Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 32, Crossing the Shifting Sands (Part 8)
Meanwhile, Wukong returned home and spent twenty-four days carefree with the monkeys. Touching the golden headband on his head, Wukong said, "I'm leaving now, don't see me off!"

Before the monkeys could stop him, Wukong leaped into the clouds and returned to the Flowing Sand River in an instant.

"Demon dragon, come out! It's time to return my master!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu emerged from the river, checked the system progress—ninety-one days, one day more than a season—and laughed:

"I will keep my promise. You just wait, I'll release your master right now!"

Having said that, Ao Tu went down and escorted Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and the Dragon King of the West Sea out together. The old monks who had accompanied Tang Sanzang in chanting the sutras also received their gold and silver rewards and were sent back to their original places.

Tang Sanzang, with a rosy complexion and radiant appearance, showed no signs of hunger or thinness; in fact, he had gained two pounds. He was only slightly frightened, and upon seeing Wukong, he hurriedly said:

"Wukong, where have you been? Why did it take you so long to rescue your master? These past few days I was kidnapped by this demon. Although I wasn't tortured, I was terrified!"

Bajie said from the side, "Master, you've been eating delicacies and living in palaces these past few days. That demon even found an old monk to keep you company. What do you have to complain about? If I, Old Pig, had this kind of life, I would be happy to live here for a year or two."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang scolded, "You fool! I have been ordered by the Tang Emperor to go west to retrieve the scriptures. If we go west, even if we have to endure wind and rain and sleep in the open, I will gladly accept it; if we cannot go west, even if we live in a magnificent palace and enjoy all kinds of delicacies, it will be like lying on a steel knife and drinking poison!"

When Pigsy saw that Tang Sanzang's words were serious, he pursed his lips and stopped talking.

Ao Tu, along with Tiger Vanguard, prepared to leave.

Sha Wujing, still unaware of the full situation, hurriedly asked, "Two venerable deities, what will I do now that you're gone?"

Ao Tu said, "Go to the South Sea with Sun Wukong to see Guanyin Bodhisattva, and you will understand."

Having said that, Ao Tu used the Golden Light Leap Technique to lead Tiger Vanguard away.

So Sha Wujing and Sun Wukong went to the South China Sea to find Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Dragon Girl holding the pearl were admiring the flowers by the railing of the Lotus Pond.

Upon seeing Wukong and Wujing arrive, Guanyin Bodhisattva asked:
"Why didn't you protect Tang Sanzang? Why have you come to see me again?"

Wukong and Sha Wujing each recounted what had happened.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said angrily:

"That damned beast! You've been tricked by him again! He changed the river's name, deceived Wujing, and is preventing you and your disciples from going west!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing bowed and said, "This disciple is foolish and ignorant; I was deceived by that monster and ruined everything!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "That wicked beast is cunning and adept at using tricks, so you can't be blamed. Get up."

Sha Wujing then got up.

Guanyin Bodhisattva then looked at Wukong and asked:

"Now that you've seen that beast, why didn't you report to me? Instead, you've been entangled with him, wasting all this time."

Wukong said, "It's only because Master and Bajie are in his hands that I'm afraid of angering him and losing my life, so I'm compromising!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva was somewhat skeptical and gave instructions:

“You monkey, now that you have entered my Buddhist sect, you must remember the suffering you endured for five hundred years at the foot of the mountain. Do not ruin your future again.”

Wukong bowed casually and said, "Don't worry, Bodhisattva, I understand."

Guanyin Bodhisattva then said, "If you encounter that demonic dragon again, come and report to me immediately, and do not let him ruin the great plan of obtaining the scriptures."

Sha Wujing knelt down and said yes.

Wukong simply gave a casual reply.

Seeing that Wukong's attitude was improper, Guanyin Bodhisattva said:

"That demonic dragon is cunning and treacherous; don't fall into his trap!"

Wukong said, "What trick have I fallen for? His father died, so it's only right that he comes to take revenge. I, Old Sun, am only here to protect Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures; the rest is none of my business."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "The Jing River Dragon King has violated the Heavenly Laws, and the sin lies with himself. How can he blame others?" Wukong said, "That's right, that's right. Without cause, how can there be effect? ​​It seems that the old dragon of the Jing River has eaten too much offerings and, having nothing better to do, wanted to test the limits of the Heavenly Laws."

