Rescue the Bhikshu Kingdom (Twenty-two)

Meanwhile, Amitabha Buddha broke the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, Ao Tu was defeated and fled, and all matters were settled.

Only then did the three dare to come out.

Who are these three people?

With a dragon-patterned belt and a jade belt, a radiant and serene face, a long beard in five strands, and holding Ruyi scepter, he exudes a benevolent aura. He is none other than the Heavenly Official Bestowing Fortune Star Star Lord!

He wears a crown and turban, a blue robe and wide belt, with a humble and gentle countenance. He holds a child and a jade tablet, signifying nobility, honor, and fame. He is the Wenchang Si Lu True Lord.

He was a figure shrouded in ethereal clouds, with a broad forehead, a prominent head, and completely white hair and beard. His face was like that of a child, and he held a staff with a dove-shaped handle, carrying a peach of immortality. He was none other than the Southern Pole Old Man True Lord.

The Deer Spirit was originally the Mount of the God of Longevity Star, who was ordered to enter the city to cause trouble. The Longevity Star calculated that Tang Sanzang and his disciples had arrived in Bhikkhu City, so he came to subdue the Deer Spirit.

But under the Great Calamity, things change unpredictably. Even if Ao Tu possessed the Hetu Luoshu, he dared not claim to be able to accurately predict what would happen during the calamity. How could the Longevity Star possibly predict it accurately?

When the Longevity Star arrived in the Bhikshu Kingdom and saw the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, he thought to himself that such a great formation was rare and should not be enjoyed alone, so he quickly summoned the Fortune Star and the Prosperity Star as well.

And so, the Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity waited outside until everything was settled before daring to come out and, upon meeting the Sage Amitabha Buddha, would first pay homage.

Amitabha Buddha smiled and returned the greeting, then asked:

"What brings the Three Elders Star Lords here?"

The Longevity Star said, "Previously, the Donghua Emperor passed through my Desolate Mountain, and I left him with a chess piece, but unexpectedly, he left on foot. That Deer Spirit that wreaked havoc in the Bhikshu Kingdom was my beast."

Amitabha Buddha smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then take it!"

The God of Longevity Star expressed his gratitude and called out, at which point the Deer Spirit transformed into White Deer and rushed out.

Longevity Star old man, who was about to ride away on a deer, heard the deer cry out, and a beautiful woman came running out.

It turned out that during the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, the two demons were afraid of fighting and hid inside the Qinghua Manor. Therefore, when the other demons left, the two demons were unable to retreat together.

The White Deer stretched its neck, wanting to embrace the beauty.

Longevity Star old man swept his sleeve, sending the beauty flying. She reverted to her Original Form, a white-faced Fox Spirit, and cursed, "You vile creature! What do you have for such a filthy thing? You've defiled my immortal island!"

The White Deer lowered its head, not daring to refute.

The Fox Spirit knelt on the ground begging, but no one paid her any attention.

The old man, the God of Longevity Star, was about to ride away on his deer when a child's voice called out, "Immortal Household, immortal!"

The Longevity Star man looked and saw that it was a boy, about ten years old, who walked with a righteous air and was not afraid of the gods and Buddhas. Behind him were some officials, commoners and soldiers. Although they were old, they all hid behind the boy and were timid.

The Little Crown Prince said, "The Immortal Household must be the Southern Pole Longevity Star Old Man."

The Longevity Star laughed and said, "Child, who are you? How do you recognize me?"

The Little Crown Prince said, "I am of royal blood from the Bhikshu Kingdom, and my master instructed me to collect a debt from you, sir!"

The Longevity Star asked, "Who is your master? Why are you demanding a debt from me?"

The Little Crown Prince said, "My master just left by boat. He said he saw the three of you hiding outside and not coming to see him, and he would question you about your impolite behavior another day. Your master's mount Mount disaster to our State Altars, causing the royal bloodline to wither and die, leaving only me. If I die young, my family line will end; or if I lack the virtue, I will have no wife in the future. Isn't this your debt, master?"

The old man who Longevity Star laughed heartily, patted the Little Crown Prince's head, and said:

"You're quite clever, child, just like that boy Dongfang Shuo. If you hadn't already become my disciple, I would have taken you on as my apprentice. Well then, since that's the case, what you say makes sense, so I'll grant you some more lifespan."

The Fortune Star said, "Then I will bestow some blessings upon you!"

Prosperity Star said, "I have nothing else to give you, but please bestow some literary talent upon me!"

The Three Elders were about to bestow their favor.

A man, panting heavily, cried out, "Don't bestow it, don't bestow it, it should be given to me!"

The Three Elders turned their heads and saw the Old King rushing over, panting, wiping the sweat from his face, which was Filth and salty.

The Three Elders asked, "Who are you?"

