Banishing demons at Lion Camel Ridge (39)

After seeing off the Medicine Buddha, Ao Tu turned to find Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

The four members of the Tang Sanzang's group were still in the city performing rituals to appease the Vengeful Souls.

Ao Tu had previously steamed the Buddha's Fleshly Body. Through the Buddha's compassionate power, countless Vengeful Souls in the city were liberated, and even those who were extremely difficult to liberate had their obsessions largely eliminated.

The journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples has therefore progressed much faster, and it is estimated that they will be completed in another two or three years.

When Ao Tu arrived at the High Platform, he saw Tang Sanzang meditating and chanting sutras, with Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing sitting behind Tang Sanzang, each of them looking quite respectable.

Today we are performing a ritual to help a Wealthy Household pass on to the afterlife, with over thirty members, including men, women, and children. The elderly are easy to help, but the young people and children are attached to worldly life and do not want to Reincarnation.

Tang Sanzang recited Scripture, explained Buddhist principles, and spoke of reasoning, finally sending the family into the Reincarnation after most of the day.

The four of them, master and disciples, were getting a bit thirsty from reciting, so they got up to drink some water.

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu stepped forward.

When Wukong saw Ao Tu, he laughed and said, "You Demon Dragon, you must have something else to tell me!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "That's right. Great Sage, please come here. I need your help with something."

After hearing this, Wukong spoke to Tang Sanzang and then came over.

Ao Tu led Wukong aside and asked:

"Great Sage, there are so many Vengeful Souls in this city, how long will it take to send them all to the afterlife?"

Wukong estimated and said, "About three more years."

Ao Tu asked, "Can the Great Sage and his disciples wait this long?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong looked at Ao Tu with a strange expression and said:

"Strange! Strange! On the Journey to the West, you Demon Dragon have been an obstacle at every step, wishing you could keep Master Sun occupied for a hundred years, ruining the Journey to the West. Why are you complaining about the slow pace today?"

Ao Tu laughed and said:

"It's not that I think it's too slow, it's just that I see injustice. All the Vengeful Souls in this country are being eaten by that Golden-Winged Great Peng, who is Tathagata Monk Golden-Winged Great Peng Buddha's maternal uncle. The Buddha Wisdom Eye Tathagata Monk can see through the Three Realms, how could he not know about the injustice here? Now that the Vengeful Souls are being helped, it should be the Tathagata Monk who performs the rituals, why make you and your disciples suffer?"

Wukong casually remarked, "What can I, Old Sun, do? Can I go to Spirit Mountain Tathagata Buddha?"

Ao Tu nodded with a smile.

Wukong was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "You really want me to Tathagata Buddha!"

Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, why don't you go to Spirit Mountain and accuse the Tathagata Monk his relatives commit murder? Great Sage, you have always hated evil as if it were your enemy. This matter is known throughout the Three Realms, and only Great Sage can go there. It would be a help to me."

Upon hearing this, Wukong scratched his hand, his eyes darting around, and said, "Those three Demon Heads are now your subordinates!"

Ao Tu said, "I took in these three to restrain them and prevent them from eating people again. Tathagata Monk is willing to go down the mountain to punish the Three Demons and save the people of Lion Camel City, it would be a Merit for both of us!"

Wukong listened and felt that it made sense.

At this moment, Tang Sanzang walked over from behind. It turned out that Tang Sanzang had overheard the two talking and said:

"Wukong, it is both reasonable and emotional that you should go. Please, Buddha, descend and vanquish the Demon Heads!"

Upon seeing this, Wukong helped Tang Sanzang up and said, "Master, don't worry, I know. You've been reciting Scripture all day, go back and rest for a while."

Bajie and Sha Wujing then came over and helped Tang Sanzang back to rest.

Tang Sanzang did not forget to remind him:

"Wukong, saving this country is a truly virtuous act!"

Wukong nodded in agreement.

Bajie said, "Master! Please don't make things difficult for your senior brother! There's an old saying: 'It's hard for a commoner to sue an official.' If suing an official is already like this, have you ever heard of anyone suing the emperor himself?"

