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

Chapter 441 The Seven Cauldrons Return to Their Places, Pigsy's Weapon

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

After Sun Wukong and his companions subdued the Great Sage of Axe and obtained the Yangzhou Cauldron, they rested for a long time in Zuo Liang's residence before setting off to return home. They needed to transport the Yangzhou Cauldron and the Jingzhou Cauldron back to the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars.

These two cauldrons were extremely heavy. Sun Wukong was strong enough to lift one of them, but he could not lift the second one. Therefore, he lifted the Jingzhou cauldron and left it to Zhu Bajie.

When Pigsy learned of this, he was shocked. Fortunately, Monkey King said that the True Insight and the Incense Master would help him, and he finally accepted the matter.

It took the group more than half a month to deliver the two cauldrons to the Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave. By the time they arrived, they were exhausted.

Pigsy placed the Yangzhou Cauldron in front of the Crescent Moon and Three Stars Cave, panting heavily, and said, "Brother, I really can't go on. This cauldron is very heavy. I was only able to move it here by using my skill and with the help of Zhenjian and Chenxiang."

Zhenjian was also drenched in sweat. Sitting beside him, he was unable to speak for a moment, showing signs of exhaustion.

Sun Wukong put down the Jingzhou Cauldron in his hand and said, "Fool, this is the time to accomplish our mission. Look ahead and you'll see the gate of the mansion right here. Once we enter, we'll be done, and then we can rest."

Pigsy shook his head and said, “Brother, I really have no strength left. I can only walk to the gate of the mansion. I can’t take another step. If you don’t believe me, Monkey, I will carry this cauldron for you to see. See if I am lazy and if I really have the strength. I will definitely carry this cauldron into the mansion.”

Say it.

Before Sun Wukong could answer, Zhu Bajie stood up and went toward the Yangzhou Cauldron. When he reached the cauldron, he mustered all his strength and grabbed it with both hands, intending to lift it up.

However, even with all his strength, he could not lift the Yangzhou Cauldron. He could only lift it half an inch before he could no longer move it. The cauldron fell to the ground, and Pigsy retreated repeatedly, his hands going numb. He had truly exhausted all his strength and could not hold back even a little bit.

Pigsy had barely taken three steps back when a gentle breeze suddenly came and passed right behind him, helping him up. He was stunned and somewhat taken aback.

However, when he got up, he saw Sun Wukong and the others bowing towards the gate of the mansion.

Pigsy turned his head and looked around, and saw the Immortal standing inside the gate with a smile on his face, watching over this place. The breeze just now must have been the Immortal's doing.

Pigsy bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your help, sir! Please forgive my rudeness earlier!"

The immortal stood inside the gate of the mansion. Upon hearing his words, he smiled and shook his head, saying, "How can you speak of guilt? You have exhausted your strength, and I was able to observe and leave. You are going out today for the sake of the cauldron in my body. I should thank you, and you can accept my bow."

Say it.

The immortal bowed to the place where Sun Wukong and the others were.

Sun Wukong and the others were all startled. How could they dare to accept a greeting from a true immortal? They all retreated, not daring to accept it.

Pigsy waved his hand and said, "Master, please don't bow to us. How can we accept such a gesture? If you were to bow like this, I fear I would shorten my lifespan considerably."

Sun Wukong said, "Eldest brother, what this fool said makes sense."

Zhenjian said, "Senior Brother, please don't bow. We really can't accept it."

The same applies to agarwood.

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "No matter what, I should thank you all for taking the Jing Cauldron and returning with it."

Sun Wukong said, "Let's not mention the word 'thank you.' If you really want to express your gratitude, then teach us a little something when you have some free time."

Everyone agreed.

Jiang Yuan smiled and nodded, saying that if she had free time, she would definitely share her insights with Sun Wukong and the others.

Sun Wukong carried the Yangzhou Cauldron to the front of the mansion, and then carried the Jingzhou Cauldron along with it. He then presented the Yu Cauldron from his waist and said, "Eldest Brother, here are the three cauldrons. Please accept them."

Jiang Yuan glanced at the three cauldrons but did not move. As if sensing his presence, the three cauldrons transformed into three smaller cauldrons and hovered around him.

The master reached out and lightly touched the small cauldrons, and the three cauldrons immediately fell to his waist. He instantly learned the power of the Jing Cauldron and the Yang Cauldron.

The Jingding has the ability to 'calm the mind', which can break illusions, stabilize the divine abode, and resist demonic obstacles. It is a rare and invaluable protective treasure.

Yangding has the ability to 'ward off evil', purifying all poisons and dispelling epidemics.

Both tripods possess unique abilities.

The immortal looked down and saw that he now had seven cauldrons at his waist. These seven cauldrons transformed into smaller cauldrons, hanging from his waist. When he walked, the seven cauldrons circled around him, exuding a natural Daoist aura.

