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21 Jindou Cave

Suddenly the house vanished and a demon stronghold took its place. Several hideous-looking imps emerged from a cave, seized the white horse, carried off the luggage, and dragged the Tang Monk and his disciples back into the cave. The old demon sat enthroned and asked the Tang Monk, "How dare you, monk, steal my garments in broad daylight!" The Tang Monk begged, "This poor monk has come from the great Tang in the East, on a mission to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and fetch the scriptures. My foolish disciple alone caused this offense against your holy ground. I beg your majesty to show mercy and let my master and disciples pass westward!" The old demon laughed out loud. "They say that eating the Tang Monk's flesh grants eternal life. You come uninvited today; what a stroke of fortune!" Bajie shouted, "Old monster! Let us go at once. My elder brother is the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, who wrecked the heavenly palace five hundred years ago! When he returns, your life won't be worth a straw!" The old demon hesitated a moment, then ordered his followers, "Lads, first strip the two treasures from Bajie and Sandy and bind them tight. Once we catch Sun Wukong, we'll steam the whole lot and eat them." Meanwhile Wukong, riding the somersault cloud south to beg a meal, came to a village cottage. Seeing an old man leaning on a wooden staff, he stepped forward and asked, "Venerable donor! My master is journeying west to fetch the scriptures and is passing through your honored village. I beg a meal; please, old sir, do me the favor!" The old man shook his head. "Reverend, the road to the Western Heaven is a thousand li from here; you must have lost your way." Wukong laughed, "True! True! I won't hide it from you, old sir; one somersault of mine is a hundred and eight thousand li. To come here and beg a meal takes barely the time of a cup of tea." The old man cried that he had seen a ghost, fled indoors and barred the door. The Great Sage did not force his way in, but cast a spell of invisibility and slipped into the house. In the kitchen a great pot of rice was steaming away. Wukong's heart leaped, he filled an alms bowl to the brim, and rose again on his cloud. Wukong returned to the foot of the mountain, but the master was nowhere to be seen. Looking up again, he saw that the building in the fold of the hills had turned into a jagged mass of strange rocks. Convinced the master had come to harm, Wukong flew into a rage. He whipped the golden-hooped rod from his ear, shook it in the wind until it was as thick as a rice-bowl, slammed it into the ground, and roared, "Bold Mountain God and Earth God! Old Sun is here. Show yourselves at once and come before me!" The Mountain God and Earth God hurried forth and fell to their knees before Wukong, kowtowing for forgiveness. The Mountain God said, "This mountain is called Mount Jindou. Ahead is Jindou Cave, and the One-Horned Rhinoceros King within has vast powers and mighty magic. Your master and brothers have all been carried off. We lesser gods are truly helpless; we beg the Great Sage to calm his anger!" The Earth God added, "The One-Horned Rhinoceros King is no ordinary foe. The Great Sage must take great care on this errand!" Wukong sneered, "Old Sun would like to see just what tricks this One-Horned King has up his sleeve!" So saying, he handed the alms bowl to the Earth God and went straight for the demon's cave. Wukong came before the gate of Jindou Cave. A group of imps were brandishing spears and swords. He shouted fiercely, "Run and tell your cave-master that I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven. Tell him to send my master, the Tang Monk, out at once, or his life is forfeit!" The imps, hearing this, scurried back into the cave to report. Before long, a blue-faced, long-tusked old demon with a steel spear in his hand came bursting out at the head of a band of imps, roaring, "Which one of you is Sun Wukong? How dare you speak such wild words!" Wukong answered, "Your Grandpa Sun is right here. Send my master out this instant, or a single word of refusal will leave you without a place to bury your corpse!" The old demon leveled his spear and said, "You ape! Your master stole my treasure robe, and I have caught him. Beat me if you can, and I will spare his life!" Wukong blazed with anger. "My master is kind and good; how could he steal a demon's goods? Enough of your lies. Take this!" Without finishing the word, he swung the golden-hooped rod and brought it down on the old demon's head. Seeing the rod descend, the old demon hurriedly raised his spear to meet it. The two spread out their battle-line and joined combat. Wukong's rod darted like a bolt of golden serpent lightning, sweeping and slashing before and behind. The old demon's spear wove like a dragon rising from the black sea, parrying left and right. They fought more than thirty rounds without either gaining the upper hand.

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