Chapter 27: The Corpse Demon Thrice Tricks Tang Sanzang; The Holy Monk in Anger Drives Away the Handsome Monkey King

Chapter 27: The Corpse Demon Thrice Tricks Tripitaka Tang; The Holy Monk in Anger Expels the Handsome Monkey King

As the saying goes, the Tang monk and his disciples packed their luggage at dawn the next day and continued their journey. Zhen Yuanzi had sworn brotherhood with Sun Wukong, and the two were so congenial that he absolutely refused to let him go. He again arranged wine and food to entertain them, and they stayed for five or six days. Since the elder had taken the Grass-Return Elixir, he felt as if reborn, with a refreshed spirit and a robust body. But his mind was set on obtaining the scriptures, and he was unwilling to linger long. Having no choice, they finally set out.

After bidding farewell, the took to the road, and soon they saw a lofty mountain. Tripitaka said, "Disciple, ahead there is a steep mountain. I fear the horse may not be able to advance; we must all be extremely careful." The said, "Master, rest assured. We will handle it." What a fine Monkey King! He carried his iron staff horizontally before the horse, cleaving the mountain path as he climbed the high cliffs, taking in the endless scenery:

Peaks and rocks piled layer upon layer, gorges and ravines winding and twisting. Tigers and wolves roamed in packs, and deer moved in herds. Countless river deer and wild boars burrowed densely, while foxes and hares gathered all over the mountains. Thousand-foot pythons and ten-thousand-foot serpents coiled about. The pythons spewed forth gloomy mists, and the serpents breathed out strange winds. Thorns and brambles tangled along the path, while pines and nanmu trees stood tall and elegant on the ridges. Creeping vines and trailing plants filled the eyes, and fragrant grasses stretched to the horizon. Shadows fell north of the Northern Sea, and clouds scattered south of the Dipper Star. From ancient times, they had aged with primal energy; a thousand peaks loomed, their sunlight cold.

The elder on his horse felt fear in his heart. Sun the Great Sage exerted his power, brandishing his iron staff and letting out a mighty roar, which sent the wolf and jackal creatures scurrying and the tigers and leopards fleeing in panic.

The entered this mountain and were walking through a steep and rugged area when Tripitaka said, "Wukong, I am hungry today. Go somewhere and beg some food for me to eat." The smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Master, you are not being clever. In this kind of half-mountain place, there are no villages ahead and no inns behind. Even if we had money, there’s nowhere to buy anything. Where am I to find food?" Tripitaka grew displeased and scolded, "You monkey! Think back to when you were at the Two-Boundary Mountain, pressed under the stone box by the Tathagata Buddha. Your mouth could speak, but your feet could not move. It was I who saved your life, shaved your head, and made you my disciple. Why are you unwilling to exert yourself and always harbor lazy thoughts?" The said, "Your disciple is actually diligent. When have I ever been lazy?" Tripitaka said, "If you are diligent, why don’t you go beg food for me? How can I walk when I’m hungry? Besides, with the mountain miasma and pestilential vapors here, how can we ever reach the Thunderclap Monastery?" The said, "Master, do not be angry. Say less. I know your noble nature is haughty, and if I offend or slight you, you will recite the Tight-Fillet Spell. Dismount and sit steadily. Let me go find some household and beg for food."

The leaped up into the clouds, shading his eyes with his hand and looking around. Alas, the road to the West was desolate, with no villages or hamlets, just many trees and few signs of human habitation. After gazing for a long time, he saw a high mountain to the south, and on its sunny side, a patch of bright red dots. The descended from the clouds and said, "Master, there is food." The elder asked what it was. The said, "There are no houses here to beg from, but to the south mountain, there is a patch of red. It must be ripe mountain peaches. I’ll pick some to stave off your hunger." Tripitaka said happily, "For a monk, if there are peaches to eat, that is best." The took his alms bowl, mounted the auspicious clouds, and with a flicker of his somersault, a cold wind whistling, he soon headed for the south mountain to pick peaches. Let us leave him for now.

