Vanquishing Demons at Lion Camel Ridge (40)

Tathagata, Wukong caused a commotion outside the Precious Hall, alarming the Buddha.

The Monks were interrupted and all looked outside.

The Vajras outside said, "Reporting to the World-Honored One, it is Sun Wukong is causing trouble outside the hall."

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Wukong's arrival must have a reason. Kasyapa, go and invite him in."

Kasyapa then led Wukong inside.

The Tathagata Buddha asked, "Wukong, why are you causing trouble outside the hall?"

Upon seeing him, Wukong wept and bowed, saying, "May Buddha have mercy! Your disciple protected Tang Sanzang on his Journey to the West, never daring to slacken along the way. When we passed through the Lion Camel Ridge, we encountered three poisonous demons: the Lion King, the Elephant King, and the Golden-Winged Great Peng. Those three Demon were not particularly powerful, and your disciple defeated them after a fierce battle. However, I have become entangled in a lawsuit that I cannot extricate myself from, thus preventing me from Journey to the West."

The Tathagata Buddha asked, "What kind of lawsuit is it?"

Wukong said, "It's because those three Demon eat people; it's a case involving cannibalism."

Kasyapa said, "It's not surprising that Demon eat people."

Wukong said, "You eat a lot."

Kasyapa asked, "How much can you eat?"

Wukong said, "The Lion King Elephant King occupied the Lion Camel Cave on Lion Camel Ridge, and gathered Forty to Fifty Thousand Little Demon. They came from the south and went to the north, and devoured countless people. There are hundreds of thousands of Vengeful Souls in the cave. My master could not bear to see so many Vengeful Souls, so he had to stay and perform rituals to help them pass on. It took a year before he stopped."

The Tathagata Buddha praised, "Excellent!"

Wukong continued, "That's not all. Four hundred miles away from Lion Camel Ridge, there's a Lion Camel City. Five Hundred Years Ago, the Golden-Winged Great Peng devoured the entire nation. Now the city is full of Demon, and who knows how many people they've eaten over the years. Now that Old King is clinging to my master, preventing us from Journey Westward, and he's going to sue us!"

The Tathagata Buddha asked, "What are you being accused of?"

Wukong said, "I accuse my master of letting demons commit atrocities and devouring his people."

The Tathagata Buddha asked, "Why did you report your master?"

Wukong said, "This disciple does not know. Buddha's Wisdom Eye perceive the Three Realms. I beg Buddha to investigate for this disciple: what is the origin of that Golden-Winged Great Peng, and why, after eating people, is he now suing my master?"

Upon hearing this, the Tathagata Buddha shook his head and said, "No need to investigate, I recognize that Golden-Winged Great Peng!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong exclaimed, "Indeed! I've heard that the Yaoguai is related to you!"

The Tathagata Buddha asked, "How is it that this cunning Monkey is Yaoguai to me?"

Wukong said, "How can you say you recognize someone if you're not related by blood?"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Those Green Lion and White Elephant are the Mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. I have already sent the two Bodhisattva to subdue them."

Wukong said, "That Golden-Winged Great Peng is still untamed."

The Tathagata Buddha said, "That Golden-Winged Great Peng, when he speaks, does seem to have some affinity with me."

Wukong laughed and said, "I heard he's your maternal uncle!"

The Tathagata Buddha looked up and said, "You Monkey, who told you that?"

Wukong quickly suppressed his laughter and said, "I heard it from someone passing by."

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Since the beginning of Chaos, all things have come into being. Among beasts, the Qilin is the chief, and among birds, the Phoenix is the chief. The Phoenix gave birth to the Peacock and the Golden-Winged Great Peng. The Peacock can eat people; it once swallowed me whole. I wanted to exit through its anus, but fearing to defile my Golden Body, I split my back and climbed Spirit Mountain. I wanted to kill it, but the the Monks advised me against it, saying that harming it would be like harming my own mother. Therefore, I left it on Spirit Mountain and bestowed upon it the title of Mahamayuri Bodhisattva. The Golden-Winged Great Peng and the Peacock were born of the same mother, so they are said to have some kinship."

Wukong laughed, "Now it's Buddha's maternal uncle who's causing trouble, no wonder that King is blaming my master. I wonder if Buddha will intervene? If not, the King of the Lion Camel Kingdom will sue you for seizing the kingdom!"

Upon hearing this, the the Monks all urged the Tathagata Buddha to descend the mountain and vanquish the demon.

Firstly, to subdue the Golden-Winged Great Peng; secondly, to eliminate the Demon Dragon.

This is what all the the Monks wish for.

