Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Why does Guanyin save me but not you? [Please collect and recommend]_1
No matter what, the Black Bear Spirit had truly submitted.
After signing the Spirit Contract, he would suffer the punishment of Tribulation Thunder if he even thought of breaking it. This type of Spirit Contract was, in truth, extremely humiliating; most spiritual beasts would not agree to it. But the Black Bear Spirit feared death and had even taken the initiative to propose it.
Sha Chen knew as well that the Black Bear Spirit had submitted to Guanyin in the Black Wind Cave primarily because he feared death. However, by that time, the Black Bear Spirit likely had already developed feelings for Buddhism and had long wished to join. Guanyin had her own designs, and he, like a bear finding a convenient slope, simply played along.
Now that he had sought refuge with Sha Chen, he wore a smile on the surface, but inwardly he felt bitter and mournful. Sha Chen naturally noticed this. To ensure the Black Bear Spirit would wholeheartedly work for him, instead of just giving perfunctory service, he knew he had to offer some psychological guidance.
He invited the Black Bear Spirit over, then cooked rice, stir-fried vegetables, and even brought out wine. The rice was Immortal Rice, and the vegetables were freshly planted—pure, natural, unpolluted, organic. The wine was osmanthus brew, but it was too precious, so Sha Chen had secretly diluted the bear’s portion with water. His own, however, was undiluted.
The Black Bear Spirit’s eyes nearly popped out as he gazed at the table laden with fine wine and delicacies. With Sha Chen’s encouragement, he ate his fill, and the displeasure in his heart gradually began to dissipate.
After three rounds of wine and a variety of dishes had passed, Sha Chen smiled. "Old Bear, do you feel it’s beneath you to follow me?"
The bear was under his roof; how could he dare not bow his head? The Black Bear Spirit hurriedly replied, "No, no, no! It’s my honor."
Sha Chen smiled. "You don’t need to rush to deny it. I know. For a demon of your talent and aspirations to follow me, a common criminal demoted by the Heavenly Court, it’s natural to feel dissatisfied."
The Black Bear Spirit gave an awkward smile.
Sha Chen continued, "But you’ve probably inquired about me. If I were really ordinary, could I have subdued you?"
The Black Bear Spirit mulled it over. That actually makes sense, he thought.
Sha Chen added, "Have you ever seen such a lavish place of exile?"
The Black Bear Spirit shook his head; he truly hadn’t. Even now, he suspected Sha Chen wasn’t here to suffer hardships at all, but rather to enjoy a life of comfort.
Sha Chen said, "Can someone who’s been banished afford to eat so many good things?"
The Black Bear Spirit’s eyes sparkled, his breathing growing a bit heavier. Could it be, he wondered, that he isn’t banished, but was intentionally sent here by the Heavenly Court to wait for something? Guanyin Bodhisattva personally appeared in Elder Jin Chi’s dream, wanting to convert him. Could this be a collaboration between the Heavenly Court and Buddhism, with Sha Chen just here as a formality?
It had to be said, the Black Bear Spirit had a very active mind. He had always been shrewd—rough on the outside but meticulous within, seemingly brash but in fact very keen.
Sha Chen, well aware of the Black Bear Spirit’s thoughts, suddenly said, "You must be thinking that I’m not really banished, that I’m something else, right?"
The Black Bear Spirit nodded repeatedly. "General, have you received instructions from the Heavenly Court? Are you here waiting for someone destined from Buddhism?"
Sha Chen’s expression remained unchanged, though inwardly he was impressed by the Black Bear Spirit’s astute thinking. However, he replied, "You are mistaken. I truly have been banished here."
The Black Bear Spirit looked speechless.
Sha Chen continued, "But for someone who’s been banished to live as comfortably as I do today, do you think I’m ordinary?"
The Black Bear Spirit kept shaking his head. "Even among the gods in the Heavens, few are as carefree and stylish as you, General."
Sha Chen went on, "I know you probably aspire to join Buddhism. Don’t rush to deny it. You call that little monk Jin Chi your brother, and you’ve even established a spiritual retreat near the Guanyin Zen Temple. I could guess your intentions with my toes."
The Black Bear Spirit’s face turned red, his heart pounding with shock. He’s incredible! His insight is so sharp!
Sha Chen felt that to truly win over the meticulous Black Bear Spirit, he needed to employ superior reasoning. Otherwise, even if he assigned tasks, the Black Bear Spirit would likely act like a slippery old hand, merely feigning compliance and brushing him off. Only by making it clear that Sha Chen was omniscient, aware of his every thought and move, could he ensure the Black Bear Spirit would serve him wholeheartedly.
