This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 525 Sun Wukong: Brother Monkey, say something! I'm scared!
The book continues from the previous chapter.

Xiao He looked up at the sky and laughed loudly as he went out; when he returned, he leaned on his cane and sighed to himself.

Nothing more than this: Shuangcha Ridge was littered with corpses and blood flowed everywhere...

There weren't many monsters, so the blood pooled together, but it didn't reach the point of flowing like a river. If it were Lion Camel Ridge, there wouldn't be this problem.

When Xiao He arrived at Shuangcha Ridge, he did not appear immediately. Instead, he lay in ambush in the bushes, waiting to watch Xiang Yuan's crying scene up close.

Unexpectedly, he heard a few crackling sounds and something flew past him.

With a deafening roar, the air currents plowed the ground, and the wind and clouds swirled backward.

The thing moved like a shooting star, leaving a trail of flame.

The speed was too fast, and Xiao He didn't react at first. He only knew that the wind was strong and it hurt his eyes. The vacuum airflow was strong and powerful, and it took him face-first to the ground when he was caught off guard.

When he turned around, a straight black line stretched into the distance, sparks and lightning streaking along its path; the thing had already flown a hundred miles away.

Along the way, it would cut through mountains and boil water, but the material was of poor quality, and it evaporated after a hundred miles. Otherwise, it could have flown all the way to the sacred mountain, killing a few monsters along the way.

Something's not right; someone lacks the basic qualities of an actor!

Xiao He spat out the grass and mud from his mouth, looking indignant. Following the furrows left by the plow, he quickly walked into the monster's cave.

As he had expected, it came into view.

The two old demon followers, their hearts and lungs ripped out, left quite openly, their remains scattered here and there, needing to be pieced together to be whole.

On the other side, the three demons of Shuangcha Ridge only saw Xiong Shanjun and General Yin walking in a hurry, as if they had forgotten to bring their heads. They didn't see the Minotaur warrior, Te Chushi, but he must have been the one who had just flown very fast.

Xiang Yuan sat in the chair, staring wide-eyed with an innocent expression.

"This is outrageous! That's not how it's supposed to be done!"

Xiao He was furious. He rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to argue with Xiang Yuan. He had been waiting for this day for a long time and had written 100,000 words of pretentious lines. This was too much to be bullied like this.

Some people shouldn't think that just because they have absolute power, they can do whatever they want. Others may be afraid and dare not argue, but Xiao He will not.

"Hey, who are you, and why are you dressed as an immortal?"

A fierce glint flashed in Xiang Yuan's eyes as he stood up, clenching his fists so tightly they cracked: "This humble monk understands. You are also a demon. Seeing that you cannot defeat this humble monk by force, you have prepared to outsmart him!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao He immediately backed down: "Holy monk, I am Venus from the heavens, and I have descended to earth to save you."

There was no way around it; it was true that he dared to fight with Xiang Yuan, and it was also true that Xiang Yuan dared to beat him up.

If they continue to be tough, they're bound to get a good beating.

We can't give this guy another chance to show off!
"So you're a celestial being from Heaven! Great Immortal, you've arrived just in time..."

With tears welling in his eyes, Xiang Yuan stepped forward, grabbed Xiao He who was about to flee, lifted him into the air, shook him until he was limp like a noodle, and then angrily accused him: "Great Immortal, you do not know, this humble monk went on his journey to fetch the scriptures without offending anyone. I was only afraid of trampling on the flowers and grass, so I rode a horse the whole way. These three monsters, on the other hand, kidnapped this humble monk and brought him here, and without saying a word, they directly used my servants as a platter..."

“I have been practicing Buddhism since childhood. I have never even eaten chickens, let alone killed them. I have never seen such a brutal scene. I was so frightened that I closed my eyes and started punching wildly. Then I knew nothing more.”

"Great Immortal, you must uphold justice for this humble Taoist—bah, for this poor monk! They are bullying honest people! They are taking advantage of the fact that this poor monk only knows how to chant scriptures and doesn't know any martial arts!"

"..."

