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.

Since ancient days, form is said to be emptiness, and emptiness says that form is just as it appears. If one could truly penetrate color and emptiness in Chan, why must one forge red cinnabar by laboring in alchemical fire? Cultivate complete virtue and conduct without idleness, and by hard endeavor boil and press the practice. In time, when deeds are fulfilled, one may ascend to Heaven at dawn, forever preserving an unchanging immortal countenance.

Sai Tai-sui had tightly barred both the front and back gates and searched for the Traveller, crying out as far as dusk, but no trace was found. Sitting in the Pavilion of Flayed Hide, he gathered the hordes of fiends and issued orders: every gate to ring its bell and shout for alarm, to strike drums and clappers. One by one, they set bowstrings, drew swords from their sheaths, and kept watch through the night.

Great Sage Sun Wukong had in fact turned into a dazed blue fly and fastened himself near the gate. He saw the front defenses were so tight and so he fluffed his wings, flew into the rear palace gatehouse to look within, and there saw Lady Jinsheng bowed over the imperial table, silently wiping tears, making faint sounds of sorrow. The traveller flew in, alighted lightly on her windscattered jade hair, and listened to what she was crying about. After a moment, the lady suddenly said: "My lord... As for me and you:

In a former life I burned severed-head incense; in this life I meet the wild demon king. We were sundered three years ago, when shall we meet again? As paired mandarin ducks in two places, grief deepens. I had already sent a senior monk with word and notice; he frightened the good marriage, and one life was lost. It is only that I cannot even identify the Golden Bell, and my longing has run wilder than before." At this, the Great Sage moved behind her ear and whispered: "Holy Palace Lady, do not fear. I am still you-country’s appointed divine monk, Elder Sun, and no life has been harmed by me. It was my own rash temper: when you and the demon king were drinking, I stole the Golden Bell from near the dressing stand and slipped out privately from the front pavilion; unable to resist, I opened it and peered in. At once, when I pulled the cotton plug, the bell rang out and burst forth smoke, flame, and yellow sand. I panicked, dropped the Golden Bell, returned to my true form, and with my staff fought hard but could not break through. Fearing a lethal blow, I changed into a fly and pinned myself to the gate-hinge, hiding here till now. That demon king has tightened the watch still and refuses to open. You must again receive him with the courtesy of a husband, entice him inside to rest, and then I may slip away and act; otherwise I cannot help save you."

When the lady heard this, she trembled as if her hair were bristling on end; her will sank, her heart thudded like a pounding pestle. With tearful eyes she asked, "Are you a person now, or a ghost?" Sun Wukong answered, "I am neither person nor ghost; I am now only this fly. Do not fear, and go quickly to invite that demon king as well." The lady, still doubtful, said softly, "Do not haunt my sleep." Sun Wukong replied, "How could I haunt you? If you still do not believe, open your hand and let me jump down so you may see." She truly extended her left hand, and he flew down gently to land between her jade palms, like:

Black beans pinned atop a lotus-bud, a wandering bee alighting on a peony; Pearls of sewn thread in a heart of embroidery, grapes dropped there, and thick black specks along the lily branches. Lady Jinsheng raised her jade palm high and called, "Divine monk." Sun Wukong warbled in response, "I am the divine monk in disguise." Then she believed him. In a whisper she asked, "When you sent for the demon king again, what are you to do?" He said, "The ancients said, 'The only thing that can dispatch a life is wine.' They also said, 'Nothing cancels all matters more than wine.' Of all the uses of wine, drink it above all. Bring one attendant who stays close to you, and show her to me. I shall assume her form and lie at his side in attendance, and then the time will be good for striking."

