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.

Later, in the courtyard several of the blacksmiths, worn out from days of labor, had all fallen asleep at night. At daybreak they rose to resume forging, and beneath the canopy the three kinds of weapons were not to be found. One and all they stood there, stupefied and frightened, searching all around. Just then the three princes came out of the palace to inspect, and the smiths knelt together and said, “Young master, the three weapons of the holy Master are gone, and no one knows where they are.”

The young prince heard this and, pale with alarm, said, “I suppose Master must have packed them away last night.” He hurried to the pavilion to check, and seeing White Horse still beneath the corridor, could not help crying out, “Is Master still asleep?” Sha Wujing said, “He has risen.” He opened the chamber door and let the prince in to look; when no weapons appeared, he asked in a fluster, “Have you gathered Master’s weapons?” Sun Wukong leapt up and said, “I have not.” The prince said, “All three weapons are missing tonight.” Zhu Bajie scrambled up at once, asking, “Is my pa there?” The prince explained, “A little while ago we all came out and saw everyone searching front and back in vain. The disciple feared Master had collected them, so we came to ask. Master’s treasures can lengthen and shrink at will; surely he has them hidden on him and is teasing the disciples.” Sun Wukong said, “I did not gather them. All of us, go and search.”

Following him to the tent in the courtyard, there was indeed no sign of them. Zhu Bajie said, “It must be these blacksmiths who stole them. Bring them out. If they delay even a little, I will beat them all to death, to death!” The smiths, frightened, knelt and wept, saying, “My lord, we have toiled without rest day after day. We slept through the night, and then when we rose at daybreak everything was gone. We are only common men—how could we carry these off? Please spare our lives, please spare us.” Sun Wukong was silent and inwardly resentful: “The fault is our own. We had already seen the pattern, so we should have kept them on our person. Why did we leave them here? Those treasures shimmered with rosy radiance; surely they startled some rogue and he stole them in the night.” Zhu Bajie refused to believe it: “What are you saying, brother? This is a peaceful land, not some desolate wild mountain. How could a villain come here? It must be the blacksmiths being deceitful. Seeing the brilliance of our weapons, they recognized three precious treasures, slipped out of the prince’s court in a band at night, and lugged them away. Bring them here and strike them, strike them.” The smiths only knelt and swore innocence.

At that clamour, the elder prince came out, heard the matter through, and though his face gave no sign, he paused in thought and said, “The holy Master’s weapons are not like ordinary things—no matter if one hundred or more men tried, they could not force them. As for me, living in this city for five generations, I am no reckless adventurer; I have a modest reputation outside as well. The soldiers, civilians, and makers in this city all fear my discipline and would never dare be dishonest. Ask the holy Master to think it over once more.” Sun Wukong smiled, “There is no need to think further, nor need we burden the blacksmiths. Your Highness, tell me—are there any mountain or forest demons on the edge of this prefecture?” The prince said, “Your question is very reasonable. North of this city is Leopard-Head Mountain. In that mountain is a cave called Tiger-Mouth Cavern. At times people say an immortal dwells within it, at times they say tiger and wolf, at times a demon. I have not gone to confirm it myself; I do not know what in truth it is.” Sun Wukong laughed, “No need to say more. Certainly it is the rogues there. They saw they were treasures and stole all three in one night.” He then ordered, “Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing—you both stay here to guard Master and protect the city. Let Sun Wukong go searching.” He also told the blacksmiths, “Do not let your furnaces go cold. Continue forging as you can, one by one.”

Good Monkey King, after bidding Tripitaka farewell he whistled sharply; in a moment he vanished and had already crossed to Leopard-Head Mountain. In truth the city was only thirty li away, and he arrived in an instant. He climbed up to look at the mountain’s peak and saw at once a hint of demon air. Truly it was:

