Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 156 The Battle of Wits in Chechi Kingdom (Twenty-Six)
Meanwhile, Alu asked Tang Sanzang to write a certificate.

The young novice monk prepared writing materials.

Tang Sanzang held his pen and looked around. In front of him stood the golden statue of Buddha in the main hall, its majestic eyes gazing at him; behind him were a group of monks, many of whom were newly initiated novice monks looking at him.

How could Tang Sanzang possibly bring himself to write down such a broken promise?

Wukong knew he couldn't write it down, so he said firmly:
"If my master doesn't write it, then what?"

Alu said, “This humble monk can do nothing. My cultivation is shallow, far inferior to any of Elder Sun, Elder Zhu, or Elder Sha, and I cannot stop them; moreover, this humble monk bears a heavy responsibility for Zhiyuan Temple and has newly accepted disciples to teach, so I cannot take my own life. If Elder Tang does not agree to the letter, then please go west! Just keep this broken promise in your heart, go to Mount Ling to worship Buddha and seek scriptures, and save all sentient beings!”

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang felt a deep sorrow in his heart.

If he does that, it would be better for him to write a written statement. If he writes it down, he will keep the matter on paper, which will make him feel slightly better; if he doesn't write it down, he will keep the matter in his heart and think about it all the time, which will be a hundred times more painful.

Tang Sanzang turned his gaze to Wukong.

Seeing that force wouldn't work, Wukong had no choice but to soften his tone and say to Alu:

“My dear nephew! Did you not know that day that it was I who led your master to the mortal realm to become the True Lord of the Western Paradise? To tell you the truth, it was I who recommended him for this position. I have a very good relationship with your master, and he has already privately promised me to cancel the bet.”

Alu asked, "Is that really true?"

Wukong said, "Of course! Of course! Would I, Old Sun, lie to you?"

Alu said, "I don't believe it unless my master tells me in person or writes a letter in his own hand."

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Taixi Flower Realm.

Wukong said, "Look at this disciple you've taken on! He's stubborn and won't listen to either soft or hard approaches, he's really single-minded!"

Ao Tu laughed loudly, "Great Sage! You! You! You used my name to deceive my disciple, and now you're coming after me."

Wukong chewed on the herbs in the tea and said:

"True Lord, I'm begging you, please let bygones be bygones! Just write a letter to your disciple, you can't refuse such a small favor, can you?"

Ao Tu shook his head and remained silent.

Wukong said anxiously, "You're really not going to help me!"

Ao Tu said, “Great Sage, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. If it were a private matter, you would have recommended me to the court, and I would be willing to go through fire and water for you. However, this matter is not private but public, so please forgive me for not being able to help you.”

Wukong said, "How can it be considered as putting the public interest before private interests? Isn't it just the bet we made in our duel?"

Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, how can this be a private matter between you and me? This is a conflict between Buddhism and Taoism! The day you stepped into the Sanqing Hall and overturned the statues of the Three Pure Ones, didn't that represent Buddhism declaring war on Taoism?"

Upon hearing this, Wukong said somewhat embarrassedly:
"Old Sun had a misunderstanding that day, thinking that you were not from the orthodox Taoist sect, so he didn't think much of it and just wanted to play a trick on you."

Ao Tu said, "No matter what the Great Sage thinks, the matter has been settled. The decision to kneel before the statues of the Three Pure Ones for 1,111 days has been made. Even I have no right to change it, nor would I dare to change it."

Wukong said, "What should we do? True Lord, you don't know, the journey to the West is the Buddha's decree. We've been delayed for so long, I can't explain this to the Buddha! Please, True Lord, think of another way. I beg you for a way to help us, the four of us, escape."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu pretended to think about it.

In fact, from the very beginning, he never intended to really stop him for more than a thousand days, and Buddha could not possibly allow Tang Sanzang to stay in one place for three years.

He had already prepared a follow-up plan.

Ao Tu pretended to think for a long time, a good quarter of an hour, until Wukong could no longer sit still. Only then did Ao Tu speak, "I have thought of a way."

