Once upon a time, Tang Sanzang and his three disciples had just escaped from a perilous situation. A few days later, they crossed the treacherous Yellow Wind Ridge, which stretched for eight hundred li. Traveling westward, they found themselves in a vast, sunlit plain. Time flew by as summer gave way to autumn. The sound of cicadas chirping filled the air, withered willows swayed in the breeze, and the fiery red sun gradually sank in the west. As they continued their journey, they suddenly came upon a wide, rushing river with turbulent waves.
Tang Sanzang, still on horseback, anxiously called out, "My disciples, look at the vast expanse of water ahead! Why aren't there any boats to ferry us across? How are we going to get over?" Pigsy (Zhu Bajie) looked around and remarked, "This is indeed a mighty river, and there are no boats to cross it."
Monkey King (Sun Wukong) leapt into the air, shading his eyes with his hand for a better look, and was taken aback. "Master," he exclaimed, "this is truly a challenge! For me, it would be a simple hop to get across, but for you, Master, it's a formidable obstacle." Tang Sanzang asked, "This river stretches as far as the eye can see. How wide is it?" Wukong replied, "It's about eight hundred li wide."
Pigsy questioned, "Brother, how can you be so sure of the distance?" Wukong explained, "I must confess, my eyes can see a thousand li during the day. From up there, I could tell that while the river's length is unknown, its width spans eight hundred li." The elder monk, worried, turned his horse around and noticed a stone tablet by the riverbank. The three disciples approached to read it and saw three engraved characters: 'Flowing Sand River.' Below were four lines of smaller text: 'Eight hundred flowing sand bounds, three thousand weak water deep. A goose feather won't float, and reed flowers sink to the bottom.' As they pondered the inscription, they suddenly heard the river's waves roaring like mountains and rolling like ridges. From the river's center emerged a slippery demon, fearsome in appearance: fiery red hair like flames, two round eyes shining like lamps. His face was a dark blue, neither black nor green, and his voice thundered like drums. He wore a goose-yellow cape and a white vine belt around his waist. Nine skulls hung from his neck, and he wielded a precious staff, exuding a fierce aura. The demon rushed onto the shore like a whirlwind, charging straight at Tang Sanzang, frightening Wukong, who quickly grabbed his master and hurriedly climbed to higher ground, escaping the threat. Pigsy set down his load, drew his iron rake, and charged at the demon, who blocked him with his staff. The two clashed on the riverbank, displaying their skills in a fierce battle.
One was the former Marshal Tianpeng, the other a banished Curtain Lifting General. They had met in the Hall of Miraculous Mist in the past, and now they fought to the death. One used his rake to probe like a dragon's claw, while the other wielded his staff like a grinding elephant's tusk. They attacked with great force, charging into the wind. One struck blindly, while the other defended with precision. One had long occupied the Flowing Sand River as a man-eating demon, while the other was a demon-subduing general on a mission. They fought back and forth for twenty rounds without a clear winner.
The Great Sage (Wukong) protected Tang Sanzang, holding the horse and guarding their belongings. Seeing Pigsy locked in a stalemate with the demon, Wukong was so frustrated that he ground his teeth and clenched his fists. Unable to resist the urge to join the fray, he drew his golden staff and said, "Master, stay here and don't worry. Let your old Sun have some fun." Despite the elder monk's pleas for him to stay, Wukong couldn't be held back. He let out a whistle and jumped into the fight. At that moment, the demon and Pigsy were locked in a fierce struggle, neither gaining the upper hand. Wukong swung his iron staff at the demon's head, causing the demon to quickly turn and dodge, diving back into the Flowing Sand River. Pigsy stomped his foot in frustration, "Brother, who asked you to come? The demon was gradually losing to me, and in just a few more moves, I would have captured him! But seeing you, he got scared and ran away. Now what do we do?" Wukong chuckled, "Brother, to be honest, since we subdued the Yellow Wind Monster, I haven't had a chance to swing my staff for a month. Seeing you fight so energetically, I couldn't resist jumping in for some action. I didn't expect the demon to be so unsporting and flee."
