The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 254 - 234: Heart Monkey Escapes from Five Elements Mountain_2

Chapter 254: Chapter 234: Heart Monkey Escapes from Five Elements Mountain_2

"Very well, very well! But where could these Mahayana Buddhist Sutras be?" exclaimed Emperor Taizong of Tang with great joy.

"In the Western Kingdom of India, there exists a Great Thunderclap Monastery, and the Buddhist scriptures are within that monastery. Your Majesty could send someone to the Thunder Monastery of Western Heaven to retrieve the scriptures, and then seek to universally save all beings. Namo Amitabha Buddha, this poor monk must leave!" With those words, Guanyin had vanished, leaving only countless petals falling from the sky.

Thus, the task of fetching the scriptures was catalyzed.

Although Guanyin had facilitated this event, she also had a headache. The monkey head refused to obey, unwilling to leave the Five Elements Mountain to undertake the journey for the scriptures. What to do? Without him, how could one ensure the safety of Xuanzhuang?

She returned to the Five Elements Mountain and met Wukong. Seeing Guanyin’s arrival, Wukong could not help but laugh, saying, "Congratulations, Bodhisattva, on facilitating the great affair of fetching the scriptures. However, you might have forged a great mistake for all ages!"

Guanyin’s brow furrowed. How did Guang Chengzi just tell her, and this monkey head seemed to already know about it? She asked, "What great mistake for all ages are you talking about?"

Wukong laughed, "Naturally, it’s the spread of these Tripitaka Mahayana Buddhist Sutras. It’s a colossal error! You, Bodhisattva, with your profound Buddhist knowledge, surely must know that these Tripitaka sutras are nothing but brainwashing. The real Buddhist scriptures lie elsewhere; you must inquire with Tathagata!"

Guanyin retorted, "Nonsense! Our Buddhist sect is orthodox. Where would there be any teachings of brainwashing? Considering your five hundred years of suffering, I thought to deliver and transform you, but you mock me like this! Mr. Sun, let me tell you, by refusing to come out this time, you’re missing this village and this shop won’t be there in the future! If you think about coming out later, it won’t be so easy!"

Wukong, being well-versed in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, naturally knew that the Mahayana Buddhist Sutras Tathagata wanted to spread were not meant to universally save beings but to brainwash them, all to gain more followers. Such a doctrine of Buddhism, far from helping one achieve True Fruition, can lead people to deviation into madness and plunge into irreversible disasters. He couldn’t even guess how many would desert their families and ruin their lives because of such teachings!

Wukong meditated for a moment and said, "It seems that Tathagata really needs old Sun to ensure the scripture seeker’s protection."

Guanyin thought to herself, "If only this tight hoop could be willingly put on, I would have recited the ’Tight-Fillet Spell’ and subdued you!"

The Tathagata sent three tight hoops: gold, tight, and forbidden. They can only be effective if people choose to put them on themselves. This was just a cover for such forceful measures; otherwise, people might accuse Tathagata of using brute force to make people submit. Where would the compassion of Buddhism be then? If someone wears it voluntarily, it’s their own choice; nobody can blame the poor monk.

Guanyin said, "It’s not that you must go, but you have committed such a heinous crime. If you are let out just like that, the Heavenly Court will definitely be discontented. You must fetch the scriptures to atone for your sins so that they won’t feel slighted, and they’ll know you’ve turned away from your wicked ways."

Wukong laughed and asked, "What is evil, and what is good? Royal families merciless and cold, brothers killing each other—is that good or evil? Common folk fighting over food—is that good or evil? The Jade Emperor lacks virtue; I wish to replace him, to purify heaven and earth—is that good or evil?"

Guanyin scoffed coldly and said, "Twisted and evil reasoning! I ask you one last time, will you go to Mount Meru?"

Wukong burst into loud laughter, "Go? Why wouldn’t I? I too shall achieve Supreme Right Enlightenment and spread my own Buddhism!"

But Guanyin mocked him, "Didn’t you just say that staying beneath the Five Elements Mountain was a good form of cultivation?"

Wukong then said, "Then I won’t go."

Guanyin regretted her words for a moment and slapped her forehead, saying, "Actually, walking through the mortal world is the true cultivation. Along this journey, a hundred thousand eight thousand miles with ninety-nine eighty-one hardships—that is truly understanding and illuminating the heart through tribulations!"

Wukong waved his hand and said, "Very well, very well, I will go."

He had already been admonished by the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating Sect; this journey would be extremely perilous, with various forces embedding their own people along the way. A slight misstep could lead to a fall into a bottomless abyss.

"Bodhisattva, just let old Sun come out, or I might change my mind!"

"Very well, very well, I will let you out now!"

Fearing that he might change his mind and that it would be hard to explain to the Rulai Buddha, Guanyin flew to the mountain top and removed the Six Syllable Mantra that Tathagata had written down. Wukong felt his body lighten, his Primordial Spirit’s mana slowly recovering. He couldn’t help but let out a long howl that shook the mountains and rivers.

"Five hundred years, old Sun is finally coming out!" He shook his head and the Five Elements Mountain trembled, sending rocks tumbling down.

The local deity, the Mountain God, Jiedi, the meritorious official, and others, already aware of his fierce reputation, saw him coming out and though Guanyin was present, they couldn’t help but feel fearful and kept their distance.

Wukong let out repeated long howls, flipped over, and used his Magical Powers and Spells to blast the Five Elements Mountain into dust. He leapt up through the swirling dust, his fur shining with golden light, his eyes blazing like twin suns.

Guanyin was startled, thinking to herself, "This monkey’s mana seems to have become even deeper than before!"

Wukong, holding the Jingu Bang and clad in battle armor, laughed heartily and bowed to Guanyin, "Thank you, Bodhisattva. This time coming out, I will surely keep that scripture seeker safe."

If it were not for his disciples after Guanyin left, persuading him to agree to Guanyin’s request to venture to Western Heaven to fetch the scriptures, he probably would not have been willing to come out, just to trouble Guanyin and see what other means Tathagata might use to force him on the journey to fetch the scriptures.