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Welcome to the Chinese Lore Podcast, where I retell classic Chinese stories in English. This is episode 43 of Journey to the West. Last time, the pilgrims were crossing yet another mountain, when yet another hard luck case in need of rescue presented himself. This time, it was a seven year old boy hanging from a tree who said that he had been left there by bandits. San Zang took pity on him and freed him, and then told Sun Wukong to carry the boy. Sun Wukong did what he always did when tasked with carrying people of unknown origins. He killed the passenger. But just then, a wild gale whipped up, and by the time it died down, Sanzang had vanished. So yeah, that's no boy. That was a demon, albeit a boy demon. Some years back, this demon had heard the news that there was a sage monk from the Tang Kingdom who was heading west for scriptures, and that this guy was the tenth incarnation of Golden Sakata, the second disciple of the Buddha. So eating a piece of his flesh would make you immortal. Demon Boy was eagerly awaiting the pilgrims arrival on his mountain. When they finally showed up, he was spying on them in the air in the form of a red cloud, which set off Wukong's red alert. Seeing the three fierce looking disciples surrounding San Zang at the drop of a hat, the demon decided to use guile instead. So he turned himself into the boy in distress. And while Sun Wukong was carrying him, the demon sensed that Wukong was harboring thoughts of committing a little pedicide. So he quickly flew into the air, leaving behind a fake mortal coil for Wukong to rip apart. As he watched Wukong go to town in his doppelganger, Demon Boy couldn't help but be irate. He thought to himself, this monkey is too vicious. Even if I was a demon intent on harming your master, I haven't even made a move yet, so why did you tear me apart like this? But he was a demon intent on doing harm to Sanzang. So Demon Boy then cast his wind spell and made off with Sanzang. In the chaos, after the wind subsided, the three disciples gathered and noticed that their master was gone. God, this is getting old and we're not even halfway through this novel yet. After the disciples did their usual thing of did you see where Master went? No. Did you? Sun Wukong said, brothers, let's just break up the band. Right, Right, Zhu Bajie agreed. Let's break up now and each go our separate ways. The road west is endless. When will we ever make it there? But Shazeng was so taken aback that he felt his body go numb. He asked, brother, what are you saying? We had committed offenses not prior days. Thankfully, the Bodhisattva Guanyin counseled us and brought us into the Buddhist school. We all agreed to protect the Tang monk, to go west to see the Buddha and fetch scripture, so as to atone for our offenses. How can we talk about disbanding after coming this far? We must not go against the Bodhisattva's compassion or damage our own virtues. Otherwise, people would laugh at us for having no persistence. Brother, you are right. Wukong said the Master refuses to listen. My fiery golden eyes can tell good from evil. This wind just now was created by that boy who was hanging from the tree. I recognized that he was a demon, but you did not and neither did Master. He thought that boy was a good person, so he told me to carry him. I tried to deal with the demon and he tried to crush me with magic. So I tore him to pieces. But he must have used magic to slip away and created that wind to abduct Master. Master always refuses to listen to me. That's why I'm disheartened and said that we should disband. But given your sincerity, I'm not sure what to do. Ba Jie, what do you think? Zhu Bajie surprisingly also backtracked. I misspoke just now. Honestly, we should not disband. Brother, there is no choice except to do as Brother Sha says. Let's go find that demon and save Master. So Sun Wukong perked up and said, brothers, let's stay united in purpose. Get the luggage and the horse and let's go up the mountain and find that demon and save our master. So the three of them searched all around in a 20 some mile radius, but found nothing, not even birds or animals. Wukong got impatient, so he flew to the top of a peak, shouted change and sprouted three heads and six arms wielding three golden rods. He now started smashing everything in sight, which prompted Ba Jie to say to oh crap. Brother sun is letting off steam because we can't find Master. After this went on for a little while, a group of shabby looking local mountain and earth spirits showed up all dressed in rags and tatters, with no seats to their pants or legs to their trousers. They kneeled in front of the peak and paid their respects to Wukong. How