Chapter 13: Trapped in the Tiger's Den, Jin Xing Resolves the Crisis Uncle Qin at Shuangcha Ridge Detains the Monk

A poem says:By decree of the great Tang Emperor,The Imperial Envoy Xuanzang seeks the Chan宗.With resolute heart, he hones his path, seeking the dragon's lair,Intently cultivating, he ascends the Vulture Peak.

He journeys far, through how many nations,Traversing countless cloud-shrouded mountains.From this day forth, he travels west,Upholding the teachings, to comprehend the Great Void.

It is said that three days before the full moon of the ninth month in the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Tripitaka was sent off from beyond the Chang'an city gates by the Tang Emperor and many officials. For a day or two, he rode without stopping, quickly reaching Famen Temple. The abbot and elder of the temple's main chamber, along with over five hundred monks, stood in two rows to receive him. They led him inside, where they offered tea. After tea, they partook in a vegetarian meal. Before they knew it, night fell—it was precisely then:

Stars twinkled close, their reflections shimmering,The bright moon shone, without a speck of dust.Wild geese cried from the distant Milky Way,The sound of a fulling block echoed from a western neighbor.Returning birds perched on withered trees,While Chan monks expounded on Buddhist scriptures.On a single meditation mat, they sat until midnight.

Under the lamplight, the monks discussed the principles of Buddhism and the reasons for journeying to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures. Some spoke of the distant waters and high mountains; some of the many tigers and leopards on the road; some of the difficulty of crossing steep ridges and perilous cliffs; others of the formidable nature of malevolent demons and monsters. Tripitaka remained silent, merely pointing to his heart with a finger and nodding several times. The monks did not understand his meaning and, pressing their palms together, asked, "Master, why do you point to your heart and nod?" Tripitaka replied, "When the mind arises, various demons arise; when the mind ceases, various demons cease. I, your humble disciple, once made a solemn vow before the Buddha at the Monastery of Transformations, and I cannot fail to fulfill this intention. This journey, I am determined to reach the Western Heaven, see the Buddha, obtain the scriptures, so that our Dharma Wheel may turn, and our Holy Emperor's reign may be forever secure." Hearing these words, the monks praised him, each extolling him, calling him a "loyal and courageous Master of the Great Dharma," praising him endlessly before inviting him to rest in his bed.

Soon, the sound of bamboo announced the moon's descent, and a rooster's crow heralded the dawn. The monks rose and prepared tea and a morning meal. Xuanzang donned his kasaya and went to the main hall, where he bowed before the Buddha, saying, "Your disciple, Chen Xuanzang, is traveling to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures. However, with my mortal eyes and foolish mind, I cannot discern the true form of the living Buddha. I now vow: on the journey, I will burn incense at every temple I encounter, worship the Buddha at every shrine, and sweep every pagoda. I only pray that our compassionate Buddha will soon manifest his golden body, grant the true scriptures, and allow them to be spread in the Eastern Land." After offering his prayer, he returned to the abbot's quarters for breakfast. When the meal was finished, his two attendants prepared the saddles and horses, urging him to hasten their departure. Tripitaka left the mountain gate and bid farewell to the monks. Unwilling to part, the monks accompanied him for ten li before tearfully returning. Tripitaka then proceeded directly westward. It was late autumn. One could see:

Fallen leaves in several villages, shattered reeds.A few maple and poplar trees with crimson leaves falling.On the path, the smoke and rain made old friends rare;Yellow chrysanthemums were beautiful, the mountain bones thin,Water was cold, lotuses broken, people withered.White rushes and red smartweed in frost and snow,A lonely wild goose in the evening glow, falling from the vast sky.Faintly, dark wild clouds drifted,Swallows departed, while wild geese arrived, their calls echoing through the night.

