Chapter 49: Tripitaka Meets Disaster in the Water-Tortoise Mansion; Guanyin Appears with the Fish Basket

Now Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing had taken leave of Old Chen and come to the riverbank.

Wukong said, "Brothers, have you settled it between you? Which one of you goes into the water first?"

Bajie said, "Brother, our skill is nothing much to boast about. You had better go down first."

Wukong said, "To tell the truth, if it is some mountain demon, I need no help from you at all. But in water I cannot go as I am. If I go down to sea or into a river, I must pinch the water-avoiding spell or transform into some fish or crab before I can get there. If I do that, I cannot wield my iron staff, cannot use my powers, and cannot beat any demon. I have long known that you two are old hands at water work, so I want you to go down."

Sha Wujing said, "Brother, I can certainly go, but I do not know what the bottom of the water is like. Let us all go together. Brother, you can take some shape, or I can carry you. We will split the water path and find the monster's nest. You can go in first and make inquiries. If Master is still unharmed and there, then we can fight with all our strength. If this is not the demon's doing, but Master has drowned or been eaten by a monster, then there is no need to search the hard way. Better to find another road at once. What do you say?"

Wukong said, "Brother, that makes sense. Which of you will carry me?"

Bajie was secretly pleased.

"This monkey has tricked me out of my skin too many times. Now it turns out he cannot swim. Let Old Pig carry him and give him a turn of his own."

He grinned. "Brother, I will carry you."

Wukong could tell at once that the fool had an idea, so he decided to answer craft with craft.

"All right. Good. You are still stronger than Wujing."

So Bajie carried him on his back.

Sha Wujing opened the water road, and the brothers entered the Tongtian River together. They went down beneath the surface for more than a hundred li.

Then the fool tried to play a trick on Wukong. Wukong immediately plucked out a single hair, made it into a false body, and laid it on Bajie's back. His true body changed into a pig louse and clung tight inside the fool's ear.

Bajie was walking along when he suddenly stumbled and lurched forward, flinging the false Wukong ahead. He fell with a splash.

The fake body, being only a hair, drifted up at once and vanished without trace.

Sha Wujing said, "Second Brother, what are you thinking? If you do not walk properly and fall into the mud, well and good, but how did you go and fling Big Brother away? Who knows where he has fallen to?"

Bajie said, "That monkey cannot stand a tumble. One fall and he is broken to hair. Brother, never mind whether he is dead or alive. Let us go find Master first."

Sha Wujing said, "No, no. We still need him. Though he cannot manage water like us, he is much more clever. If he does not come, I will not go with you."

From inside Bajie's ear Wukong could not hold back and shouted, "Wujing, Old Sun is here!"

Sha Wujing heard him and laughed.

"Well, that fool is dead. How dare you make a joke of him? Now you have made it a case where we hear you but cannot see your face. What are we to do?"

Bajie was so frightened he dropped to his knees in the mud and knocked his head.

"Brother, I was wrong. Let us save Master first and then I will make it up to you on shore. Where are you making that noise from? You have scared me half to death. Please show your true body, and I will carry you again. I will not dare bump into you again."

Wukong said, "You are still the one carrying me. I am not teasing you. Hurry on, hurry on."

The fool muttered and muttered, apologizing all the way, then got up and went on with Sha Wujing.

They went another hundred li or so and then looked up to see a pavilion ahead, with four large characters above it: Water-Tortoise Mansion.

Sha Wujing said, "This must be the monster's dwelling. We do not know the truth of the matter. How can we challenge him at the gate?"

Wukong said, "Wujing, is there water outside that gate?"

"No water."

"Since there is no water, hide yourself to the side and let Old Sun go ask around."

The Great Sage crawled out of Bajie's ear and changed into a long-legged shrimp.

He hopped two or three times to the gate and looked inside.

There sat the monster on his high seat, with the water tribes arrayed on both sides. A mottled fish-wife sat off to one side, and they were all discussing how to eat Tang monk.

Wukong kept his eyes open and looked left and right, but he did not see Master.

Just then he saw a big-bellied shrimp come over and stop in the west corridor.

Wukong hopped up to her and asked, "Auntie, the Great King and the others are discussing how to eat Tang monk. Where is Tang monk now?"

