Volume 3: A Long Journey – Chapter 341: Ascending Longhua

Tang Seng was swept by a gust of wind and found himself before a stone house surrounded by misty clouds. He had no idea where he was. The local deity said, “Holy Monk, there’s no need to panic. I’m no villain. I’m one of the Eighteen Valiant Men of Thorny Ridge. I’ve heard of a great monk from the Great Tang in the East who is on a journey to the West to obtain scriptures. I’ve invited you here to discuss poetry and philosophy, to make the most of this beautiful night under the clear sky and bright moon.”
Hearing this, Tang Seng felt a little calmer. He looked around carefully and indeed saw a serene landscape shrouded in mist, like a celestial realm. He said, “Discussing poetry and philosophy is fine, but I’m worried my disciples might be anxious.”
The Eighteen Valiant Men replied, “Such refined pursuits need not concern themselves with time. What’s there to worry about?”
Tang Seng asked, “Is this place Thorny Ridge?”
They replied, “No. Thorny Ridge is to the west. This is the northern foot of Heaven-Level Ridge.”
Tang Seng was shocked. He had heard that the monsters in Heaven-Level Ridge were fierce. How had he ended up there? He asked, “Are there any monsters in Heaven-Level Ridge?”
The Eighteen Valiant Men asked, “Why do you ask such a question, Holy Monk?”
Tang Seng replied, “I’ve heard that there are powerful demons in Heaven-Level Ridge, so we took a detour around it. Unexpectedly, we met you.”
The Eighteen Valiant Men laughed and asked, “Tell me, Holy Monk, what is a monster?”
Tang Seng thought for a moment and said, “Those who possess magic and can harm others are monsters.”
The Eighteen Valiant Men asked, “If a human also possesses magic and harms others?”
Tang Seng replied, “Humans are the spirits of all things. How can they be compared to beasts and birds?”
The Eighteen Valiant Men said, “Not so. Anything with nine orifices in this world can become an immortal. Even plants and trees can evolve into spirits. Since such a path exists in the world, there should be no distinction between high and low. The so-called ‘spirits of all things’ are merely self-proclaimed and not truly significant.”
Tang Seng said, “Arguing about this is pointless. Enough. You claim to be from Thorny Ridge, but why are you here in Heaven-Level Ridge? Why not call yourself the Eighteen Valiant Men of Heaven-Level Ridge?”
The Eighteen Valiant Men laughed and said, “We originally lived in Thorny Ridge but moved here recently.”
As they spoke, the mist gradually dissipated, and voices were heard. “Have the Eighteen Valiant Men invited the Holy Monk?” Tang Seng looked up and saw three elders standing before him, each with an ethereal appearance, clearly not ordinary people.
Tang Seng bowed and said, “What merit do I have to deserve the invitation of these immortal elders?”
The Eighteen Valiant Men introduced them as Guzhi Gong, Lingkong Zi, and Fuyun Sou. “It’s a fortunate encounter. I hope the Holy Monk will kindly share his wisdom with us.” Tang Seng replied, “What merit or ability do I have to deserve the invitation of these immortal elders?”
Guzhi Gong said, “Holy Monk, there’s no need to be modest. Though we live in the mountains, we’re aware of your journey to the West to obtain scriptures. We have some doubts and hope you’ll offer guidance through Zen teachings.”
Tang Seng said, “I dare not claim such wisdom. Please share your doubts, Guzhi Gong.”

