第四十九回

第四十九回 三藏有灾沉水宅 观音救难现鱼篮

却说孙大圣与八戒、沙僧辞陈老来至河边，道：“兄弟，你两个议定，那一个先下水。”八戒道：“哥呵，我两个手段不见怎的，还得你先下水。”行者道：“不瞒贤弟说：若是山里妖精，全不用你们费力；水中之事，我去不得。就是下海行江，我须要捻着避水诀，或者变化甚么鱼蟹之形，才去得；若是那般捻诀，却抡不得铁棒，使不得神通，打不得妖怪。我久知你两个乃惯水之人，所以要你两个下去。”沙僧道：“哥呵，小弟虽是去得，但不知水底如何。我等大家都去。哥哥变作甚么模样；或是我驮着你，分开水道，寻着妖怪的巢穴，你先进去打听打听。若是师父不曾伤损，还在那边，我们好努力征讨；假若不是这怪弄法，或者淹杀师父，或者被妖吃了，我等不须苦求，早早的别寻道路何如？”行者道：“贤弟说得有理。你们那个驮我？”八戒暗喜道：“这猴子不知捉弄了我多少，今番原来不会水。等老猪驮他，也捉弄他捉弄！”呆子笑嘻嘻的叫道：“哥哥，我驮你。”行者就知有意，却便将计就计道：“是，也好，你比悟净还有些膂力。”八戒就背着他。

沙僧剖开水路，弟兄们同入通天河内。向水底下行有百十里远近，那呆子捉弄行者。行者随即拔下一根毫毛，变做假身，伏在八戒背上，真身变作一个猪虱子，紧紧的贴在他耳朵里。八戒正行，忽然打个踵，得故子[1]把行者往前一掼，扑的跌了一跤。原来那个假身本是毫毛变的，却就飘起去，无影无形。沙僧道：“二哥，你是怎么说？不好生走路，就跌在泥里便也罢了，却把大哥不知跌了那里去了！”八戒道：“那猴子不禁跌，一跌就跌化了。兄弟，莫管他死活，我和你且去寻师父去。”沙僧道：“不好，还得他来。他虽不知水性，他比我们乖巧。若无他来，我不与你去。”行者在八戒耳朵里，忍不住高叫道：“悟净！老孙在这里也。”沙僧听得，笑道：“罢了！这呆子是死了！你怎么就敢捉弄他！如今弄得闻声不见面，却怎是好？”八戒慌得跪在泥里磕头道：“哥哥，是我不是了。待救了师父，上岸陪礼。你在那里做声？就影[2]杀我也！你请现原身出来。我驮着你，再不敢冲撞你了。”行者道：“是你还驮着我哩。我不弄你。你快走！快走！”那呆子絮絮叨叨，只管念诵着陪礼，爬起来与沙僧又进。

行了又有百十里远近，忽抬头望见一座楼台，上有“水鼋之第”四个大字。沙僧道：“这厢想是妖精住处。我两个不知虚实，怎敢上门索战？”行者道：“悟净，那门里外可有水么？”沙僧道：“无水。”行者道：“既无水，你们藏隐在左右，待老孙去打听打听。”

好大圣，爬离了八戒耳朵里，却又摇身一变，变作个长脚虾婆，两三跳跳到门里。睁眼看时，只见那怪坐在上面，众水族摆列两边，有个斑衣鳜婆坐于侧手，都商议要吃唐僧。行者留心，两边寻找不见，忽看见一个大肚虾婆走将来，径往西廊下立定。行者跳到边前，称呼道：“姆姆，大王与众商议要吃唐僧，唐僧却在那里？”虾婆道：“唐僧被大王降雪结冰，昨日拿在宫后石匣中间。只等明日，他徒弟们不来吵闹，就奏乐享用也。”

行者闻言，演了一会，径直寻到宫后，看果有一个石匣，却像人间槽房里的猪槽，又似人间一口石棺材之样，量量足有六尺长短；却伏在上面听了一会，只听得三藏在里面嘤嘤的哭哩。行者不言语，侧耳再听，那师父挫得牙响，哏了一声道：

“自恨江流命有愆，生时多少水灾缠。

出娘胎腹淘波浪，拜佛西天堕渺渊。

前遇黑河身有难，今逢冰解命归泉。

不知徒弟能来否，可得真经返故园？”

行者忍不住叫道：“师父莫恨水灾。《经》云：‘土乃五行之母，水乃五行之源。无土不生，无水不长。’老孙来了！”三藏闻得道：“徒弟呵，救我耶！”行者道：“你且放心，待我们擒住妖精，管教你脱难。”三藏道：“快些儿下手！再停一日，足足闷杀我也！”行者道：“没事！没事！我去也！”急回头，跳将出去，到门外现了原身，叫：“八戒！”那呆子与沙僧近道：“哥哥，如何？”行者道：“正是此怪骗了师父。师父未曾伤损，被怪物盖在石匣之下。你两个快早挑战，让老孙先出水面。你若擒得他就擒；擒不得，做个佯输，引他出水，等我打他。”沙僧道：“哥哥放心先去，待小弟们鉴貌辨色。”这行者捻着避水诀，钻出波中，停立岸边等候不题。

你看那猪八戒行凶，闯至门前，厉声高叫：“泼怪物！送我师父出来！”慌得那门里小妖急报：“大王，门外有人要师父哩！”妖邪道：“这定是那泼和尚来了。”教：“快取披挂兵器来！”众小妖连忙取出。妖邪结束了，执兵器在手，即命开门，走将出来。八戒与沙僧对列左右，见妖邪怎生披挂。好怪物！你看他：

头戴金盔晃且辉，身披金甲掣虹霓。

腰围宝带团珠翠，足踏烟黄靴样奇。

鼻准高隆如峤耸，天庭广阔若龙仪。

眼光闪灼圆还暴，牙齿钢锋尖又齐。

短发蓬松飘火焰，长须潇洒挺金锥。

只咬一枝青嫩藻，手拿九瓣赤铜锤。

一声咿哑门开处，响似三春惊蛰雷。

这等形容人世少，敢称灵显大王威。

妖邪出得门来，随后有百十个小妖，一个个抡枪舞剑，摆开两哨，对八戒道：“你是那寺里和尚？为甚到此喧嚷？”八戒喝道：“我把你这打不死的泼物！你前夜与我顶嘴，今日如何推不知来问我？我本是东土大唐圣僧之徒弟，往西天拜佛求经者。你弄玄虚，假做甚么灵感大王，专在陈家庄要吃童男童女。我本是陈清家一秤金，你不认得我么？”那妖邪道：“你这和尚，甚没道理！你变做一秤金，该一个冒名顶替之罪。我倒不曾吃你，反被你伤了我手背。已此让了你，你怎么又寻上我的门来？”八戒道：“你既让我，却怎么又弄冷风，下大雪，冻结坚冰，害我师父？快早送我师父出来，万事皆休！牙迸半个‘不’字，你只看看手中钯，决不饶你！”妖邪闻言，微微冷笑道：“这和尚卖此长舌，胡夸大口。果然是我作冷下雪冻河，摄你师父。你今嚷上门来，思量取讨，只怕这一番不比那一番了。那时节我因赴会，不曾带得兵器，误中你伤。你如今且休要走，我与你交敌三合。三合敌得过我，还你师父；敌不过，连你一发吃了。”

