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

Chapter 316 Li Bai Enters Chang'an, This Moon Is Not That Moon

One day, in a thatched hut on a mountain path in Yangzhou, Li Bai met an old friend. This old friend's surname was Wu, given name was Jun, courtesy name was Zhenjie, and he was both his teacher and friend, as well as a practitioner of spiritual cultivation.

As Wu Xiushi sipped his tea, he asked, "Taibai, is the matter of the immortal encounter in the dream false? This matter cannot be made up; it must be true."

Li Bai laughed and said, "Wu Zhenjie, how could this be false?"

Wu Xiushi said, "Tell me more about this in detail, without any falsehoods, and tell me the truth."

Li Bai then recounted the events of his dream, describing in detail what he and Jiang Yuan and the others had seen.

Upon hearing this, Wu Xiushi frowned and said, "I have heard of the primordial spirit leaving the body. Many books have recorded it. The true spirit is the primordial spirit. This primordial spirit resides in the Niwan Palace and is hidden behind the head. It cannot be seen by anyone but a true cultivator."

Li Bai asked, "How is this different from the concept of Yin spirits and Yang spirits?"

Wu Xiushi said, "That immortal once told you that it was just a different name, but his words contained all the truth. What he said was the same, so there is no need to worry about it. However, the saying that the primordial spirit is stored in the Niwan Palace is often seen in ancient books, especially in the pre-Qin and Han dynasties."

Upon hearing this, Li Bai suddenly realized something and said, "Many people have heard of my destiny to become an immortal, saying it was all just a dream. What do you think of my chastity?"

After pondering for a moment, Wu Xiushi said, "You are truly destined for immortality."

Li Bai was overjoyed and asked, "How can I prove her chastity?"

Wu Yun replied, "If it weren't for a predestined connection with the immortals, how would you know about the astral projection of your primordial spirit, let alone what it feels like? You must have been told this by a deity."

Li Bai laughed and said, "Many people say that I, Li Bai, am talking nonsense, but you know my chastity. It is truly a divine connection."

Wu Yun said, “You have a predestined affinity with immortals, and I am happy to befriend you. However, you should never refuse an immortal. You should immediately follow the immortal to cultivate. If you can cultivate with an immortal, you will at least become an immortal. How can you abandon your predestined affinity with immortals because of romantic love?”

Li Bai shook his head and said, "Chastity? But if I really abandoned my wife, would I still be Li Bai? Would you still think highly of me?"

Wu Yun said, "If you, Taibai, were to abandon your wife, I would naturally despise you. But you have the destiny to become an immortal. Compared to that, what use is my despise? In any case, I am just a mortal. In a hundred years, I will be nothing but a handful of dust. But if you become an immortal, you will live forever."

Li Taibai laughed and said, "There's no need to rush. I haven't lost my connection to the immortals. The immortals have left me a message. Once things are settled, I will naturally go and cultivate."

Wu Yun sighed and said, "But the immortal told you that once you are settled and you have obtained the moon, he will then guide you in your cultivation. But how can we obtain the moon? We are just mortals, what power do we have to obtain the moon?"

Li Bai laughed and said, "The immortals would certainly not make things difficult for me, so there must be a trick to their talk of plucking the moon. When the time comes, I will surely know it."

Wu Yun said, "What Taibai said makes a lot of sense, but if Taibai becomes an immortal, and I am not yet accomplished in my cultivation and my time is coming to an end, is it possible for Taibai to help me?"

Li Bai smiled and said, "If that day ever comes, I will surely save you and ensure your survival."

Wu Yun nodded with a smile.

The two men chatted and laughed in the thatched hut.

After talking for a long time, there was a sudden commotion outside. The two got up and went outside to check, and saw that an angel was coming with the emperor's decree.

Li Bai immediately appeared to greet the angel and pay homage to him.

But the angel said nothing more, only issuing a decree that Li Bai should go to the imperial palace in Chang'an, where His Majesty would appoint him as an official.

Upon hearing this, Li Bai was shocked and asked, "Is His Majesty truly going to appoint me to an official position?"

The angel smiled and nodded, saying, "Mr. Li, it is indeed true. His Majesty has indeed invited you to serve in the palace. We often hear the saying that good fortune comes with a change of luck, and today your good fortune has come. His Majesty has personally invited you to serve as an official, which is an immense honor."

Li Bai asked, puzzled, "Why did Your Majesty suddenly invite me to serve as an official?"

The angel said, "His Majesty sees that you are indeed talented, so he asks you not to say anything more, pack your things, and come with me to court to serve as an official."

Li Bai was puzzled and asked again, "What official position does Your Majesty wish me to hold?"

The angel said, "But no lower than the third rank. Mr. Li can rest assured to come with me. If you can please His Majesty, you might even become a first-rank official."

Li Bai truly couldn't understand why the emperor would invite him to serve as an official, considering that he was the one who had driven the emperor out of Chang'an in the past. Given the emperor's temperament, he shouldn't have invited him to serve as an official.

