The Mountain of Flames

Journey to the West 79 The Mountain of Flames

Wukong was furious. “ The Bull Demon King tricked me! ” The monkey rushed back to the cave and smashed the door. Crash! The Bull Demon King ran outside. “ You villain! ” he shouted. “ You destroyed my door! ” “ Give me that fan right now! ” yelled Wukong. “ Or I’ll destroy the rest of your mountain! ” “ Never! ” said the demon.

Wukong charged toward the demon. Poof! The demon turned into a crane and flew away. “ He’s not the only one who can turn into other animals, ” thought the monkey. Wukong turned into a phoenix and shot after the crane. With his claws out, he swooped down at the crane. The crane dipped lower and Wukong missed. When Wukong looked back, the crane was gone.

“ Where did he go?” thought Wukong. He looked down and saw an antelope grazing in a field. “ That’s him! ” Wukong landed and turned into a tiger. He crept through the tall grass. When he got close to the antelope, he leaped. Light flashed, and the antelope turned into a huge white bull.

The bull flew up into the sky, and Wukong followed. He had almost caught up to the bull, when he heard a shout. “ Stand back, Wukong! ” It was a soldier from Heaven. “ The Jade Emperor sent us to help you. ”

More soldiers rushed toward the bull. With a snort, the bull spun around and flew the other way. But other soldiers appeared and blocked the bull’s path. Wukong watched as soldiers surrounded the bull. They moved in closer, their swords and spears all pointed at the bull. The Bull Demon King returned to his demon form. “ Please, don’t hurt me! ” The Iron Immortal was rushing toward the soldiers. “ Don’t harm my husband! ” she cried. “ He didn’t mean to be evil! ”