This is a fresh, complete English translation of Wu Cheng’en’s public-domain one-hundred-chapter novel, produced with GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark assistance. It is an AI-assisted first edition, not a reproduction of an existing translation.

It is said that Tripitaka had been sent outside the cave by the demon. Sha Wujing stepped forward and asked, “Master, where is my elder brother?” Zhu Bajie said, “He has a scheme in mind; certainly he is switching places to bring Master out.” Tripitaka pointed at the demon and said, “Your elder brother is in its belly.” Zhu Bajie laughed. “A filthy killer. Why is he in there? Let him come out.” Sun Wukong called from within, “Open wide, and let me out.” The fiend truly opened his mouth. Sun Wukong shrank to a tiny size and crept into the throat. As he was about to leave, fearing the creature might snap him up, he drew forth the iron staff, blew out a breath of transcendence, and cried, “Transform!” He became a date-pit pin, jammed himself beneath the upper palate, sprang upward, and leapt out. Then, in one motion, he pulled the staff free and with one waist-turn resumed his true shape, lifted his staff and struck. The demon likewise brought out two treasure swords and, with a ringing clash, met him. The two fought in a terrible bout atop the ridge:

Two dancers of swords flew and met face to face; the Golden-Hooped Staff rose to strike at the head. One was a heavenly-born monkey, ape-bodied and heart-monkey within; one was an earth-born spirit, a rogue-maiden’s spirit form. The one longed to take Primordial Yang as mate, the other sought the battle of Pure Yin to bind a holy embryo. The staff rose, and cold fog swept across all the day; the swords came up, and black dust sifted over the earth. Bowing to the Buddha, they fought in grudges and pain, revealing great skill. Water and fire would not unite; yin and yang could not join and each moved apart. After the two houses of fighting for a long while, earth shook, mountains quivered, and trees were torn down.

Zhu Bajie saw their struggle and muttered nonstop. “Brother, elder brother is causing trouble. Sun Wukong was inside his belly, raised his fists and forced out a full belly burst, only to come out from the mouth and still fight, making him so rampant. So how can this be allowed?” Sha Wujing said, “It is so. He had saved Master from a deep cave and yet has gone again to contend with a demon. Let Master sit. You and I should take up our weapons and help elder brother beat the fiend.” Zhu Bajie waved his hand. “No, no, no. He has true power; we are no match.” Sha Wujing said, “Why speak so? This is for everyone’s good. Though it may be we are not enough, we may yet add wind to the fire.”

The fool suddenly took sudden heart and drew out his hook-hilted spade, calling, “Go.” The two of them, not caring for Master, together rode on the wind and rushed in, wielding the hook-pike and brandishing the Golden-Hooped Staff, striking about at the demon. The demon had already met Sun Wukong and could not prevail against him; seeing both of them as well, he did not know how to resist and quickly turned, withdrew, and fled. Sun Wukong shouted, “Brothers, chase him!” The fiend, seeing he was pressed hard, pulled off the embroidered shoe from his right foot, blew out a breath of transcendence, spoke a spell, and cried, “Transform!” At once he assumed his own true form, made the two swords whirl and rush forth. One body-sweep, he became a gust of pure wind and went straight back. In this round he had only said he could not endure fighting these two and returned to preserve his life, not thinking such another event would come. It was only that Tripitaka’s star of calamity had not left. When he reached under the pavilion before the cave gate, he saw Tripitaka seated there alone. He stepped close, seized him in both arms, took the baggage, snapped the bridle rope, took man and horse together, and once more drew him inside the cave. Nothing further is recounted.

By a turn of chance, Pig-Brother dealt one blow and knocked the fiend to the ground; it was only a single flowered shoe. Sun Wukong saw it and said, “You two idiots—watch over Master and nothing else. What need is there for you to help at all in this?” Zhu Bajie replied, “Sha Wujing, what can I say? I told you not to come. That monkey has a bit of trickery in his mind. We helped him subdue the monster, and he came back to avenge himself.” Sun Wukong said, “Where did we subdue that demon? Yesterday, when I fought him, he used a lost-shoe trick. You all left, not knowing the state of Master; let us hurry and see at once.”

