They all made polite noises of respectful assent except for the older lama who said, “Wait. Your master is ill, and catching the evil spirit is not as important as that. As the saying goes,

When a young gentleman goes to a feast

He either gets drunk or eats till he's filled.

When a strong warrior goes into battle

He either is wounded or gets himself killed.

If you two fight it out here you may well get your master into trouble too. It's not a sound idea.”

“You're right,” said Monkey, “you're right. I'll take my master a drink of cold water and be right back.” Picking up the begging bowl he filled it with cold water, went out of the monastery kitchen and back to the abbot's lodgings and called, “Master, cold water for you.” Sanzang, who was just then suffering torments of thirst, raised his head, held the bowl with both hands, and took only one sip of the water. It really was a case of

A drop when you're thirsty is just like sweet dew;

Get the right medicine and you'll feel good as new.

Seeing the venerable elder gradually recovering his spirits and looking less worried Monkey asked, “Could you manage some soup and other food, Master?”

“That cold water was a magical cure,” Sanzang replied. “I have already half recovered from my illness. I would like some food if there is any.”

“The master's better,” Monkey shouted repeatedly at the top of his voice. “He wants some soup and other food.” He told the lamas to arrange some at once. They washed and boiled rice, made noodles, cooked pancakes, steamed breadrolls, and prepared vermicelli soup. Four or five tables of food were carried in, but the Tang Priest ate only half a bowl of rice gruel, while Monkey and Friar Sand managed only a tableful between them. Pig gobbled up the rest. The dishes were then taken out, the lamp was lit, and the lamas dispersed.

“How long have we been here now?” Sanzang asked.

“Three whole days,” Monkey replied. “By tomorrow evening it will be four days.”

“We could have covered a lot of distance in three days,” Sanzang replied.

“Never mind about the distance, Master,” said Monkey. “We'll be on our way tomorrow.”

“Yes,” said Sanzang, “even if I am still a little poorly there is nothing that can be done.”

“If we're setting out tomorrow let me catch the evil spirit tonight,” said Monkey.

“What evil spirit?” Sanzang asked in astonishment. “There's an evil spirit in this monastery that I'm going to catch for them,” Monkey replied.

“But how can you be having ideas like that before I have even recovered from my illness?” Sanzang asked. “If that monster has magical powers and you fail to catch it, then it will kill me, won't it?”

“You're always running people down,” Monkey replied. “Wherever we go I subdue evil creatures. Have you ever seen me come off second best? That could only happen if I did nothing. If I act I'm bound to win.”

“Disciple,” said Sanzang, clutching him, “the saying is quite right that goes:

Do people a good turn whenever you can;

If it is possible treat them with mercy.

Worrying cannot compare with true kindness;

Better be patient than strive for supremacy.”

In the face of his master's impassioned pleas and refusal to allow him to subdue the monster, Monkey could only speak frankly.

“I'll be honest with you, Master,” he said. “The evil spirit has been eating people here.”

“Who has it eaten?” Sanzang asked with shock.

“In the three days we've been here it's eaten six of this monastery's young lamas,” Monkey said, to which Sanzang replied:

“Foxes will grieve at the death of the hare;

Creatures will all for their own kind show care.

As it has eaten monks from this monastery and I am a monk too I will let you go, but do be careful.”

“No need to tell me,” said Monkey, “I'll wipe it out the moment I get my hands on it.”

Watch him as he tells Pig and Friar Sand in the lamplight to guard the master. When he leapt happily out of the abbot's lodgings and went back to the Buddha Hall he looked and saw that though there were stars in the sky the moon had not yet risen and it was dark inside the hall. He breathed out some of his magic fire to light the glazed lamp then beat the drum that stood to the East and struck the bell to the West. That done, he shook himself and turned himself into a young lama of only eleven or twelve who was wearing a yellow silk shirt and a white cotton tunic, striking a wooden fish with his hand as he recited a sutra. He waited till the first watch without seeing anything happen. The waning moon rose only in the second watch. Then a roaring wind could be heard. It was a splendid wind:

Black mists cast the sky into darkness;

Gloomy clouds cover the earth with murk.

Inky black in every quarter,

All enveloped in indigo.

At first the wind raises dust and dirt;

Then it blows down trees and ravages woods.

Amid the dust and dirt the stars still shine;

When trees go down and woods are ravaged the moonlight is obscured.

It blows so hard the Moon Goddess holds tight to the sala tree

And the Jade Hare hunts all around for the medicine dish.

The Nine Bright Shiner star lords shut their gates;

The dragon kings of the four seas close their doors.

The city god in his temple looks for the little devils;

Immortals in the sky cannot ride their clouds.

The kings of the Underworld search for their horse-faced demons

While the panicking judges get their turbans in a tangle.

The wind blows so hard it moves Mount Kunlun 's rocks,

And churns up the waves on rivers and lakes.

As soon as the wind had passed by there was a fragrance of musk and incense and the tinkling of pendants. When Monkey looked up he saw that a woman of great beauty was going towards the Buddha Hall. Monkey mumbled the words of a sutra for all he was worth. The woman went up to him, put her arms around him and asked, “What's that sutra you're reciting?”

“One I vowed to,” said Monkey.

“But why are you still reciting it when the others are all asleep?” she insisted.

“I vowed to, so why shouldn't I?” Monkey replied.

Keeping a tight hold on him, the woman kissed his lips and said, “Let's go round the back for a bit of fun.” Monkey deliberately turned his head aside as he replied, “Stop being so naughty.”

“Do you know how to tell people's fortunes from their faces?” the woman asked.

“I know a bit about it,” Monkey replied.

“What can you tell about me?” she continued. “You look to me rather like someone who's been driven out by her parents-in-law for carrying on with strangers.”

“You're wrong,” she replied, “you're wrong.

I have not been driven out by my parents-in-law,

Nor have I carried on with strangers.

Because of my ill fate in an earlier life

I was married to a husband who is much too young

And can't do his staff in the candlelit bedroom:

That is the reason why I have left my husband.

As the stars and moon are so bright tonight and we are fated to come hundreds of miles to meet each other, let's go round to the garden at the back to make love.”

When Brother Monkey heard this he nodded to himself and thought, “So those stupid lamas all died because they were led astray by lust. Now she's trying to lure me. Lady,” he said in reply, “I'm a monk and still very young. I don't know anything about love-making.”