Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 128 Eight Stones and Five Metals, the Four Saints Test Their Hearts

When Erlang Shen heard that there were four immortals on the road ahead, he said, "How come the Old Mother of Mount Li, Avalokitesvara, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra are all here to help you solve a problem. If that's the case, Immortal, we should go and pay our respects to them."

Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "That's right."

Erlang Shen turned around and said, "Brothers, there are Bodhisattvas ahead. Stop the weapons. You may disturb the Bodhisattvas by mistake. Wait for me here for a while. When I return, we will all return home."

The six brothers of Meishan all responded.

Erlang Shen and the Immortal both rode on clouds and headed forward.

After a while, the two men walked to the foot of a mountain, but saw a divine light hidden there, and where it was, there were several buildings and houses.

The real person used his luck and the skill of "looking at the qi". Then the building and houses were covered with auspicious clouds and auspicious mist. The four Bodhisattvas were right there.

The immortal then pressed down the clouds with Erlang Shen and walked to the gate.

As soon as the two men arrived, the four people in the house came out.

Zhenren and Erlang Shen both bowed: "I pay my respects to the Mother of Mount Li, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva."

The four of them turned around, a golden light flashed, and their true forms were revealed, they were actually four gods.

The four returned the greetings to Yu Zhenren and Erlang Shen and exchanged pleasantries for a long time.

The Bodhisattva's original religion welcomed Zhenren and Erlang Shen into their home for entertainment. Both knew that they were here to test their resolve and obtain the scriptures, so they did not dare to delay and only left after paying their respects.

Jiang Yuanli came forward to apologize and said, "Buddha, Lu'er made a mistake here and almost ruined the journey to obtain the scriptures. He is guilty."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "This is the calamity that should happen. It is not the fault of the real person. I am here with the others to test the intention of the people who want to obtain the scriptures. Therefore, I have shown myself as four women to see if they are sincere in their journey to the west and whether they are tempted by beauty and wealth. Real person, do you want to join us?"

Erlang Shen said: "We have been away from the temple for a long time. It is time to return and find a place to live in peace."

The Immortal shook his head and said, "The former is difficult for Wukong. If it is more difficult, it will not be beautiful."

The Bodhisattvas had no choice but to send him off.

The Immortal and Erlang Shen bowed again and left. The two did not get together to have fun again. They only said that they would get together more when they had free time in the future. Then they said goodbye.

The immortal then returned to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. He picked up a whisk in his hand, put the white deer into his sleeve, and used the "Qingyun Method" to fly 240,000 miles together.

……

In a moment, Jiang Yuan returned to Fangcun Mountain. He released the white deer between the green cliffs, entered the Sanxing Immortal Cave and the ancestor's quiet room, and paid homage to the ancestor.

Jiang Yuan went inside to pay his respects, and the master came forward to help him up.

The master asked, "How is the monkey head?"

Jiang Yuan heard this and told him what he had said before, then he said: "Master, now that the matter is done, I have just returned. Junior Brother Wukong's character has changed compared to before."

The master said, "Don't worry about it. Boy, I need you here for something. If you don't come back, I will call you back."

Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "As long as Master tells me, I will do it for you."

The ancestor said, "It's not a big deal. Recently, Yuanshi Tianzun sent a letter to invite me to the Shangqingtian Miluo Palace to listen to the lecture on 'Hunyuan Daoguo'. You are at the key point of practicing the magical power of 'alchemy', so it is not appropriate for you to listen. Therefore, I will leave the cave to you to guard it, and you will decide everything."

Jiang Yuan said: "Master, please leave now. I am here with you, so I will be safe."

The master smiled and said, "It is because you are here that we feel at ease. Boy, you are a person with magical powers. When you are in the mansion, all kinds of evil spirits and demons will not dare to offend."

Jiang Yuan asked, "When will Master leave? I will see you off."

