Chapter 57: Encountering Demons In Black Pine Forest
However, Ba Jie was slacking off and sleeping.
Tang Sanzang waited in the forest until nightfall, but still did not see Ba Jie return. He was so hungry that his stomach rumbled and his legs trembled, his head dizzy and eyes blurred.
He called to Sha Seng: “Wu Neng went begging for food. Why hasn’t he come back so late?”
Sha Seng said: “Master, I think it’s because this superior land in the Western Paradise has many households offering food to monks, and Second Senior Brother has a big belly, so he won’t return until he’s eaten his fill.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Alas. He is greedily eating there, while we starve and freeze here. What are we to do? It’s getting late, and this is no place to stay. We must find a lodging somehow.”
Sha Seng said: “No worry, Master. You and Your Highness sit here first. I will go find him and bring him back.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Exactly, exactly.”
Sha Seng took the Treasure Staff and went straight out of the pine forest to find Ba Jie.
Tang Sanzang and Ao Tu sat in the forest, extremely bored and weary.
Just then, the great sun sank in the west, and suddenly in the south appeared a cluster of golden light.
Tang Sanzang saw it and became curious, saying: “Your Highness, what do you think that light shining in the south is?”
Ao Tu stood and looked, saying: “I see that it is a cluster of demonic light.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Your Highness is mistaken. That golden light is serene and auspicious. How can it be demonic light?”
Ao Tu shook his head: “How do you know that light is serene and auspicious? With only the naked eye, it’s hard to see the truth. One must go there in person to understand.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Your Highness speaks truly.”
Thus, he ordered the Tiger Vanguard to guard the luggage and horses, and the two walked along the small path to the south.
Ignoring the noisy birds returning to their nests, the wildflowers and mountain grass, they passed through the secluded forest. Raising their heads, they saw the golden light flickering, colorful vapors rising. Drawing near, they saw it was a Precious Pagoda with a golden top emitting light.
Tang Sanzang said: “Amitabha! Karma! Karma! This disciple is in this barren wilderness with nowhere to go, yet we see a golden Buddhist Pagoda. Truly the Buddha Ancestor has shown a miracle. There must be a monastery under that pagoda, and monks within the monastery, who will let us borrow a lodging and offer vegetarian meals.”
Ao Tu said: “This is a Demonic Pagoda. How could there be any vegetarian meals?”
Tang Sanzang said: “How is it a Demonic Pagoda?”
Ao Tu said: “How is it a Buddhist Pagoda?”
Tang Sanzang said: “That golden light emits auspicious signs, colorful vapors rising. Is it not a Buddhist Pagoda?”
Ao Tu said: “That golden light emits auspicious signs, colorful vapors rising. It is precisely what demons use to lure passing travelers.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Your Highness has not gone there in person. How can you speak rashly?”
Ao Tu laughed and said: “Quite right! Quite right! Exactly so! We must go see for ourselves to understand.”
The two walked toward the pagoda, and it was indeed a fine place.
There was a stone bridge below with rolling clear springs; on the pedestal, pure white powder. Fragrant pines and purple bamboo, birds and beasts in rows, verdant fragrant grasses lush, brilliant wildflowers blooming. Flowers cast shadows on grass tips in the wind, water flows from cloud holes with moon rootless.
Tang Sanzang laughed: “Your Highness, you were wrong, you were wrong!”
Ao Tu did not explain, saying: “Please!”
Tang Sanzang said: “Please!”
Tang Sanzang stepped forward to the base of the pagoda door, where he saw a bamboo curtain hanging inside. He stepped in, lifted it, and entered. Suddenly looking up, he saw on the stone bed a demon lying sideways.
You ask what he looked like:
Indigo face, white fangs, a huge mouth three feet long and wide. Bushy sideburns on both sides, like rouge dye; three or four purple whiskers, like aged lychees.
Parrot-beak nose arched, dawn-star eyes staring. Two fists bigger than an alms bowl; two blue feet rougher than tree stumps.
Slantingly wearing a pale yellow robe, better than woven kassaya. Holding a knife with gleaming light; sleeping on a stone bed fine and flawless.
Indeed an old demon of many years, a terrifying mountain monster.
