VIAJE AL OESTE Las Aventuras del Rey Mono cap 25
Chapter 25: The Immortal Chen Yuan Pursues the Scripture-Seeking Monk
The Arrival at the Temple
- The chapter opens with Chen Yuan chasing after a monk known for seeking scriptures, causing chaos in the Temple of the Five Villas.
- Tripitaka, the master, calls upon his disciples to discuss a serious matter regarding a peculiar fruit called jinen that resembles a newborn child.
Discussion of the Jinen Fruit
- Tripitaka questions if any of them have tasted the jinen fruit; Bachie admits ignorance about it.
- Wum defends his right to laugh despite accusations from others, emphasizing their commitment to honesty and abstaining from stolen food.
Confession and Accusations
- After some back-and-forth, Wum confesses to having taken fruits but insists he was not solely responsible as Bachie encouraged him.
- Luna Brillante accuses Wum of being a liar for taking four fruits while only distributing three among them.
Tensions Rise Among Disciples
- As insults fly between the young immortals, tensions escalate leading to an outburst from the Great Sage who threatens them with violence.
- In frustration, he transforms into an obedient version of himself to avoid conflict while plotting revenge on those who insulted him.
Destruction of the Jinen Tree
- The true form of Wum rises above and attacks the jinen tree in anger, causing irreparable damage and leaving it barren.
- Despite searching through fallen branches for fruits, he finds none as they have disintegrated into the earth due to his actions.
Realization and Regret
- Returning unnoticed by others, Wum reflects on his actions while Brisa Límida expresses disbelief over their treatment of monks who may not be guilty.
- They decide to investigate further after witnessing devastation at the orchard where they find no remaining fruits or leaves.
Consequences and Plans Moving Forward
- Both Brisa Límida and Luna Brillante are horrified by what they see; they lament over their misjudgment regarding responsibility for destroying sacred property.
The Consequences of Accusations
The Plan to Trap the Monks
- The characters discuss a plan to trap the monks by offering them food and then locking them in, hoping their master will decide their fate later. This reflects a manipulative strategy to avoid responsibility for their actions.
- Brisa Limpida expresses concern about receiving punishment if they do not follow through with the plan, indicating a fear of authority and consequences.
Acknowledgment of Mistakes
- The group approaches Monk Tang with humility, apologizing for their previous vulgar language, which shows an attempt at reconciliation despite earlier accusations. They claim it was a misunderstanding regarding missing fruits due to poor counting.
- Bachie criticizes youthful impulsiveness, emphasizing the importance of verifying facts before making accusations against innocent people. This highlights themes of maturity and accountability in behavior.
Escalation of Tension
- Tripitaka suspects that the young ones are lying about the fruit situation and feels frustrated by their dishonesty while preparing to continue their journey after eating rice. This indicates his growing impatience with the unfolding drama.
- As tensions rise, Brisa Limpida accuses the monks of theft and threatens severe consequences for what they perceive as disrespectful behavior towards sacred property (the tree). This showcases escalating conflict driven by misunderstandings and accusations.
Confrontation and Isolation
- After closing all doors to ensure no one escapes, the young ones insult the monks further, calling them thieves and bandits, which illustrates how quickly situations can devolve into hostility without resolution or understanding.
- Tripitaka feels overwhelmed by guilt after being scolded for causing trouble during this chaotic encounter; he realizes that his actions have led to significant repercussions within this community dynamic.
Seeking Solutions Amidst Chaos
- Despite feeling trapped due to locked doors, Tripitaka insists on continuing with their original plan to leave that night, showing determination even in difficult circumstances. His resolve contrasts with others' despair over being confined.
- Bachie suggests using transformation powers as a means of escape but raises concerns about leaving others behind without abilities like his own; this introduces themes of teamwork versus individual capability in crisis situations.
The Magical Opening of Doors
The Power of the Iron Bar
- El peregrino demonstrates his magical ability by using a golden-tipped iron bar to open multiple locks simultaneously, showcasing a remarkable feat that even skilled blacksmiths could not achieve.
- He downplays this act as trivial, stating that true value lies in opening the "south gate of heaven," indicating a higher purpose for his powers.
Journey Towards the West
- Tripitaka instructs El peregrino to avoid harming the Taoists while he plans to make them sleep for over a month, emphasizing moral responsibility and caution against wrongdoing.
