In the land of the Bhikshu Kingdom, the king and the people warmly sent off Tang Seng and his four disciples out of the city, accompanying them for a full twenty miles, reluctant to part ways! Tang Seng reluctantly got off the cart, mounted his horse, and bid farewell, watching until they disappeared from sight. The four of them continued on their journey, and as spring had just passed, the mountains were adorned with blooming flowers. Suddenly, they came across a tall mountain. Tang Seng's heart tightened, and he asked, "Disciples, is there a path up that mountain ahead? We must be careful!"
At this moment, the Monkey King couldn't help but laugh, "Master, that sounds like something a city dweller would say, not a traveler! Since ancient times, mountains don't block the road; the road will connect through the mountains. How could there be a talk of paths or no paths?" Tang Seng replied, "Although the mountain doesn't block the way, I fear there might be monsters inside, especially those hidden in the deep woods!" Pigsy comforted him from the side, "Don't worry, Master! We're not far from the Pure Land, so it will surely be fine!"
Just as they were speaking, they reached the foot of the mountain. The Monkey King took out his golden staff, climbed up a rocky cliff, and shouted, "Master, this is the path around the mountain; it's quite comfortable to walk on, come quickly!" Tang Seng had no choice but to relax and ride his horse to catch up. Sandy then said to Pigsy, "Second Brother, take the burden on one shoulder!" Pigsy immediately took the load and hoisted it onto his shoulder. Everyone hurried toward the wide road on the cliff.
Along the way, the scenery was breathtaking: clouds and mist swirled around, streams babbled, flowers bloomed vibrantly, and trees formed dense forests. Plum blossoms, pear blossoms, willows, and peach blossoms complemented each other beautifully, while cuckoos sang at the end of spring and swallows whispered softly. On the high rocks, the pines were lush and green, and the winding path climbed steeply, with cliffs as sharp as knives, vines entwined, and vegetation thriving. Thousands of peaks competed in beauty, and countless valleys flowed together, truly a picturesque scene!
While Tang Seng was lost in admiration, he suddenly heard the birds chirping, stirring up his homesickness. He sighed, "Disciples, I've been on this journey since receiving the decree from the heavens, leaving the East for a long time. When will I see my hometown again?" The Monkey King chuckled, "Master, you always think about home; you really don't act like a monk! Don't worry, let's go! As the ancients said, if you want wealth and nobility, you must work hard!"
Tang Seng replied, "Disciple, although what you say is true, I still don't know where the road to the West is!" Pigsy chimed in, "Master, the Buddha wouldn't let go of the 'Tripitaka' if He didn't know we were coming to retrieve it; otherwise, how could we have been searching for so long?" Sandy added, "Stop talking nonsense! Just follow Big Brother, and with effort, we will surely reach our destination one day."
At that moment, they encountered a dense forest of black pines. Tang Seng's heart tightened again, and he called out, "Wukong, we've just crossed the rugged mountain path, how come we hit this deep black pine forest again? We must be careful!" The Monkey King shrugged it off, "What’s there to fear!" Tang Seng warned, "Don't underestimate this forest! I've walked through many pine forests, but this one is very deep. Just look at all these dense trees, they’re everywhere!"
As Tang Seng spoke, he described the forest's appearance, feeling increasingly uneasy. Meanwhile, the Monkey King paid no mind and continued forward, leading Tang Seng straight into the depths of the forest. After walking for a long time, they still hadn't found a way out. Tang Seng couldn't help but call out, "Disciples, we've traveled westward and faced so many hardships. Fortunately, this forest is serene and peaceful. I think I’ll rest here for a bit, and I’m a little hungry. Go and get me some alms to eat." The Monkey King immediately agreed, "Master, please dismount; I’ll go get the food!"
Tang Seng indeed got off his horse, Pigsy tied the horse to a tree, and Sandy busied himself organizing their belongings, preparing the bowl to hand to the Monkey King.
The Monkey King reassured Tang Seng, "Master, don’t worry, I’ll be back in no time!" Tang Seng settled down under a pine tree, contemplating his cultivation. Meanwhile, Pigsy and Sandy began to wander around, foraging for food and having a great time.
