A tiger given wings

Beside Eagle Sorrow Ravine, the turmoil gradually subsided.

Ao Lie knelt on the ground. Though dust stained his silver armor, it could not conceal his relief at surviving the ordeal. Proud as he was, he knew that however bitter a servant's lot might be, it was better than becoming a beast for someone to ride.

Besides, although the monk's words had spared him no embarrassment, they had preserved the last shred of his dignity as a dragon.

"Now that you have accepted the decree, why haven't you gone to fetch the luggage?" Guanyin said coolly.

Ao Lie gritted his teeth, rose, and leaped into the pool, bringing back a disordered bundle of luggage.

After returning, he said nothing, merely taking his place silently at the rear of the group.

Xuanzang sighed softly and did not turn him away.

Having settled the dragon prince's affairs, Guanyin did not leave. Instead, her gaze fell upon the fierce, striped tiger beside Xuanzang.

"Xuanzang."

Guanyin said, "You insist on keeping your mount. I shall honor this attachment to an old companion. But A-Hu is a mortal beast, after all. However much spiritual awareness it possesses, it can hardly escape the limitations of mortal flesh."

Xuanzang stroked the tiger's back and said calmly, "This is the karmic bond between us, and I have accepted it. If it can no longer walk, I shall dismount and walk. If it dies, I shall bury it."

A-Hu nuzzled him with its head and gave a low growl of agreement.

"You certainly take it in stride."

Guanyin shook her head slightly, a trace of resignation in her voice:

"But this Journey to the West entails more than crossing mountains and rivers. Ahead lie flowing sands and weak water, perilous peaks that pierce the heavens, and clouds of demons and mists of fiends. It will likely never make it across those thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers. Not only will it lose its life, it will become a burden to you and delay the great undertaking of obtaining the scriptures."

Xuanzang fell silent.

He knew Guanyin spoke the truth.

A mortal tiger's strength was indeed limited.

"Very well."

Guanyin lightly dipped the willow branch in her hand into the Pure Water Vase, drawing out a few crystal-clear drops of sacred dew.

"Since fate has brought it into your company, I shall bestow a blessing upon it."

With that, Guanyin gently waved her slender hand.

The drops of sacred dew became a shower of light, drifting down all over A-Hu.

"ROAR!!!"

A-Hu abruptly raised its head and unleashed a roar that shook the mountain forests.

Yet not a trace of savage ferocity remained in that roar. Instead, it rang with the clear, stirring resonance of metal and stone.

Its fur rippled like water, and a faint, flowing radiance began to shine through its yellow-and-black stripes. Though its body did not grow larger, its bones and muscles seemed to be remolded within the shower of light, becoming firmer and more magnificent.

Most astonishing of all was its back.

On either side of its shoulder blades, flesh swelled. Light swirled around it, and with a sudden whoosh, a pair of broad wings sprouted!

These were not feathered wings, but fleshy ones covered in golden down. Their span exceeded ten feet, and their beating carried the faint rumble of wind and thunder.

"A tiger given wings..."

Sun Wukong chuckled from the side. "Even a fool has a fool's luck. Today, A-Hu has shed its old bones and flesh and become a spirit beast."

A-Hu folded its wings and crouched at Xuanzang's feet, affectionately rubbing its enormous head against his leg. Spiritual light flickered in its eyes; clearly, its intelligence had awakened, far surpassing what it had been before.

Seeing A-Hu's transformation, Xuanzang pressed his palms together and bowed deeply to Guanyin:

"Thank you for your compassion, Bodhisattva, and for uplifting this beast."

His gratitude was sincere. He had refused to exchange it for a horse, but he had also worried for A-Hu's safety.

Now, with this blessing, A-Hu had gained another means of preserving its life on the Journey to the West.

Guanyin nodded slightly. "With wings, it can soar through the clouds and avoid the waters. It will serve as a worthy mount on your westward journey."

Just as Guanyin was about to depart upon her cloud, a streak of golden light suddenly darted before the Lotus Pedestal.

"Bodhisattva! Wait, Bodhisattva!"

It was Sun Wukong.

The monkey scratched his ears and cheeks, his face full of indignation and expectation, his Fiery Golden Eyes darting about.

