Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 61

The True Story of the Journey to the West
Victoria Shanghai Academy, Cheung, Vanessa – 8
T
here once lived a monk named Xuanzang. He wanted to learn the truth of Buddhism and to share
it far and wide throughout China. During that time, the kings were very greedy and treated the
pople harshly. They made the villagers pay high taxes and gave them little food. Xuanzang was sad
about that, so he decided to go to Nalanda, India, that legendary school of Buddhism in the West.
After a few days, Xuanzang and his newfound horse arrived at a nearby village to get more refreshments.
The day was extremely cold, so Xuanzang reached in his pockets to keep his hands warm. Suddenly, he felt
something warm and small inside his pocket.
He fished the thing out, and when he realized what it was, he gasped. “Can it talk?” Xuanzang asked in
wonder. The grasshopper had soon woken up and it began to talk. “Hello!” the grasshopper babbled on
and on. Though Xuanzang really wanted to leave the grasshopper alone in the wild, he missed the feeling
of other people speaking with him, so he kept it. Xuanzang finally found names for them and named the
grasshopper ‘Wukong’ and the horse ‘Yulong’.
The trio had faced many dangers at this time. They had to hike up freezing mountains, face dangerous
sandstorms, and travel along the main road, which was always filled with sneaky gangsters always trying to
steal people’s valuable possesions. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Then months
turned into years. Along the road, Xuanzang had met many people including rich kings, greedy princesses,
and good-hearted slaves. Now Xuanzang had a loyal friend to help him; His Majesty The King of
Hackracke, King Beardo Co, and along with his daughter, Princess Caira Co, and their court.
Four years of hard journeying had passed, and everyone had finally reached Nalanda, India. The new monk
was greeted formally by the other monks, and Xuanzang bowed down before the very old holy Buddhist
teacher. He studied hard for ten long years and eventually became the best student there.
One peaceful morning, Xuanzang realized it was time to go home. As everyone rode on horses back to the
village, Xuanzang clutched his monk bead necklace tigthly. Suddenly, he heard the coming of a ranging
avalanche! Startled, Xuanzang dropped his necklace.