The dragon-veins ran long, and the land spread wide. The pointed peaks thrust upward, high as piercing the sky; steep ravines thudded with swift, deep-flowing water. Before the mountain grew jade grass spread like a rug; behind it wondrous flowers lay like brocade. Lofty pines and aged cypresses, old trees and fine bamboos. Mountain crows and magpies flew about in loud, scattered cries; wild cranes and wild monkeys all shrieked. Beneath the cliffs, elk in pairs; before the abrupt walls, badger-foxes in pairs. Rising and sinking in turns, distant dragon-lines bent and folded in nine curves and nine bays, veiling the earth’s veins. At the ridge, it touched Yuhua Prefecture—a place of flourishing glory through ten thousand ages. As Sun Wukong was still at it, he suddenly heard voices behind the mountain. Turning back, he saw two wolf-headed demons speaking loudly, heading up toward the northwest. Sun Wukong thought, “These must be patrolling monsters. I will follow them and listen to what they say.” He pinched his secret, recited a spell, transformed his body, becoming a butterfly. He spread his wings and fluttered in looping flight, giving chase directly. He had truly taken an excellent form: A pair of pink wings, two streaks of silver whiskers. He flew swiftly borne by the wind, and in sunlight danced with gentle ease. He crossed water and cleared walls with quick cleverness, delighted in playful flirtation with scents and drifting petals. His body, light by nature, loved the fragrance of fresh flowers; graceful mood and elegance rose and fell in free play. He hovered over the heads of the demons and listened while they talked. One demon cried out, “Second brother, our king has had great luck lately. Last month he gained a beauty and kept her in the cave, and they were delighted. Last night he gained three weapons—true, they are priceless treasures. Tomorrow we will hold a banquet to celebrate the Dingba.” The other said, “We too have some luck: with these twenty taels of silver we can buy pigs and sheep. Now that we have reached Qianfang Market, we will first drink a few jars of wine. Put up a flowered tent for the matter, spend two or three taels there, and buy some padded robes for the cold—would that not be good?” The two demons kept speaking and laughing, then hurried away down the main road like flying birds.

When Sun Wukong heard that they planned to hold a Dingba banquet, he rejoiced inwardly. He wished to kill them at once, but they were not within his immediate business, and he had no weapon in hand. So he flew forward, returned to his true form, and stood at the road junction. As that demon came close enough to come within sight, Sun Wukong spat out a spell-spit in one breath and cried, “Ān Hōng Zhā Lī,” then employed an immobilization spell, fixing the two wolf-headed spirits in place. Their eyes were open, yet their mouths could not open; their bodies stood rigid and their feet rooted to the ground. He turned them over, stripped them out, and searched. There were indeed twenty taels of silver in each, tied into a sack fastened on the waist-sash; and each wore a light-pink painted token, one bearing the words “Diao-zuan Guai,” the other “Guai Diao-zuan.”

Great Sage, he took their silver and removed the tokens, then hopped back and returned to the prefectural city. He entered the prince’s hall and met the prince, Tripitaka, and the various officials and smiths, and told all that had happened. Zhu Bajie laughed, “It must be that Master’s treasure shone with rosy radiance, so they bought pigs and sheep and prepared a feast to celebrate. But now, how are we to bring it back?” Sun Wukong said, “All three of my brothers and I will go. This silver is for buying the pigs and sheep. First give this silver to the smiths as a reward, and ask Your Highness to get several pigs and sheep. You, Zhu Bajie, become Diao-zuan Guai; I will become Guai Diao-zuan; Sha Wujing will dress as a guest-trader in pigs and sheep. Enter Tiger-Mouth Cave; once you find a good spot, each of you take up a weapon, strike the evil spirits, and return, settling up the road on the way back.” Sha Wujing laughed, “Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful—do not delay, go quickly.” The prince followed this plan and at once ordered his attendants to buy seven or eight pigs and four or five sheep.

After taking leave of Tripitaka, the three of them displayed their powers outside the city. Zhu Bajie said, “Brother, I have never seen that Diao-zuan Guai, and how can I change into that appearance?” Sun Wukong replied, “That demon is fixed by Sun Wukong’s immobilizing spell and will not wake until this time tomorrow. I remember his appearance. Stand still and let me teach you to change. … Just so, exactly like him.” The simple one chanted the spell in his mouth while Sun Wukong blew out immortal breath, and at once he became no different from that Diao-zuan Guai, with one pink token at his waist. Sun Wukong in turn became Guai Diao-zuan, also with a token at his waist. Sha Wujing dressed as a customer in the trade of pigs and sheep. The three moved together, hurrying the pigs along the main road and heading straight for the mountain.

