Chapter 88: Exorcise Demons In Wuji Kingdom
However, Ao Tu rescued the corpse of the King of Wuji Kingdom from the well, but since the body was already dead, it could not be brought back to life.
The King of Wuji Kingdom saw this and bowed twice more, saying: “I beg the Buddha to help.”
Ao Tu took out a Seven-Leaf Lingzhi Grass and said:
“This is the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi Grass, which has the effect of bringing the dead back to life! It was won by me from Venerable Ananda during a bet at the Ullambana Festival on whether he feared fire.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom hurriedly kowtowed and said: “I beg the Buddha’s mercy to grant the immortal grass.”
Ao Tu shook his head and said: “No. The Tathagata Buddha once said that Buddhist Dharma cannot be transmitted lightly, and Buddhist treasures cannot be given casually. If I give you the immortal grass, what benefit will you give me?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom was somewhat surprised and said: “Benefit?”
Ao Tu said: “What’s wrong?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “Nothing, I just didn’t expect the Buddha to also want benefits.”
Ao Tu said: “Don’t say such things. Even before the Buddha Ancestor Tathagata, there must be benefits to get things done.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “Since that’s the case, please speak freely, Buddha. I will comply without question.”
Ao Tu shook his head and said: “You are merely a wronged ghost. Empty promises cannot be trusted.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “Then what should be done?”
Ao Tu said: “Do you have any heirs?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “I have a Crown Prince, my own son and heir.”
Ao Tu said: “Has he reached adulthood?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “He has reached adulthood.”
Ao Tu said: “Good. Then go dream-visit him and have him bring paper and brush tomorrow to Baolin Zen Temple to sign and seal on your behalf, writing a loan document, so I can grant you the immortal grass.”
Hearing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom could only obey.
At once, Ao Tu took the corpse and returned to Baolin Zen Temple.
The King of Wuji Kingdom dream-visited the Crown Prince and told him all that had happened.
That night, the Crown Prince awoke in shock, his heart filled with doubt. The next day, he brought soldiers and attendants, left the Crown Prince’s residence, and went straight to Baolin Zen Temple.
Upon arriving at the temple, the monks great and small inside heard that Your Highness the Crown Prince had arrived and all came to greet him.
The Crown Prince asked the Abbot: “Is there a Buddha staying in your temple?”
The Abbot was startled and said: “How did Your Highness know?”
The Crown Prince said: “Take me there quickly!”
The Abbot dared not delay and hurriedly led the Crown Prince over.
At the door of the main hall, the Crown Prince was still young after all, and facing this matter of gods and ghosts, he felt some tension in his heart. He said to the Abbot: “You go knock on the door.”
The Abbot stepped forward, gently knocked on the door, and said: “Buddha, the Crown Prince seeks an audience.”
Ao Tu said: “Let the Crown Prince come in.”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince stepped forward, pushed open the hall door, and walked inside.
Inside, the Crown Prince saw Ao Tu’s appearance and could not help but exclaim in surprise that it was indeed a Buddha.
He dared not delay and hurriedly paid his respects.
Ao Tu said: “Rise.”
Ao Tu raised his hand and released the corpse of the King of Wuji Kingdom, saying:
“Take a look. Is this your father the king?”
Seeing it, the Crown Prince stepped forward to identify it and confirmed it was indeed his father the king.
Thus, he hugged the corpse and wept bitterly, pleading: “I beg the Buddha to save my father the king’s life.”
Ao Tu said: “Easily done. Have your father sign this document on his behalf, and I will save him.”
Ao Tu handed over a document. The Crown Prince read it and saw that the document was simple, with only one condition: outside the capital city of Wuji Kingdom, build a ninety-nine-story Buddhist Pagoda to spread the Buddhist Dharma.
The Crown Prince dared not sign, put down the brush, knelt, and said: “I beg the Buddha to change the condition.”
Ao Tu said: “Why? You are unwilling to save your father the king?”
The Crown Prince said: “I am deeply grateful for my parents’ nurturing grace, how could I not save him.”
Ao Tu said: “Then why do you hesitate?”
