Bajie and the Monster

Journey to the West 97 Bajie and the Monster

Bajie took a step back as a dark mist surrounded the people on the road. When the mist cleared, he saw they were really a monster and several little demons. The monster grinned at him. “ Yes, you are here for the feast, Pig. We’re going to eat you for lunch! ” “ What?” Bajie raised his rake and swung as the monster approached. The demons rushed toward the pig from all sides.

“ That rotten monkey lied to me! ” cried Bajie. He spun around and knocked over two demons with his rake. The monster threw a punch. Bajie blocked the punch with his rake. “ Ow! ” cried the monster, rubbing his hand.

Bajie kicked a demon sneaking up behind him. “ That monkey is always causing problems! ” the pig muttered. He slammed the rake down on another demon. “ So what if I like to eat? Did he really have to trick me?” The monster attacked again. Bajie thrust his rake toward him, still complaining about Wukong. “ Wukong is small—he doesn’t need to eat as much as I do! ”

The monster suddenly stopped fighting and looked at Bajie curiously. “ You just said ’Wukong. ’ Are you talking about Sun Wukong, the monkey who defeated Heaven’s entire army five hundred years ago?” “ Um, yes, ” said Bajie. “ Do you know him?” “ I’ve heard he’s traveling with the Tang Monk, ” said the monster. “ You must be traveling with the Tang Monk too. ” “ Why are you interested in the monk?” asked Bajie suspiciously.

The monster licked his lips. “ I’ve heard that anyone who eats the Tang Monk will live forever. ” Panicked, Bajie ran from the demons and back to his companions. He pointed at Wukong. “ You tricked me! ” The monkey was laughing. “ How was the feast, Bajie?”