I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Zhuang Yan and Guanyin arrived at Mount Ling together, where all the Bodhisattvas came out to greet them, creating a lively scene.

Upon entering the main hall, Zhuang Yan went up to the Buddha and bowed, saying, "Congratulations, Buddha, that the true scriptures have been transmitted to the East, bringing great bliss."

The Buddha smiled broadly and said to Zhuang Yan, "The True Lord Lingtai has helped me spread Buddhist scriptures to the East. This humble monk and the entire Buddhist community are deeply grateful. This humble monk will submit a memorial to the Great Heavenly Venerable to commend the True Lord's merits."

Zhuang Yan bowed and thanked him. Then, Tathagata pointed to the lotus platform not far away and said, "Please take the seat, True Lord Lingtai."

Zhuang Yan bowed in thanks, then flew down to the lotus platform and sat down cross-legged. Sitting to his right was Patriarch Bodhi.

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "I wonder what kind of expression Wukong will have when he sees you, fellow Daoist?"

Bodhi Patriarch smiled and said, "Wukong is no longer the same as before, I don't think he will be too surprised."

"Hmm." Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Having survived all the tribulations along the way, he has already attained Buddhahood and achieved great merit, so he is naturally extraordinary."

Just then, the Eight Vajra Guardians entered and reported to the Buddha: "Your Majesty, we were ordered to escort Tang Sanzang and his disciples back to the East and then lead them back to the Western Paradise. We have now returned and are hereby reporting back to Your Majesty."

The Buddha smiled and said, "Granted. Summon Tang Monk and his disciples to the hall."

Amidst the chanting, the five members of the Tang Monk's group entered the Mahavira Hall and, upon arriving, paid homage to the Buddha, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities.

As the five disciples were bowing, Sun Wukong suddenly shuddered, for he saw two familiar figures.

One was his uncle Zhuang Yan, and the other was Bodhi Patriarch.

As Tang Sanzang and his companions were bowing with their palms together, Sun Wukong stood there, stunned. Seeing this, Buddha pointed at Bodhi Patriarch and asked, "Sun Wukong, do you recognize this person?"

Upon hearing the Buddha's question, Tang Sanzang and his companions stopped in their tracks, first glancing at Bodhi Patriarch above, and then looking at Sun Wukong with a puzzled expression.

Sun Wukong knelt down before Bodhi Patriarch and said, "I recognize him. This is my former teacher, Bodhi Patriarch of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, in the Cave of Xieyue Sanxing."

After saying this, Sun Wukong kowtowed three times to Patriarch Bodhi.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang was greatly surprised. He never expected that Sun Wukong's formidable skills were all taught by this old immortal.

So Tang Sanzang quickly turned to Bodhi Patriarch, put his hands together, and bowed to him again.

The three of them, including the White Dragon Horse, Pigsy, and Sandy, were also very shocked. They never expected that Monkey King had such a powerful master behind him. The three of them also bowed to Bodhi Patriarch along with Tang Sanzang.

Bodhi Patriarch then rose and returned the greeting to Tang Sanzang and his companions before sitting down again and smiling, "Wukong, get up."

Sun Wukong said "Yes" and then stood up. Bodhi Patriarch said, "Wukong, when I sent you down the mountain, I already told you that although I would pass on the Dao to you, our master-disciple relationship has ended. You don't need to maintain the master-disciple etiquette anymore."

Sun Wukong, with the utmost respect as a junior, replied softly, "I will obey the Master's command."

Next, Sun Wukong paid his respects to Zhuang Yan with great ceremony. Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "After you are conferred your title, let's go to Buzhou Mountain for a meal."

Sun Wukong immediately beamed with joy and bowed, saying, "I will obey my uncle's command."

After the five people finished paying their respects to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, they returned to the center of the main hall and bowed to the Tathagata to report back.

The Buddha said, “Tang Sanzang, you were originally my second disciple. Because you did not listen to the Dharma and disrespected my great teachings, I demoted your true spirit and sent you to be reborn in the East. Now you are glad to take refuge in me, uphold my teachings, and take the true scriptures. You have made great contributions and are hereby promoted to a high position and attain the true fruit. You are the Sandalwood Buddha of Tranquil Merit.”

