Journey to the West: The roadblock!

Chapter 90 Exorcising Demons in Wuji Kingdom (Part 3)
Meanwhile, Wukong transformed into a little Taoist priest and cautiously peeked out from the bushes.

When the Taoist priests who were working saw this, they quickly told Wukong to go back, saying that this was not a place for Taoist priests.

Wukong said, "Why isn't this a place where Taoists come from? Explain yourself more clearly."

The Taoist priests who were working hurriedly said upon hearing this:

"Little Taoist priest, run! If you don't run now, you'll miss your chance!"

Wukong said, "I won't go, I won't go. I won't leave until you explain it clearly."

The Taoist priests working there became extremely anxious upon hearing this.

Just then, a monk who was overseeing the work looked over and noticed Wukong.

"Good, there's a Taoist priest who slipped through the net!"

Upon hearing this, the monks who were overseeing the work rushed over and captured Wukong.

Wukong asked, "What are you doing? Why are you arresting me?"

The overseeing monk said, "Why? Because you are a Taoist priest!"

Wukong said, "Just because I'm a Taoist priest doesn't mean you can arrest me. What law have I broken?"

The overseer monk said, "You have violated the laws of my Wuji Kingdom! My king has decreed that you sorcerers have usurped the throne and committed the grave crime of treason. Making you work is too lenient for you!"

Wukong listened in a daze, then a pickaxe was shoved into his hand and he was pushed to start mining.

While mining, Wukong thought to himself, "If what the overseer said is true, and these Taoists really have committed the serious crime of treason, then this treatment is understandable."

However, one shouldn't listen to only his side of the story. After the overseer monks left, Wukong asked the Taoist priests who were working alongside him:

"Master, what exactly is going on? We cultivators should live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, focusing on our cultivation. Why are those monks saying that you have usurped the throne?"

The Taoist priest who was doing the work said:

"Alas, young Taoist priest, you are a Taoist priest from elsewhere, unaware of the grievances suffered by the Taoist priests here!"

Wukong perked up and hurriedly asked, "What grievance do you have?"

The Taoist priest who was doing the work said:

"Our country is called Wuji Kingdom. It is a country that reveres Buddhism and Taoism, and everyone is virtuous. However, eight years ago, the country suffered a severe drought, and for three consecutive years, not a drop of rain fell. At that time, a Taoist priest came, ascended the altar to pray for rain, and immediately sweet rain fell. The king called him brother!"

Wukong said, "Isn't this a good thing? Shouldn't the king reward you Taoists?"

The Taoist priest who was working said, "There were some rewards given at the time, but that's where things went wrong!"

Wukong asked, "How did it break?"

The Taoist priest who was doing the work said:

"That Taoist priest who prayed for rain was actually a demon in disguise. After gaining the king's favor, he moved into the palace, secretly murdered the king, transformed himself into the king's appearance, and occupied the throne for five years."

No one in or outside the palace knew anything about it. Until this spring, a Buddha descended upon the kingdom, suppressed the evil sorcerer, and rescued the king. We Taoist priests were thus implicated and punished by being forced to work here.”

Wukong said, "What a foolish king! That demon has occupied the country, why not kill the demon? What does it have to do with you?"

The Taoist priest who was doing the work said:

"It is said that the king was taken over by a sorcerer and died unjustly for five years. His lonely soul wandered around, and in order to seek justice, he traveled to the City God Temple, wandered through the underworld, ran across the Three Mountains and went to the Five Sacred Mountains, but he could not find a place to appeal. Everyone said that the sorcerer had powerful connections and dared not accept his petition."

Now that the king has returned to life, he is even more furious with that evil Taoist priest. He ordered the crown prince to investigate the priest's origins, but the priest refused to speak, which implicated us. He said that if the priest did not confess, we Taoist priests would have to work every day.

"It's an injustice! How dare we associate with that evil Taoist? We don't know which sacred mountain he came from, but he's dragged us here, forcing us to work every day and suffer beatings. It's so bitter! So bitter!"

