Chapter 56: God's Madness Punishes the Bandits The Tao Calms the Restless Ape

A poem reads:A clear spirit is one with nothing in its mind; in perfect stillness, not a single thought arises.Firmly restrain the mind (monkey) and will (horse), keep them from running wild; be cautious and prudent, do not be overbearing.

Banish the six robbers, comprehend the three vehicles, and all attachments will cease, revealing clarity.When carnal desires are forever extinguished, you transcend to the true realm, enjoying the City of Ultimate Bliss in the West.

It is said that Tang Sanzang, with unwavering resolve and a fierce will to live, managed to preserve his intact body, thanks to the disciples who killed the Scorpion Demon and rescued him from Pipa Cave. They traveled on without incident, and it was already the bright season of summer, where one could see—

The warm breeze often carried the scent of wild orchids, and after a refreshing rain, new bamboo felt cool.Mugwort leaves covered the mountains, unpicked by visitors, while sedge flowers filled the streams, vying for beauty.Pomegranate blossoms were vibrant and pleased the buzzing bees, and the dense shade of willows by the stream delighted the orioles.How could the long journey accommodate glutinous rice dumplings? Dragon boats should be mourning on the Miluo River.

The master and disciples enjoyed the sights of the Dragon Boat Festival, letting the mid-summer pass by, when suddenly a tall mountain blocked their path. The Elder reined in his horse, turned back, and called out, "Wukong, there's a mountain ahead. I fear demons might be there again. We must be very careful." The disciples replied, "Master, do not worry. We have truly submitted ourselves and converted; what demons should we fear?" The Elder was very pleased to hear this. He urged his steed with his whip and let loose the reins, making the horse move like a swift dragon. Soon they ascended the mountain cliff, looked up, and truly it was—

At the peak, pines and cypresses touched the green clouds, while thorny bushes and wild vines hung from the rocky cliffs.Ten thousand *zhang* of towering majesty, a thousand layers of sheer drops.Ten thousand *zhang* of towering, precipitous peaks, a thousand layers of sheer, deep ravines.Green moss and emerald lichen covered the shaded rocks, ancient cypresses and tall pagodas formed a vast forest.Deep within the forest, one could hear secluded birds, whose skillful songs were truly worth composing.Water in the stream flowed like spilling jade, and fallen flowers by the roadside resembled piles of gold.The mountain terrain was treacherous, impassable; not even half a step was level in ten.Foxes and roe deer were encountered in pairs, white deer and black apes greeted them in twos.Suddenly, a tiger's roar startled the brave, and a crane's cry pierced the ears, reaching the heavenly court.Yellow plums and red apricots were fit for consumption, while wild grasses and common flowers remained nameless.

The four entered the mountain, traveling slowly for a long time. After crossing the summit and descending the western slope, they reached a stretch of flat land. Zhu Bajie, showing off his vigor, had Sha Wujing carry the luggage while he lifted his rake with both hands and went forward to urge the horse. The horse, however, was not afraid of him; no matter how the idiot clumsily prodded it, it only walked slowly and was not hurried. Pilgrim said, "Brother, why are you urging it? Just let it walk slowly." Bajie replied, "It's getting late, and after walking all day up the mountain, I'm hungry. Let's move a bit faster and find a household for some alms." Hearing this, Pilgrim said, "If that's the case, let me make it go faster." He swung his golden-banded cudgel, gave a shout, and the horse, slipping its reins, shot forward like an arrow along the flat path.

Why was the horse unafraid of Bajie but only afraid of Pilgrim? Five hundred years ago, Pilgrim was appointed by the Jade Emperor to oversee the celestial stables in the Great Luo Heaven, with the official title of Bimawen (Stable Keeper). This is why, to this day, all horses fear monkeys. The Elder could not hold the reins. He could only grip the saddle tightly, letting the horse gallop freely for about twenty *li* across open fields before it finally slowed to a walk.