As soon as he finished speaking, countless merits descended upon Tang Sanzang, transforming into a precious cassock. The cassock shone with golden Buddha light, illuminating all directions.

At the same time, beside the Buddhas, a golden lotus platform of merit appeared, and seven bright and shining characters appeared below the platform, namely the seven characters 'Sandalwood Nirvana Merit Buddha'.

Then Buddha looked at Sun Wukong and said, “Sun Wukong, because you caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, I used my profound magic to suppress you under the Five Elements Mountain. Fortunately, the heavenly calamity has been satisfied, and you have returned to Buddhism. I am pleased that you concealed your evil and promoted good, and that you have made meritorious contributions in subduing demons and monsters on your journey. You have completed your mission from beginning to end, so I will promote you to a higher position and grant you the right fruit. You are now the Victorious Fighting Buddha.”

Sun Wukong clasped his hands in prayer and bowed. A golden light of merit flashed across his body, and the monk's robes transformed into a magnificent Buddhist robe, making him appear even more divine and solemn.

At the same time, another lotus platform appeared beside the 'Sandalwood Buddha of Tranquility and Merit', with the four characters 'Victorious Fighting Buddha' engraved below.

Then Buddha said to the White Dragon: "Ao Lie, you were originally the son of the Dragon King of the West Sea. Because you disobeyed your father's orders and accidentally set off a fire that burned the divine object bestowed by the Jade Emperor, you committed the sins of disloyalty and filial impiety. Fortunately, you converted to my religion and have been supporting Tang Sanzang on his journey to obtain the scriptures, helping Sun Wukong subdue demons, and often leading the horse and protecting Tang Sanzang. You have performed great merits and have been promoted to a higher position and attained enlightenment. You are now the Western Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva."

The little white dragon bowed his head in worship, his body radiating golden light of merit, and he was also draped in Buddhist robes.

At the same time, a lotus platform was added at the end of the group of Bodhisattvas, with the name "Western Heavenly Dragon Guangli Bodhisattva" engraved on it.

The Buddha then said, “You incompetent pig, you were originally the Heavenly River God, Marshal Tianpeng. Because you got drunk after the gathering of immortals and teased a fairy maiden, you were banished to the mortal realm to be reborn as an animal. Fortunately, you remembered your human form and committed sins in the Cloud Stack Cave of Fuling Mountain. You happily returned to the Great Teaching, joined my Buddhist sect, protected the holy monk on his journey, and secretly cultivated your mind of Tao, abandoning the seven emotions and six desires, and seeing that the five aggregates are empty. Furthermore, because of your merit in carrying the load, you have been promoted to a higher position and attained the true fruition, becoming a Bodhisattva who protects the altar of the ten directions.”

Pigsy kowtowed to express his gratitude. As the golden light of merit flashed, he was draped in a five-colored kasaya. His lotus platform was located next to Ao Lie, with the name "Ten Directions Guardian Bodhisattva" engraved below it.

Finally, Buddha looked at Sha Wujing and said, “Sha Wujing, you were originally the Curtain-Raising General. Because you broke a glass cup at the gathering of immortals, you were demoted to the mortal world. You fell into the Flowing Sand River and committed sins by harming and eating living beings. Fortunately, you converted to my teachings and sincerely respected and protected the holy monk. You have made meritorious contributions by climbing mountains and wading through rivers and carrying the load to protect Tang Sanzang. Therefore, you are promoted to a higher position and attain the true fruition of becoming an Eight Treasures Golden Body Arhat.”

Sha Wujing bowed his head in gratitude to the Buddha, and another golden light of merit fell upon him, instantly revealing a five-colored kasaya and a golden body.

His divine position is among the Eighteen Arhats, and it is a lotus platform with five-colored light, with the name "Eight Treasures Golden Body Arhat" engraved below.

