Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

In the manure yard, the four men, master and apprentice, were working.

Eight months passed, and Sun Wukong felt no discomfort whatsoever.

Back when I was on Fangcun Mountain, I did all sorts of manual labor, from fetching water and chopping wood to cooking. But after I learned magic, I stopped doing manual labor altogether.

Now, it has instead brought back memories of the past for him.

The monkey, with his sharp eyes, suddenly spotted two black dots flying overhead. Upon closer inspection, he recognized them as Venus and Yun Zhao. He put down his pitchfork and greeted them with a hearty laugh, "Old man! Brother Yun, what brings you here? Come on, take a rest... But this place is filthy, and there's nowhere to rest. Let's talk in the sky."

Venus looked at the monkey's appearance and sighed inwardly.

This monkey is usually very concerned about his reputation. When he was appointed as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, it still angered him so much that he went down to heaven and raised a demonic flag.

Now, he has been punished by Yun Zhao to pick manure here, which is even more lowly than being the stable boy he once was, yet he can still talk and laugh as if nothing is wrong. It is truly rare.

Upon seeing Venus and Yun Zhao, Tang Sanzang put down his chamber pot, clasped his hands in prayer, and said, "This humble monk greets the old immortal and the city lord!"

Yun Zhao nodded slightly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with everyone, Taibai got straight to the point: "Great Sage, Holy Monk, I have come here on the orders of the Great Heavenly Venerable."

"The Great Celestial Venerable knows that you are being punished and atoning for your sins here. He has specially ordered this old minister to ask you your true intentions: Are you and your disciples willing to stay here and clean up the filth? If you are unwilling, the Heavenly Court will send a divine general to rescue you. If you are willing, then you may go with us. Do not worry, just speak frankly."

The monkey's expression turned strange. He looked at Yun Zhao, then at Taibai Jinxing: "Old angel, is the city lord of White Tiger City still here?"

This is self-evident.

But Taibai laughed: "Before I came here, I had already spoken with the city lord, and he agreed to bring me here."

Seeing Yun Zhao nod, the monkey clicked his tongue in amazement, he really couldn't understand what this guy was thinking.

Upon hearing this, Pigsy's eyes lit up: "Old Star Lord! I, Pigsy, am unwilling! I've been carrying manure for four years and eight months, my back aches, and the stench is unbearable! I want to leave! Please save us! That city lord is powerful; he sealed my magic, so I can't escape!"

Their faces were full of anticipation, as if they couldn't wait to be rescued.

Although he couldn't see through Yun Zhao's plans, Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Old man, I'm willing! How could I not be willing? Cleansing the latrine to atone for my sins is a great cultivation. I've realized my true nature, and tempering my temperament here is just right. Master is also willing. Don't worry about us; the Heavenly Court doesn't need to make a fuss."

Tang Sanzang put his palms together and said, "Amitabha, Old Star Lord, please return to His Majesty. This humble monk and his disciples are willing to atone for our sins here."

"Very well then, this humble Taoist will take his leave!"

Taibai smiled. He had known this would be the outcome all along. He had only asked the question for a reason. Even if the Buddhist sect brought it up later, he would have an explanation.

After greeting Yun Zhao, he added a reminder: "Fellow Daoist Yun, let me be a little more cautious. Be very careful of the Buddhist sect. If they come, they won't be as easy to talk to as I am. The Western Sect has a lot of influence; the journey to the West was personally decided by the Buddha. If things are delayed for too long, something might happen."

Upon hearing this, Yun Zhao cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist."

Then Venus nodded to Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang, and rode away on a cloud.

All that remained was a heartbroken Pigsy, who stared blankly at his figure disappearing into the clouds.

……

On this day, in the Great Thunderclap Temple, the Buddha was expounding the wondrous Dharma.

The temple is solemn and majestic, with a lotus throne high above.

All the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Bhikkhus listened with rapt attention, the Dharma sounds lingering and the fragrance of incense filling the air.

When the Buddha spoke of the most profound meaning, I felt a sudden jolt in my heart.

He frowned slightly, stopped preaching, and a strange look flashed across his solemn face.

The bodhisattvas noticed and all looked up. Kasyapa clasped his hands and asked, "World Honored One, why have you stopped the Dharma?"

The Buddha pondered for a moment, thinking: "The journey to the West has been going on for many years. Xuanzang and his disciples should be nearing Mount Ling by now. Why do I feel uneasy?" He couldn't help but ask, "Where are Tang Sanzang and his disciples now?"

Kasyapa and Ananda exchanged a glance and shook their heads, saying, "We disciples do not know. On the journey to the West, the Dharma protectors will be hidden and protecting us. With the guidance of Guanyin Bodhisattva, our three disciples should be able to travel safely to the West."

Upon hearing this, the Buddha nodded slightly, but he was still uneasy. He wanted to calculate with his fingers, but the heavenly secrets were obscured, and he could not see clearly.

He said, "Ananda, go to Mount Luojia in the South China Sea and ask Guanyin Bodhisattva about the situation of the pilgrims."

Ananda: "Disciple receives the Dharma decree."

It transformed into golden light and headed towards the South China Sea.

In less than half a day, Ananda arrived at the Purple Bamboo Forest on Mount Luojia.

Bamboo shadows swayed, purple mist swirled, and before the Tide Sound Cave, Guanyin Bodhisattva was preaching with the Dragon Girl holding the Pearl and the Mountain Guardian God, while Huian Xingzhe stood in attendance. The Dharma sounds were clear and melodious, and lotus flowers bloomed.

Ananda appeared, put his palms together, and said, "Greetings, Guanyin Bodhisattva. This humble monk has come on the Buddha's orders to ask you some questions."

Guanyin Bodhisattva stopped preaching: "Venerable One, what brings you from afar?"

Ananda said, “When the World-Honored One was expounding the wonderful Dharma, he suddenly stopped and asked where the Tang Monk and his disciples had gone. We disciples did not know, so the World-Honored One instructed us to come to the South Sea to ask the Bodhisattva about the situation of the pilgrims.”

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva frowned slightly.

He thought to himself: "I have instructed the monkey, Pigsy and Sandy to protect me on the journey to the West, and there are also Dharma protectors who are secretly accompanying us. Although there are hardships along the way, it should be smooth sailing. Why did the World-Honored One suddenly ask this?"

She calculated with her fingers, and the purple bamboo around her swayed slightly, while the lotus platform shimmered with golden light.

A moment later, his expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Oh no! We've missed the appointed time; Xuanzang is most likely in trouble!"

Ananda was startled: "Bodhisattva, why do you say that?"

Guanyin sighed, "I was lecturing to the children under my seat and lost track of time. I was only thinking that the journey to the West would be difficult and that Wukong would come to me for help. But if I count the days, it has been five or six years since we parted at Wuzhuang Temple."

"There is still one more calamity on the journey west, and it is time for me to take in another disciple. If we consider the pace of Xuanzang and his disciples, they should have passed by now, but they have not come to me for help. This shows that there is a mistake in our journey west!"

Ananda's heart sank: "Bodhisattva, what should we do?"

Guanyin pondered, "I must personally investigate this matter. Venerable One, please return to Mount Ling and report to the World Honored One. I will go and see where Xuanzang and his disciples are."

Ananda accepted the order and left.

Guanyin rose and summoned Muzha Huian to accompany her, transforming into a ray of Buddha's light, and they went eastward.