The Journey to the West: Volume I

Tripitaka, Pilgrim, and the dragon-horse rest at Guanyin’s monastery. While Tripitaka and Pilgrim are having tea, Tripitaka compliments the tea and the teacups. The abbot serving them tea is honored and certain that Tripitaka has seen many finer things, being that he is on a heavenly journey. Tripitaka insists that there’s nothing so lovely in the east, and even if there was, he wouldn’t have brought it on a journey as long this one. Pilgrim suggests that Tripitaka show off the cassock. The abbot and other monks at the monastery find this amusing because they have so many cassocks, but Pilgrim insists. Tripitaka tries to convince Pilgrim not to because Tripitaka fears that someone might get hurt. Pilgrim offers to take all responsibility.

The abbot asks to keep the cassock overnight so he can wear it the next day; Tripitaka is nervous about this notion, but Pilgrim assures him all will be well. As it turns out, Tripitaka is right: The abbot starts a fire and tries to kill Pilgrim in order to keep the cassock. When Pilgrim learns of this, he steals the cassock and protects Tripitaka and the dragon-horse. A monster from the Black Wind Mountain notices the fire and the magic of the heavenly cassock; he steals it.