Rescue the Bhikshu Kingdom (18)

Meanwhile, Guanyin Bodhisattva came to the Jade Void Palace to borrow the Treasure Banner. She recognized that the side hall was Ao Tu's residence and knew that Ao Tu had a close relationship with the Jade Void Palace.

On the other side, the White Crane Boy arrived at the pavilion, picked up the chessboard from the game the master had played two days prior, and with a shake, it transformed into the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, the chess squares into the mountains and rivers of the world, and the chess stars into Golden Lotus Flowers.

The White Crane Boy took the Treasure Banner and returned to the side hall. Finding Guanyin Bodhisattva absent, he called out, "Bodhisattva! Bodhisattva!"

Hearing the call, Guanyin Bodhisattva quickly came out from inside.

The White Crane Boy presented the Apricot Yellow Banner flag, saying, "The Treasure Banner is here; please take it, Bodhisattva!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva bowed in gratitude, accepted the Treasure Banner, and asked, "Does the Sage have any further instructions?"

The White Crane Boy said, "Master said that the Bodhisattva descended the mountain in accordance with the will of Heavenly Dao. From now on, monks and Daoists are one family. If we cannot defeat him, we can borrow the Jade Ruyi again."

Guanyin Bodhisattva bowed in gratitude again, then departed with the Treasure Banner.

In a short while, they arrived at Spirit Mountain and met the the Monks.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva, "Bodhisattva, have you borrowed the Treasure Banner?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva displays the flag.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva was overjoyed and reached out to take it, but the Treasure Banner revealed ten thousand Golden Lotus, Vishnu Bodhisattva could not remove.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "This is Treasure of Jade Void. The Sage bestowed this treasure upon us, and we dare not let it be lost. Let us go together!"

The Vishnu Bodhisattva had no choice but to agree.

The Monks arrived together in the Bhikshu Kingdom, Vishnu Bodhisattva revealed his True Form and met the King of the Bhikshu Kingdom.

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom knelt in fear and worship.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "I am a member of the Western Heaven Buddhist Sect, sent down from the mountain by the Tathagata Buddha to assist Wise Ruler. Your Majesty need not be so formal. I have heard that there are rebellious ministers causing unrest in Your Majesty's country?"

The King of Bhikkhu said, "May the Buddha have mercy! Rebellious elements are causing chaos in our kingdom, misleading the people and breeding traitors. I raised an army to attack them, but we encountered a sorcerer at Willow Grove Slope, preventing our army from entering. Now, many days have passed, and our supplies are running low, making our situation extremely difficult."

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Your Majesty, do not worry, let me go and investigate!"

After speaking, the the Monks went to Willow Grove Slope.

They saw military tents, and two thousand soldiers were stationed on the riverbank, cooking over fires.

The Monks revealed their True Form, explained their origins, and asked where the demon was.

The general said, "There is a strange formation right in front of the willow grove. We don't know what kind of formation it is, and we can't get in. The sorcerer is inside the formation."

When the the Monks arrived at the front of the formation, they saw:

Gates overlapped, a chilling aura filled the air, a strange mist hung in the air, and gusts of cold wind swept through. Golden Light shone above the azure sky, and five colors enveloped the clouds. The Green Lion Sword of Tai'a, and a lofty and extraordinary man appeared.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "What a wicked person! Do you truly intend to aid and abet evil, defying the Buddha's decree's decree?"

Manjushri Bodhisattva said, "Today's achievements are all due to the individual's abilities; why say more?"

The two then engaged in battle.

Ao Tu heard the fighting and called Wukong to come out and watch.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva has four heads and four arms, with a blue-green complexion. His name means "entering all things in the world." He is one of the three ancient gods of the Western Sacred River, along with Mahakala Bodhisattva and Great Brahma King. He has also long since entered the Great Luo Realm, but his temperament is more stable than that of Mahakala Bodhisattva and Great Brahma King, who are more irritable and easily angered.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva, wielding a Vajras Precious Staff, fought against the Manjushri Bodhisattva.

Manjushri Bodhisattva had lofty aspirations but had not yet entered the realm of the Great Luo. Therefore, in terms of sheer strength, he could not Vishnu Bodhisattva. The Green Lion beneath him opened its mouth and bit at the Vishnu Bodhisattva.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva summoned his Mount, the Garuda King, also known as the Wonderful-Winged Divine Bird, with a human face and an eagle's beak, whose wings could cover the sky. Ao Tu had eaten one before.

Garuda King pounced on the Green Lion Green Lion, grabbed its mane, and flipped Green Lion over.

Seeing that the Bodhisattva Vishnu had gained the upper hand, forty or fifty of the other Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and monks who had been observing stepped forward to help him.

Upon seeing this, Manjushri Bodhisattva retreated into the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, whereupon he manifested a Taiji Formation, proclaiming. "The Great Dao is no ordinary Dao, the mystery within mystery is even more mysterious. Whoever can comprehend it will see the Primordial Heaven within a short distance."