八戒道：“好乖儿子！正是这等说！仔细看钯！”妖邪道：“你原来是半路上出家的和尚。”八戒道：“我的儿，你真个有些灵感，怎么就晓得我是半路出家的？”妖邪道：“你会使钯，想是雇在那里种园，把他钉钯拐将来也。”八戒道：“儿子，我这钯，不是那筑地之钯。你看：

巨齿铸就如龙爪，逊金[3]妆来似蟒形。

若逢对敌寒风洒，但遇相持火焰生。

能与圣僧除怪物，西方路上捉妖精。

抡动烟云遮日月，使开霞彩照分明。

筑倒太山千虎怕，掀翻大海万龙惊。

饶你威灵有手段，一筑须教九窟窿！”

那个妖邪那里肯信，举铜锤劈头就打。八戒使钉钯架住道：“你这泼物，原来也是半路上成精的邪魔！”那怪道：“你怎么认得我是半路上成精的？”八戒道：“你会使铜锤，想是雇在那个银匠家扯炉[4]，被你得了手，偷将出来的。”妖邪道：“这不是打银之锤。你看：

九瓣攒成花骨朵，一竿虚孔万年青。

原来不比凡间物，出处还从仙苑名。

绿房紫菂[5]瑶池老，素质清香碧沼生。

因我用功抟炼过，坚如钢锐彻通灵。

枪刀剑戟浑难赛，钺斧戈矛莫敢经。

总让他钯能利刃，荡着吾锤迸折钉！”

沙和尚见他两个攀话，忍不住近前高叫道：“那怪物！休得浪言！古人云：‘口说无凭，做出便见。’不要走！且吃我一杖！”妖邪使锤杆架住道：“你也是半路里出家的和尚。”沙僧道：“你怎么认得？”妖邪道：“你这个模样，像一个磨博士[6]出身。”沙僧道：“如何认得我像个磨博士？”妖邪道：“你不是磨博士，怎么会使擀面杖？”沙僧骂道：“你这业障，是也不曾见！

这般兵器人间少，故此难知宝杖名。

出自月宫无影处，梭罗仙木琢磨成。

外边嵌宝霞光耀，内里钻金瑞气凝。

先日也曾陪御宴，今朝秉正保唐僧。

西方路上无知识，上界宫中有大名。

唤做降妖真宝杖，管教一下碎天灵！”

那妖邪不容分说，三家变脸，这一场，在水底下好杀：

铜锤宝杖与钉钯，悟能悟净战妖邪。一个是天蓬临世界，一个是上将降天涯。他两个夹攻水怪施威武，这一个独抵神僧势可夸。有分有缘成大道，相生相克秉恒沙。土克水，水干见底；水生木，木旺开花。禅法参修归一体，还丹炮炼伏三家。土是母，发金芽，金生神水产婴娃；水为本，润木华，木有辉煌烈火霞。攒簇五行皆别异，故然变脸各争差。看他那铜锤九瓣光明好，宝杖千丝彩绣佳。钯按阴阳分九曜，不明解数乱如麻。捐躯弃命因僧难，舍死忘生为释迦。

致使铜锤忙不坠，左遮宝杖右遮钯。

三人在水底下斗经两个时辰，不分胜败。猪八戒料道不得赢他，对沙僧丢了个眼色，二人诈败佯输，各拖兵器，回头就走。那怪物教：“小的们，扎住在此，等我赶上这厮，捉将来与汝等凑吃。”呀！你看他如风吹败叶，似雨打残花，将他两个赶出水面。

那孙大圣在东岸上，眼不转睛，只望着河边水势。忽然见波浪翻腾，喊声号吼，八戒先跳上岸道：“来了！来了！”沙僧也到岸边道：“来了！来了！”那妖邪随后叫：“那里走！”才出头，被行者喝道：“看棍！”那妖邪闪身躲过，使铜锤急架相还。一个在河边涌浪，一个在岸上施威。搭上手未经三合，那妖遮架不住，打个花，又淬于水里，遂此风平浪息。

行者回转高崖道：“兄弟们，辛苦啊！”沙僧道：“哥啊，这妖精，他在岸上觉到不济，在水底也尽利害哩！我与二哥左右齐攻，只战得个两平，却怎么处置，救师父也？”行者道：“不必疑迟，恐被他伤了师父。”八戒道：“哥哥，我这一去哄他出来。你莫做声，但只在半空中等候。估着他钻出头来，却使个捣蒜打，照他顶门上着着实实一下！总然打不死他，好道也护疼发晕，却等老猪赶上一钯，管教他了帐！”行者道：“正是！正是！这叫做‘里迎外合’，方可济事。”他两个复入水中不题。

却说那妖邪败阵逃生，回归本宅。众妖接到宫中，鳜婆上前问道：“大王，赶那两个和尚到那方来？”妖邪道：“那和尚原来还有一个帮手。他两个跳上岸去，那帮手抡一条铁棍打我，我闪过与他相持。也不知他那棍子有多少斤重，我的铜锤莫想架得他住。战未三合，我却败回来也。”鳜婆道：“大王，可记得那帮手是甚相貌？”妖邪道：“是一个毛脸雷公嘴，查耳朵，折鼻梁，火眼金睛和尚。”鳜婆闻说，打了一个寒噤道：“大王呵！亏了你识俊[7]，逃了性命！若再三合，决然不得全生！那和尚我认得他。”妖邪道：“你认得他是谁？”鳜婆道：“我当年在东洋海内，曾闻得老龙王说他的名誉，乃是五百年前大闹天宫，混元一气上方太乙金仙美猴王齐天大圣。如今归依佛教，保唐僧往西天取经，改名唤做孙悟空行者。他的神通广大，变化多端。大王，你怎么惹他！今后再莫与他战了。”

说不了，只见门里小妖来报：“大王，那两个和尚又来门前索战哩！”妖精道：“贤妹所见甚长，再不出去，看他怎么。”急传令，教：“小的们，把门关紧了。——正是‘任君门外叫，只是不开门’。——让他缠两日，性摊[8]了回去时，我们却不自在受用唐僧也？”那小妖一齐都搬石头，塞泥块，把门闭杀。八戒与沙僧连叫不出，呆子心焦，就使钉钯筑门。那门已此紧闭牢关，莫想能够；被他七八钯，筑破门扇，里面却都是泥土石块，高叠千层。沙僧见了道：“二哥，这怪物惧怕之甚，闭门不出，我和你且回上河崖，再与大哥计较去来。”八戒依言，径转东岸。

那行者半云半雾，提着铁棒等哩。看见他两个上来，不见妖怪，即按云头，迎至岸边，问道：“兄弟，那话儿怎么不上来？”沙僧道：“那怪物紧闭宅门，再不出来见面；被二哥打破门扇看时，那里面都使些泥土石块实实的叠住了。故此不能得战，却来与哥哥计议，再怎么设法去救师父。”行者道：“似这般却也无法可治。你两个只在河岸上巡视着，不可放他往别处走了，待我去来。”八戒道：“哥哥，你往那里去？”行者道：“我上普陀岩拜问菩萨，看这妖怪是那里出身，姓甚名谁。寻着他的祖居，拿了他的家属，捉了他的四邻，却来此擒怪救师。”八戒笑道：“哥呵，这等干，只是忒费事，担阁了时辰了。”行者道：“管你不费事，不担阁！我去就来！”

