Bajie and Sha Wujing managed to recover their luggage.
They placed it on the horse, and by carving a path through the icy waters, they successfully reached the surface without much difficulty.
From above, the Monkey King nervously called down to them:
“And where is the Master?”
Bajie replied,
“To tell the truth, we don’t even know where to begin looking for him.”
Descent into the Depths
Sha Wujing dove into the water, and the three of them plunged into the Heaven-Reaching River. After traveling more than a hundred kilometers, they came upon a tall building upon which was written in large characters: Turtle Marine Mansion.
“This must be the monster’s residence,” said Wujing.
The Monkey King replied:
“I’ll scout ahead.”
Infiltration as a Shrimp
Shaking his body, Wukong transformed into a long-legged shrimp and with a couple of leaps slipped through the gate. He looked around and saw the monster seated in a prominent place, while his closest aides stood before him in two rows. Among them stood out a perch, who also occupied an honored position. All those present were deeply engaged in a discussion about the best way to devour Tang Monk.
The Monkey King cast searching glances in all directions but found no trace of his master. The only thing he noticed was a shrimp with a very large belly guarding the entrance to a corridor leading westward. Approaching it, the Monkey King greeted the creature and asked:
“The Great King is discussing with the others how best to eat that Tang monk, but what I want to know is—where is that extraordinary person now?”
The shrimp replied:
“Now he’s locked inside a huge stone chest at the back of the palace. If his disciples don’t show up tomorrow, he will be devoured by all of us in a splendid banquet, complete with music.”
Discovery and Rescue Plan
The Monkey King chatted with the shrimp a while longer, then quietly withdrew toward the back of the palace. It wasn’t long before he found the stone chest. Pressing his ear close to it, he heard the sobs of Tripitaka.
Hearing his teacher’s lamentations, Wukong could no longer contain himself and called out:
“Please don’t worry, Master. Wukong is here to help you!”
“Get me out of here!” pleaded Tripitaka.
The Monkey King advised him:
“Try to calm yourself. Before I set you free, I must deal with that monster.”
Tripitaka insisted:
“Please hurry! One more day in here and I’ll suffocate to death.”
Trying to soothe him, the Monkey King said:
“I promise nothing will happen to you. Now I must go.”
Luring the Monster Out
Turning around, he leapt to the door and resumed his usual form. Jumping upward, he met Bajie and Sha Wujing.
“Did you find anything out?” they asked.
The Monkey King replied:
“It was that monster who captured the Master. Fortunately, he hasn’t been harmed yet—he’s locked inside a stone chest. I think you should challenge him while I go to the surface. If you can defeat him, do so without hesitation. But if you can’t handle him, pretend you’re losing strength and lure him out of the water. That’s when I’ll make sure he gets what he deserves.”
Sha Wujing agreed:
“Alright. You can go with peace of mind. We’ll take care of everything.”
Approaching the gate, Bajie roared in a mighty voice:
“Release my Master at once, you cursed beast!”
The demons on guard ran inside to report to their Lord:
“There’s someone outside demanding the immediate release of his master.”
The Great King of Miraculous Power remarked:
“It must be those monks who attacked me. Bring me my armor.”
The monster grabbed his weapon and marched to the gate.
Without hesitation, the monster charged at the two monks.
For more than two hours, they battled beneath the water without either side gaining the upper hand. Realizing all his efforts were in vain, Bajie gave a signal to Sha Wujing, and the two pretended to reach the limit of their strength. Without shame, they turned and fled, dragging their weapons behind them.
Wukong’s Ambush
The Great King of Miraculous Power chased after them toward the surface.
Stationed on the eastern bank, Wukong stared intently at the water without blinking once. Suddenly, the surface churned, and cries and shouts rang out. Bajie appeared first, shouting frantically:
“He’s coming! He’s coming!”
Sha Wujing followed closely behind, equally excited:
“He’s here already!”
“Where do you think you’re going?” the monster bellowed.
But the moment he emerged from the water, he came face to face with the Monkey King, who confronted him, shouting:
“Taste my staff, you filthy beast!”
With unexpected agility, the monster dodged aside and skillfully blocked the blow with his mace. After three exchanges, the monster began to tire and, turning tail, dove back into the water, vanishing among a tangle of whirlpools and waves.
Leave a Reply