The ancestor said, "Don't delay this matter, we should go now. Yuanshi Tianzun has sent a letter here, Zhenyuanzi, Laojun and his group will also go together. If there is anything you can't decide, please wait until I return."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan responded and left with the Master. He had originally escorted the Master to the outside of the Heavenly Gate, but the Master asked him to escort him out of Fangcun Mountain and then let him return.

The immortal could only watch the master fly away on the cloud.

After the master left, Jiang Yuanfang returned to the cave and walked to the alchemy room, only to see Zhenjian busy inside.

When Jiang Yuan walked in, Zhen Jian immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Big Brother."

Jiang Yuan said, "Junior brother, there is no need to be polite. Master is out for some business, and you and I are at home. Junior brother, how is the fire?"

Zhen Jian replied, "Master is out, but with my elder brother in the house, the evil spirits will not dare to invade. Elder brother, I still don't understand the timing of this fire. I don't know what the true yang energy is like. I only know that it is warmed by a gentle fire."

When Jiang Yuan heard this, he stepped forward to take a closer look. He could tell that the heat was still a little off and the true yang energy was insufficient. It would take some more days.

He said, "Brother, please rest assured. There is nothing wrong with this slow fire. However, the temperature is not right. It needs to be warmed up for a while longer."

Zhen Jian said: "That's good, but I'm afraid the heat is wrong."

Jiang Yuan walked to the medicine box, lifted it to the furnace, and said with a smile, "Junior brother, how about refining the elixir?"

Zhen Jian said: "To refine the elixir, one must calm the mind. The fire is difficult to control. If the mind is disturbed, the fire will be disturbed. If the mind is calm, the fire will be calm. If the alchemist does not calm the mind and cultivate the heart, this path will definitely be difficult to achieve."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "That's right."

It takes 49 days in heaven and 49 years in the underworld to prepare one golden elixir. If there is any mistake, the elixir will fail, so one must always be calm.

Jiang Yuan took the medicine box, placed it in front of him, opened it, and said, "This recipe is fine. When the true yang energy is sufficient, I will make the elixir. Junior brother, do you know what medicinal materials are in this medicine box?"

Zhenjian shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Jiang Yuan said: "Junior brother, it's okay to listen to it. With time, Junior brother will learn the full fire and it will also be beneficial to learn some alchemy."

After hearing what Zhen had seen, he bowed and expressed his gratitude for Zhenren’s deep kindness.

Jiang Yuan helped him up and stabilized the fire before walking to the side with Zhenjian. He placed the medicine box in front of Zhenjian.

Jiang Yuan said: "Junior brother, please watch."

Zhen Jian bowed, looked down, and said, "Big Brother, there are four herbs here."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Yes, there are four herbs, namely, black essence, rabbit marrow, wood liquid, and gold essence. They are the herbs for preparing the golden elixir. Whether it is the external elixir or the internal elixir, they all contain these four herbs. Junior brother, you should remember them."

Zhen Jianwen said, carefully wrote down the four medicines, and said, "Big Brother, I have written them down."

Jiang Yuan said, "This medicine box contains the weight of medicinal materials needed to prepare one golden pill." Zhen Jian said, "Big Brother, where did you find these medicinal materials?"

Jiang Yuan said: "These four herbs were given by Laojun. If they are used up, you have to find them yourself. These four herbs are everywhere in the world. According to the theory of the five elements, they can be found. Of these four herbs, black essence and rabbit marrow are the main herbs, which are more difficult to find. Wood liquid and gold essence are the secondary herbs, which are easier to find."

Zhen Jian asked, "Big Brother, why is it so hard to find the main medicine?"

Jiang Yuan pointed to the black essence in the medicine box and said, "Black essence is one of the eight stones, so we'll take the best of them."

Zhenjian asked again: "Big Brother, what is the meaning of the eight stones?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "The eight stones are black essence, realgar, orpiment, sky blue, mica, Kunlun yellow, Rong salt, and ground frost. This black essence is also called true cinnabar, which is one of them."