好大圣，急纵祥光，躲离河口，径赴南海。那里消半个时辰，早望见落伽山不远。低下云头，径至普陀崖上。只见那二十四路诸天与守山大神、木叉行者、善财童子、捧珠龙女，一齐上前，迎着施礼道：“大圣何来？”行者道：“有事要见菩萨。”众神道：“菩萨今早出洞，不许人随，自入竹林里观玩。知大圣今日必来，分付我等在此候接大圣，不可就见。请在翠岩前聊坐片时，待菩萨出来，自有道理。”

行者依言，还未坐下，又见那善财童子上前施礼道：“孙大圣，前蒙盛意，幸菩萨不弃收留，早晚不离左右，专侍莲台之下，甚得善慈。”行者知是红孩儿，笑道：“你那时节魔业迷心，今朝得成正果，才知老孙是好人也。”

行者久等不见，心焦道：“列位与我传报传报，但迟了，恐伤吾师之命。”诸天道：“不敢报。菩萨分付，只等他自出来哩。”行者性急，那里等得，急纵身往里便走。噫！

这个美猴王，性急能鹊薄[9]。

诸天留不停，要往里边[10]。

拽步入深林，睁睛偷觑着。

远观救苦尊，盘坐衬残箬。

懒散怕梳妆，容颜多绰约。

散挽一窝丝，未曾戴缨络。

不挂素蓝袍，贴身小袄缚。

漫腰束锦裙，赤了一双脚。

披肩绣带无，精光两臂膊。

玉手执钢刀，正把竹皮削。

行者见了，忍不住厉声高叫道：“菩萨，弟子孙悟空志心朝礼。”菩萨教：“外面俟候。”行者叩头道：“菩萨，我师父有难，特来拜问通天河妖怪根源。”菩萨道：“你且出去，待我出来。”

行者不敢强，只得走出竹林，对众诸天道：“菩萨今日又重置家事哩。怎么不坐莲台，不妆饰，不喜欢，在林里削篾做甚？”诸天道：“我等却不知。今早出洞，未曾妆束，就入林中去了。又教我等在此接候大圣，必然为大圣有事。”行者没奈何，只得等候。

不多时，只见菩萨手提一个紫竹篮儿出林，道：“悟空，我与你救唐僧去来。”行者慌忙跪下道：“弟子不敢催促，且请菩萨着衣登座。”菩萨道：“不消着衣，就此去也。”那菩萨撇下诸天，纵祥云腾空而去。孙大圣只得相随。

顷刻间，到了通天河界。八戒与沙僧看见道：“师兄性急，不知在南海怎么乱嚷乱叫，把一个未梳妆的菩萨逼将来也。”说不了，到于河岸。二人下拜道：“菩萨，我等擅干[11]，有罪！有罪！”菩萨即解下一根束袄的丝绦，将篮儿拴定，提着丝绦，半踏云彩，抛在河中，往上溜头扯着，口念颂子道：“死的去，活的住！死的去，活的住！”念了七遍，提起篮儿，但见那篮里亮灼灼一尾金鱼，还斩眼[12]动鳞。菩萨叫：“悟空，快下水救你师父耶。”行者道：“未曾拿住妖邪，如何救得师父？”菩萨道：“这篮儿里不是？”八戒与沙僧拜问道：“这鱼儿怎生有那等手段？”菩萨道：“他本是我莲花池里养大的金鱼，每日浮头听经，修成手段。那一柄九瓣铜锤，乃是一枝未开的菡萏[13]，被他运炼成兵。不知是那一日，海潮泛涨，走到此间。我今早扶栏看花，却不见这厮出拜。掐指巡纹[14]，算着他在此成精，害你师父，故此未及梳妆，运神功，织个竹篮儿擒他。”

行者道：“菩萨，既然如此，且待片时，等我叫陈家庄众信人等，看看菩萨的金面：一则留恩，二来说此收怪之事，好教凡人信心供养。”菩萨道：“也罢，你快去叫来。”那八戒与沙僧一齐飞跑至庄前，高呼道：“都来看活观音菩萨！都来看活观音菩萨！”一庄老幼男女，都向河边，也不顾泥水，都跪在里面磕头礼拜。内中有善图画者，传下影神，这才是鱼篮观音现身。当时菩萨就归南海。

八戒与沙僧分开水道，径往那水鼋之第找寻师父。原来那里边水怪鱼精，尽皆死烂。却入后宫，揭开石匣，驮着唐僧，出离波津，与众相见。那陈清兄弟叩头称谢道：“老爷不依小人劝留，致令如此受苦。”行者道：“不消说了。你们这里人家，下年再不用祭赛。那大王已此除根，永无伤害。陈老儿，如今才好累你，快寻一只船儿，送我们过河去也。”那陈清道：“有！有！有！”就教解板打船。众庄客闻得此言，无不喜舍。那个道，我买桅篷；这个道，我办篙桨。有的说，我出绳索；有的说，我雇水手。

正都在河边上吵闹，忽听得河中间高叫：“孙大圣不要打船，花费人家财物。我送你师徒们过去。”众人听说，个个心惊，胆小的走了回家，胆大的战兢兢贪看。须臾，那水里钻出一个怪来。你道怎生模样：

方头神物非凡品，九助灵机号水仙。

曳尾能延千纪寿，潜身静隐百川渊。

翻波跳浪冲江岸，向日朝风卧海边。

养气含灵真有道，多年粉盖赖头鼋。

那老鼋又叫：“大圣，不要打船，我送你师徒过去。”行者抡着铁棒道：“我把你这个孽畜！若到边前，这一棒就打死你！”老鼋道：“我感大圣之恩，情愿办好心送你师徒，你怎么反要打我？”行者道：“与你有甚恩惠？”老鼋道：“大圣，你不知这底下水鼋之第，乃是我的住宅。自历代以来，祖上传留到我。我因省悟本根，养成灵气，在此处修行，被我将祖居翻盖了一遍，立做一个水鼋之第。那妖邪乃九年前海啸波翻，他赶潮头来于此处，仗逞凶顽，与我争斗；被他伤了我许多儿女，夺了我许多眷族。我斗他不过，将巢穴白白的被他占了。今蒙大圣至此搭救唐师父，请了观音菩萨扫净妖氛，收去怪物，将第宅还归于我。我如今团[15]老小，再不须挨土帮泥，得居旧舍。此恩重若丘山，深如大海。且不但我等蒙惠，只这一庄上人，免得年年祭赛，全了多少人家儿女！此诚所谓‘一举而两得’之恩也！敢不报答？”

行者闻言，心中暗喜，收了铁棒道：“你端的是真实之情么？”老鼋道：“因大圣恩德洪深，怎敢虚谬？”行者道：“既是真情，你朝天赌咒。”那老鼋张着红口，朝天发誓道：“我若真情不送唐僧过此通天河，将身化为血水！”行者笑道：“你上来，你上来。”老鼋却才负近岸边，将身一纵，爬上河崖。众人近前观看，有四丈围圆的一个大白盖。行者道：“师父，我们上他身，渡过去也。”三藏道：“徒弟呀，那层冰厚冻，尚且邅迍，况此鼋背？恐不稳便。”老鼋道：“师父放心。我比那层冰厚冻，稳得紧哩。但歪一歪，不成功果！”行者道：“师父啊，凡诸众生，会说人话，决不打诳语。”教：“兄弟们，快牵马来。”

