The emperor gifted me supplies and twelve monks to accompany me on my journey to the West . I was beyond grateful : it was an act I ’ d never be able to repay . We slowly reached the ice mountains we must cross . The monks brought Zhang and I to a nearby village so we could prepare before trekking through the blizzards . As soon as we stepped through the village borders , a girl around fourteen stopped us with a spear in hand . Her skin was slightly brown and her raven black hair was tied up . Her dark eyes cold and calculating . She yelled in an unfamiliar Chinese accent , “ Who are you ?” One of the monks blurted out , “ We are from Gao Chang . Let us pass , little girl !” This make her point her spear directly at the monk . The monk turned pale and gulped . I caught a glimpse of a Buddhist chain on her wrists , hiding beneath her thick , fur sleeves .
Thinking quickly , I spoke to her , “ I am Xuan Zang , the monk who wants to travel to India .” “ My name is Kanok Yu . My father is an Indian as my mother is a Chinese .” She said politely while bowing . As she directed us through the small village , Kanok asked me questions . “ Why travel to India ? Is your trail through the snow mountains ?” I laughed softly , while Zhang scoffed at her . “ A girl like you shouldn ’ t ask questions .” Kanok glanced at Zhang , her tone dripping venom and asked me , “ Who is this ?” Zhang looked offended as I answered easily , “ Oh , that ’ s Zhang .” After a night at Kanok ’ s shack , we asked Kanok ’ s parents for directions to the mountains . Surprising me , Kanok ’ s mother answered , “ Kanok can bring you there . You see , not a lot of the emperors ’ support female and Buddhism , but our family are Buddhists and we are dedicated . Let Kanok accompany you . She is good with a spear and making food .” Without hesitation , I gained another young traveler .
********** The wind howled and whirled ; it must be a snowstorm . The freezing wind whipped across our cotton clad bodies causing us to stop for shelter against a make-shift cave . Zhang couldn ’ t make a fire , and we were all starving . As we huddled together , the monks surrounding us to keep warm . The next morning , eight of the monks collapsed lifelessly on the snow . Eight brave souls . I never knew their names .
********** It had been weeks since we had left those dreadful ice mountains and the poor souls of the monks , yet I still couldn ’ t lift the aching pain away from my heart . We were nearly in India as the weather got warmer . These weeks I felt something new inside me . The bridge in the journey is always hard , but as long as you make the first step , there are numerous ways to get to the other side . Our smaller group , continued for the temples of India , where Buddhism breathes .