“Did you count their warriors and steeds?” growled the demon.
The Demon’s Mockery
The disguised imp (Sun Wukong) replied trembling:
“At the accursed kingdom’s border, I faced endless armored cavalry! They seized me, shouting, ‘Capture that fiend!’ How could I tally their numbers amid kicks and blows? But I saw forests of weapons—bows, spears, halberds, catapults! Their war-gear alone could drown mountains: helmets, chainmail, whips, bronze maces…”
The monster laughed mockingly:
“Such trifles! A bit of fire will be enough to destroy all those weapons. I think you should go tell Golden Wisdom to cease her weeping. Upon hearing that I was about to enter battle, she started crying like a madwoman. She’ll be glad to know that her people have mobilized such a massive number of warriors and horses. How could they possibly not defeat me with such a display of force?”
“That’s precisely what I was hoping for,” thought the Monkey King to himself, pleased upon hearing this unexpected suggestion.
A Covert Alliance
As if he knew the way to the private quarters, he began opening and closing doors, passing through halls and rooms. The Palace of Golden Wisdom lived in the rear section of the palace.
Approaching her, the false little demon respectfully bowed and said:
“I come to pay my respects, my lady.”
She exclaimed with disdain:
“Who sent you?”
Some of the attendants advised her:
“Don’t be angry with him, my lady. He is one of our lord’s most trusted officials, named Back-and-Forth (Coming-and-Going). In fact, he was the one who delivered the declaration of war this very morning.”
Upon hearing this, the woman suppressed her anger as best as she could and asked:
“Did you really carry that declaration to the Purple Kingdom?”
Sun Wukong, disguised as the imp, confirmed:
“I did. I entered its capital and set foot in the very Hall of Golden Bells. I even got to see the king. In fact, it was he who entrusted me with bringing back his reply.”
“What did he say?” she exclaimed excitedly.
Wukong replied:
“The king sends secret words, but too many ears here.”
At this, the woman ordered the foxes and deer-like maids to leave immediately and carefully closed the palace door.
Then the Monkey King passed his hand over his face, reverting to his usual form, and said:
“Please don’t be frightened, my lady. I am Sun Wukong, a monk sent by the Great Emperor of the Tang from the Eastern Lands to Thunder Monastery in the Western Paradise in search of sacred scriptures. I am the disciple of Tang Sanzang, the emperor’s own brother. It was the king who sent me to capture the demon and rescue you.”
Strangely, the woman remained silent. Sun Wukong then took out the two bracelets as proof and respectfully handed them to her with both hands, adding:
“If you do not believe me, look closely at this.”
Seeing them, the woman burst into tears and fell at Wukong’s feet, saying:
“If you are truly capable of freeing me from this prison and returning me safely to my kingdom, I shall be eternally grateful to you.”
The Golden Bells of Peril
The Monkey King replied:
“It is essential that you first inform me of something of utmost importance. What kind of valuable object hangs from that demon’s waist? What powerful weapon does he possess?”
The woman explained:
“Three golden bells at his waist. When he shakes the first, it releases a mass of fire more than a thousand meters long, capable of burning everything in its path. When he shakes the second, it emits smoke stretching over a thousand meters that suffocates any living creature caught within it. As for the third, it spews forth, up to a distance of a thousand meters, an incredible amount of yellow ash that ultimately drives people mad. Although the fire and smoke seem extremely dangerous, the dust is no less deadly—it is highly poisonous. The moment it enters someone’s nose, death follows instantly.”
Exclaimed the Monkey King:
“Remarkable! I wonder where he keeps those bells hidden.”
Exclaimed the woman:
“Do you think he hides them somewhere? Don’t even think about it. He carries them tied to his waist and never takes them off, not even while sleeping.”
The Monkey King advised her:
“If you still love the Purple Kingdom and hold the same feelings for its king that once filled your heart, then you must forgo sadness and longing for now. Be flirtatious and cheerful, even allowing him to sleep with you. Once you gain his trust, convince him to entrust you with the care of the bells. That will make it easier for me to steal them and thus defeat him.”
The Honeyed Trap
The woman immediately agreed, and the Monkey King, transforming again into the faithful servant of the monster, opened the palace doors and called the maids.
At that exact moment, the woman raised her voice and declared:
“Back-and-Forth, don’t forget to inform our lord that I wish to see him immediately. There is an important matter we must discuss.”
The false little demon loudly promised to do so and hurried off to the Pavilion of Dissection, where he informed the monster:
“The Palace of Golden Wisdom wishes to meet with you at once.”
The monster said joyfully:
“Normally, the lady treats me with indifference and contempt. What could have caused her to suddenly change?”
The false little demon replied:
“Perhaps because, when she asked me about the Lord of the Purple Kingdom, I told her he no longer loved her and had taken another woman as queen. Upon hearing that, she stopped thinking of him and ordered me to come deliver her message.”
The monster exclaimed, visibly delighted:
“What a great service you’ve done me! Once I finish off that cursed kingdom, I will appoint you my personal advisor.”
After thanking him, the Monkey King accompanied him to the rear of the palace, where the woman received the monster with a coquettish smile.
“Please sit down. I wish to speak with you.”
“Speak without hesitation,” replied the monster.
The woman began:
“From the moment you expressed your love for me until now, nearly three years have passed. Although during all that time I stubbornly rejected you, I now understand that we were destined to become a couple. Still, I realize you harbor mixed feelings toward me and do not truly consider me your wife. In fact, when I was Lady of the Purple Kingdom, foreign envoys came offering tributes, and I was the one responsible for cataloging and storing them. I don’t mean to suggest you possess many valuables. Indeed, you wear only animal skins and eat raw meat. I have never seen silk, damask, pearls, or gold in the palace; even the curtains are made of animal hide. Perhaps you do have great treasures, but your uncertain feelings toward me have prevented you—not only from entrusting them to me—but even letting me see them. For example, I’ve heard talk of some sort of valuable bells or gongs you possess. I don’t know exactly what they are, but I can confirm there are three of them, and you never part from them. Wouldn’t it be more convenient if you entrusted them to me and I brought them out whenever you needed them? After all, we are husband and wife, and you should show me more trust. Otherwise, I will always feel like an outsider.”
The monster exclaimed, almost choking on his own breath:
“You are absolutely right, my lady! Your complaints are perfectly justified. Here are the only things of value I actually possess. I entrust them to you for safekeeping.”
The monster began lifting his robes, preparing to remove his treasures.
Without delay, the maids brought in a table and filled it with fruits, vegetables, and meats such as venison and rabbit. They poured coconut wine into cups, and the woman used every charm she possessed to lure the monster into the trap.
Unseen, the Monkey King slipped into the inner chamber and carefully took the three golden bells. His heart pounded fiercely as he exited the palace.
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