This is a fresh, complete English translation of Wu Cheng’en’s public-domain one-hundred-chapter novel, produced with GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark assistance. It is an AI-assisted first edition, not a reproduction of an existing translation.

The Great Sage, Sun Wukong, took leave of the bodhisattva, stepped down from the cloud, hung the robe on a fragrant camphor tree, pulled out his staff, and drove it into the Black Wind Cave, where indeed a lesser demon had been inside. It was because, when the demon saw the bodhisattva appear, he had made that old fiend roll on the ground and then everyone had scattered in haste. Sun Wukong then grew suddenly ferocious: he heaped dry firewood on the several gates of the lair, and at once, in front and behind together, set them ablaze, turning Black Wind Cave into Red Wind Cave. He then took up the robe, mounted a beam of blessed light, and turned back, heading straight north.

When Tripitaka looked and saw Sun Wukong not returning in haste, he was deeply troubled. He did not know whether the bodhisattva had failed to come, or whether Sun Wukong had made excuses and run away. While he was in the midst of such frantic guessing, radiant clouds suddenly blazed in the sky, and Sun Wukong suddenly tumbled down to kneel before the steps: 'Master, the robe has come.' Tripitaka rejoiced greatly. The other monks, all of them, could not but be delighted and said, 'Good, good! Only today have our lives remained safe in full.' Tripitaka took the robe and said, 'Wukong, when you left in the morning you said you would be back by midday after the meal. How is it that now the day has reached toward evening?'' Sun Wukong gave a full account of how he had invited the bodhisattva to transform and subdue the demon. Hearing this, Tripitaka set up the incense stand, offered a southward bow, and said, 'Disciple, now that we have the Buddha robe, you may quickly gather the packs and go.' Sun Wukong said, 'No hurry, no hurry. It is late today; this is no time to be on the road. Let us wait and set out early tomorrow.' The monks together knelt and said, 'What Master Sun says is right. First, it is late. Second, among us there are vows to be fulfilled. Now that we are safe and have obtained the treasure, let me return my vows and ask the elder to scatter blessings; tomorrow at first light we can go west again.' Sun Wukong said, 'Exactly, exactly.' See, those monks emptied their satchels and all their stores, each giving whatever remained of what had been pulled from the fire, prepared some vegetarian offering, burned some papers for peace and safety, and chanted several scriptures to avert calamity and evil. That night’s business was finished.

On the next morning, they brushed and prepared the horse, packed the bundles, and set out. The monks sent them on their way from afar and only then turned back. Sun Wukong led the way; it was that season when spring was blending together, and they saw this:

Grass cushions the soft hoofprint of the jade-bay horse, and the new dew on the willows shakes like threads of gold. Peach and apricot trees fill the woods, each contesting beauty; gourd vine coils along the path and gives the place its spirit. On the warm sandbank the mandarin ducks sleep, and in the mountain ravines the flower-scent brings butterflies tame at hand. Autumn has passed, winter has worn away, and half of spring is gone; who can tell in what year this true text will be fulfilled.

The pilgrims traveled five or seven days through wild roads, and one day as evening approached they saw a village home from afar. Tripitaka said, 'Wukong, look there: that manor by the slope is near. Shall we stay one night there and resume tomorrow?' Sun Wukong said, 'Wait. Let old Sun first look into what good and evil this place may bring, then we can decide.' The elder drew in the silk reins, and when he looked with narrowed eyes, it truly was:

竹籬密密，茅屋重重。參天野樹迎門，曲水溪橋映戶。道旁楊柳綠依依，園內花開香馥馥。此時那夕照沉西，處處山林喧鳥雀；晚煙出爨，條條道徑轉牛羊。又見那食飽雞豚眠屋角，醉酣鄰叟唱歌來。

