I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

"Master, please bear with it!"

Wukong got anxious, put away the fire, and the hairs on his forehead stood up.

Pigsy, watching from the side, clicked his tongue and said, "Brother Monkey, this glue is probably a natural nemesis."

"I think we should just pry off this old turtle's shell and throw it into the river, then Master can get away!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Wujing nodded slightly: "Second Brother is right. Although the tortoise shell is precious, it cannot harm Master."

Upon hearing this, the old turtle poked its head out of the water, tears glistening in its eyes: "Your Majesties, my turtle shell is a natural thing. To pry it off would mean the end of my life! I have no intention of harming anyone. I only beg the Holy Monk for mercy to save me."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He shook his head and said, "No, no! The old turtle benefactor has shown us great kindness. How can we harm him for this? Wukong, don't mention this again."

"Let's...let's talk about it on the other side."

Seeing his master's compassion, Sun Wukong couldn't bear to force him, but he also had a plan: "Master, since that's the case, I have another way."

Saw off your master's legs, and once you reach the other side, ask Laozi for an elixir, and he will be restored to his original state.

Though my leg is broken, the road is still open; the journey to the Western Paradise is within reach!

Upon hearing this, Pigsy glared at him: "Brother Monkey, you monkey! Master has a golden body, how can you cut off his leg? What if Laozi doesn't give him the elixir, wouldn't Master become a lame monk?"

Sha Wujing frowned as well: "Eldest brother, this method is too dangerous."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang's face turned ashen. The glue had already stuck to his shoulders, making it hard for him to breathe, but he still shook his head: "Wukong, stop the bloodshed! Your master would rather do this than harm or kill anyone."

"First, get to the other side and ask the gods for help."

Seeing this, the old turtle sighed and carried everyone on its way.

The river rushed on, and a day and a night passed. The master and his disciples endured wind and rain, and the glue became stronger and stronger. Tang Sanzang was already weak from the pain.

Finally, the turtle's shell touched the mud and sand on the west bank, and the old turtle gasped, "Holy monk, we have arrived... This humble monk is incompetent, causing you all to suffer."

After getting ashore, Tang Sanzang collapsed to the ground and said with difficulty, "Wukong... your master can't hold on any longer."

Go ahead and ask for the elixir of immortality. As for the matter of amputating the leg... I have agreed.

"I only wish to go and return quickly."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Master, rest assured! Your disciple will certainly live up to your expectations."

He turned to Pigsy and Sandy and instructed them: "Second Brother, Third Brother, you two guard Master and don't let the evil wind blow on him."

Pigsy, you lazybones, eat less and work more; Sandy, you are steady and protect Master.

My disciple has departed!

As soon as he finished speaking, Wukong somersaulted and headed straight for the South Sea.

On Mount Putuo Luojia, lotus flowers bloom, filling the air with fragrance.

Guanyin Bodhisattva sits serenely in the purple bamboo grove, her hand resting on a vase, her face kind and benevolent.

Wukong landed and kowtowed, saying, "Bodhisattva, have mercy! Your disciple Sun Wukong was protecting your master on his journey to the west when Jiang Wang stuck your master with glue, making him impervious to swords and fire, and even water and saws could not separate him."

I beseech the Bodhisattva to have great compassion and grant me a solution!

Upon hearing this, Guanyin frowned slightly, rose, and followed Wukong to the west bank of the Tongtian River.

Seeing that Tang Sanzang was stuck and unable to move, she reached out and the glue shone brightly green, even wrapping the Bodhisattva's willow branch with strands.

The Bodhisattva sighed softly, “Wukong, this glue is an ancient wonder, specifically designed to destroy golden bodies, and is beyond the power of this humble monk to break.”

Tang Sanzang is compassionate, and this humble monk is willing to lend a helping hand, but there is nothing I can do.

You should ask others for help.

After saying this, she sprinkled sweet dew to moisten Tang Sanzang's wounds, then transformed into a golden light and departed.

Seeing that the Bodhisattva's efforts were in vain, Tang Sanzang's despair deepened, yet he still said, "Wukong, don't lose heart."

Go and invite Patriarch Bodhi again; he is your teacher, and he surely has wonderful methods.”

Upon hearing this, Wukong gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, sir!"

He somersaulted again and headed straight for the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.

The cave dwelling was hidden in the clouds and mist, and the Bodhi Patriarch, with his white hair and beard, sat cross-legged on a futon.