At this moment, the Great Sage was flying in the sky when he suddenly stopped to look at the pine forest, noticing auspicious clouds swirling and a mist of good fortune rising. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Wonderful! Wonderful!" You might wonder why he was so pleased. It turned out he was praising Tang Seng, believing he was the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada Elder, blessed with such good omens after ten lifetimes of cultivation. Five hundred years ago, he had caused a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace with great glory, commanding an army of forty-seven thousand monsters, all calling him the Great Sage. Now, he willingly became Tang Seng's disciple, thinking to himself: the auspicious clouds above my master's head will surely bring benefits upon our return to the East, and I can also attain a proper reward.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, he suddenly saw a plume of black smoke rising from the south, and his heart sank. "There must be evil creatures in that black mist! My Pigsy and Sandy won't let that black smoke go!" He carefully observed from the sky, feeling uneasy.
Meanwhile, Tang Seng was sitting quietly in the forest, focusing on reciting the Heart Sutra, when he suddenly heard a faint voice calling for help. He was taken aback, thinking, "How could there be someone calling in this deep forest? Could it be that wolves or tigers have frightened someone?" So he decided to investigate, passing through ancient cypress trees and winding around thousand-year-old pines. As he got closer, he discovered a woman tied to a large tree, her upper body bound with vines and her lower body buried in the ground.
Tang Seng stopped and asked, "Bodhisattva, how did you end up tied here?" But as he looked closer, he began to have doubts; this was clearly a monster! The creature, seeing him approach, started to cry, tears flowing like springs. Just look at her tear-streaked cheeks, truly a beauty that could sink fish and make birds fall; her sorrowful starry eyes and shy demeanor could make the moon hide and flowers wilt. Tang Seng hesitated to get closer and continued to ask, "What exactly is your crime? Tell me, so I can save you."
The monster spoke sweetly and deceitfully, feigning distress: "Master, I live in the Poor Woman Kingdom, over two hundred miles from here. My parents are very kind and invited relatives and friends to sweep the tombs, but on the way, we encountered a group of robbers. Everyone fled, and only I was captured!" As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, truly heart-wrenching.
Hearing this, Tang Seng felt sad as well and called out with a choked voice, "Disciples!" At this moment, Pigsy and Sandy, who were foraging for fruits in the forest, heard their master's voice. Pigsy foolishly said, "Sandy, is Master recognizing relatives?" Sandy laughed and replied, "Second Brother, what nonsense are you talking? We've been walking for so long and haven't seen a single good person; how could he be recognizing relatives?"
Pigsy insisted, "It's not about recognizing relatives; Master is crying! Let's go take a look." So Sandy led the horse and carried the burden, following Pigsy back to the tree, asking, "Master, what happened?" Tang Seng pointed to the woman in the tree and said, "Pigsy, quickly untie that Bodhisattva and save her!"
Pigsy immediately went to help, completely unaware of the situation.
At that moment, the Great Sage saw the thick black smoke again, blocking the auspicious light, and his heart tightened. "Not good! The black smoke is covering the good fortune; it seems the evil spirits are trying to harm my master! Getting alms is a small matter; I should quickly check on my master!"
The Great Sage flew back to the clouds and landed in the forest, seeing Pigsy recklessly trying to untie the ropes. He immediately stepped forward, grabbed Pigsy by the ear, and knocked him over. Pigsy looked up and angrily said, "Master taught me to save people; why did you throw me down?"
The Monkey King laughed, "Brother, don’t untie her! She’s a monster, using this ruckus to deceive us!"
Tang Seng immediately shouted, "You unruly monkey, what nonsense are you talking? How could she be a monster? She's just a woman!" The Monkey King grew anxious, "Master, you don’t know; this is exactly the kind of monster I’ve dealt with before, one that specifically eats human flesh! Don’t be fooled!"
Pigsy muttered from the side, "Master, don’t listen to this Horse Tamer! This girl must be from around here. We traveled all the way from the East and aren't relatives; how could you say she’s a monster?"
