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26 The Lesser Thunder Monastery

When tea was finished, the Apricot Fairy, her face radiant with joy, said to the company, "Though I am untalented, may I venture to match the Holy Monk's verse with one of my own?" So saying, she recited aloud a seven-character regulated poem. When the four elders heard it, every one praised and congratulated her. The Apricot Fairy smiled at the Tang Monk and said, "Holy Monk, your mind is embroidered and your tongue is gilded — would you not graciously favor me with a song?" The Tang Monk dared not answer. The maiden gradually showed signs of affection, drew nearer to where he sat, and whispered softly, "Honored guest, why not make merry on such a lovely night? What else are you waiting for?" Eighteen-Gentleman said, "The Apricot Fairy holds you in high regard — how can the Holy Monk show no willingness to meet her halfway?" Solitary-Upright Lord said, "If indeed the Apricot Fairy is inclined, let Cloud-Sweeping Old Man and Eighteen-Gentleman act as go-betweens, and Sky-Reaching Lord and I will stand surety for the match. What could be finer than such a union!" Hearing these words, the Tang Monk's face changed color. He leaped up and cried aloud, "You are all evil creatures! At first you spoke only of metaphysics and the Dao, and now you try to ensnare this poor monk with a beauty trap!" Seeing the Tang Monk's anger, the four elders bit their fingers in alarm and spoke no more. The red-skinned demon-servant flew into a rage and shouted, "Monk, you do not know when you are well off! What is lacking in my mistress? We speak to you kindly, yet you will not listen. If we should show our rustic temper, we will carry you off again, and you will have lived your life in vain!" The Tang Monk turned pale with shock, but his heart was firm as metal or stone, and he steadfastly refused. The Tang Monk thought to himself, "My disciples do not know where to look for me!" A sob escaped him, and tears fell from his eyes. The Apricot Fairy smiled, drew close beside him, took a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and wiped his tears: "Do not be troubled, honored guest. Come, let us lean against jade and nestle amidst fragrance, and go make merry." The Tang Monk gave a sharp shout, sprang to his feet, and tried to flee. But those people pulled and tugged at him, refusing to let go no matter what, and the uproar lasted till dawn. Suddenly someone called out, "Master! Master!" It was Wukong, Bajie, and Sandy, who had led the horse and carried the burden all night without stopping. Having fought their way through the eight hundred li of Thorn Ridge, searching east and west, they heard the Tang Monk's shout and cried out in return. The Tang Monk struggled out the door and called, "Wukong, I am here! Come quickly and save me!" The four elders, the demon-servant, the Apricot Fairy, and the maids all shimmered and vanished. In a moment, all three disciples reached the Tang Monk's side. He seized Wukong and said, "My disciples, you have suffered greatly on my account!" Then he told them everything that had happened. Bajie asked, "Where have those things gone?" The three looked and saw only a stone cliff bearing three characters, "Wood-Immortal Hermitage." The Tang Monk said, "This is the place." It turned out to be a large juniper, an old cypress, an old pine, and an old bamboo. Behind the bamboo stood a red pepper tree. By the cliff edge there was also an old apricot, two wintersweets, and two osmanthus trees. Wukong examined them closely and said to Bajie, "Did you see any monsters?" Bajie said, "No." Wukong laughed, "These very trees here have become spirits." Wukong went on, "Eighteen-Gentleman is the pine, Solitary-Upright Lord is the cypress, Sky-Reaching Lord is the juniper, Cloud-Sweeping Old Man is the bamboo, the red-skinned demon is the maple, the Apricot Fairy is the apricot tree, and the maids are the osmanthus and wintersweet." Hearing this, Bajie paid no heed to right or wrong. With his rake and his snout he hacked and pounded until the wintersweet, osmanthus, old apricot, and maple all lay felled on the ground, and indeed blood flowed freely from their roots. The Tang Monk pulled him back, saying, "Wuneng, stop hurting them! Though they have attained spiritual power, they never harmed me." Wukong said, "Master, do not pity them. If they become great monsters someday, they will cause much harm." The fool thereupon gave them all a thorough pounding with his rake, felling the pine, cypress, juniper, and bamboo alike, before helping his Master mount the horse, and together they continued westward along the main road.

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