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22 The Kingdom of Western Liang

At that moment the Tang Monk was enduring his pain with groans, and Bajie kept moaning without stop. Wukong teased Bajie, "Fool, stop moaning — save your strength for bearing children!" With that he and Sandy hurried back toward Jieyang Mountain. Arriving outside the nunnery gate, Wukong instructed Sandy, "You hide to one side. While old Sun fights that man, seize the chance to go inside, draw water, and leave." Then he shouted at the gate, "Open up quickly — Grandpa Sun is back again!" Hearing this inside, the True Immortal snatched up his Ruyi hook, rushed out, and roared, "What does this impish monkey want now? If you want spring water, you shall not have so much as a drop!" Wukong cursed back, "I will beat you half to death, you wretch — then see if you give it or not!" The two fought fiercely all the way from the nunnery gate down to the foot of the slope. Sandy seized the chance to rush into the nunnery, filled a bucket to the brim with water, then stepped out through the gate and called to Wukong, "Elder brother, I have got the water — spare that demon fellow!" Wukong heard this, swept aside the hook with his golden-hooped rod, and said, "For the sake of your being the Bull Demon King's brother, I spare your life. If old Sun used his true skill, ten of you would already be dead!" The True Immortal, knowing no gratitude, charged forward again to hook at Wukong's feet, but Wukong shoved him flat on his back. Wukong snatched the Ruyi hook, snapped it into four pieces, threw it on the ground, and said, "Beast — do you still dare to behave rudely?" The True Immortal trembled and dared not speak again. Only then did Wukong and Sandy mount a cloud together and return to the village cottage. The Tang Monk and Bajie each drank half a bowl of the water; at last the pain stopped, the blood lumps dissolved, and the swelling subsided. More than half a bucket of water remained, which Wukong gave to the old woman. She said happily, "Selling this water will be enough for my burial fund." She hastily prepared a vegetarian meal to entertain the Tang Monk and his disciples. The next day the master and disciples took leave of the old woman and continued westward. Before they had gone thirty li they reached the border of the Women's Kingdom of Western Liang. The Tang Monk warned his disciples, "In this kingdom of women we must be cautious and careful — let us not violate the rules of Buddhism." Arriving outside the East Gate, they saw that everyone here wore long skirts and short jackets, with oiled hair and powdered faces — young and old, all were women. When they saw the Tang Monk and his disciples they clapped their hands and laughed, "The seed of man has come! The seed of man has come!" Three women make a scene — let alone a street full of them. In moments the road was packed, and all around was laughter and cheerful talk. Seeing the crowd grow too thick, Wukong said to Bajie, "Fool — show them your ugly face!" Bajie shook his head twice, raised his fan-sized ears, wriggled his pig snout, and let out a shout. The women started, shrank back several steps in trembling fear, yet could not bear to leave and all gazed at the Tang Monk from afar. The master and disciples walked on further, where they saw a female official standing by the street, announcing loudly, "Travelers from afar may not enter the city gates without leave. Please go first to the guest hostel, write down your names, and wait until I have reported to Her Majesty the Queen — only then may you pass." The female official ushered the master and disciples into the guest hostel. Wukong said, "We are monks come from the Eastern Land of Great Tang to fetch the scriptures. My master is the Imperial Brother of the King of Tang, known as Tripitaka." The official noted everything down and said politely, "I am the post-station commander of this district. Please wait a moment while I report to Her Majesty the Queen and arrange for you gentlemen to continue westward." The post-station commander went to court and reported to the Queen. Overjoyed, she addressed her civil and military officials, "Since the founding of our kingdom no man has ever come here. Now the Imperial Brother of the King of Tang has arrived — surely he is a gift from Heaven. I am willing to offer the wealth of a whole kingdom and take the Imperial Brother as king. I will become his queen, bear him sons and grandsons, and pass on the imperial line forever."

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