Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Chapter 19 The Little White Dragon Takes Rest

Wukong said, "Whether this matter is my constraint or my restriction, how could a fake Jiedi you sent to secretly protect steal my master's horse? Now he can't travel by road and can't cross water!"

The Bodhisattva said, "You monkey, don't be in such a hurry. Come with me down to take a look."

So he descended from the clouds and came before Tang Sanzang and the gods.

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang quickly kowtowed to the Bodhisattva and said, "Bodhisattva, I have failed to respect you, please forgive me! I have truly encountered a calamity, a calamity indeed!"

The Bodhisattva said gently, "Do not be alarmed. Get up and tell me slowly."

Wukong, being impatient and annoyed by Tang Sanzang's rambling, spoke first: "Bodhisattva, that fellow transformed into a silver-headed figure to deceive me and my master, saying that there was a demonic dragon in the ravine, and also plotted to transform into a horse to lure the enemy."

"While I, Old Sun, was fighting with that little dragon, he pretended to retreat, but instead created a strange gust of wind and kidnapped my master's imperial horse!"

"If you ask me, this Golden-Headed Jiedi is useless. He can't even tell the real from the fake among his own colleagues. Bodhisattva should go back and tell Buddha to send some capable people instead of just sending some useless cowards!"

Upon hearing this, the Golden-Headed Guardian looked ashamed and immediately prostrated himself to beg for forgiveness, then recounted the whole story in detail.

All the officers, officials, and monks also bowed down.

After hearing this, the Bodhisattva closed his wise eyes slightly and said, "You may rise first. This matter is not entirely the fault of you gods. It is truly that the false Jiedi is adept at manipulating people's hearts and is also unpredictable, possessing considerable supernatural powers. The real Silver-Headed Jiedi was actually harmed by him, and his true spirit is currently in the Western Eight Treasures Merit Pool. However, he has transformed into the appearance of the Silver-Headed Jiedi to deceive you."

Upon hearing this, Wukong scratched his ear and exclaimed, "What a wicked demon! He even dares to harm a true god! He fooled me, and now he's even a Bodhisattva or Buddha? Can't he figure out his background?"

The Bodhisattva shook his head and said, "The secrets of heaven are chaotic, and calamities arise spontaneously. That fellow's origins are mysterious, and his cause and effect are chaotic; I cannot fathom him. Even the World Honored One would find it difficult to fully comprehend his origins."

Wukong was shocked and said, "Even the Buddha Tathagata is not considered him?! But I, Old Sun, think his magical power is not very profound, and his martial arts are also quite ordinary."

The Bodhisattva said, "That's alright. Perhaps he possesses some supernatural powers or treasures that have obscured his own karma. The journey to the West is fraught with difficulties and tribulations, and this matter is precisely a calamity. Although that false Jiedi disrupted the situation and allowed you to escape a calamity, he did not expect that he himself would also become a calamity. Every drink and every bite is determined by fate."

Upon hearing of the murder of Zhenjiedi, Tang Sanzang was filled with grief and fear. He clasped his hands and wept, saying, "Bodhisattva, have mercy! That wicked man not only harmed the Venerable Deity but also abducted my imperial horse. That horse was a gift from the Tang Emperor, and it served me well, traversing mountains and rivers. Now that it is lost, my heart is breaking. Moreover, the journey ahead is long, and I have no means of transportation. What should I do?"

The Bodhisattva glanced at Tang Sanzang again and said, "Xuanzang, don't worry, I'll take care of your journey."

Wukong rolled his eyes and asked, "Could it be that demonic dragon?"

The Bodhisattva said, "Indeed, that dragon was summoned by me personally to the Jade Emperor, specifically to serve as a mount for those seeking scriptures. How could ordinary horses from the East traverse these myriad rivers and mountains? How could they reach the sacred Buddhist land? Only with this dragon horse can they go."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was both delighted and sorrowful. He was delighted by the divine steed bestowed upon him, but sorrowful because of his deep affection for his old horse. He couldn't help but say, "I am deeply grateful for the Bodhisattva's kindness in bestowing this dragon horse upon me. However, my original imperial horse accompanied me out of Chang'an, braving dangers and enduring much hardship. Now it has fallen into the hands of wicked people, and its fate is unknown..."

The Bodhisattva said, "Every drink and every bite is governed by karmic conditions. The ordinary horse has fulfilled its mission and will go its own way. As for the false Jiedi, I do not know his intention in taking the horse. But since he did not harm you, you need not worry about him. Just be careful in the future."

Tang Sanzang kowtowed twice: "Disciple will respectfully obey the Dharma instructions."

Wukong laughed and said, "Master, you're so lucky! This is a great deal! Not only did you get a dragon horse, but that fake Jiedi even turned into a horse and carried you for a while!"

