Chapter 22: Bajie Battles the Flowing Sands River; Hui'an, by Command, Receives Sha Wujing

Now then: Tripitaka and his three disciples escaped the disaster and traveled on. Before long they had gone beyond Yellow Wind Ridge, and to the west the land turned broad and level. Time hurried on; summer passed into autumn, and they saw the cicadas crying in the withered willows and the Fire Star moving westward.

As they traveled, they suddenly came upon a great flood of wild water, the waves surging and boiling.

Tripitaka, sitting on the horse, called out in alarm, "Disciples, look at the broad water ahead. There are no boats to be seen. How are we to cross?"

Bajie looked and said, "Truly, it is a raging flood. No boat could carry us over."

The Great Sage leaped into the air, shaded his eyes, and looked. He too was alarmed and said, "Master, this is truly hard, truly hard. If Old Sun were to cross it, one twist of the waist would do. But for Master, it is a thousand times harder to cross, ten thousand times harder to travel."

Tripitaka said, "From here, I can see no boundary at all. Just how wide is it?"

Wukong said, "It stretches for about eight hundred li."

Bajie said, "Brother, how do you know the distance so exactly?"

Wukong said, "I will not hide it from you, brother. Old Sun's two eyes can often tell good and bad for a road a thousand li away in broad daylight. Just now, from the air, I could see that this river's length to the north and south is unknown, but across here it measures at least eight hundred li."

The elder grew worried and troubled, turned the horse around, and then saw a stone tablet by the bank. The three of them came to look, and on it were three seal-script characters, Flowing Sands River. Beneath were four small lines in regular script:

Eight hundred li is the realm of Flowing Sands,
three thousand leagues the depth of Weak Water.
Goose feathers cannot float there;
reed flowers sink straight to the bottom.

While master and disciples were reading the inscription, they heard the waves rising like mountains and the water rolling like ridges. In the middle of the river a demon suddenly drilled up through the current. He was hideous beyond measure:

A crown of red flame hair, tousled and wild,
two round eyes bright as lamps.
His face was neither black nor blue, but a dark indigo sheen;
his voice boomed like thunder, like an old dragon's roar.
He wore a goose-yellow cloak,
his waist bound with twin-coiled white vine.
Nine skulls hung from his throat;
in his hand he held a precious staff, fierce and grand.

The monster spun a whirlwind and rushed ashore straight at Tripitaka. Wukong was frightened and hugged his master, hurrying him up onto the bank before turning to escape. Bajie dropped the luggage, drew out his rake, and went at the demon.

The monster raised his jeweled staff to block him. There on the bank of the Flowing Sands River the two showed their heroism. It was a fine battle:

The nine-tooth rake and the demon-quelling staff, the two opposed each other on the riverbank.
This one was the Great Marshal Tianpeng; that one the exiled Curtain-Lifting General.
In former years they had met in Lingxiao Hall; today they contended in a wager of daring and strength.
One rake probed for the dragon's claws; one staff blocked like a grinding tooth of an elephant.
Wide stances opened and closed; they rushed in and braced against one another.
One had no restraint and no pause; the other was likewise without softness or slackness.
One was a long-standing eater of men in the Flowing Sands realm; one was a lawful cultivator sent by the Buddhist teaching.

The two of them went back and forth for twenty rounds, and neither prevailed.

The Great Sage was guarding Tripitaka, leading the horse and watching the luggage. When he saw Bajie fight the monster, he clenched his teeth and ground his fists, unable to resist the urge to join in. He drew out his staff and said, "Master, sit still and do not fear. Let Old Sun have a little fun with him."

The master tried hard to keep him back, but Wukong would not listen. He gave a whistle and leaped forward. It so happened that the monster and Bajie were fighting at their hardest and could not be separated.

