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.

After the bodhisattva recited the mantra a few times, she only then grew quiet, and the demon child ceased to feel pain. He stood up and looked at himself: around his neck, arms, and legs were iron rings of the golden hoop. They had tightened so sharply that he could not think to loosen them even a hair’s breadth when he tried to remove them. This treasure had already taken root in his flesh; the more one rubbed it, the worse the pain. Sun Wukong laughed. "That little imp of mine—Guanyin feared she could not train you properly, so she put a neck-cuff and wrist band on you." Hearing that, the child, troubled again, snatched up his spear at once and stabbed at Wukong in confusion. Wukong dodged quickly, stepped behind Guanyin, and called, "Chant the spell, chant the spell!" The bodhisattva dipped a willow branch in a drop of nectar and flicked it out, crying, "Seal!" At once he dropped the spear; both his hands came together in prayer across his chest, and he could not open them again. To this day he remains fixed in a Guanyin knot—this is the meaning of it. With his hands unable to open and the spear gone from his grasp, he understood then that the Dharma power was too profound to resist. Helpless, he lowered his head and knelt in submission.

Guanyin chanted a true spell, tilted the purity-vessel, and drew the entire sea of water back into it, leaving not the smallest trace. To Wukong she said, "Sun Wukong, this demon is subdued, but its wild ambition still wavers. Let me make him bow one step at a time, step by step, until he comes to Mount Loka; only then will I release the spell. Now go quickly back to the cave and rescue your master." Wukong turned and knelt, "You have traveled far for our sake, Bodhisattva; your disciple should escort you a short way." Guanyin replied, "Do not send me. If you do, you may endanger your master’s life." Hearing this, Wukong was glad and took leave in farewell bows. The demon-child had already returned to right rectitude: he made fifty-three prostrations, bowing to Guanyin.

Need not linger on the bodhisattva’s binding of the boy. Sha Wujing had been sitting long in the pine woods, waiting anxiously for Wukong to return; seeing that he was late, he loaded the baggage on the horse, held the monster-subduing precious staff in one hand and the reins in the other, and went out through the pines to look south. He saw Wukong coming joyfully. Sha Wujing greeted him. "Elder Brother, why did you go to summon the bodhisattva and only return now? You nearly killed me with worry." Wukong answered, "You were still dreaming. Old Wukong already invited the bodhisattva and subdued the demon." He then gave Sha Wujing a full account of Guanyin’s powers. Sha Wujing was very glad and said, "Let us go rescue Master."

The two of them leapt over the ravine and came to the gate in no time, tying up the horse. With weapons raised they entered the cave together and exterminated the band of demons, then removed the leather sack and let Zhu Bajie out. The ruffian thanked Wukong. "Brother, where is that demon now? Let me go and strike him with a few blows and let out my rage." Wukong said, "Set aside that and search for Master first."

The three reached the back quickly and saw Master naked and bound in the courtyard, crying. Sha Wujing hastened to untie the ropes, and Wukong immediately took off clothes for him to wear. The three knelt before him and said, "Master, you have suffered so much." Tripitaka thanked them. "My worthy disciples, you have been greatly burdened. How did you manage to subdue that demon?" Wukong again set out how he had invited Guanyin and captured the child. When Tripitaka heard it, he quickly knelt and faced south in reverence. Wukong said, "Do not thank him. Rather, we have made merit by taking in a demon-child." This is the matter of the child bowing to Guanyin: fifty-three rounds of obeisance, and in each round he saw Buddha. That is all.

He told Sha Wujing to gather up the treasures from the cave, then look for grain and prepare a vegetarian meal to serve Master. The Venerable Master’s life was saved entirely through Sun Wukong’s grace; the taking of the True Scripture rested only on the Beautiful Monkey.