Xiao He: (°°〃)
Facts speak louder than words. Xiao He admitted that Xiang Yuan might not be as good as him in acting, but he was much more shameless. He lied through his teeth and managed to turn black into white.

Xiao He was lifted into the air by the innate superhuman strength and was almost shaken to death. His head was buzzing. After listening to Xiang Yuan's shameless remarks, he said angrily, "Holy monk, monks are not allowed to kill. You have broken the precept."

“Great Immortal, you are mistaken. Buddha has the appearance of subduing demons. Cutting off karma is not killing. Entering hell to save all living beings is a meritorious deed.”

Xiang Yuan shook his head repeatedly: "Although I am clumsy with words, I have been influenced by Buddhism for many years and have a pair of wise eyes even though I am just an ordinary person. These three demons are all burdened with sins. I am willing to do my part to punish them."

You even put on an act!
Xiao He curled his lip in disdain. Of course, he knew what kind of people the three demons of Shuangcha Ridge were. Like their two splendid followers, they were all wicked and evil demons. It would be a waste to just chop them up and throw them into the Journey to the West filming studio for recycling. But...

Is this something Tang Sanzang should know?

Also, is the kind of martial arts skill that Tang Sanzang should have, where he closes his eyes, throws punches wildly, and flies a hundred miles away?

Xiao He was too lazy to act anymore and snorted, "Hey Xiang, we all have scripts. If you keep acting so recklessly and doing whatever you want, what will happen if the Jade Emperor and Buddha blame you? Yes, you're the King of Heaven, so they won't dare to sneer at you, but if you keep messing around like this, what's the point of the journey to the West?"

Without the hardships, the journey to the west becomes just 81 tourist attractions. Without the hardships, there is no sincerity in going through all the difficulties to obtain the scriptures. Without sincerity, what good scriptures can be obtained?
this is not right!
Also, you can't be the only one showing off; everyone else is waiting to shine!
For example, this time it's Venus's turn.

"Is the Great Immortal speaking to this humble monk?"

"hehe."

"This humble monk advises you not to chuckle, and not to mention the surname Xiang, otherwise, if the Holy Monk becomes the Great Emperor, not only will you be in trouble, but this grand show will be ruined right from the start," Xiang Yuan kindly advised.

"We can't keep up the act anymore!"

Xiao He pointed to Lord Xiongshan and General Yin on the ground, then pointed outside. He wasn't sure where the Special Scholar was, but he figured it was outside.

"That's not right. In this desolate wilderness, with no village or shop in sight, there's no one else but you and me. How this humble monk gets through this ordeal is entirely up to you and me!"

"Quite a few people are watching."

"Who?"

"..."

If you say that, no one will dare to stand up.

"Right? Let's not even talk about whether anyone reads it, and even if someone does, so what? The process isn't important, what matters is the result, the written description in the book!"

Xiang Yuan shrugged. Xiao He went back and wrote a report explaining how difficult it was for Tang Sanzang. He asked Buddha to stamp the report, and that would be the end of the ordeal.

If you really want to talk about the eighty-one tribulations, the story of Jin Chan being demoted and Jiang Liuer is an example, but they didn't get to act in it. They were just written down and polished up later.

Xiao He was dizzy and went to heaven, eagerly anticipating his chance to pretend, but he failed and was extremely upset.

Is there anything worse than disappointment in the world?

Have!
You weren't pretending, but others were.

Xiang Yuan continued his journey westward, and unlike Xiao He, he was in a very pleasant mood.

Is there anything more enjoyable than showing off?

Have!
Others weren't pretending, but you were.

……

Wuzhishan.

Majestic and precipitous, reaching high into the sky, it is located between the Southern Continent and the Western Continent, perfectly connecting the two major plates.

A monk came from the east, riding a white horse and carrying a tin staff on his shoulder.

He's over 1.9 meters tall, physically strong, and aside from his somewhat effeminate appearance, he's someone you don't want to mess with.

There's another part of the story between Wuzhishan and Shuangchaling, but Xiang Yuan found it boring and was eager to meet the monkey, so he skipped it.

