Chapter 91: Exorcise Demons In Wuji Kingdom
Yet speaking of Tang Sanzang and his disciples arriving in Wuji Kingdom, they met the King of Wuji Kingdom.
The King of Wuji Kingdom saw Tang Sanzang’s dignified appearance and courteous manners, thinking to himself that he was indeed a figure from the great nation of Great Tang. He opened his mouth and asked:
“I wonder why the holy monk has traveled thousands of miles to go west?”
Tang Sanzang said: “In response to Your Majesty, this poor monk has been ordered by King Tang to go to Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Paradise to obtain sutras, in order to achieve transcendence for the deceased and save all living beings.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “Holy monk, for the sake of obtaining true sutras, you are willing to endure the hardships of thousands of miles and arduous travels; you are truly a supreme virtuous holy monk.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Your Majesty overpraises me. I still request Your Majesty to affix the royal seal on the travel pass to facilitate my master and disciples going west.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom took out the royal seal and affixed it on Tang Sanzang’s travel pass.
Tang Sanzang carefully put away the sealed document and said:
“Your Majesty, this poor monk has one more matter I wish to consult Your Majesty about.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom asked: “What other matter does the holy monk have?”
Tang Sanzang said: “Before this poor monk entered the city, I encountered a group of Taoist priests doing hard labor in the mountains, very pitiable. I heard this was Your Majesty’s decree; I wonder what the reason is. Could Your Majesty explain?”
Upon hearing this, the King of Wuji Kingdom sighed and said: “This matter I originally did not wish to mention again, but since the holy monk asks, it is no harm to speak. The matter must be told from eight years ago…”
The King of Wuji Kingdom spoke leisurely.
The story he told was not much different from what circulated in the outer world, only the details were more authentic.
After hearing it, Tang Sanzang said: “Excellent, excellent. Your Majesty was fortunate to receive the Buddha’s mercy and escape this ordeal; it is cause for joy and congratulations.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “This is largely thanks to the Buddha’s grace of salvation.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Amitabha Buddha. Your Majesty, when this poor monk was in Great Tang, I once heard people say: ‘The fundamental principles of governing a country are first to reward good and punish evil, to distinguish right from wrong.’ What does Your Majesty think?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “This is indeed a statement of utmost truth.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Since that is so, why does Your Majesty not punish the true culprit and release that group of innocent Taoist priests?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom sighed:
“How could I not want to punish the true culprit? But that demonic Taoist has a background reaching the heavens, and I do not know which immortal or Buddha is behind him; I am powerless and can only resort to this lower strategy, hoping to force out the one behind him. If I release that group of Taoist priests, would not the five years of my suffering of displacement be in vain?”
Upon hearing this, Wukong could not help jumping out and saying:
“Your Majesty, you need not worry. The injustice you cannot redress, Old Sun will redress for you; the lawsuit you cannot file, Old Sun will file for you. Even if it goes before the Jade Emperor, Old Sun will win this lawsuit for you. Just release that group of Taoist priests and no longer implicate these innocent people.”
The King of Wuji Kingdom saw Wukong uttering bold words and hurriedly asked: “Who is this elder?”
Wukong said: “Old Sun is the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven Sun Wukong who caused the Great Havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago!”
The King of Wuji Kingdom had never heard this title and was somewhat bewildered upon hearing it.
Ba Jie said: “Your Majesty, you do not know; my senior brother was in charge of agriculture and animal husbandry in the Heavenly Court back then, holding the highest rank!”
Wukong said: “Get lost, idiot!”
The King of Wuji Kingdom could not discern the sarcasm in the words and thought Wukong was truly a great god from the Heavenly Realm in charge of agriculture and animal husbandry.
This was because in mortal dynasties, agriculture is the foundation of livelihood, and animal husbandry is the source of military supplies; only ministers who are pillars of the state can take such positions.
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “Many thanks to Elder Sun for his assistance. However, in this matter I dare not act without authorization and still need to consult the Buddha’s decree.”
Upon hearing this, Wukong became spirited and said: “Then where is that Buddha now?”
