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23 The False Monkey King

Wukong brought his cloud down before the purple bamboo grove of Mount Potalaka, where he happened to meet Moksa and the Good Wealth Lad. Moksa and the Good Wealth Lad led Wukong through the purple bamboo grove to the foot of the precious lotus platform in the Sound-of-the-Tide Cave. Seeing the Bodhisattva, Wukong fell to his knees and wept aloud. The Bodhisattva said, "Do not weep, Wukong. Tell me what saddens you, and I will relieve your suffering and dispel your calamity." Wukong then told her all that had happened, and said, "I beg the Bodhisattva's mercy: take the golden hoop from my head and let me go back to the Water-Curtain Cave." The Bodhisattva comforted Wukong, saying, "Your Master will soon be in deadly peril, and not long after will come looking for you. Wait here for a little while. I shall speak to the Tang Monk and have him take you along again to fetch the scriptures, that you may both attain the right fruit." After the Tang Monk had driven Wukong away, he and Bajie and Sandy walked on another few dozen li. Parched with thirst and faint with hunger, he told Bajie to go and beg a meal and fetch some water. Bajie answered readily and went off with the alms bowl. They waited a long while, but Bajie did not return. Seeing how his Master suffered from hunger and thirst, Sandy tethered the white horse and said, "Wait here, Master; I will go and look for my senior brother." The Tang Monk was sitting with his eyes closed, resting, when he heard a movement at his side. He opened his eyes and there was Wukong, kneeling before him with both hands holding a bowl of clear water, saying, "Master, without Old Sun you can't even get a drink of water! Take a sip to quench your thirst, and then I will go and beg a meal." The Tang Monk said angrily, "Why have you come back? I would rather die of thirst than drink your water! Be off! If you don't go, I will recite the spell!" At this the Wukong's face changed and he cursed, "You heartless bald donkey! You can't tell good from bad!" The Wukong flung down the bowl, gave the Tang Monk's back a tap with his golden-hooped rod, and the Tang Monk at once fainted. Wukong took the luggage in his hand, mounted a cloud, and flew off — no one knew where. When Bajie and Sandy returned with food and water, they found the Tang Monk lying on the ground, the white horse had slipped its halter, and the luggage had vanished without a trace. Sandy threw his arms around his Master and wept, while Bajie stamped and howled, "Needless to say! It must be the surviving bandits who did it!" Bajie stood dazed for a while, then said to Sandy, "Don't cry, brother. The Master is dead, and the scriptures can never be fetched now. You watch the body while I sell the horse, buy a coffin, and bury the Master. Then we'll split up and each go his own way." At this, a thin breath of warm air slowly came from the Tang Monk's mouth and nose, and he gradually came to. Bajie hurriedly fetched some water and gave his Master a few sips. The Tang Monk groaned a few times and cursed, "You damned ape! You have killed me!" Bajie and Sandy asked in bewilderment, "Which ape?" The Tang Monk then told them what had happened. Bajie ground his teeth in fury and cursed, "That impudent ape! To dare behave so! I'll go and settle the score with him!" Sandy hastened to counsel him, saying, "Don't be hasty, brother. Let us find some household, warm the food we have begged, and get the Master back to health before we go and look for him." Bajie took his advice and helped the Master onto the horse. They walked most of the day before at last finding a household. Sandy went and begged some hot rice soup, and the three of them ate it by the roadside.

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