Chapter 48: The Demon Whips Up Cold Wind and Heavy Snow; The Monk Longs to Worship Buddha and Treads Layered Ice

Now to return: the people of Chen Family Village shouted and jostled as they carried the pigs, sheep, sacrificial wine, and the two children to the Spirit-Response Temple and set them down in order. They placed the boy and girl in the upper place.

Wukong turned and saw that on the offering table there were incense flowers and candles, and in the center a golden plaque reading Spirit-Response Great King, with no other image of a god at all. The villagers arranged everything, then all bowed to the shrine and said, "Great King, on this year, month, day, and hour, we the sacrificers of Chen Family Village, Chen Cheng and the others, have followed the yearly rule and respectfully offer one boy, Chen Guobao, and one girl, Chen One-Tally Gold, together with pigs, sheep, and sacrificial wine in full amount, for Your Great King's enjoyment. May you protect us with wind and timely rain and grant us abundant grain."

When the prayer was done they burned paper horses and all returned home, so we need not follow them further.

After the crowd had gone, Bajie said to Wukong, "Let's go home then."

Wukong said, "Where is your home?"

Bajie said, "Back to old Chen's house to sleep."

Wukong said, "You fool, you are talking nonsense again. Since we agreed to this, we must carry the matter through. Only then will the vow be complete."

Bajie said, "You are the fool, not me. We only coaxed him for sport. How can we really offer a sacrifice here and take it seriously?"

Wukong said, "A man must carry a thing through to the end. Only if we wait for that Great King to eat them will the matter have a beginning and an ending. Otherwise he will keep on bringing down drought and harm. That would be ugly indeed."

Just then they heard a whooshing wind.

Bajie cried, "Bad news! That sound means the fellow is coming."

Wukong said only, "Do not speak. Let me answer him."

Soon enough a demon spirit came to the temple gate. How did he look?

Gold mail and gold helm, bright with a fresh shine;
a jeweled girdle wound about his waist like red cloud.
Eyes gleaming like stars newly risen at dusk;
teeth set like saw blades in a double row.
Underfoot, mist and cloud drifted lightly;
around his body, vapors breathed warm and thick.
When he moved, a cold wind followed in waves;
where he stood, layers of killing air warmed the sky.
He looked like a curtain-pulling marshal in attendance,
or a gate god keeping watch over the temple.

The monster blocked the doorway and asked, "Whose sacrifice is it this year?"

Wukong smiled. "Thank you for asking. It belongs to the Chen household at the head of the village, Chen Cheng and Chen Qing."

The monster heard this and thought, "This boy is bold and quick-tongued. At other times those who are brought to me are speechless. When I ask once, they are already frightened out of their wits; when I stretch out my hand, they are dead. How is it that this boy answers so well today?"

He did not dare reach out and grab him. Instead he asked, "What are the children's names?"

Wukong smiled. "The boy is Chen Guobao; the girl is Chen One-Tally Gold."

The monster said, "This sacrifice follows last year's rule. Since they are presented to me now, I shall eat you first."

Wukong said, "I dare not resist. Please enjoy yourself at ease."

The monster heard that, still did not dare move, and kept the doorway blocked. Then he shouted, "Do not answer me back. Every year I eat the boy first. This year I shall eat the girl first."

Bajie panicked. "Great King, keep to the old order. Do not break the custom and eat in the wrong sequence."

The monster would not listen. He opened his hand and seized Bajie.

The fool leaped down with a pop and showed his true form, drew his rake, and struck with all his might. The monster snatched his hand back and sprang away, and only a ringing clang was heard. Bajie cried, "I struck the armor."

Wukong also revealed his true form and looked. It turned out the monster wore armor layered like fish scales.

He shouted, "After him!"

The two of them leaped into the air. Because the monster had come only to attend the feast, he had brought no weapon with him. Empty-handed in the clouds, he shouted, "What monk are you, that you dare cheat people here and ruin my incense and my good name?"