At this time, Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "The Buddha of Sandalwood Nirvana Merit, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, the Bodhisattva of Western Heavenly Dragon Power, the Bodhisattva of the Ten Directions Protecting the Altar, and the Arhats of the Eight Treasures Golden Body, you have all been conferred the true fruit, and you may worship the Buddha and return to your positions."

Upon hearing this, the five bowed in gratitude to the Buddha. Then, golden light rose from beneath their feet, and they each flew down to the lotus throne.

As the Five Saints attained enlightenment, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy monks, Arhats, Jieti, Bhikkhus, Upasakas, gods, great deities, Dingjia, Gongcao, Sangharama, local deities, and all enlightened immortals came to offer their congratulations.

The Buddha smiled and said, "With the successful completion of the pilgrimage and the return of the five saints to their true nature, from this day forward, a grand vegetarian feast will be held on Mount Ling for nine days to expound the Mahayana Buddhist teachings. Anyone who is interested may come to the feast and listen to the lectures."

The Buddha's majestic chanting resounded throughout the entire Jambudvipa world, reaching every divine abode, blessed land, and celestial realm. All the immortals and deities of the ten directions heard this magnificent and ethereal Buddhist sound. After the Buddhist feast at Mount Ling, Tang Sanzang, along with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, went to Jambudvipa.

This is because the Buddha told Tang Sanzang: "Since you came from the East, after you become a Buddha, you should also return to the East and become the founder of Buddhism in the East."

So once the vegetarian feast and Dharma assembly were over, Tang Sanzang took Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to the Southern Continent to search for sacred mountains and establish a Buddhist temple.

As for the White Dragon Ao Lie, he is the 'Western Heavenly Dragon Guangli Bodhisattva', so his sacred site should be in the Western Sea.

Needless to say, Sun Wukong's dojo can only be Flower Fruit Mountain; he can't go anywhere else.

Pigsy is a Bodhisattva who protects the altar in all directions, and Sandy is an Arhat with eight treasures and a golden body. They have more choices: they can stay on Mount Ling or continue to follow Tang Sanzang.

However, both of them clearly chose to continue following Tang Sanzang. Tang Sanzang is now the Buddha of Sandalwood Nirvana Merit and is about to become the head of Buddhism in Jambudvipa. It is obvious that Tathagata wants Tang Sanzang to take charge of Jambudvipa.

If they stayed in Lingshan, they wouldn't know anyone, wouldn't have any personal connections, and would feel uncomfortable everywhere.

By continuing to maintain the master-disciple relationship with Tang Sanzang, one can have both a powerful backer and freedom. Anyone would know which choice to make.

Before parting, the five disciples had a small gathering at Mount Ling. Sun Wukong raised a cup of plain wine and said to the White Dragon, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, "My three brothers, our brotherhood has been stronger than gold along the way. Although we will be separated by vast distances in the future, we should still keep in touch from time to time. If you encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to ask."

Hearing this, the three—White Dragon, Pigsy, and Sandy—were deeply moved and raised their cups to drink the vegetarian wine.

Then Sun Wukong respectfully said to Tang Sanzang, "Once a teacher, always a teacher. Master, please ask if you ever need my help in the future."

Sun Wukong's words indicate that the pilgrimage team will not disband because of this. Although the pilgrimage has ended, they have gone through fourteen years of hardships together, and their bond is extraordinary.

As for Patriarch Bodhi, he made it clear that he and Sun Wukong no longer had any master-disciple relationship, so it wasn't that Sun Wukong didn't acknowledge it, but rather that Patriarch Bodhi didn't acknowledge it.

Hearing Sun Wukong's words, Tang Sanzang felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded, saying, "Wukong, don't worry, if I ever encounter any difficulties, I will definitely come to you again."

After saying this, the five of them smiled knowingly. After their brief gathering, they parted ways and went their separate ways.

Meanwhile, Sun Wukong, after leaving Mount Ling, went directly to Mount Lingtai and Mount Fangcun, riding on auspicious clouds and bringing Buddhist light, and landed outside the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

At this moment, Patriarch Bodhi, along with two boys, Xianyun and Guhe, and a hundred disciples, were already waiting in front of the mountain gate.

