Chapter 37: Four Saints Test The Heart Of Zen
Old Mother Li Shan, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Guanyin Bodhisattva burned paper for the Dragon King of Jing River.
Upon learning of this, King Yama’s face turned ashen with shock, and he almost fell from his seat.
What is going on? Wasn’t that old dragon said to have no significant background?
Filled with fear, he hastily summoned the other Nine Kings of Hell to consult: namely, King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang, King Song Di, King Wu Guan, King Ping Deng, King Tai Shan, King Du Shi, King Bian Cheng, and King Zhuan Lun.
The Ten Kings gathered, trembling, speaking in worried tones, their hearts growing increasingly agitated, unable to reach any conclusion.
The Dragon King of Jing River was involved in too many disreputable affairs, so they dared not seek clarification from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva at Cuiyun Palace; even less dared they report it to Heaven.
King Yama questioned his subordinates, asking about the whereabouts of the Dragon King of Jing River’s Dragon Soul.
The ghost messengers replied that it was lingering in the Nine Netherworld, unwilling to enter reincarnation.
The so-called Nine Netherworld is the lowest layer where turbid energy descended during the primordial chaos, located beneath the eighteen layers of hell, a place where extremely yin and dark noxious air gathered.
When Patriarch Bodhi expelled Sun Wukong from his tutelage, he had said to Sun Wukong:
“Your departure will surely lead to misfortune. No matter how much trouble you stir or evil you commit, you are not permitted to say you are my disciple. If you utter even half a word, I will know, and I will skin you, grind your bones, and banish your soul to the Nine Netherworld, ensuring you can never rise again for ten thousand kalpas!”
From this, one can see the perils of the Nine Netherworld.
King Song Di proposed, “Perhaps we could invite him out and treat him well?”
King Qin Guang said, “Absolutely not. The matters this old dragon is involved in are so grave that even if these three Bodhisattvas themselves were to come, they could not absolve him. If we were to bring him out, it would surely lead to trouble and disaster for us all.”
King Yama said, “We definitely cannot bring him out, but we also cannot offend him. In my opinion, it would be best to daily dispatch ghost messengers to offer incense and fire as provisions. If any changes occur in the future, we will have an explanation.”
The other Yama Kings, upon hearing this, all agreed with the proposal.
Accordingly, each arranged for their subordinate ghost messengers to take turns attending to the Dragon King of Jing River.
At that time, the Dragon Soul of the Dragon King of Jing River drifted in the Nine Netherworld, devoid of light, mournful and desolate, its soul almost scattered by the yin energy, sustained only by a flicker of obsession in its heart.
Just then, ghost messengers suddenly arrived, bringing offerings of incense and fire from the mortal world, stabilizing his spirit. This greatly surprised the Dragon King of Jing River, leaving him completely bewildered as to what was happening.
In the outer world, Ao Tu saw Guanyin Bodhisattva truly burning paper money and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, thinking, “As expected of a Bodhisattva, capable of enduring what ordinary people cannot.”
After Lian Lian finished burning the paper money in her hands, her beautiful eyes gazed at Ao Tu, and she said softly,
“Can we get married now, husband?”
Lian Lian was already beautiful, but with that one word “husband,” she became even more captivating.
She was seen with eyebrows like verdant mountains, a face blooming with spring’s color. A seductive, peerless beauty, graceful and enchanting. Her figure was delicate and captivating, ethereal and beyond worldly concerns. Her half-smiling face resembled Xi Shi’s beauty, and her slow steps were like a celestial maiden descending to earth.
Ao Tu, however, knew she was a Transformation of a Bodhisattva and paid no mind to her beauty, regarding it all as illusion. He pressed his advantage, saying,
“Lian Lian, for a wedding, one must pay respects to the elders and parents. Kneel with me before my father’s spirit tablet, and that shall suffice as paying respects to parents.”
Upon hearing this, Lian Lian walked over, her slender fingers like spring bamboo shoots, and took Ao Tu’s arm, saying, “Whatever my husband wishes, we shall do. Let’s kneel quickly!”
Ao Tu led her down to kneel.
Guanyin Bodhisattva had no intention of truly kneeling. She merely feigned compliance, adopting a kneeling posture, and while holding Ao Tu’s arm with one hand, she raised the other, conjured a circlet, and prepared to place it on Ao Tu’s head.
Ao Tu, having been wary of her all along, reached out directly, grasped Lian Lian’s slender wrist, and sneered, “I was prepared for you!”
Seeing her plan foiled, Guanyin Bodhisattva revealed her true form.
Auspicious mists scattered in profusion, and fortunate light protected her Dharma body.
Within the bright expanse of the nine heavens, a true immortal maiden appeared.
Her head was adorned with a golden leaf clasp, and auspicious energy flowed from her necklaces.
