Now it is said that Ao Tu ordered Ba Jie to go buy grain. Before long, Ba Jie returned with the provisions, having purchased rice, glutinous millet, panicled millet, wheat, and legumes—two hundred *jin* of each, totaling one thousand *jin*.
He gave the grain to the old woman, who prepared a table of abundant vegetarian dishes. After the master and disciple ate their fill, the remaining grain was left in the old woman’s home. Ao Tu instructed her:
“Old patron, this poor monk leaves this grain stored at your home. Should your household lack food in the days to come, take it for your own use. Consider it the storage fee paid by this poor monk. Only, you must absolutely not sell it to outsiders. Do you understand?”
How could the old woman not know that Ao Tu was helping her? Kneeling down with her young grandson, she said:
“Thank you, Holy Monk, for your compassion. This old body shall never forget your great kindness for the rest of my life.”
Ao Tu smiled and said, “Rise. By the way, if this poor monk visits your home again, you must entertain him warmly and not slight me.”
The old woman agreed repeatedly, promising to receive him with the utmost hospitality.
The next day, Ao Tu took Ba Jie to other impoverished families in the village, bestowing upon them silver taels—some more, some less—in turn.
He then repeated to them what he had said to the old woman.
For a time, everyone praised Ao Tu’s benevolent deeds.
During this period, when someone inquired about the matter of land, Ao Tu said:
“This poor monk shall first perform charity today, and tomorrow we shall begin work to reclaim and cultivate the land.”
Thus, the third day arrived.
Early in the morning, Ao Tu gazed into the distance from mid-air and saw that Tang Seng and his disciples were not far away. He called out to Ba Jie:
“Ba Jie, your senior brother will arrive soon. Are you willing to go welcome him?”
Ba Jie quickly sobered up and said:
“So I really do have a senior brother! Where is he?”
Ao Tu said, “Do not be anxious, do not be anxious. This item is for you.”
Ao Tu produced a golden flower.
Ba Jie asked in surprise, “What is this?”
Ao Tu said, “This is the golden flower that the Venerable Anan once bestowed upon your master. Consuming it can lighten and strengthen the body, prolong lifespan, and increase magical power. Your master gives it to you today. Refine and absorb it.”
Ba Jie happily received the golden flower and said:
“Master, you are truly good to me. Why have you suddenly thought to give me this?”
Ao Tu said, “This is compensation from your master.”
“Compensation? Compensation for what?”
“Refine it first, then we shall speak.”
Ba Jie refined the golden flower and exclaimed with lingering satisfaction:
“This old pig hasn’t enjoyed such a fine thing since being banished to the mortal realm. Many thanks, Master! By the way, Master, you still haven’t said what this compensation is for.”
Ao Tu said, “It is only because your senior brother has a quick temper and is difficult to get along with. I fear he may bully you, so I give you this compensation.”
Ba Jie slapped his chest and said:
“Master, I am not afraid! I’m not one to boast, but this old pig possesses remarkable abilities. I once commanded eighty thousand naval troops of the Heavenly River. I have thirty-six transformations, and a Nine-Tooth Rake forged from divine iron—a supreme treasure. No matter what immortal has descended to the mortal realm, none can bully me.”
Ao Tu said, “Very well. Go wait outside the village. He will arrive soon.”
Ba Jie said, “Yes, Master. I shall go wait for him right away.”
Ba Jie followed his master’s command and went outside the village to wait, while Ao Tu transformed into his true form and departed stealthily.
Now, to speak of the other side: Tang Seng and his disciples had traveled for several days along desolate roads. On this day, they spotted a village at the foot of a mountain in the distance.
Tang Seng said, “Wukong, look, there is a village over there. Let us go beg for some vegetarian food.”
Sun Wukong said, “Master, do not be hasty. Allow this old Sun to go check whether it is a blessing or a curse.”
Sun Wukong flew onto a cloud and fixed his gaze. He saw the village at the foot of the mountain:
Dense bamboo fences, layers of thatched huts. Ancient trees greeted the gates; stream bridges reflected the doorways. Farmers tilled the fields; loyal dogs guarded beneath the eaves. It was certainly a fine place.
Just as he was about to return, he saw a demon walk out of the village and sit on the main road outside. Black face, short hair, long snout, and large ears—was this not an old pig turned spirit?
Sun Wukong hurried back to Tang Seng’s side and said:
“Master, do not proceed yet. The village is a fine village, but there is a pig spirit standing at the village entrance blocking the road.”
Tang Seng was startled and said, “How could such a fine village have a pig spirit blocking the road? What are we to do?”