Wukong said, "You damned beast, you do not even know us. We are disciples of Tripitaka, the holy monk from Great Tang in the Eastern Land, sent by imperial command to go west and seek the scriptures. Yesterday we lodged at Chen Family Village and heard of your evil. You took the title of Spirit-Response and every year demand a boy and a girl as sacrifice.

We take pity on living creatures and have come to seize you, you shameless thing. Tell the truth at once: in all these years that you have eaten two children every year, how long have you been king here? How many boys and girls have you eaten? Count them all and hand them over to me, and I may spare your life."

When the monster heard this, he turned to flee. Bajie struck again with his rake, but missed. The monster transformed into a gust of wild wind and drilled straight into the Sky-Spanning River.

Wukong said, "No need to chase him. This creature must be one of the river sort. Let us wait until tomorrow and find a way to catch him, then we can send my master across."

Bajie obeyed and went straight back to the temple, carrying the pigs, sheep, and sacrificial goods, together with the table, all the way back to Chen Family Village.

At that moment Tripitaka and Brother Sha were waiting in the hall with the two Chen brothers, watching for news. Suddenly they saw the two disciples toss the pigs, sheep, and other goods into the courtyard. Tripitaka came forward and asked, "Wukong, how went the sacrifice?"

Wukong told him the whole story of naming the children and driving the demon into the river.

The two old men were overjoyed and immediately ordered the side rooms swept out and the beds prepared, begging Tripitaka and his disciples to sleep there.

As for that monster, he escaped with his life, returned to the watery palace, and sat there speechless. The water tribes below and above asked, "Great King, every year you return from the sacrifice happy as can be. Why are you downcast today?"

The monster said, "Every other year, after the feast, I still brought some leftovers back for you to enjoy. Today I did not even get a bite myself. Bad luck met a rival, and I nearly lost my life."

The water folk asked, "Who was it, Great King?"

The monster said, "It was a disciple of the Great Tang holy monk who is traveling west to worship Buddha and seek the scriptures. He transformed himself into a boy and a girl and sat in the temple. I showed my true shape, and he nearly took my life. I had heard people say that Tripitaka is a good man who has cultivated through ten lives, and that if one could eat even a piece of his flesh, one might live forever. I never expected that his followers would be so capable. They spoiled my name and broke my incense. I was thinking of catching Tripitaka, but I fear I cannot do it alone."

Then a mottled fish spirit stepped forward, bowed with tiny steps, and said with a grin, "Great King, if you want to catch Tripitaka, what is difficult about that? I only wonder whether, if you catch him, you might reward me with some wine and meat?"

The monster said, "If you have a good scheme, use your strength with mine. When Tripitaka is caught, I will swear brotherhood with you and share the feast."

The fish spirit thanked him and said, "Everyone knows, Great King, that you can call up wind and rain and stir the sea and overturn the rivers. But can you bring snow?"

The monster said, "I can."

The fish spirit said, "Since you can make snow, can you also make cold that turns water to ice?"

The monster said, "That too I can do."

The fish spirit clapped its hands and laughed. "If so, then it is easy, very easy."

The monster said, "Then tell me how this easy trick should be done."

The fish spirit said, "Tonight, around the third watch, Great King need not hesitate. At once work your magic. Raise a cold wind and a heavy snow, and freeze the whole Sky-Spanning River.

Then have us shape-changing fellows take the forms of ordinary people at the crossing, with bundles on our backs and umbrellas in hand, carts and loads and all, so that we keep walking on the ice without pause. Tripitaka is desperate to reach the scriptures; when he sees all those people crossing, he will certainly step onto the ice and try it himself. Great King may then sit quietly in the middle of the river and wait. As soon as his horse's hooves sound on the ice, split it open, and the master and all his disciples will fall in together. One blow and the work is done."

The monster was delighted. "Excellent. Excellent."

So he left the watery palace, stepped into the empty sky, and stirred up wind and snow until the river froze hard. That is enough of that for now.

Now to return: Tripitaka and the three disciples slept at Chen Family Village. By the time dawn was near, they were all chilled through.