Seeing this, the Tathagata Buddha had already seen through it all. The Medicine Buddha's Buddha Land had been destroyed, yet he still claimed victory. How could the Buddha not know this?

However, the the Monks persuaded him, and he couldn't refuse.

Moreover, the Golden-Winged Great Peng is his mount, and since Wukong came to invite him about this matter, he had no reason not to go.

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Wukong, this is not my fault; it is because you acted incompetently."

Wukong said, "That Golden-Winged Great Peng is one of your cronies, how can I interfere with him?"

The Tathagata Buddha smiled and said, "I know that the Three Demons Lower Realm to do evil, and this karma is also a tribulation for you and your disciples. I have already bestowed upon you the treasures to Subduing the Three Demons; it is just that you have not used them."

Wukong, filled with doubt, asked:

When did Buddha bestow upon us the treasures to Subduing the Three Demons?

The Tathagata Buddha said, "I once bestowed upon you a Holy Buddha Sarira; do you remember?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong took out a Golden Sarira and asked, "Is this it?"

The Tathagata Buddha nodded and said, "Indeed. This object can guide people to goodness. Take it before the Three Demons, circle it once, and the Three Demons will abandon evil and turn to good."

Wukong was skeptical. "Buddha, are you trying to deceive Old Sun? I couldn't even convert a Bandits to goodness back then, how could you possibly convert three Demon Heads to goodness?"

The Tathagata Buddha laughed and said, "That Bandits is not a member of our Buddhist Sect, and this Sarira is not for him. Take it to the Three Demons and test it; they will know for themselves whether it is real or fake."

Wukong listened with skepticism and wanted to go back.

The Monks said, "World-Honored One, even if the Golden-Winged Great Peng is subdued, there are still Demon Dragon causing trouble. How can we ignore this?"

Upon Tathagata Buddha stopped Wukong and said:

"After using the Śarīra to convert the Three Demons to good, it was given to the Demon Dragon to eat, and the Demon Dragon also became good."

Upon hearing this, Wukong, unsure of its veracity, grew increasingly fearful and asked, "How could that Demon Dragon possibly eat me?"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Come here."

Wukong stepped forward.

The Tathagata Buddha plucked a Golden Lotus from the Lotus Throne beneath him, crushed it into golden powder with his thumb and little finger, and placed it on the Śarīra. In an instant, the Śarīra transformed into a round and full Golden Elixir.

Wukong was greatly alarmed. He looked with his Golden Eyes but could not see through it. He could only smell the endless fragrance of elixir. He was so frightened that he immediately covered his mouth and nose, not daring to smell it, for fear of being affected by the spell.

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Give this to the Demon Dragon to eat."

Wukong dared not linger and quickly nodded and left.

The Monks praised the Tathagata Buddha was not mentioned.

Wukong took the Elixir Pills and returned to Lion Camel City shortly afterward.

The fragrance of the elixir had long attracted the attention of the demons.

Bajie smelled the fragrance and flew up on a cloud, saying, "Brother, what good things did you get on this trip?" As he spoke, he looked closely and saw the Golden Elixir in Wukong's hand. He couldn't resist taking it and said, "Let me try some!"

Wukong quickly slapped Bajie's hand away and shouted sternly, "Fool, stop fooling around! This pill is poisonous!"

When Bajie heard the seriousness of Wukong's words, he was startled and exclaimed, "This is actually a Poison Pill!"

Wukong said, "I'll go back and protect Master. I'll be right back."

Bajie then went down.

Wukong flew straight to Ao Tu's residence.

The air was filled with the fragrance of cinnabar, and many Demon followed.

The Green Lion, White Elephant, Golden-Winged Great Peng said, "What good thing has Your Great King obtained this time? It smells even better than Buddha Flesh! Let's go see!"

Tiger Vanguard, White Bone Spirit, and Scorpion Demon also came over from the other side.

Wukong stormed into Ao Tu's mansion.

Ao Tu smelled the fragrance and came out laughing, saying:

"Great Sage, why Tathagata n't Buddha descend the mountain and give you his Nine-Rank Golden Lotus Platform?"

Wukong was taken aback for a moment, then said, "You can actually smell the Lotus Flower scent!"

Ao Tu then noticed the Golden Elixir in Wukong's hand and asked, "What is this?"

Wukong said, "This is Poison Pill prepared for you by Tathagata. No wonder you were born under Tathagata's tutelage. Now I understand, all you people with Supernatural Ability are the same, always making Poison Pill to harm people, it's really not honorable."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "You Monkey, how many days have I rang the bell on Spirit Mountain? Besides, when have I ever used Poison Pill to harm anyone?"