Zhen Jian said: "Big Brother, Junior Brother, please remember this. May I ask what is the other main medicine?"

Jiang Yuan said: "The other main ingredient is rabbit marrow, also known as moon soul, which is one of the five metals, namely gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin. Rabbit marrow is tin, and tin can be black or white. Junior brother, remember, those who make elixirs must use black tin, and this black tin is rabbit marrow."

I wrote down everything I saw and dared not disobey.

Jiang Yuan patiently explained to Zhenjian some things about alchemy and the theory of fire. He knew that Zhenjian had never made an inner elixir and therefore knew nothing about it, so he explained one thing three or four times, and waited for Zhenjian to remember it, before explaining the rest.

……

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, three or four months had gone by. The group of pilgrims traveled westwards, and after leaving Falin, the road ahead was smooth, and they passed through green mountains and clear waters. It was now late autumn.

As the day wore on, Tang Seng, riding on his white horse, felt a little tired. He lowered his head and asked, "My disciples, it is getting late now. Is there a place for us to rest here?"

Sun Xingzhe laughed and said, "Master, this place is very far from the Western Paradise. If we rest now and then, when will we get there? As a monk, we eat wind and sleep on water. We just need to keep moving forward."

Bajie, who was carrying a load, grumbled, "Brother Monkey, you have a divine body and walk lightly, but I can't bear the heavy load. Besides, Master is a mortal, how can he bear it?"

The traveler said, "Fool, you were also a water god in your previous life, so how come you can't carry a load? Now that you are a righteous monk, you must endure hardships and work hard, only then can you achieve the right result."

Bajie said, "Just count how heavy this load is. It's made of four yellow rattan strips, eight long and short ropes, and three or four layers of felt. The load is slippery, and there are nails and iron. Master's nine-ring staff, cloak, and other things are all here. How can it not be heavy? We are all disciples, but you and Sha Wujing are disciples, and I am a farmhand."

The traveler asked, "What do you think?"

Bajie said, "Brother Monkey, I know you only care about Master. Sha Seng is leading the horse, but I can't carry the heavy load. The white horse is tall and fat, and it walks very slowly. Why don't you divide my luggage among several pieces? This way I will be lighter, and the white horse will walk slower, but it won't be a problem."

Tang Monk said, "This horse can carry me, but it can't carry me any more. Wukong, what Bajie said makes sense, but I can't handle it. So, you go to the front and see if there is any house. Stay there for one night and continue on your journey tomorrow."

The traveler knew what to do when he heard it, so he stepped forward, jumped onto the clouds, and looked ahead with his flaming eyes wide open. There were buildings and houses in front of him, which was a good place to go. He saw 'green cypresses hanging over the gate, green mountains nearby, wild chrysanthemums beside the fence were as beautiful as frost, and faint orchids beside the bridge were reflected in the water'.

Then he saw a divine light appearing in the house. The traveler suddenly realized that there was a god in front of him. He was about to say something when he saw Guanyin Bodhisattva reveal her true form and look towards him, as if reminding him not to say anything.

The Monkey King landed, smiled and nodded towards that side. Bajie beside him couldn't help but ask: "Brother Monkey, are you possessed by a demon? Why are you laughing?"

The Monkey King said angrily, "Your son is possessed by a demon. Master, there is a good family ahead."

Tang Monk said: "Since there is a good family here, let's go and ask for a place to stay for one night."

The pilgrims responded and went to the house.

Before long, they arrived at the door and looked inside. They saw carved beams and painted buildings, and it was indeed a wealthy family.

Bajie put down his burden and said with a smile, "What a good place to go. Master, this is a rich family. We can eat as much as we want without worrying about eating out all the food in the house."

When Tang Seng heard this, he said, "Bajie, don't eat all the people. If you eat them all, what will their family eat?"

Say it.

Tang Seng went forward and knocked on the door.

