We ventured into the lawless lands. It honestly wasn’t that different from the outskirts of the Tang. There were still people who lived out here too. They were just a little more… eccentric.

  “Lousy Buddhists!” The old woman screamed as we rushed away from her house. Her family tried to restrain her. “Freeloaders and thieves! All of you! Get away from my house! You won’t get a single grain of rice from me you bandits!”

  She continued to scream profanities at us as we continued down the road. Once we were far enough away that we couldn’t make out her words, we all breathed a sigh of relief.

  We all thought we were lucky, seeing a rice farm right around lunchtime. How were we supposed to know the matron of the farm hated Buddhists with a burning passion?

  I leaned onto Wukong, worried. Our food stocks were running low. Sandy and Wukong ate a lot themselves, not to mention Pigsy. Trip was still mortal too, so he needed food. We had to find someplace to replenish our stocks.

  “Okay.” Wukong clapped his hands. “So, that wasn’t fun, and we still need food. Who wants to do some scouting?”

  Everyone groaned. Sandy and Pigsy had taken turns scouting and neither of the places they found was willing to give anything.

  I patted Wukong’s arm. “I can go. You’re tired from keeping watch last night.”

  He gave me an exhausted smile. “Thanks Yue. Come back quickly though.”

  “I will.” I summoned my sword and hopped on it.

  As I flew away, I heard Pigsy exclaiming. “Wait, she can fly on her own? Why the hell does she always ride with you!?”

  I was too far to hear Wukong’s retort as I flew above the trees and looked out into the mountains. There weren’t many people out here, and there were even fewer willing to share.

  I skipped over the next few houses. They looked like hunter cabins, and they wouldn’t have anything vegetarian for Trip and the boys.

  There had to be something. I flew a little higher, looking for a larger house, a village, anyone who might be more willing to help out some poor pilgrims.

  We needed something like a… a monastery?

  Up on the next mountain. It was easy to miss because it blended with the rock. I flew towards it, praying it wasn’t abandoned.

  People! I flew to the entrance gate and read the sign. Guanyin Monastery. Not only did I find some food for us, I found a place to sleep!

  It was turning to fall and the nights were getting chillier. A warm bed would do us all some good.

  I wasted no time in zipping back to the group with a wide grin on my face.

  I circled around everyone. “You’ll never believe what I found! On the next mountain up ahead is a Buddhist monastery!”

  Everyone froze, and then doubled the pace. Trip looked up at me in excitement. “Is it really a Buddhist monastery? What’s it called?”

  “Guanyin Monastery.” A smile transformed his face from the depressed and hungry Tripitaka, to the thrilled and sunshine personified Tripitaka.

  “That’s fantastic! I can burn some incense to Guanyin to thank her for saving me all those times. Let’s hurry!”

  I flew back to Wukong and joined him on Nimbus, and Pigsy didn’t even grumble about it. That’s how happy he and everyone else was.

  We made great time, and by dinnertime we were winding our way up the road to the monastery. It didn’t take much longer to reach the gates.

  Trip gave the rest of us a wary look. “You guys should take a step back. I’ll talk to them first.”

  Understandable. We all took about ten steps back from the gates, leaving only Ao Lie, who looked like a normal horse until she opened her mouth, and Tripitaka, the only mortal in our group.

  He rang the bell and a monk about the same age as him walked out of the monastery and down to us.

  He gave the rest of us a wary look and turned to Tripitaka and bowed.

  “Good Evening Brother. What brings an honorable man such as yourself here?”

  Trip bowed back. “I am but a humble monk on journey west to collect scriptures from the western heaven. These are my disciples. You have no need to fear them.”

  The monk looked back at us. “Hm. You have some weird disciples. I should probably get the okay from the head monk before letting you in. Uh, no offense.”

  Trip bowed his head. “None taken. I know they’re a little… unusual.”

  Ao Lie piped up. “Don’t worry! We’re nice once you get to know us!”

  The monk’s eyes widened and he practically tore a path running back up to the sanctuary.

  Trip just sighed. “Ao Lie. What did we talk about?”

  “Oh. Don’t talk to mortals until we’ve been officially introduced. Sorry, I forgot.”

  Trip sighed again, and we waited to see if anyone was coming back to let us in.

  Miraculously, someone did. An older man wearing a fancy cassock surrounded by other monks. He slowly walked down the path to greet us.

  He took his sweet time getting to the gate, but he got here eventually. He offered us a smile.

  “I greet the venerable monk on his journey. Please, come in, come in.” His subordinates opened the gates, and we rushed forward, happy to be granted entrance. We started back up the path to the monastery, keeping pace with the old monk.

  Trip thanked him. “We’ve had a trying time since leaving Tang. Thank you for your hospitality.”

