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.

Once thereupon, Great Sage Sun Wukong, together with his two younger brothers, rolled in the whirling wind, mounted on the cloud, and in a trice arrived at the mouth of Xuan-Ying Cave at Qinglong Mountain in the northeast direction. He set his cloud down, and Zhu Bajie was about to batter the gate. The Monkey told him, "Hold still for the moment. Let me go in first and see whether our Master is alive or dead; then we can decide how to quarrel with him." Sha Wujing said, "This gate is tightly shut—how can we get in?" Wukong replied, "I have my own arts."

The Great Sage put away his staff, made the incantation with a twist, and chanted a spell: "Transform!" He at once became a firefly of flame, swift beyond measure. Look at him:

Spreading wings, stars streamed and gleamed; as the ancients said, fireflies are born from rotted straw. To take transformations for granted is no light matter; by nature I am one who forever drifts and hovers. He flew close to the hanging stone gate, slipped through a crack by its side in the wind, and with one bound dropped into the dark courtyard to reconnoiter the demons’ movements. He flew in and saw a few cattle-forms, fallen crosswise and headlong, each roaring like thunder, all asleep. In the main hall there was no sign of life. The doors and gates on all four sides were open, yet he could not tell where the three demons slept. He turned around the hall and went toward the back when he heard sobbing; it was Tripitaka, bound beneath the eaves-post of the rear room, crying. Hearing him cry, Sun Wukong listened softly, and then saw what he cried: "Since we parted from Changan years ago, I have crossed mountain and water through hardship and pain. Fortunate I have reached the Western lands on a blessed season, and arrived at Jinping in the Lantern Tide. I knew not the false Buddha image by lamplight, all because a calamity-laden blame lay in my fate. Worthy disciples, charge on and pursue with might; may heroes display their sovereign power." Hearing this, Sun Wukong was overjoyed; he spread his wings and flew near the Master. Tripitaka wiped his tears: "Ah! The Western realm is not as usual. This is the first month, when winter-still creatures stir. Why then are there fireflies?" He could not restrain himself and called, "Master, it is I!" Tripitaka cried with joy: "Sun Wukong—I asked how fireflies could appear in the first month of the year. It is you." The Monkey resumed his true form and said, "Master, because you could not tell true from false, you lost us so much time and cost us so much effort. You thought I said he was not a good man, and you bowed; yet this monster, in dim lamp-light, stole the temple’s lamp oil and even seized you. I had told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to return to the monastery and guard, and from the wind I hastened here, though I did not know the place-name. Fortunately I met the four constables on duty, who reported that this was Qinglong Mountain, Xuan-Ying Cave. By day I had fought with this demon until dusk and returned, and after telling the younger brothers of this matter, the three of us have not yet slept and came here. I feared to engage while night was deep, and still did not know where the Master was, so I came in by transformation to scout. Tripitaka asked, "Are Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing outside now?" Wukong said, "They are outside. Just when Old Monkey looked, the demons had all fallen asleep. I will release the shackles, force open the gate, and take you out." Tripitaka nodded gratefully.

The Great Sage used an unlocking spell and with one sweep of his hand the lock opened of itself. Leading Tripitaka forward, he started ahead when suddenly he heard the demon king crying out from inside the hall room: "You minions, shut the doors fast. Mind the lamp-flames. Why is no one calling the watch change now, and no clapper-bell sounding?" It was this company of little demons: after fighting all day, all had slept in exhausted hardship. Hearing the shout, they only now woke. Where the alarm bell rang, some with weapons banged gongs and came from the rear, and before long they collided with the Master and him. All the small demons shouted together, "Good monk! How did you turn the lock and where are you going?" Wukong would not wait; he drew his staff and with one swift sweep, as wide as a bowl, struck. Where it swung, two were slain. The rest dropped their weapons and came near the hall, beating the gate and crying, "Great King, trouble, trouble! The hairy-faced monk is killing men inside the house!" The three demons, hearing this, rose with a clatter and ordered, "Take him. Take him." Tripitaka was left shaking and weak-kneed in fright. Wukong ignored the Master and drove forward with his staff all the way. The small demons could not withstand the blocking; he flung down three or two of them, toppled two or three more. After breaking through several doors he came out and cried, "Where are my brothers?" Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing were waiting, holding spade and staff, and asked, "Elder Brother, what happened?" Wukong had come out by transformation, saved the Master, and then left; exactly then the demons, alarmed, detected him. He did not pause for Master now, but burst out and told once what happened; no need to set that down here.

