Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 44, Staying with Friends at Wuzhuang Temple (Part 7)
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and his disciples were tied to the eaves pillars.

Tang Sanzang complained incessantly.

As night fell, Wukong used a magic trick to escape, freeing himself from the ropes and rescuing Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing. He quietly retrieved the white horse and luggage and fled the temple gate.

Then he ordered Pigsy to arch four willow trees and transform them into four people, all with the same appearance. They would speak when asked and respond when called, and they would remain tied up there, just like real people.

That night, the four travelers continued their relentless escape from Wuzhuang Temple.

By daybreak, Tang Sanzang was exhausted, so he took shelter under the hillside to rest.

At dawn, Zhenyuan Daxian ate his morning meal and ordered his disciples to attack Tang Sanzang and his companions. Tang Sanzang and his companions were transformed into tree roots.

Zhenyuan Daxian sneered, leaped onto a cloud, and caught up with Tang Sanzang and his disciples in an instant, shouting, "Sun Wukong! Where are you going! Give me back my ginseng tree!"

Pigsy exclaimed, "Ah, here we go again!"

Wukong wielded his iron cudgel and stepped forward, with Bajie and Sha Wujing as his helpers. They surrounded Zhenyuan Daxian in the air, each wielding their divine weapons, and attacked together.

Zhenyuan Daxian simply used his whisk to shield himself, allowing the three to come and go as they pleased, remaining completely still for half an hour. With a flick of his sleeve, he still managed to conceal Tang Sanzang and his disciples, along with their white horse and luggage.

They returned to the cloud and went back to the temple. They hung Tang Sanzang and his disciples up and tied them to trees. They then instructed the disciples to bring out a large cauldron.

Wukong laughed and said, "Bajie, what a stroke of luck! They brought out the pot; they must be cooking rice for us."

Bajie said, "Fine; let us eat some food, so we can die well-fed and feel better."

The disciples set up a large cauldron below the steps, and the oil boiled over a raging fire.

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Fry Sun Wukong in oil to avenge my Ginseng Fruit Tree!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong was not afraid of the oil cauldron, but he was afraid of what kind of magic Zhenyuan Daxian would use. Therefore, he did not dare to actually fall into the oil cauldron. Instead, he used a spell to release his primordial spirit and transform himself into a stone lion weighing a thousand pounds, which he then placed in place.

The disciples of Zhenyuan Daxian came to lift him, but seven or eight people couldn't lift him. It took twenty people to lift him. They all said, "This monkey may be small, but his flesh is firm."

He picked it up, slammed it into the pot, and with a loud bang, the fake Wukong transformed back into a stone lion, smashed the pot, and splashed some boiling oil, burning several large blisters on the faces of the young Taoist priests!

Zhenyuan Daxian angrily said, "This impudent monkey is so rude! How dare he break my pot? Take his master Tang Sanzang off the pot, put him in a new one, fry him up, and take revenge on my ginseng tree."

Upon hearing this, Wukong thought, "My master is incompetent. If he gets into the oil cauldron, he'll die after one boil, burn after two, and by the third or fifth boil, he'll be a mangled monk! I'd better go and save him."

Wukong came down again and said some nice words: "Sir, please don't fry my master, but fry me instead! I just needed to relieve myself and was afraid of soiling your oil so that it wouldn't be good for cooking; now that I'm all clean, I'm ready to cook."

Upon hearing this, Zhenyuan Daxian chuckled coldly, stepped out of the hall, and grabbed Wukong, saying:

“Sun Wukong, don’t show off your supernatural powers here. I know your abilities and I’ve heard of your fame, but no matter how powerful you are, you can’t escape my grasp; even if you meet your Western Buddha, you’ll have to return my ginseng fruit tree.”

Wukong laughed and said, "You're so petty, sir! If you want the tree to live, what's so difficult about it!"

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "What a boastful tone! If you have such supernatural powers and can revive a tree, I will swear brotherhood with you and we will become sworn brothers."

Wukong said, "Release them, and I'll teach them a lesson and give you back the living tree."

Zhenyuan Daxian, realizing they couldn't escape, immediately ordered the release of Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.

Sha Wujing said, "Those trees are all dead, how can you bring them back to life, Senior Brother?"

