Chapter 61: Zhu Bajie Helps the Great Sage to Defeat the Demon King; Sun Xingzhe Thrice Seizes the Plantain Fan

Having said that, the Bull Demon King caught up with the Great Sage Sun, and saw him walking along cheerfully with the Banana Leaf Fan balanced on his shoulder. The demon king was greatly startled and thought, "This ape has tricked even the method of using the fan out of them. If I ask him for it to his face, he certainly won't give it; and if he fans me once, I'll fly a hundred and eight thousand miles away—wouldn't that be playing right into his hands? I've heard that Tang Sanzang is waiting on the main road. His second disciple, the Pig spirit, and his third disciple, the Sand spirit—I met them back in the day when I was a demon. I'd better change into the Pig's likeness and turn the tables on him. I reckon the ape is so pleased with himself that he won't be on his guard." Good demon king! He too had seventy-two transformations and martial arts equal to the Great Sage's, only his body was a bit clumsier, less nimble and agile. He hid his sword, recited a spell, shook himself, and changed into a face exactly like Zhu Bajie's. Taking a shortcut, he met the Great Sage head-on and called out, "Elder Brother, I've come."

The Great Sage was indeed delighted. As the ancients said, "A victorious cat is as happy as a tiger." Trusting entirely in his own great skill, he didn't bother to examine the newcomer's intent. Seeing it was Bajie's form, he called out, "Brother, where are you going?" The Bull Demon King followed the cue and said, "The master saw that you hadn't returned for so long. He feared that the Bull Demon King's skills were too high for you to overcome and that you'd have trouble getting his treasure, so he sent me to meet you." Pilgrim laughed and said, "No need for all that trouble; I've already got it." The Bull King asked again, "How did you get it?" Pilgrim said, "That old bull fought with me for a hundred rounds without either of us winning. Then he abandoned me and went to the bottom of the Clear Waves Lake at Random Rock Mountain to drink with a pack of dragon and flood dragon spirits. I followed him secretly, changed into a crab, stole his Water-Averting Golden-Eyed Beast that he rides, took on the old bull's form, and went straight to the Banana Cave to trick Rakshasi. That woman and I played at being husband and wife for a spell, and I managed to swindle it out of her." The Bull King said, "You've really worked hard. Elder Brother, you've labored too much—let me hold the fan for you." How was the Great Sage Sun to know truth from falsehood? He never thought of such a thing, and so handed the fan over.

Now, the Bull King knew the fundamental secret of how to open and close the fan. After taking it, he pinched some kind of trick, and the fan shrank back to the size of an apricot leaf, revealing its true form. He opened his mouth and cursed, "You cursed ape! Do you recognize me now?" When Pilgrim saw this, he regretted in his heart, "This is my fault." With a groan, he stamped his foot and roared, "Yikes! Year after year I hunt wild geese, and today I've had my eyes pecked out by a gosling!" Furious as a thunderclap, he whipped out his iron staff and struck at the demon's head. The demon king then fanned him once with the fan. But unknown to him, back when the Great Sage had turned into a cicada and entered Rakshasi's belly, he had held the Wind-Calming Pill in his mouth, and without noticing, swallowed it. So his five viscera were firm, his skin and bones were solid, and no matter how the demon fanned, he couldn't budge him. The Bull King panicked, threw the treasure into his mouth, and swung both his swords to attack. The two of them had a fine fight in midair:

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the audacious Bull Demon King,

All for the Banana Leaf Fan, they met and each showed their might.

The careless Great Sage had tricked someone, the bold Bull King turned the tables.

This one, his Golden-Banded Staff rose without mercy;

That one, his paired green blades wielded with cunning.

The Great Sage in his fury spat out rainbow mists,

The Bull King in his wildness shot forth radiant beams.

Striving in courage, both ill-disposed,

Gnashing teeth, they raged fiercely.

Kicking up dust and dirt, darkening heaven and earth,

Sending gravel and stones flying, hiding ghosts and gods.

This one said, "How dare you deceive me in your ignorance?"

That one said, "My wife I allowed you to have."

Words coarse and vulgar, temper fierce and strong.

That one said, "You deserve death for seducing another's wife and daughter—

If reported to the authorities, you'd face a criminal charge."

