Journey to the West: Beginning with the Apprenticeship of Bodhi Patriarch

Chapter 174 Tathagata asks the real person again, the three demons of Lion Camel Mountain are defeated
The conversation took place in the main hall.

The Immortal Being and Tathagata were discussing Buddhism in the hall. Not long after, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva came from outside and entered the hall.

When they entered the palace, the two Bodhisattvas paid homage to the Buddha and then asked, "Buddha, why did you call us here?"

The Tathagata said, "I have come here today because of the matter of Lion Camel Mountain. When the pilgrims arrived at Lion Camel Mountain, they saw that there were many evil spirits there, so they were determined to subdue the demons and monsters in Lion Camel Mountain. Sun Wukong asked the Tathagata for help from the Dharma Protector, and now the Tathagata has come here to explain it to us."

The two Bodhisattvas asked, "Buddha, what does this have to do with us? We have been practicing in Mount Emei and Mount Wutai for a long time."

The Tathagata said, "How long will it take for the two of you beasts to escape?"

The two Bodhisattvas looked at each other and asked the Tathagata to explain clearly.

The Tathagata said, "Two of the demons on Lion Camel Mountain are the beasts that you two escaped from. They committed many sins on Lion Camel Mountain. How could they be so foolish as to let the beasts escape? Go and find out when they escaped."

Upon hearing this, the two Bodhisattvas apologized again and again before leaving. Within two or three hours, they returned and said, "Buddha, the two beasts have been running free in the mountains for seven days. I don't know how many years have passed in the Jambu world."

Tathagata said, "There is such a crime. Now the Immortal is here to tell you that Sun Wukong and Bull Demon King want to subdue him. Do you two have anything to say?"

The two Bodhisattvas asked, "Master, I wonder what kind of sins those two beasts of ours have committed?"

Jiang Yuan stood up and was about to say something, but Tathagata spoke up and said, "The two beasts have eaten countless people."

The two Bodhisattvas said, "The two beasts have eaten countless people and committed sins. We have nothing to say, but please let the real person make the decision."

Jiang Yuan said: "Thank you, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva."

The two Bodhisattvas clasped their hands and said, "We have heard of the Immortal Master's name for a long time, but have never talked with him. Now we have the opportunity to talk with him."

Jiang Yuan bowed in return and said, "I have also heard of the names of the two Bodhisattvas."

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva smiled and said, "I wonder if you will have some free time later. If you do, I would be very willing to discuss the wonderful Dharma with you."

Jiang Yuan readily agreed and said, "I dare not disobey the Bodhisattva's invitation."

The two men agreed to go to Mount Emei to discuss the wonderful Dharma. The Buddha did not ask them to leave, but stayed in the Main Hall and continued the conversation between the True Man and the Buddha.

After talking for a long time, Tathagata looked at Jiang Yuan and asked, "Master, it's been a while since our bet. Now that we meet again today, do you think there was anything wrong with what we said in the past?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Your Excellency, there is nothing wrong with it."

Tathagata smiled and said, "As I have seen, you often feel that things you get for free are worthless, and you throw them away like a shoe, so you often raise the price."

Jiang Yuan said: "Venerable, what do you mean by that?"

Tathagata said, "I heard from Guanyin some time ago that there was discord among the pilgrims, and Tang Monk drove Sun Wukong away, so the real person taught him to return to Fangcun Mountain, and asked Tang Monk to go to Fangcun Mountain himself, and only then did Sun Wukong return to retrieve the scriptures."

Jiang Yuan said: "Venerable, there are many such principles in the world. Whether it is easy to obtain or hard to obtain, they are all in it. This is because it is the destiny of heaven and earth. Venerable, the argument between you and me is about the one who has heard the truth, not the destiny of heaven and earth."

Tathagata smiled and said, "What number of heaven and earth do you know, True Man?"

Jiang Yuan said: "I know a little bit."

Tathagata said: "In this way, the real person often uses meditation and enlightenment, which is of great use to the real person's supernatural powers."

Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "Your Excellency, I will never forget your reminder."

