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Welcome to the Chinese Lore Podcast, where I retell classic Chinese stories in English. This is episode 61 of Journey to the West. Last time, when Shenzang was waylaid by a gang of robbers, Sun Wukong had a little fun with them and killed two of the robbers, so sending the rest running for their lives and incurring San Zang's wrath for killing innocents. Again, the party pressed on and found lodging at the country residence of an old Mr. Yang and his wife. But it turns out that Mr. Yang's no good son was a member of the gang that encountered the pilgrims earlier that day. He and the other members of that gang showed up at Mr. Yang's house at 4am demanding food. Mr. Yang's son soon discovered that the monk who had killed their band leaders were his parents. Airbnb guests, he told the gang and they all prepared to kill the pilgrims to avenge their leaders as soon as they were done eating. While the bandits prepped for their murderous deed, old Mr. Yang had overheard their plans. He snuck into the backyard where the pilgrims slept and told his guests, my scoundrel's son brought his gang home. They found out that you are here and intend to kill you. I couldn't bear to see you harmed considering how far you have traveled. Hurry, pack up your things. I'll let you out through the back door. Trembling, San zang kowtowed to Mr. Yang to thank him. He then told Zhu Bajie to lead the horse, Sha Zeng to carry the luggage and Sun Wukong to hold his Buddhist staff. Mr. Yang opened the back door, let them slip out and then snap snuck back into bed. Around 5am the bandits had finished eating and sharpening their weapons. They went to the backyard, but lo and behold, there was nobody back there now. They lit some torches and searched around but couldn't find any trace of their enemies. They did, however, see the back door open, so they rushed out and pursued the pilgrims. It took them until the sun was coming up in the east, but eventually they saw San Zang and company up ahead. When Sun Zhang heard shouts behind him, he turned and saw about 30 armed men running toward him. Pupils. The bandits have caught up to us. What should we do? He cried out in a panic. Really? You're in the company of three supernatural protectors. Four if you count your Dragon Horse. And you're panicking because of some random highwayman who didn't know any better. Don't worry, Master. I'll deal with them. So Wukong said Wukong, don't hurt anyone. Just scare them Off, Sun Zhang reminded him, but that just went in one ear and out the other. With Wukong, he took out his rod, turned around, and greeted the bandits. Hey, all, where are you headed? Bald scoundrel, how dare you give us back our leader's lives? The bandits cursed as they surrounded Wukong and attacked with their knives and spears. But Wukong just waved his rod, and the gang of ruffians started falling left and right. Those who were so much as grazed by the rod were injured. Those who got hit squarely died on the spot. Only a few lucky ones managed to escape, while the rest were all shuffled off their mortal coil, watching Wukong kill folks left and right. San Zang was so scared that he rode off toward the west, and Zhu Bajian Sha Zeng hurried after him. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong grabbed one of the few bandits who were merely injured and asked which one was Mr. Yang's son. Moaning, the man told him that it was the guy in yellow. Wukong promptly went over to that corpse in yellow, picked up a knife and cut off his head. Carrying the bloody head in his hand, he put away his rod and caught up to Sanzang. He raised his grisly prize and said, master, this is old Mr. Yang's unfilial son. I have brought you his head. Sun Zhang went pale and fell off the horse. He cursed, this reckless monkey nearly scared me to death. Take it away. Take it away. Ba Jie hurried over, kicked the head over to the side of the road and used his rake to shovel some dirt over it. Sha Zeng, meanwhile, put down his luggage and helped Sanzang to his feet. But San Zang sat on the ground, collected himself, and started muttering the band Tightening Spell. It's been a while since he's had to do that. But this was the spell that made the metal hoop around Sun Wukong's head constricted. Wukong's face turned red, his eyes bulged and his head swooned as he rolled on the ground, pleading for San Zang to stop. But Sanzang would not stop, not even after he had recited the spell a dozen or so times. Wukong was tumbling in pain and standing on his head, crying out, master, forgive me. We can talk, but please stop reciting that spell. Only now did Sanzang stop and say, there is nothing to talk about. I don't want you to follow me anymore. Go home. Oh, we're doing this again? Talk about not learning your lessons. Wukong, still smarting from the headache, kowtowed