The teachers and disciples came out of the cave, mounted their horses, found the main road, and fixed their minds on the Western journey. After traveling a little more than a month, they suddenly heard a roar of water. Tripitaka, greatly startled, said, "Disciples, where is that water sound coming from now?" Wukong laughed. "Teacher, you are too suspicious to be a monk. The four of us are together, yet only you hear water. Have you forgotten the Duoxin Sutra again?" Tripitaka answered, "The Duoxin Sutra was taught by Chan Master Wuchao of Mount Futu: fifty-four lines, two hundred and seventy characters. I heard it then by word of mouth and have recited it ever since—do you think I have forgotten that one line?" Wukong said, "Teacher, you forgot: 'No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.' As those who have left home and become monks, we must have eyes that do not cling to forms, ears that do not chase sounds, a nose that does not seek scents, a tongue that does not taste, a body unconcerned by heat and cold, and a mind that does not harbor vain thoughts. This is how one dispels the six thieves. But now, because you seek the Scripture, your thoughts cling to every word; fearing demons, you are unwilling to forgo your life; wanting to eat, your tongue moves; liking sweetness, your nose attends; hearing sound, your ears are startled; seeing things, your gaze fixes itself. You draw all six thieves together in turn—how can you hope to behold Buddha in the Western Heaven?" After hearing this, Tripitaka was silent and reflective. "My disciple," he said, then voiced this poem:

Since the year I left my holy lord, I have run this way and that through day and night with deep diligence. My hemp shoes have worn through the mists above the mountain-top, my bamboo hat has split open the cloud-bands on the ridge. In the stillness of night, the cry of monkeys is hard to bear; beneath a bright moon, bird-calls are unbearable. When will the Three-three practice be fulfilled, and I obtain the Tathagata’s wondrous Dharma text? Hearing this, Wukong could not restrain himself and burst into laughter. "So this Master is homesick and cannot quiet himself. If you only need to complete the Three-three practice, what is difficult? As people say: 'When effort ripens, attainment comes of itself.'" Zhu Bajie turned and said, "Brother, if obstacles are as fierce as this, even a thousand years will not bring success." Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, you and I are the same—rough-tongued and slow of jaw. Do not tease Elder Brother into anger. Keep bearing the load on your shoulders; someday, surely, we will succeed."

As they were talking, the four kept walking; the horses pounded faster, and ahead there appeared a torrent of black water so high it seemed to overwhelm the sky, so the horse could not go in. The four stopped on the bank and looked carefully, and there it was:

Layer on layer dense surf, wave upon wave in heavy, blurred masses. Layer upon layer of thick black waves turn the water to soot-black, the ranks of dark swells rolling like black oil. From afar you can scarcely make out men’s reflections; from near you can scarcely find a tree. The ground rolls like ink everywhere, dark gray as far as the eye can see. Foam floats up like heaps of coal, spray rises like overturned cinders. Cattle and sheep will not drink, crows and magpies do not dare to fly. The cattle and sheep refuse to drink, fearing the depth of the blackness; birds shun the air for fear of the mire. Only the cattail by the bank keeps its seasonal rhythm, and strange green grass and flowers struggle at the shoal. Lakes, rivers, and ponds are all over the world, and springs and marsh-caves are plenty beneath the earth. All lives have places where they meet; who has ever truly seen the Black-Water River of the West?

Tripitaka dismounted and said, "Disciples, why is this water so thick and dark?" Zhu Bajie said, "Someone must have tipped over a vat of indigo." Sha Wujing said, "No, then it must be a house where someone washed a inkstone." Wukong said, "Stop guessing wildly. Let us figure out how to take Master across." Zhu Bajie said, "If this were old pig crossing, it would not be hard: either ride a cloud-head or wade in with the water load—and I could cross it in no time." Sha Wujing said, "If old Sha were to do it, one could simply raise the clouds and let the water part in an instant." Wukong said, "We can easily cross; only Master is hard to pass over." Tripitaka asked, "Disciples, how wide is this river?" Zhu Bajie said, "It seems about ten li across." Tripitaka said, "The three of you settle it. Which one will carry me across?" Wukong said, "Zhu Bajie can." Zhu Bajie replied, "I cannot carry him: if I try to bear him while mounting a flying cloud, even three feet I cannot keep us off the ground. And if I carry him while holding water, I will drop us straight into the water again."

