The Magic Rope

On discovering that they had been deceived, the Demons made complaint to their chiefs, who informed them that Sun, by pretending to be one of the Immortals, had outwitted them.  They had now lost two out of their five magic treasures.  There remained three, the magic sword, the magic palm fan, and the magic rope.  “Go,” said they, “and invite our dear grandmother to come and dine on human flesh.”  Personating one of the Demons, Sun himself went on this errand.  He told the old lady that he wanted her to bring with her the magic rope, with which to catch Sun.  She was delighted, and set out in her chair carried by two fairies.

When they had gone some few li, Sun killed the ladies, and then saw that they were foxes.  He took the magic rope, and thus had three of the magic treasures.  Having changed the dead so that they looked like living creatures, he returned to the Lotus Cave.  Many small demons came running up, saying that the old lady had been slain.  The Demon-king, alarmed, proposed to release the whole party.  But his younger brother said:  “No, let me fight Sun.  If I win, we can eat them; if I fail, we can let them go.”

After thirty bouts Sun lost the magic rope, and the Demon lassoed him with it and carried him to the cave, and took back the magic gourd and vase.  Sun now transformed himself into two false demons.  One he placed instead of himself in the lasso bound to a pillar, and then went and reported to the second Demon-chief that Sun was struggling hard, and that he should be bound with a stronger rope lest he make his escape.  Thus, by this strategy, Sun obtained possession of the magic rope again.  By a similar trick he also got back the magic gourd and vase.

The Master Rescued

Sun and the Demons now began to wrangle about the respective merits of their gourds, which, each assured the other, could imprison men and make them obey their wishes.  Finally, Sun succeeded in putting one of the Demons into his gourd.

There ensued another fight concerning the magic sword and palm fan, during which the fan was burnt to ashes.  After more encounters Sun succeeded in bottling the second Demon in the magic vase, and sealed him up with the seal of the Ancient of Days.  Then the magic sword was delivered, and the Demons submitted.  Sun returned to the cave, fetched his Master out, swept the cave clean of all evil spirits, and they then started again on their westward journey.  On the road they met a blind man, who addressed them saying:  “Whither away, Buddhist Priest?  I am the Ancient of Days.  Give me back my magic treasures.  In the gourd I keep the pills of immortality.  In the vase I keep the water of life.  The sword I use to subdue demons.  With the fan I stir up enthusiasm.  With the cord I bind bundles.  One of these two Demons had charge of the gold crucible.  They stole my magic treasures and fled to the mundane sphere of mortals.  You, having captured them, are deserving of great reward.”  But Sun replied:  “You should be severely punished for allowing your servants to do this evil in the world.”  The Ancient of Days replied:  “No, without these trials your Master and his disciples could never attain to perfection.”