As the saying goes, "High mountains surely have monsters, and steep ridges breed spirits." Indeed, there was a demon on this mountain. When Sun the Great Sage departed, he disturbed the demon. Riding the in the clouds, the demon saw the elder sitting on the ground and rejoiced greatly, saying, "Fortune, fortune! For years, my family has said that a monk from the Great Tang in the East is going to fetch the Mahayana scriptures. He is the incarnation of Golden Cicada, a body cultivated through ten lifetimes. Anyone who eats a piece of his flesh will live forever and attain longevity. Truly, today he has arrived." The demon stepped forward to seize him, but saw two powerful generals guarding the elder, one on each side, and dared not approach. Who were these two generals? They were Zhu Bajie and Sha Heshang. Although Zhu Bajie and Sha Heshang had no great abilities, Bajie was the Marshal Tianpeng and Sha Seng was the Curtain-Raising General. Their majestic aura had not yet dissipated, so the demon dared not draw near. The demon said, "Let me first toy with him and see what happens."

What a fine demon! He stopped the, shook himself in the mountain hollow, and transformed into a woman with a face like the moon and a flower-like appearance, with incomparably fine brows, clear eyes, white teeth, and red lips. In her left hand, she carried a green earthenware jar, and in her right, a green porcelain bottle. From west to east, she walked straight toward Tripitaka Tang:

The holy monk rested his horse on the cliff, when suddenly a woman in skirt and jacket came forward.

Her green sleeves lightly swayed, revealing jade-like fingers; her Xiang skirt trailed slantwise, showing golden lotus feet.

Sweat on her powdered face seemed like flowers with dew; dust on her moth brows resembled willows in mist.

Gazing intently, he watched, and watched, as she drew near.

Tripitaka saw her and called out, "Bajie, Sha Seng, Wukong just said this wilderness was empty of people. Look, is that not someone coming?" Bajie said, "Master, you and Sha Seng sit. Let Old Pig go and have a look."

The dull-witted one set down his rake, straightened his robe, and swayed as he walked, putting on an air of refinement, shyly advancing to meet her. Truly, from afar, it was unclear, but close up, it was very distinct. The woman was born with:

Ice skin hiding jade bones, collar revealing a creamy bosom. Willow brows gathered azure hues, apricot eyes flashed silver stars. Moon-like features were exquisite, her natural temperament pure. Her body was like a swallow hidden in willows, her voice like an oriole singing in the woods. Half-opened crabapple greeted the morning sun; just-blooming peony played with spring’s brightness.

When Bajie saw how lovely she was, the dull-witted one’s mortal heart stirred, and he could not help babbling nonsense, calling out, "Bodhisattva, where are you going? What are you carrying in your hands?" Clearly, she was a demon, but he did not recognize her. The woman replied repeatedly, "Elder, this green jar contains fragrant rice, and this green bottle has fried gluten. I came here for no other reason than to fulfill a vow to feed monks." When Bajie heard this, his heart was filled with joy. He quickly turned and ran back like a pig in a frenzy, reporting to Tripitaka, "Master, 'A good man has heaven’s reward.' Master is hungry and sent Senior Brother to beg food, but that monkey has gone off somewhere to pick peaches and play. Eating too many peaches makes one belch a bit and feel heavy. But look, is that not a monk-feeder coming?" Tripitaka did not believe him, saying, "You fool, you are making trouble. We have walked this way and not met a single decent person. Where would a monk-feeder come from!" Bajie said, "Master, is she not here now?"