The three hurried back. Truly Tripitaka was gone, and with him all baggage and the white horse, not a trace remained. Zhu Bajie ran wildly in both directions in panic, Sha Wujing searched ahead and behind, and Sun Wukong grew restless and anxious. Just as they were seeking, they saw by the roadside half a length of bridle rope lying slantwise. He picked it up; tears would not stop in his eyes. He cried out, “Master! When I went, I parted from Master and horse; when I returned, I found only this rope.” It was just as this says:

One sees a saddle and thinks on a fine horse, Tears fall, missing one’s dear one. When Sha Wujing saw him weeping, he could not help but laugh toward the sky. Sun Wukong scolded, “You blockhead, are you spreading the fire again?” Zhu Bajie laughed again. “Brother, not this. Master must surely have been carried back into the cave by the demon. It is said, ‘No matter what, it is not done in less than three tries.’ You went into the cave twice before; if you go once more, there is certainly saving him.” Sun Wukong wiped his tears and said, “Very well. At this point there is no room for delay. I will enter again. You two, no longer worrying about luggage and horse, keep watch of the cave mouth carefully.”

Great Sage then turned and leapt inside, no disguise, but his true magical form. Truly:

Strange in face, hard in heart and mind, from childhood he was a monstrous spirit of mighty strength. His high and low features were like a saddle-bow; his eyes cast out golden fire-bright light. His whole body’s fur was hard as steel needles; his tiger-skin skirt with bright braid rang like bells. Upward he struck the sky and scattered ten thousand clouds; downward he stirred the sea and raised a thousand-layered waves. He once relied on strength to strike the Heaven King and drove back eighty thousand soldiers. Honored Great Sage, the beautiful monkey spirit, in hand was ever the Golden-Hooped Staff. Today he serves in the Western Heaven as the manifestly capable one, returning now to the cave to rescue Tripitaka. He came to the demon’s residence and stopped his cloud-light. Seeing the gate shut, and without weighing good or evil, he swung the iron staff once to open it and broke in. It was silent and lifeless, no person to be seen. Under the eaves and in the pavilion the tables and stools were gone; all the household fire places were empty. Not a single thing remained. In truth, around that cave were three hundred or more li, and the demon’s lairs were many. Previously Tripitaka had been taken there and found by Sun Wukong; now, having taken him again, afraid that Sun Wukong would return, the fiend moved him away at once, and his destination was unknown. Great Sage stamped his feet and struck his chest, then shouted: “Master, you are Tripitaka the monk who became an ill omen, a monk whose misfortune was forged to make this pilgrimage. Ah! This road has already been walked and known, yet how did he not remain on it? Why make old Sun search for him there?” As he was shouting sharply, he suddenly caught a whiff of fragrant wind. He regained his senses and said, “This incense smoke drifts from behind; it must be at the rear.” He hastened in, staff in hand, to look, but still no sign moved. Near the rear wall he saw three overturned stools, and beyond them a carved-lacquer altar with a dragon-mouth design. On it stood a large golden incense brazier from which rich fragrance arose. Beneath it was set a large gilt title plaque inscribed, “Seat of the Honored Father, King Li.” Just below, in smaller script, “Seat of the Honored Elder Brother, Third Prince Nezha.” Sun Wukong rejoiced fully, and instead of searching for the demon or for Tripitaka, he twisted his staff into a needle for an embroidered flourish, tucked it in his ear, lifted both the plaque and the brazier, and took them out. Returning to cloud form, he went straight out the gate. At the cave mouth he laughed and laughed, roaring without end.