The four were still discussing by the riverbank when someone appeared upstream and rowed a small boat downstream toward them. Tripitaka rejoiced, "Disciples, a boat has come—call him to ferry us over." Sha Wujing called out loudly, "Ferry-man, come and take people across." The man in the boat replied, "I am not a ferry boat. How can I ferry you across?" Sha Wujing said, "Between heaven and earth, convenience is foremost. You may not be a regular ferryman, and we are not in the habit of disturbing you. We are Buddha’s children, pilgrims from the Central Kingdom sent west for scripture. Do one kindness for us and ferry us across; we thank you." The man, hearing this, rowed the boat near the bank and, bracing on the pole, said, "Venerable, this boat is small. There are too many of you—how can I take you all at once?" Tripitaka stepped closer and saw that the boat was carved from a single piece of timber, with only one tiny cabin-like space; at most two could sit. Tripitaka asked, "What now is best?" Sha Wujing said, "In that case, let us cross in two rounds." Zhu Bajie used some trick to avoid the hardest part: "Wu Jing, you and Big Brother stay here to watch the baggage and horses. Let me take Master over first, then I will return for the horses. Tell big brother to jump across." Wukong nodded. "You are right."

Zhu Bajie helped Tripitaka into the boat; the boatman steadied the bow and thrust out the paddle against the current, then rowed straight on. Just when they had reached the middle, there came a single loud crack, waves and swells rolled up, and sky and day were darkened. The gale was fierce beyond measure:

In the air rose a sheet of cannon-clouds, and along the midstream rose a thousand layers of black waves. Wind-blown sand flew from both banks, and their glare obscured daylight; trees on all sides snapped and bent as the world seemed to roar. River-heaving and sea-fouling made even the Dragon King fear. Dust was flung up from the banks; trees and flowers withered and dropped. The wind roared like spring thunder, and wave after wave growled like hungry tigers. Crabs, turtles, fish, and shrimp came up in obeisance; birds of the air and beasts of the land lost their nests and dens. Boatmen on five lakes faced ruin; households by four seas had not secure lives. Anglers inland could not cast a hook; boatmen on the river could not brace a pole. Tiles flew and walls toppled; the sky and earth were shaken; even Mount Tai seemed to shake. That wind had been raised by the boatman himself. He was a monster of the Black-Water River. In an instant, Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie and even the boat were swallowed under the water without trace, and no one knew to which direction they had been taken.

At the bank, Sha Wujing and Sun Wukong were shaken and said, “What is to be done? Master meets danger at every step; just now we escaped a demon’s snare and by luck had peace on this road, but now we run into this eddy of black water.” Sha Wujing said, “Could the boat have capsized? Let us go downstream and search.” Sun Wukong said, “It is not a capsizing. If it were, Zhu Bajie could swim it, and he would surely save Master and emerge carrying him through the water. I only saw the boatman rowing with foul intent; it must be this brute stirring the wind and dragging Master under.” Sha Wujing said, “Brother, why not tell me sooner? You watch the horse and luggage; I will go down and search in the water.” Sun Wukong said, “The color of this water is wrong; you may not be able to go into it.” Sha Wujing said, “How is this water different from my own Liusha River? I can go, I can go.”

The good monk stripped off his tight shirt, bound up his hands and feet, raised the Golden-Hooped Staff, and with a sudden rush split the waters and dived into the waves, striding forward. Just as he moved, voices could be heard. Sha Wujing slipped to the side and peered in; on the shore stood a pavilion, and across its gate were hung eight large characters: “Hengyangyu Black-Water River God’s Mansion.” From within he heard the monster say, “I have labored long, and only today can I obtain this object. This monk is a good man who has practiced for ten lives, but if I get one piece of his flesh I shall become one who never ages. I have waited long enough for him; this morning at last I do not fail my vow.” He called out, “You whelps, quickly bring out the iron cage, steam these two monks whole in it, and send word to my uncle to come and warm my longevity.” Hearing this, Sha Wujing could not restrain the fire in his chest. He drew the staff and battered the gate. Shouting through clenched teeth, he cried, “You wretched thing, quickly release Tripitaka and my brother Zhu Bajie at once!” Then the fiend inside the demon house ran out in alarm to report, “A calamity has occurred.” The old demon asked, “What calamity?” The little demon said, “Outside there is a monk with an ill-omened dark face, pounding the front gate and cursing, demanding people!”