Wukong brought the iron staff down on the monster's head. The creature quickly turned, dodged in haste, and plunged straight into the Flowing Sands River. Bajie was furious and jumped about wildly. "Brother, who asked you to come? That fiend was getting slower and slower and could no longer hold my rake. If you had not shown yourself, in three or five more rounds I would have captured him. He saw you were dangerous and fled. What are we to do now?"

Wukong laughed. "Brother, I will not hide it from you. Ever since I subdued the Yellow Wind Demon and came down the mountain, I have not swung my staff for more than a month. When I saw you and him fighting so sweetly, my feet itched and I could not bear it, so I jumped in to play a little. Who knew that the monster did not understand play and ran off?"

The two of them clasped hands, talking and laughing, and turned back to Tripitaka. The master asked, "Did you catch the monster?"

Wukong said, "The monster could not stand the battle and fled back into the water."

Tripitaka said, "Disciples, this monster has lived here a long time and knows the shallows and the deep places. With such a boundless Weak Water and no boats or rafts, we must find someone who knows the water and guide us."

Wukong said, "Just so. As the old saying goes, 'If you go near vermilion, you turn red; if you go near ink, you turn black.' That monster lives here, so he surely knows the water. We must capture him, but not kill him. Let him ferry Master across the river, and then we can make further plans."

Bajie said, "Brother, there is no need to delay. Let you go first and catch him. I will keep watch over Master."

Wukong laughed. "Brother, on this matter I cannot boast. I am not especially skilled in water affairs. If I were simply to walk on it, I would still have to make hand-seals and recite an avoid-water spell before I could go. Otherwise I would have to change into some fish or shrimp or crab or turtle before I could enter. As for fighting, if it is on mountain tops or in the clouds, or some strange thing of that sort, Old Sun can do it all. Only this business in the water is a little awkward."

Bajie said, "Old Pig once commanded the Heavenly River and had charge of eighty thousand water soldiers. I learned a little of water work there. But I fear that if the water has all his whole family and every branch and generation of them rushing up together, I will not be able to handle them and may be dragged off by them."

Wukong said, "If you go into the water and fight him, do not become attached to the battle. You may be defeated, but you must not win. Draw him out, and then let me make my move."

Bajie said, "That makes sense. I am off."

He said it, stripped off his blue silk robe, kicked off his shoes, and, with rake in both hands, parted the water and used his old skill. He leaped over the waves, rolled through the spray, and plunged straight down to the riverbed.

As for the monster, having just fled the field, he was catching his breath when he heard water being pushed aside again. He rose at once to look and saw Bajie coming in with his rake. The monster lifted his staff and shouted, "Monk, where are you going? Take care and look at my blow."

Bajie raised the rake to block and said, "What sort of demon are you, daring to block the road here?"

The monster said, "You do not even know me. I am neither some ordinary demon nor some nameless fiend."

Bajie said, "Since you are neither demon nor fiend, why are you harming lives here? Tell me your true name, plainly, and I will spare your life."

The monster said:

From childhood I was born with strong spirit, and roamed the wide world under heaven.
I made my fame among heroes and became a model for the bold.
Through the nine regions and ten thousand lands I could go where I wished;
through the five lakes and four seas I could crash and break my way.
Because I studied the Way and wandered to the edges of the sky,
because I sought a master and traveled the vast emptiness,
I kept my bowl and robe close at hand and never let my spirit slack.
I wandered through the earth dozens of times and went idly from place to place hundreds of times,
and only then did I meet a true man who opened the golden light of the Great Way.
First I took the infant boy and the maiden girl; then I cast aside the wood-mother and metal-father.
The heart-water entered the jade pool; the liver-fire from the winding chambers entered the heart.
When three thousand merits were complete, I bowed before the Heavenly Face and paid homage with all my heart.
The Jade Emperor then promoted me at once and named me Curtain-Lifting General in his own voice.
At the South Gate of Heaven I stood first in rank; before Lingxiao Hall I was called above all others.
A tiger-head tally hung at my waist; in my hand I held the demon-quelling staff.
A golden helmet shone over my head; armor blazed like sunset clouds.
I went before the carriage and served as the leading escort; I came and went among the court as the first attendant.
Only because the Queen Mother opened the Peach Banquet and invited the assembled generals
did I make one mistake and break a jade crystal goblet.
The Jade Emperor at once burned with anger and ordered the assistant of the court:
"Take off his cap and armor, strip away his office title, and push his body to the killing ground."
Thanks to the Great Barefoot Immortal, who spoke up beyond his rank, I was spared.
My death was remitted and the punishment was not carried out, but I was banished to the east bank of the Flowing Sands River.
When full, I lie in this mountain; when hungry, I roll the waves and look for food.
Woodcutters who meet me lose their lives; fishermen who see me lose their bodies.
I have eaten many a man in my coming and going, and I have spread harm as my very trade.
You dare come with force to my gate today, so that is food for my belly.
Do not say this rough meat is hard to chew. Once I seize you, I will chop you into preserved slices.

