Chapter 50: Desire Throws Nature Into Chaos; A Darkened Mind Meets the Demon

A verse says:

Sweep the mind-ground clean, again and again;
brush the dust of feeling away, bit by bit.
Do not let pits and trenches trap Vairocana.
Only when the true body stays pure at all times
can one speak of the primal source.
The lamp of nature must be trimmed with care;
at Caoxi, let breath come and go as it will.
Do not let the monkey and horse breathe rough and loud.
If day and night the pulse is steady and continuous,
then the work will truly show itself.

This verse, set to the tune "South Kezi," concerns only Tripitaka's escape from the Tongtian River's ice disaster and his landing on the white turtle's back. The master and his three disciples took the road westward, and the winter landscape lay hard and bare before them: the light in the woods was dim through the mist, and the bones of the mountains stood clear beyond the water.

As they traveled, they soon came to another great mountain blocking the road. The path was narrow, the cliffs high, the rocks plentiful, and the ridges steep. Horse and rider could hardly advance. Tripitaka drew in the reins and called, "Disciples."

Sun Wukong stepped forward with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing at his side. "Master, what do you command?"

Tripitaka said, "Look at that mountain ahead. I fear there may be tigers and wolves at work there, or demons and wild beasts harming people. We must be very careful this time."

Wukong said, "Master, put your mind at ease. The three of us are of one heart and one purpose, turning from the false to seek the true. We know how to sweep away monsters and subdue demons. Why should we fear tigers, wolves, or wild beasts?"

Tripitaka had no choice but to go forward in confidence. By the valley mouth he urged the horse up the slope, lifted his head, and looked carefully. It was a fine mountain indeed:

Towering and jagged, changed and sheer.
Towering and jagged, it pierced the clouds; changed and sheer, it barred the blue sky.
Strange rocks piled about like crouching tigers; dark pines slanted like flying dragons.
Birds called sweetly from the ridge; plum blossoms sent out a rich, strange fragrance from the cliff.
The creek water murmured cold as it ran below; the summit clouds looked grim and threatening as they drifted by.
Snow blew in whirling gusts, and a hard wind roared like a starving tiger in the hills.
Crows had no tree in which to roost; wild deer had no fixed den.
Alas for the traveler, hard pressed to advance, with brow furrowed and face clouded.

The four of them braved snow and cold, laboring over the steep peaks and ridges. Far off, they saw high towers rising in a hollow of the mountain, with quiet halls and houses below them. Tripitaka, still mounted, brightened at once.

"Disciples," he said, "we are hungry and cold today. Luckily there are towers and houses in that mountain hollow. Surely that is some farmstead, monastery, or temple. Let us go beg a meal, and after we have eaten we can move on."

Wukong looked hard when he heard this, and he saw only dark clouds gathering on that side and evil vapor rising thickly.

Turning back, he said, "Master, that is not a good place."

Tripitaka said, "There are towers and pavilions there. Why should it not be a good place?"

Wukong smiled. "Master, you do not know. On the road westward there are many demons and evil spirits who are expert at conjuring up houses and compounds. No matter what towers, halls, lodges, or pavilions you see, they may all be phantoms raised to deceive people. You know the saying that dragons bear nine kinds of offspring? One of them is called the shen. When shen vapor flashes, it can look like towers above shallow pools. When a great river is dark and misty, that sort of thing appears. If birds or magpies happen to fly by, they are sure to perch there. However much you may argue, you will all be swallowed by one breath. This sort of thing is the most harmful to people. That place over there has a wicked look to it, and we must not enter."

Tripitaka said, "If we cannot enter, I am truly hungry."

Wukong said, "If you are hungry, Master, please dismount and sit here on the level ground. I will go elsewhere and beg some alms for you."

Tripitaka obeyed and got down from the horse. Bajie held the reins, and Sha Wujing set down the luggage, opened the bundle, took out the alms bowl, and handed it to Wukong. Wukong took the bowl and told Sha Wujing, "Good brother, do not go forward. Take good care of Master here and wait for me to return with the meal."

Sha Wujing accepted the order. Wukong also said to Tripitaka, "Master, this is a place of little fortune and much danger. Do not move from here. Old Sun is off to fetch alms."

Tripitaka said, "Enough talk. Go quickly and come back quickly. I will wait here."