到了河边，陈家庄老幼男女，一齐来拜送。行者教把马牵在白鼋盖上，请唐僧站在马的颈项左边，沙僧站在右边，八戒站在马后，行者站在马前；又恐那鼋无礼，解下虎筋绦子，穿在老鼋的鼻之内，扯起来，像一条缰绳；却使一只脚踏在盖上，一只脚蹬在头上；一只手执着铁棒，一只手扯着缰绳，叫道：“老鼋，慢慢走呵。歪一歪儿，就照头一下！”老鼋道：“不敢！不敢！”他却蹬开四足，踏水面如行平地。众人都在岸上焚香叩头，都念“南无阿弥陀佛”。这正是真罗汉临凡，活菩萨出现。众人只拜的望不见形影方回，不题。

却说那师父驾着白鼋，那消一日，行过了八百里通天河界，干手干脚的登岸。三藏上崖，合手称谢道：“老鼋累你。无物可赠，待我取经回谢你罢。”老鼋道：“不劳师父赐谢。我闻得西天佛祖无灭无生，能知过去未来之事。我在此间，整修行了一千三百馀年；虽然延寿身轻，会说人语，只是难脱本壳。万望老师父到西天与我问佛祖一声，看我几时得脱本壳，可得一个人身。”三藏响允道：“我问，我问。”那老鼋才淬水中去了。行者遂伏侍唐僧上马，八戒挑着行囊，沙僧跟随左右。师徒们找大路，一直奔西。这的是：

圣僧奉旨拜弥陀，水远山遥灾难多。

意志心诚不惧死，白鼋驮渡过天河。

毕竟不知此后还有多少路程，还有甚么凶吉，且听下回分解。

[1] 得故子：借机会、抓住机会。

[2] 影：方言。指对不确定、不可确知的事物的一种担心、害怕的精神感觉。此处谓闻声而不能见面，令人恐惧。

[3] 逊金：同“渗金”，以金粉或金箔装饰物体表面。

[4] 扯炉：拉风箱烧火。

[5] 菂（dì）：莲实。

[6] 磨博士：以磨面粉为业的手工业者。

[7] 识俊：知趣、识相。

[8] 性摊：指泄劲了，不再着急了。

[9] 鹊薄：挖苦，讥诮。

[10] （duò）：原意指赤脚，这里作度、进、蹭解释。

[11] 擅干：擅自干犯。

[12] 斩眼：眨眼。

[13] 菡（hàn）萏（dàn）：荷花。

[14] 掐指巡纹：指掐指算卦。

[15] 团（luán）：团圆，团聚。，圆。

CHAPTER 49. Tripitaka meets disaster and sinks to a water home; To bring salvation, Guanyin reveals a fish basket.

We were telling you about the Great Sage Sun, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk, who took leave of the elder Chen and went to the edge of the river. “Brothers,” said Pilgrim, “the two of you must decide which one will go first into the water.” Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, neither of us is particularly capable. You are the one who should enter the water first.” “To tell you the truth, Worthy Brother,” said Pilgrim, “if this were a monster-spirit in a mountain, there would be no need for both of you to exert yourselves. But I can’t quite do business in water. If I were to go into the ocean or walk in a river, I would have to make the water-repelling sign with my fingers, or else I would have to change into a fish or a crab before I could go in. Since I had to make the sign, I would not be able to use my iron rod properly to attack the fiend. But both of you are used to water, and that’s why I am asking you to go.” “Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, “we can go in all right, but we don’t know what to expect once we reach the river bottom. I think we should all go in; you can change into some kind of creature, and I can carry you along as I open up a path in the water. Once we find the lair of the fiend, you can then go inside and scout the place. If Master is still there unharmed, we can begin our assault at once with all our might. But if it were not this fiend who used the magic, or if Master had been drowned or eaten already by him, then there would be no need for us to engage in this bitter quest. We might as well go off in another direction as quickly as possible. How about that?” “What you said, Worthy Brother,” said Pilgrim, “is most reasonable. Which one of you will carry me?” Secretly pleased, Eight Rules thought to himself, “I don’t know how many times this ape has made a fool of me! So he doesn’t know how to handle himself in water. Let old Hog carry him and give him a taste of his tricks!” Laughing amiably, Idiot said, “Elder Brother, I’ll carry you.” At once perceiving his intentions, Pilgrim nonetheless played along with him, saying, “All right, that’s fine. Your arms might be even a bit stronger than Wujing’s.” Thus Eight Rules carried Pilgrim on his back.

As Sha Monk divided the water to make a path, the three brothers all plunged into the Heaven-Reaching River. After journeying for over a hundred miles toward the bottom, that Idiot was about to play a trick on Pilgrim, who at once pulled off a piece of hair, which he changed into a spurious form of himself clinging to the back of Eight Rules. His true self was changed into a hog louse securely lodged in one of Eight Rules’s ears. As Eight Rules walked along, he suddenly and deliberately stumbled so that Pilgrim was sent flying over his head. The spurious form, however, was only a transformed piece of hair; once it left the back of Eight Rules, it drifted away with the current and soon vanished. “Second Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, “how would you explain this? Why didn’t you walk more carefully? It would have been all right if you had fallen in the mud. Now the jolt has sent Big Brother off to who knows where!” Eight Rules said, “That monkey can’t even stand a fall: just once and he’s melted already. Brother, don’t worry whether he’s dead or alive. You and I can go search for Master.” “It’s no good,” said Sha Monk, “for we must have him. Though he may not feel at home in water, he is far more agile than we. If he’s not around, I shall not go with you.” Unable to contain himself any longer, Pilgrim inside Eight Rules’s ear shouted with a loud voice, “Wujing, old Monkey’s right here!” On hearing this, Sha Monk laughed and said, “O dear! This Idiot is as good as dead! How dared you try to play a trick on him? Now you can hear him but you can’t see him. What are you going to do?” Eight Rules became so frightened that he went to his knees in the mud and kowtowed, saying, “Elder Brother, it’s my fault! Wait till we rescue Master, and I shall apologize to you once more on the shore. Where are you making all this noise from? I’m scared to death! Please reveal your original form. I’ll carry you, and I’ll never dare offend you again.” Pilgrim said, “You are still carrying me, all right! I won’t trick you. Let’s get going quickly!” Still muttering his apologies, Idiot scrambled up and proceeded with Sha Monk.

They journeyed for another hundred miles or so when they came upon a towered building all at once, on which there was, in large letters, the inscription: “Sea-Turtle House.” “This must be the residence of the monster-spirit,” said Sha Monk, “but we don’t know that for sure. How could we go up to the door to provoke battle?” “Wujing,” said Pilgrim, “is there any water around the gate?” Sha Monk said, “No.” “In that case,” said Pilgrim, “the two of you go and hide on both sides of the door. Let Old Monkey go and scout around.”

