Chapter 36: Four Saints Test The Heart Of Zen
The three women exchanged a glance, and Zhen Zhen said:
“Brother-in-law, rest assured. I will go subdue that Nezha!”
Ao Tu said: “Eldest sister-in-law, do not be reckless!”
Manjushri Bodhisattva said no more, rose on a cloud, and flew outside.
Seeing this, Ao Tu followed to support her.
Outside, Nezha saw Ao Tu followed by a woman flying out, and laughed: “Demon Dragon, you are no match for me. Why bring a woman out!”
Ao Tu said: “Nezha, do not be arrogant. This is my eldest sister-in-law, with vast supernatural power. Watch her cast spell to subdue you.”
Nezha said: “Little female demon, whatever tricks you have, watch me slash her with three swords!”
Manjushri Bodhisattva said: “Nezha, how dare you act wild before me?”
She then took an object from her sleeve, called Dragon Subduing Pile, also known as Seven Treasures Golden Lotus, and tossed it into the air.
Winds arose in all directions, clouds and mist filled the sky, earth and dust were scattered, and it fell with a sound.
Sun Wukong in the sky saw this and thought it bad. He hurriedly pulled Li Tianwang away.
Nezha was too close to escape. He felt dizzy and disoriented, unable to tell directions. A golden ring encircled his neck, golden rings bound both legs, tied to a yellow golden pillar. When he opened his eyes, he could not move at all.
Nezha angrily said: “Damn demon, how did you steal my martial uncle’s…”
Before he finished speaking, Manjushri Bodhisattva cast a spell, sealing his seven orifices.
Ao Tu grabbed Nezha’s hair bun, tugged it, and said: “Little Nezha, dare to be arrogant again?” This made Nezha flush red with anger, yet he was helpless.
Manjushri Bodhisattva said: “Brother-in-law, what about the wedding?”
Ao Tu said: “We have not caught Sun Wukong yet, so it is not suitable to wed.”
In the outer world, Sun Wukong and Li Tianwang fled thousands of miles away, still shaken.
Wukong said: “Impressive, impressive. I do not know what treasure it is, but with a burst of golden mist, the Third Prince was taken. Heavenly King, do you recognize what treasure it was?”
Li Tianwang shook his head: “I was too far away and did not see clearly what treasure it was.”
Wukong scratched his head: “What to do now? With demons so powerful, when can we rescue my master?”
Li Tianwang said: “Great Sage, do not worry. I will report to the Jade Emperor and send more soldiers and generals to subdue the demons.”
Wukong happily said: “Thank you, Heavenly King!”
The two then returned to the Heavenly Court and reported the situation to the Jade Emperor.
Upon hearing the report, the Jade Emperor dispatched the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the four Thunder Department generals Deng, Zhang, Xin, and Tao, and the Nine Luminaries of the Dipper Department, leading one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to the mortal realm to subdue demons.
They arrived at the mountain again.
The Four Great Heavenly Kings laid a heaven-spanning net.
The Nine Luminaries led one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals to surround and form arrays.
The four Thunder Department generals unleashed thousands of divine thunders.
Ao Tu said: “Disaster! We have provoked so many heavenly soldiers and generals. Let us scatter and flee quickly!”
Samantabhadra True Person said: “Brother-in-law, even with one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals, what is there to fear? Watch me counter them with one spell!”
With that, a white light shot from her finger like a thread, growing into an auspicious cloud that covered the manor and pavilions. It had eight corners with golden lamps on them, pearl tassels hanging, protecting the top.
The thousands of divine thunders were naturally dissolved by the golden lamps, unable to cause any harm.
Seeing this, the Four Great Heavenly Kings acted: Mo Liqing used the Green Cloud Sword, inscribed with talisman seals and the four characters for earth, water, fire, wind in the middle. When the sword emerged, black winds and fierce fires arose, with thousands of spears in the black wind and golden snakes twisting in the fierce fire.
Mo Lihong used an umbrella called the Hunyuan Umbrella, adorned with grand ruby, grand seal, grand jade, night-luminous pearl, dust-settling pearl, fire-quenching pearl, water-calming pearl, cooling pearl, nine-curve pearl, youth-preserving pearl, wind-fixing pearl, and pearls forming the four characters “containing heaven and earth.” When opened, it darkened the sky and earth, eclipsed sun and moon; turning it shook heaven and earth, capturing people and subduing demons.
Mo Lihai carried a pipa on his back with four strings corresponding to earth, water, fire, wind. Strumming the strings seized hearts and souls, bringing wind and fire together, like the Green Cloud Sword.