Wukong turned to leave, then came back once more and said, "Master, I know you are not one to sit still. Let me leave you a spell for safety."

He raised the Golden-Hooped Rod, shook it once, and drew a circle all around the level ground. Then he asked Tripitaka to sit in the middle, with Bajie and Sha Wujing standing guard on either side and the horse and luggage placed close by. He folded his hands and said, "The circle I have drawn is stronger than copper walls and iron ramparts. No matter what tigers, wolves, dragons, demons, monsters, or ghosts may come, they must not dare draw near. Only do not step outside the circle. Sit calmly in the middle and I will guarantee that you are safe. But if you leave the ring, you will certainly suffer. Remember this, remember it well."

Tripitaka agreed, and the four of them sat down in order.

Wukong mounted a cloud to beg alms, heading south until he saw a village dwelling beneath towering ancient trees. He lowered the cloud and looked carefully. Snow pressed down the withered willows; ice had closed over the square pond. Sparse bamboo shook its green leaves; tall pines stood thick and dark. Several thatched huts wore half their roofs in silver; a small bridge slanted across with a coat of white. By the fence a few narcissus flowers were just opening, and under the eaves hung long icicles like frozen chopsticks. A cold wind came rustling by with a strange fragrance, and the snow covered everything so that no plum blossom could be seen.

Wukong walked on, studying the place, when he heard a creak. A wood gate opened and an old man came out, holding a thornwood staff, wearing a sheepskin cap, a worn robe, and grass sandals. Leaning on his staff, he lifted his face and looked to the sky.

"The northwest wind is up. Tomorrow will be clear."

He had not finished when a little shaggy dog came racing out behind him, barking wildly at Wukong. The old man turned and saw Wukong holding an alms bowl.

Wukong saluted him and said, "Good benefactor, I am a monk from Great Tang, a royal envoy traveling west to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. I have just passed through your honored land, and my master is hungry. I have come especially to your honorable home to ask for a meal."

The old man nodded, leaned on his staff, and said, "Reverend sir, do not beg alms. You have taken the wrong road."

Wukong said, "No, it is the right road."

The old man said, "The great road to the Western Heaven lies straight north from here. It is a thousand li from this place. Why are you not looking for the main road and going on?"

Wukong smiled. "Just so. Straight north. My master is right now sitting on the road, waiting for me to bring back food."

The old man said, "This monk is talking nonsense. Your master is sitting on the road waiting for you to beg food? If he has to wait a thousand li away, and you can make the trip there and back, even if you can walk, it would still take six or seven days each way. Would that not starve him to death?"

Wukong laughed. "To tell the truth, good benefactor, I only left my master a cup of hot tea ago, and I have already reached this place. If I get the meal now, I can still make it back in time for the midday meal."

The old man grew afraid when he heard this.

"This monk is a ghost. A ghost!"

He turned and hurried inside, but Wukong caught him by the sleeve.

"Where are you going, benefactor? If you have food, bring some out."

The old man said, "It is not convenient. It is not convenient. Please try another house."

Wukong said, "What a strange thing you say. You say I am a thousand li from here. If I go to another house, would that not be another thousand li? Then my master will truly be starved to death."

The old man said, "To be honest, my household of six or seven people has only just rinsed three sheng of rice and put it on the fire. It is not even cooked yet. You had better go somewhere else and come back later."

Wukong said, "The ancients said, 'Going to three houses is not as good as sitting at one.' I, poor monk that I am, will wait here a moment."

The old man could not shake him off and finally grew angry. He raised his thornwood staff and struck Wukong seven or eight times on the head, but Wukong only took it as if the old man were scratching an itch.

"This is a monk who bumps his head around," the old man said.

Wukong smiled. "Old sir, strike as much as you like, only remember the count: one blow, one sheng of rice. Take your time measuring it."

The old man was so alarmed that he dropped the staff and ran back inside, shutting the door behind him and shouting, "Ghost! Ghost!"

The whole household panicked and shut both the front and back gates.

Seeing this, Wukong thought to himself, "That old scoundrel just said he had rinsed the rice and put it on the fire. I do not know whether he meant it or not. As the saying goes, the wise are transformed by the Way, and fools are transformed by the Buddha. Let me go in and see."

The Great Sage pinched a spell, used his invisibility trick, and walked straight into the kitchen. Sure enough, there was steam rising from half a pot of dry rice. He shoved his alms bowl in and filled it to the brim. Then he rode the clouds back, and that is not the matter we need dwell on.