Wukong knelt down and recounted the events of the past. The old patriarch stroked his beard in deep thought and followed him on a cloud to the shore.

Bodhi Patriarch examined the glue closely and murmured, "This substance originates from chaos, and its stickiness is like the cycle of heaven. Although I have some understanding of yin and yang, I cannot decipher it."

Wukong, the time is not yet ripe; forcing it will be of no use.

"Tang Sanzang, be patient and let things resolve themselves as they arise."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang shed tears like pearls: "Grandmaster, you have great compassion... Your disciple is unworthy."

The old patriarch shook his head and sighed, then turned and left, leaving only a wisp of breeze to slightly ease Tang Sanzang's pain.

Seeing that the two immortals were helpless, Sun Wukong was burning with anxiety: "Master, I will go to the Tushita Palace again and ask Laozi for an elixir! He has refined countless elixirs, surely he has a cure for my wounds!"

Tang Sanzang nodded weakly: "Go...go quickly."

Wukong rode a cloud and soared straight up to the Heaven of Separation from Hatred.

The Tushita Palace was originally a blessed land for immortals, with roaring furnaces and the fragrance of elixirs filling the air.

But today, all that remains are ruins of the palace, billowing smoke and dust, and cold, desolate ashes in the furnace.

Wukong's heart sank. He grabbed a celestial boy and asked, "Why is the Tushita Palace in such a state? Where is Laozi?"

The celestial child trembled with fear: "Great Sage, spare my life! Lord Laozi went down to the mortal realm last month, saying he was in seclusion to refine a great elixir, which would take three to five years to complete."

The palace was deserted; the immortals had all departed.

Upon hearing this, Wukong's monkey eyes widened: "Down to the mortal realm? Where did you go?"

The fairy boy shook his head: "I don't know, I've only heard it's in the Shouyang Mountain area."

Wukong grew impatient, turned and left, heading straight for Shouyang Mountain.

Mount Shouyang stands majestically, shrouded in mist and clouds, the place where ancient human sages lived in seclusion.

Wukong landed and followed the spiritual energy, only to find two figures blocking his way.

The two men, clad in animal skins and wielding bone spears, had resolute faces. One of them shouted, "What kind of demon monkey are you! Shouyang Mountain is a sacred place; no idlers are allowed to enter!"

Another person sneered: "Look at his monkey-like face, he must be the Monkey King, here to disturb the Holy Emperor's peaceful cultivation!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong flew into a rage: "I, Old Sun, am looking for Laozi, why should you all interfere? Get out of my way!"

The two men wouldn't give way. The one on the left cast a spell to freeze Wukong, chanting incantations. Wukong suddenly felt as if his body was made of lead and stone, unable to move an inch.

The man on the right grinned and threw out a bone spear. The spear was wrapped in resentful death energy, and black light flickered as it pierced straight into Wukong's heart.

"You demon monkey, prepare to die!"

In the critical moment, the sky darkened, and a black lightning bolt fell like a dragon, with a deafening boom.

With a thud, the bone spear shattered into dust and vanished into thin air.

The mountain wind howled, and a majestic figure appeared: with crimson hair and beard, eyes like raging fire, wearing a grass robe, and holding the Shennong Cauldron, he was none other than the Holy Emperor Shennong of the human race! His gaze was like torches as he swept over the two: "Stop! This monkey is a holy disciple on his pilgrimage to the West, and you are not to be harmed."

Upon hearing this, the two guards knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, please forgive us! This monkey has trespassed on the sacred mountain; it was our duty."

Shennong nodded and waved his hand to release Wukong from his immobilization.

Wukong rubbed his arm, jumped up and said, "Thank you, Holy Emperor! I, Sun Wukong, beg Laozi for an elixir to save my master's life."

Shennong stroked his beard, his voice like thunder: "Wukong, Laozi has been in seclusion for three to five years, refining the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, hidden deep in the mountain, where no one can disturb him."

"Your request for elixir is hopeless; this glue is troublesome, even this humble Taoist priest cannot solve it."

Upon hearing this, Wukong's monkey face fell: "Since the Holy Emperor knows about glue, does he perhaps have a method?"

Shennong shook his head, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "The glue was made by Jiang Wang, specifically to obstruct the holy monk."

"I do not interfere with the will of Heaven, but I can offer you a ride."

