Encountering a Monster at Zhenhai Temple (5)

Now, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, having separated from the Rat Spirit, Journey to the West, cutting through thorns and brambles. After traveling twenty or thirty miles, the sky gradually darkened in the forest.

The four travelers, who were worried about having nowhere to stay, heard a bell ring and exclaimed with delight, "There must be a temple or monastery ahead! Let's go! Let's go!"

Continuing forward, parting the Willow Shade, there indeed was a temple.

Tang Sanzang instructed Wukong and the others to stand outside, then he went closer and knocked on the door.

Wukong and the others then stood under the willow tree and waited.

Tang Sanzang approached the temple Mountain Gate, only to find it crooked and dilapidated. Pushing it open, he saw that the Palace Hall inside were dilapidated and collapsed, and the corridors were desolate and crumbling. All that remained were broken bricks and tiles, crooked beams and pillars, clumps of grass, piles of dust, old and broken bells and drums, and broken Incense Burner burners. The Golden Body of Buddha had lost its color, and Guanyin had been soaked and turned into mud.

Summoning his courage, Tang Sanzang ventured inside. Entering the second door, he saw a large bell embedded in the ground. The upper half was as white as snow, and the lower half as blue as indigo. It turned out that over the years, the upper part had been whitened by rain, while the lower part had developed a coppery patina.

Tang Sanzang touched the bell, but before he could even feel a sense of awe, a feeling of fear arose within him. He wondered how he could have heard the Old Bell ringing so loudly just now, and whether he had encountered Demon.

Tang Sanzang couldn't help but back away. The temple was messy, leaking everywhere, covered with weeds and moss, and filled with broken tiles and bricks. Tang Sanzang was afraid, and his legs trembled uncontrollably. He slipped and fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

Inside the temple, a Taoist who tended the Incense Offerings heard the commotion and came out. Tang Sanzang had fallen to the ground, and since it was late, the Taoist couldn't see him and didn't dare to approach him easily. So he took a broken tile and threw it on the bell, which rang out with a "clang".

Tang Sanzang said fearfully, "So it's Old Bell that has become a spirit! You were painstakingly cast by a monk who smelted copper, and you've long been a powerful figure before the Buddha. Please don't harm me, monk, and spare me!"

Taoist human voices, the Daoist priest knew it wasn't Demon Evil, so he rushed forward and, seeing Tang Sanzang lying on the ground, helped him up, saying:

"Don't be afraid, sir. It's not that the bell has become a spirit. I was tending the Incense Offerings at the temple when I heard the noise and came out to investigate. Because it was late, I was afraid it might be Demon Evil, so I struck the bell with a tile to scare it away."

Tang Sanzang was relieved upon hearing this and said, "You frightened me to death! My hands and feet are numb now. Please help me up."

The Taoist then helped Tang Sanzang inside.

After passing through three layers of doors, the scenery was completely different from the outside.

Blue bricks form a wall adorned with Colored Clouds clouds, green tiles cover a glazed palace. Golden statues adorn the holy images, white jade steps form the steps. Azure Light dances above the Mahavira Hall, auspicious air arises Vira Pavilion. The Manjushri Hall is adorned with colorful flying Auspicious Qi; the Sutra Wheel Hall Manjushri painted with flowers and piled with emeralds. Atop the three eaves is a pointed Treasure Bottle, in the Five Blessings Tower is a flat embroidered canopy. A thousand green bamboos sway on the meditation couch, ten thousand kinds of green pines reflect the Buddhist Sect.

Tang Sanzang dared not enter, and asked, "Taoist, your temple is quite different before and after, why is that?"

The Daoist priest Human Way, "Sir, you have come from afar and are unaware of our affairs here. There are many Yaoguai and bandits everywhere. During the day, they ambush and rob travelers and merchants on the mountain, and at night they hide in the temple. The monks of our temple are weak and dare not cause trouble, so we gave up the front and solicited Benefactor to build a temple in the back, one in the pure land and one in the chaotic land. This is a matter of the Western Heaven."

Tang Sanzang said, "So that's how it is. When I came here, I only thought the Western Heaven was a Buddhist land, but I didn't expect there to be so many Demon Evil here. To be honest, I encountered a Demon on the way who disguised himself as a beautiful woman and plotted to harm people."

