Interesting Journey to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom (Twenty-Three)

Meanwhile, the Patriarch Styx used his Supernatural Ability to defeat 100,000 Buddhist Soldiers.

Kasyapa, Nezha, Wukong, and Heavenly King Li's Pagoda all fled.

Heavenly King Li was flicked by the Patriarch Styx, whose residual force severely injured him. He coughed up blood and fell from the clouds, where he was captured by the combined efforts of the Ground-Digging Tiger and the One-Eyed Dragon.

The remaining Buddhist Soldiers, pursued by Million Blood Soldiers, tumbled and crawled, some soaring through the clouds, others riding the mist, some burrowing underground, and others moving swiftly. But those who were a little slower were caught by the Blood Soldiers and turned into a pool of filthy blood, flowing into the Blood Sea.

With neither Kasyapa nor Heavenly King Li present, the the Monks were leaderless and in complete disarray. They threw away their Monk's Robes Alms Bowl, Gong and Qing, took off their Buddhist Prayer Beads, and abandoned their prayer beads, all scrambling to escape. Vajras dragged down the bhikkhus, the Vajras pushed down the Bhikkhu, the Bhikkhu tripped up the Śrāmaṇera, and the Śrāmaṇera, having no one to trip over, could only turn into blood.

In an instant, the mountains and fields were filled with wailing and howling, and tens of thousands of monks died. The remaining monk soldiers fled to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom City, breaking into every household and hiding in each one. The Blood Soldiers, seeing that the Cult Leader's family lived in the city, feared to offend them and did not enter the city.

In the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom, the King had already suppressed the Buddhist monks, and thus did not worship the Buddha. The fact that the king had previously supported numerous monks had already angered the people. Now, the monk soldiers had suffered a major defeat, destroying doors and windows, and breaking into people's homes, where they fled in disarray, further fueling the people's resentment.

The monks ignored the likes and dislikes of Mortal, simply sitting and chanting scriptures, awaiting the Buddha's decree.

Some wounded monks, whose Dharma Body were damaged and whose Gold Lacquer was ruined, went to the King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom to ask for Incense Offerings to rebuild their Dharma Body.

The King of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom, fearing the gods and Buddhas, dared not refuse, so he ordered people to set up Incense Offerings in the city and forced the people to offer incense and worship the Buddha.

The people's resentment intensified.

Ao Tu's family was also forced to worship Buddha.

Ao Tu, hand in hand with his elderly wife, offered Incense Offerings to the Buddha.

Guanyin Bodhisattva secretly pinched Ao Tu's palm.

After offering incense, Ao Tu asked, "Old Woman, why did you pinch me for no reason? Why is it that coming here to worship Buddha doesn't suit your taste?"

Seeing that there were many people around, Guanyin Bodhisattva decided not to say much. She disguised herself as a virtuous wife, took Ao Tu's arm, and walked outside to a secluded place. There, she began to fidget with her hands, face, and ears, making strange gestures.

Ao Tu asked, "Why are you angry now?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "When we came, you tricked me by transforming into an Old Man and an Old Granny, plotting to make the King Buddhist Dharma. Now what? You Demon Dragon are deceiving me again! From now on, I will never believe a word you say!"

Ao Tu said, "What's going on now? The Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom Buddhism, but now everyone worships Buddha. Isn't that all thanks to me? So how can it not please you?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said, "Although they have worshipped Buddha, they all harbor resentment in their hearts!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "What a wonderful Bodhisattva! How could I possibly control whether they worship or not, or whether they harbor resentment in their hearts?"

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva glared at Ao Tu in anger and remained silent.

Ao Tu tried to coax her a few times, but to no avail, so he could only say:

"Your Birthday is in a few days, Nineteenth Day of the Second Month. I'll throw a banquet for you."

Guanyin Bodhisattva was relieved after hearing this.

Meanwhile, Wukong chased after Kasyapa, returning all the way to Spirit Mountain, until they reached the Mountain Gate.

Kasyapa tried to escape back, but Wukong caught him and asked, "Where are you going?"

Kasyapa said, "I'm going back to the mountain!"

Wukong said, "The enemy has not surrendered, how can you flee in the face of battle, Venerable?"

Kasyapa lied, saying, "I went to retrieve the Magic Treasure because I forgot to bring Magic Treasure!"

Wukong asked, "What Magic Treasure? I'll go get it!"

Kasyapa then said, "There are still Kasaya to change."

Wukong wouldn't let him leave either.

The two argued at the gate for a long time. The old Bhikshu Monk the gate came over and said, "Great Sage, Venerable Kasyapa, please do not argue outside the gate. It would be very inappropriate if someone saw you. If you have anything to say, go and say it before the Buddha!"

