As the saying goes, those caught in the game are blind, while those watching from the sidelines see clearly.
Sun Wukong pondered Bajie's description for a long time, but still could not work out who the man was.
Bajie, however, had guessed something.
An immortal in charge of farming and livestock in Heaven-hadn't this Bimawen first tended the heavenly horses, then overseen the peach orchard? Wasn't that precisely farming and livestock?
The monkey also held the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Though it carried no real authority, its rank was as high as could be, higher even than his own.
It fit. Every last detail fit.
Bajie understood now: this Bimawen was his senior brother.
Sun Wukong still could not figure it out. Thinking Bajie was continuing to deceive him, he seized Bajie's ear again and refused to let go.
Bajie cried out in pain, "Stop pulling! Stop pulling! Old Pig knows who it is!"
Sun Wukong said, "Oh? Tell me, quick!"
Afraid that telling the truth would anger the monkey, Bajie said:
"Let go first, and Old Pig will explain everything."
Sun Wukong figured the fool could not escape anyway, so he released his grip.
"Speak. Who is your senior brother?"
Bajie said, "My senior brother is you!"
The monkey's eyes widened. "Nonsense! How could it be me? When did Old Sun ever oversee farming and livestock in Heaven?"
Bajie said, "Have you forgotten? You tended horses for the Jade Emperor-wasn't that livestock? And you managed that peach orchard..."
Before he could finish, Sun Wukong flew into a rage. His golden eyes bulged, and his fangs bared.
"You fool! You're asking for a beating!"
He raised his cudgel and struck.
Bajie lifted his Rake to meet him.
The ground shook three times.
Bajie said, "Senior Brother, I didn't say it! Master did!"
Sun Wukong said, "Who is your master?"
Bajie said, "My master is your master!"
Sun Wukong raged, "Still lying! Since when did Old Sun have a junior brother like you? Stop hiding here. Fly up into the sky with me and take three hundred blows!"
Bajie said, "Senior Brother, three hundred is too many! Couldn't you give me fewer?"
Sun Wukong said, "You fool, now you're bargaining with me! Fine, two hundred blows!"
Bajie said, "Old Pig couldn't bear two hundred either! I'd better ask Master to put in a good word for me!"
Sun Wukong said, "No one's pleas will help you!"
Bajie fought as he retreated, backing toward the place where Ao Tu was staying, and shouted:
"Master! Master! Come out quickly! Senior Brother wants to beat me! Please put in a good word for me! Old Pig can't withstand his Golden Cudgel!"
No one answered.
He pushed open the door. Inside were only the old woman and her little grandson, trembling in terror.
Bajie asked anxiously, "Old benefactor, where is my master?"
The old woman said, "The holy monk disappeared. I don't know when."
Sun Wukong grabbed Bajie by the collar, hauled him outside, and said:
"You still dare deceive me? Speak! Who taught you to say those things?"
Bajie said, "Everything I said is true!"
Sun Wukong said, "Then who is your master? What is his name?"
Bajie said, "My master is an eminent monk from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land. His Dharma name is Tang Sanzang. His lay surname is Chen, and his given name is Xuanzang, so he is also called Master Xuanzang."
Sun Wukong exclaimed in surprise, "How do you know my master's name?"
Bajie said, "Senior Brother, we have the same master! Weren't we both guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva and charged with protecting the Pilgrim on his journey west to fetch the scriptures?"
At the mention of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Sun Wukong froze for a moment.
Could it be true?
"Tell me everything, from beginning to end, in detail."
Bajie then said:
"After Old Pig was banished to the mortal world, I mistakenly entered a pig's womb and was born looking like this. I lived as a demon in Fuling Mountain Cloud Stack Cave. Taking my appearance as my surname, I called myself Zhu, and my formal name was Zhu Ganglie.
"Fortunately, a few years ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva guided me onto the right path. I began fasting and observing the precepts, waiting here especially for the Pilgrim so I could become his disciple and one day attain the true fruition. Three days ago, he came here and accepted me as his disciple..."
"Hm?" Sun Wukong snapped. "Still lying! Master and I only reached this area today. How could you have met him three days ago?"
Bajie said, "Master told me that because you were restless and wouldn't concentrate on the journey, he left you behind and came to Gao Village alone."
Sun Wukong said, "Nonsense! Nonsense! Master has been with me all along. How could he have come here? Do you dare come with me and confront him?"
Bajie said, "Master's disappeared. Where would we go to confront him?"
Sun Wukong said, "Master is up on the mountain. With you blocking the road, you fool, he doesn't dare come down. Follow me!"
Bajie said, "Fine, I'll come!"
Sun Wukong carried Bajie through the air to Tang Sanzang.
At the sight of him, Tang Sanzang cried out in alarm:
"Wukong, if you've captured this demon, why haven't you slain him? What did you bring him here for?"
Hearing this, Bajie said:
"Master, how can you be so heartless? If your disciple has fallen short in any way, just say so, and I'll change. Why tell Senior Brother to kill me?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Who are you? Who are you calling Master?"
Bajie said, "Master, don't you recognize me? I'm Bajie! The Bodhisattva ordered me to protect you on your journey west to fetch the scriptures!"
Tang Sanzang backed away in fright. "I don't know you! Don't call me Master!"
Bajie said:
"Master, how can you pretend not to know me? We were talking only yesterday.
"You said you had two treasures: a Brocade Kasaya worth five thousand taels and a Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff worth two thousand. If you could no longer be a monk someday, you would give me one.
"Then you asked whether I wanted the kasaya or the staff. I said you had treated me with kindness and loyalty, and I was willing to take the less valuable one and leave the kasaya for you. Master, don't you remember any of that?"
Tang Sanzang said angrily:
"You accursed demon! Guanyin Bodhisattva bestowed this kasaya and staff upon me. How could I give either to you? Wukong, slay this demon at once!"
Hearing the other man demand his death, Bajie flew into a rage:
"So! Now I understand! You monk must be a demon in disguise, trying to deceive me here! Take a blow from Old Pig's Rake!"
With that, he broke free of Sun Wukong's grip, raised his Rake, and struck.
Sun Wukong hurriedly blocked Bajie with the Golden Cudgel and told Tang Sanzang to flee.
The two fought a fierce battle halfway up the mountain.
Bajie swung his Rake in genuine fury, determined to kill the "demon" impersonating his master.
Radiant light flared, black winds blew; mountains collapsed beneath his blows, and the earth overturned beneath his Rake.
Sun Wukong held him off and said:
"You fool, don't you understand yet? Old Sun has figured it out. It's true that the Bodhisattva guided you,
"but the Pilgrim you met was an impostor."
Bajie said:
"Bimawen, that's bullshit! My master is an enlightened, eminent monk who did countless good deeds in Gao Village. How dare you call him an impostor? Take a blow from Old Pig's Rake!"
After several bitter exchanges, Bajie saw that he could not overcome Sun Wukong. Enraged, he revealed his true form: round eyes like silver rings, bristles like pointed halberds; tusks rivaling steel blades, and a long snout like a brazier.
Braving the blows of Sun Wukong's Golden Cudgel, Bajie charged straight at Tang Sanzang, toppling seven mountains in succession with his snout, determined to destroy this demon impersonating his master.
Tang Sanzang was so terrified that two of his three souls fled and five of his seven spirits scattered. Only the hidden protection of the Six Ding and Six Jia and the Buddhist Guardian Garan kept him from serious harm.
Once Bajie's strength was exhausted, Sun Wukong captured him.
Sun Wukong said, "You fool, you can't tell right from wrong! I'm taking you to the Bodhisattva to settle this!"
Before you continue