The clever Great Sage Equal to Heaven,

The violent and obstinate Great Strength King,

Both bent only on killing,

Without a moment's discussion.

Staff and swords clashed together with all their might;

One slip, and they'd meet the King of Hell.

Let us leave aside their undecided struggle. Now, Tang Sanzang was sitting by the roadside. On one hand, the heat was oppressive; on the other, he was anxious and thirsty. He said to the Fiery Mountain local spirit, "May I ask, honored deity, what is the Bull Demon King's magic power like?" The local spirit said, "That Bull King's supernatural powers are no small thing; his magic is boundless. He is truly a match for the Great Sage Sun." Sanzang said, "Wukong is a fast traveler. Usually, two thousand miles is nothing to him, and he comes back in a flash. How is it that he's been gone a whole day? Surely he's locked in combat with that Bull King." He called out, "Wuneng, Wujing, one of you two go and meet your elder brother. If he meets an enemy, you should lend him all your strength. Once we get the fan and relieve my distress, we can cross the mountain early and get on with our journey." Eight Rules said, "It's late today. I'd like to go meet him, but I don't know the way to Accumulated Thunder Mountain." The local spirit said, "I know the way, little deity. Let the Curtain-Raising General keep your master company, and I'll go with you." Sanzang was overjoyed and said, "I am grateful for your trouble, honored deity. When the work is done, I will thank you properly."

Zhu Bajie roused his spirits, tightened his black brocade tunic, shouldered his rake, and rose up into the clouds with the local spirit, heading straight east. As they traveled, they suddenly heard loud shouts of battle and rolling gales. Eight Rules halted his cloud to look, and there was Sun Pilgrim locked in combat with the Bull King. The local spirit said, "Heavenly Reeds, why don't you go forward? What are you waiting for?" The idiot drew out his rake and shouted loudly, "Elder Brother, I'm here!" Pilgrim said angrily, "You useless fool, you've cost me a great deal of trouble!" Eight Rules said, "The master told me to come meet you. Since I didn't know the mountain path, we discussed it for a long time and had the local spirit guide me, so I'm late. How have I ruined a great matter?" Pilgrim said, "I'm not blaming you for being late. This damned bull is utterly insolent. I got the fan from Rakshasi, but this wretch changed into your likeness and claimed he'd come to meet me. In my joy, I handed the fan over to him, and then he showed his true form and has been fighting with me here. That's how the great matter was ruined." When Eight Rules heard this, he flew into a rage, raised his rake, and cursed to his face, "You blood-swollen plague-spreader! How dare you change into the form of your own ancestor and trick my elder brother, making us brothers fall out?" Look at him—he struck wildly at the Bull King's head and face with his rake.

The Bull King, on one hand exhausted and weary from fighting Pilgrim all day, and on the other hand unable to withstand the ferocity of Eight Rules' rake, fled in defeat. Just then, the Fiery Mountain local spirit, leading his ghostly soldiers, blocked his way and said, "Great Strength King, hold on. Tang Sanzang is going west to fetch the scriptures. No god fails to protect him, no heaven fails to bless him; the three realms all know, and the ten directions support him. Quickly bring out the Banana Leaf Fan to extinguish the flames, so that he may pass over the mountain without disaster or obstruction. Otherwise, Heaven will hold you guilty and you will surely be executed." The Bull King said, "You local spirit, you understand nothing of the principles. That cursed ape stole my son, bullied my concubine, and tricked my wife—every act is outrageous. I wish I could swallow him whole, turn him into dung, and feed him to the dogs. How could I be willing to lend him the treasure?"

Before he finished speaking, Eight Rules caught up and cursed, "You heart-rotten scoundrel! Bring out the fan quickly, and I'll spare your life." The Bull King had no choice but to turn back and fight Eight Rules with his paired swords. The Great Sage Sun raised his staff to help, and this battle there was a fine one:

A pig turned spirit, a bull turned monster,

Joined by the heaven-defying monkey who won the Way.

Zen nature can naturally be tempered in battle,

The earth must be used to unite the primal cause.

The nine-pronged rake, sharp and pointed,

The paired swords, swift and yet supple.

The iron staff, coiling and uncoiling, served as the main weapon,

The local spirit lent his strength to form the elixir head.