As they were walking, they suddenly heard a gong strike, and from both sides of the road, over thirty people emerged, each armed with spears, swords, clubs, and staffs, blocking the way. They shouted, "Monks! Where do you think you're going!" Terrified, Tang Sanzang trembled, lost his balance, fell from his horse, and crouched in the roadside grass, crying out, "Great Kings, spare my life! Great Kings, spare my life!" The two leading strongmen said, "We won't hit you, but leave your travel money behind." Only then did the Elder realize they were a band of robbers. He cautiously raised his head to look at them, seeing that—

One had a blue face and tusks, daunting as the Grand Duke of Jupiter; the other had bulging, round eyes, like the God of Misfortune.Red hair at their temples seemed like leaping flames, and yellow beards under their chins resembled inserted needles.Both wore helmets adorned with tiger skins and colorful battle skirts of sable fur around their waists.One held a wolf-tooth club in his hand, and the other carried a *geta* vine across his shoulder.Truly, they were no less formidable than tigers from Ba Mountain, and indeed like dragons emerging from water.

Sanzang, seeing their ferocity, could only stand up, pressing his palms together at his chest, and said, "Great Kings, this poor monk was sent by the Tang Emperor from the Eastern Land to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven. Since leaving Chang'an, it has been a long time, and whatever travel money I had is spent. As a monk, I rely solely on alms; how could I possess wealth? I earnestly hope, Great Kings, you will be charitable and let this poor monk pass!" The two bandit leaders stepped forward and said, "We are here with fierce hearts, blocking this important road, specifically to obtain wealth. What do you mean by 'be charitable'? If you truly have no money, quickly take off your clothes and leave the white horse, and we will let you pass!" Sanzang said, "Amitabha! This robe of mine was made from cloth begged from one household and needles from another, gathered piece by piece through alms. If you strip it from me, wouldn't that be harming my life? It's just that in this life you act as heroes, but in the next, you'll be reborn as beasts!"

Hearing this, the bandit became furious, drew his great club, and advanced to strike. The Elder said nothing aloud but thought to himself, "Alas! You only speak of your own club, but you don't know about my disciple's club!" The bandit allowed no further discussion, raising his club and striking wildly. The Elder, who had never lied in his life, finding himself in such dire straits, had no choice but to utter a falsehood: "Two Great Kings, please don't strike yet. I have a young disciple who will arrive soon from behind. He has a few ounces of silver on him; I'll give it to you." The bandit said, "This monk doesn't want to suffer losses. Tie him up first." All the henchmen immediately set to work, binding him with a rope and hanging him high up in a tree.

Meanwhile, the three troublemakers followed behind. Bajie guffawed, "Master went so fast, I wonder where he's waiting for us." Suddenly seeing the Elder in the tree, he added, "Look, Master! Waiting is one thing, but he even has the nerve to climb a tree and swing on a vine for fun!" Pilgrim saw this and said, "Idiot, don't talk nonsense. Isn't Master hanging there? You two take your time; I'll go take a look." The Great Sage quickly climbed a high slope to examine closely, recognized them as a band of robbers, and was secretly delighted, thinking, "What luck, what luck! Business has come to my door!" Immediately, he turned, shook his body, and transformed into a clean-cut young monk, dressed in a black robe, aged just sixteen. With a blue cloth satchel on his shoulder, he strode forward and called out, "Master, what's going on? Who are these ruffians?" Sanzang said, "Disciple, why aren't you saving me? What are you asking about?" Pilgrim asked, "What business are they in?" Sanzang said, "This group of highwaymen stopped me, demanding toll money. Since I had nothing on me, they hung me here, just waiting for you to come and negotiate. Otherwise, give them this horse." Hearing this, Pilgrim laughed, "Master, you're hopeless. There are monks everywhere, but few are as timid as you. Emperor Taizong sent you to the Western Heaven to see the Buddha, who told you to give this Dragon Horse to others?" Sanzang said, "Disciple, hanging here and being demanded, what am I to do?" Pilgrim asked, "What did you tell them?" Sanzang said, "They beat me so fiercely, I had no choice but to confess your existence." Pilgrim said, "Master, you're so thoughtless. Why did you confess me?" Sanzang said, "I said you had some travel money on you, and told them not to beat me; it was just a word to save myself in the moment of distress." Pilgrim said, "Good, good, good! Thanks for putting me forward; that's exactly the kind of confession I like. If you could confess me seventy or eighty times a month, Old Sun would have even more business."

