But let us speak of Wukong arriving at the Southern Sea.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was refining some unknown treasure.
Wukong did not dare disturb her, and paid his respects obediently.
Guanyin Bodhisattva divided off a thread of attention and asked, “Wukong, where has Tang Seng journeyed to now?”
Wukong said, “He has reached Wanshou Mountain in Xiniu Hezhou.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “On that Wanshou Mountain there is a Wuzhuang Temple. Have you ever met Zhenyuan Daxian?”
Wukong kowtowed, not daring to conceal anything, and recounted all the wrongs he had committed one by one, then pleaded:
“Your disciple did not know Zhenyuan Daxian and offended him. I sought remedies across the seas, searched the three isles, and roamed throughout the heavens, yet none among the gods and immortals had a method to heal the tree. With utmost sincerity, I have come to pay homage and report this to the Bodhisattva. I beg you, in your mercy, to bestow a remedy and save my master.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Why did you not come to see me earlier, but instead went looking elsewhere?”
Hearing this, Wukong was secretly delighted. “Fortune! Fortune! The Bodhisattva must have a way!” He stepped forward and begged earnestly.
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “In my Jade Purity Bottle, there is Three-Light Divine Water. It can bring the dead back to life and deliver one from all calamities. It can heal that immortal tree and spiritual seedling.”
Wukong said, “Has it ever proven effective?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “It has. This willow branch in my bottle was once scorched dry in Laojun’s furnace. I took it and placed it in the bottle, and within one day and one night, it regained its green branches and verdant leaves, just as before.”
Wukong laughed. “What fortune! What fortune! If something scorched to charcoal can still be healed back to life, then what difficulty is there with this tree I merely pushed over? Bodhisattva, please hurry and come with me to save my master.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Wait.”
Wukong said, “Bodhisattva, what is it?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “This Three-Light Divine Water has not yet been fully condensed.”
Wukong froze. He looked at the droplet in the air that had not even been condensed halfway and asked, “Bodhisattva, don’t tell me that is the Three-Light Divine Water?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Precisely.”
Wukong said, “May I ask how much longer it will take?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “For ordinary people to condense it, they must first pass ten thousand years to obtain one drop of Sunlight Divine Water, then another ten thousand years to obtain one drop of Moonlight Divine Water, and yet another ten thousand years to obtain one drop of Starlight Divine Water. Only when the three are combined can one drop of Three-Light Divine Water be formed.”
Wukong said in shock, “Thirty thousand years! Bodhisattva, have you been to the underworld recently?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Why would I go to the underworld?”
Wukong said, “If you haven’t, then allow this Old Sun to make a trip. I’ll wreak havoc in the underworld again, snatch the Book of Life and Death, cross out Tang Seng’s name, and then cross out everyone with the surname Tang. Otherwise, after thirty thousand years, forget Tang Seng—even the Tang dynasty will have turned to flying ash.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “You monkey, let me finish. It is true that ordinary people need thirty thousand years to condense this Three-Light Divine Water. But if I refine it with great divine power, it only takes forty-nine days.”
Hearing this, Wukong rejoiced. “That’s good! That’s good! How much time is left now?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Twenty days have already passed. Twenty-nine days remain. If you assist with your magic power, it can be completed earlier.”
When Wukong heard this, he quickly sat down cross-legged and joined the deities in lending his strength.
Several days passed like this. Wukong’s nature was restless, and he could no longer sit still. He said, “Bodhisattva, as the saying goes, ‘Preparedness averts peril.’ Since you carry the purification bottle every day, why don’t you store some divine water in it?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “There was originally half a bottle of divine water in the Jade Purity Bottle.”
Wukong said, “Then why not use it to save my master?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Last time, when subduing that demon dragon, I was caught unprepared, and he swept it away with five-colored light.”
Wukong understood.
Suddenly, his eyes rolled, as if he had thought of something. He stood up and said:
“No need to trouble the Bodhisattva. This Old Sun has thought of someone who can also heal that ginseng fruit tree!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “Who is it?”
Wukong said, “A Daoist that this Old Sun only recently became acquainted with.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “There is such a Daoist?”
Wukong laughed. “Bodhisattva, from ancient times to the present, there have been countless capable and extraordinary people. Someone who can heal a tree is nothing much. This Old Sun has heard that there are mortals skilled in divination who can even calculate the Jade Emperor’s decrees!”
Hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva glared at Wukong. “You monkey, spouting nonsense again!”
