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17 Fire Cloud Cave

Wukong took advantage of the demons' inattention, plucked a hair, blew on it with immortal breath, and turned it into a bundle. His true body, however, changed into a fly and perched on the door hinge. After searching for a moment he heard Bajie cursing from inside the leather bag, "Damn demon, you tricked Old Pig into coming here. Wait until my brother displays his boundless Great Sage arts and captures all the wild demons on the mountain at once. Release me from this leather bag and I will thrust a thousand rakes into you to my heart's content!" Wukong listened and laughed inwardly; this fool had been captured but had not lost his spirit. He was about to devise a way to rescue Bajie when he saw Red Boy call over his trusted "Six Bold Generals" named Yunliwu, Wuliyun, Jiruhuo, Kuaisifeng, Xinghongxian, and Xianhongxing, and order them, "Go invite the Old Great King and tell him I ask him to come eat Tang Monk flesh." The six demons received the order and left. Wukong thought, "Let old Sun trick them." He flew ahead of the six small demons and transformed into the Bull Demon King. He plucked more hairs and turned them into several small demons, each leading hounds and flying hawks, drawing bows and fitting arrows, pretending to hunt. The six small demons were chattering along the road when they suddenly saw the Bull Demon King seated ahead. They hastily knelt and said, "Old Great King, grandfather, the Holy Infant Great King of the Fiery Cloud Cave has sent us humble ones to invite you, grandfather, to come eat Tang Monk flesh." Wukong smiled, "What good, obedient children; very well, I will go with you." The six demons perked up and led the way; Wukong followed behind. Before long they reached the cave. Red Boy was overjoyed at the report and ordered the demons to beat gongs and drums and line up to welcome him. Wukong held his head high and strode straight into the cave. Red Boy invited Wukong to sit in the center and himself knelt and kowtowed. Wukong said, "Child, no need for courtesy; why did you seek me?" Red Boy bowed and said, "Yesterday I captured the Tang Monk. I heard that eating his flesh can grant long life, so I especially invited Father to share it." Wukong shook his head and said, "My son, Tang Monk flesh must absolutely not be eaten! His eldest disciple is Sun Wukong. That monkey's powers are vast; in those days he made havoc in Heaven and a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers could not subdue him. Return the Tang Monk quickly and do not invite disaster." Hearing this, Red Boy could not help frowning. Wukong waved his hand and said, "Now we cannot eat it! I have grown old lately, and your mother often urges me to do good deeds, so I have become a vegetarian." Red Boy grew more suspicious. He withdrew and walked out through the second gate, called the six demons, and asked, "Where did you invite the Old Great King from?" The small demon said, "We invited him halfway along the road." Red Boy asked again, "Didn't you go home?" The small demon said, "We did not go home." Red Boy realized he had been tricked. He ordered the small demons to ready their weapons and, when his command was given, to strike together. Red Boy returned inside and asked Wukong, "A few days ago I met Master Zhang the Celestial. He asked for my birth date and hour, but I was too young to remember. Please tell me, Father." Wukong had no way of knowing and had to smile and evade, "Your father is old and has forgotten for the moment. Wait until tomorrow when I return home and ask your mother." Red Boy said, "Father always recited my birth date and hour without fail; how could you forget today? I think you must be a fake!" At a single command the demons raised their blades and spears and hacked at Wukong's head and face. Wukong used his golden-hooped rod to parry, resumed his true form, and said to the demon with a smile, "My son, you are quite unreasonable. Which son strikes his father?" So saying he turned into a beam of golden light and rushed out of the cave. Red Boy was both ashamed and furious but could do nothing.

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