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38 The Kingdom of Tianzhu

In a little while the queen and the imperial consorts came out, surrounding the princess, and together they went to greet the king. The Tang Monk was struck dumb with fear, not knowing what to do. Wukong stole a glance at the princess and saw a hint of demon air about her head, but it was not a fierce air. Wukong crept close to the Tang Monk's ear and hissed, "Master, the princess is a false one. Old Sun will go and take her this instant!" "No," said the Master, "you would startle everyone. Wait a while." Impatient as ever, Wukong would not wait. With a great shout he revealed his true form, rushed forward, and seized the princess by the arm, snarling, "You vile creature! You have been masquerading as a princess, hoping to beguile my Master and slake your foul desires!" So great was the fright that the king, the consorts, and the palace maids scattered to hide themselves wherever they could. Seeing her plot exposed, the demon tore herself free from Wukong's grip, stripped off her robes, shook off her hairpins and ornaments, and ran to the tutelary shrine in the imperial garden, where she snatched up a short cudgel shaped like a pestle. Whirling round, she came back and struck at Wukong. Wukong was not behindhand; with his iron rod he met the blow head-on. The two then displayed their powers at full stretch, fighting from the ground up into the sky. All the people of the city, beholding the marvel, cried out in astonishment. The Tang Monk, supporting the king, explained, "Do not be afraid, Your Majesty. The princess is an impostor. Once my disciple has caught her, all will be clear." Some of the bolder consorts took the discarded robes and ornaments to the queen, saying, "Your Majesty, this woman has flung off all her finery and is fighting a monk in the sky half-naked; she must indeed be a demoness." Only then did the king begin to understand. For a long while the two fought without either gaining the upper hand. Losing patience, Wukong flung his rod into the air and shouted, "Change!" One rod became ten, ten a hundred, a hundred a thousand; they writhed like snakes and pythons and rained blows on the demon from every side. In panic the demon flashed aside, turned herself into a clear wind, and fled up into the blue sky. Wukong spoke a spell, recalled his rod, and, borne on a streak of auspicious light, gave chase. As they neared the gate of the Western Heaven, Wukong shouted at the top of his voice, "You at the gate, stop the demoness, do not let her pass!" Seeing her way blocked, the demon turned round, reckless of life and death, and came at Wukong again with her pestle-cudgel. The demon shouted between blows, "I know you, the Stable Master of five hundred years ago! But to break off a wedding is a feud deeper than slaying a father; today I shall have it out with you!" Of all names, "Stable Master" was the one Wukong hated most. In a great rage he raised his rod and struck her full in the face. Realising she could not win, the demon shook her body, changed into ten thousand beams of golden light, and fled southward. Wukong followed close behind until a great mountain loomed ahead. The golden light plunged into a cave in its side and vanished from sight. Fearing a ruse to draw him away from the capital, Wukong noted the mountain's bearings, mounted a cloud, and flew back to the kingdom of Tianzhu. Back in the palace, the king clung to the Tang Monk, calling out again and again, "Holy monk, save me!" Just then Wukong dropped from the clouds, crying, "Master, I am back!" and recounted the fight with the demon. A thought struck the king, who asked, "Since the false princess was a demon, where then is the true princess?" Wukong replied, "Once I have caught the impostor, the true princess will surely come back of herself. Your Majesty, send quickly for my brothers to guard my Master, while I go and subdue the demon."

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