Chapter 23 - Survive

Survive is Saiyuki's twenty-third chapter.

Summary
The Sanzo-ikkou are confronted with a horde of yokai assassins for the third day in a row. The ikkou jokingly banter amongst themselves before the battle begins.

Meanwhile, at Hoto Castle, Kougaiji confronts Gyokumen Koushu about why she has sent out assassins when he was supposed to be in charge of dealing with the ikkou, and complains that she is just sending them out to die needlessly. Gyokumen counters that he has no right to talk since he has yet to defeat the ikkou himself. She goes on to say that the Gyumaoh revival experiment has now entered the second stage. She shows him the Seiten Sutra and explains to him about the five Cosmic Foundation Sutras and that each one is guarded by a sanzo priest. She explains that they will need all five sutras and gives Kougaiji a new mission to locate the other sutras. She suggests to him that the sutras will also be necessary to undo the seal on his mother and also asks that he try to keep Lirin from leaving the castle.

Back with the ikkou, they each dispatch the last of their yokai combatants. As they wonder if such weak assailants were really sent by Kougaiji, a surviving yokai makes a grab for Sanzo's Maten Sutra from behind.

Back at Hoto, Dr. Huang looks at a printout and says that, as she expected, it really is Lirin's data. Ni Jienyi and Wang suggest that sacrifice is a part of science. As Huang starts to contradict this, Ni asks her if she is unhappy with following Gyokumen's wishes. Huang forcefully rejects this suggestion, saying that she owes Gyokumen a lot and is just concerned about her dirtying her hands any further. Ni casually responds that he owes Gyokumen a lot too, and that he just has to work on the experiment while satisfying Gyokumen sexually in order to earn free room and board. An angry and blushing Huang tells him to know his place as a lowly human. She says that she can't believe an oaf like Ni is the world's leading bio-technician. Ni replies with a rhetorical question: "In this world, is there anything worth believing in?"

Meanwhile, back with the ikkou, Gojyo uses his shakujou to sever the hand of the yokai who has grabbed the sutra. Sanzo interrogates the injured yokai as to why he deliberately went after the sutra and about who sent him. The yokai responds that all he knows is that he was ordered to steal the sutra. When Hakkai suggests that they won't get any useful information out of a lowly minion, Sanzo agrees and finishes off the yokai with a bullet to the head. Sanzo remembers the Sanbutsushin telling him that they think the Seiten Sutra is being used for Gyumaoh's revival.

At Hoto Castle, Kougaiji, Yaone, and Dokugakuji meet in the room where Rasetsunyo is imprisoned in the stone pillar. Kougaiji tells them they have been reassigned to search for the other sanzo priests and take their sutras. Kougaiji says that he doesn't care, as long as it is the shortest path to ending the revival experiment and that if they take this mission it will prevent other yokai assassins from needlessly losing their lives. He tells Yaone to stay at Hoto to watch over Lirin and that one day, they will confront and beat the Sanzo-ikkou.

Meanwhile, the ikkou have stopped while Sanzo and Hakkai consult a map. Hakkai says that it has already been three months since they started on the journey west. Sanzo says they still haven't learned any details about the revival experiment and that they have no time for pointless detours. Hakkai counters that nothing about their journey has been pointless. Goku and Gojyo call them over to watch a spectacular sunset, after which Sanzo says it is time for them to go if they want to reach a town before nightfall.

In the heavens, Kanzeon Bosatsu speaks to a non-responsive Nataku as he sits motionless in his chair. Kanzeon says that although Nataku is alive, he has become an empty shell with no emotions to drive him, and wonders how long he will continue to sit and wait. Kanzeon talks about Goku's memories of his crimes from 500 years ago being sealed away, and we see an image from the past of Konzen Douji and a young Goku standing together. Kanzeon asks Nataku if his soul has been wandering alone for the past 500 years.

Meanwhile, Goku stops and turns, as if suddenly remembering or hearing something vague. Gojyo calls to him to keep up, and their journey west continues.