Journey to the West - Chapter 13 Part 1

0:00 This is an independent project funded by no one else but our listeners. For subtitles, please visit our YouTube channel. Subscribe for free on YouTube to get us closer to monetization. For access to all the locked content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for less than three U.S. dollars per month on Spotify or support us on Patreon and Kofi. Details are in the descriptions.

0:21 Thank you, Journey to the West and audio drama series. Chapter 13, Part 1. From the moment Sung Zhang was sent off from the gate of Chang'an by the Tang Emperor and his many officials on the 12th day of the ninth month, in the 13th year of Zheng Guan, he journeyed, not stopping to rest his horse for several days straight.

0:52 Soon he arrived at Farm and SU, or the Law Gate Monastery. The temple's Abbot brought out the monks, numbering around 500, and had them stand in two lines to greet San Zhang inside. Once they were introduced, tea was served. After that was a vegetarian meal. By the time they finished eating, it was already dark.

1:15 The monks thereby gather under the lamplight to discuss Buddhist doctrines and the reason to travel to the West Heaven. Some said the rivers were too long and mountains too high. Some said the roads were filled with tigers and leopards. Some said the craggy Rangers and cliffs were hard to cross. Some said the cruel and menacing monsters would be difficult to subdue.

1:39 San Zan remained silent with his lips sealed, only pointing at his heart and nodding a few times. None of the monks understood his meaning, so they folded their palms and asked, Reverend, what do you mean by pointing at your heart and nodding your head? Sansang answered. When the mind is alive, all. Sorts of evil.

2:04 Comes alive when the mind is extinguished. All sorts of evil is extinguished. This student has made a solemn vow before Buddha in the temple of transformation and birth. There is no way that I cannot devote my whole heart to the cause. This journey must reach the West Heaven. I will see Buddha and ask for the scriptures.

2:28 That way our wheel of law can start turning and the wise emperor can secure his empire for an eternity. The monks heard his words and praised in unison. What a loyal and courageous scream clergy. They showered him with compliments before inviting him to bed for rest. Soon the striking of bamboo sounded the setting moon. A rooster's call, summoned the clouds of dawn. The monks got up to prepare tea and breakfast. Chen Zhang put on a gasha and headed to the main hall, bowing to Buddha, he said.

3:07 Your student Chen Shen Zhang now heads to the West heaven to seek scriptures, however my fleshly. Eyes are too. Dim and unperceptive to recognize the living Buddha's true image, I am now willing to make the following vow. On this journey I shall burn incense in every temple I enter, vow to every Buddha I see, and sweep every pagoda I pass.

3:35 I pray for a Buddha to be compassionate enough to soon show your mighty body of gold so that the true scriptures can be passed on and distributed in the land of the East. After the formalities, he left to eat. When the meal was finished, the two companions prepared the saddle and horse before urging him to continue the journey.

3:57 San Zhang left the mountain gate and bid farewell to the monks. The monks were not willing to part yet, so they accompanied him for another tanley before returning in tears. San Zhang then kept moving straight westward. It was the final month of autumn. Maple leaves reddened and fell. Drizzling rain and withering plants were met on the way. Instead of familiar faces, migrating birds flew above, heading to their next destination, their songs loud but scattered.

4:32 The master and disciples walked for several more days before arriving at the city of Guangzhou. Municipal officials of Guangzhou quickly came out to welcome them inside. After a night of rest, they left the city the following morning to continue on the journey. During the trip they ate when they were hungry and drank when they became thirsty. They rested at night and travelled during the day. It went on like this for another three days before they arrived at the Garrison district of Huzhou, the border of Great Town.

5:03 The border commander, along with local monks and Taoists heard that the royal brother and reverend had arrived by imperial Commission to head to the West Haven for Buddha. They received the travellers with the utmost reverence. The guests were invited inside to be served and a chief clergy brought them to Fuyuan SU or Temple of blessings origin to spend the night. Every monk of the temple came to meet them as they were offered a vegetarian dinner.

5:33 When they were done eating, the two companions were instructed to feed the horse as they would depart before sunrise the following day. As soon as the rooster crowd Shenzhen woke up, his companions, which also awoke the entire temple of monks. Drinks and food, were prepared and served, and after that they headed to the border.

5:55 This reverend was so impatient that he often got up way too early. It happened to be late autumn, when Roosters crow earlier than usual, so they were still in the wee hours. The group of three or four if you counted the horse braved morning frost as the bright moon shined in their eyes. After travelling for dozens of Lee, they came to a mountain. They could only clear the undergrowth in order to find a path forward.

6:23 The road was extremely rugged and beyond difficult to walk. They feared greatly that they had taken the wrong way. Just as they were caught in confusion, everyone suddenly tripped and stumbled, including the horse, and fell into a hole. San Zhang panicked and the companions were scared. But just as their fear was building, loud roars were heard from inside the hole. Take them in, take them in.

6:50 As a violent wind swept forth, about 50 to 60 monsters pushed themselves out to seize San Zan and his companions. The Reverend was shaking with fright when he glanced at the monster King sitting above. How very terrifying he was. Mighty and fearsome. He had bright eyes and a thunderous voice like sores. His fangs protruded outward like brocade. His body was wrapped in stripes.

7:19 He had whiskers of steel and clothes sharp like blades. Even heroes would lose their nerves, for this was the white headed king of the South Mountain. San Zan's soul almost left his body. While his companions lost sense of their bones and limbs. The Monster King ordered to have them tied up and so the other Imps worked together to bind the three with ribs.