It's not a big problem; when the book is completed, great scholars will fill in the gaps.

At the foot of Five Finger Mountain, a monkey head, blinded by the high beams of headlights from two miles away, shouted loudly, "Here! Master is here! I, Old Sun, have been waiting for you for five hundred years!"

Sun: Brother Monkey, the silly monk is here! I, Old Sun, am going to be free!

Dou: Don't be too enthusiastic, making it seem like you can't do without him. It's fine to flatter him, but it's not good to spoil him.

Sun: No, what if he runs away?
Dou: That's true.

Sun Wukong was overjoyed, but the high beams blinded him for the entire time it takes to burn an incense stick. When the monk on the white horse finally approached and he saw Tang Sanzang's face clearly, he immediately gasped in shock.

"Pretty boy, I, Old Sun, recognize you!"

Sun Wukong blurted out, then asked the all-powerful Monkey King in confusion, "Monkey King, this isn't right. I saw this pretty boy when I was causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace. He even framed me for writing a poem back then. Have we mistaken the monk for someone else?"

According to the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Tang Sanzang was the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, a disciple of the Buddha. The dog with high beams in front of us works in the Heavenly Court and is obviously a close minister of the Jade Emperor. The kind of sycophantic minister who only knows how to flatter and fawn could never be Jin Chanzi.

Even the Victorious Fighting Buddha was a little confused: "Whether it is or not, you'll know once you ask. If he is a real monk..."

"Then I, Old Sun, must repay him properly!"

Sun Wukong gritted his teeth: "He framed me for writing a seditious poem, causing me to be brutally pinned to the ground by the Buddha. I have never forgotten his great kindness over the past five hundred years, and today I will make him pay for his debt in blood."

"Calm down, we can't break it."

"Don't worry, Brother Monkey, I know what I'm doing. I won't do anything reckless within the rules."

After the exchange, Sun Wukong revealed his honest monkey face, which he hadn't used in a long time: "Is this great master monk the Tang Monk who went to the Western Paradise to retrieve the scriptures?"

"It is indeed this humble monk. Who are you, monkey, and why do you live in the mountains?"

"..."

Monkey King was right. This monk's words were indeed unpleasant to hear. What did he mean by living in the mountains? He acted as if he really liked it!
While the monkeys were looking at the people, the people were also looking at the monkeys.

Where did this monkey head come from?
A string of question marks flashed across Xiang Yuan's mind. He remembered very clearly that Buddha didn't give him a chance to stage an accident. The big dagger was fast and swift, and it went straight down on the monkey's face.

Because he was in a hurry, the monkey didn't take off his pants, missing the famous scene of the Monkey King's visit.

Perhaps because too much money had been burned, Buddha's slap was exceptionally brutal, shoving Sun Wukong completely into the ground and sealing him with the six-syllable mantra. Not only was the monkey's head not exposed, but even his buttocks weren't allowed to show.

So where did this monkey head come from?
Xiang Yuan was full of doubts, thinking that Buddha might have realized something later and was afraid that the five hundred years in the dark room would crush a lively monkey into a jade monkey, so he allowed its head to roam outside.

It's alright, quite humane, much better than letting monkeys roam outside.

A dialogue ensues between a human and a monkey. Xiang Yuan has a script, and Sun Wukong has his Monkey King brother. The exchange goes like this...

Xiang Yuan didn't play by the rules, and the conversation was rather unpleasant and intermittent.

Anyway, Sun Wukong wasn't very happy. "Let my master know that I, Old Sun, am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Handsome Monkey King Sun Wukong, who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago."

"So you're the monkey who wreaked havoc in Heaven! My apologies!"

"Master, you've heard of my name, Old Sun? Indeed, with such great prestige, who in the Three Realms doesn't..."

"This is the first time I've heard of this. I was just exchanging pleasantries to save you face. Why did you take it so seriously?"

