Tang Monk and his three disciples advanced westward. They felt the weather changed strangely. It became hotter and hotter. “It’s autumn now.” Tang Monk said. “But why is it so hot?” “I heard there’s a Sihali Kingdom,” Pig Bajie said. “That’s where the sun sets. It’s called the end of the heaven. It’s so hot here. I think this place must be where the sun sets.” “Don’t talk rot!” said Monkey King. “Sihali Kingdom is very far from here.” “If it is not the end of the heaven,” asked Bajie, “then why so hot?” “Maybe because the weather became irregular,” said Sha Monk. “Summer doesn’t leave, and autumn doesn’t come.” While arguing, they found a compound by the roadside. Red tie houses, red brick walls, red paint doors. In a word, everything is red. Getting down from his horse, Tang Monk said to Monkey King, “Wu Kong, go ask why it’s so hot here.” Coming in front of the compound, Monkey King found an old man pushing the door open. Saw Monkey King, the old man was startled and asked, “You peculiar person, where do you come from? What do you want?” Quickly stepping up, Monkey King said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m not a peculiar person. I come from the Great Tang Dynasty and am going to the western paradise to take the Buddhist ures.” Added Monkey King, “It ’s autumn now. But it’s surprising that it’s so hot. We know neither the reasons nor the name of this place. So I come to ask you about it.” “Sorry,” said the old man. “I’m too old to recognize you.” “It doesn’t matter.” “Where is you master now?” “Just over there on the road.” “Ask him come here, please.”
Monkey King happily waving his hand, Tang Monk, Pig Bajie and Sha Monk came over immediately. Seeing Tang Monk was so handsome but Bajie and Sha Monk so ugly, the old man was either delighted or surprised. Inviting the guests to enter, the old man asked his servants to prepare food and drink for the master and his disciples. “May I ask you a few questions?” said Tang Monk to the old man. “Yes, please.” “It’s autumn now. But why is it so hot here?” “This place is named Flame Mountain,” replied the old man. “It’s just this hot all year round. We have no sprint, no autumn, no winter.” “Flame Mountain is located in which direction?” ask Tang Monk. “Does it block the way westward?” “You just cannot go westward!” said the old man. “That mountain is sixty miles away from here. It’s the only road you must take if you go westward. The flame zone is eight hundred miles long. Not even so much as a blade of grass can grow all around. If you’re going to cross this mountain, you’ll be definitely melted even if you have a copper skull or iron body? On hearing this, Tang Monk turned pale with fright and didn’t dare to ask anymore.
A few moments later, a young man, pushing a red wheelbarrow, came and stood at the gate. “Cakes! Cakes!” the young peddler cried his cakes aloud. Monkey King drew off a fine hair and blew it. The hair turned into a coin immediately. He handed the coin to the peddler and bought a cake. The cake was so hot that he couldn’t hold in one hand. So he put the cake in one hand and then in the other. “Hot! Hot!” cried Monkey King. “How can I eat it?” “Afraid of heat, you’d better not come here!” said the young man. “It should be so hot here!” “How can you till land in such a hot weather?” asked Monkey King. “If you cannot till land, how can you get your cakes?” “If we need cakes,” said the young peddler, “we’ll go to ask Iron Fan Fairy for help.” “Who is the Iron Fan Fairy?” “She has a palm-leave fan,” replied the young man. “We can borrow the fan from her and then fan the fire. Fan it first time, the fire goes out. Second time, wind comes. Third time, rain comes. Doing this way, we can till our land and have a good harvest. Otherwise, not even so much as a blade of grass will grow here.”
Hearing this, Monkey King entered the compound and gave the cake to his master. Taking over the cake, Tang Monk handed it to the old man. “Have the cake, please!” Tang Monk said to the old man. “Oh no,” said the old man. “You’re my guest. I haven’t given you anything to eat, how can I take your cake?” “You’re so polite,” said Monkey King. “No need to give us anything to eat. But could you please tell me something about the Iron Fan Fairy?” “Why do you ask me about her?” asked the old man. “I’m going to borrow her fan to put out the fire and then cross Flame Mountain.” Monkey King said. “Besides, the people here can till land according to seasonable weather.” “What you said is quite reasonable,” said the old man, “but you have no gifts and I don’t think the Iron Fan Fairy will lend you her fan.” “What sort of gifts?” Tang Monk asked. “We ask her for help every other tenth year,” replied the old man. “The gifts include four pigs and four sheep, chickens and geese, fresh fruits and wines. Everyone must have a bath and then goes to the mountain devoutly with all these gifts. Only by doing so, can we ask her to come out of the mountain cave and help us.” “Where’s the mountain?” asked Monkey King. “What’s its name? How far from here? I’m going to ask her for the fan.” “The mountain is located in southwest.” said the old man. “It’s name is Mt. Green Clouds. There’s a cave in the mountain. Its name is Palm Cave. Fourteen hundred and fifty-six miles from here. Every time, it takes us one month to get there.” “Never mind,” said Monkey King. “I’ll go and come back very soon.” “Have something to eat and go with a companion,” said the old man. “It’ s a long way to go and worse of all, there’re a lot of wild beasts.” “No problem,” said Monkey King. Turning a somersault, Monkey King disappeared.