The King of Wuji Kingdom said: “At the top of the ninety-nine-story Buddhist pagoda outside the city; that demonic Taoist is also locked at the top of the pagoda.”
Tang Sanzang said: “Amitabha Buddha, this poor monk was just about to go sweep the pagoda; it is truly karma. Wukong, Wu Neng, Wu Jing, you also come with your master: first to pay respects to the Buddha; second to clarify the demonic Taoist’s background, so as to rescue those innocent Daoist priests.”
Upon hearing this, Ba Jie thought sweeping the ninety-nine-story Buddhist pagoda was no good task and hurriedly said:
“Master, let senior brother and Junior Brother Sha go with you; that Buddhist pagoda towers into the clouds and cannot be swept clean in one or two days. Old Pig will stay behind and send you some food morning and evening, so you won’t have to run up and down in hardship.”
Tang Sanzang thought about it; what Ba Jie said made some sense, so he looked toward Sha Seng.
Sha Seng also did not want to go and said: “Master, with second senior brother delivering food, no one to watch the luggage and horses; I will stay behind to watch the luggage!”
Tang Sanzang said: “Then Wukong will accompany your master.”
Wukong nodded and said: “Good, Master; Old Sun will accompany you.”
The next day, Tang Sanzang and Wukong arrived at the foot of the pagoda outside the city.
Wukong carried the bucket, oil lamp, and bedding; Tang Sanzang held the broom; master and disciple entered the pagoda.
In that pagoda, there was not much decoration; what was placed there were some stone-carved faceless Buddha statues in various poses.
Tang Sanzang reverently paid respects to each one, took the broom and carefully swept, brushing away every bit of dust from the corners.
The space in each level of the Buddhist pagoda was about two zhang high; places Tang Sanzang could not reach, he called Wukong to do instead.
Master and disciple busied themselves for a day and only swept seven or eight levels.
In the evening, Ba Jie came up to deliver food and change the bucket.
By now it was nighttime, with only one oil lamp giving faint light.
The faceless Buddha statues in the Buddhist pagoda had strange poses; upon seeing them, Ba Jie felt somewhat afraid and left in a hurry after serving Tang Sanzang his meal.
Only Wukong gazed at those Buddha statues, pensive.
From the first level to here, there were already over a hundred Buddha statues, and none of their poses repeated.
Moreover, Wukong discovered that the poses of these Buddha statues matched the content of the cultivation method that the Taoist priest had passed to him earlier.
The King of Wuji Kingdom had said that this Buddhist pagoda was personally overseen and built by that Buddha for the purpose of transmitting the Dharma.
So this Buddha and Fu Zhu Zhen Shi Tian Zun, who passed the cultivation method to those Taoist priests, were the same person, both old acquaintances of his.
This guy, who knows what scheme he has this time.
Wukong felt somewhat irritated.
Several days passed like this; when Tang Sanzang swept to the thirty-third level, Wukong suddenly became joyful.
This was because the cultivation methods demonstrated by the Buddha statues in the first thirty-two levels were the same as those passed by the Taoist priest, but from the thirty-third level onward, the subsequent methods began to appear.
That cultivation method was not incomplete!
Seeing this, Tang Sanzang hurriedly asked: “Wukong, what is wrong with you?”
Wukong said: “These days accompanying Master in sweeping the pagoda, in this pagoda, I have comprehended some principles.”
Tang Sanzang said: “What principles?”
Wukong shook his head: “This principle cannot be spoken; Master must comprehend it yourself.”
Since that guy chose to hide the methods in the stone statues, Wukong naturally could not overstep.
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang no longer pressed.
Next, Wukong was doubly diligent, studying the methods contained in the Buddha statues every day.
Several more days passed, reaching the sixty-sixth level.
Wukong had already confirmed that this method shared the same origin as his seventy-two transformations and was in no way inferior; in many places it could complement them.
In his cultivation over these days, his already cultivated indestructible diamond body actually showed some imperceptible growth.
Although the growth was not much, it was of great significance.
A shocking and grateful emotion arose in Wukong’s heart.
The Great Dao is priceless, yet that guy so easily brought it out.
