Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 43, Staying with Friends at Wuzhuang Temple (Part 6)
Meanwhile, Wukong used his magic to open the door and invited Tang Sanzang out.

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, we have committed the crime of theft. If we leave like this, won't Buddha blame us?"

Wukong said, "Master, that Taoist priest during the day was a demon. Don't listen to him fool you. Those fruits grow on trees, and even birds flying in the sky should get some. What great sin is it for us brothers to eat a few of them?"

Pigsy said, "Master, let's go quickly. Otherwise, if we get caught here, we'll be forced to do hard labor for at least ten years, and we won't be able to retrieve the scriptures!"

Tang Sanzang heard this and then came out.

Tang Sanzang mounted his horse, Zhu Bajie carried the load, and Sha Wujing led the horse, heading straight for the western route.

Wukong said, "Wait a moment. Let me use another spell to make those two boys sleep for a month."

Tang Sanzang said, "Disciple, you must not take his life; otherwise, you will commit another sin of harming someone for money, and how will you be able to reach the Western Paradise?"

Wukong said, "I know, I know!"

Wukong went in and used a spell to put the two boys to a deep sleep, from which they would never wake up.

Suddenly, someone patted Wukong on the shoulder, startling him so much that he jumped up.

Ao Tu said, "It's me."

Seeing that it was Ao Tu, Wukong was relieved and said, "You wicked dragon, what trick are you using to deceive my master now?"

Ao Tu said, "What am I lying to him about? The journey to the west is fraught with danger, filled with man-eating demons. I stopped him from going west to save him and let him have a more peaceful life."

Wukong said, "You're quite the smooth talker, but that old monk you've instigated is suspicious and might start chanting incantations again."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I am the King of Mount Ling. It is only natural for me to eat Tang Sanzang's flesh and sow discord between you and your disciples. I'm telling you in advance now: if you have the ability, then break my plan; otherwise, you'll suffer the consequences!"

Wukong said, "You little demon dragon, when I catch you, I'll make you lead my horse and carry my load every day!"

Ao Tu said, "You little monkey, one day I'll catch you and make you my little whirlwind patroller!"

The two separated.

Wukong used his cloud-stepping ability to catch up with Tang Sanzang, and they headed west along the main road.

As the saying goes, a guilty conscience needs no accuser, so Tang Sanzang and his disciples traveled non-stop until dawn.

Exhausted, Tang Sanzang said, "That monkey almost killed me! He kept me up all night!"

Wukong said, "Master, don't complain. It's getting light. You should rest here for a while and recharge your energy before continuing your journey."

Tang Sanzang then dismounted and sat down against a pine tree.

Sha Wujing put down his load and took a nap. Zhu Bajie slept with his head on a stone.

Wukong has a carefree personality and, with nothing much to do, he plays with tree branches.

At that time, Zhenyuan Daxian dispersed from the Yuanshi Palace and led his disciples down to Yaotian, descending on auspicious clouds, and arrived at the gate of Wuzhuang Temple on Wanshou Mountain.

The temple gate was wide open, and the ground was clean.

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Qingfeng and Mingyue are quite useful. Normally, even when the sun is high in the sky, they don't stretch their backs; but today, when we're not here, they get up early and start sweeping the floor."

All the disciples were delighted. Upon reaching the hall, they found the incense burner extinguished, and the place utterly deserted; there was no sign of the bright moon or the gentle breeze!
Upon reaching their room, they found the two unconscious and unresponsive.

Zhenyuan Daxian knew that someone was performing a ritual, so he used his magic to break the curse.

Qingfeng and Mingyue awoke and learned that Tang Sanzang and his disciples had escaped. They knelt down, tears streaming down their cheeks, and told Zhenyuan Daxian what had happened.

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Don't cry! Don't cry! Do you recognize those monks?"

The two men replied, "We recognize them both."

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Since you recognize him, come with me. Disciples, prepare the instruments of torture, and wait for me to return to beat him."

The disciples accepted the order.

Zhenyuan Daxian, accompanied by a gentle breeze and a bright moon, soared into the sky in auspicious light to pursue Tang Sanzang.

