Volume 3: A Long Journey, Chapter 308: Present and Past

The words go: Sweep the mind frequently, remove worldly attachments carefully; only when the true nature remains pure can one discuss the origins.
Hearing this cry, Tang Seng tumbled straight off his horse, crying out in pain, “It hurts so much!”
Wuhui quickly helped Tang Seng up, while Wukong soared in the air and shouted, “Where did you come from, ugly monster? You scared my master—no amount of death can atone for that!”
That giant demon was undoubtedly the Green Ox Spirit. Seeing Tang Seng fall off his horse, he laughed heartily, “What a useless monk! You’re fit only to die in a temple—why come out and cause trouble?”
Wukong replied, “My master is the Holy Monk of the Great Tang Dynasty, on a journey to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and obtain scriptures. What nonsense are you talking?”
It wasn’t that Wukong couldn’t outdebate him, but he wanted to test what reasons the Green Ox Spirit had to stop Tang Seng from going west, as well as to gauge the intentions of the Three Pure Ones.
The Green Ox Spirit said, “You monkey, always talking about your master—aren’t you ashamed?”
Wukong laughed, “Surely you learned on your own? If you dare call my master a failure, I’ll turn around and leave!”
The Green Ox Spirit didn’t dare say such things. He was uncertain—could this monkey know his origins? So he said, “If you turn around, I won’t stop you. If you want to pass by, leave that monk here, and the three of you may go.”
Wukong asked, “Why do you want to keep my master?”
The Green Ox Spirit replied, “I’ve heard of a monk on a scripture-seeking journey who has excellent flesh. Eating it can grant immortality—it must be him.”
Wukong was surprised that the Green Ox Spirit had come up with such an excuse. With a scoff, he said, “How bold of a demon! Let’s see what skills you have!” He leaped forward and swung his staff at him.
The Green Ox Spirit raised his steel spear to block it. With 80% of his strength, Wukong’s strike made the Green Ox Spirit’s arms numb despite his incredible strength. He was shocked—this monkey was truly formidable.
Wukong was also surprised—the Green Ox Spirit had strength comparable to that of the Bull Demon King. It seemed that in “Journey to the West,” this demon had only shown off the power of his Vajra Axe without truly fighting Wukong seriously.
The two stood facing each other, energized. Wu Ping and Wuhui had already protected Tang Seng at the foot of the mountain and watched from afar.
After thirty or forty rounds, the Green Ox Spirit gradually couldn’t hold on anymore. He put down his steel spear, stepped back, and shouted, “Monkey, show me your treasure!” Wukong, prepared in advance, chuckled and quickly stored his Golden Cudgel in his ear.
The Green Ox Spirit was stunned, holding his hoop in confusion. His hoop could trap all weapons and treasures, but not living beings. Wukong snapped, “Now, see my fists!” and launched another fierce attack. The Green Ox Spirit quickly dropped his steel spear and fought back with all his might.