When Sanzang saw her, he immediately stood up, put his palms together before his chest, and said, "Noble lady, where does your home lie? What family are you from? What vow have you made that brings you here to feed monks?" Clearly she was a demon, but the elder could not recognize her. When the demon saw Tang Sanzang asking about her background, she instantly fabricated a false story, using sweet words to deceive him, saying, "Master, this mountain is called White Tiger Ridge, where snakes slither and beasts flee. Directly to the west at the foot of the mountain is my home. My parents are both still alive, and they are devoted to chanting sutras and doing good deeds, widely offering food to monks from near and far. Because they had no son, they prayed to the gods for blessings, and only then was I born. They originally wished to marry me off into a reputable family, but fearing they would have no support in old age, they had no choice but to take in a son-in-law to provide for them in their later years and see to their funeral rites." Sanzang listened and said, "Noble lady, your words are mistaken. The sacred scriptures say: 'While one's parents are alive, do not travel far; if you must travel, let it be with a proper purpose.' Since your parents are alive and you have a son-in-law, if you have a vow to fulfill, you should have your husband go to repay it. How can you walk alone in these mountains without even a maidservant as an attendant? This is not in keeping with proper womanly conduct." The woman smiled sweetly and quickly responded with a clever remark: "Master, my husband is in the northern mountain hollow, leading several hired laborers in hoeing the fields. This is the noon meal I cooked for them. Only because it is the height of summer, the fifth and sixth months, and there is no one to send, and my parents are old, did I come to deliver it myself. But suddenly I encountered three masters who have traveled from afar, and I recalled my parents' love for good deeds, so I offer this meal to you monks. If you do not disdain it, I would like to express this small token of my intention." Sanzang said, "Excellent! Excellent! I have a disciple who has gone to pick fruit and will return soon. I dare not eat it. If I, a monk, were to eat your meal, and your husband found out and scolded you, would he not blame me, a poor monk?" When the woman saw that Tang Sanzang refused to eat, she put on a beaming expression and said, "Master, my parents' almsgiving to monks is a minor matter; my husband is an even better man. His lifelong joy is repairing bridges and roads, loving the elderly, and pitying the poor. If he hears that this meal was given to the master to eat, his affection for me as his wife will be even greater than usual." Sanzang still would not eat.

But beside him, Eight Rules was getting furious. The blockhead pouted his lips and muttered resentfully, "There are countless monks under heaven, but none as weak as this old monk of mine. Here's a ready-made meal, and he won't even take a third of it; he only waits for that monkey to come and then we'll split it into four portions." Without waiting for further argument, he knocked over the earthenware pot with his snout and was about to dig in. Just then, the Pilgrim, having picked some peaches from the southern mountaintop, came somersaulting back with his alms bowl in hand. Opening his fiery eyes and diamond pupils, he recognized the woman as a demon. Setting down his bowl, he drew his iron staff and struck at her head. The elder was so startled that he grabbed him with his hand and said, "Wukong, who are you coming over to strike?" The Pilgrim said, "Master, don't take this woman before you for a good person. She is a demon, come to deceive you." Sanzang said, "You monkey-head! You used to have some sharp eyesight, but today you spout nonsense. This noble lady has such a kind heart, offering this meal to feed us monks. How can you say she is a demon?" The Pilgrim laughed and said, "Master, you don't understand. When Old Monkey was a demon in the Water Curtain Cave, if I wanted to eat human flesh, I would do it like this: sometimes I would turn into gold or silver, sometimes into a manor or terrace, sometimes into a drunkard, sometimes into a beautiful woman. If some infatuated person took a liking to me, I would lure them into the cave and do as I pleased, either steaming or boiling them to feast upon. If I couldn't finish them, I would dry them in the sun to store for cloudy days. Master, if I had come any later, you would surely have fallen into her trap and met with her deadly scheme." Tang Sanzang absolutely refused to believe it, insisting she was a good person. The Pilgrim said, "Master, I know you. Seeing her beauty, you must have been stirred by worldly desires. If that is truly your intention, tell Eight Rules to cut down a few trees, and Sha Monk to gather some grass. I will act as the carpenter, and we can build a thatched hut right here. You can consummate your marriage with her, and we will all go our separate ways. Wouldn't that be a fine enterprise? Why go through all this hardship, traveling to fetch scriptures?" The elder was originally a soft and gentle man, and he could not bear such words; his bald head flushed bright red with shame.

While Sanzang was still in this state of embarrassment, the Pilgrim flew into a rage again, drew his iron staff, and struck the demon right in the face. The monster had some skill and used a "corpse-escape technique." When she saw the Pilgrim's staff coming, she mustered her spirit and fled ahead, leaving a false corpse lying dead on the ground. The elder trembled with fear and muttered, "This monkey is truly insolent. I have warned him repeatedly, but he refuses to listen, killing a human life without cause." The Pilgrim said, "Master, do not be angry. Come and see what is in this pot." Sha Monk helped the elder forward to look, and when they saw, it was no fragrant rice at all, but a potful of maggots with dragging tails; nor were there wheat-gluten cakes, but several frogs and toads hopping all over the ground. Only then did the elder have some belief. But Pig Eight Rules, unable to contain his indignation, stirred up trouble from the side, saying, "Master, speaking of this woman, she was just a farmer's wife from around here, bringing food to the fields. She met us on the road—how can you accuse her of being a demon? Elder Brother's staff is heavy. He came over to try his hand and struck her down accidentally. Fearing that you might recite the Tight-Fillet Spell, he deliberately used a conjuring trick to turn the food into these things, fooling your eyes so that you wouldn't recite the spell."

