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25 The Kingdom of Jisai

Back and forth they fought for more than thirty rounds without either gaining the advantage. Bajie, watching at the foot of the mountain, grew itch-palmed; he raised his rake and struck at the son-in-law from behind. But the son-in-law had nine heads and eyes on every side, and seeing Bajie's surprise attack he turned his shovel to catch the rake. Hard as the son-in-law fought against Wukong and Bajie, little by little he could not hold out. He leapt into the air and showed his true form: a Nine-Headed Demon, whose two feet were sharp as hooks and which had a pair of wings beneath its ribs, a most ferocious sight. Bajie cried in alarm, "Brother Monkey, never in my life have I seen such a monster!" Wukong said, "Do not fear. Let old Sun strike him!" With that he sprang into the air, raised his iron club and struck at the Nine-Headed Demon. But the Nine-Headed Demon spread its wings and dodged, flew to the foot of the mountain, thrust out one of its heads, opened its great blood-basin mouth, seized Bajie by the bristles on his neck, and half dragging, half pulling, carried him down into the water. Back in the Dragon Palace the son-in-law resumed his former appearance, flung Bajie to the floor and ordered the fish spirits to bind him. The Dragon King was delighted and had wine set out to celebrate the son-in-law's victory. Meanwhile Wukong, seeing that the demon had carried Bajie off, thought to himself, Let me dive to the bottom of the Emerald-Waves Pool and find a chance to rescue that fool. His mind made up, he shook himself and turned into a crab, and slipped into the water. Wukong came to the foot of the palace and crawled sideways past it; he saw the Dragon King drinking with his daughter and the son-in-law, the whole household in high spirits. Not daring to go near, he crawled on along the eastern corridor. As he went he met several shrimp and crab spirits. Wukong imitated their manner of speech and asked, "Is that long-snouted monk the son-in-law caught dead yet?" The spirits said, "Not dead. He is tied up under the west corridor, groaning. Is that not him?" Wukong crept quietly along the west corridor and there indeed was Bajie, tied to a pillar and groaning. Wukong went up, bit through his ropes and said with a laugh, "Fool, do you know me?" Once his hands were free Bajie said, "Brother Monkey, my weapon was carried into the palace by the demons." Wukong said, "No matter. Go first and wait for me beneath the archway." So Bajie slipped quietly away. Wukong climbed up into the palace and saw a glow coming from the left side: it was Bajie's rake. Wukong made himself invisible and stole the rake away. Wukong came to the archway, resumed his own form and called, "Fool, catch your weapon!" Bajie took the rake and said, "Brother Monkey, Old Pig has some skill in the water. You go back to the bank and stand by, while I fight my way into the palace." Wukong was greatly pleased; he told him to take every care and then went up out of the water. Bajie raised his rake with both hands, gave a shout and fought his way into the Dragon Palace. The water creatures great and small scattered in terror, crying, "Woe! The long-snouted monk has broken his ropes and come back to fight!" The Dragon King's household was taken unawares and ran this way and that to hide. Bajie stormed into the hall and with a wild sweep of his rake smashed tables, chairs, wine vessels, the tortoiseshell screen and the coral tree all to pieces. The son-in-law went inside, fetched his crescent-moon shovel and hurried back to the hall, shouting, "You wretched pig, cease your rampage!" Bajie swore, "Demon, hand over the treasure at once, and I will spare the lives of your whole family!" Gnashing his teeth, the son-in-law joined battle with Bajie.

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