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33 The Kingdom of Miefa

Guanyin showed her true form. With the Boy of Good Wealth she mounted an auspicious cloud and rose into the air, saying, "Turn evil into good, and this calamity shall be undone." At the sight, the Tang Monk, Bajie and Sandy hastened to kneel and worship. When Guanyin had gone, the Tang Monk said, "We owe much to the Bodhisattva's warning. But how are we ever to cross this kingdom of Miefa?" Wukong said with a laugh, "Do not fret, Master. Let old Sun go first and look about." He left his master, Bajie and Sandy resting beneath a willow tree, leapt into the air, and flew straight for the kingdom of Miefa. Outside the city, Wukong feared that men would know him for a monk, so he turned himself into a moth and flew in. By now dusk was falling. He saw a lantern hanging by a doorway that read "Wang the Second's Inn", and flew inside. Several guests were about to sleep, their clothes folded together in a pile. At the sight Wukong had an idea: borrow these garments, dress as ordinary folk, and so slip through the kingdom of Miefa. He was about to take them when Wang the Second himself came in, telling the guests to look after their belongings. The guests accordingly handed their clothes to Wang for safekeeping, to be claimed the next morning. Wang carried the bundles into his own room, and Wukong flew in after him. Wang was worn out after his day's work. He undressed, lay down, and was snoring at once. But his wife sat mending clothes by the lamp, in no hurry to sleep. Growing impatient, Wukong butted out the lamp with his head, turned into a great rat, squeaked a few times, caught up the clothes in his teeth and ran. Wang's wife saw him and cried out in alarm, "Husband, the rat has turned into a spirit!" This annoyed Wukong. He looked back and called, "Wang the Second, I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, come down to earth. I borrow your clothes for a while, and I will return them tomorrow!" Back at his master's side, Wukong threw the clothes on the ground. Bajie grumbled, "Elder brother was gone half a day. I thought he would bring back something good to eat. What is the use of all this clothing?" Wukong told them his plan: to borrow the clothes and pass as laymen. The Tang Monk was loath to agree, but there was no other way, so he took up the garments and dressed himself in them. Bajie had so large a head that he sewed two turbans together before he could get one on. He put on a baggy gown as well, and looked both genteel and absurd.

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