This is a fresh, complete English translation of Wu Cheng’en’s public-domain one-hundred-chapter novel, produced with GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark assistance. It is an AI-assisted first edition, not a reproduction of an existing translation.

When Tripitaka and the three of his disciples came on, having come out of danger, they crossed Yellow-Wind Ridge in less than a day and stepped westward into a broad band of level, flat country. Time sped by quickly; after summer came autumn, and they passed by cold-calling cicadas and withered willows, while a great heat streamed west. Just then, they saw before them a roaring sheet of water, the waves surging and tumbling in tumult. Tripitaka called out from the saddle in haste: ‘Disciple, look at the water ahead. It is so wide, and I see no boats moving. How are we to cross?’ Zhu Bajie answered, ‘It is exactly a wild flood; there is no boat to pass over.’ The Great Sage leaped into the air, braced himself against the awning and looked, and he too was shaken: ‘Master, it is truly difficult, truly difficult. For this river, if I, Sun Wukong, go, I need only twist my waist once and cross it; but for Master, it is a thousand-fold hard to cross and ten thousand ages hard to travel.’ Tripitaka said, ‘From where I stand it looks endless. How broad is it in fact?’ Wukong said, ‘The width is about eight hundred li.’ Zhu Bajie asked, ‘How can you know such a measure, brother?’ Wukong replied, ‘I will not hide it from worthy younger brother. In broad daylight these eyes of mine often see omens and dangers from a thousand li away. Just now, looking from the sky, I cannot tell how far the river runs above and below, but I can see this passage must be fully eight hundred li across.’ The Elder, worried and distressed, turned the horse, and suddenly they saw a stone stele on the bank. The three came together and saw three seal-script words upon it: “Flowing-Sand River”; below were four short lines in true script:

Across the bounds of eight hundred of the Flowing Sand, the weak waters run three thousand deep. Downy goose feathers cannot stay afloat; reeds and cattail flowers sink to the bottom.

As the three watched the stele, they heard it: the waves surged like mountains and rolled over each other like ridges. From the middle of the river, a demon-skull slid and rose forth, fierce and grotesque:

A head of loose red-flame hair, two round eyes bright as lanterns. His face was neither black nor blue indigo, and his old-dragon voice boomed like thunder. He wore a robe of yellow-goose down and a belt of white vine at his waist. Beneath his throat hung nine skulls, and in his hand he held a jewelled staff, mighty and upright.

The monster came in a whirl, sprinted for the bank, and rushed straight at Tripitaka. Startled, Sun Wukong snatched up the Master and carried him, then quickly climbed to the high bank and withdrew. Zhu Bajie dropped his load, drew his nine-toothed pa, and stepped toward the demon. The demon braced his talismanic staff to block him. The two stood on the bank of the Flowing-Sand River, each matching hero with hero, and there began a fierce contest:

The nine-toothed pa and the demon-subduing staff, the two opposed on the riverbank. This one is the Great Commander Tianpeng, that one the demoted Curtain-Raising General. Once they met in Lingxiao Heaven; today they contend and gamble over strength. This one wields his pa to seek a dragon-claw thrust, that one sets his staff against it like an elephant-bearer’s tusks. They open wide, step square, and stab straight into the oncoming wind. This one grabs as though faceless and headless, that one lets no opening of emptiness be empty. One is the old man-eating spirit that has long held the Flowing-Sand realm, the other the law-bearing, sword-carrying training general. They came and went, fighting through twenty rounds, neither gaining advantage.

Sun Wukong guarded Tripitaka, holding the horse and securing the baggage. Seeing Zhu Bajie and the demon still battling, he growled through clenched teeth, rubbed his palms together, and could not restrain himself from striking. He drew his staff and said, ‘Master, stay seated and do not be afraid. Let old Wukong play with him awhile.’ The Master could not hold him back. He whistled once and leapt to the front. There they found the demon and Zhu Bajie locked in a hard contest, tight and unresolved. Sun Wukong swung his iron cudgel at the demon’s head. The creature spun about, hurriedly dodged, and plunged straight back into the Flowing-Sand River. Furious, Zhu Bajie jumped wildly: ‘Brother, who sent you here? He has been growing slower and slower against my pa; with three or five more rounds I would have captured him. He saw your fierce arrival and fled in defeat—what shall we do?’ Sun Wukong laughed: ‘Brother, I will speak plainly. Since I subdued the Yellow-Wind fiend and came down from the mountain, I have not used my rod for a whole month. I saw how well you were fighting him, and my feet itched, so I came to spar him a little. Who knew that creature does not know how to spar; he just ran away.’

