The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 247 - 230: Two Lives of Journey to the West, One Life as a Human

Chapter 247: Chapter 230: Two Lives of Journey to the West, One Life as a Human

It is said that after the division between the Three Kingdoms and the chaos brought about by the Five Barbarians, it came under the Sui Dynasty.

As the saying goes, ’what unites eventually divides, and what divides eventually unites; what declines must eventually flourish.’ By the time of the Sui Dynasty, it naturally flourished greatly, except that Emperor Yang of Sui, devoid of virtue and morality, waged continuous wars against Gao Li, exhausting the people and draining the treasury, no less wicked than Jie and Zhou! At that time, the heroes of Wagang rose in arms, and Li Yuan stirred up a rebellion, initiating the great overthrow of the Sui Dynasty.

Having lost the hearts of the people across the land, the Sui army was defeated repeatedly, culminating in the execution of Emperor Yang, with Li Yuan ascending the throne.

The Louguan Sect had provided significant military supplies when Li Yuan raised his army; thus, after ascending the throne, Li Yuan took great care of the Louguan Sect, extensively renovating their palaces. The True Man of Dao and Virtue of the Louguan Sect took this opportunity to associate closely with the Guanlong nobility. As many significant figures from both the Sui and Tang Dynasties emerged from the Guanlong aristocracy, it can be said that Laozi’s foresight was long-term. He chose a location near Chang’an, which facilitated close associations between the Louguan Sect and the Guanlong nobility, leading to a great rise in Taoism!

The influence of Buddhism was also extremely formidable; by this time, it was unprecedentedly predominant. Buddhist temples could be seen everywhere in the Divine Land of the Eastern Earth, and statues of All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were widespread. Especially significant was Patriarch Bodhidharma sending eighteen warrior monks to rescue Emperor Taizong of Tang, which made the emperor profoundly grateful. Buddhism thus reached an even higher level. However, the bond between the Louguan lineage and the Guanlong nobility remained extremely close, still suppressing Buddhism.

Other Taoist sects, during the turmoil caused by the Five Barbarians, were suppressed by Buddhism so much that they could barely lift their heads. The Barbarians believed in Buddhism, not in Taoism or Confucianism, thus greatly fostering the prominence of Buddhism.

Meanwhile, Tathagata, sitting atop Mount Meru in Western Heaven, suddenly calculated a bit and laughed, "I observe the Four Great Continents, the good and evil of all beings are different everywhere. In Dongsheng Immortal State, they respect heaven and honor the earth, with clear minds and calm spirits; in Uttara Kuru Kingdom, life is barren and bitterly cold, the populace crude and poor in conduct, seldom misbehaving; in my West Cow He State, there’s no greed nor killing, spirits are nurtured and hidden, though without Supreme Reality, everyone naturally lives long; but the Southern Toad Continent, on the other hand, is rife with killing and strife, aggressive and quarrelsome, truly a vicious sea of right and wrong! I have the true scriptures of the Tripitaka that can persuade people to be good."

"I wonder who would be willing to go to the Eastern Land, find a predestined person, and spread the teachings of my Buddhist sect, urging the people of the Southern Toad Continent to practice kindness and accumulate virtues?" Tathagata asked.

"Master, though I am not talented, I am willing to go!" Guanyin descended from the Lotus Platform, bowed to Buddha, and spoke respectfully.

Tathagata was overjoyed and said, "This matter is very difficult to handle, only a figure such as Venerable Guanyin is capable of achieving it. Very good, you must go to the Eastern Land, find a predestined person to come to Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures. I have five treasures here, take them with you."

Tathagata then took out a kasaya embroidered with beautiful threads, removed a nine-ringed monk’s staff, and gave three headbands, teaching Bodhisattva the "Tight-Fillet Spell."

After Guanyin performed her vows and prostrations, Tathagata said, "With these three headbands, just fit them onto someone’s head, and as soon as you recite the ’Tight-Fillet Spell,’ it will naturally cause their head to ache unbearably, making them too frightened to cause trouble, obediently listen and enter my sect."

Ah, Tathagata really uses his power tyrannically, not using Buddhist teachings to universally enlighten, but instead utilizing these headbands to forcibly convert people! Guanyin secretly found it strange; Tathagata had slightly changed his nature since the Middle Ancient Times. Although he still appeared compassionate and merciful, at times, his methods were overly harsh and brutal, uncharacteristic of what the Buddha Ancestor should do. However, Guanyin thought that perhaps it was for the sake of spreading the teachings that the Buddha resorted to this method. If not I, who would descend into Hell!

Guanyin left Mount Meru, hurrying toward Chang’an City in the Southern Toad Continent.

