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.

For all twelve double-hours, do not forget: gather up a full hundred ke of practiced power. Through five years, in one hundred and eighty thousand cycles, do not let the sacred waters dry up, and do not let the firelight burn unchecked in grief. When water and fire are brought to equilibrium, no harm is done; the five phases are linked together like a hook. Yin and yang are in harmony, and on the cloud pavilion one rides a phoenix to the Purple Palace, rides a crane to Yingzhou. That lyric, titled "Linjiangxian," says that Tripitaka and his three companions had already balanced water and fire, and their true natures had become cool and clear. They borrowed the Precious Fan of Pure Yin and used it to fan away the parching heat as they passed the mountains. Before a day had passed they traveled eight hundred li; the disciples moved about in a carefree, carefree way as they headed west. It was then at the turn from late autumn to early winter, and they saw such scenes: Wild chrysanthemums dropped their fading flowers; young plum blossoms were just putting forth fresh buds. In every village they brought in grain, and in every household fragrant porridge was served. In the bare woods, fallen trees made the distant hills appear; in curved ravines the frost was thick, and the deep gullies were clear. Ringing-bell breath should answer, and the hibernating camps be sealed. Pure yin and pure yang, the Moon Emperor in the dark abyss; abundant water virtue—on Emperor Shun’s day, clear skies were favored. Earthly qi descends; heavenly qi rises. The rainbow withdrew, no shadow left to be seen; ponds and marshes slowly formed ice. Vine ropes hung on sheer cliffs and their blossoms withered; pine and bamboo, stiffened by cold, turned greener and colder still.

The four had been traveling for quite some time, and ahead they now came near a city. Tripitaka reined in his horse and called to his disciple: "Sun Wukong, look there—those towering towers and pavilions—what place is that?" The Great Sage looked up and saw that it was a city. Truly, it was:

Dragon-coiled in form, tiger-crouched in a city of gold. Four drooping canopies near at hand, a hundred-bent turns on a level Purple plain. Jade-and-stone bridge railings line clever beasts in rows, Golden tiered platforms seat the wise and eminent. Truly this was a city of the Divine Continent, a heavenly treasury, a Jade Capital. Its realm held fast for ten thousand li; for a thousand years an imperial lineage had flourished. From all the outer peoples the barbarian rulers bent low in grateful submission; over sea and mountain, the Court of Origin’s saintly assembly was full. The imperial steps were clean, the carriage roads calm and clear. Winehouses roared with music, flowered towers gave off joy. Outside Wei Yang Palace, the chang-chun trees stood, and as if by right, phoenixes of dawn-colored plumage cried. Sun Wukong said: "Master, that city is the seat of an imperial king." Zhu Bajie laughed. "A kingdom has a prefectural city, a county has a county town, how can you know this to be a king’s court?" Sun Wukong said: "You do not know how an imperial king’s residence differs from a county city. Look—there are ten or so gates around all four sides, the walls stretch a hundred-odd li, and the towers and pavilion rise high into cloud and haze. What other place could be so majestic if not an imperial capital?" Sha Wujing said: "Elder brother’s eyes are sharp; though he knows it is an imperial place, what is its name?" Sun Wukong said: "There is no plaque or signboard naming it. How can we know? We must go inside and ask the city, and only then will it be clear."

The four had walked far enough. Soon they came near a city gate. Tripitaka dismounted and led them across the bridge to enter. He saw six streets and three markets full of trade and wealth; he also saw ranks of robes and caps, and men and women dressed in high style, splendid in bearing. As he walked, suddenly more than ten monks appeared at once, each with iron shackles around neck and wrists, kneeling by the gate begging for alms, in threadbare blue robes and tattered cloth. Tripitaka sighed: "Like foxes mourning the rabbit’s death, creatures grieve for their own kind." He called out: "Sun Wukong, go ask them why they suffer such punishment." Sun Wukong obeyed. "Monk, from which temple are you? Why are you wearing shackles and neck irons?" The monks knelt and said: "Master, we are wronged monks of Jinguang Temple." Sun Wukong asked: "Where is this Jinguang Temple?" They answered: "Turn around the corner and it is there." Sun Wukong brought them before Tripitaka and asked: "How were you wronged? Tell me." The monks said: "Master, we do not know where you have come from, though your faces seem familiar. We dare not explain everything here. Please come with us to an outer mountain, and we will tell you all our hardship." Tripitaka nodded: "Very well. Let us go into that temple and learn the matter carefully."