Wukong hurriedly said, "Please speak quickly, True Lord."

Ao Tu said, “It’s not difficult. Let’s have another match between our Buddhist and Taoist sects. My Taoist sect won before, so this time your Buddhist sect will win. With one win and one loss, it will be considered a draw, and the punishment of kneeling will be canceled out. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?”

Upon hearing this, Wukong was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Great idea! Great idea! Shall we have the bet again, just the two of us?"

Ao Tu said, "No. Firstly, I am new to this realm and am busy with affairs, so I have no time for a duel; secondly, you and I just had a match, and it hasn't been long since then. If I lose to you in another match, wouldn't it seem too fake?"

Wukong asked, "Then how should we compete?"

Ao Tu asked, "Great Sage, do you know why Taoism flourished and Buddhism declined in Chechi Kingdom?"

Wukong said, "That goes without saying. You Taoist priests pray for rain and refine elixirs, how could the king not trust and respect you?" Aotu asked, "Then why aren't monks trusted and respected?"

Wukong said, "This..."

Ao Tu said, “Monks have no true Dharma, and chanting scriptures is useless. How can they be trusted? Why doesn’t the Great Sage go and seek a few scrolls of true scriptures and pass them on to the monk, so that the monk can use Buddhist teachings to compete with the disciples of the three national teachers? If he wins, wouldn’t that be a victory for your Buddhist sect? Not only can you escape, but you can also preserve the Buddhist lineage.”

Upon hearing this, Wukong said, "That makes sense! That makes sense! This is indeed a meritorious deed. Thank you for the reminder, True Lord. I will go and do it right away!"

Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, please wait a moment while I write you a letter, so that it will be easier for you to proceed."

Wukong said, "Thank you very much, True Lord!"

Ao Tu beckoned Jiang Zhu and headed towards the study.

Wukong wanted to come along too.

Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, you cannot come."

Wukong said, "Why are you trying to hide this from me?"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Great Sage, I know your great reputation and have heard of your deeds. I am afraid that you will come and forge my letters and steal my seal."

Wukong said, "What are you saying, you old Taoist priest? If you don't want to go, then don't go. I'll just wait outside. Why are you bringing up my shortcomings?"

Ao Tu entered the study, closed the door, and asked Jiang Zhu to cut paper and grind ink. He then wrote two letters, one for the three national teachers and the other for his disciple A Lu.

After finishing writing, Ao Tu sat on the wooden chair and said to Jiang Zhu, "Give me a shoulder massage!"

Jiangzhu clenched her slender hands and lowered her head, saying:

"True Lord, let me go find someone else for you!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "What's wrong? You don't want to?"

Jiangzhu said, "I don't want to."

Ao Tu asked, "Why wouldn't you?"

Jiangzhu knelt down and said, "Jiangzhu only wishes to tend to the flowers and plants, please grant my request, True Lord."

Ao Tu laughed and said, "You heartless fairy herb, how could you forget my kindness? You won't even massage my shoulders?"

Jiangzhu said, "Huh?"

Ao Tu transformed back to his original form, revealing his aura, and said with a smile, "Do you recognize me?"

Jiangzhu was stunned, then exclaimed with joy, "My benefactor!"

Ao Tu laughed and said, "Fortunately, you haven't forgotten me."

Jiangzhu blushed, stepped forward, and gently massaged Ao Tu's shoulders.

Wukong, who was waiting anxiously outside, asked, "Isn't it finished yet?"

Ao Tu said, "Don't rush, I'm currently working on the wording and carefully choosing my phrases."

Jiangzhu looked at the two letters that had already been written and couldn't help but chuckle.

Seeing this, Ao Tu reached out and poked her waist, saying, "What are you laughing at?"

Another quarter of an hour passed.

Ao Tu then stood up, transformed back into the True Man of the West, and handed the letter to Wukong.

Upon receiving the letter, Wukong hurriedly prepared to leave.

Ao Tu said, "Great Sage, please wait!"

Wukong asked, "Is there anything else, True Lord?"

Ao Tu said, "I'll be polite."

(End of this chapter)