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31 The Kingdom of Biqiu

The royal consort was amusing herself in the garden. Without a word of explanation the Preceptor caught her by the hand, fled the palace gate, and vanished in a cold streak of light. Wukong brought his cloud down and returned to the hall. "There goes your fine State Preceptor!" he told the ministers. They all bowed to thank the holy monk. "Do not bow to me yet," said Wukong. "Go and find your foolish king." They searched a long while before the king came out from behind the hall, supported by his eunuchs. The ministers reported, "Your Majesty, that State Preceptor was a demon, and the royal consort has vanished as well." The king said, "I was blind, and listened to evil words, and came near to taking the holy father's life. But why has he changed back into his own form?" Wukong laughed and said, "That is why old Sun took my Master's shape: to come here and subdue the demon." The king sent at once for the Tang Monk to be brought to court. The monk was glum, for his face had not yet changed back. Wukong went up to him, peeled off the clay mask, and cried, "True!" At once the Tang Monk was himself again. The king called him "holy Buddha" and led master and disciples into the hall with his own hands. Wukong asked, "Does Your Majesty know where the demon dwells? Let old Sun seize him, and put an end to the trouble for good." The king said shamefacedly, "He once said he lived not far off, seventy li south of the city, at Pure Splendour Manor on Willow Grove Slope." "Bajie," said Wukong, "come with me." "I obey brother monkey," said Bajie. "Only old Pig's belly is empty, and an empty belly has no strength in it." "Serve the meal!" cried the king. In a moment the table was heaped with meatless dishes. Bajie was overjoyed; he refused nothing, and ate like a whirlwind sweeping the clouds. When Bajie had eaten his fill he braced his spirits, rose on a cloud beside Wukong, and flew out of the city. Seventy li south of the city they found a clear little stream with countless willows along its banks, but no sign of Pure Splendour Manor. Wukong called up the local earth god and questioned him. The god said, "I have only heard that there is a Pure Splendour Cave. Go to the nine-forked willow tree, turn left three times and right three times, and cry 'Open' — and the cave will appear." They did as the god had said and found the nine-forked willow. Wukong told Bajie to stand by behind him, turned left and right, and cried "Open!" three times. There was a crash, the willow vanished, and two doors swung wide with a rumble. A cave appeared, and within it stood a stone screen inscribed "Pure Splendour Immortal Hall". Wukong leapt over the screen and saw the Preceptor with his arm about the royal consort, saying furiously, "What a pity, what a pity! Three years I planned, and the children's hearts were almost in my hands, when that monkey ruined all!" Wukong could hold back no longer. He rushed in with his rod, crying, "Still thinking of hearts and livers? Taste old Sun's staff first!" The Preceptor let go of the consort and swung his dragon-coiled staff to meet him.

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