Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 12, Exorcising the Demon at Gao Village (Part 7)
Meanwhile, Pigsy fought a great battle with Sun Wukong and was captured by him.

Sun Wukong tied Zhu Bajie's hands and feet, reported back to his master, and rode a cloud to the South Sea.

The vast ocean stretches to the horizon, its waters reaching the sky; a thousand layers of snowy waves, ten thousand ripples of misty spray; water flies across the fields, waves roll all around. Mount Luojia, its peaks soaring high; purple bamboo forests, precious trees and golden lotuses.

When Sun Wukong arrived outside the mountain, he informed the Bodhisattva and entered. He forced Pigsy to kneel down and recounted the events of the day from beginning to end, asking the Bodhisattva to judge.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wuneng, you are wrong. The pilgrim has always been by Wukong's side, with Dingjia, Gongcao, and Jialan taking turns. They are never away from him, day or night. What you encountered is an imposter."

Bajie still didn't believe it and said:

“Bodhisattva, I have spent many days with my master. He is full of compassion and is surrounded by Buddha's light. He does not accept any bribes. How could he be fake?”

He also gave me, Old Pig, a golden flower from Buddhism, which Venerable Ananda had given to my master and then passed on to me.

Sun Wukong stood up and said, "What did you say, Ananda!"

Pigsy asked, "What's wrong?"

Sun Wukong turned to Guanyin Bodhisattva and said, "Bodhisattva, back in the Guanyin Temple, it was this 'Ananda' who caused my master and me to suffer imprisonment. I hope the Bodhisattva will investigate!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I already know this person's background."

Sun Wukong asked, "What is his background?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
“Long ago, there was a young dragon who was in charge of ringing the bell under the Buddha’s seat. Because of his weak will, he missed the appointed time to ring the bell.”

After Venerable Ananda discovered this, he reported it to the Buddha. Fearing punishment, the little dragon secretly fled to the mortal realm.

Because he was listening to the Buddha's teachings, he had a certain Buddhist aura about him, which is why you, Pigsy, couldn't tell the real one from the fake.

Sun Wukong said, "So that's how it is! Hey, I, Old Sun, have never provoked him. Why has he been opposing us, master and disciple, all the way?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There is some history behind this."

Sun Wukong said, "I beg the Bodhisattva to enlighten me."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said:
"This little dragon is named Ao Tu, and he is the fifth son of the Jing River Dragon King outside Chang'an City. The Jing River Dragon King violated the heavenly rules and was taken to the Execution Platform to be beheaded."

The official in charge of the execution was named Wei Zheng, who was a minister of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

To save his life, the Dragon King of the Jing River appeared in Emperor Taizong's dream at night, begging the emperor to intercede for him and spare his life.

Emperor Taizong agreed and summoned Wei Zheng to the palace the next day to play chess. He thought he could stall Wei Zheng and save the Jing River Dragon King, but he did not expect that Wei Zheng would slay the dragon in his dream, and the Jing River Dragon King would die as a result.

Afterwards, the dragon spirit of the Jinghe Dragon King remained in the underworld and accused Emperor Taizong of 'killing him in return for saving him,' which led to Emperor Taizong's three-day journey to the underworld.

After Emperor Taizong's journey to the underworld, he witnessed countless wronged souls and developed a Buddhist heart. This led him to later send your master on a long and arduous journey to retrieve the true scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism.

Sun Wukong listened and said knowingly:
"So that 'mudskipper' was resentful that the Tang Emperor hadn't saved his father, and was therefore taking his anger out on my master!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "That's right."

Pigsy interjected, "Then where did he get that golden flower?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "It must be the theft of Venerable Ananda's property!"

Sun Wukong angrily said, "This 'mudfish' only knows how to do these petty thefts. If I, Old Sun, catch him, I will definitely skin him alive and pull out his dragon tendons!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wukong, do not get angry. If you encounter him again, just go to the Western Paradise and ask Venerable Ananda to come, and he will be able to subdue him."

Sun Wukong exclaimed happily, "Thank you for your guidance, Bodhisattva!"

Afterwards, Sun Wukong took Zhu Bajie and left the South Sea, returning to Gao Village; he explained the situation to Tang Sanzang and persuaded Tang Sanzang to accept Zhu Bajie as a disciple.

It was already late, so the three of them went into the manor to ask for lodging.

