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

Chapter 419 Revisiting Bao Liang Kingdom, the King is Favorable
At the foot of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Wang Chongyang and the Bull Demon King departed. As they traveled through the mountains, the white deer under the Immortal's mount, having heard that Wang Chongyang had departed on the Immortal's orders, came to him on its own and was ridden by him.
Therefore, Wang Chongyang could ride a white deer and cultivate on its back, using the skill of water-grinding to transform his mind into his own. He could travel and cultivate at the same time with great ease.

Wang Chongyang's cultivation was undoubtedly flawless, but this caused great trouble for the Bull King.

The Bull Demon King wielded the Black Dragon Spear, intending to protect Wang Chongyang as he traveled, trying to chat with him. However, Wang Chongyang was focused on cultivation and instructed him not to talk to anyone, so he could only keep walking in silence, which was quite boring.

After walking for a while, the Bull Demon King looked around. He wanted to talk to the white deer, but seeing that Wang Chongyang had his eyes closed, he was afraid of disturbing Wang Chongyang's cultivation, so he had to give up.

The Bull Demon King thought to himself, "If I had known this would happen, I should have sent Pigsy with me. Although that fellow is not very good at cultivation and is good at insulting people, he is still a good talker. Talking with him is more interesting than it is now."

He had some thoughts in his mind, but there was nothing he could do but lower his head and hurry on his way, hoping to reach Liangzhou as soon as possible, retrieve the divine cauldron, and return home.

The two headed south towards Jambudvipa, and having reached Liangzhou, they did not take the main road to the west, but instead took a detour, passing through small paths to reach Liangzhou.

……

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

The path the two traveled was not the main road to the west, so they were inevitably threatened by demons along the way. Fortunately, the Bull Demon King was there, and most of the demons dared not offend him. Even if some demons were audacious enough to dare to invade, the Bull Demon King had supernatural powers and martial arts skills. If the demons dared to invade, he would kill them on the spot. Therefore, the two traveled without any obstacles.

One day, the two saw a country ahead and stopped to observe it.

The Bull Demon King gazed at the city ahead, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "Zhengwei, shall we take a detour?"

The city ahead is the former Bao Liang Kingdom. If we're talking about it, it's the old territory of Wang Chongyang, because Wang Chongyang was once the crown prince of Bao Liang Kingdom.

Wang Chongyang rode his white deer and looked in that direction. He shook his head with a smile and said, "King Niu, there is no need to give way. Since this city is on the road, we can just pass through it. The Kingdom of Baoliang has nothing to do with me anymore. I have broken with the mortal world. All the things in the world are just passing clouds. King Niu, you don't need to care."

The Bull Demon King said, "What you have said puts my mind at ease. In that case, let us enter the city and see that night is approaching. Perhaps we can find a place to stay for the night and continue our journey tomorrow."

Wang Chongyang readily agreed.

The two then traveled to the Kingdom of Baoliang.

Before long, the two arrived at the city gate of Baoliang Kingdom. The city was about five miles in circumference, with walls no more than fifteen feet high. The battlements were low and flat, covered with moss. It lacked the imposing presence of a formidable pass and the magnificent view of a palace reaching the clouds. It was completely devoid of the grandeur of Baoliang Kingdom in its heyday.

Upon seeing it, Wang Chongyang was filled with emotion. He knew that Bao Liang Kingdom was now in decline. In the past, Bao Liang Kingdom was prosperous and full of vigor. Now, seeing its city gate, he knew that Bao Liang Kingdom had been in ruins for a long time.

The Bull Demon King said, "The ebb and flow of the tide is the natural order. Just like the dynasties in the human world, they rise and fall, and who knows how many years have passed."

Wang Chongyang said, "King of the Ox, I know the principles of this place and have no worries. Please put your mind at ease, King of the Ox."

The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "In that case, Zhengwei, let's go inside."

Wang Chongyang responded.

The two were about to enter the city when they reached the city gate. Five or six soldiers stopped them and asked about their household registration.

The Bull Demon King transformed into a man and stepped forward, saying, "We are not people of this country, so how can we have household registration?"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers asked, "You two are not from this country and therefore have no household registration, which is understandable. However, we do not know which country you are from. If you have no household registration, you will need a travel document to enter."

The Bull Demon King shook his head and said, "We also do not have a pass."

The soldiers were puzzled and asked, "Could it be that you are refugees, which is why you don't even have any official documents?"

The Bull Demon King said, "We are not from another country, nor do we have any travel documents. We are cultivators on the mountain. We came down the mountain on business and passed through your country. We wished to rest here, so we came here."

The soldier said, "You cultivate on the mountain? I see. But may I ask which mountain you cultivate from? Tell us so we can register you in case of any unforeseen circumstances."