Not long after, they entered a hollow in the mountain and again met a small demon, and his face was every bit as savage as the stories foretold. He looked like this:

Round, glossy eyes, bright as a trembling lantern; a red, bristling tuft of hair on his head, like fire drifting with light. A coarse nose, a grotesque ape-like jaw, and sharp saber teeth; broad ears, a hacked-looking forehead, a green face swollen and puffy. He wore a light yellow robe and sandals of woven reed-fiber; on both sides his frame was wild, as if an evil spirit, rushing and panting like a malicious ghost. He held a painted invitation casket under his left arm, and he called out to Sun Wukong: “You tricky and obstinate oddity, have the two of you come? How many pigs and sheep have you bought?” Sun Wukong said, “Is that not the one driving them?” The demon said to Sha Wujing, “Who is this?” Sun Wukong replied, “He is just a customer buying pigs and sheep. He still owes him a few taels and came home with him to collect. Where are you going?” The demon said, “I am going to Bamboo-Joint Mountain to summon the Great Lord for the assembly at dawn.” From the way he spoke, Sun Wukong asked, “How many are invited?” The demon said, “The Great Lord will be seated first, and with him and the heads of this mountain, about four dozen in all.” While he was still saying this, Zhu Bajie said, “Go on, go on, the pigs and sheep have all scattered away.” Sun Wukong said, “You go on to invite them. I will first inspect his invitation.” Seeing him as one of his own, the demon opened it, took it out, and handed it to Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong unfolded it and read: Honorable tomorrow, with food and wine respectfully prepared, we celebrate the Qingding-pǎ Assembly of the Great Spiked Mace. Deign to cross the mountain and attend a brief audience. Keep this matter secret. Gratefully yours. To be opened before the Great Elder Ziweng, Ancient-Saint of the Nine Spirits, before the august presence. At the feet of my former master, the Golden Lion Sun of the under-room, one hundred reverent bows. After reading, Sun Wukong handed it back to the demon. The demon put it back in the casket and went off straight toward the southeast, rising uphill.

Sha Wujing asked, “Elder brother, what does the invitation say?” Sun Wukong answered, “It is an invitation to the Qingding-pǎ festivity. It says, ‘At the feet of my former master, the Golden Lion Sun of the under-room, one hundred reverent bows.’ The invitee is the Great Elder Zuweng, Nine-Spirit Primordial Saint.” Sha Wujing smiled: “Golden Lion must surely be a gold-maned lion in fox-form. But what is this Nine-Spirit Primordial Saint?” Hearing this, Zhu Bajie laughed: “A trifle of the old pig, surely.” Sun Wukong said, “How do you know it belongs to the old pig?” Zhu Bajie said, “The ancients said: ‘A mange-mothered pig chases after a gold-maned lion spirit.’ So I know this is the old pig’s business too.” The three, talking and laughing, drove onward. Soon they saw the gate of the Tiger-Mouth Cave. They beheld it from outside:

Around it the mountains wound in green, and one thread of breath seemed to link mountain to city. Steep cliffs strained with blue vines, on high precipices purple acacia hung. Deep-tree groves ringed with birdsong, flower-shadows welcoming the cave-mouth. It did not fall short of Peach Blossom Cave, fit to hide one’s mortal world-burden. As they drew nearer the gate they saw a throng of small and big motley demons at the foot of the flowering trees, frolicking and quarreling. Suddenly Zhu Bajie bellowed, and when he hurried the pigs and sheep over, they all came to meet them. Each caught one of the pigs, each took one of the sheep, and all were bundled down together. This stirred up the demon king within, and he came out with a score of little demons and asked, “Have the two of you arrived? How many pigs and sheep did you buy?” Sun Wukong said, “We bought eight pigs and seven sheep, fifteen animals in all. The pork is sixteen taels, the sheep nine taels. I was paid twenty taels in advance and still owe five. This is the customer, here to collect the money.” Hearing this, the demon king said at once, “You little ones, fetch five taels and send him off.” Sun Wukong said, “This customer has come for one thing to claim payment and one to come to see the meeting.” The demon king grew angry and cursed: “You troublesome trickster! You only buy goods, and yet you speak of gatherings and not gatherings?” Zhu Bajie stepped forward: “The lord has obtained a treasure that is indeed a rare marvel of the world. Why should we not let him look?” That demon snapped, “You oddities are enough to disgust me! This treasure came from Yuhua Prefecture, and if this customer saw it then returned to the prefecture and spread rumor of it, when the prince comes on inspection they will ask and trouble us terribly.” Sun Wukong said, “Your lordship, this customer is from beyond Qianfang, far from this prefecture, not a native of Yuhua. How could he carry it anywhere as rumor? Besides, he is hungry in his belly, and so are we two; we have not eaten yet. There is ready wine and food at home. Give him some and send him away.” Before he could finish, a little demon brought five taels and handed them to Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong passed the money to Sha Wujing and said, “Customer, take the silver and come with you behind. We’ll go in and have something to eat.”

