Chapter 18: Winds Rise At Dusk
Now, Li Chang Geng transformed into an old man and pointed out Bodhisattva Lingji’s dojo to Sun Wukong.
Ba Jie saw the sender and bowed down to the sky, saying: “Benefactor! Benefactor!”
It was because Ba Jie had gotten drunk and molested Chang’e back then, which was a capital offense, but thanks to Taibai Jinxing’s personal plea, it was changed to two thousand heavy hammer strikes, and he was demoted to the mortal realm.
And Li Chang Geng was precisely the title of Western Taibai Jinxing.
Wukong said: “Ba Jie, you hide deep in this grove for now, and do not show your face to fight that demon. Wait for old Sun to go to Little Sumeru Mountain and invite the Bodhisattva to come help.”
Ba Jie said: “Got it! Got it! Old Pig will guard the luggage here and wait for you to bring the Bodhisattva back.”
Wukong somersaulted into the air, rode the Somersault Cloud, and headed straight south. In a moment, he saw a tall mountain with auspicious clouds appearing midway up, with rosy mists everywhere. There was a Zen monastery in the mountain, with bells and chimes resounding leisurely and incense smoke drifting faintly.
He went straight to the gate. Because he had a request, Wukong did not dare enter casually and asked someone in the courtyard to announce:
“Tang Sanzang’s disciple Sun Wukong has come and seeks to see the Bodhisattva.”
In no time, Bodhisattva Lingji came out to greet him.
Only then did Wukong enter the gate, go up the hall, and sit in the guest seat.
Bodhisattva Lingji ordered someone to serve tea.
Wukong said: “No need for tea. My master is in trouble at Yellow Wind Ridge and is in mortal danger. I specially came to ask the Bodhisattva to use great magic power to save him.”
Bodhisattva Lingji said:
“I received the Tathagata’s decree to guard the Yellow Wind Monster here. The Tathagata gave me a Wind Settling Pill and a Flying Dragon Treasure Staff. At that time, I captured that Yellow Wind Monster. Considering that his cultivation was not easy, I spared his life and let him hide back in the mountain, forbidding him from harming lives or creating evil. I do not know why he wants to harm your master today. Violating the decree is my sin.”
He then took the treasure and rode the cloud with Wukong. In no time, they arrived at Yellow Wind Ridge.
Bodhisattva Lingji said: “Great Sage, this monster is somewhat afraid of me. I will stand in the clouds. You go down and challenge him to battle, lure him out, and I will cast a spell to subdue him.”
Wukong did as told, descended from the clouds, and without a word, wielded the Iron Rod to smash the cave door. He shouted: “Monster! Return my master!”
The little demon guarding the door hurriedly reported it.
Inside the cave, Yellow Wind Great Sage was drinking with Ao Tu. Hearing the little demon report that Sun Wukong had smashed the cave door and was cursing outside, he angrily said:
“This brazen monkey is truly insolent! Last time I failed to blow him to death, and now he smashes my door! This time when I go out, I will definitely use the divine wind to blow him to death!”
He then donned his armor, took up the Steel Fork in hand, and was about to go out when Ao Tu said:
“Virtuous younger brother, be careful. That monkey did not win last time, and today he comes again, so he must have some reliance. If you encounter danger, call your brother to help.”
Yellow Wind Great Sage cupped his hands:
“Many thanks to elder brother for your kindness. This time I will definitely win and eliminate that Sun monkey, so we brothers can share Tang Sanzang’s flesh.”
With that, Yellow Wind Great Sage walked out of the cave, saw Sun Wukong, and thrust the fork at his chest.
Sun Wukong dodged to the side and struck back with his rod.
After just a few bouts, Yellow Wind Great Sage found an opportunity, opened his mouth, and was about to summon wind.
At that moment, from mid-air, Bodhisattva Lingji threw down the Flying Dragon Treasure Staff. No one knew what incantation he recited, but it turned into an eight-clawed Golden Dragon, which swung its two claws and grabbed Yellow Wind Great Sage.
Yellow Wind Great Sage was scared out of his wits and hurriedly said: “Elder brother, save me!”
Ao Tu heard the cry for help, flew out, and summoned a Treasure Fan.
What a fan, surrounded by Buddha’s Light, with Divine Fire blazing.
This fan was called the Five-Fire Divine Flame Fan, also known as the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan.
It was made of Fire from the Air, Fire from Stone, Fire from Wood, Samadhi Fire, and Mortal Fire; with Phoenix Feather, Green Luan Feather, Great Roc Feather, Peacock Feather, White Crane Feather, Swan Feather, and Owl Feather. The seven bird feathers had Talisman Seals and secret formulas.