The Daoist Human Way said, "In this Desolate Mountain wilderness, where could you find a beautiful woman? That's undoubtedly Yaoguai. If your resolve isn't firm, sir, let her capture and devour you. We see far too many such things here; young men are perfectly fine during the day, but by night they've turned into a pile of bones!"

As they talked, they walked inside and entered the Mountain Gate.

The Mountain Gate bore five large characters: "Zhenhai Chan Forest Temple".

When Tang Sanzang entered the temple, the abbot, a Lama, came out to greet him, and his appearance was different from that of China monks.

He wore a brocade hat with a left-hand hairpin and a woolen coat.

He shakes Balang Drum in his hand and chants Buddhist scriptures, but the meaning is unclear.

Seeing that Tang Sanzang had an extraordinary appearance, like an old Arhat descended to earth, the Lama monk approached Tang Sanzang with a smile, touching his nose, pinching his ears, and rubbing his hands and feet to show his friendliness. After the greetings, he invited him inside and asked:

Where did the Teacher come from?

Tang Sanzang said, "This disciple comes from the Great Tang Eastern Land, and is ordered to go to the Great Thunderclap Temple on Spirit Mountain Tianzhu Kingdom to Journey to the West scriptures. Passing through this place, I encountered Demon Evil and dare not sleep in the open. I request to stay at your temple for the Buddhist monastery, and will continue my journey tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, the Lama monk was incredulous. "You look respectable, but you don't tell the truth. The Great Tang is tens of thousands of miles away from here. How did you manage to get here all by yourself?"

Tang Sanzang said, "The Abbot is accurate. If I were alone, I certainly wouldn't have been able to come to your temple. It was only because I took in three disciples along the way, all of whom are skilled, and they protected me all the way that I was able to reach this place."

The Lama asked, "Where is my esteemed disciple?"

Tang Sanzang said, "Because they are ugly, I was afraid they would disturb the monks of your temple, so I instructed them to wait Mountain Gate."

The Lama monk hurriedly said, "Quickly invite them in! Once it gets dark here, thieves and ghosts will appear. We must not leave anyone outside!" After saying this, he called two young Lama to go out and invite the person in.

The two young Lama came out of the temple and, seeing Wukong and his companions, were so frightened that they tumbled and stumbled back into the temple, saying, "Teacher, your family's Creation is too low!"

Tang Sanzang asked, "Why Creation so low?"

The young Lama said, "Your disciples have all been eaten; only three Demon remain outside. One has Thunder Duke's mouth, one has big ears, and one has an indigo face!"

Tang Sanzang said, "They are my three disciples. Although they look a bit strange, they are all good people and have no ill intentions."

Upon hearing this, the Lama instructed him to go and invite someone else.

The young Lama then mustered his courage and invited Wukong and the others in.

The group then exchanged greetings, Lama monks arranged for Buddhist vegetarian meal and lodging, which will not be discussed further.

Meanwhile, the Rat Spirit, following Ao Tu's instructions, sneaked into the temple under the cover of night and encountered two monks. One was older, the senior monk; the other was younger, the junior monk.

The two men emerged carrying teapots and food trays, having just offered Buddhist vegetarian meal to Tang Sanzang and his disciples. The junior disciple muttered, "These monks really can eat; they didn't leave a single scrap."

The senior monk said, "They are monks who have traveled a long way, and they eat enough for ten days in one day, so naturally they all have big bellies. This saves us trouble, and the dishes are easier to wash."

Upon seeing them, the Rat Spirit prepared to capture the two.

She slipped into the Fire Room beforehand, pressed her slender waist down, buried her head in the Rice Jar, and stuck out her pert buttocks, their contours alluring, waiting for the two monks to enter.

Before long, two monks came in, put down the teapot and food tray, and glanced at the figure of the Rat Spirit. They were immediately captivated.

The junior brother swallowed hard and asked, "Senior brother, what is that?"

The senior brother, his mouth dry and stammering, said, "I don't know either. Why don't you go and feel it?"

The junior brother took a step forward and said, "Shall I touch it?"

The senior brother said, "I'll go touch it!"

The two of them stepped forward together.

The Rat Spirit then raised its head, turned around, and saw the two of them. Startled, it fell to the ground, tears welling in its eyes, looking pitiful, and begged for mercy:

"Masters, please spare me! I didn't come to steal rice!"