The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 122 - 120: Zhuang Zhou Causes Trouble for No Reason

Chapter 122: Chapter 120: Zhuang Zhou Causes Trouble for No Reason

Zhuang Zhou left Luoyang and headed straight for the South Sea.

The Jade Emperor had already commanded his people to gather intelligence and received word that the arrow had come from the South Sea. He thought to himself that just now, the Spiritual Treasure Celestial Venerable had used the Four Swords of Celestial Slaying in the South Sea. He probably was engaged in magic combat against some formidable figure, and under no circumstance would he use this premier heavenly homicidal weapon so frivolously to lower his own dignity. Perhaps the one who shot through the Southern Sky Gate has already been slain by the Spiritual Treasure Celestial Venerable? He would just have to inquire about it later, ordering his subordinates to cease their investigation and wait for the return of the Three Pure Ones to ask about the details.

In the meantime, Zhuang Zhou had arrived at the South Sea, only to find that he had missed the three Ancestral Taoist Masters, who had returned to the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Having no other option, Zhuang Zhou decided to ascend to heaven, but since the Southern Sky Gate was destroyed by the arrow, he could only enter from one of the other three gates, thus he set off towards the Dongsheng Immortal State.

By leaving, Zhuang Zhou inadvertently exacerbated the situation, carrying the blame for Daoist Equal to Heaven.

A Local Deity bowed to Kasyapa and said, "Venerable, just now an old Taoist returned from the South Sea and headed towards the east, and moreover, he was moving quite swiftly."

Kasyapa and Ananda exchanged glances and thought to themselves, "It is unlikely we are mistaken! Only such an old-timer would know of Amitabha, and he had just returned from the South Sea. Perhaps he is the one the Buddha Ancestor seeks."

The two of them promptly utilized an Escape Technique and headed towards the Dongsheng Immortal State, chasing the man mentioned by the Local Deity, and happened to pass by a mountain where they called upon its Mountain God.

"This humble deity pays respect to the two Venerables," said the Mountain God respectfully.

"Mm, no need for formalities. I ask you, did you see an old Taoist hurrying by just now?" Kasyapa asked.

"Indeed, I did see him! He passed by not long ago! If the Venerables are looking for him, just follow directly behind him," the Mountain God said with a smile.

"Many thanks," the two of them said before turning around to leave.

Kasyapa and Ananda hurried after the figure, catching sight of Zhuang Zhou making his way to the Dongsheng Immortal State and called out, "Halt, Taoist ahead!"

Zhuang Zhou, hearing someone call out to him, stopped in his tracks and turned around, only to see two monks. He asked, "May I know why two Shamen monks are stopping this old Taoist?"

Ananda asked with a cold sneer, "Old Taoist, where exactly are you heading?"

Zhuang Zhou, who had not been in the world for a long time, naturally did not recognize Kasyapa and Ananda, and wondered, "Where I go, is there any advice the two venerable monks seek to impart?">

Ananda, hearing his response, became furious and bellowed, "You rash Taoist, do you know who I am?"

Zhuang Zhou couldn’t be bothered with them and simply rode on a cloud to leave, but the two behind him were already enraged. An alms bowl was thrown with great haste aimed at the back of his head.

Zhuang Zhou became furious. These two monks were making trouble with him without rhyme or reason. Even a clay Buddha can show anger, and though he was a Sage of the mortal world and had pursued the way of the Dao, studying the teachings of Laojun, he had cultivated Divine Skills. In a contest of spells, ordinary masters of the Buddhist sect were no match for him! As the alms bowl came crashing towards him, Zhuang Zhou stopped walking and turned around.

"Go!"

A beam of azure light shot from Zhuang Zhou’s fingertip, striking the alms bowl and overturning it on the ground.

Ananda cursed, "You insolent Taoist, today you will learn the might of Lord Buddha!"

Kasyapa, too, was enraged, and they each took out a Vajra Pestle and a Demon-Subduing Pestle, and together they launched an attack.