The two returned, still with hands on each other, chatting and laughing, and went back to Tripitaka. Tripitaka asked, ‘Did you manage to catch the demon?’ Sun Wukong answered, ‘The demon could not endure the battle and turned to retreat into the water.’ Tripitaka said, ‘Disciple, this demon has dwelt here long; he knows every depth and shoal. In such boundless weak waters, with no boat or oar at hand, we must get someone to guide us who knows the water’s nature.’ Sun Wukong said, ‘That is exactly what you say. As the saying goes: “Those near cinnabar become red; those near ink become black.” This monster lives here and certainly knows the nature of the water. We should seize him now but not kill him; only make him take the Master across, and then we can deal with him.’ Zhu Bajie said, ‘Brother, do not hesitate. Let you go catch him first, and I will watch over Master.’ Sun Wukong smiled: ‘Younger brother, I will not boast. I do not know water-work very well. If I crossed on foot alone, I would need to form the hand-seal, recite the avoid-water spell again and again, and only then move on; otherwise I must transform into fish, shrimp, crab, turtle and other forms to go. As for fighting arts, what strange odd feats you can do among high mountains and clouds, old Wukong can do all. But in water, the trade is different; there is a special craft to it.’ Zhu Bajie said, ‘In my former days I was Inspector-General of the Heavenly River, commanding eighty thousand water soldiers. I have learned a bit of water’s nature. Still, if there is any old or young in this water’s clan, generations upon generations, all rushing in, I may not withstand them and might be hauled up by them!’ Sun Wukong replied: ‘If you fight him in his waters, do not linger in the contest, and do not seek to win. Draw him out to the surface; then I will come in and strike.’ Zhu Bajie said, ‘You are right. I will go.’ Saying so, he stripped off his blue-brocade robe and shoes, whirled his pa with both hands, split the waterway apart with his old methods, leapt over the waves and broke through the surf, then drove straight down to the river bottom and advanced forward.

The monster, after retreating from that round and just catching his breath, heard the sound of someone driving through the water. He looked up and saw it was Zhu Bajie, his pa churning the current. He raised his staff and called out before Zhu Bajie: ‘You monk, where do you think you’re going? Watch closely and strike true!’ Zhu Bajie held out the pa and asked, ‘What kind of demon are you, that you dare to block the road here?’ The demon said, ‘You do not even know who I am. I am neither a mere demon-spirit nor an unknown wandering outlaw.’ Zhu Bajie replied, ‘If you are no demon-spirit and no nameless one, why do you harm life here? Tell me your true name in honesty, and I will spare your life.’ The monster answered:

Since childhood I have been strong and majestic in spirit, roaming over ten thousand li of Heaven and earth. As a hero under heaven I made my fame known; in brave households I stood in the guise of a champion. Through ten thousand realms and nine provinces I roam at will, and across five lakes and four seas I arrive where I choose. All for this: I studied the Way and roamed the far sky to seek a teacher in boundless lands. My robe and alms-bowl were worn daily and close to my person; my heart and mind could never be scattered. Following the clouds along the ground, I have wandered for dozens of times, roving everywhere in a hundred and more courses. Thus I came to meet a true one, and the Great Radiance of the Way opened before me. First I gathered infants and demoness girls, then I released the Wooden Mother and the Golden Lord. In my bright chamber, kidney waters entered the Flower-Pond, and heavy lofty-liver fire was sent into the heart. After three thousand merits were complete, I worshiped the Countenance of Heaven, my intent fixed on bowing to Bright Splendour. The Jade Emperor then raised my rank and, with his own mouth, sealed me as a Curtain-Raising General. In the South-Heaven Gate I was foremost in esteem; before Lingxiao Hall I was called the one above. At my waist hung a tiger-head tablet; in my hand I held the fixed demon-subduing staff. A golden helmet on my head glittered in sunlight; armour on my body flashed with dawn-cloud light. In coming and going I took the lead of escort, and entered and left wherever I accompanied the court. But when the Queen Mother of the West brought out peaches of immortality and held a feast in the Jade Pool, summoning all the generals, I slipped and broke the jades and glass; all the heavenly gods were stricken and lost their strength. Though the Jade Emperor became wrathful, he ordered him on his left to supervise my punishment: I was stripped of crown and armor, my rank badges removed, and my body was thrown onto the killing field. By the mercy of the Barefooted Celestial Immortal, who petitioned on my behalf, I was spared and released. Spared life and revived with no formal judgment, I was sent down to the east bank of the Flowing-Sand. When full, I sleep and become drowsy on this mountain; when hungry I go through breaking waves to find what I can eat. Woodcutters who met me did not survive; fishermen who saw my form all met their ruin. Many people have I come and gone to, eating and moving on, again and again wounding life and spreading evil qi. You dare to raise violence at my gate; today my belly has some expectation. Do not call me rough and unworthy to chew; seize him, keep still, and I will chop him into pickle and sauce.

