Now, Bajie fought a great battle with Sun Wukong and was captured by him.
Sun Wukong bound Zhu Bajie's hands and feet, reported to his master, then rode a cloud to the Southern Sea.
The vast ocean stretched into the distance, its waters meeting the sky; a thousand layers of snowy waves, ten thousand folds of misty billows. Water flew in every direction, waves rolled all around. On Mount Luojia, lofty peaks soared; in the Purple Bamboo Forest stood jeweled trees and golden lotuses.
Sun Wukong arrived outside the mountain, announced himself to the Bodhisattva, and entered. Bringing Bajie forward to bow before her, he recounted everything that had happened that day from beginning to end and asked her to judge the matter.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wuneng, you were mistaken. The Pilgrim has been beside Wukong all along, with the Ding and Jia guardians, duty officers, and monastery protectors taking turns attending him. They never leave his side, day or night. The man you met was an impostor."
Bajie still refused to believe it and said:
"Bodhisattva, I spent many days with my master. His heart was full of compassion, Buddhist radiance enveloped him, and he would not accept even the smallest bribe. How could he possibly be an impostor?
"He even gave me, Old Pig, a Buddhist golden flower. Venerable Ananda had given it to my master, who then passed it on to me."
Hearing this, Sun Wukong stood up. "What did you say? Ananda!"
Bajie said, "What's wrong?"
Sun Wukong turned to Guanyin Bodhisattva. "Bodhisattva, back at the Guanyin Monastery, it was this 'Ananda' who landed my master and me in prison. Please investigate this thoroughly!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I already know this man's origins."
Sun Wukong said, "Where did he come from?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
"Once, the Buddha had a Bell-Keeping Little Dragon in his service. Because his resolve was weak, he missed the appointed time to ring the bell.
"When Venerable Ananda discovered this, he reported it to the Buddha. Fearing punishment, the little dragon secretly fled to the mortal world.
"Having listened to teachings at the Buddha's feet, he carries some Buddhist aura. That was why you could not distinguish the false from the true, Bajie."
Sun Wukong said, "So that's how it was! But Old Sun has never provoked him. Why does he keep opposing my master and me along the way?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There is a history behind that as well."
Sun Wukong said, "Please enlighten me, Bodhisattva."
Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
"This little dragon is named Ao Tu. He is the fifth son of the Jing River Dragon King, who lived outside Chang'an City. That Dragon King violated heavenly law and was taken to the Dragon Execution Platform to be beheaded.
"The human official charged with overseeing the execution was named Wei Zheng, a minister of Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang.
"To save his life, the Jing River Dragon King appeared in Emperor Taizong's dream one night and begged the emperor to plead for him and spare him from death.
"Emperor Taizong agreed. The next day, he summoned Wei Zheng to the palace to play a board game, thinking he could keep Wei Zheng occupied and save the Jing River Dragon King. What he never expected was that Wei Zheng would slay the dragon in a dream, and so the Jing River Dragon King died.
"Afterward, the Jing River Dragon King's soul lingered in the underworld, refusing to depart. He accused Emperor Taizong of 'promising rescue, yet causing death instead,' which led to the emperor's three-day journey through the underworld.
"During that journey, Emperor Taizong saw far too many wronged souls. From then on, devotion to the Buddha took root in his heart. That was what later led him to send your master across ten thousand miles to seek our Buddha's true Mahayana scriptures."
Having heard this, Sun Wukong said in understanding:
"So that 'mongrel loach' resents King Tang for failing to save his father, and takes his anger out on my master!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Precisely."
Bajie interrupted, "Then where did he get that golden flower?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Presumably, he stole it from Venerable Ananda!"
Sun Wukong said angrily, "That 'mongrel loach' does nothing but steal chickens and sneak off with dogs! If Old Sun catches him, I'll skin his dragon hide and pull out his dragon sinews!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, do not lose your temper. If you meet him again, simply go to the Western Heaven and ask Venerable Ananda to come. He will be able to subdue him."
Sun Wukong said delightedly, "Thank you for your guidance, Bodhisattva!"
Afterward, Sun Wukong took Zhu Bajie away from the Southern Sea and returned to Gao Village. He carefully explained the whole matter to Tang Sanzang and persuaded him to accept Zhu Bajie as his disciple.
By then, it was late, so the master and his two disciples entered the village to seek lodging.
