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.

It was said that Tripitaka and his three disciples had parted from the village household and continued westward along the road; in no more than three or four tens of li they soon reached the border of Western Liang. Tripitaka pointed from the horse: 'Sun Wukong, the city and its walls are near. I can already hear the market voices clamoring. It must be the Western Liang Country of women. You must be careful and very proper. Do not let your feelings run wild; do not disturb the Dharma teachings.' Hearing this, the three obeyed and followed his strict command.

By the time he had finished speaking, they had already reached the East Gate street entrance. There the people were all women, with long skirts and short jackets, powdered faces and oiled hair, old and young alike. They were busy buying and selling in both streets when, as soon as the four of their party came, they all clapped and laughed together and smiled broadly, crying out: 'People have come, people have come.' In panic, the three of Tripitaka pulled the horse and could scarcely move. Within moments the street was full, and only laughter could be heard. Zhu Bajie shouted wildly, 'I am a castrated boar, I am a castrated boar.' Sun Wukong said, 'Fool, stop your nonsense; show your old ugly face.' Zhu Bajie really shook his head twice, raised both fan-shaped ears, twisted his lotus-sack lips, and gave one shout, frightening those women so badly that they fell and scrambled in panic. There is a verse as evidence:

The holy monk came to pray in Western Liang; this land is pure yin, with little yang. Farmers, scholars, merchants and all trades are women; fishermen, woodcutters, ploughers, and herdsmen are all painted in red. Charming maidens crowd the roads, crying for menfolk, and young wives fill the streets to meet powder-faced youths. If not for Zhu Bajie making his ugly face, this blaze of finery would be too hard to survive. So all of them were afraid, unable to come forward. One by one they twisted their hands and bent at the waist, bobbing their heads and biting their fingers, all trembling, and gathered along the roadside to watch Tripitaka. Great Sage Sun Wukong too put on a grotesque face to clear the way; Sha Wujing also took on a fierce tiger-like mien to hold it. Zhu Bajie clutched the horse, cupped his mouth, and wagged his ears.

The party advanced; again they saw the marketplace quarter with ordered houses and impressive pavements: there were shops selling salt and grain, taverns and tea houses; towers with gongs and horns, pavilions for trade, wayside guesthouses with curtains hung. Turning lane after lane, they suddenly saw a female official standing under the street, calling aloud: 'Travellers from afar must not enter the city gate at will. Please lodge at the relay and enter your names in the register. Wait here while I report and take your names; after inspection, let you be released.' Tripitaka dismounted and saw on the gate a plaque inscribed with three characters: "Yingyang Relay." The elder said, 'Sun Wukong, the villagers’ report was true; there is indeed a Yingyang relay.' Sha Wujing laughed, 'Second Brother, go to the bank of the Zhaotai Spring and look; can you see two reflections?' Zhu Bajie said, 'Do not mock me. I drank from that cup of the Zhaotai spring and was castrated there; why should I look again?' Tripitaka turned back and told him, 'Wukong, speak carefully. Speak carefully.' Then he went forward and paid his respects to the female official.

The female official led them by the way, asked them into the relay house, and had them sit in the main hall, then summoned tea. The attendants serving around them, with hair in triple knots and split-style garments, were all smiling, even the one holding the tea. After a little while, when tea was done, the official bowed and asked: 'From where do these envoys come?' Sun Wukong said: 'We are from the Great Tang in the East, sent under the emperor’s command to go to the Western Heaven and petition Buddha for the scriptures. My master is Tripitaka, the Tang emperor’s imperial younger brother. I am his chief disciple Sun Wukong. These two are my junior disciples Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing. With the horse, the party is five mouths in all. We have travel credentials to cross the passes and request verification and release.' After writing it all down, the official knelt and said: 'Forgive this humble officer. I am the postmaster of Yingyang Relay and truly did not know of this honored master of the Upper Court, who would travel so far.' After finishing the obeisance she rose and told a steward to arrange food and drink: 'Masters, please be at ease for a while. I will go into the city to report to the king, exchange your permits, send the escort, and dispatch you all westward.' Tripitaka sat down contentedly.

