Now, let me tell you about that monk who managed to trick the kasaya into his hands. He took it to the back room, and under the light, he wailed and sobbed in agony over the robe.

This commotion prevented the monks of the monastery from sleeping. Even the young acolyte was bewildered and went to report to the other monks, saying, "The old master has been crying for hours, and his tears haven't stopped."

Two of his favorite disciples approached, concerned, and asked, "Master, why are you crying?"

The old monk replied, "I cry because I have no chance to see it, I cannot behold Tripitaka's treasure."

The young monk said, "Master, you're of advanced age and wisdom. The kasaya is right here before you. Just unwrap it and take a look. There's no need to weep."

The old monk sighed, "Seeing it won't last long. I'm two hundred and seventy years old now. I've accumulated hundreds of robes over the years. How could I have this one? How could I become a Sanzang?"

The young monk said, "Master, he's worse off. Tripitaka is a wandering monk, far from home and traveling the road. You've reached a nice old age and are having a good time. So, why would you want to live like a wandering monk?"

The old monk replied, "Though I live a leisurely life at home, enjoying my later years, I still can't have a kasaya like his to wear. If I could wear it for just a day, then pass away, it would be worth my existence as a monk in this world."

The other monks chimed in, "You're being so unreasonable. If you want to wear it, what's stopping you? We can ask him to stay here for a day, and you can wear it for a day; ask him to stay for ten days, and you can wear it for ten days. It's that simple. Why cry like this?"

The old monk replied, "Even if he were to stay for years, I'd only get to wear it for years. In the end, it won't make me live longer. Eventually, he'll have to leave. I can't keep him here forever, can I?"

The young monk named Broad-Insight stepped forward and said, "Master, if you want a lasting solution, it's easy."

The old monk perked up upon hearing this and said with joy, "My child, do you have a brilliant idea?"

Broad-Insight replied, "Those two travelers, Tripitaka and his disciple, have been through a lot on their journey. They're fast asleep right now. What if a few of us who are strong and capable, armed with spears and knives, quietly enter the meditation hall? We’ll kill them and bury their bodies in the backyard—keeping it a secret known only to us—and then seize their white horse and luggage. As for that kasaya, we'll leave it behind as a family heirloom. Wouldn't this secure our future for generations?"

Overjoyed, the old monk wiped away his tears. "Excellent, excellent, excellent! This plan is ingenious." Immediately, he began to prepare the weapons.

Among them was another young monk named Broad-Search, a junior disciple of Broad-Insight. He stepped forward and said, "This plan might not be wise. If we want to kill him, we need to assess the situation. Killing the fair-faced one seems easier, but dealing with the hairy-faced one could be more challenging. What if we fail to kill him, and it backfires on us? I have a nonviolent solution in mind. I wonder if you would consider it."

The old monk asked, "My child, what is your idea?"

Broad-Search replied, "In my opinion, we shouldn't use knives and arrows. It's risky. Instead, why not gather the monks from all the rooms on Dongshan Hill? Each of them can bring a bundle of firewood. We can abandon those three meditation halls and set them ablaze. We'll trap them so they have no way to escape. Even the horse will burn. If anyone from the nearby villages sees the fire, we can simply claim it was an accidental mishap caused by them. Both monks will perish in the fire, and it will be easier to cover up. Our precious kasaya won't be implicated and will remain our treasured heirloom."

Upon hearing these words, the monks couldn't help but feel delighted. They all exclaimed, "Clever, clever, clever! This plan is even more brilliant." They immediately instructed the heads of each room to gather firewood. Oh, what a scheme it was! This plan brought about the end of the venerable old monk's life, and the Guanyin Meditation Temple turned into ashes.

In fact, there were around seventy to eighty rooms in the temple, housing over two hundred monks of various sizes. That night, they all brought piles of firewood surrounding the meditation hall from all sides, leaving no way out. The preparations for igniting the fire took place, and what followed is beyond the scope of discussion.

Our Master and his disciple rested, though Wukong‘s mind remained vigilant. The clever little monkey lay down but focused on cultivating his inner energy. He dozed with half-closed eyes. Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside, a subtle crunch of gravel, a rustle of twigs. He grew suspicious, thinking, "The night is so quiet. Why do I hear footsteps? Could it be thieves plotting to harm us?"

In a swift movement, he leaped up, ready to open the door and check. But then he hesitated because he didn’t want to wake his Master. With determination, he gathered his energy and transformed into a buzzing bee. He embodied the sweetness of a honeybee with a venomous sting, his slender body light and agile. Darting through flowers, he moved like an arrow, seeking fragrance like a falling star catches cottonwood fluff. His tiny form defied its weight, his delicate wings mastering the winds. From beneath the rafters, he emerged and darted out to observe.

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Monkey observed the group of monks, busily carrying wood and hay. They had encircled the meditation hall to set it on fire. He chuckled, thinking, "As predicted by my Master, these monks are actually after us, cooking up a scheme to grab our kasaya. It's all part of their twisted plan. I want to grab my stick and give them a good beating, but I can't go around hitting people without consequences. If I were to give them a thrashing, it'd be a mess, and then my Master would scold me for causing a stir. No, no, no, let's outwit them, turn the tables on them. Let's see how they react when their own tactics blow up in their faces!"

Monkey somersaulted and landed inside the Southern Gate of the Celestial Palace.