Since Ao Tu had performed many good deeds while impersonating Tang Sanzang, the villagers were exceedingly welcoming. Every household invited them to vegetarian meals, and everyone's heart turned toward the Buddha.
The Buddha has blessed us, Tang Sanzang thought, and spent a comfortable night in Gao Village.
Meanwhile, as Tang Sanzang and his disciples began lingering in the Gao Village area, Ao Tu's system progress increased accordingly.
The next day, Tang Sanzang and his disciples prepared to leave the Gao Village area.
When the villagers heard this, they hurried over and refused to let Tang Sanzang leave.
Tang Sanzang was at a loss.
"Why will you not let this humble monk leave?"
The villagers replied:
"Why? Holy monk, important people certainly have short memories! You haven't settled the matter of the farmland you promised us!"
After hearing this, Tang Sanzang was even more bewildered.
The villagers wasted no more words and produced their written agreements.
"Monk, are you trying to go back on your word?"
"We've already paid!"
"If you can't give us the land, don't even think about leaving!"
Looking at the agreements, Tang Sanzang said, "Th-these were not signed by this humble monk."
But the villagers would not accept that.
"You didn't sign them? Who are you trying to fool? It's all written here in black and white. Aren't you Chen Xuanzang?"
"Well..." Tang Sanzang could not defend himself, even with a hundred mouths. "This humble monk's secular name is indeed Chen Xuanzang, but the Chen Xuanzang on these papers is not this humble monk."
The villagers said:
"Not you? How could it not be you? You're the only bald fellow in all of Gao Village. How dare you say it wasn't you?"
Tang Sanzang did not know how to refute them.
Sun Wukong bared his teeth. "My master didn't sign those papers. A monster signed them! This has nothing to do with my master. Get out of our way!"
The villagers replied, "A monster? You're the one who looks like a monster!"
Sun Wukong was so furious that smoke seemed to pour from his seven orifices. He whipped out the Golden Cudgel, but faced with these ordinary people, he could not strike them.
In the end, with no other choice, Tang Sanzang and his disciples were driven back by the villagers.
The villagers treated the three of them to fine food and drink, but simply would not allow them to leave.
Another day passed like this. Tang Sanzang tried to explain things to the villagers, but all anyone cared about was the farmland. No one listened to his explanations.
Then Tang Sanzang tried to leave during the night.
But fearing he would escape, the villagers had already assigned people to take turns keeping watch. The moment Tang Sanzang and his disciples tried to leave that night, they were discovered.
"The monk's trying to run away!"
The villagers blocked Tang Sanzang's path and forced him back once again.
With no other option, Tang Sanzang called Sun Wukong over and said:
"Wukong, you have great powers. Why not open up the farmland for them so they will let us continue west?"
Sun Wukong said, "Old Sun never does a job without a rightful reason. That monster promised them farmland, so that monster should do the work. Why should Old Sun have to do it?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Then can you find that monster?"
Sun Wukong said, "That monster is as slippery as a thief. If he won't show himself, even Old Sun will have trouble finding him!"
Tang Sanzang sighed, then looked at Zhu Bajie and said:
"Bajie, do you think you could..."
Seeing this, Bajie hurriedly said, "Master, I can't do it! When we took the money, it was agreed that Senior Brother would plow the fields."
Hearing this, Sun Wukong seized Bajie by the ear and said:
"Who did you agree with? Who? Who!"
Bajie cried out in pain and begged for mercy. "Senior Brother, no one, no one! I remembered wrong!"
Sun Wukong said, "You're the one who ought to plow these fields! Who told you to get mixed up with that monster?"
Bajie said, "How was I the one who got mixed up with him? Even the Bodhisattva said it was King Tang's 'promising rescue, yet causing death instead' that brought on this trouble. How can you blame Old Pig?"
Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie, do not speak such nonsense!"
Sun Wukong tightened his grip and said:
"Idiot, what did you say? Get going, or I'll give you two thousand blows of my cudgel!"
With no choice, Zhu Bajie had to go plow the fields.
As he walked, he cursed under his breath. "Damn that Bimawen, making me plow fields and do hard labor. Old Pig came to protect the Pilgrim on the Journey to the West, not to be a laborer! Want me to plow? I won't!"
Over the next few days, Bajie left early and returned late, pretending to work while putting no strength into it. After several days, he had barely plowed a few mu of land.
Before you continue