I am a fairy in Journey to the West

In the Qiantang County government office, Magistrate Yang looked at Li Gongfu below with a helpless expression, "Why did you arrest the Eighteen Arhats? They are deities!"

Li Gongfu said, "Your Excellency, even a deity cannot arbitrarily come to the mortal realm to arrest people, can he?"

Magistrate Yang said, "Didn't they come to catch monsters?"

“What monster? County Magistrate, don’t talk nonsense. There are no monsters in our Qiantang County!” Li Gongfu immediately retorted.

In the past, Li Gongfu would never have dared to speak to Magistrate Yang like that, but things are different now, as he has the background of the 'Lingtai Taoist Temple'.

Not long ago, because Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing offended King Wu, Li Song, Li Gongfu was also implicated. He was not only dismissed from his position as head constable, but also almost imprisoned.

But soon a decree came from the Lingtai Taoist Palace, bearing the imperial seal of the Tang Emperor, specifically to protect Li Gongfu and his wife.

This startled Magistrate Yang. When he thought back to the talisman from the Lingtai Dao Palace that Li Gongfu, the "Zhuangbo," had produced earlier, he realized that Li Gongfu also had a powerful backer.

So no matter how much trouble Bai Suzhen's affair caused, no matter how much Li Gongfu took sides, the entire Hangzhou prefecture, from the prefect to the county magistrate, turned a blind eye.

There was no other way; for local officials, a Lingtai Taoist temple was big enough, not to mention the emperor's seal.

"Oh dear." Magistrate Yang got up and walked down, patiently saying to Li Gongfu, "Our dynasty has always respected Taoism and Buddhism. Your capture of the Eighteen Arhats has damaged His Majesty's merits."

Li Gongfu was stunned when he heard this. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that it made sense. Although he knew that his 'Zhuang Bo' had a powerful background, it was never good to cause trouble.

“But now that they’ve all been arrested, what can we do?” Li Gongfu said, spreading his hands.

Magistrate Yang quickly changed his mind and said to Li Gongfu, "How about this, send someone to tell Zen Master Fatian of Jinshan Temple."

Li Gongfu nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take care of it right away. By the way, Your Excellency, aren't you going to take a look at the prison? That's where the Arhats are."

"No, no." Magistrate Yang shook his head vigorously. Seeing immortals was something he would normally be eager to do, but who would dare to risk it now? If the Eighteen Arhats remembered him, what good would come of it?

"You take care of this matter," Magistrate Yang said. "Do it well."

Li Gongfu nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Excellency."

Just then, a yamen runner suddenly entered, cupped his hands, and reported, "Reporting to the magistrate, Zen Master Fatian of Jinshan Temple requests an audience."

"Oh?" Magistrate Yang and Li Gongfu exchanged a glance, then quickly said, "Quickly, please come in."

Soon, Zen Master Fatian entered the main hall, and Magistrate Yang hurriedly came forward to greet him, "Oh dear, it is actually the Zen Master who has arrived. I have failed to greet you properly, please forgive me."

Zen Master Fatian wiped the sweat from his forehead, first bowing respectfully to Magistrate Yang, and then said in a humble voice, "Your Excellency, this humble monk has come to redeem people."

In this way, Zen Master Fatian redeemed the eighteen Arhats from their prison with eighteen gold ingots. Because the incident was too shameful, the eighteen Arhats were taken away by the monks of Jinshan Temple at night.

And so Magistrate Yang got eighteen ingots of gold for nothing. He was sitting in the back hall of the county government office with his wife, staring at the glittering gold ingots.

"I never imagined these monks were so rich," Magistrate Yang remarked. "They could just casually pull out eighteen ingots of gold."

The magistrate's wife said, "Those are the Eighteen Arhats. One Arhat is worth one ingot of gold. Is that too expensive or too cheap?"

"This..." Magistrate Yang suddenly realized, "It seems I'm the one who suffered a loss."

Having said that, he felt no remorse whatsoever and accepted the eighteen ingots of gold with a clear conscience.

"The matter of Bai Suzhen has caused quite a stir now. Before, we only thought it was troublesome, but now it seems to be a way to make money," Magistrate Yang said, stroking his beard.

The magistrate's wife looked at her husband and asked, "My lord, what brilliant plan do you have now?"

Magistrate Yang suddenly laughed heartily, then said to his wife, "This time we're going to make a fortune."

"What? What?" The magistrate's wife's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "How do we get rich?"

Magistrate Yang said, "Go and call your younger brother here, and tell him to buy land around Baoan Hall."

"Buy land around Bao'an Hall? What for?" The magistrate's wife shook her head and said, "What kind of good idea is this? It's absolutely terrible. The land around Bao'an Hall is now hated by everyone and even dogs. It can't be shaken off, and you still want to buy it?"

Now, who in the entire Qiantang County doesn't know the story of Bai Suzhen, Xu Xian's wife? Some say she was a demon, others say she was a deity.

But whether it's a monster or a deity, the area within a ten-mile radius of Baoan Hall is no longer suitable for habitation.