Gu Zhi Gong asked, “The holy monk has traveled through mountains and rivers to obtain the true scriptures. I wonder what’s in those scriptures?”
Tang Seng replied, “The true scriptures contain supreme mantras that can save all beings in the world and eliminate the karmic obstacles in their hearts.”
Gu Zhi Gong asked again, “What does it mean to save all beings?”
Tang Seng said, “All people suffer, as if drowned in a sea of misery. Our Buddha, out of great compassion, wishes to help these beings reach the land of ultimate bliss.”
Fu Yun Sou laughed and said, “How wonderful that all people suffer, and how wonderful that land of ultimate bliss! Truly laughable.”
Tang Seng asked, “What advice do you have, Fu Yun Sou?”
Fu Yun Sou replied, “All things in the world, whether humans, beasts, stones, or trees, owe their existence to heaven and earth and grow thanks to rain and dew. The Way originates in China; yet you go to the West in search of it, wasting your time. What are you actually looking for?”
As Fu Yun Sou raised these questions, the eighteen elders all watched Tang Seng with smiles. Hearing this, Tang Seng said, “Zen is about tranquility, and the Dharma is about salvation. Salvation through tranquility can only be achieved through enlightenment. Cultivation begins with tranquility; only then can one gain something. After that, one must let go of what has been gained, ultimately achieving nothing. That’s why I fear no hardships and head west. It may seem like I might gain something, or perhaps I gain nothing, but in truth, I have already gained something.”
The four elders secretly praised him—Tang Seng truly saw things clearly! It should be noted that Tang Seng had been a monk since childhood, uninterested in worldly glory and devoted solely to cultivating tranquility. He had a solid foundation and high moral character. He knew all the scriptures and scriptures of Buddhism, and mastered all Buddhist chants and teachings. Logically, he should be an extremely devout Buddhist. Having traveled tens of thousands of miles to the West to obtain the scriptures, his devotion to Buddhism should be unwavering. Yet upon hearing Tang Seng’s words that “perhaps I gain nothing, but in truth, I have already gained something,” the four elders understood the deeper meaning. The quest for the scriptures was inherently uncertain. From the perspective of seeking the Way, abandoning it for Buddhism was not unreasonable. But in his past life, Tang Seng had once disrespected Buddhism.
Moreover, the four elders had already received information from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva—that when Tang Seng was reborn, he had not drunk the bowl of Meng Po’s soup. So, it wasn’t that he couldn’t remember; he deliberately forgot. Pretending to be ignorant while knowing the truth was truly a clever move.
Knowing he would gain nothing yet still going west—why? If it wasn’t out of conviction, why rush there? After all, it must serve some purpose!
In short, it’s all about reason!
Fu Yun Sou continued, “Knowing you’ll gain nothing, isn’t this behavior a disregard for your true nature? Practicing Zen while forgetting your roots and foolishly seeking Buddhist enlightenment is like chasing illusions. If such things exist in your heart, it’s fine. But if not, how can you receive the seal of enlightenment and achieve true salvation?”

When Tang Seng heard this, he was shocked. Who was this Cloud-Wiping Old Man? How did he know that there was no Zen in his heart? How did he know about Buddhist codes like the “Guidance Seal”? After all, Tang Seng’s journey to the West was under the pretext of seeking the true scriptures for the Tang Emperor to ensure the eternal stability of the Tang dynasty. How could he know that Tang Seng was seeking ultimate enlightenment?

Tang Seng said, “One must understand that it is rare to be born as a human, even rarer to be born in the Central Lands, and even rarer still to encounter the true Dharma. To possess all three is the greatest fortune. To seek the true essence is like following Yuan Shi’s path, to understand reality is like mastering Buddha’s methods. To transcend illusions and shatter nirvana—only then can one achieve true enlightenment, realizing the profound mysteries of existence.”

The four elders heard this and exclaimed, “Excellent!” What a remarkable Golden Cicada Son, what a divine ape of yin and yang—truly, his words were flawless.

“It is rare to be born as a human, even rarer to be born in the Central Lands, and even rarer still to encounter the true Dharma.” This means that it is already difficult enough to be reborn as a human; being born in the Central Lands makes it even rarer, and if one there encounters the true Dharma and follows the right path, it becomes even more difficult. For these three to converge in one person is truly a great fortune.

My journey to the West was not out of ignorance of the existence of the Dao path or Yuan Shi. But what difference is there between Buddhism and Daoism? Only by understanding Yuan Shi’s great path and mastering Buddha’s methods can one truly succeed.

Xiangwang was originally a person’s name, symbolizing absence of mind and trace. It is said that in ancient times, the Yellow Emperor lost a mysterious pearl while climbing the peak of Kunlun. He sent three people to search for it. These three were wise, perceptive, and eloquent, but after days of searching, they failed to find it. Finally, the Yellow Emperor sent the simple-minded Xiangwang. Xiangwang casually glanced around with his dazed eyes among the bushes and found the pearl effortlessly.