Sun Wukong said, 'Master, please go. It is certainly a good household, fit to spend a night.' The elder urged the white horse on and quickly arrived at the mouth of the street. He then saw a youth, head wrapped in cotton cloth, wearing a blue jacket, carrying an umbrella and bundle, with his drawstring trousers tucked up, and sturdy three-eared straw shoes on his feet, broad-shouldered and striding hard through the street. Sun Wukong casually grabbed him with one hand and said, 'Where are you going? Let me ask you one matter: what is this place called?' The youth kept struggling, and cried out, 'There is no one in our house, just asking me what business?' Sun Wukong grinned and said, 'Layperson, do not be angry. The saying goes, Letting people be at ease is also to let oneself be at ease. Just tell me the name of the place, and I may help untie your worry.' The youth struggled harder; in frustration he jerked and shouted, 'Clumsy, clumsy. The resentment from my household cannot be borne, and I am colliding with this bald head, taking in his sharp breath.' Sun Wukong said, 'If you have the strength, split open my hand and then leave.' The youth twisted left and right, but could not. It was as if an iron clamp held him fast. Enraged, he threw down his bundle, dropped the umbrella, and with both hands, like raindrops, came to seize Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong held the boy’s baggage with one hand and restrained him with the other; however he pleaded and tangled, he still could not grab hold. The more Sun Wukong held, the more he held fast, and he grew so angry he was hot as thunder. Tripitaka said, 'Wukong, where are all these people coming from? You keep asking the same youth and holding him? Just release him.' Sun Wukong laughed: 'Master, since asking others is no fun, we must ask him, otherwise there will be no bargain.' The youth, who had been seized and could not be let go, said at last, 'This is Gaozhuang, on the border of Wusang Country. Most houses there bear the surname Gao; therefore it is called Gaozhuang. Please let me go.' Sun Wukong said again, 'With your appearance you are not one for a near road. Tell me where you are headed and what you truly do, then I will release you.'

The man had no choice but told the matter plainly: 'I am a family retainer of Gao Taigong. My name is Gao Cai. My master has an elder daughter, now twenty years old, and she has never even been matched. Three years ago a demon took her; for these three years that demon has played the role of son-in-law. Master disliked it and said, The daughter who has taken a demon for husband brings no proper law: first, it ruins the household; second, there is no proper in-law ties for kin to come and go. So he has always wanted to drive this demon out. But where a demon would yield? The demon locked the girl in his rear house compound for more than half a year and no longer lets her out to meet the family. Master gave me several taels of silver and told me to seek a teacher who can exorcise that demon. During these times I have had no rest. I have requested three or four people in all; all were useless monks, and puffy-faced Taoist priests who could not subdue the demon. That one just scolded me and said I did not know how to do things. He gave me another five qian to make travel expenses and told me to go back and invite a good teacher again. Unexpectedly I collided with you, and you grabbed me and delayed my road; so inside and out I have been scolded and blamed. I had no way but to shout at you. I did not expect you to have ways to hold a person, so I could not break free, and therefore I tell the plain truth now. Let me go.' Sun Wukong said, 'Your karma and mine are matched in business; this is exactly the proper union of odds and ends. You need not travel far, and you need not waste your silver. We are not those useless monks and puffy-faced Taoist priests; we truly have some arts and are used to catching demons. This is just the saying: First, one may care for the physician in charge; second, one may yet cure one’s eyes. Go back and tell your householder this: we are eminent monks from the Eastern Land, sent forth under imperial authority, going west to the Buddha for sutras, and we are skilled at subduing demons and binding fiends.' Gao Cai said, 'Do not endanger me. I am a man full of grievance; you tricked me, and because you have no real art, if you cannot hold that demon, will you not burden me and bring me scorn again?' Sun Wukong said, 'I will not fail you. Lead me to your doorway.' The youth still had no remedy, truly took up the bundle, took the umbrella, and stepped back, bringing him and the disciples to the gate and saying, 'Two elders, please sit a while on the horse platform and wait; I will go in and report to the master.' Sun Wukong let go of him, dropped the load, and held the horse. The monks and Sun Wukong sat and stood by the gate in wait.

Gao Cai entered through the great gate and walked straight to the main hall, and he happened to run into Gao Taigong. The elder shouted, 'You wild-mouthed brute! Why have you not gone to seek men, and yet you return to do this?' Gao Cai put down the bundle and umbrella and said, 'I report, Master. I had only just stepped out of the street when I suddenly met two monks: one riding a horse and one bearing a shoulder pole. This one (Wukong) grabbed me and would not let go, asking where I was going. I repeatedly did not tell him, and since he held me so tightly I had no way out. So I conveyed all the matters of the householder to him. He was very pleased and said he would capture that demon with us.' 'Where are they from?' asked Gao Taigong. 'He said they are eminent monks sent from the Eastern Land under imperial authority, holy monks going west to the Buddha to seek the scriptures.' said Gao Cai. 'If they have traveled so far, they are surely not without some power,' said Gao Taigong. 'Where are they now?' Gao Cai answered, 'They are waiting outside the gate now.'