When Zhu Bajie heard those words he flared in rage and cursed, ‘You splash-brained brute! You have not an ounce of tact left in you. I, old pig, can still froth up water from my mouth—how dare you say I am coarse and call for me to be chopped up for fish paste? By the way you look, you take me for some old country bumpkin. No such impudence. I’ll bite a lump of your ancestors’ bones with this spade.’

At that the demon, seeing the spade coming, made a “Phoenix Nod” and dodged. The two burst through the water and rose to the surface, each dancing on the waves, each climbing from one breaker to another. This time the duel was no like the previous one. Listen:

Draw back the curtain, Captain of the Heavenly Canopy; both display divine arts so wondrously lovely. There, the demon-subduing treasure staff whirled with a head-crown; here, the nine-pronged spiked spade moved with quickness of hand. They leapt through the waves, shaking mountain and stream, driving back waters and dimming the world. Fierce as Tai Sui striking a battle-banner, vicious as a death-gate heaving up the treasure-lid. This one, his red heart unwavering, defended Tripitaka; that one, crime-lashed, raged on as a water demon. One stroke of the spade made nine gashes; one staff-strike from the other shook spirit and life. Valiant each, they pushed and met in fierce delight, heart set to wrest the bout to a close. If one reckons all this, it was only for the sake of fetching the scriptures, and their fury mounted to the heavens, unbearable. They stirred the gurnard, bream, carp, and snakeheads into retreat, stripping fresh scales from turtles, tortoises, and mud-turtles alike. Scarlet shrimp and purple crabs all met their doom; the gods of the Water Palace went and bowed upward in respect. Only the sound of waves heaving and breakers rolling like thunder was heard; sun and moon lost their light, and heaven and earth seemed struck with wonder.

The two fought on for two full hours, with no clear winner. It was exactly as if a bronze basin met an iron broom, a jade stone-latch met a golden bell.

The two had fought for two whole hours, with neither side winning nor yielding. It was truly like bronze versus iron, chime against bell.

Yet the Great Sage stood by Tripitaka, one on each side, watching them wrestle on the water, yet he did not dare to move. Only then did he see that Zhu Bajie gave a half-deceptive, feigned strike and pretended to be losing, then turned and walked back toward the eastern bank. The demon came after and drew near the bank. The Sage could no longer endure it, so he set Master aside, drew his iron rod, and leapt to the riverside to strike the demon from above. The creature, fearing to engage, whooshed and slipped back into the water. Bajie shouted, ‘You, Bimawen, are all haste and no thought! Go a little slower, and let me lure him to the high ground; then you stop him at the bank so he cannot turn back. If not catch him now, when will he come out again?’ Wukong laughed, ‘Fool, do not shout, do not shout. Let us first go back and report to Master.’