Today a few gods come to fight, tomorrow a few monsters come to cause trouble. Apart from Baoan Hall, which house within a ten-mile radius is not affected?

The residents there are suffering terribly now. House prices have dropped several times over, and they simply can't stand this commotion.

So the residents there are now selling off their properties, but there's simply no one willing to buy them.

Perhaps the only advantage of living there is that you can get medical treatment at Baoan Hall without paying for medicine if you are sick or injured.

But who wants to live in constant fear of being implicated? That's why the magistrate's wife made that statement.

Magistrate Yang chuckled and said, "Buy the houses and land around Bao'an Hall so we can build restaurants and inns."

"What?" The county magistrate's wife looked at her husband as if he were a madman. "You go there to build restaurants and inns, and they'll be smashed to pieces in less than three days. You still want to make money?"

Magistrate Yang looked at his wife and said with a smile, "You women are all talk and no action. How much money can mortals make? I want to make money from gods and monsters."

The magistrate's wife was stunned. "Sir, you mean...?"

Magistrate Yang laughed and said, "If they attack, we'll build; if they attack, we'll build. If they damage it, we'll make them pay for it, and then we'll build again. Think about it, those immortals all have the power to turn stones into gold, so they're definitely generous. These gold ingots are just a matter of tossing them around."

The magistrate's wife was immediately intrigued, but then asked, "What if those gods won't compensate us?"

"No, gods are kind-hearted and concerned about their reputation. How could they not compensate for the damage to a mortal's house? It's the demons and monsters, on the other hand, who are probably not so easy to talk to," said Magistrate Yang.

The magistrate's wife's expression changed, and she said, "Then let's forget about it. We can afford to offend gods, but we can't afford to offend monsters."

"What are you afraid of?" Magistrate Yang rolled his eyes at his wife. "Don't we still have a constable with powerful connections and superb martial arts skills?"

"Oh!" The county magistrate's wife suddenly realized, and a smile of good fortune immediately appeared on her face. "I'll go and call my brother over."

Looking at the eighteen Arhats lying in the wooden meditation room, Fahai, after much agonizing thought, turned around and went back to his own wooden hut to pack his belongings.

"Brother Fahai, where are you going?" Zen Master Fatian hurriedly stopped Fahai and asked.

Fahai said, "That snake demon is lawless. First, he burned down Jinshan Temple, and then he injured the eighteen Arhats. Such a disgrace is so great that I wish I could grind his bones to dust."

Zen Master Fatian said, "So you're planning to run away?"

Fahai glared at him, "Am I the kind of person who clings to life and fears death? I'm going out to seek the Dharma! To find a way to subdue the snake demon."

Zen Master Fatian's eyes widened. "Where are you going to seek the Dharma?" Zen Master Fahai replied, "Wherever the Dharma is, that's where I'll go to seek it."

"After all this talk, aren't you still going to run away?" Zen Master Fatian said.

Fahai said, "I'm not running away!"

“I know, I know, you’re not running away, you’re going to seek the Dharma,” Zen Master Fatian said. “Why do you have to make trouble for that snake demon?”

Fahai said, "Senior brother knows I can't tolerate any infidelity. The Heavenly Laws forbid love between humans and demons. Why do you always pretend not to see it?"

Zen Master Fatian countered, "So what if you saw it? Can you control it?"

“Someone will eventually take care of it,” Fahai said. “I will subdue that snake demon one day!”

Zen Master Fatian's expression changed, and he said, "Junior brother, your obsession is too strong."

Fahai said, "Then this is my cultivation. As long as I can subdue the snake demon and eliminate my obsession, I will be able to attain enlightenment."

After saying this, Fahai bowed deeply to Zen Master Fatian, saying, "Senior brother, I'm leaving now."

As Master Fatian watched Fahai depart, and his figure disappeared outside the mountain gate, Master Fatian shook his head and sighed slightly: "If she is meant to be subdued by you, she will come to you and be subdued even if you lie in the temple sleeping. If she is not meant to be subdued by you, what wonderful Dharma can you find even if you travel all over the world?"

"Amitabha Buddha." Zen Master Fatian clasped his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name aloud, then looked up to the sky and sang: "Originally there is nothing, so where can dust settle?"

When Zen Master Fatian returned to the meditation room where the eighteen Arhats were housed, he saw that the eighteen Arhats, who had been lying injured, were now all sitting cross-legged in a row, and their bodies were radiating golden light.

Master Fatian was startled, for he saw a celestial maiden standing to the right of the eighteen Arhats. Her body was as golden as sandalwood, her light as bright as the sun, and she wore a pagoda on her head and celestial robes and colorful skirts.

As the abbot of Jinshan Temple, how could he not know who this Bodhisattva was?

Master Fatian immediately knelt down and bowed to the Bodhisattva, saying, "Disciple Fatian, abbot of Jinshan Temple, pays respects to Bodhisattva Marici."

Marici Bodhisattva formed a mudra with her hands and smiled at Zen Master Fatian, saying, "Zen Master, please rise."

