Chapter 2.2: The Divine Monkey Beneath the Five Elements Mountain

The road to the West is like a slovenly woman’s foot wraps—endless and foul. In Journey to the West, the Tang Monk made a solemn vow to Emperor Taizong that he would return with the scriptures in three years, only to be proven spectacularly wrong. Even with the protection of Sun Wukong, Pigsy, Sandy, and Little White Dragon, it took a full fourteen years to obtain the true sutras. Had he set out alone, facing the myriad demons and monsters and the eighty-one calamities on the arduous journey, he would have fared far worse.

Those eighty-one tribulations—Buddhism conjured up that exact number to add gravitas to their scriptures, to impress upon the world how hard-won and precious these texts were. At the same time, it gilded their disciple, the Tang Monk, allowing him to enjoy the reverence of all and return to the Buddhist fold in glory.

So, in Hu Rong’s eyes, the entire Journey to the West was an exposé of Buddhism’s shamelessness and hypocrisy—a grand contrivance to deliver the scriptures to the East. Otherwise, with Tang Monk’s mortal frailty, though he set out from the Tang capital with confidence, he met his downfall at the very first challenge—Two Realms Mountain. If not for his past life as the Buddha’s second disciple, blessed by Buddhism and shielded by Taoism, he’d have long since been eaten by some blind tiger.

The Tang Monk’s mysterious background, Emperor Taizong’s haunting by spirits—these are patchwork inventions to justify the eighty-one calamities. They even concocted the outlandish rumor that eating the monk’s flesh granted immortality, just to lure in ignorant wandering demons to pad the numbers.

All of this was Buddhism’s marketing ploy—adding sensational hooks to their protagonist to draw the world’s attention, then resolving each crisis through their divine power to showcase Buddhism’s might.

Thus, throughout Journey to the West, all the tribulations are self-inflicted. The real pity lies with the sacrificed demons—just as later scholars observed: those with connections were always rescued, their crimes on earth quietly erased, while the solitary monsters were swiftly slain without a trace.

In the early chapters, Sun Wukong failed to see through the charade, throwing himself into danger time and again. But after the episode with the Six-Eared Macaque, he awakened to the truth—it was all a game! Thereafter, whenever danger arose, he would call for help without hesitation, knowing the monk would always emerge unscathed.

Pigsy, a high-ranking official of Heaven, vaguely understood the true nature of the scripture quest. He lazed and schemed his way west, unfazed by the Monkey King’s bullying, even mocking his efforts—knowing well that in the whole pilgrimage party, all he needed was to keep the monk on his side.

Sandy, originally a lowly curtain-lifting official in Heaven, punished daily for his mistakes, saw joining the golden pilgrimage as a chance for redemption—a way to secure a place in the Buddhist hierarchy at Thunderclap Monastery. For him, the journey was a blessing; he was dutiful and diligent, carrying burdens, tending horses, chopping wood, and traveling the world without complaint—utterly unlike the violent river demon he had once been.

Then there was Little White Dragon. Many overlook him in the quartet, dismissing him as merely a mount. Yet he, too, was a disciple of the Tang Monk, though only in name. Despite his earlier entry into the fold compared to Pigsy and Sandy, his achievements were the most modest among them.

So, what was the Monkey King, now Hu Rong, to do? He had already met Guanyin, and the monk would soon arrive. Was he truly to bear the title of Senior Brother, shoulder the burden of escorting Tang Monk to the West, and accept the reward of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?

No.

Hu Rong’s heart was filled with rejection—especially since in his previous life, he had been devoted to the Dao and felt no attraction to the Buddhist title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven. So, what to do now?

As Hu Rong’s thoughts ran wild, a sudden swirl of white mist emerged from the earth before him, revealing a tiny, wizened old man of just over three feet, his face as gnarled as tree bark. He leaned on a wooden staff, balancing a wooden tray in the other hand, and smiled at Hu Rong. “Great Sage, it’s time to dine!”

The Earth Deity? What was he up to?

Hu Rong glanced at the tray—a bowl of copper broth and a few iron pellets. He recalled that he had eaten this fare for five hundred years. No wonder, after escaping Five Elements Mountain, his powers were so stunted that he couldn’t even handle the Black Bear Demon. With irritation, he bared his teeth and shouted, “Get lost!”

“Eh?” The Earth Deity froze, baffled by the Monkey’s foul mood. He shuffled closer, tray in hand, and fawned, “Great Sage, you must be starving! See, I’ve brought the copper broth and iron pellets just as the Buddha ordered.”

“Take them away!” Hu Rong turned his head in disgust. “Earth Deity, my thanks to your whole family, but take this away—and don’t bring it here again!”

“But—this is the Buddha’s directive. I dare not defy him,” the Earth Deity hesitated, then ventured, “Great Sage, perhaps I could feed you?”

Feed him? Hu Rong nearly laughed out loud in rage. Waving his exposed hand, he said, “Just leave the tray here, Earth Deity, and be on your way.”

“But, Great Sage, the Buddha instructed me to ensure you eat—”

“You can supervise yourself bleeding from the face!” Hu Rong nearly burst out cursing the Buddha’s shamelessness and the Earth Deity’s cowardice, but checked himself.

He thought better of it; best to play the obedient monkey until he escaped Five Elements Mountain. Suppressing his anger, he asked, “Earth Deity, did you know Guanyin came to Five Elements Mountain today? What for?”

“I… I do not know…” The Earth Deity was startled to hear Hu Rong refer to Guanyin as ‘Elder Sister,’ but said nothing aloud.

He had sensed the Bodhisattva’s presence that day, but, being of low rank, dared not appear and had fled far away—now, he was suspicious of the relationship between the Monkey and Guanyin.

“Oh?” Hu Rong saw the Earth Deity’s changed expression and knew his casual ‘Elder Sister’ had unnerved him. Satisfied, he continued, “No other reason—just to tell me that my five-hundred-year sentence is over. I’ll soon be free from under this mountain!”

“What?!” The Earth Deity was so shocked he dropped the tray, iron pellets clattering to the ground. Flustered, he bent to gather them, muttering apologies over and over.

So, no iron lumps for me today! Hu Rong grinned and pressed on, “Earth Deity, do you know why Guanyin is letting me out?”

The Earth Deity paused, looked up, and forced a smile. “Great Sage, please don’t trouble me. Such matters are beyond my station—I truly can’t say.”

“Oh. But let me warn you: from now on, don’t bring me copper broth or iron pellets! I won’t eat them! If you want a reason, go ask Elder Sister Guanyin at Mount Putuo in the Southern Sea.”

Hu Rong stroked his furry chin and added, “But if you’re so inclined, you might bring me some fine wine, good food, or fresh fruits and vegetables instead.”

The Earth Deity hesitated, but seeing Hu Rong’s darkening expression, swallowed hard. Though he was under the Buddha’s orders to supervise the Monkey’s diet, with Guanyin herself now absolving the Monkey’s punishment, it must have been the Buddha’s will as well. Having come to a decision, he nodded to Hu Rong.

“If the Great Sage refuses the copper broth and iron pellets, and has received Guanyin’s decree, then I shall obey. But, Great Sage, there is something I do not understand—may I ask you?”

“What is it? Speak quickly!” Hu Rong, delighted to be free of iron pellets and copper broth, urged him on.

“If Guanyin has personally absolved your punishment, Great Sage, why haven’t you yet been released from under Five Elements Mountain?”