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

Chapter 308 Lü Yu changes his name to Lü Yan and begins cultivation.

After the Immortal and his companions met Li Bai in the temple and learned that he could not cross the river, they stayed in the temple for two or three days before finally deciding to set off and leave.

The earth god emerged from the clay statue, bowed before the immortal, and said, "Why did the immortal leave? Was it because I failed to entertain him properly? If so, I beg the immortal to forgive me."

Jiang Yuan walked forward, helped the earth god up, and said, "How can you say we are guilty? What is there to say? The earth god has already shown us kindness by allowing us to rest in the temple for so many days. Earth god, I will remember your kindness in taking us in. If you ever suffer a calamity that you cannot resolve, you can go to the Lingtai Fangcun Mountain Xieyue Sanxing Cave to find me. At that time, I will definitely resolve this calamity for you."

Upon hearing this, the local deity was moved to tears and said, "This old man thanks the True Man! If the True Man needs a place to rest, please come to this old man's place. This old man will stay here forever for the True Man."

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, signaling everyone to set off and leave the temple.

The land followed closely behind, intending to escort the real person.

The group walked for a long time, covering about fifty li.

The real person persuaded the land to be returned.

The land deity shook his head and said, "I'll escort you a little further."

Jiang Yuan said, "There's no need for that. You should go back and stay in the local temple. As long as you bring peace to this area, I will be happy to hear that. There's no need to see me off again."

Upon hearing this, the local deity accepted the order, bowed repeatedly to the immortal, and then rose to leave, returning to the local deity temple.

Seeing the local earth god leave, Sun Wukong stepped forward and asked, "Elder brother, we are leaving now, but the opportunity for Venus to cross over is not now. We do not know where to go."

Jiang Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Let's go forward and see if there are any Dao seekers ahead."

Pigsy, carrying his nine-toothed rake, revealed his original form and said, “Master, there’s no need to go any further. How can there still be any who have heard the Dao in the human world? Even if there are, they are all trapped in a sea of ​​suffering, unable to extricate themselves. In this chaotic world, they are misled by the two gods, and we cannot find them.”

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "It is not proper to say such things, but there is a seeker of the Dao ahead, so we must proceed."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy said no more. He noticed that Zuo Liang, Green Ox, and Sun Wukong were all looking at him, fearing that if he said another word, the three of them would capture him.

Sun Wukong said, "Elder brother, please sit down. I'll lead the way now."

Jiang Yuan nodded with a smile.

The group then walked forward.

……

Time flies, and more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

After changing their appearances, the group entered Jiujiang County in Yangzhou and found an inn to rest for a day or two.

Pigsy knew that the True Man had entered this city as a seeker of the Way. If any seeker of the Way blocked his way, the True Man would grant him a chance to cross over. If he wished to cross over himself, he would have the chance to cross over himself and leave the sea of ​​suffering. Everything depended on himself.

However, Pigsy was unaware that there was someone here who had heard the Dao and was able to hear such a karmic connection.

The immortal didn't say much to Pigsy. They entered the inn, checked into three rooms, and bought some wine and food to enjoy at the inn.

On the ground floor of the inn, a few travelers were having food and drink, but they all spoke in hushed tones, as if afraid of being discovered by others and were quite cautious.

Pigsy sat at the table, eating and drinking tea. Looking around, he laughed and said, "Master, look at these passersby, how come they all seem to have attained enlightenment?"

Jiang Yuan shook her head and smiled, "Bajie, don't talk nonsense. Be careful with your words and actions. You should know this principle."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy realized he had spoken out of turn, so he remained silent and said no more.

Sun Wukong took a peach from somewhere and ate it while saying, "Elder Brother, this city is in a chaotic state, and few people seek the Dao."

Jiang Yuan pointed outside the post station and said, "Isn't there a seeker of the Dao over there?"

Sun Wukong looked in the direction the immortal pointed, and saw an old man in loose robes with a sword at his waist, looking very energetic, walking into the inn.

Sun Wukong looked up at the old man. He had some magical power and could see that there was clarity in the old man's eyes, which was the sign of two gods in control, with the primordial spirit as the master.

Sun Wukong said, "Elder Brother, this is truly a seeker of the Dao."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Wukong, go and invite him to come and see if he is willing to come and meet me. If he is willing, then invite him to come. But if he is not willing, you cannot force him."

Sun Wukong replied, "Yes, senior brother, please wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

Say it.

Sun Wukong rode forward and stopped the old man as he entered.