The shrimp-wife said, "Tang monk has been frozen up by the Great King with snow and ice. Yesterday he was taken to a stone box behind the palace. If his disciples do not come to make trouble tomorrow, then the music will be played and he will be enjoyed."

Wukong heard this, played along for a while, and then went straight to the back of the palace to look. Sure enough there was a stone box there, shaped a little like the pig trough in a household stable, or like a stone coffin in the human world, and it was fully six feet long.

He crouched on top of it and listened for a while.

Sure enough, Tripitaka was weeping inside.

Wukong said nothing, only leaned an ear closer. Then he heard the master grinding his teeth and giving a long groan:

I hate the waters so, they haunt my life from birth;
from the womb I have been cast on churning waves.
Before the Buddha's shrine I fell into the abyss;
once I was trapped by the Black River, and now by ice I end at last in the spring.
Will my disciples come in time?
Can I still return to the home of scriptures?

Wukong could not bear it and called out, "Master, do not hate the water disaster. The scriptures say, 'Earth is the mother of the Five Phases, and water is the source of the Five Phases. Without earth there is no birth, and without water there is no growth.' Old Sun has come."

Tripitaka heard him and cried, "Disciple, save me!"

Wukong said, "Rest easy. When we have captured the demon, I will make sure you get free of this trouble."

Tripitaka said, "Quickly then. If we wait another day, I will be choked to death by this misery."

Wukong said, "No matter, no matter. I am going!"

He turned, leapt out, and came to the gate, where he showed his true form and called, "Bajie!"

The fool and Sha Wujing came forward.

"Brother, how is it?"

Wukong said, "It was this monster who tricked Master. Master has not been harmed, but the creature has frozen him in a stone box. You two hurry and challenge him. Let Old Sun come up out of the water first. If you can capture him, then capture him. If you cannot, make a show of defeat and lure him out of the water. Then I will beat him."

Sha Wujing said, "Brother, go on ahead. We brothers know how to look at faces and read situations."

So Wukong pinched the water-avoiding spell and swam out of the river, then stood on the bank waiting, which we need not dwell on.

Bajie, being a bully, charged up to the gate and shouted, "You wicked thing! Send my master out here!"

The little devils inside panicked and reported, "Great King, there is someone outside who wants the master."

The demon responded, "This must be that wicked monk."

He ordered, "Bring my armor and weapons at once."

The little devils hurried to fetch them.

When the demon had dressed and taken his weapon, he ordered the gate opened and came out.

Bajie stood on the left and Sha Wujing on the right. How was the demon armed?

A golden helmet flashed bright and dazzling on his head; a golden coat of armor shone like a rainbow.
A jeweled belt round his waist was studded with pearls and jade; smoky yellow boots were of a curious cut.
His nose rose high like a mountain peak; his brow was broad as a dragon's front.
His eyes flashed and rounded out in a fierce glare; his teeth were like steel, sharp and even.
Short hair stood in a loose flare like flames; his beard was long and graceful, bristling like gold spikes.
He bit down on a sprig of fresh green weed, and in his hand was a nine-petaled red-copper hammer.
When he gave a cry at the gate, it rang like thunder on a spring day.
Such a shape is rare among men indeed,
yet he dares call himself the Spirit-Responsive Great King.

The demon came out and shouted, "Who is it that dares to make a scene here?"

Bajie cursed at once. "I say, you unkillable brute! The other night you talked back to me, and today you come asking who I am? I am a disciple of the holy monk from Great Tang, going west to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. You used all your tricks and changed into some Spirit-Responsive Great King, and at Chen Family Village you wanted to eat boy and girl offerings. I was the one called One-Tale of Gold in the Chen household. Do you not recognize me?"

The demon said, "You monk, what nonsense. If you changed into One-Tale of Gold, that makes you an impostor and a usurper. I did not eat you, yet you actually injured the back of my hand.

"I already let that pass. Why have you come here again?"

Bajie said, "Since you let me go, why did you then work cold wind and snow and freeze my master? Send my master out quickly and all will be over. If you dare spit out even half a 'no,' just look at my rake. I will show you no mercy."

The demon gave a small cold laugh.

"This monk is showing off that long tongue of his, bragging without restraint. Yes indeed, I froze the river and snatched your master.