The demon king captured Tripitaka again and bound him again with iron chains. Wielding a knife and lifting an axe, with all the lantern-light brightening around him, he asked, "You brute, how did you open the lock? How did that monkey get in? Speak quickly and I may spare your life; otherwise I will cut you in two." In panic, Tripitaka knelt in trembling fear and said, "Great King, my disciple Sun Wukong has seventy-two transformations. He only just changed into a firefly and flew in to rescue me. Unexpectedly, Your Majesty awakened in time and was seen by the little Great King. It is my disciple who did not know good from evil: he wounded two; the rest shouted and raised weapons and flames. He could then not attend to me and ran out." The three demon kings laughed heartily, "It was already discovered—he did not escape." They ordered the little ones to shut the front and rear gates tightly, and keep it all quiet.

Sha Wujing said, "If we keep the doors shut and silent, it is surely a trick to move our Master by stealth. Let us take action." Wukong said, "What you say is right. Break open the gate quickly." Zhu Bajie showed off his powers, lifted his spade with all his strength, and struck the gate to bits, yet he also called loudly in reproach: "Thief-demon, oil-thief fiend! Send forth my Master at once!" The little demons inside rolled in through the gate and reported, "Great King, trouble, trouble! The front gate has been broken by a monk." The three demon kings were deeply worried and said, "This brute is truly without courtesy." They put on their armor and took up their weapons, leading the small demons out to meet the enemy. It was about third watch by then, and the moon rode bright in the sky like daytime. They came out and without a word raised weapons to fight. Here Wukong held against the halberd and axe, Zhu Bajie resisted the great saber, and Sha Wujing met the staff of the demons. The battle ran fierce:

Three monks and their three elders: staff, rod, and spade—three demons’ courage rose in answer. Halberd, steel axe, hooked cane—only wind-sound and whirling dust could be heard. At first they met a few rounds and sorrow-clouds blew up; afterwards they rose and flung out bands of color. The trickeries of trident and spade rolled with each body; the iron staff of the heroic one was praised all the more. The demon-subduing treasure-staff is rare in all the human world, but the demons’ stubborn hearts would not yield him. The halberd-mouth shone bright and sharp as a needle; each vine segment flashed like blossoming stars. The great sword flashed like a folding gate-door, and the monks’ divine powers bested it. This side grew ruthless for the Master’s life and rained blows in anger; that side would not let Tripitaka be struck down. Axe, baton, and club met the saber in two rounds. Hooking and whipping with the vine cane, turning and somersaulting, each displayed wild display. For a long while the three monks and three demons fought, and neither side saw clear victory. The demon king called out once, "The lesser ones, come on!" The various spirits each came with weapons in hand and quickly tripped Zhu Bajie to the ground; several bull fiends clutched and pulled him up, dragging him into the cave and binding him. Sha Wujing saw Bajie gone and saw those bull-groups heaving with beast-cries. He drew the treasure staff and, aiming at the demon king, feigned a broken stance as if to withdraw. Then the host of spirits surged upon him, seized his feet and dragged him down—he could not wrench free—and he too was taken and bound. Wukong saw the situation had become perilous, mounted the cloud-saddle, and broke away from the fight. By then the demons had brought Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing before Tripitaka. On seeing this, Tripitaka wept openly: "Miserable, my two fellows too have suffered cruel hands. Where is Wukong?" Sha Wujing said, "When Elder Brother saw that we were caught, he took to flight." Tripitaka said, "Since he has gone, he must have gone somewhere for help. Yet I know not on what day we will be out of this net." The three disciples and master mourned in pitiable desolation; this is not set down at length.