The Old King said, "I am the King of this Bhikshu Kingdom. Immortal Household the immortals wish to bestow blessings, they should bestow them upon me!"

Upon seeing this, the Little Crown Prince stepped forward and said:

"Grandfather, you have acted perversely and cruelly, and no one in the country recognizes you anymore. What right do you have to call yourself King? I am now the new king!"

The Old King pointed at the Little Crown Prince and scolded, "You traitor! I have never abdicated the throne to you, so who has?"

The Little Crown Prince said, "Although there is no one to pass the throne to me, the people of the country have all supported me as the new king!"

The Old King roared, "Nonsense! Who has enthroned him? Who has enthroned him!"

The people behind the Little Crown Prince were somewhat frightened upon hearing this, but ultimately some of them stepped forward first. These were young officials, who had grown up from the children who had once been threatened with having their hearts and livers removed by the Old King. They spoke at this moment:

"We support it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the others were encouraged, and farmers, merchants, and Artisans all stood up and said, "We support him!"

Finally, many soldiers also stood up to support him!

The Old King, somewhat frightened, retreated, just in time to see the army approaching from behind. He hurriedly shouted, "Quickly! Kill this traitor!"

The soldiers hesitated and dared not advance.

The Little Crown Prince said, "I have heard that you are all citizens of the city, captured and conscripted into the army. If I become king, I will surely pardon your crimes and release you to return home. Farmers who till the land can continue tilling the land, merchants who trade can continue trading, and craftsmen can continue working. Do you intend to abandon what I have said for this person and continue to wield swords and wage war?"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers wavered and laid down their weapons.

The Old King said urgently, "Don't listen to him! Kill the traitor, and I will appoint you to high positions and reward you handsomely!"

The Little Crown Prince said, "Can you really believe the words of Monarch harms his own people for the sake of longevity?"

Upon hearing this, the army all turned their weapons against the Old King and supported the new monarch.

The Old King was so frightened that he was drenched in sweat, his clothes completely soaked. Seeing Amitabha Buddha nearby, he grasped at it as his last lifeline, scrambling over and grabbing Amitabha Buddha's leg, crying out:

"Buddha! Buddha! Didn't you come to help me? These people have rebelled! Please save me! Once the rebellion is quelled, I will grant you the Incense Offerings to you!"

Amitabha Buddha saw that the Old King was a clay sculpture and did not wish to pay him any attention.

The Old King's tears and sweat fell, staining Amitabha Buddha's legs and feet, leaving a foul, fishy smell.

Amitabha Buddha wondered where this clay was made from, since mud and water shouldn't be so Filth.

Wukong Bajie Sha Wujing, and Sha Wujing had been secretly watching from behind. But when Wukong saw the muddy water, he realized something was wrong and quickly pulled Bajie and Sha Wujing back, saying, "Stop looking! Stop looking!"

Bajie asked, "What's wrong?"

Sha Wujing asked, "Why aren't you watching anymore?"

Wukong said, "I've caught a chill! My head is throbbing! Let's go back! Let's go back!"

So they forcibly dragged Bajie and Sha Wujing back.

The Old King continued to pray to Amitabha Buddha.

Amitabha Buddha found it extremely distasteful and ignored it.

The Little Crown Prince said, "Grandfather, your lifespan has long since ended, why bother with this!"

The Old King said, "I am still strong and capable of leading troops into battle. How can my life be coming to an end?"

The Little Crown Prince took out a bronze mirror and said, "Take a look. You are made of clay; you are no longer human!"

This is the very person who harmed children, and died because of the words of children.

Upon hearing this, the Old King was filled with fear and dared not accept the mirror.

Upon seeing this, the soldier beside him took the bronze mirror and reflected the Old King's image. His face was covered in Filth and sweat, which was nothing short of mud.

The Old King wept, saying, "How could this be? How could this be? The immortal said my lifespan was no different from my destiny. Am I destined to die here?"

The tears that fell were actually muddy.

The Old King grew even more terrified, and the more he feared, the more tears and sweat he shed, until his face gradually blurred. In his panic, he knelt before Amitabha Buddha and begged for mercy, but Amitabha Buddha ignored him. Before everyone's eyes, the Old King turned into a lump of mud and fell onto Amitabha Buddha's feet.

It was the height of summer, and the mud had a foul odor that everyone could smell, but no one dared to speak of it.

Amitabha Buddha was extremely angry.

The clay sculpture of the Old King crumbled, his Dispersed Soul and Scattered Spirit, leaving only a trace of his True Spirit.

Amitabha Buddha raised his hand and erased that True Spirit as well.

All traces of the Old King have vanished.

No one knew anything about the Old King anymore.

But the filth was made by Ao Tu, and even Amitabha Buddha couldn't wipe it off; it remained on his feet.

However, no one remembered how the sauerkraut had come about.