and said, master, why are you dismissing me? You reckless ape. You're too vicious to be a scripture pilgrim. Yesterday, when you killed those two bandit leaders at the foot of the mountain, I was already chiding you for your lack of compassion. And. And then last night at the old man's house, he was kind enough to feed us and take us in. And then he opened the back door to let us escape. Even though his son is no good, it's none of our business. You should not have cut off his head. And you killed so many others. You have taken so many lives that you have disrupted the harmony of Heaven and earth. I have pleaded with you time and again, and yet you show no hint of goodness. Why would I want you around? Leave now, or I will recite the spell again. Wu Kong was afraid of more headaches, so he left without a fuss. One somersault cloud later, he was gone without a trace. But unlike the previous times that San Zhang sent him packing, Sun Wukong did not go far right away. Instead, he hovered in the sky in a foul mood. He thought about going back to Flower and Fruit Mountain, but. But then, worried that his own minions would laugh at him for coming back yet again. He thought about going up to the Jade Emperor's palace in Heaven, but worried that he would wear out his welcome there. Cause you know, it's happened before. He thought about going to the Magic Islands on the sea, but was embarrassed to meet the immortals living there in such disgrace. He thought about dropping in on the Dragon King of the Sea, but couldn't bring himself to ask for help. After running through and dismissing all the options in his head, he thought to. Alas, let me go back to see Master. That is the proper path. So he descended back to the ground, stood in front of San Zang's horse, and said, master, forgive me this time. I will never dare to kill again. I will listen to your teachings, but no matter what, you must let me escort you to the West. But San Zang didn't even bother answering. Instead, he reined in his horse and started reciting the band tightening spell again. And did it 20 some times. Sun Wukong collapsed to the ground as the hoop around his head dug deep into his scalp. Only now did Sun Zang stop and ask him, why are you here pestering me? Why have you not left yet? Stop. Stop. Wu Kun pleaded. I have places that I can go, But. But I fear that you will not make it to the west without me. Reckless ape. You have taken lives and brought so much trouble for me. I can't keep you. Whether or not I make it to the west is no concern of yours. Scram. Scram. Or I will recite that spell and won't stop until your brains spill out. Seeing that there was no convincing San Zang and still feeling the unbearable pain in his head, Wukong had no choice but to soar into the sky again. But this time a thought came to let me go talk to the Bodhisattva Guanyin. So he took off toward the south, and within a couple hours he landed on Mount Potulaka on the South Sea. He stomped into the purple bamboo forest and saw Guan Yin's disciple Mu Zha, who led him to the entrance of Guan Yin's cave. There he was greeted by the page Sudanna and AKA Red Boy. Red Boy asked what he was doing there, and Wukong told him, I have a complaint for the Bodhisattva. But Red Boy laughed. You slick tongued monkey. You bullied me when I took the Tang monk hostage. But our Bodhisattva is compassionate and merciful and rescues all in need. What has she done wrong that you will have a complaint about her? But Wukong was in no mood for jokes. He hissed, you ungrateful little wretch, you. You were a demon once upon a time. I asked the Bodhisattva to go take you in and set you straight. And now you are enjoying a happy, eternal life, living carefree and being immortal. Instead of thanking me, you dare to slight me? I have a matter that requires the Bodhisattva's help. Why are you saying that? I want to file a complaint against her. Red Boy put on a smile and said, what an impatient monkey. I was just kidding with you. Don't get so mad. Just then, another of Guan Ying's attendants, the White Parrot, circled overhead. This was a sign that Guanyin had summoned her visitor. Mu Zha and Red Boy escorted Wukong to Guanyin's lotus flower dais. Wukong kowtowed and then burst out crying. Guanyin and Mu Jia helped Wukong to his feet and told him, tell me what's making you sad. Don't cry. I will relieve you of your troubles. Wukong bowed again and said while weeping, back in the day, I didn't have to put up with crap from anyone. After you saved me, you guided me into the Buddhist school and tasked me with protecting the Tang monk on his scripture pilgrimage. I have risked life and limb to save him from evil. It's been like wrestling a bone from a tiger's jaws or peeling a scale From a dragon's back. My only hope has been to attain the true fruit of enlightenment and cleanse the karma