Bajie shivered and could not sleep. He cried, "Brother, I am freezing."

Wukong said, "You fool, you really are not handsome.

A monk should not fear cold or heat. Why are you shivering?"

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, it truly is cold. Look at this:

Heavy quilts give no warmth; our sleeves are like ice in our hands.
Fallen leaves now hang with frost upon their tips, and old pines wear frozen bells.
The ground has cracked open from the cold, and the ponds lie flat as water hardens.
Fishermen are nowhere to be seen, and how could a mountain temple greet a monk?
Woodcutters grieve that there is little fuel; rich young men rejoice that charcoal is dear.
Soldiers on the road must be made of iron, and poets write with pens like water caltrops.
Fur robes still seem too thin; even sable coats feel light.
The meditation mat freezes the old monk stiff, and the paper bedstartles the traveler.
Even layered quilts and thick mattresses cannot still the whole body's trembling.

None of them could sleep, so they got up and dressed.

When they opened the door and looked out, everything was white. Snow had fallen after all.

Wukong said, "No wonder you are all chilled. It is snowing this hard."

The four of them looked at it together. What a snow it was!

Dark clouds filled the sky and bitter mist soaked everything through.
The north wind wailed through the open air, and snow fell thick upon the earth.
Truly it was six-point blossoms flying like jade, a thousand forests wearing robes of white.
In a breath the dust piled up; in an instant salt had covered the ground.
White parrots lost their plumage, and even cranes seemed all one color.
It added rivers to Wu and Chu, and pressed down the plum blossoms of the southeast.
It was as though three hundred thousand jade dragons had been driven back in defeat,
as though broken scales and shattered armor were flying all across the sky.
There was no sign of the young man in East Gate shoes, no Yuan An sleeping in the snow, no Sun Kang reading by its light;
nor could you see Wang Zi-you's boat, or Wang Gong's gifts, or Su Wu eating felt.
Only a few village houses stood like silver masonry, and ten thousand li of mountains and rivers seemed rolled into a single ball of jade.
A good snow indeed: willow fluff spread across the bridge, pear blossoms covered the houses.
On the bridge, an old fisherman hung up his rain cape; beneath the eaves, an old woodsman warmed himself by a fire of broken wood.
Travelers could hardly find wine, and the gray-haired old man searched hard for plum blossoms.
Flakes fell and danced like butterfly wings; they drifted and fluttered like cut goose down.
Layer on layer they followed the wind, hiding the road from sight.
Wave after wave of cold force pierced the little curtains; gust after gust of chill seeped through the hidden bedchamber.
A year of good harvest came down from heaven, a blessing fit to make the world rejoice.

The snow fell and fell, exactly like cut jade and flying cotton.

The pilgrims admired it for a long while. Then Old Chen came out, sent two servants to sweep the path, and two more to bring hot water for washing their faces. Before long he also sent rolling tea, milk cakes, and charcoal fire. Everything was brought to the side room, where they sat and spoke together.

Tripitaka asked, "Old benefactor, in your district can you tell the seasons apart - spring, summer, autumn, and winter?"

Old Chen laughed. "Though this is a remote place, our customs and people are different from the capital's. But all the grain and livestock still share the same heaven and sun. How could we not divide the year into four seasons?"

Tripitaka said, "If so, then why has there been such heavy snow and such bitter cold now?"

Old Chen said, "It is the seventh month by the calendar, but yesterday White Dew began, so the eighth-month season has already arrived. In our place there is frost and snow every year in the eighth month."

Tripitaka said, "That is very different from our Eastern Land. There, snow only comes after the Winter Solstice."

While they were talking, the servants brought in a table and asked them to have porridge. After the porridge, the snow grew even heavier than it had been in the morning, and before long it lay two chi deep on the ground.

Tripitaka grew anxious and wiped away tears.

Old Chen said, "Do not worry, my lord. Do not let the snow's depth trouble you. My house has several shi of grain and can support your lords for half a lifetime."

