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Welcome to the Chinese Lore Podcast, where I retell classic Chinese stories in English. This is episode 53 of Journey to the West. Last time, after the local demon, the Great King of Numinous Power, used some ice shenanigans to abduct San Zang, the three disciples found his lair at the bottom of the Heaven Penetrating River. While Sun Wukong waited above, Zhu Bajie and Sha Zeng went to challenge for battle. But before they traded blows, they first engaged in a heated war of words. After trading a couple insults, the Demon King scoffed at you. Just all talk. Yes, I did freeze the river and abduct your master. You must be here to get him back. But this is not like our last encounter. Last time, I didn't bring any weapons and you got lucky. But now, jump. Don't you run away. Let's fight. Three exchanges. If you can beat me, then I will return your master. But if not, then I will eat you too. Oh, good, son. That's exactly what I want. Take a look at my rake. Zhu Bajie shot back. Oh, so you only recently became a monk? The Demon King said. Well, looks like you do have some powers. How did you figure out that I only became a monk in recent years? You know how to use a rake? The Demon King said. You must have been working in someone's garden and stole their garden tool. Son, this is no gardening tool. Bajie said. He then launched into a whole poem extolling the virtues of his rake. And since we've already heard something along those lines before, I'm not going to belabor the point here. In any case, the Demon King refused to believe how awesome the rake was, and he raised his bronze mallet and attacked. And Ba Jie parried his blow and said, damn creature. Turns out you also only became a demon recently. How do you figure? The Demon King asked. Well, you wield a bronze mallet. You must have worked the bellows at a silversmith shop and stole this. And of course, that led the Demon King to go on a poetic rant of his own to sing the praises of his mallet. Sha Zeng, meanwhile, couldn't take it anymore. He shouted, demon, stop boasting. As they say, talk is cheap. It's what you do that matters. Don't run and taste my Buddhist staff. The demon deflected Sha Zheng's attack and said, you're a recent convert too. How do you figure? You look like a doughboy. Why do you say that? Well, if you weren't one, why are you using a rolling pin and so Sha Zeng explained the awesomeness of his demon taming staff. Now that everybody had a chance to boast about their weapons and drag this chapter out some more, the three finally got down to trading blows for real. It was a ferocious battle that lasted for four hours, and still neither side had the upper hand. Seeing that they weren't going to beat the demon, Ba Jie flashed Sha Zeng a look, and both of them pretended to fall back in defeat. The demon shouted to his lackeys, little ones, defend this position. I will chase down those scoundrels and capture them so you can eat them. So the Demon King now darted through the water and chased Ba Jie and Sha Zeng to the surface of the river. Well, Sun Wukong was waiting up top, watching the river closely. Suddenly, he noticed the waves churning and roaring. Ba Jie was the first to leap out of the water. He jumped onto shore, shouting, he's coming, he's coming. Sha Zeng was the next to get out, and he also told Wukong that the demon was right behind him. Just then, they heard the demon shouting, don't you run. But as soon as the demon surfaced, Sun Wukong shouted, taste my rod. And attacked. The demon dodged his blow, and the two now fought on the bank of the river. But within three exchanges, the demon recognized that he was no match for Sun Wukong, so he feigned the blow and dived back into the water, vanishing into a river that was now just as calm as before. Wukong returned to the high grounds to meet his brothers. Sha Zong said, brother, that demon didn't seem like much on land, but he was a tough opponent in the water. Brother, Ba Jie and I took him on together, and we could only fight him to a stalemate. How can we save Master? We must not dawdle or he might harm Master. Hukong said, brother, let me go. Lure him out again. This time, don't make a sound. Just wait in the air. When he pokes his head out, just hit him on the head really hard. Even if you don't kill him, you will daze him and then I can finish him off with my rake. Quite right. Wukong agreed. Only by tag teaming can we succeed. So Ba Jie and Sha Zeng went back into the water together. The Demon King meanwhile, had fled back to his palace. His new sworn sister, the Mandarin Fish Demon, said to him, my Lord, it's a good thing you were smart enough to run for your life. Another few exchanges against that monk and you would be done for. But I recognize him. Who Is he? Years ago, when I lived in the