Chapter 611: Chapter 548, Sun Wukong Escapes Disaster
Xuanyu Zi nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction flashing across his eyes, "Not bad, not bad, this monk is quite polite, with a very good first impression."
Xuan Tai Zi returned the salute and said, "Blessed Infinite Heavenly Venerable, I am the Master of Taiching, Xuan Tai Zi."
Xuanyu Zi returned a salute and spoke, "I am the Master of Yuqing Temple, Xuanyu Zi!"
"I am the Master of Shangqing Temple, Xuan Shangzi!"
The Mechanical Man lay forward and amidst a series of clacking sounds—parts shifting and transforming—it reverted back to a Mechanical Car. Tang Sanzang opened the door and stepped out.
Xuanyu Zi asked solemnly, "Tang Sanzang, you are on a mission from the Tang King to obtain the scriptures in Western Heaven, so what brings you here?"
Tang Sanzang quickly responded, "Passing by this treasure land, I heard a cry for help claiming that one of my disciples was trapped under this mountain, asking me to rescue him so he could protect me on my westward journey to obtain the scriptures, so I came up the mountain."
Xuan Shangzi said with a grave expression, "Five hundred years ago, a Demon King rose from the East Sea of East Victory Divine Continent and proclaimed himself Great Sage Equalling Heaven. This Demon King then disrupted the Heavenly Rules and violated the Heavenly Decrees. A hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers could not subdue him.
It was only through the decree of Emperor Gouchen that this Demon King was suppressed under Lianhua Mountain. My brothers and I are the guardians of Lianhua Mountain. Do you still wish to save him?"
Tang Sanzang bowed repeatedly in shame, saying, "So it turns out to be a Demon King suppressed by the Heavenly Court, with three great immortals as guardians. Most likely, I have been deceived by that Demon King. I shall take my leave immediately, and I ask the three immortals for forgiveness." Then he turned to leave.
Sun Wukong’s anxious voice rang out, "Master, don’t listen to their nonsense. The time for my imprisonment has come to an end; quickly let me out.
You three little ones, have you forgotten what Guanyin Bodhisattva said before? Emperor Gouchen has already agreed to release me! If you dare to obstruct me, wait until I get out—I’ll give each of you a stick!"
Xuan Tai Zi laughed heartily and said, "Great Saint, that was merely one side of the story from Guanyin. We have not received a Dharma Decree from Gouchen Emperor Palace, so we cannot let you out."
"Then go and inquire!"
"We are not qualified to meet the Great Emperor!"
Sun Wukong was temporarily speechless, then shouted loudly, "Master, inside this side hall of the Taoist Temple there is an effigy of Emperor Gouchen. If you go to worship and pray there, the Great Emperor will hear and let me out."
"Enter the Taoist Temple?"
A wave of unease suddenly hit Tang Sanzang’s heart. It was the shadow of his childhood fears!
Xuan Tai Zi looked at Tang Sanzang and said with a smile, "Elder, would you like to give it a try?"
"This—" Tang Sanzang hesitated.
"Master, I can ensure your safety on the westward journey, without fear of any demons or ghosts," Sun Wukong called out anxiously.
If I have this Demon King with great divine skills protecting me on the journey to obtain the scriptures, wouldn’t it be free from danger? Though I am strong on my own, having an extra scout wouldn’t be bad.
Tang Sanzang clenched his teeth, brought his hands together and said, "I am willing to give it a try!"
The Masters of Three Pure Ones stepped aside, smiling as they made way through the main entrance.
Tang Sanzang with heavy steps made his way towards the interior of the Taoist Temple. The words of his childhood master surfaced again—allegedly, the Taoist Temple was filled with buried skeletons and trees haunted by spirits. Every night, they would manipulate the branches to slay the living; it was a place of malevolence.
With Buddhist scriptures chanted in his heart, Tang Sanzang stepped nervously and uneasily into the Three Pure Ones Temple. Under the guidance of the Temple Masters, he came to a side hall, which was the Gouchen Temple.
