The Battle in Journey to the West -
Chapter 108 - 106: Just When the Spring Breeze was Successful
Chapter 108: Chapter 106: Just When the Spring Breeze was Successful
Subhuti knew that Wukong was pinned beneath the Five Elements Mountain by Tathagata, and thus he sent Wusheng, though the purpose was unclear.
Upon understanding the reason for Wusheng’s arrival, Wukong chuckled and said, "I don’t know what my master has asked my elder sister to do. Is it perhaps to bring me a magical treasure that can set me free?"
Wusheng couldn’t help but laugh and said, "You slick Macaca! The master said that pinning you under the mountain for five hundred years is to temper your temperament, so you won’t commit heinous crimes again and bring about a calamity that could cost you your life. He has given me a scroll of notes, containing many principles he has contemplated, for you to read."
Knowing that Subhuti wouldn’t intervene to free him from beneath the Five Elements Mountain, Wukong respectfully said, "Then I will trouble you, elder sister, to let me have a look at that scroll."
Wusheng handed the scroll to Wukong, which were Subhuti’s own enlightenments from when he comprehended the Dao. It was difficult for ordinary people to understand, but Wukong, well-versed in principles, could manage to read it with some effort.
"You are trapped under this Five Elements Mountain and cannot practice cultivation, so it’s good to read more about these principles. This is called ’accumulating thickly to emit thinly,’" Wusheng said with a smile.
Seeing that Wukong was crushed under the Five Elements Mountain did not worry her at all. Wukong also breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that he was safe. Otherwise, with Wusheng’s protective nature, she wouldn’t appear so calm. This lifetime, Wukong had learned to be smart, maintaining good relations with his elder sister and master to prevent being ignored if real danger did strike. In his previous life, he lacked the skills to manage relationships, a loner with no place to seek redress when Tathagata took his life.
This was also one of the reasons Wukong suspected Subhuti was Laozi—why would he enlighten Tang Sanzang and help resurrect himself? Other than Wukong, everyone’s memories had been erased. To reverse the Heavenly Dao was inherently taboo. The Rebirth Box, crafted by Amitabha Buddha from his own Rebirth Lotus Dais—which was one of the Innate Lotus Platforms—likely had its own story. Wukong surmised that the Rebirth Box couldn’t have been created solely from the Lotus Dais; there must be more complicated factors involved, beyond his comprehension.
Wukong nodded and said, "My teacher has been thoughtful. I will certainly strive to understand these principles, to accumulate thickly and emit thinly."
"Do so well for yourself. This time, it’s uncertain how long you’ll be suppressed," Wusheng said.
Wukong thought, "It’s but five hundred years." Yet he replied, "Elder sister, go slowly. If the master has any more instructions, please convey them to me."
Wusheng nodded and rode away on a cloud, disappearing in an instant. Wukong sighed softly and began to look through the scroll given by Subhuti through Wusheng. It detailed various scholarly principles, incorporating the strengths of all three teachings with profound intricacies; understanding them was by no means easy. Such grand knowledge, even if handed to Old Master Kong, he perhaps couldn’t understand completely.
Meanwhile in Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother arrived together on a Jade Chariot, descending before Tathagata.
"This humble monk has seen the Supreme Sovereign Haotian," Tathagata greeted the Jade Emperor, bowing as did True Martial.
The Jade Emperor smiled and said, "We are grateful for the Ancient Buddha’s intervention. Otherwise, we really wouldn’t have known what to do!"
The Queen Mother also said, "The Ancient Buddha’s mana is boundless. We are indebted to the Ancient Buddha for subduing the Demon Monkey. We hope the Ancient Buddha can pause for a day to hold a grand assembly."
Tathagata nodded with a smile, and the Jade Emperor immediately instructed the You Yi Ling Officer to invite the Three Pure Ones, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Five Elders, the Six Ministries, and others to the Yao Pond, for a grand assembly to thank Tathagata.
"Ancient Buddha," inquired the Jade Emperor, "the Demon Monkey stole countless Peaches of Immortality from our Celestial Palace. Is it possible to retrieve them?"
"That... I do not know where the Demon Monkey has hidden the peaches. It’s not easy to retrieve them," Tathagata replied with a look of difficulty.