  “Well, that is why our monastery exists! To teach ignorant people about the wonders of Buddhism. We haven’t had much luck, but that won’t stop us from trying! But please, introduce your disciples. They don’t seem mortal.”

  Trip nodded. “They aren’t. This is Sandy, Pigsy, and Sun Wukong, my disciples. The lady with Wukong is his wife, Sun Yue. And my horse is Ao Lie, a dragon. While they look fierce, they’re quite friendly.” He gave everyone but me a glare to be on our best behavior. I was always on my best behavior.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  We stopped at the entrance and Trip handed Lie off to a monk that took her around to the stables.

  The rest of us went inside where the head monk treated us to a feast. A vegetarian feast, but still.

  The rest of us eagerly tucked into the food while the head monk and Tripitaka continued talking.

  “I must say, it’s quite a treat to have guests. You simply must tell us about your travels. I’m sure you’ve had many.”

  “Well, we’ve had a few, but we only got started a month and a half ago. I’ve almost been eaten by demons a few times. And getting my disciples wasn’t easy. Oh, except for you Sandy.”

  Sandy gave him a thumbs-up. “Always happy to help!”

  “Really? Being a traveling monk seems fascinating.”

  “I don’t know.” I said. “It just seems rough so far. You seem to have it better. I mean, all the monks here seem well-off.”

  Yes, they were all wearing nice cassocks compared to Trip, and the food for this feast was also good quality. Not something I expected from people who mostly got by by begging.

  The head monk shrugged, and hid a small smile. “No, not at all. While we have some humble treasures thanks to other’s kindnesses, I’m sure it’s nothing compared to a monk chosen by the Boddisattva herself.”

  The other monks spoke up in protest.

  “What are you saying head monk? You have the best cassocks in all the land.”

  “You are too humble head monk. To say you have nothing of note!”

  “The head monk in his infinite wisdom has helped the monastery immensely!”

  The head monk waved them all off. “Nonsense, nonsense. It’s true I make a small hobby of collecting unique cassocks, but I’m sure these wise pilgrims have no time for such things.”

  Ah. He really wanted to show off huh? I mean, he was feeding us, and it was a small ask.

  I nudged Wukong and he gave me a puzzled look.

  “Ask to see his cassocks.” I whispered.

  “Oh! Uh, I’d like to see them! Your cassocks I mean.”

  The head monk clapped in delight. “Well, if you insist, how can I refuse? Go on, bring them out!”

  The other monks filtered out of the room and returned with several boxes. They opened them up and showed off the clothes inside.

  Yep, those were some fancy cassocks. Only Trip seemed mildly interested. The rest of us just gave bland comments about how nice they were when appropriate.

  That didn’t seem to dampen the old guy’s enthusiasm. He gave a hearty laugh. “Yes, indeed I have some of the finest cassocks in the land. Tell me honorable monk, do you have any unique cassocks?”

  Trip froze mid-bite. He woodenly swallowed. “Uh, well, i-it’s nothing compared to your cassocks. I’d be embarrassed to show it.”

  Wukong piped up. “Huh? I think it’s pretty nice. It’s not any worse than these cassocks.”

  Trip glared at Wukong. Why? Did he not want to show them his cassock for some reason?

  I leaned over and whispered to him. “What’s wrong?”

  He eyed the monastery monks, who were busy packing up the head monk’s cassocks. “I… just don’t think it’s a good idea to show them. It’s nice, but sometimes nice things incite greed in people’s hearts. You shouldn’t show off your wealth.”

  “You’re afraid they’ll rob us?”

  “Shh! No, it’s just…” Trip tried find the right words and sighed. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m getting a weird feeling from these monks.”

  “Okay, but they have much less reason to trust us and the head monk showed us his things. We have far more reason to steal than they do, and our appearances don’t exactly inspire trust.”

  Trip nodded. “You have a point. Maybe I’m overthinking this. I mean, they’re Buddhist right? And they’re being quite kind to us. I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”

  Trip cleared his throat. “I mean, I do have one cassock given to me by the Boddisattva. However, it’s not as impressive as yours.”

  The head monk laughed. “How modest you are! Please, there’s no need to be shy. I’ve shown you my finest, and I’m sure a cassock from the Boddisattva herself can put them all to shame! Please, show us.”

  Trip had Pigsy dart out and grab his bag. Once he had it, he opened it up and brought out a small bundle of cloth. He carefully unwrapped it, revealing the cassock within.

  Wow. Wukong was right. It was nice. Even Pigsy and Sandy stopped eating long enough to admire it.

  It wasn’t as decorated or as flashy as the head monk’s cassocks, but it screamed quality. I was alright at sewing, but whoever made that was a master. It was perfect in every stitch. I couldn’t identify the fabric either, but it shimmered in an understated way in the light.