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva became enraged and struck the monkey's head three times with her jade palm, saying:
"You mischievous monkey, stop talking nonsense! Everything has its own destiny! If you continue to spout nonsense, be careful I'll recite the Tightening-Headband Mantra."

Wukong hurriedly said, "No, no. Please, Bodhisattva, use your magic to help my master cross the river!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva took out a red gourd and instructed:
"Place this gourd on the Liusha River, string together the skulls of Wujing and the other nine pilgrims together, arrange them in the nine-square grid, and place this gourd in the center. It will become a Dharma boat that can ferry Tang Sanzang across the Liusha River."

Wukong asked, "What skeleton of the pilgrim?"

Sha Wujing said, “Brother, when I was a monster in that river, I ate countless people. Several times, the pilgrims came, and I ate them all. The heads of the people I ate sank to the bottom of the river. Even a goose feather cannot float in this water. Only the skulls of the nine pilgrims floated on the surface. I thought they were treasures, so I strung them together and played with them in my spare time.”

Wukong listened and asked, "Where is that skeleton now?"

Sha Wujing said, "That demonic dragon took it and hasn't returned it to me."

Guanyin Bodhisattva remained silent, then said, "Very well, I will go with you!"

Wukong and Sha Wujing bowed in gratitude, but that's another story.

The three rode on clouds and soon arrived at the Flowing Sand River.

When Tang Sanzang and Bajie saw the Bodhisattva arrive, they quickly knelt down to pay their respects.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said to Tang Sanzang, "This place was originally called Liusha River, but it was changed by that demon dragon. The monster in the river is the Curtain-Raising General who has descended to earth. He is also a believer whom I persuaded to protect you on your journey to the West."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was delighted and accepted Sha Wujing as his disciple, giving him a common name: Sha Wujing (Sha Monk).

Guanyin took a willow leaf, threw it into the river, and it transformed into a willow leaf boat.

Tang Sanzang boarded the boat and sat on it, as steady as a light boat.

With Pigsy supporting him on the left and Monkey King carrying him on the right, Sun Wukong led the dragon horse from behind, following along amidst half-clouds and half-mist.

Tang Sanzang gracefully and steadily crossed the eight-hundred-mile stretch of the Flowing Sand River, passing the Weak River amidst calm waves and gentle breezes. Like flying and an arrow, he soon reached the other side, escaping the raging torrents; without lingering in the mud or getting his hands and feet dry, he was free and at peace.

Tang Sanzang thanked the Bodhisattva, and the four of them continued their journey westward.

After finishing her business here, Guanyin Bodhisattva returned directly to the South China Sea, but she was somewhat troubled.

Moksha asked, "Why is Master troubled?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "It's because that wicked beast has repeatedly obstructed the journey to obtain the scriptures. That's fine, we'll subdue him sooner or later. But I'm afraid he's bewitched Wukong and ruined the great plan of obtaining the scriptures."

Mucha said, "That wicked beast is only acting arrogantly because he has a few rare treasures that he got from who-knows-where. Master, why don't we turn the tables and devise a plan to capture him on the journey to the West?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said happily, “Excellent! Recently, the lotus flowers in my precious lotus pond have been in full bloom. Go and invite Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas, as well as the Old Mother of Lishan, to come to my Luojia Mountain to see the lotus flowers.”

Moksha was shocked. He never expected that the Bodhisattva would need to invite so many deities to subdue a mere dragon.

At that time, on Ao Tu's side...

[Ding, reward settlement in progress, a total of ninety-one days of interception.]

[Ding! You have received a Three-Stage Resurrection Pill as a reward.]

[Ding! You have received a 6,000-year-old peach as a reward.]

[Ding! You have received the Acquired Spiritual Treasure - Headache Chime.]

[Ding! Reward obtained: Acquired Spiritual Treasure - Dragon Binding Rope]

[Ding! You have obtained the reward divine power: Five-Colored Divine Light]

[Ding! One extra day has been added to the next side quest; the next side quest is: The Four Sages Test the Mind of Zen.]

(End of this chapter)