Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom (IV)

Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, suffering from the heat, continued their Journey to the West journey. They came upon two rows of Willow Tree, and from under their Willow Shade emerged an Old Granny who said:

"Monk, don't go any further! That's a dead end. Quickly turn your horse around and go east!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang quickly dismounted and bowed, saying:

"Old Bodhisattva, the Western Heaven is a Buddhist land, how can there be no path?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Go ahead, about five or six miles away, and you'll Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom. The King there had a grudge against monks in his past life and made a great vow to kill ten thousand monks. He has now killed nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-six, and only four famous monks remain to be killed to complete the vow. If you go there, you'll only be throwing your lives away!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang felt frightened and said, "Old Bodhisattva, we are deeply grateful for your kindness. We are endlessly thankful. Is there any other way? We hope you can point us in a way so that our master and disciples can take a detour."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "You can't get through! You can't get through! This country is too vast; you can't go around it!"

Bajie laughed, "How big can this little country be? It must be because you, old woman, are too old to walk that it seems big. We, master and disciples, are all young and can walk a long way; even a country thousands of miles long can be traversed in a blink of an eye!"

Tang Sanzang scolded, "Bajie, don't be rude and offend the old man!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and said:

"You Fat Monk monk, you certainly know how to talk. But I'm afraid that before you can even find your way around, the locals will see that you four are monks and call for soldiers to arrest you. My family has been praying to Buddha and the gods for many years. Seeing that you four are monks from out of town, I came to deliver this message and try to save you. It would be a good deed!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang clasped his hands in deep prayer and said, "Bodhisattva kindness is bound to be appreciated by the Buddha."

Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed and said, "I hope so. Every family has its own troubles. I hope the Buddha you, monk." After saying this, she walked away along the Willow Tree.

Tang Sanzang, Bajie, Sha Wujing dared not advance rashly, and said to Wukong:

"Ahead lies the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom, which intends to kill monks. What should we do? How do we get past them?"

Wukong said, "Don't be afraid. We've seen plenty of monks being captured or driven away in the countries we've passed through along the way. It's not surprising that we've encountered someone killing a monk."

Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, although that's what I say, do you have any way to ensure your master's passage?"

Wukong said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Let's get off the Main Road and find a quiet place to discuss this, so we don't run into any passersby. That old woman was a devout Buddhist who kindly relayed the message. If we run into other people and they report us, attracting a lot of soldiers to arrest us, that would be very bad."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang praised Wukong for his thoughtful consideration. The four of them then led their horses off the Main Road and found a shady spot along a side path to hide.

Wukong said, "Bajie, Sha Wujing, you stay here and protect Master. I'll go into the city and scout out how to get there."

Bajie and Sha Wujing agreed.

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, be careful and don't break the Royal Law!"

Wukong said "I understand," and rode away on a cloud.

Soon they arrived in the city. Wukong looked at the city and saw auspicious five-colored Auspicious Clouds, filled with joy. He thought to himself, "This is a good place. There is no demonic aura. Why did they kill the monk? Could it be that the King had a grudge against the monk in a previous life?"

So they searched the city carefully and found that the Crossroads were bustling with activity, private schools were filled with the sound of students reading aloud, and the aroma of wine wafted from the entrances of restaurants. People came and went looking for customers, and merchants and travelers walked hurriedly. As night fell, they stopped to check their whereabouts.

Wukong investigated for a long time but found nothing strange. As it was getting late, some merchants were staying at the inn.

Wukong then transformed into a moth and followed several merchants inside, harboring ill intentions; he planned to steal their clothes after they settled in.

Unexpectedly, these people were exhausted from walking and were only eating, not in a hurry to take off their clothes.

Fearing that the city gates would close if they stayed too long, Wukong spread his hands and conjured two hundred fleas, three hundred bedbugs, and four hundred lice, which he then threw into the clothes of the merchants.

