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.

Now it is told that Sun Wukong shook himself awake with divine might, took his iron staff, stepped on auspicious radiance, and rose into the air, crying out as he met the foe: “Who are you evil fiend, and where are you heading in your lawless frenzy?” The demon roared back in a hard voice: “We are no common rabble. I am the vanguard subordinate of King Saitai Sui, Great King of Xiezhi Cave on Qilin Mountain, ordered to come here and take two palace women to serve the Golden-Saint Empress. Who are you, to dare ask me?” Sun Wukong replied, “I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven. I escort Tripitaka from the Eastern Land to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha. Passing through this country, I learned that your band of demons was deceiving and oppressing the ruler, and I came to show true heroism, to set the kingdom right and sweep away evil. I was not merely hunting for you at random; I came here to send you your death.” On hearing this, the demon did not know what to make of it. He lunged with his long spear at Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong raised his iron rod to meet him full in the face. In midair there was a fierce killing bout:

The staff is the treasure that tames the sea in the Dragon Palace; the spear is iron repeatedly smelted in the mortal world. Which mortal weapon dares to compare with heavenly arms, if it carries only a little air of sanctity? The Great Sage was truly a Taiyi immortal; demons and ghosts were all evil fiends. How can shadowy tricksters come near upright men? when uprightness appears, evil is extinguished. He there makes wind and scatters earth to startle kings; he here treads mist and stirs clouds, blinding sun and moon. To throw off airs and bet on gain or loss, who among the weak dares claim heroism? Yet it is the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, who can: with one ping-pong strike of staff and spear, the spear was split in two at once. The demon was split by one blow of Sun Wukong’s iron staff into two halves at its base. Frightened for his life, he turned with a rush, spun the wind aside, and fled westward.

Sun Wukong did not pursue him. Pressing down his cloud, he came out beyond the demon-warding cave and called, “Master, please come out with His Majesty; the demon has already run off.” Only then did Tripitaka help the king and come out. Looking up, all the sky was clear and bright, with no demonic breath left in it. When they reached the banquet table, the king himself took up the flask and cups, filled a gold cup to the brim, and offered it to Sun Wukong: “Divine monk, my thanks, my thanks.” Sun Wukong took the cup in his hand and had not yet answered when an official came from the palace gate crying, “A fire has broken out at the West Gate.” Sun Wukong, hearing this, flung the gold cup and the wine together into the air. A sharp ring sounded, and the gold cup struck the ground. The king, flustered, hastened to bow and said, “Holy monk, pardon me, pardon me. I am the poor fool. I should have invited you into the hall to offer thanks. Because this wine happened to be here, I offered it here. You threw away the cup thinking I had some demonic intent?” Sun Wukong laughed: “No, no. Not that.” After a short while another official came running: “A great rain has come. The fire at the West Gate has been put out. The streets are all running with water, and all the water smells of wine.” Sun Wukong laughed again: “Your Majesty, you saw me toss the cup and thought I meant to inspect a demon. Not so. The demon had already fled west; I did not chase him. He was the one who raised this fire. This one cup of wine is what I used to put out the demon-fire and save the people inside and outside the west city. How could it have such intent?”

The king grew still more joyful and respectful, and invited Tripitaka and the four attendants up to the treasure hall, with an evident intent to offer him a higher place. Sun Wukong laughed: “Your Majesty, that demon said he was the vanguard under King Saitai Sui, and came here to take palace women. He has now returned in defeat and, surely, will report this. His master will then come to fight me. I fear he may quickly gather troops and in one stroke frighten the people again and endanger Your Majesty. I should go to meet him now, capture him in midair, and fetch back the Holy Empress. But I do not know where to head first. How far is it from here to his mountain cave?” The king replied, “I once sent scouts by night and day to that place to gather word. It took them more than fifty days each way. It lies to the south, about three thousand li.” Sun Wukong said, “Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, hold things here. I will go and return.” The king held him back: “Holy monk, stay one day. Let me arrange some toasted dry provisions and a little silver, choose a swift horse, and then set out.” Sun Wukong laughed: “Your Majesty speaks truly. This is talk for one who crosses ridges on foot through Ba Mountain. I will tell you plainly: for three thousand li, this cup of wine would not yet be cold before I turn back.” The king said, “Holy monk, do not blame me. Your appearance is like a monkey’s, and yet how could you have such power for travel?” Sun Wukong answered:

Though my body is ape-kind from the start, since youth I opened the path through life and death. I sought wise masters and learned the Way; before the mountains I practiced without end of day. Relying on Heaven as the crown and Earth as the furnace, I pounded two elixirs into one black-and-white pellet. I took Yin and Yang, water and fire to mingle; in an instant I grasped the mysterious gate. All rests on the Great Hinges of Heaven; with the handle of the Northern Dipper I shift my steps. First retreating into the furnace and then stoking the flame, I do it by timing; I draw lead and add mercury to make them unite. Gathering fivefold transformations, I let the world-form arise; in ordered times I harmonize the four symbols. The two energies return by the yellow way, and three streams converge on the road of Golden-Hooped Staff? no—the road of the Golden Elixir. I comprehended the Law and made it my own in the limbs; naturally my body moves as if aided by gods. One bound I cross the Taihang Mountains, one strike I pass Lingyun Ford. Why fear a few thousand steep ridges? I do not fear long rivers numbering hundreds. It is only because my transformations have no boundaries: one leap can forge ten thousand and eight thousand roads.” Hearing him, the king was both astonished and delighted, smiling as he held out a cup of imperial wine and offered it: “Great monk, your toil was great; accept this cup in goodwill.” The Great Sage had no heart for drinking, his purpose fixed on subduing demons. He only said, “Set it down; when I return I shall drink.” Saying “I go,” he gave one sharp whistle. In a hush, he vanished. As for the king and ministers of that country, they were all astonished; no more need be said.

Sun Wukong then sprang upward. At once he saw a high mountain blocking the edge of the mists. He pressed down the clouds and stood on the summit, then examined it closely. It was a fine mountain:

Reaching to heaven while gripping the earth, it blocked the sun and raised clouds. Where it pierced heaven, sharp peaks rose high; where it held the ground, distant ridges stretched far. What blocks the sun is dense, lush ridge-top pine; what raises clouds is the glistening stone at the mountain’s lower face. The pines are thick and verdant all year through all seasons; the stones lie gleaming and unmoving for ten thousand years. In the woods one hears ape-calls at night; in the ravines one often hears demonic water-serpents pass. Mountain birds cry in choked tones, mountain beasts bellow in full-throated calls. Mountain antelope and deer move in pairs, flinging themselves in busy streams; mountain crows and magpies gather in dense formations and fly in clustered flocks. Mountain grasses and mountain flowers are endless; mountain peaches and fruits shine new with every time. Though dangerous and hard to cross, this is still where demons and immortals hide in seclusion. The Great Sage looked on without tiring and was about to seek the cave-mouth when from a hollow of the mountain came roaring firelight. In an instant it shot skyward, and from the red blaze rose a rank evil smoke, more toxic than the flames themselves. Good smoke! He could see it clearly: Firelight burst in myriad points like golden lamps; a thousand tongues of flame shot up in red arcs. That smoke was not hearth-smoke, not wood-smoke; yet the smoke had five colors: blue, red, white, black, and yellow. It smoked the outer columns beyond the Southern Sky Gate and burned the beams above Hall Lingxiao. It burned the beasts in the dens so their skins tore, and burned the feathers away from the birds of the forest. But such cruel smoke like this—how could one enter the deep mountain where the demon king is hidden?