At those words the monster summoned his armor. A little demon brought forth a padded coat. The old demon arranged it neatly, took up a bamboo-knotted steel whip, and came out the gate. He was truly a vile and venomous brute. He looked thus:

His rounded eyes gleamed with rosy firelight; his curled lips, his huge mouth, red as a basin of blood. Scattered iron-like whiskers swung on a few sparse locks, while vermilion-smeared side locks and wild hair rose in a tangle. His shape was like the manifestly numinous Tai Sui, his face like Lei Gong in enraged thunder. Iron scales of armor burned in bright clusters around him; his golden helmet shone with inset jewels. In his hand he wielded a jointed bamboo steel whip, and each movement drew rolling, raging gusts of wind. Born from the waters, he had left his original form and changed into a ferocious shape. If one asks his true surname and name, he was formerly called Tuo Long.

The monster shouted, “Who dares to beat on my gate?” Sha Wujing said, “You ignorant fiend! Why do you play at illusions and pretend to be a boatman? You drove our boat over and carried away our Master. Send him back, and I will spare your life.” The monster laughed hoarsely. “This monk knows not life and death. I have taken your Master and will steam him whole before bringing him to me. Go upstairs and match wits with me. If, in three measures, you can outfight me, I will return your Master; if not, I shall steam and eat you both in one go. You will not reach the Western Heaven either.” Sha Wujing flew into rage, brandished the staff, and struck first. The monster raised his steel whip and moved to meet it. Beneath the water they fought in a fierce bout:

The exorcising staff and the knotted steel whip: both in anger rushed first. One was a thousand-years-old demon from the Black-Water River, the other an old immortal once of Lingxiao Pavilion. One craved to eat Master Tripitaka’s flesh, the other pitied him and fought to save his life. They came to the watery depths to contend, each seeking victory and refusing surrender. The shrimp and fish flitted their heads and wriggled away in pairs; crabs and tortoises drew in their heads and sank. Behind them the monsters of the Water Palace beat drums in unison, and the host before the gate shouted and quarrelled. Fine indeed for that monk of true insight and purity, alone, single-handed, hearing authority full and clear. He leapt through surging waves with no winner or loser yet, whip and staff answering one another in linked blows. In the end all this was for Tripitaka, to obtain the True Scripture and offer homage to Buddha and heaven. The two fought for thirty rounds without either gaining advantage. Sha Wujing thought to himself, “This creature is my equal; I cannot truly defeat him as it stands. I will draw him out and let my senior brother handle him.” He feigned a break in his stance and, dragging the staff, withdrew. The demon did not pursue in return; he said, “Go, then. I will not fight you now. I will send the note and go invite the guests.”

Sha Wujing rose from the water in angry fury and said to Sun Wukong, “Brother, this monster is impertinent.” Sun Wukong asked, “You were down for so long before coming up. What kind of demon is this? Did you find Master?” Sha Wujing said, “There is a pavilion near here with a gate sign reading, ‘Hengyangyu Black-Water River God’s Mansion.’ I hid at the side and heard him inside: he told his whelps to scrub the iron cage because he meant to steam Master Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie and then ask his uncle to come warm his longevity feast. I became enraged and went to strike the gate. The monster came out holding a knotted steel whip of bamboo joints and fought me half the day; we traded about thirty measures and no winner was decided. I then used a feigned losing trick to lure him out and bring you to help in turn. The monster was most obedient and did not chase me; he just said he would go back and send the summons. So I came up.” Sun Wukong said, “Do you know what demon this is?” Sha Wujing said, “Its form was like a huge tortoise, or else a toad-dragon.” Sun Wukong said, “Do you know which one is his uncle?”