- El peregrino uses sleep-inducing insects he won from Virupa to ensure the two young men remain undisturbed, demonstrating cleverness in achieving his goals without direct confrontation.
Nighttime Travel and Complaints
- As they travel through the night, Monk Tang expresses frustration at being kept awake by El peregrino's antics, highlighting tension within their group dynamic.
- Despite Tang's complaints, El peregrino suggests resting until dawn, showing his leadership role and concern for their well-being.
Unexpected Events at the Temple
Arrival at the Mountain of Longevity
- The great immortal arrives at the temple only to find its doors wide open, leading him to believe that Brisa Límpida and Luna Brillante have been responsible and diligent in their duties.
Discovery of Chaos
- Upon entering the main hall with other immortals, they find no signs of life or incense burning; this absence raises suspicions about potential theft or negligence on part of Brisa Límpida and Luna Brillante.
Confrontation with Dormant Taoists
- The immortals hear loud snoring from behind closed doors but struggle to wake up the sleeping Taoists despite their efforts. This scene illustrates both humor and frustration among characters.
Revelations About Theft
Awakening from Enchantment
- After failing to rouse them naturally, an immortal uses magic water to break an enchantment causing deep sleep among the young men. This moment emphasizes themes of power dynamics between mortals and immortals.
Accusations Unfolded
- Once awakened, the Taoists express fear regarding accusations against them as thieves. They recount how they were misled by Monk Tang’s followers who rejected valuable offerings due to misunderstanding.
A Tale of Misunderstanding
The Encounter with the Great Immortal
The Revelation of Power
- Luna Brillante learns that the fallen tree was a significant loss, as it belonged to an immortal with extraordinary magical powers who once caused great upheaval in the heavens.
- The Great Immortal instructs his disciples to prepare instruments of torture while he seeks out the monks responsible for the tree's destruction.
Pursuit of Tripitaka
- Brisa Lípida and Luna Brillante chase after Tripitaka, covering 1000 km quickly but failing to locate him.
- Upon realizing their distance from Tripitaka, the Great Immortal decides to return and capture him.
Disguise and Deception
- The Great Immortal transforms into a mendicant Taoist, wearing patched clothing and carrying a drum-like instrument.
- He approaches Tripitaka respectfully, pretending to be humble while inquiring about his journey.
Confrontation and Accusations
- The Great Immortal feigns surprise at Tripitaka’s route, accusing him of having passed through his mountain without acknowledgment.
- He directly accuses Tripitaka of being responsible for the fallen tree and demands another tree as compensation.
Escalation of Conflict
- Angered by accusations, Tripitaka retaliates with an iron bar; however, the Great Immortal skillfully evades his attack.
- The confrontation escalates as both engage in combat; despite being unarmed except for a fan, the Great Immortal demonstrates agility and skill in dodging attacks.
Magical Capture
- Utilizing his magical abilities, the Great Immortal envelops Tripitaka and his companions within a large sleeve-like fabric during their struggle.
- Bachie expresses confusion about their predicament inside what they believe is a bag; humorously suggesting they could escape by creating a hole.
Return to Temple
The Consequences of Renouncing Family for Truth
The Great Immortal's Judgment
- The Great Immortal addresses his followers, stating that those who have renounced family to pursue truth should not be punished with weapons, yet they deserve exemplary punishment for destroying the Yinsen tree.
- The immortals obey without question as the Great Immortal prepares a dragon-skin whip, emphasizing its extraordinary flexibility after being soaked in water.
The Debate on Punishment
- A robust immortal questions whom to punish; the Great Immortal insists on punishing Tripitaka, the group leader, despite concerns about his ability to withstand such punishment.
- The Pilgrim intervenes, claiming responsibility for stealing fruits and suggests he should be punished instead of Tripitaka, highlighting his loyalty and bravery.
Execution of Punishment
- The Great Immortal agrees to punish the Pilgrim first with thirty lashes as per the number of fruits stolen from the tree.
- As punishment is administered, the Pilgrim magically hardens his legs to steel, enduring the lashes without feeling pain.
Reflection on Responsibility
- After receiving punishment, the Pilgrim argues against blaming Tripitaka for his disciples' actions and emphasizes that only they are responsible for their misdeeds.
- Despite being called disrespectful by the Great Immortal, he maintains that Tripitaka should not be punished for something he did not commit.