Relying on his courage, Sha Wujing entered Tiger-Mouth Cave with Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong. Reaching the second hall above, he saw in the center of the main table a nine-toothed dingpa set up high in offering, truly dazzling to the eye. On the east side of it leaned a Golden-Hooped Staff. On the west side leaned a demon-subduing staff. The demon king followed and said, “Customer, that object in the center glows in the center of the hall; look well. But when you leave, do not tell any man of it.” Sha Wujing nodded and thanked him.

Ah! Truly this is the principle: when a thing sees its owner, it must be taken. Zhu Bajie had always been a blundering fool, and when he saw the dingpa he did not stop to weigh any further matter. He rushed over, took it down, swung it in his hand, displayed his true form, and with a shout sent it flying, rushing to strike the demon king straight in the face. Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing likewise ran to either side, each taking up a weapon and revealing their true forms. The three brothers together struck in wild confusion. The demon king, alarmed, leapt back and fled, then turned behind. He took up a Four-Ming shovel, the pole long and keen-edged, and charged into the courtyard, bracing all three of their weapons and barking aloud: “Who are you, daring to blaspheme and trick me over my treasure?” Sun Wukong spat, “You band of thieving fur! You do not recognize me. We are disciples of Tripitaka, the holy monk of the Eastern Land. We came to Yuhua Prefecture to exchange travel permits, and at the king’s order the three princes there took us as masters and learned the arts of war. They copied our treasures and forged weapons to their pattern. Then we set them out in the courtyard, and you, band of thieves, sneaked into the city by night and stole them away, and now you claim I am deceiving you about your treasure. Do not run—let us try these three weapons against you in turn, just a few blows.” The demon king lifted the shovel in challenge. From the courtyard into the front gate this bout rolled onward, and when the three monks and the single demon-clump clashed it was a slaughter:

The Hoo-hoo staff ran like wind; the storm of spikes fell like rain. The demon-subduing staff rose into a sky of rosy light; the Four-Ming shovel stretched out and made colored cloud-motes in the air. It seemed like three immortals refining great cinnabar elixir, fire-glow and brilliance startling god and ghost. Sun Wukong manifested power most wondrous, while the demon thief of treasure was rude in all else. Heavenly Canopy Bajie showed wondrous mastery, and General Sha Wujing appeared even more handsome in valor. Brothers combined in counsel and technique, and a battle rose within Tiger-Mouth Cave. That rascally demon-thief boasted of strength and craft, yet four heroes could be matched with him. As the killing rang until sun touched westward, the demon’s evil strength had softened and could scarcely hold. They fought for a long time in Leopard-Head Mountain. At last the demon, unable to match them, shouted to Sha Wujing, “Watch the shovel.” Sha Wujing yielded a body-form sidestep and avoided it. The demon got a clear path and fled, riding the wind to the southeast. Zhu Bajie wanted to chase, but Sun Wukong said, “Let him go. As the ancients say, ‘Do not pursue the cornered foe.’ We will only block his way home.” Zhu Bajie obeyed.

The three went straight to the cave mouth and slew all the demons there, from the huge to the tiny, one hundred or more in all. They were mostly tigers, wolves, leopards, mountain goats, and wild deer and antelopes. By Sun Wukong’s method, every soft-bodied and flimsy creature in the cave, as well as the mixed-bodied animals from the flock they had driven in, were all slain; he brought all of them out along with the captured pigs and sheep. Sha Wujing then took out dry wood and set a fire, while Zhu Bajie flapped wind with both ears, and in a moment burned the whole den clean. Then he set out with all the gathered things and turned back toward the state city.

