Now Li Changgeng, in the guise of an old man, had pointed Sun Wukong toward the sacred grounds of Lingji Bodhisattva.
When Bajie saw the verse, he bowed toward the empty sky and cried, “Benefactor! Benefactor!”
For back when Bajie had drunkenly molested Chang’e, he ought to have suffered death for his crime. It was only thanks to Taibai Jinxing personally speaking in his favor that the sentence was changed to two thousand heavy blows and banishment to the lower realm.
And Li Changgeng was precisely the name of Taibai Jinxing of the West.
Wukong said, “Bajie, hide deep in this forest for now. Whatever you do, don’t show yourself and fight that demon. Wait while Old Sun goes to Mount Little Sumeru and invites the Bodhisattva here to help.”
Bajie said, “I know, I know! Old Pig will stay here and guard the luggage until you bring the Bodhisattva back.”
Wukong leapt into the air, mounted his somersault cloud, and went straight south. In but a moment, he saw a lofty mountain. Halfway up, auspicious clouds appeared, and blessed vapors drifted in profusion. Within the mountain stood a Chan monastery, where bells and chimes rang melodiously, and incense smoke curled faintly.
When he reached the gate, because he had come to ask a favor, Wukong did not dare enter rashly. He asked those inside to announce him:
“Sun Wukong, disciple of the Tang Monk, has arrived and seeks an audience with the Bodhisattva.”
Before long, Lingji Bodhisattva came out to welcome him.
Only then did Wukong enter the gate and ascend the hall, taking the guest seat.
Lingji Bodhisattva ordered tea to be served.
Wukong said, “No need to trouble yourself with tea. My master is in peril at Yellow Wind Ridge, his life hanging by a thread. I have come especially to ask the Bodhisattva to exercise great Dharma power and save him.”
Lingji Bodhisattva said:
“I received the Tathagata’s decree to suppress the Yellow Wind Monster here. The Tathagata bestowed upon me a Wind-Stilling Pill and a Flying Dragon Staff. Back then, after I captured that Yellow Wind Monster, I considered how difficult his cultivation had been and spared his life, letting him conceal himself and return to the mountain, forbidding him from harming living beings or committing evil deeds. I did not know that today he sought to harm your master. This violates the teachings and command. The fault is mine.”
He then took up his treasures and rode the clouds together with Wukong. Before long, they arrived above Yellow Wind Ridge.
Lingji Bodhisattva said, “Great Sage, that monster is somewhat afraid of me. I will remain standing here upon the clouds. Go down and challenge him, lure him out, and I shall cast a spell to subdue him.”
Wukong did as he was told, descended from the clouds, and without another word drew his iron staff and smashed the cave gate apart. He shouted, “Monster! Return my master!”
The little demons guarding the gate hurried inside to report.
Within the cave, the Yellow Wind Great Sage was drinking with Ao Tu when he heard the little demons report that Sun Wukong had smashed the cave gate and was cursing outside. He said angrily:
“That wretched monkey is truly insolent! Last time, I failed to blow him to death, and now he dares break down my gate! This time, once I go out, I shall surely unleash my divine wind and blow him to death!”
He put on his armor, gripped his steel trident in hand, and was just about to go out when Ao Tu said:
“Virtuous brother, be careful. That monkey failed to win last time, yet he has returned today; he must have something to rely on. If you encounter danger, call for your elder brother’s aid.”
The Yellow Wind Great Sage cupped his hands and said:
“Many thanks for your kindness, elder brother. This time, I shall certainly win, get rid of that Monkey Sun, and share the Tang Monk’s flesh with you.”
With that, the Yellow Wind Great Sage walked out of the cave. Seeing Sun Wukong, he thrust his trident straight at his chest.
Sun Wukong turned aside to dodge, then raised his staff to meet him.
They had exchanged only a few rounds when the Yellow Wind Great Sage found an opening and opened his mouth, about to summon the wind.
Just then, from midair, Lingji Bodhisattva threw down the Flying Dragon Staff. No one knew what incantation he recited, but it transformed into an eight-clawed golden dragon, spread its two claws wide, and seized the Yellow Wind Great Sage in one grab.
The Yellow Wind Great Sage was so frightened his soul nearly fled his body. He hurriedly cried, “Elder brother, save me!”
Hearing the call for help, Ao Tu flew out and produced a precious fan.
What a fan it was—treasure light coiled around it, and divine fire soared from it.
This fan was called the Five Fires Divine Flame Fan, also known as the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan.
It was formed from five fires: fire from the air, fire from stone, fire from wood, samadhi fire, and mortal fire. It had the wings of a phoenix, the wings of an azure luan, the wings of a great peng, the wings of a peacock, the wings of a white crane, the wings of a swan, and the wings of an owl. Upon the plumes of the seven birds were talismanic seals and secret formulas.
