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.

In Chen Family Village, all the believers came together, bringing the sacrificial pig, sheep, and wine, and with Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie they made such a loud uproar as they carried everything straight into Linggan Temple and set it out, placing the boy and girl first. Wukong turned and saw upon the offering altar the incense, flowers, and candles, and directly in front a gilt plaque with the words “Great King Linggan,” with no other deity image at all. When the believers had arranged themselves in order, they all knelt and bowed toward the tablet and recited: “Great King, this year, this month, this day, this hour, we of Chen Family Village, with Chen Cheng leading the sacrificial host and all the believers present, leave no name uncounted, and carefully keep to the annual rite, offering one boy named Chen Guanbao and one girl named Chen Yichenjin, and the pig-and-sheep and wine in proper amount, for your honored enjoyment. Protect us that wind and rain be in balance and the five grains prosper abundantly.” When the prayer was done they burned paper horses, and everyone went back to his own house; no further account is needed.

After the people dispersed, Zhu Bajie told Wukong, “Let us go home.” Sun Wukong asked, “Where is your home?” Zhu Bajie said, “We are going to old Chen’s place to sleep.” Wukong said, “You fool, you are babbling nonsense again. Since you gave your consent, you must fulfill this vow with him.” Zhu Bajie replied, “You are no fool yourself, yet you call me one. If only we could trick him and amuse him for a while, why treat this as a true sacrifice?” Wukong said, “One must be true and complete in conduct. We must surely wait until that Great King eats first; only then is it full and proper from beginning to end. Otherwise he may bring down calamity and harm us, which would be an ugly end.”

As they were speaking, there came a roaring sound of wind. Zhu Bajie said, “This is bad; that wind means the voice is arriving.” Wukong only said, “No more words. Let me answer.” In a moment a demon stood at the temple gate. Look at what he was like:

His new golden armor and gold helmet flashed with brilliance. Eyes shone like evening stars, white and clear. His teeth stood in rows like stacked saw edges. Beneath his feet, clouds of mist drifted and swayed. Around him hung warm drifting vapors. As he moved, he sent wave after wave of cold, piercing wind; where he stood, rank after rank of ominous energy was hot to the touch. He seemed like a gate spirit lifting a drawn curtain to steer a cart, like the great guardian at a temple gate. That monster blocked the gate and asked, “Which household is making sacrifice this year?” Wukong answered with a smiling countenance, “In answer to your inquiry, the head households are of Chen Cheng and the Chen Qing line.” Hearing this, the monster in his heart seemed doubtful: “This boy is bold, his tongue is witty. Those who come to offer and be fed often, when asked, do not speak at first; ask again and their souls freeze in fright; if one reaches out to seize them, they are already dead. How is it that today this boy answers so well?” The demon did not dare to seize him, and asked again, “What are the names of the boy and girl?” Wukong smiled, “The boy is Chen Guanbao; the girl is Chen Yichenjin.” The demon said, “This sacrifice has been the old custom for years past. I usually receive the offering here, but this year I will eat you.” Wukong said, “I do not dare to refuse; please take your freedom to use it.” Hearing this, the demon still dared not act. He blocked the gate and shouted, “Do not talk back. I usually eat the boy first; this year I will take the girl first.” Zhu Bajie panicked, “Great King, keep the old custom and do not spoil the precedent.”

The monster would not allow further words. He stretched out his hand and tried to seize Zhu Bajie. The fool leapt down, revealed his true form, drew the nail-mace, and in one motion struck. The monster withdrew his hand and moved forward; a single ringing ‘clang’ sounded. Zhu Bajie said, “His armor has been split.” Wukong also revealed his true form and saw, on close sight, two fish scales as large as ice dishes. He shouted, “Pursue.” The two leapt into the air. The demon, who had come to attend the rite and had brought no weapon, stood in the clouds and asked with empty hands, “You monks, from what place? To come here and trouble people, break my incense offerings, and ruin my reputation?” Wukong said, “That ruffian did not know. We are disciples of Tripitaka, the Sacred Monk of the Great Tang of the East, sent by imperial command to go west in pursuit of the Buddha’s teaching. Last night we lodged at the house in Chen Village and heard of an evil spirit that, under the false title of Linggan, each year demands child and maiden sacrifices. Out of compassion for sentient beings, we have caught this rogue. Now speak truthfully and quickly: each year you eat two children here; how many years have you called yourself Great King? How many boys and girls have you eaten? Return them one by one to me, and I may spare you from death.” The demon heard this and left. Zhu Bajie struck again with the nail-mace but did not land a hit; the demon raised a whirl of violent wind and plunged into the Tongtian River.

