Teaching Disciples in Jade Flower Prefecture (XVIII)

Meanwhile, the King of the Jade Flower Kingdom entrusted Tang Sanzang with an important matter.

Tang Sanzang said, "Your Majesty, I am a man of the Beyond the World, without official rank or salary. How can I accept Your Majesty's entrustment?"

Old King said, "Holy Monk, although you are Beyond the World, my three sons have taken your three disciples as their masters, therefore I can entrust you with important responsibilities!"

Bajie sneered, "Your Majesty, your son has already joined another sect. You should find those two Daoist to entrust him with!"

Upon hearing this, Old King was overcome with anger and grief, and he sighed deeply on his bed.

Tang Sanzang said to Bajie, "Bajie, say less!"

Old King said, "Holy Monk, Elder Zhu's words are without error. My two sons have betrayed their master for personal gain; they are truly not wise men. I have been seriously ill these past few days, and they have only known how to fight for power in the Court Hall, flattering those two immortal masters, but they have not spared a single day to visit me. This shows their disloyalty and unfilial piety."

As he spoke, Old King couldn't help but shed tears, saying:

"If these two men treat their own fathers this way, how can they possibly care for their people if they become King?"

Tang Sanzang asked, "What does Your Majesty mean?"

Old King said, "Wang'er, come out and pay your respects to your three masters."

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince emerged from behind, knelt before the Old King's bed, and wept, saying, "Father King!"

Old King said, "Now, only my third son serves me at my bedside. I know his loyalty and filial piety, and I wish to report to the Emperor of India and pass the Throne to him. However, those two wicked beasts have now become disciples of the two immortals. After my death, I fear they will rebel and fight for the Throne. I am now seriously ill and on the verge of death. I have no other choice but to ask the Holy Monk for help!"

Tang Sanzang hesitated greatly upon hearing this.

The Third Prince first paid his respects to the Old King, and then to Tang Sanzang, Sha Wujing, Wukong, and Bajie.

Wukong helped him up and said, "In the end, it's still Junior Brother Sha who has taken on a good disciple!"

Bajie said, "Yes! Yes!"

Sha Wujing said, "Elder Brother, Second Senior Brother, those two immortals are Supernatural Ability powerful. How can we help them?"

Wukong thought about it, but he was also at a loss for what to do.

Old King said, "Honorable Holy Monk, please do not make things difficult. If you truly have no other choice, I only ask that the life of the Third Prince be preserved, so that he may not be harmed by his two elder brothers. I have a letter here; please deliver it to the Emperor of India and ask him to take good care of him."

Tang Sanzang listened, agreed, and accepted the letter.

The Third Prince then politely saw the four of them off from the palace, not daring to linger, as he needed to return to take care of his Father King.

The four returned to the Courier Station and discussed the matter for half a day, but could not come up with a solution. They decided to set off Journey to the West first, deliver the letter to the Emperor of India, and then discuss the matter further.

After staying for two more days, I bid farewell to Old King, Old King then arranged a farewell banquet.

The Eldest Prince and Second Prince also sent gifts to express their farewell.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples naturally refused.

After the banquet, the four of them set off on their journey Journey to the West.

Having just left the Prince's Palace, I passed by an inn in the city and encountered a noisy scene.

It turned out that the guards had captured two monks, one tall and one fat.

The monk said, "I am not a monk, I am not a monk!"

The guard said, "If he's not a monk, why is he bald?"

The Fat Monk said, "We just shaved our heads!"

The guard said, "Enough nonsense! We just saw you begging for alms! His Your Highness has ordered all monks to be expelled from Jade Flower Prefecture at once!"

As he spoke, he pulled at the two men, trying to drive them away.

Upon seeing this, Wukong angrily shouted, "Hey! When was this decree issued?! Why are you driving away monks?"

The guard turned around and, seeing it was Wukong, became somewhat frightened and quickly said:

"Holy Monk! I am also acting on His Your Highness's orders. His Your Highness said that the venerable immortal is of noble character and cannot live in the same city as a poor monk, so he ordered all the monks of Jade Flower Prefecture to be driven out of the city."

Wukong angrily said, "You beast! Let me ask you, in this Jade Flower Prefecture, is the King in charge or the Prince?"