Hearing him return, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing opened the cave mouth and met Sun Wukong. Zhu Bajie said, “Brother, such happiness in your face means you have rescued Master, yes?” Sun Wukong laughed, “No need to rescue him. I merely ask this plaque where the person is.” Zhu Bajie said, “Brother, this plaque is not a demon and cannot speak; how can we ask it for the person?” Sun Wukong set it down on the ground. “Look.” Sha Wujing came forward and saw it read: “Seat of the Honored Father, King Li of Heaven,” and “Seat of the Honored Elder Brother, Third Prince Nezha.” Sha said, “What does this mean?” Sun Wukong said, “These are offerings in the demon’s hall. I broke into his dwelling and found no people, only this plaque. It must be that Li Tianwang’s daughter, the sister of Third Prince Nezha, descended to the mortal world and, by feigning a demon form, seized our Master. Do not ask the one who seized him; ask who took him. You two stay here to guard, and I will carry this plaque and incense brazier directly before the Jade Emperor in heaven, filing an official petition and having his sons recover my Master.” Zhu Bajie said, “Brother, there is the saying, ‘to accuse a person of one death sentence is to earn a death sentence yourself.’ Things must be put in order first before doing such. And a memorial is not lightly submitted to court. Tell me how you would submit it.” Sun Wukong laughed, “I have a plan. I will use these plaque and brazier as evidence and prepare another written petition as well.” Zhu Bajie asked, “How should it be written? Read it for me.” Sun Wukong said:

“Complainant: Sun Wukong; the memorial is dated in a year Jia; he is the disciple of Tripitaka, the Tripitaka monk of the Tang court in the Eastern lands, now journeying to fetch the scriptures in the Western Heaven. This complaint concerns the capture of humans by a false demon. Now, the Pagoda-bearing Heavenly King Li Jing and Third Prince Nezha, lax in household guard, allowed their beloved daughter to go forth. In the airless caverns of Wuxu Mountain she transformed into a demon fiend and has confused and harmed multitudes of lives. Now she has captured my Master and held him in an unfathomable place, where there is no trace to seek. If this petition is not filed, then father and son are clearly lacking in filial virtue, for they have let their daughter become a perfected spirit and harm the people. I beg Your Majesty to grant mercy: arrest the fiend forthwith and rescue the Master, clarify her guilt with righteous judgment, and bestow deep grace. This is the memorial submitted.” Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing heard these words and were greatly pleased: “Brother, this accusation is reasonable and will have the upper hand. Return quickly; if delayed, the demon may wound Master’s life.” Sun Wukong said, “Quickly, quickly. The rice is soon cooked, and it is only a little while before the tea will boil; I will return then.

Great Sage, holding that spirit tablet and incense censer, made one great leap, rode a lucky cloud, and went straight to the outer gate of the Southern Heaven. At the gate were the Great King of Great Strength and the King who Guards the Nation; seeing him, each bent with humble respect and did not dare to block him, so he was allowed to pass. He proceeded to the Hall of Brilliant Clarity, where the four Great Celestial Masters, Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu, came out to meet him and greeted him with formal bows: “What brings the Great Sage here?” Wukong replied, “There is a written complaint; I have come to accuse two people.” The master was startled: “This insolent monkey—who does he intend to accuse?” With no choice, they led him into Lingxiao Hall and made a report. A command had already come, so he was announced and ushered in. Wukong set down the spirit tablet and incense censer, bowed toward Heaven and completed his obeisance, then presented the petition. Ge Xianweng took it and spread it on the imperial table. The Jade Emperor read from beginning to end and, after seeing all of it, at once wrote his endorsement as a sacred decree and ordered Tai Bai Jinxing of the Great Star of the West to carry it to Yunlou Palace to report to Li Heavenly King the Pagoda-Bearer. Wukong stepped forward and requested, “Look closely, O Heaven-Master, and punish thoroughly; otherwise there will be further trouble.” The Jade Emperor added, “The plaintiff too shall go.” Wukong asked, “Will Old Sun go as well?” The four masters said, “The August One has already issued the decree; you may accompany Jinxing.”