Bajie heard this and flew into a rage. "You filthy brute! You have no eye at all. Old Pig can wring out water foam, and you dare call me rough and say you will chop me into pickled slices? Looking at it, you must think I am some old saltpeter merchant. Keep your manners. Taste your ancestor's rake."

The monster saw the rake coming and used a "phoenix nod" to dodge it. The two of them fought in the water and then burst up out of it, each standing on the waves and battling in the open. This struggle was different from the last. You could see:

The Curtain-Lifting General and the Marshal of Heaven, each showing his divine craft.
That one swung the demon-quelling staff with the round of the head; this one let the nine-tooth rake flash quick as lightning.
They leaped over waves and shook the mountains and rivers; they shoved the currents and darkened the world.
One was fierce as a fury smashing a banner pole; one savage as a spirit of grief flipping a canopy.
This one had a loyal heart, standing firm to guard Tripitaka; that one was a criminal, a marauding river monster.
The rake left nine lines when it grabbed; the staff brought the spirit down when it struck.
They pressed hard and held tight, each determined to win.
After all, this was for the scripture pilgrim, and their anger rose to the sky.
They churned the carp and yellow croaker until the scales flew off,
and the turtles and dragon turtles lost their shells;
red shrimp and purple crabs lost their lives,
and all the river gods came up to bow.
Only the sound of waves rolling like thunder remained, and sun and moon lost their light.

The two of them fought for two full hours without either gaining the upper hand. That was like a copper basin meeting an iron broom, or a jade chime striking a golden bell.

Now then: the Great Sage was still protecting Tripitaka and standing beside the horse. He watched those two struggle in the water, but he could not join in. Just then Bajie feinted with the rake, pretending to lose and retreating toward the east bank. The monster followed in pursuit and came near the shore.

Wukong could no longer hold himself back. He left his master, gripped his iron staff, and leaped to the riverbank, bringing the staff down on the monster's head. The fiend did not dare meet him. With a hiss, he plunged back into the river. Bajie shouted, "You horse-groom monkey, you are truly an impatient ape! If you had waited a bit longer, and I had lured him farther up, then you had blocked the riverbank and stopped him from turning back, could we not have captured him? He has gone back in now. When will he come out again?"

Wukong laughed. "Fool, do not shout, do not shout. Let us go see Master first."

The two of them went back up to the high bank and saw Tripitaka. The master leaned forward and said, "Disciples, you have worked hard."

Bajie said, "Never mind hard work. We must subdue the demon and ferry you across before the matter is settled."

Tripitaka asked, "How did you fare against the monster?"

Bajie said, "The monster is a match for Old Pig. Just as we were fighting, I used a false retreat, and he followed me to the bank. Then, when he saw Senior Brother with the staff, he ran."

Tripitaka said, "If that is so, what are we to do?"

Wukong said, "Do not worry, Master, and do not be troubled. It is already growing late. Sit here on the bank and let Old Sun go beg some vegetarian food. You may eat and sleep, and tomorrow we can deal with it again."