The guard hurriedly replied, "Naturally, the King is in charge."

Wukong said, "You know the King is in charge, and His Majesty just hosted a banquet for us, yet you are here driving away monks. What is your crime?"

Bajie said, "Wait until my senior brother reports to the King and punishes you for your crimes!"

The guard, terrified, hurriedly said, "I was only following orders. Please forgive me, elders! Please forgive me!"

Wukong said, "Then hurry up and release them!"

The guards quickly released the man and then left.

The two monks, one tall and one fat, were delighted to see Tang Sanzang and his disciples, and said:

"Could he be Reverend Monk from the Great Tang?"

Wukong asked in surprise, "You recognize us?"

The Fat Monk said, "We are monks from Fengxian County. The elder just left, how could you have forgotten?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong suddenly remembered and said, "Remember this."

Bajie asked, "What are you doing here? Are you also on your way to the Journey to the West?"

Upon hearing this, the second monk wiped away his tears and said, "No! No! We're going to the Western Heaven to seek justice and file a complaint!"

Wukong asked, "What grievances have you suffered?"

The second monk said:

"Elders, you are unaware! Since your departure, Buddhist Sect in Fengxian County has declined, and the people have come to believe in other religions, with no one believing in Buddhism. At some point, a New Religion came from the Kingdom of the Dharma-Extinguishing Kingdom in the east, using the name 'Great,' and it is extremely powerful. When our abbot tried to reason with them, he tore up their scriptures and beat them severely."

That wise man of the Great Sect was a merchant by birth. He was not good at debating scriptures, but only at distributing rice. The people of the county converted to Buddhism one after another because they had received his benefits, which led to the demise of the Buddhist Sect Incense Offerings and the decline of Buddhist Temple.

Therefore, the abbot instructed the two of us to take the money and head to Spirit Mountain to appeal our case. However, the journey was difficult, and we ran out of money. Now, seeing the wealth and prosperity of Jade Flower Prefecture, we entered the city to ask for some travel expenses, but we were captured by the guards. Fortunately, the elders were able to free us.

Upon hearing this, Wukong's eyes darted around, and he said, "How could I have forgotten about him?"

Bajie asked, "What?"

Wukong said, "Master, Old Sun have a plan. Let's go back first."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang returned to the Courier Station.

Wukong brought the two monks to the Third Prince. Upon hearing this, the Third Prince immediately ordered a vegetarian meal to be prepared, gave them some travel expenses, and sent them Journey Westward.

Tang Sanzang asked Wukong, "Wukong, you just said you had a way, what is it?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Master, just sit here and relax. I'll go and fetch someone who will make sure neither Daoism nor Buddha can win this time."

Bajie asked, "If neither side can win, then who will win?"

Wukong said, "Why ask so many questions? You'll know once we invite him here. Bajie and Sha Wujing, protect Master. I'll be right back."

After saying that, he disappeared with a Somersault Cloud.

Bajie said, "What's the rush, Monkey? He left without even explaining himself!"

Sha Wujing said, "Second Senior Brother, who do you think Eldest Elder Brother went to invite? Neither Daoism nor Buddhism can prevail, so who could possibly win?"

Bajie said, "How would I know? They probably invited his maternal grandfather so he could win!"

On Wukong's side, he Somersault Cloud and arrived at the Blood Sea.

They happened to encounter Six-Eared Macaque training his Demon Soldier in the Blood Sea.

Wukong called out, "Brother Six-Eared Macaque! You're training your Troops here with such grandeur, Old Sun, am quite envious! I wonder where you're going to attack?"

Six-Eared Macaque looked over and said, "Sun Wukong, who is your sworn brother? Don't try to get close to me. This is a military secret; how could I reveal it to you?"

Wukong laughed and said, "Old Sun won't inquire. I wonder if Dragon Brother is at home? I have important business with him!"

Six-Eared Macaque, "The Great King is not at home."

Wukong asked, "Do you know where they went?"

Six-Eared Macaque, "I saw the Great King carrying a young girl and a young boy towards the Southern Sea earlier, but I don't know where they are now."

Wukong laughed and said, "Thank you! Thank you!"

After saying this, he went straight to the Southern Sea.