Journey to the West 082: The Pilgrims Confront the Spirit of the Green Dragon

Entering the Dragon Pool Temple

As Tripitaka and his disciples continued their journey to the West, they reached the Dragon Pool Temple (龙潭寺), an ancient and revered temple nestled in the mountains. The temple was surrounded by lush greenery and a deep, mystical pool of water that was said to be the home of a powerful spirit known as the Green Dragon (青龙). The temple was dedicated to the worship of this spirit, and the monks who lived there believed that the Green Dragon protected the land and its people.

The pilgrims were greeted warmly by the monks, who invited them to stay at the temple and rest before continuing their journey. However, Wukong, always cautious, sensed a strange energy emanating from the pool and warned his companions to be on guard. He suspected that the Green Dragon might not be the benevolent protector that the monks believed it to be.

The Revelation of the Green Dragon's True Nature

During their stay, Tripitaka and his disciples learned more about the Green Dragon from the monks. The monks spoke of the dragon with reverence, describing how it had blessed the land with prosperity and good fortune. However, they also hinted at the dragon’s darker side, mentioning how it demanded regular offerings and had become increasingly demanding and capricious in recent years.

Wukong, growing more suspicious, decided to investigate the pool that was said to be the dragon’s lair. Under the cover of night, he used his magical abilities to enter the depths of the pool, where he discovered the truth: the Green Dragon was not a benevolent spirit but a malevolent entity that had been exploiting the monks and the villagers for its own gain.

The Green Dragon had used its powers to create the illusion of prosperity while secretly feeding on the fear and devotion of the people. It had become corrupt over time, consumed by greed and a desire for power. Wukong knew that the dragon’s deception had to be exposed and that it posed a significant threat to the pilgrims’ mission.

Confrontation with the Green Dragon

Wukong returned to the temple and informed Tripitaka and the other disciples of what he had discovered. Tripitaka, saddened by the dragon’s corruption, decided to confront the Green Dragon and offer it a chance to repent and embrace the path of the Dharma. He hoped that the dragon could be redeemed and that the temple could be restored to its original purpose as a place of true spiritual worship.

The next morning, the pilgrims approached the pool and called out to the Green Dragon, asking it to reveal itself. The dragon emerged from the depths, a massive and fearsome creature with shimmering green scales and eyes that glowed with malevolent intent.

Tripitaka spoke to the dragon, urging it to abandon its path of greed and deception and to follow the teachings of the Buddha. However, the Green Dragon, enraged by being confronted, refused to listen. It attacked the pilgrims with a powerful surge of water, intending to drown them in its pool.

Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing quickly sprang into action, using their magical abilities to counter the dragon’s attacks. Wukong, wielding his Ruyi Jingu Bang, struck at the dragon with powerful blows, while Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing worked together to protect Tripitaka from the surging waters.

The Battle with the Green Dragon

The battle between the pilgrims and the Green Dragon was intense, with the dragon using its control over water to create waves and whirlpools that threatened to overwhelm them. However, Wukong’s agility and strength allowed him to stay one step ahead of the dragon’s attacks. He used his magical staff to create barriers of energy that deflected the dragon’s water-based assaults.

Realizing that the dragon’s power was tied to the pool, Wukong devised a plan to drain the water and weaken the dragon. He called upon his ability to summon the winds, creating a powerful whirlwind that began to siphon the water out of the pool. As the water level dropped, the Green Dragon’s power began to wane, and its attacks grew weaker.

With the dragon’s strength diminished, Wukong delivered a final, decisive strike, shattering the dragon’s defenses and sending it crashing to the ground. The Green Dragon, now powerless and defeated, lay at the feet of the pilgrims, its malevolent energy dissipating.

The Green Dragon's Redemption

Despite the dragon’s defeat, Tripitaka remained compassionate. He approached the fallen dragon and once again offered it the chance to repent and seek redemption through the Dharma. The Green Dragon, humbled by its defeat and moved by Tripitaka’s mercy, finally accepted the offer. It vowed to change its ways and use its remaining powers to protect the land and its people, but this time as a true guardian rather than a tyrant.

The monks of the Dragon Pool Temple, who had witnessed the battle, were deeply moved by the events that had transpired. They thanked the pilgrims for exposing the truth and helping the Green Dragon find the path to redemption. The temple was rededicated to the worship of the Buddha, and the monks vowed to spread the teachings of the Dharma throughout the land.

Continuing the Journey

With the Green Dragon redeemed and the temple restored, the pilgrims continued their journey to the West. They left the Dragon Pool Temple with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that they had once again succeeded in spreading the light of the Dharma and overcoming the forces of darkness.

The encounter with the Green Dragon had tested their resolve and their ability to distinguish between illusion and reality, but they had emerged victorious. The chapter ends with the pilgrims moving forward, their spirits renewed and their determination stronger than ever as they continued their quest to bring the sacred scriptures back to the East.