Teaching disciples in Jade Flower Prefecture (XVI)

However, the affairs of the world are beyond the control of fate.

There are feudal lords, who, though powerful, perish; and there are common people, who, though weak, rise to prominence.

The strong army, even when in a favorable position, will be defeated; the weak army, even when facing adversity, will be victorious.

This is because even the most meticulous person can make a mistake, and even the wisest can be momentary to lapse in concentration.

The Tathagata Buddha, Shakyamuni, is a Venerable of the Western Heaven. His supernatural powers are Supernatural Ability. In his bet with the Yellow Lion Spirit, he had already secured victory. The outcome was merely a matter of a single thought.

Unfortunately, due to a moment of carelessness, the Yellow Lion Spirit jumped out of his palm.

Wukong stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.

Tathagata Buddha Buddhist Sect World-Honored One promise and instructed the the Monks to release the six lions: Snow Lion, Nao Lion, Suanni, Bai Ze, Fuli, and Tuanshiang. He then gathered his Golden Light and prepared to lead the group back to the mountain. He added, "I hereby appoint you seven as Golden Lion Guardian Arhat!"

The King and Prince of Jade Flower Prefecture were extremely anxious and at a loss when they saw that the lions were about to be conferred the title of Arhat.

The Eldest Prince said, "Master! Master! That Demon is about to become Arhat! Where's the exciting part you were talking about?"

Wukong's face went from stiff to green, then from green to red. He first transformed into Long-Armed Ape, then into a Red-Bottomed Horse Monkey.

The lions, seeing that they were truly about to be made Arhat, were unsure whether they should accept.

The Yellow Lion Spirit asked, "Fat Monk, who are you? Can you make decisions?"

The Tathagata Buddha laughed and said, "If I do this, I will become Shakyamuni of the Western Paradise!"

Upon hearing this, the lions exclaimed in alarm, "So it's the Western Heaven Tathagata Buddha!"

The Eldest Prince said anxiously, "Master! What should we do? They said there would be a good show, but now those Yaoguai are all going to be made Arhat. How are we supposed to behave? Where's the show? Where's the show? Don't change your mind! Don't change your mind! Quickly, make a decision!"

Wukong, humiliated and enraged, froze, then soared into the sky and cried out, "Tathagata! Tathagata! You've tricked Old Sun! You've tricked Old Sun!"

The Eldest Prince paced anxiously, watching Wukong's retreating figure, muttering complaints under his breath, "Alas! Alas! Where's the good show? Only a terrible one!"

Bajie after Wukong left did Bajie dare to raise his eyes. Seeing the Eldest Prince constantly complaining, he said, "Isn't this a good show? Why ask so many questions?"

Tathagata Buddha saw Wukong making a fuss, he asked, "Wukong, why are you making such a racket? When did I ever lie to you?"

Wukong said, "Your palm is so big that even if I, Old Sun, do a Somersault Cloud of 108,000 li, I can't jump out of it. How come that ball of fur can leap three or four zhang in one bound?"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Wukong, it's not that I intentionally showed favoritism. In all bets, the winner and loser are evenly matched. When you jumped back then, I saw your body twitching, as if you wanted to ride the clouds, so I used my magic to prevent you from jumping. Now, when he jumped, he didn't ride the clouds but jumped straight out. I wasn't paying attention for a moment, and he won. The outcome is now decided and cannot be changed."

Wukong asked, "Could it be that we're really going to appoint those furballs as Arhat?"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "The Buddha does not lie. Wukong, let's go and ask someone else to help us with this matter!"

Wukong said, "Even the Buddha doesn't care, so who else should we ask? Let's just divide our belongings and go our separate ways!"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Monkey, do not be complacent. There is a way to overcome this calamity. Now that we have reached the foot of Spirit Mountain, if we can overcome this calamity, we will succeed!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong became anxious and agitated, feeling utterly helpless.

The lions then discussed whether or not they should become Arhat.

Bai Ze said, "I will not become Arhat!"

The lions asked, "Why?"

Bai Ze said, "Immortal have no legs; I'd rather be a sheep for a day than Arhat for ten thousand years."

Taoist Baoshan laughed and said, "In that case, come and sit beneath me!"