The lady did as told and called, "Where is Chunjiao?" From behind the screen a jade-faced fox stepped out and knelt: "You summoned Chunjiao, Your Grace; what is your command?" The lady said, "Go summon them and light the gauze lamps, burn brain-musk incense, help me into the forecourt, and invite the Great King to lie down." Chunjiao went to the front, called six or eight monstrous fox-demons. They came carrying two pairs of lanterns and one pair of brazier stands, and ranged themselves left and right. The lady bowed and folded her hands; the Great Sage had already flown away. As she advanced, he unfurled his wings, flew to the fox-lady’s head, plucked out one hair, blew a breath of immortal qi, and cried, "Transform!" He became a sleepy insect and placed it gently on her face. The drowsy beetle reached her human mouth, crawled into her nostril and in, and at once she grew sleepy. Chunjiao truly began to feel drowsy by degrees, could scarcely stand, and swayed in a doze; she hurried to her old resting place, fell back, and slept with steady breath. Sun Wukong leapt down, changed himself once more, taking Chunjiao’s exact form, and went with the others to stand in place, not to be further told.

It was at this point that Lady Jinsheng was moving forward when a small demon saw her and reported to Sai Tai-sui, "Great King, the lady has come." The demon king hurried out of the Flayed Hide Pavilion to greet her. She said, "Great King, the fireworks are already out and the thief has vanished; at this deep hour I specially invited you to retire." The king, delighted deep within, said, "Lady, please take care. It is that rogue who was Sun Wukong. He defeated my vanguard and slew my junior officer, entered by transformation, and deceived us all. We searched everywhere, yet he has no trace, so my heart is still uneasy." The lady answered, "That wretch likely slipped away. Great King, set aside your worries and go to sleep." Seeing the lady standing and waiting respectfully, the fiend dared not object. So he ordered all the demons: be attentive to the lamps and guard against thieves. Then he and the lady went straight to the inner palace. The traveller, still in the guise of Chunjiao, followed with two lines of attendants.

The lady said, "Arrange wine to ease the Great King’s fatigue." The demon king laughed, "Exactly so. Bring the wine quickly; I shall comfort the Lady." In her false form, Chunjiao set out fruit with the attendants, arranged some savory meat, and reordered the table and chairs. The lady lifted a cup; the demon king also presented one. The two exchanged cups. The false Chunjiao stood at the side, holding the wine jar: "King and Lady, have this night changed but passed cups in turn. Drink yours dry, and share a double-happiness cup." She truly poured more for each and had them drink it dry. Again the fake Chunjiao said, "Since the King and Lady are in joy, let the attendants who can sing sing, and those who can dance dance." Before she finished speaking, a chorus rose in one key and rhythm, singing and dancing in turn. The two drank more, and the lady bid the singing and dancing to halt. The attendants parted by rank and stood outside the screen. Only fake Chunjiao remained, flask in hand, serving up and down. The lady and the demon king then spoke only in intimate spousal words. You see the lady with cloud-soft, rain-heavy feeling, teasing the king until his bones grew soft and numbed—only luck failed him; they did not come together. Pity indeed—like a cat biting an empty bladder, joy without fruit.

They chatted a while, laughed a while. The lady asked, "Great King, was your treasure damaged at all?" The king answered, "This treasure was cast in primordial metal, how can it be harmed? It was only that that thief pulled away the cotton stopper and burned the leopard-hide bundle." The lady said, "How then to deal with it?" The king said, "No need to deal. I carry it at my waist still." When fake Chunjiao heard this, she pulled out a cluster of hairs and chewed them to powder, then came close to the king and placed the hairs upon him, blowing three gentle immortal breaths and whispering softly, "Transform!" Those hairs instantly became three kinds of vile creatures—lice, fleas, and bedbugs—and worked into the king’s body, biting along the skin. The king, burning and itching intolerably, thrust his hand into his robe and rubbed himself, pinching out a few lice and bringing them near the lamp to inspect. The lady thought privately, "Great King, perhaps your under-robe is soiled and unwashed for too long; that must have bred these things." The king, abashed, said, "I have never had them before. I am exposed tonight." The lady laughed, "Why be ashamed, Great King? It is often said, even an emperor has three imperial lice. Then remove your clothes, and I will help you catch them." The king truly loosened his sash and took off his clothing.