At that time the city gate still stood open and no one was yet asleep. The old king and his sons, with Tripitaka, were all waiting in the pavilion of open curtains. They saw them arrive, dropping whole a courtyardful of dead demons, pigs, sheep, and soft-bodied creatures in a wild heap. All together they shouted, “Master, we return in victory.” The prince nodded repeatedly in thanks. Tripitaka was all joy. The three young princes knelt on the ground. Sha Wujing helped them up and said, “Do not give thanks yet; come forward and see these things.” The prince asked, “What are all these objects?” Sun Wukong laughed and said, “Those tigers, wolves, leopards, and mountain-goat beasts were all demons in transformed form. We took their weapons and drove them out the gate. Their old lord was a gold-maned lion. He wielded a Four-Ming shovel and fought us till dusk, then was defeated and fled to the southeast. We did not pursue him; instead we blocked his return, slaughtered these bands of demons, searched and took all these objects, and brought them here.” The old lord heard this with joy and worry both: joy at returning in victory, worry that the demon might seek revenge later. Sun Wukong said, “Your Highness, do not worry. I have already thought through it fully and can deal with it in good time. I will sweep him out completely before we depart, so no harm will follow.” Then he added, “At noon, I met a small blue-faced, red-haired demon carrying an invitation. The invitation said: ‘Tomorrow morning, with feasting of food and wine prepared in reverence, we hold the Qingding-pǎ Assembly. Deign to pass the mountain for a brief council. Keep this hidden. Gratefully yours.’ It was addressed to “Before the venerable Great Elder Zuweng, Nine-Spirit Primordial Saint.” The name was, “At the feet of my former master, the Golden Lion Sun, with one hundred full prostrations.” That demon who was defeated today must surely have gone to his elder-lord and, at dawn, surely come seeking us for vengeance. We will therefore clear him out thoroughly.” The king thanked him again, and they set out the evening meal. After the monks had finished their evening repast, each returned to his bedchamber; nothing further need be said.

The demon spirit did indeed run southeast to Bamboo-Knot Mountain. In that mountain there was a cave retreat called Panhuan Cave of the Nine Bends. In the cave, the Nine-Spirits Primordial Sage was his ancestral lord. He did not stop to rest the whole night, and when the fifth watch arrived he came to the cave mouth, knocked, and went in. The junior demon saw him and said, “Great King, last night a green-faced youth came to deliver an invitation; the master kept him here until this morning and meant to go with him to your Dingba gathering. Why have you come so early yourself to invite us again?” The demon spirit replied, “It is hard to speak, hard to speak—this meeting will surely turn out bad.” As he spoke, he saw the green-faced youth come out from inside and say, “Great King, why did you come? The Great King has risen and is going with me to the assembly.” The demon spirit was flustered, merely waving his hands and saying nothing.

After a little while, the old demon rose and called him in. This demon cast aside his weapons, toppled to his knees and bowed, and could not stop tears from streaming down his cheeks. The old demon said, “Worthy grandson, yesterday you sent the invitation; this morning you were about to come to the assembly yourself. Why are you here again, bringing grief and sorrow?” The little demon knocked his head and said, “Last night, while strolling idly by moonlight, I saw that in Yuhua Prefecture there was radiance filling the sky. When I hurried to look, I found three kinds of weapons displaying their brilliance in the Prince’s court: one was a nine-toothed gold-seeping dingba, one a precious staff, and one the Golden-Hooped Staff. Using my divine art, I took them and at once named it a ‘Dingba felicitation assembly’; I made my subordinates buy pigs, sheep, fruits, and other goods, set a banquet, and held a feast to celebrate, inviting Grandfather to reward it all as a joy. After sending the green-faced one to deliver the invitation, I then saw the Diaozuan lad from the group sent to buy pigs and sheep, along with others, hurrying along with several pigs and sheep; they also brought a trader to seek silver. He was determined to see the gathering, and though my grandson feared he might spread rumors outside, he would not let him watch. He then said he was hungry and asked for food, so he was told to eat at the rear. He went inside and saw the weapons, saying they were his. The three then each grabbed one; their true forms appeared: one was a monk with a furry face and a Thunder God mouth, one a monk with a long snout and large ears, one a monk with a dark, inauspicious-faced complexion. He did not distinguish good from bad, only shouted once and fought wildly. My grandson at once hastened to take up the Siming shovel and drive them out, then held on in resistance, and asked who would dare to make such vain show. That one said he is a disciple of Tripitaka, sent from the Great Tang of the Eastern Capital to go westward. Passing through this prefecture, he changed documents, was kept by the Prince to learn martial arts, and had these three weapons modeled and forged, placing them in the yard; I stole them, and thus I became resentful and battled. I do not know what names those three monks bear, yet all three are skilled. One like my grandson cannot match three opponents, so he fled to his old father’s place. I hoped for help with a drawn sword, to take revenge on those monks, and thereby show my grandfather’s affection for his grandson.”