Tripitaka said, "Old benefactor, you do not know how hard this poor monk's path has been.

When I first received the imperial command, the Great Tang king himself came out to send me on my way. At the gate he raised his cup in his own hands and asked me, 'When will you return?' I did not know the difficulties of mountains and rivers and answered carelessly, 'Only three years are needed before I may bring the scriptures home.' Since then seven or eight years have already passed, and I have still not seen the Buddha's face. I fear I will miss the imperial deadline, and I also fear the fierce power of demons. That is why I am so troubled. Today, by fate, I was lucky enough to lodge in your honorable house. Last night my foolish disciples gave a little offering in return, and I had truly hoped to find a boat and cross the river. I never expected Heaven to send snow like this, sealing off the road. I do not know when I will ever get to finish my work and return to my homeland."

Old Chen said, "My lord, be at ease. You have already come such a long way. What does a few more days matter? Let us wait until the weather clears and the ice melts. I, for my part, will spend whatever it takes and surely arrange a boat to carry you across the river."

Just then a servant brought in breakfast. They ate in the hall, and not long after, noon meal followed as well.

Tripitaka saw that the fare was abundant and said again and again, "Since you have taken us in, you should only treat us as ordinary guests."

Old Chen said, "My lord, you saved our lives by taking the place of our children in the sacrifice. Even if we served you a banquet every day, we could never repay that kindness."

After this the snow finally stopped, and people could again move about. Seeing that Tripitaka was not at ease, Old Chen had the garden swept out, set up large basins of fire, and invited them to go into the snow grotto and amuse themselves so they might lift their spirits.

Bajie laughed. "That old fellow really does not know what he is doing. In the second and third months of spring, a garden is worth looking at. But in this snow, with the cold like this, what is there to enjoy?"

Wukong said, "You fool, you do not understand. A snowy scene is naturally quiet and secluded. It lets us take in the sights and also comforts Master."

Old Chen said, "Exactly so, exactly so."

So he invited them into the garden. There they saw:

The season was the height of autumn, yet the scenery looked like the dead of winter.
Ancient pines formed jade buds, and withered willows hung silver blossoms.
At the foot of the steps, jade moss lay piled like powder; before the window, green bamboo pushed out jade shoots.
On the rockery by the fishpond, sharp peaks stood in rows like jade bamboo shoots; in the pond, clear living water had become an ice platter.
By the bank, hibiscus flowers showed a delicate paleness; beside the cliff, hibiscus branches drooped with tender growth.
Autumn begonias were utterly buried; winter plum trees had only just put forth new branches.
The peony pavilion, the pomegranate pavilion, and the sweet-osmanthus pavilion were all heaped with goose-feather snow.
The places for leisure, for entertaining guests, and for passing the time were everywhere spread with butterfly-wing flakes.
Two low fences of yellow chrysanthemums wore white silk over gold, and several red maples stood bright red among the white.
The empty courts were too cold to enter, so they looked instead at the snow grotto, cold as ice.
Inside stood a beast-faced bronze brazier on elephant feet, already glowing with newly lit charcoal;
above and below were several lacquered chairs draped with tiger skins, and paper windows were lined with a soft warmth.

On the walls hung several scrolls of famous old paintings, and these were among them:

The Seven Worthies crossing the pass, the lone fisherman on the cold river, and layered mountains wrapped in snow.
Su Wu eating felt, the envoy meeting plum blossoms, and jade trees in a pearly forest writing the language of cold.

There was no end to the rest:

A house near the waterside makes fish easy to buy; a snowstorm on the mountain road makes wine hard to find.
This truly is a place where one may draw in one's knees; why bother searching for Penglai?

They admired the place for a long while, then sat down in the snow grotto and told Old Chen the story of their scripture quest. After they had drunk the fragrant tea, Old Chen asked, "My lords, do you drink wine?"

Tripitaka said, "This poor monk does not drink, but my disciple may have a few cups of vegetarian wine."

