Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 46, Staying with Friends at Wuzhuang Temple (Part 9)
Meanwhile, Wukong arrived at the South Sea.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was refining some kind of treasure.

Wukong dared not disturb him and respectfully paid his respects.

Guanyin Bodhisattva, distracted by a thought, asked, "Wukong, where has Tang Sanzang arrived?"

Wukong said, "We have arrived at Longevity Mountain in Xiniu Hezhou."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There is a Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain. Have you ever seen Zhenyuan Daxian?"

Wukong bowed his head, daring not to conceal anything, and recounted all the wrongdoings he had committed, pleading for the Dao:
“This disciple did not recognize Zhenyuan Daxian and offended him. I have been searching for a cure at sea, traversing the three islands and all the heavens, but none of the gods and immortals have a cure for the tree. This disciple sincerely pays homage and begs the Bodhisattva for mercy. I humbly beseech you to grant me a cure to save my master.”

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Why didn't you come to see me sooner, but instead went to look for me elsewhere?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong was secretly delighted and thought, "What a stroke of luck! What a stroke of luck! The Bodhisattva must have a solution!" So he stepped forward and pleaded with him.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "In my jade bottle is the Three Lights Divine Water, which can bring the dead back to life, save people from all calamities, and cure the immortal tree and the spiritual seedling."

Wukong asked, "Has it ever worked?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “It has been proven effective. The willow branch in my bottle was once scorched dry in Laozi’s furnace. I took it and put it in the bottle, and within a day and a night, it regained its green branches and leaves, just like before.”

Wukong laughed and said, "What a stroke of luck! What a stroke of luck! Even the scorched can be healed, so what's so difficult about this knocked-down one? Bodhisattva, please come with me to save my master."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wait a moment."

Wukong asked, "Bodhisattva, what's wrong?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "This Three Lights Divine Water has not yet been condensed."

Wukong was stunned, staring at the water droplet in the air that was less than half-condensed, and asked, "Bodhisattva, could this be the Three Lights Divine Water?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "That's right."

Wukong asked, "How much longer?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Ordinary people need to go through ten thousand years to obtain a drop of Sunlight Divine Water, then another ten thousand years to obtain a drop of Moonlight Divine Water, and then another ten thousand years to obtain a drop of Starlight Divine Water. Only when the three are combined can one obtain a drop of Three Lights Divine Water."

Wukong exclaimed in surprise, "Thirty thousand years! Bodhisattva, have you been to the underworld recently?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, "What's the point of going to the underworld?"

Wukong said, "If you don't go, allow me, Old Sun, to go. I'll wreak havoc in the underworld again, snatch the Book of Life and Death, cross out Tang Sanzang's name, and cross out everyone with the surname Tang. Otherwise, in 30,000 years, not only will Tang Sanzang be gone, but the Tang Dynasty itself will have turned to ashes."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "You monkey, let me finish what I have to say. It is true that it takes 30,000 years for an ordinary person to condense this Three Lights Divine Water. But I can condense it with my great power in just 49 days."

Upon hearing this, Wukong exclaimed joyfully, "That's good! That's good! I wonder how much time is still left?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "It has been twenty days, and there are still twenty-nine days to go. If you use your magic to help, you can advance the time."

Upon hearing this, Wukong quickly sat down cross-legged and joined the gods in providing assistance.

After a few days, Wukong, being restless and unable to sit still, said, "Bodhisattva, people say, 'Being prepared is better than being unprepared.' Why don't you store some divine water in the jade bottle you carry with you every day?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There was originally half a bottle of divine water in the jade bottle."

Wukong said, "Then why don't you go save my master?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "When we subdued that demon dragon last time, we were caught off guard and it swept away with five-colored light."

Wukong understood.

Suddenly, his eyes darted around, as if he had thought of something, and he stood up and said:

"No need for the Bodhisattva, I, Old Sun, have thought of someone who can also revive that ginseng fruit tree!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, "Who is it?"

Wukong said, "He's a Taoist priest I just met."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "There are such Taoist priests?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Bodhisattva, throughout history, there have been countless people with extraordinary abilities. Being able to heal trees is nothing special. I, Old Sun, have heard that there are mortals who are good at divination and can even predict the Jade Emperor's decrees!"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva glared at Wukong and said, "You monkey, you're talking nonsense again!"