"You have come shouting at my gate and expect to get him back. I am afraid this time will not be like the last. Last time I had no weapon with me because I was at a banquet, and I accidentally took a hit from you. Today do not run. I will fight you for three rounds. If you can last those three rounds, I will return your master. If you cannot, then I will eat you too."

Bajie said, "Good boy, that is exactly right. Take a careful look at my rake."

The demon said, "So you are a half-way monk."

Bajie said, "My son, you have some real insight. How did you know I took the monk's vows halfway through life?"

The demon said, "You know how to use a rake. You must have been hired somewhere to tend the garden and borrowed a rake there."

Bajie said, "My son, this rake is not a ditch-clearing tool. Look:

Its giant teeth are cast like dragon claws; its proud metal looks like a serpent's body.
When it meets an enemy, it sends out a cold wind; when it is joined in struggle, flames spring up.
It can help the holy monk drive out monsters,
and on the Western Road it catches demons.
When I swing it, smoke and cloud cover the sun and moon;
when I open it wide, rosy light shines bright.
It can knock over Mount Tai and make a thousand tigers fear;
it can turn over the sea and make ten thousand dragons start.
No matter what power you have, no matter what skill,
one blow of this rake will make nine holes in you.

The demon would not believe him and raised his copper hammer to strike at his head.

Bajie blocked it with the rake.

"You wicked thing, you are also a demon who only half-formed."

The monster said, "How do you know I only half-formed?"

Bajie said, "You know how to use a copper hammer. You must have been hired by some silversmith to work the forge, and then you stole it from him."

The demon said, "This is not a silversmith's hammer. Look:

Nine petals gathered into a flower bud; a hollow stem that can support ten thousand years of green.
It is no mortal thing, but came from the name of an immortal garden.
Its green chambers and purple seeds grew old in the Jade Pool;
its pure body and fragrance were born in a blue pond.
Since I refined it by hard work, it has become as strong as steel and sharp as iron.
Spears, sabers, swords, and halberds cannot match it;
axes, hatchets, hooks, and lances dare not come near.
Even if your rake can split a blade,
it will shatter and break when struck by my hammer.

Sha Wujing could not bear to listen to them spar anymore and shouted from nearby, "Monster, enough of your loud words. As the old saying goes, 'Words are no proof; deeds show the truth.' Do not run. Taste my staff."

The demon blocked his blow with the hammer handle.

"You too are a half-way monk."

Sha Wujing said, "How do you know?"

The demon said, "You look like someone who once ground grain for a living."

Sha Wujing said, "How do you know I look like a mill-hand?"

The demon said, "If you were not a mill-hand, how would you know how to use a flour-pusher?"

Sha Wujing cursed him.

"You evil thing, have you never seen a weapon like this?

This weapon is rare among the world of men, and so its name is hard to know.
It came from the moon palace's place of no shadow and was carved from the immortal wood of Soro.
Gemstones are inlaid on the outside, where their rainbow light shines;
inside it is drilled with gold, and auspicious vapor gathers.
Long ago it accompanied the imperial banquet; today it holds its proper post to guard Tang monk.
No one in the Western lands knows it, but among the palaces of Heaven it has a great name.
It is called the Demon-Quelling True Treasure Staff,
and one blow will smash your heavenly spirit to pieces.

The demon would not let them finish. The three of them all changed faces at once, and a fierce battle began under the water:

Copper hammer, treasure staff, and rake - Wuneng and Wujing fought the demon.
One was Tianpeng come into the world; one was a mighty general sent down from Heaven.
The two of them attacked the water monster together, and the monster alone withstood the force of the divine monks.
With due fate and due affinity, the great road is gained;
by mutual generation and mutual conquest the ten thousand grains are gathered.
Earth overcomes water, and the water dries to the bottom;
water gives birth to wood, and wood flourishes into blossom.
Through Chan practice and cultivation all return to one body;
through elixir firing the three are subdued.
Earth is the mother, bringing forth golden sprouts;
gold gives birth to divine water, which bears infant forms.
Water is the root, moistening the glory of wood;
wood in turn glows with fierce fire and rosy light.
The five phases gathered together are all distinct,
so in the changing faces their forms differ.
See how the copper hammer and the nine-petal shine;
the treasure staff is embroidered with a thousand threads of color.
The rake sets the nine luminaries in yin and yang;
its variations are too many to unravel.
All this was for the monk's danger, life risked and self cast aside,
so that the hammer blocked the staff, and the staff blocked the rake in turn.