come there are so many of you here? Wukong said. The local spirits answered, Great Sage, this mountain is called the 600 mile Drill Point Mountain. For every 10 miles, there is a Mountain spirit and an earth spirit. So there are 30 of each in all. We found out yesterday that you had arrived, but we couldn't gather all of our numbers on short notice, hence our belated welcome. Please forgive us. I'll spare you for now. Wukong said. Answer me this. How many demons are there on this mountain? Oh, Granddaddy, just the one demon is enough to plunge us all into poverty and deny us of offerings or incense. None of us can clothe or feed ourselves. How many more demons can we stand? Does that demon live on the front side or the backside of the mountain? Neither. There is a ravine in the center of this mountain called the Dead Pine Ravine. Next to that ravine is a cave called the Fire Cloud Cave. There's a demon lord there. He is very powerful and often forces us to do manual labor for him. And his lackeys often hit us up for money. But ya're gods from the spirit world. How would you have money? Wukong asked. Exactly. So all we can do is catch some game and present them as gifts. If we don't offer gifts, then he would come tear down our temples and rip away our clothes, and we would know no peace. Great Sage, please rid us of this demon and save all those who reside on this mountain. Wukong now asked, since he often forces you to work in his cave, do you know that demon's name? You might actually know him. The local spirit said. He is the son of the Bold Demon King by Lady Rakshasi. He once cultivated his Dao for 300 years on the Flaming Mountain, refining the true fire of Samadhi. He also has great magical powers. The Bold Demon King sent him here to watch over this mountain. His baby name is Red Boy and his nickname is the Holy Infant King. When he heard that, Wukong's mood brightened. He dismissed the local spirits, returned to his normal number of heads and arms, and leaped down from the peak to rejoin his brothers. He told them, don't worry anymore. Master will be fine. This demon is related to me? Zhu Bajie laughed. Brother, stop telling tall tales. You lived on the eastern continent, while this is the western continent. They're far apart and separated by rivers and mountains, not to mention two oceans. How can he be related to you? That group of people just now were the local earth and mountain spirits, Wukong explained. I asked them about the backstory on that demon, and they said that he's the son of the Bold Demon King and Lady Rakshasi, called Red Boy and nicknamed the Holy Infant King. Five hundred years ago, I traveled the world and met heroes across the land. That bold demon king was one of my seven sworn brothers, and I called him Big Brother. Since this demon is his son. Then when you work through my connections with his father, I am his uncle. How would he dare to harm my master? Let's go find him. Sha Zong chuckled. Brother, as the saying goes, if you don't visit for three years, you're not really related anymore. You haven't seen them for five or six hundred years, and you haven't had a drink with him or invited him over for holidays. Why would he consider you family? How can you think that way of people? Wukong said, as the saying goes, like a single leaf of duckweed drifting back to the Great Sea among people, how could we not meet again somewhere? Even if he doesn't treat me like family, I figure he at least won't harm Master. We don't need him to treat us to a feast. Just return our master. So the three disciples followed the main road and headed deeper into the mountain. They traveled for about 40 miles and then saw a pine forest up ahead. Within the forest, there was a stream flowing along a twisting ravine. The stream's water was pure and green, and at its head was a stone bridge that connected to a cave. Brothers, look. Wukong said. That jagged rock face must be where the demon lives. Let's figure out which of you will stay here to watch the luggage and horse, and which of you will come with me to tame that demon. Ba Jie piped up, brother, I have no patience for sitting around. I'll go with you. So they left Sha Zeng in charge of the luggage and horse, and then Wukong and Ba Jie grabbed their weapons and headed toward the cave. They saw a stone tablet by the door bearing the words Fire Cloud Cave of Dead Pine Ravine on Mount Hao. Out in front of the cave, a group of demon lackeys were playing around with weapons. Hukong shouted, you little ones, go tell your leader right now that if he returns my master, the Tang monk, at once, then I will spare the creatures of this cave. If he dares to utter half a no, I will topple your mountain and flatten your cave. The