Meanwhile, the monster had risen high into the air and thus saved its life. The Pilgrim’s blow did not harm it in the least, for as already mentioned, it used magic to send its spirit soaring just in time.
When the young immortals discovered the truth, they intensified their insults — which finally drove the Monkey King to the edge of his patience.
The Monkey King pulled the reins and led his master onto the main road. After several hours of travel, they came upon a mountain of extraordinary height.
After leaving the last village, the pilgrims had barely traveled half a day when they reached a towering, jagged mountain. A fierce gale suddenly roared through the valley. Tripitaka cried out in alarm: “Wukong! The wind is rising!”
The master and disciple traveled for some six or seven days in the wilderness. One day, when it was getting late, they saw a village in the distance. “Wukong,” said Tripitaka, “look! There’s a village over there. How about asking for lodging for the night before we travel again tomorrow?”