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

The Bodhisattva said to the Golden-Headed Jiedi, "Go to the stream and call out, 'Ao Run Dragon King, Jade Dragon Third Prince, come out! There is a Bodhisattva of the South Sea here.' Summon the dragon, and I will enlighten him."

Upon hearing this, the Golden-Headed Jiedi went to the stream and called out twice.

The little dragon leaped out of the water, transforming into a human figure. It then stepped onto a cloud and bowed to the Bodhisattva in the air, saying, "I am deeply grateful for the Bodhisattva's grace in saving my life. I have been waiting here for so long, but I have not heard any news from the pilgrims."

The Bodhisattva pointed at Wukong and said, "Isn't this the eldest disciple of the pilgrim on his journey to the West?"

Upon seeing this, Xiaolong said, "Bodhisattva, this is my enemy. Yesterday, I was hungry and happened to encounter them crossing the stream. I tried to steal their horse, but unexpectedly, the horse transformed into a silver-armored divine general and fought with me. The divine general was no match for me, so this monkey caught up with me. Relying on his strength, he fought me until I was exhausted and had to retreat. The pearl around my neck was knocked off, and he didn't even mention the words 'Journey to the West'."

Wukong said, "You didn't even ask me my name, so how can I tell you?"

Xiao Long said, "I didn't even open my mouth, and you raised your stick to strike me. One blow knocked out my precious pearl, and the second blow was meant to end my life. How can I ask you anything?!"

The Bodhisattva said, "That monkey relies solely on his own strength and never inquires about the truth or the reasons behind it! This time, there are those who will submit. If you ask, just mention the journey to the West first, and you won't have to worry about it; they will naturally submit."

Wukong was delighted to learn from him.

Little Dragon said, "Please let the Bodhisattva know, I have lost my Dragon Pearl and don't know where it is. Could the Bodhisattva help me find it?"

The Bodhisattva calculated with his fingers and said, "Your dragon pearl was taken by that fake Jiedi."

Xiao Long asked, "A fake Jiedi? What's that all about?"

It turned out that he had been injured by Wukong and was recuperating in the ravine, unaware of the matter of the fake Jiedi.

Wukong then told him what had happened, and the little dragon became enraged, cursing, "That scoundrel is truly hateful, he deserves to die! He deserves to die!"

How could Guanyin Bodhisattva have predicted the whereabouts of the Dragon Pearl? It turns out that when the Bodhisattva was deducing the Dragon Pearl's whereabouts, she was just about to see it roll away. The Silver-Headed Immortal picked up the Dragon Pearl, put it in his pocket, and then the secrets of heaven were obscured.

The Bodhisattva then knew that the Dragon Pearl must have been taken away by the fake Jiedi.

The Bodhisattva then said, "The thief is nowhere to be found, and you probably won't be able to get your dragon pearl back. But I will teach you to transform into a dragon horse and carry the pilgrim to the West. If you diligently repay your karmic debts, after you succeed, you will transcend the mortal dragon and attain the golden body and true enlightenment. At that time, the dragon pearl will be reborn, which is a given."

Upon hearing this, Xiaolong thanked the Bodhisattva again.

The Bodhisattva then stepped forward, holding a jade bottle, dipped a willow branch in nectar, brushed it over him, blew a breath of immortal air, and shouted, "Transform!"

The white dragon then transformed into a white horse, exactly the same as the ordinary horse that Tang Sanzang had previously ridden.

Then the Bodhisattva said, "Now that this matter is settled, you may continue your journey westward. I will return to the sea first."

Suddenly, Wukong grabbed the Bodhisattva and wouldn't let go, saying, "I'm not going! I'm not going! The road to the West is so treacherous. How long will it take to protect this mortal monk? With so many trials and tribulations, even my life is in danger. How can I achieve any merit then? I'm not going! I'm not going!"

The Bodhisattva said, "When you were not yet a human being, you were still willing to cultivate and understand with all your heart; now that you have escaped the heavenly calamity, why have you become lazy? In my school, one attains true enlightenment through Nirvana, and one must have faith in the right fruit."

If you reach a place of great suffering and torment, I promise you that your cries for help will be answered by heaven and earth. Even if you find yourself in dire straits, I will personally come to your rescue. Come here, and I will bestow upon you another skill.”

The Bodhisattva plucked three willow leaves, placed them behind the traveler's head, and shouted, "Change!"

It then transformed into three life-saving hairs and said to him, "When you are in a helpless and desperate situation, these hairs can be used to save you from your urgent suffering."

The traveler was overjoyed and thanked the Bodhisattva.

Then the Bodhisattva, surrounded by fragrant breezes and colorful mist, headed straight for Putuo Mountain.