The two of them, arm in arm, chatting and laughing, returned to Tang Sanzang. The elder monk asked, "Did you capture the demon?" Wukong replied, "The demon couldn't withstand our attacks and retreated into the water." Tang Sanzang said, "My disciples, this demon has been here for a long time and knows the water's depths. With such boundless weak water and no boats, we need someone familiar with the water to lead us across." Wukong agreed, "Exactly. As the saying goes, 'He who stays near vermilion gets stained red, he who stays near ink gets stained black.' The demon must be familiar with the water here. We should capture him, but not kill him, and make him ferry the master across the river before deciding what to do next." Pigsy suggested, "Brother, don't hesitate. You go capture him first, and I'll stay to protect the master." Wukong laughed, "Dear brother, I must admit, I'm not boasting. Matters concerning water aren't my forte. If I go into the water, I need to recite the Water Avoidance Spell to move around. Otherwise, I'd have to transform into a fish, shrimp, crab, or turtle to enter. As for other skills, whether it's soaring high in the clouds or performing extraordinary feats, your old Sun can handle it all. But dealing with water is a bit tricky." Pigsy said, "Back in the day, I was the commander of the Heavenly River, leading eighty thousand naval troops, so I learned a thing or two about water. I'm just worried that if I go into the water and encounter his relatives, seven generations deep, I might not handle them all, and they might capture me." Wukong advised, "If you engage him in his watery domain, don't get too caught up in the fight. It's okay to retreat but not to win. Lure him out, and I'll assist you." Pigsy agreed, "That makes sense. I'll go now." With that, he removed his blue brocade robe and shoes, brandished his rake, parted the water, and employing his old skills, he plunged into the waves, diving straight to the riverbed and swimming forward.
The demon, having been defeated, returned to the water to catch his breath. Just then, he heard the sound of someone pushing through the water above. Looking up, he saw Pigsy (Zhu Bajie) wielding his rake and moving through the water. The demon raised his staff and shouted, "Where do you think you're going, monk? Watch out, or I'll strike you!" Pigsy blocked with his rake and asked, "What kind of demon are you to block our path here?" The demon replied, "You don't know me. I'm not just any ordinary demon or some nameless creature." Pigsy said, "If you're not a demon or a ghost, why are you harming people here? Tell me your name honestly, and I'll spare your life." The demon said:
"Since childhood, I've been quite extraordinary, traveling all across the land. I've met heroes and warriors, and roamed freely over the four seas and five lakes. In my quest for enlightenment, I wandered far and wide until I met a true master who guided me to the Great Way. The Jade Emperor himself appointed me as the Curtain Lifting General, and I was respected within the Southern Heavenly Gate. But during the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Banquet, I accidentally broke a jade glass and was banished here to the Flowing Sand River. When I'm hungry, I stir the waves to find food, eating anyone who passes by. I've consumed quite a few people. How dare you act so boldly in my domain? Today, I'm going to eat you!"
Hearing this, Pigsy became furious and retorted, "You wretched demon, you're blind! I, the old Pig, am quite adept in water, yet you call me coarse and threaten to turn me into paste! Watch as I beat you to death!" With that, Pigsy swung his rake at the demon. The demon deftly dodged. The two engaged in a fierce battle in the water, fighting their way to the surface, each riding the waves. Their duel was even more intense than before: the Curtain Lifting General and the Marshal Tianpeng each showcasing their powers. The demon's staff whirled fiercely, while Pigsy's nine-toothed rake was equally formidable. They fought with such ferocity that the fish, shrimp, turtles, and crabs in the water were all disturbed.
They battled for two hours without a clear winner—a true clash of the titans, like a copper basin meeting an iron broom, or a jade chime against a golden bell, equally matched and inseparable.
Meanwhile, Wukong stood on the shore, guarding Tang Sanzang and watching eagerly as the fight unfolded on the water, unable to intervene. Pigsy feigned a retreat, pretending to flee, and turned to run towards the eastern bank. The demon pursued relentlessly, and as they neared the shore, Wukong couldn't hold back any longer. He left the elder monk, grabbed his iron staff, and leapt to the riverbank, striking at the demon's head. The demon, unwilling to confront him, swiftly dove back into the river. Pigsy shouted, "You, Bimawen (Horse Master), you're so impatient! You should have waited a bit longer. I was luring him to the shore so you could block the riverbank and he wouldn't escape! Now he's back in the river, who knows when he'll come out again?"