"..." x2
Deep in his soul, the Victorious Fighting Buddha was cursing. Sun Wukong also wanted to curse, but his freedom depended entirely on the high monk in front of him. He let the Victorious Fighting Buddha curse him twice with one sentence, cursing him as well, while his honest smile remained: "Some time ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva passed by Five Finger Mountain and persuaded me, Old Sun, to convert to Buddhism. I only wait for you, Master, to come and save me. I, Old Sun, will then protect you on your journey to the West and become your disciple."

"Is it true or not? This humble monk is very familiar with Guanyin Bodhisattva. We have daily exchanges. She knows my abilities. This journey to the West will not be difficult for me at all."

Xiang Yuan looked puzzled and shone the high beams on the monkey's face: "Bringing you along, you little monkey, ptooey, bringing along you, you burden. When this humble monk is subduing demons, I have to consider your delicate and weak body. I'm afraid that if I kill you and the demon together, it will be difficult to carry out my duties. Guanyin Bodhisattva probably wouldn't arrange it like this."

"..." x2
"Monkey, you must have waited for the wrong monk. Why don't you lie down a little longer? Maybe the tall donkey is still behind you!" Xiang Yuan turned to leave.

“Master, don’t go! It’s true that Guanyin Bodhisattva told me to wait for you here. Without my protection along the way, the journey to the West would be fraught with danger and you would never have made it to the other side!” Sun Wukong shouted hurriedly.

"No, taking you with me would only delay this humble monk's journey to the West by three days. The Bodhisattva would not arrange it that way."

"No, Master, there's no such thing as a three-day journey... Ah, right, right, it's because Master's Buddhist power is boundless that you arrived at Mount Ling in three days that the Bodhisattva arranged for me, this burden, to be your disciple." Sun Wukong's little brain worked up, and he managed to stop Xiang Yuan, who was about to mount his horse and leave.

"Oh, that's an interesting way to put it."

Xiang Yuan nodded in satisfaction. As expected of Sun Wukong, he was as clever as a monkey and managed to handle this.

That monkey is something else!
"Monkey, then tell me, what is the deeper meaning behind Guanyin Bodhisattva's arrangement to prevent this humble monk from obtaining the true scriptures sooner?"

Xiang Yuan looked down at the monkey, his high beams slamming into the monkey's face, blinding it: "If you can convince this humble monk today, I will release you and take you along as a burden. If you cannot convince this humble monk, then I'm sorry, this humble monk knows a little about demon-slaying techniques, one punch and I'll send you straight to the Western Paradise."

"Brother Monkey, this monk is so arrogant! Even Buddha wasn't this arrogant. He's not like what you described!"

“Every incarnation of Tang Sanzang is different. This one probably hasn’t been beaten before. Let’s not bother with him. Once we get out, I’ll show him my skills and let him see if he dares to talk big again!”

"reasonable."

Sun Wukong thought that what Brother Monkey said made a lot of sense. With a smirk, he exclaimed some profound truths about how easily something is obtained, the less we know how to cherish it.

Like air, it comes and goes as you please, and people subconsciously forget that it is the priceless treasure.

Things that come easily are often taken for granted, and the same is true of Mahayana Buddhism. Only by experiencing hardship, suffering, and exhaustion can one understand the preciousness of scriptures and truly appreciate their value and significance.

The Bodhisattva arranged these burdens to make the journey to the West more difficult. If you don't believe it, there are two even more burdensome ones ahead!
The above is not Sun Wukong's original quote, but the general meaning is the same: the monkey is eloquent and can speak 100,000 words without a script, so he is obviously good material to be a leader.

"Amitabha, Guanyin is so kind, still caring for this humble monk."

Xiang Yuan put his hands together, saying something that left the two monkeys speechless, and then said, "Since it is Guanyin Bodhisattva's kindness, this humble monk cannot refuse. So I will take you along, you monkey."

After saying that, he told the monkey to come out quickly, it was time to get going, now was not the time to be homesick!
Without me, Old Sun, you would never obtain the true scriptures even after nine hundred reincarnations. You're just putting on an act here, and you're acting all aggrieved!

You wait, when I, Old Sun, get out here, I'll show you what real supernatural powers are!
Thinking this to himself, Sun Wukong smiled impulsively and said, “Master, I’m not homesick. You don’t know, but when I was causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, I committed some crimes and was suppressed here by the Buddha with great power.”