Within the divine hall, a statue of Emperor Gouchen sits majestically on the throne, with a statue of a black-clothed, serene fairy on the left and a plump fairy statue on the right, with two small tufts atop its head.
Tang Sanzang enters the grand hall and kneels on the cushion, bowing thrice respectfully, saying: "Disciple Tang Sanzang, by the command of the Tang King, sets forth to the Western Heaven in search of the True Scripture. Passing through the land where the Demon King rules, the Evil Monkey claims to share a fateful bond as a disciple to protect me on my westward journey. I have come to seek your guidance.
If there is indeed a destiny between mentor and disciple, I implore you, Great Emperor, to withdraw your divine might and release the Divine Monkey, so that we may travel together to Spiritual Mountain;
If not destined to be master and disciple, this being is but a fierce and stubborn monster, tricking me with falsehoods, inauspicious for us. I shall then depart immediately. I beseech Emperor Gouchen for discernment!"
Tang Sanzang bows three more times respectfully.
"Granted," booms a vast voice by Tang Sanzang’s ear.
Tang Sanzang suddenly raises his head, joyfully bowing and saying: "Thank you, Great Emperor!" He then rises and hurries outside.
As Tang Sanzang steps out of the Taoist temple, he sees the Master of the Three Pure Ones standing at the gate.
Before the Master of the Three Pure Ones can speak, Sun Wukong can’t help but call out, "Master, have you managed to save me?"
Tang Sanzang also says with joy: "Amitabha Buddha—The Great Emperor has consented!"
"Ha ha ha—finally, I, Old Sun, am coming out!" Inside the cave, Sun Wukong shouts excitedly. A flash of divine light and he is clad in Locking Gold Armor, wearing a Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown on his head, and stepping in Lotus Silk Cloud Shoes—all signifying the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong.
Sun Wukong looks up at the mouth of the cave, this very opening that blockaded me, Old Sun, for five whole centuries, a full five hundred years! With forceful stamp, boom—a cannonball soaring into the sky, the pillars behind him crashing down thunderously, plummeting into magma. Now there is no more impedance at the cave’s mouth.
Boom—a water column erupts from the Lotus Pond, a Divine Monkey in golden armor bursts from the cave’s entrance, dragging two chains clanking behind him like giant pythons.
Bang—the chains become taut, and Sun Wukong is abruptly suspended mid-air.
Sun Wukong cackles strangely: "Without Emperor Gouchen’s Divine Power, you still think you can bind Old Sun?!"
Boom—flames burst furiously from his body, winding like serpents along the chains, turning them into fiery shackles.
"Shatter for Old Sun!" Sun Wukong bellows, and bang—bang—the chains explode, shards scattering in all directions, striking the surrounding mountains and soil, causing a thunderous noise. Stones fly everywhere, scaring Tang Sanzang into crouching and shield his head, crying out in alarm—fortunately, the fragments didn’t reach the Three Pure Ones Temple.
"Ha ha—Old Sun is out! After five hundred years, Old Sun is finally free again."
Sun Wukong somersaults out, like a streak of golden lightning crisscrossing the sky, leaving traces of gold—marks of freedom.
The golden lightning plummets straight down from the sky, with a bang, landing before Tang Sanzang, frightening him into stumbling back several steps.
Out of the golden lightning emerges the figure of Sun Wukong, who looks at Tang Sanzang and chuckles, "Little monk, are you the Sutra Taker chosen by Guanyin Bodhisattva?"
Tang Sanzang nods repeatedly, saying, "I... I am!"
Sun Wukong hesitates before bowing slightly on one knee, somewhat awkwardly calling out, "Master!"
Tang Sanzang hastily bends over to help Sun Wukong up, saying, "Please rise, do get up quickly!"
Hum—a thunderous rumble in the sky as a beautiful halo emerges, within which Yang Jian, clad in law-enforcing apparel, slowly descends, hovering in midair with his cape billowing behind him.