The Monkey King was so angry he jumped up, "You fool! I’ve traveled westward; where are the lazy bugs? You, who prioritize beauty over life, are trying to woo a girl and got her tied up in a tree!" Tang Seng, feeling helpless, said, "Alright, Pigsy, what your brother says does make some sense. Since that's the case, let’s ignore her and move on." Upon hearing this, the Monkey King was overjoyed: "Great! Master has spoken; quickly mount your horse, let’s get out of the pine forest, and find a place to get some alms!"
They continued on their way, leaving the monster behind. The poor creature, grinding her teeth in anger on the tree, trembled with hatred: "I've heard that Sun Wukong has great powers, and seeing him today confirms it! I originally wanted to capture Tang Seng to achieve my immortality, but I didn't expect this monkey to see through my plan. If only I could untie myself and grab him, that would be wonderful! Now, thanks to him, I’ve wasted my efforts!"
As she thought this, she began to call out to Tang Seng with sweet words: "Master, why do you ignore the life of a living person? What's the use of worshiping Buddha and seeking scriptures?" Tang Seng, hearing this from his horse, felt a pang in his heart and immediately pulled back the reins, saying, "Wukong, go rescue that woman!"
The Monkey King was taken aback: "Master, why are you thinking of her again?" Tang Seng replied, "She's calling out!"
The Monkey King turned to Pigsy and asked, "Did you hear that?" Pigsy scratched his head: "My ears are too big; I didn't hear anything." He then asked Sandy: "Did you hear it?" Sandy shook his head: "I was focused on carrying the burden and didn't pay attention." The Monkey King added, "I didn’t hear anything either. Master, what exactly is she saying?" Tang Seng said, "She said that if we don’t save a living person, what’s the point of worshiping Buddha and seeking scriptures? Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!"
The Monkey King laughed, "Master, if you’re so kind-hearted, then there’s no saving you! You've encountered so many monsters on your journey west; why are you reluctant to save a monster today?" Tang Seng replied seriously, "Disciple, as the ancients said, do not neglect small acts of kindness or commit small evils. We should go save her."
The Monkey King, feeling helpless, said, "Alright, since Master insists, I won’t try to dissuade you. If you want to save her, then go ahead."
Tang Seng returned to the forest, instructing Pigsy to untie the upper half of the ropes, then used his spade to free the lower half. As soon as the monster was freed, she quickly put on her shoes and happily followed Tang Seng out of the pine forest. The Monkey King couldn’t help but sneer from the side. Seeing this, Tang Seng angrily said, "You unruly monkey, what are you laughing at?"
The Monkey King laughed even harder: "I’m laughing at your good fortune for encountering such a beauty!"
Tang Seng, fuming, scolded, "You mischievous monkey! Nonsense! I have been a monk since childhood, sent westward by decree, sincerely seeking scriptures. There’s nothing fortunate about it!"
The Monkey King chuckled, "Master, although you are a monk, you only recite scriptures and haven’t seen much of the world. This girl is beautiful; if we encounter bad people and get captured, that would be troublesome! No matter how you justify seeking scriptures, in the end, we might be seen as having ulterior motives. Pigsy would be conscripted, Sandy would be questioned, and I, Old Sun, wouldn’t fare any better!"
Tang Seng dismissed the idea: "If I save her life, how could it become a burden?" The Monkey King grew anxious: "Master, you’re thinking too simply! She’s been tied to a tree and has gone hungry for days; now that we’ve brought her out, you’re riding a swift horse while she can’t keep up. If she gets eaten by wild beasts, wouldn’t that be a disaster?"
Tang Seng thought for a moment: "That is indeed a problem. What should we do?" The Monkey King smacked his forehead: "Carry her up and ride together!"
Tang Seng shook his head: "How can I ride with her? That’s inappropriate!" The Monkey King suggested, "Then let Pigsy carry her!" Pigsy immediately protested: "Me carry someone? What’s in it for me?"
The Monkey King laughed: "You have a big mouth; if you carry her, you can turn around and chat about romance, wouldn’t that be great?" Pigsy panicked: "No way! If Master gets angry, I’d rather endure pain than carry her; I could end up buried!" Tang Seng sighed: "Alright, I’ll go slowly. I’ll get down and walk; Pigsy can lead the empty horse."