He had barely finished speaking when an old man came out of the cove and knelt from a distance, calling, “Great Sage, the Black-Water River God kneels to you.” Sun Wukong said, “Could it be that the same boatman demon, come again to deceive me?” The old one knocked his head to the ground and wept, “Great Sage, I am no fiend. I am the true god of this river. Last year, in the fifth month, this demon came with the great tide from the Western Ocean and fought with my lesser gods. I was old and my strength had declined; I could not match him. He seized my seat, the Black-Water River God’s Mansion at Hengyangyu, and moved in to dwell there, and he wounded many water spirits. I had no means, so I went to report in the Sea Court. It turns out he is the maternal uncle of the Western Sea Dragon King, so my petition was denied and I was told to yield that place to him. I wished to report further to Heaven, but my office is too low, and I cannot obtain audience with the Jade Emperor. Now hearing that the Great Sage has come here, I have come to pay respect and beg for aid. I earnestly hope Great Sage will help me to right this wrong.” Sun Wukong said, “By that account, the Western Sea Dragon King is indeed to blame. He has now seized Tripitaka and my disciple, and he boasts he will steam them whole and ask his uncle to celebrate. I was already about to seize him when you came to report. Good. River God, stay here with Sha Wujing and guard this place; I will go to the sea and first capture that Dragon King and order him to arrest this demon.” The River God replied, “I deeply feel Great Sage’s great kindness.”

Sun Wukong mounted a cloud and went straight to the Western Sea. He pressed the measure-mantra, twisted the anti-water formula, and split the waves as he moved. While on his way he met a black fish spirit carrying a small polished-gold petition box, shooting upward from downstream like an arrow and shuttle. Sun Wukong struck him with a sudden leap and, whipping the staff down on top, tore him apart. He was miserable to see the brain burst forth, his jawbone split apart, and with one dull sound he floated to the surface. He then opened the box and, when he looked inside, there was a note written as follows:

Your humble nephew Tuo Jie, with head bowed and a hundred prostrations, respectfully presents this to Uncle Ao, Lord of the Sea, before the hall: At your gracious grace I am deeply moved. Now that two rare goods have been obtained—they are monks from the Eastern Land, indeed rare things in this world—and your nephew dares not use them for himself. Since your holy birthday is near, I have set a light and fitting feast and offer beforehand a wish for a thousand years. I beg your imperial carriage to come without delay; this is all.

Sun Wukong laughed and said, “This brute even hands his petition over to Old Sun first.” Then he tucked the note in his sleeve and continued forward. Already a night-devouring spirit scouting the sea had seen Sun Wukong and sprang out, crashing into the Crystal Palace to report, “The Great King, the Equal of Heaven Great Sage Sun has arrived.”

Then Dragon King Ao Shun at once assembled the water hosts and came out of the palace to welcome him: “Great Sage, please enter the lesser hall and be seated. I offer you tea.” Sun Wukong said, “I have not yet drunk your tea, so drink my wine first.” Ao Shun laughed, “Great Sage has long ago turned to the Buddha’s teaching and does not touch meat and liquor; when have I ever asked you to drink wine?” Sun Wukong said, “You may not have asked me to drink wine yourself, but you have surely incurred one offense of drinking. Great King, in what way can my little dragon have offended?” He took the note from his sleeve and handed it to the Dragon King.

The Dragon King saw it and was shaken to the core, then hurriedly knelt and knelt again, knocking his head on the ground: “Great Sage, Sun Wukong, forgive this offense. That brute is the ninth son of my younger sister. Because my sister’s husband went wrong in the matters of wind and rain, his rain quota was cut; Heaven issued an order, and in a dream the Court Officer Wei Zheng, prime minister in the Celestial Bureau, beheaded him. My sister had no place to take refuge, so this young dragon brought him here and raised him to adulthood. In the previous year my sister died of illness; he had no place to live. So I set him in the Black-Water River to cultivate and discipline himself, hoping that when he became accomplished he could be moved elsewhere for service. I had no idea he would commit this evil. The little dragon has already been sent to arrest him.” Sun Wukong said, “How many virtuous sons-in-law does your sister have? Where are all of them now causing trouble?” The Dragon King answered, “My sister has nine sons. The first is Little Yellow Dragon, posted at Huai Ditch; the second, Little Black-Dragon, posted at Ji Ditch; the third, Blue-Back Dragon, who has occupied Jiang Ditch; the fourth, Red-Bearded Dragon, who guards River Ditch; the fifth, Tulao Dragon, serving with Buddha in charge of the bell-watch; the sixth, Wenshou Dragon, with the divine palaces, buttressing the ridge; the seventh, Jingzhong Dragon, who with the Jade Emperor guards the Qingtian Huabiao; the eighth, Shen Dragon, who is with the great elderly brother and holds a post at Mount Tai. The ninth is this Tuo Dragon. Since he was young and had no duties, only this year did I assign him to the Black-Water River to cultivate, to wait until he came of age so I could transfer him elsewhere. Who could have known he would disobey my order and charge into collision with the Great Sage?”