Then Bajie went with the Sage up to the high bank and saw Tripitaka. Tripitaka bowed and said, ‘My disciple, you must be so tired.’ Bajie replied, ‘Not that so much as the matter itself; only if we subdue this fiend and carry you across is all truly secure.’ Tripitaka asked, ‘How did your fight with the demon go?’ Bajie said, ‘The demon’s skill and mine are well matched. As I fought, I feigned defeat, and then only did he dare come all the way to the bank. When he saw my elder brother brandishing a rod, he ran.’ Tripitaka asked, ‘How can this be handled, then?’ Wukong said, ‘Master, do not worry. Do not be anxious. Since the light is already fading, sit here on this cliff-edge for now. Let old Sun go fetch some offerings food. Eat and rest, and tomorrow we will deal with this.’ Bajie said, ‘That is right. Go quickly and come quickly.’

Wukong sprang onto cloud and left at once. He went straight north to a household, transformed a bowl of plain vegetarian fare there, and returned with it, presenting it to Master. When Tripitaka saw how fast he returned, he said, ‘Wukong, let us ask that family a way to cross the river. Is it not wiser than grappling with this demon?’ Wukong laughed, ‘That home is far away—well over five or seven thousand li. How would they know anything of waters and currents? What good is asking them?’ Bajie said, ‘Brother, you are lying again. At five or seven thousand li, how did you come back so quickly?’ Wukong said, ‘You would not know. From my dandelion cloud, one leap spans ten thousand and eight thousand li. For five or seven thousand, I need only nod my head twice, bend my waist once, and return. What is there hard in that?’ Bajie said, ‘Brother, if it is so easy, you could carry Master with a nod and a stoop and simply jump across. Why must we keep beating against this demon so bitterly?’ Wukong said, ‘Can you ride a cloud? Could you carry Master for me? Master’s mortal flesh and bone are as heavy as Mount Tai. I do not mean this for you; only my own cloud can bear him. My cloud is called one that truly bears one through the air; it does travel far or near as needed. If you cannot carry him, how could I bear him? As an old saying goes: “They say Mount Tai can be made as light as a mustard seed, but carrying a mortal out of the red dust is never so easy.” As for this spiteful demon, he can cast spells, stir winds, grab and drag with little tricks, and move only by ground-level trickery, not through the air. Such arts of his I can use too. And there are also concealment arts and the earth-shrinking method; old Sun knows them all. But Master must journey through foreign lands and endure hardships; he cannot yet break free of this sea of suffering. So our task is only guardianship, keeping him alive and intact. Taking on such troubles for him is not possible, nor can we bring the Scriptures that way. Even if one reached Buddha first, Buddha would not hand the scripture to you or me. That is exactly the meaning of: ‘When something is easy, men call it something to take lightly.’ That fool listened and nodded repeatedly. Then he ate a little dry vegetable-free offering food, and the three set down to rest beneath the east bank of the Flowing-Sand River.

At daybreak, Tripitaka asked, ‘Wukong, what is to be done today?’ Wukong replied, ‘There is nothing yet decided. Zhu Bajie must go down into the water again.’ Bajie said, ‘Brother, if you want it clean and clear, leave it to me to go down.’ Wukong said, ‘Good brother, this time I will not be so hasty. Let him lure the demon up; I will hold it off at the bank and let it not return. We must capture it.’

Zhu Bajie, wipe his face, rouse himself, and with both hands took up the spiked spade. He went to the river edge, split the waterway, and again sank down toward the lair. The demon had only just awakened. Suddenly he heard the roar of churning water, turned back at once and opened his eyes to look; seeing Bajie arrive with the spade, he sprang out, blocked him from in front, and shouted, ‘Go slow, go slow—show me the staff.’ Bajie held up his spade in defense and said, ‘What kind of mourning-staff are you calling this? I’ll make your ancestors see the staff indeed!’ The demon said, ‘You brute, you do not understand what this is. Mine is:

The treasure staff, famed before name was set, was first hewn from moonlit Sora-craft. Wu Gang felled a branch of it, and Lu Ban fashioned it with his renowned art. Within it runs a golden sinew-thread, without a thousand bead-strings woven about its skin. It is called the Treasure Staff, excellent at conquering demons, to pacify spirits and subdue monsters for all time. Because I was once appointed Great General, the Jade Emperor granted that I should carry it always. Long or short, as my mood directs; slender or stout, by my will it shifts. It once guarded the Peach Banquet processions, and once accompanied court sessions in the highest heavens. It stood in court before the gathered saints, and with drawn curtains it has seen all immortals bow. By my tending this living divinity, it became a heavenly weapon—not a mere human contrivance. Since I was exiled below Heaven’s gate, I wander the seas at will. I do not boast without cause: in all the world there is no spear or saber equal to mine. As for your rusted spiked spade, it is fit only for tilling fields and building vegetable beds.’

