Chapter 48: Magic Manipulates the Cold Wind and Snowflakes Fall, Monk Sibuai Worships Buddha on Layered Ice

The villagers of Chen Village, along with the offerings of pigs, sheep, and other sacrificial items, were noisily carried by the pilgrims and Pigsy directly to the Linggan Temple. The children chosen for sacrifice were placed at the head of the offerings. Monkey King looked back and saw incense, flowers, and candles on the altar. At the center was a golden plaque inscribed with "Spirit of Great King Linggan," with no other divine images. When everything was arranged, the villagers collectively kowtowed and said: "Great King, on this day, month, and year, Chen Cheng, the chief sacrificer of Chen Village, and all other devotees, regardless of age, humbly follow the annual tradition to offer a boy, Chen Guanbao, and a girl, Chen Yichengjin, along with the full complement of pigs, sheep, and other sacrificial items, for your enjoyment. We pray for favorable winds and rain, and abundant harvests." After the prayer, they burned paper horses and returned to their homes.

When Pigsy saw the crowd disperse, he said to Monkey King, "Let's go home." Monkey King asked, "Where is your home?" Pigsy replied, "Let's go sleep at old Chen's house." Monkey King said, "You foolish fellow, talking nonsense again! Since we've agreed to help them, we must fulfill their wish." Pigsy retorted, "You're not the fool, yet you call me one! We just tricked them for a bit, why are we taking this sacrifice seriously?" Monkey King replied, "Don't talk rubbish. If you're going to help people, do it thoroughly. We must wait until the Great King comes and eats the offerings. Only then will it be a complete job from beginning to end. Otherwise, he might bring disaster and harm, which would be undesirable." As they spoke, they heard a whooshing sound of wind. Pigsy exclaimed, "Oh no! That sound means he's coming!" Monkey King simply said, "Be quiet, let me handle this." In a flash, a monstrous demon appeared outside the temple gate. Its appearance was as follows:

Fresh, glittering golden armor and helmet, a precious belt encircling it like red clouds.Eyes as bright as evening stars, teeth like newly arranged saw blades.Mists and clouds drifted beneath its feet, warm vapors enveloped its body.As it moved, gusts of cold, dark wind blew; where it stood, layers of oppressive heat rose.It resembled a general lifting a curtain for a carriage, or a fearsome guardian deity at a temple gate.

The monster blocked the temple entrance and asked, "Which family is offering the sacrifice this year?" Monkey King, smiling, replied, "To answer your question, the village elders are Chen Cheng and Chen Qing." Hearing this, the monster felt suspicious. "This boy is bold and articulate," it thought. "Usually, when I come to receive offerings, if I ask once, they remain silent. If I ask again, they're scared senseless. When I reach out to grab them, they're already dead. How can this boy speak so well today?" The monster dared not approach and instead asked, "What are the names of the boy and girl?" Monkey King chuckled, "The boy is Chen Guanbao, and the girl is Yichengjin." The monster said, "This sacrifice is an old custom from last year. Now that you are offered to me, I shall eat you." Monkey King replied, "We dare not resist. Please, enjoy yourself." Hearing this, the monster still hesitated to act. It blocked the doorway and shouted, "Don't talk back! I usually eat the boy first, but this year I want to eat the girl first!" Pigsy, in a panic, pleaded, "Great King, please stick to the old custom! Don't set a bad precedent!"