But he looked towards Wu Yun.

Wu Yun smiled at him.

Li Bai was puzzled for a moment, but then he understood that the emperor did not want to invite him to be an official, but rather wanted his connection to the immortals. He had heard that Li Bai had a connection to the immortals, so he invited him to the court to serve as an official, hoping to arrange a connection with the immortals.

Even after learning about it, Li Bai was still somewhat tempted. He was certain that if he were to enter the court as an official under the guise of a predestined connection to the immortals, the emperor, knowing his connection to the immortals, would grant him great power, and he would then be able to realize his ambitions.

He once promised the gods that he would no longer serve as an official; if he were to choose to serve as an official now, wouldn't that be breaking his promise?

Li Bai pondered for a moment, but still decided not to serve as an official. He bowed and said, "Please ask the envoy to inform Your Majesty that Li Bai has no intention of serving as an official and is determined to retire into seclusion. Thank you for Your Majesty's wise decision."

Upon hearing this, the angel became somewhat anxious and said, "Mr. Li, I am merely a messenger. If you wish to refuse, please go to Chang'an City and speak with His Majesty personally. I truly cannot make this decision."

Li Bai laughed and said, "I am determined to live in seclusion and have no desire to travel far."

The angel knelt down and begged Li Bai to go to Chang'an in person and speak with the emperor. Otherwise, if he could not persuade Li Bai to come, the emperor would surely punish him if he found out.

Li Bai, seeing the angel's earnest plea, could not bear it. After much deliberation, he had no choice but to agree to accompany the angel to Chang'an to meet the emperor and express his refusal.

Upon hearing this, the angels kowtowed countless times, deeply grateful for Li Bai's kindness.

Li Taibai laughed and said, "No need for formalities. You wait nearby until I have everything ready, and then we will go to Chang'an together to pay our respects to His Majesty."

The angel answered and then departed.

Wu Yun was a little anxious and said, "Taibai, you shouldn't have gone to Chang'an."

Li Bai laughed and said, "I know about chastity, and I shouldn't go to Chang'an. But if I don't go, the angel's life will be in danger. For her life, I should go to Chang'an. Besides, even if I don't go, given His Majesty's temperament, I'm afraid the next thing to come will be an army."

Wu Yun sighed, "You are too compassionate. If you simply hide in the deep mountains and conceal your identity, no one can do anything to you."

Li Bai said, "If I could hide, I wouldn't be Li Bai."

Wu Yun said, "You are too arrogant, which is not a good thing. But what are your plans for going to Chang'an?"

Li Bai shook his head and said, "I will take it one step at a time, but I will no longer serve as an official. I have promised the immortals, and I will not break my promise. After I politely decline Your Majesty's request, I will take my wife, Lady Zong, to travel the world."

Wu Yun said, "But I'm afraid His Majesty won't let you go so easily."

Li Bai said, "Chang'an City cannot confine me, Li Taibai."

Wu Yun made no comment on this, pondered for a moment, and sighed, "I wonder why His Majesty is like this. When he ascended the throne at a young age, how wise and powerful he was! He restored order, staged a coup, abolished the Wu Zhou dynasty, re-established the Li Tang dynasty, and ushered in a golden age. People left their doors unlocked at night, and no one picked up lost items on the road. His achievements far surpassed those of the Qin and Han dynasties, and even Emperor Taizong could not compare. The world seemed to be on the verge of a great utopian state. However, in his old age, His Majesty has become increasingly muddleheaded. Let's not talk about the matter of Yang Guifei for now, but his pursuit of immortality, disregarding the court and the people, is the very picture of a foolish ruler." Li Bai pondered for a moment and said, "Chastity, can you recall Emperor Wu of Han? In his youth, he also had great ambitions, and in his old age, he is just like our current Emperor."

Wu Yun shook his head and said, "If Your Majesty continues like this, I fear the fate of the Tang Dynasty will be sealed."

Li Bai remained silent.

The two entered the thatched hut and talked for a while before parting ways.

After making his preparations, Li Bai, along with the envoy and his wife, Lady Zong, headed to Chang'an.

……

Time flies by unnoticed, and a month or two has passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Bai and his party arrived in Chang'an at a leisurely pace.

He had just arrived in Chang'an and had not yet rested when Li Longji heard that Li Bai had arrived and hurriedly invited him to the palace.

Upon hearing this, Li Bai dared not disobey and followed the palace attendants into the imperial palace, where he met Li Longji in a hall.

Li Bai received a grand salute and paid his respects to Emperor Li Longji.

Li Longji was impatient. He bent down and helped Li Bai up, saying, "My dear minister, if you have any requests, you can tell me clearly. As long as you give me your destiny in the immortal realm, you can choose any official position you want."

Li Bai bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have come not for an official position, but to make it clear to Your Majesty that I have no intention of becoming an official and request that Your Majesty choose a more capable person. Furthermore, I cannot relinquish my destiny to become an immortal."

Li Longji asked urgently, "Why don't you want to be an official?"

