Volume 3: A Long Journey, Chapter 356: Three Bodies

In the Dingguang Hall, Randeng rushed in, closed the door tightly behind him, and set Wukong free.
Wukong looked around the hall; aside from the two of them, there was no one else. He examined Randeng closely. Randeng’s appearance was identical to that of Patriarch Bodhi. When he appeared in the dim light of Xishigou, he wore the robes of a Taoist priest. Upon arriving at the Spiritual Mountain, he donned a kasaya and a precious crown; back in this Dingguang Hall, he was dressed as a Taoist. It seemed Randeng was fundamentally a Taoist at heart. Then why had he become a past Buddha in Buddhism? Could it be that Buddhism was founded by him? If so, why did he share its foundation with the current Buddha, Tathagata?
As Wukong pondered, Randeng said, “Wukong, sit down.”
Wukong sat on a cushion across from Randeng. Randeng studied Wukong carefully before sighing, “That ignorant little monkey of old has now become someone on the path to sainthood. It must have been hard for you.”
Wukong replied, “I still owe thanks to my master for your guidance.”
Randeng waved his hand. “Even if I didn’t teach you, the Three Pure Ones and Zhenwu would. In any case, I will ensure you suffer no more hardships in this life.”
Wukong still had a crucial question on his mind, so he blurted out, “Master, you must know—who exactly instigated all the gods and demons in ancient times to kill the divine ape?” The seven divine apes had tragic fates: some took human form, some lost their physical bodies, some were imprisoned for tens of thousands of years, and some were killed and forced to reincarnate repeatedly, unable to escape… Ultimately, it was all due to this slanderer. Wukong harbored deep hatred for this person.
Randeng seemed to have anticipated this question and said solemnly, “That person… is me.”
“Ah!” Wukong was as if struck by lightning. He stood up abruptly, pointing at Randeng but not knowing what to do, so much so that tears streamed down his face.
Randeng said, “Sit down first. Let me explain everything from the beginning.”
Wukong sat motionless on the cushion, his eyes fixed on Randeng. Randeng continued, “I know you hate that person deeply. In truth, I haven’t fared any better than you. If I saw him, I would also destroy him completely!”
Hearing Randeng’s words, Wukong saw a glimmer of hope and asked urgently, “Was it really you, or someone else?”
Randeng replied, “Wukong, let me ask you first—how did you achieve your current appearance?”

Wukong showed a hint of distress. To be fair, he really didn’t want to hide anything from Randeng, but the fact that he was from another world—something even Randeng, despite his great cultivation, would likely find impossible to comprehend. Imagine if he said that someone in later generations wrote a book titled *Journey to the West*, which was actually fictional, and that they were all non-existent characters… Not only would Randeng find it unacceptable, but even Wukong himself would find it utterly absurd. All the characters in *Journey to the West* were right here—real, tangible beings. How could they not exist?

Seeing Wukong silent, Randeng thought he still held grudges and sighed, “It’s only natural you blame me, but back then I too was deceived, leading to a grave mistake.”

Wukong had an idea and asked, “Was it that person?”

“Who is that person?” Randeng was puzzled.

Wukong realized he had said too much. “That person” was the term he had used when talking to Laojun. Randeng naturally didn’t know, so he asked, “Was it the Tathagata?”

Randeng replied, “Laojun has already told me. He has also shared many things about the past eons with you. Without a doubt, we’re talking about the same person.”

Wukong noted this in his mind and nodded resentfully. It was indeed him. Then he said, “Master, how could I blame you? That person possesses great powers and deep cunning. How many people in the world haven’t been deceived by him? Dayu once killed me with his own hands, yet I hold no grudges—because everything has an originator. Dayu’s true intention was for the benefit of the world, so naturally I wouldn’t blame him.”

“True intention… true intention…” Randeng murmured. “I sit high above, yet I don’t even know what my true intention is.”

Wukong was about to say, “True intention is one’s original heart,” but then he thought—this was the Patriarch Bodhi. How could he not know such a simple truth? Did he really need Wukong to teach it?

Randeng continued, “Dayu is good, and that Houyi is good too. By the way, you still haven’t told me how you acquired this body. I’ve never taught you such great skills.”

Wukong smiled bitterly. “Master, do you know the three realms created by the Three Pure Ones?”

Randeng replied, “Of course I do.”

Wukong said, “This body was formed within those three realms—not really formed, really. I just looked at my own face in a lake, and that’s how it happened.”

Randeng laughed. “That’s truly remarkable. The second Dharma form requires two true hearts to cultivate. Many people spend ten thousand years trying without success, yet you achieved this effortlessly. How wonderful!”

Wukong said, “With this Dharma form, I have indeed reaped many benefits.”

Randeng said softly, “You have two Dharma forms, while he has three Buddha bodies.”

“Who?” As soon as Wukong asked, he knew. Besides the Tathagata, who else? Three Buddha bodies! The Tathagata truly was different from ordinary people.

