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

Chapter 460 Flowers Can Be Picked in the Mirror, True Martial Reincarnation
Time flies, and more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

After receiving the master's instructions, Zhao Shifan built a thatched hut outside the mansion and devoted himself to studying the "flower picking in the mirror".

This research lasted for more than a month. During the day, he would find some fruit in the mountains to fill his stomach. Once he had enough to eat, he continued his research.

No matter how hard he studied it, he couldn't figure out how flowers could grow in the mirror or how they could be picked.

One day, Zhao Shifan was picking fruit outside as usual to fill his stomach when he suddenly saw a man who had come to the mountains to become a disciple after him. Zhao Shifan had given him directions before, and the two had some relationship.

When Zhao Shifan met this person, they talked for a long time. During the conversation, Zhao Shifan learned that this person had already become a disciple of the Master, which made him feel somewhat confused, confused, and unwilling. Why was it so easy for others to become disciples, but so difficult for him? He had to pick flowers in a mirror to become a disciple.

Zhao Shifan was puzzled, but he did not show it. Instead, he talked with the man for a while before returning to his thatched hut.

Zhao Shifan returned to his thatched hut, looked at the bronze mirror in front of him, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow in his heart. He asked, "Why is this?"

He held the bronze mirror in both hands and examined it closely for a long time. He saw that his reflection looked tired and lacked his former rich and noble appearance.

Could it be that the immortals in the palace were unwilling to accept him as a disciple, but simply didn't want to refuse him, so they brought up a matter, using the flower in the mirror to teach him to back down when faced with a difficult situation?

Although Zhao Shifan knew this was unlikely, one thought after another still arose in his mind.

Just as Zhao Shifan's thoughts were in disarray and he was struggling to control himself, a sound suddenly came from outside the door.

Zhao Shifan pushed open the door and saw the Great Sage of the Water Ape outside the hut. He was not surprised to see the Great Sage of the Water Ape's monkey appearance. After all, he had seen many demons since he began his quest for immortality, so this appearance was not enough to make him lose his composure.

Upon seeing the Great Sage of the Water Ape, Zhao Shifan immediately bowed and addressed him as "Senior Brother".

Although he did not successfully become a disciple, he still referred to the True Man as his master and the Great Sage of the Water Ape as his elder brother.

The Great Sage of the Water Ape laughed and said, "Shi Fan, I know you usually eat fruit, but I was afraid you weren't used to it, so when I went to get firewood, I took extra for you. If you need anything, just tell me and I will get it for you."

Say it.

The Great Sage of the Water Ape put down the firewood he was carrying and gave it to Zhao Shifan.

Zhao Shifan forced a smile, bowed and thanked the Great Sage of the Water Ape, and said that he had no need for anything.

The Great Sage of the Water Ape noticed Zhao Shifan's change and instead of leaving, asked him why he was acting this way.

After much hesitation, Zhao Shifan finally spoke to the Great Sage Water Ape about his inner turmoil.

Upon hearing this, the Great Sage Water Ape laughed and said, "So that's what you're thinking. You feel that your master's instruction to you to pick flowers in the mirror is a way of making things difficult for you, while other disciples can easily become disciples. Is this unfair?"

Zhao Shifan was shocked and said, "That's not it, that's not it. I never said that Master was unfair, Senior Brother, you mustn't be talking nonsense!"

The Great Sage of the Water Ape said, “Junior brother, I roughly understand your intention, but it is absolutely wrong of you to have such thoughts. If you think about it, why does Master only give you this test and not others? Isn’t this a unique treatment and honor for you?”

After thinking about it for a while, Zhao Shifan fell silent and realized that what the Great Sage Water Ape said made some sense.

The Great Sage of the Water Ape laughed again, "Junior brother, Master often teaches us that everyone has their own path. Your path is in the bronze mirror. Why worry about others? Just take care of yourself. If you can really pick flowers in the bronze mirror, Master will definitely not disappoint you."

After being enlightened by him, Zhao Shifan suddenly understood, and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!"

The Great Sage of the Water Ape waved his hand, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Zhao Shifan watched the Water Ape Great Sage leave, bowed to him again, then took the bronze mirror and carefully examined it, wanting to understand its meaning.

Picking flowers in the mirror.

How exactly does one pick flowers in a mirror?

……

As night fell, Zhao Shifan was still racking his brains, trying to figure out how to pick flowers in the mirror. He took the bronze mirror, went outside the hut, looked up at the bright moon, and felt somewhat at a loss.

Zhao Shifan gazed at the bright moon for a long time, still without any thoughts. He then looked down at the bronze mirror and saw the moon's reflection in it. Suddenly, he laughed and said, "People often talk about 'flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water,' and this is it. Whether the moon in the mirror is beautiful or the moon in the water is beautiful, it is all an illusion and should never be grasped."

"Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water?"

Zhao Shifan felt a flash of inspiration, which gave him a sense of enlightenment.

Flowers in a mirror or the moon in water are illusory; how can they be obtained by hand?