Around her chest hung pendants, and she wore a simple, light blue robe.
Lingering mist draped willow branches, one of which sprinkled the azure sky.
A jade bracelet fastened an embroidered loop, and golden lotuses lay deep beneath her feet.
Guanyin Bodhisattva, having foreseen the possibility of her plan failing, had already grasped Ao Tu’s wrist to prevent him from using the Golden Light of Earthly Movement to escape. She then took out the Jade Pure Bottle, intending to capture Ao Tu.
Ao Tu had long been prepared for her. He drew the Dragon-Binding Rope from his waist, uttered a command, and bound Guanyin Bodhisattva in place.
Seeing this, the Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra each revealed their true Dharma forms.
Manjushri Bodhisattva then revealed a true Dharma form:
His face was like indigo, radiating awe towards evil spirits, with a fiery red beard.
His entire body was adorned with multicolored patterns, and within him, golden light provided protection.
The Demon Subduing Pestle blazed with rolling red flames, and the edges of the golden lotuses emitted surging rosy light.
His great Dharma radiated majestic power, with clusters of auspicious clouds enveloping him on all sides.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva also revealed a true Dharma form:
His face was like a deep red date, a truly precious countenance, with a large mouth and fangs, exuding authority.
Red clouds from the West enveloped his head, and the golden body was shielded by the auspicious fruit.
Bejeweled necklaces hung all over his body, and auspicious clouds arose from beneath his lotus-clad feet.
Three heads and six arms held sharp weapons, with a Demon Subduing Pestle in one hand.
Seeing this, Ao Tu summoned the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan and unleashed boundless flames, like dancing golden serpents and black smoke obscuring the sky, forcing the two Venerables to retreat.
Old Mother Li Shan, having already moved aside, stood in a corner, watching the commotion with a smiling gaze.
The young maid transformed into Mu Cha, wielding a heavy iron rod, and stealthily approached to strike Ao Tu.
Tiger Vanguard came from behind and unexpectedly kicked Mu Cha’s rod away.
Guanyin Bodhisattva shed her Dharma robe, which transformed into a substitute body. She broke free from the Dragon-Binding Rope and drew a willow branch from the Jade Pure Bottle, striking at Ao Tu.
Although the willow branch appeared light and fluttering, it carried the weight of the Thirty-three Heavens.
Ao Tu dared not meet it head-on. He recalled the Dragon-Binding Rope, brought Tiger Vanguard with him, and transformed into a golden light, escaping.
Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva pursued him together.
Outside, they encountered a celestial net, the Nine Luminaries, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, and generals of the Thunder Department, along with the Eighteen Arhats.
Ao Tu remained unafraid and continued to flee forward.
Behind him, the three Bodhisattvas were in pursuit.
The divine generals, seeing the Bodhisattvas, joined them in surrounding Ao Tu.
The Four Great Heavenly Kings were stationed in the four directions, blocking the sky, each displaying their power with the Green Cloud Sword, Hunyuan Umbrella, Jade Pipa, and Flower Fox Sable.
The generals of the Thunder Department unleashed divine thunder, striking like a storm, with lightning raining down.
The Nine Luminaries, along with a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals, formed a formation, a heavenly net that was impenetrable.
The Eighteen Arhats each displayed their golden bodies, resembling eighteen golden Buddhas standing motionless in the sky.
As Ao Tu approached, he was surrounded from the heavens and earth, from all directions.
The Four Great Heavenly Kings moved to capture him first.
Ao Tu’s back manifested five streams of light: green, yellow, red, white, and black. With a flash of green light, he captured the Four Great Heavenly Kings.
The generals of the Thunder Department unleashed divine thunder upon him.
With a flash of yellow light from Ao Tu’s body, he captured the generals of the Thunder Department.
The Nine Luminaries, along with a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals, attacked.
With a flash of red light from Ao Tu’s body, he captured the Nine Luminaries and the hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals.
The Eighteen Arhats each unleashed their supernatural powers, holding pagodas, offering bowls, and gesturing as they attacked Ao Tu.
With a flash of white light from Ao Tu’s body, he captured the Eighteen Arhats.
At this point, Ao Tu had captured the Four Great Heavenly Kings, the generals of the Thunder Department, the Nine Luminaries, a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers, and the Eighteen Arhats.
Ao Tu felt his body grow heavy and his magic power insufficient. Therefore, he did not engage the three Bodhisattvas behind him and once again used the Golden Light of Earthly Movement to transform into a golden light and escape.
The three Bodhisattvas pursued closely.
Manjushri used the Dragon Subduing Pile, and Samantabhadra used the Rainbow Rope.
Ao Tu, with no other choice, again manifested black light and captured the Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra.
Guanyin Bodhisattva, realizing Ao Tu was at the end of his strength, still did not cease her pursuit.