Ran Deng continued, “Of these three Buddha forms, I have only seen two.”
Wukong asked, “Which two?”
Ran Deng replied, “One is the current Buddha Tathagata; the other is Muni Pusa in the Buddhist hell.” He glanced at Wukong and said, “I never expected you to dare enter the Buddhist hell, let alone bring out the disciple of the Great Sage National Advisor, King Pusa.”
Wukong chuckled and said, “There’s nothing to fear. If I had known Muni Pusa was so formidable, I wouldn’t have dared go in. As the saying goes, the ignorant are fearless.”
Ran Deng smiled and said, “I and Muni Pusa each govern half of the Buddhist hell. The areas you’ve been in are all under my jurisdiction, so naturally, no one will trouble you.”
Wukong’s heart sank. That place, even more brutal than the netherworld, was also under Ran Deng’s control. Ever since he heard Laojun say that the Western Liang Women’s Kingdom was created by Ran Deng, he had suspected as much, and Ran Deng’s words confirmed it.
Seeing through Wukong’s thoughts, Ran Deng said, “It’s not as you think. The four realms under my control—the Great Roar Hell, the Scorching Heat Hell, the Extreme Heat Hell, and the Unending Hell—contain no good people. Only those who suffer the most severe torment have committed boundless sins.”
Wukong couldn’t help asking, “What sins does Prince Xiao Zhang have?”
Ran Deng replied, “You mean the man you took away? He aided the tyrants, killing ordinary people to seize their blessings. Isn’t that enough?”
Wukong then remembered what Wu Zhiqi had said—that whenever the Great Sage National Advisor, King Pusa, took Wu Zhiqi’s blessings, he would freeze thousands of miles of land, trapping the ordinary people there as well. Since Xiao Zhang had followed the Pusa for so long, he surely couldn’t be innocent either.
Wukong asked further, “Then isn’t his master’s sin even greater?”
Ran Deng said, “Indeed. But after all, his master is a Pusa, and Tathagata has other plans for him.”
Wukong remembered King Pusa’s foolish and forgetful appearance and asked, “What plans?”
Ran Deng replied, “Everyone knows there are countless Buddhas and Pusas in Buddhism, but few are seen walking in the world. Do you know why?”
Wukong said, “Of course not, which is why I asked my master.”
Ran Deng said, “Out of a hundred Pusas, ninety-nine are in the Buddhist hell.”
A sense of foreboding arose in Wukong’s heart. So many Pusas in the Buddhist hell—what were they doing there? With three thousand Buddhas refining the heavens and countless Pusas penetrating the earth, it was truly bizarre!
“Was King Pusa punished by Tathagata and thrown into the Buddhist hell to work as a laborer because he lost Wu Zhiqi?” Wukong asked.
Ran Deng smiled and said, “You’re quite clever, knowing that he’s working as a laborer. But you’re only half right.”

Wukong asked, “Could it not be because of Wu Zhiqi?”
Ran Deng replied, “It’s because of you.”
“Oh?” Recalling what Laojun had told him—“Zhenwu rescued you from the Great Sage’s Temple”—Wukong asked again, “Did the Tathagata already know where I was at that time?”
Ran Deng said, “He didn’t know then; he only found out later. You all went to the Great Sage’s Temple to rescue Wu Zhiqi—that was a truly risky move. The Great Sage and King Bodhisattva had warned the Tathagata back then. If the Tathagata had arrived just a little earlier, the four of you divine apes likely wouldn’t have been able to escape!”
Wukong felt a bit scared after thinking about it, but he asked, “It’s fine. My master will save me.”
Ran Deng sighed, “Alas, though you possess supernatural powers and can travel thousands of miles in an instant, how could I and Laojun keep an eye on you all the time? But King Bodhisattva turned cleverness into clumsiness. He thought the Tathagata would help him capture Wu Zhiqi, but under the Tathagata’s interrogation, he revealed that Zhenwu had taken you away. The Tathagata, enraged and ashamed, blamed him for hiding the truth and, in a fit of anger, threw him into the Buddhist hell, leaving him to be dealt with by Muli Bodhisattva. As for Prince Zhang, who has committed so many evils, I certainly won’t let him off.”
Wukong gradually understood more clearly. Many things had been mere guesses, but after Ran Deng explained the truth, everything became clear. After thinking for a while, he felt something was off and asked again, “If the Tathagata wanted to capture us, he had many chances later on—why didn’t he act?”
Ran Deng replied, “For that, you should thank me. There are many hidden struggles on Mount Ling. Though I have no desire for fame or wealth, I created chaos to distract the Tathagata. By exaggerating small matters, I kept him tied up here. He has to worry about both external threats and internal issues, so he really doesn’t have much free time.”
Wukong smiled and said, “The Tathagata isn’t having it easy either.” Suddenly realizing that the Tathagata might be the ultimate villain behind all this, he quickly put away his smile and said, “Sooner or later, I’ll settle accounts with him!”
Ran Deng continued, “Your Water Curtain Cave in the Flower-Fruit Mountain is truly a treasure land. It’s closest to the Heavenly Court. As long as you’re in that cave, the Tathagata, concerned about the Three Pure Ones, won’t dare act rashly.”
Wukong said, “So that’s where the saying about a blessed cave comes from. We were under the protection of the Three Pure Ones without even realizing it. We really failed to live up to their kindness.”
Ran Deng waved his hand and said, “There are many things you don’t know. A formation has long been set up in your Water Curtain Cave. Could you have noticed it?”
“What? A formation!” The Eight Great Saints had entered and left the Water Curtain Cave countless times—how could there be any formation? If there were one, why couldn’t they see it when the air circulated?
Ran Deng said, “That formation was established by the Great Heavenly Venerable. Everyone else can ignore it, but once the Tathagata enters, he can go in but not out!”

Wukong was secretly amazed; Yuan Shi’s move was indeed ruthless. If Tathagata were trapped in the Water Curtain Cave, the foundation of the Western Heaven’s Spiritual Mountain would likely be ruined. Yet there was still a doubt. Wukong said, “Didn’t the Great Heavenly Venerable learn the art of formations from Tathagata? How could this formation still trap his master?”
Ran Deng replied, “After all this talk, you still don’t understand. This Tathagata is not that Tathagata! One transforms into three, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. In terms of cultivation, this Buddha Tathagata is roughly on par with you right now. How could he possibly break the Great Heavenly Venerable’s formation?”