The group of bandits, seeing Pilgrim talking to his master, spread out and surrounded them, saying, "Young monk, your master says you have travel money on you. Hand it over quickly, and we'll spare your lives! If you utter even half a 'no,' we'll end your miserable lives!" Pilgrim put down his satchel and said, "Gentlemen, don't shout. There's some travel money in this satchel, not much, only about twenty ingots of horse-hoof gold and twenty or thirty ingots of silver dust. As for loose change, I haven't counted it. If you want it, take the whole satchel, but please do not strike my master. Ancient texts say virtue is the root, and wealth is the branch; this is a trivial matter. We monks have our own ways of obtaining things. If we meet an elder who provides alms to monks, we get money, we get clothes; how much do we really need? I only hope you'll release my master, and I'll hand it all over at once." The bandits, hearing this, were all very pleased and said, "This old monk is stingy, but this young monk is quite generous." They ordered, "Bring him down." The Elder, having regained his life, jumped onto his horse, ignoring Pilgrim, and whipped the horse, galloping straight back the way they came.

Pilgrim hurriedly called out, "You're going the wrong way!" He picked up the satchel, about to chase after him. The bandits blocked his way, saying, "Where are you going? Leave the travel money behind, or we'll punish you!" Pilgrim laughed, "Let's be clear, the travel money must be divided into three parts." The bandit leader said, "This young monk is too cunning; he wants to hide some from his master for himself. Never mind, bring it out and let's see. If there's a lot, we'll give you some secretly to buy fruit." Pilgrim said, "Brother, that's not what I meant. How could I have any travel money? I mean, since you two are robbing others of gold and silver, you must share some with me." Hearing this, the bandit was furious and cursed, "This monk doesn't know what's good for him! Not only do you refuse to give to me, but you ask me for it! Don't move, take this beating!" He swung a *geta* vine club and struck Pilgrim's bald head seven or eight times. Pilgrim pretended not to notice, and with a beaming smile, said, "Brother, if you hit like this, even if you keep hitting until next spring, it won't really matter." The bandit was greatly astonished and said, "This monk has a tough head!" Pilgrim laughed, "No, no, you overpraise me; it's just passable." The bandit allowed no further argument, and two or three of them attacked him wildly. Pilgrim said, "Gentlemen, calm your anger, let me get it out." The Great Sage, with a touch to his ear, pulled out an embroidery needle and said, "Gentlemen, as a monk, I truly didn't bring any travel money. But take this needle instead." The bandit said, "What bad luck! We let a rich monk go, but caught this poor bald ass! Do you think you're a good tailor? What do I need a needle for?" Hearing he didn't want it, Pilgrim held it in his hand, gave it a shake, and it transformed into a club as thick as a bowl. The bandit was afraid and said, "This monk is small, but he knows magic." Pilgrim thrust the club into the ground and said, "Gentlemen, if you can lift it, it's yours." Two bandits stepped forward to snatch it, but alas, it was like a dragonfly shaking a stone pillar; they couldn't move it even half an inch. This club was originally the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod, weighing thirteen thousand five hundred *jin* on the scales of heaven. How could these bandits know that? The Great Sage stepped forward, lightly picked it up, performed a 'python turning over' stance, and pointed at the robbers, saying, "You are truly unlucky to have met my Old Sun!" The bandit came forward and struck him another fifty or sixty times. Pilgrim laughed, "You must be tired of hitting. Let Old Sun hit you once, but don't take it seriously." Watch him unfold his club, give it a shake, and it became as thick as a well-curb and seven or eight *zhang* long. With a single swing, he knocked one bandit to the ground, his lips covered in dirt, never to speak again. The other one opened his mouth and cursed, "This bald fellow is utterly rude! No travel money, and you injure one of my men!" Pilgrim laughed, "Calm down, calm down! Let me hit them one by one, and I'll make sure none of you are left!" With another swing, he killed the second one, terrifying the remaining henchmen, who threw down their spears and clubs and fled in all directions for their lives.

