Chapter 5: The Senior Brother Breaks Free

Originally, in Journey to the West, Liu Boqin harbored doubts about Sun Wukong’s words, but now, thanks to the intervention of the Earth Deity, he completely let down his guard. He reached out to help the Earth Deity support Tang Sanzang, and together they climbed back up the mountain.

Clutching vines and creeping along, they made their way to the very peak of the mountain. Sure enough, at the summit, they saw a protruding rock aglow with golden light and auspicious clouds swirling around it. Upon this square stone rested a seal, upon which were written six golden characters: "Om Mani Padme Hum."

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang’s determination to accept Hulong as his disciple only grew firmer. He approached, knelt down, and bowed several times to the golden inscription on the stone. Then, turning westward, he prayed:

"Disciple Chen Xuanzang, under imperial command to seek the scriptures, if it is destined for me to have a disciple, may I unveil these golden words, rescue the Divine Monkey, and reach enlightenment together at Spirit Mountain. If it is not my fate, then this creature is but a fearsome fiend, deceiving me, and I shall fail in my quest for blessings and be unable to lift the seal."

Having spoken, Tang Sanzang bowed again, then stepped forward and gently peeled off the golden seal. Suddenly, a fragrant wind swept the seal up into the air, and from above, a voice called:

"I am the overseer of the Great Sage. Today his ordeal is fulfilled. We shall return to the Tathagata and present this seal."

As the voice faded, so did the fragrance, and no figure could be seen. Yet it startled Tang Sanzang and Liu Boqin’s party, who bowed reverently to the sky. Under the guidance of the Earth Deity, they descended the Five Elements Mountain. Tang Sanzang returned to the stone coffer at the mountain’s base and said to Hulong, "The seal has been lifted. Will you come out now?"

At that moment, Hulong felt the oppressive force binding him suddenly vanish. He asked them to step aside, activated his magic, shrank his body, and slipped out from beneath the mountain. Facing Tang Sanzang, he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Master, for your rescue. From this day forth, I shall devote myself entirely to escorting you westward for the scriptures!"

Tang Sanzang gazed in wonder at the naked Hulong, placed his hands together in a gesture of respect, then retrieved some clothes and boots from the white horse’s pack and said, "Sun… Wukong, here are some of my own garments. Though they’re a bit worn, they’ll cover you for now. Why not go and wash yourself first?"

"Thank you for the clothing, Master!" Hulong gratefully accepted the clothes and boots, leapt into a nearby lake, and vigorously scrubbed away the sticky black grime that clung to him. Once clean, he emerged and donned Tang Sanzang’s old attire: the earth-toned hemp robe and trousers hung loosely on him, and though the black boots did not fit well, he stamped his feet a few times and managed to wear them.

Hulong then returned to Tang Sanzang’s side, bid farewell to Liu Boqin and the others, and helped Tang Sanzang mount the horse. As for their bundles, Hulong plucked a hair and transformed it into a doppelganger to carry them. Thus, master and disciple set out westward, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Along the way, Tang Sanzang’s curiosity about his extraordinary disciple only grew. Every gesture and movement of Hulong’s was distinctly human; if not for the golden fur, Tang Sanzang might have mistaken him for a man. He asked, "Wukong, shall I give you a Dharma name? It would make it easier to call you."

"Very well, Master," Hulong replied absentmindedly, his gaze wandering. He wondered why the tiger had yet to appear—if only it would come and carry Tang Sanzang off, he would gladly stand by and watch.

"I see your attire resembles that of a Buddhist monk, and your manner is so steady and composed. How about I call you ‘Traveler’?" Tang Sanzang, oblivious to his disciple’s inner thoughts, cheerfully bestowed a monastic title on Hulong.

"Excellent. Very good," Hulong replied with a forced laugh. As night fell, he stopped the white horse and said, "Master, it’s getting late. Let me help you dismount and rest awhile!"

Tang Sanzang glanced at the enveloping darkness and shivered, recalling his earlier perils. Anxiously, he said, "Wukong, sleeping in these deep mountains, I fear there may be goblins or wild beasts... what if something happens..."

"Don’t worry, Master. Nothing will happen so long as I’m here!" Hulong helped Tang Sanzang down, found a large tree, spread out a thin quilt from their pack for Tang Sanzang to lie upon, and covered him with another. He then kindled a fire from gathered wood.

As the fire crackled and blazed, Tang Sanzang gradually regained his composure. Smiling at his monkey-faced disciple, he said, "Wukong, if you’re hungry, fetch some rations to eat. I still have some cakes the Liu family gave us in my pack."

"Oh, I’m not hungry," Hulong replied, turning his back and staring intently into the depths of the night, a faint smile playing on his lips—he had sensed a tiger stalking nearby.

Come on! Hurry! Come and eat Tang Sanzang, then you’ll gain immortality and I’ll win my freedom! We’ll both be happy!

Hulong silently willed the tiger on. He felt not a trace of guilt at the thought of Tang Sanzang’s death. Though he had learned Buddhist magic, his heart belonged to the Dao, and so long as he remained true to the Dao, he would always be Hulong of the Daoist path.

In the world of Journey to the West, the more Buddhist deaths, the better; after all, they were so shameless. If Tang Sanzang died, there would always be a Tang Qizang or Tang Jiuzang to take his place.

However, Tang Sanzang could not die by his own hand—he was powerless before the might of Buddhist divinities. Let alone the Buddha himself, even Guanyin could easily subdue him.

So Hulong kept his eyes fixed on the spot where the tiger lurked, yearning for it to pounce and devour Tang Sanzang. Then he could slay the tiger in vengeance for his master!

Yes, that was the plan! So, Brother Tiger, hurry up—eat Tang Sanzang! Eat him, eat him—

Suddenly, Hulong froze. Someone had draped a thin quilt over him, and Tang Sanzang’s gentle voice sounded:

"Wukong, the mountain nights are cold. Make sure you cover yourself and don’t catch a chill. Amitabha."

Don’t catch a chill... don’t catch a chill... don’t catch a chill...

Hulong rolled over. Meeting Tang Sanzang’s kind and benevolent gaze, he felt a pang of reluctance deep within.

Just then, the tiger, unable to endure its hunger any longer, leapt from the underbrush with a roar, jaws gaping wide as it lunged for Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang was startled by the sudden attack, his body shaking uncontrollably. He cried out in terror, unable to even shout "Wukong, save me!"—the tiger’s foul maw was already at his throat.

"My life is over!" In that desperate instant, only this thought flashed through Tang Sanzang’s mind. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the sound of his throat being torn apart. But after a long moment, nothing happened; instead, there was a dull thud, and something massive was flung away.

Tang Sanzang cautiously opened his eyes to see the tiger sprawled lifeless in the distance, its eyes burst, blood streaming from its nose and mouth—dead beyond all doubt.

"This..." Tang Sanzang looked uncertainly at Hulong, who merely pulled the quilt over his head and soon began to snore, making it clear he had slain the beast.

Shaking his head, Tang Sanzang slowly walked to the tiger’s corpse, stroked its brow, and softly chanted the Rebirth Sutra. In the tranquil night, bathed in silvery moonlight, Tang Sanzang’s figure radiated a sacred glow.