The Monkey King laughed heartily: "Silly boy, now you have business to do!" Tang Seng was displeased: "This monkey is talking nonsense again! As the ancients said, a horse traveling a thousand miles cannot go without a rider. If I slow down, you must not leave me behind!" Tang Seng firmly stated: "We will all go together. Once we reach the temple, we can leave her there; that way, we’ve saved her."
The Monkey King nodded: "Master is right; let’s hurry!" So, Tang Seng led the way, Sandy carried the burden, Pigsy led the empty horse, and the Monkey King held the girl, as they all moved forward together.
They walked for twenty or thirty miles, and as evening approached, a building appeared ahead. Tang Seng said, "Disciples, that must be the temple; we’ll stay here tonight and set off early tomorrow." The Monkey King agreed, "Master is right; everyone, let’s hurry!"
When they reached the entrance, the Monkey King instructed, "You all stay back; I’ll go in first to ask for lodging. If there’s a suitable place, I’ll call you." The others waited under the shade of the willow trees, while the Monkey King, holding his iron staff, led the woman inside.
As Tang Seng approached, he noticed the door was askew. Pushing it open, he felt a wave of desolation: the long corridor was silent, the ancient temple forlorn; moss covered the ground, wild grass grew rampant, with only fireflies dancing and frogs croaking, creating an atmosphere of loneliness.
Upon entering the temple, tears streamed down Tang Seng's face as he thought: This building is on the verge of collapse, and the corridors look pitifully lonely. The surroundings were filled with broken bricks and tiles, crooked beams and pillars, grass growing taller than people, and even the incense burner was buried in dust. The bell tower was in ruins, the drum skin was torn, the glass lamps were shattered, the Buddha's golden body had lost its luster, and the Arhats were leaning awkwardly. The statue of Guanyin was also damaged, and the pure vase lay broken on the ground—truly a sight too tragic to behold.
Not to mention, during the day, there wasn’t a single monk to be seen; at night, only foxes could be heard wailing, and the wind howled like thunder, turning the place into a den for tigers and leopards. The walls had collapsed, leaving no door to close. Tang Seng felt a surge of emotion and couldn’t help but recite a poem: "For many years, this ancient temple has been neglected; in its disarray, it withers further. The fierce wind tears apart the monastery's facade, heavy rains wash away the Buddha's image."
He steeled himself and walked through the second gate, discovering that the bell and drum tower had completely collapsed. Only a copper bell remained embedded in the ground, its upper half white as snow and its lower half green as indigo. Over the years, the upper part had turned white from rain, while the lower part retained its earthy green hue. Tang Seng touched the bell and sighed, "Oh bell! You once hung high in the tower, ringing out at dawn and dusk. I wonder where the craftsmen who forged you have gone; they must have all passed on, and now you are silent."
At that moment, a Taoist priest who was tending to the incense in the temple heard him. He jumped up, grabbed a broken brick, and struck the bell. The bell rang out with a loud "ding," startling Tang Seng, who stumbled and fell over a tree root. He got up and shouted, "Oh bell! I was just lamenting your fate; why did you suddenly ring? Have you turned into a spirit?"
The Taoist hurried over and helped Tang Seng up, saying, "Sir, please rise! The bell hasn’t turned into a spirit; it was I who hit it." Tang Seng looked at the Taoist, whose appearance was frightful, and felt a bit scared: "You’re not some kind of monster, are you? I’m not an ordinary person; I come from the Tang Dynasty, and I have disciples who can subdue dragons and tigers. If you encounter them, you won’t survive!"
The Taoist quickly knelt down: "Please don’t be afraid, Sir! I’m not a monster; I’m a priest in this temple. Hearing you lament the bell’s sound, I came out to welcome you, fearing it might be a ghost knocking at the door, so I picked up a brick to strike the bell. Please, Sir, rise!" Tang Seng finally relaxed: "Alright, priest, you nearly scared me to death. Please take me inside!"
The Taoist led Tang Seng through the third gate, and wow, inside was like a heavenly paradise! The walls were made of blue bricks with colorful clouds, green tiles covered the glazed halls, golden statues adorned the sacred images, and the steps were made of white jade—truly dazzling. The Great Hero Hall emitted a blue light, the Pavilion of Pīlú was vibrant, clouds floated above the Hall of Manjushri, and the Wheel-Store Hall was adorned with flowers. The three-eaved roof had pointed treasure vases, and the Five Blessings Tower was embroidered with floral patterns. Thousands of green bamboos swayed beside the Zen couches, and myriad green pines framed the Buddhist gate—simply a fairyland on earth.