The false Chunjiao stood by, watching attentively the king’s garments. Layer after layer crawled with fleas, every piece packed with gross-scented bugs; the body-louse swarms were thick and tight as ants from a nest. Unawares she peeled to the third layer and reached the flesh, where, upon the Golden Bell itself, there were countless wriggling things. She said, "Great King, hand me the bells and let me pick the lice for you." The king, first shy and then flustered, yet not knowing she was false, handed over the three bells to her. Fake Chunjiao took them in hand and feigned searching awhile, and seeing the king lowering his head while he shook out his clothes, she secreted the true bells and pulled one hair, transforming it into three bells alike in all respects. She held them up toward the lamplight and examined. Then, with a subtle bodily shake, she gathered the lice, bugs, and fleas back onto herself and returned the false bells to the demon. He took them, bewildered and uncertain in the dim light, unable to tell one from another. With both hands he cupped the bell and handed it to the lady: "This time you have kept them carefully; keep watch this time, do not be so careless as before." The lady took it, gently opened her jewel casket, put the false bells away, and locked them with golden chain. She then had the king drink a few more cups and ordered a maid: "Clean the bedside, unroll the brocade quilt. The king and I will share the couch." The king nodded repeatedly, "No good fortune, no good fortune. I dare not keep you company. I shall take a palace maiden and sleep in the West Palace. Lady, do arrange comfort for yourself." So each returned to where to sleep; no further details need be told.

Jia Chunjiao had gained her target and placed his precious token at her waist. She showed her true form, shook her body once, drove away that drowsy little bug, and strode straight ahead. Then the clappers and bells rang together, hammering through the third watch. The worthy traveller, pinching the formula, intoning the true incantation, cast an invisibility art and came as far as the gate, where he saw it was tightly secured with many shackles. He took out the Golden-Hooped Staff, pointed at the door, and used the unlocking art; the gate opened gently. He hurried out and stood down below, then shouted in a loud voice, “Sai Taisui, return my Lady Jinsheng!” He cried it two or three times, alarming demons by the small and the great; they hurriedly gathered and looked, and the front gate was opened. A maid then took a lamp and ran to check the lock, and once more relocked the door. She sent several little demons inside to report: “Great King, there is someone outside the front gate calling out Your Exalted Title and demanding Lady Jinsheng.” From within, a palace maid slipped out and whispered quietly, “Do not call out; the king has only just fallen asleep.” Wukong called out loudly at the gate again, but that small goblin dared not disturb him. He did so three or four times, and none of them dared to pass a report inside. The Great Sage kept shouting and making a din outside, all the way until dawn. Unable to bear it, he lifted the iron staff, stepped forward, and struck at the gate. The demons within the gate and without it were thrown into panic, and the messengers ran to send word. The demon king, waking from a nap, only heard the uproar and tumult, rose, put on his clothes, and came out beyond the gauze curtain, asking, “What is all this yelling for?” The maidservants knelt and said, “Lord, we do not know which fellow outside has been shouting and abusing through half the night, and now he is even pounding the gate.”

