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24 The Flaming Mountain

Wukong stepped forward, bowed, and said, "May I ask, lady donor, where is the Cloud-Scraping Cave?" Seeing Wukong's ugly appearance, the woman asked impatiently, "Why do you seek that cave?" Wukong guessed she was the fox Jade-Face and deliberately answered, "Princess Iron Fan has sent me here especially to invite the Bull Demon King back." At these words the woman flew into a rage and cursed, "That vile woman! Every year I send her untold jewels and silks, yet she is still not satisfied—and now she sends for His Majesty to return!" Recognizing her as the fox Jade-Face, Wukong deliberately drew out his golden-hooped rod and shouted, "You low creature—you entangle yourself with another's husband and still dare to behave wildly?" The fox Jade-Face started in fright and turned to flee. Wukong shouting, chased after her. All the way to the outside of the Cloud-Scraping Cave, where the fox Jade-Face ran inside and shut the door. The Bull Demon King was reading in a room inside the cave when the fox Jade-Face ran in, threw herself into his arms, and wailed aloud, "This is all the trouble you brought on us! Outside there is a monk with a thunder-god mouth who claims to have been sent by Princess Iron Fan. He raised a staff to strike me. If I had not run fast, he would have beaten me to death!" The Bull Demon King said grimly, "My wife manages the household strictly—how could there be a monk with a thunder-god mouth? Let me go out and look!" Thereupon he armed himself fully, seized an iron mace, walked out of the cave, and demanded, "Who is making trouble here?" Wukong observed that the Bull Demon King's appearance had changed greatly from five hundred years ago. Filled with emotion, he stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Elder brother, do you still recognize your younger brother?" The Bull Demon King hesitated, scrutinized Wukong, and asked, "Are you Sun Wukong?" Wukong said, "It is indeed I, your younger brother." He then asked to borrow the palm-leaf fan. But the Bull Demon King showed no regard for their old friendship. Turning hostile, he said, "You bully my wife and concubine, and still want to borrow some treasure of mine? Take this blow first!" He raised his iron mace and struck at Wukong's head. Wukong had no choice but to meet him with his rod. The two fought over a hundred rounds with neither gaining the advantage. Just then someone on the peak shouted, "Lord Bull, my master holds his birthday feast today—please come early!" The Bull Demon King said to Wukong, "I must go drink wine at a friend's house today. I will not fight you any longer!" Having spoken, the Bull Demon King mounted his Water-Clearing Golden-Eyed Beast, rode the clouds, and sped northwest. Wukong thought to himself, "I wonder what friend this old ox has made, and where he goes to feast. Let me follow and see." So he transformed into a fresh breeze and traveled alongside the Bull Demon King. Arriving at a mountain, the Bull Demon King suddenly vanished. Wukong looked around and saw only a deep pool. Beside the pool stood a stone tablet carved with six large characters: "Green-Wave Pool of Mount Luanshi." Wukong thought to himself, "The old ox must have gone underwater." So he turned into a crab and with a splash jumped into the pool. At the bottom of the pool he saw an exquisite memorial archway. The Bull Demon King sat in the seat of honor, drinking wine with several dragon-spirits, while his Water-Clearing Golden-Eyed Beast was tethered below. Wukong waited a long time, but the Bull Demon King did not come out. Growing impatient, he had a bright idea: he untied the rope of the Water-Clearing Golden-Eyed Beast, mounted it, and left Green-Wave Pool. Outside the pool, Wukong transformed into the likeness of the Bull Demon King, rode the golden-eyed beast to the outside of the Palm-Leaf Cave, and called out, "Open up!" The serving girl saw that the Bull Demon King had returned and immediately went inside to report to Princess Iron Fan.

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