Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 344 Bodhisattva Acts as Daughter, Four Sages Test Zen Mind

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Now, in this Taiyi Heaven, time passes leisurely.

After the disciples achieved their cultivation and established their own sects, the Taiyi Cave Heaven became even more tranquil, with only Yu Yun's two personally taught disciples and Chu Xiu remaining.

On this day, the former overlords and kings, and the present-day Yi Chu and Yi Yu, naturally comprehended the Daoist scriptures of the cave heaven and learned the secrets of the "Movement Gate," which they were about to practice.

Then they saw a radiant glow in the sky, revealing a Buddha-like figure radiating great wisdom; it must be a venerable master from Mount Ling inviting them to an audience.

Thus, all the senior brothers in the mountain descended, leaving only the three of them as the younger ones. Therefore, the task of welcoming the guests fell to them.

"My nemesis, my nemesis! Quickly straighten your clothes, lest you be impolite."

Yi Yu nudged the person in front of him, and only said that Yi Chu sighed in distress. Then he straightened his clothes and went out of the mountain gate to greet Yi Chu.

It was said that as soon as the mountain gate opened, the two brothers and sisters saw the three Bodhisattvas and immediately made a hand gesture to pay their respects.

"Yi Chu and Yi Yu have met Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva."

Upon seeing this, the three Bodhisattvas returned the greeting. Then, the leading Bodhisattva asked, "Two True Immortals, may I ask if the Two Elements Primordial Mother Goddess is in the mountains?"

"My master is in the mountains. We will inform him now."

Yi Chu cupped his hands in response, then turned around to report.

At this moment, the sun and moon appeared in the sky together, yin and yang shone brightly, and the primordial light intertwined, with auspicious clouds and mist rising, forming the appearance of a female primordial sovereign.

"Three Bodhisattvas, it's been a long time."

Yu Yun landed in front of the three of them and said with a smile.

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and said, "As we previously discussed with the Goddess Yuanjun, we are willing to disguise ourselves as daughters with the Goddess Yuanjun to test the Zen mind of the pilgrims on their journey to the West."

Previously, Guanyin Bodhisattva had considered enlisting other powerful beings to stage a grand spectacle.

Ordinary people are not qualified to be the mother of all Bodhisattvas, and they are not even qualified to play the role.

Even ancient deities with such qualifications might not be able to persuade them.

Yu Yun is considered quite suitable. She has attained the Primordial Dao Fruit, and will naturally be revered as an ancestor in heaven and earth. She can also be honored with a Buddhist title on Mount Ling.

Moreover, the monkey might not necessarily be convinced by ordinary powerful beings, but Yu Yun is different.

Yu Yun smiled and nodded: "Since there is an agreement, it should be kept. I wonder what kind of test we should have?"

Immediately, the three bodhisattvas exchanged glances, smiled, and with a spell, transformed into three stunningly beautiful women, each with delicate, arched eyebrows and radiant complexions. They were all captivating beauties, graceful and alluring.

Yu Yun looked the three bodhisattvas up and down, and joked, "What do you mean by Chu Wa's beauty and Xi Shi's delicate features? They are truly celestial maidens descended from the heavens, or Chang'e from the moon palace. I would pity them if I saw them!"

Then the eldest daughter got into character and said coquettishly, "Mother, why are you teasing me? I won't stand for it!"

Yu Yun couldn't help but laugh and said, "Very good, very good. May I ask what the names of my three lovely daughters are?"

Then the eldest daughter bowed and said, "These names were given to me by my mother. My surname is Mo, and my childhood name is Zhenzhen."

"Then the child was given the nickname Ai'ai."

“Since both of my elder sisters have said so, I will call her Lianlian.”

The three women responded one after another.

Yu Yun smiled and shook her head: "Mo Zhen, Mo Ai, Mo Lian, what kind of trial is this? The warning is written all over their faces."

