Chapter 90: Exorcise Demons In Wuji Kingdom
Saying this, Wukong transformed into a young Taoist priest and poked his head out from the bushes.
The Taoist laborers saw him and quickly told Wukong to go back, saying this was not a place for Taoist priests.
Wukong said, “Why is this not a place for Taoist priests? Explain clearly.”
The Taoist laborers said urgently upon hearing this:
“Young Taoist priest, run quickly, or you won’t be able to escape!”
Wukong said, “I’m not leaving. Old Sun won’t leave until you explain clearly.”
The Taoist laborers were filled with anxiety upon hearing this.
Just then, a supervising monk looked over and discovered Wukong.
“Well done, a Taoist priest who slipped through the net!”
The supervising monks all rushed over upon hearing this and seized Wukong.
Wukong said, “What are you doing? Why are you arresting me?”
The supervising monk said, “Why? Because you are a Taoist priest!”
Wukong said, “Because I’m a Taoist priest you want to arrest me? Which law of the kingdom have I broken?”
The supervising monk said, “You have broken the law of our Wuji Kingdom! Our King has decreed that you demonic Taoists have usurped the throne and committed the great crime of rebellion. Arresting you to labor is being lenient!”
Wukong listened, stunned, and was handed an iron pick, then pushed to go mine.
As Wukong mined, he thought, “If what the supervisor said is true, and these Taoist priests have indeed committed the great crime of rebellion, then treating them this way is understandable.”
However, one cannot believe just one side of the story. After the supervising monks left, Wukong asked a Taoist priest working beside him, saying:
“Revered Taoist, what is going on? We who cultivate the Way should live in seclusion in the mountains and cultivate diligently. Why do those monks say you usurped the throne?”
The Taoist laborer said:
“Alas, young Taoist priest, you are an outsider and do not know the injustice suffered by the Taoist priests here!”
Wukong became spirited and said, “What injustice is it?”
The Taoist laborer said:
“Our country is called Wuji Kingdom. Within the country, Buddhism and Taoism are revered, and everyone strives for good. Eight years ago, the country suffered a great drought, with not a drop of rain for three consecutive years. At that time, a Taoist priest came, ascended the altar to pray for rain, and immediately, sweet rain descended. The King treated him as a brother!”
Wukong said, “Isn’t that a good thing? Didn’t the King reward you Taoist priests?”
The Taoist laborer said, “There were some rewards bestowed at the time, but that’s also where the trouble began!”
Wukong said, “How did it go wrong?”
The Taoist laborer said:
“That Taoist priest who prayed for rain was actually a monster in disguise. After gaining the King’s trust, he moved into the palace, secretly killed the King, and transformed himself into the King’s likeness, occupying the throne for five years.
No one inside or outside the imperial palace knew. It wasn’t until the spring of this year that a Buddha descended to suppress the demonic Taoist and rescue the King. We Taoist priests were therefore implicated and punished by being forced to labor here.”
Wukong said, “What a foolish King! If that demonic Taoist occupied the country, why didn’t he kill him? What does it have to do with you?”
The Taoist laborer said:
“It is said that the King was usurped by the demonic Taoist and died unjustly for five years. His lonely soul wandered, seeking justice, traveling through all the city gods, wandering the underworld, crossing the Three Mountains, and visiting the Five Sacred Peaks, but nowhere could he lodge a complaint. All said that the demonic Taoist had connections reaching the heavens and dared not accept his petition.
Now that the King has returned to life, he is doubly enraged by that demonic Taoist. He ordered the Crown Prince to investigate the demonic Taoist’s origin, but the demonic Taoist refused to confess. Therefore, we are implicated, and they say that as long as the demonic Taoist does not confess, we Taoist priests will labor.
It is unjust! How would we dare collude with that demonic Taoist? We don’t know which immortal mountain he came from, to have brought this upon us. We labor daily and are still whipped by people. It is bitter! It is bitter!”
Wukong frowned upon hearing this.
The situation here was indeed complicated. Fortunately, he hadn’t acted rashly just now.
