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

Chapter 418 Changes in the Nine Cauldrons, Zhengwei Receives His Order

Time flies like an arrow, and several more years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Wang Chongyang never stepped out of his meditation room, devoting himself to cultivation with unwavering resolve, as firm as mountains and seas.

He subdued his restless mind through gentle tactics, and after years of being tormented by the restless mind's thoughts, he finally succeeded.

Now that Wang Chongyang's mind has been initially settled, he only needs to rely on the "mind-grinding" technique to gradually calm it down, and he will receive the mind's assistance. This is the first step taken on the true path of the Golden Elixir.

Wang Chongyang stood up from the futon and felt dizzy. His body seemed to have become much lighter, which made it difficult for him to adapt. He had read in a book that the signs of entering the Golden Elixir Path were exactly like this: "When one comes, one's mortal bones and body are heavy; when one enters the Dao, one's body is light and one's body is also light."

He is now a newcomer to this path, and his body is gradually becoming lighter, which is a sign that all the turbid energy has been eliminated.

Wang Chongyang felt a surge of joy, but he knew that he was only a beginner in this field and should not be overjoyed. Therefore, he suppressed his joy and prevented it from entering his heart or arising in his mind again.

Wang Chongyang had just attained enlightenment, so he sat cross-legged on a futon and began his cultivation again. During this time, he must have undergone a period of rigorous training to make his mind completely at his disposal.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Red Boy once again arrived at the quiet room outside Chongyang's room. He saw that the door of the quiet room was tightly closed and there was no sound inside. He knew that Wang Chongyang was cultivating.

Red Boy had no choice but to leave. As he walked around the mansion, he was secretly amazed and whispered, "My senior brother's cultivation is so selfless. I am not as good as him. Since returning home, he has been thinking about it for more than twenty years. He has been single-mindedly cultivating and has not yet emerged from this state. I am ashamed. I do not have such a firm will as my senior brother. But I will emerge from this state after one or two years of cultivation. I envy my senior brother's state of selflessness."

He had just finished speaking when a voice suddenly came from the front, saying, "How envious I am! My dear nephew, please tell me about it."

Red Boy looked around and saw Sun Wukong walking towards him from a distance.

Red Boy bowed and said, "Uncle."

Sun Wukong stepped forward and helped Red Boy up, saying, "Nephew, there's no need for such formalities. But I just heard you say that you were very envious. Tell me tomorrow what it is that you are so envious of, and I will definitely get it for you."

Red Boy said, "To be honest, Uncle, what I said just now was out of some regret. The reason for this regret is my eldest brother. Now, my eldest brother has been back in the mountain for more than twenty years. He has never left his quiet room. His heart is as firm as a rock, unmovable by mountains and seas. Therefore, I admire my eldest brother's heart for the Dao. I do not have such a heart as my eldest brother."

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "If that's the case, then I can't take it."

Red Boy laughed and said, "The Dao heart belongs to oneself, so how can one talk about taking it or not? I do not have the Dao heart of my senior brother, and I am ashamed of myself. Although I envy him, I have no evil thoughts. It is only natural that my senior brother has returned after three lifetimes and has such a Dao heart."

Sun Wukong said, "That is exactly right."

Red Boy asked, "I still don't know why you are here, Uncle. You should be cultivating here."

Sun Wukong said, “Nephew, you may not know this, but I was having some questions about my cultivation, so I went to my senior brother’s place to ask him. With his abilities, he was able to resolve my doubts. After that, he sent me here to summon Zhengwei to pay him a visit. That’s why I’ve come to summon him.”

Red Boy said, "Is that so? Master must have something important to say by summoning me. I will not stop him. Uncle, please summon him quickly and do not delay Master's important business."

Sun Wukong said, "In that case, I will go and summon Zhengwei."

Red Boy dared not delay, so he bowed to Sun Wukong and left.

Sun Wukong walked up to Wang Chongyang's door and asked, "Is Zhengwei here?"

The quiet room was peaceful, but after a short while, the door opened and Wang Chongyang came out, bowing and saying, "Disciple Zhengwei greets Uncle! Disciple was unaware of Uncle's arrival and failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

Sun Wukong said, "Let's not talk about such formalities. I have come here on the orders of my senior brother."

Wang Chongyang asked, "Master has given an order, but I don't know what it is about. Please tell me, Uncle."

Sun Wukong said, "I don't know what it is, but I have received orders from my senior brother to send you there. If you go to Zhengwei, you will find out what it is."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang readily accepted the order and dared not say another word to Sun Wukong, fearing that he might delay the Immortal's command. He then bid farewell to Sun Wukong and departed.

A short while later, Wang Chongyang arrived at the Master's meditation room. Seeing that the door was wide open, he bowed deeply, sought the Master's permission, and then entered.