Tang Sanzang, meanwhile, was riding his horse, fleeing east, when Bajie and Sha Seng stopped him, saying, "Master, where are you going? You're going the wrong way." The Elder reined in his horse and said, "Disciples, quickly go and tell your elder brother to be merciful with his cudgel and not to kill those robbers." Bajie said, "Master, wait here, I'll go." The idiot ran all the way to the front, shouting loudly, "Brother, Master told you not to hit people!" Pilgrim said, "Brother, did I hit anyone?" Bajie asked, "Where did those robbers go?" Pilgrim said, "The others have scattered, but the two leaders are sleeping here." Bajie laughed, "You two plague-ridden fellows, it seems you stayed up all night and are so tired that you didn't sleep elsewhere, but chose to sleep here!" The idiot walked over and looked, saying, "They're with me, all right, sleeping with their mouths wide open, drooling some sticky slobber." Pilgrim said, "Old Sun hit them so hard, their brains came out like tofu." Bajie said, "There's tofu in people's heads?" Pilgrim said, "Their brains came out!" Hearing that their brains came out, Bajie hurriedly ran back to Tang Sanzang and said, "They're all dispersed!" Sanzang said, "Goodness, goodness! Which way did they go?" Bajie said, "They're so beaten they can't even stand, where else could they go?" Sanzang asked, "What do you mean 'dispersed'?" Bajie said, "They're killed, what else would 'dispersed' mean?" Sanzang asked, "How were they killed?" Bajie said, "Two big holes were made in their heads." Sanzang ordered, "Untie the satchel, take out some money, and quickly go get two plasters to put on them." Bajie laughed, "Master, you're not serious. Plasters are only good for sores and swellings on living people. How can they be used for holes in dead people?" Sanzang said, "Are they truly dead?" He became angry, muttering incessantly about the 'monkey' this and the 'monkey' that. He turned his horse around and, with Sha Seng and Bajie, went to the dead men, seeing them bloody and sprawled at the foot of the slope.

The Elder could not bear to look. He immediately told Bajie, "Quickly use your rake to dig a pit and bury them. I will recite a death prayer for them." Bajie said, "Master, you're making the wrong person do the work. Pilgrim killed them, so he should be the one to bury them. Why make Old Pig do the earthwork?" Pilgrim, angered by his master's scolding, roared at Bajie, "You lazy oaf! Go bury them quickly! If you delay even a little, you'll get a cudgel!" The idiot panicked and dug about three feet deep down the slope, but below were only rocks and roots, jamming his rake. The idiot threw down his rake and began to dig with his snout. Where the ground was soft, one root of his snout dug two and a half feet, and two roots five feet deep. He buried the two bandit corpses and piled up a grave mound. Sanzang called out, "Wukong, bring incense and candles. I want to offer prayers and recite scriptures." Pilgrim pouted and said, "How tactless! In the middle of this mountain, with no village ahead and no inn behind, where am I to get incense and candles? Even if we had money, there's nowhere to buy them." Sanzang said angrily, "Monkey, step aside! I'll gather some earth and offer incense and prayers." Thus, Sanzang dismounted, saddened by the wild graves. The holy monk, with benevolent thoughts, prayed to the desolate mounds, saying—

"I bow to you, brave men, and ask you to hear the reason for this prayer: Know that I, your disciple, am a Tang man from the Eastern Land. By order of Emperor Taizong, I am journeying to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures. Just now, I arrived here and encountered many of you. I do not know from what prefecture, what province, what county you are, but you have formed a gang within this mountain. I used kind words and earnestly pleaded with you. But you did not listen; instead, you turned goodness into anger. Then you met Pilgrim, and under his cudgel, your bodies were harmed. Mindful of your exposed corpses, I have covered them with earth and piled up graves. I break green bamboo for incense and candles, without splendor, but with earnest intent; I take stubborn stones for offerings, without flavor, but with sincere truth. When you arrive at the Court of Hell to bring your case, overturning trees to find roots, know that he is surnamed Sun, and I am surnamed Chen; we bear different surnames. Every grievance has its source, every debt its owner; by no means accuse this scripture-seeking monk."

Bajie laughed, "Master has completely absolved himself. When he was hitting them, neither of us two was there either." Sanzang truly gathered more earth and prayed again, saying, "Brave men, if you bring a charge, only accuse Pilgrim. It has nothing to do with Bajie or Sha Seng either." The Great Sage, hearing this, couldn't help but laugh, "Master, you are truly heartless. For your scripture-fetching journey, I have expended so much diligence and toil, and now that I've killed these two petty thieves, you tell them to accuse Old Sun. Although I struck the blows, it was only for your sake. If you weren't going to the Western Heaven for scriptures, I wouldn't be your disciple. How would I have come here and killed people? Might as well let me offer a prayer to them myself." He took his iron cudgel, struck the grave three times, and said, "You plague-ridden robbers, listen up! I was hit by your seven or eight blows from the front, and seven or eight from the back, but they didn't hurt me at all. You provoked my temper, and by a mistake, I killed you. Go accuse me wherever you want, my Old Sun is truly unafraid: The Jade Emperor knows me, the Heavenly Kings follow me; the Twenty-Eight Constellations fear me, the Nine Luminous Planets dread me; city gods and magistrates kneel before me, the Great Emperor of Mount Tai fears me; the Ten Kings of Hell have served as my attendants, and the Five Path Fierce Gods have been my juniors. No matter the Three Realms, the Five Departments, or the Ten Directions' Rulers, all are close friends and familiar faces to me. Go accuse me wherever you please!" Sanzang, hearing such vicious words, was again alarmed and said, "Disciple, my prayer was to teach you the virtue of preserving life and being a benevolent person. Why do you take it so seriously?" Pilgrim said, "Master, this is not a game. Let's hurry and find a place to stay for the night." The Elder, still harboring resentment, could only mount his horse.