"Perhaps they are in the Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Lower Realm. How about the Ancient Buddha takes action again, capturing all the Demon Kings of the Flower-Fruit Mountain to showcase the merciful nature of Buddhism?" the Jade Emperor suggested further.
But Tathagata shook his head upon hearing this suggestion. To attack Flower-Fruit Mountain himself would be undignified, especially considering the Ox Demon King therein was a disciple of Laozi’s mount. If Tathagata were to strike at Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Three Pure Ones might intervene. Such thankless tasks—why would Tathagata agree?
"The great demons of the Lower Realm are under the jurisdiction of the Great Emperor Hook Chen. I would not dare to overstep," Tathagata said.
Thinking to himself, the Jade Emperor mused, "If that Hook Chen fellow were willing to act, I wouldn’t need to request Tathagata’s help!" Seeing that Tathagata wouldn’t agree, the Jade Emperor could only say, "Then let it be. The Ancient Buddha has indeed performed a great meritorious deed by subduing the Demon Monkey. Although the feast of Peaches was disrupted, no one can cause chaos at this assembly. How about the Ancient Buddha names this grand assembly?"
After a moment’s thought, Tathagata replied, "Let’s call it the ’Celestial Peace Assembly,’ to pacify the world with this gathering."
Upon hearing this, Great Emperor Zhenwu thought to himself, "Tathagata is truly ambitious. Celestial Peace Assembly, heh!" But aloud he said, "The Ancient Buddha’s insight is profound indeed. The monkey caused havoc in the Celestial Palace, so naming it the Celestial Peace Assembly is quite fitting!"
Tathagata was invited by the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother into the Yao Pond to start organizing the assembly, summoning the various luminaries of Heavenly Court.
Inwardly sneering, the Jade Emperor thought, "When a crisis arose, you all secluded yourselves. Now that people are sent to invite you, you come out immediately! Truly, you are loyal subjects of mine! Once I drive out the Buddhist sect and secure my power, I’ll make sure you understand your place!"
Soon, the grand assembly was ready, and a throng of immortals chatted and laughed as they entered the banquet hall, taking their assigned seats.
The Three Pure Ones were seated beside the Jade Emperor, with Tathagata on the other side.
Great Emperor Zhenwu secretly communicated what he saw and heard to the Three Pure Ones, who after listening, slightly nodded without saying much.
Laozi smiled at Tathagata and said, "That Demon Monkey was thrown by me into the Bagua Oven, and I had to leave for some business. I never expected that the monkey would not only survive but also steal many of my Purifying Purple Flames to set the Celestial Palace ablaze. Had the Ancient Buddha not intervened, the losses might have been even greater, leaving me deeply regretful!"
Tathagata responded, "Laojun is being too polite. It was only because Laojun was too preoccupied that the demon monkey managed to wreak havoc, wasn’t it?"
It was clear to those present that Sun Wukong must have had some connection with the Three Pure Ones; otherwise, how could Laojun fail to subdue him with his capabilities?
South Pole Immortal Emperor stepped forward, smiling, "The demon monkey caused chaos in the Heavenly Court, and no one could manage him until the Ancient Buddha intervened. I am indebted and have nothing but Purple Ganoderma Grass and a Lotus Root Golden Elixir to offer in thanks, and I hope the Ancient Buddha will not refuse."
South Pole Immortal Emperor was adept at cultivating medicinal herbs. His gesture was exceedingly generous, offering the rare Purple Ganoderma Grass and the difficult-to-craft Lotus Root Golden Elixir.
Tathagata did not decline, accepted the thanks from the Southern Immortal Weng, took the treasures offered, and placed them in his sleeve.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, an Earth Immortal from West Cow He State, calling himself the Ancestral Earth Immortal, has arrived. His name is Zhen Yuanzi," a Heavenly Soldier reported from outside.
"Hmm? And who is this Zhen Yuanzi?" Jade Emperor inquired.
"He is a Taoist from West Cow He State. This person attained Dao during the Era of the Heavenly Emperor, and possesses boundless mana. He is extremely formidable—a morally upright individual. Your Majesty should not neglect proper etiquette but invite him in," You Yi Ling Officer, the eyes and ears of the Jade Emperor, answered, having some knowledge of who Zhen Yuanzi was.