Wukong truly followed Jinxing, leapt into the clouds, and soon arrived at Yunlou Palace. This was the residence of the Heavenly King, called Yunlou Palace. At the palace gate, Jinxing saw a boy attendant standing. The boy recognized him and went inside to report: “Elder Taibai Jinxing has come.” The king himself came out to receive him. He also saw Jinxing carrying the decree, and so ordered incense to be burned. As he turned, he saw Wukong entering behind him and the king immediately became angry. Why was he angry? In earlier years, when Wukong had thrown Heaven into uproar, the Jade Emperor had appointed the king as Grand Marshal for Suppressing Demons, had appointed Prince Nezha as the deity of the Three-Altars Sea Assembly, and made him lead the heavenly troops to capture Wukong; yet after many battles he could not prevail. It was, still, the resentment from a defeat five hundred years before, now stirred again, and that is why he was angry. He could not restrain himself and said, “Old Changheng, what decree have you brought?” Jinxing said, “It is Great Sage Sun’s complaint against you.” The king had already been troubled, and on hearing the word “complain” he flared with thunderous rage: “How does that monkey dare to accuse me?” Jinxing said, “Control your temper. There are the spirit tablet and censer in the hall as proof, declaring she is your own daughter.” The king burned incense, then on turning he fixed an incense table, bowed to Heaven in thanks. After finishing his bows he opened and read the decree. It stated just so and so, this and that, and he, furious, struck the incense table with his hand and said, “This monkey-head has even slandered me.” Jinxing said, “Calm yourself. You have before you the tablet and censer as testimony from the court.” The king answered, “I have only three sons and one daughter. The eldest is called Jinzha; he serves the Buddha and is a front guard protector. The second is called Mucha; in the South Sea he follows Guanyin as her disciple. The third is called Nezha; he stays at my side, attending morning and evening to guard my carriage. My daughter is only seven years old, named Zhenying; she is too young to understand worldly matters, how could she have become a demon spirit? If you doubt it, bring her out and see. This monkey-head is truly insolent. And even if I am only the heavenly commander entrusted with the rank of striking first then reporting, even a minor person in the lower world cannot be falsely accused. The law says, ‘A false accusation is punished in three grades.’” He ordered his men: “Bring the demon-rope and bind this monkey-head.” On the courtyard floor were posted Great Spirit, Yudu Jiang, and the commander Ya-cha; in a rush they came forward and tied him. Jinxing said, “Li Heavenly King, do not bring yourself into trouble. I came with the court decree to announce our orders to you. That rope of yours is very heavy; if you bind him once, you might break him and then have further trouble.” The king said, “Jinxing, this is trickery and disorderly accusation—how can he be tolerated? Sit down. Let me take the demon-slaying sword and cut down this monkey-head, then I will return your response to you.” Seeing him draw the sword, Jinxing was terrified and warned Wukong, “You have handled this badly. Is it easy to lodge an imperial complaint? You did not even investigate, and you make such disorder; to risk a man’s life—what would become of this?” Wukong showed no fear and smiled: “Old official, do not worry, nothing will come of it. Wukong’s business is always this: he surely loses first, then wins.”

He had barely finished when the king whipped the sword and swung it at Wukong to chop him from the start. At once, Prince Nezha came rushing forward and held his anti-demon sword across it, crying, “Father King, restrain your anger!” The king was greatly shocked and lost his color.

Ah! The father sees a son answering his own sword against his blade and ought by rights to wave him away; how then could he turn pale with fear? In truth, when this prince was born, the character “Ne” was on the left palm and “Zha” on the right, and so he was named Nezha. At three years of age this prince went into the sea to purify himself and made mischief, trampled the Crystal Palace, and caught a flood-drake to yank out its sinews and turn them into cords. The king saw this and, fearing future calamity, wished to kill him. Nezha, in fury, took up his sword, carved flesh to give back to his mother, tore out bones to return to his father, and gave back father’s essence and mother’s blood. A spark of his spirit went straight to the Western Pure Land to report to the Buddha. Buddha was teaching disciples all together when he heard a cry, “Save me!” The Buddha, by his knowing eye, saw it was Nezha’s soul, fashioned blue lotus roots as bones and lotus leaves as robes, and chanted the true incantation to restore the dead; so Nezha regained life. By divine power he brought under law ninety-six cave demons; his powers were vast. Later he meant to kill Tianwang to avenge that bone-tearing grievance. Li Tianwang, helpless, entreated the Buddha, the Tathagata. Buddha, preferring harmony, granted him a lustrous, transparent stupa of reliquary gold that could make wishes. On that tower, tier upon tier, were Buddhas, radiant and dazzling. He summoned Nezha, made him accept Buddha as father, and explained the wrong. Therefore he is called the Pagoda-Bearing Li Heavenly King. Today he has been casually at home and not carrying that tower, and he fears Nezha may be intent on revenge, so he was struck with that great fright.