Dear Great Sage! Crawling free of Eight Rules’s ear, he shook his body once and changed again into a shrimp-mother with long legs. With two or three leaps, he bounded right inside the gate. As he looked around, he saw the fiend sitting up there while his watery kinsfolk stood in two rows beneath him. There was also a striped-coated perch-mother sitting by his side. They were all having a discussion on how to eat the Tang Monk. Pilgrim looked left and right with great care, but he could not find his master at all. Just then he saw a large-bellied shrimp-mother come out and stand still in the western corridor. Pilgrim leaped up to her and greeted her, saying, “Mama, the Great King is discussing with the others how to eat the Tang Monk. But where is the Tang Monk?” “He was captured yesterday,” said the shrimp-mother, “after the Great King brought down the snow and created the ice. He is now imprisoned in a stone box at the rear of the palace. If by tomorrow his disciples do not show up to cause any trouble, we will make music and feast on him.”

After he heard this, Pilgrim chatted further with her for awhile before moving toward the rear of the palace. He looked, and sure enough there was a stone box, somewhat like a pigsty that people use in a pigpen or a stone coffin. Measuring it, he found it to be approximately six feet in length. He crawled on top of it and soon heard the pitiful sound of Tripitaka’s weeping coming from inside. Not uttering a word, Pilgrim cocked his ear to listen. Grinding his teeth in sheer frustration, the master said:

I loathe River Float, a life plagued by woes!

How many water perils bound me at birth!

I left my mother’s womb to be tossed by waves;

I plumbed the deep, seeking Buddha in the West.

I met disaster at Black River before;

Now in this ice-break, my life will expire.

I know not if my pupils can come here,

Or if with true scriptures I can go home.

Pilgrim could not refrain from calling out, “Master, don’t be annoyed. The Water-Calamity Book says,

Earth is the mother of the Five Phases;

But water is their very source.

Without earth there is no life;

Without water there is no growth.

Old Monkey has arrived!” On hearing this, Tripitaka said, “O Disciple! Please save me!” “Try to relax,” said Pilgrim. “Wait till we seize the monster-spirit and you will be freed from your ordeal.” “Get moving quickly!” said Tripitaka. “One more day and I’ll suffocate!” “That won’t happen! That won’t happen!” said Pilgrim. “I’m off!” Turning around, he leaped right out of the gate and changed back into his original form. “Eight Rules!” he shouted. Idiot and Sha Monk drew near, saying, “Elder Brother, what did you find out?” “It was this fiend all right,” said Pilgrim, “who captured Master. He is not yet hurt, but he is imprisoned in a stone box. The two of you should provoke battle at once after old Monkey has gone back up to the surface of the water. If you two can capture him, do so; but if you can’t, feign defeat and entice him out to the surface. I’ll attack him then.” “Have no worry, Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk. “You leave first and let us size up the situation.” Making the water-repelling sign with his fingers, Pilgrim darted out of the river and stood on the bank to wait for them.

Look how violent that Eight Rules could become! Dashing up to the gate, he shouted in a severe voice, “Brazen fiend! Send my master out!” The little monsters inside the gate were so alarmed that they went hurriedly to report, “Great King, someone at the gate is demanding his master.” “That must be one of those brazen monks,” said the monster. “Bring out my armor!” The little fiends took it out quickly. After he was properly suited up, the monster picked up his weapon and walked out the gate. Facing him on the left and on the right were Eight Rules and Sha Monk, who stared intently at him. Dear monster! Look at him!

His head wore a gleaming helmet of gold.

A gold cuirass he had that flashed red light.

Pearl- and jade-studded, a belt wrapped his waist.

His feet wore strange boots of tobacco brown.

The bridge of his nose rose high like a ridge.

His forehead seemed like a dragon’s, broad and wide.

Both round and fierce his blazing eyes would glare.

His teeth, like steel swords, were even and sharp.

His tousled short hair did shoot up like flames.

His long beard was groomed like a golden awl.

His mouth held a pond weed, tender and green.

His hands gripped a nine-grooved red bronze mallet.

As the gates swung wide open with a creak,

He bellowed like the thunder of triple spring.

Features like his are rare in human world.

Hence he’s called Great King of Numinous Power.

After the fiend walked out of the gates, about a hundred little imps, all wielding lances and swords, followed him out and stood in two columns behind him. “From which monastery have you come,” he asked Eight Rules, “and why are you causing a disturbance here?” “You brazen creature!” shouted Eight Rules. “You were almost beaten to death! You argued with me the other night, and yet you dare play ignorant and ask me again today? I am a disciple of a holy monk from the Great Tang in the Land of the East, and a pilgrim journeying to see Buddha in the Western Heaven for scriptures. Be-fooling the people with your empty magic, you are even audacious enough to call yourself Great King of Numinous Power and indulge in devouring virgin boys and girls from the Chen village. I am One Load of Gold from the family of Chen Qing. Can’t you recognize me?”

“Monk,” said the monster, “you are quite unreasonable! For taking on the form of One Load of Gold, you should be charged with the crime of false identity. Not only did I not eat you, but the back of my hand was also wounded by you. I have yielded to you already. How dare you come seeking trouble right up to my door?” “If you had yielded,” said Eight Rules, “then why did you raise up the cold wind and send down the great snowfall? Why did you make the ice to trap my master? Send him out quickly and all will be well. If but half a ‘No’ escapes from your teeth, I’ll never spare you! Just look at this rake in my hands!” On hearing this, the fiend smiled sarcastically and said, “Monk, you are wagging your tongue and bragging! It was I, indeed, who brought the snow and froze the river to abduct your master. Now you are clamoring at my door and demanding his return, but this time, I fear, is not quite the same as the time before. Previously, I brought no weapon with me as I thought I was attending a feast, and you took advantage of me. Don’t run away now, because I’m going to fight with you for three rounds. If you can withstand me, I will return your master; if you cannot, I’ll eat you also.”

“My darling child!” said Eight Rules. “That’s the way to talk! Take care, watch my rake!” “So you became a monk midway in your life,” said the fiend. Eight Rules said, “My dear boy, you do have a little Numinous power! How did you know that I became a monk midway in my life?” “Since you are using a rake,” said the fiend, “you must have been hired as a gardener somewhere, and now you have stolen even your master’s rake!” “Son,” said Eight Rules, “this rake of mine is no garden tool. Look!

The huge teeth are forged like dragon claws;

Its handle, white-gold wrapped, is serpent shaped.

When it’s used in battle, cold wind swoops down;

When it’s put to combat, bright flames spring up.

Able to smite fiends for the holy monk,

It catches monsters on the westward way.

When I move it, mist hides the sun and moon.

When I use it, bright, colored lights will shine.

Mount Tai’s toppled, and a thousand tigers cringe.

The sea’s upturned, ten thousand dragons fear.

Though you may have Numinous power,

One blow will give you nine big, gaping holes!”

That fiend, of course, would not take such words seriously! He raised his bronze mallet and brought it down on Eight Rules’s head. Using his muckrake to parry the blow, Eight Rules said, “You brazen creature! So, you too, became a spirit midway in your life!” “How could you tell that I became a spirit midway in my life?” asked the fiend. “If you know how to use a bronze mallet,” said Eight Rules, “you must have been a laborer hired by some silversmith to tend the fires. You took advantage of him and stole his mallet!” The fiend said, “This is no mallet for forging silver. Look!

Nine segments formed like petals of a flow’r;

Though hollow the stem’s made of evergreen.

