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

Chapter 245: Return to Fuling Mountain and finally return to Fangcun Mountain

At dawn the next day, in the deserted temple, the immortals gathered their forces and were about to set off back to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

Zuo Liang was in a daze, and when he opened his eyes again, he felt that he was back in the deserted temple. The immortal was beside him, and there was burnt agarwood on the ground.

Zuo Liang seemed to be in a dream and half awake. Last night he dreamt that he returned home, met his eldest son, saw his grandson, and worshipped his ancestors. As soon as he left the house, he returned in a trance, and he had no idea whether what he had done last night was a dream or reality.

Zuo Liang stood up and bowed, and was about to ask.

Jiang Yuan pointed to the ground and burned all the agarwood. He smiled and said, "Zuo Liang, this agarwood has the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. Did you rest well yesterday? If you did, you should set off today. If you didn't rest enough, you can rest in the temple for a day or two before catching up."

Zuo Liang understood what he meant. It didn't matter whether yesterday was a dream or not. However, he was now focused on cultivation and detachment from the mundane world. This was the real thing. He bowed and said, "Sir, I will also stop and set off."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Since you want to rest, then get up."

Zuo Liang responded.

After they gathered themselves together, they left the deserted temple and headed towards Xiniu Hezhou.

After walking for two or three hours, the group was far away from the city and was about to enter Xiniu Hezhou.

The Bull Demon King wielded a steel rod and walked in front to clear the way. When he saw a mighty pass ahead, he said, "Master, the pass ahead is Hangu Pass."

Qingniu walked forward, looked ahead, and said, "This place is very familiar, Master. Do you remember that we met here in the past?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Lord Si, how could I forget this? In the Zhou Dynasty, when Laojun went west through Hangu Pass, I came here in person to protect Qianniu for Laojun."

The blue ox said, "At that time there was a common man to whom the protagonist had passed a book, but I don't know if he is still alive today."

Jiang Yuan said, "King Si, you are talking about Yin Xi."

Qingniu said: "That's right, that's right."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Yin Xi is a true practitioner. I don't know where he is now, but I think he must still be in the world. Let's find a place for him to practice in peace."

Zhenjian sighed, "My elder brother Zhou Shi has practiced and protected the Dharma with Taishang Laojun, but I Zhou Shi was ignorant and wasted my time."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Junior brother, why do you say that? There is no such thing as external karma. However, you came to karma later, and I came earlier. The difference is only that."

While they were talking, they entered Hangu Pass. No one stopped them when they went in. After they left Hangu Pass, they entered Xiniuhezhou.

When Zuo Liang first entered Xiniu Hezhou, he followed the deer closely and was somewhat cautious.

Jiang Yuan said: "Zuo Liang, don't be nervous, just keep your mind focused and walk."

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "That's right. Listen to my elder brother and walk with peace of mind. The demons in Xiniuhezhou are fierce and fierce, and there are many evil spirits. But we all have our power, so when we walk here, no one will dare to offend us."

The Bull Demon King smiled and said, "Brother, don't be so boastful. It's inevitable that some evil gods will offend you, just like when we were in the Southern Continent. Besides, although you are powerful, you offended many evil spirits when you were traveling westward."

Sun Wukong said: "Now is different from the past. With my elder brother here, things are completely different."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Don't be so talkative, just go home with me in peace."

The group walked forward without saying a word.

……

Before I knew it, two or three months had passed.

The immortals and their companions were traveling at a leisurely pace, and when they reached a mountain, Sun Wukong suddenly blocked their way.

Jiang Yuan rode on the white deer and asked, "Wukong, how can you block the way?"

Sun Wukong pointed to a mountain ahead and said, "Big Brother, this mountain ahead is where an old friend of mine is. We have come here now, so we should go over to see him. But please wait a little longer, Big Brother."

Jiang Yuan asked, "What mountain is this?"

Sun Wukong said: "This mountain is 'Fuling Mountain'."

Jiang Yuan asked again: "Why old friend?"

Sun Wukong said: "It is Zhu Bajie who followed Jin Chanzi on his journey to the west. After he succeeded, he was given the title of Altar Cleanser and returned to Fuling Mountain to practice."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Zhu Bajie and I are also familiar with each other. Since you, Wukong, want to visit, I will go with you."

The Bull Demon King said, "I am also familiar with Zhu Bajie, and he asked me to go with him. I think Zhu Bajie will be caught off guard when he sees the real person and the old bull."

Zhen Jian laughed and said, "If that's the case, why don't we go together?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong responded with a smile.

Zuo Liang was a little puzzled, not knowing who this 'Zhu Bajie' was. He stepped forward and asked Zhen Jian, "Grandpa Buddha, who is this Zhu Bajie? How could he be able to teach you? Grandpa Sun Buddha and Grandpa Niu all know him. Is he an extraordinary person?"

