Toward the end of the third watch, the eldest demon (Lion King) was heard saying:
“Of course we have successfully captured Tang Monk and his three disciples, but you don’t know the effort and sleepless nights it has cost us. Fortunately, they are now inside that cauldron, and I doubt very much that they can escape, especially considering how tightly they are bound. Nevertheless, we must not relax our vigilance. Keep your eyes wide open and take turns to keep the fire blazing until dawn. Prepare some salt, vinegar, and a few crushed garlic heads. We’ll need them for the feast. We will now retire to our chambers to rest a bit.”
The demons retired, leaving imps to tend the flames.
Wukong’s Rescue
Sun Wukong said to himself:
“It’s time to do it. But wait a moment. I remember that when I was the Great Sage in Heaven, I once played finger-guessing games with Dhrtarastra at the North Gate of Heaven and won from him several sleep-inducing insects. I think I still have a few left.”
He reached into his waistband and found he still had about a dozen.
He threw the insects towards the imps. The insects immediately flew into their noses, and they fell fast asleep, snoring loudly.
Returning to his true form, Wukong approached the cauldron and said:
“Master, can you hear me?”
Monk Tang shouted immediately:
“Save me, Wukong!”
Sha Wujing asked in surprise:
“Are you out there?”
Wukong replied:
“That’s right. Do you think I could stand the heat?”
Bajie complained:
“Always the clever one escapes, leaving us to boil!”
Wukong laughed and retorted:
“Quit whining—I’m saving you!”
Wukong lifted the lid and first untied his master. Then he shook his body slightly and retrieved the transformed hair that had impersonated him. Next, he broke the bindings of Bajie and Sha Wujing.
Bajie wanted to leave immediately, but Wukong stopped him, saying:
“Where are you rushing off to? First of all, we must go find the horse.”
It didn’t take long before Wukong located the horse and brought it back quietly.
Trembling with fear, the master mounted the steed and was ready to gallop away, but Wukong stopped him, saying:
“What’s the hurry? It’s necessary that we recover our luggage; otherwise, we won’t have a single document to prove who we are.”
Soon enough, Wukong found the luggage and brought it back silently.
Bajie took hold of the reins, and with the Monkey King leading, they headed toward the Eastern Gate, which lay directly ahead.
Ambush at Sun Gate
Unfortunately, what had to happen did. The three demons were sleeping peacefully in their chambers when suddenly they woke up with the unpleasant feeling that Tang Monk had just escaped. They hurriedly dressed and rushed to the cauldron to see for themselves what had occurred. The water was completely cold, and not a single ember remained alight. The demons in charge of stoking the flames were snoring as if they knew nothing else. The demons were so stunned that all they could do was shout:
“Capture Tang Monk, right now!”
The commotion eventually woke all the monsters in the city, who quickly grabbed their spears and swords and rushed in a crowd toward the Eastern Gate.
Thus, it was not difficult for them to find the four pilgrims, who were trying to climb over the city wall.
The eldest demon (Lion King) ran toward them shouting:
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Upon hearing his voice, Tang Monk felt his legs weaken and his hands numb with fear. Unable to hold onto the stones any longer, he let go and fell straight into the demon’s arms. The second demon (Elephant King) seized Sha Wujing, while the third (Roc King) easily captured Bajie. The rest of the monsters took possession of the white horse and the luggage. Only the Monkey King managed to escape.
The Iron Chest Deception
The third demon (Roc King) said to the eldest (Lion King):
“We can lock the Tang Monk in the Pomegranate Pavilion’s iron chest. Spread rumors we ate him alive. Sun Wukong will surely come to investigate. When he finds no trace of his master anywhere, he’ll abandon the quest and leave forever. Then we can bring out Tang Monk and calmly enjoy his flesh.”
The other two demons responded together enthusiastically:
“Truly extraordinary! We couldn’t have thought of anything better ourselves.”
Soon the rumor spread throughout the city that Tang Monk had been devoured alive.
Wukong’s Despair
Wukong returned to the city just as the sun began to rise in the east.
He descended from the clouds and, after shaking his body slightly, transformed himself into a little demon and sneaked incognito into the city. He tried to discover what people were discussing both on the main streets and in the smallest alleys, and all he heard was:
“Last night, our lords devoured Tang Monk alive.”
That was what everyone in the city was saying.
Gradually, unease took hold of the Monkey King, until finally he headed for the Golden Chime Hall, hoping to uncover something.
In front of the gate, he saw numerous spirits dressed in yellow robes and wearing hats sprinkled with golden dust. They carried red-lacquered wooden staffs in their hands, and yellowish ivory tablets hung from their belts.
He transformed himself into an exact copy of those strange officials and slipped into the palace. He soon discovered Bajie tied to one of the pillars directly in front of the hall. He was letting out such pitiful moans that Wukong felt compelled to approach and whisper:
“Bajie.”
Recognizing his voice immediately, Bajie asked:
“Is that you? Please free me.”
Wukong replied:
“I will, don’t worry. Do you know where the master is?”
Bajie answered:
“He’s gone. Last night those monsters ate him alive.”
Upon hearing these words, Wukong began to sob, and tears flowed abundantly down his cheeks.
Bajie advised him:
“Please don’t cry. I only heard the little demons say so—I didn’t see it myself. Don’t be deceived by rumors. Investigate first!”
Wukong stopped crying and continued walking, determined to search for his master inside. Upon reaching the back courtyard, he saw Sha Wujing tied to one of the pillars.
He approached and said:
“Wujing.”
Sha Wujing immediately recognized his voice and asked:
“How did you come up with such a disguise? Free me quickly, for heaven’s sake.”
The Monkey King affirmed:
“Do you know where the master is?”
With tears filling his eyes, Sha Wujing replied:
“This time, the monsters didn’t wait for him to be cooked. They ate him uncooked last night.”
Hearing the same story from both brothers, Sun Wukong felt as though a dagger pierced his head. Without bothering to free Bajie and Sha Wujing, he soared into the air and fled to the eastern mountains. There he dropped from the clouds and began to sob bitterly.
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