Because Ao Tu had done many good deeds in place of Tang Sanzang, the villagers of Gao Lao Zhuang were extremely hospitable, with every household offering him vegetarian meals and everyone turning to Buddhism.

Tang Sanzang believed that the Buddha was protecting him, and he stayed comfortably in Gao Village for one night.

Meanwhile, as Tang Sanzang and his disciples began to linger in the Gao Lao Zhuang area, Ao Tu's system progress also increased.

The next day, Tang Sanzang and his disciples prepared to leave the Gao Lao Zhuang area.

Upon hearing this, the villagers of Gao Lao Zhuang rushed over to prevent Tang Sanzang from leaving.

Tang Sanzang was at a loss.

Why won't you let this humble monk leave?

Upon hearing this, the villagers said:
"Why, Holy Monk? You must have a bad memory. You haven't settled your promise to us about the land yet!" Tang Sanzang was even more confused after hearing this.

Without further ado, the villagers produced their receipts.

"Monk, are you trying to deny it?"

"We've already paid!"

"If you don't produce the land, you're not leaving!"

Tang Sanzang looked at the receipts and said, "These, these were not signed by this humble monk."

The villagers, however, refused to acknowledge it.

"If you didn't sign it, who are you trying to fool? It's written clearly in black and white. Isn't Chen Xuanzang you?"

"This..." Tang Sanzang was speechless. "My secular name is Chen Xuanzang, but the Chen Xuanzang on this is not me."

The villagers said:

"It wasn't you? How could it not be you? You're the only bald guy in the entire Gao Village. You dare say it wasn't you?"

Tang Sanzang didn't know how to refute it.

Sun Wukong grinned and said, "That signature wasn't my master's; it was a demon's. It has nothing to do with my master. Get out of my way!"

Upon hearing this, the villagers exclaimed, "Monster! You look more like a monster to me!"

Sun Wukong was furious and pulled out his golden cudgel, but he couldn't bring himself to hit these ordinary people.

Ultimately, with no other option, Tang Sanzang and his disciples were blocked back by the villagers.

The villagers treated the three masters and their disciples to good food and drink, but they wouldn't allow them to leave.

Another day passed, and Tang Sanzang tried to explain to the villagers, but everyone was only hoping for the land and no one listened to his explanation.

Tang Sanzang then planned to leave under the cover of night.

However, the villagers were afraid that Tang Sanzang would escape, so they had already sent people to keep watch on him in shifts. Just as Tang Sanzang and his disciples were about to leave at night, they were discovered.

"This monk is trying to run away!"

People cornered Tang Sanzang again.

Tang Sanzang had no choice but to ask Sun Wukong to say:
"Wukong, you are so skilled, why don't you clear the land for them and let us go west?"

Sun Wukong said, "I, Old Sun, never do anything without a title. That land was promised by that demon, so it should be done by that demon. How can I, Old Sun, do it? Wouldn't that diminish my reputation as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?"

Tang Sanzang asked, "Then do you think you can find that demon?"

Sun Wukong said, "That monster is very cunning. If he doesn't come out, it will be difficult for me to find him!"

Tang Sanzang sighed, looked at Zhu Bajie, and said:

"Bajie, do you think you can..."

Upon seeing this, Pigsy quickly said, "Master, I can't do it. When we collected the money, we agreed that my senior brother would plow the field."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong grabbed Pigsy's ear and said:
"Who did you agree to this with? Who did you agree to it with? Who did you agree to it with?!"

Pigsy cried out in pain and begged for mercy, "Brother, it wasn't anyone, it wasn't anyone, I remembered wrong!"

Sun Wukong said, "You should be the one tilling this field. Who told you to provoke that demon!"

Bajie said, "How could it be my fault? The Bodhisattva said it was the Tang King's 'promise to save but kill' that caused the trouble. How can you blame me, old pig?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie, don't talk nonsense!"

Sun Wukong increased the force of his hand:

"You idiot, what did you say? Hurry up and go, or I'll give you two thousand lashes!"

Having no other choice, Pigsy had to go and plow the fields.

As he walked, he cursed and swore, "Damn you, Bi Ma Wen, making me plow the fields and do hard labor. I, Old Pig, am here to protect the pilgrims on their journey to the West, not to be a laborer! You want me to plow the fields? I won't!"

Over the next few days, Pigsy went out early and returned late, pretending to work, but he didn't put in any effort. He worked for several days in a row but didn't manage to cultivate more than a few acres of land.

(End of this chapter)