Sha Wujing said, "Second Senior Brother, what nonsense are you spouting in front of Master!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie, this..."

Sha Wujing said, "Master, let's go back first. Our Elder Brother will have a plan."

Tang Sanzang then returned with Bajie and Sha Wujing for the time being.

Seeing that Tang Sanzang had left, Wukong looked at Ao Tu and said with a smile:

"Although I don't know what you're up to, I'd be happy to go and do it for you. But I also have a small favor to ask of you."

Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, please speak."

Wukong said, "I recently acquired a new treasure, but it's too heavy to carry on the Journey to the West. Knowing you are skilled in forging and refining, I ask you to reforge it for me. Whatever is best for me, good or bad."

Ao Tu listened, thought for a moment, and realized that Wukong was referring to the Golden-Winged Great Peng's Yin-Yang Two-Qi Bottle, so he shook his head and said:

"It's not that I don't want to help, it's just that even if the Yin-Yang Two-Qi Bottle is refined, it won't end up in the Great Sage's hands; instead, it will be refined by someone else."

Wukong was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, but upon reflection, it seemed to make sense. After thinking for a moment, he took out a broken bowl and said, "Could you repair this for me?"

Ao Tu recognized it as Ananda's Glazed Bowl, took it, and laughed, "Excellent! Excellent! Great Sage, go ahead, and when you return, I promise to return a fine bowl to you."

Wukong then left happily.

With a Somersault Cloud, Wukong arrived at Spirit Mountain in an instant.

The old Bhikshu Monk Mountain Gate saw this and grabbed Wukong, saying, "Great Sage, where are you going?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Old monk, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

The old Bhikshu Monk stroked the scabies on his head and said, "Things have been unsettled on the mountain these past few days, with people arguing about dividing the family property. I'm quite distressed! I don't know whether I should stay here or go Eastern Lands."

Wukong laughed and said, "Good! Good! That's all good! Old Sun is off!"

Seeing this, the old Bhikshu Monk reached out and pulled Wukong back, saying, "Great Sage, the Monks inside are making a lot of noise. I advise you to wait before going in!"

Wukong said, "I can wait, but my master can't. If you won't let me go to the Buddha, why don't you come and help me Subduing Demons the demon?"

The old Bhikshu Monk said helplessly, "Great Sage, even Demon would find my old body unappealing. How can I help you Subduing Demons?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Then you continue guarding the Mountain Gate. I'm going to find the Buddha."

As he spoke, Wukong leaped inside.

At this moment, in the Precious Hall...

Because of the words of the Medicine Buddha, the Monks Zhengyi up and asked the Tathagata Buddha to go down the mountain to capture the Demon Dragon.

Hearing the commotion inside, Wukong transformed into Yellow Weasel and crouched on the heels of the Eight Great Vajras outside the hall to observe the situation inside.

Inside the hall, the Monks spoke in unison, urging the Tathagata Buddha to descend the mountain and capture the Demon Dragon. More and more monks stepped forward, and Wukong couldn't recognize them all; he could only distinguish them by their positions as Bodhisattva and Arhat.

The Tathagata Buddha sat on his Lotus Throne, eyes lowered and palms clasped, paying no heed to the the Monks.

The number of monks is increasing, and it's starting to resemble a power grab.

But the Tathagata Buddha remained unconcerned and didn't say a word more than necessary.

After watching for a while, Wukong emerged from behind the feet of the Eight Great Vajras.

Upon seeing this, one of the Vajras wanted to take out a weapon to strike, but fearing that the noise would alert the the Monks in the hall, he used his bare hands to pounce on him.

When Wukong saw him rushing towards him, he dodged.

Vajras missed his target and fell to the ground.

Wukong transformed back into his Original Form and couldn't stop laughing.

Seeing this, the Vajras angrily shouted, "Sun Wukong, you impudent monkey! You act so rudely and have no manners whatsoever! Don't you know where you are? How dare you mock us?"

Seeing this, Wukong's smile widened.

Hearing Wukong's laughter, the Tathagata Buddha inside raised his Wisdom Eye and spoke kindly, "Who is making such a commotion outside?"