Bajie laughed, ‘I said that you’re the same old slob. Never mind your “building beds”; one hard swing and you’ll have nowhere to put on salve—nine eyes bleeding at once. Even if you do not die, you’ll be left with a lifelong festering of broken wounds.’ The monster flung aside his posture and, from beneath the water, rose again with Bajie. Their combat this time differed still more from before. Look at it:

The staff whirls, the spade-digger plants; their words fail between them, no kinship of tongue. Since the Mother-Wood dagger and the ruler’s hoe-lock meet, each clash drives the other into contact. No clear win, no clear loss, no reverse, no retreat; surf and wave heave and swirl without peace. This one’s rage admits no room, that one’s sorrow can bear no insult. Spade swings, staff blocks, each proclaims itself heroic; water boils and drifting sands turn venomous. Their pride is high, their labor great, for Tripitaka’s westward course cannot be stayed. The spiked spade is terribly fierce; the treasure staff is fully tested and true. One grips to drag him toward the bank; one catches him and drags him back into water. Their sound breaks like thunder that stirs fish and dragons; clouds darken, heaven dims, spirits and ghosts bow down.

This bout went back and forth, through thirty exchanges, with no sign of one side overpowering the other. Bajie again pretended defeat and withdrew with the spade in hand. The demon again rushed after him, heaving surging waves, and came to the cliff edge. Bajie shouted, ‘You foul demon! Come up—this high place has solid ground, good for a real fight.’ The monster jeered, ‘You imbecile, you lured me up and brought your companions. You come down and fight in the water where you can.’ It was then the demon had grown clever; he refused to climb ashore again, and only bickered with Bajie along the water’s edge.

Then Wukong saw he still would not step onto land and was distraught, longing to seize him at once. He said, ‘Master, stay seated and wait. I will do him with the move called the Hungry Eagle Seizes and Eats.’ He set off with cloud stride and jumped into midair; with a sharp dash he dropped down to snatch the demon. The monster, while bickering with Bajie, suddenly heard wind and turned. Seeing Wukong descending from the clouds, it at once withdrew the staff, dived down into the river, and vanished beyond sight. Wukong stood on the bank and told Bajie, ‘Brother, this demon is slippery indeed; if he still refuses to step ashore, what are we to do?’ Bajie said, ‘Hard, hard, hard. I cannot defeat him. I have spent even the strength I had as milk-fed flesh, and can only hold my arms out straight.’ Wukong said, ‘Then go and attend to Master.’

The two had come back to the high bank again, and after seeing Tripitaka they fully reported that the demon was hard to seize. The abbot’s eyes brimmed with tears as he said, 「With hardship such as this, how are we to cross?» Sun Wukong replied, 「Master, do not worry. This monster lies hidden deep in the water and is truly difficult to face. —Zhou Bajie, stay here and guard Master, and fight with him no more. I, old Sun, will go to the Southern Sea and return. Zhu Bajie said, 「Elder brother, what are you doing in the Southern Sea?» Sun Wukong said, 「This whole pilgrimage business was ordained by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and it was Guanyin who also released our shackles. Today the road is blocked by the River of Flowing Sand, and we cannot advance. Without him we cannot deal with this. I had better go and invite him than keep fighting this demon.」 Zhu Bajie said, 「You are right, you are right. Brother, when you go, please send me a report when you return: I have received your instruction many times today as well.」 Tripitaka said, 「Wukong, if you are going to invite the Bodhisattva, do not hesitate at all. Go quickly and come quickly.»