Together they reached the gatehouse. Across its lintel, seven gilded characters were written: "Imperially established, Protector-of-the-State Jinguang Temple." The company entered and looked around, but saw:

Ancient halls with cold incense lamps, empty corridors where wind swept fallen leaves. A tower rose a thousand feet toward the clouds; a few pines in the courtyard preserved the life of the place. Petals lay everywhere in the courtyard, no guest to have passed by; before the eaves, spiderwebs climbed and hung at leisure. Empty drum frames, a bell hanging in vain, painted walls with dust so dense the colorful figures blurred into haze. The preaching hall was silent and no monk appeared; even the meditation hall was still, fit only for birds to come and go. Wretched and pitiful beyond words, loneliness without limit. Though a censer stood before the Buddha, its ashes were cold, the flowers faded—the whole scene was empty. Tripitaka’s heart grew pained and tears rose in his eyes. The monks, still wearing chains, pushed open the main hall and invited Tripitaka to ascend and pay homage. After the Master entered the hall, offered incense from the heart, and clicked his teeth in three reverent nods, he moved to the back and saw six or seven small monks locked on the eaves of the abbot’s hall. Tripitaka could not bear to look at it.

When they entered the abbot’s hall, all the monks came to bow. They asked, "The gentlemen seem so different in appearance. Are you holy monks from the Great Tang of the Eastern Regions?" Sun Wukong laughed and said, "These monks have some kind of divination of what is to come? We are, in fact, so. How did you know?" The monks answered, "Master, how can we claim such powers? We only suffer injustice and know no way to speak it out clearly; day after day we cry out to heaven and earth. Surely, perhaps, we disturbed the heavenly spirits. Last night, each of us had a dream: there would come a holy monk from the Great Tang of the East to save our lives and end our grievance. Today when we truly see you in this strange form, we know why."

When Tripitaka heard this, he was greatly glad and said, "What place is this? What injustice has befallen you?" The monks knelt and reported: "Master, this city is called Ji-Sai Kingdom, a great outpost in the western lands. In former times four outer realms paid tribute: to the south, the Yue-Tuo Kingdom; to the north, the Gaochang Kingdom; to the east, the Xiliang Kingdom; to the west, the Benbo Kingdom. Year after year they brought splendid jade, bright pearls, beautiful imperial consorts, and fine horses. Here we stir no war and do not go forth in conquest, so naturally those lands honored this kingdom as a superior one. "Tripitaka said: "If it is thus honored, the king of your land must be virtuous and wise in both writing and war." "Master, he is neither wise in letters nor good in arms. The king himself is not righteous. This Jinguang Temple has always had a golden stupa with auspicious cloudbanks gathered above it and brilliant omen-like mists rising high. At night, scarlet radiance spread out; people for ten thousand li had seen it. In daytime it exhaled colored vapors, and no among the four nations failed to look on it. So the realm was taken for a heavenly treasury and divine capital; all four outer peoples paid tribute. But three years ago, on the first day of the waxing moon in the eighth lunar month, at midnight of the Zi hour, a rain of blood fell. At dawn every household trembled with fear, and every doorway held sorrow. The ministers presented this to the king. None knew what heavenly punishment had been incurred. At that time they invited Daoist priests to perform rituals and had monks recite scriptures, making sacrifice in Heaven and apology to Earth. Who could have known that the golden treasure on the stupa in this temple had been defiled? For two years the foreign kingdoms had not come with tribute. The king wanted to launch a campaign, and among ministers some argued: it was because these temple monks had stolen the treasure from the stupa, and so there were no auspicious clouds or blessed mists, and no foreign tribute. The senile ruler could not discern the truth. Those traitor-officials seized our monastic brethren and took them away, torturing them in endless ways, searching for everything they imagined was stolen. At that time there were three generations of monks here. The first two generations had been tortured to death. Now they seized our generation and bound us in shackles. Master, how could we dare to steal the treasure from the tower? We beg you, have pity and gather what is of one kind with one another; as things are alike, so they are assigned together. Set aside your great compassion and broad powers and save our lives."