From that moment, Sanzang's misfortune began. Indeed, he believed the blockhead's instigation. He made a hand gesture with his fingers and began to recite the spell. The Pilgrim cried out, "Headache! Headache! Stop reciting, stop reciting! If you have something to say, say it." Tang Sanzang said, "What is there to say? A monk must always be compassionate, never straying from a kind heart. When sweeping the floor, one fears harming the lives of ants; one cherishes the moth and covers the lamp with gauze. How can you act so violently at every step, killing this innocent person for no reason? What use will it be to bring back the scriptures? Go back." The Pilgrim said, "Master, where do you want me to go back to?" Tang Sanzang said, "I no longer want you as a disciple." The Pilgrim said, "If you don't want me as a disciple, I fear you will not be able to complete your journey to the Western Heaven." Tang Sanzang said, "My fate is in heaven's hands. If that demon is destined to steam me and eat me, or even boil me, it cannot be avoided. Can you, after all, save me from my destined end? Go back quickly." The Pilgrim said, "Master, I will go back, but only because I have not yet repaid your kindness." Tang Sanzang said, "What kindness have I shown you?" When the Great Sage heard this, he quickly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Old Monkey, because of my great disturbance in Heaven, incurred the disaster of bodily harm and was crushed by the Buddha under the Two-Border Mountain. Fortunately, the Bodhisattva Guanyin granted me the precepts, and fortunately, you, Master, rescued me from that plight. If I do not accompany you to the Western Heaven, it would show that I am not a gentleman who knows gratitude and repays kindness, and I would be cursed for ten thousand ages." Now, this Tang Sanzang was a merciful and compassionate sage. When he saw the Pilgrim begging so pitifully, he relented and said, "If that is the case, I will spare you this once. Do not be insolent again. If you still commit evil as before, I will recite the spell backwards twenty times." The Pilgrim said, "Even thirty times is fine with me, as long as I don't hit anyone." Only then did he attend to helping Tang Sanzang mount the horse and offer him the peaches he had picked. Tang Sanzang ate a few on the horse to stave off his hunger temporarily.

Now, as for that demon, she had escaped into the air. It turned out that the Pilgrim's blow had not killed her; her spirit had fled. Amid the clouds, she gnashed her teeth and secretly hated the Pilgrim, saying, "For years I have only heard of his skills, and today they prove to be no empty rumor. That Tang Sanzang did not recognize me and was about to eat. If he had lowered his head and taken a sniff, I would have grabbed him, and he would have been mine! But unexpectedly, that one came and ruined my scheme, and nearly struck me with his staff. If I let this monk go, it would truly be labor without reward. I will go down and toy with him again."

What a fine demon! She pressed down her dark cloud, changed her form at the foot of the front mountain slope, and turned into an old woman of about eighty years, leaning on a crooked bamboo staff, weeping as she walked forward step by step. When Eight Rules saw her, he was greatly alarmed and said, "Master, this is bad! That old woman has come looking for someone." Tang Sanzang said, "Looking for whom?" Eight Rules said, "The one Elder Brother killed must have been her daughter. This one must be her mother coming to find her." The Pilgrim said, "Brother, don't talk nonsense. That girl was eighteen years old; this old woman is eighty. How could a woman give birth at over sixty years of age? She is certainly a fake. Let Old Monkey go and take a look."

Good Pilgrim! He strode forward and approached to observe. That monster had falsely transformed into an old woman:

Her temples were white as snow and ice,

Her steps were slow and wavering, weak and timid.

Her frail body was gaunt and thin,

Her face was withered like a vegetable leaf.

