Journey to the West: Please Call Me the White Bone Demon

After this incident, Yun Zhao became even more composed, riding his white horse at a leisurely pace, occasionally stopping to admire the mountain scenery and listen to the sound of the water.

Sun Wukong was happy to have some free time and didn't urge him. He carried his golden cudgel and walked along, humming a little tune.

The Black Bear Spirit, the Yellow Wind Monster, and Sha Wujing followed behind, chatting and laughing, quite at ease.

The White Dragon has returned from the Western Sea. After resolving his misunderstanding with his father, he is in a much better mood and works much harder every day.

Spring goes and autumn comes, flowers bloom and fade, the grass and trees on both sides of the mountain road turn green and yellow, yellow and green again, and before we know it, more than half a year has passed.

One day, as the master and his disciples were traveling, a large mountain suddenly appeared in front of them.

The mountain is majestic, towering into the clouds, with overlapping peaks and swirling mists, giving it an extraordinary appearance from afar.

Sun Wukong shaded his eyes with his hand, looked around, and turned back to say, "Master, this mountain is so majestic!"

Yun Zhao looked up and saw that the mountain peak was towering and majestic, its treetops seemingly reaching the clouds. From the wisps of smoke, the cries of monkeys could be heard from the valley entrance, and from the lush greenery, the cries of cranes could be heard from the pines. Mountain spirits stood by the stream, teasing the woodcutters, while a well-formed fox sat on the cliff, startling the hunters.

It is indeed a rare and sacred mountain.

The black bear spirit also came over and clicked his tongue, saying, "Master, this mountain is much more impressive than my Black Wind Mountain! There must be a big temple inside."

Huang Fengguai nodded and said, "This disciple also saw it. There are pavilions and towers in the mountain valley, like a large temple."

Sha Wujing said, "Why don't we go up and take a look? If it's a temple, we can stay the night."

Yun Zhao nodded and smiled, "Alright, let's go take a look."

The master and his disciples walked along the mountain path into the valley.

The mountain road was winding, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and dense vines on both sides. After walking for a while, the view suddenly opened up, and a magnificent temple appeared in front of us.

With its red walls and green tiles, upturned eaves, and a plaque hanging above the mountain gate bearing the five large characters "Imperial Construction of Baolin Temple," the calligraphy is vigorous and the gold shines brightly, clearly indicating that this is an extraordinary place.

The stone steps in front of the mountain gate were spotless, and a stone lion stood on each side, exuding a majestic aura.

"Imperial construction? It seems to have been built by the emperor himself; it's quite grand."

Carrying his golden cudgel, Sun Wukong led the group straight into the mountain gate. Inside the red-lacquered railings on both sides, there were clay bodhisattvas and gilded Buddhas, and many other deities were enshrined. It was much more magnificent than any temple they had ever seen before.

After entering the second-floor gate, there were four tall pine trees, each with a lush, umbrella-like canopy. Suddenly, looking up, one could see the Great Buddha Hall.

The disciples couldn't help but exclaim, "As expected of a temple built by imperial decree, it's so luxurious and magnificent!"

As the master and disciple were chatting and laughing, a sweeper emerged from one of the three gates.

He was startled to see a large group of people burst in, and then he saw that the leader was a monk with a hairy face and a thunder god's mouth. He glanced at Yun Zhao and his disciples behind him, and after a long while, he finally composed himself and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing at my Baolin Temple?"

Yun Zhao stepped forward, put his palms together, and said, "This humble monk comes from the East, intending to travel to the Western Paradise to seek the Dharma and discuss the Dao. I am passing by your temple and would like to ask for lodging for the night. I hope you will grant me this favor."

The disciple looked him up and down, and seeing that although he had an extraordinary bearing, his disciples behind him were even stranger than the last, he hesitated and said, "Master, please don't be offended. I can't make the decision. I am just a diligent disciple who sweeps the floor and rings the bell. There is also a master steward inside."

"Let me go in and inform him. If he allows you to stay, I will come out and invite you in."

After saying that, he closed the three doors and left in a hurry.

Yun Zhao wasn't in a hurry; he stood outside the door and waited quietly.

After a while, the door opened again, and the disciple led an old monk out.

The old monk was dressed in a kasaya, wore a Vairocana hat, had a jade belt around his waist, and held prayer beads in his hand; he looked quite wealthy.

He glanced at Yun Zhao, then at his disciples, and frowned. Turning to the disciple, he snapped, "You scoundrel, are you blind?"

"Don't you know I am a Buddhist official? I only come out to greet scholars who come from the city to offer incense."

"This monk, how could you be so dishonest, telling me to fetch him! Judging from his face, he's not honest. He's probably just a wandering monk who's come to ask for lodging tonight. How can we allow him to disturb us in our abbot's quarters? Tell him to squat in the front corridor, why did you have to report to me!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately flew into a rage and was about to lash out when Yun Zhao gently held him down.

He stepped forward and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Abbot, you are mistaken. A monk's foundation is compassion, and his door is skillful means."

"Although I am a wandering monk, I am still a disciple of the Three Jewels. The Buddhist community is vast, and there is no distinction between rich and poor. If you were to refuse me entry simply because of my simple attire, wouldn't that be contrary to the Buddha's original intention?"

The old monk paused, turned around, and sized Yun Zhao up. Seeing that although he was simply dressed, he possessed a composed demeanor and spoke with remarkable eloquence, the old monk was slightly surprised. However, he remained impatient, letting out a cold snort, and said, "You make it sound nice. But my Baolin Temple only receives distinguished guests. Someone like you…"

He glanced at Sun Wukong and the others. "If you bring these monsters and they offend the worshippers in the temple, can you take responsibility?"

After thinking for a moment, the monk asked again, "Where are you going?"

Yun Zhao replied, "I'm heading west to Leiyin Temple."

"Lei Yin?" The monk official sneered, "As expected of a glib-tongued monk. If he's going west, why can't he even walk the path?"

Ao Lie asked with a hint of anger, "What do you mean by that?"

The monk glanced at him and said, "Go due west, it's only four or five li away, there's a place called Thirty Li Inn, with a restaurant there, which is convenient for lodging. It's not convenient for me to stay here, so I can't keep you monks who have come from afar."

Yun Zhao said, "You old abbot, everyone says that those temples and monasteries are like lodgings for us monks, and that we get three liters of rice just by entering the temple gate. Do you think your temple is built by imperial decree and looks down on us wandering monks?"

The old monk sneered, "As the ancients said, when a tiger enters the city, every household closes its doors. Although it doesn't bite anyone, it has recently ruined its reputation."

"How did you ruin the name from before?" Yun Zhao asked again.

He said, "Years ago, a group of wandering monks came and sat down at the mountain gate. I saw that they were poor and destitute, with tattered clothes and no shoes, bald and barefoot. I sighed at their raggedness and quickly invited them into the abbot's quarters and invited them to sit down in the seat of honor."

"After treating him to a vegetarian meal, I lent him a piece of my old clothing and let him stay for a few days. But he became so fond of his comfortable food and clothing that he never thought of leaving and ended up staying for seven or eight years. Not only did he stay, but he also committed many unjust acts."

"What injustice has occurred?"

The monk continued to ramble on and on, but no matter what, he still refused to let Yun Zhao and the others stay overnight.