Tripitaka heard and with a nod sighed: "This matter is dark and hard to determine. First, the court has misgoverned itself; second, your lot has fallen under misfortune. If blood truly rained from heaven and tainted the stupa, why did you not present this directly to the king and end your own suffering?" The monks replied: "Master, we are ordinary men. How can we know the will of Heaven? And since even your predecessors could not discern it, how are we to act?" Tripitaka said: "Sun Wukong, what is the hour now?" Sun Wukong said: "Around the time of Shen [the ninth hour], just before the hour passes." Tripitaka said: "I want to offer the king an exchange report, yet this matter of these monks is not yet clear; I cannot stand before him and speak plainly. When I left Chang’an, at Famen Temple I made this vow: in the western lands, whenever I encounter a temple I should burn incense; when I encounter a monastery, I should bow before Buddha; when I find a stupa, I should sweep it. Now that we have arrived at this place, we meet persecuted monks whose plight comes from the burden of the stupa itself. Make a new grass-broom with me. After I bathe, I will go up and sweep it, and see exactly what sort of defilement there is, and why it no longer emits radiance. Only then will I know the truth and report clearly to the king to release them from this suffering."

The shackled monks, hearing this, hurried to the kitchen and brought a kitchen knife to give to Zhu Bajie: "Master, use this knife to unlock the irons on those small monks chained to the columns, and send them to prepare us tea and plain fare to serve the honored monk after he bathes. As for us, we will fetch fresh brooms in the market and bring them so the Master may sweep the stupa." Zhu Bajie laughed: "What is hard about opening locks? Without knife or axe, let that bearded elder over there—he is, after all, seasoned in lock-opening." Sun Wukong stepped forward, used a unlocking art with a gesture of his hand; with one wipe several padlocks dropped off. The young monks then ran to the kitchen, scrubbed the hearth and vessels clean, and prepared tea and grain-meal dishes. Tripitaka and the disciples ate their alms in silence as dusk slowly deepened. Then they saw the shackled monks return carrying two brooms. Tripitaka was overjoyed.

As he was about to speak, a young monk lit a lamp and called for bathing. At that moment the whole sky blazed with stars and moonlight, and on the tower above, the watch-drums rang together. It was then this:

On four-sided walls the cold wind rose; ten thousand houses shone with lamplight. On six streets the doors and shutters were bolted shut, on three markets the gates and courtyards were closed. Fishing boats had returned to the deep groves; the plough and yoke had ceased from the short ropes. The woodcutters laid down axe and adze, and the students’ voices rose in recitation. After bathing, Tripitaka put on a close-sleeved thin robe, tied on the cord-belt, changed his feet into a pair of soft sandals, and took a new broom in hand. To the gathered monks he said, You all can rest. I am going up to sweep the stupa.' Wukong said,The tower-top has already been defiled by blood-rain, and long kept without light, so evil creatures may breed there. On top of that, the night is still and cold, and you have no companion. If I go alone, there may be mishap. Let Old Sun go up with you.' Tripitaka said, Very good, very good.' Taking one each, they first went to the Great Hall, lit a glass lamp, burned incense, and knelt before the Buddha to pray:Your disciple Tripitaka, of the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, has been sent to Sacred Peak to pay audience to Buddha Tathagata in order to fetch the sūtra. Now I have come to Jin Guang Temple in the kingdom of Jisae. This local monastery says the stupa has been defiled; the king accuses this monk of stealing treasure, and the innocent is suffering for it while none above can discern the truth. Your servant offers this worship in full sincerity; I sweep this stupa, praying for the Buddha’s mighty power to reveal the cause of this impurity, lest a common monk be wronged and blamed.' After the blessing, they opened the tower door and began sweeping from below. It was truly as follows: Lofty and rigid it leaned and stood, towering high in midair. This is called the Five-Colored Glazed Stupa, the Thousand-Gold Śarīra Peak. The stairs turn like burrowing through a cave; the gate opens as if a caged thing flies out. The reflection of the treasure-bottle sends moonlight to the rim of heaven; the golden bells sound out through the wind over the sea. Look then: the empty eaves curve around the starry dipper, and at the summit the clouds are kept. The empty eaves curve around the starry dipper; they form a cunning stone pier of flowers and phoenix. At the roof-crest the cloud is retained; they shaped a roaming dragon circling mists around the floating pagoda. From afar one may view it over a thousand li; from high up it seems to rest in the ninth sky. On each tier, glazed lamps on each gate, dusty with no flame; on every step before the eaves a white-jade balustrade, with clotted dirt and crawling vermin. In the heart of the tower, at the Buddha seat, no incense smoke remained. Through the lattice outside, before the divine image, spiderwebs hung in a dim haze. The brazier held rat droppings; in the cups there was little melted oil. Because the middle relic was darkly lost, the monk’s life was nearly destroyed for nothing. Tripitaka swore in earnest to sweep the stupa, hoping to restore it to its old look. Tripitaka swept one level, then another. When he had so swept to the seventh level, it was already past the second watch. The elder gradually felt drowsy. Wukong said, You are tired. Sit down and wait; I will finish sweeping for you.' Tripitaka asked,How many levels are there in this tower?' Wukong said, I doubt not there are thirteen.' Half weary, the elder said,I must sweep it through; only then is my vow fulfilled.' He swept three more levels, his waist and legs aching, and then sat down on the tenth, saying, Wukong, clean the last three levels below for me.' Wukong rallied himself, climbed to the eleventh, and in a moment was on the twelfth. Just as he swept, voices sounded from the summit. Wukong said,Strange, strange! At this third-watch hour, who can be speaking up there? Surely it must be a demonic thing. I shall inspect it at once.'

