they have cultivated themselves for many years and attained the Way, and they too can ride the clouds and walk on the mist. These demons are extremely fond of cleanliness and are always dissatisfied with their own shadows; they frequently wish to go into the water to bathe. They have many varieties: the female rhinoceros, the male rhinoceros, the bull rhinoceros, the spotted rhinoceros, the humped rhinoceros, the drooping rhinoceros, and the sky-patterned rhinoceros. All have one nostril, three bristles, and two horns; they travel through rivers and seas and can open waterways. It is because the horns of these three—Dispels Cold, Dispels Heat, and Dispels Dust—possess an air of nobility that they bear these titles and call themselves Great Kings. To capture them, you need only have the Four Wooden Beasts appear before them, and they will submit." The Pilgrim quickly pressed his palms together and asked, "Which Four Wooded Beasts are these? I beseech you, Old Geng Geng, to make it clear to me one by one." The Star of Venus smiled and said, "These stars are arrayed outside the Palace of the Dipper, spread throughout the universe. Go and report to the Jade Emperor, and it will be made plain to you." The Pilgrim cupped his hands in thanks and went straight through the Heavenly Gate.

Before long he reached the Audience Hall of Universal Light, where he first met the Four Heavenly Masters—Ge, Qiu, Zhang, and Xu. The Heavenly Masters asked, "Where are you going?" The Pilgrim said, "Recently I reached the region of Jinping Prefecture. Because my master relaxed his spiritual discipline and went to view the lanterns on the night of the festival, he was seized by demons. I, Old Sun, was unable to subdue them, so I have come specially to report to the Jade Emperor and beg for help." The Four Heavenly Masters then led the Pilgrim to the Hall of the Sacred Cloud to present his report. After they had all performed their rites and stated their business, the Jade Emperor issued an edict: "Which heavenly troops shall be dispatched to assist?" The Pilgrim reported, "When I reached the West Heaven Gate, I met the Star of Geng, who said these demons are rhinoceros spirits who have attained the Way, and only the Four Wooden Beasts can subdue them." The Jade Emperor then ordered Heavenly Master Xu to accompany the Pilgrim to the Palace of the Dipper to summon the Four Wooden Beasts to descend and capture the demons.

When they arrived outside the palace, the twenty-eight constellation stars had already come to meet them. The Heavenly Master said, "By imperial decree, I am to summon the Four Wooden Beasts to descend with Great Sage Sun and subduce the demons." At once, Jiao Mu Xie, Dou Mu Xie, Kui Mu Lang, and Jing Mu An stepped forward and called out, "Great Sage Sun, where are we to subdue the demons?" The Pilgrim smiled and said, "So it is you! That old Star of Geng kept it from me—I didn't understand his meaning. If he had told me earlier that they were the Four Wood Beasts among the Twenty-Eight Constellations, I would have come directly to invite you. Why bother with an imperial decree?" The Four Wood Beasts said, "Great Sage, what are you saying? Without an imperial decree, who would dare leave his post? But where exactly is it? Let us go quickly." The Pilgrim said, "At Qinglong Mountain, in the northeast Gen region of Jinping Prefecture, in the Xuan Ying Cave—rhinoceros spirits who have attained the Way." Dou Mu Xie, Kui Mu Lang, and Jiao Mu Xie said, "If they are truly rhinoceros spirits, we are not needed. Jing Mu alone can go—he can go up the mountain to devour tigers and go down into the sea to capture rhinoceroses." The Pilgrim said, "These rhinoceroses are not the ordinary moon-gazing rhinoceros. They have cultivated themselves and attained the Way, each with a thousand years of life. You four must all go together—do not shirk. If one of you alone cannot capture them in one attempt, won't that just mean more trouble?" The Heavenly Master said, "What kind of talk is this? The edict orders the four of you—how can you refuse to go? Set off at once. I shall return with your report." The Heavenly Master then took leave of the Pilgrim and departed.