The master and his attendants traveled for several days, reaching Gongzhou city. Officials and people of Gongzhou were already there to welcome them into the city. They rested for a night and departed the next morning. Along the way, they ate when hungry, drank when thirsty, and traveled by night and day. After two or three days, they reached Hezhou Guard, which marked the border of the Tang Empire. The garrison commander and local monks and Taoists, having heard that the Imperial Envoy, the Emperor's younger brother, was going to the West to see the Buddha, showed him utmost reverence. They received him, provided for him, and instructed the head monk to arrange for his lodging at Fuyuan Temple. The temple monks came one by one to pay their respects and arranged a late supper. After the meal, Tripitaka instructed his two attendants to feed the horses well, as they would depart before dawn. When the rooster crowed, he called his attendants, which also awoke the temple monks, who prepared tea and a morning meal. After breakfast, they left the border.

The Master, eager to depart, rose too early. It was late autumn, and the roosters crowed early, so it was still around the fourth watch (about 2-4 AM). The three individuals, with their four horses, rode into the cold frost, under the bright moon. After traveling for several dozen li, they saw a mountain ridge. They had no choice but to push through the weeds and search for a path. The terrain was indescribably rugged and difficult to traverse, and they feared they might have taken the wrong route. While they were pondering their doubts, they suddenly lost their footing, and all three, along with their horses, tumbled into a pit. Tripitaka's heart pounded, and the attendants trembled with fear. Just as they were startled, they heard roars and shouts from within, crying, "Seize them! Seize them!" A great gust of wind swept by, revealing fifty or sixty demons who seized Tripitaka and his attendants. The Master, trembling, stole a glance. The demon king seated above was exceedingly fierce; truly, he was:

His majestic body was formidable,His fierce demeanor, imposing.His electric eyes gleamed with bright light,His thunderous voice shook the four directions.Saw-like teeth jutted from his mouth,Chisel-like teeth showed at his cheeks.Embroidered silks wrapped his body,Stripes covered his spine.Steel whiskers, sparse and hairless,Hooked claws, sharp as frost.He terrified the Yellow Duke of the East Sea,And the White-Browed King of the Southern Mountains.

Tripitaka was scared out of his wits, and his two attendants' bones softened and muscles slackened. The demon king roared an order to bind them, and all the demons immediately bound the three with ropes. Just as they were about to prepare to devour them, they heard a commotion outside. Someone reported, "Bear Mountain Lord and Mr. Te are here!" Hearing this, Tripitaka looked up and saw a dark-skinned man walking first. You should have seen his appearance:

Valiant and courageous,Agile despite his bulky frame.He crossed water with fierce strength,And ran through forests with furious might.He was a long-awaited auspicious omen,Now uniquely displaying his heroic bearing.He could climb and break green trees,And knew well how to discern the seasons.His spiritual power was evident wherever he appeared,Hence he was called Mountain Lord.

Then he saw a stout man following behind. You should have seen his appearance:

With a lofty, double-horned crown,Stern and high-shouldered.His docile nature donned steady blue robes,His hooves moved with slow steps.His lineage name was derived from "father ox,"Originally called by "mother ox" character.He could perform the work of a farmer,Thus named Mr. Te.

The two swaggered in, causing the demon king to rush out to greet them. Bear Mountain Lord said, "General Yin, you've been thriving lately, congratulations, congratulations!" Mr. Te laughed, "General Yin, your demeanor is better than ever, truly delightful, truly delightful!" The demon king asked, "How have you two gentlemen been these past few days?" Mountain Lord replied, "Just maintaining our usual habits." Mr. Te said, "Just going with the flow." After the three exchanged pleasantries, they sat and chatted.

