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20 The River That Reaches Heaven

Wukong thought he saw a person standing by the river, so he ran over to ask the way. When he drew near, he saw it was a stone tablet with three large seal-script characters reading "Tongtian River," and below them two lines of smaller characters: "Eight hundred li across, few travelers since ancient times." When the Tang Monk saw the tablet, tears fell as he said, "The road ahead is long; who knows when we shall obtain the true scriptures and return to our homeland!" Bajie said, "Master, don't cry. I hear drums and cymbals nearby; there must be people living there." So Wukong led the way, and the master and disciples went toward the sound of drums and cymbals. In the dark night it was hard to tell the path; they stumbled along for a while before they finally saw a village in the distance. The master and his disciples came to the door of a house by the roadside. They saw a Buddhist banner erected outside; inside, lamps and candles blazed, and incense smoke curled. The Tang Monk dismounted and said to his disciples, "Your appearances are ugly, and you may frighten people. Wait until I have seen the master of the house, and then I will call you over." The Tang Monk waited at the door for a moment. An old man came out to close it, and the monk put his palms together and said, "Old benefactor, I am a monk from the Great Tang in the East, traveling to fetch the scriptures. Might I lodge here for the night?" The old man shook his hand and said in disbelief, "The Great Tang is fifty-four thousand li from here. How could you come here alone?" The Tang Monk replied, "I have three disciples; thanks to them I have been protected all along." The old man said, "Since you have disciples, why not invite them in too?" Wukong and the other two were impatient; hearing the conversation, they rushed forward like a gust of wind. When the old man saw them, he fell to the ground in fright. The Tang Monk stepped forward to help him up and said, "Benefactor, don't be afraid. Although their looks are not good, they can subdue dragons and tigers and capture demons and monsters." The old man half-believed and half-doubted, but led the way. Wukong and the other two burst into the hall and saw several monks reciting sutras. Bajie thrust out his long snout and shouted, "What sutras are you reciting?" When those monks heard the question and looked up to see Wukong and the others, they stumbled and staggered in terror, and in a moment they had all fled. Wukong and his two companions, seeing this, clapped their hands and burst into loud laughter. Just then the Tang Monk entered. Seeing the scene, he scolded Wukong and the others. The old man hastily said, "It's no matter; the Buddhist service is just about to end." Bajie said, "Then quickly bring out the vegetarian meal so we can eat and sleep." The Tang Monk asked, "May I ask your honorable surname, old benefactor?" The old man answered, "My surname is Chen and my given name is Qing. I have an elder brother at home named Chen Cheng." Saying this, he invited his brother out from the inner room. Chen Cheng exchanged greetings with the Tang Monk and his disciples, and told the servants to serve tea and prepare a vegetarian meal. The servants plucked up their courage, set out the tables, and served rice, noodles, vegetable dishes, and vermicelli soup. The Tang Monk raised his chopsticks and recited the "Opening of the Meal Sutra." Bajie, already hungry, ate in great mouthfuls, crying as he ate, "More rice! More rice!" After the meal, the Tang Monk thanked the Chen brothers and then asked, "What was the vegetarian service you were performing just now?" Chen Cheng replied, "It is a premature funeral service." Bajie burst out laughing when he heard this. "This old man is lying! No one has died in your family; why perform a funeral service?" When Chen Qing was asked, he beat his chest and stamped his feet, sighed deeply, and said with tears, "Since you gentlemen do not know, let me tell you the reason..." "This place is under the jurisdiction of Yuanhui County in the Kingdom of Chechi, with over a hundred households, called Chen Village. A few years ago a demon came; he calls himself the Great King of Inspired Power and each year brings clouds and rain to the village."

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