After saying that, he waved his hand, and Wukong felt dizzy and his vision went black as he fell back to the west bank of the Tongtian River.

"Ouch!" Sun Wukong woke up, rubbed his eyes and sat up, only to find himself incredibly sticky. Looking down, he was horrified to see that he too had been stuck to the old turtle's shell with the green glue! The glue spread like a living thing, extending from Tang Sanzang's side to his monkey body, binding his limbs and making him unable to move.

The three of them, master and disciples, were all firmly glued to the old turtle's shell. Pigsy and Sandy, who were guarding it, were first taken aback when they saw this, then Pigsy "pfft"

He burst out laughing: "Hahaha! Monkey King, you've fallen for this too? You were all swaggering around before, saying you'd pry open his shell and saw off his legs, but now you've become a coward yourself! Look at you, stuck to the bone like a piece of chewing gum, you can't shake him off!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong flew into a rage, his monkey eyes blazing with fury: "You idiot! What are you laughing at? I, Old Sun, am seeking elixirs for my master, while you, this lazy pig, only know how to eat, drink, and defecate, failing to protect our master!"

Upon hearing this, Pigsy, unconvinced, stuck out his big belly and said, "Brother Monkey, don't blame me! Master stuck to you, so you flew to heaven to beg the gods, but you ended up sticking to him too."

"Bajie, I think this glue is perfect for dealing with you, you little wild monkey! Haha, come here, junior brother, hand me a blade of grass, I'll poke him and see if he'll still jump around!"

Seeing this, Sha Wujing quickly pulled Zhu Bajie back: "Second brother, stop making fun of me."

Senior brother, you've worked so hard; please don't cause any trouble.

But Wukong couldn't bear it. In a fit of rage, he took a deep breath and tried to separate his soul from his body.

The monkey's soul is innate and can leave its body in an instant.

But today was different. The glue stuck to his primordial spirit like a spider web. As soon as his soul left, it was pulled back by the green silk, causing Wukong to grimace in pain: "Damn it! Even my primordial spirit is stuck! This glue is too evil!"

Enraged, Wukong opened his mouth, blew out three monkey hairs, and chanted, "Transform!"

The monkey hair fell to the ground and transformed into three hundred little monkeys, each holding a small stick, yelling and rushing straight at Pigsy.

"Beat this idiot! Teach him a lesson!"

The little monkeys surged forward like a tide, scratching their heads, ears, biting their legs, and pulling their tails.

Pigsy cried out in pain, brandishing his rake wildly: "Brother Monkey! You're cheating! I, Pigsy, am not playing anymore! Brother Sandy, help me!"

Helpless, Sha Wujing could only roll up his staff to protect Zhu Bajie, and said, "Eldest brother, calm down. Second brother, don't laugh."

Why should we, fellow disciples, kill each other?

Seeing this, Tang Sanzang forced a smile, his voice weak from the pressure of the glue: "Wukong...stop fooling around."

Pigsy, you should say less.

"As your teacher... I know your loyalty, and I only hope this knot will untie soon so we can continue our journey westward."

From beneath the old turtle's shell came a sigh: "Holy monk, this humble monk has been innocently dragged into this mess. This entanglement is troublesome; it seems fate is playing tricks on us."

Please be patient, everyone; the arising will eventually cease.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong subdued the little monkey, his face turning ashen as he glared at the green glue, gritting his teeth: "Master, don't worry! I, Old Sun, don't believe in evil! No matter how sticky this glue is, it can't stick to my fiery eyes! I'll think of another way..."

Before he could finish speaking, the glue shifted a little more, sticking so tightly that the three of them trembled.

A river breeze blows, and the willow branches on the west bank sway. The predicament of the master and his apprentice is like this Tongtian River, unfathomable, full of twists and turns, and the road ahead is uncertain.

Pigsy rubbed his scratched ears and muttered, "Brother Monkey, you're really in trouble this time."

I, Old Pig, was saying I'd pry open the shell, but now the three of us are meat on the shell.

"Brother Sha, what do you suggest we do? We can't just stick to each other like this on our journey to the Western Paradise, can we?"

Sha Wujing shook his head, his gaze firm: "Second Brother, don't rush."

The eldest brother is incredibly powerful; there's bound to be a turning point.

Let's protect our master first and wait for the right opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong suppressed his anger, his eyes flashing with golden light as he carefully examined the patterns on the glue.