The two of them talked for a long time in the hall. After the conversation, Zhenren and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva left together to Mount Emei to discuss the Dharma.

Tathagata looked at the Immortal's leaving figure and sighed endlessly.

A monk named Kasyapa came forward and asked, "Buddha, why are you sighing?"

The Tathagata said, "I lament that I have no chance to find the real person at Lingshan. If I could find the real person, then he would be the 'present' Buddha. So what? But the real person does not want to sit on the lotus platform."

Venerable Kasyapa clasped his hands and said, "Buddha, you cannot force it. My brother will sit on the lotus platform."

Tathagata nodded and said no more.

……

But at Mount Emei, the Immortal and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva rode on auspicious clouds and displayed their abilities. After a while, the two arrived at Mount Emei.

The immortal was more skilled and arrived at Mount Emei early, waiting for Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva pressed down the auspicious cloud and exclaimed: "The real person has great supernatural powers."

The Immortal laughed and said, "It's just some tricks. The Bodhisattva is discussing Dharma with me. I wonder what wonderful Dharma you are discussing? Is it a discussion of martial arts or literature?"

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva clasped his hands and said, "If it is a literary discussion, I certainly cannot discuss it with you. I have heard that you and Venerable Muni were undefeated in the discussion and they made a bet, with the outcome of the bet deciding who would get the sutra. So I want to have a martial arts discussion with you, but please feel free to give me some advice."

Jiang Yuan said: "I don't deserve your advice. If it is a discussion on martial arts, please ask the Bodhisattva to show his magical powers and discuss it with me."

Samantabhadra said, "This matter is not urgent, but please come in and talk with me."

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "I dare not deceive the Bodhisattva, but I have something important to do. I have an appointment with Emperor Xuan and I have to go to the world of Jambu, so I cannot stay for long. I hope the Bodhisattva will forgive me."

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva said, "I didn't know that the Immortal had an appointment with the Emperor Xuan. In this case, how about asking the Immortal to discuss martial arts with me here?"

Jiang Yuan waved his whisk lightly and said, "Of course it's possible."

Upon hearing this, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva shook his body and fell down from the lotus platform, revealing his true form as a cloth bag monk with a smiling face and a big belly, which symbolized the tolerance of Buddhism. Three kinds of treasures appeared in his body: he held a vajra in his left hand, a wish-fulfilling stick in his right hand, and a vajra bell on his waist.

Jiang Yuan saw it but was unmoved.

Samantabhadra said, "True Man, be careful!"

Say it.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva held the wish-fulfilling stick and hit the real person, but the real person did not retreat and used the whisk to block the attack. No matter how Samantabhadra Bodhisattva hit him, he could not do anything to the real person. Seeing that the wish-fulfilling stick could not do anything to him, the Bodhisattva took the vajra and hit him again, but still could not do anything to the real person.

Two men were fighting in Mount Emei, each showing their magical powers and discussing the mysteries. One was Miao Zhenren, who wore the Bodhi robe and bowl, with his whisk blocking left and right as he moved. The other was Zhen Bodhisattva, who had the lotus platform on Mount Lingshan, with his club and pestle moving forward and backward, showing their strength. Auspicious clouds arose, and gods came to watch the fight between the Zhenren and the Bodhisattva.

After fighting for ten rounds, the immortal recognized Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's moves. He swept away his whisk and turned to the offensive, attacking Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Jiang Yuan only needed three rounds to beat Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, who was no longer able to resist and had to defend himself.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva stepped back, opened his mouth and spit out real fire, which spewed towards the real person.

Seeing the raging fire, Jiang Yuan simply used Jin Gong's magical power, and a clear air came over. No matter how fierce the fire was, it could not get close to him. The immortal faced the fire, took out the ruler and hit Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

The ruler has its own effect. When a Bodhisattva is hit by the ruler, he will retreat as if he has been hit hard. The victory or defeat is decided.

