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.

Then it is told that the monster had bound Sha Wujing but did not come to kill him, did not beat him, and did not curse him even once. He raised his steel blade and thought privately: “Tripitaka is a man of high standing, surely he knows propriety and righteousness. Certainly he is not the sort to spare my life and then have his disciple seize me. Ah, all this is because I must have had some letter sent through him to his country, and the whole matter has been stirred up like a gusty storm. Let me go and ask him about it once.” At once the demon suddenly flared into rage and sought to kill the princess.

The princess, unaware of this, had only just finished dressing herself when she stepped forward. She saw the demon with eyes glowering, brows drawn together, teeth clenched. She greeted him with a coaxing smile: “My lord, what matter troubles you so deeply?” The demon snapped out, “You wretched, worthless woman, your heart is base and you have no human decency. When I first brought you here, you did not once speak. In the matter of the brocade you wear and the gold you bear, if anything was missing I went to seek it. Through the four seasons there have been enjoyments; each day our bond has been intimate. How can you think only of your parents and no longer hold even a trace of a wife’s heart toward your husband?”

The princess, hearing this, was terrified. She fell to her knees: “My lord, why today do you speak of words of separation?” “Do not think this is my parting; it is yours,” he said. “I brought Tripitaka here and planned he should serve for our pleasure. Why did you not first tell me and then let him go? It is plainly because you secretly wrote a letter in private and had him carry and deliver it for you. Otherwise how did these two monks come and strike at my gate, escorting you back? Is this not your doing?” “Lord, you wrong me—you have mistaken. When would I have any such letter?” The old demon said, “You still answer me boldly. Now there is a foe here in your hands; is that not proof?” “Who is it?” The old demon said, “It is Tripitaka’s second disciple, Sha Wujing.” But once one has come to the edge of death, who is willing to admit it? So he could only deal with it loosely. The princess said, “My lord, first calm yourself. Let me go with you and ask him. If there truly is a letter, then kill him and I will accept it. If there is no letter, should we not have spared even this slave from needless death?”

The monster heard her words and allowed no more delay. He lifted up one indigo-blue hand as wide as a winnowing basket, seized the princess’s hair—its strands like gold branches and jade leaves—and pulled her forward, dragging her to the ground. Clutching his steel knife, he came to interrogate Sha Wujing, barking: “Sha Wujing! You two dare to come to our gate with such daring—did this woman send a letter to your king’s land, and did the king command you to come?”

Sha Wujing was bound there. Seeing how ferocious and reckless the demon truly was, having seen him fling the princess down and raise the knife to kill, he thought in his heart: “It is clear he had a letter, and by that he saved my master. This is a vast kindness. If I speak plainly, he will kill the princess. Is that not repaying kindness with enmity? Enough—enough! Sha Wujing has gained no merit in service of my master at all. Since I am bound today, let this life be repaid to my master for that debt.” So he cried out, “Demon, do not be impertinent. Whatever letter he might have brought, you cannot so wrongfully accuse him and seek his life. We came only to ask for the princess for a reason.

Because you captured my master in the cave, my master saw the princess’s appearance and her movements. When we reached the Precious Elephant Kingdom and produced the pass, the emperor showed a painted image of the princess and then inquired in all respects. Upon seeing that portrait he asked my master whether he had seen her on the road. My master then spoke of her. The emperor at once knew she was his daughter. He granted us imperial wine and told us to come for you, that the princess might return to the palace. This is the truth. Never was there any letter. If you insist on killing, then kill this old Sha, but do not falsely harm an innocent person. You ruin both Heaven’s order and human righteousness.”

Seeing that Sha Wujing spoke with such force and vigor, the demon threw down the knife, lifted the princess up with both arms and said, “My roughness was of only one sudden moment. I have much jostled and erred. Do not blame me.” Then he gathered up her blue-black hair, set her jeweled knot upright, and with soft words, gentle tone, and pleasant face and color, he cajoled her inside and invited her to be seated in courtesy. The princess was, by nature, soft and yielding, the way of women; seeing his apparent deference, she changed her mind and said, “My lord, if you cherish the affection of husband and wife, then loosen the rope on Sha Wujing a little.”

