The story goes that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, beaten from the field and empty-handed, came and sat down behind Jindou Mountain, tears dripping from his eyes as he cried: "Master! I had hoped that you and I—
Would share the Buddha's grace, in kindly concord, Born together, living together, beyond all measure of heart; Dwelling together, cultivating together, freed together, Of one compassion, of one thought, showing the spirit's power. One karma, one aspect—our hearts truly matched; One seeing, one knowing—the Way turned free and clear. Who could have known that now I'd have no staff to lean on— With naked fists and bare feet, how shall I flourish?"
The Great Sage mourned a long while, then thought to himself: "That demon knew me. I remember him praising me on the battlefield: 'Truly one of the kind that made havoc in Heaven!' If that's so, he's certainly no common monster of the mortal world—he must be some baleful star of Heaven. Perhaps his thoughts turned to the world below and he came down; or perhaps he's some devil-head descended from somewhere else. I'd better go up to the upper regions and make some inquiries."
This done, the Pilgrim questioned his own heart, decided on his own course, and at once sprang up, mounted auspicious clouds, and went straight to the gate of the South Heaven. Lifting his head, he saw Heavenly King Guangmu coming to meet him face to face, who bowed low and said: "Where is the Great Sage bound?"
"I have business with the Jade Emperor," said the Pilgrim. "What are you doing here?"
"Today it's my turn to inspect the South Gate of Heaven."
Hardly were the words out when he saw the four marshals Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Guan saluting him: "Great Sage, forgive us for not coming out to meet you. Please have some tea."
"I have business," said the Pilgrim. So he took leave of Guangmu and the four marshals and went straight in through the South Gate of Heaven, all the way to outside the Hall of Divine Mists. And there indeed were the four Heavenly Masters—Zhang Daoling, the Immortal Elder Ge, Xu Jingyang, and Qiu Hongji—together with the Six Offices of the Southern Dipper and the Seven Essences of the Northern Dipper, all gathered before the hall to greet the Pilgrim. Raising their hands together, they said: "How comes the Great Sage here?" And they asked: "Is the merit of escorting the Tang monk finished?"
"Far from it, far from it!" said the Pilgrim. "The road is long and the demons many—only half the work is done. Right now we're held up at Jindou Cave on Jindou Mountain. There's a rhinoceros monster that has seized my master the Tang monk and holds him in his cave. Old Sun went to his door and fought a round with him, but that fellow's magic powers are vast—he snatched away old Sun's gold-banded cudgel, and that's why the demon king is so hard to bind. I suspect he's some baleful star of the upper regions whose thoughts turned to the world below—or some devil-head descended from somewhere. Old Sun has come to look for the Jade Emperor and ask him why he keeps his household in such poor order."
Xu Jingyang laughed: "This monkey's as ready with his insolence as ever!"
"It's not insolence," said the Pilgrim. "Old Sun's whole life, my mouth has been a tight one—that's how I always find the root of a thing."
"No need for more talk," said Zhang Daoling. "Let us simply announce him."
"Many thanks, many thanks!" said the Pilgrim. Then the four Heavenly Masters reported to the Hall of Divine Mists and led him in for audience with the Jade Emperor.
The Pilgrim sang out a great "Ah-o!" to the throne: "Old worthy, much obliged to you, much obliged! Old Sun is protecting the Tang monk on the journey to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures, and all along the way it's been more peril than good fortune—no need to tell you of that. Now we have come to Jindou Cave on Jindou Mountain, where a rhinoceros monster has seized the Tang monk in his cave, heaven knows whether to steam him, boil him, or dry him in the sun. Old Sun went to his door and did battle with him, and the monster seemed in some ways to know old Sun. Truly his magic powers are vast: he snatched away old Sun's gold-banded cudgel, and so the demon cannot be bound. I suspect he is some baleful star of Heaven whose thoughts turned to the world below, and for this reason old Sun has come especially to memorialize, humbly begging the Celestial Worthy in his mercy to see clearly and deign to issue a decree: let the baleful stars be examined, troops dispatched, and the demon wiped out. Old Sun trembles in awe beyond all words!"