lackeys hurriedly dashed back into the cave, shut the door, and reported to their leader, the Red Boy. Now Red Boy had been busy prepping his meal. After he captured San Zang, he had his prisoners stripped, hogtied and bound up in the back of the cave while his lackeys washed him to prepare him for steaming. But meal prep was interrupted by word that Trouble was knocking on his door. So Red Boy came out from the back and asked, what? What's up? The lackeys told him that a hairy faced monk that looked like the God of Thunder and a long snout big ear monk were outside demanding their master back and making threats. Red Boy chuckled. That must be Sun Wukong and Zhu bajie. This is 50 miles away from where I abducted their master. How did they find their way here? Alright, little ones, push out our carts. So a few lackeys pushed five small carts out the front door. When Ba Jie saw this, he said to Wukong, brother, that demon must be afraid of us. So they are prepping their carts and getting ready to move. That can't be. Wukong said, let's see where they put those carts. The lackeys arranged the carts in a pattern of the five elements, Gold, wood, water, fire and earth. When they told Red Boy that all was ready, Red Boy had the lackeys in charge of his weapon bring out a long fire tipped spear. He took the spear and walked out barefoot, clad in only a brocade battle skirt. Wu Kong and Ba Jie sized him up. His face was white as if he was wearing powder. His lips were crimson, his temples coiled like blue clouds, and his eyebrows were split like a newborn moon. His battle skirt was embroidered with coiling dragons and phoenixes. And he brandished a spear. Who is making a ruckus outside my house? Red Boy shouted. Wukong stepped forward and laughed. Good nephew, drop the act. Earlier today, you fooled my master by pretending to be a sickly child hanging from a tree branch on the side of the road. I carried you out of the goodness of my heart, but you summoned a wind and abducted my master. You think I don't recognize you in this getup? Hurry up and send out my master. Don't insult your relative. Otherwise, when your father finds out, he might think that I was bullying you. That won't look good. But Red Boy scoffed angrily. You crazy monkey. How could I be related to you? You are spewing a mouthful of nonsense. I'm no nephew of yours. Oh, kiddo, you don't know it, but back in the day, way before you were born, your father and I were brothers. Monkey, that's total Bo. Who the hell are you? How can you be brothers with my father? You don't understand. I am that Sun Wukong who caused a ruckus in heaven 500 years ago. Before I went up to heaven, I traveled all over the four continents. At that time, I made it a point to visit all the heroes. Your father is the Bold Demon King known as the Great Sage who Pacifies Heaven. He was our Big brother. There was also a Flood Dragon Demon King called the Great Sage who Subdues the Sea. He was second. Third was the Rock Great King known as the Great Sage who Royals Heaven. Fourth was the Lion Camel Demon King called the Great Sage who Moves mountains. Number five was the Macaque Spirit King, the Great Sage who Commands the winds. Number six was the Marmoset Spirit King, the Great Sage who Drives the Gods. I was the Great Sage, equal to Heaven. Because of my small stature, I. I was Number seven. When the seven of us were hanging out, you weren't even born yet. But Red Boy refused to believe him and instead stabbed at him with the spear. Wukong quickly dodged the thrust, raised his rod and cursed. You little beast, show some respect to your elders. Take this. And Zi too, leaped into the air and started going at it. After 20 exchanges, even though there wasn't a winner yet, Sun Wukong was clearly on the offensive. Watching this, Zhu Bajie thought to himself, if that monkey lures that demon into a mistake and smacks him down, then I won't have a chance to get a piece of this credit. So he hoisted his rake and flew into the sky as well. He swung his rake at Red Boy's head. Red Boy was intimidated and quickly fell back. Wukong and Ba Jie gave chase. When they arrived back at the entrance to the cave, they saw Red Boy standing on the cart in the center hold, holding his spear in one hand while making a fist with the other. When he saw his foes approach, Red Boy punched his own nose twice. Zhu Bajie laughed. You scoundrel. Have you no shame? Are you trying to break your own nose to make it bleed so that you can give yourself a bloody face and go somewhere and accuse us of beating you up? But Red Boy now uttered an incantation and then breathed fire from his mouth and smoke from his nostrils. In the blink of an eye, a blaze ignited, and all five carts caught on