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34 The Linked Caves

The more he heard, the angrier Wukong grew. He plucked a handful of hairs and turned them into sleep insects, which he flung into the demons' faces, till one by one they all dropped off to sleep. Wukong resumed his own shape, went back into the garden, loosed the ropes on the Tang Monk and the woodcutter, led them out by the back gate, and went with them to the rocky cliff to find Bajie and Sandy. Bajie and Sandy were beside themselves with joy to see their master alive. "Sit a while, Master," said Wukong. "Let me go and make an end of the demons." With that he leapt down from the rocky cliff. Wukong crossed the stream, entered the cave and came to the central hall, where he found a rope and bound the sleeping old demon hand and foot together. Wukong slid the golden-hooped rod under the old demon, hoisted him upon his shoulder, and rode his cloud back to the rocky cliff. He set the demon down and Bajie raised his rake to strike. "Hold!" said Wukong. "There are still many lesser demons in that cave unaccounted for, and killing them all would take too long. Better to gather brushwood and burn the lot." Hearing this, the woodcutter went with Bajie into a mountain hollow for brushwood and carried it to the back gate. Wukong lit the fire and Bajie fanned it with his two ears; in a moment flame and smoke rose together, and the lesser demons and the cave along with them were burnt to nothing. That business done, Wukong and the others came back to find the old demon just waking. Without a word Bajie stepped up and struck him a savage blow with the rake, and the demon's true shape appeared: a leopard demon with a mugwort-leaf dappled hide. The woodcutter, grateful to Wukong for saving his life, asked the four pilgrims to come to his home for a meal. The five of them wound along the mountain path until they came to a thatched cottage, where an old woman leaned in the doorway looking out; seeing her son returned, she wept for very joy. The woodcutter greeted his mother, presented the Tang Monk and his disciples to her, and told her how the whole matter had fallen out. The old woman's heart was torn between grief and joy; bowing at every step, she led them into the cottage. Mother and son kowtowed and pressed their hands together, thanking them without end, and hastened to set out a meatless meal in return. Though it was only wild herbs and coarse rice, master and disciples ate with rare relish. When the meal was done, the woodcutter and his mother led the four of them to the high road running west. Master and disciples took their leave of the two and journeyed on towards the Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures. To learn what befell them next, read the following volume: Fengxian Prefecture. Printing: June 2018, first impression; print run 0001-2600. ISBN 978-7-5593-3455-8.

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