Chapter 72

The entire Kunlun Mountain Range stretches from west to east across the vast land of China, like a giant dragon. The Nu River runs along the south side of the dragon's belly, winding its way with countless large and small ferry crossings. The western end has the Ghost Gate Ferry and the Stone Gate Ferry, while the middle section has the Three Fish Mouth, Nine Bend Rapids, and Wuyan Town, all of which are mountainous and rocky ferry crossings, dangerous and few. It is only after the river widens and the water calms that the number of ferry crossings increases.

If the Bhikkhus were truly heading south, they would naturally be closest to the Three Fish Mouth. However, they did not proceed this way. After tending to their horses and resting briefly, they turned west and headed upstream. Sun Wukong had carefully studied the terrain of the Kunlun Mountains while in the mountains. After a moment's thought, he understood their destination—the Stone Gate Ferry.

The Stone Gate Ferry got its name because a river flows into the Nu River there. This river is not large but has deep and swift currents. During the dry season, a stone gate can be seen arching out of the water, hence the name Stone Gate River. The confluence of the two rivers is thus called the Stone Gate Ferry.

If the Bhikkhus take the Stone Gate Ferry, they can follow the Stone Gate River southwest and soon enter the territory of Tubo. Not only is the journey shorter, but they can also receive offerings, horses, food, lodging, and other necessities due to their status as monks, all of which are beneficial with no drawbacks. Therefore, it is the best choice for them to return this way.

After the Bhikkhus set out, they did not stop, traveling through the mountains and forests all day. They would eat and rest only briefly before mounting their horses and continuing with the group. The tall and thin Bhikkhu had excellent endurance, always leading the group, chanting Buddha's name without showing any signs of fatigue. Fortunately, the horse, after eating the herbal medicine, did not improve, so the Bhikkhu could not ride it. Sun Wukong managed to follow the trail of horse droppings.

He trailed far behind the group, walking until his legs felt weak and his vision blurred. He had cursed the Bhikkhu's ancestors for generations in his heart. If they did not rest, he would not dare to secretly rescue anyone. So, even with his legs trembling, he had to keep up, hoping to save the person when the Bhikkhus were asleep at night.

This journey lasted for two full days. Sun Wukong fell behind several times, but the Bhikkhus would stop in the mountains to let the horses rest, and he eventually caught up.

As the sun set, the Bhikkhus finally reached a gentle mountain pass. In the distance, a small market could be seen, and the river shimmered nearby. Their pace finally slowed.

They had arrived at the Stone Gate Ferry.

This ferry is the second major ferry upstream. From here to the Ghost Gate Ferry, boats cannot be navigated by human power and must be pulled by纤夫 (river pullers). Therefore, there are many laborers here. With more people, there are more of everything, making this ferry more prosperous than others.

Cheap prostitutes, drunkards, gamblers, thieves, bandits, well-dressed young men, fat ship owners, shrewd secretaries, and merchants from all over can be seen on the streets, bustling like daylight.

But the most numerous are the weathered, bare-chested, scarred river pullers.

The Bhikkhus avoided the main street and took a back alley, arriving at the back door of an inconspicuous inn. After a few knocks, the door opened, and a woman with a fat face appeared. She was a large, rough woman, with thick makeup and numerous silver bracelets and gold chains. She looked like a radish with toothpicks stuck in it.

Seeing so many people, her face changed, and she raised her voice: "Oh no! You said you would only have seven or eight people staying, but now there are so many more? This won't do, business can't be done! If you don't pay more, I won't agree!"

"How can you be so unreasonable?" one of the Bhikkhus said in a stiff accent, "We said we would rent your inn, and you shouldn't care how many people stay. As long as the money is right, that's all that matters."

"Doesn't matter?" The woman's voice rose an octave, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at the Bhikkhu, "You say it doesn't matter? One more person means more food, more drink, more waste, and more sleep. You think it doesn't matter? I tell you, if you want to stay, you pay more, or get out!"

She gestured wildly, spittle flying everywhere.

"You!" The Bhikkhu suddenly became angry and took a step forward to argue, but as he stepped out, the woman suddenly shouted, "Oh no! You want to hit me!" Her eyes bulged, and she screamed, "Du Guozi, you bastard, I'm about to be hit, and you don't come out!"