The old demon, hearing this, immediately ordered his underlings to untie Sha Wujing but keep him bound there. Sha Wujing, freed from the bonds yet still locked in place, stood up and thought in private with quiet joy: “The ancients said, ‘To make it easy for others is to make it easy for oneself.’ If I do not make things easy for him, how would he be willing to release me?”

The old demon then arranged a banquet and held company with the princess to quiet her fear. As they drank to half-intoxication, he suddenly changed into a brighter robe, took a treasure sword and fastened it at his waist. He turned and touched her, saying: “Husband, stay at home and drink; watch the two boys and see that you do not release Sha Wujing. Since Tripitaka is in that kingdom, I should make haste and go to acknowledge my kin.” The princess said, “You cannot go.” The old demon asked, “How can I not go?” She said, “My father is no petty lord’s mountain won by horse and force. It is the ancestral state his forefathers left him. Since childhood he has ascended as crown prince and has not even gone far beyond the city gate. He has never seen a ferocious man like this. Your face and appearance are so ugly; if he sees you, he may be frightened. That would not be proper. Better not to go than to go and be blamed.” The old demon replied, “If this is how it is, then I will simply change into a handsome man.” The princess said, “Try it once, and I shall see.”

That strange monster transformed during the banquet and in a twinkling became a handsome young man. Truly he looked thus:

Elegant in appearance, with a statuesque and lofty frame. His speech had the air of an official, his conduct fitting for fine youthful manners. In talent he was like Zi Jian’s easy verse, in beauty like Pan’an tossing a fruit lightly. On his head sat a magpie-tail crown, dark as a banked storm cloud. On his body he wore a jade-folded robe, its broad sleeves fluttering and welcoming. At his feet were black pleated shoes, and at his waist a radiant phoenix belt. In complexion and spirit he was truly a wondrous man, lofty, rising and proud, handsome and refined.

The princess rejoiced greatly on seeing him. The demon laughed, “My lord, did the transformation come out well?” She said, “It is good, it is good. When you enter the court this way, my father will receive you as kin and have both civil and military officials stand to host you for banqueting. Yet in the midst of any drinking, be careful a thousand times, careful ten thousand times. Do not reveal your original face or expose your true horse-hoofs; if you let slip, it will no longer be literate conduct.” The old demon said, “No need to instruct me. It is already clear in itself.”

You see, he took to cloud-riding at once and quickly reached the Precious Elephant Kingdom. He came down from the cloud mount and walked to the outside of the hall gate, and said to the gate messenger: “The third royal son-in-law requests audience, please submit and have it conveyed.” The yellow-gate official came to the white-jade steps and announced: “Your Majesty, there are three sons-in-law here to seek an audience. They are now outside the gate awaiting proclamation.” The king, who was then conversing with Tripitaka, heard this. He asked the ministers, “I have only two sons-in-law. How is it that there is also a third?” A minister replied, “If there is a third son-in-law, it must surely be that a demon has arrived.” The king asked, “May he be called in?” Tripitaka, the senior monk, said anxiously, “Your Majesty, this is a demon, yes—but a demon without true spirit is powerless. He can know the past and the future, and he can ride cloud and command mist. Whether you summon him in or not, he will still come in. It is better, then, to summon him; at least it saves some face.”