Her cheekbones jutted upward,

Her lips drooped downward.

In old age, she was no match for her youth;

Her face was covered with folds like lotus leaves.

The Great Sage recognized it as a demon and, without further deliberation, raised his staff and struck at its head. When the fiend saw the staff coming, it once again shook itself, released its primordial spirit, and fled in its true form, leaving a false corpse lying dead by the mountain path.

When Tripitaka saw this, he was so startled that he fell off his horse, lying by the roadside, and without a word, he recited the Tight-Fillet Spell backwards and forwards a full twenty times. Poor Monkey’s head was squeezed until it looked like a gourd with a narrow waist, causing him unbearable pain. He rolled over and pleaded, “Master, stop reciting! If you have something to say, just say it.” Tripitaka said, “What is there to say? A monk who listens to good words will not fall into hell. I have exhorted you like this, yet you still commit violence. You killed an innocent person once, and now you’ve killed another. What kind of reasoning is this?” Monkey said, “He was a demon.” Tripitaka said, “You monkey, talking nonsense! Are there really so many demons? You are one who has no heart for goodness and a mind for evil. Go away.” Monkey said, “Master, you’re telling me to leave again? If I go back, I’ll go back, but there’s one thing that doesn’t sit right.” Tripitaka said, “What doesn’t sit right with you?” Eight Rules said, “Master, he wants to share out the luggage with you. Having been a monk with you these years, do you think he’ll go back empty-handed? Take out some old worn cassock or a tattered hat from the bundle and give him a couple of things.”

When Sun Wukong heard this, he jumped up in a rage and said, “You sharp-mouthed fool! I, Old Monkey, have always been devoted to the Buddhist faith, without a trace of jealousy or greed. Why would I want to share out the luggage?” Tripitaka said, “Since you’re neither jealous nor greedy, why don’t you go?” Sun Wukong said, “To tell you the truth, Master, five hundred years ago, when I displayed my might in the Water Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, I subdued the seventy-two cave demons and commanded forty-seven thousand little fiends. On my head I wore a purple-gold crown, on my body a ochre-yellow robe, at my waist a blue-field belt, on my feet cloud-stepping boots, and in my hand the. Truly, I was someone of consequence. Since I passed through the ordeal of death, took the tonsure and vows, and returned to the orthodox Buddhist path, I’ve followed you as your disciple, and this fillet has been clamped on my head. If I go back now, I’d hardly be able to face my people at home. If you really don’t want me, Master, just recite the spell to loosen the fillet, take it off, and put it on someone else’s head. Then I’ll be free and happy, and it will count as having served you for a time. Surely you can’t deny me even that small favor?” Tripitaka was greatly startled and said, “Wukong, at that time the Bodhisattva only secretly taught me the Tight-Fillet Spell; there was no Loosen-Fillet Spell.” Sun Wukong said, “If there’s no Loosen-Fillet Spell, then you might as well take me along.” The elder had no other recourse and said, “Get up first. I’ll spare you this once, but you must not commit violence again.” Sun Wukong said, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.” He then attended to his master mounting the horse and led the way forward.

Now, as for that demon, Sun Wukong’s second blow had also failed to kill it. The fiend hovered in midair, praising him unceasingly: “What a fine Monkey King, truly sharp-eyed. Even when I transformed like that, he still recognized me. These monks are traveling fast—if they cross this mountain and go forty miles west, they’ll be beyond my territory. If some other region’s demon catches them, it’ll make others laugh their heads off while I’ve wasted all my effort. I’d better go down and tease him once more.”

What a fine demon! It suppressed its yin wind, shook itself at the foot of the slope, and transformed into an old man. Truly:

White hair like Peng Zu, gray beard to rival the Star of Longevity.

Jade chimes rang in his ears, golden stars flickered in his eyes.

In hand a dragon-headed staff, a crane-feather cloak light on his body.

Counting beads between his fingers, he chanted the Southern Ocean Sutra.