of my past deeds and purge evil and delusion. But that monk repays me with ingratitude. He's blinded by compassion and doesn't know right from wrong. He then recounted the whole episode with the bandits and how San Zang had dismissed him yet again. After hearing his story, Guan Yun said, San Zang is heading west on an imperial edict. He is dedicated to doing good deeds and acting as a monk. He would never harm a life lightly. You may have boundless powers, but why did you have to kill so many bandits? They may be wicked, but they are still human and should not be killed. They are not the same as wild beasts or demons. If you killed those, that is to your credit. But if you kill human beings, that is a stain on you. If you just chase them away, that would save your master. In my impartial judgment, you are in the wrong here. Holding back his tears, Wukong kowtowed and said, even if I was in the wrong, my prior contributions should make up for it. He should not have chased me away like this. Bodhisattva, please exercise your compassion. Read the Ban Loosening spell to take back this golden hoop from my head and allow me to go back to my Water Curtain Cave and and pass my days. Guan Yin laughed. The band tightening spell was passed to me by the Buddha. It was one of the things that he gave me when he sent me to the east to find a scripture pilgrim. But he did not give me any Band Loosening spell. Well, in that case, I'm going to see the Buddha and ask him for that spell. Wukong said, hold on, let me check the omens. I will. No need to check for me. No, I'm not checking your omens. I'm checking the Tang Monk's. So Guan Yin sat down her dais and cast her eyes into the universe. Momentarily, she said, wukong, your master is nearing a calamity. He will soon come looking for you. Just stay here and I will talk to him about letting you rejoin the pilgrimage. Wukong did not dare to disobey her, so. So he just hung out next to her dais. Meanwhile, on the road west, after Sun Zhang chased off Sun Wukong again, he told his two remaining disciples to pick up the luggage and lead the horse as they continued their journey after about 15 miles. Pupils, we left the farm at 5am and then that stable monkey made me really angry. I am hungry and thirsty. Which of you Will go beg for some food. Master, please dismount. Let me see if there are any villages nearby to find food. Ba Jie said. While San Zang got off his horse, Ba Jie took to the air and looked around. But it was barren mountains everywhere with no trace of any households. When he reported this, sand said, since there is no place to find food, can you get some water to quench my thirst? So Ba Jie got the alms bow and flew off toward the south to get some water from a mountain ravine. Sanzang waited and waited and waited. A long time passed and Zhu Bajie still had not returned, and San Zang's throat was now parched. Seeing this, Sha Zeng said, master, stay here. Let me go get water for you. Uh, guys, have we learned nothing about leaving the monk by his lonesome on a desolate mountain? Apparently not. Sanzang nodded silently with tears in his eyes. So Sha Zeng hurriedly took to the clouds and flew toward the south, leaving San Zang by himself on the side of the road. Exhausted, hungry and thirsty, San Zang sat alone in misery. Suddenly he heard a loud crash. He startled to his feet and looked in the direction of the noise. He was surprised to see none other than Sun Wukong kneeling by the roadside, holding a porcelain cup with both hands. Master, without me you don't even have enough water. Wukong said, here's a cup of nice cold water. Please quench your thirst and then I will go find food. I don't want your water. So scoffed, I would rather die of thirst on this spot than accept anything from you. Go away. Without me, you can't make it to the west. Wukong said, that's none of your business, reckless ape. Stop pestering me. In that moment, Sun Wukong's expression darkened and he cursed San Zang angrily. You stone hearted baldy. Don't talk down to me. As he cursed, Wu Wukong hurled aside the cup, pulled out his rod and smacked San Zang on his back. As San Zang lay unconscious on the ground, Wukong grabbed the luggage and flew off. Meanwhile, on the south side of the mountain, Zhu Bajie was looking around for water when he noticed a thatched hut which had previously been blocked from view by the peaks. They would definitely be afraid of my ugly face and would not give me any food. Ba Jie thought to himself, I need to turn into something better. So he spun around seven or eight times and turned into a sickly, bloated monk. Moaning, he approached the door and called out, benefactor, if you have leftover food in your kitchen. There's a starving man on the road. I am from the east, heading west to fetch scriptures. My master is starving and thirsty. If you have any cold