There was a scholar in Binzhou, Shandong Province. One day,he was reading in his studio when there was a knock at the door. He answered it and saw a white-haired old man in plain clothes. The scholar let him in and asked his name.
In ancient Chinese mythology, plants and flowers can cultivate spiritual awareness over centuries, transforming into demons or immortals. Journey to the West features such beings, notably in Chapter 64, where tree spirits—including the Apricot Immortal—play pivotal roles.
In Journey to the West, most female spirits or demons capture the Tang Monk because they desire to marry him. Only two exceptions exist: the White Bone Spirit and the Seven Spider Spirits. Both groups sought the Tang Sanzang’s “flesh” (for immortality) and showed no sexual or romantic interest in men.