#before being recruited for the journey by guanyin

[sketching-shark]

JTTW retelling that deals with everyone's favorite pilgrims "beginning" their redemption arcs getting trapped under a mountain for 500 years/getting stabbed hundreds of times daily/having their bones broken with a mallet constantly/whipped approximately a bajillion times when.

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 19

Monkey dragging Pigsy to go see Tripitaka:

So we begin this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest where we left off, with Monkey chasing after Zhu.

So they reach a tall mountain, and Zhu retrieves his weapon, a nine pronged rake, while Monkey demands him to identify himself. Which works, since Zhu then proceeds to give Monkey his whole life story. Which basically amounts to, he was a Marshall in heaven before he got drunk and sexually harrassed the moon goddess Chang'e. The Jade Emperor was gonna execute him but the Gold Star of Venus (who else) intervened and he was whipped and banished to earth instead and took a wrong turn on the path to rebirth and ended up getting born by a sow. With story time over for now- the two start duking it out until eventually Zhu retreats and seals himself inside his cave. Monkey decides to just go report back to Tripitaka and come back to catch the monster later.

So Tripitaka has had a good night so far since he stayed up late chatting with the some elder's that Monkey had told Mr. Gao to provide for him. And just as he's starting to wonder why Monkey hasn't returned- he does. So Tripitaka asks Monkey where the monster is, and Monkey gives him a rundown of the situation.

Mr. Gao comes forward to insist that Monkey capture the monster since he doesn't want him coming back once the two leave. He even says he'll reward them for it. Monkey however seems to stand up for Zhu saying that despite having an enormous appetite, he did do the work for it. And not only that, but he is also technically a descended god, and has helped their family without causing any serious harm to his daughter, so why not keep him around?

Mr. Gao however insists that it will hurt their reputation. And Tripitaka tells Sun Wukong that he really should see this through to the end. And Sun Wukong says he was just testing him a little for fun and will apprehend the monster. So with that he leaves again after reminding Mr. Gao to take good care of Tripitaka.

So Sun Wukong arrives back to the cave and finally pulls out a win against a locked cave door, by reducing the door to dust with his staff. Moneky once again challenges Zhu to fight him by calling him an overstuffed coolio. Which Zhu replies to by calling Monkey BanHorsePlague, and telling him that breaking and entering and trespassing is against the law. And Monkey says that his rap sheet of kidnapping that girl from her family is a much worse crime.

Zhu gets tired of comparing their rap sheets and yells 'Fear my rake' and attacks Monkey again. Monkey is just like 'Why on earth would I be afraid of a rake?' Which leads to Zhu giving us more exposition, this time about his weapon. Which basically amounts to the rake being a group effort to make in heaven, that was gifted to him. He then says he'll rake monkey until his soul melts and his spirit leaks. To which Monkey replies 'Rake Away'. And let's Zhu get a free shot in. Zhu takes that shot... only to have the rake bounce right off his head, leaving Monkey without even a scratch. And Monkey gleefully reminds him that back when he had caused havoc in heaven, none of their heavenly weapons had worked back then to execute him.

Zhu finally decides to ask what he's even doing here harassing him, after all didn't he live on flower fruit mountain? Did his father in law go all the way there just to fetch him? And Monkey finally tells him that he's just passing through here with the Scripture Pilgrim. This causes Zhu to completely change his tune, throwing aside his weapon to demand that Monkey take him to the Scripture Pilgrim. Monkey is suspicious and asks why, and Zhu explains that he was recruited by Guanyin to help on their journey in order to atone for his sins. Monkey makes him swear to heaven that he's telling the truth before he takes him to Tripitaka.

Before they leave however, Monkey hazes Zhu into joining the Arson Club with him and Bai Long Ma, by ordering him to burn down his cave. Now we just need Tripitaka to commit some arson to complete the club... Anyways with the cave now on fire, Monkey has Zhu hand over his weapon, and turns one of his hairs into a rope to tie his hands up with. With that done Monkey then proceeds to drag him by the ear to Tripitaka.

Monkey then points Tripitaka out to Zhu by saying his master is the dignified looking one. So Zhu know tows to Tripitaka and explains that he has been assigned by Guanyin as his disciple. So Tripitaka thanks Guanyin with some incense and has Monkey until Zhu. Then Tripitaka offers to give Zhu a religious name but Zhu explains that he already received the name Zhu Wuneng from Guanyin. So Tripitaka gives him the nickname 'Eight Rules' instead.

