Viewing the Lanterns in Jinping Prefecture (VIII)

Now, it is said that the Western Heaven Tathagata Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, was indeed of immeasurable virtue.

Ao Tu transformed into the Western Heaven Savior Celestial Worthy Venerable and tried every means to find out the reincarnation of Ananda, but he could not get the answer.

However, his Ao Tu Mahākāśyapa was extremely greedy and accepted bribes from Aotu, revealing the whereabouts of Ananda's reincarnation.

The Sage Zhunti had Zhunti devised a plan, specifically calculating Ananda's whereabouts and telling Alu about it, in order to prevent Shakyamuni from Eastern Migration.

However, before Alu could report this to Ao Tu, Kasyapa revealed the news for his own benefit. How could this not be considered a defeat for the Sage?

Ao Tu immediately accepted the precious Kasaya.

Kasyapa then returned.

After Kasyapa left, the little red bird and the White Chi emerged from Ao Tu's arms.

Earlier in the hall, the Buddha Tathagata given out many Immortal Fruit, but Ao Tu had not eaten them all. The little red bird and the White Chi had long wanted to eat them, but out of consideration for etiquette, they dared not be impolite in front of others.

Now that the night was quiet and no one was around, the two went out and begged Ao Tu.

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu divided the fruit equally between the two of them.

The two of them each took a bite and swallowed the Immortal Fruit, their bellies bulging, before crawling back into Ao Tu's arms to digest it.

The next morning, Buddha Tathagata consulted with Ao Tu about various matters, and this time everything went smoothly.

The decision to Eastern Migration was made.

The Monks were all delighted and composed poems to praise the Western Heaven Savior Celestial Worthy.

The banquet ended.

The Tathagata Buddha, along with his the Monks, personally escorted Ao Tu away from the mountain.

Once outside the mountain, Alu found an opportunity, evaded the the Monks, and found Ao Tu alone, revealing Ananda's whereabouts.

Ao Tu was somewhat surprised and carefully inquired about the reason for Alu's actions.

Alu then recounted what the Dharani had said.

Ao Tu repeatedly chanted the three words "Dharani," thinking carefully. The only person with a deep friendship Jieyin the old monk Jieyin was the Daoist Zhunti, who had never shown his face.

Ao Tu immediately wrote down the matter and instructed Alu to go back, gather more information, and report back if anything happened.

Alu agreed and returned to Spirit Mountain; on the way, he met two monks, one tall and one fat.

These two were monks from Fengxian County who had traveled all the way to Spirit Mountain to sue Ao Tu for establishing the "Great Sect." Because Tang Sanzang and his disciples were delayed on their journey, these two traveled freely, hiring carriages and horses, and arrived at Spirit Mountain ahead of them.

Alu returned to the mountains at this time and happened to run into the two of them.

The two monks were from Fengxian County. When they saw Alu, they naturally recognized him and immediately bowed down, explaining their grievances.

Upon hearing this, Alu was greatly alarmed and Human Way, "You two wait here. After I have spoken with the temple's guardian Sangharama, you can go up the mountain to see the Buddha, explain your grievances, and ask the Buddha to make a decision."

Upon hearing this, the two monks repeatedly kowtowed, deeply grateful, and obediently stood in place waiting.

Alu hurriedly returned to the mountain and found the guards on duty, Sangharama and Vajras. He gave one a piece of agate and the other a Pearl, saying:

"There are two monks at the foot of the mountain, one tall and one fat. They are from my hometown and have traveled a long way to Spirit Mountain to petition and file a complaint. I urge you all to handle this matter impartially!"

Upon hearing this, the Sangharama Vajras all understood.

Alu then returned to the Treasure Pavilion.

The two monks waited patiently at the foot of the mountain for a whole day, but there was no movement. They also thought that the time in the Spirit Mountain was different from that at the foot of the mountain, so they waited for several more days, but still there was no movement. Finally, they couldn't bear it any longer and went up the mountain on their own.

Even without Vajras appearing, the Buddhist Guardian Garan stopped the two and asked, "What are you doing here?"

The two monks said, "They're here to seek justice and file a complaint!"

Upon hearing this, the Buddhist Guardian Garan knew that it was Venerable Alu who had ordered their actions. In truth, even without Venerable Alu's orders, there were no grievances on Spirit Mountain, so where would anyone seek redress? Therefore, he sent the two men back down the mountain.

The two monks wanted to go up the mountain again, but they couldn't.

Meanwhile, Wukong returned to Jinping Prefecture.

