Now, Li Chang Geng had taken the form of an old man and pointed Sun Wukong toward Lingji Bodhisattva's sanctuary.
When Bajie saw the verse, he bowed toward the sky and cried, "My benefactor! My benefactor!"
Years ago, Bajie had drunkenly harassed Chang'e, a crime punishable by death. Only because Taibai Jinxing had personally pleaded for him had his sentence been reduced to two thousand hammer blows and banishment to the mortal realm.
And Li Chang Geng was the name of Taibai Jinxing of the west.
Wukong said, "Bajie, hide deep in these woods. Whatever you do, don't show yourself and fight that demon. Wait while Old Sun goes to Lesser Mount Sumeru to ask the Bodhisattva for help."
Bajie said, "Understood! Understood! Old Pig will guard the luggage here and wait for you to bring the Bodhisattva back."
Wukong leaped into the air, rode his Somersault Cloud, and headed straight south. Before long, he saw a lofty High Mountain, with auspicious clouds floating halfway up its slopes and blessed mists swirling all around. A monastery stood within the mountain, its bells and chimes ringing melodiously, its incense smoke drifting in delicate wisps.
He went straight to the gate. Since he had come to ask a favor, Wukong did not dare enter uninvited and asked someone inside to announce him:
"Sun Wukong, disciple of Tang Sanzang, has come to seek an audience with the Bodhisattva."
Soon, Lingji Bodhisattva came out to welcome him.
Only then did Wukong enter, ascend to the hall, and take the guest's seat.
Lingji Bodhisattva ordered tea to be served.
Wukong said, "Please don't trouble yourself with tea. My master is in peril at Yellow Wind Ridge, and his life hangs by a thread. I have come expressly to ask you to save him with your great powers."
Lingji Bodhisattva said:
"I received Tathagata's decree to keep the Yellow Wind Monster subdued here. Tathagata bestowed on me a Wind-Settling Pill and a Flying Dragon Treasure Staff. When I captured that Yellow Wind Monster, I reflected on how difficult it had been for him to attain his cultivation and spared his life. I let him return to the mountains to live in seclusion, forbidding him to harm living beings or commit evil. I had no idea he now intended to harm your master. His violation of those commands is my fault."
He fetched his treasures and rode a cloud with Wukong. Before long, they arrived above Yellow Wind Ridge.
Lingji Bodhisattva said, "Great Sage, this demon is rather afraid of me. I will remain up here in the clouds. Go down and challenge him, lure him outside, and I will use my magic to subdue him."
Wukong did as instructed and descended from the clouds. Without another word, he drew his iron staff and smashed the cave entrance. He shouted, "Demon! Give me back my master!"
The little demon guarding the entrance hurried to report it.
Inside the cave, Great Sage Yellow Wind was drinking with Ao Tu. When he heard the little demon report that Sun Wukong had smashed the entrance and was cursing outside, he said furiously:
"That insolent monkey has no manners at all! I failed to blow him to death last time, and now he has smashed my gate! This time, I'll unleash my divine wind and blow him to death for certain!"
He donned his armor and took up his steel fork. Just as he was about to leave, Ao Tu said:
"Be careful, younger brother. That monkey failed to win last time, yet he has returned today. He must have something to rely on. If you run into danger, call for your elder brother's help."
Great Sage Yellow Wind cupped his hands and said:
"Thank you for your concern, elder brother. I will win this time, rid us of that monkey Sun, and share Tang Sanzang's flesh with you."
With that, Great Sage Yellow Wind strode out of the cave. At the sight of Sun Wukong, he thrust his fork straight at his chest.
Sun Wukong twisted aside and raised his staff to meet him.
After only a few exchanges, Great Sage Yellow Wind found an opening and opened his mouth to summon the wind.
Just then, Lingji Bodhisattva tossed his Flying Dragon Treasure Staff down from midair. After he chanted some unknown incantation, it transformed into an eight-clawed golden dragon, which swung out two claws and seized Great Sage Yellow Wind.
Scared almost out of his soul, Great Sage Yellow Wind cried, "Elder brother, save me!"
Hearing his cry, Ao Tu flew out and unleashed a Treasure Fan.
What a fan it was, wreathed in precious radiance, with divine flames soaring around it.
This fan was called the Five-Fire Divine Flame Fan, also known as the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan.
It combined five fires: Heavenly Fire, Stone Fire, Wood Fire, Samadhi Fire, and Mortal Fire. It bore feathers from the wings of Phoenix, Azure Luan, Golden-Winged Great Peng, Peacock, White Crane, Swan, and Owl. Upon these seven birds' feathers were Talisman Seals and secret formulas.