When the Master saw Wang Chongyang enter, his steps light and graceful, his body exuding an otherworldly aura, he was delighted. He pointed to the prayer mat and said, "Zhengwei, please sit down."

Wang Chongyang sat down on the futon and said, "Master, am I late?"

The master shook his head and said, "I just summoned you, so how can you say I'm late? You can rest assured."

Wang Chongyang said, "I have this concern because I had a casual chat with my uncle under the sect."

The man was both amused and exasperated, and said, "If we're talking about manners, you far surpass me."

Wang Chongyang repeatedly said he dared not.

The master asked, "Have you made any progress in your cultivation today?"

Wang Chongyang shook his head and said, "Master, I dare not lie. I have only managed to bring some peace to my mind ape. It is not even completely settled yet. How can I claim to have made progress in my cultivation?"

The Master smiled and said, "Teaching the Mind Monkey to be initially settled is the key to entering the Golden Elixir path. The fact that you can teach the Mind Monkey to this extent is enough to show that you have made progress in your cultivation."

Wang Chongyang said, "I dare not be happy, for after the Mind Monkey, there is still the Will Horse, the Golden Duke, the Wooden Mother, and the Yellow Granny. Therefore, I dare not be careless."

Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "It is good that you have the mind to cultivate. I have summoned you here today because there is an important matter that requires you to go. I wonder if you are willing?"

Wang Chongyang bowed and said, "Please tell me, Master. I will do my best to assist you and will never dare to disobey."

Jiang Yuan asked, "Why didn't you ask what it was about?"

Wang Chongyang said, “I was originally an ordinary mortal. With your help, Master, I was taught the true path of the Golden Elixir. Because it was difficult to cultivate, I was reborn three times. In these three lifetimes, I received countless times of your help. I am truly grateful for your profound kindness. Therefore, whatever you need, I will obey and do it for you without ever asking questions.”

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Since you call me your master, I will certainly help you. There's no need to say such things."

Wang Chongyang bowed and said, "This disciple has never heard of this before. Master has gone against the wishes of our grandmaster."

Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment, nodded, and said, "You have a point, and I can't say anything more about it. However, the important matter I'm about to teach you requires you to travel outside the manor, which may be dangerous. You are currently in the early stages of mental cultivation and need to work hard. If I send you out, it will not be of any benefit to your cultivation."

Wang Chongyang said, "Master, this disciple's skill of grinding water can be mastered even while walking. Perhaps if one can endure the tempering, the restless mind can be calmed down more quickly."

Jiang Yuan said, "Zhengwei, you must think this through carefully."

Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "Master, I once read in books that when this Crescent Moon Three Stars Immortal Cave was first opened, Master was still in the early stages of his spiritual development. At that time, he traveled from the Southern Continent to the Western Continent to establish the cave with Grandmaster. Back then, Master was able to go out and travel when his spiritual development was stable. Now, I can do the same. Please rest assured, Master." Jiang Yuan said, "In that case, I will allow you to go."

Wang Chongyang bowed and said, "Please tell me, Master, what matter requires my attention?"

Jiang Yuan said, "This matter is extraordinary. If it were an ordinary matter, I would not have sent you there."

Wang Chongyang said, "Please tell me, Master."

Jiang Yuan said, "I won't hide it from you. This matter is related to the Nine Cauldrons. You know that I have a deep connection with the Nine Cauldrons. The Nine Cauldrons and I resonate with each other. However, of the Nine Cauldrons, only four are in my body. The other five are still scattered outside. I know where the other five are. When I was traveling in spirit, the other five resonated with me. However, recently, one of the cauldrons seems to have undergone many changes. Therefore, I want to go and investigate. However, I am about to open my own residence and cannot go out."

"If you wish to investigate, you must bring the Divine Cauldron. I will not go myself. If you send someone else, it is not permissible unless they have a deep karmic connection with me. Therefore, I have no choice but to allow you to go. You are my eldest disciple, the one who will inherit my mantle in the future. You may take the Nine Cauldrons."

Say it.

Wang Chongyang immediately bowed and said, "Master, I am willing to go and share your burdens, retrieve the divine cauldron, and present it to you."

Jiang Yuan said, "You should think this through carefully; this matter is no ordinary one."

Wang Chongyang said, "Master, I am the one who will inherit your mantle. If I cannot go, who can go? Please allow me to go."

Jiang Yuan said, "Since that's the case, I'll allow you to go. The place I'm going to tell you is in the Liangzhou area of ​​the Southern Continent. You can go there. In Hanzhong of Liangzhou, there is a mountain called 'Golden Cauldron Mountain.' Enter that mountain, and the Liangzhou Cauldron is there. However, I don't know what kind of changes have occurred there. You can go and find out. If you can take the cauldron, then take it. If you can't take it, then give up."