The king acknowledged the report and ordered him announced and brought to the Golden Steps. He performed the same sort of ritual by dancing and crying out while bowing. The many officials, seeing him handsome and refined, did not dare to take him for a demon spirit. They were merely mortals of flesh and blood, and so they treated him as a good man. The king, seeing him tower and stand skyward as if he were a beam and a pillar meant to aid the age, asked, 'Imperial son-in-law, where do you dwell? From what family? When was it arranged that my princess would marry you? Why only come today to acknowledge the alliance?' The old demon knelt and said, 'Your Majesty, your servant is from Wave-Moon Cave of Wanzi Mountain, east of the city.' The king asked, 'How far is that mountain from here?' The old demon said, 'Not far—only three hundred li.' The king said, 'Three hundred li? How could my princess ever reach there to be matched with you?' The demon-spirit, with clever words and flowing flattery, answered as if in sincere sorrow: 'Your Majesty, I have been fond since childhood of bow and horse, and I made my living by hunting. Thirteen years ago, I led dozens of house boys, with hawks and hounds, and suddenly saw a mottled ferocious tiger carrying a young woman down a slope. Your servant drew one arrow and brought down the tiger, carried the woman to my own estate, and fed her warm water and hot broth to wake her, saving her life. When he asked from where she came, she never spoke the word princess. How could I dare to harbor deceit, and, on my own intent, match myself to the Three Princesses of Your Majesty? If she had truly been a royal daughter, I would have entered the golden hall and sought even a minor post, to dignify myself. It was only because she said she was a peasant girl that your servant kept her at the manor. She was beautiful and he a handsome scholar, so with equal willingness they matched and have done so for these years. After matching her, I wished to slaughter that tiger and invite all the kin, yet the Princess ordered not to kill it. As for not killing it, my reason was in a few good words, and I said:

By heaven and by earth they made us a pair; no matchmaker, no proof is required for marriage.
In a former life a red cord had already tied our feet, and today this tiger has become the matchmaker. By this my words, I untied the tiger and spared his life. Wounded by the arrow, he ran off with tail clipped and hoofs shorn. Unknown to anyone, he retained his life, and in those mountains for these years he cultivated and refined himself into a spirit, intent only on bewitching and harming people. Your servant has heard that in former times there were some who traveled for scripture, and they were all pilgrims of Great Tang, called Tripitaka. I think this tiger ruined Tripitaka, took his credentials, and has taken the form of a scripture-seeker; now, in court, he deceives Your Majesty. Your Majesty, the one seated on the embroidered cushion is exactly that fierce tiger who carried off the princess thirteen years ago, and not the true Tripitaka.'

Look at this king of a watery nature, who is deluded by mortal eyes and cannot know a demon spirit, taking a mere hollow word and making it true. He said, 'Wise imperial son-in-law, how do you recognize this monk as the tiger that carried the princess?' The demon replied, 'Your Majesty, in the mountains your servant ate tiger meat, wore tiger hides, and slept and rose with him; how could I not recognize him?' The king said, 'If you can recognize him, have him show his true form so all may see.' The monster said, 'Grant me half a cup of clear water, and your servant will make him show his true form.' The king ordered an official to fetch water and bring it to the imperial son-in-law.

The monster took the water in hand, rose up and stepped forward, and used the Black-Eye Immobilizing Method. Reciting a charm, he spat a mouthful of water toward Tripitaka and shouted, 'Transform!' The elder monk’s true body, hidden up in the hall, truly became a mottled fierce tiger. At that moment, king and ministers, with mere mortal eyes, beheld the tiger:

White forehead and round head, mottled body, lightning eyes.
Four hooves, upright and lofty, rugged and rising; twenty claws, bent hooks, keen and sharp.
Saw-edged teeth around the mouth, ears sharp and joined to the brows.
Frightful and bulky like a great cat-shaped beast, ferocious and strong like a young ox.
Straight bristled whiskers like silver strips, split tongue crimson and hissing, spitting foul breath.
So it was indeed a fierce mottled tiger, and wave after wave of fearsome wind blew through the precious hall. The king looked once and his spirit was shaken and scattered. Frightened, all the ministers all dodged away. A few bold generals, leading generals and company commanders, rushed forward in a crowd and hacked with all kinds of weapons. This time, either Tripitaka ought not have had life to lose, or else all twenty monks would have been cut to mince. As fate would have it, the gods Ding Jia, Jie Di, Gong Cao, and Hūjiào, guarding unseen in midair, protected him, and so none of their weapons could wound him. The ministers cried out until nightfall; then they captured that tiger alive, bound him with iron rope, put him in an iron cage, and confined him in the inner court.