The demon king came out of the palace gate. He saw those two little messenger demons bowing in panic and crying out, “There is someone outside calling and cursing, demanding Lady Jinsheng of the palace. If one were to say a single ‘no’ word, he would pour out endless twisted remarks, all of them impossible to bear. Seeing that dawn has come and Your Majesty does not come out, he has even been forced to beat the gate.” The demon king said, “Do not open yet. Go ask where he comes from, what his surname is, and what his name is; come back quickly with the report.” The little demon hurried out and asked through the gate, “Who is it that is battering the gate?” Wukong said, “I am the invited uncle from Zhuzi Country, come to take Lady Shenggong back to the country.” The little demon, hearing this, reported it back. The demon king then went to the inner palace to check the newcomer’s background. As it happened, the Niangniang had just risen and not yet combed and dressed, when a maid reported, “My lord has come.” The Niangniang hurriedly arranged her clothes, untied her dark cloud binding, and came out of the palace to welcome him. She had just sat down and had not yet even asked, when another maid announced, “That uncle outside has broken the gate.” The lady laughed, “My lady, how many generals and horsemen do you have at court?” The Niangniang replied, “In court there are Forty-eight guards and horsemen and a thousand able captains; on each frontier there are many marshals and commanding generals beyond count.” The demon king asked, “Is there any surname Wai among them?” The Niangniang replied, “In this palace I only assist the sovereign within and teach the consorts morning and evening. As for outside affairs, they stretch without bound; how could I remember names and surnames?” The demon king said, “This fellow outside calls himself ‘grand-uncle.’ In the Hundred Family Surnames, there is not even one surname Wai. Your Highness is intelligent and highborn, raised in the inner palace, surely reading many books. Is there not a surname written in one of them?” The Niangniang said, “Only in the Thousand Character Classic, there is a line ‘wai shou fu xun’; that must be it, surely.”

The demon king rejoiced, “It is certain. It is certain.” He rose, took leave of the Niangniang, went to the Flayed-Skin Pavilion, made himself ready, called out the demon troops, opened the gate, and came out directly. In one hand he held a Flower-Stamped Xuanhua Axe, and in a sharp voice he called out, “Who is this maternal grandfather from Zhuzi Country?” Wukong held the Golden-Hooped Staff in his right hand and with his left pointed, saying, “Noble nephew, what am I to you?” Seeing him, the demon king burned within with anger and barked, “You rogue:

A face like a monkey, and a countenance like a macaque. Seven parts truly a ghost, yet you dare to mock and cheat humans." Wukong laughed, “You drunken trickster king deceiver, you who dare to dupe your lord—no eye indeed. When, five hundred years ago, I roared through Heavenly Palace, not one of the Nine Heavens’ divine generals dared to call me with an ‘old’ honorific. You call me waigong? Is that not on your head?” The demon king shouted, “Tell me quickly your surname and name, what arts you wield that you dare run riot here!” Wukong said, “You may avoid asking my name, but if you force me to speak it, you may have no ground to stand on. Stand steady and hear me speak: Heaven and earth are my parents; the essences of sun and moon formed the sacred embryo. A divine stone held the secret, ageless; my spiritual root grew by most wondrous conception. In that year I emerged from the Three-Yang height; today my true form returns, and all ten thousand assemblies become harmonious. I once gathered all sorts of demons and was their chief; I could subdue all strange beings and revere Dan-Ya Mountain. The Jade Emperor issued my appointment and Taibai Jinxing carried down the decree. He invited me to Heaven to assume office; I was made Bi Ma Guard, though I rejoiced not. In early rebellion I plotted against him in my cave, boldly raising troops and storming the heavenly throne steps. I crossed blades with the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King and the Crown Prince; in one clash he was humbled. Again did Jinxing report to the Lord of the Mysterious Vault, and another amnesty edict was sent down. I was then made the True Great Sage Who Equalled Heaven, and at that time I was praised as the timber of the realm. Again I disrupted the Peach Banquet, drank deeply and stole the elixir, bringing down this disaster. Lord Lao of Highest Esteem drove himself in person; the Western Pond Queen Mother awaited me at Jade Terrace. Knowing I broke Heaven’s law, he at once summoned the heavenly troops and lit the alarm banners. Ten-thousand evil stars and malign luminaries, blades and spears in close array. Heavenly nets and earth snares stretched over whole hillsides; the armies raised swords and pikes to full measure. In that fierce battle there was no question of victory; Guanyin recommended Erlang to come. The two sides met in rivalry, each showing what heroes they were; he had brothers of Mount Mei. Each then displayed transformations in valour; the Three Sacred Ones of Heaven opened the clouds at the gate. Lao Jun cast aside the Vajra Collar; all the gods seized me and dragged me to Golden Stair. No need to read out warrants and indictments; as a criminal I was to suffer torment and be beheaded. Axe-hacks and hammer-blows could not harm my life; sword-flashes and blade-cuts could not touch my vital core. Fire and thunder struck me, but all this was so; no method could damage my long life. I was taken to Taiqing Doushuai Academy, arranged and refined in the furnace to the limit. When the prescribed term was full, the cauldron was opened, and I leaped out from within. Raising this Wishing-bar Staff in my palm, I flipped and struck the Yulong Terrace. Star and constellations all withdrew in hiding; I trampled Heaven’s court at will. Li, the Vigilant Spirit, rushed to summon Buddha, and Shakyamuni tested my talent. I turned cūn-dou within my palm and traversed the whole circuit of Heaven and return. A Buddha-wisp magician tried to trick and deceive, and he pinned me at the cliff of heaven. Now for more than five hundred years, once released from bondage, I have broken out and goaded my frail body again. I in particular protected Tripitaka and went west to the Western Regions; Wukong the Traveller is fully aware. On the road to the west, I subdue demon-fiends; what evil monster among them is beyond fear?” The demon king, hearing him speak of Sun Wukong the Wukong the pilgrim, said, “So you are indeed the one who ravaged Heaven. You escaped and now escort Tripitaka westward. Go on your way then. Why meddle in my affairs, serving as a slave for Zhuzi Country only to come here seeking death?” Wukong shouted, “Wicked imp! You are ignorant in speech. I was invited with courtesy by Zhuzi Country, and he bestowed on me the honour to receive and serve me; this Old Monkey stands a thousand times above that throne. He treats me like father and mother and serves me as godhead—you dare to speak of me as ‘a slave’? I will not let this upstart deceiver-king live. Stand still! You shall taste one staff-blow for your waigong.” The demon king was flustered and in a panic. He sidestepped and avoided, then used the Xuanhua Axe to meet the strike. It was a superbly violent clash: Golden-Hooped Staff and Wishing-bar staff, one snarls teeth and gathers fury, one grinds teeth and shows might. This one is the Great Sage Who Equalled Heaven descending into the mortal world; that one is the demon king who came down from earth to make mischief. Both loosed cloud and fog, blinding the heavenly court with dust of sky and stone. Their returns and counterreturns were many; flashes of gold light burst forth again and again. Each showed full measure of art, each staking every miracle for all it was worth. This one sought to carry the Lady back to the Capital of the Deity, that one only loved the Empress, to dwell in mountain barracks. This bout is for no reason at all: each forgets life and death for his king’s cause. He two of them fought for fifty rounds without a clear winner. Seeing Wukong’s methods were so formidable, the demon king used the axe to brace against his iron staff and said, “Wukong, stay still. I have not yet taken my morning meal. Wait until I have eaten, then we will settle who is superior.” Wukong understood he was to seize the bell. He withdrew the iron staff and said, “A true hero does not chase a frightened hare.” He said, “Go, go, eat, and come back for death.”

The demon king turned and dashed back inside. “Quickly bring out the treasure,” he told the Niangniang. The Niangniang asked, “What good is the treasure for?” He said, “This morning the fighter said our opponent is a disciple of the monk on the Sutra trip, named Sun Wukong the Wukong, who falsely calls himself waigong. I have fought him to this point and we are still evenly matched. Let me take the treasure out and release some firework; let us burn that monkey head.” The Niangniang’s heart quivered in pain: if she did not bring out the bells, he might grow suspicious; if she brought them out, she feared she would endanger Wukong’s life. While she was still hesitating and undecided, the demon king pressed again, “Bring it out at once.” The Niangniang, at her wit’s end, opened the lock, handed the three bells to the demon king, and he left the cave. The Niangniang sat in the palace, tears flowing like rain, wondering whether the Wukong might somehow escape with his life. Both had no idea that the bells were fakes.

