Journey to the West: The gods and Buddhas panicked when the monkey was trapped inside him.

Tang Sanzang turned his head, looked at Sun Wukong's monkey face full of inquiry, and gently shook his head.

"Wukong, your master is not blind, nor is he deaf."

"Having stayed in this cave for a day and a night, I can see clearly what's going on inside."

"In the corner of that cell, there were countless skeletons of mortals, their bones gnawed clean."

"These monsters have taken over the mountains and ruled as kings, committing countless evils and harming countless living beings."

"Today I die under your rod and in the flames, it is the cycle of cause and effect, evil begets evil."

"Although Buddhism teaches compassion, it would be cruel to good people to indulge such heinous acts as cannibalism."

Sun Wukong felt much better after hearing these words.

He nodded in satisfaction, his smile becoming much more genuine.

"I'm relieved that Master thinks that way."

"Let's go, Master, let's go find Pigsy."

The two walked briskly along the rugged mountain path, and soon passed through the rocky ravine and returned to the wide official road.

Under the shade of the trees in the distance, the white dragon horse was chewing on grass with its head down.

On the large stone slab beside him, Pigsy was idly fiddling with the dry grass leaves in his hand.

Hearing footsteps, Pigsy suddenly looked up and spotted Tang Sanzang walking beside Monkey King.

His big ears twitched, he dropped the blade of grass in his hand, and rushed over in three quick steps.

"Oh dear! Master!"

Pigsy rushed to Tang Sanzang, his eyes reddening, and he managed to squeeze out two tears.

"Master! I, Old Pig, have missed you so much!"

"While you were being held captive for the entire day, I, Old Pig, was so worried I couldn't eat or sleep, my heart was pounding!"

"Thank goodness you returned unharmed!"

"If anything were to happen to you, I, Old Pig, would never forgive myself for the rest of my life!"

Pigsy lowered his head, looking extremely remorseful.

"I was blinded by the tiger demon's trickery and actually abandoned my master to chase after a fake."

"It caused Master to be captured by that Yellow Wind Monster, and he's been living in fear in this cave all day!"

"Master, it's all Old Pig's fault, please punish Old Pig!"

Tang Sanzang looked at Zhu Bajie with a gentle expression in his eyes and patted Zhu Bajie's broad shoulder.

"Bajie, stop looking like that, get up quickly."

"That monster used cunning methods; it's not solely your fault."

"I have returned unharmed. You need not blame yourself, nor do you need to worry."

Standing to the side, Sun Wukong couldn't help but roll his eyes at Zhu Bajie's exaggerated performance.

That fool, he was munching on peaches and snacks last night and this morning, but now he's putting on this loyal act.

Just as Sun Wukong was about to expose his secret, Zhu Bajie, with his keen insight, wiped the corner of his eye and immediately put on a fawning smile.

"Master, you were locked up in that monster cave for a whole day. Those monsters must not have given you any food."

"You must be hungry now, right?"

"Old Pig will go get you some dry rations to tide you over!"

As he spoke, Pigsy dashed to the luggage carrier, deftly pulled out a cloth bag, took out two clean and soft flatbreads, and respectfully handed them to Tang Sanzang.

Then, he casually took out the golden alms bowl from his bag and chuckled as he stuffed it into the arms of Sun Wukong beside him.

"Brother Monkey, Master must be thirsty from eating only bread."

"Go ahead and fetch some cool spring water from the mountain stream to soothe your master's throat."

Sun Wukong looked down at the golden alms bowl in his hand, then looked up at Zhu Bajie, who was all smiles, and sneered.

He casually handed the bowl back.

"Bajie, if you want to serve your master, then do the whole thing."

"Go fetch water for Master yourself. I, Old Sun, will stay here to protect Master closely, lest some monster jump out and kidnap him the moment I leave."

Pigsy chuckled and pushed the alms bowl toward Monkey King.

"Oh, Monkey King, you can travel 108,000 li in a single somersault, your speed is incredible."

"Your trip back and forth will only take the blink of an eye; how could it possibly delay anything?"

"Master, you're all set. Anyone who dares to come near will be riddled with nine holes by me!"

"I will never let Master be captured by monsters again, so you can go in peace!"

Sun Wukong raised an eyebrow, slammed his golden cudgel on the ground, and exposed his lie without any politeness.

"Don't try that on me, Old Sun."

"Do you think I, Old Sun, don't know what you're thinking?"

"Your cloud-riding speed isn't slow either, how long would it take you to fetch water?"

"I think you're not really here to protect the emperor, you're just lazy and want to sit here and relax!"

Sun Wukong pointed at Zhu Bajie's nose and threatened in a low voice.

"Go quickly and fetch water for the master."

"If you dare to make any excuses today, you can forget about getting a single magical fruit from me, Old Sun, on this journey!"

Upon hearing the words "immortal fruit," Pigsy's smile froze instantly.

If we lose this divine fruit, how can we survive by chewing on those dry, hard vegetarian cakes every day?

Pigsy quickly hugged the golden alms bowl to his chest and repeatedly agreed.

"No, Monkey King, let's talk this out."

Zhu Bajie grumbled and snatched the golden alms bowl from Sun Wukong's hands with a pained expression.

"I'll go, I'll go right now, okay?"

"Honestly, all the senior disciples do is try to scare people with food."

Muttering to himself, Pigsy dragged his rake, carried his alms bowl, and swayed as he trotted towards the nearby forest stream.

Before long, Pigsy returned carrying a full bowl of sweet, clear spring water.

Tang Sanzang sat on a large blue stone and slowly ate two pieces of bread with the cool spring water.

After Tang Sanzang finished eating, Sun Wukong stepped forward and put the golden alms bowl back into his luggage.

Tang Sanzang mounted the white dragon horse and looked up at the sun on the horizon.

The afternoon sun had begun to slant slightly westward, and golden sunlight pierced through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the official road.

"Wukong, Bajie, it's still early. Let's travel a few dozen more miles before it gets dark."

Sun Wukong shouldered his golden cudgel and led the way on horseback.

"Alright, Master, let's get going."

Pigsy sighed, obediently picked up the heavy load, and followed behind the white dragon horse.

"Let's go, let's go, this chore has no end in sight."

The clatter of hooves echoed as the figures of the master and his two disciples slowly made their way towards the vast western official road in the long, lingering glow of the setting sun.

......

The three of them left Huangfeng Ridge and traveled on the official road for several months.

Spring came and autumn went, the scenery along the road changed several times, the load on Pigsy's shoulder was worn shiny, and his complaints never stopped.

On this day, the official road ahead gradually disappeared, replaced by an endless expanse of muddy yellow sand.

Further on, a wide river, so vast that the opposite bank is nowhere in sight, stretches across the land.

The river water was not clear, but rather had an eerie yellowish-brown color. The current seemed gentle, but it exuded a lifeless atmosphere.

Not a single duckweed floats on the river, and even birds avoid it from afar, not daring to fly over it.

Tang Sanzang reined in the white dragon horse, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Wukong, Bajie, this big river ahead might be difficult to cross."

Sun Wukong, carrying his golden cudgel, gazed into the distance, his eyes piercing through the murky mist to look at the opposite bank.

"This river is probably eight hundred miles wide; our horses and luggage probably won't be able to cross it."

"If it were me, Old Sun, I could get over it in one somersault."

"But Master is a mortal being and cannot get involved in this murky water."