Wukong smiled and said to Pigsy, "Hey, stop complaining. Let's go back and see Master first." So, Pigsy and Wukong returned to the high bank where they found Tang Sanzang. Tang Sanzang slightly bowed and said, "Thank you for your hard work, disciples." Pigsy replied, "It's not about the hard work; what's important is to subdue the demon and get you across the river." Tang Sanzang asked, "How did the fight with the demon go?" Pigsy answered, "The demon's skills are on par with mine. Just as the fight was getting intense, I pretended to retreat and lured him to the shore. But when he saw my brother holding his staff, he ran away." Tang Sanzang asked, "What should we do now?" Wukong said:
"Don't worry, Master. There's no need to rush. It's getting late, so let's rest here under the cliff. I'll go beg for some vegetarian food. Once you've eaten, you can rest, and we'll think of a plan tomorrow." Pigsy agreed, "That's right, go and come back quickly." Wukong flew on his cloud and soon reached a household to the north, where he begged for a bowl of vegetarian food and brought it back to his master. Seeing Wukong return so quickly, Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, wouldn't it be better to ask the people from whom you begged for food for a way to cross the river, rather than fighting the demon head-on?" Wukong laughed, "That household is far from here, about five to seven thousand li away! How would they know about the river here?" Pigsy, skeptical, said, "Brother, you're bragging again. How could you travel five to seven thousand li so quickly?" Wukong replied, "You don't know. My somersault cloud can cover 108,000 li in one flip. Five to seven thousand li is just a nod and a bend of the waist, nothing difficult!" Pigsy said, "If it's that easy, why don't you carry Master on your back, nod and bend your waist, and jump over? Why bother fighting the demon?" Wukong said, "Can't you ride the cloud? You could carry Master across." Pigsy said, "Master is a mortal, as heavy as Mount Tai. My cloud-riding can't carry him; it has to be your somersault cloud." Wukong said, "My somersault cloud is just a cloud ride, only it can go farther. If you can't carry him, neither can I. As the saying goes, 'Lifting Mount Tai is as light as a mustard seed, but carrying a mortal is difficult to escape the red dust.' The demon's magic tricks can only walk on the ground, not take to the sky. I can perform those tricks too, but Master must experience foreign lands personally and cannot easily escape the sea of suffering, hence the constant obstacles. We can only protect Master and ensure his safety, but we can't endure these hardships for him, nor can we fetch the scriptures. Even if we met the Buddha first, the Buddha wouldn't easily give us the scriptures. As the saying goes, 'If it's easily obtained, it will be taken lightly.'" Pigsy nodded repeatedly.
So, they ate some simple vegetarian food and rested under the cliff on the east bank of the Flowing Sand River.
The next morning, Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, what should we do today?" Wukong replied, "There's no other way; Pigsy will have to go into the water again." Pigsy, a bit displeased, said, "Brother, you just want me to go into the water." Wukong reassured him, "This time, I won't rush to act. Just lure him out, and I'll block him at the riverbank to make sure he doesn't escape. We must catch him." With that, Pigsy wiped his face, gathered his spirits, picked up his rake, and went to the riverbank, parting the water as he once again descended into the demon's lair.
The demon had just woken up and, hearing the sound of water, quickly turned around to see Pigsy coming with his rake. The demon jumped out to block him and shouted, "Slow down! Slow down! Watch my staff!" Pigsy raised his rake to block and said, "What kind of broken staff is that? Let your ancestor watch this rake!" The demon, unwilling to yield, said, "You really don't know quality! This precious staff of mine has a grand origin. It's made from a branch of the cassia tree in the moon, cut by Wu Gang and crafted by Lu Ban. It has a golden core and pearl threads on the outside, called the Precious Staff, specifically for subduing demons. No spear or sword in the world can compare. Your rusty rake is only good for tilling fields and planting vegetables!" Pigsy laughed, "You wretched demon! Don't talk about planting vegetables; with one swing of my rake, I'll have all nine of your eyes bleeding, and there won't be a place for a bandage!"
Though Pigsy didn't relent verbally, the two continued their fierce battle in the water. This fight was even more intense than the last, with Pigsy and the demon churning the water, splashing waves, fighting until the sky darkened, and even the fish and dragons were disturbed. They fought for thirty rounds without a clear winner. Pigsy once again used the tactic of feigned defeat, pretending to retreat and dragging his rake towards the shore. The demon, seeing this, pursued relentlessly, following Pigsy to the riverbank. Pigsy cursed, "Wretched demon! Come up here! It's solid ground, perfect for a fight!" The demon, however, refused to come ashore, saying, "You're trying to trick me into going up so you can call for help. I'm not falling for it. You come down, and we'll fight in the water."
