Chapter 22: Winds Rise At Dusk
Yet Wukong rode his cloud to Spirit Mountain.
He alighted from the cloud head and went straight to the foot of Vulture Peak, where four Great Vajra blocked the way: “Monkey, where do you think you’re going?”
Wukong paid his respects and said: “I am Sun Wukong, disciple of Tang Sanzang. I have business and need to see Tathagata.”
At that time, Buddha Ancestor Tathagata was seated properly on the Nine-Ranked Precious Lotus Platform, lecturing on sutras with the Eighteen Arhats. He opened his mouth and said: “Sun Wukong has come. You all go out and receive him.”
The Eighteen Arhats obeyed the Buddha’s Decree and went out the door, saying:
“Great Sage Sun, Tathagata has decreed to receive you.”
Only then did the four Great Vajra at the door step aside to clear the path, letting Wukong enter.
Wukong saw Tathagata and prostrated himself on the ground in worship.
Tathagata said: “Wukong, what matter brings you to seek me?”
Wukong said: “Your disciple has repeatedly received your lessons and grace, taking refuge under Buddha Ancestor’s door, protecting Tang Sanzang on the journey to the West for sutras.
Now at Yellow Wind Ridge, there are two demons—one wields wind, the other fire—extremely ferocious. They have captured my master.
Your disciple could not defeat them, first invited Bodhisattva Lingji, then Dragon King, then Heavenly King Li, Third Prince, Water Virtue Star Lord, but still could not subdue those demons.
Now I have investigated and learned that those demons are originally the son of Dragon King of Jing River, the little dragon who is the Bell Ringer under Buddha Ancestor. Thus I have come to request you dispatch someone to subdue him.”
Tathagata said: “Indeed, that demon was originally the boy servant Bell Ringer under my seat. Because he missed the hour, I had Ananda give him a small punishment as a big warning. I don’t know how, but he could not endure the hardship and fled to the mortal realm.”
Wukong said: “How can a mere boy servant have such cultivation?”
Tathagata said: “He has long been under my seat, listening to the wonderful scriptures of the Western Paradise, thus gaining some cultivation.”
Wukong said: “So it is your fault for failing to recognize people!”
Tathagata said: “You monkey, how do you say it is my fault for failing to recognize people?”
Wukong said: “You are just like that old Jade Emperor. Old Sun has such great abilities, yet he made me tend horses? That demon has vast supernatural powers and has cultivated a true dragon golden body, yet you made him Bell Ringer. Is that not your fault for failing to recognize people?”
Tathagata said: “The positions in my Western Heaven are not determined by supernatural powers, but require great wisdom, great compassion, great perseverance, great vow power to achieve proper fruition. That little dragon committed a wrong, unwilling even to accept a small punishment, and privately fled to the mortal realm. How can he achieve proper fruition? It is just like your conduct back then.”
Wukong laughed: “Why bring up Old Sun again? Quickly dispatch some Buddha soldiers to capture that demon dragon and rescue my master!”
Tathagata said: “Ananda is at the Precious Scripture Pavilion arranging sutras. Go find him and have him take you to subdue that little dragon.”
Wukong said: “Many thanks, many thanks!”
He turned and went to the Precious Scripture Pavilion.
Outside the Precious Scripture Pavilion, a young monk was dozing off.
Wukong patted him: “Young monk, young monk, is Venerable Ananda inside?”
The young monk opened his eyes, without looking closely, and said: “Senior brother, you’re back. How have you been gone so long?”
Wukong said: “Which one is your senior brother? Look carefully!”
The boy servant then saw Wukong’s appearance and said somewhat fearfully:
“What person are you?”
Wukong said: “Don’t be afraid. I have come by Tathagata’s decree to find Venerable Ananda.”
The boy servant said: “Oh, so you’re looking for my master.”
Wukong said: “Exactly, exactly. Please trouble yourself to announce me.”
The boy servant stretched out his hand.
Wukong said: “What?”
The boy servant said: “You monkey don’t understand etiquette. Who comes empty-handed to have me announce?”
Wukong angrily said: “I’ll beat you, greedy young monk! My master is suffering in the demon’s cave, yet you demand a gift from Old Sun? If you don’t open the door, see if this iron rod looks like a gift!”
The boy servant, afraid, then opened the door.
Wukong jumped inside. Ananda was inside arranging sutra scrolls.