The three powers clashed in mutual conquest,

Each displaying his talents, planning their moves.

Catch the bull and plow the fields to grow the golden grain,

Call back the pig to the furnace to gather the wood-essence.

If the mind is distracted, how can one practice the Way?

The spirit must always guard its dwelling and tether the monkey.

Shouting wildly, begging bitterly,

The three weapons clashed with a ringing sound.

The rake's strikes and the swords' wounds held no good intent,

The Golden-Banded Staff's rise had its own cause.

They fought until the stars lost their light and the moon grew dim,

A day of cold mist, black and endless.

That old demon king, fighting with all his might, battled as he went. They fought all night without either gaining the upper hand, and soon it was dawn. Ahead of them was the entrance to the Cloud-Touching Cave on his Bearing-Heap Mountain. The three of them, along with the local spirit and the shadowy soldiers, were raising a din that shook the ears, alarming the Princess Jade-Face. She ordered her maids to see where the noise was coming from. A little demon at the gate came to report: "It's our master fighting with that Thunder-God-Mouth man from yesterday, and a long-snouted, big-eared monk, along with the local spirit of the Flaming Mountains and others." When Princess Jade-Face heard this, she immediately ordered all the major and minor chieftains of the outer guard to take up spears and clubs and go to help. Altogether, over a hundred men, tall and short, were mustered. Each one, showing off his spirit, seized his spear and twirled his staff, shouting in unison: "Great King, our lord, we have been sent by the queen's command to give you aid." The Bull King was overjoyed and said, "Well come, well come." All the demons charged forward together and hacked wildly. Caught off guard, Eight Rules dragged his rake and fled in defeat. The Great Sage mounted his somersault cloud and leaped out of the heavy encirclement. The shadowy soldiers also scattered and fled. The Old Bull, victorious, gathered his demons and returned to the cave, tightly closing its doors. We will say no more of this.

"Fellow," said Pilgrim, "this fellow is fierce. He started fighting with me from around the hour of the Monkey yesterday, and we've been at it until tonight without a clear victor. It's a good thing you two came to take over the fight. After this bitter struggle for half a day and a whole night, he shows not a sign of fatigue. And just now, that crowd of little demons was so fierce and strong. Now he has shut the cave door tight and won't come out. What's to be done?" Eight Rules said, "Elder brother, you left the master at the hour of the Serpent yesterday. How come you didn't start fighting him until the hour of the Monkey? Where were you in those two or three hours?" Pilgrim said, "After I left you, in the blink of an eye I reached this mountain. I met a woman, and after questioning her, I found out she was his beloved wife, Princess Jade-Face. I scared her with my iron staff, and she ran into the cave and called out the Bull King. He spouted all sorts of nonsense at me, and we had a shouting match. Then I fought with him for about an hour. Just as we were in the thick of the fight, someone came to invite him to a banquet. I followed him to the bottom of the Jasper Pool in the Chaotic Rock Mountain, turned into a crab, spied on the news, stole his Water-Averting Golden-Eyed Beast, disguised myself as the Bull King, went back to the Banana Cave on the Green Jade Mountain, fooled Raksha, and tricked her into giving me the fan. When I came out and tried to test how to use it, the fan grew long, but I didn't know how to make it small again. As I was carrying it on my shoulder, he disguised himself as you and tricked me into giving it back. That's why I lost two or three hours."

Eight Rules said, "This is just what the proverb says: 'A bean-curd boat capsized in the sea—it came from the soup and went into the water.' Now that we've lost the fan, how can we protect the master while crossing the mountain? Let's go back for now and take a roundabout way." The local spirit said, "Great Sage, do not be troubled. Marshal Tian Peng, do not be lazy. To speak of taking a roundabout way is to fall into heretical paths; it is not the way of a cultivator. The old saying goes, 'A traveler does not take bypaths.' How can we go by a roundabout route? Your master is sitting right on the main road, staring with eager eyes, hoping only for your success." Pilgrim, enraged, said, "Exactly, exactly. Idiot, don't talk nonsense. The local spirit speaks sense. We must go and:

'Risk defeat or victory, use our arts,

And let me display my earthly transformations.

Since coming West, I've met no match;

The Bull King was originally the Mind Ape's transformation.

Now is the time to reunite the source;

We must fight to borrow the precious fan.