Sun Wukong then flew back to Ciyun Temple, and the temple monks came forward and asked, "Has old master Tripitaka been rescued?" Wukong said, "Hard to rescue—hard to rescue indeed. The demon has formidable powers. My three disciples and the three there fought him for a long while, but he called on the small demons: first they seized Zhu Bajie, then they seized Sha Wujing; I, Old Monkey, was fortunate to slip away." The monks said in fear, "How can you, revered lord, who can still ride cloud and fog, still be taken? Surely our Master's life is about to be destroyed." Wukong said, "Do not worry. My Master is surely guarded by the gods Jialan, Jiedi, Dingjia, and others, secretly. He has also once eaten elixir from the herb-roots, so his life should not easily be harmed. Yet that demon has real ability. You should watch the horses and baggage. Let Old Monkey go up to Heaven and call for troops." The monks, timid, said, "Can you still go up to Heaven, lord?" Wukong laughed. "Heaven’s court is my old home. Long ago I was the Equal to Heaven Great Sage. Because I disrupted the Peach Banquet, I was subdued by the Buddha. Now, with no way out otherwise, I am protecting Tripitaka on the journey for scripture, paying back my merit by removing demons and setting things right, and clearing my old guilt. Your Master was destined for this ordeal, though you did not know it either." Hearing this, the monks again knelt and bowed. Wukong left the gate, blew a sharp whistle, and was gone at once.

The Great Sage had already reached the outer gate of Western Heaven. At once he saw Tai Bai Jinxing in conversation with Zengzhang Tianwang and the four Great Spirit Officials Yin, Zhu, Tao, and Xu. Seeing the Traveler come, they hurriedly offered reverence and said, “Great Sage, where are you going?” Sun Wukong replied, “I escorted Tripitaka as far as the eastern border of Tianshu, to Jinping Prefecture, Minz? County. In this county the monks of Ciyun Temple detained my Master to keep watch of the Lantern Festival. When we reached the Bridge of Three Golden Lamps there were three golden lanterns, lit with suhe perfumed butter oil, worth over fifty thousand taels of silver, and each year many Buddha images descend to receive the blessings. As we watched, indeed three Buddha images came down. My Master, unable to discern their true nature, stepped onto the bridge and bowed. I said he was no worthy one; at once the demon darkened the light, and with one gust swept away both the lamp oil and my Master. I chased in the wind to a mountain. By good fortune a message arrived from the Four Assistant Officers: the mountain was called Qinglong Mountain, and it had a cave called Xuanying. In that cave were three fiends, known as King Bi-han, King Bi-shu, and King Bi-chén. Old Sun rushed through the gate to seek them out and fought them for a while; I could not defeat them. I changed form and entered inside, saw the Master bound but unharmed, untied him and was about to leave; yet the demon sensed me, so I fled. Later, with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, we fought bitterly, and again he seized those two and tied them up. Thus I specifically petitioned the Jade Emperor, asking him to investigate their origins and issue commands to subdue them.” Tai Bai Jinxing let out a cold laugh: “Great Sage, if you have been at close odds with the demon, how could you not see where he came from?” Sun Wukong said, “I recognize him. He is a band of rhinoceros spirits. Yet he has great divine power and cannot be subdued swiftly.” Jinxing said, “They are three rhinoceros essences. Because they possess heavenly omens, after years of cultivation they attained true form and can also ride the clouds and move through mist. These fiends are extremely clean, always loathing their own shadows, and each desires to go down into water to bathe. Their forms and names are many: si-rhinoceros, xiong-rhinoceros, gu-rhinoceros, ban-rhinoceros, and also hu-mao rhinoceros, duo-luo rhinoceros, and tong-tian-flower-mark rhinoceros. They all have one nostril, three hairs, two horns, and roam the waters and seas where they can open pathways in the water. As for Bi-han, Bi-shu, and Bi-chén, their horns bear noble lustre, so they are called Great Kings for this reason. If you wish to take them, simply present yourselves before the Four Mùqín stars.” Sun Wukong hurriedly bowed and asked, “Which are those Four Mùqín stars? Kindly have Elder Changgeng show them clearly to me one by one.” Jinxing laughed: “Those stars are outside the Douniu constellation, spread through heaven and earth. Go report at once to the Jade Emperor and you will clearly see them.” Sun Wukong folded his hands repeatedly in thanks and went straight into the Heavenly Gate.

