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22 The Kingdom of Western Liang

Wukong changed into a bee again and flew into the cave to find his Master. The demoness had spent half the night pestering the Tang Monk and was exhausted; she was still sound asleep and did not notice him. Wukong flew to the rear, saw his Master bound beneath the veranda, and gently settled on his head, saying, "Master, how went last night's happy business?" The Tang Monk said, "Wukong — the demoness saw I would not submit, so she bound me here. Rescue me quickly so I may go fetch the scriptures!" That one sentence startled the demoness awake. She rose and cried, "A perfectly good husband and wife you refuse to be — what scriptures must you go fetching?" Fearing discovery, Wukong had no choice but to abandon the Tang Monk and fly out of the cave. Outside the cave, Wukong told Bajie what the Tang Monk had said. Bajie laughed, "Master still has some strength of character — let us go rescue him!" The two came before the cave gate. Bajie raised his nine-toothed rake and smashed the stone door to pieces with one blow. The maids at the cave entrance ran back inside to report in terror. The demoness flew into a rage, rushed out of the cave, and thrust her fork at Bajie. Bajie dodged sideways and countered with his rake. Wukong too swung his rod to assist. After three or five exchanges, the demoness whipped her poisoned tail-stinger again and struck Bajie full on the lips. Bajie dragged his rake and fled in utter defeat. Seeing he could not win, Wukong feinted with his rod and retreated as well. Wukong and Bajie returned empty-handed to the foot of the slope to see Sandy. Bajie groaned, "It hurts badly! It hurts badly!" Wukong laughed, "Fool — yesterday you mocked me, and today you have become a swollen-lipped plague yourself!" The three were at their wits' end when suddenly an old mother with a vegetable basket passed by. Wukong's eyes were sharp; he saw auspicious clouds above her head and at once called out, "Brothers — Guanyin the Bodhisattva has come! Kneel at once!" Bajie and Sandy, hearing this, knelt at once. Seeing that they recognized her, Guanyin rose into the air and revealed her true form. Wukong flew up to her and said, "Bodhisattva, my Master has been captured by a demon again — please point the way." Guanyin said, "This demon is the Scorpion Demoness. A hook grows on her tail, and whoever she stings suffers agony. You must invite the Star Lord of the Pleiades — only he can subdue her." With that she transformed into a shaft of golden light and departed for the Southern Sea. Wukong hurried to the heavenly court, found the Star Lord of the Pleiades, and begged him to descend and subdue the demon. Hearing that the Bodhisattva had recommended him, the Star Lord gladly agreed. Wukong and the Star Lord arrived at the foot of Mount Dudi and found Bajie still moaning in pain. The Star Lord touched Bajie's lips with his hand, blew on them, and the pain ceased. Bajie said fiercely, "Brother Monkey, let us go fight that demon!" The Star Lord said, "Exactly! Lure the demon out, and I will subdue her." Wukong and Bajie leaped up the slope and came before the cave. This time Bajie smashed the inner gate to pieces with one blow of his rake. Furious, the demoness rushed out of the cave, leveled her fork at Bajie, and thrust. Bajie and Wukong parried and retreated at the same time.

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