Praying for Rain in Fengxian County (III)

The next morning, Tang Sanzang and his disciples heard a lot of noise outside, so they looked out from the Courier Station.

Outside, the crowds stretched as far as the eye could see, jostling each other from the west of the city to the Courier Station, with many more queuing behind to offer Incense and Candles, and other tributes.

Bajie clicked his tongue and said, "That magistrate really doesn't lie. With so many people, no wonder we can't get out!"

Wukong said, "Look at those offerings!"

Upon hearing this, the three looked over and saw a group of people offering various tributes.

The wealthy would have a precious candle with a copper base and a lampstand; those of lesser means would have Incense and Candles stick; and those of even lesser means would light an incense stick and hold it in their hand while holding a tray with offerings in their other hand.

If there's a vendor selling Incense Oil, a jar of Incense Oil is placed among the offerings; if there's a vendor selling candied fruit, a packet of candied fruit is placed; if there's a vendor selling cakes, a piece of cake is placed; if there's a vendor selling pancakes, a pancake is placed; if there's a vendor selling rouge and face powder, a box of rouge and face powder is placed; if there's an official, a memorial is placed; if there's a merchant, gold powder and gold Gold Lacquer are placed...

Tang Sanzang said, "No wonder I didn't see any other merchants doing business when I entered the city yesterday. It turns out they were leaving their goods for the day to offer today!"

Bajie laughed and said, "Master, that's not necessarily true. Those who sell water jars don't put water jars on their heads as offerings either."

Wukong laughed and said, "You fool, have you ever seen anyone offer you a jar?"

Just then, the mountain to the west of the city shook and made a rumbling sound.

The people cheered, "The Dharma Master is out! The Dharma Master is out!"

Sha Wujing asked, "Elder Brother, how does that mountain compare to the Five-Finger Mountain that crushes you?"

Wukong laughed, "Little Mountain like this isn't even as big as the tip of a finger! Old Sun, can shatter this mountain with a mere shake of my shoulder!"

Bajie said, "Brother, you're not exaggerating! I saw it with my Old Pig eyes when he was trapped under the Five-Finger Mountain. It's far more powerful than this mountain!"

Sha Wujing said, "Look, that Dharma Master has come out, and he's even carrying gold!"

Wukong, Bajie, and Tang Sanzang looked around.

Tang Sanzang's Flesh, with his mortal eyes, could not see far.

Wukong and Bajie saw it clearly; they saw a person walking from outside the city, covered in Golden Light.

Bajie exclaimed, "Oh dear! I've chosen the wrong profession!"

Wukong asked, "What do you mean, 'wrong profession'?"

Bajie said, "How could I, Old Pig, have listened to the Bodhisattva and become a monk back then? I've wasted these decades! If I had also brought rain to people, wouldn't I have become rich long ago! Look at that Golden Light all over his body, how much gold must he have!"

Wukong said, "Bajie, look closely! That's not gold at all; it's Golden Body consecrated through people's Incense Offerings Merit!"

Upon hearing this, Bajie rubbed his eyes and looked closely. He saw Celebration Cloud clouds and radiant light emanating from the statue, which was indeed Golden Body.

Wukong said, "For some reason, that person looks somewhat familiar to me."

Bajie said, "Everyone looks familiar!"

Wukong said, "Fool! What do you know? I really think you look familiar, but I don't know where I've seen you before. After everyone leaves, I'll go take a look, maybe I'll recognize you."

Not long after, the Dharma Master entered the city, received offerings from the people, and then stayed temporarily in a shrine that had already been built.

The people stood guard outside, offering sacrifices and kneeling in worship, never leaving for a single day.

Therefore, Wukong and his companions could not easily enter the pavilion to see the true face of this Dharma Master.

As night fell, the crowd, not daring to disturb the Dharma Master's rest, gradually dispersed.

Just as Wukong and his companions were about to go over, they saw a familiar face approaching.

It is the Water Virtue Star Lord.

Seeing this, Wukong quickly pulled Bajie and Sha Wujing to hide outside.

Water Virtue Star Lord entered the incense pavilion, but came out a moment later. Just as he was about to return to his underwater Aquatic Palace, he bumped into Wukong and his two companions.