The two fought another forty or fifty rounds. The Green Ox Demon said, “Go back and cook food; we’ll fight again tomorrow!” But Wukong wouldn’t let him go. He shouted, “You leave only after I defeat you!”
The Green Ox Demon turned and yelled, “Look at the treasure!” Unfazed, Wukong didn’t expect the demon to suddenly produce a fan from nowhere. With one swat, Wukong was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, drifting thousands of miles away.
Anger surged in Wukong’s heart. That Old Lord Lao had actually given the Banana Fan to the Green Ox Demon too! With these two invincible treasures in the Green Ox Demon’s hands, how could they possibly continue the fight?
Worried about Tang Seng’s safety, he rushed back in a somersault cloud. Seeing that Tang Seng was still protected by Wu Ping and Wu Hui, he finally felt relieved. Wu Hui asked, “Senior brother, what kind of treasure is that?”
Wukong noticed Wu Hui blinking twice, realizing he had recognized the fan. He said, “It seems like just a small fan, but why is it so powerful?”
Wu Hui replied, “When that demon saw you leave, it didn’t come to capture Master. Instead, it took its demons back to its cave.”
Wukong said, “Even though it’s gone, if we try to cross the mountain, it will surely come to stop us again.”
Wu Hui suggested, “Let’s give it a try anyway.”
Wukong flew to the top of the mountain and circled around. He saw dozens of small demons scattered everywhere, watching the path. He thought to himself that the Green Ox Demon was quite careful. So he threw a sleepy bug, causing all the small demons to fall into a deep sleep.
Wukong came down and said, “Let’s leave now. There should be no trouble.”
The four of them headed west along the mountain path. After walking less than a mile, a tall man holding a giant axe blocked their way, shouting, “Where are you going?”
Upon seeing him, Wukong realized this man was Ru Shou. He immediately understood that the two groups must have colluded to make things difficult for him. Wukong asked, “Are you in league with that ugly ox?”
Ru Shou replied, “No!”
“Then why are you blocking the way?”
“This mountain was created by me, these trees were planted by me…” Not knowing what else to say, Ru Shou recited that classic line from robbers.
Wukong snapped, “Tch! Who exactly are you?”
Ru Shou said, “My name remains the same—I am Ru Shou, the Golden God of Qi Tian Ling.”
Seeing that Ru Shou appeared stern but had a teasing look in his eyes, Wukong grew angry. He said, “You two take Master back a few steps. Watch me subdue him!”

Wukong drew out his Tianji Stick and charged forward, using his various stick techniques as he engaged Roushou in a fierce battle. Both were immensely strong, and this fight was even more intense than the one against the Green Ox Demon earlier, leaving Wu Ping terrified. He had always prided himself on his invincible armor, but upon seeing Roushou, who resembled a celestial being, with his double-headed axe that was incredibly sharp and each swing carrying the power to create or destroy worlds, Wu Ping couldn’t help but shrink back in fear at the thought of it hitting his back.

Facing Wukong again, Roushou’s Tianji Stick varied in length; though not as powerful as Roushou’s own weapons, its versatility allowed him to cope even when taking direct hits. Unaware that Wukong grew stronger when faced with adversity and knowing full well that Roushou wouldn’t harm him, Roushou fought with full vigor.

The two fought hundreds of rounds, alarming the Green Ox Demon. Having watched from the cliff for a long time, he sighed to himself, “Sure enough, I’m no match for this monkey. Without my magical treasures, I really can’t stop him.”

Seeing Roushou struggling to defeat Wukong, the Green Ox Demon stepped forward with his steel spear, shouting, “How dare you steal it!” He planned to fight two against one. As soon as he entered the combat zone, Roushou split his double-headed axe into two—one to block Wukong’s Tianji Stick and the other to deflect the Green Ox Demon’s spear—while shouting, “Back off!”

Startled by Roushou’s rebuke, the Green Ox Demon was confused—how could he be scolded for trying to help? But Roushou was extremely proud and would never allow himself to be known as someone who won through numbers.

Wu Ping and Wuhui, who were watching from behind, were overjoyed. The Green Ox Demon turned to retreat and picked up his spear to chase after Tang Seng. Wu Ping, who had never fought to protect Tang Seng before, was forced to step in and engage the Green Ox Demon.

Their fight was quite strange. Wu Ping offered no resistance, allowing the Green Ox Demon to punch and kick him at will. Though the Green Ox Demon seemed to have the upper hand, he suffered greatly. That strange old man seemed to possess some unknown martial art, making his body seven times harder than stone.

As Wukong and Roushou fought, they exchanged smiles and stopped fighting at the same time. Roushou said, “It’s truly hard to defeat you.” Realizing Roushou hadn’t used his full strength, Wukong put away his iron stick and said, “Since you can’t beat me, step aside.” Roushou simply shook his head.

With no other choice, Wukong returned to help Wu Ping drive away the Green Ox Demon.

