They traveled nearly seventy kilometers over the most treacherous terrain, yet found not the slightest trace of their master.
Summoning the Mountain Spirit
The Monkey King recited a spell, and a gentle breeze blew. In an instant, the local earth spirit appeared.
Wukong said:
“Our master has been kidnapped by a demon. We believe the demon lives here, but we don’t know where.”
The spirit replied:
“Heavens! Your master was likely taken by Red Boy(Red-Clad Boy), a very dangerous demon. There’s a stream in this mountain known as the Dry Pine Creek. Beside it lies a cave called the Fire Cloud Cave(Fiery Cloud Cave). It is home to a monster possessing extraordinary magical powers.”
The Monkey King asked:
“Do you know his name and origin?”
The local spirit answered:
“He is the son of the Bull Demon(Bull Demon King), raised personally by the Raksasi(Princess Iron Fan). For more than three hundred years, he practiced virtue on the Mountain of Eternal Flame, where he mastered the Samadhi fire technique and gained his formidable powers. The Bull Demon King advised him to settle in this mountain and make it his domain. Thus, the child once known as Red Boy now proudly bears the title of Great Saint Child King(Great Sage Holy Child).”
A Brotherhood Forgotten?
Grateful for the valuable information, Wukong dismissed the mountain god and turned to Bajie and Monk Sha:
“We can relax a little. That monster is actually an old friend of mine, and I’m certain he won’t harm our master.”
Bajie burst out laughing:
“Come on, don’t talk nonsense! You grew up in the continent of Purvavideha, while this place belongs to Aparagodaniya. Between them lie two oceans, countless rivers, and endless mountain ranges. How could he possibly be your friend?”
Wukong explained:
“I remember that about five hundred years ago, when I threw Heaven into chaos, I traveled across the world visiting the greatest heroes. Among them—yes, including the Bull Demon King—I formed a brotherhood of seven.”
The Sand Monk laughed too and said:
“You’re too naive. As the saying goes: Even brothers forget each other after three years apart. Not to mention you haven’t seen him—not three, but six hundred years! And during all that time, you’ve never shared a drink, visited one another, or exchanged gifts at festivals.”
The Monkey King reprimanded him:
“You shouldn’t judge people like that. Another saying goes: Just as a lotus leaf may cross the vast ocean, people may meet ten thousand times in life. Besides, even if he doesn’t recognize me as a friend of his father’s, I’m sure he wouldn’t dare harm our master. He might not throw us a banquet, but he’ll return Tripitaka to us safely.”
Without stopping day or night, and after traveling no less than a hundred kilometers, they arrived at an impressive pine forest. Flowing through it was a stream with emerald waters. They saw a stone bridge leading to the entrance of a cave.
Confrontation at the Cave
Above the cave’s gate stood a large stone tablet engraved with:
Fire Cloud Cave — Dry Pine Creek
A group of little demons were playing with swords and spears nearby. The Monkey King raised his voice and declared:
“Hey there! Go immediately and inform your lord that if he does not release the Tang Monk at once, I will destroy every last one of you and reduce your cave to rubble!”
The demons fled instantly into the cave, slammed shut the two massive stone doors, and rushed excitedly to report to their leader:
“Disaster, Great King! Ruin has come upon us!”
The monster asked calmly:
“Will you tell me what calamity you speak of?”
One of them explained:
“There is a monk outside with a face full of fur and a mouth like a monkey. With him is another who has huge ears and a long snout. They demand we hand over their master, the Tang Monk. They say that if we refuse, they will kill us all and destroy this cave down to its very foundations.”
The monster smiled contemptuously:
“It must be Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie. I don’t understand how they managed to arrive here so quickly.”
He then turned to his followers and ordered:
“Bring out the chariots!”
Without delay, several little demons opened a door and brought out five small chariots.
A demon reported:
“Great King, everything is ready.”
The monster concluded:
“In that case, bring me my spear.”
The armory demons quickly brought out a giant spear with a flaming head and handed it to their master.
“Who dares disturb the peace of my dwelling?” the monster roared in a powerful voice as he stepped outside the cave.
Kinship Claimed, Kinship Denied
“My dear nephew!” exclaimed the Pilgrim, approaching with a smile.
“Please stop acting like that. Release my master immediately. Don’t you want to preserve our family ties? If your father ever finds out about this, he might blame me, claiming I took advantage of a young boy like you—when in fact, it was quite the opposite.”
The monster replied angrily:
“Cursed monkey! Will you explain what family ties bind us? And why do you call me ‘nephew’?”
The Monkey King responded:
“I am Sun Wukong. About five hundred years ago, I, along with five other heroes, formed a brotherhood. Your father, the Bull Demon King, was our leader. I took the seventh and final position, as I was the youngest. At that time, you hadn’t even been born yet.”
The monster refused to believe this story and lunged at the Monkey King with a terrifying flaming spear.
More than twenty times their weapons clashed, yet neither side gained the upper hand.
Losing his patience, Bajie raised his trident and brought it crashing down on the monster’s head. Realizing he was outmatched, the beast turned and fled.
“After him! Don’t let him escape!” urged the Monkey King to the pig.
The Samadhi Fire Unleashed
The two chased after him, but when they reached the cave entrance, they saw the monster standing on one of the chariots—the one placed exactly in the center. Holding the flaming spear in one hand, he struck his nose twice with the other. Then he recited a spell, and immediately a wave of fire erupted from his mouth, while thick smoke poured from his nostrils.
Most terrifying of all, however, was that from the other four chariots also burst torrents of flame, rising high into the sky and blurring the entire landscape from view. Petrified, Bajie shouted to the Monkey King:
“This is getting really bad! If that mass of fire turns on us, we won’t be able to escape. We must flee now if we want to save our lives!”
Retreat from the Flames
No sooner had he spoken than he ran to the other side of the stream.
The smoke and flames became so intense that Wukong could barely see the path leading to the cave, let alone locate the monster. He turned around and leaped out of the sea of fire.
Discouraged, the Monkey King mounted a cloud, crossed back over the Dry Pine Creek, and returned to Bajie and Sha Monk.
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