The second demon returned to the Lion-Camel Cave, trembling from head to toe. Before he even arrived, his brothers had already learned that he had been captured and dragged away without any consideration by his trunk.
They were just about to deploy their troops to come to his aid when they saw him return completely alone. After welcoming him, they led him inside and asked what had happened.
Then the second demon (Elephant King) repeated the words of Venerable Master Tang, which made him seem like a true hero of mercy. The three monsters looked at one another in astonishment for a while, unsure of how to respond.
The Demons’ Plot
Finally, summoning his courage, the second demon (Elephant King) asked:
“Brother, shall we carry Venerable Master Tang across the mountain range or not?”
Immediately, the eldest demon (Lion King) replied:
“Of course we should. When you think about it, Sun Wukong is indeed a compassionate and kind-hearted monkey. While he was inside my belly, he could have killed me countless times, but he didn’t. Just now, he could have permanently ruined your trunk—twisting it or refusing to let you go free. Let’s finish our preparations quickly and escort them across the mountain range.”
The third demon (Roc King), laughing out loud, exclaimed:
“That’s right! Let’s serve as their escorts!”
The eldest demon (Lion King) asked him:
“What’s wrong? You don’t seem very convinced. Anyway, if you don’t want to join us, it’s up to you. No one will force you.”
The third demon (Roc King) replied:
“Why don’t you hear me out first? I wouldn’t mind letting these monks go, but since they insist that we accompany them all the way through the mountain range, I think we should use on them the strategy of ‘luring the tiger out of its den.’”
The eldest demon (Lion King) asked:
“What exactly do you mean by ‘luring the tiger out of its den’?”
The third demon (Roc King) explained:
“Select sixteen little demons. Eight of them will be responsible for carrying the sedan chair, while the other eight will lead the way. We’ll follow behind at a distance. As you know, four hundred miles west of here lies my city, where we can arrange fresh horses and men. When we get near there, all we need to do is… well, and the three pilgrims will be separated, unable to assist each other.”
Upon hearing this, the eldest demon (Lion King) was practically jumping with joy, as if he had just recovered from a hangover or awakened from a nightmare.
He exclaimed enthusiastically:
“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!”
Deceptive Escort
When they approached near where the pilgrims were, the old monster (Lion King) raised his voice and said with unexpected respect:
“Venerable Master Tang, today is an auspicious day to begin a journey. We beg you, therefore, to accept our invitation and allow us to carry you safely to the other side of the mountain range.”
“Who are all those people?” the master asked, turning toward Wukong.
The Monkey King replied, pointing his finger:
“That one over there is the monster I defeated this morning. It seems he has finally decided to bring the sedan chair.”
Joining his palms and bowing upward, Tripitaka exclaimed:
“Heavens! If it weren’t for you, everything would have ended in a truly regrettable manner.”
Then he stepped forward to meet the demons and greeted them, saying:
“I am deeply grateful for your generosity. When I return with the scriptures to the Eastern Lands, I will speak of your unparalleled virtues to the people of Chang’an.”
After the greetings were completed, the demons respectfully pleaded:
“Would you kindly step into the palanquin?”
Thus began the ascent up the mountain. Little did the pilgrims suspect that disaster was ready to strike them just when they felt most confident and joyful! As an ancient classic states, “Poverty always lurks at the end of wealth’s corridor.” The god of war had tightened his net around them, ready to turn them into executed spirits.
The demons respectfully positioned themselves on both sides of the sedan chair. To avoid suspicion, they redoubled their efforts to appear courteous and attentive day and night toward Tripitaka.
They had barely traveled thirty miles when they offered a vegetarian feast, which they repeated again after fifty miles. Even as dusk approached, they thoughtfully stopped so the master could rest. Throughout the entire journey, the demons behaved with extraordinary propriety, and together with the abundance of food, this eventually filled the hearts of the pilgrims with joy. They usually chose peaceful and secluded places to spend the night, sleeping soundly with ease.
In this way, they traveled steadily westward for approximately four hundred miles.
Threefold Battle
Suddenly, a city appeared ahead, and the sight of it startled the Monkey King so badly that he immediately fell to the ground.
Wukong was lying on the ground, paralyzed with fear, when suddenly he heard a sound like rushing wind just behind his ears. He quickly turned around and saw that the third demon (Roc King) was about to deliver a terrible blow to his head with a double-edged square axe. With a leap, he grabbed his golden-ended iron bar and faced his opponent.
The two combatants fought with such intensity that they exchanged no words, striking fierce blows with clenched teeth and drool flowing heavily from the corners of their mouths.
Soon after, the eldest demon (Lion King) appeared. Barking orders left and right, he tried to sever Bajie’s head. Bajie hastily abandoned the horse and repelled the attack using his rake.
Meanwhile, the second demon (Elephant King) attempted to pierce Sha Wujing with his spear, but the monk blocked the strike in time with his monster-smiting staff.
Thus, the three demons and the three disciples became embroiled in battle atop the very summit of the mountain.
Imprisoned in the Lion-Camel City
Following their instructions to the letter, the little demons seized the reins of the white horse. After subduing Tripitaka, they hurried the sedan chair to the edge of the city, shouting loudly:
“We bring you Venerable Master Tang by order of our kings!”
All the monsters dwelling within the city walls crowded at the gates.
Without allowing him to descend from the sedan chair, they carried him directly into the Golden Chime Hall. Tripitaka trembled from head to toe, for he saw no familiar faces around him.
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