Startled, the celestial officials Pang, Liu, Gou, and Bi bowed their heads while Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Guan looked worried and guarded their backs, all exclaiming, "Trouble's brewing, trouble's brewing! The troublemaker who wreaked havoc in Heaven is back again."

Monkey waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities, don't be alarmed. I'm here to find King Broad-Eye. Wait a sec, here he is."

Before he could finish, King Broad-Eye had already arrived and greeted Monkey, "Long time no see, long time no see. I heard that Bodhisattva Guanyin went to see the Jade Emperor and borrowed the Four Valiant Attendants, the Six Ding and Six Jia, and even Five Gates to protect Tripitaka on his journey to the West for the scriptures. They said you became his disciple. What brings you here today?"

Monkey responded, "Save the small talk. Tripitaka encountered some trouble on the road – someone wants to set fire to his place. It's an urgent situation, and I've come specifically to ask you for the fire-resistant cover to save the situation. Quickly fetch it so I can rush back."

The Heavenly King said, "You're clever. If it's indeed arson by wicked individuals, you should borrow water to put out the fire. Why do you want a fire-resistant cover?"

Monkey Pilgrim replied, "Look, you're not seeing the bigger picture here. Trying to put out the fire with water? That's just not going to cut it. In fact, it might even play right into the enemy's hands. But borrowing this cover, will protect Tripitaka without harm, and the rest can be left to burn. Hurry up, hurry up. Time is of the essence. Don't delay me from my important task."

The Heavenly King chuckled, "This monkey still thinks only of himself and pays no mind to others."

Monkey Pilgrim insisted, "Hurry up, don't argue, and don't ruin the bigger plan."

The Heavenly King dared not refuse and handed the fire-resistant cover to Monkey Pilgrim.

Holding the fire-resistant cover, Sun Wukong rode his Flying Nimbus and swiftly reached the rooftop of the meditation hall. He covered Tang Sanzang, the white horse, and the luggage with the borrowed treasure. Then, he positioned himself on the rooftop of the room where the old monk lived, guarding the precious kasaya.

As the others began setting the fire, Sun Wukong chanted incantations, gathering his breath and blowing it towards the southeast. A strong wind arose, causing the flames to dance and scatter chaotically. The fire blazed brightly, filling the scene with its intensity.

Black smoke billowed, and red flames soared. The sky turned dark with thick smoke while the land below was illuminated by a fiery red glow, stretching for miles. At first, the flames resembled golden snakes; then, they transformed into powerful blood-red horses. The Southern Deities displayed their heroic might, and the Heavenly Horse Deity employed his magic. The dried wood caught fire with furious intensity, defying the saying that fire can't produce sparks from rubbing wood. The scorching flames flickered and shone like colorful rainbows, surpassing even the ancient forges. The relentless fire blazed, fueled by ill intentions, wreaking havoc without mercy.

The wind was not attempting to extinguish the disaster but instead aiding in cruelty. It followed the fire's momentum, and the flames soared over a thousand feet high. The fire fueled the wind's strength, with ashes bursting beyond the clouds. Sounds of crackling and popping, like the explosions of firecrackers at the end of the year, mixed with splashes and roars, reminiscent of the cannon fire on a battlefield.

The Buddha statues on the spot couldn't escape, and the halls of the eastern courtyard had nowhere to hide. This scene was more intense than the battle at Red Cliffs, surpassing even the fire in the palace of the First Emperor. It was like a spark igniting a vast field.

In the blink of an eye, the wild wind and raging fire turned the entire Guanyin Temple into a blazing red inferno.

The monks were seen carrying boxes, lifting baskets, and scrambling to save their belongings, all the while lamenting in the courtyard.

Sun Wukong protected the abbot's quarters and used the fire-resistant cover to shield the main meditation hall at the front. Meanwhile, flames blazed fiercely all around, casting a crimson brilliance that illuminated the sky and sent golden rays through the walls.

Unexpectedly, when the fire broke out, it alarmed a group of mountain beasts and monsters. About twenty li south of the Guanyin Temple lay Black Wind Mountain, and within the mountain was a cave called Black Wind Cave. Inside that cave lived a monster who was just waking up and stretching. Seeing the light streaming through the window, the monster thought it was dawn. But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the glow of flames from the north. Startled, the beast exclaimed, "Oh! The Guanyin Temple must be on fire. Those monks are so careless. I'll go and try to help them out."

With a swift leap, the monster soared on a cloud towards the fire. Sure enough, the blaze reached skyward, and the main hall and corridors were engulfed in flames.

The beast hurried forward, crashing through the fire, and as he called for water, he noticed that there was no fire in the rear quarters. Instead, there was a person on the rooftop. Realizing the situation, he rushed inside and saw a faint light and colorful aura in the middle of the abbot's room. On a table, there was a bundle wrapped in blue felt. He unwrapped it and discovered a kasaya adorned with intricate patterns, a rare treasure of Buddhism. The allure of wealth stirred his heart. He grabbed the robe without bothering to help with the fire or call for water. Taking advantage of the chaos, he seized the opportunity to rob. He darted back into the clouds and swiftly headed towards the Eastern Mountain.

The fire raged on until dawn, finally extinguishing itself. The monks were left in disarray, covered in ash, sobbing and wailing. Some were sifting through the debris for salvageable metals, separating the charred remains to salvage the copper and iron. Some constructed makeshift shelters from bamboo and straw, while others used the debris as improvised stoves to cook their meals. Amidst the chaos, their cries of injustice and frustration filled the air, creating a tumultuous scene that continued without resolution.