Seeing this appearance, Tang Sanzang was so frightened he stumbled back, his whole body numb, legs weak, and he hurriedly turned to flee.
Ao Tu, following behind, said: “What’s wrong? So scared. Could it be you’ve seen the Buddha Ancestor?”
Tang Sanzang said in panic: “No Buddha Ancestor at all. It’s a terrifying old demon!”
Ao Tu said: “This pagoda emits auspicious golden light, colorful vapors rising. How could there be an old demon inside? You must have seen wrong. Let me go in and look.”
Tang Sanzang hurriedly said: “Your Highness, don’t look, don’t look. It’s truly an old demon of many years. Run quickly, or if we’re late, our two lives won’t be safe!”
As he spoke, the demon heard the noise, woke up, opened a pair of golden eyes ghostly, and shouted: “Little ones, who are those people outside the door!”
A little demon heard and ran over, stretching his head to look outside the door.
Ao Tu called: “Benefactor, we have come begging for food.”
That little demon shrank back and reported: “Great King, two people have come outside. One is a monk. They say they have come begging for food!”
The demon heard, laughed loudly: “There are even those who come to our place begging for food? This is truly called ‘business that comes to the mouth, food and clothing that come of themselves.’ Little ones, quickly capture those two for me!”
Those little demons heard and swarmed out together.
Tang Sanzang saw them, his heart pounding with fear, legs weak and feet numb.
Ao Tu laughed: “See, it truly is a Buddhist Pagoda. They offer food to monks and are generous. Seeing us come begging for food, so many have come at once to entertain us.”
Only to see that crowd of little demons: wolf spirits, Wild Wolf Spirits, black wolf spirits, Gray Wolf Spirits, yellow weasel spirits, Fox Spirits, lynx spirits, wild dog spirits, each baring fangs, drooling, eyes glowing green, itching to swallow the two alive.
Tang Sanzang was so scared he turned to run, but the path was uneven. In his haste, he tripped and fell to the ground, his hat falling off, revealing a bald head.
The monsters laughed: “This tender fresh meat monk has even shaved his hair, saving us the trouble. Truly a good eat!”
The Wild Wolf Spirit drooled: “A monk like this is best steamed!”
The Gray Wolf Spirit said: “This monk meat is good. It must be boiled in clear water to have flavor!”
The Fox Spirit said: “No, no. This monk is only this big. Steamed or boiled, there’s not enough to go around. Better to chop him up, mix with filling, and make human meat buns!”
The crowd of demons all said: “Good, this suggestion is good!”
Tang Sanzang heard, scared out of his wits.
Ao Tu however said: “No, no, benefactors. I can eat these meat buns no problem, but he is a monk who only eats vegetarian food. Trouble you to make some vegetarian ones too!”
The crowd of monsters heard and all laughed, saying:
“You young fellow have some nerve, truly daring to come beg food from us! Have you ever seen benefactors with our appearance?”
Ao Tu said: “Your appearances are somewhat unusual, but still presentable. I think you must all be good people who delight in giving.”
That group of little demons laughed: “Look, he even says we’re good people!”
The Wild Wolf Spirit held a gleaming wolf fang club and said:
“Seeing you’re such an understanding kid, this great lord will give you a quick end. One club to smash you dead, so you won’t cry in pain if eaten alive!”
Saying so, he swung a club.
Ao Tu dodged to the side, and the Wild Wolf Spirit stumbled and missed.
The Wild Wolf Spirit said: “You kid are slippery!”
Another club swept horizontally. Ao Tu dodged again, evading the blow. His foot tripped, and the Wild Wolf Spirit fell to the ground.
The Wild Wolf Spirit angrily said: “All together!”
The crowd of little demons surged forward.
Ao Tu saw them, pulled up Tang Sanzang, and dodged and fled in the mountain forest.
Those little demons spread out: this one chased right, that one left, this one blocked ahead, that one circled behind to intercept.
Ao Tu gripping Tang Sanzang, now to the left, now to the right, now forward, now backward, circling big trees, jumping around stones.
Wearing out that group of little demons, tongues lolling, lying flat on the ground, unable to catch the two no matter what.
