Chapter 18: Tripitaka Escapes Trouble at Guanyin Monastery; the Great Sage Exorcises the Monster at Gao Family Manor

When the Great Sage took leave of Guanyin, he brought his cloud down, hung the cassock on the fragrant nanmu tree, drew out his staff, and charged into Black Wind Cave. By then there was not a single little demon left inside. When Guanyin had appeared and brought the old monster to the ground rolling, the underlings had fled in terror. Wukong ran wild through the cave, piled dry brushwood before the gates inside and out, and set the whole Black Wind Cave blazing, until it became a Red Wind Cave. Then he gathered up the cassock and, riding an auspicious cloud, returned north.

Tripitaka had been watching anxiously and could not understand why Wukong had not come back at once. He wondered whether Guanyin had not been found, or whether Wukong had simply made an excuse to run off. While he was turning over such guesses in his mind, he saw colored mist glittering in the air. Wukong suddenly dropped down before the steps, knelt, and said, "Master, the cassock is here."

Tripitaka was overjoyed.

The monks were all delighted too. "Good!" they cried. "Good! Today, at last, our lives are saved."

Tripitaka took the cassock and said, "Wukong, when you set out this morning, you said you would be back by noon after the meal. Why have you only returned now, with the sun already low in the west?"

Wukong recounted in full the way he had invited Guanyin, taken on a transformation, and subdued the demon.

Tripitaka, hearing this, set up an incense table and bowed toward the south, then said, "Disciple, since we now have the Buddha's robe, make ready the packs at once."

Wukong said, "No hurry, no hurry. It is already getting late today, and this is no time for travel. Let us wait and set out tomorrow morning."

The monks all knelt at once and said, "What Sun the Elder says is right.

First, night is falling. Second, we have a little wish of our own. Now that all is safe and the treasure has been found, let us fulfill our vow. When we have returned thanks and asked for blessings, we will see Your Honor off on the western road tomorrow."

Wukong said, "Exactly so, exactly so."

You could see those monks empty their purses to the last coin. With what had been saved from the fire, each contributed what he could. They arranged vegetarian dishes, burned paper for peace and safety, and recited several rolls of scripture for deliverance from calamity. That night the business was done.

The next morning, after the horse had been groomed and the luggage packed, the party took its leave. The monks escorted them far down the road before turning back. Wukong led the way. It was the gentle season of spring:

The grass cushioned the jade horse's hoofprints with softness; the willows stirred, their gold threads bright with dew.
Peach and apricot filled the woods, each racing the other in splendor; creepers wound the path, and every leaf seemed alive.
On the sandbank the sun was warm, and mandarin ducks slept in pairs; in the mountain stream flowers scented the air, and butterflies grew tame.
Thus autumn had gone, winter was spent, and spring was already half-past - who knew in what year the true scriptures would be gained?

The master and disciple traveled for five or seven days along wild roads. One evening the sky was beginning to darken when, far ahead, they saw the houses of a village.

Tripitaka said, "Wukong, look there. There is a manor not far off. Let us ask for lodging for one night and set out again tomorrow. What do you say?"

Wukong said, "Let Old Sun go ahead and look first at whether it is auspicious or ill. Then we can decide."

He held the reins while the master watched. Looking closely, he saw that it was indeed:

Dense bamboo fences, layer upon layer of thatched roofs.
Wild trees rose up at the gate, and a winding stream reflected the little bridge.
By the road the willows were green and soft; inside the walls the flowers were fragrant.
At this hour the western sun was sinking, and birds rang through the mountain woods;
evening smoke rose from the cooking fires, and every path turned with the cattle and sheep.
Chickens and pigs, full to the belly, were sleeping in the corners of the houses,
while old neighbors, drunk and merry, came singing along the lanes.

Wukong, after looking it over, said, "Master, please come on. It is certainly a good household, and we may lodge there."

The elder urged his white horse forward, and before long they reached the village street. There they saw a young man wearing a cotton turban, a blue jacket, an umbrella on his back, trousers neatly bound, and a pair of straw sandals with three ears. He was striding along with a fierce and sturdy air.

Wukong reached out and caught him by the arm. "Where are you going? Let me ask you something: what place is this?"

The young man struggled and shouted, "There is no one in my manor for you to ask!"