Yet the king ordered a grand banquet to be laid in the Bright-Essence Hall, giving thanks for the merit of the imperial son-in-law in the rescue, else he almost would have been harmed by that monk. That evening, when the ministers dispersed, the demon entered the Hall of Yinan. He selected eighteen palace attendants and colored-skirted maidens, and with flute and lute they sang and danced, urging the demon to drink and feast. The monster sat alone on the top seat, while all around him were women of alluring form and beauty. See how he took pleasure in drink: by the second watch it had risen, and he could not hold himself. He sprang up and laughed once, showed his true form, and suddenly let loose terrible intent. He spread wide his winnowing-basket-like hands and grabbed a maid who was plucking the pipa, then bit down and took a piece of her head. Frightened, those seventeen palace women, half-dead in fear, ran wildly forward and hiding places all around. You can see:

The court maidens were startled with terror, the painted girls quickly alarmed.
Court maidens in fright were like raindrops striking a lotus cage in a night storm;
the painted girls in panic, like peonies tossed to dance in spring wind.
The one clutching the pipa, to save her life, broke it to pieces and stumbled, bruising zither and lute as she fled.
At the gates they ran north and south, fleeing the hall with no care for east or west.
They battered their jade-bright faces and shattered their fair features.
All ran to save their lives, each seeking a fragment of life. When those women came out, they dared not call out. It was deep into the night, and they dared not alarm the household. They all hid beneath the short wall eaves, trembling and fearful.

The monster sat there, drinking for himself. He drank a cup, pulled a man forward, blood-slicked, and gnawed two mouthfuls. Inside he feasted while outside everyone spread the word: 'Tripitaka is a tiger spirit.' The clamoring of rumors spread all the way to the Golden Pavilion Post. At that time the post had no people, only a white horse in the stall eating hay and grain. He was the Small Dragon King of the Western Sea, who for offense against Heaven had had his horn sawed off and his scales shed, and changed into a white horse to carry Tripitaka west to fetch the sutras. Hearing the talk that Tripitaka was a tiger spirit, he secretly thought, 'My master is clearly a good man; surely a demon has turned him into a tiger spirit and harmed him. What should I do? what should I do? Sun Wukong has been away so long, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing have no sign.' He stood on such agitation until the second watch, and at last leapt up and said, 'If I do not save Tripitaka now, this merit and fruit are lost, lost!' He could not bear to hold the reins any longer, loosened bridle and saddle, and quickly appeared in true form as a dragon. He rose on black clouds and flew straight into the ninth heaven to look. A verse bears witness:

Tripitaka comes west to bow before the Buddha, yet on the road there is wicked demon fog.
Tonight he took tiger form, but by a loosening of the white horse reins he will save the master.

The Small Dragon King, in midair, saw the hall of Yinan shining with radiant lamp-flames and candles. There were eight red floor carpets in all, each with a candle lit upon it. Lowering his head through the clouds and looking closely, he saw the demon alone up there forcing out wine while eating human flesh. The little dragon laughed, 'This fellow is no one’s equal, his horse-gait is gone and his disguise is exposed; yet he still pretends and weighs things with false measure. Is it truly a way to continue eating humans? He does not know where my master is, and still meets this wild fiend by chance. Let me go and play him once. If I succeed, I shall seize the demon spirit and then there will be no delay in saving my master.'

The good little dragon, with one transformation, also became a palace maiden, truly light of body and graceful of beauty. He quickly stepped and entered. To the demon he said with reverence, 'Imperial son-in-law, do not harm my life. I have come to fill your cup.' The demon said, 'Pour the wine.' The little dragon took the flask and poured wine into his cup; it rose three to five fen above the rim, yet did not overflow. This was the dragon’s use of the Pressing-Water Technique. The demon, not recognizing it, was glad in his heart and said, 'You have such a technique?' The little dragon replied, 'I can fill it a little higher.' The demon said, 'Pour again, pour again.' He lifted the flask and simply poured; the wine kept rising like a thirteen-tiered treasure pagoda, sharp and full to the top, never spilling. The demon stretched his mouth and took one cup, then with dead flesh in hand took a bite. He asked, 'Can you sing?' The little dragon said, 'I know a little.' She sang a short melody in tune and served him another cup. The demon asked, 'Can you dance?' The little dragon said, 'I know a little, but only with bare hands; my dance is not good to see.' The demon pulled up his clothing, took off the precious sword at his waist, drew out its scabbard, and handed it to the little dragon.