The three Tang Sanzang stayed in Mintian County for nearly a year, and each family offered them thanks and banquets.

The three disciples did not eat and drink for free. They each gave a share of the treasures they had obtained in the Rhinoceros Demon cave, firstly as a token of gratitude for the feast, and secondly as compensation for the Incense Oil that each family had donated over the years.

After Wukong returned, he told Tang Sanzang and the other two about what had happened at Spirit Mountain.

When Tang Sanzang heard that the Tathagata Buddha was going to move to the Eastern Land, he was overjoyed and repeatedly clasped his hands in prayer to the West.

Bajie said, "That Buddha is really something. If he's going to the Eastern Land, why does he need us to Journey to the West? In my Old Pig, we should just turn back and wait for him in the Eastern Land."

Wukong said, "Fool, how would you know? Only if we bring back the Scripture and spread them to the Eastern Land will we have believers to offer worship and welcome us, thus showing the dignity of Buddhist. Otherwise, why would we ask the Buddha to rush over there?"

Bajie shook his head and said, "All this pretense is so impractical."

Tang Sanzang smiled and said, "In any case, it's a good thing that the Buddha has come to the Eastern Land to save all sentient beings."

Sha Wujing said, "Yes! Yes!"

Tang Sanzang said, "Wujing, prepare the horses; Bajie, pack the luggage. Let's hurry Journey to the West and Spirit Mountain in the morning."

The three apprentices were delighted. They prepared their luggage and horses, left Mintian County, Journey to the West.

After leaving Spirit Mountain, Ao Tu did not return to the Heavenly Realm, but went directly to the Tianzhu Kingdom to avoid being delayed again.

When they arrived at that country, Tang Sanzang and his disciples had not yet left Jinping Prefecture, so the rewards had not been refreshed.

Ao Tu made no attempt to hide, reverting to his Original Form to observe the city's appearance.

The scene was bustling and prosperous, with crowds of people jostling shoulder to shoulder. Some were wealthy and beautiful, with Attendants following them as they walked; while others of lower status avoided them, not daring to tarnish the dignity of the noble.

Even the poor did not starve to death.

Upon seeing this, Ao Tu thought that the hearts of Western Heaven could be won over.

Suddenly, a heat rose in his arms, and Li Fire.

Fortunately, Ao Tu's Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe Immune to Ten Thousand Spells, otherwise it would have been burned by the Li Fire.

It turned out to be that little red bird, who had eaten many Immortal Fruit, digested them, and conceived and was born ahead of schedule.

She was conceived from the Essence of Li Fire, and like Sun Wukong, her birth was bound to shake the Heaven and Earth.

Ao Tu feared that she would make a commotion and accidentally injure passersby, so he turned and fled to a nearby Desolate Mountain called Centipede Mountain, which was named after several centipedes that had become spirits and bit people.

Ao Tu reached the mountain, undressed, and a little red bird flew out, spreading its wings in the air, revealing a sky full of fiery red clouds, with the cries of luan birds and the calls of phoenixes.

Those Centipede Demon, upon receiving this Divine Fire and hearing this phoenix's cry, were all reduced to ashes.

These extraordinary phenomena had already alarmed the people, merchants, and nobles of the Tianzhu Kingdom, who all believed it to be a manifestation of the Buddha and knelt down to worship.

That princess from Tianzhu was actually the Jade Rabbit from the Moon Palace who descended to earth and replaced the real princess. The wind carried the real princess to Bujin Temple.

Bu Jin Temple happens to be located next to Centipede Mountain.

Upon seeing this strange phenomenon, the Jade Rabbit Spirit assumed that someone was helping the India Princess and hurriedly rode the wind to investigate.

Soon they arrived at the top of the mountain, where the Jade Rabbit Spirit hid behind the bushes and trees, observing carefully.

A small red bird appeared, soaring in the air, its wings growing fuller. Its wings flapped, its tail adorned with seven-colored feathers, and its head crowned with a crimson finial. With a cry, Li Fire Huo bowed down, swallowing everything in its beak, transforming into a six-year-old girl who knelt before Ao Tu, saying:

"My dear protagonist, from now on you can ride on my back; I'll carry you!"

Because she was conceived and born after six years, she took on the appearance of a six-year-old after taking human form.

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I'm afraid you've only just been born and don't yet have enough power. Let's talk about it again when you're strong enough."

After saying this, he took out a Houtian Spiritual Treasure, the Feather Plain Garment, and taught her to put it on to cover her body.