Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 320 - 321: Please Come In, Pay Your Respects Quickly

Chapter 320: Chapter 321: Please Come In, Pay Your Respects Quickly

The journey to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures is full of hardships, and who knows what we will encounter next.

Subsequently, Xuanzang mounted the White Dragon Horse, with Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sand Monk following behind, pursuing the path together.

Soon, they left the boundaries of Saisai Country.

And continued to travel westward.

After several days, while they were rushing on their way, a long ridge suddenly blocked their path ahead. The ridge was overgrown with thorny branches and winding bryony; although traces of a road were visible, on both sides were thorny brambles and spikes.

Choosing to sit on horseback, Xuanzang carefully observed for a while and couldn’t help but sigh, "Disciples ah! How shall we cross this road?"

Sun Wukong, looking at the scene, chuckled with some perplexity, "Why can’t we go through?"

Xuanzang glanced at Sun Wukong, frowning, "Wukong! The road is covered with thorns; only snakes and insects slithering on the ground can pass through. Even if we were to crawl, we wouldn’t be able to cross ah!"

Zhu Bajie said with a smile, "What’s so difficult about that? I, Old Pig, will use my nine-toothed rake to clear the thorns for you. Not to mention riding horses, even if someone were carried in a palanquin, I would ensure a smooth passage."

Xuanzang frowned and then said, "That method is quite good."

However, Xuanzang added with some worry, "But looking at this mountain range, there’s no end in sight. If the path is all like this, how much effort will it take for you to clear a way through?"

"No need for more talk, let Old Sun have a look first," said Sun Wukong, frowning.

After a careful examination, Sun Wukong saw that the long ridge ahead was like a giant serpent, winding its way toward a distant mountain.

The sky was covered with dense clouds, with drizzling rain mingling with a mist like smoke, obscuring the scenery further ahead.

What was strange was that numerous vines hung down from the sky, covered with thorns and poison spikes, descending one after another, shrouding the sun!

Sun Wukong looked at it and was somewhat horrified, "So many thorny vines block our way; Master, let me burn them all down with fire!"

Without waiting for Xuanzang to speak, Sun Wukong was about to release a flame, but this flame, surprisingly, could not ignite anything here.

Sun Wukong sighed and said, "It’s finished, now with this heavy fog and damp air, not to mention a fire, even if you lit ten fires, it would be useless."

Just then, Sand Monk shouted, "Master, this is Thorny Ridge!"

The group looked over and saw Sand Monk examining a nearby stone stele.

The stele was almost engulfed by the thorns; if not for Sand Monk’s keen eyesight, it would have likely gone unnoticed.

Emblazoned on it were three big characters: Thorny Ridge!

And two lines of fourteen smaller characters below:

Thorny brambles spread for three thousand miles, ancient paths rarely trodden.

"Master, it seems this road is not easy to travel," said Sand Monk, looking at the stone stele with a wry smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie said helplessly, "Since we can’t set fire, we’ll have to use the old method, Old Pig here."

Saying this, Zhu Bajie uttered the word ’grow’.

Instantly, his body shot up, growing to a height of twenty zhang, and with a shake of his rake, it too extended to thirty zhang long.

Zhu Bajie, invigorated, swung his nine-toothed rake, clearing the thorns on both sides, and quickly a pathway opened up.

Xuanzang, overjoyed, hurriedly urged the White Dragon Horse to follow in Zhu Bajie’s wake, heading westward.

Sun Wukong, following behind, let a smile appear at the corner of his mouth, murmuring to himself, "Eight-Hundred-Mile Thorny Ridge, somewhat interesting."

Sun Wukong knew this place must also be a design of the Immortals and Buddhas, it was just unknown what kind of trials and tribulations would await Xuanzang this time.

Zhu Bajie, this time, was not lazy; along the way, he really exerted himself, using the nine-toothed rake to slowly open a path, and after a day’s journey, the party had covered about a hundred and eighty miles.

Watching Zhu Bajie struggling ahead to clear the path, Sun Wukong’s lips formed a smile, this foolish-looking brother seemed clumsy, but was more cunning and slippery than anyone else.

If faced with a powerful demon, Zhu Bajie would naturally shirk and slip away when he could.

Because this fool well understood, no matter how high the merit for subduing demons might be, it wasn’t as important as one’s own life. If he lost his life, everything would come to an end.

However, Thorny Ridge was different, because it only required a little labor to clear these thorns, posing absolutely no danger. Yet, in the future, when rewards for achievements were being considered, this merit couldn’t be left out.

Zhu Bajie, now weary, took a brief rest and said, "It seems this Thorny Ridge has had its path obstructed for thousands of years, rarely traveled by anyone, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many thorns!"

At this point, Zhu Bajie said with a chuckle, "Wait until Old Pig gets to add a couple of lines to that stone stele."

"Second Senior Brother, what words will you add?"

Sand Monk looked at Zhu Bajie with some interest.

Zhu Bajie laughed heartily and said, "From now, Bajie will break through, straight through to the Western Road all level! How about that?"

Sand Monk laughed heartily and said, "Second Senior Brother is right. Today you’ve vigorously swept away the thorns and opened up a great path; from hereon, the path between east and west will be clear, with this stele as witness. Second Senior Brother can indeed leave a name for ages."

Zhu Bajie, flattered by Sand Monk, laughed awkwardly and said, "Junior Brother Sand, you jest. What fame for eternity? I, Old Pig, was merely inspired on a whim."