Zhuang Zhou snorted coldly and shook a bamboo slip from his sleeve, a scroll of his own writings. As he scattered the bamboo slip, it fluttered and expanded across the void.

"In the northern darkness there is a fish named Kun..." The beginning of his work emanated an expansive righteous qi, an aura from Confucianism, yet it contained the mystique of the Taoist Sect.

Kasyapa exclaimed in surprise, "Zhuang Zhou’s own writings! This man is no ordinary figure, be careful in dealing with him!"

Zhuang Zhou couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. These two monks recognized his writing but failed to recognize him. They deserved to be taught a lesson that day.

"Whoosh!"

With a roar, a massive Kunpeng burst forth from the bamboo slip, flapping its wings and making a powerful swoop, striking Kasyapa and Ananda and sending them flying out, bloodied all over.

"I’ve no desire to commit needless slaughter, so I’ll spare your lives this once," Zhuang Zhou said coldly. "Do not bother me with your noise again, or I will take your heads." His recent empty visit to the South Sea had already soured his mood, and encountering two such misinformed and troublesome monks on his journey only added to his irritation.

Ananda whispered to Kasyapa, "If we do not capture this man, I fear the Buddha Ancestor might discipline us. Although he possesses writings penned by Zhuangzi, if you and I join forces, it isn’t impossible for us to battle him. Shall we fight, or not?"

Kasyapa then said, "We must take him down; otherwise, how are we to explain ourselves to the World Honored One? I fear He might punish us by casting us into the Eighteen Nili. Speaking of which," Kasyapa couldn’t help but shudder inwardly at the thought, "the Eighteen Nili is the relentless Hell, where each torture is bone-chilling. If our mana proves inadequate, I would rather perish at this man’s hands than enter that Nili Hell!"

"Fine, then let us strike together!" Ananda declared.

Zhuang Zhou had just closed the bamboo slip when the two lunged at him in unison. Each of their hands twisted through spells, behind them a Dharma Body rose. This Dharma Body’s skin was blue and engulfed in flames rising all around, its multiple arms wielding swords, iron chains, spears, halberds, and other Magical Treasures.

Such was the Esoteric Buddha Law, the Immovable King Seal; these hand seals borrowed the strength of the Acala, one of Tathagata’s Dharma Bodies, manifested when He harbored anger. Acala was one of the five great protectors of Buddhism, along with four other Vidyarajas, all extensions of Tathagata’s Dharma Body.

Zhuang Zhou snapped irritably, "You seek your own doom, but I shall oblige!"

An old tiger claims no might until he’s mistaken for a sick cat. But who is Zhuang Zhou? He, like Confucius, is a Sage of the Human Realm who has touched the Heavenly Dao through scholarship and achieved Changsheng. Such individuals, capable of becoming immortals through learning alone, are generally terrifying. These people, by merely paying respects in a Buddhist Temple or Daoist Sect temple, can collapse the present avatars and statues with their essence too weak to withstand their reverence.

For someone like Zhuang Zhou, he might even collapse a statue of the Great Emperor Zhenwu with a single prayer. The only icons likely to withstand his devotion are probably those of the Three Pure Ones.

In the past, Confucius had the Buddha of Immeasurable Life fleeing Luoyang in a disheveled state after a few bouts. The sight of his ash-covered face was quite the spectacle. Yet today, Ananda and Kasyapa, servants of Tathagata himself, dare to challenge a Human Sage – truly oblivious of death and danger!

Zhuangzi pinched a spell with his hand and the bamboo slip opened again, revealing a Kunpeng. As soon as the Kunpeng appeared, it spanned thousands of miles; its wings alone covered an area of three thousand miles.

"Swallow!"

With a single command from Zhuangzi, the Kunpeng inhaled deeply, shattering the light of the Vidyaraja behind the two approaching men, sucking them into its gaping maw as they became no more than ants before the immense Kunpeng.