The three fought beneath the water for two full hours without a winner.

Bajie judged that he could not beat the demon, and he winked at Sha Wujing.

The two of them feigned defeat and withdrew, dragging their weapons as they fled.

The demon called after them, "Little ones, stand fast here. I will chase these fellows down and seize them for you all to eat."

Like a wind blowing dead leaves, like rain beating broken flowers, he chased them out of the water.

Sun Wukong was standing on the eastern bank with eyes fixed on the water, watching the river closely. Suddenly he saw waves churning and shouting and roaring as Bajie came up first.

"He is here, he is here!"

Sha Wujing reached the bank as well.

"He is here, he is here!"

The demon came up after them and shouted, "Where are you running?"

As soon as he showed his head, Wukong cried, "Taste my staff!"

The demon dodged aside and used his copper hammer to block.

One fought by the river in rising waves; the other stood on the bank showing his power.

After the first three exchanges, the demon could not hold his ground. He spun once, plunged back into the water, and the wind and waves calmed again.

Wukong returned to the high cliff.

"Brothers, you have suffered."

Sha Wujing said, "Brother, this demon is formidable on the bank and just as fierce in the water. Second Brother and I attacked from both sides, and still we only managed a draw. What are we to do now? How do we rescue Master?"

Wukong said, "There is no time to hesitate. I fear he may hurt Master."

Bajie said, "Brother, I will go again and tempt him out. You stay silent and wait up in the air. As soon as he sticks his head out, give him a garlic-pounding blow straight on the crown of his head. Even if you do not kill him, you will surely make him ache and grow dizzy. Then I will come after him with my rake and finish him off."

Wukong said, "Exactly, exactly. That is called an inside-out attack, and only then can the matter succeed."

So the two of them went back into the water, which need not be told further.

The demon, having lost the field, fled back to his own home. The water monsters welcomed him back to the palace.

The mottled fish-wife stepped forward and asked, "Great King, how far did you chase those two monks?"

The demon said, "That monk had another helper after all. When they reached the bank, that helper took a black iron staff and came at me. I dodged and fought him. I do not know how heavy his staff was, but my copper hammer could not stand against it. Before three rounds were done, I had to retreat."

The fish-wife said, "Great King, do you remember what that helper looked like?"

The demon said, "He was a monk with a hairy face, a thunder-god's mouth, large ears, a turned-up nose, and fiery eyes with golden pupils."

When the fish-wife heard this, she shivered.

"Great King, it is fortunate that you were quick-witted and escaped with your life. If the fight had gone on for three more rounds, you would certainly not have survived. I know that monk."

The demon asked, "Who is he?"

The fish-wife said, "Years ago, while I was in the Eastern Sea, I heard the old Dragon King speak of his fame. He is the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who made havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago. Now he has taken refuge in Buddhism and guards Tripitaka on the road to the Western Heaven. His powers are vast and his transformations endless. Why have you provoked him? Never again fight with him."

Before she could finish, a little monster came in to report, "Great King, those two monks are at the gate again demanding battle."

The demon said, "My sister sees farther than I do. If we do not go out again, let us see what they can do."

He quickly ordered, "Shut the gate tight. As the saying goes, 'Let him shout outside the gate; we simply do not open it.' If we let him tangle with us for two days, then when his temper has settled and he goes back, we can enjoy Tang monk at our ease, cannot we?"

The little monsters all carried in stones and packed the gate with mud blocks until it was sealed shut.

Bajie and Sha Wujing called and shouted, but no one came out.

Bajie grew anxious and began pounding the gate with his rake. But the gate was tightly barred, and there was no hope of opening it. After seven or eight rake blows, he broke through the gate panels, only to find layers and layers of mud and stone packed thick within.

Sha Wujing saw this and said, "Second Brother, the monster is so frightened that he will not come out. Let us return to the riverbank and think it over with Big Brother."

Bajie agreed, and the two of them went back to the eastern bank.

There stood Wukong half in cloud and half in mist, holding his iron staff and waiting.

When he saw the two of them come up without the demon, he lowered the cloud and met them by the bank.