Sun Wukong nodded with a smile and said, "I think it’s very fitting!"

Just then, Xuanzang suddenly looked at the sky and suggested, "Now that it’s getting late, why don’t we rest for the night?"

Zhu Bajie, still enthusiastic, carrying his rake, said, "Master, don’t rest! Even though it’s night, with the moon shining bright, while we’re in high spirits, let Old Pig continue clearing a path into the night."

Xuanzang looked at Zhu Bajie with some surprise, and seeing that Zhu Bajie wasn’t tired, he didn’t feel it was appropriate to say anything more and could only agree to travel by night.

Zhu Bajie led the effort energetically, and the group of travelers pressed on without stopping, walking another day and night until it was evening.

An open space appeared ahead, and in the middle was an ancient temple, surrounded by cypress and pine trees melding with green hues, and peach and plum trees competing in beauty.

Upon just one glance, Sun Wukong couldn’t help but frown and said, "This place is more ominous than auspicious, it’s not appropriate to stay for long."

Sand Monk spoke up, "Elder brother’s words are not quite right. This place is desolate and uninhabited, rarely visited by anyone. On our journey, we haven’t even seen any sizable wild beasts, so what is there to fear?"

At this moment, a gust of cold wind suddenly arose, and Sun Wukong’s expression changed slightly as he rapidly produced the Jingu Bang.

He didn’t have to protect Xuanzang behind him, looking toward the temple gate with a vigilant expression.

After all, with Xuanzang’s ability, there was no need to be concerned about much else.

At this time, an elder emerged from behind the temple doors.

This elder wore a kerchief on his head and pale clothes, held a walking stick, and wore straw sandals. A red-skinned ghost messenger with green face and sharp teeth followed him, carrying a tray of steamed bread on his head, and knelt down to say, "Great Saint, as the Land Deity of Thorny Ridge, I have nothing to offer to welcome you, so I specially prepared a platter of steamed bread to present to your master. Please have a meal each."

"In these eight hundred miles, there are no other homes, just eat these to sate your hunger."

Zhu Bajie, who had been hungry for a while, happily rushed forward and reached out to grab the bread.

But Sun Wukong sneered, "Idiot, what don’t you dare to take? This fellow is no good person!"

"You old demon pretending to be a Land Deity, do you really think we’re fools? Take this!"

Upon hearing Sun Wukong’s words, the elder twisted his body, instantly transforming into a gust of wind whooshing towards Xuanzang, scooping him up and flying off into the distance.

Xuanzang’s somewhat reluctant voice came from afar, "Hey, two benefactors, please put this monk down!"

The voice of the demon responded, "Shut up!"

Xuanzang remained silent.

Sun Wukong saw that the demon had vanished out of sight and his face changed slightly. He quickly turned to look but Xuanzang was also gone.

At this moment, Sand Monk suddenly said, "Elder brother, Second Senior Brother, the Master has been captured by the demon."

As he spoke, he was ready to give chase.

Sun Wukong grabbed him, "Junior Brother, what’s the rush?"

"The Master has been captured, of course, I’m anxious."

Sand Monk said somewhat nervously.

After all, if something happened to the Master, what would they do? How could he return to the celestial Court and regain his former post!

Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong were different; they had never thought about restoring their former positions. He, however, did wish for restoration.

Hearing this, Sun Wukong couldn’t help but smile, saying, "Think about it, with the Master’s power, what demon could capture him?"

Sand Monk, hearing this, was taken aback. Indeed, if the Master didn’t wish to be taken away, how could any demon simply carry Xuanzang off?

Clearly, it couldn’t be possible!

At this point, Zhu Bajie spoke up, "I’m guessing, the Master has been under the sun and wind these past few days; probably, he wants to take a bath!"

"As you know, when a demon captures him, they are bound to give him a wash, a good scrub!"

...

The elder and the red-skinned ghost messenger carried Tang Monk to a stone chamber and gently set him down.

Xuanzang was calm at this moment, his expression unchanged.

He still wanted to be taken to a place ruled by demons.

Yet here remained the same two odd figures, neither ghost nor human in appearance.

Seeing Xuanzang, the elder quickly explained, "Holy Monk, you misunderstand, I mean no harm to you."

The elder continued, "I am one of the Eighteen Lords of Thorny Ridge. The reason I have invited you today is that the weather is excellent, the moon is bright, and the stars are sparse. I wished to discuss poetry and philosophy with you, just to pass the time with some laid-back conversation."

Xuanzang was astonished, having seen the sky filled with thick clouds earlier, he questioned where there was good weather.

"This broken weather is clearly foggy and hazy, what bright moon and sparse stars are there?"

After saying this, Xuanzang looked up and was immediately stunned.

He saw the clouds in the sky indeed had dispersed, a bright moon hung high, and countless stars adorned the night sky...

When he looked around, there were peaches blooming everywhere, bamboo greens filled his view, a few thatched cottages here and there, and five or six lamps emitting soft light.

A pond reflected the vastness of the sky, moonlight like a sheer veil accompanied by the sound of croaking frogs.

The scenery truly was filled with poetic charm...

Just as Xuanzang was observing the strange surroundings, there came a burst of human chatter and laughter from afar.

Then someone exclaimed, "The Eighteen Lords have invited the Holy Monk!"

"He has, come quickly to pay respects!"