The monster, without allowing further argument, reached out to seize Pigsy. The foolish fellow instantly leaped down, revealed his true form, grabbed his rake, and thrust it with a mighty blow. The monster recoiled its hand and moved forward, and they heard a clang. Pigsy exclaimed, "I've broken its armor!" Monkey King also revealed his true form and saw two fish scales, as large as ice plates. He shouted, "Pursue it!" The two leaped into the air. The monster, having come to the assembly without its weapon, stood empty-handed in the clouds and asked, "What kind of monks are you, daring to come here to bully me, ruin my sacrifices, and damage my reputation?" Monkey King replied, "This vile creature is truly ignorant! We are disciples of the Venerable Xuanzang, the holy monk from the Great Tang in the East, who was sent by imperial decree to obtain scriptures from the Western Heaven. Last night, we stayed in Chen Village and heard of a demon, falsely calling itself Linggan, demanding sacrifices of boys and girls every year. Out of compassion, we have come to save these innocent lives and capture you, this vile creature! Confess truthfully at once! You eat two boys and girls a year. How many years have you been called 'Great King' here, and how many boys and girls have you eaten? You must account for every single one, and then I will spare your life!" Hearing this, the monster fled. Pigsy struck at it again with his rake, but missed. The monster transformed into a whirlwind and plunged into the Tongtian River. Monkey King said, "No need to pursue it further. This monster must be a creature of the river. Let's devise a plan tomorrow to catch it and help our master cross the river." Pigsy agreed and returned directly to the temple. He moved all the pigs, sheep, and sacrificial offerings, along with the table, back to Chen Village. At this time, Master Tang, Sandy, and the Chen brothers were waiting for news in the hall. Suddenly, they saw the two of them drop the pigs and other items in the courtyard. Tripitaka came forward and asked, "Wukong, how did the sacrifice go?" Monkey King recounted the story of calling out the monster's name, driving it away, and its escape into the river. The two elders were extremely delighted and immediately ordered the side rooms to be cleaned and beds prepared, inviting the master and disciples to rest.

Meanwhile, the monster, having fled, returned to its underwater palace and sat silently. Its aquatic kin, big and small, asked, "Great King, every year after enjoying the sacrifice, you return joyful. Why are you troubled today?" The monster replied, "Usually, after the offerings, I bring back leftovers for you all to enjoy. But today, I didn't even get to eat anything myself. My luck was bad; I ran into an opponent who almost cost me my life." The water creatures asked, "Great King, who was it?" The monster said, "It was a disciple of the Holy Monk Xuanzang from the Great Tang in the East, who is traveling to the Western Heaven to worship Buddha and obtain scriptures. He impersonated the boy and girl and sat in the temple. When he revealed his true form, he nearly took my life. I've always heard people say that Xuanzang is a good man who has cultivated himself for ten lifetimes, and that eating a piece of his flesh can grant eternal life. I didn't expect him to have such disciples. They ruined my reputation and destroyed my offerings. I have a mind to capture Xuanzang, but I fear it may not be possible." Among the water creatures, a ghoulish, spotted mandarin fish demoness stepped forward, bowing and smiling to the monster. "Great King," she said, "what's so difficult about capturing Xuanzang? But if I catch him, will you reward me with some wine and meat?" The monster replied, "If you have a plan and we work together to capture Xuanzang, I will swear brotherhood with you, and we shall share the feast together." The demoness bowed in gratitude and said, "I have long known of Great King's power to summon winds and rain, and to stir seas and overturn rivers. But can you make it snow?" The monster said, "Yes, I can." She then asked, "Since you can make it snow, can you also make it cold enough to freeze the water?" The monster replied, "Even more so!" The demoness clapped her hands and laughed, "Then it's extremely easy, extremely easy!" The monster asked, "Then tell me about this 'extremely easy' plan." The demoness explained, "Tonight, around the third watch, Great King, you needn't hesitate. Act quickly! Raise a cold wind and bring down a heavy snow, freezing the entire Tongtian River. Then, let those of us skilled in transformation disguise ourselves as people, appearing at the river crossing with packs and umbrellas, carrying loads and pushing carts, constantly walking across the ice. Xuanzang is very eager to obtain scriptures, and seeing people crossing like this, he will surely step onto the ice to cross. Great King, you can simply wait calmly in the middle of the river. When you hear their footsteps, crack the ice, and they, along with their disciples, will all fall into the water. We can catch them in one go!" Hearing this, the monster was overjoyed. "Excellent, excellent!" it exclaimed. It immediately emerged from its underwater dwelling, soared into the sky, summoned wind and snow, and froze the river solid.

