Chapter 32: Quicksand Hard To Cross
Yet Wukong returned home once, frolicking freely with the monkeys. Twenty-four days passed in the blink of an eye. He touched the Golden Fillet on his head and said, “I’m off! No need to see me out!”
Without waiting for the monkeys to detain him, Wukong leaped up on a cloud and in an instant returned to the Flowing Sand River.
“Demon Dragon, come out! The time is up; you should return my Master to me!”
Ao Tu heard this and emerged from the river. He checked the system progress: ninety-one days, one day more than one season. He smiled and said:
“I shall certainly keep my promise. Wait a moment; I’ll release your Master right now!”
With that, Ao Tu went down and brought out Tang Sanzang, Ba Jie, and the Dragon King of West Sea together. The several old monks who had accompanied Tang Sanzang in chanting sutras also each received gold and silver as reward and were sent back to their original places.
That Tang Sanzang had a ruddy complexion and radiant features, without the slightest sign of hunger or emaciation. On the contrary, he had gained two pounds, though he had been somewhat frightened. Upon seeing Wukong, he hurriedly said:
“Wukong, where did you go? Why did it take so long to rescue your Master? These days, your Master was abducted by that demon. Though not mistreated, it frightened me terribly!”
Ba Jie said from the side, “Master, these days you ate delicacies and lived in a palace. That monster even found old monks to accompany you. What is there to complain about? If such days were given to me, old pig, I would be delighted to live them for one or two years.”
Tang Sanzang, upon hearing this, scolded, “You blockhead! Your Master has received the command from King Tang to go west for sutras. If going west, even braving wind and sleeping outdoors would be sweet as honey; if unable to go west, even residing in jade towers and pavilions with all manner of delicacies would be like lying on a steel saber or drinking poison!”
Ba Jie saw that Tang Sanzang spoke harshly, so he pouted and said no more.
On Ao Tu’s side, he took the Tiger Vanguard and prepared to leave.
Sha Seng, still unaware of the full story, hurriedly asked, “Venerable Gods, what about me if you leave?”
Ao Tu said, “Go with Sun Wukong to the South Sea to see Guanyin Bodhisattva, and you will understand.”
With that, Ao Tu used the Art of Golden Light and left with the Tiger Vanguard.
Sha Seng and Wukong then went to the South Sea to find Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was leaning on the railing by the Treasure Lotus Pool, viewing flowers with the Pearl-Holding Dragon Girl.
Seeing Wukong and Wu Jing arrive, Guanyin Bodhisattva asked:
“Why did you not protect Tang Sanzang? Why have you come to see me again?”
Wukong and Sha Seng each recounted the events.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said angrily:
“That damned evil beast has deceived you again. He changed the river’s name, tricked Wu Jing, and obstructed you master and disciples from going west!”
Sha Seng prostrated himself upon hearing this and said, “This disciple is foolish and was deceived by that monster, delaying the great matter!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “That evil beast is cunning in his actions and adept at schemes. It is not your fault. Rise.”
Only then did Sha Seng stand up.
Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Wukong again and asked:
“Since you met that evil beast, why did you not report to me, but instead entangled with him, delaying these days?”
Wukong said, “It was only because Master and Ba Jie were in his hands. I feared angering him would endanger their lives, so I endured humiliation to seek peace!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva was somewhat disbelieving and admonished:
“You monkey, having entered my Buddhism, must remember the five hundred years of suffering under the mountain. Do not ruin your future again.”
Wukong casually paid respects and said, “Bodhisattva, rest assured. Old Sun understands.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said again, “If you encounter that demon dragon again, report to me immediately. Do not let him ruin the journey for sutras.”
Sha Seng knelt and acknowledged.
Wukong merely responded casually.
Seeing Wukong’s improper attitude, Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
“That demon dragon is extremely cunning. Do not fall for his schemes!”
Wukong said, “What scheme did I fall for? His father died, so it’s only right for him to come for revenge. Old Sun only protects Tang Sanzang on the journey to Western Heaven for sutras; other matters are not my concern.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “The Dragon King of Jing River violated the heavenly laws; the sin is his own. How can he blame others?”
