Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 133 The Battle of Wits in Chechi Kingdom (Part 3)
Meanwhile, Ao Tu was discussing the Dao with the three national teachers of Chechi Kingdom.

Tiger Power Immortal invited Ao Tu to sit in the guest hall, where his disciples served fragrant tea and fresh fruit. Tiger Power Immortal asked first:
"May I ask which immortal mountain you have come from?"

Ao Tu said, "I am a wandering cultivator, traveling through thousands of mountains and rivers, with no place to settle down."

Tiger Power Immortal said, "We admire the True Man's cultivation in the mortal world. My disciple told us that the True Man has come to discuss the Dao with us?"

Ao Tu said, “This is Xiniuhezhou, where many people respect monks and love Buddha. I heard that there is a place here that respects Taoism and persecutes monks, so I came here specifically to investigate.”

Tiger Power Immortal said, "What you are talking about is exactly this place. To be honest, in the Western Continent of Hezhou, there are countless countries, but only in Chechi Kingdom do they respect Taoism and suppress Buddhism."

Ao Tu said, "Grand Master, monks and Taoists are all practitioners. Why do you insist on exterminating the monks?"

Upon hearing this, Tiger Power Immortal frowned and said, "Master, have you come here to plead for those monks? If so, please retract your words of pleading and refrain from speaking further."

Seeing the slight dissatisfaction in Tiger Power Immortal's words, Ao Tu smiled faintly and said:
"No, I have come here only to discuss the Dao with the three national teachers, not to plead for the monk. Now that I have met the three national teachers, I have three humble poems to present to them."

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Please speak."

Ao Tu Yin said:

"The character '王' (Wang) with its black spots is a seal bestowed by Heaven to guard the mountain; the black lines are intertwined, and the ink strokes are used to awe the mountains and forests."

Tiger Power Immortal was shocked upon hearing this.

Ao Tu did not stop, and continued to recite: "Snow-covered and adorned with cinnabar, coral just beginning to bloom, branches exquisite; the pure and elegant air of the mountains and forests, eyes like autumn water, eating wild apples."

The two national advisors, the Great Immortal Lu Li, were greatly alarmed.

Ao Tu continued reciting:

"The mountains are lonely and lofty, the wind flows through the stream, and the stones are trodden silently; the black jade is carved, with its curves and straight lines, and its edges and joints are distinct."

The Three Kingdoms' Master Yang Li was greatly alarmed.

The three exchanged a glance, then bowed together and said, "We are junior Daoists, and we pay our respects to the senior immortal. Please forgive our rudeness!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "There's no need for that. My name is Tai Xi Zhenren. I'm just a recluse, not some senior. I'm here only to discuss the Dao. Please get up."

Upon hearing this, the three of them stood up and sat down.

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Please enlighten me, Master, what is wrong with exterminating the monks?"

Ao Tu asked, "I heard that the Grand Preceptor and the two Grand Preceptors came to Chechi Kingdom to protect the country and its people. They have endured more than twenty years of hardship. What is their purpose?"

Upon hearing this, Tiger Power Immortal was momentarily at a loss for words.

The Second National Preceptor, the Great Immortal Lu Li, said, "We have no requests."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "No desires? If you have no desires, why not live in seclusion in the mountains and forests? Why bother coming to this mortal world? The two national teachers are not sincerely discussing the Dao!"

Deer Power Immortal couldn't help but feel guilty.

Tiger Power Immortal said, "To be honest, we have come here to revive our Taoism, eliminate the vulgarity of monks, and seek the path to immortality."

Ao Tu said, "Grand Master, if you wish to promote Buddhism and seek immortality, why must you exterminate the monks?"

Tiger Power Immortal frowned and said, "How can the religion be revived if the monks are not eradicated?"

Ao Tu asked, "When I came to this country, I saw that the people praised the three national teachers. I wonder why?"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "This is because the three of us brothers have performed meritorious service in protecting the country and ensuring the safety of the people over the years, hence the people's praise."

Ao Tu then asked, "I have heard that the king of this country treats the three national teachers as brothers and holds them in the highest esteem. I wonder why this is?"

The Great Immortal Lu Li said, "This is also the reason why we have been protecting the country and ensuring the safety of the people for more than twenty years." Ao Tu said, "If that's the case, is the reason why the three national teachers have such a prominent position today because of the suppression of Buddhism, or because of protecting the country and ensuring the safety of the people?"