The old man, somewhat wary of Sun Wukong, lowered his hand to the hilt of his sword and asked, "Where did you come from? Why are you blocking my way?"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "But I am a cultivator from the West. I am currently traveling with my senior brother in Yangzhou to cultivate. My senior brother saw that you have spiritual energy, so he intends to have a chat with you. I wonder if you are willing? If you are willing, then come with me. If you are not willing, you may leave."

Upon hearing this, the old man pondered for a moment and said, "Since a cultivator has invited me, I will go ahead. Young friend, you may guide me through the path."

Sun Wukong nodded, and then walked with the old man to the table in front of the immortal, saying, "This is my eldest brother."

The old man stepped forward to meet him, but upon gazing at the real person's face, his eyes widened in ecstasy. He recognized the real person and immediately knelt down, exclaiming joyfully, "Lü Yan greets the immortal!"

When the immortal saw the old man, he recognized him as Lü Yu from Wudang Mountain years ago. He had changed his name to Lü Yan for some reason. This was the person he needed to help Laozi to get rid of his suffering.

Years ago, he taught his meditation techniques at Wudang Mountain, and now, decades later, they meet again.

The master smiled and said, "Young friend Lü, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Lu Yan said with delight, “Immortal, it has been decades since we parted when we were young. I have often thought of the karmic connection we had when we were young. I am so happy to finally meet you again. I hope you will not be offended by my overjoyed state.”

Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "There's no need to call me an immortal. I am not an immortal. If you wish to address me respectfully, you can call me a True Man. But if you don't wish to, you can call me Mr./Master."

Lu Yan bowed and said, "Lu Yan pays respects to the True Man!"

Jiang Yuan helped him sit down.

Lu Yan wanted to refuse, but under Zhenren's insistence, he had no choice but to sit down at the table and sit with Zhenren and the others.

The man laughed and said, "How do you know I am no ordinary person?"

Lu Yan said, “Master, you may not know this, but when I was young, I was blessed with great fortune to meet you. Later, I saw the statue of the Xuan Emperor on Wudang Mountain and realized that the person next to you was the Xuan Emperor. Anyone who can be next to the Xuan Emperor is an immortal.”

The master nodded and said, "I see. Lü Yu, no, I should call you Lü Yan from now on. When you were young, I taught you a calming mantra. Now it seems you haven't forgotten it."

Lu Yan bowed again and said, "I dare not forget what you, Master, have taught me, and I practice this mantra every day. To be honest, Master, over the years, I have received great help from my father and served as an official in a certain region. However, I found it difficult to be a good official and my ambitions were not fulfilled, so I resigned and left to return to my hometown. Now, I have met you, Master, halfway there. This is fate. I hope you will allow me to follow you in cultivation." Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "As you say, you were once an official, but now you want to return to your hometown. Even if you were to fall on hard times, worldly wealth and honor would be within your grasp. Why not go back to your hometown to enjoy life instead of talking about following me in cultivation?"

Lu Yan said, “Master, when I was young I knew that worldly riches and honors are like fleeting clouds. Why do you need to say such things to test my heart? I only ask that you allow me to follow you. If you agree, I am willing to give up everything.”

Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "Alright, alright, alright. But if you are willing to follow me, unafraid of the severe cold and scorching heat, unafraid of the hardships of the journey, then you can follow me and learn the cultivation methods if you are destined to find them."

Lü Yan was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked the Master.

The master shook his head and told Lü Yan to enjoy the food and wine on the table. Once the food was finished, he told Lü Yan to go to his room to rest for a day or two before he could travel with him again.

The group of immortals had three rooms at the inn. The immortal and Zuo Liang shared one room, Qing Niu and Lü Yan shared one room, and Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong shared one room.

Inside Sun Wukong's and Zhu Bajie's room, Zhu Bajie was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking somewhat resentful.

Sun Wukong, wearing a cassock, sat on the bed. Seeing Zhu Bajie's appearance, he laughed and said, "You fool, why do you look like this? Did you not eat your fill down there? If so, I'll go and get some fruit for you to enjoy."

Pigsy waved his hand and said, “Brother, I am not the same as before. When I traveled west, I was often hungry because my cultivation was incomplete, so my stomach was large. But now I have some cultivation, so my stomach is not that big.”

Sun Wukong said, "If you're not hungry, why do you look like that? You fool, if you looked like that, you would be hungry. But things are different now. I underestimated you."

Pigsy said, "I was indignant to see that fellow being so easily protected by the master. How could that fellow be treated like this by the master?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately understood what Zhu Bajie was thinking. He smiled slightly and said, "Fool, you only know one side of the story. This person is not as simple as he appears."

Pigsy asked, "What do you mean?"