"Mother, it's just a test, don't take it seriously." The eldest daughter, Zhenzhen, reached out and took Yu Yun's arm in her arms.

Yu Yun chuckled, then said, "In that case, I'll adopt the surname Jia (假), how about that?"

“Mother is very wise, I admire her.” Ai’ai smiled and took Yu Yun’s other hand.

Yu Yun chuckled and said, "My three children, come and settle down with me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Yun used a transformation spell to become a middle-aged woman with her own charm.

Immediately, auspicious clouds rose and soared into the sky, traveling straight for tens of thousands of miles.

……

Meanwhile, the five-person pilgrimage group, traveling and stopping frequently, truly made time fly by.

It was early autumn in September, and the mountains were ablaze with red maple leaves, while yellow flowers swayed in the evening breeze.

"My disciple, it's getting late. You have great supernatural powers, why don't you go up to the clouds and see if there are any houses where I can stay for the night?"

On the white dragon horse, the old monk looked at the traveler.

The pilgrim nodded and said, "Master, please wait a moment. I, Old Sun, will be right back."

The monkey somersaulted up into the clouds. Without using any special powers, it simply looked up and saw a cluster of pine trees and a fine farmhouse.

Speaking of that place, the houses are magnificent, with cypress trees hanging from the gate, and the house is near the green hills. The walls are made of whitewashed mud, and the walls are surrounded by brick.

"Hmm? No cattle or sheep in sight, not even chickens or dogs?"

Although the traveler could not see any demonic aura, he said he could only see that the human energy was strong and did not resemble evil spirits.

However, the fact that such a luxurious household does not keep any livestock is itself a problem.

"It's a blessing, not a curse. It's a curse that cannot be avoided."

Now, the monkey, once his mind was settled, his desires and lust were no longer as rampant as before, and his innate intelligence reappeared.

As long as there are no demons of desire and consciousness causing trouble, with Wukong's intelligence and comprehension, he would understand a principle after a little thought.

This great journey to the west has been registered both in heaven and on earth, and it is said to involve eighty-one tribulations.

This is a difficulty we cannot avoid; we can only overcome it.

This is better than the monkey in the storybook.

In the storybook, at the beginning of the journey to the West, Sun Wukong only said that he would diligently protect Tang Sanzang, hoping to help Tang Sanzang avoid demonic tribulations.

It wasn't until they had traveled more than halfway westward that Wukong finally realized that none of the eighty-one tribulations could be omitted; they had to forge ahead and could not possibly bypass them.

Immediately, Wukong descended from the cloud and said to Tang Sanzang, "Master, I see a house ahead that is bustling with activity, but there is something strange about it."

"What do you mean?" the old monk asked hastily.

Wukong said, "That family is a wealthy household, yet they don't keep any livestock like cattle, horses, chickens, or dogs. That's strange."

Upon hearing this, the old monk laughed and said, "Wukong, you're making a fuss over nothing. As the saying goes, customs vary from place to place. Perhaps it's because the local customs are not conducive to raising livestock."

Seeing the old monk act foolishly, Wukong didn't say a word.

Think about it: how would a wealthy family cultivate hundreds or thousands of acres of fertile land without oxen and horses? Wukong has learned his lesson now.

I only said that I would ensure Tang Sanzang's journey to the Western Paradise. As for whether he suffers or not, what does that have to do with me?
Pigsy quickly said, "Master, brother, since we have such a wealthy family, please treat us to some tea and food so we can rest and recover. I've been climbing mountains and carrying heavy loads all this time, and it's been very difficult for me."

In the original story, Zhu Bajie initially showed considerable respect for Sun Wukong.

The turning point was the test of the four saints' minds. After the monkey deliberately embarrassed Pigsy in front of the Bodhisattva and others, and then used this incident to tease Tang Sanzang, Pigsy's attitude towards Sun Wukong changed.