Upon hearing this, Deer Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal thought for a moment, then looked at Tiger Power Immortal and said, "Brother, what the True Man said makes sense!"

Tiger Power Immortal pondered for a moment and agreed with Ao Tu's reasoning, so he nodded and said:
“I understand the Master’s meaning. In fact, it is not entirely our fault. It was because those monks offered grain as payment but could not pray for rain, which angered His Majesty, who then punished them by making them work for us. Now that I have heard the Master’s words, I will petition His Majesty at the next court session to release those monks.”

Ao Tu said, “That’s very good. You have worked hard for more than twenty years to protect the country and its people. This is your merit. However, many monks have died because of you. Although they made mistakes, their crimes did not warrant death. This is your sin. Release those monks, give them some money and rice, and send them back to their temples to live.”

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Rest assured, Master, we understand. However, Master, it might not be appropriate to release those monks directly."

Ao Tu asked, "What's wrong with it?"

Tiger Power Immortal said, “True Man, Chechi Kingdom has been promoting Taoism and suppressing Buddhism for more than 20 years. The people mostly worship Taoism, and every household worships the Three Pure Ones. No one worships Buddha or Arhats. Even if we let those monks return to their temples and give them some money, I'm afraid they will just sit and eat until they run out of money and be unable to continue. It would be better for them to stay in my Taoist temple and do some odd jobs to make a living.”

Ao Tu said, "Since you wish to promote Taoism and seek immortality, why are you acting so foolishly?"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Please enlighten me, Master."

Ao Tu said, "Why don't you teach some Taoist techniques to those monks? If they learn Taoist arts, they can make a living, right?"

Tiger Power Immortal, Deer Power Immortal, and Sheep Power Immortal all exclaimed in unison, "This! This! Is this appropriate?"

Ao Tu asked, "Why isn't it appropriate?"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "If you take my Taoist teachings and pass them on to those lowly monks, I'm afraid the Three Pure Ones will punish us!"

Deer Power Immortal and Sheep Power Immortal also said, "Yes! Yes! If the Three Pure Ones knew, they would surely be angry!"

Ao Tu said, "What do you know? If the Three Pure Ones knew about your actions, they would be busy rewarding you!"

The three of them, upon hearing this, naturally did not believe it.

Ao Tu said, "If you don't believe me, I will personally burn incense and pray to the Three Pure Ones later, and ask them for a decree so that you will have no doubts."

Upon hearing this, the three people said, "Master, the Three Pure Ones, can you please pay attention to us?"

Ao Tu said, "If the three of you offer prayers, I'm afraid they will not respond. But if I offer prayers, there will definitely be a response. If no one responds, I will take you to heaven to search for them."

Upon hearing this, the three men, seeing Ao Tu's extreme confidence, couldn't help but believe him somewhat.

Ao Tu asked, "If the Three Pure Ones agree, would you be willing to pass on the Taoist teachings to those monks?"

The three hurriedly replied, "If the Three Pure Ones agree, we are naturally willing."

Tiger Power Immortal said, "But..."

Ao Tu asked, "But what?"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "Isn't it a bit incongruous for those monks to use my Taoist magic? If they were to go and exorcise evil spirits for a family, and the monks were wearing robes but chanting my Taoist magic, that would be..."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Grand Master, you are far too foolish and naive!"

Tiger Power Immortal said, "I am naturally stupid and straightforward, and I beg the True Man to give me your guidance."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "I don't need to teach you. Just watch. When those monks learn Taoist arts, they will stick on their hair, put on Taoist robes, and pretend to be Taoists when they perform rituals for people to make a living. When they return to the temple, they will change back into their cassocks and sincerely chant Buddhist prayers."

Upon hearing this, Tiger Power Immortal thought for a moment and realized that Ao Tu's words made sense.

The Great Immortal Yang Li, standing to the side, said, “Master, I’m afraid some old monks are without desires and would rather starve to death than learn the arts of my Daoist sect.”

Ao Tu said, "These people didn't starve to death, but passed away peacefully. They've gone to the Western Paradise. Letting them pass away sooner is a meritorious deed for you!"

(End of this chapter)