When Tripitaka saw him from his horse, he was overjoyed and said, “Amitabha! The Western Region is truly a blessed land. That old man can hardly walk up the road, yet he still forces himself to recite sutras.” Eight Rules said, “Master, don’t praise him just yet. That one is the root of disaster.” Tripitaka said, “How is it the root of disaster?” Eight Rules said, “Elder brother killed his daughter and then killed his wife. This must be his old father coming to find them. If we run into him, Master, you’ll be the one to pay with your life and be sentenced to death; I, Old Pig, will be counted as an accomplice and banished; Sha Monk will be ordered into exile. And elder brother will slip away using some escape art—won’t that leave the three of us to bear the blame?”

When Sun Wukong heard this, he said, “This fool talks such nonsense—he’ll scare the master to death! Let Old Monkey go and have another look.” He hid his staff on his person, stepped forward, and faced the fiend, calling out, “Old sir, where are you going? Why are you both walking and reciting sutras?” The demon, mistaking the Great Sage Sun for an ordinary person, replied, “Elder, I, this old man, have lived here for generations. All my life I’ve been fond of good deeds, feeding monks and revering the Buddha, reading sutras and chanting Buddha’s name. Fate did not grant me a son; I only had one daughter, and she took a husband. This morning she brought his meal to the fields, and I fear she fell victim to a tiger. My old wife went to look for her first, but she hasn’t returned either. I have no idea what’s happened to them, so I’ve come to search and check. If their lives are indeed lost, there’s no helping it; I’ll just gather their bones and bury them in a grave.” Sun Wukong laughed and said, “I’m the ancestor of all tricksters—how dare you hide a ghost up your sleeve to fool me? You might deceive others, but you can’t fool me. I know you’re a demon.” The fiend was struck dumb with fear. Sun Wukong drew out his staff and thought to himself, “If I don’t strike him, it’ll seem like he’s gotten the better of me; if I do strike him, I’m afraid the master will recite that spell.” He thought again, “If I don’t kill him, he might seize the master the moment I’m not looking—wouldn’t that mean more trouble and effort to rescue him? Better to strike. I’ll kill him with one blow, and if the master starts reciting the spell, as the saying goes, ‘A tiger, however fierce, won’t eat its own cubs.’ With my glib tongue and sharp words, I can coax him a bit, and it’ll probably be settled.” Good Great Sage! He recited a spell and summoned the local earth god and the mountain spirit of this place, saying, “This demon has come three times to tease my master. This time I must kill him. You bear witness in midair and don’t let him escape.” The spirits received the order; who dared disobey? They all stood watch in the clouds. The Great Sage raised his staff, struck down the demon, and cut off its spiritual light.

Tripitaka, on his horse, was so terrified that he trembled and could not speak. Eight Rules, standing by, laughed again and said, “What a fine Pilgrim—he’s gone mad. In just half a day’s journey, he’s killed three people.” Tripitaka was about to recite the spell when Sun Wukong hurried to the horse and called out, “Master, don’t recite, don’t recite. First, come and look at its form.” There was a heap of white bones lying there. Tripitaka was greatly startled and said, “Wukong, this person just died—how could he turn into a heap of bones?” Sun Wukong said, “He was a corpse that had hidden its soul and turned into a demon, bewitching people and harming lives here. When I killed him, he showed his true form. On his spine there is a line of writing that says ‘Lady White Bone.’” Tripitaka heard this and was somewhat convinced. But Eight Rules, standing by, sowed discord, saying, “Master, his hand is heavy and his staff fierce. He killed the man, and afraid you’d recite the spell, he deliberately changed it into this form to fool your eyes.” Tripitaka, indeed soft-eared, believed him again and immediately began reciting. Sun Wukong could not bear the pain and knelt by the roadside, crying out, “Don’t recite, don’t recite! If you have something to say, say it quickly.” Tripitaka said, “Monkey, what else is there to say? A monk who does good is like the grass in a spring garden—you don’t see it grow, but it increases daily. One who does evil is like a whetstone—you don’t see its wear, but it diminishes daily. In the wild wilderness, you have killed three people in a row, and no one has reported it or come to confront you. But if we reach a city, a crowded place, and you take that mourning staff of yours and, not knowing good from bad, start striking people randomly, causing a great disaster, how will I escape? Go back.” Sun Wukong said, “Master, you wrong me. That creature was clearly a demon; he truly meant to harm you. I killed him to rid you of a scourge, but you don’t recognize it and instead believe the fool’s slanderous words, driving me away time and again. As the saying goes, ‘Things should not be done more than three times.’ If I don’t go, I’d truly be a base and shameless wretch. I’ll go, I’ll go. But if I go, you’ll have no one under your command.” Tripitaka grew angry and said, “You reckless ape, this is even more insolent! It seems only you count as a person—are Wuneng and Wujing not people?”