Monkey King came to Mt. Green Clouds before long. While looking for Palm Cave, he heard a chopping sound. Scrutinizing, he found a woodcutter felling a tree. “Hi, brother woodcutter,” stepping up, Monkey King said politely. “Hi, respected monk,” said the woodcutter. “Where to go?” “Is this Mt. Green Cloud?” “Yes.” “I heard that an Iron Fan Fairy lives in Palm Cave,” said Monkey King. “ Where’s the cave?” “Here’s really a cave named Palm Cave, but no Iron Fan Fairy,” said the woodcutter. “Here’s only Iron Fan Princess.” “People say that she has a palm-leave fan. It can put out the fire of Flame Mountain. Right!” “You’re right,” said the woodcutter. “But the people here don’t need her help. She’s the wife of Ox Devil King.” Hearing this, Monkey King felt much surprised.
“Enemies seem to be fated to meet.” Monkey King thought. “I once subdued a little demon named Red Baby in the past. It’s said that the little demon is the son of Ox Devil King. And this Iron Fan Princess is certainly his mother. If so, how can she lend me the fan?” Seeing Monkey King deep in thought, the woodcutter laughed, “As a monk, what do you worry about? The cave is no more than five or six miles from here. You just walk eastward and will get there very soon. No need to worry about it.” “To tell you the truth, brother,” said Monkey King. “I’m the disciple of Tang Monk. The year before last, I was once in conflict with Iron Fan Princess’s son, Red Baby. I’m afraid she’ll bitterly hate me.” “As a real man, you only borrow the fan but do not mention the old conflict. I’m sure she’ll lend you the fan.” “Thank you,” said Monkey King and left immediately.
Monkey King arrived at Palm Cave before long. “Open the door,” said Monkey King. The door opened and a young girl walked out. “Sister, would you please go in and tell your princess that a monk comes to borrow her fan?” asked Monkey King. “Where do you come from? What’s your name? Tell me so that I can make a report.” “I come from the eastern land of the Great Tang Dynasty. I’m going westward to take the Buddhist ures with my master. My name is Sun Wukong.” The girl went in and made a report to Iron Fan Princess. Hearing the name of Sun Wukong, the princess was wild in anger. “The dirty monkey! Come to court death! !” Then she shouted to the girl, “Bring me the weapons!” The girl took over her suit of armor and two swords. Iron Fan Princess came out and cried out, “Sun Wukong, where are you?” Stepping up immediately, Monkey King made a deep bow and said, “ Sister-in-law, Sun Wukong is here.” “Who is you sister-in-law?” shouted the princess. “Who wants you to make a bow to me?” “In the past, your husband Ox Devil King and me became sworn brothers, so you’re certainly my sister-in-law.” Monkey King said. “You dirty monkey,” abused the princess. “Now that you’re brothers, why did you hurt my son?” “Who is your son?” Monkey King pretended not to know her son. “Red Baby! He was subdued by you,” said she. “We’re just looking for you to settle old scores. You’ll pay for this! How can I let you off?”
“Sister-in-law, you didn’t know the truth, so you’ve mistreated me,” said Monkey King. “Red Baby caught my master and was going to steam or boil him, so I could do nothing but ask help from Goddess of Mercy. Thanks to Goddess of Mercy, your son was taken away and my master was therefore rescued. Your son is now serving Goddess of Mercy and he’ll never die! You should thank me. But it’s surprising that you blame me. Why?” “You really have a slick tongue.” She said. “Red Baby wasn’t hurt, that ’s right, but how could he come to my side. When and where could I see him again?” “It’s quite easy,” said Monkey King. “So long as you lend me your fan and I put out the fire and cross Flame Mountain, I’ll go to South Sea and ask Goddess of Mercy to let your son come to see you. And then I’ll return you the fan. How about it?” “You wild monkey, don’t talk too much nonsense,” said she. “You just let me chop your head. If you can endure the pain, I’ll lend you the fan. Otherwise, you just go see King of Hell!” “O.K.,” said Monkey King. “You just chop my head as you like until you are tired out. But you must lend me the fan.” Leaving no chance to explain, Iron Fan Princess chopped Monkey King’s head fiercely. But Monkey King was still safe and sound. Much scared, Iron Fan Princess turned back and was going to run away. “Where to go, sister-in-law?” cried Monkey King. “Lend me the fan!” “I never lend my fan to anyone lightly!” said she. “Now that you are not willing to lend me your fan,” said Monkey King, “I ’m not to blame if I fight you mercilessly.”
