Sandy Joins the Group

As Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Zhu Bajie reached the banks of the treacherous Flowing Sands River, they found a body of water so light that even a bird's feather would sink to the bottom. Suddenly, a hideous monster with red hair and a necklace of skulls erupted from the waves, attacking the group. Zhu Bajie engaged the beast in a fierce underwater struggle, but neither could gain the upper hand. Sun Wukong, though powerful, was frustrated by his inability to fight effectively beneath the waves. Recognizing the monster's divine origins, they sought the help of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. Her disciple, Muzha, descended to the river and revealed the monster's true identity: Sha Wujing, the former Curtain-Lifting General of Heaven, who had been exiled and cursed for breaking a crystal cup. Upon learning that Tang Sanzang was the holy monk sent by the Emperor, Sha Wujing immediately knelt in repentance. He was accepted as the third disciple, his head was shaved, and he was given the name Sandy. To prove his devotion, he used his magical gourd and the skulls of his former victims to create a vessel that allowed the pilgrims to cross the impossible river, finally completing the trio of supernatural protectors.