Li Bai said, "Your Majesty, I know that my nature is not suited to officialdom, so I have no desire to serve as an official and only wish to live in seclusion."

Li Longji said, "Enough, enough, enough. I will not force you to become an official, but your destiny to become an immortal must be handed over to me. This is my decree."

Upon hearing this, Li Bai bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I cannot make this decision. This destiny of immortality is within me; how can I entrust it to Your Majesty?"

Li Longji said, "Tell me in detail about your destiny with immortals. I refuse to believe that this destiny cannot be given to me. I am the true Son of Heaven; how can I not obtain such a destiny?"

Helpless, Li Bai had no choice but to tell Li Longji about his predestined connection with the immortals.

When Li Bai mentioned abandoning his path to immortality because of his wife, Lady Zong, Li Longji couldn't help but curse him, calling him foolish. But when he heard Li Bai say that when he wanted to cultivate, he could pluck the moon to enter the path, Li Longji pondered for a moment and thought to himself that Li Bai must have been dreaming.

How can an ordinary person pluck the moon? What is the purpose of plucking the moon as a form of spiritual practice?
Nonsense!

It must be an illusion, a grand dream.

After realizing it was all a dream, Li Longji sighed and waved for Li Bai to leave. If Li Bai hadn't been so highly regarded, he would have killed him to relieve his frustration.

After receiving the emperor's permission, Li Bai set off and rested in Chang'an for a day or two before departing with his wife, Lady Zong, to travel the world.

……

The story goes that south of Yangzhou, the immortal and his companions traveled to a city and rested in an inn.

However, when they heard the rumors of Li Bai's connection to the immortals at the post station, they couldn't help but find it amusing, never expecting the news to spread so quickly.

Sun Wukong said, "This matter has spread throughout the world so quickly, it must have been spread by that old man Taibai Jinxing himself, otherwise it would not have spread so quickly."

Pigsy patted his belly and laughed, "That Venus has such a side. When he returns to his place, I'll definitely grab him and tell him all about this, and see how he reacts."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "If you provoke Taibai Jinxing, you'll be in for a world of hurt, you idiot."

Pigsy said, "But how could Venus possibly be capable of fighting against me?"

The green ox suddenly spoke up, saying, "Venus, when the constellations were arranged in the past, was located in the west, belonged to the metal element, and was in charge of killing and warfare. Do you think he has any ability? Venus is very kind, but if this Pigsy were to fight him, it wouldn't take more than three rounds before your pig head would fall to the ground."

Pigsy was somewhat indignant and said, "You Green Ox Monster, don't try to fool me, old Pig. Even if Venus has all kinds of abilities, he can't kill me in three moves."

The Green Ox laughed and said, "But when it returns to its place, you will know by fighting it."

Pigsy was about to reply.

Sun Wukong chuckled and said, "You fool, don't talk nonsense. If Taibai Jinxing wasn't capable, how could he be a capable minister under the Jade Emperor?"

Seeing that even Sun Wukong spoke in such a way, Pigsy dared not speak recklessly for a moment, for fear that he would make a boast that could not be taken back.

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Don't say any more. Since Taibai has said this, we can't control him. Let him be."

Pigsy said, "Master, if that's the case, then we don't need to pay any attention to it?"

Jiang Yuan laughed and said, "Otherwise, how should we calculate it?"

Pigsy nodded and said, “What you say makes sense, sir. There’s no need to calculate it. The path is right under your feet. If Taibai doesn’t grasp the essentials, then he can only let himself sink in the sea of ​​suffering. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "I wonder if Venus knows about what my senior brother said about plucking the moon."

Amidst the conversation...

Lu Yan was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Teacher, but I am foolish and do not understand what you mean by 'plucking the moon'?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Wukong, Lü Yan is a little confused. Why don't you talk to him and clear up his confusion?"

Sun Wukong asked, "Lu Yan, what is it that you don't understand? Please tell me."

Lu Yan shook his head and said, "But I don't understand, how can mortals pluck the moon?"

Sun Wukong smiled slightly and replied, "Lu Yan, this moon is not that moon."

Lu Yan rose and bowed, saying, "I truly do not know, but please, Great Sage, tell me to dispel my confusion."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "You are attached to appearances. When the eldest brother spoke of plucking the moon, he did not mean to actually pluck the moon. This was a way of transcending the world. But when he understands the eldest brother's meaning, that is when he transcends the world. That is self-salvation and the opportunity to cultivate. There are many ways to transcend the world. It all depends on one's heart."

Lu Yan pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "I never expected it to be like this. It was truly my fault for being so attached to appearances, focusing on the words 'plucking the moon' and forgetting its true meaning. I have put the cart before the horse and have been utterly confused."

Sun Wukong said, "You have only been cultivating for a short time, yet you can understand everything from just one word. Your comprehension is truly remarkable. There is no need to belittle yourself. Continue your cultivation diligently, and with your talent, you will surely succeed in the future."

Lu Yan bowed to Sun Wukong again, expressing his gratitude for his guidance.

(End of this chapter)