Seeing the Kunpeng swallow the two, Zhuangzi pinched another spell, and the Kunpeng returned into the bamboo slip, which now depicted the likenesses of the bald-headed Kasyapa and Ananda.

Zhuang Zhou couldn’t help but scoff, "Utterly oblivious to death these creatures are, the likes of which I’ve never seen, so eager to meet their end!"

Zhuangzi penned the "Free and Easy Wandering," reaching the pinnacle of the Dao of Immortals through scholarship. Ranked alongside Confucius, his writing communicated with the spirit and will of Kunpeng; when summoned as a Magical Treasure, it could even manifest an actual Kunpeng, an incredible feat! One should never take the risk of confronting individuals who have attained the Path of Becoming an Immortal through scholarship lightly, especially those from the Schools of Legalism and Militarists—these people are ruthlessly heartless. The Confucianists might still be somewhat forgiving, but offend the Human Sages of Legalism and Militarism, and one should prepare for a relentless pursuit until death. The Legalists have no leniency for emotion, while the Militarists advocate for slaughter and killing, both sects being exceedingly harsh.

Zhuangzi, however, was quite patient, initially only teaching the two a lesson, but since they failed to appreciate their fortune, he ultimately had no choice but to kill them.

The Hundred Sage Scholars each possess their unique temperament and style: gentle Confucianism, stern Legalism, fierce Militarism, natural Daoism, all-encompassing Mohism...

"Oh dear, by killing the two Venerables, this old Daoist has caused a great calamity. I better rush to take refuge with a friend," a Local Deity witnessing Zhuangzi dispatch Ananda and Kasyapa was profoundly shocked. These were disciples of the current Respectful Ruler of the World - Tathagata! To kill without hesitation was to frighten one to the core.

The Local Deity did not dare linger, promptly using an Escape Technique to flee the place of conflict. Should any Meritorious Official discover his dereliction of duty, he would have to face consequences later. Wading into the murky waters of the strife between Buddhism and Daoism would instantly reduce a common soul to ashes.

The moment Zhuangzi killed Ananda and Kasyapa, Tathagata sensed it immediately and was enraged. He thought, "Who is this person with such audacious power to kill two of my disciples?!" He then ordered Guanyin, "Proceed to Dongsheng Immortal State and intercept an old Daoist. Bring him to me."

Guanyin had no choice but to obey, as one couldn’t disregard the Buddha Ancestor’s orders. She set off with phenomenal speed, arriving in an instant.

Just as Zhuangzi was about to ascend to the heavens, he was intercepted by Guanyin, who said, "Old Daoist, hold up. Having killed disciples of our Buddhist sect, you must give an explanation."

These Human Sages were all seasoned souls. At that time, not only had Buddhism not spread to the Eastern Land, but most of these luminaries were also solely devoted to their scholarship, hardly having any time to acquaint themselves with the matters of People of the Immortal Path. While Guanyin’s name was known throughout the Four Seas, Zhuang Zhou frankly did not recognize her.

"May I inquire what instructions this venerable monk has?" Zhuangzi, facing one annoyance after another from these Buddhist sect individuals, was starting to get irritated.

He had left his seclusion in a pleasant state of mind, but his trip to the South Sea had been futile. Now, the unceasing pestering by Ananda and Kasyapa had worn out his patience, and with Guanyin’s intervention, he became so angry that the Three Corpses Deity within him stirred to rage.

Guanyin found him familiar but couldn’t recall his name. Hearing him speak as if he didn’t know her, she was inwardly surprised and thought, "Could this man be some great master who is withdrawn from the world?"

It was indeed the case:

Unexpected disaster, who can predict; without cause or reason, calamity invites.

In emerging from seclusion this time, Zhuang Zhou just happened to take the disaster intended for Daoist Equal to Heaven upon himself.

As to whether this will bring fortune or calamity, please listen to the next installment to find out.