Early in the morning, Monk Tang put on his embroidered kasaya, while Wukong prepared the travel documents, Wujing took up the alms bowl, and Wuneng picked up his staff.
The Monkey King exclaimed: “That explains everything! Why don’t you just escape and be done with it?”
As soon as they crossed the Black River, the master and his disciples continued their journey westward, braving frost and snow.
Defeated, Tripitaka wiped his tears and rejoined his disciples. When the Monkey King saw his Master upset, he approached him and asked: “Did the monks from this monastery strike you?”
The novel Journey to the West concludes its legend with a triumphant homecoming, sparing little detail on the return journey.