Sun Wukong, at that moment still feeling a touch of alarm, saw another force burst from within the mountain: a torrent of sand. Wonderful sand—truly, it could cover the sky and block the day. You could see:

Scattering in countless clots, filling the edges of the sky; thudding and dense, it shrouded the whole land. Fine dust blinded men’s eyes wherever it drifted; rough ash rolled through the valleys by the handfuls. Herb-gathering immortal youths lose their companions; woodcutters can no longer find their way home. Bright pearls seem to rise into one’s hands at once, while the wind suddenly makes the eyes blossom with stars. Sun Wukong only watched the display and did not notice the sand-gray blowing into his nose. It tickled him badly, and he sneezed twice. When he turned, he felt under the rocks for two goose-egg pebbles and stuffed them in his nostrils. Shaking his form, he changed into a heat-chasing hawk and flew into the heart of fire and smoke. He darted a few times, and at once the sand haze vanished and the flames were out. He quickly returned to his true form; once more he looked around and heard the peal of a bronze gong—“ding-ding dong-dong.” He said, “I have taken the wrong road. This is not the demon’s lair. That drumbeat is like a mustering drum for troop dispatch. It must be the main road of the whole kingdom, where messengers go out to issue orders. Let old Sun ask this one and hear it.”

As he moved on, he suddenly saw what seemed a small demon child, carrying a yellow flag, with documents on his back and a drum in hand, running like wind. Sun Wukong laughed: “So it is this one beating a drum. He does not know what message he carries. Let me hear him out.” The Great Sage changed into a fierce insect-child and lightly flew to sit on top of his satchel. He heard the demon beating his drum and, in a muttering rhythm, recite to himself: “I know my lord has a heart of evil. Three years ago he forced his way into Zhuzi Country and violently took the Golden-Saint Empress. There has never been a proper bond there; he has never come near her body, only the palace maidens that arrive to serve have suffered. He had two come and they were killed. Four came later and they too were killed. Last year he demanded; this year he demanded again; now he demands again. Now he has run into a rival. The forward scout who came to take palace women was beaten by that Sun Wukong and brought back no women. For this my king is angry and wants to contend with that country, so he sends me with an order of war. If the king there chooses not to fight, all is well; if he fights, he will surely lose. My king will make smoke, flames, and flying sand. In that kingdom the king, his ministers, and the common folk—not one should hope to survive. Then we seize his city. My king will call himself emperor and we become his ministers. Though there may be high and low offices too, heaven’s moral order cannot tolerate such things.”

Sun Wukong listened and silently rejoiced: “This demon may have a good heart. Even from those final two words, where he spoke of ‘Heavenly principle not enduring this,’ he cannot be entirely evil. But he also said that Jinsheng Empress has never had such fate and has never once touched her; I still do not know what that means. I will ask him about it.” With a sharp “ying,” he flapped one wing and left the demon, turned toward the forward road, and after some ten li he shifted form again into a Daoist youth:

His head hair was twisted into twin side braids, and he wore a robe of a hundred patched seams. He tapped a fish-drum with his hands, and with his mouth sang Daoist verses. Around the rise of the hill, he faced the small demon and greeted him: “Officer, where are you going, and what edict are you carrying?” The demon, as though he recognized him, set down his gong-beater, smiled, and returned the courtesy: “My king has sent me to Zhuzi Kingdom with a formal declaration of battle.” Sun Wukong then asked, “That matter in Zhuzi Kingdom—did it proceed with my king’s consent?” The little demon said, “Since last year, when I captured him, a divinity came and presented a five-coloured celestial robe for Jinsheng Palace to adorn herself. The moment she put on that robe, she was covered with needle-prickling pain. My king did not dare touch him even once. Yet when he merely tugged at the hem, the palm of his hand burned in pain—I do not know why. From beginning to now, he has not yet once touched him. This morning he sent outriders to call for palace maidens; one called Sun Wukong beat us in combat. So the king burned with rage and therefore sent me to deliver this battle summon; tomorrow he will fight with him.” Sun Wukong said, “Why should he be so angry?” The demon replied, “That is exactly the reason. Go sing a Daoist song for him and ease his vexation.”

