Chapter 622: Chapter 557, A Scroll of the Eternal Primordial World_2
Sun Wukong, from your birth you roamed amongst the mountains and wilderness. After acquiring your abilities, you constantly caused trouble, your heart harboring violence.
Both of you are imperfect, only by complementing and helping each other can you reach the Western Heaven.
Tang Sanzang thought of what he had just seen in the Illusion Realm, and with a sorrowful and pained expression said, "This time it was this poor monk who was wrong, and I even wronged Wukong."
Sun Wukong felt a bit embarrassed and quickly said, "Heh heh~ Actually, I was also at fault."
Golden Ring Immortal smiled and nodded.
Tang Sanzang couldn’t help but ask, "Great Immortal, was everything I saw just now all an illusion?"
Golden Ring Immortal laughed and said, "To say it was an illusion isn’t quite correct. It should be considered a potential future, deduced by Emperor Gouchen using the Postnatal Eight Diagrams. If Wukong had let those six bandits go, the events in the illusion would indeed unfold as seen."
Tang Sanzang clasped his hands together, chanting, "Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!" A sense of relief rose in his heart, thankful that Wukong had killed them. It was a good kill!
Golden Ring Immortal stood up and said, "Indulging evil, is also your sin for giving birth to such evil.
Your mercy towards malice is cruelty to the kind and innocent. Tang Sanzang, do you understand now?"
Tang Sanzang turned and knelt on the ground, speaking in a low and hoarse voice, "Thank you for your guidance, Great Immortal. This disciple is at fault."
Golden Ring Immortal smiled and nodded, saying, "This is very good. You are both still immature. Only through experience can you truly understand. In your journey westward to obtain the scriptures, learn from each other, and complement one another.
Each person has their own Tao, their own thoughts. To seek common ground while reserving differences complements wholeness. This is growth."
Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang both sincerely kowtowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Great Immortal. We will never forget."
"Emperor Gouchen once said, ’The shallowest understanding comes from reading alone, true knowledge requires personal experience.’
You have both read the scriptures a hundred times, but the westward journey is the time to verify the scriptures against reality. Remember, blind faith in books is worse than having no books at all."
Golden Ring Immortal turned into a beam of golden light that shot up into the sky, disappearing into the horizon.
Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong slowly rose to their feet.
Tang Sanzang said with emotion, "Mercy can sometimes harm people.
Wukong, this time it was your master who was wrong."
Sun Wukong scratched his head and chuckled, "I was also at fault, for being too impulsive."
Thinking about what he had gone through in the Illusion Realm, Tang Sanzang still felt a lingering fear. Not everyone deserves forgiveness. He said with relief, "Fortunately, Wukong, you killed them. Otherwise, the sin of this monk would be greater than great, Amitabha Buddha!"
Sun Wukong proudly said, "You and Guanyin chastised me, speaking all those words about redemption, and that everyone can become a Buddha. It’s all empty.
The Heavenly Court does it better, having Judicial Celestial Gods. If you do wrong, you pay the price.
Letting you see with your own eyes the consequences of indulging evil. Now do you see how far-sighted I am?"
"Guanyin Bodhisattva~" Tang Sanzang murmured, shaking his head, "It’s not the Bodhisattva’s fault. It’s I who cannot compare with the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva can surely save them, but I indeed cannot."
Tang Sanzang admitted his mistake, and the resentment in Sun Wukong’s heart dissipated. He jumped onto the Mechanical Car, energetically calling out, "Little monk, let’s hit the road."
"Okay!" Tang Sanzang also entered the Mechanical Car and drove forward.
"Wukong, let’s establish three rules of conduct first. If we have disputes in the future, we should calm down, and you must not chant the spell."
"Alright alright~ But you also cannot chant the spell."
"Amitabha Buddha, we must be harmonious!"
"Boundless as the Heavenly Venerate, I, Old Sun, am the most united."
Tang Sanzang drove the Mechanical Car ahead, his mind lost in thought. The Buddhist Scriptures say that forgiveness is good, that killing is evil, and also state that laying down the butcher knife can lead to instant Buddhahood. This monk has acted according to what Buddhism teaches, but why has it brought about sin? Indeed, to blindly trust in books is worse than having no books at all.
...
Golden Ring Immortal returned to the Heavenly Court and met Bai Jin in the Judicial Temple, smiling and saying, "Brother, I’ve returned."
"Well done, junior brother." Bai Jin extended his hand to invite him, "Junior brother, please have a seat!"
Golden Ring Immortal sat down on a chair and with a casual wave, a scroll flew out towards Bai Jin, saying, "Brother, here is your Magic Treasure!"