Soon after, upon reaching the Hall of Tongming, he first saw the four Great Celestial Masters Ge, Qiu, Zhang, and Xu. The Celestial Master asked, “Where are you headed?” Sun Wukong said, “We have recently come near Jinping Prefecture. My Master, being lenient and gentle in his meditative nature, remained on Yuanxiao Day to watch the lamps. At the bridge, he and the demon-mind seized him. Sun Wukong could not bring the demon under control, so I came to report to the Jade Emperor for aid.” The four Celestial Masters at once led Sun Wukong to the Lingxiao Precious Hall and presented the report. After all offered their bows, the matter was fully stated. The Jade Emperor said, “Which soldiers of Heaven should go to help?” Sun Wukong replied, “I had just come to the West Gate when I met the star of Changgeng. He told me the fiend is a rhinoceros spirit, and only the Four Mùqín stars can subdue him.” The Jade Emperor then ordered Xushi to accompany him to the Douniu Palace and point out the Four Mùqín stars to descend and take the demon.

By the time they came to the palace outer court, the stars of the Twenty-Eight Mansions had already arrived to receive them. The Celestial Master said, “I carry the sacred decree: summon the Four Mùqín stars and send them with Sun Wukong to descend and exorcise the demon.” Immediately Jiao-mu-jiao, Dou-mu-xie, Kui-mu-lang, and Jing-mu-an answered, “Great Sage, where should we descend to exorcise?” Sun Wukong laughed and said, “So it is indeed you. That old Changgeng had hidden himself; I do not grasp his intent. He only said that the fiend was among the Four Mùqín stars of the Twenty-Eight Mansions and that I should come and ask. Why then the need for a formal order?” The Four said, “Great Sage, what are you saying? We do not disobey imperial orders; who would dare to act on our own? Tell us the direction at once.” Sun said, “On the Gēn side northeast of Jinping Prefecture, Qinglong Mountain, Xuanying Cave—the rhinoceros spirit.” Dou-mu-xie and Kui-mu-lang said, “If it is truly a rhinoceros spirit, we do not need the four of you. Just send Jing-star alone. He can climb mountains and catch tigers and descend the sea to seize rhinoceros.” Sun Wukong replied, “That rhinoceros is no ordinary moonlit rhinoceros; he has cultivated himself to true attainment and has the lifespan of a thousand years. The four of you must go together. Do not play with this. If one of you fails to take him at once, would it not still cost more trouble?” The Master said, “What you say is not right. The imperial command goes to you four; how can you refuse? Fly at once. I shall return the order.” So the Celestial Master left Sun Wukong and went away.