‘Good traveler,’ he made an elegant salutation and withdrew at once. The demon still beat his gong and moved forward. Then Sun Wukong struck in fierceness, drew out his staff, turned back, and with one backward blow at the back of the little demon’s head, crushed him—blood spurted out with the splashing marrow, skin split, neck broken, life overturned. He sheathed the staff and at once reproached himself: “I was hasty and never asked him what name he had. Enough of that.” He took the summons from the demon and tucked it into his sleeve. He hid the yellow banner and bronze drum in the roadside grass. As he pulled his feet to drag the body down toward the ravine, he heard a sharp dang; a gold-inlaid token plate flashed at his waist. It read: “A trusted inner-captain named Youlaiyouqu. Short and stout, broad-faced, beardless. Long river suspended; without the plate, counterfeit.” Sun Wukong laughed: “This brute’s name is Youlaiyouqu; with this one club-strike, he has been hit away beyond return.” He removed the plate and fastened it at his waist. He meant to drag the corpse away, but he again considered the venom of smoke and fire and dared not seek the demon’s lair. So, lifting his staff, he struck the little demon once in the chest and tossed him into the air, then returned directly to his own country, thinking to report a head-worthy deed. Reflecting on this to himself, he gave one whistle and arrived at the border.

Zhu Bajie, who had been guarding the king and Master before the Hall of Golden Lamps, turned and saw Sun Wukong carrying a demon aloft in midair. He complained, “Ah! Not a bad bargain at all. If I had gone and brought him back, my effort would have counted too.” Before he finished, Sun Wukong set the demon down with a thud at the bottom of the steps. Zhu Bajie rushed up and said in a single burst, “That is old Pig’s merit.” Sun Wukong replied, “What merit of yours?” Zhu Bajie said, “Do not blame me—I have the witness myself. Did you not see? One stroke of my spade made nine gaping eyes in him.” Sun Wukong said, “Go see whether he has a head or no head.” Zhu Bajie laughed, “So it is without a head; I thought to myself why, even with one thrust, he would not move.” Sun Wukong asked, “Where is Master now?” Zhu Bajie said, “He is in the hall, talking with the king.” Sun Wukong said, “Then go and ask him to come out.” Zhu Bajie hurried to the hall and nodded. Tripitaka immediately rose and came down from the hall to meet Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong tucked a war summons into Tripitaka’s sleeve and said, “Master, keep this, and do not let the king see it.”

Before he could finish, the king also came down from the hall and greeted Sun Wukong: “So the holy monk elder has arrived? What is the matter with capturing the demon?” Sun Wukong pointed with his hand: “That is no demon below the steps? He was struck down by old Sun.” The king looked and said, “It is indeed a demon corpse, but not Tai Sui. I have seen Tai Sui with my own eyes twice—he was eight zhàng in height, shoulders broad as five ding; his face shone like gold-light and his voice cracked like thunder. How could one be as short and coarse as this?” Sun Wukong smiled: “Your Majesty recognizes correctly. It is certainly not he. This is only a messenger demon who, meeting old Sun, was slain at once. I carried him back to report my merit.” The king was very pleased: “Excellent, excellent, excellent—this surely counts as a first-rate credit. I have often sent people to investigate, and not once found anything certain. As soon as a holy monk of this sort appears, he catches one and brings him back. Truly divine is his power.” He ordered: “Bring warm wine, and let us congratulate the elder.”

Sun Wukong said, “Drinking to celebrate is a small matter. I ask Your Majesty: when Jinsheng left, did she leave any token behind? Give me whatever you can.” The king heard the word ‘token’ and seemed as if a knife had cut his heart; he could not contain tears and said:

In past years, at the festival honoring the Zhu-Ming day, the vicious Tai Sui shouted out. He seized the imperial consort to hold at the fortress-gate, and I offered her up for the sake of all living folk. No last words of meeting, no words of parting—what then of long pavilions and short pavilions? The marked incense-sachet token has vanished without trace; even now I remain forlorn and broken. Sun Wukong said, “Your Majesty is here, so why this grief? Since that lady has left no token, is there any cherished object in your palace? Send me one of them.” The king said, “What do you want?” Sun Wukong said, “That demon king truly has powers. I saw him release smoke, fire, and sand, and it is truly difficult to contain him. Even if I subdued him, when I bring him back, his wife may not know me by face and may refuse to follow. I must bring back some object dear to him in ordinary life, so he will believe me. That is why I ask to bring one away.” The king said, “In the dressing chamber of Zhaoyang Palace hangs a pair of gold precious strings, which were originally worn by Jinsheng. On the Dragon Boat day, he took them off to tie five-coloured threads and never put them back on. This is his fondly loved thing, now kept in the makeup box. When he saw it, he could not bear this separation; at one glance it seems he sees her jade-face, and his illness grows all the worse.” Sun Wukong said, “Do not speak of these feelings. Bring the gold strings at once. If you can spare it, bring me the pair. If not, bring at least one.” The king ordered Yusheng Palace to fetch it. It was brought out and handed to him. On seeing it, the king called out several times, “To my beloved lady who aches from this grief,” and then gave it to Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong took it and tied it upon his upper arm.

The Great Sage did not drink the victory wine, but rode out on his cloud and, with one whistle, returned to Mount Qilin. With no heart for admiring scenery, he went straight in search of the lair. While he walked, he heard loud human voices, so he stood still and fixed his eyes and watched. There, at the mouth of the Xiezhi cave, stood the major officers assigned to the gate, about five hundred in number:

Dense rows upon dense rows, rank upon rank in close formation. Dense rows of guards held spears and clubs, gleaming bright in the sun; Dense rows of banners unfurled, fluttering and flashing in the wind. Tiger captains and bear commanders knew transformation and, with leopard heads and handsome forms, moved with spirited force. Blue wolves were fierce, and the otter-elephant ranks still more ferocious. Trickster hares and pliant deer-mares brandished halberds and spears; Long snakes and great pythons carried sword-bows at their sides. Orangutans understood human speech, ordering the formation and reading the coming wind. Seeing this, Sun Wukong did not dare to go farther and turned back by the old path. You ask why he withdrew? Not because he feared them. He went instead to where he had killed the little demon and found the yellow banner and bronze gong. Facing the wind, he formed the required gesture, then with a thought to spring, shifted at once into the form of Youlaiyouqu, struck the gong with a ringing ping and a pong, and strode forward in great steps straight to the cave. Just as he wished to take in the cave’s sight, he heard the orangutan speak: “Youlaiyouqu, you have returned?” Sun Wukong could only reply, “I have.” The orangutan said, “Hurry. Great king waits on the Skinning Pavilion for your report.”

Sun Wukong heard the words, took up a long stride, beat the drum, and strode directly through the front gate to look around. It turned out to be a sheer cliff wall, a stone hall, emptiness in the chamber, with wondrous flowers and jade grasses on both sides and old cypress and tall pines everywhere in front and behind. Not noticing, he reached inside the second gate; he looked up and saw a bright pavilion with eight windows, and in its center a gilded armchair, on which sat a demon king in an honestly terrifying shape.

