Chapter 20: Winds Rise At Dusk
Following this, Sun Wukong ascended the South Heaven Gate and, upon seeing King Virupaksha, said:
“I have matters to report to the Jade Emperor.”
Outside the Lingxiao Palace, Zhang Daoling, Ge Xianweng, Xu Jingyang, and Qiu Hongji, the four Great Celestial Masters, came to greet him. Together, they bowed and said:
“Great Sage, you are not escorting Tang Sanzang on the Journey for Sutras to the Western Heaven, why have you come here?”
Wukong said, “It is difficult! Difficult! The road is long and the demons are many. I have not yet traveled three-tenths of the way before being blocked at Yellow Wind Ridge. I encountered two demons, one summoning wind and the other fire. I invited Bodhisattvas and Dragon Kings, but none could subdue them, and Ba Jie was lost within. Today I specifically come to seek the Jade Emperor to issue an imperial decree and dispatch troops to capture and eliminate the demons.”
Celestial Master Xu said, “You monkey, you had the ability to cause the Great Havoc in Heaven in the past. How is it that you cannot subdue even two demons now?”
Wukong said, “It is truly difficult! Truly difficult!”
Celestial Master Zhang said, “Very well, report to him then.”
Wukong said, “Many thanks! Many thanks!”
The four Celestial Masters reported to the Lingxiao Palace and were granted an audience with the Jade Emperor.
Wukong performed a grand bow before the throne and recounted the events at Yellow Wind Ridge, saying:
“This demon is extremely fierce; even Bodhisattva Lingji could not subdue him. I suspect this is not a demon from the mortal realm, but a malevolent star from heaven. I request the Jade Emperor to issue a decree to investigate.”
The Jade Emperor Heavenly Venerable heard the report and immediately issued a decree:
“Investigate all celestial constellations, and all star lords and divine kings, to see if any have yearned for the mortal realm and descended.”
Wukong then said, “That demon has dragon horns and golden scales. First, check if Kang Jin Long is in the palace!”
The celestial official received the decree and first checked the divine kings and officials guarding the four heavenly gates; then checked all the great and small immortals within the Three Micro-Enclosures; then checked the thunder officials and generals, and the Thirty-three Heavens; then checked the Twenty-Eight Mansions; then checked the Sun and Moon, and all the stars in the sky. None had yearned for the mortal realm and descended.
The celestial official reported to the Jade Emperor, “All the star constellations and divine generals from all regions are present, and none have yearned for the mortal realm and descended.”
The Jade Emperor heard the report and said, “Although no celestial gods have descended from heaven, it is still demons from the mortal realm causing trouble. Order Sun Wukong to select a few heavenly generals to descend and capture the demon.”
Wukong deeply felt the emperor’s grace. He selected Li Tianwang and his sons to capture the Yellow Wind Monster, and Water Virtue Star Lord to extinguish the demonic fire. He then led a host of heavenly soldiers and descended from the South Heaven Gate.
After lingering in heaven for a long time, by the time Wukong led his men back to Yellow Wind Ridge, more than half a month had already passed.
Wukong was anxious and pointed to the mountain, saying, “This is the cave mansion of the monster!”
Nezha, the Third Prince, heard this, took out his Heaven and Earth Ring, and was about to shatter the mountain.
Wukong quickly stopped him, saying, “My Master is still inside. Allow me to go down and challenge him to battle; then you can come and subdue him.”
Wukong went down and said:
“Vile monster, come out quickly and release my Master, my junior brother, and Bodhisattva Lingji!”
Inside the Yellow Wind Cave, a little demon hurriedly reported:
“Great King, that Sun Wukong has come again!”
Yellow Wind Great Sage angrily said, “This monkey is relentless! This time I will surely capture him!”
Ao Tu said, “Virtuous younger brother, you go ahead; I will stand guard for you!”
Yellow Wind Great Sage agreed, put on his armor, took his steel fork, and leaped out of the cave.
“Vile monkey, you have come to die again!”
Wukong said, “Monster, look who that is.”
Yellow Wind Great Sage looked up and saw a young boy flying in the air. He had a delicate and feminine appearance but a proud expression.
You see him:
With a jade-like, charming face like the full moon, and red lips and a square mouth revealing silver teeth.
His embroidered sash danced in the wind, flying like colorful flames, and his brocade robe reflected the sun, emitting golden flowers.
It was Nezha, the Third Prince.
Yellow Wind Great Sage was greatly alarmed. Just as he was about to summon wind, Li Tianwang held up the Precious Pagoda, trapping him and preventing him from moving. Nezha drew out the Hun Tian Ling, intending to bind the demon and fulfill his mission.
Seeing this, Ao Tu flew out and fanned three times, breaking the Precious Pagoda and the Hun Tian Ling.
Yellow Wind Great Sage then summoned wind, which aided the fire, and flames soared ten thousand feet high.
Wukong urgently said, “Water Virtue Star Lord, pour water quickly, pour water quickly.”