Meanwhile Tripitaka sat within the circle waiting a long time and saw no sign of Wukong. He leaned forward and looked out anxiously.

"Where has that monkey gone to beg alms?"

Bajie laughed beside him. "Who knows where he has gone to play? Beg alms? He has just left us sitting here in prison."

Tripitaka said, "How is this prison?"

Bajie said, "Master, you really do not know. The ancients made a prison by drawing a line on the ground. He has drawn a circle with his staff, and it is stronger than copper walls and iron ramparts. If tigers, wolves, demons, and wild beasts come, how could we stop them? We would only be fed to them for nothing."

Tripitaka said, "Wuneng, what do you think we should do?"

Bajie said, "This place blocks the wind and does not ward off the cold. If you ask me, Old Pig says we should just keep to the road and go west. When Senior Brother comes back with the food and rides back on the clouds, he will surely catch up. If there is food, we can eat first and then go. Right now we have sat here long enough for my feet to grow cold."

When Tripitaka heard this, ill fortune had arrived. He followed the fool, and all of them stepped out beyond the circle. Bajie took the horse, Sha Wujing shouldered the luggage, and the elder walked along the road.

Before long they reached the place with towers and pavilions. It turned out to be a house facing south, with its back to the north. Outside stood a white wall in the shape of open arms, and there was a gate tower with an inverted lotus and a bottle-shaped finial, all painted in five colors. The gate stood half open.

Bajie tied the horse to the stone drum by the threshold, Sha Wujing set down the load, and Tripitaka, fearing the wind, sat down on the threshold stone. Bajie said, "Master, this place must belong to some duke or marquis, maybe the house of a great minister. No one is outside the front gate, so they must all be warming themselves inside the fire room. Sit here while I go in and have a look."

Tripitaka said, "Be careful. Do not offend the household."

The fool said, "I know. Since I have returned to the Buddhist path, I have learned a few manners. I am not the same rough country boor I once was."

He tucked the rake into his belt, straightened his blue silk robe, and went in with rather proper steps. He found a three-room main hall, with the curtains and hanging screens drawn high, but there was not a soul in sight, nor any tables, chairs, or household gear. He turned through a screen door and went deeper, into a covered passage.

Behind the hall stood a great building. Its lattice windows were half open, and in the faint light he could see a yellow silk curtain within. Bajie said to himself, "Someone must be too cold and still sleeping."

He did not distinguish between inner and outer rooms and strode right up the stairs.

When he lifted the curtain and looked inside, he was startled half out of his wits. There, on an ivory bed beneath the curtain, lay a white heap of bones, the skull as large as a peck measure and the leg bones four or five feet long. Bajie steadied himself, but tears would not stop running down his cheeks. He bowed toward the skeleton and sighed:

Whose marshal's body was this, from what age and what reign?
What general of what state and what kingdom?
In his day, heroes strove for strength and victory;
today he lies bleak, with bones laid bare.
No wife or child comes to tend him;
no soldier comes to burn incense for him.
To behold such a sight is a true sorrow.
A pity, for the man who once rose to found a house or rule an empire.

He was still sighing when he saw a flash of fire behind the curtain. Bajie said to himself, "Someone must be tending incense in the back."

He hurried around the curtain to look, but it was only light shining through the windows of the covered passage. There was a painted table there, and on it lay several quilted garments. When he picked them up to look, he found three brocade vests.

He did not care whether they were right or wrong. He took them down the stairs, came out of the hall, and went straight to the gate, saying, "Master, there is not a soul in this place. It is a house of the dead. I went inside and reached the high building. In the yellow curtain there was a heap of bones. Beside the passage were three brocade vests, which I brought out. This is good fortune for us. The weather is cold now, and they are just what we need. Master, take off your outer robe and wear one underneath. It will keep you warm."

Tripitaka said, "No, no. The law says that taking what is public or taking what is private is still theft. If anyone should find out and catch up with us, we would be hauled before the magistrate and sentenced as thieves. Take them back at once and hang them where they were."

Bajie said, "There is no one around for miles, not even a chicken or a dog could know. Only we know about it. Who would accuse us? Where is the proof? It is just like picking up a thing that has been lost. Why make a fuss about public or private taking?"

