Making Things Up

After saying this, Zhu Bajie led Sha Wujing to the front of the pagoda with great pride and high spirits. On the pagoda was a jade plaque with six large characters engraved on it.

"Bowl Mountain Waning Moon Cave!"

Seeing this, Sha Wujing quickly said to Zhu Bajie:

"Second Brother, this isn't a temple at all, it's just a demon's cave abode. Master must be here."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie immediately said to Sha Wujing:

"Wujing, don't be afraid. You lead the horses and keep watch over them. Take the luggage and I'll go ask him."

After Zhu Bajie raised his Nine-Toothed Rake and charged toward the entrance of the monster's cave abode.

Zhu Bajie roared, "Open the door right now, or I'll smash this doorway to pieces!"

Upon hearing this, the little demon in the cave immediately reported to the monster:

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A monk with a long snout and big ears, and another monk with a livid face have come to our door."

Upon hearing this, the monster was overjoyed and muttered softly:

"That must be Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing. Why would they come here? Although they both look fierce, we can't ignore them."

After speaking, the monster said to the lesser demons, "Bring me my battle robe and my greatsword. I want to go out and greet them personally."

Upon hearing this, the lesser demons immediately took the demon's Yellow Robe and draped it over his body. The Old Yellow-Robed Monster, after adjusting himself, went out and asked Zhu Bajie:

"Who are you two? Why are you shouting at my door?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie's temper flared instantly, and he began to hurl insults at the Old Yellow-Robed Monster:

"I'm your grandpa Pig, don't you recognize me? My master is Tang Xuanzang, and he's in your house right now. Get him out of here right now, or I'll smash you all down with one rake."

Upon hearing this, the Old Yellow-Robed Monster immediately smiled obsequiously at Zhu Bajie:

"Yes, there is a Tang Xuanzang in my house. I haven't neglected him; I just arranged some human flesh buns for him to eat. Why don't you come in and have one too?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie quickly put away his Nine-Toothed Rake and prepared to enter the cave. However, Sha Wujing, Zhu Bajie Zhu Bajie and said:

"Second Brother, when have you ever eaten human flesh? He's lying to you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie suddenly realized what was happening. He raised his Nine-Toothed Rake and swung it at the Old Yellow-Robed Monster. The Old Yellow-Robed Monster was no pushover either; he immediately dodged and raised his broadsword to meet the attack.

Then the two of them Divine Ability. They fought from the ground to the sky and then back down to the ground, fighting and battling each other. When Sha Wujing saw that Zhu Bajie was no match for the Old Yellow-Robed Monster, he settled his horse and joined the battle.

The three then went back and forth for more than ten rounds without a clear winner.

When Tang Xuanzang saw that Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing were evenly matched with the monster, he burst into tears, thinking of his eldest disciple, Sun Wukong.

Just then, it seemed that Tang Xuanzang's cries moved Heaven, and a woman's voice came from there.

"Elder, why are you bound here by this monster?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang immediately said to the woman:

"This humble monk comes from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands, on his way to the Western Heaven Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I was passing through this place when I unexpectedly found myself captured by demons who plan to devour me in a moment."

Upon hearing this, the woman immediately said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Elder, please don't worry, I don't eat people. My home is more than 300 miles away from here. There is a city there called Kingdom of Precious Images, and I am the third daughter of its king."

"My name is Baihuaxiu! Several years ago, I was playing under the moon when Yaomo swept me away in a gust of wind. We were husband and wife for several years, and I had children with him. After that, I never heard from him again and he returned to my parents' place."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang looked at the woman with eyes filled with pity.

Then, the woman said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Elder, please rest assured. Since you are on your way to the Western Heaven Paradise to retrieve the scriptures, I must save you, because my home is on the main road to the west. Please help me send a letter to my parents to tell them that I am doing well here, so they can be at ease."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang immediately said to the woman, "Esteemed female benefactor, since you are so willing to save me, I am certainly willing to act as your messenger."

After Tang Xuanzang finished speaking, the woman took out a letter from behind her back, went to the wooden stake, raised a small knife, cut the rope, released Tang Xuanzang, and placed the letter in his hand.

Tang Xuanzang then said to the woman:

"Thank you so much for saving my life, lady. If I reach your father, I will certainly give him this letter, but..."

After Tang Xuanzang finished speaking, he stopped there. Upon hearing this, the woman immediately said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Just keep going, you're driving me crazy!"

"But so much time has passed, your parents probably don't recognize you anymore. What should you do?"

Seeing that the woman was very anxious, Tang Xuanzang continued slowly, speaking to her.

"Elder, you don't need to worry about this at all. When my parents see this letter, they will definitely recognize each other."

Upon hearing this, the woman spoke earnestly to Tang Xuanzang.

"In that case, I'm relieved. But with so many monsters ahead, how am I going to get out?"

Tang Xuanzang said to the woman with a worried expression.

After listening to this, the woman pondered seriously for a long time, then patted Tang Xuanzang on the shoulder and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Elder, please don't worry. Everyone in front is cheering for the King. If you go through the back door and the King catches you, he will at most interrogate you."

After the woman finished speaking, she led Tang Xuanzang to the back door and hid him in the bushes.

Then the woman devised a plan, went to the front door, and called to the Demon King:

"Your Majesty, please come down quickly, I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, the Demon King immediately stopped fighting with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, jumped down from the cloud, threw away his steel sword, and said to the princess:

"Princess, what brings you to me?"

Upon hearing this, the princess immediately said to the Demon King:

"Just now, while I was sleeping, I suddenly dreamed of a deity wearing golden armor and holding a sharp sword. He was someone I had made a wish to a deity when I was a child."

"I hope to find a very capable person to be my husband. Since I met you, we've gotten along very well, and I haven't mentioned it to you yet."

"But now that deity has come knocking on my door, waking me up, only to find it was all a dream."

The princess paused here, took a breath, and continued speaking to the Demon King:

"When I woke up, I found a monk tied to the wooden stake; it was the very same deity."