Seize the cool breeze, quench the flames,

Break through stubborn emptiness to bow before the Buddha.

When our deeds are done, we shall ascend to Paradise,

And all go together to the Dragon Flower Feast.'"

When Eight Rules heard these words, his spirits were roused, and he said eagerly:

"Yes, yes, yes. Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Never mind if the Bull King can or cannot fight.

Wood is born at Hai and matches the pig;

Lead the ox back to the earth category.

Metal is born at Shen and is originally the monkey;

No punishment, no restraint—much harmony.

Use the banana leaf as the water's intent;

When the flame is quenched, it becomes the fulfilled state.

Day and night, without rest, work hard;

When the work is done, go to the Ullambana Feast."

The two of them, leading the local spirit and the shadowy soldiers, went forward together. Wielding the muckrake and swinging the iron staff, they smashed the front gate of the Cloud-Touching Cave to pieces with a great clatter. This so terrified the chieftains of the outer guard that they trembled with fear and rushed inside to report: "Great King, Sun Wukong and his followers have broken down the front gate." The Bull King was just then telling Princess Jade-Face the whole story in detail, fuming about Pilgrim Sun. When he heard that the front gate had been broken down, he flew into a great rage. Hurriedly donning his armor and taking up his iron staff, he came out cursing: "You damned monkey! What sort of person are you, to dare come to my door and act so wildly, breaking down my gate?" Eight Rules stepped forward and cursed wildly: "You damned old skinned beast! What sort of creature are you, to measure anyone's size? Don't run away—take this rake!" The Bull King shouted, "You good-for-nothing swill-eater, you don't know what's what. Quickly call that monkey here." Pilgrim said, "You ignorant grass-eater! I still treated you as a brother yesterday, but today we are enemies. Take this staff carefully." The Bull King, full of courage, went to meet the attack. This battle was fiercer than the last. The three heroes were locked in a melee—a fine fight it was:

"The muckrake and iron staff displayed their divine might,

Leading the shadowy soldiers to fight the old Bull.

The Bull alone showed his fierce, savage nature,

His magic power filling all the heavens.

The rake thrust, the staff pounded,

The iron staff's hero showed new wonders.

The three weapons clanged and clattered;

Blocking and parrying, who would yield?

He said he was chief, I said I was champion.

The earth soldiers witnessed; it was hard to decide,

Wood and earth fought, following each other's moves.

These two said, 'Why won't you lend the banana-leaf fan?'

That one said, 'How dare you cheat and deceive my wife?

The wrong of driving away my concubine and harming my son is not yet avenged,

And now you knock at my door and startle me again.'

This one said, 'Be careful of the As-You-Will Staff;

A touch will tear your skin.'

That one said, 'Dodge the teeth of the rake well;

A single wound will leave nine holes, blood streaming.'

The Bull Demon, fearless, showed his might;

His iron staff raised high showed his cunning.

Clouds and rain were overturned as they came and went;

Spittle and wind were spewed as they did their worst.

They fought bitterly, each risking his life;

Each harboring evil thoughts, yet happy to fight.

Letting go of postures, they yielded to high and low;

Advancing and retreating, blocking and parrying, neither faltered.

The two brothers worked together with all their strength;

The single one wielded his staff alone.

From the hour of the Hare they fought past the hour of the Dragon;

After the fight, the Bull Demon was forced to retreat."

The three of them, risking life and limb, fought for another hundred or more rounds. Eight Rules, acting in his usual stupid way but relying on Pilgrim's magic power, raised his rake and began wildly striking. The Bull King could not withstand him, turned in defeat, and ran straight for the cave entrance. But he was blocked by the local spirit and the shadowy soldiers, who shouted, "Great Strength King, where are you going? We are here!" The Old Bull could not enter the cave, so he hastily turned around. Seeing Eight Rules and Pilgrim coming after him, he panicked, took off his helmet and armor, threw away his iron staff, shook himself, and turned into a swan, flying up into the sky.