It’s not anything of this mortal world,

It has its birth and name in the house of gods.

Green seeds and cases aged in the jasper pool;

Pure scent and nature born of a jade-green pond.

Since I toiled to temper and refine it,

It’s charged with magic and it’s hard as steel.

Swords, halberds, and spears—all can’t rival it.

Axes and lances—none can withstand it.

Though your rake may be like a sharp-edged sword,

My mallet will break it as it breaks a nail!”

When Sha Monk saw how the two of them engaged in such exchanges, he could no longer restrain himself from approaching them and shouting, “Fiend! Stop this boasting! The ancients said, ‘What’s spoken proves nothing; only deeds are visible!’ Don’t run away. Have a taste of my staff!” Using the mallet to parry the blow, the fiend said, “So, you also are someone who became a monk midway in your life!” “How did you know?” asked Sha Monk. “The way you look,” said the fiend, “you resemble someone who used to work in a pastry shop.” Sha Monk said, “How could you tell that I used to work in a pastry shop?” “If you didn’t work there,” said the fiend, “how could you learn to use a rolling pin, like the one they made noodles with?” “You cursed thing!” scolded Sha Monk. “Of course, you haven’t seen anything like this before!

This kind of weapon is rare in the world;

That’s why you don’t know the treasure staff’s name.

It came from the moon—the shadowless spot—

Carved from a piece of divine śāla wood.

Outside it’s decked with jewels luminous;

Within, a hub of gold’s most glorious.

In bygone days it attended royal feasts;

Now it follows Right and guards the Tang Monk.

Few may know it on the way to the West;

Great fame it has in the Region Above.

It’s called the fiend-routing treasure staff:

One blow and it will surely crack your skull!”

In no mood to talk further, the fiend charged him; the three of them turned ferocious all at once and began a fierce battle at the bottom of the river.

Bronze mallet, treasure staff, and muckrake:

Wuneng and Wujing both engaged the fiend.

One was Heavenly Reeds descending to earth;

One was a divine warrior coming from the sky.

Both attacked the water fiend, showing their power.

This one withstood alone the god-monks—a laudable show!

Proper affinity can perfect the great Dao:

Mutual growth or conquest holds Ganges’ sand.

Earth conquers water,

And the bottom’s seen when water dries up;

Water begets wood

Which, flourishing, will bloom like flowers.

Chan and Dao, nurtured, lead to the same essence;

Elixir, refined and forged, tames the three parties.

Earth is mother

Sprouting golden shoots;

Gold begets divine water and the baby’s born.

Water’s the source

To moisten wood.

And wood, thriving, brings forth strong, bright fire.

The conjoined Five Phases will all differ:

That’s why they strive, each changing colors.

Look! Each petal of that bronze mallet was fine and bright;

The treasure staff was wrapped in a thousand strands of silk.

The rake, made according to yin-yang and the stars,

Dealt sundry blows without style or number.

They risked their lives for the monk’s ordeal;

They courted death for Śākyamuni’s sake.

The bronze mallet was kept busy all the time,

Blocking staff on the left and rake on the right.

The three of them fought for some two hours underneath the water and no decision could be reached. Supposing that they could not prevail against him, Eight Rules winked at Sha Monk, and the two of them at once feigned defeat. They turned and fled, their weapons trailing behind them. “Little ones,” ordered the fiend, “stay here. Let me catch up with these fellows and bring them back for you to eat.” Look at him! Like the wind blowing dead leaves and the rain beating down the withered flowers, he pursued them right up to the surface of the water.

On the eastern shore, the Great Sage Sun was staring at the water with unblinking eyes. Suddenly huge waves arose in the river and there were shouts and roars. Eight Rules was the first to leap ashore, crying, “He’s coming! He’s coming!” Sha Monk, too, rushed up to the bank, crying, “He’s coming! He’s coming!” He was pursued by the fiend, who yelled, “Where are you running to?” No sooner did he clear the water, however, than he was met by Pilgrim, shouting, “Watch the rod!” Quickly swerving to dodge the blow, the fiend met him with upraised mallet. One of them churned up the waves near the edge of the river, while the other showed forth his power on the bank. Before they reached even three rounds after they closed in, the fiend had already weakened. With a splash he plunged back into the river and disappeared; the wind and the waves thus subsided.

Pilgrim went back to high ground and said, “Brothers, you’ve worked very hard!” “Elder Brother,” said Sha Monk, “this monster-spirit might not do so well on land, but he was quite formidable beneath the water. Second Elder Brother and I attacked him left and right and both of us could only manage to fight him to a draw. What shall we do to rescue Master?” “Let’s not dillydally,” said Pilgrim, “for I fear that he may harm Master.” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “we’ll go and try to entice him to come out again. You be quiet and wait for him in midair. Once his head emerges, you give him one of those garlic-pounding blows squarely on the top of his skull. Even if you don’t kill him, you’ll knock him dazed. Old Hog can then finish him off with one blow of the rake.” “Exactly! Exactly!” said Pilgrim. “That’s what we call mutual cooperation. Only that can accomplish anything.” The two of them dove into the water again, and we shall leave them for the moment.

We tell you now about that fiend, who fled in defeat and returned to his residence. As the various fiends met him, the perch-mother went up to him and said, “Great King, where did you chase those two monks to?” The fiend said, “I didn’t realize that those monks have another helper, who, when they leaped ashore, tried to hit me with an iron rod. I dodged the blow and fought with him. God knows how heavy that rod of his is! My bronze mallet could not stand up to it at all. Before we finished three rounds, I had to flee in defeat.” “Great King,” said the perch-mother, “can you remember how that helper looked?” “He has a hairy face and a thunder-god beak,” said the fiend, “forked ears and broken nose. A monk with fiery eyes and diamond pupils.” When the perch-mother heard this, she shuddered and said, “O Great King! It was smart of you to flee, and you escaped with your life! Three more rounds and you won’t live at all! I know who that monk is.” “Who is he?” asked the fiend. “Some years back I was living in the Great Eastern Ocean,” said the perch-mother, “and I heard the old Dragon King talking about him and his reputation. This monk is the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, the Handsome Monkey King who is a golden immortal of the great monad and of the primal chaos in the Region Above. Five hundred years ago, he caused great havoc in the Celestial Palace, but now he has embraced Buddhism to accompany the Tang Monk to go to the Western Heaven for scriptures. He has changed his name to Pilgrim Sun Wukong. He has tremendous magic powers and knows many ways of transformation. Great King, how could you tangle with him? From now on, you must not fight with him at all.” Hardly had she finished speaking when one of the little imps dashed in to report, “Great King, those two monks are here again to provoke battle.” The monster-spirit said, “My worthy sister’s opinion is very sound! I’m not going to face them again. See what they can do!” He gave hurriedly this order, “Little ones, shut the gates. As the proverb says,

You may call outside the door;

Your cries I’ll wholly ignore!

They may even stay here for a couple of days, but when they get tired of it, they’ll leave. Then we can freely and leisurely enjoy the Tang Monk.” All those little fiends started to haul rocks and mud to seal up the entrance to the residence. When Eight Rules and Sha Monk shouted repeatedly without receiving any reply, Idiot in perturbation began to batter the gates with his rake. The gates, of course, were tightly shut, but a few blows of the rake broke them down. Inside the gates, however, was a solid wall of mud and rocks piled sky-high. When Sha Monk saw it, he said, “Second Elder Brother, this fiend is terribly afraid, and that’s why he shuts himself up and refuses to come out. You and I should go back up to shore and discuss the matter with Big Brother.” Eight Rules agreed and they returned to the eastern shore.

