Rescue the Bhikshu Kingdom (17)

Meanwhile, the Vishnu Bodhisattva wanted to personally borrow the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner Treasure Banner prevent it from falling into the hands of Guanyin Bodhisattva and being snatched away by the Demon Dragon.

The Monks all agreed that this made sense and wanted to go together.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Jade Void Palace is a place of Sage. Since you all have different appearances, I'm afraid people will find it offensive. Please choose a few with decent looks to come with me."

The Horse-Head Arhat said, "My Treasure Appearance is dignified and majestic; let me go with you!"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Your face is long and your teeth protrude; this is not a good sign."

The Horse-Head Arhat said, "Although I have some flaws, I still have two eyes, two ears, one nose, and one mouth, so I have the appearance of a human. As for my face, I can just rub it and tuck in my teeth and I'll be fine."

The Vishnu Bodhisattva listened and looked at the others. Among the the Monks, those with good looks had low cultivation levels; those with high cultivation levels were all old gods with strange appearances. So he finally agreed to let the Horse-Head Arhat go with him.

They then selected a bearded man, all black in color, Venerable Lawa, who was Guardian under Mahakala Bodhisattva. He was burly but lacked courage, having previously stayed on Spirit Mountain to guard its property, and therefore had not descended the mountain to participate in the tribulation.

The three of them rode on Auspicious Clouds all the way to Kunlun Mountain.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Eastern Lands value etiquette. Since this is our first visit, please wrap your headscarves properly and dress neatly so as not to be impolite."

Horse-Head Arhat and Venerable Lawa agreed, carefully wrapping their headscarves until they were completely clean and neat.

Venerable Lawa adjusted the skull wreath around his neck.

The Horse-Head Arhat polished the silver snake ornaments coiled around his ears until they shone.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva in satisfaction and then instructed Venerable Lawa to retract his fangs and hide them inside his lips.

Venerable Lawa then concealed his fangs, not revealing a single one.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva took out a packet of spices, a packet of ghee, and a box of Sandalwood Incense flowers from his robes. These were called the Three Jewels of Fragrance, gifts given to the Western Heaven deities as a sign of respect and affection upon meeting.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva, carrying the gifts, dared not ride the clouds and respectfully walked up the mountain.

Horse-Head Arhat and Venerable Lawa followed behind.

The three walked for ten days without reaching the summit.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva the celestial palace atop the mountain and exclaimed, "Why is this mountain so high?"

The Horse-Head Arhat wiped the sweat from his face and said, "Yes! It's a bit too tall!"

Venerable Lawa was the most exhausted; his turban was soaked with sweat, and unable to hide his brow, he bared his fangs and said, "Let's just fly up there!"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Don't be rude! Quickly put away your pride! We'll be there soon!"

The group continued their journey, walking for another ten days. The celestial palace was still there, but they couldn't climb it no matter what they did.

The Horse-Head Arhat, looking at the celestial palace on the mountain, angrily said, "How high can this mountain be? We've walked for twenty days and still can't get up there! It must be the Daoism trying to keep us away! Monks and Daoists are all practitioners Beyond the World, there's no distinction between high and low. We came to see them with courtesy, how dare they be so rude!"

Upon hearing this, Venerable Lawa said, "Indeed! Let's fly up on a cloud and ask them! If they won't lend it, just say so. They shouldn't play such tricks!"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "No! No! This is the land of Daoism Sage; you must not be disrespectful!"

Venerable Lawa asked, "I have heard that the Sage of Yuqing Purity acts without restraint. Is the Bodhisattva afraid of him?"

Upon Vishnu Bodhisattva dared not reply, deeply regretting bringing this person along. Although Horse-Head Arhat was reckless, he was not foolish. This Venerable Lawa, however, spoke without thinking and was utterly foolish.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva walked forward a little further, found a flat Bluestone, placed the three gifts on the Bluestone, bowed three times towards the celestial palace, and said:

"We, the lesser gods of the Western Heaven, have ventured to this mountain to pay homage to the Sage Yuqing. Great Calamity is imminent; even ants cling to the will to live. We humbly request the Sage's use of the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner to protect us, promising to repay it after the calamity. This humble gift is a token of our respect and affection!"