The connection between the Nine Cauldrons and him is so profound that it needs no further explanation. Now that he has seven cauldrons in his hands, the remaining two cauldrons falling into his possession are merely a matter of time.

The immortal said, "Wukong, you and the others, come with me into the mansion."

Say it.

The real man walked towards the mansion.

Apart from Chenxiang, Sun Wukong and the others followed Master Yu.

The group entered the Jade Terrace in the mansion. Upon arriving at the Jade Terrace, the True Man sat upright on the high platform, and Sun Wukong and the others slipped into the ranks.

The master, standing on the high platform, inquired about the details of their journey.

Sun Wukong then recounted his story with Zuo Liang to the immortal.

The immortal nodded upon hearing Sun Wukong's words, saying he understood. He then looked at Zhu Bajie, wanting to ask about the journey.

Pigsy was somewhat uneasy, so he stepped forward and said, "Master, I have indeed disobeyed your orders on this trip. This is Pigsy's fault, and it has made you waste time and effort sending the Buddha of Wisdom here, making a mistake on top of a mistake."

The master smiled and said, "Tell me the whole story."

Upon hearing this, Pigsy readily agreed and recounted to the True Man everything that had happened after he and Chenxiang left the Three Star Immortal Cave, big and small.

Half an incense stick later, Pigsy finished telling the whole story. After he finished speaking, he said in a low voice, "Master, this is indeed a big mistake on my part. I originally wanted to buy some clothes with Chenxiang, but I did not expect to encounter a demon. Moreover, my skills were not up to par, so I was captured by the demon."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "I already know the reason, so there's no need to blame yourself. But you did it all for me, so how can I possibly offend you? I see you're exhausted, so go and rest well."

Pigsy was moved to tears by what Jiang Yuan said.

The master smiled and said nothing more, then instructed everyone to return to their rooms to cultivate.

Sun Wukong and the others readily agreed. Before long, they all departed, leaving only Zhenjian at the Jade Terrace.

When the True Man saw that Yaotai was below, he walked into Yaotai, sat down in his seat, and said with a smile, "Junior Brother, thanks to your trip, this matter was settled. I thank you."

Zhenjian said, “Senior Brother, you have helped me a lot. Today I am only helping you out once. There is no need for thanks.”

Jiang Yuan said, "These kinds of things cannot be generalized."

Zhenjian shook his head and laughed, "Alright, alright, alright. Since Senior Brother says so, then I will accept Senior Brother's thanks this time. But after I accept Senior Brother's thanks this time, I will go back and carefully consider how many times Senior Brother has helped me in the past. When I have counted them all, I will go to Senior Brother's room every day. At that time, Senior Brother will not be able to say to me that there is no need for formalities or thanks."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "I won't thank you."

Zhenjian nodded and then asked, "Senior Brother, how is your cultivation going today?"

Jiang Yuan said, "It's still alright now. We should wait for the right opportunity to open our own mansion. I haven't made much progress, but my junior brother has made a lot of progress. Although you have now cultivated a side path, your skills and magical power surpass those of many others."

Zhenjian shook his head and said, "The reason why Senior Brother says he hasn't made much progress is because he is already close to achieving great magical power. Even if he makes only one or two improvements, he will still surpass me by a lot. On the other hand, I have made a lot of progress, but it is ultimately shallow progress and cannot be considered significant."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Junior brother, if you calculate it this way, it's a bit too literal."

Zhenjian said, “Senior Brother, I know this. However, in recent years, I have read many books and learned that the world has its own cycle of birth and death, which is limited to one kalpa. One kalpa lasts for 129,600 years. When it ends, the world will perish. Those who do not have great magical power and have not achieved the Golden Core stage will not be able to escape death. What do you think, Senior Brother?”

Jiang Yuan said, “The heavens have the sun and moon, the earth has yin and yang, people have good and evil, and the heart has honor and disgrace. Therefore, heaven and earth are born and will perish. I understand what you are saying, junior brother. Those who are not of great power and those who have reached the Golden Core stage will surely perish. However, junior brother, you can rest assured that when heaven and earth perish, my master and I will be here, and the mansion will be safe and sound for all eternity.”

Zhenjian put his hands together, smiled bitterly, and said, "Buddha said that all beings are equal, but there is still some bias. Only before the great calamity was all beings truly equal."

Jiang Yuan said, "Junior brother, do not let the great calamity disturb your mind."

After a moment of confusion, Zhenjian bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Jiang Yuan smiled and shook her head, without saying anything more.

The two brothers then parted ways at the Jade Terrace. Zhenjian went to the quiet room, while Zhenren returned to the quiet room behind the Jade Terrace.

Before the master returned to his room, he saw that the door to the patriarch's meditation room was wide open, as if waiting for him.

The True Man then stepped out of the quiet room to meet the Patriarch.

