A Visit from Laozi

Journey to the West 43 A Visit from Laozi

Golden Horn scowled at Wukong. “ I doubt you have a gourd like mine. ” “ I do, ” said Wukong. He held up the real gourd. The demon looked carefully at the gourd. “ That does look like my gourd. But my gourd is magical. ” “ My gourd is magical too, ” said Wukong. The demon rubbed his chin. “ What can your gourd do?”

“ It can hold a demon, ” said Wukong. “ All I have to do is say the demon’s name. The demon will get sucked in and then turn into liquid. ” Golden Horn raised his eyebrows. “ My gourd can do that too. Let’s see whose gourd works better. I’ll go first. Um, I forgot your name. ” “ Kong Sunwu, ” said Wukong.

“ Oh yes. Now I remember. ” Golden Horn held up his gourd. “ Kong Sunwu! ” Nothing happened. Golden Horn looked at his gourd. “ Why isn’t my gourd working?” “ Let me try mine, ” said Wukong. “ Golden Horn! ” Shloomp! Instantly the demon was sucked into the gourd.

“ Ha-ha! ” Wukong laughed. “ Golden Horn will soon be turned into liquid! ” He closed the gourd and ran into the cave. Several demons were inside. The monkey waved his iron bar at them. “ Get out of here before I clobber you all! ” he shouted. “ Ahh! ” The demons screamed and ran out of the cave.

After a quick search of the cave, Wukong found his companions. “ We thought you were trapped under mountains, ” said the Tang Monk. “ I was freed a couple of hours ago, ” said Wukong. He untied the monk. “ A couple of hours ago?” asked Bajie. “ What were you doing for all that time? We were scared to death in here! ”