Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

The Liusha River flows westward, gradually disappearing into the deep mountains. One evening, the master and his disciples saw a corner of a manor emerging from the woods ahead, with its blue bricks and gray tiles, quite impressive.

Xuanzang reined in his horse: "It's getting late. There seem to be some villages ahead. We can go and ask for lodging for the night."

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a large mansion, with the words "Mo Mansion" inscribed above the gate. After knocking, an old woman opened the door. Seeing that it was a monk and a Taoist priest, her face lit up with joy: "So it's a venerable monk and Taoist priest! Please come in!"

Upon entering the hall, one sees elegant furnishings and maids coming and going. The old woman introduced herself as Jia, her husband having died early, leaving behind three daughters: Zhenzhen, Aiai, and Lianlian, all sixteen years old and unmarried.

"I have a considerable fortune, but I lack a man to manage it," sighed Madam Jia. "Today, I have seen the extraordinary bearing of the holy monk, and his three disciples are also outstanding individuals. I wonder... would they be willing to stay and marry into my daughters' families, so that we may share in their wealth and prosperity?"

Xuanzang was greatly alarmed and repeatedly chanted the Buddha's name: "This humble monk is a monk, and would never dare to break the precepts!"

Jia laughed and said, "If the holy monk is unwilling, what about your three disciples?" Her gaze swept over Sun Wukong and the other two.

Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "I, Old Sun, only love Flower Fruit Mountain, I don't need a wife!"

Pigsy's eyes darted around, and he grinned sheepishly, "Madam, isn't your daughter... beautiful?"

Sha Wujing lowered his head and chanted Buddhist scriptures, seemingly unconcerned.

Lu Chen (Qingfeng Daoren) watched coldly from the sidelines—this Jia family member was clearly the incarnation of the Old Mother of Lishan! Those three daughters must be the "Four Saints Testing the Mind of Zen" transformed from the three Bodhisattvas Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra!

In the original story, this scene should have been where Pigsy, overcome by lust, was hung from a tree overnight, making a complete fool of himself. But now…

Seeing that Pigsy seemed inclined to move, Madam Jia quickly called out, "Zhenzhen, Aiai, Lianlian, come out and greet the guest!"

Three young women emerged from behind the screen, each possessing unparalleled beauty. Zhenzhen was dignified, Aiai was charming, and Lianlian was gentle; they all curtsied in unison, saying, "Greetings, esteemed elders."

Pigsy stared, eyes wide, and chuckled, "What...what a beautiful girl!"

Xuanzang urged, "Bajie! Don't let your worldly desires take hold!"

Pigsy waved his hand, saying, "Master, I've thought about it. The journey to the West is long and arduous. Why not stay here and be a wealthy man, enjoying fine wine and beautiful women? Wouldn't that be more enjoyable?"

Sun Wukong was "furious": "Fool! How dare you betray your master?!"

Madam Jia quickly tried to smooth things over: "Please, everyone, don't make a fuss. Since this Elder Pig is so willing, why don't we stay here and discuss this further?"

A banquet was held that night. As expected, Pigsy revealed his true colors, drinking from large bowls and flirting incessantly with the three "ladies." Xuanzang sighed, Sun Wukong scratched his ears and cheeks in anger, Sandy ate heartily with his head down, and Lu Chen smiled silently.

After the banquet, Madam Jia arranged guest rooms. Pigsy, "drunk," followed Lianlian to the backyard, saying he wanted to "enjoy the moon and have a heart-to-heart talk."

In the dead of night, a startled cry suddenly came from the backyard: "Oh no! Why are you tying me up?!"

Xuanzang and his companions rushed over and found Zhu Bajie tied to a tree with several ribbons. Jia Shi and her three daughters stood aside with indifferent expressions, showing none of the previous attentiveness.

"A demon...a monster?!" Xuanzang exclaimed in horror.

With a cold snort, Jia (the Old Mother of Lishan) and the three women (Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra) revealed their true forms! In an instant, Buddhist light shone everywhere, and the sound of chanting filled the air!

"Xuanzang!" Guanyin Bodhisattva shouted, "We are the Old Mother of Lishan and the Bodhisattvas of the Three Mountains of the South Sea, Wutai, and Emei, who have come to test your and your disciples' Zen minds! This Pigsy is blinded by lust and deserves punishment!"

Pigsy struggled on the tree: "Bodhisattva, spare my life! This disciple knows his mistake!"

Guanyin looked at Xuanzang: "Your disciple still harbors worldly desires; how can he obtain the true scriptures?"

Xuanzang knelt down: "This disciple has failed in his duty of discipline; I beg the Bodhisattva to punish me!"

Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing also knelt down and begged for mercy.

Only Lu Chen, standing with his hands behind his back, suddenly laughed and said, "I dare not agree with what the Bodhisattva has said."

Guanyin's gaze turned cold: "What brilliant insights does Daoist Qingfeng have?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer such profound insights." Lu Chen paced back and forth. "I'm merely curious—did the Bodhisattva truly set up this trap to test our Zen minds, or... to see us make a fool of ourselves?"