When the Great Sage heard him say that those two were people, he could not help feeling grieved and miserable. He said to Tang Sanzang, “How bitter this is! When you left Chang’an, Liu Boqin saw you off on your way. At the Two-Boundary Mountain, you rescued me and accepted me as your disciple. I have worn through ancient caves, plunged into deep forests, captured demons and monsters, taken on Bajie and won Sha Seng, and endured every hardship imaginable. Now you pretend to be foolish while knowing full well the truth, and only tell me to go back. This is indeed: ‘When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the hares are dead, the hounds are boiled!’ Enough, enough, enough—the only trouble is that Tight-Band Spell.” Tang Sanzang said, “I will never recite it again.” Sun Wukong said, “That’s hard to say. If you ever find yourself in the clutches of some vicious demon and cannot escape, and Bajie and Sha Seng cannot save you, then you will think of me and cannot help reciting it again. Even if I’m a hundred thousand li away, my head will still ache; if I were to come back and see you again, it would be better not to make that plan.”

Tang Sanzang, seeing that his words were endless, grew even angrier. He rolled off his horse and told Sha Seng to take paper and brush from the bundle. Fetching water from the mountain stream, he ground ink on a rock, wrote a letter of dismissal, and handed it to the Pilgrim, saying, “Monkey, take this as a token. I no longer want you as my disciple. If I ever meet you again, may I fall into the Avīci Hell.” The Pilgrim promptly took the letter of dismissal and said, “Master, you needn’t swear. Old Monkey will go.” He folded the letter, tucked it into his sleeve, and then spoke gently to Tang Sanzang, “Master, I have followed you for a time, and I was guided by the Bodhisattva. Now to abandon things halfway without achieving the fruit of cultivation—please sit down and let me bow to you once, so I can leave in peace.” Tang Sanzang turned his back and ignored him, muttering to himself, “I am a proper monk; I will not accept the courtesy of such a villain.” The Great Sage, seeing that he was ignored, used a body-dividing spell, plucked three hairs from the back of his head, blew on them with a magical breath, and cried, “Change!” Immediately they turned into three Pilgrims, which, together with his original form, made four. They surrounded the master on all sides and bowed. The elder could not avoid them, so in the end he received the bow.

The Great Sage leaped up, shook himself, and gathered the hairs back. Then he instructed Sha Seng, saying, “Worthy brother, you are a good man, but you must be careful to guard against Bajie’s nonsense and gossip. Be especially cautious on the road. If at any time a demon captures the master, just say that Old Monkey is his senior disciple. When the demons of the western lands hear of my power, they will not dare to harm my master.” Tang Sanzang said, “I am a proper monk; I will not mention the name of such a villain. Go back now.”

The Great Sage, seeing that the elder was repeatedly stubborn and unwilling to change his mind, could do nothing but leave. Behold him:

With tears in his eyes, he kowtowed and bid farewell to the elder,

Full of sorrow, he earnestly charged Sha Seng.

His head brushed through the grass before the slope,

His two feet kicked over the vines on the ground.

Ascending to heaven and descending to earth, he turned like a wheel,

Crossing seas and flying over mountains, he was unrivalled.

In an instant, he vanished from sight,

And in a flash, he swiftly returned to his old path.

See how he, suppressing his anger, took leave of his master, mounted his somersault cloud, and went straight back to the Water-Curtain Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. Alone and utterly desolate, he suddenly heard the sound of water piercing his ears. The Great Sage, looking down from midair, saw that it was the noise of the tide rising in the Eastern Ocean. At the sight of this scene, he again thought of Tang Sanzang and could not stop tears from streaming down his cheeks. He halted his cloud and paused his steps, and it was a good while before he departed.

As to what happened after this departure and its consequences, you must listen to the explanation in the next chapter.