Seeing what the Monkey did to Bajie, Tripitaka became very angry and turned to scold Wukong.
Tang Monk’s Rebuke
“I wouldn’t blame Wuneng if he wanted to crush your head later. I don’t understand how, instead of friendship and affection, there is only resentment and hatred between you. How could you let go of the rope when he was begging you to pull it? Tell me, what are we going to do now? His situation isn’t very promising, to say the least.”
Protesting, the Monkey King burst into laughter:
“I don’t understand why you always take his side! When I fell into the hands of those beasts, you didn’t worry nearly as much as you do now. But the moment you saw Bajie suffer the same fate, you raised your voice in protest and blamed everything on me. The reason I didn’t rush to help him was precisely so he would suffer a little and learn that obtaining the sutras isn’t as easy as he thought.”
Tripitaka defended himself:
“How can you think I wasn’t worried when those monsters captured you? If I seemed calmer then, it was because I know you can transform yourself into anything you wish, and I was certain nothing bad would happen to you. Wuneng, on the contrary, is clumsy and finds it difficult to move about freely. I have no doubt whatsoever that nothing good will come from his captivity. Why don’t you go rescue him?”
The Monkey King concluded:
“Don’t worry any further, Master. Right now I will set him free.”
Cricket Espionage
Wukong hurried up the mountain. However, he soon regretted his decision and muttered to himself disdainfully:
“All that fool thinks about is causing me trouble. I’ll leave him with those monsters a bit longer so he learns a lesson. I’ll follow them and see what they plan to do with him.”
He recited a spell, slightly shook his body, and instantly transformed into a tiny cricket. Like an arrow, he shot forward and landed exactly at the base of one of Bajie’s ears. In this way, he followed them all the way back to the Lion Camel Cave.
The second monster (Elephant King) ordered his detachment of three thousand lesser demons, amid the beating of drums and the sounding of horns, to remain at the entrance of the cave while he personally went to inform his brothers of everything that had occurred.
He proudly announced:
“I’ve just captured one of those monks.”
Said the eldest demon (Lion King):
“Bring him here so I can have a look at him.”
The second demon (Elephant King) then stretched out his trunk, and Bajie fell to the ground, half-dazed.
The eldest (Lion King) added with some contempt:
“Is this the monk you were talking about?”
The second demon (Elephant King) confirmed:
“Indeed, this is he.”
“He’s worthless,” commented the eldest.
Quickly, Bajie interjected:
“In that case, you won’t mind letting me go. Why not capture someone more useful than me?”
Well of Despair
Objected the third demon (Roc King):
“No matter how useless he is, this is Zhu Bajie, another of the Tang Monk’s disciples. I think the best thing we can do is tie him up, throw him into the well at the back, soak him thoroughly, then slit him open, salt him, and dry him in the sun. He must taste delicious with a bit of wine.”
At that moment, the Monkey King rose into the air and took a look around. He saw Bajie with half his body submerged in water, his feet and hands tied upward, presenting a most ridiculous sight. Yet instead of laughing, Wukong said compassionately to himself:
“What can I do? After all, he is one of the guests at Buddha’s birthday feast. He did wrong by trying to divide our luggage and end our journey. Besides, he’s always provoking the master to recite that painful head-tightening spell. To make matters worse, the other day I overheard Wujing saying he has personal savings—I don’t know whether that’s true or not. Anyway, it doesn’t hurt for him to get a good scare once in a while.”
Soul-Catcher Farce
Approaching Bajie’s ear, he changed his voice and called in a gloomy tone:
“Zhu Wuneng!”
Bajie exclaimed in a barely audible voice:
“What terrible luck! That’s exactly the name given to me by Bodhisattva Guan Shi Yin when I embraced the faith. But since I began following the Tang Monk, everyone calls me Bajie. How is it possible that someone here knows my real name is Wuneng?”
Perplexed, he raised his voice and asked:
“Who dares address me by that name?”
“It’s me,” replied the Monkey King.
“And who are you?” insisted Bajie.
“The Soul Hunter,” answered the Monkey King.
“Who sent you?” Bajie asked again, growing increasingly anxious.
Explained the Monkey King:
“King Yama, of course. Who else could it be?”
Bajie pleaded, trembling:
“Please return to your realm and ask King Yama, out of friendship for my brother Sun Wukong, to grant me one more day of life. Tomorrow I will answer his call without fail.”
Scolded the Monkey King:
“How can you talk such nonsense? As the proverb goes: how can someone delay until the fourth watch if King Yama has ordered death at the third? Hurry up and follow me right away. If you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to pass a rope around your neck and drag you along.”
Replied Bajie:
“I’m not asking for a great favor. Look me in the face—do you really think I’ll live long in my current condition? It’s not that I fear death that I want to live one more day; rather, before I die, I wish to reunite once more with my master and brothers, who won’t be far behind me, captured by these demons and brought here like hunted prey.”
Agreed the Monkey King, smiling inwardly with amusement:
“All right. There are about thirty others I need to bring with me here. I’ll arrest the rest and come back for you tomorrow. But under one condition: that you hand over all the money you have.”
Exclaimed Bajie:
“Now that’s really bad luck! We who have renounced worldly life never carry money with us.”
Concluded the Monkey King:
“Then I’m very sorry, but I’ll have to tie you up and drag you along.”
Desperately begged Bajie:
“Please, don’t do that! I know that rope you speak of is the one that ends life, and once it’s placed around someone’s neck, their last breath escapes. Wait… wait a moment! Yes, yes. It’s true. I do have some money, though I’m afraid it’s not much.”
“Where have you hidden it? Bring it out immediately!” demanded the Monkey King.
Once again, Bajie pleaded:
“Have mercy on me and don’t be so impatient! Since I decided to become a monk, I’ve encountered a few families who gave me a bit more money than the others when they saw my appetite was practically insatiable. That’s how I managed to save about half an ounce of silver. You can keep it all if you want. As you can see, I have no intention of deceiving you.”
Revelation and Rescue
As soon as he held it in his hand, the Monkey King couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter. Bajie immediately recognized the Monkey King’s voice and began hurling a string of insults at him.
Furiously, he shouted:
“Cursed stable boy! Isn’t what I’m suffering enough, that you come here to rob me of all my money too?”
Replied the Monkey King, unable to contain his laughter:
“You stupid glutton! Do you know how many hardships I’ve endured protecting the master? And I assure you, I’ve never stolen even a single coin from him.”
Counterattacked Bajie:
“You should be ashamed talking about stealing! I saved every bit of that money by depriving myself of food. I couldn’t bear to spend it on meals, but kept it to buy cloth for making a decent robe. Give me back my money, come on.”
Responded the Monkey King:
“I have no intention of doing so.”
Concluded Bajie:
“In that case, take it as ransom, but don’t forget that you still have to release me.”
Replied Wukong:
“Why the rush? Everything in its time. You know well that I always keep my promises.”
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