The Four Mùqín stars said, “Great Sage, do not hesitate. You go first and demand battle, draw him out; we will strike behind you.” Sun Wukong stepped forward and shouted, “Thief of lamp oil, fiend! return my Master.” The gate had already been broken by Zhu Bajie, and a few small demons had stuffed a few planks across it. Hearing curses from within, one small demon ran out in haste to report: “Master, Master, Monk Sun is cursing outside!” Bichen said, “He went off defeated already. How is he back again? He must have come seeking reinforcements.” Bihan and Bishu said, “What reinforcements can he fear? Quickly fetch your armour. Everyone, stand firm and circle around him so he cannot escape.” The fiends did not know what would befall them; one by one each grasped a spear or sword, and they shouted slogans, beating drums as they came out of the cave. Seeing Sun Wukong, they cried, “You monkey brat, you are not afraid of a beating—you have come again.” Sun Wukong was most enraged at the word “monkey brat,” gritted his teeth, and swung his iron staff. The three demon kings signaled their small fiends to run a circular formation, drawing Sun Wukong into the center of the array. On the other side, the Four Mùqín stars each raised their weapons and cried, “Wicked beast, do not move!” Those three demon kings, seeing the four stars, naturally panicked and all said, “Disaster! Disaster! He has brought down all the descending powers. You lesser fiends, save your own lives and flee.” Then all shouted with roaring breaths, and the little fiends showed their true bodies: they were mountain-ox spirits, water-ox spirits, and yellow-ox spirits, running wildly across the whole mountain. The three demon kings also revealed their true forms, dropped their hands, and still had only four hooves, like iron cannon, and they ran off to the northeast. The Great Sage took Jing-mu-an and Jiao-mu-jiao and pressed hard in pursuit without slackening. Only Dou-mu-xie and Kui-mu-lang remained in the hollow, on the ridge, in the ravines, and in the valleys of the eastern hills, and swept clean all the ox spirits they killed or captured alive. Then they went into Xuanying Cave and untied Tripitaka, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.

Sha Wujing recognized the two stars and bowed in thanks. He asked, “How did the two of you come here to rescue us?” The stars replied, “We are sent by Sun Wukong, who petitioned the Jade Emperor, and have been ordered down to capture this demon and save you.” Tripitaka then wept again and said, “Why is my disciple Wukong not here?” The stars answered, “The three elders are three rhinoceros fiends. When they saw us, each guarded his own life and fled to the northeast Gēn direction. Sun Wukong has taken Jing-mu-an and Jiao-mu-jiao after them. We two stars swept away the hooved crowd and came here especially to release the holy monks.” Tripitaka again knelt and bowed, facing heaven and bowing again as well. Zhu Bajie helped him up and said, “Master, too many bows invite deceit. Do not keep bowing unceasingly. Two star-officers, first, by the Jade Emperor’s order, second, out of my elder brother’s kindness: now that you have already swept away the band of fiends, we still do not yet know how the old demon was subdued. Let us gather some soft goods and break open this cave to sever its root, then return to the temple and wait for your elder brother.” Kui-mu-lang said, “Heavenly Marshal Tiānpéng speaks rightly. You stay with General Juanlian to protect your Master and return to the temple to rest. We will go back to the Gēn direction to meet the enemy.” Zhu Bajie said, “Precisely. Precisely. You two should, in concert, capture what remains and exterminate them fully before reporting back with the decree fulfilled.” The two star officials immediately pursued onward.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing searched through all the soft treasures inside the cave—there were numerous coral, agate, pearls, amber, corals of jade, precious jewels, beautiful jade, and fine gold—and brought out a full load, setting it outside. They invited Tripitaka to sit on a mountain cliff. Sun Wukong then went inside and set it on fire, reducing one entire cave to ashes. Only then did he lead Tripitaka to find the road back to Ciyun Temple in Jinping. It was then said:

The Classics say, “When fortune reaches its extreme, can it not return?” In the best of times, perils are indeed certain. Fond of flower-lamp watching, his meditative nature ran astray, and delighting in fine scenes let his Way dissolve. The Great Elixir must be guarded long, and from ancient times it is so; one single loss ruins everything. Keep it tightly fastened and tied, never let it wander loose; with a moment’s negligence, disorder appears.

