Praying for rain in Fengxian County (13)

Meanwhile, Ao Tu made arrangements to send his disciple Alu to Spirit Mountain, where he was appointed by the Tathagata Buddha Rainfall Arhat, Attendant Venerable and managing the Scripture Pavilion.

As I walked back and forth, a year had passed in the human world.

In Fengxian County, there was not a trace of frost or snow in winter. It wasn't until the County Governor came looking for him that Tang Sanzang realized that winter had passed and the season of Awakening of Insects had arrived.

Fengxian County remained completely Rain Water.

Tang Sanzang said, "My County Marquis, don't be anxious. Have the rivers outside the city dried up as well?"

The old County Governor said, "Elder, the rivers and streams in the prefecture have long since dried up! First the rivers dried up, then the Well Water, then the mountain streams, and now even the deep wells built by Wealthy Household in the city are about to run dry! Without rain, the people will hardly survive. How can I not be anxious?"

Tang Sanzang calculated the days and said, "At this time last year, it was already the time when Master Alu brought rain."

The old County Governor said, "Indeed, now every household in the prefecture has cleaned their earthenware jars and pots, waiting only for the Rain Water. The Dharma Master originally said he would return in three days at the earliest, and no later than half a month, but now more than twenty days have passed and he still hasn't returned. The people are all filled with fear and anxiety!"

Bajie said, "What could it be? It seems that Alu hasn't been to the Spirit Mountain’s Sacred Realm. The Buddha held a vegetarian feast, and he couldn't resist having a few extra Buddhist vegetarian meal, which is why he's a little late. He'll be back in a few days!"

Tang Sanzang said, "That's very true. Master Alu is not a man of broken promises, County Marquis need not worry."

Upon hearing this, the old County Governor said with deep concern, "I hope it is as the elders say. I have a request, though; could you please stay a few more days so that the people of the city can feel at ease?"

Wukong said, "It's not us who brought the rain, so why should we stay?"

The old County Governor said, "It's because the people of the prefecture all know that the four elders are Holy Monk with magical powers. With the four elders around, the people have a reliable support. If the four elders leave, the people will surely be filled with fear. I'm afraid that rice will become expensive one day, vegetables the next, and firewood, rice, oil, and salt will all become a hundred times more expensive the next. At that time, the people of the prefecture will suffer!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong laughed and said, "I didn't expect that you, a henpecked official, would have some insight!"

The old County Governor sighed, "I wish I hadn't had this foresight. Elder, you don't know, decades ago, the prefecture didn't get rain for three years. At that time, the rich barely managed to survive, while the poor struggled to live! If it weren't for the arrival of the Dharma Master, the people of Fengxian County would have..."

Seeing this, Bajie advised Tang Sanzang, "Master, I think we should stay a few more days! We've been on this Journey to the West for so many years, what's one or two more days?"

Tang Sanzang said, "My County Marquis, there's no need to be so sad. My disciples and I will stay a few more days."

The old County Governor was delighted upon hearing this and arranged for Tang Sanzang and his disciples to stay at the Courier Station, where they were treated to lavish meals every day.

The people of the county were much more at ease and less fearful when they saw that Tang Sanzang and his disciples were still in the city, and continued to wait for the return of Master Alu.

And so, another ten days or so passed without any sign of movement.

The people grew increasingly panicked and fearful.

Rice and flour shops hoarded grain and refused to sell, causing prices to rise dozens of times in a single day.

Seeing that chaos was about to break out in the city, the old County Governor hurriedly found Tang Sanzang and said:

"Elder Tang, the people of the county are terrified, and the chaos is uncontrollable! Master Alu has not yet returned. Could it be that he has gone to Spirit Mountain and abandoned us?"

Tang Sanzang advised, "My County Marquis, there is no need to panic. Master Alu, for the sake of the people of Fengxian County, did not hesitate to break the Heavenly Laws and willingly endured being imprisoned in the deep mountains. He is a man of great virtue and would never break his promise to the people. Now that he has received the Buddha's bestowal, he must have become an Arhat or Bodhisattva. Once he reports to the Buddha, he will surely be able to save the Common People of Fengxian County and avert the disaster."