As the four, Master Tang and his disciples, rested at the Chen family's home, dawn approached. The master and disciples felt cold beneath their quilts and on their pillows. Pigsy shivered and groaned, unable to sleep. "Brother," he called out, "it's cold!" Monkey King replied, "You foolish fellow, how un-cultivated! Monks are supposed to be unaffected by heat or cold; why are you afraid of it?" Tripitaka said, "Disciple, it truly is cold. Look at this..."

Heavy quilts offer no warmth; hands feel like they're clutching ice.Withered leaves hang with frosty blooms; green pines are draped with icy bells.The earth cracks from intense cold; the pond is still, its water frozen solid.No old fisherman is seen in his boat; how can a monk be found in a mountain temple?Woodcutters lament the scarce firewood; princes rejoice in abundant charcoal.Soldiers' mustaches feel like iron; poets' pens are as sharp as caltrops.Leather coats still seem too thin; sable furs are still deemed too light.The old monk stiffens on his prayer mat; the traveler's soul trembles in the paper tent.Embroidered quilts and heavy mattresses, yet the body shivers like ringing bells.

Unable to sleep, the master and disciples got up, put on their clothes, and opened the door to look outside. Ah! It was a vast expanse of white; it had snowed! Monkey King said, "No wonder you're all complaining about the cold; it's this kind of heavy snow!" The four looked out together. What magnificent snow! One could only see:

Crimson clouds densely gathered, thick, bleak mist heavily permeating.Crimson clouds densely gathered, arctic winds roared through the sky; thick, bleak mist heavily permeated, heavy snow fell covering the earth.Truly, six-petaled flowers, each flake a flying jade piece; a thousand trees, each branch adorned with jade.In an instant, powder accumulated; in a moment, it turned to salt.White parrots lost their whiteness; white cranes' feathers blended in.It seemed to add a thousand rivers to Wu and Chu; it weighed down several plum trees in the southeast.It was as if three million jade dragons had been defeated in battle; truly like scattered scales and broken armor filling the sky.Where were Dong Guo's shoes, Yuan An's slumber, Sun Kang's reading by reflected light?Nor could one see Zi You's boat, Wang Gong's money, Su Wu's eating felt.Only a few village houses seemed built of silver; a thousand miles of mountains and rivers resembled a jade ball.What splendid snow! Willow catkins covered the bridge, pear blossoms blanketed the houses.Willow catkins covered the bridge, beside which a fisherman hung his straw cloak; pear blossoms blanketed the houses, beneath which an old rustic roasted bones.Travelers found it hard to buy wine; servants struggled to find plums.Gently and steadily, butterfly wings were cut; fluttering and drifting, goose down garments were sheared.Round and rolling with the wind's force, layer upon layer, the paths were obscured.Gusts of cold penetrated small curtains; sharp chills pierced deep drapes.A harbinger of a prosperous year descending from heaven; truly a good omen for humankind.

The snow, falling continuously, was indeed like cut jade and flying cotton. After admiring it for a long time, the master and disciples saw the elder Chen, with two servants, clearing a path. Another two brought hot water for washing faces. Soon after, they brought steaming tea and milk cakes, and then carried in charcoal braziers, all to the side rooms, where the master and disciples sat down. Tripitaka asked, "Venerable benefactor, does your region experience the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter?" Elder Chen laughed, "Although this is a remote place, and customs and people differ from the imperial capital, as for grains, crops, and livestock, they share the same sky and sun with all other places. How could there not be four seasons?" Tripitaka said, "Since there are four seasons, why is there such heavy snow and such intense cold now?" Elder Chen replied, "Although it is currently the seventh month, yesterday marked the 'White Dew' solar term, which signifies the eighth month. Here, frost and snow commonly appear in the eighth month every year." Tripitaka said, "This is quite different from my Eastern Land, where such weather only occurs around the winter solstice."