Let it be said that the three return safely to the temple need not be recounted. The two star-officers Dou-mu-xie and Kui-mu-lang mounted clouds and drove off at speed straight toward the northeast Gēn direction to pursue the demon. In that middle air they searched and could not find him. They went as far as the Western Ocean, and from afar saw Sun Wukong shouting on the sea. The two stepped down from their cloud mounts and called, “Great Sage, where has the demon gone?” Wukong muttered in anger: “Why did you two not come to pursue him? At this moment you ask so recklessly?” Dou-mu-xie said, “I saw Great Sage and the stars of Wells and Horn in open battle with the demon spirits and assumed he had surely been seized. We two therefore swept through and cleared the host of spirits, entered Xuanying Cave, and saved your Master and your two brothers. We searched the mountain and burned the cave, then entrusted your Master to you and brought him back to the county’s Ciyun Temple. Not seeing the carriage return for some time, we came chasing and arrived here.” Hearing this, Sun rejoiced and thanked them, saying, “So then you have done meritorious work. I owe you, I owe you much. Yet those three fiends I chased to this place dived beneath the sea. Let Wells and Horn pursue him closely and take him at once; old Sun will hold him off on the shore. Since you two are here, position yourselves on the shore to intercept him. Then old Sun will come again.”

Great Sage, lifting the Golden-Hooped Staff, twisting a tactic-seal in hand, split the rushing water and drove straight into the deep waves. He saw the three demon beasts below the surface battling in wild fury with Jingmugan and Jiaomu Jiao, as if life itself had become ash. He leapt forward and shouted, “It is Old Sun.” The demon, whose horns had pinned the two star officers and was caught in mortal peril, heard the Monkey King’s cry and, turning pale, spun toward the heart of the sea and fled. That fiend’s horns, it was known, could split water apart; hearing its bellowing—hua, hua, hua—it tore open a clear path. Behind it, the two star officers and Great Sage Sun Wukong pursued together with all their strength.

In the Western Sea there was a yaksha who probed the waters and a patrol officer of the sea. From afar they saw the rhinoceros splitting the current and recognized Sun Wukong with the two heavenly stars, and in haste hurried to the Crystal Palace to report to the Dragon King: “Great King, three rhinoceroses have been driven here by Great Sage and the two Heavenly Stars.” Upon hearing this, Old Dragon King Ao Shun called Prince Moáng: “Muster the waters old, surely the rhinoceros demons Bihan, Bishu, and Bichen have provoked the Great Sage. Now that they have reached the sea, draw swords at once and give help.” Moáng received the order and quickly mustered soldiers. In but a moment, turtle, tortoise, eel, and eel-like troops, fish, and soldiers of shrimps and crabs all took up spears and saber blades. With one shout they surged out beyond the Crystal Palace, blocking the rhinoceros demons. The rhinoceroses could not advance, so they hurried backward; at that moment Jingmugan and Jiaomu Jiao joined Great Sage to impede them. In panic the monster lost its band and each darted apart to save itself. Soon Bichen alone had been surrounded by the Old Dragon King’s troops. Sun Wukong rejoiced and cried, “Quietly now, quietly now. Catch him alive—do not kill him.” Moáng obeyed, and one forward surge came, toppling Bichen to the ground, piercing his nose with an iron hook and dragging him in shackled fall.

The Dragon King once more sent orders and directed troops to split off and drive after those two as well, assisting the two star officials in seizing them. At once the young Dragon King arrived leading his force. There Jingmugan resumed his true form, gripped Bihan, and chewed him with mouthfuls and mouthfuls. Moáng shouted, “Jing star, Jing star, do not bite him dead. Great Sage wants him alive, not dead.” He called again and again, but by then the beast had already bitten through its neck.

Moáng ordered the shrimp-and-crab soldiers to carry the dead rhinoceros back to the Crystal Palace, and at once again drove on in pursuit with Jingmugan. Jiaomu Jiao forced Bishu back toward them, and the monster crashed straight against Jingmugan. Moáng then led turtles, tortoises, and eels and spread a fan-shaped formation to encircle it. The beast cried out, “Spare my life, spare my life.” Jingmugan stepped close, grabbed its ear, and snatched away its sword. “I will not kill you, I will not kill you,” he said. “Take him to Great Sage to be settled.”