The Crown Prince said: “Buddha, if gold and silver are needed, all the gold, silver, and treasures in the national treasury can be given; if spreading the Buddhist Dharma is sought, I am willing to yield the imperial city palace for the Buddha to reside and teach the Dharma. Only this act of building a Buddhist Pagoda would harm the people too severely. I beg the Buddha’s mercy to consider the feelings of the people of Wuji Kingdom.”
Ao Tu laughed and said: “You this Crown Prince are quite wise. Do not worry. In building this Buddhist Pagoda, I will not harm the people of Wuji Kingdom.”
The Crown Prince shed tears and said: “A ninety-nine-story Buddhist Pagoda has never been heard of since ancient times. How could it not harm the people? I fear that when the Buddhist Pagoda is completed, it will not be built of bricks, stones, and timber, but piled with the corpses of ten thousand people.”
Ao Tu said: “It will not! It will not! This Buddhist Pagoda of mine requires no labor from the common people. You only need to detain the Taoist Priests of your country at the base of the pagoda. I will cast a spell to make them labor day and night without harming their bodies, building the Buddhist Pagoda for me to teach the Dharma.”
The Crown Prince said: “This… without reason, detain Taoist Priests to work?”
Ao Tu said: “How is it without reason? That Demonic Taoist occupied the throne and was emperor for five years. Your father the king sought help in vain, his lonely soul wandered for five years, not even daring to enter his own city gates. Do you know why?”
The Crown Prince said: “Why?”
Ao Tu said: “Only because that Demonic Taoist has a background reaching the heavens. The Ten Kings of Hell are his kin, the Five Sacred Mountains are his brothers, the Four Seas Dragon Kings often meet with him, and the heavenly stars are his subordinates. Thus he was indulged in doing evil to this extent. The Daoist Sect produced this scourge; should it not be punished?”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince gnashed his teeth in hatred and said:
“Our country has always revered Buddha and respected Dao, yet we suffered such harm! They should be punished! They should be punished! Punish those Taoist Priests to do hard labor!”
Ao Tu laughed and said: “Exactly so. Sign it.”
The Crown Prince took up the brush, sealed on behalf of his father, and signed his name.
Ao Tu took the document, took out the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi Grass, cast a spell to send it into the King of Wuji Kingdom’s body. In a moment, the King of Wuji Kingdom came back to life from death and awoke.
At once, father and son embraced and wept, fully displaying their flesh-and-blood affection.
After the two finished talking, they came to pay respects to Ao Tu again, thanking him for the grace of salvation.
Ao Tu laughed and said: “No need to pay respects to me. I am doing this for the benefit I received; no need for obeisance.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom had heard everything from the side just now and knew that the benefit Ao Tu spoke of did not harm the nation’s foundation, so he was even more grateful to Ao Tu.
The Crown Prince said: “Buddha, now that my father the king has been rescued, how should we deal with that Demonic Taoist?”
Ao Tu said: “Tomorrow, inform your mother the Queen, and have your father the king bring troops to the hall to confront that Demonic Taoist in court. Then have your mother the Queen come out to identify him, and that Demonic Taoist’s transformation will be exposed on its own. This seat will then act to subdue him!”
The King of Wuji Kingdom and the Crown Prince were overjoyed and hurriedly agreed.
The next day at the morning court, the Crown Prince ascended the hall and said:
“Father the king, your son met a remarkable person today. Please take a look, Father the king.”
The Green-maned Lion Spirit still did not know the matter had been exposed and said: “What remarkable person?”
The Crown Prince said: “Father the king will know at a glance.”
The Green-maned Lion thus said: “Bring him up for viewing!”
The Crown Prince ordered his attendants guards to bring his own birth father the king up to the hall.
Escorted by a team of guards, the King of Wuji Kingdom ascended the precious hall. The civil and military officials of the entire court were greatly shocked to see two kings.
The Crown Prince called out: “Mother the Queen, look at these two: who is my birth father the king?”
The Queen of Wuji Kingdom came out upon hearing this, walked to the True King, knelt, and said:
“This concubine deserves ten thousand deaths for failing to welcome Your Majesty back to the palace!”
The True King helped up the Queen and tearfully said: “Zi Tong!”
The Crown Prince drew his Precious Sword, pointed at the false king on the throne, and said: “Demonic Taoist, you invaded my father the king’s throne; why not show your true form now!”