The king then immediately reached over and took the golden reliquary stupa from its pedestal, held it in his hands, and asked Nezha, “Child, why did you brace my blade with your sword—what do you have to say?” Nezha put down his sword and knelt in prostration: “Father King, there is a daughter in the lower world.” The king said, “Child, I have only three sons and one daughter—how could there be another daughter?” Nezha answered, “Father, have you forgotten? That daughter was originally a demon spirit. Three hundred years ago she transformed into beasthood and on Ling Shan stole the Buddha’s fragrant flowers and precious lamps. Buddha ordered my father and the heavenly soldiers to seize her. When captured, she should have been killed, but the Buddha commanded: ‘Store up water and raise fish, and still you do not draw the hook; in distant mountains feed deer and still hope for long life.’ So at that time he spared her life. In return for this grace, she took the king as father and took me as elder brother; in the lower regions she set up a spirit tablet and served incense to them. Unexpectedly she turned to spirit form again and framed Tang Sanzang. Yet Wukong found her lair and took up the spirit tablet, then filed the imperial complaint by name. She is an oath-bound daughter in debt of kindness, not my own blood sister. The king, suddenly startled, said, “Child, I truly had forgotten. What was her name?” The prince said, “She has had three names. In her original origin she was called the Golden-Nosed, White-Furred Mouse Spirit; because she stole the fragrant flowers and precious lamps, she was renamed Banjie Guanyin; and after Buddha spared her and sent her down to the mortal realm, she was renamed again, Lady Diyong."

The Heavenly King had only just come to his senses. He set down the Precious Pagoda, and personally came forward to unbind Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong immediately threw a tantrum: "Who dares release me? If he can be carried up by the rope and brought before Your Majesty, Old Sun’s case will be won." Frightened, the King’s hands trembled, the Prince was speechless, and the attendants withdrew in confusion. The Great Sage rolled and fumed, insisting only that the Heavenly King go before the throne. With no other way, the King begged Jinxing to find a way. Jinxing said, "The ancients said, 'All matters should be handled with leniency.' You acted too harshly: you bound him and then wanted him dead. This monkey is a famously stubborn rogue. What am I to do now? If you argue from your son's side, though not a daughter by blood but by favor, the duty of gratitude is still weighty; however you defend it, there is fault for you as well." Li Tianwang said, "If you tell me a way, old star, then there is no guilt." Jinxing said, "I do want to reconcile you both, but only words can do it." Li Tianwang said, "Then speak of the matter of recommending him for pardon and granting him rank." Then Jinxing came forward, laid a hand on Sun Wukong and said, "Great Sage, by courtesy let me be your advocate: let me untie your ropes and let you go before the throne." Sun said, "Senior officer, do not untie me. I know the way to roll; I can roll all the way there in one go." Jinxing laughed: "You monkey is so pitiless. In former days I showed you some kindness; would you now ignore all that for such trifles?" Sun Wukong said, "What kindness have you shown me?" Jinxing said, "In your old days at Flower-Fruit Mountain you raised havoc among the monsters—subduing tigers and dragons, breaking through the register of life and death, gathering hordes of demons to run amuck. When Heaven meant to capture you, it was through my pleading that you were summoned up and appointed Bimawen. Later, after you had drunk the Jade Emperor's celestial wine and returned to your senses, it was again by my memorial that you were promoted to Great Sage Equal to Heaven. But you did not keep your post: you stole peaches, stole wine, stole Laozi's elixir—so much and more—and so came to the punishment of never ending and not ending. Without me, how would you be here today?" Sun Wukong said, "The ancients said well: 'Never share a grave with an old fool.' A clean reckoning soon reveals who provoked trouble. I was only Bimawen, making trouble in Heaven's court—nothing more. Enough, enough. Out of respect for your face, let him untie himself." Then the King dared move forward, untied the bonds, invited Sun Wukong to put on his clothes and take a seat, and each came forward to offer homage.