Halfway between cloud and fog, Pilgrim stood waiting and holding his iron rod. When he saw the two of them emerge without the fiend, he lowered his cloud and met them on the bank. “Brothers,” he asked, “how is it that that thing has not come up?” Sha Monk said, “The fiend has shut his doors tightly and refused to come out to meet us. When Second Elder Brother broke the doors, we ran into a solid wall of mud and rocks inside. That’s why we could not even do battle with him. We decided to return to talk to you and see how we could make plans to rescue Master.” “If that’s how he behaves,” said Pilgrim, “it’s quite hard to think of anything to overcome him. You two had better patrol the banks to make certain that he doesn’t escape to another place. Let me make a trip.” “Elder Brother,” said Eight Rules, “where are you going?” Pilgrim said, “I’m going to the Potalaka Mountain to make inquiry of the Bodhisattva. I want to find out the origin of this monster, his name, and how I may search out his ancestral home. After I have seized his kinsfolk and all his relations, I can return here to rescue Master.” With a laugh, Eight Rules said, “Elder Brother, the way you do things will waste a lot of time and energy!” “I won’t waste any time or energy!” said Pilgrim. “I go, and I’ll be back at once!”

Dear Great Sage! Mounting the auspicious luminosity quickly, he left the river and headed straight for the South Sea. In less than half an hour, the Potalaka Mountain came into sight as he lowered his cloud and went up to the summit. The Twenty-four devas, the Great Mountain-Guardian, the disciple Mokṣa, Child Sudhana, and the Pearl-Bearing Dragon Girl all came forward to greet him. “Why did the Great Sage come here?” they asked, and Pilgrim said, “I must see the Bodhisattva.” “The Bodhisattva left the cave this morning,” said the deities, “and forbade anyone to follow her. She went by herself into the bamboo grove, though she left word that you would arrive today and that we should be here to receive you. She said she would not be able to see you immediately and she asked you to be seated before the cliff for awhile and wait for her to come out.”

Pilgrim obeyed and before he had even taken a seat, the Child Sudhana approached him bowing and said, “Great Sage Sun, I must thank you for your past kindness. The Bodhisattva was gracious enough to take me in and I have been her constant companion, waiting upon her beneath her lotus platform. She has, in fact, shown me great favors.” Recognizing that he was formerly the Red Boy, Pilgrim said with a laugh, “In the past you were gripped by demonic delusions. Now that you have attained the right fruit, you must realize that old Monkey is a good person!”

After having waited for a long time, Pilgrim grew very anxious, and he said, “Please make the announcement for me, all of you. If there’s further delay, I do fear for my master’s life.” “We dare not,” said the deities, “for the Bodhisattva gave specific instruction that you should wait for her to come out.” As he had always been impulsive, Pilgrim, of course, could stand it no longer and dashed all at once into the bamboo grove. Aha!

This Handsome Monkey King

Was by nature most impulsive.

The devas could not detain him

When he wished to go inside.

Deep into the grove he strode,

His open eyes stealing a glance.

There the salvific Honored-One

Sat, cross-legged, on bamboo leaves.

Carefree and without makeup

She looked so gentle and mild.

Her tresses, undone, flowed down;

She had no headgear with fringes.

Her blue robe she did not wear,

But only a small waistcoat.

A silk skirt wrapped round her waist.

Her two feet were both naked.

Her cloak’s silk sash was untied;

Her two arms were completely bare.

Her jadelike hand held up a knife

With which she peeled off bamboo skin.

When Pilgrim saw her, he could not refrain from calling aloud, “Bodhisattva, your disciple, Sun Wukong, pays you sincere homage.” “Wait outside,” commanded the Bodhisattva. Pilgrim went to his knees to kowtow, saying, “Bodhisattva, my master is facing a terrible ordeal. I came especially to ask you concerning the origin of the fiend at Heaven-Reaching River.” “Go out of the grove,” said the Bodhisattva, “and wait till I come out.”

Not daring to force her, Pilgrim had no choice but to walk out of the bamboo grove. He said to the various devas, “The Bodhisattva seems to be all wrapped up today in her domestic affairs. Why is she not sitting at her lotus platform? Why is she not made up? Why does she look so gloomy, making bamboo slips in the grove?” “We don’t know,” said the deities. “When she left the cave this morning, she went at once into the grove before she was even properly dressed. She told us also to wait for the Great Sage, and she must be doing something for your affairs.” Pilgrim could do nothing but wait.

After awhile, the Bodhisattva emerged from the grove holding a purple-bamboo basket. “Wukong,” she said, “I’ll go with you to rescue the Tang Monk.” Kneeling down hurriedly, Pilgrim said, “Your disciple dares not press you. Let the Bodhisattva dress and ascend her seat first.” “No need to dress,” said the Bodhisattva. “I can go with you just like this.” Abandoning the devas, the Bodhisattva mounted the auspicious clouds immediately and rose into the air. Great Sage Sun had to follow her!

In a moment, they arrived at the Heaven-Reaching River. On seeing them, Eight Rules said to Sha Monk, “Elder Brother is so impulsive! I wonder what sort of wild clamor he made at South Sea that forced an undressed and unadorned Bodhisattva to come here!” Hardly had he finished speaking when the Bodhisattva landed on the bank. Bowing, the two disciples said, “Bodhisattva, we have intruded upon you. Please forgive us!” Untying her sash from her vest, the Bodhisattva fastened it to the basket and rose halfway into the air on the clouds. She held the sash and lowered the basket into the river, pulling it toward the upper reach. Then she recited a spell, saying, “The dead depart; the living remain! The dead depart, the living remain!” She repeated this seven times and then lifted up the basket. Inside was a shiny goldfish, still blinking its eyes and tossing about.

“Wukong,” cried the Bodhisattva, “go into the water quickly and rescue your master.”

“But we have not yet captured the fiend,” said Pilgrim. “How could we rescue Master?” “Isn’t the fiend in the basket?” asked the Bodhisattva. Bowing, Eight Rules and Sha Monk said, “How could the little fish get to be so powerful?”

“He is a goldfish reared in my lotus pond,” said the Bodhisattva. “Every day, he would float with the current to the surface to listen to my lectures, and his powers were acquired from his self-cultivation. That nine-petaled bronze mallet is a stalk supporting an unopened lotus bud, which the process of his magic cultivation has made into a weapon. I don’t know which day it was when high tide carried him to this place. When I watched my flowers leaning on the railing this morning, this fellow did not come out to greet me. I made calculations then by consulting the grooves on my fingers and learned that he had become a spirit here, seeking to harm your master. That was why I did not even bother to put on my clothes or jewels, for I was exercising my divine powers to fashion this basket to catch him.”