East Sea, I heard the old Dragon King sing his praises. He is the Handsome Monkey King, the Great Sage, equal to Heaven who turned heaven upside down 500 years ago. Now he has joined the Buddhist school and is protecting the Tang monk on his pilgrimage. He is called Sun Wukong, the Pilgrim. He has great powers and can turn into many things. My Lord, how could you poke that hornet's nest? Don't fight him anymore. Just then, a lackey reported that Zhu Bajian, Sha Zeng were back, demanding battle again. But the demon king said, my sister is right. I'm not going back out there. Let's see what they can do about it. So he ordered his lackeys to shut the gates tight and not open no matter what their foes said. So the demon lackeys barricaded the gates with rocks. Ba Jie and Sha Zeng called out in challenge for a long while, but got no response. Zhu Bajie then tried to smash the door in with his rake, but it was shut tight and won't budge no matter how hard he hit it. Sha Zeng advised that they should huddle with Sun Wukong about how to proceed, so the two of them returned to the surface. Wukong was hanging out in the sky, waiting to strike. But when he saw only his fellow disciples come back out, he came down and asked what happened. Ba Jie and Sha Zeng told him that the Demon King was refusing to come out and had barricaded the door. In that case, there's nothing we can do. Hu Gong said. You two stay on the bank and keep watch. Don't let the demon go anywhere. I'll be back. Brother, where are you going? Ba Jie asked. I'm going to see the Bodhisattva Guanyin to find out where this demon came from. And then I'm going to find his ancestral home and capture his family and neighbors so that we can save Master. Brother, that's a waste of time. Ba Jie chuckled. It's my time to waste. Don't worry, I'll be right back. And with that, Wukong zoomed off for the South Sea. Within an hour, he descended on Mount Portulaca, the abode of Guan Yin. He saw the 24 spirits along with the Mountain Guardian, aka the former Black Bear Demon, Sudana, aka the former Red Boy, Mu Zha, Guan Yin's top disciple, and the Pearl Bearing Dragon Maiden, Guan Yin's attendant. They all greeted him, and he told them that he had business with Guan Yin. But they told him Guan Yin left this morning and did not allow anyone to accompany her. She went into her bamboo grove alone to relax. She knew that you would come today, so she told us to wait for you here and tell you that she can't see you right away. Please wait over there by the cliff for a bit. When she comes back out, she will explain everything. So Wukong sat down. Sudana, AKA Red Boy immediately approached, bowed and said, great Sage, thanks to your goodwill previously, I was fortunate enough to be taken under Guan Yin's wings. I never leave her side and wait for her command by her Lotus Deus. It's a great kindness and compassion. Wukong smiled and replied, you were blinded by your demonic powers, but now you have attained the true way. Only now do you recognize how kind I was. But while they chatted, Wukong was getting impatient. He said to the spirits, please go announce me. If we delay, it could cost my master his life. But all the spirits refused, since Guan Yin had specifically instructed them to wait for her to come out. Wukong, however, just couldn't wait a second longer and he ran into the bamboo grove. He looked around and saw Guan Yin sitting cross legged on a mat of withered reeds. Instead of her usual graceful outfit, she wore a close fitting jacket, a brocade skirt and no shoes. Her hair was loosely gathered into a single coil, unadorned with jewelry. So basically she looked like she was still in her PJs. Her arms were uncovered and her hands held a steel knife with which she was stripping bamboo. Seeing her, Wukong couldn't wait anymore. He spoke up. Bodhisattva, my sincere greetings. Go wait outside. Guan Yun replied. Wukong kowtowed and said, my master is in trouble. I have to come ask you about the origins of that demon in the Heaven Penetrating River. Go outside for now. Wait for me. Guan Yun repeated curtly. Wukong did not dare to insist, so he walked out of the bamboo grove and asked the spirits, what's up with the Bodhisattva today? Why isn't she sitting on her lotus dais? Why has she not brushed her hair and gotten dressed? Why is she stripping bamboo in the woods instead? The spirits told them, we have no idea. She left her cave this morning without getting dressed and just went into the woods. She told us to wait here for you, so she must be doing something for your sake. Wukong had no choice but to wait momentarily. Guanyin came out of the grove holding a bamboo basket in her hand. Wukong let's go save the Tang monk, she said. Wukong hurriedly kneeled and said, I dare not rush you. Please get dressed and ascend your dais. No need. Let's go, she