Wang Chongyang said, "Master, I understand. I will go there now. Once I reach Liangzhou, I will definitely come to obtain the Divine Cauldron for you."

Jiang Yuan shook her head and said, "There's no need to force it."

Wang Chongyang accepted the order and was about to leave.

Jiang Yuan took out the Yu Ding and some fire dates, saying, "Zhengwei, hold onto this Yu Ding. With this Yu Ding, you can achieve something. These fire dates can be used by you."

Wang Chongyang accepted the Yu Ding and the fire dates, saying, "This disciple obeys."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand, dismissing Wang Chongyang. After the latter left, Jiang Yuan went out of the quiet room and walked to the patriarch's quiet room.

The true man faced the patriarch and bowed deeply.

The patriarch helped him up and said, "Child, you should instruct Zhengwei to go. Do you think it is truly feasible?"

The Master said, “Master, I never expected that the Nine Cauldrons would indeed cause so many changes as you said. Therefore, I had no choice but to send Zhengwei there. With the Yu Cauldron protecting him, Zhengwei will surely be safe. As for whether he can achieve anything, I do not know.”

The patriarch said, “From my observation, the Nine Cauldrons have a deep karmic connection with you. Although there has been a change, it will certainly not cause any great harm, so you can rest assured.”

The True Man shook his head and said, "Master, the Nine Cauldrons have been responding to me for a long time, but I have not taken them. I am at fault. Master, I wish to send the Ox King again to protect Zheng Wei. What do you think, Master?"

The patriarch smiled and said, "You have the Yu Ding to protect you, yet you are still worried?"

The master nodded and said, "Master, my mind is just beginning to settle here, so I am naturally worried."

The patriarch said, "If you have any worries, you can send the Ox King to him; there is no need to worry."

The official accepted the order.

The master and disciple talked for a long time before the master finally left.

The True Man emerged from the Patriarch's quiet chamber and the Jade Terrace, and immediately summoned the Bull Demon King.

After the Bull Demon King entered the Jade Terrace, he heard the True Man talking about something. He learned that there had been a change in the Nine Cauldrons and that General Zhengwei was going there. The True Man sent him to be his protector, and the Bull Demon King agreed.

The Master said, “Ox, if you really wish to go, you must hurry, otherwise you may leave. I am sending you now because Bajie and Wukong have been away for a long time and have only just returned to rest. They cannot go, so I have no choice but to send you.”

The Bull Demon King said, “Master, Zhengwei is my junior. Since he is going out, I should go and protect him. There is no need to say more. I heard you say that Zhengwei is going to find the Nine Cauldrons. It is good for me to go. If he finds them and Zhengwei cannot take them, I can take them for you.”

The master shook his head and smiled, "Ox, there's no need to force it. If you can get it, then take it; if you can't, then give up. Just investigate the matter of the incident. If you can't take it, you can go when I have time in the future."

The Bull Demon King said, "Master, I am confident that I can obtain it. I will go there now."

Say it.

The Bull Demon King then headed out of the Jade Terrace to retrieve the Black Dragon Spear, while the Dharma Protector King Chongyang departed.

Seeing the Bull Demon King's anxious state, the True Man shook his head, got up, and returned to his quiet room.

……

Meanwhile, in front of the mansion gate, Wang Chongyang was packing his bags, preparing to leave. He took the fire dates, the Heavenly Canopy Ruler, and some clothes into his bundle, and the Yu Ding was tied around his waist. With light steps, he headed out.

Before he could leave, he was stopped by the Bull Demon King who rushed over.

Wang Chongyang was puzzled and asked, "Why did the Ox King stop me? Is there anything else my master wants to tell me?"

The Bull Demon King said, "My master did not give any instructions, but he instructed me to go with you, to protect you, and to ensure your safe journey. I have come here today to accompany you to that place."

Wang Chongyang was surprised and said, "Bull King, my master has already given me the Yu Ding to protect me. Why would he ask you to come with me? There is no need. With the Yu Ding protecting us, we should be safe along the way."

The Bull Demon King said, “Zhengwei, don’t say anything more. This is the Lord’s decree. Since I have received the decree, I must go and protect you. If I am with you, you will have fewer troubles along the way. Even if there are strongmen blocking the road, I can stop them and save you a lot of trouble.”

Wang Chongyang had no choice but to agree, saying, "In that case, I will trouble the Bull King to come with me."

The Bull Demon King said, "We have all received the Lord's decree, so there is no need to mention the word 'labor'. Zhengwei, let us hurry on our way and not delay. If we delay and cause trouble in Liangzhou, we will be held accountable."

Seeing the Bull Demon King's anxious appearance, Wang Chongyang smiled and said, "Bull King, let's get going."

After tidying up a bit, the two left the mansion and headed down the mountain.

(End of this chapter)