The Bull Demon King replied, "We are cultivators from the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain."

Upon hearing this, the five or six soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, all feeling alarmed. They said, "You must be trying to fool us. Is it really true that you are cultivating on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain? Do you have any proof?"

The Bull Demon King said, "I cultivate at Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. What proof do I need? Your proof is laughable. It's like saying you are your father's son. What proof do you have to claim that he is your father? That's extremely rude."

The five or six soldiers bowed and said, “Sir, it is not that we are being impolite to ask for such proof. It is because Lingtai Fangcun Mountain is rumored to be a blessed land of immortals. Those who can cultivate there naturally possess supernatural powers. If people from Lingtai Fangcun Mountain come, we should treat them with courtesy. However, we must verify their authenticity and not be careless.”

Upon hearing this, the Bull Demon King said, "You are indeed knowledgeable. Zhilingtai Fangcun Mountain is a blessed land of immortals. Since you say that immortals must have supernatural powers, I will show you their supernatural powers."

Say it.

The Bull Demon King swung his Black Dragon Spear, and as he swung it forward, his divine power was revealed. The spear shook the city as it passed, as if an earth dragon were turning over. It truly possessed the divine power to "carry mountains".

The five or six soldiers fell to the ground, terrified and trembling.

The Bull Demon King danced three or four times, then stopped and asked, "Can this serve as proof?"

Five or six soldiers panicked and said, "It can serve as proof! It can serve as proof! The immortal is Lingtai Fangcun Mountain Man. Please come in, immortal. We will go there now and report to the king, instructing him to treat the immortal with courtesy."

The Bull Demon King waved his hand and said, "No need for that. We are just passing through. Let's rest here for the night and leave tomorrow."

The five or six soldiers dared not disobey, and thus welcomed the Bull Demon King and his companion into the city.

The Bull Demon King said, "You all still need to guard the city gate, why do you need to come with us? That won't do, we will go in on our own."

Then three or four soldiers stepped forward and said, “In that case, they will guard the city gate here while we welcome the immortal lord inside. We know the way in the city, so the immortal lord and his men will not have to find their way, and we will also prevent anyone from offending the immortal lord.”

Seeing that he could not refuse their hospitality, the Bull Demon King had no choice but to agree.

The two entered the city, greeted by three or four soldiers.

The soldiers at the city gate looked at each other, all feeling excited. Lingtai Fangcun Mountain had always been a sacred mountain to them. They had only heard of it but never seen it, let alone met the people from that sacred mountain. Now, however, they had the opportunity to meet the people from that sacred mountain. How could they not be overjoyed?

A soldier stood before the city gate and said, “A celestial being has entered the city. We have witnessed this and it is a great blessing. But should we report this to the King?” Another soldier replied, “The celestial being’s words are not necessary; they are merely being modest. We must inform the King. Furthermore, the King has always been fond of the arts of immortality, especially Taoist arts and alchemy. If we do not inform him now, and the King finds out, he may be displeased. By informing the King now, he will not be blamed; on the contrary, it will be a meritorious act.”

The soldiers discussed it and agreed that it made sense, so they sent someone to the palace to report to the king.

……

Meanwhile, behind the city gate, the soldiers led the Bull Demon King and his companion inside.

Upon seeing the city, both men felt a sense of helplessness. The streets and alleys were laid out as usual, barely wide enough for two carriages. The cobblestone paths, long neglected, were uneven and puddled with rainwater. The houses lining the streets were densely packed, no more than two stories high. They were made of gray bricks and tiles, with ordinary windows and doors, lacking both the exquisite carvings and painted beams of traditional houses and the humble thatched huts of modern dwellings. The shops facing the street had worn-out banners, selling nothing more than rice, salt, cloth, and common pottery and ironware.

It was an extremely ordinary city, without the slightest sign of prosperity.

Both the Bull Demon King and Wang Chongyang knew of the former prosperity of Baoliang Kingdom, but now Baoliang Kingdom showed signs of decline.

Wang Chongyang replied, "To be honest, we visited Bao Liang Kingdom in the past. I remember Bao Liang Kingdom as a prosperous country in the past. Why is it like this now?"

The soldiers looked at each other and asked, "May I ask when you, sir, visited us?"

Wang Chongyang pondered for a moment and said, "I can't remember that. It may have been several decades ago, or it may have been a hundred years ago."

Several soldiers looked astonished and said, "It really is a celestial being! Decades or even a hundred years ago, before we were even born, the celestial being already existed. It's truly remarkable. However, we are unaware of what happened back then. Our ancestors once said that Bao Liang Kingdom was indeed quite prosperous in its heyday. They said that since its founding, Bao Liang Kingdom had enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, and this prosperity continued through many generations. Then, a king was misled and even harmed the crown prince. After that, Bao Liang Kingdom declined. Later, a ruler who restored the kingdom appeared and made it prosperous again. Then, generation after generation, it gradually declined until the current king ascended the throne. He is fond of alchemy and Taoist arts, so he has no interest in politics, which is why the country is in this state."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyang felt even more emotional, but the memory stirred something within him, which he easily calmed down.