When Pilgrim saw this, he laughed and said, "Eight Rules, the Old Bull has run away." The idiot was completely at a loss, and the local spirit also did not know what was happening. They were all looking east and west, searching everywhere around Bearing-Heap Mountain. Pilgrim pointed and said, "Isn't that the one flying in the sky?" Eight Rules said, "That's a swan." Pilgrim said, "That is exactly the Old Bull's transformation." The local spirit said, "If that's the case, what should we do?" Pilgrim said, "You two break into this cave, wipe out all the demons, tear down his nest, and cut off his path of retreat. Let old Monkey go and compete with him in transformations." Thereupon Eight Rules and the local spirit, following his instructions, broke open the cave door. We will say no more of this.

This Great Sage put away his Golden-Banded Staff, recited a spell, shook himself, and turned into a gyrfalcon. With a whoosh of his wings, he bored into the clouds, then flew down backwards, landing on the swan, seizing it by the neck and pecking at its eyes. The Bull King knew it was Pilgrim Sun's transformation, so he quickly shook his wings and turned into a yellow kite, turning around to peck the gyrfalcon. Pilgrim then turned into a black phoenix, which specialized in chasing the yellow kite. The Bull King recognized it, and in turn became a white crane, gave a long call, and flew south. Pilgrim halted, shook his feathers, and became a red phoenix, which gave a loud cry. When the white crane saw that the phoenix was the king of birds, and that all other fowl dared not move rashly, it swooped straight down the cliff, changed its shape, and became a musk deer, looking askance as it grazed at the foot of the cliff. Pilgrim recognized it, and also dropped his wings, becoming a hungry tiger, with its tail curled and running at full speed, intending to chase the musk deer as food. The Bull King, in great panic, then turned into a great leopard with golden coin-like spots, meaning to harm the hungry tiger. When Pilgrim saw this, he faced the wind, shook his head, and became a golden-eyed mythical lion, with a voice like thunder, an iron forehead and a bronze head, turning around to devour the great leopard. The Bull King, hard pressed, then turned into a brown bear, stretching out its legs to seize the mythical lion. Pilgrim rolled over and became a great elephant, with a trunk like a long snake and tusks like bamboo shoots, spreading its trunk to coil around the brown bear.

The Bull King gave a chuckle and revealed his true form: a great white bull, with a head like a towering mountain ridge, eyes that flashed like lightning, two horns like iron pagodas, teeth arrayed like sharp blades, from head to tail over a thousand fathoms long, and from hoof to back eight hundred fathoms high. Facing Pilgrim, he cried out loudly, "You cursed ape! What can you do to me now?" Pilgrim also revealed his true form, drew out his gold-banded cudgel, bent his waist, and shouted, "Grow!" He grew to a height of ten thousand fathoms, his head like Mount Tai, his eyes like the sun and moon, his mouth like a pool of blood, his teeth like gate panels, and holding his iron staff, he struck at the head. The Bull King hardened his head and used his horns to butt. This battle truly shook the ridges and rocked the mountains, startling heaven and moving earth. There is a poem to witness. The poem says:

When the Way rises one foot, the demon rises a thousand;

The clever heart-ape uses force to subdue.

If the fiery mountain is to have no blazing flames,

The precious fan must bring cooling breeze.

The yellow hag is determined to aid the elder,

The wood mother shows mercy to sweep away the fiend.

Harmonizing the five elements returns to true fruit,

Refining the demon and washing away filth, they ascend to the West.

These two displayed their vast supernatural powers, contending in the midst of the mountains, startling all the spirit hosts passing through the void, together with the Golden-Headed Revealer, the Six Dings and Six Jias, and the Eighteen Guardians of the Faith, who all came to surround the demon king. The demon king was utterly unafraid; you could see him, now east, now west, his two straight, gleaming iron horns thrusting back and forth; now south, now north, his single stiff tail, bristling with hair and bulging with sinews, lashing left and right. The Great Sage Sun faced him head-on, while the many spirits struck from all sides. The Bull King, in desperation, rolled on the ground, resumed his true form, and fled toward the Banana Cave. Pilgrim also withdrew his magical form and, together with the many spirits, pursued him. The demon king rushed into the cave and closed the door, refusing to come out. The entire host surrounded Green Cloud Mountain so tightly that not even water could seep through.