That Taoist priest certainly suffered injustice, but the monks were merely following orders, and it was difficult to distinguish right from wrong.
At this moment, the sound of whipping came from outside. The Taoist laborer quickly urged Wukong to dig, and after the supervisors’ footsteps faded, the Taoist laborer said:
“Young Taoist priest, on the first and fifteenth day of each month, overseers will come. You are an outsider Taoist priest and don’t need to suffer here. When the officials come, explain the situation, and you will be expelled from the country, thus avoiding labor.
I have a method here; listen carefully and remember it in your heart. Cultivate it daily, and only then can you endure this daily labor. Otherwise, if you don’t live to see the officials, you will die of exhaustion.”
Wukong heard this and dismissed it in his heart, thinking it was some crude Qi Refining technique, and prepared to leave immediately.
At this moment, the Taoist laborer recited the incantation, and as Wukong listened, his mind was greatly shaken!
Although this cultivation method was only a short passage, he could perceive its supreme profundity. It subtly coincided with his Seventy-two Transformations, seeming to complement it.
Wukong listened with rapt attention, and just as it reached a critical point, the Taoist priest stopped abruptly.
Wukong hurriedly said, “What about the rest?”
The Taoist priest said, “There’s no more; only this was passed down.”
Wukong eagerly pressed, “Who transmitted it?”
The Taoist priest said, “The immortal who transmitted this method was named Fu Zhu Zhen Shi Tian Zun. That day, unable to bear the labor, we wished to die. Fu Zhu Zhen Shi Tian Zun appeared and taught us this incantation. He also told us to wait for someone named Qi Tian Da Sheng, who could help us resolve our grievances.”
After the Taoist priest finished speaking, he looked at the young Taoist priest beside him and suddenly realized that the young Taoist priest had already disappeared.
Outside the mountain, Wukong returned.
Tang Sanzang said, “Wukong, how was it?”
Wukong said, “Master, do not worry. In the mountain, there are a group of Taoist priests mining.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Why are there Taoist priests mining?”
Ba Jie said, “Master, you have never been a Taoist priest, so you don’t know the tricks of the trade. What’s so strange about mining? Taoist priests mine mercury and lead for alchemy!”
Wukong said, “No, no, it’s not mining mercury or lead. Those Taoist priests are working for monks.”
Tang Sanzang exclaimed, “Wukong, what do you mean? Monks and Taoist priests are both outsiders, with no distinction in status. How can Taoist priests be working for monks?”
Wukong said, “Master, you are not aware of this; there are reasons behind it.”
Wukong then explained the reasons for the matter.
Tang Sanzang listened and said, “Merciful Buddha! Merciful Buddha! I wonder which immortal mountain of the Daoist Sect was not well-guarded, allowing this wicked creature to descend to the mortal realm and commit such treason. Wukong, you possess great supernatural powers; can you find the master of this demon and clear the grievances of those pitiable Taoist priests?”
Wukong said, “Master, rest assured. Once we enter the royal city and meet the King, everything will be taken care of by Old Sun.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Wukong, you have worked hard.”
Wukong said, “Master, what are you saying? As your disciple, how dare I speak of hardship?”
The master and his disciples traveled for another two days, exiting the mountains. From dozens of miles away, they could see the towering Buddhist pagoda in the distance.
Tang Sanzang sighed, “Truly a marvel.”
Nearby was Baolin Temple. Tang Sanzang and his disciples dismounted and sought lodging.
Tang Sanzang said, “Ba Jie, fetch my Brocade Monk’s Robe.”
Ba Jie said, “Master, what do you need the Kassaya for?”
Tang Sanzang said, “This monastery is magnificent and grand. There must be many monks within its walls. When there are many monks, they tend to be discriminatory. I have traveled dust-covered and messy. If I go to request lodging like this, I fear they might not agree.”
Wukong said, “Master, you understand many things.”
Tang Sanzang said, “In the past, at White Tiger Ridge, when I went into the city to perform a Ritual for Hungry Ghosts for people, I recited the same sutras. However, if my robes were tattered, people would not believe me.”
