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

Chapter 403 A Matter of Life and Death, Red-Bearded Dragon
Meanwhile, in the Zhongnan Mountains, Wang Chongyang received a message from the mountain god and resolved to cultivate his idea of ​​"unifying the three schools of thought." After parting ways with the mountain god, he descended from the Green Pine Stone and returned to his abode on the mountaintop.

Wang Chongyang dismantled the thatched hut, having no intention of continuing to live there. He went down the mountain, bought a hoe, went back up, found a spot, and began digging. He intended to dig out a tomb, buy food and water, and move in. He vowed not to leave until he succeeded, intending to show his determination to sever ties with the mortal world through the tomb and devote himself to studying the doctrines of the Three Schools.

Time flew by as they dug, and more than a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Wang Chongyang finally unearthed a tomb chamber here, and prepared enough food and water. Looking at the unremarkable tomb chamber in front of him, with its calm and still surface, he said, "Now that I have obtained that talisman, I am living even longer. The old age has completely disappeared, and I am full of vitality, just like a man in his prime. But now, in my prime, I have to enter a tomb chamber. It is truly strange."

"The tomb is the final resting place of the deceased. It is composed of the radicals 'earth' and 'nothingness,' with 'nothingness' representing the sun setting and overgrown weeds. Earth covers the body, and weeds conceal the tomb; this is the meaning behind the creation of the character. Now, we, the living, enter the tomb chamber, determined to cultivate ourselves. This tomb can be called the 'Tomb of the Living Dead,' where life and death are intertwined!"

After Wang Chongyang named the tomb, he walked into it. After entering the burial chamber, he seemed to think of something, took a wooden plaque, wrote the five characters "Tomb of Wang Chongyang" on it, and placed it in the tomb. This Wang Chongyang was the Wang Chongyang of the past in the mortal world, not the Wang Chongyang of today.

Wang Chongyang entered the tomb and devoted himself to cultivation, hoping to figure out how to unify the three schools of thought.

In mid-air, Pigsy watched Wang Chongyang walk into the tomb, dumbfounded, and said, "This is truly absurd. After digging for so long, he dug out a tomb and moved into it? What kind of logic is this? Is he determined to die in this tomb, to achieve his goal, and not to emerge until he dies in it?"

Zhu Bajie was shocked by Wang Chongyang's determination. With such a heart, how could he not succeed in his cultivation? He could achieve the Tomb of the Living Dead by risking his life and severing all worldly ties. This was the true path.

Pigsy suddenly recalled that he had heard that before the Daoist Master Guangxin entered the path of cultivation, he was a mortal and even a nobleman. After his parents passed away, he dismissed his servants and burned down his old house to show that he had no intention of returning home and was determined to cultivate. He would die on the path of seeking the Dao if he did not succeed. Only then did he have the opportunity to obtain the Dharma and become a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi.

Today, Wang Chongyang, with his Tomb of the Living Dead, is determined to cultivate himself, which is similar to the story of the Immortal Guangxin. Both of them have great determination and a firm resolve to abandon life and death.

Pigsy pondered for a long time and sighed, "I am not as good as Zhengwei. If I had had Zhengwei's ambition back then, I would have succeeded. But I did not have that ambition. What should I do? Now, Zhengyuan is far superior to me. Even after three reincarnations, Zhengwei is still better than me. As for Zhengci, I am no match for him in martial arts. The day when Master opens his mansion is just around the corner. I have already taught Master's three disciples to win. If I teach more people to win in the future, how can I save face?"

Pigsy was a little anxious, but there was nothing he could do but worry. However, he secretly made up his mind that once the matter of protecting the Dharma was over, he would definitely find a way out and achieve enlightenment.

He can no longer attain the Golden Elixir of the Righteous Path, and he should not linger there any longer; it is time for him to change.