In an instant, they had covered a distance of a thousand miles. Zhenyuan Daxian, watching from the clouds, could not see Tang Sanzang; turning his head, he said, "They have traveled more than nine hundred miles too far."

It turns out that Tang Sanzang traveled only 120 li in one night without stopping, and that was all thanks to the dragon horse.

Zhenyuan Daxian leaped from the cloud and traveled over nine hundred li to find Tang Sanzang and his disciples. He then descended from the cloud and transformed into an ordinary Taoist priest.

He waved his whisk and gently tapped his fish drum. He went straight to the tree and said to Tang Sanzang, "Elder, I bow to you."

Tang Sanzang hurriedly said, "My apologies! My apologies! This humble monk returns your greetings."

Zhenyuan Daxian asked, "Elder, where do you come from? Why are you meditating by the roadside?"

Tang Sanzang felt ashamed and dared not say that he had stolen something and fled here overnight. So he said, "This humble monk is a disciple of the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, sent to the Western Paradise to retrieve scriptures. I am just passing through and would like to rest here for a while."

Zhenyuan Daxian asked, "Elder, you came from the east. Did you pass through my desolate mountain?"

Tang Sanzang asked, "May I ask what treasure mountain you are from?"

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Wanshou Mountain Wuzhuang Temple is where this humble Taoist dwells."

Upon hearing this, Wukong quickly replied, "No! No! We came from another path."

Zhenyuan Daxian revealed his true form and laughed:
"You impudent monkey! Who are you trying to fool? You knocked down my ginseng fruit tree and fled here overnight, and you still won't confess! Give me back my tree right now!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong drew his iron cudgel to strike.

Zhenyuan Daxian used his whisk to block the golden cudgel, stood in the clouds, spread his sleeves in the wind, and used the "Universe in the Sleeve" technique to rush forward and capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples, along with their horse.

Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing thrashed about inside the sleeve, but couldn't damage it in the slightest.

Zhenyuan Daxian, riding auspicious clouds, landed directly beneath Wuzhuang Temple. He instructed his disciples to fetch ropes and tie Tang Sanzang and his disciples to the eaves pillars of the main hall. He said:

"Disciple, fetch my Dragon Skin Seven-Star Whip! Let's give these monks a good beating first, and vent our anger on my Ginseng Fruit Tree!"

The disciples took out their whips and asked, "Master, which one should we strike first?"

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Tang Sanzang is disrespectful as a teacher, let's beat him first."

Upon hearing this, Wukong thought to himself, "That old monk is too fragile; if I were to beat him badly, wouldn't that be the result of my own actions?" So he said:

"Sir, you are mistaken. I was the one who stole the fruit, I was the one who ate the fruit, and I was the one who knocked down the tree. Why not hit me first? Why hit him?"

Zhenyuan Daxian laughed and said, "This impudent monkey is quite bold. Let's beat him up first!"

After striking him thirty times, Zhenyuan Daxian ordered, "Tang Sanzang should also be struck for failing to properly discipline his disciples and allowing them to commit violence."

Wukong said, “Master is wrong again. My master didn’t know when we stole the fruit. He was talking to you two boys in the hall. It was our doing. Even if we are guilty of not disciplining him properly, I, as his disciple, should take the blame. Hit me again.”

Zhenyuan Daxian laughed and said, "You mischievous monkey, though you are cunning and wicked, you do have some filial piety. Let's beat him again!"

They fought for a long time, and it was getting late.

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Torture him again tomorrow."

The disciples accepted the whips and returned to their rooms.

Qingfeng and Mingyue were made to fall asleep by Wukong's magic, and their minds were fuzzy. They forgot to tell their master about Ao Tu's matter. Now that they remembered, they quickly reported it.

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "You two, if you have such extraordinary people, why didn't you say so earlier? It's late today, and it's inconvenient to disturb the guests' rest. Please come and meet us again tomorrow."

At that time, Tang Sanzang was tied to a pillar, tears streaming down his face, and complained:

"Poor thing, you've caused trouble, and now I'm suffering because of you!"

Wukong said, "Master, you hit me, but you didn't get hit. What are you complaining about?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Although I wasn't beaten, it still hurts to have it tied to my body."

(End of this chapter)