After a while, a woman came out to greet him and asked, "Who is it that knocks at my widow's door?"

Tang Monk stepped forward and said, "I am from the Tang Dynasty in the East. I am on my way to the West to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. We are passing through your place. It is getting late, so I am going to the old lady's house to borrow your room for one night."

The woman walked out of the temple and said with a smile, "Good news, good news! Elders, please come in."

Say it.

The woman invited Tang Seng and his companions into her house and invited them to the main hall. She asked a girl to serve them fragrant tea. After that, Tang Seng asked, "May I know your name, old lady? Why did you say such good things before?"

The woman smiled and said, "My maiden name is Jia, and my husband's name is Mo. Although my family has some assets, and we are said to have a fortune of millions and thousands of acres of fertile land, my husband and I have no children, only three girls. A few years ago, I had some misfortunes and lost my husband. Now I am worried that there are no relatives at home to inherit the family business. I saw that there are four elders, and my wife and daughter are also four people. So I want to recruit husbands. The four of you came here, which must be God's will. I wonder what you think? A fortune of millions is within your reach."

Upon hearing this, Tang Seng pretended to be deaf and dumb and dared not say anything.

The woman continued, "Why don't you answer, elder? Are you dissatisfied with the small amount of wealth in my family? Elder, you don't know. I'm afraid you will be scared if I tell you about my wealth in detail. I have more than 300 hectares of paddy fields, more than 300 hectares of dry fields, and more than 300 hectares of fruit trees, totaling more than a thousand. I also have more than a thousand yellow buffaloes, countless mules, horses, pigs and sheep. I have more than enough gold and silver to spend in my lifetime. My three daughters are all first-class beauties, with beautiful faces and fragrances. If you hadn't received God's will, I would not have accepted you."

Tang Monk remained silent and recited Buddhist scriptures.

Both Monkey and Sha Seng were people with stable minds and temperaments, so how could they be moved by a few words? They just drank the tea.

On the other hand, Bajie was horny after hearing about the wealth and beauty. He was restless, his lust was disordered, and he was bold and daring. He thought to himself, "If I can get this kind of wealth, why would I want to learn the sutra? I'll marry a beautiful woman now, and then go back to Gao Laozhuang to show off. I'll let my ex-wife be my principal wife, and these girls be my concubines. Wouldn't that be wonderful? My father-in-law will be completely submissive and won't dare to say a word."

At this time, Mu Mu was moved and had no intention of traveling west.

The woman asked, "Elder, what do you say?"

Tang Seng remained silent and just kept on chanting the sutra. It was because he had gained benefits from Falin that his mind was fixed on Buddhism. No matter how rich, noble, or beautiful women were offered to him, he could not be tempted and was devoted to Buddhism.

Bajie could not bear it any longer, so he came up and grabbed him, saying, "Master, how can you be so rude? The old lady asked a question, and you didn't answer it. It's impolite."

Tang Seng looked up, a little angry, and said, "You evil beast, a monk is dedicated to traveling west to seek Buddha, how can you let wealth and beauty dazzle your eyes?"

The woman asked, "Elder, what are the benefits of becoming a nun?"

Tang Seng said: "What good is wealth and honor? When you get old, you will become a stinking skin, and wealth and honor will all vanish into thin air. How can it be of any use?"

The woman was furious and ignored him. She turned and walked back into the room, thinking that she was hurt by the words.

The Monkey King smiled as he approached Sha Wujing and said, "Brother Sha, you see, our Master has been arguing with us in the Dharma Forest, and he is quite eloquent. He scolded the old lady away with just one word."

Wujing said, "Big Brother, I think Second Brother is a little moved."

The Monkey King smiled but said nothing, for he was just hoping for good things. He now knew that his home was in Fangcun Mountain, and when he succeeded, he could see his mentor again and have fun with his senior brother. How could he be tempted? He just wanted to journey west with all his heart and seek success.

(End of this chapter)