While pondering this, Pigsy dared not be careless. Even though he could not see Wang Chongyang, he still wielded his nine-toothed rake to guard the Tomb of the Living Dead. If any demons or evil spirits dared to approach, he would definitely step forward to drive them away or kill them.

Just as Pigsy was pondering this, he suddenly saw a mountain god bowing to him from below.

Pigsy was somewhat confused. He had never met the mountain god since he came to this mountain, so why was the mountain god coming to worship him now?

He then descended from the clouds and entered a forest, where he met the mountain god.

As soon as Pigsy landed on the ground, the mountain god bowed and said, "Mountain God of Zhongnan Mountain pays respects to Marshal Tianpeng."

Pigsy exclaimed in surprise, "How do you know my former official rank?"

The mountain god laughed and said, "Marshal Tianpeng, I once went to the Heavenly Court and saw your majesty, so I know you."

Pigsy waved his hand and said, “But since you know me, you should know that I am no longer Marshal Tianpeng, but the Bodhisattva, the Clean Altar Messenger of Mount Ling. If you don’t mind, you can call me Bodhisattva.”

The mountain god bowed and said, "Bodhisattva."

Pigsy asked in bewilderment, "Mountain God, why have you come looking for me? I have no connection with you whatsoever."

The mountain god replied, “In the past, there were evil spirits causing trouble on the mountain and inciting the beasts. At that time, I was in the Heavenly Court and rarely returned. Even when I did return, I was busy with many trivial matters and did not have time to take care of them. Fortunately, the Bodhisattva helped to subdue the evil spirits and persuaded the beasts in the mountain to cultivate themselves properly. I have been wanting to express my gratitude since I learned of this. Now that I have finished dealing with many past matters, I have come here to thank the Bodhisattva.”

Pigsy waved his hand and said, "No need to thank me. I am a Bodhisattva of Mount Ling and a guardian of the cauldron of the Cave of the Crescent Moon and Three Stars. It is only right and proper for me to do this. It is my duty."

The mountain god said, "Whatever you say, you should thank him."

Seeing that the mountain god insisted on thanking him, Pigsy had no choice but to accept it.

The two then talked there, discussing the purpose of Zhu Bajie's arrival and Wang Chongyang's identity.

After hearing what Pigsy said, the mountain god suddenly realized and said, "I guessed where that scholar came from, and he seemed to have the appearance of a true cultivator. I never thought he was the reincarnation of a disciple of the Guangxin Zhenren. I have long heard of the name of Guangxin Zhenren, but I have never met him. Now that he is a disciple of Guangxin Zhenren, I can see the appearance of Guangxin Zhenren."

Pigsy laughed and said, "This humble one is a reincarnation and has not yet returned to his original form. He is not even one percent as refined as the true master. Only when you actually see the true master will you know what kind of demeanor he possesses."

The mountain god said, "This is a regrettable matter."

Pigsy waved his hand and said, "If fate allows, you will be able to see the master in the future. But now I must leave to guard the young master. So I will depart now."

The mountain god stopped Pigsy and said, “Bodhisattva endures wind and dew, and inevitably suffers some hardships. Now, thanks to the Bodhisattva’s help, the mountain is at peace. I am willing to help the Bodhisattva and therefore protect the true disciple. The Bodhisattva may go and find a place to enjoy peace.”

Upon hearing this, Pigsy felt a wave of weariness wash over him. After protecting the Dharma for so many years, how could he not be tired? If the mountain god could watch over him and give him some time to rest, that would be wonderful.

Once this feeling of weariness arose, it spread rapidly like wild grass, moving him deeply.

Just as Pigsy was about to agree, he suddenly recalled the various teachings the True Man had given him in the past.

Success turned into failure.

The mother of the wood is malevolent.

This is a difficult path, a path to death, and should never be taken.

Pigsy immediately spoke up, saying, "Enough, enough, enough. Mountain God, you also have your own responsibilities. How can I let you take on my responsibilities? This is absolutely unacceptable. There's no need to mention this matter again. I will personally take care of it."

