Chapter 46: Wuzhuang Temple Retains Friends
Yet Wukong arrived at the South Sea.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was there, not knowing what treasure she was refining.
Wukong did not dare to disturb her and honestly paid his respects.
Guanyin Bodhisattva divided her attention and asked: “Wukong, where has Tang Sanzang traveled to?”
Wukong said: “He has traveled to Longevity Mountain in Western Ox Continent.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “That Longevity Mountain has Wuzhuang Temple. Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, have you met him?”
Wukong kowtowed and did not dare to conceal anything, recounting all his wrongdoings one by one, and begged:
“This disciple did not recognize Great Immortal Zhen Yuan and offended him. From seeking a remedy at sea, he searched all three islands, roamed all heavenly realms, but none of the immortals had a way to heal the tree. This disciple sincerely pays homage and especially reports to the Bodhisattva. I beg for your compassion to graciously grant a remedy to save my master.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Why did you not come to see me earlier but went searching elsewhere?”
Hearing this, Wukong was secretly delighted in his heart and said: “Fortune! Fortune! The Bodhisattva surely has a way!” Thus he stepped forward to earnestly plead.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “In my Jade Pure Bottle, there is Three Lights Divine Water that can bring the dead back to life, ferry across all calamities, and cure that immortal tree sapling.”
Wukong said: “Has it ever been proven effective?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “It has been proven effective. The willow branch in my bottle was once scorched dry in Lao Jun’s furnace. I took it and inserted it in the bottle, and in one day and night, it regained green branches and leaves, the same as before.”
Wukong laughed: “True fortune! True fortune! If it can heal what was scorched dry, what difficulty is there in healing what I toppled? Bodhisattva, please come with me quickly to save my master.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Wait a moment.”
Wukong said: “Bodhisattva, what is it?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “This Three Lights Divine Water has not yet been fully refined.”
Wukong was stunned, gazing at the water droplets in the air that were only half refined, and asked: “Bodhisattva, this wouldn’t be the Three Lights Divine Water, would it?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “It is.”
Wukong said: “How much longer will it take?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “For ordinary people to refine it, it first takes ten thousand years for one drop of sunlight divine water, then ten thousand years for one drop of moonlight divine water, and another ten thousand years for one drop of starlight divine water. Only when the three combine does one get one drop of Three Lights Divine Water.”
Wukong exclaimed in shock: “Thirty thousand years! Bodhisattva, have you been to the Underworld recently?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “What would I go to the Underworld for?”
Wukong said: “If you haven’t gone, allow Old Sun to make a trip. I’ll make another big fuss in the underworld, snatch the Book of Life and Death, cross out Tang Sanzang’s name, and cross out all those surnamed Tang. Otherwise, in thirty thousand years, not to mention Tang Sanzang—even the Tang Dynasty will have turned to flying ash.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “You monkey head, let me finish speaking. For ordinary people to refine this Three Lights Divine Water does take thirty thousand years. But with my great magic power to refine it, it only needs seven times seven, forty-nine days.”
Hearing this, Wukong was delighted: “That’s good! That’s good! How much time is left now?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Twenty days have already passed, twenty-nine days remain. If you assist with magic power, it can be hastened.”
Hearing this, Wukong hurriedly sat cross-legged and assisted together with the celestial beings.
After several days like this, Wukong’s restless nature made him unable to sit still, and he said: “Bodhisattva, as the saying goes, ‘Prepare for the worst.’ Why do you hold the pure bottle every day without storing some divine water?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “There was originally half a bottle of divine water in the Jade Pure Bottle.”
Wukong said: “Then why not go save my master?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Last time when subduing that Demon Dragon, caught unprepared, it was brushed away by his Five-Colored Divine Light.”
Wukong understood.
Suddenly, his eyes darted, he thought of something, stood up and said:
“No need to trouble the Bodhisattva. Old Sun has thought of someone who can also revive that Ginseng Fruit Tree!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “Who is it?”
Wukong said: “It’s a Daoist priest Old Sun just recently met.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said: “There is such a Daoist priest?”
Wukong laughed: “Bodhisattva, from ancient times to now, there are so many capable people and unusual scholars—curing a tree is nothing. Old Sun has heard that some mortals are good at divination and can even divine the Jade Emperor’s decree!”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva glared at Wukong and said: “You monkey head, talking nonsense again!”
