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

Chapter 402 The God of Zhongnan Mountain, Determined to Achieve Success
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall of the Buddha, after subduing Mara, the Buddha summoned Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong rode a cloud into the palace, paid homage to the Buddha, and then asked about Mara. After learning that the Buddha had subdued Mara, he was puzzled and said, "World Honored One, I know that your power is profound and that subduing Mara is an easy task. But why did you teach Mara to kill all the thousands of people in the Ling Mountain region?"

The Buddha shook his head and said, "Now my Dharma is gone, and the Zen Dharma is established. This is inevitable. Even without Mara, there will be others. This is the destiny."

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "I don't know what is certain or uncertain, but the thought of the annihilation of all people makes me uneasy."

The Buddha smiled and said, “Victorious Fighting Buddha, you are now more compassionate than before. The demise of all people is just the beginning of a new life, just like Nirvana. Victorious Fighting Buddha, I am pleased that you have come to help me. However, once this matter is over, you can return to your place of quiet cultivation. Mount Ling is a time of transition between the two paths, and I fear there will be little peace. If you wish to go to Mount Ling after the dust has settled, it will not be too late then.”

Sun Wukong wanted to say something more, but looking at the Buddha's appearance, he didn't know how to speak for a moment. He remained silent for a long time and finally didn't speak. Instead, he bid farewell to the Buddha, left the Great Buddha Hall, and rode his somersault cloud back to the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

……

A short while later, Sun Wukong returned to the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars. He walked into the Jade Terrace of the cave and saw the True Man there.

Sun Wukong stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "What brings my eldest brother here?"

Jiang Yuan sat on the high platform and said, "I just finished instructing Zheng Ci. Now that Wukong has returned, is everything settled?"

Sun Wukong said, "Eldest brother, this matter is settled. The World Honored One of the Demon Cult has been suppressed beneath Mount Ling, in the abyss."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan was somewhat surprised and said, "Tell me the details before I listen."

Sun Wukong dared not disobey, so he told Jiang Yuan everything about the demons, including the massacre of the believers of Mount Ling and his killing of those demons.

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he asked, "Elder brother, I have many questions. Why would the World Honored One allow Mara to slaughter believers? Why would the World Honored One not set up any defenses on Mount Ling and allow all the Buddhas of Mount Ling to leave? If the Buddhas of Mount Ling were still there, no matter how many abilities Mara had, he would have no chance to do anything to Mount Ling. Why did the World Honored One allow Mara to easily attack Mount Ling?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan pondered for a long time before saying, "I also find it difficult to understand the intricacies of this cause and effect. However, since the World Honored One has made this trip, there must be a reason for it. I do not yet possess great magical power and cannot fathom it. If you wish to know, you can ask your master."

Sun Wukong shook his head and said, "Enough, enough, enough. There's no need to disturb Master with these matters. But the situation at Mount Ling is already settled, so I won't concern myself with it. In the coming years, I fear Mount Ling will be weak, and the demons of Xiniu Hezhou will be rampant."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "If the main road to the west is not in chaos, then there is no need to worry about the rest."

Sun Wukong said, “Brother, please rest assured. I will always patrol the main road to the west to ensure that no evil spirits will invade it. If any evil spirits dare to enter the main road to the west, I will teach them a lesson about my power.”

Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "I'm very grateful for your help, Junior Brother. If you encounter any demons that are too powerful to defeat, please come back to the manor and tell me. I will definitely go and subdue them myself."

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Eldest brother, we are on the main road to the west. Why should we need you to subdue them personally? You are overthinking it."

Jiang Yuan smiled but didn't say anything more.

The two brothers talked for a long time before leaving. The master returned to his quiet room to cultivate in seclusion, while Sun Wukong went to the westward route to inspect for demons and evil spirits.

……

Time flies, and five or six years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Zhongnan Mountains, Wang Chongyang devoted himself to studying talismans. After five or six years, he finally made progress and seemed to understand the power contained within the talismans.

Wang Chongyang discovered the life-giving character, which made his body much lighter. He felt that he seemed much younger. He was even more grateful to Lü Dongbin for teaching him the power of talismans.

Looking at the talisman on the ground, Wang Chongyang sighed deeply and said, "This talisman, though clearly only a few strokes away, contains a wealth of knowledge. This talisman itself embodies 'life and death.' Grass and trees wither and turn into spring mud, starlight extinguishes and returns to the void. Knowing death, one understands the preciousness of life; comprehending extinction, one understands the solemnity of existence. Life and death are intertwined, death and life are intertwined. This talisman is enough to teach me to study for many years. Studying it will give me the power to prolong my life."

Wang Chongyang knew all too well just how powerful talismans were, and this opened a new door for him.

The doctrines of these three schools are far more than that. Taoism has its own talismans and alchemy, and Buddhism and Confucianism also have such profound knowledge.