Then the relay postmaster arranged his robes and entered the city straight to the front of the Five-Phoenix Tower. He told the inner gate officer: 'I am the Yingyang Relay postmaster; I have business in audience.' The gate officer at once presented the report. The order was carried to the hall: 'What is the matter the postmaster has come to present?' The postmaster said: 'Your Majesty, at my relay I have received the Tang emperor’s imperial brother Tripitaka of the Great Tang, with three disciples named Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, and one horse—five mouths in all—bound west to bow before Buddha and obtain the scriptures. I come to ask Your Majesty’s permission to exchange their border papers and release them.' The queen heard it and was full of joy. She told the officials: 'Last night I dreamt the golden screen grew radiant beauty, and the jade mirror shed bright light; this is surely today’s favorable omen.' The female officials, bowing on the vermilion terrace, asked: 'Your Majesty, how is this indeed a joyful omen?' The queen said: 'In our land, since its chaotic founding, from generation to generation no king has ever seen a man come here. To have the Tang emperor’s younger brother arrive now surely is Heaven’s gift. I offer the wealth of a whole country to invite him as husband; I am willing to be wife and share yin and yang union with him, bear sons and grandsons, and pass the empire on for eternity. Is this not today’s omen?' All the female officials praised this in adoration, and none were not pleased.

The postmaster reported further: 'Your Majesty’s plan is an excellent means for a family to be handed down through ten thousand generations, but the emperor’s younger brother’s three disciples are fierce and ugly, not suited in appearance.' The queen asked, 'How does this imperial brother look? How do his disciples look?' The postmaster said: 'The brother is upright and dignified, handsome and heroic; truly he is a man of the Upper Kingdom, a figure of the Zhonghua lands. But the three disciples are grim and ugly in appearance, like spirits.' The queen said: 'Then keep only him, exchange his papers, send him west; what harm is there in leaving only the imperial brother and keeping the disciples with him?' The ministers all cried: 'Your Majesty’s words are perfectly right; we respectfully obey. Yet marriage cannot be done without a matchmaker. From ancient times: "Marriage ties are joined by red leaves; Yue Lao binds husband and wife with a red thread."' The queen said: 'According to what the officer has reported, let the Grand Teacher serve as matchmaker and the Yingyang postmaster officiate. Go now back to the relay and ask for betrothal with the imperial brother. Once he gives consent, I will leave the city and go out to receive him.' The Grand Teacher and the postmaster took the decree and left the court.

At the relay hall, Tripitaka and his disciples were in the midst of enjoying the vegetarian meal when someone outside reported: 'The Grand Teacher and our lady-matron have arrived.' Tripitaka said, 'Why would the Grand Teacher come?' Zhu Bajie said, 'Perhaps the queen has invited us.' Sun Wukong said, 'Not merely invited—she is seeking a marriage.' Tripitaka said, 'Sun Wukong, if they do not let us go and force a wedding, what should we do?' Sun Wukong said, 'Master, just consent for now. Your old Sun will handle matters himself.'

Before they could finish speaking, two female officials arrived and bowed to Tripitaka. The elder returned each courtesy, saying: 'I am a poor monk; what merit do I have that high officers kneel before me?' Seeing Tripitaka’s commanding appearance, the Grand Teacher in his heart was secretly pleased: 'This nation truly has heaven’s arrangement; this man can become my queen's husband.' After the two officials had finished their bows and stood at his sides, they said: 'Your Highness, this is a thousandfold joy.' Tripitaka said, 'I am a monk; from where comes such joy?' The Grand Teacher lowered himself and said: 'This is the women’s kingdom of Western Liang. There has never been a man in this realm. Now, by lucky chance, your lordship has arrived. On the queen’s command, I, your servant, came to seek this match.' Tripitaka said: 'Good indeed! Good indeed. I am a poor monk who came alone to your land; I have no sons or daughters with me, only three unruly pupils. I do not know which match Your Excellency is asking for.' The postmaster spoke: 'I have just returned from audience to report, and the queen was very pleased: last night she had an auspicious dream in which a golden screen gave off radiant color and a jade mirror cast out light. The imperial brother is a true man of the great lands of Zhonghua; my queen wishes to offer the wealth of a whole kingdom and invite him as husband, to set him on the southern seat as lord, while she serves as empress. She has ordered the Grand Teacher to serve as matchmaker and the postmaster to officiate; therefore I have come to ask for this marriage.' Hearing this, Tripitaka lowered his head and said nothing. The Grand Teacher said: 'A great man must not miss his hour. For such adoption by marriage, though rare across all under heaven, one of such abundance and grandeur in a kingdom is truly uncommon. Please, Your Highness, consent quickly so that I may make a good report.' Tripitaka grew even more numb and speechless.

