Journey to the West: Starting with becoming an apprentice of the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Patriar

That night, Huangfengling was brightly lit.

The wheat was ground into flour, kneaded, and steamed. Wild mushrooms were sliced, and tofu was added to the pot. Eight large iron pots were lined up in a row, steam rising and the aroma carrying for more than ten miles on the mountain breeze.

Twenty wooden plaques were also rushed out overnight.

Huang San was afraid that the ordinary little demons' handwriting was too ugly, so he specially asked Lu Shanjun to write it himself.

The next day, before dawn, eight large trucks slowly drove out of Huangfengling.

The cart was loaded with vegetarian food, cotton cloth, and hot soup.

Tiger Two, clad in armor, rode on the back of a blue ox, carrying a gong in his hand. His tiger face was longer than the ox's.

"when."

A gong rang out, startling a flock of birds into flight.

Huang San shouted in his high-pitched voice along the way.

"The eminent monks of Dazhao Temple, with their compassionate hearts, guarded the Huangfengling trade route and protected the merchants who came and went."

"My family, the Mountain Lord, deeply appreciates the hard work of all the masters and has specially sent vegetarian food and cotton cloth to fulfill the Buddhist and Taoist tradition of protecting life!"

The little demons behind them shouted in unison.

The sound carried far.

Tiger Two banged the gong while muttering under his breath, "Compassion my ass..."

Huang San didn't turn his head back.

"Louder!"

"You really want me to praise them?"

"Who told you to praise it? I told you to bang the gong."

"when!"

This gong was even louder than before.

Merchants who had gotten up early were already traveling along the way.

Hearing the noise, they all stopped and looked into the distance.

The demons of Huangfengling delivered vegetarian food to the warrior monks of Dazhao Temple.

This is truly a rare occurrence.

The news quickly spread far and wide through the mouths of passing merchants.

Lu Shanjun led his caravan to the monks' huts on the eastern trade route.

A dozen or so gray-robed monks sat cross-legged under the canopy, with wooden fish and discipline sticks in front of them. When the caravan arrived, they opened their eyes one by one, their expressions somewhat surprised.

The leading monk was none other than Huiguan.

This man was in his forties, with a thin face and a string of dark red prayer beads around his neck, suggesting he was in a state of communion. At first glance, he appeared kind and benevolent, but his eyes were remarkably calm, like two bottomless ancient wells.

He stood up and clasped his hands together in prayer.

"Amitabha Buddha, what is the purpose of the mountain king's large-scale mobilization?"

Lu Shanjun got out of the car and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"The esteemed masters have endured hardships and lived in the open for months to protect the Huangfengling trade route. Although the cold winter has passed, the spring chill is still strong. I feel truly indebted to them, so I have brought some vegetarian food and cotton cloth to express my gratitude."

Hui Guan's eyes twitched slightly.

"The mountain spirit has probably misunderstood. We monks are here to meditate, not to protect the road to Huangfeng Ridge."

"Why should a master be humble?"

Lu Shanjun smiled.

"In recent days, whenever merchants and travelers passed through the area, the masters would remind them of the potential dangers of bloodshed in the mountains and would even personally escort them to take a detour. Such acts of kindness have been witnessed by the people along the way."

"Protecting merchants and travelers, advising people to avoid disaster—what else is this but compassion?"

More and more merchants and travelers are gathering from all directions.

Hearing Lu Shanjun's words, many people nodded secretly.

When they first saw the monks of Dazhao Temple guarding the roadside, they thought something might happen at Huangfeng Ridge, so they dared not go forward.

Now that I hear it, it turns out these monks were there to protect the road?

With more than 30 warrior monks from Dazhao Temple stationed there, and Huangfeng Ridge itself having a patrol team patrolling back and forth, wouldn't this trade route be even safer than before?

Hui Guan had obviously thought of this as well.

He glanced at the eight fully loaded trucks, then at the wooden sign that had just been erected by the roadside.

"The eminent monks of Dazhao Temple reside here to protect travelers and merchants."

The sixteen large characters were clearly visible in the morning light.

Two little demons were enthusiastically tying red ribbons to the wooden sign.

After pondering for a moment, Hui Guan slowly spoke.

"Monks and nuns do not receive rewards without merit."

"Protecting life is itself a meritorious act; how can one say it is without merit?"

Lu Shanjun raised his hand and lifted the white cloth covering the car.

Steaming buns filled the air, while tender bamboo shoots and wild mushrooms floated in the vegetarian soup. Though not exactly delicacies, the meal was clean, plentiful, and flawless.