Sun Wukong at once mounted the Cloud-Kicking Machine and flew straight toward the Southern Sea. "Ah!" Before half a watch passed he already caught sight of the lands of Mount Putuo. In a short while he dropped from the cloud outside the Purple Bamboo Grove, where the gods of the twenty-four heavens came forward to meet him and said, 「Great Sage, what brings you here?» "I have come to see the Bodhisattva," Wukong said, "for my Master has met great trouble." Those gods replied, 「Please sit while we report this." The heavenly attendants of the Wheel-Rising court quickly came to the gate of the Cavern of Reverberating Sound and announced, 「Sun Wukong has arrived with an urgent matter to pay homage." At that moment Guanyin was by the balustrade of the Precious Lotus Pond, with the pearl-bearing Dragon Maiden, both hands on the railing, watching the blossoms. Hearing the report, she turned on a cloud, opened the gate, and called him in. The Great Sage entered respectfully, with proper reverence, and made a full prostration.

Guanyin asked, 「Why did you not protect Tripitaka, and why come again to see me?» Sun Wukong knelt and explained, 「Bodhisattva, earlier at Gaozhong Manor my Master once took on another disciple, called Zhu Bajie; by your grace he was even given the Dharma name Wuneng. We have only just passed Yellowwind Ridge, and now we have reached the River of Flowing Sand, three thousand li of weak waters. Master has found it hard to cross. In that river there is a demon whose martial arts are formidable. Wuneng and he have fought on the surface three times, and yet could not win. He blocked us and prevented us from crossing. Therefore I have specially come to inform you and beg your compassion, to save him and let Master cross.」 Guanyin said, 「You monkey is only strutting your pride; why can’t you speak of protecting Tripitaka?" Sun Wukong said, 「We only needed to seize him and order him to ferry my Master across. In water I am not quick in subtle handling. Wuneng spoke with him at his lair three times, but he never heard of the pilgrimage charge or our names.」 Guanyin said, 「The demon of the River of Flowing Sand is Junxian the Great Captain of the celestial realm come down in this life. He is also one of my good believers that I have sought to convert. I told him to protect travelers on this pilgrimage. If you were to tell him plainly that you are pilgrims seeking the Dharma from the Eastern Land, he would not contend with you at all and would yield at once.」 Sun Wukong said, 「But that monster now shuns battle, will not climb the bank, and only haunts the water below. How then can I bring him to submit? How can my Master cross the Weak River?» Guanyin immediately called Hui-an, took out a red gourd from her sleeve, and instructed, 「Take this gourd with Sun Wukong to the surface of the River of Flowing Sand. Call, ‘Wujing,’ and he will come out. First, make him take refuge in Tripitaka. Then gather his nine skulls together, arrange them in a nine-palace pattern, and set this gourd in the center. It will become a Dharma boat and can carry Tripitaka across the boundary of the River of Flowing Sand.»

Hui-an obeyed the instruction and, with the Great Sage, took the gourd and came out of the Reverberating-Sound Cave, taking leave of Purple Bamboo Grove in accordance with the Dharma command. There is a verse as witness.

The five elements, once matched, accord with Heaven’s true nature, and he recognizes his former master. Once refined and set upright, he serves as marvellous use; clear discernment reveals why right is right and evil is evil. Metal returns to its own kind; wood, in seeking pity, goes again to its own sinking place. In both realms the full task ripens in serene silence, and when water and fire are reconciled, not a grain of dust remains.

The two of them soon set down their cloud and came at once to the bank of the River of Flowing Sand. Zhu Bajie recognized the Mu-cha and brought Tripitaka forward in welcome. The Mu-cha and Tripitaka exchanged respectful bows, and then the Mu-cha greeted Zhu Bajie. Zhu Bajie said, 「By the Venerable Master’s instruction, I have now seen the Bodhisattva and, as old Pig, have in truth observed the Dharma teaching; I am glad now to bow to the monk’s way. All along I have been running about in haste on the road and have not yet offered thanks. Please forgive, please forgive.」 Sun Wukong said, 「No need for a long recital. Let us just call that brute over.」 Tripitaka asked, 「Call who?" Sun Wukong said, 「After I went to the Bodhisattva I fully reported our former trouble. The Bodhisattva said the monster of the Flowing Sand was Junxian the Great Captain in human form, fallen here from Heaven because of sins, and having forgotten himself, making trouble. He had once been urged by the Bodhisattva and was willing to go west with Master, but we never told him that this was the pilgrimage. So this bitter fighting kept on. The Bodhisattva now sends this Mu-cha with the gourd and says to make a Dharma boat with him so that he can ferry you across.」 Hearing this, Tripitaka kept bowing without end and said to the Mu-cha, 「Venerable one, I beg you—hasten this at once.」 The Mu-cha lifted the gourd, half cloud and half mist, and went straight to the river surface, calling out in a loud voice, 「Wujing, Wujing. The pilgrim for the scriptures has waited here so long. Why do you still not submit?」