After Sun Wukong landed, he saw Patriarch Bodhi and immediately bowed, saying, "Patriarch, I have come to see you."

Centuries have passed, and the world has undergone tremendous changes, but the Crescent Moon and Three Stars Cave has remained largely unchanged.

Patriarch Bodhi lightly flicked his whisk, stroked his long beard, and pointed at Sun Wukong, saying, "Disciples, this is the newly promoted Victorious Fighting Buddha."

Upon hearing this, all the disciples stepped forward to pay their respects and said, "Greetings, Namo Victorious Fighting Buddha."

Sun Wukong smiled and reached out to help the disciples in front of him up, then said to the disciples behind him, "Please rise, please rise, there's no need for such formalities."

Upon arriving before Patriarch Bodhi, Sun Wukong felt himself to be standing a step lower and said with a grin, "Patriarch, you can't chase me this time."

Bodhi Patriarch laughed and said, "Now that you are the Victorious Fighting Buddha, how could I dare to drive you away?"

After saying this, Patriarch Bodhi grabbed Sun Wukong's arm and said, "A celestial banquet has been prepared in the cave. Come in with me and take your seats. Tell my disciples about your journey to obtain the scriptures and the hardships you have endured."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Master, I ate the immortal peaches on the South Cliff Slope for seven years. They were very delicious. I wonder if I will have such a treat today?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Bodhi Patriarch laughed. "I have already ordered my servant to pick them, and they will be served at the celestial banquet for you to enjoy."

Sun Wukong was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly said, "Thank you, Ancestor."

While Sun Wukong was having a joyous gathering with Bodhi Patriarch and the people of the Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave, Ao Lie, the White Dragon, was also riding on auspicious clouds and draped in Buddhist light, returning to the West Sea.

Above the Western Sea, the waves are calm and the sea is tranquil, auspicious omens abound, and sweet rain falls everywhere.

Ao Run, the Dragon King of Guangze in the West Sea, along with the Dragon Mother of the West Sea and his three sons, Ao Moang, Ao Rong, and Ao Wang, as well as all the civil and military water gods and immortals of the West Sea, set up their ceremonial guards, parted the waves, and with banners fluttering and waters shimmering, formed a grand procession to welcome them.

Such a scene naturally caught Ao Lie's attention long ago, and upon seeing it, he pressed down the auspicious cloud and descended.

Then the Dragon King of the West Sea led his entourage to greet them in a grand procession, bowing and saying to Ao Lie, "Welcome to the Bodhisattva Guangli, the Heavenly Dragon of the West."

Upon seeing this, Ao Lie hurriedly withdrew the Buddha's light and dispelled the auspiciousness, and quickly stepped forward to bow, saying, "Your unfilial son Ao Lie greets Father and Mother."

Seeing Ao Lie's respectful manner, Ao Run and the Dragon Mother of the West Sea exchanged a glance, both of them breathing a sigh of relief.

It seemed that this son did not hold a grudge about what happened back then, so he quickly stepped forward, helped Ao Lie up, and said, "My son, welcome home."

Ao Lie bowed deeply to his parents once more, then stepped forward to greet his eldest brother Ao Moang, second brother Ao Rong, and fourth brother Ao Wang.

Ao Moang led the way in bowing in return, then smiled and said, "Third brother, congratulations on attaining the Bodhisattva's enlightenment."

Ao Rong and Ao Wang also offered their congratulations, and later the gods of the Western Sea came to offer their congratulations as well, which Ao Lie returned one by one.

Finally, Ao Run stepped forward and said, "My son, to celebrate your attainment of enlightenment, I have prepared a banquet in the Dragon Palace. When you return, we will hold a grand banquet for three days and bestow blessings upon all beings in the Western Sea to demonstrate the virtue of the Bodhisattva Guangli of the Western Heavenly Dragon."

Upon hearing this, Ao Lie immediately bowed to Ao Run and said, "Father, your consideration is thorough. I thank you."

Ao Run quickly helped Ao Lie up, then ordered the carriage to return to the palace. The subsequent family reunion and feast are not discussed further. (End of Chapter)