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11 Flowing Sand River

Following the Bodhisattva's instructions, Mucha told Sandy to take the nine skulls from around his neck, string them together in the pattern of the nine palaces, place the red gourd in the center, and form a magic boat. He invited the Tang Monk to descend to the bank. The Tang Monk boarded the magic boat and sat down; it was as steady as a light skiff. Bajie supported him on the left, Sandy on the right; Wukong led the dragon-horse behind in half-cloud, half-mist, and Mucha guarded overhead. The magic boat flew forward like an arrow. In no time they reached the far shore. Mucha descended on auspicious clouds and put away the gourd. The skulls turned into nine beams of clear wind and vanished. Mucha took leave of the four travelers and returned straight to the Southern Sea. The four bowed to the sky and thanked him again and again. Wukong helped the Tang Monk mount the dragon-horse; Bajie and Sandy divided the luggage. The four found the great road to the west and journeyed on. Traveling by day and resting by night, after more than a month they entered the land of Jambudvipa. As evening approached, Bajie complained that the luggage was heavy and wanted the dragon-horse to carry some. Wukong said, "The dragon-horse only carries Master. Each has his own merit; don't compare yourself to it." Bajie grumbled, "What kind of dragon-horse is this? It can't carry things and walks slowly." Wukong said, "Is it hard to make it go fast?" He stretched his golden-hooped rod toward the white horse. The horse, terrified, galloped as swift as lightning and in an instant ran up a cliff. The Tang Monk was startled and hastily lay low on the horse. The dragon-horse crossed the cliff, ran down the other side, and then slowed. The Tang Monk looked ahead and saw a manor faintly in the pine forest; he reined in the horse and waited for his disciples. After a good while Wukong caught up with Bajie and Sandy, both panting. The Tang Monk proposed asking lodging at the manor. Wukong saw auspicious clouds in the sky and knew that a Buddha or immortal had arranged this; he dared not reveal the secret and agreed. The four came to the manor and saw a tall gate, half open. Bajie said, "This must be a wealthy family." Wukong was about to enter when the Tang Monk stopped him: "We are monks; we must not enter uninvited. Let us wait here for someone to come out and then ask politely for lodging." Wukong was impatient. Hearing no sound in the courtyard, he opened the gate and went in, facing several ornately carved houses. As he looked around, a door opened and a middle-aged woman came out, asking softly, "Who is it that enters a widow's house uninvited?" Wukong quickly explained who they were and why they had come. The woman smiled. "So you are the elder bound for the scriptures. Please ask the others in." The Tang Monk, Bajie, and Sandy entered with horse and luggage, and the woman hurried forward to welcome them. The woman joyfully invited the four into the hall, introduced them, and ordered maids to serve tea and prepare a meal. She said her surname was Jia, that she was a widow, and that she had only three daughters in the bloom of youth, named Zhenzhen, Aiai, and Lianlian. The woman said she had ten thousand strings of cash, a thousand acres of fertile land, herds of mules and horses, countless pigs and sheep, silks enough to wear for ten years, and gold and silver enough for a lifetime — only there was no man to manage the household, so she wished to take the four monks as sons-in-law. The four listened dumbfounded. The Tang Monk feigned deafness and muteness; Wukong watched coldly; Sandy closed his eyes and composed his mind; only Bajie itched with desire, twisting left and right in his chair as if needles pricked him.

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