The demon stepped out through the gate, took up the windward side, and shouted, “Sun Wukong, do not run. Watch me shake my bell.” Sun Wukong laughed. “You have a bell, so do I not have one? If you can shake it, does that mean I cannot?” The demon king said, “What kind of bell do you have? Bring it out and let me see.” Sun Wukong pinched his iron staff into the shape of an embroidered needle and hid it in his ear. He then untied three true treasures from his belt and said to the demon king, “Is this not my purple-gold bell?” When the king saw it, he was startled: “What a trick, what a trick! How can his bell be no different at all from mine? Even if both were cast from one mold, some are worn smooth in different places, one has more scars, another lacks a tassel, and yet not a hair’s breadth do they differ!” He asked again, “Where did your bell come from?” Sun Wukong replied, “Noble nephew, where did that bell of yours come from?” The demon king came clean and said, “My bell was made this way:

Taiching Immortal Lord’s Dao origin is deep; in the Eight-Trigram furnace it was long refined. Forged into a bell, called a supreme treasure; Laozi has kept it until this day. Sun Wukong laughed. “Old Sun’s bell also came from that time.” The king asked, “From where, then, is its provenance?” Sun Wukong said, “Mine was made this way: The Dao Ancestor burned elixirs in the Tusita Palace; the golden bell was stirred in the furnace. In cycles of two, three and six, a rare jewel turns; mine is the female, yours the male.” The demon king said, “A bell is a treasure of gold-great-elixir, not a bird or beast. How can one tell male and female from it? It is enough if it yields treasure when shaken.” Sun Wukong said, “Words prove nothing. Let the doing show it. Let me have you do it first.”

The demon king truly shook one bell three times, and no fire came out. He shook the second one three times, and no smoke appeared. He shook the third one three times, and no yellow sand appeared. He panicked. “How strange! How strange! The world has changed. This bell is surely afraid to release its force. The male beheld the female, and so nothing came out.” Sun Wukong said, “Noble nephew, stop. Let me shake yours and you shall see.” The clever monkey clutched all three bells at once and began shaking them together. Behold, red fire, blue smoke, and yellow sand rolled forth together, burning trees and setting mountains aflame. The Great Sage then recited another charm and called down onto the ground, “Wind, come!” At once, wind drove the flames, and the fire rode the wind’s might: red blaze upon red, black as dusk, firework light across the sky and yellow sand across the earth. The Sai Tai Sui demon was terrified; his soul scattered, his spirit fled, with no path left, and in that fire there was no way to save his life.