…In the Lion Camel Mountain, the Bull Demon King and the Great Sage gathered their troops and searched the mountain to subdue demons. When they arrived outside the Lion Camel Cave, the Great Sage originally went to the cave to challenge the demons, but when he saw the demons lined up outside the mountain, he realized that the demon in the cave knew he was coming.

The Great Sage was standing on the hillside swinging his golden cudgel. Seeing the strong demonic aura in the distance, he said with a smile, "Brother, these demons are the ghosts from the ground. They know we are coming to subdue them."

The Bull Demon King said, "My dear brother, we have been searching the mountains and conquering demons all this way, and the noise is too loud. How could they not know? Now that they have formed a battle array, they must want to compete with us."

The Great Sage said, "Brother, do not be afraid of him. It will be easy for us to capture him."

The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "I am not afraid of him. His three demons are no match for my brother and my child. I have many elite demon soldiers in Cuiyun Mountain, so I am not afraid of his Lion Camel Mountain."

The Great Sage said, "That's right, brother. We are not afraid of him."

The Bull Demon King grabbed the Great Sage and said, "I am not afraid, but if we can quickly subdue it, we can avoid some casualties."

The Great Sage heard this and agreed with it. He nodded and said, "Brother, do you have any plan to subdue the demon?"

The Bull Demon King shook his head and said, "Brother, what plan do I have? Just go forward. If there are only the old demon and the second demon in the cave, we will be defeated if we besiege them. If the three demons are also there, we must fight them to a stalemate before we can win. I think if I use the Yu Ding, even if the three demons are all there, we can use the Yu Ding to defeat them."

The Great Sage said happily, "I almost forgot that you have my eldest brother's Yu Ding in your hand. If you have the Yu Ding, you will surely be able to defeat the three demons."

Red Boy stepped forward with a flaming spear in his hand and said, "Father, uncle, I am willing to be the vanguard."

The Bull Demon King said, "My son, be careful. Don't fall for the tricks of those three demons."

Red Boy said, "Don't worry, father. I will push the chariot out into the battle. If that demon is shameless, I will definitely meet him with fire."

The Bull Demon King said, "Go now, son. When the three demons go out to fight, your uncle and I will come to help you."

Red Boy took the order, held his spear, assembled his troops, and pushed the Five Elements Chariot into the Lion Cave. Before long, Red Boy arrived at the place where the demon soldiers were lined up in front of the cave.

Red Boy stepped on the flames, pointed at the Lion-Camel Demon Soldier, and shouted, "I am the son of the Bull Demon King of Cuiyun Mountain in Hezhou, Xiniu. I am the Bull Saint Infant, a disciple of the Immortal of Xieyue Sanxing Cave in Fangcun Mountain, Lingtai. That old monster, why don't you show up and die quickly!"

Red Boy finished speaking.

The old demon stepped forward, holding a sharp knife, and cursed: "You Ox Saint Infant, we have already fled and no longer want to stop Tang Monk from going west. Why are you summoning troops to attack us? Why is there such a life-and-death feud between us?"

Red Boy said: "You have eaten countless people, your sins are grave, you are disloyal, and you have repeatedly spoken nonsense. Killing you is a good deed."

The old demon was a little angry when he heard this, and said, "You are a young boy, talking nonsense, you are really uneducated."

Red Boy said, "Although I am only a child, I know what is good and what is evil. I know these things, but you don't. How can you say that I have no family education? It is you who has no family education, not me."

The old demon was very angry. He stopped talking, raised his knife and started to kill Red Boy.

Red Boy thrust his spear and stabbed. He knew that the old demon had been injured by his true fire and his injury would definitely not get better.

The two men fought in front of the Lion Cave, and then the second and third demons appeared together, coming out of the forest, just to prevent Red Boy from using the Five Elements Chariot.

Upon seeing this, Bull Demon King and the Great Sage were prepared, and they rushed forward together to clamp the second and third demons. A fierce battle broke out, and the demon soldiers on both sides fought fiercely. In an instant, there was chaos in front of the Lion Cave.

The Bull Demon King responded to the two demons, but did not try to fight with them with martial arts. He just took out the Yu Ding and threw it at the white elephant's head.