They then noticed the attendants bound so tightly they were weeping in pain. The dark-skinned man asked, "Where did these three come from?" The demon king replied, "They delivered themselves to our doorstep." Mr. Te smiled and said, "Can they be served to guests?" The demon king responded, "Indeed, indeed!" Mountain Lord said, "Don't consume them all; eat two and keep one." The demon king acknowledged, then called his subordinates, who disemboweled the two attendants, chopped their bodies into pieces, offered their heads and hearts to the two guests, and ate their four limbs themselves. The remaining flesh and bones were distributed among the other demons. One heard sounds like tigers devouring lambs, and in an instant, everything was consumed. This nearly frightened the Master to death. This was the first ordeal since leaving Chang'an.

Amidst his terror, the east gradually lightened. The two monsters departed at daybreak, both saying, "We have troubled you greatly today; we will sincerely reciprocate another time." With that, they vanished. Before long, the red sun rose high. Tripitaka, in a daze, could not discern north, south, east, or west. Just when he thought he was doomed, he suddenly saw an old man approaching, holding a staff. The old man stepped forward, waved his hand, and all the ropes broke. He blew a breath at Tripitaka, who then regained consciousness, knelt on the ground, and said, "Thank you, venerable elder, for saving this humble monk's life!" The old man returned the bow and said, "Rise. Have you lost anything?" Tripitaka replied, "My attendants have been eaten by monsters, but I don't know where my luggage and horse are." The old man pointed with his staff, saying, "Isn't that a horse and two bundles over there?" Tripitaka turned to look and indeed, his belongings were all there, nothing lost. His heart eased slightly. He asked the old man, "Venerable elder, where is this place? And why are you here?" The old man replied, "This is Shuangcha Ridge, a den of tigers and wolves. Why did you fall into this place?" Tripitaka said, "This humble monk left Hezhou Guard at cockcrow. I did not expect to have risen so early, and while braving the frost and dew, I suddenly fell into this place. I encountered a demon king, exceedingly fierce, who bound me and my two attendants. Then a dark-skinned man, called Bear Mountain Lord, and a stout man, called Mr. Te, came in and called the demon king General Yin. The three of them ate my two attendants, and only scattered at dawn. I never imagined I would have such great fortune and destiny to be rescued by you, venerable elder, here?" The old man said, "Mr. Te is a wild ox spirit, Bear Mountain Lord is a bear spirit, and General Yin is a tiger spirit. All the lesser demons are mountain sprites, tree ghosts, monstrous beasts, and gray wolves. It is only because your true nature is inherently enlightened that they could not eat you. Come with me, I will lead you onto the path." Tripitaka was profoundly grateful. He loaded his bundles onto the horse, took the reins, and followed the old man directly out of the pit and onto the main road. He then tethered his horse to the roadside grass, turned to bow in thanks to the old man, who then transformed into a gust of clear wind, mounted a vermillion-crowned white crane, and soared into the sky. Only a brief note drifted down on the wind, bearing four lines of verse:

I am the Great White Star of the Western Heaven,Come specifically to rescue your life.Ahead, you will surely have divine disciples to aid you,Do not complain about difficulties in the scriptures.

Tripitaka read it, then bowed to the sky, saying, "Thank you, Golden Star, for delivering me from this hardship." After bowing, he took his horse and, alone and desolate, pressed onward. On this ridge, truly, it was:

Wind rustled coldly through the rain-forest,Water murmured in the gully below.Wildflowers bloomed fragrantly,Rocks piled densely in thickets.Deer and apes clamored noisily,Groups of roe deer and musk deer.Many birds chirped chaotically,While human activity was sparse and quiet.The Master, trembling, felt uneasy;The horse, weak-legged, could barely lift its hooves.