rice or pot bottom scrapings, please give me some to save him. So turns out all the men in that household had gone out for planting and only two women remained. They had just cooked rice for lunch and had filled two platters that they were going to take to the fields for the men. They still had some rice and burnt bits left in the wok. They saw how pitiful this beggar looked. They weren't sure about his story, but they were also afraid that he would stumble in his weakened state and die on their doorstep. So they scraped together a bowl of leftover rice and gave it to him. He then turned back into his old self and headed back to the group. Along the way, Ba Jie heard someone call his name. He looked up and saw that it was Sha Zeng standing on a cliff. Once the two of them regrouped, Sha Zeng asked, why didn't you get the clear water from this stream? Where were you? Oh, when I got here, I saw a house, so I went and begged this bowl of rice. Well, rice is good, but Master is very thirsty. How will we bring water back now? Sha Zeng asked. Oh, that's easy. You hold the rice in your shirt lapel and I will use the bowl to carry water. So the two of them happily returned with both food and water. But they were stunned to find San Zang face down in the dirt. While the horse was running free on the roadside and the luggage had vanished, Ba Jie stamped his feet and beat his chest, crying out, there's no doubt about it. The remnants of those bandits must have come back, killed Master, and made off with the luggage. Oh, what to do, what to do? Shasong cried. Our journey has come to an abrupt end. Oh, Master. Brother, don't cry. Ba Jie consoled him with things as they are. Let's not talk about fetching scriptures just yet. You stay here and guard Master's body. I will ride a horse to the next town or village and sell it for a few taels of silver so we can buy a coffin and bury him, and then you and I can go our separate ways. Hmm. Let's ask your sentient dragon horse what he thinks about being sold for coffin money. In any case, Shazeng, gripped with sadness, flipped San Zang over and pressed his own face to his master's and cried out, oh, my hard luck, Master. But just then, he detected a faint warm breath from Sanzang's mouth and felt the warmth in his chest. Hey, Bajie, get over here. Sha Tsung shouted, master is not dead. Zhu Bajie came over and helped to prop San Zang up. Slowly, San Zang came back around. After he gathered himself, he cursed that crazy monkey. He almost killed me. Which crazy monkey? His disciples asked, Umm, which do you think, guys? Sanzang had to drink a few sips of water before he could continue. He told them, as soon as you guys left, that Sun Wukong came to pester me again. I refused to take him back, so he hit me with his rod and took the luggage. How dare that damn monkey be so rude. Ba Jie fumed, Shazeng, you take care of master. I am going to that monkey's home to get our luggage back. Wait, calm down. Sha Zeng said, First let's help Master to that mountain hut and ask for some hot tea and water. We will warm up the rice that we had begged and tend to him, and then you can go find that monkey. So they helped San Zang onto his horse and made their way back to the thatched hut. The old woman of the family was the only one at home. When she saw them, she hurriedly tried to hide, but Sha Zeng pressed his palms together and said, oh, Madam, we have been sent by the Tang Kingdom in the east to go west. My master is knocked feeling well, so we have come to ask you for a sip of hot tea or water to help him eat some rice. The old woman said, just now there was a sickly monk here saying that he was from the East. He had already gotten a handout and left. And now there's another group of you from the east. There's no one else at home. Please go somewhere else. San Zang, with Ba Jie's help, dismounted back, bowed, and said, madam, I had three disciples who were protecting me on my journey to the Great Thunderclap Temple for scriptures. My senior disciple named Sun Wukong was prone to murder and refused to act compassionately, so I dismissed him. But then he returned, hit me on the back with his rod, and made off with my luggage. One of my other disciples is going to find him and get our stuff back. But the side of the road is not a good waiting place, so we came here to seek a little respite. As soon as we get our luggage back, we will leave. We do not dare to impose on you for long. But a sickly, bloated monk came by just now to beg for Food and said that he was going west from the east. The old woman said, how many of you are there? Ba Jie laughed and fessed up. Oh, that was me, but because I have a long snout and big ears, I was afraid that you would be scared and would not give me any food, so I changed shape. If you don't believe me, look at my brother's shirt lapel. Isn't that the burnt