Wang Chongyang suddenly had a thought: these three schools are originally one. If such profound knowledge can be integrated, it may form a single path.

Thinking of this, he felt it was somewhat absurd. He had only obtained a rune by chance, and the idea of ​​merging the three families was just wishful thinking.

Wang Chongyang got up, intending to leave this place and go to the house to rest. Over the years, in addition to his cultivation, he had also built a thatched hut on the mountaintop for him to rest in.

Wang Chongyang had just entered when he suddenly heard shouts outside. He was puzzled, as very few people came to this part of Zhongnan Mountain, and he had not seen anyone come here for two or three years.

The last time someone came near, it was a group of people looking for treasure, but they left after learning that there was no treasure on the mountain.

Wang Chongyang stepped out of the thatched hut and saw two or three people, dressed in rags, walking up the mountain.

The two or three people were so startled when they saw Wang Chongyang that they almost fell off the mountain path.

Wang Chongyang said, "Where do you three come from? Don't be alarmed, I have no ill intentions."

Seeing that Wang Chongyang had a scholarly air about him and didn't seem like a strongman, the three men felt relieved. They trembled and said in a panic, "Sir, we came from Liu Family Village at the foot of the mountain. Because of the evil people who were causing trouble, burning, killing and looting, we had no choice but to flee up the mountain to avoid disaster."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang was puzzled and asked, "This is Zhongnan Mountain in Yongzhou, the location of the Song Dynasty. Why are there evil people causing trouble here? Is the imperial court not going to do anything about it?"

The three men exclaimed in alarm, “Sir, you are unaware that the villain is a Liao person. These Liao people come in groups of three or five. If they encounter soldiers, they flee. Once the soldiers retreat, they burn, kill, and plunder the people of our village. What can the court do about it? We have no choice but to go up the mountain to seek refuge and escape the disaster.”

Wang Chongyang sighed, "After all, it's for the suffering of the people. Have any of those Liao people gone up the mountain?"

The three replied, "We did not go up the mountain, but Zhongnan Mountain is very vast. We escaped up the mountain and the evil people did not pursue us. We hope that you can teach us to rest here so that we can avoid this disaster."

Wang Chongyang said, "This mountain is not my territory. You can go up the mountain yourself. There is no need to ask me anything."

The three men said tremblingly, "This is where you reside, sir. This place is rightfully yours, and we should inquire about your affairs."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang glanced at the three men again, sensing that they seemed somewhat afraid of him. He sighed, said nothing more, and simply told them to stay as they pleased.

The three of them meekly found a place to stay.

Wang Chongyang wanted to say more to the three men, but seeing their terrified expressions, he had no choice but to give up and return to his thatched hut to rest.

This went on for several days. Wang Chongyang had been studying for a long time when he suddenly thought back to his own thoughts. He had originally intended to go and ask those three people if they had any interest in learning.

But when he came out of the thatched hut, he could not see what the three men had seen; the three men seemed to have left long ago.

Wang Chongyang could only sigh and give up the idea. Just as he was about to go back to his room to study the three schools of thought, he saw wisps of blue smoke rising from the mountainside, which puzzled him.

He walked toward the mountainside, wanting to see what was there.

Wang Chongyang had not walked far when he reached the mountainside. Looking in that direction, he saw many people performing a sacrifice, with various offerings laid out and wisps of smoke rising from the incense.

Among those people, he saw the three from before. After a moment's thought, he realized that the people here were from the village at the foot of the mountain.

The village was plundered by the Liao people, and the villagers scattered and fled to avoid the disaster. Now that the Liao people have left, the villagers have gathered together again and are worshipping the mountain god here, praying for the mountain god's protection so that they will no longer suffer the disaster of being plundered.

Wang Chongyang watched intently as the villagers performed their sacrifice.

The villagers somehow managed to hire a Taoist priest, who was now chanting a sacrificial text while swaying his head.

"On the seventeenth day of the sixth month of the year of Xu Chen in the Heavenly Cycle, the summer air was clear and mild. The people at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain respectfully offered pure sweet wine and seasonal fruits to the majestic mountain god of Zhongnan:"
We humbly behold the Zhongnan Mountains, a dragon vein coiled across the Qin Plain; their divine peaks soaring to the heavens, piercing the Purple Palace. In spring, they nourish all things; in autumn, they protect the crops; in summer, they gather clouds and mist to irrigate the fields; in winter, frost and snow seal away insects. Beasts follow their paths, birds find refuge in their nests; the order of the four seasons silently unfolds, and the workings of all things subtly communicate. The divine grace is abundant and profound; all of us, the people, bask in its benevolent light, how can we not revere and venerate it?
Yet we, mere weeds, entrust our lives to the divine ruler: herb gatherers climb ravines, relying on the divine ruler to drive away miasma and protect our paths; farmers toil in terraced fields, entirely depending on the divine ruler's abundant rain and favorable winds..."