said. And so Guanyin took to the air, and Wukong hurriedly followed. Soon they had arrived at the Heaven Penetrating river, and when Zhu Bajie saw them, he said to brother, sun is too impatient. What kind of ruckus did he cause in the South Sea that would prompt the Bodhisattva to come here? Without first brushing her hair or getting dressed, Guan Yin and Wukong landed on the bank of the river, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Zeng kneeled to greet her. She then unfastened the cord around her waist and tied it to the basket. She flew onto a cloud, tossed the basket into the river and held onto the other end of the cord and started muttering, let the dead go, let the living remain. After reciting that line seven times, she pulled the basket back up. Inside was a gleaming goldfish, still blinking and moving its scales. Wukong, hurry up and go save your master. Guan Ying called out, but we haven't caught that demon yet. How can I save him? Wukong shouted back, the demon is in this basket. Guan Yin said Zhu Bajian. Sha Zeng bowed and asked, how did this fish gain such powers? He was a goldfish that grew up in my lotus pond, Guanyin explained. Every day he would swim to the surface of the water and listen to my teachings. That is how he gained his cultivation. And the mallet that he wields was a lotus root in my pond that had not yet bloomed. He forged it into a weapon. One day while the tide was in, he escaped and came here. This morning I was looking at the flowers in my pond, but did not see the scoundrel come pay his respects. So I did a little divination and figured out that he had turned into a demon here and that he was going to harm your master. That is why I came here before. I even got dressed and made a basket to capture him. Wukong now, said Bodhisattva, please wait for a moment. Let me summon the people of Chen Family Village to glimpse your visage. That will make them grateful for your kindness, and we can tell them that you tamed the demon. That way they will faithfully worship you. Guan Yin agreed. So Ba Jie and Sha Zeng rushed back to the village and shouted, hey, everyone, come see the real Bodhisattva. Guanyin. The entire village rushed to the bank of the river and kowtowed, not caring that they were kneeling in mud or water. One person in the group was a skilled painter, and he later painted a portrait of Guan Yin with the fish basket. Anyway, Guan Yin now returned to her home while Bajie and Sha Zeng made their way underwater to the demon's palace to look for San Zang. There they found that all the demon lackeys were dead and rotting. They went to the back of the palace, pried open the stone chest and and carried San Zang up to the surface. The two old patriarchs of the Chen family now kowtowed and said to sir, you didn't listen to our pleas for you to wait. That is why you endured such suffering. Oh, no more of that. Wukong said. From now on, you don't have to provide sacrifices anymore. That demon King has been eliminated and can never harm you again. Old man, we'll have to trouble you to find a boat to ferry us across. The Chen family immediately snapped to and was in a tizzy preparing boats, when suddenly they heard a voice ring out from the Great Sage. No need for boats and no need to make them spend money. I can ferry your group across. Everyone was startled and some of the more cowardly folks ran back to the house. The bolder ones, meanwhile, stayed back and looked on momentarily. A creature emerged from from the water. It was an old giant turtle. This turtle called out, great Sage, no need to hire a boat. I will ferry you and your master and fellow disciples across. Wukong raised his golden rod and said, damn creature, if you dare to approach, I will end you. Great Sage, out of gratitude for your kindness, I am offering to ferry your party across. Why do you want to hit me? What kindness have I done for you? Great Sage, that palace under the river used to be my home. It had been passed on in my family for generations. Having awakened to my roots and cultivated my spiritual energy, I was practicing self cultivation here. I renovated my ancestral home into a palace. But nine years ago, that demon arrived here on the tide. He was vicious and fought me. He injured many of my descendants and abducted many others. I couldn't beat him, so he took over my house. But now, in order to save your master, you invited the Bodhisattva Guanyin to wipe away the evil and take away the demon. So the palace is mine once more. Now my family no longer needs to live in the mud. That kindness is greater than a mountain and deeper than the sea. Moreover, all the villagers no longer need to offer annual sacrifices. You have saved countless children. This is killing two birds with one stone. How can I not repay such kindness? Wukong was secretly delighted. Upon