Wukong smiled. "Good sir, do not be angry. 'If you are accommodating to others, you are accommodating to yourself.' What harm is there in telling me the place name? I can also help you ease your troubles."

The man could not break free. In frustration he hopped and twisted, cursing, "What bad luck! I have taken abuse from my own household and then met this bald head, and now I have to suffer his plain-speaking too."

Wukong said, "If you have the skill, split my hand and be off."

The man twisted left and right, but could not budge it. It was as if a pair of iron tongs had locked him fast. Furious, he threw down his bundle, tossed away his umbrella, and clawed at Wukong with both hands like rain.

Wukong held the luggage with one hand and blocked him with the other. No matter how the man struggled, he could not get free.

Wukong only tightened his grip. The man grew more and more furious. Tripitaka said, "Wukong, is there not someone coming over there? Ask that person instead. What is the point of holding this one so tightly? Let him go."

Wukong laughed. "Master does not understand. If we ask some other person, there is no fun in it. It must be him. Then there is business to do."

Since Wukong still would not let go, the man had no choice but to speak plainly. "This is in the borderlands of the U-Tsang kingdom, and this place is called Gao Family Manor. Most of the households here are surnamed Gao, which is why it is called Gao Family Manor. Now let me go."

Wukong asked again, "You are dressed for travel, not for a short walk. Tell me honestly where you are going and what you are really doing, and then I will let you go."

Cornered, the man had to tell the truth. "I am a servant of Gao Taigong, and my name is Gao Cai. My master has an elder daughter, twenty years old now, and not yet married. Three years ago she was seized by a demon, and that demon has been acting as the son-in-law for these three years.

My master was unhappy and said, 'If a daughter takes a demon as husband, it is no lasting arrangement. First, it ruins the family name. Second, there is no proper in-law to associate with.' He has long wanted to dismiss this demon. But the demon will not go. Instead, he has shut the daughter up in the rear chambers and for half a year has not let her be seen by anyone in the household.

My master gave me a few taels of silver and told me to go seek a master to capture the fiend. I have been running about for some time now. I have called on three or four people from front to back, but they were all useless monks or hollow Daoists who could not subdue the demon. Just now my master scolded me in a rage for not handling things properly.

He gave me another five mace of silver for travel money and told me to go ask again for a capable master to bring the creature down. Then I ran into you, this pest, who caught me and made me late. That is why I am angry inside and out. I had no choice but to shout at you. I did not expect you to have some grip strength, so I could not get away. That is why I told you the truth.

Now let me go."

Wukong said, "Your luck is good. I have an errand, and this is exactly a matter of four and six coming together. You need not travel far or spend your silver.

We are not those useless monks and hollow Daoists. We truly have some skill and are used to taking demons. As the saying goes, 'First we heal the man, and then we cure the eye.' Hurry back and tell your master that we are the imperial brother's holy monks, sent from the East Country and traveling to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek the scriptures. We are well able to subdue demons and bind monsters."

Gao Cai said, "Do not play me false. I am already full of anger. If you trick me and then fail to bring down the demon, will that not only make me suffer again?"

Wukong said, "I will not deceive you. Take me to your gate."

The man had no choice. He picked up his bundle, took up his umbrella, turned and led the master and disciple to the gate, where he said, "Two reverends, please sit for a moment on the horse stand while I go in and report to the master."

Only then did Wukong let go. He set down the luggage and held the horse while the master and disciple waited beside the gate.

Gao Cai entered the main gate and went straight to the central hall, where he ran into Gao Taigong. The old man cursed him. "You barbarous brute! Why have you not gone to find a master, and now you come back for what?"

Gao Cai set down the bundle and umbrella and said, "Let me report to you, master. As I was just leaving the street, I met two monks - one riding a horse, the other carrying a burden. He would not let me go and kept asking where I was going.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not get free of him, so I had to tell him the whole matter. He was very pleased and said he would help us capture the demon."

Gao Lao said, "Where are they from?"

Gao Cai said, "He said they were the imperial brother's holy monks, sent from the East Country and going to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek the scriptures."

The old man said, "If they are monks from far away, perhaps they truly have some skill. Where are they now?"

Gao Cai said, "They are waiting outside the gate."

At once the old man changed his clothes and came out with Gao Cai to welcome them, calling, "Reverends."