Water Virtue Star Lord cast a spell, pouring down a thousand feet of clear waves, the sound shaking the valleys, the torrent filling the sky.
Who would have expected that the fire was not afraid of water and burned even more fiercely, even climbing upwards with the water.
Meanwhile, Yellow Wind Great Sage was blowing wind, making it impossible for Sun Wukong, Nezha, and Li Tianwang to open their eyes, stand their ground, or maintain their clouds.
Ao Tu fanned the fire from the side, filling the sky with flames. Nezha’s hair was singed and disheveled, and he retreated in disarray. Li Jing protected the Precious Pagoda with one hand, fearing it would be burned, and also retreated.
Water Virtue Star Lord was too slow to escape and was burned from his cloud, captured, and taken into the cave.
Sun Wukong, seeing the situation was dire, immediately used a Somersault Cloud and fled, leaving earlier than everyone else.
Seeing Nezha and Li Tianwang following him, Sun Wukong laughed, “Third Prince, in this state, you look even more like a young girl!”
Nezha angrily said, “You vile monkey, we have lost soldiers and generals to save your Master, and you are here to mock us!”
Li Jing said, “Alas! That demon possesses such vast supernatural powers, what can be done?”
Nezha thought of something and said, “Father, did you happen to see the Treasure Fan in that demon’s hand?”
Li Jing said, “I was standing far away and did not see it.”
Nezha said, “I saw that Treasure Fan bearing a strong resemblance to a treasure belonging to my Martial Uncle, Qingxu Daode Zhenjun. I wonder if a disciple of his stole the Treasure Fan and came here to be a demon?”
Sun Wukong heard this and quickly said, “Is it Qingxu Daode Zhenjun of Qingfeng Mountain Ziyang Cave?”
Nezha said, “Precisely.”
Sun Wukong said, “Old Sun will go and invite him now.”
Saying this, he rode the clouds and departed.
After a moment, he returned, pulling Nezha and saying, “Please accompany me, Third Prince, so that I may introduce you.”
Before long, Wukong and Nezha arrived at Qingfeng Mountain Ziyang Cave. Through Nezha’s introduction, they met Qingxu Daode Zhenjun.
Qingxu Daode Zhenjun heard what Nezha said, raised his hand, and summoned the Treasure Fan, saying, “No one from my cave has gone down the mountain, nor has the Treasure Fan been stolen. I suspect Martial Nephew has mistaken it.”
Sun Wukong and Nezha could only return in frustration.
Upon returning to Yellow Wind Ridge, their discussion yielded no results. The Heavenly King said, “If we wish to win, we can only first take his treasure; there is no other way.” He then looked at Wukong.
Wukong said, “Let’s not talk about taking it; let’s just say stealing it. Old Sun is going!”
Wukong leaped down, transformed into a fly, and entered the cave.
He saw the numerous demons in the cave, some dancing, some singing, arranged on both sides. The great demon sat on a raised platform, before him laid deer meat and venison legs, eating with relish. The second demon sat not far away, with alcoholic beverages and fruits laid out, enjoying himself.
Upon careful observation, the second demon had no sign of the Treasure Fan on his waist, hands, chest, or neck.
Wukong found a corner, transformed into a little demon, walked up, poured wine for the second demon, and inquired, “Second Great King, you are truly amazing! With a gentle fanning of that Treasure Fan, you sent Sun Wukong and all the heavenly generals fleeing!”
Ao Tu heard this, looked up at the little demon, and felt some suspicion, but could discern nothing.
The common person could not distinguish Wukong’s transformation techniques at all. Previously, he could recognize Sun Wukong because Wukong had transformed into a mosquito and bitten Tang Sanzang’s bald head, which was very obvious.
However, even though he could not discern the truth, he still felt very suspicious. This was because he had only recently arrived at Yellow Wind Cave, and apart from the more familiar Tiger Vanguard, ordinary little demons were not as familiar with him and would not suddenly come to pour him wine and chat.
After thinking for a moment, Ao Tu patted the little demon’s shoulder and whispered, “You cannot say that. This also owes to my elder brother’s contribution, wouldn’t you agree?”
Sun Wukong, unaware of the trap, responded, “Of course, of course!”
Ao Tu chuckled. He was certain; this little demon was Sun Wukong transformed.
When he and the Yellow Wind Monster became sworn brothers, he was the elder brother, and the Yellow Wind Monster was the second brother.
However, because he was a guest in the cave and had not truly joined Yellow Wind Cave, the cave master remained the Yellow Wind Monster. The little demons naturally addressed the Yellow Wind Monster as Great King, but they found it difficult to address him.
Ao Tu had no nickname. To call him Second Great King was incorrect; to call him Greatest Great King seemed too verbose; to call him a guest was too distant.
Ao Tu therefore lowered his status and had the little demons address him as Second Great King to avoid trouble.
Sun Wukong was unaware of this detail and revealed his disguise.
