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18 Black Water River

Crown Prince Mo'ang led his forces to the gates of the Black Water River's underwater palace. The little demons at the gate, seeing them, ran inside to report. The monster within, hearing the news, said in puzzlement, "I sent for my second uncle. Why is it my cousin who has come, and with a host of soldiers?" A sudden wariness seized him, and he bade the little demons be on their guard. The monster came out beyond the gate and called loudly, "Elder Cousin, your younger brother is here to greet you. I sent my men this very morning to invite my uncle. Cousin, surely you are sent by him?" The prince, a three-edged mace in his hand, strode forward and asked in reply, "Why have you invited your uncle?" The monster said, "My uncle graciously granted me a home here, and I have no way to repay his kindness. Yesterday I captured the Tang Monk, and have heard that his flesh can prolong life, so I invited my uncle to come and partake." The prince thundered, "Ignorant fool! The Tang Monk has an elder disciple by the name of Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, who five hundred years ago defied the heavenly court. Send the Tang Monk and Bajie to the riverside at once, and make your apologies to Sun Wukong!" The monster roared back, "Shall I release the Tang Monk on the strength of two words from you? There is no such bargain in the world. You may fear that Sun Wukong; I do not! If he has the skill, let him come and fight me three bouts, and then I will let his Master go." The prince cursed him, "You blockhead who does not know death from life! You cannot even prevail against me, and yet you would match yourself with Sun Wukong?" The monster retorted, "Then I shall first try Cousin's skill!" He called out, "Lads! Bring my steel whip!" The monster took the steel whip from the little demon who presented it, turned against the prince, and there in the water the two fell to fighting. Back and forth they went, a fierce bout indeed. After a few exchanges, the prince purposely exposed a flaw. The monster, failing to see the trick, lunged in with a whip stroke. The prince ducked aside, and turning his hand, dealt the monster a blow with his mace that brought him crashing to the ground. The sea soldiers swarmed upon the monster, bound him fast, drove an iron lock through the bones of his shoulders, and hauled him ashore to be brought before Wukong. The prince bowed and said, "The fiend is now in chains. May the Great Sage decide his fate." Wukong said to the monster, "You wretch, abusing your power to do evil — you are utterly hateful. Tell me at once, truthfully, where you have hidden my Master." The monster kowtowed and said, "I thank the Great Sage for sparing my life. Your Master is still held in the underwater palace. Pray unbind my iron lock and let me go into the river and bring him out." The prince, hearing this at his side, stopped him again and again. Sandy could wait no longer. He said, "I know the place. I shall go and find Master." He and the river god leapt into the water. When they came to the gates of the underwater palace, the doors were thrown wide open and the little demons had all fled. Entering the pavilion, they found the Tang Monk and Bajie both bound there. Sandy hastened to loose their bonds, and he and the river god each took one upon his back, rising through the water and returning to the bank. Bajie, catching sight of the monster, was so enraged that he swung his rake to strike, cursing as he did, "You brute! So you won't eat me now?" Wukong held him back, saying, "Bajie, for the sake of Ao Shun and his son, let him be."

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