Just as they were all attacking the gate, they heard Eight Rules, the local spirit, and the infernal soldiers noisily approaching. When Pilgrim saw him, he asked, "How did things go at the Cloud-Touching Cave?" Eight Rules laughed and said, "That old bull's wife—I killed her with one rake blow. When I stripped off her clothes, I saw she was a jade-faced fox spirit. That whole bunch of demons were all donkeys, mules, calves, bullocks, badgers, foxes, raccoon-dogs, river deer, goats, tigers, elk, and deer—all of them have been wiped out. I also set fire to the halls and corridors of his cave. The local spirit said he still has another family living on this mountain, so I came here to clean them out too." Pilgrim said, "Worthy brother, you have done meritorious service; this is joyful, most joyful. Old Monkey struggled with the old bull over transformations but did not win. He changed into an enormous white bull, and I changed into a body that fills heaven and earth. While we were butting heads, by good fortune many spirits descended and besieged him for a long time. Then he resumed his own form and went into the cave." Eight Rules asked, "Is that the Banana Cave?" Pilgrim said, "Exactly so, exactly so. The Rakshasa Woman is right here." Eight Rules said fiercely, "If that's the case, why don't we break in, wipe out that beast, and demand the fan from him? Instead, we let him stay put and grow cunning, while that couple talks over old times."

This fine idiot, summoning his prowess, raised his rake and struck at the gate. With a sudden crash, he smashed one side of the stone cliff and the gate. Startled, a maidservant hurriedly reported, "Master, I don't know who has broken down the front gate." The Bull King had just rushed inside, panting, and was telling the Rakshasa Woman about the fight with Pilgrim over the fan when he heard this report. In great anger, he spat out the fan from his mouth and handed it to the Rakshasa Woman. The Rakshasa Woman took the fan in her hands, tears streaming from her eyes, and said, "Great King, give this fan to that ape and tell him to withdraw his troops." The Bull King said, "Wife, though the object is small, the hatred is deep. Just sit here, and let me go and fight him again." The demon readjusted his armor, selected a pair of swords, and went out the door. Just then he encountered Eight Rules, who was about to rake the gate. The old bull, without another word, drew his sword and struck at Eight Rules' head. Eight Rules raised his rake to parry, then retreated several paces. As he came out of the gate, the Great Sage Sun was already swinging his staff at the Bull King's head. The Bull King summoned a fierce wind and leaped out of the cave, and they again clashed on Green Cloud Mountain. The many spirits surrounded them on all sides, while the local spirit's soldiers attacked from left and right. This was another excellent slaughter:

Clouds obscured the world, mist covered heaven and earth.

The whistling dark wind sent sand and stones rolling;

The towering fury made the sea's waves muddy.

He sharpened his pair of swords again,

And donned his full suit of armor.

The grudge they bore was deep as the sea,

Their hatred grew into rage.

You see the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, for the sake of his merit,

Did not recall the old friendship of former days.

Eight Rules displayed his might, seeking the fan,

And the spirits protected the Dharma, capturing the Bull Lord.

The Bull King's hands never rested,

Parrying left and blocking right, exhausting his spirit.

They fought until passing birds could hardly fly and folded their wings,

And swimming fish dared not leap but hid their scales.

Ghosts wept and spirits howled, heaven and earth grew dark;

Dragons grieved and tigers feared, the sunlight dimmed.

The Bull King fought with his life and limb. After more than fifty rounds, unable to resist, he was defeated and fled north. But soon he was blocked by the Vast and Mighty, Unbounded and Wonderful Diamond King of the Secret Demon Cliff on Mount Wutai, who shouted, "Bull Demon, where are you going? I have been sent by the Buddha Shakyamuni to spread a heaven-and-earth net and capture you here." Just as he spoke, Pilgrim, Eight Rules, and the many spirits came up from behind. The demon king, in panic, turned and fled south, only to run into the Victorious and Supreme Diamond King of Boundless Dharma Power of the Pure and Cool Cave on Mount Emei, who blocked his way, shouting, "I have received the Buddha's decree to capture you here." The Bull King, his heart flustered and his legs weak, hastily turned east, but met the Vairocana, All-Powerful Diamond King of the Mo'er Cliff on Mount Sumeru, who confronted him, shouting, "Where are you going, old bull? I have received a secret command from the Tathagata to capture you." The Bull King, terrified, retreated and fled west, only to encounter the Indestructible, Eternal and Ever-Abiding Diamond King of the Golden Glow Ridge on Mount Kunlun, who blocked him, shouting, "Where do you think you're going, beast? I have received the personal command of the Buddha of the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the West to guard this pass. Who would let you go?"

