Journey to the West: Starting with the Hunting of the Three Demons of Twin Fork Ridge

Pigsy said, "How would I know! When you were causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, you lived in the Water Curtain Cave on Flower and Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country of the Eastern Continent of Divine Victory. You haven't been heard of since. Now you've come here to deceive me. Could it be that my father-in-law really went there to invite you?"

The pilgrim said, "Your father-in-law didn't invite me. I, Old Sun, have now reformed and abandoned Taoism for Buddhism, to protect a younger brother of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the East, named Tripitaka Master, on his journey to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures!"

Pigsy said, "Since you became his disciple, why didn't you mention the journey to the West earlier? You only rely on your strength to come and beat me! I'd appreciate it if you could secretly introduce us!"

Sun Wukong said, "Don't try to deceive me with these words so you can find a way to escape. If you really want to protect Tang Sanzang, there's no lie about it. You can swear to heaven before I take you to see my master."

Pigsy knelt down with a thud and began kowtowing repeatedly towards the sky, like pounding rice: "Amitabha! Namo Buddha! My hands and feet are bound by you, how can I escape? I swear, if I am not sincere, may I break the heavenly rules and be torn to pieces!"

He kowtowed until his forehead was red, then turned to Li Fa and said, "Master, you be my witness! If I, Old Pig, have uttered even the slightest lie, may I be struck by lightning!"

Seeing him swear and make a vow, Wukong believed him to some extent, but said, "Since that's the case, will you allow me to set fire to your dwelling before I take you away?"

Pigsy replied without hesitation, "Go ahead and burn it!"

Sun Wukong then moved some reeds and thorns, lit a fire, and burned the Cloud Stack Cave down to the ground, turning it into a dilapidated kiln.

As Pigsy watched his cave, where he had lived for many years, collapse in the fire, he sighed and said, "I have no more worries now. Brother, take my rake and lead me to see Master."

Wukong then helped him up, but without untying the ropes, he held the nine-toothed rake in one hand and grabbed Bajie's ear with the other: "Come on, come on, don't keep your master waiting."

Pigsy said, "Be gentle! Your hands are too heavy, they're hurting my ears."

Wukong said, "I can't be lenient with you! I can't afford to take care of you! As the saying goes, 'A good pig is hard to catch.' I'll only release you after I see my master and he is truly sincere."

Li Fa, who had been observing this from the sidelines, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Since this monster was guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva to become your master's disciple, then this old Taoist priest will not interfere. Now that Miss Gao is free, and this matter is settled, this poor Taoist priest will take his leave."

Sun Wukong turned his head and said, "Old Taoist priest, are you leaving already? Aren't you going to Gao Family Village to ask for some reward money?"

Li Fa shook his head and smiled, "Wanderers come and go as fate dictates. Elder Sun, until we meet again."

Having said that, without waiting for Sun Wukong to speak again, he transformed into a gentle breeze and disappeared into the mountains and forests in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, Pigsy muttered, "That Taoist priest with the bull's nose is quick on his way..."

Sun Wukong didn't care, and just grabbed Pigsy's ear, saying, "Enough nonsense! Let's go!"

The two rode on clouds and flew towards Gao Lao Zhuang.

After returning to Tang Sanzang and explaining the situation, the monk gave Bajie a name, and the three of them continued on their journey.

After receiving his reward, Li Fa revealed his true form and used his cloud-riding technique to leave Gao Village, heading west.

He had recently gained five Jiazi of magical power, greatly increasing his cultivation level, and his cloud speed was also much faster than before.

In less than half a day, they had flown more than a thousand miles when suddenly a high mountain blocked their way.

Li Fa descended from the cloud and observed carefully, and saw:

Peaks reach the clouds, piercing the heavens; layered ridges veil the azure river in mist and haze. Strange rocks, jagged and rugged, resemble crouching tigers; ancient pines, leaning and twisted, resemble coiled dragons. A cold spring murmurs like jade beneath the ravine; ancient trees on the cliff face shed a chilling drizzle. Vines and creepers entwine the walls, weeping in vain; creeping vines cling to the precipice, entwining themselves. In the distance, no village is visible; nearby, the mournful cry of cranes can be heard. Deep in the forest, no woodcutter's tracks are seen; along the treacherous path, only the murmuring of water can be heard. Mist shrouds the mountainside, concealing its divine aura; clouds seal the mountain pass, hiding true immortals.