And he bowed again, deeply, saying: "So be it heard."
At the side the Immortal Elder Ge laughed: "Monkey, what's all this haughty-before-and-humble-after?"
"I wouldn't presume, I wouldn't presume!" said the Pilgrim. "It's not being haughty before and humble after. It's just that old Sun these days has no cudgel to play with."
When the Jade Emperor, the Celestial Worthy, heard the memorial, he at once issued a decree to the Bureau of Ke-Han: "As Wukong has memorialized, go and examine all the heavenly stars and the god-kings of the various constellations—whether any of them have let their thoughts turn to the mortal world below. Then report back at once, so that it may be heard."
The True Lord, the Aged Sire of Ke-Han, received the decree and went at once with the Great Sage to make the examination. First they examined the god-kings and officials at the gates of the four heavens; next they examined the great and small host of true ones within the three subtle enclosures; then they examined the officers and generals of the Thunder Ministry—Tao, Zhang, Xin, Deng, Gou, Bi, Pang, and Liu; last of all they examined the thirty-three heavens—every heaven at peace. They examined the twenty-eight constellations: the seven of the east—Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji; the seven of the west—Dou, Niu, Nü, Xu, Wei, Shi, Bi; the seven of the south and the seven of the north—every constellation secure. They examined the sun and the moon, and the seven governors—water, fire, wood, metal, earth; and Luo Hou, Ji Du, Rahu's tail, and Bo, the four remaining stars. Of all the stars that filled the sky, not one had let his thoughts stray to the world below.
"Since that's how it is," said the Pilgrim, "old Sun needn't go up to the Hall of Divine Mists and trouble the Jade Emperor—far too much of an imposition. Go back and make your report yourself. I'll just wait here for your reply."
The True Lord, the Aged Sire of Ke-Han, obeyed.
Sun the Pilgrim waited a good long while, and composed a poem to mark the occasion:
The wind is clear, the clouds have parted—joy in the age of peace; The gods are still, the stars shine bright—auspicious omens shown. The River of Stars at rest, Heaven and Earth in harmony, The five quarters and eight ends have laid away their spears and banners.
The True Lord, the Aged Sire of Ke-Han, having made his examination point by point, reported back to the Jade Emperor: "Of all the stars that fill the sky, not one is missing; the god-generals of every quarter are all present. Not one has let his thoughts turn to the world below."
The Jade Emperor, hearing the report, said: "Let Sun Wukong select a few heavenly generals and go down to seize the demon."
The four Heavenly Masters, bearing the decree, came out of the Hall of Divine Mists and said to the Pilgrim: "Great Sage, the Jade Emperor in his grace declares that no god in the heavenly palace has strayed to the mortal world, and orders you to select a few heavenly generals to go capture the demon."
The Pilgrim lowered his head and thought secretly: "In Heaven the generals inferior to old Sun are many, and those superior to old Sun are few. I recall when I made havoc in Heaven, the Jade Emperor sent a hundred thousand heavenly troops and spread nets of heaven and snares of earth, and never a single general dared cross hands with me. Only later, when they summoned the Little Sage Erlang, did I meet my match. Now this monster's skill is even stronger than old Sun's—how am I ever to win?"
Xu Jingyang said: "That was one moment, this is another—vastly different. As the common saying goes, one thing subdues another. Would you defy the imperial decree? Choose your heavenly generals by your own best judgment, and don't delay and spoil the business."
The Pilgrim said: "Since that's how it is, I'm deeply grateful for the grace above. Truly the decree must not be defied. And besides, old Sun can't very well come this far for nothing. I must trouble you, Jingyang, to memorialize the Jade Emperor again: let only Heavenly King Li, the pagoda-bearer, and Prince Nezha go down—they still have a few demon-subduing weapons—and let them fight one round with that monster, to see how it goes. If they truly can seize him, that's old Sun's good fortune; if not, we'll make other plans then."
