Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 389

We walked on, each filled with determination. We met a widow with three daughters, and the Pig
was tricked into marrying one of the daughters, but it turned out that they were the Buddha's helpers, trying
to test if our life's ambition was to go to the West. We were mischievous, I must say, and we stole. We
stole, and people chased us. We barely escaped every time. We then met a ghoul. The thing was, Master
did not have as piercing eyes as I did, as did the other apprentices. They saw an old woman, a bald old man,
and a young , innocent girl. I saw a ghoul, a ghoul, and a ghoul. I was frustrated, not understanding why
Master couldn’t see through the simple disguise. Agreeing with my better judgments for this time, I killed
the spirit, doing as only to protect Master. I was banned, as result, for being an apprentice for Master
anymore.
I didn’t know what was happening for a while, so I went back to the mountain where I was born. I
wasn’t aware of the days that had passed, the times I’d seen the sun set pass me. I only remember drinking to
myself and my fellow monkeys. But I remember being called by Pig to help master get out, and therefore I
knew he was held as a prisoner. I battled with the monster that held my Master as prisoner, and saved
Master. He was glad to let me be his apprentice again, and he forgave me for what I had done.
We battled some monsters again; same story every time. It was really me who did all the work,
honestly. I stole some, battled again; stole, then battled. Though really, I would like to see the others
battling, or even managing to battle, without me being there. Pig was too lazy to even look around and tell
Master about the place we were battling in. He slept on the mountain, and I was following him. He bowed
to three particular rocks and practiced the chain of lies and nonsense which, however pathetically made, he
was going to perform in front of us. We went on, and with hearts full of perseverance and determination,
we arrived.
That was my version of the story. I was free, and will always be. People now know me as the
Monkey King.