Old Chen was delighted and at once ordered, "Bring fruit, and warm the vegetarian wine. Give the lords something to drive off the cold."

The servants carried in the tables and sat by the brazier. The two old men each drank a few cups, and the fire was banked.

Before they knew it evening had fallen. Again they were invited to the hall for the evening vegetarian meal. Then they heard passersby in the street say, "What a cold day! The Sky-Spanning River has frozen over."

Tripitaka said, "Wukong, if the river is frozen, what are we to do?"

Old Chen said, "A sudden cold and a sudden thaw, perhaps only the shallow parts by the bank have frozen."

The passersby said, "The whole eight hundred li has frozen to a mirror, and there are people walking on it at the crossing."

Tripitaka heard that people were walking on the ice and wanted to go see.

Old Chen said, "My lord, do not rush. It is late today. Let us look tomorrow."

So they parted from the neighbors. After the evening meal they again slept in the side room.

At dawn the next day, Bajie got up and said, "Brother, it is even colder tonight. The river must surely be frozen."

Tripitaka stood at the gate, faced heaven, and bowed. "All you divine guardians of the teaching, this disciple has come west in sincerity, worshiping Buddha with a pure heart and enduring mountains and rivers in hardship, never once crying out in complaint. Now I have reached this place and received Heaven's help in freezing the river. I offer my empty thanks for now. When the scriptures are brought home, I will present my memorial to the Tang emperor and repay the kindness with all sincerity."

When the bowing was done, he told Brother Sha to lead the horse, and they set out over the ice.

Old Chen said again, "Do not hurry. Wait until the snow melts and the ice breaks. I will arrange a boat and send you across."

Brother Sha said, "Whether we go now or stay is no easy matter. Words alone do not count. Seeing is better than hearing. I will lead the horse. Let my master go and take a look."

Old Chen said, "Reasonable enough."

He called, "You fellows, hurry and lead our six horses out. But do not lead out the Tang monk's horse."

Six young helpers followed.

The whole party went straight to the riverbank to see. Truly it was:

Snow piled high as mountains; the clouds cleared in the dawn's pale light.
Cold had stiffened the frontier peaks till they looked thin and sharp, and the ice had sealed the rivers into a single plane.
The north wind was biting, and the frozen ground was slick and hard.
Pond fish hugged the weed beds; wild birds clung to the dry branches.
Travelers from the border lands had frozen fingers, and ferrymen on the riverbank chattered their teeth.
Snake bellies split; bird feet snapped. The ice hills truly rose hundreds of feet high.
Ten thousand ravines lay cold and silver, one stream lay cold and jade.
In the east, silkworms seemed likely to freeze stiff, and in the north there were indeed mouse holes of frozen earth.
Wang Xiang's lying on the ice, and Guangwu's crossing, all seemed possible in a single night;
even shallow ponds had frozen in layers, and deep abysses had sealed into solid frost.
The Sky-Spanning River no longer showed a wave; its bright ice spread like a road over land.

Tripitaka and the others reached the riverbank and reined in their horses to look. Sure enough, there were people walking on the ice at the crossing.

Tripitaka asked, "Benefactor, where are those people crossing to over the ice?"

Old Chen said, "The far side of the river is the Western Women's Kingdom. Those people are all merchants. Things that cost a hundred coins here are worth ten thousand there; and things that cost a hundred there are worth ten thousand here. The profit is great and the capital small, so people throw caution to the wind and go even at the risk of death. Every year there are five or seven in a boat, or ten or more, who drift across the river."

Tripitaka said, "In this world, nothing weighs more than profit and fame. Those who risk their lives for profit are willing to forget death itself. My disciples obey the imperial command and serve their king loyally, but that too is only for fame. How much different are we from them?"

He told Wukong, "Hurry back to the benefactor's house, pack the luggage, and ready the horses. Let us take advantage of this layer of ice and hurry west at once."

Wukong smiled and agreed.