After hearing this, the old demon fell silent for a moment and then laughed. “So it is he indeed,” he said. “Worthy grandson, you have provoked him inappropriately.” The demon spirit said, “Does Grandfather know who he is?” The old demon said, “That one with the long snout and large ears is Zhu Bajie; the one with the sullen, ominous face is Sha Wujing. Those two are still manageable. The furry-faced, Thunder God-mouthed monk is called Sun Wukong. That man truly has vast powers: five hundred years ago he once laid waste to Heaven’s Court, and even ten thousand heavenly soldiers could not catch him. He is intent on seeking out men; he is a captain of raids who searches mountains and reveals seas, breaks through breaches, storms fortresses, and brings chaos. How did you dare to trouble him? Never mind. Come with me; we shall catch that brute, and with him the prince of Yuhua as well, and bring them to vent your anger for you.” The demon spirit heard and instantly knelt to thank him.

The old demon then called for the ape-lion, Snow Lion, Suannei, Baize, Fuli, Tuanxiang and the rest of his grandson-demons; each took up sharp arms and weapons. Yellow Lion led them, and each sent forth wild wind as they rushed straight to the border of Leopard-Head Mountain. They smelled smoke and powder in the air and heard cries of weeping. Looking more closely, it was indeed Diaozuan and Guo Guai crying there, calling for their master and wailing for him. The demon came forward and shouted, “Are you genuine Diaozuan, or merely a fake Diaozuan?” The two fiends knelt, swallowed their tears, and kowtowed. “How are we fake?” they said. “Last night, just at dusk, after receiving silver to buy pigs and sheep, we were on the big road west of the mountain. We saw a monk with a furry face and a Thunder God mouth; he spat at us. At once our legs weakened and our mouths locked up: we could not speak, we could not move. He toppled us, searched us, and took the silver and the tally slips. We two remained in a dazed stupor until we woke only now. When we returned home, we found fires not yet out; every house was burned. Nor could we find the master, or either senior or junior head. So here we are, grieving and crying. We do not know how this fire came about.”

When the demon heard this, he could not stop tears from bursting forth like springs. Both his legs gave way and he crashed down, and his cry shook the sky and earth, cursing, “Tonsured wretch! You have done terrible evil—how could you commit such a venomous deed? You burned my cave dwelling to ash, burned the beautiful women, and left household and kin, old and young, stripped clean. My blood will kill me, my blood will kill me!” The old demon told Mau-Lion to pull him over and said, “Worthy grandson, matters have come to this; to mope now is useless. First preserve all your sharp spirit and go to the prefectural city to seize that monk.” The demon still refused to stop crying. “Master, that mountain site of mine was not built in a day. Now this bald brute has destroyed it completely. What life is there left for me?” He tried to rise, ran to the cliff, and struck his head and head-bowed in rage. Only after Snow Lion, Mau-Lion, and the others urged him hard did he stop.

Then all left that place and fled for the prefectural city. They heard the wind rolling and the mist churning, coming very close. Alarmed, all the people outside the city gates, men and women alike, in haste left home goods behind, all rushed into the city, entered through the gates, and shut them. Someone reported into the Prince’s residence: “Disaster, disaster.” The Prince, Tripitaka, and the others were at Bao-sha Pavilion taking their morning meal when they heard the warning, and came out to inquire. The others said, “A group of demons is approaching the city with flying sand and stones, spitting mist and raising wind.” The old Prince was greatly startled: “What is this?” Sun Wukong smiled and said, “All be at ease, all be at ease. This is the demon spirit of Tiger-Mouth Cave, defeated in battle yesterday, who went southeast and has come here with that one child of the Nine-Spirits Primordial Sage. Let me go out with my brothers.” Then he ordered: “Have the four gates closed; you all set men to guard the city.” The Prince indeed ordered the four gates shut, and ordered the guards to go up to the walls. The father and son, with Tripitaka, stood on the city towers issuing signals; banners covered the sun and cannon-fire connected to the sky. Sun Wukong and the two brothers went out, half in cloud and half in fog, to meet the enemy. This is exactly the case:

Losing the care of prudent vigilance, he made the demons of evil rise up all together.

After all, this does not yet reveal how the battle will end. Let us hear the resolution in the next chapter.