Volume 2: The Path That Can Be Told – Chapter 102: Reason and the Path

Among the many countries in the Yin Fish, their names were peculiar and often carried derogatory connotations. Though Wukong only passed through them in a cursory manner, he still retained a deep impression of a few.

The Country of Lack of Integrity: Its people lacked honesty and shame, acting without any principles or stance. They would change sides at the slightest opportunity, even among family members. Yet everyone took this as normal, without any resentment.

The Country of Reversal: There, right and wrong were blurred, good and evil inverted. Those in power were all master deceivers and swindlers. The king even walked on his palms and used his feet as chopsticks—quite a spectacle.

The Country of Jealousy: Its people were extremely jealous. If someone surpassed them, they would harbor hatred day and night, unable to eat or sleep, always trying to bring that person down. If they themselves became stronger, they would become targets of hatred. By the time Wukong arrived, the Country of Jealousy no longer existed in name only; its people lived in extreme humility, as if it had become a Country of Weakness. Wukong learned about its past from the elders.

The Country of a Thousand Faces: Its people were changeable, able to transform themselves into any form they desired. As a result, the streets were filled with handsome men and beautiful women, but so too were those who committed crimes. The person who was by your side last night might be a stranger to you by morning. There was no distinction of status in this country; no one could tell whose things they were, nor did anyone care. Those who rarely changed their appearance were the few good people left.

The Country of Heartlessness: Its people were heartless, never showing gratitude to others. Thus, they never helped or showed mercy. The only “loving” person was a madman at the city gate, who carried wildflowers from the fields and gave them to everyone he met. Yet, though his face showed no smile, his heart was the coldest and he was the loneliest.

The Country of Insatiable Desire: Its people were never satisfied. Greedy and selfish, they always wanted more. Such desires inevitably brought disaster. Wukong sighed upon seeing this and said, “No sin is greater than desire; no misfortune greater than insatience; no fault greater than the craving for more. Therefore, those who know contentment will always be satisfied!”

After visiting all thirty-one countries in the Yin Fish within the Taiji Diagram, Wukong was filled with sorrow. The Country of Broken Promises, the Country of Deception, the Country of Delusions, the Country of Thievery, the Country of Luxury, the Country of Promiscuity, the Country of Arrogance, the Country of Anger, the Country of Gluttony… He had witnessed one ugly scene after another, revealing the original sins and vices of human nature.

And in that white spot within the black yin fish, there lies a land of gentlemen. Its people are upright and simple, honest and open-hearted, generous and kind. Wukong stayed there for a long time and noticed that the inhabitants would rather go hungry themselves than give their food to beggars by the road, and if the beggar saw that the giver had nothing left, they would firmly refuse to accept it. Things like not picking up lost items on the road or not locking doors at night were commonplace in this land of gentlemen.

Wukong realized something profound: this land of gentlemen existed as white within darkness, as great goodness within evil, untouched by the outside world. Upon reflection, wasn’t the human heart the same? In this world, there are no absolute good or evil people. People say that following reason is good and going against it is evil, but what exactly is this reason?

Good people may harbor evil thoughts, and evil people may do good deeds at times. Could it be that their sense of right and wrong changes suddenly from good to evil? No! A person’s sense of right and wrong should be unique and never contradict their true nature throughout their life.

However, the complexity of good and evil lies in the changes in this sense of right and wrong!

Reason can change!

Wukong understood this principle and felt pleased and somewhat proud. Then he thought further: Lord Laozi must have put a great deal of effort into creating this world. With sixty-four countries in total within the yin and yang fish, how much thought and effort must have gone into it!

Among the many countries in the yang fish, not much difference could be seen. Countries like the Country of Loyalty, the Country of Constant Joy, the Country of Diligence, the Country of Good Thinking, the Country of Great Goodness… Their people were all well-educated, polite, kind, and simple. Though they lacked abundance in food and clothing, they shared what they had and lived in harmony. Only in that white spot within darkness was there a country called the Country of Great Evil. Its people embodied all the vices of the thirty-one countries of the yin fish—brutal, deceitful, scheming, and double-faced. Yet, despite being surrounded by many good countries, it showed no sign of learning any principles of morality or discipline.