The Four Wood Stars said, "Great Sage, do not hesitate. You go first and provoke battle, luring them out. We will act afterwards." The Pilgrim then approached and cursed, "Oil-thieving monsters! Return my master to me." Now the gate had been smashed by Eight Forgets, and several little demons had propped up a few boards to block it. Hearing the cursing from inside, they hurried in to report, "Great King, the Monk Sun is cursing outside!" Pixu'er said, "He was defeated and left—why has he come back again today? He must have gone somewhere to find some rescue troops." Pihan and Pishu said, "Why fear any rescue troops? Fetch our armor quickly. All you little ones must surround him with care and not let him escape." That band of goblins, knowing nothing of life and death, each grasped spears and swords, waving banners and beating drums, and marched out of the cave. They shouted at the Pilgrim, "You impudent monkey who fears no beating—you've come again!" The Pilgrim was most infuriated by the word "monkey." Gnashing his teeth in fury, he raised his iron rod and struck. The three demon kings marshaled their little devils, formed a circular battle array, and surrounded the Pilgrim in the center. Over on that side, the four Beastly Stars of the Wood element each brandished their weapons and cried, "Wicked beasts! Do not fight!" When the three demon kings saw these four stars, they were naturally frightened and all cried, "It's bad, it's bad! He's found the hands that subdue us! Little ones, each save your own life and flee!" There came sounds of roaring, panting, and gasping—all the little devils revealed their true forms. They were mountain ox spirits, water ox spirits, and yellow ox spirits, scattering across the mountain in wild flight. The three demon kings also revealed their true forms. They dropped their weapons and stood on four hooves, like iron cannons, and fled straight toward the northeast. The Great Sage led Jingmuxi and Jiaomujiao in a hot pursuit, giving them no reshoum. Only Doumuxie and Kuilang were in the eastern hills, on mountaintops, in mountain streams, and in valleys, beating some ox spirits to death and capturing others alive, clearing them all out. Then they went to Xuanying Cave and freed Tripitaka, Eight Forgets, and Friar Sand.

Friar Sand recognized the two stars and bowed in thanks along with the others. He asked, "How did you two come here to rescue us?" The two stars said, "We were dispatched by the Jade Emperor at the request of the Great Sage Sun to subdue the monsters and rescue you." Tripitaka wept again and said, "Why don't I see my disciple Wukong coming in?" The two stars said, "Those three old monsters are three rhinoceroses. When they saw us, each tried to save his own life and fled toward the northeast, the direction of Gen. The Great Sage Sun is leading Jingmuxi and Jiaomujiao in pursuit. We two stars swept away the herd of oxen and came here specifically to liberate the holy monk." Tripitaka bowed his head again in thanks and bowed toward the heavens. Eight Forgets helped him up and said, "Master, excessive courtesy breeds suspicion—you need not keep on bowing. Star Officials, you acted on the Jade Emperor's sacred decree and on your friend's request. Now that you have swept away the devils, we still don't know how the old monsters will be subdued. Let us gather the valuables from inside, overturn this cave to destroy its roots, and return to the temple to wait for our brother." Kuilang said, "Marshal Tianpeng speaks rightly. You and Curtain-Lifting General protect your master and return to the temple to rest. We two will go to the direction of Gen to join the battle." Eight Forgets said, "Exactly, exactly. You two go and cooperate in the capture. You must exterminate them completely before it is fit to report back to the throne." The two star officials immediately gave chase.

Eight Forgets and Friar Sand searched the cave for its precious treasures—there were many corals, agates, pearls, amber, precious jade, fine gold, and other treasures—and piled them into a mound outside. They invited the master to sit on the mountain cliff. Then Eight Forgets went back inside and set fire, burning the entire cave to ashes. Only then did he lead Tripitaka back along the road to Ciyun Temple in Jinping. Indeed, it is said:

The sutra says, "When peace reaches its extreme, adversity returns"—

In the midst of good fortune, misfortune truly lurks.

Loving to admire lanterns confuses the meditative nature,

Delighting in beautiful scenery dissolves the Daoist heart.

The great elixir since ancient times should be guarded long,

But once lost, the original is forever lost.

Keep it tightly shut and securely bound, do not be lax or negligent,

For in a moment of slackness, disorder will appear.