Suddenly, a group of people rushed out of the inn. The leader was a tall, bald man with a diagonal scar on his face, missing front teeth, and drooping eyes. He shouted, "Who? Who? Who dares to bully our Flower Peacock? Come out and let me see who you are, you scum, you dare to bully us!"

He stood at the entrance, put his stick on his shoulder, spat on the ground, and poked his nose, then said, "Woman, what did they do?"

Flower Peacock, seeing her husband, became even more aggressive, hands on her hips, "These inn-renters added more people without paying more. Damn it, do you know who I am? I've been here for ten years, and no one has ever taken advantage of me. If you can't take advantage of me, you can't do anything here. Pay more, or get out!"

"Right! Get out!" Du Guozi, after picking his nose, put his finger in his mouth and pointed at the Bhikkhu, "Hurry up! Give me a straight answer, don't make my heart ache..."

The Bhikkhu, who had always been respected in Tubo, had never been cursed like this, let alone by such a fierce and unruly woman. They all became angry and drew their weapons, ready to fight. Du Guozi's men also rushed over, holding their tools, ready to fight.

"Stop!" The tall and thin Bhikkhu suddenly shouted, "All of you, step back!" He threw a money bag, "Here, count it, see if it's enough."

The money bag made a jingling sound as it landed. Flower Peacock pinched it, took out a coin, blew on it, and listened. Her face immediately turned into a smile, "Oh, Buddha, this is much better, isn't it? Come in, come in—Bastards, clean up and cook for the Buddhas, make some hot water for them to wash..."

She pushed the door open with her big bottom, "Come in, come in."

The Bhikkhus, who had never seen such a quick change in attitude, were stunned. The skilled Bhikkhu nodded, bowed, and said calmly, "Thank you, we have offended you!" He smiled at the others, "Let's go, they just want money, no grudges, why make a fuss over small things?"

The Bhikkhus reluctantly put away their weapons and led the children and horses into the courtyard. Du Guozi's men had already thrown their tools aside and were helping with the horses, adding hay and water, and being very attentive, as if they were family.

"Buddha, let me do it..."

"Buddha, this way..."

"Oh, Buddha, eat something..."

Flower Peacock and Du Guozi personally led the tall and thin Bhikkhu into the room, smiling, with the thick makeup on their faces peeling off. Flower Peacock even gave a flirtatious look, "Buddha, are you cold at night? Do you want me... hehe..." She covered her mouth, "You know what I mean!"

She gently bumped into the Bhikkhu, almost making him stumble...

"Dead woman, what are you doing?" Du Guozi quickly supported him, scolded Flower Peacock, and then smiled, "Buddha, it's true, my wife may not look good, but she's great in bed, especially with her tongue... hehe, try it today? I guarantee you'll be refreshed and forget your worries..."

The tall and thin Bhikkhu, hearing this, felt a surge of emotion and quickly suppressed it, sighing at the strange ways of the world, "Thank you, thank you, it's really not necessary!"

They entered the hall and were about to go up the stairs to their rooms when the inn door suddenly burst open!

Before Flower Peacock and the others could react, a dozen men rushed in, all wearing blue short shirts and trousers, wearing straw hats, carrying long knives, and shouldering large bundles covered with cowhide oil paper. They unceremoniously dumped the bundles in the middle of the hall. The government was cruel, imposing heavy salt taxes, making it impossible for ordinary people to afford official salt, so they had to buy from smugglers, especially in remote and chaotic places like the Stone Gate Ferry. These men were strong and agile, clearly salt smugglers.

Flower Peacock became angry, shouting, "I'm not open for business, what are you bastards doing here? Are you blind?" She then shouted at Du Guozi, "What are you standing there for? Get them out!"

Suddenly, one of the smugglers laughed, "Flower Peacock, you're still as fierce as ever! Damn, don't you recognize your father?"

He threw his hat on the table, revealing a rugged, weathered face. Flower Peacock was stunned, then flew down, laughing and shouting, "Dad! It's really you! When did you start taking the mountain path? Weren't you always taking the river route?"

Du Guozi also quickly went down to greet him, "Father-in-law, you're well, I'll bow to you."

Flower Peacock's father slapped him on the shoulder, scolding, "You bastard, you didn't even bring my daughter home for years, and now I have to change my route to see her, damn it!" He waved his hand, "Get everyone out, I'll stay here for a few days, and I'll rent the whole inn!"

"Ah?" But upon hearing this, Flower Peacock and Du Guozi's faces turned sour.

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