The old bull was terrified, full of regret that came too late. Seeing that on all four sides there were Buddha soldiers and heavenly generals, truly like a high-spread net from which he could not escape, and in the midst of his panic, he heard Pilgrim leading his host in pursuit. He mounted his cloud and fled upward. But just then, Heavenly King Li the Pagoda-Bearer and Prince Nezha, leading Fish-Belly Yakshas and the Mighty Miracle God, blocked the sky, shouting, "Hold! Hold! We are here by the Jade Emperor's decree to exterminate you." The Bull King, desperate, shook himself and once again transformed, turning back into a great white bull, and used his two iron horns to gore the Heavenly King. The Heavenly King drew his sword to strike. Then Pilgrim arrived. Prince Nezha cried out in a loud voice, "Great Sage, I have my armor on and cannot bow. Yesterday my father and I saw the Buddha send a dispatch to the Jade Emperor, saying that the Tang Monk was blocked by the Fiery Mountain and that the Great Sage Sun could not subdue the Bull Demon. The Jade Emperor issued a decree, specially sending my father and me to lead the host to lend our strength." Pilgrim said, "This beast's powers are no small thing; he has transformed into this huge body again—what can be done?" The prince laughed and said, "Great Sage, do not doubt. Watch me capture him."

This prince then shouted, "Change!" He became three-headed and six-armed, flew up and landed on the Bull King's back, and swung the demon-slaying sword at his neck. In a flash, the bull's head was cut off. The Heavenly King sheathed his sword and then came to greet Pilgrim. But from the Bull King's neck another head emerged, spouting black breath and flashing golden light. Nezha struck again with his sword, cutting off this head, but another one grew out at once. After a dozen or more strokes, a dozen or more heads grew in their place. Nezha took out his fire wheel and hung it on the old bull's horns, then blew true fire, which blazed fiercely, burning the Bull King so that he raged and bellowed, shaking his head and lashing his tail. Just as he was about to transform and escape, the Pagoda-Bearer Heavenly King shone the Demon-Reflecting Mirror upon his true form, immobilizing him so that he could not move and had no means of escape. He cried out only, "Do not kill me! I am willing to submit to the Buddha." Nezha said, "If you treasure your life, bring out the fan quickly." The Bull King said, "The fan is kept by my wife."

When Nezha heard this, he untied his demon-binding rope, put it around the bull's neck, seized the snout, threaded the rope through the nostrils, and led him by hand. The Great Sage Sun then gathered together the Four Diamond Kings, the Six Dings and Six Jias, the Guardians of the Faith, the Pagoda-Bearer Heavenly King, the Mighty Miracle God, and also Eight Rules, the local spirit, and the infernal soldiers. They all crowded around the white bull and returned to the mouth of the Banana Cave. The old bull called out, "Wife, bring out the fan and save my life." When the Rakshasa heard this call, she quickly removed her hair ornaments, took off her colorful clothes, twisted her black hair into a Daoist bun, and dressed in plain white like a nun. With both hands she held up the banana fan, which was over twelve feet long, and came out of the door. Seeing the Diamond Kings and all the holy beings, as well as the Heavenly King and his son, she hastily fell to her knees, kowtowed and bowed, saying, "I beg the Bodhisattvas to spare my husband's and my lives. I am willing to offer this fan to Uncle Sun to complete his success." Pilgrim stepped forward and took the fan, then with the whole company mounted auspicious clouds and headed straight back eastward.

Then the elder Sanzang and Sha Monk stood for a while, sat for a while, anxiously looking for Pilgrim, who had been gone a long time without returning. Suddenly they saw auspicious clouds filling the sky and radiant light covering the ground as a host of deities drifted near. The elder, frightened, said, “Wujing, which divine troops are those over there?” Sha Monk recognized them and said, “Master, those are the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the Golden-Headed Revealer, the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Guardians of the Faith, and the passing deities. The one leading the ox is the Third Prince Nezha, the one holding the mirror is Heavenly King Li of the Pagoda. Eldest Brother holds the banana fan, Second Brother and the local spirit follow behind, and the rest are protective divine soldiers.” When Sanzang heard this, he changed into his Vairocana hat, donned his cassock, and with Wujing bowed to welcome the host of deities, thanking them, saying, “What virtue or ability do I, your disciple, have, to presume to trouble so many honored saints to descend to the mortal world?” The Four Great Heavenly Kings said, “Holy monk, rejoice! Your merit is nearly complete. We have been sent by the Buddha’s decree to aid you. You must strive diligently in your cultivation and not slacken for an instant.” Sanzang kowtowed, clicking his teeth, and accepted the command.