rice bits that you gave me? Recognizing somehow the scrapings from her own wok, the old woman agreed to let them stay. Once they sat down, she heated up a cup of tea for Shazeng to soak the rice in. After eating a few mouthfuls of lukewarm wet rice, San Zang asked which disciple would go hunt down their luggage. Ba Jie said, that year when you dismissed that monkey, I went to look for him, so I know the way to his mountain and cave. I will go. You can't go. San Zhang said, that monkey has never gotten along well with you and you are clumsy with words. If you misspeak, he would beat you. Let Sha Zeng go. Sha Zeng agreed, and San Zang told him, when you get there, see how things go. If he is willing to give you the luggage, then just pretend to thank him and bring it back. But if he is unwilling, don't quarrel with him. Just go to the South Sea to find the bodhisattva, tell her what happened, and ask her to go demand the luggage. Shazeng took San Zhang's advice to heart and and then told Ba Jie, I'm going to find that monkey. You must not leave. Stay here and take good care of Master. And don't act up in front of this family either, or they might not feed you. I'll be back soon. Yeah, yeah, I've got it. Ba Jie said as he nodded. But no matter if you succeed or not, you have to come back. Don't just slip away. Sha Zeng now took to the air and flew toward the east. Now his means of aeronautical travel was much slower than Sun Wukong's, so it took him three whole nights to reach the East Sea. He rushed to Flower and Fruit Mountain, made his way to the Water Curtain Cave, and there he heard a lot of ruckus. He saw countless monkeys. He snuck closer and saw Sun Wukong sitting high and mighty atop a stone platform. He held in his hands a piece of paper and was reading its contents aloud. Shazeng recognized this as the pilgrim's passport. He couldn't take it anymore, so he went Forward and shouted, brother, why are you reading Master's travel document? Wukong looked up, did not seem to recognize that it was Sha Zeng, and ordered his monkey minions to bring forth this intruder. The little monkeys swarmed around Shazeng and pushed him to the front. Who are you? How dare you encroach on my cave? Wukong barked. Seeing Wukong act like he was a stranger, Sha Sha Zeng bowed and said, brother, Master really was too rash and wrong to blame you, curse you with the ban tightening spell and dismiss you. I haven't had a chance to try to make peace between you, and I was too busy trying to find water and food for Master. But I never expected that you would come back, get angry at Master for refusing to take you back, hit him, leave him unconscious, and then make off with the luggage after bringing Master around. I came here to see you. If you don't despise Master and still remember his kindness in releasing you from your imprisonment, then give me back the luggage and come back with me to see him. We will go to the west together and complete our mission. If you really hate him and refuse to go back, then please at least give me back the luggage and you can stay here and make merry, and that would be good for everyone as well. Wukong, however, chuckled coldly. Good Brother, I can't agree to that. I did not hit the Tang monk and steal his luggage because I wasn't going west or because I want to stay here. I have memorized his travel documents, and now I'm going to go see the Buddha myself to ask for scriptures, and then I will deliver them to the east, and the credit will be mine alone. Then the people of the east will worship me and sing my praises for all eternity. Brother, what kind of idea is that? Sha Zeng chuckled. You can't go get Scripture alone. The Buddha sent the Bodhisattva Guanyin to the east to find the Scripture pilgrim, and we were tasked with doing our utmost to protect that pilgrim. Guanyin once said that the pilgrim was the Buddha's disciple, Golden Sakata. Because he disobeyed the Buddha, he was cast off into the mortal realm so that he can earn his way back to the west. Because there are evils along the way. He would save the three of us so we could protect him. If you show up without Master, how would the Buddha be willing to give you scripture? That would be a waste of effort. Good Brother, you haven't seen the whole picture yet. Wukong said you have a Tang monk to protect, but do you think that I don't? I have another sage monk here that I can protect by myself. I'm leaving tomorrow. You don't believe me? Have a look. Hey, little ones. Bring Master out here. At that command, a few monkey minions ran into the cave and came back out with a white horse and three figures. These were none other than San Zang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Zeng. Um, that was unexpected. To see what shenanigans Sun Wukong is up to, tune in to the next episode of the Chinese Lore Podcast. Thanks for listening.