Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Chapter 90 White Tiger Ridge - The Pilgrim Angrily Beats the White Bone Demon

Tang Sanzang asked, "Amitabha, this female Bodhisattva truly has the heart of a Bodhisattva. This humble monk admires her."

The woman said, "Judging from the elders, they don't seem to be from our group. Could they be lost?"

Tang Sanzang said, "We are not lost. It is just that we have come to this place and are hungry. We would like to find a place to beg for some food to fill our stomachs."

Upon hearing this, the woman said happily, "In that case, Elder, why don't we come to my house together first, so I can prepare a vegetarian meal for you?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Excellent! Excellent! I have my disciples who have gone to pick fruit, so there's no need to bother the female Bodhisattva at her house."

Seeing that Tang Sanzang did not respond, the woman said with a bright smile, "What are you saying, Elder? My family are all kind people, and my three older sisters are devout Buddhists. They can't wait for Master to come to our home!"

Tang Sanzang simply didn't respond, but Bajie, standing nearby, was furious.

The simpleton pouted and complained, "There are countless monks in the world, but none are as weak as this old monk. People kindly invited us, but you act like a donkey, disregarding their feelings. Doesn't that discourage them from worshipping Buddha and seeking goodness?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said, "You fool, what are you complaining about? Your eldest brother hasn't arrived yet. If we abandon him, he might get anxious."

Bajie said, "What's the big deal? Let Sha Wujing wait for him here. We two can go first, and when that monkey comes back, he and Wujing can come find us together!"

Just as they were talking, Sun Wukong returned.

It turned out that he was very fast on his feet. After picking the peach, he somersaulted back and looked around with his fiery eyes. He recognized that the woman was a demon. He put down his alms bowl, drew his iron cudgel, and struck her on the head.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang quickly grabbed him, saying, "Wukong! What are you doing?"

Sun Wukong said, "Master, the woman in front of you is a demon. She has transformed herself to deceive you."

Tang Sanzang said, "You monkey, you're talking nonsense! This female bodhisattva has such a kind heart; she wants us to stay at her home for the night. How can you say she's a demon?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Master, how could you recognize that! When I was a demon in the Water Curtain Cave, if I wanted to eat human flesh, this is what I did:

I'll use sweet words and clever phrases, and if someone doesn't fall for it, they'll become my woman. If there's someone so infatuated that they fall in love with me, I'll lure them into my cave and do as I please, steaming or boiling them for my own enjoyment; if I can't finish them, I'll dry them in the sun to protect them from the rain!

Master, if I had arrived late, you would have surely fallen into his trap and suffered his wickedness!

Tang Sanzang refused to believe it, saying only that he was a good person.

Sun Wukong said, "Master, I know what you mean. You saw that she was beautiful and must have been tempted by worldly desires. If that's the case, you might as well have joined the Buddha of Joy and found a few concubines."

"Alright, alright! I'll have Pigsy cut down a few trees and Sandy gather some grass. I'll be the carpenter, and we'll build a shelter right here. You and he can consummate your marriage, and then we can all go our separate ways. Wouldn't that be a better outcome?"

Tang Sanzang blushed with embarrassment, and Sun Wukong seized the opportunity to draw his iron cudgel and strike the demon in the face.

The White Bone Demon used a corpse-dissolving technique. When she saw his staff coming, she roused herself and left in advance, killing a pile of white bones on the ground.

This frightened Tang Sanzang so much that he trembled with fear, muttering to himself, "This monkey is truly rude! He ignores my repeated admonitions and has taken lives without cause!"

Wukong said, "Master, please don't be offended. Look at this corpse. This isn't a corpse at all; it's just a pile of bones! Who dies and immediately turns into bones?"

Tang Sanzang went forward to examine it and indeed saw a pile of white bones on the ground, which made him somewhat believe it.

At this moment, Pigsy said, "Master, speaking of this woman, she was also a devout believer here. Because of her kindness and generosity, she met us on the road. How could you mistake her for a monster? I think it was because your cudgel was too heavy. Not only did you kill her, but you also turned her flesh and blood into powder, leaving only her bones."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang indeed believed the fool's instigation and began reciting the Tightening-Headband Mantra.

Wukong cried out, "Master! Stop chanting! Stop chanting! Just say what you have to say."

Tang Sanzang said, "What are you saying! A monk should always have a kind heart. He sweeps the floor for fear of harming an ant, and protects the lamp with gauze to prevent moths from flying. Why are you acting so violently, beating this innocent woman to death? What use is the scripture then? Go back!"