Upon hearing this, Wukong frowned.

The situation here is indeed complicated; thankfully, he didn't act rashly.

The Taoist priest was indeed wronged, but the monk was also acting under orders, so it was impossible to tell who was right and who was wrong.

Just then, the sound of whipping came from outside again. The Taoist priest working there hurriedly told Wukong to start mining quickly. Only after the overseer had walked away did the Taoist priest say:

“Little Taoist priest, on the first and fifteenth of each month, officials will come to oversee the construction. You are a Taoist priest from out of town, so you don’t have to suffer here. When the officials come, explain the situation, and they will expel you from the country, and you won’t have to work anymore.”

I have a method here. Listen carefully, memorize it, and practice it daily. Only in this way can you endure this daily labor. Otherwise, you'll be exhausted before the official arrives.

Upon hearing this, Wukong didn't take it seriously, assuming it was some crude qi-refining technique, and prepared to leave immediately.

At this moment, the Taoist priest who was working chanted incantations, and when Wukong heard it, his mind was greatly shaken!

Although this technique is only a short section, one can discern its profound mystery, which subtly resonates with his Seventy-Two Transformations, seemingly complementing each other.

Wukong listened with rapt attention, but at the crucial moment, the Taoist priest abruptly stopped.

Wukong hurriedly asked, "What happens next?"

The Taoist priest said, "That's all. Only these have been passed down."

Wukong eagerly pressed, "Who told you this?"

The Taoist priest said, "The one who taught this method was an immortal named Fuzhu Zhenshi Tianzun. That day, we were exhausted and wanted to die. Fuzhu Zhenshi Tianzun appeared in the world and taught us this method. He also told us to wait for a person called Qitian Dasheng to appear. He can help us clear our name."

After the Taoist priest finished speaking, he looked at the young Taoist priest beside him and suddenly realized that the young Taoist priest had disappeared.

Outside the mountain, Wukong returned.

Tang Sanzang asked, "Wukong, how is it?"

Wukong said, "Master, don't worry, it's just a group of Taoists mining in the mountains."

Tang Sanzang asked, "Why would Taoist priests be mining?"

Bajie said, "Master, you've never been a Taoist priest, so you don't know the ins and outs. What's so special about mining? Taoist priests collect mercury and lead to refine elixirs!"

Wukong said, "No, no, they weren't collecting mercury or lead. Those Taoist priests were just doing work for the monks."

Tang Sanzang exclaimed in surprise, "Wukong, what do you mean by that? Monks and Taoists are both people outside the secular world, and there is no distinction between noble and lowly. How come a Taoist is working for a monk?" Wukong replied, "Master, you don't know this. There are some reasons for this."

Wukong then explained the reason for the matter.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang said, "Excellent! Excellent! I wonder which Taoist immortal mountain was lax in its supervision, allowing this wicked creature to descend to the mortal realm and commit such a heinous crime against the country. Wukong, you are known for your supernatural powers, could you find the master of this monster and clear the names of those poor Taoist priests?"

Wukong said, "Master, don't worry. Once we enter the royal city and meet the king, I'll take care of everything."

Tang Sanzang said, "Wukong, you've had a hard time."

Wukong said, "What are you saying, Master? As a disciple, how dare I complain about hardship?"

The four travelers traveled for another two days and emerged from the mountains. After traveling for several dozen miles, they saw the towering Buddhist pagoda that seemed to reach into the clouds in the distance.

Tang Sanzang exclaimed, "This is truly a wonder!"

Baolin Temple was right next door, so Tang Sanzang and his companions dismounted and asked for lodging.

Tang Sanzang said, "Bajie, bring me my brocade cassock."

Pigsy asked, "Master, what are you doing with the cassock?"

Tang Sanzang said, “This temple is magnificent and grand, and there must be many monks inside. With so many monks, they will develop a sense of discrimination. I have been traveling a long and arduous journey, and if we go there to ask for lodging in this state, I am afraid they will not allow us to stay.”