Xiaolong caught the sword and focused. In front of the banquet table he stepped three up, four down, five to the left, six to the right, then set aside the Flower-Blade technique. The monster watched in astonishment. Xiaolong cast away the flower-sign flourish and watched for the demon to come down with a stroke. The fiend was so strange: he sidestepped in alarm, and, flustered in his movements, raised a Mantanghong to block the precious blade. The Mantanghong had in fact been forged from seasoned iron, with the handle weighing eighty or ninety jin. The two came out of Yin’an Hall. Xiaolong revealed his true form, mounted his cloud head, and fought the demon in midair. That bout in the dark was fierce to behold. It may be seen thus:

One was a monster born on Wanzi Mountain, and this one a true dragon from beneath the Western Sea. One cast out radiance like sprayed white lightning; one generated keen qi like red clouds bursting. One seemed like an ivory-tusked old elephant striding among men; one like a gold-clawed leopard-cat flying down through the world. One was a jade pillar that props the sky; one a golden beam that spans the sea. The silver dragon whirled, the yellow ghost surged and roiled. On either side the treasured swords did not slacken; to and fro they came without ceasing, the Mantanghong and all.

The two fought among the clouds for eight or nine rounds. Xiaolong’s hands grew soft and numb; the old demon’s body was strong and heavy with strength. Xiaolong could not match him, so he rose and swung his sword to cut at the demon. The demon had a way of receiving a cut: with one hand he took the precious sword, and with the other hand he flung down the Mantanghong and struck. Xiaolong was caught off guard, and the demon struck him on the hind leg. In alarm he crashed back onto his cloud horse. By luck, the River-commanding Water saved his life, and Xiaolong dived headfirst into the water. The fiend came searching for him but could not find him. He took the precious sword, took the Mantanghong, returned to Yin’an Hall, and resumed, as before, drinking and sleeping; no further account is given.

That little dragon lay hidden beneath the water. After half a watch, hearing nothing at all, he only then bit his teeth, endured the pain in his leg, and leapt up. He stepped on black clouds and turned straight toward the relay pavilion, then changed back into his ordinary horse form and lay beneath the manger. All of him was drenched, and his leg had a bruised blue mark. At that moment:

The heart-horse and mind-monkey were both scattered. Golden Lord and Wooden Mother were all withered. The Yellow Crone was wounded through to understanding. If moral right becomes remote, how can the Way ever be made whole?

Let it suffice for now to set aside Tripitaka’s danger and Xiaolong’s defeat. As for Zhu Bajie, after parting from Sha Wujing, he hid himself in the grass and made a muddy wallow. He slept through that doze until deep in the night before waking. Upon waking he did not know in what place he was. He rubbed his eyes, steadied his thoughts, and only then listened. Ah! It was exactly the kind of deep mountain where no dogs barked and wild space had little rooster cry. He saw the stars shifting and the Dipper turning, and judged it was about the time of the third watch. In his heart he thought: 'I must go back and rescue Sha Wujing. Truly, a single thread has no line; a lone palm cannot make sound. Enough! I will go into the city, report to the Master, get permission from the present authority, and then choose some brave men and horses to help old pig come tomorrow and rescue Sha Wujing.'

