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37 Xuanying Cave

Then the two stars entered the Xuanying Cave and freed the Tang Monk, Bajie and Sandy. Sandy knew them and bowed his thanks; they told how Wukong had gone for help, and the Tang Monk thanked them again and again. The two stars bade Bajie and Sandy take their master back to the Temple of Compassionate Clouds and wait there, while they themselves went to help Wukong destroy the three kings. Bajie and Sandy gathered up all the valuables in the cave and tied them in one great bundle, which they carried outside. Then they seated their master on a cliff, set fire to the cave and burnt it to ashes, and, supporting the Tang Monk, found their way back to the Temple of Compassionate Clouds. The two stars rode their clouds towards the north-east until they came to the Western Ocean, and spied from afar Wukong shouting over the water. They brought their clouds down and told him how the imps had been destroyed and the Tang Monk, Bajie and Sandy set free; Wukong thanked them again and again. When the two stars asked where the three demons had gone, Wukong said, "We drove them to this place and they plunged into the sea. Jing and Jiao have gone in after them, leaving old Sun to guard the shore. Now that you are here, hold the bank while I go to their aid." Wukong whirled his rod, made a sign, and parted the water into a path; down he went into the depths of the waves, and there he saw the three demons locked in mortal combat below with Jing Mu'an and Jiao Mujiao. "Old Sun is here!" roared Wukong, and swung his rod. Already hard pressed by the two stars, the three were thrown into panic by his shout; they broke off the fight and turned tail for the heart of the sea. The horns of the three rhinoceros demons cleft the water marvellously; with a hissing of spray they tore an open road along the sea floor, while the two stars and Wukong joined in pursuit behind them. A patrolling yaksha of the Western Sea saw from afar the rhinoceroses cleaving the waters towards the dragon palace, and knew the Great Sage and the two star lords behind them. He hurried back to the crystal palace and reported to the Dragon King. Ao Run, Dragon King of the Western Sea, heard and said at once to his son Prince Mo'ang, "It must be the rhinoceros demons Who Ward Off Cold, Heat and Dust who have crossed Sun Wukong. Now that they have come to the Western Sea, muster the water troops at once and go to his aid!" At his father's command, Ao Mo'ang mustered the whole host of the waters, turtles, soft-shelled turtles, great turtles, mandarin fish, shrimps and crabs, and with blades and spears they swarmed shouting out of the crystal palace and blocked the rhinoceroses' way. Held in front and cut off behind by Jing, Jiao and the Great Sage, the rhinoceroses panicked and scattered, each running for his life. The old Dragon King's troops surrounded the one Who Wards Off Dust. Wukong was delighted. "Take him alive!" he shouted. "No killing!" At the word, Mo'ang and the water host surged forward, threw the demon down, and tied his four hooves together. The old Dragon King next ordered his forces to divide and hunt the other two, and so help the two star lords seize them. Prince Mo'ang came up with his men and found Jing Mu'an in his true shape, pinning down the one Who Wards Off Cold and tearing at him with great bites. The prince shouted to him to stop. Only after the prince had called several times did Jing Mu'an give over, but by then the demon's neck was bitten through. Mo'ang could only order the shrimp soldiers and crab guards to carry the dead rhinoceros to the crystal palace. The prince and Jing Mu'an pressed on after the one Who Wards Off Heat, who by then had been driven back by Jiao Mujiao straight into their path. The prince spread his water troops into a great encircling net and ringed the demon round.

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