Taigong hurriedly changed his clothing and came out with Gao-cai to welcome us, calling, “Elder.” Tripitaka heard it, spun around, and was already at Taigong’s side. The old man wore a black silk kerchief, a pale white Shu brocade robe, a pair of rough calfskin moccasin-like shoes, and a dark green cord; he came out smiling and greeting us. He said, “You two are elders—offer your bows.” Tripitaka returned the courtesy. The Wanderer stayed standing in place. The old man, seeing his fierce, ugly face, did not dare bow to him. The Wanderer said, “Why do you not bow to old Sun?” The elder, somewhat fearful, told Gao-cai, “Can this little rascal not kill me too? I already have an ugly, ferocious, odd-minded son-in-law in my household that I cannot send away, and now you bring this Thunder-lord to torment me as well?” The Wanderer said, “Old Gao, you are already old in years but still so reckless. If you judge a man only by appearance, you are plainly mistaken. Old Sun is ugly by nature, yet he has genuine skill. For your house he catches monsters, seizes ghosts and goblins, and can take your son-in-law and return your daughter to you—that is a good deed. Why go on and on about appearances?” Taigong, on hearing this, trembled and, forcing himself up to strength, said, “Please come in.” Only then did the Wanderer enter, pulling the white horse, telling Gao-cai to carry the baggage, and bringing Tripitaka with him. He ignored all formalities, tied the horse to a post in the hall, hauled a lustrous lacquer chair, and asked Master Tripitaka to sit. He pulled another chair and sat beside him. Gao-lao said, “This young elder is also quite good at living in a household.” The Wanderer said, “If you are willing to keep me for six months, it is still acceptable.”

When seated, Gao-lao asked, “Did your young servant just say that the two elders are from the Eastern Land?” Tripitaka said, “That is so. This poor monk goes by command of the court to the Western Heaven to seek sutras from the Buddha; passing through Baozhuang, we merely borrowed one night’s lodging and will depart at first light.” Gao-lao said, “Since the two of you are only lodging for a night, why speak of taking monsters?” The Wanderer said, “Because we are lodging, we may as well take a few demons and spirits in passing for sport. Now tell me how many monsters there are in your estate.” Gao-lao said, “Heavens! how many could there be? It is only this one demonic son-in-law that has worn us out.” The Wanderer said, “Tell me from the beginning how this demon came to be, and how much power he has.” Gao-lao said, “In this estate, from ancient times to now, we never knew any ghosts, monsters, or wicked spirits. It is just that poor old me is unfortunate and has never had a son, only three daughters: the eldest is Xianglan, the second Yulan, the third Cuilan. The two older ones were matched in this village from childhood. Only the younger remains; I wished to marry in a son-in-law, hoping he would live in my home and old age together, prop up the door and shoulder the household tasks. Unexpectedly, three years ago came a man, seemingly handsome enough. He said he was from Fulin Mountain, surname Zhu, with no parents above and no brothers below, and that he wished to be my son-in-law. Seeing a man so rootless and unbound, I took him in. When he first entered, he was also diligent: he plowed and harrowed fields without oxen, harvested grain without sickle or staff; from dusk to dawn he still seemed fine. Only one thing: he had a way of changing his face. The Wanderer said, “In what way?” Gao-lao said, “At first he arrived as a stout black man, then changed into a long-mouthed, big-eared idiot with a strip of mane at the back of his head, a rough body that frightened people, and a face like a pig. As for appetite, it was immense: one meal required three to five dou of rice, and for breakfast one needed a hundred or more baked cakes to satisfy him. He even liked to abstain from meat and wine, but if he ate meat and drank, then my fields and house assets and the rest would be emptied in less than half a year.” Tripitaka said, “It is because he does that, so he can eat so much.” Gao-lao said, “Eating is only a small matter. Now he can also stir wind: clouds come and go, mists gather and scatter, stones run and sand flies, and he has frightened my whole family and neighbors alike so no one can rest in peace. He has also shut my youngest daughter Cuilan in the rear compound and has not shown himself for half a year in a single visit; no one knows whether she lives or dies. So I know he is a demon, and I invited a master to drive him away.”

The Wanderer said, “What is difficult? Old man, you have no cause to worry. Tonight I will settle this for you and catch him; he will write a return-alliance document and return your daughter, won’t I?” Gao-lao rejoiced greatly and said, “It is enough that I took him in; it did not matter. Yet I have ruined much of my good reputation and offended many kin. As long as he is caught, what documents are needed? Just tell him to leave at once.” The Wanderer said, “Easy, easy. By nightfall you will see it done.”