Sun Wukong said, “Master, don’t be afraid. Sit here and wait while this old Sun goes to eliminate that pig spirit so you can continue your journey.”
Tang Seng grabbed Sun Wukong and said, “Wukong, do you know whether that pig spirit is a domestic pig or a wild boar?”
Sun Wukong said, “It’s just a pig spirit. What does it matter whether it’s domestic or wild?”
Tang Seng said with a face full of worry:
“If it is a domestic pig turned spirit, presumably there is only one, and you can simply go beat it to death. But if it is a wild boar turned spirit, there are likely more in these mountains. After you leave, they might secretly rush out—wouldn’t that endanger me too?”
Sun Wukong said, “Master, rest easy. You have the Six Ding and Six Jia protecting you. That pig spirit cannot harm you. I’m off!”
With that, Sun Wukong rode a somersault cloud and flew before Gaolaozhuang, shouting sternly:
“Hah! Pig spirit, what demon are you and where are you from? Why do you block the road before the village and obstruct this old Sun’s path?”
Ba Jie was sitting on the main road at the village entrance waiting for his senior brother. Hearing these words, he was startled.
Looking up, he saw a demon baring its teeth, with fiery golden eyes and a sharp-mouthed monkey face. It wore a cotton Buddhist robe, with a tiger-skin skirt tied around its waist. Because it looked completely different from its appearance five hundred years ago with golden armor and a purple-gold crown, Ba Jie didn’t recognize it for a moment. He said:
“Damned monkey spirit, which mountain did you scurry out from to dare frighten your pig grandfather? Scram, scram! Don’t bring me bad luck, or I’ll give you a rake and add nine holes to that scrawny body of yours.”
Sun Wukong was enraged upon hearing this:
“Brazen demon, how dare you boast so wildly? Take this cudgel from this old Sun!”
With that, he pulled the Golden Cudgel from his ear, swung the staff, and struck at the head.
Ba Jie hurriedly raised his rake to meet the blow. The impact shook his hands numb and his sinews sore, and he was greatly shocked.
Looking closely at Sun Wukong again, there was something familiar about his features. Examining him carefully and seeing the Golden Cudgel, he recognized him and exclaimed in shock:
“Aren’t you that Stable Keeper who caused chaos in the Heavenly Palace? How did you escape and run here to bully me?”
Sun Wukong raised his cudgel and struck as he said:
“And what kind of demon are you? How do you know this old Sun’s name?”
Ba Jie revealed his origins as Marshal Tianpeng banished to the mortal realm and raised his rake to meet him. “Stable Keeper! When you caused chaos in the Heavenly Palace back then, who knows how many of us you implicated. And now you come here to show off your ferocity again! Have some courtesy! Take this rake!”
Sun Wukong laughed and said, “So you are the Tianpeng Water God descended to the mortal realm, and you dare block my path here? Take this cudgel.”
The two fought fiercely, Golden Cudgel clashing against Nine-Tooth Rake.
Having been beaten without reason, Ba Jie burned with true fury. He brandished his rake, raising fierce winds that darkened heaven and earth. A thrust upward was like a flying dragon’s claw; a strike downward made ghosts and gods tremble.
Sun Wukong was completely unafraid, meeting him with his staff back and forth. After fighting for over a hundred rounds, Ba Jie’s arms grew sore and weak. Unable to defeat his foe, he withdrew, transformed into a gust of wind, and fled back into Gaolaozhuang.
Sun Wukong pursued him. Because they were inside the village, it was inconvenient to wield weapons, so he simply chased Ba Jie and toyed with him.
Unable to fight him off, Ba Jie cursed in anger, “You damned Stable Keeper, I never provoked you, yet you came to beat me and won’t let up. What kind of reasoning is this?”
Sun Wukong said, “You blocked the village entrance and obstructed this old Sun’s path. What kind of reasoning is that?”
Ba Jie said, “I was following my master’s orders, waiting at the village entrance for my senior brother. What has it got to do with you? How did I block your path?”
Sun Wukong said, “Who is your senior brother?”
Ba Jie didn’t actually know who it was either, and for a moment he was speechless.
Sun Wukong grabbed him by the ear and said, “Oh, so you dare lie to me?”
Ba Jie said, “How am I lying? My master didn’t tell me who my senior brother is, only that he is an immortal from heaven descended to the mortal realm, with a higher rank than mine, who managed agriculture and husbandry in the Heavenly Palace, and that he would arrive soon.”
Suddenly, Ba Jie realized.