Wukong said, “No need to chase him now. This demon is a thing of the waters. Tomorrow we will find a way to seize him and then take my master across the river.” Zhu Bajie followed this and went straight back to the temple, moving the sacrificial pigs and sheep and wine, and the whole offering table, over to Chen’s house. At this time Tripitaka and Sha Wujing, with the Chen brothers, were waiting in the hall for the ritual. Suddenly they saw the two of them throw the pigs, sheep, and sacrificial goods into the courtyard. Tripitaka came and asked, “Wukong, how went the sacrifice offering?” Wukong recounted how he had called out the name and chased the demon, who had dived into the river. Both elders were greatly pleased and immediately ordered the side room swept and the beds arranged, and invited their master and disciples to retire for the night. No further matter is recorded.

The demon returned by command and went back into the water, sitting in his palace in silence. The water-clans asked, “Great King, every year when you enjoy the rite you return in joy. Why are you anxious today?” He said, “After each annual feast I usually return with some remnants for you to share. Today I myself have not even had a bite. Misfortune has struck; I met a rival and nearly lost my life.” The waterfolk asked, “Great King, who was it?” The demon said, “It was a disciple of a sacred monk from Great Tang in the East, one going west to worship the Buddha and seek scriptures, who feigned boy and girl and sat at the temple. When he showed his true form, he nearly injured my life. I have heard people say that Tripitaka is a man of great cultivation across ten lifetimes, and that to eat one piece of him brings prolonged life and long span. Who would have expected such a disciple under him? I have ruined my incense and broken my name. I meant to seize Tripitaka, but I fear I may not be able to do it.”

Among the water clan there flashed forth a mottled-clothed guipo woman, who knelt in a few measured bows and smilingly said, “If Great King wants to seize Tripitaka, what difficulty is there? But if he is caught, can you reward me with some wine and meat?” The demon said, “If you have a plan, let us together use our strength and seize Tripitaka. If you do, I will adopt you as brother and sister and we shall share together.” The guipo bowed and answered, “I have long known that Great King has the power to summon wind and rain and the might to stir sea and river. Yet I wonder, can he bring down snow?” The demon said, “I can.” The guipo asked, “If you can bring snow, can you make it cold and freeze?” The demon said, “Even more, I can.” She clapped and laughed, “Then it is easy, easy indeed.” The demon said, “Now tell me this easy art and I will listen.” She said, “Tonight it is the hour of the third watch. Great King need not delay; do the rite at once, raise a cold wind and send a great snowfall, letting the entire Tongtian River freeze through. Send us shapeshifters to take human forms at the road crossing—backpacks on our shoulders, umbrellas in our hands, pushing handcarts—constantly walking upon the ice. Tripitaka is in a hurry to fetch scriptures; seeing such people, he will surely step onto the ice and cross. Great King, silently sit in midstream. When you hear the sound of their footsteps, split the hard ice and make him and his disciples together plunge into the water; one shout is enough.” The demon heard this and was fully delighted: “Wondrous, wondrous indeed.” He then left his water court, rose into the open sky, raised wind and snow, and formed the cold into ice. No more is recorded.

Later Tripitaka and his three disciples rested at Chen’s house. Near dawn they lay cold, chilled and cramped beneath pillows. Zhu Bajie could not sleep, coughing and singing, and called out, “Senior brother, it is cold.” Wukong said, “You blockhead, you are too soft. As one who has left home, heat and cold do not affect us—why fear the cold?” Tripitaka said, “Disciple, it is truly cold. See, it is this:

The heavy quilt gives no warmth; with one’s arms folded it feels as though cradling ice. At this moment fallen leaves hang with frost at their buds; old pines wear hanging frozen bells. The ground cracks from the deep cold; the pond surface hardens into water-ice. A fisher boat is no longer seen; how can one meet a monk at a mountain temple? The woodcutter worries he has too little firewood; the lordly youth is glad his coals can increase. A soldier’s beard is like iron, a poet’s brush like a piece of ice crystal. A leather jacket still feels too thin; even a sable cloak is still too light. The monk on the cane mat is stiff and old; the paper screen startles like a traveling soul. Quilted bedding, heavy bolsters and cushions piled high—still the whole body shivers in tremors. All the disciples could not sleep, so they rose and put on clothing. They opened the gate and saw, to their amazement, that the outside was white and vast: it had begun snowing. Wukong said, “No wonder you called out the cold; it is snow like this.” All four looked at once and this was the snow they saw: Crimson clouds gathered thickly; dark mist sank and soaked the world. Crimson clouds gathered thickly, while the north wind howled piercingly through the emptiness. Dark mist drenched all, and snow in countless streams covered the ground. Truly, it was: six-petaled blossoms, each petal flying like ice jade. In a thousand old groves, each tree stood with each trunk carrying its own jewel. In a moment powder collected and within an instant it turned to salt. The white parakeet lost its pure hue, like the feathers of a white crane. It added the waters of a thousand rivers from Wu to Chu, pressing down several plum trees in the southeast. It seemed as if three million jade dragons had been driven back from battle; truly broken scales and ruined armor filled the sky. There was not a sign then of Dongguo Li, Yuan’an at rest, or Sun Kang reading by lamp-glow. Nor was one to see Ziyou Zhou, Wang Gongbi, and Su Wu dining on felt rugs. Travellers could hardly buy liquor, and gray-haired old men were in pain seeking plum blossom. Drifting and scattering, soft and clear, as if cut butterfly wings, and fluttering like torn goose feathers. Round and swelling, rolling with the wind, piling in layers and layers until the road was lost. Blasts of cold force pierced the small awnings, and the soughing chill seeped through quiet curtains. A fortunate blessing for a good harvest came down from heaven, a truly joyful omen for human affairs. That snow fell in scattered, flickering showers, truly like bits of cut jade and flying cotton.

The master and his disciples had amused themselves for quite some time, and then they saw old Chen of the household: he ordered two servant boys to clear the way, and two more to bring hot water for washing faces. In a moment more, he sent hot tea and milk-cakes and then heaped in coals. They all came to the side chambers and sat to talk. Tripitaka asked, "Householder, in your climate do you not distinguish the four seasons?" Old Chen laughed: "Though this is a remote place, customs and people here are not like the Central Kingdom. As for grain, seedlings, and livestock, all follow heaven and sun together. How can it be that there are not four seasons?" Tripitaka said, "If there is still such a difference of four seasons, then how is it that there is such great snow and such cold now?" Old Chen said, "Though it is now the month of July, yesterday we had already entered Bailu, already the eighth month. Here, through all these years, frost and snow come in August." Tripitaka said, "It is much different from my Eastern Country; where I come from, such things come only with Winter."

During the conversation another boy came with a word of courtesy to set the table and beg them to take porridge. After the porridge, the snow had deepened more than it had in the morning; in a little while there were nearly two feet of snow on level ground. Tripitaka grew anxious and tears welled. Old Chen said, "Do not worry, my lord—do not let the depth of snow trouble you. Under my roof I keep several thousand shi of grain; it can feed you and yours for half a lifetime." Tripitaka said, "Householder, you know not the hardship of this poor monk. In that former time, by Buddha’s grace I was given an edict and sent out in a grand carriage; the Tang emperor himself came to the frontier to see me off, holding aloft his hand with a cup in farewell and asking, ‘When can you return?’ I did not know the dangers of mountains and streams and, offhand, answered: ‘In only three years, I shall fetch the scriptures and return.’ Since our parting, seven or eight full years have passed, yet still I have not beheld the Buddha. I fear that I have failed the sacred deadline; and I fear too the ferocity of demons and monsters. That is why I am so worried. By fate we came to dwell here in Yutan Prefecture; last night these foolish disciples offered a small kindness in return, hoping to obtain a boat and cross the river. But snow fell from the heavens; the roads are lost in white, and I do not know when I shall accomplish my task and return to my homeland." Old Chen said, "Do not fret, my lord. That was only a few days among the many years we must endure. We shall just wait for the weather to clear and the ice to melt. This poor old man will spend what he has and see to it that a boat is sent to take you across."

A servant came again to bring morning meal. After it was taken in the hall, and not long after the noon meal followed in turn. Tripitaka, seeing the dishes so plentiful, still grew uneasy: "You have graciously detained us; but only treat us as your household fare." Old Chen said, "My lord, for saving our lives by your kindness, though I set a tray each day and spread out refreshments, even so I can never hope to repay your gratitude."