His gaze swept over the four bodhisattvas: "First, you lure them with wealth and beauty, then you rebuke them with the authority of the Buddha's teachings. Is this combination of enticement and rebuke meant to instill fear in us, making us obedient to Buddhism from then on?"

"How dare you!" Manjushri Bodhisattva roared, "How dare you blaspheme against a Bodhisattva?!"

Lu Chen remained calm and composed: "I am merely stating the facts. If one truly wishes to test a person's Zen mind, why transform into a beautiful woman and tempt them with lust? Simply reveal your true form as a Bodhisattva, preach the Dharma, and see who has a heart inclined towards Buddhism. Wouldn't that be far more righteous and honorable?"

He paused, then looked at Pigsy: "Let's talk about Pigsy again. Although he has lustful thoughts, did he actually lay a hand on him or make any lewd remarks during the banquet? He only glanced at him a few more times and drank a few more cups. Is it too harsh to punish him with being hung from a tree for that?"

Guanyin's eyes flickered. Indeed, although Zhu Bajie had spoken frivolously, he had remained respectful and had not crossed any lines. This was quite different from their expected image of a "lustful fiend."

Lu Chen continued, "Moreover, Bajie had already married a wife in Gao Village. Although he entered the Buddhist order, he still cherishes his old love. This is only human nature. If we forcibly sever ties, it would only show that Buddhism is inhumane. In my opinion, what he did just now was less about lust and more about... drowning his sorrows in alcohol and thinking of his old friend."

Upon hearing these words, Pigsy froze on the tree, tears welling up in his eyes—he was thinking of Gao Cuilan.

Guanyin and the others were speechless for a moment.

Lu Chen pressed his advantage: "Bodhisattva, testing one's mind is a good intention. But after the test, the focus should be on education, not humiliation or punishment. Why not set aside Pigsy and allow me to explain the Dharma to him, guiding him towards goodness?"

The four bodhisattvas exchanged glances, all seeing the surprise and doubt in each other's eyes—this Qingfeng Daoist was no ordinary person! Every word he spoke was reasonable, and he protected the pilgrimage team at every turn, leaving no room for rebuttal.

The old woman of Lishan (née Jia) was the first to soften her tone: "What the Taoist priest said... is not without reason. Very well, we will follow the Taoist priest's advice."

Guanyin raised her hand, and the ribbon loosened. Pigsy landed on the ground and kowtowed to the Bodhisattva: "This disciple knows his mistake!"

"It's good that you admit your mistake." Guanyin gave Lu Chen a deep look. "I hope you'll behave yourself."

The four Bodhisattvas rode away on clouds and disappeared into the night sky.

After returning to their room, Xuanzang was still shaken: "If it weren't for Master Qingfeng, Bajie would have suffered greatly today."

Pigsy sidled up to Lu Chen and whispered, "Daoist Master, how did you know I, Old Pig, was acting?"

Lu Chen smiled without saying a word—of course he knew. Zhu Bajie's soul was protected by chaotic energy, and his lustful desires had long been refined. His behavior just now was seven parts acting and three parts genuinely thinking of Gao Cuilan.

Sun Wukong jumped over: "Master, those four Bodhisattvas are so dishonest! They actually used a honey trap!"

Sha Wujing also said, "Fortunately, the Taoist priest was quick-witted."

Lu Chen waved his hand: "Let's not mention this matter again. But after this incident, Guanyin and the others will definitely be more careful with us. We need to be even more cautious in our future actions."

He chuckled inwardly: the Four Sages, testing the Zen mind, had intended to put the pilgrimage team in their place, but had instead outmaneuvered them. Guanyin was probably about to reassess this "Qingfeng Daoist."

The four bodhisattvas had not gone far in the clouds.

Manjushri frowned: "That Daoist Qingfeng's words are full of wit and insight, unlike those of an ordinary rogue cultivator."

Puxian nodded: "Zhu Bajie's performance today was also different from what we expected. The Buddhist seal within his body... seems to be sluggish?"

Guanyin calculated with her fingers, but only felt a sense of chaos: "This matter is strange. But we have already shown ourselves, so it is not advisable to try again. The next calamity should be at Wuzhuang Temple... Zhen Yuanzi and his group can't come up with anything."

The Old Mother of Lishan sighed, "The journey to obtain the scriptures is becoming increasingly unpredictable."

The four of them went their separate ways.

Inside the manor, the master and his apprentice rested peacefully.

Lu Chen sat alone by the window, looking at the Chaos Brick in his hand—a few new strands of Buddhist light patterns had appeared on the surface of the brick. These were the scattered Buddhist power that he had secretly absorbed with the Chaos Brick when the four Bodhisattvas appeared earlier.

"The Four Sages tested my Zen mind... They also tested my depth and your methods."

He looked westward, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"Wuzhuang Temple, Ginseng Fruit..."

"That's the real show."

"Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of earth immortals... are you ready?"

The night wind rustled through the woods, and the manor was quiet and still.

The first "battle of wits" on the journey to the West ended with Lu Chen emerging victorious.

But an even bigger storm is yet to come.