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

Meanwhile, the White Bone Demon, having failed to kill Sun Wukong with her second blow, grumbled inwardly in mid-air, "That damned monkey! I refuse to believe it!"

Then he transformed himself into a slightly older figure, holding prayer beads in his hands and chanting "Namo" as he rushed over.

Upon seeing this from horseback, Tang Sanzang exclaimed with delight, "Amitabha! The Western Paradise is truly a blessed land! This female bodhisattva is even chanting scriptures on this mountain path!"

Pigsy said, "Master, don't praise him. That's the root of all trouble."

Tang Sanzang asked, "How is it the root of trouble?"

Bajie said, "The Monkey King killed his younger sister and then his third sister. This is his second sister who has come looking for him."

If we were to run into his arms, Master, you would pay with your life, a capital offense; take Pigsy as your follower and exile him; and order Sandy to be stationed at a military post.

"The pilgrim used some kind of magic to escape, but won't the three of us be left to take the blame?"

Upon hearing this, the pilgrim said, "This fool is talking nonsense. He's sure to scare Master. Let me go and check again."

He concealed his stick beside him, stepped forward to meet the monster, and called out, "Female benefactor, where are you going? Why are you walking and chanting scriptures at the same time?"

The demon replied, "Elder, my four sisters and I have lived here for generations. We have always been devoted to Taoism and Buddhism, and we treat people with kindness. Every day we go out to check if there are any travelers who have fallen into dangerous places in the mountains and rivers, so that we can rescue them."

My youngest sister arrived first today, but she hasn't returned for quite some time. So my third sister went to look for her, but she didn't come back either. My eldest sister was worried, so she asked me to come and look for her.

As expected, she was maimed and died. She must have encountered a powerful demon who reduced her to nothing but bones. The young woman had no choice but to collect her remains and bury them in her grave.

The pilgrim laughed and said, "You wretched creature, you may have fooled everyone else, but you can't fool me! I recognize you as a demon!"

He then drew his staff and struck the demon down with one blow. This time, however, he had a plan and struck the White Bone Demon's true form directly with the staff.

They shattered the monster's true form, turning it into a pile of bones that littered the road.

But the White Bone Demon was indeed prepared; she had left her true spirit hidden in the clouds, and thus she was still alive.

Tang Sanzang, still on horseback, was so frightened that he trembled with fear and could not speak.

Pigsy laughed again from the side, "Good Journey, you've got some nerve! You've only traveled half a day and you've already killed three people!"

Just as Tang Sanzang was about to chant the incantation, Wukong rushed to the horse's front and cried out, "Master, stop chanting! Stop chanting! Come and see what he looks like."

But there was a bunch of pink skulls there.

Tang Sanzang, unaware of the truth, exclaimed in alarm, "Wukong, you have indeed committed evil! There's blood on this skull, and you still claim it's a monster!"

The pilgrim said, "He was a lurking zombie who was causing trouble and wasting people's time here. After I killed him, he revealed his true form."

Pigsy chimed in from the side, "Master, his hands are heavy and his stick is fierce. He could beat someone to death. I'm afraid you were just saying that to avoid the truth!"

Tang Sanzang was indeed easily swayed and believed him again, so he began reciting the Tightening-Headband Mantra once more.

Unable to bear the pain, the traveler knelt and cried out, "Stop chanting! Stop chanting! Just say what you have to say!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Monkey! You killed three people in the wilderness. If you cause trouble in the city, how am I supposed to get away with it? Go back!"

The pilgrim said, "Master, you have wronged me. That was clearly a demon who wanted to harm you. I rid you of the harm, but you believed that fool's slander and repeatedly chased me away. As the saying goes, things don't happen more than three times. I'll go! But you have no one to rely on."

Tang Sanzang angrily retorted, "Are you the only one who is human? Aren't Wuneng and Wujing human too?"

The traveler lamented, "How bitter! Back then, you rescued me, and I endured countless hardships to capture demons and monsters. Now, you've discarded me like a spent bird after the hunt, and cooked like a hunting dog after the rabbit is dead! All that's left is this tight headband curse."

Tang Sanzang said, "I won't recite it anymore."

The traveler said, "I'm afraid that when you encounter trouble, you'll think of me and start reminiscing. Even traveling ten thousand miles will give me a headache."

Tang Sanzang became even angrier, dismounted, wrote a letter of dismissal, and handed it to Wukong: "I no longer wish to have you as my disciple! If I ever see you again, may I fall into the deepest hell!"