The old County Governor said, "Elder Tang, even so, I still can't rest easy!"

Bajie said, "You old man, what else are you worried about?"

The old County Governor said, "Even Arhat Bodhisattva are probably useless. Back then, Fengxian County didn't get rain for three years. We didn't know how many Arhat Bodhisattva we prayed to, but none of them showed any power. Master Alu hasn't returned yet, so I'm afraid he's encountered some difficulties. The elders are very powerful; could they go and inquire about his whereabouts for me?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang looked at Wukong and said, "Wukong, do you think we should go to Spirit Mountain?"

Wukong nodded and said, "Alright, Old Sun 'll go and see why Alu hasn't returned yet."

The old County Governor was overjoyed and ordered a vegetarian meal to be prepared.

Wukong Somersault Cloud to Spirit Mountain and went inside to look for Alu. He found Alu and Kasyapa traveling together toward the Treasure Pavilion.

Kasyapa said, "Venerable Alu, you are unaware that since Venerable Ananda's Reincarnation, this Treasure Pavilion has been unattended, so I have had to temporarily manage the accounts."

Alu said, "Venerable Kasyapa, you have worked hard."

Kasyapa smiled and said, "For the sake of all living beings, I dare not complain of hardship. It's just that my strength is ultimately insufficient. These days, the Rare Treasures offered from various places in the Western Heaven cannot be recorded in a timely manner, and the accounting is truly beyond my capabilities!"

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Alu smiled and said, "It's only human nature, Venerable Kasyapa, don't blame yourself too much. I will have these accounts sorted out, and I'd like you to Venerable them first to avoid any mistakes."

Kasyapa smiled broadly and, holding Alu's arm, said:

"Truly worthy of being the Rainfall Arhat of my Spirit Mountain! His Buddhist Dharma are profound! His understanding is extraordinary!"

Wukong called out, "Alu! Alu!"

The two turned around and saw Wukong.

Kasyapa said with displeasure, "Sun Wukong, why are you shouting and calling people by their names? This is the Rainfall Arhat, appointed by the Buddha himself, Attendant Venerable!"

After hearing this, Wukong clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said:

"Rainfall Arhat, how carefree you are! Having been bestowed the Rainfall Title', why have you forgotten your promise?"

Alu asked, "What promise is it?"

Wukong said, "The people of Fengxian County are all waiting for your timely rain! The crops in the fields are dying of drought!"

Alu said, "Great Sage, you are unaware that if you hadn't conferred the title of Arhat, you could still bring rain. Now that Arhat have, you can no longer bring rain!"

Wukong asked in confusion, "What did you say?"

Just as Alu was about to explain, Kasyapa waved his hand to shoo him away, saying, "We two have important matters to attend to. Why would we bother chatting about such a trivial thing?"

Wukong retorted angrily, "Kasyapa, the entire population of Fengxian County is dying of thirst, yet the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain turn a blind eye, and the Bodhisattva Arhat sit idly by and do nothing. What do you call such a trivial matter?"

Kasyapa pinched his little finger and said, "What business is it of Spirit Mountain with such a trivial matter! The Buddha has clearly decreed that we are not allowed to go down the mountain to cause trouble. What, are you going to disobey the Buddha's decree?"

Having said that, ignoring Wukong's flushed face and frantic scratching, she pulled Alu and quickly walked towards the Treasure Pavilion.

Helpless, Wukong went to the Tathagata Buddha and threw a tantrum in front of the hall:

"Buddha, Tathagata a fine thing you've done! That Alu was a good man before entering Spirit Mountain, possessing great Youde, even defying Heavenly Laws to bring rain to the people. Now that he's entered Spirit Mountain and been appointed some kind of Rainfall Arhat, he's stopped sending rain, claiming it's your decree. What's the reason? You'd better explain this to Old Sun today, or Old Sun won't leave! I won't leave!"

Upon hearing this, the Tathagata Buddha shook his head and smiled:

"Wukong, Maitreya Bodhisattva advised you on this matter, how could you forget? Fengxian County has violated the Heavenly Laws, and Heaven has decreed that rain is forbidden. Even though I am the Buddha, I cannot change this! You should go to Heaven and take a look!"