Sha Chen continued, "You’ve been working so hard this time, surely to curry favor with Guanyin, hoping she’ll notice you, accept you as a disciple, and bring you into Buddhism."
The Black Bear Spirit dared not refute. "Ever since I was young, I’ve been chased by people from Buddhism. I’ve always felt their power, and I too wished to become one of them."
Sha Chen said, "Then do you know what you will become in Buddhism if you keep this up?"
The Black Bear Spirit shook his head.
Sha Chen said, "Let me tell you. You’re just a pawn in Guanyin’s hands. In the future, at best, you’ll only become one of her temple’s guardian deities—essentially, a gatekeeper. Have you ever seen Buddhism allow the likes of the moisture-born, egg-born, or transformation-born to achieve Buddhahood? They end up as either mounts or gatekeepers. And someone like you, who actively throws himself at their feet, will only be looked down upon even more."
The Black Bear Spirit said, "But Buddhism preaches that all living beings are equal, and that everyone has a chance."
Sha Chen laughed. "All beings equal? Then tell me, why does Guanyin want to convert me, but not you?"
This sentence struck him like a critical hit. It resonated deeply with the Black Bear Spirit. Before coming here, he had already asked himself countless times: why Guanyin him, and not me? He was undeniably powerful, possessed profound mana, and was loyal to Buddhism. But still, Guanyin simply overlooked him.
Sha Chen said, "What if I told you that Buddhism has hinted to me more than once that if I joined, I could become a Buddha? What would you think then?"
The Black Bear Spirit’s face, already dark with jealousy, grew even darker. What else could he think? He just wanted to scream: Why isn’t that person me?!
Seeing he had stirred the Black Bear Spirit sufficiently, Sha Chen said, "Buddhism preaches that all beings are equal, but how can there truly be equality for all? It’s said, ’Lay down the butcher’s knife and attain Buddhahood on the spot.’ But what about those who strive for ten lifetimes as good people just to become Buddhas? Where does that leave them?"
The Black Bear Spirit’s eyes looked somewhat hollow.
Sha Chen said, "You want to attain Buddhahood to become like those who once hunted you, to stand high above them. But listen, if you have real power, even if you were a pile of dung, you’d be a pile of incomparably lofty, albeit foul-smelling, dung. Just like Elder Jin Chi—he’s a man of Buddhism, but if you’re stronger, he still has to call you ’Big Brother.’ If you were stronger than Guanyin, wouldn’t she also have to call you ’Big Brother’?"
The Black Bear Spirit’s eyes lit up. "Is that possible?"
Sha Chen replied, "Why not?"
The Black Bear Spirit’s breathing grew heavier, his mind instantly abuzz with new possibilities. However, being a shrewd individual, he said with a wry smile, "But given my strength and talent, it’s impossible for Guanyin to call me ’Big Brother’."
Sha Chen said, "You’ve reached this level despite being self-taught, which proves your exceptional talent. With guidance from a renowned master, your future achievements would be limitless. Making her call you ’Big Brother’ wouldn’t be out of the question then."
The Black Bear Spirit was, after all, a demon from the wilds. Yet he had managed to attain enlightenment in the Black Wind Cave, cause Sun Wukong considerable trouble, and even fight him to a standstill. This clearly demonstrated his extraordinary innate talent and strength. If cultivated, his prospects were indeed boundless.
The Black Bear Spirit said with a bitter smile, "But I have no renowned master."
Sha Chen laughed. "I will teach you the Eight-Nine Profound Art and the Thug’s Seventy-two Variations. Cultivate them well, and your future will be boundless."
The Black Bear Spirit’s eyes widened in shock. "SSS," he exclaimed. "General, you know the Eight-Nine Profound Art and the 72 Polymorphic Transformations? And you’re going to teach them to me?"
Sha Chen smiled. "You’re my bear. The Eight-Nine Profound Art and the 72 Polymorphic Transformations are merely minor techniques to me. If you perform well enough, I can teach you even stronger ones."
The Black Bear Spirit was a shrewd individual, but even he was left reeling by Sha Chen’s dazzling promises. If Sha Chen wanted the Black Bear Spirit to be utterly and wholeheartedly devoted to his service, he had to offer substantial benefits. Moreover, he genuinely saw potential in the Black Bear Spirit; by granting him cultivation techniques and divine powers, once the bear became stronger, he could accomplish even more for Sha Chen.