After smoothly resolving the mess with Red Boy of Fire Cloud Cave, the group continued westward. They passed Blackwater River and dealt with a distant relative of the West Sea Dragon King before arriving at Cart Slow Kingdom.
Cart Slow Kingdom was a rare major kingdom along the western journey, prosperous and wealthy. Even before entering its capital, they could see that its people lived and worked in peace and prosperity.
Yet everyone they encountered along the way was terrified at the sight of them, keeping their distance.
This left Tang Sanzang rather puzzled, unable to understand why.
After thinking it over, he decided that perhaps his disciples simply looked too fierce and had frightened them.
However, he also saw a strange sight along the road.
West Bull Continent was territory under the Buddhist School and should have been a place where Buddhist teachings flourished.
Yet throughout the journey, he had not encountered a single monk in Cart Slow Kingdom.
Not only were there no monks, but even temples were scarce.
Those that did exist were either crumbling ruins or temples abandoned long ago, covered in cobwebs and dust.
This puzzled Tang Sanzang greatly.
Still wondering about it, Tang Sanzang continued on until they reached the capital of Cart Slow Kingdom.
The moment they entered the capital, they saw a scene that shocked him.
Several hundred bare-chested monks, ropes slung across their backs, were laboriously pulling waterwheels.
Beside them stood a young Daoist priest holding a whip, supervising their work.
The sight gave Tang Sanzang quite a fright. He hurriedly pressed his palms together and softly murmured, "Amitabha Buddha."
"What is going on? Why are so many Dharma masters doing this kind of hard labor here?"
Sun Wukong was also somewhat puzzled. He stepped forward and asked the young Daoist