Bajie recited a “Water-Avoiding Spell”, took off his clothes, and plunged into the water with his rake. The monster raised his rod and fought back.
The two fought from the bottom of the water to the surface, and then from the surface to the bottom again. They fought for two hours and still could not decide the winner. Wukong could not intervene, so he made gestures on the side, trying to get Bajie to lure the monster to the shore.
Pigsy, deeply engrossed in the battle, couldn't grasp Wukong's intention. Frustrated, Wukong jumped onto a cloud and transformed into a hungry hawk, diving down swiftly. The demon, hearing the wind above, looked up to see Wukong charging. He retracted his magic staff and dived deep into the river, never to emerge again.
Wukong was at a loss and had to return to his master, saying, "That demon is very cunning. Once he dived into the water, he refused to come out. Now I'll go and consult with Guanyin Bodhisattva for a solution." With a somersault, Wukong arrived at the Purple Bamboo Forest in Mount Potalaka in the Southern Sea, where he met Guanyin and explained the situation. Guanyin said, "That demon used to be the Curtain-Lifting General in Heaven. I had persuaded him to descend to the mortal realm, and he had agreed to protect Tang Monk on his journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures."
Guanyin Bodhisattva sent Muzha, a disciple, with a red gourd, to accompany Wukong to the Flowing Sand River. Muzha flew to the surface of the river and shouted loudly, "Wujing! Wujing! The one who retrieves the scriptures is here. Come out and join your master!"
