Sun Wukong Battles Zhenyuanzi

"It's over, Monkey Brother. The master of the house is coming after us!" Pigsy whispered to Sun Wukong.

"Don’t worry," Sun Wukong replied calmly, "Didn’t we leave fifty taels of silver behind? Consider it bought!"

"To tell you the truth, Daoist, my disciples and I, five in all, did rest at the Five Grains Temple and borrowed your kitchen to cook a midday meal," Tripitaka explained, unaware of his disciples’ mischief. "After we finished, we saw the two immortal boys sleeping soundly, so we left some firewood money and took our leave."

Tripitaka was entirely unaware of what his disciples had done, so he answered openly and honestly.

"Hahaha, Tripitaka, you are indeed forthright!" Zhenyuanzi laughed. "But tell me, have those sneaky disciples of yours behaved themselves in my temple?"

"Eh?" Tripitaka turned back in confusion and asked, "Wukong, did any of you take anything from the Five Grains Temple?"

"Of course not, Master!" Sun Wukong shook his head like a rattle drum.

"Master, we brothers have always kept to the rules. How could we stoop to petty theft?" Pigsy also shook his head.

"You little rascal, so sly!" Zhenyuanzi chided. "Let me ask you, how did the ginseng fruit taste in my temple?"

"What ginseng fruit? I’ve never heard of it, much less seen it," Sun Wukong denied, his head shaking even faster.

"Monks do not lie," Zhenyuanzi told Tripitaka. "If you confess now, perhaps for the sake of your teacher I’ll let you off. But if you remain stubborn, I, Zhenyuanzi, will show you no mercy and you’ll know the extent of my power!"

"Wukong!" Tripitaka, seeing Zhenyuanzi was not joking, grew serious and earnestly advised, "We are monks; do not lie, nor eat with a guilty conscience. If you truly took the ginseng fruit, admit your mistake and beg forgiveness. Why lie?"

Sun Wukong realized his master was right, so he confessed, "Master, after lunch, Pigsy and I were cooking in the kitchen when we heard a commotion in the next room. It was Qingfeng and Mingyue sharing out the ginseng fruit. Pigsy wanted to try one, so I went into the back garden and picked five. Then the brothers and Little White Dragon each ate one."

"Amitabha! Wukong, how could you do such a thing?" Tripitaka’s face darkened with displeasure. He scolded, "Have you forgotten my teachings? Monks must neither steal nor rob!"

"I haven’t forgotten, Master. I only thought Pigsy and Sha Monk’s cultivation was too shallow, and with ginseng fruit, they might regain their former powers and better ensure your safety on our journey to the West," Sun Wukong replied sincerely.

"So Big Brother didn’t steal the ginseng fruit just for himself!" Pigsy, Sha Monk, the bear spirit, and even Little White Dragon were moved and ashamed, and they too confessed their guilt to Tripitaka.

"Amitabha!" Tripitaka, seeing this, could not bear to be harsh. He turned to Zhenyuanzi and pleaded, "Immortal, my disciples were wrong, but as their teacher, I am also to blame. Please, let us discuss how we might atone for this offense."

"Hmph! You think a few words will absolve you after stealing my ginseng fruit? Is the world so forgiving? All of you, come with me and accept your punishment!"

Zhenyuanzi’s face turned cold in an instant. He soared into the clouds and, with a flick of his sleeve, performed the magic of the universe within his robe. With a sweep, he gathered Tripitaka, his four disciples, and their horse into his sleeve.

"Oh no, Monkey Brother, the old man’s gone mad!" Pigsy exclaimed.

Sun Wukong snorted, "Shameless Zhenyuanzi! He promised not to pursue this, and now pulls this trick? Watch how I deal with him!"

Pigsy hefted his rake and struck at the sleeve, but though it seemed soft, it was as hard as iron.

"Monkey Brother, I can’t break through! This old man’s robe is tougher than steel—my rake just bounces off!"