Monkey King took out his golden cudgel and shook it which turned into a very big one as thick as a bowl. Iron Fan Princess drew out her sword to fight Monkey King. Realizing before long that she was no match for the monkey, the princess ran away. Monkey King went in hot pursuit. The princess took out her fan and shook it. A gust of evil wind was stirred up immediately which blew Monkey King away. Monkey King disappeared not leaving a trace. No where to be seen. Whirling in the air, he could neither fall down onto the ground nor keep stable in the sky. He was just dancing wantonly like a withered leave in a whirlwind and a faded flower in turbulent waters. Rolling the whole night, he fell onto a mountain at daybreak. Firmly holding a rock, pulling himself together for a long time and observing carefully, did Monkey King realize that he was on Mt. Little Xumi.
“What a terrible woman!” sighed Monkey King. “How could she send me here? I still remember that in the past I once came here asking Lingji Buddha to help me subdue the Yellow Wind Demon so as to rescue my master. It’s over three thousand miles due south from here to the Yellow Wind Ridge where the Yellow Wind Demon lives. And I came here from west. Just don’t know how many miles from west to here and then to the southern Yellow Wind Ridge.Several decades of thousands of miles only. Let me go down the mountain and ask the Lingji Buddha in order to go back.” He told the whole story to the Buddha. “Iron Fan Princess can fan a person forty-eight thousand miles away,” said the Lingji Buddha. “But it’s only over fifteen thousands of miles from here to the Flame Mountain. It’s only because you have the capability to keep yourself stable in the clouds. If you’re an ordinary man, you’ll surely be blown further away.” “Terrible!” Monkey King said. “Then how can I save my master?” “Don’t worry,” said the Buddha. “I have a wonderful pill. It can help you stand still in any wind. Take it. The demon can no longer fan you away.” Taking over the pill, Monkey King thanked the Buddha and left.
Turning a somersault, Monkey King came back to Mt. Green Clouds before long. He knocked the door of the cave with his stick. “Open the door!” cried Monkey King. “Lend me the fan!” A girl went to make a report at once. Learning that Monkey King came back, Iron Fan Princess was quite perplexed. “What a capable monkey!” she wondered. “So long as I fan a person just one single time, he’ll be driven eighty-four thousand miles away. How could he come back so soon? This time, I’ll fan him two or three times. He wouldn’t be able to find the way back here.” The princess walked out of the cave with her sword in hand. “You’re not afraid of death?” ask she. “Don’t be so stingy, sister-in-law,” said Monkey King. “Please lend me your fan. I’ll return it to you as soon as I put out the fire and help my master cross the mountain. I always keep my words.” “You dirty monkey!” she abused him. “You just don’t know what is good and what is bad. I haven’t revenged myself on you for losing my son. How can I lend my fan to you?” She cried continuously, “Don’ go away. Let me fight you.” Be fearless, Monkey King bravely met the approaching enemy head-on. After several rounds, feeling her hands weak like jelly, the princess took out her fan to fan Monkey King. But the monkey stood there firmly like a rock. Withdrawing his golden cudgel, Monkey King said smilingly to Iron Fan Princess, “Sister-in-law, this time it’s different. Don’t hesitate to fan me. If I move a little, I wouldn’t be a man!” The princess fanned him twice more. Indeed, Monkey King didn’t move at all. Seeing this, the princess got flurried and ran into the cave and closed the door.