Zhu Bajie, standing to the side, with his mouth puffed and cupped, shouted: 'Grand Teacher, go and report again to the king: my master is a true arhat who has practiced and perfected the Way from long ago. He will not love your kingdom’s wealth, nor your all-surpassing beauty. Hurry and exchange the passes and send him west. Leave me here to be taken as spouse—does that do?' The Grand Teacher heard this and was white with fear, too frightened to reply. The postmaster said: 'Though you are male in form, you are only ugly in appearance and not to the queen’s taste.' Zhu Bajie laughed: 'You are very short-sighted. The saying is: "A coarse willow winnow and a fine willow scoop— who in this world has ever seen a man ugly?"' Sun Wukong said: 'Dullard, do not chatter. Leave the matter to the respected wish of our Master: where he can act, let him act; where he must stop, let him stop. Do not interfere with the work of the matchmaker.'

Tripitaka said, “Wukong, how is this to be praised? How could you say it?” Sun Wukong said, “As old Sun sees it, staying here is good for you as well. As the saying goes from of old, ‘A thousand-li betrothal is pulled like a string’; where can there be a closer match than this?” Tripitaka said, “Disciple, we are here chasing wealth and rank. Who then will go west to fetch the scriptures? Will we not imperil the Son of the Great Tang emperor as well?” The Grand Master said, “Your brother is present, and I, your minor official, dare not conceal the truth. My king’s intention was only to request that he take you as husband. He ordered that your three disciples attend a betrothal banquet, issue you your travel provisions, exchange the pass documents, and send you westward for the scriptures.” Sun Wukong said, “What the Grand Master says is sound. We need not argue. We are willing to leave the Master here and let your sovereign take him as a husband. Exchange the documents at once and send us west. When we return with the scriptures, we will come here to pay respects to father and mother, ask for our travel money, and return to the Great Tang.” The Grand Master and the postmaster then saluted Sun Wukong and said, “Our thanks for the Teacher’s meritorious aid.” Zhu Bajie said, “Grand Master, do not merely have words of dishes on your tongue. Since we have already promised, ask your lord first to arrange a banquet for us with food and wine, will it be?” The Grand Master said, “Yes, yes, yes—have a feast laid out at once.” The postmaster and Grand Master returned in high spirits to report to the queen; no need to narrate it further."

Now Tripitaka seized Sun Wukong by the sleeve and scolded, “You monkey-head! You would have me killed with this. How can you speak such words, asking me here to arrange marriage, while you say you will go to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha? I would not dare to do it even if I die.” Sun Wukong said, “Master, rest assured. Does old Sun not know your nature? It is only that upon arriving here and meeting this person, one must follow a strategy as planned.” Tripitaka said, “What does it mean to follow a strategy as planned?” Sun Wukong said, “If you refuse and disallow him, then he will not agree to exchange the travel credentials and will not let us depart. If, in wickedness, he orders many men and has your flesh cut to make some perfumed pouch, how could there be any merit for us? We would have to use our demon-subduing arts. You know our arms and legs are heavy and our weapons fierce; with one move we could strike down all the people of this kingdom. He does oppose us, but he is not a demon of monster form; he is only a man and ruler of a country. You have always been a compassionate man, one who does good without harming others on the road. If we slaughter limitless common people, how could your heart bear it? It would indeed be improper.” Tripitaka said, “Your argument is excellent. Yet I fear, if the queen invites me in to perform the rites of husband and wife, how could I consent to losing my vital essence and ruining the Buddha way? Would I not then fall from this true monastic body?” Sun Wukong said, “Now that the match is accepted, he will certainly receive you with imperial ceremony, send out a carriage to bring you out of the city. Do not refuse. Sit in his phoenix carriage and dragon car, mount the treasure hall, and sit facing south. Ask the queen to bring out the imperial seal, proclaim that our three brothers may enter court, then stamp the pass documents. Ask her next to write her handwritten seal and affix them all to our documents and hand them to us. Meanwhile he should set out a banquet, so it is as if he and the queen are rejoicing in joy, and then send us off. Once the feast is over, have the carriage arranged again and say only this: send these three out of the city and then bring the queen back to join with her court. Make king and ministers glad and won, with no will to obstruct and no wicked thoughts. Once they escort us beyond the city gate, you should step down from the dragon and phoenix carriage. Tell Sha Wujing to watch at your side and kneel attending as you mount the white horse. Old Sun will cast a stillness spell, making all their king and ministers unable to move, and then we will take the great road straight west. After one day and night have passed, I will recite a charm, lift the spell, and also wake them to return to the city. In one way it preserves his life; in another it does not damage your original spirit. This is the stratagem of the ‘marriage decoy’ and escape from the net—could there be a plan that achieves two goods at once?” Tripitaka listened. As if sobered from drink and waking from a dream, his joy drove away sorrow. He praised him without end, saying, “I deeply feel the wise insight of this worthy disciple.” The four were united in heart and all agreed, and their consultation is not further narrated.