The good Monkey King, lifting the broom lightly, set his garments aside and slipped out through the front gate, then, treading on the cloud-head, looked out. He saw in the core of the thirteenth tier two demons seated there. Before them were a dish of food, a bowl, and a jar; they were gambling and drinking wine. Wukong used a spell, threw down the broom, drew out the Golden-Hooped Staff, blocked the gate, and shouted, You wicked creatures, so you are the thief who took the treasure in the tower.' The two demons were startled. They hastily rose and flung the jar and bowl about in confusion. Wukong blocked them with the bar-iron staff and said,If I strike and kill you now, no one will submit a testimony against me.' He merely pressed them forward, forcing them close. The demon stuck to the wall and could not dream of struggling free. All it called was, Spare my life, spare my life. I have nothing to do with it; the thief who stole the treasure is there somewhere else.' Wukong used a seizeing technique and, with one hand, dragged it up and took it down to the tenth level. He called,Master, I have caught a thief who stole the tower treasure.' Tripitaka, who had been dozing, on hearing this was startled and delighted: From where did you seize him?' Wukong dragged the demon before him and made it kneel, saying,He was at the top of the tower gambling with his hand and drinking wine. He made enough noise that I heard it. I leapt once through the clouds and blocked the top. I did not put on force; I feared that if one blow struck him dead there would be no testimony. So I brought him down lightly. Master, get him to give his statement and see from where this demon comes and where the stolen treasure is.'

The demon, trembling all over, pleading Spare my life,' then spoke truly:The two of us are roving sentinels from the Wan Sheng Old Dragon, king of Ban-shi Mountain’s Green-Wave Pool. He is called Benbo-er Ba, and I am called Babo-er Ben. He is a loach demon, and I am a black-fish spirit.

It is because the Wan Sheng Old Dragon fathered a daughter, whom we called Princess Wan Sheng. That princess was moon-bright in face and flower-lovely in countenance, with excellence in all things. She took a groom, called the Nine-Headed Son-in-law, and his powers of magic are vast. The year before last he came here with the Dragon King and displayed great thaumaturgy, unleashed a wind of blood-rain, soiled this stupa, and stole the Śarīra treasure from within it. Later the princess went up to Great Luo Heaven, and before the Lingxiao Hall stole the Queen Mother of Heaven’s Nine-Leaf Lingzhi, and raised it in this pool below, with golden and rosy radiance shining, bright by day and by night. Lately word has spread that there is a Wukong who has gone west to fetch the scriptures. It is said he has extraordinary magic and on the roads seeks out wrongdoers among men, so they have often sent me and our fellows here to patrol and seek news of our arrival. If this Wukong comes, we are to be ready.' Wukong, hearing this, laughed dryly: `Those fiendish beasts are insolent indeed. No wonder they once invited Ox-Demon King to that assembly there; as it turns out, he has kept company with this gang of wild monsters, all bent on evil acts.'