Tripitaka said, "Do not talk nonsense. Even if people do not know, how can Heaven not know? The Dark Emperor has left us this warning: 'In a dark room, a guilty heart is as visible as lightning to the gods.' Hurry and put them back. Do not covet what is not rightfully yours."

Bajie was not about to listen. He laughed at Tripitaka and said, "Master, I have worn a few vests in my time, but I have never seen brocade ones like these. If you will not wear one, let Old Pig wear one first, just to try it on and warm my back. When Senior Brother comes back, we can take them off and return them."

Sha Wujing said, "If that is so, I will wear one too."

The two of them took off their outer robes and put on the vests. As soon as they tightened the ties, they could not stand properly and both fell with a crash. Those vests were as good as ropes. In an instant they had their arms pinned behind their backs and their chests bound tight. Tripitaka stamped his feet in fright and blamed them. He hurried over to untie them, but how could he get them loose? The three of them shouted and shouted, and that alarmed the demon.

The house and tower were indeed conjured by the demon, who used them all day long to catch people. He was sitting in his cave when he suddenly heard voices of complaint and hurried out to look. Sure enough, he had trapped several people. He called the little monsters and went with them to the place, where the illusion of towers and houses vanished.

He helped Tripitaka to his feet, took hold of the white horse, carried the luggage, and had Bajie and Sha Wujing seized and brought into the cave. The old monster mounted his high seat, while the little devils pushed Tripitaka close to the foot of the platform and made him kneel. The monster asked, "What monastery are you from? How have you been so bold as to steal my clothes in broad daylight?"

Tripitaka wept and said, "Poor monk that I am, I am an envoy from Great Tang traveling west to seek the scriptures. Because I was hungry, I sent my eldest disciple to beg alms, but he has not yet returned. I did not follow his advice and wrongly entered your heavenly home to escape the wind. I never expected that my two disciples would love these trifles and take out the garments. Poor monk that I am, I would never dare mean any harm. I would certainly have returned them to where they belonged.

They would not listen to me and insisted on wearing these things to warm their backs. I never expected that this would let your great king seize such an opening and have me taken. I beg for mercy. Spare this poor life of mine so I may seek the true scriptures. I will never forget your great kindness, and when I return to the Eastern Land, your name will be praised for ten thousand generations."

The monster laughed. "I have often heard people say that if someone eats a piece of Tang monk's flesh, his white hair turns black and his teeth grow back. I did not expect you to come of your own accord. I was even thinking of sparing you. What is your eldest disciple called? Where did he go to beg alms?"

Bajie, hearing this, spoke up at once. "My senior brother is Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who made havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago."

When the monster heard the name Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he was greatly alarmed, though he said nothing aloud. He thought to himself, "I have long heard that fellow has vast powers. I did not expect to meet him here."

Then he ordered, "Bind Tang monk. Take the treasure from those two and replace them with rope, then bind them as well. Carry them to the back. When I have seized his eldest disciple, I will wash him too and pack them together for steaming."

The little monsters answered at once, bound the three of them, and carried them to the back. They tied the white horse to the trough and took the luggage into the house. All the demons sharpened their weapons and prepared to seize Wukong, but that need not be dwelt on.

Meanwhile Sun Wukong had returned from the southern farm with an alms bowl full of food. He rode the clouds back along the old road and came down on the level place by the mountain slope, only to find that Tripitaka was gone. He did not know where they had gone. The circle drawn by the staff was still there, but horse and men were all missing. When he looked back toward the towers and pavilions, they too were gone. Only strange rocks remained at the mountain root.

Wukong was startled. "Needless to say, they have met with some evil hand."

He hurried along the road, following the horse tracks westward.

He had gone five or six li when, in the midst of his grief, he heard voices from outside the northern slope. Looking up, he saw an old man wrapped in felt, with a warm cap pulled over his head, wearing a pair of leather boots half new and half old, and carrying a dragon-headed cane. Behind him came a young servant carrying a plum blossom branch, singing as he walked down the slope. Wukong set down the alms bowl and saluted him face to face.

"Old sir, this poor monk greets you."

The old man returned the salute. "Reverend sir, where have you come from?"

Wukong said, "We came from the Eastern Land, going west to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. There are four of us on the journey. I saw that my master was hungry, so I went off to beg alms and left the other three sitting on the level place by the mountain slope. When I came back, they were gone. I do not know which road they took.

