The monkey asked, "Are you sent by the King of the East to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures?"
Sanzang said, "That's me. Why do you ask?"
The monkey said, “I am the Great Sage Equaling Heaven who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. I was imprisoned here by Buddha for deceiving the emperor. There was a Bodhisattva Guanyin who, on Buddha's orders, went to the East to find a pilgrim to retrieve the scriptures. I asked her to save me, and she advised me to stop my violence, convert to Buddhism, diligently protect the pilgrim, and go to the West to worship Buddha. She said that I would be rewarded after the journey was completed. Therefore, I am worried day and night, waiting for my master to come and save me. I am willing to protect you on your journey and become your disciple.”
Upon hearing this, Tripitaka was overjoyed and said, "Although you have such a kind heart and have received the Bodhisattva's teachings, wishing to enter the Buddhist order, I have no tools to help you."
The monkey said, "No need for an axe or chisel. Just save me, and I will come out on my own."
Sanzang said, "I saved you myself, so how did you get out?"
The monkey said, "There is a golden inscription of the Buddha's name on the top of this mountain. You just need to go up the mountain and lift the inscription, and I will come out."
Following the instructions, Sanzang ascended the high mountain, clinging to vines and creepers, until he reached the very summit. There, he indeed saw countless rays of golden light and auspicious clouds. There was a large square stone with a seal pasted on it, bearing the six golden characters "Om Mani Padme Hum".
Tripitaka knelt down before the stone, facing the golden characters. He bowed several times, then prayed westward, saying, "Disciple Chen Xuanzang, I have been ordered to seek scriptures. If I am truly a disciple, I will uncover the golden characters, rescue the monkey, and together we will attain enlightenment on Mount Ling. If I am not a disciple, this creature is a vicious monster, deceiving me and bringing no good fortune; therefore, I cannot uncover the characters." After praying, he bowed again. Then, he stepped forward and gently peeled off the six golden characters. A fragrant breeze wafted through the air, and a hand swept the seal into the air, shouting, "I am the one who guards the Great Sage. Today his ordeal is over. We will return to the Tathagata and return this seal!" Tripitaka was terrified and bowed to the sky. He went down the mountain and returned to the stone box, saying to the monkey, "The seal has been removed; will you come out?"
The monkey was delighted and cried out, "Master, please move aside so I can get out. Don't frighten you." Hearing this, Sanzang did as he was told and turned eastward. After traveling about five or seven li, he heard the monkey shout again, "Go on! Go on!"
Sanzang traveled a long way and descended the mountain. Suddenly, a loud crash was heard, as if the earth had split and the mountain had collapsed. Everyone was terrified. The monkey was already before Sanzang's horse, kneeling naked, and said, "Master, I've come out!" He bowed four times to Sanzang, then quickly got up to pack his belongings and saddle the horse. The horse, seeing him, trembled and could not stand properly. This was because the monkey was originally the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, responsible for raising the dragon horses in heaven. He knew certain rules, and thus ordinary horses were afraid of him.
Seeing that he meant well and truly resembled a monk, Sanzang asked, "Disciple, what is your surname?" The Monkey King replied, "My surname is Sun."
Sanzang said, "I will give you a Dharma name so that you can be called by it."
The Monkey King thought to himself that although he had been expelled from the school by his teacher, he could not change his name. He simply said, "No need for Master's kindness. I already have a Dharma name, which is Sun Wukong."
Tripitaka said happily, "That suits our sect perfectly. You look just like that little ascetic. I'll give you a nickname, 'The Pilgrim,' shall I?"
Wukong was initially unwilling to accept this name, but considering the calamities and loss of face he had suffered since leaving the mountain, he figured it would be better to be called by another name. So he laughed and said, "Alright, alright, alright!"
From this time onwards, he was also known as Sun Wukong.
Afterwards, the master and disciple set off for the Western Paradise. Along the way, they encountered bandits who robbed the road. Tang Sanzang was terrified, unaware that the bandits had angered Sun Wukong. Considering Wukong's abilities, he had wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, wielding his golden cudgel to wreak havoc throughout the celestial realm, causing chaos and upheaval. He was not subject to the Buddha's suppression and lived a carefree life. Now, having escaped the mountains, his heart was filled with resentment, and he was about to vent it when these bandits provoked him. It was as if the God of Longevity had hanged himself, tired of living.
Sure enough, after a few blows, the bandit was killed, his head smashed to pieces like a gourd. Wukong was only concerned with venting his anger, his murderous aura surging, unaware that he had frightened Tang Sanzang beside him. However, with his Buddhist heart above all else, Tang Sanzang disliked Wukong killing people and argued with him for a long time. If Tang Sanzang hadn't intervened, he would probably have had his head smashed like the bandit's.
Tang Sanzang was trembling with fear on the way, and had no other choice. However, Wukong found him too talkative, so Tang Sanzang abandoned him and flew away on a somersault cloud. Tang Sanzang had no choice but to continue on his way alone.
The elder had no choice but to pack his belongings and put them on his horse. He didn't ride the horse, but instead leaned on his cane with one hand and held the reins with the other, heading west in a desolate manner. After traveling for a short while, he saw an elderly woman ahead of him on the mountain road, holding a cotton coat with a flowered hat on it.
Seeing that he was very close, Sanzang hurriedly took his horse and stood on the right to let him pass. The old woman asked, "Where are you from, elder, traveling here all alone?" Sanzang replied, "This disciple is from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, who has been ordered by the Emperor to travel to the Western Paradise to worship the Living Buddha and seek the true scriptures."
The old mother said, "The Western Buddha is located in the Great Thunder Temple in the border of India. It is a distance of 108,000 li. How can you go alone on horseback, without a companion or a disciple?" Sanzang said, "I recently took in a disciple, but he was unruly and stubborn. I said a few words to him, but he did not listen and left without a word."
The old woman said, “I have this cotton robe and a gold-embroidered hat, which originally belonged to my son. He only served as a monk for three days before tragically dying young. I just went to his temple, wept, and bid farewell to his master, bringing these two garments as a memento. Elder, since you have a disciple, I will give these garments to you.” Sanzang said, “I am deeply grateful for your generous gift, but my disciple has already passed away, so I dare not accept it.”
The old woman asked, "Where did he go?" Sanzang replied, "I heard a whoosh, and he went east." The old woman said, "My home isn't far to the east; he must have gone there. I have a mantra called the 'Heart-Stabilizing Mantra,' also known as the 'Tightening-Headband Mantra.' You must secretly recite it until you know it well, and never let anyone know it. I'll catch up with him and make him come back to you. Give him these clothes and hat. If he doesn't obey you, silently recite this mantra, and he won't dare to commit any more crimes, nor will he dare to go back." Hearing this, Sanzang bowed and thanked her.
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