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31 The Kingdom of Biqiu

The Preceptor fought and fell back until he was outside the cave. Bajie had been waiting with his heart itching; at the sight of the demon he said nothing at all, but swung his rake. Already hard pressed by Wukong, the Preceptor lost heart when Bajie joined in. He turned into a cold streak of light and fled eastward. The two gave chase and would not let him go. Then the Old Immortal of the South Pole came hurrying up from afar, covered the streak of light with his hand, and said with an apologetic smile, "Great Sage, Marshal Tianpeng, spare the beast his life." "Why do you plead for a demon, brother?" asked Wukong in surprise. "He is my own mount," said the Immortal. "He stole my staff and came here to do mischief." Then he cried, "Wretched beast, show your true shape, and the Great Sage will spare you!" The Preceptor turned about, and there stood a white deer. The Immortal mounted the deer and would have gone, but Wukong caught hold of him. "Not so fast, brother. Wait till we have caught that royal consort and made all clear to this foolish king." The Immortal had no choice but to agree. Wukong and Bajie burst back into Pure Splendour Cave, shouting, "Seize the demon!" The royal consort trembled all over and tried to fight her way out. Bajie struck with his rake and killed the fox. "Do not smash her to pulp," said Wukong. "We must show her to the foolish king." So Bajie dragged the fox by the tail and followed Wukong out. Outside the cave the two brothers joined the Immortal. When the white deer saw that the fox was dead, it stretched out its muzzle and sniffed at her, as though it could not bear to part with her. The Immortal gave it a slap across the head. "Wretched beast! Had I not come in time, the Great Sage would have beaten you to death as well. What do you sniff at her for?" When he had scolded himself out of breath, the Immortal said, "Great Sage, I will go with you to the king of Biqiu." Wukong said, "Wait a little, brother. Let me sweep this place clean, so that no more demons breed here." With that he gathered dry grass and burned the cave to the ground. So they came back to the palace, leading the deer and dragging the fox. "Here is your royal consort!" Wukong said to the king. The king was terrified, and bowed down with all his court. "We thank the holy monk for saving us." Wukong raised him up. "Do not bow to me. This deer is your State Preceptor. Bow to it instead." Seeing how great Wukong's power was, the king drew him aside and begged him for the secret of long life. "Dote less on wine and women, Majesty," said Wukong, "and do more good, and your years will lengthen of themselves." The king's face burned with shame, and he nodded again and again. Now that all was settled, the Immortal took his leave and went. The Tang Monk told Wukong, "Send the children home at once, so that we may go on our way." Wukong spoke the true words. There was a crash in mid-air, and 1,111 goose cages fell from the sky, with children crying inside them.

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