Tang Sanzang ignored Wukong's objections and called out to the fisherman.
"Fisherman! Fisherman! Please come over!"
The fisherman was none other than Sha Wujing in disguise. Hearing the call, he poled his boat over.
"Master, what did you call me over for?"
Wukong hurried after Tang Sanzang, keeping his eyes fixed on Sha Wujing.
What puzzled Wukong, however, was that although Sha Wujing carried a fierce, baleful aura, there was no demonic aura about him. He really did not seem to be a monster in disguise.
Tang Sanzang said, "This poor monk is traveling west. I would like to ask you to ferry me across the river."
Sha Wujing said, "No, no. I cannot take you across."
Tang Sanzang asked, "Why is that?"
Sha Wujing glanced around as though wary of something. "Masters, this is no place to talk. Please go to my humble home first. I will join you after casting this net."
Tang Sanzang asked, "May I ask where your home is?"
Sha Wujing pointed south. "Over there, about five li away."
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang led Wukong and the others to Sha Wujing's home.
Before long, Sha Wujing also arrived in his boat.
"Please come in, masters," Sha Wujing said.
Tang Sanzang bowed and followed Sha Wujing inside. Wukong and Bajie entered after him.
Sha Wujing took off his straw rain cape and bamboo hat, revealing a bald head.
Tang Sanzang asked, "Fisherman, could you also be a monk like me?"
Sha Wujing said, "Though I am fond of monks and devoted to the Buddha, I have not taken the vows."
Bajie laughed. "Then you must have had bald sores or ringworm on your scalp. Why else would you have no hair?"
Sha Wujing said, "No, no! Fire burned it off!"
Tang Sanzang asked, "Fire burned it off?"
Sha Wujing said, "You would not know this, masters, but there used to be a village here, with a hundred or so households. Then word spread of a man-eating monster, and all the villagers fled in terror. With no one left to eat, the monster flew into a rage and unleashed demon fire, burning the whole village to the ground. I was a little late escaping, and the monster caught me in the blaze as well. That is how I came to look like this."
Tang Sanzang cried in alarm, "Could you be a wronged soul?"
Sha Wujing said, "I am not a wronged soul."
Tang Sanzang asked, "Then how did you survive?"
Sha Wujing poured tea for the three of them and explained:
"Fortunately, a Bodhisattva saved me, and I survived. She told me to wait here, saying that a holy monk from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land would pass this way and rid me of the monsters, avenging my great wrong. Afterward, I was to ferry him across the river. Masters, you have come from far away. Have you seen a holy monk from the Eastern Land?"
Tang Sanzang said joyfully, "Amitabha Buddha! This poor monk has indeed come from the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, journeying to the Western Heaven to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures."
Hearing this, Sha Wujing hurriedly said:
"So the holy monk is standing before me! At last, my wait is over. Please accept my bow! I beg you to subdue the monsters for me!"
Tang Sanzang quickly helped Sha Wujing up and said:
"There is no need for this, fisherman. These two disciples of mine are practiced at subduing monsters. Whatever monsters there are, simply tell them."
By now, Wukong had begun to believe Sha Wujing's claimed identity a little more. There truly was no demonic aura about him, and his account seemed reasonable and well supported.
Still, Wukong did not believe him entirely and remained on his guard. "Tell us about these monsters first."
Sha Wujing said, "This river of ours is called the Black Water River. There are three evil creatures around it, also known as the Three Scourges. South of my home lies a forest. The Evil Tiger in that forest is the first scourge."
Wukong asked, "What else?"
Sha Wujing said, "The Poison Dragon in the river is the second scourge. It devours travelers crossing the river, so I dare not venture far out when fishing, nor dare I ferry the holy monk across just yet."
Wukong asked, "What is the third scourge?"
Sha Wujing said, "Little master, do not reach for heights beyond your grasp. You are not even four feet tall. I fear you would struggle to eliminate even one scourge, so why speak of the third?"
Wukong said angrily:
"You fellow have yet to learn what Old Sun can do! I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong, who wreaked havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. Even a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were no match for me. One measly Evil Tiger can be wiped out with a flick of my finger!"
Sha Wujing said, "You little monk certainly know how to boast and wag your tongue. That Evil Tiger's open mouth is bigger than your whole body. He could swallow you in one gulp. By the time I prepare the holy monk's meal this afternoon, you will probably have turned into the monster's dung."