That demon, fearing the Monkey King, had retreated to the bottom and was resting in his lair when he heard his Dharma name called. Knowing it was Guanyin’s command, and hearing also the words “the pilgrim for the scriptures is here,” he was no longer afraid of axe or halberd. He broke the waves and raised his head, and at once recognized the Mu-cha. He came forward with a radiant grin and bowed, saying, 「Venerable one, I failed in courtesy. Where is the Bodhisattva now?" The Mu-cha said, 「The Master has not yet arrived. She sent me first to instruct you: go at once and become a disciple of Tripitaka. Hang the skulls you wear around your neck beside this gourd, arrange them in the nine-palace array to form one Dharma vessel, and ferry him across this Weak River.」 Wujing asked, 「Where is the pilgrim in this case?" The Mu-cha pointed and said, 「That one seated on the eastern bank, is he not?" At seeing Zhu Bajie, Wujing said, 「That one, I do not even know from where he came, and he fought me for two days, never once speaking the words ‘pilgrimage of scriptures.’ Now I see this fellow too, this is the one helping him, and he is fierce indeed; I am not going.」 The Mu-cha said, 「That is Zhu Bajie, and that is Sun Wukong. Both are disciples of Tripitaka and both are beings Guanyin has persuaded and converted. Why should you fear? I will now take you to meet Tripitaka.」

Then Wujing put away his treasure staff, straightened his yellow brocade robe, leapt ashore, and knelt on both knees before Tripitaka: 「Venerable Master, this disciple is blind in heart, unable to recognize your sacred form. I have been at fault and pushed and jostled much; please forgive my offenses.」 Zhu Bajie scolded, 「You pusball! Why did you not take refuge earlier and only keep trying to fight me? What kind of words are these?" Sun Wukong laughed and said, 「Brother, do not blame him. It is simply that we never told them the truth of our pilgrim mission or our names.」 The abbot asked, 「Do you then truly and sincerely wish to take refuge in my teaching?" Wujing said, 「Disciple, by the Bodhisattva’s conversion, was told to take the surname Sha and was given the Dharma name Wujing—how could I fail to follow Master?" Tripitaka said, 「If so,」 and called, 「Wukong, fetch the precept sword and give him the tonsure.」 The Great Sage obeyed, handed the knife, and shaved off his hair. Wujing came and bowed to Tripitaka, and bowed to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, taking the order of seniority. Seeing the manner of his prostration was truly like a monk’s household custom, Tripitaka again called him Sha Monk. The Mu-cha said, 「Since he has already accepted the kasaya precepts, there is no need for needless words. Go make the Dharma boat now."

Wujing, taking no delay, removed the skulls hanging from his neck, tied them together with rope in a ninefold layout, and placed the Bodhisattva’s gourd at the center. He called for the Master to come down the bank. The abbot then boarded the Dharma boat and sat upon it; indeed it was steady as a light skiff. On his left, Zhu Bajie supported him; on his right, Wujing bore him. Behind, Sun Wukong hauled the dragon horse, following in half-cloud and half-mist, and above them the Mu-cha gave protection. The Master passed over the limits of the River of Flowing Sand in ease and steadiness, and the waters were calm and the wind smooth through the weak river. Truly it was as swift as an arrow in flight. Not long after, he set foot on the opposite shore and escaped the raging flood, not dragging mud and water; by good fortune his feet were dry and his hands dry, clean and unentangled. The disciples now had firm ground beneath them. The Mu-cha folded the auspicious cloud and took back the gourd. Then the skulls at once transformed into nine streams of dark wind and vanished into stillness. Tripitaka thanked the Mu-cha and made full prostrations to Guanyin. It was exactly thus:

The Mu-cha returned at once to the Eastern Ocean Sea, while Tripitaka mounted again and rode westward.

In the end, it is not yet known when they will truly obtain the final fruit of seeking the scripture. Hear, in the next installment, how this is resolved.