Wukong said with a wry smile, “There’s a demon ox behind us and Roushou of Qitian Ridge ahead—how can we cross this mountain?”

Tang Seng replied, “Wukong, go ask the Bodhisattva for help.”

Wukong said helplessly, “Master, it was the Bodhisattva who helped us through the trouble by the Tongtian River last time. Are we going to give up the quest without her?”

Tang Seng answered, “Exactly. Without the Bodhisattva, you’d still be trapped under the Five Elements Mountain, and I’d still be my great mage in the Tang Dynasty.”

Hearing Tang Seng speak this way, Wukong really felt like banging his head against the wall. He asked, “Master, how much do you still remember of the ‘Sutra of Excessive Thoughts’?”
Tang Seng replied, “Even if I can’t recite the ‘Sutra of Excessive Thoughts’ well, I originally only had one goal—to obtain the scriptures. But unexpectedly, my worries grew more and more.”
Wukong reached out to touch Tang Seng’s forehead. He wasn’t feverish or talking nonsense—why was this so strange?
Wuhui said, “Elder brother, the master is in such a hurry to obtain the scriptures that his words are in disarray.”
Wukong nodded and said, “Never mind. I’ll go look for the Bodhisattva.”
Along the way to the South Sea, Wukong kept pondering Tang Seng’s strange behavior. Ever since they crossed the Tongtian River, Tang Seng seemed like a different person. Could it be that he remembered being demoted in his past life and was resentful of Buddha’s actions? But if it were really Jinchanzi who had awakened, he would surely turn back immediately—why go on obtaining scriptures or worshipping Buddhas?
As Wukong walked, he kept thinking, and soon he arrived at the South Sea.
Still far from Mount Luojia, he saw a figure in white standing on the shore, holding a fishing rod, with her gaze fixed on him. It wasn’t Guanyin—it was the Dragon Maiden.
Suddenly, Wukong felt dizzy. He seemed to have seen this scene somewhere before. In a moment of distraction, all his magical powers left him, and with a thud, he fell into the sea.
The seawater was icy cold, and it jolted Wukong back to his senses.
Huh? Didn’t he possess the power to control water? How could the seawater get so close to his body?
Wukong’s consciousness was unclear, but his limbs couldn’t move. What was going on? Where was he?
A bright light shone below—was it a Buddhist pagoda?
Wukong fell from above and counted the layers. The pagoda had as many as thirteen layers, adorned with gold, silver, colored glass, abalone shells, agate, pearls… an indescribably dazzling array of colors.
When he landed, he saw the pagoda’s door open and instinctively stepped inside.
Upon entering, Wukong’s first sight was a woman in white. This woman… was the Dragon Maiden again! Weren’t she fishing on Mount Luojia? How did she end up here?
Seeing Wukong, the Dragon Maiden’s eyes sparkled with joy as she said quietly, “You’ve come.”
“You’ve come… You’ve come…” Where did this voice come from? From his past life or this one?
Wukong replied, “I came specifically to pay respects to the Bodhisattva.” Only after saying this did he realize it was the same conversation from his visit to Mount Luojia. How could he have blurted those words out again? The Bodhisattva should be on Mount Luojia—why would he be in a pagoda underwater?
He knew he had answered wrongly, but the Dragon Maiden showed no surprise and simply said quietly, “The Bodhisattva has been waiting for you for a long time.”

The graceful figure of the Dragon Maiden led the way ahead, and Wukong’s chaotic thoughts suddenly settled. His eyes were fixed solely on her white robes. How wonderful it would be to be able to keep walking along this path forever.
He didn’t know how long they had walked. Wukong found the tower to be resplendent with gold and splendor, unsure of where he was. In a daze, he arrived at a grand hall, even more dazzling with treasures. On the throne at the center sat a person.
The Dragon Maiden said, “The Bodhisattva has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Wukong looked up. The person on the throne was smiling at him—it was actually Zhenwu!