The Heavenly Master did indeed memorialize to the Jade Emperor, and the Jade Emperor ordered Heavenly King Li and his son to lead their host of heavenly troops and go reinforce the Pilgrim. The Heavenly King, having received the decree, came to join the Pilgrim, and the Pilgrim said again to the Heavenly Master:
"For the Jade Emperor's dispatching the Heavenly King, thanks beyond all telling. There is one more matter—pray convey it too: let us have two Thunder Officers to use. When the Heavenly King is fighting, let the Thunder Officers loose a thunderbolt from the clouds and blast that demon king on the crown of his head—a very excellent plan."
The Heavenly Master laughed: "Good! Good! Good!" And the Heavenly Master memorialized again to the Jade Emperor, who issued a decree ordering the Ministry of the Ninefold Heaven to appoint Deng Hua and Zhang Fan, the two Thunder Officers, to join the Heavenly King in binding the demon and relieving the distress. So they went down with the Heavenly King and the Great Sage Sun, straight out the South Gate of Heaven.
In an instant they arrived. "This is Jindou Mountain," said the Pilgrim, "and in the middle of it is Jindou Cave. Let all of you gentlemen take counsel—which of us shall go first to challenge him to battle?"
The Heavenly King brought his cloud to a halt and stationed the heavenly troops at the foot of the mountain's southern slope, saying: "Great Sage, you know well that my son Nezha once subdued the demons of ninety-six caves and is a master of transformations, with demon-subduing weapons always about his person. He must be the one to go out first and give battle."
"Since that's so," said the Pilgrim, "let old Sun lead the prince there." That prince roused his heroic might, and with the Great Sage leapt onto the high mountain and went straight to the mouth of the cave. There they saw the cave door shut fast, and not a demon in sight below the cliff.
The Pilgrim stepped forward and shouted: "Vile monster! Open the door! Give me back my master!"
The little demons who kept the gate inside saw him and rushed to report: "Great King, Sun the Pilgrim has brought a little boy to shout for battle at our gate."
"That monkey's iron cudgel was snatched by me," said the demon king. "With bare hands he can't contend—he must have fetched reinforcements. Bring my weapons!" The demon king grasped his spear and went out the door to look. That little boy had been born with a singularly fine face, and was sturdy and vigorous beyond measure. Truly:
A face like jade, fresh and fair as the full moon; Red lips and a square mouth showing teeth of silver. Eyes flashing lightning, the eyeballs prominent; A broad brow aglow like sunset clouds, the hair in tufts bound up. Embroidered ribbons dance in the wind, flying colored flames; A brocade robe gleams in the sun, bursting with golden flowers. The ringed sash gleams, the heart-mirror set upon it; The precious armor shines, setting off his battle boots. Small of body but huge of voice, magnificent and bold— Nezha the fierce, threefold guardian of the Faith.
The demon king laughed: "You are the third son of Heavenly King Li, called Prince Nezha. What brings you to my door shouting and bawling?"
The prince said: "Because you, vile monster, have made havoc and trapped the holy monk of the Eastern Land, I have come especially by golden decree of the Jade Emperor to seize you!"
The demon king flew into a rage: "I suppose Sun Wukong fetched you here. Well, I am that holy monk's devil-head! What arts can a whelp like you have, to dare let loose such wild talk? Don't run! Take a thrust of my spear!" The prince wielded his demon-slicing sword and met him with a parry.
The moment the two of them closed grips and began to contend, the Great Sage swung round the mountainside and called: "Where are the Thunder Officers? Go quickly—hurl a thunderbolt at the demon and help the prince subdue him!"
The two officers, Deng and Zhang, trod the cloud-light and were just about to strike when they saw the prince work his magic: he shook his body, changed, and became three-headed and six-armed, six weapons in his hands, hacking toward the demon. The demon king too changed into three heads and six arms, and with three long spears held him off. Then the prince displayed his demon-subduing magic power once more, hurling the six weapons up into the air. And what were those six weapons? They were the demon-slicing sword, the demon-beheading saber, the demon-binding rope, the demon-quelling pestle, the embroidered ball, and the fire-wheel. With a great shout of "Change!" one became ten, ten became a hundred, a hundred a thousand, a thousand ten thousand—all the same weapons, like pelting rain and hail, dense and numberless, smashing down upon the demon.