Zhu Bajie rushed up on cloud and headed straight back to the city. In a moment he arrived at the relay station. It was moonlit and quiet. Under the two corridors he could not find Tripitaka, and only saw the white horse sleeping there, entirely wet through, with a blue mark of the size of a small tray on its hind leg. Bajie started in alarm and said, 'Double misfortune indeed. This fellow has not walked a step, yet how is there sweat on his body and a blue mark on his leg? Perhaps villainous men have waylaid the Master and maimed the horse.' The white horse recognized Bajie and suddenly spoke in human words: 'Brother.' Bajie shivered in fright, sprang up and tried to go out. The white horse leaned out and, with one bite, caught hold of his robe and said, 'Brother, do not be afraid of me.' Bajie, trembling, said, 'Brother, why are you speaking today? If you are speaking, there must be great misfortune.' Xiaolong said, 'Do you know if the Master is in danger?' Bajie said, 'I do not know.' Xiaolong said, 'You do not. You and Sha Wujing showed off before the Emperor, planning to take that demon and receive credit and reward. But the demon’s power was great. Your methods were insufficient and you could not suppress him. You sent one back to tell the news, yet no word came at all. That fiend changed into a handsome scholar, crashed into court, and became close to the Emperor. He turned our Master into a mottled fierce tiger; the ministers caught it and locked it in an iron cage in the court room. I heard this sorrow and my heart was cut as by a blade. You have been gone two days and know nothing, fearing that life might be taken at once, I had to change into dragon form and go to rescue. Yet even when I entered the court, I still could not find the Master. When I reached outside Yin’an Hall, I met the demon. I then changed into a palace-maid shape and deceived that monster. The monster told me to show my swordplay as he watched, and so I dropped my guard and cut at him once. He had it dodged. With both hands he raised the Mantanghong and put me to the rout. I swung my sword and struck again, but he caught the blade, drew down the Mantanghong, and struck my hind leg. For this reason I burrowed into the River-commanding Water and escaped with my life. The blue mark on my leg came from his Mantanghong.

Hearing this, Bajie said, 'Could this really have happened?' Xiaolong said, 'Could it be I am deceiving you?' Bajie said, 'How is it then? How is it then? Can you move at all?' Xiaolong said, 'If I can move, what of it?' Bajie said, 'If you can move, then go and swim out to sea. Have the baggage hauled by old pig up to Gao Laozhuang, and go home to become a son-in-law.' When Xiaolong heard this, he bit Bajie’s straight robe and would not let it go. Unable to hold back tears, he said, 'Brother, please do not grow indolent.' Bajie said, 'If it were not laziness, then what? Brother Sha has already been taken by him. I cannot beat him. If we do not seize this moment to disperse the fire at once, what else are we waiting for?'

Xiaolong pondered in silence for half a while, then with tears said, 'Brother, do not speak of venting anger. If you want to save the Master, you only need to ask someone to come.' Bajie said, 'Tell me whom to ask.' Xiaolong said, 'Go quickly, ride the cloud and return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, and invite Great Elder Brother Sun Wukong. He still has great demonic-subduing powers and will surely rescue the Master and give you and me satisfaction for this defeat.' Bajie said, 'Brother, it is enough to invite another man. That monkey and I have some misunderstanding. Earlier on White Tiger Ridge, I killed the White-Bone Lady. He blamed me for goading the Master to recite the Tightening Headband Spell. I thought it was only fooling around, but the old monk actually took it seriously and drove him away. I do not know why, but he is angered with me and will certainly refuse to come. If I do not answer him exactly right in speech, his staff is very heavy; if he lands a few blows without knowing measure, how could I live?' Xiaolong said, 'He would not strike you. He is a monkey king of kindness and righteousness. When you see him, do not even say the Master is in danger. Just say, "The Master misses you." Bring him here with coaxing. Once he comes and sees this situation, he will surely be stirred and determined to contend with that demon; he will with certainty seize that demon and save my Master.' Bajie said, 'Fine, fine. You have shown such thorough care. If I do not go, it would show I lacked feeling. If I go now and the traveler Sun truly comes, I will come together with him. If he does not come, then do not expect me; I will not come either.' Xiaolong said, 'Go, go—he will certainly come.'