Tang Seng was left speechless and couldn’t help but ask, "Taoist, how come the front is so dilapidated while the back is so well-kept?" The Taoist smiled and explained, "Sir, there are many monsters in these mountains. When it’s sunny, robbers raid the area; when it’s cloudy, they hide in the temple, using the Buddha statues as cushions and burning wood for fire. The monks in our temple are weak and dare not confront them, so they let those bandits stay in the front while they repaired the back, resulting in the current state."
Just as he was speaking, Tang Seng saw five large characters written above the mountain gate: "Zhenhai Chanlin Temple." As he stepped inside, a monk suddenly approached him. This monk wore a velvet hat, had copper rings hanging from his ears, and was dressed in a woolen robe, with eyes that shone like silver. He shook a drum in his hand and chanted incomprehensible scriptures.
Tang Seng recognized him as a Lama monk from the West. The monk, seeing Tang Seng’s handsome face, came closer with a broad smile, grabbed Tang Seng's hand, pinched his nose, and tugged at his ears, showing great familiarity. He led Tang Seng into the abbot's chambers, saluted, and asked, "Master, where do you come from?" Tang Seng replied, "I am an envoy from the Eastern Tang Dynasty, here to the Western land of India to obtain scriptures. I wish to stay the night and set off early tomorrow. I hope you can provide me with hospitality."
The monk laughed heartily, "You’re mistaken! We didn’t leave our families for good intentions; we became monks because we couldn’t support ourselves at home. Since we are disciples of the Buddha, let’s not speak empty words." Tang Seng felt anxious, "What I said is the truth!"
The monk continued, "The journey from the East to the West is quite long! There are mountains and caves along the way, and there are monsters in those caves. You’re traveling alone, looking so delicate—how could you possibly be on a scripture-seeking journey?" Tang Seng replied, "You’re right, how could I come alone? I have three disciples with me; they clear the paths through mountains and build bridges over waters, ensuring my safety, which is why I’ve arrived here."
Hearing this, the monk panicked, "Master, you don’t know that there are tigers, wolves, and monsters here; we don’t dare go out during the day, and at night we lock the doors. You must call your disciples inside!" With his command, two young lamas quickly ran outside and saw the Monkey King, who stumbled back in fright, then saw Pigsy and stumbled again, quickly retreating: "Grandpa! This is bad! Your disciples are missing, only three or four monsters are at the door!"
Tang Seng asked, "What do they look like?" The young lama replied, "One has a thunderous mouth, one has a pestle-like mouth, and there’s one with a green face and sharp teeth. There’s also a woman, looking quite made up." Tang Seng laughed, "You don’t recognize them? Those three ugly ones are my disciples, and that woman is someone I saved from the pine forest."
The young lama exclaimed, "Grandpa, with such a good master, how could he have such ugly disciples?" Tang Seng responded, "Though they are ugly, they are useful. Hurry and invite them in! If we delay any longer, the one with the thunderous mouth might cause trouble!" The young lama rushed out, trembling, and knelt down, saying, "Gentlemen, Master Tang invites you inside!"
Pigsy laughed, "Brother, why is he so scared of inviting us in?" The Monkey King replied, "He’s afraid because we look ugly!" Pigsy scoffed, "What’s there to be afraid of? We were born this way; who says ugly is necessarily bad?"
The Monkey King said, "Let’s tidy ourselves up a bit first!" So everyone lowered their heads, led their horses, and carried their burdens slowly into the temple. They passed through the collapsed corridors, entered the third gate, tied up their horses, rested their burdens, and entered the abbot's chambers, where they met the lamas and took their seats. The monk went inside and called out seventy or eighty young lamas, who, after greeting them, began to prepare the vegetarian meal. Truly, "To accumulate merit, one must cultivate compassion; when the Buddha's teachings flourish, monks praise monks." As for how they left the temple, that will have to wait for next time!