Sun Wukong harbored resentment, and Bajie and Sha Seng also felt envy. The master and disciples, outwardly agreeable but inwardly discontent, walked westward along the main road when they suddenly saw a manor house to the north of the road. Sanzang pointed with his whip and said, "Let's go there to ask for lodging." Bajie said, "Exactly." So they walked to the side of the manor and dismounted. Looking around, it was quite a pleasant place to stay, for one could see—

Wild flowers filled the path, various trees shaded the gate.Mountain streams flowed by distant banks, and level plots were sown with wheat and mallow.Reeds and rushes, dewy and moist, hosted light gulls; willows, stirred by a gentle breeze, cradled tired birds.Green cypresses and pines vied for emerald beauty, while red artemisia reflected smartweed, competing in fragrance.Village dogs barked, evening chickens crowed, cattle and sheep, full from grazing, returned with their herders.Cooking smoke curled into mist as millet ripened; it was truly twilight for a mountain household.

The Elder went forward and suddenly saw an old man emerge from the gate of the village house. He immediately greeted him and exchanged pleasantries. The old man asked, "Monks, where do you come from?" Sanzang said, "This poor monk is an envoy from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, sent to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven. Just passing through your esteemed region, and as dusk approaches, I specifically came to your kind abode to ask for a night's lodging." The old man smiled, "From your honorable place to mine, the journey is long and arduous. How could you cross rivers and climb mountains to arrive here alone?" Sanzang said, "This poor monk also has three disciples with him." The old man asked, "Where are your esteemed disciples?" Sanzang pointed with his finger, "They are standing by the main road there." The old man suddenly looked up, saw their ugly faces, and quickly turned to go back inside. Sanzang caught him and said, "Elder patron, please have mercy, I beg for a night's lodging!" The old man, trembling, could hardly speak, shaking his head and waving his hands, "N-no, no, no, they don't look human! Th-they are, they are, they are a few demons!" Sanzang smiled apologetically, "Patron, please don't be afraid. My disciples naturally have such appearances; they are not demons!" The old man said, "Oh my goodness! One is a yaksha, one is a horse-face demon, and one is a thunder god!" Hearing this, Pilgrim shouted in a stern voice, "The Thunder God is my grandson, the Yaksha is my great-grandson, and the Horse-Face Demon is my great-great-grandson!" The old man, hearing this, was scared out of his wits, his face drained of color, and he just wanted to go inside. Sanzang helped him, brought him into the thatched hall, and said with an apologetic smile, "Elder patron, don't be afraid of them. They are just rough like that and don't know how to speak properly."

Just as he was trying to reassure him, an old woman walked out from behind, holding a five or six-year-old child, and said, "Grandpa, why are you so frightened?" Only then did the old man call out, "Mama, bring tea." The old woman actually dropped the child, went inside, and brought out two cups of tea. After tea, Sanzang turned to the old woman, bowed, and said, "This poor monk is an envoy from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, sent to fetch scriptures from the Western Heaven. I have just arrived here and beg your esteemed household for lodging. My three disciples are ugly, which caused the elder of the house to be unduly frightened." The old woman said, "If seeing ugly faces causes such undue fright, what would happen if he saw tigers or wolves?" The old man said, "Mama, ugly faces are tolerable, but their words are truly terrifying. I said they looked like a Yaksha, a Horse-Face, and a Thunder God, and he shouted back that the Thunder God was his grandson, the Yaksha his great-grandson, and the Horse-Face his great-great-grandson. Hearing that, I was naturally terrified." Tang Sanzang said, "No, no. The one who looks like the Thunder God is my eldest disciple Sun Wukong; the one like the Horse-Face is my second disciple Zhu Wuneng (Bajie); and the one like the Yaksha is my third disciple Sha Wujing. Although they are ugly, they have embraced the monastic path and converted to good. They are not evil demons or venomous monsters; why be afraid of them!" The old couple, hearing their names and the explanation of their conversion to Buddhism, finally calmed down and recovered from their fright, saying, "Invite them in, invite them in." The Elder went out to call them in, and also instructed, "Just now, this elder was very afraid of you. When you go in to meet him now, absolutely do not be rude; each of you must show some respect." Bajie said, "I am handsome, I am refined, unlike my elder brother who acts wildly." Pilgrim laughed, "If it weren't for his long snout, big ears, and ugly face, he would indeed be a fine man." Sha Seng said, "Stop arguing. This is not the place for showing off or being clever. Let's go in, let's go in!"