Upon entering, one bows in reverence. After the ceremony is completed, the Patriarch instructs the True Man to sit on a prayer mat.

The patriarch took a stack of fruit and gave it to the immortal, saying, "Child, you can use these fruits."

The master looked at the fruit closely and saw that it was a few apricots, imbued with spiritual energy. He asked, "Master, what kind of fruit is this?"

The patriarch said, “These are apricots, nothing special. Because they grow in a blessed land, they contain three or four parts of aura. Ordinary people who eat them may gain some wonders. There was a person who ate them and grew wings under his ribs, and from then on he could fly like a bird. But for you, boy, they are just something to satisfy your cravings. You can use them.”

The immortal nodded, smiled, and thanked the ancestor, thus obtaining the immortal apricot.

The Patriarch pointed to the seven cauldrons on the True Man's waist and said, "Child, you now have seven cauldrons on your body. As for the remaining two cauldrons, you can take them whenever you have free time. If there are any unexpected events, with the help of Wukong and the others, you can also obtain them. All nine cauldrons will surely fall into your hands. You should use them well, as the nine cauldrons are no ordinary treasures."

The master bowed and said, "Master, I understand. Please do not worry."

The Patriarch smiled and said, "You child, it would be good if you truly understood. But now that your tribulation has passed, you can rest assured and wait for your time to establish your own residence."

The real person responded immediately.

The master and disciple talked for a long time in the room before the immortal returned to his quiet room to cultivate in peace and await the right opportunity.

……

The years have passed silently, winter has come and spring has arrived. We've seen wild boats crossing the river and lone geese disappearing into distant mountains. Time flies by unnoticed, and more than a decade has passed. Only three years remain until the time it takes for the True Man to establish his residence.

During this time, the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars has been peaceful. Everyone in the manor is performing their duties and cultivating in seclusion. Thanks to the decree of the True Man, no evil spirits have dared to offend the main road to the west.

In recent years, the Buddha's teachings have gradually declined in Xiniu Hezhou. Furthermore, due to the presence of a True Man on the westward journey, many kingdoms in Xiniu Hezhou no longer believe in Buddhism. Instead, they mostly worship at the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars. Since few people have seen the True Man and do not know his appearance, they do not know where to place their offerings. As a result, countless people make offerings haphazardly.

The master never commented on this, focusing instead on his spiritual practice.

Over the years, Wang Chongyang's cultivation in the mansion has also made great progress. His mind has been subdued and stabilized, and now he is subduing his will. His approach is different from that of the True Man.

In the past, the True Man subdued the Mind Monkey and then the Golden Lord. The Golden Lord helped the Mind Monkey grow stronger, and with the Mind Monkey's help, he subdued the Will Horse.

Wang Chongyang, however, was different. He used his "mind monkey" to subdue his "will horse" because he had lived through three lifetimes and his mind was now at peace. His "mind monkey" was extraordinary and could suppress his "will horse," so his behavior was different from that of the real man in previous years.

One day, outside the gate of the Three Star Immortal Abode, Sun Wukong was instructing Zhu Bajie in martial arts.

Sun Wukong looked at Zhu Bajie beside him, who was wielding his nine-toothed rake with great force, and did not say a word.

Pigsy finished his dance and walked over to Monkey King, saying, "Brother, I've finished my dance. Why didn't you say how well I did?"

Sun Wukong pondered for a moment and said, "You fool, the reason I haven't spoken is because I haven't figured out how to explain it to you."

Pigsy laughed and said, "But I am so majestic that I don't know what words to use to describe me. I feel that no words can express even a fraction of my imposing presence."

Sun Wukong scolded, "You fool, what nonsense are you spouting? But I can't say anything, because I feel that although your Nine-Toothed Rake is a treasure, it doesn't really suit you."

Pigsy asked, "Why do you say that?"

Sun Wukong said, "The Nine-Toothed Rake is, after all, a rake, effective in both offense and defense. Its techniques and martial arts mainly involve dragging, pressing, and twisting. However, this weapon requires someone with extraordinary strength to unleash its power, because the rake lacks agility and relies more on momentum to defeat the enemy. You fool, you have some strength, but you are not a person of immense strength, nor do you have any talent in this area. You cannot unleash the power of this weapon and will only bring trouble upon yourself."

Zhu Bajie listened to Sun Wukong's words and fell into deep thought. He looked down at his weapon for a long time, but he did not reply to Sun Wukong, as if he was somewhat unwilling to give up the Nine-Toothed Rake.

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "Fool, you should always choose a suitable weapon to help you. If the weapon is not suitable, you can't even use half of your full strength. How can you subdue demons and monsters?"

Pigsy then said, “Brother, if I don’t have the Nine-Toothed Rake, where can I find a treasure? This Nine-Toothed Rake is no ordinary treasure; it is very difficult to find a similar one.”

Sun Wukong pondered for a long time but did not reply.

(End of this chapter)