Chapter 209, I won’t take this sutra!
The team moved forward.

Wukong still holds on to the idea of ​​recruiting disciples to expand his power and spread the concept of harmony between humans and monsters. Whenever he encounters a monster with potential along the way, he can’t help but want to bring it under his command.

in this way.

Their team of pilgrims has become quite large.

Every day Wukong would teach them how to practice and spread his teachings.

Xuanzang watched silently on the side and recited his own sutras.

One day, they reached Huangfeng Ridge.

The place is filled with yellow sand, blocking out the sun, and there is a strange atmosphere in the air.

Wukong frowned, his intuition told him that there must be a monster causing trouble here.

He asked his disciples including Bajie and Bailong to closely protect Xuanzang, and he leaped forward, turning into a ray of golden light and flew towards the source of the evil spirit.

as predicted.

He soon learned that there was a demon king here, named Yellow Wind Great Sage.

He found the cave of the Great Sage Yellow Wind.

He swung the golden cudgel and smashed the cave door hard. There was a loud bang and dust flew everywhere.

The Great Sage Huang Feng was immediately furious and asked Wukong why he did that.

Wukong didn’t say much. He knocked him out with a stick, then carried the Yellow Wind Monkey King back to the team.

This is how he has been all the way.

At first he tried to recruit disciples with words.

But later I realized that this was a waste of time.

It’s better to knock him out with a stick first, and then take him back, so that others can see the difference first.

It would be easier for him to agree to become your disciple.

And this trick of Wukong has always worked.

Xuanzang’s eyes fell on the Great Sage Huang Feng on Wukong’s shoulder, frowned slightly, and asked:
“Wukong, is this the monster that caused the yellow wind?”

Wukong put the Great Sage of Yellow Wind heavily on the ground, clapped his hands, grinned, and said, “It is this fellow. When he wakes up, I will accept him as my disciple and let him follow us to Lingshan. This will give him a chance to reform himself.”

Xuanzang looked at the unconscious Yellow Wind Monkey King on the ground, opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back.

In his heart, he had already developed deep doubts about Wukong’s behavior of recruiting disciples indiscriminately, and he didn’t understand what the point of it was.

But when he looked at Wukong’s confident look, and thought that Wukong’s original intention of accepting disciples was to expand the team and eliminate demons, he finally did not say it out loud.

After a moment’s silence, Xuanzang sighed slightly, clasped his hands together, and said softly:
“Forget it, Wukong, I hope you understand. If this monster can sincerely repent and join us in the journey, it will be a good thing.

However, everything should be based on good intentions and not be too demanding. “

After listening to Xuanzang’s words, Wukong nodded and said:

“Don’t worry! I, Old Sun, understand. When this monster wakes up, I will teach him well and let him know the difference between good and evil.”

After saying that, Wukong sat down aside, waiting for the Great Sage Huangfeng to wake up, ready to accept him as his disciple, and the team also took a short rest here.

Not long after, the Great Sage Huang Feng woke up slowly. He felt a sharp pain in his head. The scene in front of him gradually became clear. He found that he was surrounded by a group of people, and the monkey who knocked him unconscious was staring at him with sharp eyes.

The Great Sage Huang Feng was startled and just when he was about to struggle to stand up and resist, he found that he was so weak that he couldn’t exert any strength at all.

Wukong grinned and said:

“Awake? You evil beast, I’ll give you a chance now. If you accept me as your master and go to Lingshan with me, you can atone for your sins, and I’ll forgive you for your previous evil deeds.”

After hearing what Wukong said, the Great Sage Huang Feng gritted his teeth and said with all his strength:

“Humph, you want me to be your disciple? Dream on! How could I, the Great Sage Huang Feng, submit to a monkey like you!”

Wukong frowned and was about to teach Yellow Wind Monkey King a lesson when suddenly, an auspicious light flashed and Lingji Bodhisattva slowly descended with a flying dragon staff in his hand and auspicious clouds under his feet.

Bodhisattva Lingji nodded slightly and said:
“Wukong, wait a minute. This Yellow Wind Great Sage was originally my disciple, but he went astray and came down to earth to cause trouble. Please, for my sake, let him go.”

Wukong was slightly startled, looked at Lingji Bodhisattva with some surprise, then looked at the proud-looking Yellow Wind Great Sage, scratched his head, and said:

“Bodhisattva, I didn’t know he was your disciple. He was committing crimes here, so I subdued him and wanted to take him in as my disciple so that he could turn his evil ways back to the right path.”

Bodhisattva Lingji smiled and nodded, saying:
“Wukong, I understand your intentions. But I will bring this evil disciple back and discipline him strictly, and will never let him cause trouble to the world again.