fire. Red Boy breathed out a few more sprays of flames, and a roaring fire and thick smoke now engulfed the area in front of the cave, blocking out heaven and earth. Brother, this is trouble. Ba Jie said in a panic. This fire is going to roast me alive. He's going to put some seasoning on me and eat me. Let's get out of here. And so he ditched Sun Wukong and ran back across the ravine. Hukong, meanwhile, uttered a fire repellent spell. And charged into the flames in search of Red Boy. Seeing him come through the fire, Red Boy breathed out a few more mouthfuls of fire, even more intense than before. This proved to be too much even for Sun Wukong. He couldn't even see the road in front of him, so he had no choice but to leap out of the fire and fly away. Once Red Boy was certain that Wukong was gone, he retrieved his fire carts and led his lackeys and back inside the cave, shutting the door behind them and throwing a feast to celebrate. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong landed back on the other side of the ravine. There he heard Ba Jie and Sha Zeng talking inside the pine forest. Hukong went to them and chided Ba Jie, you dumb, dumb. You fled in fear of the demon's fire and left me by myself. What if something had happened to me? Ba Jie laughed. Brother, that demon called you out. You really don't know which way the wind is blowing. As the ancients said, those who recognize the times are called heroes. That demon refused to recognize you as his relative, and yet you insisted. And then when you were fighting, he unleashed that vicious fire, and yet you refused to flee and try to keep fighting. How were that demon's fighting skills compared to mine? Wukong asked. Oh, he's no match for you. Ba Jie said. And his skills with the spear, also not your equal. Ba Jie said, I saw that he was faltering, so I went to lend you a hand. But who knew he would retreat and then start that fire? See, you shouldn't have come. Wukong said, if I had fought him for few more exchanges, I would have landed a blow. While the two of them were arguing, Shazeng leaned against a pine tree and almost doubled over. Laughing, Wukong asked him, brother, what are you laughing about? Do you have some skill that can capture that demon and break his fire? If so, that would be to the benefit of all of us. As the saying goes, many hairs make a ball. If you can capture that demon and save Master, then you would have done a great service. Oh, I have no skills and I can't tame that demon. Sha Zong said, I was just laughing at how worked up you two were. What do you mean? That demon can't beat you in a fight. He just has the aid of his firepower. If you listen to me and counter his magic according to the five elements, it won't be hard at all. Wukong laughed and agreed. Brother, you're quite right. In our haste, we forgot about that. According to the logic of the elements. We should counter fire with water. If we go find some magic water to put out that demonic fire, we. We can save Master. Exactly. Sha Tsung said, let's not delay. Ok, you two stay here, but don't fight them. Let me go to the East Sea and borrow some forces and water from the Dragon King. Then we can extinguish the demonic flames and capture that insolent demon. Brother. Go without worry. We'll hold down the fort. Ba Jie said, so Sun Wukong somersaulted into the air and flew to the East Sea. He cast a water parting spell and dived in. He ran to a Yaksha spirit who was patrolling the seas. The Yaksha quickly reported to the Dragon King of the East Sea, Aoguang in the Water Crystal Palace. The Dragon King went out with his family and troops to welcome Wukong and invited him inside the palace. Once they sat down, Wukong recounted the trouble he was having and said, we figured that water can extinguish fire, so I am here to ask you for some water. Give me a heavy rain to douse the demonic flames and save the Tang monk. Great Sage, you are mistaken. The Dragon King said, if you want rain, you shouldn't be asking me. But you're the Dragon King of the Seas. You are in charge of rain. If not you, then who should I be asking? Although I am in charge of the rain, I dare not proceed on my own. I must have a decree from the Jade Emperor instructing me on where, when, and how much. I also need the official documents to mobilize the Thunder God, the Lightning Mother, the Wind God, and the Cloud acolyte. As the saying goes, a dragon can't move without clouds. Oh, I don't need wind, cloud, thunder or lightning. I just need some rainwater to put out the fire. Wukong said, great Sage, even if you don't need those things, I alone am not enough to help you. How about I gather my brothers to lend you a hand? Where are your brothers? They are the Dragon