第 22 回

The master and disciples walked for several months, arriving at the bank of a big river.

The river was wide, and the water was swift.

On a stone at the bank, the words "Flowing Sand River" were written.

They were worrying about how to cross the river, when suddenly a monster jumped out from the river.

The monster was fierce, with nine skulls hanging around its neck.

Sun Wukong immediately picked up his master and retreated to a distance.

Zhu Bajie took up his rake and fought with the monster.

The two fought for a long time, unable to determine who would win.

Sun Wukong watched with great delight and also flew over to help.

The monster could not defeat the two of them and jumped into the river to escape.

Zhu Bajie is unhappy and complains about Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong says: I am not very good at water.

He asks Zhu Bajie to go into the river and lure the monster to the shore.

Zhu Bajie jumps into the river and finds the monster.

The two fight in the water for a while, and Zhu Bajie pretends he cannot win and flees towards the shore.

The monster chases from behind.

Sun Wukong sees the monster on the shore, raises his golden-hooped staff, and attacks.

The monster is very cautious and immediately flees back into the water, not coming out again.

Zhu Bajie gets ashore and angrily scolds Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong smiles and says: This monster is very cautious and will not easily come ashore again.

He let Zhu Bajie protect the master, and went to find Guanyin Bodhisattva for help himself.

Guanyin Bodhisattva told Sun Wukong: that monster was originally a celestial being in heaven, and is now waiting for your master.

The Bodhisattva sent Huian Xinger to go to the Flowing Sands River with Sun Wukong.

They arrived at the riverbank, and Huian Xinger shouted to the river: Wujing.

The monster heard it, and immediately came out from the water.

Huian Xinger said: the people on the bank are going from the Great Tang to the Western Heaven to fetch scriptures, you should quickly go and pay respects to the master.

The monster listened, immediately went ashore, and knelt down to kowtow to Tang Monk.

Tang Monk was very happy, and accepted him.

The monster also paid respects to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, the two senior brothers.

Tang Monk shaved the head of the new disciple, and called him Sha Heshang.

Hui'an the Pilgrim asked Sha Monk to take off the nine skulls from his neck, tie them with a rope, and then place the gourd given by the Bodhisattva in the middle.

The gourd carried the master and his three disciples, steadily crossing the river.

After crossing the river, Hui'an the Pilgrim collected the gourd and went back.

Tang Monk accepted Sha Monk, and with the master and his three disciples all together, he was very happy in his heart and continued walking westward.