Journey to the West: Reinterpreted - Chapter 10 -
Highwaymen Block Tang Sanzang's Path
March 15, 2022
Tang Sanzang was hit by a rock and shouted angrily:
"Wukong, cook them for me!"
Sun Wukong, overjoyed at the order, swung his Ruyi Jingu Bang and killed two
bandits with two strikes.
"Too weak."
Tang Sanzang shouted:
"Wukong, when did I ask you to kill them?"
"Didn't you just say to cook them?"
"Oh, I just meant for you to scare them a bit, why did you kill them?"
"Oh come on, that's just sophistry."
"No, they are bandits but they are also human beings. If you kill them at the slightest
provocation, what's the point of me going to the West to collect sutras and save all
living beings?"
"Hey, don't think you can just order me around because you're my master. I don't
need to remember this crap."
"You've already signed a contract with the Buddha Tathagata. If you break it, you'll
have to pay a lot of money."
"I'm the Great Sage of the Flower Fruit Mountain. I earn enough from selling fruits
every year to drink and party all I want, so what do I care about a few million bucks?"
With that, he flew into the sky.
Tang Sanzang could only sigh as he watched him go.
"What a waste to lose such a good errand boy."
Suddenly, a bright light shone from the sky. Tang Sanzang saw it and immediately
knelt down:
"Guanyin Bodhisattva."
"Tang Sanzang, no need to be so polite. I'm just on my way to a beauty salon and
happened to pass by here. Where is Sun Wukong?"
"He broke the contract and ran away."
"The karmic bond between you and your disciples is not yet over. Where can he run
to?"
"This monkey is disobedient and difficult to teach. How can he go to the West with
me to collect sutras?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed:
"You want me to give you a magic treasure to subdue him, don't you?"
"Bodhisattva is so wise." - Tang Sanzang smiled and begged for a gift.
"Alright. I just had the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Guanyin Temple and people
gave me this thing but I don't know what to do with it."
With that, she took out a golden ring from her backpack.
"Is this real gold or fake gold, Bodhisattva?" - Tang Sanzang asked.
"You'll have to wait a long time before I give you real gold. This is a golden hoop to
subdue that monkey."
Guanyin Bodhisattva threw the ring down and it landed in Tang Sanzang's hand.
Tang Sanzang took it and looked at it for a long time before saying:
"This ring is heavier on the right and lighter on the left, bigger on the front and smaller
on the back. The color is shiny but the paint is about to peel off. It's also heavier than
normal. It must have been filled with lead. Where did you get this, Bodhisattva? I can
introduce you to a second-rate blacksmith. The craftsmanship there is quite good and
the price is not expensive. As for the commission... hehe... I'll give you a discount for
our friendship."
Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head:
"You talk too much."
Then she turned into a beam of light and disappeared.
Sure enough, a moment later, Sun Wukong flew back.
"Why are you back?"
"Hmph, if not for the contract with the Buddha Tathagata, I would have left long ago.
What's the point of staying here?"
"Then go."
"Alright, master, I was just joking. Why are you so angry like a child?"
"If you repent, I won't make it difficult for you. As long as you wear this ring, it will
show that you are sincere in your devotion to Buddhism, and I will let you go with
me."
"Oh come on, master, where did you find such an ugly ring? I wouldn't even take it if
you gave it to me."
"Then that's it."
"I was just joking, master, let me wear it."
Sun Wukong took the ring and put it on his head.
As soon as the ring touched Sun Wukong's head, it tightened and he rolled on the
ground crying out in pain.
"What kind of ring is this?"
"This is the Golden Hoop of Guanyin Bodhisattva that I just bought on sale."
"You're even willing to buy second-hand goods? This must be a freebie."
"Never mind that. Do you repent?"
Sun Wukong took out his Ruyi Jingu Bang and tried to pry the ring off his head, but to
no avail. He struggled to stand up and cried out:
"You're playing dirty! I'm going to sue you to the International Court for animal
cruelty!"
Tang Sanzang felt guilty and said:
"As long as you promise to be sincere in your devotion to Buddhism, I'll stop chanting
the spell."
"Okay, I promise, I promise."
"From now on, you have to listen to everything I say, okay?"
"You got it, stop chanting."
"Amitabha."
