Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 376

New Journeys to the West
The International Schools Foundation Academy, Jiang, Sophia - 11
I
t was Buddha's idea. I never wanted to go on an adventure with a hairy monkey! I mean, don’t get me
wrong, I love adventures, just not with that guy! I just don’t get it, Buddha says that monkey will
protect me, but I don’t need any protection! Does Buddha not understand how powerful I really am?
I’ve had 10 years of training just to go on this trip! Now a monkey has to accompany me? I have to change
this!
I felt anger rising in my chest as I clenched my fists and stormed into Buddha’s bedroom. I scowled
at the sight of him. He was facing the window, admiring the beautiful sunset.
“Well, well, well, who do we have here,” Buddha declared. Before I could say anything, he
interrupted, “Xuanzang, is this about the monkey?”
“Of course it is!” I snapped, “I’ve trained for 10 whole years just to go on this trip. I don’t need
some sort of protector! And besides, how will a monkey protect me?”
“You still have much to learn, as I like to say, I’ve taught you everything you know, but not
everything I know.” Buddha said while stroking his beard.
“This is outrageous! Buddha, you don’t understand, this is my time to shine! Not the stupid
monkey’s!” I protested.
“Don’t argue with your master, you have a lot to learn from the monkey. Go on the trip and you’ll
see.”
Furious, I stormed out of the temple to get some fresh air.
“If Buddha doesn’t believe me, I will have to prove myself worthy.” I was determined.
Just as I was about to go and pack my stuff, I heard a rustle in the bushes. Curiosity buzzed in my
head, so I decided to go take a look. Out of nowhere, I heard a loud neigh.
I could see the horns emerging from the leaves, a silhouette of a horse appeared, except it had a
strange looking head. It looked as if it were half human and half horse. Suddenly, i saw a triangular mark on
its stomach.
“Centaur!” I screamed. Immediately, I knew what was behind those thick leaves, my heart was
pounding as I scrambled away from the bush.
The centaur charged at me. Terrified, I fell to the ground praying, “Oh, Buddha, I’m sorry for
what I’ve said, please, please save me!” I could feel the hot breath of the centaur on my face. Saliva was
dripping from his mouth eagerly. Just as he was about to devour me, a blue streak of light shot through the
air, striking the monster in the stomach, on the triangular mark.
“Here! I’m here!” A hand waved in front of my face. I looked up, only to see a hairy monkey.
“How did you do that? Who are you? Where did you come from?” My head was spinning with
questions.
“I am Sun Wukong, better known as the Monkey King. And you must be XuanZang.” He replied
with his sharp cheeky voice. “Now I know why Buddha insisted me on helping this noob during his trip.”
WuKong mumbled, not realising how loud he was. “He doesn’t know anything! Not even the simplest
spells!”
With a sudden change of tone, he looked at me with his fiery red eyes, “Well, you better be
careful, you never know what’s out there. Also, that was called a Barden Blast, it’s one of the basic skills to
slay centaurs. Has Buddha not taught you that yet?”
“Not really.”I smiled embarrassedly. “Okay, we better head back to the temple now, or Buddha
will be mad. You know how he is when he’s mad.” We both laughed.
“I agree, let’s head back.” The monkey king said with a smirk on his face, “Race you!”
We met back at the palace and headed to Buddha’s room.
“I see you have become friends now.” Buddha declared like always, “Oh, and I have just received
great news! Two more people will be accompanying you guys on this trip!”
Our jaws hung open.
“One of them is a pig named BaJie, and the other on is a river monster named WuJing.”
“Not again!” WuKong and I groaned in unison.