There is a poem as proof:
A wondrous treasure of five fires, named Seven Plumes,
When first bestowed, it bore the glow of Li-fire.
Meeting mountains, strange rocks turn to ash;
Encountering seas, it boils them dry, leaving little cold dew.
Foremost in overcoming wood and metal,
It burns grain and beams without pause.
Even a divine immortal body of ten thousand years
Meets this fan’s blast and is destroyed at once.
Ao Tu flew in the air and waved the fan three times at Lingji Bodhisattva. At once there arose:
Raging flames soared ten thousand zhang high,
A thousand golden serpents flaunted their might.
Black smoke rolled over the earth, red for three feet;
The sea boiled, waves overturned, and vanished in a span.
Lingji Bodhisattva cried in shock, “What! The Five Fires Seven Birds Fan!”
Lingji Bodhisattva knew how formidable this precious fan was. At once, he could no longer concern himself with the Yellow Wind Monster and hurriedly used the Flying Dragon Staff to protect himself.
The eight-clawed golden dragon blocked the fire, but after only a few breaths, it let out a mournful cry, dispersed its Dharma body, and returned into the staff.
Seeing how perilous the situation was, Lingji Bodhisattva hurriedly raised his Dharma body, formed the fire-avoidance mudra, and used the three-petaled lotus seat beneath him to shield himself.
Seeing this, Ao Tu feared he might not prevail, so he waved the fan another seven or eight times, until the very sky was fanned red.
That precious fan was formed by gathering the true nature of the five fires. How could it be compared to ordinary flame?
In only a few strokes, Lingji Bodhisattva’s Dharma body and lotus seat were both burned away.
Lingji Bodhisattva tried to retreat, but Ao Tu caught up and fanned him once more. He immediately fell from the clouds.
Seeing that matters had turned ill, Sun Wukong fled with a somersault cloud.
Ao Tu bound the faintly breathing Lingji, then returned triumphantly to the cave together with the Yellow Wind Great Sage.
As soon as they entered the cave, countless little demons crowded around them, all offering congratulations:
“Second King, brilliant!”
“What fine fire! What a fine treasure fan!”
“The Second King’s divine might covers the world!”
At the side, the Yellow Wind Great Sage bowed in thanks and said, “Many thanks for saving me, elder brother. Yellow Wind is endlessly grateful!”
Ao Tu laughed loudly. “Virtuous brother, there is no need for this. Quickly, rise! Men, tie this Monk Lingji to the Wind-Stilling Stake in the rear garden as well! In a couple of days, we’ll steam him and eat him together!”
All the little demons cheered.
Tiger Vanguard carried Lingji Bodhisattva to the Wind-Stilling Stake in the rear garden and tied him up in no time at all, binding him together with Tang Sanzang.
Lingji Bodhisattva’s Dharma body had been burned away by Ao Tu’s precious fan, and he had suffered grievous injuries, leaving him powerless to resist.
Meanwhile, Bajie waited in the forest. Looking at the stretch of crimson sky in the distance, he kept wiping away his hot sweat and said, “Why has the weather suddenly become so hot?”
Just then, he saw Sun Wukong flying hastily down from the air, his body covered in smoke and fire.
Bajie hurried forward and asked, “Senior brother, didn’t you go to seek the Bodhisattva’s aid? How did you end up in such a sorry state?”
Sun Wukong lay down in the shade of a tree, gulped down several large mouthfuls of water, and panted:
“Formidable! Formidable! Bajie, you don’t know it—I went to find Lingji Bodhisattva, and he agreed to help. He told me to issue a challenge, and when that demon came out, he used a Flying Dragon Staff and captured him.
“But who would have thought that the second demon also had divine abilities? He had a precious fan that stirred up a fine blaze, scorching the very sky. The Bodhisattva was no match for him, was fanned down from the clouds, and was captured and taken into the cave!”
Bajie said in panic, “No wonder it’s so hot! Even the Bodhisattva has been captured! What sort of demon is that second monster, to have such tremendous divine powers?”
Wukong said, “I don’t know either. I only know that the monster has dragon horns and golden scales. I suppose he is a demon dragon transformed into human shape, but for some reason, he is not skilled in using water and instead knows how to use fire.”
Bajie said, “In that case, senior brother, as the common saying goes: ‘A good fire still needs water to put it out.’ Since he is a demon dragon transformed, why don’t you go invite the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas? Surely they will be able to restrain him.”
When Wukong heard this, he said, “Virtuous brother, you speak reasonably. Old Sun will go at once to the Eastern Ocean and borrow dragon troops, request some water, extinguish the demon fire, and capture that wretched monster.”