Mr Gao is happy to finally be rid of Zhu so he throws them a going away feast. Pigsy asks to see his wife, but Monkey says monks aren't allowed to have wives. Mr Gao offers Tripitaka some wine, but Tripitaka practices abstinence from it. However neither Sun Wukong or Zhu Wuneng have cut out wine from their diets so Tripitaka lets them have some as long as they don't get drunk and cause trouble. Also I think we find out that Wukong is a lightweight?

Mr. Gao also tries to offer them some Gold and Silver as well as some fancy new clothes, but Tripitaka declines it. Sun Wukong however takes the money and hands it to Gao Cai, for bringing them here and gaining them Wuneng. And tells him to feel free to come to him with any future monster problems. Mr. Gao then insists they at least take the clothes, but Tripitaka once again declines- however Zhu Wuneng demands some clothes as payment for his years of service, which Mr. Gao reluctantly agrees to.

So the group heads off again, but not before Zhu Wuneng says his goodbyes to the family, and says that if this whole 'questing thing' doesn't work out he'll be back as his son in law. Which causes both Monkey and Tripitaka to scold him and tell him to stop talking nonsense. So the group travels for about a month before they come across a tall mountain. When Tripitaka asks about it, surprisingly it's Zhu Wuneng who has the answer saying it's Pagoda Mountain, and that Crow's Nest Chan Master lives there.

So they travel up the mountain a little more before finally running into the master himself. They exchange the usual pleasantries and Tripitaka asks how far they are from Thunderclap temple. Chan Master says they are very far and that the journey is perilous, but he has a Heart Sutra that will protect him from harm and offers to teach it to Tripitaka. So Chan Master recites the Sutra and Tripitaka manages to memorize it after only hearing it once. Having done that Chan prepares to take his leave of them, but Tripitaka once again asks about the challenges they will face on their journey.

So Chan gives them a bunch of cryptic warnings including one about water sprite, a wild pig and old stone ape which causes Monkey to lash out after Chan Master turns into a beam of light at the perceived insult. Tripitaka holds him back however and Zhu tells him to chill out and that Master Chan knows of past and future events. And that they should wait and see if his statement about meeting a water sprite will come true or not. So with that the group finally continues on their Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes, Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water and sleeplessness. Demon Kill Count: 4+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 6 God's Defeated: 19 + Unknown number Defeats: 2 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering and trespassing. Cry Count: 3 Mountains Trapped Under: 1

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 11 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 5 Paralyzed by fear: 4 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 1 Falling Off Horses: 4

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, and flight. Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 1

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 2 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping and arson.

[loyaltykask]

Chapter 18

@journeythroughjourneytothewest

Haha he was worried he was being ditched. Maybe it's mean to laugh but it kinda funny to me

So Sanzang and Wukong were together for only about 3 months before they got Bajie, only 1 season changed and they described being on the road together for 2 months, then the rob stuff happened, and then another week together

INTERESTING They say Bajie took on a wife three years ago and later he says that he took on a wife after Guanyin contacted him Meaning that between Guanyin finding Tripitaka and now that would lead to Sanzang being at least 21 and at most 27 when the journey starts. Also suggests that it took Guanyin three years to find Sanzang to task him with the quest and that Sanzang has been a full-fledged monk for 3 years as well when he was recruited for the job.

This guy is so rude like check yourself before you wreck yourself. What happened to politeness, etiquette, common decency, like damn how you like it if I walked up to ya saying "Wow that is an ugly bastard" like no, cause I would be clocked in the face. These people.... no respect

This guy and his grips about looks So yeah he looks like a pig and eats like one too, he working hard! Even Sanzang agrees that if he is working that hard it's not unreasonable he eats so much

Some people just can't be pleased

HE STILL A VEGETARIAN TOO LIKE DAMN

Wukong can appreciate that despite him about to kick Bajie's ass at least Bajie is being honest before his ass beating

XD

He getting the fuck out, he ain't playing.

RUN LITTLE PIGGY RUUUUUUN

Honestly, Mr Gao is rude. Like dead ass all his complaints mostly involved saying that Bajie is ugly more than him actually being a demon like this suggests to me that he’s fine with the demon part but he just doesn’t want ugly grandkids which is 1 million times funnier to me. Like if a handsome demon took his youngest daughter he would be fine with it as long as he ain’t ugly