As they spoke, a servant came to set up the table and invited them to eat porridge. After breakfast, the snow grew heavier than before, and in a short while, it was about two feet deep on level ground. Tripitaka became anxious, tears welling up. Elder Chen said, "Reverend sir, please do not worry about the deep snow. My humble home has several *shi* of grain, enough to sustain you all for half a lifetime." Tripitaka replied, "Venerable benefactor, you do not know the hardships of this poor monk. That year, by imperial grace, I received the decree and was personally escorted out of the pass by a grand retinue. Emperor Taizong himself held a cup to bid me farewell and asked when I would return. Unaware of the dangers of mountains and rivers, I casually replied that I could retrieve the scriptures and return to the country in just three years. Since then, seven or eight years have passed, and I have yet to see the Buddha. I fear I may miss the imperial deadline, and I am also anxious about fierce demons, which is why I am so worried. Today, I was fortunate enough to stay at your mansion. Last night, my foolish disciples rendered a small service as repayment, truly hoping to secure a boat to cross the river. Unexpectedly, heavy snow has fallen, and the roads are covered, making it uncertain when I can achieve my goal and return to my homeland!" Elder Chen said, "Reverend sir, please rest assured. You have already spent so many days; what are a few more? Just wait until the weather clears and the ice melts. This old man will spare no expense, even if it means depleting my family's wealth, to arrange for your crossing." Just then, another servant invited them for early lunch. After they finished eating in the hall and conversed for a short while, lunch was served again. Seeing the abundant and lavish dishes, Tripitaka repeatedly felt uneasy. "Since you have kindly kept us," he said, "you should treat us as family." Elder Chen replied, "Reverend sir, we are grateful for your grace in replacing the sacrifice and saving our lives. Even if we set up feasts daily, it would be difficult to repay your kindness."

After this, the heavy snow finally stopped, and people began to move about. Seeing Tripitaka's distress, Elder Chen had the garden cleared, a large brazier set up, and invited them to relax in the "snow cave" to dispel their worries. Pigsy chuckled, "That old man has no sense! Spring, the second or third month, is good for enjoying gardens, but with such heavy snow and cold, what is there to enjoy?" Monkey King said, "You foolish fellow, you don't understand! A snowy scene is naturally serene. Firstly, it's for enjoyment, and secondly, it's to soothe Master's heart." Elder Chen said, "Precisely, precisely." So, they were invited to the garden, where they saw:

The scenery was like late autumn, the landscape like the twelfth lunar month.Azure pines bore jade blossoms, withered willows hung with silver flowers.At the foot of the steps, jade moss piled like powder; by the window, green bamboo sprouted jade shoots.On the peaks of exotic rockeries, within the fish pond.On the peaks of exotic rockeries, sharp points lined up like jade bamboo shoots; within the fish pond, clear living water formed an ice disk.Beside the bank, hibiscus bloomed in delicate, faint colors; by the cliff, tender hibiscus branches drooped.Autumn begonias were entirely weighed down; winter plum trees had just sprouted new branches.Peony Pavilion, Pomegranate Pavilion, Osmanthus Pavilion—all were piled high with goose feathers; places for relaxation, for entertaining guests, for enjoying oneself—all were covered with butterfly wings.Two hedges of yellow chrysanthemums were like golden silk; several maple trees were red mingled with white.Countless deserted courtyards were too cold to reach, but the snow cave was as cold as ice.Inside, a bronze brazier with an animal face and elephant feet held warmly glowing charcoal; above and below it were several lacquered armchairs draped with tiger skins, and softly glowing paper windows.

On the four walls hung several scrolls of ancient paintings by famous masters, depicting:

The Seven Sages passing the gate, a lone fisherman on a cold river, layered peaks and ranges forming a snowy scene; Su Wu eating felt, breaking off plum blossoms upon meeting an envoy, jade trees and bejeweled forests portraying the severity of winter.It's impossible to describe how easy it was to buy fish from a house near a water pavilion, yet how hard it was to find wine on a snowy mountain path.Truly a place where one could find comfort, what need was there to seek the mythical Penglai Island?

The group admired the scenery for a long time, then sat down in the snow cave. They spoke to the neighboring elders about the scripture retrieval journey and then drank some fragrant tea. Elder Chen asked, "Venerable sirs, would you like some wine?" Tripitaka replied, "This poor monk does not drink, but my disciples may have a few cups of vegetarian wine." Elder Chen was delighted and immediately ordered, "Bring vegetarian fruits and warm wine to warm up the venerable guests." The servants immediately brought a table and gathered around the brazier. They and the two neighboring elders each drank a few cups, then put away the fire.