Then, from midair, a fierce voice cried, “Sun Wukong, I have arrived.” Sun Wukong hurriedly turned and looked up. It was Guanyin, left hand holding a pure water flask, right hand a willow branch, sprinkling nectar of sweetness to quench the flames. Startled, Sun Wukong hid the bells at his waist and, with palms joined, knelt and prostrated himself. The Bodhisattva swept a few drops of nectar with the willow branch, and in a moment the smoke and flames vanished and the yellow sand was gone. Sun Wukong knelt and said, “I did not know the Great Compassion had descended to the mortal world. I failed to avoid offense. May I ask where you are going, Bodhisattva?” Guanyin said, “I came especially to hunt down this demon.” Sun Wukong said, “What is this demon’s history? You would honorfully descend your august form to take him?” Guanyin said, “He is a golden-maned hound demon ridden by me. While the herdsman slept and failed in his watch, this wretch bit through the iron chain and came away. Yet he comes to bring peace to the King of Zhuzi.” Hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately bowed and said, “The Bodhisattva says one thing, yet he has deceived the sovereign here, defiled the queen, and ruined law and custom, bringing disaster to this land. How then is this peace-making?” Guanyin said, “You do not know it. In the time when the former king of Zhuzi still sat on the throne, this king was still the Crown Prince of the East and had not yet ascended. As a child he loved hunting. He led men and horses and turned loose hawks and hounds, and came to Luofeng Slope. Beneath the hill’s side sat two peacock chicks, male and female, born of the Peacock Great Bright King Bodhisattva, a child of the Western Buddha Mother. The king shot at them and wounded the male peacock; the female returned west carrying an arrow in her side. After repentance, the Buddha Mother instructed him to undergo austerity for three years, and sickness clung to his body. At that time I rode this hound and heard the matter. It happened that this wicked beast took note of it and came here to deceive the queen and remove this calamity from the king. For three years the wrong and the grievance have now been satisfied. Fortunately you have come to cure the king’s plight. I come now only to seize this demonic evil. Sun Wukong said, “Bodhisattva, even if this story be true, he has stained the queen, ruined courtly order, and endangered the people. He deserves death. Since you have compassionately descended yourself, pardon his capital crime if you will, but not his living offense. Let me strike him twenty blows and then take him with you.” Guanyin said, “Wukong, since you know I have come among mortals, grant me this one thing: spare him now. Then it will count as your deed of subduing a demon. If you raise your staff, he will be dead already.” Sun Wukong dared not disobey, and only knelt to say, “If the Bodhisattva takes him back to the sea, he must never again descend secretly among men, where his harm would again be deep.”

Guanyin barked once, “Demon wretch! Return at once to your former form. Why delay?” At once the monster tumbled and showed its original body, shook out its furry coat, and the Bodhisattva mounted him. Guanyin looked at the hound’s neck and did not see three golden bells there. Guanyin said, “Wukong, return my bell.” Sun Wukong said, “Old Sun does not know it.” Guanyin cried out, “You thieving monkey! If you had not stolen that bell, not one Wukong—not even ten—would dare come this near. Bring it out at once.” Sun Wukong laughed, “I truly have not seen it.” Guanyin said, “If you truly did not see it, then I will recite the Tightening Headband Spell.” The monkey panicked and begged, “Do not recite it, do not recite it. The bell is here.” This was exactly the saying: who can untie the bell on the hound’s neck? The one who asks to untie it is the one who tied it. Guanyin fitted the bell around the demon’s neck and leapt to a high seat. Watch him: from all four feet lotus-flame sparks leapt, and his whole body flashed with golden threads like flying needles. Great Compassion returned to the South Sea, without further account.

Sun Great Sage then neatly fastened up his robes, raised his iron staff, and battered his way into Xiezhi Cave, beating to death all the demons and monsters and clearing them all out. He went on to the palace and invited the palace maiden to return to her kingdom. The empress could not prostrate enough in respect. Sun Wukong explained fully the matter of Guanyin’s exorcism and how the phoenix had been broken apart. He gathered some soft grass and braided it into a grass-dragon. “Daughter-in-law, mount it. Close your eyes and do not fear. I will take you back and let you appear before the ruler.” The empress carefully obeyed. Sun Wukong employed his divine powers, and only the rushing of wind in her ears could be heard.

After half an hour he brought her into the capital, set her down on the cloud-platform, and said, “Your Majesty, open your eyes.” The queen opened her eyes and looked about. She recognized the Phoenix Pavilion Dragon Tower, rejoiced inwardly, stepped off the grass-dragon, and climbed with Sun Wukong into the treasure hall. When the king saw her he hurried down from the dragon couch and reached for the queen’s jade hand as if to express reunion and emotion. Suddenly he fell to the ground and cried, “My hand hurts, my hand hurts.” Zhu Bajie laughed loudly: “What a face—so little merit! The moment he saw her, he was already stung to death.” Sun Wukong said, “Bajie, would you dare to poke her?” Zhu Bajie said, “What of it if I touched her?” Sun Wukong said, “The empress has born venomous barbs on her body, and there is stinging poison in her hand. Since she came to Qilin Mountain, she has spent three years with that Sai Tai Sui demon, yet he never touched her skin. The moment he touched her, her body would ache; if he touched her hands, her hands would pain.” The assembled officials heard this: “What can be done?” At that moment those ministers outside were full of misgivings, and inside the concubines were frightened. Near by, in two palaces of the Jade Sage and the Silver Sage, they helped the king to his feet.