When he reforms himself in the future, let him contribute to the journey to obtain the scriptures.”

Wukong frowned slightly after hearing what Lingji Bodhisattva said:
“Bodhisattva, although he is your disciple, I, Old Sun, respect your status. But he committed many crimes in the past in Huangfeng Ridge, causing great suffering to the people nearby.

I just don’t understand, why didn’t you show up earlier to subdue him, or stop him from doing evil? Instead, you let him do whatever he wants here, and only showed up today when I, Old Sun, subdued him?”

Lingji Bodhisattva looked calm, put his hands together, sighed slightly, and said:
“Wukong, I am not completely ignorant of his actions. It’s just that everything in this world has its cause and effect. His coming to the world to cause trouble is also his destiny.

If I intervene too early, I will only disrupt this cycle of cause and effect.”

Wukong curled his lips and said with some dissatisfaction:

“Karma? But what is the fault of those innocent people who suffered? Do they have to endure all this suffering just because of his fate?”

Lingji Bodhisattva looked at Wukong with gentle eyes and said:

“Wukong, I understand that you hate evil and want to protect the people. But the suffering in this world cannot be easily eliminated.

The Yellow Wind Great Sage committed evil here, and it was his own evil cause that caused it. Now that he has been subdued by you, it is the result he should bear. I am here at this time to enable him to repent in time and stop sinking into depravity. “

After listening to Lingji Bodhisattva’s explanation, Wukong’s eyes widened:

“What kind of perverted logic is this! Those innocent people suffered for no reason, their families were torn apart, and they became homeless. How can this be explained by the cycle of cause and effect?”

Wukong paused, pointed at the Yellow Wind Great Sage lying on the ground, and continued:

“He committed such a sin. If you had disciplined him before, how could you have allowed so many people to suffer? Now you say this is his fate, but what does the suffering of the people mean?”

Lingji Bodhisattva still looked calm and wanted to explain, but was interrupted by Wukong waving his hand.

Wukong took a step forward, stared firmly at Lingji Bodhisattva, and said loudly:
“Bodhisattva, if you feel that you are unable to educate him properly, then let me, Old Sun, do it! Although I, Old Sun, do not understand the profound Buddhist cause and effect, I know that if you make a mistake, you must be punished and you must correct it!

I have confidence that I can make him realize his mistakes and stop doing evil!”

After saying that, Wukong crossed his arms across his chest and looked straight at Lingji Bodhisattva, waiting for the other party’s response.

At this moment, he exuded a strong aura, as if he would fight to the end if Lingji Bodhisattva disagreed. Seeing Wukong so excited, Xuanzang sighed slightly, put his hands together, walked forward, and said softly:
“Wukong, don’t be rude to the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva has his own considerations, and we should respect them.”

Wukong stared at Xuanzang with eyes wide open in disbelief.

He took a step forward, approached Xuanzang, and asked loudly:

“Do you think what he said makes sense? Do those people deserve to suffer this unprovoked disaster?”

“You always say that we should be kind and save all living beings. But now these people are suffering from the Yellow Wind Monster, their families are broken up and they are homeless. Is this kindness?”

Wukong’s eyes were burning, “What crime have they committed? Why should they pay for the fate of this monster?”

Xuanzang looked at Wukong, his eyes full of helplessness and compassion.

He clasped his hands together, sighed slightly, and said:
“Wukong, I don’t think the people deserve to suffer. It’s just that what the Bodhisattva said has its own deep meaning.

The cycle of cause and effect in this world is so complicated that we may not be able to fully understand it. But I believe that the Bodhisattva will not sit idly by and will definitely have his own arrangements. “

“Arrangement? What arrangement?”

Wukong interrupted Xuanzang’s words.

“Is the suffering of the people the so-called arrangement? I, Old Sun, don’t understand any profound Buddhist teachings. I only know that it is not our job to watch innocent people suffer and stand aside and do nothing!”

Xuanzang shook his head slightly and said:
“Wukong, I understand your intention. But isn’t the purpose of our journey to the West to resolve the sufferings of the world and spread the wisdom of Buddhism?
Perhaps this is also a test, a test of our compassion and our faith in Buddhism. “

Wukong could no longer suppress his anger when he heard Xuanzang’s words:

“If the test is like this, then it is better not to learn the Dharma!”

His voice exploded like thunder, echoing in the sky above Huangfeng Ridge.

“I, Old Sun, originally thought that Buddhism was for relieving suffering and making the world free of suffering. But now, as I watch these innocent people suffer, you use the cycle of cause and effect and the test of Buddhism to evade me!”