Tripitaka, abandoning himself to fate, struggled up the steep ridge. After half a day's travel, he still saw no sign of human habitation or village. Firstly, he was hungry, and secondly, the road was uneven. Just when he was in dire straits, he saw two fierce tigers roaring ahead, and several long snakes coiling behind. To his left were venomous insects, to his right monstrous beasts. Tripitaka, alone and helpless, could only resign himself to destiny. To make matters worse, his horse's waist was weak and its hooves bent, causing it to kneel down and lie on the ground. He could not make it rise or move it. The poor Master had nowhere to rest his body, truly feeling utter despair, believing he was surely about to die, helpless. Yet, though he faced disaster, there was salvation. Just when he thought he was doomed, he suddenly saw venomous insects fleeing, monstrous beasts flying away; fierce tigers vanished without a trace, and long snakes hid themselves. Tripitaka looked up and saw a man approaching from the mountainside, holding a steel trident and carrying a bow and arrows at his waist. He was truly a brave man. Look at him:

On his head, he wore a hat of speckled leopard skin, adorned with mugwort leaves.On his body, he wore a robe of sheep's wool brocade.Around his waist, he fastened a lion-hide belt.On his feet, he wore a pair of deerskin boots.His round, staring eyes were like those of a mournful visitor,His bushy beard was wild like a river god's.He carried a pouch of poison and arrows,And wielded a steel-tipped great trident.His voice, like thunder, shattered the courage of mountain insects,His valor startled the souls of wild pheasants.

Tripitaka saw him approaching, knelt by the roadside, pressed his palms together, and cried out, "Great King, save my life! Great King, save my life!" The man reached him, put down his steel trident, and helped him up with his hand, saying, "Master, do not be afraid. I am not a bad person. I am a hunter from this mountain, named Liu Boqin, and my nickname is 'Protector of the Mountain.' I just came here to find some mountain game for food. I didn't expect to meet you; I apologize for any intrusion." Tripitaka said, "This humble monk is an Imperial Envoy sent by the Tang Emperor to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Just now, I arrived here and was surrounded by wolves, tigers, snakes, and insects on all sides, unable to proceed. Suddenly, I saw you, Protector, arrive, and all the beasts fled. You saved this humble monk's life, thank you, thank you!" Boqin said, "I live here, specializing in hunting wolves and tigers for a living, and catching snakes and insects to survive. That is why all the beasts fear my presence. Since you are from the Tang Dynasty, we are fellow countrymen. This is still the territory of the Great Tang, and I am also a subject of the Tang Dynasty. We both drink the water and eat the soil of the Emperor; truly, we are people of the same nation. Do not be afraid; come with me to my humble abode to rest your horse. Tomorrow morning, I will send you on your way." Hearing this, Tripitaka was overjoyed. He thanked Boqin, took his horse, and followed him.

After crossing the hillside, they again heard the whooshing sound of wind. Boqin said, "Master, don't go. Sit here. That sound of wind means a mountain cat is coming. I'll catch it and take it home to entertain you." Hearing this, Tripitaka trembled with fear again and dared not move. The Protector, holding his steel trident, strode forward to meet it. He saw a spotted tiger, which crashed head-on into him. When it saw Boqin, it quickly turned and ran. The Protector, with a thunderous roar, bellowed, "You beast, where are you running off to!" The tiger, seeing itself pursued relentlessly, turned and sprang forward with its claws. The Protector raised his three-pronged trident to meet the attack. Tripitaka was so terrified he collapsed on the grassy ground. Never had this monk, since the day he was born, seen such a perilous sight. The Protector and the tiger battled on the hillside below; truly, it was a magnificent fight. One saw:

Wrath surged, wild winds roared.Wrath surged, the Protector's hair stood on end, full of strength;Wild winds roared, the spotted tiger displayed its power, raising red dust.One gnashed its fangs and brandished its claws,The other spun and turned its body.The three-pronged trident held high, shimmering in the sun,The thousand-flowered tail stirred the mist and flying clouds.One lunged with fierce stabs to the chest,The other sprang forward, jaws open to devour.Those who evaded lived again as humans,Those who were struck surely met the King of Hell.Only the roar of the spotted tiger was heard, and the Protector's shout.