Bai Jin took the scroll and said with a smile, "How is it?"
Golden Ring Immortal replied with a smile, "Everything went smoothly, just as elder brother predicted, Tang Sanzang failed to convert those six villains."
"Now Tang Sanzang has ideals, aspirations, and a stubborn faith in Buddhism. When he finds that the Buddhist Law he adheres to does not align with reality."
Bai Jin revealed a smile and said, "At that time, he will discover a brand new gate. Whether it’s Sun Wukong or Tianpeng, they can both lead him into this new gate."
Zhao Gongming walked in from outside, laughing heartily, "Elder brother, Duo Bao Tathagata is committed to the Westward journey, yet you plan to guide Tang Sanzang into the Taoist way. Aren’t you digging at Duo Bao Tathagata’s heart? Haha~"
Golden Ring Immortal also smiled.
"Just in time for your return, brother. Could you please make a trip to the Underworld and invite Ksitigarbha from Yin Mountain to come, tell him I have matters to discuss with him."
Zhao Gongming curiously asked, "What matter is it? Do you need our help?"
Bai Jin replied mysteriously, "Helping Ksitigarbha make money, and giving Buddhism something to do. We can’t let them concentrate solely on the Westward journey."
Zhao Gongming’s eyes lit up, quickly saying, "Elder brother, if there’s money to be made, you must think of us too!"
Golden Ring Immortal nodded repeatedly; now that the Three Realms Mall has emerged, who would complain about too much money? How I wish to buy or even rent the Slaying Immortals set from Master for a while!
Bai Jin explained, "This matter really can’t involve you. Only Ksitigarbha can do it, otherwise, there’s considerable danger."
"We’re in danger, too?"
Bai Jin nodded seriously.
Zhao Gongming relaxed and said, "Alright, I’ll take a trip to the Underworld and by the way, stop by the Underworld’s Flower Shop to buy some flowers."
Bai Jin teased, "Junior brother, what do you need flowers for? Have you got your eyes on a Taoist couple?"
Golden Ring Immortal also looked curiously at Zhao Gongming.
"Elder brother, don’t make fun of me, it’s my two headache-inducing sisters. They want to plant some flowers from the Underworld in the palace." Having said that, Zhao Gongming turned and walked outside.
After Zhao Gongming left, Golden Ring Immortal, still curious, asked, "Elder brother, what exactly are you planning to do with Ksitigarbha to make money?"
"Of course, to make money from Buddhism. Over the years, Buddhism seems to have accumulated some merit. It’s time to harvest a bit, as a response to their previous West Sea scheming."
Bai Jin got up and stretched saying, "Let’s go, let’s go!" Leisurely, he walked outside.
Not long after, a Buddha Light burst forth in front of the Bird’s Nest. Within the Buddha Light, a figure appeared, and Ksitigarbha emerged, holding a Tin Staff.
Ksitigarbha called at the entrance, "Ksitigarbha seeks an audience with Emperor Gouchen."
The gate stirred a ripple, and Shi Ji walked out of the ripple, reaching out to gesture, "Bodhisattva, please come in!"
"Thank you, Fairy!" Ksitigarbha laughed and thanked, then followed Shi Ji into the Bird’s Nest. Inside the Bird’s Nest was a serene and natural scenery filled with birds singing and fragrant flowers.
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha walked slowly down the path and asked with a smile, "Fairy, do you know where the Emperor is?"
Shi Ji replied with a smile, "The Bodhisattva is not in luck. Elder brother just stepped out on some business. The Bodhisattva is welcome to look around and admire the beauty of Gouchen Palace."
Ksitigarbha laughed heartily, "Then this humble monk is indeed fortunate. Is there anywhere that is off-limits?"
"The Emperor gave instructions that as a person of benevolence, and being a disciple of the Emperor, there are no restrictions for the Bodhisattva."
"Thank you to the Emperor for his trust."
Shi Ji led Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha into the great hall and then quietly took her leave.
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha sat in the hall for a good while, without Emperor Gouchen showing up and couldn’t help but get up and wander about. He had been to the Bird’s Nest several times before, but had never really taken the time to explore it thoroughly.
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha walked out of the main hall and came before a palace. Looking up, he saw three big characters on the palace plaque, Alchemy Room.
On the side column, a couplet was carved. The first line read: "Jade furnace for brewing life-prolonging elixirs."
The second line read: "The righteous path cultivates, enhancing pills for longevity."
The horizontal inscribed board read: "Laozi’s alchemy is the best!"