The old man, very pleased, told them to wipe the tables and chairs and lay out the alms offering. After the meal at evening, Gao-lao asked, “What weapon do you need? How many men will go with you? Prepare early.” The Wanderer said, “I have my own weapons.” Gao-lao said, “You two have only that staff. How can that tin staff strike that demon?” The Wanderer pulled an embroidered pin from behind his ear, held it between his fingers, flicked it into the air, and it became a Golden-Hooped Staff as thick as the rim of a bowl, turning to him and speaking in intent. He pointed to Gao-lao: “Look at this staff. Compared with your household arms, can it beat that demon or not?” Gao-lao said, “If you already have such a weapon, do you need people to accompany you?” The Wanderer said, “I need no man. I only need a few elders of high age and virtue to sit with my master and chat, and I can go alone. When I bring that demon before all of you, I will make him deliver and then remove him for you.” The old man then called for household retainers and invited a few close friends and relations. In a moment all arrived, greetings were exchanged and done. The Wanderer said to Tripitaka, “You sit calmly and steadily; old Sun will go now.”

Look how he swung the iron staff and hauled Gao-lao along: “Take me to the back estate where the demon dwells.” Gao-lao led him to the rear gate. The Wanderer said, “Go and get the key.” Gao-lao said, “You look first. If a key is needed, I will not invite you in.” The Wanderer laughed, “This old man may be advanced in age, but he does not know trickery. I only play at this to deceive you for a moment; take it as truth.” He stepped forward and touched the lock. It was a copper-filled iron lock. Then he smashed it open with one blow of the Golden-Hooped Staff. Inside was black and hollow. The Wanderer said, “Old Gao, call your daughter. See whether she is in there.” The old man, summoning courage, called, “Third Sister!” The daughter recognized her father’s voice and, faintly with weak breath, answered, “Father, I am here.” The Wanderer cast out his divine fiery eyes and looked carefully into the shadows. What kind of figure did she have? She looked like this:

Her cloud-like hair was piled in wild disorder, never combed. Her jade-like face had not yet been washed of dust. A trace of orchid-heart grace remained, all her beauty now drooping in fragile charm. Cherry lips all without blood of life, Her waist and figure bent inward, clinging and frail. Sorrowful, her brows curved dimly; Thin and timid, her voice was low.

She came out, saw Old Gao, and grabbed him by the arm, crying with her head in both hands. The Wanderer said, “Do not cry, do not cry. I ask you, where has the demon gone?” The girl said, “I do not know where he has gone. At daybreak he leaves and at night he comes back. He goes in layers of cloud and mist, and when he returns he does not know to what direction. Since he knows my father intends to drive him out, he is always on guard, and so he comes and goes from dawn to dawn.” The Wanderer said, “That is enough to tell. Old Gao, take her to the front house and speak with her slowly; leave Wukong here to wait for him. If he does not come, do not blame anyone; if he comes, I will certainly cut him off at the roots.” Gao-lao joyfully took his daughter and carried her forward.

The Wanderer then used his powers and changed shape, becoming just like that girl, and sat alone in the room waiting for the demon. Not long passed when a wind arose; truly stones ran and sand flew. A fierce wind:

At first it swayed faintly, lightly and softly; then it spread out and faded into an immeasurable expanse. Softly and faintly it moved; heaven and earth shuddered wide, drifting and vast without any obstruction. Flowers withered, willow branches snapped as if hemp cords were being torn. Trees were overturned, groves crushed as though vegetables were uprooted. Rivers were churned, seas upturned; ghosts and gods were troubled. Stones split, mountains crumbled; heaven and earth turned strange. Flower-eating deer lost their traces, and fruit-picking macaques were bewildered beyond the outer bounds. Seven-storied iron pagodas struck the Buddha’s head, and eight-sided banner poles tore holy jeweled canopies. Golden beams and jade columns rose from their bases, trembling; roof tiles from the houses flew like pieces of swallows. At the tips of the oars people raised vows and prayers, then hurriedly cast off boats crowded with pigs and sheep. In each ward the earth gods abandoned their temple halls; the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas rose and paid homage. By the shore, yaksha boats were battered, and half a wall of the Great Wall was torn down by the gale.