Bajie said, "Well said. Go quickly and come back quickly."

Wukong leaped into the clouds and soon begged a bowl of plain vegetarian food from a household due north of the road. He returned and offered it to his master. Seeing how quickly he had come back, Tripitaka said, "Wukong, would it not be better to ask the household where we got the meal for a way across the river? Would that not be stronger than fighting this monster?"

Wukong laughed. "That house is a long way off, five or seven thousand li from here. How would they know the water? What use would there be in asking them?"

Bajie said, "Brother, you are telling lies again. If it is five or seven thousand li away, how did you go and come back so quickly?"

Wukong said, "How little you know. Old Sun's somersault cloud covers one hundred and eight thousand li in a single leap. A distance of five or seven thousand li is nothing more than a nod of the head and a bend of the waist. What difficulty is there?"

Bajie said, "Brother, if it is that easy, then carry Master. A few nods and bends and he could jump over. Why bother fighting that creature so hard?"

Wukong said, "Can you not ride clouds? Then why not carry Master across on your back?"

Bajie said, "Master's mortal flesh and bone weigh like Mount Tai. My cloud-riding power is not strong enough to bear such a load. Only your somersault cloud will do."

Wukong said, "My somersault cloud is also cloud-riding. It is only that it goes farther. You cannot bear him, so how could I bear him? As the old saying goes, 'To send Mount Tai is light as a grain of mustard; to carry a mortal man is hard as leaving the dust behind.' Such a demon as this, who uses binding magic and wind tricks, only drags himself along the ground. He cannot carry himself empty through the air. That sort of craft, Old Sun knows too. I also know invisibility and the shrinking-earth spell. I know every one of them. But because Master must travel through strange lands and cannot yet escape from the sea of bitterness, there is no way to do it in a single step.

You and I can only guard him and keep body and life safe. We cannot replace these troubles for him, nor can we fetch the scriptures on his behalf. Even if some man got ahead and saw the Buddha first, the Buddha would not hand the scriptures over to just anyone. That is why they say, 'If a thing comes easily, people think little of it.'"

The fool listened and kept nodding and saying yes.

They ate a little plain food and rested that night on the east bank of the Flowing Sands River.

The next morning Tripitaka said, "Wukong, how do we proceed today?"

Wukong said, "There is no great plan. Bajie must still go into the water."

Bajie said, "Brother, if you want the clean work, then just make me go into the water."

Wukong said, "Brother, this time I will not be impatient again. You need only lure him out. I will block the riverbank and not let him go back. We must catch him."

Good Bajie wiped his face, shook himself, took the rake in both hands, and went to the riverbank. He parted the water and again went down to the monster's nest.

The monster had only just woken when he heard water being pushed aside. He quickly turned and saw Bajie with his rake. He leaped out and blocked the way, shouting, "Slow down, slow down. Taste my staff."

Bajie raised the rake to block it and said, "What sort of mourning staff are you? Why should your ancestor taste the staff?"

The monster said, "You truly do not know anything. My staff is:

Its famous name is great indeed; it was born from the moon's cassia tree.
Wu Gang cut off one branch of it; Luban forged it with skill beyond compare.
Inside it runs a strip of gold that bends to the heart; outside it has ten thousand lines of pearl-thread sheen.
It is called a precious staff because it subdues demons well and will forever guard Lingxiao Hall.
Because I was promoted to great general, the Jade Emperor gave it to me to carry on my person.
Long or short, I make it as I wish; fine or thick, I use it as I choose.
I have also guarded the carriage at the Peach Banquet and followed the court in the upper realm.
I have stood at the throne and received the greetings of the saints; as Curtain-Lifting General I have seen the immortals bow.
It has grown into a spiritual divine weapon, not some common thing from the human world.
Since I was cast down through the Heavenly Gate, I have roamed the overseas wilds at will.
I would not shame my bold name in the least, for the world's spears and sabers cannot match me.
Your rusty rake is fit only for turning fields and digging vegetables.

