Wukong Leaves His Body

Journey to the West 28 Wukong Leaves His Body

Bajie looked out the kitchen window. Wukong and Wujing were outside talking. “ Wu kong , Wujing, ” s aid the p ig quietly. “ Come over here. I want to tell you something. ” The two companions came over to the window. “ What is it?” asked Wujing.

“ I heard the two priests talking, ” said the pig. “ There’s a ginseng tree at this abbey. They said its fruit is delicious and valuable. ” Wukong smiled. “ The fruit must taste wonderful. ” “ We should eat some, ” said Wujing. Bajie rubbed his belly. “ Yes, ” he said. “ We should. ” “ You two wait here, ” said Wukong. “ I’ll go pick some of that fruit. ”

The monkey went behind the abbey and found the giant ginseng tree. The fruit sparkled in the sunlight. He plucked three pieces from the tree’s branches and went back to the kitchen. He handed Bajie and Wujing each a ginseng fruit. Wujing took a bite. “ This fruit is delicious! ”

“ Yes, ” said Wukong. “ It truly is. ” Bajie opened his mouth wide and threw his ginseng fruit in. Gulp! “ Bajie, you should be ashamed of yourself, ” said Wukong. “ You didn’t even chew! ” “ I was too hungry to chew, ” said the pig. He groaned. “ And now I wish I had another ginseng fruit. I didn’t even taste that one! ”

At that moment the two priests were walking past the kitchen. “ Did you hear what the pig said?” whispered one priest. “ I think the Tang Monk’s companions are eating the ginseng fruit! ” The two priests ran outside and searched the ginseng tree. Three pieces of fruit were gone. “ This is terrible! ” said one priest. “ The Great Immortal will be very upset! ”