Upon hearing this, the two entered the temple, went up to the Precious Hall, and met the Tathagata.

Wukong then explained the situation.

After hearing this, the Tathagata Buddha said:

"Wukong, that person is truly beyond my jurisdiction, and even Kasyapa would find it difficult to subdue him. How about this, I'll show you a clear path; go and seek it out."

Wukong said, "This disciple is willing to listen to the Buddha's teachings."

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Search in the Western Ox Continent."

Wukong said, "Great Monk monk, you're so petty! You can't even give me clear pointers! If you tell me what mountain or cave it is, Old Sun, can go and find it. But if you say Western Ox Continent, how long will Old Sun to find it?"

The Tathagata Buddha shook his head and laughed, "You mischievous monkey! Very well, I'll give you a couple more pointers!"

Wukong exclaimed joyfully, "Please speak! Please speak!"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Do you recognize that person?"

Wukong asked, "Do I recognize it?"

The Tathagata Buddha nodded and said, "Remember this: where you came from, and where you are going!"

Wukong listened and pondered carefully.

"Where do we come from, and where are we going?"

In fact, the Tathagata Buddha had already made it very clear: he wanted Wukong to go back to the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom, find Ao Tu, and resolve this predicament.

Unfortunately, Wukong failed to understand. Carrying these two sentences with him, he rode his Somersault Cloud and searched bitterly for half a month in the Western Ox Continent, looking for many deities, but he could not find the slightest trace of them.

In a daze, Wukong smelled the fragrance of peaches and descended from the clouds to find a mountain of Rotten Peach Mountain. Wukong sat on a peach tree and picked a few peaches to eat.

The peach was still green and not fully ripe, but Wukong took two bites and didn't find it astringent; instead, it felt familiar.

Looking up, I saw that it was indeed a Blessed Land of Immortal Mountain. No wonder the fragrance of peach blossoms wafted over even though it was still cold.

Good Immortal Mountain:

A thousand peaks stand like halberds, ten thousand cliffs unfold like a screen. Sunlight reflects on the misty haze, lightly locking in the verdant green; rain stops, the dark green is coldly tinged with blue. Withered vines entwine old trees, an ancient ferry marks a secluded path. Rare flowers and auspicious herbs, evergreen for ten thousand years, rival this Blessed Land; tall bamboos and pines, never fading in Four Seasons, surpass even the legendary Penglai.

Wukong looked for a moment, then suddenly remembered something. He quickly got up, Somersault Cloud, and went out. He kowtowed on the cloud and said:

"I'm dizzy! I'm dizzy! No wonder it felt so familiar, it's the Old Mountain Gate! But how did I end up here? I suppose it's because I'm homesick. I hope the Patriarch understands and won't blame his disciple!"

Wukong respectfully kowtowed nine times before daring to rise. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered Tathagata the Buddha had said and couldn't help but think, "Where did I come from, and where am I going?" Could it be that he was sending me, Old Sun, here to pay homage to the Patriarch?

Consider that the Tathagata Buddha is the supreme Buddha of the Western Heaven; how many people can he not control?

The more Wukong thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He also wondered if his arrival at this place was not a coincidence, but rather the result of guidance from his Patriarch.

Thinking of this, Wukong considered returning, but dared not venture further. He kowtowed and knelt on the cloud, saying, "Patriarch, may I enter?"

No one paid any attention.

Wukong then said, "Patriarch, I know I was wrong. May I be allowed to enter?"

He then said, "Patriarch, I know I was wrong. May I go in?"

Still, no one paid any attention.

Wukong hesitated on the cloud, unsure whether to go in. Lost in thought, he suddenly remembered what the old man had said, "How could parents, even if they say a few harsh words, really bear to kick their own child out of the house?"

The more Wukong thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He was an orphan, and the Patriarch was like a parent to him. He had been too young back then; if he had truly knelt and worshipped before the Patriarch for several days, how could the Patriarch have bear to expel him? Therefore, he wanted to return to the Mountain Gate to pay his respects to the Patriarch. Just as he was about to set off, he realized that his hands were empty. How could he enter?

After much thought, he realized that even the Immortal in Heaven were afraid of him borrowing so much. The monks of Spirit Mountain were already considered honest for not asking him for favors in return, let alone uttering a single word of "borrowing." How could he possibly give a meager gift when he returned to see his Patriarch?

After much thought, the only option in the Three Realms is to go to the Netherworld Realm, to the Blood Sea, to borrow from his Dragon Brother.

His Dragon Brother, the Dragon, possessed many treasures; only by borrowing fine gifts from him could he properly present them to the Patriarch.