"Step aside, Pigsy—let me try!" Sun Wukong summoned his Invincible Green Brick and smashed it at Zhenyuanzi’s armpit. There was a hum, but the reliable brick rebounded.

"Monkey Brother, your treasure isn’t working!" Pigsy cried anxiously.

"Zhenyuanzi’s aura is formidable. I’ll have to try harder," Sun Wukong said, gathering all his strength and hurling the Invincible Brick at Zhenyuanzi’s armpit again.

There was a clang. This time, Zhenyuanzi’s spirit was jarred, his mind unsettled, and his magic stalled for a moment. The universe within his sleeve lost its effect, and all five disciples tumbled out together.

"Has this monkey become a Golden Immortal since last we met?" Zhenyuanzi steadied himself atop the clouds, then, seeing the pilgrims falling, swept his sleeve once more, gathered them up, and sped back to the Five Grains Temple.

Upon arrival, Zhenyuanzi dumped the five out of his sleeve. His disciples rushed forward, seized them, and tied each to a pillar in the main hall.

"My disciples, monks should not be harmed by blades or axes. Go fetch my whip—I will flog them to vent my anger over the ginseng fruit!" Zhenyuanzi ordered coldly.

Mingyue hurried inside and returned with a whip, gleaming in his hand—a Seven-Star Whip of dragon hide, soaked in the pond.

"Zhenyuanzi, don’t bully us just because you’re strong. If you have the guts, fight me one on one!" Sun Wukong shouted.

"Hmph! You’re a crafty monkey and fast as the wind. If I let you go, who could catch you?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t run. I’ll stand right here and fight you," Sun Wukong replied, surprised to hear Zhenyuanzi acknowledge his somersault cloud’s speed.

"What difference would that make?" Zhenyuanzi motioned to his disciple Zhu Keda to take up the whip, then pointed at Tripitaka. "Tripitaka failed as a teacher. Flog him thirty times first!"

Sun Wukong grew agitated and cursed, "You fool! Even if I ate your ginseng fruit, I left you silver!"

"Hmph! Taking without asking is theft! And fifty taels cannot buy my priceless treasure!" Zhenyuanzi scoffed and ordered Zhu Keda to begin the flogging.

"Stop! You shameless old fool! I stole and ate the fruit—why punish my master first?" Sun Wukong yelled.

Zhenyuanzi sneered, "Your head and bones are like iron—blades and axes cannot harm you. What’s the point in flogging you?"

"You know much, old Daoist, yet you forget the principle: 'A teacher for a day is a father for life.' My master is as dear as my father! Harm him, and when I break free, I’ll topple your tree, slaughter your followers, and destroy your temple!"

At this, Zhenyuanzi’s face stiffened. He thought, I only wanted to add a trial for Tripitaka at Buddha’s request and frighten the monkey a little. But this monkey is more dangerous than I imagined—if he really destroys my temple, what then?

"Enough! For the sake of your filial devotion, I’ll do as you wish. Flog you first!"

He realized there was no need to clash with such a notorious troublemaker, so he ordered Zhu Keda to whip Sun Wukong instead.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Zhu Keda lashed Sun Wukong thirty times, each stroke delivered with care, until noon had come.

Though Zhenyuanzi didn’t want a real quarrel with Sun Wukong, he could not make it look too easy, so he instructed Zhu Keda again, "Now punish Tripitaka for failing to control his disciples!"

"You old fool, are you confused again?" Sun Wukong shouted. "My master was kept in the dark from beginning to end. How can you accuse him of failing to control us? If you’re still angry, keep flogging me and leave my master alone!"

Zhenyuanzi, not wanting further trouble, accepted Sun Wukong’s suggestion. "This monkey is sly, but also filial! Very well, continue flogging him."

Obediently, Zhu Keda whipped Sun Wukong thirty more times, each stroke following the last, until the sky seemed to darken.

"Enough!" Zhenyuanzi looked up and, seeing a faint glow in the sky, realized immortals were arriving. He ordered his disciples to stop, then hurried away in a rush...