Then one servant again brought the morning offering, and they all ate in the hall. Not long after came the noon offering as well. Tripitaka, seeing the richness of the foods, still said, "Since you have already treated us so hospitably, we may only ask to be received like ordinary members of your house." Old Chen said, "My lord, though I have shown you such favor in these days, I cannot ever thank you enough, though I set out a table every day and offer these humble dishes."

When there was no more to do among them, the company sat for a long while within the ice-cave room and spoke with the neighbors about the pilgrimage for the scriptures, then each drank tea. Old Chen asked, "Gentlemen, do any of you drink wine?" Tripitaka said, "The poor monk does not. My little disciples may take a few cups of dry white wine." Old Chen was greatly pleased and ordered, "Bring fruit fit for the table, warm some rice wine, and serve the gentlemen to warm the cold." The servant boys then brought a table to surround the brazier; each of the two neighboring elders drank a few cups, and the house fire was stirred to life.

The day’s light had not yet faded when they were once again invited to the hall for the evening meal. Then they heard people in the street all saying, "What a cold day this is—the Tongtian River is frozen over." Tripitaka said, "Wukong, if the river is frozen, what are we to do?" Old Chen said, "It grew suddenly cold, and suddenly chilly; likely only the shallow water near the riverside is frozen." One passerby said, "It is as if eight hundred li are frozen to a mirror's surface, and people can walk at the crossing." Hearing this, Tripitaka, who had said there were people walking, wanted to go and see. Old Chen said, "My lord, do not rush. It is already late today; we shall go look in the morning." He then dismissed the neighbors. After supper again they rested in the side chambers.

At dawn the next day, Pigsy rose and said, "Elder Brother, last night was even colder; surely the river is still frozen." Tripitaka faced the sky at the gate and offered prayer: "Great guardian deities, this disciple has come westward in devotion, keeping to Buddha through hardships in the mountains and rivers and not once uttering complaint. Now we have arrived here and by Heaven’s aid the river has set hard with ice. This poor disciple has only an empty-hearted thanks. When the scripture journey is fulfilled, I shall report to the Tang Emperor and repay with all my sincerity." After his prayer he instructed Wujing to saddle the horses and take them across the ice. Old Chen also said, "Do not hurry. Wait a few days for the snow to melt and the ice to break. This poor old man will arrange for a boat to send you over." Sha Wujing said, "To go would not be right, and to stay would not be right. What is heard has little weight; what is seen is better than hearsay. Let me load up the horse, and let the Master go and see for himself." Old Chen said, "That is true." He ordered, "Boys, quickly bring our six horses to bear. Do not bring Master Tripitaka’s own horse."

Then six little lads followed. The party went straight to the riverbank to look, and truly it was thus:

Snow heaped high like mountains and rising, the lifted dawn clouds made a clear morning. The cold congealed, the ridges of Chu lay gaunt with a thousand peaks, and river and lake were locked into one level plain. North wind bristled hard; the ice was slick and freezing, hard-edged. Fish in pools nestled in dense weeds; wild birds clung to dead timber. Soldiers of the frontier on the march all stumbled to a stop, while at the riverbank children beat out strange teeth. Serpent bellies split, birds’ feet broken—indeed, ice cliffs of a thousand feet. All the thousand ravines floated in silver, and the single river was steeped in jade-cold. From the east, even dormant silkworm cocoons came out stiff; in the north there were truly only rat-holes. Wang Xiang lay still, Guangwu crossed; in one night even the creek bridge was firm from bank to bottom. Curving marshes set in layered ice, and deep abysses stacked hard with frozen crust. Through the broad waters of Tongtian there were no waves at all; pure, white ice spread like a road of land.

When Tripitaka and the party came to the riverbank and loosed the horses to look, it was indeed true that people were walking on that way at the river mouth. Tripitaka asked, "Householder, where are those people going on the ice?" Old Chen said, "Across this river is the Nüguo of Xiliang. Those are all merchants. A good a hundred cash’s worth of goods from this side is worth ten thousand there; likewise, a hundred cash from that side is worth ten thousand here. When profit is heavier than life itself, people neglect life and death and go. In normal years each family sends five or seven in one boat, or ten or more in one boat, drifting across the far waters. Now that the river is frozen they dare abandon life and walk." Tripitaka said, "In this world, fame and profit are the heaviest matters of all. They who seek gain can forget life and death. As for my disciples, we bear this imperial order in absolute loyalty; we seek only renown, and how different can that be from them?" He told Wukong, "Quickly return to the house and have the baggage packed and the horses prepared, and while this thick ice holds, ride at once toward the Western Regions." Wukong answered with a playful smile.

