Wukong and the gods had stolen Maitreya Buddha's Bundle. Wukong reached out to undo it, but could not get it open.
"This bag is so tight I can't undo it," Wukong said. "Come give Old Sun a hand."
Hearing this, the gods all came forward to help.
But the bag was so small that, crowded around it, they could not exert their strength. So Wukong pulled one end and Bull Demon King pulled the other, while the rest lined up on either side, some tugging at the corners and others hauling on the tail. Bajie stood in the middle calling out a work chant as everyone strained.
The gods' grunts carried outside. Several patrolling Heavenly Soldiers heard the strange sounds and, curious, followed them to investigate.
The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper saw them from the sky and descended, demanding, "How dare you abandon your posts? If demons slipped in and rescued the demon, what punishment would you deserve?"
The Heavenly Soldiers hurriedly knelt. "We know our offense. We only came to investigate because we heard strange sounds while patrolling."
"Where are these strange sounds?" asked the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper.
Hearing the grunts that rang out quite distinctly in the night, the Heavenly Soldiers thought, Could these Star Lords be deaf? But they dared not say more and pointed ahead. "Just over there."
"Withdraw," said the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper. "We will investigate the strange sounds."
The Heavenly Soldiers dared not object and hurried away.
After the Heavenly Soldiers had left, the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper approached the source of the noise. Who should they find but Wukong and the others, working together, drenched in sweat as they pulled at the Bundle?
Wukong and the others were so intent on straining that