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

Chapter 278: The True Lord Protects His Faults, Chongyang Reincarnates

The story goes that in Liujia Village, in front of Liu Yanchang's house, Liu Yanchang was cleaning the door of his house. Chenxiang was at an innocent age and was playing around freely.

Liu Yanchang saw that Chenxiang had just swept the floor and made a mess of it. He stopped and said, "Chenxiang, don't move around. Go back and rest quickly."

Chenxiang said, "Dad, I'll help you sweep."

Say it.

Chenxiang laughed and played with the dust on the ground.

Liu Yanchang was a little angry and said, "Chenxiang! Go back quickly!"

Chenxiang didn't care and continued to crawl and roll on the ground.

Liu Yanchang could not bear it any longer, so he suddenly stood up and tried to catch Chenxiang and give him a lesson. However, he had just taken two steps when he suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.

He stood up and looked, and found the road was empty. He thought to himself it was strange that he had tripped on such a road.

Liu Yanchang was a little puzzled, but he didn't think too much about it.

Chenxiang suddenly raised his head and looked towards the sky. He vaguely saw someone standing in the clouds, but he rubbed his eyes and when he looked again, the figure there was gone. He said, "Dad, there was someone standing over there just now."

Liu Yanchang looked in the direction Chenxiang pointed, but he saw that Chenxiang was pointing to the clouds and mist. He thought it was just a naughty boy talking nonsense and didn't take it seriously. He said with a stern face: "Go back quickly and don't say anything more."

Chenxiang has something else to say.

Liu Yanchang grabbed Chenxiang's clothes and walked back.

……

But among the clouds, Zhenren and Erlang Shen were riding on the clouds and looking far below.

Jiang Yuan was all smiles. He saw Erlang Shen trying to stop Liu Yanchang. He never thought that Erlang Shen liked this nephew so much.

The Immortal laughed and said, "The Immortal Lord loves this nephew so much that he doesn't even want to let his father teach him."

Erlang Shen sneered and said, "What kind of teaching can he give? He is just an extremely mediocre mortal, but he has some responsibilities. I think highly of him, but he is useless and incompetent."

The Immortal said: "But he is Chenxiang's biological father."

Erlang Shen said: "What about my biological father? When Chenxiang grows up, if he has not changed, I will kill him and relieve my hatred."

Jiang Yuan smiled and asked, "But what if there is a change?"

Erlang Shen snorted coldly without saying anything. He looked towards the house below and thought to himself, "How can such a decadent scholar change? Even if there is a change of life and death, it is difficult for him to change."

Erlang Shen then said, "I have seen something with my nephew, Immortal, let's go to the pavilion in the mountains and talk freely, and don't talk about Liu Yanchang."

Jiang Yuan agreed with a smile.

The two of them rode the clouds back to the pavilion in the mountains. Erlang Shen again ordered his soldiers to bring wine and food, and called his six brothers to enjoy it with the immortals.

After they had enjoyed the meal for a long time, Erlang Shen said, "Now that you have entered the Southern Continent, where should you go next?"

Jiang Yuan said: "We should go to the Taihe Palace in Wudang Mountain, Jingzhou, and pay a visit to Emperor Yu Xuan."

Erlang Shen said: "Master, what should I do next in the Southern Continent to repair the laws?"

Jiang Yuan said: "Maybe so."

While the two were talking, no one dared to disturb them. Two or three hours passed like this, and the Immortal talked with Erlang Shen about his magical powers and spells.

The immortal suddenly felt something in his heart and looked outside.

Erlang Shen asked, "How did the immortal come here?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "No problem, I just felt it in my heart, that's where my disciple is reincarnated."

Erlang Shen asked again: "Do you want to go?"

Jiang Yuan looked towards that place and said, "That is the only way to get to Wudang Mountain. You can stop by and take a look."

Erlang Shen responded with a smile, knowing that the immortal had something to go and he could not keep him, so he said goodbye to the immortal and made an appointment to meet again in his spare time. Then Erlang Shen said goodbye to the immortal and left.

Only the immortals could stay in the long pavilion in the mountains.

The Bull Demon King came forward and asked, "Master, has Zhengwei's reincarnation been completed?"

Zuo Liang stepped forward, overjoyed, and asked, "Master, when will our eldest brother return?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "It is Zheng Wei's reincarnation, but it is too early for him to return. There is no need to rush. Zheng Wei still has two lives to go through."

Zuo Liang said, "I would be very happy if I could meet with my elder brother once."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Let's gather the things together and then go to visit Zheng Wei."

They all took orders, gathered some things here, and then set off again. The Bull Demon King led the way with the Pi Yue Spear, Zuo Liang led the deer, Zhenren rode on the deer, and Zhu Bajie carried two loads and followed the Green Ox behind the deer.

Outside the mountain path, although Erlang Shen and the Six Saints of Meishan said goodbye to the Immortal, they watched him leave from afar.