Brother Sha said, "Master, as the saying goes, 'A thousand days of eating calls for a thousand sheng of rice.' We have already relied on the Chen household for lodging. Let us stay a few more days and wait for the weather to clear and the ice to melt. We can then arrange a boat and cross. If we rush in confusion, I fear we may make a mistake."

Tripitaka said, "Wujing, how can you have such an ignorant view? If this were the second or third month of the year, with one warm day following another, we could wait for the ice to thaw. But now it is the eighth month, and each day only grows colder. How could we hope for a thaw? Would we not waste another half-year on the road?"

Bajie jumped down from his horse. "You all stop talking nonsense. Let Old Pig test the ice and see how thick it is."

Wukong said, "You fool, you tried the water the other night by throwing in a stone. But now the ice is heavy and solid. How do you mean to test it?"

Bajie said, "Brother, you do not know. Let me jab it with my rake. If I break it, then the ice is thin and we must not go. If I cannot break it, then it is thick. Why should we not cross?"

Tripitaka said, "Exactly. That is reasonable."

The fool pulled up his robe and strode to the riverbank. Lifting the rake in both hands, he struck with all his strength. There was a plop, and nine white marks flashed out, but his hands were shaken so hard that they hurt.

Bajie laughed. "It will do. It will do. It is frozen all the way through."

Tripitaka was overjoyed at this and returned with the others to the Chen house, telling them only to pack up and set out.

The two old men begged them to stay, but could not keep them. They therefore prepared some dried food and roasted grain, along with baked cakes and steamed buns, to send along. The whole household bowed and wept, and then offered a tray of small pieces of gold and silver, kneeling before them.

"We have been deeply blessed by your lordship's life-saving mercy," they said. "Please accept this as a little token of our respect for the meal you will eat on the road."

Tripitaka waved his hands and shook his head. He would not take it. "This poor monk is a wandering priest. What use have I for wealth? Even on the road I would not dare draw it out. To live on alms is my proper work. Just take back the dried food and that will be enough."

The two old men begged again and again. Wukong pinched off a tiny piece with his fingertips, about four or five qian in weight, and handed it to Tripitaka. "Master, take this as travel money. Do not make the two old men suffer a refusal."

So they said farewell and went straight to the river ice. The horse's hoof slipped once and nearly threw Tripitaka from the saddle.

Brother Sha said, "Master, the road is hard."

Bajie said, "Wait a moment. Let me ask Old Chen for some straw."

Wukong said, "What do you need straw for?"

Bajie said, "How would you know? Straw wrapped around the horse's hooves will keep them from slipping, so Master will not be thrown."

Old Chen heard this from the bank and quickly had some straw fetched from the house. He begged Tripitaka to dismount onto the bank. Bajie wrapped the horse's feet in straw, and then they stepped onto the ice.

They left Old Chen and the riverbank and traveled three or four li before Bajie handed the nine-ring monk's staff to Tripitaka and said, "Master, hold this across the horse."

Wukong said, "That fool is being tricky. You carried the staff yourself. Why should you now ask Master to hold it?"

Bajie said, "You have never traveled on ice, so you do not understand.

Ice always has thin spots. If your foot lands on one and drops through, and you have nothing laid across to support you, you will fall straight into the water with a plop, and it will be just like a pot lid sealing over your head. How would you ever climb out? It must be braced in this way."

Wukong laughed inwardly. "This fool really is an old hand at ice travel."

Sure enough they all followed his instructions. Tripitaka carried the staff across his saddle, Wukong carried the iron rod across his, Brother Sha carried the demon-quelling staff across his, and Bajie carried the luggage on his shoulder and the rake across his waist. So the pilgrims went on in peace.

They traveled until dusk, ate some dried rations, and did not dare stop for long. Under the moonlight, the ice gleamed white and bright, so they only pushed on. Truly the horses did not stop. The pilgrims did not close their eyes all night.

At dawn they ate a little more dried food and headed west again.

While they were going, there was suddenly a crackling sound under the ice. It nearly frightened White Dragon Horse out of its wits.