Wukong smiled, bowed to Guanyin Bodhisattva, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Bodhisattva. I'm off now."

Having said that, Zongyun returned to Wuzhuang Temple and descended from the clouds. Zhenyuan Daxian was talking with the Three Stars, and Ao Tu was also beside him.

Suddenly, Wukong returned, and Zhenyuan Daxian asked, "Sun Wukong, have you found a way to heal the tree?"

Wukong exclaimed, "Found it! Found it!"

Zhenyuan Daxian asked, "What kind of immortal formula is it?"

Wukong said, "No need to explain!" He landed next to Ao Tu, grabbed Ao Tu's wrist and said, "Brother, you kept this from me for so long. If I had known you could heal the tree, why would I, Old Sun, have run all over the overseas heavens?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "You monkey, I am Fuzhu Zhenshi Tianzun, when did I become your brother?"

Wukong said, "Whether you are the Heavenly Venerable or my brother, please grant me a way to heal the tree. Stop torturing me, Old Sun."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Fine, I'll do as you say. Consider it compensation for your headache!"

Wukong said, "I, Old Sun, have been suffering from a terrible headache these past few days while searching for an elixir of immortality. Thank you, brother. Oh no, I mean, Venerable Fuzhu Zhenshi!"

Ao Tu smiled but didn't say anything. He and the others arrived at the ginseng fruit garden.

Zhenyuan Daxian, the Three Elders of Fortune, Prosperity and Longevity, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, and the audience members all came to the garden to watch.

The tree fell to the ground, the soil cracked open to reveal its roots, its leaves fell and its branches withered.

Ao Tu was not as skilled as Guanyin Bodhisattva in using the Three Lights Divine Water, but fortunately he had plenty of it.

Ao Tu displayed five-colored divine light, lifted the tree, and poured a pool of divine water at its roots.

In a short while, the roots and bark merged, leaves grew and buds sprouted, and green fruits emerged from the branches.

Green leaves of Aomori, and twenty-three ginseng fruits were obtained again.

The two boys, Qingfeng and Mingyue, said, "When we didn't see any fruit the other day, we counted only twenty-two; how come there's one more now that it's reappeared?"

Wukong remembered and said, "The other day, I only stole three. One of them fell to the ground and got into the soil. I only understand why today."

Zhenyuan Daxian was overjoyed and ordered his disciple to bring a golden mallet to knock down ten fruits. He then invited everyone back to the palace, firstly to express his gratitude, and secondly to hold a "Ginseng Fruit Gathering".

The disciples rearranged the tables and chairs, laid out the alchemical tray, and invited Ao Tu, the guest, to take the seats. The three elders sat on the left, Tang Sanzang and his disciples on the right, and Zhenyuan Daxian, the host, sat in front of them.

Ao Tu and the three elders each ate one. Zhenyuan Daxian accompanied them with one. Wukong and the other two also each ate one. Tang Sanzang, knowing it was a celestial treasure, also ate one.

The disciples in the temple, including Tiger Vanguard, shared one.

After the meeting, Wukong sent three stars back to Penglai.

The next morning at dawn, Tang Sanzang packed up to leave.

Zhen Yuanzi persuaded him to stay, and arranged for him to stay for several more days.

After taking the herbal elixir, Tang Sanzang was reborn, feeling refreshed and healthy. He had no desire to stay any longer, and after a few days, despite attempts to persuade him to stay, he left with Wukong and the others.

After Tang Sanzang and his disciples left, Ao Tu also took his leave.

Zhen Yuanzi personally broke off a branch from the tree, with two fruits hanging on it, and gave it to Ao Tu.

Ao Tu generously accepted it and left on a cloud.

White Tiger Ridge.

Qiao'er was washing clothes by the river.

The river was calm and still.

After washing the clothes, Qiao'er looked at the calm lake, pursed her lips, and returned home.

When his parents saw this, they said, "Did you go to the distant river to wash clothes again?"

Qiao'er remained silent.

His parents said, "Child, your father and I are afraid you will encounter danger. That young master will not be coming back, so give up this thought."

Ao Tu Zongyun fell from the sky.

(End of this chapter)