The Six Saints of Meishan said: "The guardian Bull King is really amazing. His martial arts are superb and his magic weapons are powerful. We all admire him."

Upon hearing this, Erlang Shen said with a smile, "The Bull King is able to protect the Immortal, so he has some abilities, but the abilities of the brothers are not weak either, so don't underestimate yourselves."

The Six Saints of Meishan laughed and said, "We have saved our troubles, but I don't know where we should go next?"

Erlang Shen replied: "Stay here for a while."

The Six Saints of Meishan naturally obeyed the order.

……

Time flies, and before I knew it, more than half a month has passed.

The Immortal and his companions walked along the Yongzhou Road, climbed over many mountains, and arrived at a city in Liangzhou. When they entered the city, they saw that it was extremely bustling, it was truly a city where 'the East Market was lined with pearls and jade, the West Street was filled with carved saddles with amber, there were dragon whisker masks by the Blue Lake, phoenix marrow elixirs at the end of the purple street, the embroidered red curtains turned into waves, the fragrant carriages and treasure canopies turned into ripples, one could also hear the music of peace and eternal joy played outside the thirty-six blocks'.

The Bull Demon King entered the city, put away his weapons, transformed into a man, and said with a smile: "Master, this city is really prosperous."

Zuo Liang nodded and said, "It's a rare place in the East."

Jiang Yuan pointed to the front and said, "Zhengwei's reincarnation is in front. Let's go and wait and see. When it's over, we can stay in the city for a day or two."

Zuo Liang heard that Chongyang's reincarnation was in front of him. He looked forward and tried to see the aura, but he saw nothing. He asked, "Master, why can't I see the aura of my elder brother?"

Jiang Yuan said with a smile: "Zhengwei has not yet achieved enlightenment, nor has he obtained the Heavenly Destiny Immortal Scroll. Now he has been reincarnated and has no power at all. How can you find him?"

Zuo Liang said: "If this is the case, how can we find it?"

Jiang Yuan said: "If it is like this, it is difficult to find it with ordinary methods. It requires profound magic power, and also a cause and effect relationship with it, so that you can feel it and find it."

Zuo Liang said, "Master, can this be found only by the profound magic power of the Golden Elixir Orthodox Way, or can it be found also by the profound magic power of the Side Door Orthodox Way?" Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Zhengyuan, don't worry. The difference between the Golden Elixir Orthodox Way and the Side Door is not as big as you think. The Golden Elixir Orthodox Way is difficult to achieve, but if you achieve it, you will be immortal, immortal, and neither increase nor decrease. It is a technique for longevity. It is strong in yourself and the emphasis is on the 'master'. The Side Door is easy to learn but difficult to master, but if you achieve it, you will also have good magic power. The disadvantage of the Side Door is that it mostly relies on the power of the 'guest', but if you can avoid reversing the host and the guest, you can subdue the 'guest', and the Side Door will also have great power."

Zuo Liang said, "As Master said, Master has always advised disciples to cultivate their minds, which is to cultivate the 'subject', so as not to teach disciples to confuse the subject with the object?"

Jiang Yuan smiled and answered the question irrelevantly, saying: "You can practice with peace of mind, but if you have profound magical powers, you can also feel it in your heart and know everything."

Zuo Liang bowed and said, "Master, I understand now."

The Bull Demon King stepped forward and embraced Zuo Liang, saying, "Zhengyuan, don't worry. I am also a practitioner of the side sect. Look at me now. I have some skills. I have never lost in the battles with the Six Saints of Meishan."

Zuo Liang was surprised and asked, "Is the Bull King also practicing a side path?"

The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "I used to practice the Golden Elixir Way, but later I failed, so I fell into the path of demons and committed many evil deeds. Fortunately, the Immortal saved me, took me as his protector, and taught me how to practice, so I can be what I am today. But I failed in the Golden Elixir Way, so now I practice a side door, and also practiced some martial arts to be where I am today."

Zuo Liang was surprised and said, "I never thought that the Bull King was also a practitioner of a side sect."

The Bull Demon King said: "There are very few people who can succeed in practicing the Golden Elixir righteous way, but the number of those I have seen who have succeeded can be counted on one hand."

Zuo Liang asked, "King Niu, may I ask how many people have achieved success?"

The Bull Demon King said: "From what I have seen, apart from those with great magical powers, the only ones who have achieved the Golden Elixir are the master, Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun, and my brother, that's all."

Zuo Liang was surprised and said, "Those who have successfully cultivated the Golden Elixir Orthodox Way are so rare."

Jiang Yuan was somewhat helpless, looked at Zuo Liang, and said, "Zhengyuan, don't listen to Niu'er's nonsense."

The Bull Demon King touched his head and said, "Master, could it be that I am wrong?"

Jiang Yuan said, "The road ahead is long and difficult, but if you keep walking you will reach your destination. It's fine for now, but if you are in front of others, Niu'er, don't say such things again."