Let us not speak of the three of them returning to the temple with their lives. Let us tell instead how the two star officials Doumuxie and Kuilang rode their clouds straight toward the northeast, the direction of Gen, to chase the demons. The two of them searched from mid-air but could not see anything. They reached the Western Ocean and, looking far off, saw the Great Sage Sun shouting on the sea. They pressed down their cloud heads and said, "Great Sage, where have the monsters gone?" The Pilgrim said angrily, "Why didn't you two come to help subdue them? Now you come blundering along—what are you asking about?" Doumuxie said, "We saw the Great Sage and the two stars Jing and Jiao defeat the monsters in pursuit and reckoned they would be captured. We two swept away the herd of devils instead, entered Xuying Cave, and rescued your master and your junior brothers. We searched the mountain, burned the cave, and entrusted your master to your second brother to lead back to the prefectural city Ciyun Temple. We had not seen you return for a long time, so we came looking for you." Hearing this, the Pilgrim was pleased and thanked them, saying, "Then indeed you have rendered great merit. Much toil, much toil. But those three monsters I chased to this place, and they dove into the sea. Jingmuxi and Jiaomujiao are pursuing them closely, and they told Old Sun to hold the shore. Now that you two are here, guard the shore while Old Sun goes in again."

Splendid! The Great Sage raised his iron rod, formed his mudra, and parted the water's path, going straight into the depths of the waves. He saw the three monsters below the water fighting desperately, life for life, with Jingmuxi and Jiaomujiao. He leaped forward and shouted, "Old Sun is here!" The monsters, hard-pressed by the two star officials, were caught off guard and in a desperate position. Suddenly hearing the Pilgrim's shout, they thought only of saving their lives and turned their heads to flee toward the heart of the sea. Now, these monsters had horns on their heads that were extremely capable of parting water. They went splash, splash, splash, cutting open a bright path. Behind them, the two star officials and the Great Sage Sun joined forces in pursuit.

Now in the Western Sea there were sea-patrolling yaksha and inspecting officers who, from afar, saw the rhinoceros splitting the waters and recognized Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the two Star Lords. They rushed to the Crystal Palace and reported to the Dragon King in a flurry of panic: "Your Majesty! Three rhinoceroses are being chased by the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and two Star Lords!" Old Dragon King Ao Shun, upon hearing this, immediately summoned his prince, Mo Ang: "Quickly muster the water troops. It must be the three rhinoceros spirits—Pi Han, Pi Shu, and Pi Chen—who have provoked Sun Xingzhe. Now that they have reached the sea, hasten to lend your swords in aid!" Ao Mo Ang received the order and at once assembled his forces. In an instant, the turtles, soft-shelled turtles, giant salamanders, alligators, bream, mandarin fish, carp, shrimp soldiers, and crab warriors all took up spears and swords, raised a great battle cry, and surged out of the Crystal Palace to block the rhinoceros spirits. The rhinoceros spirits could not advance and hastily retreated, only to find that the two Star Lords—Jing and Jiao—together with the Great Sage barred their path. In their panic they lost cohesion, each fleeing for his life and scattering in all directions. Pi Chen was quickly surrounded by troops led by the old Dragon King himself. Sun Great Sage, seeing this, was overjoyed and called out: "Easy, easy! Take them alive—we don't want them dead!" Mo Ang obeyed the order and surged forward, pinning Pi Chen to the ground, piercing his nose with an iron hook, and binding his hooves.

The old Dragon King then issued commands to divide the forces and pursue the other two, assisting the two Star Officers in their capture. Immediately the young Dragon King led his troops forward and found Jingmuhan in his original form, pinning down Pi Han and biting him up in mouthfuls large and small. Mo Ang shouted loudly: "Jing Su, Jing Su! Don't bite him to death—Sun Great Sage wants them alive, not dead!" He shouted several times, but by then Jingmuhan had already bitten through the creature's neck.

Mo Ang ordered the shrimp soldiers and crab warriors to carry the dead rhinoceros back to the Crystal Palace, then advanced with Jingmuhan to continue the pursuit. They saw Jiaomujiao driving Pi Shu back in retreat, straight into Jing Su's path. Mo Ang led the turtles, soft-shelled turtles, giant salamanders, and alligators to spread out in a winnowing-basket formation and surround him. The monster could only cry: "Spare my life! Spare my life!" Jingmuhan stepped forward, seized him by the ear, snatched away his blade, and said: "I won't kill you, I won't kill you—I'll take you to Sun Great Sage for judgment."