Hearing this, Sun Wukong laughed and said, “How many brothers-in-law does your sister have?” Ao Shun said, “She only has one brother-in-law: the Dragon King of the Jing River. In recent years he was beheaded for this offense, and afterward my sister remained a widow here. Last year she died of illness.” Sun Wukong said, “One husband and one wife—how can so many mixed descendants be born?” Ao Shun replied, “That is what is meant by: ‘Dragons have nine kinds; every kind is different.’” Sun Wukong said, “I was just about to complain with a petition as proof and report it to Heaven, charging you with colluding together in mischief and abducting people. From what you have said, it was that one rogue who disobeyed your teaching. I will let you off this time for two reasons: first, I see your clan is of noble lineage; second, he is only young and ignorant, and you are not fully aware either. Now send men at once to capture him. Save my Master, then we will settle the rest.” Ao Shun immediately called for Prince Maoang: “Quickly send five hundred shrimp-fish hard soldiers and bring the little Tuo here for punishment.” On one side, a banquet was arranged and a formal feast offered for the Great Sage. Sun Wukong said, “Dragon King, do not be anxious. Since we have already pardoned you, that is enough. Why bother with this wine? I must go now with your son: one, because my teacher is endangered; two, because my fellow disciple waits.”

The old dragon could not hold him back long. He then saw the dragon maiden coming with tea and offering it. Sun Wukong drank one cup of fragrant tea and parted from the old dragon. He then followed Maoang with the troops, left the Western Sea, and quickly came to the Black-Water River. Sun Wukong said, “Noble Prince, catch the demon carefully. I will go ashore.” Maoang said, “Great Sage, do not worry. The young dragon-son will bring him here to present himself before the Great Sage, punish him for his crime, and send Master back before he dares to return to the sea court to meet my father.” Sun Wukong gladly parted from him, formed the Water-Avoiding Formula, leapt from the waves, and went straight to the cliff on the east. Sha Wujing and the river gods came forward to meet him and said, “Senior Brother, you left this way through the sky; how is it you return from inside the river?” Sun Wukong set forth in full how he had killed the fish spirit, obtained the summons slip, and how he and the demon Dragon King had come with the prince and soldiers. Sha Wujing was very glad. They all stood on the bank to await Master, and that is all.

The account now says Prince Maoang sent his troops ahead to stand before the gate of his water court and announce, “The Prince Maoang of the Western Sea, the heir-apparent, has arrived.” The demon was seated when he heard this. Inwardly he wondered, “I sent a black-fish spirit with a petition slip to invite my elder uncle. From dawn until dusk I heard no reply. Why is it that his cousin has come instead?” As he spoke, one of the patrol demons arrived to report: “Your Majesty, on the west side of the water court a battalion is encamped; on the banner is written ‘Crown Prince Maoang, young lord of the Western Sea.’” The demon said, “This cousin is outrageous indeed. He must think the uncle could not come and has therefore summoned him for a banquet. But if he comes to a banquet, why bring troops and laboring men? Ha! Yet this reeks of hidden purpose.” He ordered, “You youngsters, lay out my armor and steel whips. I fear they may become violent all at once. I will go out and meet him and see what is to be made of it.” The demons took their orders and each rubbed his hands and flexed his knuckles, readying themselves.

The Tuo Dragon came out the gate and truly saw one regiment of sea soldiers camped to the right. He saw:

The battle flags fluttered with embroidered sashes; painted halberds were lined up beneath the radiant glow. Treasure swords held condensed light; long spears, with tassels, coiled like flowers. Bows bent like small moons; arrows stuck in place like wolf fangs. Great sabres flashed brilliantly; short clubs were hard and rattling. Whales and giant turtles, clams and mussels, crabs and tortoises, fish and shrimps all together. Great and small stood in equal ranks; weapons and arms were dense as thorns. No general’s order was there, yet who dares to rush in and kick up disorder?” The demon saw this and came straight to the gate of the camp, crying out in a loud tone, “Great cousin, my younger brother is here waiting with respects; please come.” One of the patrol demons, a Luo Luo, hurried to the central pavilion: “Your Highness, the Prince is here: outside the gate a Tuo Dragon is calling for audience.” The prince pressed down on the golden helm atop his head, tightened the jade belt at his waist, took up a three-ridge tablet in his hand, pulled himself up and strode out of camp, saying, “Why have you come to summon me?” The Tuo Dragon entered respectfully and said, “My younger brother submitted a petition this morning inviting my uncle and thought he had been rejected, so he sent your cousin in his place. Since your elder brother has come to attend the feast, why does he again employ troops and weary many soldiers? Why not enter the water court, and instead camp here while he puts on armor and leads his men?” The prince said, “Who did you invite your uncle to see?” The demon said, “My younger brother, who has been favored here and granted residence, has long been separated from your honored face and has not been able to make filial offerings. Yesterday he caught a Tang monk. I heard he is a primordial body of ten levels of cultivation, and that one may eat him to prolong life. I wished to ask my uncle to inspect him, steam him in an iron cage, and cook him to warm his lifespan.” The prince shouted, “You know nothing! Who do you think this monk is?” The demon said, “He is a monk from the Tang court, a monk traveling westward to obtain scriptures.” The prince said, “You know only that he is Tripitaka. You do not know how dangerous his disciples are.” The demon said, “He has one long-mouthed monk, called Zhu Bajie. I have also captured him, to be steamed with the Tang monk. There is another disciple, called Sha Wujing, a black man with an inauspicious face, who wields a precious staff. Yesterday at this gate he came to demand my Teacher. I sent out my river soldiers and gave him one hard stroke of steel whip; I fought him in battle and he fled in defeat and escaped. I still do not know how dangerous he is.”

The prince said, “So it is because you do not know. He also has a great disciple: five hundred years ago he raised great havoc in Heaven—the Taiyi Golden Immortal’s Equal to Heaven Great Sage. Now he protects Tripitaka, escorting him westward to worship Buddha and fetch the scriptures. At Putuo Rock, Guanyin, Great Mercy, Great Compassion, persuaded him to the good and gave him a new name, calling him Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, the Wanderer. How did you let this disaster happen through your failure? He came into my waters and encountered your errand men, seized the summons, entered the Crystal Palace directly, and in collusion with your demon-kind committed the crimes of violence and abducting the people. At once send Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie to the riverbank and return Sun Wukong. By my offering him respectful gifts, your life may still be spared. If you utter one single word of refusal, do not even think to remain alive here in full.” The Tuo demon, hearing this, grew furious and said, “I am linked as true nephew to your elder uncle, yet you defend another man instead! By what you said, you demand that Tripitaka be sent out. Is there such a thing so easy in Heaven and Earth? If you fear him, does that make me the one to fear? If he has skill, let him come to my water court gate and fight me in three engagements. If I can defeat him, I will hand over his Master. If I cannot defeat him, I will take him too and steam both at once. Then none of his kin are even worth mention; I will not invite guests. I shall close the gate myself, bid my little men to sing and dance, sit above, and eat, at my own ease.”

The prince opened his mouth and cursed: “You insolent fiend! Truly you are without form. But do not let the Great Sage and you make open opposition. Do you dare hold against me?” The demon said, “If one is a true man, what need is there to fear contention?” and ordered, “Bring out the armor.” He called, and the little demons came about him left and right with armor and presented steel whips. The two changed faces and displayed their heroics; with command, the drums roared together. This fight was very different from the earlier struggle with Sha Wujing. Behold:

The banners shone and rippled; halberds and spears shook with light. On this side the camp layouts were broken up, while on that side the gates flew wide. Prince Maoang raised the Golden-Hooped Staff, and the Tuo demon swung his whip in swift return. With one cannonlike blast, the river troops blazed; three great drums and gongs roared, and the sea soldiers went wild. Shrimp fought against shrimp; crabs fought against crabs. A whale-roc swallowed a red carp; the black bream surged with yellow croaker. Shark and mackerel were fed with sardines and ran. Oysters seized razor clams and mussels, all in panic. Short barbs were hard as iron staffs; kun fish and needles were sharp as bright blades. Catfish chased white lizards in the shallows; flounder grabbed black croakers. In one river the water monsters fought for dominance, while two lines of dragon soldiers fixed who was stronger. After a long mixed battle the waves rolled hard; Prince Maoang pressed forward like Vajra-Gong. At one thunderous shout, the golden tablet came down heavy upon his head, and he seized the Tuo demon, lord of that fiendish host.