What a magnificent mountain!

Li Fa's heart stirred, and he descended from the clouds, walking up the mountain.

After walking for a short while, they came to see a thousand-year-old Chinese cypress tree on the mountainside. Its trunk was so thick that it would take five or six people to encircle it. In front of the tree was a simple straw hut, as plain as a bird's nest, yet it faintly shimmered with golden light.

"Futu Mountain... Zen Master Wuchao..." Li Fa's heart skipped a beat; he had almost forgotten that there was such a person in the original story.

He suddenly remembered that in the original story, this Zen Master Wuchao seemed harmless, but was actually unfathomable. Sun Wukong once used his golden cudgel to attack his nest, but all he saw were "ten thousand lotus flowers blooming, and auspicious mist protecting it in layers," without even harming a single blade of grass. This indicated that his strength was at least at the level of a Great Awakened Golden Immortal.

More importantly, "Futu" means Buddha, and this mountain is named Futu. This Zen master is probably a manifestation of a true Buddha!

Li Fa became alert and was about to quietly retreat when suddenly a golden light shone brightly from the crow's nest, and a figure slowly rose from the nest.

The man wore a tattered monk's hat and a patched old robe, walked barefoot on clouds, his face was gaunt, but his eyes were very clear. Who else could it be but Zen Master Wuchao?

The Zen master looked at Li Fa, a strange light flashing in his eyes, and put his palms together, saying, "Benefactor, you have come from afar, why not come in and sit for a while?"

Li Fa's heart was filled with alarm bells, but he remained calm on the surface, bowing and returning the greeting: "I am just passing by on my travels, and I dare not disturb the Zen Master's peaceful cultivation."

Zen Master Wuchao smiled slightly: "Since you have come to this mountain, it is a matter of fate. Besides, since I began my cultivation, I have been able to know the past, understand the present, and foresee the future, but I am not qualified to be your disciple. How strange! Would you be willing to enlighten me?"

Li Fa was shocked. He realized that he had been too flamboyant. There were many big shots in the Journey to the West world who were hiding in the shadows. It seemed that he should be more low-key in the future.

Seeing Li Fa's hesitation, the Zen master said, "Benefactor, there is no need to worry. I am here only because I am following the Buddha's instructions to enlighten the pilgrim, and I have no intention of harming you. Otherwise, given that you killed Silver-Headed Jiedi, I would have suppressed you long ago."

Li Fa was greatly surprised upon hearing this and asked, "What do you mean by that, Zen Master?"

The Zen master said, "On the day the golden body of the Silver-Headed Jiedi shattered, his true spirit returned to Mount Ling. All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas tried to calculate it, but none of them could. This old monk was also very surprised at the time, but I never expected to see his true form today."

Li Fa asked, "Does Mount Ling not care about the death of the Silver-Headed Jiedi?"

The Zen master smiled and said, "Some people care, some don't. Silverhead's death was also ordained by Heaven."

Li Fa said, "It's ordained by Heaven. Even the Buddha can't change it?"

When Zen Master Wuchao heard Li Fa's question, he didn't speak, but simply picked up a leaf and threw it off the cliff.

The leaves fluttered and fell from the mountaintop.

"It is ordained by Heaven, that is, the predetermined fate of cause and effect," the Zen master said. "Even the Buddha could calculate cause and effect and observe reincarnation, but he could not forcibly change the predetermined fate. Just like this leaf."

"It floats when it floats, and it falls when it falls. This humble monk can pluck it down and throw it away, but he cannot make it never wither, nor can he make it rise against the wind."

"The death of the Silver-Headed Jiedi was predetermined. Your killing of him is also predetermined. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Mount Ling cannot deduce your origins; that too is predetermined."

Li Fa was deeply shaken and pressed on, "If it is predetermined, then Zen Master, by seeing me today and pointing this out, aren't you afraid of disrupting this predetermined fate?"

"Hahaha—" the Zen master suddenly burst into laughter, "Within the fixed order, there are also variables. Within the variables, there is also the fixed order. Who says that my meeting with you today is not part of the fixed order?"