Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Elder Jinchi's disciples all had fierce expressions and no trace of the compassion of monks.

They were clearly the thugs of the academy, intent on capturing and punishing this troublesome monk from the East and his cunning companion.

However, as soon as they stepped into the gate, they felt an invisible wall of energy suddenly rise up. The monks at the front felt as if they had crashed into an impenetrable wall, and they fell backward with cries of pain.

Sun Wukong remained in the position of picking his ears, without even lifting his eyelids, and simply blew lightly on the non-existent earwax on his little finger.

With a playful smile, he said, "Old monk, your temple has some pretty strict rules. You can't even have a moment of peace in the guest rooms. It's all shouting and threatening. Is this how you treat your Guanyin Temple?"

"Or are you feeling guilty for losing something and want to find a scapegoat so that there's no way to prove it? Or is it that you, the old monk, stole it yourself and want to keep the brocade robe for yourself?"

His voice was not loud, but every word was like a needle, precisely piercing through Elder Jinchi's forced composure.

Elder Jinchi's face turned pale and then red, his chest heaved violently, and his finger pointing at Sun Wukong trembled incessantly.

"You monkey, don't spout nonsense. The Buddhist treasure was stolen the very night you and your disciple checked in. If it wasn't the evil spirits you brought, who else could it be?"

Sun Wukong laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, and the sound of his laughter shook the dust off the roof beams.

He abruptly stopped smiling, a cold glint flashing in his fiery eyes, and stared at Elder Jinchi, saying, "It's you, old monk, who might be in cahoots with that monster."

"Otherwise, how would that black bear demon really know where the brocade cassock is? Why would it smash through the window on the top floor of the scripture pavilion as soon as it arrived?"

"Let me ask you, old Sun, didn't you keep saying that you would put that brocade cassock into a treasure vault protected by a Buddhist array and keep it under strict guard?"

"How did they get to the top floor of the Sutra Repository in such a short time? And why did they have to go to that unguarded place, the easiest place to break in?"

"If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll take you to the Western Paradise and have a discussion with that old Buddha."

Upon hearing this, many of the monks behind Elder Jinchi, who had initially been filled with righteous indignation, immediately showed expressions of doubt.

Indeed, the abbot had just hastily summoned everyone, only saying that the Buddhist treasure had been stolen by a demon on the top floor of the Sutra Repository, but no one had thought about why this treasure would appear there.

Elder Jinchi panicked. He hadn't expected this monkey to be so cunning, instantly seizing the most crucial flaw.

He forced himself to remain calm, coughed lightly, and said, "This humble monk was afraid that the holy monk might change his mind, and was eager to admire the Buddhist treasures, so I invited you to the quiet room on the top floor of the Sutra Repository, where I wish to bathe, burn incense, and carefully observe the true meaning of the Buddhist teachings."

"Who knew that while I was bathing, that demon took advantage of the opportunity to come. As for how he knew that the brocade cassock was here, it must be related to you, you monkey."

The smile on Sun Wukong's face vanished instantly, and his eyes blazed with intense killing intent. Then, the golden cudgel appeared in his hand.

Sun Wukong pointed his golden cudgel forward, the tip of which was aimed at Elder Jinchi's chest. He then coldly remarked...

"Why not observe the Buddhist treasures in your meditation room, instead of going all the way to the Sutra Repository? Is that perhaps the bathing place of your Guanyin Temple?"

"Even if that scripture pavilion is a bathing place, do you need to send all the disciples away? Are you here to admire Buddhist treasures, or to create an opportunity for that black bear demon?" "You...you're talking nonsense!"

Elder Jinchi was so choked that he almost passed out, and cold sweat instantly soaked the back of his cassock.

He realized that if he continued to argue, more and more loopholes would be exposed. So he steeled his heart and said sternly, "You demon monkey, you are so eloquent and deceitful, you must be an accomplice of that treasure-stealing demon."

"Now that their scheme has been exposed, they are even more intent on murder. How can such a wicked person possibly meet the Buddha and obtain the true scriptures?"

Tang Sanzang, who had been silent all along, finally sighed softly and said loudly, "Amitabha. Elder Jinchi, the sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore."

His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry a strange, calming power, quieting the restless monks down a little.

Tang Sanzang looked calmly at Elder Jinchi and said, "Elder, a monk does not lie. The IOU is still in my possession."

"Now that the robe has been lost, this humble monk has not yet investigated the responsibility for the temple's inadequate protection, yet the elder has instead falsely accused us. Are you not afraid of the Buddha's wrath or the Bodhisattva Guanyin's punishment?"

Mentioning Guanyin Bodhisattva, Elder Jinchi's eye twitched violently, a deep-seated hatred flashing in his eyes. However, this expression was fleeting and was quickly suppressed.

He sneered and said, "Hmph, don't try to intimidate me with the Buddha! How could the Buddha protect an incompetent person like you who brought a wolf into the house and lost the Buddha's treasure!"

Sun Wukong, already impatient, sneered and said, "Elder Jinchi, I'm only giving you one day. If you can't find the brocade cassock by sunset tomorrow, don't blame me for making sure your Guanyin Temple is completely wiped out."

As he spoke, Sun Wukong brandished his golden cudgel. The cudgel grew longer in the wind and finally smashed into the main hall.

With just one strike of the golden cudgel, the entire main hall was reduced to dust. The monks were so frightened that they scrambled to their feet, no longer daring to cause trouble for Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang.

At this moment, Elder Jinchi had no choice but to make a strategic retreat. In his heart, he couldn't help but curse, "The monkey is indeed difficult to deal with. No wonder even the Jade Emperor suffered a loss at his hands."

"If it weren't for that damned Guanyin, why would this humble monk have to face this plague-bringing monkey? He even drove me to a dead end."

It turns out that the Elder Jinchi in the Guanyin Temple was not the real Elder Jinchi, but rather Manjushri Bodhisattva of the Western Buddhist tradition.

Manjushri Bodhisattva was punished by the Buddha and had to personally descend to the mortal realm to create difficulties for Tang Sanzang. This is why he had no choice but to embark on the journey to obtain the scriptures.

He had intended to simply give Tang Sanzang a hardship before returning to Mount Ling. However, he unexpectedly saw the Guanyin Temple, which reminded him of the time when Guanyin Bodhisattva had asked the Buddha to punish him.

He immediately felt a desire for revenge, wanting to make things difficult for Tang Sanzang while also tarnishing the reputation of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

After all, the abbots of Guanyin Bodhisattva Temples are all greedy people, and some even collude with demons. How will Buddhist believers view Guanyin Bodhisattva?
Having made up his mind, Manjushri Bodhisattva directly captured the real Elder Jinchi and brought him to the Black Wind Cave. He then used Buddhist teachings to investigate Elder Jinchi's past.

Having learned of Elder Jinchi's past, Manjushri Bodhisattva transformed into Elder Jinchi's appearance and took over as the abbot of the Guanyin Temple.

Even when Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong arrived, they shamelessly staged this scene of cunning and plunder. (End of Chapter)