Sun Wukong turned to Jinxing and said, "Old official, what now? I said there is to be a loss first and a win later. That is how business is done. Hurry and send him to the throne. Do not delay my Master." Jinxing said, "Do not hurry; after all this, drink a cup of tea first." Sun said, "You drink his tea, accept his favor, you set free a prisoner and slight a holy decree—what guilt do you avoid?" Jinxing said, "No tea. No tea. Even I am being implicated. Li Tianwang, hurry, hurry." Yet Li Tianwang dared not go. He had no stable words and the Great Sage babbled wildly. What could he argue? With no way out, he again begged Jinxing to find a way. Jinxing said, "I have one sentence: will you accept it?" Sun said, "For rope-binding and sword-cutting, I can see your face. What more is there to say? Speak, speak. If it is good, I will follow; if it is not, do not blame me." Jinxing said, "In one day of official business there are ten days of punishment. You filed an appeal saying the demoness was Li Tianwang's daughter. Li Tianwang said she was not. You two argued endlessly before the court. I say one day in Heaven is one year on earth. In that year, this demoness has kept your Master in her cave. Do not speak to marriage; even if there were a son under a lucky blossom and even a little monk born there, would that still serve the larger matter?" Sun Wukong lowered his head and thought, "True. I left Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing saying it was just a few moments until the rice cooked and a bit more until the tea boiled, and already this long while has passed. Has it not already been too late? Senior official, if we follow your path, how shall this edict be returned?" Jinxing said, "Have Li Tianwang order troops, descend with you to take the demon; I will return the command." Sun asked, "How will you report it?" Jinxing said, "I will say only: the plaintiff escaped; the defendant need not be presented." Sun laughed. "Fine then, I will go by your look alone. You will say that I escaped. Tell him to station troops outside South Heavenly Gate waiting for me; I will return with the warrant and report it back." Li Tianwang said in fear, "If he goes this way and utters anything, it will be my back that bears the blame of my lord." Sun Wukong said, "Do you take me for something else? I am a true man: once a word is said, even four horses cannot catch it. How could slander then cling to you?" Li Tianwang then thanked Sun Wukong. Sun and Jinxing returned with the edict. Li Tianwang assembled his own heavenly soldiers and marched straight out beyond South Heavenly Gate.

Jinxing and Sun Wukong reported before the Jade Emperor: "The one who captured Tripitaka was a white-haired mouse spirit with a golden nose, and he was using the warrants in the names of Li Tianwang and his son. Li Tianwang knows this now and has already ordered troops to arrest the demon; please, Heavenly Honorable, grant pardon." The Jade Emperor, already knowing this, descended heaven’s favor and ended all investigation. Sun Wukong then returned by cloud-light to the outside of South Heavenly Gate, where Li Tianwang, the Prince, and host upon host of heavenly soldiers were waiting in ranks. At once the winds rolled in and the mists rose. They caught the Great Sage, and in a rush all descended from the cloud-head, arriving quickly at Xiankong Mountain.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing were waiting anxiously when they saw the heavenly soldiers arriving with Sun Wukong. The Pig, meeting Li Tianwang, offered respect and said, "Pardon for the trouble, pardon for the trouble." Li Tianwang said, "Marshal Tianpeng, you did not know. My father and I were delayed only one incense-period, and because of that the demoness had groundsless claims and held your Master. Do not fault the lateness. Is this Xiankong Mountain? Yet we do not know on which side its cave-mouth opens now." Sun said, "This path I have trod enough; this cave is called bottomless, it stretches more than three hundred li around and has many demon lairs. The last time my Master was in the gatehouse by the Two Drops of Water; now it is quiet as death, not a shadow of a ghost in sight. Who can tell where they moved?" Li Tianwang said, "Let him devise a thousand schemes if he can; he cannot slip out of Heaven-and-Earth's net. Let us reason again at the cave mouth." Everyone set out. After about ten li, they arrived near the great outcrop. Sun pointed to a wide opening like the mouth of a jar and said, "Here it is." Li Tianwang said, "'If you do not enter the tiger's den, how will you catch tiger cubs?' Who will lead first?" Sun said, "I will." The Third Prince said, "I act by command to take this demon; I will go first." The Pig charged ahead recklessly and shouted, "At the front line, let it be old pig!" Li Tianwang said, "No loud noise. Keep to this plan: Sun Wukong and the Third Prince will lead the soldiers down inside. The three of us hold the gate and control the entrance, matching inside and outside together, so he has no road to Heaven and no gate into earth and our techniques may show a little. All answered, 'Yes.'