Unaware of the time, evening approached, and they were again invited to the hall for dinner. They overheard people on the street saying, "What cold weather! The Tongtian River is frozen solid!" Hearing this, Tripitaka said, "Wukong, if the river is frozen, what shall we do?" Elder Chen said, "It's a sudden cold snap. I imagine only the shallow areas near the riverbanks are frozen." The passerby clarified, "The entire eight hundred *li* are frozen as smooth as a mirror, and people are walking on the ice at the crossing!" Hearing that people were walking on it, Tripitaka wanted to go see immediately. Elder Chen said, "Reverend sir, no need to rush. It's late today; you can go tomorrow." With that, they bid farewell to the neighboring elders, finished dinner, and returned to rest in the side rooms.

The next day, at dawn, Pigsy got up and said, "Brother, it's even colder tonight. The river must be frozen." Tripitaka, facing the door, bowed to the heavens and prayed, "All guardian deities of the dharma, your disciple has traveled westward with devout heart to worship the Buddha, enduring countless mountains and rivers, without a single complaint. Now, upon arriving here, I am grateful for Heaven's aid in freezing the river. Your disciple offers this temporary, heartfelt thanks, and when the scriptures are returned, I shall report to Emperor Taizong and offer my sincere gratitude." After the prayers, he instructed Sandy to lead the horse, intending to cross the frozen river. Elder Chen again urged, "Don't rush. Wait a few days for the snow to melt and the ice to break, and this old man will arrange for a boat to send you across." Sandy said, "It's neither right to go immediately nor to stay longer. Words are not proof; hearing is not as good as seeing. I will lead the horse, and please, Master, go and see for yourself." Elder Chen said, "That makes sense." He ordered, "Lads, quickly bring our six horses! But don't bring Master Tang's horse yet." Six young attendants followed, and the group headed straight to the riverbank to see for themselves. Indeed, it was:

Snow piled as high as soaring mountains, clouds dispersed, revealing a clear dawn sky.Cold congealed a thousand peaks in Chu's borderlands, making them slender; ice solidified the rivers and lakes into a flat expanse.Arctic winds blew fiercely, the slippery ice was sharp and jagged.Pond fish huddled amidst dense algae; wild birds clung to withered branches.Soldiers beyond the Great Wall suffered frostbitten fingers; boatmen at the river mouth chattered their teeth.Snake bellies split, bird feet broke; truly, ice mountains hundreds of feet high.Ten thousand ravines floated coldly with silver, a single river gleamed coldly with jade.In the East, one confidently expected silkworms to freeze; in the North, there were indeed mouse holes.Wang Xiang lay down, Emperor Guangwu crossed; overnight, stream bridges solidified to their very foundations.Crooked pools formed sharp layers, deep abysses froze repeatedly.The wide waters of Tongtian River were utterly still, the dazzling ice spread like a dry road.