Bai Ze was overjoyed and entered the door.

The lions declared, "We will not become Arhat either!"

Bai Ze asked, "Why don't you all become Arhat?"

The lions exclaimed, "Living in these mountains surpasses even the Spirit Mountain’s Sacred Realm!"

The Tathagata Buddha said, "Excellent! Excellent!"

So he led the crowd back to the cloud, and went straight back to the Buddhist monastery.

The lions then took up their weapons and seized Tang Sanzang and his disciples, as well as the King and his son.

Wukong said, "Taoist Baoshan, since we are old acquaintances, please put in a good word for us!"

Taoist Baoshan, "When we were inviting the Buddha earlier, why didn't you speak on my behalf?"

Helpless, Wukong simply Somersault Cloud away.

The group returned to their Prison Cave.

The Eldest Prince complained, "That Buddha Tathagata a coward! So cowardly! He's clearly afraid of the Daoist, yet he still dares to make a bet. He's truly unworthy of the Buddha's name!"

The Second Prince said, "It's truly shameful for the three of us brothers to have entered the Buddhist Order and have such Buddha!"

The Third Prince said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, don't complain. The only way now is to wait for Master Sun to come to our rescue."

The Eldest Prince said, "Even Buddha couldn't save us, so his so-called Great Sage is just a fancy name. How can he possibly save us?"

Upon hearing this, Bajie flew into a rage and shouted, "You beast! By saying this, aren't you secretly plotting to betray your master and ancestors?!"

The Second Prince quickly advised, "Master Pig, don't be angry! My Big Brother is of noble birth, and has been trapped in this Prison Cave for many days. It's understandable that he has complaints in his heart, and he spoke without thinking. Please don't take it seriously!"

The King also said, "Indeed! Indeed! My son, you should never have uttered such disobedient words. Quickly bow and apologize!"

Upon hearing his Father King's words, the Eldest Prince bowed and apologized.

On the other side, Wukong flew away on a cloud, intending to seek help from the four Bodhisattva: Guanyin Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

But he thought that Tathagata Buddha could not save him, so seeking help from the four Bodhisattva would be useless.

He wanted to plead with Perfected Lord Taixi on his behalf, but felt ashamed and could not go.

So he went to the Heavenly Realm and asked all the immortal lords Divine Kings to lend him their help.

When the Immortal heard that Tathagata Buddha had retreated, how could they possibly agree to help? They all made excuses, claiming illness, and refused to come.

Wukong had no choice but to swallow his pride and go to the Flower Realm, but he still couldn't find Perfected Lord Taixi. Helpless, he returned to the prison to report to his master, lest he stay too long and cause his master worry.

Wukong sneaked back to the prison.

Upon seeing this, the Eldest Prince hurriedly said, "Master, several months have passed. Is it possible to rescue us?"

Wukong said, "No, no. Old Sun, have been traveling in the Heavenly Realm for a long time, but no one dares to the Lower Realm to rescue me. I fear that if this goes on for too long, you will worry, so I came to tell you. I will go elsewhere to ask someone to rescue me!"

The Eldest Prince said, "All the people my master knows are incompetent. They are terrified at the mere mention of the names of these two Daoism Immortal. Even Buddha fled back to Spirit Mountain. How could they possibly save us?"

Wukong retorted angrily, "Disciple, what do you mean by saying that?"

The Eldest Prince said, "I have a plan to escape, but I fear my master will not approve, so I am telling you."

Wukong said, "All the gods and Buddhas in the heavens are helpless; what plan do you have to escape?"

The Eldest Prince said, "I have observed that those two Daoism Immortal are not Evil Person; in fact, they are kind. It was just a twist of fate that led to this predicament. I wish to beg for forgiveness, abandon Buddhism and embrace Daoism, in order to seek your forgiveness. Master, rest assured, after I enter the Daoist Daoist School, I will still treat you with the respect due to a master and provide you with a thousand pieces of gold. However, I will abolish the master-disciple relationship to avoid violating Daoism etiquette."

Upon hearing this, Wukong Three Zhang and shouted:

"You beast! You betrayed your master and ancestors, and you dare to talk about etiquette? Watch me teach you a lesson!"

Having said that, he drew his baton and struck.