The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 261 - 238: Great Immortal of Mira Palace Attends the Lecture

Chapter 261: Chapter 238: Great Immortal of Mira Palace Attends the Lecture

Wukong was tasked with escorting Xuanzang to the Western Heaven to retrieve the scriptures.

This Xuanzang, different from the previous ones, seemed less dogmatic and rigid. He had his own unique insights into the Buddhist Law, which Wukong found quite to his liking after exchanging a few words.

For Wukong, the dangers along the way were mere child’s play; there was no need to seek help from Guanyin. With a flurry of his cudgel, he would ensure any demons and ghosts met their end in the Yellow Springs. Whether they were from the Heavenly Court or dispatched covertly by the Buddhist sect, they all turned into powder beneath his cudgel.

"Brother, your disciple is quite formidable. Without making a sound, he has secretly cultivated to almost the level of a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal. That Black Wind Demon you once instructed was killed by him with just two blows. Do you not grieve for him?" Yuan Shi Immortal Monarch asked.

"It’s just a chess piece I played casually; if he got killed, so be it! It was just a warm-up. We’ll have a proper confrontation with the Buddhist sect at Wuzhuang Temple," said the Leader of Heaven-Penetrating very calmly. It turned out that Black Bear Spirit, who stole the kasaya from Guanyin Temple, had been enlightened by him when he had nothing better to do and had been given some guidance in cultivation.

"He can hardly be considered a disciple of Heaven-Penetrating. If he got killed, so be it! It would be even better if Macaca could kill Tianpeng and Great General Roll-banners as well!" said Laojun.

Zhu Bajie and Monk Sha were spies planted by the Jade Emperor. The Queen Mother’s glaze cup wasn’t so easily shattered. Though General Tianpeng was somewhat frivolous, the rules of the Heavenly Court were clear. To meddle with Chang’e was an impossible act. These two were demoted to the mortal world for such charges, which seemed quite ridiculous to those with discernment.

Upon reaching Cloud Ladder Cave, Wukong was prepared to pulverize Bajie with his cudgel, but Guanyin intervened, claiming that he had a destiny with the Buddha and must be properly guided and not killed.

Helpless, Wukong retracted his Jingu Bang, thinking, "Adding this pig to the team must be for spying on Old Sun! Now, whatever move Old Sun makes, he will likely see it clearly!"

Zhu Bajie joining the pilgrimage team was probably just to spy and cause trouble under the Jade Emperor’s orders, occasionally suggesting they disband to shake their resolve. However, Bajie was secretly thinking that if Taoism won, he could return to the Heavenly Court, and if Buddhism won, he could even ascend to the Western Heaven and become a Venerable. Either way, it seemed beneficial to him.

In Gao Old Mansion, Bajie narrowly escaped being killed by two blows from Wukong’s cudgel. Fearing for his own life after such a close call, he flattered Wukong excessively, worried that a moment of anger might leave him as nothing but a smear of flesh.

Wukong sneered, "Bajie, if you want to achieve True Fruition, I have nothing to say, but if anyone is duplicitous, my Jingu Bang will not stand for it!"

Hearing this, Bajie broke into a cold sweat, not sure if Mr. Monkey was speaking plainly or just offhandedly. Wiping his forehead, he patted his chest and declared, "If anyone dares to be duplicitous, my rake will not spare him. There’s no need for your Jingu Bang to strike!"

Wukong just kept sneering, without saying a word. Bajie, feeling his heart and gall shatter, quickly picked up his load and moved on ahead.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, why do you frighten Bajie?"

Wukong replied, "This pig may seem honest, but he’s full of trickery. I’m just giving him a warning to make sure he works hard so that he can reach the Western Heaven and achieve True Fruition!"

Tang Sanzang nodded, saying, "Namo Amitabha Buddha. Whether we reach the Western Heaven depends on our sincerity. As the saying goes, where there’s true sincerity, even metal and stone will open. If he is unwilling to ascend, there’s nothing that can be done."

Wukong laughed, "Elder, don’t worry. Even if you don’t want to ascend to the Western Heaven, I can take you there! Countless demons and ghosts await us on this journey, but most are no match for me. Watch me clear the path with my cudgel!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Namo Amitabha Buddha. This journey may require the taking of many lives. But in order to retrieve the true scriptures and save all beings, it is an unavoidable deed. Let us go."

On their way, they reached the Flowing Sands River. Great General Roll-banners residing there was also a spy from the Heavenly Court. Guanyin, having accepted favors, naturally facilitated matters, warning Wukong in advance that Roll-banners was a member of the pilgrimage team and should be treated with care, and not to lose his temper and damage his life. Guanyin was already in cahoots with Wukong, who wouldn’t defy her wishes, and nodded in agreement.

After a good disciplining, Roll-banners was persuaded by the Bodhisattva to join Xuanzang as a disciple and protect him on his quest to the Western Heaven for scriptures.

Throughout this journey to the West, Buddhism and Daoism merely tested each other, engaging in covert magic combat. Buddha, Golden Immortals, Bodhisattvas, and others clashed in a tumult, each with victories and defeats.