Wukong said, “Quite right, quite right. Without cause, how can there be effect? That old Dragon King of Jing River must have eaten too many offered fruits, and with nothing to do, decided to violate a heavenly law to test the waters.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva, upon hearing this, angrily extended her jade palm and struck the monkey’s head three times, saying:
“You brazen monkey, do not speak nonsense! All things have their fixed fate! If you speak nonsense again, beware I recite the Golden Fillet Spell.”
Wukong hurriedly said, “I dare not, I dare not. Please, Bodhisattva, quickly cast a spell to help my Master cross the river!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva took out a red gourd and instructed:
“Place this gourd on the Flowing Sand River. String together the nine skulls of pilgrims there, arrange them in the pattern of the nine palaces, and place this gourd in the center. It will become a dharma vessel, able to ferry Tang Sanzang across the Flowing Sand River boundary.”
Wukong said, “What skulls of pilgrims?”
Sha Seng said, “Senior Brother, when I was a monster in that river, I ate countless people. Whenever pilgrims came, I ate them. The heads of those I ate, thrown into the river, all sank to the bottom. This water cannot float even a goose feather. Only those nine skulls of pilgrims floated on the surface. I thought they were a treasure, so I strung them together to play with in idle moments.”
Wukong listened and asked, “Where are those skulls now?”
Sha Seng said, “The demon dragon took them and has not returned them to me.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said nothing and then said, “Very well, I will go with you!”
Wukong and Sha Seng thanked her and no more was said of it.
The three rode clouds and soon arrived at the Flowing Sand River.
Tang Sanzang and Ba Jie, seeing the Bodhisattva arrive, hurriedly knelt to pay respects.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said to Tang Sanzang, “This place was originally called Flowing Sand River, but that demon dragon changed its name. The monster in the river is the Curtain-Rolling General incarnated, also a believer I converted, to protect your journey for sutras.”
Tang Sanzang, upon hearing this, joyfully accepted Sha Seng and gave him a secular name, calling him Sha Wujing.
Guanyin took a willow leaf, threw it into the river, and it transformed into a willow leaf boat.
Tang Sanzang boarded the boat and sat upon it, steady as a light skiff.
Ba Jie supported on the left, Wu Jing held on the right; Sun the Pilgrim led the Dragon Horse from behind, following half in cloud, half in mist.
Tang Sanzang thus steadily crossed the eight hundred li Flowing Sand River boundary, calm waves and gentle breeze over the perilous river. Like flying arrow or swift bolt, in no time he reached the opposite shore, escaping the floodwaters; without dragging mud or water, feet and hands dry, pure and without striving.
Tang Sanzang thanked the Bodhisattva, and the master and three disciples continued west.
With matters here settled, Guanyin Bodhisattva returned directly to the South Sea, somewhat troubled in heart.
Mu Cha asked, “Why is Master troubled?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “It is only because that evil beast has repeatedly obstructed the journey for sutras. That is bearable, as he will eventually be subdued. But I fear he has misled Wukong and will ruin the journey for sutras.”
Mu Cha said, “That evil beast relies merely on a few strange treasures from who knows where to act viciously. Master, why not turn his plot against him and design to capture him on the journey for sutras?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said delightedly, “Excellent! Recently, the lotus flowers in my Treasure Lotus Pool are blooming splendidly. Go invite Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the two Bodhisattvas, as well as Old Mother Li Shan, to my Luojia Mountain to view the lotus flowers.”
Mu Cha was startled, not expecting the Bodhisattva to invite so many saints just to subdue a minor demon dragon.
At that time, on Ao Tu’s side.
【Ding, rewards settling. Total obstruction: ninety-one days.】
【Ding, obtained reward: Three-Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill.】
【Ding, obtained reward: Six-Thousand-Year Immortal Peach.】
【Ding, obtained reward: Acquired Spiritual Treasure · Headache Gourd.】
【Ding, obtained reward: Acquired Spiritual Treasure · Dragon-Binding Rope】
【Ding, obtained reward: Supernatural Power · Five-Colored Divine Light】
【Ding, one extra day automatically carries over to the next side quest; next side quest: Four Saints Test the Heart of Zen.】