Bajie laughed. "You poor brute, I will not worry about digging vegetables. I only fear that if I strike you once, I will leave no place for your plaster patches. All nine holes will bleed at once. Even if you do not die, you will still have a broken-body wind for old age."

The monster let go and met his hands again, and the two of them burst up out of the water and fought in the open once more. This round was even more different from the last. Look at them:

The precious staff swung, the rake struck, and their words did not match, for they were not kin.
Because wood and mother-force overcame metal and elixir, the two sides came to blows.
There was no winning and no retreating, only waves and spray and no peace.
This one could not hide his rage; that one could not swallow his wounded pride.
The rake came, the staff blocked, and each showed heroism.
The water roared with the Flowing Sands' poison.
Both were fierce, both labored hard, because they were fighting for the scripture pilgrim.
The rake was savage in the large and the staff was expert in the fine.
This one seized the other and tried to drag him to the bank; that one grabbed and dragged him into the water.
Their voices sounded like thunderbolts and shook fish and dragons;
cloud darkened, heaven dimmed, and gods and ghosts were subdued.

They fought back and forth for thirty rounds, and neither side gained the upper hand. Bajie again used a feigned retreat and drew the rake away. The monster followed him, driving waves and rolling spray, and chased him to the bank.

Bajie shouted, "You filthy monster, come on up here. Up where the ground is firm, we can fight properly."

The monster shouted back, "You villain, you are trying to lure me up so your helper can come. You come down and fight in the water."

The monster had become clever and would no longer come ashore. He only argued and shouted with Bajie at the riverbank.

Wukong saw that the creature would not come up, and it made him anxious and hot-tempered. He longed to grab him with one hand. Wukong said, "Master, sit here and wait. I will give him an 'eagle snatching food' trick."

He leaped into the somersault cloud and dropped down from above, reaching for the monster.

The monster was still arguing with Bajie when he suddenly heard a wind overhead. He turned and saw Wukong dropping from the clouds. At once he gathered up his staff, plunged headfirst into the water, and vanished beneath the waves. Wukong stood on the bank and said to Bajie, "Brother, that monster has gotten slippery indeed. He will not come ashore again. What are we to do?"

Bajie said, "Hard, hard, hard. We cannot defeat him. Even if we used every scrap of strength in our bodies, we would only end up in a dead tie."

Wukong said, "Let us go see Master."

The two of them went again to the high bank and told Tripitaka they could not catch him. The old monk shed tears and said, "With hardships like this, how can we ever cross?"

Wukong said, "Master, do not be troubled. This monster dives deep and is no easy matter.

Bajie, you stay here and guard Master. Do not fight him any more. I will go to the South Sea and pay a call there."

Bajie said, "Brother, what do you want in the South Sea?"

Wukong said, "This scripture business began with Guanyin Bodhisattva, and it was also Guanyin Bodhisattva who rescued us. Today the road is blocked by the Flowing Sands River and we cannot go forward. Without her, how could we deal with it? I will go and ask her for help. That is better than fighting this monster any longer."

Bajie said, "Just so, just so. Senior Brother, when you go, be sure to give her my respects and say: 'Long ago I received much instruction from you.'"

Tripitaka said, "Wukong, if you are going to ask the Bodhisattva, do not delay. Go quickly and come quickly."

Wukong at once rode the somersault cloud straight to the South Sea. Ah! In less than half an hour he had already sighted the land of Mount Putuo. In another moment he descended from the cloud and came to the Purple Bamboo Grove, where the twenty-four guardian devas came out to meet him and said, "Great Sage, what brings you here?"

Wukong said, "My master is in danger, so I have come especially to pay my respects to the Bodhisattva."

The devas said, "Please sit and let us make the report."

