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22 The Kingdom of Western Liang

The Queen and her ministers, seeing this scene, were all thrown into panic. The Grand Tutor reported, "So they are Arhats capable of ascending by day, and the Imperial Brother Tang is a high monk of the Dao. We mistook men of China and wasted our efforts. Pray, Your Majesty, return to the palace." The Queen was deeply melancholy. She gazed toward the northwest for a long time before finally turning back with tears. Wukong shook himself and changed into a bee, slipped through a crack in the door, and inside he saw a demoness seated in the central flower hall, laughing, "Attendants, bring out the Imperial Brother Tang!" Several maids in colorful clothes appeared from behind, supporting the Tang Monk. The demoness descended from the hall, clutched the Tang Monk, and said, "Rest your heart, Imperial Brother. Though this place cannot match the riches of the Women's Kingdom, it is quiet and free — perfect for chanting Buddha's name and reading scriptures. Let us become husband and wife and live in harmony for a hundred years. Here we have meat-filled buns and bean-paste buns — eat some to calm your nerves." The Tang Monk thought to himself, "This is not like being in the Women's Kingdom — the Queen was an ordinary person who treated me with courtesy. This demoness is different. If I ignore her, she may harm me." So he rallied his spirits and said aloud, "This poor monk will eat the vegetarian buns." The demoness smiled, took one, broke it open, and handed it to the Tang Monk. Listening nearby to their conversation, Wukong feared his Master might lose his true nature. Unable to restrain himself, he revealed his true form, raised his rod, and shouted, "Rude beast!" At sight of him the demoness spewed smoke and light that enveloped the pavilion. She drew a three-pronged steel fork, sprang out of the pavilion, and cursed, "Impudent monkey — how dare you break into my home! Do not flee — taste my fork!" Wukong parried with his iron rod, fighting and retreating at once. The two fought all the way out of the cave. Bajie raised his rake and stepped forward, "Stand back, Brother Monkey — let me deal with this vile demoness!" The demoness said, "Think what two hairy creatures like you can do to me!" Unafraid, she brandished her fork and closed for battle. After much fighting, the demoness suddenly leaped, whipped out her poisoned tail-stinger, and stabbed Wukong on the head. Wukong could not endure the pain and fled in defeat. Seeing the situation turn against them, Bajie dragged his rake backward. The demoness did not pursue; she gathered her steel fork and returned to the cave. Wukong retreated to the foot of the slope, clutching his head and crying, "It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" Bajie laughed, "Brother Monkey, you always say your head has been trained and tempered — how can it not stand even one sting?" Sandy said, "We cannot fight again today. Let us rest for the night at the foot of the slope, recover our spirits, and speak of it tomorrow." So the three brothers tethered the white horse securely and settled down to rest. Meanwhile in Pipa Cave, the demoness pushed the Tang Monk into her bedchamber, lit candles and burned incense, and displayed her charms in every way to entice him. The Tang Monk's heart was set only on going west to fetch the scriptures. He kept his head low, stirred not a single lustful thought, and would not so much as look at the demoness. The demoness pulled and tugged at him, refusing to let go, but the Tang Monk steadfastly resisted. When she had importuned him till midnight, the demoness grew angry, ordered a maid to bring rope, bound the Tang Monk, dragged him beneath the veranda, and went to sleep alone. At dawn, after the third crow of the rooster, Wukong woke at the foot of the slope, brushed the dew from his body, stretched, and said, "My head no longer hurts — it still itches a little, though. Brother Sandy, watch the luggage here. Bajie, come with me to rescue Master!" The two came before Pipa Cave. Bajie pulled at Wukong and said, "Brother Monkey, Master has probably married the demoness by now. We had better go our separate ways — you return to Flower-Fruit Mountain and I go back to Gao Village!" Wukong spat, "Hold your tongue — let old Sun go and take a look first."

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