May I ask, have you seen them?"

The old man laughed coldly. "Those three fellows of yours, was there one with a big mouth and big ears?"

Wukong said, "Yes, yes."

"And another with a gloomy face, leading a white horse and following a fat, white-faced monk?"

Wukong said, "Yes, yes."

The old man said, "Then you have taken the wrong road. Do not look for them. Each man should look after his own life."

Wukong said, "The white-faced one is my master, and the odd-looking one is my junior brother. We have both set our hearts on going west to seek the scriptures. How could I not go looking for him?"

The old man said, "Just now, when I passed this way, I saw them go the wrong way and blunder into the mouth of a demon."

Wukong said, "Good sir, please tell me: what sort of demon is it, and where does he live? I can then go to his door and demand them back on their road west."

The old man said, "This mountain is called Golden Mountain. At its front is a Golden Cave, and inside that cave is the One-Horned Rhinoceros King. That king has vast powers and fierce might. Those three fellows are certainly dead this time. If you go looking for him, I fear you will not even be safe yourself. It is better not to go. I do not dare stop you, and I do not dare keep you. Only do as your own heart tells you."

Wukong bowed again and said, "Many thanks for your instruction, old sir. How could I fail to go looking for them?"

He poured out the alms food for the old man and gathered up the empty bowl himself. The old man set down his cane, took the bowl, and handed it to the servant. Then he showed his true form, and the two of them knelt down and knocked their heads to the ground.

"Great Sage," they said, "this minor god would never dare hide anything. We two are the mountain god and earth god of this mountain, waiting here to receive the Great Sage. This food and bowl, this minor god will keep for now, so that the Great Sage may travel light and use his powers more freely. When you have rescued Tang monk from his trouble, you may return the food and give it to Tang monk. Only then will the Great Sage show the highest courtesy and filial devotion."

Wukong shouted, "You little ghosts, asking to be beaten! Since you knew I was coming, why did you not meet me at once? Why hide your faces? What is that about?"

The earth god said, "Great Sage, you are quick-tempered, and this minor god dared not be too forward. I feared offending your bright countenance, so I came in hidden form to tell you."

Wukong calmed himself and said, "You may keep your beating for now. Take care of my alms bowl, and I will go seize that demon."

The earth god and mountain god obeyed. Wukong tightened the tiger-gut sash, tugged up his tiger-skin skirt, gripped the Golden-Hooped Rod, and strode straight toward the mountain front to look for the demon cave.

When he rounded the cliff, he saw glittering broken stones everywhere and, by the green cliff, two stone gates with many little monsters outside, brandishing spears and swords. Truly it was a strange and beautiful scene:

Cloud and mist gathered in an auspicious glow; moss piled green upon green.
Jagged rocks stood in ranks; crooked paths wound in twists and coils.
Monkeys cried, birds called, and the scenery was bright;
phoenixes seemed to fly, and the place looked like the Isles of the Blest.
On sun-facing slopes, a few plum trees had just opened;
warm air moved through hundreds of bamboo stalks, which stood green of themselves.
Below the sheer cliffs, in the deep ravines, snow lay like powder,
and in the dark gullies the water had frozen into ice.
Two groves of pine and cypress had stood for a thousand years in their beauty,
and a few clumps of mountain camellia blazed red as if they were all one flower.

Wukong could not take it all in. He strode to the gate and shouted in a loud voice, "You little monsters, hurry in and tell your cave master that I am Sun Wukong, disciple of the holy monk from Tang, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Tell him at once to send my master out, lest you all lose your lives."

The little monsters rushed into the cave and reported, "Great King, outside there is a monk with a hairy face and hooked mouth, claiming to be Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. He has come demanding his master."

The demon king was delighted when he heard this.

"I was just waiting for him. Since leaving my heavenly home and coming down into the mortal world, I have never once tested my skill. Today that fellow has come. He must be a worthy opponent."

He immediately ordered the little monsters to bring out weapons. The great and small demons in the cave all stirred with energy, and at once they brought out a twelve-foot bright steel spear and handed it to the old monster. Then he gave the command:

"You lot, keep your ranks in order. Those who press forward will be rewarded; those who fall back will be killed!"

The demons took the order and followed their master out of the gate, shouting, "Which one is Sun Wukong?"