Flashing light from sunset rose above his head; fierce, murderous intent burst out before his chest. From his mouth, fanged teeth flashed like keen blades; at his temples, scorched hair smoked red. His whiskers on the lips stood out like fixed arrows; over his whole body the upright bristles were piled like felt. His eyes protruded like bronze bells, challenging the star of the year; in his hand he held an iron pestle as if to split the sky. When Sun Wukong saw him, the demon king, he acted openly and arrogantly and showed no courtesy. He turned his face away and kept striking the drum. The demon king asked, "You have come?" Sun Wukong did not answer. He asked again: "You come and go—so you have come?" still no answer. The king came forward, grabbed him, and said, "Why, once you have reached this house, are you still clanging the drum, and when I ask, why do you not answer?" Sun Wukong slammed the drum to the ground and said, "What ‘why?’, what ‘why?’? I said I was not going, yet you told me to go. When I came there, I saw endless men and horses forming ranks. When they saw me, they all cried, ‘Capture the demon, capture the demon.’ They pushed me, pulled me, dragged me, and hauled me, and carried me into the city. Seeing the king, the king at once ordered: ‘Cut him down.’ Fortunately two groups of advisers said, ‘Two states are at odds; do not behead the envoy.’ So he spared me. He took the battle summons and escorted me out of the city, then before the army gave me thirty blows to the shins and sent me off to report. It will not be long before he comes here to battle with you." The demon king said, "So, it seems you have suffered a loss; no wonder I asked and you still did not speak." Sun Wukong said, "It is not that. I kept silent only because I guarded myself from pain." The demon king asked, "How many men and horses are there there?" Sun Wukong said, "I was frightened dumb and already scared by his blows; how could I check how many troops he had? I only saw endless weapons neatly arrayed there: Bow, arrow, saber, lance, armor, and uniforms; blade and halberd and tied banners. Curved spears, moon-shovels, helmets and cuirasses, great axes, round bucklers, iron caltrops. Long staff clubs, short mallets, steel tridents, guns and drills, and helms. Boots and head wraps, padded coats, riding whips, divine bullets, and bronze hammers. The king laughed: "No matter, no matter. With weapons like these, a single fire leaves them all empty. Go now and report to Golden-Saint Lady that she should not grieve. This morning, when he heard I was fierce and would go to battle, she wept until her eyes were full. Tell her there are so many brave soldiers and horses there and they will surely beat me; give her a little time to loosen her heart."

Sun Wukong, hearing this, was deeply pleased and said, "Exactly what I intended." See how well he knows the way: he turned by a corner gate and crossed the halls. There, everything consisted of lofty buildings and high mansions, nothing like the place in front. He went on to the inner palace and in the distance saw the splendid painted gate, which was the residence of Golden-Saint Lady.

When he entered and looked inside, there were two groups of demon foxes and demon deer, each made up to resemble a beauty, standing on either side. At the center sat the Lady herself, one hand lifting a fragrant cheek, both eyes filled with tears. She truly was:

Her face was delicate and soft, her beauty enchantingly alluring. Hair loosely combed, disheveled tresses gathered like crows; she had no ornamental pins and no crown jewels. Her face wore no face powder and her rouge was pale and cold; her hair was un-oiled and her cloud-locked hair was tousled. Her cherry lips were tight, biting silver teeth; her brows were knitted, and star-bright tears swam in her eyes. Her whole heart remembered only the King of Zhuzi, and for a moment she longed to break free of heaven-and-earth’s net. Truly: since ancient times beautiful women have many short fates; she stood silent and inarticulate, facing the east wind. Sun Wukong stepped forward and offered greeting: "Respectfully." The lady said, "This rude monster is utterly shapeless and uncivilized. When I was in Zhuzi, enjoying honor and glory with the king, the Grand Instructor and the Chancellor, on seeing me, would prostrate in the dust and dare not look up. How can this wild thing call it ‘respectfully’? From where did such a boor come?" The attendants came forward: "My lady, let out your anger. He is a trusted junior officer of the Great King, called You-come-and-go. He was the one who delivered the battle summons this morning." The lady listened and asked, with restrained annoyance, "When you delivered the summons, did you even reach the border of Zhuzi?" Sun Wukong said, "I took the letter directly into the city and to the Hall of Golden Crowns, where I appeared before the king and brought back an answer." The lady asked, "When you faced him, what did he say?" Sun Wukong said, "I only told the Great King about the matter of battle and the deployment of troops. Only, the king has thoughts of concern for you, and one fitting word of the heart; I came specially to convey it. But alas, the people around him are not a place where such words can be spoken."

