Tang Monk and His Disciples Fight Spider Demons (I)

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After passing Little Western Heaven, Tang Monk and his disciples traveled for another two or three months, and it was now summer.

One day, they arrived at a mountain ridge. Tang Monk, riding on his horse, was overwhelmed by a foul stench. Covering his nose, he said, "Wukong, go ahead and find out what place this is." Wukong knocked on the door of a house and asked the old man who answered, "Old man, what is this place, and why does it smell so bad?"

The old man replied, "This is called the 'Seven Jue Ridge,' and it stretches for 800 li. The ridge is full of persimmon trees, and in summer, the persimmons fall to the ground and rot, emitting a terrible stench. Even the birds and beasts in the mountains can't withstand it and have all died!" Wukong returned to inform his master. Tang Monk sighed, "What shall we do?"

Wukong laughed, "Master, I have a way to cross the Seven Jue Ridge." Tang Monk quickly asked, "What is it? Tell me!" Wukong laughed, "I'm just afraid Bajie won't agree." Bajie pouted, "You monkey, what bad idea do you have now?" Tang Monk scolded, "Bajie, don't be rude! Wukong, go ahead."

Wukong laughed, "Let Bajie reveal his true form and turn into a big fat pig to eat all the rotten persimmons." Bajie exclaimed, "Master, I knew this monkey didn't have good intentions!" The old man overheard and hurriedly said, "If this master can really rid us of this disaster, we will prepare a fine vegetarian meal for you all!"

Tang Monk bent down and said, "Bajie, doing good deeds is a great virtue." Hearing about the meal, Bajie changed his tune, "Since Master says so, I'll put in some effort and push away those rotten persimmons!" Wukong patted his shoulder and laughed, "Good Bajie! Old man, quickly gather the whole village to prepare a meal for my junior brother here; he has quite the appetite!"

The old man promptly invited Tang Monk and his disciples into his home and gathered the villagers to prepare a meal for Bajie. Soon, steaming white buns filled the table. Bajie opened his belly and began eating, devouring eighty or ninety buns in no time. The old man laughed, and children jumped around him as if it were a festival.

After eating his fill, Bajie took off his upper clothes and, guided by the villagers, went up the Seven Jue Ridge. The stench grew stronger as he walked, and the villagers covered their noses, saying, "Elder, the ditch ahead is full of rotten persimmons. We can't go any further!"

Bajie said, "You can go back." He then lay down, transformed into a giant white pig the size of a small hill, and with his snout, pushed all the rotten persimmons into the mountain ravine.

With the persimmons gone, the Seven Jue Ridge no longer smelled. Bajie returned to the village in human form. The villagers cheered and clapped, some even brought water for him to wash his face. Wukong laughed, "Bajie, you've done a great deed this time!" Bajie was pleased with the villagers' admiration. The villagers beat gongs and drums, sending Tang Monk and his disciples off past the Seven Jue Ridge.

That day, the four of them entered another mountain. The scenery was beautiful, with green hills and clear waters. Tang Monk said, "Disciples, you usually work hard to beg for food. Today, let me do it." Wukong, holding the horse, laughed, "Master, we're happy you're willing, just don't go too far!"

Tang Monk said, "Don't worry, Wukong." He dismounted, unpacked his purple-gold alms bowl, and walked along the mountain path. Wukong and his brothers followed, chatting and laughing.

As Tang Monk walked, he heard women's laughter in a grove. He wanted to avoid it but feared missing a place to beg for food, so he braced himself and went in. In the grove, seven young women in colorful silk clothes were playing hide-and-seek.

As Tang Monk approached, a girl in yellow stumbled before him, took off her blindfold, and said, "I quit, I quit!" Seeing a monk before her, she said, "Greetings, venerable monk." Tang Monk clasped his hands, "Greetings, young lady. I am a monk from the Great Tang, seeking alms."

The girl in yellow turned to a girl in red and asked, "Elder sister, what do you think?" The girl in red said, "The venerable monk has come a long way, let us take him home for a meal." Tang Monk thanked her and followed them out of the grove to a thatched hut. The girl in red said, "This is my home, please come in."

Inside, the girl in red said, "Please wait a moment while we prepare a meal." The six other girls answered cheerfully and went out.

Soon, the six girls returned, each carrying a dish, and set them on the table. The girl in red said, "Please eat, venerable monk." Tang Monk thanked her and looked to find dishes full of flies, moths, and beetles the size of eggs, almost making him retch. He forced himself to say, "Thank you, but I do not eat meat. I must take my leave." He stood to go.

The girl in red pressed him back into his seat, "You monk, we kindly prepared this meal, and you want to leave?" Tang Monk said, "I have three disciples waiting, I fear they'll worry." The girl in red suddenly glared, "Tang Monk, you think you can leave my Spider Web Cave?"

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