"Brothers, what happened to that fellow?"

Sha Wujing said, "That monster shut his house tight and will not come out. When Second Brother smashed the gate panels open, we found only mud and stone packed in layers within. We could not force a fight, so we came back to discuss how to save Master."

Wukong said, "If that is so, there is no way to cure him. You two keep watch on the riverbank and do not let him slip away elsewhere. I will go."

Bajie asked, "Brother, where are you going?"

Wukong said, "I am going up to Mount Putuo to ask the Bodhisattva whether this monster is a native of these parts and what his name is. If I can find his home ground, I will seize his family and catch his neighbors, then come back and take the monster to rescue Master."

Bajie laughed.

"Brother, that would be far too much trouble and would waste time."

Wukong said, "Never mind the trouble and never mind the delay. I am going now and will come right back."

The Great Sage quickly rode auspicious light away from the river mouth and went straight to the South Sea. He did not need half an hour before Mount Putuo came into view.

He lowered the cloud and went straight to Mount Putuo.

There the twenty-four guardian gods, the mountain guardian, Hui'an, Good Fortune Child, and the dragon girl bearing the pearl all came forward together and bowed to greet him.

"Great Sage, where do you come from?"

Wukong said, "I have business to discuss with the Bodhisattva."

The gods said, "The Bodhisattva left the cave this morning and would not let anyone accompany her. She went into the bamboo grove to take a look around. She knew the Great Sage would surely come today and told us to wait here and receive you, but not to let you see her at once. Please sit for a while by the green cliff and wait until the Bodhisattva comes out."

Wukong agreed.

Before he could even sit down, Good Fortune Child stepped forward and bowed.

"Sun Wukong, I once received much kindness from you. By good fortune the Bodhisattva did not reject me and took me in. Morning and night I remain by her side, serving at the foot of the lotus throne, and I have received great compassion."

Wukong knew him for Red Boy and laughed.

"When you were lost in demonic confusion, only now have you become a true result. That is why you know Old Sun to be a good man."

Wukong waited a long time without seeing her and grew anxious.

"Would you kindly send word for me? If she is delayed, my master's life may be harmed."

The guardian gods said, "We dare not announce you. The Bodhisattva instructed us to wait until she came out."

Wukong was impatient by nature. How could he wait?

He leaped up and went in.

Alas, this Monkey King was quick-tempered indeed. The guardian gods could not hold him back, and he pushed on into the inner grove.

There he stole a look.

From afar he saw the Compassionate One sitting with her legs crossed on a broken mat of reeds. She was dressed carelessly, as if too lazy to arrange herself. Her hair was gathered loosely in a single knot and she wore no jeweled crown. She had no plain blue robe on, only a small close-fitting jacket tied to her body. A brocade skirt was wrapped at her waist, and her feet were bare. No embroidered shoulder scarf hung on her; her arms were exposed and shining. In her jade hands she held a steel knife and was cutting bamboo skin.

Wukong could not help crying out in a loud voice, "Bodhisattva, your disciple Sun Wukong bows with a sincere heart."

The Bodhisattva said, "Wait outside."

Wukong knocked his head to the ground and said, "Bodhisattva, my master is in trouble. I have come especially to ask you about the monster's origin in the Tongtian River."

The Bodhisattva said, "Go out first and wait until I come."

Wukong did not dare force the matter. He went out into the bamboo grove and said to the guardian gods, "The Bodhisattva is busy with household matters today. Why is she not seated on her lotus throne, not dressed, not cheerful, but instead in the grove cutting bamboo strips?"

The gods said, "We do not know. She came out of the cave this morning and did not dress herself, but went into the grove. Then she told us to receive the Great Sage here. It must be because she has business with you."

Wukong had no choice but to wait.

Before long the Bodhisattva came out carrying a purple bamboo basket and said, "Wukong, I have come with you to save Tang monk."

Wukong hurriedly knelt.

"Your disciple dares not hurry you. Please put on your robes and take your seat first."

The Bodhisattva said, "No need to dress. We will go at once."

She left the guardian gods behind and rode her auspicious cloud away into the air.

The Great Sage had no choice but to follow.

In a moment they reached the Tongtian River.