So they brought their luggage and horse into the thatched hall, all bowing together, and then sat down. The virtuous old woman immediately took her child, instructed them to cook, and prepared a vegetarian meal, which the master and disciples ate. As it grew later, they lit a lamp and all sat chatting in the thatched hall. The Elder then asked, "Patron, what is your esteemed surname?" The old man said, "My surname is Yang." He then asked his age. The old man said, "Seventy-four years old." He then asked, "How many sons do you have?" The old man said, "Only one, and the child the old woman was carrying just now is my grandson." The Elder said, "Please invite your son to meet and greet us." The old man nodded and sighed, "Alas, alas! If he were willing to make a living anywhere, it would be my good fortune! That scoundrel only harbors evil thoughts, doesn't engage in proper work, and specializes in robbing homes, blocking roads, murdering, and setting fires! His associates are all a bunch of scoundrels and villains! He left five days ago and hasn't returned yet." Hearing this, Sanzang dared not breathe, thinking to himself, "Perhaps it was the one Wukong killed." The Elder felt uneasy in his mind. He leaned forward and said, "Alas, alas! How could such virtuous parents bear such a wicked and rebellious son!" Pilgrim came closer and said, "Old man, a son like this, degenerate, undutiful, treacherous, thieving, and debauched, who burdens his parents—what use is he? Let me find him for you and kill him." The old man said, "I too wanted to get rid of him, but alas, I have no other male descendant. Even if he is worthless, I must still keep him to bury me when I die." Sha Seng and Bajie laughed, "Elder brother, don't meddle in others' affairs. We are not government officials. What does his family's unworthiness have to do with us! Let's ask the patron to give us some hay so we can make a bed and sleep there, and then leave at dawn." The old man immediately rose, told Sha Seng to get two bundles of straw from the backyard, and instructed them to rest in the straw hut in the garden. Pilgrim led the horse, Bajie carried the luggage, and together with the Elder, they all went to rest in the hut, no more to be said.

Indeed, among that band of robbers was Old Yang's son. Earlier that morning, Pilgrim had killed two bandit leaders in front of the mountain, and the others had scattered to save their lives. Around the fourth watch (3-5 AM), they regrouped and knocked on the door. The old man heard the knocking, immediately put on his clothes, and said, "Mama, those scoundrels have arrived." The old woman said, "Since they're here, go open the door and let them in." The old man opened the door, and the band of robbers all shouted, "We're hungry, we're hungry!" Old Yang's son hurriedly went inside, called his wife, and told her to pound rice and cook. There was no firewood in the kitchen, so he went to the backyard to get some. When he brought it to the kitchen, he asked his wife, "Whose white horse is that in the backyard?" His wife said, "It's the monk from the Eastern Land who is fetching scriptures. He arrived here last night asking for lodging, and your father and mother entertained him with a late vegetarian meal and told him to sleep in the straw hut." Hearing this, the scoundrel walked out of the thatched hall, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Brothers, what luck, what luck! Our enemy is in my house!" The other bandits asked, "Which enemy?" The scoundrel said, "It's the monk who killed our leaders; he came to my house to stay and is now sleeping in the straw hut." The bandits said, "Excellent, excellent! Let's seize these bald donkeys and chop them into mincemeat, first to get their luggage and the white horse, and second to avenge our leaders!" The scoundrel said, "Don't be hasty. You all go sharpen your knives. After I finish cooking and everyone has eaten their fill, we'll attack together." Indeed, some bandits sharpened knives, others sharpened spears. The old man, hearing this, quietly went to the backyard, woke up Tang Sanzang and the three others, and said, "Those scoundrels have come with their gang. They know you are here and intend to harm you. I, an old man, pity your long journey and cannot bear to see you harmed. Quickly pack your luggage, and I will escort you out through the back door!" Hearing this, Sanzang, trembling, bowed his head in thanks to the old man. He immediately called Bajie to lead the horse, Sha Seng to carry the luggage, and Pilgrim to take his nine-ringed monastic staff. The old man opened the back door, let them go, and then quietly returned to the front and lay down to sleep.