Tripitaka cried out in alarm, "Disciples! What was that loud sound?"

Bajie said, "The river is frozen too solid. That was the ice popping. Maybe the whole middle stretch is frozen all the way through."

Tripitaka heard that and was both startled and pleased. He urged the horse on and hurried ahead without further delay.

Now to return: the demon, after going back to his watery palace, had led his troops beneath the ice and waited for a long time. At last he heard the sound of hoofbeats. He worked a bit of magic from below and with a crash broke the ice.

Sun Wukong was so startled that he leaped straight into the air. The White Dragon Horse fell at once into the water, and the three pilgrims were all thrown apart.

The demon seized Tripitaka and led the river spirits straight back to the watery palace, shouting loudly, "Where is the old fish-sister?"

The old fish spirit hurried to the door and bowed. "Great King, I would not dare, I would not dare."

The demon said, "What is there to 'dare'? As the saying goes, 'A word once spoken cannot be chased even by four horses.' We agreed that if you followed your plan and caught Tripitaka, you would become my brother or sister. Today the scheme has truly worked. Now that I have caught Tripitaka, how can I pretend I never promised it?"

He ordered, "Bring out the table and benches. Sharpen the knife. Split open this monk, carve out his heart, skin him, and slice the meat; then sound the music. My sister and I will eat him together, and thereby live long and attain immortality."

The fish spirit said, "Great King, do not eat him yet. His disciples may come looking and make trouble. Wait two days. Let those fellows search and fail first. Then split him open and invite the Great King to sit in the upper place while the whole clan surrounds you. With music, singing, and dancing, we can present him to Your Great King and let you enjoy him at ease. Would that not be better?"

The monster followed her advice and hid Tripitaka behind the palace, covering him with a stone case six feet long.

As for Bajie and Brother Sha, they had fished the luggage out of the water and loaded it onto White Dragon Horse. They forced their way up through the current and rode out of the water.

Wukong had been watching from the air and called out, "Where is Master?"

Bajie said, "Master's surname is Chen and his name is at the bottom of the river. We have nowhere to look. Let us go back to shore and figure it out."

It turned out that Bajie had once been Marshal Tianpeng in heaven. In those days he commanded the 80,000 sailors of the Heavenly River. Brother Sha had come out of the Flowing-Sand River, and the White Dragon Horse had once been a prince of the Western Sea. That is why they knew how to handle water.

The Great Sage guided them from above, and in an instant they turned back to the eastern bank, dried and brushed the horses, and shook the water from their clothes. Wukong brought the cloud down, and together they returned to Chen Family Village.

Someone had already reported to the two old men, "The four scripture-seeking lords are now down to three."

The brothers hurried out to the gate. Sure enough, their clothes were still damp.

They said, "My lords, we begged you so hard to stay, and you would not. You only left us after all this trouble. But where is Master Tripitaka?"

Bajie said, "He is no longer Tripitaka. His new name is Chen to the End."

The two old men cried with sadness. "Alas, alas! We told you to wait until the snow melted and the boat was ready so that we could send you across. You insisted on refusing, and now he has lost his life."

Wukong said, "Old man, do not worry yourself over ancient people. My master will not die. He is sure to live a long life.

Old Sun knows what happened. It was surely that Spirit-Response Great King who worked a trick on him. You may be at ease. Wash our clothes, dry the passports, and feed the White Dragon Horse. Let my brothers and me find that beast. When we rescue my master, we will cut the weeds at the root and clear away the trouble for your whole village once and for all, so that you may live in peace forever."

When Old Chen heard this, his heart filled with joy. He at once ordered a vegetarian feast prepared. The three brothers ate their fill, left the horses and luggage in Chen Family Village, and each adjusted his weapons before heading straight to the riverbank to seek the monster and capture him.

A verse says:

Mistakenly treading layered ice wounds one's very nature;
once the great elixir has slipped away, how can all be made whole?

But how Tripitaka will be rescued, that is another matter. It must wait for the next chapter.