Bajie and Sha Wujing saw them and said, "Senior Brother must have been impatient. We do not know what he was shouting about at the South Sea to bring the Bodhisattva here in such a state, without even finishing her hair."

They spoke no more and soon reached the riverbank.

The two of them bowed.

"Bodhisattva, we acted on our own and are guilty. Guilty indeed."

The Bodhisattva untied one silk cord from her robe, fastened it to the basket, and held the cord in one hand. With one foot half on the cloud and one foot on the water, she cast the basket into the river, pulled it upstream by the cord, and recited:

"Let the dead go, let the living stay. Let the dead go, let the living stay."

She repeated it seven times.

When she lifted the basket, a golden fish was shining inside, blinking and flicking its scales.

The Bodhisattva called, "Wukong, go down into the water at once and rescue your master."

Wukong said, "We have not yet captured the demon. How can we rescue Master?"

The Bodhisattva said, "Is he not in this basket?"

Bajie and Sha Wujing bowed and asked, "How can this fish have such great powers?"

The Bodhisattva said, "It was a goldfish I raised in my lotus pond. Every day it floated up to listen to the scriptures and thus learned its powers. That nine-petaled copper hammer was once an unopened lotus bud, which it refined into a weapon. One day, I know not how, the tide rose and it wandered here. This morning I was leaning on the rail and looking at the flowers, and I did not see this fellow come to pay his respects. I counted on my fingers and traced his pattern, and saw that he had become a demon here and was harming your master. So, before even dressing myself, I used my divine power and wove a bamboo basket to capture him."

Wukong said, "Bodhisattva, if that is so, then wait here for a moment. We will call in the people of Chen Family Village so they can see the Bodhisattva's golden face. First, so they may receive your kindness, and second, so they may hear how the monster was captured and learn to have faith and make offerings."

The Bodhisattva said, "Very well. Go call them quickly."

Bajie and Sha Wujing ran together to the village and shouted, "Come all and see the living Guanyin Bodhisattva! Come all and see the living Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

All the old and young, men and women in the village came to the riverbank and, not caring about the mud and water, knelt down inside it and bowed.

Among them were some who could paint well, and they sketched her likeness, so that this was indeed the moment the Fish Basket Guanyin showed herself.

Then the Bodhisattva returned to the South Sea.

Bajie and Sha Wujing split the water path and went straight to the Water-Tortoise Mansion to look for Master.

Inside, all the water demons and fish spirits were rotten and dead.

They went into the rear palace, lifted the stone box, hoisted Tripitaka onto their backs, and carried him out from the river mouth to meet the others.

The Chen brothers knelt and thanked him.

"Old master, if we had obeyed the humble advice and kept you here, you would not have suffered so much."

Wukong said, "No need to say more. In your village, there will be no need for sacrifices next year. That great king has been cut off at the root and will never trouble you again. Old Chen, now it is your turn to help us. Quickly find a boat and send us across the river."

Chen Qing said, "Yes, yes, of course."

So they had planks taken up and a boat built.

When the villagers heard this, they were all glad to give help.

One said, "I will buy the mast and sail."

Another said, "I will provide the pole and oars."

Another said, "I will bring the ropes."

Another said, "I will hire the boatmen."

While they all stood quarreling by the riverbank, they suddenly heard a voice from the middle of the river:

"Sun Wukong, do not build a boat and waste the villagers' money. I will carry you masters across."

When the people heard this, they all were startled. The timid ones ran home; the bolder ones stood trembling to look.

Soon something emerged from the water. What did it look like?

Broad-headed spirit creature, no ordinary sort;
a water immortal known for helping with ninefold aid.
Its tail could carry a thousand years of life,
and its body could sink quietly into the depths of a hundred streams.
It can roll the waves and leap the surf to strike the riverbank;
it can bask in the sun and wind on the seashore.
It breathes energy and holds spirit, and truly has the Way;
it is the old soft-shell turtle with its face crusted by moss.

The old turtle called again, "Great Sage, do not build a boat. I will carry your masters across."

Wukong raised his iron staff and said, "You evil beast! If you come near the bank, I will strike you dead with one blow."

The old turtle said, "I am grateful for the Great Sage's kindness and would gladly send your masters across with all my heart. Why do you want to hit me instead?"

Wukong said, "What kindness do I owe you?"