Yet the Grand Master and the postmaster did not wait for the imperial edict to be announced. They entered at the gate before the white jade stairs and reported, “Your Majesty’s auspicious dream was true: this is the meeting of fish and water.” The queen heard the report. She drew aside the pearl curtain, came down from the dragon bed, opened her cherry lips, flashed her silver teeth, and in a smiling, coy voice asked, “Honorable minister, what did you say of my august brother?” The Grand Master said, “We came to the station and paid homage to the august brother. We then reported the matter of seeking marriage. The august brother still had reasons to decline. Fortunately his great disciple generously agreed, saying he would leave his Master for our king to be husband, to face south and receive him as emperor. He only asked first that the pass documents be exchanged, so he might send these three westward. When the scriptures are obtained and he returns, he will come here to pay respects to father and mother, ask for journey expenses, and return to Great Tang.” The queen smiled and said, “What else does the august brother say?” The Grand Master reported, “He has no further words. He is willing to match our lord. His only condition is that his two disciples first have a seat at the banquet and share wine.”

When the queen heard, she issued an order and instructed the Hall of Splendor to lay out the banquet. Elsewhere preparations were made for the royal carriage to go out and welcome the bridegroom. The women officials obeyed the queen’s command: they cleaned the palace and laid out the courtyard terraces. One group set the tables for the feast at once; another prepared the ceremonial escort with haste. Behold: though Xiliang is a kingdom of women, this carriage procession is no less magnificent than that of Zhonghua. Behold also:

Six dragons spray auspicious colors, and two phoenixes bring blessed omens. The six dragons cast colored light to guide the chariot forth; two phoenixes summon good fortune as it comes in the carriage. Fragrant, unusual incense exhalations mingle in the air, and auspicious vapor rises in a soft haze. With gold-fish and jade pendants, many officials crowd around, while women with bejewelled cloud-like coiffures stand in ranks. Swan-palm fans shield the carriage; jade curtains glow with reflections of phoenix hairpins. The music of mouth-harps is sweet, and the stringed pipes are in perfect accord. A single sweep of joy fills the blue sky-bowl; boundless delight pours out before the spirit terrace. Three-eaved canopies shake the heavens; five-colored banners mirror the imperial steps. In this land no such matched wedding-cup has ever been made before; today the queen is joined to a worthy man.

Not long after, the royal carriage had already gone out and arrived at Yingyang Relay. Suddenly someone announced to Tripitaka and his three disciples, “The procession has arrived.” At the words, Tripitaka changed garments with the three disciples and came out from the hall to welcome it. The queen drew up her curtain and descended from the carriage, saying, “Which one is the august brother of the Tang court?” The Grand Master pointed and said, “The one in the embroidered robe before the station altar there is he.” The queen’s phoenix-like eyes flashed, her brows gathered like bees; she examined him closely and indeed saw him to be of extraordinary appearance. See him:

Graceful beauty and heroic bearing, a countenance proud and lofty. Teeth white as inlaid silver, red lips framed by a square mouth. A smooth brow, broad forehead, and a sky-filled, expansive crown; clear eyes and fine brows, a terrace of long repose. At both ears a noble manly bearing, in one body no common style but a man of talent. What a marvelous, clever, handsome, elegant youth—fit to be paired with Xiliang’s graceful maiden. The queen, beholding this beauty that pleased her heart beyond measure, could not restrain the swift surge of desire. Love and appetite rose without limit; she opened her small cherry lips and called, “Tang aught-brother, why do you not come and mount the phoenix that rides the heavenly phoenix and enter the union?” Tripitaka heard this, his ears reddening and his face turning red, and shyly answered without lifting his head.