Kings of the south, north and West Seas. If I have to visit all three of those other seas, I might as well go to heaven and ask the Jade Emperor for a decree. Hukong chuckled. There's no need for you to go anywhere. I will sound my drums and gongs, and my brothers will come here. Wukong agreed. So the Dragon King, Ou Guang, had his men beat the drums and ring the gongs. Soon the other three Dragon Kings showed up and asked, what's up? Aog told them that Sun Wukong was There to ask for some rainwater to beat a demon. After they paid their respects and Wukong brought them all up to speed, the Dragon Kings set off with their armies. Sun Wukong led them back to Dead Pine Ravine and told them, this is the demon's lair. You all stay in the air and conceal yourselves for now. Let me go fight that demon. If I beat him, then you don't need to intervene. If I lose to him, there's also no need to intervene. But if he starts a fire, then on my signal, make it rain. Wukong then descended into the pine forest and found Zhu Bajie and Sha Zeng. He told them, I have brought the Dragon Kings. It might be a huge downpour. You two must take care and not let the luggage get drenched. I'll go fight that demon. Wukong now leaped across the ravine, went to the cave and demanded that Red Boy come out. When the lackeys reported this to Red Boy, he roared with laughter. That monkey must not have been harmed by the fire. So he's come back alright. This time I will not spare him. I must scorch his skin and flesh. C grabbed his spear and told his lackeys to push out the fire carts like before. He went outside and asked Wukong why he was back. And Wukong's like, uh, for my master, you monkey. Red Boy scoffed, you are so stubborn. That Tang monk may be your master, but he's going to be my meal. You still think you can get him back? Dream on. Hu Keng was irate and attacked with his golden rod. Red Boy hoisted his spear and they went at it again. They fought for 20 exchanges again, and Red Boy, seeing that he was not going to win in the fight again, punched himself in the nose twice and started spraying fire. As the flames spread, Wukong shouted, where are the Dragon Kings? Up in the sky, Ou Guang and his brothers started spraying water from their mouths. A heavy rain now poured from the heavens. The novel described the downpour. Down it pours, loose and sweeping, then thick and heavy. Loose and sweeping, like stars falling from the edge of the sky. Thick and heavy, like overturned waves crashing at the mouth of the sea. At first the drops were no bigger than fists. Soon after, it was as if vats were dumped and basins overturned. The flood soaks the ground till it shines. Duckhead green. High mountains are washed into Buddhahead Blue. From ravines the water flies like jade For a thousand yards in mountain streams, the waves surge like 10,000 strands of silver. At the three forked crossroads, all is filled to the brim in the Nine bending creek, the waters gradually level out. This is when the Tang monk meets calamity and a divine dragon comes to aid, tipping over the milky river itself, pouring it down upon the world below. And yet, despite this poetic deluge, the flames did not recede in the slightest. As it turns out, the Dragon King's rain could only put out mortal fires. But Red Boy's fire was a sacred magical flame, impervious to this rain. In fact, it got stronger, as if the rainwater was actually oil. Wukong now cast a fire repellent spell again and charged into the flames to find Red Boy. But he ran smack dab into a stream of smoke flashing from Red Boy's mouth. Now remember, owing to his time roasting in Lao Zi's cauldron, Sun Wukong had developed fiery golden eyes that were powerful but also came with the Achilles heel of being sensitive to smoke. His eyes watered up and Wukong had no choice but to turn and fly away. While Red Boy went back inside his cave, Wukong was engulfed in flames and smoke. He had no choice but to plunge into the ravine to try to put out the fire. While the flames went out, the combination of the heat of the fire and the cold of the water left him lifeless. Seeing this from the air, the Dragon Kings hurriedly stopped the rain and shouted to the other two, stop hiding in the woods. Go find your brother. Zhu Bajie and Sha Zeng heard this and rushed out from the forest with horse and luggage in tow. They searched along the ravine and saw a body floating down from the head of the stream. Sha Zeng leaped into the water and carried Wukong back onto the bank. Wukong was curled up stiffly, soaked through cold all over and showing no signs of life. To find out the fate of Sun Wukong and his captured master, tune in to the next episode of the Chinese Lore Podcast. Thanks for listening, Sa.