Wukong Gets Tricked

Journey to the West 16 Wukong Gets Tricked

Wukong looked at the Dragon King and sighed. “ You’re right, ” said the monkey. “ I did make a promise to Guanyin. ” He put down his teacup and stood up. “ Thank you, my friend. I will visit again soon. ” The Dragon King smiled. “ Good luck, Wukong. ”

The monkey hurried out of the Dragon King’s palace. He found the Tang Monk traveling alongside a stream. “ Master, I have returned, ” he called. “ I’m glad you’re back, Wukong, ” said the monk. “ I’m hungry. ” “ I’ll find a village and beg for some food for you, ” said the monkey. “ You don’t need to do that, ” said the monk. “ There’s rice in the bag. You can cook that. ”

The monk got down from the horse. Wukong opened the bag. When he looked inside, his eyes opened wide. He pulled out the headband. “ This headband is marvelous! ” said Wukong. “ Oh, ” said the monk, watching the monkey closely. “ Do you like it?” “ Yes! ” said Wukong.

“ Try it on, ” said the monk. “ Really?” asked Wukong. The monk nodded. Wukong put the headband on. He looked at his reflection in the stream. “ I look handsome! ” said Wukong. “ Thanks for—ahh! ” The monkey grabbed the sides of his head and fell over. His eyes bulged. “ My head’s going to explode! ” he cried.

He saw the Tang Monk talking quietly. “ Wh . . . What are you saying?” cried Wukong. The Tang Monk stopped talking, and the pain stopped. “ The bodhisattva Guanyin taught me a spell, ” said the monk. “ She gave me the headband to force you to be good. ”