Tripitaka and his companions reached the riverbank, reined in their horses, and observed. Indeed, there were people walking on the ice at the crossing. Tripitaka asked, "Benefactor, where are those people going on the ice?" Elder Chen replied, "The other side of the river is the Women's Kingdom of Xiliang. These people are all merchants. Items worth a hundred coppers here can fetch ten thousand coppers there; and items worth a hundred coppers there can also fetch ten thousand coppers here. The profits are high, and the capital low, which is why people brave death to go. Normally, five to seven or even a dozen people would cross by boat. But seeing the river frozen now, they risk their lives to walk across." Tripitaka sighed, "In this world, nothing is more important than fame and gain. Just like them, who risk death and forget life for profit, my disciples, who follow imperial decree to fulfill loyalty, are also just doing it for fame. How different are we from them?" He instructed, "Wukong, quickly return to the benefactor's home, pack our belongings, prepare the horses, and take advantage of this layered ice to hasten westward!" Monkey King readily agreed, smiling. Sandy said, "Master, as the saying goes, 'A thousand days of eating, a thousand measures of rice.' Since we are already indebted to the Chen family, let's stay a few more days. Wait for the weather to clear and the ice to thaw, then arrange for a boat to cross. Rushing might lead to mistakes." Tripitaka said, "Wujing, how can you be so foolish? If it were the first or second month, when each day grows warmer, we could wait for the thaw. But it is now the eighth month, and each day grows colder. How can we possibly hope for a thaw? Wouldn't that delay our journey by another half year?" Pigsy jumped off his horse. "Stop talking idly, both of you. Let old Pig test how thick it is." Monkey King said, "Fool, the night before last you tested the water and could throw stones. Now with the ice frozen so thick, how can you test it?" Pigsy said, "Brother, you don't know. Let me lift my rake and strike it once. If it breaks, the ice is thin, and we shouldn't proceed. If it doesn't break, the ice is thick, and we can definitely go!" Tripitaka said, "Precisely, that makes sense." The foolish fellow hiked up his clothes, stepped onto the riverbank, raised his rake with both hands, and struck with all his might. There was a dull thud, leaving nine white marks, and his hands stung from the vibration. The foolish fellow laughed, "We can go, we can go! It's frozen all the way to the bottom!"

Hearing this, Tripitaka was overjoyed. He returned with the others to the Chen family home and simply instructed them to pack up for travel. The two elders tried desperately to persuade them to stay, but failing, they prepared some roasted dry provisions and made some flatbreads and steamed buns as parting gifts. The entire family kowtowed and bowed, then presented a tray of loose gold and silver, kneeling before them and saying, "We are deeply grateful for your life-saving kindness. Please accept this as a small token of our respect for a meal on your journey." Tripitaka waved his hand and shook his head, refusing to accept. "As a monk, what use have I for wealth? I wouldn't even dare to take it out on the journey. My main task is to beg for alms daily. The dry provisions are enough." The two elders implored repeatedly. Monkey King, with his fingertips, picked up a small piece, weighing about four or five *qian*, and handed it to Tripitaka. "Master," he said, "just take this as a little extra spending money. Don't let the two elders' kind intentions go unfulfilled." With that, they bade farewell to each other. They went directly to the river and stepped onto the ice. One of the horse's hooves slipped, nearly causing Tripitaka to fall. Sandy said, "Master, this is difficult to walk on!" Pigsy said, "Wait! Let's ask old Master Chen for some straw for me to use." Monkey King asked, "What do you need straw for?" Pigsy replied, "How would you know? If we wrap the horses' hooves with straw, they won't slip, and Master won't fall off." Hearing this from the bank, Elder Chen quickly ordered someone from his house to fetch a bundle of straw. He then asked Tripitaka to dismount and come ashore. Pigsy wrapped the horses' hooves with straw, and then they proceeded to walk on the ice.

After bidding farewell to Elder Chen and leaving the riverbank, they had traveled about three or four *li* when Pigsy handed his nine-ringed monastic staff to Tripitaka. "Master," he said, "hold this horizontally on your horse." Monkey King said, "This fool is cunning! The staff is originally yours to carry, why are you making Master hold it?" Pigsy replied, "You haven't walked on ice, so you wouldn't know. On any frozen surface, there are bound to be weak spots. If one were to step on a weak spot and fall through, without something held horizontally, they would plunge straight into the water as if covered by a large pot lid, and how would they get out? You must brace yourself like this." Monkey King chuckled to himself, "This fool is quite the experienced ice-walker!" Indeed, they all followed his advice. The Master held his staff horizontally, Monkey King held his iron rod horizontally, Sandy held his Demon-Subduing Staff horizontally, and Pigsy carried the luggage on his shoulder with his rake horizontally across his waist. The master and disciples proceeded with confidence. They traveled straight until nightfall, ate some dry provisions, but dared not stop for long. Under the starlight and moonlight, the ice shone brightly, a vast expanse of white, and they hurried onward without pause, truly making the horse gallop continuously. The master and disciples could not close their eyes and walked all night. At dawn, they ate some more dry provisions and continued westward. As they were traveling, they suddenly heard a loud cracking sound from beneath the ice, so startling that it almost toppled the white horse. Tripitaka cried out in alarm, "Disciples! What was that loud sound?" Pigsy said, "This river is frozen incredibly solid. That was just the ice expanding, or perhaps it's frozen all the way to the bottom in the middle." Hearing this, Tripitaka was both startled and delighted. He urged his horse forward, hastening their journey.