Just as he had not yet finished, Zhu Bajie came up with two or three young monks carrying two lanterns from below, saying, Master, you have not gone to sleep after sweeping the tower. What is all this here? Wukong said, Brahmabandhu, you came just in time. The treasure in the tower was stolen by the Wan Sheng Old Dragon. He sent these two little demons to patrol the tower and probe for news of our coming. Only now have I caught them. Zhu Bajie asked, What names? What kind of demon? Wukong said, They have already given statement: one is called Benboerba, one called Baboerben; one is a loach-fish demon, one is a black-fish spirit. Zhu Bajie, grabbing his crescent-spade, struck out, If they are demons, since they have confessed, why hold them alive and wait? Wukong said, You do not know. Keep them alive so we can bring them before the emperor, and also to use them as drilling guides in seeking the thief and tracking the stolen treasure.' The simple fellow truly put away the spade, and one by one they were all brought down from the tower. The demon only cried,Spare my life!Zhu Bajie said,I was about to make fresh soup from your loach and black fish for the monk who suffered the wrong.'

Two or three young monks, merry and delighted, carried lanterns and brought the elder down from the tower. One ran to the assembly and said, It is done, it is done. We have now seen the clear sky. The treasure-stealing monsters have been captured by us. Wukong told him, `Bring iron chain. Thread the pipa-bone links through it and lock them here. You all stand guard. We will sleep now and handle the rest tomorrow.' Those monks kept strict watch there and let the monks sleep.

Before they realized it, dawn arrived. The elder said, Wukong and I will enter court and exchange our credentials.' He at once put on a brocaded kasaya, donned the Pilu hat, arranged his dignity, and stepped forward. Wukong also tied on his tiger-skin skirt, straightened his padded cotton robe, and took the credentials with him. Zhu Bajie said,Why do we not bring these two demon thieves with us?Wukong said,Once we make the report, someone with an official carriage order will come to escort them.' So they went out to the outer gate. The view never ended: vermilion phoenixes and yellow dragons in splendid capital towers. Tripitaka reached the Donghua Gate and, paying courtesy to the gatehouse officer, said, Please transmit this to the lord. I, a poor monk, come from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, sent west to seek scripture from Buddha. I wish to pay audience with Your Majesty and exchange my credentials.' The gate officer indeed sent word ahead and then came to the steps to proclaim,Outside stand two monks in unusual forms and robes, saying they come from the Tang Court on the Southern Continent’s eastern lands of the Great Tang and are sent west to worship Buddha and seek scripture. They wish to pay audience to my king and to exchange credentials.'

Hearing this, the king gave order to make it known. The elder immediately led Wukong into court. All the civil and martial officers who saw Wukong were filled with fright and surprise. Some said he was a monkey monk; some said he was a monk with the mouth of Lord Thunder. All were so anxious they dared not gaze long. The elder, at the stair, performed ritual bows and cries. The Great Sage stood with arms crossed, leaning to the side, utterly unmoving. Tripitaka began to present his report: This monk is from the Tang in the South-Continent’s Eastern Region of the Southern Continents, sent from the Great Tang to go west to worship Buddha in Great Thunder-Sound Temple in Tianzhu and request the true scripture. Passing through Baofang country, he did not dare to transgress. He bears the official travel document and begs that it be examined before he proceeds.' When the king heard these words he was greatly pleased and issued an order:Proclaim that the sacred monk of Tang be brought to the Hall of Golden Thrones, and grant him a brocaded cushion and a seat.' The elder went up alone, first presenting the travel credentials, and then, after offering thanks, took his seat with reverence.