Upon receiving the letter of dismissal, the pilgrim said, "Master, there's no need for an oath. I'll go." But then he softened his tone and said, "Master, I've followed you all this time, yet we haven't achieved anything. Please accept my bow, and I'll leave in peace."

Tang Sanzang turned away and ignored him. The Monkey King plucked a hair from his head and transformed it into three other Monkey Kings, who surrounded him and bowed in worship.

He then instructed Sha Wujing: "Brother, you are a good person, but you need to be careful of Pigsy's nonsense. If any demons capture Master, just say that I am his eldest disciple, and they will not dare to harm Master."

Tang Sanzang said, "I am a good monk, I will not mention your name, you wicked person. You may go back now."

Seeing that the elder refused to change his mind, the traveler had no choice but to leave.

This is exactly what it means: The Corpse Demon played tricks on Tang Sanzang three times, and the holy monk, filled with resentment, banished the Monkey King.

The White Bone Demon's true spirit had not yet been extinguished; she hid in the clouds, and upon seeing this scene, she knew her opportunity had arrived.

So she changed again, this time into an older sister, who came crying and sobbing.

Upon seeing this, Pigsy exclaimed, "This is bad! They'll report us to the authorities sooner or later. That monkey has run away, leaving us all behind."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang hurriedly said to Pigsy, "Disciple, what do you think we should do?"

Bajie said, "Master, don't panic. Anyway, it was that monkey who killed someone, it has nothing to do with us. If we report it to the authorities, at most we'll be considered a fellow criminal who knows about the murder. Maybe if I, Pigsy, say something, everything will be fine."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said, "In that case, go and talk to them."

Hearing his master's words, Pigsy straightened his clothes, stepped forward, greeted the weeping woman, and bowed, saying, "Female Bodhisattva, please stop crying, please stop crying, and listen to what this old pig has to say."

Seeing Pigsy approach, the demon was secretly delighted, but his face grew even more sorrowful. He covered his face and said, "Elders, have you seen my sisters? My second and third sisters went out to look for our youngest, but neither of them has returned. I was worried about them, so I came to look for them. I just saw someone in this direction from afar; I wonder if you saw them?"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy scratched his ear, looked back at his master, and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing that he remained silent, the demon wept even more bitterly, saying, "My sisters, each one kinder than the last, would never even step on an ant. How come they've vanished without a trace today? Could they have fallen victim to the evildoers?"

Pigsy was moved by her crying and also had some worldly desires, so he stepped forward and whispered, "Female Bodhisattva, to tell you the truth, your sisters... alas, it's all my eldest brother's fault. He's blind and mistook your sisters for monsters, and beat them all to death with his staff."

Upon hearing this, the demon burst into tears, pointing at Tang Sanzang and cursing, "You bald monk! You look kind, but your hearts are truly wicked! How could you beat my sister to death! Where is justice?! Where is fairness?!"

Tang Sanzang, his face flushed from her scolding, repeatedly clasped his hands together and said, "Please calm down, Bodhisattva! Please calm down! This... this was indeed my disciple's fault, but he... he thought your sister was a demon!"

The demon cried, "What do you think? You accuse people of being monsters without any evidence and kill them indiscriminately! You monks, you claim to be compassionate, yet you commit such cruel acts! I'm going to report you to the authorities! I'll make you pay with your lives!"

Pigsy panicked and quickly advised, "Female Bodhisattva, please don't be angry. We tried to stop the one who was hitting people, but we couldn't."

As for the man who hit someone, my master has already driven him away. If you want to sue the authorities, just sue him; it has nothing to do with us.

Moreover, even if you report it to the authorities, we would be guilty of failing to help someone in distress, but we are powerless to do so, and the authorities can only issue a minor punishment as a warning.

The fairy said, "You seem to understand the laws of heaven and the law quite well? But you can't ignore human feelings! If you don't give me an explanation today, I will never rest!"

Forced into a corner by her, Tang Sanzang had no choice but to say, "Female Bodhisattva, this humble monk is willing to offer some silver to help your sister pass on to the afterlife. What do you say?"

The demon secretly chuckled, but said on the surface, "Silver? My sister's life cannot be bought back with silver."

"Very well, I see you, monk, are sincere enough, and you're not the mastermind. If you truly wish to apologize, come with me to my home, explain yourself before my parents' memorial tablets, and then properly bury my sister. I will then not pursue the matter with the authorities."