“I only see the suffering of the people, but I don’t see the compassion of Buddhism!”

“Wukong, don’t be impulsive.”

Xuanzang said,
“The true meaning of Buddhism is not something we can fully comprehend at this moment. But I firmly believe that the suffering in this world will be resolved one day.”

“Humph!”

Wukong snorted coldly and turned his head away.

“I don’t care what the truth is. I just know that I can’t watch those people suffer in vain. If this is the price of learning Buddhism, I would rather not have Buddhism!”

Bodhisattva Lingji had been watching all this quietly, and finally spoke at this moment, his tone calm and gentle:
“Wukong, I see the kindness in your heart. But things in this world are not black and white. The fate of the Great Sage Huang Feng and the suffering of the people are all part of the cause and effect of this world.

I am taking him away today to make him reform and to repay this karma.”

Wukong sneered.

“I, Old Sun, have finally figured it out. You Buddhists are all a bunch of incompetent people!”

“You keep talking about the cycle of cause and effect, and the boundless Buddha Dharma, but when the people are suffering, where are you? You have no ability to help them solve their problems, and you only teach them to escape!”

“I, Sun, will not learn Buddhism anymore! I don’t want to take this sutra! I want to rely on my own strength to protect those innocent people and make sure there is no more suffering in this world!”

Xuanzang and Lingji Bodhisattva were stunned.

Xuanzang said:
“Wukong, please don’t say such foolish things. The compassion and wisdom of Buddhism require us to spend our whole lives to comprehend.”

Lingji Bodhisattva still maintained a calm expression.

He clasped his hands together and said slowly:

“Wukong, I understand your anger at this moment, but Buddhism is not as incompetent as you say. All the suffering in this world has its root, and Buddhism is to explore the root and resolve the suffering.”

“Hmph, stop trying to coax me with these words!”

Wukong interrupted Lingji Bodhisattva impatiently,

“I only believe what I see with my own eyes.”

Wukong slammed his golden cudgel into the ground so hard that the ground shook.

He turned his back to the crowd and said:
“From today on, I, Old Sun, will no longer be a member of this pilgrimage team. I will find the right way on my own to do what I think is right!”

“Apprentices, follow me!”

After Wukong finished speaking, he strode forward. All the disciples looked at each other and looked at Wukong’s determined back. After hesitating for a moment, they followed him.

They followed Wukong in unison and soon disappeared in the distance filled with yellow sand.

Xuanzang opened his eyes wide and opened his mouth, a little incredulous. He never thought that Wukong would be so decisive.

Bodhisattva Lingji was also slightly startled, and a hint of surprise appeared on his originally calm face.

After a while, Lingji Bodhisattva finally reacted. He looked in the direction where Wukong left and shouted:

“Wukong, the Yellow Wind Monster is back! He is my disciple, I will discipline him!”

Wukong paused, but did not turn around. Instead, his voice came back loudly:
“Since you can’t teach him well and let him wreak havoc on the world in Huangfeng Ridge, causing the people to suffer, I will teach him on your behalf! I want to see if I can make him change his evil ways!”

After saying that, Wukong waved his sleeves and quickened the pace of his disciples, and their figures gradually disappeared in the wind and sand.

Bodhisattva Lingji looked at the direction where Wukong left, thinking secretly in his heart that he wanted to stop Wukong and take back the Great Sage Huangfeng.

After all, Huang Fengguai is his disciple.

But when he saw the aura emanating from Wukong as he left, and recalled Wukong’s experience, Lingji Bodhisattva knew in his heart that he might really not be Wukong’s opponent.

If we act rashly, not only will we fail to recapture the Great Sage Huangfeng, but it will also trigger an unnecessary fight and cause more trouble.

Thinking of this, Lingji Bodhisattva showed a helpless expression.

He looked at Xuanzang again:

“Master Xuanzang, Wukong has a strong personality. Now that he has made up his mind, I cannot forcibly stop him.

I will go to Lingshan and inform the Buddha of this matter. I hope you can go on your own first. I will handle this matter as soon as possible and then try to help you continue your journey to obtain the scriptures.”

Xuanzang was slightly startled after hearing what Lingji Bodhisattva said, then nodded and said:
“Everything is in accordance with what the Bodhisattva said.”

Lingji Bodhisattva put his hands together and said:
“Master, you need to be more careful on the way. If you encounter any danger, you can recite the Buddha’s name sincerely, and I will be able to sense it.”

After saying this, Lingji Bodhisattva stepped on the auspicious clouds and flew towards Lingshan.

(End of this chapter)