Wukong asked, "Master, where should I go back to?"

Tang Sanzang said, "I don't want you to be my disciple."

Wukong said, "If you don't want me as your disciple, I'm afraid you won't be able to make it to the Western Paradise."

Tang Sanzang said, "My fate is in the hands of Heaven. If it's destined that a demon will steam me and eat me, even if she boils me, it won't be fair. You should go back now!"

Wukong said, "Master, it's fine if I go back, but I haven't been able to repay your kindness."

Tang Sanzang asked, "What kindness have I done for you?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Because of my havoc in the Heavenly Palace, I was imprisoned by Buddha under the Two Realms Mountain. Fortunately, Guanyin Bodhisattva gave me the precepts, and fortunately, my master rescued me. If I don't go to the Western Paradise with you, wouldn't it seem like I'm ungrateful?"

Seeing Wukong's pleading, Tang Sanzang changed his mind and said, "Since you say so, I'll spare you this time. If you continue to do evil, you'll have to recite this incantation twenty times!"

Wukong said, "You can do it thirty times, but I won't hit anyone anymore."

They then helped Tang Sanzang mount his horse and presented him with the peaches they had picked.

Tang Sanzang ate a few on horseback to stave off hunger.

Meanwhile, the White Bone Demon escaped death and ascended into the sky. In the clouds, she gritted her teeth and secretly hated Wukong, saying, "For years I've only heard about his skills, but today I've seen it all."

That Tang Sanzang already intended to follow me, but unexpectedly, he exposed my plan. If I spare this monk, it will be pointless; I'll go down and play a trick on him again.”

Then she transformed into a slightly older woman, walking towards them while calling out with each step.

Upon seeing this, Pigsy exclaimed in alarm, "Master! Something terrible has happened! That sister has come looking for someone!"

Tang Sanzang asked, "Whom are you looking for?"

Bajie said, "That woman said she had three older sisters, and the one her senior brother killed must have been the youngest sister. This must have been her older sister who came looking for her."

Wukong said, "Brother, don't talk nonsense! That woman is a demon, where would she be a sister! She's definitely a fake. Let me go and see."

Good Wukong, take a step forward and look closely. Sure enough, it was a demon. Without arguing, he raised his staff and struck it on the head.

When the monster saw the stick rise, it still shook itself, and then transformed its primordial spirit and left its true form, leaving a pile of white bones dead on the mountain road.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang was startled and dismounted. Without saying another word, he simply began reciting the Tightening-Headband Mantra.

Unable to bear the pain, Wukong rolled over and pleaded, "Master, stop chanting! Say what you have to say!"

Tang Sanzang said, "What are you saying! A monk who listens to good advice will not fall into hell. I'm trying to persuade you like this, and all you do is commit murder? You not only killed one, but you killed another!"

Wukong said, "This one is also a demon."

Tang Sanzang said, "This monkey is talking nonsense! Where are there so many monsters? You clearly intend to do evil. Go away!"

Wukong said, "Master instructed me to go again, so I went back. However, there is one thing that doesn't seem to be right."

Tang Sanzang asked, "What is it that doesn't fit your description?"

Bajie said, "Master, he wants to share your luggage. He's been a monk with you for years, can't he go back empty-handed? Give him two of those old shirts and tattered hats from your bundle."

Upon hearing this, Wukong flew into a rage, shouting, "You pointy-beaked blockhead! I, Sun Wukong, have always upheld the teachings of a Buddhist monk and have never been greedy. What do I need to divide the luggage for?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Since you are neither jealous nor greedy, why don't you go?"

Wukong said, "To tell you the truth, Master, when I displayed my heroism five hundred years ago, I wore a purple-gold crown and cloud-walking boots."

Since I became your apprentice, you've put this golden headband on my head. If I go back, I'll hardly see my fellow villagers.

If Master doesn't want me, recite the "Loosening the Hoop Mantra" and remove this hoop; it will be a way of showing my loyalty to you.

Tang Sanzang was greatly surprised and said, "Wukong, at that time I only secretly received a scroll of the Tightening-Headband Mantra from the Bodhisattva, but there was no loosening-headband mantra."

Wukong said, "If it weren't for the 'Loosening the Hoop Mantra,' would you still take me for a walk?"

The elder had no choice but to say, "Get up. I will spare you this time, but you must not commit any more violence."

Wukong said, "I won't dare to do it again, I won't dare to do it again."

Then he helped his master mount his horse and cleared the way for them to advance.