Ba Jie put down his luggage and took out the Brocade Monk’s Robe.
Tang Sanzang changed into the Kassaya and entered the monastery.
The monks at the monastery saw Tang Sanzang’s appearance and knew he was extraordinary. They then looked at the Kassaya, which shone with radiant treasure light, and immediately realized a high monk had arrived.
They quickly and politely invited Tang Sanzang to sit, served him tea, and then went to inform the Abbot.
The Abbot soon arrived.
Tang Sanzang stated his purpose. Upon hearing that he was a high monk from Great Tang, the Abbot immediately dared not delay. He quickly invited Tang Sanzang and his disciples to reside in the temple and prepared vegetarian meals.
During this time, Tang Sanzang inquired of the Abbot about the matter of the Taoist priests.
The Abbot’s response was basically the same as what Wukong had recounted.
He then asked about the Buddhist pagoda.
The Abbot said it was a Buddhist pagoda built by the Taoist priests for the Buddha to transmit scriptures.
Tang Sanzang heard this and couldn’t help but say:
“To build such a tall pagoda, how many people must have died or been injured!”
The Abbot said, “No one was harmed. The Buddha used his Buddhist Dharma, ensuring that the Taoist priests would not die or be injured, thus allowing them to complete this pagoda.”
Tang Sanzang said, “Amitabha.”
As night fell, Tang Sanzang and the others had all gone to sleep.
However, they heard a cracking sound coming from the room.
Tang Sanzang was awakened by the noise. He saw Ba Jie and Sha Seng sleeping soundly; only Wukong was sitting in meditation nearby, and the cracking sound was coming from within him.
Tang Sanzang hurried forward and said, “Wukong, Wukong, what is wrong?”
Wukong opened his eyes and said, “Master, it’s nothing. Old Sun is just tempering his body.”
Tang Sanzang said, “You already have an adamantine body, a body of diamond, why are you still tempering it?”
Wukong said, “Old Sun thought he didn’t need to anymore, but today I realize I must continue tempering.”
The next day, everyone left Baolin Temple and headed towards the royal city.
Passing the pagoda along the way, Tang Sanzang said:
“Before I embarked on my Westward Journey, I vowed that on the journey, I would burn incense at every temple, bow to Buddha when encountered, and sweep pagodas when encountered. However, today, to help those suffering Taoist priests clear their grievances sooner, we will first enter the city to meet the King, and then we will return to sweep the pagoda.”
Wukong, Ba Jie, and Sha Seng all nodded in agreement.
The master and his disciples continued forward and entered the royal city.
Tang Sanzang inquired among the common people in the city about the demonic Taoist. The common people’s accounts were basically the same as what they had heard before, and many even claimed to have seen the demonic Taoist with their own eyes.
The demonic Taoist had once had his tendons severed at the elbows and knees and was paraded through the streets.
After Tang Sanzang understood the situation, he took Wukong and the others to the post station. After explaining their purpose to the post station official, they requested an audience with the King.
Upon hearing of the arrival of a high monk from Great Tang, the King of Wuji Kingdom dared not delay and immediately convened court to receive him.
Tang Sanzang and his disciples ascended the court. The King of Wuji Kingdom, having indeed died once, was merely startled by the appearance of Wukong, Ba Jie, and the others; his hands and feet trembled, but he did not fall from his seat.
Wukong used his Fiery Golden Eyes to examine the King of Wuji Kingdom.
Seeing a five-colored auspicious cloud, he confirmed that it was indeed the true King and whispered to Tang Sanzang, “Master, it is the true King.”
Tang Sanzang heard this and bowed, saying, “This humble monk, Tang Sanzang, pays his respects to Your Majesty.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said, “High monk of Great Tang, please be seated.”
Attendants brought seats.
Tang Sanzang said, “Thank Your Majesty for the seat.”
Then he sat down properly.
Wukong and the other disciples stood behind Tang Sanzang.
