Monkey King stopped Tripitaka from further lamenting and quickly explained the power of Saints to him. After all, if Tripitaka's antics were to land him in trouble with the Saints, Monkey King would have nowhere to seek justice. He also told Tripitaka that the Saints could hear everything, and that his previous careless words had surely reached their ears.
Tripitakas face turned pale with realization. It dawned on him that he'd essentially just danced on his own grave again.
"The humble monk apologizes!" Tripitaka immediately prostrated himself toward the heavens, sincerely offering apologies to the Saints.
Although the Six Saints hadn't taken offense at Tripitakas offhand comment, they appreciated his show of respect and let it slide. Only Primordial Celestial Venerable (The Primeval Lord of Heaven), however, cast a vengeful glare at Bodhisattva Guanyin (Guanyin Pusa), clearly still feeling betrayed.
Guanyin felt a shiver run down her spine, sensing that some great danger was looming over her. But seeing Monkey King stepping in to handle Tripitakas blunder caught her somewhat off-guard.
"So, youre saying... I have to wear this thing for the rest of my life?" Tripitaka said in despair, pulling futilely at the Band-tightening Spellon his head.
"Well, theoretically, yes," replied Bodhisattva Guanyin. She couldn't make any guarantees—after all, while the original Band-tightening Spellmight have been removable, this modified one was beyond her powers to deal with. Removing it might require the intervention of a Saint. But Tripitaka, merely a pawn in the grand plan for the flourishing of Buddhism, was unlikely to receive such favor from the Saints.
Tripitaka, feeling defeated, gave up his efforts.
"Since you have been revived, Tripitaka," said Bodhisattva Guanyin, "you must resume your journey. The responsibility to bring salvation to all sentient beings falls upon you."
Guanyin was worried Tripitaka might abandon the mission, so she pulled out the lofty rhetoric to try and keep him on track.
"The humble monk understands," Tripitaka replied with a solemn Buddhist salute, his expression unreadable.
Guanyin breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he agreed to continue westward, that was enough. Whether it was from his own desire or not was irrelevant. With Tripitaka's renewed commitment, she had no more reason to linger. After a few words of caution, Guanyin summoned her lotus throne and ascended into the sky, eager to find a quiet place to nurse her wounded pride.
This had truly been a string of humiliations. First, Tripitaka had outright questioned her authenticity as a bodhisattva. Then, in her attempt to prove herself, he had demanded the impossible, leaving her thoroughly embarrassed. And to top it off, she had dropped a whole level in cultivation! It felt like every possible misfortune had converged on her all at once.
"Wukong!" Tripitaka called out after Guanyin had left.
Monkey King looked over at him, noticing a peculiar expression on his master's face.
Sensing something strange, Monkey King quickly set up the Heaven-Sealing Array to ensure privacy. "What is it, Master?"
Tripitaka seemed hesitant, struggling to find the right words.
"If you've something to say, go ahead, Master. With me around, you've nothing to worry about," Monkey King encouraged him, curious about what his master wanted to confide.
"Are you sure the gods and Tathagatas up above won't hear us?"
"Rest assured, Master. I'm not the Monkey King who defied the Heavens for nothing. If I say your words will reach only my ears and no one else's, you can count on it," Monkey King reassured him with a grin, his curiosity growing.
Tripitaka gave Monkey King a long, contemplative look. "Seems you're not as simple as you appear, Wukong."
Monkey King felt exasperated; he had no idea what kind of convoluted reasoning Tripitaka was following.
"Never mind... It doesn't matter now," Tripitaka sighed. He paused, then asked, "Wukong, do you think that the Tathagata is truly compassionate?"
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for altering the karmic course of the Journey to the West, gaining 1,000,000 Karma Points!"
Monkey King was taken aback by Tripitakas question.
"Honestly, I don't know what to believe anymore," Tripitaka continued, looking downcast. "For my entire life, I've practiced Buddhism, firmly believing in the Tathagata's compassion. But after today, I can't help but question it. Is the Tathagata truly compassionate?"
Monkey King, silent, waited for him to continue, sensing there might be more to the monk's sudden crisis of faith.
"You know, Wukong," Tripitaka said, "this Band-tightening Spellon my head… it was initially intended for you. I felt a moment of greed, wishing to keep it for myself, and now I've paid dearly for it. I don't blame anyone; it was my own doing. But for Guanyin—the bodhisattva I held as a paragon of truth and compassion—to deceive me… I never expected it."
Tripitaka's voice trembled as he continued. "I violated the monastic code and suffered unbearably as a consequence. Yet, the bodhisattva… who will hold her accountable?"
Monkey King's heart stirred as he saw Tripitaka's shaken faith and disillusionment.
"The Tathagata's compassion… does it include forcing me to bear this Band-tightening Spellfor life?" Tripitaka asked bitterly. "Wukong, do you know what this Band-tightening Spellwould have meant for you? Every time I'm in danger, I would have recited the incantation taught by Guanyin, making you suffer unbearable pain. I'm supposed to treat my loyal disciple this way, a disciple who saved my life… It's such a twisted irony!"
"So much for the compassionate bodhisattva. I don't see any compassion here," Tripitaka muttered.
Monkey King was astounded—Tripitaka's resentment was practically a treasure trove of karmic rewards!
"You know, Master," Monkey King said slyly, "there is a way to get that Band-tightening Spelloff your head."
Tripitaka's eyes widened. "What way?"
The idea of having the Band-tightening Spellremoved, something even Guanyin said was impossible, filled him with hope.
"Simple," Monkey King grinned. "All we have to do is… well, kill you and send you back into the cycle of reincarnation. The Band-tightening Spellwill come off with no problem at all!"
Tripitaka's face paled. "…I think I'll stick with living for now."
But something dawned on him after he calmed down. "Why didn't Guanyin mention this method to me?"
The answer was clear—she knew his life held value only as long as he was alive. In death, he would be useless.
"It seems, Wukong," Tripitaka murmured thoughtfully, "that I'm worth more to them alive than dead."
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