"If the master does not accept it, others will think that you are here not to protect the trade route."

This statement was made in a gentle manner.

The young monks behind Hui Guan all changed their expressions.

Accepting the gift would confirm their claim of protecting the road to Huangfengling.

If they don't accept it, how can they explain their intentions in guarding the business path for the past few months under the watchful eyes of everyone?

We can't just say they're here to block the road.

Hui Guan paused for a moment as he was moving the prayer beads, and then a kind smile returned to his face.

"The mountain lord is showing us great kindness; if we, the humble monks, were to refuse again, we would appear to be attached to appearances."

"Disciples, accept the vegetarian meal and cotton cloth."

"Uncle-Master..."

"Take it."

The young monk dared not say anything more and lowered his head to carry the things.

Lu Shanjun's smile remained unchanged.

"The master is indeed insightful."

……

Eight carts carrying goods were transported down the road, passing seven or eight monks' huts.

By the afternoon, the news that "Dazhao Temple is protecting the Huangfengling trade route" had spread throughout the surrounding area.

Huang San took the weasel's abilities to the extreme.

It sent bird demons from the patrol camp to spread messages along several trade routes, saying that the Buddhist sect was compassionate and could not bear to see the merchants of Huangfeng Ridge harassed by mountain bandits and wild beasts, so it specially dispatched more than thirty martial monks to guard the area.

Those caravans that had been scared away in the past suddenly became active again after hearing the news.

Those who were brave enough went first. When they passed through the mountain pass, the gray-robed monks did not stop them. They could only watch helplessly as they entered Huangfeng Ridge.

The first caravan was unharmed.

The second and third branches followed closely behind.

In less than three days, the once deserted mountain road was once again filled with the sounds of wheels and camel bells.

But this is not enough.

On the fourth day, Lu Shanjun personally visited the monks' quarters at Huiguan Temple.

"Master, the market has reopened today, and I would like to invite you to go and chant sutras to pray for blessings."

Hui Guan sat cross-legged on the futon, not opening his eyes for a long time.

"Buddhist scriptures are pure and serene, but the gathering of demons at Huangfeng Ridge may cause inconvenience."

Lu Shanjun sat opposite him without urging him.

"Master, you are mistaken."

"If Buddhist scriptures can only be spoken to pure people, why talk about saving all sentient beings? Whether demons or humans, once they enter the marketplace, they must abide by the rules, not cheat or dominate the market, and not kill or rob."

"Mr. Lu asked the master to pray for blessings, and he only asked for three things."

May merchants and travelers be free from disasters, may trade be fair, and may humans and demons live in peace.

"Is this wish not in accordance with Buddhist principles?"

Hui Guan finally opened his eyes, and the two looked at each other through a wisp of smoke.

Outside the monks' quarters, a number of merchants and travelers who had heard the news had already gathered.

Lu Shanjun left Huiguan no way out this time.

If you agree, you must personally endorse Huangfengling Market.

If they do not agree, then the so-called compassion and protection of life by Dazhao Temple will become empty words.

After a long while, Hui Guan slowly got up.

"Since it is for the sake of all living beings, this humble monk should go."

Lu Shanjun smiled and reached out his hand.

"Please, Master."

……

That day, Huangfengling Market was packed with people.

All seven remaining stalls have opened for business.

Hui Guan sat on a high platform in the center of the market, with eighteen gray-robed warrior monks behind him. The sound of wooden fish drums and deep chanting of Buddhist scriptures carried on the wind throughout the market.

Beside the platform stood a newly painted wooden sign with the following words written on it.

"The eminent monks of Dazhao Temple personally came to pray for blessings, and the mountain spirit of Huangfengling protected the trade route."

A pure Buddhist light emanated from Huiguan.

Wherever the light shone, the last vestiges of doubt in the hearts of the merchants and travelers vanished.

Even the eminent monks of Dazhao Temple dare to enter the market to chant sutras, so what do they have to be afraid of?

In just one day, the market recovered to 60% of its usual business level.

Most of the wheat that had been stockpiled in the warehouse was sold, and the more than 600 golden peaches were all bought up by several caravans heading north.

Huang San squatted in the accounting room, listening to the shouts and bargaining outside, grinning from ear to ear.

"Good monk."

"What a group of good monks."

Tiger Two stood at the door with his arms crossed, looking strange.

"Didn't you call them bald monks just a few days ago?"

"Times have changed."

Huang San kept turning the abacus, without even looking up.

"If they stay for another six months, our Huangfengling Market might be able to expand to the next prefecture."