The lady, upon hearing this, sent away the two groups of foxes and deer. Sun Wukong shut the palace gate, wiped his face, and revealed his true form. He said to the lady, "Do not fear me. I am the monk sent by Great Tang of the Eastern Land to the Leiyin Monastery in Great-West Tianzhu to seek scripture before Buddha. My master is Tripitaka, imperial prince and younger brother of Emperor Tang, and I am his senior disciple Sun Wukong. I passed through your kingdom to exchange travel passes. When I saw your ministers and king posting notices inviting physicians, it was I who, with my three-fold arm-bending art, cured his lovesickness, and they held a banquet to thank me. While drinking, he spoke of how you had been demon-bound. I can restrain Dragon Kings and cow tigers, so he specially asked me to come and capture the monster, and rescue you back to your country. The first vanguard to lose the battle was me; the killing of the small demons was also me. When I saw him run wild outside your gate, I became You-come-and-go in form, risked my own life, and came here to report to you." The lady, after hearing this, was silent and thoughtful. Sun Wukong took out a jewel string and offered it with both hands: "If you do not believe me, look at this object and ask where it came from." When the lady saw it, she dropped her tears and knelt, bowing in thanks: "Venerable Master, if you truly save me and bring me back to court, I will remember your great kindness until I have no teeth left."

Sun Wukong said, "Let me ask you. That thing that emits fire, smoke, and sand—what kind of treasure is it?" The lady replied, "That is no jewel. It is just three golden bells. When he shakes the first one, three hundred zhang of flames burn a person. When he shakes the second, three hundred zhang of smoke chokes a person. When he shakes the third, three hundred zhang of yellow sand confuses a person. The fire and smoke are not yet the worst; the yellow sand is the most poisonous. If it enters one’s nostrils, life can be harmed." Sun Wukong said, "Dangerous, indeed dangerous. I have suffered it before; it made me sneeze twice. But I do not know where he keeps those bells." The lady said, "How would he ever set them down? He always keeps them at his waist and, while standing, walking, sitting, or lying, he never lets them leave his body." Sun Wukong said, "If you truly still intend marriage ties with Zhuzi Country, then you should still meet the king, calm his anxieties and sorrows, put on a charming, joyful countenance, and speak with him of conjugal feeling. Make him place those bells in your keeping. If he gives them to you, I can take them and steal them away and then suppress this demon. Then, in time, I can take you back, and you two may again harmonize like phoenix and pair, sharing peace together." The lady agreed.

Sun Wukong changed back into the trusted junior officer, opened the palace gate, and called in the attendants at either side. The lady said, "You-come-and-go, go quickly to the Front Pavilion and ask your Great King to come so we may speak with him." Sun Wukong answered once and went to the Bopi Pavilion. To the demon king he said, "Great King, the Saintly Palace Lady summons you." The demon king, pleased, said, "The lady always scolds me. How is it that she summons me today?" Sun Wukong said, "The lady asked about the King of Zhuzi, and I told her: 'He no longer wants you; he has raised another empress in his own kingdom.' Upon hearing this, she lost all clarity of thought and only then ordered me to bring you here in summons." The demon king rejoiced and said, "You have served well. After I annihilate him and his kingdom, I will appoint you as a Taizai of the court."

Sun Wukong, offering thanks on the spot, hurried with the demon king to the threshold of the inner palace. The Lady welcomed him with a radiant smile and stepped forward to touch hands. The demon king stepped back and said, “Not so, not so. I dare not, I dare not. I have your Ladyship’s favor in abundance, yet I fear I shall pain my hands if I lean against you.” The Lady said, “Great King, please sit. I have something to say to you.” The king replied, “If you have words, speak them.” She said, “I, honored by your favor, have now been three years since we became one household and yet have not lain together on a shared bed and quilt. This is fate from former lives—we are made into these spouses. I did not expect the Great King to keep his heart elsewhere and not treat me as a wife. I thought if once, as queen in Zhu Zi, any visiting realm brought tribute jewels and gifts, once Your Majesty had seen them, they were surely set aside for the queen. Yet here you have not a single such treasure. You wear marten cloaks and eat blood-food; have you ever seen brocade silk or gold-and-pearl work? There is only skin on the ground and blankets for covering. If any precious things do exist, because I am ‘other’ to you, you do not allow me to see them nor to receive them on your behalf. And I even hear that you have three bells, surely a treasure indeed. Why do you carry them when you go, and carry them too when you sit? Hand them to me to keep. When you need them, take them out and use them. That is no impropriety; as husband and wife we should have this inward trust of one another. If there is no such trust, does it come from anything but keeping me apart?” The demon king laughed and answered, “Lady, this is indeed suspicious of you, suspicious indeed. The treasures are here; today I will leave them with you to keep.” He at once raised his robes and took out the treasure. Sun Wukong stood by, his eyes fixed, watching the monster pull up two or three layers of clothing and remove from his person three bells. He took them down, filled their mouths with cotton, wrapped them in a leopard-skin bundle, and handed it to the Lady, saying, “Though these things are of small and humble worth, they still must be stored with care. You must not shake or jostle them.” The Lady took it and said, “I understand. I shall place it atop this dressing table where no one will move it.” She called, “You attendants, bring the wine. I will share joy and delight with the Great King and drink a few cups.” At her words the maidservants quickly set out fruits and vegetables, brought out some antlered deer, roe deer, and rabbit meat, and poured coconut wine. The Lady put on a coquettish manner, coaxing and wooing the spirits.