Tripitaka heard him and turned quickly; he was already at the man's side. The elder wore a black silk cap, a pale onion-colored brocade robe, rough ox-hide boots, and a black-green sash. He came out smiling and greeting them, and said, "Two reverends, let us exchange bows."

Tripitaka returned the courtesy. Wukong merely stood there.

The old man saw his fierce and ugly face and did not dare bow to him.

Wukong said, "Why do you not return Old Sun's greeting?"

The old man was somewhat frightened. He called to Gao Cai and said, "You rascal, have you no sense at all? There is already an ugly, monster-faced son-in-law at home that I cannot get rid of. Why have you brought this thunder-god here to torment me?"

Wukong said, "Old Gao, you have wasted all these years and still do not understand.

If you judge people only by their faces, you will be completely wrong. Old Sun may be ugly, but I have some skill. If I help your house capture the demon, seize the monster, and take your son-in-law in hand, then your daughter will be returned. That will be a good thing. Why must you keep harping on appearances?"

The old man, hearing this, trembled all over and could only force himself to say, "Please come in."

When Wukong heard the invitation, he led in the white horse and had Gao Cai carry the luggage while he and Tripitaka entered. He paid no attention to niceties and tied the horse to a post in the open hall. He pulled over a lacquered armchair and told his master to sit, then drew up another chair and sat beside him.

The old man said, "This little reverend is very much at home."

Wukong said, "If you are willing to keep me here for half a year, I will be at home indeed."

Once seated, Gao asked, "The little fellow just now said the two reverends were from the East Country?"

Tripitaka said, "Indeed. This poor monk has been ordered by the court to go to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek the scriptures. We passed by your manor and have come only to borrow one night's lodging. We will be on our way early tomorrow."

Gao said, "So you are here only for lodging. How is it you speak of catching monsters?"

Wukong said, "Since we are lodging here, we might as well catch a few demons for amusement.

Let me ask, how many demons are in your household?"

Gao cried, "Heavens! How many could there be? Only this one demon son-in-law is enough to torment us."

Wukong said, "Tell me the full story of this demon, and how great his skill really is. Start from the beginning, and I will take him for you."

Gao said, "Since ancient times our manor has known nothing of ghosts, goblins, or evil spirits causing trouble.

It is only my bad luck that I have no son. I gave birth to three daughters: the eldest called Xianglan, the second Yulan, and the third Cuilan. The first two were married off long ago to families in this village. Only the youngest was to take a son-in-law, with the hope that he would live in our house, keep old age company with me, and help support the gates, do the work, and carry the burdens of the family.

Three years ago there came a man who looked rather decent. He said he came from the Fuling Mountain, that his surname was Zhu, and that he had no father or mother above and no brothers below, and wished only to be a son-in-law in someone's house. Seeing that he had no roots or ties, I took him in.

When he first came in, he was diligent enough: he plowed and harrowed the fields without oxen, cut the grain without sickle or blade, and from dusk to dawn he truly was useful. Only one thing was odd - he could change his face.

How did he change?

At first he was only a black, fat man. Later he turned into a fool with a long snout and big ears. Behind his head there was even a bristle of mane, and his body became so coarse and frightening that his face and head looked just like a pig.

His appetite was huge. At one meal he needed three or five pecks of rice, and even for breakfast he wanted a hundred or so steamed cakes before he was satisfied. Luckily he still ate vegetarian food. If he took to meat and wine as well, then all the land and property in my old household would be eaten clean in less than half a year."

Tripitaka said, "That is because he does the work, so he eats."

Gao said, "Eating is the least of it. Now he can also whip up wind, summon clouds and mist, move rocks and scatter sand, so that my whole household and all the neighbors cannot live in peace. He has also shut my youngest daughter Cuilan in the rear chambers, and for more than half a year no one has seen her. We do not know whether she is alive or dead. That is why I know he is a demon and have had to seek a master to drive him away."

Wukong said, "What is difficult about that? Old man, you may rest easy. Tonight I will surely capture him and make him sign a document breaking the engagement, then return your daughter to you. How about that?"

Gao was delighted. "I took him in, and that is not the main thing. He has ruined how many years of my good name and estranged how many of my kin! If only you can capture him, what need is there for a document? I beg you simply to root him out."

