Difficulties

After pondering this for a long time, Tang Xuanzang asked Sun Wukong, "If you were in this situation, how would you handle it?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong smiled and said to Tang Xuanzang, "You can bring this woman up and ride the horse with her."

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang lowered his head and pondered for a long time before finally saying in a low voice:

"Since you've put it that way, then I'll ride horses with her."

Suddenly, Tang Xuanzang realized something and said to Sun Wukong, "This method won't work at all. You should think of another one."

However, this remark struck a chord with Sun Wukong, who then said to Zhu Bajie, "Bajie, why don't you carry her on your back?"

Zhu Bajie, always gluttonous and lazy, immediately shook his head and refused when he heard Sun Wukong's words, saying, "This road is extremely long; how could I possibly carry someone on my back?"

Sun Wukong sneered at Zhu Bajie and said, "Your mouth is the longest; you're carrying this woman on your back."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie was displeased and said to Sun Wukong, "This is not right at all. If Master hits me a few times, I'm willing to endure the pain, but if you make me carry this woman, that's something I'd rather not do."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang could only say, "Forget it, I can still walk a few more steps. I'll get off and we'll walk slowly together. Let Zhu Bajie lead the horse."

After saying this, Sun Wukong burst into laughter and said loudly, "Master, your method is quite good! This Zhu Bajie actually gained a little advantage; Master made you lead the horse."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie flew into a rage. However, just as Sun Wukong was about to continue speaking, Tang Xuanzang interrupted Sun Wukong, saying:

"That monkey is talking nonsense again. If I walk slowly on the road, you won't lose me at all. If I walk slowly, you'll walk slowly too."

"Let's walk down the mountain with this female bodhisattva, find her dwelling, and then perhaps leave her with someone else's home. That would be a way for us to save her."

"Master, what you said makes sense. Let's hurry up and go!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong slowly turned his gaze to Zhu Bajie, but Zhu Bajie completely ignored Sun Wukong and left with Tang Xuanzang.

Just then, the woman who was actually a fairy turned to Sun Wukong and said, "Holy monk, please come with me quickly. From what I remember, there is a temple ahead."

Sun Wukong sneered upon hearing this, and followed the woman onward. After walking for a while, it gradually grew dark, and then some houses came into view. Tang Xuanzang was overjoyed at the sight and said to Sun Wukong:

"Wukong, look quickly! This must be a temple. Let's stay here for the night and continue our journey tomorrow morning."

After saying this, Sun Wukong said to Tang Xuanzang, "Master, you are right. Let's hurry over there now."

Upon arriving at the gate, Tang Xuanzang said to Sha Wujing Sun Wukong, and Zhu Bajie, "You three, stay away from me for now. I'll go ask around, and if it's alright, I'll come back and call you. I'm mainly worried you'll frighten those people."

The group then stood under the shade of the tree, except for Sun Wukong, who held his Ruyi Jingu Bang and stared coldly at the woman. Tang Xuanzang quickly stepped forward and saw the door crooked and dilapidated. When he pushed the door open, he couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation.

The empty corridor was very quiet, and moss from the surrounding courtyard covered the entire wall.

Tang Xuanzang was deeply saddened. He went to another courtyard and found that the bell tower had long since collapsed, with only a bronze bell remaining, stuck in the ground. It was clear that it had been there for some time. Tang Xuanzang gently stroked the bell with his right hand and said loudly:

"Oh, clock! You once hung high up on the building, desperately shouting to bring the sound of morning to people, but now you've fallen to this state, how pitiful!"

As Tang Xuanzang loudly praised the bell, he unknowingly disturbed the people in the temple. One of the monks who offered incense heard someone talking, got up, picked up a brick, and threw it at the bronze bell.

The bell rang out instantly, startling Tang Xuanzang so much that he sat down on the ground. After a while, he struggled to his feet, only to trip over a tree Tang Xuanzang and fall again. Tang Xuanzang looked up at the bronze bell and said:

"I was just complaining on your behalf when that loud noise suddenly came. It must be because no one comes here often, and over time it's turned into a demon."

The monk stepped forward and quickly helped Tang Xuanzang up, saying, "Elder, please get up quickly. This isn't a bell that has come to life; it's just the sound of me striking the bell."

Tang Xuanzang looked up and saw that the monk was extremely ugly. He was terrified and immediately said:

"What kind of monster are you? I am no ordinary person either. I come from the Great Tang. I have a group of disciples who can subdue demons and monsters, and I also know some Buddhist teachings. If you run into us, your life will be in grave danger."

After speaking, the monk immediately knelt down and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Elder, please don't be afraid. I am not a monster. I am a monk who offers incense at this temple. I heard your words just now and found them very pleasant, so I came to greet you."

"I was afraid that Yaomo were knocking on the door, so I picked up a brick and struck the bell to calm my nerves."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang regained his previous serious demeanor and said to the monk in a profound tone, "Abbot, you almost scared me to death just now. Please take me inside."

After speaking, the monk led Tang Xuanzang to the courtyard. The back of the courtyard was very different from the outside.

Seeing this, Tang Xuanzang looked puzzled and dared not go in, so he said to the monk, "Why is the back courtyard so tidy when the front courtyard is so messy?"

However, the monk smiled and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"You don't know this, but there are many bandits in these mountains. They rob people during the day and hide in this temple at night."

"Our monks here are inherently weak and dare not speak to him, so we simply let those bandits rest in the dilapidated houses in front of us, and then we built one ourselves."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang suddenly realized what was going on. Just as Tang Xuanzang entered the room, a fat monk suddenly walked towards him.

The fat monk saw that Tang Xuanzang was handsome and resembled an Arhat descending to Luo Han, so he immediately stepped forward Tang Xuanzang, grabbed Tang Xuanzang, and pinched his nose and pulled his ear with a grin, showing that he was very close to him.

After a long time, the monk quickly dismissed the fat monk and said to Tang Xuanzang, "So much time has passed, and I still haven't asked you where you came from!"

However, Tang Xuanzang slowly said, "This humble monk has traveled from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands to the Great Thunderclap Monastery in the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and obtain Buddhist scriptures."