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14 Wave Moon Cave

Hearing the call, the Yellow-Robe Demon dropped Bajie and Sandy, lowered his cloud, and supported the princess as he asked, "Wife, what do you wish to say?" The princess said, "Husband, for my sake, spare the monk in the cave. Consider it as my act of offering alms to a monk to fulfill a vow." The Yellow-Robe Demon had always doted on the princess and agreed, "Very well, I'll let him go. If I want to eat people, where can't I find a few to eat?" The princess said, "Husband, I was anxious and have already let the monk out the back gate." The Yellow-Robe Demon replied, "That's fine too." The Yellow-Robe Demon put away his steel blade and shouted, "Zhu Bajie, listen! For my wife's sake, I spare your master. Go quickly to the back gate and find him, then continue west. If you come again to trouble my cave, I will show no mercy!" Bajie and Sandy could not defeat the Yellow-Robe Demon. Hearing this, they hurriedly led the horse and carried the load around to the back gate of Wave-Moon Cave, found the Tang Monk, and went west. The master and three disciples walked stage after stage and traveled for several days, covering two hundred and ninety li without realizing it. Looking up sharply, they saw a city ahead: the Kingdom of Baoxiang had arrived. Entering the city, the Tang Monk went to court and met the king, exchanged the travel permit, and memorialized, "Your Majesty's third princess was captured by a demon. By chance she met this poor monk and entrusted a family letter." As he spoke, he took the letter from his sleeve and presented it. The king took the letter, opened it, and read it. Tears filled his eyes as he said, "Thirteen years ago my daughter disappeared. I searched so many times without result; it turns out she was captured by a demon!" The king wept for a long time and asked the civil and military officials, "Who dares lead troops to Wave-Moon Cave, capture the demon, and rescue Princess Baihuaxiu?" He asked several times, but no one dared answer. The king was utterly distressed, tears pouring like a spring. The officials all knelt and reported, "Your Majesty, we are all mortals and no match for a demon. The holy monk comes from the east and must have the power to subdue demons and vanquish evil; we may ask him for help." The king hurriedly said to the Tang Monk, "I beg you, Elder, to subdue the demon and rescue my daughter. I will share riches and honor with you." The Tang Monk could not bear to refuse and reported, "This poor monk cannot subdue demons, but my two disciples have some magical powers." The king hurriedly invited Bajie and Sandy to the hall and asked, "Elder Bajie and Elder Sandy, which of you is skilled at subduing demons?" Bajie, not knowing better, answered, "This Old Pig is the Marshal Tianpeng reborn on earth. I know thirty-six transformations; subduing a few demons is nothing." The king said, "Elder, transform and let me see." Bajie stood before the steps, recited a spell, and shouted, "Grow!" Arching his back, he grew eight or nine zhang tall, like a path-clearing god. The civil and military officials trembled with fear, and the king was dumbstruck. Bajie was very pleased and shouted, "What is this? If Old Pig keeps growing, I'll poke a hole in the blue sky!" When Bajie finished, he returned to his normal size and stood again before the steps. The king was greatly pleased and personally poured two cups of imperial wine, brought them forward, and asked Bajie and Sandy to subdue the demon. The two agreed readily, took the wine, and drank it down. The two took leave of the Tang Monk and the king, leaped onto clouds, and headed straight for Wave-Moon Cave. In no time they reached the cave mouth. Bajie swung his rake and struck the stone gate, knocking a bucket-sized hole in it.

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