The glutton really gathered up his spiked rake, fastened his straight robe, and sprang up. He stepped on clouds and headed directly east. In this time also, it was Tripitaka’s destiny. The fool met a favorable wind and spread his two ears wide, making a good wind sail; he crossed the Eastern Ocean at once and came down upon cloud. Before he realized it, the sun had risen over the stars, and he yet entered the mountains to seek the way.

As he was making his way, he suddenly heard voices. Zhu Bajie peered closely, and it seemed to be Sun Wukong in a mountain hollow gathering a host of demons. He sat on a rocky cliff, and before him were over twelve hundred monkeys arranged in orderly ranks, calling: 'Long live the Great Sage, Grand Lama!' Bajie thought, 'What a life to enjoy, what a life to enjoy. No wonder he refused to become a monk. If he only came home, there are these comforts: such a huge estate and so many young monkeys serving him. If old pig had this kind of mountain domain, he would not be a monk either. Now that I have come here, what then is to be done? I must see him in person.' The glutton felt somewhat afraid of him and yet did not dare to face him plainly, so he slipped along the grassy cliff edge, weaving in among the one thousand two-to-three-hundred monkeys, and, with them, bowed in mock obeisance.

Not knowing that the Great Sage sat so high and that his eyes were both clever and sharp, Sun Wukong saw clearly and asked, "Among this group, the one bowing in disorder is an outsider, a yi-ren. From where has he come? Bring him up." Before the command was done, those small monkeys, in a swarm, pushed Zhu Bajie forward and threw him down on the ground. Sun Wukong said, "Where are you from, outsider?" Zhu Bajie kept his head low and replied, "Forgive me for asking. I am not an outsider; I am acquainted, quite acquainted." Sun Wukong said, "The monkeys under my command all look much the same. Your face and features are of another sort, somewhat rugged and strange. You must be a demon from elsewhere. If you would join my troop, first hand over your roll and give your name, then I can place you in my own ranks. If I do not keep you, dare you make such reverent fuss here?" Zhu Bajie bent his head and with his lips curled said, "No shame? Then this is the face I have. I have served your brothers for several years and yet I have not judged truly, could not tell that I was being called an outsider." Sun Wukong laughed, "Raise your head so I can see." The boor pulled his mouth upward and said, "Will you not recognize me by my face?" Sun Wukong could not help laughing: "Zhu Bajie." Hearing that name once, he sprang up with a jolt and said, "Yes, yes, I am Zhu Bajie." Sun Wukong thought to himself, "Now that he is recognized, talk will be easy."

Sun Wukong said, "You are not with Tripitaka fetching the scriptures, so why did you come here? I imagine you must have offended Master and been sent back. If there was a decree of banishment, show it for me to see." Zhu Bajie said, "I did not offend him at all. There was no banishing decree, and he did not drive me out." Sun Wukong said, "If there is no banishment and he did not drive you out, then why did you come here?" Zhu Bajie said, "Master missed you and sent me to invite you." Sun Wukong said, "He did not miss me, nor did he invite me. That day, before Heaven, he swore and wrote a banishment in his own hand. How could he now miss me and at the same time send you so far to ask me to come? I tell you truly I am not willing to go." Zhu Bajie quickly made a pretext and said, "It is because he misses you, it is because he misses you." Sun Wukong asked, "How is it he misses me then?" Zhu Bajie said, "Master was riding on ahead and calling out 'disciple', but I did not hear it. Sha Wujing also has poor hearing, like one who cannot catch the sound. So Master remembered you and said we are not capable without you, and said that you are still sharp and quick, always answering one with ten. Because he misses you so much, he singled me out to invite you. Please come out and go, if only so his longing is not left unanswered, and so I do not return with my effort wasted in crossing so far." Hearing this, Sun Wukong jumped down from the cliff and caught Zhu Bajie by the arm, saying, "You, worthy brother, have gone far in coming. Come now, let us have a little fun together." Zhu Bajie said, "Elder brother, this place is far from where he waits; I fear Master will be disappointed that I am delayed. I will not play now." Sun Wukong said, "You have come all this way already; at least see how my mountain is." The boor, afraid to argue, dared only to follow him and walk about.

