Home > Journey to the West > 17-fire-cloud-cave

17 Fire Cloud Cave

Wukong returned to the pine forest and laughed heartily, proudly telling Sandy how he had taken advantage of Red Boy. Sandy sighed, "Brother, you covet this small advantage, but I fear Master's life is hard to protect!" Wukong said, "Don't worry; wait while I go and invite the Bodhisattva." Sandy said, "Does your waist still hurt?" Wukong said, "As the ancients say, 'When a man meets a happy event his spirit is refreshed.' It doesn't hurt anymore!" As he spoke he left Sandy and mounted a cloud. Wukong arrived at the Southern Sea and saw Guanyin. He told how Red Boy had captured his master and deceived and captured Bajie. The Bodhisattva was greatly angered and said, "How dare that demon take my appearance!" She threw the pure vase in her hand into the sea. Wukong thought, "This Bodhisattva has quite a temper, throwing away her pure vase. What a pity, what a pity!" Then he saw the sea surge and a giant turtle emerge carrying the vase on its back, climbing to the cliff's edge. The Bodhisattva called to Wukong, "Fetch the vase." Wukong went down to take it but it was like a dragonfly trying to shake a stone pillar; he could not move it the slightest. Wukong had to say, "Bodhisattva, your disciple suffered at the demon's hands today and is weak; I cannot lift this pure vase." The Bodhisattva said, "Usually it is an empty vase, but now it has been thrown into the sea and contains one sea's worth of water. How could you have the strength to lift a sea? That is why you cannot move it." She also ordered the boy Huian to go to the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and borrow the Heavenly Gang blades. The Bodhisattva threw out the Heavenly Gang blades and recited a spell; the blades turned into a thousand-petaled lotus throne. She mounted it and sat upright in the center. Wukong smiled inwardly, "This Bodhisattva knows how to be thrifty; she is unwilling to sit on her own five-colored precious lotus throne and instead borrows one from someone else." The Bodhisattva said, "Speak less and follow me." She and Wukong mounted a cloud together and left the Southern Sea. Arriving at Mount Hao, the Bodhisattva halted her auspicious cloud and recited a spell; many mountain and earth gods emerged all around and knelt together. She ordered them to move all living beings within three hundred li to other places temporarily. The Bodhisattva then tipped the pure vase and poured out the water; in a moment the surroundings turned into a vast ocean. She took out the body-binding spell from her sleeve and transformed it into the Potalaka fairyland, truly like the Southern Sea paradise. The Bodhisattva told Wukong to stretch out his left hand. She dipped the willow branch in sweet dew and wrote the character "Bewilder" in his palm, instructing, "Clench your fist, go lure that demon here, and I will use my dharma power to subdue him." Wukong received the order and came to the Fiery Cloud Cave gate, shouting, "Demon, open the gate!" He struck the gate with his club and made a hole. Red Boy was inside resenting Wukong. Hearing the shout he immediately leaped out of the cave and thrust with his spear; Wukong met him with his club. After four or five rounds Wukong clenched his fist and feigned defeat. Red Boy stood before the mountain and said, "No more fighting; I am going to wash the Tang Monk!" Wukong said, "Good son, come here!" Red Boy grew even more angry and charged again with his spear. Wukong engaged for a few rounds, then opened his palm, turned, and fled. Red Boy, bewildered, pursued him recklessly.

 7/9   Home Previous 5 6 7 8 9 Next Last