The runes moved like dragons and snakes, faintly revealing the lingering aura of Jiang Wang's alchemical fire.

He knew that seeking the elixir was hopeless, that even the immortals had no solution, and that the problem was as difficult as a mountain.

But the monkey, by nature unwilling to admit defeat, secretly resolved: "Old Jiang, you wait! I, Old Sun, always have a way. Even if you stick to the sky and the earth, you can't stop the journey to the West!"

On the tortoise shell, green glue shimmered, the breaths of master and apprentice mingled, the night deepened, the problem lingered, and the turmoil was far from over.

The glue not only stuck to his body, but seemed to have a spirit of its own. In the middle of the night, it even heated up slightly, making Tang Sanzang moan softly.

Seeing this, Wukong felt as if his heart was being torn apart, wishing he could tear the green demon apart immediately.

But with his primordial spirit bound, the golden headband was difficult to move, so he could only whisper to comfort him: "Master, bear with it."

"My disciple, let me blow a breath and conjure some cool breeze for you."

After saying that, he plucked a monkey hair, which turned into a gentle breeze that brushed against Tang Sanzang's face, easing the heat.

Pigsy was dozing off when Sandy woke him up: "Second Brother, be alert."

The eerie atmosphere by the river hasn't dissipated; don't sleep.

Pigsy rubbed his eyes and muttered, "Brother Sandy, you little fish in the jade bottle, I, Old Pig, am exhausted after a long day."

The Monkey King is stuck to it, and even the Bodhisattva is helpless. I think this glue is a natural nemesis of the pilgrimage.

Master, what do you say?

Tang Sanzang forced a smile: "Bajie, your master believes in the will of Heaven."

Although the process of gluing is arduous, it tempers our character.

The journey to the Western Paradise is fraught with peril.

The old turtle's shell trembled slightly, as if in response: "Holy monk, you have profound insight."

This humble monk carried you all across the river, intending to accumulate merit, but who knew this unexpected turn of events would occur.

"This humble monk is willing to use turtle blood to dissolve the glue, seeking only a solution."

Upon hearing this, Wukong shook his head: "Old turtle, don't be foolish! Your blood is probably useless and will only harm yourself."

But a thought suddenly occurred to him: turtle blood might have miraculous effects, but he was afraid of hurting his compassionate master, so he dared not speak of it.

As dawn broke, the river reflected the sunlight, and the three masters and disciples, stuck to the shell, resembled a strange stone statue.

Wukong tried to use his somersault, but as soon as the cloud rose, he was pulled back by the glue and crashed into the ground, kicking up dust.

"damn it!"

He cursed, and Pigsy laughed again: "Brother Monkey, can't fly anymore? Come on, I, Old Pig, will carry you!"

Wukong glared at him: "Idiot! Laugh again, and I'll transform into five hundred monkeys and beat you up!"

Pigsy shrank his neck: "No, no."

"Brother Sha, you be the judge! This glue sticks to the monkey but not the pig! It's biased!"

Sha Wujing smiled wryly: "Second Brother, Eldest Brother, don't fight."

"Master is in pain."

Sure enough, Tang Sanzang's face turned pale, and the glue had spread to his neck, pressing down on him as if he were carrying a thousand pounds.

"Wukong... Your master is not afraid of hardship, but only of ruining important matters."

"When you met the Holy Emperor Shennong, did you have any other method?"

Wukong sighed: "Master, the Holy Emperor said that Laozi is in seclusion and there are no pills to be found."

He brought me back, but then the glue took the opportunity to stick to me.

I think this thing is sentient; it's waiting for me to open my defenses wide!

The old turtle whispered, "Great Sage, this humble monk recalls that there was an ancient book at the bottom of the river that said this glue could defeat even immortals, and could not be broken by ordinary force."

Perhaps only a wisp of primordial chaos energy can transform it.

Upon hearing this, Wukong's eyes lit up: "Chaotic Qi? I have an ancient well on Flower Fruit Mountain, perhaps I can get some!"

But he immediately shook his head: "Distant water can't quench a nearby fire."

"Master, rest first. I will test my primordial spirit again."

He closed his eyes and concentrated, his soul re-emerged, and the green silk whipped at him like a lash, causing him excruciating pain.

Wukong roared, withdrawing his primordial spirit, and pounded his chest in anger: "This glue is damn Yin! It even sticks to the soul!" (End of Chapter)