Crossing the River

"If I were to strike you with this staff now, it would probably kill you instantly. But where have you placed my master and fellow disciples?"

The Black Fish Spirit immediately lowered its head and said to Sun Wukong:

"I didn't know it was you, Great Sage Sun, that's why I offended my cousin and got taken down by him."

"Now that I have met you, I am deeply grateful for your mercy in sparing my life. Your master is still bound in my cave abode. I hope that you, Great Sage, can unlock these iron chains so that I can return to the river and bring him out."

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Prince immediately said to Sun Wukong:

"The Great Sage is a very evil demon. If you release him, your master's life will be in danger."

Upon hearing what the Dragon Prince said, Sha Wujing immediately replied:

"Brother Monkey, I know where Master is tied up right now. I'll go rescue him right now."

After speaking, Sha Wujing jumped into the water and arrived at the gate of the Water Palace. The gate was wide open, and there was no monster inside. He went straight into the courtyard and saw that Tang Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie were tied up there. Sha Wujing quickly untied Tang Xuanzang.

The river god then untied Zhu Bajie, and the two carried each other on their backs to the surface of the water.

After Zhu Bajie reached the shore, he quickly raised his Nine-Toothed Rake and cursed at the monster:

"Damn you vixen, who told you to dare eat it? Now I'm putting it right in front of your mouth, let's see if you eat it or not. If you don't eat it, I'll beat you to death right now."

Upon hearing this, the Black Fish Spirit was immediately terrified and felt utterly ashamed. After a short while, Sun Wukong finally couldn't bear it any longer and quickly pulled Zhu Bajie aside, saying to him:

"Fool, spare his life for now, just for the sake of the Dragon King of the West Sea and his son."

After hearing Sun Wukong Zhu Bajie's words, Pigsy's initial anger gradually subsided. A short while later, the Dragon Prince said to Sun Wukong:

"Great Sage Sun, since you have spared him, I cannot linger here any longer, especially now that your master has been rescued."

"I'm taking this Black Fish Spirit to see my father right now. My father will definitely not let him live a good life; he'll surely deal with him."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately cupped his hands to the Dragon Prince and said:

"Since that's the case, then take him with you. Remember to convey my gratitude to your father."

As soon as Sun Wukong finished speaking, the Dragon Prince led the Black Fish Spirit into the water, and led the shrimp soldiers and crab generals all the way to the West Sea.

After thanking Sun Wukong, the river god of the Black Water River said to Tang Xuanzang:

"So much time has passed, and I have finally met you. I am Bodhisattva Guanyin, who told me before that I should wait here for you to arrive and then lead you across the river."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang nodded to the river god.

Upon seeing this, the river god immediately said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Stay here and be patient. Mount your White Dragon Horse, and I will now clear the way for you to cross the river."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang immediately mounted his horse, with Zhu Bajie holding the rope, Sha Wujing Sun Wukong looking around. Then the four of them crossed the river.

After a long time, the four travelers were enjoying the scenery along the way, traveling slowly, when suddenly they heard a shout, seemingly the cry of millions. Tang Xuanzang was terrified and immediately reined in his horse, unable to move forward. He hurriedly turned back to Sun Wukong and said:

"Wukong, who is shouting so loudly? It's scaring me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie immediately spoke up:

The sound was deafening, like a mountain collapsing and the earth splitting, as loud as rolling thunder.

Sun Wukong laughed and said upon hearing this:

"Since neither of you can guess what that sound is, wait here for me a little while. I'll go up into the sky and take a look, then I'll come back and tell you."

After speaking, Sun Wukong immediately jumped onto a cloud and looked intently. In the distance, there was a city radiating auspicious light, with no sign of any malevolent aura. Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong thought to himself:

"This place is nice, but why is there so much thunder?"

Sun Wukong looked again and saw that there was a beach outside the city gate, and many monks were standing there pulling carts. It turned out that the noise had disturbed Tang Xuanzang.

Sun Wukong gradually descended from the clouds and suddenly saw that the cart was loaded with soil, as well as some plants and trees.

There was a very narrow path on the slope, with towering mountains on both sides. It seemed that if you took the wrong step, you would fall into the endless ravine.

Although the weather was so warm, those people were still dressed in rags and looked very strange, which aroused Sun Wukong's suspicion.

"Presumably a temple is under construction now, but this place should also have a bountiful harvest. Couldn't they find some other people and instead need these monks to come along?"

As Sun Wukong was lost in thought, he suddenly saw two young Daoist priests swaying out of the city gate.

Upon seeing the two Daoist priests, the monks were terrified and worked even harder to pull the cart. Seeing this, Sun Wukong suddenly understood.

"Those monks must be afraid of these Daoist priests, otherwise why would they be pulling so hard? I once heard someone say that there was a place on the road to the West where Daoism suppressed Buddhism; this must be it."

"Are these things really true? I need to go back and report to my master later, otherwise I might upset him again if I don't understand some things."

After thinking it over, Sun Wukong immediately fell to the ground and transformed into a Daoist priest.

Upon seeing this, the two young Daoist priests immediately said to Sun Wukong:

"I wonder where Chang came from?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately said to the two young Daoist priests:

"I've wandered the world, with the sky as my blanket and the earth as my bed, and I still am now."

Upon hearing this, the two young Daoist priests suddenly realized what was happening and quickly said to Sun Wukong:

"Since that's the case, let's hurry back to the palace and have something good to eat."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong quickly waved his hand and said to the two young Daoist priests:

"No need for that. I'd like to go to whichever street is bustling with people to beg for alms."

The two boys were so angry at Sun Wukong 'Sun Wukong words that they burst into laughter.

Why would you, a Daoist priest, say such discouraging things?

Upon hearing this, the two young Daoist Sun Wukong, who looked puzzled, smiled and explained to Sun Wukong:

"Since you are a Daoist priest, why are you begging for alms? Isn't that a spoilsport?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes darted around, and he said to the two young Daoist priests:

Why don't monks beg for alms under the pretext of begging? Do they have money to buy food?