Zhu Bajie stood at his side, cupped his mouth and, with eyes glazed and lingering, looked toward the queen. She was graceful beyond compare indeed:

Brows like green-feathered plumes, skin like clarified mutton-fat. Her face held the tint of peach petals; her hair coils piled with golden-falconing silk. Autumn pools in her eyes, a seductive cast to her mien; a bamboo-spring slenderness in her youthful charm. A slanting scarlet robe-stream flashed with rich colors; a high comb with pearls and green jade displayed bright light. What can be said of Zhaojun’s beauty? she truly surpasses Xi Shi. A willow waist gently sways, golden pendants chiming, lotus steps move lightly, and her jade limbs shift. Chang’e beneath the moon cannot equal this place; how could a heavenly maiden of the Ninth Heaven compare? Her palace beauty is wondrous beyond all pattern—truly, the Queen Mother herself has descended to the Jade Lake. That fool, seeing such beauty, could not keep saliva from his mouth. His heart pounded like two deer colliding; in one instant his bones softened and his tendons numbed. He resembled a snow-lion to fire, and in no time seemed to melt away in ardor.

The queen came closer and took Tripitaka by the arm, speaking in coy and lovely tones: “Brother my august brother, please come up onto the dragon carriage, and with me enter the Golden-Sage Hall to be matched as husband and wife.” The elder monk shivered and trembled, unable to stand steady, as if drunk and dazed. Sun Wukong, standing at his side, said, “Master, do not be overly humble. Please have her take up the carriage with you. Quickly exchange the pass documents, and let us then go west for the scriptures.” Tripitaka, not daring to answer, wiped his face twice with his hand, yet still tears kept falling. Sun Wukong said, “Master, do not trouble yourself. With such wealth and rank, how can you not accept when it is offered?” Tripitaka had no other way and complied. He dabbed his tears, forced together a cheerful face, and moved forward, and with the queen:

Hand in hand they climbed to the same carriage. The queen, bright with longing, wished to pair as husband and wife, but this elder monk, in anxious fear, thought only of worshipping Buddha. One desired the marriage chamber and candles and to be two birds in one nest; the other sought the Western Spirit Mountain to behold the World-Honored One. The empress was sincere, hoping to share harmony to old age; the holy monk was feigned, concealing his true heart and guarding his original spirit. One rejoiced at seeing a male form, desiring white-day joy and union in bed; one feared encountering women’s beauty and only thought to cast off the net and promptly return to the Thunderous Sound Cave. The two entered and rode the carriage together; who could have imagined each heart was set in a different way.

Those civil and military officials, seeing the lord and the Elder mounted together on the Phoenix Carriage, seated shoulder to shoulder, each with brows lifted and eyes bright with laughter, turned the ceremonial escort and entered the city again. Sun Wukong only just told Sha Wujing to shoulder the baggage, tugged the white horse, and followed behind the imperial carriage. Zhu Bajie ran ahead in disorder and reached the Hall of Five Phoenixes first, shouting, “How free and easy, how convenient it is! If this cannot be arranged, that cannot be arranged—eat the bridal wine first, then enter into marriage.” He frightened the female officials guiding the attendants; each hurried back to the side of the carriage and reported, “Your Majesty, the one with the big mouth and big ears at the Five-Phoenix Hall is shouting that he wants the wedding wine before the marriage.” The queen heard and, leaning against the Elder, drew close with perfumed shoulder and rosy cheeks, and in a coquettish voice called out, “Younger Imperial Brother, is that broad-mouthed, big-eared one your senior disciple?” Tripitaka said, “Yes. He is my second disciple. He was born with a broad appetite and always aims to keep his mouth full. We must first set out some wine and food for him; only then can we proceed.” The queen hurriedly asked, “Is the banquet arranged by the Office of Emoluments finished?” An attendant replied, “It is finished, with separate vegetarian and meat banquets set up in the East Hall.” The queen asked, “Why two kinds?” The attendant replied, “I feared Your imperial brother from Tang and your disciples were used to vegetarian fare, so both have been arranged.” The queen then smiled, leaned close against the Elder’s fragrant shoulder, and with a playful tone called, “Younger Imperial Brother, do you eat meat, or vegetables?” Tripitaka replied, “This poor monk eats vegetarian food, but has never taken a vow against wine. A few cups of light wine are needed for me, and my two disciples should drink a little as well.”