Wukong watched anxiously from the shore, eager to capture the demon. He said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, sit tight. I'm going to catch that demon." With that, he leapt into the air and swiftly landed by the riverbank, intending to seize the demon. The demon, fiercely battling Pigsy, suddenly heard the sound of the wind and turned to see Wukong descending from the sky. Hastily, the demon retracted his staff and disappeared into the water. Standing on the shore, Wukong said to Pigsy, "Brother, this demon has gotten cunning. He won't come ashore anymore. What should we do?" Pigsy sighed, "It's tough! Even with all my strength, I can only fight him to a draw."
Wukong said, "Let's go see Master." So, the two returned to the high bank and reported the situation to Tang Sanzang in detail. Hearing this, Tang Sanzang tearfully said, "How can we cross the river like this?" Wukong comforted him, "Don't worry, Master. This demon hides at the bottom of the river, making him difficult to deal with. Pigsy, stay here and protect Master. Don't fight him anymore. I'll go to the South Sea to find Guanyin Bodhisattva." Pigsy asked, "Brother, why are you going to the South Sea?" Wukong replied, "This journey to retrieve the scriptures was arranged by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and she has helped us before. Now that we're blocked by the Flowing Sand River, who else can we turn to for help? I'll ask her for assistance—it's better than fighting the demon head-on." Pigsy nodded, "You're right, you're right. Brother, when you go, don't forget to send my regards to the Bodhisattva." Tang Sanzang also said, "Wukong, if you're going to invite the Bodhisattva, go quickly and don't delay."
Wukong rode his somersault cloud straight to the South Sea. In less than half an hour, he saw Mount Putuo. Soon, he landed outside the Bamboo Grove. At that moment, the twenty-four celestial guardians approached and asked, "Great Sage, why have you come?" Wukong replied, "My master is in trouble, and I've come to see the Bodhisattva." The celestial guardians said, "Please wait here while we inform her." The guardian of the sun went straight to the entrance of the Tide Sound Cave and reported, "Sun Wukong is here to see you." The Bodhisattva, who was admiring flowers by the Jewel Lotus Pond with the Dragon Maiden, turned immediately, opened the cloud gate, and summoned Wukong inside. Wukong respectfully greeted her, and the Bodhisattva asked:
"Why aren't you protecting Tang Sanzang? What brings you here?" Wukong hurriedly explained, "Bodhisattva, my master recently took on a disciple at Gao Village named Pigsy, thanks to your naming him Wuneng. We just passed through Yellow Wind Ridge and have now reached the Flowing Sand River, which spans 800 li. The river is treacherous, and my master cannot cross it. There's a demon in the river with great martial skills. Wuneng fought him three times but couldn't defeat him, and we're blocked from crossing. So, I've come to ask for your help." The Bodhisattva smiled, "You monkey, always boasting and unwilling to admit you need help protecting Tang Sanzang, right?" Wukong quickly said, "We just want to capture him so he can help my master cross the river. I'm not well-versed in water battles, and perhaps Wuneng didn't mention our mission to retrieve the scriptures during their fight." The Bodhisattva said:
"The demon in the Flowing Sand River is the Curtain Lifting General who fell from heaven. He's one of my converted followers, meant to protect those on the scripture quest. If you tell him you're from the East seeking scriptures, he certainly won't fight you and will surely submit." Wukong, a bit worried, asked, "But the demon is afraid of fighting now and won't come ashore, hiding underwater. How can we make him submit? And how can my master cross this treacherous river?"
The Bodhisattva then called for Huian and took a red gourd from her sleeve, instructing, "Take this gourd and go with Sun Wukong to the Flowing Sand River. Just call out 'Wujing,' and he will come out. Have him pledge loyalty to Tang Sanzang, then arrange his nine skulls in a nine-square pattern, place the gourd in the center, and it will transform into a magic boat to ferry Tang Sanzang across the river." Huian obeyed, took the gourd, and departed with Wukong from the Tide Sound Cave, bidding farewell to the Bamboo Grove. A poem attests to this: The five elements unite, pure and unspoiled, recognizing the old master, with endless wondrous uses. Gold returns to its nature, wood's essence restored, two earths become silent, water and fire harmonized.