Seeing he could no longer hide, the Green-maned Lion changed back to the Taoist Priest’s appearance and said:
“King of Wuji Kingdom, your calamity is not yet over. How did you escape!”
The Crown Prince said nothing and directly issued an order for the palace guards to kill the Demonic Taoist.
The guards raised their Precious Sabers, and the Crown Prince also held his Precious Sword, all together hacking at the Demonic Taoist, vowing to avenge their father the king.
Seeing this, the Green-maned Lion extended his meaty palm, popped out five sharp claws, and with one swipe, the Crown Prince’s and guards’ blades all shattered into several segments.
The Green-maned Lion grinned ferociously and said: “I originally did not want to hurt anyone; you forced me!”
The palace guards and the court ministers saw this powerful demonic arts and all retreated in fright.
Seeing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom hurriedly pulled the Queen to kneel and said:
“I beg the Buddha to act and subdue this Demonic Taoist.”
As the words fell, a golden light descended from outside the palace, shining everywhere.
Seeing it, the Green-maned Lion jumped out of the palace gate and angrily said: “Who dares ruin my grand plan!”
Ao Tu sat on the Golden Lotus and said:
“Evil Beast, show your true form!”
Seeing Ao Tu sitting on the Golden Lotus surrounded by Buddha’s Light, the Green-maned Lion was somewhat unsure and said: “Who are you?”
Ao Tu said: “This seat is the Spirit Mountain King Buddha!”
Hearing this, the Green-maned Lion angrily said: “What Spirit Mountain King Buddha! What demon are you to dare impersonate a Buddha!”
Ao Tu said: “Evil Beast, you usurped the throne, killed the True King, stubborn and ignorant, and now you still dare to act fiercely. Do not blame me for being merciless.”
With that, Ao Tu manifested his Sixteen-Foot Golden Body, with eight arms holding gourd, Treasure Fan, rope, Formation Diagram, Wooden Staff, Alms Bowl, chime, and seal—eight treasures.
Seeing this, the Green-maned Lion’s face showed terror and he said: “No, Buddha, mistake! Mistake!”
Ignoring what he said, Ao Tu smashed down with all eight arms. The Lion Spirit could not withstand even one blow and was directly beaten back to his original form: a green-maned lion.
The Crown Prince wanted to kill him, but Ao Tu said:
“Do not strike. Keep him as a witness to make those Taoist Priests convinced.”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince then stopped his blade.
Ao Tu changed the Green-maned Lion back to the Daoist appearance, ordered his pipa bones pierced so he could not escape.
The Crown Prince had people interrogate him, asking where the Green-maned Lion Spirit came from and who his background was.
How could the Green-maned Lion Spirit dare say?
After enduring cruel torture, he spat not a word.
Unable to do anything, the Crown Prince paraded him through the streets to publicize his crimes.
The King issued a decree: for the great crime of deceiving the sovereign and occupying the country, arrest Taoist Priests nationwide, capturing all those in major and minor Taoist Temples and mountains.
Elderly Taoist Priests to cook, young Taoist Priests to stoke fire, strong Taoist Priests to do hard labor. Ten li outside the city, they jointly built the ninety-nine-story Buddhist Pagoda.
The Taoist Priests shouted injustice and lodged complaints, all to no avail.
Whenever there was injustice, they brought out the Green-maned Lion Spirit: “This Demonic Taoist deceived the sovereign and occupied the country, implicating you all. As long as this Demonic Taoist does not reveal his origins one day, you will do hard labor one day.”
With no choice, those Taoist Priests could only work day and night without rest, building the Buddhist Pagoda.
Ao Tu cast another spell, protecting their bodies so they would not be injured or die, only their will hard to endure.
Thus after three months, those Taoist Priests could not hold out, and many sought death.
Ao Tu transformed again into a Taoist Priest. Standing in heaven, he asked them: “You Taoist Priests, why seek death here?”
Seeing Ao Tu extraordinary, those Taoist Priests hurriedly told their injustice and begged Ao Tu to redress their grievance.
Ao Tu calculated with his fingers and shook his head:
“The Demonic Taoist implicating you has a background reaching the heavens; even this seat cannot help you. How about this: I will teach you a cultivation method. Cultivate it day and night to increase your cultivation, and wait only for a Great Sage, Equal of Heaven to come; he can free you from this suffering.”