A poem bore witness:
A wondrous treasure of five fires, named Seven Plumes, bestowed upon its wielder, it first shone with the radiance of fire.
Mountains and strange rocks turned to ash before it; seas boiled dry, leaving scarcely a cool drop of dew.
Foremost in conquering wood and metal, it burned beams and pillars without pause.
Even an immortal's ten-thousand-year body lost its form the instant the fan was waved.
Ao Tu hovered in the air and fanned Lingji Bodhisattva three times. At once there arose:
Fierce flames soaring ten thousand fathoms into the sky, a thousand golden serpents flaunting their might.
Black smoke rolling over the earth, with scarlet flames three feet high; seas boiled and waves churned, vanishing in the space of an inch.
Lingji Bodhisattva cried in alarm, "What! The Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan!"
Knowing the might of this Treasure Fan, Lingji Bodhisattva could no longer spare a thought for the Yellow Wind Monster and hurriedly used the Flying Dragon Treasure Staff to protect himself.
The eight-clawed golden dragon blocked the flames, but after only a few breaths, it gave a mournful cry. Its manifested body dispersed, and it retreated into the staff.
Seeing the danger, Lingji Bodhisattva hurriedly manifested his dharma body, formed the fire-warding hand seal, and used the Third-Rank Lotus Throne beneath him to shield himself.
At this, Ao Tu feared he might not prevail and waved the fan another seven or eight times, fanning until the very sky turned red.
That Treasure Fan was formed from the gathered Five-Fire True Essence. How could ordinary fire compare?
After only a few strokes, both Lingji Bodhisattva's dharma body and lotus throne were burned to ruin.
Lingji Bodhisattva tried to retreat, but Ao Tu pursued him and gave another wave of the fan, sending him tumbling from the clouds.
Seeing that things had gone badly wrong, Sun Wukong fled on his Somersault Cloud.
Ao Tu bound the barely breathing Lingji and returned in triumph to the cave with Great Sage Yellow Wind.
As soon as they entered, countless little demons crowded around them, all offering congratulations:
"Second King, brilliant!"
"What flames! What a Treasure Fan!"
"Second King, your divine might is unrivaled!"
Great Sage Yellow Wind bowed his thanks beside him. "Thank you for saving my life, elder brother. Yellow Wind is endlessly grateful!"
Ao Tu laughed heartily. "No need for that, younger brother. Please rise! Someone take this monk Lingji and tie him to the Wind-Calming Stake in the rear garden too! In a couple of days, we'll steam them both and eat them!"
All the little demons cheered.
Tiger Vanguard carried Lingji Bodhisattva to the Wind-Calming Stake in the rear garden and bound him in a few deft moves, tying him up alongside Tang Sanzang.
Ao Tu's Treasure Fan had destroyed Lingji Bodhisattva's dharma body and gravely wounded him, leaving him powerless to resist.
Meanwhile, Bajie waited in the woods. Gazing at the crimson sky in the distance, he kept wiping away his sweat and muttered, "Why has it suddenly gotten so hot?"
Just then, Sun Wukong came hurtling through the air, covered in smoke and soot.
Bajie hurried forward and asked, "Senior brother, didn't you go to seek the Bodhisattva's help? How did you end up in such a sorry state?"
Sun Wukong lay down in the shade, gulped several great mouthfuls of water, and panted:
"Terrifying! Terrifying! Bajie, you don't know what happened. I found Lingji Bodhisattva, and he agreed to help. He had me challenge the demon, and when the demon came out, he used a Flying Dragon Staff to capture him.
"But who would have thought that the second demon had a Supernatural Ability too? He had a Treasure Fan that raised a mighty blaze and roasted the very sky. The Bodhisattva was no match for him. He was fanned out of the clouds and hauled into the cave!"
Bajie cried in panic, "No wonder it's so hot! Even the Bodhisattva has been captured! What sort of creature is that second demon? How does he have such a tremendous Supernatural Ability?"
Wukong said, "I don't know either. All I know is that the demon has dragon horns
"and golden scales. I imagine he is a demon dragon who has taken human form, but for some reason, he isn't skilled with water and uses fire instead."
Bajie said, "In that case, senior brother, as the saying goes, 'A fierce fire still needs water to quench it.' Since he is a demon dragon in human form, why not invite the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas? Surely they can subdue him."
Wukong said, "You're right, younger brother. Old Sun will go to the Eastern Ocean at once to borrow dragon troops and ask for water to douse that demon fire and capture this wretched monster."
Before you continue