Thus, using reasoning, sight, or speech to seek the true path may not lead to discovery. But by transcending the tangible and intangible, blending reality and illusion, one might experience unexpected success. Moving from Xiangwang to nirvana seems like a leap to heaven, but it is beyond the comprehension of ordinary enlightened beings.

After hearing Tang Seng’s words, the Cloud-Wiping Old Man sighed and said, “What the holy monk says is absolutely true. Just as an empty basket can still draw water, and a rootless iron tree can still bloom—this is exactly what it means. But if one wishes to see the true purpose ahead, may he return to the elegant gathering at Longhua.”

The Eighteen Elders were shocked upon hearing this and said, “Doesn’t the Cloud-Wiping Old Man’s words reveal too much? Holy monk, please don’t overthink it.”

Upon hearing “to see the true purpose ahead,” Tang Seng was shaken. Suddenly, he cried out in pain, clutching his chest.

The Eighteen Elders exchanged glances, while the Cloud-Wiping Old Man called out, “Holy monk! Holy monk!”

At that moment, Tang Seng was just like when he first approached Qitian Ridge—his heart in turmoil, suffering greatly. He couldn’t hear the Cloud-Wiping Old Man’s calls.

At that moment, a shout came from the sky: “Which demon dares to hinder Tang Seng on his journey west?” It was none other than the Goddess Guanyin. Having returned from the South Sea, she learned that Tang Seng had been taken away by monsters and was filled with anger—she had been away for just a short while, yet such a thing had happened. Since Wukong and Wu Ping were highly skilled, who else but the demons of Qitianling could have stolen him right under their noses? Not daring to go to the main peak to retrieve him, Guanyin first searched the northern foothills. As she flew through the clouds, she suddenly heard Tang Seng cry out in pain. Guanyin descended and saw him lying weak on the ground; she helped him up. After checking carefully, she saw that Tang Seng was unharmed and finally felt relieved. She had promised the Buddha not to let Tang Seng enter within three thousand li of Qitianling, and now she had crossed that limit twice. Guanyin picked up Tang Seng and looked around, where she saw a strong pine, a dark cypress, a green bamboo, and a juniper tree by a stone house—clearly four trees that had taken on human form. Guanyin raised her hand and snapped these tree spirits in half; blood flowed from the cuts, just like human blood. These four demons could have ruined Guanyin’s plans, so how could she not hate them? Just as she was about to leave, a voice shouted above her head: “Who dares to cause trouble in my Qitianling?” Guanyin looked up and saw a monstrous creature descending from the sky. It had a human face and a horse’s body, covered in colorful patterns like a fierce tiger, with wings on its sides that stretched across the sky. Guanyin was slightly surprised—she had seen this monster before. Before the journey to obtain the scriptures, she and Monkey King had come down from Mount Ling to find someone to assist Tang Seng, and this monster had intercepted them once. But since she already had someone in mind at that time, she didn’t engage with it. Now, she saw it again in Qitianling. Recalling the past, she felt a vague sense of foreboding—this monster blocking her path thousands of miles in the west was probably no coincidence. Could it be that the people in Qitianling already knew about the quest for the scriptures and were involved? This monster was Yingzhao, who demanded, “Who are you, so bold?” Guanyin glanced at Yingzhao and smiled, “Don’t you recognize me?” Yingzhao said, “Surrender quickly, and I won’t hurt you!” Guanyin glanced at Tang Seng, unwilling to engage with Yingzhao, and turned to leave. Yingzhao flapped its wings nimbly and blocked Guanyin’s path, lunging at her with its tiger claws. Guanyin frowned and struck with a palm infused with dark energy. Thinking Guanyin was weak, Yingzhao didn’t take it seriously, but the strike sent it tumbling through the air countless times.

Ying Zhao seemed embarrassed, but in fact he was using the tumble to deflect the palm force. He immediately flew back, regained his strength, and struck again with his wings.
Guanyin let out an “Oh,” realizing this monster was quite skilled. She reached into her bosom, took out a golden hoop, and tried to ensnare Ying Zhao with it.