The demon king stood entirely unafraid. With one hand he drew out that white, gleaming ring, flung it into the air, and cried "Hit!"—and with a whirring rush it swept all six weapons down. In a panic Prince Nezha fled for his life bare-handed, and the demon king returned in triumph.
The two Thunder Officers, Deng and Zhang, up in mid-air, chuckled in secret: "Lucky for us we watched how the wind lay first and never loosed our thunderbolts. If he'd snatched those away too, how could we ever show our faces again before the Celestial Worthy?"
The two officers brought down their clouds, and with the prince came to the foot of the southern slope, where they told Heavenly King Li: "That demon truly has vast magic powers!"
Wukong laughed at the side: "That fellow's magic is only so-so—it's that ring of his that's the devil. I don't know what treasure it is, but once thrown up it can snare anything."
Nezha said bitterly: "This Great Sage is a poor sort of man! We've lost our weapons and been beaten from the field—we're worried sick, and all on your account. Yet you stand there laughing! What's the joke?"
"You speak of worry," said the Pilgrim. "Do you think old Sun isn't worried? I'm at my wits' end. I can't cry, so all I can do is laugh."
"What's to be the outcome of all this?" asked the Heavenly King.
"Whatever plans you all may make," said the Pilgrim, "only something the ring can't carry off will catch him."
"What the ring can't carry off," said the Heavenly King, "is water and fire—nothing is stronger. As the common saying goes, water and fire know no mercy."
"That's well said!" said the Pilgrim. "Stay seated here in peace while old Sun makes another trip to Heaven."
"What for this time?" asked the two officers, Deng and Zhang.
"This trip of old Sun's," said the Pilgrim, "needn't trouble the Jade Emperor with a memorial. I'll only go inside the South Gate of Heaven, up to the Palace of Crimson Splendor, and ask the Star Lord of Fire, Yinghuo, to come down and set a fire going—to give that monster a good burning. Perhaps we'll burn that ring to ashes along with him and catch the demon. First, we'll recover your weapons and you can return to Heaven; second, my master's ordeal can be relieved."
Hearing this, the prince was delighted. "No need to hesitate," he said. "Great Sage, go early and come back early. We'll wait here with folded hands."
The Pilgrim mounted auspicious light and came again outside the South Gate of Heaven. Guangmu and the four generals came to meet him: "How comes the Great Sage again?"
"Heavenly King Li sent the prince out to battle," said the Pilgrim, "and in a single round that demon king fished away his six weapons. I'm on my way to the Palace of Crimson Splendor to ask the Star Lord of Fire to reinforce us."
The four generals dared not detain him, and let him pass in. Reaching the Palace of Crimson Splendor, he saw the host of gods of the Fire Ministry, who went in at once to report: "Sun Wukong desires an audience with my lord."
The Star Lord of Fire of the South, of the three dais, straightened his robes, came out the door to welcome him in, and said: "Yesterday the Bureau of Ke-Han made its inspection of my humble palace—there was not one whose thoughts had strayed to the world below."
"I know," said the Pilgrim. "But Heavenly King Li and the prince have been beaten from the field and lost their weapons. I've come especially to beg you to come to the rescue."
"That Nezha," said the Star Lord, "is the Great God of the Ocean-Congregation of the Three Altars. When he came into the world he subdued the demons of ninety-six caves, and his magic powers are vast. If even he could not prevail, how dare a minor god like me hope to?"
"Take counsel with Heavenly King Li," said the Pilgrim, "and it's this: the sharpest things between Heaven and Earth are water and fire alone. That monster has a ring that can snare anything whatever—I know not what treasure it is. But since it's said that fire can consume all things, I've come especially to beg the Star Lord to lead the Fire Ministry down to the lower world and burn that demon, and save my master from his ordeal."
Hearing this, the Star Lord of Fire at once mustered the divine troops of his ministry and came with the Pilgrim to the foot of the southern slope of Jindou Mountain, where they met the Heavenly King, the Thunder Officers, and the rest.