Immediately, several merchants were bitten by insects, feeling itchy and painful. They lost their appetite and reached into their clothes, pulling out a handful of lice.

Upon seeing this, the shop assistant assumed that these people had traveled a long way and their clothes hadn't been washed, resulting in insect infestation. He quickly said, "Sirs, we have hot water in the shop. I'll go fetch some right away."

Several merchants, feeling unbearably itchy, all said, "Quickly, fetch water and prepare a bathtub."

The waiter agreed and soon everything was ready.

Several merchants took off their clothes and bathed.

Upon seeing this, Wukong transformed into a rat, conjured a gust of Black Wind, and swept away all the clothes.

Upon seeing this, the merchant exclaimed in fear, "This inn is no longer safe! There are rats that have become spirits and are stealing people's clothes!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong stopped in his tracks and said:

"Don't talk nonsense! An honest man doesn't do things in secret. I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong. I was protecting Tang Sanzang on his Journey to the West scriptures. Your King here is tyrannical and wants to kill monks, so I borrowed his clothes to help my master cross the city. I will return them afterward."

Having said that, he left the city and went to that small road.

Tang Sanzang saw Wukong return and hurriedly stepped forward to say:

"Disciple, is there a way to get through?"

Wukong said, "Yes! Yes! As long as I don't become a monk and instead become a layman, I can get through this!"

Bajie laughed, "That's easy! We'll stay here for half a year, until our hair grows back, and then it'll be over!"

Wukong said, "There's no need to wait half a year; we can become ordinary people right now."

Bajie said, "How can I act like a mortal when I'm bald right now?"

Wukong then took out the clothes and said, "I went to investigate the city just now, and it was filled with Auspicious Light Auspicious Mist, without any demonic aura. It was indeed the Emperor holding court. I just don't know why he wanted to kill monks. I borrowed these clothes from you. Let's change into them, disguise ourselves as ordinary people, go into the city, find an inn to stay in, and leave the city tomorrow morning. If anyone encounters us, we can explain ourselves."

Sha Wujing said, "Big Brother is right. But I wonder how to answer someone if they ask?"

Wukong said, "If anyone asks, you should remain silent and let me answer them. Just say we are horse traders, there are ten brothers in total, and we own a hundred fine horses. The four of us will go into the city first to rent an inn. The White Dragon Horse is magnificent; we can use it as a prop, and the innkeeper will surely treat us well. Before we leave, I will conjure up a piece of silver to thank him."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang, though knowing that monks do not lie, also understood the importance of compromise and that this was a way to save his life, so he reluctantly complied.

Wukong then instructed, "On this journey, we cannot address each other as master and disciple; we must all be brothers. Master will be called Tang the First Official, I will be called Sun the Second Official, Bajie will be called Zhu the Third Official, and Sha Wujing will be called Sha the Fourth Official."

They all agreed.

So the four of them changed into merchants' clothes, walked onto the Main Road, and headed towards the city.

After traveling two or three miles, a man in a brocade robe and a blue brocade tunic appeared on the road and asked the four travelers, "Passersby ahead, what are you doing here?"

Tang Sanzang instinctively put his palms together in greeting and was about to address him as "Benefactor" when Wukong stopped him.

Wukong said, "We're in business!"

The man asked, "Are you really in business?"

Bajie said, "We are merchants who trade horses back and forth!"

The man laughed loudly, "Good, this Great King has been waiting for merchants!" He reached behind his waist, pulled out a gleaming longsword, stepped onto a Bluestone by the roadside, and shouted:

"The moon is dark and the sky is high, the Grass and Wood are barren, a sharp blade hangs at my waist as I walk up the hills."

Merchants, cease your journey and quickly offer gold and silver to the Great King.

At a shout, twenty thieves appeared from the surrounding area, each one fierce-looking, strong, and wielding a sharp blade. They said:

"Those four merchants, hand over the silver at once!"

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang looked deeply troubled and couldn't help but exclaim, "How bitter!"