One of the day-turning devas went straight to the mouth of Tide-Sound Cave and reported, "Sun Wukong has come on business."

The Bodhisattva was standing with Hui'an by the Precious Lotus Pool, leaning on the rail and looking at the flowers. When she heard the report, she turned back through the cloud rocks, opened the gate, and called him in. The Great Sage respectfully bowed down in the manner of taking refuge.

Guanyin asked, "Why are you not guarding Tripitaka? What brings you to see me again?"

Wukong reported, "Bodhisattva, my master had earlier taken on another disciple at Gao's household, named Zhu Bajie, and thanks to your mercy he was given the Dharma name Wuneng. We have only just crossed Yellow Wind Ridge and now reached the eight-hundred-li Flowing Sands River, which is three thousand leagues of Weak Water. Master cannot cross it. In the river there is also a demon of great skill. Thanks to Wuneng, I fought him three times on the water's surface, but I could not prevail and was blocked from crossing. Therefore I have specially come to ask the Bodhisattva to show your pity and help us across."

Guanyin said, "You monkey, are you once again acting self-important and refusing to mention that you are guarding Tripitaka?"

Wukong said, "We only wanted to catch him and make him ferry my master across the river. I am not especially skilled in water work. Only Wuneng found his nest and spoke with him. I think perhaps we never told him the scripture business."

Guanyin said, "The demon in the Flowing Sands River is the mortal incarnation of the Curtain-Lifting General. I was the one who taught him and instructed him to protect those who travel for the scriptures. If you had told him that the traveler from the Eastern Land came seeking the scriptures, he would certainly not have fought you and would surely have submitted. Since he did not know this, he is now still making trouble. He must be helped into submission. I will send Hui'an with you. He has the Flying-Dragon Staff in his sleeve and a red gourd with him. Let him go to the riverbank and call him Wujing. He will come out at once. First he must be led to return to Tripitaka's gate. Then have him thread the nine skulls together in the pattern of the nine palaces, and set this gourd in the middle. That will make a dharma boat, and it can carry Tripitaka across the Weak Water."

Hui'an, hearing this, followed his master's command. He took the red gourd and went with the Great Sage out of Tide-Sound Cave and took leave of the Purple Bamboo Grove.

A poem bears witness:

Five elements match and join with Heaven's true pattern;
recognize again the old master from long ago.
Refine the self and set the base for wondrous use;
discern right from wrong and see the cause.
When metal returns to nature, it joins its kind again;
when wood goes off to seek feeling, both sink once more.
When the two soils finish all their work, silence is complete;
harmonize water and fire and not a speck of dust remains.

Before long the two of them settled their cloud and came down at the bank of the Flowing Sands River. Bajie recognized Hui'an and brought Master forward to meet him. Hui'an and Tripitaka exchanged bows, and Hui'an also greeted Bajie.

Bajie said, "Many thanks, revered one, for showing me the way to the Bodhisattva. I, Old Pig, really did follow her teaching and have now gladly bowed before the monk's gate. I have been traveling and scrambling all along and have not yet had time to thank you. Please forgive me."

Wukong said, "Let us not talk so much. We need to call that fellow now."

Tripitaka asked, "Who are we calling?"

Wukong said, "Old Sun has already seen the Bodhisattva and told her everything. She said that this Flowing Sands River monster is the mortal incarnation of the Curtain-Lifting General. Because he had once sinned in Heaven and fallen into this river, he lost his form and became a monster. The Bodhisattva had already taught him and told him to protect scripture seekers. But we never said what business we were on, so he fought us all this time. The Bodhisattva has now sent Hui'an to carry this gourd and settle the matter with the monster. He will make a dharma boat from the skulls and the gourd and ferry you across this Weak Water."

Tripitaka bowed again and again and said to Hui'an, "I beg you, revered one, hurry on."

Hui'an took the gourd in both hands, rose half into cloud and half into mist, and went straight to the surface of the Flowing Sands River, shouting in a loud voice, "Wujing, Wujing! The scripture pilgrim has been waiting here a long time. Why do you not yet submit?"

