The journey toward the Western Heaven was fraught with peril from its very inception, a path carved through the most desolate and spiritually charged landscapes of the ancient world. Tang Sanzang, the monk chosen by the Tang Emperor for his purity and devotion, rode upon a sturdy white horse, a gift from the imperial stables. Beside him walked Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, whose golden-hooped rod swung rhythmically with every step. Their path led them into the rugged heart of the western reaches, a land where the mountains seemed to touch the stars and the rivers held secrets older than the dynasties of men. They eventually reached a place known as the Eagle Grief Stream, or Yingchou Stream, a deep and winding canyon where the water ran so cold and clear that it was said even the reflection of a soaring eagle could freeze its heart with fear.
As the duo approached the banks of this formidable stream, the air grew heavy with a sudden, unnatural stillness. The monk, weary from days of travel, dismounted to let his horse drink from the crystalline waters. Sun Wukong, ever vigilant, scanned the surroundings with his fiery eyes, sensing a disturbance in the elemental balance of the area. Without warning, the surface of the stream erupted in a violent spray of foam and mist. A magnificent dragon, scales shimmering like polished silver and eyes burning with a desperate hunger, surged from the depths. Before the Monkey King could react, the dragon’s jaws clamped around the imperial horse, pulling the terrified animal into the churning vortex of the stream. In an instant, the horse was gone, swallowed by the depths, leaving Tang Sanzang trembling on the bank, his only means of transport vanished into the cold blue water.
Tang Sanzang was overcome with grief, weeping for the loss of the horse and the daunting road that lay ahead. He feared that without a mount, he would never reach the Vulture Peak to obtain the sacred scriptures. Sun Wukong, however, had little patience for tears. He roared at the stream, demanding that the creature show itself and return what it had stolen. When the dragon did not respond, Wukong brandished his Golden-Hooped Rod and stirred the waters with such force that the stream began to boil and churn. The dragon, unable to withstand the agitation of its home, leaped back into the air, its long body twisting through the mist. A fierce battle ensued between the Monkey King and the dragon. The dragon fought with tooth and claw, breathing clouds of vapor that obscured the sun, but it was no match for the speed and power of the Great Sage. After several rounds of combat, the dragon realized it could not prevail and dove back into the deepest crevice of the stream, refusing to emerge despite Wukong’s insults and provocations.
Frustrated, Wukong sought the assistance of the local deities. He summoned the Mountain God and the Earth God of the region, demanding to know the identity of the beast that dared to interfere with a pilgrim on a divine mission. The deities revealed that the dragon was no ordinary monster but the Third Prince of the Dragon King of the West Sea, named Yulong. The prince had been sentenced to death by the Jade Emperor for accidentally setting fire to a priceless night-shining pearl in the celestial palace. However, the Bodhisattva Guanyin had intervened, pleading for mercy and suggesting that the prince be allowed to redeem himself by assisting the monk on his journey. Hearing this, Wukong realized that force alone would not solve the problem. He called upon the Bodhisattva, who soon descended upon a cloud of purple mist, her presence bringing a calm that stilled the turbulent waters of the Yingchou Stream.