The old turtle said, "Great Sage, you do not know. This Water-Tortoise Mansion below is my own dwelling. From generation to generation it has come down in my family.

"After I awakened to my root nature and cultivated spiritual vitality, I renovated my ancestral home and made it into this Water-Tortoise Mansion. Nine years ago, when the sea surged and the waves rose, that demon rode the crest of the tide and came here. He used his power to bully and fight with me, wounded many of my children, and drove off many of my people. I could not beat him and so he occupied my nest for nothing.

"Today, thanks to the Great Sage coming here to save Tang monk, and thanks to the Bodhisattva of Compassion sweeping away the demon vapors and taking away the monster, the mansion has been returned to me. Now I can gather my old family together again and no longer need to live in mud and earth. I can live once more in my old house.

"This kindness is as heavy as a hill and as deep as the sea.

"And it is not only I who have received a favor. All the people of this village are freed from the yearly sacrifices, and many families have been spared the loss of sons and daughters. Truly this is what is meant by one act bringing two benefits. How could I fail to repay it?"

Wukong was secretly delighted and put away his iron staff.

"Are your words truly sincere?"

The old turtle said, "With the Great Sage's immense virtue, how could I dare lie?"

Wukong said, "If you truly mean it, then swear to Heaven."

The old turtle opened its red mouth and took an oath to Heaven.

"If I do not honestly carry Tang monk across this Tongtian River, let my body become blood water."

Wukong laughed.

"Come up, come up."

The old turtle then drew near the shore and with one leap climbed onto the river cliff.

The people came forward to look. It was a great white shell, four zhang around.

Wukong said, "Master, we can ride on his back and cross."

Tripitaka said, "Disciple, the thick ice and frozen crossing were already hard enough. How much less safe is this turtle's back? I fear it is not steady."

The old turtle said, "Master, be at ease. Compared with that thick ice, I am much steadier. If I even tilt once, I would fail my fruits of cultivation."

Wukong said, "Master, all living beings that can speak human words never lie."

He called, "Brothers, quickly bring the horse."

At the riverbank the old and young of Chen Family Village all came to bow and send them off.

Wukong had the horse led onto the white turtle's shell. Tripitaka stood on the horse's left side, Sha Wujing on the right, Bajie behind the horse, and Wukong in front. Fearing that the turtle might act rudely, he untied a tiger-sinew strap, passed it through the turtle's nostrils, and drew it up like a bridle.

Then one foot went on the shell and one foot on the head; one hand held the iron staff and one hand the reins. He called out, "Old turtle, go slowly. If you tilt even a little, I will crack your head with this staff."

The old turtle said, "I dare not, I dare not."

So it spread all four feet and walked over the water as if it were flat ground.

All the people on shore burned incense and knocked their heads to the ground, chanting, "Namo Amitabha Buddha."

This was indeed a true arhat come down to earth, a living bodhisattva appearing before their eyes. The people bowed until they could no longer see the crossing, and only then did they rise. We need not dwell on it.

Now the master rode the white turtle. In less than a day they had crossed the eight-hundred-li Tongtian River and stepped ashore dry-handed and dry-footed.

Tripitaka climbed the bank, joined his hands, and thanked him.

"Old turtle, you have gone to such trouble. I have nothing to give you. I will thank you when I return from fetching the scriptures."

The old turtle said, "Master, I do not trouble you for thanks.

"I have heard that the Buddha of the Western Heaven knows no birth and no death, and can know the events of past and future. I have cultivated here for more than thirteen hundred years. Though I have lengthened my life and can move lightly and speak human words, I still cannot escape this shell. I beg you, master, when you reach the Western Heaven, ask the Buddha for me and see when I may be freed from this shell and gain a human body."

Tripitaka promised at once.

"I will ask. I will ask."

Only then did the old turtle slip back into the water.

Wukong then served Tripitaka onto the horse again; Bajie carried the luggage, Sha Wujing followed on either side, and the pilgrims found the main road and pressed steadily west.

This was the holy monk obeying the imperial command and bowing to Amitabha, with water far and mountains wide and many hardships ahead. Yet with unwavering intent and sincere heart, they feared no death, and the white turtle bore them across the Heavenly River.

But how long their road would be after this, and what further danger or fortune awaited them, that must wait for the next chapter.