Continuing the Journey

Upon hearing this, everyone disregarded the mud on their bodies and rushed to the riverbank to kneel and kowtow in worship. Some of those skilled in painting even drew portraits of Bodhisattva Guanyin and others.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing joined forces to separate the water and reach the cave abode in the water, where they found their master, only to find that all the shrimp soldiers and crab generals there were already dead.

Afterwards, Sun Wukong helped Tang Xuanzang back to Chen Household Village. The two old people in Chen Household Village were immediately moved to tears and said to Sun Wukong:

"It was all our fault back then. We didn't consider the monsters on there, which is why your master suffered."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong scoffed and said:

"Alright, stop saying those kinds of things. From now on, you don't need to perform any more sacrifices, because we've already taken that monster away."

"All you have to do now is find us a boat so we can cross the river quickly."

Upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, the people were overjoyed and quickly exclaimed:

"Gentlemen, please sit here and wait for a little while. We will have everything ready in a short time."

Just as they were about to do it, a loud voice suddenly rang out, making everyone's legs go weak. The voice said:

"Great Sage Sun, you don't need to put in so much effort. Leave this to me; I'll take you across the river."

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw a giant tortoise. Upon seeing the tortoise, Sun Wukong instantly became alert, raising his Ruyi Jingu Bang and saying to it:

"If you dare come here, you monster, don't blame me for being impolite. Just wait and see, my Ruyi Jingu Bang can kill you in one blow."

Upon hearing this, the tortoise looked at Sun Wukong with a puzzled expression and said:

"Great Sage, I've been so kind to help you, why are you hitting me?"

Sun Wukong sneered upon hearing this, and continued speaking:

"Don't think I don't know you and that monster are actually from the same family. You started acting recklessly after he was captured."

Upon hearing this, the tortoise quickly explained to Sun Wukong:

"Great Sage, if that's what you mean, then you've really misunderstood me. I originally lived here; my ancestors passed this cave abode down to me a long time ago."

"When I was about to renovate this cave abode and move back in, I suddenly encountered a river. The tide rose, and the monster injured me while I wasn't paying attention, so I secretly moved in."

"Then they killed many of my wives and children, and abducted many of my people. Today, you have come and eliminated them, so that my people can return to me."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong suddenly understood, and then said:

Is what you're saying true?

Upon hearing this and seeing that Sun Wukong still didn't believe him, the tortoise immediately said:

"Great Sage Sun's Cultivation Method are profound; he'll surely be able to tell whether I'm telling the truth or not. If it's false, I swear to heaven."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong feigned confusion and said to the tortoise, "Since you've already put it that way, why don't you swear an oath to the heavens?"

"If I truly do not wish to cross the Tongtian River as Tang Xuanzang did, I am willing to turn into a pool of blood."

The tortoise gritted its teeth and made a solemn vow to the sky, but Bodhisattva Guanyin was listening nearby.

Upon hearing this, Bodhisattva Guanyin patted Sun Wukong on the shoulder and said to Sun Wukong:

"Wukong, don't make things difficult for him anymore. I can tell his cultivation level at a glance, and he definitely doesn't have any bad intentions towards you. You can go without worry."

After hearing Bodhisattva Guanyin's words, Sun Wukong was finally relieved and said to the tortoise:

"Since Bodhisattva Guanyin has spoken like this, I have no reason not to believe you. Now come ashore and let my master climb onto your back."

Upon hearing this, the tortoise slowly crawled ashore. After a short while, with the help of the crowd, Tang Xuanzang finally climbed onto the tortoise's back.

Then Sun Wukong stepped on the tortoise's shell with one foot and on its head with the other, holding the Ruyi Jingu Bang in his other hand and saying:

"You turtle, slow down! If you stray off course, I'll whack you on the head with this Ruyi Jingu Bang)."

Seeing this, the tortoise quickly said, "No, no, of course I'll go slower."

After he finished speaking, the turtle walked on the water as if it were flat ground. The people on the shore were all very surprised when they saw this, as if a living Luo Han had been reincarnated.

At the same time, Tang Xuanzang sat on the turtle's back and said to the turtle:

"Thank you so much for leading us across the Tongtian River. I have no gift to give you, but I will certainly repay you handsomely when I return from my pilgrimage."

Upon hearing this, the tortoise smiled and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"No need for Master to trouble himself. I know that the Buddha of Western Heaven is immortal and can know the future. What I really want to know is when I can truly cultivate my humanity?"

After pondering this for a long time, Tang Xuanzang slowly said to the tortoise:

"Since you've brought this up, I will certainly ask Buddha about it when the time comes."

"Huh!"

As Tang Xuanzang spoke, the turtle's questioning voice, which had just fallen, rang out again. Sun Wukong, hearing this, asked the turtle in confusion:

"What are you complaining about now, you little turtle?"

After hearing what Sun Wukong said, the tortoise quickly shook its head and said to Sun Wukong:

"Nothing, nothing, I just suddenly thought of something."

After the tortoise finished speaking, its doubts deepened.

"I remember the Tongtian River wasn't this long, so why haven't we reached the shore yet after all this time?"

After thinking this through, the tortoise gritted its teeth and continued moving forward.

After a short while, they finally saw the turtle on the shore and breathed a sigh of relief. The turtle then carried the four of them to the shore before returning to the water.

Sun Wukong helped Tang Xuanzang mount his horse, while Zhu Bajie carried the luggage.

Sha Wujing followed behind them, and the four of them continued westward.

After a while, I suddenly saw a green light ahead. I quickly went closer to take a look and found that it was flowers, plants and trees.

Everyone was astonished when they saw the flowers, plants, and trees. Tang Xuanzang looked at Sun Wukong with a puzzled expression and said:

"Why is Wukong surrounded by ice and snow, while here he's surrounded by flowers, trees, and shrubs? There's definitely something strange about this. We'd better be careful."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong smiled and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Master, you're really too vigilant. Could it be that you've developed a psychological trauma from being captured by a monster?"