At once they returned, and said as they reached the outer court of the Crystal Palace: “All are captured.” Sun Wukong saw one decapitated one, blood-soaked, lying on the ground. Another was held by Jingmugan by the ear and pushed to its knees. He stepped closer and said, “This one was not wounded by a blade.” Moáng laughed, “It was not my call that did this; the whole body was eaten by the Well-star officer.” Wukong said, “If so, that will do. Bring a saw—saw off his two horns and skin him for carrying.” The rhinoceros meat, leave it for the Dragon King and his son to relish.” He also had Bichen’s nose looped with a ring and told Jiaomu Jiao to lead him, and Bishu likewise with his nose pierced and Jingmugan to lead: “Take him up to Jinping Prefecture to appear before the magistrate, make clear the cause, ask him how long this one has pretended to be Buddha and harmed the people, and then decide his sentence.”

They then withdrew at once in obedience, and after bidding farewell to the Dragon King and his son, left the Western Sea. Drawing with them the captured rhinoceroses, and joining with the stars Kui and Dou, they rode upon clouds and turned directly toward Jinping Prefecture. Wukong, feet on auspicious light in midair, cried out: “Let the magistrate of Jinping Prefecture, all assistant officials, and the military and civilian people within and beyond the walls hear this: I am Tripitaka, the holy monk sent from the Great Tang in the East to journey westward for the scriptures. In this county, each year each household sets up a Golden Lamp as tribute, pretending that this brings Buddha’s blessings. It is this rhinoceros demon. As we passed through, on the Night of Lamps we saw the demon seize lamp oil and carry off my Master; I therefore called on the heavenly spirits to seize and subdue it. Now the cave is swept clean and all demons have been exterminated, unable to harm again. Henceforth in your county, do not set up Golden Lamps; to burden households and waste the people’s grain and coin.

At Ciyun Temple, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing had just seen Tripitaka into the mountain gate when they heard Wukong speaking in the sky. They dropped the Master at once, set down the burden on their shoulders, rose in a rush of wind-clouds into the air, and asked Wukong about the matter of subduing the demons. Wukong said, “The one bitten to death by the Well star has already had his horns sawed off and his skin brought here; two live ones are captured here now.” Zhu Bajie said, “Since we have these two, why not cast them down outside the city and let the magistrates and townspeople behold them, that they may know we are saint or divine. Have the four star officials descend by cloud from either side and come to the prefectural hall to pass judgment. This case is now plainly one of true guilt. What more need be said?” One of the four star officials replied, “The commander Tianpeng has lately come to know law and right—good indeed.” Zhu Bajie said, “Having been a monk these years, I too have learned a little in this.” All the gods then pushed the rhinoceroses down. A cluster of bright clouds descended above the prefectural hall. So startled were the officers and the people within and without the city that every household set out incense tables and every doorway burned offerings to Heaven’s gods.

After a short time, the monks of Ciyun Temple carried the Venerable Master in a sedan into the prefectural gate and met Wukong. His mouth would not cease the word “thanks”: “You have labored greatly, upper-star officer, in rescuing us. As we had not seen the worthy disciples, we had been in constant anxious uncertainty; now by your merit we return in triumph. Yet where did this demon run, and where was it caught?” Wukong replied, “Since the day before yesterday when we parted from the honored Master, Old Sun went up to seek in heaven. Great White-gold Star identified the demons as rhinoceros and pointed to summon the Four Wood-Bird Stars. At that time I reported to the Jade Emperor and obtained His directive; we fought at the cave entrance, but the demon king escaped. Again, with the aid of the Dou and Kui stars, the esteemed Master was rescued. Sun Wukong, together with Jingmugan and Jiaomu Jiao, pursued with full force until the Great Western Sea. Then, through the Dragon King sending his son with troops to aid us, the capture was made and they were brought here for investigation.” The Master praised him and thanked him endlessly. He also saw that the principal officers of the county and the heads of the deputies were present; all of them burned rare wax candles, filled the hall with incense in great scent, and knelt in worship toward Heaven.