Ba Jie came up every day to deliver food; Wukong intended to give him a pointer, telling that idiot to look more at the Buddha statues, but it was unknown if that idiot comprehended anything from them.
Several more days passed, reaching the ninety-ninth level.
This was the last level, and the method had reached the most crucial point.
Wukong vaguely sensed something wrong; he felt he was about to fall into that demon dragon’s scheme again.
But there was no way around it; he still could not help entering the ninety-ninth level.
Sure enough, there was not a single Buddha statue on the ninety-ninth level; the method stopped abruptly again at the most critical point.
In front were only four cold iron chains linking up and down, locking a disheveled-haired Daoist priest; this must be that demonic Taoist.
And beside the demonic Taoist was a golden lotus platform, on which sat a Buddha.
Wukong recognized at a glance that this Buddha was transformed by Ao Tu.
Actually, at this time, Wukong’s fiery golden eyes could no longer discern the truth of this Buddha; he could only see a field of golden Buddha’s light blocking it, unable to see the Buddha’s true form.
The reason Wukong could recognize it was Ao Tu’s transformation was because this so-called Buddha was in the form of the Spirit Mountain King Buddha; previously at White Tiger Ridge, Ao Tu had transformed into this form once, so Wukong could recognize it at a glance.
The Tang Sanzang beside him saw Ao Tu and respectfully bowed: “Disciple Tang Sanzang pays respects to Spirit Mountain King Buddha!”
Seeing this, Wukong hurriedly went to stop him, saying: “Master, do not bow to him; if you bow to him, Old Sun will be of lower generation!”
Tang Sanzang shook his head, insisting on bowing, and said: “In Buddhist Dharma, high and low do not divide generations. The King Buddha has the grace of enlightenment toward your master; your master cannot not bow.”
In the end, Ao Tu received Tang Sanzang’s bow.
Ao Tu smilingly helped Tang Sanzang up and said:
“Xuan Zang, with a mortal body, you have swept these ninety-nine levels of the Buddhist pagoda and now ascended to the top, gazing at the scenery below the pagoda; do you have any insights?”
Tang Sanzang followed Ao Tu’s gaze and saw all things ethereal below the pagoda top, involuntarily gaining insight, and chanted:
“The lofty pagoda pierces the heavens; leaning on the railing, ten thousand worries lighten.
Clouds rise with sleeves; wind follows the ear’s ringing.
Vast wilderness spreads a thousand qing; long river winds around one city.
Remote thoughts of heaven and earth’s vastness; suddenly this life becomes clear.”
Ao Tu nodded.
Tang Sanzang asked: “I wonder if disciple’s comprehension is correct?”
Ao Tu smiled: “Xuan Zang, you have journeyed west ten thousand miles, breaking through a thousand difficulties; all the people you met and events you experienced are boats to ferry you and mirrors to awaken you. Comprehend karma thoroughly, illuminate the mind and see true nature; all experiences are insights, how to divide right and wrong?”
Tang Sanzang put his palms together at his chest and said: “Disciple has received the teaching.”
But Wukong, at the side, grabbed Ao Tu’s arm and said:
“Do not speak those first; what scheme is it this time?”
Ao Tu said: “Monkey, how do you wrongly accuse a good person? This poor monk passed by this place and saw the true king wronged, his lonely soul wandering; the demon wreaking havoc, usurping the throne and occupying the country. Thus I acted to subdue the demon and welcome back the true king. How in your mouth does it become a scheme?”
Wukong said: “Then why did you implicate those innocent Taoist priests?”
Ao Tu said: “How did I implicate the Taoist priests? This demon is a Taoist priest, so naturally the king implicated Taoist priests; if he were a monk, naturally the king would implicate monks.”
Wukong said again: “Then why did you pass methods to those Taoist priests and mention Old Sun’s name, making Old Sun come to save them?”
Ao Tu said: “I saw those Taoist priests wronged, thus passed them some rudimentary methods for self-protection. I also heard there is a Great Sage, Equal of Heaven who hates evil like an enemy and distinguishes right from wrong, thus told them the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven’s name, letting the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven come to save them. Monkey, if you fear that demonic Taoist’s background reaching the heavens and are unwilling to rescue, just refuse.”