The mountain god was slightly surprised and said, "Bodhisattva, although I have duties, I still have some free time. I see that you are tired, so I can take care of you. Please do not refuse."

Pigsy laughed and said, “This is not my refusal, but my duty. You are so dedicated to your duty, how can I, Pigsy, neglect my duty? This is my duty, and I will do my best to protect it. I thank the Mountain God for his will, but I really must protect it myself.”

Upon hearing this, the mountain god was deeply moved. Marshal Tianpeng of yesteryear was different now. He bowed deeply to Zhu Bajie, said no more, and left. Zhu Bajie, wielding his nine-toothed rake, rode the clouds into the sky, once again protecting the Tomb of the Living Dead and escorting Wang Chongyang on his cultivation journey.

……

I knock on the door morning and night, the fire in the cauldron changes with the passing years. Time flies by, leaving only a fleeting shadow; lotus petals fall on my shoulders. Before I knew it, more than a decade had passed.

Wang Chongyang remained in the Tomb of the Living Dead, never venturing out, just as he had said: "I will not leave until I have achieved my goal," demonstrating his unwavering resolve.

During his more than ten years of cultivation, Wang Chongyang gradually gained more knowledge. He couldn't say where this knowledge came from, but since the fifth year of his entry into the Tomb of the Living Dead, sometimes when he was in a drowsy sleep, he would dream that he was in an ancient cave. In one room of the cave, he would read books, all of which contained profound knowledge.

Wang Chongyang did not know why he had such a dream, but he cherished the opportunity to enter the dream, because once he entered the dream, he would gain profound knowledge.

After more than a decade of such exchanges, Wang Chongyang's knowledge became increasingly profound. He even acquired many cultivation methods from his own learning and accumulated considerable skills.

Wang Chongyang's attempt to integrate the doctrines of the three schools of thought also made great progress.

One day, Wang Chongyang was still diligently cultivating in the tomb. He had dreamt of entering the Divine Insights realm the previous night and gained much new knowledge. This taught him to integrate the doctrines of the three schools of thought, and he made great progress.

Wang Chongyang pondered for a long time before saying, “The doctrines of these three schools are different, and each has its own subtleties. As the saying goes, ‘Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are interconnected, and the three teachings have always shared the same ancestral style.’ However, in the end, it is the subtleties of Buddhism and Confucianism that are integrated into Taoism, with Taoism as the primary focus.”

"From what I saw in my dream, cultivation is extremely difficult, and there are many wonderful methods, but ultimately the cultivation of the so-called Golden Elixir is the main goal. I do not know what the Golden Elixir is, but I know that it is the source of the Great Dao. Therefore, I must take this as the main goal and then cultivate. The teachings of the three schools all lead to the cultivation of the Golden Elixir, which is also the highest level of knowledge."

When Wang Chongyang mentioned the Golden Elixir, his expression changed. He was eager to learn about the secrets of the Golden Elixir, but he knew that the time was not yet right and he could not yet acquire knowledge of it.

Wang Chongyang said in a low voice, "Although I do not know what the Golden Elixir is, I have read about it in books in my dreams. The Golden Elixir is a cultivation of the body, but even more so a cultivation of the mind. The cultivation of the body is nothing more than 'destiny,' and the cultivation of the mind is nothing more than 'nature.' Destiny and nature are intertwined, and neither can be lacking."

Wang Chongyang pondered for a long time, but he still couldn't understand what kind of knowledge was contained in the words "Golden Elixir".

As he pondered, he couldn't help but recall the place he often dreamed of. He didn't know where it was, but it gave him a sense of familiarity.

Wang Chongyang pondered for a long time, then suddenly smiled. He knew that when the time was right, he would understand. Since deep thought was useless, he closed his eyes and began to study.

……

Meanwhile, on the main road to the west, Sun Wukong, as usual, patrolled this area. If any demons or evil spirits dared to enter, he would order them to be driven away.