Sha Wujing said, "Master, there is a saying: ‘Who spends a thousand days is given a thousand sheng of rice.’ Now that we still have shelter at the Chen household, let us stay a few more days and wait for clear weather, then let the ice melt and cross by boat. In this haste, mistakes are easily made." Tripitaka replied, "Wujing, what folly is this? If it were the proper second month, each day could warm by the next, and the ice might be waited out. This is the eighth month, when each day is colder than the one before; how can we expect a thaw at once? Would it not waste half a year of our journey?"

Pigsy jumped down from his horse. "Enough of idle talk. Let the old pig test how thick the ice is." Wukong said, "Bajie, you do not understand. Last night we tested the water by throwing stones; now the ice is thick and broad—how can it be tested so quickly?" Pigsy replied, "You, Elder Brother, do not understand. Let me take up the digging crowbar and strike. If it breaks through, then the ice is thin and we shall not dare to cross; if it will not break, then the ice is thick and we certainly can." Tripitaka said, "You speak truly." The piglet lifted his coat, tugged his step, went up to the bank, raised both hands with the crowbar, and with all his strength gave one great blow. There was a sharp crash; nine white marks were struck. His hands numbed and hurt from the impact. The piglet laughed, "It goes, it goes; even the river bottom is fast-frozen."

When Tripitaka heard this, he rejoiced greatly and, with everyone, returned to the Chen household, instructing that only provisions for the journey be prepared. The two elders could not hold him back and therefore arranged some dried food and roasted snacks, and made baked cakes and mo-mo to send with them. The whole family knelt and offered a plate of scattered gold and silver, kneeling before him and saying, "Because we owe our lives to Your Lordship, please accept this as the least token of one humble meal for your road." Tripitaka waved his hand and shook his head: he would not accept, saying, "A poor monk like me has no use for money and silk. Even while on the road I dare not draw on worldly means; to pass my days on alms from transformation is my true duty. Dried provisions are enough." The two elders begged again and again. Sun Wukong pinched off a tiny piece with his fingertips, about four or five qian by weight, and gave it to Tripitaka: "Master, take this only as a bit of pocket money, so that the elders do not think their goodwill has gone unrewarded."

After bidding farewell to the Chens they walked straight toward the riverbank by the ice. The horse’s hoof slid on the surface, and Tripitaka almost tumbled off. Sha Wujing said, "Master, this is hard to ride." Pigsy said, "Stop there. Ask old Chen to fetch some straw for me." Sun Wukong said, "What use is straw?" Pigsy said, "How would you know? If the horse feet are wrapped with straw, the ice will not be so slick, and the Master will not slip from the saddle." From the bank Chen heard this and hurriedly ordered someone to bring a bundle of straw from the house, and asked Tripitaka to dismount. Pigsy wrapped the straw around the horse’s hooves, then all of them crossed the ice on foot.

When they left old Chen’s place by the river and had gone three or four li, Pigsy handed the nine-ringed iron staff to Tripitaka: "Master, hold this across your body while you are on the horse." Sun Wukong said, "That pig is a deceiver. The monk’s staff was yours to carry; how can you ask the Master to carry it?" Pigsy replied, "You have not walked far in frozen ice and do not know. Whenever the ice is hard, there are treacherous bright patches. If one steps onto such glare and slips, and there is nothing to crosswise prop and carry with, the bones themselves may fall into the water. It would be as if a great cauldron lid had covered you—how could you climb out? It must be arranged like this." Sun Wukong smiled to himself: "This brute has learned to cross ice for many years." So they did as he said: the elder held the nine-ringed staff across his shoulder, Sun Wukong bore the Iron Staff likewise, Sha Wujing carried the demon-subduing treasure staff, and Pigsy took the baggage on his shoulder, with the adze at his belt; then all three rode with confidence. They kept going until evening and ate some dry rations. They still dared not rest long. Looking up at the radiance of stars and moon, the ice glowed sharp and bright in the white waste, so they hurried forward without stopping, really with no idle moment. None of them could close their eyes, and they kept walking all through the night. At dawn they ate a little more dried food and set off westward again.