There is a poem as proof:
Five fires of rare treasures named Seven Feathers, granted to man, initially bearing firefly brilliance.
Meeting mountain monsters and stones turns them to ashes, encountering seas boils them dry with little dew cold.
Excelling at overcoming wood and metal, burning beams and pillars without pause.
Even a ten-thousand-year immortal body, when meeting the fan, is instantly extinguished.
Ao Tu flew in the air and fanned three times at Bodhisattva Lingji, immediately rising:
Blazing flames soared ten thousand feet high, golden snakes thousands of paths showing heroism.
Black smoke rolled along the ground red three feet, boiling the sea with waves vanishing in an instant.
Bodhisattva Lingji said in great alarm: “What! Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan!”
Bodhisattva Lingji knew the power of this treasure fan and, for the moment, could not care about the Yellow Wind Monster. He hurriedly used the Flying Dragon Treasure Staff to protect himself.
That eight-clawed Golden Dragon blocked in front of the fire, but after just a few breaths, it wailed sadly, dispersed its dharma body, and returned to the staff.
Seeing the momentum dangerous, Bodhisattva Lingji hurriedly propped up his dharma body, pinched the fire-avoiding formula, and used his three-rank Lotus Platform to protect himself.
Ao Tu saw this and, fearing he could not win, fanned seven or eight more times, fanning the sky completely red.
That treasure fan was clustered from the true essence of five fires—how could it compare to ordinary fire?
After just a few fans, Bodhisattva Lingji’s dharma body and Lotus Platform were both burned away.
Bodhisattva Lingji wanted to retreat but was chased by Ao Tu who fanned once more, immediately tumbling him off the clouds.
Sun Wukong saw things were not good and somersaulted away on a Somersault Cloud.
Ao Tu tied up the barely breathing Lingji and returned to the cave with Yellow Wind Great Sage.
As soon as they entered the cave, countless little demons crowded up, all congratulating:
“Second Great King, impressive!”
“What fire! What a Treasure Fan!”
“Second Great King is invincible!”
Yellow Wind Great Sage bowed in thanks on the side: “Many thanks to elder brother for saving my life. Yellow Wind is endlessly grateful!”
Ao Tu laughed loudly: “Virtuous younger brother need not be like this. Quickly rise! Come, tie this Lingji monk to the Wind Settling Pillar in the back garden too! In a couple days, we’ll steam and eat him together!”
All the little demons cheered.
Tiger Vanguard carried Bodhisattva Lingji to the Wind Settling Pillar in the back garden, tied him up in a few strokes, and bound him together with Tang Sanzang.
Bodhisattva Lingji’s dharma body had been burned away by Ao Tu’s Treasure Fan, and he was severely injured, unable to resist.
On the other side, Ba Jie waited in the woods, looking at the distant sky all red, wiping hot sweat nonstop and saying: “Why did the weather suddenly get so hot!”
At this time, Sun Wukong flew back urgently from the air, covered in smoke and fire.
Ba Jie hurriedly went up and asked: “Senior Brother, didn’t you go to find the Bodhisattva for help? How did you end up so disheveled?”
Sun Wukong lay in the tree shade, gulped down several large mouthfuls of water, and panted:
“Impressive! Impressive! Ba Jie, you don’t know, I went to find that Bodhisattva Lingji. He agreed to help, had me challenge to battle, and when the demon came out, he used a Flying Dragon Staff to capture the demon.
But unexpectedly, that second demon also had supernatural power, with a Treasure Fan that fanned a great fire, burning the sky ripe. The Bodhisattva could not match him, was fanned off the clouds, and captured into the cave!”
Ba Jie panicked: “No wonder it’s so hot—even the Bodhisattva was captured! What kind of monster is that second demon to have such great supernatural power?”
Wukong said: “I don’t know either. I only know that monster has Dragon Horn and Golden Scales—likely a Demon Dragon in human form. But strangely, he doesn’t use water well and instead uses fire.”
Ba Jie said: “Since that’s the case, Senior Brother, as the saying goes: ‘Good fire still needs water to extinguish.’ Since he’s a Demon Dragon in human form, why not invite the Four Seas Dragon Kings? They surely can overcome him.”
Wukong said upon hearing: “Virtuous younger brother speaks reason. Old Sun will now go to the Eastern Ocean Sea to borrow dragon soldiers and some water to douse the demonic fire and catch this brazen monster.”
