Gradually, Wukong began to question his fate:
“This is all Tathagata’s fault! He sits comfortably in his paradise, hoarding scriptures! If he truly cared about spreading truth, he should have delivered them himself to the East. Instead, he sent us through endless trials. Now my master lies dead! I’ll confront Buddha—demand the scriptures or freedom from this golden headband!”
Wukong’s Plea to Buddha
With a leap, he soared upward and headed directly toward Spirit Mountain in India. Half an hour later, he spotted the Vulture Peak.
Wukong was received by the Four Diamond Guardians and then escorted to the Lotus Hall by the arhats. Upon seeing Tathagata, he prostrated himself face-down on the ground, and tears began to flow abundantly down his cheeks.
Tathagata asked:
“Why are you crying, Wukong?”
The Monkey King replied with unexpected respect:
“By virtue of the teachings you have kindly bestowed upon me, this humble disciple fully embracing Buddhism, I became the protector of Master Tang, treating him as my teacher, enduring countless hardships and privations alongside him. Upon arriving at the Lion-Camel Kingdom, nestled in the mountain three demons, who are actually a lion, an elephant, and an eagle. They captured all of us in the team. I escaped, but my master… they devoured him! Even my brothers are bound, awaiting death. Faced with such tragedy, I had no choice but to come here and beg you to recite the spell that will remove this crown embedded in my head. It belongs to you, and I wish to return it before going back to the Flower-Fruit Mountain to resume the leisurely life I once led.”
He hadn’t finished speaking when tears filled his eyes again, and sobs shook his chest.
The Two Bodhisattvas
Buddha turned to Ananda and Kasyapa and ordered:
“Mount clouds and go to the Five Platforms Mountain and Mount Emei. Tell Manjusri and Visvabhadra (Samantabhadra) to come see me immediately.”
The two venerables promptly set out to carry out his request.
Tathagata advised Wukong:
“Grieve not, Wukong. These demons are no ordinary foes. You were unable to defeat those demons.”
The Monkey King admitted, kneeling before Buddha:
“I must admit I have never been defeated until now.”
Tathagata insisted:
“Stop tormenting yourself. I know that demon well. I fear only I am capable of capturing him.”
Wukong pleaded, repeatedly touching his forehead to the ground:
“In that case, please come with me at once.”
Tathagata descended from his lotus throne and headed toward the monastery gate, followed by his retinue of Buddhas. There he met Ananda and Kasyapa, who had returned with Manjusri and Visvabhadra. The two bodhisattvas respectfully bowed to Tathagata, who bluntly asked:
“How long has it been since your mounts went missing from your mountain?”
Manjusri answered:
“Seven days.”
Tathagata mused:
“Seven days on the mountain equal a thousand years on earth. I wonder how many people they have killed in all this time. We must subdue them immediately. Please come with me.”
Each bodhisattva took a side of Tathagata, and they rose into the air.
They soon sighted the city, and Wukong exclaimed, pointing with his finger:
“That is the Lion-Camel Kingdom shrouded in dark mist.”
Tathagata ordered:
“You go down to challenge those monsters. But remember not to defeat them. Lure them here, and I will do the rest.”
The Final Confrontation
Wukong descended from his cloud, landing on the city walls, and shouted:
“Cursed monsters, come out and fight the Monkey!”
The little demons on the walls panicked and ran to inform their rulers:
“Sun Wukong is challenging you outside!”
The eldest demon (Lion King) loudly mused:
“That monkey hasn’t shown up for two days. Could he have gone to seek help to finish us off?”
The third demon (Roc King) replied:
“Don’t be afraid. Let’s all go take a look.”
Each taking their weapons, the three demons charged toward the Monkey King. Upon seeing him, they attacked without uttering a word.
Wukong confronted them with his iron staff, resisting for seven or eight rounds. Then he pretended his strength was failing and fled, feigning defeat.
The monsters shouted:
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Wukong leaped into the air. The three demons followed immediately on their clouds. Wukong darted straight toward the radiant glow surrounding the Buddhist Patriarch and vanished from his pursuers’ sight.
What suddenly emerged before them were the Buddhas, surrounded by five hundred arhats and three thousand protectors, forming a kind of halo around him.
The three demons felt trapped in a net so tight that not even a drop of water could escape.
The eldest demon (Lion King) said:
“Things are indeed turning bad. That monkey is truly a devil! How did he manage to bring our masters here?”
The third demon (Roc King) tried to calm him:
“Don’t be afraid. Combine the power of our weapons, overthrow this Tathagata, and seize the Thunder Monastery.”
Without hesitation, the eldest demon (Lion King) grabbed his saber and attacked wildly. Immediately, Manjusri and Visvabhadra (Samantabhadra) recited a spell and shouted together:
“If these beasts refuse to submit willingly, they can start preparing themselves for their next reincarnation.”
The first and second demons were seized with such panic that they gave up fighting. They immediately threw away their weapons and, rolling on the ground, resumed their true forms.
Despite the fate that had befallen the Green-Maned Lion and the White Elephant, the third demon (Roc King) stubbornly refused to surrender.
Throwing aside his weapon, he flapped his wings and soared high, trying to catch the Monkey King with his razor-sharp talons.
Tathagata immediately understood his intention, pointed his finger at him, and the demon began to feel such cramps in his wings that he could no longer flap them. He remained hovering above the Buddha’s head, revealing his true self: a giant golden-winged roc.
Realizing there was no escape, the roc lowered his head and submitted to the Buddha’s will.
Wukong then prostrated himself before Tathagata and said:
“It’s great that you have captured these monsters and eliminated all the evil they could have caused. However, this alone will not restore my master’s life.”
The Golden-Winged Roc gritted his teeth and exclaimed:
“Cursed monkey! You had to go find the only one who could truly control me! Want to know who devoured that poor monk you follow? He is locked inside an iron chest in the Pomegranate Pavilion.”
Rescue and Revelation
Upon hearing this, Wukong prostrated himself on the ground, repeatedly bowing his head in deep gratitude to the Buddhist Patriarch.
Then he returned to the city. Wukong had no difficulty finding the luggage and the horse. After freeing Bajie and Sha Wujing, they all entered the Pomegranate Pavilion together, finding Tripitaka weeping in the iron chest.
Upon seeing them, Tripitaka wept:
“Disciples! How did you manage to defeat those demons? And how did you find me?”
Wukong recounted: “Buddha himself subdued them.”
After feasting, the pilgrims gathered all their belongings and once again set forth on their journey.
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