Meanwhile, the scoundrels sharpened their knives and spears, ate their fill, and by the fifth watch (3-5 AM), they all came to the garden to look, but found nothing. They immediately lit lamps and torches, searched for a long time, but found no trace. They only saw the back door open and all exclaimed, "They escaped through the back door, they're gone!" They let out a shout, "Chase them down and catch them!" Each of them ran like a flying arrow, chasing until the sun rose in the east, when they finally spotted Tang Sanzang. The Elder suddenly heard shouts, looked back, and saw twenty or thirty people, bristling with spears and knives, coming after them. He called out, "Disciples, the bandit army is pursuing us! What shall we do!" Pilgrim said, "Don't worry, don't worry! Old Sun will deal with them!" Sanzang reined in his horse and said, "Wukong, be sure not to harm anyone; just scare them away and that's enough." Pilgrim was unwilling to listen. He quickly drew his cudgel, turned back to meet them, and said, "Gentlemen, where are you going?" The bandits cursed, "Bald rogue, how rude! Give us back our leaders' lives!" The scoundrels formed a circle formation, surrounding Pilgrim, and wildly hacked and stabbed with their spears and knives. The Great Sage swung his golden-banded cudgel, making it as thick as a bowl. He beat the bandits so that they scattered like stars and clouds: those struck directly died, those hit sideways perished; those struck had broken bones, those grazed had skin injuries. A few clever ones managed to escape, but the foolish ones all met King Yama!

Sanzang, on his horse, saw many people struck down and, in a panic, spurred his horse to gallop west. Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng followed closely behind him, keeping pace with his horse. Pilgrim asked the surviving wounded bandit, "Which one is Old Yang's son?" The bandit groaned and confessed, "Grandpa, the one wearing yellow is him!" Pilgrim stepped forward, snatched a knife, cut off the head of the man in yellow, and held it, dripping with blood, in his hand. He put away his iron cudgel, took a cloud-stepping stride, and caught up to Tang Sanzang's horse, holding up the head and saying, "Master, this is Old Yang's rebellious son; Old Sun has brought his head." Sanzang saw it, was greatly horrified, and panicked so much that he fell off his horse, cursing, "This impudent monkey has scared me to death! Take it away, quickly take it away!" Bajie stepped forward, kicked the head off the path, and used his rake to cover it with some earth. Sha Seng put down his luggage and helped Tang Sanzang up, saying, "Master, please get up." The Elder, having regained his composure on the ground, began to chant the "Headache Sutra." It constricted Pilgrim so severely that his ears turned red, his face flushed, his eyes bulged, and his head spun. He rolled on the ground, crying, "Stop chanting, stop chanting!" The Elder chanted it more than ten times, still not stopping. Pilgrim somersaulted and stood on his head like a dragonfly. The pain was unbearable, and he just cried, "Master, forgive my sin! Just speak what you have to say, but don't chant, don't chant!" Only then did Sanzang stop chanting, saying, "There's nothing to say. I don't want you to follow me anymore. Go back!" Pilgrim endured the pain and kowtowed, "Master, why are you sending me away?" Sanzang said, "You impudent monkey, you are too cruel. You are not a suitable person for seeking scriptures. Yesterday, at the foot of the mountain, you killed those two bandit leaders, and I already blamed you for your inhumanity. Then, last night, we arrived at the old man's house. He graciously provided a meal and lodging, and even opened the back door to let us escape with our lives. Although his son was unworthy, it had nothing to do with us, and you should not have beheaded him. Moreover, you killed many more people, destroying so many lives and disrupting so much harmony between heaven and earth. I have repeatedly advised you, yet you show not a shred of benevolence. What use are you to me! Go quickly, go quickly! Lest I chant the True Words again!" Pilgrim was afraid and only cried, "Don't chant, don't chant! I'm going!" With a cry of "Go," he vanished without a trace on his somersault cloud.

Alas! This truly is: if the mind harbors ferocity, the elixir cannot ripen; if the spirit lacks stability, the Dao is hard to achieve. Ultimately, it is unknown where the Great Sage went. Listen to the next chapter for the explanation.