The Grand Tutor then reported, “Please come to the East Hall for the banquet. This night is an auspicious day and hour, and you may marry the Younger Imperial Brother at once. Tomorrow, when Heaven’s yellow course opens, please ascend the Treasure Hall, face south, change the reign title, and be enthroned.” The queen rejoiced greatly, then took the Elder by the hand and together they stepped out of the dragon-carriage and entered through the central gate. There they beheld:

Wind-shaken fairy music descended to the terrace, Between the Changle gates the emerald carriage rolled. The Phoenix Pavilion stood wide open in radiant brightness; the imperial halls of brocade seemed never shut. In the Hall of Qilin, smoke from the censers curled; by the peacock screen the painted screens swung. The pavilions and towers rose high like a superior realm; jade halls and golden steeds were all still more wondrous. When they arrived beneath the East Hall, another stream of sweet melody and singing was heard, and two lines of delicate, rosy-faced maidens appeared. In the central hall were two splendid banquets: at the top of the left line was the vegetarian table, and at the top of the right line the meat table. Along the lower levels were single seats on both sides. The queen drew up her robe sleeves, her fingertips extended, and carrying a jade cup, she came to seat everyone. Wukong stepped forward and said, “My teacher and I are all vegetarian. Please first seat the master at the left vegetarian table, then three seats below, divided to left and right, so my brothers may sit there.” The Grand Tutor, pleased, agreed: “Quite right, quite right. Teacher and disciples are like father and son; they should not sit side by side.” The attendants quickly rearranged the seating. The queen handed out cups one by one and seated the three disciples. Wukong exchanged a look with Tripitaka and signaled him to return the courtesy. Tripitaka came down, lifted the jade cup, and sat with the queen. The civil and military officials saluted toward the inner palace in gratitude for imperial grace, took their places by rank on either side, and only then did the music resume for drinking.

Zhu Bajie, paying no heed to propriety, opened his belly wide and focused only on eating. He cared for no jade scrapings, rice, steamed cake, sugar cake, mushrooms, fragrant fungi, bamboo shoots, wood ear, yellow-flower buds, black moss, purple seaweed, turnip greens, taro, radish, yam, Chinese yam—everything was swallowed clean in no time. He drank five or seven cups of wine and shouted, “Bring another fresh set! Bring out big cups, a few more rounds for each of us, then back to business.” Sha Wujing asked, “A fine banquet and we eat nothing—what business must now be done?” Zhu Bajie laughed, “The ancients said, ‘Let the bow-maker make bows, and the arrow-maker make arrows.’ We now recruit when it is time to recruit, marry when it is time to marry, go on pilgrimage where we must fetch scripture, and keep walking where we must walk. Do not just be greedy for cups and miss the task. Send out the permits quickly. A general does not descend from the horse while marching; each of us must follow our own road.” Hearing this, the queen at once ordered large cups brought. The attendants hurriedly brought several parrot cups, luzi ladles, gilded po-lo cups, silver zhaolu, crystal goblets, crystal basins, Penglai bowls, and amber bells, and filled them with jade liquor, repeatedly replenishing clear elixir. In truth, they all drank one full round each.

Tripitaka rose with a slight bow and, with palms together before the queen, said, “Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for this grand arrangement; the wine is sufficient. Please have him go to the Treasure Hall and exchange the passport, for we must hasten while time is still early and send these three out of the city.” The queen obeyed, and with the Elder walked out, dismissed the banquet, entered the Golden-Throne Hall, and had the Elder seated for accession. Tripitaka said, “No, no. As the Grand Tutor said, tomorrow when Heaven’s yellow course opens, only then may this poor monk dare to assume the throne and bear a reign title. Today I can only issue the permit and send them on.” The queen complied, remained on the dragon bed, then set out a golden ceremonial chair at its left and asked Tripitaka to sit. She ordered the disciples to bring the travel passes. Wukong then told Sha Wujing to untie the baggage bundle and take out the warrant. With both hands Wukong held up the document. The queen examined it closely: at the top were nine seals of the Great Tang emperor, and beneath them the seals of Bao Xiang Kingdom, Wuji Kingdom, and Chezhi Kingdom. After studying them she smiled and asked, “Younger Imperial Brother, is your family name also Chen?” Tripitaka answered, “My secular surname is Chen and my Dharma name is Xuanzang. Because the Tang king, by imperial grace, considered Your Highness a younger brother and bestowed on me the surname Tang.” The queen asked, “Why is there no disciple name written on the pass?” Tripitaka said, “The three unruly disciples are not my Tang subjects.” The queen asked, “If they are not of Tang, why are they willing to accompany you?” Tripitaka replied, “The eldest disciple’s ancestral land is Aolai in Eastern Victory Divine Land; the second is of Wusi Manor on the Xiniuhe isles; the third is from the Flowing-Sand River people. The three, for crimes against Heaven’s laws, were released from suffering by Guanyin of the Southern Seas, came to take refuge in the Dharma, and in expiation of their past deeds consented to protect me on the way to the Western Heaven. They were taken in on the road, so their Dharma names were not yet entered on the warrant.” The queen asked, “Shall I append their Dharma names now?” Tripitaka said, “As Your Majesty graciously wishes.” She then ordered an ink brush, ground fragrant ink thick, and with a full wet brush wrote at the end of the warrant: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing. Only then did she bring out the imperial seal and press it cleanly and straight; then she added a hand-written floral signature and sent it down. Wukong accepted it and told Sha Wujing to wrap it up securely.