Wukong hurriedly greeted him and paid respects: “Venerable Ananda,” then explained the whole matter, also mentioning how the gatekeeping boy servant had demanded a gift.
Ananda, upon hearing this, said: “Don’t be angry. After this matter, I will surely punish him severely, not allowing him to collect extra gifts.”
Wukong said: “Very good, very good. Venerable, quickly come with me to rescue my master. One day here is one year down there. I dare not delay any longer.”
Ananda said: “Wait a moment. Since you have invited me to act, what offering do you have for me? You haven’t brought it out for me to see.”
“Offering?” Wukong, hearing this, jumped up in anger and said: “Fine! My master is about to be eaten by demons, yet you, as a venerable, do not go to rescue him, but instead demand an offering from me? I wondered why that boy servant was so greedy. Tracing it to the root, it turns out it’s from you!”
Ananda laughed: “Even when inviting a monk to perform a Buddhist mass and conduct the ritual for hungry ghosts, there must be vegetarian meals prepared and silver taels given. If we act for free, the monks of later generations will all starve to death!”
Wukong, hearing this, could not help but drag Ananda up and say:
“Come come come, let’s go to Tathagata to reason it out!”
Ananda said: “Even if reasoning, I am not afraid of you. I only fear Golden Cicada cannot hold out this long. You know one day here is one year down there. If we delay further, even if your master is not eaten by demons, he will starve to death!”
Wukong, furious but helpless, finally said:
“Fine fine, you first come with me to subdue the demon. That demon’s cave has many treasures. I’ll take them and give them to you. If you find it too little, Old Sun will go all out, steal Heavenly King’s Precious Pagoda and Crown Prince’s Heaven and Earth Ring, and give them all to you!”
Ananda, hearing this, beamed with joy and followed Wukong out of Spirit Mountain to Yellow Wind Ridge.
At this time, the Ao Tu System’s progress had already reached thirty-five days.
Still, Wukong came to the door cursing, and Yellow Wind Great Sage came out to fight.
Ao Tu observed secretly and saw only Ananda and Heavenly King Li with his son in the sky, so he felt relieved.
Soon, Ananda took out a Glass Bowl, released seven-colored light, and fixed Yellow Wind Monster in place.
Yellow Wind Great Sage hurriedly said: “Brother, save me!”
Ao Tu appeared in the sky, flew to Ananda’s side, and slapped him twenty times with his hand.
Although Ananda was one of Tathagata’s top ten disciples, his cultivation was not high, renowned only for “foremost in learning.” Before Tathagata attained the Way, he had long followed by Tathagata’s side, recording Buddha Ancestor’s words and deeds. Thus after Tathagata attained the Way, Ananda shared some merit, thereby gaining his position.
In terms of his own strength, without using magic treasures, he was not even as good as Bodhisattva Lingji.
Now Ao Tu caught him off guard, slapped him twenty times up close, burned the Glazed Tile Bowl until it cracked and fell. Ananda was enveloped in divine fire, cried out miserably once, and his flesh body and divine soul were both extinguished, turning into a gust of red wind and departing.
Only a bit of true spirit remained, wrapped in a golden lotus, flying toward the Western Paradise.
Ao Tu chased after, slapping over a hundred times, burning the sky with flames gathering, like a second sun.
Li Jing and Third Prince saw this and hurriedly withdrew.
Wukong, bold as he was, went down and picked up the Glass Bowl that Ananda had dropped. The side was burned open with a crack; it could no longer hold water, but could still hold some dry rice.
Wukong happily took it and said: “Pitiful, pitiful. Venerable Ananda, you won’t get Old Sun’s offering. Old Sun will keep your offering. In the future, when begging alms, it can hold some dry rice or cold dishes for Master. That can count as your merit.”
On the other side, Ao Tu chased six thousand miles but could not shake that golden lotus at all, knowing it was Grand Unity method, unbreakable by human power, so he had to turn back.
Returning to Yellow Wind Cave, Yellow Wind Great Sage saw Ao Tu return and was about to celebrate his victory.
But Ao Tu said: “Virtuous younger brother, we cannot eat Tang Sanzang’s flesh.”
Yellow Wind Great Sage said: “Why can’t we eat it?”
Ao Tu said: “The monk I just slapped to death was a disciple of Western Tathagata Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha. Now that he is dead, the Buddhas will surely come for revenge. You and I should each flee for our lives.”