“Bodhisattva,” said Pilgrim, “please remain here for a moment. Let me go and call together the believers in the Chen village so that they may gaze upon your golden visage. This will be your great favor toward them, and, moreover, the account of how you have captured the fiend will help these mortal humans to become your devout worshippers.” “All right,” said the Bodhisattva. “Go and call them together quickly.” Eight Rules and Sha Monk sprinted back to the village, screaming, “Come, all of you, to see the living Bodhisattva Guanyin!” The inhabitants of the entire village, young and old, all rushed to the edge of the river. Without regard for the mud and water, they all knelt down and kowtowed. Someone skilled in painting among them at once made a portrait of the goddess, and that was how the picture of the Guanyin with a fish basket came about. Thereafter, the Bodhisattva returned to South Sea.

Opening a path in the water, Eight Rules and Sha Monk went straight to the Sea-Turtle House to search for their master. The watery fiends and fish spirits inside were all dead. They went to the rear of the palace and opened the stone box. Then they carried the Tang Monk to leave the waves and to be reunited with the others on the shore. Chen Qing and his brother in gratitude kowtowed to them, saying, “Venerable Father, you should have listened to our pleadings and you would not have had to undergo such suffering.” “No need to say that anymore,” said Pilgrim. “You people here will have no need to make any more sacrifices next year, for the Great King has been done away with. He will take no more lives. Mr. Chen, now we must count on you to find a boat to take us across the river.” “We have one! We have one!” said Chen Qing. He at once gave the order to build a boat; when the villagers heard this, everyone responded with enthusiasm. One of them said that he would purchase the mast and another volunteered to get the oars. Some of them wanted to bring the ropes, while still others promised to hire the sailors.

As they were making such clamor by the bank of the river, they suddenly heard this cry coming from the middle of the water: “Great Sage Sun, there is no need for a boat that will only be a waste of money and materials. I’ll take you four across the river.” When the people heard this, they were so frightened that the timid ones fled back to the village, while the more courageous among them, trembling all over, stole glances at where the voice was coming from. Instantly, out crawled a strange creature from the depths. “How did he look?” you ask. He is

A square-headed divine not of this world;

His name: a water god most subtle and shrewd.

His tail can life prolong a thousand years;

He hides himself in a hundred rivers deep.

Vaulting on waves and currents he comes to shore;

Facing the sun and wind he lies on the beach.

Truly enlightened he nourishes his breath,

An old turtle, scabby headed and white shelled.

“Great Sage,” cried the old sea-turtle again, “don’t build the boat. I’ll take all of you, master and disciples, across the river.” Raising high his iron rod, Pilgrim said, “Cursed creature! If you dare approach me, I’ll kill you with one blow of my rod!” “I am grateful to the kindness of the Great Sage,” said the old turtle, “and that’s why I want to help all of you with the best intention. Why do you want to hit me instead?” “What kindness have I shown you?” asked Pilgrim.

The old turtle said, “Great Sage, you don’t realize that the Sea-Turtle House down below happens to be my residence, a place my ancestors handed down to me from generation to generation. Since I had awakened to my source and origin, I succeeded in nourishing my numinous breath to enable me to practice self-cultivation here. The house had been rebuilt by me and named the Sea-Turtle House. Nine years ago, that fiend arrived during a huge tidal wave, and at once he let loose his violence and fought with me. He slew many of my children and robbed me of many of my kinsfolk. I was no match for him, and my house was taken away by force. Now I am truly indebted to the Great Sage, who in his attempt to rescue his master, has succeeded in bringing the Bodhisattva Guanyin here to disperse all the fiendish miasma. With the monster seized, the house belongs to me once again. Now I can be reunited with my kin, young and old; I can occupy my old home again without having to rest on earth or recline on mud. This favor of yours is indeed great as a mountain and deep as the sea. But it is not just I myself who am indebted to you. The entire village here has been exempted from ever having to make the annual sacrifice, and countless children’s lives are spared. This is indeed a case of the double gain with a single move. Dare I not show my gratitude and try to repay you?”

Secretly pleased by what he heard, Pilgrim put away his iron rod and said, “Are you really sincere about this?” The old turtle said, “I’m a recipient of the Great Sage’s profound kindness. How dare I play false?” “Swear to Heaven that you are telling the truth,” said Pilgrim. Opening wide his huge red mouth toward the sky, the old turtle said, “If I do not truly intend to send the Tang Monk across the Heaven-Reaching River, may my body turn into blood!” “You come here then,” said Pilgrim, chuckling. Swimming to the edge of the river, the old turtle then crawled up the bank. When the people gathered about him to take a look, they found a huge white globe of a shell, about forty feet in its circumference. “Master,” said Pilgrim, “we can get on him and cross over.” Tripitaka said, “Disciple, even that thick ice before gave us difficulty. I wonder if this turtle’s carapace is safe at all.” “Please do not worry, Master,” said the old turtle, “I’m much safer than that thick ice! If I make even one slip, I’ll not achieve my merit.” “O Master!” said Pilgrim. “It is not likely for a creature who has acquired human speech to lie. Brothers, bring us the horse! Quick!”

As they went to the edge of the river, the entire Chen village, young and old, all came to bow to them. After Pilgrim led the horse up onto the back of the old turtle, he asked the Tang Monk to stand to the left of the horse’s neck, Sha Monk to the right, and Eight Rules at the back. Pilgrim himself stood in front of the horse. Fearing that the turtle might cause trouble nevertheless, he untied the sash of his tiger-skin kilt and fastened it to the nose of the turtle, pulling it up like a rein. He placed one foot on the turtle’s back and the other foot on its head; one hand held the iron rod while the other held the rein. “Old Turtle,” said he, “go slowly. One wrong move and I’ll give your head a blow!” “I dare not! I dare not!” said the old turtle. Stretching forth his four legs, the turtle trod on the surface of the water as smoothly as if he were walking on level ground. The people on shore all burned incense and kowtowed, everyone chanting, “Namo Amitābha!” It was truly as if real arhats were descending to earth and living Bodhisattvas revealing themselves. The people worshipped until they could no longer see the pilgrims before they dispersed, and we shall speak no more of them.

We tell you instead about the master riding on the white turtle; in less than a day, they crossed the Heaven-Reaching River of eight hundred miles. With dry hands and feet, they went ashore, As Tripitaka landed, he pressed his palms together to give thanks, saying, “I have troubled you, old Turtle, but there is nothing I can give you. Let me acquire the scriptures first, and when I come back, I’ll thank you then with a gift.” The old turtle said, “There’s no need for any gift from you, old Master. But I have heard that the Buddhist Patriarch in the Western Heaven has not only transcended the process of birth and death, but he has also the knowledge of past and future. I have practiced self-cultivation here for a full thirteen hundred years. Though I have lengthened my age and lightened my body, and I have also acquired the knowledge of human speech, I find it difficult to shed my original shell. When you get to the Western Heaven, I beg the old Master to inquire of the Buddhist Patriarch and see when I may cast off my original shell to acquire a human body.” Tripitaka said, “I promise to ask.” Then the old turtle turned around and plunged back into the water. Pilgrim helped Tang Monk to mount the horse, Eight Rules poled the luggage, and Sha Monk took up the rear. Master and disciples found the main road and started out again toward the West. Thus it was that

The holy monk sought Buddha by decree

Through a vast distance and many ordeals.

His mind was steadfast, undaunted by death;

He crossed Heaven River on a turtle’s back.

We don’t know exactly how far they still have to go, or whether good or evil befalls them; let’s listen to the explanation in the next chapter.