"What! You have a criminal record? You're not a clean-cut monkey?"

Xiang Yuan's expression changed, and he turned around and mounted his horse in one swift motion.

We don't want monkeys that aren't innocent!
"You stinky monkey, why are you wasting so much breath talking to him? Just make him tear up the gold invitation, and that'll be the end of it!"

"Brother Monkey, please don't scold me. I, Old Sun, won't do it again next time."

Sun Wukong cried and begged, pleading and pleading until his indestructible lips were almost worn down, before he finally managed to coax Xiang Yuan back.

At this moment, the two monkeys' dissatisfaction with Tang Sanzang reached its peak, and even their forced smiles became much stiffer.

"Monkey, for the sake of Guanyin, this humble monk will let bygones be bygones. From now on, follow this humble monk and be a good monkey. If you dare to commit any more crimes, I'll break your legs!" Xiang Yuan grumbled, being incredibly cheeky.

Sun Wukong was exhausted and wanted to die. He was only kept going by the thought of showing off his skills after he got free and slapping people back in the face. He said dejectedly, "Master, go to the top of the mountain. There is a golden tablet that Buddha pressed down there. It has six golden characters written on it: 'Om Mani Padme Hum.' It is the six-character mantra of Buddhism. You should know it, Master. Take off the golden tablet and I can crawl out by myself."

“A monk does not lie. This humble monk knows a little about the six-syllable mantra. I even used it to discuss the Dao with Sister Guanyin before!” Xiang Yuan sighed deeply. Now it’s not possible. They’re angry that he has someone else outside and won’t let him walk.

It's really unfair. All the paths he's taken are those of our own people!

No outsiders left...

The outsiders didn't go much further.

"Master, stop chanting and hurry up the mountain to unveil the golden invitation. I've never begged anyone in my life, but I'm kneeling before you today," Sun Wukong said weakly.

"You've clearly been lying down the whole time."

Xiang Yuan first spoke the truth, and then continued with the truth: "There's no need to go through all that trouble to the top of the mountain. A low peak can't even block my eyes. I'll just tear the mountain apart and release you, you monkey."

"..." x2
"Brother Monkey, do you think this Tang Sanzang is a bit dim-witted, or just a braggart?"

"Just ignore him and let him say what he wants. When he can't tear it open anymore, he'll obediently go up to the top of the mountain on his own."

"The Monkey King is so wise!"

"Not really, I just have a bit more experience than you. Just you wait and see, if this Tang Monk can tear the mountain apart, then I, Old Sun, will eat the mountain!"

"No need for you, Brother Monkey, I, Old Sun, will eat."

"Hehehe———" x2
The two monkeys were exchanging thoughts, wanting to say something more, when they heard a loud bang.

What's that noise? Is it thundering?
Sun Wukong looked up and saw what he considered a pretty boy who boasted without thinking, his hands tucked into the mountainside.

The movements were light and casual, as if he were washing rice.

The Five Finger Mountain, which was suppressed by the Buddha's golden tablet, should have been a perfect whole, impervious to all magic, a turtle shell that could be called the best in the world. But now it was no different from ordinary tofu, and was torn apart by a pair of mortal arms.

"rise!"

Xiang Yuan suddenly exerted force with both arms, unleashing a devastating power.

The mountain's surface was covered with cracks, which spread rapidly from where his arms were inserted, crisscrossing left and right, like a spider web enveloping the entire mountain.

A violent shockwave shot straight into the sky, tearing the floating clouds into cotton-like fragments. The ground within a radius of a thousand miles undulated like waves, with large cracks spreading out. Lava gushed out from the cracks, only to be forcefully pressed back into the ground by an invisible pressure...

Boom! !
Amidst the teeth-grinding sound of rocks cracking, the entire Five Finger Mountain broke apart from its foundation, its massive body being violently lifted into the air and suspended upside down.

Rumble!
The air currents roared, and towering mountain peaks loomed overhead, transforming into meteorites that blotted out the sky, crashing against the heavens against the current.