Whether it was the later trials at Wuzhuang Temple, the White Bone Demon, or the trial of the true and false Monkey King, Pigsy always tried his best to spread slander and ruin Wukong's image in front of Tang Sanzang.

"Master, you can decide for me. I, Old Sun, will not concern myself with such matters."

Sun Wukong didn't care; he wasn't tired whether he rested or not, it all depended on Tang Sanzang's opinion.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang laughed and said, "In that case, let us stay the night."

Half an hour later, the group finally arrived outside the farmhouse.

Tang Sanzang immediately dismounted, and the gatehouse there was decorated with lotus-shaped eaves and painted beams, indicating that it belonged to an extremely wealthy family.

Then Tang Sanzang said, "Disciples, since you are ugly, do not show yourselves. Let your master go and ask first."

Immediately, Tang Sanzang knocked on the door.

A moment later, footsteps were heard, and a group of maids opened the door, surrounding a middle-aged woman.

The woman was dressed in a brocade jacket of official green silk and a skirt of colorful yellow brocade. She was elegant and noble, and every move she made had the demeanor of a great lady.

Upon seeing Tang Sanzang, the woman asked, "Who are you, and why are you knocking on my door at night?"

Upon hearing that this was the Widow's Gate, Tang Sanzang hurriedly bowed and said, "This humble monk is a monk sent by the Great Tang Dynasty of the East to seek Buddhist scriptures in the West by imperial decree. Our group of four is passing through this blessed land, and since it is getting late, we have come to your humble abode to ask for your lodging for the night."

Upon hearing this, the woman's face lit up with joy, and she smiled, saying, "Since they are cultivators, my family will naturally treat them well and offer them proper respects and vegetarian meals. I wonder where those three people are?"

Tang Sanzang quickly said, "Disciples, come quickly, don't be rude."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wukong, carrying the load, and Sha Wujing leading the horse came over, all bowing to the old woman.

“In that case, please come with me, four elders.”

As soon as the woman finished speaking, she led everyone into the hall, where they greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries. Afterward, she invited everyone to sit down and have tea.

"You should go and prepare a vegetarian meal for the four elders."

The woman gave instructions to the many maids, who all agreed.

After the maid left, Tang Sanzang raised his hand in greeting and asked, "May I ask your honorable surname, Bodhisattva, and what is the name of this place?"

The woman smiled and said, “This place is Xiniu Hezhou. My maiden name is Jia. I have been widowed for three years and have only three daughters. It is a pity that I have a lot of wealth and thousands of acres of fertile land, but no head of the family. Now that the elder has descended, he has three disciples. Why don’t they marry into the family in the mountains and become in-laws with me?”

"If the elder is willing, I have a younger sister who has never been married. She could become your wife. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Sanzang was struck dumb as if by lightning, and immediately fell silent, pretending to be deaf and dumb.

Of the three disciples, the Monkey King showed no change in expression, simply saying that he wanted to drink tea to quench his thirst. The Sand Monk, however, was at a loss, merely looking at the Tang Monk.

Only Pigsy showed a hint of interest, but hesitated to utter a sound.

Seeing the reactions of the master and his disciples, the woman continued, "My husband's sister and daughter are all exceptionally beautiful. They also own more than 300 hectares of paddy fields, more than 300 hectares of dry fields, more than 300 hectares of orchards and forests, more than 1,000 cattle, and countless pigs and sheep."

"I have enough rice and grain to last eight or nine years, enough silk and brocade to wear for ten years or so; and enough gold and silver to last a lifetime. If you agree, you will enjoy glory every day and wealth every year, and you will not have to travel west to toil."

Upon reaching this point, Tang Sanzang sighed and said, "Old Bodhisattva, please don't say such things. We are sincerely worshipping and only wish to pay homage to the Buddha."

The woman was surprised to hear this and said, "Is that so? There are all kinds of teachings and benefits, and many delicacies. Wouldn't it be better to go to the Western Paradise to practice asceticism, just to pay homage to Amitabha Buddha?"