"Thank you, Bodhisattva." Zen Master Fatian bowed in gratitude, rose, and stood respectfully in attendance.

Marici Bodhisattva then said to the eighteen Arhats, "You all should quickly return to Mount Sumeru to rest. This humble monk will go and see for himself the power of that snake demon."

The eighteen Arhats responded in unison, "We will obey your command." Then they each transformed into a golden ray of light and disappeared into the sky.

Then, Marici Bodhisattva looked at Dharma Master and said, "Master, you only need to supervise the monastery here. You don't need to concern yourself with the matter of the white snake anymore."

Zen Master Fatian bowed again with his palms together and said, "Disciple will respectfully follow the Bodhisattva's instructions."

Then Marici Bodhisattva slowly took a step forward, instantly transforming into a cloud of fragrant flowers and auspiciousness, flying out of Jinshan and landing in Hangzhou city in a short while.

Upon arriving outside Baoan Hall, Marici Bodhisattva witnessed Bai Suzhen, Xu Xian, Xiaoqing, and others distributing free medicine to beggars and the poor.

Moreover, the area around Baoan Temple is undergoing extensive construction, with various houses and buildings being built. This scene does not seem like a place disturbed by monsters.

Then Marici Bodhisattva stepped forward and came to Bai Suzhen, who was getting medicine, and asked, "Do you have any medicine to cure karmic entanglements?"

Bai Suzhen suddenly raised her head, and when she saw Marici Bodhisattva, she immediately called out, "My lord, Xiaoqing."

Xu Xian and Xiao Qing, who were busy at work, looked up and looked over when they heard Bai Suzhen's call.

When they saw Marici Bodhisattva, Xiaoqing immediately drew her Azure Cloud Sword, while Xu Xian looked helpless and said, "Why is this never going to end?"

Instead of taking action, Marici Bodhisattva looked at Bai Suzhen and said, "May I speak with you in private?"

"My wife," Xu Xian called out anxiously.

Bai Suzhen gave Xu Xian a reassuring look, then asked Marici Bodhisattva, "May I ask which Bodhisattva has graced us with their presence?"

"I am Marici," Marici Bodhisattva introduced herself.

Bai Suzhen's pupils contracted. After so long, a true deity had finally arrived: Marici Bodhisattva, a Buddhist guardian deity with genuine supernatural powers.

Bai Suzhen sighed in her heart. This day had finally come, but no matter what, her determination to repay the debt of gratitude remained unchanged.

Thinking of this, Bai Suzhen turned to Xu Xian and said, "My lord, you stay here and distribute the medicine. I will go with this Bodhisattva."

"My wife, I'll go with you," Xu Xian said hurriedly.

"No, I can go by myself." Bai Suzhen smiled and said, "I'll be fine, don't worry."

After saying this, Bai Suzhen stepped out of the medicine stall and said to Marici Bodhisattva, "Bodhisattva, please."

Marici Bodhisattva and Bai Suzhen turned to leave at the same time, but Xiaoqing chased after them with the Biyun Sword, saying, "Sister, I'll go with you."

Xu Xian also invited Zhuang Yan, Tathagata, and Laozi out, and instructed them, "Uncle Zhuang, Daoist Master, Buddha Master, please distribute the medicine here. I will leave for a while."

After saying that, Xu Xian didn't care whether Zhuang Yan and the other two agreed or not, and immediately chased after the Bodhisattva Marici, Bai Suzhen, and Xiaoqing.

Seeing this, Laozi immediately said, "Come, let's have a bet and see if Molizhi can defeat Bai Suzhen who is wielding the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire Sword?"

The Buddha laughed and said, "If I offer ten large-grade golden lotus seeds, neither Bai Suzhen nor the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire Sword will be a match for Venerable Marici."

Laozi said, "Since that's the case, I'll bet that she can't beat me, and the prize will be a gourd of Great Rejuvenating Elixir."

After saying that, Laozi and Buddha both looked at Zhuang Yan, who smiled and said, "Then I'll take the lead?"

Laozi and Buddha's faces darkened, and Buddha said, "We must place a bet."

Helpless, Zhuang Yan could only say, "Then I'll bet ten ginseng fruits that the Bodhisattva Marici can defeat Bai Suzhen, but she won't take her in."

"Oh?" Buddha and Lao Tzu exchanged a surprised glance.

At this moment, an old beggar woman walked up shakily and asked, "Are you still distributing medicine?"

After the three made their bet, they immediately turned around and said with a smile, "Fa, Fa, are you feeling unwell?"

The old beggar woman said, "My granddaughter has an upset stomach and has been vomiting and having diarrhea for several days."

Lao Jun said, "Then why didn't you come to ask for the medicine earlier?" After saying that, he directly used the medicinal herbs in front of him to make a elixir and handed it over, "Take this elixir back and give it to your grandson."

The old beggar woman took the medicine pill and immediately knelt down to kowtow: "Thank you, Taoist priest. You are so kind. Thank you, Taoist priest."

After thanking her, the old beggar woman took the medicine pills, leaned on her cane, and quickly left. (End of Chapter)