Wukong said, "Easy, easy. When night falls, we will see what happens."

The old man was overjoyed and ordered tables and chairs wiped down and vegetarian food laid out. After the meal and as evening came on, he asked, "What weapons do you need? How many people should I send to help? I ought to prepare at once."

Wukong said, "I have my own weapon."

The old man said, "You have only that monk's tin staff. How could a tin staff beat that demon?"

Wukong reached into his ear, drew out a sewing needle, pinched it between his fingers, and with a shake toward the wind it became a golden-hooped iron staff as thick as a bowl. He pointed it at Gao and said, "How does this rod compare with your weapons? Could it beat that fiend or not?"

Gao asked, "Since you have weapons, do you need anyone to follow you?"

Wukong said, "I need no attendants. I only need a few old, upright men to keep my master company and talk quietly with him, so that I can slip away. When I bring the demon back, I will make him confess before everyone and cut the roots of the matter for you."

The old man immediately summoned the household servants and invited several relatives and friends. Before long they had all arrived.

After greetings were over, Wukong said, "Master, rest easy and sit securely. Old Sun is going."

He took the iron staff in hand, caught Gao by the sleeve, and said, "Lead me to the demon's room in the rear chambers so I can look around."

Gao led him to the rear gate. Wukong said, "Go fetch the key."

Gao said, "Look first. If this needs a key, I would not have asked you."

Wukong laughed. "You old man may be old, but you do not know how to joke. I only teased you, and you took it seriously."

He stepped forward and touched the lock. It had been cast in molten copper. With one hard jab of the staff he smashed the door open. Inside it was pitch-dark.

Wukong said, "Old Gao, call your daughter and see whether she is inside."

The old man gathered his courage and called, "Third Daughter!"

The daughter recognized her father's voice and answered faintly, "Father, I am here."

Wukong flashed his golden eyes and looked carefully into the dark. What did he see?

Her cloudlike hair was piled in disorder, never combed; her jade face had not been washed free of dust.
One orchid heart remained intact, but all her graceful bearing had fallen away.
Her cherry lips had lost their color, and her waist was bent and drooping.
Her brow was furrowed, her painted eyebrows faded; she was gaunt and weak, and her voice was low.

She came forward and, on seeing Gao, grabbed him and burst into tears.

Wukong said, "Do not cry, do not cry. I will ask you: where has the demon gone?"

The girl said, "I do not know where he has gone. In these days he leaves at dawn and only returns after dark. He comes and goes in clouds and mist, and no one knows where he has been. Since he learned that my father meant to drive him off, he has been on guard and so comes by night and goes by morning."

Wukong said, "Enough said. Old man, take your daughter to the front house and talk quietly with her. Let Old Sun wait here for him. If he does not come, do not blame me. If he does come, I will cut the weeds down to the root for you."

Old Gao, delighted, took his daughter away to the front house. Wukong then worked a little magic and changed himself into the very image of the girl, sitting alone in the room to wait for the demon.

Before long a wind arose, and it truly did move rocks and scatter sand.

At first it came light and wandering, and later it grew vast and hazy.
Light and wandering, it made the world wide; vast and hazy, it found no barrier.
It withered flowers and broke willow branches more easily than gathering hemp; it toppled trees and crushed forests like pulling weeds.
It churned rivers and seas so the ghosts and gods were troubled; it split stone and shattered mountains so heaven and earth were startled.
Deer carrying blossoms lost their way, and monkeys reaching for fruit were confused outside.
Seven-tiered iron pagodas pressed at the Buddha's head; eight-sided banners and canopies were bruised and torn.
Gold beams and jade pillars shook at the roots; tiles on the roof flew up like swallow-bricks.
Boatmen by the river made vows and offered pigs and sheep in haste;
the earth god abandoned his shrine, and the Dragon Kings of the four seas bowed their heads.
A sea-side yaksha boat was smashed, and half the wall of the Great Wall was scoured away.

After that raging wind passed, a demon appeared in midair. He was indeed ugly: black face, short hair, a long snout, big ears; he wore a rough woven blue-black robe and a flowered cloth headscarf.

Wukong laughed inwardly. "So this is the business."

He did not rise to greet him, nor did he question him. Instead he lay in the bed pretending to be sick, groaning and muttering without cease.