The Great Sage Sun, holding the fan, approached the mountain and, with all his strength, waved it once. The Flaming Mountain’s flames subsided evenly, and the light vanished silently. Pilgrim, delighted, waved it a second time, and a gentle, rustling breeze stirred. With the third wave, the sky filled with dense clouds and a fine drizzle began to fall. There is a poem as testimony. The poem says:

The Flaming Mountain stretches eight hundred miles,

Its fiery light and fame spread across the earth.

Fire torments the five viscera, the elixir hard to refine;

Fire scorches the three passes, the Way hard to clarify.

Now with the banana fan, sweet rain descends,

Thanks to celestial generals who wield their divine power.

Leading the ox to submit to the Buddha, cease your wild ways;

Water and fire unite, nature becomes peaceful.

At this time, Sanzang shed his burning distress and calmed his heart.

The four followed the true path, thanked the Heavenly Kings, and each returned to their sacred mountains. The Six Ding and Six Jia rose into the air to protect them. The passing deities scattered in all directions. The Heavenly King and the prince, leading the ox, returned directly to the Buddha’s realm to report. Only the local spirit of this mountain, escorting the Rakshasa woman, waited nearby.

Pilgrim said, “Rakshasa, why don’t you go? What are you waiting here for?” Rakshasa knelt and said, “I earnestly beg the Great Sage’s mercy; please return the fan to me.” Eight Rules scolded, “Wretched woman, you don’t know your place. Spared your life is enough, yet you still ask for the fan? We carried it over the mountain—are we to sell it for snacks? After all this effort, do you think we’d give it to you? With the rain falling, why don’t you hurry back?” Rakshasa begged again, “The Great Sage said before that once the fire was out, he would return it. Now that this whole affair has happened, I regret it too late. Only because I failed to recognize the times did I cause such a commotion. I too have cultivated into human form, but have not yet attained the true fruit. Now that my true body is revealed, I turn to the West and dare not act recklessly again. I beg you to grant me the fan, that I may become a new person and cultivate my nature.” The local spirit said, “Great Sage, as this woman understands the method to extinguish the fire completely, to uproot its source, it would be a kindness and convenience to return the fan to her. Then I could dwell here in peace, save the people of this region, and seek some incense offerings.” Pilgrim said, “I asked the villagers before: when this mountain’s fire is fanned out, it yields grain for only one year, then the fire returns. How can it be eradicated at the root?” Rakshasa said, “To cut off the fire’s root, you need only fan forty-nine times, and the fire will never flare up again.”

When Pilgrim heard this, he took the fan and, using all his strength, fanned the mountain peak forty-nine times in succession. Then a great downpour fell on the mountain. Truly it was a precious treasure: where there was fire, rain fell; where there was no fire, the sky cleared. The stood in the rainless area, not getting wet.

They sat through the night, and the next morning they readied the horse and luggage, returning the fan to Rakshasa. Pilgrim said, “Old Sun, if I didn’t give it back, others might say I’m untrustworthy. Take your fan and return to your mountain; cause no more trouble. Since you have attained human form, I’ll let you go.” Rakshasa received the fan, chanted a spell, pinched it into a shape like an apricot leaf, and placed it in her mouth. She thanked the host of deities, then went into seclusion to cultivate, later achieving the true fruit, her name remembered for ages in the Buddhist canon. Rakshasa and the local spirit, grateful for the kindness, saw them off. Pilgrim, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk, protecting Sanzang, then moved forward, truly feeling cool and refreshed, with moisture beneath their feet. Indeed:

The Kan and Li united, the true essence joins;

Water and fire balanced, the great Way completes.

After all, who knows how many years it would be before they returned to the East? Listen to the explanation in the next chapter.