hearing that, he put away his rod and asked the are you truly sincere, Great Sage? Your kindness to me has been immense, so how would I dare to lie? If that's the case, then swear an oath to heaven. The old turtle promptly opened its red mouth and swore to heaven. If I don't sincerely deliver the Tang monk across the river, then may my body melt into blood. Satisfied, Wukong chuckled and asked the turtle to come forward. The old turtle swam to the bank and climbed onto land. His shell was like a round white lid four yards across. Master, let's hop on his back and ride across. Wukong told Sanzang. But even that thick, solid ice creaked and groaned. Sanzang fretted this turtle's back might not be steady. Master, don't worry. The turtle reassured him. I am steadier than that ice. If I so much as tilt in the slightest, then I don't get any credit. Wukong then said, master, among living creatures, any being that can speak the human tongue would never tell a lie. Umm. Now we know that's a lie. Heck, we have seen Sun Wukong himself lie in human tongue numerous times. Not to mention all the demons on the journey west. But whatever. The pilgrims now brought San Zang's horse onto the back of the turtle and asked San Zang to stand to its left. Sha Zeng stood to the right of the horse, while Zhu Bajie stood behind it. Sun Wukong stood in front of the horse, but then he worried that the turtle might pull some trick, so he took off his tiger tendon belt and threaded it through the turtle's nostrils and held onto it as if it were reins on a horse. He then set one foot on a turtle's shell and the other on the turtle's head. He held the reins in one hand and his rod in the other. And then he said, old turtle, go slow. If you so much as tilt in the slightest, I'll bonk you on the head. Um, this is quite a way to treat somebody who's doing you a huge favor. But the old turtle did not seem to mind. He reassured Wukong and then slowly slipped into the water and swam as steadily as if he were walking on dry land. All the members of the Chen family village saw them off while burning incense, kowtowing and muttering the name of the Buddha. They did this all the way until the pilgrims had disappeared from sight. The pilgrims coasted across the river on the turtle's back, traversing hundreds of miles in a day. When they reached the opposite bank, they disembarked and were completely dry. After stepping onto land, San Zang pressed his palms together and bowed to thank the turtle, saying, I have nothing to reward you with. Wait until I return from fetching scriptures and I will thank you properly. Then, Master, there is no need to thank me, the turtle said, but I have heard that the Buddha is immortal and knows the past and the future. I have been cultivating my tao here for 1300 some years. Even though I have extended my life and can speak human words, I have not been able to shed my shell. When you reach the west, please ask the Buddha on my behalf about when I can shed my shell and attain human form. I will, I will, sanzang promised. The turtle now slipped back into the river, and the pilgrims resumed their journey west. It was now the height of winter. The forest's dim outlines seemed to fade into the mist, while the sharp ridges of the mountains stood stark and clear beyond the waters. After they traveled for a bit, the pilgrims came upon another mountain in their way. This one, like seemingly every other mountain, appeared tall and treacherous. Sanzang did his usual, um, that looks dangerous spiel and. And Sun Wukong gave his usual, oh, we got this response. And Sanzang did the usual thing of pressing forward despite his reservations. The party now ascended the mountain amid a snowfall, shivering. As they climbed up to a peak in the distance, they saw towers and pagodas inside the canyon, looking quite tranquil. Disciples, we're hungry and cold, San Zhang said, but fortunately they are pagodas and towers. Over there, it might be a manor or a temple. Let's go beg for some food and eat before we go farther. Sun Wukong trained his eyes on those structures, and he saw an ominous miasma rising from them. He told Sun Zang, master, that's not a good place. But they are towers and pagodas. What's wrong with them? Sun Zang asked. Master, you don't understand. There are lots of demons on the road west who are skilled at setting up some fake buildings to deceive people, be it towers or houses, terraces or dwellings. You know the saying that the dragon gives birth to nine types of offsprings? Well, one of those types can breathe out a vapor that makes buildings appear. If the air over a river turns dim and hazy, it's that dragon at work. Crows and magpies who fly across the river will be tricked into landing to rest by the tens of thousands, and then the dragon will swallow them all up in one gulp. That is a particularly