An Evil Plan

Journey to the West 19 An Evil Plan

The head priest called for two other priests, who quickly ran into the room. “ Is everything okay, Master?” one priest asked. “ I can’t give this robe back to the Tang Monk, ” said the head priest. “ But you must give it back, ” said the other priest.

“ This robe is a Buddhist treasure, ” said the head priest. “ It comes from the Western Paradise. As Buddhists, we must do everything we can to keep it in our monastery. ” “ The Tang Monk won’t let you keep it, ” said the first priest. The head priest smiled. There was an evil look in his eye. “ I have a plan, ” he said.

Wukong was awake, meditating on a rooftop, when he heard footsteps. He looked down and saw two priests walking across the courtyard. They were carrying bundles of firewood. “ It’s the middle of the night, ” thought Wukong. “ Why are they starting a fire?” The priests stacked the firewood next to the building the Tang Monk was sleeping in.

“ Aha! ” thought Wukong. “ I’ll bet that head priest wants to keep our robe. He’s planning to kill us. ” Wukong waited until the priests lit the wood on fire. Then he used his magic powers. The priests screamed and ran as the fire shot across the courtyard. One building went up in flames, and then another. Soon most of the monastery’s buildings were on fire. Walls crumbled and roofs caved in.

“ Run for your life! ” cried one priest. “ Our monastery is ruined! ” cried another. There was one building, however, that the fire didn’t touch. The Tang Monk slept peacefully as the rest of the monastery burned down. The next morning the Tang Monk woke up and opened the door. He gasped.