Monk Sha ventured deeper into the forest in search of Bajie. Though he walked more than ten kilometers, he saw no sign of any village.
Suddenly, he heard someone speaking from within a thicket. Carefully pushing aside some branches, he discovered it was the pig—talking in his sleep.
“Fool! The Master sent you to find food, and here you are sleeping. When did he give you permission to rest at your leisure?”
Bajie mumbled:
“What… what time is it?”
The Sand Monk surged him:
“Get up at once. The Master says it no longer matters whether we find food or not. What he wants now is for us to find shelter for the night.”
Tang Monk Disappeared
When they returned to the place where they had left their Master, he was nowhere to be found.
They gathered the luggage, took hold of the horse’s reins, and began searching desperately through every corner of the forest, but could not locate him.
At last, they too arrived at the pagoda.
Pigsy said to Monk Sha:
“I’m sure the Master has found lodging here and has already been served vegetarian food.”
Sand Monk advised cautiously:
“We must not act rashly. We don’t yet know if this is a safe place. I think we should take a look first.”
They approached the door and were surprised to find it closed. Above the lintel hung a jade tablet inscribed with these words: Pot Mountain, Moon Flow Cave(Casserole Mountain, Current-Moon Cave).
Exclaimed Monk Sha:
“This is no monastery—it’s the dwelling of a monster.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic,” replied Bajie.
“Tie up the horse and watch over the luggage. I’ll go ask a few questions of those inside.”
Confronting the Yellow-Robed Demon
Trident in hand, he stepped closer and began shouting:
“Open the gate! Open the gate!”
The little demons saw them and rushed to report to their master:
“They’ve arrived.”
The monster exclaimed excitedly:
“Bring me my armor at once!”
Then the Yellow-Robed Demon seized his saber and strode out of his mansion.
“Where do you come from,” he challenged, “and why dare you come knocking at my door and disturbing my peace?”
Bajie replied mockingly:
“Don’t you recognize me? I am bound for the Western Paradise by the express command of the Great Emperor of the Tang, whose disciple—and brother—is none other than my Master, the venerable Tripitaka. If my Master is staying in your house, let him leave at once. Otherwise, I shall raze your mansion to the ground.”
The monster laughed aloud:
“You speak truly. I have indeed hosted Monk Tang and could not refuse him the sweetness of my hospitality. In fact, I just prepared some dumplings stuffed with human flesh. If you’d like to try them yourselves, don’t hesitate to enter my humble home. How does that sound?”
Bajie would have accepted the invitation on the spot, had Monk Sha not stopped him, saying:
“Don’t you realize he’s trying to trick you? Since when have you started eating human flesh?”
Realizing the monster’s intent, the pig readied himself for battle. He raised his trident and brought it crashing down with all his might toward the demon’s face. But the monster dodged aside, swiftly raised his saber, and the two opponents leapt into the air, continuing their duel among the clouds using magical powers. The Sand Monk abandoned the luggage and the horse to join the fray.
The Princess’s Plea
Meanwhile, deep within the cave, Monk Tang wept bitterly. Just then, a woman emerged from the inner chambers and asked:
“From where do you come, and why have they bound you here?”
Tripitaka replied sorrowfully:
“There is no need to ask me anything else, Bodhisattva. From the moment I crossed that threshold, fate decreed I would never leave again. If you wish to devour me, do so without hesitation. Why trouble yourself with questioning me?”
The woman responded:
“I do not eat people. My home lies three hundred kilometers to the west, in a city known as the Kingdom of the Sacred Elephant(Precious Image Kingdom). I am the third daughter of the King, and since childhood have been called Shame of the Hundred Flowers(Hundred Flowers’ Shame). Thirteen years ago, on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, while I was admiring the moon’s beauty, this monster carried me off on a whirlwind and brought me here. Since then, I have been forced to share his bed and bear his children, unable to send word to the court or see my parents even once. But tell me—who are you, and how did he capture you?”
Monk Tang replied:
“I was sent to the Western Paradise in search of the sacred scriptures. While crossing these mountains, I decided to take a walk and ended up here. The only reason he hasn’t devoured me yet is that he plans to catch my disciples as well and steam us all together.”
Smiling gently, the princess said:
“Do not worry. I will do everything I can to help you escape. The Kingdom of the Sacred Elephant is not far from here, and it lies along your path. All I ask in return is that you deliver a letter to my parents. Though he is a beast, my husband truly loves me, and if I ask him, he will let you go.”
Monk Tang concluded:
“In that case, I will gladly serve as your messenger. No small price is too great for the sake of saving one’s life.”
The Demon’s Reluctant Mercy
The princess pushed her way through the monsters gathered before the main entrance and shouted with all her strength:
“My Lord in the Yellow Robe!”
The monster was locked in fierce combat with Bajie and Monk Sha, but upon hearing the princess’s cries, he quickly descended from the clouds. Setting aside his saber, he grabbed her and demanded:
“What is it you want?”
She answered:
“A moment ago, I dreamed of a golden-armored god. In my youth, when I still lived in the palace, I vowed to the heavens that if I ever found a good husband, I would feed every monk I encountered throughout my life. I must admit I found such happiness at your side that I completely forgot that vow. I felt so uneasy that I came immediately to tell you. In doing so, I met a monk tied to the execution post, which alarmed me even further. I beg you—show mercy and let him go the way he came. Forgive him as if fulfilling my original vow.”
The monster calmed down and said:
“I thought it was something more serious. Very well. I shall let him go. When I feel like eating men again, I can find whomever I please elsewhere.”
Then he gripped his saber with both hands and shouted:
“Hey there, Zhu Bajie! Come down for a moment! Though I fear you not at all, I shall stop fighting. Moreover, I have just released your Master at my wife’s request. So continue your journey westward in peace. But remember—if you ever pass through my domain again, I will show you no mercy.”
Journey Resumes
Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie and the Sand Monk felt such relief that for a moment it seemed as though they had just escaped the gates of hell.
Bajie led the way, with Monk Sha carrying the luggage behind. As evening fell, they sought shelter for the night, but resumed their journey when the roosters crowed. Day after day this repeated itself, and in this manner, they traveled no fewer than two hundred and ninety-nine kilometers. One day, they looked up and finally saw, in the distance, a beautiful city. There was no doubt—it was the Kingdom of the Sacred Elephant.
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