As for the monster, he feared the Monkey King and had already returned to the water bottom, where he was resting in his nest. He suddenly heard his Dharma name called. Knowing at once that it was Guanyin Bodhisattva, and hearing also the words "the scripture pilgrim has arrived here," he was not afraid even of axe and sword. He hurriedly rolled the waves, lifted his head, and saw that it was Hui'an. Look at him, smiling as he stepped forward to bow:

"Revered one, I have failed to come out to receive you.

Where is the Bodhisattva now?"

Hui'an said, "My master has not come. She first sent me to tell you to follow Tang Monk and become his disciple. Take the skulls hanging around your neck and this gourd, and make them into a dharma boat in the nine-palace pattern so that you can ferry him across this Weak Water."

Wujing said, "Where is the scripture pilgrim?"

Hui'an pointed and said, "Is that not the one sitting on the east bank?"

Wujing looked and saw Bajie. "I do not know where this wretched brute came from. I fought him for two whole days, and he never once mentioned a single word about the scripture pilgrim."

Then he looked again and saw Wukong. "This master is his helper, and he is truly fierce. I will not go."

Hui'an said, "That is Zhu Bajie, and this is Sun Wukong. Both are Tripitaka's disciples, both have been converted by the Bodhisattva. What is there to fear? Come, I will go with you to see Tripitaka."

Only then did Wujing set down his precious staff, straighten his yellow brocade robe, and jump ashore. He dropped to both knees before Tripitaka and said, "Master, your disciple had eyes but could not see. I did not know your honorable face and offended you much. I beg you to forgive me."

Bajie said, "You rotten sack of pus, why did you not submit sooner? Why keep fighting me? What sort of talk is that?"

Wukong laughed. "Brother, do not blame him. It was only because we had not yet told him the scripture business and our names."

Tripitaka said, "If you truly are willing to submit with a sincere heart and enter my teaching, then very good."

Wujing said, "Your disciple has long received the Bodhisattva's teaching. She pointed to the sand and gave me that as a surname, and also gave me a Dharma name, Wujing. How could I refuse Master?"

Tripitaka said, "If that is so, Wukong, bring the knife and shave his head."

The Great Sage obeyed at once and shaved his head. Then Wujing came again to bow to Tripitaka, to Wukong, and to Bajie, sorting out the seniority between them. Tripitaka saw that his manners were exactly those of a monk, so he called him Sha Monk.

Hui'an said, "Since he has received the precepts and entered the Buddhist gate, there is no need for more delay. Let us quickly make the dharma boat and go."

Wujing did not dare be slow. He took down the skulls hanging from his neck and bound them with cords into the nine-palace arrangement. He placed the Bodhisattva's gourd in the middle and asked Master to come down to the bank. Then the elder monk climbed aboard the dharma boat and sat on it. Truly it was as steady as a light skiff. Bajie stood on the left to help, Wujing stood on the right to support him, and Sun Wukong followed behind, leading the dragon horse through cloud and mist. Above them Hui'an went with them as protector.

Only then did Master float across the Flowing Sands River with ease. The waves were calm, the wind was still, and he passed over the Weak Water in safety. Truly it was like flying by arrow. Before long he stood on the far bank and was free of the great flood. There was no mud on his feet and no water on his clothes. By good fortune his hands and feet were dry, clear, and unburdened, and the master and disciples stood upon firm ground. Hui'an settled his auspicious cloud and collected the gourd.

Then the skulls suddenly dissolved into nine strands of yin wind and vanished without a trace. Tripitaka bowed to Hui'an and again performed the full prostration before Guanyin.

It is just as the poem says:

Hui'an went straight back to the Eastern Ocean;
Tripitaka mounted his horse and headed west.

As for when he would finally attain the true fruit and seek the scriptures, that must wait for the next chapter.