The king read the pass once through and, in his heart, spoke in joy: "For one of Great Tang, though your Great Tang king has illness, to choose a high monk, to fear neither the remoteness of the road nor the hardships, to go to Buddha for the scriptures—that is worthy indeed. In this place, my monks are all bent only on stealing, to the ruin of the state and the toppling of the sovereign." On hearing this, Tripitaka joined his palms and asked, "How can one speak of ruining a state and toppling a ruler?" The king said, "My realm is a frontier state in the Western Regions. For long ago there have been tributaries from the four border peoples, all because in this country stands the Temple of Golden Light, and in that temple a pagoda of gold with brilliance that reaches the sky. Recently the evil monk of this temple quietly stole treasure from within it. For three years there has been no radiance, and for three years no foreign lands have come to pay homage. My heart grieves bitterly." Tripitaka, with palms joined and a smile, said, "Your Majesty, 'A hair’s breadth gone awry becomes a thousand li astray.' Last night I reached Heavenly Prefecture. As soon as I entered the city gate I saw a dozen shackled monks. I asked what crime they had, and they said they were monks of Golden-Light Temple who had been wronged. I went to the temple and examined things closely; they did not involve the other monks there. At night, while sweeping the pagoda, I had already caught the demon-thief who stole the treasure." The king rejoiced greatly: "Where is that demon-thief now?" Tripitaka replied, "He is now locked in Golden-Light Temple by my young disciple."

The king at once rang for the Golden-Rank tablets: "Have the Embroidered-Robe Guards go quickly to Golden-Light Temple and bring back the demon-thief. I shall examine him in person." Tripitaka said again, "Your Majesty, even with the Embroidered-Robe Guards, the demon-thief can be taken only if my small disciple goes." The king asked, "Where is your senior disciple?" Tripitaka pointed with his hand, "The one standing beside the jade steps." The king saw him and cried out in amazement, "The Holy Monk has such handsome appearance—how can this foremost disciple look so extraordinary?" Sun Wukong heard and shouted aloud: "Your Majesty, 'One cannot judge a person by appearance, nor measure the sea by the grain in a dipper.' If one were fond of beauty, how could one catch a demon-thief?" The king, hearing this, turned surprise to joy and said, "What the holy monk says is right. In this realm I do not pick men by appearance. I only require the demon-thief to be taken and the treasure returned to the pagoda." Again he ordered the imperial charioteer: have a carriage ready for the holy monk and go in respectful escort to fetch him. The officer immediately prepared a grand palanquin and a yellow umbrella, and the Embroidered-Robe Guard captain called out four great shouts. At once they went to Golden-Light Temple. From then on the whole city was stirred; nowhere could one find a household that did not come out to see the holy monk and that demon-thief.

Upon hearing the shouts, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing knew only that it was an official sent by the king, and quickly went out to meet him. It was in fact the Wukong in the sedan. Pigsy laughed to him face to face: "Brother, you have recovered yourself, too." Wukong stepped down from the sedan and held Zhu Bajie by the arm: "How have I recovered myself?" Pigsy said, "You are under a yellow umbrella and carried in a sedan by eight men—does that not fit exactly the rank of Monkey-King? That is why I said you had recovered yourself." Wukong said, "Do not mock just now." He then unbound the two demons and brought them before the king. Sha Wujing said, "Brother, carry our younger brothers with you as well." Wukong said, "You two stay here to guard the luggage and the horses." The shackled monk said, "Our fathers and elders have gone to receive the imperial favor; let us stay here to keep watch." Wukong answered, "If so, wait until I report to the king and return, then I will release you." Zhu Bajie gripped one demon by the collar and Sha Wujing a second; Sun Wukong once again sat in the sedan, set his head covering, and had the two demons brought before the court.

Soon they arrived before the white-jade stairs and said to the king, "The demon-thieves have been brought." The king stepped down from the dragon couch and, together with Tripitaka and the officials of both the civil and martial courts, all looked at them together. One demon had bulging black scales, a sharp nose and sharp teeth; the other had slick skin, a great belly, a huge mouth and long whiskers. Though they could walk on two legs, they were in essence transformed beings, appearing as men. The king asked, "What demon are you, and what barbarian land do you come from? For how many years have you trespassed in my domain? In what year did you steal my treasure? How many of your band are there, and what are your names? State everything truthfully, one by one." The two demons knelt and prostrated with blood-soaked necks, yet seemed not to feel pain. They confessed: "Outside three years, on the first day of the seventh month, a Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints led many relatives and kin and took up residence in the southeast of this country, one hundred or so li from here. The lake was called Blue-Wave, the mountain was named Chaotic Rock. In that place was a daughter of great charm and enchanting beauty. He took as matchmaker a nine-headed groom, a spirit with invincible powers. Knowing of your pagoda’s precious marvels, he plotted with the Dragon King as one band. First he brought down blood rain, and afterward stole the relic. Since then the place shines at night as though it were daytime. The princess used her arts in secluded secrecy, and he also stole the Mother’s Divine Fungus, nurturing the treasure in that lake. We are not the bandit chiefs; we are only small soldiers sent by the Dragon King. We were captured this very night; what we have confessed is true." The king said, "You have given your crime confessions. Why have you not given your own names?" One said, "I am called Benbo’er-ba, and he is called Babu’er-ben. Benbo’er-ba is a loach-like demon, and Babu’er-ben is a black-fish demon." The king ordered the Embroidered-Robe Guards to place them under close guard. He then issued an edict: "Release the shackles on all monks of Golden-Light Temple. Hurry and have Guanglu Office arrange a banquet, and in Qilin Hall praise the holy monk for this merit of capturing the thief and consider asking him to seize the demon-chief."