They walked hand in hand, while the small demons followed behind, and climbed to the very summit of Flower-Fruit Mountain. It was a good mountain indeed; since the Great Sage returned home, he had set it in order these past days and made it as it had always been. Now this was seen:

Green as jade newly cut, lofty like cloud-massaging heights. Around are tiger-crouching and dragon-coiling forms, and on all sides monkeys cry while cranes wail. At dawn it rises with clouds at the mountain crest; at dusk the sun hangs among the trees. Running water ripples, sounding like jade pendants; dripping springs in the ravines play like a jade qin. Before it stand cliff-summits and steep crags; behind are flourishing flowers and trees. Above it is linked to the Jade Maiden's hair-washing basin; below it joins the channels of the heavenly river. Heaven and earth gather this beauty, matching Mount Penglai; from pure and turbid streams is grown this true cavern realm. Not easy for the finest painter of Danqing to depict, and heaven-crafted maidens cannot render it with divine art. The strange stones glitter with delicate clarity, the ridge-top peaks tied in bright-hued chains. As sunlight moves, ten thousand streaks of violet glow; as auspicious vapour trembles, ten thousand ribbons of red radiance. This is indeed a blessed, cave-heaven realm in the human world, and all over the mountain are new trees and new flowers.

Zhu Bajie looked at it, never done with looking and full of delight, and said, "Brother, this is a fine place indeed, truly the foremost mountain under heaven." Sun Wukong said, "Brother, can one live out a life here?" Zhu Bajie laughed, "With the words you spoke, saying this treasure place is a blessed cavern-land, how can you speak of merely passing the days there?"

After the two laughed and talked for a while, they came down the mountain. By the roadside were a few small monkeys, kneeling with clusters of violet-dense grapes, fragrant pears and jujubes, yellow loquats, and bright red bayberries, calling, "Great Sage, please come in and take your morning meal." Sun Wukong laughed, "My pig brother has a large stomach, yet I do not take fruit as true food. Very well, very well, do not think this a poor offering; take these as light refreshments." Zhu Bajie said, "Though my appetite is large, I too can adapt to each place. Bring them here, bring them here, I will eat some and sample what is fresh."

After the two ate the fruit, the day had risen high. Zhu Bajie, fearing he had delayed Tripitaka's rescue, kept urging, "Brother, Master is waiting there for me and for you. I hope you go quickly, very quickly." Sun Wukong said, "Brother, go into Water Curtain Cave with me and stay awhile to play." Zhu Bajie earnestly refused, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but Master has been waiting long. I will not enter the cave and give you trouble." Sun Wukong said, "Then I cannot remain long. I bid you farewell here." Zhu Bajie said, "Brother, you are not going?" Sun Wukong said, "Where should I go? Here the sky does not seize me and the earth does not govern me; I am free and at ease. If I do not play, what use am I as a monk? I will not go; you go by yourself. But tell Tripitaka this: since he has already driven me off, let him not expect me again." Hearing this, the boor was afraid to press him, yet fearing to inflame his temper, he gave him two quick strokes. In helplessness he could only nod repeatedly in farewell and go his way.

When Sun Wukong saw him leave, he sent two quick little monkeys to follow and listen to what he might say. Truly, the oaf went down the mountain; after no more than three or four li he turned around, pointed at Sun Wukong and cursed in his mouth, "That monkey does not become a monk at all but acts like a demon. That ape-gentleman, I came in kindness to invite him, yet he will not go. If you do not go, then fine." He went a few steps and hurled out a few more curses. The two monkeys ran back in haste to report, "Great Sage, that Zhu Bajie is not quite honest. He goes a little way, then curses a few times." Sun Wukong grew furious and cried, "Bring him here!" The troop of monkeys came flying from all around and caught him up, flipping Zhu Bajie over, grabbing his mane, tugging his ears, pulling his tail, seizing his hair, and dragging him back.

It is still unknown how he will be handled, whether life or death will be his end. Let this be resolved in the next installment.