Bajie said, "The tree is dead, how can it be brought back to life? He's just saying it to our faces, using the excuse of seeking medical treatment for the tree so he can get away. I'm afraid he won't be looking after us!"

Tang Sanzang said, "He would never dare to abandon us. I will go and ask him how to cure the tree."

Then he called out, "Wukong, where are you going to find the cure tree?"

Wukong said, “As the ancients said, ‘They come from the sea.’ I will go to the Eastern Ocean, travel all over the three islands and ten continents, visit immortal elders and sages, and seek a way to bring the dead back to life. I guarantee I can cure that tree.”

Tang Sanzang asked, "When will we be able to return?"

Wukong said, "It will only take three days."

Tang Sanzang said, "If that's the case, then I'll do as you say and give you three days. Come within three days; if you don't come within three days, I'll recite the sutra."

Hearing this, Wukong felt helpless and could only say, "Yes, sir." Wukong wanted to leave, but fearing his master would be mistreated in his absence, he said to Zhenyuan Daxian:
“I’ll be right back. Don’t neglect my master. He must be provided with tea and meals every day. If his clothes are worn out, wash them for him. If his face is a little sallow, I don’t want him to be here; if he’s a little thin, he won’t go out.”

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "Go ahead and make sure to treat them well."

Wukong then left.

As soon as Wukong left, Ao Tu came out and said:

"I hear a commotion outside the hall. Is your master back?"

Qingfeng and Mingyue hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Heavenly Venerable, this is my master."

Ao Tu looked up and saw Zhenyuan Daxian.

Wearing a purple-gold crown and a carefree crane cloak.

Wear shoes on your feet and tie a ribbon around your waist.

Three whiskers fluttered beneath his chin, and raven feathers adorned his temples.

With a whisk in his hand, he truly is a celestial being.

Ao Tu greeted him, and Zhen Yuanzi returned the greeting, saying, "I heard of your arrival, fellow Daoist, but I was too busy with matters at the temple to welcome you. Please forgive me."

Ao Tu said, "I wouldn't dare."

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "I heard that you have come from the West, fellow Daoist, specifically to heal my precious tree?"

Ao Tu said, "That's right."

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "I wonder what supernatural powers you possess, friend? Would you be willing to take a look?"

Ao Tu said, "Great Immortal, please take a look."

After he finished speaking, a flash appeared behind Ao Tu, revealing five-colored divine light: blue, yellow, red, white, and black.

Within that radiant light, a precious fan shone brightly in the crimson glow.

A golden lotus bloomed within the white light, radiating a sacred aura.

Within the black light was a divine water that emitted the light of the sun, moon, and stars; it was the Three Lights Divine Water.

Ao Tu said, "This is the Three Lights Divine Water, which can heal the immortal tree and the spiritual seedling."

Zhenyuan Daxian was slightly startled, but he didn't show it on his face. He simply praised him:
"Truly a remarkable supernatural power! I recently went to the Shangqing Heavenly Miluo Palace to listen to a lecture and happened to meet the Old Mother of Lishan. She said that she had recently found a son-in-law. Are you aware of this, fellow Daoist?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "You don't know that. I have been cultivating diligently in the Western Holy Land and have never heard of the outside world."

Zhenyuan Daxian laughed and said, "I see. I see that you are full of pure energy, so you must have been cultivating since childhood. Why did you say that you need two people to eat this meal, Qingfeng and Mingyue?"

Ao Tu said, "I think I didn't explain myself clearly. When I said I wanted two little people, I meant two ginseng fruits, not real people."

Zhenyuan Daxian said, "I see, that's simple."

Bajie, who was nearby, overheard Ao Tu and Zhen Yuanzi talking and said, "Master, something bad has happened!"

Tang Sanzang asked, "What's wrong?"

Bajie said, "Didn't you hear what that Taoist priest said? He can cure the ginseng fruit tree. If he cures the tree, we'll be useless, and who knows how he'll punish us!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang became extremely worried.

Bajie said, "Master, watch me ruin their plans."

Bajie shouted, "Hey Taoist, don't be fooled! My senior brother has already knocked down that ginseng fruit tree. There's no fruit left on it!"

(End of this chapter)