Sun Wukong replied, "When I came here, I heard my elder brother say that I had to ferry someone across for Laozi. This was Laozi's request. But I don't know who this person is. Just now I saw Lü Yan and I thought to myself that Lü Yan is most likely the person Laozi requested."

Pigsy exclaimed in surprise, "The Supreme Lord Laozi personally invited you to cross over? That Lü Yan is truly blessed with an extraordinary destiny."

Sun Wukong said, "But if there is a predestined connection, there must be something about it that makes Laozi value you. Fool, don't worry too much. If you worry too much, the two gods will help you, which will not benefit your cultivation."

Pigsy suddenly realized and bowed, saying, "I understand now, I understand now."

……

Two or three days later, the True Man and his entourage left the post station and traveled through the city without being stopped. When they reached a mountain, the True Man stopped the white deer and looked at Lü Yan, who was following beside him, panting heavily.

The master smiled and asked, "Lu Yan, are you tired?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yan straightened his sword at his waist, tidied his clothes, and said, "But I haven't traveled far on foot for a long time, so I'm a little tired."

The master then laughed and said, "Why don't I get you a horse to ride? That would be much more comfortable."

Lu Yan shook his head and said, "The disciples and followers of the True Master all walk. How can I ride a bicycle? But please allow me to follow on foot."

The master said, “But you are old and frail, no longer in your prime. I fear that if you walk for too long, something bad may happen to your body.”

Lu Yan shook his head and said, "If others can do it, so can I."

The master heard the firmness in his words, so he did not try to persuade him further. He said, "If that's the case, then follow on foot. If you are not strong enough and it is really difficult for you to keep going, you can tell me."

Lü Yan bowed repeatedly to the True Man.

The man smiled and nodded, then continued on his way.

Lu Yan gritted his teeth and persevered, following the True Man with unwavering resolve. He had been enlightened since childhood, receiving the True Man's teachings on calming the mind, which he diligently practiced for decades without wavering. Though an official, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation. Now, finally having the opportunity to become a true master, how could he abandon him due to weariness and unbearable toil?

Furthermore, he observed that the disciple of the True Person was much older than him, yet he remained calm and composed throughout the journey, showing no signs of distress. Therefore, he could not give up on him.

Lü Yan made up his mind to follow the True Man in his cultivation.

The group traveled through Yangzhou.

……

Time flies, and more than two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The group of people traveled around Yangzhou, stopping and starting, but never left the city.

One day, a Taoist priest arrived at a long pavilion in the mountains outside Nanhai County, Yangzhou, and rested there.

Outside the pavilion, Lü Yan was wielding a precious sword, his movements powerful and graceful. During his two years in Yangzhou, the Master had seen that Lü Yan was truly devoted to his cultivation and never complained of hardship on the journey, so he had taught him many secrets.

Lü Yan was exceptionally gifted, and he could easily master most of the techniques taught by the master.

Having studied for two years, Lü Yan is most fond of a particular sword technique. Through diligent practice, its power has become considerable, and ordinary demons and monsters are no match for him.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie were taking shelter from the heat under an ancient tree outside the pavilion when they saw Lü Yan practicing his swordplay and both looked on in awe.

Pigsy said, "Brother, this Lü Yan is truly exceptional."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "You don't need to say more. I have fiery eyes and can see that he is not only exceptionally talented, but also has an excellent character. He is a good candidate for cultivation."

Pigsy said, "It would be a pity to teach such talent to Laozi."

Sun Wukong said, "You fool, fate is predetermined by heaven, how can you talk about regret or not? Besides, in terms of talent, were you weaker than him back then?"

Pigsy pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "To be honest, if it were in the past, my talent would not be weaker than Lü Yan's, but my temperament is not as good as his."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "If your temperament were comparable to his, you would have attained enlightenment long ago. How could you still be in such a state of not having achieved success in your cultivation?"

Pigsy taught Sun Wukong to speak, and for a moment he didn't know how to refute him.

Suddenly, the green ox stepped forward and said, "Monkey, your temperament back then was inferior not only to that of Lü Yan, but even to that of Zhu Bajie. Don't forget your rampage in the Heavenly Palace."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong was somewhat annoyed. He looked at the Green Ox and said, "You Green Ox monster, I haven't said much about the peach tree incident on the back mountain yet, and I've only hit you once with my staff. Now you dare to say more here? Extend your crutch and let me hit you three times!"

Say it.

Sun Wukong swung his golden cudgel and headed towards the green ox.

The green ox was so frightened that it fled to the pavilion where the immortal was.

(End of this chapter)