Now, the demon, after returning to its underwater dwelling, led its multitude of spirits beneath the ice. After waiting for a long time, it heard the sound of horse hooves. It then used its magic below, causing the ice to crack with a sudden rush. Monkey King, in a panic, leaped into the air. The white horse, however, immediately plunged into the water, and the other three disciples also fell off. The demon seized Tripitaka, led its host of spirits directly back to its underwater palace, and loudly called out, "Where is Sister Mandarin Fish?" The old mandarin fish demoness greeted it at the entrance, bowing. "Great King," she said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!" The demon said, "Sister, why do you say that? A word spoken is like a team of four horses, hard to overtake. We agreed that if I followed your plan and captured Xuanzang, we would swear brotherhood. Now that your clever scheme has succeeded and Xuanzang is captured, should I then ignore my previous promise?" It ordered, "Minions, bring the chopping block, sharpen the knives! We will disembowel this monk, gouge out his heart, skin him, and carve his flesh. Meanwhile, let the music play! We shall share him with Sister, and prolong our lives forever!" The mandarin fish demoness said, "Great King, please do not eat him yet. His disciples might come searching and cause a ruckus. Let us wait patiently for two days to ensure they do not come looking. Then, we can disembowel him, and I will invite Great King to sit at the head, surrounded by all your kin, with music, singing, and dancing, for Great King to enjoy at your leisure. Wouldn't that be better?" The monster agreed, hid Tripitaka behind the palace, and placed a six-foot long stone casket over him.

Meanwhile, Pigsy and Sandy retrieved the luggage from the water, placed it on the white horse's back, and, parting the water with surging waves, emerged from the river. Monkey King, seeing them from mid-air, asked, "Where is Master?" Pigsy said, "Master's surname is Chen, and his given name is 'Bottomed Out' now. There's nowhere to find him. Let's get ashore and figure things out." It turned out that Pigsy was originally Marshal Tian Peng, who once commanded eighty thousand celestial marines in the Heavenly River. Sandy was from the Flowing Sands River, and the white horse was originally a dragon prince of the West Sea. This is why they were skilled in water. Monkey King guided them from above, and soon they returned to the eastern bank. After drying the horse and wringing out their clothes, Monkey King descended from his cloud, and they all went to Chen Village. Someone quickly reported to the two elders, "Of the four reverend gentlemen traveling for scriptures, only three have returned!" The brothers rushed out to greet them and indeed saw their clothes were still wet. "Venerable sirs," they said, "we pleaded so hard for you to stay, but you insisted on leaving. Why isn't Master Xuanzang with you?" Pigsy replied, "He's no longer called Xuanzang; his name has been changed to 'Chen Bottomed Out.'" The two elders wept. "Pitiable, pitiable! I told you to wait for the snow to melt and for us to prepare a boat to send you off, but you stubbornly refused, leading to this loss of life!" Monkey King said, "Old sirs, don't worry about things of the past. My Master will certainly not die and will live long. This old Monkey knows that the Great King Linggan used his magic to scheme against him. Don't worry, just help us wash our clothes, dry the imperial pass, and fetch fodder for the white horse. My brothers and I will find that scoundrel, rescue Master, and thoroughly root out this evil for your entire village, so you may live in everlasting peace." Hearing this, Elder Chen was overjoyed and immediately ordered a vegetarian feast to be prepared. The three brothers ate a hearty meal, entrusted the horse and luggage to the Chen family's care, sharpened their weapons, and headed straight for the riverbank to search for their Master and capture the monster. Indeed, mistakenly stepping on the layered ice caused a loss of one's true nature; if the elixir is lost, how can one be complete? Ultimately, how will Xuanzang be rescued? Let's find out in the next chapter.