The prince made a feint with the three-ridge tablet, creating a seeming opening. The demon spirit did not realize it was deception and squeezed inside. Sun Wukong used a trick and struck only the demon’s right arm with a single tablet stroke, making him spin and topple in a rolling fall. Closing in, he kicked again; the demon fell to the ground. A mass of sea soldiers surged forward, hauled him up and turned him over, then bound both hands with rope. They threaded an iron chain through his pipa-bone and brought him up to shore. They presented him before Sun Wukong and said, “Great Sage, the young Dragon Prince has captured the demon Tuo. Please determine his guilt and sentence.”

Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing spoke to him, “You scoundrel, you ignored orders. Your uncle once placed you here to live, teaching you to cultivate your nature and preserve your life, and when your destiny ripened he would have assigned you elsewhere. Why have you now forcedly taken over the Water God’s residence, relied on your strength to do violence, deceived with a treacherous heart, played at sorcery, and fooled my Master and my junior brother? I was about to strike you with this staff, but Old Sun’s staff is so heavy that even a light blow would have cost you your life. Where have you hidden my Master?”

The demon kept kneeling and saying, “Great Sage, the little toad knows nothing of the Great Sage’s full name. I only just now defied my cousin and used my strength against right and wrong, and that cousin seized and bound me. Now that I see the Great Sage, I am infinitely grateful for your grace in sparing my life. Your Master is still bound inside the Water Court. Please untie my iron chain and free my hands so I can go into the river and bring him out.”

Mao Ang spoke from the side, “Great Sage, this one is a rebellious fiend, utterly treacherous; if released, evil thoughts may yet arise.” Sha Wujing replied, “I know where he is. Let me go seek my Master.”

The two of them leapt into the water and went straight to the gate of the Water Court. The gate leaves stood wide open, and there was not a single guard in sight. They entered directly into the pavilion halls, where Tripitaka and Zhu Bajie, both bare-bodied, were bound there. Sha Wujing at once untied the Master, and the Water God in turn unbound Zhu Bajie. Carrying each other out, they rose from the water’s surface and came directly to the bank.

Zhu Bajie saw the demon still chained at his side, and in haste he seized his halberd and rushed forward to strike, shouting, “You vile fiend! Why do you not eat me now?” Sun Wukong pulled him back: “Brother, spare him the death penalty; consider the father-and-son feeling between Old Ao Shunxian.”

Mao Ang bowed and said, “Great Sage, the little dragon prince cannot tarry. Since you have rescued your Master, I will take this fiend to my father. Though the Great Sage has pardoned him for the offense of death, my father will not pardon him as alive; he will give proper punishment. I will return and report to offer apology.” Sun Wukong said, “If so, lead him away. Offer repeated bows to your lordly father and ask leave for a direct apology.”

Then the prince seized that ferocious demon, entered the water with him, led the sea soldiers, and turned straight toward the Western Ocean—no further detail is given.

Now the Black Water River God thanked Sun Wukong: “Thanks again for restoring the grace of the Water Court.” Tripitaka said, “Disciple, we are still on the eastern bank. How are we to cross this river now?”

The river god answered, “Do not worry, Your Reverence; please mount the horse. This humble spirit will clear the way and lead the Master across.”

Only then did the Master mount the white horse; Zhu Bajie held the reins, Sha Wujing carried the baggage, and Sun Wukong supported him on both sides. The river god then performed a water-stopping spell: he blocked the upper current and in a moment drained the lower stream, opening a broad road. The pilgrims crossed to the western side, thanked the river god, and climbed the cliff to continue on their way. This is exactly:

A Chan monk, saved, goes westward to the sacred lands, the Black River crossed in stillness, with no wave upon the earth.

In the end, it is still unknown how they will at last bow and implore Buddha for the scriptures. Hear the explanation in the next chapter.