Wukong stepped aside to look him over. What a fierce and ugly monster he was:

One horn uneven, two eyes flashing bright.
Thick hide rose up on his crown; black flesh gleamed at the roots of his ears.
His tongue was long and sometimes licked his nose; his mouth was broad, with yellow, board-like teeth.
His coat of hair was blue-black as indigo; his sinews were twisted and hard as steel.
Harder to stare down than a rhinoceros, stronger than a wild ox when the fields lie fallow.
He had no need to breathe moon or plow clouds, yet his strength was enough to bully Heaven and shake the earth.
His two sinewy blue-black hands held a brave and straight steel spear.
Looking at him closely, one sees that such a savage shape is worthy of the name Rhinoceros King.

The Great Sage stepped forward and said, "Your grandfather Sun is here. Send back my master quickly and no harm need come to either side. If you dare say even half a word of no, I will leave you with no burial place at all."

The monster shouted, "You bold, vicious monkey! What skill do you have that makes you speak so grandly?"

Wukong said, "You vile creature! You have not yet seen Old Sun's skill."

The monster said, "Your master stole my clothes, and I truly captured him. I was going to steam and eat him."

"What sort of hero are you that you dare come to my gate and demand him back?"

Wukong said, "My master is a loyal and upright monk. How could he have stolen any of your demon things?"

The monster said, "I conjured a fairy farmstead by the mountain road. Your master crept inside, his heart tangled with desire, and stole and wore on his body my three brocade vests. The stolen goods were found on him, which is why I captured him. If you truly have skill, then let us test it. If you can hold me off for three rounds, I will spare your master's life. If not, I will send you both to the grave together."

Wukong laughed. "Vile thing, enough talk. Since we are speaking of a contest of skill, that suits Old Sun perfectly. Come on up and taste my rod."

The monster cared nothing for the wager and lifted his steel spear to meet him head-on. A fine fight it was indeed:

The Golden-Hooped Rod rose; the long spear met it.
The Golden-Hooped Rod rose, flashing bright like a golden snake of lightning;
the long spear met it, shining like a dragon leaving the black sea.
Little monsters beat drums by the gate and formed their ranks to shout support;
the Great Sage on this side brought forth his power and showed his many skills.
There the spear stood sharp and alert; here the rod moved with high mastery.
Truly, it was hero meeting hero, and only a worthy rival met a worthy rival.
Purple vapor rose and coiled from the monster's mouth;
light and rainbow clouds shone from the Great Sage's eyes.
All of it was because Great Tang's monk was in danger, and the two sides fought furiously without right or reason.

They fought for thirty exchanges without either side winning.

The monster saw that Wukong's rod work was neat and exact, advancing and retreating without a single flaw, and he cried out with delight, "Good monkey, good monkey! Truly the skill that caused havoc in Heaven."

Wukong also admired the monster's spear work, which stayed steady whether attacking or defending, right and left alike, and he cried, "Good demon, good demon! Truly a devil who stole the elixir."

The two of them fought another dozen or so exchanges. Then the monster planted the spear tip in the ground and called all the little demons forward. The ruffians rushed in with knives and staffs, swords and spears, and surrounded the Great Sage in the middle. Wukong showed no fear at all. He only cried, "Good, good! That suits me perfectly."

He swung the Golden-Hooped Rod, meeting them front and back, blocking east and clearing west. Yet the whole troop of demons would not fall back.

Wukong grew impatient. He tossed the rod into the air and shouted, "Change!"

At once it became hundreds and thousands of iron rods, like flying serpents and writhing pythons, falling in confusion from the sky. The little monsters saw this and were so terrified that their souls scattered and their spirits fled. They clutched their necks, ducked their heads, and ran for their lives back into the cave.

The old monster laughed coldly. "That monkey must not be rude. See my skill."

He quickly took from his sleeve a bright white ring, flung it into the sky, and shouted, "Catch!"

With a roar it seized the Golden-Hooped Rod and took it away, shrinking it to a single strip. Wukong was left empty-handed and had to tumble away by somersault cloud to save his life. The demon returned in triumph to the cave, and Wukong was left in a haze, not knowing what to do.

As the saying goes:

The Way may rise an inch, but the demon rises a fathom.
When nature is in disarray and the spirit is dark, one mistakes the way home.
How hateful that the dharma body has no seat to rest upon;
at the moment of action, the thought was already astray.
But how this round will end is another matter;
that must wait for the next chapter.