Zhenjian laughed softly and said, "This Zhu Bajie was once the Tianpeng Water God, living in the Heavenly Palace and commanding 80,000 sailors. Later, due to his crimes, he was demoted to the lower world. He was favored by the Bodhisattva and converted to Buddhism. He went west with his junior brother Wukong to obtain Buddhist scriptures and achieved enlightenment. Now he is the Bodhisattva of the Pure Altar of Lingshan and is practicing in Fuling Mountain."

Zuo Liang said: "He has such a background, he must be a Bodhisattva."

Zhen Jian just smiled and said nothing more.

The group talked for a long time at the foot of the mountain, and then went up the mountain. It didn't take long before they arrived at a cave in Fuling Mountain. Outside the cave entrance, they saw a stone tablet with the words "Yunzhan Cave" inscribed on it.

Sun Wukong went forward and knocked on the door, shouting, "Idiot! Open the door! Open the door!"

Sun Wukong called out twice, but there was no response.

The Bull Demon King asked, "Could it be that Zhu Bajie is not in the mountain?"

Sun Wukong opened his eyes wide and took a closer look. He saw some gas in the cave. He said, "That fool is in the cave, but he doesn't respond for some reason. Let me call out for a while longer."

Say it.

Sun Wukong shouted into the cave again.

After shouting for a while, the cave door finally opened, and Zhu Bajie, with sleepy eyes, shouted, "Who is making a fuss in front of my house? Stick your head out and let me fight you to vent my anger."

Sun Wukong stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Bajie's ear with the palm-leaf fan, and said with a smile: "You idiot, why do you want to beat me to vent your anger?"

Zhu Bajie was in unbearable pain, but seeing Sun Wukong's majesty, he dared not act rashly and begged for mercy, "Brother Monkey, why is it you? I didn't know you were here. I'm sorry for not welcoming you. Please forgive me, please forgive me."

Sun Wukong asked, "How come I have been calling you for so long but you have not responded?"

Zhu Bajie said, "Brother, since I completed my quest for scriptures, I have returned to Fuling Mountain. I had nothing to do, so I took a nap. I don't know how many years have passed. Even if I ask you to wake me up, it's not that I won't answer."

Sun Wukong let go of Zhu Bajie and said, "Since I came back from the quest for scriptures, you have been sleeping soundly?"

Zhu Bajie said, "That's right. I have never been out."

Sun Wukong laughed and asked, "Where is the girl from Gao Village?"

Zhu Bajie yelled, "Brother, we have been seeking scriptures for more than ten years. When I came back, he had already died of illness. I am alone and restricted by the Dharma. I cannot do evil. I can only sleep in the mountains."

Sun Wukong said: "I never thought it would be like this, but if you want to do evil, you must never do it."

Zhu Bajie said, "I know it, but I don't know why you came to see me."

Sun Wukong said: "I was passing by here, so I came to see you."

Zhu Bajie said with a smile: "Since you have come to see me, come in quickly."

Sun Wukong said, "Don't worry, don't worry! My eldest brother, my elder brother, my second brother, as well as the Great Lord Laozi Qingniu, and my eldest brother's followers are all here. Please open the door wide and we will come in."

Say it.

Sun Wukong made way, and Zhu Bajie saw a huge group of people standing outside his cave. Seeing the real people, Zhu Bajie was like a mouse seeing a cat, trembling with fear, and said in panic: "Brother, why did you bring so many people here?"

The Bull Demon King stepped forward and said, "Why doesn't the Bodhisattva of the Altar Purifier welcome us?"

Zhu Bajie said tremblingly: "How can I not welcome you? Please come in, please come in!"

Zhu Bajie opened the door. If he had not seen Sun Wukong in front of the door, he would not have been able to close the door. He would have closed the door without fail.

When the immortals and their companions entered the Yunzhan Cave, Zhu Bajie prepared a banquet to welcome them and shared some seasonal fruits with them. Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie were talking about their journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures in the past.

Zuo Liang was somewhat surprised when he saw Zhu Bajie, and whispered to Zhen Jian, "Grandpa Buddha, is this a Bodhisattva?"

Zhenjian nodded and said, "This is a true Bodhisattva."

Zuo Liang shook his head and said, "Somewhat different."

Zhenjian asked, "What do you mean?"

Zuo Liang said, "Grandpa Buddha, you and Grandpa Sun Buddha both have some immortal aura, and when people see you, they know that you are truly practicing. But this Bodhisattva is a little different."

Zhen Jian laughed and said, "If it's not like a Bodhisattva, then what is it like?"

Zuo Liang hesitated for a long time and said, "It looks like a demon. I have been following you for some time and I often see demons attacking me. You have to subdue them. This Bodhisattva looks very similar to a demon."

It's really a smile but no words.

Seeing this, Zuo Liang said no more.

Sun Wukong talked with Zhu Bajie for a long time after they finished talking about their journey to obtain the scriptures.

Sun Wukong said: "Bajie, we have achieved success and have gained freedom. We can enjoy peace, but we must not neglect the cultivation of the mind. Otherwise, our cultivation will decline."

Zhu Bajie shouted, "I know, I know."

Jiang Yuan used a fruit for a while and said with a smile: "Do you really know?"