The Heavenly King said: "Great Sage Sun, you go call that fellow out again, and I'll give him battle. When he starts swinging that ring about, I'll dodge aside, and we'll have the Star Lord of Fire command his host and burn him."
"Just so," said the Pilgrim with a laugh. "Let's you and I go." The Star Lord of Fire, with the prince and the two officers Deng and Zhang, stood atop a high peak to watch him give the challenge.
The Great Sage came to the mouth of Jindou Cave and called: "Open the door! Give me back my master at once!" The little demon again rushed to report: "Sun Wukong's come again!" The demon king led his host out of the cave, and seeing the Pilgrim, said:
"You brazen monkey! What soldiers have you fetched this time?"
From this side stepped forth the pagoda-bearing Heavenly King, who shouted: "Vile demon-head! Do you know me?"
The demon king laughed: "Heavenly King Li—I suppose you've come to avenge your son and get his weapons back?"
"First, to avenge my son and recover the weapons," said the Heavenly King, "and second, to seize you and save the Tang monk! Don't run! Take a stroke of my blade!" The monster swerved aside to dodge, leveled his long spear, and returned the stroke as it came.
The two of them fought before the cave—what a battle! Just look:
The Heavenly King's blade hacks, the monster's spear parries. The blade hacks—frost-light spouting fierce fire; The spear parries—keen vapors bursting into gloomy clouds. One is a vicious monster bred by Jindou Mountain; One is a heavenly god dispatched from the Hall of Divine Mists. The one, to bully the Chan nature, displays his might; The other, to save his master from harm, unfolds the great bond of duty. The Heavenly King works his magic, sending sand and stones flying; The demon monster, contending for mastery, stirs up dust and dirt. Stirring dust can darken Heaven and Earth; Flying sand can muddy the seas and rivers. Both sides strain for victory and merit— And all for the Tang monk, who bows to the World-Honored One.
Sun the Great Sage, seeing the two locked in combat, turned at once and leapt onto the high peak, and said to the Star Lord of Fire: "Lord of the Three Dais—on your guard!" Watch now: just as the demon and the Heavenly King fought to the best part, the demon drew out the ring again. The Heavenly King saw it, at once wheeled his auspicious light, and fled from the field. From the high peak the Star Lord of Fire hurriedly passed the command, ordering the host of fire gods to let loose the flames together. And this fire was truly a fearsome thing. What fire!
The Classic says: "The South is the essence of fire." Though a single spark of fire can burn ten thousand acres of field, this was the might of the three dais, able to transform itself into fire of a hundred forms. Now there were fire-lances, fire-sabers, fire-bows, fire-arrows, each division of gods with its own device. See them: across mid-air, fire-crows flying and shrieking; over the whole mountaintop, fire-horses galloping. Red rats two by two, fire-dragons pair by pair—red rats two by two spouting fierce flames, ten thousand miles all red; fire-dragons pair by pair belching thick smoke, a thousand quarters all black. Fire-carts rolled out, fire-gourds burst open. The fire-banners waved, a whole sky of rosy glow; The fire-staves churned, the whole ground ablaze. Never mind Ning Qi whipping his ox—this outdid Zhou Yu's fire at the Red Cliffs. This was heavenly fire, no common blaze, a truly fearsome thing—crackling, roaring, a whirlwind of red flame!
When the demon saw the fire coming, he showed not the least fear. He flung the ring into the air, and with a whirring rush it swept down the fire-dragons and fire-horses, the fire-crows and fire-rats, the fire-lances and fire-sabers, the fire-bows and fire-arrows, all in one snare. Then he turned back to his cave, victorious, and gathered in his troops.
The Star Lord of Fire, a bare, empty banner in his hand, called back his generals, joined the Heavenly King and the others, and sat down at the foot of the southern slope. "Great Sage," he said to the Pilgrim, "this fierce demon is truly a rare thing! I've lost all my fire gear—what's to be done now?"
The Pilgrim laughed: "No need for complaint. Gentlemen, pray sit at ease a while, and let old Sun go once more."
"And where are you off to this time?" asked the Heavenly King.