Wukong smiled, paid respects to Guanyin Bodhisattva, and said: “Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your concern. Old Sun is leaving.”
With that, he rode the clouds back to Wuzhuang Temple and alighted.
Great Immortal Zhen Yuan was speaking with the Three Stars, and Ao Tu was also nearby.
Suddenly seeing Wukong return, Great Immortal Zhen Yuan said: “Sun Wukong, did you find a remedy to heal the tree?”
Wukong said: “I found it, I found it!”
Great Immortal Zhen Yuan said: “What immortal remedy?”
Wukong said: “No need to talk!” He landed beside Ao Tu, grabbed Ao Tu’s wrist and said: “Brother, you hid it from me well. If I had known you could heal the tree, why would Old Sun run around the overseas heavenly realms?”
Ao Tu laughed: “You monkey, I am Fu Zhu Zhen Shi Tian Zun—when was I your brother?”
Wukong said: “Heavenly Venerable or brother, quickly grant a method to heal the tree and stop tormenting Old Sun.”
Ao Tu laughed: “Very well, I’ll indulge you—as compensation for your headache!”
Wukong said: “Old Sun has indeed had a severe headache these past days seeking an immortal remedy. Thank you, brother. Oh no, Fu Zhu Zhen Shi Tian Zun!”
Ao Tu smiled without speaking. He went with the others to the Ginseng Fruit orchard.
Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, the three elders of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, and the temple’s disciples all gathered in the orchard to watch.
The tree lay on the ground, roots exposed with the soil split open, leaves fallen and branches withered.
As for how to use the Three Lights Divine Water, Ao Tu was naturally not as skilled as Guanyin Bodhisattva, but fortunately his Three Lights Divine Water was plentiful.
Ao Tu manifested the Five-Colored Divine Light, lifted up the tree, and poured a pool of divine water beneath its roots.
In a moment, roots and bark fused, leaves sprouted buds, branches turned green, and fruits appeared.
With verdant green leaves, it regained twenty-three Ginseng Fruits.
The two boy servants Qing Feng and Ming Yue said: “The day before yesterday when the fruits were missing, we repeatedly counted only twenty-two; today after revival, why is there one more?”
Wukong recalled: “The day before yesterday Old Sun only stole three; one fell to the ground and entered the soil, and today it is clear.”
Great Immortal Zhen Yuan was extremely delighted and ordered his disciples to fetch the golden striker, knock down ten fruits, invite everyone back to the treasure hall—first to thank them for their efforts, second to hold a “Ginseng Fruit Banquet.”
The disciples arranged tables and chairs, set out medicine plates, invited the guest Ao Tu to the seat of honor, the three elders to the left seats, Tang Sanzang and his disciples to the right seats, with Great Immortal Zhen Yuan as host in the front seat.
Ao Tu and the three elders each ate one. Great Immortal Zhen Yuan accompanied with one. Wukong and his two brothers each ate one. Tang Sanzang, knowing it was an immortal treasure, also ate one.
The temple’s various disciples, including Tiger Vanguard, shared one.
After the banquet, Wukong saw off the Three Stars back to Penglai.
The next day at dawn, Tang Sanzang packed to leave.
Zhen Yuanzi tried to retain him and arranged for them to stay several more days in a row.
Tang Sanzang, having taken the Grass Returning Pill, had shed his mortal body and exchanged his bones, with refreshed spirit and strong body—how could he bear to stay longer? After several days, heedless of the retention, he took Wukong and the others and left.
After Tang Sanzang and his disciples left, Ao Tu also bid farewell.
Zhen Yuanzi personally broke off a branch from the tree, with two fruits hanging on it, and gave it to Ao Tu.
Ao Tu generously accepted it and rode the clouds away.
White Tiger Ridge.
Qiao Er was washing clothes by the river.
The river water was calm and still.
Qiao Er finished washing the clothes, looked at the calm lake surface, pursed her lips, and returned home.
Her parents saw her and said: “You went to the distant river to wash clothes again?”
Qiao Er did not speak.
Her parents said: “Child, your father and mother are afraid you will encounter danger. That young master will not return—give up that thought.”
Ao Tu rode the clouds and descended from the sky.