The Vishnu Bodhisattva and King Garuda, along with the the Monks, entered the formation and found it surrounded by impenetrable Copper Walls and Iron Ramparts, a perfect balance of Yin and Yang, impossible to break through.

Manjushri Bodhisattva bound Garuda King with the Demon-Binding Rope, threw him to the ground, and with a flick of the Sword of Tai'a, his head fell to the ground. Garuda King's True Spirit then entered the calamity.

Then Eighteen Arhats appeared from the formation: the Long-Browed Arhat, the Cloth-Bag Arhat, the Ear-Picking Arhat, and the Reaching-Hand Arhat. Each of them led many Vajras Bhikshus and surrounded the the Monks.

The Long-Browed Arhat swung out his long eyebrows, killing a whole group of people.

The Cloth-Bag Arhat untied his cloth bag, and a Demon Snake flew out, biting and killing a whole bunch of people.

The Ear-Picking Arhat flicked his finger, killing a whole bunch of them.

The Reaching-Hand Arhat arms reached out and swatted a whole bunch of them to death.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva and his entourage were trapped in the formation, unable to move forward, backward, up, or down, and could only stand and take the beating.

Ao Tu laughed and said to Wukong, "How's my grand formation? I originally saved it for you, but I didn't expect to use it on these people."

Wukong said, "From now on, I'll recognize this formation. If I encounter it again, I'll know it's you, you Demon Dragon, causing trouble, and I'll avoid you in advance."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Don't worry, I have other Formation saved for you."

On the field, before long only the Vishnu Bodhisattva remained. Although the Vishnu Bodhisattva was at the Great Luo Realm, he could not withstand being beaten while standing still, and he lost his color, hurriedly crying out, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, save me!"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva unfurled the central apricot-yellow flag, which was then surrounded by ten thousand golden lotus auspicious clouds, enveloping the Bodhisattva of Universal Entry.

Ao Tu was overjoyed to see another Treasure Banner. "What a good Teacher! He loves me so much; isn't this yet, another flag he's brought me?"

He then leaped down, offering up the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity to cover the Heaven and Earth, containing all things.

The Monks were greatly alarmed.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva alarm, "Oh no! This Demon Dragon has healed!"

Upon seeing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva unfurled the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, which was ten thousand miles long and covered the the Monks. Ten thousand Golden Lotus protected her, making it extremely heavy, and held the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity in mid-air.

Previously, Guanyin Bodhisattva's Southern Earth-Leaving Flame-Light Banner was taken away by Ao Tu. This was because the Flame-Light Banner was not good at defense, and Guanyin Bodhisattva had something to say to Ao Tu, so she let go of the banner.

Now that Guanyin Bodhisattva has seized the flag, Ao Tu cannot easily take it away. He can only take the two thousand troops outside into the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity.

Ao Tu did not forcibly take it. He exchanged a glance with Guanyin Bodhisattva, understanding her intention, and then said, "Teacher, why must you aid and abet evil?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, "What do you mean by this?"

Ao Tu said, "Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva all came to my aid, simply because that Old King was foolish and recklessly started a war. The Three Bodhisattvas acted in accordance with the Heavenly Dao. How could you not know this, Teacher?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "The Buddha instructed me to borrow the Apricot Yellow Banner banner to assist a wise ruler, Future to investigate his wisdom."

Ao Tu said, "In that case, let us cease hostilities for now and resume fighting after we have investigated the situation."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Alright."

Ao Tu then accepted the Golden Bushel of Primordial Unity.

Guanyin Bodhisattva also removed the Treasure Banner.

Ao Tu was about to go back.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Wait a moment, those Mortal are innocent. For my sake, spare them."

Ao Tu said, "I do not harm Mortal. It is only because autumn is ending and winter is approaching, and the weather is getting colder. These Mortal rely on thin porridge and wild vegetables to survive, which I fear they may not be able to do. Therefore, I have taken them in and will treat them well."

Guanyin Bodhisattva exclaimed joyfully, "Excellent! Excellent!"

Ao Tu then took his leave.

Guanyin Bodhisattva and the the Monks returned to the Bhikshu Kingdom.

The Vishnu Bodhisattva and others advised, "Bodhisattva, do not believe the words of that Demon Dragon."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "I will ask the King and then I will know."

The Vishnu Bodhisattva said, "Let's go together!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "No, if you all go together, the King will recognize you and won't tell the truth. I was in Heaven before, and the King had never seen me before, so he was able to get the truth out of me."

Seeing this, the the Monks had no choice but to agree, praying in their hearts that the King.

Guanyin Bodhisattva then descended upon the Palace.

The King of the Bhikshu Kingdom was astonished by her beauty! Although he had been a ruler for decades and had even ascended to the Heavenly Realm to see celestial maidens, he had never encountered such extraordinary beauty! Where in the world could such beauty be found? He reasoned that even the celestial realm could not possess it! How could he have come to meet her?