Out of suspicion and paranoia, Monk Tang had rashly listened to Zhu Bajie’s words and banished the Monkey King.
After the rift, he mounted his horse and continued westward as if nothing had happened. Bajie led the way, while Sha Wujing followed behind, carrying the luggage.
After leaving behind the White Tiger Mountain, they came upon a vast forest thick with vines, creepers, pines, and cypresses.
Tripitaka remarked:
“It seems the path over the mountain was rough and difficult to follow, and now there are many trees blocking our way. We must be extremely cautious, for it is very likely that we shall soon encounter demons and monsters.”
Bajie ordered Sha Wujing to take care of the horse while he used his trident to clear a path straight into the heart of the forest, allowing Monk Tang to proceed with less difficulty.
Bajie’s Futile Search for Food
Before long, Monk Tang halted the horse and said:
“I’m starting to feel hungry, Bajie. Do you think you could find some vegetarian food around here?”
“Master, please dismount here and wait while I go in search of food,” replied Bajie.
Monk Tang immediately got off the horse, and Sha Wujing handed him the begging bowl.
“I’ll be off now,” announced the pig.
“May I ask where exactly you’re going?” asked Tripitaka, somewhat alarmed.
Bajie answered:
“That doesn’t matter at all. As long as I can get food for you, I am capable of doing the most incredible things. Rest assured.”
He soon left the pine forest behind and walked about ten miles further west, but unfortunately found no signs of habitation. It was a place more frequented by tigers and wolves than by people. When his strength began to fail him, Bajie muttered to himself:
“When the Monkey King was still with us, he always fulfilled every wish of the Master. Now it falls to me, but as the old saying goes: One only knows the price of rice and firewood when managing a household; one does not understand a parent’s sacrifices until raising a child oneself. Where on earth am I supposed to beg for food?”
Hardly had he taken two steps when sleepiness overtook him, and he thought again:
“If I return now and tell the Master I couldn’t find anyone to ask for food, he’ll think I didn’t go far enough. The best thing would be to wait another hour before returning. I’ll just take a short nap right here—problem solved.”
Tang Sanzang’s Desperation
Time passed relentlessly, and Monk Tang began to feel uneasy. He turned to Sand Monk and asked:
“Why hasn’t Wu Neng returned yet?”
Monk Sand replied with a knowing smile:
“You don’t understand him yet. Bajie has a huge appetite and won’t come back until he’s completely full.”
Tripitaka admitted:
“You may be right. But it’s getting late, and it’s unwise to spend the night here. Our best course is to find shelter.”
Sand Monk advised:
“Don’t worry. Sit here while I go look for him.”
Grasping his treasured staff, the Monk Sha left the forest in search of the pig.
Monk Tang felt alone. To escape his growing unease, he placed the luggage in one spot, tied the white horse to a tree, and decided to take a walk through the woods.
He was struck by the lushness of the grass and the beauty of the wildflowers.
The Pagoda of Peril
Trying to pass the time and perhaps even find Bajie and Monk Sha, he wandered deeper into the forest. Yet there were few paths, and the Master eventually became lost.
The deeper he went, the more entangled he became among the trees, until suddenly he saw a pagoda.
“This might make a good place to stay the night,” he thought.
He approached the pagoda’s entrance, which was covered by a bamboo curtain made of small strips. Entering quietly, he found a monster sleeping inside.
As soon as he saw it, Tripitaka tried to flee back the way he came. But before he reached the door, the monster—possessing keen senses—opened its fiery-eyed gaze and barked orders to its minions:
“Go and see who is outside!”
One demon peeked out and reported:
“Lord, it’s a bald-headed monk. Judging by his smooth skin, he looks quite tender and fresh.”
Hearing this, the monster burst into laughter and exclaimed:
“Well now, as the saying goes: ‘Food comes flying into the plate like flies landing on a snake’s head.’ Go quickly and bring him in!”
The little demons poured out like a swarm of bees and soon captured him. Overjoyed, they brought him back to the pagoda and reported to their master:
“As per your wishes, we have caught the monk and brought him here.”
The Demon’s Taunt
Without hesitation, the monster interrogated him:
“Where do you come from, monk? And where are you headed? Tell me at once, or suffer severe punishment!”
Aware of the direness of his situation, Tripitaka respectfully clasped his hands and bowed to the beast:
“I am a monk of the Great Tang Dynasty, bound for the Western Paradise to seek the sacred scriptures at the emperor’s command. While passing through this revered mountain, I noticed this dignified pagoda and wished to pay my humble respects to the wise being residing here. Little did I expect to offend you with my boldness. I beg you, therefore, to forgive my audacity. Allow me to assure you that, once I return to the Eastern Lands after completing my mission, future generations will remember your illustrious name with great reverence.”
Upon hearing this, the monster laughed aloud:
“You are exactly the kind of person I was hoping to eat! What luck that you came of your own accord. How else would I have caught you? It was clearly destined that your life should end in my mouth. So even if I wanted to let you go, I could not.”
Then turning to his subordinates, he commanded:
“Tie him up!”
A Trap for the Disciples
The monster then seized his heavy saber and asked again:
“How many companions came with you? Don’t try to tell me you traveled such a long distance alone!”
Seeing the saber drawn, Tripitaka replied:
“I travel with two disciples, Bajie and Monk Sha. They have gone into the woods in search of food. I left the luggage and a white horse near the pines.”
“What luck!” the monster exclaimed joyfully.
“That makes three of you, plus the horse makes four. More than enough for a meal.”
“Let’s go get them now!” the little demons cried excitedly.
But the monster ordered:
“No, no, don’t go out yet. Better to close the gate. Surely they will come looking for their master. As the proverb says: ‘Home advantage wins the game.’ There’s no need to rush—we’ll catch them sooner or later.”
Thus, Tang Sanzang’s mistrust sealed his doom, while the demon’s lair brimmed with malice—a trial only the banished Monkey King might resolve.
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