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

Chapter 307 Single-minded in serving the government, Venus is hard to cross.
Outside Chang'an, the immortals and their entourage bid farewell to Emperor Li Longji and traveled to a long pavilion outside the city.

Pigsy was somewhat indignant and said, "This reincarnated emperor is not a wise ruler, but a foolish one. He talks about how true cultivators can create famous mountains and rivers, looking down on us. He doesn't know that we are the true cultivators, but Lingtai Fangcun Mountain doesn't like to publicize it. If it were publicized, would there be any famous mountain in the world that surpasses Lingtai Fangcun Mountain?"

The Green Ox said, "What Pigsy said makes sense."

Sun Wukong sat to the side and said, “Now that you see the Emperor, he must have failed in his mission and is trapped in a sea of ​​suffering, unable to extricate himself. His mind is already clouded, so he is not wise and does nothing but foolish things.”

Jiang Yuan sat to the side without saying a word, and a divine light flickered within him.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong stepped forward and asked, "Elder Brother, what's going on?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "The fate of the Li Tang dynasty is nearing its end."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Eldest brother has profound magical powers and can dispel such a destiny. However, we can see the fate of the Li Tang dynasty without you having to say anything."

Pigsy said, "Master, that's exactly right. With the Tang Dynasty in its current state, how can its fate not be sealed?"

Jiang Yuan said, "The Emperor is likely not far from being reborn again. When he is reborn, I will definitely come to see him off again."

Sun Wukong said, "Eldest brother, shall we now set off?"

Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "It is time to set off for Yangzhou. Venus is still waiting."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong hurriedly urged Zhu Bajie and the others to quickly pack up and prepare to proceed to ferry Taibai Jinxing.

Pigsy dared not delay, and with swift movements, he finished tidying up before the group set off towards Yangzhou.

……

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

The group of immortals finally arrived at Yangzhou. Along the way, no one blocked their path. This was because everyone was in danger. Even those who had heard the Dao were trapped in a sea of ​​suffering and could not extricate themselves, so how could they block the way?

As the group entered Yangzhou, they found that the place was no longer the prosperous scene of "rivers and seas, with boats lined up one after another". Now, all that could be seen was smoke and fire obscuring the sun, and millet fields everywhere.

Pigsy asked, "Master, we have now arrived in Yangzhou, but we do not know where to go. Please show us the way."

Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "There's no need to go any further. There's a temple dedicated to the Earth God ahead. Let's sit there for a day or two, and Venus will come looking for us."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked ahead and saw a local earth god temple. After receiving permission from the immortal, they all proceeded towards that place.

Before long, the group approached the Earth God Temple and entered the temple.

Once inside the temple, one sees wisps of smoke rising from the shrouded ground, and the place is neatly cleaned, thus recognizing it as the dwelling place of the Earth God.

With the permission of the immortal, Zuo Liang personally stepped forward, offered incense to the local earth god, and informed them that they would like to stay for a day or two.

The earth god clay sculpture had just received incense offerings from Zuo Liang when an old man emerged from the clay sculpture and bowed to the group of immortals, saying, "Earth god of Shanyang Village pays respects to Guangxin Immortal, pays respects to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, pays respects to the Great King of the Rhinoceros, pays respects to Master Zhengyuan, and pays respects to the Clean Altar Messenger."

Jiang Yuanqin stood up and helped him up, saying, "Earth God, there's no need for such formalities. We have come here today and have caused you much trouble. Please forgive us."

The local deity panicked and said, "How could I dare to be surprised? How could I dare to be surprised? It is my honor that the immortal has come to stay in my temple."

Sun Wukong stepped forward and grabbed the local earth god, laughing, "You old man, how do you know our names? Although you are an earth ghost, you are an earth ghost from Yangzhou. You shouldn't know us."

The local deity bowed and said, “Great Sage, I met with other local deities some time ago, so I knew that you and your entourage were traveling in the Nine Provinces. Now that I see you, I know that you are the Great Sage, the True Man, Master Zhengyuan and others.”

Zuo Liang was somewhat puzzled and said, "But I have never been here, how do you know that I am Zheng Yuan?"

The Earth God laughed and said, "Master Zhengyuan may not know this, but your name is widely known among the Earth Gods and Mountain Gods. There are very few Earth Gods and Mountain Gods who do not know the name of Master Zhengyuan. I certainly know Master Zhengyuan."

Zuo Liang smiled and said, "I see. Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Earth God."

Sun Wukong said, "Lord, we need to stay here for two or three days. If any ferocious beasts or evil spirits wander in, you must keep a close watch and not let them disturb my eldest brother. If any evil spirits come, you can tell me, and I will definitely drive them away."