Zhao Shifan suddenly burst into laughter, as if he had suddenly realized something. He thought, "Flowers in a mirror are inherently illusory, so why bother to actually collect them?" But he was just being stubborn and had been racking his brains for a long time, only to find that he had come up with nothing.

The next day, Zhao Shifan stopped pondering and instead asked the Great Sage of the Water Ape to lend him a brush and ink. He then diligently studied calligraphy and painting techniques in his thatched hut.

Another month passed in this focused study.

A month later, Zhao Shifan was finally ready to succeed, so he knocked on the gate of the mansion and entered.

When the master learned that Zhao Shifan had entered, he came out of the quiet room to meet him.

Before long, the True Man met Zhao Shifan in the Jade Terrace. Among those who came to watch were the Great Sage of the Water Ape, Zhenjian, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and others, all of whom had come to investigate after hearing about "picking flowers in the mirror".

The immortal sat upright on the high platform, looking down at Zhao Shifan with a smile, and said, "Zhao Shifan, now that you've knocked on the gate, have you already thought about how to pick flowers in the mirror?"

Zhao Shifan bowed and said, "Master, this disciple now knows how to pick flowers in the mirror."

The master laughed and said, "In that case, pick some flowers for me to see."

Zhao Shifan responded immediately, took a brush, and quickly painted a plum blossom on the bronze mirror. After finishing, he lightly touched the petals in the painting with his finger and said, "I have now picked it."

The master said, "This is a flower in a painting, not a real flower."

Zhao Shifan remained calm and composed, replying, "It's like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water. There are no flowers in the mirror, and I haven't picked any. Master asked if I could pick them, but didn't ask if they were real or fake flowers."

The immortal clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Zhao Shifan, I am delighted that you understand the meaning. Now that you have obtained the flower in the mirror, I will naturally take you as my disciple and teach you the secret of immortality. Are you willing to become my master?"

Zhao Shifan kowtowed and said, "This disciple is willing, this disciple is willing!" The Master said, "Now that you have entered my sect, I will give you a Dharma name. You are the twelfth generation disciple in my sect, and your name is 'Li' (利, meaning benefit). You are attached to longevity, just like I was in the past. It is good to be attached to longevity, but you must not go to extremes. If you are too greedy, it will be a great disaster. Therefore, I will give you the name 'Huan' (幻, meaning illusion), which is just as the saying goes, 'All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows.' If you are too attached to longevity, it is like chasing an illusion, and you will eventually lose everything. I hope you will take good care of yourself."

Li Huan.

Zhao Shifan was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Disciple thanks Master for bestowing upon me a Dharma name. It is a great joy that I can now become your disciple, but I am dressed slovenly and have been somewhat impolite. Please forgive me, Master."

The master shook his head and smiled, "Take the bronze mirror, wipe it clean, and observe it carefully."

Zhao Shifan did as ordered, took a bronze mirror, wiped away the plum blossoms, and carefully examined himself. He saw that his face was still full of fatigue and he looked very disheveled.

The master said, “Li Huan, you should remember this: your former appearance was one of wealth and nobility, while your current appearance is one of weariness and toil.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shifan wrote it down and bowed, saying, "Master, your disciple will remember it."

The master waved his hand and laughed, "You should go into the mansion and rest first. I will teach you the tricks of the trade another day."

Zhao Shifan responded.

……

Time flies, and more than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The Master has been teaching disciples in the manor, and the generational naming system has reached the thirteenth generation. His mission of establishing the manor is about to end.

After entering the sect, Zhao Shifan listened to the master's teachings for a long time, and finally chose to cultivate the Golden Elixir righteous path. However, in the more than thirty years that followed, he did not achieve any real progress.

At this point, two of the disciples of the True Man had chosen to cultivate the righteous path of the Golden Elixir. However, compared to Zhao Shifan, Wang Chongyang's cultivation was much faster. Wang Chongyang had already reined in his ambition and was now conquering the Golden Elixir.

Apart from these two, no one else cultivated the orthodox path of the Golden Elixir. Most practiced unorthodox methods, and countless people came and went. The True Man did not care about this and continued to cultivate in seclusion in his mansion.

One day, while the True Man was cultivating, he suddenly felt something in his heart. He looked out of the mansion. His magical power was very profound. He saw that the royal aura of the human world was very strong, like the sun at its zenith. Upon looking again, he saw that the reincarnation of the Purple Emperor had already established a country and was leading civil and military officials to worship heaven and earth in a mountain. He could hear a faint sound in his ear.

