Sun Wukong ascended to the South Heaven Gate, met Heavenly King Guangmu, and said:
"I have business to bring before the Jade Emperor."
Outside Lingxiao Hall, the Four Great Celestial Masters-Zhang Daoling, Immortal Elder Ge, Xu Jingyang, and Qiu Hongji-came to greet him. They bowed together and asked:
"Great Sage, why have you come here instead of protecting Tang Sanzang on the Journey to the West?"
Wukong said, "Hard going! Hard going! The road is long and demons abound. We haven't traveled even a third of the way, yet we've been stopped at Yellow Wind Ridge. We encountered two demons, one wielding wind and the other fire. Old Sun invited a Bodhisattva and a Dragon King, but neither could overcome them, and we even lost Bajie to them. I've come specially to seek the Jade Emperor and ask him to decree that troops be sent to wipe out the demons."
Celestial Master Xu said, "You monkey! In days gone by, you had the power to wreak havoc in Heaven. How is it that you can't subdue even two demons now?"
Wukong said, "They truly are formidable! Truly formidable!"
Celestial Master Zhang said, "Enough. Let's announce his arrival."
Wukong said, "Many thanks! Many thanks!"
The four Celestial Masters reported his arrival in Lingxiao Hall and led him before the imperial steps.
Wukong gave a deep bow to the throne, explained what had happened at Yellow Wind Ridge, and said:
"These demons are vicious indeed. Even Lingji Bodhisattva couldn't subdue them. Old Sun suspects they aren't earthly demons, but baleful stars from Heaven. Please issue a decree to investigate."
Upon hearing his report, the Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor immediately decreed:
"Inspect the stars throughout the heavens and the divine kings of every mansion, and determine whether any have descended to the mortal realm out of longing for earthly life."
Wukong added, "That demon has dragon horns and golden scales. First check whether Kang Jinlong is in his palace!"
The immortal officials received the decree. First they inspected the divine kings and officials at the four heavenly gates, then all the great and lesser perfected immortals within the Three Enclosures. They also inspected the thunder officers and generals and the Thirty-Three Heavens, then the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and finally the sun, the moon, and all the stars filling the heavens. None had descended to the mortal realm out of longing for earthly life.
The immortal officials reported to the Jade Emperor, "All the stars in the heavens and the divine generals of every region are present. None have descended to the mortal realm out of longing for earthly life."
The Jade Emperor heard their report and said, "Though no heavenly immortal or god has descended, earthly demons are still causing havoc. Let Sun Wukong select a few heavenly generals and go down to capture them."
Deeply grateful for the imperial favor, Wukong selected Heavenly King Li and his son to capture the Yellow Wind Monster, and the Water Virtue Star Lord to extinguish the demon fire. With a host of heavenly soldiers, he went straight down through the South Heaven Gate.
They had spent a long while in Heaven. By the time Wukong returned to Yellow Wind Ridge with his reinforcements, more than half a month had passed.
Anxious at heart, Wukong pointed at the mountain and said, "The demons' lair is here!"
Hearing this, Third Prince Nezha took out the Universe Ring and prepared to smash the mountain.
Wukong hurriedly stopped him. "My master is still inside. Let me go down and challenge them first, then you can subdue them."
Wukong went down and called:
"You vile monsters, come out at once! Release my master, my junior brother, and Lingji Bodhisattva!"
Inside Yellow Wind Cave, a lesser demon hurried to report:
"Your Majesty, Sun Wukong has come again!"
Great Sage Yellow Wind said angrily, "This monkey never stops! This time, I'll capture him for certain!"
Ao Tu said, "Go ahead, worthy brother. I'll cover you!"
Great Sage Yellow Wind agreed, donned his armor, took up the Steel Fork, and leaped out through the entrance.
"You insolent monkey, you've come to die again!"
Wukong said, "Demon, look who that is."
Great Sage Yellow Wind looked up and saw a young boy flying through the air. His features were delicate and feminine, but his expression was proud.
Behold him:
His fair face, tender and lovely, was like the full moon; his crimson lips and square mouth revealed silver teeth.
His embroidered sash danced in the wind, trailing colorful flames; his brocade robe shone in the sun, radiating golden blossoms.
It was none other than Third Prince Nezha.
Great Sage Yellow Wind was alarmed. Just as he was about to summon wind, Heavenly King Li caught him in the Pagoda's light, leaving him unable to move. Nezha drew out the Universe-Splitting Silk, intending to bind the demon and fulfill the imperial decree.
Seeing this, Ao Tu flew out and waved his fan three times, breaking the hold of the Pagoda and the Universe-Splitting Silk.
Great Sage Yellow Wind immediately summoned wind. The wind fed the fire, and raging flames soared ten thousand fathoms into the sky.
Wukong cried urgently, "Water Virtue Star Lord, release the water! Release the water!"
The Water Virtue Star Lord cast his spell, pouring down a thousand-fathom torrent of clear water. Its rushing thunder shook the valley, and its surging force flooded the sky.