The demon, unable to tell truth from falsehood, came into the room, threw his arms around him, and tried to kiss him.

Wukong laughed to himself. "So he really wants to fool Old Sun."

With one hand he snatched at the long snout and gave him a little flip, flinging him off the bed.

The demon clambered up and, leaning on the edge of the bed, said, "Sister, why are you so strange today? Have I come too late?"

Wukong said, "Not strange, not strange."

The demon said, "If you are not angry, why did you throw me that tumble?"

Wukong said, "You are far too childish. Why did you come in and hug me to kiss me? I was only feeling a bit unwell today. If I were in my usual good health, I would have gotten up and opened the door to wait for you. You may take off your clothes and sleep."

The demon did not understand and truly began to undress. Wukong leaped up and sat on the chamber pot.

The demon came back to the bed, felt around, and found no one. He called, "Sister, where have you gone? Please take off your clothes and sleep."

Wukong said, "You sleep first. I am going out to relieve myself."

The demon truly took off his clothes and lay down on the bed.

Wukong gave a sudden sigh. "Alas, my fortune has gone low."

The demon said, "Why are you angry? Why is your fortune low? Since I came to your house, though I have eaten your tea and food, I have not eaten for nothing. I have swept your floors, cleared the ditches, carried bricks and tiles, rammed earth into walls, plowed your fields, planted grain, and helped build up the house and estate. Now you wear brocade, wear gold, and have fruit in every season and vegetables cooked in every eighth feast. What is there still not to your liking, that you should sigh like this and say your fortune is low?"

Wukong said, "It is not that.

Today my parents are on the other side of the wall, throwing bricks and tiles at me and scolding me badly."

The demon said, "Why would they beat and scold you?"

Wukong said, "They say I have married you. You are their son-in-law, yet there is not a shred of proper decorum. Such an ugly face cannot make an uncle, cannot meet the relatives, and they know nothing of where you come from in your clouds and mist, what your surname is, or whose house you truly belong to. You have ruined their good character and stained the family name. That is why they beat and scold me, and I am upset."

The demon said, "I may be a little ugly, but if I wanted to look handsome, that would not be hard. When I first came, I spoke with them, and only after they were willing did they take me in. My home is in Cloudy Path Cave on Fuling Mountain. I take my looks as my surname, so my surname is Zhu, and my official name is Zhu Ganglie. If they ask you again, just tell them that."

Wukong was secretly pleased. "The demon is honest enough. Without using force, I have gotten the story this clearly. Now that I know his place and his name, I can seize him no matter what."

Wukong said, "They mean to invite a master to capture you."

The demon laughed. "Sleep, sleep. Pay no attention to it. I have the transformations of the Heavenly Stems and a nine-pronged rake. What should I fear from monks, priests, or Daoists? Even if your own father were pious enough to invite the Dark-Subduing Patriarch himself down from the Ninth Heaven, I once knew him too, and he would not dare do anything to me."

Wukong said, "They say they will invite a Great Sage named Sun, who made trouble in Heaven five hundred years ago, to come and capture you."

The demon heard that name and became three parts afraid. "If that is so, then I will go. Husband and wife can no longer be made."

Wukong said, "Why are you going?"

The demon said, "You do not know. That Horse-Farm Keeper who made trouble in Heaven does have some skill. I only fear I would not be a match for him and would lose face. It would not look proper."

Having said this, he put on his clothes, opened the door, and walked out.

Wukong seized him at once, wiped his own face, showed his true form, and shouted, "Good demon, where do you think you are going? Lift your head and see who I am!"

The demon turned and saw Wukong's fangs, his face bristling with hair, his fiery eyes, and a face like a living thunder god. Terrified, his hands and feet went numb. With a ripping sound he burst out of his clothes and escaped as a furious wind.

Wukong sprang after him, drew out the iron staff, and struck at the wind. The demon changed into ten thousand flashes of fire and went straight back to his mountain. Wukong rode the clouds in pursuit, shouting, "Where do you think you are going? If you go up to heaven, I will chase you as far as the Bullfight Palace; if you go down into the earth, I will follow you to the Prison of Wrongful Death."

But how far did he finally chase him, and what victory or defeat came of it? That must wait for the next chapter.