While this panic was still at its height, he suddenly heard someone in midair call, “Great Sage, I have come.” Sun Wukong lifted his head and saw this:

A grave crane-cry cleaves the sky, swift and high it comes before the court. Auspicious radiance winds in circles; red and wondrous vapor drifts in fluttering grace. Brown robes draped on his body, raising cloud and smoke; feet in reed shoes, a rare sight. In his hand a dragon-whisk broom of fly-repelling fibers, silk cords wound at his waist. Through heaven and earth he knits human ties, and roams in carefree ease across the wide earth. This is the Purple Cloud Immortal of Great Luo Heaven, descended now in mortal form to dissolve the nightmare. Sun Wukong stepped forward and greeted him, “Where does Zhang Ziyang go?” Zhang Ziyang Zhenren arrived in the hall and bowed, saying, “Great Sage, this humble one is Zhang Baoduan.” Sun Wukong returned the salute: “From where do you come?” The immortal said, “Three years ago I attended Buddha’s assembly. Passing this way, I saw that the King of Zhuzi faced ruin from the Phoenix Matter and feared this demon would defile the empress, ruin human order, and make it impossible for her to be reunited with the king. So I transformed an old brown robe into a fresh, cloud-bright garment, shimmered with five colors, and presented it to the demon king, telling the empress to wear this as new clothing. When she put it on, she was covered with the poison barbs. Those barbs were in that brown robe itself. Now that I know the Great Sage has succeeded, I have come to dispel the nightmare.” Sun Wukong said, “If so, we are in your debt for coming so far; then do it quickly and remove it.” The immortal stepped forward, pointed at the empress with his hand, and took off that robe. The empress at once was as before. He shook the garment once, put it on himself, and said to Sun Wukong, “Great Sage, do not take offense; this little immortal takes leave.” Sun Wukong said, “Wait, let the king offer thanks first.” The immortal smiled, “No need, no need.” With one deep bow he rose and vanished into the sky. The emperor, empress, and all the courtiers and attendants looked up and each offered a bow.

After the saluting and bowing were finished, the king at once ordered the Great East Hall opened and thanked the four monks. The king then led all his people in kneeling obeisance, and only then were husband and wife made reconciled once more. In the middle of the joyous banquet, Sun Wukong called out, "Master, bring that battle report." The Venerable pulled it from his sleeve and passed it to Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong gave it to the king, saying, "This was sent by the little captain dispatched by that monster. That little captain had already been slain by me, and this was sent back as a report of merit. Later I returned to the mountain, changed into the captain, and went back into the cave to report. In that way I came before Her Majesty, stole out the golden bell, and was nearly caught by him. I changed form again, stole it out once more, and engaged him in battle. Luckily, Guanyin appeared, took him away, and told me the reason for the phoenix being split. ..." He recounted the whole matter from beginning to end in full detail. Then all the king’s ministers and common people, inside and outside the realm, praised and thanked him without exception. Tripitaka said, "First, this is the blessing of a worthy king; second, it is the merit of your little disciple. This splendid banquet is more than enough. Let us now take leave; do not detain this poor monk and make him fail in his journey west." The king could not keep him by entreaty, so he changed the travel orders, arranged a full royal procession, and invited Tripitaka to sit safely in the dragon carriage. The king and queen together seized the hubs and pushed the wheels, escorting him as they bade him farewell. It is written:

By one’s destined ties, the disease of anxious doubt is washed away; sever all thought and longing, and the heart grows still and serene.

After all this, we shall see what good or ill is to come later; listen as it is explained in the next chapter.