The local deity hurriedly bowed and said, "Great Sage, rest assured, there's no need for you to rush over. I will certainly not allow any evil spirits to invade or disturb your celestial presence. However, I wonder if any travelers happen to pass by, should I use a method to make them change their way, or perhaps allow them to enter?"

Sun Wukong looked at the real person.

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "But if there are travelers, they may enter freely without being stopped."

The land is where one receives orders and departs.

Sun Wukong said, "Elder Brother, please sit here. I will go outside and find some fruit for you to enjoy."

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, without refusing.

Sun Wukong quickly went out to fetch the fruit.

Pigsy followed closely behind, intending to gather some firewood.

The blue ox lay motionless on the ground.

Zuo Liang followed the True Man and served him.

Jiang Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground and said with a smile, "Zheng Yuan, you don't need to follow me. You should find a place to cultivate properly."

Zuo Liang shook his head and said, "This disciple should serve Master. If Master needs anything, please tell this disciple and this disciple will take care of it."

Jiang Yuan shook her head and said, "I have nothing for you to take care of, so you can focus on your cultivation."

Zuo Liang shook his head again and said, "Master, you don't need to pay attention to me. Just let me stand here. If there is anything you need me to do, please feel free to ask."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan had no choice but to comply with Zuo Liang's request. However, upon seeing Zuo Liang's appearance, he felt a surge of joy. This disciple of his was simple and honest. Although his cultivation was somewhat lacking at the age of sixty, he possessed exceptional talent. He diligently and earnestly practiced unorthodox methods and never became negligent or discouraged because of them. Who wouldn't like such a disciple?

The master said, "Zhengyuan, are there any difficulties you are facing in your cultivation?"

Zuo Liang shook his head and said, "Master, I have no particular confusion. I know my path lies in the method of invoking immortals," therefore I have been diligently practicing it. Furthermore, besides the method, there is no better way than cultivating the mind, and I dare not forget this."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Zhengyuan, just focus on your cultivation. If you keep this mindset and never change, you will surely achieve enlightenment in the future."

Zuo Liang said, "Master, I dare not forget your teachings. I will never change my mind and will wholeheartedly cultivate myself."

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, letting Zuo Liang serve him. Qing Niu lay on the ground and said, "Master, your disciple's cultivation is far superior to before, and his magical power is also not weak. Why not consider what I said in the past and find someone with great ability to help him? I think Tianpeng Zhenjun would be a very good choice."

Jiang Yuan said, "I know what I'm doing here, Your Majesty, there's no need for you to say more."

Upon hearing this, the blue ox had no choice but to give up.

Upon seeing this, the sage said no more and went to meditate in the temple.

……

The group of immortals rested in the local temple for two or three days. They were all cultivators, and for them, two or three days passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, the Master and his followers were meditating in the temple as usual when suddenly a torrential downpour began, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Seeing the celestial phenomena outside, Sun Wukong said, "I wonder which Dragon King is bringing rain here, disturbing the peace. Elder Brother, why don't I go and inform him to stop the rain?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "No need. The rain is predictable and cannot be altered for our sake. That would be tantamount to deceiving Heaven. Wukong, open the temple gate. Bajie, King Si, change your appearance. We have distinguished guests arriving."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong and the others dared not ask any further questions. They each went about their business, and Wukong stepped forward and pushed open the temple door.

As soon as he pushed open the temple door, he saw an old man in a long robe enter the temple. His clothes were soaked by the rain and he looked a little disheveled, but there was a sense of open-mindedness and ease in his eyes, which made people feel that this person was extraordinary.

The old man entered the temple, patted the rain off his clothes, and when he saw that there were people in the temple, he stood up and bowed, saying, "Gentlemen, I was originally going to visit a friend, but unexpectedly, the weather turned bad and I was caught in a heavy rain, so I came here to take shelter. If I have disturbed you, please forgive me."

The master smiled and said, “This is not our place. We are just travelers passing through, resting here for a while. You don’t need to bother us. Just sit down. There is a fire here. Warm yourself. I see you are about fifty or sixty years old, so you should be careful.”

Upon hearing this, the old man smiled and nodded. He was unconcerned with formalities and sat down by the fire to warm himself. He looked at Zuo Liang and said, "Sir, you told me to be careful. You said you are old, but this old gentleman looks much older than me. He should be the one to be careful."

Zuo Liang smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, but I am in good health. I am a cultivator, so it is not a problem."

The old man, who had been taking off his clothes to warm himself by the fire, paused in surprise after hearing Zuo Liangyan say that he was a cultivator, and asked, "You are a cultivator?"

Zuo Liang smiled and said, "That's right."

Sun Wukong stepped forward and said, "We are all cultivators."