At once they sheathed their weapons and returned to outside the Crystal Palace, reporting: "They are all captured!" Xingzhe saw one with its head severed, bleeding profusely, lying on the ground, and another held by Jingmuhan by the ear and forced to his knees. He stepped forward and examined them closely, then said: "This head wasn't cut off by a weapon." Mo Ang laughed and said: "Had I not shouted urgently, Jing Star Officer would have eaten the whole body." Xingzhe said: "So be it then. Bring a saw—saw off his two horns, and strip the skin to take along. Leave the rhinoceros meat for the Dragon King and his worthy son to enjoy." Then he had Pi Chen's nose pierced and ordered Jiaomujiao to lead him; Pi Shu's nose was also pierced and Jingmuhan was told to lead him: "Take them up to Jinping Prefecture to see the Prefect, to clearly investigate the matter, to question him on his years of falsely presenting himself as Buddha to harm the people, and then pass judgment."

All obeyed these instructions, took leave of the Dragon King and his son, and set out from the Western Sea. Leading the rhinoceroses, they met up with the two Star Lords Kui and Dou, mounted the clouds and mist, and made straight for Jinping Prefecture. Xingzhe, his feet treading auspicious light, called out from midair: "Prefect of Jinping, all assistant officials, and military and civilian persons within and without the city walls, hear me: I am the holy monk sent from the Great Tang in the East to the Western Heaven to seek the scriptures. This prefecture of yours has every year offered golden lamps, falsely claiming that the Buddhas descend with auspicious signs—these are the monsters, the rhinoceroses. We passed through here and, viewing the lamps on the night of the primal festival, saw these monsters seize the lamp oil along with our master. I therefore requested the Heavenly Gods to subdue them. Now the mountain caves have been swept clean and the demons and monsters destroyed—they can harm you no more. Henceforth your prefecture must no longer offer golden lamps, wasting the people's wealth and laboring the common folk!"

At Ciyun Monastery, Bajie and Sha Wujing had just escorted Tang Sanzang through the mountain gate when they heard Xingzhe speaking from midair. At once they abandoned their master, dropped their load, mounted the wind and clouds into the sky, and asked Xingzhe about the matter of subduing the demons. Xingzhe said: "One was bitten to death by Jing Star—its horns have already been sawed off and its skin stripped for us to bring. The two others have been captured alive." Bajie said: "Might as well push these two down into the city, so the officials and people can see them and recognize that we are either holy or divine. Let the four Star Officers lower the clouds and descend to earth. Let us go together to the prefectural hall and pass judgment on these monsters. The facts are clear and the guilt established—what more is there to discuss?" The four stars said: "Marshal Tian Peng has recently come to understand principle and law—how excellent!" Bajie said: "Having been a monk for these past few years, I've picked up a little something." The gods then pushed the rhinoceroses down, and in a cluster of rainbow clouds descended upon the prefectural hall. The prefectural officials and people within and without the city were so terrified that every household set up an incense altar and every family bowed to the Heavenly Gods.

Shortly after, the monks of Ciyun Monastery carried the elder in a sedan chair into the prefectural gate, where he met Xingzhe. He could not stop saying "thank you": "We are indebted to the Star Officers for rescuing us. Not seeing our worthy disciple, we were consumed with anxious worry. Now happily you have returned victorious. But where were these monsters chased to before they were captured?" Xingzhe said: "After parting from Your Reverence the other day, this old Sun ascended to Heaven to investigate, and was favored by Taibai Jinxing recognizing that the demons were rhinoceroses, who instructed me to invite the four Wood Star Officers. I then reported to the Jade Emperor and received his decree to dispatch them. We fought at the cave entrance, but the demon kings fled. Then the two Star Lords Kui and Dou rescued Your Reverence. This old Sun and the two Star Officers Jing and Jo pursued the monsters with all our strength, chasing them all the way to the Great Western Sea, where we further had the good fortune of the Dragon King sending his son with troops to assist—thus we captured them and brought them here for interrogation and judgment." The elder praised and thanked them profusely. Meanwhile, the prefectural magistrate and all the assistant chief officials were there burning precious candles and filling incense holders with fragrant smoke, bowing in worship toward the heavens.