Sun Wukong, waiting at the side, edged close and moved quietly, then approached the dressing table, quietly took the three golden bells, and moved step by step, slipping out of the palace gate and heading straight toward the cave hall. At an unguarded place before the Peeling-Skin Pavilion, he opened the leopard-skin wrapping and saw that the middle one was as large as a tea cup and the two on the ends were each as big as a fist. Unaware of the danger, he pulled at the cotton. He heard a sharp clanging sound; smoke, flame, and yellow sand burst up with a rattling crack, and the fire rose hot through the pavilion beyond control. The guard spirits at the gate were frightened and rushed in a crowd into the rear palace, startling the demon king, who hastily barked, “Put out the fire, put out the fire!” When they came out to inspect it, they found that it was the come-and-go intruder who had taken the golden bells. The demon king stepped forward and shouted, “Wretched thief! How dare you steal my precious bells and fool about here?” He cried, “Bring them out, bring them out.” The tiger general, bear master, leopard-head captain, tiger-charming commander, otter-elephant, dark wolf, clever goral, trickster rabbit, long snake, great python, and ape then came at once with the other demons in tight formation.

Sun Wukong, flustered, flung down the bells, returned to his true form, drew out the Golden-Hooped Staff, cast out his escape techniques, and beat wildly forward. The demon king recovered the treasure and gave the command, “Shut the front gate.” The demons heard him: some shut the gate, and those ready for battle went to fight. By a rare good chance Sun Wukong broke free, put away his staff, and changed shape again into a foolish blue-green fly, nailing himself to the wall of fire-proof stone. The demons could not find him and reported, “Great King, the thief has escaped! the thief has escaped!” The king asked, “Did he go out through the gate?” All the demons answered, “The front gate is tightly locked fast; he has not gone out.” The king said only, “Search carefully.” Some took water and sprinkled the flames, others searched thoroughly, but there was no trace. The king growled, “What sort of thief is this? Such boldness—to come and go in the manner of one who passes freely, appear before me and answer, then follow at my side and seize my treasure. He must not have carried it out. If he carries it onto the ridges and meets the heavenly wind, what then?” The tiger general stepped forward and said, “Great King, your blessings are as broad as Heaven and our span of life is not yet exhausted; therefore we sensed this in time.” The bear master stepped forward and said, “Great King, this thief is none other than that vanquished vanguard, Sun Wukong. He must have encountered a come-and-go apparition on the road and, wounded to the brink of death, taken the yellow banner, bronze gong, and tusk tally; he then took Sun Wukong’s shape and has tricked the Great King here.” The demon king said, “Exactly, exactly; that is persuasive indeed.” He then ordered, “You below, search every corner well and guard against escapes; do not open the gate and let him get out.” This is a lesson in karma:

What is done in clever play becomes clumsy; what is done in sport turns real.

In the end it was still unknown how Sun Wukong escaped through the demon gate; listen for the explanation in the next chapter.