Guanyin halted her cloud and looked at the unruly monkey. "Wukong, what is it?"

Sun Wukong clasped his hands with a cheeky grin:

"Bodhisattva, just look. That loach committed a capital offense, but not only did you spare his life, you let him keep his human form and cultivate merit at Master's side. That's quite a sweet fruit for him."

He pointed at A-Hu:

"A-Hu was nothing but a mortal beast. With one wave of your hand, it grew wings and became a spirit beast. Now it can even ride the clouds and mists."

At this, Sun Wukong patted his scrawny chest, looking thoroughly aggrieved:

"But Old Sun is the senior disciple! I subdue demons and scout the road, and now even the gods' protection has been withdrawn. It's all resting on Old Sun and his one staff. You've given everyone else a share of the good things, so how could you leave Old Sun out?"

"It's not fair! Not fair!"

Guanyin was so exasperated that she laughed. "You monkey! Your abilities reach through heaven and earth. You were the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, ate Peaches of Immortality and golden elixir pills, and forged an indestructible body. What good thing in this world could possibly catch your eye?"

Sun Wukong chuckled, edged closer, and lowered his voice:

"That may be true, but the road west is long, and Master is still a stubborn mortal of flesh and blood. This time he drove away the Kṣitigarbha Guardians and Merit Officers. Who knows what trouble he'll stir up next?"

"What if we run into some powerful demon even Old Sun can't handle, or I get trapped? Who'll save Master then?"

"Bodhisattva, just grant me a treasure or two. At least then I can set my mind at ease, eh?"

Looking at Wukong's sly expression, Guanyin thought, This monkey may be unruly, but he has taken on the grave responsibility of protecting Tang Sanzang. Without the gods' assistance, he really ought to have something to fall back on.

"Very well."

Guanyin took three willow leaves from her sleeve.

"Since you want a boon, I shall grant you a means of saving your life."

She handed the three willow leaves to Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong took one look at them, and his face fell. "Bodhisattva, you're far too stingy! What use are a few withered leaves? Old Sun has more leaves than he could ever need on Flower-Fruit Mountain!"

"You unruly monkey. Watch!"

Guanyin was not offended. She touched the willow leaves with a finger.

"Transform."

Light flashed over the three willow leaves, and they became three gleaming golden hairs.

"Take them."

Guanyin said, "Place these three Life-Saving Hairs at the back of your head. Should you reach a desperate strait where heaven will not answer your cries and earth will not heed your pleas, whatever hardship you face, pluck out one and silently recite the spell. It will adapt to the circumstances and deliver you from your crisis."

Overjoyed, Sun Wukong hurriedly pinched the three hairs between his fingers and held them up behind his head. They slipped into his hair of their own accord, merging with his monkey fur until only he could sense them.

He rubbed the back of his head and felt three deep, powerful pulses of magical energy. At once, he was thoroughly satisfied.

"Thank you, Bodhisattva! Thank you! Now Old Sun has something to count on!"

Seeing the group gradually draw together despite their differing thoughts, Guanyin felt somewhat reassured.

"Our business here is concluded. Be on your way."

"Remember, the journey west is a cultivation of the heart. Never forget your original purpose."

With that, Guanyin stepped upon an auspicious cloud. Without lingering further, she became a long streak of rainbow light and flew straight toward the South Sea.

The ravine waters murmured, and the setting sun sank westward.

After seeing the Bodhisattva off, Xuanzang turned to look at his companions.

"Let us go."

Xuanzang walked over to A-Hu.

The fierce tiger, now winged, obediently lowered itself to the ground.

Xuanzang lifted his cassock and mounted it.

Sun Wukong was in excellent spirits. With his new treasure, even his steps carried a breeze.

He spun the Golden Cudgel until it whistled through the air, striding jauntily at the head of the group to scout the way.

"Master! The road ahead is level. Come right along!"

At the very rear of the group stood Ao Lie.

Once the Dragon Palace's third prince, now a load-bearing pilgrim, his silver armor gleamed coldly in the sunset.

He transformed his spear into a carrying pole and shouldered the luggage, looking at the winged tiger ahead, then at the monkey bounding along.

"Whew..."

Ao Lie let out a long, weary breath, adjusted the carrying pole on his shoulder, and followed with heavy steps.