The spotted tiger roared, splitting mountains and rivers, startling birds and beasts;The Protector's shout, shattering the gates of heaven, revealing stars.One's golden eyes glared with fury,The other's courage swelled with rage.A lovable Liu Boqin, Protector of the Mountain,A praiseworthy king of beasts guarding its territory.Man and tiger fought for survival, vying for victory,A moment's carelessness would cost three souls.

The two fought for about an hour. Then the tiger's claws slowed, and its waist slackened. The Protector raised his trident and stabbed it through the chest, felling it. Alas, the steel trident's tip pierced its heart and liver, and in an instant, blood flowed everywhere. He grabbed its ears and dragged it onto the path, a truly brave man! Without even catching his breath, his face unchanged, he said to Tripitaka, "What a stroke of luck, what a stroke of luck! This mountain cat will be enough for the Master to eat for several days." Tripitaka praised him endlessly, saying, "Protector, you are truly a mountain god!" Boqin replied, "What skill do I possess to warrant such high praise? This is merely due to the Master's great fortune. Come! Let's hurry and skin it, then cook some meat to entertain you." With one hand, he held the trident, and with the other, he dragged the tiger, leading the way. Tripitaka, leading his horse, followed behind. They slowly walked over the hillside, when suddenly they saw a mountain village. Before the gate, truly, it was:

Ancient trees reaching the sky, wild vines covering the road.Winds in myriad valleys were cold with dust, a thousand cliffs looked strange.A single path of wild flowers perfumed the body,Several stalks of secluded bamboo were verdantly lush.A thatched gatehouse, a fenced yard, fit for painting;Stone slab bridge, white earthen walls, truly joyous and rare.Autumn was desolate, the crisp air lofty and solitary.Yellow leaves fell by the roadside, white clouds drifted over the ridge.In the sparse woods, mountain birds chattered noisily,Outside the village gate, small dogs barked loudly.

Boqin arrived at the gate, threw down the dead tiger, and called, "Where are the servants?" Three or four household servants, all oddly grim-looking, emerged and dragged the tiger inside. Boqin instructed them, "Hurry and skin it, then prepare it to entertain our guest." He then turned back to welcome Tripitaka inside. They greeted each other, and Tripitaka again expressed his profound gratitude for Boqin's kindness and life-saving compassion. Boqin said, "We are countrymen; there is no need for thanks." They sat down and had tea. An old woman, leading a daughter-in-law, came forward to greet Tripitaka. Boqin said, "This is my mother and my wife." Tripitaka said, "Please let your venerable mother be seated, and this humble monk will pay his respects." The old woman said, "Master, you are a distant guest; please be at ease, no need for bows." Boqin said, "Mother, this is an envoy sent by the Tang Emperor to the Western Heaven to see the Buddha and seek scriptures. I met him on the ridge just now, and I, thinking of our shared nationality, invited him to stay at our home. Tomorrow, I will send him on his way." Hearing this, the old woman was delighted, saying, "Good, good, good! Indeed, invite him! What a coincidence! Tomorrow is your father's death anniversary. Perhaps the Master could do us the favor of performing some good deeds and reciting some scriptures. You can send him off the day after tomorrow." Although Liu Boqin was a tiger hunter and a Protector of the Mountain, he had a filial heart. Hearing his mother's words, he immediately prepared incense and paper offerings, intending to keep Tripitaka.