Wukong said, "Master does know a lot."

Tang Sanzang said, "Back when we were at White Tiger Ridge, I went into the city to perform the Hungry Ghost Ritual for people. I recited the same scriptures, but if my clothes were torn, people wouldn't believe me."

Bajie put down his luggage and took out the brocade cassock.

Tang Sanzang changed into his cassock and entered the temple.

When the monks of the temple saw that Tang Sanzang's appearance was extraordinary, and then saw that his cassock was radiant with precious light, they immediately knew that a high monk had arrived.

Busy and politely invited Tang Sanzang to sit down, served him tea, and then went to inform the abbot.

The abbot arrived quickly.

When Tang Sanzang explained his purpose, the abbot, upon hearing that he was a high-ranking monk from the Tang Dynasty, dared not be negligent and hurriedly invited Tang Sanzang and his disciples to stay in the temple and prepared vegetarian meals.

During this time, Tang Sanzang inquired about the Taoist priests from the abbot.

The abbot's response was essentially the same as what Wukong had said.

Then he asked about the pagoda.

The abbot said that it was a pagoda built by Taoist priests for the Buddha to preach.

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but say:
"How many people will die or be injured building such a tall tower!"

The abbot said, "They did not harm anyone. The Buddha bestowed the Dharma upon them, ensuring that the Taoist priests were neither killed nor injured, which is why they were able to build this pagoda."

Tang Sanzang said, "Amitabha."

As night fell, Tang Sanzang and the others had all gone to sleep.

But then a clicking or clattering sound came from inside the room.

Tang Sanzang was awakened by the noise and saw that Bajie and Sha Wujing were sleeping soundly, while only Wukong was sitting cross-legged to the side. The noise was coming from inside his body.

Tang Sanzang rushed forward and asked, "Wukong, Wukong, what's wrong?"

Wukong opened his eyes and said, "Master, it's alright. I'll just toughen up my body."

Tang Sanzang said, "You already have a body of steel and an indestructible body, why are you still trying to toughen up your body?"

Wukong said, "I used to think it was unnecessary, but I realize today that I still need to continue to hone my skills."

The next day, the group left Baolin Temple and headed towards the royal city.

During their journey, they passed a pagoda, and Tang Sanzang said:

"Before I set out for the west, I made a vow that I would burn incense at every temple I visited, worship at every Buddha I encountered, and sweep every pagoda I came across. But today, in order to clear the names of those suffering Taoist priests as soon as possible, we will first go into the city to meet the king, and then come back to sweep the pagoda."

Upon hearing this, Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing all nodded in agreement.

The four travelers continued forward and entered the royal city.

Tang Sanzang then inquired about the demonic Taoist from the people in the city. What the people said was basically the same as what they had heard before, and many people even said that they had seen the demonic Taoist with their own eyes.

That sorcerer was once paraded through the streets with his collarbone pierced.

After understanding the situation, Tang Sanzang led Wukong and the others to the inn, explained their purpose to the innkeeper, and requested an audience with the king.

Upon hearing that a high-ranking monk from the Tang Dynasty had arrived, the King of Wuji Kingdom dared not be negligent and immediately set up a court to receive him.

When Tang Sanzang and his disciples went to court, the King of Wuji Kingdom, being a man who had died once, was only startled by the appearance of Wukong, Bajie and the others. His hands and feet trembled slightly, but he did not fall off his seat.

Wukong used his Fiery Eyes of Truth to examine the King of Wuji Kingdom.

Seeing auspicious light and five-colored clouds, he confirmed that it was indeed the true king, and whispered to Tang Sanzang, "Master, it is the true king."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang bowed and said, "This humble monk, Tang Sanzang, greets Your Majesty the King."

The King of Wuji Kingdom said, "Great Tang monk, please excuse the formalities and have a seat."

A servant brought a seat to the attendant.

Tang Sanzang said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat."

Then sit down properly.

Wukong and his disciples stood behind Tang Sanzang.

(End of this chapter)