The white elephant was frightened when he saw Yu Ding coming so fiercely, and took out his spear to block Yu Ding. However, Yu Ding carried the energy of a state, so how could the spear block it? The spear was broken, but Yu Ding's momentum did not decrease and he continued to attack the white elephant.

The white elephant couldn't dodge in time and was hit on the spine by Jiao Yuding. It fell to the ground in great pain and turned into its original form, a white elephant with six yellow fangs. It was gasping for breath and unable to move on the ground.

When the old demon and the third demon saw the second demon being beaten into his true form, they were horrified and stood up to flee.

How could the Bull Demon King let him escape? He swung his iron stick to stop the old demon. Red Boy held his spear and worked with the Monkey King to stop the Dapeng.

The Bull Demon King shouted, "You bastard, surrender quickly!"

The old demon's swordsmanship was chaotic and disorganized. He chopped without saying a word, without any authority.

The Bull Demon King easily parried the Old Demon, and picked up Yu Ding and threw it. No matter how the Old Demon chopped at him, he could not shake Yu Ding. Yu Ding shook the Old Demon, and the old demon revealed his true form, a green-haired lion monster. He fell to the ground, without the strength to move.

The Bull Demon King knocked down the Green Lion and went to the Dapeng.

When Dapeng saw the Bull Demon King coming, he was shocked and was about to command his troops to stop him. But when he turned around, he saw that the soldiers in the mansion had seen the old demon and the two demons defeated, and they had scattered like birds and beasts, without a trace.

Dapeng wanted to escape, but was stopped by three people. How could he have the chance to leave? He held up an iron spear, blocking left and right, trying to find a chance to leave.

The three men fought with their weapons. The iron rod weighed ten thousand pounds, the iron stick was not weaker, and the spear was sharp. The three men surrounded Dapeng and fought with him until Dapeng had no power to fight back.

When Dapeng saw that he could not withstand the attack from Wu Yi, he simply dropped his iron spear and revealed his true form as a golden-winged eagle. Dapeng stretched out his sharp claws, trying to capture the Monkey King.

How could the Great Sage be afraid? He just said "long", and the golden hoop stick, which was hundreds of feet long, met the sharp claws and fought with them.

The Bull Demon King shouted, "Look at the tripod!"

Say it.

Throw the Yu Ding out.

How could the big peng know how powerful Yu Ding was? He stretched out his sharp claws to grab Yu Ding. The claws were so heavy that he was dragged to the ground. It was the foul air creature.

Seeing how powerful Yu Ding was, Dapeng loosened his claws and flapped his wings to escape. However, Bull Demon King chanted a spell and Yu Ding revealed his true form. The tripod feet landed steadily on Dapeng's back, making Dapeng unable to move. He felt as if he was carrying Mount Tai on his back. How could he move? No matter how he flapped his wings, he was pinned down by Yu Ding less than two feet off the ground.

With a shout, the Great Sage jumped down from the cloud, swung his golden cudgel, and hit Dapeng on the top of his head, killing him instantly.

The Bull Demon King took the Yu Ding and said, "My dear brother, why are you so impatient to take his life?"

The Great Sage asked, "Brother, what is the secret?"

The Bull Demon King shook his head and said, "There is no hidden truth, but the Yu Ding is on his back, and I am afraid that blood will splatter everywhere and stain the sacred object. Then he will not be able to face the master."

Upon hearing this, the Great Sage apologized with a smile, "It is my fault, it is my fault. If you want to blame me, just tell me the truth. Don't let me blame you. I will apologize to you later."

The Bull Demon King said, "No problem, no problem. I see that Yu Ding has never been stained with blood."

The Great Sage felt relieved and swung his iron rod to kill the blue lion and the white elephant.

No matter how the blue lion and the white elephant begged for mercy, the Great Sage remained unmoved and just swung his stick to beat them.

Just when the lives of the blue lion and the white elephant were in danger, a local god suddenly appeared and stopped them, saying, "Great Sage, please show mercy, please show mercy!"

(End of this chapter)