Sun Wukong bravely ventured deep into the cave. As he advanced, he began to see ever-growing piles of skeletons—so many that they resembled genuine bone forests.
Entering the Hellish Cave
Human hair was so abundant that it covered the entire floor like a carpet. Despite this, it wasn’t hard to spot pieces of half-rotten flesh mixed with the dust.
From the trees hung human body parts strung up with tendons, left out in the sun to dry. Some had clearly been hanging there for quite some time, judging by their yellowish, parchment-like appearance. Wherever one looked, there were mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, emitting an unbearable stench. The demons stationed in the eastern section carefully picked bits of meat still clinging to the bones, while those in the western part patiently boiled the fresher remains.
The Inner Sanctum
Yet, Wukong continued walking as if the sight were not particularly repulsive. But things changed when he passed through a second gate. The atmosphere was completely free of foul odors, replaced by a comforting sense of peace and serenity. On both sides of the path grew the most exotic plants imaginable and the rarest flowers the human eye had ever seen. Pines and bamboos were everywhere. This tranquil landscape stretched for about seven or eight miles.
Then rose the third gate, leading into a hall dominated by the thrones of the three monsters, seated majestically upon a high platform. Their appearance was utterly hideous and terrifying.
- Green-Maned Lion King (central throne);
- Yellow-Tusked Elephant Demon (left throne);
- Golden Eagle King (right throne)
Surrounding the platform, ready to carry out their orders without delay, stood a hundred fully armed captains—martial in expression and fierce in demeanor.
Psychological Terror
Nonetheless, the Monkey King was pleased to see them. With determined steps, he approached the monsters, dropped the wooden clapper and the bells, and raising his head, said:
“Honored sirs, I offer you my respects.”
The three demons exclaimed together, smiling with satisfaction:
“So you’ve returned already, Little Wind-Cutter!”
The Monkey King replied in the most courteous tone possible:
“It would seem so.”
They asked:
“Did you discover anything about Sun Wukong?”
The Monkey King answered:
“I did, but I dare not speak before your lordships.”
“Why not?” the eldest demon asked again.
The Monkey King explained:
“By your lordships’ express command, I entered the mountain, continuously striking the two pieces of wood. It wasn’t long before I spotted someone crouched beside a stream. Approaching him, I realized with horror that he looked exactly like a thunder god. But that wasn’t all—for when he stood up, I saw that he was around thirty meters tall. From what I could tell, he was washing a heavy iron staff in the water. From what I overheard him muttering, it seemed the staff hadn’t yet revealed its full magical potential. He also said that once it was completely clean, he would come and crush your lordships’ heads with it. From this, I deduced that he must be Sun Wukong, so I decided to return and report before taking any further action.”
Instantly, cold sweat spread across the body of the eldest demon, who turned trembling toward his companions:
“I warned you already—we shouldn’t have meddled with the Tang Monk at all. His senior disciple is so impulsive that he has decided to use his extraordinary magical powers against us. He’s even begun cleaning his weapon already. What can we do? No one has ever managed to defeat him!”
He then turned to one of the captains and ordered:
“Tell the soldiers stationed at the cave entrance to come in immediately and open the gates. We must leave the passage clear for these monks.”
One of the officers was aware of what had happened and responded, embarrassed:
“I fear there are none left, sir. Each one fled wherever he could.”
Exclaimed the eldest demon:
“What do you mean, ‘they’ve fled’? Surely they heard what was happening too. Go and close the gates immediately!”
The captains obeyed without hesitation.
Deeply concerned, the Monkey King quickly thought to himself:
“Surely, once the gates are closed, they’ll ask me to do something I know nothing about. That will put me in a very difficult position, and they might even capture me. Before I foolishly expose myself, I think the best move is to scare them a bit more. Then they’ll reopen the gates, and I can slip away when the time comes.”
He stepped closer to the monsters and added:
“I’m afraid Sun Wukong said something even more chilling than that.”
“What was it?” asked the eldest demon, now even more alarmed.
The Monkey King replied:
“He claimed that once he captured you, he would flay one alive, strip the bones from another, and remove the tendons from the third.”
He added in a trembling voice:
“Moreover, I clearly heard him say that if you shut the gates and refused to come out, he would use his transformation magic and drag you out by force. As you well know, he’s capable of transforming into a tiny fly and slipping through a crack in the door. What could you possibly do to prevent falling into his hands?”
Said the eldest demon:
“We must take every precaution. For now, there are very few flies inside our cave. If you see any, be certain it is Sun Wukong.”
Thought the Monkey King to himself, amused:
“Just wait—I’ll give you plenty of flies! At the first sight of one, you’ll tremble so much you’ll immediately order the gates reopened.”
Pretending to look away, he pulled a hair from the back of his neck, blew sacred breath upon it, and cried:
“Transform!”
Instantly, it became a shining-headed fly, which shot straight like an arrow and perched itself on the demon’s face.
The eldest monster screamed in terror:
“Horrible! Did you see what just slipped through the door?”
The little demons stood frozen in shock. Soon, however, they regained their senses and grabbing brooms, began beating the air wildly, trying to hit the fly.
Deception Unmasked
Unable to contain himself, the Monkey King burst into laughter, laughing like a madman. That was precisely what he should have avoided, for the moment he laughed, his disguise was revealed, and his face resumed its usual form. The third monster immediately leapt onto him, grabbed him, and shouted furiously:
“How foolish we’ve been! How easily he has tricked us!”
“Who says someone has been tricking us?” asked the first demon.
“The third monster replied:
“This chatterbox isn’t a Little Wind-Cutter at all—he is none other than Sun Wukong himself. He must have met our messenger, killed him, and disguised himself to come here and deceive us.”
Thought the Monkey King to himself, alarmed:
“So he recognized me!”
Quickly running his hand over his face, he resumed the features of the dead demon boy.
With a trembling tone in his voice, he added:
“How can you say I am Sun Wukong? Can’t you see I’m a Little Wind-Cutter? I have nothing to do with that beast!”
Confirmed the eldest demon:
“He’s right. He’s simply a Wind-Cutter. I know him well because I summon him to my presence at least three times a day.”
Turning toward the Monkey King, he added:
“Would you mind showing us your identity plate?”
“Not at all,” replied the Monkey King, reaching into his chest and displaying it to all.
Exclaimed the demon, now fully convinced:
“There—you see! It’s wrong to accuse someone without proof.”
Revelation and Capture
Defended the third demon:
“But didn’t you see? Just now he was laughing with his face turned toward the wall. And I clearly saw that he had the snout of a thunder god. The moment I touched him, he returned to this present appearance.”
He then turned to the group of little demons and ordered:
“Bring me some ropes.”
The captains obeyed immediately. Before the Monkey King could react, the third demon threw him to the ground and tied him up like a piece of game.
Then he lifted his robes, revealing beyond doubt that it was indeed the Monkey King.
Staring in disbelief, the eldest demon exclaimed:
“Incredible! His face is that of a Little Wind-Cutter, but there’s no doubt—this body belongs to Sun Wukong. It cannot be anyone else!”
Without wasting a moment, he ordered thirty-six little demons to go to the armory room and bring the Yin-Yang Vase.
The third monster then removed the lid, instantly a violent hurricane arose and sucked Wukong inside.
The third monster quickly replaced the lid and sealed it carefully.
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