Seeing this, Tang Sanzang seemed to have made a decision, and said, "Old Bodhisattva, you do not know that becoming a monk is an extraordinary aspiration. You have good yin and yang within you. When your merits are complete and your deeds are fulfilled, you will be able to enter the imperial palace. This is far better than an old, smelly body."

Upon hearing this, the woman immediately retorted angrily, "I kindly took you in, and if you don't want to, fine, but why speak such rude words?"

"You say you've taken vows, so I won't make things difficult for you. But look at your three men, none of them have any ordination marks, so they can't be considered monks. Why can't I recruit them today?"

Seeing the woman's anger, Tang Sanzang immediately backed down. Adhering to the principle that one must bow one's head when under someone's roof, he looked at Wukong and asked, "Wukong, would you like to stay?"

"I can't keep him, I can't keep him." Wukong refused outright.

Tang Sanzang then looked at Pigsy and asked, "Pigsy, would you like to stay?"

Bajie was tempted, but dared not say it outright, only saying, "Master, please don't frame me. Let's discuss this further."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said, "In that case, let Wujing stay here."

Sha Wujing immediately became anxious and hurriedly pledged his loyalty: "Master, why do you say such things? I was enlightened by the Bodhisattva to become your disciple in order to achieve great things. Now that I have not achieved anything, how dare I covet wealth and honor? I would rather die than follow you."

This Sha Wujing is different from Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie.

Wukong was born into an extraordinary family and possessed great supernatural powers. Even if the journey to the West failed, he would not suffer any misfortune.

Although Zhu Bajie was banished to the mortal realm, his old friends still recognized him, and his sins were atoned for from the day he was banished.

Unlike Sha Wujing, he had to endure the daily torment of flying swords piercing his heart, which meant he sacrificed his mission to obtain the scriptures in order to avoid this calamity.

Seeing this, the woman said, "The four elders can discuss it. We should at least arrange for one of them to marry into our family."

After saying this, the woman got up and left, entering the inner hall and leaving the four of them in the hall, where no one paid any attention to them, and no tea or food was served.

Seeing this, Pigsy said with some dissatisfaction, "Even if Master shouldn't have said those harsh words, we've ended up like this. If you ask me, we should just coax them. We'll have a meal and some tea, enjoy ourselves for one night, and set off tomorrow morning. What can they possibly do to stop us then?"

Sha Wujing could tell that Zhu Bajie was tempted, but he offered a way out, saying, "Second Brother, why don't you stay?"

"Brother, don't say that, don't say that." Pigsy glanced at Tang Sanzang and quickly refused.

Wukong replied, “Our journey to the West will make us famous throughout the Three Realms and all worlds. The Buddha and the Elder of Mount Ling will be waiting for us, and we cannot afford to be negligent.”

By this time, the monkey had already guessed that this was a test conducted by an incarnation of a god or Buddha.

However, some things cannot be said outright. It wouldn't be appropriate not to offer a reminder.

Tang Sanzang nodded and said, "That is indeed the case."

Seeing everyone stuck there, Pigsy grew increasingly anxious. After a short while, he stood up and said, "It's all your fault for ruining this good thing. Now we can't even have tea together, so let it be."

“But that horse will be carrying people again tomorrow. If it goes hungry all night, how will it have the strength? You all wait here while I go and let the horse graze.”

As soon as Pigsy said this, even Tang Sanzang saw through his thoughts, but he didn't name names.

Seeing that Tang Sanzang remained silent, Sha Wujing also adopted a quiet and obedient demeanor.

Only the monkey said, "Bajie, the night road is difficult to travel. If you can't see clearly and get lost, just call on the Five Directions Protectors for help. Don't delay tomorrow's journey."

Pigsy pretended to be confused and anxious, saying, "Brother, don't worry, I, Old Pig, have never gotten lost."

(End of this chapter)