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21 Jindou Cave

Wukong went up to the mountaintop, returned the weapons to the gods, and with a single shake of his body gathered back the hairs. The gods all heaped him with praise. Meanwhile the One-Horned King, ring in hand, pushed and beat the fire this way and that, and only at dawn did he succeed in putting out the flames in every part of the cave. He took stock of the stronghold. The Tang Monk, Bajie and the others were all safe and sound, but every weapon and fire-tool had been lost without a trace. The One-Horned King was in a towering rage. He burst out of the cave and, seeing Wukong and the gods all arrived, cursed at Wukong, "You thieving, arsonist ape-monkey! You shall be the death of me. Have at you with my spear!" So saying he lunged with his spear. Wukong sprang aside, dodged the thrust, and swung his rod to strike at the old demon. The gods, beside themselves with fury, each let loose their magic treasures; some struck thunder, some loosed fire, and in an instant a thousand divine weapons and wondrous instruments rained down together on the One-Horned King. The One-Horned King shook his sleeves in haste, took out the steel ring and hurled it into the air. The gods had no time to dodge, and with a whoosh every weapon and wondrous instrument in the sky was drawn into the ring. The One-Horned King gathered up the ring and returned in triumph. The gods looked at one another, at a loss, and could only return to the mountaintop to plan again. Wukong consoled them, "Do not be troubled, gentlemen. As the saying goes, the Buddhist dharma is boundless. Let old Sun go to the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Heaven and ask the Buddha Tathagata whether he knows the origin of this demon." So saying, he sprang away. With a single somersault Wukong came to Spirit Mountain. He settled his cloud, looked up and saw the ancient Thunderclap Temple wreathed in immortal mist, with phoenixes dancing and simurghs soaring; it was indeed a place of pure and ethereal beauty. Wukong was about to go on when a Bhikshuni elder came forward with palms joined, asking, "Great Sage, since you have come to see the Buddha, why do you not enter the holy temple, instead of standing here admiring the scenery?" Wukong hurried forward and saluted, "Do not take offense, Reverend. Old Sun has come to this honored place for the first time; please go in and announce me!" The Bhikshuni elder led Wukong to the Great Thunderclap Temple, where they saw the eight great vajras standing on either side of the gate, awe-inspiring in their grandeur. After the formal announcement, the elder led Wukong into the Hall of the Great Hero. Wukong came before the Buddha Tathagata, bowed his head and said, "My master passed through Mount Jindou and was seized by the One-Horned King of Jindou Cave. That monster has a steel ring that can gather in all things. I beg the Buddha to cast his dharma-eye and show this disciple what the fiend's true origin is, so that I may subdue the demon and rescue my master." The Buddha smiled. "If I were to tell you the demon's origin, I fear he would make a fuss and come to Spirit Mountain to complain of me. I have here eighteen grains of golden cinnabar sand, which can trap the demon's body so that you may beat him as you please!" The Buddha at once issued a decree, ordering the eighteen arhats to open the treasure pavilion and take the golden cinnabar sand to accompany Wukong to subdue the demon. Wukong thanked the Buddha and left Spirit Mountain with the arhats. When he turned to look, the two arhats Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming were missing. Wukong was just beginning to call out when the two arhats came up on their clouds, laughing, "Do not be suspicious, Great Sage! The Buddha has words for you, and so we lingered a little on the way." When they reached Mount Jindou, the arhats halted among the clouds and Wukong went forward to challenge the enemy. The One-Horned King, hearing the cursing outside the cave, asked, "Who has that ape-monkey brought this time?" An imp reported, "We humbly inform Your Majesty, the one shouting the challenge is Sun Wukong alone." The One-Horned King took up his steel spear, leaped out of the cave and called, "You have failed to beat me time and again; what are you back for? Go home while you can. Those three monks of mine are already washed and ready, and I'm about to slaughter and eat them!" Wukong flew into a rage, darted forward, struck the old demon a fist full in the face, then turned and sprang back out of the cave-mouth. The old demon, not seeing through the ruse, gave chase. The arhats, seeing that the ruse had worked, hurriedly hurled down the golden cinnabar sand together. The sand, like smoke and mist, drifted down in dense clouds, so that the old demon could hardly lift a step and could not open his eyes. The old demon, seeing things go against him, hurriedly took down the steel ring and flung it into the air. With a whoosh the overwhelming golden cinnabar sand was drawn entirely into the ring. The old demon gathered up the ring, puffed up with pride, and strode back to his cave.

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