Bajie laughed. "Brother Monkey, he does not believe in your abilities!"
Wukong snapped, "Old Sun will go catch that Evil Tiger right now and bring him back for you to see!"
Sha Wujing said, "Little master, do not push yourself beyond your strength. This Elder Pig looks rather strong. You should go together!"
Bajie laughed. "Brother Monkey, he is afraid the Evil Tiger will eat you, so he wants Old Pig to lend you a hand!"
Wukong glanced at Sha Wujing, still wary of him. "Bajie, stay here and protect Master. Old Sun will be right back."
With that, Wukong leaped outside and rode away on a cloud.
Reaching the southern forest, he looked down and indeed saw an enormous Evil Tiger lying among the trees.
Wukong leaped off his cloud, drew his staff, and struck.
With a thud, his blow smashed a great pit into the ground.
It was only a tiger skin.
Wukong cried, "No! I have fallen into a trap!"
The instant those words left his mouth, his surroundings changed. Red sand filled the sky and black mist spread everywhere; no sky could be seen above, nor earth below. Neither yin and yang nor the five elements could be transformed, trapping Sun Wukong within.
Sun Wukong tried to escape on his Somersault Cloud, but Ao Tu grabbed a handful of red sand from the formation's altar and hurled it at him, knocking him down and back into the formation.
Struck by the red sand, Sun Wukong felt as though a thousand knives were slicing every inch of his body. Pinned beneath the sky-filling sand, he could not move so much as a fraction. Fearing for his master's safety, he sent out his primordial spirit to escape.
Seeing this, Ao Tu scattered another three handfuls of red sand, striking down Sun Wukong's primordial spirit and clouding his soul. He plunged back into the formation, unable to escape again.
As the verse went:
Passed down by Jiejiao, understood by few, its profound mysteries held Heaven's secrets.
First, golden powder was formed within the furnace; then endless flurries of white jade were refined.
A few flakes of red sand made hearts sink; spreading black mist sent courage and bones flying.
Should one encounter the land of dragon and tiger today, even an immortal would return with his soul extinguished.
With Sun Wukong trapped in the Red Sand Formation, Ao Tu took out a piece of silk and used a transformation spell to conjure Sun Wukong's handwriting upon it:
The long road for scriptures is weathered by frost and wind; long parted from home, I yearn for my native land.
I ask my master to wait for now, while I return to visit my old home.
In a month or so, I shall return to attend your horse, guarding your westward journey and breaking through evil barriers.
Fear not the demons that may bar your way; Bajie remains beside you to help!
He handed it to Tiger Vanguard. "If that Zhu Bajie comes looking for Sun Wukong, give him this."
Tiger Vanguard accepted the order and went out with the silk.
Meanwhile, Bajie and Tang Sanzang waited a long time in Sha Wujing's home without seeing
Wukong return. Tang Sanzang said:
"Bajie, why has Wukong not come back yet? Go and take a look."
Bajie said, "Senior Brother has powers as vast as the heavens. What could happen to him?"
Tang Sanzang said, "I am worried. Go and take a look!"
Bajie said, "All right, all right. I will go."
Bajie went out and headed south.
Before long, he reached the forest and called, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother?"
He called for a long time but saw no sign of anyone.
Just then, an Evil Tiger leaped down.
He wore black-gold armor and a black-gold helmet, held a great tiger-headed saber, and carried a dark-gold spear on his back.
Because Tiger Vanguard had changed his outfit, Bajie failed to recognize him. "Are you the Evil Tiger among the Three Scourges? Where is my senior brother?"
Tiger Vanguard laughed loudly:
"What vicious tiger? I am the king of this Southern Mountain! That senior brother you mentioned must be the hairy-faced monkey with a thunder god's mouth! Seeing how carefree and happy I was here on Southern Mountain, he grew envious. After a few words of persuasion from me, he left!"
Bajie asked in alarm, "Where did he go?"
Tiger Vanguard said, "Back where he came from, of course!"
Bajie said, "I do not believe you. My senior brother is not a man of two minds!"
Tiger Vanguard laughed. "If you do not believe me, he left a letter here. He said that if a monk with a long snout and big ears came looking for him, I should pass it along!"
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