"That monster doesn't fear fire," said the Pilgrim, "so surely he fears water. As the common saying goes, water overcomes fire. Let old Sun go inside the North Gate of Heaven and ask the Star Lord of Water to spread out his waters and pour them flooding into that cave, drown the demon king, and get your gear back for you."
"The plan is clever," said the Heavenly King, "but I fear he'll drown your master as well."
"No matter!" said the Pilgrim. "If he drowns my master, old Sun has a way to bring him back to life. Keeping you gentlemen waiting this long—now that's truly unseemly."
"Since that's so," said the Star Lord of Fire, "pray be off, pray be off."
What a Great Sage! He mounted his somersault cloud again and went straight outside the North Gate of Heaven. Lifting his head suddenly, he saw Heavenly King Duowen coming forward to salute him: "Where is the Great Sage Sun bound?"
"I have business in the Palace of Vast Billows with the Star Lord of Water. What are you doing here?"
"Today it's my turn on inspection." Even as they spoke, he saw the four great heavenly generals Pang, Liu, Gou, and Bi come to greet him and invite him to tea.
"No need, no need!" said the Pilgrim. "My business is urgent!"
So he took leave of the gods and went straight to the Palace of Vast Billows, where he had the gods of the Water Ministry announce him at once.
The gods reported: "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, is here."
Hearing this, the Star Lord of Water at once dismissed the dragon kings he had assembled—the four seas, the five lakes, the eight rivers, the four streams, the three rivers and nine branches, and the dragon kings of every place—straightened his cap, bound his sash, welcomed the Pilgrim out the palace gate and led him in, saying: "Yesterday the Bureau of Ke-Han made its search of my humble palace, fearing some god of my ministry had let his thoughts stray to the world below to make trouble. I was just here taking the muster of the gods of rivers, seas, and streams—not yet finished."
"That demon king is no god of rivers and streams," said the Pilgrim. "He is a spirit of vast powers. First the Jade Emperor in his grace sent Heavenly King Li and his son with two Thunder Officers down to seize him, and the monster used that ring of his and snatched away six divine weapons. Old Sun, helpless, went up to the Palace of Crimson Splendor and asked the Star Lord of Fire to command the host of the Fire Ministry and set a blaze—but the fire-dragons, fire-horses, and all the rest were snatched away by that ring as well. I figure that since the creature doesn't fear fire, he must fear water, and I've come especially to beg the Star Lord to spread out his waters, help me catch that demon, and recover the weapons to return to the heavenly generals. My master's ordeal may be relieved too."
Hearing this, the Star Lord of Water at once ordered the Water Uncle, the divine king of the Yellow River: "Go with the Great Sage and help in the work." The Water Uncle drew from his sleeve a white jade bowl and said: "I have this vessel to hold the water."
"Look at this bowl—how much can it hold?" said the Pilgrim. "How is it going to drown a demon?"
"I'll not deceive the Great Sage," said the Water Uncle. "This one bowl of mine is the water of the Yellow River. Half a bowl is half the river; one bowl is the whole river."
The Pilgrim rejoiced: "Half a bowl is plenty!" So he took leave of the Star Lord of Water, and with the god of the Yellow River hastened away from the heavenly palace.
The Water Uncle dipped the bowl half-full from the Yellow River and followed the Great Sage to Jindou Mountain. At the foot of the southern slope they saw the Heavenly King, the prince, the Thunder Officers, and the Star Lord of Fire, and told the whole story of what had passed. Said the Pilgrim: "No need to tell it all—just let the Water Uncle come with me. When I've called open his door, don't wait for him to come out—pour the water straight through the doorway, drown that whole nest of monsters in one flood, and then old Sun will fish out my master's body and revive him soon enough."
The Water Uncle obeyed, following close behind the Pilgrim. They rounded the mountainside and went straight to the mouth of the cave, and the Pilgrim called: "Demon! Open the door!" The little demon at the gate, hearing the Great Sage Sun's voice, rushed in again to report: "Sun Wukong's come again!"
