After a moment’s reflection, Sun Wukong asked the temple guardian:
“Are there any demon spirits nearby?”
The guardian replied:
“To the southeast lies the Black Wind Mountain, home to the Great Black King. Our late abbot often debated Taoism with him. He’s the only notable demon here.”
Festival of the Buddha’s Robe
The Monkey King soared to the mountain, where he overheard voices in a meadow. Peering from behind a boulder, he spotted three monsters: a swarthy figure(the Black Bear Spirit), a Taoist(the Gray Wolf Spirit), and a scholar(the White Spotted Serpent Spirit), deep in conversation.
The bear demon boasted:
“Yesterday, I acquired a treasure—the Brocade Cassock of Buddha. Let’s host a grand feast and invite all Taoist friends. We’ll call it the Festival of the Buddha’s Robe!”
The Taoist cheered: “Brilliant!”
Enraged, Wukong lunged at them:
“Thieving demons! Return my master’s robe! Return it now—or face annihilation!”
The swarthy fiend transformed into a gust of wind and fled; the Daoist priest escaped on a cloud; only the scholar, unable to evade, took the full brunt of Wukong’s strike and died instantly—revealed as a spotted serpent spirit. After slicing it into pieces, he stormed into the mountain to hunt the swarthy demon.
The Prolonged Duel
The Monkey King discovered a cave sealed shut. He hammered the gate with his staff, roaring:
“Open up! Return the robe, or I’ll slaughter you all!”
A minor demon reported to his lord:
“Great King! A hairy-faced monk demands the cassock’s return!”
The Black Wind King emerged wielding a spear:
“What monk dares challenge me here?”
Wukong retorted:
“Enough nonsense! Return my master’s cassock at once!”
The demon sneered:
“Suppose I stole it—what will you do to reclaim it?”
“Wretched fiend! Taste my staff!” shouted the Monkey King.
After clashing over a dozen times by noon, neither side prevailed. The demon pinned Wukong’s staff with his spear and gasped:
“Let’s pause this fight for a meal. Agreed?”
“Accursed beast!” barked Wukong. “You call yourself a hero? Half a day of battle and you crave food? I endured five centuries under a mountain without a drop of water!”
Ignoring Monkey’s taunts, the demon retreated into his cave and sealed the door. The Black Wind King then ordered his servants to prepare a feast and personally penned invitations.
Wukong’s Appeal to Guanyin
Frustrated, Wukong muttered:
“This proves Guanyin Bodhisattva’s negligence! How could she accept offerings here while letting a demon roam free? I’ll confront her at the Southern Sea!”
In a flash, he vanished and arrived before Guanyin.
“Why have you come?” she asked calmly.
Wukong complained:
“My master was robbed at your temple! Why permit a bear spirit to lurk nearby? I’ve fought him tirelessly, yet the cassock remains lost. Rectify this!”
Guanyin replied:
“That demon rivals your strength. Though undeserving, I’ll aid you—for Tang Sanzang’s sake.”
Subduing the Black Wind King
Riding sacred clouds, they soon reached Black Wind Mountain. On the slope, they spotted a Daoist carrying a crystal tray with a golden elixir pill.
Wukong charged forward, brandishing his iron staff and striking the unfortunate demon’s skull with a thunderous blow. The strike shattered the skull, leaving a gruesome wound. The Pilgrim then approached the Daoist, uncovering his true form—a gray wolf.
Wukong proposed a plan to Guanyin:
The Bodhisattva transformed into Immortal Ling Xuzi, the slain gray wolf, while Wukong shape-shifted into a magical pill.
Approaching the cave, Guanyin (disguised as Ling Xuzi, the Daoist) was recognized by the guards, who cried:
“Immortal Ling Xuzi has arrived!”
Guanyin declared:
“I bring a magic pill to gift your king. Consume it, and gain a thousand-year lifespan!”
The Black Bear Demon swallowed the pill. Instantly, Wukong wreaked havoc inside his body. The demon collapsed, writhing in agony. Guanyin reverted to her true form and seized the Buddha’s cassock.
Wukong burst from the demon’s nostrils. Fearing treachery, Guanyin clamped an iron crown onto the bear’s head. As the demon staggered up and lunged for his spear, Guanyin chanted a mantra. The crown tightened, driving the Black Wind King to the ground in torment.
Guanyin’s Mercy
Wukong raised his staff to finish the demon, but Guanyin stopped him:
“Spare him. He shall serve as my mountain’s guardian.”
Wukong smirked:
“Such mercy! If I knew that spell, I’d purge every black bear in these mountains.”
To Wukong, she ordered:
“Return to your master. Cause no more strife.”
Thus, the Buddha’s robe was reclaimed, and the Black Wind King’s rebellion quelled.
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