After that furious wind had passed, one could see a demon spirit come through the middle of the air; truly, he was hideously formed: black face and short fur, a long beak and great ears. He wore a straight homespun robe, blue not blue and green not green in hue, and had a flowered cloth strip tied as a headcloth. Sun Wukong quietly laughed: "So this is the sort of business." Good Sun Wukong did not greet him, did not ask after him, but lay in the bed feigning illness, humming and muttering without end. The demon, unable to distinguish true from false, stepped into the room, hugged him in both arms, and tried to kiss him. Sun Wukong smiled inwardly: "So he truly means to fool with Old Sun." He used a seizing trick, cupping the demon’s long snout and giving a little trip. He twitched his head once and with a thud sprang from the bed. The demon got up, gripping the bed edge, and said, "Sister, why are you so strange with me today? Must it be that I came too late?" Sun Wukong said, "No offense, no offense." The demon said, "If you are not offended, why did you make me this fall?" Sun Wukong replied, "How can a little house-born fellow like you hug me and try to kiss me? Because I am a bit unwell today. If I had been well, I would have risen and opened the door for you. You may as well remove your clothes and go to sleep." The demon did not understand, and in fact went to undress. Sun Wukong jumped up and sat upon the cleansing bucket. The demon came back to the bed and, feeling around, could not find him, and cried, "Sister, where have you gone? Take off your clothes and sleep now." Sun Wukong said, "You sleep first; let me go through my courtesy first." The demon in fact undressed and got into bed first.

Sun Wukong suddenly sighed: "My fate is low indeed." The demon said, "Why are you angry? How can fate be low? Since I came to your household, though I ate some tea and grain, I did not eat yours for free. I have also swept your yards and ditches, carried bricks and tiles, hauled and laid earth, built walls, plowed fields and raked the ground, sowed wheat and set in rice; I even helped found your home. Now you wear brocade, wear gold, have fruits and flowers through the year, and at all eight seasonal times there are vegetables cooked for you. Why then these long sighs and short breaths, saying your destiny is low?" Sun Wukong said, "Not that. Today my parents, over the wall that separates us, were hurling brick and tile, beating and scolding me hard." The demon said, "Why did your parents beat and scold you?" Sun Wukong said, "He says I have married you; you are a son-in-law from one of his disciples. He saw not even one proper courtesy. A man with such an ugly beaked face cannot be an uncle-by-affinity, cannot stand seeing his kin; he does not know from where you come and where you go, who your people are, your surname and your name. You ruin his pure character and defile his family honor; therefore he beat and scolded me so, and that is why I am troubled." The demon said, "Though I am somewhat ugly, to be handsome it is not hard. When I first came I had told him, and he willingly invited me. Why raise this again now? I live at Cloud-Deck Cave on Mount Fuling. I take my appearance as my surname, so my surname is Zhu; my official name is Zhu Ganglie. If he comes again and asks about you, tell him this."

Sun Wukong secretly rejoiced: "That demon is honest indeed; without torture he has yielded such a clear statement. Now that we have his place and name, no matter what, we can catch him." Sun Wukong said, "He will ask a Dharma Master to come and seize you." The demon laughed: "Sleep, sleep, ignore him. I have Heavenly-stem transformations, and the nine-toothed spike-clubs; why should I fear monks, priests, or Taoist masters? Even if your old father is devout and summons down from the Nine Heavens the Master of Subduing Demons, I have already known him; he would not dare to act against me." Sun Wukong said, "He says he will summon the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, surname Sun, who made a great tumult in Heaven five hundred years ago, to come and take you." On hearing that name, the demon became somewhat frightened and said, "If it is to be so, then I shall leave; the two of us cannot be husband and wife." Sun Wukong said, "Why are you leaving already?" The demon said, "You do not know: that Bimawen who once made a great tumult in Heaven has some skill. I only fear I may not outdo him and lose face, unbefitting such a show."

After saying this, he put on his clothes, opened the door, and walked out. Sun Wukong caught hold of him, smeared his face and showed his true form, and shouted, "Wicked demon, where do you go? Raise your head and see who I am!" The demon turned his eyes and saw Sun Wukong with fanged, hanging jaw, fire-gold eyes, bristly and battered face, just like a living Lord of Thunder. So frightened, his hands grew numb and his legs went weak; with a hiss he tore through his clothes, transformed into a raging wind, and escaped. Sun Wukong rushed forward, drew the Iron Staff, and struck once in the direction of the wind. The demon turned into ten-thousandfold flame paths and returned straight to his native mountain. Sun Wukong mounted the clouds and followed in pursuit, crying, "Where do you go! If you go up to Heaven, I will chase you to the Douniu Palace; if you go down into the earth, I will pursue you to the Court of Wrongful Death."

Alas! In the end it is still unknown where this pursuit leads or who prevails. Wait and listen for the next chapter to resolve it.