Volume 3: A Long Journey, Chapter 367: Long Time No See

Tang Seng and his companions passed through half of the pine forest and continued toward the northwest. Though it wasn’t a region of towering mountains, it was still very difficult to traverse. The fake Wu Kong, being a clever divine ape, dared not move quickly for fear of causing trouble or revealing his deception. He could only hope that Wu Kong would come and rescue him soon. Now that he knew his true identity as a divine ape and had received orders from the Spirit Treasure Daoist, his once selfish and withdrawn personality had changed drastically—he now followed Wind’s arrangements wholeheartedly, putting Wu Kong’s affairs first.

That day, as they reached a riverbank, Tang Seng spurred his horse ahead. Although three others followed behind, Tang Seng’s hunched figure stood out sharply from that of the fake Wu Kong, Wu Ping, and Wu Hui, creating a desolate scene as if he were walking alone.

While searching for a path by the river, they suddenly saw many figures flying in from the southwest. At the forefront was a man with red hair and red clothes, followed by many oddly shaped monsters. Even though Tang Seng’s eyesight was weak, he saw everything clearly. Instead of shouting like usual, he remained extremely calm. Perhaps he realized that this path was like a stage, where both he and those monsters were merely acting.

The clever divine ape quickly rushed to protect Tang Seng, while Wu Ping put down his load and stood in front of Tang Seng’s horse. Before Qilin and the others could get close, two figures appeared in the air—Itse Suifo and Dongse Suifo, who had been secretly guarding Tang Seng. Seeing Dongse Suifo, Qilin laughed and said, “A defeated foe, daring to stop me?”

Dongse Suifo, far from fearing Qilin, became even more battle-ready and said, “Though your cultivation is high, how could I retreat without fighting?” Qilin replied, “Good, then let’s fight!”

Like a flash of fire, Qilin rushed between Itse Suifo and Dongse Suifo, swung his arms, and threw punches at both at the same time. The two tried to block, but Qilin’s punches sent them flying back. Qilin declared loudly, “Even two of you together won’t work!”

At that moment, a voice from the west said, “Then let’s have three of us go!”

Qilin glanced west and saw a plump monk floating gracefully toward them, holding a pair of golden cymbals in his left hand and a cloth bag in his right—it was Maitreya of the Western Heaven.

Qilin said, “Three then! Kids, capture Tang Seng for me!”

The ancient divine beasts rushed forward, and the clever divine ape had no choice but to wield his staff to defend them. Wu Ping, ignoring Tang Seng’s dignity, dragged him off the horse, revealed his true form, and shielded Tang Seng beneath him. Contracting his neck, he remained unshaken despite the wind and waves outside.

Wuhui picked up his fire spear and challenged them to battle; two divine beasts also pretended to fight against him, but knowing that Wuhui was the son of the Bull Demon King, they held back. Meanwhile, balls of fire and flames flew everywhere, creating a fierce battle scene. The clever divine ape wielded his iron staff with relentless force. The divine beast facing him was named Taotie. After a few exchanges, Taotie sent a message: “Follow me!” The two fought their way back into a dense forest, where Wukong waited. When he saw the clever divine ape arrive, he said, “Go back to Qitianling!” The clever divine ape, as if pardoned, reverted to his true form and fled back to Qitianling. Wukong and Taotie feigned fighting for a while before returning to the original battlefield. A group of divine beasts were pounding around the Black Peace Turtle. Wukong swung his staff with full force, driving them away, and shouted at the qilin, “Why keep obstructing us? Why such stubbornness in Qitianling?” The qilin was confronting Venerable Maitreya. Though he had no magical treasures, he relied solely on his strength to resist the latter’s attacks, and still had time to say to Wukong, “I like it. What’s wrong with that?” Wukong cursed, “Tch! There’s not a trace of a master’s demeanor. If you have the guts, go to the West to shout at Buddha!” The qilin laughed heartily, “Hah? Well said! I’ll go right now!” He contracted and expanded his hands, sending a powerful force into Maitreya’s bag. Maitreya couldn’t withstand it and rushed back a hundred feet before stabilizing himself. He was shocked—this qilin was incredibly strong, even surpassing Dayu. The qilin left immediately, leading the divine beasts back to Qitianling. Wukong went before Venerable Maitreya and bowed, saying, “Greetings, Buddha of the East. Your humble disciple pays his respects.” The venerable one helped Wukong up and said smilingly, “What a clever tactic! With just one sentence, you diverted the trouble to the West.” Wukong pretended to be surprised and asked, “Should I remind Buddha?” Maitreya laughed, “Just one qilin can’t cause much trouble in the West.” Wukong thought to himself, The qilin was just bluffing; you actually took it seriously. Maitreya said, “Now that you’re back, I’ll leave.” Huh? Maitreya’s words… it seems he knows the clever divine ape is pretending to be Wukong. Wukong felt uneasy—could Randeng and Maitreya really be that close, sharing everything? Maitreya floated away, and the Buddha of the East also concealed himself. Wukong could still see them; the two stood on either side, protecting the pilgrims in the middle. Wukong thought, Their cultivation is really weak. They can only handle ordinary monsters. If Qitianling really tries to capture people, how could you two stop them? But with these two spying nearby, Wukong couldn’t act rashly anymore.