Who could have guessed that the fire had no fear of water? It burned ever more fiercely and instead came blazing up along the torrent.
Great Sage Yellow Wind blew his wind, leaving Sun Wukong, Nezha, and Li Tianwang unable to open their eyes, keep their footing, or hold their clouds steady.
Ao Tu fanned the fire beside him, spreading flames across the entire sky. Nezha's hair was scorched into disarray, and he fled in defeat with it hanging loose. Li Jing shielded the Pagoda with one hand, afraid it would be burned, and retreated along with him.
The Water Virtue Star Lord was too slow to escape. He was burned down from the clouds and taken captive in the cave.
Seeing that things had turned ugly, Sun Wukong had already fled on his Somersault Cloud, leaving before anyone else.
When Nezha and Heavenly King Li caught up, Sun Wukong laughed. "Third Prince, looking like that, you're more like a little girl than ever!"
Nezha said bitterly, "You insolent monkey! We lost soldiers and generals trying to save your master, and you're laughing at us instead!"
Li Jing said, "Alas! Those demons have such vast powers. What are we to do?"
Nezha remembered something and said, "Father, did you see the Treasure Fan in that demon's hand?"
Li Jing said, "I was standing too far away. I didn't see it."
Nezha said, "I thought that Treasure Fan looked very much like a treasure belonging to my martial uncle, Perfected Lord Qingxu Daode. Could one of his disciples have stolen it and come here to become a demon?"
Hearing this, Sun Wukong hastily asked, "You mean Perfected Lord Qingxu Daode of Purple Sun Cave on Green Peak Mountain?"
Nezha said, "Exactly."
Sun Wukong said, "Old Sun will go invite him right away."
With that, he sprang onto a cloud and departed.
A moment later, he doubled back, caught Nezha by the arm, and said, "Please come with me, Third Prince, so you can introduce me."
Before long, Wukong and Nezha arrived at Purple Sun Cave on Green Peak Mountain. With Nezha's introduction, they met Perfected Lord Qingxu Daode.
After hearing Nezha's account, Perfected Lord Qingxu Daode raised his hand and summoned his Treasure Fan. "No one from my cave has gone down the mountain, nor has my fan been stolen. You must have been mistaken, martial nephew."
Sun Wukong and Nezha could only return helplessly.
Back at Yellow Wind Ridge, their discussion yielded nothing. Heavenly King Li said, "If we want to win, we must first take his treasure. There is no other way." With that, he looked at Wukong.
Wukong said, "Don't dress it up as 'taking.' Just say 'stealing.' Old Sun is off!"
Wukong leaped down, turned into a fly, and slipped into the cave.
Inside, demons great and small danced and sang, arrayed on either side. The chief demon sat high upon a dais, with roe deer meat and a venison leg laid before him, eating with relish. The second demon sat not far away, enjoying wine and fruit at his leisure.
Wukong looked carefully, but saw no trace of the Treasure Fan at the second demon's waist, in his hands, inside his robes, or around his neck.
Wukong found a corner, turned into a lesser demon, and approached to pour wine for the second demon. He probed, "Second King, you're truly incredible! One gentle wave of that Treasure Fan, and you sent Sun Wukong and a whole skyful of divine generals fleeing!"
Hearing this, Ao Tu raised his head and looked at the lesser demon. He felt suspicious, but could see nothing amiss.
Sun
Wukong's transformations were impossible for ordinary people to distinguish. Previously, Ao Tu had recognized him only because Sun Wukong had turned into a mosquito and perched on Tang Sanzang's bald head, making it glaringly obvious.
Though he could not tell whether this demon was genuine, he remained deeply suspicious. He was new to Yellow Wind Cave, and apart from Tiger Vanguard, whom he knew fairly well, the ordinary lesser demons were not familiar enough with him to suddenly come over, pour him wine, and strike up a conversation.
After a moment's thought, Ao Tu patted the lesser demon's shoulder and said quietly, "You can't put it that way. Elder Brother deserves credit too, wouldn't you say?"
Sun Wukong failed to recognize the trap and agreed, "Of course, of course!"
Ao Tu smiled. He was certain now: this lesser demon was Sun Wukong in disguise.
When he and the Yellow Wind Monster had sworn brotherhood, he had been the elder brother, while the Yellow Wind Monster was the younger.
But since he was only a guest in the cave and had not truly joined Yellow Wind Cave, the cave's master remained the Yellow Wind Monster. Naturally, the lesser demons addressed the Yellow Wind Monster as their king, but had trouble deciding what to call Ao Tu.
Ao Tu had no sobriquet. Calling him Second King would be wrong; calling him Great Great King would sound cumbersome; calling him a guest would be far too distant.
Ao Tu had therefore lowered his own standing and told the lesser demons to call him Second King, to save them the trouble.
Sun Wukong knew nothing of this, and so had shown his horse's hoof beneath the disguise.
Before you continue