The Bull Demon King beside him whispered, "Zhengwei, don't worry about it."

Wang Chongyang replied, “King Niu, do not worry. It is just a sigh. I passed by in a hurry. Looking back, I realized that countless generations have passed in the human world, and all my old friends have turned to dust. I am still alive in this world. I cannot help but sigh.”

The Bull Demon King said, "Zhengwei, for those who cultivate, time is not to be counted."

The two exchanged a few words and then fell silent, following several soldiers toward the post station.

Before long, the soldiers led the two men to the post station and instructed the innkeeper to find the best room for them.

The innkeeper dared not disobey and led the two to their rooms.

The soldiers were relieved to see that the two had found a place to stay before they left.

……

The story takes place in the palace of the King of Baoliang.

A soldier came to report that a celestial being had visited and requested an audience with the king.

Just as the soldiers had said, the King of Baoliang was a man who loved Taoist arts, alchemy, and longevity. Upon hearing from the soldiers that a celestial being had come to visit, he was so eager that he dropped the alchemist beside him and went out to personally greet the soldier.

The Taoist priest beside him was puzzled, wondering which immortal deity had arrived.

He was a hermit whom the king specially invited from a mountain to accompany him in alchemy and discuss Taoist practices. He was treated with great respect by the king, who then took a liking to him and appointed him as the national teacher, a position equal to that of the king.

The alchemist had always been treated with courtesy by the king, but now, seeing the king's rudeness, he was somewhat confused and even annoyed.

Upon seeing the king emerge, he followed him out, wanting to see who this deity was, who claimed to be a celestial being.

Upon seeing the soldiers, the king immediately asked them, "What does the immortal master say?"
The soldier bowed deeply and said, “As evening fell, two people arrived together. We, the gatekeepers, questioned them about their origins. Upon inquiry, we learned that they came from Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, and both possessed extraordinary abilities. One of them was wielding a weapon, and when he brandished it, the earth shook and the mountains trembled. Hence, they were called ‘Immortal Lords.’”

Upon learning the reason for their visit, the king was overjoyed and said, "I have long heard that Lingtai Fangcun Mountain is a place of immortals, but I have never had the chance to go there. In the past, I intended to visit it and seek immortal arts, but I was caught in a sudden downpour and strong wind on the way, so I had to give up. I never expected that immortals would visit me here today. This is truly a joyous occasion."

As he spoke, the king turned to look at the sorcerer and said, “Sir, I wish to visit that immortal master to seek his teachings, but I do not know how to get there, or what the rules are.”

The alchemist looked at him with a strange expression and said, “Your Majesty, if you wish to pay homage to the immortals, you must bathe and purify yourself, fast and abstain from sexual activity, and set up an altar on a clean place to show your sincerity.”

The soldier replied, "The immortal lord will be departing tomorrow; this is merely a passing journey."

The king said, “If that’s the case, there shouldn’t be so many rules. By the time I finish my fast, the immortals may have already left.”

The sorcerer said, "If not, Your Majesty should take a bath and cleanse yourself for one night, and then go to search for it tomorrow."

The king said, “That makes sense, that makes sense. Sir, I will listen to you, take a bath and purify myself, and go to find that immortal master first thing tomorrow morning.”

Say it.

The king turned away, ignoring the sorcerer, and went to bathe and purify himself.

The sorcerer watched the king leave, his face grim. The king had always treated him with courtesy, making him feel deeply respected, but now that someone else had arrived, he reacted like this.

The sorcerer was dissatisfied with the king and even more resentful of the two people who supposedly came from Lingtai Fangcun Mountain. He turned and left to find out who they were and why they had come into the city to embarrass him.

The sorcerer returned to his room and began to cast a spell, summoning the local earth deity to inquire about the origins of Wang Chongyang and the Bull Demon King.

The local deity, trembling with fear, told the alchemist about the origins of Wang Chongyang and the Bull Demon King. He also mentioned that Wang Chongyang was the eldest disciple of an immortal, who had lived through three lifetimes without changing his mind and had recently returned. He further stated that the Bull Demon King was a guardian deity with superb martial arts skills, impervious to all evil.

Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest frowned, never expecting that the two people had such an background; they were indeed immortals.

But why would such immortals enter in such a grand manner, attracting the king's attention? Isn't this ruining his future? Even immortals shouldn't act like this!

The sorcerer still harbored some resentment.

(End of this chapter)