Over the years, thanks to Sun Wukong's fame and the decree of the True Man, the Journey to the West has been peaceful, with no demons daring to invade. Many people from this sect have gathered on the Journey to the West to live, and some have even moved their capitals here, established countries, and prayed to be free from demonic invasion.

Sun Wukong didn't care about such things; he only cared about driving away the demons and didn't care whether anyone lived on the westward route. Therefore, the westward route became more and more lively.

One day, Sun Wukong rode a cloud and looked around. He saw a bustling crowd ahead, but no trace of demonic energy. He scratched his head and said, "There are more and more people here. The demonic energy may be hiding in the human atmosphere, which will make it difficult for me to find it."

Sun Wukong was pondering a solution; he couldn't very well expel the people from these kingdoms.

Sun Wukong pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution. He said, "Why don't we go back and ask my eldest brother? He has great wisdom and will surely be able to come up with a solution. Otherwise, if the monster is hiding in the country, it will be difficult for me to find it."

Just as Sun Wukong was about to turn back to the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars to find the immortal, he suddenly saw the earth shaking and mountains trembling ahead, with the faint sound of a dragon's roar echoing, disrupting the westward journey.

Sun Wukong opened his fiery eyes wide and looked in that direction, where the western road met the southern continent of Jambudvipa.

Sun Wukong scratched his ears and cheeks and said, "I just realized what kind of dragon dares to cause trouble on the westward journey. It really doesn't take me seriously. In the past, even the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas gave me some face. Now, a dragon dares to cause trouble."

Say it.

Sun Wukong immediately rode his somersault cloud and headed in that direction.

A short while later, he arrived at the beginning of the main road to the west. Looking around, he saw a red-bearded dragon stirring up mountains and rivers, causing a great disturbance.

Sun Wukong shouted, "Who are you? Why are you causing such a ruckus on the westward journey?"

The red-bearded dragon did not heed Sun Wukong's words and continued to wreak havoc in the mountains and rivers, as if venting its anger.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong was filled with rage. He immediately drew his golden cudgel and struck at the Red-Bearded Dragon. However, when his cudgel struck down the dragon, the Red-Bearded Dragon cried out in alarm and turned to pounce on Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong turned around and struck the Red-Bearded Dragon on the back with his staff. The force was so great that the Red-Bearded Dragon had no chance to fight back and fell down the mountain, unable to move.

Upon seeing this, Sun Wukong was about to give chase and swing his staff to strike the Red-Bearded Dragon again.

The Red-Bearded Dragon was terrified. He couldn't even withstand a single blow from Sun Wukong. He immediately transformed into human form, knelt on the ground, and said tremblingly, "Great Sage, Great Sage! Show mercy! I am the Red-Bearded Dragon of the Heavenly Palace."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong withdrew his golden cudgel and said, "You rascal, just now I spoke to you in a very polite manner and asked you who you were. Why didn't you answer? You only spoke after you knew how powerful I was."

Red-bearded Dragon exclaimed in surprise, "Great Sage, it was not intentional, but I was so angry that I was confused and did not hear what you said, which is why I ignored you."

Sun Wukong cursed, "You Red-Bearded Dragon, it's one thing if you don't listen to what I say, but since you are a dragon of the Heavenly Palace, do you not know that there is a True Man's decree on the main road to the West, which is impervious to all evil? You dare to cause trouble here. Do you only feel at ease when you bring the True Man here in person?"

Red-bearded Dragon looked around, seemingly only then realizing that this was the main road to the west. He was terrified and hurriedly said, "Great Sage, please forgive me. I did not know that this was the main road to the west. I was confused because of my anger. I did not mean to wander into this place."

Sun Wukong asked, "Since you say you were consumed by anger and did so many things, tell me how you were consumed by anger. If you can't explain it clearly, I will definitely take you to the Heavenly Palace, punish you, and make you go to the Dragon-Slaying Platform."

(End of this chapter)