Hearing this, the demon took his treasure, grasped his spear, and strode out; with a crash he opened the stone door. The Water Uncle tilted the white jade bowl and poured the water in. But the demon, seeing it was water coming, dropped his spear, hurriedly drew out the ring, and propped it against the inner gate. And then watch: that flood of water came gurgling and welling right back out again, and the Great Sage Sun, in a panic, hastily mounted his somersault cloud with the Water Uncle and leapt onto a high peak.
The Heavenly King and all the rest brought their clouds to a stop before the high peak to watch. The water surged and swelled—a truly wild torrent. What water! Truly:
From one ladle it grew, indeed unfathomable. This was the turning of divine power, Which benefits all things and swells the hundred streams.
Hear its murmuring, shaking the valleys; See it surging, overspreading the sky. Its mighty roar like thunder racing; Its furious waves like snow rolling and toppling. Waves a thousand fathoms high flood the roads; Billows in ten thousand tiers churn over the cliffs. Cool and clear as water rinsing jade; Rolling and booming like plucked strings. Striking the rocks, it spouts shattered jade in sparkling spray; Whirling back, the eddies spin in circling hollows. Into every hollow and dip it drifts and spreads, Filling ravines and channels, linking high and low.
The Pilgrim saw it, and his heart misgave him: "This is bad! The water's flooding over the fields and drowning the people's farmland—it never got into his cave. What's the good of it?" He called to the Water Uncle to hurry and gather the water back.
"Your little god only knows how to let the water out," said the Water Uncle. "I don't know how to gather it in. As the common saying goes, spilled water cannot be recovered."
Well! That mountain was high and steep, and the flood could only run toward the low places. In a little while it had scattered away on every side into the ravines and gullies.
Then they saw several little demons leap out of the cave, bawling and shouting outside, stretching their fists and rolling up their sleeves, twirling staves and grasping spears, frolicking and capering as merrily as ever.
"That water never got into the cave after all," said the Heavenly King. "A whole flood wasted!"
The Pilgrim could not hold down the fury in his heart. Clenching both fists, he charged up to the demon's gate and bellowed: "Where do you run! Take that!" The little demons, terrified, dropped their spears and staves and fled inside, trembling as they reported: "Great King, he's come to strike!"
The demon king leveled his long spear and came out to meet him at the door: "You brazen monkey, what a lazy rascal you are! Beaten by me again and again, and water and fire couldn't touch me either—how do you come trooping back to throw your life away?"
"That's talking backwards, sonny!" said the Pilgrim. "We'll see whether it's my life or yours! Step up and take a fist from your old grandpa!"
The demon laughed: "This monkey certainly loves to wrangle! I fight with a spear and he wants to fight with fists. A scrawny fist like that can't be bigger than a walnut—hardly a hammer to boast of! Very well, very well! I'll set my spear aside and walk a round of fisticuffs with you!"
"Well said!" the Pilgrim laughed. "Come on!"
The demon tucked up his robes, stepped forward, struck a stance, and raised both fists—looking for all the world like a pair of iron oil-hammers. The Great Sage planted his feet, shifted his body, and spread his moves; before the cave gate he traded blows with the demon king. What a fight! Ah!
The great four-square stance flung wide, double flying kicks kicked high. Blows to the ribs, chops to the chest, rams and butts; Gouging the heart, plucking the gall—every stroke telling. The Immortal Points the Way; Old Master rides the crane. The Hungry Tiger pounces on its prey—most dangerous of all; The River Dragon sporting in the water—full of fury. The demon king used the Python Turns Over; The Great Sage answered with the Deer Sheds His Horns. Heels kicked up in the Sudden Dragon; wrists twisted in the Pulling the Bellows. The Green Lion opens wide its jaws; The Carp dives and springs off its spine. Blossoms scattered over the crown; The rope coiled round the waist. The fan pasted flat against the wind; The sudden rain hurrying the flowers down. The demon threw out the Guanyin Palm; The Pilgrim answered with the Arhat Kick. Long blows, wide and open, may be loose and easy— How can they match short punches, tight and cutting? The two of them held out through dozens of rounds, One skill against the other, neither stronger, neither weaker.