Wukong smiled, saluted Guanyin Bodhisattva, and said, “Many thanks to the Bodhisattva for your trouble. This Old Sun will be going.”
With that, he leapt onto a cloud and returned to Wuzhuang Temple, pressing down the cloud’s head.
Zhenyuan Daxian was speaking with the Three Stars, and Ao Tu was also at the side.
Seeing Wukong return, Zhenyuan Daxian said, “Sun Wukong, have you found a way to heal the tree?”
Wukong said, “I found one, I found one!”
Zhenyuan Daxian said, “What immortal prescription is it?”
Wukong said, “No need to explain!” He landed beside Ao Tu, grabbed Ao Tu’s wrist, and said, “Brother, you hid this from me so bitterly. If I’d known earlier that you could heal trees, why would this Old Sun have run all over the overseas isles and heavens?”
Ao Tu laughed. “You monkey, I am Fuzhu Zhenshi Tianzun. Since when am I your brother?”
Wukong said, “Tianzun or brother, either is fine. Just quickly bestow a method to heal the tree, and stop tormenting this Old Sun.”
Ao Tu laughed. “Very well, I’ll do as you say. Consider it compensation for your headache!”
Wukong said, “These past few days, in order to seek an immortal remedy, this Old Sun’s head has indeed ached terribly. Many thanks, brother. Oh no, I mean Fuzhu Zhenshi Tianzun!”
Ao Tu smiled and said nothing. Together with everyone, he went to the ginseng fruit garden.
Zhenyuan Daxian, the three elders Fu, Lu, and Shou, Tang Seng and his disciples, along with all the disciples of the temple, came into the garden to watch.
That tree lay toppled on the ground, its soil split and roots exposed, its leaves fallen and branches withered.
As for how to use the Three-Light Divine Water, Ao Tu naturally was not as skilled as Guanyin Bodhisattva. Fortunately, he had more than enough Three-Light Divine Water.
Ao Tu manifested five-colored divine light, lifted the tree upright, and poured a pool of divine water beneath its roots.
In moments, root and bark joined together, leaves grew and buds sprouted, branches turned green and fruits emerged.
Amid the lush green leaves, twenty-three ginseng fruits appeared once more.
The two boys, Qingfeng and Mingyue, said, “The other day, when the fruits went missing, we counted again and again and found only twenty-two. Now that it has revived today, why is there one more?”
Wukong remembered and said, “The other day, Old Sun only stole three. One fell to the ground, and upon touching earth, it entered the soil. Only today is it clear.”
Zhenyuan Daxian was overjoyed. He ordered his disciples to fetch the golden striker and knock down ten fruits, then invited everyone back to the treasure hall. First, to thank them for their efforts; second, to hold a “Ginseng Fruit Banquet.”
The disciples arranged the tables and chairs and set out vermilion trays. They invited Ao Tu, the guest, to take the seat of honor; the Three Elders sat on the left; Tang Seng and his disciples sat on the right; and Zhenyuan Daxian, as host, took the front seat to accompany them.
Ao Tu and the Three Elders each ate one. Zhenyuan Daxian accompanied them by eating one. Wukong and the other two also each ate one. Tang Seng, knowing it was a treasure of the immortals, also ate one.
The disciples of the temple, including Tiger Vanguard, shared one among themselves.
After the gathering ended, Wukong escorted the Three Stars back to Penglai.
At daybreak the next day, Tang Seng packed up and prepared to leave.
Zhenyuanzi urged him to stay and arranged for them to remain several more days in succession.
Tang Seng, having taken the grass-returning elixir, had been remade from the marrow up. His spirit was refreshed and his body hale. How could he be willing to linger? After several days, he ignored their attempts to keep him and left with Wukong and the others.
After Tang Seng and his disciples departed, Ao Tu also took his leave.
Zhenyuanzi personally broke off a branch from the tree. Two fruits hung from it, and he gave it to Ao Tu.
Ao Tu accepted it generously and departed on a cloud.
White Tiger Ridge.
Qiao’er was washing clothes by the river.
The river was calm, without a ripple.
After Qiao’er finished washing the clothes, she looked at the placid surface of the lake, pressed her lips together, and returned home.
When her parents saw her, they said, “Did you go to the distant river to wash clothes again?”
Qiao’er said nothing.
Her parents said, “Child, your father and mother are afraid you’ll meet with danger. That young master will not return. Give up this longing.”
Ao Tu descended from the sky on a cloud.