While they were talking, evening fell. The servants set out tables and benches and placed several plates of thoroughly cooked, steaming hot tiger meat on them. Boqin invited Tripitaka to help himself first, promising to prepare other food later. Tripitaka clasped his palms to his chest and said, "Amitabha! Protector, I must tell you, I have been a monk since I left my mother's womb and have never tasted meat." Hearing this, Boqin pondered for a moment, then said, "Master, my family, for generations, has never known how to eat vegetarian. Even if we had some bamboo shoots, gathered some fungi, found some dried vegetables, or made some tofu, they would all be fried in the fat of deer, tigers, or leopards. There is nothing vegetarian at all. Both our cooking pots are thoroughly soaked in grease. What are we to do? It seems I have made a mistake in inviting you." Tripitaka said, "Protector, do not worry. Please enjoy your meal. Even if I, this humble monk, do not eat for three or five days, I can endure the hunger. I simply dare not break my monastic vows." Boqin said, "What if you starve to death?" Tripitaka replied, "Having received the Protector's heavenly grace, rescuing me from a den of tigers and wolves, even if I starve to death, it is better than being fed to tigers." Boqin's mother, hearing this, called out, "Son, don't chatter with the Master. I have vegetarian food ready to serve." Boqin asked, "Where would vegetarian food come from?" His mother replied, "Don't you worry about me; I have something vegetarian." She told her daughter-in-law to take down a small pot, burn off the grease, scrub it repeatedly, wash it repeatedly, and then put it back on the stove. First, she boiled half a pot of water for separate use. Then, she boiled some wild burdock leaves in water to make a tea. After that, she cooked some millet and sorghum for rice. She also cooked some dried vegetables, serving two bowls, and placed them on the table. The old mother faced Tripitaka and said, "Master, please eat. This is tea and food that my daughter-in-law and I prepared ourselves, exceedingly clean and pure." Tripitaka descended to thank her before taking his seat. Boqin set up a separate area, arranging plates and bowls full of plain tiger meat, fragrant deer meat, python meat, fox meat, rabbit meat, and finely chopped dried venison, accompanying Tripitaka as he ate his vegetarian meal. As soon as he sat down, and was about to pick up his chopsticks, Tripitaka clasped his palms and began to chant a scripture, which so startled Boqin that he dared not touch his chopsticks, quickly rising to stand by the side. After Tripitaka had chanted a few lines, he invited them to "Please eat." Boqin said, "Are you a monk who recites a short scripture?" Tripitaka replied, "This is not a scripture; it is merely a blessing for breaking the fast." Boqin said, "You monastics have so many rules; even for eating, you have to chant."

After the meal, the dishes were cleared, and as it grew dark, Boqin led Tripitaka out of the main house to walk in the back. Passing through a narrow corridor, they came to a thatched pavilion. Pushing open the door and entering, they saw several strong bows and crossbows hanging on the four walls, several quivers of arrows inserted, two bloody tiger skins draped over the beams, and many spears, knives, tridents, and clubs propped against the wall. In the center were two seats. Boqin invited Tripitaka to sit. Tripitaka, seeing such a fierce and crude place, did not dare sit long and soon left the thatched pavilion. They continued further back, arriving at a large garden, where one could not see enough of the clusters of yellow chrysanthemums and the trees laden with red maples and poplars. Suddenly, with a whoosh, ten or so fat deer and a large herd of yellow roe deer ran out. Upon seeing people, they chirped and prattled, showing no fear. Tripitaka said, "These deer and roe deer must be kept by the family?" Boqin said, "Just like wealthy families in your Chang'an city gather treasures, and those with estates gather rice and grain, we hunters only raise some wild animals to prepare for lean times." The two chatted and walked until dusk, then returned to the front house to rest.

The next morning, the entire family, old and young, rose early and prepared a vegetarian meal to entertain the Master, inviting him to begin his scripture recitation. The Master purified his hands, then, together with the Protector, lit incense before the family shrine and bowed to the ancestral tablets. Tripitaka then struck the wooden fish, first reciting the mantra for purifying the mouth karma, then the divine incantation for purifying body and mind, before opening and reciting a volume of the *Sutra for Delivering the Deceased*. After reciting, Boqin again requested him to write a memorial for the departed. Then he recited the *Diamond Sutra* and the *Guanyin Sutra*, each chanted aloud. After these recitations, they had lunch. Then he recited the *Lotus Sutra* and the *Amitabha Sutra*. After reciting several volumes of each, he also recited a volume of the *Peacock Sutra* and spoke of stories about karmic cleansing. It was already evening. They offered various incenses, burned paper horses for the gods, and incinerated the memorial for the deceased. The Buddhist service concluded, and they each retired to bed.