Water Virtue Star Lord exclaimed in a panic, "Great... Great Sage!"

Wukong asked, "What brings you here so late at night, Star Lords?"

The Water Virtue Star Lord stammered, then suddenly cried out, "Great Sage, please do me justice! That monk just stole my Water Seal..."

Wukong grabbed the Water Virtue Star Lord's beard and sneered:

"Still lying? Old Sun just saw you walk in yourself, and you're saying someone stole your Water Seal?"

Bajie said, "That's right, I've never heard of anyone rushing over to let someone steal it."

At this moment, the incense pavilion opened, and the Dharma Master came out, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Great Sage, I stole the seal."

Upon hearing this, Wukong looked over and immediately recognized him, exclaiming, "Alu!"

Bajie asked, "Aren't you the monk from the Chechi Kingdom? What are you doing here?"

Alu said, "I was blessed by my master and entered the Great Dao. I also received the Dharma from Venerable Kasyapa and became familiar with the Buddhist scriptures. Later, my master gave me three Golden Elixir and instructed me to go to Spirit Mountain to worship Buddha. I obeyed my master's command and came here."

Wukong asked, "Then why didn't you go to Spirit Mountain, but instead stayed here?"

Alu said, "When I came to Fengxian County, I saw that there had been a severe drought for three years, with no rain falling and the people unable to survive. It was truly a tragedy! The prefect posted a notice seeking wise men to Rainmaking. I then tore down the notice, deceiving Heaven and Earth, and used the two Golden Elixir pills given to me by my master to trick the Water Virtue Star Lord, obtaining the document and sending down sweet rain. Although I saved the people, I also violated the Heavenly Laws and was suppressed here by Heavenly King Li."

Water Virtue Star Lord wept and said:

"Great Sage, if it weren't for this monk's trap, I wouldn't be in this situation!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong glared at the Water Virtue Star Lord and tugged at his beard. The Water Virtue Star Lord, feeling the pain, quickly stopped crying.

Wukong continued to ask Alu:

"I know what happened afterward, but there's still one thing I don't understand. I just saw the Water Virtue Star Lord come over by himself, so how can you say that you stole the seal?"

Alu said, "It is true that I stole it. I coerced and bribed him to give me the seal. Great Sage, you may not know, but the Water Virtue Star Lord actually a kind-hearted person. Seeing that this place is drought-stricken, he also wanted to do Merit deeds, but he was afraid of Heaven's punishment and dared not send rain. By taking the seal, it wouldn't be considered that he violated the Heavenly Laws, and I would even share the Merit with him. If he hadn't given it to me, I would have already cultivated Golden Body over the years, and he couldn't have defeated me. Therefore, he had no choice but to submit and hand over the Water Seal. So even though he handed it over voluntarily, I still stole it."

Water Virtue Star Lord said, "Great Sage, you heard it all! This monk is bullying me because of his Golden Body! Please, do justice for me!"

Wukong laughed and said, "Star Lords, you also received a share of the Merit, so how come you couldn't defeat him?"

The Water Virtue Star Lord said, "Although I received a share of the Merit, I received very little. He relied on his power to take the lion's share, seventy percent; I only received a small portion, thirty percent. This is truly unfair. Moreover, over the years I have used up all my Merit by bribing officials to seek forgiveness and absolution. I can only let him bully me!"

Wukong laughed and said, "Then I, Old Sun, have no choice. This monk has Golden Body body protecting him. If I beat him, I'm afraid Buddha will blame me. It would be better to report to the Heavenly Court and ask the Jade Emperor to deal with him!"

Water Virtue Star Lord hurriedly said, "You must not report this to the Heavenly Court!"

Alu said, "Great Sage, if we report this to the Heavenly Court, won't the Star Lords's affair be exposed? I'm fine, my master is a high god in the Heavenly Realm, he can plead for me and reduce my punishment. But I pity the Star Lords and the people here, they will probably suffer severe punishment!"

Upon hearing this, the Water Virtue Star Lord's face immediately fell.

Wukong glanced at the Water Virtue Star Lord, covered his mouth and chuckled, then deliberately asked, "What should we do then?"