The queen also presented a tray of broken gold and silver pieces, brought it down from the dragon bed to Wukong and said, “Take this as your road allowance, and set out early for the Western Heaven. When you return with the scriptures, Your humble servant will have you thanked all over again.” Wukong said, “We are ordained monks; we do not accept gold and silver. On the road we can beg and receive sustenance.” Seeing he refused, she produced ten bolts of brocade silk and said to him, “You are all in haste and unable to tailor garments; use this while traveling to make clothes to guard against the cold.” Wukong said, “Monastics cannot wear brocade silk. I have protective cloth robes already.” Seeing he still refused, she ordered, “Take three sheng of my imperial rice; that will serve as one meal on the road.” Hearing the word “meal,” Zhu Bajie took it immediately and tucked it among his baggage. Wukong said, “Brother, with our luggage as heavy as it is, will you still have strength to carry rice?” Bajie laughed: “How would you know? Rice is a daily consumable; one meal will settle the account.” Thereupon he joined his palms and offered thanks.

Tripitaka said, “If Your Majesty permits, I ask that these three be escorted out of the city so that I may entrust them with a few final words and have them proceed westward with care. I will return [to you]; then Your Majesty may forever enjoy splendor and honor with no ties and no attachments, and only then may the dragon and phoenix bond be truly complete.” The queen, not understanding his stratagem, ordered the carriage prepared. She and Tripitaka leaned shoulder to shoulder and, sharing one perfumed ride, mounted the Phoenix Carriage and went out through the western city gate. In the whole city, every household had vessels of clean water replenished and incense burners sending true fragrance aloft: some people came to watch the queen’s imperial coach, others to look at the youthful body of the Younger Imperial Brother. No matter old or young, all were girls with soft cheeks and fine-looking faces, hair bound in green-braided cloudlike knots. Not long thereafter, the carriage left the city and had gone beyond the West Gate.

Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, fully in accord, gathered themselves neatly and moved forward to meet the carriage, crying out in full voice, “Your Majesty, do not send us so far; let us take leave here.” Tripitaka slowly descended from the dragon carriage and, facing the queen with folded hands, said, “Your Majesty, please return; allow this poor monk to continue westward for the scriptures.” At these words the queen was startled and turned pale; she grabbed Tripitaka and said, “Younger Imperial Brother, I am willing to use all the wealth of a kingdom to woo you as my husband. Tomorrow you will ascend the throne and I will be your empress. I have already partaken of all the bridal banquets—how can you turn this decree now?” Zhu Bajie heard, and let out a blast of rage; he twisted his mouth and ears into a wild contortion and rushed to the front of the carriage, shouting, “What husband-wife can there be between a monk and this powder-faced woman? Let my master go on his way!” Seeing this crude, disorderly display, the queen was terrified, her spirit seeming to fly out; she toppled into the carriage. Sha Wujing pulled Tripitaka out of the crowd, attended him, and put him up on horseback.

Just then a woman flashed out from the roadside and shouted, “Tang Younger Brother, where are you going? Come, let us frolic in love and moonlight.” Sha Wujing cursed, “You ignorant brigands!” He drew the Golden-Hooped Staff and struck at once. The woman set a whirling formation and with a single shrill sound seized Tripitaka and took him away; there was no trace of him thereafter. Alas! it was exactly this:

She slipped from the net of smoke and blossoms, and met the Wind-and-Moon demon again.

Still it remains unknown whether that woman is human or strange creature, and whether the life of the teacher-father is to end or to live. Wait and listen to the next chapter for the full resolution.