Conclusion of Punishments
- Following another round of lashes received by himself at his own insistence, the Pilgrim remains unscathed physically but reflects on their situation as night falls.
- After dinner, Tripitaka expresses frustration over always facing consequences due to his disciples’ actions while they argue about their shared suffering.
Escape Plan
- The Pilgrim reassures Tripitaka that he has only been punished so far and encourages him not to complain excessively about their predicament.
- He asserts that he can free them from their bindings using magic despite skepticism from others regarding their escape plan.
Transformation Magic
- In silence within a monastery setting, the Pilgrim successfully frees himself from ropes and urges everyone to continue their journey quickly.
- He instructs one disciple to fetch young willows which he uses in a spell to transform them into duplicates of themselves.
The Trials of Tripitaka and the Immortal
The Journey Begins
- Tripitaka, exhausted from their journey, struggles to stay awake on his horse. The pilgrim criticizes him for being weak despite having left home.
- The pilgrim boasts about his endurance, claiming he could go without sleep for a thousand nights. He suggests that Tripitaka should dismount to avoid ridicule from passersby.
Magical Punishments
- As dawn breaks, the immortal orders punishment for Tripitaka using a whip. Despite his protests, Tripitaka receives thirty lashes without complaint.
- The immortal then turns to Bachie for punishment, who also accepts it willingly. However, when it's the turn of the true dukun (the pilgrim), he feels real pain due to a magical transformation.
Unraveling Magic
- The dukun realizes that he is feeling the physical pain inflicted on the trees transformed into them and decides to stop the magic by reciting a spell.
- Taoists watching are terrified as they witness this transformation; one reports back to their master about how Tripitaka and others have become willows.
Confrontation with Power
- The great immortal acknowledges the cleverness of the dukun's trick but vows not to let such audacity go unpunished and prepares to pursue them.
- Spotting the fleeing monks, including one on horseback carrying luggage, he swoops down like an eagle demanding they return.
Battle Against Immortality
- The pilgrims prepare for battle against their formidable foe while expressing concern over their situation. They arm themselves with weapons in unity.
- Despite launching an attack with divine weapons against the immortal Chen Yuan, their efforts prove futile as he easily deflects their strikes.
Captured Again
- After half an hour of fighting without success, Chen Yuan captures all four monks along with their belongings once more.
- Back at his monastery, each monk is restrained differently: Tang tied up while others are chained next to trees; only the pilgrim remains loosely bound.
A Humorous Turn of Events
- Observing preparations for what seems like burial attire made from large pieces of cloth causes humor among captured monks; they joke about needing proper garments.
Gran Inmortal's Culinary Plans
The Arrival of the Giant Pan
- The Gran Inmortal orders a large pan to be brought, indicating a plan for a meal. Bachie expresses excitement, humorously suggesting that if they die, at least they will be well-fed spirits.
Preparation for Cooking
- The immortals prepare a fire and heat oil in the pan, intending to cook the pilgrim as punishment for destroying the tree of Jinen. The Gran Inmortal is pleased with this decision.
Precautions and Observations
- A wise figure takes precautions against potential magical traps while observing his surroundings. He notices a sundial and an artistic stone lion nearby.
Transformation into Stone Lion
- The wise figure transforms himself into the image of the stone lion, complete with chains and fiery eyes, showcasing his magical abilities.
Struggle to Capture the Pilgrim
- As preparations continue, one immortal informs that the oil is ready. However, attempts to lift the pilgrim fail; even eight additional helpers cannot move him from his spot.
The Challenge of Capturing the Pilgrim
Immortals' Frustration
- Despite their efforts increasing to twelve immortals, they struggle to lift him due to his unexpected weight. One immortal comments on how stubbornly he remains grounded.
Discovery of Damage
- They discover that holes in the pan were caused by a heavy stone lion. The Gran Inmortal expresses frustration over losing both control and his cooking vessel.
Decision for Revenge
- Angered by their failure and loss of equipment, he orders them to capture Tripitaka (the monk), planning revenge by frying him instead.
The Pilgrim's Desperate Intervention
Urgent Plea for Master’s Safety
- Alarmed at Tripitaka's impending fate, the pilgrim descends quickly from above to intervene on behalf of his master.
Bold Offer from the Pilgrim
- Defiantly challenging authority, he offers himself as an alternative target for frying instead of Tripitaka. His audacity surprises even the Gran Inmortal.
Justification for His Actions