Upon hearing this, the old man stood up and said, "I never imagined that you were all fellow practitioners. My apologies! I am Li Taibai. Although I have no formal teacher, I have often talked and befriended those who cultivate, and have received much instruction from them. I can be considered a half-cultivator."

Sun Wukong replied with a smile, "Cultivation is cultivation; how can there be any talk of half a cultivation?"

Li Bai stroked his beard and laughed, “You don’t know this, but I have loved this kind of teaching since I was a child. However, I was focused on being an official and upholding justice in the court, so I had no chance to enter into true cultivation. But I love this kind of teaching, so I often talk to people. Among them is a Taoist who is a true cultivator. He is both my teacher and friend. He often says that I was born to cultivate, but I have no chance to enter into cultivation. So I only dare to say that I am only half a cultivator.”

Sun Wukong suddenly realized and said, "I never thought it was like this, but there really is no such thing as cultivation. Why don't you say that you are a cultivator, and then we'll call it quits."

Li Bai said, "I dare not presume to speak of such things."

Sun Wukong said no more.

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "I've heard you say that you have a strong affinity with cultivation, but you're focused on being an official, which is why you haven't pursued cultivation. So you say you have no affinity? Is that true?"

Li Bai nodded and said, "As you say, that is indeed true."

Jiang Yuan said, "Since that's the case, you've chosen to serve as an official. May I ask what position you hold now?"

Upon hearing this, Li Bai looked troubled. He was unhappy with his official career and had just retired to Yangzhou. Now that the immortal had asked him this, he felt somewhat helpless. However, he always felt that one day he would be able to realize his ambitions, just like the roc that "rises with the wind and soars ninety thousand miles high".

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "I have learned a little about physiognomy. I see that you have no official aura, so you are not capable of being an official. I predict that you will not hold any official position to this day. Is what I say true?"

Li Bai nodded frankly and said, "Just as you said, I may lack the official spirit to realize my ambitions, but I have a feeling that if I can find a place to use my talents, they will be no less than those of others."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "What is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not destined to be yours, you cannot force. You should know this saying, but why do you insist on following the path of officialdom? Since you are destined to cultivate, why not try another path? Perhaps you can achieve twice the result with half the effort and attain true cultivation. This is hard to say."

Li Bai shook his head and said, "Everyone has their own ambitions. My ambition lies in becoming an official, not in cultivating myself, so I have no right to speak on this matter."

The master said, "If it is as you say, what good is there in being an official until the end?"

Li Bai laughed and said, "There are many benefits to being an official. During one's lifetime, one can bring peace and prosperity to the people of a region, and after death, one will have a good reputation and be remembered in history."

The master said, "But do you know what the benefits of cultivation are?"

Li Bai asked, "Longevity? Magical power?"

The master laughed and said, "But do you know why you are unwilling to cultivate? Is it not enough to sway your heart?"

Li Bai said, "If that's the case, it's enough to move my heart. I would have gone to cultivate long ago."

The real man smiled but said nothing, and said no more to Li Bai.

Sun Wukong and the others did not speak to Li Bai.

After an hour or two, the rain subsided slightly. Seeing this, Li Bai bid farewell to the immortals and the others, and got up to leave.

The assembled immortals watched Li Bai depart.

Sun Wukong said, "Eldest brother, this person must be the reincarnation of Li Changgeng."

The real man smiled and nodded, acknowledging that what Sun Wukong said was true.

Upon hearing this, Pigsy exclaimed in surprise, "That fellow is the reincarnation of Li Changgeng? It doesn't seem like it at all. Li Changgeng was extremely shrewd, but that fellow is utterly stupid and only cares about being an official. He has even caused the two gods to lose their minds and knows nothing about the wonders of cultivation."

Sun Wukong grabbed Zhu Bajie's fan-shaped ear and said, "You fool, don't talk nonsense. That is Taibai Jinxing, who has been reincarnated. Even the Emperor failed in his mission and is trapped in the sea of ​​suffering. It is normal for these two gods to cause such a disturbance. How can you say such things?"

Pigsy begged for mercy, saying, "Brother, I know, please let go of my hand. You're too strong, I can't take it."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong released his grip and said, "But you must not say anything more, and be careful with your words and actions."

Having said that, he ignored the fool and looked at the real man, wondering how to help this Venus. He knew that Venus was trapped in a sea of ​​suffering without realizing it, which was extremely difficult to help him.

The Master sat cross-legged on the futon, shook his head and said, "Today, Venus is unwilling to leave the sea of ​​suffering, so it is difficult for us to cross over. Do not be anxious, but stay in the human world for a few more years and wait for the right time. I believe there will be an opportunity to help you cross over."

(End of this chapter)