He helped Tang Seng up from the ground. Tang Seng said calmly, “Is the monster gone?”
Wukong replied, “Master, it was Venerable Maitreya who drove away the monster.” At that moment, Wukong remembered that Maitreya, just like Ran Deng before, had tried to stop them from obtaining the scriptures. His influence was behind many obstacles. Yet today, Maitreya was helping them instead—this was rather unusual. Naturally, it was due to some kind of power exchange within Buddhism, but Wukong didn’t bother to think further.
Since Maitreya was on the same side as Ran Deng, he surely wouldn’t harm them. Ran Deng held the highest status in Buddhism; apart from the three thousand Buddhas, most others in Buddhism were likely his subordinates. As for matters on the surface, there was nothing he couldn’t handle. But the Tathagata was willing to share half of the secret Buddhist hell realms with Ran Deng, not fearing his involvement, probably only for one reason: You don’t understand!
Ran Deng didn’t understand the mysteries of creation, so he couldn’t see the subtleties. But the Tathagata hadn’t anticipated that after taking Wukong as his disciple, the two would become so open and honest with each other. Therefore, it was absolutely crucial not to let the Tathagata know about their secret relationship.
Wukong helped Tang Seng onto the horse and took the opportunity to carefully examine the three souls and seven spirits in Tang Seng’s dantian. Sure enough! Although Tang Seng’s soul cluster was much larger than Xiao Zhang’s, the essence of creation within it was barely discernible. All those reincarnations had almost exhausted the essence of creation in his body.
Wukong felt a pang of sadness. Whether human or beast, this essence of creation was the foundation of life. Even a noble Yin-Yang Divine Ape had been tortured to such an extent. Impulsively, he almost took out a peach from his bosom to give to Tang Seng.
Now Wukong understood that after eating a few peaches himself, the essence of creation in his body had naturally increased, leaving a surplus in his soul, which allowed him to grow that sprout with two leaves—one black and one white.
Would eating a peach also be very helpful for Tang Seng? After thinking it over, Wukong withdrew his hand from his bosom. It wasn’t that he was reluctant to give up the peach, but rather he didn’t know if there was any subtle connection between the Tathagata and Tang Seng. If the Tathagata found out, he would surely probe further, and that could prove disastrous.
“Hold Yin and Yang, control the spiritual clarity—none can escape my grasp…” Recalling the Tathagata’s words, Wukong seemed to understand a bit more. Was the Tathagata trying to control the Spiritual Clarity Divine Ape through the Yin-Yang Divine Ape? He tightly held Tang Seng in his grasp, playing hard to get with himself, not really caring about his own actions. If he didn’t have a trump card, he wouldn’t be so bold. If that were indeed the case, he couldn’t act rashly.
Wukong silently said to Tang Seng, “Yin and Yang, I’m sorry for your suffering. Just endure a little longer.”

Tang Seng mounted his horse as if nothing had happened. He neither chanted Buddhist scriptures nor recited mantras, simply letting the horse carry him along. Wukong spotted the nine-ring tin staff hanging under the stirrup, went over to take it down, and examined it closely.
This was the Staff of Cosmic Creation. Though he could use its mystical powers at will, he couldn’t fathom its secrets. The staff was actually solid tin, with a faint flow of cosmic energy within—it didn’t catch Wukong’s attention, as it was common for magical artifacts to possess such energy. Tang Seng turned and saw Wukong studying the staff, asking, “Wukong, what are you doing with my staff?”
Wukong replied, “Master, where exactly is this precious staff?”
Tang Seng said, “How could I know? Since it was given to me by Guanyin Bodhisattva, it must be something extraordinary.”
Tang Seng’s ignorance of the staff’s mysteries was exactly as Wukong had expected. He hung the staff back up and couldn’t help but think of Guanyin Bodhisattva, wondering if she could uncover the staff’s secrets. “Oh Bodhisattva, I wonder if this trick of deception will work on you.”
Now that Wukong had rejoined the pilgrimage group, they continued without delay. He led the way, driving away all monsters. Tang Seng spurred his horse on, and after more than half a month of travel, they had circled from the northeast to the northwest of Qitian Ridge. A few more days, and they would leave this region.
One day, as Wukong was soaring through the air to scout the path, he suddenly saw the Eastern and Western Guardian Buddhas, as if summoned by some force, rushing westward at lightning speed like startled horses. Wukong was alarmed—could something be wrong at the Spirit Mountain?
His guess was correct. Above the Great Hero Hall of the Spirit Mountain, an uninvited guest had arrived—none other than Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who was “as immovable as the earth and as deeply contemplative as Ksitigarbha.”
Ksitigarbha wore Buddhist robes adorned with bright pearls, layers of gold thread, and eight precious gems. A golden collar encircled his neck, radiating brilliance and elegance. His appearance outshone all the arhats, bodhisattvas, and buddhas in the hall.
Beside him stood the divine beast Diti, standing proudly with an air of authority, its usual listlessness gone. Its eyes were wide open, scanning everyone in the hall with a look of pitying disdain, as if the creator were looking down upon sentient beings.
Though Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was highly renowned, he had lived in seclusion for so long that few in the hall recognized him. Tathagata stood up, beaming with joy, and said, “So it is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who has come.”
Hearing Ksitigarbha’s name, everyone in the hall felt profound respect. Ksitigarbha had made the solemn vow, “I will not attain Buddhahood until hell is emptied,” and enjoyed an excellent reputation in Buddhism. Seeing his pure true nature today, everyone felt utterly mundane and unworthy in comparison.
Tathagata went forward to greet him warmly, while Ksitigarbha simply said, “Tathagata, it’s been a long time.”