Once the Yellow-Robed Monster had captured Monk Sha, he neither tortured nor killed him.
He did not rejoice at capturing the Sand Monk, for he considered Sha no match for his power. Likewise, he was not disappointed in the least by Ba Jie’s escape, as he never believed Bajie capable of defeating him either.
The Monster’s Inner Turmoil
Now, however, two troubling questions haunted the monster’s mind:
Why does Monk Tang repay kindness with cruelty?
And how is it that everyone suddenly knows the secret of the princess being my prisoner?
The monster muttered to himself:
“Monk Tang comes from a noble nation and must surely possess a strong sense of righteousness. I cannot understand why he would send his disciples to capture me after I spared his life. That is not in keeping with his character.”
Then the Yellow-Robed Monster added:
“The King now knows the Princess is here. But how?”
After thinking for a moment, the monster said:
“At first, the Princess pleaded for Monk Tang’s life, asking me to release him. Then, Monk Tang sent his two disciples to rescue her. It seems all of this was planned beforehand between the Princess and the monk.”
Suddenly, the monster cried out:
“How wicked! The Princess has deceived me!”
Confrontation with the Princess
After grooming himself and preparing to take a stroll, the monster approached the Princess with eyes wide, brows furrowed, and teeth grinding with fury.
She was used to his sudden mood swings and was not frightened. On the contrary, she smiled sweetly and asked:
“May I ask what troubles you so deeply?”
The monster shouted:
“Cursed woman! Do you have no regard for human relations at all? You delighted in silken robes and golden ornaments. Whatever you desired, I rushed to bring it to you as if I were your servant. Nothing was too much to make you happy. Yet still, you dwell on your parents and hold your present family in such low esteem!”
Upon hearing these words, the Princess fell to the ground in fear and trembled as she asked:
“Why do you speak like this? It sounds as if you’ve decided to part ways with me.”
The monster retorted:
“That thought came only from you. I captured Monk Tang and was about to eat him. Why did you promise to set him free even before discussing it with me? I know well why you did it! You secretly wrote a letter to your parents and asked the monk to deliver it. Otherwise, how could those two monks appear at my gate, demanding that I let you return to your maiden home? You cannot deny it! Did you or did you not do it?”
The Princess replied:
“You are gravely mistaken. Tell me, when have I ever written a letter without your permission?”
Monk Sha’s Noble Deception
The monster insisted:
“It will do you no good to try and deceive me, for I have just captured someone who will testify against you.”
“Who do you mean?” the Princess asked, visibly shaken.
The Yellow-Robed Monster answered:
“Monk Sha, the second disciple of Monk Tang.”
A Test of Loyalty
When people face desperate circumstances and the threat of death, they often refuse to accept their fate and will fight with all their strength to grasp even the faintest ray of hope.
Still insisting on her innocence, the Princess said:
“Calm yourself and let us question him, as you desire. If the letter you speak of truly exists, I shall willingly submit to punishment and even death. But if no such letter was ever written, would it not be a grave injustice to condemn me to death?”
The monster immediately accepted her proposal. He stretched out his huge blue hand, grabbed the Princess by the hair, and dragged her to the front of the cave. When they reached the prisoner, he threw her carelessly to the ground and, brandishing his saber, interrogated the Sand Monk:
“Why have you and your companion come to challenge me at my own doorstep? Was it the Princess’s father who sent you, having learned of her whereabouts through a letter she secretly entrusted to you?”
Seeing how furious the monster was—so angry he was ready to kill his own wife—Monk Sha thought to himself:
“It is true that she sent a letter, but she also saved our Master’s life, a favor we can never fully repay. If I admit it, this beast will kill her without hesitation, and instead of being rewarded, she will be punished. After all, I have followed our Master for many years and have yet to do anything truly worthy. Now that I am imprisoned, this is a good opportunity to repay even a small part of what she has done for me.”
Thus, raising his voice, Monk Sha rebuked the monster:
“How brutal you are! Tell me, what could possibly be in that letter your wife supposedly wrote, that you now wish to take her life? I have never seen such a document. The reason we came demanding the Princess’s freedom is different. When our Master was in the same situation as I am now, he saw her several times. When we arrived at the Kingdom of the Sacred Elephant and sought the King’s permission to pass through his lands, the King asked many questions about the Princess and even showed us her portrait. He longed to know whether we had seen her. Our Master then described the lady he had met in this very palace, and the King immediately recognized her as his daughter. He ordered us to come here and capture you, freeing the Princess and returning her to her palace without delay. I swear to you, this is exactly what happened. That letter you speak of does not exist at all. If you must kill someone, kill me—but do not harm an innocent soul who has nothing to do with this matter.”
The Monster’s Remorse
Seeing the determination in Monk Sha’s words, the monster flung his saber aside and lifted the Princess from the ground with both hands, saying:
“I fear I have been far too rough with you. I must have offended you greatly. I beg you, forgive me.”
With unexpected tenderness, he helped her tidy her hair and adjust her clothes, offering sincere apologies.
Seeing how softened the monster had become, the Princess pleaded:
“If you value our love at all, please loosen the ropes binding the Sand Monk a little.”
At once, the monster ordered the monk to be untied and locked in a dungeon instead.
As the ancients wisely said:
“Compassion for others is compassion for oneself.”
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