Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 262

New Journey to the West
Good Hope Primary School cum Kindergarten, Chu, Mei Ling - 11
A
bout 1400 years ago, there was a fascinating tale of a brave monk who had an exciting journey
finding spiritual fulfilment with magical companions from the southern mountains of China to the
western Buddha Temple of India...
The young monk whose name was Xuanzang started his journey. And weeks later, he arrived at The Cliff of
Death. “Help! Please help me!” a monkey cried. As Xuanzang walked through, he heard a struggling
scream. There was a monkey grabbing the end of the cliff, floundering desperately. Xuanzang, who was
merciful and full of benevolence, saved the monkey immediately. The monkey was known as “the Monkey
King”. He was abandoned by Heaven. As to atone his sin, the Monkey King decided to accompany
Xuanzang and to call Xuanzang by the name of “Master”. On the road, they met the talking pig and a sand
friar, the odd group was formed. And soon, they continued their journey.
Xuanzang and the group were travelling in the desert. On their way, Xuanzang suddenly became very sick,
and it was growing darker and darker. So they decided to take a rest. That night, round moon shone the
brightest in the sky with glittering stars all around. What a peaceful night, the talking pig thought. And he
soon went into his sweet dreams. Suddenly, a wolf howled in the distance, and woke everyone up. “Don’t
interrupt me. I was eating a delicious chicken leg!” The talking pig said angrily. “There’s no time for
chicken legs! There are wolves!” The Monkey King said furiously. In no time, the friar found a tunnel and
they dived in and breathed in relief.
After Xuanzang and his apprentices climbed out the end of the tunnel, they were at an underground palace.
There were morbid monsters and horrific demons, and they were having a feast. They sneaked and tried to
get out of this terrifying place, but it was impossible. Unfortunately, they were found by a guard, captured
and put in a cage. Later, a huge crowd of monsters and demons came.
“Well, well, well, isn’t it Xuanzang?” A White-Skeleton Demon said slyly. “It is said that eating your flesh
can gain immortality.”
“My master is sick now. It would be better to eat him after he has recovered,” the Monkey King said.
Then the White-Skeleton Demon announced that the feast would be postponed for three days, and she left.
The talking pig and the friar were desperate and Xuanzang was dreadfully sick. The Monkey King racked
his brain on how to get out of the place. Finally, the Monkey King got an idea! And he told Xuanzang, the
talking pig and the friar the plan...
“Oh! My master is dying!” the Monkey King cried. The guard who noticed the staggering news quickly
came and opened the cage door to check out Xuanzang. “Now!” the Monkey King shouted and gave the
guard a head-on blow. Luckily, they found the tunnel and escaped their torture in the palace. On the third
day, the White-Skeleton Demon found out that Xuanzang was gone. She raged and left out a deafening
scream. And she was scheming for a vicious plan...
Months and months pass, as the Monkey King, his master and the two companions travelled through the
southern mountains of China, and they had finally approached to their destination, the Buddha Temple in
India.
“Goodbye and thank you for accompanying me here.”Xuanzang said gratefully, with his eyes swimming
with tears. “Goodbye.”The Monkey King said and he soon left with the pig and the friar.