7:44 Just as they were preparing to eat, noises were heard from the outside. Someone came in to report Mountain Lord Bear and Hermit Bo have arrived. San Zan heard the words and looked up to find a dark man coming forward. That would be Mountain Lord Bear, also known as Xiongshanjun. Behind him was a fat man with two tall horns and thick shoulders. That would be Hermit Bo or Tu Chu Shu. The pair swaggered inside as the Monster King ran out in a hurry to greet them.

8:21 Mountain Lord Bear said. General Yin, how very outstanding you have been. Congratulations. Congratulations, Hermit Bo, said. General Yin, how very amazing you look. How marvelous. How marvellous. Here the character Yin from the name General Yin or Yin Zhangjin in Chinese is the earthly branch name corresponding to the Year of Tiger. The monster king replied.

8:53 How have the two gentlemen been these days? The mountain Lord answered, just maintaining somewhat of a meatless life. The hermit answered, just eating whatever at the season offers. The three wrapped up their formalities and sat down for a relaxed chat. Meanwhile, the travel companions began moaning due to the tight bonds. The dark men then asked Where did these three come from? The monster king answered.

9:25 They delivered themselves to my door. The hermit laughed and asked. Would you mind serving them to your guests? The Master King answered. By all means, it'll be my pleasure. The mountain law suggested let's not use the more. We can just eat two of them and leave one alive. The Master King agreed and ordered his followers to have the two companions cut open at the stomach and their hearts taken out. Their corpses were then chopped to mince their heads. Hearts and livers were served to the two guests. While the host ate the limps, the remaining bones and meat were distributed among the other monsters. Amidst all the crunching and munching like a tiger devouring lamps, the victims were eaten up

10:18 within moments. The elder, on the other hand, was scared to death and this was only the 1st ordeal. Since leaving Chung An in fright and panic, he soon saw the east growing whiter. The two monsters didn't leave until dawn. Both saying we've been such a bother to day allow us to return the favour with the utmost sincerity in the future. After that, they left together.

10:48 Soon a red sun rose high into the sky. Still befuddled, Sung Zung had no way of telling where he was. Just as his life was hanging in the balance, an old man suddenly appeared with a cane in his hand. He approached and with a wave all the ropes were broken. Then he blew some air forward and finally woke Sung Zhang up.

11:14 Sung Zhang prostrated on the ground and said Thank you, respectful elder, for saving this humble cleric's life. The old man gestured and returned and said please get up. Did you lose anything in the process? Sansan answered. My companions have been devoured by monsters. I have no idea where my luggage and horse are. The old man pointed with his cane and said, Well, isn't that a horse with two bags of luggage? Sansan turned round and saw indeed that it was his lost belongings.

11:50 Finally calming down a little, he asked the old man, respectful elder, What is this place? Why are you here? The old man answered. This is Shuang Tarling, the double fork Ridge. It's the dwelling of tigers and wolves. How did you fall in here? Sansang explained. This humble cleric left the border of the Hujo Garrison at the rooster's crowd.

12:19 Unfortunately, we got up too early. As we were braving frost and dew, we suddenly ended up here. There was a monster king that looked terribly fearsome. He tied me and my two companions up. Then a dark man called Mountain Lord Bear and a fat man named Hermit Bold arrived. They addressed the monster king as General Ying. The three of them ate my 2 companions before dispersing a sunrise.

12:45 I wonder how I earned such good fate that the Respectful elder came to my rescue. The old man explained. The hermit is a wild, bold spirit. The Mountain Lord is a bear spirit, and General Yin is a tiger spirit. The monsters around them are all mountain amps, tree ghosts, and beasts. It was only because your true nature was clean and bright that they were unable to eat you. Follow me now.

13:14 I shall lead you back on your way. San Zan was beyond grateful after throwing his luggage on the back of the horse. He held the reins and followed the old man straight out of the hole and back on to the main road. He tied the horse to a Bush by the road before turning around to thank the old man, only to see the elder transform into a gust of fresh wind rising up into the skies on the Crimson crested white crane.

13:43 With a gentle breeze, a strip of paper drifted down on the note. 4 lines of. Chance were ridden the chance where I am the great White Star of the West coming to save you by special request. Go forward. Divine disciples will come to your aid. Blame not the scriptures for hardships and angst. Suns on Reddit and kowtow to the sky above, saying Thank you Ghostar, for delivering me from this ordeal.

14:18 After that he took hold of the horse and began walking on alone. What a lonesome, bitter journey unto the mountain Ridge. It was chilling. Wind brought rain in the forest where flowers and rocks were scattered. The noise from the animals was as great as the silence from humans. The elder's heart shook with fear while his horse could barely lift its hoofs. Risking his life, Sung Zhang made his way onto the rich journey.

14:58 To the West and Audio Drama Series is an independent production by The 5th Monkey. For subtitles, please visit our YouTube channel, subscribe for free on YouTube to get us closer to monetization. For access to all the locked content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber for less than three U.S. dollars per month on Spotify or support us on Patreon and Kofi. You will have a chance to access the latest release and other exclusive content.

15:22 Head to WWW dot. Thefithmonkey.com for links to all the platforms we're on and support us on social media. Shares, comments, emails. All are welcome. This is Lynn. See you in the next episode.