cruel creature. Those buildings look ominous. You must not go there. Okay, then we won't go in. But I am really hungry. San Zang said, master, please dismount and sit here for a bit. Wu Gong said, let me go find some food for you. So San Zan got off his horse. Ba Jie hitched up the horse and Sha Zeng put down the luggage and gave Wukong their alms bowl. Wukong told good brother, you must not go any farther. Protect master and stay here. When I come back from fetching food, we will continue west. Wukong then said to Master, this is a dangerous place. Don't wander off. I'm going to find food now. No need to remind me. Just come back quick. I will wait for you here. Wukong then turned to leave, but he came right back and said, master, I know you can't sit still, so let me devise a way to help you stay still. Uh, you know, it was only a couple episodes back that Sanzang engaged in a contest to literally sit still for hours. How quickly we forget. But in any case, Sun Wukong now pulled out his golden rod and used it to draw a circle on the ground. He asked San Zang to sit in the center while Ba Jie and Sha Zeng stood by his side and also kept the horse and luggage close by. Wukong told San, this circle is like a steel wall. No wild beast or demon would dare to approach. But ya'll must not walk outside of it. Just sit in the center and you'll be fine. If you set foot outside it, you will meet with trouble for sure. You absolutely must do this. Sun Zhang agreed and sat down in the circle with Ba Jie and Sha Zeng. Wukong now took to the clouds and headed south to find a place where he could beg for food. After flying for a bit, he came upon a farmstead under an ancient tree that was so tall that it seemed to touch the sky. He descended and took a closer look. He saw several thatched houses situated next to snow covered willows, an ice encased pond and swaying green bamboo. A small bridge sat nearby, dusted with white frost. By the fence, narcissus blossoms were beginning to bloom. Icicles hung from the eaves like frozen chopsticks While the cold wind blew. It carried a strange fragrance and as the snow drifted, it concealed where the plum blossoms had opened. So basically it was another scene out of a Chinese inkbrush painting. While Wukong walked around the farmstead and took in the view, he heard the creak of a door, an old man came out holding a thornwood staff, wearing a sheepskin cloak, clad in a tattered monk's robe, and wearing sandals woven from cattail leaves. Leaning on his cane, he bowed toward the sky and said, the northwestern wind has picked up. It will brighten up tomorrow. Just then, from behind the old man, a dog ran out. It saw Wukong and started barking like crazy. The old man turned and saw Wukong holding an alms bow. Wukong greeted him and said, oh, Benefactor, I'm a monk sent by the Tang Kingdom in the east to go west to see the Buddha and request scriptures. We were passing through here. My master got hungry, so I have come to beg you for a meal. The old man nodded and said, elder, never mind begging for food, you're going the wrong way. No, I'm pretty sure I'm not. But the main thoroughfare to the west is about 300 miles to the north of here. Why aren't you following that road? Wukong laughed. Oh, we are. My master is sitting on that road right now, waiting for me to return with food. Monk, you are speaking nonsense. You say that your master is waiting on the main road for you to return with food, but even if you are adept at traveling, it will still take you six or seven days to cover that distance each way. Won't he starve? Oh, Benefactor, to tell you the truth, I have been away from my master's side for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Once I get the food, I need to make it back for lunch. The old man became afraid and thought that Wukong was some kind of ghost. He turned and tried to run back inside, but Wukong grabbed him and asked, benefactor, where are you going? If you have food, please hurry up and give me some. It's not convenient. Not convenient? The old man stammered. Go find another house. Oh, listen to you. You said that I have gone 300 some miles to get to this place. If I have to go to another house, won't that be another 300 some miles? Then my master would really starve. To tell you the truth, we have six or seven people in our family. The old man said, we just started cooking a little bit of rice and. And it's not fully cooked yet. Go take a spin somewhere and then come back. As the ancient said, going to three houses is not as good as sitting in one. Wukong retorted, I'll just wait here. The old man became annoyed at Wukong's insistence and raised his cane to conk Wukong on the head to see if Wukong will actually get any food out of this guy. Tune in to the next episode of the Chinese Lore Podcast. Thanks for listening.