It is said that the spirit of Boqin's father, having been liberated from suffering and transmigration, appeared early that morning in a dream to everyone in the household, young and old, saying, "I have been suffering in the underworld, unable to be reborn for a long time. Now, thanks to the holy monk, who recited scriptures and eliminated my sins, the King of Hell has dispatched someone to send me to be reborn in a wealthy family in the prosperous land of China. You must thank the Master well when you send him off; do not be negligent, do not be negligent. I am leaving." This is precisely: With solemn intent, all dharmas are adorned; delivering the deceased from suffering, emerging from transmigration.

When the family awoke from their dream, the sun was already rising in the east. Boqin's wife said, "Protector, last night I dreamed that my father-in-law came home and said that he had suffered greatly in the underworld and could not be reborn for a long time. Now, thanks to the holy monk who recited scriptures and eliminated his sins, the King of Hell has dispatched someone to send him to be reborn in a wealthy family in the prosperous land of China, telling us to thank the Master well and not be negligent. After he spoke, he went straight out the door and swaggered away. We called out to him, but he didn't answer, nor could we stop him. When I woke, it was but a dream." Boqin said, "I also had the same dream as you. We were just about to go tell Mother." As the couple was about to speak, they heard the old mother call out, "Boqin, my child, come here, I want to talk to you." The two came forward, and the old mother, sitting on her bed, said, "My child, tonight I had a joyful dream. I dreamed your father came home and said that thanks to the Master's deliverance, his sins have been eliminated, and he is going to be reborn in a wealthy family in the prosperous land of China." The couple burst out laughing, "My wife and I both had this dream; we were just coming to report it, and unexpectedly, Mother called us, and it was for the same dream!" They then called for everyone in the household, young and old, to rise and prepare expressions of gratitude, arranging his horse and baggage. They all came forward and bowed in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Master, for delivering our deceased father from suffering and granting him rebirth; our gratitude is boundless!"

Tripitaka said, "What ability do I, this humble monk, possess to warrant such thanks!" Boqin then recounted the dreams of all three family members to Tripitaka, who was also pleased. They promptly provided a vegetarian meal and also offered one tael of silver as thanks. Tripitaka refused to accept a single coin. The family earnestly entreated him again and again, but Tripitaka ultimately accepted no money, saying only, "Your willingness to show compassion and accompany me for a stretch is gratitude enough." Boqin, his mother, and wife had no choice. They quickly made some coarse flour flatbreads and dried provisions and asked Boqin to escort him for a distance. Tripitaka gladly accepted. The Protector received his mother's command, then called two or three household servants, each carrying hunting tools, and set off on the main road together. They could not see enough of the wild scenery in the mountains and the landscape on the ridge.

After traveling for half a day, they saw a large mountain directly ahead, truly reaching the green sky, towering and treacherous. Tripitaka soon reached its base. The Protector ascended this mountain as if walking on flat ground. When they reached halfway up the mountain, Boqin turned around and stood on the path below, saying, "Master, you go on ahead. I must return." Hearing this, Tripitaka slipped off his horse and said, "I implore you, Protector, to accompany me a bit further!" Boqin said, "Master, you do not know. This mountain is called Two-Boundary Mountain. The eastern half is under the jurisdiction of my Great Tang, but the western half is the territory of the Tatars. The wolves and tigers there do not submit to my authority, and I cannot cross the border. You must go by yourself." Tripitaka's heart trembled. He reached out his hands, clutching Boqin's clothes and sleeves, unable to part, tears flowing. Just as they were bidding each other a tearful farewell, they heard a thunderous shout from the foot of the mountain: "My Master has come! My Master has come!" This startled Tripitaka into a daze and made Boqin flinch. It remained unknown who was shouting; let us listen to the next chapter's explanation.