Mo Lishou had an object shaped like a white rat, called Flower Fox Mink. Released into the air, it became like a white elephant with flying wings under its flanks, devouring all people.
The four generals attacked fiercely, using all their means, but for a whole hour, they could not break the golden lamps.
All the generals were shocked and returned to camp to deliberate.
Li Tianwang said: “Great Sage, those demons have vast supernatural power; our spells are hard to break. If we report to the Jade Emperor again for more troops, it may take too long, endangering your master. This journey for sutras was arranged by Guanyin Bodhisattva. Why not go to the South Sea and ask Guanyin Bodhisattva for help?”
Wukong said: “How have I not gone? The Bodhisattva has gone out and is not in the South Sea, and no one knows her whereabouts.”
Li Tianwang said: “In that case, why not go to the Western Heaven and ask the Buddha’s soldiers for aid.”
Wukong said: “That is exactly my thought. Everyone wait a moment; Old Sun will go!”
Wukong somersaulted on his Somersault Cloud to the gate of Thunderclap Temple on Spirit Mountain, seeking to see the Buddha Ancestor.
Tathagata issued a decree to admit him, and the Diamond Guardians let him pass.
Wukong entered the Thunderclap Temple and bowed low in worship.
Tathagata asked: “Wukong, why are you here instead of protecting Tang Sanzang on the journey for sutras? What has happened?”
Wukong kowtowed: “I report to my Buddha. This disciple, following your decree, accompanied the Tang Dynasty master westward, but encountered four female demon heads of unknown names, with vast supernatural power. They forcibly captured the master and junior brother for a wedding, to marry that demon dragon Ao Tu.
By the Jade Emperor’s order, Li Tianwang and his son came to help, but the Third Prince was captured instead. The Four Great Heavenly Kings, four Thunder Department generals, Nine Luminaries of the Dipper Department, leading one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals, surrounded and attacked, but none could prevail.
Thus, I specially inform my Buddha, hoping the Buddha Ancestor will show mercy, dispatch Buddha soldiers, capture these demon heads, and rescue my master.”
Hearing this, the Buddha Ancestor gazed remotely with wisdom eyes, knowing it was the scheme of the four saints, and said:
“I already know. But heavenly secrets must not be revealed. I will send eighteen Arhats with you to surround the demon mansion. Do not act; wait quietly for a few days, and there will surely be a turn.”
Wukong thanked him and departed Spirit Mountain on clouds with the eighteen Arhats, hurrying to the mountain. Li Tianwang saw them and led the crowd to greet, recounting prior events.
Wukong conveyed the Buddha Ancestor’s decree. Li Tianwang then ordered the gods to form arrays, joining the eighteen Arhats to surround the demon mansion according to the heavenly stems and earthly branches.
The three Bodhisattvas saw the Arhats arrive and knew the matter had alarmed the Buddha Ancestor, so they came again to urge Ao Tu to wed.
Seeing this, Ao Tu knew the matter was about to conclude.
Ao Tu knew the three women’s patience had reached its limit, and with heavenly soldiers and Arhats besieging outside, if he did not agree, they would likely force it.
Thus, Ao Tu agreed, saying: “We can wed, but allow me to first pay respects to my late father before the wedding and inform him.”
Ao Tu’s request was reasonable, so naturally they could not object.
Ao Tu set up a memorial tablet for the Dragon King of Jing River, took out a string of paper money, and cried:
“Father! You died unjustly! I do not know who plotted against you, scheming your life and causing your wrongful death! Your son will one day grind that person’s bones to dust to avenge you!”
Hearing this, the Bodhisattvas all lowered their brows and closed their eyes.
Ao Tu continued: “Father! Your son is wedding today. The bride is kin of the Dragon King of Saha in the Western Paradise, named Lian Lian. It matches our family well! Lian Lian, come quickly to burn paper money and pay respects to my father!”
Guanyin Bodhisattva was stunned.
Ao Tu said: “What is it? You are marrying me today, so my father is your father. Do you refuse to pay respects?”
Guanyin Bodhisattva hesitated.
Old Mother Li Shan stepped forward, wiping tears, and said:
“In-law! I burn some paper money for you. May you in the depths of the Underworld have no worries. Your son is my son; since he weds my daughter, I will surely cherish, love, and care for him! Three daughters, come quickly to burn paper and pay respects!”
Seeing this, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Guanyin Bodhisattvas had no choice but to step forward, bow slightly, pretend to wipe tears, and burn a few sheets of paper money.
In the Underworld, the record-burning yin officials panicked and reported:
“Bad news, Lord Yama! Old Mother Li Shan, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Guanyin Bodhisattva are all burning paper money for that old Jing River Dragon!”