"On the first day of the first month of the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Great Ming Dynasty, on the day of Bingzi, Your Majesty, I, Yuanzhang, dare to proclaim to Heaven and Earth, and to the spirits of mountains and rivers:"
The Mandate of Heaven is not constant; it is guided only by virtue. Since the barbarian Yuan dynasty invaded China, its stench lingering in the land, plunging the nine provinces into chaos and a century of subjugation. I, a commoner from Huaiyou, rose up in rebellion during this turbulent time. Relying on the spirits of Heaven and Earth and the blessings of the gods, I spent eighteen years pacifying the various warlords and driving out the barbarians. Now that the Central Plains are pacified, the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon us. Therefore, I, your subject, in Nanjing, ascend the throne as Emperor, declaring the empire the Great Ming, and establishing the reign title Hongwu…

We humbly beseech the Supreme God to cherish life, abhor pride, and aid the compliant; that the spirits, being sentient, punish the wicked and bless the virtuous. With this offering of clear water and black sacrificial animals, we proclaim to the gods: From this day forward, may our sacrificial rites be diligently performed, without fail each spring and autumn; may laws be established, and rewards and punishments clearly defined. If there are any transgressions in governance, and calamity befalls the people, we beseech that calamity befall us; if the people suffer sins, it is truly our fault, we beg that they not be harmed. May the wise gods see through this heart. We hope for harmony between yin and yang, and for the eternal blessings upon our nation. May this offering be accepted!

Upon hearing this, the immortal sighed inwardly. The Ziwei Emperor was indeed the Ziwei Emperor. Reborn as a farmer, he was able to establish a kingdom in just over ten years. However, seeing that the Southern Continent was not yet unified, it would probably take some more time for the Ziwei Emperor to unify it.

He possessed profound magical powers and could discern that this Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, seemingly influenced by the emperor, had a heart to protect the people and had considered that one generation's efforts could not achieve success, so he cultivated a crown prince early on, intending to teach the next generation as well.

This is the result of the Foolish Old Man's perseverance; passed down through generations, it will eventually lead to success.

However, he never considered the concept of lifespan.

The master sighed and went to the patriarch's quiet room to meet him.

The Patriarch smiled and asked, "Young boy, have you come today for worldly matters?"

The master said, "Master, that's right."

The Patriarch said, "Now that the Emperor has accomplished his task and established his kingdom, you should have heard of his documents. What brings you here?"

The Master said, “Master, the Emperor’s actions are clear. He fears that he himself will not be able to achieve his goal, so he teaches his descendants, hoping to use the merit of each generation to help all beings escape the sea of ​​suffering. However, his descendants do not live long and it is difficult for them to continue. Although I have never received the Emperor’s words to help him, now that I know he has a limited lifespan, I should help him achieve his goal.”

The patriarch shook his head and said, "Child, this merit passed down through generations is inherently flawed. Even if you extend its lifespan, it will still be difficult to achieve. You should understand this."

The master said, "Master, if we help, we might be able to give you a chance to succeed."

The Patriarch smiled and said, “Child, you are indeed a person with great compassion. But what you are thinking is really unnecessary. Now the Three Realms are all helping the Emperor. If you really want to add a bit to your lifespan, you can do it. There are already people helping you.”

The master asked in confusion, "Master, what do you mean by that?"

The patriarch asked, "Child, have you seen where the True Martial Emperor is?"

Upon hearing this, the True Man went to look towards the Taihe Palace on Wudang Mountain. However, he could not find the True Martial Emperor. He had the power to observe the heavens and earth.

In a short while, he learned that the True Martial Emperor had long known of the Purple Emperor's desire to pass on the throne from generation to generation, and had therefore reincarnated as his son to help the Emperor achieve his goal.

The immortal looked around and saw a seven-year-old child in Jinling Yingtian, who was the reincarnation of the True Martial Emperor.

The success of this endeavor, though uncertain whether it will be accomplished through generations, is certainly possible with the assistance of the True Martial Emperor, which will ensure its completion in two or three generations.

The True Man breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Master, it was because I was a little impatient and unaware of the situation in the Three Realms."

The Patriarch said, “You have been cultivating in seclusion in your mansion for many years, and you are oblivious to the affairs outside your window. Naturally, you are unaware of the situation in the Three Realms, but this is not a big deal.”

The Master said, “Master, I am a close friend of the True Martial Emperor, but I was unaware that he had gone to help. If I had known, I would have asked him if I could go.”

The Patriarch smiled and said, “Child, they are all celestial beings from the Heavenly Court, so it is normal for them to help each other. But you are different. You have not yet been granted an official title, and your main task should be to establish your own government. Therefore, it is understandable that you have not helped them.”

Upon hearing this, the Master pondered for a moment, sighed, and ultimately did not say anything more. He said, “Master, the Dragon Flower Assembly, in which the Buddha and Maitreya Buddha will take over the position of World Honored One, is about to begin. I should also go and attend. However, I have a feeling that this matter will not be smooth sailing.”

The patriarch said, “So what if things go smoothly, or they don’t? I know your nature, boy. If it’s something that doesn’t concern you, you won’t interfere too much. That’s how it is.”

The Master nodded and said, “Master knows me. However, Junior Brother Wukong, Junior Brother Zhenjian, the Daoist who protects the cauldron, and others all have deep karmic ties with Buddhism. I’m afraid they will have a hard time getting out of this. If I really see Wukong and the others suffering, I’m afraid I will help them.”

The Patriarch smiled and said, "Child, just follow your heart. Few in the Three Realms can surpass you. You have the heart of the Dao. If you want to, you can participate. If you don't want to, no one can do anything to you. You will know how to do it easily, and I don't need to teach you too much."

The real person had no choice but to respond.

The master and disciple then discussed matters of cultivation in the quiet room.

(End of this chapter)