Guanglu Office at once prepared separate banquets for meat and vegetarian dishes. The king invited Tripitaka and the Four Disciples to sit together in Qilin Hall and asked, "What is the holy monk’s honorific name?" Tripitaka joined his palms and said, "I am Tripitaka, surname Chen in the secular world, Dharma name Xuanzang. By royal favor I was given the surname Tang, and humbly called San Zang." The king asked again, "What are the names of the holy monk’s senior disciples?" Tripitaka said, "None of my young disciples has an official name. The first is Sun Wukong, the second Zhu Bajie, the third Sha Wujing. These are names granted by Guanyin of the Southern Sea. After they took vows before this poor monk as their master, I in turn named Wukong the Wukong, Wujing, and Wuneng the Eight Precepts." After hearing this, the king invited Tripitaka to sit in the main seat, Sun Wukong at the left foremost side, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing at the right foremost side. All dishes for them were vegetarian fruit, vegetables, tea and rice. In front, one table of non-vegetarian dishes was set for the king, and below there were one hundred and ten non-vegetarian tables for the civil and military officials. After thanking the royal grace, all spoke of the master’s merits and sat down. The king raised a cup, but Tripitaka dared not drink; the three disciples each received in-place wine. Only one heard the coordinated gongs and strings; it was music ordered by the Directorate of Music. Watch Zhu Bajie loosen his eating throat and he truly had a tiger’s-throat wolf-swallowing pace, eating through a whole seat of fruit and vegetables. Before long another serving of soup and rice came, and he consumed it all without leaving a grain. Cup after cup came as the cup-bearers came, and he refused none. The banquet only broke up in the afternoon.

Tripitaka thanked the banquet. The king then detained them and said, "This banquet is only to acknowledge the holy monk’s merit in capturing the demon." He ordered Guanglu Office: "At once transfer the seats to Jianzhang Palace and invite the holy monk again, to settle the strategy for seizing the demon chief and restoring the treasure to the pagoda." Tripitaka said, "If we are to capture the demon and recover the treasure, there is no need for another feast. This poor monk and his company will now take leave of the king and go on to seize the demon." The king refused and insisted that they be invited to Jianzhang Palace; he had them sit for another seating. Raising a cup, the king asked, "Which holy monk will lead forth the troops and subdue the demon?" Tripitaka said, "Send out my senior disciple, Sun Wukong." The Wukong folded his hands and accepted. The king asked, "If Grand Elder Sun departs, how many men and horses are needed? When will he leave the city?" Zhu Bajie could not help but shout, "What need have we for men and horses? what matter what hour? Now, with wine-drunk and meals filled, my brother and I can seize him and bring him back at hand." Tripitaka rejoiced, "See how diligent Bajie is!" Wukong said, "If that is so, let Sha Wujing guard Master, and the two of us will go." The king asked, "If the two elders need no men and horses, may they use weapons?" Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Your weapons are not ours to use. My brothers have their own implements at hand." Hearing this, the king immediately brought a great cup and sent it with the two elders as they departed. Sun Wukong said, "I will not take wine. Only have the Embroidered-Robe Guards bring the two small demons here; we will take them and gouge open the eyes." The king ordered it done at once. The two men pulled both little demons, summoned a wind-and-shock posture with a capture technique, and went directly southeastward. Ah! then:

When lord and ministers saw the rising wind and mist, only then did they know the teacher and disciples were holy monks.

In the end, it remains unknown how he will capture them this time; listen to the next chapter for the full unfolding.