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26 The Lesser Thunder Monastery

The demon slung the bag over his shoulder, and the minor demons crowded about him in triumph as he returned. He ordered his minions to bring thirty or fifty ropes, opened the bag, bound each captive, and carried them to the rear, where they were thrown on the ground. Afterwards the demon king ordered a feast; when all had drunk their fill, each retired to rest. Now Wukong and the gods remained bound until midnight, when suddenly they heard sounds of weeping. Listening closely, they recognized the Tang Monk's voice. Wukong felt secret pity. He used an escape art, shrank his body, slipped free of his ropes, and crept quietly to the Tang Monk's side. The Tang Monk recognized the voice. Wukong told him everything that had happened. The Tang Monk wept, "Disciple, save me quickly! Henceforth I leave everything to your judgment — I will not oppose you again!" Wukong set to work: first he freed his Master, then released Bajie and Sandy, and untied every one of the twenty-eight lunar mansions and Five Directions' Guardian Gods. Wukong urged everyone to flee quickly. Once outside the door, they realized they did not know where the baggage was and began to search. The Dragon of the Neck said, "You value things above people! You have saved your Master — why still seek the baggage?" Wukong said, "Human life is important indeed, but the kasaya and alms bowl are even more so. The bundle contains treasures of the Buddhist gate — how can we abandon it?" Bajie said, "Brother, go search for it. We will wait for you on the road ahead." The star-deities protected the Tang Monk, employed a levitation spell, exerted their divine powers, and in a gust of wind sped down the slope to the main road. Wukong moved lightly and stealthily back inside. He shook himself and became a bat, flitting past doors and windows. Beneath a window of the third story he saw a gleaming ray of light — it was the kasaya inside the baggage shining through. Wukong's heart leaped with joy. He resumed his true form, seized the bundle, hoisted it onto his shoulder regardless of whether the straps hung straight, and hurried out. Unexpectedly his foot landed heavily on the floorboards with a loud thud. The old demon king startled awake, leaped up and shouted wildly, "Someone is here! Someone is here!" All the demons, great and small, scrambled up, lit lamps and torches, and shouted together as they searched front and back. Hearing this, Wukong feared falling into another trap. He abandoned the bundle, launched himself on a somersault cloud, and jumped out the window to safety. Day was breaking. The demons searched everywhere but could not find the Tang Monk and the others. The old demon urgently issued orders, seized his club, and led his horde in pursuit. There on the hillside below they saw the twenty-eight lunar mansions, the Five Directions' Guardian Gods, and the other deities gathered in clouds and mist. The demon king shouted, "Where do you think you are going? I am here!" The Horn-Dragon hastily cried, "Brothers! The monster comes!" The lunar mansions, leading the Gold-Head and Silver-Head Guardian Gods, the Six Ding and Six Jia Spirits, the Guardian Kalas, and together with Bajie and Sandy, each wielding weapons, swarmed forward in a single rush. The demon king saw them and gave a cold laugh. He whistled, and four or five thousand demons, great and small, rushed forward together. Both sides joined battle on the western slope of the mountain. Truly: sorrowful clouds obscured sun and moon, ghastly mists shrouded rivers and hills; swords and spears gleamed with chilling light, and the killing fury shook heaven and earth. Just as neither side could gain the upper hand, Wukong arrived. Bajie met him and asked, "What of the baggage?" Wukong said, "Old Sun nearly lost his life — what talk of baggage!" Sandy, grasping his precious staff, said, "Enough talk — go fight the demon!" The star-deities, Guardian Gods, and Ding-Jia Spirits were besieged by the demon horde and fighting desperately at the center. Here Wukong, Bajie, and Sandy wielded rod, rake, and staff against the old demon king, fighting until the sky darkened and the earth dimmed, yet could not prevail. The monster undid the bag and held it ready. Wukong cried, "Not good!" and launched a somersault cloud straight into the highest heavens. Bajie, Sandy, all the heavenly hosts, and even the Tang Monk were swept into the bag. The demon king withdrew his troops to the monastery and bound the captives as before. Wukong saw that all were captured and landed alone on the eastern peak. He lay on his back, gazing at the sky, lamenting aloud in grief. After a long while he calmed his mind and thought, "I recall there is a Northern True Warrior, titled the Demon-Quelling Heavenly Venerable, now residing on Mount Wudang in the Southern Continent. I will go invite him to rescue my Master."

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