Journey to the West 094: The Pilgrims Face the Silver and Golden Horn Demons

The Entrance to the Demon’s Lair

After safely crossing the Vast Sea with the help of the Turtle of Wisdom, Tripitaka and his disciples continued their journey westward. As they traveled, they entered a dark and foreboding region known as the Demon’s Lair (妖魔洞). This place was notorious for being home to two powerful and malevolent demons known as the Silver Horn Demon (银角大王) and the Golden Horn Demon (金角大王).

The Silver and Golden Horn Demons were brothers, each possessing immense strength and magical abilities. They were feared across the land for their cruelty and cunning, and they had amassed a hoard of mystical treasures that they used to trap and deceive unsuspecting travelers.

As the pilgrims ventured deeper into the Demon’s Lair, they were suddenly ambushed by the two demons. The Silver Horn Demon wielded a magical flask that could absorb anything into it, while the Golden Horn Demon carried a fan that could summon powerful winds and storms. Together, they created a nearly unstoppable force that the pilgrims would have to overcome.

The Demons' Deceptive Trap

The Silver and Golden Horn Demons, eager to add the pilgrims to their collection of captured souls, decided to use their magical treasures to trap them. The Silver Horn Demon used his magical flask to create a powerful vortex that began to pull the pilgrims toward it. At the same time, the Golden Horn Demon used his fan to create a fierce storm that whipped through the lair, disorienting the pilgrims and making it difficult for them to escape.

Wukong, quick to recognize the danger, used his Ruyi Jingu Bang to anchor himself and his companions, preventing them from being sucked into the vortex. However, the combined power of the two demons was overwhelming, and the pilgrims were struggling to hold their ground.

The Silver Horn Demon then tried to deceive the pilgrims by transforming into a beautiful maiden in distress, hoping to lure them into lowering their guard. But Wukong, who had seen through such tricks before, was not fooled. He struck at the maiden with his staff, revealing the demon’s true form.

The Battle with the Silver and Golden Horn Demons

Realizing that their deception had failed, the Silver and Golden Horn Demons revealed their true forms and attacked the pilgrims with all their might. The Silver Horn Demon unleashed the full power of his magical flask, attempting to trap the pilgrims inside it. The Golden Horn Demon, meanwhile, continued to use his fan to create powerful winds and lightning strikes, trying to overwhelm them.

Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing fought back with all their strength. Wukong used his agility and speed to dodge the attacks and counter with powerful strikes from his Ruyi Jingu Bang. Zhu Bajie used his nine-toothed rake to block the winds and lightning, while Sha Wujing used his staff to deflect the attacks from the flask.

Despite the demons’ power, the pilgrims’ teamwork and determination allowed them to hold their ground. Wukong, noticing that the demons relied heavily on their magical treasures, devised a plan to turn the demons’ own weapons against them.

Turning the Tide

Wukong used his shape-shifting abilities to transform into a small insect and sneaked into the Silver Horn Demon’s flask. Once inside, he began to wreak havoc, disrupting the demon’s control over the flask and causing it to malfunction. At the same time, he signaled to Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to focus their attacks on the Golden Horn Demon’s fan.

Zhu Bajie, using his strength, managed to wrest the fan from the Golden Horn Demon’s grasp, and with Sha Wujing’s help, they destroyed the fan, neutralizing the storm it had created.

With the flask malfunctioning and the fan destroyed, the Silver and Golden Horn Demons found themselves suddenly outmatched. Wukong, returning to his true form, delivered a series of powerful blows to the demons, forcing them to retreat.

The Demons' Defeat and Redemption

Seeing that they were defeated, the Silver and Golden Horn Demons begged for mercy. Tripitaka, always compassionate, intervened and offered the demons a chance at redemption. He explained that true power came from wisdom and righteousness, not from deception and cruelty.

Moved by Tripitaka’s words and humbled by their defeat, the demons agreed to abandon their evil ways. They vowed to protect the land and its people instead of terrorizing them, and they offered their mystical treasures to the pilgrims as a token of their sincerity.

With the demons’ redemption, the Demon’s Lair was transformed from a place of darkness and fear into a place of peace and protection. The pilgrims, having overcome another great challenge, continued their journey westward with renewed resolve.

Continuing the Journey

The chapter ends with the pilgrims leaving the Demon’s Lair behind, their spirits uplifted by their victory and the redemption of the Silver and Golden Horn Demons. They knew that their journey was far from over, but they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, with the Dharma as their guide.