While they were still moving, they suddenly heard a loud pulalā sound from beneath the ice, and the White Horse was almost frightened off his feet. Tripitaka exclaimed, "Disciples! what is this crashing sound?" Pigsy answered, "This river has frozen hard, and the ice itself is cracking. It may be that the whole width is frozen through to the bottom." Hearing that, Tripitaka was both alarmed and strangely heartened; he pressed the horse onward and rode at speed.

The demon evil, having returned to the Water Palace, gathered his spirits beneath the ice and waited long. When he heard the sound of horse hooves, he worked a trick from below and made the ice split apart with a sliding rush. Startled, Sun Wukong sprang into the air; already the White Horse had fallen into the water, and all three disciples leapt off.

That demon caught Tripitaka, and with all his gathered spirits returned directly to the Water Palace. He shouted, "Where is Gui-sister?" Old Gui-Ma came to the door and bowing said, "Great King, we dare not." The demon said, "Why does this worthy sister speak so? 'Once a word is spoken, even a chariot of four horses cannot catch up.' I told you to follow my plan and seize Tripitaka, making you my brother and sister. Now the stratagem has truly succeeded: Tripitaka is taken—will you throw aside our word now?" He ordered, "You little ones, lift the tabletop, sharpen the knives, split open this monk’s belly and scoop out his heart, flay his skin and carve his flesh. In one chamber set the instruments ringing. Eat together with my sister so that my life may be lengthened and made immortal." Old Gui-Ma said, "Great King, do not eat him yet. I fear his disciples may come searching and make a disturbance. Better endure two days, let that brute not return, and only then open him. Ask the Great King to take a seat, line the clans around him, sound music, songs, and dance, and serve him before him, then eat at ease. Would that not be better?" The demon followed her words, concealed Tripitaka in the rear of the palace, and covered him with a six-foot stone casket.

At once Pigsy and Sha Wujing fished up the baggage from the water, loaded it on the White Horse, and crossed the waterway, surges and waves rising as they came out. They saw Sun Wukong up in the air and he asked, "Where is the Master?" Pigsy said, "The Master’s surname is Chen and his given name Daodi. We cannot find him anywhere now; let us get ashore and make some arrangements." In truth, Pigsy had once been the Marshal of the Ranks under Heaven, formerly in charge of eighty thousand water soldiers in the river of Heaven; Sha Wujing was from the River of Flowing Sand; and the White Horse was a son of the Western Sea Dragon, and so they all knew their way in water. The Great Sage gave directions from the air; in a moment they turned toward the eastern bank, brushed and dried the horses, and wrung and shook out their clothes. Sun Wukong descended with cloud-head and they arrived together at Chen Jiazhuang. Someone had already reported to the two elders: "Of the four who set out on the pilgrimage, only three have returned." The brothers hurried to meet them at the gate; indeed their garments were still wet. They said, "Lords, we begged and begged and kept you back, but you would not stay. We could only let you go this way. Where is Tripitaka, Master, not here?" Pigsy said, "Do not call him Tripitaka now; call him Chen Daodi instead." The two elders wept and said, "Alas, alas! I told you to wait till the snow melted and send a boat, but we would not be persuaded, and that loss of caution has cost a life." Sun Wukong said, "Old one, do not let old grief overtake you on behalf of the dead. My Master will live long, not perish. Old Sun knows this is surely the trick of that Linggan King in demon-magic. You keep your heart at ease: give us our wet garments to wring and dry, and get fodder for the White Horse. Let my brothers and I find that brute and rescue the Master, then we will cut him out by the root and remove this later calamity from your household, so that your people may have peace forever." Hearing this, old Chen was delighted in his heart and immediately ordered that a vegetarian offering be prepared.

The three brothers ate a full meal, handed over the horses and baggage to the Chen household to guard, and in turn gathered their weapons and went straight to the riverbank to seek the Master and capture the monster. This was indeed the point:

To misstep upon layered ice harms one’s true nature; when the great elixir leaks out, how can it be made whole again?

In the end, it is still unknown how they will save Tripitaka. Listen to the next chapter for the full resolution.