The Bull Demon King seemed to be thinking about something and then responded with the order.

As they were talking, they arrived at the gate of a mansion.

Looking around the Niu Mo Dynasty's mansion, he saw that it covered an area of ​​one hundred acres, with towers and pavilions connected to each other, and it was very magnificent.

The Bull Demon King asked, "Master, is this the place?"

Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "It's right here."

The Bull Demon King laughed and said, "It is indeed magnificent, indeed it is magnificent."

Zhu Bajie came forward carrying his load and said with a smile, "Master, your disciple is very blessed."

Jiang Yuan smiled and turned around to ask, "Zhu Bajie, do you want this blessing?"

Zhu Bajie shook his head and said, "Master, I dare not speak nonsense, please don't blame me."

Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Go knock on the door and tell them we are here."

Zhu Bajie asked, "Master, do you have to speak in this capacity?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "Go up and tell us that we are here to practice cultivation and would like to stay for one night."

Zhu Bajie stepped forward in response.

The Bull Demon King came a little closer and said, "Master, how come Zhu Bajie is smart at one moment and stupid at another?"

The blue ox stepped forward and said, "You, the Bull Demon King, don't you even know this? Zhu Bajie's Wood Mother has not yet surrendered. Even if he has controlled her, she has never been subdued, so she sometimes causes trouble. In this situation, how can he not change?"

The Bull Demon King nodded and said, "So that's the case. I'm grateful for your advice."

But Zhu Bajie walked forward and knocked on the door of the mansion.

After a while, someone came out, wondering who was knocking at the door. But when he opened the door, he saw a transformed Zhu Bajie standing in front of the door. He asked, "Who are you and why are you knocking at the door of my palace?"

Zhu Bajie said with a smile: "We are from a distant place practicing Buddhism. We passed through this city and wanted to find a place to stay for one night. So we came here. If we don't stay at your house, maybe you can let us stay for one night."

The man looked at Zhu Bajie carefully and asked, "Are you here to stay for the night? Are you alone?"

Zhu Bajie shook his head and said, "There is still a master, and two or three followers who practice cultivation."

The man asked, "Where?"

Zhu Bajie pointed at the road behind him and said, "Look at that road."

The man looked in the direction Zhu Bajie pointed and saw the Immortal, the White Deer, Zuo Liang, the Green Ox, the Bull Demon King, and others. He said, "Why are there so many people? Why don't you go find an inn? Forget it, forget it. You stay here for a while. I'll go tell the master. If the master allows, you can come in."

Zhu Bajie smiled and said, "Thank you, thank you."

The man turned around and went back to the mansion. He walked to the back house and found Mr. Wang, who was teasing his two or three-year-old son.

Mr. Wang was over fifty years old and had no children. He burned incense and worshipped Buddha, did countless good deeds, and finally he had a son in his old age. This made him love this child very much.

Wang Yuanwai saw the man hurried over and asked with a smile, "Why are you so panicked? But I have never owed you a monthly salary."

The man bowed and said, "Sir, it's not that, but there is a group outside the gate who claim to be from afar practicing. They are passing through the city, so they ask to stay in the mansion for one night. I don't know if I should respond."

Wang Yuanwai asked, "Is he really practicing cultivation, or is he just pretending?"

The man said, "Sir, there are several people, a white deer, three men, and an old man. They don't look like cultivators at all, but they don't look fake either. But one of them, riding on the white deer, makes me think he is a true cultivator."

Wang Yuanwai smiled and said, "As you said, I find it interesting. In that case, I will allow them to stay in the house. Let them come and I will meet them."

The man responded and went out.

After a while, the servant came to the outside of the mansion and said to Zhu Bajie, "The master has already agreed to the cultivation. You can call the man over. I will take you into the mansion and arrange a place for you to stay."

Zhu Bajie smiled happily, and after responding, he walked up to the immortal and started talking to him.

The group of real people then came forward.

The man saw Jiang Yuan up close. He didn't know what "true practice" was, but when he saw Jiang Yuan now, he suddenly felt something in his heart. Perhaps this was true practice.

The man could not help but bow to Jiang Yuan and said, "Please follow me. I will find a place for you to stay."

Jiang Yuan smiled and returned the greeting, "Thank you."

The servant did not dare to accept the return gift, and hurried forward to lead the way for the group.

After bringing the real people to a house, the servant said, "Sir, after they are settled, could you come with me to meet my master?"

Jiang Yuan shook his head and said, "I can't go there. You can talk to him. If you want to meet him, you can ask him to come."

The servants were a little surprised when they heard this. In the past, if someone heard that they could see Mr. Wang, they would be ecstatic and would quickly go to meet him. But this person was different. When he heard that Mr. Wang wanted to see him, he did not go, but asked Mr. Wang to come to meet him.

Although the servant was surprised, he did not say much. He agreed, got up and went out, saying that he would definitely convey the message to Mr. Wang.

(End of this chapter)