Like a colossal creature leaping from the water, its immense pressure and friction create red and golden flames, pushing violently ripples to spread out along its path, stirring up distinct layers of rosy clouds in mid-air.

The sea of ​​clouds was crimson, like a surging sea of ​​fire.

"..." x2
Sun Wukong didn't say anything, he lay on the ground looking up at the sky, his whole monkey face was blank.

He could easily carry ordinary mountains on his shoulders, his golden cudgel piercing two mountains, swinging it like a hula hoop. But this Five Finger Mountain…

Sun Wukong could see clearly that the Buddha's golden edict was still there and had not been torn off.

This wasn't just about flipping the Five Finger Mountain away; it was a direct clash, a defeat of the Buddha's boundless power.

Sun Wukong didn't know how long he had been stunned. He was startled awake by the roar of the heavens and earth, the air pressure suddenly dropped, and the whole world seemed to freeze.

High in the sky, golden and red ripples spread out, quickly forming undulating waves that stretched for thousands of miles.

They were lifted high into the sky, and it's unknown whether they broke through the nine heavens. The Jade Emperor was so frightened that he hid under the Five Finger Mountain and fell down.

With a deafening roar and a shockwave, the sea of ​​fire and air surged outwards, and the Five Finger Mountain crashed down with a huge hole, rubbing against the intensely hot flames. The entire mountain was enveloped in a layer of golden-red firelight, distorting the surrounding air and causing the space in front of it to ripple wildly.

If you get hit by this, even the most indestructible body won't be able to withstand it!

Because the Buddha's six-syllable mantra was still there, Sun Wukong wanted to run but couldn't muster the strength, so he remained in a prostrate position. He was shocked to realize that the boundless Buddhist teachings were coming at him, and his whole body became weak and powerless.

Then I felt the heatwave hit me again, my mouth was dry and my throat parched, as if I, an ordinary mortal, had fallen into a blazing hell.

Don't worry about being crushed to death; you'll be burned to death before you're crushed!

"Hmph, what a Western Buddha he is, daring to be so presumptuous in front of the holy monk."

"???"

What the hell? Am I hallucinating from the heat? x2
Xiang Yuan took a step forward, clenched his fist and soared into the sky. Boundless Buddhist light erupted from his body, transforming into a golden pillar with the force of burning the heavens and boiling the seas.

It rises from the earth and disappears into the sky.

Within the golden pillar, the Five Finger Mountain crumbled inch by inch, and even the Buddha's golden scroll couldn't hold on for long before being burned away by the golden light with a hiss.

As the golden light faded, the fiery red sky remained, and a huge cloud-like hole disappeared into the sky, rising layer by layer, its end nowhere in sight.

"As expected of the place this humble monk is going to obtain the scriptures, Buddha is indeed quite something. In terms of Buddhist cultivation, he may even be above this humble monk." Xiang Yuan's expression was solemn as he muttered that this round was 60/40, and in terms of Buddhist teachings, Buddha was still a step ahead.

"That's how it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be this humble monk going to the Western Paradise to obtain scriptures, but rather the Buddha coming to this humble monk to obtain scriptures."

Xiang Yuan clapped his hands, wiping away non-existent dust from his palms, turned around, pressed down on the monkey's head, and lifted the entire monkey into the air: "Listen up, you can hold me back along the way, I'm kind-hearted and won't hold it against you. But if you dare to say even half a 'no' to me and disturb my peace, I'll make sure you experience that punch firsthand."

Sun Wukong: (⊙)
The monkey, suspended in mid-air, was weak, helpless, and pitiful. Instinctively, it bent its arms in front of its chest, closed its legs, and clenched its trembling tail, desperately calling for help in its heart.

"Monkey King—"

"Monkey King, are you there? How many years did you hold me back back then, delaying the old monk, bah, delaying the holy monk?"

“The holy monk’s words are completely different from yours. We’re seeking the same scripture, yet you’ve offered so many suggestions.”

"Brother Monkey, say something! Don't stay silent..."

"I am afraid!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)