Travels

"Elder, why are all your highly regarded disciples so ugly?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang smiled helplessly and said, "Although they are a bit ugly, they are all incredibly Law Power. I have been fortunate to have their protection throughout my journey."

As they were talking, several more monks came out. The original monk said to the monks behind him, "This master is a figure from the Great Tang of China, and these three are his disciples."

The monks were overjoyed upon hearing this and asked Tang Xuanzang, "What brings you here?"

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang immediately said, "I am on the orders of the current Tang Emperor to go to Thunderclap Monastery to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Now I am passing through here and would like to ask what this place is, and secondly, I would like to have some food."

The monks were all very happy and quickly invited Tang Xuanzang inside. Several other monks were eating there. The monks who had been inside immediately announced loudly:

"Everyone, come and take a look! China figures—it turns out that China also has ugly and handsome ones. The handsome ones are very difficult to write and draw, but the ugly ones have very strange appearances."

As soon as he finished speaking, many monks rushed out, all wanting to see Tang Xuanzang. After they had eaten some food, Tang Xuanzang slowly began to speak:

What exactly is this place?

The monk had told Tang Xuanzang earlier, "This is the outskirts of Kingdom of Tianzhu, in Jinping Prefecture."

Then Tang Xuanzang asked again, "How far is it from here to Spirit Mountain?"

After he finished speaking, many monks frowned, unable to say anything. After a short while, one of the monks said:

"Actually, I'm not very clear on that. We've only traveled from here to the city center of Kingdom of Tianzhu, but we haven't gone to Spirit Mountain yet, so we don't know how far it is. Therefore, I can't say anything without knowing the details."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang immediately thanked the monk. Then, as Tang Xuanzang was about to leave, the monks rushed forward to stop him. They said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Teacher, why don't you stay here a few more days? After the Lantern Festival, how about we go out for a stroll?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang felt very puzzled and said in surprise, "I have been traveling for a long time. I only know that there are mountains, rivers and some monsters, but I don't know what the Lantern Festival is."

The monks smiled and said to Tang Xuanzang:

"It seems you take your pilgrimage to the West very seriously. The Lantern Festival is the day after tomorrow, and our local magistrate has even ordered the display of lanterns. You can stay here for a few more days; our temple can certainly afford it."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang felt utterly helpless and could only nod in agreement. That very night, he heard a great commotion of gongs and drums outside.

Everyone came to the temple to offer lamps to Buddha. After Tang Xuanzang and the Fangzhang saw the lamp, they went back to sleep a little while later.

The next day, after dinner, we took a walk in the back garden, which was truly a wonderful place.

Inside, birds sang and flowers bloomed, with many plants and trees, the flowers were exceptionally fragrant, and there were many artificial hills and a pond around.

After the four of them played there for a while, they decided to leave the next day.

Just as they were about to leave, Tang Xuanzang said to Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, "I originally had a wish to sweep the pagoda. Today, taking advantage of the festival, I asked the abbot to open it, and they allowed me to fulfill my wish."

Upon hearing this, the monks opened the pagoda gate. Sha Wujing took the cassock and followed Tang Xuanzang, sweeping from the first floor to the top. By the time they finished, it was already evening, and they lit lamps. The monks then said to Tang Xuanzang:

"It's a good thing you didn't leave today. Today is the festival. We only saw the lanterns at the temple a few days ago. Now come with us into the city and see what the lanterns are like."

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang nodded, and then the group arrived in the city, where they found it to be very lively.

After a while, when Tang Xuanzang looked closely at the bridge, he saw that it was made of three lamps and two pavilions on top of them, all woven with golden silk threads and containing some glass foil.

Inside the pavilion, there was some incredibly fragrant oil. Upon smelling the aroma, Tang Xuanzang asked the monks with a puzzled expression, "What is this fragrance? Why is it so sweet?"

Then, the group of monks explained to Tang Xuanzang.

After listening to the monks' explanation, Sun Wukong asked Sun Wukong with a puzzled look:

"Since you all say that, then why was it that all that lamp oil was burned out in just three days? And who collected all that lamp oil in the end?"

Upon hearing this, the monks clasped their hands together and said:

Everyone says that in the end, Buddha took the lamp away. Every time it burned completely dry, the following year would naturally bring a bountiful harvest, but if it didn't burn completely, the following year would be a drought with irregular weather.

Just then, a sudden whooshing sound was heard in mid-air, frightening all the lantern viewers into scattering in all directions. Even the monks, unable to stand still, said to Tang Xuanzang:

"Master, let's go back first. The wind has already blown over; it must be that Buddha has descended here to see the lanterns."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xuanzang asked with a puzzled expression, "How could it be that Buddha has come to see the lanterns?"

"I originally came here to seek Buddhist scriptures, and since I've happened to encounter you all today, I might as well offer my respects."

After speaking, Tang Xuanzang went to the middle of the bridge, wanting to pay homage to the monks, but they couldn't be pulled back. After a short while, three Buddha figures appeared in the air, and Tang Xuanzang quickly knelt down and paid homage.

Sun Wukong quickly stepped forward and pulled Tang Xuanzang aside, saying, "Master, those monks are not good people; they must be some kind of monsters."

Just as Sun Wukong finished speaking, the lights dimmed and with a whoosh, Tang Xuanzang suddenly took to the air and flew away.

This startled Zhu Bajie, who stood aside, searching frantically. Sandy, meanwhile, was calling out loudly Sun Wukong Sha Wujing. Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing came to each of them, patted them on the shoulder, and said:

"Brother, there's no need for you to shout like that. Master's joy has turned to sorrow; he's already been captured by that monster."

The monk, upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, felt extremely frightened and said to Sun Wukong:

How do you know those are monsters?

Sun Wukong was furious inside, but he didn't show it in front of the group of monks, and slowly said:

"You group have been deceived by that monster. Only a true Buddha could provide these lamps. The Buddha statues that appeared at the sealed-off point were just three monsters."

"My master couldn't recognize it at all; he was captured by the monster as soon as he went up."