"Now I humbly pray to the Divine Lord:"
May your voice be heard in the clouds, and may you forever guard this mountain and bless our land.

Plagues and evil spirits are not harmed, and the five grains are plentiful and the granaries are always full.

The rocky gate is safe and secure, making gathering firewood a peaceful activity; the stream is clear and its waters abundant, providing a plentiful source of drinking water.

May the four borders be peaceful and the young and old healthy and prosperous; may our divine virtue be forever revered for all time!

I bow twice and kowtow, praying for divine intervention! May the torch of the pine tree serve as my guiding light, illuminating my sincere devotion; may the mountain breeze carry my heartfelt sentiments. I humbly beseech your acceptance of this offering!

Wang Chongyang listened to the sacrificial text and couldn't help but feel pleased. He said in a low voice, "If the mountain god heard this sacrificial text, he would be happy. But if the mountain god could really protect us, the Liao people wouldn't have been able to burn, kill, and plunder."

Say it.

Before he could think further, he suddenly heard a sound coming from behind him.

"It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but this is ultimately a conflict between people. Whether they are Liao or Song, they are all born in Jambudvipa. How can I help them?"

Wang Chongyang looked behind him and saw an old man with white hair walking towards him.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang knew that the white-haired old man was the mountain god. He had seen immortals, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas before, so he was somewhat surprised, but not flustered. He bowed and said, "This humble one greets the divine lord."

The old man chuckled and said, "Why talk about a deity? You can simply call him the mountain god, and that will show respect. There's no need to call him a deity. Young friend, would you like to come with me to the mountains for a chat?"

Wang Chongyang bowed and said, "Since the Divine Lord has invited me, I will certainly obey."

The mountain god smiled and slowly walked up the mountain.

Wang Chongyang followed closely behind.

After walking for half an hour, the two arrived at a green pine rock on the mountaintop.

The mountain god invited Wang Chongyang to sit on the green pine rock, and Wang Chongyang gladly agreed. From the rock, he could see the entire Zhongnan Mountain. Looking down, he saw "clouds surging like boiling water, peaks arrayed like painted screens beneath his feet, the howling wind whistling through him, and stars hanging from the eaves, their light almost dripping."

Wang Chongyang exclaimed, "I have lived on this mountain for a long time, and only now have I seen the whole scenery. It is truly an extraordinary place."

The mountain god laughed and said, "I usually cultivate here. It is difficult to get close to this place, so no one knows that I am here. Young friend, please don't blame me for not protecting the people below the mountain. After all, it is an internal strife among the people of Jambudvipa. If it is evil spirits causing trouble, I will definitely protect them."

Wang Chongyang said, "As the Divine Lord said, it is my narrow-mindedness that only focuses on the nation and its dynasties, while the Divine Lord's vision extends to the relationship between humans and demons."

The mountain god shook his head and said, "It is enough that you can understand me. I sensed it when you entered the mountain. You have been living in the mountain for quite some time now. Don't you find living in this mountain pleasant?"

Wang Chongyang replied, “Very well. But please forgive my rudeness, God. I have lived in the mountains for so long without offering sacrifices to you and explaining the reason.”

The mountain god said, “I am the god of this mountain, but this mountain does not belong to me personally. You may reside here, and I need not know about it. However, I know that you are studying books diligently in the mountain and practicing Taoist arts. Recently, you have been full of vitality, and I suspect that your cultivation has been successful.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang immediately told him about his cultivation of talismans.

When the two discussed matters of cultivation, Wang Chongyang knew very little about this path compared to the mountain god, so it was mostly the mountain god who did the talking and Wang Chongyang who listened.

Wang Chongyang gained a great deal from the words of the mountain god, and was very grateful to the mountain god.

After listening to the mountain god's many words, Wang Chongyang told the mountain god all his thoughts and ideas, hoping to receive guidance from the mountain god.

Upon hearing that Wang Chongyang intended to unite the three schools, the mountain god stroked his beard with admiration and said, "Young friend, your idea is quite remarkable, but it is extremely difficult. Without great perseverance and great fortune, it cannot be accomplished."

Wang Chongyang said, "I will do this even if it means death, and I will not regret it."

The mountain god laughed and said, "If you want to achieve what you desire, the unity of the three families, this is not something that can be accomplished by mere words. When you cultivate, you must show determination, and with determination you will succeed."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang pondered for a long time and deeply agreed. He nodded and said, "Divine Lord, what you say makes perfect sense. I will remember your words and strive to achieve my goal."

The mountain god said, "Since you know this, that is enough. I have had a pleasant conversation with you here, but I still have duties to perform and must leave now. If fate allows, we can meet again in the future."

Wang Chongyang dared not stop him, and bowed, saying, "Please wait, Divine Lord."

Say it.

He bowed deeply, but when he looked up, the mountain god had vanished without a trace, much to his surprise. He marveled at the mountain god's extraordinary abilities, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

(End of this chapter)