See how Sun Wukong and the Third Prince led the soldiers, looking only toward the cave as if down a single corridor. They rose on cloud-light, and as they looked up, what a cave it truly was:

As before, twin-wheeled sun and moon lit the scene, and at one glance the mountains and rivers glittered. In pearl-dark pools and jade wells, warm vapor rose. There were many more wonders to admire. Layer upon layer of vermilion towers and painted halls, proud red cliffs and blue-green fields; spring willows, and lotus blooming through nine autumns—a caverned heaven rarely seen. In an instant, the cloud-light halted and came straight to the old mansion of the demon. They searched at each gate, calling loudly, one layer after another, place after place, and trampled the three-hundred-li land till even the grass was worn bare. Where was the demon? Where was Tripitaka? All they heard was, "That wretch must have long left this cave and gone far away." Unaware, they did not know he had moved to the black corner in the southeast. Looking down they saw another small cave. Inside was one narrow door, a low little house, with a few potted flowers, bamboo stalks by the eaves, black vapors thick and dark yet perfume deep. The old demon had taken Tripitaka, carried him here, and forced him to marry. Though Sun Wukong said he could not find him, who would know his destined end was near? Inside were the little demons, each noisy and chattering, packed close together. One of the bolder ones stretched out its neck, peered outside for a moment, and collided with a heavenly soldier; with one cry it shouted, "He is here!" Sun Wukong grew angry, twirled the Golden-Hooped Staff, and burst in at once. There it was narrow and cramped, a hollow crowded with fiends. The Third Prince rallied the heavenly soldiers, and they swarmed forward together. Where could any of them possibly hide?

Sun Wukong found Tripitaka, and with him the Dragon Horse and the baggage. The old demon, seeing no way out, looked at Nezha the Prince and only knelt to beg for his life. Nezha said, "You are taken here under the Jade Emperor's decree; this is no child's trick. My father and I, by being delayed one incense-burn, nearly had the monk dragged to carry timber and made into a monk at a temple." The soldiers shouted and removed the demon-binding cords, binding all those demons. The old demon could not avoid suffering hardship either. Then they all returned by cloud-light. Sun Wukong chuckled all the way out. Li Tianwang pulled apart the cave-mouth and greeted Sun, saying, "This time at last, we even see your Master as well." Sun said, "Thank you, thank you." He then led Tripitaka to thank Li Tianwang, then next the Third Prince. Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie only wanted to hack apart that old fiend, but Li Tianwang said, "He was seized in obedience to the Jade Emperor's decree. He cannot be punished lightly; we still have to return the report."

On one side, the Heavenly King and the Third Prince led the celestial soldiers and divine generals, escorting the demon beneath guard to the Heavenly Ministry to await a final ruling; on the other, the pilgrim held Tripitaka, Sha Wujing packed the baggage, Zhu Bajie rounded up the horses and invited Tripitaka to mount, and all of them set off together onto the Great Road. This is exactly the moment:

Sever the silk-vine on the dry-golden sea, and open the jade lock to free it from the barred cage.

After all, no one yet knows how things will turn out ahead; listen to the next chapter for the unfolding.