After bowing, they continued on their way.

After traveling for another ten days, the three arrived at a Bluestone, only to find that the three gifts had already been eaten by monkeys and ants.

The Horse-Head Arhat angrily said, "This Daoist is extremely rude! I must ask him what he means by this!"

Venerable Lawa agreed upon hearing this.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Since the Sage will not let us go up the mountain, let us go down!"

The Horse-Head Arhat angrily retorted, "Is there only a sage in the Eastern Lands, but no sage in the Western Heaven?!"

Venerable Lawa clenched his fist and said, "Indeed! We in the Western Heaven also have Sage! How can we suffer such humiliation?"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva, pulling on the Horse-Head Arhat, said, "Let's go! Let's go!"

Horse-Head Arhat was being pulled down the mountain by the Vishnu Bodhisattva, angrily saying, "Without an explanation for this matter, I have no face to return!"

Upon hearing this, Venerable Lawa was furious. He rode up on a cloud and shouted, "If you weren't going to lend it, why didn't you say so earlier? Why are you playing tricks on us?"

When Horse-Head Arhat saw this below, he was greatly surprised. As the saying goes, "A barking dog doesn't bite." This Venerable Lawa usually seemed quiet, timid, and unwise, had shown such courage at this crucial moment.

Even the Horse-Head Arhat dared not shout anymore, and hurriedly pulled the Vishnu Bodhisattva Entry down the mountain.

On the other side, the White Crane Boy, with a jade Jade Ruyi in his mouth, threw it directly at Venerable Lawa's head, and Venerable Lawa was wiped away.

The Horse-Head Arhat descended the mountain and said to the Vishnu Bodhisattva, "We two have traveled a thousand miles to come here and have been praying for a month, but we cannot even ascend the mountain or enter the gate. What will we say when we return?"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva, "Go back and just say you haven't found the way up the mountain."

The Horse-Head Arhat nodded.

The two then returned home.

Upon arriving at Spirit Mountain, the the Monks asked, "Why did you two take so long?"

The Horse-Head Arhat said, "We two carried gifts and went up the mountain to make our request. We were impolite along the way, but the Immortal Mountain is too high and the roads are unfamiliar. We have been traveling for a month and have not found the way up."

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Having found no way in, we have no choice but to return. Does anyone here know the way to the Jade Void Palace? Let us go and pray there."

Upon hearing this, the the Monks all shook their heads, none of them recognizing the entrance to the Jade Void Palace.

One of the Human Way, "Since that's the case, why don't we ask Guanyin Bodhisattva to go and borrow it?"

The Monks echoed this sentiment.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Very well. In any case, let's borrow the Treasure Banner first."

So the the Monks once again blocked the Mountain Gate Spirit Mountain and cried out.

Kasyapa came out upon hearing the noise and shouted, "What are you crying about again! What are you crying about again!"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "I and the Horse-Head Arhat went to the Jade Void Palace to borrow the Treasure Banner, but we found that Kunlun Mountain was too high and we did not know the way up, so we had to return. Let us follow the World-Honored One's instructions and ask the Bodhisattva Guanyin of the South Sea to borrow it!"

Kasyapa said, "You all disregard the World-Honored One's teachings and waste your efforts; you are truly foolish and ignorant! I will go to the Southern Sea to invite the Bodhisattva over!"

The Monks bowed in gratitude.

Kasyapa then went to the Southern Sea, sought Guanyin Bodhisattva, and explained the reason.

Guanyin Bodhisattva then received the Tathagata Buddha's decree and went to the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun, where she met the White Crane Boy.

The White Crane Boy bowed and said, "The Bodhisattva already knows why the Bodhisattva has come. Please Bodhisattva in the side hall while I go fetch the flag."

Guanyin Bodhisattva thanked her and waited in the side hall, but she noticed that the side hall had been inhabited before, and it seemed somewhat familiar to her.

So they walked around the hall. There were still some materials in the Fire Room, and the beds and Bedding still in use and had not been stored away.

Guanyin Bodhisattva pressed her hand down and recognized him; indeed, it was her disciple.

It turns out that her disciple had long been a regular visitor to the Jade Void Palace, but he had kept it a secret from her!