Evil within goodness appears even more evil.

After much thought, Wukong began to grasp the idea.

Many good people do good most of their lives but often fail in their later years, leaving behind a bad reputation—this could be considered evil within goodness. If ninety-nine out of a hundred people are good while only one is evil, then that one must be the embodiment of great evil!

In this Country of Great Evil, everyone is evil, yet it has become normal. People judge themselves by others—now I understand! If everyone measures their own hearts by others’, then they are turning their hearts toward evil and thus become evil people themselves.

Those who turn to evil gradually drift further and further away from the principles of righteousness in the world, with no good people to guide them—how can they escape the sea of suffering? No matter in which world they are, the evil ones slaughter them while the good ones support them; those with a compassionate heart care for the world, while those with evil hearts deceive it. What the evil ones reject is not themselves, but rather they distance themselves from the entire world and its principles of justice and ethics.

Wukong was surprised to find that in this land of great evil, there were still a few people who practiced kindness year after year, untouched by others. Even though those around them were evil, harmful, and slanderous, their kind hearts remained as firm as rocks—truly rare.

The principles these people upheld were incredibly steadfast. In the secular world, this is so; for those who practice cultivation, it represents an unwavering dedication to the path. With such a dedication, why worry about not achieving the great path?

Previously it was said that “principles” could change, but this did not apply to these people. It seems that the ability to change principles lies in the hearts of ordinary people, while those extraordinary maintain their principles unchanging—this is correct!

After understanding this truth, Wukong felt a slow rotation within his body’s realm of creation. Though it was just one rotation, the creation it produced surpassed reading the Tao Te Ching a thousand times.

It turns out that attaining enlightenment can also increase one’s creative power, but this method depends on opportunity and cannot be forced.

Having gained much from his travels, Wukong began to stroll leisurely in the wilderness, admiring the trees, grass, streams, and fields along the way—everything was pleasing and full of vitality.

At that moment, his spiritual senses detected three people following him from behind—it was the three Tiger Strength Immortals. Deer Strength Immortal had somehow recovered from his leg injury.

Wukong grew suspicious. Knowing they could not defeat him, why dare they follow? Had they lost their senses?

Deer Strength Immortal asked, “Brother, I think this scholar has exhausted his creative power and has come down to walk. Why not go up and end him?” Tiger Strength Immortal replied, “We need to be cautious. This scholar is too powerful. One wrong move, and everything will be lost.” Sheep Strength Immortal said, “In my opinion, this scholar isn’t that great. He wasn’t even recognized as such. Brother, give him—” Deer Strength Immortal couldn’t help but interject, “Brother’s plan is brilliant; it even deceived you and me.”

Tiger Strength Immortal said proudly, “That scripture isn’t fake, but it increases creative power extremely slowly. This useless ‘real’ thing, hehe, is even more harmful than the fake one.”

Deer Strength Immortal pointed with his thumb, “Although there are many cultivators in this world, most of them are weak or avoid conflict. After dealing with this scholar, you and I can live freely again, haha.”

The three followed Wukong for a long distance. The Deer Strength Immortal, unable to bear waiting any longer, said, “I think this scholar must have run out of his magical powers. Otherwise, with his level of cultivation, he would have long flown away on clouds. Why bother wandering around in these mountains?”
The Tiger Strength Immortal pondered for a while before finally deciding, “Alright, let’s attack together. Don’t hold back with any talismans or spells. Once we get the magical treasures from him, we’ll have enough to use for a hundred years.”
The three slowly closed in behind Wukong. All six of their hands unleashed a barrage of golden talismans and thunder spells, each with immense destructive power. Although Wukong hadn’t expected these three to dare attack him, he wasn’t the least bit concerned.
He turned around with a smile, spread his large hands like fans, and trapped those spells between them. Soon, sounds of knives and axes, along with thunderous explosions, erupted from Wukong’s hands.
Wukong opened his hands again, his hair intact, and smiled at the three, asking, “Any more?”