As the two of them fought before the cave door, watch from the high peak: Heavenly King Li, delighted, cried out his applause at the top of his voice, and the Star Lord of Fire clapped his hands in praise. The two Thunder Officers and Prince Nezha led the host of gods leaping to the front, all eager to go and help; and on the other side the crowd of demons waved banners, beat drums, danced swords and swung sabers to guard their king together.
Sun the Great Sage saw that things were going badly, plucked a handful of his hairs, flung them into the air, and cried "Change!" At once they became thirty or fifty little monkeys, who surged forward in a mass and entangled the demon—hugging his legs, tugging his waist, clawing his eyes, plucking his fur. The monster panicked, and hurriedly brought out the ring. The Great Sage, the Heavenly King, and the rest, seeing him produce his snare, wheeled their clouds around and fled up onto the high peak.
The demon flung the ring up into the air, and with a whirring rush it gathered in the thirty or fifty little monkeys, turning them back into hairs, and swept them into the cave. Victorious, he led his troops inside, shut the door, and went off to celebrate.
The prince said: "The Great Sage Sun is a true hero! That whole round of boxing was like flowers added to brocade—and the body-splitting magic, that's glory indeed before one's fellows."
The Pilgrim laughed: "You gentlemen have been watching from afar—how does that monster's skill compare with old Sun's?"
"His fists were loose and his feet slow," said Heavenly King Li. "Not the match of the Great Sage's swiftness. When he saw us coming, he began to worry; and when he saw you work the body-splitting magic, he panicked—that's why he brought out that snare of his."
"The demon king is easy enough to manage," said the Pilgrim. "It's only the ring that's hard to beat."
"To win," said the Star Lord of Fire and the Water Uncle, "we'd have to get hold of that treasure of his first. Then he could be caught."
"And how is that treasure of his to be gotten?" said the Pilgrim. "Only by stealing it."
The two officers Deng and Zhang laughed: "For thieving, no one in the world matches the Great Sage. Think of the old days, when you made havoc in Heaven—stealing the imperial wine, stealing the peaches, stealing dragon liver and phoenix marrow and Lord Lao Zi's elixir—what arts were those! Today's the very day to put them to use here."
"Well said, well said! Since that's so, you all sit here, and let old Sun go scout the ground." What a Great Sage! He leapt down from the peak, went privately to the mouth of the cave, shook his body, and changed into a green-bottled fly.
Truly a neat little creature! Just look:
Wings thin as bamboo membrane, A body smaller than a flower's heart. Hands and feet thicker than a hair, Little starry eye-sockets, bright and clear. Skilled at sniffing out fragrance, following scents; Swift in flight, riding on the wind. On the scales he'd scarcely tip the beam— Such tiny things, and yet so useful!
Lightly he flew onto the door, crawled to the crack beside it, and squeezed inside. There he saw the host of demons, great and small—some dancing, some singing, ranked along both sides. The old demon king sat high on a dais, before him spread snake meat, dried venison, bear paws, camel humps, mountain vegetables and fruits, with a celadon wine pot, fragrant ewe's-milk and coconut brew, and all were drinking deep from great bowls, hearty and at ease.
The Pilgrim dropped down among the little demons, then changed into a badger-headed imp, and edged slowly nearer the dais. He looked his fill a long while, but nowhere could he see where the treasure was kept. He slipped around to the back of the dais, and there in the rear hall he saw fire-dragons hanging high, moaning and howling, and fire-horses neighing and whinnying.
Suddenly he lifted his head and saw his own gold-banded cudgel leaning against the east wall. Joy tickled his heart past all scratching; forgetting to change his form, he ran forward, seized the iron cudgel, showed his true shape, spread his moves, and fought his way out with a cudgel assault the whole length of the cave. The crowd of demons shook with terror, and the old demon king was caught unprepared; the Pilgrim knocked over three of them and laid out two more, hewed open a road of blood, and went straight out the cave gate. Truly:
The proud demon-head, off his guard, And the master's staff returned to its own master.
But as to whether this boded good or ill—listen to the explanation in the next chapter.