The Jade Emperor then commanded, "Announce Zhen Yuanzi, the Great Immortal, to enter the hall!"
The newcomer, clad in a white Taoist robe, carried himself with an impressive bearing, drawing the attention of the immortals gathered there.
Zhen Yuanzi greeted them with a smile, "I’ve seen the Great Heavenly Master, the Ancestral Taoist Masters of the Three Pure Ones, and the Ancient Buddhas of the West."
The eyes of the Great Emperor Zhenwu flickered as he thought to himself, "What is he doing here?"
Zhen Yuanzi then declared, "My Taoist abode is established on Ten Thousand Year Mountain in West Cow He State. Hearing that the Ancient Buddha has subdued the demon monkey, I specially came to offer my congratulations."
Tathagata had been planning to drive Zhen Yuanzi out of West Cow He State, since it was Buddhist territory, and his establishing a Taoist temple there was inappropriate. However, Zhen Yuanzi had curried favor with Dipankara Buddha using pepinos, and since Tathagata had been very busy recently and knew well that Zhen Yuanzi was not someone just anyone could deal with, he had been putting the matter off.
Tathagata chuckled, "Ah, it is the Zhen Yuan Immortal—I am humbled. Who would have thought the news would travel so far so quickly?"
Zhen Yuanzi was acting on Subhuti’s order to curry favor with Tathagata—to add luster and avoid any troubles Tathagata might cause him in West Cow He State. Now that Tathagata was in high spirits, there was no telling if he might strike against Zhen Yuanzi.
Zhen Yuanzi said, "I am just a Loose Cultivator and cannot compare to the prominent sects here. I have no treasures to offer; I only have two pepinos. Please, Ancient Buddha, accept them with a smile."
In this moment, Tathagata felt trapped. Accepting or refusing was equally problematic, inwardly cursing Zhen Yuanzi’s cunning mind art!
By accepting, he would be falling into Zhen Yuanzi’s scheme, and if he later caused trouble for Zhen Yuanzi in West Cow He State, he would be criticized since Zhen Yuanzi had already made the conciliatory gesture of offering treasures. If he refused, it would seem like he was too arrogant and looking down upon Zhen Yuanzi, which would also invite criticism.
Weighing the options, the decision had to be made in an instant. Tathagata still reached out to accept—it was a necessity.
Tathagata took the Jade Box, brought his hands together, and said, "Then I shall thank Zhen Yuan Immortal immensely."
Today’s banquet had Tathagata as the central figure; he was indeed riding the crest of success with everyone courting his favor.
Jade Emperor invited Zhen Yuanzi to join the feast, but Zhen Yuanzi said, "Your Majesty, please excuse me as I have matters to attend to and must leave. Do not keep me."
Jade Emperor wished to draw Zhen Yuanzi to his side, given his powerful mana, but was surprised when he expressed his wish to leave. With no choice, the Jade Emperor could only say, "Great Zhen Yuan Immortal, please go as you wish. If you have time, you are always welcome to visit our Celestial Palace."
Zhen Yuanzi replied with a smile, "I am grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness."
After offering the pepinos, Zhen Yuanzi left Yao Pond and descended from the Western Celestial Gate, returning to Wuzhuang Temple.
During the feast, Great Emperor Zhenwu asked Zhen Yuanzi why he sought to ingratiate himself with Tathagata. Zhen Yuanzi didn’t want to say too much and selected some reasons to share with the emperor.
Tathagata slipped the box of pepinos into his sleeve, thinking to himself, "Zhen Yuanzi indeed has a shrewd mind! Now, I cannot easily take action against him."
Laozi, standing nearby, chuckled and said, "Ancient Buddha, what’s on your mind? Come, let’s drink together."
The drink of the Heavenly Court was Immortal Brew, not really a liquor but made of various spiritual medicines as a juice, even more intoxicating than alcohol. Thus, Tathagata drinking this Immortal Brew wasn’t truly breaking his vows.
And so, the incident of Havoc in Heaven came to an end.
How the conflicts between Buddhism and Daoism would unfold in the future remains to be seen in the next Chapter.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.
Report