After a little while Zhu Bajie flared up and drew his halberd, and with one stroke cut off Bichen’s head, then another cut off Bishu’s. He immediately took a saw and sawed off the four rhinoceros horns. Sun Wukong added a wiser disposition: have the four star officials carry these four horns up to the upper realms and present them to the Jade Emperor as tribute, and return the heavenly edict. Of the two horns he had brought, leave one in the prefectural hall vault as perpetual evidence that lamp oil taxes are exempt thereafter; take one with us to offer before Buddha on Spirit-Treasured Mountain. The four stars rejoiced in their hearts. At once they bowed farewell to Great Sage, mounted in colorful clouds, and hastened back in report.

The county officials detained the four monks in honor, setting a great vegetarian feast and asking all local officials to attend. In one quarter a proclamation was posted, informing the military and commoners that next year no Golden Lamps were to be set, and the annual levy on the two hundred and forty oil-household contributors was forever remitted. In another quarter the butchers were ordered to slaughter and skin the rhinoceros; the hide was cured and dried with sulfur smoke and made into armor, and its meat was shared among the officials and people. In another quarter they raised funds from fines and grain assessments without obstruction and bought vacant village land, then built a temple to the four stars who had subdued the demon, and also raised memorial shrines for Tripitaka’s party. In each place stelae were carved with inscriptions, to be passed on for a thousand generations, as thanks and recompense.

The party of four accepted all this with broad hearts. Then the two hundred and forty lamp-oil households and one family and another household all made their recompense and invitations in turn, with not a moment unspent. Zhu Bajie, fully satisfied and content, gathered treasures taken from the cave and put a little of each into his sleeves as gifts for each household’s ceremonial banquet. They stayed for a month, yet still could not rise to depart. Tripitaka then ordered, “Wukong, send all the remaining treasures to the monks of Ciyun Temple as presents. Slip away before the daylight from the houses of those great oil households. To linger among them will only feed greed and joy, and we may miss the pilgrimage, inviting blame from Buddha and bringing fresh calamity on us. It is very improper.” Wukong obeyed and handed out the previous items one by one.

At dawn of the next day, at the fifth watch, Tripitaka called for Zhu Bajie to prepare the horses. The fool, having eaten generous wine and rice, woke from a heavy sleep and groggily asked, “Why so early to prepare the horses?” Wukong shouted, “The Master has ordered us to set out.” The fool rubbed his face and said, “Again this abbot is no proper person. Two hundred and forty great households all invited; we have had thirty-odd full vegetarian banquets, and now again you make this old hog fast?” Upon hearing this, the Master scolded, “You stupid boor, stop your nonsense. Rise quickly, and if you continue this bad mouth, I’ll have Wukong strike you and break your teeth with the Golden-Hooped Staff.” Hearing “strike,” the fool panicked and said, “Master has changed this time. At other times he pities me, loves me, and says I am foolish but dear; when he wanted to beat me, he would mediate. Why today this anger and now he orders beating?” Wukong said, “The Master’s displeasure is with your tongue, which has delayed our road. Quickly gather the baggage, saddle the horses, and there will be no blows.” Truly fearing beating, he leapt up and dressed, then called out to Sha Wujing, “Quickly rise, he is coming to strike.” Sha Wujing rose too, and all the packing was finished. The Master gestured: “Quietly and silently; do not wake the temple monks.” They then hurriedly mounted, opened the mountain gate, and sought the road onward. As goes the saying:

Secretly he opened the jade cage and let a painted phoenix fly; privately he unfastened the golden lock and released the scale-dragon.

As for what came of the recompense from those grateful households before dawn, listen and unravel it in the next installment.