Zhu Bajie was shocked when he heard the immortal's words, so he said seriously: "If I really know, I will never dare to fool around."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "It is said that 'it is easy to deceive others, but difficult to deceive yourself', but if you can deceive yourself, that is enough. I will not say anything more."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Bajie remained silent.

Jiang Yuan said no more, looked at Sun Wukong, and said, "Rest for a while, we are leaving, we should hurry up."

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "I originally came to visit you for a while. Now that I have seen you, I will not stay any longer."

Sun Wukong said this and stood up to leave.

When everyone saw it, they followed.

Zhu Bajie saw Sun Wukong off and walked to the gate of the cave.

Sun Wukong stopped Zhu Bajie and said, "Fool, you don't have to see me off. You know whether you are practicing or not. I hope you can reflect on yourself, get out of the sea of ​​suffering as soon as possible, and practice again. Don't forget the power of the Tianpeng Water God in the past. But if you are determined to practice, you need help. You can come to me. I will definitely help you because of our old friendship."

Zhu Bajie remained silent.

Sun Wukong then left with the immortals and their group, and returned to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

Zhu Bajie looked at the group of immortals and said inwardly, "Marshal Tianpeng."

He recalled the glory he had when he first started practicing, and his heart was moved. He had never forgotten how free he was in the past, and how he ended up in this situation now.

Zhu Bajie pondered for a long time and walked back to the cave.

……

Time flies like an arrow, the days and months pass by quickly. The Immortal and his group traveled in Xiniu Hezhou and returned to Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. Along the way, some blind demons attacked, but they were subdued without the Immortal taking any action. The demons dared not show themselves at all, for fear of being discovered by the Immortal.

This went on for more than three years.

The group finally approached Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

Jiang Yuan was riding on the white deer, and knowing that they were approaching Fangcun Mountain, he was in a good mood. He turned his head to look at Zuo Liang, but saw that Zuo Liang said nothing and just followed the white deer. It was the same in the past and it was the same now, without any change.

Zuo Liang has the ability to understand and the desire to practice, but unfortunately his foundation is unstable.

However, with Zuo Liang's talent, he was qualified to become his disciple.

Sun Wukong smiled and said, "Big Brother, we are close to home."

Shinjian nodded and said, "It's very close."

Jiang Yuan looked at his two fellow apprentices and said, "Don't slack off. Hurry back home and meet the master as soon as possible."

Sun Wukong said: "That's the truth."

True vision is also called yes.

Jiang Yuan then looked at the Bull Demon King who was wielding a mixed iron stick to clear the way ahead and said, "Bull, come closer."

The Bull Demon King listened to the real person's call, slowed down his pace, and said, "Master, I am here."

The immortal said with a smile: "Niu'er, when we return to the mountain, you should go back to your family and bring Red Boy to the mountain. I have something to tell you."

The Bull Demon King didn't know what it was all about, but he agreed, and said that he would take Red Boy with him after the guardian deity returned to the mountain.

Jiang Yuan rode the deer forward, feeling something in his heart. He might need to accept disciples. It would take some time to open a school. However, those who were close to him in affinity and Dharma should be formally accepted as disciples, just like Chongyang, Zuo Liang and Red Boy.

The group approached Lingtai Fangcun Mountain and moved forward happily.

Two or three hours later.

The group entered Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. When Zuo Liang first arrived here, he was amazed to see the mountain with thousands of peaks and thousands of feet of cliffs. Walking forward, he saw "thin vines entwined with old trees, ancient ferry crossings, birds singing nearby, and clear springs". He sighed inwardly that this was indeed the land of immortals. The place where the master lived was extraordinary.

Jiang Yuan and others often saw this mountain, so they did not move.

The group continued moving forward, and when they reached the Shanxi Fairy Cave, they stopped.

Jiang Yuan looked at the Bull Demon King and said, "I am going home now. Bull, go and bring Red Boy back."

The Bull Demon King stepped forward to accept the order and said, "Yes, Master, wait for me for a moment. I will go there immediately and bring the Holy Infant back."

Say it.

The Bull Demon King rode on a cloud and headed for Cuiyun Mountain.

Jiang Yuan then looked at Qingniu and said, "King Si, this mountain is so big that you can go there. Don't leave the mountain. Apart from that, you can do whatever you want."

The Green Ox replied, "I know, I know."

The green ox responded twice and then leaped into the mountains.

Jiang Yuan then released the white deer between the green cliffs, comforted it a little, taught it to practice well, and then sent everyone away.

The Immortal then sent Sun Wukong, Zhen Jian, and Zuo Liang into the Three Stars Immortal Cave together. After they arrived at the Yaotai, the Immortal told Zuo Liang to wait in the Yaotai. The three of him and his fellow disciples then headed towards the Patriarch's quiet room to pay their respects to the Patriarch.

The three of them walked along the path behind Yaotai, and when they arrived at the Patriarch's meditation room, they saw that the door of the Patriarch's meditation room was wide open, and the Patriarch was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, as if waiting for them to arrive.

(End of this chapter)