Upon reaching the River of Flowing Sands, she saw a fierce demon blocking the path; Bodhisattva’s disciple Mu Zha, wielding an iron rod, engaged in a fierce fight with it, indistinguishable in their combat.

"Oh, it turns out to be Great General Roll-banners, I must teach the Jade Emperor not to use the Flying Sword against you, nor to use the sword to behead you, just as long as you convert to my Buddhist sect." Guanyin said.

Great General Roll-banners bowed and said, "I wish to convert to Buddhism! Bodhisattva, save me!"

Guanyin thought to herself, "This trip to fetch the scriptures turns out to be a contest between Buddhism and Daoism. This Great General Roll-banners is clearly a spy sent by the Heavenly Court, but I have no choice but to accept him. Buddha Ancestor had already advised me earlier, that I should expect to encounter Great General Roll-banners, Marshal Tianpeng, and the Dragon Prince among others."

Tathagata had secretly instructed through a transmitted message when Guanyin arrived, knowing her intelligence surpassed others, she naturally understood that the true essence of Journey to the West was not about spreading Buddhist scriptures but about Buddhism competing with Taoism for territory.

Buddhism aimed to initiate the Journey to the West to seize territory from Taoism, and Taoism naturally had to insert a few spies to keep an eye on the events, thus they chose these particular individuals.

Of course, Tathagata did not know that the most crucial figure, Sun Wukong, had already confederated with Taoism long ago. Recently, the Daoist Equal to Heaven had frequented Upper Pure Heaven to listen to Spiritual Treasure Celestial Venerable’s teachings. Naturally, what kind of person was the Daoist Equal to Heaven? He did not know, thinking he was just a common loose cultivator. How could he imagine that it was another incarnation of Sun Wukong who had learned the Thirty-Six Types of Transformations and created it through fetal transformation and easy shape-shifting?

In the previous life’s Journey to the West, Wukong had been manipulated and had met a mysterious death, but now, starting over, was it still fated to end the same way?

Guanyin had persuaded Great General Roll-banners and then headed toward Chang’an.

As the Bodhisattva passed over a high mountain and saw it enveloped in demonic energy, just as she was passing by, a demon with the appearance of a wild boar came charging with a rake in hand, swinging it straight at her! Mu Zha became furious and shouted, "Where do you come from, reckless demon, daring to be so rude? Watch the stick!"

Heavenly Cover shouted, "Little monk, move aside quickly, lest your life be harmed!"

Mu Zha replied, "My master and I are tasked by the Rulai Buddha to go to Chang’an, yet you demons barge in, seeking death?"

Hearing this, Heavenly Cover knew the real deal had arrived and immediately bowed, saying, "Oh! It turns out you are the ones coming on the Rulai Buddha’s orders, I did not know, please forgive me. I am Heavenly Marshal Tianpeng from heaven above. I was catching Chang’e for fun after getting drunk, caught by the Jade Emperor and punished with two thousand hammer strikes; then, I was cast down to the mortal world, only to be born in the wrong body, which took on this appearance."

The Bodhisattva asked, "I can help you achieve true fruition, are you willing to convert?"

Heavenly Cover, a person of greed, saw his fall to the mortal realm as a chance to redeem himself. If he could play a significant role in the westward journey, naturally, he would be reappointed by the Jade Emperor as an Immortal Official in heaven. With a thought, he asked, "What benefits are there in converting? And what is true fruition?"

The Bodhisattva laughed and said, "Naturally, it means going to our Western Heaven to become either a Bodhisattva or a Buddha Ancestor. Food and clothing provided for, life carefree, spending days reading Buddhist scriptures and worshiping the Buddha Ancestor."

Upon hearing this, Heavenly Cover exclaimed in his heart, "The old Jade Emperor punished me to the mortal world, causing me to be reborn among beasts! He truly infuriates me. Look at this appearance of mine, how am I to find joy in the future? If I return to the Heavenly Court, I fear I would still have to endure the Jade Emperor’s anger and those despised glances! Isn’t it better for me just to convert to the Buddhist sect and seek true fruition in Western Heaven? Once I become a Buddha Ancestor, all those despicable beings have to bow down to me!"

With this thought, he immediately made up his mind and bowed, saying, "Bodhisattva, I wish to convert."

The Bodhisattva said, "Good, before long, I will find someone to come for you, and together we’ll ascend to Western Heaven. For now, wait here and do not commit any evil, or else I will not let you off!"

Heavenly Cover replied, "Of course, of course! I sincerely convert to the Buddha Ancestor! Sincerely convert!"

Guanyin then went to find the Dragon Prince before finally arriving beneath the Five Elements Mountain.

To find out what happens next, please follow the upcoming episode. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Starting Point (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)