Before long, Wukong and Huian Moksha arrived at the bank of the Flowing Sand River on their clouds. Pigsy recognized Moksha and quickly brought Master Tang Sanzang forward to greet him. After Moksha exchanged greetings with Tang Sanzang and met Pigsy, Pigsy said, "Last time, thanks to your guidance, I was able to meet the Bodhisattva. I, this old pig, have also become a monk according to the rules. We've been so busy on this journey that I haven't had the chance to thank you properly. I feel quite embarrassed." Wukong interrupted:
"Let's skip the pleasantries for now and focus on getting that guy out here." Tang Sanzang curiously asked, "Who are we calling?" Wukong explained, "I met with the Bodhisattva and explained everything. She told me that the demon in the Flowing Sand River is actually the Curtain Lifting General who was banished to this river for making a mistake in heaven. He has already been converted by the Bodhisattva and is willing to follow you to the Western Heaven. But since we didn't mention the scripture retrieval, he kept fighting. The Bodhisattva sent Moksha with a gourd to transform it into a magic boat to ferry you across the river." Hearing this, Tang Sanzang quickly bowed to Moksha and said, "Please, Venerable One, act swiftly."
Moksha held the gourd and, half-cloud, half-mist, floated above the Flowing Sand River, calling out, "Wujing! Wujing! The scripture seekers are here, why haven't you submitted yet?" The demon, fearing Wukong, was resting at the river's bottom. Suddenly hearing his Dharma name called, he realized it was someone sent by Guanyin Bodhisattva. Upon hearing "scripture seekers," he was no longer afraid and quickly surfaced, recognizing Moksha. He approached with a smile and greeted, "Venerable One, I apologize for not welcoming you sooner. Where is the Bodhisattva now?" Moksha replied, "My master didn't come; she sent me to inform you to quickly become a disciple of Tang Sanzang. Arrange the skulls around your neck and this gourd in a nine-square pattern to form a magic boat to ferry them across this treacherous water." Wujing asked, "Where are the scripture seekers?" Moksha pointed to the shore and said, "Aren't they right there?"
Seeing Pigsy, Wujing said, "This fellow appeared out of nowhere and fought with me for two days without mentioning anything about scripture seeking." Then, seeing Wukong, he said, "This formidable one is his helper; I didn't dare approach." Moksha said, "That's Pigsy, and this is Sun Wukong. They are both disciples of Tang Sanzang, converted by the Bodhisattva. What are you afraid of? Come, I'll take you to meet Tang Sanzang." Only then did Wujing put away his precious staff, tidy his clothes, leap ashore, and kneel before Tang Sanzang, saying, "Master, I was blind and didn't recognize you. I apologize for any offense." Pigsy interjected, "You fool, why didn't you submit earlier instead of fighting with me? Really!" Wukong laughed and said, "Brother, don't blame him; it was our fault for not explaining the scripture quest." Tang Sanzang asked, "Do you sincerely wish to pledge allegiance to me?" Wujing replied, "I have long been converted by the Bodhisattva, who named me Sha Wujing. How could I not follow you, Master?"
Tang Sanzang, pleased, said, "In that case," and called out, "Wukong, bring the razor to shave his head." Wukong complied, shaving Wujing's head. Wujing then bowed to Tang Sanzang, followed by Wukong and Pigsy, acknowledging the hierarchy. Seeing his respectful demeanor, Tang Sanzang felt he truly looked like a monk and named him Sha Monk. Moksha said, "Since everything is ready, let's quickly make the magic boat." Wujing, not daring to delay, immediately took the skulls from around his neck, tied them in a nine-square pattern with a rope, placed the gourd in the center, and invited the master onto the boat. The elder boarded the magic boat, which was indeed steady as a light vessel. With Pigsy on the left supporting, Wujing on the right assisting, Wukong leading the dragon horse from behind, and Moksha escorting from above, the master safely crossed the Flowing Sand River. The water was as calm as a mirror, and they crossed the treacherous river swiftly. Before long, they reached the opposite shore, free from the turbulent waves, without a trace of mud or water, standing firmly and cleanly on solid ground.
Moksha gathered the clouds, and the gourd was retrieved. The skulls transformed into nine gusts of dark wind and vanished instantly. Tang Sanzang thanked Moksha and paid homage to express gratitude to the Bodhisattva. Moksha returned to the Eastern Sea, while Tang Sanzang and his disciples mounted their horses and continued westward. As for when they will achieve their ultimate goal, that will be revealed in the next chapter.