Putting the pill into his mouth, Monkey King turned into a small ladybug getting into the cave through a chink. “Thirsty! Thirsty!” cried the princess. “Give me a cup of tea!” A young maid came over with a cup of tea in hand before long. There was a thick layer of foam on the tea surface. Quite delighted, the ladybug flew swiftly into the tea and hid itself beneath the foam. Terribly thirsty, the princess took over the tea and drank it like a fish without knowing that Monkey King already got into her body. The ladybug turned back into Monkey King. “Sister-in-law!” cried Monkey King. “Lend me you fan!” Greatly surprised, the princess asked, “The front door closed?” “Yes, of course.” “Now that the door is closed,” asked the princess, “how could the monkey cry in our home?” “He is in your body,” the maid told her. “Monkey King,” asked the princess, “where are you?” “In your body,” replied Monkey King. “I can see your lung and liver. I know you’re thirsty. Let me give you something to drink!” Monkey King kicked downward with his legs. Terribly painful, the princess sat on the ground and cried. “Sister-in-law,” said Monkey King, “don’t decline. This time I’ll give you something to eat!” Monkey King then headed her upward. Having unbearable pains and aches, the princess rolled on the ground with an ashen face and pale lips. “Spare my life, Uncle Monkey King!” cried the princess. On her words, Monkey King stopped kicking.
“Now you know your uncle at last,” laughed Monkey King. “This time I’ll spare your life to show my respect to your husband’s feelings. Let me have your fan immediately!” “All right, all right! My uncle.” cried the princess. “Come out and take the fan!” “Show me the fan first,” said Monkey King, “then I’ll go out.” The princess asked a maid to take over a fan and show it to him. Monkey King got to her throat and saw the fan through her open mouth. “Sister-in-law,” said Monkey King. “Now that I spare your life, I don’ t want to make a hole at your belly and get out from there. Better get out from your mouth. Open your mouth three times!” The princess indeed opened her mouth three time. Turning into a ladybug again, Monkey King flew out and fell on the fan. Without know it, the princess cried out after opening her mouth tree times, “Come out, uncle!” Showing his true features, Monkey King took over the fan. “I’m here!” said Monkey King. “Thank you for your fan.” Monkey King hurriedly turned around and walked toward the mouth of the cave. The maid opened the door and let him get out.
Turning a somersault, Monkey King got back to his master before long. Seeing the fan and hearing the whole story, everyone was delighted. They set out without any delay. Going westwards forty miles or so, the air became unbearable hot. It was extremely difficult for them to move forward. “Master,” Monkey King said to Tang Monk. “Get down the horse and have a rest. Let me put out the fire first and then we can cross the mountain.” Holding the fan, Monkey King walked forward and fanned the fire. Quite strange. The flames jumped up fiercely instead of going down. He fanned it again and the flames became a hundred times higher. Fanned it once more, a thousand times higher. Gradually, the fire began to burn his body and some hair was already singed before long. He turned back and run to his master immediately “Go back! Go back!” cried Monkey King. “The fire comes!” Getting on his horse, Tang Monk led his disciples to retreat eastwards more than twenty miles. “What’s the matter?” asked the master.
Throwing the fan onto the ground, Monkey King said, “I’m cheated!” “What can we do next?” Tang Monk asked with tears in his eyes. “Why do you come back so quickly from the fire?” asked Pig Bajie. “The fan is no use.” Monkey King told Bajie. “I can’t put out the fire. Worse of all, some of my hair was singed.” “How can we go westwards?” asked Sha Monk. “It’s easy enough.” Pig Bajie said. “We just go where there is no fire.” “Then which direction no fire?” asked the master. “East, south and north.” said Bajie. “In these three directions, there is no fire at all.” “The Buddhist ures at which direction?” Tang Monk asked. “West,” replied Pig Bajie. “I just want to go where I can find Buddhist ures,” said the master. “The place with ures has fire. But the place without fire has no ures,” sighed Sha Monk. “We’re really on the horns of a dilemma.” Just at the moment the master and the disciples were at a loss about what to do next, someone came. “Don’t worry, Monkey King,” said the man.
Turning around, he found an old man standing by the roadside with some food in hand. “I’m the village god of the area of Flame Mountain.” The old man said to Monkey King. “I know you protect your master going westwards to take the Buddhist ures. Now that you cannot go continuously, I’d like to give you something to eat.” “It’s very kind of you,” said Monkey King. “But how can we cross Flame Mountain? This is the most important problem for us to solve at present.” “If you want to put out the fire,” said the village god, “you should go borrow the treasured fan from Iron Fan Princess.” On his words, Monkey King bended down and picked up the fan from the ground. “Look,” said Monkey King. “Here it is!” “This isn’t the true one,” smiled the village god. “You’re cheated by her!” “How can I get the true one?” asked Monkey King. “If you want to get the true one,” said the village god, “you should go ask help from Hercules.”