  The head monk’s eyes practically bulged out of his head when he saw it, and his mouth dropped open. When Trip saw, he uncomfortably cleared his throat.

  “Um, as you can see, it’s not as fancy as yours, I’ll just have it put away…” Trip moved to put it back, but the head monk floundered.

  “Wait! Ah wait! Please, let me have a closer look at it!”

  Trip froze. “I-I don’t know if—” Every monk in the room turned to give him a glare, and he thickly swallowed. “Um, okay, but please be careful.”

  He cautiously set down the package in front of the head monk.

  The man was practically salivating over it.

  Me and Trip shared a worried glance. I regretted convincing him to show it now. I had no idea this man would be so… greedy. I didn’t know monks could be greedy.

  I looked at Wukong, but he was absorbed in the food again.

  “Wukong.” I whispered. “Should we do something about that?” I nodded to where the head monk was drooling over the cassock.

  Wukong swallowed and whispered back. “Look, he just doesn’t have the strength to try and take it from us. If he tries, we can just get it back.” He took another bite.

  I mean, that was true I guess.

  Trip gave the head monk a wan smile. “Um, I should put it away. I don’t want any food to accidentally soil it.”

  Or drool. The head monk’s mouth snapped shut and he tore his eyes away from the cassock to look at Trip.

  “What? Oh! I’m afraid my eyes aren’t what they used to be. Please brother, may I take this cassock to my room so I may admire it in better lighting? I shall return it to you in the morning.”

  His eyes seemed just fine to me. But again, all the monks eyes fell on us.

  Under the pressure of their gazes, Trip leaned over and whispered to me. “Yue, what are we going to do? I don’t want to let him take it.”

  Shit. “If we want to spend the night here, I don’t think we have a choice. If he refuses to give it back in the morning, the boys can get it back.”

  Trip still seemed uneasy. “O-Okay. You can take it for the night. But I’ll need it back, just how it is now, in the morning.”

  The head monk eagerly nodded. “Of course! Of course! I’ll be very careful with it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have something to attend to.”

  He not-so-subtly took the cassock and walked out with it. A few monks followed him.

  Trip looked after them, worried. I was too, although the boys were still pigging out.

  I leaned over to Trip. “There’s no point worrying about it now. Eat up while you can. The cassock will be coming with us when we leave tomorrow, one way or another.”

  Trip sighed and began picking at his food again. “I know you’re right. It just felt wrong to give away Guanyin’s gift like that. Especially in this monastery.”

  Right. This was Guanyin’s monastery. “Worst comes to worst, we can always ask her to talk to the monks for us. I’m sure they’ll listen to her.”

  He seemed a little comforted by that, and took a real bite of food.

  We finished eating and the monks led us to a communal room we can all sleep in.

  Pigsy knocked out right away, snoring in his bed. Sandy had gone to check on Lie and fill her in on what happened. Trip had gone to pray to Guanyin and burn incense for her.

  Wukong and I decided to go on a brief walk around the grounds and spend a little alone time together.

  “I don’t know Wukong. I just feel terrible. I’m the one who convinced Trip to show off his cassock.”

  “You didn’t know that head monk was so greedy. He’s supposed to be a monk for crying out loud. And if need be, all I have to do is march into the head monk’s rooms and grab it before we leave tomorrow.”

  We were holding hands, strolling along the cliff. Smoke from the houses in the valley drifted upwards in the evening air. A cool breeze was blowing in from the north. It seemed like it was going to be windy tonight.

  “Still, nothing would’ve happened if I just kept my mouth shut.”

  “Well, then, nothing would’ve happened if I hadn’t mentioned the cassock in the first place. We can’t change what happened. We can only deal with the future. Whether that’s giving the old monk a lesson he won’t forget or they give us the cassock back and we part happily in the morning. It's just clothes. It’s not the end of the world.”

  “Yeah, but those clothes are important to Trip. I know if someone tried to take my sister’s clothes, I’d freak out. I should apologize to him.”

  He sighed and dipped down, pressing a brief kiss to my forehead. “Do whatever you have to. I just don’t want you to feel guilty over what that head monk did. He’s the one who caused us all this worry. Not you, not me, and not Trip. Maybe we did show off the cassock, but he’s the one coveting it. He should learn from Trip’s example and let go of worldly greed, like a real Buddhist.”

  “It seems like you’re learning something from Trip after all.” I giggled. I felt a little lighter now that he reminded me it wasn’t I nor Trip who caused this whole ordeal.

  “Well, he lectures us so much, I guess something had to stick. Just you wait. By the end of this journey, I’ll be able to recite sutras by myself!”

  That’ll be the day. Our conversation turned to lighter subjects, and as the sun set we returned back to the monastery.

  I gave Trip an apology, but he agreed with Wukong that it wasn’t my fault. In the end, we all went to bed feeling a little lighter.