After a short while, Bajie worked himself up into a frenzy, drew his priest's blade, and with one stroke cut off Bichen's head. With another stroke, he also cut off Bishu's head. He then took a saw and cut off all four horns. Sun Wukong had a further proposal: he asked the Four Star Officials to take the four rhinoceros horns up to the celestial realm to present as tribute to the Jade Emperor and to return with the imperial edict. Of the two horns he had brought himself, he would leave one in the prefectural hall to safeguard the treasury, as proof that lamp oil taxes would henceforth be exempted; he would take the other himself to offer to the Buddha on Vulture Peak. The Four Stars were overjoyed. They immediately took their leave of the Great Sage and suddenly mounted their colorful clouds to return and make their report.

The prefectural and county officials detained the master and his three disciples and laid on a great vegetarian feast, inviting all the local officials to attend. On one hand, they issued proclamations informing the military and civilians that in the following year no gold lamps were to be lit, and the corvée of the great oil-purchasing households was permanently abolished. On one hand, they ordered the butchers to slaughter and skin the rhinoceros, to cure and smoke-dry the hide for making armor, and to distribute the meat generally to the officials and people. On another hand, they drew upon unencumbered funds and unassigned grain to purchase vacant land among the people and build a temple to commemorate the Four Stars' subjugation of the demon; they also erected a living shrine for the four pilgrims of Tang, each with a stele inscribed with text to be transmitted through the ages, as an expression of gratitude.

The master and disciples made themselves comfortable and accepted it all without restraint. Moreover, those two hundred and forty great lamp-oil households—this one offering thanks, that one extending invitations—left them scarcely a moment idle. Bajie was thoroughly satisfied and enjoyed himself to the heart's content, tucking a little of each of the treasures they had found in the cave into his sleeves, to give as gifts at each household's vegetarian banquet. They stayed for over a month and still could not bring themselves to leave. The Elder gave instructions: "Wukong, give all the remaining treasures to the monks of Ci'yun Temple as a thank-you present. Slip away before daybreak without letting those great households know. If we keep indulging in pleasure and delay the scripture-seeking, we will incur the Buddha's wrath and bring further calamity upon ourselves—that would be most inconvenient." Wukong accordingly disposed of all these matters one by one.

The next day they rose at the fifth watch and called Bajie to saddle the horse. The fool, having eaten his fill of free wine and food, lay in a deep sleep and mumbled, "Why saddle the horse so early?" Wukong shouted at him: "The Master says it's time to travel!" Bajie wiped his face and said, "This old monk has no proper sense. Two hundred forty great households are inviting us—we've only had thirty or so full vegetarian banies, and now you want to make Old Pig go hungry?" The Elder heard this and scoured him: "You gluttonous lout, don't talk nonsense, get up quickly! If you keep talking back, I'll have Wukong beat you with his golden-banded staff." The fool, hearing talk of a beating, panicked and said, "The Master has changed this time: usually he cherishes and loves me, makes allowances for my stupidity and protects me—when Brother wanted to hit me, he would intervene and calm things down. Why has he turned harsh and now tells him to beat me?" Wukong said: "The Master is angry because your gluttony has delayed our journey. Pack the luggage quickly and saddle the horse, or you'll get beaten!" The fool truly feared being beaten, jumped up, threw on his clothes, and yelled at Sha Wujing: "Get up quickly, the beating is coming!" Sha Wujing also jumped up, and each finished packing. The Elder waved his hand and said: "Quietly, quietly—don't alarm the temple monks." They mounted their horses at once, opened the mountain gate, and went to find the road. And this departure was exactly as the saying goes:

Secretly the jade cage is opened and the bright phoenix flies away;

Privately the golden lock is unfastened and the flood-dragon escapes.

As for what actually happened when daybreak came to those families who wished to offer their thanks, let us listen to the explanation in the next chapter.